The first stretch goal for the campaign will upgrade the pads to heavier 100gsm paper and double-sided printing. The reverse sides of the sheets will have a 3.5mm grid. This will make them a truly universal aid for creating all sorts of gaming maps.
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Dungeon Mapping Pad Kickstarter is Live
I've just launched the Dungeon Mapping Pad Kickstarter. This is my 7th Kickstarter and will add A4 and A5 grid pads to the Squarehex range. The pads will have the same 7mm light grey grid as my Pad of Geomorphic Intent (PoGI) and A3 pads.
The first stretch goal for the campaign will upgrade the pads to heavier 100gsm paper and double-sided printing. The reverse sides of the sheets will have a 3.5mm grid. This will make them a truly universal aid for creating all sorts of gaming maps.
The first stretch goal for the campaign will upgrade the pads to heavier 100gsm paper and double-sided printing. The reverse sides of the sheets will have a 3.5mm grid. This will make them a truly universal aid for creating all sorts of gaming maps.
Squarehex Sampler Pack
I've put together a sample pack of pads and accessories from the Squarehex range. It can be bought from the Squarehex site, or by using the Paypal button below.
The pack also offers a saving of over 20% compared to buying the items individually. The pack weighs just under 250grams to keep international postage as low as possible.
- A7 7mm grid pad
- A7 7mm hex pad
- A5 7mm hex pad with large hex
- Little Hexes mini-campaign setting
- Hex symbol card
- Pocket Guide to Dungeon Geomorphs
- Dungeon symbol card
- Dungeon symbol fridge magnet
- 7mm plastic card ruler
- Black fineliner pen
- Mechanical pencil
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Lichway Map and Kickstarter Progress
I'm nearly ready to launch my next Kickstarter. This time I hope to print pads of A4 and A5 grid paper to compliment the existing A3 and A7 pads. The paper will have the same litho printed, light grey, 7mm grid as the other pads. However, this time the stretch goals will hopefully upgrade the paper and allow a 3.5mm grid to be printed on the reverse. If this can be achieved then I think the pads will offer the very best blank canvas for creating a dungeon map one could ask for. A preview of the campaign may be found here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730454032/1676796981?token=b770aa51
As usual with these campaigns I like to draw some maps to go with them. The first one that I'm working on is a map of Albie Fiore's classic adventure The Lichway. I bought a copy of Best of White Dwarf Scenarios I last year for the sole purpose of getting a nice print copy of this adventure. However, such was the popularity of the dungeon that the magazine arrived with The Lichway pages carefully cut out - it clearly now resides in some ageing DM's folder somewhere. Not to be outdone I decided that I would make my own Lichway map.
Below is my hand-drawn map which is drawn on an A4 sheet of 3.5mm grid paper (I cut down an A3 pad and added extra lines by hand to the existing 7mm grid). This gives a pretty good idea of what the reverse side of the new pads will be good for. The second image is a work in progress look at the map. It still needs lots of work on the computer but it should be done in the next few days.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730454032/1676796981?token=b770aa51
As usual with these campaigns I like to draw some maps to go with them. The first one that I'm working on is a map of Albie Fiore's classic adventure The Lichway. I bought a copy of Best of White Dwarf Scenarios I last year for the sole purpose of getting a nice print copy of this adventure. However, such was the popularity of the dungeon that the magazine arrived with The Lichway pages carefully cut out - it clearly now resides in some ageing DM's folder somewhere. Not to be outdone I decided that I would make my own Lichway map.
Below is my hand-drawn map which is drawn on an A4 sheet of 3.5mm grid paper (I cut down an A3 pad and added extra lines by hand to the existing 7mm grid). This gives a pretty good idea of what the reverse side of the new pads will be good for. The second image is a work in progress look at the map. It still needs lots of work on the computer but it should be done in the next few days.
Friday, 21 February 2014
How Would You Improve Kickstarter?
Having run and backed a decent number of Kickstarter projects, I've been thinking about how Kickstarter might be improved. One thing that is very clear to me is that any Kickstarter project is risky for the backers. Whilst I accept that risk, I can't help feeling that Kickstarter could make some small changes that could improve things.
