Kickstarter musings

[Morrus]

I've backed 49 Kickstarters. I'm no Superbacker, but I've backed my share. I've also created 26 Kickstarters. With that in mind, here are some of my personal observations. Your mileage may - and almost certainly will - vary, and you're more than welcome to offer your own perspectives. The below applies only to me personally.

1. I'm more likely to buy core game than a supplement.
2. I’ve been pretty happy with those I’ve backed. I don’t think I’ve backed any non-fulfilled campaigns.
3. I’ve only backed on Kickstarter. I haven’t backed on any other crowdfunding platforms.
4. I have never read a Kickstarter update of a campaign I wasn't already backing, and I have never backed a Kickstarter based on an update.
5. I have never backed a Kickstarter based on a stretch goal.
6. I don't back Kickstarters which offer a coupon to buy a book at cost from DTRPG.
7. Fancy production values totally sell me. If it looks pretty or striking, I'll probably back it!
8. I've never bought an add-on.
9. I like high concept stuff.
10. I don't need to be kept constantly updated about production (but if it's delayed for a good reason, please tell me).
11. I'm not interested in plushies, pins, and other trinkets.
12. Titles are important.
13. More may follow if I think of them.

What are your Kickstarter rules?

 

[ninjayeti]

I could care less that a Kickstarter was "FUNDED IN 17 MINUTES!!!!!!!!!" Cool, they I guess you don't need my pledge.

 

[CleverNickName]

I love me some Kickstarter.

I've never created a Kickstarter of my own, but I've backed 51 of them (and all but 3 of them were for RPGs and RPG-related products). I've had some really good experiences, and I've had some really bad ones. I like to think that I've gotten pretty good at spotting the difference between the two before pledging.

Before I decide to back a Kickstarter, I will read through the Comments, the FAQ, and the Updates pages to get a feel for how proactive and engaged the creators are. If they ignore (or worse, dodge) questions that backers are asking in the Comments or Updates, for example, it's probably not going to be a good experience for me when it comes to the fulfilment stage. But if the creators are regularly updating everyone, and doing their best to answer questions, and are being very patient with folks who ask the same question over and again, it's probably going to be a good experience for all involved.

Things that might convince me to back a Kickstarter: a reasonable pledge level ($20 for a PDF, $30 for a softcover book, and $50 for a hardcover book, for example). The words "...and all physical rewards!" in the pledge tier description. Good artwork. A company I recognize and respect. A diverse, inclusive team.

Things that won't help me decide: "FULLY FUNDED IN XX HOURS!!!" Dozens and dozens of stretch goals. Digital stretch goals. "5E Compatible!" (Not that I don't play 5E...I play the crap out of it...I just mean that it's not a requirement for me to back an RPG project.)

Once I've decided to back a Kickstarter, the stretch goals will usually determine what pledge level I will choose. If there are some interesting physical rewards, I'll throw in a few extra bucks to get my favorites of those. But if the physical pickings are slim, or if there is an option to add them on later, piecemeal via Backerkit or something? I'll pledge at the lowest possible tier.

And once I've pledged a Kickstarter, I'm a friggin' cheerleader. I'll watch it like a hawk, I'll track the Kickstarter stretch goals, I'll post about it on social media, I'll forward the link to my friends, I'll post questions and comments on the Kickstarter page, you name it.

When the product is finally delivered, I immediately share it with my friends, display it prominently on my shelf, and carry the custom dice and dice bag to my gaming sessions (there are always custom dice and dice bags). "Gosh CleverNickName, where did you get those fancy dice?" everyone will ask, and I'll say "I'm so glad you asked!" and show them my fancy boxed set with cloth maps and cards and stuffed animals and prosthetic Hobbit feet. Because I'm a huge dork.

But woe betide the Kickstarter that fails to deliver the goods. It's only happened twice, and...well. Let's just say that I'm the complete opposite of a "cheerleader" when that happens.

 

[Morrus]

I could care less that a Kickstarter was "FUNDED IN 17 MINUTES!!!!!!!!!" Cool, they I guess you don't need my pledge.

I don't pledge because I think they need my pledge, I pledge if I want the product. You're far more charitably minded than me!

 

[Grendel_Khan]

My rules for TTRPG Kickstarters (so far):

1. Unless it's system-neutral I need to see some game mechanics.
2. Unlike Morrus I'm often sold on a project by an update (if it lays out cool mechanics, for example).
3. Stretch goals are a big deal to me (much as I hate to admit it).
4. But if most of the stretch goals are just unlocking add-ons, that sucks.
5. Even small amounts of additional content as stretch goals are great.
6. I hate the collectible stuff (coins, dice trays, etc.).
7. I usually back digital-only, because of how I play and where I live.
8. But I absolutely appreciate what seems like quality printing options.
9. If a project is selling miniatures I'm usually rooting against it (though that usually means it's getting big numbers)

 

[R_J_K75]

Ive backed maybe 6-8 kickstarters. Personally Im not a big fan of them in general but I understand why things in the RPG industry are trending this way. I have never backed any KS besides a roleplaying book. Im pretty choosey when it comes to backing books and stick to companies Im familiar with as quality is always a concern for me. Its hard to justify paying $75-$150 for a book I'll most likely see no less than a year later. But I can say Im satisfied with the ones I have backed so far.

1. I have never backed a Kickstarter based on a stretch goal.
2. I've never bought an add-on.
3. I don't need to be kept constantly updated about production (but if it's delayed for a good reason, please tell me).
4. I'm not interested in plushies, pins, and other trinkets. If I want a D&D pin I'll back a D&D pin Kickstarter.

1. I dont like stretch goals, Ive never seen one that I was actually excited for and they just seem to drag out the ship date.
2. Never bought an add on either. I generally buy a hard or soft cover copy of a book and maybe the pdf depending on the price. If its another $25-$30 for the pdf thats an easy pass for me.
3. I dont like the constant email updates either because the important stuff like paying for shipping and verifying your address, etc gets lost in all the other unimportant ones. Ive almost missed deadlines because I just got into the habit of disregarding them.
4. Im in the same camp. I dont need any of these extra things. I dont use props much if ever and if it comes with a KS I want and is rolled into the cost, Im out. This is the main reason I dont even consider buying the Beadle & Grimm deluxe editions because they include too much stuff I have no use for.

 

[overgeeked]

Only two, really.

1. Do I want it?
2. Will I actually use it?

 

[R_J_K75]

Only two, really.

1. Do I want it?
2. Will I actually use it?

3. Will it possibly be a collectors item I can sell later for a profit?

 

[Sacrosanct]

1. I don't back Kickstarters which offer a coupon to buy a book at cost from DTRPG.

I went back on forth on this for my own KS, and I decided to go with it for most tiers except special limited ones because
1) it's faster fulfillment to the backer as they input their info directly to DTRPG and get it shipped directly to them
2) it cuts down on shipping costs and times it's been shipped (rather than ship to me, then wait for me to repackage and ship out again to backers)

 

[Morrus]

I went back on forth on this for my own KS, and I decided to go with it for most tiers except special limited ones because
1) it's faster fulfillment to the backer as they input their info directly to DTRPG and get it shipped directly to them
2) it cuts down on shipping costs and times it's been shipped (rather than ship to me, then wait for me to repackage and ship out again to backers)

You don’t have to do all that. You just upload the KS shipping survey spreadsheet to DTRPG, pay the bill, and they send all the PoD books out to your backers. Takes a few minutes.