GGtS Update #15: Art Unveiled and Playtest Preparations!
9 months ago – Sat, Mar 09, 2024 at 10:48:07 AM

Hello, wonderful backers!

As spring begins to bloom, so does the progress on Guillman's Guide to Speed. We're back with some thrilling updates and sneak peeks into the artistic and developmental strides we've made. Your support continues to be the wind beneath the wings of this project, and we're soaring thanks to you!

QUICK BREAKDOWN 📔

• Artwork Progress: First sketches revealed and art team locked in!
• Survey Completion Status: Nearing the final call at 92% completion.
• Editing and Playtesting: Ahead of schedule with an official playtest package on the horizon.
• Discord Community: Now over 350 strong!
• Next Steps: Final public playtest, survey lock-in, and shipping preparations.

1. Artwork Progress 🎨

We're thrilled to announce our partnership with Bad Moon Art Studio for the visual creation of Guillman's Guide to Speed. Known for their work on projects like Cyberpunk Red & The Witcher TTRPG, Bad Moon Art Studio brings a wealth of experience in crafting immersive, visually stunning worlds. Their portfolio, rich with diverse and captivating projects, makes them the ideal collaborator to bring the unique world of GGtS to life.

The Only Crits team, under the creative guidance of Paul Brown, is diligently working alongside Bad Moon Art Studio to conceptualize and design a book layout that's not just visually appealing but tells a story in itself.

In these early stages, we've been focusing on creating mockups that set the tone for the entire book. It's a process that involves a lot of brainstorming, sketching, and iterating to ensure that every piece of art not only captures the essence of GGtS but also enhances the reader's experience. Below, you'll find some of the first sketches that are laying the foundation for this immersive world:

JAMP:

PLAGORAM:

WESTERN ISLES:

VOLSEGRAD:

These early sketches are just a glimpse of what's to come. We're excited to see how Bad Moon Art Studio's expertise will continue to shape the visual narrative of GGtS. For a taste of their incredible work and what we're aspiring to achieve, check out their portfolio at Bad Moon Art Studio.

2. Surveys 📊

We're at 92% survey completion, inching closer to finalizing the dice sets, cases, and other products for our backers. In our April update, we'll announce the survey lock date. This is your last chance to make any changes before we move on to setting up shipping fees—so if you haven't completed your survey yet, now's the time! 

To update / fill out your survey go here: https://ggts.backerkit.com/

3. Book Progress 📚

Our editing process is not just on track; it's ahead of schedule! We're excited to release our first official playtest package on April 6th, right here on Kickstarter & Discord. This will be the final public playtest package, after which we'll transition to private PDF kits via BackerKit and continue discussions on Discord.

3. Discord 🔥

Our Discord family has grown to over 350 members! A huge thank you to everyone who's joined and contributed to the vibrant discussions and feedback sessions. If you haven't joined yet, now's the perfect time as we gear up for the first official playtest package release. Join our Discord.

4. Next Steps 📅

There's a lot on our plate, but it's all coming together beautifully. We're preparing for the official playtest package, finalizing surveys, setting up shipping fees, and more. Your enthusiasm and support have made this journey incredible.

Next update: April 6th

5. Thank You 🙏

Every step of this journey has been made possible by your belief in GGtS and the team behind it. As we move into this busy and exciting phase, your feedback and participation are more valuable than ever.

Stay tuned for our next update, and don't hesitate to reach out with your thoughts or questions at [email protected]. And remember, the Discord community will be buzzing with activity once the playtest package is published—don't miss out!

Here's to a season filled with creativity, collaboration, and critical hits!

Warm regards,

Eric Brewerton

GGtS Update #14: Artistic Milestones and More!
10 months ago – Fri, Feb 09, 2024 at 12:59:19 PM

As we continue to make exciting progress on Guillman's Guide to Speed, we're thrilled to share some significant developments and give you a sneak peek into the artistic evolution of our project. Your ongoing support and feedback are invaluable to the development of GGtS, and we're eager to dive into the latest details with you.

QUICK BREAKDOWN 📔

• Artwork Progress: 10% Milestone Achieved with over 125 unique pieces in the works.
• Survey Progress: Nearing completion.
• Book Writing Complete: Editing phase is underway, with more playtests on the horizon.
• Discord Community: Continues to grow, offering fun challenges and exclusive insights. Over 300 of you have joined!
• Next Steps: A look ahead to our mid-March update and what's coming next.

