TLDR:

• Shipping Update: Troubleshooting a bug with the integration with BackerKit and Shopify (fulfillment). 7% of orders are failing for an unknown reason. As soon as that is resolved, books will start heading out. 
• Paths of Power Update: Writing 100% complete. Editing 100% complete. Artwork 88% complete.
• 200-Page Free PDF Update: Even though there have been a few hurdles, I've been grinding away building. There's a 200-page free PDF ready for you on the next campaign promotion page (don't use the Kickstarter App, the kickstarter team informed me the updates and promotion page aren't available on the app yet. Use this link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/knightvisioncreative/creeds-codex-vault-of-aeonian-wisdom?ref=4zp4xy in a browser)

Shipping

Each project I aim to improve a piece of the process to make it smoother than the last one. I developed a digital library on Shopify before this project and consolidated every previous project into it. This gave me a single place to maintain all the files. You can always know you're downloading the latest from there. If you haven't checked out the library yet, here's a quick video to get you in:



To get all three previous crowdfunding projects consolidated and everyone uploaded was a herculean effort led by my friend Ella.

For this project, I was super excited to see BackerKit developed a Shopify integration. This would directly speed up the fulfillment process by connecting into the infrastructure already built. This would also add your digital products to the library! 

1. The books are ready to go at the warehouse. 
2. New packaging material was ordered to accommodate the extra corner protection and has arrived. 

Paths of Power

• Writing is 100% complete
• Editing is 100% complete

• Barbarian - Done
• Bard - Done
• Cleric - 90%
• Druid - Done
• Fighter - Done
• Monk - 90%
• Paladin - Done
• Psion - Done
• Ranger - 75%
• Rogue - 25%
• Sorcerer - Done
• Warlock - 40%
• Wizard - Done

Here's a screenshot of the wizard spread that I just finished today:


There are a few more illustrations we're still voting on and getting critiqued, so if you want to guide the direction make sure you hop into Discord.

200-Page Free PDF

Tome of Endless Wonders is ready to pick up on the next campaign pre-launch page, and was recently expanded to 200-pages! It's epic. Get it.

It won't load in the app, you have to use the browser: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/knightvisioncreative/creeds-codex-vault-of-aeonian-wisdom?ref=4zp4xy

Kickstarter said the app ability to show pre-launch pages and updates is coming, but not here yet.

It should look like this:



I'll be back with another update hopefully as soon as Monday when the books are starting to ship. Just have to figure out this bug! Driving me crazy!

If you need anything, reach out on Discord or send me an email: [email protected]

Talk soon! 

-Brendan

Surveys Are Live

Shipping Starts This Month

I reviewed the final copy, and we are good to go! Here are a few pictures of it:






I did however end up with a smooshed corner. 

I have decided to invest in extra corner protection, similar to what you see on picture frames.

Unless they are using these as improvised throwing weapons, we should be good to go.

This has slowed us down a little, as we needed to order the protectors and change box sizes. There will be no additional cost to you. I think it's worth it, especially with the spine illustration! It will more than pay for the cost, especially if you send me pictures of them being enjoyed!

Sorry for the slight delay!

Paths of Power Subclass Updates

• Barbarian: Path of the Alley-Born. Blending brutal street-fighting techniques with mob brawling, barbarians following this path are vicious fighters regardless of the setting.
• Bard: College of Command. Adapting to changing battlefield conditions by using their reaction to assist their allies, College of Command bards are often found in the thick of it.
• Cleric: Story Domain. They have mastered the power of the tale to boost allies or even weave a grand narrative capable of reshaping reality itself.
• Druid: Circle of the Hunt. Taking cues from nature, these druids gain the traits of an apex predator as they track and take down their prey.
• Fighter: Guardian. A true protector, the Guardian dedicates their combat prowess to shielding their chosen ward from harm.
• Monk: Way of Flow. Focused on using their opponent’s strength against them as they gracefully move about while throwing enemies onto their backs.
• Paladin: Oath of the Knight. These paladins ride into combat astride their trusty mounts, granting their mount additional benefits.
• Psion: Mindweave. Mindweavers create psychic connections with their allies to both empower them and augment their own capabilities.
• Ranger: Hexwarden. The result of alchemical experimentation and dangerous procedures, a hexwarden’s body has been altered to hunt the supernatural.
• Rogue: Polymath. Masters of adaptation, Polymaths excel in countless disciplines, using knowledge as their greatest weapon.
• Sorcerer: Geomancer. Specializing in earth magic, these spellcasters are surprisingly hardy and become more powerful while touching the earth.
• Summoner: Triumvirate. Recognizing the power of relying on both their summons, these summoners work seamlessly with their summons to overcome any obstacle that crosses their path. 
• Warlock: Pact of the Flora. An ancient old-growth tree, vast underground fungi network, or other primal plant life has embued these warlocks with the inexorable power of the natural world.
• Wizard: Contramancy. Contramancers specialize in countering magic with abilities to that are effective not only against spells but magic items as well.

