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Post by Ghul on May 31, 2012 8:31:14 GMT -6
This message was posted on our Kickstarter Update page a short while ago, and I feel it bears repeating here: Hello fellows,
I thought it appropriate to update you all on the status of the AS&SH game. First, please accept my most humble apologies that we were not able to begin shipping in April or May as earlier estimated. When we launched our Kickstarter campaign, we were required by their rules to enter an estimated delivery time, and back in December, it seemed like April was a reasonable estimate. I was wrong! It would have been wiser to be more conservative on the estimate.
Here is where we stand:
* The boxes are in.
* The dice are in.
* The maps are in.
* The character sheets are ready for printing.
* The covers for the Referee's Manual and the Players' Manual are at the printer and should be done next week.
* Layout! The manuals remain in layout, which has been the primary reason for delay in recent weeks. The project is divided into six discreet volumes, these volumes serving as sections within each manual. So, Volume I (Swordsmen & Sorcerers), Volume II (Sorcery), and Volume III (Adventure & Combat) are finished -- that completes layout for the Players' Manual. Presently we are in the final pages of Volume IV (Bestiary) which is the most complicated volume, due to the tables and art. I expect Volume V (Treasure), and Volume VI (Hyperborea Gazetteer) to be much easier by comparison, so I would guess we are about 80% done on the Referee's Manual.
As soon as layout is complete (perhaps another 7-14 days) we will begin the printing and binding process. Of course shipping will follow. As we begin to ship, we will take all the files and turn them into a most excellent PDF. Depending on where in the world you live, and where your name falls in the list for shipping, you may or may not receive your PDF of the game first.
So, when will shipping begin? Barring anything tragic, June looks much more promising than April or May looked.
Thank you for both your support and your patience.
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to post here or contact me directly at: jpt AT swordsmen-and-sorcerers.com
Cheers,
Jeff Talanian |
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Post by mabon5127 on May 31, 2012 9:24:25 GMT -6
Jeff,
No problem on the wait! Looking forward to beginning my new campaign in Hyperborea. I guess since you're knee deep in layout Ian's great artwork is done as well.
As usual thanks for the update,
Morgan
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Post by kesher on May 31, 2012 10:50:32 GMT -6
Hey, Jeff--is the pdf going to be a single document? I.e., are all six volumes going to be merged?
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Post by Finarvyn on May 31, 2012 14:30:07 GMT -6
This is sounding encouraging. When a project like this gets started, you always have to wonder if it will reach completion and this one certainly seems to be moving quickly to the point where it'll be ready to go!  |
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mythos
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 96
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Post by mythos on May 31, 2012 23:04:01 GMT -6
Jeff, while I cannot wait to have this game in my hands, please take all the time you need.
Waiting has given me a reason to re-read all my Howard, Smith, Lovecraft, Carter, and wagner collections.
Going through the indexes you provided here, and the writers above, I'm not even close to finishing the outlines of the adventures I plan on running.
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Post by Ghul on Jun 1, 2012 6:26:29 GMT -6
@morgan -- Yes, all the art is in, I believe close to 160 illustrations. Ian has done phenomenal work, and I believe his style -- the mood and tone he portrays -- is a defining element of the whole. kesher -- I'm actually looking at it being split up into two PDFs. The Players' Manual (Vol. I, II, III) and the Referee's Manual (Vol. IV, V, VI). How to handle the map is something I have not decided on yet. It measures 22 x 28 inches. Slice it up? Present it in whole and let folks scroll across it? What do you think, Aaron? @fin -- Exactly. It's been a long journey on this project, twice as long as it took me to complete Castle Zagyg: The Upper Works, and twice the word count, too. Thanks for the kind words, and thanks again for establishing this little corner at ODD74. mythos -- Thank you, and that is very encouraging, but of course I can't help but beat myself up over not delivering when I'd estimated. People pledged their hard-earned money during tough times, and I take that very seriously. So, back to work I go!  |
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Post by kesher on Jun 1, 2012 8:17:22 GMT -6
And that, my friends, is one of the tried and true positive aspects of RPGs! Awesome. Splitting it up into those two divisions sounds perfect. As for the map, that's tougher. My gut says slice it up in the style of the old Wilderlands or Tekumel maps. That way I can print them all out and stitch them together myself. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2012 16:37:52 GMT -6
i'll be glad to be your first french customer... and may be translator :-)
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Post by Ghul on Jun 9, 2012 10:58:22 GMT -6
i'll be glad to be your first french customer... and may be translator :-) I appreciate the sentiment, Rascal, but I'm afraid some of your countrymen have beaten you to the punch!  |
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Post by Ghul on Jun 18, 2012 11:33:14 GMT -6
Things are moving along, my friends.
Layout is just about complete. The last part of layout is the first part of the book: the TOC.
The Players' Manual (Vol. I, II, III) is 252 pages. The Referee's Manual (Vol. IV, V, VI) is 236 pages.
