Pre-order Deviant: The Renegades, the newest game line for the Chronicles of Darkness.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Happy Thanksgiving, Renegades!
I can say that, since I'm Canadian, and it's time to "celebrate the harvest and other blessings of the past year." Looking at our campaign so far, we're certainly harvested a lot of awesomenss and been blessed with a cool addition to our gaming hobby and community!
Anyway, that's just me trying to cram in extra Canadiana (the same way I crammed a lot of turkey into my face yesterday!) before getting to the business of the day.
Review topics to cover over the final week:
Whether you're a new backer (a recent renegade!) or have been with us from day one (Dare I call you devoted?), these are good items to review to make sure that we all end up where we want to be.
(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out the MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS that have been posted - the entire manuscript will be available to review before the campaign concludes).
Today, I am going to talk about ADD ON reward options. On Wednesday, I'll review where we are regarding Stretch Goals, and on Thursday, before the campaign finishes I will post an update with a Final Checklist & What Comes Next.
The absolute best way to ensure that you're getting all of the available rewards you want from this kickstarter is to ensure you've selected the appropriate Backer Reward Tier, as detailed in our Reward Tier Update. Selecting the right Reward Tier covers about 95% of the options available to you. If you want the PDF only, make sure you've selected the correct reward. If you want the hardcover version, double-check your reward tier to ensure it's featured. If you were thinking about maybe getting a Print-On-Demand version at some point in the future, make sure the "At Cost" PoD Option is included with your choice.
Once you've completed that important step, you're going to want to look at the extra rewards or any reward "bits" that don't automatically fall into your reward tier. That takes us to Add On rewards.
If you've selected one of the "core" Reward Tiers, you've likely already included most of the rewards you want. In addition to the rewards offered as part of the Reward Tier configurations, there are a few other possible rewards you may wish to add. All Add-On rewards will be described below.
Each add on includes an extra amount to add on to your total pledge amount. Remember that your total pledge amount includes all shipping charges and not just your reward tier level.
Using myself as an example, my TOUCHSTONE Reward Tier is a $25 pledge, and since I'm just going digital with no shipping and have no extra Add On rewards, my total pledge amount is also $25.
Reviewing the list of rewards with my Tier, I see that it doesn't include the Deviant: The Renegades hardcover. In addition to that reward, there are two Add On items (the Demon: The Descent PDF that we just unlocked via Stretch Goal, and the Deviant Storyteller Screen that was our very first Stretch Goal) that I'd like to add to my rewards list. As noted, the first step should always be to select the proper reward tier to see if there's one that offers everything you want.
So, I've decided to add these two items to my rewards list, and I need to change my Reward Tier (to DEVOTED) and then adjust my Total Pledge Amount to cover the additional pledge amounts required.
Depending on the platform you're using, you can either MANAGE YOUR PLEDGE or SELECT A DIFFERENT REWARD to update your reward tier and then Add On to your total pledge amount to provide for these additional rewards.
Since I've decided to add the hardcover Deviant: The Renegades reward to my reward list, I want to first update my reward tier to DEVOTED:
If I'm content with that, I can simply hit Update Pledge and lock in the new reward tier.
Once I've chosen the correct reward tier, I can update my TOTAL PLEDGE AMOUNT to include the cost of the ADD ON rewards I wish to add to my rewards list.
Because I'll be the Storyteller for my gaming group, I've decided add the Deviant: The Renegades Storyteller Screen +$20 Add On Reward.
In addition, since we just unlocked it last night, I've been thinking about adding the Demon: The Descent PDF to my list of rewards. It is a +$10 Add On Reward.
I can change the pledge amount to include my Add Ons. My new Total Pledge Amount is now $125:
Once I've done that, I click Update Pledge (or Continue, depending on your browser and interface).
A note for non-U.S. Residents (like me) - all currency show is in US Dollars, so be aware of exchange rates when planning your purchase.
