Hi everybody!
I just wanted to update with some general responses to initial pieces of feedback I've received across different platforms and in the IC Google Form.
DeskmatsI know the deskmats, especially the flaming mouse, won't be to everyone's taste, and that's hopefully okay! I really like cute fairy tale mice, so that's why I made that one! It gives me happy, Tale of Desperaux vibes (another general point of inspiration and fairy tale favorite) so that's why he's there
Also, I didn't realize Bliss had a pink cloud deskmat, so I may drop that one to avoid stepping on toes, and I'll check in with Minterly too. It was inspired by a particular image, and I wanted something lighter to match the pink since the other two were teal, but I certainly don't want to have something too similar to another designer's mat. Mats aren't usually my thing since my desk is too narrow to fit a standard mat, so I'm far more out of the loop regarding what deskmats have been created than keycaps!
Icons, Text, or Both oh my!
So the initial version of this set in my mind had only icons mods to help lighten the serif font, which across an entire board looked rather too formal for a more whimsical set but feel thematically appropriate. And the fact that Misonocons are so lovely made that choice even clearer to me! However, I really wanted to include the R4 text novelties and backspace novelty which then seemed dreadfully out of place on an entirely icon mod set. While I know some people won't like the set as well because of the mixed modifiers, it seemed like the best choice for my vision. Sound off though if this is a major turn off for you.
Colors
Like everything else related to keycaps, this is hugely based on preference, and again, I recognize not everybody will like the colors I selected. The colors come from the two kits' inspirations, and happen to be two of my favorite colors. Coincidence? ...
Still, what better to represent Pirates and adventurers than teal, the color of forests at nighttime and the sea at dusk? And while perhaps a bit cliched, pink for Princesses and fairy tales more broadly seemed entirely fitting. I considered a lavender very early on inspired by the color of Amalthea's dress in The Last Unicorn, but I ended up preferring the pink you see today.
If you aren't a fan of the colors, that's completely okay, but I'll be upfront and say they are very unlikely to change going forward. I've worked with several people revising and confirming the colors, and I feel confident that they match with what I intend the set to look like.
Kits
Because of how ePBT does MOQ, there is a need for one base kit, but there is no MOQ for any of the child kits. Because Pirate, in my initial polling, was more popular than the Princess colorway, that one is the base kit. For those interested in the pink base, the alt alphas and mods should be very similarly priced! This is not confirmed yet, but looking at other ePBT GB pricing, that should be a fair expectation.
I am still seeking feedback about child kits and additional coverage. If you would like to see that please sound off in the Google Form! I'll do my best to accomodate what seems popular per that feedback.
Also, I initially forgot to add the numpad kits! Total face palm. That render was too big to upload to Imgur with the others apparently and therefore never made it into the IC, but rest assured, there is a numpad kit. Two in fact. It has been added! Sorry for any confusion about that!
I want to point out that throughout this, there is a definite "I designed like this because I liked it" vibe, and I want to assure you that that does not mean I am not open to feedback, but also I want to recognize that a lot of the design decisions were made because of my personal taste. Not everybody will like it and I hope that's okay. I understand that, and nobody is any way shape or form obliged to buy or support this set. All I ask for is that understanding in return and you all to continue to provide the polite, constructive critcism that I've been getting! <3