March Update – Events & Approaching Production
about 6 hours ago
– Tue, Mar 31, 2026 at 08:45:19 AM
Hello Adventurers,
We’ve had an exciting month as we continue moving closer to mass production of Helm’s Slain. Our Pre-Production Copy is in final review, and we’re working with our manufacturing partner to complete the last refinements. Everything is coming together nicely.
GAMA Expo
We attended Game Manufacturers Association Expo (GAMA) this month, where we shared Helm’s Slain with industry partners and fellow creators. It was a great experience seeing reactions to the Pre-Production Copy in person.
Gary Con
We also had a fantastic time at Gary Con, with the players of Helm’s Slain. We met with new players and some familiar faces returning from years past, bringing back their characters to rejoin the dungeon crawl.
We ran seven sessions and filled the table every time. Even better, some new players rearranged their con schedules so they could come back for more. The energy, the big moments, the “let’s play again” and hearing “best game ever” were beyond amazing. It gives us reinforced confidence as we move toward final approval and mass production.
Pledges and Pre-Order Store
BackerKit surveys are still open, so there’s time to upgrade your pledge and add anything you may have missed. If you’ve been considering adding extras, now’s the perfect time! If you need any help, just reach out, and we'd be happy to assist.
Our pre-order store is also live! If you know someone who would enjoy Helm’s Slain, we’d truly appreciate you sharing it with them. Every bit helps us grow the community:
👉 https://helms-slain-face-the-unknown-together.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
What’s Next?
We’re getting close to final approval and the transition into mass production. We’ll share more as soon as that milestone is confirmed.
Thank you, as always, for your support!
See you in the dungeon,
Hans & Diane
Box of Dice Games
February Update: Our PPC is Here!
about 1 month ago
– Thu, Feb 26, 2026 at 08:39:18 AM
Hello Adventurers,
Big news this month… our Pre-Production Copy has arrived!
Seeing a physical copy of the production version of Helm’s Slain for the first time has been an incredible moment. After months of digital proofs, prototypes, specifications, and back-and-forth, seeing this copy is both surreal and deeply rewarding.
First Impressions
Overall? It looks fantastic.
The component quality is top-notch across the board. The acrylic standees in particular look absolutely amazing! The clarity and the presence on the table truly elevate the experience. We’re sharing photos below and we’d love to hear what you think!
That said, this is exactly why the PPC stage exists. We are still waiting on the playmat, and we’re carefully inspecting everything piece by piece. While the quality is excellent, we will be making a few adjustments before approving mass production. For example, we’re brightening some of the colors on the game board, game box, and dice tray to ensure they really pop on the table. Small refinements like these make a big difference in the final presentation.
We want this game to feel bold, vibrant, and worthy of your backing and this step allows us to fine-tune those details.
What Happens Next?
Once all components arrive and revisions are confirmed, we’ll submit our requested adjustments to the factory. After those are implemented and approved, we’ll officially greenlight mass production.
We’re moving carefully but confidently and we’re very happy with where things stand.
March Conferences – Come Say Hello!
March is going to be a busy (and exciting) month for us!
We’ll be attending Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA Expo), an industry conference where publishers, retailers, and distributors gather. It’s a great opportunity for us to continue building relationships and spreading the word about Helm’s Slain.
We’ll also be at Gary Con, where we’re especially excited to reconnect with some of our early playtesters and longtime supporters. Fun fact: it's the very first conference where we started playtesting Helm's Slain, three years ago! If you’ll be there, please come find us! We’ll be proudly showcasing this beautiful PPC.
As always, thank you for your patience, encouragement, and belief in this project. Every step forward reminds us how grateful we are to have such a supportive community behind Helm’s Slain.
See you in the dungeon,
Hans & Diane
Box of Dice Games
A Sneak Peek at Manufacturing Samples 🎲🎲
2 months ago
– Thu, Jan 22, 2026 at 02:26:23 PM
Hello adventurers,
It’s been a busy time, and we’re excited to share a major production milestone for Helm’s Slain. All print and physical components are now finalized for our Pre-Production Copy (PPC), and our manufacturing partner provided photos. Wow, they look fantastic!
As first-time game creators, this phase has been incredibly eye-opening. Seasoned publishers warned us that this phase always takes longer than you expect. We believed them… and yet it still took longer than we imagined. Every component and printed asset requires careful iterations and attention to detail.
One area that took more time than expected was finalizing the acrylic standee specifications, but the results are absolutely worth it. Here's a sneak peek! We think you’ll agree the extra effort really shows. Which is your favorite?
