Progress Update - Meet the Art Team
almost 5 years ago
– Wed, Jun 05, 2019 at 10:30:28 PM
Hello backers! Hope your summer (or winter for our AUS/NZ friends) is off to a great start. I wanted to update you all on our progress so far, and introduce you to the eight amazing artists who are providing some incredible art for HeroBook GM. On to the good stuff!
Progress Update
I'm happy to report that production is on schedule! Our amazing art team has completed their pieces (scroll down for some previews!), I have completed about 90% of the writing for the book, and have begun laying out pages. I'm aiming to have the book over to our printers for proofing by the end of June. I'll also be sharing another backer update later this month with some more previews and a summary of the results from the Design Questionnaire. Here's a look at how things should be proceeding over the next few months:
JUNE: Finishing writing and layout.
JULY: Send files to printer and complete proofing.
AUGUST-FEBRUARY: Manufacturing, packaging, procuring add-on items, and shipping everything to distribution centers.
MARCH 2020: Shipping HeroBook GM to you!
For a quick update on backer surveys, we are up to about 92% completed - if you are one of those last 8%, please remember that you need to fill out your backer survey to receive your rewards. If you haven't received your backer survey or need help with your pledge, please message me by clicking my Kickstarter profile at the top of the campaign page.
Meet the Art Team
I'm so incredibly stoked about the art in HeroBook GM, you guys! Although there is less art overall in this book compared to the first, I've brought four new artists onto the team to complement our original four. The result is fewer higher-quality pieces in a variety of different styles that highlight various aspects of the life of a dungeon master. I think they've done an absolutely incredible job and can't wait for you to see the final product. Some of the artists may have even shared previews or full versions of their HeroBook pieces on their portfolios or Instagram - you'll just have to take a look for yourself (and throw them a follow while you're at it)!
Braden Hallett (Portfolio)
Braden is a freelance illustrator and cartoonist based in Kamloops, BC. His comic Cato's Apprenticeship has run since 2014. With a talent for creating lively, vivid characters, he is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Jacob Kosh (Instagram)
Jacob is a self-taught multidisciplinary queer artist working primarily as an illustrator, sculpture, and painter. Jacob is inspired by the human form, identity, myth, and science fiction. In his most recent show HALLOWED FORMS, Jacob challenges what it means for a body to be "sacred", exploring body politics through the lens of learned self-acceptance. Jacob works and creates as an uninvited guest on the unceded territory of the Lekwungen, Saanich, and Esquimalt Nations.
Haley Boros (Portfolio - Instagram)
Haley is an illustrator, cartoonist and designer from Vancouver who specializes in wonderfully cute and whimsical illustrations of botanicals, animals and people. Keen tabletop Kickstarter backers will remember her incredible work in Faerie Fire, the 80s and 90s-inspired 5E supplement that raised over $65,000 on Kickstarter in 2018.
Valeriya Kim (Instagram)
Valeriya is an illustrator and graphic designer from Kazakhstan, currently completing her bachelor's degree in communication design from the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University.
Phoebe Nezil (Instagram)
Phoebe is an educator, animator and illustrator based out of Vancouver, BC. She holds a Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University, and a Bachelor of Media Arts from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She is a part-time drow bard and a full-time high school art teacher.
Logan David (Instagram)
Logan is a part-time illustrator, part-time florist and a part-time aarakocra warlock. She will be entering her 3rd year in the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University this fall, where she specializes in illustration and design. When she's not swamped by her homework and other projects, you can find her replaying her favourite JRPGs and consuming excessive amounts of caffeine.
Alex Gibson (Portfolio - Instagram)
Alex was born and raised in Barbados, and moved to Canada at the age of eighteen. He has a Bachelor of Media Arts with a major in animation from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, and works in painting, drawing, and animation. His work explores queer themes and sentiment in relation to his Caribbean background. Alex currently lives and works in Vancouver as an uninvited guest on the unceded territories of the Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, and Skwxwu7mesh First Nations.
John Pachkowsky (Instagram)
John is an illustrator currently attending the IDEA School of Design at Capilano University. He is heavily influenced by Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque artwork, and is also passionate about the culinary arts.
Material Components on social media
Drop me a line on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Discord!
Pre-Orders Now Available & Original HeroBooks Back in Stock
almost 5 years ago
– Wed, May 01, 2019 at 10:20:19 PM
Hello backers! Just a quick update today. Backer surveys are going well - about 85% of backers have completed their surveys already - thank you to everyone who jumped on it right away! If you haven't filled yours out yet, please see last week's backer update for more details. All backers need to fill out the survey to receive their rewards, so make sure you get on it. Now on to the news!
