Project Update
over 2 years ago – Fri, Feb 04, 2022 at 10:57:31 PM

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Charging Credit Cards - Important Information
over 2 years ago – Fri, Jan 28, 2022 at 10:27:43 AM

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Locks were done! Early digital downloads are on the way!
over 2 years ago – Tue, Jan 25, 2022 at 09:53:03 AM

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Finally, orders will be locked this week!
over 2 years ago – Thu, Jan 20, 2022 at 12:52:44 AM

Hi folks! This is a longer update because I'd like to put everyone on the same page. Some of you already know about this, but I want to be fully transparent.  That's why the update is open to the public too.

Here's the summary on this update:

• Printed Maps Transparency Update
• Locking Orders
• The Singing Grove map from Marco Bernardini
• General Updates

Printed Maps Transparency Update

This situation affected roughly 120 backers and the full details can be found at the very end of this email. The reason why I'm using "I" instead of "we" in this update is because while I'm working with several people on this KS, the administration side of things is done by myself.  Here's a TLDR: Around September, I quoted how much it would cost to print maps, explaining that I had 64 different maps to print. I got somewhat similar quotations which I used to price the pledges. After the KS was done, I asked for new quotations and then the printers tried to actually understand what was needed, and the result was that I got absurdly high quotes, ranging from $ 18k to $ 100k. The reason is because while I would need a high quantity of maps in total (7k+), it would have been only  90 per type of map, hence the high quotes. Even at $ 18k, this would be enough to drive this project to a loss considering the other costs with writing, editing, cartography, art, layout, marketing, book printing, freight, etc. I found this out on a Friday and it was NOT a good Friday. 

This amount $ 18k represents roughly 37% of the funding (KS fees discounted), and more than 3x what it will cost to print 600 books. 

So I took a tough decision, which gave me no pleasure at all: I refunded the all involved backers for the amount paid for printed maps. This is far from what I wanted, but it's the solution I found.  I'll also provide all 64 print files to them, in addition to offering the option to those who want a few products from my catalog on DMsGuild and DTRPG. 

But trust me when I say that I learned a lesson with all this and the next KS will have physical maps, but the format will most likely need to change.

I want to thank all backers who were involved. I already apologized, but all of you were very kind and understanding, which made the whole situation less stressing. Thanks for rocking folks!

I also want to apologize to everyone else was a Day 1 backer and will not get the printed maps for The Hunt due to the reason mentioned above. However, everyone from Day 1 still gets the digital content for The Hunt, including the Everhungry STL which is in production (the 3D modelling).

Sorry for a not so short TLDR.

Locking Orders

With the above situation sorted, and with 90% of the surveys answered, I'll finally be locking the orders this week. Sorry for the wait and thanks a bunch for your patience. A few things about this:

• If you're a Day 1 backer, you should have an item in your cart called "The Hunt - Digital Maps".
• If you're a Day 1 backer, if you got The Hunt or any "Additional" map pack via add-on, you'll get all this in your Digital Library from BackerKit once the orders have been locked. The one-shot will be delivered via a DrivethruRPG code, and the map packs via ZIP files.

If you have any question during the process, email me at [email protected].

The Singing Grove map from Marco Bernardini

The first map from Marco is done, and he started working on the second. Please, behold this masterpiece. I'll say nothing more.

General Updates

Crowjade Wood is past halfway written, Sarsben Lowlands started being edited. Art keeps coming, playtest is ongoing. Now that the survey topic is almost over, I'll get back to finishing the battlemaps for Bountiful Strand and Crownjade Wood. Once that's done, I'll only be left with Restless Bog. 

In terms of KS, that's it for now.

I'll leave you with the two most recent maps from CZRPG's Patreon, since I assume the target audience here is potentially quite interested in maps! On Patreon, though, the maps are done by Jeremy from MimicMaps, not by me, since I still have a few maps to make myself for the KS!

Head over Patreon and support us there, if you like what you see!

- Christian Zeuch

Join our Mailing List and get 56 urban map versions, as well as monthly, free exclusive maps, encounters, and creatures!

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===========================

Full details on the printed maps topic. 

I sent the below email to the involved folks, with some variations depending on tiers/add-ons.

===========================

Subject: Important Information about Amazing Encounters & Places Kickstarter

Hello! This is Christian from CZRPG. I'd like to start apologizing for a long email, but it's needed.

In the backer updates, you usually see "we", because I'm working on this KS with other people (writers, artists, etc), but the management is actually done by myself. So I'll be using "I" in this email.

When I initially quoted the printing of 64 different maps with several printers, I sadly failed to notice that they had NOT understood my requirements. Mostly this happened because it was the first time I was handling quotes from printers, and apparently they never handled requirements such as mine.

Once the KS was over, I asked for updated quotes based on the campaign's numbers. Then, they decided they would ask me more questions to better understand my requirements. The result was that the new quotes were absurdly higher than the initial ones. I provided screenshots below to exemplify. One of the new quotes reached $ 100,000 to print maps!

I got a cheaper quote from China at roughly $ 18,000, but that's still much higher than originally intended.

Even this reduced amount of $ 18,000 is roughly 3x more than what I'll need to print 500+ books and it represents 36% of the funding I got, after discounting the KS fees. I have costs with writing, editing, layout, art, cartography, marketing, book printing.

All this saddens me greatly, because this was NOT how it was supposed to happen.

However, at $ 18,000, I'd basically incur a loss, at this point.

I'd like to propose to you a refund of only the printed maps amount in the following format:

• I refund you in "The Amazing/Ultimate Experience" tier for GBP 60 + 10% to cover any transaction fee (exact details are being discussed with BackerKit);
• I'll provide all 64 print files if you want to print any of the maps locally, once the digital product is delivered
• In addition, you can pick any combination of products (up to 3) from my catalog on the DMsGuild and DTRPG. I have over 150 products over there.

www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?keywords=zeuch&affiliate_id=1011135&src=refund_email&x=0&y=0&author=&artist=&pfrom=&pto=

www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/19246/CZRPG?term=czrpg&affiliate_id=1011135&src=refund_email

For this, email me at this address with your selection and with the subject "My refund titles from CZRPG". This will help me find the emails later on.

I'm open to suggestions as well.

I want to apologize for this. I'll totally understand if you feel bad towards this. Know that this is far from what I wanted. Rest assured that once this campaign is delivered, the next one won't face the same issue again. I'll re-think the physical map aspect of the project to ensure that this error stays in the past.

Once again, sorry for letting you down.

Yours truly,

Christian Zeuch

[then I sent screenshots of the quotes (before and after) as attachments]

85% of the Surveys completed!
over 2 years ago – Sat, Jan 15, 2022 at 06:31:17 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.