We did it! 101% so far!
almost 2 years ago
– Tue, Jun 21, 2022 at 05:01:22 AM
Apologies on the sudden additional update, but we here at Johnny Rook Games are excited to announce that we have met our funding goal of $3,500! We thought we might hit 75-80% this weekend but did not expect a sudden burst of super-backer money to come in.
We are just over the funding goal, however, and still need to make sure some additional pledges come in over the next 12 days, but we are in suddenly great shape for a completely successful campaign!
Thank you everyone!
Dom!
Owner and Master of Space, Time, Dimension, and Oxford Commas
Johnny Rook Games, LLC
Funded and Looking Ahead!
almost 2 years ago
– Tue, Jun 21, 2022 at 05:01:16 AM
Happy Monday all!
As we said a couple of days ago, we have now met our funding goal well ahead of our anticipated funding timeline and we obviously blew away our weekend funding goal of 66%. While we have met the goal, there is still a chance that the project may not complete successfully because we are just over the goal. Inevitable problems can arise at the end of a campaign, such as Kickstarter being unable to secure all of the pledges made, so there is always a chance that the project may still not go forward even if successful by Kickstarter standards. With that in mind, we are setting a new goal for this week and the weekend ahead: By next Sunday, June 26, we would like to reach 100 backers. We are currently at 82 backers, so we only need 18 more! Let's do this!
This type of backer number goal is a bit lofty for us because it requires a larger degree of wide popular interest in the project as opposed to a larger degree of interest from a few key backers. We were able to get our funding over the last week, for instance, because of a small handful of super-backers that support us and believe in the project, but our total number of backers this weekend only increased minimally. We can see a very large number of followers that have not (yet?) pledged and we hope that they will start to pledge soon. Even if it's a $1 pledge, we highly appreciate the support. If you are getting this update, then you are already a backer (many hugs, kisses, and hat tips), but your voice as a backer speaks volumes to others. Please help us in continuing to spread the word to those that have not yet heard of our campaign or that are simply waiting to pledge. Even one dollar ($1) tells us that you love us, support what we do, and support what we will do for you and your game table in the future.
Shipping and Digital Rewards Notes
I had a couple of questions about shipping and digital rewards that I wanted to briefly explain. Although we explain this on the KS page, I'll just summarize here in this update:
- Shipping is not included in the initial pledge and will need to be paid for separately after the campaign ends. Backers receiving physical rewards will need to use BackerKit to verify their shipping information and cost. We anticipate about $5 shipping US and $10 everywhere else but shipping prices are in flux and we won't know the exact cost until we are ready to ship.
- In the US, we are shipping Media Rate to keep costs down. International shipping and the shipping of larger packages anywhere will also hike the cost. Regardless, we will try to keep it reasonable even if we pay for some of the costs ourselves.
- Digital rewards will come from DriveThruRPG. You will receive a download link for a free download when the campaign ends.
At JRG HQ
Behind the scenes here at Johnny Rook Games, Nick and I are working on several projects related to the Watchtower and beginning the preparations for the next Kickstarter reprint (more on that in the future). Other nummy nom nom tidbits include:
- The Watchtower book is of course written, but I have continued to revise tiny bits of it every day. The book has a lot of additional material now, including several areas of clarification that I've been noticing, and I had to reduce the size of the monster blocks at the back of the book to half pages just to account for it all.
- Tonight, I'll be adding some further "boxed text" material that can be used if the GM wishes to and do another proofing read-through. I just keep tinkering with the text because we are now just waiting on some illustrations and for the campaign to end in order to send it to the printers and eventually get it to you. The module is otherwise complete and ready to go.
- Nick is doing a very cool illustration for the Mughouse Pub menu and I'm excited to see the final inks on that.
- The Endless Slug sent us some very early sketches of a few new illustrations that should be complete next week. Those are viewable on our Discord page (https://discord.gg/u6SV6PxkzC) but they are admittedly very blurry images that Slug capped and sent over while in a rush. It's ok, we know his process is... catastrophic? Is that the word? Anyway, we know it will turn out well.
- Nick and I are also producing some new videos for our YouTube channel that we hope to get posted later this week or at least before the campaign ends. Right now though, only the Kickstarter videos are there. Please subscribe! (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_oVT32yZJs91lPck7eYiw)
- Lastly, I'm doing some development on our new website. The site will probably launch during the next Kickstarter. More on that as it develops.
That's all for now, stay tuned for more from Johnny Rook Games! (Oh yes, there's much, MUCH more on the horizon...)
Dom!
Owner and Once and Future Tiki-God
Johnny Rook Games, LLC
Pre-Weekend Update: Weekend Goal Already Met!
almost 2 years ago
– Fri, Jun 17, 2022 at 05:50:37 PM
Hi everyone! As we get started on this weekend, we wanted to send out a short update that we have already met and exceeded our end-of-the-weekend goal of 66%! Watchtower on the Hill is now funded 72%!! We're just under two weeks left in the campaign and looking very, very strong for a successful finish. Please keep spreading the word on our book!
Behind the scenes here, the book went through another revision cycle this week and is much tighter and clearer than before. We also started getting the initial sketches and roughs for some of the new illustrations to come. The book is otherwise ready to head to the printer as soon as we get the illustrations. Everything is bees-knees on our end!
Expect another small update after the weekend ends to see how we did and possibly, just possibly, some very exciting news...
Dom!
-Owner and various other hats,
Johnny Rook Games, LLC
A Successful 50% Weekend!
almost 2 years ago
– Mon, Jun 13, 2022 at 04:16:49 PM
We were just stunned to see that we hit our weekend goal of 50% funding nearly 2 full days ahead of the deadline. Just awesome!! Today, we are at 53% funding and still rising.
With that in mind, our next funding goal will be to reach 66% (2/3) by next Sunday, June 19th. Let's do it!
Johnny Rook Games just launched our first YouTube channel this weekend. It is admittedly sparse at the moment, hosting only the videos from this Kickstarter campaign, but Nick and myself will be posting some new videos soon. Please subscribe and like our videos!
Johnny Rook Games YouTube Channel
We may have another update later this week pending schedules and working out some behind-the-scenes things. If not, we'll send out another update next weekend and see how we're doing.
Thank you all for the support and keep spreading our links!
Dom!
Johnny Rook Games, LLC.
First Interior Look and Heading Towards the Weekend Goal!
almost 2 years ago
– Sat, Jun 11, 2022 at 09:09:46 AM
Hi everyone!
First of all, thanks to all of our backers so far. We love that there is interest in our project and truly appreciate the support. Still, please continue to pass the word about the Watchtower - we won't reach that goal and a successful complete project funding without more pledges!
At the time of this update, we are at 38% heading into the weekend. We still have a goal of 50% by the end of the weekend and it is looking good for reaching that goal.
For now, enjoy a couple small first looks at the interior of Watchtower on the Hill.
First, a spread of two pages which includes one of the new rules added to the OSRIC game rules:
Second, the cyan map of the first floor of the Watchtower dungeon:
As a reminder, the book is already done, other than waiting on a couple of illustrations. If (or when) we fund, everything is set to go to the printer immediately upon the release of our funds from Kickstarter. Thus, there is very little risk for project completion and there should be a rapid delivery.
Have a wonderful weekend, we'll post another update early next week. Let's hit that 50%! (and hopefully more!!)
Dom!
Johnny Rook Games, LLC
