Creature Caster KS Thread - Fulfillment Updates

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Azazelx**

tuo wrote:

Then again, at the moment it all looks like the ship is sailing without anyone steering it. Nice move to completely pull out due to "mental issues".

wait... wut?

**angelofvengeance**

Update #94 (for discussion's context)

Nice to see his brain hasn't fallen out again and it'll be good to see some production and shipping WIP

The models are filling up boxes, and the Shipping Manager is almost here

We are almost ready to unveil our Shipping Manager, plus more detailed information on our shipping information and policy, the order in which models will be shipped, etc.

Over the past few weeks we have been integrating postal systems into our manager and doing test runs. It is very important to make sure everything to do with the shipping process is perfect before we start putting models into boxes.

Working on the Shipping Manager is not delaying the production of our models however. We are still in the process of cranking out molds and components as the Manager is designed in the background.

We will be sending out a private message to several backers in order to ask them to be our test pilots for the Shipping Manager. This is an extra step just to ensure everything will be perfect. We will be doing this before we notify everyone to lock in their Shipping Manager. If you are selected as a test pilot, you will be asked to complete the Shipping Manager and then you will be eligible to have your package sent in the first wave for your help.

We will write an update letting you know when we have sent out the messages for the test pilots.

The casting team has been given access to the Kickstarter backend and will now be posting updates from the casting facility. This way you can get more pictures more often and updates will get back on track.

Thank you for your letters offering your support. This campaign has attracted many excellent people. Thank you for your patience and support.

Jeremy

**JWBS**

"This campaign has attracted many excellent people".

Not the complainers though, they're not excellent. Just Jeremy and his fans. I'm triggered, I can't believe that Jeremy can perpetrate this act of passive micro aggression. I need to find a safe space.

**Eldarain**

That update reads like my childhood attempts to avoid plagiarism. "If I just shift these words round from last time it will be a new update!"

**Joyboozer**

So he'll be picking certain backers to test the shipping manager, and only cares for the opinions of those who only tell him how great he is, how does he expect to know if there are any problems with the shipping manager?

**MeanGreenStompa**

I so nearly went with this one as well... so nearly. Narrow escape.

What a bizarre personality and temperament to be in 'business' at all. I won't be touching anything I know this guy is involved with with a 10 foot pole.

**tuo**

Joyboozer wrote:
So he'll be picking certain backers to test the shipping manager, and only cares for the opinions of those who only tell him how great he is, how does he expect to know if there are any problems with the shipping manager?

Nonono, he picks basically his Alts and Friends, without disclosing them, and maybe two or three coold-aid drinkers. So he now has a group of poeple where he can point to and say "you know, we thought everything is ready, but they found a bug we never could have found, so we have to work another four weeks on the shipping manager. And if you don't believe me, you have no idea about how software development works, are an armchair software-developer and I basically hate you, regardless of how much money you gave me. Deal with it, m'kay?".
(hint: I earn my money with software development).

I love that we get the same "three months" timeline we have been given how many times now? And that negotations are "underway" regarding shipping, while a couple of weeks (or months? I can't remember in this journey) ago it was said that they have all the info and are picking out what to use.

Honestly: if they don't yet know wether they do hub shipping or not, how can they say the shipping manager is nearly done? Truly, I hope they just took some opensource eCommerce software, adapted it to "just" be a shipping/checkout system (then the configuration changes between hub shipping and no hub shipping should only take one or two days (depending on how motivated you are) at most), themed it to look good, and connected it to the user base of the pledge manager.

This reminds me: where is Kenny? He used to do damage control when Jeremy again forgot that he has a pledged Kickstarter at his back which he didn't care about?

Nevermind, I can't wait to get the first update from the production facility...at least the Demons have master moulds (oh my, oh my...how many Dragons? How long are they producing now? Riiiiiiiiight...)
(Edit: plus: remember that most of the Demons were printed BEFORE the Kickstarter started...someone please correct me of I am wrong, but up until now, we only saw production material from Demons that existed physically before the KS went live)

I give him the benefit of doubt AGAIN for the next three months (and will kick myself AGAIN in three months). If I could just find someone who want's to buy my pledge :(

**Eldarain**

That darn Shipping Manager is proving quite the challenge. Perhaps it got doused in coffee?

CreatureCaster wrote:
Casting everyday in the summer and shipping soon
4 Comments
10 likes

news
Models are being cast and are filling up the crates. The quality is exceptional. They are moving out at a slower rate than what was agreed upon, and we have taken steps to ensure high levels of quality while increasing productivity.

shipping manager
Our biggest setback right now if the Shipping Manager. This was due party to mismanagement of the production of the software. We are right now rewriting the code and tweaking the platform. This has been extremely frustrating and overly time consuming. I do not program, and I have been trusting those who were charged with manufacturing to get this done. I have been very disappointed and have put steps into place to regain some control of this process.

long time since last post
This last stint of time has been filled with mold pouring, demolding, remolding, cleaning flash, etc. Simultaneously I have been watching the Shipping Manager become usable, unusable, and progress slogs on. The news has stayed the same and it becomes increasingly frustrating to post the same news over and over again, even tho molds are being filled and the models look amazing.

reflections on the time so far
This entire process has taught me so much. One of the biggest lessons has been: Take an estimate of the promised time to complete a task... and then multiply it by three. The printers were extremely slow. The first two casting facilities dragged on their emails and estimates and then ultimately dropped away. Even the casting of the models is behind on time. I tell this revelation to other business people and they always laugh, and tell me I should have known this before going into business. I know now.

moving forwardAside from the crushing pressure and embarrassment of coming in late, I am staying focused and task oriented. Every time I see a model kit I am reminded that the quality looks excellent, and the sculpts look far better than I has imaged they would. I am an artist who had to become a business person. I now understand how business is a very specific skill set and I have a new respect for those who can keep a team motivated and moving forward.

