Kingdom Death : Monster - Official Kickstarter Thread

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**Dentry**

Alpharius wrote:
Definitely after CNY now...

Oh yeah. Completely forgot about that. So looks like Q2 it is.

**Still Standing**

My enthusiasm for this was completely drained when I was told that I would have to pay an additional $270 to receive the goods I'd already paid for.

**BrookM**

Wait, what? Did I miss something here?

**KoganStyle**

I think he is talking about the tax/custom fees we are likely to expect once everything is completed and shipped.

I've stopped looking at the KS comments page, nothing but white knights and backers who are more vocal about the waiting. We can't talk about KD:M much more as there is no new information/speculation to talk about.

Q2 2015 is probably the date I'll receive this.

**Sasori**

I'm really at the point where This better be a damn good game, or I'll feel I will have wasted my money. This wait is beyond silly, and really disenfranchises me from every kicking something of his again.

**Alpharius**

Comments from the KS Comments Section!

Sep 4 2014 on Kingdom Death : Monster.
The factory delays have been difficult. However, I am very confident we will get thru it and the increased game content and overall quality more then makes up for the poorly estimated time frame I was provided with when manufacturing began.

Sep 4 2014 on Kingdom Death : Monster.
Communication, takes a lot of time and I apologize for not being around as much in the past 6 weeks, but It was absolutely critical that I remained on the ball, dealing with issues as they arose.

Sep 4 2014 on Kingdom Death : Monster.
@Vanderhagast, I understand. And I really wish an Update only took 5 minutes. I have been working on the update for many days now and we will have it soon! Please consider that an update has to be written, edited, many miniatures have to be assembled, photographed and then the parts of the project that we show off need to get decided on and then formatted so they are appropriate for kickstarter. (slicing images, saving for web etc). This is of course, no way an excuse and I agree I should have been more communicative. It just wasn't possibly between everything else I had to, absolutely had to, stay on top of.

Sep 4 2014 on Kingdom Death : Monster.
@Chris Linton, I do apologize. However I refuse to take "your bad at communication" fully on the chin! I will wedge a defense between that comment! On average I answer about 10 kickstarter related emails or messages every day. After an update goes live, this amount usually triples for around a week. That means post campaign I have answered well over 6,000 messages! That doesn't even include the comments here which I do try to keep up with. While I enjoy fielding questions and adding a personal touch to everything, this is not a small amount of time. If someone were to run a kickstarter, with perfect communication and constant updates, they would essentially need communication to be their full time job. Not only are their legitimate questions and concerns, there is also the content creation that goes into each update. That person would need to have, communication skills, knowledge of what is going on in the project (otherwise their messages would be nothing but mere validation) and the ability to source assets and prepare a large content post for thousands of viewers. Not to say this is journalism, because its not. However the time that goes into what seems like simple communication is indeed real. I am not really an outwardly communicative person by nature. I am creator, I like to labor in seclusion until I am ready to share. This project has been a big challenge, since I need to communicate on a much more regular basis! Since I am also running the show, directing the content, personally checking the miniatures that also means I need to wait until I have a level-head before I start communicating. Otherwise I risk imparting the wrong information. I think overall, I have grown and will continue to improve. Despite hurdles, we will get there. That is the kickstarter promise.

Sep 5 2014 on Kingdom Death : Monster.
@magicpink, whether i like it or not. the updates have become a very major source of news and traffic for us. I agree that not all of them need to be massive, but they do require care and the right amount of attention. Its also that I have to portion my time in order to make them and sometimes that can be a little bit of a challenge.

Sep 5 2014 on Kingdom Death : Monster.
@QuickSilver, lol you are exactly right! Currently our project manager in china is out having lunch. This gives me a little bit of time to focus my evening shift elsewhere. During the day shift, the team comes to work at the studio and today I spent most of my time working on finalizing the Dung Beetle Knight expansion with one of our in house play testers. After everyone left at 8pm I switched over to my night shift, answered emails, lined up some times slots with sculptors and began to review the files for the cut Screaming Fur armor kit. Part of the challenge is most certainly trying to budget your time. When you have to switch gears and fulfill a myriad of roles it can be tricky. But I do fully believe each one of them requires the right amount of attention. And that, ultimately is why I am apologetic. I don't like that when things heat up, It takes me away from the comments and chatting with everyone. Since it is, a part of the process I do enjoy. The part I don't enjoy, is hounding the factories.

