FINAL HOURS: CHECKLIST & WHAT COMES NEXT
about 2 years ago – Thu, Apr 07, 2022 at 01:52:38 PM

Hello Cheerful Champions and Darling Detectives,

Welcome to the final hours of this campaign! It's been an action-packed thrillfest - taking on this quest and undertaking this mission! It's no secret that I love the inspiration for both of these games and I'm eager to explore these genres further using this fun system, so this campaign has been a great trip!

As I prepare to post this, we are just a handful of hours from the end of the campaign and in store for a fantastic finish!

Refresher Course

We've had, and will have, a bunch of new backers join in during these last days. I want to take a moment to highlight some key Update posts that new backers may want to check out (and existing backers may want to read as a refresher!).

MANUSCRIPT PREVIEW - As noted, the complete Preview Manuscripts for both books are available for you to review prior to the conclusion of the campaign. If you're a backer, you'll have access to these preview manuscripts after the campaign. Remember, though, there are still some minor edits, development and proofing that need to be done. But, you can consider them about 98.7% finished. Making the manuscripts available for review before the campaign ends ensures that everyone know exactly what our goal is - making these books - and are on board with our aims for this project. Thanks for your support, we're all in this together!

Apr 2 update - REWARD TIERS - your best starting point for figuring out which Backer Reward Level to choose to help support this project.

Your key decisions:

Cinematic Fantasy Quests or Thrilling Espionage Missions... or BOTH? Go Digital with the PDF only or go Hardcover + PDF?

• CYCLOPS'S CAVE DIGITAL
• [CLASSIFIED] DIGITAL
• DIGITAL DOUBLE FEATURE

These are the PDF-only reward tiers. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the shipping charges that are absolutely ever-increasing - these are the reward tier options that you should begin with. The PDFs will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com - when they are ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library at no cost and be able to download at your leisure.

• CYCLOPS'S CAVE HARDCOVER
• [CLASSIFIED] HARDCOVER
• HARDCOVER DOUBLE FEATURE

This reward tier includes hardcover versions of these books. They'll look amazing on your shelf, especially if they're placed next to your other They Came From games, but may incur shipping costs depending on your location. In addition, these optiosn also include the PDF versions, so you will get a digital copy as described above.

• Supporter - If you want access to the manuscript previews but don't yet know if you want the PDFs or hardcover rewards, the Supporter tier also grants you access to the Pledge Manager after the campaign so you can upgrade your pledge in the future.

ADD ON REWARDS- the other half of the Reward Tiers update, including information on the second step of pledging. There are several Add On options that you can add as part of your pledge process. including the other They Came From games (Beneath the Sea!, Beyond the Grave!, Camp Murder Lake!) and related supplements, as well as the two Director's Screens that we unlocked via Stretch Goal!

1. Choose Your Pledge Tier Wisely

Choosing the correct Reward Tier for your desired rewards, and then filling in any "gaps" with add-ons, ensures that you'll be claiming all of your desired rewards as a thank you for supporting this project and bringing this world to life.

Remember, your TOTAL PLEDGE AMOUNT is equal to your REWARD TIER + ADD ONS + SHIPPING. You will also be able to select Add On options in the Pledge Manager after the campaign, but remember that only funds added during the campaign count towards Stretch Goal funding targets.

Also to note, only those who participate during the campaign are able to have Stretch Goal rewards added automatically to their rewards lists. If you're waiting to pre-order at a later time, it's better to pledge to the Supporter tier now and then simply upgrade your pledge later to include these bonus rewards.

Shipping is calculated automatically by Kickstarter, based on your location. Remember, Add On rewards are listed in the second stage of your pledge process (before you confirm your pledge), and will also be made available to add on in the post-campaign pledge manager sent out in about 6 weeks.

SO: Ensure that you've selected the Reward Tier you want, and select any Add On options you wish to include. AND - make sure that you are comfortable with the Pledge Total amount, in terms of it covering everything you want and its' affordability.

I'm going to speak against my own self interest for a moment, and repeat myself one last time - though 2022 has been a bit better than the past two years, the world is still unpredictable and some futures are a little less certain. Ensure that your circumstances enable to afford this pledge at this moment - Kickstarter will begin processing payments after the campaign ends and neither Onyx Path nor I have any involvement in that process. If you are unsure of your financial situation but don't want to miss out, please pledge for a tier you can afford now and know that you will likely be able to upgrade to open pledge levels in our post-campaign Pledge Manager for some time before the book is completed.

• Choose a Reward Tier You Can Afford
• Read the Manuscripts and Make Sure You Know What You're Getting
• Be Aware of the Projected Delivery Date (Onyx Path will try to deliver earlier than this, but the book will take some time to get perfect)

2. PAYMENT AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Once you're comfortable with your pledge, please ensure that the payment and contact information in your kickstarter account is up to date and correct. Making sure your e-mail is entered correctly and your credit card isn't expired will speed up the next step process. (I have learned from experience!)

WHAT COMES NEXT?

