FINAL WEEK : Reward Tiers
about 4 years ago – Sat, Feb 29, 2020 at 06:15:29 AM

Hello Hunters!

We're in the final week countdown of this Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition kickstarter project-  it ends on Thursday, March 5th at 2:00 PM EST - there's still time to recruit additional backers, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over the next 6 days to make sure that everyone has all of the information they need to support the project in the way that works best for them.

Review topics to cover over these final days:

• Reward Tiers
• Add-Ons
• Stretch Goal Rewards
• Final Checklist & Next Steps

Whether you're just forming a small cell or part of a larger conspiracy, these are good items to review to make sure that we all end up where we want to be.

(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out the MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS that have been posted - the entire manuscript will be available to review before the campaign concludes).

BACKER REWARD TIERS

Like it says right at the top of the campaign page, we've come together to help create a traditionally printed game book featuring those who take a stand against the darkness, the second edition of  Hunter: The Vigil, a game to tell stories set within the Chronicles of Darkness. To borrow an analogy that I've used in past Kickstarter campaigns, this works similar to the "Viewers Like You" support campaign from your local PBS Station (for those who get American television channels or watched Sesame Street in the pre-HBO era): There are various levels of support that you can pledge to, and these come with various levels of rewards offered as a thank you. Like getting a tote bag or t-shirt when you give money to public broadcasting to fund them doing their thing, you can get rewards for helping Onyx Path work on this project.

Let's review the Backer Reward Tiers to ensure that you've pledged to a Reward Tier that provides all the rewards you wish to receive.

 Lighting the Candle: Digital Only or Hardcover + PDF 

The main reward offered in this campaign is, of course, the main goal of the entire proposition: the Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition rulebook. The first decision you need to make in figuring out your reward tier is whether you want to receive a digital PDF version or if you want the hardcover book.

PDF ONLY REWARD TIERS:

• TIER-ONE HUNTER
• TIER-TWO HUNTER

These are PDF-only reward tiers. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the shipping charges that seem to be ever-increasing - these are the reward tier options that you should begin with. The PDF will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com - when it is ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library and be able to download at your leisure.

HARDCOVER+PDF REWARD TIERS:

• TIER-THREE HUNTER
• VIGIL COMPACT
• VIGIL CONSPIRACY
• INNER CIRCLE REGISTRY
• LEGENDARY HUNTER
• MOST WANTED

These reward tiers include the traditionally-printed hardcover version of this book. That means the books are produced in a large print run at one time, and will have the best production values, from color clarity and appearance to binding and materials. In addition, these options also include the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.

And, yeah, there's also the RARE RELIC DEALER Retail Tier if you're a pre-approved retail backer!

The only Reward Tier that does not include the PDF version of the book is the CONSPIRACY THEORIST tier. You should select this Reward Tier if you want to read the manuscript previews posted in the Backers-Only updates (and continue to have access to them after the campaign ends) but do not wish to receive either a PDF or hardcover version of the final book.

You'll note that the middle column - Access to Manuscript Previews - is included in ALL reward tiers. That's one of the perks of participating in this kickstarter campaign!

MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS – All Reward Tiers include access to Backers-Only manuscript previews. With the exception of the final two chapters (which will be posted on Monday and Wednesday), I have posted the entire manuscript across multiple sections. You must be a kickstarter backer to access these previews, as the link will remain in a backers-only update post. The manuscript previews likely will not be available to those who pre-order the book at a later date.

Choosing Your Reward Tier

There has been some churn over this past week - a few Reward Tier adjustments and changes by backers, as budgets changed and parts of the manuscript were released. In these final days it's best to ensure that you've selected the Reward Tier that offers you the options and rewards you want to receive and are ready to lock down. This timing - before the campaign ends - is the absolute most affordable and inclusive these rewards will be, and will save headaches and heartbreaks if fully considered now.

WAIT! What about special reward tiers?!

Right! In addition to our "core" Reward Tiers, we've got another area for consideration. These are the Premium Rewards.

Multiple Copies

If you are backing for yourself and a friend (or just want a second copy for your collection), the VIGIL COMPACT Tier was designed for you. If you're the point person for your entire gaming group (or just really really like Hunter: The Vigil, no judgements!), then the VIGIL CONSPIRACY Tier gets you five copies of the book.

And, if you are a retailer interested in making this available in your store, a special retailer tier, the RARE RELIC DEALER tier is open to you upon prior approval from Onyx Path (please email [email protected] prior to selecting this reward to confirm your status).

