May '23 Production Update
almost 3 years ago – Sat, May 13, 2023 at 08:20:53 AM

Hi everyone!

We'd like to give an update on the state of production for Earthborne Rangers, as there has been some movement and timelines are taking shape. You also should have received an email from BackerKit asking you to confirm your shipping address, since we are getting closer to fulfillment and we're ready to lock those in. Let's get to it!

TL;DR

Topics: Production & Fulfillment Timeline, Confirming Addresses, and UK Games Expo

Action Required by Backers: Confirm your address in Backerkit (An email should have been sent to you).

Current Estimated Delivery:  July 2023 (Sooner for Italian Backers. More below.)

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Production & Fulfillment Timeline

If you've been following updates, you'll know that we've had some production delays that had postponed fulfillment. The big hold up has been waiting on FSC paper to start printing the corrected sheet of punchboard and box insert improvements. Once those components are printed, we can begin repacking copies and shipping rewards. According to the latest information from Ludo Fact, reprinting and repacking should be complete in June. Fulfillment will begin shortly thereafter. We will post another update once we know more precisely when fulfillment will begin.

There's a special case, however, for our Italian backers, whose orders are being fulfilled by our Italian publishing partner, Fantasia. We knew that Fantasia had a goal of launching the Italian edition of Earthborne Rangers at their premiere gaming festival, Play Modena, which begins May 19th. When the punchboard issue was discovered, however, that goal was put in serious jeopardy.

Not launching at Play Modena would have been terrible for Fantasia. For those of you not familiar with the show, it would have been like planning for a big Gen Con or Essen launch event and not having any product to sell when the day came. Not good!

Serendipitously, however, there were 800 copies of the Italian edition that had not been assembled during the main production. This was because of a separate, unrelated issue that Ludo Fact QA discovered with the punchboard for those copies. Since this issue only affected copies intended to be sold at retail, we did not communicate it to backers. The punchboard material for those 800 copies was ordered at that time (in mid-March), so we simply printed new punch with the corrected graphics once it arrived a couple of weeks ago, and since those 800 copies were not previously assembled, we were able to do so with the corrected punch,  just in the nick of time for Fantasia's launch event.

Additionally, we didn't want to make the game available to the public in Italy before our Italian backers received their rewards, so this means that all Italian orders should be fulfilled prior to Play Modena. If they're not, it's only because Fantasia hasn't received the items for your order yet (all of which are currently either in transit or in their warehouse). In some exciting news regarding this, Fantasia fulfilled the first batch of orders on May 12th, so if you're an Italian backer who ordered just a core set and/or a Ranger card doubler, your rewards should be on the way.

We truly wish we were shipping to everyone right now, but it is still exciting for us to know that copies are finally being sent to backers (albeit only a few)!

Confirming Addresses

All of you should have received an email from Backerkit prompting you to confirm your address. If it's incorrect, please update it. If you have any issues updating it, please reach out to us on here or email at [email protected], and we'll help you get that sorted.

If you are moving in July and don't know if you should update your address, please email us or send us a DM so we can be sure to stay in touch as we get closer to shipping. We can always manually update your address if needed.

UK Games Expo

UK Games Expo is right around the corner (June 2 – 4), and we will have demo tables at the All About Games booth (#1-752). We're very excited to have Frank and Peter from the Drawn to the Flame podcast as our demo team, and Andrew Navaro will be there as well, so please stop by the booth and say hello!

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As always, if you’d like to stay as up to date as possible with the development of Earthborne Rangers, we invite you to check out our podcast. Here is the latest episode:

Episode 29

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That's all for now, but we'll be in touch once the repacking is done, and we get closer to fulfillment!

Thank you for your time, folks!

-Cory

Quick Supplement Update
almost 3 years ago – Wed, Apr 19, 2023 at 02:40:34 PM

Hi everyone!

