What have you changed from the original book?
We’ll cover this in detail in our first project update, because there are a lot of changes. For the most part, the changes are in the category of “more.” More examples. More practical advice. More footnotes. More appendices. More words. More pictures. More copy editing. More copy editing than that, even.
Last updated: August 10, 2021 11:29
Can I buy additional copies of the book or bookplates?
Yes! You can either add them on to your pledge in Kickstarter, or you can add them on in Backerkit after the funding period closes.
Last updated: August 10, 2021 08:48
Will I be able to add on Schlock Mercenary items to my order?
Yes! We will be using Backerkit for pledge management and we will set up add ons for popular Schlock Mercenary items.
Last updated: August 10, 2021 08:48
Why is international shipping so high?
We shipped out books from our last Kickstarter in June. It was a 2.5 pound book + a .5 pound slipcase. With packaging, each shipment weighed about 4lbs. The average cost for shipping to the EU was $50 per package. Some were as low as $40, others were $65. Shipping to places like Australia were even more. This book is likely to be 3lbs, but it might end up being 4lbs. We can’t weigh it until it exists. By setting international shipping costs at $40, we’re actually risking that some of the packages will lose us money.
As for collecting shipping later, we believe it is more fair to backers to give them a flat rate up front than to surprise them with a high shipping bill after the Kickstarter has closed. This way backers can do their own math on whether they can afford it.
The flat rate means that the risk of a shipping price increase lands on us instead of landing on backers. If shipping prices go up between now and when we mail the book, we are responsible for those added costs, not backers. We know how to manage that risk (looking at you Planet Mercenary RPG) and we delivered to backers with no additional cost to them even though there had been three price hikes between the close of the Kickstarter and the delivery of the book.
The prices we have set are the best split we can make between us not losing our shirts and backers knowing exactly what they are going to spend.
Last updated: August 11, 2021 09:41
Will VAT be included for international orders?
We will do all we can to set things up so that your package will arrive to you with pre-paid VAT costs. However with all the different rules for various countries we can’t guarantee that your package will arrive without you having to pay a VAT fee.
Last updated: August 10, 2021 08:48
Why is the retailer package only available in the US?
Because of complicated import taxes when the items being shipped are intended for resale. We’re absolutely willing to work with international retailers, but we’ll need to work individually with each of them. Please email [email protected] to open the conversation.
Last updated: August 10, 2021 08:48
Will I be able to pick what is sketched?
Very tentative “yes” followed by “but not yet.” Howard can’t do the “tell me about your character” sketches like he has done at GenCon Indy, and as of this time we don’t have a pick-list for sketches like we do for Schlock Mercenary. We should, however, be able to provide some options for you in the survey at the end of the project.
Last updated: August 10, 2021 11:34
Will the audio book include the footnotes and illustrations?
We are aware of the challenges of including footnotes and illustrations into an audio narration, however we’re committed to tackling those challenges so that all of the content in our book is present in the audio format.
Last updated: August 16, 2021 09:27
Why does US shipping cost so much?
This book is likely to be 3lbs, but it might end up being 4lbs. I can’t weigh it until it exists. I’m estimating 4lbs per package to be safe. When shipped Priority Mail those 4lb packages range in price from $10-$40 depending on destination. Fortunately the USPS offers flat rate boxes which cost $15 no matter where it goes. So I’ve set the price of shipping at $15 because I’m guaranteed that I can ship for that price. Some backers may add on more items than will fit in that flat rate box. In those cases, I will eat the additional cost.
Media mail is not a good option for this project as a whole because Our Backerkit will have multiple non-media mail friendly items for people to add to their orders as I’ve promised that people can add Schlock merchandise to their orders if they wish. The software provided by Kickstarter and Backerkit don’t have a way to indicate “this item does not qualify for media mail” in a way that changes the charged shipping price. So if my flat rate is at a media mail price I then lose money on every package which contains a non-media-mail qualifying item.
Additionally when media mail packages bounce back to me for bad addresses I have to stand in a line and pay to retrieve them so that I can contact the backers and then pay again to resend the package. On top of that media mail is a low priority mailing class, so packages are more likely to be delayed or lost, particularly if shipping lands in a rush season.
I could set up the system so that backers aren’t charged for shipping until after the project closes and then they are charged according to package contents and destination, but I think it is more fair to backers to give them a flat shipping rate up front than to hit them with a yet-to-be-calculated cost at shipping time. We have gone into big holes on shipping with prior projects. The prices I’ve set are the best split I can make between us not losing our shirts and backers knowing exactly what they are going to spend.
Last updated: August 27, 2021 12:16
What is BackerKit?
BackerKit is a service that crowdfunded project creators use to keep track of hundreds to tens of thousands of backers—from shipping details, pledge levels, preferences and quantities, whether they have paid or had their card declined, special notes, and everything in between!
The BackerKit software and support team is independent from the campaign’s project team—BackerKit does not handle the actual reward shipping. For more information about the preparation or delivery status of your rewards, please check the project's updates page.
How does BackerKit work?
After the campaign ends, the project creator will send you an email with a unique link to your survey. You can check out a walkthrough of the process here.
I never received my invitation. How do I complete the survey?
The most common reasons for not receiving a survey email is that you may be checking an email inbox different from the email address you used to sign up with Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account, or it may be caught in your spam filter.
Confirm that the email address you are searching matches the email address tied to your Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or Tilt Pro account. If that doesn’t work, then try checking your spam, junk or promotions folders. You can also search for "backerkit” in your inbox.
To resend the survey to yourself, visit the project page and input the email address associated with your Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Tilt Pro account.
How do I update my shipping address?
BackerKit allows you to update your shipping address until the shipping addresses are locked by the project creator. To update your address, go back to your BackerKit survey by inputting your email here.
When will my order be shipped, charged or locked?
That is handled directly by the project creator. BackerKit functions independently of the project itself, so we do not have control of their physical shipping timeline. If you want to check on the project’s status, we recommend reading over the project's updates page.
I completed the survey, but haven't received my rewards yet. When will they arrive?
As BackerKit does not actually handle any rewards or shipping, the best way to stay updated on the shipping timeline would be to check out the project's updates page.