Backer Update Feb 23, 2025
about 1 year ago
– Sun, Feb 23, 2025 at 09:38:43 AM
Good Morning, and Happy Sunday!
Last Sunday, there wasn’t an update because that is when we celebrated Valentine's Day. But I ALMOST wrote an update halfway through the week because I was so excited to share it with you all!
Music:
You can find Sirens: Battle of the Bards Campaign Soundtrack on Spotify and your favorite music apps! It will be under Taylor Borgen, not Satine Phoenix, because he is the composer. SO PROUD of the music. I am filled with so much joy every time I hear the music. How he translated what I was looking for into actual music is magic to me. I hope you can feel his passion and magic in each song. There are 12 songs; the first 10 accompany each chapter, and then there are 2 bonus songs. Play them as you like. They’re all pretty fantastic and are a great addition to your fantasy music playlist.
Player Material:
The Reader Responses are all turned in and compiled. There are many great suggestions! One of the suggestions I liked the most but am unable to add is the addition of a constitution-based bard. Maybe this is something the community wants to build for their games? While I am happy to alter some of the class material, C2 Gaming did such a fantastic job with the overall mechanics that I am reluctant to add any additional material. The class is balanced through a variety of ways: Auras, Early spell gains, Expressions, and backgrounds. When looking at these as a whole my hopes are that you can see where something feels OP, it is balanced in other ways. That said, I am grateful for our reader’s fine tuning and altering of some of the abilities. It really shows that sometimes it takes a few different perspectives to see the truth of a thing.
Next Steps - I’m discussing the changes with Anthony, the Lead Editor, and this week will revise the Player Material and then send it to Anthony for Edits! My goal is to have Player Material laid out in PDF form and sent to YOU all who purchased a book by Friday March 7!!!!
Salvata Setting:
THIS is what I was so excited about! The first couple chapters of this section were a little rough… but then I made it to the districts. I’M SO IN LOVE WITH THIS CITY! The chapters are so beautifully written and the only thing I changed was some names of the Districts and some character details to meld it all into a cohesive world. Outside of that, it feels important to share that I am so impressed with the team! The previous final rewrites and edits really pulled the different writer’s voices together! Revising the Setting section went by so quickly. The districts are rich with descriptions and character that the eah level feels so alive! The different characters within each district are so dynamic and interesting. The locations really allow Quest Masters to explore and build out their own adventures. I am sure this section could be three times as long. The good news is that you’ll learn more about the districts in the Graphic Novels. (Spoilers) :)
Next Steps - Anthony gave me some notes and I’m revising the documents this week. Then, I'm creating a Google form to send to the readers on Friday February 28. This reading will only be 1 week long, to be turned in by Friday, March 7th, since there isn’t any play testing, and is solely about comprehension. The last review was extended for another week, however this one will not be extended. I will send the Setting Form and links to everyone who returned the NDA.
Prints & Shipping:
I have figured out how to send the David Mack prints, however I’m still waiting on payment from a studio in Hollywood for work I did back in December before I can pay for shipping these off. I hear this is an issue across the entertainment world of not getting paid/delayed payments so I’m not panicking. It will come when it’s time and I’ll get these sent out once I receive the funds.
Live Q&A on the Discord at 12pm today (Sunday, Feb 23, mountain time zone)
That’s the update for this week! So awesome to be able to send these updates and have consistent careful movement on this book. Steady, patient, solid movement. Everyone did such a great job and I am delighted to get this out in your hands!
Have a great week all,
Satine
Feb 10, 2025 Update
about 1 year ago
– Mon, Feb 10, 2025 at 12:45:07 PM
It’s strange that this year is moving so fast. Maybe I feel this every year? Maybe it’s just how time moves as we get older. Who knows… What I do know is that I have some updates for you!
#1: A very generous Editor has offered his expertise on the book! Last week we had a meeting and I’m so excited to welcome Anthony to the team as Lead Editor!
#2: Art, Blueprints, Dice STLs, & Minis .PLY files have been acquired. Huge thanks to David Granjo for sending those along. I would have had them sooner, but I couldn’t figure out what to do with the .rar file. ( I use a Mac and had no idea how to open or even knew what that file was) So, this is how we learn.
