Quick Progress Check-in!
almost 5 years ago – Mon, May 04, 2020 at 12:21:32 AM

Hi Necromolds followers and backers!  I hope you and your family are doing well and getting some great board games to your table!

Quick shout out to those that have supported us through the new BackerKit presale page! Thank you!

Reminder: All KS Backers are REQUIRED to fill out their BackerKit survey to receive their pledge rewards.  If you backed at the $1 level, you are eligible to upgrade your pledge via BackerKit.

And now for a brief progress update...

Over the last month, I've been working with the Panda team (our manufacturer) to submit and approve print and 3D files for the game.  We've also revised and approved all 6 spell clay colors, the enamel pin, and other game components.  On Friday, we had a short but comprehensive call discussing many aspects of the production and where we are at in the process. We're constantly making progress and below is a summary of where things are at.

Print Production

We've submitted and received initial approval on the majority of our print files.  These include the spellbook stickers, the battle map, the battle box, the terrain pieces, and more.  The two print files we have left to complete are the mystery ring foil packaging and the monster pack packaging.

We've just received the ring packaging template last week and are finishing its design.  We're still waiting on the monster pack template, but I know the design work will go quickly since it is following the design and layout established by the battle box.  The reason these few print files are coming last in production is because their sizing is dependent on the size of the clay containers going into them.

3D Plastics Production

In the previous update, I showed off the sample Mud Mump spellbook and Skull Worm caster ring produced by Panda.  Their team has been working with these files since late January - making improvements to them as well as confirming their assembly and design.  

Last week, I received approval and submitted all of the remaining spellbooks and caster ring designs for sampling and manufacturing.  This was a huge step, as the plastics are the most complex part of developing Necromolds.

With all of the plastics submitted (11 spellbooks, 22 caster rings, 1 deluxe distance tool), I'll next be receiving plastic samples of these items, plus sample swatches of all the plastics.  This is one of the final steps before we can create the tools and begin mass manufacturing of the plastics!

Necromold's production timeline (and updated delivery timeline) is determined by the spellbook and caster ring toys because they are the most complex part of the manufacturing process.  Now that the plastics team has all of the files they need, they will be giving me an update on the expected timeline.  As soon as I receive that timeline update (hopefully next week), I'll share it with you.

Thanks again for staying involved and reaching out with questions.

In-between approval rounds with Panda, I've been spending time working on a few fun surprises that will affect all presale and KS backers of Necromolds.  I'm always working to make the game even better, and cannot wait to soon share what's been happening in the Necromolds Lab!

Clint

Necromolds Pre-Order now LIVE!
almost 5 years ago – Fri, Apr 10, 2020 at 10:54:23 PM

Today I have a short but exciting update for you all!  The Necromolds Pre-order store is now live on BackerKit.  Check it out at the link below!

 Necromolds BackerKit Page 

A big thank you to everyone who reached out after the campaign on our Facebook page or through private message asking for a way to late-pledge and push Necromolds' success further.  Each pre-order and sale is another *close distance movement* toward our team starting work on series 2 monsters!

The pre-order store features all of our Necromolds products, plus shows off the never-before-seen final Necromolds spellbook back covers.

Shipping costs for all pre-orders will be calculated and shared at a later time prior to payments being processed.  Watch for future KS updates on updated shipping and delivery information.

Campaign Backer Reminders

If you've already backed the campaign but haven't filled out your shipping and add-on information via BackerKit, please send me a private message.  As of right now, 82% of backers have filled out the required information for fulfillment.

If you're a $1 backer:  It's not too late to upgrade your pledge level (via BackerKit) to receive your exclusive awards for being a backer of the Kickstarter campaign.

Thanks again everyone!  Hope you're all doing well and staying safe out there!

Clint

An INSECTOMITE-SIZED Update!
almost 5 years ago – Thu, Mar 26, 2020 at 03:39:10 AM

Hi Backers!

