What Makes You Back a Kickstarter?

[Doug ex-em4]

I recently asked here about preferences for features on plastic figures - specifically single or multi-part
https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=116926.0

I found the answers very useful and it changed the plans for the proposed project. Encouraged by this, I now pose the next question: What persuades you that a Kickstarter is for you? Obviously (I guess?) the product is the primary concern - what I’m thinking of is more to do with the nature of the campaign itself.

Personally, I find many campaigns just to damn complicated - the plethora of Stretch Goals, Pledges, Rewards, Add-ons etc etc makes my head spin. My thought for our upcoming KS (which is a very modest one) would be to keep it really simple with enticements being limited to maybe two special items and reduced prices for the actual product for backers.

However, maybe all the extra stuff is what encourages backers - I really don’t know. So my question can be boiled down to:

Kickstarter - simple with all focus on the product (in this case, a sprue of plastic fantasy figures at a very competitive price)
 or
                - complex with loads of extras, stretch goals, add-ons etc

All input welcome

Doug

[Mick_in_Switzerland]

The core product has to be outstanding and something that I am already interested in. 

Stretch goals that are relevant are very interesting (e.g. more pages in a book).

If you did, say an Orc fantasy army, the core would be basic infantry.

Good stretch goals would be extra head choices, arm, weapon and shield variants.

Good add ons would be command, standard bearers, musicians, casualties and quirky "bystander" figures.

A cavalry option would be a good stretch goal as an add on sale.

When I first backed Kickstarters, I was interested in the options but as I look back, I have not actually bought many.

[lethallee61]

These days, the two most crucial things for me are:

A - is it a genre I’m very interested in?

I can no longer afford to buy into something that is never going to get used, so I’m always going to favour products that support/enhance a genre/period I’m already interested/invested in.

B - how long will I have to wait to get the final product?

If I have to wait more than a few months for the final product, then I won’t back it. A lot can happen in a year (for example) so I can’t be bothered backing anything that far in advance.

The best recent example I can think of is the Warbases Chinese buildings Kickstarter - perfect subject for my current interests, great achievable bonuses, affordable buy-in and, as the products had already been completely designed - all goodies received within 2 months of Kickstarter finishing.

Keep it simple and affordable and delivery targets will be much easier to achieve, keeping your backers happy.

[beefcake]

It used to be that it was shiny and I'd back it.
Now that the lustre of kickstarter has subsided for me I really am after something that fits what I want, will be realistically fulfilled within the year but the sooner the better (as I'm a butterfly when it comes to miniatures) and is a better deal than purchasing retail. It is a risk after all so there has to be some pay off.

[Tom Reed]

Is it something that will add to what I already have.
If it is a different genre is it small enough that I could find room for it.
How long do I have to wait for it. If it is several months to a year away I usually say no.

[zemjw]

Pretty much the same as everyone else

Presentation is important. There was one I was looking at recently that I didn't really understand what it was offering, even after reading through it a couple of times.

Clearly distinguish add ons from stretch goals. Quite a few recently have been a tiny kickstarter fronting multiple add ons.

Delivery times, although I will wait if I really want the product. I have a couple on the go just now that aren't due to send the stuff until the start of next year.

Figure wise, something that complements stuff I already have, but ideally doesn't duplicate it too much

[Belligerentparrot]

Having backed, and then been intensely annoyed by, a couple in the early days, the *only* thing that would make me back a KS these days are the words:

"The miniatures are sculpted, we are just using the kickstarter to cover the casting etc" (or words to that effect).

I don't consider it worth the hassle otherwise: too many "unforseen" issues (some genuine, some should-have-been-seen issues) causing delays on kickstarters for products that don't exist in any tangible way at point of launch.

Good examples: Annie's Ghosts of Gaia campaigns (backed, v. happy with) and Meridian's Blanchitsu-style pilgrims (not backed as didn't see it in time).

