February Micro Update
about 2 months ago – Wed, Feb 28, 2024 at 08:42:50 AM

Hey backer! Just stopping by to give you a quick update on a few things. I'm happy to report that the factory has returned from their holiday and are finishing the process of barcoding all the items now.

I had a meeting with our distribution partner (QML) yesterday that went great. They are responsible for coordinating the entire freight and shipping process, and so far they have done excellent with everything. Here is the rough general timeline they are giving me:

• Freight begins in about 1-2 weeks
• Freight takes about 6 weeks
• End of April - Games Arrive in US
• Late May - Shipping Begins

The plan, as of now, is to use regional hubs to fulfill pledges outside of the US and Canada. So the timeline for those pledges could be sooner or later - but I currently don't have an estimated time for those. 

Thank you for your patience so far! We are in the end game now!

See you in the next update!

• Daniel

Lock Addresses, Barcodes, and More | January 2024 Update
3 months ago – Wed, Jan 31, 2024 at 08:03:09 AM

Greetings Backer! We have made a lot of progress in logistics during January and I have a few important things to highlight as we prepare the get everything in motion. Let's dive in!

General Shipping Update

Quarter Master Logistics (QML), our distribution partner, has been great so far! I've expressed to them the urgency of getting things moving as fast as we can, and they have done just that. They are very quick in communication and have been prioritizing Spirit Duels.

A small issue we ran into while preparing for distribution and freight was that only the game box had a barcode on it. In most cases, this isn't a problem, as the packs of Radiant Foils or the Playmats don't technically need barcodes on them for retail purposes. However, our QML requires that every item that comes through their warehouse must have a barcode on it. 

We began the process of barcoding every item but didn't get it completed in time to get things moving out of the factory before the Chinese New Year Holiday. This means that the games won't be on a freight ship until late February.

The good news is that I have noticed that the factory has begun prioritizing Spirit Duels as well. They've been more responsive and attentive to the project. They are probably ready to get the games moving and out of their warehouse now that production is complete.

I think the main thing to remember, and what I keep reminding myself, is that production is finally complete. The games are complete and ready to get moving towards us. It's only a matter of time now - and hopefully, it's just a small amount of time.

Lock in Addresses and Shipping Charges

I have just sent you an email asking you to lock in your address. This is the final opportunity you have to make any changes to your address!

Remember, we have not charged for shipping yet. The plan was to wait til we had a more accurate idea of what shipping would cost before charging your card. I'll be posting an update before the charge comes, but you can expect it to come within the next month or so.

Here is an updated estimate of what shipping will cost:

• Continental US: $20-$22
• Alaska, Hawaii: $35-$37
• Puerto Rico: $29-$31
• Canada: $32-$34
• UK: $14-$16
• European Union: $30-$32
• Norway, Switzerland: $50-$52
• China: $12-$14
• Rest of Asia: $27-$31
• Australia: $22-$24
• New Zealand: $22-$24
• Rest of World: $62-$64

That is all for this update! You can expect another update from me toward the end of February unless something comes up! See you then!

"Unboxing" Video & Minor Production Tweaks
5 months ago – Thu, Nov 30, 2023 at 11:48:11 AM

Greetings! I hope this update finds you well. I've got some exciting things to share today! But first, let me say that if you want to stay up-to-date as much as possible, join our discord server using this link: JOIN NOW.

I usually post quick, but important updates and details there before I can post a full KS update. So if you want information at a faster rate, jump in! Okay, with that being said, let's dive in.

Showing Off The Game

After all the headaches we dealt with regarding the dice, the factory offered to send me a production copy of the game at their expense. I received it last week and filmed an unboxing video as soon as it arrived at my door. However, the video wasn't that great because I was so focused on just admiring the game in my hands. Haha. So instead of posting that video, I recorded a "What's In The Box" video showing off, well, what's in the box. Check it out here:

Minor Production Tweaks 

As I’ve had the game in hand, I’ve noticed a few errors and issues with some of the components that we are going to have the factory correct.

The first is with the plastic tray insert. I originally requested that the columns in the insert be made 95mm in width so that sleeved cards can fit inside of it. Unfortunately, and for whatever reason, they were not made to that width. So as of now, sleeved cards will not fit inside of the insert. I know that for some people, this isn't a big deal. But for those of us who sleeve our cards, it means a great deal to be able to store the cards inside of the original box. 