I did a quick search on what a .ply file is. The World Wide Web says it is a printable 3d file that has textures and color and can be converted to an .stl file and printed. SO… My plan this week is to find out who ordered minis and send them the .ply files. I know that’s a long way from sending them the actual mini. That’s just what I can do for now. Once the book is finished and I focus on paying for minis merch, I’ll also send out the minis to those who ordered them.
The only art piece that seems to be missing is the page layout art made by Carlos and his girlfriend. So I'll keep searching. They were absolutely stunning... Stained glass and paper textures... just perfect.
These above images are a screenshot of almost all of the art files that go into the book. I didn’t want to make them big because it might be a spoiler for some of the aspects of the book, but I wanted to show you the amazingness of what David Granjo, Carlos, and Diana have done here.
#3: Sirens: Battle of the Bards Campaign Soundtrack
We are live!!!! I have not seen this pop up on Spotify yet, however I have links for the public music here:
Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n5JRcm6ld5F9j5gtIsRyakLNQkbGHTA08&si=oCOkSbIS4fqElnYS
iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/artist/taylor-borgen-45555285/albums/sirens-battle-of-the-bards-campaign-310872805/
#4: David Mack Prints! I found the prints in my storage and will be mailing them to those who purchased them this and next week
#5: Reading through and editing Section 2: Salvata Setting.
So, I’m reading through the different chapters in Section 2. One of the main things I’ve noticed is that some of the chapters in this massive section have a decent amount of helpful information… while other chapters seem to be all fluff. I think that was my error of trying to rush things out the door. The outcome was some writers focusing on making the chapter sound good without providing depth and content. I see how I could have shown up better as a leader there.
Reflection: Having time to restructure chapters like the History of Salvata allows a new mindset to think critically about what is being printed.
With the cost of printing, every page has to have purpose and communicate efficiently. Here we’ve built this massive and amazing art piece that is Salvata, a city that is 1000 years old… it's imperative we give you a robust history that makes sense to the story. So, I’ve removed most of the fluff and am adding in answers to the question of and origins of a lot of the elements introduced in the campaign.
I know some of you are pissed, but man… I’d be even more embarrassed to have released this book the way it was. There were so many different writers, so many wonderful and amazing ideas.
I think I understand what my job is better: to make it all cohesive so the beautiful ideas shine and are organized in a way that makes sense to the story. I can admit that final revision piece was missing, so in a way, I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to make these changes.
#6: Player Material
We have 40 amazing readers for the player material. 4 responses so far. The responses are due on Feb 13 by midnight. If you have submitted your Reader form and have not received an NDA, or have signed your NDA but not received the Player Material Form, please message me at [email protected] and I’ll make sure you have what you need to proceed.
For those who want to be a part of the Setting Reader group, I’ll be sending that form out on Monday Feb 17. You must fill out the Reader form and sign an NDA in order to be a part of the group.
#7: New NPCs!
We have 2 new NPCs joining the book so far! I’ll post about them when they are finished. This leaves 3 spots left for folks to join in. Both were folks who missed out on the Kickstarter “add your character” tier so I’m happy to be able to provide another space for this to happen. If you want your character in the book send me a message at the email above.
And that is all I have for today. Just plugging along with everything. Taking time on it so I keep a steady and critical head on while moving through each page. The lessons learned here are so … educational. From creating cohesive style from 28 different writers to how not to burn out or become overwhelmed when finishing a big project. All of this is learning and only helps develop skills for future endeavors. And the level of honesty and transparency feels REALLY good! I’m happy to finally show up for this gorgeous project and be in a place to embrace all of the feedback!
Have a great week everyone!
Satine~
Feb 2, 2025 update
about 1 year ago
– Sun, Feb 02, 2025 at 09:02:47 PM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Update - Jan 27, 2025
about 1 year ago
– Mon, Jan 27, 2025 at 05:52:40 PM
Hi everyone!
I finally got my login to work again! I wasn't going to post while I was traveling, but I decided to post the update that went into the Discord Server last week.
If you want more updates than weekly, you can be a part of the conversation over on Discord. Email [email protected].
Update from Jan 19, 2025.
(with some edits to update this week's writing)
I’ve reviewed the book scope, but I want to share a win before discussing it!
