Cheese the Day! The Lair of the Rat Kings campaign has concluded!
Hello Tail-blazers,
Thanks to the support of 300 amazing backers, Onyx Path will be able to develop the PDF and Print-on-Demand hardcover versions of The Lair of the Rat Kings.
There's more to celebrate! Not only did we fund the project on the first day, we unlocked FIVE Stretch Goals over the campaign.
ACHIEVED! - At $3,500 in Funding - BACKER SHIRT ON REDBUBBLE
A Rat Kings-themed Backer shirt will be hosted on Onyx Path’s Redbubble store for a limited time. All backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.
ACHIEVED! - At $5,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE I
Map Upgrade 1 - Red Paw Gang's Burrows. The planned hand-drawn maps to help roughly orient Guides and players will be upgraded to a full detailed and gridded map to aid game play.
ACHIEVED! -At $6,500 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE II
Map Upgrade 2 - Selected Areas of The Not. Maps for key areas of The Not in Chapter 5 will be added to the book.
ACHIEVED! -At $8,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE III
Map Upgrade 3 - Secret Lair. The big set-piece Secret Lair map will be upgraded and built to add excitement to this underground experience.
ACHIEVED! - At $9,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS DIGITAL WALLPAPER
DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Artwork from the book will be used to create a digital wallpaper and will be added as a bonus reward to all backers of this project.
That's right! Thanks to you, the book was FUNDED and then MADE EVEN BETTER by allowing Onyx Path to dedicate additional resources to the maps for the big set pieces. And we added a few fun milestone markers at the start and finish as well!
So a huge congratulations to Eddy and the team on this project, and to all of the backers who've joined in to make this possible. I'm happy about the goals we hit and rewards we introduced, but I'm also always excited and delighted about having 300 backers join in to support this fun game! It's one of my favorites!
COMMUNICATION
So, as noted in today's earlier update, starting in September I'll be sending out updates once a month and whenever we've got a new goal, survey, or other item to cover. If you have any questions or need clarification on something related to the campaign, feel free to get in touch. I may take a bit to answer as I recover from these past four weeks and take some time to unwind and clean up my desk!
ALSO - don't forget to submit feedback on the draft manuscript using <THIS FORM>. Eddy usually keeps the feedback form open for about a week after the campaign ends, but better to get your notes in as quickly as possible so the team can start incorporating your feedback.
AND if you want the draft manuscript all in a single download, you can check at the bottom of this post on the BackerKit website.
TO CONTACT ME
Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your forthcoming survey page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.
ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
Welcome to the tail-end of this campaign, Tail-blazers,
We've had a great run, funding on Day 1 and unlocking a bunch of Stretch Goals throughout the campaign. Inbcluding one final milestone marker that we just introduced yesterday! Well done!
Achieved! - At $9,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS DIGITAL WALLPAPER
DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Artwork from the book will be used to create a digital wallpaper and will be added as a bonus reward to all backers of this project.
The most important part of this campaign, though, is that we have successfully funded this project! Thanks to everyone who's come out to support this campaign, we'll be getting this cool book!
FINAL DAY CHECKLIST
Whether you're a rookie rat just setting out on your first adventure or an accomplished mouse dismatling a psionic threat, these are some good topics to review over these final hours...
This update breaks down your best starting point for figuring out which Backer Reward Tier to choose to help support this project in a way that works for you.
We've got two key reward tiers to choose from:
Mousterpiece Pledge
This is the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF and Print-on-Demand pledge tier. 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. In addition, you will get a special code to order the discounted Print-on-Demand hardcover version as part of your pledge rewards.
Snouts and Tails
This reward tier includes the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF (and PoD hardcover discount), as well as the Realms of Pugmrie core rulebook, which sets the stage for your underground adventures by providing all of the rules you need and setting lore necessary to make dog characters. As with the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF, you will receive a special discount code to order the Print-on-Demand softcover version of the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook.
Digital and Print-on-Demand Rewards
We offer digital options for backing, as well as leveraging print-on-demand technology to have physical products printed as close to you as possible to cut down shipping, reduce tariff concerns, and get this book to your table as quickly as possible!
ADD-ON OPTIONS - The other half of our Reward Tiers update, including information on the second step of pledging. There are a few Add On options that you can add as part of your pledging process, including the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook PDF and the Curious Cats of Mau PDF, the Threats and Curs PDF, the Fiction Omnibus, and the recently released Pugmire Unleashed PDF.
ADD ON selections will be available in the post-campaign Pledge Manager as well.
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.
Choose a Reward Tier You Can Afford
Readthe Manuscripts and Make Sure You Know What You're Getting
Be Aware of the Projected Delivery Date (Onyx Path will try to deliver earlier than this, but the book will take some time to get perfect, and we're dealing with an imperfect world. Schedules sometimes go awry)
3. PAYMENT AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Once you're comfortable with your pledge, please ensure that the payment and contact information in your BackerKit account is up to date and correct. Making sure your e-mail is entered correctly and your credit card isn't expired will speed up the next step process. (I have learned from experience!)
4.OVERTIME MODE
Overtime Mode extends the campaign past its original end time to give backers a final chance to make their pledge and adds an interesting twist to the end of the campaign. How long will it extend? That’s entirely up to backers: The campaign will keep going for an additional 10 minutes as long as pledges keep coming in – a chain of back-to-back pledges is called the Backer Train. The campaign will end only when the Backer Train stops after a period of 10 minutes passing without any pledges.
You’ll know we’re in Overtime Mode when the campaign’s Backer Train counter displays a bright rainbow border and a new countdown that resets to 10 minutes after each new backer joins that final Backer Train ride.
So we're scheduled to end today at 2:00 pm Eastern, but it'll be extended in 10 minute chunks as long as backers keep pledging. Will we add an extra 10 minutes? An extra 20? Or will it all finish up as we programmed? Who knows, but we'll find out together! The power of rolling dice!
WHAT COMES NEXT?
5. AFTER THE CAMPAIGN ENDS
First, we celebrate. The campaign page will subtly change, locking out the ability to pledge and showing the final totals. We'll give socially-distanced high fives and digital fist bumps in the Community section and over on Discord.
Then, the BackerKit payment process begins. Starting late tonight and continuing over the next week, Backerkit will begin charging your payment methods for the total amount you've pledged.
If there is an issue with your payment method (expired credit card or incorrect number or pre-paid Visa awaiting funds, for example), BackerKit will keep trying to process payment during this time.
Once this step is done, which will likely be by the end of August, BackerKit will confirm everything with Onyx Path and I can begin to set up the project in the Pledge Manager and load in all of the campaign data.
In addition to providing the crowdfunding platform for this campaign, BackerKit is also Onyx Path's regular Pledge Manager partner.
BackerKit provides a robust fulfillment integration and pledge management program that will allow us to work with all of the data and distribute the rewards to you. It will take me about a month to set the project up. Once I've got it all entered and built, the team from BackerKit will review to ensure I didn't mess anything up too badly, and then I'll make any changes they've suggested and we can move on to the Survey stage.
6. BACKERKIT SURVEYS
Once BackerKit says I'm good to go, I will send out a survey to all backers. This is why confirming your e-mail is important!
The BackerKit survey is both a verb and a noun - it will collect data for the analysis of some aspect of a group (enabling Onyx Path to set print runs, prioritize new projects, and fine-tune future campaigns), as well as providing a general review or summary of the reward tier you've chosen, confirm all of the rewards associated with that reward tier, and confirm your total pledge amount.
I expect Surveys to go out before the end of September 2026.
During the Survey period, you can choose to increase your reward tier and add on additional options. If you've found $20 in your school shorts or got a stuffed birthday card and decide it's time to include another add-on, you can do so at this time. Note, you will not be able to reduce your reward tier selection, only increase.
If you selected Add On options, they'll be added to your reward list automatically.