It's important to note that there is NO PLACE in your kickstarter reward tier pledge to indicate which add-ons you wish to include, or give any reason why you are adjusting your pledge to a new amount. You aren't adding items to a shopping cart in this scenario - instead, you're adding pledge dollars that you will assign once the campaign ends. With this in mind, you may want to make a note of which add-on items and the associated add-on dollar amounts you've included if you're forgetful like I am.
Once the campaign ends and Kickstarter processes the payments, I will send out a survey via Backerkit - a complex system of tools used to manage the back-end of the kickstarter fulfillment process. When you receive the survey, you will confirm your Backer Reward Tier and assign your pledged dollars to any add-on items that you wish to include. I'll repeat and expand on this information in an upcoming post about "What Happens Next?" in Tuesday's update.
PDF ADD ON REWARDS: These PDF rewards can be added to any reward tier (including BASELINE):
For +$10 EACH, add any of these CHRONICLES OF DARKNESS titles to your digital library:
All PDF Rewards will be fulfilled by DriveThruRPG. Previously-released titles are the ones currently available from DrivethruRPG.com and were created as best they could be depending on the state of the files or scans of physical items. So quality may vary from title to title.
PHYSICAL ADD ON REWARDS: Note that physical rewards (extra copies of the hardcover books and screen) can only be added to Reward Tiers that already include the hardcover version of Deviant: The Renegades, and therefore, appropriate shipping charges (DEVOTED or higher). Also note the different hardcover Add On prices for US- and non-US residents. Your rewards will be sent in a single shipment when all items are available.
Don't fret if you had forgotten to increase your pledge amount to cover an Add On by the end of the campaign. These Add Ons will be available to select in our post-campaign 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.
Again, your first step should always be choosing the proper reward tier. I've had a few backers ask about adding a second (or fifth...) hardcover copy to their DEVOTED reward tier. You are much better off selecting the Multiple Reward tiers if you want additional copies (MANTICORE COMPANION and COHORT).
It probably goes without saying that all funds are expressed in US Dollars, although Kickstarter displays the approximate conversion rate.
That should explain the process of Selecting your Reward Tier and increasing your TOTAL PLEDGE AMOUNT to account for any additional rewards you wish to receive. Since increasing your pledge amount increases the overall funding level of the project, add-ons can help us achieve our funding target, 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 budget and ensure you've selected the appropriate reward tier and add ons for your current financial situation. Kickstarter will begin charging your payment method once the campaign ends, so ensure you've budgeted correctly.
As we move through these final days of the campaign, please ensure you've chosen the correct Reward Tier for the rewards you want. And beyond that - please make sure you've adjusted your TOTAL PLEDGE AMOUNT to include the additional funds that will cover any add-ons you wish to receive.
On Thursday, just before the campaign ends, I will send an update detailing the steps that occur after the campaign concludes, including how and when to confirm your add-on rewards.
So, just like every update: Spread the word! Share your excitement on social media! Tell your friends! We're about to enter the rapid race to the finish line, so let's make sure that none of our friends miss out!
Hello Renegades,
This is a quick Stretch Goal check up - it's like I'm a crowdfunding doctor, just doing some quick tests to see where we stand.
Since I last posted about our Stretch Goal targets, we've managed to complete another TWO experiments, bringing our total Stretch Goal achievements up to an impressive TEN! And another is on the horizon, rapidly approaching completion!
So, recent successes:
Achieved! – DIGITAL WALLPAPER – An awesome digital wallpaper for your computer desktop featuring art from Deviant: The Renegades. All backers will have this automatically added to their rewards list.
Achieved! – SUPPLEMENT EXPANSION: The Clades Companion PDF. No Clade embodies the strange and dehumanizing effects of Divergence quite the way the Mutant does, and so The Clades Companion PDF will be expanded with new Forms that transcend the singularity of the self and the flesh-and-blood body – a human consciousness uploaded to a mainframe, a talking mystical item, or an advanced A.I. with a drone for a chassis. Or, introduce Remade who are part of a line of clones or replicants who share memories, such that physical death is little more than an inconvenience; some even have whole wardrobes of new bodies, each one customized to match an urgent practical need (or just the Broken’s current mood).
