+24 Hours: What Happens Next?
about 2 months ago
– Sun, Sep 01, 2024 at 09:19:39 AM
Hello, everyone. Almost 24 hours have passed since the end of our Kickstarter campaign, and I wanted to send a quick update explaining what happens next. I know there is a lot here, as I have tried to cover as many questions as possible, so please read if you are a backer.
KICKSTARTER COLLECTING YOUR PLEDGE AMOUNTS
When the Hobday & Hicks project ended yesterday, Kickstarter started to collect your pledge amount, which they say can take up to two weeks. Please check to ensure that your pledge has been collected successfully. We have had a dozen failures. You will receive an email from Kickstarter informing you if it has not been collected. After two weeks, Kickstarter will transfer all pledge information to us, enabling the pledge manager to open. Until this happens, we have to sit patiently and wait.
THE PLEDGE MANAGER
While Kickstarter does its thing, I am putting together the pledge manager to have everything ready as soon as possible - it will take about two weeks, and we aim to launch by the 16th of September 2024. If you haven't participated in a Kickstarter before, the pledge manager, when it opens, is where you check and manage your pledge, choose any add-ons/packs and spend any extra pledge money. It is like a self-contained website for this campaign. You will be provided access via your Kickstarter email and be invited to confirm your pledge type.
In the pledge manager, you will be asked for any extra information we need, such as your postal address. You can add extra miniatures, paying for these separately if required. The whole pledge manager process will be clearly explained in the 'How to...' guide.
Once you decide and finalise your pledge, the shipping cost will be calculated based on your location and the weight of your items and then added to your total pledge amount. This will be clearly shown before you make your final payment.
The pledge manager we use is called BackerKit, and it offers PayPal as a payment option, which Kickstarter doesn't. We chose to include PayPal as a secure and widely used payment method, providing you with an additional option for managing your pledge.
FREEBIES
All 'freebies' will be immediately added to your pledge in the pledge manager and immediately visible. Athicus the Chronicler (24-hour miniature) will only be added to physical pledges for postage reasons. If you qualify for the 24-hour exclusive miniature, you will be asked to pay for the postage costs if you do not have a physical pledge.
Once finished, a digital PDF of the compendium will be available to all backers who complete their pledge.
WHAT DO I DO WHEN IT'S READY?
When the pledge manager is ready, I'll provide a comprehensive 'How to...' guide to walk you through the process. I'll also be on hand if you have questions or want help. If you prefer to contact me outside of Kickstarter, you can contact me directly on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/andywarhost. Your support and satisfaction are my top priorities.
If you backed "A Unique Sculpt by Paul Hicks", I will contact you separately via email after the pledge manager opens to discuss the process for having your miniature sculpted by Paul. In the meantime, please email me to let me know if you want 'Orc or Elf' so I can add the correct Warhost to your pledge.
Footsore Miniatures & Games, who will be manufacturing everything for us, has already started to make production moulds. The Footsore guys want to be ready to begin manufacturing in bulk as soon as you complete your pledges so we can ship orders quickly, which is excellent news indeed. Any digital products will be made available in the pledge manager.
That's all for now. While we wait, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either of us. We will continue to send regular updates to keep you informed.
~Andy & Paul (Hobday & Hicks)
If everything goes to plan, this is our timeline for this campaign:
• August 2024 - Kickstarter Campaign
• September 2024 - Pledge Manager
• September - October 2024 - Production
• October - November 2024 - Pick, Pack & Despatch
• End of November 2024 - Everything Despatched for Delivery
Thank you, everyone!
about 2 months ago
– Sat, Aug 31, 2024 at 12:01:11 PM
Thank you, everyone, for your invaluable support. It's because of you that we've been able to smash our funding goal! Keep following the update emails we send through Kickstarter, as we will use them to explain what happens next. We are fully committed to delivering your pledges as soon as possible.
As we were so damn close, Paul and I have unlocked the final Stretch Goal and will be creating the 60-page printed compendium.
We will explain what happens in detail next week. For now, start planning your Warhosts!