As noted on the main page of our campaign, shipping outside the US has gotten quite expensive. Splitting the shipping cost across multiple copies in a single shipment is one way to bring the cost per book down, if you're able to coordinate your backing and delivery with friends.

Premium Reward Tiers

These special reward tiers offer some enhanced interaction with the setting, from submitting a name that will be used for a NPC that will be included in a supplemental book (Tending the Flame, which we've added via Stretch Goal achievement!), getting an insert signed by as many of the creative team as we can manage, or the opportunity to submit reference photos and serve as an art model for an interior illustration.

These options are extremely limited. If you were interested in a premium reward tier that is completely accounted for, keep an eye on them during the final days of the campaign, as there is sometimes movement that opens them up as we approach the conclusion.

Summary

So, with all of that said - consider your Reward Tier selection. Are you backing to receive your copy of the PDF or hardcover version of Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition? Did you jump on one of the limited premium reward options?

Make sure your Reward Tier matches what you're looking for - or, at least, covers most of what you're interested in. Tomorrow, we'll cover Add Ons and talk about how to tweak your Reward List to ensure you're getting anything that might be missing from your list.

And, with that, we continue our vigil. Let's lock in our Reward Tiers and keep working towards growing the project so everyone has a chance to join in. DO NOT MISS OUT! And on to our final week and our campaign conclusion!

#HunterTheVigil

#HTV2E

#FinalWeek

The Very Creative Team - In-depth Interviews with Developer Monica Valentinelli
about 4 years ago – Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 12:05:22 PM

Hey there Hunters and Vigil Investigators!

A lot of our backers like to check behind the curtain, look under the hood, and see how the sausage is made. That is, they like to hear more about how these books come together and how these move from a notebook page of ideas to the manuscript we're reading during this campaign.

And, for those who haven't joined in yet and are just checking us out, maybe these insights will help you make your decision to stand vigil with us! All backers will have access to the complete KS Draft manuscript before the end of the campaign. So, sign up and check it out!

So, back to that insight into how this comes together.

To celebrate the Kickstarter campaign for Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition, developer Monica Valentinelli had some in-depth conversations with her team on their process, research, and other bits that got them working on their individual topics.

Our friends at FlamesRising.com have hosted these interviews, broken out below.

I've linked to some of these interesting conversations before, but here's the whole series. Check it out!

Interview series launch and Mysterious Places with Trip Galey/Matt Miller: http://www.flamesrising.com/htv2e-kickstarter-interview-mysterious-places/

Tilts and Conditions with Vera Vartanian: http://www.flamesrising.com/htv2e-deep-dive-into-tilts-and-conditions-with-vera-vartanian/

SWORN compact with Allen Turner: http://www.flamesrising.com/htv2e-introducing-the-new-hunter-compact-sworn/

Fiction and Monsters with Cassandra Khaw: http://www.flamesrising.com/htv2e-interview-with-cassandra-khaw/

The Code and Core Rules with Meghan Fitzgerald: http://www.flamesrising.com/htv2e-interview-with-meghan-fitzgerald/

The Slasher Chronicle with Chris Allen: http://www.flamesrising.com/htv2e-interview-with-chris-allen/

Thanks to Monica and the team for giving us this glimpse into the creation of Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition.

#HTV2E

#KeepTheVigil

BACKERS ONLY - Manuscript Preview - Mysterious Places
about 4 years ago – Fri, Feb 28, 2020 at 03:19:46 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Final Week: Be An Ambassador
about 4 years ago – Thu, Feb 27, 2020 at 07:25:05 AM

Hello Hunters!

We're officially in the FINAL WEEK of the kickstarter campaign. I've still got three manuscript preview downloads to post (including the Mysterious Places chapter coming tomorrow!) and at least one more fiction piece by Cassandra Khaw, but I'll also be sharing a bunch of book-keeping-type posts about Reward Tiers & Add-Ons, Stretch Goals, and What Comes Next, and this one, which is all about recruiting new backers during this final phase of the campaign.

First, let me say - in the past few days we've crossed 300% of our initial funding target and have more than 1500 backers participating in this project! We've unlocked EIGHT Stretch Goals and have number nine AND ten within our sights. Just like the compacts and conspiracies featured in this book, we're recruiting new members and standing vigil.

