There are moments it feels like we just started this campaign, but in truth we've been running since the end of August and we're now officially in our FINAL WEEK COUNTDOWN!
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.
The Campaign ends on September 25th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time... sort of.
Between our deadly dwarves, eerie elementors, ghastly goblins, and viscious vampires we're able to unleash the full strength of our legions and claim mighty crowns. In this case, that'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 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 September 25th at 2:00 PM Eastern 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 planned? Who knows, but we'll find out together!
Expanding our Regiment
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 Monster Kingdoms recruiter. It's time to share your excitement for Monster Kingdoms! Basically, we want to recruit as many curious backers as possible to see how long we can keep our Backer 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 Monster Kingdoms until 2:01 PM Eastern next Thursday September 25th (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 an unusual take on monsters battling to control nations or defy destiny - with lots of amazing setting bits and strange ties to the other Earthbane Cycle games thrown in as well. This book covers a lot of different ideas and topics, and surely something in there will be interesting to potential players! Yet those backers 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 Monster Kingdoms manuscript has been a much-needed escape over the past weeks, and my friends and I will absolutely be designing our own cultists and marauders 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 Storyguide/Bestiary chapter and two of the smaller Appendicies which will be posted by next Tuesday, the entirety of the rules and options from this book are available for download and review by backers, including all of the information needed to build your own character. We even have a draft character sheet for you to use!
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 chapters of the book next week before we reach the finish line. These final chapters have advice for Guides, along with new adversaries and possible allies.
If you're looking to learn more about Monster Kingdoms, there's lots of info out there.
Touring Around the Map
But you can also learn more about the setting from one of the characters in the game! Domina Neferkare is writing a travelogue charting a course across the Monster Kingdoms and you can read the adventures so far here:
This is something new in an Onyx Path crowdfunding campaign, in-game fiction that runs over the duration of the campaign, and it's AWESOME. It's interesting and intriguing, and illuminating, and hilarious. AND it has sections of the map!!
We'll have ... three? ... more entries before the end. Catch up and read along with us as we travel to the finish line!
Talk to the Backers!
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 interesting 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 or two before we review next Wednesday!
At $35,000 - JUMPSTART PDF
MONSTER KINGDOMS JUMPSTART PDF - A basic rules overview and a starting scenario will be added to the Ready-Made Characters PDF, expanding it to a full Monster Kingdoms Jumpstart PDF supplement. Everything you need to kick off your own story in the Monster Kingdoms in one PDF that will be added to the rewards list of all backers receiving the Monster Kingdoms PDF as one of their rewards.
At $37,000 - DIGITAL WALLPAPER
MONSTER KINGDOMS DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Marvelous Monster Kingdoms artwork will be used to create a wallpaper for your computer desktop. This digital wallpaper will be added to the rewards list of all backers supporting this project.
