Your Developer Is Shirking His Work
over 6 years ago – Sat, Nov 09, 2019 at 12:54:23 AM

Greetings! I am on my way to a remote place for a vacation. This update has no fancy pictures, just a reminder that the Kayenta Games Customer Service Team (me) will have greatly delayed response times starting yesterday (  :/  ) until 11/17.  We still have 372 backers who have yet to complete their survey, so if anyone in that group is in need of assistance, I will respond, but it make take several hours.

I will have a ton of content around the Thanksgiving break, including:

• The new tile population system explained
• Video playthroughs 
• Sample PPC (preproduction copy) showing the storage boxes
• Push to finish the Backer-Developed tiles (we have about 10 out 18 audited)

Thanks, all!

Dan Hallagan, Kayenta Games

Pledge Manager Survey Update
over 6 years ago – Tue, Nov 05, 2019 at 12:59:35 AM

Pledge Manager (PM) Update

As of this morning 1781 out of 2412 surveys have been answered, which is a very good percentage (73%) for only 3 full days in.  If you are working on Bulks or contemplating your options during this month-long PM period, no rush; just making sure everyone is notified.

A few notes:

• If you have not received a survey, please email me at [email protected]. I would rather just directly send you a custom link to your pledge than battle angry servers and voracious spam programs.
• The PM is open until midnight US EST on 11/30.
• No credit cards are charged until 12/1 US EST.
• Feel free to change your pledge at any time up until the PM closes.
• If something doesn't look right, email me.
• According to the Bulk Pledge on the Kickstarter page, shipping is handled thusly: "DISCOUNTED SHIPPING
       ► US, UK, and EU - $35 charged after the campaign
       ► AU, NZ, and CA - $45 charged after the campaign
       ► Rest of the World - Default is $150 (handled individually in the pledge manager after the campaign)"
• Please contact me for any Bulk Pledge shipping quotes that are not an even 6 games. 
•  The Backer-Designed Promotional Tiles in the PM are not included in the Queen Victoria or Prince Albert pledge levels; the two winning backer tiles—Parish Church and Babbling Brook—are included in the Upstairs, Downstairs game box. The Add-On in the PM are the 18 tiles that did not make the cut (but are still the bomb). 

Thanks!

Dan Hallagan, Kayenta Games

All Surveys Sent!
over 6 years ago – Fri, Nov 01, 2019 at 03:46:06 AM

Everything appeared to be in order (two small corrections). A couple notes: I am traveling today, and my response time will be a little slower. Bulk folks, send me emails with final details, and I will probably get back to you tomorrow.

Thanks all!

Dan Hallagan, Kayenta Games

Pledge Manager Launches Today!
over 6 years ago – Fri, Nov 01, 2019 at 01:00:49 AM

Smoke Test

This morning, the Pledge Manager (PM) will be launched, beginning with what is called a 'Smoke Test,' which means that 5% of backers across all pledge levels will be the first to receive their survey. This test is to ensure that all aspects of the survey are running correctly; if you have any issues whatsoever, please email Dan ASAP at [email protected].

If all goes well, tomorrow evening I will open up the PM for the remaining 95%. The PM will be open for the month of November.

Pledge Manager Details

Some things to know about the PM:

• These 'surveys' are badly named. It's just a direct email to you with a link to your pledge in BackerKit, a superb company unrelated to Kickstarter (KS), who helps me manage your pledge in a very friendly way. This survey is just to confirm your pledge, adjust it if desired, get shipping details and payment information (if needed).  Most veteran KS folks know this, of course, but I observe there are a fair number of new backers here, and I think this needs clarification (I remember being confused when I first backed a campaign).
•  The PM will not charge anything until it closes on 11/30. This means you can relax and modify your pledge as you see fit. Even when you click the final button, NOTHING PERMANENT HAPPENS! I can control each and every pledge directly. So play around and don't fret if your final choice turns out a little messed up. As far as this PM is concerned, I am Oz, and can fix or adjust whatever happens. 

• You can add to your pledge. If you want to add an a la carte game or a pledge bundle to your existing pledge, you will get the same deal as during the campaign, but you will see an additional full shipping charge added onto your pledge, which may be too much (given all the possible game and add-on configurations and the shipping discounts for the different geographies, it was not possible to build comprehensive shipping tables). Kayenta Games will instead give you a personalized, updated and discounted shipping quote based upon the weight of what you've added and your location. Email [email protected] to get your shipping adjusted.
•  You can change your pledge. On the first screen, you will see in small print near the bottom a link to change your pledge. It gives a dire warning when you try and do this, but that's just because once you 'dump' your KS credit into a new bucket, it forgets your old pledge.  Not a problem. Your credit stays with your pledge, and you can just shop in the PM store. And I can fix anything that looks off.
•  If you are a $1 pledger and have a bulk order, contact me at [email protected] BEFORE you place your bulk order (or to get a shipping quote if your pledge has an irregular quantity). The bulk order (6+ games) is going to be a hands-on business to get everything just right. 
•  If you were charged shipping during your campaign and you are happy with your pledge, you will not be charged anything when filling out your survey (you'll just be completing your address information).
•  If you chose the Aland Islands as your location to avoid shipping, then when you change your address to reflect your actual location, you will be charged shipping (at the same subsidized, discounted rate as in the campaign).
• There is no shipping charge associated with the Backer-Created Promotional Tile Add-On (it can be added to any pledge). 
• There will be multiple announcements before the PM closes and is locked around November 30th, ample time for last minute corrections.
•  Kayenta Games guarantees 100% happiness with your pledge, and that includes a refund if you so desire.  I understand financial situations evolve. There is no expiration to this policy. 

A lot of detail, I know. Just being thorough. Those who get a survey here in the next few hours, please email me and let me know about your experience so I can make improvements, if needed.

Dan Hallagan, Kayenta Games

Late Pledge Now Open (and two other housekeeping notes)
over 6 years ago – Tue, Oct 29, 2019 at 12:38:28 AM

Greetings!

Three quick updates:

Late Pledges

As mentioned, the best value for this campaign was to back the project during the campaign itself. Those backers received the best financial package, which consisted of bundled discounts and subsidized shipping.

The Late Pledge button has been added to the top of the Kickstarter page and is now active. The Kickstarter bundles (Queen Victoria, Lady Mary, etc.) are not available to Late Pledges, although for managing shipping rates new bundles that allow Kayenta Games to charge at-cost shipping have been created. 

Please contact Dan Hallagan at [email protected] if there are any issues with making a Late Pledge.

Backer-Created Tiles 

Please stay plugged into the conversation surrounding the backer-developed tiles! 

Great work is being done over at BoardGameGeek (the link is to the forum—click on any thread where is says 'Backer Tiles'). We are about 1/2 the way done in making sure each tile is thematically sound and as balanced as the concept allows.

Pledge Manager Opening Soon

I plan on opening the pledge manager Thursday morning (and it will stay open for one month). I will send out a 'smoke test' on Wednesday morning. I want to stress that if anything is amiss when completing your pledge, please email me at [email protected], and I will take care of all concerns 1:1. Do not contact BackerKit or post here; I am taking time off the 1st week the pledge manager is open to make sure I address all questions, bundle negotiations, shipping concerns, etc.

I do recommend you take care of your survey early; I will be on vacation starting 11/8 for a week, and I will be less responsive during that time. 

Thanks! 

Dan Hallagan, Kayenta Games