Only Two Weeks Left! Post-Campaign Plan, Dice Spotlight & Wyrm Lyfe
almost 4 years ago – Tue, May 05, 2020 at 08:22:40 PM

Hello everyone! Less than two weeks remain in the campaign. We wanted to take a moment to explore some of the selections available in the campaign, as well as detail what you can expect after the campaign comes to a close.

In addition, we have some news coming in the next few days concerning options for ordering that we think you're going to like. More info coming very soon!

But for now, let's begin. How do we do that? With the end, of course!

Post-Campaign: Pledge Manager

Thursday, May 14th marks the end of the campaign, but it will also mark the beginning of the next phase of the project! The collecting of funds and information so we can move on to production and fulfillment. This phase consists of a few steps:

• Kickstarter collects your pledge: Thursday, May 14th
• Pledge Manager opens: ~2 weeks after campaign closing, near the end of May
• Pledge Manager locks down, payment methods charged: mid-June

Let's briefly dive into what these steps are. The first is fairly clear - when the campaign ends, Kickstarter will attempt to collect all the funds pledged towards the project. If the attempt fails for any reason - your card is declined or your card information has changed (billing address, expiration date) - you will receive an email notifying you. From there, you can update your payment method and still remain a backer. However, after several attempts, if no new information is received, you will eventually be dropped from the project. So please make sure that your payment info is up to date as May 14th approaches!

After that, there is a bit of a "dark period" where Kickstarter gathers the funds and transfers it to us. This should be done after a period of about two weeks. In the meantime, we'll be getting all of the details in place on the pledge manager survey. Once the two weeks are up, we'll send out invitations to complete your survey and select your items!

Once you arrive at the pledge manager, you'll confirm your pledge level and have a brief survey to fill out. After that, you'll enter the most important part of the manager, the "add-ons" section. The "add-ons" section is where you select your items, and is the only way we know what you pledged for! It's vital that you select all the items you'd like in this section. You'll find your pledge will have effectively been converted into credit, which you can then apply to items, much like shopping on any website. You can select different (or more) items than you had in mind during the campaign, if you like. After that, you'll provide your shipping information, and - if you've added to your pledge or there's a balance - your billing information.

The pledge manager will be open for a period of weeks while we collect information. During this time, you can change your order as much as you like. Towards the middle of June - date to be announced soon - we will "lock down" the pledge manager, preventing any editing of orders from that point forward (except to change your address). We'll also process all outstanding payments in the manager at this time.

After that, there's nothing left but to follow along with the updates and wait until we begin fulfillment towards the end of the year!

Dice Spotlight

We wanted to feature a closer look at some of the dice available in this campaign. With 39 distinct materials, it's easy to overlook what makes each one special. So here's the first batch - let us know which you'd like us to cover next time!

GOLD SANDSTONE

Gold Sandstone, also known as goldstone, is created in a manner similar to Blue Sandstone. Both consist of suspended crystals of metal (in this case, copper) within glass. The true origin of this mysterious stone is unknown, with some legends pointing to alchemy, others to an unknown group of monks. With at least one piece discovered from the 12th to 13th century, the combination of golden tones and glittering sparkles have caught the eye of man for hundreds of years, and the mysterious origin can only make it all the more appealing.

HEMATITE

Hematite is a remarkable mineral. An iron oxide, it has a glossy, metallic shine and above-average density, making it one of the heaviest materials in the lineup. A variation of this mineral was used for writing by ancient humans, as far back as 164,000 years ago, so it's been on earth for a long, long time. Remarkably, Hematite has been discovered on Mars, as well!

BLUE TURQUOISE

Turquoise has a long, rich history, befitting of its striking color. Prized by various cultures over thousands of years, its allure actually led to its name being used to denote the color itself! Ancient Egypt, Persia, the Aztecs and more have all been adorned with turquoise, and now it can rest upon an even greater honor: your game table!

RAISED EGYPTIAN MARBLE

Speaking of ancient Egypt, Raised Egyptian Marble is a particularly unique and evocative option. Featuring swirling tones of tan and brown, this stone calls to mind the ancient land for which it is named. Featuring embossed numerals, rather than engraved, these dice have a readable, yet ghostly appearance, like swirling clouds of desert sand.

PURPLEHEART

Purpleheart is a very hard, dense wood, primarily known for its remarkable coloring. One of our most highly varied woods in hue, it ranges from warm and subtle plum to vivid, cool shades of violet. Over time, the color will mellow to a rich tint. Purpleheart is unmistakable, unique among thousands of wood species, and many collectors count it as a favorite.

