Create your lair, recruit your minions and conquer the kingdom! This is the campaign setting letting you play the bad guys for 5E.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
News 2024
4 months ago
– Fri, Jan 05, 2024 at 10:10:06 PM
Hello, amazing backers and supporters!
We're excited to share some significant updates on our journey with 'Villainous Champions of the Shadowkeep'.
First and foremost, a heartfelt thanks to everyone who assisted in the proofreading phase of our book. Your keen eyes and insightful feedback have been invaluable in refining our creation.
PDF Files:
We have some great news: all the files for the book are now finalized! Plus, we've received a slew of printing tests and have ensured that the quality meets our expectations. The visuals leap off the page, bringing our shadowy world to life.
Token Edging Difficulties:
A small but important update regarding the game components: the golden edging that we planned to place on the tokens just isn't up to par, quality wise.
Even with multiple iterations and alternate materials, the printing company has advised that misprinting is highly likely to continue and will cause the edges to bleed up and onto the tokens. So we've made the decision and updated the design of the tokens to remove this edging.
Additional samples of our tiles have also arrived and been approved. Originally they were made with a grey cardboard stock, but they felt too light and flimsy, not something that would last on tables or being jostled with play. We've requested to upgrade to a denser cardboard material and it was a great decision! The weight of the tile is beautiful, and they feel and look much sturdier. Plus the sample prints on the tiles are vibrant and best of all, no bleed!
Now, let's talk about the timeline. We're looking at approximately 5 weeks for production from start to finish. Following that, shipment of the books and materials to warehouse is expected to take about 3 weeks . We anticipate 2 weeks for packing all materials and orders and finally, an additional 2-3 weeks for delivery.
All in all, full delivery of physical rewards can be expected starting in the second quarter of 2024, barring any shipment delays. As we get closer to that time we'll have more details on exact shipment dates.
The world of the Shadowkeep is almost ready to be unveiled, and we can't wait for you to dive into its depths.
Digital Book Release
7 months ago
– Sat, Nov 04, 2023 at 10:00:57 PM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
The Final Countdown: PDF Release Imminent!
7 months ago
– Mon, Oct 30, 2023 at 03:34:47 AM
The Bookbinders of Doom glance up nervously as the chamber doors swing open with a creak. The High Warlock strides in, his eyes glowing like embers in the dim light. "Mistress Deenefica, what is the status of our unholy manuscript?"
"Almost ready, my lord," she replies, gesturing to the minions who hurry to display the most recent pages. The High Warlock examines them carefully, each line of text, each arcane symbol.
"Good. Very good," he murmurs, a sly smile forming on his lips. "See that it is flawless. Our backers thirst for the knowledge contained within these pages, and I would hate to disappoint them."
"As you command, High Warlock," Mistress Deenefica bows. As he turns to leave his cape billows around him and he can't suppress a triumphant laugh.
"In a few days, not only will our manuscript be complete, but the very foundations of the kingdoms will tremble before our might!!"
Greetings, Most Venerable Backers!
The High Warlock himself has inspected our progress, and we are overjoyed to announce that the end is nigh and we are currently laying out the final pages of Villainous Champions of the Shadow Keep!
The first PDF draft version has been completed and is now in the meticulous process of refining the minutiae. That means each diagram is being scrutinized, each image elegantly applied, and every spell description imbued with dread. It will be only a matter of days before we reveal our labors to you, our backers.
When Can You Expect the PDF?
The layout reached its final stage over the weekend, and we're currently conducting a swift yet thorough review of the text. We anticipate sending out the PDF to you within the week. Keep an eye out for an upcoming announcement that will provide details on how to access your copy.
September Update - It's Almost Time...
9 months ago
– Sat, Sep 02, 2023 at 02:30:00 AM
The staff in the too-short underground study shuffle anxiously back and forth, sliding glances between each other as sweat beads on their foreheads. Before them, the High Warlock strums his fingers impatiently on the table in front of him. "I expected much from you...
This manuscript is far LARGER than I expected."
Standing from his leather seat, he faces away from them and towards a board covered in runes, arrows, and dates. "It's time. Send it to Markus for final layout! Oh and don't forget to tell the newest recruits that their forms are mandatory."
As the staff hurriedly grab the manuscript and stutter their thanks upon exit, they overhear soft chuckles turn to maniacal cackles:
"First Layout... then our propaganda goes to PRINT!"
Greetings Backers!
Over the past month and a bit, we've managed to complete a whole heap of work as we get all of our loose ends tied up. All 122,207 words of them!! Yup you read that right - even we needed to do a double take on it. That's over 14,000 words more than Peculiar Discoveries!
With fully completed playtesting, proofing, completion of the defenders card deck and all artwork, that means we can now start final layout of the PDF. Meanwhile, our Defenders cards are already laid out and getting their last proof before calling them final. So next up is PDF layout for all of our story chapters and mechanics. For all the nitty gritty details of overall creation progress check out our list below.
PDFs When?
The PDF is planned to be released on october.
What about the shipping for books, cards, and add-on items?
We're currently estimating that it will commence in the first quarter of 2024.
BackerKit is lonely...
We've still got 85 new recruits (erm...backers) who haven't completed their BackerKit surveys. Without those we can't get your PDF, book(s) or additional items out to you. So check in as soon as you can!
July update!
11 months ago
– Sun, Jul 02, 2023 at 07:14:54 AM
Greetings, dear backers! The journey of creating our monumental 5E D&D book has been a long expedition, and we're nearing the summit. We couldn't have made it this far without your unwavering support, and we're delighted to bring you this update on our progress.
Progress Check
Story - 100% written, 100% playtested, 100% proofed
Base Defense Rules - 100% written, playtesting in progress, 100% proofed
