Update 100
about 6 years ago
– Fri, Mar 16, 2018 at 11:42:58 PM
Hello Hunters!
Well, this is a special number, update 100! However, it’s more shipping news.
We’ve already seen some German language unboxing videos, for our Spanish language backers, here’s one from Discipulos de Armitage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjyfW00TbSs&t=412s
And from Bulgaria here is Denislav from Big Box Gamers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7fNpo0QpwA&feature=youtu.be
The rest of the update concerns shipping, broken down by region:
USA and Canada: The good news is that the S/S MCS Kleven has docked and unloaded. More good news is that the games have already cleared customs and are en route to the Quartermaster fulfillment centre. Quartermaster have assured us that they are keeping a close eye on their fulfillment queue for all the projects arriving over the next couple of weeks, and that they have started the planning to get set up for the core games arrival. We expect to give out far more detailed North America information in the next few updates.
EU and RoW: Dealing with GamesQuest has been a little more complex than we hoped. Let’s start with the positives. We have a new project manager at GamesQuest, who is their most senior and experienced project manager. He admits this fulfillment project has had problems, has been able to see most of the problems without us pointing them out and has described plans to address them all. In GamesQuest defense, this is more complex than it seems: shipping to your door involves us, our worldwide fulfillment company, GamesQuest, an EU-wide courier and finally the last mile courier.
Let’s backtrack a little. As we said, all (backer) EU and UK packages have left GamesQuest. More on that “backer” qualification later. However, not all packages have been delivered and not all tracking numbers have been sent (or work as expected). One issue is that the EU-wide courier switched last-mile or local couriers during this project. This was done for a good reason: to use couriers that lost fewer packages. It was also done as efficiently as possible, but there was some delay. However, not all the local couriers have integrated their tracking systems with the EU-wide courier yet. This is why tracking numbers seems so erratic. We agree it was probably the best option to move forwards with delivery, rather than waiting for the IT work to be completed.
GamesQuest are pressuring the EU-wide courier to integrate tracking correctly and also to give more meaningful messages in the meantime (for example, saying the package is moving to last-mile courier rather than saying it is stationary at the EU-wide courier). EU backers will be sent new tracking information once the systems are integrated. It is still true that if you are a backer in the EU, your game is on its way, even if you’ve not been sent tracking. You have not been forgotten.
Lost packages are a concern, but manually checking these systems shows that no boxes or pallets of DGG product have been lost. Yes, they may have been delayed during the switchover, but nothing has been lost.
What’s with the “backers” business? We found out today, that EU and UK retail packages have not been shipped yet. This is now GamesQuest’s highest priority. We have been assured they will leave GamesQuest this week, and should start arriving next week.
RoW will follow once UK/EU retail is complete, and we are assured that they will be getting started picking and packing in the next few days. GamesQuest are still on track to send RoW packages in March.
Australia and NZ: We do not have firm information for the departure date, the ship name and an estimated time of arrival yet, but we hope to have it within the next few days and will update you as soon as we have the information.
We are in regular contact with our global, and the local, fulfillment companies and, as always, will update you once we have dates and more solid information. We understand this is frustrating and we are working hard to find and fix the road blocks.
Good Hunting!
Two in One Day!
about 6 years ago
– Fri, Mar 16, 2018 at 11:42:28 PM
Hello Hunters!
This update only contains information for North American Backers. We will return to integrated shipping updates next week.
Quartermaster responded to us seconds ago, with some great information. They have already started packing US orders and have courier pick up scheduled for Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. Here are photos of a sample order being packed:
Tracking numbers will be sent out in batches, when the courier picks up the package. This means you should not get a tracking number, followed by a long pause until the package is picked up by the courier. It will soon be time to start checking your spam and junk mail folders for the tracking info!
Most of the orders will be shipping FedEx Ground. Lighter parcels (less than 9 pounds) and those in the southeast will ship FedEx Smartpost, which are handed to USPS for final delivery.
