A little Christmas Gift and a Production Update!
over 2 years ago – Sun, Dec 26, 2021 at 02:00:37 AM

Howdy pardners!

It’s that time of year, again, where families around the world gather together and celebrate the gift of giving. Today, I wanted to gift you all a small update on the expansions, as well as a little something for our Canadian backers.

We just received the initial pictures from our factory of the wax sculpts for the upcoming molds for the miniatures and hoo-dee they sure do look pretty!

I did have to send over some corrections, and they are working on those. It also looks like the chips and gold might be just a smidge too big, so that’ll have to get fixed. But progress is moving steadily.

I’ve also made a small update to the miniature for Father Franklin’s deployed version. This way, it will be much easier to position him on the map.

Soon, we’ll be moving into the packaging, and that’s when things really get exciting. But for now, I hope you enjoyed this little peak into the journey of High Noon production.

On to the Canada Update!

So, over the past several weeks, we’ve been getting notifications in our messages here and on our Official Facebook Group that several backers in Canada were served with some rather surprising charges by FedEx. I requested everyone who was receiving these invoices to send them to me so I could investigate.

Here’s what happened:

Our fulfillment center in the US chose FedEx for the international shipping. During the set-up phase of our account with them, when they asked who would be responsible for import duties and fees, I said it would be you, the backers. I was under the impression this was in reference to the Customs fees. I had no idea that private delivery firms like FedEx and UPS charge additional fees just because they can. I’ve always used the postal service, which has never charged anything like that. Of course, moving forward, we will not be using FedEx, UPS or DHL for our international backers unless absolutely necessary.

Aaaaaand Here’s what I’m going to do:

As far as the damage done, I’m going to make that right to each and every one of you. While I can’t cover the customs fees, I will be issuing you each “refunds” for the surprise fees associated with your deliveries. This will be coming directly out of my pocket, so we’ll need to go through PayPal or something like that. If you haven’t done so already, please reach out to me in the messages with your contact information and I’ll connect with you on your invoices and get working on your refunds.

All I ask is that you be a little bit patient with me, since this will be coming out of my personal funds. It shouldn’t take too long to get everyone covered, but it’ll be as I can afford it. That’s my Christmas gift to you 😊

I plan to push out one last update as we close out the year, so stay tuned!

Merry Christmas everyone!

European Tracking Update
over 2 years ago – Fri, Dec 03, 2021 at 10:21:31 AM

Howdy Pardners,

We've finally got an update on the European tracking information. The good news is that you can now track the container as it heads to Germany, where it will hit the fulfillment center to be shipped out to everyone from there. To do so, simply visit this website: https://web.troylines.com/portal-ui/#/export/lcl/tracking

From there, copy this tracking number: 509836MAHAM

And paste it into the section at the top that says "ENTER BOOKING #, CONT #, HBL OR HBL REF:"

Click the green "Submit" button and you will see the status of the shipment.

Now for the bad news: the Estimated Delivery date has changed from 12/9 to 12/27. This obviously puts the date for delivery to the fulfillment center just after Christmas. Judging from our previous experience with the US fulfilment center, with the time it will require to process the delivery and get everything sent out, in addition to the actual delivery time from fulfilment to your door, it doesn't look like games will arrive until mid January 2022 at the earliest.

That said, there is still time to have your games delivered directly to you from here. A few backers took advantage of that offer and received their games in about a week's time. With the holidays just around the corner, that might not be possible now, but it's a shot. If you want to take it, simply shoot us a message and we'll work out the details.

Otherwise, the silver lining of course is that your games are officially trackable and on their way!

Special Delivery! (A High Noon Shipping and Production Update!)
over 2 years ago – Fri, Nov 05, 2021 at 10:44:30 PM

Wow! What a wild ride it has been so far!

With copies of High Noon finally arriving at backers’ doorsteps and questions rolling in, it felt appropriate to push out an update in the form of a Questions and Answers post, so here it goes!

I received my copy of the starter game but nothing else. Is everything else coming in a separate shipment?

Yep! As you may recall, the starter set was already produced around the time of the Kickstarter, which is why we were planning to ship it out a lot sooner before the whole shipping crisis thing. We’re currently in production on the expansions right now. As soon as they’re done, we’ll have them shipped out!

I’m in Europe and everybody’s getting their games but me. What gives?

We’re still waiting on a boat out of Jacksonville. Unfortunately, that’s not something we can rush. However, after much deliberation on the subject, we’ve all agreed to break down and give you the option if you want it to have the game shipped to you directly from here. It’s not going to be cheap, but it won’t be at a markup. If you want to take advantage of this option, please send your inquiry to [email protected]. Please include your full name and shipping information in your email so we can provide you a quote as quickly as possible.

So what’s the status on the expansions, then?