Note that you'll be able to upgrade your pledge tier for quite some time - until we're getting ready to send out the backer PDF. So don't feel pressure to have it all figured out right away - we'll make sure there's plenty of time to get it all sorted before the books go out.
I'll also use the Survey to confirm some details for the premium reward tier.
7. REWARD DISTRIBUTION
Once the surveys are up and running, I'll prepare fulfillment for the existing rewards - the Add On options that are all currently available, like the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook and expansions as well as the fiction omnibus. Depending on how smoothly the Pledge Manager process goes, those should be out fairly soon after the survey stage starts. So, let's say the existing PDF rewards will be out to you by the mid-October. That's only the beginning, though.
This is a long process, but I will send out regular updates (usually at the end of the month) to keep you up to speed on Onyx Path's progress. There will be strings of updates that are just "still working on it," but I will share new artwork or information when I can.
Eventually, we will have a completed PDF of the Lair of the Rat Kings. Onyx Path will take some time to distribute, review, and compile any errata or corrections that need to be made. When they've made any necessary changes, they'll make an updated version of the PDF available in your DriveThruRPG digital library and then begin creating print-ready files for the Print-on-Demand versions.
It's yet another long road ahead, likely full of twists and turns and surprises, but one that we wouldn't be undertaking if not for your ongoing support.
So - one final time - please spread the word to any potential backers and fans, and thanks so much for a great campaign!
We're closing in on the final 24 hours of the campaign - we're actually in the last 28 hours as I prepare this post. Within this final day, I wanted to review some important topics, most especially our current Stretch Goal situation. Let's get to the review!
We're in the Final Days countdown for this Crowdfunding campaign. Lair of the Rat Kings finishes the crowdfunding campaign on August 13th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. There's still time to add a few more backers to our pack, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over these final four days to make sure everyone has the information they need to support this project in the way that works best for them.
Whether you're a rookie rat just setting out on your first adventure or an accomplished mouse dismatling a psionic threat, these are some good topics to review over this week to make sure we all end up where we want to be.
(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out our Final Week Countdown / Resource Update. It has links to the manuscript previews, youtube Actual Play videos, and other helpful information.)
Refresher Course
Note for New Backers: Please check out the updates listed above. There's a lot of information there that will be important to know about before the end, like which books are includedin our pledges for this campaign and what Add On options exist. Plus, you can read the entire draft manuscript before the end of the campaign and any pledges are processed.
Note for Since-the-Start Backers: It's probably a good idea to review that stuff as well. Never hurts to make sure you haven't missed anything!
We've had, and will have, a bunch of new backers join in during these last days. I want to take a moment to highlight some key Update posts that new backers may want to check out (and existing backers may want to read as a refresher!).
MANUSCRIPT PREVIEW - As noted, the complete Preview Manuscript for the book is available for you to review prior to the conclusion of the campaign. If you're a backer, you'll have access to this preview manuscript after the campaign. Remember, though, there are still some minor edits, development and proofing that need to be done, but you can consider it most of the way there and a good representation of what you'll get in the final book. Making the manuscript available for review before the campaign ends ensures that everyone knows exactly what our goal is - making this book - and are on board with our aims for this project. Thanks for your support, we're all in this together!
PLEDGE TIERS -This update breaks down your best starting point for figuring out which Backer Reward Tier to choose to help support this project in a way that works for you.
We've got two key reward tiers to choose from:
Mousterpiece Pledge
This is the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF and Print-on-Demand pledge tier. 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. In addition, you will get a special code to order the discounted Print-on-Demand hardcover version as part of your pledge rewards.
Snouts and Tails
This reward tier includes the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF (and PoD hardcover discount), as well as the Realms of Pugmrie core rulebook, which sets the stage for your underground adventures by providing all of the rules you need and setting lore necessary to make dog characters. As with the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF, you will receive a special discount code to order the Print-on-Demand softcover version of the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook.
ADD-ON OPTIONS - The other half of our Reward Tiers update, including information on the second step of pledging. There are a few Add On options that you can add as part of your pledging process, including the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook PDF and the Curious Cats of Mau PDF, the Threats and Curs PDF, the Fiction Omnibus, and the recently released Pugmire Unleashed PDF.
Choose Wisely
Choosing the correct Reward Tier for your desired rewards, and then filling in any "gaps" with add-ons, ensures that you'll be claiming all of your desired rewards as a thank you for supporting this project and bringing this world to life.
Remember, your PLEDGE AMOUNT is equal to your REWARD TIER + ADD ONS. You will also be able to select Add On options in the Pledge Manager after the campaign, but remember that only funds added during the campaign count towards Stretch Goal funding targets.
Also to note, only those who participate during the campaign are able to have Stretch Goal rewards added automatically to their rewards lists. If you're waiting to pre-order at a later time, it's better to pledge to the Bare Bones tier now and then simply upgrade your pledge later to include these bonus rewards.
Tomorrow I'll be posting one further "Final Day" update, covering What Happens Next and outlining what to expect once the campaign ends.
But until then, let's review our Stretch Goal success story!
Over the past 26 (or is it 27?) days as we've worked through this campaign, we've not only funded the book but unlocked four furry Stretch Goals! That's right - we unlocked our Stretch Goal that was still on the horizon yesterday!
ACHIEVED! - At $3,500 in Funding - BACKER SHIRT ON REDBUBBLE
A Rat Kings-themed Backer shirt will be hosted on Onyx Path’s Redbubble store for a limited time. All backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.
ACHIEVED! - At $5,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE I
Map Upgrade 1 - Red Paw Gang's Burrows. The planned hand-drawn maps to help roughly orient Guides and players will be upgraded to a full detailed and gridded map to aid game play.
ACHIEVED! -At $6,500 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE II
Map Upgrade 2 - Selected Areas of The Not. Maps for key areas of The Not in Chapter 5 will be added to the book.
ACHIEVED! -At $8,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE III
Map Upgrade 3 - Secret Lair. The big set-piece Secret Lair map will be upgraded and built to add excitement to this underground experience.
And with that, we've now unloc ked all of the map upgrades that will go towards making this book a little bit better. If you've read the four big set-pieces in the draft manuscript preview section 5B, these maps should be of interest to you!
Four Stretch Goals is pretty good, and I actually thought we'd be unlocking that final one just before we ended tomorrow! So, while we still have 29 ... 28 ... hours to go, let's see if we can maybe sneak one more in there!
This is another milestone marker, a bonus reward for all backers just to celebrate this campaign.
At $9,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS DIGITAL WALLPAPER
DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Artwork from the book will be used to create a digital wallpaper and will be added as a bonus reward to all backers of this project.
We're in a good position and unlocking this is certainly possible, though it's aptly named since we will have to really Stretch to get there before the end! Still, we've done amazingly well so far, so let's see where we get before the conclusion! I like to change my computer monitor at the start of every month, and I'm really in need of some new images, so I'm hoping to unlock this and work it into a future rotation.
YOUR REWARDS!
That's right! You backed this project to help make and publish the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF and Print-on-Demand hardcover. Our primary reward - the big thank you that we'll send out in appreciation for your support - are PDFs and discount links for the hardcover! BUT AS A BONUS, you've upgraded the resources that will go into the maps, an opportunity to expand your wardrobe, and maybe also have a digital wallpaper?
NOT MUCH MORE TIME
Unfortunately, we seem to continue to move forward at a regular pace, and our campaign will some come to the inescapable end. We've achieved our primary goal of funding the book, but there is still one possible Stretch Goal reward that is almost within grasp! It's certainly within reach, but won't be easy, so let's keep at it!
So, as every update concludes: let's keep the enthusiasm rolling! Keep spreading the word and letting others know about this project. They've got this final day to jump in and share the Stretch Goals we've achieved!
