BackerKit FAQ
How does BackerKit crowdfunding work?
Crowdfunding is a collaborative way to bring ideas and projects to life. Project creators post their idea for a project, and backers pledge money to make the project possible. Backers get behind the scenes access and backer-only rewards, which can include exclusive products, special pricing, creative input, content, and more.
To become a backer, select a pledge level that features the reward(s) you would like to receive when the project is successfully completed and make your contribution.
All-or-nothing crowdfunding model: The creator sets a funding goal and a deadline to raise funds. If the project does not meet the goal by the deadline, backers credit cards are not charged and no money changes hands.
Crowdfunding projects can happen at various stages of the creative process. Make sure to check the estimated timeline of when rewards will be delivered. Project creators will keep you updated on the progress toward completion and delivery of your rewards.
Backing a crowdfunding campaign is not the same as purchasing an item from a store. When you back a campaign you are supporting the creation of something new. Rewards are almost always delivered, but are not guaranteed.
When will I be charged for my pledge?
Your payment method will not be charged right away. You will be charged for the amount of your pledge when the campaign ends and the project reaches its funding goal. You will not be charged if the campaign does not reach its funding goal.
What happens after the campaign is over?
The Creator will send out a survey that will ask you for more information about your pledge, your shipping information, additional items you may want to add to your pledge, and collect shipping fees if applicable.
The survey will be sent to the email address we have on file with your pledge.
Any additional payment will be charged when you complete your survey and confirm your order.
Project FAQ
Why run a Backerkit crowdfunding campaign for this product when there was already a successful Kickstarter centered around the pdf and Foundry VTT version with a hardcover added later as an optional add-on?
We added the hardcover option to the last Kickstarter as an optional add-on later on, thinking we might do a small number of them in a limited print run or print on demand. We then allowed for more preorders on battlezoo.com, and the number has steadily increased. It’s reached the point where, instead of a limited Kickstarter and preorder exclusive add-on where we make just enough for the backers and preorders, we can almost order a full print run of 1,000 copies each for Pathfinder and 5E. But the key word is almost. We’re hoping this Backerkit campaign will help us fund the full print run, allowing us to carry the hardcover not only for all the new backers but also for people who learn about the product in the future, and helping us cover the fees for holding those extra copies in the warehouse until they find their new homes. This also serves a second purpose: The print run math is part of why we didn’t have a hardcover included in the Year of Legends Kickstarter campaign, but if this crowdfunding campaign is successful, it’ll hopefully blaze the trail for a path to funding a print run for Year of Legends and beyond.
But why Backerkit and not Kickstarter?
Backerkit is reaching out to creators, especially in the Tabletop RPG scene, which is one of their largest demographics for crowdfunding. They’re offering a lot of interesting tools that they think will make the experience better for you, the backers, including new ways to communicate with backers, and while Kickstarter usually reaches more people, we were interested in improving the experience if possible. We thought this new campaign would be a good test to see if you like this format, which we could use to decide what to use for Secret Dragons.
I already backed or preordered the hardcover in the past. Is there anything in this for me?
You’re all set, unless you’d like to upgrade to the special edition hardcover or back the Advocate of Monsters to show your support of Roll For Combat, follow along with the new additions with Stephen and Mark, and provide feedback during the development!
Is Classic Creatures the same as the Year of Monsters?
Yes, the two are exactly the same. We just retitled this product for the final release and hardcover book as the "Year of Monsters" didn't make much sense now that the year is over. So if you already backed the Year of Monsters in the past you will get Classic Creatures in the future as it's the same product.
Why aren’t there any stretch goals?
We have one big goal here, which is to do a full print run. We’ve based the funding goal on the number we need for that, and we threw in a whole bunch of new content the moment we hit the goal, and we’ve lined up all the assets to make sure the new content is written and has its art quickly once we’re funded so it won’t delay the project and you’ll get your hardcovers ASAP. We don’t want to delay the hardcover by adding a lot of stretch goals, so this time we’re sticking to the main goal and putting a lot of strong new content into that.
When do I select if I want my book as 5th Edition of Pathfinder 2e?
After the Kickstarter has ended, you will receive an email asking you to finalize your order. You should receive this email by late February 2024, where you will be directed to the BackerKit survey. Here you will confirm your Kickstarter order, along with any additional materials, etc. You will also be asked when filling out this survey if you wish to receive either 5th Edition or Pathfinder 2e materials. So don't worry, you don't need to commit to either 5e or Pathfinder 2e until you receive this survey!
5th Edition races are usually very short. Why are yours so long?
Our 5E races are not just the basic presentation for a standard race from 5E. Instead, think of them more as short books about the race that include the race's key statistics in addition to more information and options. We have plenty of additional lore to ground the race and help learn about characters of that race, plus subraces, feats specific to that race, sometimes new weapons that race likes to use, and (when applicable) brand new classes for that race so you can dive deeper into that race's fantasy.
If I pledge at a lower amount now, will I be able to update my pledge and rewards later?
Yes, you can. After the campaign is over, you will be charged right away for the tier you selected. A few weeks later, you will be invited to the BackerKit pledge manager, where you will submit your shipping address, pay for shipping, and be allowed to add any "add-ons" to your pledge. You can also change your pledge level during this time to a higher tier if you wish.
If I'm already getting the Year of Monsters PDF or Foundry Module, will I automatically get all new material?
YES! If this project funds, you will receive the new pages of content without needing to do a thing, and anyone with the PDF or Foundry VTT version will receive all the content as well—the new content is for everyone! If you’d like to help us make it fund so you can receive the new content but you don’t have anything else you want to buy, consider recommending it to a friend you know who loves monsters, or you could purchase the hardcover + VTT tier as a gift for your favorite GM (and secretly so that you can always use the ancestries on your GM’s Foundry server, but don’t tell them that part!).