Showing posts with label Kickstarter. Show all posts

Celiane & the Prince

Last spring, the community came together for the second season of Dearg 2 on Kickstarter. It was a powerful moment and also the campaign that gathered the most backers since our very first one in 2012! What an adventure, what a feeling of gratitude towards this wonderful community, towards you! THANK YOU!

We have just launched the pledge manager phase for the backers, which is the time when everyone can provide their details and finalize their order. The studio team worked tirelessly to review all the stock and offer plenty of rarities. Hats off to them because it was a huge task! I’ve been looking forward to this moment because I had a surprise in store for the community, crafted with the talented sculptor Roberto Chaudon. You know him for creating the first minis of Shadows of Esteren; this time, I gave him a special commission: the busts of Celiane and the Prince.

Esteren is an incredible adventure that has allowed me to meet many artists from all over the world. And these collaborations together form the soul of this project. Each artist brings their own sensitivity, their own vision.

I won’t say more, here are a few images :




Each of these busts is a limited edition of 30 copies, made of resin, approximately 50 mm in size. You’ll need to assemble and paint them. Be careful, it’s a fairly technical job!

 

These two busts are offered first to our backers, and if any remain, they’ll be available during the upcoming late pledge. I think I’ll keep a few copies for our upcoming conventions ^^ I’ll take this opportunity to share some key info and respond to a few messages we’ve received:

▶ If you missed the campaign, yes, there will be a late pledge soon. You’ll be able to pre-order Dearg season 2 and all the new releases. Sign up for the mailing list to not miss anything.
▶ Is this the end of the line? No, not at all. Dearg season 2 closes the first cycle with characters that were introduced in the core rulebook. The new cycle will focus on the Secrets.
▶ Will there be a season 3? It’s hard to say right now, but we’re not closing any doors, especially considering the success of season 2 ^^
▶ If you're a backer and looking for the link to the pledge manager, here it is: https://shadows-of-esteren-elegy.backerkit.com If you encounter any issues, feel free to send us a quick email: https://www.studio-agate.com/en/contact

That’s all for now :)

The first cycle of Shadows comes to an end, but it’s only the beginning… ;

See you on the Discord server! 

 Take care, 

Nel
Kickstarter

Overview of the Shadows of Esteren series

Many Esteren items have remained unavailable at retail or out of stock for a long time. Since conventions have been canceled, we’ll be making available the stock that was reserved for those dates during the upcoming Kickstarter.

Several books are almost out of stock, such as Book 1 (the core rulebook) or Book 3 (the official campaign). These bundles are 50% off, so don’t hesitate!

Here is an overview of the series:

Book 0 – Prologue: This seminal book includes an overview of the universe, the essential elements of the game system, six pregenerated characters, and three adventures, which stand as spin-offs of the official campaign and introduce some of its main themes. Perfect to get started!

Book 1 – Universe: This core book details the peninsula of Tri-Kazel and contains the complete game system and character creation mechanics. It also includes six unique pregenerated characters, who are central to the Dearg campaign. It is also our most awarded book, having received ENnies for Best Art, Best Production Values, and Product of the Year. It has enjoyed several print runs, but is now unavailable at retail. Through the present Kickstarter campaign, you can order the last remaining copies!

Book 2 – Travels: A book for Game Leaders, Travels is a veritable toolbox featuring: a chapter on noteworthy locations of the peninsula, additional rules and game aids related to traveling, a detailed gallery of NPCs from across the peninsula, a collection of 5 mini-adventures, a mini-campaign titled “A Life Choice,” and a short bestiary.

Book 3 – Dearg: A complete adventure path spanning two volumes, Dearg is the official Shadows of Esteren campaign, a tragic fresco of twenty scenarios that will lead your Players to unearth terrible secrets about themselves and the world. Dearg introduces several unique mechanics, such as narrative arcs and Focuses, for the purpose of more intense sessions and more engaging role-playing. Several of the present campaign’s rewards include the first volume of this campaign, with the second one currently in the works.

The Monastery of Tuath: This book is showcases the inner working and beliefs of the Temple faction and the life of monks. At its heart is the densely packed investigation scenario “Vengeful Words.” This homage to The Name of the Rose can be played as a standalone or as part of the Dearg campaign.

Black Moon Handbook: This supplement is a guide to occultism that can be found in-game by the Player Characters. Written by the NPC Steren Slaine, it offers many game aids to play an occultist, additional rules, 5 mini-adventures on the themes of ghosts and possessions, and a small thematic bestiary.

