An Update on International Shipping And Print on Demand
Greetings gamers, in light of more uncertainty in regards to international shipping, I wanted to take some time today to give you an update on what I've been doing behind the scenes to get my books into your hands as easily as possible!
Note: This article has been updates as of July 1st 2026 to reflect the most up to date information.
Ending International Shipping: TLDR
Beginning July 1st 2026 I will no longer be offering international shipping on products sold through the Icarus Games web-store.
International customers will still be able to pick up my physical books via Print on Demand through DrivethurRPG and Amazon (Linked below).
Background
Over the last year, international shipping has been a mess. Between multiple changes to Tariffs to the US, and now the new customs fees being introduced in the EU, it's becoming increasingly complex to send items internationally.
As an independent UK publisher, I have been working on ways to get physical books into your hands as simply and easy as possible.
Postage Cost Changes
Beginning July 1st, postage costs to the EU have increased to account for the new customs fees.
While in theory the effect of this should have been minimal as the actual charge is only €3 per item tarrif code, in reality it meant that the postage costs for sending a book to Germany, for example, rose by almost 150% compared to a month before.
This is because Royal Mail handles the process and adds their own fees and surcharges on top of the new €3, and there has been a general price increase at Royal Mail as well.
International Customers & The Future
It doesn't seem like international shipping is going to become less complicated as time goes on, so I have made the difficult decision to end international shipping on the Icarus Webstore effective immediately.
I can't in good conscience ask customers to pay close to half the cost of the books in postage and fees. Plus the additional work required to update and maintain pricing for all the different regions is too high compared to the volume of physical international sales I get.
Fortunately, I have spent several months at the start of the year preparing for this, and now have multiple Print on Demand options available for international customers.
DrivethruRPG
First up, I'm pleased to say SIDEQUEST Year 3 is now available as a print on demand book from DrivethruRPG, joining annual years 1 and year 2.
The DTRPG versions of the books are identical in terms of content, but don't have the same high quality features as versions purchased directly from icarus-games.co.uk. DTRPG's print on demand uses a different paper stock which results in less brilliant and vibrant colors, and you don't get the colored end pages or bookmark ribbon.
The above images show a DTRPG copy of SIDEQUEST Year 3. You can see that compared to other print sources, DTRPG books have colors which are less vibrant, especially the blue tones and darks/black tones.
However, DTRPG is a fantastic affordable option, especially for folks outside the UK as depending on where in the world you are you may be able to get your copy printed and sent to you with local shipping fees and no tariffs.
Amazon
I have also launched all three books on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.
Annual 1
Annual 2
Annual 3
In terms of quality, KDP is a little more vibrant in its colors than DTRPG, though not as vibrant as books ordered directly.
The main benefit of purchasing from Amazon is its ubiquity. If you live in a region where DTRPG isn't available or convenient, there's a good chance you'll be able to get one of my books via amazon. Again, this helps international customers avoid overseas shipping fees and potential tariffs.
Direct From Icarus Games
The versions of the books available from the Icarus Games website are identical to the copies which go out to kickstarter backers, and they represent the best possible quality versions of the books you can get.
They are printed with Mixam here in the UK and are printed on silk paper, which gives the colors throughout a rich vibrancy which really makes them pop.
The versions available direct from the Icarus website feature the richest colors and deepest shadows. You can also see that the printing is smoother thanks to the silk paper, so the color images appear higher quality in general.
They also have a ribbon bookmark which is useful for marking your favourite monster or issue, and often feature a head and tail band, which is a decorative piece of twine found on the top and bottom of hardcover book spines.
Which Version Is Right For You?
So, which version of my books is right for you?
if you're a UK-based customer, ordering direct from Icarus-games.co.uk will give you the best quality product possible, and you'll also get free shipping on your order if its over £30.
If you're an international customer who has access to DTRPG's print on demand, that will give you the best value physical copy. If you don't have access to DTRPG print on demand where you are, check out Amazon which should be more widely available.
| Book Source | Key Features | Recommend For |
| Icarus Website |
• Silk paper - very rich colors. |
UK Customers |
| DrivethruRPG | • Lowest price. • Uncoated paper - less vibrant colors. |
International Customers Where Available |
| Amazon | • Uncoated paper - medium richness color. • Head & tail band. |
International Customers Where DTRPG isn't Available |
Planning For The Future
Looking to the future I want to make sure all my products can get into the hands of as many people as possible.
After much consideration I think the best way to achieve that is use DrivethruRPG's print codes for my next physical kickstarter project. This will allow backers to order the books at cost when they are ready and allow us to bypass the costs of international shipping and tariffs completely, saving money for everyone.
My next print project will be much smaller in scale and scope than the SIDEQUEST annuals, so a perfect test for this approach to printing.
My hope is that it will result in lower costs and shorter wait times for backers, and allow me to produce more frequent content as I'm not spending as much of my time dealing with bulk logistics for these projects.
As always, if you have any questions let me know down in the comments!
Much love
Anto
