project-image

They Came from Beneath the Sea!

Created by Onyx Path Publishing

The greatness of B-movies brought to life at your table!

Latest Updates from Our Project:

October 2020 Update
over 3 years ago – Thu, Oct 29, 2020 at 11:36:20 AM

Hello Surface-dwellers,

OK, I've got two things for you with this update:

  • 1) Q4 Shipping Update
  • 2) Reward Distribution

So, let's get to it!

Q4 James is slowly sliding into Q1 James

After delays and rescheduling and lots and lots of e-mails, we've got our Q4 fulfillment schedule worked out. Mostly worked out. Mostly. The good news is that They Came from Beneath the Sea! is at the top of the list!

Backer shipments for the hardcover books, screens and cards will be picked, packed, and shipped over the next 6 weeks. 

Orders will be processed in waves, based on items and shipping location. Our fulfillment partner usually gets the biggest slices of the pie out first - to keep things moving in the warehouse and ensure they're able to maintain workplace safety restrictions and guidelines. So, that usually means that single hardcover books in the US will likely go first, followed by multiple item shipments within the US, and then a similar process for Canada and Mexico, and so on...

Since our shipments to the EU and other ports require more precise paperwork, it's not a bad thing to give the extra time to those shipments, but it does mean that they're usually in the later stages of the process.

BUT, everything should be shipping over the next 6 weeks! It's going out! It'll be on the way to the address you have confirmed in BackerKit, and I expect most packages to deliver by late November to mid-December. Fingers crossed!

You may receive information on tracking numbers over the next month. Generating tracking numbers is part of the pick and pack process, so some backers may get tracking information before the item has shipped. Good information to have, but don't panic if you don't see movement on your order for a few weeks - the information is just ahead of schedule.

I will have an update later in November with information on tracking, so if you don't get a tracking number early, I'll show you how to find it in BackerKit, and I'll send them all out again as shipments go out.

Again, shipments will be going out over the next 6 weeks. I will explain how to track your order later in November, when most shipments are in transit.

If you need to adjust any shipping information, please contact me immediately, and I'll see if I can make any changes before your package is picked up. Everything we have has been loaded up into our fulfillment system, so I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to re-route, but we'll do the best we can.

CONTACT ME Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com

 OK, that's the shipping update. It's in process and will be going out throughout November. Let's talk about stuff we can get now!

STRETCH GOAL REWARD DISTRIBUTION

It's time to dress up your monitors with some They Came from Beneath the Sea! artwork! The digital wallpaper Stretch Goal was unlocked during the campaign, and now you'll be receiving links from Backerkit to claim your download from DriveThruRPG.com

REWARD DISTRIBUTION

Your link to claim your They Came from Beneath the Sea! Digital Wallpaper will be sent out by our BackerKit pledge manager over the next day. Since we are using our partners at DriveThruRPG as the host for this, you will need to set up a DriveThru account if you don't have one already. If you encounter any problems with downloading your rewards, please contact DTRPG's customer service to resolve the matter, they've always been top-rated for customer service. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/contact_us.php

Again, you will receive an e-mail from BackerKit with a redemption link for the They Came from Beneath the Sea! Digital Wallpaper today if it is on your expected list of rewards.

The easiest way to see if you've got digital downloads available is to login to your backerkit account: https://they-came-from-beneath-the-sea.backerkit.com/backer/digital_rewards and it'll show anything available. Your backerkit account should also confirm all rewards that you should expect from your reward tier selected.

If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://they-came-from-beneath-the-sea.backerkit.com

If you used your Facebook credentials to log in to your Kickstarter account, the BackerKit survey is sent to the email address you use for your Facebook account. If you have another email address that you prefer to use, please contact support at  https://they-came-from-beneath-the-sea.backerkit.com/faq

REWARD TRACKING - Completed Rewards (Sent to Backers)

  • Backer T-shirt link (Update #37, March 13, 2019)
  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! Backer PDF (Update #49, January 16, 2020)
  • Quip & Cinematic Cards PDF (Update #49, January 16, 2020)
  • Heroic Land-Dwellers (Update #54, May 2, 2020)
  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! PoD Coupon (Update #60, Aug 4, 2020)
  • Quip & Cinematic Cards PoD Coupon (Update #60, Aug 4, 2020)
  • Digital Wallpaper (Update #63, Oct 28, 2020)