I hope you and your families are safe and healthy during this strange and stressful time.  Like many of you, my primary source of income has essentially paused, which of course has caused some anxiety and stress - especially given my self-employed status.  What gives me solace and comfort is knowing that we are all fighting through this together.

I hope today's update will brighten your week, as it celebrates some huge milestones in Necromold's production. Working on this project over the last few weeks has been a great stress-reliever and I'm really proud of how things are taking shape!

Let's make this the most commented Necromolds Kickstarter Update yet!  So please say hi and tell me what you think!

Necromolds Battle Box

Yes!  That's the Battle Box!  It's crazy and beautiful!  Thad's done such an awesome job with the cover art.  It's hard to fully appreciate how cool this thing is going to look from a digital render.  The border and green cracked earth texture you see on the sides are planned to be green foil printed.  All around the box you'll find little mud mumps goofing around.  On the front of the box will be a product window where you can show off your favorite spellbook and caster ring!

If you're one of our retailers, Necromolds is going to look great on your shelves - as it will for those who have a board game collection shelf at home!

I designed the Battle Box to be something that I'd have yelled in excitement to open on my 10th birthday.  I hope that some of your kids can have an experience like that firsthand!

The image above gives you an idea of where the product window will be on the front of the box!

Production Samples

Next up, let's talk about production samples.

Over the last month, I've been working with our manufacturing partner Panda to review numerous samples.  These samples have included: A spellbook, a caster ring, all 6 spell clay colors, command dice, combat dice, the collector's pin, gems, and the terrain stands.

I had small changes to some of the samples, but overall I was really impressed.  The clay colors are fantastic and mold well.  The ABS spellbook is so fun to use and the minis come out easier and more detailed than my home 3D printed prototypes.  The caster ring feels great to wear.  I really cannot wait for you to play with these things!

By far the best innovation brought to you by the Panda team is the addition of a simple latch on the side of the spellbooks.  When they close, they hold shut!  I've been playing with this spellbook sample as if it were a fidget toy for the last few days.  There nothing quite as satisfying as flipping the book closed and hearing it click shut!

The Deluxe Distance Tool

Now let's talk about the Deluxe Distance Tool.  This is something that (nearly) all Kickstarter backers are receiving at least one of.  I honestly use this thing so much more than I first expected when creating it.

The deluxe distance tool includes:

• Close, medium, or far distance symbols for use during the game.
• A lanyard to wear the distance tool around your wrist when playing.
• Sculpting features to poke and shape your clay minis.
• A crosshair to check your line of sight during battle!

For those who missed the Kickstarter, the deluxe distance tool will be available to purchase at release.

The Rule Book

One task which I've been working on for over a month is converting the revised playtest rules from January into the final rules booklet to be printed and included with the Battle Box.  Thank you again to all those who had a chance to play and provide feedback.  I took every piece of feedback seriously and implemented all points in some fashion into the final rules.  Your names are all listed in the rule book as playtesters.  There were so many of you that we ended up listing playtesters in alphabetical order for a cleaner final design.

The final rule book is very graphical and fun!  Layout and copy editing are complete as of this morning, and I'll be releasing the PDF as a download soon!

SOLO-MODE

Included in the rulebook is a solo-mode for playing Necromolds by yourself.  I released it to our Facebook playtesters group last month.  I've played a handful of games using the simple variant and had a blast. It's a little like playing chess against yourself, where part of the goal is to get better and learn new strategies! Of course, I've added more lore and guidance.

You can check out an old version of the ruleset here.

New and Improved Terrain Pieces

This is a big one.  The terrain pieces.  For a while, I've wanted to make some revisions to the final terrain pieces that are included in the battle box.  With this series 1 launch, we're establishing a look and template for future expansions so it's important to me to get things right.

First, we replaced the illustrations.  These six new illustrations fit better with the battle map and the lore. Plus, they're depicted head-on, so it's like your clay Necromolds are part of the battle!