Sep 5 2014 on Kingdom Death : Monster.
Overall, I think its ok. The campaign has a good rep which I believe is because I put myself out there and keep things as open and honest as I can. Hiding from the criticism won't make the factory move faster, so I prefer to put myself center row as often as possible. Everyone here is free to (as always) deliberate as they wish. There is nothing wrong with opinions, however the facts are always good to keep in mind. Most importantly, that this is a kickstarter and not a regular point of sales. Without everyone, none of this would have been possible. And while I personally find it very frustrating that I cannot send everyone their rewards this exact moment, I have to look at it not from my own perspective. But one that encompasses us all. That is why, with the extra time we have been investing so much into improving the overall experience. I am perfectionist, to an extent. But this is more about making the best of the current situation. The factory will finish and to a very high quality mark. It is just much much slower then originally estimated.

**Dentry**

Good to see Adam active and involved with the backers. Sounds a bit stressed but that's to be expected.

Hoping things go smoothly for him and, by extension, all of us as this progresses.

**gunslingerpro**

The factory bit is unfortunate. Seems they hit snags constantly.

But perhaps that is why we see so few super high quality plastic kits from brand new companies. If a start up without as much capital behind it as KD had these delays, it could outright destroy the company.

**Sinful Hero**

From twitter-
@kingdomdeath: Kickstarter Update Status : Assembly is complete. Finish photographing tomorrow. Baring a typhoon hitting china, update will be this week.

**Alpharius**

This is good news - but I have to wonder what the weather in China has to do with the update...

...unless part of the update is news of a container ship packed and headed this way?

**Sinful Hero**

He could also be in China maybe?

**Alpharius**

That's a far less exciting reason - plus I don't think he is...

**BlackTalos**

might be checking up on Production in person?

Thought CMON sent 1 or 2 guys over for theirs?

In any case, hope to get the whole package soon.... been waiting enough and most other KS of the same period are coming over now-ish =)

**Absolutionis**

From Adam:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poots/kingdom-death-monster/comments

Kickstarter Update Status : Miniature assembly is complete. Need to finish photographing tomorrow. Baring a typhoon hitting china, update will be this week. (finally!)

Reinforces the rumor that he's in China.

**Alpharius**

Sinful Hero wrote:From twitter-
@kingdomdeath: Kickstarter Update Status : Assembly is complete. Finish photographing tomorrow. Baring a typhoon hitting china, update will be this week.

Alpharius wrote:This is good news - but I have to wonder what the weather in China has to do with the update...

...unless part of the update is news of a container ship packed and headed this way?

Sinful Hero wrote:He could also be in China maybe?

Alpharius wrote:That's a far less exciting reason - plus I don't think he is...

BlackTalos wrote:might be checking up on Production in person?

Thought CMON sent 1 or 2 guys over for theirs?

In any case, hope to get the whole package soon.... been waiting enough and most other KS of the same period are coming over now-ish =)

Absolutionis wrote:From Adam:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poots/kingdom-death-monster/comments

Kickstarter Update Status : Miniature assembly is complete. Need to finish photographing tomorrow. Baring a typhoon hitting china, update will be this week. (finally!)

Reinforces the rumor that he's in China.

We know!

Also, how exactly does it give rise to a rumor that he's actually in China?

**Absolutionis**

Pardon my skimming skills. I read all except the one post that mattered.

**Alpharius**

No big deal - I'm just wondering where all the "Adam is in China!" stuff is coming from!

**Sinful Hero**

Because why else would a typhoon hitting China affect the update?

**BobtheInquisitor**

Maybe he'd be crippled with sympathetic grief, you heartless bastard?

Or something to do with manufacturing. Yeah, probably that.

**Baragash**

Maybe a Typhoon would simply cripple the project and he'd be too busy flying over to rebuild the factory single-handedly/drowning his sorrows in a swimming pool of alcohol to finish the update

Or he needs an updated status list for each kit to complete the update (I think this one is more plausible!)

**Alpharius**

Sinful Hero wrote:
Because why else would a typhoon hitting China affect the update?

I thought we already talked about this?!?

Alpharius wrote:

This is good news - but I have to wonder what the weather in China has to do with the update...

