Good day! We are back with yet another Backerkit update!

Now that we've updated the Gloomhaven and RPG timelines, there has understandably been some clamoring to get an update on the minis project, and we hear you! It has been too long, and this is something we are definitely working on. There's a lot of elements that need to be arranged and discussed before we'll have all the info on updated timelines ready to present to you, but that work is being done behind the scenes, and we will do our best to get you a miniatures update as soon as we can.

For now, what I have for you this week is updates on shipping and support requests, a new artist spotlight for the new edition of Gloomhaven, and a lore excerpt from the RPG.

At this point, all shipping is complete for waves 1 and 2, aside from some outstanding regions in Asia, and the update there is the same as it has been. You can track the progress of your region here: https://vfi.asia/hubs/ (The project is listed under Frosthaven).

If you are having any trouble with a shipment, you can reach out to [email protected], and we will sort it out for you. As of now, I am happy to report that we are at zero outstanding tickets in the support inbox, so turnaround time should be very quick on your support requests now!

We're making great progress on all the graphic design here. Realistically, we are still doing our best to have all files ready by the end of the month, but we may end up overshooting that deadline by a week or two, especially as we have to contend with Gen Con at the end of the month, where most of the industry is out of commission for a week, including some of our contractors.

I'll check in next time once we hit the end of the month with more details on where we're at, but for now, we thought it would be nice to send out another artist spotlight.

Alex Elichev has more than 15 years of experience as an illustrator, photographer, and explorer. He’s a long-time Cephalofair friend and collaborator, having worked closely with Isaac to develop some of the first people and creatures to inhabit the World of Gloomhaven. You can see his work on Gloomhaven, Forgotten Circles, Founders of Gloomhaven, and Jaws of the Lion as well as the upcoming new edition of Gloomhaven. 

A: In 2012 I entered the world of board games with my first illustration "Twilight Gate" for Warhammer. Since then I have worked on many different projects from Fantasy Flight Games and now have a whole collection of cards for a variety of universes.

A: Orchids are close to me, they are magnificent and mysterious. They are close to nature, their ability to crystallize makes them so graceful and fantastic.

A: Many are interesting to me like Spellweaver and Hatchet although I prefer to develop them. I love lore in games, it's amazing to create a character from scratch and imagine them in motion to try to understand their character.

A: I love to travel to different countries, try new foods, and photograph unique landscapes and animals. I also like to develop logic and tactics with a good game of Chess.

A: Of course I do! I search for films, music, art, and historical clothing that’s relevant to the setting I’m working in. Sometimes I go to a museum. I do everything I can for inspiration.

A: Back in art school I saw Lord of the Rings. I fell asleep the first time, but the second time I watched it and eventually read all the books. I make time to enjoy these movies again every year.

A: I think everyone knows Baldur’s Gate 3. I am inspired by this world, the characters and especially the team itself. They are very interesting and creative people who are always honest with their fans. They make a great game! 

A: I particularly enjoy subjects in which I can show my imagination to the maximum. Monsters. Fantastic creatures. Dragons and much more.

A: This is probably the very first CRPG I've played. Neverwinter Nights and all its additions. Lots of skills, spells, races and all in my favorite world of Forgotten Realms and with the enchanting music of Jeremy Soule.

A: Look for inspiration in everything, be positive, try to think about your future. 

A: I really like Ruan Jia. I always wanted to make the most detailed illustration like him, but unfortunately I don't have that much free time. He can make one illustration for about a month.

A: I’m most proud of the original Gloomhaven cover art because it tells a story. 

A: Do good things for people, walk in parks, don’t forget about art ;) 

The new edition of Gloomhaven will feature a number of classic and new art pieces by Alex, including more items and summon, like the Iron Beast above. We’re thrilled to continue working with this inspirational and imaginative artist! Check out his full portfolio at https://www.artstation.com/alexandrelichev to see everything he’s been up to!

Everything is continuing smoothly along on the RPG as well, as we work on editing and layout. And as we have some of the cool lore chapters back from editing, we thought we'd share with you an except that we're excited about. Here is some info on the quatryl homeland of Cyrgen:

Far to the east of Casskia, across the Misty Sea, lies Cyrgen, the ancestral home of orchids and quatryls. The western side of Cyrgen is a lush land filled with forests and gentle rolling hills. The north is dominated by the Risen Peaks, a massive mountain range that spans the continent. In the south, the Wild Peaks separate west from east with the Shimmering Desert on the leeward side.