After the close of the Kickstarter campaign, we submitted our final order numbers to the factory and they came back with a revised quote. The quote was not competitive and several pieces were significantly more than they originally quoted us, despite being only a few units different from the original quote.

I tested a theory on sourcing different factories for each component to see if that would make a difference and sure enough it did. I have a good relationship with a factory that specializes strictly in paper products. They came back with a quote for the playing cards and tuck boxes that was dramatically cheaper. The price was so much better that I requested samples just to make sure it was legit. Unfortunately, the samples were delayed at every stop along the way here so it took a long time to get them, but now that they’re here, holy heck! They’re downright gorgeous!

In the future, I’ll probably be sourcing almost everything separately and having the factory assemble it all. But for now, the cost savings on the cards is enough to move forward without any further delays. This likely means we won’t hit our January deadline but we shouldn’t much longer after that. As things progress, I’ll be making updates here, so just keep tuning in. And feel free to join the Facebook group and Discord server to get access to information as it flows in and join the conversations happening with others in the High Noon gaming community!

Some of the rules aren’t clear in the rulebook. Is there a FAQ somewhere with more clarification?

You can download a link to an updated rulebook here. I’m also working with a group of players and fans of High Noon on an errata that clears up a lot of the cloudy stuff in the book. In future editions of the game, expect a more well-rounded rulebook. But also keep in mind, the High Noon Constitution in the back of the book should really clear up just about anything 😉

There's also a pretty decent thread on rules clarifications over at Board Game Geek. Thank you to the High Noon fans for putting that together!

I’m loving the game! But I wish I’d ordered more expansions. Is there anywhere I can buy them?

You can get your pre-orders in at www.HighNoonGame.com! We’re still producing them, so it’s definitely not too late to get in on the action. Thank you for your support!

I was told something about a website?

A High Noon website complete with posse breakdowns, community support and more is in the works. Right now, the best way to engage with High Noon is to join the various social media channels: YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Discord.

Got more questions? Shoot them on over and I'll address them in the next update!

Bulking up! (A shipping update)
over 2 years ago – Tue, Oct 12, 2021 at 03:10:24 AM

It always gets me when I see a bunch of comments start popping up on the Kickstarter comments section asking for updates like I’m rationing them from a bucket I keep hidden in a small compartment in the floor that definitely isn’t a thing in my bedroom closet so don’t even bother looking for yourself.

I kid, I kid. I’m actually – as always – incredibly humbled that everyone has continued to stick around to see this project through with me and the team. We are all eternally grateful for all you guys have done to make this game a reality.

But as I’ve said before, I don’t like giving updates when there’s still a chance the update will be undone by some unknown factor. I’ve been down the road of making promises that end up being impossible to fulfill and I’m not going back there. So my updates are reserved for checkpoints in the process as they are confirmed.

For instance, today I got confirmation that the shipping deposit for our fulfillment center cleared and they’re ready to begin shipping! I’ve already submitted the shipping template to them with all of your information, so shipments should be rolling out very soon here. I’ve also given them a tracking number template to fill out and as soon as I get that from them, I’ll upload it to Backerkit, which should then send all of you your tracking data. Now, depending on when they get that back to me, you may already have received the game, so just be aware. Also, I’m referring to our North/South American backers.

For those of you in the Asia pacific, I’m shooting over the shipping template for your fulfillment center tomorrow. Your shipments should begin soon after that. Sit tight.

As for Europe, I’m waiting on units to arrive at my office here on the East Coast and then I’ll be shipping a pallet out to you directly from here. That may take a few weeks to get sorted, quoted and shipped, so I’ll be reserving an update for you. This has come after exploring all options, including another production run of the game just to deliver directly to you. At the end of the day, this is what we could afford. If you missed the update about this whole fiasco, the shipping company mistakenly stuffed your games in the container bound for the USA. This despite us clearly laying out in all of our correspondence that units were expressly designated for our fulfillment center in Europe. I’d go hard on them, but this whole pandemic logistics crisis has added so much pressure on everyone that I can only encourage everyone to be understanding of human fallibility. S#!t happens. Bottom line is, your games are coming.

Speaking of production run, a lot of you have been asking about the expansions. Again, I'm reserving updates until checkpoints are reached. I’m waiting to receive the samples for the cards, which are on their way – according to the factory – before I can greenlight the full production run. I’ll post pictures of them when they get here. We’re also putting down a deposit on the materials for the plastic miniatures to lock in the current rate on goods as material costs have been shooting through the roof.

We’re chugging along, guys. It’s been a slog with everything going on in the world, but we’re making progress. And as we continue to hit checkpoints, I’ll continue to give you updates. So just sit tight and stay tuned. The games are comin’!

High Noon Hackery (I Need A Favor)
over 2 years ago – Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 09:53:09 AM

Howdy y’all!

