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Thanks man, I am not an official representative but I truly believe in transparency here. We've got a good product here that has a system to sell it that isn't working the way we though, to the benefit of no one, not SWM, not the backers. So something has to give because we are actually very grateful for the support.... I mean, we passed two stretches despite half the people sitting at a buck lol! Gotta be able to do something with that!

I think one of the biggest elephants in the room is actually part and parcel to the reason for this KS: people are looking for a quick answer.

How many bases for a Blackstone Fortress core set? I own a copy, and have no idea. But that is a valuable pledge level for one of your core designs.

How many bases for a Sisters squad? Another pledge level/add on. And so on.

I pledged for a bunch of bases once I finally got into the PM, but that data was nowhere on the KS originally...and cost backers. Have they come back and pledged? No idea.

I have no issue with this system of pledging, but with a barrier to entry of $1...well...lots of people are either waiting for their pattern to unlock, or will buy during the actual pledge manager.

I believe you have a very valuable product here, at least for me, and I hope with more exposure we can see the numbers rise.

 ingtaer wrote:
Glad to see the Desert bases unlock!

deano2099 wrote:
Equally I only want the BSF style bases and not interested in any of the unlocks, so literally no reason to pledge more than a dollar and sort it out in the pledge manager later. Maybe when there's a better idea on how UK shipping will work.

I get what you are saying but don't actually understand it, I know pretty much how many bases I want and so just pledged accordingly. It makes as much sense to do so now as to do so later so why not just do it now?

My usual approach is to want to pay for things as close to when I'll get them as possible. Something might happen and I might not want them in a few months when the Pledge Manager deadline happens. Might want to spend the money on something else instead. The Brexit result may be that they set up distribution from Germany instead of the UK and so it gets more expensive for those in the UK making it not worthwhile. Plenty of reasons to not want more than $1 in the system now. Zero reasons to actually do so.

One option would be to offer a 10% discount for pledges during the campaign, by taking everyone's pledge and adding 10% to the value when it goes into the PM. Don't know if that's financially viable though (since they'll be taking a hit on KS fees anyway, this system is actually really good for them, as they'll get more money from those putting the money in during the PM - it's only the artificial stretch goals causing an issue.)

Worst case, though, is that SWM makes the bases that have been unlocked, then either runs another KS for the other bases, or releases them through retail. Certainly this would be the situation if SWM partners with other companies in the future, or the printing process improves and lets SWM create even more designs.

My issue is.. I got an army or warband I want to use these with.. but need to wait, and wait.. until kickstarter ends and delivers

The "must play with models NOW" desire is strong, so my choices are to avoid that army/warband for XX months, or base them now and have to rebase later once these get to me

I LOVE the "Sisters" bases, but, .. time,. and Hobby ADHD ..

-P

Hey guys, things are moving and shaking, just wanted to say, you have been heard and changes will be taking place that should give a great deal towards the issues raised. It's a weird situation, the product is being received very well both by customers and industry partners, but the way the KS was formatted is hurting everyone involved to no real benefit. Things will be done, and though obviously an improved system will help SWM, it will most certainly benefit you guys too. Win-win is the goal! Hold tight but rest assured they are on it -

Sounds great, Tom, thanks for keeping us posted!

Good to hear Tom, going to cancel and restart or just shuffle things?

I'm thinking that in order to restructure it in the way that will address the issues and give everyone what they want, it would have to be the more drastic option. I also think that when action is taken it will be extremely good for everybody, esp the customer! I may actually run it by everyone here for feedback if ok'd, you guys have been great. Can never please everyone, but it should come close!

Thank you all for the feedback - and for the team behind the scenes keeping up while I was at GAMA. I came back early, and we're putting our heads together to ensure that our next update will provide you with all of the best options. Your feedback has been invaluable.

We'll be ready, misterjustin - thanks for checking in!

Alright!

So here is the deal!

As you guys know we need to adjust the KS - On the positive, we have a good amount of backers and we know MANY of them are waiting to up their pledges. We have had really positive response to the product itself, and lots of interest on the customer and retail side.

BUT - we have a good amount of backers who are opting to wait on their 1$ pledge. This is not their fault, it was ours. As someone eloquently put it earlier in this thread, we locked our core offering behind stretch goals. There is no single item that is core. ALL the options are core. And we made it so that people had to wait around to buy what they already knew they wanted.

That's a big boo boo, but it was made with the best of intentions. The system was set up so that no one was forced into an amount, that they only added what they wanted and nothing more. The thought was it was better for the customer, but really it is obvious people want jump-in points at set amounts like a usual KS.

So, what are we gonna do?

We are going to close and relaunch next week. That sucks and it's embarrassing. But ultimately everything else that happens is great for EVERYONE.

1.) ALL themes will be shown and unlocked right off the bat. If you want urban streets, you just go get it, no hoops or delays to choose what you want.

