WOW, 114% funded! Now what?
about 1 year ago – Sun, Mar 05, 2023 at 03:42:07 PM

We unlocked our first stretch goal, which means that issues one and two will each contain 18 original B&W illustrations!

I, Oliver the editor, am an empty husk after pouring so much of myself into promoting this thing over the past six weeks, but very soon you can all expect to get Backer Surveys so we can collect mailing addresses and otherwise do what's needed to ensure you get your issues of NESS when the time comes.

That time is currently "Fall 2023", and will become more specific as we move closer to the Fall. Periodic updates on the progress we're making in producing the issues will be provided here via Kickstarter updates.

We can also be followed on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Pretty soon we'll also be launching a Discord server to serve as the magazine's official online community. If there's anyting you particularly like to see in a Discord server, please feel free to share that in the comments under this update.

Once more with feeling....THANK YOU all so very much for backing & sharing our magazine. I can't wait to return the favor by producing the highest quality publication we possibly can!

Sincerely,

PARTY TONIGHT! Also, LESS THAN 24 HOURS LEFT...
about 1 year ago – Fri, Mar 03, 2023 at 08:23:56 AM

Hi everybody!

As I type this we're a little less than $800 away from unlocking DOUBLE ART. Can we do it? 

Meanwhile there's gonna be a...

NEW EDGE SWORD & SORCERY "TELETHON" LIVESTREAM

Tonight at 7pm EST, for an hour, maybe two? 

It's a party and you're all invited!

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/live/xXEwZmx10VQ

Our brave editor, me, and most of our staff will be there, along with Matt John of the Rogues in the House podcast serving as our host. We may also have special guests drop in!

Come to ask us hang and ask questions in the chat, do shots with us when we hit stretch goals - I'll have to start with one because we've already crossed the 100% line! -  and participate in our goofy, good-natured group play-through of some scenes from...THIS:

Did you know that in the early 80's TSR tried to bring more girls into D&D by publishing a line of choose-your-own-adventure type books focused on romance? Oh yes!

Will we unlock Double Art AND find romance? Let's find out together tonight at 7pm EST!

101% funded! Let's get DOUBLE INTERIOR ILLUSTRATIONS and PAY CONTRIBUTORS MORE!
about 1 year ago – Thu, Mar 02, 2023 at 05:04:40 AM

Thank you so much everybody!

If there's anybody in your life who you think may dig the magazine, or any online community (Facebook, Reddit, Discord...) you think would be receptive, please consider sharing the campaign with them.

Now let's see if we can't get you all DOUBLE INTERIOR ILLUSTRATIONS, and PAY CONTRIBUTORS MORE! I'd love it if we could make these guys...

...look like THIS:

Maybe even go further, paying our artists and authors as much as possible!

Again, thanks to you all for backing and sharing the campaign. I'm so happy we're going to get to make more of these for you.

Sincerely,

Sword & Soul Roundtable with Milton J. Davis, Kirk A. Johnson and Sarah Macklin
about 1 year ago – Sun, Feb 26, 2023 at 10:48:42 AM

Please enjoy this recording of yesterday's livestream panel discussion with some Sword & Soul stalwarts who all have stories or articles in the new issues of NESS!

If all goes well, on Friday evening we'll be having a livestream "NESS FINAL DAY KICKSTARTER TELETHON" featuring the entire staff of NESS, hosted by S&S podcast host Matt John, and perhaps featuring special guests. We're still brainstorming entertainment...but a group play through of some of a D&D Romance Choose-Your-Own-Adventure novel has been suggested, and of course we'd love to answer questions or otherwise converse with you guys in the chat. It'll probably begin at 7pm EST and run for an hour or two. We might do shots when certain goals are met, we'll see! 

Sign up to be notified when it's about to start by going here and hitting the little button.

No matter what, we think it'll be a time for celebration. As I write this we are very close to hitting 90% funded, after a wildly good couple of days (we were at 79% first thing Friday). I know I'm a broken record but really, thank you all for backing and sharing this project. Let's see if we can get this sucker to the DOUBLE INTERIOR ART stretch goal!

