Yesterday I wrote about the emerging neo-patronage model of artist compensation, and my current Indiegogo campaign for Combat Frame XSeed: S is bearing out a lot of those concepts.
My previous campaigns were all successful, but I’ve never had one with this kind of popular response and velocity. In less than two weeks, we’ve already shattered the first three stretch goals and unlocked a fourth. The fact that crowdfunding is overperforming while many locales are still in lockdown is a major point in favor of patronage.
Anyway, all this excitement gives occasion for exciting news.
First up, the illustrated Combat Frame tech guide. Readers who enjoy my Janes Defense style CF data posts have been asking that I gather all the info on my series’ mechs into one handy printed volume, so I made it our third stretch goal. Our backers crushed that goal yesterday, so I’ve made good on my word.
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| Placeholder cover. The finished version will be even cooler! |
The Combat Frame XSeed Technical Guide will be an 8.5 by 11 inch magazine-sized softcover featuring all the mecha otaku nuts & bolts details on every CF from the first three books & intervening short stories. Each entry will include full technical data, background info, and a full color illustration of the mech. So it’s not just a copypasta from the blog, I’ll be adding exclusive new content like an introduction and more inside dirt on the mechs. One backer snatched the first copy up within a minute of the perk going live, so this one’s gonna be popular.
Meeting Stretch Goal 3 means it’s time to announce Stretch Goal 4, and this time we’ve got one that should really entice fans of giant robots and tie-in card games alike. I’ve been keeping it close to the chest, but for a while now I’ve been working with CardAnon and a crack team of game experts on an official Combat Frame XSeed card game.
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| Prototype mockup only. Not necessarily representative of final card appearance. |
The rules set that CardAnon came up with has been a blast to play. My estimation is that we’re getting close to a beta candidate. We do need to run more rounds of play testing, though, and that’s where you come in!
When we meet our fourth stretch goal at 500% funding, I will make a limited number of slots available to play test the game. Backers who claim the play tester perk will receive the most current version of the rules, up-to-date digital iterations of every card in the game, and a place at our virtual gaming table. You’ll also get all four Combat Frame XSeed eBooks and the Combat Frame XSeed: S paperback.
If you noticed that the stretch goals keep getting bigger and more exciting, you have excellent pattern recognition. We’re not even to the halfway point, so get in on the project now for a front row seat to the mecha delights coming down the pike.
We’re almost to 500%. Don’t wait! Back it now!
UPDATE: You guys steamrolled the 500% stretch goal! It’s my pleasure to announce Stretch Goal 5: Combat Frame Pilot Cards!
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| Promotional mockup. Final cards will be even cooler! |
Pilot Cards will be confirmed at 600% funding, so get in there and back the project. Fans of big robots and card games alike will be excited to know that playtesting for the official Combat Frame XSeed Card Game is now open!
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| Also a promo mockup. Actual card designs will differ. |
All playtesters get the complete game rules, digital copies of every card in the game, and guaranteed participation in online playtesting. But that’s not all! To further sweeten the deal, I’m throwing in a signed copy of the XSeed: S paperback, a set of Series 4 trading cards, and as always, every CFXS eBook.