REWARD TRACKING - IN PROCESS

  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! Hardcover - shipping over the next 6 weeks
  • Director’s Screen - shipping over the next 6 weeks
  • Quip & Cinematic Card Deck - shipping over the next 6 weeks

REWARD TRACKING - PENDING

  • Threat Files! PDF (Monsters of the Deep) - in Pre-Layout phase of production
  • New Scenarios! PDF (Tales of Aquatic Terror) - starting Layout phase of production

I'll post our list of delivered and pending rewards with each monthly update, so that we can track everything that's needed and keep on the same page. Also, feel free to check out Onyx Path's Monday Meeting Notes (linked here) which will give you a weekly status report on ALL of the projects Onyx Path has on the go.

And, I'll be in touch when I have tracking information on our orders, with instructions on how to retrieve that info in Backerkit and what to do if there are any issues.

FINAL DAYS ON KICKSTARTER

World of Darkness: Ghost Hunters for World of Darkness 20th Anniversary Edition - Final Days on Kickstarter!

September 2020 Update
over 3 years ago – Sun, Oct 04, 2020 at 07:59:44 AM

Hello Surface-dwellers,

At last, on the final day of the month, I have news. It's time for our month end update.

Obviously, any schedule that Onyx Path had at the beginning of the year as been massively altered, pushed back and warped by pandemics and resulting shutdowns, new social distancing requirements at workplaces, infrastructure adaptations as the world changed, and everyone dealing with their own personal challenges from suddenly working from home, or not working at all, or adjusting to sharing home offices, or homeschooling, or keeping tabs on wildfires, or...

Well, it goes on, doesn't it. There have been a whole cascade of effects that hit Onyx Path's screen printer hard. Not only their own internal challenges around working in the new environment, but also the shifting schedules and needs of their clients. For a lot of those big print machines, they operate based on monthly click or output requirements, and need regular and predictable runs to keep things on track. It's like a jenga tower - when you start pulling out pieces, you're in danger of having the whole thing collapse.

Anyway... that's all preamble. It's taken some time, but I just got word last night - the Director's Screens for They Came from Beneath the Sea! - the final piece needed to start our fulfillment run - has completed printing and is scheduled to be picked up today for shipment to our fulfillment partners.

This is a huge step, and one I've been waiting to hear about for weeks (months!). Everything exists. It's printed, it's real, and it's finally on the way to Onyx Path's fulfillment partners.

Phew!

Now, as we've seen with the books and other pieces over the last month, the difference between shipped and received can be a few weeks. But we've taken a huge step forward.

Once Onyx Path's fulfillment partners receive the Director's Screens into their system, we'll be able to schedule the fulfillment process - organizing the orders into segments, picking, packing, and preparing to ship out to backers. That'll take some time (there's a lot of skids of product to pull and prep), but orders will be assembled in waves and shipped out as quickly as possible.

Once that process starts, I will be able to start sending out tracking information, and I'll have an update with more details when we're well into the fulfillment process and I confirm everything is on track.


So, again, to sum up: The final piece has been printed and shipped. Once it's received, we'll be able to start scheduling fulfillment runs. These will take some time and work in waves (likely domestic US, then North America, then international working through regions and paperwork). I will provide information on tracking numbers in an upcoming e-mail and send out tracking information as it becomes available. This could all take the better part of October, so we're not crossing any finish lines yet, but things are definitely a lot further along then they've been in the past few weeks!


IF YOU EXPECT YOUR DELIVERY INFO TO CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER, PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH YOUR NEW ADDRESS:

TO CONTACT ME

  • Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
  • Via Kickstarter: Click Richard Thomas under the "Created By" heading on the main page, and then press the "Contact Me" button - the message will come to me!
  • Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.

Thanks again to everyone for your patience as we adjust to the ongoing realities of 2020.

