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will the art be pixel or actual artwork?

Either way I'm happy we'll finally have the art for the loot. It helps a lot with immersion (and I just like looking at inventory pictures).

Pets are super cute! Looking forward to those.

Also - for being in what is typically the doldrums of a campaign we seem to be moving through stretch goals at a pretty good clip still.

I'm definitely backing out of my next paycheck. Needs more dragons though.

I see they just posted up some Interesting changes to the spawning rules. So all the 8-bit monsters show up at once now, and are limited to spawning from their own spawning point.. and respawning everything on the card can be done in lieu of activating four skulls worth of monsters but it can only be performed ~3 times before the spawning point burns out?

So the spawning rules seem simpler now but it also seems like there's going to be a lot more creatures on the board from the get-go. I guess that means more loot cards for the players at least - assuming the loot rules haven't changed too much.

6 new tiles with 12 new designs, $20 add on at $500k

Completionist will be $220 (at $500k) for those keeping track

Project Update #12: Free Giri Unlocked!
Posted by Soda Pop Miniatures

We've reached $450k and it's time for more LOOT!



All pledges of Always Super! will now receive 6x Giri creep models. In addition, the Goro optional purchase now includes another 6x Giri. That brings our total model count for Always Super! up to 83 models. Wow!

Next up!



Lets make Crystalia even prettier with unique equipment art!



Dungeon Tiles! Add even more variety to your games of Super Dungeon Explore with this pack of six, all new, double-sided dungeon tiles! Featuring stunning art and 12 unique layouts, the Dungeons of Crystalia tile set is designed to look fabulous no matter which monsters lurk within its depths!

I think you mean a $20 add-on, not a $200 add-on!

Those tiles look very similar to the mousepad esq map I managed to snag at Templecon.

 Alpharius wrote:
I think you mean a $20 add-on, not a $200 add-on!

Yeah I hit one too many zeros! (although I edited it 7 minutes before you posted )

any further word of EU fulfilment yet?

or are we still at 'we hope to be able to do this, check back later'

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
any further word of EU fulfilment yet?

or are we still at 'we hope to be able to do this, check back later'

I suspect that is going to be the case... Depends if the cost of a redistribution contract is worth the loss of backers or not.

So interpretating that correctly it would be smarter to back and pull my pledge if no EU shipping is announced before the end of the kickstarter, then sitting on the sidelines waiting for them to announce it?

If you disregard treasure chests and spawn points as miniatures, then the main pledge has 72 minis right now.
At the maximum shipping estimate of $140, the pledge is $1.94 per miniature plus all the other stuff like tokens, spawn points, and tiles. So even if you are looking at miniatures alone the pledge is getting to that point of being reasonable.

I think it comes down to how much you like playing these sort of games and how many chances you get to play them.

 Nicktor wrote:
So interpretating that correctly it would be smarter to back and pull my pledge if no EU shipping is announced before the end of the kickstarter, then sitting on the sidelines waiting for them to announce it?

Depends:

So right now they have: International Shipping * International Backers = Cost

If they work through someone it becomes: (Regional Shipping * International Backers) + Large single shippment import + Reshippers Fee = Cost

The question is how much that 3rd party or reshipper will cost, (since they have to make money) and since it involves customs and all that, it breaks down is all that hassle to reship actually CHEAPER due to volume of scale or having a good agreement with someone, or is it only cheaper when they have 500+ units for it to be worth doing it that way. If people are willing to back regardless and pay direct shipping costs, then why bother unless you feel the number of people who will be captured with cheaper regional redistribution will be cost effective and generate more pledges. If you feel your audience will 'pay regardless' or the number of people who drop are negligible and the scale of numbers doesn't make it worth the hassle, then why do it?

For a company who has zero distribution for their default web store internationally, I am curous how they plan to figure it out for the KS... More power to them if they do... It seems lots of other KS seem to pay lip service saying 'we will try to do it' and simply don't try or find out it wasn't cost effective in the end.

Most of the ones who DID do it, had the economy of scale behind it to really help out and drive the model. The using Amazon as a re-shipper model exists and is pretty much itemized exactly how to do it for anyone who is interested.

Here is an interesting article:
http://www.story-games.com/forums/discussion/18587/kickstarter-international-shipping-dilemma/p1

Cross-Atlantic shipping is a perennial challenge, and will be only more so in the future. (Especially if we get a free trade area covering both Europe and North America ) Here are the usual stratagems as a handy list:
1) Print everything in A and ship individually to each customer in B.
2) Print everything in A and ship part of it to a distribution partner in B, who then arranges for continental shipping.
3) Print separately in A and B, off-set or POD all depending on particulars.
4) Print everything in China, ship separately to A and B, have local distribution partners deal with the last leg.

