Shh. You get first crack at the new project
Update #19
- For backers only
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May 15, 2013
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7 comments
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State of the Project, Backers-Only Addendum
Update #18
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May 10, 2013
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19 comments
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State of the Project, May 2013
Hi everyone. Here's an update about where we stand with the Year of the Dwagon project.
First, the good news is that all remaining backer rewards were mailed out last month. Only DVDs (which do not yet exist) remain for pledge rewards. If you feel you are still owed something that's not a DVD, please message me directly through Kickstarter, and we will sort it out.
The bad news is that a lot of the goals we had set for this project have been stalled out for some time. We're not giving up on any of them, but like many projects that exceed their initial targets, we have made a series of unpleasant discoveries and gotten clobbered by unknowns. Here are two very good articles about how this happens:
http://www.dailydot.com/business/hidden-cost-kickstarter-success-taxes/
What specifically happened to us is that much of what we set out to fund has turned out to be a whole lot more expensive than we'd planned, despite getting quotes before we launched. Stickers, pink dwagons and Hamstards set us back more than anticipated. Our pre-animation, composing, and other creative work on the motion comic drained so much of the budget so fast that we had to call a time out and figure out how we could afford to proceed. There were legal and other unforeseen expenses that cropped up, too.
Additionally, we ended up having two major capital outlays last year that were not funded by the project. The purple decrypted dwagon plushies had to be ordered in a high quantity, because the material was custom made. And the larger-size hardcover books we decided to make were a $20,000+ expense which was never planned for (very much my mistake).
Among the nastiest surprises was the cost of shipping. Postage rates went up at the worst possible time. When we went to the larger-than-planned hardcover book, it was over 4 pounds and in wider dimensions. The cost to ship it overseas is $35! I had to ask our backers for additional support in January just to get the books out the door. They came through, and I am very grateful.
Maybe the most crushing, time-eating thing has been the story of the new website. Before launching the Kickstarter, I researched local web development companies and found one that really had their act together. They had done impressive work for security-dependent clients like credit unions, and their designs looked awesome. I gave them a spec for my dream website, they gave me a ballpark bid of $7500. So I doubled that and made our stretch goal $15,000.
After we had raised that money, I went back to them and had a 2-hour meeting with the lead developer and company owner about everything I wanted the site to do. They then came back and told me it would be $36,000 to build.
Since we didn't have that much, I went to plan B. We have a lot of volunteer talent reading this comic, and I hired an Erfworld fan to be lead developer on the site. He gave me a bid of around $8000 to build the site in Drupal. Long story short, he bailed on the project after about 5 months of development, and disappeared. I then put together a second team of Erfworld readers. The second team started over on a new platform (ELGG), got some things done. Then the lead coder had a personal crisis and quit. That took another 5 months to play out. Then we pulled together a third team. Team 3 changed platforms again and thought they could have the site up by January. Then by April. Last month, they also effectively dissolved and vanished. I am now pulling together Team 4, to pick up where Team 3 left off, starting in June.
But the very worst thing—what really has knocked us flat—has been Xin's situation. Her family crisis has impacted her ability to draw, and she decided to leave the comic after Book 2. That has left me with a major project I never planned for: finding a new artist. I have spent the last six months searching for someone who could possibly replace her. We have someone now, but getting him up to speed and ready to draw this comic has been a project in and of itself.
Very soon, we'll be launching another Kickstarter called "E is for Erfworld" (The Erfabet Book). This will be to introduce the new artist by having him draw Erfworld characters and creatures for every letter of the alphabet. It's a smaller project, but an important one. If we can't fund a professional illustrator, then I am not sure how we can keep Erfworld going at all.
So, it's been rough. But it's not hopeless. Everything costs twice as much and takes 5 times as long as we think, but I believe it will all get done and be awesome. Erfworld under the next artist ought to be able to hold to a regular update schedule, the website will get built, and we'll march forward into the rest of the saga.
Thanks as always for your patience and support.
-Rob Balder
A big thank you
Update #16
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Jan 25, 2013
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8 comments
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Various Learning Experiences
Update #15
- For backers only
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Jan 23, 2013
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25 comments
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1,148
Backers
$84,981
pledged of $24,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Feb 14, 2012 -
Mar 15, 2012
- 2 created · 25 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: erfworld.com
Pledge $10 or more
39 backers
Brag About It Forever - Permanent site badge for your log-in at Erfworld.com, showing that you helped fund the motion comic and are superior in every way to those who did not.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $15 or more
183 backers
Literally Trillions of Electrons - a download of Erfworld Book 1, the Battle for Gobwin Knob in .pdf or other e-book format, plus the site badge at Erfworld.com.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $20 or more
31 backers
Rectangle of Gratitude - a signed postcard with a special thank you message, plus the e-book download and site badge.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $25 or more
147 backers
Stupid Meal, (or Pimp Your Lunchbox) - a sticker set of Erfworld characters, plus the signed postcard, e-book download and site badge. This reward package hereafter known as the "Stupid Meal."
