Update & Artist Reveal: Julia Bangert
almost 2 years ago – Fri, Jan 20, 2023 at 08:57:59 AM

Happy New Year!

And so we find ourselves in the year of some people's lord, two thousand twenty three...the year that Monty Python hits gaming tables across the galaxy, with a delightfully wet, squishy sound. Here's your first monthly update of the year, complete with dead crab smell.

Development: The core content is done. We are currently developing and writing the content for the unlocked stretch goals from the Kickstarter campaign...all those additional bestiary entries, dramatis personae, HoLEs, and quests. Everything is on-schedule and 100% brilliant and perfect and amazing and genius, according to Brian and Craig's mum.

Art: We are in the process of kidnapping our target artists and fitting them with shackles in our wonderfully appointed artist's dungeon. One such "volunteer" is the exceptionally talented Julia Bangert, an expert in Mediaeval and traditional manuscript illumination, whom we were able to hire thanks to your unlocking of a stretch goal. She will be designing and hand-painting illuminations for the Setting and Background chapter. She has chosen to employ English Gothic book illumination as a model, as is found in the Queen Mary Psalter, with lombards (fancy letters to open each paragraph--see? You've learned something! How cocurricular!).  Here are some examples of the style and a quick sketch of the Camelot illumination. 

Almost finally, the pledge manager is open for another month, so be sure to complete your orders and let undereducated acquaintances know that they can still pre-order the Programme. As we stated last year, we are extending Stretch Goal (is that redundant?) unlocking to the pledge manager, meaning whatever we raise through it will still apply toward unlocking new stuff. You've already unlocked the additional Farm & French Meeples (the $2M Stretch Goal) to be included with the Fetchez la Vache set. We'd love to get the rest of those unlocked by the time the pledge manager ends. 

Very nearly finally, we'll be back next month with another update, but in the meantime, let us know if you have any questions or feedback at [email protected]. If you've played or run the Supplemental Educational Resource Materials for Pre- or Inter-course Study that we released last November, we'd love to hear how it all went, what worked, what didn't, and so forth.

Truly finally, thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. Hugs and kisses (but only the consensual kind, and no tongue, promise). 

Exalted Funeral & Crowbar Creative

BackerKit Pledge Manager and Certificate for Gifting
almost 2 years ago – Thu, Dec 22, 2022 at 03:49:22 AM

Righto. Pay attention, devotees of English History. You there! Strotherman! Sit up straight! No one likes a sloucher!

Jolly good. Now down to business. The post-campaign pledge manager survey will be showing up in your electronical postboxes in the next few days. Here's what you need to know. Yes, Wimsey, this will be on the test.

What is a pledge manager and why are you sending it to me?

A pledge manager is an interface that walks you through the final steps of completing your order. You'll use it to confirm shipping information, pay for shipping, and add any items to your order (extra dice catapults, meeples, and the like). Our friends at BackerKit (a company we use to help manage all of this) will be sending you an email that will grant you access to the pledge manager. From there it's all very simple and straightforward. You'll be taken through the process step-by-step. 

When will you charge me for shipping and add-on purchases from the pledge manager?

The pledge manager will be open for 60 days, after which it will close and the card you've provide will be charged. The two-month window allows you time to peruse the add-ons and change or upgrade your pledge tier. You will receive a reminder email and we'll post an update prior to the pledge manager's closing and your card's charging. 

What if I don't get the email from BackerKit?

The emails will begin going out in batches today, Wednesday Dec. 21st. If you have not received your pledge manager email from BackerKit by Tuesday Dec. 27th, please reach out to us at [email protected].

I used Apple Pay to pay for my Kickstarter pledge. Is that a problem?

Sometimes backers who use Apple Pay don't receive their pledge manager survey because Apple Pay uses a secured email address protocol. If you used Apple Pay, please contact us at [email protected] so we can update your email in BackerKit and make sure you get the email.

What's Next?

Going forward, we'll be posting monthly updates to keep you apprised of all things MPCMRP--from peeks at freshly commissioned art to production and delivery updates.

In the meantime, if you need any assistance with the pledge manager or have any questions at all, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We'll be keeping an eye on the message boards and incoming Kickstarter messages, but the best way to reach us and make sure we address your question properly is to hit us up at the email above.

Thanks so much and have Happy Holidays!

Exalted Funeral & Crowbar Creative

PS. Are you giving the gift of Monty Python's Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme this holiday season? Wish that you had something to drop in their stocking to signify this exceptional benefaction and earn you the praise you deserve for bestowing it? Say no more! This Certificate of Future Achievement is the ultimate signifier of your monumental largesse. Once you receive your BackerKit Pledge Manager survey link you will be able to access the download for the certificate in the "Get Your Digital Downloads" link at the end of your survey. Print it out, fill in the recipient's name, sheath it in glass surrounded by an ornate, gilded frame, wrap it in high-quality festive paper, and win Christmas decisively. Brutally even. 

