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Update #29: Farewell to Fear, Our New Game
Update #28: Amaranthology Updates
So, the final author list looks to be:
+Chuck Wendig+Stew Wilson Wood Ingham+Filamena Young +J.R. Blackwell Ernesto Gomez+Ian Williams +Mischa Wolfinger +Renee Ritchie +Robyn Hines +Stephanie Lorée +Will Greenwald Some mighty fine names, amirite? I'll be doing two versions, everyone that buys a copy or is owed a copy will get both versions. There will be the "novel version" which will be text-only, and fiction-only. It'll be Kindle and other reader friendly. Then there's the "game version" where I'll do pretty in-character layout for each story, and add game mechanics to support each story. That version will be PDF. Might do a 6x9 or similar print version for it, but not sure. Depends on how the colors look and all that.I'll be co-developing it at the same time as Farewell to Fear. So it'll likely be a bit before we see the final product.
Update #27: Flatpack: Fix the Future
Just connecting with our previous Kickstarter supporters. We've got a new game, Flatpack: Fix the Future.
Have you heard anyone say that the future's not so bright, and thought, "But I have lightbulbs?" If so, Flatpack is the game for you! Until someone tells us otherwise, we're saying that Flatpack: Fix the Future is the first game in the smash Hyperoptimistic Postapocalyptic genre of gaming. Flatpack is a game about building a new society using pre-apocalypse technology that you don't always trust or understand, and solving terrible problems creatively.
*Flatpack uses simple resolution mechanics made to be playable for anyone that can read.
*Think IKEA, meets Civilization, meets Actraiser, meets Earthbound, in pen and paper game form!
*Cooperative and tongue-in-cheek gameplay focused on puzzles, brainteasers, and play achievements.
Check out our Kickstarter campaign!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/machineage/flatpack-fix-the-future-optimistic-apocalyptic-rpg
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David A Hill Jr on January 17
Yes and no. I'm getting submissions in. But it turns out, getting writers to commit to deadlines can be like herding kittens. So I'll probably do a second round of stories to buff up the book a little. I'm not sure yet. I'm going to give the writers until the end of January before I make any final calls in that regard. Then, editing, second pass, and done.
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Update #26: Penultimate Shipment
So, I just sent out a huge, near-final shipment of Amaranthine for the Kickstarter backers. I can't even begin to describe what I mean when I say huge. I should have taken photos. There are only two backers left that gave me their information, who I have yet to send packages to. That's partly because they're getting specific stuff that adds a bit of complexity to the orders. Anyway, if you're not at the $250 or higher levels, you should see your stuff soon. I sent most of them via USPS Media Mail, so they say 7-10 days should be an expectation. If you don't see them by then, just drop me a line.
International Orders
I sent your packages as well. That said, I know some of you talked to me about possibly helping out with shipping. That'd be awesome. The average shipment domestically was $5. Most of the international orders were in the range of $20-$25. Unfortunately for me, that means that I effectively lost money on some of the orders. Not the end of the world, I knew that could happen, going in. But, when you get your package, if you're interested in helping defray the shipping cost via Paypal or something, I'd be grateful. If not, that's cool, too. Unfortunately, Kickstarter just doesn't really have a good mechanism for accounting for international shipping.
Also, I have no idea how long each given package should take. The post office doesn't even give estimates, and the numbers vary. I've sent packages to Norway that took four days. I've sent packages to Mexico that took two weeks. There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason there.
Everyone
If you haven't already gotten a link to the PDF, or you've lost it or whatever, drop me an email. I'll send you a download link.
Amaranthology
As you could see, I'm just now getting moving on the Amaranthology project. Bumps, hurdles, et cetera, and so forth. Once that's done, I'll distribute it appropriately. If anyone would like to be credited as a proofreader, I could include you in the process when I start getting drafts (likely the beginning of January). Just let me know.
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David A Hill Jr on November 5, 2011
I'm still looking into the logistics of that. I was trying to do epub and mobi, but it turns out they're actually not as easy as their respective websites say. There's a bunch of kinks and bugs that they didn't anticipate. So, I'll get to those soon, they're just much more complex than I assumed.
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Chris Cassell on December 10
Did you get any tracking info? Still not seen hide of hair of my delivery at all.
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David A Hill Jr on December 10
Hm. No, I don't have tracking info. That said, next week I should be getting a run of books. I'll just send you out a second package. I know when I sent it, that was quite a while ago (October). So if you don't have it by now, it's invariably not arriving.
Sorry about that. I'm not sure why the post is giving me so much grief this time around.
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Update #25: Order Printing, Character Sheet
Just wanted to update people. The order was placed August 2nd (right before I left for Gen Con). I was told it'd take six weeks for the run to print and ship. So, as soon as I get them, they'll go in the mail. Some of you already have copies from the short run I did for Gen Con. They'll be identical, with possibly one page difference (and nothing will be on that page, it's just printer jargon).
