BackerKit surveys are coming!
about 1 year ago
– Mon, Feb 03, 2025 at 04:18:17 PM
Hail, my fellow Norsemen and shieldmaidens!
We hope you’ve all had a wonderful start to the new year! Since closing the campaign in December, we’ve been extremely hard at work, and I’m excited to share some updates with you today.
First up, BackerKit surveys. This is the most important part of this update, so please take a moment to read through it. This outlines the next steps for finalizing your Sea Beasts order.
After that, we’ll dive into some exciting development updates!
BackerKit surveys are coming! 📝
Soon, you’ll receive an email from us with a special link to your BackerKit survey. It’s essential to respond to your survey as quickly as possible since we need this information to fulfill your rewards.
You do not need to create a BackerKit account to fill out your survey. When you receive the survey invite email, click the survey link to respond. Answer the questions about your reward preferences, provide shipping information, and purchase add-on items if you like. You don’t have access to this survey link yet, but it will be available soon via email!
After you respond to your survey, you can go back later and change your responses at any time before we close the surveys and get our final counts.
Due to the volatility of shipping prices globally right now, shipping fees for this project will be calculated and charged at a later date once we have the best estimates for everyone. We plan to enter & charge backers for shipping a month or two before fulfillment when we have better estimates of what it will cost to ship backers rewards. We will alert backers when shipping costs are finalized & before we charge your cards in your BackerKit survey. We will keep you informed all along the way!
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://seabeasts.backerkit.com.
If you used your Facebook credentials to log in to your crowdfunding account, the BackerKit survey is sent to the email address associated with your Facebook account. If you have another email address that you prefer to use, please contact support at https://seabeasts.backerkit.com/faq.
After surveys are sent, if you did not receive the email, and you signed in with Apple ID, your email address might be a private relay email address. We can help locate your survey and update your email address, please message us here on Kickstarter or post a comment with your Backer ID or Pledge # found on your confirmation. You can learn more about your email hiding for your Apple ID here.
Retailers Update 🏠
If you're a retailer who expressed interest in Sea Beasts and have already filled out our Retailer Survey, our friends at Golden Goose will be reaching out soon with our retail offer for this first print run!
If you haven’t yet filled out our Retailer Survey, there’s still time to do so here: Retailer Survey Link
Localization Update 🇩🇪🇫🇷
In the BackerKit survey, you’ll have the option to select your preferred language for Sea Beasts. Currently we are offering English, German, and French! We are still in the midst of some exciting localization deals which may lead even more languages to offer! We will keep you all in the loop as we finalize details with our partners :)
Please Note: If you choose a non-English translation in the BackerKit survey, fulfillment will be delayed and separate from the English version, which we aim to fulfill by Q1 2026. This is primarily because our localization partners will be working on their own timelines, and we don’t want to delay English production, especially since we expect around 90% (or more) of our backers to order the English version.
If you simply can't wait to get your copy of Sea Beasts, we will also provide the option to order the English version while offering translated rulebooks in PDF format at the time of the first wave fulfillment! 🙂
Development Updates ⚙️
Now that we’ve covered all the important info, here’s some of the fun stuff we’re checking off our development list!
New Stretch Goal Miniatures!
Bryce from Black Magic just sent us some screenshots of the new hammerhead Legendary Beast, Thor’s Hammer!
Behold its terrifying brilliance!
Bryce is now shifting his focus to the Three-Headed Tortoise, which may be the biggest and baddest mini yet—so stay tuned!
Once these final Legendary Beast miniatures are designed, we’ll revisit the box trays for the Heroic and Legendary editions to ensure all these miniatures fit alongside the rest of the gameplay content.
Gameplay Art
Our incredible artist, Cory, has been working nonstop on all the stretch goal art—most of which was created and voted on by all of YOU! Just this past Friday, Cory sent me all the sketches for the new companions and beasts, and I can’t wait to share them with you soon!
Toward the end of the campaign, Cory also finished the Heroic/Legendary box art! Renders don’t quite capture the foil effect, but they’ll do for now. Let me know what y’all think!
Note: The Legendary Edition will be titled similarly to the Heroic Edition shown here. The Heroic and Legendary boxes are essentially the same, but the Legendary Edition will include all the extra deluxe components and expansions.