As a quick supplement to the previous update, we did get a copy of some product over the weekend! We decided to post this week's podcast episode early, as we were too excited to wait until Friday to share. I've linked to 5:08 in the video below where Andrew shows off the EBR Core Set, Card Doubler, Deluxe Tokens and World of EBR book! He also delves into some of the production issues more thoroughly.

We still plan to have a larger update, but wanted to share what we could as we wait for timelines to solidify.

Thank you all for your patience and support! 

-Cory

April '23 Production Micro Update
almost 3 years ago – Fri, Apr 14, 2023 at 07:39:02 AM

Hi everyone,

While we’re not quite ready to post a full update on the subject, we wanted to bring you all up to speed on where things are with the production and fulfillment of the Earthborne Rangers core set. I plan on talking about this in great detail on the next episode of the podcast, but for now here is the short version:

Two weeks ago our German publishing partner, Frosted Games, received an advance copy of the German core set for their “Frosted Days” event the following weekend. This copy was the first seen by anyone involved with the production outside of Ludo Fact. Unfortunately, in this moment, the folks at Frosted discovered a mistake.

The harm, progress, and general tokens — which should have had 3s on their “B” side — did not. While the game is still playable without them, it’s not optimal as 3 – 4 player groups will quickly run out of tokens. Although, as is the case with most card games, you can use dice, glass beads, coins, or what-have-you instead of the tokens that come with the game, we want you to be able to play with the official tokens if that is your preference, and (of course) we want to offer as complete a game as possible.

To correct this error with the production, we will be reprinting the tokens with the correct “B” side.

At this point, we are unsure of how long this will take. Since all of our paper must be FSC-certified, we are at the mercy of the FSC certification process, which usually takes about six to eight weeks. We have ordered the paper stock, so the process is underway. That accounts for the time it takes to get the paper to the printer. Production and assembly will take time as well. As soon as we know more specific information concerning the timetable, we will post another update.

Additionally, Frosted Games observed that the insert, which is intended to serve as a storage solution for your cards, needs to be improved. I have not yet had the opportunity to assess the insert myself (my copy is due to arrive tomorrow), but from the images and video that have been shared with me, I’m reasonably certain that I will agree with them. If we decide to modify the insert, doing so should not impact the fulfillment timeline more than reprinting the tokens already has.

Trust that the irony of the situation is not lost on me. Earthborne Games stands for thoughtful, sustainable manufacturing, but here we are reprinting thousands of sheets of punchboard. I’m forced to remind myself, however, that sometimes errors occur in the production of physical products, and this is just another opportunity to do things the right way. Our commitment to sustainability does not make us immune to human error and its consequences, but it can light the way in how we deal with those consequences. While we have not settled on the finer points of how the corrected tokens or a possible improved insert will be packaged and shipped, the ecological impact of the solution will be at the forefront of our minds.

Please expect another update in the very near future that has more concrete information.

Lastly, I want to apologize for the delay. When I learned of the misprinted tokens, I was mortified and incredibly disappointed. I know that in the grand scheme of things that a few more weeks of wait isn’t the end of the world, but it felt pretty terrible to be so close to the completion of the project to which I’ve dedicated the last three years of my life only to discover that there is more work to be done.

On the bright side, I was heartened by the response from people in the Kickstarter comments and on the Discord server. I truly appreciate it that so many people immediately thought of our feelings and how we might be impacted by the news than being upset that they’ll have to wait a little while longer.

As always, the team and I appreciate your continued support. We’re almost there. Just one more obstacle to clear.

Much love,

Andrew

March '23 Micro Update + Factory Photos!
about 3 years ago – Mon, Mar 13, 2023 at 03:40:39 PM

Hi Everyone!

This is a small update as we approach March 15th, which is when we'll charge accounts for shipping, and I wanted to answer a few recurring questions we've received. Also, we've got some factory photos to share!

TL;DR

Topics: Shipping FAQ and Factory Photos. 

Action Required by Backers: None.

Current Estimated Delivery:  April 2023.

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Shipping FAQ

Is there anything I need to do in order for shipping to be charged?

