BackerKit Close Date - 15/12/2017
almost 7 years ago – Fri, Dec 08, 2017 at 09:54:23 PM

Hi unkindled,

We have had a lot of questions about when exactly the BackerKit will close. We have decided that the close date will be Friday 15th December 2017 at 18:00GMT.

Update Schedule

Our updates will happen upon production/shipment movement from this point forward. Once a substantial milestone is reached we will update (with photos) to keep all backers fully up to date. 

If any delays are starting to appear (we hope not!) we will communicate those earlier - learning from our past mistakes.

The developers have prepared some articles that we will release over time up to the release of the Wave 2/3 products alongside the milestone updates.

With Christmas fast approaching, we are working pretty hard to ensure we get as much done as possible before the break sets in. A notice to all - SFG will be shut from the 22nd December 2017 until the 2nd January 2018 so communication during this time will be limited.

Praise The Sun! \[T]/

BackerKit Re-Opening Thursday 30th Nov. 20:00GMT
almost 7 years ago – Tue, Nov 28, 2017 at 10:49:31 PM

Hi unkindled,

As we mentioned in our last update, the BackerKit is now ready for re-opening.

The BackerKit will re-open on Thursday 30th Nov. at 20:00GMT

All backers will be sent an access email (in waves) or can access: https://darksouls.backerkit.com - Enter your email address and a link will be sent to you. 

There will be NO ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS for adding extra products to your pledge. We are keeping all original pricing from the Kickstarter and passing those savings (compared to MSRP) onto the backers.

The following product(s) will be available:

• Additional Dice Set (£10)
• Darkroot Basin Expansion  
• Gaping Dragon Expansion  
• Black Dragon Kalameet Expansion
• Asylum Demon Expansion
• Vordt of the Boreal Valley Expansion
• Double Sided Tile Set (Darkroot Basin/Iron Keep)
• [KS EXCLUSIVE] The Four Kings Expansion
• [KS EXCLUSIVE] The Old Iron King Expansion
• [KS EXCLUSIVE] The Guardian Dragon Expansion
• Dark Souls: The Card Game (additional postage charge applies due to this product shipping separately)

The Old Iron King & The Guardian Dragon are the two products that are now KS Exclusives as per the last update we sent out. Dice have been added as an option due to demand from backers for this.

The BackerKit will be open for a limited time and has been made available due to the changes to the availability of mega boss expansions at retail - to allow all backers a fair chance with this new information to have access to these models.

What do I do if I don't want anything else?

You don't need to do anything - it will automatically stay the same as before.

Thats it for now! 

Praise the Sun! \[T]/

[Timeline] Wave 2 Shipment Details
almost 7 years ago – Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 12:19:00 AM

Hi unkindled,

Firstly, thank you all for your patience in waiting for us to gather all of this information for this update. As you can appreciate we are working with multiple people across several time zones and we wanted to ensure that the information we present is as accurate as we can. 

Since announcing the delay in Update #141 we now have a clear idea of all parts of the project and the various stages each product is at. This has informed our decisions on how to deliver the product to backers in the fastest way we can.

Product Status

Here is the complete breakdown of the status of each expansion currently:

[FREE Stretch Goal] Player Character Expansion & Armour Set Pack - We have made the decision to combine both these packs together to form a more desirable retail product. This has no impact on what you will receive - the content are exactly the same.

• Design/Development: COMPLETE
• Tooling: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, Re-tooling required for Armour Sets, Player Character Models are finished with samples approved.
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[FREE Stretch Goal] Invader & Summons Expansion Pack - We have made the decision to combine both these packs together to form a more desirable retail product. This has no impact on what you will receive - the content are exactly the same.  

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We are happy with the moulding but  we are adjusting the colours of the red/white to better reflect the invaders/summons.
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[FREE Stretch Goal] Core Game Expansion - We have moved Sir Alonne out of this set and placed him in the Iron Keep Expansion (it felt like a better fit) - no material change to backers.