3. AFTER THE CAMPAIGN ENDS

First, we celebrate. Kickstarter will send out a virtual "Hooray!" email confirming the campaign ended with final totals. We'll give socially-distanced high fives and digital fist bumps in the comments section.

Then, the Kickstarter payment process begins. Over the next week, kickstarter will begin charging your payment methods for the total amount you've pledged.

If there is an issue with your payment method (expired credit card or incorrect number or pre-paid Visa awaiting funds, for example), Kickstarter will keep trying to process payment during this time.

Once this step is done, which will likely be in the middle third week of April, Kickstarter will confirm everything with Onyx Path and I can begin to set up the project with BackerKit and link it to the Kickstarter data.

BackerKit is a robust fulfillment integration and pledge management program that will allow us to work with all of the data and distribute the rewards to you. It will take me a few weeks to set the project up. Once I've got it all entered and built, the team from BackerKit will review to ensure I didn't mess anything up too badly, and then I'll make any changes they've suggested and we can move on to the Survey stage.

4. BACKERKIT SURVEYS

Once BackerKit says I'm good to go, I will send out a survey to all backers. This is why confirming your e-mail is important!

The BackerKit survey is both a verb and a noun - it will collect data for the analysis of some aspect of a group (enabling Onyx Path to set print runs, prioritize new projects, and fine-tune future kickstarters), as well as providing a general review or summary of the reward tier you've chosen, confirm all of the rewards associated with that reward tier, and confirm your total pledge amount.

I expect Surveys to go out by mid-May 2022.

During the Survey period, you can choose to increase your reward tier or add on additional options. If you've gone back to work or found an alternate income source and decide it's time to trade up to the hardcover version of the books or include another add-on, you can do so at this time. Note, you will not be able to reduce your reward tier selection, only increase.

If there was an issue with payment to Kickstarter, you should also be able to address that at this point in the process.

The survey will ask you to confirm your shipping address, even though it'll be some time before we ship out the final product. Do not worry about moving before shipping begins - you will be able to update BackerKit right up until the point that we begin fulfilling the final book. We will send out a notice prior to lock down so you can update any information.

I'll also use the Survey to confirm some details for the premium reward tiers.

5. REWARD DISTRIBUTION

This is a long process, but I will send out regular updates (usually at the end of the month) to keep you up to speed on Onyx Path's progress. There will be strings of updates that are just "still working on it," but I will share new artwork or information when I can.

Eventually, we will have completed PDFs of They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! and They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! Onyx Path will take some time to distribute, review, and compile any errata or corrections that need to be made. When they've made any necessary changes, they'll send out updated copies of the PDFs and then begin creating print-ready files for the Print-on-Demand and the hardcover versions.

It's yet another long road ahead, another question, another mission, but one that we wouldn't be undertaking if not for your faith and support.

#TheyCameFromTheCyclops'sCave!

#TheyCameFromCLASSIFIED!

Final Days Review - Stretch Goals
about 2 years ago – Thu, Apr 07, 2022 at 12:20:47 AM

Hello Perfect Puppets & Awesome Operators

We're in the final HOURS countdown for They Came From Double Feature (the Cyclops's Cave! and [CLASSIFIED]!) on Kickstarter - it ends on Thursday, March 7th at 2:00 PM EDT - there's still  a tiny bit of time to find additional adventurers and invite them into the merry band, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I've been touching on some of the basics to make sure that everyone has all of the information they need to support the project in the way that works best for them.

Final Days Schedule

• April 2 - Pledge Tier & Add On Review  
• April 6 - Stretch Goal Review (That's Today!) 
• April 7 - Final Day Checklist & What Comes Next 

Whether you've just joined the agency or already have your Double-0 status, these are good items to review to make sure that we all end up where we want to be.

(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out the Final Week Countdown/ Resource post. It has links to the manuscript previews, interviews, podcast discussions, actual plays, and character creation walk-throughs.)

Refresher Course

We've had, and will have, a bunch of new backers join in during these last days. I want to take a moment to highlight some key Update posts that new backers may want to check out (and existing backers may want to read as a refresher!).

MANUSCRIPT PREVIEW - As noted, the complete Preview Manuscripts for both books are available for you to review prior to the conclusion of the campaign. If you're a backer, you'll have access to these preview manuscripts after the campaign. Remember, though, there are still some minor edits, development and proofing that need to be done. But, you can consider them about 98.7% finished. Making the manuscripts available for review before the campaign ends ensures that everyone know exactly what our goal is - making these books - and are on board with our aims for this project. Thanks for your support, we're all in this together!

Apr 2 update - REWARD TIERS - your best starting point for figuring out which Backer Reward Level to choose to help support this project.

Your key decisions:

Cinematic Fantasy Quests or Thrilling Espionage Missions... or BOTH? Go Digital with the PDF only or go Hardcover + PDF?

• CYCLOPS'S CAVE DIGITAL
• [CLASSIFIED] DIGITAL
• DIGITAL DOUBLE FEATURE

These are the PDF-only reward tiers. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the shipping charges that are absolutely ever-increasing - these are the reward tier options that you should begin with. The PDFs will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com - when they are ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library at no cost and be able to download at your leisure.

