City State of the Invincible Overlord (reprint / revision) Kickstarter - everything was fine until it actually funded.
Lost main author? Check
Maps taking longer to produce than expected? Check
Spent money on add on miniatures before setting aside enough funds to actually produce the funded project and stretch goals? Check! (minis are a money sink - only one man can pull them off successful as part of a non-mini project. He's named below)
Senior generation calling out the younger generation and assigning blame? Check and check.
Spent money on hookers and blow? Er, no. At least, not yet. Give it time. Wait, project is in the red. Do they take credit? Edit - direct reference to a statement made by Tavis Allison in regards to the Dwimmermount fiasco. Said in jest then, said in jest now. Just adding context for those who might need it.
I've seen melt downs on Kickstarters before, but I'm ready to wash my hands of this one.
As of February 2015, it was already potentially 12k in the RED. Shipping has only gone up I'm sure. And why does anyone except for +Zach Glazar include minis with their Kickstarter? It's insane!
Then there was Bob II and his quasi public posting last week criticizing Bob III.
Out of context? That's what they say. It's also a severe case of hoping that folks understand that Goodman Games is running the current reprint Kickstarter for Judges Guild, not Judges Guild themselves. BTW, from what I've been told the Bledsaws are fine folk. It's just that Kickstarter is a dangerous mistress that can turn on one without warning. Boon and curse, it's all one and the same. Sometimes you need money just to lose it.
Goal was $28k. Over $85k was raised. If they'd raised less money, maybe the amount of red would have been less.
If People would make the money work instead of spending it by using it to secure bridge funding from a bank this wouldn't happen. Just wonder how this year is going to pan out with unfulfilled KS for the Tabletop community.
ReplyDeleteI backed this one, I have NO idea why, I guess it looked good at the time. But I'm so done with any kickstarter not run by +Kevin Crawford
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what somebody can accomplish when they actually run their business like it's supposed to be run.
DeleteGoodman Games is trust worthy to me. I am leery of any Kickstarter that has ambitious stretch goals. It's quicksand too much of the time
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those I am disappointed it hasn't worked out. Frick'n minis!
ReplyDeleteKevin Crawford, Goodman Games, Venger Satanis, and Peter Regan all do outstanding jobs with their projects. James Raggi, Autarch, and Troll Lord Games have also always come through, if a bit late.
ReplyDeleteThere's no mystery to running a Kickstarter. It just requires treating it like a business.
Dwarven Forge has been amazing with their KS projects... and arguably, their costs have been the ones that need the closest controls since their stretch goals are always physical additions to the sets. Stefen Pokorny is not only a brilliant artist, but damn good with the numbers, too.
DeleteNot to mention Reaper...
DeleteThe lack of accountability here is the problem. They basically refuse to admit they messed up and they are too defensive.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what you mean. We've admitted our mess ups several times and have been transparent in doing so.
DeleteIs there any plan on actually get all maps done? I liked the project mostly for thoses to be honest.
DeleteBacked 2 KS from monte cook games and one from goodman so far. Those I can vouch for.
ReplyDeleteMonte Cook's Kickstarters have been nothing but stellar (the content may not be for everyone, but the Kickstarters have been great), agreed. When the worst you can say is that the text is a bit hard to read because of the background, thats hardly a failure.
DeleteBacked 2 KS from monte cook games and one from goodman so far. Those I can vouch for.
ReplyDeleteHow old is this project? Dave Arneson hasn't been in any shape to endorse anything in a while....
ReplyDeleteThe Dave Arneson endorsement comes from the original cover of the City State which was used as the original KS graphic.
Delete$2,000 per map just for the art? That's crazy!
ReplyDeleteI should revise my rates.
ReplyDelete