MekBorg and Steel Psalm

Backerkit (pledge manager/survey) has been submitted for approval!
over 2 years ago – Tue, Jun 18, 2024 at 04:35:46 PM

Hey all!

Here's a super quick update today. We are packing and getting ready for the Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio, and Sooner Con in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We will be there starting tomorrow through Monday, but you can still reach us here or at [email protected]. We'll be at booth #213 at Origins and in the exhibit hall for Sooner Con. Stop by and say hi if you're attending! We also have some more Borg family projects at the end of this update. You can skip that section if you do not wish to see the project.

Backerkit submitted for approval!

Bob worked hard the last few weeks to find the best rates possible for international shipping. We've landed on a decision that beat our estimates in most countries! Those rates have been entered in, the pre-order page has been built, everything is ready for Backerkit staff to review. Once we are approved (they give an estimate of 24-48 hours), we will send a smoke test out to 5% of backers. We expect the smoke test to last a few days to make sure we do not have any major issues with the surveys. Then, we push it out to EVERYONE! Bob will have a more detailed update about shipping, add-ons, and the surveys in general in the next few days. For now....we wait for approval!

Discord and rules teaser

We have not forgotten about the Discord or rules teasers! We will have some more details soon as we get the Discord cleaned up and the rules balanced out and formatted. 

More in the Borg family!

A good friend at The Mad Network is currently running Fold-Å-Freak. A random monster generator compatible with ALL THE BORGS! We've been excited for this project for a while, and who doesn't love random generators? You can check out the project here.  

That is all for now, thank you all for your patience and the support! 

-Dave and Team DMDave

Pledge Manager/Pre-Orders opens soon!
over 2 years ago – Fri, Jun 07, 2024 at 05:49:14 AM

Hey all!

Here's a quick update today. 

Pledge Manager/Pre-Orders

Bob is close to done with the pledge manager and pre-order page. We are waiting on one more quote that should be ready by Tuesday. Bob will make a rate decision from there and finish up the setup. As mentioned, shipping internationally has significantly increased in 2024 and does not just affect our industry. Bob is trying to find the most cost-effective rates for shipping from the US both domestic and international. Once shipping rates are locked in and the pledge manager is built, we have to wait for approval from Backerkit (usually takes less than 48 hours). Once approved, we will send a smoke test out to roughly 5% of backers to see if there are any issues with the surveys. Once the smoke test is done and any final changes are made, surveys will go out to everyone, and we will open the pre-order page! The pledge manager is where you'll set up your shipping address, get add-ons, and make any tier changes you want. Remember that our shipping is set up by order weight, so if you add any extra books or ammo boxes, your shipping cost will likely increase. We expect the pledge manager to be ready for approval either by the end of next week or, at the latest, early the following week. Then we will get that smoke test sent out as soon as we are approved.

Discord

We do have a DMDave Discord. Our admin team is working to clean up some channels and work on new member onboarding. We will have a discord invite sent in the next update!

That is all for now, thank you all for your patience and the support! 

-Dave and Team DMDave

We're back from BGG.Spring!
over 2 years ago – Fri, May 31, 2024 at 12:34:30 PM

Hey folks! 

We are back from BGG.Spring and settling back in. This is a quick update today to let you know where a few things are at. At the end of this update, we will have two Borg family projects to plug. You can skip that last section if you do not want to see any promotional information, but I will be doing some writing on one of those projects so that is cool! As always, if you need anything for us, you can message us here or email at [email protected]. 

Pledge Manager/Pre-orders

Bob is currently building the pledge manager and pre-order page. We are also waiting on quotes on international shipping to see if we can get any better rates than we estimated. Shipping internationally has significantly increased in 2024 and does not just affect our industry. Bob is trying to find the most cost-effective rates for shipping from the US. Once shipping rates are locked in and the pledge manager is built, we have to wait for approval from Backerkit (usually takes less than 48 hours). Once approved, we will send a smoke test out to roughly 5% of backers to see if there are any issues with the surveys. Once the smoke test is done and any final changes are made, surveys will go out to everyone, and we will open the pre-order page! The pledge manager is where you'll set up your shipping address, get add-ons, and make any tier changes you want. Remember that our shipping is set up by order weight, so if you add any extra books or ammo boxes, your shipping cost will likely increase. We expect the pledge manager to go live either next week, or early the following week. 

Package Theft

Due to the nature of shipping, we are advising now that any packages that arrive at their intended destination but go missing will not be refundable. This rarely happens, but it has happened to previous backers. We will have plenty of communication once we get closer to fulfillment beginning, so you'll have plenty of notice and a tracking number to keep an eye on your package. If you have any questions on this. feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. If you are worried about shipping in your country, you can downgrade to the digital-only pledge in the pledge manager and be refunded any remaining credit. 