REWARD TRACKING - Completed Rewards (Sent to Backers)

  • Backer T-shirt link (Update #37, March 13, 2019)
  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! Backer PDF (Update #49, January 16, 2020)
  • Quip & Cinematic Cards PDF (Update #49, January 16, 2020)
  • Heroic Land-Dwellers (Update #54, May 2, 2020)
  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! PoD Coupon (Update #60, Aug 4, 2020)
  • Quip & Cinematic Cards PoD Coupon (Update #60, Aug 4, 2020)

REWARD TRACKING - PENDING

  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! Hardcover - at fulfillment partner
  • Director’s Screen - printed, on a truck to fulfillment partner
  • Quip & Cinematic Card Deck - at fulfillment partner
  • Threat Files! PDF (Monsters of the Deep) - in Post-Editing Development phase of production
  • New Scenarios! PDF (Tales of Aquatic Terror) - in Post-Editing Development phase of production
  • Digital Wallpaper

I'll post our list of delivered and pending rewards with each monthly update, so that we can track everything that's needed and keep on the same page. Also, feel free to check out Onyx Path's Monday Meeting Notes (linked here) which will give you a weekly status report on ALL of the projects Onyx Path has on the go.


I will likely have more than one update in October, now that we're about to begin our fulfillment phase. Thanks again for your patience! It's been exhausting and frustrating, but at last I think I see light at the end of the tunnel. It's dim, but it's there. We'll get there.


FINAL DAY ON KICKSTARTER

Final Day! Check it Out!

August 2020 Status Update
over 3 years ago – Wed, Aug 19, 2020 at 05:49:26 PM

Hello Surface-dwellers,

I'm getting our regular month end update out to you a bit early this month to talk about finish lines, both near and far.

Still plugging away!

A few things to touch on, so I'll jump through them quick.

Heroic Land-Dwellers now available for sale!

Most of you will have already received this Stretch Goal reward as part of your pledge rewards, but if you pre-ordered the game or backed at the Background tier, or have friends who are interested in the game and want more, Heroic Land-Dwellers! is now available in PDF and print from DriveThruRPG.

Heroic Land-Dwellers! is a collection of playable characters for They Came from Beneath the Sea!, a roleplaying game of drama, science fiction, and farce in which you play the only humans capable of driving back the watery threats seeking to invade, destroy, or enslave humanity.

This book is for use with the They Came from Beneath the Sea! tabletop roleplaying game. They Came from Beneath the Sea! uses the Storypath System, provided in full in the core rulebook available separately.

FINISH LINE: FAR

The first of the two finish lines I want to mention today is the one at the end of a marathon. I've been hoping to have a shipping update for our books and screens and card decks for the past month, but the world of 2020 continues to battle against schedules and plans. 

The books are printed and set to deliver any minute now to our US fulfillment partner. That delivery has taken substantially longer to schedule and receive than ever expected, but it looks like it'll finally -finally- happen this week. We've got one more major delay, though. I'll copy from Rich, who posted this in his most recent Monday Meeting Notes blog, discussing how Covid-19 has affected the year so far: "Our Screen printer has been hard hit, but is persevering slowly. So even though we have KS books almost ready to send as rewards, we still need to have the Screens to ship them all together and that’s been a slower cycle than it has in the past."

So, we've still got one hold up on getting our rewards out. We had planned to have the screens more than a month ago, but everything is still stuck in the process. I'll continue to monitor and update you when I have more information.

If you are moving or need to change shipping information prior to me sending out a shipping update, please contact me and I will update your info. It's not too late up until the moment I tell you that boxes are out the door.

TO CONTACT ME

  •  Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
  •  Via Kickstarter: Click Richard Thomas under the "Created By" heading on the main page, and then press the "Contact Me" button - the message will come to me!
  •  Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.

Thanks again to everyone for your patience as we adjust to the reality of 2020.

FINISH LINE: NEAR

 Our second finish line is at the end of a 30-day sprint. 

FINAL DAY!

We're in the final day for our current campaign, the sister book to They Came from Beneath the Sea!

We've funded and achieved 8 Stretch Goals so far, and are *this close* to unlocking our 9th. If you are curious and back now, you will be able to read the complete manuscript before the campaign closes at 2:00 PM EDT tomorrow, August 20th. And, you may be the backer that unlocks that 9th goal so not only will you receive any previous rewards, but everyone who's supported the project just may be one more spooky scenario added to their rewards list!

