Is there a special preview PDF that backers get?
Yes! It’s called The Adventurers’ Hoard and features everything in our free preview, plus additional chapters exclusively for backers. If you’re a backer you can access it here: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/evil-hat/designers-dragons-origins/updates/30172#top
Last updated: October 20, 2025 17:55
Where can I find the Adventurers' Hoard?
Check out Update #1 for a backer-only download link. https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/evil-hat/designers-dragons-origins/updates/30172#top
Last updated: October 20, 2025 17:55
I thought Evil Hat already published a TTRPG history called Designers & Dragons...?
In 2015 we published the first Designers & Dragons series, also written by Shannon Appelcline. That series profiled a wide swath of TTRPG companies decade-by-decade, documenting the evolution of the industry through the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s. (These books are available as Add-on PDFs through this campaign.)
Designers & Dragons: Origins is whole new series that focuses solely on the 300+ products TSR published for OD&D, AD&D 1e, and Basic D&D. There is no overlap between the two series.
Last updated: October 21, 2025 06:13
I just want the four physical books (no PDFs or epub's, etc) what level do I pledge at?
The Box Set level https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/evil-hat/designers-dragons-origins/pledge_levels/24555#top does include PDF + epub + POD formats but those options are discounted to be free. That’s the best, base level pledge if you want Designers & Dragons: Origins in our print run with the slipcase.
Last updated: October 21, 2025 09:30
What if I don't want the full set? How do I pledge for just one (or two or three) books?
Choose the Build Your Own Bundle level ( https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/evil-hat/designers-dragons-origins/pledge_levels/24549#top ) and add-on the PDF+epub+POD version for the specific books you want.
Note that we are only offering the offset print run of Designers & Dragons: Origins as the boxed set.
To get a physical copy of the book(s) you’ve chosen, when rewards are released you can use at DriveThruRPG to order a Print On Demand copy. We’ll send you a coupon code which allows you to print the book(s) at-cost, i.e. we do not add any extra fees. You are charged strictly what our manufacturing cost would be for an on-demand copy printed through DrivethruRPG.
Last updated: October 20, 2025 15:41
I don't plan to use the POD coupon. Can I get a discount if I only want the PDF & epub?
The $80 PDF + POD + EPUB Digital Bundle is our discounted digital pledge level. If you look at building your own bundle, the individual price of each PDF is $25. So it would cost you $100 to pledge for the full set if you were to choose it a la carte. Removing the POD codes doesn’t significantly change the amount of work we need to do, so we can’t discount it further.
The books are divided by product line so if you’re on a budget and you’re only interested in, say AD&D or Basic D&D, consider pledging for the $1 Build Your Own (Digital) tier and adding-on the specific volumes you’d like. (The full table of contents for all four volumes is linked on the main project page.) If you want 3 or more volumes, the $80 pledge is still the best value, but if you just want one or two titles from the 4-volume set you can save yourself some money.
Last updated: November 05, 2025 11:44
How do the at-cost POD codes work? Is the printing included in the code?
The at-cost POD code is a coupon we give you to use on DriveThruRPG.com for their print-on-demand service. The cost of actually printing the book is NOT included in the price of the reward. It’s “at-cost” in that we do not mark up the price of printing the on-demand copy over the base price DriveThruRPG charges to manufacture it.
DriveThruRPG is a third-party partner of ours, they have overseas delivery options, and the quality is quite good. They offer two options for POD that would be suitable for Designers & Dragons: Origins - softcover standard color interior and hardcover standard color interior.
The CURRENT, ESTIMATED at-cost price DriveThruRPG would charge for a 368-page 6” x 9” book is: Softcover, standard color interior - $17 per book, plus shipping Hardcover, standard color interior - $22 per book, plus shipping
Please keep in mind these are estimates as of Oct 22, 2025 for a 368-page book. If one volume in the set is longer or shorter than 368 pages, you might see a slight variance. Six to eight months from now, as we get closer to actual fulfillment and issue the final rewards, the price obviously could be different. We do not have control over DriveThruRPG’s manufacturing costs and there’s a lot of economic chaos doing the devil’s work out there.
