I've got a lot to go over today, so let's settle and prepare for review.
Final Week Guide
Dec 15 - Reward Tier & Add On Review (that's today!)
Dec 16 - Manuscript Preview # 11 - Infernal Personages
Dec 17 - Stretch Goal Review
Dec 18 - Final Day Checklist & What Comes Next
Whether you're just starting to feel the spark of Exaltation or a well-establish Green Sun Prince, these are some good topics to review over this week to make sure we all end up where we want to be.
(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out our Final Week Countdown. It has links to the manuscript previews, Infernals fiction, a sneak peek at Ligier, and other helpful information.)
PLEDGE REWARD TIERS
Like it says right at the top of the campaign story page, we've come together to help create a fully developed PDF and hardcover versions for the latest expansion to Exalted Third Edition, Infernals: Crowned by Hellfire. Many of you have touched the Infernals through the Exalted: Essence book, ore more likely been a fan since earlier editions, but this presents the first real journey into the Demon Realm for Third Edition.
PLEDGING YOUR SUPPORT
To borrow an analogy that I've used in past campaigns, this process we're a part of works similar to the "Viewers Like You" support campaign from your local Public Broadcasting Station (for those who get American television channels or watched Sesame Street in the pre-Netfllix era): There are various levels of support that you can pledge to, and these come with various levels of rewards offered as a thank you. Like getting a tote bag or t-shirt when you give money to public broadcasting to fund them doing their thing, you can get rewards for helping Onyx Path work on this project.
Let's review the Backer Reward Tiers to ensure that you've pledged to a Reward Tier that provides all the rewards you wish to receive.
Digital vs Deluxe
The main reward offered in this campaign is, of course, the main goal of the entire proposition: the finished book that is Infernals: Crowned by Hellfire. The first decision you need to make is what form your rewards will take. Do you want your main rewards in digital form and are going for the PDF version? Or do you have space on your shelf for the deluxe hardcover book? (Note - the deluxe version includes the PDF as a bonus!).
With that decision in mind, we've got two key reward tiers to choose from:
NEWLY CROWNED
This is the PDF-only reward tier. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the shipping charges that are absolutely ever-increasing - this is the reward tier options that you should begin with. The PDF will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com - when it is ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library at no cost and be able to download at your leisure.
GREEN SUN PRINCE
This reward tier includes the deluxe hardcover version of this book. Shipping costs ARE NOT included in the cost of your pledge. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager. In addition, this option also includes the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.
An important reminders at this stage:
Shipping Costs: We’ll be charging for shipping in the Pledge Manager once the books are being printed and we can deal with the actual shipping charges rather than using our best-guesses this far out. We’re still anticipating pretty hefty costs to ship the book internationally (see our current guesses on the story page) so be forewarned, but we’ll cross that enormous bridge when we get to it.
In addition to these primary reward pledge paths, we also offer the following options:
Candidate for Exaltation
Not ready to commit, or just looking to offer general support? This pledge tier is for you. This does not include our primary reward, but allows you to select some digital optional Add Ons, as well as participating in the post-campaign Pledge Manager as a backer. You'll also be able to read the draft manuscript of Infernals: Crowned by Hellfire that we post throughout this campaign.
A selection of Premium Tiers offer special limited rewards in addition to our core rewards for this campaign. Check each of the individual Reward Tier descriptions for more detail, but in summary:
Heretical Innovator asks you to suggest a new Charm for the Infernal Exalted.
The Monster Made Flesh asks you to describe your character so that Onyx Path artists can incorporate it into an interior illustration for an upcoming Infernals supplement.
Treasure-House Tyrant has you share your ideas for a new artifact that will get written up in an Infernals supplement.
Hellish Duke asks you to pick an Second Circle demon, either mentioned in the draft manuscript or previous Exalted material, who will receive a write-up in an Infernal supplement.