1. Artwork Progress 🎨

Let’s delve into the behind-the-scenes of our artistic journey for the book. With the manuscript written and currently undergoing edits, our focus now shifts to bringing the narrative to life through carefully crafted visuals. This deliberate approach ensures that the artwork complements the book's essence, creating a unified and immersive experience for our readers. 

Exciting news awaits regarding the quantity of art pieces integrated into the book. We are planning to have roughly 125 unique pieces of artwork in the book. This collection encompasses illustrations for every monster, a detail I was particularly insistent on achieving. Art is a meticulous process and demands time - as any fellow artist can attest to. However, our timeline is on track, with the objective of completing all artwork by the end of August this year. Subsequently, September will be dedicated to reviewing and refining any aspects that require adjustment, paving the way for deliverables in October.

• Paul Brown

2. Surveys 📊

Thanks to your enthusiastic participation, we've reached 93.5% completion on our surveys. This feedback is crucial as we refine GGtS to meet your expectations. If you haven't yet, please complete your survey at your earliest convenience. Your voice is instrumental in shaping this project!

3. Book Progress 📚

With the writing phase complete, we're diving deep into editing and integrating your playtest feedback. Our goal is to balance and polish GGtS to perfection, ensuring an engaging experience for all players.

4. Discord Community 🔥

Our Discord community is more vibrant than ever! Join us for ongoing discussions, challenges, and exclusive sneak peeks into GGtS's development. If you're not already part of the conversation, now's the perfect time to jump in: Join our Discord.

5. Next Steps 📅

Looking ahead, we're focused on artwork production and book editing, with our next major update planned for mid-March. We can't wait to share more about the incredible progress we're making, thanks to your support.

A Special Thank You 🙏

Your belief in GGtS and the team behind it continues to inspire us every day. As we navigate through the editing and artistic phases, your support and feedback remain invaluable. Together, we're not just creating a book; we're crafting an unforgettable adventure.

Stay tuned for more updates, and don't hesitate to reach out with your thoughts or questions. [email protected] 

Here's to a year filled with creativity, collaboration, and critical hits!

Warm regards,

Eric Brewerton & Paul Brown

GGtS Update #13: Happy New Year and Exciting Progress!
11 months ago – Mon, Jan 08, 2024 at 01:55:29 PM

GGtS Update #13: Happy New Year!

QUICK BREAKDOWN 📔

• Survey Progress: Nearing completion with valuable feedback.
• Book Writing Complete: Editing phase begins with more playtests on the horizon.
• Discord Community: Growing and engaging with fun challenges.
• Next Steps: Mid-February update and ongoing project developments.

1. Surveys 📊

We've reached 90.83% (852/938 Surveys) This enthusiastic participation from our backers is not just encouraging but also instrumental in shaping the final stages of GGtS. Each survey filled out is a valuable piece of the puzzle, providing us with insights and preferences that are crucial in tailoring the GGtS experience to your expectations.

We're currently in the process of meticulously reviewing each survey response. Our aim is to ensure that every backer's voice is not only heard but also reflected in the decisions we make moving forward. This feedback is a goldmine of information, helping us fine-tune the details and make adjustments that align with your desires and needs. It's a collaborative effort, and your input is the guiding force that helps us refine and perfect the project.

For those who haven't completed their surveys yet, we urge you to do so at your earliest convenience. Your feedback is a vital part of this journey, and without it, we miss out on your unique perspective. Completing the survey is a simple yet powerful way to contribute to the success of GGtS. Remember, your voice matters, and it plays a key role in bringing this project to life in a way that resonates with our passionate community.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has already participated. Your enthusiasm and engagement are what make this project so special. We're not just creating a book; we're crafting an experience, and your involvement is what makes it truly extraordinary.

2. Book Progress 📚

Writing Completion: 102.4% (256/250 Pages)

We've surpassed our initial page target, reaching 256 out of 250 pages, marking a 102.4% completion rate in the writing phase. This milestone is a testament to the dedication and creativity poured into GGtS. Our team, led by Rory, has crafted a narrative rich in detail and imagination, ensuring that every page contributes to an immersive and engaging D&D experience. Or at least thats the goal here! 

As we transition into the editing phase, our focus shifts to refining and polishing the content. Editing is more than just proofreading; it's about enhancing the balance, coherence, and overall quality of the book. This process will involve careful examination of each section for narrative flow, consistency, and alignment with the thematic elements of the book. We're also integrating playtesting feedback to ensure the mechanics are balanced and enjoyable. We dont want any overpowered classes that take away from the experience...

