As a Kickstarter supporter of Larain Studios ($100), I can get Dragon Commander free when it's available. The problem is, I'm not sure what it is. The notice here at GOG says one gets a free upgrade to the Imperial Edition if you preorder Dragon Commander. What is the Imperial Edition and do I need it to play Dragon Commander?

Imperial Edition:
Pre-Purchase Dragon Commander now and get a free upgrade to Imperial Edition which includes:
- Digital soundtrack
- Golden Dragon skin
- Dragons on Earth campaign map
- Behind the Scenes documentary

Yes, this is what the blurb here says. The issue is, it says "... upgrade to Imperial Edition ...". What is the Imperial Edition? Do I already have to have (buy?) the Imperial Edition, since it says '... upgrade to ..."?

The version you'll be getting if you pre-order on GOG.com before August 6 now becomes the extended Imperial Edition, which contains the game's additional launch content: a development documentary video, an extra campaign map, an additional golden skin for your Dragon Emperor, and the game's soundtrack. The pre-order period is your chance to grab the game and all of the additional content for just $39.99.

If you decide not to take the pre-order route and get the game after the release for $39.99, you'll still be able to upgrade your version with the aforementioned development documentary video, extra map, golden dragon skin, and game soundtrack via the additional $9.99 "Imperial Edition Upgrade". Yes, this basically means that early adopters receive $9.99 worth of content with their pre-ordered copy, free of charge, thus becoming the owners of the most robust version of the game available on launch day.

I think he will own it through the kickstarter if that makes much difference

Since you own it through the kickstarter you get the Imperial Edition.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/larianstudios/divinity-original-sin/posts/522461

Edit: At least if you choose a Steam key. I assume it's the same if you go with the GOG version.

Thank you all for your replies. I just wanted to make sure that Dragon Commander was a stand alone game and not an add-on to a game I don't have. :)

Codes for people getting this via the D:OS Kickstarter are now available... but mine, at least, is bugged; apparently it expired in July 2014 [sic]. Off to contact Support...

Edit: I wonder whether it failed because it's still the 5th, and there isn't an error message for redeeming too early...

According to the email I got from Larain, the key for GOG won't work until 9:00am Brussel's time on the 6th. Hopefully you will have better luck tomorrow.

Got my GOG key from Kickstarter, waiting for it to be activated. I wonder why the delay.

I'm guessing that's the official release date/time and they don't want it available before that. (I know, GoG won't make it available for download before that point, but whomever set up the key sendout might not have realized that.)

I've successfully redeemed the Kickstarter code for the Imperial Edition 2mins ago, just fyi.

Working now....

...but http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/larianstudios/divinity-original-sin/posts/522461 said backers would be able to upgrade to the Imperial Edition, and the GOG code was for the regular edition. Probably a query for Larian this time...

Is anybody playing it now? How do you get the golden dragon skin? I think I'm missing it somewhere.