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It was a busy weekend and a lot of thins that felt like grand finales are happening, and not coincidentally, we're in the final days of this crowdfunding campaign.
The Campaign ends on June 18th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time
With only a handful of days remaining, I just wanted to go over some key bits to make sure everyone's got the info they need to back this campaign if they so choose!
PLEDGE REWARD TIERS
Like it says right at the top of the campaign story page, we've come together to help create fully developed PDFs and hardcover print versions of Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide for the Exalted: Essence tabletop roleplaying game. This book is a reexamination and expansion of Storyteller-facing rules, system, and advice, offering guidance and options for Storytellers and groups of all levels of experience. The Exalted: Essence core rulebook offers mechanical tools and storytelling advice to bring Creation to life, which the Exalted: Essence Storyteller’s Guide builds on to make running an epic campaign even easier.
PLEDGING YOUR SUPPORT
To borrow an analogy that I've used in past campaigns, this process we're a part of works similar to the "Viewers Like You" support campaign from your local Public Broadcasting Station (while they still exist): There are various levels of support that you can pledge to, and these come with various levels of rewards offered as a thank you. Like getting a tote bag or t-shirt when you give money to public broadcasting to fund them doing their thing, you can get rewards for helping Onyx Path work on this project.
Let's review the Backer Reward Tiers to ensure that you've pledged to a Reward Tier that provides all the rewards you wish to receive.
In thanks for your support, we offer rewards based on your level of funding pledged. The Reward Paths linked at the top of the page outline the various rewards reflecting various levels of support pledged. Please note that shipping costs ARE NOT included in the cost of your pledge. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager.
While the world of Exalted is full of epic characters and larger-than-life adventures, we've kept supporting this project as simple and straightforward as possible. To pledge support to this project and receive the book in one (or more) of the formats offered, pick one of these reward tiers:
Resplendent Storytelling Arts: This is the PDF-only reward tier. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the shipping charges that are absolutely ever-increasing - this is the reward tier options that you should begin with. The PDF will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com - when it is ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library at no cost and be able to download at your leisure.
Machinery of Greatness: This reward tier includes the standard hardcover version of this book. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager. In addition, this option also includes the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.
If you're a big fan of Exalted: Essence and want to really impress your gaming group, we're also offering a special edition Deluxe Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide hardcover book.
Golden Tongues and Fiery Wit: This reward tier includes the deluxe hardcover version of this book. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager. In addition, this option also includes the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.
In addition to these primary reward pledge paths, we also offer the following option:
Tales of the Chosen: Not ready to commit, or just looking to offer general support? This pledge path is for you. This does not include our primary reward, but allows you to select some digital optional Add Ons, as well as participating in the post-campaign Pledge Manager as a backer. You'll also be able to read the draft manuscript of the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide that we post throughout this campaign.
After the campaign is over we'll launch our Pledge Manager and invite the backers to set up their rewards via survey. This allows you to confirm your pledge and add on anything that you might have missed, as well as possibly increasing your pledged reward path, should you choose to expand your reward selection. Funding collected after the Crowdfunding campaign does not count toward any campaign Stretch Goals, however.
After the Crowdfunding campaign, in the Pledge Manager, you 'll be able to:
Review and update your Pledge Level selection - for example, you can pledge to the Resplendent Storytelling Arts tier during the campaign and then switch to the Machinery of Greatness once we know shipping costs and are preapring to fulfill the softcover rewards.
Confirm and Update your Shipping information - you'll be able to update your final delivery address up until we're shipping out the hardcover rewards.
Pay for Shipping and additional Add On Options - we'll process payments for shipping costs and additional add-ons selected in your Pledge Manager survey when we get closer to reward fulfillment.
Download Digital Reward Redemption Links - the Pledge Manager will have links to access all of your digital rewards as they are fulfilled
An important reminder at this stage:
Shipping Costs: We’ll be charging for shipping in the Pledge Manager once the books are being printed and we can deal with the actual shipping charges rather than using our best-guesses this far out (see our current guesses on the front page).
You'll note that two rewards - Access to the Manuscript Previews and Participation in Post-Campaign Pledge Manager - are included in ALL reward tiers. That's just one of the perks of participating in this crowdfunding campaign!