Second, I changed up the shapes of the terrain pieces.  These new pieces feature windows, gaps, and doorways.  These small adjustments really add more depth to how the pieces affect the battle.  Now, you can take melee cover behind a fence and make ranged attacks over it.  You can shoot through windows or march your monsters through the fortress doorway!

Thad did a really awesome job with these new illustrations.  If you're on Instagram, give him a shout!

Timeline

I don't have any hard updates yet on our revised expected delivery date.  I'm waiting until I have all files approved by the manufacturer for production.  At that point, they'll be able to provide me with a reliable and realistic delivery date.  Until then, it's really just a guess as world events change daily.  The delivery date will definitely be later than we originally planned.  I know that will disappoint many of you but won't come as a surprise.  I can only ask and thank you for your patience as we all work through these unprecedented circumstances.

As I've written about before, the upfront cost of Necromolds includes a personal financial investment on my part (beyond the Kickstarter funds).  The pandemic has added financial stress, but nothing will prevent me from fulfilling Necromolds.  I want it out in the world just as bad as anyone, and delivery delays are a pain but we'll work through them.  And I'm sure with your help eventually promoting it and sharing it, Necromolds will be a success!

Closing Thoughts

There are a few important milestones left before we begin manufacturing.  Soon, I'll be receiving and approving samples of all the printed materials in Necromolds.  We'll also be finalizing the size and design of the Monster Packs (which will match the Battle Box).  Once all samples have been approved, we'll begin manufacturing!

Thank you again for your patience and continued support!  And don't be afraid to leave a comment.  Let me know what you think, and how you're doing!

Clint

BackerKit Pledge Manager Information
almost 5 years ago – Fri, Feb 14, 2020 at 01:46:18 AM

Hi Backers!

I have just released the BackerKit pledge manager to all those who backed Necromolds during the Kickstarter campaign.  The pledge manager is a mandatory survey that must be filled out to receive your pledge reward.

What is the Backerkit pledge manager for?

• Upgrading your pledge.
• Declaring what add-ons you've already paid for.
• Purchasing additional add-ons.
• Providing your current address (and keeping it up-to-date).
• Providing your payment information.*

*Please note: you will not be charged for your order at this time.  Payments will be processed early this summer when we're ready to begin fulfillment.

Important information regarding shipping costs

I have built-in a flat shipping cost estimate which will work as a placeholder between now and when we finalize the actual costs of shipping.  The final cost comes down to two things: the number of items in your order and the total weight of the items.

Your actual shipping cost may increase or decrease.  Once actual costs are updated early this summer, I will alert you via a Kickstarter update at least 72 hours prior to processing the payments.

By waiting to charge the exact shipping costs to each individual backer, we make sure to give you the safest and most cost-efficient fulfillment of your order.

Playing Necromolds with more than two players

One question I get asked often is what add-ons are needed to play Necromolds with more than two players.  Much like a Pokemon or Magic the Gathering duals pack, The Necromolds Battle Box includes everything needed for two players.

Each additional player only needs:

•  1x Command dice set (available in the pledge manager).
• 1x 3oz container of soft clay (1 container included in each monster pack).
• Enough Necromolds' Spell Books and shared-play cards to have fun playing.  Each spell book comes with 2 shared-play cards.  On average, players use three different monsters in their army.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks again!

Clint

The BIG MONSTER Update!
about 5 years ago – Thu, Feb 06, 2020 at 09:27:51 PM

Hi Backers and Followers!

Over the last (nearly) two months, the Necromolds team and I have been hard at work on many important production fronts.  This includes: the final monster illustrations and models, final caster ring illustrations and models, drafting the rulebook and managing the public playtest, designing the graphical rulebook, and more!

In this update, I'm excited to reveal the final four Series 1 Necromolds!  Ankropora, Petripod, Sigurath, and Fungix!

Because of the cost involved with making such a unique product, I've invested my own money into Necromolds in addition to all the funds raised during our Kickstarter.  Why am I sharing this?  Because I want you to know that we're working hard to make sure every aspect of this product meets the high expectation I have for it.