Rulebook Updates
Toward the end of the campaign back in December, I traveled to the PAXU convention in Pennsylvania, where I stumbled upon a talented rulebook editor, Jason Harris!
As Jason and I chatted, I learned that he recently designed rulebooks for Andromeda's Edge and Critter Kitchen (with Andromeda's Edge being one of my newer favorite games). Naturally, I had to ask if he’d be open to designing a fresh new rulebook for Sea Beasts! To make things even better, we discovered that we live only half an hour apart—despite meeting at a convention all the way across the country. How crazy!
Since then, we’ve had the pleasure of meeting multiple times in person to play Sea Beasts and discuss all the mechanics and components. I’m incredibly excited about his take on the rulebook. Once it’s ready, we’ll share it with all of you for your thoughts!
Game Mechanics & Final Production Design
When I haven’t been working on late pledges, marketing, the pledge manager, and other publishing to-dos, I’ve most enjoyed my time designing new beasts and companions! It feels like my baby—Sea Beasts—is nearly grown up and about to set off into the world, so I’m cherishing every moment I have left to make this game the best it can be.
Less sappy and more specific… So far, all of the new companions have been fully designed and have just begun testing for balance. I am also weaving in extra story elements to integrate the companions into the campaign!
There are plenty of other exciting developments in the works! Stay tuned for more Sea Beasts updates arriving at port soon! Until next time, my fellow beast slayers!
SKAL!
-Aaron Smith
Founder & Creator
Littlest Lantern
P.S. The Muskottr has snuck on board as the final stretch goal...
THANK YOU + Late Pledges + Final Beast!
over 1 year ago
– Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 11:20:09 AM
With the campaign closing just a few weeks ago, we just wanted to say...
The final voyage has begun! We’re already making great progress and can’t wait to bring Sea Beasts to life and share the journey with you. 🥳
Late Pledge is Officially Open! 🌊
If you missed out on pledging during the Kickstarter campaign, don’t fret! We’ve just opened Late Pledge access for anyone who wants to secure their copy of Sea Beasts before it ships next year. You can Late Pledge through Kickstarter here!
Note: This is separate from the Pledge Manager! The Pledge Manager will open early next year, allowing you to finalize your order. This takes some time to set up on our end, so we'll be sure to share another update once we start sending out invites to everyone.
The final beast has emerged for our latest New Beast poll!
⚡️ Multi Headed Hydra-Electric Eel! ($625k Stretch Goal Vote)
Lightning strikes before you, but not from the stormy skies above. Slippery black eel heads emerge from the surface, their eyes pulsing with bright, fiery energy as they hiss at your ship. Your sword hums and your hair begins to rise, floating as if you were submerged beneath the waves. You count your remaining arrows, measuring them against the number of heads you must face. You’re running short and dread that this beast may be your end.
Development Update 📝
Since the campaign closed, we’ve dove headfirst into development, and here’s what we’ve been working on:
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Attended PAXU, meeting with various partners, including manufacturers, to review prototypes and discuss our vision for Sea Beasts and its final production.
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Submitted miniatures files for manufacturing, with the two stretch goal minis currently in active development.
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Hired a rulebook designer/editor and conducted an in-person review of the game together.
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Began designing new beasts and companions, started internal testing, and submitted the final art list to Cory.
We’re thrilled with the progress so far and can’t wait to share more updates soon!
Thank you so much for your incredible support and for making this campaign such a wonderful experience! We hope you enjoyed being part of the process and helping shape the final elements of the game, including new beasts, companions, maps, and more. We can’t wait to get Sea Beasts onto your table!
You can expect monthly updates from us as we race to bring Sea Beasts to life and into your hands. ☺️
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season! 🎄
-Aaron Smith
Found & Creator
Littlest Lantern
Final Hours Before We Set Sail! (New Cover + New Add Ons + Stretch Goals)
over 1 year ago
– Thu, Dec 05, 2024 at 02:01:36 PM
The ship is loaded to the brim with precious cargo, the horizon beckons before us, and it’s time to unfurl the sails...
We just reached $600,000!!!!
Now, it wouldn’t be a proper final day of Kickstarter without an exciting surprise to share...
