Kickstarter Updates: 15%, Baby!!

I am the Warden!!

It's been two days since the Kickstarter project started and already Killshot: An Assassin's Journal sits at 15% of its goal with just two backers to date. At this rate, it's possible to hit $800 within the next 10 days, though I'm not inclined to actually believe that'll happen - I'm a pessimist through and through. Still, it's off to a very good start and I'd like to thank those who have taken the leap of faith so far.

There's a lot more work to be done on my end to keep the word alive. This is the real challenge and one I'll have to repeat throughout my career: to keep plugging a product long after it's been released. For now, aside from the usual blog posts, Facebook, G+, and Twitter, I've placed the video for Killshot: Proposal on YouTube with links to the Kickstarter page in the hopes of gaining attention from the video alone. Next week, I'll be hunting the forums of sites like EN World, RPG Net, and more to get as many eyes on that page as possible.

Without a finished product to distribute or an existing reputation (something I've noticed quite a few projects have), the video is truly the selling point for Killshot. It shows a level of commitment and dedication to the idea, or at least enough to make someone say "Hmm, this looks serious." On that note, I've posted a copy of the final cut for Killshot: Proposal below... because you're all beautiful and deserve it.

Firing the First Shot: Kickstarter Begins

I am the Warden and THIS is my Kickstarter drive!!

Just a few minutes ago, the Kickstarter drive to raise $800 for Killshot: An Assassin's Journal began. After busting my hump until my fingers bled on the promo video and pages upon pages of material written for Killshot, plus the countless hours of development in the Optional System from its original genesis to its current form, it's been a long road to today... and it couldn't have come on a better day. But I won't get into that here.

At the moment, I'm working on an alternate funding source to work alongside Kickstarter for those outside of the US who want to contribute but don't have the means or citizenship to kick in a little. When those details are worked out, I'll post them here. Meantime, feel free to ask any questions here, on the Broken Ruler site, or on the Kickstarter page and I'll answer them promptly. To those who have already taken the time to contribute, thank you and I shan't let you down.

Playing in Stages

I am the Warden!!

With all the Kickstarter prep out of the way, it's time to get back to the real work and make playtest revisions to Killshot. Last Friday's run-through of the Drug Dealer Job went very well and resulted in a crack pusher lying on the front steps of his apartment building with his brains for a pillow. Suggestions were made to fix a couple of glitches/discrepancies and after a review of all my notes, I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty again.

(On that note, I've started up an advice column on the Broken Ruler site called The Director's Chair suggesting how to read the dice for descriptions on successful or failed dice rolls. Highly recommended for those running playtests at the moment.)

As I write this, I'm sitting in a hospital waiting room for a follow-up appointment regarding my accident thinking about how players have learned about the game. Simply put, do new players really need to learn the entire game in one fell swoop?

Killshot: Proposal (First Cut)

I am the Warden!!

This past weekend was incredibly busy, stressful, time-consuming, repetitive, and finally, rewarding. With so many other factors, rewrites, and difficulties dealt with and factored, production finally began on Killshot: Proposal, the opening video for the upcoming Kickstarter drive for Killshot. On Saturday, we started and wrapped up principal filming. Saturday evening into Sunday night saw countless hours of editing and rendering to create this initial cut.

There are still a few tweaks to make, particularly with the first 10 seconds and whatever that crap is about, plus the sound issues in the initial dialogue, but I'm incredibly happy with how it's turned out. Oh, and I have some updated rough sketches made by Kieron O'Gorman, the artist who will take on the task of bringing Killshot to black-and-white life if the funding goes through.