I've run six Kickstarter projects myself. All of them were delivered on time, and feedback from the backers has been positive. If even my smallest project had been subject to a delay of more than a few weeks, I would have found it very stressful. But knowing that before I started meant I put a lot of effort into the planning stage to make sure it didn't happen. The other Golden Rule I set for myself was never to start a new project until the previous one is completely finished.
I've backed 14 projects on Kickstarter, though 3 of those are not yet due for delivery. Of the other 11 only 3 (Random Dungeon Poster, Games & Gears Brushed, Adventures Dark and Deep Bestiary) managed to deliver their rewards on time.
If I look at the other 8 projects I backed, 4 (Reaper, Cornish Smuggler, Maelstrom, Sedition Wars) were late but I'm happy with the rewards. The other 4 (Dwimmermount, Appendix N, Tome of Horrors 1, Call of Cthulhu) are all late and ongoing. In the case of Dwimmermount and Appendix N they are very late. Even if these 2 projects are finished they will still, unfortunately, be epic fails in my book.
So what should change?
The biggest single change that Kickstarter should introduce is a policy where Project Creators must finish one project before starting the next. There could be some flexibility in the definition of finished, but I would suggest that about 80% of rewards being delivered would be about right. If this rule had been in place then creators like Mike Nystul would not have been allowed to start multiple projects without any sign of completion in the earlier projects. This would mean that Kickstarter staff would have to make decisions on whether a previous project is finished enough to allow a new one to start. However, they already have check boxes for backers to confirm receipt of their rewards. Here's a screen grab of my own:
Why not enhance these check boxes so that backers can display their confidence in the project. This could be a simple traffic light system that defaults to Amber, then backers change switch it to green when they get their rewards, or red if things run late, comms dry up, etc. That would allow a Kickstarter member of staff to do a quick spot check before approving a new project. Kickstarter could also look at an eBay or Amazon reseller style feedback system.
I'm sure we'll see some changes to Kickstarter in the next year as the platform continues to grow. I hope to continue using it for as long as I have ideas that people will support. What changes/enhancements would you like to see made to Kickstarter?
I've run six Kickstarter projects myself. All of them were delivered on time, and feedback from the backers has been positive. If even my smallest project had been subject to a delay of more than a few weeks, I would have found it very stressful. But knowing that before I started meant I put a lot of effort into the planning stage to make sure it didn't happen. The other Golden Rule I set for myself was never to start a new project until the previous one is completely finished.
I've backed 14 projects on Kickstarter, though 3 of those are not yet due for delivery. Of the other 11 only 3 (Random Dungeon Poster, Games & Gears Brushed, Adventures Dark and Deep Bestiary) managed to deliver their rewards on time.
If I look at the other 8 projects I backed, 4 (Reaper, Cornish Smuggler, Maelstrom, Sedition Wars) were late but I'm happy with the rewards. The other 4 (Dwimmermount, Appendix N, Tome of Horrors 1, Call of Cthulhu) are all late and ongoing. In the case of Dwimmermount and Appendix N they are very late. Even if these 2 projects are finished they will still, unfortunately, be epic fails in my book.
So what should change?
The biggest single change that Kickstarter should introduce is a policy where Project Creators must finish one project before starting the next. There could be some flexibility in the definition of finished, but I would suggest that about 80% of rewards being delivered would be about right. If this rule had been in place then creators like Mike Nystul would not have been allowed to start multiple projects without any sign of completion in the earlier projects. This would mean that Kickstarter staff would have to make decisions on whether a previous project is finished enough to allow a new one to start. However, they already have check boxes for backers to confirm receipt of their rewards. Here's a screen grab of my own:
Why not enhance these check boxes so that backers can display their confidence in the project. This could be a simple traffic light system that defaults to Amber, then backers change switch it to green when they get their rewards, or red if things run late, comms dry up, etc. That would allow a Kickstarter member of staff to do a quick spot check before approving a new project. Kickstarter could also look at an eBay or Amazon reseller style feedback system.
I'm sure we'll see some changes to Kickstarter in the next year as the platform continues to grow. I hope to continue using it for as long as I have ideas that people will support. What changes/enhancements would you like to see made to Kickstarter?
