The Dungeon - Set of 2 Modular Books of Battle Mats for RPG

Some fun with the Digital Dungeon and a first look at final samples!
almost 5 years ago – Wed, Jul 03, 2019 at 02:59:22 AM

As we are awaiting delivery of the final sample copies to approve (and I will be uploading a video for you guys so you can see them too) we can now get our heads down as we start on logistics planning and getting all the critical details finalised before we dive straight into our printing phase! 

We managed to take a short break to have some fun with the Digital Dungeon map tiles.

Here's a little look at what we came up with -

If your Backerkit survey has been locked and charged you will have received your DriveThruRPG link to the Digital Dungeon. (If your card didn't process immediately, but went through later you will be picked up in the next wave of survey lock down and sending links out which we will do fortnightly, same for you guys completing your surveys now).

Our next update will feature a close up look at our final sample books when they arrive with us!  

Once we have gone through the samples with a fine tooth comb we will be approving the start of manufacturing. At this point we will be able to break down our timeline for you so you can see when we expect the books to leave the factory, arrive at fulfilment centres and get sent out to you. 

We did get a few tantalisingly good pictures of the samples from our factory, so here's a quick preview!

 As you can see we ended up popping the page number on the outside bottom corner, we have done quite a bit of work to make sure they're visible but not intrusive.

Now back to work, we are starting to get really excited about getting going on the printing now! We can't wait to get these books to you!

Matt & Tam

Loke BattleMats

The Digital Dungeon! You will receive your DriveThruRPG code if you have completed your survey!
almost 5 years ago – Mon, Jul 01, 2019 at 02:13:07 AM

We have started locking down completed surveys and charging cards which means digital codes will be sent out now if you have completed your Backerkit Survey and been charged by Backerkit. 

If you haven't completed your survey yet don't panic! We will be locking down and charging in 2 weeks waves from this point, and we will send your digital links once this has happened. (even if you have backed the digital only pledge level you will still need to complete your survey!).

You can still change your shipping address details at this stage even if your survey is locked down.

You will be able to change your address in BackerKit right up until we finalise addresses for shipping.

The Digital Dungeon

Your custom DriveThru RPG link will allow you to access the digital dungeon and add it to your DriveThruRPG library. You will have receive this via an email from DriveThruRPG, if its not obvious please check your spam/clutter/junk/promotions folders as it could be hiding in there.

Your link will be sent to the email address associated with your backerkit survey. Please check all the usual spam/promotion/clutter/junk folders as it could be in there!

If you can't find it please reach out and we can arrange to resend.

What to expect - The Digital Dungeon

We have created ONE title on DriveThruRPG 'The Dungeon - Books of Battle Mats (Digital Edition)' and will add all the files to that title.

The digital maps from both Dungeon Books and the Little Book are already uploaded to the title. You can access these on DriveThruRPG any time you like and download at your leisure. You can access the files on DriveThruRPG as many times as you like, and when we add to/update files the newer version wills be available to download in your library.

The files are stored as zipped bundles, with separate zip files containing the maps for each book in both print (300 DPI) and VTT (72 DPI) versions.

The Adventure Module PDF will follow along with the PDF dungeon generator . Apologies for the slight delay, we have focused on the map tiles which of course need to go to the printers ASAP once they have been finished and approved. 

Once printing is underway we will focus on finishing playtesting for the module and get that added to the title on DriveThruRPG. You will receive this automatically.

The next update from us will be to show you all the samples and confirm printing has begun! We will also share our draft timeline with you with some key times for example how long printing will take, how long the books will be on the water en route to fulfillment centres etc. We expect to be able to confirm printing is go in about 10-14 days, assuming we don't need to make any amends following our review the samples.

If you have any queries please reach out!

Tam & Matt

Loke BattleMats

I will leave you with a snapshot of all the files currently in the digital dungeon!

Next steps - On June 30 we will be locking completed surveys and charging cards
almost 5 years ago – Fri, Jun 28, 2019 at 03:31:28 AM

Thank you to the 93% of you who have completed your surveys. That's amazing work!!

We will be locking down completed Backerkit surveys and charging cards on June 30, that's this Sunday. (If you paid via PayPal those transactions process immediately so you have already been charged). We expect it will take a couple of days for Backerkit to process all the card payments (particularly as the 30th is a Sunday), but if you have any concerns please reach out!

When we lock a survey down it means you will not be able to edit or change your pledge level or selected add-ons. 