The Unquestionable will have you pick a Third Circle demon to get a write-up featured in an Infernals supplement.
Those premium reward tiers have limited slots, and most have been claimed, but there are always adjustments in these final days as budgets are calculated and pledges locked down, so act quickly if you're thinking about a premium reward tier and you see a slot open up.
About 4-6 weeks after the campaign is over we'll launch our BackerKit Pledge Manager and invite the backers to set up their rewards via survey. This allows you to confirm your pledge and add on anything that you might have missed, as well as possibly increasing your pledged reward tier, should you choose to expand your reward selection. This option will give backers additional time to investigate shipping options, should they choose, knowing they can confirm a physical reward at a later date. We will also use BackerKit's Pledge Manager to charge actual shipping costs for orders when we're approaching order fulfillment. Funding collected by BackerKit after the crowdfunding campaign does not count toward any campaign Stretch Goals, however.
Again, after the Crowdfunding campaign, in the Pledge Manager, you 'll be able to:
Review and update your Pledge Level selection - for example, you can pledge to the Newly Crowned level during the Crowdfunding campaign and then switch to the Green Sun Prince level once we know shipping costs and are preapring to fulfill the hardcover rewards
Confirm and Update your Shipping information - you'll be able to update your final delivery address up until we're shipping out the hardcover rewards
Pay for Shipping and additional Add On Options - we'll process payments for shipping costs and additional add-ons selected in your Pledge Manager survey when we get closer to hardcover reward fulfillment
Download Digital Reward Redemption Links - the Pledge Manager will have links to access all of your digital rewards as they are fulfilled
You'll note that two rewards - Access to the Manuscript Previews and Participation in Post-Campaign Pledge Manager - are included in ALL reward tiers. That's just one of the perks of participating in this crowdfunding campaign!
OPTIONAL DISCOUNTED PoD VERSION – For this Infernals: Crowned by Hellfire campaign, you will have the option of using DriveThruRPG.com’s Print-On-Demand service to purchase a printed copy of the PDF directly from their PoD partners at discounted cost (this cost is not included in your pledge, and you do not need to increase the cost of your pledge to use this option). When the PoD versions are available to order, you will receive links to purchase these versions of the books from DriveThruRPG.com. You DO NOT need to take advantage of this PoD offer as it does not affect in any way your pledge rewards.
INFERNALS: CROWNED BY HELLFIRE BACKER PDF: The Infernals: Crowned by Hellfire PDF will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Crowdfunding backers will receive redemption links allowing you to add the item to your cart at a $0 cost. Once you check out, it will be added to your DriveThruRPG library and available for download at your convenience.
INFERNALS: CROWNED BY HELLFIRE DELUXE HARDCOVER BOOKS - The main goal of this campaign is to fund the creation, production, and print run of a standard and limited edition deluxe hardcover editions of this book. Note that all Reward Tiers that include the physical hardcover version also include the digital PDF version as a bonus. Shipping costs ARE NOT included in the cost of your pledge. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager prior to hardcover reward fulfillment.
Choosing Your Reward Tier
There has been some churn over this past week - a few Reward Tier adjustments and changes by backers, as budgets changed and people have read the manuscript previews. In these final days it's best to ensure that you've selected the Reward Tier that offers you the options and rewards you want to receive and are ready to lock down. This timing - before the campaign ends - is the absolute most affordable and inclusive these rewards will be, and will save headaches and heartbreaks if fully considered now.
This is just the first step, however, in completing your pledge for this campaign. Funds for additional extras can be added to your pledge by selecting Add On options and increasing the overall funding and maybe getting us closer to a Stretch Goal.
First Step: Reward Tier
To summarize the first part of this post, the absolute best way to ensure that you're getting the primary rewards you want from this crowdfunding campaign is to ensure you've selected the appropriate Backer Reward Tier. Selecting the right Reward Tier covers about 90% of the options available to you. If you want a PDF only, make sure you've selected the correct reward. If you want the hardcover version, double-check your reward tier to ensure the proper option is featured. If you're going digital now but want the option of getting a discounted Print-on-Demand copy later, make sure you've got a reward tier that includes it.
