Hello, 

9 Circles crowdfunding campaign closed on October 2nd at CHF 15,397, almost double our goal of CHF 8,800, thanks to 270 of you. Together we also unlocked the two main stretch goals:

That campaign was a marathon, and I needed a few days to catch my breath before writing to you. Seeing this second project come to life with your support means a lot to me. You trusted us with something ambitious, and I'm going to bring it into your hands (or digital hands if you picked the PDF).

We're back at work on the book. I'll share updates as we reach each milestone: text completed, editing, layout, illustrations. You'll see it take shape with us.

If you picked a customization option (Be A Denizen and/or the Greed Is Good commissioned portraits), we'll reach out when we're closer to completion of their dedicated adventures. Once the structure of those modules is settled, we can make sure your part fits perfectly.

The pledge manager will open later, and I'll let you know before it does.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Hadrien

Hello everyone, 

We are now less than a week from the finish line. I can hardly believe it.

I wanted to give you a quick behind-the-scenes look at where things stand.
The writing is going well. LUST is now close to completion and almost ready to go to our editor, Thursday Garreau.
This circle was quite intimidating since the core theme poses a bunch of challenges in creating an adventure that is close to the central idea without dangerously sliding into territory I personally do not want at my table. I have to report I'm proud of how I handled it (and the people I shared it with too). 
Speaking of the second circle, I also wanted to share some of the sketches that Lisa did for LUST. We are going into a tropical environment for this adventure : 

Would you like to know more about the circles or keep it secret ? I attached a poll to know if you'd like to know more about each of the adventures. I am personally not a fan of spoilers, but I've got to give the people what they want. Please chime in while the poll is up so I know whether to add a spoiler section that explains how I am handling each circle and what you can expect at the table. This could be a nice boost for the last 48 hours of the campaign. 

We are CHF 272 away from unlocking the Player-facing maps and handouts, which leads us nicely into the next stretch goal tier: Show your allegiance to the EverCycle. At CHF 17,000, I will add a bonus sticker, free with every physical pledge. See early concepts of the design below, illustrated by Roque Romero.

Working on 9Circles has been some of the most exciting creative work I have done. It's been a rough month on my side, and this project has been my anchor through it. Knowing you're on this journey with me makes it all the better.

There's still time to spread the word. If you know someone who'd love a book of dark, twisted, beautifully illustrated adventures, now's the moment to point them our way. Fun fact: the campaign ends on my birthday, so I want to thank you for making it a good one.

Appreciate all your support, 

Hadrien 

Hello,

A short one today, to celebrate a stretch goal and announce a few new add-ons you might want to grab.

We crossed the CHF 12,000 stretch goal. Thank you all so much. This unlocks a bunch of extra content and Mathieu Baguet has already started skecthing a few things out to be shared in future updates. 

The next stretch goal is CHF 14,000, for Player-facing maps and handouts. We are only CHF 1,333 (I had to change this twice by the time I finisihed writing this up) away at the time of this message. This goal will let us design easy to print and share handouts for each mission in order to make things more immersive at the table (and/or online). 

This add-on puts your name on the d100 Denizens table of the Jump Ring Station, featured in Ante-Inferno. Limited to 100 units.

Here's an example of what a submission could look like:

We would be choosing the location for you (since Mathieu is currenlty working on it). Full details on the add-ons page: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/epicquest-ch/9circles-a-dante-inspired-mothership-rpg-anthology/add_ons_index#top

If you've been on the fence, this is a fun one to grab before the campaign wraps up.

A few of you reached out after missing the original 48 hour window for the PAN AIRFARE bookmark. It has now be added in the add-ons section.

I am still very grateful for your support. It means a lot to be able to bring this vision of hell into the world thanks to you.

Have a great day, more news coming soon.

Hadrien

Hello ! 

I hope you are doing well. I haven't been sending many messages as I try to keep them for actual updates and announcements. Quick exciting update: we're CHF 137 from unlocking Ante-Inferno, more below!

Main Quest Con was such a great experience. Meeting Waco and being able to engage with TTRPG afficionados was definitely the highlight of this trip for me. We even encouraged a few Game Masters to jump the (Mother)ship and become Wardens!

