I may need more than the usual amount of coffee after last night....

*MUPPET FLAIL*

Okay, I've seen some end of crowdfunding pushes, but last night was a bit special. We crossed several stretch goals yesterday and had a huge spike. Which...is amazing for everyone involved, since that actually means more stuff for everyone.

Thank you to everyone who helped support us finishing this project. Your pledge and support allows us to bring this insane dream to reality, into print, and eventually into your hands.

What Comes Next?

Step #1 for us is getting the manuscript compiled with the last bits we added during this crowdfunding window (yes, we've been working and adding content), and then we turn it over to copy editing.

While this is happening, our Art group is getting started this month. Everyone who backed this project will get to see the pretty art as it rolls in (sharing text is vastly less exciting). This whole process to finish production should be roughly 4-5 months.

Step 1.A Open up the preorder store here on Backerkit for those who missed the campaign mode (you'll be able to grab a copy of the hardcover and some select add-ons while we are in production).

Step #1.B In the next 30 days, anyone who backed the Villain of the Realms tier will get contacted by the team and thrust into a call with Hughe, Myself, The Eldritch Editor, and our Art Director (and we play the scheduling tarrasque battle). We need to get your art orders, bounties, and download character lore!

Step #2: Gamefound? So....we really want to make the soundtrack. Like...really really. So in May, we are going to break out the soundtrack, mini's and remaining stretch goals into a separate micro campaign and launch on Gamefound. You can follow along:

RIGHT HERE! <- Click this text.

THIS IS IMPORTANT! ANY GOALS WE UNLOCK THERE BENEFIT ALL OF YOU HERE! You do not need to go pledge support again. You already helped! We might have a unique pledge tier like the Ringmasters Brew, but it's okay. We are sharing this so you can follow along. That campaign will be much quieter on the email front and notifications on this side...because the true goal there is to unlock the soundtrack and bake it into the book like the Black Ballad.

Step #3: Layout! Once all the art, production, and final text is done, layout should take about 2 months. Which means... everyone should be getting a draft pdf in 6-7 months from now. We lit that simmer for a bit, and then...

Step #4: Print Run. The print run and press proof process takes about another 2 months. By this point however, all digital assets will be delivered.

Step #5: Shipping. We can't ship books if they aren't completed, but once the pallet of books arrives, we start shipping! It takes about a month to get everything all sorted at the distribution center and shipped.

Ultimately we are looking at 10-12 months from now for delivery after the full production cycle. Which is pretty damn good for TTRPG crowdfunding, and you guys will get plenty of other content as it's made and finished along the way, so...stay tuned because now all of you are part of the process.

There will be polls, chances for feedback, and you get to be a part of this process with us. That's the fun of being an early backer!

Okay...but...how about something in the meantime?

Some of you, may have snagged the last special editions of the Black Ballad or even some novels. Well...those are already done. We can actually ship those out next month if you wanted...but there is a catch: split shipping is kind of annoying.

If you want some of your add-ons early, just email us at [email protected] and we will check your address and look into media mailing you a package. We may hit you up for a few bucks on shipping, and we'll update the back end here to mark that portion as filled. This is on a case-by-case basis, but it's certainly doable. Just let us know if you want your copy of the finished stuff all bundled and shipped out early!

Again, thank you so much everyone! We are about to zoom around like the caffeinated (and now apparently tea-infused) creators that we are!

The Storytellers Forge Team. 

Hey everyone!

We are counting down on the final push, ergo, I'm putting some incentives right up front on why you should jump in on crowdfunding rather than wait:

Our primary goal is to unlock the soundtrack for everyone, it's a marquee point for Storytellers Forge and a bit of our Modus Operandi. Even if we get close to that, I'll probably find a way to make it possible. We can only do that if we even start kissing the next few goals, and that means, we need your help. 

Currently, we are gearing up for more BOOK content with our current stretch goal, because Hughe has a bajillion monsters floating around in his brain.

So in these final days, if you are a backer - spread the word! The more we unlock, the more stuff you get for free.

Want to see a great example of stretch goals in actions? Here's some of our friends over at Eren Chronicles:

I'll give props due where they are due: Eren Chronicles team nailed their cross promotion and outreach efforts and really put a lot of elbow grease into their campaign. They should! Because frankly witchy occult D&D never goes out of style. Their stretch goals have been burning on a pyre and you can explore their campaign book here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/erenchronicles/zamanora-ballad-of-the-witch

This is a solid example of when hardwork crosses with the perfect market timing and the right spells being cast behind the scenes, and I'm super proud that they were able to make this project hit in the way they did (and yes, I'm a backer of it).

We can still do the same thing! There are over 1300 followers on this campaign that are waiting for the final days! So let's get us some music!