• Manuscript is undergoing third round of technical editing this week.
• 5/14 illustrations are complete
• 6/14 illustrations are in progress
• 3/14 illustrations will be assigned as soon as one of the in progress ones is wrapped up
• I honestly don't know which illustration or subclass is my favorite. I might need to just roll a die to figure out my next subclass. Too many good options!

Here are some in progress pictures:

If you want to have your voice heard on the artwork, mechanic, or any other details (or just say hi!)  Discord is the place to be. We're still voting on the final versions, so it's not too late!

Next Project

I have a killer offer live until launch on my next campaign. If you're looking for epic material, grab it now before the offer disappears forever:



 

$1 for 1 of Everything Plus:

• $5 Kickstarter Credit (use on shipping, add-ons, etc. in the pledge manager for this campaign)
• Early Access (be the first to see the campaign page and product video)
• Secret Bonus Prize (more valuable than a mini, less than a hardcover)
• Instant Download (start playing tonight!)

⏰ This offer vanishes the moment the Kickstarter launches!



*I've had a couple of people mention that they can't get to it with the Kickstarter App. If you can't see it on the Kickstarter page, here's the backdoor link. Use code: vault-kickstarter-follower for 90% off.

Final Details

• Update/create the digital spreadsheet interface for the tools in the book. These were extra benefits I wanted to throw your way, so you could easily use, customize, and randomly generate values as wanted.
• Create the Treasure Hoard Exclusives (Digital Art Pack, Digital Tokens, and Wallpapers).
• Rift Wardens of the Nexus final writing, editing, illustrations, and layout. The first pass writing and editing are already complete.
• Vault of the Elders: The Forgotten Trials development.
• Helping you all as needed!

PDF Updates

• Barbarian Modification Enthusiast unlocks the 6th body mod at 16th level instead of 14th level for a smoother power curve
• Reduced the power of the legendary body mod from increasing an ability score to 22, to instead letting you increase an ability score by 2 without the cap. Found some use cases that were too strong, like unarmored defense giving someone a sudden +5 to AC. 
• Clarified that legendary body modifications can only apply to an individual once.
• I thought the Hand of Destiny paladin capstone was a little weak when running the math and comparing to the Emissary of Redemption capstone. I decreased the damage to be half the damage taken, but removed the cap. At level 20 it's unlikely to be used on anything that would be below 20 damage. 
• Increased Aura of Dread damage for the psion to be equal to their psion level. Up until that point they are primarily a debuff machine, instilling fear in everyone, but looking at the level 15 ability when calculating the damage, there's limited ways to actually kill a creature, and no solid ways to crit, with the focus on creating fear. Ramping up the Aura of Dread damage will make this character much more deadly and give them a good chance of triggering the reaction use of Instill Fear. Also gave it a base damage equal to your Intelligence Modifier.

• I realized a change I made moved the cleric spells off just slightly, fixed the formatting issue
• Slight tweaks to Table of Contents and Index to keep everything lined up.
• Fixed an error where creatures were tagged in the footer as appendix
• Fixed an issue where the cross references broke between version 4 and 5 for some reason
• Fixed a handful of font issues no one but me likely noticed, but it bugged the crap out of me to see the default settings slightly overwritten by InDesign. *shakes fist at computer* Adobe, fix your shit.

• Fixed a couple of instances where I thought the wording could be a little tighter
• Found a couple of grammatical issues
• Had a few questions from you all and clarified the text

I'll update the PDF in the digital library in the coming weeks, and you'll automatically get notified the version is ready.