The Sirens: Battle of the Bards Campaign Soundtrack, composed by Taylor Borgen http://www.taylorborgensound.com/ in 2021 and mastered by my brother AJ Sorbello will be uploaded to Spotify and other major streaming services in 7-12 business days. The soundtrack is 1 song for each of the 10 main chapters and 2 bonus songs. A wonderful mix of Fantasy, Tavern, and Arabic Trap to bring you into the magical city of Salvata.
It took me a couple of days to figure out how to upload and convert the songs into the correct format, but I did it. It has been uploaded to Routenote and is now approved! I’ll send a message when it uploads to the different platforms with a link to Spotify. They did say it could take up to 30 days. I really hope it's closer to 7.
For those who ordered CDs, once I finish the book, I’ll go back through the merch and price out CD printing and shipping.
Now, the book update:
Sirens: Battle of the Bards is a massive endeavor. So much work has been done, and there is still much to do. The main book is broken down into four smaller books:
1) Player Guide
2) Salvata Setting
3) Quest Master Materials
4) Campaign & Side Quests
5) There’s also the introduction and Appendix
I’ve decided to start from the top and work my way down, completing one section before moving on to the next. Once the Section/smaller book is done, I will do the layout, turn it into a PDF, and then distribute it to the Kickstarter Backers and anyone else who pays for the PDF.
One issue I’ve encountered is that I only have the marketing artwork. Rick has reached out to the original artist, David Granjo, to help find the higher-quality images. I have not heard from him yet… He made so many amazing images for this book. I hope to be able to share them all with you.
#1 The Players Guide
The chapters in the Player Guide are as follows:
* 1 - Letter from Calrath
* 2 - Salvatan Character Backgrounds
* 3 - Salvatan Bard Class
* 4 - Everyone’s an Artist
* 5 - Cooperation while performing
Chapters 1-4 are finished and edited; however, this was done a while ago. I and a couple others are taking another look at the mechanics and proofing to make sure it is ready to be distributed. (I rewrote Chapter 5 on the plane this week) It seemed a little clunky, and I found a better way to communicate these cooperation elements. From there, I’ll have it run by an editor and then proofed in the same way as 1-4.
This should take about two weeks, and then another week for me to do the layout. I’m looking at a delivery time within a week before or after Valentine's Day.
#2 Salvata Setting
The chapters in the Salvata Setting book are as follows:
* 1 - Marketing Letter
* 2 - History of Salvata
* 3 - Salvata Real Estate Price Index
* 4 - District 1 - 10 (each district is approx 8-10 g doc pages)
* 5 - The Grand Invocation
* 6 - Ke’Sava Tonics
* 7 - Games & Gambling
This book has been finished and edited. I will go through it to edit a few names and details I have wanted to alter since the beginning and then make a last pass with a couple of others for proofing. Once proofed, I will work on the layout and get that out to you all. I’m getting rid of Games and Gambling because I don’t want it in the book.
#3 Quest Master Materials
The chapters in the Quest Master Materials are as follows:
* 1 - EC Letter
* 2 - Running this Campaign
* 3 - Faction Tracker
* 4 - Primary NPCs (Calrath, Vlahnya, etc)
* 5 - The Salvata Salvation Rebellion
* 6 - The Emerald Cabal
* 7 - Primary Cabal NPCs (The Herald, Fiends, etc)
* 8 - Backer NPCs (13)
This section is all written except for #3 Faction Tracker. Once the Campaign is finished and all of the faction numbers have been added up and designed to fit the rest of the game's mechanics, I’ll add this page to the final version of the book. I’m not certain if this has been edited yet; however, we will go through these pages just as the other pages with first looks, edits, proofs, layout, and PDF.
The NPCs and factions have beautiful digital paintings by David Granjo. I have removed one of the main characters.
Since posting the first 2025 update, I’ve received several inquiries to add personal characters to the adventure. I am absolutely excited to; however, I will only add a max of 5, so I can focus on finishing this book. The cool part is that I’ll be drawing digital paintings or sketches of the character. Only a couple of spots are left, so if you are seriously interested, please email me, and we can coordinate. I will only be accepting new characters for the next month. These additional characters are to be ready for #3 in April. Maybe sooner, but I don’t want to promise something I can’t deliver on. As listed in the Kickstarter, this will include a write-up, stat block, illustration, and a copy of the book.
