Meet the new boss, same as the old boss
over 3 years ago – Tue, Sep 01, 2020 at 11:26:16 PM

Today we have an important update that affects a couple of fundamental things about this project: the delivery date and the name. We've had to make some changes, but we have a good way forward.

When we started our campaign, we knew our timeframe was aggressive, and that everything had to go right to hit the end-of-October launch date. In the weeks following the project, everything was going well: components were designed, files were complete, and production was ready to start.

Unfortunately, during the last stages of trademark filing we hit some stumbling blocks around the name "Overlord." We've spent some time trying to work through those issues, but it's become clear that more time spent on those discussions would result in further delays to the project we've promised each of you.

So to move forward, we've had to go back to the drawing board and rename the game. We considered a lot of options, but we ultimately kept it simple: our game about bosses conquering the overworld will now be called OVERBOSS.

It's a huge bummer to change something as fundamental as a name, and we wish we didn't have to do this. But we're glad we have another option that's memorable, unique, and connected to the world of Boss Monster. We're confident that we can grow into this name, and by the time Overboss hits store shelves, the original working title will be just a footnote.

We're currently hard at work revising all our files, and sometime today we'll start updating things like the Kickstarter page and our website. We're moving fast on the Overboss overhaul, with the goal of going into production within the next couple of weeks. This definitely pushes our launch date past the end-of-October plan, but we'll do everything in our power to get this game to you by the holidays.

We want to make this a smooth transition for each of you. Here are three options:

If you want to cancel your pledge for any reason, we will give you a full refund. Just send us a direct message with your Kickstarter e-mail address.

If you want to maintain your pledge, you don't need to do anything!

If a December ship date will affect your mailing address, please update your address in BackerKit. If you're not sure what your address will be, just use your best guess and keep an eye on these updates. Once units are manufactured and ready for shipping, you'll have another chance to contact us with your updated address.

So that's the news. Nothing else has changed about the game but the name! We'll keep you posted as we move forward and have better information about the impact on our launch timing. We're sorry that these changes mean it will be a bit longer before you have the chance to play this awesome game, and we're really grateful for your support. When you get this game in your hands, whatever name is on the box, you're going to have a blast.

On locking down, charging, and other Backerkit related things
over 3 years ago – Thu, Aug 27, 2020 at 02:58:45 AM

Hi folks,

Apologies for the radio silence. A family medical event took me away from things at a critical time. I'm back and seeing much angst regarding Backerkit. To be clear...

1. Orders have been "locked down," meaning you can not change the items in your order. This helps us know how much to print of each item.

2. Cards have NOT been charged, for anyone. We won't do so for at least four more weeks. This gives you time to update your address or change the card number on hacked cards. Doing things in this order avoids lots of problems charging cards.

3. You'll be able to update your shipping address up until the month of fulfillment. This is done via Backerkit, using the same account you created for the survey.

Again, many apologies on the confusion. Bad timing on my part. You can always reach out to me personally at [email protected] with questions or concerns.

Brother One

P.S. We still have over 900 backers who haven't filled out the survey yet. Fill out your survey!

Charging cards on Thursday
over 3 years ago – Wed, Aug 12, 2020 at 12:40:49 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Surveys, Add-Ons, and Production Progress
over 3 years ago – Fri, Aug 07, 2020 at 04:01:18 AM

Greetings, Overlords. Just a quick update today!

We're doing very well on BackerKit surveys but are still showing about 1,600 backers outstanding. If you haven't yet, please look for an email from BackerKit in your inbox (or spam folder) and reply. If you can't find such an email, go directly to this page and enter your Kickstarter email address. If that doesn't work, please contact us through a Kickstarter direct message so we can help you.

You can manage all Add-Ons in BackerKit. If you were looking for some of those hard-to-find Boss Monster reprints, please note that there are only about 50 Hidden Secrets packs left and 400 Paper & Pixels packs. There's still plenty of everything else left! We are looking into another reprint of the Boss Monster Collector Box, but are not finding ways to get it done in time to ship with this campaign.

One the production side, we're getting very close to printing. All design and layout is complete, and we've turned over files to the printers. Barring any unforeseen hiccups (and there are usually unforeseen hiccups), we're still on track for late October. We'll continue to keep you posted!

Brother One

Brotherwise Games at Gen Con 2020
over 3 years ago – Sat, Aug 01, 2020 at 01:33:02 AM

Happy Friday, Overlords!

It's been a busy week. The majority of you have now headed to BackerKit to enter your shipping information, order any desired add-ons, and confirm final payment. Thanks for that! To those of you who haven't had the chance, you still have time. We'll send a final reminder a couple of weeks from now. Note: your card will NOT be charged until that final lockdown and you'll be able to change your order at any time up till then.

Add-Ons Update

As part of BackerKit, we've offered some items that aren't directly related to Overlord. That includes the full range of currently-in-print Brotherwise Games, plus a few limited-run Boss Monster items. As we mentioned in yesterday's update, those proved more popular than we expected. Unfortunately, we are sold out of the Boss Monster Collector's Box (and looking into bringing back another print run close to the holidays). But this morning we added additional inventory of the Hidden Secrets Pack and Paper & Pixels Pack. As we're writing this, there are still hundreds of those units left, so you can still add one to your order if you're interested!

If you already placed your order, you're all set. There's nothing else you need to do! Your credit card has not been charged, but as long as you selected the items and received a confirmation e-mail, your items are reserved.

Gen Con Online

Normally at this time of year, we'd be headed to Indianapolis for Gen Con. But during this very unique year, Gen Con has gone online. Normally, we'd use our booth to show off new and upcoming releases. This year, we're doing an official Gen Con livestream!

The livestream is tomorrow (Saturday) at 3 pm Pacific time / 6 pm Eastern time. To join, just head to facebook.com/BossMonsterGame/live. We'll provide a behind-the-scenes look at past Brotherwise Games, show off our 2020 releases, tease plans for 2021, and answer your questions live. During the Overlord portion of the panel, we'll provide a closer look at the game's Solo Campaign. It should be a fun 30-minute session, so join us!

Tray Magnifique

During the campaign, one of our coolest stretch goals was unlocking a GameTrayz premium insert in every box. So far, we've shared the primary tray, which will hold all the tiles and tokens. But this is actually a three-layered system: bottom tray, top tray, and lid. The bottom tray is designed to hold all the player boards. And if you have the Tile Tower and Market Board, there are wells in the bottom tray that will perfectly accommodate those add ons!

You can see from the CAD files here that everything's shaping up really nicely. We'll share updated prototype images as we get them.

Thanks again for your support throughout this campaign, and for all the positive energy you've been sending our way. We've had a really productive week, transitioning from final layout to review of e-proofs. The project is moving along smoothly, and we've only been sending so many updates because there's been so much to talk about! We're happy to see everything going well, and can't wait to get these games into your hands.