Secondly, and I'm ashamed to admit that these errors are on me, I found a few typos on cards and in the Spirit Tome (lore and art book). Nothing major, just a few misspelled words and some playtesting placeholders that were never changed. I know it’s very common for Kickstarter games to have typos, but after all we’ve been through with the dice, it’s hard to start settling now and look these over. Since the cards have already been packaged, we can't remove the ones with typos. Instead, you'll receive an "Errata Pack" that will have the corrected versions of those cards. This pack will be inside of the game box and contain 8 cards (two copies of each for a total of 16 cards). The Spirit Tome is being reprinted and will replace the current copy.

I’ve been promised that these reprints shouldn’t take more than 20 days, after samples have been approved. I've gotten all the corrected files to the factory and have approved the e-proofs. They should show me samples sometime next week. So we are looking at the end of December.

I'd like to add that hopefully none of this will end up delaying us by much, since we are still sorting out logistics. When the dice were completed a couple of weeks ago, I started to estimate that the games would leave the factory around mid-late December. So, if all goes according to plan, these reprints may only push us back by about a week.

Okay, that's all for this update. Next week, I'll be back to posting the Spirit Tome updates. So stay tuned for that! See you then!

- Daniel

PRODUCTION IS COMPLETE!
6 months ago – Fri, Nov 10, 2023 at 11:15:00 AM

That's right! Production on Spirit Duels is finally complete! Woo hoo! Last week, I received news from the factory that the dice were finished, along with photos and videos!

 Here are the videos showcasing the Level 2 dice:

Some may notice that the color is slightly off on the blue dice (Magic Dice). Also, the shiny pearlescent effect isn't as visible and clear as the original examples that I sent to the factory. 

Because of these things, I've told the factory to include both the embossed/pearlescent set showcased here and the original set of screen-printed, non-pearlescent dice.

This means that you'll have two sets of dice to choose from - or mix and match them for double the amount of dice.

Here are the photos of the Level 1 dice and Advantage dice:

What's Next?

The games are now being packaged. After that, they'll be shipped overseas to the States, . Finally, fulfillment will begin! I will be able to provide you with an estimated fulfillment date when I have more information from the factory.

That's all for this update! See you in the next one!

Spirit Line: Veetle | Spirit Tome Entry
7 months ago – Wed, Oct 04, 2023 at 08:00:55 AM

Hello! I'm back again with another Tome Entry! I checked in with the factory this morning. They are currently on holiday, but we should still be on track for the full completion of production by October 25th. I should have some more information on production by next week's Tome Entry update.

You voted, and the Veetle Line won over Sliptile by only one vote! Be sure to cast your vote on which Spirit Line you want to see next in the comments below!

Veetle are often lumbering through the lush floor of Khato. The shrubs they call home are known to be the greenest in all of Avasol, leading to their reputation as Khato’s gardeners.

• Height:  1’6”
• Weight:  11 lbs
• Nature:  Passive
• Role: Support / Damage
• Bond:  Duty
• Synergy:  Binx, Tychomp, Noki

As they grow in age, Circkets move further up the trees and into the canopies of Khato. They guard the forest alongside Volthor and often impart blessings to pilgrims headed for the Evertree. However, they will not hesitate to electrocute any mischief-makers in the Great Forest.

• Height:  4’0”
• Weight:  112 lbs
• Nature:  Brave
• Role:  Support / Damage
• Bond:  Duty
• Synergy:  Binx, Tychomp, Noki

Volthor are the protectors of the Evertree and dedicate their lives to its well-being. It’s believed that in an age long before the cataclysm, these Spirits swore an oath to protect the wondrous tree and the forest that surrounds it.

• Height:  6’4”
• Weight:  387 lbs
• Nature:  Protective
• Role:  Support / Damage
• Bond:  Duty
• Synergy:  Binx, Tychomp, Noki

Voting for Next Week's Update!

You now have the opportunity to vote for next week's Spirit Line! Choose which of these Spirit Lines you'd like to learn about next and let me know in the comments below! Whichever one gets the most votes will be covered in next week's update!