I have an updated form of the character sheet for your perusal. This version's a little more intensive than the one in the PDF and book. I think the game needs a two-page sheet. Besides, this one has a player guide for Escalations and stuff. Should make life a little easier.
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Neal Dalton on October 26, 2011
Did the shipment arrive on the 17th? Have the books started to go out?
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David A Hill Jr on October 26, 2011
Yes, we've received and shipped almost all. We've sent out all the US shipments, and we're working on the international. We sent them Media Mail, which is estimated at 7-10 days.
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88
Backers
$6,008
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on May 10, 2011.
Pledge $20 or more Pledge $20 or more
At the $20 level, you will be listed as a backer in the final product. As well, you will receive the PDF version of Amaranthine upon release. We're exploring options for alternate digital releases, such as HTML, Kindle, and other formats. You'll be given any such formats as well. You'll also be given the digital proof copy before it goes to publication.
Pledge $30 or more Pledge $30 or more
At the $30 level, you'll all previously listed benefits. As well, upon release of the digital copy to the public, you'll receive a 1gb USB flash drive imprinted with the Amaranthine logo. We're still hammering out the specific details, but it'll have a pretty wooden or leather case.
Pledge $60 or more Pledge $60 or more
At the $60 level, you'll be listed as a backer in the final product, and receive the digital form of the game. As well, you'll be the proud owner of the hard copy of Amaranthine. This will be a 200-300 page hardcover, full-color text.
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
This is a package deal. You get the PDF, the flash drive form, and the hardcover form of Amaranthine.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Just like at $75, you'll get PDF, USB, and hardcover forms of the game. As well, we'll write you into the game fiction of the core rulebook. Your copy of Amaranthine will be personally signed.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
This is the "friend of Machine Age" level. You get a lot of cool stuff. 1) The PDF/Digital version of Amaranthine. 2) The hardcover of Amaranthine. 3) The USB Flash Drive version of Amaranthine. 4) A print copy of Maschine Zeit. 5) A flash drive of Maschine Zeit. 6) Three adventures for Maschine Zeit, in one print anthology. 7) Written into Amaranthine, per the $100 level. 8) Special thanks in the front of Amaranthine. 9) Your copy of Amaranthine will be personally signed.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
Special friend level? You get all eight things listed in the $150 level. As well, we owe you a meal. At the next convention we're at together, we'll get food with you. Nothing spectacular, but more to the point of spending some time with us, where we'll talk on our thanks, our upcoming projects, et cetera. We'll be doing release at Gen Con. We go to a number of conventions per year. Or if you're in the SoCal area, we'll just make it happen here. Either way, we'll owe you a meal.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
This is the "Employer of Machine Age Productions" level. As above. But, we will work for you. Going rate for writing in RPGs is about 3-5 cents per word. Since we're really dedicated to getting Amaranthine funded, if you give us $500, not only do you get a whole ton of awesome stuff, you are effectively hiring us at a premium rate. We'll work for two cents per word (about 25,000 words) on whatever you want. Do you want your own game based on an idea you've been mulling over? Done. Do you want us to develop and flesh out something you've been working on? Done. Do you have a 25,000 opening on an RPG project and a tighter budget than you'd like? Done. In fact, we'll repeat this rate for anything higher than $500. Discuss the details with us. We can produce 25,000 words in about a month, depending on our current workload. More words, we'll have to discuss terms. We'll write up a contract. You can have whatever rights over those words you want, so long as we're credited. If you want, this offer can extend to development, editing, consultation, or any other game design work you'd like. Are you writing something you're not sure about? We'll develop it for you, and polish it into something we'd play. If you pledge at this level, we'll discuss what it means for you. We'll err on the side of Doing More Cool Things For You.
Project By
Connected as Filamena Young (103 friends)
David A Hill Jr is the chief designer of Farewell to Fear. He's a loud, outspoken liberal. A writer. A father. A lot of things. He's won awards for his work on games such as Hunter: The Vigil, Shadowrun, and Pathfinder. He's worked on a ton of others, including Vampire: The Requiem, Werewolf: The Forsaken, Eclipse Phase, Dragon Age, Leverage, and others. With his and his wife's company, Machine Age Productions, they've released a plethora of games including Maschine Zeit, Amaranthine, Flatpack: Fix the Future, and Kicking Historical Asses.
The author list looked perfectly G+ compatible when I initially posted it. Then, the final version? Not so much.
Chuck Wendig
Stew Wilson
Wood Ingham
Filamena Young
J.R. Blackwell
Ernesto Gomez
Ian Williams
Mischa Wolfinger
Renee Ritchie
Robyn Hines
Stephanie Lorée
Will Greenwald