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We start out the day at 70% of our first goal!
edit: And a link for convenience since we are on a new thread-page.
Nice! Now let's hope we get to this player's guide - I SO want that particular one!You and me both. If we get to do the Player's book, it will have the Necrotic Warrior character class in it and I have really been wanting to get that one out there.
ooooooh
I had sent Cheapy some ideas for some new classes a little over a month ago that may be interesting too. One kinda-sorta suggested by End - something about an accupuncturist. I hope we can get a Player's Guide as well, because we do have stuff to put in it...
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We seem to have hit something of a lull. In fact, we lost a couple minor backers and start today at 69%, behind were we were yesterday! O.o
But there's plenty of days left!
If anyone has any suggestions on places where we can share news of our project, feel free to share them with us. And please, if you have a facebook or google+ or twitter account, be sure to "like" the project, or otherwise link to it, even if you can't contribute yourself at the moment.
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I hope we can get a Player's Guide as well, because we do have stuff to put in it...
Yep. :D
Though, lest anyone get the wrong impression, I'm pretty eager to do the GM's Campaign Guide as well. Worldbuilding is fun and the challenge here is unique: use Japanese ingredients to produce a realm that is entirely its own and at the same time true to its roots.
Here to whet the appetite is a little of what I have been working on recently...
As the Zaoist faith matured within the culture, and as Zaoist dogmas began to be more fully understood, Noble clans began to divide concerning which form of Zaoism was to be preferred. Two main camps dominated the debate, both of them, ironically enough, following the teachings of foreign priests who had immigrated to the islands to further the Zaoist cause. The first of these priest, blind Nij'gan, promoted Tenraikuruma, the Divine Wheel, which taught that the Zao Mujiga was, and always had been, one of the gods, and that he had descended to earth to teach men the path of Zao. Nij'gan's doctrines fit well with what most Kaidanese already believed concerning Mujiga and was thus popular. As Nij'gan was also a devout believer in the supremacy of the noble caste over the lesser castes, he found great patronage among the nobility. The second priest was named Kaiku and, in public, he espoused the doctrines of the Go-no-Ryoku, the Word of Power, which stressed the use of magic and rituals as the key to enlightenment. However, in private, with his most trusted disciples, he advocated Kuraikuruma as the ultimate way of truth. Indeed, Kaiku had been driven from his own lands for the practice of necromancy, but he found sanctuary among the Kaidanese and, such was his influence, a great temple was built for him atop Mount Sumi, near to the capital.
When the Minamoto and the Taira clans went to war, though it was not the primary motivator, it is worth noting that the Minamoto were advocates of Tenraikuruma and the Taira, as became afterward clear, were firm disciples of the tenets of Kuraikuruma.
I have to wait till next month before I pledge my support. I love the setting too much to pass on this.
I have to wait till next month before I pledge my support. I love the setting too much to pass on this.
Just to point out, you don't actually pay until the funding date, not at time of pledge. :) Unless it's that you're not sure how much you'll be pledging.
I finally pledged to my own Kickstarter - so I can comment on the page.
I look forward to you joining too, Dark Sasha, whenever you can!
Just to point out, you don't actually pay until the funding date, not at time of pledge. :) Unless it's that you're not sure how much you'll be pledging.I have to wait till next month before I pledge my support. I love the setting too much to pass on this.
I understand what you're saying, but I also understand what Dark Sasha is saying. Sometimes money is tight and you don't want to make a pledge on a certain card and then only to discover that you need that card and accidentally create an overdraw.
In times of greater prosperity, I would have pledged by now. But as things currently stand in my life, I wait and see where I'm at when the ending date draws near and allocate funds on a card accordingly.
Shame that Kickstarter does not use funds you already have as credit on Amazon. :/
May I suggest some pledge-levels that offer hardcovers below the $1000-buck-line?
If I recall correctly, Jonathan has created more than one Kaidan convention scenario - what about revamping these à la "Frozen Wind" (or creating new ones) and offering them as kickstarter exclusives?
I know that exclusive benefits are always a nice benefit to me!
Dotting. I have no money to pledge, but I'll see if I can do anything.
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I have upped my pledge from 40 to 65 dollars.