Hauntings Pocket Book: Some of the pledges include this collection of fiction. Its 5 short stories will immerse you in Tri-Kazel’s life and will introduce you to its occult folklore.

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Learn more: Kickstarter campaign
announcement

Pre-order for Shadows of Esteren: Dearg on Backerkit

Please take a second to check out our recently launched Shadows of Esteren pre-order page on BackerKit. You can pre-order the campaign DEARG, some previous books and some limited edition items with nice discounts. If you missed the Kickstarter, this is the perfect moment to join :)


Don't miss the launch of our next Kickstarter in 2018, subscribe here. 
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Adeliane : Our New Kickstarter is Live!

Today is the start of a new Kickstarter campaign, a small one that will last a dozen days. Yep, just like that, without warning!
Its core purpose will be to complete the production of the upcoming music album, Adeliane, and to offer you a physical CD version, as well as a limited edition vinyl one for music fans. Instead of making Adeliane available as a preorder via Backerkit, we have chosen to make this quick Kickstarter campaign in order to get the news out.. The artists involved have been working on it for several months, and it would be a shame for their efforts to go unnoticed!

In that regard, tickets for two concerts are also available through this campaign: one in England, in June, and one in Germany, in October. We hope to see many of you there! In addition, you can also preorder a limited edition of the graphic novel Yldiane, which is ready to be printed. Last but not least, this Kickstarter includes a new book, halfway between an artbook and a role-playing game sourcebook that we have been thinking about for some time: Melwan.

Concerning this book:

The Shadows of Esteren series includes several supplements (The Monastery of Tuath, The Black Moon Handbook, Occultism…) that explore specific aspects of its universe. Melwan’s focus is the eponymous vale from which Adeliane and her sister Yldiane hail. This hardcover artbook of about 60 pages is written from the perspective of an in-universe character, just like how the Black Moon Handbook was written by Steren Slaine. Here, the author is Neala, a shepherdess and Caernide breeder from Melwan. She talks about Yldiane (through a CYOA-like story), describes Melwan and the surrounding vale (which takes the shape of a game aid dedicated to the region’s noteworthy locations, personalities, and flora), and covers the local fauna, as well as more unusual creatures (in the form of a bestiary).

Find out more at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/agate/adeliane-album-and-tour

Meanwhile, we are still working on Dearg; Volume 1 is almost complete!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your staunch support. With your help, we can keep going further and, year after year, go on with giving our all and making this series the best it can be.
announcement

Shadows of Esteren: Dearg is Live on Kickstarter

We are very happy to announce the launch of our new Kickstarter campaign!

The main purpose is to finance the release in English and in a deluxe edition of the Book 3 Dearg, the campaign book for Shadows of Esteren.

Below you will find the complete press release with a lot of information about this new project.


SHADOWS OF ESTEREN: DEARG, A STORY OF LOVE, DESPAIR, BEAUTY AND DEATH, NOW ON KICKSTARTER
 
Dark Fantasy RPG Gets New Rulebook with Innovative New Game Mechanics and Concepts Designed to Put Players Face To Face With Their Inner Demons

PARIS, FRANCE (October 27, 2016) – Agate RPG, publisher of the award-winning Shadows of Esteren, announces today plans for Shadows of Esteren: Dearg, the third rulebook for the fan-favorite medieval horror roleplaying game and the launch of the Kickstarter to fund the publishing of this new must-have tome. The Dearg Kickstarter is now live and runs through November, 17th, 2016.

Shadows of Esteren: Dearg puts players at the heart of the game’s narrative in a 500-page, hardcover essential rulebook to be published in two volumes and introduces three new innovative concepts to the world of Shadows of Esteren; Narrative Arcs, Focuses and Modular Scenarios.


 Players will define a narrative arc for their character centered on the main themes of Love, Ethics, Guilt and Adoption. Through 21 scenarios, Player Characters are at the heart of the narrative, their own personal stories becoming critical components of the game’s dramatic tension. While the PCs are involved in the same quest, each member of the party has their own history and motivations. Among the campaign’s 21 scenarios, six are Focuses that will explore each PC’s intimate story, ultimately affecting the direction of the game. Modular Scenarios are comprised of several modules exploring various facets of a theme or character and offer the Game Leader several ways the scenario can evolve. Each module is symbolized by a tarot card drawn from Dearg’s tarot and by connecting the modules the Game Leader can create a story of their own.

