Thank you everyone thus far! We've hit the majority of our stretch goals and unlocked a very metal one with Contributor Raises. I think once the Black Ballad is fully done and out the door, I might write a long blog post about the back-end business and metrics. That's a ways off, so instead, let's talk about metal and the next stretch goal!
Print Upgrades To The Special Edition!
Okay, let's talk OnSpec Printing vs Print on Demand and distribution models. We are using both. This crowdfunding will allow us to order a round of special edition books. Print runs are entirely based on volume and size, but it gets interesting fast! For example, our print house (officially known as the Print Lady with epic book samples) can do some of the following:
Special binding for large game books so the pages don't go anywhere and the book lays flat.
Foil, spodix (like on the White Edition of Tasha's Cauldron set from WotC), and UV options are available.
Gilded pages that are clean and don't stick.
More language on paper weight and font-weight than I personally know was possible in this universe.
They are a United States-based printer. So we won't have to worry about our books getting lost in customs.
They have access to a bunch of options like Metallic Ink printing and options that Valarie Willis (the COO at 4 Horsemen Publications) is a master of typography and printing options, and she's been navigating checklists and exploring options.
Now after the Black Ballad is delivered to everyone, we will enter a Print on Demand model for wider distribution. They will still be hardcover full-color books and look gorgeous, but if you were to stack them up next to each other, one is clearly a superior product - but it's more eco-friendly to use POD rather than have 10,000 books just sitting in a warehouse until they get sold.
That's what makes this crowdfunding so special for our first project - you can only get the special edition during this initial run.
We have 10 days left, $7k to go for print upgrades, and then we've achieved all main book stretch goals! (Compatibility packs come later.)
Come listen to some music with us today and have a great Sunday everyone!