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $31 or more
104 backers
Adept-class Signamancy: A softcover copy of Erfworld Book 1, signed by Rob Balder. You'll also get the badge at Erfworld.com (all donor levels $10 or more get the badge, too). Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $33 or more
4 backers
Rodent Fever - One 7-inch high bundle of sunshine, the new Hamstard the Bastard Hamster bean-fill plush toy. You'll also get the badge at Erfworld.com. Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $35 or more
66 backers
Pink Rock, Don't Care - a Kickstarter exclusive pink decrypted dwagon plushie (not armored), but nothing else. (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $40 or more
23 backers
If Life Gives You the Shirts - One t-shirt with new Crap Golem design in any size, plus the Stupid Meal deal. (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $45 or more
25 backers
Signamancy at Lunch - A softcover copy of Erfworld Book 1, signed by Rob Balder, plus the Stupid Meal deal. (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $50 or more
109 backers
Shiny Circle of Something - DVD or Blu Ray copy of the completed motion comic, plus the Stupid Meal deal. (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $70 or more
14 backers
Want Shiny Circle, But I'm Also Cold - DVD or Blu-ray of the motion comic, plus the Crap Golem shirt, and Stupid Meal deal. (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $80 or more
37 backers
Immortalize Me - a first printing copy of the hardcover version of Erfworld Book 1, the Battle for Gobwin Knob, plus your name on a special thank-you page in that and all future printings of Book 1, and the Stupid Meal deal (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $95 or more
18 backers
Allergic to Dwagons - Hardcover copy of the book, DVD/Blu Ray, plus your name on the thank-you page, and the Stupid Meal deal.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $100 or more
26 backers Limited (39 of 65 left)
Just Want the Cyoot! - One of the armored decrypted red dwagon plushies shown in the video, plus your name on the thank-you page, and the Stupid Meal deal. (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $125 or more
9 backers Limited (16 of 25 left)
The Cyoot and the Bitter - One Hamstard plush beanie, and one of the armored decrypted red dwagon plushies shown in the video, plus your name on the thank-you page, and the Stupid Meal deal. (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $130 or more
198 backers Limited (52 of 250 left)
Sponsor One Page - armored plushie, hardcover book, your name on the thank-you page, DVD/Blu-ray and Stupid Meal (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $170 or more
21 backers Limited (29 of 50 left)
Sponsor One Page AND I'm Cold! - armored plushie, hardcover book, your name on the thank-you page, DVD/Blu-ray, Crap Golem Shirt, and Stupid Meal (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $260 or more
5 backers Limited (70 of 75 left)
Sponsor Two Pages - VIP Badge hanger and ride the Party Bus at Intervention Con, our motion comic release party, plus armored plushie, hardcover book, your name on the thank-you page, DVD/Blu-ray and Stupid Meal (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $390 or more
7 backers Limited (43 of 50 left)
Sponsor Three Pages - Signed sketch by Xin Ye of your subject of choice, plus VIP Badge hanger and ride the Party Bus at Intervention Con, armored plushie, hardcover book, your name on the thank-you page, DVD/Blu-ray and Stupid Meal (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $520 or more
3 backers Limited (7 of 10 left)
Sponsor Four Pages - Your face in cameo in a battle scene in a future page of the main Erfworld comic, plus VIP Badge hanger and ride the Party Bus at Intervention Con, armored plushie, hardcover book, your name on the thank-you page, DVD/Blu-ray and Stupid Meal (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $1,040 or more
2 backers Limited (3 of 5 left)
Sponsor Eight Pages - Your face and costume idea as a caster in the Magic Kingdom on a future page of the main Erfworld comic, plus VIP Badge hanger and ride the Party Bus at Intervention Con, armored plushie, hardcover book, your name on the thank-you page, DVD/Blu-ray and Stupid Meal (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $1,950 or more
4 backers Limited (1 of 5 left)
Sponsor Fifteen Pages - prose episode written and signed by Rob Balder, describing who you'd be in Erfworld (at least 1000 words) plus VIP Badge hanger and ride the Party Bus at Intervention Con, armored plushie, hardcover book, DVD/Blu-ray and Stupid Meal (Outside of North America, please add $10 to your pledge for shipping costs.)
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
Dance For Me, Author-Boy! - I (Rob Balder) will fly out to visit you (North America and Caribbean only) and spend a day or so geeking out with you and your game group or whatever. I will bring goodies and surprises and I don't (just) mean booze. You will also get the armored dwagon plushie, hardcover book, DVD/Blu-ray and Stupid Meal.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2013Pledge $7,500 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Adept-Class Dollamancy - Xin Ye will cosplay in any outfit of any Erfworld character at GenCon 2012, and do a photo shoot. You will also get the armored dwagon plushie, hardcover book, DVD/Blu-ray and Stupid Meal.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $10,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Master-Class Dollamancy - Rob Balder will cosplay in any outfit of any Erfworld character at GenCon 2012, and do a photo shoot. YES, THIS INCLUDES WANDA AT HER SLEAZIEST. You will also get the armored dwagon plushie, a hardcover book, DVD/Blu-ray and Stupid Meal. You will also get a signed vomit bag.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