HeroBook GM Pre-orders Now Available
Did you or a friend miss out on a HeroBook GM pledge while the campaign was live? Fear not, noble game master, for you can now pre-order your copy of HeroBook GM and receive it when we ship rewards to our Kickstarter backers.
If you pledged to the Kickstarter campaign, you do not need to preorder - you just need to fill out your backer survey!
All original HeroBook colors are back in stock!
Looking to get your hands on an original HeroBook sooner than our estimated shipping date for HeroBook GM? We have restocked our online store at HeroBook.com and all six cover colors are now back in stock, along with our wet erase pens and microfiber cleaning cloths!
One other bit of good news for Canadian customers: we now have inventory in stock at a warehouse in Toronto, which will improve shipping costs and delivery times for Canadian orders.
Material Components on social media
Drop me a line on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Discord!
Backer Surveys Sent
about 5 years ago
– Wed, Apr 24, 2019 at 10:09:43 PM
Hello backers. Important update today: your Backer Survey from BackerKit has been delivered to your email!
You must fill out your backer survey to receive your rewards!
Please check the email on file with your Kickstarter account. If you have not received your Backer Survey, there are three things you can do:
a) Check your spam/junk mail folder!
b) If your email is correct but you just didn't receive it, visit this link to send yourself another Backer Survey email.
c) If you need to update the email address on file with your pledge, please contact me through Kickstarter (click on my profile).
HeroBook GM Design Questionnaire
Have you filled out our optional design questionnaire? In case you missed it, the link was shared in a backers-only update about two weeks ago. It's your opportunity to influence the final product by providing feedback on several key areas. I value your input, and will be making changes to the planned content of the book as directed by backers like you.
Material Components on social media
Drop me a line on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Discord!
End of Campaign - 335% Funded!
about 5 years ago
– Thu, Apr 04, 2019 at 10:28:39 PM
THANK YOU BACKERS!
I am humbled once again by the support of the Kickstarter community. I owe a huge thank you to the almost 2,500 backers who pledged for this campaign, and it's time for me to get to work on creating an awesome product that I hope will live up to your expectations.
Here's a quick breakdown of the timeline going forward - all dates are estimated!
- TODAY: Kickstarter will process payment for your pledge within the next 14 days. If there's any problem with your payment, you'll get an email from Kickstarter. This is a good time to double check that the email on file with your Kickstarter account is one you check often, especially if your account is linked to another social media account.
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THIS WEEK: I'll be sending out the HeroBook GM Design Questionnaire. All backers will get the chance to review our planned content for the book and offer feedback. We made changes to our first HeroBook thanks to your valuable feedback and will likely do the same this time around, so please keep an eye out for this in the form a backer-only update through Kickstarter within the next week or so.
- WEEK OF APRIL 21: I'm aiming to send out Backer Surveys sometime during the last week of April. The Backer Survey will arrive as an email from our partners at BackerKit, and allows you to select your pledge options, get add-ons, and provide your shipping address. It's critical that all backers fill out their backer survey, as it is required for you to get your rewards - even if you're just getting the PDF version!
- APRIL - JUNE: I'll be getting to work on the content and layout for HeroBook GM immediately, continuing for the next 3 months.
- JULY: I'm aiming to submit final files to the printer on July 1st, and begin proofing.
- AUGUST - FEBRUARY: Manufacturing, packaging, procuring add-on items, and shipping everything to distribution centers.
- MARCH 2020: Shipping HeroBook GM to you!
Need help with your pledge?
Payment processing for your pledge is handled entirely by Kickstarter, so if you have an issue, please contact Kickstarter support. If you have a question that isn't payment-related, feel free to message me by clicking on my Kickstarter profile at the top of the campaign page.
What's next?
As I get to work creating HeroBook GM, I'll be keeping you updated every step of the way through backer updates just like this one. Make sure you've enabled email notifications so that you don't miss an update!
Behind the Screen Contest Winners
Thanks to all the game masters who offered us an intimate look behind their GM screens this week! Congratulations to Jasinta, who wins the grand prize of a free HeroBook GM, a set of HeroBooks for their party, as well as a set of semi-precious stone dice from Level Up Dice! The three runners up, Steven, Jason, and MC will take home a free HeroBook and HeroBook GM and a $25 gift card to Level Up Dice! I'll be contacting the winners through the site they submitted (Facebook or Twitter).
Follow us on social media
Now that the campaign is over, make sure to drop us a line on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Discord!