• CYCLOPS'S CAVE HARDCOVER
• [CLASSIFIED] HARDCOVER
• HARDCOVER DOUBLE FEATURE

This reward tier includes hardcover versions of these books. They'll look amazing on your shelf, especially if they're placed next to your other They Came From games, but may incur shipping costs depending on your location. In addition, these optiosn also include the PDF versions, so you will get a digital copy as described above.

•  Supporter - If you want access to the manuscript previews but don't yet know if you want the PDFs or hardcover rewards, the Supporter tier also grants you access to the Pledge Manager after the campaign so you can upgrade your pledge in the future.

ADD ON REWARDS- the other half of the Reward Tiers update, including information on the second step of pledging. There are several Add On options that you can add as part of your pledge process. including the other They Came From games (Beneath the Sea!, Beyond the Grave!, Camp Murder Lake!) and related supplements, as well as the two Director's Screens that we unlocked via Stretch Goal!

Choose Wisely

Choosing the correct Reward Tier for your desired rewards, and then filling in any "gaps" with add-ons, ensures that you'll be claiming all of your desired rewards as a thank you for supporting this project and bringing this world to life.

Remember, your TOTAL PLEDGE AMOUNT is equal to your REWARD TIER + ADD ONS + SHIPPING. You will also be able to select Add On options in the Pledge Manager after the campaign, but remember that only funds added during the campaign count towards Stretch Goal funding targets.

Also to note, only those who participate during the campaign are able to have Stretch Goal rewards added automatically to their rewards lists. If you're waiting to pre-order at a later time, it's better to pledge to the Supporter tier now and then simply upgrade your pledge later to include these bonus rewards.

On Thursday, I'll be posting one further "Final Day" update, covering What Happens Next and outlining what to expect once the campaign ends.

But until then, we're going to hopefully hunt down one final Stretch Goal achievement as we race through our final day of the campaign!

Over the past (almost) 4 weeks, we've been working solidly through our Stretch Goal quests, to the point that we've already achieved EIGHT Stretch Goal targets. Five of those were goals that I thought would take us right up until our final moments... and I actually thought that 8th goal would come down to the wire! But we unlocked it yesterday!

Within these Stretch Goals are some milestone markers that allow us to celebrate how the campaign grew as well as opening up some additional Add On options, and one really cool new supplement. Let's review and see what we've accomplished so far...

ACHIEVED! – CYCLOPS’S CAVE REDBUBBLE T-SHIRT– As magical and mysterious as the golden fleece, Onyx Path will unveil a They Came from the Cyclops’s Cave!-themed Kickstarter Backer T-shirt hosted on their Redbubble store for a limited time. Only backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.

ACHIEVED!  – [CLASSIFIED] REDBUBBLE T-SHIRT– Perfect for undercover work, Onyx Path will unveil a They Came from [CLASSIFIED]!-themed Kickstarter Backer T-shirt hosted on their Redbubble store for a limited time. Only backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.

ACHIEVED! – NEW ARCHETYPES SUPPLEMENT – Expand your options with new Archetypes! Onyx Path will create a new supplement with Archetypes, Origins, and Covers designed to work with both They Came from the Cyclops’s Cave! and They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! Inspiration will come from an iconic action superstar who managed to play in both genres with Conan the Barbarian and True Lies, plus so much more… This reward will be added to the rewards list for any backer receiving the PDF rulebook of either game.

ACHIEVED!  – CYCLOPS’S CAVE DIRECTOR’S SCREEN ADD ON – A three-panel Director’s Reference Screen with charts and information for running a game of They Came from the Cyclops’s Cave! will be created and offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tiers for +$25.

ACHIEVED! – [CLASSIFIED] DIRECTOR’S SCREEN ADD ON – A three-panel Director’s Reference Screen with charts and information for running a game of They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! will be created and offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tiers for +$25.

ACHIEVED!  – CYCLOPS’S CAVE DIGITAL WALLPAPER– Dress up your computer monitor with some fantastic fantasy artwork from They Came from the Cyclops’s Cave! This reward will be added to the rewards list of all backers.

ACHIEVED!  – [CLASSIFIED] DIGITAL WALLPAPER– Secure your computer monitor with some exciting espionage-inspired artwork taken from They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! This reward will be added to the rewards list of all backers.

ACHIEVED! – CINEMATIC POWERS SUPPLEMENT EXPANSION – He said, “I’ll be back!” and meant it. Onyx Path will expand their plans for the Action Superstar-inspired supplement by adding new Cinematic Powers designed to shine the spotlight on the new archetypes. All backers receiving a PDF version of either game will automatically have the expanded Action Superstar PDF supplement added to their rewards list.

I know Matthew and the team are gonna have an amazing time working on that new supplement! I'm so glad we unlocked that second stretch goal for it, and with time to spare!

And, since we've still got a bit more time, I've got two more goals that we can shoot for. A couple more milestone markers that'll give us some fun bonus rewards if we unlock them before our extraction time tomorrow at 2:00 EDT.