I was in two minds about it, as I already have the PDFs of the trilogy. It might encourage others if you offered an alternative for people in my position.
If not, since I will in theory have two legal sets of PDFs of the trilogy, is it okay to give one set away to someone else in my gaming group and keep the other set?
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I have upped my pledge from 40 to 65 dollars.
I was in two minds about it, as I already have the PDFs of the trilogy. It might encourage others if you offered an alternative for people in my position.
If not, since I will in theory have two legal sets of PDFs of the trilogy, is it okay to give one set away to someone else in my gaming group and keep the other set?
Steve can correct me if I am wrong, but you should be able to do that.
What normally happens is that you receive a code for a free download. There should be no reason why you couldn't gift the code. Alternately, you could provide the email of your friend and they could be sent the code in your place.
Added a new image to the Kickstarter page Dragon Horse by Mark Hyzer
May I suggest some pledge-levels that offer hardcovers below the $1000-buck-line?
This is exactly what I was trying to suggest earlier though wasn't able to get it across. I'd love a hardcover, but don't have $1000 bucks to spend on it.
Also like the idea of more single use scenarios. Those are always handy to have.
Perhaps like Frozen Wind, "Up from the Darkness", your Kaidan demo one shot for this years Origins might be 'finished' for release, as part of this concern...
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What is the preference for that sort of thing - special contributor level gets special perks, or, if we reach a goal, everyone gets the perk? I suspect I know but thought I would ask.
I'd prefer the goals to be tied to more content (like you guys are already doing with the Player's Guide and the Bestiary) and the contributor levels to be tied to what our specific deliverable is (PDF, softcover, signed softcover, hardcover, signed hardcover, etc.)
That said, I think End's suggestion of a special scenario for contributors at a certain level would be fantastic, especially if you guys have something to work with from con scenarios.
I'm also very interested in any other hardcover options you come up with (economics may be a pain in the butt on this thought with the size of print run you're probably looking at). Right now, the $100 level doesn't have enough incentive for me to pledge at that level and $1000 is out of my budget.
I've also been drawn into higher levels on Open Design projects by the opportunity to contribute content (which has its own challenges and is more of their model) or even get earlier access to content (which might be easier to pull off).
I've also been drawn into higher levels on Open Design projects by the opportunity to contribute content (which has its own challenges and is more of their model) or even get earlier access to content (which might be easier to pull off).
Originally the publishing of the Curse of the Golden Spear trilogy for Kaidan was funded as a Rite Publishing Patronage Project (Rite's in-house Kickstarter). Gold Patrons were the $100+ pledgers, and they were able to pitch 2 ideas (when asked for in the closed Rite Publishing patronage forum). Though nobody stepped up out of the patrons to do any writing/designing, an open offer is made to let a Gold patron to do just that. Pitch approval was subject to all patrons to vote - so a pitch isn't a guaranteed inclusion, but if it's accepted, you're free to write it.
If/when this project is funded - I'm sure it will be exactly the same.
Perhaps Steve ought to say that on the Kickstarter page, but if you look on the ritepublishing.com page - link to about Patronage, expains all this.
One thing I haven't found is anything about shipping payments. How will international shipping costs for physical books be handled?
I can't say for sure, myself, but Endzeitgeist was and is one of our 'gold patrons' for the adventure trilogy, which were full color, soft cover printed, full color interior products released through Cubicle 7 Entertainment. Although the printing was done in the US, I believe - it has been distributed internationally. Many of our gold patrons were Europeans, including 'End' and he was delivered his books. I don't think there's an issue.
Probably best to post the question in the comments section or as a message thru the FAQ at the bottom of the Kickstarter page - Steven is the best person to answer this question.
I pledged 20 $ and I'm thinking about upping it to 25 in the hope that we'll get the player's guide... And I have absolutely no idea why. :D I hate horror (stories, movies, rpgs etc.) and I don't like the medieval Japanese culture such fantasy settings are usually inspired by (When reading the Legend of the Five Rings setting for 3.X I could only think of characters who would have felt the need to kill any samurai in the party in their sleep, really samurai is the next step on the annoyance chart right after the badly-played paladin.) except for Ninjas.... Why in the Nine Hells am I looking forward to Kaidan?o_o
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Glad to have you on board Navarion. We'll try to make sure and include ninjas just for you. :D
As for international shipping - I was thinking that the modules were mailed internationally from the UK, except for those I signed, which I packaged and placed in the mail myself. I may be mistaken on that, but it was my impression.
