Compact and affordable tabletop terrain for Dungeon Crawling RPGs, all made from the box it comes in.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Hi All - My name is Richard.
This is probably not the update you were expecting, or anticipating, but I ask you bare with me for this read and only comment once you have read and digested the messages I am passing along for you.
Also, note I am not the owner of RM17, nor am I part of this kickstarter or responsible for fulfillment, liable for anything relating to or otherwise. I am also a backer (UK Based) myself and active Kickstarter user and my thoughts that I express below are just that - those of my own.
Why am I writing this update for you all , rather than Ricard?
Simply - I have worked with Ricard in the past (the tabletop games industry is a small place) I also consulted externally on the marketing that went into Mighty-Lords, content such as image creation, ppc advertising and the likes and have been following TFDs "misfortune" recently (along with ML minis etc).
The silence I was seeing made me decide to reach out to Ricard personally.
I purchased Miremarsh and Museum rush - I like Room17s projects, I Have physically SEEN TFD at shows and know it is a good project and those who have gotten their hands on it, must be pleased - if not somewhat exhausted from the process - but that is the nature of kickstarter investments.
I recently reached out to Ricard, as I was watching this unfold and seeing his total silence was naturally concerned, I saw the changes to the website, the Facebook page and concern became worry - not for my backed money (because this is kickstarter, I've backed several failed projects - just check my history, it's part of it) but because I knew Ricard - if only briefly, but, at least well enough to know the vibrant, chatty, excitable, game loving, family man and devoted husband that he was when I worked alongside him, would not and must not be doing well, if he's gone totally silent.
Let's all put our humanist hats on for a moment, before I get down to details, as I have seen a lot of rage in the comments, a lot of hate and threats - I wholly understand the anger and feelings associated with these posts, but they are not constructive in the least.
I am of the opinion that (and still do hold the opinion) Ricard is a good person who has simply tried to achieve his vision and come upon some serious misfortune, after loosing his colleagues and partners who were once friends, employees, business and investments and suffered several other personal losses, has obviously struggled to take the toll.
Reading the comments appearing in his inbox, like I have seen pinging into my Gmail as a follower/backer, must be very difficult.
Bad experiences can be triggering in many ways to different people, sometimes triggers can lead to far more catastrophic outcomes than you'd expect - anyway. I digress.
As I have as I said reached out to Ricard, out of concern, my own curiosity toward the project notwithstanding and also, with the intention of getting some sort of an update for clarity and a statement to backers - who, regardless of the state of the project, or of Ricard himself, do still deserve answers and communication - now as far as capacity goes - whilst I am not qualified to comment - I would suggest Ricard hasn't had the capacity to be active or available here, which is why we have seen such silence, however, I have been able to "virtually" sit down with Ricard and get some answers to various questions.
The following words you read will be his own, from our conversation, then I shall follow up with more of my own, if you are interested.
Hi dear backers.
I am sorry that I have not been active on the Kickstarter pages in recent months, I wish to clarify the situation with the various projects Room 17 has had running through the kickstarter platform and answer some of the concerns and questions that have been posed by the backers.
I understand the frustration that many people have with the projects, which I share, I am currently living with daily and am very much affected by the weight of the problems the projects have encountered in the last 18 months.
One reason for not being so forthcoming with discussions has stemmed from my desperation to save the projects after virtually all staff and financial supports were finished. During these months I have been in confidential conversations with several potential buyers for the different properties and IPs the company has created during these 5 years, in an attempt to recapitalise and finally deliver the end-products of the KS campaigns. The nature of one business purchasing another’s property, is that these conversations are under NDAs, I cannot actually say anything publicly, regarding these – even speculation could cause problems or misunderstandings.
At this point however, the conversations seem to reach an end and although not positive, at least it frees me to communicate that, indeed, the company has become insolvent and must cease to operate.
As difficult as it is for a backer to consider an investment (pledge) lost or partially lost, this time is for me personally the hardest test and most painful challenge I had to endure in my 27 years in the industry. In the last 18 months, I have suffered multiple mental breakdowns, and anxiety crisis, family losses and lately I have put enormous pressure to my wife and kids that had bring my family to the most critical limit. This finally making me realise that I had to stop. That pursuing the dream of Room 17 and fighting for Tenfold Dungeon would cause me a terrible and irreparable loss.
So, after I have investing my life into the company and its projects, it has taken me a long time and a lot of deep breaths to gather the strength and courage to write an update explaining this in a simple and realistic manner. It is not easy, nor does it weight lightly when I fail in the eyes of so many hundreds of supporters, so very publicly.
I want to thank those of you that in this disappointing situation, still send me their persona words of strength and support. On the other hand, others have decided to even attack me personally and are chasing me on social media etc… To those, I’d like to kindly ask them to consider that you are aiming at a troubled person, with family, friends, etc that is trying to reconstruct his life after suffering this major failure.
