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OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
It's that magical time of year when I push a bunch of merch out there and hope everyone buys it so I can pay my health insurance! Woooo!
This year, we've got the 2016 wall calendar, featuring the villains, along with the regular holiday ornaments and a selection of new t-shirts. Let's look at the cover of the calendar first:
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...016_thread.png
And how about a sneak preview of what will be on your wall a year from today:
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...016_Thread.png
The calendar is on sale at Ookoodook right now. It's a pre-order again, which means there are a few caveats but we'll go over them at the end of this post. For now, let's move on to the stuff from CafePress. First, the ornaments:
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...ent_thread.png
NPC League hockey heats up with the Cliffport Pirates vs. the Western Conference Lizards!
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...015_thread.png
Look, they're evil fiends from beyond the world of mortals—rhyming isn't their strong suit.
Now, some t-shirt designs:
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...Roy_thread.png
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...een_thread.png
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...age_thread.png
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...wer_thread.png
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...OTS_thread.png
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...Woe_thread.png
We also have some new kid-oriented designs:
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...ana_thread.png http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...itD_thread.png
http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...oak_thread.png http://www.GiantITP.com/Images/CafeP...ing_thread.png
The ornaments and shirts are on sale from CafePress as always; you can order them today and they will ship in, like 2-3 days, tops.
Let's get some Almost Certainly to Be Asked Anyway Despite Me Answering Them Now Questions (ACTBAADMATNQs):
Q: Wait, the calendar is on sale from one place and the ornaments are on sale at another?
A: Yes. The calendars are printed by us through our regular channels that we use to print the books, while the shirts and ornaments are both produced and shipped by CafePress.
Q: Does that mean I have to pay shipping twice if I want both?
A: Yes. There's no viable way for us to offer the two products shipping from the same location, since we never touch the CafePress stuff—it goes right from the printer to you.
Q: Does CafePress have shipping locations in other countries?
A: Yes! If you're outside the US, you can switch to CafePress in Canada, the UK, or Australia and they should have all of the same stuff. I can't verify this because every time I try it redirects me to the US site, but it's supposed to work.
Q: Hey, I have this great idea for how you can offer both the calendar and the shirts for one shipping price!
A: It's great that you're trying to help, but it's almost certainly not financially viable or realistic for us. Ookoodook is a very small company and can't afford to open a warehouse in Europe or negotiate shipping deals with CafePress or what have you.
Q: Why are the overseas shipping costs from Ookoodook so high?
A: See previous answer—because Ookoodook is a very small company that is bringing these to the post office, and that's what the US Postal Service charges for an international package that can be tracked these days. Yes, Amazon charges less for shipping. Ookoodook is not Amazon.
Q: Is there a bulk shipping deal for reduced shipping on the calendar like there was last year?
A: No. There were problems with that shipment transpiring in a timely fashion, and we got a lot of complaints, so we're not doing it again this year. Besides, the shipping costs only even went down for orders that included the then-new book (which was very heavy) and the calendar. With just a calendar as the only new product, there would be no savings anyway.
Q: Is the calendar order a pre-order?
A: Yes. We hope for the calendar to start shipping around December 11th, which should be plenty of time for it to arrive before Christmas (much less the new year). However, we've had stuff go wrong before, and that date is not a hard and fast date. To be perfectly clear: We in no way can promise that the calendars will ship by December 11th, or that you will receive them in time for Christmas. We can only tell you that our current production schedule looks like those will be the shipping dates. If we miss those dates, please don't come here and yell at me that I implied a promise to deliver it on time. There are no promises given regarding the exact timing.
Q: Will CafePress be having any sales or coupons for the OOTS stuff?
A: I hope so, but probably not. In years past, they were very generous with coupons that gave out stuff like free shipping, but they haven't had one for three or four years now. Or rather, they have lots of coupons but they only ever work in their "Marketplace," which is the part of their site where they control prices and actively mess with designs (i.e. putting them on whatever products they feel like rather than just the ones that look right). If they issue a coupon that says it works for Shops like mine, I will post it here immediately, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.
Q: Do you have any tips for ordering from CafePress?
A: Yes! There are a lot of different garment options from CafePress—that's one of the reasons we still use them—but some of them print better than others. In particular, the white shirts and products print much better than the dark ones; that's why some designs that require the art to look right are only offered on white. If you want a dark shirt, your best bet is to pick one of the "one-color" designs, like the all-green version of Roy. The full-color dark shirts will print, but the designs tend to be more faded in color (which might not bother you at all, but I felt I had to mention it).
Q: I still have money leftover; do you have any other new OOTS products you haven't mentioned?
A: Yes! While they came out a month or two ago, Morland Miniatures is now offering gaming minis of three new OOTS characters: Nale, Sabine, and Thog. You can get them here.