For those who weren’t able to place an order and have messaged about ordering a hard copy of Sirens, I’m only selling the PDF right now. I will allow upgrades when the books go into print.
#4 Campaign: Battle of the Bards
The chapters in the Campaign are as follows
* 1 - Letter by Vlahnya
* 2 - Session Zero
* 3 - Quest 1
* 4 - Side quest 1
* 5 - Quest 2
* 6 - Side quest 2
* 7 - Quest 3
* 8 - Side quest 3
* 9 - Quest 4
* 10 - Side quest 4
* 11 - Quest 5
* 12 - Side quest 5
* 13 - Quest 6
* 14 - Side quest 6
* 15 - Quest 7
* 16 - Side quest 7
* 17 - Quest 8
* 18 - Side quest 8
* 19 - Quest 9
* 20 - Side quest 9
* 21 - Quest 10 - Finale
* 22- Side quest 10 - Epilogue
Chapters 1 - 22 of #4 have been written, all except #21, the Finale, which I’m happy about because it had the characters I'm removing in it. Because I’m removing this character, I'm rewriting parts of the campaign for cohesive storytelling. There are many little things here and there, but one of the middle chapters will need a rewrite to make up for all of the exposition the previous character inserted into the story.
So, the first step is to comb through the main quest chapters 1-9 to remove the character and establish how that affects each section and the overall story. Then, notes and story-threading will follow. Next will be rewrites of those sections, starting with the smallest parts and gradually working my way to the bigger portions. Another read-through will need to be done, followed by editors and proofers.
Once the proofers are done at this stage, I’ll send it out for playtesting. If you want to be involved in the playtesting, email [email protected], and I will add you to a list of playtesters and email everyone a couple of weeks before it is time. I don’t foresee this being finished and ready for playtesting until about six months from now.
Once the playtest for 1-9 is complete, there will be updates, corrections, and rewrites. At that point, I’ll have the Finale written and ready for playtest, and that will undergo the same updates, corrections, and rewrites while 1 - 9 goes through edits, proofers, and layout. As soon as 1 - 9 have gone through layout, I will put Quest 1 - 9 and Side Quests 1 - 9 into a temporary PDF and send it out to backers to begin playing.
Once Quest 10, the Finale, goes through edits, proofers, and layout, I’ll add them to the Campaign book and send a new PDF of the entire Campaign, including the Epilogue, Side Quest 10.
The Side Quests have been written; they need a quick editing pass and proof before they’re ready to be laid out. Since they include parts of the main story and elements related to factions, and some have clues about the overarching story, they aren’t considered stand-alone adventures and will spoil the main quests. This is why I am not releasing these adventures before this time.
Once #4 is complete, I’ll return to the Quest Master Materials and finish the Faction Tracker Chapter.
#5 The rest of the book.
Appendix - This includes:
* Magic Items
* Monster Stats
* Maps & Blueprints by September & Diana
* Thank you letter & KS Backers
* Glossary (?)
I’ve received about 10 requests to have people’s names removed from the Backer list. This is no problem; it's very easy to do. I’m considering creating a Google form for those who want their names removed so I have everything in one place and will have information on exactly what names to remove.
Introduction - this includes
* Legal print
* Foreward
* Table of Contents
Once all of these elements are complete, I’ll put it all together into one large PDF and send the completed PDF to all of the book backers. From there, I’ll begin researching the best places to print the hardcover book and how much it will cost to print and ship. This could cost $10,000, $20,000, $40,000. I have absolutely no idea. However, I will explore the option of printing smaller batches and releasing them as I can pay for them since I’ll be paying for the prints out of my pocket. Once the hardcovers have been printed, I’ll begin exploring the cost of printing the slipcases with a DM screen. I will finish designing the DM screen once the PDF has been completed.
MERCHANDISE
Good news: I have found the merchandise!
Rough news: there’s about $1600 in unpaid storage fees. This is for all of the previous company’s items. So, now we figure out the percentage split and I pay the Satine & Sirens portions of the fees before they will release the items for shipping. It’s about $90 - $120 per month for storage fees, so I’ll be whittling away at the past fees while also keeping up with the current fees. I do no know how long this will take, but I’ll keep you updated.