And every backer who joins in as we approach the end is not only able to enjoy the additional rewards already added by the early fans and backers, but also help reward those early backers by maybeunlocking thatfinal bonus reward!
Remember, only the funds generated during the Crowdfunding campaign go toward achieving these Stretch Goal targets, so the time to act is now! Together, we can bring this game to life and make great things happen!
LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS enters OVERTIME MODE on Thursday, August 13th at 2:00 PM Eastern.
We will finish up as soon as our backer train ends after that point! So let's see if we can't hit a final Stretch Goal and then keep that train running for an extra 10 or 20 minutes!!
The Lair of the Rat Kings [Backer Draft Manuscript Preview #5B]
Hello Tail-blazers,
We're in our final days, and it's time for our final section of the draft manuscript! As of this update, backers have access to the entire approved draft and can read the book before any pledges are processed or payments collected. If you're with us beyond this point, you know exactly what this project is you're backing and a key member of the supporters bringing this project to life!
Before we get to the manusript download link, I just wanted to quickly go over a few key pieces of info. We're in the Final Days countdown for this Crowdfunding campaign. Lair of the Rat Kings finishes the crowdfunding campaign on August 13th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. There's still time to add a few more backers to our pack, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over these final four days to make sure everyone has the information they need to support this project in the way that works best for them.
Final Days Schedule
August 10 - Reward Tier & Add On Review (That's today!)
August 11 - Manuscript Preview 5B - The Rat Kings
August 12 - Stretch Goal Review
August 13 - Final Day Checklist & What Comes Next
Whether you're a rookie rat just setting out on your first adventure or an accomplished mouse dismatling a psionic threat, these are some good topics to review over this week to make sure we all end up where we want to be.
(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out our Final Week Countdown / Resource Update. It has links to the manuscript previews, youtube Actual Play videos, and other helpful information.)
I want to highlight the Reward Tier and Add On Review post. Please review it prior to the conclusion of this campaign, as it outlines important information about your pledge selection, your rewards, and supporting this campaign that you should be aware of before we get to the end.
Tomorrow, we'll have a review of our Stretch Goal achievements, but here's a reminder about our current target.
At $8,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE III
Map Upgrade 3 - Secret Lair. The big set-piece Secret Lair map will be upgraded and built to add excitement to this underground experience.
This is our third and final map upgrade for the book, adding additional resources so Onyx Path can jazz up their plans a bit and make the book even more special. With today's manuscript download, you'll actually be reading about all of the big set pieces that these maps belong to, so you'll have a better idea of how this could help out.
Digital and Print-on-Demand Rewards
We know times are hard these days, particularly with rising costs and economic uncertainty, so we’ve designed this crowdfunder to be as painless as possible. We offer a wide variety of digital options for backing, as well as leveraging print-on-demand technology to have physical products printed as close to you as possible to cut down shipping and reduce tariff concerns.
Creating and fulfilling physical versions this way gets you the best price, fastest delivery, and excellent customer support!
DriveThruRPG's printing partners are located both within in the USA and the UK (and expanding), making shipping cheaper and avoiding the tariffs incurred by international manufacturing and shipping!
Draft Manuscript Previews
Over the course of these 4 weeks, backers have received the entire current draft manuscript for Lair of the Rat Kings, so now it's time to think about feedback for the developers.
Because they want your feedback! These manuscript previews are of the current draft manuscript – the document in its latest, approved form. This may not be the final form after editing and any additional development, but you can consider it about 95% finished, so keep that in mind.
In fact, you can help guide the team through the next stages of development by providing feedback on these manuscript previews! The Onyx Path team has set up a special Feedback Form just for campaign backers for this very purpose: <Lair of the Rat Kings Feedback Form>
You can use this Feedback Form to share your thoughts directly with the Pugmire developers and help guide them through the next rounds of development and editing.
DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS - BACKERS ONLY
Remember, thanks to BackerKit magic, these download links are visible to Backers only - you must be logged in and reading this on the website to have access to the manuscript preview links. So, if you're reading this via e-mail, click that "Reply to this Update" or "Learn More" button on the bottom and I'll see you below this title treatment.
Final Days Review: Pledge Tiers and Add On Options
Greetings Tail-blazers,
I've got a lot to go over today, so let's settle and prepare for review.
Before we get into it, one more quick reminder about our current Stretch Goal target!
At $8,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE III
Map Upgrade 3 - Secret Lair. The big set-piece Secret Lair map will be upgraded and built to add excitement to this underground experience.
Let's see if we can get this third and final map upgrade added to the final book! You'll know more about the "secret lair" with tomorrow's manuscript section.
We're in the Final Days countdown for this Crowdfunding campaign. Lair of the Rat Kings finishes the crowdfunding campaign on August 13th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. There's still time to add a few more backers to our pack, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over these final four days to make sure everyone has the information they need to support this project in the way that works best for them.
Final Days Schedule
August 10 - Reward Tier & Add On Review (That's today!)
August 11 - Manuscript Preview 5B - The Rat Kings
August 12 - Stretch Goal Review
August 13 - Final Day Checklist & What Comes Next
Whether you're a rookie rat just setting out on your first adventure or an accomplished mouse dismatling a psionic threat, these are some good topics to review over this week to make sure we all end up where we want to be.
(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out our Final Week Countdown / Resource Update. It has links to the manuscript previews, youtube Actual Play videos, and other helpful information.)
PLEDGE REWARD TIERS
Like it says right at the top of the campaign story page, we've come together to help create a fully developed PDF and Print-on-Demand hardcover version of Lair of the Rat Kings, a book full of new rules for rodents, psionics, details of the Underneath and the setting in the shadows, and pre-built adventures, encounters, and set-pieces for Guides running the Realms of Pugmire roleplaying game.
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.
Lair of the Rat Kings
The main reward offered in this campaign is, of course, the main goal of the entire proposition: the finished PDF and a discounted Print-on-Demand hardcover for Lair of the Rat Kings. The first decision you need to make is fairly straight forward - are you just looking to add the new book, or is this your entry into this game line and you want to add the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook as well?
With that decision in mind, we've got two key reward tiers to choose from:
Mousterpiece Pledge: This is the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF and Print-on-Demand pledge tier. 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. In addition, you will get a special code to order the discounted Print-on-Demand hardcover version as part of your pledge rewards.
Snouts and Tails: This reward tier includes the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF (and PoD hardcover discount), as well as the Realms of Pugmrie core rulebook, which sets the stage for your underground adventures by providing all of the rules you need and setting lore necessary to make dog characters. As with the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF, you will receive a special discount code to order the Print-on-Demand softcover version of the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook.
In addition to these primary reward pledge roles, we also offer the following options:
Pipsqueak Pledge: Not ready to commit, or just looking to offer general support? This pledge role is for you. This does not include any of our primary rewards, 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 Lair of the Rat Kings that we post throughout this campaign.
The Big Cheese: Jump into the Realms of Pugmire tabletop roleplaying game with all four paws! This pledge gets you the entire library of Realms of Pugmire releases in both PDF and discounted Print-on-Demand hardcover option, including the Lair of the Rat Kings, the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook, the Curious Cats of Mau, Pugmire Unleashed, Threats and Curs, and the Realms of Pugmire fiction omnibus!
Mice to Meet You: This pledge role offers a special limited premium reward in addition to the basics: an option to supply a name to be used by an NPC added to the setting.
After the campaign is over we'll launch our BackerKit 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 tier, should you choose to expand your reward selection. Funding collected by BackerKit after the crowdfunding campaign does not count toward any campaign Stretch Goals, however.
There are two rewards - Access to the Manuscript Previews and Participation in Post-Campaign Pledge Manager - which are included in ALL reward tiers. That's just one of the perks of participating in this crowdfunding campaign!
The Lair of the Rat Kings PDF and all digital pledge rewards will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Crowdfunding backers will receive redemption links allowing you to add the item to your cart at a $0 cost. Once you check out, it will be added to your DriveThruRPG library and available for download at your convenience.
