As I write this, at 6:20 PM PST (although I’m currently in CST because I’m traveling), it’s been just over 20 hours since I launched the Kickstarter, hoping to raise $20,000 to get this project going.

We just doubled that.

I’m flabbergasted at the outpouring of support and interest in their project. I’ll even admit to you now that I was very nervous. I thought this setting and rules set would be a little too “weird” for a lot of people. But you’ve all shown me that a lot of you are  at least intrigued to give something different a try. And that’s amazing.

I’m so grateful.

So it’s time, in Kickstarter parlance, to start talking about “stretch goals” for the campaign. Again, I will admit that I had given this some thought, but I hadn’t even dreamed that I’d be talking about it within the first 24 hours of the campaign.

I had been thinking the first stretch goal would be at $40,000, and well, we’re pretty much there now. So I’ll tell you right now that I am going to work out a deal with Tom Tullis at Fat Dragon Games to do some Numenera-licensed fold-up terrain. I am also in discussions with some miniatures manufacturers to talk about Numenera miniatures. All of this would mean that the rulebook itself would get some miniatures rules added to it as a separate, optional ruleset for those that enjoy using minis in their games (for those that don’t, I’ll tell you right now that the game has always been, and will continue to be, primarily a non-minis focused game). Because I haven’t yet ironed out these details, I don’t know exactly how this is going to work, but I hope to be able to add the Fat Dragon Games terrain to some of the existing reward levels. More info on this soon.

But let’s talk goals that are ahead of us, not behind us.

At $60,000, I will expand the main rulebook. I had been thinking about 300 pages, but we’ll make it 400 pages. This means considerably more setting material, creatures, NPCs, and, of course, more gorgeous art.

At $70,000, I will personally write a 32-page adventure for Numenera. This will be released as a PDF and print-on-demand book, softcover, with art and maps–the whole shebang. I’ll add the pdf in for free to anyone who gets THE REAL DEAL and the print adventure at all levels $180 and above.

At $80,000, I’ll write another 32-page adventure and distribute them into the existing reward levels as described above.

At $90,000, I’ll complete the trilogy of adventures and do the same. Just to be clear, this means that everyone ALREADY getting the THE REAL DEAL will get a 96 pages of adventure for no extra charge. Those contributing $180 or more will get them as print adventures. So spread the word! If you’re already a contributor, get your friends to contribute, because you’ll benefit directly from it (and so will they).

At $100,000, well… something even cooler. But let’s see if we’re going to get that far.

Again, thank you so much to everyone who’s contributed. You’re awesome. Lots more Numenera setting and rules details coming in the next few weeks.

1. 

   cordell barile · August 9, 2012 at 7:55 pm · Reply

   So glad this kickstarter lasts till after my next round of invoices go out. I can’t wait to contribute and secure some awesome goodies. Monte you certainly know how to generate a buzz. It seems everyone is emailing me details on this and they are just as pumped as I am.
2. 

   Fled · August 10, 2012 at 1:47 am · Reply

   For some reason, I just “believed” in this project, and felt the need to back it on kickstarter (no pressure Monte). I’ve decided ill run 4e until this comes to fruition in my quest to finally stop “campaign shopping” and settle into a long running world, with my very best friends.
3. 

   Samir · August 10, 2012 at 7:31 am · Reply

   Awesome

   There will be Mass Combat rules?

   There will be a licence like Open Game Licence?
   • 

     Monte Cook · August 10, 2012 at 9:17 am · Reply

     Very doubtful on Mass Combat rules.
     Very likely that there will be some kind of license for content, perhaps similar to what I did with Arcana Unearthed way back when.
4. 

   raevhen · August 10, 2012 at 1:00 pm · Reply

   Payday needs to hurry up and get here!
5. 

   Søren Thustrup · August 11, 2012 at 8:10 am · Reply

   With the setting being a billion years into the future, you’re obviously giving everybody free reins to make any world – and I’m sure you will. But you’re still setting it on Earth. Why? If it’s to establish some kid of continuity or emotional resonance with your players, how will that come about?
   • 

     Monte Cook · August 11, 2012 at 2:42 pm · Reply

     It’s an interesting question. I suppose I could have just created the world of Blahdeblah and could have made it this ancient place with the ruins of eight great races/civilizations, but I think it loses two things.

     1. A sense of time scale. You can say that some fantasy planet has a billion year history, and that’s cool, but you tend to take it kind of casually, because… whatever. It’s not real. Nothing about it is, so the time frame doesn’t carry much meaning. Something made up a billion years after something else made up has no resonance. A billion years from NOW makes the mind soar. Because now is real, and you–maybe for the first time–think that there will be SOMETHING a billion years from now. So what will it be?

     2. A sense of connection. I firmly believe that there’s something about us that ties us to this planet in some deep, emotional way so that, even if absolutely everything is different, having it be Earth in the nigh-unimaginable future gives it more connection than saying it’s just made-up Blahdeblah world. (Don’t get me wrong. I like entirely fictional worlds too, but they don’t offer me the kind of flavor and emotion that I want for Numenera.)