At $47,000 in Funding – CYCLOPS’S CAVE VTT TOKEN PACK– Magic of Light & Shadows, these digital assets will be created to support online play for games set within the fantastic realms of They Came from the Cyclops’s Cave! This online asset pack will be added to the rewards list of all backers.

At $49,000 in Funding – [CLASSIFIED] VTT TOKEN PACK – Always know your tactical advantage with these digital assets, created to support online play of They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! This online asset pack will be added to the rewards list of all backers.

If you're like me, a giant portion of your gaming over the past few years has been online. For me, any extra tools or bits that I can have to help out for an online game are always welcome! Let's see if we can't maybe get together one or two Stretch Goals in our limited time remaining!

YOUR REWARDS!

That's right! You backed this project to help make and publish They Came from the Cylcops's Cave! and They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! Our primary reward - the big thank you that we'll send out in appreciation for your support - are PDFs and/or hardcover copies of these book! BUT AS A BONUS, you may also have the 80s Action Superstar PDF Supplement, some digital wallpapers, an opportunity to add to your wardrobe and maybe you've opted to include the Director's Screens on your list of rewards!

Not Much More Time

That may sound like the title of the next Bond film, but it's really a notice that our mission will soon come to an end. We've acquired our primary targets, but there are two possible Stretch Goal assets that are still almost within grasp! I know this last funding target may seem daunting, but it wouldn't be a STRETCH goals if we didn't have to really STRETCH to reach it! I'm confident that final goal is within striking distance, though it won't be easy. I'm sure we'll be watching right up until the end of the campaign, but it is completely within our grasp! guess they wouldn't be STRETCH goals if we didn't have to really STRETCH to reach them.

So, as every update concludes: let's keep the enthusiasm rolling! Keep spreading the word and letting others know about this project. They've got this final day to jump in and share the Stretch Goals we've achieved!

And every backer who joins in as we approach the end is not only able to enjoy the additional rewards already added by the early fans and backers, but also help reward those early backers by maybe unlocking those VTT Tokens!

Remember, only the funds generated during the Kickstarter campaign go toward achieving these Stretch Goal targets, so the time to act is now! Together, we can bring these gamse to life and make great things happen!

THIS CAMPAIGN ENDS AT 2:00 PM EDT on THURSDAY, April 7th, 2022!

#FinalDay

#TheyCameFrom

#DoubleFeature

Trailer Tuesday... Spies of the Silver Screen
about 2 years ago – Tue, Apr 05, 2022 at 01:08:54 PM

Hello Agents,

It's the final Tuesday of the campaign, and one last opportunity to check out some of the inspiration behind They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! We've previously covered some excellent espionage in television series, and, of course, the elephant-in-the-room that is the James Bond 007 catalogue. Today we're going to look at the other spies of the silver screen, some deadly serious and some much less so, that can inspire your [CLASSIFIED] game. Maybe we'll sneak a few more bits about television stuff in there as well...

The Ipcress File (1965): A downbeat alternative to the Bond movies, wherein the protagonist — Michael Caine’s Harry Palmer — is a British Army sergeant with a criminal past, now in the intelligence business. This movie has its share of action (often short and brutal) and scientific threat (brainwashing and hypnotism) and is definitely a movie to go for if you want a serious spy thriller with barely a pun in sight.

In an era of Austin Powers (we'll get to him) and parody, it may be hard to catch the seriousness amid all of the 1960s groovy trailer edits and dialogue. Probably timed to ride the excitement of this kickstarter campaign, there's also a new television adaptation of this classic Len Deighton book coming in the next few months to some streaming platform near you...

A fun way to see the same story in a few different presentations. We'll see other films that great from the seeds of television shows that we've looked at later in this list.

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1965):Another John le Carré  entry, only this time in the realm of cinema instead of television, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold is among the finest of serious spy movies, due to the interesting characters and twisting, turning plot. It tells an enthralling tale of how the intelligence agencies can burn and use their spies for all manner of illicit purposes, forcing them to become double, or even triple agents. A must see.

Our Man Flint (1966): James Coburn clearly loved playing Derek Flint in this movie, which is another successful (and popular) send-up of the Bond movies of the time. The Flint movies are sexy, silly, and perfect inspiration for some of the more comedic moments in TCfC!, and to their credit, their plots stand up as well (Pleasure unit aside). This movie is also truly inventive with the gadget lighter every spy should own.

The Ambushers (1967): If you’ve never seen Dean Martin as comedy spy, Matt Helm, now’s your time. There’s a series of Matt Helm movies, but this one is our personal favorite, with the movie’s spoof nature quite clear and unrepentant. Some of the scenes are almost shot for shot akin to Roger Moore era Bond, but Martin doesn’t raise an eyebrow so much as wink at the viewer. There’s a lot of charm to this movie, which works well in a game of They Came from [CLASSIFIED]!

As much as the 60s spy genre was dominated by Bond and his groovy cohort, the paranoid espionage films of the 1970s similarly reflect the tone of that gritty decade.

