International Backers! Some good news...I think!
almost 4 years ago – Sun, Jul 05, 2020 at 10:15:26 PM

Hello all and God Bless,

I hope you all are safe and well wherever the world finds you in these trying times.  I have been keeping my eye on things in the United States and worldwide, when possible, for an opportunity to resume shipping and production.  I have been holding this update until I felt I had something worth posting other than "everything is shut down due to Covid."  

Today I think I picked up a little good news and was anxious to share it.  Now this will mostly benefit our International Backers but is still related to shipping in general.  I have been contacted by several International Backers in some of the pledge categories asking about why they had not received shipping invoices and in general I told them I was looking into some lower cost options to ship overseas. Currently an International Priority Mail overseas costs $75 for a flat rate box.  While that may be normal for a 4lb game like JTO it seemed high to me so I have tried to be more creative.

What I have come up with is a possible compromise that may not save International Backers a lot of money but it will split up the shipping cost and perhaps get them part of their pledge sooner.  

So here is what I have been told, it is possible to ship "individual" copies of the Second Edition Journey To The Overland rulebook overseas individually.  IngramSpark is an international company and so has the ability to ship the books I order directly to whatever address I put in.  Now this will obviously mean the shipping has to be paid individually each time instead of a volume rate for a large box shipped to me.  Currently that is $25.87 USD. But it also means I don't have to pay for 80 or so rulebooks to be shipped to me and then charge all International Backers to ship the book (and game) to them.  It also means the books can be shipped (i.e. printed) from the UK, EU or Australian IngramSpark locations!  Currently in the USA there is a 22 to 24 business day delay in book orders being printed after an order is placed but it does not appear this is the case in the UK and Australia where it looks like it is only 7 to 10 business days. 

 Now this is not perfect as it would be the rulebook only the rest of the components would have to be shipped separately directly from the United States via International First Class Mail since the map and cards weigh just slightly more than 2lbs the cost would be $24.50 USD.  So if you elect to use this method the total would be $50.37 or a saving of $25.  Another advantage of this I believe is that I could start shipping the rulebooks immediately upon receipt of shipping being paid!  The rest of the game would still have to be packed and checked and shipped separately by me and I will need some components from GameCrafter before I can do that depending on your order. Also if you are receiving stretch goals and do not want to pay for three shipments then I would need to wait for those items to come from their US printer (currently Kindle Desktop Publishing).  But again you would only have to pay for shipping when your items are ready to ship.  And seeing how the Second Edition rulebook is 590 pages! There will be a lot for you to read and go over while you wait for the map and cards or expansions.
              If this were an ideal world I would simply prefer to compile everything all at once, pack it in one big box, put a nice little bow on top and ship it all at once.  But this world is anything but ideal right now! Rather than doing a poll and letting the majority choose for everyone I prefer to let each Backer decide for themselves so what I will do is start sending Paypal invoices that say "Shipping for Rulebook Only" for $25.87.  If you want to get the book now then pay it.  If you don't then do not pay it.  If you prefer to pay both shipping charges now you can do that and let me know in a message that you added the difference to the invoice (i.e. $24.50).  If you prefer to pay the $75 for the flat rate box then let me know that as well.  Again if you can't afford the shipping right now or simply want to wait to get more stuff at once then just don't pay it and wait and see how things play out.  As far as I know this IngramSpark option will always be available as long as I get my rulebooks from them.  Although the US Postal Service typically raises their rates every August and every January so that may affect the prices with them and possibly what IngramSpark charges me.
              As for our USA Backers.  I received shipping payments for the rulebook from 15 of the 16 Upgrade Backers that had not paid for the shipping at checkout.  If you did not get an invoice and are an Upgrade Backer that means you paid the $8.00 at checkout and the cost of shipping your rulebook is covered.  I will be covering the cost of shipping the other Upgrade Backer components to all of them as a way of thanking them for backing me in TWO campaigns.  I will resume shipping the rulebooks to all Upgrade Backers over the next three weeks (22 business days) when my USA print orders start coming in from IngramSpark.  I honestly don't know how long getting all those out will take since each separate order is 22 business days.  There is a total of three orders although some of the orders overlap so that when the first order gets to me (22 days) the second should arrive a week later (29 days) and the third a week after that (36 business days) , etc. Hopefully during that time I can get my component orders in from GameCrafter which just reopened around the start of June.  But they are not giving any shipping estimates at all right now.