Q: These are great and all, but what I really wanted was the PDF of the next OOTS books.
A: Well, good news: I am definitely going to release No Cure for the Paladin Blues in PDF format. Not before Christmas, though. Maybe right after it, or maybe at the start of the new year, or maybe a few weeks in—we'll see how long it takes me to convert all the files. But it's definitely happening.
Q: All I care about is the comic. Is there a new one yet?
A: Yes, in a little while, after I get all this promo stuff in place.
OK, that's everything I can think of. If any of you bring up any new questions, I'll answer them and add them to this post.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
I just need to note that Redcloak looks unbelievably badass.
EDIT: Also,
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Giant
Q: I still have money leftover; do you have any other new OOTS products you haven't mentioned?
A: Yes! While they came out a month or two ago, Morland Miniatures is now offering gaming minis of three new OOTS characters: Nale, Sabine, and Thog. You can get them here.
I imagine that "here" is supposed to be hyperlinked? It's not.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
OMG sneak peak on Readcloak "new Art" design! (X seems almost the same^^)
Well..Wow, shame I'm in Italy and poor^^;
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Hah! Sangwaan got her prediction wrong, I didn't Google "Weal"! I used dictionary.com instead.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Shut up and take my money!!
... oh, wait... I have no money :smallfrown:
Gasp! :smallcool: I get paid tomorrow!! Wait right there till midnight, and then shut up and take my money! :smalltongue:
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Very happy to see a preview of HD Xykon and Redcloak. Never gave a thought to how skinny X would be, or that Redcloak would wear such fetching boots!
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Redcloaks feet sure looks like they can kill just as easily as any Divine magic. I like.
I like it all!!
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
It took me a while to figure out what the proper interpretation of the goblin stick figure feet would be in the upgraded style. In last year's calendar, I had him barefoot with the old-style three-toe foot, just in green. And it looked weak and unthreatening, and I didn't like it. When I started working on the O-Chul story, I came up with new goblin footwear for the enemy soldiers in that story, and I liked it enough to bring it over to Redcloak.
So starting now, armored goblin-types get nice heavy boots instead.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Giant
It took me a while to figure out what the proper interpretation of the goblin stick figure feet would be in the upgraded style. In last year's calendar, I had him barefoot with the old-style three-toe foot, just in green. And it looked weak and unthreatening, and I didn't like it. When I started working on the O-Chul story, I came up with new goblin footwear for the enemy soldiers in that story, and I liked it enough to bring it over to Redcloak.
So starting now, armored goblin-types get nice heavy boots instead.
Sweet! I agree, this new foot design looks fantastic. I shall definitely be preordering this with money I borrowed from the federal government temporarily have.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
I always assumed them goblinoids were barefoot even before seeing last year's new art, but it did look a bit weird. Those sabatons will also get some getting used to, though.
(I mean, they look like sabatons rather than heavy boots to me)
Perhaps more interestingly: red archfiend flesh!
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Giant
It took me a while to figure out what the proper interpretation of the goblin stick figure feet would be in the upgraded style. In last year's calendar, I had him barefoot with the old-style three-toe foot, just in green. And it looked weak and unthreatening, and I didn't like it. When I started working on the O-Chul story, I came up with new goblin footwear for the enemy soldiers in that story, and I liked it enough to bring it over to Redcloak.
So starting now, armored goblin-types get nice heavy boots instead.
So it's a two-for-one art preview? Nice.
I, too, think it's awesome.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
I understand and accept the disclaimer that you cant guarantee the arrival date of the calendars. Having said that, do you have any better understanding of what went on last year and/or how to prevent it from happening this year? While I am willing to wait however long it takes, delays included, last year's delay was so... out there, that I feel the need to ask.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Aw, I was hoping Xykon would get October since he's a spooky scary skeleton.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gift Jeraff
Aw, I was hoping Xykon would get October since he's a spooky scary skeleton.
Some things are scarier. Like the (a?) tax man, who is clearly getting October.
Bonus point to whoever gets the Corner Gas reference.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
I don't normally browse the store, but is the Alignments theme finished/abandoned? I ask because Law never got a symbol from what I could see.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Keltest
I understand and accept the disclaimer that you cant guarantee the arrival date of the calendars. Having said that, do you have any better understanding of what went on last year and/or how to prevent it from happening this year? While I am willing to wait however long it takes, delays included, last year's delay was so... out there, that I feel the need to ask.
The main thing that happened last year (if memory serves) was that the company Ookoodook picked for the bulk shipping option completely dropped the ball and had to be replaced at the last minute...and then that new company got stuff stuck in customs, for the international customers. Since we're not doing bulk shipping at all this year, that shouldn't be an issue. There still could be a problem with the printer—see the previous year, when they sent me a proof about half the size it was supposed to be—but I feel better about this year then previous because I'm not waiting for to see order numbers before placing the print run order; I'm just basing it on the sales from the past two years.