PRINT-on-DEMAND BOOK: In addition to the PDF releases, Lair of the Rat Kings, and the other titles offered as part of the Snouts and Tails or The Big Cheese reward tier pledgeswillavailable for purchase in Print-on-Demand formats offered by DriveThruRPG. The cost of printing and shipping a PoD book is not part of your pledge amount, however Crowdfunding backers will receive a special link allowing you to purchase the PoD book at a discounted price.
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 Lair of the Rat Kings PDF only, make sure you've selected the correct reward. If you want all of the Realms of Pugmire books released thus far, 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
REALMS OF PUGMIRE core rulebook PDF - A fantasy game about evolved pets and other animals with a strong connection to humanity, with dogs as the central characters. These characters live in the ruins of our world, using tools, language, and ingenuity to build a new civilization in their image, with the kingdom of Pugmire acting as a center of dog civilization.
CURIOUS CATS OF MAU PDF - details the lives of the cats in the city-states that make up the Monarchies of Mau as they explore the world, plan daring heists and feats of intrigue, learn what they can about the Old Ones, and pounce on the sinister entities called the Unseen. You’ll need Realms of Pugmire to play this game.
THREATS AND CURS PDF -an expansion for Realms of Pugmire offering 150 new enemies to be introduced as antagonists, rivals, or allies in your campaigns. Includes expanded rules and new tags to construct exciting new encounters, along with a selection of ready-made encounters featuring enemies introduced in this book. The Realms of Pugmire core rulebook is needed to use this book.
PUGMIRE UNLEASHED PDF - More options for dog player characters, more advice on how to play dogs, and more information about dog communities beyond the kingdom of Pugmire. You’ll also find more species to play: badgers, birds, lagomorphs, and reptiles. Also includes rules for sailing and ships, gunpowder weapons, new spells, backgrounds and three adventures for the Realms of Pugmire.
PUGMIRE FICTION ANTHOLOGYPDF/ePub/Mobi- A massive compliation of fiction set in the Realms of Pugmire, with dozens of tales about good dogs and excellent cats.
Pick a Pledge Tier, then Add On Options
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.
Using myself as an example, I've got all of the previous Realms of Pugmire books, so I'm here for Lair of the Rat Kings. Once I click BACK IT, I see my pledge level options. If I want to know a bit more about each level, I can click Learn More, or if I know what I'm looking for, I can click Back It.
The pledges as described earlier. It should be pretty self-explanatory, but you can click on the "Learn More" button to expand the Pledge Level info. For example, Clicking Learn More on the Mousterpiece pledge gives you...
This is the reward tier I'm choosing, as it exactly fits my needs for this project!
Once you're ready, you can click that BACK IT button and go right to Add On options.
As mentioned, I've already got all of the Realms of Pugmire PDFS, but it's good to double-check and ensure I haven't missed anything. It'll also note anything that's been popular with others in your pledge tier.
Once you've selected any Add-Ons you want, you click Next to confirm your pledge.
If you're already a backer but want to update your Pledge tier or Add On choices, here's what you look for:
Select Manage Your Pledge at the top of the campaign page, and then you can Edit Your Pledge
Select "Edit Pledge" on your review page, and then you can revise your pledge tier or Add On selections.
You can select a new Pledge Level from the available option menu, or Add/Change your Add On selection.
As before, you'll confirm all of your choices, and then receive an e-mail confirmation once that's done.
And with that, my pledge level and Add On options are set for your pledge.
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. We'll review our Stretch Goal accomplishments on Wednesday, but it's important to note that backers who wait and Pre-Order the Lair of the Rat Kings book at a later date will not have any Stretch Goal bonus rewards automatically added to their rewards list if applicable (ie, they won't be notified about the backer shirt on redbubble).
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 the existing titles including the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook PDF, the Curious Cats of Mau PDF, and the Threats and Curs PDF. 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 Lair of the Rat Kings 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 6-8 weeks or so, just enough time for us to set up the reward infrastructure.)
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.
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.
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! We're about to see some amazing set-pieces for Realms of Pugmire Guides, so let's make sure that none of our friends miss out!
I'll be back tomorrow with the complete FINAL manuscript section for Lair of the Rat Kings, making the complete text available for all backers to review before the campaign ends!
We are officially in our final 7 days of this campaign. I'd like it to go on forever (especially because I have an appontment I'm not looking forward to scheduled right after it ends!) but we do have to finish up so the team can get on with the work of turning the manuscript into an actual PDF and PoD book.
So, over the next week I'll be sharing a handful of instruction and review-type posts about Reward Tiers & Add Ons, Stretch Goal reviews, and What Comes Next, so if you've got any process questions or are wondering about how the Crowdfunding steps work, I'm hoping to clarify any remaining questions before we finish. Of course, if you're still wondering about something, please ask and I'll help as best I can.
Final Week Guide
August 10 - Reward Tier & Add On Review
August 11 - Manuscript Preview 5B - The Rat Kings
August 12 - Stretch Goal Review
August 13 - Final Day Checklist & What Comes Next
The Campaign ends on August 13th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time... sort of.
Are you ever really sure what time it is in the dark passages of the Underneath? Maybe we can sneak down another tunnel or two and make the campaign last.. just ... a little... longer. It's called "OVERTIME MODE" and it allows us to keep the campaign rolling as long as backers are pledging.
Overtime Mode
Overtime Mode extends the campaign past its original end time to give backers a final chance to make their pledge and adds an interesting twist to the end of the campaign. How long will it extend? That’s entirely up to backers: The campaign will keep going for an additional 10 minutes as long as pledges keep coming in – a chain of back-to-back pledges is called the Barker... err... Backer Train. The campaign will end only when the Backer Train stops after a period of 10 minutes passing without any pledges.
You’ll know we’re in Overtime Mode when the campaign’s Backer Train counter displays a bright rainbow border and a new countdown that resets to 10 minutes after each new backer joins that final Backer Train ride.
So, we've scheduled the campaign to conclude on August 13th at 2:00 pm Eeastern Time, but it'll be extended in 10 minute chunks as long as backers keep pledging. Will we add an extra 10 minutes? An extra 20? Or will it all finish up as we programmed? Who knows, but we'll find out together! Mice Unite!
Growing our Pack
I know, this is something I've already said many times (and seem to say during every project!), but for this final week, you are officially a Realms of Pugmire recruiter. It's time to share your excitement for Lair of the Rat Kings. Basically, we want to recruit as many curious backers as possible to see how long we can keep our Barker Train running over this final week.
I know I've ended many update posts with "Keep spreading the word! Invite others to join in!" - but what does that mean, and how do you do it?
Easy answer - don't stop talking about Lair of the Rat Kings until 2:01 PM Eastern next Thursday August 13th (and then as long as we continue running in Overtime Mode). Yes, family and friends are tired of me talking about it. But what else have I got to talk about? The state of the world? That gets a little depressing fairly quickly. And - they've learned to tolerate me during a crowdfunding campaign. But here's the thing - there are others around who haven't heard or don't know about the campaign.
We all know this project is quirky and niche - it's player options/setting supplement/adventure tools for the Realms of Pugmire game - focusing on the world of the rodents. This book covers a lot of different ideas and topics, and surely something in there will be interesting to potential backers! Yet those barkers haven't yet heard about this campaign and would love to join in. We're right in the middle of relentless news and events so it's not surprising that new backers are just finding out about the campaign every day. If you have an opportunity to let someone know, please do and let's make sure they have a chance to join in before the end.
For me, one of my main ways of coping with these exhausting times is to dive into a game world with my friends. Reading the Lair of the Rat Kings manuscript has been a much-needed escape over the past weeks, and my friends and I will absolutely be designing our own mice as part of our self-care in the future.
