Check out the latest on the TTRPGkids works in progress to stay up to date on upcoming releases! This Dev Log will cover closing out the Mystery Snacks project by talking about how shipping & handling is calculated, the EnerGeodes pre-launch page going live, and how I’m planning on releasing articles for the remainder of 2026.

Jump to: 

• Mystery Snacks fulfilled (and shipping & handling)
• Energeodes pre-launch
• TTRPGkids site article bank

Mystery Snacks are fulfilled, so let’s talk about shipping & handling calculations!

Mystery Snacks has been sent out to backers!

I’ve mailed physical copies of Mystery Snacks to all backers who completed their survey and fully paid for their order, and many copies have already arrived at their final destination!

In total, I used approximately 80 US stamps, shipped 9 large media mail packages, and sent physical copies to 11 countries.  

This process included steps like: 

• Ordering packaging supplies
• Filling out labels
• Kitting and weighing packages
• Applying labels and stamps
• Filling out customs forms
• Wrapping, boxing, and padding books for large orders
• Multiple trips to the post office and lots of waiting in line

The reason I’m outlining this process is to show what’s involved in self-fulfilled projects and explain the reasoning behind shipping & handling costs.  

I spent about two work days of time doing all of this, which, at minimum wage in Michigan, would be about $220.  This is one part of the handling cost that’s the part of shipping & handling because you also then need to factor in purchasing supplies (envelopes, boxes, wrapping, labels), which was another ~$100.  So, my total handling cost was about $320.  

This means that the average handling ended up being 37% of the total $856 shipping, handling, and customs costs charged to backers.  For each individual package type, that proportion is a bit different depending on the package too.  For example, media mail requires a larger box and padding supplies, time spent wrapping each book and taping the box up, then time standing in line at the post office since media mail has to be shipped at the USPS location since it’s subject to inspection, so the handling cost for that type of package may actually be more than the cost of postage that shows on the label from USPS.

So, to calculate my shipping costs, I ordered supplies before calculating my materials costs then made estimates for my time based on my shipping XP from previous projects to make my final calculation, and… it was pretty accurate!  I undercharged by about 4% because of a small miscalculation on customs, so I basically paid myself a bit under minimum wage.  That said, this was close enough to where I feel like I was fair enough to customers and myself to be happy with it.

While I’m sort of closing this out on what feels like a flat-ish note by talking about shipping, I thought it was important to cover this so future creators can see how to do this calculation and backers also can find out where the costs are coming from/going to.  

That said, I am REALLY excited that this project is going out to so many folks, and I’m happy to have done the work to get this to people, and I LOVE that I was able to hand deliver physical copies of Mystery Snacks to some of my stretch goal writers at Gamehole Con this year and see them hold the book that contains their work.  I want to hear about the stories that families tell with this and that libraries run for their programs by using my books.

And I am very happy to have been able to share the journey to get here with you.  I hope the Dev Log breakdowns have helped to give you a behind the scenes, and I hope that you enjoy Mystery Snacks.

COMPLETED:

• Feb – fund project
• Mar – kick off guest writers (send guidelines, formatting + style guide)
• Mar – set up pre-order store
• Apr – guest writer check in
• May – guest writer 1st drafts due
• May – review 1st drafts
• May – kick off guest writer 2nd drafts
• June – guest writer 2nd draft due
• June – kick off layout artist
• July – final layout due
• July – order proof (round 1)
• Aug – proofs arrive, check, review update (round 1)
• Aug – order proof (round 2)
• Sep – finalize surveys
• Sep – distribute surveys
• Sep – proofs arrive, check, review update (round 2)
• Sep – order bulk
• Oct → Sep – bulk order arrives
• Sep → October 2ish – close pre-order shop
• Sep → October 2ish – digital fulfillment
• Oct – ship to fulfill project (physical)

NEXT STEPS:

• COMPLETE!

Energeodes pre-launch page is live!

My next project is a revamp and print version of Energeodes, a TTRPG about rocks and magic!

I’m excited to share that the pre-launch page is live and shares with you a bit more art and detail about the project:

Right now, my focus for Energeodes is going to be on getting word out about it to gain a pre-launch following so the project will be successful at launch and getting the initial layout templates work out with my layout artists (BoRyan, same person as for Mystery Snacks) so we’ll be able to show potential backers what to expect on the inside of the book.

For getting the word out, I have a few videos planned to show how I’m making art for some of the geode cards for the game (we are smashing rocks!), will be running ads in a few indie newsletters, and will be posting about on socials.  I want my advertising to be grassroots and done in a way where other indie creators or newsletters supporting those creators will be paid instead of my advertising budget going to a big ad service.  I’m very aware that this changes where my reach can go, but I’m also OK with that.  

My base project goal is $1k to cover a medium sized print run of the updated and expanded base game, and I have stretch goals planned up to $20k but predict it will land in the $6k – $10k range.  That said, if this project exceeds $20k I would be REALLY happy, but I also would likely need to pull in extra help to complete fulfillment.

The reason I’m talking about this is to communicate that I do want this game to fund and to fund well, but I also feel like success for me doesn’t have to be hitting $50k or something.  I know that BIG funding comes with new challenges that I’m unfamiliar with but could tackle and learn from, but I also won’t feel bad about it if I’m not tackling those challenges yet.

And that said!  Please go check out the page and sign up and share it!  My prediction is $6k – $10k based on my other projects, but I would really like to get into those $10k+ stretch goals to be able to hire more folks and commission extra art for the project, and I do need your help to get there since I am using the grassroots method.

Pre-campaign launch tasks completed: 

• Aug – create project planning doc 
• Aug – commission cover artist
• Sep – cover art due/recieved
• Sep – commission cover layout artist
• Oct – set up pre-launch page
• Oct ← Nov – write 3 additional sample adventures
• Oct ← Nov – commission interior layout artist for base game

Pre-campaign launch next steps:

• Oct – cover layout due/recieved
• Nov – mock up cards
• Nov/Dec – lock in stretch goal writer team
• Dec – interior layout due/recieved
• Dec/Jan – base game playtest and revise
• Dec/Jan – submit project for Zinetopia
• Jan – finalize campaign page
• Feb – campaign launch

Banking up articles for TTRPGkids.com

Right now, Mystery Snacks is completed, and I’ve submitted drafts for all my current “secret projects”, so I have a bit of breathing space to protect my future schedule.  

I’m shifting to banking up about 10 weeks worth of articles for the TTRPGkids site so that if a big life event happens or I want to take a few weeks off for the holidays or a new large job comes in, I can make space for that without having to switch my tasks mid-week to article writing or worrying about keeping up with my posting schedule.

Last year, I had some medical stuff hit, and I was very grateful for having an article bank that I could use up during that time, and I just now am caught up enough to where I can build that up again.

What this means is that I’ll feel a bit more secure about the site and my time, and Patreons may start seeing pre-release articles that are planned for 2027 (which is kind of cool). 

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Thank you for checking out this update and just kind of being interested in what TTRPGkids is doing! I hope it helps with seeing some of the self-pub, crowdfunding, and blog writing process for anyone who is thinking of getting into that themselves, and…

Until next time, happy gaming!

And… if you liked this post, make sure to subscribe to the TTRPGkids monthly newsletter and Patreon to stay up to date on the latest reviews, tips and tricks, game and podcast list updates, and more! Thank you for playing tabletop RPGs with your kids and sharing this awesome hobby with the next generation!