The Odessa File (1974): Back in Jon Voight’s youth, he was an actor in such excellent thrillers as this one. The Odessa File’s a really seedy espionage drama, with informants picked off left and right, and a protagonist you struggle to root for throughout. There’s no comedy here. It’s all the grime and criminality of spying’s unpleasant underbelly, and while it doesn’t match They Came from [CLASSIFIED]!’s tone, it contains plenty of characters and story beats you can use.

The Killer Elite (1975):If you want a brutal spy action thriller, look no further than Sam Peckinpah’s The Killer Elite, which rates as the first American film featuring ninjas (which must be worth something). The private intelligence agency in this movie (Communications Integrity, or ComTeg) is full of holes, and acts as a great inspiration for a paranoia-themed spy game. Also, the action scenes haven’t aged badly at all, though in Peckinpah fashion, there’s a lot of blood sprayed about the place.

Three Days of the Condor (1975): This movie slowly rolls out one of the most captivating mysteries put into cinema, with a star turn from Robert Redford as dull CIA analyst “Condor,” and murders aplenty for him to solve. The espionage in this film is of the internal political variety, so we recommend it if you want a plot involving corruption and double agents.

The Mission: Impossible Series (1996-present): If you want your espionage thoroughly American, explosive, and dynamic, these movies are your go-to choices. Tom Cruise leads us on a series of high-tech, terrorist-filled action capers, generally with him doing his own ridiculous stunt work. These movies are always a fun watch, and don’t involve a great deal of brainpower. Do keep your eyes open for the highlights though, in the form of the gadgets, disguise kits, and locations. You’ll want to use a lot of them in your They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! plots.

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014): Omitting the sequel, because it’s bollocks, the first Kingsman movie is an excellent update to the Moore era of Bond, combined with some of the vulgarity of Austin Powers and extreme action of John Wick or Kick-Ass. Underneath this movie’s glossy surface, you’ll find a plot about class warfare, which works as excellent inspiration for a rough and tumble Operative or Detective, and a well-handled introduction to a secret intelligence organization in the form of Kingsman. This movie’s another grand one for gadgets, with Merlin as a superb Quartermaster character.

Red Sparrow (2018):On the truly serious side of things, we have the spy thriller Red Sparrow, all about Russian espionage during the Cold War. This is a movie with its share of horrifying violence and sexual themes, so viewing discretion is advised, but the story’s strong, and the performances are marvelous. Though it’s unlikely to directly influence a TCfC! game, a character such as the protagonist Dominika Egorova makes for a superb rival agent or contact on the enemy’s side.

And to balance out the tension and deadly serious nature of that, let's flip back to the lighter side of tradecraft with the 1990s reference-filled spoof Spy Hard and a few other features where Intelligence may be in the job description, but not so much in the main characters.

Spy Hard (1996): Leslie Nielsen’s character in this move is named Secret Agent WD-40 Dick Steele, and that’s just about all you need to know. In some ways a precursor to Johnny Englishand semi-sequel to the Naked Gunmovies, you know the kinds of jokes that’ll show up in a movie like this — lots of pants dropping at unfortunate moments, landing face first into a lady’s bosom, and plenty of innuendos and cases of mistaken identity leading to fast-paced hijinks. It’s good fun and doesn’t need much more than a paper thin plot to coast through as an entertaining watch.

The Austin Powers Series (1997-2002): Groovy, sexy, funny, and completely irreverent, the Austin Powers movies are always worth a watch for easy laughs and brilliant wordplay. While some of the humor’s dated or topical only to the era in which the movies were made, much of it holds up, especially if taken as fragments rather than the whole. A game of They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! played entirely like an Austin Powers movie would collapse under the weight of its own Quips, but if you take villains like Frau Farbissina and Number 2, or jokes like, “Isn’t it amazing how London looks in no way like Southern California?” as they drive through Southern California, with only a red telephone box to denote the location as London, you’re going to have a lot of fun.

The Johnny English Series (2003-present):Nobody’s claiming these are the best spy movies on the market, but what they do well, they do very well. The useless spy, Johnny English, struggles with even the basics of espionage, but continues soldiering on with a relentless optimism, often blowing up his allies as much as he does his enemies. A game of They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! has every reason to be as entertaining as one of the Johnny English movies, for better or worse.

All backers now have access to the final chapters from the manuscript for They Came from [CLASSIFIED]!, and you can read about setting different tones as a Director in your game. From the inspiration listed here, you can see how your thrilling tale can vary quite drastically depending on how you approach the game. 

And even with three updates covering various sources of inspiration for your game, there's still more that we haven't covered: Jason Bourne, La Femme Nikita, Ronin, True Lies, and on and on. I've just started watching the new series Slow Horses, which has a great set-up for [CLASSIFIED] scenarios, with the characters sent to work in a lesser division due as punishment for failures in the field. 

You'll also catch lots of hidden references and homages in the TWO missions that come with the core rules for They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! The first will take you to a tropical island for the best party of your life, an exotic location where an evil billionaire plans to cause a global conflict with the help of his heartless robotic army. The second flies you across the remote borders of a shady Soviet state, wherein the Agency’s fate depends on the recovery of stolen data tapes from the grasps of infamous criminals and enemy spies.