Orchids view Cyrgen as a treasure to protect and preserve. They discourage immigration, spreading stories about impoverished, rocky wastelands. On the other hand, quatryls love visitors and encourage newcomers to stay as long as they like. This causes some tension between the two, though nothing has come of it yet.

Recently, the coasts have seen an influx of quatryls wishing to gain access to the greater world. Their curiosity drives them, and they have built settlements spreading out from Declyod as they prepare to travel the world.

In contrast to the relatively new cities in Casskia, the cities of Cyrgen are old, refined, and built to interact and coexist with their surroundings. While this has changed recently near Declyod, there is still a general respect for the land, even in the most industrialized areas.

Declyod
While traditionally nomadic, quatryls love living in cities. Their shining jewel is Declyod, which sits in a natural bay created by the Silver River. The city, originally founded by orchids, now serves as their capital. Quatryl nomads originally built a university near the city as a place for study and rest between their constant travels. As more people came to study, the university grew and soon quatryls were more populous than orchids. The orchids simply made space for the quatryls, who eventually took over the city.

Declyod is a modern marvel filled with technological delights. The city is lit with electric lights powered by both magically captured air and hydroelectric power. They have a working sewer system complete with flushing commodes and water treatment. They have long-distance communication, automatic single- and double-person vehicles, and a wide variety of hand-held personal devices that make life easier.

The center of the city is the oldest part, and still has the sturdy stone and crystal spires built by the original orchid inhabitants. The docks are made of treated wood, worn to a lustrous dark brown with age and use. The areas further out from the city center are a hodgepodge of construction, buildings pile on top of one another, the newer simply built atop the older. The newest areas, built stretching around the arms of the bay, are a mix of temporary homes and permanent sprawling estates taking advantage of the extra space.

Declyod’s inventors are the best of the best, often working to one up each other in friendly rivalry. Twice a year, the city hosts a maker’s faire. It opens the old university courtyard to the city and crafters from all over the world bring their latest inventions to show off. The entire city celebrates the occasions in week-long festivities offering everything from special baked goods to discounts in shops.

Quatryl society encourages curiosity, rewarding failure and success in equal measure as long as something is learned. Young quatryls have a great many opportunities for learning and study, though the pressure to study engineering at the Great University is often burdensome. Declyod has recently suffered from a loss of their younger generation, who seek to find their paths and fortunes across the sea in Casskia. They wish to find adventure and new experiences and believe the only way to achieve that is to leave home.

The Great University
Another major quatryl city lies north of Declyod at the southern tip of the Violet Delta. Here, the Declyod Institute for Scientific Study and Research (DISSR) has created the largest learning institution in the world. The entire city is the Great University itself, boasting over three dozen different colleges devoted to specific areas of engineering and study. Student and professor housing lies nestled in between each college so that they may easily walk to their primary class buildings. Broad boulevards separate colleges and residents into districts, each with restaurants, shops, and entertainment to supply them. Non-matriculating residents live in housing that spreads outward from the city center, and commute to the campuses to work and experience the brilliance that comes out of the Great University daily.

The Great University’s colleges are primarily dedicated to engineering disciplines. The quatryl definition of engineering is rather loose, and includes agriculture, architecture, manufacture, distillation, baking, astronomy, and even poetry and prose. While many quatryls prefer the natural sciences and practical applications of their studies, some study the more esoteric fields and seek to gain a basic understanding of their environment.

The Great University’s motto is “To Learn and Grow” which is embodied by every student. They prioritize innovation over perfection, though the professors urge students to at least grasp the fundamentals before they start innovating.

                                     

And one other exciting bit of news to report before I sign off: the first 10-scenario community-driven campaign for Frosthaven has begun! This was something I've been aiming to do ever since we launched the Frosthaven Kickstarter back in 2020. And now that the second printing of Frosthaven has finally delivered, it seemed like a good time as any to get into it.

You can find out more about the campaign here, but, basically, I'll be posting a scenario every two weeks and then giving the community the power to vote on what happens next in the campaign. In this way, it becomes more of a choose-your-own-adventure, where none of us really know what's around the corner, because I make up everything on the spot in response to the voting results. We've done a few for Gloomhaven in the past, and they're always a lot of fun.

You can follow this link to get the first scenario and vote on what happens next. And the best way to follow along as it happens is to subscribe the this geeklist, so you get a notification any time something new is posted.

And that's all there is to report! Like I said, we're working on bringing you a miniatures update, so stay tuned for that as well as more info on the new edition and the RPG. Until next time!