New Years/January Update!
about 1 year ago – Mon, Jan 01, 2024 at 02:15:29 PM

New Years Update

Hello Adventurers, and a Happy New Year from us here at Quest Chest! The festive season is behind us, and we're into a brand new year with new adventures ahead. This update will provide some brand new manufacturing information, some fulfilment information, and some very cool images! 

As a reminder, if you would like to join the Quest Chest Discord to chat with each other, as well as ask any questions you might have, you can find it here - https://discord.gg/KUYaNQaPcJ

Project Update

Backerkit Survey!

As a reminder, we will be looking to close the Backerkit Survey shortly, and we're still not quite at 100 percent completion. Thank you to everyone who has filled out the survey so far, for those who haven't  please make sure to check your emails for the survey link; if you don't see it there definitely check your spam folder. If you still can't find it please send us a message and we'll re-send the link! We will be looking to close the survey and charge for shipping as of ASAP.

Reminder - this survey is a good opportunity for anyone who wants to add items to their pledge, or upgrade to a different pledge level.

•  Writing - At the beginning we'd expected each guidebook to top out at around 20 pages, give or take. Even with strategic editing it's looking like each guidebook might be somewhere around double that! Still working on getting things tightened up as much as possible, but there's a lot of content in here that we're really excited about and we don't want to lose. 
•  Art - The art direction has taken some amazing turns, and we're excited to show off more of it. There's a consistent theme that runs through the campaign, and some easter eggs hidden in plain sight. Some that pay off in this campaign, and some that we have truly long-term plans for :)
•  Distribution - BackerKit surveys have gone out! Please make sure you complete these ASAP so that we can finalize distribution. We're just about to close the survey and charge for shipping. There is also a more detailed update that we'd like to provide below!
•  Manufacturing - This is the exciting part of this update! We've started into manufacturing for a number of items! Check out the more detailed Manufacturing section below :D

Distribution

We've taken some time to start figuring out shipping costs and the best possible road to fulfillment possible based on the survey results from everyone, and the various places in the world that everyone will need their Quests sent! We're really excited to note that we have supporters from all over the world, and that the Campaign Chest will end up in South Korea, the Netherlands, Dubai, and almost everywhere else! 

Based on current global shipping conditions and the likely size of the boxes we'll need to pack things in to ensure they are safe in transit, we've determined that a single shipment is undoubtedly going to be the most economical method of getting everyone's rewards to them, and will cost the least for everyone when we do charge for shipping. Other than a single shipment drastically reducing the cost, the really good news here is that we're a little bit ahead of schedule for production, and we're very sure we're going to beat our original target delivery date of next December! We don't want to set a new target date just yet, since manufacturing is its own beast and there are still things that can cause delays, but you should all be getting every reward before the original target!

Speaking of rewards...

Manufacturing 

Manufacturing has begun on many of the add-ons and peripherals! We're very happy to show some photos and videos of what's completed and already on its way to us right now!

Velvet front foldable hex rolling trays!

Foam lined dice boxes!

Wooden Dice Boxes!

Gemstone Dice!

Resin Dice!

That's all for this update folks!

December Monthly Update!
about 1 year ago – Sat, Dec 09, 2023 at 02:13:26 PM

December Monthly Update

Hello Adventurers, and Happy Holiday Season to everyone who celebrates :D The team has just come back from PAX Unplugged in Philly, and we've brought back with us much inspiration, many shared tales, and a raging case of con-flu. This month there isn't a ton to update on, since we pretty much have our heads down getting the writing and art done, but for bits we can update you with, read on!

As a reminder, if you would like to join the Quest Chest Discord to chat with each other, as well as ask any questions you might have, you can find it here - https://discord.gg/KUYaNQaPcJ

Project Update

Backerkit Survey!

As a reminder, the Backerkit Survey has gone out :) Thank you to everyone who has filled out the survey so far! We're really close to 100 percent completion, and we'd really like to get that up to 100 percent so that we can finalize shipping information and get our fulfilment set. Please make sure to check your emails for the survey link; if you don't see it there definitely check your spam folder. If you still can't find it please send us a message and we'll re-send the link! We will be looking to close the survey and charge for shipping as of Dec 31st, so please make sure you get that done ASAP!

Reminder - this survey is a good opportunity for anyone who wants to add items to their pledge, or upgrade to a different pledge level.

•  Writing - At present we're sitting at somewhere near 20-30k words written for the campaign chest! We do still need to make sure they are the right words, so we're doubling back and editing as we go. 
•  Art - Character art is coming along! We've begun work on choosing voice actors for various characters, and we're working on matching character art to their actor. 
•  Distribution - BackerKit surveys have gone out! Please make sure you complete these ASAP so that we can finalize distribution :)
•  Manufacturing - Our manufacturers are excited to get started!