Sneak Preview: Carnivora by Kirk A. Johnson
about 1 year ago – Fri, Feb 24, 2023 at 04:32:38 AM

Kirk A. Johnson is a new-to-NESS author being the great story collection "The Obanaax: And Other Tales of Heroes and Horrors". If we fund issues #1&2, then you'll get to enjoy a new Spear & Fang tale - Sword & Sorcery in prehistoric times - by Kirk!

Here's an excerpt of an early draft of what is currently being called...

CARNIVORA

by Kirk A. Johnson (Excerpt of a work-in-progress)

Gunjur sat, picking the blood from under his nails while ignoring the laughter behind him. His warriors had been marching for three days through enemy lands while the cattle they stole mowed along in tow. These Baku warriors were a young and boisterous lot and had earned a night to unwind. And, though the thick beer passed from hand to hand, they still kept their weapons close and their sentries posted near the cattle.

It was common for the Baaku to celebrate in the land of other tribes as their legendary ferocity was known throughout the savannah. And a warm fire on a cold night was no stranger to the far-raiding tribesmen. Yet their rowdiness did little to quiet the surrounding song of bush and stream. And Gunjur had other things on his mind.

The nagging of Inari, his second wife, buzzed through his mind like a fly in the ear. “Watch the skies,” she had warned him. “I dreamed of the stars. We play at gods. I have dreamed of the True Ones. Them. I have dreamed of many far afield things. And they are wanting...”

All too often, Inari dreamt of nonsense, riddles too silly to comprehend or take seriously. Why worry about the sky when the gods of the bush were alive with surprises? Why worry about the stars when leopards stalked the night and tusk boars lurked in hidden places?

He turned his gaze to the darkness covering the savannah. Bukkiwolves barked in the distance. A lion grunted, its echo traveling further than its source would ever know. An owl hooted from a nearby acacia, and glowflies flashed among the foliage like playful stars in the brush. He smiled to himself, wondering again if his new wife was going mad. Perhaps she was always mad and just hid it well.

He looked up at a lone star, winking overhead. With a shrug, he rose from his grassy seat to make his way to a nearby shrub, waving away the glowflies. He undid his loincloth. If something is watching, it should bless me for such a sight.

After relieving himself, he joined his men, commanding four of his most trusted warriors to guard the raided cattle before taking his seat by the camping fire. The n’damas shuffled into a tight cluster, softly mooing. Gunjur allowed himself a wide grin, hiding it from the fire’s light. The fact that a mere twelve warriors had —under his command— captured thirty heads ofn'damas—calves, cows, and bulls—would ensure his place in the hierarchy.

It had been a short road for him from warrior to gayndé. He had carried out the most successful raids during the Season of Dry Rivers. He proved himself worthy to carry the hero-title. Faced with this latest show of bravado, the elders would have no other choice than to elect him as the next High Chief of the Baaku after Gombal.

He drove the butt of his spear into the ground while meditating on his future. He would be the youngest gayndé to make High Chief, younger even than his great-grandfather before him. The current High Chief, though a strong and mighty warrior, could not see beyond tomorrow. And Gunjur had grand plans for his tribe’s future; plans to overshadow his forefathers. The tales of rival tribes growing in size and wealth proved a vexing problem. Soon, he knew, the Baaku would have to once again go to war. The last time that happened, the Baaku and the tribes beyond the vale all suffered when the dry season came. That was the way of war. Even though the Baaku always came out on top, he wondered how long they could sustain that achievement without more sustainable means of survival. He would make changes to remedy this.

Trade alliances and treaties would make an enterprising addition—This would expand their territories and lift their prestige even higher than it already—

Crack.

Gunjur grabbed his spear and stalked towards the disturbance of a snapping twig. He crouched low. Arms steady. Senses focused. Spear raised, ready to thrust its oryx-horned tip into who or whatever crept out of the bush. He held his breath, hoping the intruder was a leopard.

If we fund, then you'll get to read the complete, final version of the story in issue one or two of New Edge Sword & Sorcery. Thanks so much for backing, and please keep sharing the campaign with anybody and everybody!