...unless part of the update is news of a container ship packed and headed this way?

At least, that's what I'm hoping what that cryptic comment meant!

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

I'd think it unlikely,

Warehousing stuff in China would be a lot cheaper (if he even had to pay for it as WGF might well have to do so), than paying for a warehouse in the US (especially in New York where Adam is based)

sorry

**Krinsath**

Don't forget WGF has a warehouse in the US as well. If they're down to a handful of kits that could be air-freighted then getting the bulk on the water and moved closer to the client would allow them to wrap this project up and get it done with.

I think that's wishful thinking in the extreme and we care about the weather in China to get an up-to-date "still to do" list, but the above is a possibility.

**Absolutionis**

New update: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poots/kingdom-death-monster/posts/951849

Pictures of Lantern Armor Kit, Stone Face Base Inserts, Antelope Monster, The Hand Monster, Masks, The Scribe (and his dong), and Dung Beetle Knight rules/cards/art

Also a list of progress:

**BrookM**

So many typos. Bleh!

But yay, progress list, we're slowly getting somewhere now!

**Breotan**

Posting pics for people to see along with the text of the update. (spoilered because they're massive)

Kingdom Death wrote:#88 This project is not finished yet.

The amount of effort that has gone into each and every miniature is akin to squeezing a diamond from a lump of coal. Metaphorically speaking, I’m covered in soot, my finger nails are cracked and I’m coughing up black chunks.

I’ve been busy, more busy then I’ve ever been in my life, trying with every ounce of myself to keep the plastic production on track. It has been a huge challenge and has required more of my attention than I anticipated. When I tried to step back, I had to balance it against more lost time or worse yet, a loss of quality and thus, I’ve just had to keep my nose to the grindstone.

I could not step away from the tasks at hand and thus, could not get this update out any sooner. Between preparing it and getting my brain ready to respond to the follow up messages, I decided to finish the time sensitive stuff, and then return to the public surface.

And well... here I am!

Core Game Printing
We have approved many digital proofs and are moving into the next stage, which will be approving physical proofs. There are… a lot of cards. Its sort of insane.

Continued Development
And while the season quietly changes are hearts don’t waver. I don’t think any of us expected to be spending quite so much time together… not playing the game or building miniatures… Yet, the KD team’s commitment is absolute. Much to the chagrin of some of the staff, I have continued to stuff the expansions silly with content. Later this update I’ll be showcasing the Dung Beetle Knight expansion and how its evolved as we await the plastic production to be finished.

This translates directly to more value for the people that matter the most. You backers. You helped lift this vision into reality and the only way to thank that is to continue polishing and improving while our hard plastic manufacturing wraps up.

If I have to make you wait, I will make it better.

When you don’t have to wait, I will destroy your postman with the heaviest box they’ve ever had to deliver!

Lantern Armor Kit
The quality of the Lantern Armor kit is astounding. I am really pleased with how it turned out. The kits are fun, there is defiantly a balance you need to strike depending on the gear and the subtle adjustments of the joins in order to get a strong pose. Getting absorbed in model building was a nice change of pace for a bit!

Oh, the lantern topped shoulder pads are fully optional. You can add them to most other kits and you also don't need to have them on these to complete them. Each arm and torso piece is fully independent.

Spoiler:

Plastic Progress + Gift!
As of this moment, there are only 3 core game tools left to be cut. The Pheonix Armor kit, the Lion Armor Kit and the Screaming Fur armor kit. This DOES mean, that the Stone Face Base insert, Screaming Antelope and Hand are done! I squeezed yet another gift, ("who cares we want the project to be done already!" Yes I know... me too ;_ onto the tool with Antelope and the Hand. Two new miniatures that I simply will not reveal. They have been publicly posted anywhere. You'll just have to get your box and open it up to find out whom they are.

The Great Game Hunters translated very well. And the Twilight Cloak, its hands are armor kit compatible so you can add whatever weapons you like to em. And the Scribe! The Scribe is intense! It came out really well, although the build on it is a real process. Took our poor intern about half a day! He was working without instructions which made it a real puzzle for sure. We increased his size about 3% from the original and as promised both the scribe and the lectern lady have optional privacy fabric.

The plastic scribe is amazing. I am just glad we have instructions for it now.

