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Post by the0alchemist on Apr 18, 2016 19:40:50 GMT -5
I am hoping they shifted the 'more ornate artifact' from chapter 3 to a later point in the story. I really cannot imagine the 'Evidence' mailing was supposed to be that one; while certainly intriguing, I was hoping for something more tactile there. We also still have two online puzzles coming up as well. I have high hopes for the next three mailings! Yeah I'm hopeful as well. With the Black Friday only having two more shipments plus the reveal, I'm a bit nervous about whether we will get the more ornate artifact. As that would put that back to back with the prestige. I'm not really sure what to expect. the Gallant Push it back to where? Chapter 5 is a crated statue, leaving Chapter 4 as the only option. Also a reminder that a mix of chapter 1&3 with it's item is all bronze level people get. And silver is just chapters 3 &5. So pushing back the ornate artifact basically screws over gold and below. Three levels that have basically received nothing so far. Doubly so given MPC's desire to not let the minority levels receive items before the majority. As I've said before I'm not convinced the usb is chap 3, and in gallants case he might have received it because he emailed the curator about the wait time much like I only got parts of chapter 2 because I emailed about the big wait. Do we know any other black Fridays that received it.
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Post by thegallant on Apr 19, 2016 9:38:34 GMT -5
@alchemist --
When you got parts of chapter 2, did it count as one of your numbered shipments from the MPC order status page? The evidence USB counted as my 4 of 7th mailing, which is why I was wondering.
I agree that pushing the ornate artifact with documentation past chapter 3 would be extremely problematic for all of the low tiers, and would also be a pacing issue to have the two largest items back to back on the higher tiers.
Unfortunately I do not know of any other black friday purchasers that have posted. I can't remember if any posted on the c&c boards before they were taken down for maintenance, and it seems I'm the only one here.
Regards, the Gallant
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Post by the0alchemist on Apr 19, 2016 19:20:24 GMT -5
It did not. Not counting the one coming in the mail now my page only reflects two official mailings the prologue and the evidence mailing.
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Post by Beckett on Apr 20, 2016 2:59:46 GMT -5
My brother received the current - that is to say, sixth - mailing of the Diamond Experience yesterday. Apparently the mailing contains - without going into detail about the contents themselves -
a number of paper items including pointers towards what seems to be the first of the online puzzles. I am saying it now, I am completely at a loss as to which mailing corresponds to which chapter. I suspect the Coterie have indeed shuffled up the contents of the Mailings, but I cannot for the life of me imagine in which way. It may be worth noting that the Architect stated that one thing they took away from the Kickstarter campaign was not to offer so many different Versions of the same Experience.
There might be a lesson in here, about just sitting back and enjoying the deliveries until the Experience is over.
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Post by thegallant on Apr 20, 2016 8:55:33 GMT -5
Since this is a gift for my disabled wife, as a means to bring an adventure to her, I cannot sit back and enjoy. I have to make sure behind the scenes that what was advertised was delivered.
That being said, it was never spelled out on the Black Friday correspondence, or the current listing for Century beast that we'd receive an ornate artifact prior to the end with documentation. It says:
"This is a story of great scope and mystery, inspired both by rich Nordic lore and Lovecraftian mythos. The Century Beast includes never-before-seen documents, puzzles designed to confound the recipient both physically and digitally, audio recordings, and multiple preternatural artifacts."
Under the Spoilers it also reveals:
"We can state that it includes six mailings, plus the reveal, contains numerous artifacts, including a heavy and imposing stone finale"
Numerous artifacts seems to be overselling it a bit. Since I have two mailings left, and the retail version of the CB seems to include the evidence mailing "audio recordings" as mentioned in the bit above, and the next mailing is documents leading to a puzzle. It seems unless they include more than just the stone statue in the final mailing, the numerous artifacts would include the amulet, the evidence USB drive, and the final stone item.
I'm going to be disappointed on behalf of my wife if this is the extent of "numerous artifacts"
Well, it was a gamble. Hopefully she enjoys it fully, and doesn't feel like it was a waste of money once she discovers it was sent from me.
the Gallant
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Post by thegallant on Apr 20, 2016 10:14:42 GMT -5
Okay so I emailed the Curator with my concerns. In the response (which was very quick) the Curator emphasized that each item in every mailing is considered "an artifact."
So perhaps by ornate artifact, they were referring to the evidence bag trappings, and the complexity of the 17 minute set of audio recordings. I don't know.