Congratulations! Together, we've added 5 sections to the Clades Companion PDF supplement for Deviant: The Renegades! Eric and his team are going to be able to add a bunch of new tools, new takes, new toys, and new terrors to add to your Deviant chronicle. It's gonna be a fun expansion, and I'm so happy that we've managed to grow it to cover so many topics!
At $74,000 in funding – CELEBRATION OF DARKNESS ADD-ON UPGRADE: We’ll add Demon: The Descent PDF to the list of title options, and reduce the price to $10 EACH for this Add On.
This will add another title to this Add On option, and Drop the price per selection to an amazing $10 each! Let's go for it!!
I'll be reviewing our Stretch Goal accomplishments in a bit more detail as part of a Final Days Update on Wednesday morning, but here's a preview of our next two targets. Achieving these funding targets would be a fantastic conclusion to an awesome campaign, and a great way to celebrate this new game...
First up is something that came up in discussions in the kickstarter comments... more fiction! This is such an amazing world and covers so many diverse themes, it will be cool to see more stories set in the world of Deviant: The Renegades. Whether this story is called "Do Deviants Dream of Electric Fish...?" remains to be seen, however...
At $77,000 in funding – DEVIANT: THE RENEGADES NOVELLA - A short story written to better define the Deviant play experience and the world in which it takes place. All backers receiving the Deviant: The Renegades PDF will have this automatically added to their rewards list.
And then, another topic that's been discussed in parts and pieces in our comment threads and in other places online...
At $80,000 in funding – NEW SUPPLEMENT: The Devoted Companion PDF - We’ll create a new supplement that explores the Devoted in greater depth. This will include new Forms, as well as greatly expanded conspiracy and Devoted rules to give Storytellers and players the tools they need to portray the Renegades’ foils. All backers receiving the Deviant: The Renegades PDF as part of their pledge level will automatically have the Devoted Companion PDF added to their rewards list.
Uh, yeah. That's HUGE. Again, I'll talk more about Stretch Goals on Wednesday, but wanted to keep in front of our funding targets so we know what we're working toward and hopefully inspire more backers to join in so that we can *all* collect these additional rewards!
And, with those in sight, let's not forget to celebrate the TEN Stretch Goals we've already achieved! That's remarkable! So, keep building momentum, keep spreading the word, and let's keep it going and growing through these final days...
The warehouse sink regurgitated rusty water as Spider slathered soap over his hands. The gritty soap scratched and rubbed against the metal mesh, but Spider could still feel it all. He ran his hands under the water again and again, fascinated by the sensation of his skin-yet-not-skin. Behind him, Spider could hear Dom yelling as he paced back and forth.
“I fucking told you he couldn’t be trusted, Niamh! Sure, the tech skill came in handy, but he can’t keep control of his temper for five minutes before….” He paused, and Spider could hear the slaps and leather rustles of Niamh’s hands speaking at a fast, agitated pace. Dom’s voice increased in volume. “Don’t you fucking tell me to take off my mask! I know you can hear me, you fucking….”
Spider twisted the water knob and turned back around. He casually grabbed Dom’s arm — an unconscious mirror of Dom’s actions back at the… incident. “Ease up.”
“Ease up? Ease up? Fuck you, Tin Man. I don’t need to ease up. I need you two to wise up and realize that we are in a world of shit that has been dumped in a different world of shit and then both worlds have been spun off to be part of an entire solar system of shit!”
Niamh turned and signed furiously at Spider. You’re not helping any, she said.
“It’s crazy that I’m the cool head around here, but….”
Niamh signed again. You fucked up. She turned and made the same signs to Dom. Dom waved his hands in front of his face mockingly, followed up a firm middle finger in her face. Niamh slapped him across the face.
Spider gave a low whistle. “You deserved that.”
Dom stepped to within an inch of Spider’s face. “Man, what reason to do have to be so fucking calm? We’ve got a stack of corpses to our name now — to your name — including your own wife, the one person who had a half-decent chance to blow the whistle on WBI. Since day one you’ve been the angriest motherfucker in ten blocks. Now you act like it was all no big deal. What the fuck, man?”