OPTIONAL DISCOUNTED PoD VERSION – For this Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide campaign, some pledge tiers have the option of using DriveThruRPG.com’s Print-On-Demand service to purchase a printed copy of the PDF directly from their PoD partners at discounted cost (this cost is not included in your pledge, and you do not need to increase the cost of your pledge to use this option). When the PoD versions are available to order (which maybe some time after the books have gone to print), you will receive links to purchase these versions of the books from DriveThruRPG.com. You DO NOT need to take advantage of this PoD offer as it does not affect in any way your pledge rewards.
EXALTED: ESSENCE STORYTELLER'S GUIDE BACKER PDF - Crowdfunding backers will receive a redemption link for an early version of this book before it goes on sale to the public. This initial "Backer Version" will be used to get feedback from the fans to make the final version the best that it can be. When it has been updated to the final version, it will automatically be added to your DriveThruRPG library and available for download at your convenience.
EXALTED: ESSENCE STORYTELLER'S GUIDEHARDCOVER BOOKS - The main goal of this campaign is to fund the creation, production, and print run of a standard and limited edition deluxe hardcover editions of this book. Note that all Reward Tiers that include a physical hardcover version also include the digital PDF version as a bonus.
Choosing Your Reward Tier
There has been some churn over this past week - a few Reward Tier adjustments and changes by backers, as budgets changed and people have read the manuscript previews. In these final days it's best to ensure that you've selected the Reward Tier that offers you the options and rewards you want to receive and are ready to lock down. This timing - before the campaign ends - is the absolute most affordable and inclusive these rewards will be, and will save headaches and heartbreaks if fully considered now.
This is just the first step, however, in completing your pledge for this campaign. Funds for additional extras can be added to your pledge by selecting Add On options and increasing the overall funding and maybe getting us closer to a Stretch Goal.
First Step: Reward Tier
To summarize the first part of this post, the absolute best way to ensure that you're getting the primary rewards you want from this crowdfunding campaign is to ensure you've selected the appropriate Backer Reward Tier. Selecting the right Reward Tier covers about 95% of the options available to you. If you want the standard hardcover, make sure you've selected the correct reward. If you want the deluxe edition, double-check your reward tier to ensure the proper option is featured.
Once you've completed that important step, you're going to want to look at the Add On rewards for any reward "bits" that don't automatically fall into your reward tier. That takes us to the Add On step.
Step Two: Add-On Options
Once you've chosen your pledge tier, you've likely already included the main rewards you want. In addition to the rewards offered as part of the Reward Tier configurations, there are a few other possible PDFs you may wish to add. All Add-On rewards are described in our Add On menu below.
You can select an Add On option, which will increase the amount of your pledge by the listed amount. Add on options will be selected and confirmed again in the Pledge Manager when that's up and running.
In addition to offering extra copies of ther Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide PDF and hardcovers, you can also get the Exalted: Essence core rules PDF, and pre-order the Exalted: Essence Player's Guide PDF and hardcovers.
A few other highlights from this list, first some supplements specific to Exalted: Essence that were part of the original crowdfunding ExEss campaign:
Pillars of Creation expands the content presented in Exalted: Essence, providing dozens of new Charms, antagonists, and story hooks for players and Storytellers alike.
Tomb of Memory is a full-length adventure designed to introduce Storytellers and players to Exalted: Essence. Ideal for a brief chronicle or one-shot.
Deeds Yet Undone offers three adventures for your Exalted Essence gaming group, whether they’re newly Exalted heroes (and first-time players) or they stand amongst the mightiest of the Exalted who have walked Creation’s breadth.
Exalted: Essence Novella Omnibus presents the World of Creation in fiction, a great way to explore more about the setting with three epic tales.
While the Add On options listed beyond those ExEss specific rewards are Exalted Third Edition supplements and use that ruleset, the lore and setting material transcends mechanics. I'd like to specifically point out Across the Eight Directions as a mosty-system agnostic tour around Creation and a great resource for Exalted: Essence Storytellers. Similarly, The Realm delves into the details of the Dragon-Blooded's empire and is a great reference if you've got a DB chronicle in mind.
Ready to join in? If you're backing for the first time, you can click BACK IT and select your Pledge Tier and finalize funding amount in the next menu.
Once you click BACK IT, you'll see pledge level options. If you want to know a bit more about each level, click Learn More, or click Back It.
For example, clicking Learn More on the MARCHINERY OF GREATNESS pledge gives you...
Once you're ready, you can click that BACK IT button and go right to Add On options.
You should also be aware that any available Add On options will be made available in our BackerKit pledge manager, so if you're unsure about adding on something at this point, you will be able to adjust your pledge in the post-campaign phase.