I don't think we are receiving another significant physical object prior to the prestige.
the Gallant
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Post by Beckett on Apr 20, 2016 11:43:16 GMT -5
Oh, I would not argue the definition of 'artifact' as laid out by our esteemed Curator - although I must admit that the description on the website does set the artifacts apart from the documents. If the chapter 3 artifact turned out to be one of the items we already received, I would not want to be in the bronze recipients' shoes, however. If you are interested, the kickstarter description of chapter 3 read as follows: Chapter 3 is unique in that it has a somewhat more ornate artifact contained alongside the paperwork. This is a relic that we have custom designed and that fits tightly with the Lovecraftian storyline, and is included as the climax of the Bronze experience. Musings about the sequence of chapters and the nature of artifacts aside, how is your wife enjoying the experience so far, Gallant? I know that if I was the recipient I would be thrilled, but as I have said before, I am quite easy to please once I got excited about an idea.
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Post by thegallant on Apr 20, 2016 12:12:28 GMT -5
Beckett, I agree that the website seems to differentiate documents from artifacts. I also included the original text, as you quoted, in my previous email to the curator, but he did not respond with whether a evidence bagged USB drive should be considered ornate.
With regard to my wife -- she is really enjoying it so far. She picked up that it was some type of augmented reality/puzzle mailing that had been sent to her by someone after the prologue, and she looks forward to each mailing. She though the amulet might be the final mailing, as it had a physical object. She didn't recognized Mark Meer despite me playing lots of Mass Effect, and her watching large portions of the story while I played. She is definitely enjoying it, but there is a big "but..."
My major concern is whether, when the reveal is sent, is if she thinks it was worth the money spent. She does the budgeting in our household, because it is not my strength. She knows I spent a tidy sum of money on a gift for her last Christmas, but have had some "issues getting it in." She asked early on if I sent it, and I managed to not break cover and expose myself as the one who gifted it. I'm having doubts, however, of how much the package was worth. With very little of the items appeared to have been "aged" significantly, beyond crumpling up the paper, and the fact that some of the printed script outright looked like junkmail, I'm afraid that she will think that it wasn't a good use of the money. I feel like both the kickstarter and website both oversell the authenticity angle. Plus if you compare it to king in yellow or another of the 199.00 experiences, it seems we spent 200.00 on the USB drive and a few more pieces of paper. Paper that by and large looks not particularly old or authentic. I just hope she will have enjoyed it enough to justify purchasing the experience.
Perhaps my expectations were too high. I don't know. I'm trying to withhold judgment for the final two mailings, but so far I am underwhelmed. Particularly since it took over two months between the prologue and chapter 1.
Regards, the Gallant
edit: forgot closing, added it.
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Post by ctoit75 on Apr 20, 2016 14:56:46 GMT -5
The current retail offering states the following:
The Century Beast includes never-before-seen documents, puzzles designed to confound the recipient both physically and digitally, audio recordings, and multiple preternatural artifacts.
Documents are called out separately from the artifacts. Not sure how he can stand behind the statement that the documents are artifacts.
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Post by thegenii on Apr 20, 2016 15:58:50 GMT -5
Some documents are "documents," like a letter, while other documents are "artifacts," such as a page torn from a book. I just received my sixth mailing today. The envelope contains four items: two letters and two artifacts (one a page torn from an old book, the other the cardboard label/insert from an audio cassette).
Opinions my differ, of course. So far, however, I have yet to see anything that would justify "Century Beast" (as sold in the "Experiences") costing double the price of "King in Yellow," "Tempus Fugit," or "Risen."
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Post by the0alchemist on Apr 20, 2016 17:39:05 GMT -5
If we accept that artifact does cover the paper items (it doesn't based on the context from the KS). The fact is that we were promised a custom designed ornate relic that fits a Lovecraft story-line and able to provide a satisfying climax to a story. Has anything anyone received remotely fit that description. Also do we ignore definitions of relic that match this image from the backers update. A large part of why I backed was that I hope for a reliquary. If I were to back another MPC KS I think I'd wait till much later to cash in.
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Post by thegenii on Apr 21, 2016 0:36:33 GMT -5
I think you will receive a three-dimensional hold-it-in-your-hands relic as your second to last mailing.
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Post by Beckett on Apr 21, 2016 0:43:32 GMT -5
I'm with The Genii here. Best to reserve such resolutions until the experience has run its course, until then I prefer the optimistic outlook. Besides, creators usually learn a lot from their first campaign, so I have high hopes for possible future crowdfunded Experiences.
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Post by thegenii on Apr 21, 2016 11:27:11 GMT -5
The very nature of the long and drawn-out Century Beast, combined with MPC's seeming inability to mail stuff in a timely way, will work against another experience like this in the future.
Personally, I found the shorter four mailing experiences to be more satisfying.
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Post by thegallant on Apr 21, 2016 12:22:38 GMT -5
I think you will receive a three-dimensional hold-it-in-your-hands relic as your second to last mailing. I was just notified that mailing 5 of 7, including the reveal was shipped out. That would probably match the items you all just received. The reliquary sketches looked really compelling. That would be really cool. Do you think it is possible that they will send out such an item along with the stone statue at the end? Have both items in the crate? I will post when my wife receives her next shipment. Regards, the Gallant Edit:forgot closing again
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