3d STL update, resin production update
over 5 years ago – Thu, Jul 11, 2019 at 02:37:18 AM

Hello Dragonbonded!

First we want to show you one of the first Kuxcoatls to come out from production, the parts fit perfectly and the build is quite easy to do; the resin looks great and it captured every detail of the feathers and came out magnificent.

STL files

STL files are due for delivery next week. This first delivery will include the 3 base dragons offered in the campaign, including their extra head options and also the damaged battle scar parts for those who added the STL bundle 2. There are differences in the splitting we did for resin manufacturing and the 3d print parts. All the 3d printed pieces will require supports of your choice in both FDM and Resin printing. Below is the final split for Kuxcoatl.

The main differences from the resin build is that the tail was merged into a single piece because 3d printing does not need to be cast so we were able to join some pieces. Similar tho this, the open-mouthed head was joined into a single piece. The claws were left separate since in test printing the fingers were quite hard to print correctly unless printing upright. 

All the STL files with come pre-oriented in what we used for test prints, however we recommend that you rotate and orient them to the best of your knowledge so you get the best prints depending on your machine, settings and material. 

The biggest parts of this dragon are the wings measuring 135x110x100 mm so even the wings should fit in any FDM machine with a bed of 6x6x6 inches. For resin we recommend either scaling the model down or printing hybrid (larger parts on FDM and smaller more intricate parts in resin).

Here is a small comparison between the dragon, on the left is the resin cast piece (Battle Scars head) as example of the quality of the final pieces people will be getting with the physical rewards, center is a resin print, printed on a Wanhao7 DLP resin machine with 50 micron layers, and finally to the right is the FDM dragon printed on a prusa MK3, with 100 micron layers in PLA. 

As you can see the quality is definitely great in all formats and no matter what you chose you will be very happy! 

Since we are getting closer to start sending the STL files please hurry up and start completing your survey here. Remember you will still be able to add or change your selection of add-ons later.

Minor fixes in the pledge manager
over 5 years ago – Thu, Jun 20, 2019 at 12:41:10 AM

Hello dragonbonded,

This is a very quick update to let you know about some minor errors in the configuration of the surveys that are now fixed and clarifications about the pledges.

• Bakers in the STL reward tier are now able to see dice, prints and other physical add-ons. If you select any of these, you will need to input your mailing address later in the survey.
• STL bundle 2 had an error in the settings and requested for mailing address. Since this is a digital item, no mailing address is needed now. This issue is now fixed.
• Most pledge levels (Dragon miniatures and STL files reward tier) already includes the STL bundle 1 which contains all dragon models (full-body), alternate heads and scenic bases. The STL bundle 2 is not included in any reward level unless you select it as an add-on; STL bundle 2 includes Dragon busts, Breath weapons and battle scar parts.
• Pledge manager will remain open until when we have finished all models for the campaign. This includes scenic bases, battle scars, breath weapons and, of course, all dragons and their busts. However, you can answer your survey today with preliminary selections and still make changes as we share with you the models. This helps us to estimate a preliminary manufacture plan.

Most popular dragon is Kuxcoatl so far (both, miniature and art).

At this point all backers should have already received an e-mail with the link to their survey. If you can't find it, look for the SPAM folder, Promotions folder or a similar tag. You can always recover your survey here: https://dragonsoftheredmoon.backerkit.com/

50% of you have already answered your surveys, THANK YOU! As said before, by answering fast you are really helping us to move forward; the production staff can plan accordingly to the amount of dragons and add-ons for each shipping wave; also when we send the first batch of STL files next month your e-mail will be already included and we can avoid re-sending files. Remember that you can answer your survey today and still make changes in the coming months; we will not lock surveys until when we have shown all models for all add-ons. 

Please let us know if you run into any other issues with the pledge manager and we will fix them as soon as possible.

