Sandy's Surprise
almost 8 years ago – Fri, Dec 23, 2016 at 10:21:32 PM

Sandy's Surprise

Sandy Claws (as we call him at home this time of year) surprised the team a few weeks ago by telling us he wanted to commission an entirely new portrait for Cthulhu for the cover of the book. Since close to the beginning of this project, we all thought the cover was going to use the great image of Cthulhu Rising from Cthulhu Wars. However, Sandy believes this book deserved its own image and not a re-use of something from before. 

We had the time to do it, since book content is still being finalized and proof-read. We believed it was going to be complete this week, but life got in the way of our artist and as of right now we only have a work in progress. Brain Cylinder 67.23.8 (Ian) was very particular that we must send a transmission from Yuggoth before we celebrate Solstice, even if it is just a WIP. Since he is a Master-Cylinder, and controls the pain/suffering and relief toggles on my own cylinder, I'm going to show you the initial sketch, and the partial coloring of the book cover:

Where in Carcosa is my book content?

For a few weeks now many of you have been asking for final content - pages of the book with copy and borders, etc. We are in the final stages, but were not quite ready to show that yet. 

After the holidays are over (after New Years), we will resume our weekly updates and show samples of the final book! 

We are super excited about how it has come together and cannot wait to show you, but alas we are not quite yet ready to do so. 

Have a Happy Holidays and a Merry Solstice from Cthulhu!

- Brain Cylinder 83.7.1 (Arthur)

Double Update!
almost 8 years ago – Mon, Dec 12, 2016 at 10:01:31 PM

This week we're doing a double update as we weren't able to do one last week.

THEY ARE COMING!

The miniatures are expected to ship from China on January 18, 2017. The PDF after that – there is a large amount of new content that will be in layout and integrated.

The amount of amazing content Sandy has been putting in has been slightly overwhelming (in a good way). This is the first full RPG book based on the Cthulhu Mythos Sandy has written in decades, and he has lots of innovative thoughts stemming from his deep pondering about the mythos over the years. This has become an outlet for him to unleash his thoughts, and we didn't want to stifle him (unless you consider putting him in a brain cylinder and forcing him to write 24/7 "stifling").

CAMPAIGN LAUNCH ADVENTURE

We’ve had a chance to run the adventure at some conventions and in private groups. Major changes and revisions have been done. The biggest challenge has been not making it too long with too many options. Starting in January GMs of the beta test groups will be invited to a conference to discuss the Adventure and to get their initial feedback. Those on the list will be getting an email directly.

Thank you all for your feedback on cats and body slots for magic items. We’ve found historical ‘proof’ that we’re on the right track with that. See the pictures below.

  - Brain Cylinder 67.23.8 (Ian)

Secrets...Zoog Hands...Cat Earrings...
almost 8 years ago – Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 09:32:07 PM

Can you keep a secret?…so can I.  

I met last week with Erik Mona, Chief Creative Officer / Publisher at Paizo.  Worked out an exciting addition to the book. Thank you Erik! Speculate all you want, but I’m sworn to secrecy (for real) so you’ll have to just be happily surprised when you get your copy. But just wanted to let you know that the book will be even better than promised. 

Earrings Magic Slot. 

As you may have noticed, our cats wear earrings. Not only does it make them look a bit more badass, it also gives them magical powers! To support a non-humanoid PC race (cats) we came up with earrings as a Magic Slot. Why earrings were never a magic slot to begin with is beyond me (Sandy theorizes it’s because not enough game designers wear earrings). But earrings are a Magic Slot now. Magic slots for cats include earrings, rings (on the tail), collar, and possibly something on the lower legs. Magic items for cats are regularly produced in the Dreamlands. Cats will ‘jump’ from the Awakened World to the Dreamlands to trade magic items that they can’t use for ones they can. We’d love to hear your ideas on magic item slots and cats. 

Zoog Hands

As we study the anatomy of Zoogs, their hands must be addressed. Above is a picture of their hands demonstrating the amazing flexibility of its ‘multi-thumb’ configuration. This, among other physical features contribute to the Zoogs' high Dexterity. 