Niamh turned to look at him as well. She probably didn’t catch everything Dom said, but it looked like she got the gist, and she was curious too. Spider looked at them and shrugged. “Dunno. Maybe I got some closure. Maybe I realized that what we have here is more important than wishing for something I used to have. Maybe the movies are wrong, and revenge just feels really good. All I know is, I feel like a person for the first time in a while, you know? Like we can really do some damage to WellBeing. Like I’m with people I can trust. Like we can stop this from happening to other people.”
Dom stared at him for a long moment, and then started to laugh. His laughter was tinged with hysteria and anger — a laugh of incredulity, rather than relief. After a moment, he was able to speak again. “That’s… that’s good. You think we’re a superhero team now or something? Like we’re all best buddies forged in the fires of battle or some bullshit? Man, I trust you less now than I ever did.”
“Then maybe I have to kill you as well.”
“Christ, man. Smile when you joke like that.”
Spider smiled. “Who says I’m joking?”
Dom stared at him again. “Fine. Fuck it. You want to kill me? You should know who you’re killing.” He pulled the mask off. To Spider’s surprise, the face looked normal, if exhausted and pale from blood loss. “Name’s Dominic Bell. I’m 17. Still haven’t kissed a girl or a boy, and at this rate I’ll probably die before I do. So, go on, big man. Kill a teenager and feel good about yourself.”
Spider cracked his knuckles, and everyone could hear the metal scraping and popping. “Not today, kid. But maybe later.”
“Fuck you.” Dom turned to point a finger at Niamh. “And fuck you, too. I’m done.” He threw the balaclava on the ground and stormed out, slamming the metal door behind him.
Niamh watched him go, and turned to look at Spider. That could have gone better, she signed.
Spider shrugged again. “He’ll be back. He doesn’t have anywhere else to go. And we still have work to do.” He turned back to look in the cracked mirror above the rusty sink. He could see that the metal mesh had expanded, covering his entire face now. Nearly all his skin looked like it was made of brass chain. “I know I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
She tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned around to watch her hands again. So why do you trust me now? You know I used to work for them.
“I’ve seen you for who you really are. A monster.”
I’m not a monster. She shivered.
“Sure you are. So am I. So is Dom. We’re all monsters. Might as well act like it. Maybe do some good in a shitty world.”
If you say so.
He turned and looked back in the mirror. Brass eyes stared back at him, ticking and spinning in microscopic precision. He made a decision, and turned back to Niamh.
“Come on. Let’s go get a beer and a bite to eat. Maybe I can take a look at that device, see if I can convince it to work a little better for you.”
Niamh unconsciously touched the side of her cochlear implant, and then signed to him. You think you could do that?
“Can’t hurt to try.” He smiled. “And after that, I’d introduce you to a friend of mine. His name’s Jones. He can be a bit stiff, but I think he can help us get what we really want.”
Hello Renegades!
We're in the final week countdown of this Deviant: The Renegades kickstarter project- it ends on Thursday, October 17th at 12:00 PM EDT - there's still time to recruit additional backers, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over the next 5 days to make sure that everyone has all of the information they need to support the project in the way that works best for them.
Review topics to cover over these final days:
Whether you're a new backer or have been with us from day one, these are good items to review to make sure that we all end up where we want to be.
(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out the MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS that have been posted - the entire manuscript will be available to review before the campaign concludes).
Like it says right at the top of the campaign page, we've come together to help create a traditionally printed game book featuring the Remade in Deviant: The Renegades, the latest addition to the Chronicles of Darkness. To borrow an analogy that I've used in past Kickstarter campaigns, this works similar to the "Viewers Like You" support campaign from your local PBS Station (for those who get American television channels or watched Sesame Street in the pre-HBO era): 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.
The main reward offered in this campaign is, of course, the main goal of the entire proposition: the Deviant: The Renegades roleplaying game core book. The first decision you need to make in figuring out your reward tier is whether you want to receive a digital PDF version or if you want the hardcover book.