Canadian orders are being sent in bulk to Snakes and Lattes. We do not have a firm date for this yet, but Quartermaster is assembling this bulk shipment while they are doing regular US orders. They are not waiting until US orders are complete. However, there is a lot to pack and this must clear customs, so it will take weeks, not days. We will try to get an estimate for the next update.
More info to follow.
Good Hunting!
In the Loop
about 6 years ago
– Thu, Mar 08, 2018 at 08:45:14 PM
Hello Hunters!
As promised, we will continue to keep you in the loop regarding shipping progress.
The rest of the update concerns shipping, broken down by region:
Australia and NZ: We are past the GamesQuest bottleneck and our games are at the docks being loaded into containers. The transport container could be loaded onto the ship as soon as tomorrow, but of course the ship will not leave for another few days, when it’s completely loaded. Right now, docks are working to catch up from snow-related delays. Our game would have been loaded at the end of last week, if the weather had not interfered. As with other regions, we will update you with the departure date, the ship name and an estimated time of arrival once we have firm information.
EU and RoW: GamesQuest have confirmed that all EU parcels were picked up from GamesQuest and are in transit to backers, but they acknowledge that their tracking system is not working well. If you are in the EU, it’s more likely that your game is on its way and you’ve not been sent tracking, than you being forgotten. Hang in there, you will get the game soon.
Remaining UK pledges are being packed and all are expected to leave GameQuest before the end of the week. Shipping inside the UK seems to be quite fast and many have arrived already.
RoW will follow once UK is complete, and it is still looking like that is on target for March.
We will repeat again that e-mail notifications from GamesQuest are problematic. If you do not have mail from GamesQuest, it does not mean your package is lost.
USA and Canada: Transshipment problems continue to dog the S/S MCS Kleven. Transshipment is where the transport ship stops en route to unload and load cargo. If the intermediate ports are too busy, this process takes longer than planned. The S/S MCS Kleven is now due to arrive in the US on the 12th March.
We are in regular contact with the fulfillment companies and, as always, will update you once we have dates and more solid information.
***
Now that many of you have the game and some of the fulfillment centers are nearing completion, we are starting our replacement process. Our priorities are:
- Allow the fulfillment centers to complete basic shipping.
- Prioritize backers that cannot play. For example, mis-packed rewards with no core game, mis-packed core boxes with no cards, etc. This must be very frustrating. Fortunately, there are very few cases like this.
- All the other problems.
Somewhere in this priority list, we will address missing packages. Clearly, this is very important too. However, we need to give the packages time to pass through the shipping system before we can be certain that packages are missing.
We are looking at doing some of this work from other locations, because, for example, we might be able to fix some mis-packs before GameQuest sends the final RoW boxes. If we can find a way to fix your problems sooner, we will. More details to follow.
***
Let’s close with good news. Some backers are playing! Positive reviews and session reports are popping up around the Web. Our rating on BGG is increasing. There are very few rules questions and many are answered by backers before we can respond.
Most amazing to us, backers are posting lovely pictures of painted miniatures. It takes quite a long time to paint miniatures, so we are honored that backers are investing their valuable time on this.
The first pictures of painted minis we received were from James Frost:
Scott Fairburn sent us a link to his work. I think he has done this before:
https://www.facebook.com/Scott-The-machine-painted-minatures-1782663925300321/
And here’s Lt Pandaman’s.
Both Scott Fairburn’s & Lt Pandaman’s painted minis can be seen in this BGG thread:
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1951199/few-painted
Let’s close with El Awelo Pintor’s wonderful Dracula!
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Belak0r/photos/?tab=album&album_id=645605582230282
Good Hunting!
Mainly Shipping Update
about 6 years ago
– Wed, Feb 28, 2018 at 11:58:37 PM
Hello Hunters!
