Miniatureships | 14 Jan 2016 8:38 a.m. PST |
At a convention recently, several dealers were discussing kickstarters. The discussion centered on what compels individuals to back or get involved in a kickstarter. LIST THREE THINGS OR REASONS WHY YOU WOULD BACK A KICKSTARTER. If you don't like kickstarter or would never back a kickstarter, then please save that response for another thread. |
wminsing | 14 Jan 2016 8:45 a.m. PST |
1. Good Company Reputation 2. Good Value for the Money 3. Realistic timelines/goals -Will |
redmist1122 | 14 Jan 2016 8:47 a.m. PST |
Name/status of company – reputable Quality of current products Experience – support them in the past P. |
M C MonkeyDew | 14 Jan 2016 8:56 a.m. PST |
What Will said above with the perhaps obvious caveat that the product itself is something that interests me. Bob |
gunnerphil | 14 Jan 2016 8:58 a.m. PST |
In no order 1 A produce I really want 2 Company reputation or I have dealt with in the past 3 Achievable timeline |
Redcurrant | 14 Jan 2016 9:09 a.m. PST |
Same as what Gunnerphil said, with the addition that the cost is what I am willing to pay. Steve J |
Saber6 | 14 Jan 2016 9:10 a.m. PST |
Agree with Will and the Gunner |
miniMo | 14 Jan 2016 9:11 a.m. PST |
1) Support a small company to launch a new product. 2) Support a new product line to come to fruition with more available options. 3) Secure a good bargain from a larger company. |
dsfrank | 14 Jan 2016 9:24 a.m. PST |
The subject matter of the product is of interest to me (Zombicide) The components sufficiently cool (Mars Attacks) I get a great value for the $ (Incursion) I've backed several kickstarters – only 1 failed to fund – none have failed to deliver (yet) – all have been late, some very late |
Mike Bravo Miniatures | 14 Jan 2016 9:24 a.m. PST |
1) Convenience – the deal will usually offer everything I might want for that army/period. 2) Value – if the deal is cheaper than it would otherwise be on release. 3) Support – if it the product might not get released otherwise. #1 Is quite a big factor. #2 less so. |
79thPA | 14 Jan 2016 9:25 a.m. PST |
I have not backed any. There have not been any I have really been interested in and, for those I looked at, the savings vs. the anticipated retail price was not significant enough for me to jump in as opposed to waiting for the project to get released and reviewed. |
Tgerritsen | 14 Jan 2016 9:42 a.m. PST |
1) Subject Matter Interest 2) Value for Money 3) Realistic Understanding of the Requirements I don't list company reputation because the whole point of Kickstarter is to fund ideas that wouldn't get done otherwise in a traditional manner. I hate that so many companies have ruined Kickstarter by using it as a paid pre-order service. I don't mind risking on a new company if they can demonstrate that they know what they are doing and understand the risks. Very reputable companies have underestimated their kickstarters and had them be late, or incomplete, or both. At the end of the day, though, I know that if I bid on a Kickstarter, it IS a risk. I've been only fully burned by the Up Front Kickstarter, and I knew of the risks going into that one, so I was more hoping that expecting it to be fulfilled. The only one that really made me angry was the Robotech Tactics kickstarter, where they delivered half the promised goods two years late and now we're one year number two for the promised second half of the original product. I've had most of the kickstarters go late. That's pretty par for the course. It's the ones who don't communicate that draw my ire. OGRE was really late, but they were open and communicative the entire time. If I couldn't afford to risk what I put on Kickstarter, I wouldn't risk it. That said, any kickstarter that burns me fully won't get a second chance. |
whitphoto | 14 Jan 2016 9:52 a.m. PST |
A product I'm interested in A price that I find affordable, preferably significantly lower than retail Good previews, if possible something more than 3D renders or drawings. Most importantly my budget at the time. |
chicklewis | 14 Jan 2016 11:23 a.m. PST |
naked desire acquisitiveness "Shiny!" |
Cyrus the Great | 14 Jan 2016 11:55 a.m. PST |
1. A product that I really want. 2. Then I do exhaustive research on the company or individuals offering the kickstarter.* 3. A good value for the money. *Obviously, I couldn't predict the outcome of Architects of War's AQMF. I don't anticipate receiving the third wave anytime in this lifetime! |
wminsing | 14 Jan 2016 12:03 p.m. PST |
I should add that nothing 'compels me' to back any Kickstarter. I walk on many more than I go in on, even if they meet the three criteria AND match my interests. I'm a finicky consumer like that. :) -Will |
DeHewes | 14 Jan 2016 12:07 p.m. PST |
In order of importance, most to least – product, reputation and price. Product – it needs to be something unique that I cannot get elsewhere. Many terrain kickstarter projects fall into this category. There are some great terrain manufacturers that have what I need now. Why wait months? Reputation – I will back a project by a first time creator, but they need to have had an established presence beforehand, along with evidence of planning. Finished greens are almost a must for a new miniature kickstarter. Price – I am equally turned off by too low a price as too high a price. A low price is an indicator that a project creator has not done proper planning for the costs that will be incurred. |
