First off, happy Solstice! A very auspicious time to share some news.
A good note that if anyone in your life wanted a copy of any of the decks on here, now is the time. I will be closing the pre-order page when January starts. Pre-Order page is here!
If you needed to adjust anything in your carts, now is also the time. We locked in our totals for all items already and are moving to manufacturing now.
Production Numbers!
And for those curious, just a few numbers! Last time on the Alleyman's Tarot, we sold 25,000+ decks on the Kickstarter, and ordered 40,000 to be made total. We felt that moving 25,000 in a single month meant we could easily move the remaining 15,000 over the rest of that year, and it would be out of production and still feel special and limited edition. We were so wrong, and still have many today. It's still a one-time-printing, but the power of Kickstarter and its limited-time feeling really sold more than we can passively on a site, and we've learned from that.
So for this project, we're sticking to numbers much closer. We'll still have some to sell through 2024, but we're a lot more likely to run out this time in 2024.
As of Oct 31st (a few pre-orders have come in since), we had:
Alleyway Tarot - 4645 claimed, so we're making 6000.
Oracle of Play - 4385 claimed, so we're making 6000.
Oracle of Secrets - 4599 claimed, so we're making 6000.
Astrology Booster - 3357 claimed, so we're making 4500.
Podcast Booster - 2751 claimed, so we're making 4000.
The other items are not bound by a one-time production (the add-on bags, alleyman statues, etc), but we likewise aren't producing much more than was ordered. Also feel it might be hard to sell the add-on bags beyond the decks haha, so they're not planned to last forever, or be a mainstay item in the Pub Gob repertoire.
Production Timeline!
There's just a single item that we're not 100% sure on and are getting samples still, and it's the 4-pronged key in the Oracle of Secrets's add-on bag. We have a manufacturer game for it who is sending a sample to our people now, but it's been a slog. We thought we had someone at the start but they fell through.
Everything else is moving on, and we should be done with production mid January, including the key. Though I did pare down the number of items on the campaign, the add-on bags still have to be assembled together, so it will take a couple weeks to get those bags all assembled before orders can begin to be assembled.
Our plans are, considering the Chinese holiday in February, to ship US/Canadian orders from China late February or the start of March. It will take 2-3 weeks for the ship to arrive to port, then in late March or the first weeks of April, we'll be shipping to your doors. International orders will of course be sent out during that time when the US/Canada orders are crossing the sea.
So by the end of April, the Alleyway Oracles should be in our hands! (People with touched by the alleyman decks, and hand painted statues, will of course be waiting a bit longer, as I have to get the items first then mess with your stuff and get it your way.)
Weestimated delivery to be March, and appears we're off by a month. As Kickstarters go, and especially considering the Alleymans took almost a full year longer to completely finish, I think that's still bueno. If any hiccups occur, you'll all be the first to know.
Shipping!
This timeline does mean that I will be inputting shipping costs to people's orders in January/start of Feb at the latest. A reminder that you will be charged shipping on Backerkit, and that you have a timetable to get your charge taken care of.
There was a whole terms and conditions section on the campaign page, but it sums up to this: We're already past the point of offering refunds on this project. To get your items, you have to pay your shipping cost. If you see it and you decide it's too much and don't pay, or never update a failed card, or never get your package but we sent tracking and you don't followup for 3+ months, there will be no chance for refunds.
I will put out an update when shipping charges go live, and reminders for people to get it taken care of in time, as well as the due dates as they come up. So please follow along with the next updates! They'll be very important.
ZOETROPE and The Return of the Normal Tarot
January 4th, I'm launching ZOETROPE! Zoetrope will be the followup to What We Possess, containing all the same items (plus the Zoetrope expansion), but the campaign images and text will all focus Zoetrope. Anyone who pledged to both will have their orders combined for shipping, so no worries about that. I realized I won't have room for ZOETROPE to have a project later in 2024, so we're doing it now. It's basically just What We Possess stretched out for another 30 days, but I think it'll be worth it to give ZOETROPE its well-deserved spotlight.