PDF ONLY REWARD TIERS:
These are PDF-only reward tiers. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the shipping charges that seem to be ever-increasing - these are the reward tier options that you should begin with. The PDF will be fulfilled by our partners at Drivethrurpg.com - when it is ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library and be able to download at your leisure.
HARDCOVER+PDF REWARD TIERS:
These reward tiers include the traditionally-printed hardcover version of this book. That means the books are produced in a large print run at one time, and will have the best production values, from color clarity and appearance to binding and materials. In addition, these options also include the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.
And, yeah, there's also the NODE Retail Tier if you're a pre-approved retail backer!
The only Reward Tier that does not include the PDF version of the book is the BASELINE tier. You should select this Reward Tier if you want to read the manuscript previews posted in the Backers-Only updates (and continue to have access to them after the campaign ends) but do not wish to receive either a PDF or hardcover version of the final book.
Once your primary decision between PDF only or hardcover + PDF (or neither, baseline) has been made, it's time to learn about the additional rewards you may wish to receive.
There are few additional reward options we'll cover before discussing Multiple and Premium reward tiers:
MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS – All Reward Tiers include access to Backers-Only manuscript previews. With the exception of the final Manuscript preview (which will be posted on Tuesday October 15th, I have posted the entire manuscript across multiple sections. You must be a kickstarter backer to access these previews, as the link will remain in a backers-only update post. The manuscript previews likely will not be available to those who pre-order the book at a later date.
OPTIONAL "AT COST" PoD VERSION – For Deviant: The Renegades, you will have the option of using DriveThruRPG’s Print-On-Demand service to purchase a physical, printed copy directly from their PoD partners at as close as we can get to the cost of printing and shipping (this cost is not included in your pledge, and you do not need to increase the cost of your pledge to use this option). When the PoD versions are available to order (which will be some time after the book has gone to print), you will receive links to purchase these versions of the book from DriveThruRPG.com. You DO NOT need to take advantage of this PoD offer as it does not affect in any way your pledge rewards.
There have been some "scientific recalculations" performed over this past week - a few Reward Tier adjustments and changes by backers, as budgets changed and parts of the manuscript were released. 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.
Right! In addition to our "core" Reward Tiers, we've got two other areas for consideration. These are Multiple Copy rewards and Premium Rewards.
Multiple Copies
If you are backing for yourself and a friend (or just want a second copy for your collection), the MANTICORE COMPANION Tier was designed for you.
If you are the point person for your entire gaming group and need 5 copies of the hardcover, the COHORT tier is your clear choice.
And, finally, if you are a retailer interested in making this available in your store, a special retailer tier, the NODE tier is open to you upon prior approval from Onyx Path (please email [email protected] prior to selecting this reward to confirm your status).
As discussed on the first day of the campaign, shipping outside the US has gotten quite expensive. Splitting the shipping cost across multiple copies in a single shipment is one way to bring the cost per book down, if you're able to coordinate your backing and delivery with friends.
These special reward tiers offer some enhanced interaction with the setting, from naming characters that will be included in a supplemental book (most likely The Clades Companion, which we've added and expanded via Stretch Goal achievement!), serving as inspiration for an interior illustration, or just collecting signatures from the writing team behind this book. These options are extremely limited. If you were interested in a premium reward tier that is completely accounted for, keep an eye on them during the final days of the campaign, as there is sometimes movement that opens them up as we approach the conclusion.
So, with all of that said - consider your Reward Tier selection. Are you backing to receive your copy of the PDF or hardcover version of Deviant: The Renegades? Have you considered which additional rewards you're most interested in and selected the configuration that best works for you? Did you jump on one of the limited premium reward options?
Make sure your Reward Tier matches what you're looking for - or, at least, covers most of what you're interested in. On Monday, we'll cover Add Ons and talk about how to tweak your Reward List to ensure you're getting anything that's missing from your list.
And, with that, the final leg of our journey begins. Let's lock in our Reward Tiers and keep working towards growing the project so everyone has a chance to join in. DO NOT MISS OUT! And on to our destination and our funding goal!