If you're like me, after watching these trailers you're all fired up to dive right in to your mission! We've got just over 48 ours until extraction, and we need to see how many more assets we can recruit to our cause, so please continue to share this campaign in your social circles and on your social media. I'll be back tomorrow to review our Stretch Goal accomplishments, and then we'll bring the whole project home on Thursday afternoon!

#EyeSpy

#TheyCameFrom

#DoubleFeature

Backers Only - [CLASSIFIED] Manuscript Preview 004 - Directing
about 2 years ago – Mon, Apr 04, 2022 at 11:55:24 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Final Week Review - Reward Tiers & Add Ons
about 2 years ago – Sun, Apr 03, 2022 at 03:34:19 PM

Hello Super Sages and Quirky Quartermasters,

We're in the final days countdown for They Came From Double Feature (the Cyclops's Cave! and [CLASSIFIED]!) on Kickstarter - it ends on Thursday, March 7th at 2:00 PM EDT - there's still time to find additional adventurers and invite them into the merry band, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over these next 5 days to make sure that everyone has all of the information they need to support the project in the way that works best for them.

Final Days Schedule

• April 2 - Pledge Tier & Add On Review (That's today!) 
• April 4 - [CLASSIFIED] Manuscript 004 - Directing available to backers
• April 5 - Trailer Tuesday - non-Bond film inspiration
• April 6 - Stretch Goal Review 
• April 7 - Final Day Checklist & What Comes Next 

Whether you've just joined the agency or already have your Double-0 status, these are good items to review to make sure that we all end up where we want to be.

(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out the Final Week Countdown/ Resource post. It has links to the manuscript previews, interviews, podcast discussions, actual plays, and character creation walk-throughs.)

BACKER REWARD TIERS

Like it says right at the top of the campaign page, we've come together to help create a fully developed PDF and hardcover versions for the two latest entries in the They Came From tabletop roleplaying game line, the stop-motion skeleton adventures in They Came from the Cyclops's Cave!, and the thrilling exploits of secret agents in They Came from [CLASSIFIED]!

PLEDGING YOUR SUPPORT

To borrow an analogy that I've used in past Kickstarter campaigns, this process we're a part of works similar to the "Viewers Like You" support campaign from your local Public Broadcasting Station (for those who get American television channels or watched Sesame Street in the pre-HBO era): There are various levels of support that you can pledge to, and these come with various levels of rewards offered as a thank you. Like getting a tote bag or t-shirt when you give money to public broadcasting to fund them doing their thing, you can get rewards for helping Onyx Path work on this project.

Let's review the Backer Reward Tiers to ensure that you've pledged to a Reward Tier that provides all the rewards you wish to receive.

Where Do They Come From?

This Double Feature campaign features two great games - you can back either one, or even both!

• If you're a fan of classic fantasy films, filled with stop-motion skeletons, three-bladed swords, and heroes with heart, we invite you to buy your ticket and pledge to support They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! 
• If you'd prefer intrigue and espionage, deadly spies and private eyes, and secret missions to save the world, click and show your support for They Came from [CLASSIFIED]!

The main rewards offered in this campaign are, of course, the main goal of the entire proposition: the finished books for They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! and/or They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! The first decision you need to make in figuring out which game you'd like to support, or if you're in for the full Double Feature experience and backing for both!

What Are They Made Of?

The next key decision you need to make is what form your rewards will take. Do you want your main rewards in digital form and are going for the PDF rulebook? Or are you questing for artifacts and want the hardcover version (which includes the PDF as a bonus!).

With two different books and two different formats, we've got six possible primary pledge options.

Normally, I'd go with some clever and referential names for our Pledge Tiers, but with so many starting options, we wanted to keep things as straight-forward as possible.

• CYCLOPS'S CAVE DIGITAL
• [CLASSIFIED] DIGITAL
• DIGITAL DOUBLE FEATURE

These are the PDF-only reward tiers. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the shipping charges that are absolutely ever-increasing - these are the reward tier options that you should begin with. The PDFs will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com - when they are ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library at no cost and be able to download at your leisure.

• CYCLOPS'S CAVE HARDCOVER
• [CLASSIFIED] HARDCOVER
• HARDCOVER DOUBLE FEATURE

This reward tier includes hardcover versions of these books. They'll look amazing on your shelf, especially if they're placed next to your other They Came From games, but may incur shipping costs depending on your location. In addition, these optiosn also include the PDF versions, so you will get a digital copy as described above.

In addition to these primary reward pledge paths, we also offer the following options:

•  Supporter: Not ready to commit, or just looking to offer general support? This pledge tier is for you. This does not include our primary rewards, but allows you to select some digital optional Add Ons, as well as participating in the post-campaign Pledge Manager as a backer. You'll also be able to read the draft manuscripts of both books that we post throughout this campaign.
•  Name / Online Game / Art Model: A few Reward Tiers offer special limited rewards in addition to the basics, including an option to act as a Art Model, a chance to supply a name to be used by an NPC included in one of the rulebooks, or an opportunity to participate in an online game session. Check each of the Reward Tier descriptions for more details.
•  Consulting Developer: A special limited reward tier that allows a backer to receive copies of manuscript drafts for a They Came From... project while it's being developed. A fun opportunity to get a glimpse into the process.