Last updated: October 22, 2025 09:56
Why aren't you shipping box sets outside the USA? How can I get a boxed set in my home country?
Due to tariffs (and retaliatory measures), global shipping chaos, and the extraordinary amount of staff time it takes to calculate and apply customs fees for each country, we will only ship physical rewards from this campaign directly to US addresses.
However, just like every major release Evil Hat publishes, Designers & Dragons: Origins will go into international distribution shortly after crowdfunding is fulfilled.
When the books are released to the public, overseas fans will be able to purchase the set at a much, much more reasonable price than we would charge to ship it.
Also, because you’re buying in-store, you can inspect the condition of the books at the point of purchase—an important consideration given that international shipping is not often kind to packages with four kilograms of books inside.
If you are deeply invested in getting the physical rewards from this campaign, investigate using a freight forwarder. This is likely neither cheap nor will it shield you from tariff-induced chaos or customs fees, but it will provide a U.S. address we can ship to.
We wish the situation were different, but we are one small company of six people and we’re doing the best we can to manage our resources against global economic forces far outside our control. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Last updated: October 21, 2025 06:14
Are there other options to get the books if I live outside the USA?
If you live outside the USA and want the absolute fastest access to Designers & Dragons: Origins, you have several options:
1) Back at the PDF + POD + EPUB tier. You’ll get the PDFs as soon as they’re available and having access to the POD codes means you can choose which volumes you want to print and avoid the worst of the extravagant shipping and customs fees you would incur if your books shipped from the US.
2) Wait until the books reach your local retailer (online or neighborhood). Our PDF guarantee means that any time you buy one of our books new in a physical form, you get the PDF for free. Also, because you’re buying in-store, you can inspect the condition of the books at the point of purchase—an important consideration given that international shipping is not often kind to packages with four kilograms of books inside.
3) If you are deeply invested in getting the physical rewards from this campaign, investigate using a freight forwarder. This is likely neither cheap nor will it shield you from tariff-induced chaos or customs fees, but it will provide a U.S. address we can ship to.
Again, we’re frustrated we can’t efficiently ship physical books directly to the doorstep of every single person around the world. We’ve tried in past projects and it has only created a huge investment of resources for our staff and a lot of expense for our overseas customers.
We appreciate your patience and understanding. We strongly encourage you to support your FLGS, get the POD version, or use a freight forwarding service.
Last updated: October 20, 2025 15:52
Why isn't AD&D 2E included?
These books already cover each and every product TSR produced for OD&D, Basic D&D, and AD&D 1e. Designers & Dragons: Origins tells the history of over 300 products, and the series stands at 400,000 words over four volumes encompassing ~1400 pages.
Shannon is working on a similar product history for AD&D 2nd Edition, but that’s going to have to wait for the future.
Last updated: October 21, 2025 06:16
Has AI been used to create any part of the print books or the audiobooks?
No. AI is theft built on the backs of everyday, working artists. We do not use it.
The audiobook version will be performed by voiceover artist Colby Elliott who narrated the first Designers & Dragons series. We are proud to have him on board for this new series through his imprint, Last Word Audio.
Last updated: October 21, 2025 06:17
I have a question that isn't covered here, who do I contact?
You are welcome to post general questions in the Community section of this BackerKit project: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/evil-hat/designers-dragons-origins/community
If the question is specific to your circumstances or pledge, please email us at [email protected].
Last updated: October 20, 2025 16:05
I have another question
We’re happy to help. Please email us [email protected]
Last updated: November 25, 2025 20:29
When will I get my rewards?
The crowdfunding rewards are due by July 2026, though we’ll get them to you sooner when we can.
Last updated: November 25, 2025 20:29
Shipping
We’ll be charging shipping for all items just before they are sent out.
Last updated: November 25, 2025 20:29
How will Digital Rewards be distributed?
All digital rewards will be distributed through BackerKit digital downloads. Additionally, products that are also featured on DriveThruRPG will have DTRPG codes distributed through BackerKit digital downloads
Last updated: November 25, 2025 20:30
What is BackerKit?
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