[FramFramson]

All other considerations aside, I won't touch a Kickstarter which doesn't have a strong, reliable company with a good track record of delivered products (especially completed Kickstarters) behind it, unless the offering is very small (and thus low-risk). Even for small ones, the sculpts need to be finished already and photos available... at least the core ones - it's okay if a few stretch goals have not been sculpted yet.

Otherwise I wait for retail. Most of the time I'll have lost interest by then anyway.

[digid]

I will not back any kickstarter the does not deliver in about 90 days after the kickstarter ends. If its going to be a year, then I will wait until they are available at retail, and if I am still interested then I will purchase it. In all honesty I can usually get them for less through a discounting retailer or sale, than offered on a kickstarter anyway.
Nothing that is offered as a kickstarter only item has been worth it. I have a few kickstarters that I backed that took a year to get that are still in the box, as I moved on to something else before they got here. So even if I saved a bit on the kickstarter on 1 item overall its not been any saving to me to use kickstarter.

The other think I hate is when a company offers a kickstarter that only runs for 1 week. There have been some I would have backed, but missed as I did not know about them. But again can always buy at retail afterwords.

[Cat]

Simple and finite ones provide the best likelihood of timely fulfillment and I prefer them. 

Stretch goals work when they genuinely need a certain extra level of funding to support *and* when the all of the extra development/sculpting/production time has been calculated into the project before it ever launched.  Otherwise, they guarantee delays.

[Manchu]

For me, there are three elements:

- the product must be something I am already really interested in (gone are the days when I’d back outside of my usual wheelhouse); this can be broad — the categories of “miniatures” or “miniatures games” can sometimes be enough although “miniatures or a game focused on one of my favorite genres” is my usual standard (still quite broad)

- I have to have a pretty strong sense that the product will actually be delivered and as close to the stated time as possible ... I’d rather see a relatively simple project estimated at a year, even if that seems like hyperbole, than a complicated one estimated at a year (never long enough) because the former indicates the creator is serious about managing backer expectations BEFORE the (inevitable) troubles arise, as opposed to only thinking about that when the problems begin

- there needs to be some kind of value over and above what a reasonable price for the product might be at retail ... I mean, this is a real non-negotiable for me — why else would I give money to a stranger on the mere promise of eventually getting a “reward” in return, at some point, maybe? for a smaller company, the “over and above” element might simply be that the product cannot come to market elsewise; for a larger company (which still aren’t very large when it comes to companies making miniatures) there should be backer exclusives and discount pricing

These are inclusive. Any one of these elements missing amounts to me giving the KS a pass.

[dadlamassu]

I have only backed one kickstarter.  I liked the concept and the figures so I gave it a try with a fairly small pledge that I could afford to lose. 
The "stretch goals" and add ons were of limited interest and just complicated things.
Then there were interminable problems with sculpting, production and communication.
About a year after the kickstarter closed a box of figures arrived.  Unfortunately by this time the need for the figures had passed and substitutes were already in use.

Other issues were that the stretch goals provided "free" included cavalry figures but they were one piece castings - that to me back to the 60's!  But it made them useless for our games as role play figures need to dismount so steed, rider and dismounted version are needed as separate castings.
The figures were very nice but very fragile resin and provided with separate weapons that were easily broken.

I am unikely to back a kickstarter unless:
1. the product fits with a current or planned project
2. the figures need to be metal or plastic (definitely not resin), buildings can be resin, 3d printed etc but I am not a fan of laser cut mdf.
3. mounted figures need to be separate from their steed and have a dismounted version
4. they need to be robust enough for my grandchildren to use, drop and survive handling
5. they have to arrive on time
6. the figures are of similar size to the figures that I already have (so a comparison picture alongside leading/popular ranges is essential)
7. stretch goals have to relevant
8. the range needs to be complete - ordinary troops, unit command and a few characters as basic, stretch covers higher command, specialists, support weapons/teams.  Purchase items should be the more unusual or esoteric models. 

My experience has not been good so backing another is unlikely.