MINIS
The STL files exist… I don’t know where they are. I plan on reaching out to the sculptor who created them this week. I will send the STL files to all backers who paid for Minis as soon as I find them. The original company that printed the samples did a great job with both opaque and translucent printing. Shortly after the Kickstarter was finished, they stopped offering prints. Once the book is finished, I’ll find another company to print it. All of the minis will be available except the blue one, which is removed from the pack.
With the restraining order, I can’t reach out to him to gather all of the assets as although we legally signed that I have rights to everything, he has not given me everything.
VTTS
If I remember correctly, tokens and other elements have been created… however, I cannot access them again. Over the next few months, I’ll investigate the location and creators of these assets and find out where they are.
Next week, (Sunday Jan 26) I won’t be doing a video update because I'm traveling back to America. Still, I will update backers with an overall page count of the entire book as it is in Google Doc format, not the final layout. (Sunday, Feb 2, 2025)
That's all the update I have for today. Have a great week everyone!
Love and play,
Satine
January 2025 Update - By Satine Phoenix
about 1 year ago
– Sat, Jan 11, 2025 at 05:08:47 AM
Hello everyone!
Welcome to 2025, a solid 3.5 years after this Kickstarter launched.
You all deserve an update, and I finally have information to share with you.
TL;DR
* Ownership: As of July 2024, I am the sole owner of Sirens: Battle of the Bards. All rights, assets, and merchandise now belong to me.
* Funds: I did not personally receive any funds from the Kickstarter. The finances were handled by Apotheosis, and I’ve been informed that payments were made to creators and contractors, though I have no direct records of these transactions.
* Book: I am rewriting sections of the book to remove elements tied to previous collaborators and align the story with the original vision of Sirens. This will take time but is necessary to maintain the integrity of the project.
* ETA: I am working part-time on the book and will provide weekly video updates in my personal Discord. A timeline will be established once I finalize the project scope.
* Merchandise: I have located the merchandise, but it is being held in storage due to unpaid fees. I will personally cover my portion of these storage costs over time to be able to begin the release and distribution of items.
The David Mack prints are in my possession and will begin shipping in February.
I understand that this update is long overdue.
I know many of you are frustrated by the lack of communication and the absence of results for years. This delay was not due to a lack of effort but rather to “complex circumstances”. Between navigating legal matters, locating necessary documents, tracking down products, and determining the true status of the project, it was difficult to provide accurate information. I believed that no update was better than an incorrect one, but now that I have clarity, I can share everything with you.
Who Owns Sirens: Battle of the Bards?
As of July 2024, I am the sole owner of Sirens: Battle of the Bards, including all intellectual property, assets, and merchandise, as outlined in our finalized divorce agreement. There are no remaining professional ties between me and my former partner.
For personal safety reasons, I obtained a restraining order against my former partner in September 2024. I mention this to clarify that we will not be communicating in any capacity as I complete this project.
What Happened to the Kickstarter Funds?
I was not involved in the management of the Kickstarter funds and did not personally receive any of the money. From what I’ve been told, payments were made to creators and contractors who contributed to the project.
For example, one creator publicly mentioned they hadn’t been paid. Within hours, I was informed that their invoice hadn’t been submitted at the time. Once it was submitted, payment was immediately issued, but no follow-up was shared publicly to reflect that resolution. I can understand how confusion around these situations may have arisen.
Unfortunately, I do not have direct knowledge or access to the full financial details, but I’ve been informed that some creators were paid more than budgeted, and some were compensated for work that ultimately wasn’t used.
I have not seen or received any of the funds myself. I had been using my personal resources to move other projects forward.
Who Is Finishing the Book?
I am personally finishing the book Sirens: Battle of the Bards, but it requires significant rewriting. Sections tied to previous collaborators, including a specific character, are being removed. This is a major overhaul, but I believe it is necessary to align the book with the original vision.
Sirens began as a story of collaboration, goodness, and resilience—about misfits finding family with their bandmates while healing and growing together through adventure. To honor that vision, I am revising the content to reflect these themes without the influence of past dynamics that no longer serve the story.