You have lost a game/product/some money, I take with me my failure to you and my personal disappointment for not being able to do better.
Not Bankrupt
Room 17 Games is not in bankruptcy as some backers have mentioned.
As a limited company, it is still legally opened in the companies house, but due to the lack of revenue or sources to produce revenue, it has been forced to cease operations and trade. It has no staff nor facilities left (Closing down the current office by the end of this month).
Since the company has no legal debts with HMRC (government), banks or other entities or public persons*, I was recommended not to file for bankruptcy but simply reduce the company progressively, from VAT Ltd company to sole trader to finally close it down if necessary. During this process that can take up to 9 months, I will continue trying to find the best outcome to deliver as much as the Intellectual property and produced product to as many backers as possible.
TFD Sitting in China
UK and European TFD production are still in China, and I’m in continuing conversations with different companies to try and consolidate cargo with them to bring the goods home. The US allocation was received by Golden Distribution (appointed US fulfiller and US distributor), after making them aware of the company situation, has offered to send the goods to backers and he is contacting each one to complete the final push.
The Future
Well, there isn’t any future really. With this, Room 17 is exploring the final steps and possibilities to deliver something tangible to all it’s Kickstarter project backers and for that, I will be offering you all the only thing I have left: the files, printing plates and all things related to TFD so you can use them for your personal use and hopefully bring some comfort to your loss. Additionally, I want to give you all the gift of the game that never saw it to production: Dungeon Adventures so you can print and play what was my baby and the reason why Room 17 Games was created.
After that, I will cease operating publicly and will continue looking for the best way forward for me and my family.
I want to thank you all again for your enormous patience and apologise for the last time for not having been able to bring TFD to their glorious end!
* Although this is clearly stated in every KS campaign disclaimer, sufficiently announced and explained to each backer and superbacker, and with no intention to justify the failure of this campaign, I should point out at this point that the pledges made on the Kickstarter platform are an unsecured investment and not a loan/money lend or agreed purchase / sale of goods. The funds received by the campaign were used to continue the project run and to produce TFD core alongside the R+D for their plastic elements, and numerous other expenses that this badly conducted and executed project incurred on. This mismanagement being the reflexion and cause of the unsuccessful run of the company.
Back to me;
So , I am afraid I can't give you much better news for now,
I have again spoken to Ricard and will try to get ahold of any files relating to the games/projects and see if I can do anything to assist distribution of templates/stls/etc if at all.
Thankyou for reading all.
I will try to respond again soon if questions persist, but, I will reiterate, this project is not my responsibility in any way, I'm just trying to be of some help.
Rich
Good afternoon all.
Just a quick update with new information for the US shipment. This morning I had an email from the Chinese manufacturer (which arranged the shipment of the TFD to US) with the good news that the container is expected to arrive in Oakland by the 20th April.
I know some backers have been tracking the ship and kindly posting the information they found about it, but this is coming from the shipping company and has been past and confirmed to and by the fulfilling company Golden Distribution.
With the date estimated by the Coastal, we all hope a happy and prompt ending to this journey!
For the European and UK consignments, the goods are still retained at port in China, so no movement on that end. However, I’m in conversations with a Chinese fulfilling company that is looking at quoting me the cost for fulfilling directly from China to your door. I have prompted them this morning to give me that quote so I can see what the best options are, and they have replied they will need a bit of time to give me an accurate quote. I will inform when this is received.
I have no further information and although I’m keeping all the doors and options open, things are progressing very slowly and conditions from China are not helping with the logistics prices stuck in high rates (taking advantage of the shortage and restriction) and furthermore, the raw materials increasing by 30% (I was communicated last week).
These are all good and bad news depending on which side of the ocean, but they are all the news I have received to this morning at all fronts.
Keep safe
Good morning US and South American backers!
I received this morning news from the manufacturer who was contacted by the maritime company with the latest information on the ONE APUS incident.
What I understand is that the vessel is already or will be soon resuming their transit to Palm Beach and apparently, since there are no changes on the Bill Of Landing or coding of the pallet, it all seems really straight forward.
I’m not very knowledgeable in certain aspects of this freight business, but please if any of you knows better, please let us know what exactly all this gibberish means ;-)
I have communicated this to the fulfilling/distribution company in the US (Golden Distribution) and we are now resuming conversations to prepare for the landing and the logistics element of the fulfilment.
I’m trying to refrain myself from being excited… but I really hope this is the final stage of this American Odyssey and we can finally see you guys enjoying TFD.
Again, I cannot apologise enough for the plot of this epic, and I cannot thank you enough for your incredible support and patience.
Finally, I wish you all backers to keep safe and hope for the end of this pandemic soon.
As always, if you need any help, or have suggestions, etc, please contact me directly on [email protected]
Best to all.