During the 2 days there, we heard many stories, parsed advice and shared experiences. Quite a few folks shared they wanted to try new systems but felt "trapped in another system with their current group" or that they would NEVER try horror etc. Everyone was very caring and helpful, we were happy to exchange contacts and help reinforce communities, and hopefully, have many more games played.

 

While I was in The Hague, I also grabbed a coffee with Kevin, The Role Play Goblin! If you are in the area and want to meet likeminded folks, play games with expert GMs, and benefit from the expertise and excellent assortment of RPG systems, go and push the door of this amazing gem of a store, you will find what you are searching for in this magic realm located : Westeinde 24a, 2512 HD Den Haag, Netherlands. 

We're only CHF 137 away from unlocking this, which could realistically happen in the next few days with your help. I cannot wait to see what Mathieu will be cooking. We have been extensively talking about the importance of this HUB and its denizens. Many items, NPCs, services and other rewards will be at this location for your players to interact with. 

Mathieu and I have been collaborating together since MM25, reading and helping each other's own work (RED NATION and BREAKING NEWS), but also on a more direct collaboration: AZOR OPERATION.

This is the cross-collaboration reward for people who backed both our projects, a "big" trifold offering the opportunity to run the same mission from 2 different perspectives. You can join the Oracle journalists and investigate the recent blue collars revolt on this underwater colony and try to get the most exciting story out of it; OR you can infiltrate the base with the agents of the Union, retrieve some assets and sabotage the place on your way out.

If this is intriguing to you, I promise you will enjoy what Ante-Inferno will bring in addition to an already exciting format.

This week, Lone Archivist is looking at bringing more of the text to life thanks to his expert eye and unfaltering hand. I feel blessed he enjoyed the idea of 9Circles and that the concept and vision clicked almost immediately when we talked for the first time. From our initial talks, we have been iterating different variations for the cover, the colors, the feeling of the book itself, always keeping the usability and overall "beauty" in mind. 
Lone managed to capture that overall feeling we were looking for with a great rendition of Techno Medievalism visual style.  

All of this to say, we have more in the pipe and I cannot wait to come back with more news and content soon. 

Thank you again,
Hadrien 

Hello everyone, 

I owe a big THANK YOU to all the backers and everyone that shared the project around. We funded earlier today under the 48 hours mark, which is not a negligible achievement by any means. I was nervous jumping in such a large project, not because I doubt our ability to deliver an incredible experience to the backers... but because of the size of it and the funding goal being so high. This means a lot to me.
This is a very ambitious and costly project to put together, and I fronted a lot of the costs myself. One of the most important (both numerically, ethically and for the success of this project) was hiring so many illustrators. It means I don't really get a bundle deal for a large volume of commissions like on other big books, but I was adamant on having different hands drawing, because to me, having people from different sensibilities, cultures and backgrounds working on such strong concepts as the Capital Sins/Circles of Hell would bring out something really special on the page.
Illustrators weren't the only place we went big: the page count followed suit. The choice of hardback wasn't really a choice; it was a technical necessity. We advertised 100+ pages being cautious... but we will definitely be a lot closer to 144+ (the number gets more and more accurate as Lone Archivist keeps laying out the text and illustrations get added), meaning that a zine format was out of the question. We met some lovely folks during UKGE that introduced us to other hardworking folks who printed some amazing (hardback) tomes... and I am sure you will love what comes out of the press once we get there.

And to send us off properly, a little celebratory piece from ZaqueArt:

Since we funded... it means the Gates of Hell are open! And something (in the form of stretch goals and additional content for everyone) is coming!
I have the pleasure to announce that when we reach the next threshold of Stretch Goals (12,000CHF), Mathieu Baguet (RED NATION) will be tasked with writing and illustrating ANTE-INFERNO, a very important part of the 9Circles... the jump gate that could act as a hub for your adventures. This will be a little bit more than a space gas station... it will be a place for your crew to receive quests, meet people from all walks of life, rest, eat, refuel, blow off some steam... and  hopefully nothing bad would happen to them... right? Right?

There is still a little bit of time to grab your Early Bird Bookmark for those that were on the fence! 

Once again, a very big thank you to all of you who came back after BREAKING NEWS, and thank you for all the newcomers that support what I do and the team that is working on this meaningful project. 

Thank you,
Hadrien