Thanks to months of planning and the dedicated efforts of multiple talented creators, it’s my sincere pleasure to announce that the Indiegogo campaign in support of Combat Frame XSeed is now live!
Combat Frame XSeed is the explosive first book in a new military science fiction series that combines mecha anime action with Western style intrigue! The mind-blowing, star-spanning giant robot war starts here. Become an XSeed backer now to get early access to the book and other special rewards!
What rewards? Right now you can secure a trade paperback copy of this epic new series’ first installment immediately upon release, plus get the eBook two months before everyone else! Want to live forever in the pages of a major science fiction series? Go for the gold tier perk and become an XSeed character. Want to die in the same epic series? Claim the platinum tier to go out like a boss. Hurry, supplies are limited!
And that’s just for starters. I’ll be announcing some tantalizing new stretch goals when the campaign meets its initial funding goal, so keep checking in on XSeed’s Indiegogo page.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this campaign possible. With the help of hardcore science fiction fans like you, we will build #AGundam4Us. Deus vult!
UPDATE: I hadn’t even published this post yet when I saw we’d already hit 14%. My readers are amazing. Participate at your chosen level, keep spreading the word, and we’ll unlock the stretch goals in no time!
UPDATE 2: We’re over 50% funded. Can we hit the initial goal on Day one? You decide!
UPDATE 3: 78%, and the platinum tier is sold out! Don’t worry, though. All three gold tier supporting cameos are still available.
UPDATE 4: We did it! 101% funded in fourteen hours.
Don’t go anywhere. Stretch goals coming up soon.
Backer #5 here. Good luck!
Thank you, sir!
Boo-YAH! Backed, and looking forward to punching through that $1k ceiling soonest! Fair winds and following seas on the Crowdfunding journey, Brian!
I'm in your debt, my friend.
Here is one for you FAQ. Why crowd funding? What are the expenses of the campaign going to?
Good point. I address that in the body of the pitch, but it's buried pretty far down. I'll have to move it to the FAQ.
Doesn't look like I can edit the FAQ on Indiegogo. To answer your questions, artists have always needed starting capital to get their projects off the ground. Tradpub used to cover all of a book's production costs and pay the author a tidy advance to keep the lights on while he finished the book. Under the earlier patronage model, a nobleman or wealthy merchant would keep artists on retainer to create works for their courts or as a public service.
Indie authors don't have publishing houses to foot the bill for covers, editing, formatting, and advertising. Tradpub advances have long since fallen below living wage levels, anyway. I see crowdfunding as the return of patronage, only democratized. It's the best of both, really. This way, authors retain full creative freedom while being market-facing and staving off the day job so we can write at pulp speed.
Jon D signal boosted you on his Lunch Stream.
The Lunch Stream – Creating Positive Culture
Yeah, he invited me, but I was at lunch and away from the phone.
IRONY!
Been waiting for this one. Thanks.
Thank YOU!
You got your quota of corpses!
75% funded!
*rolls up sleeves*
Get the diesel fuel.
Brian,
I contributed as well 🙂 I look forward to the story!
xavier
Thanks!
Man, you're gonna have this done in 12 hours or less!
92%.
"Atomic batteries to power!"
"Turbines to speed!"
95%
IT"S HAPPENING!
Happy to give money to good people! Can't wait to see the finished product.
It's my pleasure to write books for good people. The penultimate draft goes out to beta readers this weekend. Superior product guaranteed!
$15 away …
What a ride!
Any second now…
This is fantastic! You're going to hit big with this one.
You paved the way 🙂
Yo! That's the first barrier down! $1015
Congrats, Brian!
Thanks, man. This time we all win!
Well. My entertainment budget doesn't refresh until the 15th. But I'll still be pitching in once I can.
We're working on some totally choice stretch goals. Stick around!
100% in a day. Congrats!
Thanks!
So…anybody got any stretch goal suggestions? I'm already looking into audiobooks and shirts.
A poster is always nice. Perhaps a mini flip book of some sort with artwork of the mechs.
Posters, bookmarks, and trading cards, appear to be the most popular ones I've seen from most campaigns.
How about coffee mugs for office and tumblers for school? They could have Combat Xseed on one side and and image or choice quote on the other.
Decals of the various factions flags/coats of arms. Unit mottos.
xavier
Adaptation to an RPG/Wargame.
Jayne's-style CF specs (along with other craft, to see how those fighters from excerpt 3 compare to the CFs they're fighting with).
Fast-greenlighting the next books since you have moeny for the editing/art/what have you like Star Knight did.
What about collectible challenge coins, Soul Cycle and XSeed both? Larry Correia has done those before.
Good suggestions! I'll have to run the logistics on all of those.
I already have the rules for an RPG ready to go. The only snag is that while I know fiction publishing backwards and forwards, I'm not sure what goes into formatting an RPG handbook. Seems like the RPG should be its own crowdfunding campaign, really.
Posters and trading cards sound quite appealing.
I've noticed Larry posting about challenge coins from time to time. Honestly, I have no idea what they are. Might be worth looking into, though.
Brian,
If it's not to expensive how about some1/144 scale of the most prominent mechas? They can be painted and unpainted.
As for the rules book, why not follow D&D 1st edition with an appendix N of recommended books as your guide?
It worked for Gary and it's a good template to reuse.
xavier
Re: challenge coins.
https://infogalactic.com/info/Challenge_coin
Larry's in particular. http://monsterhunternation.com/2015/08/04/series-ii-challenge-coins/
Hmm….this might be too challenging logistically/too expensive.
Set up fees for challenge coins may be too prohibitive. Even the poker chip variety can be pricey, and you don't want to rush a design, since your minimum order is normally 100 to 500. Definitely a consideration for a future crowdfunder though.
Thanks for the info.
Backed!
Thanks!