We’re grateful to be working with Panda Game Manufacturing , because they care about quality as much as we do. We know you’re investing your hard-earned money in this game, and it’s incredibly important to us that what arrives at your table feels polished, durable, and built for many hours of play. Panda is one of the tabletop industry’s most trusted partners for premium-quality components.
What’s next? Panda will be shipping us the Pre-Production Copy (PPC) in February, about a month later than originally hoped. (A PPC is a complete physical copy of the game made using final materials and processes, allowing us to inspect quality and catch any last issues before mass production.)
We’re hopeful that any changes needed will be minimal, and once approved, we’ll give the go-ahead for mass production. Even with the extra time here, we’re still optimistic about a June delivery to our backers. There are still moving parts ahead, for example, production queues and freight shipping to distribution hubs, so we’ll continue to keep you updated.
In the meantime, a quick reminder that our pre-order store is open. If you know someone who would enjoy Helm’s Slain, we’d love your help spreading the word:
👉 https://helms-slain-face-the-unknown-together.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
Thank you for your patience, support, and enthusiasm. If you have any questions, just let us know. Seeing Helm’s Slain become real has been incredibly rewarding, and we can’t wait to share more soon.
See you in the dungeon,
Hans & Diane
Box of Dice Games
December Update: Pre-Production Progress, an Unlocked Stretch Goal, and Holiday Wishes
4 months ago
– Fri, Dec 05, 2025 at 10:13:52 AM
Greetings, Adventurers!
We wanted to share a quick but exciting update as we continue our journey toward bringing Helm’s Slain to your table.
🔧Pre-Production Progress
We’re still deep in the Pre-Production phase with our manufacturer. This stage involves a detailed back-and-forth as we confirm component specs, layout details, and make sure everything meets the quality you expect. The great news: we’re getting very close to approving the build of our Pre-Production copy! This will be a full physical version of the game that we can inspect, test, and adjust before mass production begins. If all goes smoothly, we expect to have that pre-production copy in hand in January. We’ll share photos as soon as it arrives!
🎉 Another Stretch Goal Unlocked!
Thanks to your incredible support, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve unlocked another stretch goal! The game will now include 26 additional Winds of Fate cards, bringing the total to 52. This expanded deck adds even more variety, unpredictability, and replayability to your adventures. Every delve into the darkness of the dungeon will feel fresh, surprising, and full of new twists.
✨ Thank You & Happy Holidays
As 2025 winds down, we want to express how grateful we are for your enthusiasm, patience, and encouragement. This community continues to inspire us, and we’re working hard to deliver a game worthy of your support.
Wishing you all a joyful, peaceful, and adventure-filled holiday season.
See you in the dungeon,
Hans & Diane
Box of Dice Games
⚔️ Into the Production Dungeon! Updates, Dice, and Conventions Ahead
5 months ago
– Fri, Nov 07, 2025 at 03:13:20 PM
Hey Adventurers,
It’s been a little while since our last update — we’ve had our heads down working through production details and pledge manager logistics. Thanks for your patience and enthusiasm while we’ve been deep in the dungeon getting everything ready! Here’s what’s been happening...
BackerKit & the Deluxe Dice
We’re currently fine-tuning the setup for the Deluxe Dice Sets in BackerKit. A few adjustments are still being made, and whenever we update eligible orders, BackerKit automatically asks for a quick reconfirmation.
If you receive an extra email from BackerKit — even after completing your survey — no worries! Just reopen your survey, review the updated order, and hit Confirm again. That’s all you need to do.
As first-time game publishers (and first-time crowdfunders!), we’re learning a lot through this process. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding — and we’re so grateful for your support as we navigate this part of the adventure.
Production Progress
Behind the scenes, we’ve finalized most of the component proofs and specifications with our manufacturer. We’re now preparing to submit final files and move into the pre-production quality assurance phase!
We’ve also been testing the companion app, ensuring it handles the many different in-game scenarios exactly as intended.
And for those already dreaming about future adventures — we’ve begun testing and developing new character classes and species for a future expansion.
See Us at U-Con!
Helm’s Slain will be featured at U-Con Gaming Convention in Michigan, November 14–15! Come say hello, meet the designer, and join a session — this is your chance to play Helm’s Slain with the creator as your GM!
Thank You, Heroes
We couldn’t be more excited about where Helm’s Slain is headed. Every step brings us closer to putting this game in your hands — and onto your tables.
See you in the dungeon,
Hans & Diane
Box of Dice Games