So, let's help out our awesome TTRPG fans and make sure that we've spread the word as best we can and everyone has an opportunity to participate in this campaign!
Resources to Share
If you're inviting new backers, or if you are a new backer (hi new backers!), here are a few key resources to be aware of for this campaign.
Backers are able to review the (soon-to-be) complete manuscript for this book before the campaign closes and any pledges are processed. With the exception of the Set Pieces section from chapter 5 coming on Tuesday (the actual Lairs of the Rat Kings that give the book it's title!), the entirety of the rules and options from this book are available for download and review by backers, along with all of the setting information for this fuzzy and fascinating world.
Anyone who pledges to this campaign before the end can read the entire book now AND provide feedback directly to the developers to help guide the manuscript through the final phases of development and editing!
And, if you join now, as I've noted, we'll be posting the final section of the book next week before we reach the finish line.
More About Lair of the Rat Kings
I love that you can read the manuscript before any pledges are processed or payments collected. But sometimes you still want more info about the book. Well... podcast time! The folks over at A Bunch of Gamers have two episodes all about our Rat Kings!
Eddy's episode talks about narrative dungeon crawling, how Psionics work, and of course, several tangents! Travis' episode talks about choices made regarding the relationship between the Cult of Labo Tor and psionics, design choices on narrative dungeons, and more!
Give 'em a listen when you can!
Lair of the Rat Kings Fiction
The other fun way to learn about this setting is to read some of the in-game fiction that fleshes it all out! Two new stories have been shared as part of this campaign (and will be incorporated into the final book). Check them out:
The Discord is particularly lively and fun, but you might be able to gain further insight and some in-depth conversation at any of these Onyx Path discussion zones:
1) Don't forget to share a link to the Crowdfunding page in any discussion you have (where appropriate) - and feel free to pass any of the long list of links above to those who may need more info (or, just point them to this post!)
2) Don't forget to tell us about any post or review or discussion you write! Come to the comments section and let us know so we can all go and contribute! I know I keep saying it, but really - these last days are key. Keep the enthusiasm high and keep on inviting others to join in, either directly ("Come see...") or just by setting an example of your enthusiasm and interest.
Final Week
We've got one week to go, everyone! Thank you all so much for your support! We work together because it's the right thing to do, and because backers make it better! Let's finish strong! And let's continue exploring this amazingly furry and fabulous setting together, sharing our feedback with the writers and delving into the draft manuscript, and let's see if we can't get another Stretch Goal before we review next Wednesday!
At $8,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE III
Map Upgrade 3 - Secret Lair. The big set-piece Secret Lair map will be upgraded and built to add excitement to this underground experience.
The LAIR of the RAT KINGS is now LIVE and funding on Crowdfuding by BackerKit!
The Realms of Pugmire core rulebook covers a lot of ground, but now it's time to go further into the shadows and the world Underneath...
Lair of the Rat Kings is a full campaign sourcebook detailing a new and exciting part of the realms of Pugmire: The Underneath. It contains not only everything you need to know about the Underneath, but also has information about making rodent player characters (along with their psychic powers), advice on how to run a subterranean campaign, a complete adventure, and a massive number of locations, set pieces, and encounters.
Some highlights from the Lair of the Rat Kings include:
Complete character creation rules for mouse and rat player characters, including a new system detailing their unusual psionic powers
Details on psionic inventions, and how player characters can create their own
Guide advice on running massive underground campaigns, along with details on the elusive and terrifying Cult of Labo Tor
A complete adventure introducing the Underneath, along with encounters and four complete mini-adventures which all link together into one massive subterranean campaign
My name is James, and I’ll be your Onyx Path Crowdfunding Concierge for this fun new project - Lair of the Rat Kings, the latest rules options and setting expansion for the Realms of Pugmire tabletop roleplaying game. Including new rules for rodent characters, psionic abilities and inventions, plus more! There's a lot of options to add to your Realms of Pugmire game within these pages. I’ll be updating the campaign as we go, sharing the draft mansucript previews, answering questions, and providing support wherever needed as best I can.
I’ll note that I’m not part of the creative team on this project – so I won’t be able to immediately answer some of the more intricate rules or design inquiries – but having me manage this Crowdfunding campaign allows Eddy and the Pugmire crew to keep their focus on the awesome projects that they’ve got in the works.
That said, feel free to make me your point person for any questions or issues you may have. I'll make sure to dig up answers as quickly as possible and clear up any issues that arise. Mostly, I'm just looking forward to an exciting ride along with all of you on this project.
Our comment section is for all members of this community – united by our shared desire to see this project fund and develop – to cheerlead the project and figure out how best to spread the word about what we’re building here. If you’ve started a thread on whatever social media platform exists today or a Discord conversation about the game or this campaign – let me know about it so we can share that info. If you’ve discussed the game on a blog or podcast, let’s hear about it! If you’ve got funny ideas for social media hashtags, well we can do those too!
I will also be the person who gets to share the updates and previews with you! As noted on the main page and in the pledge descriptions, I also get to share an exciting treat –The Lair of the Rat Kings Draft Manuscript previews, so you can start reading the book immediately! You'll receive a direct link once you pledge, or you can scroll down to the bottom of this post on the website to see the first BACKERS-ONLY update for a download link.
So, welcome to Crowdfunding by BackerKit! Welcome to a ton of new options for your Realms of Pugmire game! Now let's gather the gang and dig deep and see if we can't explore further into the Lair of the Rat Kings!
Digital and Print-on-Demand Rewards
We know times are hard these days, particularly with rising costs and economic uncertainty, so we’ve designed this crowdfunder to be as painless as possible. We offer a wide variety of digital options for backing, as well as leveraging print-on-demand technology to have physical products printed as close to you as possible to cut down shipping and reduce tariff concerns.
Creating and fulfilling physical versions this way gets you the best price, fastest delivery, and excellent customer support!
DriveThruRPG's printing partners are located both within in the USA and the UK (and expanding), making shipping cheaper and avoiding the tariffs incurred by international manufacturing and shipping!
Draft Manuscript Previews
Over the course of the next 4 weeks, backers will receive the entire current draft manuscript for Lair of the Rat Kings, but it's not going to come to you all in one go. The previews will come out in squeak-sized treats throughout the campaign. This helps me seem interesting over the next 28 days, but it's more about guiding the conversation and helping steer feedback for the developers.
Because they want your feedback! These manuscript previews are of the current draft manuscript – the document in its latest, approved form. This may not be the final form after editing and any additional development, but you can consider it about 95% finished, so keep that in mind.
In fact, you can help guide the team through the next stages of development by providing feedback on these manuscript previews! The Onyx Path team has set up a special Feedback Form just for campaign backers for this very purpose: <Lair of the Rat Kings Feedback Form>
You can use this Feedback Form to share your thoughts directly with the Pugmire developers and help guide them through the next rounds of development and editing.
DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS - BACKERS ONLY
Remember, thanks to BackerKit magic, these download links are visible to Backers only - you must be logged in and reading this on the website to have access to the manuscript preview links. So, if you're reading this via e-mail, click that "Reply to this Update" or "Learn More" button on the bottom and I'll see you below this title treatment.
Thanks to the support of 300 amazing backers, Onyx Path will be able to develop the PDF and Print-on-Demand hardcover versions of The Lair of the Rat Kings.
There's more to celebrate! Not only did we fund the project on the first day, we unlocked FIVE Stretch Goals over the campaign.
ACHIEVED! - At $3,500 in Funding - BACKER SHIRT ON REDBUBBLE
A Rat Kings-themed Backer shirt will be hosted on Onyx Path’s Redbubble store for a limited time. All backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.
ACHIEVED! - At $5,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE I
Map Upgrade 1 - Red Paw Gang's Burrows. The planned hand-drawn maps to help roughly orient Guides and players will be upgraded to a full detailed and gridded map to aid game play.