Finally, seeing as the Kickstarter is going on a year late I am also willing to make this offer available to any Backers in the EARLY BIRD, ALL IN or MASTER STORYTELLER pledge categories.  If you are willing to pay the $8 media mail shipping in the USA to get the Second Edition Rulebook only now (hardcover or softcover) then message me and let me know and I will forward an invoice.  I am not going to invoice Backers in these pledge categories who do not contact me and do not want to pay two different shipping costs.  If you ordered the CORE Game only and are not getting any Stretch Goals or Supplements your order will be filled when the first USA rulebooks arrive.  If you are a Core Game Backer in the USA and have not received an invoice for shipping (i.e. $16) then please message me so I can check your pledge. (To be clear ALL International Backers in ALL categories will be getting invoiced separately for their rulebook unless they contact me specifically after getting the invoice saying they prefer to pay once or they simply ignore the invoice. )

On a separate note I posted last year about losing my Indesign file that contained the working copy of the Second Edition.  All I had left was a proof copy of a pdf from IngramSpark that had an embedded watermark.  After a few Backers tried to help me remove the watermark but were not able to I finally succeeded this week at getting the pdf watermark-free.  This is still not as good as the Indesign file which I could edit but at least I have a usable pdf of the rulebook as it currently exists and will hopefully be able to make it available later through DTRPG or some similar service.  Technically I should be able to import it into Indesign but it is so large and there are so many images I don't believe the formatting would be preserved.  But just having the pdf is a bit of a security blanket.  

Again I hope you are all well and really can't wait to get out and start meeting gamers and Backers at conventions again whenever that will be!

Bendicion,

D.C. Ware, Overland Games

Anything that can go wrong...
about 4 years ago – Sun, Mar 01, 2020 at 11:38:23 PM

Hi All,

I have been holding this update for a while as the year has not gotten off to a good start for me.  Other than rather serious personal problems back in Michigan, I placed an order with my publisher for some of the 2nd Edition rulebooks to send out to the Upgrade Backers that had recently paid for shipping and the order was lost.

Apparently when I updated my address in the publisher's system somehow the street and unit number got updated but not the city and state. To make a long story short the package ended up undeliverable and is in some kind of USPS limbo.  

I have reached out to the publisher to help me retrieve the package and offered to pay any additional shipping but the publisher has constantly refused to do because I did not "purchase" tracking. Despite the fact that the package "came with tracking" and was assigned a tracking number, because I did not pay extra for it, the publisher refuses to get involved.  

Needless to say I have tried reaching out to the post office, who has been as helpful as possible, to locate the package and get it redirected but I am still waiting for the results of a search of their "lost mail" facility in Georgia.  It seems if the package is not claimed the contents are sold or auctioned or something.  

All things considered it was not a large order (thankfully I have been breaking the orders down into small batches just so I don't have books sitting here and not getting mailed out) so if I have to bite the bullet and pay for them again I will. The problem is my confidence in the publisher has been shaken and now I feel extorted to pay the extra "tracking" (which I have never used) or do even smaller orders.  So I am pondering how to proceed at the moment.  But that has been the delay and silence.  To give you an idea it costs about four times as much to "track" it over the basic shipping costs.

If you want to read the actual verbiage I have clipped the email response above.  This was actually the "third" response as the order was placed back on January 2, 2020!  After waiting and then following up several times I finally got this. 