Spoiler:

Dung Beetle Knight Upgrade!
The DBK has received a lot of love from yours truly. Everyone here had to pry the project away from me as I was simply pouring too much into it. I guess that's what happens when you have a personal favorite. Dung Beetles are just soooo cool! They are like the little try hard of insects, watching videos of them struggle made me think of myself. Working so hard to just get my ball of poop from one side of the yard to the other. Ah.

Anyway, the fight with this monster is nuts. It will totally stuff you inside the ball, then blast it across the board leaving your friends with the difficult choice of either saving you, or attacking it while they are separated. Included is an Errant Badge that nets you one of the 3 random knight tactics cards ( a theme that is carried across the other expansion knights) and if you meet the right conditions you can bury gear for a few years, to later unbury it and access its more powerful calcified side! It's a pretty big time and resource investment tho! And naturally you can always fail.

Here is the teaser! Next week it's off to editing and then can be added to the DONE pile. Yeah we actually have that now.

Spoiler:

Manning Up
There is actually some content I had prepared that I have cut for today. The reason for this, is that I have decided that every other wednesday I will post an update. I'll wake up that morning, check in with the crew, then dedicate the morning to you. You have show me nothing but astounding amounts of patience, respect and kindness. The slew of encouraging emails I get from you backers, even when I haven't posted an update for what... 9 weeks?! Is just too flattering to handle anymore. The real reason I delay updates, isn't because of the amount of work that goes into it. Its because I have to switch gears and go from art directing / game writing / factory yelling / day dreaming and suddenly... gulp... communicate to thousands of people! Its really tough!

But, that's enough whining about it. Every other Wednesday morning. I am yours. Even if there has been no signifigant factory progress I'll just fill you in on whats been going on at our internal studio. I might, might turns these smaller things into blog posts, unto which I will notify everyone about. I don't want to just flood the kickstarter with anything but serious milestones. We shall see.

Regardless of it being a blog post or an update. I will create it and I will notify you. That time will become SACRED BACKER TIME.

P.S. The game is amazing. We just went through a round of interviewing more play testers (yes more!) and they were blown away. And throughout the day I can hear the cries of triumph and defeat from the various play test areas. It is exciting!

I know our factory is doing a stellar job. And I am so thrilled to stand behind the plastic we've produced together. But let me go on the official record and say that WE (me and you) REALLY NEED THEM TO HURRY IT UP!

CUT THOSE TOOLS! INJECT THAT PLASTIC!

GO GO GO GO GO GO !!!!!!!!!!

P.P.S

Omg, I almost forgot about that thing everyone was asking for!!!! The production list! AUHG! All new entires are in blue. Yeah.. the core game crew by another full tool. Ugh. I don't know how we are going to afford producing these outside of the kickstarter. You backers are fine of course. It's just the future stuff. Hehe. Too much ambition.

Too much want!

Spoiler:

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh yeah, for the sake of speed I didn't spell check or copy edit this or anything. Anna is going to yell at me soon as she finishes reading it.

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

And a titbit from the comments

The hard plastic Lion God is in tooling (somebody at the factory obviously thinks it must be done for us.... or more likely the bod(s) who splits the monsters is not the one(s) who splits the humans

Creator Kingdom Death about 3 hours ago

Yeah, its currently being cut up!

Which is cool but... UGH. It was supposed to be AT THE END OF THE QUE. They even jumped it past other armor kits. lol

**Alpharius**

A nice update, lots of good stuff!

I especially like the new commitment to 2x updates per month.

But is there really any way this ships this year?

I don't think so.

So, after CNY 2015 - Q2 2015 it is!

Disappointing, but what a box of stuff it will be when it finally arrives!

**endtransmission**

Yeah, that is going to be one hefty box when it arrives. I suspect this will be constructed as and when the creatures are needed in a slow burn solo campaign!

**DaveC**

Well this pretty much confirms next year looks like they need 5 months to finish the tools which brings it up to CNY so could be Q2 2015

.... speaking from history only. The factory's average has been 3 tools / month. Sometimes its zero, sometimes its up to 8. We have right now... about 15 tools left. Which, if you do the math is really not ok. While I have nothing but praise for the quality and their communication with me has been good. I am upset that their speed is causing such massive delays for everyone. I want, more then anything, to get this project out to everyone ASAP.