We're also teaming up with some absolutely amazing artists for this project, and honestly, I'm buzzing with excitement about the art we're going to unveil. It's like waiting to open a gift you know is going to be awesome. We're not quite at the point where we can spill all the beans about the art process, but trust me, from the sneak peeks I've seen, it's shaping up to be incredible!

On the production side, we're making steady progress. We're working closely with our manufacturing partners to ensure that the physical aspects of the book, from paper quality to binding, are of the highest standard. Our goal is to create a product that is not only a joy to read but also a pleasure to hold and display.

3. Discord 🔥

Our Discord community is rapidly growing, and we're loving the energy and discussions about GGtS. A big thank you to everyone who participated in our monster creation challenge and congratulations to the winners of the Only Crits dice sets! If you haven't joined yet, come be a part of the fun and get insider info on playtesting, book updates, and more. https://discord.gg/pYXTVZhkgY

4. Thank You 🙏

As we embark on 2024, we're filled with a profound sense of gratitude. Your support and enthusiasm have been the driving force behind this project, and we're thrilled to be on this journey with you. The completion of the writing phase is a significant milestone, and it's one we couldn't have reached without your belief in us and in GGtS.

Rory's early completion of the writing phase is a major achievement. This provides us with additional time to focus on the crucial stages of editing and art development. These next steps are where the book truly comes together, transforming from a collection of ideas and narratives into a polished, cohesive masterpiece.

5. Next Steps 📅

Looking ahead, we're gearing up for a busy and productive few weeks. Our next major update is scheduled for mid-February, and we're excited to share the progress we'll have made by then. In the meantime, our team will be deeply involved in the editing process, working diligently to ensure that every aspect of the book is polished to perfection.

As always, we welcome your feedback and questions. If you have any thoughts or inquiries about the project, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Your input is invaluable in helping us create the best possible product.

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. Here's to a fantastic year ahead!

Warm regards,

Eric Brewerton

GGtS Update #12: Happy Holidays and Project Zooms on!
12 months ago – Sat, Dec 02, 2023 at 09:49:55 AM

We're rolling into the holiday season and everything is clicking along merrily!

QUICK BREAKDOWN 📔

•  Finalizing the Book: The writing phase is nearing completion, and we're gearing up for the editing marathon
•  Playtesting: Keep an eye on our Discord for the upcoming playtest release. Your feedback is invaluable in making the GGtS experience unforgettable.
•  Holiday Monster Challenge: Design a winter/holiday-themed monster and possibly win a free Only Crits dice set. Details are on our Discord.

https://discord.gg/pYXTVZhkgY

1. Surveys 📊 

Just another reminder that our Backerkit surveys have been sent out, if you haven't filled yours out yet please do so as soon as you're able otherwise we won't know where we're sending your pledge! A big thank you to everyone who has already filled out their surveys, we love the excitement! It matches our own.

We are currently 87% through in terms of survey completion. If you're having issues finding your survey, please shoot us an email and we can resend it! [email protected]

Also, we are planning to update the top tiers of pledge in order to refocus on putting together a stunning book, but you'll still see all the physical products in the top tiers in the survey despite these changes. That's because we're finalizing feedback and numbers, without the data from the surveys we won't be able to lock in the best course of action.

2. Book Progress 📚 

Writing Completion: 93.2% (aka 233/250 pages)

I'm going to rant for a while about the book, so if that holds no interest for you skip ahead to the next section!

Wanted to give a little more insight into the book creation process since it is the cornerstone of the campaign at the end of the day.

Currently the percentage and page numbers you see above are the pure words of the draft being put together. It's sitting at just over 111,000 words. The good news on that front is that it is ahead in terms of pages written from what we were originally expecting, the bad news is that once the pages are written we still have to edit and format them. During the editing process, which I'm confident we'll have enough time for but it'll still be a long time, many of those 250 pages will be cut, either for continuity, balancing, thematic impact, or just because something is too boring. There's also the fact that while content is being taken out of the book there will simultaneously be new content going in, most important of which will be all the art, which we'll talk about in just a second. Lore pieces to fill in gaps for the stronger monsters, items and racers, stat blocks to match important creatures and items from the lore, tracking the timelines of heroes with the timelines of the rest of the world, the kind of weaving together that will turn the current collection of ideas into a cohesive universe with consistency and novelty. And that's not even mentioning the basic spelling and grammar fixes, updating the wording to align it with OGL standards, and eliminating continuity errors. All of that comes after all the ideas have been spilled out onto the page, and we are very nearly there. I am super, super stoked and to be honest it is going to be a really weird shift after writing consistently for so long to switch my brain into editing mode, but the content has come together to be something exciting once it's all polished up. Speaking of, if you are interested in helping with the editing we are always on the lookout for people to help out with the book, so head over to the Discord to catch sneak peeks, do some proofreading, or just chat with other people who love D&D!