• There's no action required from any backers for us to charge the shipping balance, but as mentioned in the previous update, you can sign in to your Backerkit account and see the remaining balance we will be charging. This balance will be different depending on where you're located and how many items are in your shipment.

Will the Legacy of the Ancestors expansion be shipping with my other items?

• No, the Legacy of the Ancestors expansion will be shipping separately as it's still in development. We will manufacture and ship the expansion once development is complete. We're not sure yet when that will be, but we'll keep you all informed.

Will I need to pay again later for shipping of the expansion?

• No, shipping for the expansion is part of the balance we will be charging on March 15th. This is a heavily discounted shipping cost, as we are only charging for what it would have cost to add the  expansion to the rest of your order (weight, dimensions, etc..) instead of the cost of a second, separate shipment. We will absorb the additional cost.

Can I add more items via the pledge manager to ship with the expansion?

• No, orders are now locked. Since fulfillment is fast approaching, we are unable to make changes at this point. If there are add-ons you wish you'd have purchased, however, we will have a few extra copies of each, so you'll have a chance to buy them on our webstore at a later date.

Factory Photos

Now that we've got that out of the way, how about some factory photos? These are all from the card cutting and packing facility at Ludo Fact. Incredibly exciting to see all this hard work come together!

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Thank you for your time, folks!

-Cory

Production Update
about 3 years ago – Mon, Mar 06, 2023 at 04:27:09 PM

Hi Everyone!

We have an exciting update today as production is underway and fulfillment is in sight! We've also got some smaller updates to share, including the start of our Playcast videos. Let's jump in!

TL;DR

Topics: Production & Fulfillment Timeline, Deluxe Tokens & Playmats Manufacturing Changes, Our New Playcast & Podcast Plans, and Legacy of the Ancestors Campaign Expansion Progress.

Action Required by Backers: None.

Current Estimated Delivery:  April 2023.

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Production & Fulfillment Timeline

Right away, let's talk about production. Frank Jäger, our account manager at Ludo Fact, was kind enough to personally write up a production update for us to share with you all. Take it away, Frank!

"Dear backers of Earthborne Rangers,

I am Frank Jäger and I am the contact for Earthborne Games at Ludo Fact in Germany, where the game is being printed. Since I am several thousand miles closer to the action than Earthborne Games, I know first hand what the situation is and would like to update you directly from the factory.

Looking back I remember that we wanted to print before Christmas 2022.  As you know, that did not happen. But such a delay is not unusual with a project of this size and in multiple languages. Everything is only as fast as the slowest part in the chain, so unfortunately our optimistic plan could not be realized. But being a gamer myself I would rather wait and receive a game with finished development and extensive testing rather than a beta version with inconsistencies, or even worse, real flaws. Having  worked on trading card games I know how quickly that can happen and how annoying even small mistakes can be.

So where are we now? The files were all submitted, with the usual little hiccups like "I did not adapt the inlay when we changed the box size" (me), or "stop the press, there is a mistake!" (publisher) and the earlier "the box is too small" (both of us). There were a lot of changes, adaptations, and corrections, as usual, but we got through them all. On top of that we needed to order the paper and cardboard from our suppliers. We do not order gigantic sheets and cut them ourselves we mostly order sheets in the required size, so whenever we change something we have to change our order as well. Since everything regarding Earthborne Rangers is being done with the environmental impact of the game in mind, that means that we have to order new FSC certified material. And that takes a while until it is delivered.

Let me explain: The supply chain for FSC material starts at the source: the tree. Basically, the tree is cut and documentation of where and when it was cut (and by whom) accompanies the wood to the saw mill or the paper mill. The paper made from the wood from that tree keeps the documentation, expanded by the paperwork from the paper mill, and then it is delivered to the printer, and then to us. That process can take somewhere between six and ten weeks. 

I'm happy to say that the paper has been delivered and we are currently cutting the cards at our factory in Ulm. To apply the small corner radius of 3 mm (that is what most TCGs have) we need to punch the cards after the normal cutting and assembly process, which is done automatically. And while printing is really fast (15,000 sheets per hour) cutting those 15,000 sheets takes more than 15 times as long, and punching them into form takes about the same length of time. With the amount of copies required, which was made possible by you the backers (at this point please stand up and applaud yourself), that takes quite some time.