THE BOBBY BENNETT DICE

Crafted from precision machined, anodized aluminum, these dice are all about precision and style. A striking "splatter" effect pushes an already intense set one step further. In addition to the graphic treatment, they feature the "Corrupted" version of the Wyrmwood logo, usually only seen in our Halloween releases. The signature Dice Vault, crafted from Macassar Ebony with custom inlay, is also available to complete this very special set.

Tell us which materials you want to see next time: Click here to vote!

Wyrm Lyfe

Yesterday marked a new episode of our continuing vlog series. This one features a quick look at the new office areas in Wyrmwood, an invitation to fellow craftspeople to send in their work, an update on our intubation shield project, and... whips. So, something for everyone? New episodes are uploaded every Wednesday and Sunday, so be sure to subscribe if you don't want to miss out!

Until next time!

~ Wyrmwood

How many dice do you want? $1,000,000 worth, that's how many!
almost 4 years ago – Tue, May 05, 2020 at 02:21:39 PM

Wow. In just 10 days, over 7,900 of you have pledged $1,000,000. That is amazing! This campaign was already far and away our most successful in terms of funding AND backers, but this really drives it home, and marks a new milestone for us. Thank you for making it happen - especially during this time. I think we all need a win - or as many as we can get - and you've given us all a big one. So one more time - thank you all.

So what does passing the $1,000,000 mark mean? Well, it means you all really like dice. And want some more. And it means we're going to be making a lot of them... but it means more than that!

Stretch Goal Dice

$1,000,000 in funding means you've unlocked the third level of the commemorative d20 sets! So now, backers pledging for at least $10 worth of items will receive a set of bronze, silver and gold colored resin d20s with high variance numbering. Meanwhile, backers pledging for at least $100 worth of items will receive an additional set of bronze, silver and gold colored METAL d20s with high variance numbering!

That's 3 to 6 free dice for the vast majority of our nearly 8,000 backers! We're happy to be able to say thanks for getting us here with these commemorative dice. If you love the idea of high variance, you'll have some extras, in exclusive colors. If you aren't sure how you feel about it, you'll have some samples to try out. And if you hate it, well, you'll have some mildly effective paperweights (that maybe you can give to someone who doesn't sit at your game table very often). But regardless, they're our way to commemorate the campaign and thank you for making it such a rousing success.

Material Differences

Some of you have been asking about the differences in weight, feel, and... roll-ability... (is that a thing?) between the materials in the campaign. This struck us as a really interesting topic, and so we decided to do something very silly; we actually had... well, you can see for yourself in the latest Wyrm Lyfe:

As you can see, in general, wood and resin rolled further than gemstone and glass. And the Bobby/Bennett set, well... better luck next time!

Ways to Order

In our last update, we mentioned that we're exploring the possibility of allowing orders of different set configurations, such as 10d10 sets. We're still nailing down everything, but it looks like we'll be able to make this happen for all materials except wood.

Which, you know, might not be the biggest drawback. 10d10 sets are noteworthy primarily thanks to White Wolf and Vampire: The Masquerade, and vampires might be a little... less inclined towards wood, anyway, maybe?

In addition, someone asked about Fate/Fudge dice - we're considering this, but as it's a totally new item with a different numbering scheme, the jury is still out on that. So if you're a big fan of the system and would be down for ordering a set of four of them in resin, stone or glass, let us know in the comments!

Wyrm Lyfe... Again?!

Since our last update, not just one but TWO episodes of Wyrm Lyfe have actually dropped. We posted the latest episode above, but the Sunday episode features older, pre-COVID-19 footage that we opted to skip when everything suddenly changed due to the worsening pandemic. Now seemed like a good time to take a moment and remember the before-times, so we decided to put it out this past Sunday. We hope you enjoy the Wyrm Lyfe version of normalcy, which is 2 Chainz checking out one of our tables, apparently:

More to Come

Now that you've shattered a million, what's next for the campaign? Good question! We're hoping to have some exciting news and updates to share soon, but for now, stay tuned and keep spreading the word far and wide. Resin or glass, gemstone or wood, high variance or traditional, we're all gamers, and we're all in this together... and, that, friends, is how we roll.