“Dearg is the result of nearly 10 years of development,” says Agate RPG Creative Director Nelyhann. “Shadows of Esteren players will experience a story that will change their vision of the world of Esteren and bring them ever-closer to its dark secrets and to their own inner demons.”

The Shadows of Esteren: Dearg Kickstarter campaign offers several pledge levels, including one designed specifically for newcomers to Shadows of Esteren and one for veteran players of the game, as well as a slew of limited edition bonuses, stretch goals and add-ons. Dearg accessories include a complete soundtrack recorded by the Budapest Symphonic Orchestra, the Shadows Tarot Deck and game aids such as art prints, maps and scenario synopses.

Since first launching on Kickstarter in 2012, Shadows of Esteren has received more than a dozen awards for its art, production value and cartography, earned a silver ENnie Award for Product of the Year and has thousands of devoted players worldwide.

Shadows of Esteren is a medieval roleplaying game with horrific and gothic overtones in a dark, low fantasy setting. Drawing inspiration from Celtic myths, this universe has a subtle fantastic side hidden under a bleak, realistic surface. The Shadows of Esteren world is populated by men and women trudging through daily lives whiles also struggling with supernatural threats lurking in the dark. With the focus of its adventures being investigation and survival, Shadows of Esteren favors immersion and interaction among the players.

For more information, visit the Shadows of Eseren: Dearg Kickstarter.
announcement

Pre-order on Backerkit are open!



Did you miss out our last Kickstarter campaign about Occultism? Are you looking for printed books and other stuff for Shadows of Esteren? Please check the Backerkit pre-order page: https://shadows-of-esteren-a-medieval-horror-rpg-occultism.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
announcement

The new Kickstarter is LIVE!

Here we go! Check our new Kickstarter here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1176616619/shadows-of-esteren-a-medieval-horror-rpg-occultism
announcement

Building and Publishing a RPG series in France (2013)

This is the third part of my review on the development of the Shadows of Esteren series. You will find the first part here, and the second part, focusing on the year 2012, here.

So we're back in 2013… After a year with no release in France, one might wonder: how had the Titanic not sunk yet? The answer is: Kickstarter!

Crowdfunding: Becoming a Businessman or Giving Up

Kickstarter opened the possibility of professionalizing our adventure. This was starting to become an obsession of mine as the whole team kept giving their all… Even though it was a major preoccupation, it only brushed our minds and was swept away by the intense excitement we felt at that time. The first successes in the USA were overwhelming, and we were psyched!

I very quickly realized that these successes went hand in hand with heavy work: preparing several hundreds of parcels certainly brought us back to Earth! At the beginning of 2013, the situation was thus: the amount of editorial work had soared in the course of several months– logistic matters, production monitoring, account management, email answers, etc. Valentin, our editor, has always taken part in the adventure in addition to his work in movies. It was becoming obvious to him that he could no longer take care this huge amount of work by himself. Therefore, I started contributing. His pragmatism combined with my determination made it possible for us to make it through this brutal change in our activity.

I will have to talk more in detail about the crowdfunding experience and what it implies–especially when it is successful. The managers of the project must keep in mind that when they start such an adventure, they are not just developers or creators, but must also become efficient businessmen as well.
Here we go back to the Titanic metaphor: we felt lost in deep sea, sailing through the reefs, watching other ships sink in the horizon as a wrong choice led them to a ghastly end... just like that project launched several months before we did Book 1 – Universe on Kickstarter–gulp. This is no secret: many crowdfunding projects do not make it.

Staying the Course

Over the months, a complex equation arose: the activity was growing strongly–and so was the work!–but the company still couldn't take off–which would mainly imply being able to pay   wages so that the members can focus more on the project and absorb the work. It was certainly a lot of sudden pressure. There is a big difference between being in charge of an associative project on one’s own and managing sales amounting to tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of backers eager to receive what they have pledged for. Managing all that in addition to a job can quickly become exhausting (euphemism).

However, I offered my crew to stay the course. We had worked so much, and it now seemed to us that we were inches from our dream. We had to keep it up! So in March 2013, we launched another fundraising campaign–this time in France–for Book 3 – Dearg.

The Adventure of Book 3 – Dearg

There had been no release in 2012, but we had still been hard at work. The big campaign for Shadows of Esteren was in progress even as we had started writing other books–one of them is the Thema about occultism that you will soon be hearing about… Most of the texts for Dearg were already ready, and it seemed realistic to me to announce a release date for December 2013, that is to say eight months later. I thought that we would have more than enough time to complete and send the books. I did not know that I was way off (another euphemism).