Mech Construction

We've seen requests for clarification on the rules for mechs. I am working on proofing the math now, and will be able to post a short update on some of these rules. But, as with any borg, you can do whatever you want within reason! Once I get through this next proof, I will get you some more details. Thank you for being so patient on this!

Other Borg family projects!

I will be writing for Vast Grimm's latest project, which is happening on Backerkit right now. We are good friends with the creators over there, and I am excited to be writing for the latest supplements! Vast Grimm is a stand-alone, art-filled, punk-fueled OSR role-playing game about the few humans remaining in a universe becoming infected by growing parasitic würms. You can check out the campaign here.

Our friends at SeveredToys are running a Kickstart for Mörk Borg action figures! There are plenty of other Mörk Borg-compatible ZINES and accessories as well if you are short on content. You can check out the campaign here. 

Thanks again, everyone. You make these projects come to life, and I can't thank you enough for your love and support!

-Dave and Team DMDave

Erevan's Guide to Death and Beyond - A 5e Tome Launches Today!
over 2 years ago – Tue, May 21, 2024 at 08:27:19 AM

Embark on a journey like no other with Archvillain Games' latest masterpiece: Erevan's Guide to Death and Beyond! For years, their dedicated team has toiled away to craft the ultimate supplement for those brave adventurers facing the inevitable TPK in 5E. Dare to delve into the mysteries of the afterlife and discover the untold magics and powers that await your party!

Unlock the secrets of the beyond with: 

•  10+ Megaboss Miniatures: Experience unparalleled detail with these stunning miniatures that bring your battles to life like never before!
• 12+ Dark Subclasses: Embrace the darkness within and harness the forbidden powers of the Dead to turn the tide of battle in your favor!
• 75+ Unholy Monsters: Confront terrifying creatures that lurk in the shadows, ready to test your party's strength and courage!
• 10+ Profane Lairs: Traverse treacherous domains where the very lair itself becomes your adversary, challenging you at every turn!

Many other stretch goals are planned as well!

But remember, in Erevan's Guide to Death and Beyond, death is only the beginning of your adventure! Discover what lies beyond the veil and redefine your understanding of fear itself.

Back early and receive a special bonus: A Soulriver Liquid Core D20 die, absolutely free! Don't miss out on this exclusive offer, prepare to embark on the journey of a lifetime!

Make sure to check it out here. 

We are off to BGG.Spring is this week! If you are in Dallas and going to BGG.Spring, stop by and say hi!

-Dave and Team DMDave

Thank you all for your support!
over 2 years ago – Thu, May 16, 2024 at 04:36:07 PM

Hey everyone!

Thank you all so much for your support. I've been away most of the day, so I haven't had a chance to stop and say thanks yet.

Both books are drafted. The only thing I'm doing is making some last-minute checks on the math. Even though it's a "borg", I still want to make sure there isn't anything that's easily exploitable.

We also have some final art commissions we're waiting on before we can get a finalized version of everything.

Here is a rough schedule:

5/16/24—Campaign ends! Kickstarter starts collecting funds from you all. 

5/30/24—Kickstarter sends funds to us.

Early June—The Pledge Manager on Backerkit opens (we can't open it before KS sends us funds since BK takes a cut up front). That's where you'll set up your shipping, get add-ons, and make any tier changes that you want to make. This is also when I place orders for all non-book stuff. We've already got the Early Birds pins and skull patches in (the pins literally showed up today). I'll need to order the remaining patches/pins/dice sets and the custom box for the ammo kits, but that's a pretty easy process, especially since all the art is already done.

Late June—The near-final versions of MekBorg and Steel Psalm will appear as downloads on Backerkit. This version will be used to collect feedback from you all. At that time, you can share what you like, what you don't like, and what you think we should change, plus catch any lingering typos that we didn't see.

Mid-July—We finalize the PDFs based on your suggestions and put them out. Then, we send the files to our printer in China. They'll give us a schedule for what they expect on their end, which we'll share with you once we get it. Right now, they're saying late October/early November, so long as we hit the July deadline.

Summer/Fall—I send additional PDF content for MekBorg. None of this is planned, but will be based on your suggestions/demands/etc. 

November—MekBorg and Steel Psalm arrive at our fulfillment center, and we start shipping worldwide.

This is a rough estimate. Things can (and often do) change. However, we'll always keep you in the loop. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or send us a message here.

Thanks again, everyone!

 - Dave