Zoetrope is a time-travel rent-a-cop game where you tell a story with your friends using cards to direct what your characters can do. It's roleplaying, but made for ease-of-play. Ideal for parties and one-night sessions, and for improv games or practice.
But that's the games side of Pub Gob, and y'all are more likely to be excited for the Return of the Normal Tarot!
The project will launch early 2024, and will feature an all-new, full color edition of the Normal Tarot, as well as reprints of the 1st and 2nd edition versions of the deck. It will be the final edition of the deck as the Caretaker and I both move on to new projects overall. Ezra K. is doing amazing on this new edition, and I'm excited to restock old editions of the deck to offer in the future.
Iwould like to wait until April to launch itso the Alleyway Oracles has shipped out, but depending on how funds shake out, it may need to launch in March. I'll keep everyone up to date as it happens, but many people beyond myself rely on Pub Gob for their paycheck and I have to keep money coming in to facilitate that!
And in October 2024, Confluence: the Living Archive will be coming to crowdfunding. I'm really excited about this one, it's been over 2 1/2 years in the making with a team of amazing people, and 14 years ago that I began work in different ways myself on this. This TTRPG will feature in-world Atlases you can explore, chock full of notes and ephemera from people in the world who have drawn in it, stuck in letters, flyers, tickets, and more.
Alright friends, that's our final update for the year!
See you in January when we move to start charging shipping and get this project ever closer to our fingertips.
7DA
your pub gob
Small Victory! | Files all sent in
11 months ago
– Thu, Nov 30, 2023 at 02:36:27 PM
Hello friends!
I said I would put out an update when I get all my work done on the guidebooks. And today is that day, they have been exported and sent in to the printer. Unfortunately I also have COVID and feel like garbage. So some wins, some losses.
Otherwise, sets of the Oracle Dice will be available at PaxUnplugged at one of the Hit Point Press booths this weekend, if you happen to be in Philly or at PaxU. I won't be, on account of the illness.
Will ping again next month to let you know the more formal timeline now that we should be on manufacturing from here out. Got some other stuff to share, but I'll do that next time in a longer, formal update. Alright friends, see you for now!
7
(Almost) On Schedule! | Some Participant's Projects!
11 months ago
– Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 10:44:02 AM
By my schedule, I should have things moving right now, right? Well, I almost do.
First off, say hello to our Tarot Cloth! This cloth will be on the same soft fabric we had on the Oracle Dice's reading cloth, which is so wonderful and plush. You get the cloth in the Des Moines Findings add-on bag.
Our Tarot Cloth
Oh, and not just the cloth, you also get a metal moth charm, some fake teeth (?!), and oh yes, there are three coins. I wanted to wait until I had samples in hand to share them, but I figure while we're waiting...
The Coins!
The coins are a TV and Cash Register, which I thought would be weird and fun, a fantasy coin with cutouts and clean designs, and then a Sun/Moon coin. The Moon side features a lobster, which is important to your Moon tarot cards of course, and the Sun side has a Sunflower in the radiant rays.
The TV Coin will be in antique copper, the Fantasy Coin in Antique Brass, and the Sun/Moon will be in Antique Nickle plating.
The Platings!
If you need to pop over and add the Des Moines Findings add-on bag to your order, ping Backerkit support today and get it added! You'll be running out of chances here soon, as I move to shut down pre-orders and lock people's orders for good in December. So if you have friends who wanted decks or items, get them over to the pre-order page now and get that done!
What was I supposed to be talking about? Oh yeah, the schedule!
By the end of today, I should have the print files to the manufacturers for everything but the guidebooks. This was supposed to happen yesterday, but it's been a little harder than I thought to get it all lined up. But a day late is better than a week or month. All I'm waiting on right now are 3 cards final files from people.