These are fully illustrated by Ian Baggley and measure 8.5 x 7 inches. David and I will do a final review of the layout files, and then printing and shipping will begin. Soon the PDF files will also be sent out to all the folks who participated in our Kickstarter fundraiser.
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Chainsaw
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 303
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Post by Chainsaw on Jun 18, 2012 12:53:55 GMT -6
Sounds good, man. Thanks for the update. |
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Post by kesher on Jun 18, 2012 19:17:02 GMT -6
Woot!
That's an interesting size (dimensions)...what led you that direction (just curious)?
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Post by Ghul on Jun 20, 2012 16:43:15 GMT -6
Woot! That's an interesting size (dimensions)...what led you that direction (just curious)? Hi Kesher, It's half legal, which is a nice middle-of-the-road between standard 8.5 x 11 and digest. Cheers, Jeff T. |
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mythos
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 96
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Post by mythos on Jun 21, 2012 8:44:16 GMT -6
Thanks for the update Jeff.
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Post by Ghul on Jun 25, 2012 19:20:50 GMT -6
Fellows,
I'm happy to announce that layout for the AS&SH project is complete. We have printed a few copies of the Players' Manual and the Referee's Manual for final review. Presently, our editor extraordinaire, David M. Prata, is doing a final proof of the text. When he is through, it's time for printing and shipping.
Excelsior!
Jeff T.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2012 19:38:22 GMT -6
Congratulations.
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Chainsaw
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
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Post by Chainsaw on Jun 25, 2012 20:20:08 GMT -6
Yeah, good job, man. I know the road has not been easy. |
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Post by Ghul on Jun 26, 2012 7:24:56 GMT -6
Thanks guys!
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mythos
Level 3 Conjurer
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Post by mythos on Jun 26, 2012 7:49:40 GMT -6
Great news!
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Post by kesher on Jun 26, 2012 14:35:44 GMT -6
Awesome! Looking forward to reading it!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2012 20:46:35 GMT -6
That is great! And how are the PDFs going?
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Post by Ghul on Jun 30, 2012 10:17:28 GMT -6
That is great! And how are the PDFs going? Hi Diogo, As soon as David finishes up the final proofing of the first print test version of the Players' Manual and the Referee's Manual. Because this is indeed the final pass. We are very close! PDFs will be sent out to Kickstarter backers before print copies are mailed. It will be done via RPGNow, using a complimentary coupon code. We are looking at 4 files total: Players' Manual, Referee's Manual, character sheet, and Hyperborea map. Cheers, Jeff T. |
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Post by Finarvyn on Jun 30, 2012 14:08:41 GMT -6
This is exciting news! I know we've all been following the progress of this project and it'll be really neat to see the result of your effort! |
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mythos
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 96
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Post by mythos on Jun 30, 2012 17:38:06 GMT -6
YEAH!!!
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Post by mabon5127 on Jul 17, 2012 12:14:18 GMT -6
Apparently the art has begun to ship - mine was well-packed and undamaged. Thanks!  Received mine as well! I was very impressed with the packing job as well. The hydra with tech warrior and barbarian is most impressive! Thanks for sharing! |
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Chainsaw
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
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Post by Chainsaw on Jul 17, 2012 14:16:41 GMT -6
The hydra with tech warrior and barbarian is most impressive! Thanks for sharing! I think they're pretty cool - Ian Baggley's one of my favorite artists. I had the piece on the left commissioned separately late last year or early this year, but it was ultimately included in the final product. The one on the right was a pledge package perk. Cleric's my favorite class (he does look a bit barbaric though!), so that worked out well. |
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Post by mabon5127 on Jul 17, 2012 16:38:24 GMT -6
I do like the piece of art I received from Ian but am terribly jealous of the level of detail in yours. Those are the breaks I guess... I wish I had thought to commission the piece. Ah Well. Morgan Attachments:
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Chainsaw
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 303
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Post by Chainsaw on Jul 17, 2012 17:52:55 GMT -6
I do like the piece of art I received from Ian but am terribly jealous of the level of detail in yours. Those are the breaks I guess... I wish I had thought to commission the piece. Ah Well. Hey man, I think that monster is awesome (seriously bad ass, like WTF is that thing?!?) and seems no more or less detailed than the cleric (though maybe cooler!). The hydra pic was really something completely separate from the game that Ian and I worked on and I'm thankful Jeff deemed it thematically consistent enough to use in the game books (I agree that it is cool!). Honestly, I'm pretty sure Ian would be willing to accept commission for a second piece if you wanted (he's probably working on something for Jeff's next module as we speak). Ian's very friendly and accessible. If you're considering such a thing, here is another example of a commissioned piece that we worked on together back in spring 2011. I think this one made it into the game as well, though, like the hydra piece, it was not designed for that purpose originally.  |
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Post by mabon5127 on Jul 17, 2012 18:37:04 GMT -6
I always am amazed at the way the artist can create light in a black and white piece. The moon in this print shines! The metallic skel in the front is particularly menacing. Apparently the artist is among the dead....
I'm glad these pieces will be in the books which creates even more excitement for seeing the finished product.
Morgan
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