At this point this is more of a frustration than a set back and I am putting another order together as I prepare this update.  Just please bear with me.  I have responded to all the messages I have received since the last update and do not consider them to be a bother or nuisance in any way.  Usually I can't respond with more than I have put in the updates but I do respond.

On the bright side I did get one complete copy of the 2nd Edition game sent out with the new manual consisting of the Core Game only but I won't identify the Backer that was sent to as I had a review copy of the expanded softcover sitting around and decided to send it rather than  hold onto it.  

I did get all the postage payments for the hardcover manual from most of the Upgrade Backers and that was greatly appreciated. Even though it was only $8 I did appreciate everyone paying promptly as it makes it easier to know who to send stuff out to (everyone for the most part!).  

To sum up, a new order is being placed (with tracking) and those hardcovers will start going out when it arrives. After that I will order the ADD ON items the Upgrade Backers are receiving (i.e. counters, cards, etc.) and those will go out for no additional postage.  Once that is done that will complete Wave 3 (Wave 1 -Manual Only, Wave 2 -Core Game Only, Wave 3 - Upgrade Backers) and I will start Wave 4 (Stretch Goal Backers).  If you have a pledge in one of the previous Waves and do not recall paying or getting your invoice then please contact me.  

That being said I still have four shipping invoices from the three prior Waves that are unpaid.  I have sent reminders through Paypal.  Please check any old emails or junk mail if your email has changed in the last year.  The only email I will list here is one that does not appear to be private so maybe someone will recognize using it:  [email protected].  This is for a Core Game only pledge.

Finally, I received the last piece of commission art this past month from Mark De Vera.  With a 400+ page rulebook with art on just about every page a great bulk of the funds from this campaign were spent on the art.  Some open license, a few cover pieces and panels but the real JTO image has largely been entrusted to Mark and I am truly grateful for having worked with him over the past six years!

His final piece is entitled:  Knights of the Realm! I do not know where it will appear yet but it is obviously Arthurian inspired.

Again I apologize for the delay with the update, I was mostly too bummed out to do it, but having done so I feel better.  I have been working extra hours at work recently but should have a break in mid-March so expect a more detailed update then. 

Getting Back to Work on the Campaign!
over 4 years ago – Tue, Jan 07, 2020 at 12:03:30 AM

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hi All,

I hope everyone had a happy holiday and managed to find some time to spend with family and relax.  I am posting to let you all know that I am still here and getting back to work this week.  I still have some personal things pending from the move from Michigan to Texas but they will not get resolved anytime soon so I am getting back to the campaign fulfillment.  

CURRENTLY

First of all, I have been messaging with several "Core Game" only Backers over the past few weeks and I think I have everyone who did not respond to the shipping invoices now accounted for.  I placed an order last week with the printer and when received those Core Games will be going out.  That should take care of all the Core Game and 2nd Edition Expanded Rulebook pledges (except for International Backers).  

I have also went through all the $55 Upgrade Backers and separated those Backers who paid the $8.00 shipping in Backerkit from those who did not.  Those who did not should be receiving Paypal invoices for that tonight or tomorrow.  When those are all accounted for I will place another order with the printer and get those (hardcover) rulebooks printed and shipped to me.  I will then be shipping those (along with the pre-paid) to the $55 Upgrade Backers.  Just note - this will be your 2nd Edition Rulebook ONLY as it is being shipped USPS media mail in a book mailer.  Which is how I can ship for only $8.00. 

NEXT UP

The next step AFTER that is to order and send out all the $55 Upgrade Pledge content separately - at my own expense.  Just to refresh everyone's recollection this will be:  UNRELEASED ENCOUNTER CARD SET/ SCENARIO BOOK ONE / TROOP COUNTERS. And of course the 2nd Edition Hardcover Rulebook mentioned previously.  If you ordered ANYTHING else as part of your $55 Upgrade Pledge it will not be included in this shipment but will ship with the Wave 4 NextGen/All IN pledges.  