My work today is finishing the backs for my Alleyman collage card in the Podcast Booster and the Transgression card back for that same booster, and the Blanks Booster's card backs. So lots of card backs. Otherwise I just need to export my deck documents the way my printer prefers them. That's all very doable today.
And finally, by the 25th, my last duty is to turn in the guidebook inner page contents. This one might be a day or two late as well, it might be more of a lift than I can handle all at once. But I'll do my best!
I was going to post this update on the 26th, ostensibly when all my work on this is done, but I realized I'm leaving a couple projects by participants in this project in the dark if I do that! So here we are.
First off, we have just 48 hours left on the Bohemian Oracle by Bohemian Dragon. Their "NO!" card is featured in the Oracle of Secrets. Consider heading over and pledging to help reach that goal. It's just $7,300, I'm sure with some attention it can be reached!
Animations by ROBOTINA.It is an Italian-German co-production, born out of the partnership between Diego Tigrotto and Jorge theObscene, and will be shot in Berlin next spring.
The short film will tell the story of Onyx's journey into the world of Tarot and conscious sexuality, who will receive reading from the tarologist Rosa.
In order to keep us away from market logic and not to compromise on free expression, the project aims to be funded through the support of our networks.
That's why we started this campaign on Kickstarter.
Just like the Sex Positive Tarot, this will be a collaborative project, produced and directed by personalities from the Independent P*rn Film Festivals and Sex Positive Movement Circuit. It will be a non explicit movie, to be accessible to everyone, but we will include extra scenes for other audiences.
Starring Jamal Phoenix & Bishop Black;
Directed by Ben Berlin,Pina Brutal,Puck Ellingtonand JorgeTheObscene;
Produced by Diego Tigrotto and JorgeTheObscene;
in collaboration with Roxy Nova, Silvia Procopio aka Prox and Domiziana de Fulvio. Graphic Design and Social Media:Syrtha, Massimo di Feliceand Lao B. Music by HYENAZ andANAL.FABETS; Nail artist Texto Dallas
Okay friends, that's all for now! See you at the end of the month,
7DA
your Pub Gob
October Update | Happy Halloween! | Our Timeline
12 months ago
– Tue, Oct 31, 2023 at 02:43:46 PM
Today is Halloween, so happy Samhain to all those who celebrate.
This has been a super busy month for your local Goblin. I've been to Big Bad Con, Phoenix Fire Festival's Autumn Meet, and Florida Pagan Gathering's Autumn Meet! I launched the new What We Possess project just yesterday, and it's funded already. Looking to jump forward into stretch goals now. If you've missed it, you can find it here!
And for funsies, I saw the new Five Nights at Freddy's movie last night. I'm a big fan of the series, games, books, etc, and have been trying to secure licensing rights to make the official TTRPG and more, so it was a lovely time.
The Timeline
While I was in Florida last week for the Florida Pagan Gathering, I received the email from my manufacturer I knew was coming. The "If we want to make our timeline..." email, with due dates. I love to be transparent, so let's share!
"We are approaching year end (about two months) and Chinese New Year is Feb 10, 2024. If we are targeting March/April fulfillment (US fulfillment), we need to ship out before January 25 or so. We need to set aside about 15 days for picking, packing and labeling. That being said, we'd better complete production before January 10. Printed products seem straightforward: if we can start mass production before December 1, we should have enough time. Regarding other sourced items, some might take much longer, for instance, the wood boxes."
Sounds clear to me!
So I am drawing up the final manufacturing numbers today. Preorders will stay up until the end of the year, but I am locking in the final numbers for what's being made overall. Learning our lesson from the Alleyman's Tarot, we're not going to order as many extra as we did there. It should be a reasonable number that could, by the end of 2024, really be all gone. For example, there were 4,600+ Alleyway Tarot sets ordered. I'm going to have just under 1000 extra made. Talking with New Titan about what will be best, or what they might want to go in on ordering extra, but we'll set it in stone in the next week or so.