The book will still include danger, challenges, and moments of struggle. It is not a sanitized story, but rather one of overcoming adversity and finding strength in the support of friends.
I will be dedicating two hours a day, five days a week, to work on this project while balancing other responsibilities. I am committed to seeing this through.
Weekly Sunday live video updates will be run on my personal discord for those who want to see the progress and can be respectful in the chat. (Note: I will not be doing live updates on weekends I am traveling or on holidays)
What Is the ETA of the Book?
At this time, I cannot provide an exact ETA. My goal for January is to assess the entire project, determine how much work remains, and create a project timeline.
Here’s the good news:
* The side quests, settings, bard subclass mechanics, and Session Zero are finished. These sections were written by some incredibly talented individuals, and I am proud of the work that has been done.
* Major chapters are being reviewed and rewritten. Some will remain intact, and others will need to be replaced to align with the updated vision.
I am focused on producing a high-quality book rather than rushing to meet an arbitrary deadline. I will also handle the layout myself, with support from friends who are helping with editing. Once I’ve established a clear timeline, I will provide updates as they come.
When Will the Merchandise Be Delivered?
I located the merchandise, but it is being held in storage due to unpaid fees. I am working to resolve this issue personally, covering my portion of the storage costs over time. Once the fees are settled, I will begin coordinating the distribution of these items.
The David Mack prints are already in my possession, and I plan to begin shipping them in February after coordinating with those who purchased them.
Why Haven’t We Heard Much Until Now?
After the changes in the fall of 2022, I attempted to finish the book multiple times but faced significant challenges at home that made progress difficult. The negative response I received around balancing writing with searching for work and returning to school for psychology added to the complexity. I wanted to understand where I went wrong in my decisions and learn how to become a better version of myself, healing the parts of me that had been manipulated and enabled unhealthy dynamics.
During this period, I experienced significant emotional and physical challenges in my personal life. The stress became overwhelming, and I reached a breaking point and attempted suicide. In January 2023, I sought treatment, including clinical ketamine therapy, which helped me begin the healing process and at that time I started a new career as a professor.
Despite my efforts, I struggled to make consistent progress on the book due to “ongoing personal challenges”. I dealt with circumstances that demanded all my energy and attention. By the end of that period, I felt like I had lost much of myself.
Even through these struggles, I felt a deep responsibility to fulfill the promise I made to all of you. I tried to work on the book whenever I could, but the “circumstances” made it incredibly difficult. Looking back, I understand how frustrating and confusing it must have been for backers to hear us say, “I’m working on the book,” and then not see results.
I can see why people accused me of being a grifter. Without any updates, such assumptions make sense. However, I couldn’t share the truth of what I was enduring, especially in a backer update.
A grifter is someone who takes money with the intent of stealing it. I have never been, nor will I ever be, that person. I know my truth: it took me a long time to regain stability and rebuild my life to a point where I could approach this project properly.
On September 13, 2023, I decided to leave my previous situation and focus on my safety and recovery. For the following three months, I was homeless and focused on separating my life from the past. With the love and support of friends, I began to rebuild and heal in ways I never thought possible.
In July 2024, our divorce was finalized, and in September, I completely cut ties with my former partner. During this time, I faced significant financial challenges: I sold half of my D&D gear, had my car repossessed, and moved out of my apartment.
Now, I live as a digital nomad in Asia, building a coaching business to help others overcome and recover from their traumas, and I teach a few times a year. I’ve found peace, happiness, and the clarity I needed to reset my life
I know those who have faced emotionally, financially, or physically difficult relationships will understand how hard it can be to leave and why it takes time to recover. These experiences tap into deep vulnerabilities and can make us feel as though we cannot survive with or without them.
Your continued requests for updates and questions about the status of this project are completely valid—I would want answers too. To those who have shared how this situation has affected you emotionally, thank you for your openness. I’ve heard your stories about why this has been so difficult, and I want you to know that your voices have been heard. Your honesty and kindness have only strengthened my resolve to see this project through to completion.
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and belief in me.
This journey has been long and complex, but I remain deeply committed to delivering a book and experience worthy of your belief in me and in Sirens: Battle of the Bards.
With gratitude and love,
Satine Phoenix