Once you've completed that important step, you're going to want to look at the Add On rewards for any reward "bits" that don't automatically fall into your reward tier. That takes us to the Add On step.
Step Two: Add-On Options
Once you've chosen your pledge tier, you've likely already included the main rewards you want. In addition to the rewards offered as part of the Reward Tier configurations, there are a few other possible rewards you may wish to add. All Add-On rewards are described in our Add On menu below.
You can select an Add On option, which will increase the amount of your pledge by the listed amount. Add on options will be selected and confirmed again in the Pledge Manager when that's up and running.
We offer Add On options that will let you add additional copies of the PDF or deluxe hardcover to your rewards list, as well as the Storyteller Screen we unlocked via Stretch Goals earlier in the campaign. Beyond that, Onyx Path is also offering digital version of previous Third Edition releases, some material that utilizes the Exalted: Essence system, and two big bundles of previous edition material only available during this campaign.
Exalted Third Edition Core RulebookPDF depicts both a revitalized and expanded Creation, and the triumphant return of the Solar Exalted—but whether their rebirth will herald the salvation or destruction of the world, none can say. The system redesign takes the best parts of the previous editions and streamlines the mechanics for maximum playability. The primary rulebook for Solar Exalted.
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF provides everything that players and Storytellers need to introduce the Dragon-Blooded into their story. In addition to details of life in the Scarlet Realm, Lookshy, and among a variety of outcaste groups, it covers character creation and Dragon-Blooded Charms, along with new Merits, spells, martial arts styles, and heirloom artifacts that can be included in any game.
Lunars: Fangs at the Gates PDF provides everything players and Storytellers need to introduce Lunars into their story. It details the Silver Pact, its ancient vendetta, and the Lunar dominions spread throughout Creation. It also contains Lunar character creation, Charms, and rules for shapeshifting, as well as new Merits, spells, martial arts, and artifacts that can be included in any game.
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF covers the Exigents, many and myriad, but also utterly unique. They’re not a single kind of Exalted, but the manifold Chosen of Creation’s countless little gods. In times of dire need, gods can petition the Unconquered Sun for a spark of the Exigence — a bonfire of pure, creative power — to raise up their own Exalted champions. Exigents have left their mark on Creation’s history as individual heroes, tipping the scales of power across countless wars, revolutions, and dynasties.
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF provides everything players and Storytellers need to include the Sidereals in their stories. The Sidereal Exalted are the elite agents of Heaven, troubleshooting threats to destiny in Creation and beyond. They are legendary martial artists, whose secret techniques tap into the fundamental forces of existence. They are starry-eyed oracles who steer the course of nations with a word in the right ear at the right time. And yet, more than anything else, they are forgotten. Under a veil of mystical anonymity, the Sidereals serve Creation and Heaven alike as heroes who smooth the tangled web of Fate, battle the enemies of the world, and ensure that there will always be a tomorrow.
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF brings in the Abyssals, In service to their lieges, these deathknights will grind the Underworld to heel and scour life from the face of Creation. Or…they might break from those oaths and set themselves up as death’s own Lawgivers, ruling empires of the dead as sages, arbiters, and reapers. All that can be known for sure is that with the Abyssal Exalted loosed upon the world, it will never be the same again.
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God PDF Pre-Order. Chosen of the Machine God, biomechanical demigods forged from divine metal and heroic souls. They do not rule the Eight Nations, but serve as Champions of the people, a sacred duty greater than any ambition. The eldest of Alchemicals transcend their human forms to become metropoli, living cities that offer the Eight Nations a stronghold against Autochthonia’s perils. This is a pre-order, so you will receive the Draft Manuscript and have access to the Backer PDF once released.