So if there are any fancy items, especially like the 3-deck wooden box or the 8" Alleyman statues, that you wanted to get, NOW is the time to lock in and adjust your orders. If you reach out to me either on here or [email protected], I can unlock your order. Otherwise, reach out to Backerkit support in your survey and they can help you add items after you are locked in.
My Checklist of To Dos
Full transparency again is my favorite.
So I need to
Finalize deck files, gnabbing a couple card image changes on the way.
Finalize and edit the guidebooks, folding in the artist's comments and questions.
(mostly this looks like finishing card entries for the Oracle of Play, editing all 3, and getting intros written for each book.)
Add text blurbs to the backs of the deck boxes.
Nab one final card for the Astrology Booster (it's being worked on, just hasn't been completed.)
Get finalized tarot cloth, then Des Moines Findings bag is ready to go.
Finalize packaging for Booster Packs!
Things that are ready to go:
Art Prints
Podcast Booster
Blank Booster
3-Deck Wood Box
Alleyman Statues
Alleyman Tarot and Oracle Dice sets (obviously!)
Tulsa Collection & Longview Satchel
I'm pitching that I can have these things to them by November 15th, with the exception being the Guidebooks which I'll have to them by November 25th. If this happens, we could still hit March/April for US shipping, with international items leaving earlier from China, but likely arriving in that same April area. I do think that this timeline is a bit tight, and to account for issues, we may see a delay into April/May as being more likely, but a monthdelay isn't bad.
As always, I will do my monthly update in November to let you all know if this is on track, or if anything is still being worked on. There also exists the possibility that I get things done in time on my end and manufacturing hits a snafu, so we will see.
When we're done... The Normal Tarot 3rd Edition!
And the next decks are always being worked on. As is tradition for an industrious little goblin! The Normal Tarot's 3rd (and final) edition is being illustrated by Ezra Kimbell, our good friend who handled work on the deck boxes and guidebooks for this campaign, the reading mat and lords and guide cover for the oracle dice, and more! The new deck is already shaping up to blow me away, and the guidebook for this edition will feature the art of all 3 editions, so it can be used freely among the decks!
The Normal Tarot is a 99-card, very abnormal deck, featuring seasons in place of suits, a trio of knights guarding the Lady, Queen, and Mother in place of courts, and a totally reimagined Major Arcana with Omens, Ladies, Books, Kings, and Moons.
We will also take this opportunity to celebrate the final edition of the Normal Tarot by reprinting the 2nd Edition in Gold and Silver foils, as well as the original edition!
Alright friends, that's all for now! Next update should be the final update when things are still in my hands, and from there it will be up to the manufacturers to take the reins.
Fondly,
7da, your Pub Gob
We're Still on Track for Next Year | Accidental Mass Update
about 1 year ago
– Thu, Oct 05, 2023 at 12:03:26 PM
It's been just a week or two since the lastest update. But I just went to my board game project New Avernus on Backerkit and put out a cutoff update for people to let me know if their items never arrived, and to promote the new Take Me to the Dark campaign. New Avernus was my first forray back into games as a publisher since I got bigger, and I wanted to let them know I have a new games project.
And not thinking, I saw the option to send the update to my whole mailing list, and thought that sounded great. Get more eyes on Take Me to the Dark. Eesh, silly mistake!
A number of you are emailing me, concerned about where your items are, or why we're suddenly at a cut-off for the Oracles project when we aren't even shipping. I am assuming it did not say it came from New Avernus. That's my bad, and my apologies! The email about the cut-off is only for New Avernus, the board game.
We're not even manufacturing yet on this project, let alone shipping. I will update at the end of the month like always to keep you up to date on progress for this project. We should still be on for shipping in March or so in 2024.
But I'd be remiss to not at least use this moment to plug that Take Me to the Dark is now live! So if you like backing Pub Gob projects, you can drop $5 on there if you don't need a new game, or there are 3 amazing new games to be explored and discovered over on that project.
Okay, shameless plug over! Thanks everyone, and sorry for sparking confusion for people!