I’ve been sitting on this update for a while, wondering how to write it. As I stated earlier in an update (or was it a comment somewhere? I forget) – and as someone recently mentioned to me, which means it resonated, I hold off on updates until I know for sure nothing will go against the update. I learned that lesson from the outset and I don’t aim to repeat it any time soon.

So here’s the update: 

The games have arrived in our storage facility on the West Coast. 1,000 copies have been checked into D6’s USA fulfilment center and 30 games have been checked into their Asia Pacific fulfilment center.

I’ve also arranged for 1,000 copies to be transported to my office here on the East Coast. We have a port here in Jacksonville and I am checking freight costs to arrange for 200 copies to be ferried over to D6’ European center. These games are scheduled to arrive on the 30th of this month.

I am still exploring other options to get the European backers fulfilled, rest assured whichever option we go with will be the most expedient one. Costs be damned, I’m going to have you your games before Christmas.

This whole process has been a monumental affair. Remember how I said anything could go wrong? Well, almost everything did and that’s just the way things go. Above all, however, I am grateful we are where we are. I’m grateful the games are checked in. I’m grateful the truck is on its way. I’m grateful for all of the progress, but there is still much to do and still much of that is out of my direct control. I’ve basically become the pest that keeps nagging until things get done. And while I will tell you all about it including what I’ve discovered and what I’ve learned one day, right now that’s all I can say – if purely to avoid any unnecessary interruptions in the process of getting these games to you guys.

They’re coming. And we’re this much closer. That’s what matters.

Now for the favor…

But first, STORY TIME!

I’m not sure if you’ve picked this up, but not a day goes by where I don’t doubt myself and this game. True, I often look at the packaging, the painted minis, the tiles, the cards, the artwork, the people playing the game and having a great time doing so, and I think to myself “hot damn, I can’t believe I did this,” but pretty much every morning I wake up to the same thought behind the whole “can’t believe” part and focus on everything wrong about the game.

Because, let’s face it, the game isn’t perfect. It never will be and nothing ever is. There will always be something wrong with it, somebody will find those things and – even if they didn’t in fact exist – there will always be someone who doesn’t like the game for literally any reason whatsoever. Heck, High Noon had a healthy swarm of haters long before even the virtual version of the game was made available to the public. Folks were nit-picking the game apart before they’d even played the darned thing.

Fortunately, I love the criticism. It helps me improve the game and will serve to make better games in the future (hopefully).

It was with that in mind that, not long before I launched the Kickstarter, I sought out someone who would truly analyze High Noon the way Dexter analyzes serial killers. [And If you didn’t get that reference, I pity you about as much as I pity someone who sat through the last season of that show.]

Somebody shared this video from Board Game Hackers in one of the board game groups I was a part of. The video rips apart the insanely popular Pandemic and – despite the comments of people disapproving it – I absolutely loved everything about it. Regardless of how you may feel about the board game, you can tell a lot of thought and passion went into their review. 

It was at that moment that I knew I needed this couple to Hack High Noon.

For those of you who don’t have 5 minutes to dedicate to figuring out who the Board Game Hackers are, I present to you this 1 minute video. (And if you don’t have 1 minute, what are you even doing playing board games?)

After watching their vids, I did a little cyber-stalking, found them through social media and reached out about reviewing – and more specifically trashing – High Noon. Pwns asked a little about me, so I shared with him my story about how I came to create High Noon. After hearing my story, he asked why I would even want him to tear apart something so special and I told him it was the only way I’d get any better. I also wagered he’d actually like it too much to truly destroy it. 😉

To my surprise and elation, he agreed! So I sent him a copy and that was that. We kept in contact a bit here and there but I mostly left him to his craft as he was buried in other scheduled reviews.

About 2 months ago, they released this quick review of High Noon and it was the highest production quality video I’d seen done for High Noon, second to our own Kickstarter video. I’m going to spoil it for you now, their reviews were mixed to the point of diametrically opposed, but I’ll let you watch the video to see who stood where.

Internally from the High Noon fanbase, the reception was not all that positive. People didn’t like that the Board Game Hackers weren’t All In, and I sincerely appreciated that level of loyalty from my posse. But I saw something completely different. I saw a video that was unlike ANY of their other videos. Where every other video they’d made was 100% one way or another, both of them on the same page, in total agreement on a conclusion, it was MY game that left them with something to talk about! Or…in High Noon’s case…take to the streets. There was real controversy among them, conflict. Furthermore, they really put in the production value! There were animations, muzzle flashes, explosions! Heck, even a sound track! The whole video is cut together really well. It just screams next level production value beyond someone sitting in front of a Kallax full of board games. And that’s not an attack. Those are great. But this felt like a friggin’ TV show!

To be honest, for me, even if half their team didn’t like my game, this was the greatest thing anyone had ever independently done for High Noon and I couldn’t help but feel the love.