~Andy & Paul (Hobday & Hicks)
If everything goes to plan, this is our timeline for this campaign:
• August 2024 - Kickstarter Campaign
• September 2024 - Pledge Manager
• September - October 2024 - Production
• October - November 2024 - Pick, Pack & Despatch
• End of November 2024 - Everything Despatched for Delivery
Into the final 12 hours of the campaign!
about 2 months ago
– Sat, Aug 31, 2024 at 02:04:28 AM
Good morning, everyone. Today is the last day of the campaign, and we are already within the final 12 hours. We had a bit of a yo-yo day yesterday, but eventually, things settled down, and we unlocked the dwarf.
As mentioned in our last update, Paul and I have accepted that funding a printed supplement for the fantasy game like Outremer or Death & Taxes, weighing in at 100+ pages, is unlikely. However, we have included the next stretch goal to be a printed 60-page compendium focusing on the army lists and the mini-campaign. We see this as the perfect stepping-stone opportunity to get people playing fantasy Barons' War.
You can help to unlock the compendium by adding it to your pledge as an add-on now.
Don’t forget this is just the start of our journey. With less than 12 hours left, ensure you have added everything to your pledge.
~Andy & Paul (Hobday & Hicks)
If everything goes to plan, this is our timeline for this campaign:
• August 2024 - Kickstarter Campaign
• September 2024 - Pledge Manager
• September - October 2024 - Production
• October - November 2024 - Pick, Pack & Despatch
• End of November 2024 - Everything Despatched for Delivery
White Seer unlocked and Concepts for Orc & ELf Heros by Marco Capparoni
about 2 months ago
– Thu, Aug 29, 2024 at 09:09:58 AM
I've finally had the opportunity to finish the latest update. I can only apologise that you have had to wait. First, we unlocked the stretch goal for the White Seer and her Widowblade. If you've gone all-in, they will be added to your pledge. If you want to include them in your pledge, you can add them for £13 to the pledge manager.
ELF HERO & ORC HERO CREATED WITH BACKERS
Here are the concept sketches for our new heroes created by the very talented Marco Capparoni. We have been working with Marco on our Undead concepts, and with his burgeoning understanding of our fantasy world, he was the right man for this job.
The plan is for Paul to take these designs and turn them into miniatures. Both will be sculpted as a vignette of our two heroes locked in mortal combat. If you have backed All-in, they will be added to your pledge for free. If you have backed the Elf Warhost, we will add the Elf Hero to your pledge. If you have backed the Orc Warhost, we will add the Orc Hero to your pledge. You can also include both miniatures in your pledge as add-ons through the pledge manager. I can't wait to see the finished sculpts!
DWARF STRETCH GOAL
The dwarves, a surly lot, carve their lives in the heart of the mountains. For generations, their hammers have rung against the rock, extracting precious metals and crafting wonders in the flickering light of their forges. Isolated and fiercely independent, they view outsiders with suspicion, distrusting all who approach their mountain strongholds. While they engage in trade, their dealings are conducted with a wary eye. Cross them and face their wrath, for dwarves' vengeance is swift and brutal, a storm unleashed from the mountains themselves. ~Athicus the Chronicler
The next stretch goal is to include our first Dwarf Warrior miniature for free in all completed pledges. We think it will be great to add a dwarf for everyone, as they are our next faction for the fantasy range.
PRINTED FANTASY SUPPLEMENT
With roughly 50 hours left, Paul and I are being realistic about the possibility of funding a printed supplement for the fantasy game like Outremer or Death & Taxes; weighing in at 100+ pages is unlikely. However, if we reach £45,000, we will print the army lists and the mini-campaign as a 60-page compendium. We will also look to include new rules for playing fantasy games using The Barons’ War rules.
Don’t forget this is just the start of our journey. With only fifty hours left, ensure you have added everything to your pledge.
