This last two weeks were about finalizing the Bestiary PDF, getting the Quick-Reference cards ready to print, and a whole bunch of shipping-related hassle.

• The printer had a bit of slop in the schedule, so we took the opportunity to detail-scrub the book a few more times. The latest version of the PDF is u20220223 and it has a bunch of stat-tweaks and fixes, plus finally fixing the bookmarking issue that put all the monsters under “Acolyte” for reasons only known to Adobe
• I pushed out four versions of the monster tokens
• I sent the final complete files including cover and interior to the printer; printing is schedule to start Sunday!
• I went through and created both the Core Deck and Expansion Deck reference cards, sent files to my card printer, and had those approved as well
• I then created the “print your own” PDF file from that and pushed that to vendors
• Work on the VTT module has started with Nick and Nose. That’s actually the last piece of content creation pending
• So we’re down to manufacturing and logistics, which is non-trivial.
  • I have manufacturing of books in Eastern Europe, and cards here in MN, and inventory here in MN
  • I have to stage stuff in the UK and in Baltimore
  • The most pressing question at the moment is how and when to divide the books coming out of Eastern Europe, how much, and how long. Unsurprisingly, given how small my order is (600kg of books total), the largest expense is getting it on a ship, and then my per-kg cost after that is low. The thing that will almost certainly decide it is expected import/export charges to pass through the UK, and quantity and price of direct shipping from continental Europe to the US vs the UK to the US.
  • I got a tentative estimate for when the cards will be ready that pleases me.
• I did actually do some “future revenue” writing as well as conversations with a few people who might write for me.
• I started looking into migrating my eCommerce to not-Wordpress/WooCommerce.
• I really need a short break.

Gaming Ballistic Patreon

To help with ongoing funding of art and speed eventual time to delivery, Gaming Ballistic started a Patreon in January 2021. Here’s the weekly update on Patreon status.

• Membership status: 63 patrons and $504 per month.
• Special Content: An essay on Undead, and which are mooks, worthies, bosses, and apex.

Steady going and lots of help this month. Lost a patron it seems, but maybe picked one up. Sometimes the changes don’t register right.

Gaming Ballistic in Media

• GMShadow Plays finishes up Crypt of Krysuvik

Currently Manufacturing/Fulfilling/Shipping

Projects where hardcopies and PDFs are going out or scheduled to do so.

Nordlondr Ovinabokin: Bestiary

• Pretty much final version of Bestiary PDF is in the distribution net.
• Tokens (one of four sets with variations for folks) distributed
• QR Cards distributed in PDF form
• Manufacturing commencing Real Soon Now on both books (estimated complete on or before March 11) and cards (slightly before the books)
• VTT Module being worked by Nick and Nose and I’m helping when they ask

Crowdfunding and Product Launches

The Bestiary Kickstarter is in the fulfillment stage

I need to start planning The Next Thing.

Product Announcements

The full Product Catalog is still out there.

I still need to update the catalog. It’s been that kind of month year.

In Development

Writing and content creation for announced projects. Some of this may be cryptic.

• Inns and Taverns, by Marshall LaPira. Systemless. Revised tavern submitted on Nov 11, returned with comments in early November. Poked author recently on progress now that Bestiary is in finalization.
• Two Warring Houses, by Douglas Cole. Systemless. Actually saw some writing over Valentine’s Day.
• Nordlondr Bestiary, by Douglas Cole. Dungeon Fantasy RPG. See above, workin’ hard.
• Secret Stuff: I’m in communication with other authors and working on my own ideas for 2022. Now that Bestiary is in the final stages, more of my time needs to go to creating new things.

Friction

Bits of news and items that put a monkey in the wrench.

• Logistics of this project are really complex. This is basically the fault of international shipping, which is no surprise.
• The difficulty of getting firm pricing on shipping for international stuff is far too high, even with experienced partners. Their price estimation tools always seem to neglect things like “tons of taxes” or a “Oh, it’s an extra $20 per item of express fees beyond postage, handling, and VAT for DDP.” We’re all tired of “international shipping sucks,” but wow, international shipping sucks.
• And that’s assuming books are in place, which they’re not. Moving stuff around so that all my needed inventory is where it must go? Annoying.
• I had a really rough time putting the cards together and clarifying the order size with my vendor, and that was all on me, due to many balls in the air at once.

Fair Winds

Information about things that move GB forward.

• The other part of international stuff other than the books is the various inventory coming from the USA, but fortunately, it’s going to be a small box: maybe 14kg of cards and books. That’s one small box and “shouldn’t” be too awful.
• I’m going to be moving something like 300 lbs of books and cards domestically when the time comes. That will at least be EASIER than any of this international stuff.