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I've also been drawn into higher levels on Open Design projects by the opportunity to contribute content (which has its own challenges and is more of their model) or even get earlier access to content (which might be easier to pull off).
As Michael said (Tumey that is), with the modules we allowed input in design. The writing of these books will also be done in the open and those that are patrons will have access to the process on the Rite Forums. We did not stipulate up front who would contribute what, so far as pledge levels. My own guess, unofficially at this point, is that anyone getting a signed copy is going to have the ability to make suggestions, see unfinished work and perhaps even contribute. Lower contributors, going by precedence in previous projects, are going to be updated on where we are at, what we are working on at the moment, and will get to see smaller amounts of the pre-finished material.
In my previous two projects, I tried to make sure to make daily updates to the forums and post material as often as I could, eliciting feedback the whole way. As to how well I succeeded at that, I will let others comment. But I most certainly plan on continuing this practice with the Campaign Book(s).
I probably should get something written up in this regard for Steve to post to the kickstarter page.
Ah... I'm Michael Tumey, in case nobody figured that out.
@Navarion - while I'm a Japanophile and obviously you're not. Please understand that Kaidan is not like Rokugan or 'other' Asian settings. It's not designed to be 'over the top' balance wise to non-Asian settings, nor compared to the base classes.
Much of it is designed from my own personal perspective of Japan which I know differs from the perspectives emplaced in previous oriental settings designed by people who might not truly understand the east. I'm half Japanese and have relatives in touch with, and have visited Japan on numerous occassions. In my experience, Rokugan and other Asian settings don't really feel Asian to me.
If you read any/many of the reviews for our products, especially the Curse of the Golden Spear trilogy, many of those reviews clearly state that Kaidan is unlike any setting you have been to before. It feels 'Kaidanese' (or Japanese) rather than normal D&D/Pathfinder with the fluff of Asia, as might be found in most similar settings.
And yes there will be ninjas, and other very interesting and provocative classes - your interest should still be piqued, at least I hope so.
@MichaeLane - I am too!
Glad to have you on board Navarion. We'll try to make sure and include ninjas just for you. :D
Aww, thanks. ;) I already upped my pledge, I hope it hits the 3000 soon.
@gamer-printer
It's not just in RPGs, every time I encounter samurai in fiction I get the urge to bang my head against a wall (most recently with the webcomic Samurai's Blood). Usually the same feeling I get when discussing the paladin code or hellknights. :D If Kaidan would be first time where it is differently that would be great. If not it still has ninjas and samurai-eating monsters. :D
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Glad to have you on board Navarion. We'll try to make sure and include ninjas just for you. :DAww, thanks. ;) I already upped my pledge, I hope it hits the 3000 soon.
@gamer-printer
It's not just in RPGs, every time I encounter samurai in fiction I get the urge to bang my head against a wall (most recently with the webcomic Samurai's Blood). Usually the same feeling I get when discussing the paladin code or hellknights. :D If Kaidan would be first time where it is differently that would be great. If not it still has ninjas and samurai-eating monsters. :D
I'm not sure which aspect of the Samurai as portrayed in fiction annoys you but would be interested in knowing. While individual players can portray their Samurai characters however they want, Kaidan will present them as a social caste with both savory and unsavory characters.
For what its worth, my own image of the Samurai is informed by a combination of historical accounts and the movies. Predominate among the films I like are the following: Seven Samurai, Sanjuro, Twilight Samurai , and 13 Assassins. In the last three I think it worth noting that the antagonist are also themselves Samurai.
While talking about influence, I recently discovered the anime Mushi-shi and think its a fantastic take on slightly creepy kami/spirit-type tales.
I'm not sure which aspect of the Samurai as portrayed in fiction annoys you but would be interested in knowing. While individual players can portray their Samurai characters however they want, Kaidan will present them as a social caste with both savory and unsavory characters.