I thought it was over after that. I thought that was all she wrote and I’d proudly moved on. But then something funny happened: Pwns started asking me for some clarification on rules. Why? Was he looking to play another round? Had some friends come over for a duel and their firefight was caught in a gridlock waiting for a referee?

The truth was far more awesome.

They were doing a bonafide hack of High Noon! A whole ‘nother video! I was getting a two-fer!

I answered their questions and let them be for another month and, to make a long story longer, a couple of weeks ago, I got a message in my inbox.

“I have finally found my method of video creation. I have turned hacking your board game in to a saga.”

A saga.

A mother-flippin’ saga. 

My game, High Noon, which I sent to be destroyed to oblivion, was instead the physical muse for the Board Game Hacker’s “method of video creation.”

Here’s the thing, Board Game Hackers isn’t a huge channel. Not yet, anyway. Sure, the videos they make about common parlance board games get thousands of views – their thumbnails alone should garner that many – but an indie game under their title would be lucky to break a hundred or so. To even see a comment on those videos would be a dream.

But that goes with the territory of any up-and-coming channel and they are way far ahead of most in that regard. What matters is the holds they refuse to bar to create top-shelf content, the extra hundred miles they’ll go to tell their story in a unique way unlike any other. Love them or Hate them, my bet is hedged on the Board Game Hackers becoming one of the largest board game review channels in the industry one day, if they keep at it.

But even if they didn’t become that, even if everything I just said wasn’t true, even if they were just an odd couple with a iPhone and 5 minutes of free time to sit on their patio and say something to the reverse camera, all sloppy-like, for them, for anyone to say to me that my game was the impetus for the final form of their “method” to communicate their thoughts to the world…

That’s a diamond-crested, platinum-framed golden hat hook if I’ve ever seen one.

Pwns laid out his plan to me: This video marks the first in a series. The series will tell the story of the Sweetwater bank heist from the High Noon starter set from his perspective. The story will be broken down into several short videos that will include his critiques and hacks, ultimately leading to a total of about 1.5 hours of video for the game. As far as I’m aware, this will be the longest coverage they will have ever done for any game they’ve reviewed, and it’ll be the longest anyone has ever dedicated to a review of High Noon.

This is an absolute record-shattering undertaking on all counts.

That’s not something that just happens. That’s not something that you shrug off and take for granted. That’s something special.

This video made by Board Game Hackers is a Gift above all gifts and it is my absolute honor to share with you episode 1 of Board Game Hackers’ High Noon Review:

After I typed all that, I watched it again. I can tell you with absolute certainty that I love it more than I did when I watched it last. See, I’ve watched it about a dozen times. And each time, my love for it grows exponentially. I pick up on things I hadn’t noticed before. Things that bothered me once, start to grow on me. Trust me when I say the things you might have a problem with now, I’ve already picked up on, thought about, and grown to love. And so will you, over time.

Sure, there are things I don’t agree with. Absolutely, there are moments I chuckle to myself, “oh my son, just you wait, how little you know now…” But for the undeniably most part, this video is checking all the right boxes for me. The chills are - as they say - multiplying.

And herein lies the favor. 

No, I don’t need a heater. What I need you all to do is go to the video’s page, give it a Like and leave a comment. And when you’re done, share it on your Facebook page or some other social media platform, or just with your friends. And don’t just copy/paste the link. Really share it. Include a blurb all your own, something from you that tells your friends, family and/or following why they should also check it out and like it and leave a comment on the video.

Because the thing is, this isn’t just about me. This is about them. These guys put a TON of work into this and it deserves attention. They deserve the reward of engagement. And that engagement helps us, too! It’s all one-big momentum factory. There are nearly a thousand backers for High Noon. There's no reason we can't get the video to 500 likes. 

Board Game Hackers didn’t charge me a dime for their video. They didn’t put me up to writing this post. I’ve been wanting to write this and share the video with you since the day I saw it, which was a day before it was published, which was – as of this writing, 9 days ago.

I didn’t share it because I knew you guys would want more than a post about this video; you’d want an update on the actual game. So I bit my fingers for 9 days until I had something concrete to share with you. And now you have both.

So now I’ve given you what you want, I’m gonna need you to give me what I want and what this game – and, by proxy but also more directly, the Board Game Hackers – need: head on over to the video’s YouTube page and do the following:

1) Click the Thumbs-Up button on the video

2) Leave a comment on the video

3) Share the video with your friends and ask them to do the same thing (Like, Comment, Share)

We’ve got a bit more to accomplish with the game than just fulfillment, folks. In order to achieve long term status in the industry, we need the game reaching public awareness, and supporting creators like the Board Game Hackers is one of the best and cheapest ways to get there.

Thank you in advance, for supporting Board Game Hackers and High Noon by Like/Comment/Sharing the video and I look forward to my next update when I tell you all that the games are officially shipping to you!