Production

[kzucker]

Here is the current production schedule. These dates are what we'd like to achieve, but delays (as we've learned) are very likely. We will always take the time necessary to produce the best product we can.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
May 16th- Box to printer
May 23rd- Counters to printer
May 30th- Box and Counters to finishing, Cards to printer
June 6th- Cards to die-cutter, Maps to printer
June 13th- B&W components to printer
June 20th- Delivery of all components

STATUS OF COMPONENTS

Box Art: 100% completed.
Counters: We now have a playtest set of counters. We have about 10 days to finalize all the numbers on the counters.
Maps: Joe's sent in a draft tracing (vector maps 80% completed) on Sunday.
Cards: Still some production unknowns: principally, who will die-cut them?
The text of the cards is going to present a challenge, since this will have to be printed first. In fact, we have to be finalizing the text of the cards in the next 7 days (!) to afford the graphic designer two weeks to finish up.
Rules: The rules are reaching their final form, but not quite there.

[kzucker]

Box Art: at the printer.
Counters: Still finalizing the mix. Russian XIV Corps causing trouble.
Maps: First draft from the artist is expected today.
Cards: the layout artist is working on them now.
Rules: We're on the 28th draft heading for 40.
Printer: We have a printer lined-up, who has experience working on these exact kinds of products.

[kzucker]

Just now notified by our printer that the box wraps are printed and were delivered this morning to Cardinal Boxes.

The cards are next. To printer on Monday 6/6. Counters the following Monday 6/13. Maps possibly on the week of the 13th as well ... black & white components print after all color.

[kzucker]

Cards rescheduled: To printer 6/14
Counters and maps moved ahead: to printer 6/8

[kzucker]

Counters to printer 6/8; to die-cutter 6/15
Maps and cards to printer 6/15
Cards to die-cutter 6/20
Rules to printer 6/22
Components delivered 6/29
Start shipping week of July 6th

STATUS OF COMPONENTS

Boxes: 720 game boxes are made up (enough for now).
Counters: Final Corrections have been sent to the artist.
Maps: Joe made a great effort to complete the maps before leaving for Consimworld Expo. He will finish them up after the trip.
Cards: Testing continues, still finding some changes.
Rules: We're at vers. 2.45 heading toward 3.0. We are considering splitting rules and scenarios-notes into two booklets. The Kulm scenario still needs reworking, some arrival hexes are missing. This is a little bit unusual as both sides have troops in the mountain passes as well as fighting in the plains, in widely separated groupings.

[kzucker]

Counters are at the printer. Will see proofs tomorrow (Sat.) There is one correction that I know of, that will delay getting them on the press... hoping to ink that one day next week.

[kzucker]

Counter proofs arrived today...Corrections back to printer tomorrow.

Maps to printer- 16 June

Cards to printer- 21 June

Counters to die-cutter- 24 June

Cards to die-cutter- 27 June

B&W components to printer- 28 June
proof them after Origins; Assemble games about July 13.

[kzucker]

COUNTERS: Being printed today, die-cut next week.

CARDS: Sent to the printer today.

MAPS: Await finished proofs- expected before Origins.

PLAYER AID CARDS: Turn Rec and Charts & Tables done, others need work.

ADDITIONAL SHEETS: Victory Worksheet, Orders Slip, SOP done.

RULES: Still tweaking the scenario information, playtesting this Saturday.

[kzucker]

We'll continue the playtesting for about three more weeks, but basically this bad boy is done, just a matter of getting it through the press.

Except for changes due to the scale (480 meters) and the introduction of cards, the rules are the same as Seven Days of 1809 (1600 meters). Yet these four battle games have a tactical feel. The game is, in many ways, the same as NLB.

Bearing in mind that production is not always smooth, we're hoping for a publication date of July 25th. This hinges on the maps which are always complicated. Joe is finishing the photoshop textures now. If we get the art to the printer by about the 5th we can start assembling and shipping on the 25th.

