Kickstarter Bloatware

[CleverNickName]

Some of that stuff is quite collectable. If you backed the Legend of Vox Machina Kickstarter at a certain pledge level, you might be surprised to know how much that stuffed bear, the dice, and the letter openers are going for on eBay right now.

Shiny, indeed.

But yeah, that's one Kickstarter out of many. Like I said earlier, if I only want the book and the PDFs (which is most often the case), I'll back it at the lowest tier and then buy the parts I want as add-ons at the end of the crowdfunding campaign.

 

[Aldarc]

I have two 50 gallon tubs of this junk now. It is getting over the top. I’d rather they add chapters or additional books.

If it was relegated to add-ons, then great but I often am forced to take it to get the books I want.

I find it frustrating and I have started avoiding the projects with bloat or opting for just the PDF to avoid getting things that cannot be used.

What Kickstarters do you have in mind because I don't share your problem? I don't have 50 gallon tubs of junk. I usually have box sets with added value on my shelves.

 

[Belen]

I’ve not really come across Kickstarters which force me to get the extra stuff. They’re usually add-ons. I’ve always had an option to get just the book, to my recollection. I certainly don’t have multi-gallon tubs of extraneous stuff. That sounds… unfortunate.

There are a lot of KS campaigns that add more books to higher tiers that force bloat into those tiers if you want the added books.

 

[Belen]

What Kickstarters do you have in mind because I don't share your problem? I don't have 50 gallon tubs of junk. I usually have box sets with added value on my shelves.

I have backed over 200. I would have to go through the tubs to try and match the junk to the KS.

 

[Aldarc]

I have backed over 200. I would have to go through the tubs to try and match the junk to the KS.

I was not asking you to name them all. I was curious which ones you had in mind.

FWIW, I have back around 85 pledges (on KS and BK), which is still a hefty amount IMHO. Maybe the solution is to be more selective about what you back?

 

[Simon The Hunter]

My only beef is when the extra bits halt delivery of the core stuff. I've heard of KS's that have been put on hold because certain addons were not able to be made in time and the creators have held everything back until they get all the stuff to dispatch everything at once, which I understand from a postage cost POV, but what about those folks that didn't order or want any of that stuff?

 

[sevenbastard]

Im with the orginal poster, free stickers, patches, post cards, ect dont add value to me and then when they show up I throw them in a drawer or something. Dice as an add on sure, but when my book comes with tcotskis im just ugh more plastic junk.

Its not a flashy option, but maybe use those funds to pay an extra editor or something.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Some of that stuff is quite collectable. If you backed the Legend of Vox Machina Kickstarter at a certain pledge level, you might be surprised to know how much that stuffed bear, the dice, and the letter openers are going for on eBay right now.

I have broken apart some of the bundled stuff I've gotten on Kickstarter and sold the stuff I didn't want and came close to breaking even while keeping the stuff I did want. Obviously, this won't work every time, but yeah, some of that stuff has an eager audience.

 

[Cergorach]

...free stickers, patches, post cards, ect dont add value to me...

Depends on the patches, I spend WAY too much money on the Battletech patches, pins, and dice sets.

Stickers and post cards are generally very cheap and easy to produce and won't delay the KS delivery much or at all. It still gives the feeling to most people that they are getting 'more' for their money. Patches on the other hand aren't cheap.

But in that same vain, some people don't want physical books (anymore), most KS offer options for pdf only, others don't.

As always: If you think it's not a good deal, don't back! I've done this before. For the Batman RPG for example, no pdf only option, so no backy, backy...

 

[aramis erak]

If you're backing enough to have a crate full of swag, have you considered that the issue is you're backing too many things? And at too high a level?

My "unwanted" stuff? The Weyland-Yutani dice bag (it's too stiff to close) and a ship patch, plus the patch from SG1.

I like the dice every time - dice goblining is a thing I do.