Help fund the development and printing of Squeaks in the Deep, a Realms of Pugmire sourcebook, for fans and retail distribution
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Aug '22: Onyx Path 5E Gen Con Panel, Shipping Plan, Monthly Status Check In
over 1 year ago
– Tue, Aug 30, 2022 at 07:35:26 PM
Hello Squeaky Toys,
I want to share one video at the top before I get into our hardcover book reward and the shipping plan.
GEN CON ONLINE PANEL
Earlier in the month, Onyx Path participated in the Gen Con Online convention, and had one panel dedicated to their 5th Edition products. So, check out this panel with Eddy Webb, Rich Thomas, and Dixie Cochran talking all about their 5E games including Scarred Lands, Legendlore, and, of course, the Realms of Pugmire.
SQUEAKS IN THE DEEP HARDCOVER BOOK
The hardcover book reward for Squeaks in the Deep is finishing up printing even as I type this. The plan is to ship it out to land at the warehouse for Onyx Path's fulfillment partner next week. Similarly, the Squeaks Guide Screens have been printed, and will be manufactured and packaged and are set to ship out in one week to deliver to the warehouse shortly thereafter. (I had always thought that being printed and being manufactured were the same thing, but not in this case it seems).
On our Kickstarter campaign, our delivery projection for the hardcover reward was October 2023. We're going to hopefully get it into your hands just about a year earlier than forecast. I was actually hoping things would be in transit to you already at this point, but the pandemic really did a number on the printing industry (along with, you know, a couple decades of market change) and things took about 6 weeks longer than I expected. But the books are printing and we'll get caught up on shipping over the next 6-8 weeks.
SHIPPING INFO
All orders for the hardcover book that were confirmed by, paid for, and had delivery destinations confirmed by August 28 2022 have been passed on to Studio 2, Onyx Path's fulfillment partner, and will be picked, packed, and shipped out over September and October.
As part of the prep-pick-pack process, you will be assigned a tracking number, so - in theory - you'll be able to follow your order along as it works it's way to the shipping address you confirmed in BackerKit.
TRACKING INFORMATION
The first step in the order prep process is to print out an address label and a pick slip - these two items are linked together so the warehouse knows what to ship and where it's being shipped to. This means that a tracking number will be assigned to your order BEFORE it gets shipped from the warehouse, possibly even a week or two before your items are boxed up and scheduled to be picked up by the courier partner.
So, in the first two weeks of October, you may see a note that the shipping label is "created, but not yet in system" - which just means that the warehouse is currently in the process of putting the orders together. You'll be able to see when your order is indeed shipped, and track it's progress as it travels to you.
Normally, US backers would start seeing deliveries a week or two after the orders have left the warehouse, but the strain on delivery infrastructure during the past few years has a cascading effect that's just slowing all processes down. That's also affecting tracking updates - but, I'm told, information should catch up as packages move through the system.
Once the bulk of the orders have left the warehouse, you will (*should*) get an e-mail with Tracking Information.
Your tracking information may take a few days to update at any given time, so you may see "Pre-Shipment" as it filters out to the various shipping agencies, but it should update as it travels and eventually delivers to you.
Again: You'll have your tracking numbers sent via the e-mail provided to Backerkit, and shortly thereafter, you will also be able to access your Tracking number in Backerkit by reviewing your Order Confirmation.
The Squeaks in the Deep page should look pretty similar to this.
Your BackerKit Confirmation page has:
The TRACKING NUMBER for your shipment (once it's been uploaded)
Your confirmed shipping address
A link to your digital redemption codes
A link back to the Community page (you can flip between Confirmation and Community here)
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://squeaks-in-the-deep.backerkit.com/
As noted in this update, it may be about a month before your orders goes out, and up to 48 hours for Tracking Information to update as it leaves the warehouse. That said, tracking your packages - especially for international orders - can provide great assistance in solving minor issues before they become major issues.
International Shipping costs continue to climb - that's an understatement - and every sign points to additional costs coming throughout 2022-2023, so it's pretty important that we avoid any re-ships or additional shipping charges as much as possible. And that's where your help can really come in handy.
I've dealt with several situations where shipments were marked as "delivered" but the backer hadn't checked the tracking information for months, unaware that the package had been sitting at a neighbor's house or stuck in a local postal facility.
So, please, check your tracking number bythe end of September. If you haven't received your package by, let's say November 25, review the tracking number to see where the issue might be.
Again, it may take a few days for any status updates to appear, and depending on the country and carrier, each package may enjoy a different transit time. But if we're into December, let's see if we can sort out any delivery issues while everything's still fresh.