2.) There will be pledge levels, 50(+), 100(+) and 200(+). The 100 dollar + level will include a set of 3 weathering pigments (really really good ones too - Burning Sands, Dark Earth, and Rust Orange), and the 200+ level will be the pigment set, and a set of 3 genuinely awesome paints that have not left my table since got them, Secret Weapon's Rubber Highlight, Rubber and Tire Black. Their most popular paints, and seriously, check my blog, mainstays on my table. At the end at checkout, you use the calculator, make whatever specific choices you want and you get your total from there for final purchase. The calculator is always available, but you don't have to fiddle in between.

3.) Each pledge will have 3 zone options
1.) Americas, Europe (NOT UK)
2.) AU, NZ, Asia, Pacific
3.) United Kingdom (NOT Europe)

4.) any extra themes that are developed during the course of the KS will be added immediately, no stretch, we just give you the option immediately.

So that is the plan, we get some bonuses for $ thresholds, and you see it ALL right away, and I can say, there will be 18 themes minimum, even more counting the licensed stuff.

No fuss no muss is the goal, just good product and plenty of choice. The calculator is available any time you want it, but you only need it at checkout. What do you think?

That sounds good. And profitable.

Awesome! Yes, it would be better for us for sure, but honestly, you guys shouldn't have had to wait to see all the things you could choose from. I am psyched to show the other themes, and the Infinity prototypes, which are... well you'll see but SUPREHOT seems like a potential understatement -

Thank you!

Love to hear more thoughts if there are any before pulling the trigger on this. Will give it a little bit longer here though -

That sounds great! I'm excited . And like I mentioned earlier, one of the highest funded campaigns ever did a very similar relaunch. I will certainly be in!!

How's this???

Many thanks to all of you that provided us with such valuable feedback during the initial campaign. I cannot truly express the depth of my gratitude for your enthusiasm and support through all of this.

The reboot is going to be amazing, entirely thanks to you.

Many thanks to MajorTom11 for..... too much to account for, frankly.

RIP my wallet.

I’ll be in for 7 of those themes.

 Nostromodamus wrote:
RIP my wallet.

I’ll be in for 7 of those themes.

Awesome! Which ones out of curiosity took your eye?

Now I have to figure out how to re-configure the OP too just realized... OY.

Town Square, Fractal Black, Silent Halls, Lava Flow, Shoreline, Flight Deck and Ruined Temple.

Fine choices sir... Flight Deck was a particular beast, took a lot of tweaking back and forth and there are way too many tiny details... but the OSL on the lights looks pretty sharp at this point. To have someone want 7 choices, quite a compliment man thank you very much for the encouragement!

At $50 offer a bottle of Stone wash. That's the best stuff in the world for cranking out assembly-line painting underground dungeon tiles. Nice, dark, wet look.

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1353217/painting-tutorial-stone-secret-weapon-stone-wash

Oh that would look great for my Secret Weapon Dungeon Tiles!

Glad to hear that you are making the change. Tom, no it isnt embarrasing, embarrasing would have been just carrying on as before when it wasnt working as well as it could.

Loving the idea of the shoreline and hope to see more of it soon, question is though do I really need four different themes? (Yep, of course I do!)

I would very much like to see more of that "Shoreline" theme if possible?

While this is not a video game, Shigeru Miyamoto's expression comes to mind: "A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad".

Re-launching was the right thing to do, and I think this will be obvious really fast.

While reading all the reasoning here I get it and understand. But I would say I back a lot of stuff on KS and as a general rule, a company cancelling a project that has already reached its funding goal is a huge red flag. It means they didn’t set a realistic goal and makes you wonder what other ways they may be lying to you.

Again, that isn’t the case here, but I only know that from following along with this thread - it’s a really weird set of circumstances. For others, it is going to put them off. If the goal was realistic I would just deliver what’s in the campaign then look at a new campaign down the line if necessary for the other themes (I assume the new campaign will have a higher goal to support everything being unlocked from day one).

I was in for 50$. And definitely I will return. Kind of funy how people wants freebies, fake sg and are to lazy to count how many bases they need for particular game. But anyway top stuff, I have your corpse fields and skull resin basses and Im loved them. I m curious how winter theme will be looks in that method. And maybe if you have some time. Could you slap some black wash on them. And on some blue transparent paints. To see how easy will be to work with them

Tentatively excited by Martian Menace. I’m really in the market for Adeptus Titanicus bases, and that looks like it might look ok at that scale.

 Mc Devil wrote:
I was in for 50$. And definitely I will return. Kind of funy how people wants freebies, fake sg and are to lazy to count how many bases they need for particular game.

Having backed many boardgames the desire for a bundle/'official' pledge level no longer surprises me, even when there is only the main game and an expansion and no extra discount is offered far too many people seem incapable of adding up the costs and adjusting their pledges accordingly