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: COMPLETE
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[FREE Stretch Goal] Iron Keep Expansion

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: COMPLETE  
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[Add-On] Darkroot Basin Expansion  

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: COMPLETE  
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[Add-On] 9 Tile Set Darkroot Basin/Iron Keep

• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: INCOMPLETE

[Add-On] Gaping Dragon Expansion

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: COMPLETE  
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[Add-On] Black Dragon Kalameet Expansion

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: COMPLETE  
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[Add-On] Guardian Dragon Expansion

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: COMPLETE  
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[Add-On] Four Kings Expansion (KS Exclusive)

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: COMPLETE  
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[Add-On] Asylum Demon Expansion

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: COMPLETE  
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[Add-On] Old Iron King Expansion

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: COMPLETE  
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

[Add-On] Vordt of the Boreal Valley Expansion

• Design/Development: COMPLETE  
• Tooling: COMPLETE  
• Graphical Assets: COMPLETE, Awaiting final approval but we expect no issues.  
• Final Samples: PARTIALLY COMPLETE, We have just received the 'white box' versions which we are testing for usability before the final printed box sample is produced for approval.

The Retail Exclusive Mega Bosses timeline/progress will be updated at a later stage directly to retailers - we are still waiting for some information regarding them and thought it unwise to delay the entire update for these 3 models.

Next Steps & Estimations

Above is all the information to the best of our knowledge of each product as of writing this update. Now we have collated all this information we have had to work out exactly how to get this product out to backers and what that timeline looks like. 

Having assessed the sheer scale of the models we are producing and physical space they take up we have made the decision with our manufacturing partners to split the stretch goals and add-on's into two shipments. There will be NO ADDITIONAL COST TO BACKERS FOR THIS.

Our current plan is:

• 1st: SHIP THE ADD-ONs (Wave 2)
• 2nd: SHIP THE STRETCH GOALS (Wave 3)

The Stretch Goals as detailed earlier still require some work - The Armour Set needs re-tooling and the colour samples need to be re-sent for the Invaders/Summons. All Stretch Goals need packing together in one box before shipment (and in different language versions) so until all sets are complete they would be unable to ship. 

To avoid any additional delay in the process it made complete sense to move forward with producing all Add-On material first. The current production queue is as follows:

In Production (Models):

• Darkroot Basin Expansion
• Gaping Dragon Expansion
• Black Dragon Kalameet Expansion
• Guardian Dragon Expansion
• The Four Kings Expansion
• Asylum Demon Expansion
• Old Iron King Expansion
• Vordt of the Boreal Valley Expansion

It is highly unlikely we will manage to get the above products onto a shipping container before Chinese New Year. 

This would mean that the products would be shipped in March - landing at our shipping hubs for delivery around June/July. 

So our current estimation for backers receiving the Wave 2 shipment is July 2018

With this in mind, the Wave 3 timeline currently looks like this:

• Completed tooling on the Armour Set and adjusted colours on the Summoners/Invaders by January 2018. 
• All production ready to start as soon as all Add-On content is completed (highly likely to be setup in the queue to start post Chinese New Year - so March 2018)

Estimated Completion (inc. all printed assets/asssembly/etc.): May 2018

This would mean that the products would be shipped in May - landing at our shipping hubs for delivery around August/September 2018.

So our current estimation for backers receiving the Wave 3 shipment is September 2018

We have tried to cover every aspect of the project in as much current detail as possible so all backers know exactly where we are up-to. 

Additional Information & Plans

We have had to make some changes to our original plans in relation to what is arriving at retail quite simply due to the feasibility of so many products being produced. Most of this information will not effect Kickstarter backers but for clarity of information the following has changed:

• Metal Aggro Token - This will come with the Wave 3 products but will not be available at general retail (KS Exclusive)
• The Four Kings - This expansion will not be available at general retail (KS Exclusive) 
• The Old Iron King - This expansion will not be available at general retail (KS Exclusive)
• The Guardian Dragon - This expansion will not be available at general retail (KS Exclusive)

BackerKit Re-Opening

With this in mind, we will Re-Open the BackerKit one final time to allow anyone who was planning to purchase these models at retail the opportunity to do so. There will be no additional shipping charge and they will arrive with your Wave 2 products.