The "premium" tiers (Names/Online Games/Art Models/Consulting Developer) have limited spots available to backers. At this time, they may all be accounted for but pledges slip and slide around as we move through these final days, so if you were interested in any of these rewards, keep checking in as we approach the finish line, because early backers may change their plans as we get closer to locking in.

PLEDGE MANAGER ACCESS - After the campaign is over we'll launch BackerKit, our post-campaign pledge manager, and invite the backers to set up their rewards via survey. This allows you to confirm your pledge and add on anything that you might have missed, as well as possibly increasing your pledged reward tier, should you choose to expand your reward selection. This option will give international backers additional time to investigate shipping options, should they choose, knowing they can confirm a physical reward at a later date. Funding collected in BackerKit after the campaign does not count toward any campaign Stretch Goals, however.

You'll note that two rewards - Access to the Manuscript Previews and Participation in Post-Campaign Pledge Manager - are included in ALL reward tiers. That's just one of the perks of participating in this kickstarter campaign!

MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS – All Reward Tiers include access to Backers-Only manuscript previews. With the exception of the final chapter of They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! (which will be posted on Monay), I have posted the entire manuscripts across multiple sections. You must be a kickstarter backer to access these previews, as the link will remain in a backers-only update post. The manuscript previews may not be available to those who pre-order the book at a later date.

OPTIONAL DISCOUNTED PoD VERSION – For this They Came From... campaign, you will have the option of using DriveThru’s Print-On-Demand service to purchase a physical, printed copy of the PDF and/or Director's Deck Card Set directly from their PoD partners at discounted cost (this cost is not included in your pledge, and you do not need to increase the cost of your pledge to use this option). When the PoD versions are available to order (which may be some time after the books have gone to print), you will receive links to purchase these versions of the books/cards from DriveThruRPG.com and DriveThruCards.com. You DO NOT need to take advantage of this PoD offer as it does not affect in any way your pledge rewards.

PDF VERSION - The digital versions of They Came from The Cyclops's Cave! and/or They Came from [CLASSIFIED]!, fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Kickstarter backers will receive a redemption links for an Advance version of this book before it goes on sale to the public. This initial "Backer Version" will be used to get feedback from the fans to make the final version the best that it can be. When it has been updated to the final version, it will automatically be added to your DriveThruRPG library and available for download at your convenience.

HARDCOVER BOOK - The main goal of this campaign is to fund the creation, production, and print run of  hardcover edition of these books. Note that all Reward Tiers that include the physical hardcover version also include the digital PDF version as a bonus. Additional shipping charges are automatically added to your pledge by Kickstarter, based on your delivery location.

Choosing Your Reward Tier

There has been some churn over this past week - a few Reward Tier adjustments and changes by backers, as budgets changed and people have seen the game in play and read the manuscript previews. In these final days it's best to ensure that you've selected the Reward Tier that offers you the options and rewards you want to receive and are ready to lock down. This timing - before the campaign ends - is the absolute most affordable and inclusive these rewards will be, and will save headaches and heartbreaks if fully considered now.

This is just the first step, however, in completing your pledge for this campaign. Additional optional extras can be added to your pledge, rounding our your rewards and increasing the overall funding and maybe getting us closer to a Stretch Goal.

First Step: Reward Tier

To summarize the first part of this post, the absolute best way to ensure that you're getting the primary rewards you want from this kickstarter is to ensure you've selected the appropriate Backer Reward Tier. Selecting the right Reward Tier covers about 90% of the options available to you. If you want a PDF only, make sure you've selected the correct reward. If you want the hardcover version, double-check your reward tier to ensure the proper option is featured. If you're going digital now but want the option of getting a discounted Print-on-Demand copy later, make sure you've got a reward tier that includes it.

Once you've completed that important step, you're going to want to look at the Add On rewards for any reward "bits" that don't automatically fall into your reward tier. That takes us to the Add On step.

Step Two: Add-Ons.

Once you've chosen your pledge tier, you've likely already included the main rewards you want. In addition to the rewards offered as part of the Reward Tier configurations, there are a few other possible rewards you may wish to add. All Add-On rewards are described in our Add On menu below.

Each Add On includes an extra amount to add on to your total pledge amount. Remember that your total pledge amount includes all shipping charges and not just your reward tier level.

The Add On option menu appears in the second part of your pledge confirmation. When you decided to back the They Came from Double Feature campaign, you first choose a Pledge Reward Tier. Once you've selected that, you can configure your reward with additional options.

You can add or update your Add On choices right up until the campaign ends on March 7th at 2:00 EDST. If you've already pledged, you just have to hit the Manage Your Pledge button on the top of the campaign main page.

Once you've decided to Pledge to the campaign, or to Manage your Pledge if you've already backed, you either Confirm or Change Your Pledge on the first menu.

