Hi Jopery,
Thanks for reaching out! I’ve received similar feedback from others on Discord, so I’m happy to explain how the pricing worked out. First I want to acknowledge that it seems unfair, and I apologize for the lack of clarity. This was my first time crowdfunding a project, I’ve learned a lot, and I appreciate your patience.
Originally, the atlas was conceived in three volumes since it was a significant time commitment (50+ hours of work per volume). There were going to be 4 releases at $5 each for early backers: volume 1, 2, 3, and the omnibus (the full atlas in a single volume). My original reason for waiting on the omnibus was the added complexity and content of renumbering all the pages and minimaps, adding the Oracle of Contents, and reformatting source files for inclusion. By the time I started work on volume 3, my workflow had improved and I realized I would be able to finish it before the end of the year. In my excitement, I decided to pivot and make the push, do the extra work, and release the full atlas (skipping volume 3 as a standalone release).
Because of the extra work and content involved in finishing the omnibus, I charged $10 for early backers (vol 3 + omnibus), since they were originally planned to be $5 each. However, as you pointed out, I didn’t realize at the time that meant my early supporters would end up contributing a few dollars more than latecomers. Others pointed this out to me, but by then it was too late to correct the error without making more of a mess.
Like I said, I’ve learned a lot from the process and will certainly have more foresight going forward — but I still want to make good in the meantime. As a volume 1 supporter, you should have received an email today with a discount code allowing you to purchase a copy of the Print on Demand version at cost, meaning I make no profit on the sale and the PDF version is included for free.
The Atlas wouldn’t exist without you, and I am sincerely grateful for your support and understanding. Please let me know if you run into any trouble with the discount code or have any further questions.
Warmly, Jade Ravens