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> This feels like it's going to end poorly for all Kickstarters involved.

Yep. Mythic's Dark Dungeons and some other company that's offering a booster pack with additional shipping (and handling the fund request better) is having shipping problems. And then there are the KS that had problems before shipping.

Not that it'll solve the entire shipping problem, but BLG has PDF copies of Fantasy Series it can sell on DriveThruRPG, and has refund requests and overstock. Those copies could be sold on their online store or something, at $125, the price sold at Fantasy Series II. $65 goes to the refund, the rest to shipping.

Some other warehouse whose creator couldn't pay shipping fees sold and shipped the games directly to backers. Not that it's QML's responsibility, but I presume QML relies on crowdfunding projects, and the money's drying up as shipping prices rise, projects get fewer backers (and so have less money to subsidize shipping), and creators stop crowdfunding projects. "Problems turn into opportunities" and if QML can collect their shipping funds directly from backers then everyone pretty much wins. Much easier said than done, of course, but this won't be the last KS that will find itself in this situation with QML.

Wasn’t there problems, ie delays without clear explanations, with the Hagglethorn Hollow KS and QML?

Man, this sucks big time... BLG wasn't one of the companies I expected this could happen... I had Streetmasters, the expansion and Fantasy Series 1 all delivered quite early and without any issues.
Was really looking forward to Lasting Tales and Series 2.
This really makes me reconsidering backing any KS anymore. Over the years quite a few tragedies and scammers have amassed and it seems for me it reaches the point where the risk/reward ratio isn't working anymore...
Shame!

> Wasn’t there problems, ie delays without clear explanations, with the Hagglethorn Hollow KS and QML?

Buried in the KS comments, a creator said he didn't like working with QML. Bitter backers (raises hand may also take their frustrations out on QML. But, last I heard, QML has a good reputation (and long queue of projects to fulfill). As the number of KS backers -- and projects -- decline, and as KS shipping issues increase, QML is going to have to adapt.

> This really makes me reconsidering backing any KS anymore. Over the years quite a few tragedies and scammers have amassed and it seems for me it reaches the point where the risk/reward ratio isn't working anymore...

40% of small businesses closed during the pandemic, including Secret Weapon Miniatures, which has a thread on this forum. I know two longtime local businesses that closed early in the pandemic. KS companies are obviously riskier than retail ones, so I'm trying my best not give into FOMO myself! I guess it helps that creators may be backing off from KS for funding as well.

Forgot to mention that the GoFund me link that BLG used to raise funds now hits a "Page Not Found". Didn't look closer, but someone said in the comments that you're not supposed to put rewards into a GoFundMe, and BLG sure looked like it put some effort into the rewards. Dead link, but the URL mentions FS1. : https://www.gofundme.com/f/fantasy-series-1-minis-fulfillment-contribution/donations?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

fwiw, I was waiting for paint on my miniatures to dry so was following the GoFundMe contributions. I found it odd that many of them were at the $125 level. Did some backers buy that many copies of FS1 (whose price was certainly good were they to receive product)? Or, idle speculation, was this an OUYA where donations were faked to increase other donations?

> It is a shame they didn't just ask for more money at the time of the problem and tried to get the product shipped out as fast as possible.

Agreed. Possibly the anticipated money from the overseas investor was part of this (poor) decision. I did see other earlier BLG games ship out, so I'm guessing investor funds were spent.

EDIT: Just noticed the QML website will handle "website sales" and "Quartermaster Logistics is powered by CoolStuffInc.com" so mayyyyybeee them individually fulfilling orders rather than dumping stock to a 3rd party isn't entire impossible. One can only hope...

I really hope that some sort of solution can be found. And, more selfishly, that all of FS2 won't be a disaster. I don't think that it's all a scam because then they wouldn't have delivered to European customers. It's more like they didn't really know what they were doing and tried to deal with the impact of Covid on shipping without thinking things through which only let it get worse.