Heroic Box Art 🎨
BEHOLD!!! The final art for the Heroic Box has arrived—and it just might be the most SEA BEASTS illustration yet! Cory literally finished this masterpiece today, so be sure to give him a shout and raise your cup of mjöðr (mead) in celebration! 🎉🍻
New Add-Ons! 🎁
-Neoprene Mat (Heroic Game Art) (20% OFF MSRP)
This new Heroic Box art is too stunning to stay on just one box... so we’re adding a Neoprene Mat featuring it! 🎉
While this mat isn’t specific to gameplay, it’s perfect for rolling those chunky dice or serving as a stylish backdrop for your Viking player boards.
Many of you have asked about group pledges to help for gifts or shared shipping costs, so we’ve added each pledge type (Basic, Heroic, Legendary) to the add-ons page! Now you can grab those before the price increases!
Pledge Manager
Just a quick reminder that we’re planning to open the Pledge Manager in the new year! We’ll keep you updated on the exact date it will open so you can finalize your shipping info and add any last-minute add-ons. Plus, we might have a few exciting new surprises waiting for you in there too. 😉
This is your LAST CHANCE to grab these Kickstarter-exclusive discounts (25-30% OFF) on all pledges and add-ons! Be sure to add anything you want before we close tonight!
The votes are in for our latest new beast poll!
🦐 Giant Mantis Shrimp! ($525k Stretch Goal Vote)
A horrific sight emerges from the shallows, and you’re headed straight for it! Its claws crack like Thor's thunder as they swing at your ship’s prow, snapping it like dry straw and drastically slowing your speed. Now you must decide: will you focus on hastily repairing and sailing away, or test if this beast’s belly bleeds?
VOTE Now for 1 New Beast! 🗳️
We're on the verge of hitting our next Stretch Goal, and we’re wasting no time getting a new beast voted in! This time, we’re bringing back all of our top-voted beasts that came close to surfacing!
Here are the next write in creations from our community that we selected for our $625k stretch goal! Vote for your favorite one by commenting with the letter in the comments below!
A: 🌋 Abyssal Lava Monstrosity (write in from @bayawak3)
B: 🪱 The Bobbit Worm (write in from @Topholm, @Steve[Co-op Guild])
C: 🦪 The Stalking Clam and its black pearl (Write in from @Hush)
D: ⚡️ Multi Headed Hydra-Electric Eel (write in from @Chris)
E: 🐉 Wyvern/Dragon (write in from @Asher & @Nathan Gerber)
Thank you all for an incredible campaign!! Now let’s slay some beasts—err, I mean stretch goals! 🎉💪
-Aaron Smith
Found & Creator
Littlest Lantern
Final Days + New Stretch Goals Revealed + Campaign Spotlight!
over 1 year ago
– Tue, Dec 03, 2024 at 11:16:49 AM
Hail, my fellow Norsemen and shieldmaidens!
We're approaching the final days of this campaign—and what a bloody voyage it has been! THANK YOU to everyone who has joined arms in this fight against these sea beasts. We couldn’t face this battle without YOU!
Now... Lets dive into this update!
New Stretch Goals Revealed!
If you haven’t checked out the final Stretch Goal pages yet, head over to the campaign page now! We have some exciting new goals we’re hoping to unlock in these final days.
Want to help us boost the campaign in these last hours? Simply visiting and sharing the campaign, and leaving a comment can significantly increase our project’s visibility!! 👀
Still watching from port?
If you're unsure about backing now or upgrading your $1 pledge, this is the perfect time to jump in! These discounts won’t be available once the campaign ends!! 🫨
Ooo... The votes are in for our latest new beast poll!
🦀 Decorator Crab! ($475k Stretch Goal Vote)
You stumble upon the wreck of an old ship and prepare to scavenge its remnants. Just below the surface, loose silver glints among the rocks, scattered like an offering. As you debate whether to cast your nets or wade into the shallow waters to claim the treasure, the ship's prow suddenly jolts to life, crashing against your vessel like a crab’s claw. The mangled boat soon begins to scuttle away, carried by a giant crab beneath it. Clouds of sand swirl around its shimmering, carapace-like body as it guards its precious riches.
Will you chase this decorated crab, risking the stalking beasts nearby, or stay the course and spare this mysteriously beautiful creature?
VOTE Now for 1 New Beast! 🗳️
We're on the verge of hitting our next Stretch Goal, and we’re wasting no time getting a new beast voted in! This time, we’re bringing back all of our top-voted beasts that came close to surfacing!