Exalted: Essence PDF is a streamlined version of Exalted Third Edition, designed to welcome new players and reintroduce old friends to the world of Creation. It contains all the mechanics and advice players and Storytellers need to run complete games of Exalted: Essence, though setting material and character, place, and creature ideas can be supplemented by the core line’s content.
Pillars of Creation PDF expands the content presented in Exalted: Essence, providing dozens of new Charms, antagonists, and story hooks for players and Storytellers alike.
Across the Eight Directions PDF provides details about locations throughout Creation, including their history, culture, government structure, religious practices, and more. It introduces new settings, and expands upon familiar locales. It also discusses prominent figures active in each location, and presents information on local neighbors such as allies, rival cities, or wilderness areas with intriguing mysteries for explorers to encounter.
Hundred Devils Night Parade PDF is a collection of Quick Characters designed for Storytellers to include in their games as antagonists, companions, familiars, and mounts, or to use as examples for creating their own creatures. It encompasses the dead, elementals, demons, things from the Wyld, ordinary animals, and stranger beasts that cannot be defined so easily.
Adversaries of the Righteous PDF features a collection of full character entries designed for Storytellers to include in their games as antagonists and allies, or to use as examples for creating their own. Mortals, elementals, gods, denizens of the Wyld, the Exalted, and even stranger peoples populate both Creation and the pages of this book, as well as groups and organizations for intrepid Chosen to encounter.
Many-Faced Strangers PDF details life among the Shadow Fang Vanguard, an authoritarian organization that split from — and occasionally finds its goals at odds with — the Silver Pact; describes Mount Namas and the expanding rift between its Lunar caretakers; expands upon the storied hero Sublime Danger; and introduces several gods and spirit courts of Luna. This book also contains new Lunar Charms, artifacts, and Quick Characters. Finally, it outlines the War for the Caul, including a playable scenario.
Crucible of LegendPDF presents Storytellers and groups playing Exalted with tools to help them tell the stories of their characters in Creation and beyond. From character generation aids to alternative crafting systems, from details on the secret agendas of the Exalted and the factions ruling Creation, Storytellers will find a wealth of tips and tricks within this book. The conflicts of the Time of Tumult are the myths of the age to come.
Arms of the Chosen PDF lets you discover the mystical power of the five magical materials and the secrets of creating your own Evocations. Wield weapons of fabled might and don the armor of mythic heroes, making their puissance your own. Claim Creationís wonders: the miraculous tools of the Chosen, living automatons, flying machines, hearthstones, and more. And unleash the mighty warstriders, titanic god-engines of conquest and devastation, to once more shake Creation with their footfalls.
The RealmPDF expands on the history, politics, culture, law, and economics of Creation's greatest and most terrible empire. It details the Realm's governmental institutions: the Thousand Scales ministries, the Deliberative, the magistracy, and the All-Seeing Eye military, and its state religion, the Immaculate Order. It also provides an in-depth look at the lands that make up the Realm, both its heart on the Blessed Isle, and its satrapies scattered across the world.
Heirs to the Shognunate PDF details the Realm’s cadet houses and secondary schools, the military city-state of Lookshy, Prasad’s expanding empire, the weird Forest Witches, and outcastes. It also contains new Dragon-Blooded Charms, heirloom artifacts, and Quick Characters. Lastly, it describes the impending Realm Civil War, including a fully playable scenario depicting the War in the West.
Miracles of the Divine FlamePDF details new profiles of famous Exigents and potential divine patrons, an expanded guide to the holy city of Great Forks, and nine new Exigent design seeds to use or draw inspiration from. It also contains new Charms for Strawmaiden Janest, Pakpao the Puppeteer, the Architects and the Sovereigns of Uluiru, as well as new artifacts for your Exalted champions.
GREEN FIRE DAY BUNDLES
We've jumped through a few hoops and made a deal with the Unconquered Sun to bring you a couple of big offers for the remainder of the campaign.
