Thank You!
about 3 years ago – Tue, Mar 23, 2021 at 12:25:59 AM

Thank you all for supporting the Lock and Key Kickstarter campaign! It has succeeded well beyond my initial hopes, and because of you, we're going to be making not one, but three great books.

I'll provide more detail of what comes next in the next few days, but tonight I want want to celebrate this great success and again thank you for your support.

-Matthew

One Stretch Goal Down, One to Go!
about 3 years ago – Fri, Mar 19, 2021 at 09:14:12 PM

Hello again Lock and Key Backers. This morning we hit another stretch goal, to add more art to How About a Nice Piece of Rope.

Up next is another big stretch goal. When we hit $2,000 we'll add a third book to the series, chosen by the backers. Whatever it is, we'll do a D&D 5e, Pathfinder 2e, and Savage Worlds version of the book, which we'll send to every back at the $5 and higher level.

At the same time, if we hit that level we'll add another option to get the three books in print as a single collected volume.

With just three days left in the campaign, we're already starting to see the pace increase again. It will continue to increase tomorrow and Thursday, and I'm confident we'll be able to fund book three before the end of the campaign.

Thanks,

Matthew

New Stretch Goals, Future Books, and an Interview
about 3 years ago – Thu, Mar 18, 2021 at 06:33:56 PM

Hello Lock and Key Backers

As I write this, we are just $9 away from hitting our biggest stretch goal yet, adding a second book to the series called How About a Nice Bit of Rope. When we hit that goal, everybody who is at the $5 level will get a PDF copy of the new book for 5e, Pathfinder 2e, and Savage Worlds.

Speaking of the $5 level, if just five people upgrade from one of the $3 levels to the $5 level, well be there!

New Stretch Goals

As we're about to hit the final original stretch goal and there are eight days left in the campaign, I've added two more stretch goals. The first is to add some more art to How About a Nice Piece of Rope at $1,600. Then when we reach $2,000 we'll add a third book to the series, with a theme choose by you the backers. 

Several people have asked about print books. Each of these mini-books is too short to print on its own, bit I think when we hit $2,000 I'll also include an option to get a collection of all three books as a single print volume.

When I last updated I had thought about releasing the survey mid-campaign, but I've decided to wait until the end of the campaign so that all backers will have a chance.

Thanks to your comments on the previous post, I've got a great list of possible themes going. There's still plenty of time to add suggestions, but here's the current list:

• Light sources 
• Containers (maybe split into cloth containers like bags, and hard ones like chests)
• Writing material 
• Portals (doors and windows)
• Furniture 
• Art 
• Disguises 
• Clothing 
• Bookshelves (maybe combine with furniture or books)
• Books
• Tools (might split into several books)

Thinking Ahead

With so many great idea, plus all the support I've gotten so far, I think there's a good chance that of this becoming a series beyond the books funded by this Kickstarter campaign. I'm considering doing another Kickstarter campaign similar to this one after I've fulfilled everything here, but I'm also thinking about doing a Patreon instead. I've never run a Patreon before though so I'm curious to hear people's thoughts. Would you be interested is supporting a Patreon for this series?

Interview

I recently did a Zoom interview with YouTuber Mike Sixel (who also happens to be friend of mine), in which we talked about many aspects of running a game company, including our current Kickstarter campaign for Lock and Key. If you are interested is learning a little bit of the behind the scenes world of game publishing check it out. 

Thanks all,

Matthew

Stretch Goal and Nominate a Third Book
about 3 years ago – Thu, Mar 18, 2021 at 06:30:52 PM

Hello Lock and Key backers,

We've hit another stretch goal! Because we've reached $1,000 we're going to add several additional pieces of art to Lock and Key.

The next goal is the most exciting one, when we reach $1,200 we'll create a second mini-supplement How about a Nice Piece of Rope? 

We're just over halfway through the campaign, so we should hit that goal soon and sail past it. I think there's a good chance that we'll be able to go even further and fund a third book. What is the theme? You're going to help decide! I'll run a poll in a little bit, but I want to take some nominations first. Ideas I've had include light sources like torches and lanterns, containers like sacks and backpacks, and writing materials like pen an ink. Do you have other ideas? If so leave a comment and I'll include them in the poll.

Thanks, 

Matthew

Savage Worlds Unlocked!
about 3 years ago – Thu, Mar 18, 2021 at 06:30:11 PM

Hello again Lock and Key backers,

We've hit another stretch goal, this time unlocking a Savage Worlds version of Lock and Key. Everybody who backs at the $5 level will now get 5e, Pathfinder 2e, and Savage Worlds Adventure Edition copies of the book, plus I've added another $3 level for those who just want the Savage Worlds version.

Our next stretch goal is to add more interior art to Lock and Key when we reach $1,000. Right now we've the treasure chest image we're using for the Kickstarter campaign, plus images for the monsters. I'd love to include a few more illustrations for some of the other content in the book.

After that, we're looking at the big stretch goal. If we reach $1,200 well add a second book in the series, this time with a rope theme. We're well on track to reach this goal, and we may even hit it with enough time left in the campaign that we add a goal for a third book. What will be the theme of book three? I don't know yet, you'll help decide.

-Matthew