Pledge manager going live
over 5 years ago – Wed, Jun 19, 2019 at 02:20:40 AM

Hello dragonbonded,

Surveys will arrive today; with that, the most important decision is to pick your dragon miniature(s). We have prepared this image so you can see them all together and help you make your choice:

We will start with a smoke test which allows us to send surveys to 5% of the backers from each pledge level just to make sure everything runs smoothly and/or make changes to the settings of the surveys if required. After that, we will send the rest of them.

Within the next 24hrs you will receive an e-mail from Draco Studios/Backerkit with a link to your survey to include all the important info regarding your pledge. If you do not receive anything by tomorrow, please check your SPAM folder or go to this link: https://dragonsoftheredmoon.backerkit.com/

In your survey, you need to complete some steps, don't worry, Backerkit will guide you.

• Confirm or change your reward tier and country. If you wish to change your pledge level, you can do so here (below the green "Get Started!" button, select on "switch your pledge level". Please note that all rewards from the new pledge level will be sent at the latest shipping wave. If you prefer to have split shipping, you can add more items later in the survey.

• Answer some basic questions; including selecting the dragons you want to get, whether you wishtotake split shipping (extra fees) or have us send your rewards altogether at the latest shipping wave they apply (more about this later), voting for your favorite dragon (we will include the top 2 in the art for the GM screen) and an invitation to subscribe to our mailist in case you wish to know more about our future releases.

• Include any additional items for your pledge or allocating extra funds pledged during the campaign for them or paying for them during checkout. Backerkit will show you the balance due based on the funds you pledged on Kickstarter, the items you may have included and shipping fees which are calculated depending on weight and region.

• Submit your mailing address only if you are expecting a physical reward. This is very important because it is the only way for us to know where to send your rewards.

• If you have balance due, (for shipping or extra add-ons) you will be required to submit your credit or debit card information for payment. Note that Backerkit is a secure site and they have been working on hundreds (probably thousands) of campaigns. Your payment info will be stored in an encrypted way because you will not be charged after completing your survey, but at a later date when we lock surveys in September.

• Finally, place your order to confirm everything. If you miss to place your orders, the system will not mark your survey as completed. You may return to complete or modify it later (your info is saved) but the sooner you complete your survey, the better for us to keep manufacturing the proper amount of miniatures for each dragon.
• After completing your survey you can tweet or post about it which will let people know that we are accepting pre-orders too. Please note that the cost for pre-orders is higher than for Kickstarter pledges but still lower than MSRP. Kickstarter backers get the best deal :)

Regarding the dates; these are the approximate dates which may vary slightly.

• Surveys: June 18th - 19th. Please fill your surveys as soon as possible, you will not be charged until a later date. 
• Lock-surveys: September 1st. At this point you will still be able to modify your mailing address but not the content of your survey so we know how many items to produce.  
• Charge cards: September 3rd. We will charge credit cards here so we can cover manufacture expenses for add-ons. 
• Lock addresses: September 1st. We will remind you about this when the date is closer, in case you need to change your mailing address.  

Now, let's discuss in depth some considerations:

**For backers at the highest reward tiers per shipping wave, we did not want to take for granted you wanted one of each dragon (maybe some of you want to get the same dragon multiple times for campaign purposes or different painting schemes) so regardless of the amount of dragons you are getting, you will be prompted to select each dragon you want.

** Remember that for wave one and two not all the models are available; only Aureus, Kuxcoatl, and Sivax for wave 1 and Aureus, Kuxcoatl, Sivax, Nixis, and Baastherox for wave 2. From wave 3 and forth all dragons are available. If you still want to get a dragon not available at your shipping wave your order will be elegible for split shipping or the proper shipping wave where all models are available. 

** A quick reminder that breath weapons and bases are not universal, each one fits only to its dragon.

** If your pledge level does not include physical items and you wish to get some of them, you will need to change your pledge level in the first step after opening your survey. Physical add-ons are only visible for pledge levels which include at least one. Remember that the STL bundle 1 is free for all backers getting at least 1 dragon miniature!