It's the same problem as with their Wikipedia article. The whole "complete, unthinking obedience to one's master and suicide after his death" deal. If you are a good guy or a bad guy as a samurai depends on your master. Not mentioning what havoc you can wreak in a system like that when you are in a fantasy world with shapechange and domination magic....
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I'm not sure which aspect of the Samurai as portrayed in fiction annoys you but would be interested in knowing. While individual players can portray their Samurai characters however they want, Kaidan will present them as a social caste with both savory and unsavory characters.It's the same problem as with their Wikipedia article. The whole "complete, unthinking obedience to one's master and suicide after his death" deal. If you are a good guy or a bad guy as a samurai depends on your master. Not mentioning what havoc you can wreak in a system like that when you are in a fantasy world with shapechange and domination magic....
The suicide with the lords death is a bit overplayed, I think. As I understand it, it was the exception to the general rule of conduct. Honor sometimes demanded death, but people being people, I suspect that there were a fair number that didn't want to go and Samurai could transfer their allegiances given the right circumstances, one of which was the death of their sworn lord. At the same time, professionally and intellectually, I find the ideal samurai mindset rather interesting. They were encouraged to have no fear of death, even as their religion taught them that the lifestyle to which they were born insured a period of punishment in hell following death. The fact that it was not unheard of for samurai to retire from their warriors life and become a monk is telling to me.
Anyway, I should add that I do not intend to approach the samurai from an overly romanticized view. I think the gritty realism of the actual samurai life is a better fit for the atmosphere of Kaidan.
It's the same problem as with their Wikipedia article. The whole "complete, unthinking obedience to one's master and suicide after his death" deal. If you are a good guy or a bad guy as a samurai depends on your master. Not mentioning what havoc you can wreak in a system like that when you are in a fantasy world with shapechange and domination magic....
While elements of that is certainly true, in Kaidan the noble princes are undead - while it's looked upon socially as some kind of immortality factor 'earned' by the land's rulers, and those rulers are more concerned with maintaining power and status quo (not crazed necromancers animating huge armies to destroy the humans). As a sworn samurai encouraged to maintain your code of Bushido, who might even be lawful good, how much loyalty can you give to an undead being for a master?
In Japan, especially during the Sengoku Era, it was very common for single samurai, units of samurai or entire samurai houses to switch sides in a conflict. A decision was made at the completion of any battle as to where best to place their loyalties. This surely means that doing an activity that is counter to your master is reasonably acceptable. You finish whatever task placed before you at the time, but once done you may 'honorably' choose to switch to a different master.
Some samurai worked as city guard under a higher status samurai-constable. The poorest samurai, ji-zamurai, were farmers, little different from the commoner farmers and only served their lord's during times of war.
Going ronin in Kaidan is not the anaethma that the cinema is trying to convince you. A ronin is certainly looked down upon in society, but still may maintain a code of honor, even if only pledging loyalty to himself in the name of one's family honor, or to a community/temple/faction, not necessarily a noble lord.
Often going ronin was not a choice made by a samurai, but perhaps recent conflicts have ended, a term of peace is assured and the noble lord can no longer afford to continue such a large retinue of soldiers, so essentially 'laying off' the excess, a samurai might be forced into ronin status, through no fault of his own.
If a ronin chooses to renounce his honor, and choose not to serve anyone, that is very bad socially, and falls into the trope of a ronin being a bad thing. As long as the ronin finds another master, an honorable faction/temple/community, or serves his own family he maintains his honor, status (to a degree), and is even accepted by the general society.
If you haven't picked up Way of the Samurai by Jonathan McAnulty, all I describe in this post is there - (I know it's a give-away with sign-up at certain tiers), especially since it's currently on sale for 60% off at DrivethruRPG until July 31st. That book is worth the look, and at $1.99 how can you not?
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The interplay in the different sorts of samurai within the society is also of interest for me and provides a good canvas for stories other than that of a super-warrior who kills himself at the drop of a hat.
Consider Sanjuro. The hero is a ronin, without allegiance to a lord, but still motivated to help those he sees as having a noble cause. The young samurai of the movie are sure there is corruption with one of the higher ranking samurai and want to help uncover it. While they have sworn oaths, their allegiance is not unquestioning and they want justice to be done. The villains are actually corrupt and are trying to place the blame on other samurai so their lord does not punish them. All in all, they are people acting like people within the constraints of a certain social situation. At the same time, as Samurai, they idealize excellence of arms and both hero and villain can respect the skill of the other. The final death is a matter of regret for the hero.