Have you ever painted a wall in your apartment only to realize you missed one small spot?  A spot so small that nobody else would notice?  Still, it drives you crazy because you know it is there and should be fixed!  That is how I see every element of Necromolds' development...

If something doesn't feel 100%, we push to get it there!

So before we get to more pictures of these monsters, here is a progress report!

The Pledge Manager (and Presales)

This weekend, I'll be launching the pledge manager (BackerKit) to all backers so they can submit their backer information, identify what add-ons they paid for, as well as add more to their final order.

Shortly after the pledge manager's launch, I'll be opening a Backerkit presale store for those who missed the Kickstarter but wish to still pledge and be a part of our first print run and shipments.  Late pledges will not be eligible for the Kickstarter bonuses - like the free deluxe measurement tool or the Toxic Glitter Caster Ring set - but they will still benefit from the production upgrades unlocked during the campaign.

 The Official Rulebook (and Playtesting)

Over the last month, backers and fans have had the opportunity to get involved further with Necromolds by helping playtest and shape the rules.  I've received fantastic feedback which has resulted in some small but important rules changes (and rulebook clarifications).  Over the next week, I'll be transferring the playtest rulebook into its final graphical version.  

If you're planning to playtest, you still have a week to do so!  The final deadline for feedback submission is February 14th.

If you playtested Necromolds and provided feedback on Facebook, Discord, Reddit, or directly via email - please make sure you still email me your name as you'd like it to appear in the rulebook.

Please email [email protected] with the subject line: Necromolds PnP Feedback.  If you already provided feedback, just include your name as you'd like it credited as a playtester in the rulebook.

The Caster Rings

During the campaign and thanks to your support, we expanded our total caster ring count from 7 to 22!  I'm excited to say that we've completed work on all 22 ring designs and I'll be sharing more info on them soon.  My 3D printer has been busy printing off a full set of prototypes to take pictures of!

The Packaging

One thing that wasn't shown during the Kickstarter campaign was the packaging - with good reason...  It didn't exist yet!  The final Battle Box packaging is the same size as Wingspan and features a product window where the Mud Mumps, Graveghoul, and Insectomite spell books will be visible!  The battle box also has the capacity to hold all Series 1 spell books.

Right now, Thad is illustrating the artwork for the cover - while I'm working on its graphical layout.  I'm really proud of how the box is shaping up.  When designing it, I've tried to imagine that I'm a kid opening a gift-wrapped Necromolds for my birthday.  How can I design it to put a huge smile on that kid's face???  So that when the kid opens it, they can't help but yell in excitement and hold the box above their head!

Necromolds Lore and Monster Profiles

I've been working closely with my friend and writer, Julian Bernick, on completing all the Necromolds lore featured in our rulebook.  Julian is a published and active writer for Goodman Games' Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG - and has written all the monster profiles featured in the prototype rulebook!

And finally... 

The Spell Books!

Through stretch goals, we ended our campaign with a total of 11 Series 1 Necromolds!  If you've participated in our print and playtest, you're probably familiar with these four monsters and their abilities.  Up until now, their models have been in development!

Petripod

Fungix

Ankropora

Sigurath

What's the coolest thing about Sigurath?  Its ability allows it to flip over and change stats (and its facial expression)!  Although this is just a 3D printed prototype, you can see the markings on the base to easily identify if Sigurath is in the melee or defensive form.

Watch our Facebook page and Instagram for more photos and videos of these models in the near future!

Delivery Timeline?

With the virus outbreak in China, I've had a number of people ask me how it may affect our overall delivery timeline.  Right now, I can't say for certain.  As we finish work on our print materials, we've been working with our manufacturer on the approval of our injection mold part designs.  By the end of the month, I'm hoping to have all the files completed and in the queue for manufacturing.  At that point, I'm going to do a comprehensive review of the timeline and update you on any changes to delivery.

Again, feel free to reach out with any questions.  Over the next few weeks, I'll be busy finalizing all of our assets for manufacturing.

-Clint