A Sneak Peak at Ryoko's Races and Finalising Order Surveys Coming Soon!
over 2 years ago – Fri, Oct 27, 2023 at 07:06:39 AM

Finalising Orders

What's up, everyone? Backerkit Surveys are coming very soon: they will be ready by the end of next week! That is the place where you will enter your shipping information, choose the VTT you want (if you grabbed the VTT add-on or a tier that includes it), and pay for the shipping and tax. It's also where, if your Kickstarter pledge didn't go through for any reason, you'll be able to pay in full and still be entitled to your free dice if you initially backed during the campaign (even if your payment didn't go through at the time). 

You can enter your shipping address on that survey as well. Don't worry if you're not sure that you'll have the same address next year! If your shipping address changes you'll have an option to update it before we ship, so no worries there. It's also the place to add any add-ons, like the Bombuku's Notebook of Knowhow book for your players, or more dice if you want to grow your treasure horde!

In order to make sure everything is working, we'll run a "smoke test" late next week. That's where we take a very small number of backers at random, and send them the survey early just to make sure everything is working. Once they get back upon completing it and we're sure everything is working okay, we'll fire it out to everybody.

Beta PDFs This December 

Meanwhile, everything is going great with the books on our end! We're finalising small things, including adding the unlocked stretch goals like the new Fusion Element Bender, and are in the proofing, layout and arrangement process in preparation for the PDF Beta release this December. That's when you'll be able to dive in, have a blast, look around, and let us know if anything isn't jelling quite right or needs more clarification. After collecting your feedback, we'll upgrade and clarify everything that needs it, and that's when we create the final version, send it through to the printers, and to all of you as a final PDF. That's scheduled for next April, with the playtest period looking to end late January/early February.

It's all running smoothly, but I'll be damned, I can't help but share a sneak peak at the races to hold you over for December: here's every race in the book! We've got: Atatsu, Fuyohren, Haniwa, Isetsu, Kitsune, Ryōkido, Nishikin, Oniborne (Blue, Red, and Green), Enkoh (Hulking and Springtail), Tatsumi, and Tengu (Hanataka and Karasu). And they're looking beautiful...

Projects We Love

Our friends Legends of Avantris have just one week left in their Kickstarter. To celebrate the epic support on The Crooked Moon, they are giving away a free set of Pumpkin King dice to all backers who get any physical item! The Crooked Moon is bringing Folk Horror to 5e with a full adventure for players levels 1-13, a setting guide and tons of brand new player options, such as 15 subclasses, 13 new races, tons of spells, items and more. Check them out here! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/legendsofavantris/the-crooked-moon-folk-horror-in-5e?ref=c5syu4

If you've any questions, you can submit them in the comments to this update, the project updates, or, even better, on the #ryokos-guide-questions channel of the Loot Tavern Discord Server.

Will and the Team

Ryoko's Kickstarter Finish, a Slip Case Add-On, and Backerkit Goes Live!
over 2 years ago – Thu, Oct 12, 2023 at 08:44:00 AM

We Did It!

The biggest D&D 5e Kickstarter ever, the first D&D 5e Kickstarter to pass $3 million, and the first kickstarter to DARE to create a stat block for a sentient sandal has come to a close! But it's far from the end, because...

The Next Steps

It's time to start pledge management! People who backed the KS will recieve an email in two weeks where you can:

• Give us your shipping info
• Add any addons you like
• Raise your pledge level
• Upgrade your book covers from core to deluxe
•  Add the artbook and slipcase (you must add both as all three books need to be in the slipcase)
• Confirm your desire to receive you free dice (if applicable)

That's right, we managed to sort out a Slip Case add-on for everyone in the Game-Ready, Core Box, and Deluxe Box tier. (The All-In gets the slipcase by default).

Here's how this works: The slipcase will be packaged by the manufacturer with the three books inside of it and packed as a single unit (which should prevent damage in transit). If you're in the Deluxe Box tier, you can simply add the slipcase addon ($20). If you're in the Game-Ready or Core Box tier, you can add both the Art Book and the slipcase ($60).  In the GR and CB tiers you can also upgrade both covers, add the art book, and add the slipcase ($120).

In all cases, all three books and the slipcase appear as a single line item in your basket,  "Core Book Bundle - with Slipcase" for the core covers, and "Deluxe Book Bundle - with Slipcase" for the deluxe covers.