We have posted two rules sheet PDFs with extra information for some of the stretch goals.
http://www.darkgategames.com/OVH_Serious_Injury_&_Infection_Rules
http://www.darkgategames.com/OVH_Swarm
These PDFs are also in the Order of Vampire Hunters file section on BGG. We are also answering rules questions in the rules forum of BGG. If you have problems with the components, e-mail us at:
[email protected]
The rest of the update concerns shipping, broken down by region:
EU and RoW: All EU parcels have now been picked up from GamesQuest and are in transit to backers. UK pledges are continuing to be packed and the ones that are ready are being picked up. In fact, some are already arriving at Backer’s homes while GamesQuest is still working on the others.
RoW will follow once UK is complete, and it is still looking like that is on target for March.
E-mail notifications of shipping are being sent from GamesQuest but as we have previously mentioned there have been some problems with them, added to that they do sometimes get blocked by spam or junk mail filters so please check if you haven’t already done so. With a high volume of items on the move, there have also been some delays with packages being scanned into the local courier systems and transportation. Not all EU backers have received notifications yet, and packages are still in transit. GamesQuest are working closely with the local couriers to ensure that notifications will be sent and parcels will arrive safely.
Australia and NZ: We are pushing GamesQuest on a solution and are making progress. They have given us an approximate timeline for loading the shipment on transport vessels and we will share it when GameQuest gives us firmer information.
USA and Canada: Unfortunately, the core games on the S/S MCS Kleven from Germany to the US are a little delayed due to transshipment in the Bahamas. The new ETA in the US is March 3rd. We are in contact with Quartermaster who have assured us that they are keeping a close eye on their fulfillment queue for all the projects arriving over the next couple of weeks, so they can ensure everything goes out in a timely manner. We don’t have firm dates yet for when exactly that will be, as timing depends partly on how long customs clearance for the core games takes.
For Canada, once Quartermaster receives the shipment, they will package the boxes needed in Canada and transfer them to Toronto for local, Canada-friendly, fulfillment. Canadians will not have to wait for US fulfillment to be completed before their games start to move on to the last part of their journey.
We are in regular contact with the fulfillment companies and, as always, will update you once we have dates and more solid information.
Good Hunting!
Shipping Update
about 6 years ago
– Thu, Feb 22, 2018 at 11:35:58 PM
Hello Hunters!
This update gives you the latest information about shipping along with some other news.
Translations are ongoing and we are making progress. The Spanish rulebook translation is complete and available. The English and Spanish rulebooks are posted on the DGG website here
http://www.darkgategames.com/download/
We hope to have German, French and Italian available soon.
Many boxes are already on the last part of their journey to backer’s doors. In fact, games are already in some backer’s hands and some have taken the time to make unboxing videos available, here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGAN1wfaWtc&t=2000s
and here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbDSbVN7DTs&feature=youtu.be
Fettes Brett – Brettspiele has even created walkthrough videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjPQ1VbPOSk&t=436s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0C735qyY-4
Thanks for all the enthusiasm!
Here is the shipping breakdown by region:
EU and RoW: As of the end of last week, 95% of EU parcels had been picked up and were in transit to backers. The last few parcels were going out this week with UK packages. UK pledges were being picked and packed all last week and are starting to be being picked up by the couriers this week.
RoW will follow once UK is complete, and it is looking like that will be in March.
E-mail notifications of shipping are being sent but we’d like to remind backers to please check their spam filters and junk mail as these do sometimes get blocked.
Australia and NZ: Unfortunately while the games left Ludopakt and are now at GamesQuest, shipping to Australia/NZ depends on filling a certain amount of container space. GamesQuest are waiting to ship Vampire Hunters along with games from other companies. As yet, we don’t have a firm date for departure but we are in contact with the shippers and will update you as soon as we get more information. We are pressing them for information and a solution as often as we can.
USA and Canada: Stretch goals and add-ons were shipped from China and have cleared customs. Quartermaster have received them and have started the planning to get set up for when the core games arrive. The core games are on the S/S MCS Kleven from Germany to the US and are on schedule for arrival around February 24th. We don’t have firm dates yet for Quartermaster as timing depends partly on how long customs clearance for the core games takes.
We are in regular contact with the fulfillment companies and, as always, will update you once we have dates and more solid information.
Good Hunting!