I don't have an easy way to share the soundtrack that Mr. Agitator is working on in a backerkit update, so I'm just going to share a song that will make everyone bop instead.

You spin me...right...round...

Rick shambles in.
Rick holds up cup of coffee.

Rick holds up a sign that reads: "As the dirty bean drinker, I was outvoted."

-----

Alright, I'm back to work. Which means updates and conventions. This week, we will be at Garycon!

We are working with our partners (whose logo you see on this project) over at TPK Gaming, so if you see us behind the TPK booth selling the Black Ballad and dice...well...that's why! Don't worry, you'll know it's us by the fact I'll probably be handing out fliers or eagerly flailing my arms like a penguin lost on land. Don't ask.

Today I want to talk about one of the more exciting partnerships that was brought about entirely because of a fictional entity.

Hughe, the Dark Ringmaster, canonically drinks Earl Grey Tea, like a proper mustache twirling villain. Sure, we get this. I of course, made an attempt and manufacturing a bag of proper bean juice with a very frustrated image of Hughe wondering "What the F@!# is this shite?" and the Editorial Staff promptly exiled me off the island.

Enter me blind reaching out to D&Tea.

To quote the illustrious Mr. Gideon:

D&Tea is a passion project co-managed by a small but spirited team of TTRPG enthusiasts, dedicated to bringing together two of the best things in life: tea and games. The idea was born around a tabletop, sparked by the question: "What if the tea we drank while we played gave us in-game bonuses?" This led to countless hours of discussion about which tea ingredients could enhance different aspects of gameplay. Today, D&Tea thrives as a growing collection of high-quality blends, crafted to enrich both gaming sessions and everyday moments with adventurous flavors.

But get this: One of our artists, Olivia Hintz is also their social media manager. (We did not know that when we reached out)

So, what's the deal with collaboration?

Simple... in our loot box tier we are going to uh...engage in "Playtesting" of the Tea and explore some custom blends to find the one that best fits the theme, and how to bundle and package this. We aren't there yet (that's a stage a little later in production) but we have officially decided to team up.

When you are storytelling games, physical sensations add a lot to the table experience (sight, smell, sound, touch...and taste is a powerful memory invoker). Ergo, as our goal is to provide immersive tabletop experiences and we have sight (art), sound (soundtrack and narration), touch (book), taste and smell get covered by the tea!

Every loot box tier will come with the tea we end up choosing but fret not, once the book is ready or even in the middle of this year - we will unlock some extra add on's of different flavors and accessories once they are finalized based on backer's vote.

If you are a backer on this project, there is exclusive voting options below!

That's all for today's update everyone! You can follow D&Tea everywhere @dandteaco or their website, and if you want to see some more options we are exploring and have a say in the tea / add-ons - hop on in! 

I'm out until Garycon is over, so everyone have a fantastic weekend!

-Rick

Hello, you magical misfits. This is Pat Edwards, co-founder of Storytellers Forge. I took over the "update" reigns today in an attempt to force Rick to take a little break. I was hoping he'd give himself an entire day... but really I'll settle for him resting the amount of time it takes me to write this update. Real talk, you'd have a better chance stopping the sun from rising than stopping Rick from working.

On our last update, we celebrated hitting our initial funding goal... and here we are, on the very next update, having hit not one but TWO of our stretch goals! Thank you all so much. You are the absolute bestest. Anyone else who thinks they're the bestest is wrong. It's you.

Let's talk about those stretch goals, huh? First, we've unlocked more gorgeous full-color illustrations from Art Director, James Mosingo and the team! The pieces they are creating for this book are so dang good... I am ecstatic they are getting to make even more.

Second! You all have unlocked the Cosmology of the Dark Carnival by Michael Angelo, himself. This is an entire new chapter being added to the book that explores the Threefold Realms and the origins of the Dark Ringmaster's home.

"What's next?!" you ask.

"Thanks for asking," I reply. Our next stretch goal, unlocked at $70,000 is the Bestiary Pack #1. This includes three additional creations for the Festival: The Balloon Slime, the Animated Steam Organs, and the Calliope Golem! Listen, gang, if the phrase "Animated Steam Organs" doesn't you all gassed up, I don't know what will. Let's go out and get it!

Oh! And one more thing...

The folks over at Two Starving Gnolls have launched their horror game The Exorcist’s Codex—a brand-new role-playing experience set in an occult 1890s Europe. This complete game includes a Core Rulebook and a GM’s Guide, spanning 500+ pages with 12 distinct professions, VTT support, and several unlocked stretch goals, including a free scenario collection!

Inspired by Lovecraft and The Exorcist movies – we give you The Exorcist’s Codex.