** If you pledged without reward and you wish to get some digital or physical rewards, you need to change your pledge level first. 

Split shipping

At the beginning of your survey, you will be asked whether you prefer to save on shipping fees and receive your rewards together at the shipping wave the latest reward applies, or have them arrive separately at the earliest shipping wave each reward is available (for extra shipping fees).

This applies mostly in case you select any extra dragons as add-ons or choose models not available in your shipping wave. 

Split shipping will allow you to get your rewards earlier as they are finished and will mark a $11 USD extra shipping fee which will be modified in our end on August according to your region:

• United States: $11 (no changes needed)
• Canada: $19 (+$8 USD)
• Europe zone 1: $17 (+$6 USD)
• Rest of Europe: $25 (+$14 USD)
• Asia zone 1: $13 (+$2 USD)
• Rest of Asia: $25 (+$14 USD)
• Australia & New Zealand: $25 (+$14 USD)
• Rest of the World: $50 (+$39 USD)

Local pickup

At this point we can only confirm about having local pickup for Mexico city at our workshop. If you are in Mexico city and want to personally pickup your rewards please place "LOCAL PICKUP" at the Address Name field. Your survey will still reflect the shipping cost, but YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED YET. Before September, we will assign complimentary credit to your order to cover shipping fees. Then, we will send you an e-mail with the address and date for when you will be able to pick up your rewards.

Having local pickup at international conventions *might* be possible but we will cover that in a case by case basis when the time comes. Looking for refund the proper costs whether in additional product or with a reimbursement.

Dragon parts Bundle: EXCLUSIVE FOR KICKSTARTER BACKERS

We have created a special bundle item, not available in preorders (just for backers),  which includes all the dragon parts (Bust, Scenic base, breath weapon, battle scars). Each of them vary in price depending on the dragon; regardless of your choice, the bundle offers $5 off. 

We are thinking this is appealing for backers who want to introduce their dragons into RPG campaigns or fully costumize their miniatures.

Extra

As backers ourselves in many campaigns, we understand about having confidence in Kickstarter creators being able to fulfill the project. Because of that we want to let you know that our campaign for Eldritch Century miniatures is already being fulfilled and backers are already getting their rewards. Also, we want to show you the very firs assembled Kuxcoatl reproduced from the master print:

We are super proud and excited about the results. From Tom Babbey and Draco Studios's creative team behind Kuxcoatl's appearance, to our sculptor Daniel Ehrli from Axolote Gaming and all the staff from Draco Forge who are working hard to achieve the best results for these miniatures!

If you are excited for these images as we are, show the team a little love hitting the "like" button on this update!

STL Fulfillment

We are expecting to be able to send the very first STL files in July. For this, we require backers to fill their surveys as soon as possible. 

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Thank you very much for your patience and support in this journey!

Rawraxxa, Dehrilya, Backerkit and STL delivery update!
over 5 years ago – Wed, Jun 12, 2019 at 10:38:40 PM

Hi Dragonbonded!

Today we have a lot of information so let's get started.

Rawraxxa, the Perfect Hunter

- I really liked the idea of having these neat, orderly repeating rows of jagged scales on her, like a desert sidewinder snake. The scales thin out and gradually give way to a pebbly leathery skin on the wings, her frills, and connective tissue by her limbs. The whole effect, along with her backswept wings and crest, give her this “forward momentum” feel. I also wanted to push the “apex predator” aspect of her...as most of the dragons so far use altered big cat anatomy for the basis of thier body, i thought it might be fun to go with the more font-heavy, backwards-sloping build of a hyena for her..it’s subtle, but i think it sets her apart from the others nicely- Tom Babbey

