BIG NEWS!
http://kck.st/46sAuKqSo the Kickstarter has launched, funded, and is going absolutely wild. Because it wasn't either of our regular ventures, ie something a bit different, we really weren't sure how big or small this would go! There's loads of news, but instead of typing it all out myself, I'll copy Jon's words from the latest updates.
TO UPDATE THE UPDATE - WE UNLOCKED BOOK 2!
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Hello!
Wow what amazing progress overnight! Welcome all you new backers!
So the photography tips are unlocked! These additional pages will contain tips for “proper” camera photography from a pro photographer, as well as some more down to earth tricks and tips for phone photography. I'm super excited for the completeness this brings to the book.
And indeed, with that, the first book is complete!
The big news is the reveal that at £7000 we will unlock a dedicated book of sci-fi backgrounds! It’ll start off at 24 backgrounds, just like the first book.
These backdrops will be painted by me, and have a similar feel to the first backdrops. I will be using a slightly different process, carefully incorporating some 3d modelling by my incredibly talented colleague Paul Bourne as the foundation for the paintings. But they will still be hand painted, and have "my style". I just won't be able to take reference from the local landscape, so some suitably futuristic 3d help will ensure the quality remains as high.
Here's a first sample of the kind of thing you can expect. This is still a work in progress, but it's almost done.
We'll have a variety of scenes beyond planet-scapes like this one - some industrial stuff, some post-apocalyptic stuff, and so on, all with the aim of sitting behind your minis and setting them off to good effect.
This new book, if unlocked, will be available in several different ways:
• A new pledge level just for the scifi book (for people who hate moody hills and glens)
• A new pledge level for a signed sci-fi book
• A new pledge level for both books
• A new pledge level for both books, signed
• A new pledge level for the sci-fi book with commercial license
• A new pledge level for the both books with commercial license
You’ll also be able to add it as an Add On if you just want additional copies of either book.
Can we make it?
It’s a bit of a hike to £7000, but of course we don’t want to go on fire making two books instead of one!
And that’s where your shares of this campaign come in. We’re going to really need to help spread the word, especially the chance of sci-fi backdrops becoming a genuine possibility.
We can do a certain amount of sharing all over the net, and as you’re no doubt aware, Annie has been doing amazing work reaching all corners of the interweb. But nothing is as effective as real word of mouth recommendations from real backers. (I mean, Annie is a real backer, but you understand what I’m saying here). Your help will be absolutely invaluable if we’re to reach that magic £7000 and leap into making two books rather than one. So please do give the campaign a share on social media, forums and anywhere folsk who might like this book hang out.
A title changeSharp-eyed folks will shortly notice that the image at the top of the campaign will feature the first book without the big word “MAPS” on it. As mentioned in the campaign page, when I first started this project, my assumption was that most folks would be coming from my little battle maps Patreon, and it made sense to confirm that link. That isn’t at all where we’ve ended up, and the “Maps” word is just a point of confusion now, as Annie has wisely and gently pointed out only four or five thousand times in the last 24 hours. And so it’s gone! We can do that. Hooray for organic product development!
Commercial licenseThings are moving really fast right now, but it is still my plan to share a draft of the commercial license this week if humanly possible. Some folks have asked for a bit of detail on how it works, and if they’re a professional photographer, will their clients also need a license?
The license will allow you, the license holder, to make new photographic works, incorporating my backdrops. You will own those new photographic works and be able to sell them as you wish. So your clients will not need an additional license. In summary: only the person making the photos needs a license.
I very much see the commercial license as a courtesy, and a way to make it clear who owns what, and clarify what you can do with a minimum of fuss and confusion. It’ll be written in plain English, and it’s hopefully a nice affordable price, rather than some massive gouge, or a subscription that you’re forever paying.
Hope that helps!
Right! Onwards!
Thank you once again for all your amazing support.
Jon (and Annie)"