Kickstarter Successful! Now what?
almost 5 years ago – Fri, Apr 09, 2021 at 04:33:56 AM

Thank you all so much for an awesome, successful campaign! We unlocked tons of stretch goals and this campaign evolved into a huge set of STLs that I'm proud to share with you all!

I wanted to take a minute to outline next steps for those of you who have never participated in one of my Kickstarters before, and answer a few common questions!

When can I see the work-in-progress mins and unpicked sets?

I can no longer update the content (images/text/etc) on the main campaign page since the Kickstarter is ended, so you won't see updates any more on there. As we finish more renders to share, and the final pending sets are picked, etc I'll be doing some updates to share those with you all.

When can I get the files?

Kickstarter takes 2 weeks to collect payment from backers and hand it over to me. This is to account for failed card transactions and the like (which does happen). In that 2 week period I will be working to finalize/test/finish as many of the files as I can, and organize them in the final folder structure. Once Kickstarter releases the funding to me, I will make the files that are ready available to all backers. I'm estimating that at that time 60-75% of the included files will be finished and ready to print.

Please note that just because I can make a render of a model does not mean it's finished -there's lots of work to make a final version of minis (support validation, testing, watertighting/manifold checking, etc), so there's a LOT of work to do to finalize all the models still, which is why I noted up to 90 days on the KS campaign page (though I expect it to take much less of course). 

I always created a google doc that outlines all the files included, and their state of completion and when they were last updated. I use Dropbox to deliver files and BackerKit as a pledge manager.

I pledged for add-ons, where do I choose which ones I want?

There will be a pledge manager (BackerKit) that you will use to choose your add-ons, which you will have access to shortly after the funding period. I'll be doing another update when the pledge manager is ready, including videos showing you how to choose add-ons, get the files, etc.

What's next for EC3D?

At the moment we'er working on more issues of The Ignis Quadrant comic series and a short anthology comic in the Ignis Quadrant (which will both feature many characters, locations, ships and more from items in this project).

Also in the works is a sprawling Steampunk STL project,  a Kickstarter of real-life tabletop props, a few Community (Treasure)Chest projects (the ongoing charity series I created, with small themed STL sets) which will probably feature a scifi and a cyberpunk themed concept, and even a Board Game. 2021 is gonna be a busy year!

If you don't already, please follow EC3D on facebook and on Instagram to stay up to date!

2 hrs left and more stretch goals!
almost 5 years ago – Wed, Apr 07, 2021 at 08:25:34 PM

Heading towards the finish line, I wanted to share a quick stretch goal update. Since the last posted update we unlocked a LOT of stuff, and added a few finished renders of already unlocked items:

Not too shabby!!

I think it's safe to say you're getting your money's worth in this project!

I'll send out an update tomorrow once the KS ends with info on next steps.

I also wanted to note that once the KS ends I cannot change the images/text/etc on the campaign page so I can only provide info on unlocks in the KS updates and you won't see anything change on the main page. Thanks so much for your support!

Test Models, Stretch Goals, and Backer Vote #2
almost 5 years ago – Wed, Apr 07, 2021 at 06:23:57 AM

Stretch Goals

Newly unlocked since the last update we have the TROLLS and the LICH. There's also still 2 unlocked goals I'm waiting to hear from the randomly selected backer for, and a backer vote (more below on that), so they should keep on rolling in!

Backer Vote

I'm gonna keep this poll open for a few days, but take a minute to cast your votes for the Backer Vote goal to unlock. The options are aggregated from your input. Each backer gets to case 2 votes (one form fill) and please enter the email of your Kickstarter account in the form to validate the votes so it cant' be gamed. You can access the voting form here: https://forms.gle/Wx14eLNRvEkGB7Bt9

Test Models / Bases

After TONS of tweaking and testing I am looking for you, the community, to help pinpoint the perfectly optimal base for resin printing. I am releasing the spiders models (one on a 1" base and on on a 2" base) for you to test out. For FDM printing, it's pretty easy - just use the unbased or based (regular, flat based) versions. For resin printers, this is where I'm looking for your feedback. There's 3 iterations of the resin based included:

• Resin A : The original small bevel/channeled option I came up with (and is currently available via my Blender Plugin).
• Resin B: Updated version of Resin A with a deeper bevel, bigger channels, and more channels. The idea here is that there's less suction on the bed to break, but the downsides are that some resin gets trapped under the channels (though it can flow out)
• Resin C: A very basic bevel on the flat based version, just to provide a small area for razor/scraper to get underneath
• Resin D: A more angled, rounded bevel

If you're willing to give some of these a test on your resin machine, we can figure out what will work the best across a broad range of printers/resins/etc.  Things to note for resin printing supportless minis

• You often need less exposure time on the base layer to get good adherence, but still make it easy to remove.
• To remove the minis, set the build plate on something solid and slide a sharp metal scraper or safety razor under the base just enough to release the suction
• Many folks will pop the build plate in the freezer for a bit and the minis pop right off
• A magnetic build plate is a game changer for removing minis like this, and is a cheap but awesome upgrade.

If you do some test printing, let me know what kind of experience you have with the different bases in resin so the final product can be one that works for all backers! NOTE thousands of people have been successfully printing my support-free minis with the standard flat bases for years -- this is just an attempt to make it even easier.

Here's the link to download the test models: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/20m5jsfotvwj5zj/AABLkBSCSLiuDOuzFYrqHVPMa?dl=0

New Backer Vote for Stretch Goal
almost 5 years ago – Wed, Apr 07, 2021 at 04:07:54 AM

Folks, hope you're well! One of the SGs that we just got was another backer voted goal.

If you have any interesting ideas for beasts/baddies that would fit the theme of the campaign, and are not already listed on the stretch goal matrix, drop em in this form : https://forms.gle/br2xc7vzh4DiioVDA

I'll be reviewing and creating the actual voting poll tomorrow. If you previously suggested an idea, no need to do it again. These were the ones that did the best (but didn't win) in the last poll:

Slaads, Morlocks/Grimlocks,  Griffin, and hippogriff. 

I should have some updates/renders to share about even more unlocked minis soon!

Stretch Goals, Renders, Bonuses, Oh My!
almost 5 years ago – Fri, Apr 02, 2021 at 04:46:33 PM

Hey folks! Sorry for the silence, life's been a whirlwind the last week - I usually am much more punctual with updates, but I hope the content makes up for it!

RENDERS

As you can see from the campaign page, I took the feedback from you folks and upped the render game for the model substantially. It takes a long time to setup a nice render scene and render all the models (I previously just screen shotted a matcap view in Blender, which was way fast). But I think you'll all agree that it was well worth it! It has delayed a few other efforts, like finalizing the test models, but it presents the campaign so much better and hopefully helps entice more backers to unlock more stretch goals!

STRETCH GOALS

Speaking of stretch goals - some new unlocks since the last update include:

• $19k: Christopher Darren Arnold picked Set #9, 1d4 roll = 1, SUCCUBUS unlocked
• $20k: Alec Lanter picked Set #12, 1d4 roll = 2, BONY DEVIL unlocked
• $21k: Harry Colquhoun picked Set #3, 1d4 roll = 2, GIANT SPIDERS unlocked
• BONUS: 1d12+1 roll = Set 4, 1d4 roll = 1,  FLAME SKULLS unlocked
• $22k: Josh Harrison picked Set #10, 1d4 roll = 3, GOLEMS unlocked
• $23k: Earl McCammon picked Set #9, 1d4 roll = 2, IMPS unlocked

Not too shabby! There's some super fun models in here - the golems are some of my favorite in the campaign. Here's some renders, including one of the finished Mad King:

BONUS MODELS

I also added a few more bonus models from past campaigns to the mini set for all backers, including the Sea Troll from "Depths of Savage Atoll" and sand golem from "Empire of Scorching Sands"

This all brings the total minis up to 65, with many more coming! We should have the finished blights and bone devil to share soon too!

As usual, please help spread the word about this campaign anywhere you think is appropriate and help us unlock more stretch goals!