We will also add the much requested option of a Dice Pack to the Pledge Manager - these will be shipped with Wave 2 as above with no additional shipping charges.

The rest of the expansions will see general release, however it is unlikely the Mega Boss Expansions will be readily available - due to quantity and demand. 

We will allow for additional purchases on the Dark Souls: The Card Game upon the BackerKit Re-Opening - we have filmed a far better playthrough of the contents for those who wanted to see more last time. This product will ship completely separately from this main Kickstarter and is fully on-track for delivery in Feb/March as planned. 

If you are a Kickstarter Retailer we will obviously honour any current orders of KS exclusive products that are now not going to general retail.

Expect the BackerKit to Re-Open in the next week or so for a limited amount of time.

So Whats Next...

This project became far bigger than anyone could have foreseen and has posed an incredible amount of challenges on us as a company (as it would any company). At times, we have let our backers down with lack of information, poor communication and the handling of shipping. We cannot excuse that.  

Nearly every project of this scale runs into issues and we can see why now having gone through this process. We have learnt from it and we are actively improving - daily - to ensure our final Wave 2 and 3 suffer far less issues.

We will not be changing from the above planned delivery order. If we did so at this stage it would further delay product reaching backers and we DO NOT want that.

Our support team will be around from tomorrow morning to help handle any questions along with talking to backers in the comments section. Undoubtedly there will be some follow up questions and we will try to collate them together in an FAQ of sorts to go along with our next update.

Thank you, Everyone - The SFG Team

IT/ES Card Corrections, Armour Sets & Update Date
about 7 years ago – Thu, Nov 16, 2017 at 10:56:33 PM

Hi all,

Italian and Spanish backers should be starting to receive the corrected cards by next week. 

They have been confirmed to have landed at the manufacturers and they are through customs. All information has been sent to the manufacturer to send these cards directly out from their warehouse to backers.

Obviously, depending on location their arrival time may vary as stated below:

• Packing of decks for shipment: One week for all - starts between November 3rd and November 15th (Complete)
• New cards arrive in backer's hands: starting November 18th, depending on the mail service and the location of the backer (Rome and Madrid are probably quicker than Elba and Gomera) and should be done by early December. (ongoing)

The re-worked armour sets are now virtually all through approval - The Adventurer Set needed the shield spinning around so we are just awaiting feedback that our alteration on this was correct (we expect to hear about this tomorrow).  

These files will then be shared with China and the final estimates can be put in place.  

Our large update will be released on Tuesday 21st all being well now we have pretty much all the information we need. 

With our SteamCON event happening from tomorrow until Sunday we have quite a skeleton staff until Tuesday and we want to ensure that our full customer support team is in place to answer any questions you may have after the update goes live.

Praise the Sun! \[T]/

Update/Corrected Cards - IT/ES Timeline Update
about 7 years ago – Tue, Nov 07, 2017 at 10:55:13 PM

Hi unkindled, 

Since getting back from SPIEL we wanted to update our IT/ES backers with the timeline stages to let you know everything is on-track (as of this update) with the re-print:

• Done by October 23rd - small delay due to Golden Week in China (complete)
• (2nd-7th October) Airfreight to Germany: 1 week - October 30th (complete) 
• Customs and transport to Ludofact Germany: between 2 and 14 days - this part is impossible to predict - done between November 2nd and November 14th (in progress)
• Packing of decks for shipment: One week for all - starts between November 3rd and November 15th 
• New cards arrive in backer's hands: starting November 18th, depending on the mail service and the location of the backer (Rome and Madrid are probably quicker than Elba and Gomera) and should be done by early December. 

Wave 2 Update - Final Gathering Data Outstanding

We know most people are waiting for the wave 2 update - we have almost everything we need now but we are still waiting on the following before we can put the update out:

• 3 Outstanding Armour Set Approvals (3rd revision approval)
• Re-Moulding schedule/length for new Armour Sets
• Possibility to offer additional dice sets for backers to purchase (due to the huge number of requests) and having them delivered alongside their pledge(s).

We expect to have these 3 pieces of information within the next week (the armour set revisions were extremely simple at this pass) and then we should be able to provide as accurate an estimate as we can for delivery.