So the calendar will go to the printer on Monday morning (I have to finish the back cover today, and they're closed tomorrow through Sunday), it should take 2 days to get the proof, and if there are no problems, 5 days to print and 2 to ship from the printer to Ookoodook. Hence, the 11th. (That last step is also prone to delays, by the way; freight shipping seems to be a very sketchy industry in that way.) I also have the option of paying for a rush delivery, if need be, though that will be very pricey and I'll probably only do that if sales spike way above what I'm expecting and Ookoodook needs extra time to pack boxes.
So, the 11th is the projected date, and the 13th is probably the because-something-always-goes-wrong date. Either way, US customers should have their calendar in time for the holidays.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gift Jeraff
Aw, I was hoping Xykon would get October since he's a spooky scary skeleton.
It's a villain calendar. Everybody's spooky. I think a vampire got October.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bedinsis
I don't normally browse the store, but is the Alignments theme finished/abandoned? I ask because Lawful(or Order) never got a symbol from what I could see.
I don't really have any Lawful characters who don't skew heavily toward either Good or Evil, so it's been put on hold. I don't want to put out a Law shirt with, say, Malack or Roy or someone on it because that will skew the perception of Lawfulness. The best I have right now are the lawyers, and they're more of a gag than a true representation of Law. But new characters pop up all the time, so when I have one, that's the year that the Law shirt will come out.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Wow, these might be worth it for the villains with upgraded art all by themselves! Redcloak looks awesome.
...so does that mean the archfiends actually have physical forms under those cloaks? I always wondered.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ti'esar
Wow, these might be worth it for the villains with upgraded art all by themselves! Redcloak looks awesome.
...so does that mean the archfiends actually have physical forms under those cloaks? I always wondered.
At least two of them have red-ish (don't give me that, im colorblind) hands and arms coming out from their robes. Im going out on a limb and saying yes, they do have physical bodies.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
I have to agree, Redcloak looks great.
Have you considered offering the calendar as a PDF?
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Also, new style Redcloak is absolutely baller.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Basement Cat
So much for V coming to the rescue. :smallannoyed:
Time for the lizard to go T Rex on the vampire.
Wrong thread.
And it's an Allosaurus.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Giant
I don't really have any Lawful characters who don't skew heavily toward either Good or Evil, so it's been put on hold. I don't want to put out a Law shirt with, say, Malack or Roy or someone on it because that will skew the perception of Lawfulness. The best I have right now are the lawyers, and they're more of a gag than a true representation of Law. But new characters pop up all the time, so when I have one, that's the year that the Law shirt will come out.
Celia? At least in her major appearance so far (escape from AC to Greysky City and battle vs the Thieves guild) she comes off as pretty Lawful.
But of course you may very well have something better planned down the road, knowing the story and all ...
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Wow, this calendar looks pretty sweet! Love how the villain designs look!
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Giant
I don't really have any Lawful characters who don't skew heavily toward either Good or Evil, so it's been put on hold. I don't want to put out a Law shirt with, say, Malack or Roy or someone on it because that will skew the perception of Lawfulness. The best I have right now are the lawyers, and they're more of a gag than a true representation of Law. But new characters pop up all the time, so when I have one, that's the year that the Law shirt will come out.
Well, to be fair, you didn't feel the need to stick with Neutral Evil for the Evil shirt (I'd call Xykon Chaotic Evil, but I suppose there's room for interpretation) or Neutral Good for the Good shirt (as a 3.5 edition Paladin in good standing, O-Chul HAS to be Lawful Good). Granted, in the case of the former, it's because he was the one used for the in-strip gag, but still...
Though to refute my own argument, I suppose you could argue that Xykon and O-Chul are Evil and Good first, and Chaotic and Lawful second, and I'm hard pressed to remember a character who's Lawful first, and Good or Evil second.* (Julio is a fine example of Chaotic first and... Good-ish? second.)
*No, the shoulder-modron doesn't count.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
It's hard to tell, but there might be an art mistake with Nale's arm on the calendar?
+1 to Redcloak looking awesome. I'll definitely pick this calendar up. Maybe not in time for christmas, but soon-ish.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cizak
It's hard to tell, but there might be an art mistake with Nale's arm on the calendar?.
Yeah, you're right. That's only on the image I posted here though, it's not on the original which uses the Illustrator file. I'll make a new image for the thread when I get a chance.
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Re: OOTS 2016 Villains Calendar and 2015 Holiday Ornament
Annnnnnd, ordered. :smallcool: