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Project FAQ
TL;DR: At the time of writing, books appear to be getting through without issue, while other items may be subject to tariffs (typically 10–15% of the production cost, so all in all relatively low). If unsure, pick only books. -- Long version: The honest answer? We don’t know, not yet. And we probably won’t until we’re much closer to shipping. Tariff policies under the current U.S. administration have been… let’s say unpredictable. One week it’s business as usual, the next week the rules change mid-sentence. A few highlights: - The De Minimis exemption (which allowed goods under $800 to skip customs fees) was terminated two years early. - Tariffs initially agreed at 15% with the EU were thrown into doubt just days later, with a looming threat of them jumping to 35% or more as a retaliation for a potential digital service tax. - Tariffs with China have been frozen and thawed twice already, each time for three months. New tariffs have been implemented in mid October with no warning in retaliation for changes to the export policy of rare metals. - Since U.S. customs isn’t exactly prepared for the chaos these policy shifts are causing, a flat fee of $80 per package is currently in effect. This temporary measure is expected to last possibly until February 2026, while the system undergoes a much-needed overhaul. Many shipping services, instead of dealing with this, have decided not to ship to US until the situation clears. - The current tariffs are under legal challenge. As of now, a Supreme Court ruling is pending, which could potentially overturn them, assuming the government complies with the decision. We won't know until mid November at least. We could go on, but you probably know the absolute chaos better than we do. So here’s our advice: if the possibility of customs charges a year from now gives you cold sweats, go digital. The game’s just as good in PDF, and your wallet stays blissfully unpunched. Still want the physical edition but want to minimize tariff risk? Skip the dice and the map. Based on what we know now, we think we can get the books through unscathed—but dice and map are more likely to trigger tariffs. Nothing we say above is guaranteed, but it’s our best guess at this stage.
We will issue refunds, no questions asked, up to November 25, 2025 (IMPORTANT: Platform and payment processor fees will be subtracted from the pledge amount because we never receive those funds. You're looking at a 90% refund, more or less. If you think you might ask for a refund, choose the €1 pledge instead so you can decide later.) After that date, the funds raised will be invested in the game's development and the company's day-to-day operations. Unless there is a clear fault on our part, sales are considered final for tax purposes. Packages rejected or destroyed due to unpaid customs fees, as well as packages delivered to the wrong location because the correct address was not communicated before the deadline, will not be refunded or sent again. We are not responsible for sudden changes in U.S. tariff policies, the U.S. government is. Under the current administration, these shifts are difficult to predict and may result in unexpected customs charges, which are beyond our control. If physical product shipping costs are not settled in BackerKit by the survey deadlines, your physical reward pledge will be converted to a digital reward pledge. There will be no refund for the difference, but any remaining funds will be available for you to spend on other PDF products, or converted to store credit. Physical orders from countries where we do not ship (see Shipping and Fulfillment) will be converted to a digital reward pledge unless a valid address is provided (please make sure before you order). We reserve the right to decide each case on its own merits.
Your dry-erase map will automatically be added to your order at checkout. However, if you ultimately opt for a digital reward instead and confirm this in the Pledge Manager, we will contact you to ensure that you still want a physical item shipped to you. Please note that this will trigger shipping expenses.
Here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theworldanvil/bitter-chalice Bitter Chalice is currently in production and scheduled for delivery in late 2026. There’s a small chance that Dirt City Blues may enter full production first. If that happens, you'll receive all your rewards together—as soon as all items have reached our warehouse.
BackerKit FAQ
BackerKit Crowdfunding is an all-or-nothing collaborative funding platform. Creators share their project ideas and set a funding goal with a deadline. Backers pledge money to help make the project possible.
If the project meets its goal by the deadline, pledges are charged and the creator moves forward. If it doesn’t, no one is charged.
Backers often receive special rewards for their support, such as:
- Exclusive products
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- Discount pricing
- Behind-the-scenes updates
- Creative input opportunities
Pledging in crowdfunding is a commitment to support the creation of a new product or project. Unlike a traditional purchase, you're not buying an item that already exists. Instead, your contribution helps bring a creative idea to life, and in return, you typically receive rewards (such as the product itself) as a thank you for your early support.
- Select a pledge level with the reward(s) you would like to receive
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- Confirm your pledge!
- You are charged only if the campaign meets its funding goal.
- Charges happen when the campaign ends, not when you pledge.
The creator will send you a survey to:
- Ask you for more information about your rewards (selecting options, etc)
- Collect shipping information
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The survey will be sent to the email address we have on file with your pledge. Additional payments are charged when you complete the survey.
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You can change or adjust your pledge level and add-ons before the campaign ends. After the project concludes, cancellations or changes are at the creator's discretion and may depend on what stage the project is in.
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