We are hoping to have everything together for assembly of the first batch somewhere near the beginning of April, and then continue onward. The number of games itself is not the issue, we can assemble up to  80,000 games per day, but the production of the card packs is. So we will likely assemble one language after the other. And hope that the  stickers arrive on time. Stickers, you ask? Yes, the ones that close the  boxes. Because Earthborne will not contain any plastic, the boxes will be closed with printed paper stickers. Except there's an issue: the supplier had a shortage of the ones we want, the ones with a  diameter of 45 mm, which came quite unexpectedly and is now the one item that could delay us in finishing the games.

But we are close! As soon as we have the first copies of Earthborne Rangers fully assembled, I’ll send pictures to Earthborne Games to tease them… that is one of the advantages of working in a games factory, I get to see and hold the games first! (Imagine the sounds of an evil laugh floating to you all the way from Germany…:)

Soon. I promise."

Thank you, Frank! Now, what does this mean for fulfillment? Well, as Frank mentions, assembly will go quickly once stickers arrive and printing/cutting is finished. We are looking at sometime in April for fulfillment to begin. This also means that we will be charging shipping this month (March). If you are unsure of shipping costs, you can see your shipping costs by signing into Backerkit and looking at your current balance. If you've fully paid for your add-ons (if any) and taxes (if any), the balance you'll see is your final shipping cost. We will charge shipping on March 15.

Deluxe Tokens & Playmats Manufacturing Changes

The Tokens: Due to a misunderstanding between us and the factory with whom we were working on the deluxe wooden token set, the production with them fell through. But fear not! Ludo Fact was able to come to the rescue, and the tokens will be manufactured on schedule. As a result, however, we needed to change the colors of the progress and general counters. The general counters are now a natural wood grain, and the progress counters are a little bit darker blue as you can see below:

The Playmats: We're excited to be working with another German company, Kraken Wargames, for production of the Valley and Ranger playmats. The samples we've received look amazing, and they share our vision for more sustainable manufacturing in the tabletop industry. You can see these playmats in Episode 1 of our Playcast @3:24. I've linked the video below to that timestamp:

Our New Playcast & Podcast Plans

We officially launched our new Playcast where we leave our individual podcast microphones behind and meet up in person to play Earthborne Rangers! We've started off with Evan and Anders playing the prologue of the game and jumping into their early days of adventure in the Valley. In the future we may try to play specific sections of the game, or even pull out some games we worked on in the past, before Earthborne's inception, and play them while sharing our experiences and memories they conjure up. We'll see what the future holds!

What does this mean for the podcast, you ask? Well we plan to continue the Podcast with the regular bi-weekly schedule, and the Playcast will fill in the usual off-weeks. So each Friday we plan to post a Playcast or Podcast, alternating between them each week.

If you'd like to follow along with the Playcast, you can do so with the videos below. (SPOILER WARNING: This is early game content but some minor spoilers may appear.)

Episode 0

Episode 1

Legacy of the Ancestors Campaign Expansion Progress

Last but not least, we wanted to make a quick mention on the campaign expansion progress. We mentioned in a recent podcast that Luke Eddy (recently of Stonesaga fame) has jumped onboard and is working on campaign design; that is, the mission framework and cards specific to those missions. Design and testing are pretty far along, and we are very excited about where it's headed.

We've also begun commissioning art for the expansion, and have been creating a lot of wonderful concept art! Here's a few concept art pieces to get you all excited for what comes next: 

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As always, if you’d like to stay as up to date as possible with the development of Earthborne Rangers, we invite you to check out our podcast. Here are the last couple episodes:

Episode 24

Episode 25

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That's all we have for now, but we'll be in touch as soon as we prepare for fulfillment and hear more from Ludo Fact.

Thank you for your time, folks!

-Cory