A couple things to know about these GREEN FIRE DAY deals-
While the rest of our Add On options will be available to grab in the Pledge Manager after the campaign, these digital bundle offers will only be available during this crowdfunding campaign. So if you really want them, you gotta add them to your pledge before we finish up on December 18.
These aren't necessarily cheap, but they are substantially discounted from the cost of buying all of these titles individually or even as a normally-discounted bundle.
They're obviously not Exalted Third Edition products, but these earlier editions offer a ton of ideas and lore that you can always use pieces of for your game. Some of the lore sits perfectly across all editions, some is wildly divergent, and some is just *out there* but it's always fascinating.
It's a great way to add a LOT of Exalted content to your digital library in one easy click! And this is the only place you can get these prices, they are not part of any Cyber-Monday deal, only as an Add On to this Crowdfunding campaign, and only until December 18th.
Pick a Pledge Tier, then Add On Options
Ready to join in? If you're backing for the first time, you can click BACK IT and select your Pledge Tier and finalize funding amount in the next menu.
Using myself as an example, I'm looking at the Infernals deluxe hardcover book. Once I click BACK IT, I see my pledge level options. If I want to know a bit more about each level, I can click Learn More, or if I know what I'm looking for, I can click Back It.
It should be pretty self-explanatory, but you can click on the "Learn More" button to expand the Pledge Level info. For example, Clicking Learn More on the Green Sun Prince pledge gives you...
This is the reward I'm choosing, as it exactly fits my needs for this project.
Once you're ready, you can click that BACK IT button and go right to Add On options.
For example, I've decided on the $125 Deluxe Hardcover pledge, so I select BACK IT for that tier, and then I want to add on a few of the optional Add On extras to my rewards list. I'm going to add the Storyteller Screen and take advantage of the Green Fire Day deals during this campaign and really beef up my Exalted digital library.
My total is $450 USD That's $125 for my Green Sun Prince pledge tier, +$25 for the Infernals Screen +$150 for the Complete Collection 1st Edition Bundle +$150 for the Complete Collection 2nd Edition Bundle
Obviously, I'm calling this my big present for the year (and it will probably count as next year's as well!).
When everything is correct, click NEXT and then Confirm Your Pledge. You'll get an e-mail confirmation of your choices.
If you're already a backer but want to update your pledge or Add On choices...
Select Manage Your Pledge at the top of the campaign page, and then you can Edit Your Pledge
Select "Manage Your Pledge" at the top of the page, and then "Edit Your Pledge" on your listing, and then...
You can select a new Pledge Level from the available option menu, or Change your Add On selection.
As before, you'll confirm all of your choices, and then receive an e-mail confirmation once that's done.
And with that, my pledge level and Add On options are set for your pledge. At this time, you don't need to worry about setting shipping information.
You should also be aware that any available Add On options will be made available in our BackerKit pledge manager, with the exception of the Complete Collection Bundles, so if you're unsure about adding on something at this point, you will be able to adjust your pledge in the post-campaign phase.
Pledging to the campaign also opens up the Stretch Goal rewards as thanks for your participation. We'll review our Stretch Goal accomplishments on Wednesday, but it's important to note that backers who wait and Pre-Order the Infernals: Crowned by Hellfire book at a later date will not have any Stretch Goal rewards automatically added to their rewards list, though many of the rewards we've unlocked are things that will be open to the Onyx Path community as a whole and eventually released for purchase on DTRPG.
REWARD DELIVERY
About 4-6 weeks after the campaign has ended, I'll launch our post-campaign Pledge Manager to collect information from all backers and confirm which rewards you'll be receiving. At that point, you'll be able to review your rewards and also also adjust any Add On Options that you may have missed. Once we have everything confirmed, I'll be able to deliver any rewards that are currently available - like existing The World Below PDF. Backers who have pledged for these options will be sent special redemption links to claim these digital rewards from our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Clicking these redemption links will allow you to add these PDF titles to your digital library to download anytime. I'll send an update when all of that is happening, though, so you are aware every step of the way.
