08.06.22 And it's out the gates and off to the printers
almost 2 years ago – Thu, Jun 09, 2022 at 03:28:24 AM

Hello everyone,

Quick update on all the things!

Off to the Printers

We are meeting tomorrow with the printers who are based in the Netherlands to discuss how we send the final PDF files to them for printing. To give you some small insight into what remains then from a 'final, in your hand printed book': 

1. The printers will proof our two proofs (Epic and Practical guide)

2. They'll approve them and send them on to the Print manager who will approve the files for print.

3. They'll print a digital copy for us on a digital printer and ship that back to us for our final approval. This is critical for all of us. 

4. We approve the proof (assuming nothing has gone horribly wrong).

5. The printers print 5000 books. 

All of this will take place over the month of June and July. This is exactly what we had hoped for and planned for. 

Distribution

Once the print is done they send a batch to Germany (for our European backers), a batch to the UK, and the bulk to New York for the US Backers.  This process can take anywhere from a month to two months depending. For example, our last book Epic Battlemaps Volume 1 sat in New York harbor customs for three weeks for no reason at all before being moved over to our distributors. 

This means that we should be getting books into hands by September. 

Digital Files

The PDFs for both books are ready for distribution I am delighted to say. These WILL NOT GO OUT until we've closed Backerkit and run the cards. I'm meeting with Derrick tonight to discuss when this will happen but we'll give you plenty of heads up before we do anything. Once Backerkit is closed and the credit cards have run we'll be able to send out the PDFs. We have learned from our previous mistake with the Beta PDF! 

Regarding the NPC Cards (the portraits are all done and the submitted forms mostly edited) now go to Martin for layout over the month of July and August. 

I've got to now make the Event cards and the GM's screen. I realize that the term GM screen is silly. It shouldn't be called that GM's screen. You won't use it during your gaming session. You'll use it when creating your campaign as a step by step guide.

All of those will go out as soon as they're ready in a single batch as soon as they're ready but before the books finish shipping. 

Final Stretch

This is it folks, we're about to cross the point of no-return, when the KS will officially be closed and just a distribution event (admittedly for you folks the best part!). This has been an amazing journey thus far and I cannot wait to see what you think of the books. 

Until my next update I just want to say thank you, and as always, happy gaming!

Regards

Guy

18.05.22 Work book update
almost 2 years ago – Thu, May 19, 2022 at 01:44:50 AM

Hello all,

PDF

Thank you for your patience regarding the Beta PDF. Please note folks, if you didn't get the Beta, you are not missing out on anything other than reading the book a few weeks early. EVERYONE who pledged, signed up, or pre-ordered will get the PDF as soon as it's ready. We're just struggling with Backerkit. 

WORK BOOK

I'm delighted to say that the workbook is now available to EVERYONE (although without the PDF some of the encounters won't mean much, and without examples some won't make sense). This is also a Beta build. We've tested it a couple of times and it all works, but please save as you go!

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

If the link doesn't work for you, head on over to www.greatgamemaster.com and look into the downloads section under all downloads. 

We kept it printer friendly, so please do not expect the beautiful work that Martin did, this is just me and Adobe :) Feedback on it is always welcome. 

Until next time,

Happy gaming,

Guy

16.05.22 PDFs are out, if you didn't get one, here is why...
almost 2 years ago – Tue, May 17, 2022 at 03:51:58 AM

Hello folks,

I have been told that all the Beta PDFs have been sent out, and I've been getting some great feedback so far. If you spot any issues, please let us know by sending an email to [email protected] or [email protected]. We'll take all input, use it and make our book better. 

WHY DIDN'T I GET MY PDF?

If you haven't received your PDF yet then that is because you didn't sign up for one in the Kickstarter phase, but you did in the Backerkit phase, or you are a pre-order customer. Only folks who signed up in the Kickstarter for the PDF got the Beta. 

If you signed up later for the PDF, or pre-ordered it, you will get the Final Version when it releases in June. 

WHY CAN'T I FIND THE ONLINE FORMS LIKE IT SAYS IN THE BOOK?

You are reading the Beta version of the PDF. This means you are ahead of the curve, and the author (me!). The online form-fillable PDF will only be available in June. Please be patient. 

GENERAL UPDATE

EPIC CAMPAIGNS

Martin and I are meeting later this week to place the images into the book, and then it's just a few bits of polish before BETA is ready for release in June. 

PRACTICAL GUIDE

We've chosen the ribbons, the page colors and are just waiting to submit the final master files to the printers who stand by to begin printing. Printing will commence in July and then distribution will commence in September / October once the books have reached the distribution hubs across the world. 

ADD-ONS

As we're trying to get the final print masters ready for the printer, the Add-ons (NPC Cards, Event Cards etc.) are being produced in the background as and when time allows. They are all slated for digital release before the end of October (or sooner). 

Editor

We still have not had any contact with our editor and we ask that everyone rolls a Nat20 for him in the hopes that he is alright. 

Until the next update,

Happy gaming,

Guy

12.05.22 PDF Delays!
almost 2 years ago – Thu, May 12, 2022 at 02:45:41 AM

Hello all!

Some of you have received your PDF, some of you have already started giving feedback (thank you) and some of you have not yet received your PDF. This is because the system let us down. It's the first time we were making use of this method of emailing folks (over 2000 people) and it didn't work. 

Derrick has been manually sending out the PDFs to as many folks as possible throughout the past few days and is working through the backlog over the next few days to. 

You WILL get your PDF it may just be a little later than we hoped. 

We ask for your kind thoughts and Inspiration points for Derrick who is having to do this whilst holding down a full-time day job. 

We are working on a system for when we release the final copies of this PDF and the Epic Campaigns PDF so that we don't have this rolling out. 

LIVE Q+A

For now, I invite you all to join me this afternoon at 4pm BST on discord.gg/greatgm for a 30 minute live Q+A about gaming, and if there are enough folks, we can talk about Practical Guide as well :) 

Happy gaming,

Guy, and the over-stressed Web Goblin, Derrick

10.05.22 It's out!
almost 2 years ago – Wed, May 11, 2022 at 06:09:17 AM

Hello all,

Those of you who signed up for the PDF should have got an email (or will get within the next 24 hours) containing the PDF! 

I want to say a massive thank you to Martin for his beautiful layout and making sure the book looks as beautiful as it could. 

Feedback

We'd love feedback on the PDF. We have just under 20 days left before the final product has to go to print, so have a look, send us feedback, and let's make the book even better. Send your feedback to: [email protected] 

Until the next update - which will include information on the Epic Campaigns PDF - happy gaming!