For example, if Package status indicates it was delivered but you never received it
Double-check your Backerkit CONFIRMATION PAGE (as detailed above) that the correct address was provided, and maybe check with your neighbors to make sure it wasn’t accidentally left there. If that doesn’t turn up anything, contact the carrier or your local post office to report the package as not received and please contact me using the Contact Creator button on kickstarter to let me know you didn’t get your order.
I've seen so many orders sitting in a local post office for 8 weeks while the recipient was left unaware that it was waiting. Additionally, other backers have solved issues almost immediately with a quick call to FedEx and providing their tracking number.
It's a HUGE help to me and Onyx Path if we can solve any wayward shipment or stuck orders in November, rather than waiting until next spring when shipping systems finally give up delivery attempts and return the items to our fulfillment partner (at an extra cost to Onyx Path). Let's avoid paying for multiple return shipments if we can! Thanks for your help in advance.
Also, if you have any issues with your shipment or books, do not panic! As we've all done for the past few years, we will get through this. It may take a bit to sort, but I'll do my best to make sure everyone gets their rewards.
After printing and manufacturing delays that shifted the 2021-2022 schedule around a lot, Onyx Path is in the process of catching up on 4 projects, and making progress. In the end, Onyx Path's fulfillment partners at Studio 2 will have shipped 4 campaigns over the next 8 weeks, which puts us a bit behind where I wanted to be, but will hopefully be worth it once the books are in our hands.
If you have any issues with your delivery, let me know and let's see if we can sort out solutions before they become bigger problems. Otherwise, check your tracking, check your mail, and check out the cool new Realms of Pugmire book that'll be in your hands soon!
REWARDS STILL PENDING
In next month's update, I'm hoping to have officially moved the Squeaks in the Deep hardcover and screen from this list to the delivered list below. While we're ahead on delivering this reward, our Stretch Goals are still in progress. Can't wait for the Rabbits supplement! The manuscript is going through the final tweaks and preliminary layout design has begun. Similarly, the jumpstart is in layout, with all of the bits coming together. It'll still take some time, but forward progress is being made.
I will continue to post regular updates every other month until those final Stretch Goal rewards have gone out.
ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
If you've got a question about your pledge or BackerKit page or any part of the process, or if you have any issues with your hardcover delivery, you can contact me with any of these methods
Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
Via Kickstarter: Click OnyxPath under the "Created By" heading on the main page, and then press the "Contact Me" button - the message will come to me!
Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.
July '22: Last Call for any Shipping Changes, Monthly Update
almost 2 years ago
– Mon, Jul 25, 2022 at 02:26:13 AM
Hello Squeaky Toys,
Well, it's July! I'm sneaking this update in a week or so early because I've got one last opportunity to update any shipping information before passing it all over to our distribution partners who will be shipping our hardcover rewards through August and September.
IF YOUR ADDRESS IS CHANGING IN THE SUMMER
If your shipping location will be changing during the August/September timeframe, please contact me at Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com. I will unlock your order and we'll hold off processing it until you're at your new location. If you have your new address and the effective date, let me know that too and I'll set it up. If you haven't confirmed your location yet, let me know that as well and I'll hold off the shipment until you're all sorted.
Onyx Path Con 2022: Realms of Pugmire Panel
In last month's update, I shared an actual play game session from June's third annual Onyx Path online gaming convention. This month, I've got the Realms of Pugmire panel for you, where Dixie Cochran, Eddy Webb, and Travis Legge talk about the current and upcoming releases for the Realms of Pugmire game and setting!
REWARDS STILL PENDING
Our hardcover book and screen are starting/finishing proofing in anticipation of printing and shipping in August, our Companion (Rabbits! and more Underground!) is currently in art direction, and our jumpstart has started the layout process.
I believe the books are scheduled to print before month's end. The final proof for the screens is supposed to deliver to the Onyx Path team today and, assuming everything's all good, will be given the green light for final printing right away. At this point, it looks like our hardcover rewards will indeed be shipping through August and September. Fingers crossed!
Once the rewards are being shipped, I'll send another update detailing how to review tracking information.
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://squeaks-in-the-deep.backerkit.com/
I will continue to post regular updates every other month until those final Stretch Goal rewards have gone out.
ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
If you've got a question about your pledge or BackerKit page or any part of the process, or if you have any issues with your hardcover delivery, you can contact me with any of these methods
Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
Via Kickstarter: Click OnyxPath under the "Created By" heading on the main page, and then press the "Contact Me" button - the message will come to me!
Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.
June '22: Locking Down, Actual Playing, Wallpapering, Monthly Updating
almost 2 years ago
– Thu, Jun 30, 2022 at 12:44:50 AM
Hello Squeaky Toys,
An assortment of topics to go over this month. Nothing critical, but checking a lot of boxes.
First up, in anticipation of the book printing next month, let's review our...
KEY LOCKDOWN DATES
May23, 2022 - Confirm Orders
June6, 2022 - Process Outstanding Payments
June27, 2022 - Confirm Shipping Information
Confirm Rewards / Confirm Orders - May 23, 2022
This step has been completed. All orders are locked down, and final quantities have been submitted to the printer!
Process Outstanding Payments - June 6, 2022
This step has been completed. Most outstanding payments have been processed. If you've received a notice that your payment was not able to be processed, you must update your payment info in BackerKit in order for your order to be carried forward to processing.
Confirm Delivery Information - June 27, 2022
All shipping information was locked down today.
IF YOUR ADDRESS IS CHANGING IN THE SUMMER
If your shipping location will be changing during the July/August timeframe, please contact me at Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com. I will unlock your order and we'll hold off processing it until you're at your new location. If you have your new address and the effective date, let me know that too and I'll set it up. If you haven't confirmed your location yet, let me know that as well and I'll hold off the shipment until you're all sorted.
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://squeaks-in-the-deep.backerkit.com/
Onyx Path Con 2022: Squeaks in the Deep Game Session
As you may remember, a few weeks back Onyx Path held their third annual Virtual Gaming Convention. I've got one of the Actual Play sessions to share with you from that weekend.
REWARD DISTRUBUTION
Remember that Stretch Goal? Yeah, it may be fuzzy - it's been just about a year since the campaign ended back in August. Actually, in campaign terms, that's pretty fast. But maybe time moves differently for a mouse.
If you were a Kickstarter backer and should be receiving this reward, your link to claim your Squeaksin the Deep Digital Wallpaper will be sent out by our BackerKit pledge manager over the next day. Since we are using our partners at DriveThruRPG as the host for this, you will need to set up a DriveThru account if you don't have one already. If you encounter any problems with downloading your rewards, please contact DriveThru's customer service to resolve the matter, they've always been top-rated for customer service. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/contact_us.php
Again, you will receive an e-mail from BackerKit with alink for this reward over the next 24hours if it is on your expected list of rewards.
The easiest way to see if you've got digital downloads available is to login to your backerkit account: https://squeaks-in-the-deep.backerkit.com/backer/digital_rewards and it'll show anything available. Your backerkit account should also confirm all rewards that you should expect from your reward tier selected.
I will continue to post regular updates every other month until those final Stretch Goal rewards have gone out.
ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
If you've got a question about your pledge or BackerKit page or any part of the process, or if you have any issues with your hardcover delivery, you can contact me with any of these methods
Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
Via Kickstarter: Click OnyxPath under the "Created By" heading on the main page, and then press the "Contact Me" button - the message will come to me!
Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.
May 2022 Update
almost 2 years ago
– Mon, May 30, 2022 at 07:10:58 PM
Hello Squeaky Toys,
Well, we're still moving closer. Bit by bit, we're making incremental progress. Before we review our project status and talk about the upcoming Onyx Path Online Convention, let's review our Lockdown Steps:
KEY LOCKDOWN DATES
May23, 2022 - Confirm Orders
June6, 2022 - Process Outstanding Payments
June27, 2022 - Confirm Shipping Information
Confirm Rewards / Confirm Orders - May 23, 2022
This step has been completed. All orders are locked down, and final quantities have been submitted to the printer!
Process Outstanding Payments - June 6, 2022
For any additions you made in BackerKit, pre-orders, or any payments that did not process at the end of the Kickstarter campaign, please ensure your payment information is up to date, valid, and ready to be processed by June6, 2022. On that date, I will instruct BackerKit to lock down and process all outstanding payments.
Confirm Delivery Information - June 27, 2022
Please ensure your shipping information is up-to-date with your expected address for July/August 2022. Please ensure that this information is entered and correct by June27. After this point, I will take the shipping information we have for you in BackerKit and provide that to our fulfillment partners, so they can schedule the picking and packing of orders, with plans to begin shipping hopefully not long thereafter.
On June27, I will send out a 48 HOUR NOTICE with the delivery information we have in the system and a link in case you need to update or modify. After those 48 hours, the delivery information will be considered confirmed and locked in our system.