COMING SOON

After these pledges are fulfilled, Wave 4 fulfillment of the BIG pledges will start following the same process, i.e. Shipping Invoices, Order from Printers, Shipping.  This includes everyone who has an ALL IN or NEXTGEN PLEDGE.  I have not decided whether to ship these pledges in "one" or "two" shipments yet. If If I do one then it will be all in one "Priority Mail Box" so in the USA anyway shipping should be no more than $25.  If I do two then the one shipment would be all the "rulebooks and manuals" that can ship media mail, the other would be all the cards, counters, character sheets and screens which would again ship Priority mail.  The total shipping would then be about $30 ( $10 for media mail content and $20 for the Priority Mail flat rate).  This will mainly depend on how much I can get in a flat rate box.  

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

This is also the stage where I will announce how all the International Shipping will work.  Currently International Priority mail for the expanded rule book alone would be about $82!  Since it's the heaviest item in the game I don't expect the rest of the items (except maybe the cards) would increase that much assuming there is an International flat rate box.  I personally think that much money to ship essentially a "board game" is odious.  But shipping in the USA increases every year so at some point I will need to make a decision.  And in case you are wondering even if I use a fulfillment service for the International Orders I still have to ship all the games to them!! So that doesn't get us around the international shipping costs. That being said I am exploring making the Hardcover Rulebook available through DTRPG or a similar service for International Backers so they could order the hardcover there and get it shipped directly to them and then sending the other items separately which would cut the costs to about $40 for shipping (not including the costs to DTRPG).  How this would work is by issuing a "code" to International Backers to essentially get the hardcover for $1 but since DTRPG gets a cut of every hardcover they print I am not sure how that would be paid to them.  If they could bill my account directly then I could pay it with each order.  Or maybe issue that much as a credit.  I don't know.  Just brainstorming a little.   A separate option may be to order the Hardcovers directly from my printer (IngramSpark) and have them ship them to the International addresses separately.  Again I am not sure if IngramSpark will do this and how much shipping they would charge me to do this.  Since each pledge would have to essentially be a separate "order" with shipping and handling and processing that they charge, even if they could do it, it may not save much. But if they have overseas hubs where the books are printed and shipped it may work.  All of that being said I am going to deal with the International Shipments (all pledges) while I am fulfilling everything else.  Then do a separate update announcement once I see what is possible.  I may need a volunteer to test one or two of these methods on.  So if you are an International Backer and interested in paying your shipping now and being a "test case" let me know.

THE BEST FOR LAST

Last but not least are my Master Storytellers.  All of these pledges will be shipped in a Custom Box that I showed in an update a few months after the campaign ended.  This box will be "stuffed" with content in addition to the Core Game and Stretch Goals - most of which was shown on the campaign page but a lot of other not. I may also send these Backers "promos" through direct mail while the rest of fulfillment is going on.  Just to say Thank You.  

So that is a lot.  It may not all be very straightforward but it is a plan.  And to date all the "2nd Edition Rulebook" only pledges have been fulfilled (excluding the International Backers previously discussed), all the "3D STL file" pledges have been fulfilled and shortly all the "Core Game ONLY" pledges will be fulfilled.  So in short - people are getting stuff.  Just be patient please.  I try to update when I have something new to say, when I don't I try to do stuff to have "something new" to say.  But honestly I haven't done much over the holidays for a lot of reasons.  

Finally, I have started a dedicated "Journey To The Overland" Youtube channel where I have moved all my play throughs, unboxings and sneak peaks.  I plan on starting a new "2nd Edition" solo campaign sometime this week so if you have not subscribed and want to see the new rule book and new rules in action then please do so.  It should be A LOT of fun!  I am really looking forward to playing the new rules and expansion content I worked so hard on.