Already Added the Artbook. If you already added the Art Book as an addon in Kickstarter and choose to get teh slipcase bundle, let us know and we'll remove the Art Book addon so that you don't get two of them.

Pledge Management. We'll have a more in depth 'How To' on pledge management closer to the time!

Ryoko's available for Pre-Order!

Ryoko's has a pre-order store on Backerkit, where folks who missed out the Kickstarter campaign can still pick it up! We're honouring all the prices/rewards/tiers on the Kickstarter page on the BackerKit pre-order store, so that those who found out about the project late or couldn't save up in time (please be financially responsible, this is just a game!) can get the same rewards. The only difference is the free dice - those are for KS backers only!

New Addons. In your peldge managers and on the Backerkit pre-order store you'll find what y'all have been asking for: MORE d6s baby!! For both the Yokai Dawn and Eternal Soul (Sharp-Edged) dice we have the Sneak Attack Pack (3d6), Fireball Pack (8d6), and the Meteor Swarm Pack (20d6)!!

Tax and Shipping. We're still painstakingly entering the tax amount for every addon and tier in every country, so anyone who uses the pre-order store will not see those amounts in their basket total. We will send an email to all pre-order backers when we finalise the tax and shipping prices and give you a week to check your comfortable with the values. Please be aware, tax in the UK and EU countries can be like 20%! We don't keep this, it goes to your governments!

A Final Thank You, and About That Last Stretch Goal...

(Look, this won't be the final thank you, we have a lot of reasons to say thank you!). I know we've said this a lot, but from the whole team, thank you so much for supporting Ryoko's Guide, your kindness and enthusiasm is incredible and inspiring, and we can't wait to share the PDFs with you later this year!

We did have one final stretch goal, the Bestiary Expansion, a series of statblocks based on every subclass in Ryoko's Guide. It was set at 3.5 million, so we just didn't quite make that one...

But, gosh darn it, we're gonna add it anyway!! We can see how much y'all wanted it, and went hard to get us there. It's the least we can do, and you more than earned it! These will be added for every pledge, coming free in the Ryoko's book!

If you've any questions, you can submit them in the comments to this update, the project updates, or, even better, on the #ryokos-guide-questions channel of the Loot Tavern Discord Server.

Will and the Team

The Final Day, The Final Stretch Goal Revealed, and A Gift!
over 2 years ago – Wed, Oct 11, 2023 at 09:03:48 AM

Ryoko's Final Day!

Well, here we are at the end, and unbelievably, it looks juuuuust possible we're going to be the first 5e kickstarter ever to break $3 million! That means we need to talk Stretch Goals!

I'm so hyped we unlocked these bard bois! The College of Masks is a super versatile, transformational subclass! It's almost like four subclasses in one, depending on how you choose to approach your build, with some trickery and subtle stagecraft-inspired abilities to mess with your enemies and manipulate the flow of battle!

But What If We Break $3 Million?

Well, firstly, that would be WILD! It's never been done before. Secondly, we've learned that this community really can do pretty much anything, so we're ready just in case. The $3 million dollar Stretch Goal means we commit to making a second book! We're coming back in the future, and this time, you'll be with us from day 1: getting access to the Alpha Tests, providing feedback and shaping the project together! It's a ways off yet, of course, but that future is one we'll take on together. 

Already all the community are coming up with inspiring ideas, a lot of folk have been asking about mecha-kaiju mechanics, as the party works in unison to pilot as a construct to battle gargantuan threats... 

Beyond $3 million, we have a stretch goal to bring a whole new level of immersion to your games! An ambience track for each adventure in Wrath of the Kaiju! Beautiful soundscapes to bring your world to life, free for everyone! That's our $3.25 million SG! It's a long shot, but we're always hyped to expand and improve if you can make it happen!

An Amazing Gift (From A Project We Love!)

Our great friend Moonlight Maps has an epic kickstarter out right now Tabletop Essentials: the ultimate, customisable battle maps! Everything you need to create any map, FOREVER! Check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/moonlightmaps/plain-terrain-battle-maps-and-assets?ref=6ug9zw

Even better, they've sent us all a gift! A FREE Ryoko's Map Pack full of assets and terrain to use in your games! Simply drag and drop the assets you want onto any terrain and craft a totally unique map for scenario in moments! Check it out here, in this google drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16aEJXbF_qCYQnHEobmONysBIAfujwgTX 

If you've any questions, you can submit them in the comments to this update, the project updates, or, even better, on the #ryokos-guide-questions channel of the Loot Tavern Discord Server.