ACHIEVED! -At $6,500 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE II
Map Upgrade 2 - Selected Areas of The Not. Maps for key areas of The Not in Chapter 5 will be added to the book.
ACHIEVED! -At $8,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE III
Map Upgrade 3 - Secret Lair. The big set-piece Secret Lair map will be upgraded and built to add excitement to this underground experience.
ACHIEVED! - At $9,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS DIGITAL WALLPAPER
DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Artwork from the book will be used to create a digital wallpaper and will be added as a bonus reward to all backers of this project.
That's right! Thanks to you, the book was FUNDED and then MADE EVEN BETTER by allowing Onyx Path to dedicate additional resources to the maps for the big set pieces. And we added a few fun milestone markers at the start and finish as well!
So a huge congratulations to Eddy and the team on this project, and to all of the backers who've joined in to make this possible. I'm happy about the goals we hit and rewards we introduced, but I'm also always excited and delighted about having 300 backers join in to support this fun game! It's one of my favorites!
COMMUNICATION
So, as noted in today's earlier update, starting in September I'll be sending out updates once a month and whenever we've got a new goal, survey, or other item to cover. If you have any questions or need clarification on something related to the campaign, feel free to get in touch. I may take a bit to answer as I recover from these past four weeks and take some time to unwind and clean up my desk!
ALSO - don't forget to submit feedback on the draft manuscript using <THIS FORM>. Eddy usually keeps the feedback form open for about a week after the campaign ends, but better to get your notes in as quickly as possible so the team can start incorporating your feedback.
AND if you want the draft manuscript all in a single download, you can check at the bottom of this post on the BackerKit website.
TO CONTACT ME
Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your forthcoming survey page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.
ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
Welcome to the tail-end of this campaign, Tail-blazers,
We've had a great run, funding on Day 1 and unlocking a bunch of Stretch Goals throughout the campaign. Inbcluding one final milestone marker that we just introduced yesterday! Well done!
Achieved! - At $9,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS DIGITAL WALLPAPER
DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Artwork from the book will be used to create a digital wallpaper and will be added as a bonus reward to all backers of this project.
The most important part of this campaign, though, is that we have successfully funded this project! Thanks to everyone who's come out to support this campaign, we'll be getting this cool book!
FINAL DAY CHECKLIST
Whether you're a rookie rat just setting out on your first adventure or an accomplished mouse dismatling a psionic threat, these are some good topics to review over these final hours...
This update breaks down your best starting point for figuring out which Backer Reward Tier to choose to help support this project in a way that works for you.
We've got two key reward tiers to choose from:
Mousterpiece Pledge
This is the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF and Print-on-Demand pledge tier. 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. In addition, you will get a special code to order the discounted Print-on-Demand hardcover version as part of your pledge rewards.
Snouts and Tails
This reward tier includes the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF (and PoD hardcover discount), as well as the Realms of Pugmrie core rulebook, which sets the stage for your underground adventures by providing all of the rules you need and setting lore necessary to make dog characters. As with the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF, you will receive a special discount code to order the Print-on-Demand softcover version of the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook.
Digital and Print-on-Demand Rewards
We offer digital options for backing, as well as leveraging print-on-demand technology to have physical products printed as close to you as possible to cut down shipping, reduce tariff concerns, and get this book to your table as quickly as possible!
ADD-ON OPTIONS - The other half of our Reward Tiers update, including information on the second step of pledging. There are a few Add On options that you can add as part of your pledging process, including the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook PDF and the Curious Cats of Mau PDF, the Threats and Curs PDF, the Fiction Omnibus, and the recently released Pugmire Unleashed PDF.
ADD ON selections will be available in the post-campaign Pledge Manager as well.
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.
Choose a Reward Tier You Can Afford
Readthe Manuscripts and Make Sure You Know What You're Getting
Be Aware of the Projected Delivery Date (Onyx Path will try to deliver earlier than this, but the book will take some time to get perfect, and we're dealing with an imperfect world. Schedules sometimes go awry)
3. PAYMENT AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Once you're comfortable with your pledge, please ensure that the payment and contact information in your BackerKit account is up to date and correct. Making sure your e-mail is entered correctly and your credit card isn't expired will speed up the next step process. (I have learned from experience!)
4.OVERTIME MODE
Overtime Mode extends the campaign past its original end time to give backers a final chance to make their pledge and adds an interesting twist to the end of the campaign. How long will it extend? That’s entirely up to backers: The campaign will keep going for an additional 10 minutes as long as pledges keep coming in – a chain of back-to-back pledges is called the Backer Train. The campaign will end only when the Backer Train stops after a period of 10 minutes passing without any pledges.
You’ll know we’re in Overtime Mode when the campaign’s Backer Train counter displays a bright rainbow border and a new countdown that resets to 10 minutes after each new backer joins that final Backer Train ride.
So we're scheduled to end today at 2:00 pm Eastern, but it'll be extended in 10 minute chunks as long as backers keep pledging. Will we add an extra 10 minutes? An extra 20? Or will it all finish up as we programmed? Who knows, but we'll find out together! The power of rolling dice!
WHAT COMES NEXT?
5. AFTER THE CAMPAIGN ENDS
First, we celebrate. The campaign page will subtly change, locking out the ability to pledge and showing the final totals. We'll give socially-distanced high fives and digital fist bumps in the Community section and over on Discord.
Then, the BackerKit payment process begins. Starting late tonight and continuing over the next week, Backerkit will begin charging your payment methods for the total amount you've pledged.
If there is an issue with your payment method (expired credit card or incorrect number or pre-paid Visa awaiting funds, for example), BackerKit will keep trying to process payment during this time.
Once this step is done, which will likely be by the end of August, BackerKit will confirm everything with Onyx Path and I can begin to set up the project in the Pledge Manager and load in all of the campaign data.
In addition to providing the crowdfunding platform for this campaign, BackerKit is also Onyx Path's regular Pledge Manager partner.
BackerKit provides a robust fulfillment integration and pledge management program that will allow us to work with all of the data and distribute the rewards to you. It will take me about a month to set the project up. Once I've got it all entered and built, the team from BackerKit will review to ensure I didn't mess anything up too badly, and then I'll make any changes they've suggested and we can move on to the Survey stage.
6. BACKERKIT SURVEYS
Once BackerKit says I'm good to go, I will send out a survey to all backers. This is why confirming your e-mail is important!
The BackerKit survey is both a verb and a noun - it will collect data for the analysis of some aspect of a group (enabling Onyx Path to set print runs, prioritize new projects, and fine-tune future campaigns), as well as providing a general review or summary of the reward tier you've chosen, confirm all of the rewards associated with that reward tier, and confirm your total pledge amount.
I expect Surveys to go out before the end of September 2026.
During the Survey period, you can choose to increase your reward tier and add on additional options. If you've found $20 in your school shorts or got a stuffed birthday card and decide it's time to include another add-on, you can do so at this time. Note, you will not be able to reduce your reward tier selection, only increase.
If you selected Add On options, they'll be added to your reward list automatically.
Note that you'll be able to upgrade your pledge tier for quite some time - until we're getting ready to send out the backer PDF. So don't feel pressure to have it all figured out right away - we'll make sure there's plenty of time to get it all sorted before the books go out.
I'll also use the Survey to confirm some details for the premium reward tier.
7. REWARD DISTRIBUTION
Once the surveys are up and running, I'll prepare fulfillment for the existing rewards - the Add On options that are all currently available, like the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook and expansions as well as the fiction omnibus. Depending on how smoothly the Pledge Manager process goes, those should be out fairly soon after the survey stage starts. So, let's say the existing PDF rewards will be out to you by the mid-October. That's only the beginning, though.
This is a long process, but I will send out regular updates (usually at the end of the month) to keep you up to speed on Onyx Path's progress. There will be strings of updates that are just "still working on it," but I will share new artwork or information when I can.