She’s supposed to be the most beautiful women in the UK. I don’t know about that, but she’s the best looking Cthulhu worshipper I’ve ever seen:

  - Brain Cylinder #67.23.8 (Ian)

Closing the Pledge Manager + Survey Link!
almost 8 years ago – Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 06:39:11 PM

As we said in our previous update, we are closing the pledge manager today, November 22nd at 9:00 PM PST (midnight EST).

What does this really mean?

This means we are charging your card for Shipping (plus any upgrades or add-ons you've selected beyond what you pledged for during the KS), IF you have confirmed your pledge. 

If you have NOT yet confirmed your pledge, then your card will not be charged. We will try again next week (we'll let you know), to give you a chance to finalize your pledge. 

IF you did not read this in time, and your card is charged because your pledge is confirmed in BackerKit, but you but still wanted to add something (such as the collector's editions, which people are still scrambling to get!), then you can email support at petersengames dot com and James will take care of you. All is not lost! Your pledge can be Reincarnated. (James is a Druid).

If you can't find your survey, you can get a new link by clicking here. Yes, Right Here!

Brain Cylinder 83.7.1 

Closing the Pledge Manager + a few misc. updates!
about 8 years ago – Sat, Nov 19, 2016 at 09:03:06 PM

Transmission with Brain Cylinders Reconnected.

Our normal Monday update (for November 14th) has been moved to the end of this week due to an error in the signal (it can take quite a while to send from far Yuggoth, after all). Also, we’d been waiting for some major news which we didn’t get until Thursday of this week.

CLOSING the PLEDGE MANAGER  

We need to close the pledge manager so we can get the final count to the printer. So it’s IMPORTANT you upgrade your pledge to the COLLECTOR’S EDITION (if you are doing so) in the next few days.  

We are closing the pledge manager on November 22nd at 9:00 PM PST (midnight EST).

This means now is the last time your friends can jump onboard and get all the freebies, etc. with this Kickstarter. We’d appreciate it if you’d let folks know.

COLLECTOR’S EDITION

As you know, there are plenty enough of you that wanted the COLLECTOR’S EDITION with the leather cover and hand signed by Sandy Petersen that we’ve offered it at the $7.57 as promised.

A few of you have expressed difficulty in understanding how to do this upgrade. Here are the directions again, including upgrading from a PDF to the COLLECTOR’S EDITION. If these directions aren’t doing the job for you, then just email [email protected] and we will get it sorted with you personally.

If you currently have a regular edition selected in the pledge manager, but want a collector's edition, all you have to do is simply select the upgrade add-on for $7.57 and you’re done! If you have this upgrade, the regular edition will not be sent to you!

If you are only getting a PDF, but want the physical Collector’s Edition, you will need to first change your pledge level to a pledge level that includes a physical copy. Then, simply select the $7.57 upgrade as an add-on.

LONGER and BIGGER

First, dispensing with the unpleasantness. We’ve always planned on shipping the book with the miniatures. The miniatures won’t be landing in the USA until February. We’ll know the exact date when it gets closer.  

So, given we have a little extra time, we’ve decided to expand the book’s content as a thank you for being patient. How much are we expanding it? – OVER 20% more content! This is a big upgrade. As a smaller publisher, we have the discretion to do cool things that increase our costs and lower our margins. So we are. Plus, Sandy Petersen’s Cthulhu Mythos for Pathfinder is the definitive book on this subject for Pathfinder. So adding more content just felt right. (Also, when we give Sandy target word counts for sections, he keeps creating such amazing content that we'd prefer to not cut him off! Seriously, we didn't even know he could make something as simple as Zoogs be so awesome!).

The major news that we got Thursday comes from James Jacobs, creative director at Paizo Publishing. As one of the authors on Sandy Petersen’s Cthulhu Mythos for Pathfinder, he has agreed to write a whole new section for the book on Deep Ones under Sandy’s purview. This will cover many variations of hybrids, how to create additional hybrids, mating habits, and more.

We don’t want to give away everything we’re adding (yet – we’ve got to save some things for future updates) but another thing you’ll see in the increase in volume in detail on many of the creatures.

Again, we apologize for our weekly update being at the end of the week instead of the beginning.  

Thanks again for all of your support and encouragement!

Brain Cylinder #67.23.8 (Ian)