 SOME FINAL ART

I am also still getting a few final pieces of art in from Mark.  This one is called Barbarian King.  In the rules if you take "Barbarian" skill you can choose to "Join A Clan."  This will give you certain benefits and buffs unique to that Clan but it will also impose certain obligations on you to the Clan.  Pictured above is the Chief of the Great Bear Clan - Einarr Olafsonn.  The opposing Clan is known as the High Lion Clan and its chief is Cumhal Horne.  Which would you join?

Take care everyone and please do not hesitate to message me with any specific questions (or suggestions if you are an International Backer)

Quick Information Update!
over 4 years ago – Mon, Nov 04, 2019 at 01:08:54 AM

Hi All,

I thought I had posted it somewhere here on the Kickstarter page back in September but apparently did not.  I just completed a move from Farmington Hills, Michigan to San Antonio, Texas.  This was a personal move, not a company move, so I had to arrange and pay for everything on my own which has been quite a journey (basically threw out all my household furnishings).  

As of this update I have made it to San Antonio and am unpacking.  Before leaving last month I did manage to send out the new Hardcover Rulebooks to everyone who had paid their shipping except I believe two people who paid late and I had to hold theirs so I could update my address with the printer and make sure stuff was not being sent to my Michigan address after I had left.  But those should go out soon.  To be honest, I have been working on this move in some form or another since the start of the year so getting it out of the way is a HUGE relief and really frees up a lot of my time and energy to put toward the Kickstarter fulfillment again.  

I have two or three Backers that I invoiced for shipping who only ordered the Second Edition Core game that comes with the new Softcover Expanded Rulebook but neither of them have responded to their shipping invoice.  So I will reach out to them one more time and I believe one or two other recent Backers who are only getting the Core Game.  Please message me if you just ordered the Core Game (no stretch goals) and have not received an invoice - whether you ordered through Kickstarter or Backerkit.  

After that I expect to start fulfillment of the returning Backers Upgrade Pledges which is basically the new Hardcover Rulebook and some other items added since the first Kickstarter - all of which is done. These Backers will only be billed for the cost of shipping the Hardcover Rulebook which is about $8.00 media mail.  The rest of the items will be sent separately.  Some paid the shipping in Backerkit when they did their pledge manager so I need to sort them out before sending out the invoices in Paypal. 

As always if you believe you should have received an invoice, but did not, message me.  I answer my messages typically within 24 to 48 hours.  

Once we get past the Upgrade Backers I will do another update on the different Stretch Goal levels and getting them fulfilled.  

In short....I am still alive and still here!  Lord willing that won't change anytime soon.

As always the art for the Supplements is still coming in (though I think I should have the last few commissioned pieces soon).

Shipping Invoices Have Been Sent!
over 4 years ago – Sun, Sep 01, 2019 at 10:19:06 PM

Shipping invoices have been sent via Paypal for all USA Backers who either pledged for the 2nd Edition Softcover Rulebook, 2nd Edition Hardcover Rulebook or the 2nd Edition Core Game (which includes the softcover rulebook) only!  If you pledged for just the rulebook, softcover or hardcover the invoice is $6.00 for media mail shipping.  If you pledged for the Core Game only the invoice is $16 for Priority Mail shipping. In lieu of a survey, you can update your address on the Paypal invoice.  

I will give everyone a week to make payments before I place the order with the printer.  After that I should have the books in hand and shipped out two weeks later to those who have paid their shipping.

If you do not use Paypal and get an invoice please message me and I will add the shipping to your Backerkit and you can pay it through Backerkit. 

I am still exploring my options with International Shipping for these pledges as the cost of shipping exceeds the products ordered in most instances in these categories.  At the end of the day it is what it is, but I at least want to say I tried to keep it as reasonable as possible.  I do have a few things in mind but need time to follow up with them.  I will share more on this in the September update.

I am going to keep this short, as this is not intended to be the September Update.  I will post that sometime next week after I have given everyone a week to respond to the invoices.

Thanks.