Check it out if you can!

REWARD TRACKING - Completed Rewards (Sent to Backers)

  • Backer T-shirt link (Update #37, March 13, 2019)
  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! Backer PDF (Update #49, January 16, 2020)
  • Quip & Cinematic Cards PDF (Update #49, January 16, 2020)
  • Heroic Land-Dwellers (Update #54, May 2, 2020)
  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! PoD Coupon (Update #60, Aug 4, 2020)
  • Quip & Cinematic Cards PoD Coupon (Update #60, Aug 4, 2020)

REWARD TRACKING - PENDING

  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! Hardcover - printed, on a truck to fulfillment partner 
  • Director’s Screen - at the printer 
  • Quip & Cinematic Card Deck - printed, on a truck to fulfillment partner 
  • Threat Files! PDF (Monsters of the Deep) - in Post-Editing Development phase of production 
  • New Scenarios! PDF (Tales of Aquatic Terror) - in Post-Editing Development phase of production 
  • Digital Wallpaper

So, a few rewards bumped from pending to delivered in the past month, but still not the big ones yet. Very frustrating. I will let you know the moment I have an update and work with our fulfillment partners to get rewards shipping as soon as humanly possible.

I'll post our list of delivered and pending rewards with each monthly update, so that we can track everything that's needed and keep on the same page. Also, feel free to check out Onyx Path's Monday Meeting Notes (linked here) which will give you a weekly status report on ALL of the projects Onyx Path has on the go.

Reward Distribution: Print-on-Demand Book Discount
over 3 years ago – Tue, Aug 04, 2020 at 02:19:07 PM

Hello surface-dwellers,

Super quick update for you - Onyx Path will be releasing the Print-on-Demand versions of They Came from Beneath the Sea! this week, so I've got discounted redemption links for those who have this reward included on their pledge reward list.

Typing with a bandaid on my finger!

Print-on-Demand Discounts

THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS YOUR HARDCOVER KICKSTARTER REWARD. While Print-on-Demand capability has improved dramatically over the past decade and a completely serviceable option in most cases, it still hasn't quite achieved the final quality of a traditional print run. The hardcover book reward from the Kickstarter is projected to ship soon (as discussed in our last update), but the Print-on-Demand option exists for those who missed the kickstarter campaign, want another copy for their game table, or can't wait for that final shipment to go out.

Ideally, the hardcover kickstarter rewards would already be on their way, but the pandemic delayed everything by several months. To thank your for your patience and celebrate this big stage of the project, we wanted to get the PoD optional discounts out to you as quickly as possible, should you wish to order a Print-on-Demand copy!

REWARD DISTRIBUTION

Your link to claim your They Came from Beneath the Sea! PoD Discount will be sent out by our BackerKit pledge manager over the next day. Since we are using our partners at DriveThruRPG as the host for this, you will need to set up a DriveThru account if you don't have one already. If you encounter any problems with downloading your rewards, please contact DTRPG's customer service to resolve the matter, they've always been top-rated for customer service. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/contact_us.php

Again, because it can get confusing: THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS YOUR HARDCOVER KICKSTARTER REWARD

So, for those backers who pledged at the Featured Performer reward tier, or those backers who might be looking for a second copy for the table, there are two different versions of Print-On-Demand options available.

Standard Color Heavyweight uses a thick 70# white paper which has better page opacity. (that's "70 pound" for reference, but does not mean each page weighs 70 lbs!).  Standard Heavyweight Color uses inkjet technology. (These are not the same inkjet printers you have at home - these are often as big or bigger than a car!) This option offers lower cost but the colors won't be as sharp or bright as a Premium Color book.

Premium Color Heavyweight uses the same 70# paper, but uses a digital offset press. This option offers superior color quality but is more expensive to produce.

(Remember to order via the coupon link in your BackerKit digital rewards locker, if you that was part of your rewards list! That link is your coupon and must be the first step in your PoD order.)