Here are the next write in creations from our community that we selected for our $475k stretch goal! Vote for your favorite one by commenting with the letter in the comments below!
A: 🦐 Giant mantis shrimp (write in from @Rage)
B: 🪱 The Bobbit Worm (write in from @Topholm, @Steve[Co-op Guild])
C: 🦪 The Stalking Clam and its black pearl (Write in from @Hush)
D: ⚡️ Multi Headed Hydra-Electric Eel (write in from @Chris)
Campaign Spotlight
When the Vikings had raided all the known lands, the mightiest warriors desperately sailed beyond the fog to search for new resources but never returned...
Seasons passed, famine loomed, and isolated tribes worked to establish sea trade routes. Yet, their efforts were thwarted by the cursed waters spawning monstrous beasts! Now, merchants seek shield-strong seafarers to protect their ships and slay the beasts! There are few of you, but your bloody voyage is just beginning!
OBJECTIVE
In the Sea Beasts campaign, uncover a light yet immersive narrative as you orchestrate Viking trade routes, supplying each port's outpost with the food and resources needed to survive the harsh winters. Strengthen their structures to withstand storms, grow their populations, and establish new farmlands to help each faction of your tribe recover and increase its fighting strength.
Battling relentless beasts is just one of many challenges, as the gods unleash their wrath through storms and famine. Claim victory by sustaining your tribes for two years or by maximizing the fighting power of all ports!
But beware—if too many of your people starve or your structures fall to ruin, your mission will fail. Even if you succumb to the unforgiving tides of the North, your deeds will echo through eternity, immortalized in songs inspired by the choices you made at every step of your bloody voyage.
Note: This is subject to change as we continue actively playtesting the campaign and finalizing its design.
DEVELOPMENTS & RESOURCES
Each port requires protection, which comes from building new structures, increasing the population, and cultivating crops for harvest. Every season demands a minimum level of resources to sustain life and prevent starvation. Your goal is to ensure each port is well-stocked to maintain and expand all developments.
At the end of each voyage, your crates are converted into valuable resources: tools, grain, and meat. Delivering as many crates as possible is vital and sinking is not an option! Losing your cargo or sinking would leave your tribes without the resources they need to survive, and with only ten merchant ships remaining, every voyage is crucial.
Note: This is subject to change as we continue actively playtesting the campaign and finalizing its design.
In similar importance, Runestones that are unlocked during your voyage and delivered to port will turn into RuneStone Monuments that tell of your great tales, strengthening your tribes moral and warding off the evil spirits. 
SONG OF SKALDS (STORY)
These Song of Skalds cards drive the story, painting a vast and immersive world beyond what illustrations alone can convey. You will unravel each Viking's tale in parallel, as they embark on their own journeys, uncover mysteries, and achieve great feats. The choices you make and your performance at sea will directly shape the final outcome of each character’s story. Fate is not as fixed as it may seem, and every decision matters.
Whenever there is a major development in a Viking's narrative, the Skalds record a song, capturing tales of triumph or woe. These songs will ultimately form a complete Skaldic Saga for each Viking. Similarly, the story of each port unfolds as you develop it, encounter new merchants, farmers, young fighters and other strange new faces.
If you are curious about the Skaldic poetry, we posted all of the core Viking's origin songs on our campaign page under the "Vikings" section!
The Song of Skalds cards aren’t limited to shaping the narratives of the Vikings and Ports. They also introduce unforeseen events, storms, curses, and blessings. If you navigate them wisely, you might uncover new abilities, items, and valuable insights!
We'll share even more details about the campaign as we continue development in the coming months!
Pledge Manager
We’ve decided to move our Pledge Manager into the new year, so there’s no need to worry about finalizing shipping or add-ons right away. Given the season, we felt it was best to postpone opening it. Don’t worry—this won’t affect our overall timeline; it just means you don’t have to finalize your orders shipping immediately!
We're also exploring the possibility of adding some fun new add-ons later. 😉
In the meantime, we plan to open a Late Pledge option, allowing anyone who missed the original campaign to join in. However, this Kickstarter is the LAST CHANCE to take advantage of these amazing discounts on pledges and add-ons! If you want to get Sea Beasts at the best possible price, now is the time to pledge and secure everything you want!