This Calls for Immediate Appreciation!
almost 2 years ago – Mon, Nov 21, 2022 at 06:21:42 PM

Right. We shan't come over all emotional. Must keep a stiff upper lip at such times, what!

But it's safe to say that none of us expected support to this degree. Our chief emotion is gratitude. Gratitude and excitement. Our two chief emotions are gratitude and excitement. And an almost fanatical devotion to delivering to you the most educationally stimulating Programme and accoutrement possible. Our three chief emotions...oh I'll have to come in again. 

Put simply: thank you. Thank you for the faith you've shown in us and this project, for your enthusiasm for it since it was announced just a few months ago, and for your feedback along the way. We are incredibly humbled, and a bit overwhelmed, by the response to this massive project.

As you know, the book is written, so it's on to editorial, playtesting, art commissioning, and layout from here. We will keep you, our most excellent and passionate backers, posted at every stage and keep you informed about backer surveys, the opening of the pledge manager, and the like. In the meantime, please hit us up with any questions. 

Again, thank you.

Brian and Craig at Crowbar Creative and The Team at Exalted Funeral Press 

Pre-order Store and BackerKit Surveys
almost 2 years ago – Mon, Nov 21, 2022 at 05:16:08 PM

Hello backers!

Thank you so much again for helping to make the campaign such a success! We wanted to update you on our plans and the timeline for both the Pre-order store and the BackerKit pledge manager surveys.

First, let's talk about Stretch Goals. We know we didn't capture the last three on the list: The extra meeples, the print-your-own HoLE head, and the enhanced FLV! set. Well, we are going to extend these goals into the Pledge Manager and Pre-Order phase of the funding because we still want to do them!

Pre-order store

We have partnered with BackerKit and are excited to utilize their new pre-order beta store!  The way this beta works is that customers that missed out on the campaign can back under a pre-order only pledge tier. These backers will choose a pre-order pledge tier and input their email address. Once surveys are sent out to Kickstarter backers they will also be sent out to these pre-order Backers, giving everyone access to the add-on store. These pre-order backers are not eligible for the same Kickstarter exclusives or backer price for add-ons.

This pre-order store is only for customers that missed the campaign. If you are Kickstarter backer wishing to add to your existing pledge, DO NOT SIGN UP FOR A PRE-ORDER PLEDGE. You must wait until your survey is sent to you from BackerKit. Do not use this pre-order pledge store to add on pledges that you intend to have shipped to the same address. We cannot combine a pre-order pledge with an existing Kickstarter pledge. Kickstarter backers will see an add-on in the store for additional bundles if they would like add those on at that time to their existing pledge, however these add-on bundles will not include the coconut dice rollers nor the Head of Light Entertainment sash.

BackerKit Surveys

You will receive an email from BackerKit inviting you to your pledge manager survey a few weeks from now.  Both Kickstarter backers and pre-order backers will receive their surveys at the same time. This email will give you access to the add-ons and allow you to pay for shipping. You will have 60 days from the time the surveys are sent out until they are locked and your card is charged for add-ons and shipping. We will send out an update before surveys are sent out and we will also send out a separate update later on right before we lock orders and charge cards.

If you have any questions please contact us at [email protected].

Thank you!

Cristin @ Exalted Funeral

Stretch Goals: Unlocked, Ununlocked, and Soon To Be Unununlocked
about 2 years ago – Thu, Nov 17, 2022 at 10:46:20 PM

Our merry campaign is in its waning hours and the Stretch Goals are popping. Here's what has been unlocked and a look at those still unpopped.

UNLOCKED STRETCH GOALS

Oversized Spin-Down Dice for Player States - FREE To all physical tier backers!

The dice set now includes two custom, oversized (25mm) six-sided dice for tracking Death damage (from Mr. Neutron to No More) and Looney damage (from Reginald Maulding to Looney). Use them as spin-downs to keep tabs on your PC's physical and mental health...or lack thereof.

Printable Fetchez la Vache! and Squashez l'Anglaise! - FREE To all backers!

The PDF version of the book now includes printable game boards and meeples for woodless Fetchez la Vache! and Squashez l'Anglaise! gameplay. Print them out, put them up, paste them around town. 

Meeple Add-Ons - Available as an add-on!

Meeples will be available as add-ons in the pledge manager for those large-scale reenactors out there. 