That's one more reward to move from our Pending list to our Delivered list! I believe our hardcover books from the kickstarter are now on a truck and heading from the printer to our fulfillment partners. The Director Screens are still waiting for final proof sign off, but we're getting closer. I expect the Print-on-Demand version of the Quip Deck to be made available at DriveThruCards in another week or two - when that happens, I'll be back with another reward to pass on to you. 

TO CONTACT ME

  • Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
  • Via Kickstarter: Click Richard Thomas under the "Created By" heading on the main page, and then press the "Contact Me" button - the message will come to me!
  • Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.

Our Current Campaign

Two weeks to go!

July 2020 Update
over 3 years ago – Fri, Jul 31, 2020 at 10:02:05 AM

Ahoy, landlubbers!

'Tis the final day of July, so that means it's time to update our Captain's Log with the present condition of our crew and our journey status! Yar!

Ahoy ahoy

SHIPPING UPDATE 

You haven't missed anything! Shipments have not yet gone out!

Just wanted to get that out right at the front, because I've got some panicked e-mails from backers who thought they may have missed something. We're not quite yet at the shipping stage. Getting closer, but not yet there.

  • Orders have been locked (so Onyx Path knew how many to print), payments have been processed, and addresses have been confirmed.
  • The books have been printed! They exist! But they're still at the printer and set to ship soon to our fulfillment partner.
  • It is my understanding that the Quip Decks for those who added on a physical copy have also been printed. I'm working on getting an ETA on when those will deliver to our fulfillment partner. Hopefully they'll be en route soon.
  • Director Screens are at the printer. Onyx Path is still waiting for print proofs to review and approve before that job will run. Once they're approved, it shouldn't take too long, and then they'll be shipped to our fulfillment partner.

So, all the pieces are nearing completion and will soon be at our fulfillment partner where they will be received, picked, packed, and shipped out to you. But that's still some time away.

This year has been full of delays, and even now that things have "opened up," there's still a slower pace as reduced staffs and schedules, distanced workers, and a massive reduction in flights and transportation have slowed down shipping speeds. So, in the end, our books may deliver in September rather than late August, but it won't be too much longer. 

When all of the orders are being shipped from our fulfillment partner, I will send an update with tracking information. You'll be able to monitor your delivery and track your package.

If you are moving or need to change shipping information prior to me sending out the shipping update, please contact me and I will update your info. It's not too late up until the moment I tell you that boxes are out the door.

TO CONTACT ME

  • Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
  • Via Kickstarter: Click Richard Thomas under the "Created By" heading on the main page, and then press the "Contact Me" button - the message will come to me!
  • Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.

Thanks to everyone for your patience as we adjust to the reality of 2020.

REWARD TRACKING - Completed Rewards (Sent to Backers)

  • Backer T-shirt link (Update #37, March 13, 2019)
  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! Backer PDF (Update #49, January 16, 2020)
  • Quip & Cinematic Cards PDF (Update #49, January 16, 2020)
  • Heroic Land-Dwellers (Update #54, May 2, 2020)

REWARD TRACKING - PENDING

  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! Hardcover - printed, on a truck to fulfillment partner
  • They Came from Beneath the Sea! PoD Coupon - waiting on test proofs for review and approval
  • Director’s Screen - at the printer, waiting on test proofs for review and approval
  • Quip & Cinematic Cards PoD Coupon
  • Quip & Cinematic Card Deck - printed, on a truck to fulfillment partner
  • Threat Files! PDF (Monsters of the Deep) - in Post-Editing Development phase of production
  • New Scenarios! PDF (Tales of Aquatic Terror) - in Post-Editing Development phase of production
  • Digital Wallpaper

I'll post our list of delivered and pending rewards with each monthly update, so that we can track everything that's needed and keep on the same page. Also, feel free to check out Onyx Path's Monday Meeting Notes (linked here) which will give you a weekly status report on ALL of the projects Onyx Path has on the go (you may see spoilers for my monthly updates, or see what other kickstarter campaigns are currently running or about to launch).

NOW ON KICKSTARTER

Check out our campaign! 4 Stretch Goals down, and 3 weeks to go...

You guys already know about this game, but check it out when you can!