Unfortunately the writing has been on the wall for a very long while. The only real surprise is that it's taken them so long to admit they don't have the money to fulfil shipment. Really sucks for Lasting Tales backers like myself, at least FS1 has a chance of delivering if QML gets the money, it's already made and physicalylly exists to ship out. FS2 is still in production in China, or it was during the last update back in May. They should start selling the STL files, with backers getting a discount. Get the minis out there AND get some cash income. That'd help finish off FS1, but again, Lasting Tales is almost certainly never going to deliver anything physical.

Looks like I probably bought a $300 PDF

Shame this is happening. I've had a few KS go south but not for much.

From reading through some comments some backers have reached out to QML directly and the response they got back was basically "we're looking to see if there's a way we can get product into people's hands and will have a statement later" so maybe, depending on contracts, they'll be willing to allow people to pay them directly for shipping.

 Dolnikan wrote:
I really hope that some sort of solution can be found. And, more selfishly, that all of FS2 won't be a disaster. I don't think that it's all a scam because then they wouldn't have delivered to European customers. It's more like they didn't really know what they were doing and tried to deal with the impact of Covid on shipping without thinking things through which only let it get worse.

I had the same read on the situation, both here and on Secret Weapon HD bases. Not malicious Creators, just people that weren't skilled enough to navigate the absolute craziness that Covid started and the avalanche of chain reactions that it caused in supply lines. Covid shutdowns, then shipping container shortages, then fuel refinery shortages, spikes in labor costs and war in Ukraine and 40 year high global-wide inflation, plus a hundred other reasons. Secret Weapon and now Blacklist are the only Kickstarters I've ever personally had fail, both from companies that have had multiple successful campaigns and both KS failed directly from Covid fallout. It just sucks. I can't really get all worked up over it, nor will I be screaming for refunds they can't give me, both companies appear to have given an honest effort to still come through and just couldn't, in both cases their biggest failure seems to be trying to hold out too long hoping for a miracle return to normalcy. I don't like it, but I can understand it. The whole world sucks right now and we literally can't have our toys because of it.

Minky and Mister E reposted this QML Press Release in the KS comments.

You can show your support on QML's twitter! : https://twitter.com/QMLogistics/status/1552394129363111937?t=VKM-NQaPTOHSC_bMmhblGA&s=19

Press Release Regarding Blacklist Miniatures

Quartermaster Logistics has been closely monitoring the recent update to the Blacklist Miniatures : Fantasy Series 1 Kickstarter Campaign (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/blacklistgames/blacklist-miniatures-fantasy-series-1/posts/3566481). There has been considerable discussion on social media outlets, and in the comments on the update and the campaign itself. There have also been several backers who have reached out to us directly with questions about the update and QML’s plans based on the information provided in the update. We are publishing this release to address our response to this situation.

At this time, Quartermaster Logistics is in internal discussions with the goal of finding a solution that services all parties involved to the best of our abilities. Those include not only QML and Blacklist Games, but also the backers and supporters of the Kickstarter. This is a complex situation with contractual obligations, so while there have been several options put forth by the backers, as well as options that we’ve discussed internally with our leadership, there are some limits to what is possible within those obligations. We’re looking at all the possibilities to establish a solution that is most beneficial to everyone involved.

We ask for your patience as we discuss these options. We will be posting publicly what our plans will be once they’ve been determined. Please note that it will take time for us to make and finalize those plans. We’re happy to see the enthusiasm and excitement from the supporters of this campaign and their offers and suggestions related to fulfillment. Any individual communications through either our social media or customer service outlets will be directed back to this page until we’ve decided on our plans for what’s upcoming.

Once again, we thank you for your patience during this time and we’ll be posting as soon as we’ve got the plans in place.

For those looking for Quartermaster’s official statement on the Blacklist Fantasy Series 1 campaign, you can find our official statement at the following link : https://www.qmlogistics.com/blacklist/ Stay tuned to the link provided as we’ll be updating that link as things change. We’ll also be sharing updates on our Twitter(@QMLogistics) and here on Facebook when the link has new information.