[Malebolgia]

When I pledge:

1. Does it add to my current gaming interests. For example, I backed the Lichmyre Dungeon Kickstarter to get some individual miniatures to add to my Frostgrave games. I did the same with Midlam Games and Tre Manor's projects.

2. Does it offer something new I don't have but I will like? I backed Tiny Epic Galaxies, Deep Space D6 and Ironclad for these reasons and I'm still glad I did! I would have never heard of these games if it weren't for Kickstarter and they are great additions to my collection.

3. Price! There are SO many Kickstarters nowadays that I am very critical of what to back and what not. I see a lot of excellent games, but with starting pledges over $100. That's a lot and often adds tons of cardboard and plastic to my overfilled collection. So I now tend to back smaller niche projects.

4. Not too many cheap stretch goals. These are often a sign of coming trouble. Lots and lots of stretch goals usually adds a TON of extra work and cost for the manufacturer and many will arrive 1+ year late. Take a look at Siege of the Citadel...it's running 2 years late and the project management is a real mess.

5. Realistic delivery dates. I'd rather have a delivery date in a year which might seem long than a delivery date of 3 months which seems ambitious. It's better to deliver early (like Pulp Alley ) than projects delivering late.

6. Clear information and images. The project page needs to be really clear in what you will receive for which pledge. I'd rather have good textx or informative images than eye candy.

7. Style and theme. I've backed several projects purely based on looks (Ironclad, The Faceless, Human Interface: Nakamura Tower). And honestly, I've never been let down by what I received .

8. Can it be played solo? I have found out I really enjoy solo gaming as it can be hard to meet up with a friend now and then. Solo games let me play what I really want to play.

[fred]

Interesting question. And it has made me think about what I do now, and what I used to do.

In the past I have backed a few big Kickstarters, that had great campaigns, that were very successful, and delivered lots of stuff, but often a year or more after the campaign. Then that stuff that seemed so relevant at the time of purchase has largely sat in its box for last few years.

Most campaigns I now back are for 10mm figures, and these are usually very low key, and I often feel that backing them is as much about supporting my niche of the hobby as anything else, (as well as getting new toys). As I feel that if new manufacturers aren’t supported then the little niche I care about might disappear. All of these have delivered. And most have delivered pretty quickly, with some really nice figures.

One of the strangest I back recently was for the Terraforming Mars expansion. This was immensely successful, several million dollars I think. But the campaign was odd. It was basically a small expansion for the game, with some interesting bits included. There were notionally some stretch goals, but these felt really minor compared to the funding, and very pre-programmed. At first I wasn’t sure about backing, then a mate pointed out that within the KS as well as the expansion (which was interesting) you got doubled side boards for the base game, that really help keep all your cubes in place, and to get from a third party cost as much as the whole KS. I think this campaign is an outlier, as there is a huge base for the game, which drove the success, but it felt like a purchase not a KS. And there were a lot of comments on the KS about the lack of interaction from the makers.

[mcfonz]

I'm quite critical of kickstarters these days and tend to go over them with a fine tooth-comb.

Primarily the product at hand is paramount to the campaign.

Stretchgoals - don't be fooled or get carried away.
Some campaigns offer more than they can feasibly deliver and end up taking much longer or tanking as a result.

In other instances they are a bit of a con. I've seen kickstarters where the stretch goals are actually required to make the game / models or whatever complete. So in other words it seems a bit like a dodgy discount, you're getting it for free but you need it. A bit like being told if ten cars sell from that salesroom this week they all come with free tyres...

My advice is do what you want to do. Offer what you feasibly can. Don't get distracted by the campaigns that throw 'free' stuff in. When you look at them in more detail they tend to be duplicates of cheaply produced items. Like more minion type models in two poses made from boardgame pvc.

I'd much rather see people focus more on the quality of the product the kickstarter is there to produce.

So decent ones I have seen have introduce new poses rather than more models. So group of minions might have 2 poses and 10 models. The stretch goal might introduce another pose or 2.