When we launched our fundraising campaign on Ulule for Book 3 – Dearg, we did not know what to expect: crowdfunding remained little known in France, and the record at the time was held by Les Ludopathes for the translation of Ars Magica, a big US license. At the end of 2012, it had raised just over € 25,000.

I would have considered reaching as much money as a considerable achievement, all the more so since the funding was for a campaign book; not a license or a core rulebook. Once more, I was wrong, as it raised more than € 60,000 and made possible the production of a project that seemed a far-off dream: a symphonic recording of the Dearg soundtrack with the Hungarian Radio Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by a Frenchman! Even I had not seen it coming, that's saying something! The icing on the cake was that the success was so spectacular that we were also able to finance a classical concert of this soundtrack. It was a historic first for an RPG, and a memorable moment in Lyon's Grand Temple. This magical event that gathered more than 500 people and that we will remember for a very long time!

Crowning Achievement

After this new success that surpassed the scores of Book 1 and Book 0 in the USA, months went by. Completing Dearg, of which I am the main author, turned out to be more complicated than expected. The playtests and the community’s intense feedback added a new dimension to the necessary work to finish some parts of the book. Summer came, and it was time to launch a new Kickstarter campaign, this time for Book 2 – Travels. At the request of the community, the French version of the book was launched on Ulule at the same time.  All this at a time when the Esteren Tour was in full swing with several dates abroad and when the core rulebook had been nominated three times for the prestigious ENnie Awards, Indianapolis's ultimate RPG award. No need to say that these months were a time of frenzied activity... but still in a semi-professional context: still after work, in the evening…

The success of Book 2 – Travels went beyond our wildest expectations. It outranked Book 0 and Book 1, and we actually made more than with the first two campaigns put together (!!!). $130,000 for a supplement, what a doozie! Today still, Travels is in the top 50 RPG projects on Kickstarter. What’s more, the Ulule campaign was also a success, which made it possible to finance a new print run of this long sold-out book. Around that time, we went back to the USA for GenCon, where we experienced our crowning achievement: Shadows of Esteren won three ENnies: two Golds for Best Art and Best Production Values, and one Silver for Product of the Year. It was the very first time that a French role-playing game had won. We were like in a waking dream. The ENnie ceremony that took place remains a magic memory. Seeing my longtime friend Gawain, who had been illustrating the series since 2006, reach the podium was a very intense moment. So was it for Valentin, who had been working with us since then, or for Clovis who accomplished a remarkable translation work.

You had been Warned

Crowned with these new successes, we came back to France, and quickly had to come to terms with this reality: Book 3 – Dearg would not be ready for December 2013. The project was well under way, but there was still much to do, especially with the addition of bonuses that had been financed during the fundraising campaign and that came on top of the initial content of Dearg.

I admit I could have anticipated it. Yet, such is often the case: you only realize the full extent of difficulties when you face them. Although this setback did not compromise the project, its consequences were still difficult to measure. It also showed us the complexity of the project we wanted to make sustainable: an isolated success was a good thing, but repeating it was another story.

What’s Next?

We were going toward the end of the year 2013, and new releases came in France: the Game Leader Kit–with a brand new screen–in spring, and episodes 1 and 2 of the Dearg campaign. When I look back, with such an eventful year and the context of the creation of the books–which were still homemade–it was already something! Of course, we wish we could have done more and sent Dearg on schedule. This misadventure would start in-depth discussions within the team, and even change the way we work.
It was already time to think of the upcoming year. The professionalization project was getting clearer. 2014 could be a crucial year and we were exhausted, but more motivated than ever!

Nel

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See also:
Part 1 (2010-2011)
Part 2 (2012)
Part 4 (2014) 
Part 5 (fifth and last part) 

Kickstarter

Epic Final for Tuath! Thank You!

It's over now! The Tuath Kickstarter campaign has become our most successful Shadows of Esteren campaign! THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!

You are a wonderful community 
announcement

The Kickstarter for the Monastery of Tuath is Live!



The veterans will be pleased to see the new supplement “The Monastery of Tuath,” featuring a Limited Edition with a nice amount of additional content that will be financed by this campaign. And for those who are new to Shadows of Esteren, we have designed packages that will get you started on your adventure!
Shadows of Esteren - A Medieval Horror RPG: Tuath -- Kicktraq Mini

In only three days, the intial goal and severals stretch goals are reached! You can visit the page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1176616619/shadows-of-esteren-a-medieval-horror-rpg-tuath
announcement
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