Custom dice
over 6 years ago – Sat, Nov 11, 2017 at 11:18:36 PM

Super quick mini update

I'm on to correcting the minithulhu pieces from the cutters now, my lounge floor is once again covered with pieces of thulhu, but the good news is that there's also boxes and boxes of thulhu parts in advancing stages of construction. I've been bugging the manufacturers about the main run but responses are, well, slow. I'm wondering about switching manufacturers at this point but it does mean redoing the entire sample process, which could end up taking longer all up even if another manufacturer is faster in general. So I won't make that move unless it's clear that things are not going to move ahead with the current one.

In other news, I've been talking to a manufacturer of a different kind.

Of these two d6 styles, one being black with green lettering, the other being a 2-tone green and black with gold lettering, which do you prefer?

 I'll be putting up a poll in the beta group as well, and counting up preferences from the comments on this update, which will let me know which way to go.

Progress Woo!
over 6 years ago – Sun, Sep 17, 2017 at 11:39:27 PM

Manufactured Bagthulhus

We're in the process of adjusting small details and checking fabrics etc with the the sample. I'm hoping we'll be in production soon :).

Custom Colour thulhus

The cutters tell me they expect to have the cutting done by early next week. Hopefully I should have all the pieces by the end of next week. They're also going to quote for doing some of the simpler sewn pieces to hopefully speed up production.

Backpackthulhus

These will likely be the last thing made as all their materials and requirements are different. I'm waiting on zips and tape to arrive still. I have a horrible feeling the supplier has forgotten about me. Will be following up this week.

Bagthulhu Fhtagn!

Answer time
over 6 years ago – Sun, Sep 03, 2017 at 01:24:34 AM

Guess what I'm using to make the attachment points on the minithulhus?   

Shoelaces. Seriously. They're friction resistant, and they come in a variety of colours without needing to buy huge lengths.  

Note: The minithulhus will also come with a lanyard clip that you can attach to whichever loop you like, or not use at all, it's up to you :)  

Guess what I'm adding to the Bagthulhus? 

A small loop at the back if you want to hang your little monster off a bag or similar. 

Guess which colours have been the most popular in the custom colour rewards?

Standard size: Grape, followed closely by black (as the main colour) 

Double size: Olive (as a main colour) 

Minithulhus: Olive (as a main colour) 

Guess what I'm investigating for future Thulhu oriented projects? 

Glass or acryllic eyes. I'm not sure if it'll work out, but it's interesting to look into for the future. 

Progress 

The sample process for the manufactured run still isn't finished. I've learned my lesson about time lines, adding 50% more time than projected isn't enough. 

To be honest, I'm worried that we aren't going to make the October delivery schedule, but I'll keep pushing and I'll keep you informed.

Also, the cutters who are cutting out the pieces for the custom colour rewards wanted another sample, so look who's going in the post... 

 The photo makes him look very blue unfortunately.  

Guessing games
over 6 years ago – Tue, Aug 29, 2017 at 01:40:16 AM

• Guess what I'm using to make the attachment points on the minithulhus?
• Guess what I'm adding to the Bagthulhus?
• Guess which colours have been the most popular in the custom colour rewards?
• Guess what I'm investigating for future Thulhu oriented projects?

Answers will be posted in a couple of days, along with a progress update from the cutters. I can't wait to hear your speculations ^_^

Shipping >.<
over 6 years ago – Tue, Aug 22, 2017 at 01:12:35 AM

So I need to get the last of the fabric for the handmade thulhus to the workshop down south (that's on the other main island that makes up New Zealand) who will be doing the cutting. There's about 45 metres in total. I have it boxed up in one big box and one smaller box. 

I ring a courier company for a quote. They tell me that it's more expensive to send it in one big box than to break it up. The trouble with shipping fabric is that it's bulky, but light, so you end up paying to ship it as if it was much heavier because of volumetrics (also known as make-my-life-difficult-maths). We're looking at well over $150 to move a total weight of maybe 17kg. 

So I spend the morning breaking it up into smaller boxes. Loading the boxes into the car is... awkward. I'm pretty sure my back hates me now. Not heavy, but very awkward, and apparently backs can't tell the difference. 

I drive to one courier company, lug one box inside. They tell me that it's cheaper at the place just down the road. Which was nice of them. So I lug the box THERE and then lug another box inside as well while they price the first one. Turns out it's actually more expensive there. They suggest I try the post office, and are nice enough to help me haul the boxes back to the car. 

I go to the post office. I heave the biggest box in, knowing that the post office has size restrictions, and I don't want to haul three boxes only to have to haul them back. Of course, I can't find a park right outside either. The post office CAN move the biggest box for me, for less than the couriers. BUT, the value is $5 over their maximum, which means it has to be upgraded, which is half again what the other couriers were charging. So I haul the box back again. 

There's one more courier I can try. I've been there before, they were just on the opposite side of town. At this point I don't care what it costs so long as the boxes leave my sight. I drive over there. 

The courier depot isn't there. It's vanished. I go up and down the street a few times, but it's not there. Have I gone mad? Did I imagine the location? Is anything real anymore? 

At this point, I give up. I go to run the other errand that I needed to do before that place closes too. I have to move stuff around in the car because the boxes are still there taking up all the space. My back has moved beyond hate now, and into a kind of sullen loathing that will bide its time. 

As I'm waiting to pull out into traffic, guess who pulls out of a driveway along the road, taking the gap in traffic so I CAN'T pull out? 

It's a van. A courier van. A courier van from the courier company that disappeared. 

I'm not sure if the driver saw me as they went past, a silent, frothing pantomime of rage.

What do I do? Do I follow the van? Tail them discreetly back to their base and then call in the cavalry? Put on some car chase music, make the siren noise myself? Do I run them off the road, hurl the boxes at them, just take them, take them away, anywhere but here, I just want them gone... 

While I was mulling this over, the van disappeared. The boxes are still in the car.

What else has been happening

• The majority of the fabric has arrived with the cutters (besides what I'm trying to send). 
• Still waiting on zips and other hardware for the backpackthulhus. 
• I'm waiting to hear back from a supplier about strapping that might be better for the minithulhus than what I originally had. 
• New lanyard clips for the minithulhus have arrived. I ordered one lot, but while they were conveniently small, they were also too fiddly to use easily, so I ordered the next size up.
• Received some webbing and tape samples for the backpackthulhus :).
• The factory sampling process is taking longer than planned for, which is something of a pain, but I'm still hopeful we can deliver on time. I'll keep you posted either way,

Bagthulhu Fhtagn!