As I write this, I’ve just finishing signing about 2,000 books. The Numenera corebook and Player’s Guide PDFs are out to Kickstarter backers and preorder customers. A sample of the print versions of both books is on my desk at home, and all of these books and ebooks, plus a number of support products, will be available for all to purchase after the official launch date of August 14th.
None of it would be possible without Kickstarter backers. And really, I’m going to lump in the people who preordered as well. You all took leaps of faith and plunked down your money, and more importantly your support, for a product that didn’t even exist yet.
And now, because of that faith, it does exist.
I’m extremely proud of Numenera, and for those of you that got your advance (pre-launch) look at it, I hope you’re pleased with it too. I honestly, sincerely hope that everyone who took a chance on Numenera, and therefore on me, is happy and satisfied with that decision.
Regardless, however, I have to say thank you to those that took that chance. Those of you that followed the Kickstarter, however, know that this isn’t the end—it’s just the beginning. There’s still a host of other products initially funded by the Kickstarter. Adventures (now in the hands of the editor), a bestiary (now in design), a technology book, and a world book. Plus that other stuff I mentioned, much of which should be available on the 14th—cards, dice, screens, an app, paper terrain, miniatures, a Thunderstone game, and even a computer game.
And there’s much, much more to come for Numenera than just that.
As long as I’m saying thank you, however, let me say a few more. I need to thank the following people:
Shanna Germain: My partner in this and many other endeavors, the lead editor of Numenera, who contributed a great deal to the corebook in many different ways and is chiefly responsible for making it all come together as a finished product.
Kieran Yanner: Lead artist for Numenera who developed a look and feel for the project from very early on, and whose artwork was instrumental in getting people’s attention.
Tammie Ryan: Monte Cook Games’ first employee, our administrative assistant who has organized, shepherded, and wrangled ever important bit of information having to do with the Numenera process.
Charles Ryan: The Chief Operating Officer of Monte Cook Games, who took the weight of many of the practical, business aspects of the game’s development off my shoulders so that I could focus primarily on designing the game.
Ray Vallese: My longtime friend and former Planescape co-conspirator, the editor of Numenera who went above and beyond more than once to make me look good.
David Wilson Brown: Appearing as if from nowhere, Numenera fan #1 who created not only a podcast, Transmissions From the Ninth World while the Kickstarter was still happening, but also the community site for the game, the Ninth World Hub.
Annie Yamashita: The Kickstarter would have never been possible without our assistant’s wizardry with enormous spreadsheets.
My name might be on the cover of the book, but without any of you, that book wouldn’t exist.
There are dozens of other people I should thank, of course, who played important roles in Numenera, and they are indeed thanked in the corebook, but I felt compelled to particularly call out my comrades in publishing arms listed above.