Will and the Team

Ryoko Just Made History: Ryoko's Guide Becomes The Biggest 5e Kickstarter Of All Time!
over 2 years ago – Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 11:49:03 AM

We Actually Did It!

WOW! You are AMAZING! Ryoko's Guide just passed Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt to become the most funded 5e Kickstarter of ALL TIME. This community has just made the history books! Update the wiki articles, someone call Buzzfeed about their next "TOP 10 D&D KICKSTARTERS" listicle, the times are a-changing!

But Seriously...

Thank you so much, from all of us. A project of this scope requires love and dedication from dozens of people on the creation side. From the writing, to the art, to the graphic design, to community management, and everything inbetween, everyone on this team has given everything they can to make this special. We love Ryoko's, and are so grateful to have so many of you with us on this incredible journey. Every member of the team has many people to thank, both in our professional and private lives, who have supported us along the way. 

On a personal note from me, I find myself thinking about the very first words I wrote as Ryoko for this book, an excerpt of her description of the Enkoh, and the strength of community and fellowship.

“There’s magic in this world that goes beyond flashes, bangs, and jets of flame. An earthy magic of food, structure, and fellowship. It’s the magic of a thousand mundane hands raising a city from velvet snow. A magic woven by walking into the cruellest blizzard and welcoming it as your home.

These people understand that magic. The mightest yokai and grandest kaiju might be able to survive here, for a time, but only the enkoh can thrive.”

Ryoko's is the city that we, as a community, raised together. It couldn't exist with all of us, and it's a magic beyond any 9th level spell. We're honoured to be a small part of your story, and the stories you will tell together for years to come!

From all of us, thank you so much! You are awesome!

If you've any questions, you can submit them in the comments to this update, the project updates, or, even better, on the #ryokos-guide-questions channel of the Loot Tavern Discord Server.

Will and the Team

A New Race, A New Subclass, And The Final Stretch!
over 2 years ago – Mon, Oct 09, 2023 at 12:09:20 PM

New Stretch Goals Unlocked!

We're smashing stretch goals like a kaiju smashes skyscrapers! You CRUSHED both the 2.3 and 2.5 million goals, unlocking a fourth Element Bender subclass: The Disciple of Fusion and a new playable race: The fortune-favoured Isetsu!

The isetsu are spidercrab-inspired humanoids with a mighty claws and a sturdy, but brittle, carapace! With versatile core abilities and a bonus action grapple option, they make a great choice for close-quarters combatants, like Monks, Barbarians, Fighters, Rangers, and Benders!

And speaking of benders: Check out the Fusionist!

Perhaps the most explosive Element Bender subclass, this one is all about combining your Elemental affinities to produce ever more powerful effects. Magma storms, showers of ice, dust tornadoes, and everything in between are yours to command!

Bombuku's Notebook of Knowhow Add-On Out Now!

After a little back-end kickstarter kerfuffle, we've got Bombuku's Notebook of Knowhow available as an add-on! It comes free with the Deluxe and All-In tiers, but anyone can add the 64+ page, softcover physical book to their pledge for just $15! Everyone who's picking up the Ryoko's Guide PDF will recieve the PDF copy of Bombuku's for free too!

Projects We Love

We're still amazed and inspired by your incredible support for Ryoko's, and we're also constantly inspired by the epic stuff other creators in the community are making, like the stunning Fablemaker's Deck of Many Things by our friends at Hit Point Press, with incredible art by Yoshi Yoshitani.

The Fablemaker’s Deck of Many Things: An Oracle for Risk and Reward is an oracle deck based on the fifth edition deck of many things. Beautifully illustrated by Yoshi Yoshitani, these cards are perfect for asking yourself challenging questions and prompting reflection, with both Overworld and Underworld cards! Recommended for Tarot, Oracle and 5e fans alike, check them out here! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hitpointpress/the-fablemakers-deck-of-many-things-for-5e?ref=7893rc

We're coming in on the final ~67 hours of Ryoko's Guide now! If you've any questions, you can submit them in the comments to this update, the project updates, or, even better, on the #ryokos-guide-questions channel of the Loot Tavern Discord Server.

You guys are amazing,

Will (and the team)