~Andy & Paul (Hobday & Hicks)
If everything goes to plan, this is our timeline for this campaign:
• August 2024 - Kickstarter Campaign
• September 2024 - Pledge Manager
• September - October 2024 - Production
• October - November 2024 - Pick, Pack & Despatch
• End of November 2024 - Everything Despatched for Delivery
Let's create an additional Elf Hero and Orc Hero - Day 2
about 2 months ago
– Tue, Aug 27, 2024 at 01:46:58 AM
Good morning, everyone. Yesterday, there was a lot of interest and excellent feedback, which we have collated below. Today is the final day for us to finalise our ideas, as we have our concept artist on standby. Marco is poised to create drawings for both, ahead of Paul sculpting the final heroes. If you have any final thoughts on the current briefs, please share them in the comments today.
Sculpting Brief: Orc Hero
Character: A hulking, muscular orc warrior known for his fierce strength and savage brutality.
Pose: The orc is in a dynamic pose, mid-charge, having just swept aside a fallen enemy with his shield. His face is contorted in a primal scream, his eyes filled with bloodlust.
or
Dynamic pose, capturing the moment he has just swept aside an enemy with his shield or axe. He should appear victorious and intimidating with a look of savage determination.
Armour: The orc wears heavy, rugged armour adorned with spikes, plates and studs. A tattered fur cloak drapes over his shoulders for extra warmth and a savage aesthetic.
Weapons: The orc carries a massive, spiked axe in one hand, or Morningstar, while the other holds a large, jagged shield with a spiked boss. A menacing orcish symbol is emblazoned upon the shield.
Accessories: The orc's belt is adorned with various weapons and tools, including a dagger, a throwing axe, and a head.
Additional Notes: The orc should have a muscular build and a fierce expression. His skin should be covered in scars, visible beneath his armour. The overall aesthetic should be brutal and intimidating, reflecting the orc's savage nature.
Sculpting Brief: Elf Hero
Character: A skilled and noble elven warrior known for their grace and precision in combat.
Pose: A dynamic and balanced stance, with the elf bracing for a charge. Their legs are spread slightly, and their body is angled slightly forward as if they are about to lunge. One hand holds a sword poised high, almost as if looking down it, while the other has a shield or second sword at a diagonal angle.
or
The weapon resting atop the shield, the hero braced for the enemy's charge, and the cape/cloak flying behind. This gives some space for adding whatever glyphs one wants to add to the cape/cloak.
Armour: Light to medium armour, such as chain or scale mail, with intricate carvings and patterns. A flowing robe or short cape can be added for a more elegant look. Helmet with some ornamentation
or
Since the prince has a mix of all three types of armour in the Elf range (plate, scale, lamellar) and the command group leader has two types (plate and scale), this hero could use a coat of scale mail with lamellar bits. Of course, the robes/overcoat are must-includes and would provide room for painting magical symbols.
Weapons: Two swords, one held in each hand. The swords should be long and slender.
or
Since you already have a sword-wielding hero (the prince) and an axe-wielder (in the command group), this hero should have a spear or polearm. If he's a hero/leader to the spear and shield crew, then a small shield with intricate designs/knotwork would be an excellent choice. Alternatively, a magical glyph would be awesome (I'm thinking of some apotropaic symbol).
Additional Notes: The elf's hair and cape should flow freely, adding to the sense of movement and dynamism. The expression on their face should be one of determination and confidence. The composition should be balanced and graceful, reflecting the elf's skill and elegance.
Paul and I like the idea that these two characters could be used together in a mini diorama, and we will try to create them facing off.
I also wanted to mention Troy's idea of four elf mages, each a master of one of the elements. I like this so much that we plan to incorporate this concept into the lore and will save his idea for another day:
Elf idea: Female archmage of life magic who represents one of the most powerful spellcasters of the current age. Perhaps she has partially attuned to the elements or become an elemental herself? Perhaps there are four (one for each element), and she is the master of one aspect in particular?
Thank you to everyone who took part yesterday. Today is the last day to share your thoughts, either on the current brief or by adding something new.
With only five days left to go, let's finish designing!
~Andy & Paul (Hobday & Hicks)
If everything goes to plan, this is our timeline for this campaign:
• August 2024 - Kickstarter Campaign
• September 2024 - Pledge Manager
• September - October 2024 - Production
• October - November 2024 - Pick, Pack & Despatch
• End of November 2024 - Everything Despatched for Delivery