That's one of the awesome and inspiring things about kickstarter projects - you not only build the game (or update for a new edition, in this case), but you start to build a community around the project. I'm excited to keep adding rewards to this project -- especially the Tending the Flame supplement -- and hope to add even more! The final week usually picks up speed as we go along, and there's a ton of potential to add another 1, 2 or even more rewards! But to get there, we've got to increase the number of backers pledging to this campaign. Thus, the topic for today's update:

Be an Ambassador

I know, this is something I've already said many times (and seem to say during every project!), but for this final week, you are officially a duly-deputized ambassador for this Kickstarter project. It's time to light more candles and get others to join our vigil.

I know I end every update post with "Keep spreading the word! Invite others to join in!" - but what does that mean, and how do you do it?

Easy answer - don't stop talking about the Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition kickstarter until 2:01 PM next Thursday EST (when the campaign has ended). Yes, family and friends are tired of me talking about it (believe me!), but everything will go back to "normal" in just one week, and they've learned to tolerate me during a kickstarter campaign (for now). But here's the thing - there are others around who haven't heard or don't know about the campaign.

What Excites You?

The excitement and enthusiasm you've shown for this project and your love of the Chronicles of Darkness setting, and topics and themes covered in Hunter: The Vigil in particular, are empowering. I was late to get into Chronicles of Darkness, and really just started digging in a few years ago when Changeling: The Lost Second Edition came to kickstarter. The setting was really interesting and spoke to me strongly at the time, and when I dug in deeper, friends kept telling me, "This is cool and this is cool... but wait until you check out Hunter: The Vigil. That's the game for you!"

So, like many of you, I've been waiting and waiting for the past few years, as we got previews and hints and was super excited about seeing this project launch. Hunter: The Vigil, for me, is almost perfectly timed. There are definitely more monsters that even before, more pressing issues to deal with, and times when I feel like the truth of what's really going on is kept secret in the shadows. That's sounds probably more conspiratorial than it should, but you know what I mean! From advertising to news to social media brand management, everything seems to have a carefully scripted agenda.

Well, Hunters find out the truth. And then they deal with it. 

I love the passion of the characters - and the players! The themes of this game - the idea of standing vigil against the monsters that lurk in the shadows, banding together in the desperate fight, lighting your candle to burn away the darkness - well, that's just inspired and inspiring. 

That's the fuel that keeps us going.

Chronicles of Darkness, Hunter: The Vigil, the kickstarter comments and twitch streams, all of those things sustain us. So, don't feel shy about sharing your passion or shining some light in the darkness (which is a perfect metaphor for this game...) Let people know, give others the opportunity to get inspired and join the vigil, and like the kickstarter campaign itself... the more people we get participating in this project, in this passion, in this fun hobby ... well, we can grow from a cell to a compact to a conspiracy!.

Thumbs up to everyone who's shared a link to the kickstarter in an online forum, or posted an "I just backed this project" message to their social media - you've done all of the first steps that are critical during the first weeks of the campaign. Now, it's time to let others know why you are backing this project (and, therefore, why they should consider it as well).

That's the thing - for this final week, you don't just have to tell people the kickstarter exists. In addition, tell them what's got you excited about the game. What makes this an interesting and updated take on a classic setting? What kind of stories will you tell? What sources of inspiration are you running with? At this point, people may have seen the "Kickstarter now live!" posts. But the ones that always pull me in are things like:

• I'm thinking of building my own compact themed around..., or
• Here's a Slasher idea I have for my game..., or
• Thoughts on an Endowment for this kind of Conspiracy..., or
• Supernatural, Ghostbusters, Scooby Gang. My takes...

You know, the reason we all love this stuff! The stories! The drama! The twists and turns in gathering intel  and standing up in the face of overwhelming odds and likely defeat! Keeping the Vigil!

It's easy, at first glace, to assume this is just an old product with updated stats, but there's SO MUCH MORE going on in this book than a quick update and fresh coat of paint on the Chronicles of Darkness core rules.  Each of the compacts and conspiracies detailed includes several story hooks and plot possibilities, across many different styles of play! Sharing these unique hooks - and the fact that this book can be mined for pieces or used as a template for your own organizations - helps grab others and get them interested. Those are the things that pull my interest when I'm reading about games online.

When I start seeing conversations that spin out of posts or ideas like that, I get intrigued about the game. And that's when I click on the link. So, share your ideas! What parts of the manuscript have stirred your imagination? What pop culture touchstones do you want to adapt for your game? What style of game are you thinking of running, and what threads from the book will you incorporate? What kinds of challenges will you throw at your players?

