Update #39

Jul 22 2014
News and info! Schedule Update! Plastic Figures! Rulebook PDF is available for download!
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Hello Brimstone Fans-

Hope your Summer is going well. We've been mostly shut inside, huddled in front of the cold light of computer monitors, toiling to get the game to you as soon as possible. The good news is that things are coming along pretty well. On to the info...


Things We Have Learned

1) Working so publicly is strange. While we have done many games and expansions before Shadows of Brimstone, this is by far the biggest project we have ever undertaken. It's also very different working rather publicly. So many people are along for the crazy ride leading up to the release. Something that seems to surprise most people is that we don't have details finalized months and years in advance. In the past, we have been so down to the wire leading up to Gen Con that we were not sure until the week of the show if we would have a particular new game in time to sell advanced copies at the show. The truth is that there are always variables with production, shipping, customs, etc. and we never really know for sure that we will have a product until we see it with our own eyes. Rather than make specific promises, we try to give realistic windows for ship times. With many people watching and waiting, it can seem like we are withholding information, but in actuality, there are details that we do not have 100% certainty about yet.

2) This game is way bigger and more expensive than we thought it would be. This is our first game with larger scale (35mm) hard plastic, hobby quality game miniatures. As it turns out, these models are more expensive and the molds take longer to tool. Also, the hard plastic is rigid and, therefore, the molds have little to no margin for error with undercuts. The printing is also more expensive than we had predicted because we have a huge amount of intricately die-cut game boards and counters in each core set. So, some of our predicted retail prices during the Kickstarter were too low. For example, the Core Sets were each estimated as MSRP of $85, but the actual Retail Release MSRP will be $99.95. The Paint Sets were each estimated at MSRP $35, but the actual Retail Release MSRP is $40 (you guys will still be able to buy them for $25 in the Pledge Manager!). What does this mean to you, the backers? It means you're getting an incredible deal! For those that backed at the Outlaw Level, you're getting all of those stretch goals which will cost a lot more than anticipated - the actual value is ludicrous for the $150 price you are paying. For MineCart Level backers, we honestly may lose money for each of those after everything is produced and shipped. But, never fear, we are continuing to push forward and making things happen. Just know that you guys will be getting an amazing deal!



GenCon 2014

As you all know, GenCon is our biggest show of the year and a huge opportunity to get the word out and start some good buzz for new game releases like Shadows of Brimstone! This year is no different and we have been working around-the-clock for months to have the game ready to begin shipping to backers in August and to have a small pre-release at the show! Because of the manufacturing schedule, we will not begin receiving actual shipments from the factory until late August. Because GenCon is so important to our business and the marketing of the game, we are having a very (very) limited number of Core Sets air-freighted directly at great expense to be able to make a big splash at GenCon 2014! More than anything, this is a big marketing push to get the press and public some hands-on time with the game and start building the excitement and retail interest for the game’s retail release this Fall.

Though we will be selling a very small number of copies of the Core Sets to the public at GenCon at its final retail release price of $99.95 (for marketing and to help offset the costs of doing the show), we understand that this can be a sensitive issue for a Kickstarter project. Rest assured that we will be shipping out copies of the Core Sets to Kickstarter backers as soon as we start receiving the full shipments of the game from manufacturing, before the game is released to retail and distribution later this Fall.

Also, we are flying in (at great expense) a limited number of Core Sets that will be set aside at GenCon for KS backer pick-up!
KS Backer Pick-up At GenCon

We will have 50 copies of the two Core Sets available for Kickstarter backers to pick up their copies at the show. Because of the limited number of copies available, we will be doing an RSVP system that allows any backers that will be attending GenCon 2014 to email us to get on the list. To be fair to everyone attending GenCon, if we have more than 50 backers who want to pick up their Core Sets at GenCon, then we will randomly select 50 backers who have emailed to be on the RSVP Pick-up List for GenCon Pick-up.

If you are interested in a GenCon pick-up for your Kickstarter pledge copies of the Core Sets, you must have the following:

- You are an Outlaw Level Backer or higher

- You will be picking up one copy of each of the two different Core Sets (2 games total – the games are big and pretty hefty, so make sure you have a way to get them home)

- You must have your Driver’s License or valid ID showing the same name of the owner of the Kickstarter account that pledged during the campaign (for security reasons, friends and family are not eligible to pick up your games for you)

You have from the posting of this update until 11:59 PM PST on Sunday July 27 to send in your email to admin@flyingfrog.net to be eligible for GenCon Pick-up. Please no more than one email per backer.

The Subject line of the email must state “GenCon 2014 SOBS Core Set KS Pick-Up” as well as your Kickstarter Backer ID/user name.

The RSVP Pick-up List will be posted within a few days of the RSVP deadline to announce the final list of those eligible for GenCon Pick-up. This list will be posted using Kickstarter IDs/screen names, and each of the backers on the pick-up list will be notified by email as well. If we have more than 50 backers wanting to be on the list, it will be generated randomly from all eligible email entries/requests we receive.

Once the RSVP Pick-up List is finalized, backers that are on the list have from the start of the GenCon 2014 show until 11:00 AM on Sunday August 17 to come to the Flying Frog Booth #933 and pick up their two Core Sets. After that time, any sets that have not been picked up will be released for sale at the show and any backers that were on the list but did not pick up their Core Sets will have them shipped out as normal when the full shipments of games arrive.

We are definitely excited to have this opportunity to get the game out to you guys as soon as possible!