Paths of Power
The first 3 subclasses were shared in Discord this week. If you have any ideas for artwork, send them to me ASAP as I'm building the briefs this weekend!

Hardcover Updates
I submitted the files, and hit a few snags approving them on my side. InDesign messed up a few things that are supposed to be automated, I made a handful of mistakes that needed to be cleaned up, and there were some slight manuscript updates as highlighted above. All of the issues have now been resolved and we are cruising along.

The printer also thought the manuscript looks stunning! I wanted to share an email from them.


Here's a video of the printing in action for the covers!


Here are a few in progress shots of the interior:





Everything is going swimmingly. We should be done with the print run in the next 3 weeks or so and head straight into fulfillment! I will be sending out surveys once I get hard dates on fulfillment to collect addresses and shipping. This should minimize the time between you needing to fill out the survey and the books shipping to you to ensure excellent delivery.

Survey & Free PDF

I'm going to close the survey soon for the next Kickstarter. If you want to tell me what you'd love to see, now's your chance. Plus you get a free bonus PDF out of the deal!


Head over to the Kickstarter page and follow the link for the survey. If you haven't yet, also snag the free 110-page PDF while you're there!

I think that's everything cooking at the moment! If you have any questions drop me a message on Discord.

Talk soon and hope you're having an epic summer!

-Brendan

PDF Released

I have updated the PDF in your digital library. You should automatically get an email notifying you. If it got trapped in spam or something else, access your library directly. I put a short video together if you get stuck:

PDF Updates

I Wrote a Poem - I originally had a section providing an example of how the creatures could be reworked for different themes. After expanding that idea into an entire toolkit to change themes, I decided on final proof read that this section was redundant and not as good as the new toolkit. I took it out and replaced it with a poem the characters could uncover that highlights the challenges they face.


Final Sketch of Zephyr's Veil - The artist delivered and we have a really cool hand drawn sketch of the evolution of Zephyr's Veil.


Final Kolossys is in! - Final piece came out amazing! Best part of this is we had a miscommunication that actually led to a way better vision from the artist than I had in my brief. 


Index is Built - I find indexes to be super useful as one tool in the toolkit for finding what I'm looking for. I really struggle with new books that don't take the time to build this feature for their readers. I hope you use the crap out of it as it is time consuming, but so worth the effort.


Next Version - I'm expecting somewhere between 1 to 3 additional updates to the PDF. 

• I need to go through and implement my subclass balancing system to validate everything feels good at all tiers of play in relation to the rest of the options available.
• I will potentially have feedback from the printer that minor adjustments need to be made to formatting to ensure print quality.
• There may be additional points of clarification needed based on your feedback.

Next Steps

PDF Status

We're close! The last two art pieces did make it, but one of them still needs work.

The final version of Kolossys came in and looks spectacular!

The last art piece, Creed's Zephyr's Veil sketch arrived, but it still needs work.


I'm not going to quite make the estimated delivery of May 31st, but we're very close. The tariff whiplash discussion delays put me a little behind and this last art piece is probably going to take another week to finalize based on where it sits. We're still within the buffer for the hardcovers, so we should not have any issues with the final books heading out.

Next Steps

• Zephyr's Veil sketch
• Build the index
• Double check all the cross linking (see page XX for ABC)
• Final check for any layout artifacts
• Make updates based on printer preflight feedback

There will be about two weeks for any additional changes you raise to make it into the final before printing as well.

Once the PDF is finalized, the print process will proceed.

It takes about a month for the printing to complete. The longest tent pole is the drying and binding of the cover, though there are a surprising number of steps in the full process.



Something particularly neat is that they use these large metal print plates and have four copies of each, one for each of the colors: yellow, magenta, black, and cyan in the order below:


Once the printing and binding is done, the books will be sent to the fulfillment center, and then packaged for each person and shipped out.

We're closing in and the book is really something!


If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out! I'm here and happy to help!

Have a killer weekend, and I'll talk to you next week!

-Brendan

P.S. Don't forget to snag a free copy of the 110-page Tome of Endless Wonders on the next Kickstarter promotion page before I swap it out on the 13th!