There are tons of websites related to rpgs or horror stories or gaming in general. Now, all of those may not have forums for you to post on, or be an appropriate venue to share your ideas. But, if you are a member of any of those and feel like sharing your ideas about a new Hunter-based game, these final days are the time to do so!

And, if you feel that Hunter: The Vigil is maybe an excellent example of banding together to fight the system, humans against monsters, or a fun way to dip into the Chronicles of Darkness without playing a monsters (you hope!), then maybe share that too. Hearing friends and fans talk about the themes and ideas of this game is what got me excited and kept me eager for the past few years! It works!

Share the Links!

1) Don't forget to share a link to the kickstarter in your post (where appropriate).

2) Don't forget to tell us about your post! Come to the comments section and let us know so we can all go and contribute! I know I keep saying it, but really - these last days are key. Keep the enthusiasm high (hitting stretch goals certainly makes that easier!) and keep on inviting others to join in, either directly ("Come see...") or just by setting an example of your enthusiasm and interest.

We've achieved so much already - We've added additional content with the Tending the Flame supplement -- adding more support for Tier One and Two play!  -- and have added other Hunter collecting opportunities - but on these final days, we can take it to the next level! So, celebrate! Share the love! Share your enthusiasm! And be an ambassador for this final week... and let's see how strong we can finish and how much this project will grow over these final days!

At 1692 backers - New Add-On Reward: The Council of Bones' Transcripts —We’ll create a PDF bundle of first-edition titles that can be added to any reward tier for only $3. This PDF bundle will include:

• Witchfinders [Hunter: The Vigil 1E] PDF
• Spearfinger [Hunter: The Vigil 1E] PDF
• Dark Eras: Doubting Souls [Hunter: The Vigil 1E] PDF

AT $92,000 in funding - Tending the Flame: Conspiracies — Help us fund a third chapter for the Player’s Companion for Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition. This chapter on Conspiracies would offer eight expanded conspiracy write-ups with hints of their long-term plans and goal, as well as their Endowments.

#StayVigilant

#HTV2E

Slaying Stretch Goals Rules!
about 4 years ago – Wed, Feb 26, 2020 at 08:14:03 AM

Hey there, Hunters!

Wow, our Stretch Goal achievements are piling up just like the snow on my driveway!

Before we highlight our latest Stretch Goal accomplishment, let's talk about something else that rules!

Rules!

OK, that's a stretch... wow, even when I don't mean to, I'm just unintentional terrible puns.

MEGHAN TALKS ABOUT RULES

To celebrate the Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition Kickstarter, devloper Monica Valentinelli reached out to members of her team for a series of in-depth interviews. Today, Monica chats with Meghan Fitzgerald who worked on rules for the new edition. Meghan is a tabletop game designer, developer, and writer (and a librarian, in another life). She’s also the current line developer for Changeling: The Lost and Mage: The Awakening lines from Onyx Path Publishing. She’s also worked on several other Onyx Path-published games, projects for Green Ronin as both writer and developer, and many others in the tabletop RPG industry.

Check out the interview HERE <Link>

We've just slain our EIGHTH Stretch Goal target!

Achieved! - At $77,000 in funding - Digital Wallpaper: An awesome digital wallpaper for your computer desktop featuring art from Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition. All backers will have this automatically added to their rewards list.

And next on our target sheet:

At 1692 backers - New Add-On Reward: The Council of Bones' Transcripts —We’ll create a PDF bundle of first-edition titles that can be added to any reward tier for only $3. This PDF bundle will include:

• Witchfinders [Hunter: The Vigil 1E] PDF
• Spearfinger [Hunter: The Vigil 1E] PDF
• Dark Eras: Doubting Souls [Hunter: The Vigil 1E] PDF

AT $92,000 in funding - Tending the Flame: Conspiracies — Help us fund a third chapter for the Player’s Companion for Hunter: The Vigil Second Edition. This chapter on Conspiracies would offer eight expanded conspiracy write-ups with hints of their long-term plans and goal, as well as their Endowments.

WE CAN DO IT!

We've got just over a week left, and we're currently sitting with 1544 backers, so we need fewer than 150 to unlock our next Stretch Goal opportunity! And that'll take us even closer to the one I'm really excited about - a giant section added to our Player's Companion, Tending the Flame. More Conspiracies and Endowments - yes, please!

I'll take more about it tomorrow, but the final week is really a great opportunity to spread the word and get more backers to join our cause! Light those candles and stand vigilant! Remember to share in your social circles and on your social media and let's knock a couple more Stretch Goals (or more!) off our list before finishing big!

#HunterTheVigil

#HTV2E