Pledging to the campaign also opens up the Stretch Goal rewards as thanks for your participation. It's important to note that backers who wait and Pre-Order the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide book at a later date will not have any Stretch Goal rewards automatically added to their rewards list if applicable.
REWARD DELIVERY
About 4-6 weeks after the campaign has ended, I'll launch our post-campaign Pledge Manager to collect information from all backers and confirm which rewards you'll be receiving. At that point, you'll be able to review your rewards and also also adjust any Add On Options that you may have missed. Once we have everything confirmed, I'll be able to deliver any rewards that are currently available - like existing Exalted titles and bundles. Backers who have pledged for these options will be sent special redemption links to claim these digital rewards from our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Clicking these redemption links will allow you to add these PDF titles to your digital library to download anytime. I'll send an update when all of that is happening, though, so you are aware every step of the way.
So, while it will take some time for Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide to move from manuscript form to a final product, you won't be waiting a year for PDFs that already exist. (You'll be waiting about 8-10 weeks or so, just enough time for us to set up the reward infrastructure.)
Physical Books
If you're waiting to see the shipping costs before upgrading your PDF pledge to any of the hardcover reward tiers, you'll have lots of time for that. We won't close the Pledge Manager until the books are ready to print and we know what shipping costs will be, so you'll be able to go back and adjust your pledge tier at that time.
It's going to take some time to create the final PDF for Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide and even longer for the eventual print run for the hardcover books. When the books are at the printer, I will be in touch with all backers to outline timeline for pledge adjustments, as well as lockdown procedures and when we'll be confirming addresses and processing BackerKit Add Ons and Shipping payments. That's a long time away, and we'll cover that as we get closer to that part of the process.
Don't fret if you had forgotten to select additional rewards by the end of the campaign. These Add Ons will be available to select in our post-campaign Pledge Manager for those who participated in our campaign and have full access to the Pledge Manager. So, if you are undecided at this time, you will be able to hold off until we're closer to the final reward shipment goes out.
Step 1: Pledge Tier
Step 2: Add On Options
Again, your first step should involve your main reward selection, and your Add On Options will build upon that. If you selected the PDF-only tier, you can investigate PDF and digital options. If you select a hardcover tier, you will be able to add additional copies of the hardcover.
Note that all funds are expressed in US Dollars, so take into account your conversion as needed.
It Adds Up!
That should explain the process of Selecting your Reward Level and adding Add On options and confirming your TOTAL PLEDGE AMOUNT. Since increasing your pledge amount increases the overall funding level of the project, add-ons can help us achieve our Stretch Goal funding targets, so it benefits us all to suggest that you double-check to make sure you're getting all of the rewards you want.
Additionally, this may go without saying,please review your personal budgetand ensure you've selected the appropriate reward tier and add ons for your current financial situation. BackerKit will begincharging your payment methodat midnight the day the campaign ends, so ensure you've budgeted correctly. Choose what works best for you now and is affordable at this time, knowing that you can upgrade your pledge level or choose Add Ons in the Pledge Manager at a late date.
There are no refunds for regret, and the funds raised start being spent immediately on paying for the work done thus far and the additional work ahead plus the projects unlocked via Stretch Goal. So please be financially responsible.
Did I stress that enough? I hope so.
Conclusion
As we move through these final days of the campaign, please ensure you've chosen the correct Pledge Level for the rewards you want (at least at this point). And beyond that - please make sure you've investigated and selected any add-ons you wish to receive. If you have any issues with the Pledge process, either selecting the reward tier or figuring out the Add On options, you can reach out to me or to the support team at BackerKit. I've found them to respond quickly and offer great support.
On Thursday, just before the campaign ends, I will send an update detailing the steps that occur after the campaign concludes, including notes about our Pledge Manager and the communication plan going forward.
So, just like always: Spread the word! Share your excitement on social media! Tell your friends! I'll be back tomorrow with our final chapter, covering the Exalted and Supernaural antagonists, so let's make sure that none of our friends miss out! Anyone supporting this project will be able to read the entire draft manuscript before any pledges are processed or payments collected, so you'll know exactly what you're getting! And you'll be able to submit your feedback directly to the developers who will use your notes to take the manuscript through the final stages of editing and development to make it the best it can be.
So, review your pledge, make sure it works for you in this moment, and let's carry on to our big finale on Thursday!
