25 Quick & Dirty Map Tutorials Guide Book Kickstarter

[Gamer Printshop]

Hey guys! Haven't dropped by in a while as I've been very busy on another project. About 3 months ago I started using my G+ account for the first time, and joined a Map-Making for Games G+ community. After posting dozens of my maps there, somebody asked what software I use, then how to deal with this or that kind of issue in mapping. Instead of responding, I created a simple 9 step tutorial describing how I'd fix a particular map issue. I called it the Quick & Dirty map tutorial as I didn't show software screenshots nor detailed tool explanations, just simple instructions in step-by-step fashion. Then loads of responders noted that the techniques I use could be easily adapted to other software - both image editors and vector apps.

Someone suggested I gather these tutorials and create a book, Someone else suggested I do a Kickstarter to pay for it.

So last Friday (August 2nd) I started the 25 Quick & DIrty Map Tutorials Guide Kickstarter Project - create stunning photo-realistic RPG maps using any standard graphics application. It runs 30 days until Sunday, September 1st. The goal is $3750 to fund a 248 page full color, soft cover print book and PDF. I have posted stretch goals for an Advanced Map Tutorials Guide, a Hand-Drawn Map Tutorials Guide, a 3D Elements in Map Tutorials Guide, and a couple Map Object sets.

It's only Day 6, I have 85 backers, 93% to goal (only $259 left). Strangely there are double the amount of backers at $25 vs. $15, and there's 2 more $70 backers than $15 backers. In my past Kickstarter experience, the lowest tier was the most popular, not so with this Kickstarter - cool, but odd.

I just posted my first Kickstarter Update today, with a free Preview PDF download of the first guide, a link to a blogger's interview of me and the Kickstarter, an image helping backers to understand the difference between a map object and map texture (as it applies to certain backer levels), and a thank you to all backers.

Anyway, I thought I'd let you know what I've been up to lately!

Link to Kickstarter

[Gamer Printshop]

GOAL is met! Hurray. Thank you everyone who's joined in so far, but keep spreading the word! Now on to the first stretch goal where the first book leaves... 25 Advanced Quick & Dirty Map Tutorials Guide book.

[Gamer Printshop]

4 days left, ending Sunday, September 1st - we've funded the first 2 stretch goals, an Advanced Tutorials book and a Hand-Drawn Tutorials book. We've added 2 photo-realistic map object sets, and an Old West Hand-Drawn Map Object set. I've also been developing a separate sci-fi based map object set in the form of starship chambers that a GM can select from a variety of chambers and easily create their own deck plan designs.

[Gamer Printshop]

The Kickstarter is over with overwhelming results, final tally:

Goal: $3750, Pledged: $23,289, Funded: 621%, Backers: 456 - this means the final was almost $20,000 over goal!!!

Now I've got some work to do!

Thanks everyone,

Michael