See you on the waves again real soon! And don't forget to tell your friends and family to join this fight as well! ⚔️
SKAL!
-Aaron Smith
Founder & Creator
Littlest Lantern
Happy Thanksgiving! + Artist Spotlight + MORE Stretch Goals!
over 1 year ago
– Thu, Nov 28, 2024 at 10:12:42 AM
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 🦃
We want to start our day by saying how incredibly thankful we are for all of YOU who have joined us on this voyage!
Today, may you all feast with the honor and might of the legendary Jarls you truly are!
With only ONE WEEK left, we’re still blown away by the amazing community and the excitement for SEA BEASTS. Thank you again for your incredible support!
We also want to take a moment to thank and dedicate this update to the incredible artist behind the magic of this game, Cory Godbey! His talent is the driving force bringing these beasts to life. Without him, this project wouldn’t be as dreadfully horrifying or whimsically beautiful as it is.
Scroll down for our Artist Spotlight as we dive into how these Sea Beasts were brought to life!
But first, let’s take a look at the new beasts that have emerged...
🐋 Hafgufa! ($400k Stretch Goal Vote)
You approach what seems to be a cold, barren island, motionless amidst the waves. Your Blood Rage still beats, and your sharpened senses warn you—this is no island. As you steer your boat to navigate around the ominous figure, it suddenly shifts, crashing into the water like a collapsing cliffside! The boat narrowly evades the snap of its massive jaws, but as you glance back, you see pores along its back erupting with a dense mist, shrouding the sky in an inescapable fog and a wretched stench. It summons the Abyss.
VOTE Now for 1 New Beast! 🗳️
We cant believe we just unlocked ANOTHER stretch goal at $475,000!
Here are the next write in creations from our community that we selected for our $475k stretch goal! Vote for your favorite one by commenting with the letter in the comments below!
A: 🌊 Sea Giant (write in from @Stehfern)
B: 🦀 Decorator Crab Salvager of the Seas/Treasures on its back (Write in from @Dylan)
C: ⚡️ Multi Headed Hydra-Electric Eel (write in from @Chris)
D: 🦐 Giant mantis shrimp (write in from @Rage)
Artist Spotlight - Cory Godbey! 🎨
We are truly honored to have Cory Godbey aboard with Littlest Lantern, bringing Sea Beasts to life through his breathtaking illustrations! Cory’s work and talent spans a variety of creative industries, including film, books, comics, and tabletop games, earning him countless awards and nominations along the way! Recently, we’ve admired his work on major TCGs like Magic: The Gathering and Disney’s Lorcana. That said, we might be a bit biased in believing that his work on Sea Beasts is truly unmatched—and we can’t get enough of it!
To set the tone for the entire project, we decided to begin with developing the Legendary Beasts. Starting with the grittiest and most dreadful monsters felt like the best way to establish the mood, tone, and palette for the game.
For each Legendary Beast, we started with a handful of thumbnail sketches, and every time, Cory delivered more incredible ideas than we could have imagined—sometimes even inspiring the creation of entirely new beasts!
From this first round, you can spy one of the Horrors transformed into its own beast... The Stalking Death.
One thing we absolutely loved about working with Cory was his ability to take our ideas and elevate them beyond anything we imagined, inspiring fresh mechanics and rich, immersive lore to each beast.
Over time, we developed an unexpected synergy between the design and illustration, constantly inspiring and building on each other's work.
For example, when we suggested a 'hammerhead,' Cory delivered two concepts: one as expected and another imbued with lightning! It was a no-brainer... This sparked a completely new design for how the beast would behave, incorporating its electrifying prowess into its mechanics.
FYI... you’d better have some Rune Stones ready if you hope to face this monstrosity!
I’m confident (and incredibly excited) that this wizardry will carry over to the Stretch Goal beasts, and we’re thrilled to include all of you in the process!
We’ll begin illustrating the new beasts you voted for in December, aiming to complete them by the end of February. This is no small task, as we’ve unlocked an incredible amount of new content. Be sure to cheer Cory on in the comments and let him know how thankful you are for his amazing work! 🤗
Now... we're off to cook some turkey and FEAST!
SKAL!
-Aaron Smith
Founder & Creator
Littlest Lantern