Pick a Pledge Tier, then Add On Options

Once I click that green "Pledge" Button, I am taken to the second part of the Pledge confirmation, where I can further Configure my reward. There are many optional Add Ons, not just those visible at the top of the page. It pays to scroll down, especially now that we've unlocked the Director's Screens!

There are also some good Kickstarter FAQs on this page, so check those out if you're looking for some additional process and timing information.

I make sure I scroll through all of the available Add On options before hitting Continue.

Once you've selected your Pledge, and then picked any Add On options, you press continue and review one final time before confirming your pledge.

Once I click Confirm, my reward tier and add ons are set for my pledge.

You should also be aware that any available Add On options will be made available in our BackerKit pledge manager, so if you're unsure about adding on something at this point, you will be able to adjust your pledge in the post-campaign phase.

Pledging to the campaign also opens up the Stretch Goal rewards as thanks for your participation. We'll review our Stretch Goal accomplishments on Wednesday, but it's important to note that backers who wait and Pre-Order They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! or They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! at a later date will not have the Stretch Goal rewards automatically added to their rewards list. The Stretch Goal rewards will only automatically be added to the rewards for those who participated in this Kickstarter campaign.

OPTIONAL HARDCOVER ADD ON REWARDS

All Add On and additional hardcovers can only be added to a reward tier that already includes a hardcover version of a book (and has therefore established shipping parameters). This is useful for some of the Premium pledge tiers that are focused on one of the games only - you can build your own Double Feature by adding the other book in your Add On option listing. As with your pledge, additional shipping charges may be included based on your location. Your rewards will be sent in a single shipment when the They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! and They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! books are printed and ready to fulfill.

REWARD DELIVERY

About 6 weeks after the campaign has ended, I'll launch our post-campaign Pledge Manager to collect information from all backers and confirm which rewards you'll be receiving. At this point, you'll be able to review your rewards and also also adjust any Add On Options that you may have missed. Once we have everything confirmed, I'll be able to deliver any rewards that are currently available - like the PDF versions of the other They Came From Core Rulebooks, like They Came from Beneath the Sea! or They Came from Beyond the Grave! or They Came from Camp Murder Lake! Backers who have pledged for these options will be sent special redemption links to claim these digital rewards from our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Clicking these redemption links will allow you to add these PDF titles to your digital library to download anytime. I'll send an update when all of that is happening, though, so you are aware every step of the way.

So, while it will take some time for They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! and They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! to move from manuscript form to a final product, you won't be waiting a year for PDFs that already exist. (You'll be waiting about 6-8 weeks or so, just enough time for us to set up the reward infrastructure.)

Physical Books

It's going to take some time to create the final PDF for They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! and They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! and even longer for the eventual print run for the hardcover books. When the books are at the printer, I will be in touch with all kickstarter backers and go over lockdown procedures and confirming addresses one final time. But that's a long time away, and we'll cover all of that as we get closer to that part of the process.

Don't fret if you had forgotten to select an Add On by the end of the campaign. These Add Ons will be available to select in our post-campaign Pledge Manager for those who participated in our campaign and have full access to the Pledge Manager. So, if you are undecided at this time, you will be able to hold off until we're closer to the final reward shipment goes out.

 Step 1: Pledge Tier

Step 2: Add On Options

Again, your first step should involve your main reward selection, and your Add On Options will build upon that. If you selected the PDF-only tier, you will be presented with PDF options. If you select the hardcover tier, you will be presented with physical reward options. You cannot add on additional physical rewards if a hardcover book is not included in your pledge tier reward list.

Note that all funds are expressed in US Dollars, although Kickstarter displays the approximate conversion rate.

It Adds Up!

That should explain the process of Selecting your Reward Tier and Add On options and confirming your TOTAL PLEDGE AMOUNT. Since increasing your pledge amount increases the overall funding level of the project, add-ons can help us achieve our Stretch Goal funding targets, so it benefits us all to suggest that you double-check to make sure you're getting all of the rewards you want.

Additionally, this may go without saying, please review your personal budget and ensure you've selected the appropriate reward tier and add ons for your current financial situation. Kickstarter will begin charging your payment method once the campaign ends, so ensure you've budgeted correctly.

Conclusion

As we move through these final days of the campaign, please ensure you've chosen the correct Reward Tier for the rewards you want. If you have any issues with the Pledge process, either selecting the reward tier or Adding On optional rewards, try a different browser or device. Kickstarter is always refining their processes, but sometimes things are a little sticky. Changing browsers often solves the issue.

On Thursday, just before the campaign ends, I will send an update detailing the steps that occur after the campaign concludes, including notes about our Pledge Manager and the communication plan going forward.

So, just like always: Spread the word! Share your excitement on social media! Tell your friends! We're about to begin our final quest encounter, so let's make sure that none of our friends miss out!

And I'll be back Monday with the FINAL manuscript section for They Came from [CLASSIFIED]!, making the complete text available for all backers to review before the campaign ends!

#EyeSpy

#TheyCameFrom

#DoubleFeature