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Kickstarter #7
With another Kickstarter put to bed I'm now starting to put together the next one. This time I plan to print some A4 and A5 pads printed with the same 7mm grid as my existing A3 and A7 pads. It will be another simple campaign with stretch goals to upgrade the pads to heavier paper, and double sided printing. On the reverse sides of the sheets I'm planning to print a 3.5mm grid. That means the reverse sheets will have 4x as many squares as the front.
All my pads are litho printed in CoolGray 5 ink. This gives them very sharp, fine lines without the jaggies or dots that you get from most home printers. All of the pads from my previous projects are available from my webstore www.squarehex.co.uk Until 1st March the code kick6 will give a 10% discount on all orders.
All my pads are litho printed in CoolGray 5 ink. This gives them very sharp, fine lines without the jaggies or dots that you get from most home printers. All of the pads from my previous projects are available from my webstore www.squarehex.co.uk Until 1st March the code kick6 will give a 10% discount on all orders.
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Last 24 Hours of the Numbered Hex Pad Kickstarter
There's just 24 hours left to get in on my Hex Pad Kickstarter. The pads will be available to buy at Squarehex.co.uk in a couple of month's, but if you want them first, and for the lowest price, then head over to the project page sharpish.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730454032/a4-numbered-hex-pad
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730454032/a4-numbered-hex-pad
Friday, 3 January 2014
2014 Plans and Discount Code Extended
I'm really pleased with what I achieved last year (5 Kickstarters, launched the Squarehex.co.uk online store, and took a stand at a couple of shows). I would really liked to have included an issue or two of Oubliette in that list, but I just couldn't find the large blocks of free-time it takes to produce them.
I did find time to create a few free and Pay What You Want PDFs during 2013. These, along with my back catalogue, continue to enjoy lots of interest. Since 2010 over 10,000 free PDFs have been downloaded from RPGNow.com and its sister sites. PDF sales for the same period are very close to 2,000, and if I add in Lulu and direct print sales of Oubliette, the total passes 2,500.
In 2014 I hope Oubliette will be back, but at this stage it's difficult to say when. I also have more Kickstarters planned. I'd like to continue running one every 2-3 months. Most of the Kickstarters will be for mapping pads, though I do have some more ideas that I'd like to try. As always with my Kickstarters, the golden rule will be to only launch a new campaign after all rewards from the previous campaign have been posted (Kickstarter should add that to their guidelines for creators).
On the convention front I will be back at the UKGames Expo in May and the DerbyWorldWargames show in October. I'm also looking at other shows and would like to book at least two of them.
My online store www.squarehex.co.uk is still very much in its infancy. I've recently added Labyrinth Lord, AD&D and Savage Worlds rule books to the site, and will continue to add more books and games throughout 2014. As my current Kickstarter for Numbered Hex Pads finishes on Sunday 12th January, I'm extending the 10% discount code "kick5" until it finishes. Simply visit www.squarehex.co.uk and enter the code at the checkout.
I did find time to create a few free and Pay What You Want PDFs during 2013. These, along with my back catalogue, continue to enjoy lots of interest. Since 2010 over 10,000 free PDFs have been downloaded from RPGNow.com and its sister sites. PDF sales for the same period are very close to 2,000, and if I add in Lulu and direct print sales of Oubliette, the total passes 2,500.
In 2014 I hope Oubliette will be back, but at this stage it's difficult to say when. I also have more Kickstarters planned. I'd like to continue running one every 2-3 months. Most of the Kickstarters will be for mapping pads, though I do have some more ideas that I'd like to try. As always with my Kickstarters, the golden rule will be to only launch a new campaign after all rewards from the previous campaign have been posted (Kickstarter should add that to their guidelines for creators).
On the convention front I will be back at the UKGames Expo in May and the DerbyWorldWargames show in October. I'm also looking at other shows and would like to book at least two of them.
My online store www.squarehex.co.uk is still very much in its infancy. I've recently added Labyrinth Lord, AD&D and Savage Worlds rule books to the site, and will continue to add more books and games throughout 2014. As my current Kickstarter for Numbered Hex Pads finishes on Sunday 12th January, I'm extending the 10% discount code "kick5" until it finishes. Simply visit www.squarehex.co.uk and enter the code at the checkout.
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