Core Set Manufacturing and Shipping Schedule

The full shipments of Shadows of Brimstone Core Sets are scheduled to begin arriving at our facility in late August, and we will start shipping out Kickstarter backer copies as soon as possible! Because of the sheer volume of product that will be arriving, it will take several weeks to get all of the Core Sets unpacked, sorted, boxed, and shipped out. This will be a massive undertaking and is being done in-house. We looked into several fulfillment and shipping companies to help us get this done, but the logistics and cost did not fit the budget or timeframe for the project. The Core Sets will be arriving in several huge shipping containers over the course of August and September (possibly spilling into October depending on the ocean cargo schedules). We will make every effort to get Wave 1 (The Core Sets)sent out as efficiently and effectively as possible. We realize that everyone is very excited to get their copies of the game, but please be patient as this is a complex, expensive, and time-consuming process, and we want everything to be done correctly.

We will be packing and shipping out Wave 1 (The Core Sets) predominantly by region and will have more information on this as we get closer to the completion/arrival date of the games.
Miniatures

We are very excited to report that we have received some of the actual plastic production figures from China! There was some question about the specifics of the figures for a long time. Shadows of Brimstone is not just a boardgame, it's more of a hobby boardgame - with a heavy miniature component. This is the type of game where many fans will want to paint their figures. Some will want to modify their figures, too. Possibly cutting the head off of one and gluing it to another. Or, as your Hero progresses through the game, he or she may gain mutations, such as a tentacle arm or a tail - some people may want to model those mutations onto their figure. To make models that suit all of these purposes, we created them at a larger scale (35mm) and with a harder plastic that can be cut, filed, and glued easily. We achieved the best results by producing them on plastic frames called sprues. They are very simple to clip from the sprue and glue together. So, a full set of figures can be assembled in about 30 minutes. We also created our own Flying Frog Productions plastic bases in three sizes: 30mm, 40mm, and 60mm. Standard size models (Heroes, Tentacles, etc.) are on 30mm bases. Large models (such as the Slasher or Night Terror) are on 40mm bases. Huge models (such as the Harbinger and Goliath) are on the largest 60mm base!



Plastic Heroes from Shadows of Brimstone: Swamps of Death. These are not in the final color - the actual models will be in a darker grey plastic.



New Flying Frog Productions model bases in three sizes: 60mm, 40mm, and 30mm.



Plastic Tentacles! An unspeakable horror game would be nothing without plenty of slimy tentacles! In the background, you can see the plastic sprue of tentacles before they are glued to the bases.



A plastic HellBat on a 30mm base. You can see the sprue with the Hellbat behind the assembled figure.



The large-sized plastic Slasher model on a 40mm base. The plastic sprue with the Slasher is behind the assembled figure.

Now, let's take a look at the big guy...the Harbinger! When we first revealed the Harbinger at the GAMA Trade Show several months ago, people kept saying, "But the real one won't be this big, right?" Yup. The model just towers over the Heroes and should be enough to strike fear into the hearts of the bravest Bandido and Lawman alike!





Here is the massive plastic Harbinger next to one of the Heroes for scale.



Here is a line-up of several of the new plastic production figures so you get a good idea of the scale of the different figures.
Rulebook

Finally, the moment you've all been waiting for...the official PDF of the Rulebook is now online for download.



http://ffpgames.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/shadows-of-brimstone-rulebook-pdf/

Please note that each of the Core Box Sets includes a Rulebook (same in both), and an Adventure Book (different for each set). In the Adventure Books, we have information specific to each set: Background and Upgrade Charts for each of the Heroes in that particular set, Scenarios of that set, Creatures of that set, Miniature Galleries of the figures from that set, etc.

We are posting the Rulebook so that people can read the rules ahead of time and learn the game. When you receive the game, you'll still have a lot of excitement and surprises in the Adventure Book (or Adventure Books if you got both core sets!).

We are getting very close now, please stay positive, we're working our butts off to make you the best darn Old West Unspeakable Horror Dungeon-Crawl, RPG-Light, Miniature-Heavy, Theme-Dripping game ever made! So, here's the new topic of discussion for Brimstone Fans: which enemy are you most excited to face off against in the game? So many enemies in the core sets are really cool and terrifying - the enormous winged Harbinger Demon or the spiny creepy-crawly Void Spiders! But, some of the expansion enemies capture the imagination as well - think of taking on the Swamp Raptor deep in the swamps of Jargono or facing the haunting and deadly Necronauts in the derelict ship! Let us know what you think in the comments.

Cheers,

Scott & Jason

So, a full set of figures can be assembled in about 30 minutes.

For MineCart Level backers, we honestly may lose money for each of those after everything is produced and shipped. But, never fear, we are continuing to push forward and making things happen. Just know that you guys will be getting an amazing deal!

Because GenCon is so important to our business and the marketing of the game, we are having a very (very) limited number of Core Sets air-freighted directly at great expense to be able to make a big splash at GenCon 2014!

Also, we are flying in (at great expense) a limited number of Core Sets that will be set aside at GenCon for KS backer pick-up!

 endtransmission wrote:
I can't say I'm overly surprised to hear that they are going to make a loss on the Minecart level, it is an insane deal. I can't help but wonder how this will impact the pledge manager whenever it finally opens though. At this rate I'm guessing the pledge manager will be after wave 1 has gone out. This may not be such a bad thing as we'll hopefully get to play a few games before having to choose what else we want with our minecart cash. Of course, addresses to send wave 1 to would be useful

 cincydooley wrote:
The board game crowd will literally complain about anything.

I couldn't be more excited that they're sprued minis.

 Forar wrote:
That's not at all unexpected.

But aside from now 2 guys losing their gak in the comments, the overall response seems pretty tame.

 Alpharius wrote:
I think these are two fairly big boxes...

Are you driving to Gencon?

I'd hate for them to get in your way...of all the ninja shipping you'll be doing for me!

 Alpharius wrote:
Dakka is obviously going to skew towards 'miniature wargamers' so yeah, most of us will not only be "OK" with this, but will in fact be quite happy about this - especially if we plan on painting them up!