Eleven Warriors exists to keep Ohio State fans informed, entertained and gathered in one place without putting our best work behind a paywall.
The 12th Warrior program is how readers who can pitch in help keep that promise alive for everyone.
For $85 a year, 12W members help fund independent, best-in-class Ohio State coverage while keeping Eleven Warriors free for the thousands of Buckeye fans who read every day. This is about supporting a site you love and paying forward for readers who cannot.
12W is not a paywall. The mission is the opposite: make Eleven Warriors better for everybody. But members do get some excellent perks for stepping up.
You get:
- A voucher for $40 off any purchase from Eleven Warriors Dry Goods. Have your eye on a t-shirt? Get that. A hat? It's yours. Some stickers, a flask, and some other things? Treat yourself.
- Early access to new goods before they are promoted in the wild and sell out.
- Access to rare loot, limited-run drops and other member-first surprises when we can get our hands on the good stuff.
- Insider contests built for 12th Warriors, because supporting the site should come with more than a receipt.
- Exclusive experiences and events, including the 12th Warrior Happy Hour, tailgates and other chances to get together away from the comment section and around people who care about the same ridiculous, wonderful thing you do.
- Access to the Premium Lounge forum. Yes, it's real and it's spectacular.
- The pride of knowing you helped make Eleven Warriors the highest-quality destination for Buckeye enthusiasts while keeping it free for people who may never know or be able to personally thank you.
You help fund:
- Keeping the site free for all with no paywall.
- Travel to events not often covered by other media organizations, including the All-American Bowl, the Senior Bowl, the NFL Draft and other stops that matter to Ohio State fans.
- Coverage of Ohio State sports that do not always get the attention they deserve from larger outlets.
- New technology and server capacity for a site that sees massive traffic, especially when football season turns the internet into a stress test.
What happens next:
- Log in or create an 11W account.
- Complete checkout for your annual 12th Warrior membership.
- Your 12W benefits begin right away.
- Your $40 Dry Goods voucher is emailed within days of signing up.
- Your membership renews annually unless you turn off auto-renew from your account page.
Sound good? You might have some questions. We have answers.
How much does it cost to become a 12th Warrior?
12th Warrior runs $85 a year. That's one dollar for every yard of one of the greatest runs you've ever seen in your life.
That's about 23 cents a day for a site staffed by a team that is relentless in bringing fans comprehensive Ohio State coverage, reasoned sports takes and a vibrant community.
Can anyone become a 12th Warrior?
12W candidates must have an 11W account in good standing. Trolls, troublemakers and accounts with a negative helmet sticker balance: we cannot accept your money. Sorry.
How do I get my voucher for $40 off at the store?
Vouchers are automatically emailed to new 12th Warriors within days of signing up. Please make sure the email address tied to your account is current. If you have any issues, reach out to the 12th Warrior Concierge desk at 12thwarrior@elevenwarriors.com.
What kind of member-only stuff should I expect?
12th Warriors get access to the Premium Lounge, early merch opportunities, insider contests, occasional rare loot and member events like the 12th Warrior Happy Hour. Some of those things will be scheduled. Some will appear when opportunity, timing and good fortune align.
What if I want to renew after a year?
No problem, friend. Your account is set up to automatically renew after one year. Don't want to renew? Simply uncheck the auto-renew setting on your account page. There's no phone number to call or email to send because that's annoying.
You'll also receive a new $40 voucher for Eleven Warriors Dry Goods every year when you renew, so your wardrobe can continue its march toward greatness.
Can my 12W membership be terminated without notice or refund?
No. You would get a friendly warning and possibly a second and third chance. There's nothing we hate more than jailing posters. Terminating 12W accounts sounds worse.
We hope that never happens, but 12W does not entitle anyone to sidestep the commenting policy or demonstrate abusive behavior. This site will not get tribal, chippy or degraded.
What about refunds, free trial periods, discounts, etc.?
All sales are final. There will never be a free 12th Warrior trial period and there will never be a discount code. This is a pay-what-you-want website, as long as what you want to pay is $85 or $0. We think that's simpler.
What if I'm unable to become a 12th Warrior?
No problem, friend. Just continue enjoying the free coverage at Eleven Warriors like you currently do. Want to support us in other forms? We appreciate every contribution, whether big or small.