~ Wyrmwood

Wyrm Lyfe, Stretch Goal Details, Craftsman's Promise & More!
about 4 years ago – Thu, Apr 30, 2020 at 05:58:32 PM

The campaign is still forging ahead after a tremendous start! Thank you all for continuing to pledge and share. We can't tell you how much we appreciate it.

The Craftsman's Promise

While many of you may be familiar with Wyrmwood, some of you may not be, so we wanted to make something clear that's core to our values as a company, and directly affects each and every one of you.

Our Craftsman's Promise is a policy that we've had since the beginning of Wyrmwood, in 2012, and is a lifetime satisfaction guarantee. The full text and details follow below, so read on, or just watch this video:

 The full text is as follows:

There is only one acceptable outcome for our Craftsmen: a product that they can take personal pride in and an absolutely satisfied client. If you are unsatisfied with your product for any reason at all, we will fully refund or replace the item (at our discretion) free of charge. We always guarantee our products, and we will always pay for shipping.

In short, if something lets you down, isn't what you expected, or goes wrong, reach out and we'll make it right, simple as that. We wanted to be clear that this policy is in full effect in this campaign, too, so you know that you can back it with confidence that we'll stand behind the pieces you receive.

Wyrm Lyfe

We'd like to follow with something completely different... the latest episode of Wyrm Lyfe!

"What's that?" we hear you ask, with a slight hint of disdain. Well, it's simple! It's our YouTube vlog series that attempts to cover the significant goings-on and day-to-day adventures... or misadventures... that we here at Wyrmwood face. But what's it like?  Well, one journalist described it as "Part Pawn Stars  and part The Office," which, well... sure, we'll take that. If that sounds good - or weirdly compelling to you - take 10 minutes and see for yourself right now! We put out new episodes every Wednesday and Sunday, so if you like what you see, definitely subscribe for more! :)

Obviously this campaign is very important, and much of Wyrm Lyfe will feature information and updates concerning the Kickstarter in the weeks to come, so we'll include the episodes in updates here, as well. If you have any questions you'd like us to answer there, we'll certainly do our best!

We're already considering tackling the following topics:

• How do stone, glass, and wood compare in terms of weight, feel, and roll?
• What's the proper way to store, protect, and roll your dice?
• Among the materials, what is the relative hardness (Mohs scale) and how much does it matter?
• High Variance dice - more on the number distribution. How was it developed and plotted out?

If you've got any suggestions, definitely let us know in the comments.

High Variance D20 Set Stretch Goal

Now that we've surpassed $500,000 (!), that means the first of our commemorative dice stretch goals has been hit. As of this writing, we're well on our way to the second, at $750,000! So let's talk about it. How does it work?

The plan is that any backer with a pledge of $10 or more (not including shipping) will receive these dice. So pretty much every pledge, unless you're backing solely for a single resin d20, will qualify (not that we don't want you to do that, but sending out 4d20 for the price of 1 is not very sustainable!).

But there are two versions of these commemorative dice. One set will be crafted from resin, and another from metal. Both sets will come in bronze, silver, and gold colored varieties (no, they are not actually bronze, silver, and gold!), depending on the total funding level the campaign reaches.

•  $500,000 - Bronze - Resin High Variance d20 & Metal High Variance d20 Unlocked! 
•  $750,000 - Silver - Resin High Variance d20 & Metal High Variance d20
•  $1,000,000 - Gold - Resin High Variance d20 & Metal High Variance d20

Those with pledges for items totaling between $10 and $99 will receive the resin die/dice, while those with pledges for items totaling $100 or more will receive the metal set instead.

At least, that was the plan. Initially, we felt that the metal set was a strict upgrade over the resin set. But then we heard a raspy, tortured voice cry out: "More dice!"  it shrieked. "MORE dice is BETTER!"  We fled immediately, into the night, as its grating laughter echoed in our ears.

But, after sleeping on it, we were forced to agree with the creature (which may or may not have been a craftsman on their lunch break). So it's official: pledges for items totaling $100 or more will receive the metal set in addition to the resin set!

We'll share more info as we develop these items - we're getting production lined up for them as we speak to make sure everything can get moving in time for fulfillment. Thanks again for crushing it and getting us working on that so quickly!

Alternate Configurations

Some of you have asked about ordering sets of 10d10, instead of standard d20 sets. We're looking into this possibility, and will update you when and if we can make it happen. If this is something you'd really be excited about, let us know - it's helpful to gauge interest, since it will complicate things a bit.