#1 you've found unfeasible (no wonder, it's expensive just as you said), but numbers 2-4 have all been used successfully. Which is best depends heavily on the particulars. For example, #2 is how most companies at bigger logistical scales do it - but it's also how I've solved this problem, several times in the past. #3 is what anybody who uses Lulu to print & fulfill uses, as they achieve reasonable shipping costs by printing on both sides of the Atlantic. #4 is used by boardgame publishers and probably others who like to ship directly to the distributor and have a lot to ship.

This is a Kickstarter who used the Amazon model and is freely sharing their advice:
http://stonemaiergames.com/how-to-provide-free-shipping-worldwide-on-kickstarter-a-comprehensive-guide/

There is a lot that goes into it, and when you boil it down, unless you feel you may loose 2000 of your 4000 pledges due to it, a lot of companies either say 'Why bother' or simply are not equipped to navigate what is required.

@Dais, not sure if your post was in response to mine but I'll answer anyway

The reason for the obsession some of us have for EU shipping is more related to VAT, import duty and handling fees than shipping.
If it was 140 dollars for the main pledge for delivery to my door I would most likely already be in.
But in addition I'm looking at 21% VAT over that 140 dollars and a handling fee of appr. 18 dollars. So that makes it a around 180 dollars.

In addition anything over 150 euros / 200 dollars means additional import duties as well.
So while the shipping costs would not increase that much with additional add-ons it might put me over the import duty level.

Add in uncertainty over the conversion rate at the time of shipping and the fact that shipping costs might be higher when shipping takes place and it just becomes safer to wait for retail.
Don't get me wrong I understand that it's a cost/benifit analysis for SodaPop to see if it’s worth it for them to include EU shipping, just as it is for me to see if I back or wait for retail.


@nkelsch thanks for the extensive answer!!

It looks like backing and sending them a message that I’ll withdraw my pledge without EU shipping gives them the best incentive to finding one. Shows them that I’m serious about backing and they’ll lose me without EU shipping. Of course if I’m the only one, they’ll happily say bye bye and collect the money from everybody else who pledges

Or 28% VAT and close to 120 Euro import fees in my case, shipping from outside of Europe IS a big issue to many of us.

Well, they don't seemed to concerned with wisely using money since they have it to blow on professional cosplayers for conventions as part of this KS.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10152361141799459&id=99556434458

Nice to know they are too broke to take their own product to retail or cover shipping arrangements but can pay professional booth babes.

nkelsch wrote:
Well, they don't seemed to concerned with wisely using money since they have it to blow on professional cosplayers for conventions as part of this KS.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10152361141799459&id=99556434458

Nice to know they are too broke to take their own product to retail or cover shipping arrangements but can pay professional booth babes.

Wow, you really are on a crusade to crucify SPM aren't you? Cosplaying is part of their anime/manga image thing. I would be more surprised if they didn't have one to bring in gamers.

On another note, I thought Marie Claude was their goto girl? Did she get too expensive after the Technyne video?

nkelsch wrote:
Well, they don't seemed to concerned with wisely using money since they have it to blow on professional cosplayers for conventions as part of this KS.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10152361141799459&id=99556434458

Nice to know they are too broke to take their own product to retail or cover shipping arrangements but can pay professional booth babes.

Yes - hiring a model for an afternoon's work cost exactly as much as producing an entire game, 2 expansions worth of content and several decks of cards. That was a total either/or decision.

So now they had no choice but to raise half a million dollars from their fans since they spent their last half a million on the cosplay girl. Pretty reckless Soda Pop! *shakes fist*

 Sinful Hero wrote:

Wow, you really are on a crusade to crucify SPM aren't you? Cosplaying is part of their anime/manga image thing. I would be more surprised if they didn't have one to bring in gamers.

Maybe if they were not one KS away from bankruptcy and were selling TFK at retail the way they said they would 9+ months ago they could take their profit they made from their retail experiences and spend it however they wish...

But when you are with your hand out begging for money from KS backers, it does make your backer base more tuned-in to how you spend your money as a company and that it is a wise use of it in regards to their pledge. The cost of one booth babe could have probably paid for the fee for a Euro/Aus re-shipper to expand their exposure way more than a booth babe at a single convention.

Still waiting on my SDE RK stuff... Maybe they could have spent that money fulfilling their current outstanding KS in a more expeditious manner?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Schmapdi wrote:


Yes - hiring a model for an afternoon's work cost exactly as much as producing an entire game, 2 expansions worth of content and several decks of cards.

A High quality cosplay costume can easily cost 500$. And being a professional cosplay marketing firm, I guarantee they are not throwing in 'the costume' for free. And with travel with an LA firm and model to Boston, I would be surprised if the entire thing cost less than 1000$.

nkelsch wrote:

 Sinful Hero wrote:

Wow, you really are on a crusade to crucify SPM aren't you? Cosplaying is part of their anime/manga image thing. I would be more surprised if they didn't have one to bring in gamers.

Maybe if they were not one KS away from bankruptcy and were selling TFK at retail the way they said they would 9+ months ago they could take their profit they made from their retail experiences and spend it however they wish...