Now, to talk of art quickly. There are two vital parts of the art that we're honing in on and that's quality and continuity. We want high quality art in the same style peppered throughout the book with as much frequency as we can afford. It's been eye opening to the difficulty artists go through every day of not only carving out their own style but then maintaining it despite all the weird, speed related prompts they receive. Not only is the art going to push the book well past the 250 pages we were expecting to hit, but it is going to be truly beautiful and we can't wait for everyone to see.

Alright, book chat over, on to more actionable items!

3. Discord (and Other Contact) 🔥

https://discord.gg/pYXTVZhkgY

Our Discord server remains the fastest way to get answers about the book. It's also where you can find sneak peeks, which will start coming faster and more furiously once the drafting is done and the editing begins. There's also just some great people in there with a huge depth of knowledge about D&D and it's been great getting to know them.

That said, if you don't have discord or simply have no interest in hopping into the server please don't hesitate to email us at [email protected] with any questions, comments, or concerns, or reach out on any of our social medias. We monitor them all constantly, so reach out any time! 

🎄 Join Our Holiday Monster Challenge on Discord! ❄️

Unleash your creativity and design a winter-themed monster for a chance to win an Only Crits dice set with a value up to $80USD! Details and submissions on our Discord. Deadline: January 6th. Don't miss out on the festive fun!

https://discord.gg/pYXTVZhkgY

4. Yet Another Thank You 🙏 

It's been months and it still doesn't feel real that this book is becoming a reality. We are so excited about it and even more excited to be able to share it with all of you. This dream is happening thanks to your support, and so we cannot thank you enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

5. Next Steps 📅

We are currently working hard to complete the writing portion of the book, and will be releasing another playtest over on our discord soon. Please head over there for more detailed information. Expect the next comprehensive update from us around January 6th.

Should you have inquiries or feedback regarding the Kickstarter or any Only Crits matters, don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Thank you,

Eric Brewerton & Rory Hoffman

GGtS Update #11: Surveys Are Out – Let's Shape the Future Together!
about 1 year ago – Wed, Nov 01, 2023 at 01:38:10 PM

QUICK BREAKDOWN 📔

• Surveys are being sent out; check your inbox and spam folder.
• Your feedback will shape the final decisions on physical products.
• Book progress is ongoing, with more details available on Discord.
• Next steps include continuing the writing of the book and reviewing surveys.

1. A Heartfelt Thank You 🙏

We want to start by expressing our immense gratitude for your continued support and patience. Your enthusiasm and feedback are the driving forces behind this project, and we're excited to move forward with you.

2. Survey Dispatch and Your Input 📬

The surveys are on their way! Please check your inbox and spam folder for the email containing your BackerKit survey. Your responses are crucial in helping us understand your preferences and ensuring a smooth fulfillment process. Remember, your feedback shapes the final decisions on the physical products we'll add to our lineup.

3. Book Progress 📖

Writing Completion: 86%

Writing Estimated Timeline To Completion: February - March 2024

We're actively working on the book and making steady progress. For more specifics and behind-the-scenes information, don't forget to check out our Discord channel!

4. Physical Progress 🌎

Over the next month, we'll be diligently reviewing all the surveys and making final decisions on which physical products will be added, based on your interest and the community's feedback.

5. Discord 🔥

Dive deeper into the GGtS by joining our DISCORD!

We've just completed our first contest and more are on the way, where you can win free dice up to a value of $80 USD.

Get early access to teaser content, playtest material, help edit typos, participate in exclusive surveys, giveaways, and more! It's the hub for enthusiasts and those passionate about shaping the future of Guillman's Guide to Speed.

6. Next Steps 📅

In the coming weeks, our focus will be on continuing the writing of the book and meticulously reviewing the surveys to ensure we align with your expectations. You can expect the next update from us on December 1st, 2023.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Kickstarter or anything Only Crits related, please feel free to reach out to us directly at [email protected]

Thank you,

Eric Brewerton