Words words words from Austin and Michael

Michael - The past month has been a lot of travel, and a lot of convention! Just getting home from PAX Unplugged this week (where we got to interact with a ton of awesome people, and even some of our backers!) and back into the swing of writing. At present there's still more ahead than behind but every word on the page is another step on this thousand mile journey ;)

Austin - It's been wonderful as we've started to pair up artwork with fantastic voice actors, which has tailored inspiration back and forth. Seeing those folks in action, and the words we're writing for them, combined with the artwork has been a true inspiration and a labor of love. I'm excited for you all to get your hands on it, and to let us know how the characters turn out, and how the players interact with them. Our world is full of dangerous and interesting folk.

That's all for this update folks!

November Update
over 1 year ago – Wed, Nov 01, 2023 at 09:26:46 PM

October Monthly Update

Hello Adventurers! Spooky Season is complete, and the Winter Holidays are just around the corner. The Quest Chest team has been hard at work finalizing the plotting and stitching together for box 2 and beginning on box 3. The Bazaar is looking pretty brilliant and seabound shenanigans abound. We're just about to delve into intrigue and devious doings working out details for Masques and Murders.  Read on!

As a reminder, if you would like to join the Quest Chest Discord to chat with each other, as well as ask any questions you might have, you can find it here - https://discord.gg/KUYaNQaPcJ

Project Update

Backerkit Survey!

Thank you to everyone who has filled out the survey so far! Since it went out at the beginning of October, 74 percent of our backer community have completed their addresses and added items to their pledges. We'd love to get that up to 100 percent so that we can finalize shipping information and get our fulfilment set. Please make sure to check your emails for the survey link; if you don't see it there definitely check your spam folder. If you still can't find it please send us a message and we'll re-send the link!

Reminder - this survey is a good opportunity for anyone who wants to add items to their pledge, or upgrade to a different pledge level.

•  Writing - With Quest 2 fully plotted we're well on the way to getting pages out for it! This years Campaign Chest is full of Cults and occult business, and as such we're having a great time writing out our villains. The mysterious Cult of the Turn is full of enigmatic and learned individuals with more secrets and skeletons in their closet than you may expect when first you meet them. What are their aims? How far will they go to achieve their ends? Will you oppose them, or join their cause? Can't wait to find out....
•  Art - We’ve been hard at work pushing through the artwork for the first few quests, and since some of the artwork ties the quests together, we’ve been working out the structure of a very ambitious piece that we’re sure is going to blow your players away! We have a taste of some of it below.
•  Distribution - BackerKit surveys have gone out! Please make sure you complete these ASAP so that we can finalize distribution :)
•  Manufacturing - Our manufacturers are excited to get started!

Words words words from Austin and Michael

Michael - Editing is an important, but grindy part of the writing process. Before moving on to getting pages done for Box 2 I've been working to edit down the guide book for Box 1. Before sitting down to start writing the first Chest I'd expected the guide book to be around 18 pages. During writing it ballooned to 24, then 30, aaaand then more. I'm working to cut down the page count without losing any of the story or the richness of what we're going to be presenting to you. That being said, I'm itching to get into the second Chest, and out onto the high seas....

Austin - The artwork has been a massive hurdle that I’ve undertaken. It’s not just character art and maps, but also landscape paintings, concepting world elements, tarot cards, and much more. Every new location we visit adds more richness to our diverse world, and I'm excited to show off all of the locales as we finalize them. Speaking of which, say hello to the villain of the first quest, Without the Walls:

Allow us to introduce you to the Guardians -

Wall Guards are divided into two discrete disciplines: Guardians and Custodians. Each perform an important function in the protection of Empyrean, in their own way. 

Guardians are the absolute front line. Well armed and well armoured shock troops, an individual Guardian is capable of taking on far more than a single opponent, holding their own against whole groups of enemies alone and against the odds. Their rune scribed armour is capable of being imbued with spells, both defensive and offensive, and their specialized training allows them to fight using their entire body as a weapon. 

That's all for this update folks! 

Surveys are Live!
over 1 year ago – Fri, Oct 13, 2023 at 03:49:12 PM

Surveys are Hitting Inboxes!

Hey everyone! We've completed the Smoke Test and surveys have now been sent to you all!

Please give it 24 hours for the surveys to arrive, and make sure to check your spam folders and filters, as sometimes Backerkit emails can hit those and get lost. 