Twilight Samurai () is another good example of portraying the human nature of the samurai within the social constraints of their society. The interplay between oaths, duty, and personal desires provides for internal conflict and external conflict alike. Anyway, I prefer approaching stories about people as just that - stories about people. The samurai caste merely provides a background upon which people can act as people are wont to act.
Even among the commoner caste, one's status among one's peers is ranked. Whether it is sandal makers, dentists, physicians, smiths - somebody is the best, gets the best clients, can charge the most money. Then there's number 2, 3, 4, 5... even among the farmers with generally more bountiful crops has status among the other farmers of his region.
While this might make common sense in a commercial market - it was practically codified, and understood by everyone in town.
Indigo was the least expensive ink to produce, so the most common color worn by farmers and other commoner caste members is indigo. You can almost identify the commoners walking in the streets by his indigo garments.
Diet was restricted based on caste - commoners got less meat, but more seafood (mostly rice and vegetables) then even samurai, though otherwise the samurai were better fed.
There's as much social interplay among the commoners as any other caste.
One thing I haven't found is anything about shipping payments. How will international shipping costs for physical books be handled?
We have the option of printing and shipping from Canada or the UK so there is no extra charge for international shipping. We have sent a copy of the book of monster templates as far a Norway and Argentina for around $5.00
I'm kind of in the same boat as Navarion. I'm not overly interested in Japanese lore or culture, and I'm not overly intersted in supernatural horror stories, but for every now and then.
I do however, know why I am backing this: it sound awesome!
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I will say I am not big on Asian settings, having read this book for Arcane Evolved and thought it was the best Asian setting book I had yet read. It was the first one that actually made me seriously consider running a Asian based campaign. At the time I asked for a Pathfinder version of the book, just for that reason. Just thought I would share.
Ahem, D_M - sorry to contradict you, but I think you might be mixing up Kaidan and Heroes of the Jade Oath - both of which are stellar settings. As far as I know, Heroes of the Jade Oath is for Arcana Evolved and expecting the release of its Omega version, whereas Kaidan is the default setting of the stellar Curse of the Golden Spear Trilogy and will see its first incarnation in any system with this book.
That being said, I think that some kickstarter exclusive modules and hardcovers at lower tiers would go a long way to make this kickstarter ramp up its pace!
That being said, I think that some kickstarter exclusive modules and hardcovers at lower tiers would go a long way to make this kickstarter ramp up its pace!
I agree, End, and we are looking into it. Also Jonathan is currently writing an update for Steve, regarding what participation level in the creation of the guide books each patron gets to do. From poll votes at the lower tiers, participation in art orders, to putting forth pitches and even getting the opportunity to write and design material if their ideas are accepted.
I think hard covers available at lower tiers would be a great incentive for signup. Plus Jonathan is considering not only making this year's Origins demo games available to patrons, but possible additional, not yet created modules as a possibility too.
@Dark Mistress - I agree that Jade Oath is a great setting, but I'm hoping to make Kaidan even better than it :P
@Wolfman1911 - glad you signed up anyway, we hope we can make such a fully realized and gritty setting that goes beyond it's intended genres, that you'll even be pleased.
I've even learned at least one of our pledgers doesn't even play PF, rather 4e exclusively, yet he too loves the setting concepts!
Thank you, everyone!
Strangely the 75% consists of 75 backers.
Sounds great! I enjoyed the Curse of the Golden Spear and am really looking forward to more Kaidan. No extra charge for shipping to those of us on the other sides of the planet is a bonus.
Thank you, Limsk! I'm glad you enjoyed the Curse of the Golden Spear.
We have the option of printing and shipping from Canada or the UK so there is no extra charge for international shipping. We have sent a copy of the book of monster templates as far a Norway and Argentina for around $5.00
Thanks for the info. I was anticipating an unplanned for dentists bill, which was leaving me a little cautious about my finances. Fortunately I was clear to sign up for the Kickstarter as said bill was a lot smaller than I feared. And cheaper than anticipated shipping helps too. :-)