IF YOUR ADDRESS IS CHANGING IN THE SUMMER
If your shipping location will be changing during the July/August timeframe, please contact me at Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com. I will unlock your order and we'll hold off processing it until you're at your new location. If you have your new address and the effective date, let me know that too and I'll set it up. If you haven't confirmed your location yet, let me know that as well and I'll hold off the shipment until you're all sorted.
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://squeaks-in-the-deep.backerkit.com/
Alt text: Our main book and screen are awaiting the production window with the printer, the rabbits and underground companion is in post-editing development, as is the jumpstart
There will also be a selection of games streaming as part of the convention.
Check out the Squeaks in the Deep game streaming June 10 at 7:00 PM EDT!
There are also come great panels to check out, all of which will be hosted on the Onyx Path Twitch channel.
Aside from the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, you may be interested in the Pugmire Panel running on Saturday evening.
ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
If you've got a question about your pledge or BackerKit page or any part of the process, or if you have any issues with your hardcover delivery, you can contact me with any of these methods
Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
Via Kickstarter: Click OnyxPath under the "Created By" heading on the main page, and then press the "Contact Me" button - the message will come to me!
Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.
Reward Distribution: Discounted Print-on-Demand
almost 2 years ago
– Wed, May 04, 2022 at 08:43:39 PM
Hello Squeaky Toys,
We're just dipping our toes into May, but I've already got an update to our reward list.
In last month's update, I outlined our lockdown schedule in anticipation of our hardcover rewards being printed this summer. They're still on track for that timeline, but that also means that the files have been finalized and Onyx Path is able to release the PDF for sale. If you haven't already, you can now check your digital library on DriveThruRPG.com, where you'll see an updated version of Squeaks in the Deep which finalizes all of the page references and includes all of the corrections and errata that you submitted via our Feedback Form.
When Onyx Path releases a finalized PDF on DriveThruRPG.com, it also creates the ability to order a printed version of that PDF - a Print-on-Demand one-off copy of the book. As part of the backer rewards, you will be sent out special links to purchase these PoD versions at discounted prices if you'd like.
REWARD DISTRIBUTION
Your link to claim your Squeaks in the Deep Print-on-Demand Discount will be sent out by our BackerKit pledge manager over the next few hours. Since we are using our partners at DriveThruRPG as the host for this, you will need to set up a DriveThru account if you don't have one already. If you encounter any problems with downloading your rewards, please contact DTRPG's customer service to resolve the matter, they've always been top-rated for customer service. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/contact_us.php
Again, just to ensure it's understood - THIS IS NOT YOUR KICKSTARTER HARDCOVER REWARD! This is a discount link for the PoD version that will soon be released for purchase on DriveThruRPG.com (at a discounted cost) As noted, the hardcovers are currently slated to be printed in Summer 2022 and will be shipped out to you as soon as they are available.
DIFFERENCES IN PoD FORMATS
So, for those backers who pledged at the Shorthair reward tier, or those backers who will later be receiving the hardcover book but might be looking for a second copy for the table, there are two different versions of Print-On-Demand options available.
Standard Color uses a thick 70# white paper which has better page opacity. (that's "70 pound" for reference, but does not mean each page weighs 70 lbs!). Standard Heavyweight Color uses inkjet technology. (These are not the same inkjet printers you have at home - these are often as big or bigger than a car!) This option offers lower cost but the colors won't be as sharp or bright as a Premium Color book.
Premium Color uses the same 70# paper, but uses "Digital Color Print Engine Technology," which sounds super fancy and certainly costs a lot more, but I'll admit to not knowing the exact difference. This option offers superior color quality but is more expensive to produce, and has gotten even more expensive over the past year.
(Remember to login to DriveThruRPG prior to clicking or pasting the discount link in your BackerKit digital rewards locker, if you that was part of your rewards list! That link is your coupon and must be usedfor your PoD order.)
That's one more reward to move from our Pending list to our Delivered list! Again, you will receive an e-mail from BackerKit with alink for this reward over the next 24hours if it is on your expected list of rewards.
The easiest way to see if you've got digital downloads available is to login to your backerkit account: https://squeaks-in-the-deep.backerkit.com/backer/digital_rewards and it'll show anything available. Your backerkit account should also confirm all rewards that you should expect from your reward tier selected.
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://squeaks-in-the-deep.backerkit.com/
If you've got a question about your pledge or BackerKit page or any part of the process, you can contact me with any of these methods
Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
Via Kickstarter: Click Onyx Path under the "Created By" heading on the main page, and then press the "Contact Me" button - the message will come to me!
Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.