Dehrilya, the Forge Queen

- I loved the idea of another dragon taking flight like Kuxcoatl, and she seemed to be the best option for it, rising up and turning slightly towards her prey , like a fallen fiend or demon taking flight. I pushed the fiery concept in her irregular scale patterns as well, giving them a look similar to cooled lava, and her spines have a shape like flames. Her tail is more compressed than say Aureus’, more flattened like an iguana’s tail and less round. I thought she would be the perfect dragon to give the old-school “spade tail” design to, but updated. She’s probably one of my favorites so far, mostly because of how unique she feels - Tom Babbey

There we have it! the last two of the Great Wyrms, all of us at Draco Studios think Tom really did all the dragons justice and created some awesome and unique dragons, They are shaping our universe and will set it apart from others. Tell us what you think, oh and also you might notice these are full color and in their final form, so let's see the other two:

Let us know your thoughts at our community forums!

STL delivery

We have been hearing you, and we know you are impatient for the STL files, we are making the final preparations and splitting on them. They should be ready two weeks after the Backerkit surveys are launched, this will give us time so that most of you answer your surveys (especially those with only STL files) and we can then start delivering them; we will make this "first round" and then probably send codes every few weeks, so we can send out multiple codes at once. For people who want to add more dragons to their pledge later through Backerkit but also want the STL codes soon, you can answer your pledge and reopen it before the final deadline to add more items.

Gen Con

We are hard at work to be ready for Gen Con. We plan to have the first 3 dragons ready for display so you can amaze yourselves with these miniatures. Also, we are hosting events for an RPG on the Epic Encounters against Baastherox. We might have some early copies of Kuxcoatl ready for local pickup at Gen Con, but we will have more news about this later. 

Surveys coming soon

Now that all dragons have been finished and revealed you all can make an informed decision about which dragons you want. Surveys will be sent next Tuesday with a smoke test on Monday to 5% of the backers (random) so that you can let us know if everything runs smoothly or if we need to make some changes to the surveys. We are getting closer! Please keep an eye open for an e-mail from Backerkit / Draco Studios next week and answer your survey as soon as possible.

Thanks for your patience and support!

Nixis the Dracolich. Lair Art, Dice!
over 5 years ago – Tue, Jun 04, 2019 at 01:51:11 AM

Nixis

 I kind of had to think how she would think in order to figure out how she would look...as she’s undead, i I imagine she would shape herself the most out of the Great Wyrms. I knew right away that I wanted her to be completely skeletal, with no rotting flesh. I wanted this for a few reason; From a “in world” standpoint, she’s so old that any remnants of flesh would have rotted off long ago. From a character-standpoint, I like to think that she finds elegance in bone , and beauty in the repetitive order of things, including the skeleton. She’s vain, and she wouldn’t leave “bits” of skin on herself. From a miniature standpoint, I didn’t want her to feel like every other dracolich , which ends up looking like a dragon zombie. Her unlife is a conscious decision, and her appearance should match that. I also love how her skeletal wing frames look almost like the upturned body of a dead spider , adding to the “creepy” element of her look. To push this further, I designed her as a front-heavy dinosaur, so she uses her wings to walk (and to fly, obviously...undead do not need muscles to move, so why should she need wing membranes to fly?) and her hands are free. - Tom Babbey

Hello Dragonbonded!

This week we have a lot to show, starting with Nixis in all her might, we think Tom nailed it with the design and we like to include a small insight into his awesome design process which is just as beautiful as the final rendition of the dragons themselves. 

We expect more drawings soon, but we also have other things to show!

Dice

This is the latest revision of the dice we have, as you can see we are working with Q Workshop, which is standard for quality, these dice are sure to be a great addition to any collection.

Landscapes

We are working on the remaining Lair art, here is a small preview of Kuxcoatl's Lair, the Red Moon is vast and it has a great variety of biomes shaped by the Great Wyrms themselves. 

That wraps up this update, we know a lot of you are anxious for the Pledge Manager, we want to wait a bit more until we get the final dragon designs, they will help you make an informed decision on what you want for your pledge. 

As always thanks for your support!