The story of Creature Caster has been a rocky one. My life during this process has been unlike any other time I have been alive. The pressure has driven me to insanity on several specific occasions, and I am more vulnerable than I ever knew I could be.

I have mentioned it before and I will say it again. I am genuinely impressed with your commitment to the project, and your support during this time. On a daily basis, I talk about the patience and energy of the Creature Caster backers. Your support means everything.

Jeremy

**slk28850**

Le sigh

**H.B.M.C.**

Anyone got a tl;dr for me? Are these shipping yet?

**Alex Kolodotschko**

Tldr: Nope.

**zedmeister**

H.B.M.C. wrote:
Anyone got a tl;dr for me? Are these shipping yet?

TL : DR - Jeremy couldn't run a bath let alone a kickstarter

**Alpharius**

Lots of 'steps being taken' without actual details on said 'steps'.

Sounds vaguely...Palladium-like.

And yes, people will remain 'committed' to this project - as they've already committed money to it and would like to see the miniatures they pledged for!

**Tannhauser42**

I would like to know what is damned hard about a shipping manager. You have the survey results, print them. Open MS Word, create shipping labels, print them. Match address labels to surveys, put stuff in boxes, put labels on boxes, mail them.

It's not as if this were a project with 2500+ backers and a hundred different models to choose from.

**DarkTraveler777**

What a useless update.

It probably covers his ass, though, with Kickstarter. A few of us backers have been filing trouble tickets with KS and this anemic update will likely prevent them from investigating this campaign with any real scrutiny since "updates are being made in good faith by the project creator." Such fething bs.

**Joyboozer**

In his little summary where he blamed the delay on everyone else, who forgot to mention how many times he fethed up and dragged his ass.
What about the massive sculpting delays Jeremy? Who's fault where they?

**angelofvengeance**

Joyboozer wrote:
In his little summary where he blamed the delay on everyone else, who forgot to mention how many times he fethed up and dragged his ass.
What about the massive sculpting delays Jeremy? Who's fault where they?

The coffee's

**Theophony**

angelofvengeance wrote:
Joyboozer wrote:
In his little summary where he blamed the delay on everyone else, who forgot to mention how many times he fethed up and dragged his ass.
What about the massive sculpting delays Jeremy? Who's fault where they?

The coffee's

The Peruvian worker who picked the bitter beans

. It's a world wide conspiracy. Too bad Jeremy doesn't know it's being run by his yoga instructor

**Azazelx**

This should just be posted in every one of Jeremy's updates:

**FabricatorGeneralMike**

I live near this guy, from his FB posts I know where he hangs out....and on his face book he is friends with a guy I work with....just putting it out there....

**angelofvengeance**

FabricatorGeneralMike wrote:

I live near this guy, from his FB posts I know where he hangs out....and on his face book he is friends with a guy I work with....just putting it out there....

That's interesting.. and somewhat creepy lol.

**RiTides**

Nothing further in that vein, please. Thanks.

**StarFyre**

Fabricator - if you work with a friend of his, why not ask him whats his deal? find out if he ever plans on doing anything with the kickstarter? maybe he'll give an actual answer.

I looked up Better Business Bureau for vancouver but not sure they can do anything.

my bank says if there was an actual new shipping date, if its within 120 days of that, i could ask for a late chargeback... but his updates never have concrete dates...

**Joyboozer**

I'm guessing they'll be ready in time for some big convention, which they'll then be sold at and not sent to backers for reasons.

**angelofvengeance**

Joyboozer wrote:
I'm guessing they'll be ready in time for some big convention, which they'll then be sold at and not sent to backers for reasons.

A la AVP? lol.

**alanmckenzie**

Another nothing update this morning.

Hardly worth opening the email.

**Eldarain**

If nothing else this Kickstarter has drastically improved his ability to rearrange the same words and say nothing of substance.

**Joyboozer**

I don't want to come off as a hater, so I'll just quote Jeremy.
From the KS front page
"I am also the original founder and sculptor for Ultraforge Miniatures, a small and successful miniatures company. This gained me valuable experience in the fields of manufacturing, retail and fulfilment."
Latest update
"When I began this job I was simply a sculptor. Now my job description is a lot lengthier. Making miniatures involves a fairly steep learning curve, and just now am I beginning to feel a bit of the weight lifting off my shoulders."
Perhaps if Jeremy had been honest in the original sales pitch, we wouldn't all feel so negative.

**Wehrkind**

Just shy of 3 years later, with no evidence of anything complete and ready to go, I suspect we would still be pretty negative.

I can't help but notice that he mentions models in crates, but not packed into boxes. You know, getting what can be done done, so that it is ready to go when the rest finishes.

**PalmerC**

This was my first and last kickstarter I have supported, I consider myself lucky that I only purchesed one of the less expensive models. I have been lurking on this thread for years now lol appreciate the updates people have been posting. Its difficult to maintain a positive attitude around this process as this guy is clearly not competent in offering a product and I cant imagine him ever being successful again after this fiasco. There is always yoga I suppose.