So, while it will take some time for Infernals to move from manuscript form to a final product, you won't be waiting a year for PDFs that already exist. (You'll be waiting about 5-7 weeks or so, just enough time for us to set up the reward infrastructure.)
Physical Books
If you're waiting to see the International shipping costs before upgrading your PDF pledge to any of the hardcover reward tiers, or you want to hold off until after you receive your Exigents or Sidereal deluxe editions, you'll have lots of time for that. We won't close the Pledge Manager until the books are ready to print and we know what shipping costs will be, so you'll be able to go back and adjust your pledge tier at that time.
It's going to take some time to create the final PDF for Infernals: Crowned by Hellfire and even longer for the eventual print run for the deluxe hardcover books. When the books are at the printer, I will be in touch with all backers to outline timeline for pledge adjustments, as well as lockdown procedures and when we'll be confirming addresses and processing BackerKit Add Ons and Shipping payments. That's a long time away, and we'll cover that as we get closer to that part of the process.
Don't fret if you had forgotten to select additional rewards by the end of the campaign. These Add Ons will be available to select in our post-campaign Pledge Manager (with the exception of the Green Fire Day deals, as noted) for those who participated in our campaign and have full access to the Pledge Manager. So, if you are undecided at this time, you will be able to hold off until we're closer to the final reward shipment goes out.
Step 1: Pledge Tier
Step 2: Add On Options
Again, your first step should involve your main reward selection, and your Add On Options will build upon that. If you selected the PDF-only tier, you can investigate PDF and digital options. If you select a hardcover tier, you will be able to add physical reward options like the Storyteller Screen.
Note that all funds are expressed in US Dollars, so take into account your conversion as needed.
It Adds Up!
That should explain the process of Selecting your Reward Level and adding Add On options and confirming your TOTAL PLEDGE AMOUNT. Since increasing your pledge amount increases the overall funding level of the project, add-ons can help us achieve our Stretch Goal funding targets, so it benefits us all to suggest that you double-check to make sure you're getting all of the rewards you want.
Additionally, this may go without saying,please review your personal budgetand ensure you've selected the appropriate reward tier and add ons for your current financial situation. BackerKit will begincharging your payment methodat midnight the day the campaign ends, so ensure you've budgeted correctly. Choose what works best for you now and is affordable at this time, knowing that you can upgrade your pledge level or choose Add Ons in the Pledge Manager at a late date.
There are no refunds for regret, and the funds raised start being spent immediately on paying for the work done thus far and the additional work ahead plus the projects unlocked via Stretch Goal. So please be financially responsible.
Did I stress that enough? I hope so.
Conclusion
As we move through these final days of the campaign, please ensure you've chosen the correct Pledge Level for the rewards you want (at least at this point). And beyond that - please make sure you've investigated and selected any add-ons you wish to receive. If you have any issues with the Pledge process, either selecting the reward tier or figuring out the Add On options, you can reach out to me or to the support team at BackerKit. I've found them to respond quickly and offer great support.
On Thursday, just before the campaign ends, I will send an update detailing the steps that occur after the campaign concludes, including notes about our Pledge Manager and the communication plan going forward.
So, just like always: Spread the word! Share your excitement on social media! Tell your friends! I'll be back tomnorrow with our final manuscript section, so let's make sure that none of our friends miss out! Anyone supporting this project will be able to read the entire draft manuscript before any pledges are processed or payments collected, so you'll know exactly what you're getting! And you'll be able to submit your feedback directly to the developers who will use your notes to take the manuscript through the final stages of editing and development to make it the best it can be.
So, review your pledge, make sure it works for you in this moment, and let's carry on to our big finale on Thursday! And maybe we'll squeeze another Stretch Goal in there as well!