Eventually, we will have a completed PDF of the Lair of the Rat Kings. Onyx Path will take some time to distribute, review, and compile any errata or corrections that need to be made. When they've made any necessary changes, they'll make an updated version of the PDF available in your DriveThruRPG digital library and then begin creating print-ready files for the Print-on-Demand versions.
It's yet another long road ahead, likely full of twists and turns and surprises, but one that we wouldn't be undertaking if not for your ongoing support.
So - one final time - please spread the word to any potential backers and fans, and thanks so much for a great campaign!
We're closing in on the final 24 hours of the campaign - we're actually in the last 28 hours as I prepare this post. Within this final day, I wanted to review some important topics, most especially our current Stretch Goal situation. Let's get to the review!
We're in the Final Days countdown for this Crowdfunding campaign. Lair of the Rat Kings finishes the crowdfunding campaign on August 13th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. There's still time to add a few more backers to our pack, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over these final four days to make sure everyone has the information they need to support this project in the way that works best for them.
Whether you're a rookie rat just setting out on your first adventure or an accomplished mouse dismatling a psionic threat, these are some good topics to review over this week to make sure we all end up where we want to be.
(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out our Final Week Countdown / Resource Update. It has links to the manuscript previews, youtube Actual Play videos, and other helpful information.)
Refresher Course
Note for New Backers: Please check out the updates listed above. There's a lot of information there that will be important to know about before the end, like which books are includedin our pledges for this campaign and what Add On options exist. Plus, you can read the entire draft manuscript before the end of the campaign and any pledges are processed.
Note for Since-the-Start Backers: It's probably a good idea to review that stuff as well. Never hurts to make sure you haven't missed anything!
We've had, and will have, a bunch of new backers join in during these last days. I want to take a moment to highlight some key Update posts that new backers may want to check out (and existing backers may want to read as a refresher!).
MANUSCRIPT PREVIEW - As noted, the complete Preview Manuscript for the book is available for you to review prior to the conclusion of the campaign. If you're a backer, you'll have access to this preview manuscript after the campaign. Remember, though, there are still some minor edits, development and proofing that need to be done, but you can consider it most of the way there and a good representation of what you'll get in the final book. Making the manuscript available for review before the campaign ends ensures that everyone knows exactly what our goal is - making this book - and are on board with our aims for this project. Thanks for your support, we're all in this together!
PLEDGE TIERS -This update breaks down your best starting point for figuring out which Backer Reward Tier to choose to help support this project in a way that works for you.
We've got two key reward tiers to choose from:
Mousterpiece Pledge
This is the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF and Print-on-Demand pledge tier. 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. In addition, you will get a special code to order the discounted Print-on-Demand hardcover version as part of your pledge rewards.
Snouts and Tails
This reward tier includes the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF (and PoD hardcover discount), as well as the Realms of Pugmrie core rulebook, which sets the stage for your underground adventures by providing all of the rules you need and setting lore necessary to make dog characters. As with the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF, you will receive a special discount code to order the Print-on-Demand softcover version of the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook.
ADD-ON OPTIONS - The other half of our Reward Tiers update, including information on the second step of pledging. There are a few Add On options that you can add as part of your pledging process, including the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook PDF and the Curious Cats of Mau PDF, the Threats and Curs PDF, the Fiction Omnibus, and the recently released Pugmire Unleashed PDF.
Choose Wisely
Choosing the correct Reward Tier for your desired rewards, and then filling in any "gaps" with add-ons, ensures that you'll be claiming all of your desired rewards as a thank you for supporting this project and bringing this world to life.
Remember, your PLEDGE AMOUNT is equal to your REWARD TIER + ADD ONS. You will also be able to select Add On options in the Pledge Manager after the campaign, but remember that only funds added during the campaign count towards Stretch Goal funding targets.
Also to note, only those who participate during the campaign are able to have Stretch Goal rewards added automatically to their rewards lists. If you're waiting to pre-order at a later time, it's better to pledge to the Bare Bones tier now and then simply upgrade your pledge later to include these bonus rewards.
Tomorrow I'll be posting one further "Final Day" update, covering What Happens Next and outlining what to expect once the campaign ends.
But until then, let's review our Stretch Goal success story!
Over the past 26 (or is it 27?) days as we've worked through this campaign, we've not only funded the book but unlocked four furry Stretch Goals! That's right - we unlocked our Stretch Goal that was still on the horizon yesterday!
ACHIEVED! - At $3,500 in Funding - BACKER SHIRT ON REDBUBBLE
A Rat Kings-themed Backer shirt will be hosted on Onyx Path’s Redbubble store for a limited time. All backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.
ACHIEVED! - At $5,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE I
Map Upgrade 1 - Red Paw Gang's Burrows. The planned hand-drawn maps to help roughly orient Guides and players will be upgraded to a full detailed and gridded map to aid game play.
ACHIEVED! -At $6,500 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE II
Map Upgrade 2 - Selected Areas of The Not. Maps for key areas of The Not in Chapter 5 will be added to the book.
ACHIEVED! -At $8,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE III
Map Upgrade 3 - Secret Lair. The big set-piece Secret Lair map will be upgraded and built to add excitement to this underground experience.
And with that, we've now unloc ked all of the map upgrades that will go towards making this book a little bit better. If you've read the four big set-pieces in the draft manuscript preview section 5B, these maps should be of interest to you!
Four Stretch Goals is pretty good, and I actually thought we'd be unlocking that final one just before we ended tomorrow! So, while we still have 29 ... 28 ... hours to go, let's see if we can maybe sneak one more in there!
This is another milestone marker, a bonus reward for all backers just to celebrate this campaign.
At $9,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS DIGITAL WALLPAPER
DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Artwork from the book will be used to create a digital wallpaper and will be added as a bonus reward to all backers of this project.
We're in a good position and unlocking this is certainly possible, though it's aptly named since we will have to really Stretch to get there before the end! Still, we've done amazingly well so far, so let's see where we get before the conclusion! I like to change my computer monitor at the start of every month, and I'm really in need of some new images, so I'm hoping to unlock this and work it into a future rotation.
YOUR REWARDS!
That's right! You backed this project to help make and publish the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF and Print-on-Demand hardcover. Our primary reward - the big thank you that we'll send out in appreciation for your support - are PDFs and discount links for the hardcover! BUT AS A BONUS, you've upgraded the resources that will go into the maps, an opportunity to expand your wardrobe, and maybe also have a digital wallpaper?
NOT MUCH MORE TIME
Unfortunately, we seem to continue to move forward at a regular pace, and our campaign will some come to the inescapable end. We've achieved our primary goal of funding the book, but there is still one possible Stretch Goal reward that is almost within grasp! It's certainly within reach, but won't be easy, so let's keep at it!
So, as every update concludes: let's keep the enthusiasm rolling! Keep spreading the word and letting others know about this project. They've got this final day to jump in and share the Stretch Goals we've achieved!
And every backer who joins in as we approach the end is not only able to enjoy the additional rewards already added by the early fans and backers, but also help reward those early backers by maybeunlocking thatfinal bonus reward!
Remember, only the funds generated during the Crowdfunding campaign go toward achieving these Stretch Goal targets, so the time to act is now! Together, we can bring this game to life and make great things happen!
LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS enters OVERTIME MODE on Thursday, August 13th at 2:00 PM Eastern.
We will finish up as soon as our backer train ends after that point! So let's see if we can't hit a final Stretch Goal and then keep that train running for an extra 10 or 20 minutes!!
I've got a lot to go over today, so let's settle and prepare for review.
Before we get into it, one more quick reminder about our current Stretch Goal target!
At $8,000 in Funding - LAIR OF THE RAT KINGS MAP UPGRADE III
Map Upgrade 3 - Secret Lair. The big set-piece Secret Lair map will be upgraded and built to add excitement to this underground experience.