4 Additional Quests - FREE To all backers!

The already bulbous and pulsating quest section will be pumped bulbouser with four additional adventures:

• The Tiger of Hounslow 
• A Fiancee for Prince Mitzi Gaynor
• The Blacmange Invasion
• Spank the Pope

Hand Painted Illumination - Book upgrade for all backers!

(image coming soon!)

 Ununlocked Stretch Goals 

Albatross Dice Set - Available as an add-on! 

The full dice set, now clad in the purest samite, metaphorically speaking, with a white crayon for marking the numbers without marring the driven-snow purity. They'll be available as add-ons in the pledge manager, should they be unununlocked. 

French and Farm Meeples -  Upgrade to Fetchez la Vache! 

Fetchez la Vache! will include 10 additional meeples (5 farm animals, 5 French Knights) for reeactment, catapult ammunition, and more historically accurate Squashez l'Anglaise! gameplay. Will be included in the meeple set add-on.

 So, what's included in each pledge tier? 

As some of you have noted, lots of stuff has been unlocked and added to the bundles, so here are newfangled digital photographic renderings of what each pledge level is getting with the unlocked stretch goals added in bold.

 Bloody Peasant:

• PDF Edition of the core book + all digital added content to book + printable Fetchez la Vache! 

Sensible Middle Class:

• Sensible Middle Class Edition - Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover + ribbon bookmark + spot varnish + expanded bestiary + expanded NPCs + 4 additional quests + hand created illuminated section of the book + 4 MORE quests 
• Custom Dice Set + custom Black Beast nesting box + 2 additional spin down d6 dice 
• PDF Edition of the core book + all digital added content to book + printable Fetchez la Vache!

Public School Bundle:

• Public School Edition - Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover + ribbon bookmark + spot varnish + expanded bestiary + expanded NPCs + 4 additional quests + hand created illuminated section of the book + 4 MORE quests 
• Custom Dice Set + custom Black Beast nesting box + 2 additional spin down d6 dice 
• PDF Edition of the core book + all digital added content to book + printable Fetchez la Vache! 

Less Sensible Middle Class Bundle:

• Sensible Middle Class Edition - Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover + ribbon bookmark + spot varnish + expanded bestiary + expanded NPCs + 4 additional quests + hand created illuminated section of the book + 4 MORE quests 
• Head of Light Entertainment Screen + 4 additional HoLE personalities and cards + two pop ups + complaint letter tracking wheel 
• Merit and Demerit Token Set + 10 additional tokens 
• Custom Dice Set + custom Black Beast nesting box + 2 additional spin down d6 dice 
• PDF Edition of the core book + all digital added content to book + printable Fetchez la Vache! 

In My Day Bundle:

• Public School Edition - Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover + ribbon bookmark + spot varnish + expanded bestiary + expanded NPCs + 4 additional quests + hand created illuminated section of the book + 4 MORE quests 
• Head of Light Entertainment Screen + 4 additional HoLE personalities and cards + two pop ups + complaint letter tracking wheel 
• Merit and Demerit Token Set + 10 additional tokens 
• Custom Dice Set + custom Black Beast nesting box + 2 additional spin down d6 dice 
• PDF Edition of the core book + all digital added content to book + printable Fetchez la Vache! 

Not At All Sensible Middle Class Bundle:

• Sensible Middle Class Edition - Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover + ribbon bookmark + spot varnish + expanded bestiary + expanded NPCs + 4 additional quests + hand created illuminated section of the book + 4 MORE quests 
• Fetchez la Vache! + Squashez l'Anglaise! minigame added to back side of the board + Castle wall divider  
• Head of Light Entertainment Screen + 4 additional HoLE personalities and cards + two pop ups + complaint letter tracking wheel 
• Merit and Demerit Token Set + 10 additional tokens 
• Custom Dice Set + custom Black Beast nesting box + 2 additional spin down d6 dice 
• PDF Edition of the core book + all digital added content to book + printable Fetchez la Vache!

Upper Class Twit Bundle:

• Public School Edition - Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover + ribbon bookmark + spot varnish + expanded bestiary + expanded NPCs + 4 additional quests + hand created illuminated section of the book + 4 MORE quests 
• Fetchez la Vache! + Squashez l'Anglaise! minigame added to back side of the board + Castle wall divider  
• Head of Light Entertainment Screen + 4 additional HoLE personalities and cards + two pop ups + complaint letter tracking wheel 
• Merit and Demerit Token Set + 10 additional tokens 
• Custom Dice Set + custom Black Beast nesting box + 2 additional spin down d6 dice 
• PDF Edition of the core book + all digital added content to book + printable Fetchez la Vache! 

Cheers!

Exalted Funeral and Crowbar Creative