You will still be able to change your address details! We will not lock addresses until the books are approaching the fulfilment centres so we have the most up to date information for our fulfilment partners.

Following June 30 we will be locking and charging cards for any newly completed surveys every 2 weeks.

So if you can't complete your survey before June 30 don't panic :)

This also means if we have any issues with your card you will not miss out and we have plenty of opportunities to get everything sorted out.

What happens if your card is declined?

If your card is declined you will be notified by Backerkit. Depending on the reason for the decline you will have the opportunity to enter new card details, or retry with the same details (for example if there were insufficient funds to cover the transaction).

Once we have locked surveys and charged cards we will release the digital content to those who have completed their surveys and had their cards charged.

We will be using DriveThruRPG to fulfil our digital content. There will be a full update on this at the weekend so you know what to expect, in a nutshell we will release the digital maps immediately, the module and dungeon generator will follow shortly once we have completed the final edits and play testing.

As always please reach out if you have any questions!

Tam & Matt

Loke BattleMats

I will leave you with a sneak preview of the July 2019 issue of TableTop Gaming Magazine featuring The Dungeon Books of Battle Mats in the Role Call section! To be featured in that company is amazing! Apologies for the pic from my phone!

Designs update - The Little Book of Battle Mats
almost 5 years ago – Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 03:05:11 PM

As we are approaching the print run we would like to share the latest designs in The Little Book of Battle Mats - Dungeon Edition!

As with the Dungeon Books we have now completed the layout and architecture for the maps in the little book. We have gone ahead and ordered the sample book to confirm the final colours, and this will be the first sample we see with the hard cover so we are really looking forwards to seeing it!

As I mentioned in my previous update for The Dungeon designs we will be adding a layer of "scatter" - not I hasten to add piles of gold and treasure, we're not making it that easy!! - and there will be a couple of little touches going into the little book, but we don't want to clutter the book so these really will be features which you can use if you choose to or can leave as background flavour.

Thank you to the 92% of you who have completed your Backerkit Surveys!

This means that we are confident we will be able to predict our final numbers and commit to the print run as soon as we approve the samples. 

We will be releasing the digital content from June 30 after we have locked surveys and charged cards. As a reminder we will be locking and charging newly completed surveys every 2 weeks thereafter (and releasing the digital content to those newly locked surveys at that time).

We will put out a full update in the coming days with what to expect from the lock down and more information on the digital content.

As always if you have any questions please reach out!

Matt & Tam

Loke BattleMats

Designs and Production Update
almost 5 years ago – Sun, Jun 23, 2019 at 02:43:39 AM

As we are getting very close to getting go on the print run we thought this would be a good opportunity to update you on how the designs are going.

We have now finished the "architecture" of the designs. In other words we have all the walls, floors, colours and features at the quality we want them. We have also been working on the continuity of the designs so the entry/exit areas are a similar colour palette and the maps flow nicely.

We have gone ahead and ordered our last test sample book to confirm the print quality and colours and flow are what we are aiming for. We have also ordered a sample of the Little Book and the reusable Dungeon decals! I know you are really keen to see everything in action so we'll do a video update when these arrive to show you the latest!

Up next is what we like to term "scatter". We want our designs to remain as reusable as possible, so we won't be theming rooms any more than we already have (you will be able to do this with your vinyl decals, marker pens and existing dungeon furniture). What we will be doing is adding in a layer of flavour throughout. Piles of bones, weapons, armour, suspicious drains that maybe something can crawl in/out of. Other features will include some evidence of monster activity, and just some little features that you can use in your adventures or just leave as background atmosphere. We won't be overdoing it as we don't want cluttered designs.

As a reminder we'll be charging cards June 30, and then in 2 week waves thereafter, for everyone who has completed their Backerkit Survey. 

So far 90% of you have completed your Backerkit Survey, which is amazing! 

You will still be able to change your shipping address until we lock down addresses when the Books are approaching the fulfillment centres.

Please reach out if you can't find your survey (it is sent via email from Backerkit and can end up in your spam/junk/clutter/promotions folder) and we can send you your link. We do need everyone to complete the survey!

Once we have green lighted the print run we will send out a fulfillment update with tentative dates for when the stock will ship from the factory, arrive at fulfillment centres and get sent out to you all! (slight spoiler its still  looking likely stock will be arriving with our fulfillment partners, and then leaving there on its way to you, in September so there are no major hold ups on the horizon at this stage).

As always if there is anything you're not sure about please reach out !

Tam and Matt

Loke BattleMats