But when you are with your hand out begging for money from KS backers, it does make your backer base more tuned-in to how you spend your money as a company and that it is a wise use of it in regards to their pledge. The cost of one booth babe could have probably paid for the fee for a Euro/Aus re-shipper to expand their exposure way more than a booth babe at a single convention.

Still waiting on my SDE RK stuff... Maybe they could have spent that money fulfilling their current outstanding KS in a more expeditious manner?

Actually they just mentioned that manufacturing is complete, and they have moved on to packaging. That order may be fulfilled soon.

As for the booth girl, I don't think she's one in high demand- I doubt the cost of hiring her could cover a shipping company's rates. Besides, the kickstarter isn't even close to finishing yet- miracles are known to happen. The full discount won't be made apparent until it's over.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also- it seems that Atomic Hype is actually bringing several Cosplayers to PAX East, so SPM probably isn't paying to bring their whole crew over themselves.

nkelsch wrote:


A High quality cosplay costume can easily cost 500$. And being a professional cosplay marketing firm, I guarantee they are not throwing in 'the costume' for free. And with travel with an LA firm and model to Boston, I would be surprised if the entire thing cost less than 1000$.

While in principle I don't disagree, I think this is pushing it for a few reasons:

1. Let's say she's $2K to hire. That's really not very much. $5K still isn't 'that' much. If they were paying over 5 figs, I'd perhaps be with you, but I really doubt they are.

2. It's marketing, which we all expect companies to do. Hiring a pro-cosplayer/booth babe brings people to the booth, gets eyes on the product, and is good for marketing overall. It might even be better than putting an ad in a magazine because you gain the attention of an already captive audience that wants to spend money.

I think the pro cosplayers are a good idea. I was with you previously, because it "seems" wasteful at the get, but when you consider it marketing, which is what it is, it makes a whole lot of sense.

What's the "Completionist" pledge up to now?

 Alpharius wrote:
What's the "Completionist" pledge up to now?

Core: 100$
Mage: 10$
Twilight Knight: 10$
Wolf: 15$
Goro + Crew: 20$
Slimes: 15$
Emerald Valley: 30$

Total: 200$

I think I estimated $200 to $250?

I think that will be more like $250 to $300 now...eventually!

Looks like nkelsch has found a new company to complain about.

Sining wrote:
Looks like nkelsch has found a new company to complain about.

Running negligent KS campaigns which take 2 years and still not fulfilled, then starting a new one and asking for more money when the company has still not finished their last KS and is reportedly broke so they can't release advertised products at retail gives people something valid to complain about.

Broke as in they don't have 75k to publish the game themselves? Or are they really just running the KS because they can run it as a KS.

Also, I'd take some anger management courses instead of ranting all the time

Remember back on Page 13/14/15 and we were discussing using KS funds to fund another MCB PhotoShoot or promo..................................... Below is taken from their Facebook Page. Someone commented about it being a rather 'extreme' example that 'probably' wouldn't happen. Well............ it is.

For all our fans attending PAX East 2014 in Boston, we are excited to have the amazing Lindsay Elyse from Atomic Hype coming out with us in two weeks!!!

She is going to be cosplaying as Brave Mode Candy from The Forgotten King Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1257458293/super-dungeon-explore-forgotten-king

Come find us in the Tabletop Hall, Pax East runs from April 11-13 in Boston!#AlwaysSuper #SPARKLEBURST

Visit Lindsay Elyse's Facebook here - https://www.facebook.com/LindsayElyseFanpage

What is it they say? Many a true word spoken in jest?

..but I did concede that marketing was important and for SPM, hiring a model to be present at a convention is marketing. I guess if you wanted to be super pedantic you could also point out the fact that the KS will still be running by the time PAX wraps up so they aren't using the KS money to pay for it. So this is coming out of whatever marketing budget SPM have left and yeah, I'm cool with that.

I always think that there are three ways a KS can be run:

1) The way it needs to be run
2) The way the backers want it to be run
3) The way the founder actually runs it

In the tug of war between 1 and 2 we invariably we end up with 3 which will - if it's a good KS by backer standards - contain a lots of concessions towards 2. In this case - and IMHO - we are very close to 1. If that means not diverting power from engines* and putting it all into shields** and that ultimately means the survival of the ship, then so be it.


* marketing
** blackjack, hookers and shipping subsidies for the backers

I suppose it's because Kickstarters are nominally about providing the money to develop and bring a product to market, not about successfully marketing them once produced. People see it as pulling funds from R&D and putting it into adverts - both will help the thing to sell, but the latter is not really what Kickstarters are 'for'.

More selfishly, people who have backed the Kickstarter often couldn't care less about how the product is being sold to other people - they have their copy after all!

On a personal level, I find Sodapop's use of models in their marketing to just be distasteful, and not something I want to be associated with by buying their games. But then I think that about a lot of their artwork and miniatures as well! Much like Kingdom Death, I feel I have to heavily cherry-pick the stuff I'm happy with, and the style is a genuine barrier to my bringing these things to the table.