Dice Vault & Tabletop Vault Pricing

Many of you have asked for the details on the pricing of our Dice Vaults and Tabletop Vaults, and the differences between them. The pricing is all in the pledge calculator, but here's a quick list as well:

As for the difference - it's all just a matter of preference. Each is designed to hold 10 dice, closes securely with rare earth magnets, and is foam lined, so you can choose whichever form you prefer. In addition, an insert of foam-backed suede is available as an upgrade on either, as well!

Until Next Time

Thank you again for all of the amazing support so far! We really appreciate it, and we will be keeping you up to date as best we can moving forward. If you have any questions, issues or concerns, definitely don't hesitate to send us a message here on Kickstarter and we'll get back to you soon and do everything we can.

Until then, keep spreading the word far and wide and remember: more dice is better. More dice is always better!

~ Wyrmwood

$250,000! Stretch Goal Unlocked: WOOD Joins the Battle!
about 4 years ago – Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 08:15:29 AM

So, okay, we get it. You guys like dice. You really like dice. You know, we thought you might, we had a feeling and all, but... wow. Seriously.

From all of us here at Wyrmwood: 

THANK YOU!

You overwhelmingly funded the campaign immediately, so, once we got done picking our jaws up off the floor, we started moving to get production plans solidified and prepare for the future. More on that to come, but in the meantime, we have been getting some questions and wanted to include some answers here for the most common ones.

But before that, there's a little matter of the first stretch goal unlock, at $250,000... what's the surprise?

WOOD HAS JOINED THE BATTLE!

Cherry, Black Walnut, Bolivian Rosewood, Purpleheart & Macassar Ebony are now available as options! Single d20, 3d6 or set of 7 - your choice - full pricing is on the page and pledge calculator right now!

Note: There are special tiers for wood dice, as the supply of these will be highly limited! To pledge for them, you'll need to switch rewards and select one of these tiers. To do so, click "manage my pledge" on the campaign page.

Speaking of which, you can access the Pledge Calculator right here:

https://wyrmwoodgaming.com/pledge-calculator/

You can use it to get a pledge total quickly and easily, just select all the items you would like, and pledge that amount in Kickstarter!

Q&A

We'll answer some common questions we're getting here. The below information has also been added to the project FAQ.

1) How do you know what I'm pledging for?

Good question! If you've backed a Wyrmwood Kickstarter campaign before, this will all be familiar. If not, don't worry - it's very easy!

After the campaign wraps up, you'll be emailed a link to complete a survey. This will ask some questions about your pledge, and then proceed to a section where you can select all the items you pledged for. You'll even be able to add items to your pledge if you decide to get just one more set, or an extra d20 or two. So no pressure trying to totally figure things out right now!

We'll include complete instructions on all that later on, but for now, the key takeaway is that you'll lock in all your decisions AFTER the campaign wraps up.

2) Can I get a set of 10d10? You know, because some games aren't based on d20 systems. *coffin door slams angrily*

Sorry! We're working on it! Stay tuned.

3) Are Wave 1 and Wave 2 both shipping in November? Wave 2 says December in the description.

Yeah, we screwed up, sorry. Unfortunately, Kickstarter does not allow edits to a reward description once people have selected it, but it SHOULD read December, and that's when Wave 2 will ship. Sorry about that!

4) Is a pledge calculator available?

Yes, you can find it here: https://wyrmwoodgaming.com/pledge-calculator/

5) Are the Collaborator Dice Vaults and Tabletop Vaults available separately from the sets of dice?

Yes, you can pledge for just the Vault, just the dice, or both. You could even mix one set of collaborator dice with a DIFFERENT collaborator's Dice Vault or Tabletop Vault. Of course, if you did that then you would be a monster, but we're here to make awesome dice, not life judgments.

6) Do High Variance d6 dice have the Wyrmwood shield on every 6?

No - in fact, NO high variance die will feature logos. We felt placing multiple images on a single die would possibly create confusion, and would definitely be a bit much aesthetically. As a result, all high variance dice will feature numbers on all faces.

What's Next?

We're not even done with day 1, and you absolutely crushed the first major stretch goal, so it goes without saying that there's much more in store. We'll keep you posted and keep up with all of your questions and comments as best we can!

For now, we'll say it again: thank you one and all! Your support - especially right now - is not only appreciated, but truly humbling. We can't wait to see how far you take this campaign - and we really can't wait to get these awesome dice out into the world.

Share it with a goblin near you! And buckle up, everybody...

Because this train is only just beginning... to roll.

~ Wyrmwood