Well, I'm sorry to say that I don't think we're going to make it.  I just don't see $700/day happening over the next few days.  (We've had just over $700 in new/raised pledges over the past week, unfortunately.)  Therefore a few minutes after I post this update, I'll be cancelling the project.  I guess I hate long waits and goodbyes...

But it is not the end.  As most of you know I started the "Monster Stock Art" sister project a couple of weeks ago which uses much of the same art.  I've decided to add a pledge reward to that project for laminated cardstock minis!  Not quite the same as this, but similar (you can write on them with whiteboard markers, they are more durable than normal cardstock).  And the cost is a lot better.  In fact, you'll get about 400 minis for $25 (instead of 200 for $30 as this was.)  However, the PDF is an extra $5.  By itself the PDF is $10 (just monsters) $15 (monsters, animals, and humans/demi-humans). 

The new laminated cardstock minis will come as eight 8.5" x 11" laminated cardstock pages.  Each page will have a theme (dragons, undead, etc.) although there may be a catch-all page or some questionable placements just to make the best use of space.  There will likely be some extra pages that focus on extras of common creatures.  For example, if you want a goblinoid army (goblins and related creatures) you can add that for $3 each or substitute it for one of the other pages of creatures you don't need.  The exact breakdown of creatures will be noted toward the end of the pledge period, but before pledging completes.

Just like we planned with this project, if the Monster Stock Art project hits the goal early, the extra pledge money will be used to add more art/creatures to the overall set!  And if most people here move over to the new project and make a pledge, we'll likely be right around that project's goal and trying to figure out which creatures to add!

I'll also have an update tonight to the monster stock art project with new samples.

The survey is virtually unchanged since I last posted, so if you're a backer and haven't yet done the survey, see the link in Update #7.

Below this post you'll see a couple of new samples.  Artist Eric Quigley treats us to two ogres!  These guys are great.  I love the detail on the club guy's face and the javelin thrower shows a lot of action.

Pledges have picked up some, but it is a bit slow still.  I'll be posting about this update in the usual places and hopefully things will pick up as people who have it "starred" make their decisions and it will also get into the "ending soon" section of Kickstarter.

Also, don't forget about the sister project: Monster Stock Art.  If you're a publisher (print, PDF, or video/iPad/Android/web games) or have a blog/website I think it is a very useful product. You'll get permission to use most of the great art from this project (and hopefully more) in your own projects.  At about $1 (web-size) or $1.50 (print) per image if you get the larger packages, you can't really go wrong. 

I'll have another update in a couple of days with a couple more samples and any other new information.

I wanted to share a couple more samples that have arrived.

First, we have a classic and very regal looking griffin.  Artist Bruno Balixa is the artist behind it.  I think all the art coming in is top-notch.  Bruno is also the artist behind the cyclops.

Malcolm McClinton brings us this treant.  As you may have noticed in the Malcolm's red dragon posted on the main project page he seems to get an extra level of detail in his pieces. One note: I did ask Malcolm to make sure the very top of the tree isn't cut off in the final graphics.

We should have more art to preview through the end of the project.  

Finally, as usual if you have a chance to mention or post about the project, please do!

Just a quick update with some more sample images.  Attached to this post are:

• Hellhound by Keith Curtis: I've been working with Keith for 2+ years now and I love the concept behind this guy.
• Earth Elemental by Ryan Sumo: Ryan delivered two versions of this colorful character.  I suggested that some Earth Elementals can be man sized or just one or two size classes larger, so the trees don't make sense in those cases.  But at other times they can be larger and I love the addition of the trees.  So two versions make everyone happy.  I'll probably only include the version with trees in the PDF because the cards won't be large enough for the larger version.

Again, if you have an opportunity to mention this project to others please do!  Here is a post with some Kickstarter tips and observations which includes a projects pledge chart and you can see how pledging picks up near the end: http://crossoverminiatures.com/2012/01/27/my-kickstarter-experience/

I've commissioned artwork for several more of the creatures for the project, and sketches for these are now coming in. 

The first sketch (they should be at the bottom) is a hobgoblin leader.  There will be three other hobgoblin images--two with melee weapons and one with a bow.  I'm honestly struggling to discern a hobgoblin from an orc.  The best advice I could come up for artist Storn Cook was the head should be a bit rounder while the mouth should stay at least as big or a touch bigger.  If you've got other advice, I'll pass it on.  But I'm very happy with Storn's work.

The next two images are of an earth elemental from Ryan Sumo.  The first image is a collection of 9 sketches he did to help finalize a pose.  I picked #3. (Interestingly, I showed it to my almost 6-year-old, and she independently picked the same one!  Another backer who is also a co-worker of mine also picked #3.)  The last image is the first cut of that Earth Elemental.  I really, really like it.  I did ask to drop the pine trees as those wouldn't be to scale for many earth elementals.

Next up, here are the updated survey results:

Which miniature background color do you like best?

• White: 23
• Light gray: 26
• Gray: 2
• Any: 15

What should be on the backs of each mini? (Drawing a back-side to each creature or using clear plastic is cost prohibitive.)

• Black silhouette: 13
• Outline: 25
• Mirrored version of front: 13
• Any of the above: 15

The original pitch and samples had icons for defense (a shield) and health/hits-remaining/hit-points (a heart.) They were on the upper corners of the back of the mini.  Should we keep these?

• Yes: 25
• No: 23
  
• Don't Care: 18

What best represents your feeling about the color of the stands?

• All black: 10
  
• All white: 6
• Mostly black with a 1 each of most other colors (blue brown green orange purple red white and yellow): 13
  
• Mostly white with a 1 each of most other colors (blue brown green orange purple red black and yellow): 0
• Even Mix: 17
• No Preference: 20
  

Which color stand(s) would you want least, if any?  (Have no use for.)  You may select more than one, one, or none.

• Black 6
  
• Blue 4
  
• Brown 7
  
• Green 5
  
• Orange 14
• Purple 9
  
• Red 9
  
• White 12
• Yellow 16

Stock Art Project

If you're a publisher (print, PDF, or video/iPad/Android/web games) or have a blog/website, don't forget about the sister project: Monster Stock Art.  You'll get permission to use most of this great art (and hopefully more if either break their goals) in your own projects.  At about $1 (web-size) or $1.50 (print) per image if you get the larger packages, you can't really go wrong.  Plus as you can see on that project's page, through different backgrounds and color hue/saturation changes you can really make the art look different.

Promotion

Finally, if you've got a chance to plug the project, please do!  It really helps and if everyone on the project brings just one other person on board, I'm pretty sure we'll make our goal. 

Further, don't be discouraged that we're just 55% of the way with only a little over 20% of the way to go... I know from my last Kickstarter project (and from those I've backed--but I have a nice chart from mine) that pledging picks up during the final days.  In fact, for that project the best day was the 5th to last day.  However, it won't happen easily without some help, so please do try to bring some others on board!  Thank you!