Production schedule for Black & White components:

to pre-press- July 11th
delivery- July 22nd

[kzucker]

Four Lost Battles is at the printers now... (We sent the rules today and the maps tomorrow). We expect to take delivery on the 22nd of July, then start shipping on the 25th. That is, if there are no unexpected production delays.

At 40 copies per day we expect to finish shipping on August 3rd. If you are in the US and Canada, or overseas airmail, delivery will take up to one week.

Overseas surface will take 4-6 weeks from the time we mail your copy. You can look for your game to arrive sometime in September.

That is the best case scenario, and we will update here regularly.

[kzucker]

The map art files were transferred to the printer today; development on this project is completed. The die-cutter may need two weeks to turn around the cards, which would delay our receipt of the game components until the 29th.

[Forrest Atterberry]

So could this be a literally hot off the press release for the WBC then? :D

Assuming everything is good from the printer of course.... :eek:

[kzucker]

Forrest,

That's possible. I have a wedding to attend in California that week (my nephew's) but we may be able to get some advance copies to GMT for the show. Andy Lewis of GMT has offered to represent us at WBC.

[kzucker]

Latest project status from the printer:

I am getting new proofs tomorrow morning on the rules and the maps. (There were extensive changes.) That is costing us a day or two. They are still aiming for delivery on Friday the 29th, but it will be tight.

I had to cancel my trip for early August. (Originally this game was supposed to be out in June.)

We'll be here shipping games from the day of delivery until they are all shipped. I will take one day, perhaps Thursday, to visit WBC and bring some games to the GMT booth.

[kzucker]

The new proofs of the rules folders and the maps are sitting on my table. I have to return these before lunchtime, so there is no delay...

[kzucker]

Rules and maps should be printed next week. Whether everything can be done by Friday in time for delivery is up for grabs. Assembly possible on Saturday the 30th, just.

[kzucker]

Cards are done. Map printing on Monday... Hoping for Thursday delivery (August 4th).

[kzucker]

Just received word from the printer. They are promising to deliver everthing one week from today, August 5th, possibly on Thursday...

[kzucker]

OSG's web admin tells me the website update will be completed tomorrow evening. After this update all unconfirmed pre-orders for Four Lost Battles will evaporate... We expect the game to arrive in stock at our warehouse this coming week.

[Forrest Atterberry]

Hate to tell you this, but 4 Lost Battles is no longer a "future game". :) I was able to pick up a copy at the WBC. On first look it looks great. This week I plan on kicking the tires and getting it on the table.

[kzucker]

Hi Forrest,

Here we are now ...

We will ship the first copies of 4LB today. Yesterday was spent double-checking all mailing addresses.

[kzucker]

As of now all the Four Lost Battles pre-orders have been shipped. If your name is on this document marked as paid yours is in the Postal System.
http://www.napoleongames.com/PreOrders/4LBPreOrders_20050812.pdf

Two weeks to the day since the components arrived from the printer ...That's pretty good for us.

We held shipping for two days while we had the revised Combat Results Card printed. If yours says "Rev 1" at the bottom you have the current one.

We'll start shipping to stores & distributors next week.

[Jeffrey Arnold]

If yours says "Rev 1" at the bottom you have the current one.

Somehow I managed to miss this the first time around... :rolleyes:


Is there any way I can get a copy of the revised Combat Results Table?

[kzucker]

Jeffrey-

If your CRT says "copyright©2005" and not "Rev 1©2005" then you need the new table. You can download it from Napoleongames.com homepage (soon) or send an email to me with your address and I will mail you a copy. <kzucker@charm.net>

[Jeffrey Arnold]

Jeffrey-

If your CRT says "copyright©2005" and not "Rev 1©2005" then you need the new table. You can download it from Napoleongames.com homepage (soon) or send an email to me with your address and I will mail you a copy. <kzucker@charm.net>

E-mail on the way. Thanks Kevin... :)