Update on artwork
over 4 years ago – Sat, Dec 14, 2019 at 11:25:04 PM

Hello Everyone,

What's Happening?

Backerkit...

I've been working with the Backerkit team to make sure everything is lined up for the Backerkit page. I now realize that i should have done this when I started the campaign. Lesson learned. But it's about ready.  That being said, it's coming along pretty well and I think it will go smoothly when we turn it on. 

Artwork

I've been getting the artwork finalized from our Rose Breeder backers. I have all of their Order Cards done and we finished proofing the Order Card artwork today. I have all of the artwork we've been waiting for completed and now I'm getting it prepped and sent to the manufacturer.

One of the things we're going to do is print the Order Cards first. We're doing that so that they can send me the Signed KS Exclusive Order Cards. We wanted to make sure that there wasn't any differences in these cards from the rest of them. So we are printing them all in one batch. That way the inks, and cut lines should all match up.  

Once I have them, I'll be signing them all, then sending them back to the manufacturer to be packaged into the games. While I'm signing them, they'll be working on the boards, shop cards and boxes.  

I'm waiting on a couple samples of the velvet draw bags. I want to make sure they aren't the cheaper stiff kind. In case you missed it in a previous update, we're going with dark blue and white embroidery. I think it will look really nice. 

Stretch Goal #2 Artwork

Well, I couldn't wait to share this with you. Here is the painting that Nene did for the Shop Card backs. I'm going to put the blue scroll work on the corners, but other than that, it will just be this. I think you'll agree, that it's an amazing piece. 

As always, thank you for your support! 

Rocky

Backerkit incoming...
over 4 years ago – Tue, Dec 10, 2019 at 11:50:39 PM

Hello everyone,

Backerkit setup

By now Kickstarter will have charged most of you for your pledges. As such, I have Backerkit in it's final stages of review. To test Backerkit, 5% of you will get a survey early in the next couple days. This will be to make sure that everything is working fine and strangeness doesn't happen like, duplicated shipping charges, or cross linked pledges etc. I'll tell you more when I do the smoke test on it. 

A little Surprise...

Today Nene sent me the final artwork for the backs of the Order Cards, and the Shop Cards. I let her have free reign over the paintings for these two Stretch Goals, and she didn't disappoint. Here is the final version of the backs of the Order Cards.... Maybe the Shop cards back should be a surprise? What do you think? (comments as usual)

Thank you for your support!

Rocky

What's happening now?
over 4 years ago – Mon, Dec 09, 2019 at 11:40:11 AM

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to write you a quick update as to what's happening right now. At the moment, I'm setting up the Backerkit, getting things coordinated with the fulfillment company, and waiting for Nene to finish up the Stretch Goal artwork. I've also completed the Order Cards with the new layout and I'm getting everything into the manufacturers templates. I think the game is going to turn out very well. Those blue draw bags with the white lettering... will look stellar. Well done on that suggestion. 

I have another question for you. What do you think of inserts? Not cardboard, but vacuum formed plastic tray inserts to hold the components? Like them? Hate them? Let me know in the comments! 

As always, if there are any questions or suggestions, just let me know either in the comments, or message me.

Thank you

Rocky

Next steps...
over 4 years ago – Fri, Dec 06, 2019 at 10:32:20 PM

Hello Backers!

Ok, here we go. Now the final game prep and Q&A kicks in. I wanted to recap some of the changes that happened during the campaign and how the final game will be adjusted to accommodate the changes that we voted on. 

Changes from the Campaign

• New Order Card layout:  This was the most obvious change. You have seen some of the new Order Cards in the updates. I think they are coming along rather well. I still have a few more to do but that won't take long. 
• Removal of text on the tiles:  Many of you mentioned in the comments and in messages that you felt since the information on pricing is on the game board, and on the Shop Cards, that you didn't really need it getting in the way on the Rose Tiles. Additionally, since the roses are graphically different enough, even visually challenged people would be able to tell them apart. So, the text that indicated the type (BU, BL, SD...) is not required either. The consensus was that we should let the artwork shine. So I will be removing all text from the tiles themselves. 
• Additional Artwork:  Since you wonderful people unlocked both of the additional artwork Stretch Goals. Nene is working on them and will have them to me soon.  Obviously they'll have to go through a proofing process, and get fitted to the templates for the game components. I will share that with you when it is ready.  Nene actually videoed her artwork creation process, so as a bonus, I'll be giving you access to the videos of her creating this wonderful artwork for us. 
• Draw Bag Color:  Near the end of the campaign when we hit the Heat Embossed Draw Bag stretch goal, I asked about Color. Should we go with dark red, or some other color. I hadn't mentioned blue, but many of you messages me and said, Blue... BLUE! Mostly because it fits the theme and accent color of the game itself. Not to mention, it looks pretty good. Now, I went out on a limb here and changed something else that I didn't ask you about....
• Not heat embossed:  As you might have seen in the Stretch Goal. The idea was to heat emboss the logo or game name on the draw bag. Well that's nice but.... some color would be better. So I thought, let's silk screen or heat transfer print it instead.... Then we would have nice white lettering, like the unlocked Stretch Goal picture suggests. (here for reference) 

        Then I thought... No. This is a beautiful, elegant game. Embroider it. So     that's what I'm going to do... The draw bags will be a Royal or Dark Blue with white embroidered Rare Roses on them. 

I think that is most of them.  Overall I believe that these changes make a better game. 

Next Steps

So as we proceed here are the next steps we will be going through to deliver this game to you. 

• Get the final artwork from Nene for the unlocked Stretch Goals and update the component graphics to use that. 
• Coordinate with the Rose Breeder level backers to get their custom Order Cards designed. 
• Compile the list of Day 1 backers and get them into the Rule Book.
• Layout the Rule Book for the larger game format, and QA it
• Finish converting the Order Cards to the new layout

Once these things are finished, which will be about mid next week providing I get emails sorted fairly quickly we'll be coordinating print layout with the manufacturer. As I mentioned in the campaign, the game is solid and the changes are aesthetic at this point so I don't expect any delays.  

Once I have those things done, I'll coordinate with the manufacturer to design the box insert, and make sure we get all of the component templates proofed and approved.  I'll be sending out updates at a minimum weekly to keep you all informed of the progress. 

As usual, at any time feel free to message me with questions or suggestions. We're off and running, and it's all because of you that we're able to make this beautiful game a reality. 

Thank you for your support

Rocky 

We Did It!
over 4 years ago – Fri, Dec 06, 2019 at 09:26:01 PM

Thank you so much! You guys are the best backers on Kickstarter! 

$11,129 from 219 backers! 

Now after Nene finished the new artwork, we square everything up for printing and we're off to manufacturing! This is exciting. I'll be contacting the retail backers to finalize order counts, and the Rose Breeder backers to get their Order Cards designed. 

Thank you again! Rare Roses is on it's way !!!

Rocky