If possible please complete the survey as quickly as possible so that we can get shipping information set with our fulfilment partners. You can also use this as an opportunity to add on any additional items you'd like, and to upgrade your pledge if you were waiting to see how the campaign did :) 

Thanks so much everyone!

Michael and Austin

October Update!
over 1 year ago – Sun, Oct 01, 2023 at 05:09:17 PM

October Monthly Update

Hello Adventurers! It's been a wild month of creative sprints, and convention travel. In the past 3 weeks we've been to PAX West, Edmonton Fan Expo, Regina Entertainment Expo, and weve just finished Big Bad Con in San Francisco. Despite the long (LONG) driving hours and time at conventions, we have some fun creative updates and information about the Backerkit Survey coming in the next couple of days. Read on! 

As a reminder, if you would like to join the Quest Chest Discord to chat with each other, as well as ask any questions you might have, you can find it here - https://discord.gg/KUYaNQaPcJ

Project Update

Address Survey!

Later today we will be starting to send out surveys for Backerkit! This is primarily to begin confirming addresses so that we can get some solid shipping numbers and begin laying down tracks for fulfilment. We're still targeting the same delivery dates so we want to make sure we can hit our committments. The sooner you can complete your surveys the sooner we can lock down shipping quotes! Please do note, you will be able to change your address no problem if you move or need to ship elsewhere :) We'll let you know before we lock you in!

In addition - for those who backed Early Bird we'll be looking to identify you so you get your coin, and for those who participated in our puzzles we'll be asking which of the coins you'd like to receive. As a reminder if you have pledged more than $100 and you completed the puzzles during the campaign, you will be able to receive EVERY puzzle coin you achieved! If you are under the $100 threshold and would like all the coins, you can increase your pledge and you will get all of the ones you unlocked!

First, we'll be sending out a smoke test. This is where a small percentage of you folks will receive your surveys, just to make sure everything is working properly. If that goes well, the surveys will go out en-masse! 

Reminder - this survey is a good opportunity for anyone who wants to add items to their pledge, or upgrade to a different pledge level.

•  Writing - Quest Guide 1 is officially written! In hotel rooms at 11pm and dictating while driving from con to con, we have around 20 percent of the words on the page down for the Campaign Chest. Since this is the very first introduction to the world of the Frontier and some of the very special people and beings who inhabit it, we wanted to make sure this was a very exciting and colorful adventure with a lot of spirit.
•  Art - At the bottom of this update you'll get the chance to see the very first map from the world of the Frontier! As we've been writing the story we've had to make some adjustments to our map, since we now have a better idea of how things will progress geographically. We're really thrilled to be able to share this first look at the world you'll be playing in! You'll also find some artwork of a character that will be very important to the first quest :)
•  Distribution - BackerKit surveys are going out! As soon as we can get that information back from everyone we'll be able to finalize quotes from distribution, and get all of that set and settled. 
•  Manufacturing - Our manufacturers are excited to get started!

Words words words from Austin and Michael

Michael - During the Kickstarter launch Austin and I were awake for solidly 36 hours or so making finishing touches and running the launch party. The past few weeks have felt a little bit like that as I've been traveling from city to city without any time back at home. It's been wonderful getting out there and speaking to people about the Quest Chests, the response has been great, and also I'll be very happy to get back home in a week to get some sleep! Despite being on the road, I've really enjoyed being able to come back to my hotel room each night to write and refine the guidebook for our first adventure in the Campaign Chest. I'm really happy with how it feels, and I'll be really excited to get some playtests in! For such a major milestone it feels like there isn't a lot to update everyone on, but this is a huge step forward in getting Quests into your hands, and I'm thrilled.

Austin - As we've finalized the writing on the first quest, my focus has been squarely on artwork. The first quest is one of spirits, fae, wilderness, and adventure. I want the world to reflect that feeling of stepping out of your door and finding an dense, active wild ahead. Behind every corner is a new landscape to explore. To that aim, please enjoy these pieces of art from the first Quest in the Campaign Chest: Without the Walls.

Say "Hello!" to the Frontier:

The Frontier is where all of the quests within the Campaign Chest will take place. A variety of locales and dangers abound as your party sets foot into the wilds beyond the walls of the Empyrean. This version of the map is from an earlier version, missing some detail that we will be diving into in a future update, as we discuss the world at large.

Setting off on adventure:
   The Campaign begins behind the safety of the walls of the Empyrean. This empire has erected massive walls and defensive structures to keep the spirits at bay, though your players will be drawn beyond them in pursuit of a particular artifact...

Your Guide:
Traveling beyond the walls is a dangerous business. You shouldn't go alone. This friendly spirit will accompany your party, helping guide them through the myriad pathways and labyrinths that lie ahead.

That's it for this update!