Let's see if we can get this third and final map upgrade added to the final book! You'll know more about the "secret lair" with tomorrow's manuscript section.
We're in the Final Days countdown for this Crowdfunding campaign. Lair of the Rat Kings finishes the crowdfunding campaign on August 13th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. There's still time to add a few more backers to our pack, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over these final four days to make sure everyone has the information they need to support this project in the way that works best for them.
Final Days Schedule
August 10 - Reward Tier & Add On Review (That's today!)
August 11 - Manuscript Preview 5B - The Rat Kings
August 12 - Stretch Goal Review
August 13 - Final Day Checklist & What Comes Next
Whether you're a rookie rat just setting out on your first adventure or an accomplished mouse dismatling a psionic threat, these are some good topics to review over this week to make sure we all end up where we want to be.
(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out our Final Week Countdown / Resource Update. It has links to the manuscript previews, youtube Actual Play videos, and other helpful information.)
PLEDGE REWARD TIERS
Like it says right at the top of the campaign story page, we've come together to help create a fully developed PDF and Print-on-Demand hardcover version of Lair of the Rat Kings, a book full of new rules for rodents, psionics, details of the Underneath and the setting in the shadows, and pre-built adventures, encounters, and set-pieces for Guides running the Realms of Pugmire roleplaying game.
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.
Lair of the Rat Kings
The main reward offered in this campaign is, of course, the main goal of the entire proposition: the finished PDF and a discounted Print-on-Demand hardcover for Lair of the Rat Kings. The first decision you need to make is fairly straight forward - are you just looking to add the new book, or is this your entry into this game line and you want to add the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook as well?
With that decision in mind, we've got two key reward tiers to choose from:
Mousterpiece Pledge: This is the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF and Print-on-Demand pledge tier. 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. In addition, you will get a special code to order the discounted Print-on-Demand hardcover version as part of your pledge rewards.
Snouts and Tails: This reward tier includes the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF (and PoD hardcover discount), as well as the Realms of Pugmrie core rulebook, which sets the stage for your underground adventures by providing all of the rules you need and setting lore necessary to make dog characters. As with the Lair of the Rat Kings PDF, you will receive a special discount code to order the Print-on-Demand softcover version of the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook.
In addition to these primary reward pledge roles, we also offer the following options:
Pipsqueak Pledge: Not ready to commit, or just looking to offer general support? This pledge role is for you. This does not include any of our primary rewards, 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 Lair of the Rat Kings that we post throughout this campaign.
The Big Cheese: Jump into the Realms of Pugmire tabletop roleplaying game with all four paws! This pledge gets you the entire library of Realms of Pugmire releases in both PDF and discounted Print-on-Demand hardcover option, including the Lair of the Rat Kings, the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook, the Curious Cats of Mau, Pugmire Unleashed, Threats and Curs, and the Realms of Pugmire fiction omnibus!
Mice to Meet You: This pledge role offers a special limited premium reward in addition to the basics: an option to supply a name to be used by an NPC added to the setting.
After the campaign is over we'll launch our BackerKit 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 tier, should you choose to expand your reward selection. Funding collected by BackerKit after the crowdfunding campaign does not count toward any campaign Stretch Goals, however.
There are two rewards - Access to the Manuscript Previews and Participation in Post-Campaign Pledge Manager - which are included in ALL reward tiers. That's just one of the perks of participating in this crowdfunding campaign!
The Lair of the Rat Kings PDF and all digital pledge rewards will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Crowdfunding backers will receive redemption links allowing you to add the item to your cart at a $0 cost. Once you check out, it will be added to your DriveThruRPG library and available for download at your convenience.
PRINT-on-DEMAND BOOK: In addition to the PDF releases, Lair of the Rat Kings, and the other titles offered as part of the Snouts and Tails or The Big Cheese reward tier pledgeswillavailable for purchase in Print-on-Demand formats offered by DriveThruRPG. The cost of printing and shipping a PoD book is not part of your pledge amount, however Crowdfunding backers will receive a special link allowing you to purchase the PoD book at a discounted price.
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 Lair of the Rat Kings PDF only, make sure you've selected the correct reward. If you want all of the Realms of Pugmire books released thus far, 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
REALMS OF PUGMIRE core rulebook PDF - A fantasy game about evolved pets and other animals with a strong connection to humanity, with dogs as the central characters. These characters live in the ruins of our world, using tools, language, and ingenuity to build a new civilization in their image, with the kingdom of Pugmire acting as a center of dog civilization.
CURIOUS CATS OF MAU PDF - details the lives of the cats in the city-states that make up the Monarchies of Mau as they explore the world, plan daring heists and feats of intrigue, learn what they can about the Old Ones, and pounce on the sinister entities called the Unseen. You’ll need Realms of Pugmire to play this game.
THREATS AND CURS PDF -an expansion for Realms of Pugmire offering 150 new enemies to be introduced as antagonists, rivals, or allies in your campaigns. Includes expanded rules and new tags to construct exciting new encounters, along with a selection of ready-made encounters featuring enemies introduced in this book. The Realms of Pugmire core rulebook is needed to use this book.
PUGMIRE UNLEASHED PDF - More options for dog player characters, more advice on how to play dogs, and more information about dog communities beyond the kingdom of Pugmire. You’ll also find more species to play: badgers, birds, lagomorphs, and reptiles. Also includes rules for sailing and ships, gunpowder weapons, new spells, backgrounds and three adventures for the Realms of Pugmire.
PUGMIRE FICTION ANTHOLOGYPDF/ePub/Mobi- A massive compliation of fiction set in the Realms of Pugmire, with dozens of tales about good dogs and excellent cats.
Pick a Pledge Tier, then Add On Options
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.
Using myself as an example, I've got all of the previous Realms of Pugmire books, so I'm here for Lair of the Rat Kings. Once I click BACK IT, I see my pledge level options. If I want to know a bit more about each level, I can click Learn More, or if I know what I'm looking for, I can click Back It.
The pledges as described earlier. It should be pretty self-explanatory, but you can click on the "Learn More" button to expand the Pledge Level info. For example, Clicking Learn More on the Mousterpiece pledge gives you...
This is the reward tier I'm choosing, as it exactly fits my needs for this project!
Once you're ready, you can click that BACK IT button and go right to Add On options.
As mentioned, I've already got all of the Realms of Pugmire PDFS, but it's good to double-check and ensure I haven't missed anything. It'll also note anything that's been popular with others in your pledge tier.
Once you've selected any Add-Ons you want, you click Next to confirm your pledge.
If you're already a backer but want to update your Pledge tier or Add On choices, here's what you look for:
Select Manage Your Pledge at the top of the campaign page, and then you can Edit Your Pledge
Select "Edit Pledge" on your review page, and then you can revise your pledge tier or Add On selections.
You can select a new Pledge Level from the available option menu, or Add/Change your Add On selection.
As before, you'll confirm all of your choices, and then receive an e-mail confirmation once that's done.
And with that, my pledge level and Add On options are set for your pledge.
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. We'll review our Stretch Goal accomplishments on Wednesday, but it's important to note that backers who wait and Pre-Order the Lair of the Rat Kings book at a later date will not have any Stretch Goal bonus rewards automatically added to their rewards list if applicable (ie, they won't be notified about the backer shirt on redbubble).
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 the existing titles including the Realms of Pugmire core rulebook PDF, the Curious Cats of Mau PDF, and the Threats and Curs PDF. 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 Lair of the Rat Kings 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 6-8 weeks or so, just enough time for us to set up the reward infrastructure.)
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.
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.
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! We're about to see some amazing set-pieces for Realms of Pugmire Guides, so let's make sure that none of our friends miss out!
I'll be back tomorrow with the complete FINAL manuscript section for Lair of the Rat Kings, making the complete text available for all backers to review before the campaign ends!