Who asked this joker | 14 Jan 2016 12:17 p.m. PST |
I back if… 1) I am interested in the product. 2) The product is useful. 3) The product could potentially be a good deal. |
Legbiter | 14 Jan 2016 12:51 p.m. PST |
Cthulhu. Failing that, Tentacles. |
Dentatus | 14 Jan 2016 3:01 p.m. PST |
Another "What Will said." |
Bellbottom | 14 Jan 2016 5:25 p.m. PST |
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Rogzombie | 14 Jan 2016 10:49 p.m. PST |
Miniatures I cant resist Easy to understand Decent price Also reliable company helps in fact is almost a necessity. |
jwebster | 15 Jan 2016 12:29 a.m. PST |
Miniatures I cant resist
Exactly – except that my threshold for resistance is disturbingly low Low price but this is complex. I like kickstarters because I get to make stuff happen, so savings is not the main reason. For instance I backed the latest bones simply because of low price. I am sure that they will deliver(I'm an Engineer so I sure really means 2 sigma probability or something like that) and I don't mind waiting. New companies (in any field) rarely understand the true costs – if their figure prices are too low they will lose money on the kickstarter and may end up being unable to deliver to all customers Passing a "sniff test" on their ability to deliver. It's not quantitative because I would give a new company more leeway than an established one Some sniff test ideas
- Can show prototypes instead of artwork
- several months timescale – miniatures are low volume and molding and casting times can be unpredictable. There is probably going to be some rework after first master
- Too popular. Of course the stuff I am interested in rarely falls in that category, but small companies are not used to the time scales or costs of ramping to large volume
- Lots of free stretch goals
- Descriptions show enthusiasm and knowledge of the genre or period
John P.S. The above is rubbish. The voices in my head compel me to back kickstarters. What I will do with 200 left-handed dwarven flower sellers I am not too sure |
Dave Crowell | 16 Jan 2016 11:16 a.m. PST |
Most Important: The product. It has to be something I am really interested in and/or a producer I want to show support for. Value. For me to back a KS it has to offer good value. KS exclusives, discounted prices, bundle offers with other products. Give me something that makes it worth my while to risk my money backing teh KS instead of waiting for the product to hit retail. The producer. There are some companies and individuals I will back more readilly than others because I want to support them and what they are doing. I have supported a couple of KS projects where supporting the creator was more important than getting the product. Some KS projects the decision to back or not back came down to the procer's track record on fulfilling previous KS projects and product in general. |
Moe the Great | 21 Jan 2016 2:10 p.m. PST |
Nothing anymore. After backing Alien Dungeon AQTMF, Defiance Games, Aftermath Mods, Palladium Books Robotech and Dial Dice. I think I'm done for good. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me 5 times, shame on me. The only two companies that always came through was Impudent Mortal and Reaper, although I am still waiting for my CAV figs. |
Lfseeney | 23 Jan 2016 1:13 p.m. PST |
The ones using KS to fund a project have to understand the backers are giving them a No % Loan. Many seem to not get that on top of the pledge that are floated that money for a year or two. When I read a KS one can get the feel many times if it is understood. Had hopes for a new one, but the pricing is straight retail and very high at that, only the stretch goals can off set it, but to get them you have to drop like 300 usd . There are a few crumbs at lower level but none that raise value. More of how not to get my money in a KS sorry. To get it, Have a good idea To Me Present it well Give me a decent price break as I am betting on you and that No %, Do not ignore tough questions Do not let your fanbois shout down others how ask or point out things, step in and handle it Have a base pledge that makes your game playable Give Extras to all who pay that base and up. Your higher pledges should already be better bang for bulk. If you can not after the KS drop an update twice a month do not start one Know things will go wrong, plan like Scotty. If you think that task will be 5 days, make it 8. If it is outsourced with new folks triple it. Then add another 10% at the end. Treat you investors well, otherwise they will let the world know. |
Mute Bystander | 30 Jan 2016 4:47 a.m. PST |
1) I would actually use the figures 2) Scale/size in 15mm or 3mm possibly 6mm to match my plans and terrain 3) No gaps in the "line" of miniatures they are selling that would leave me with incomplete forces if disaster struck the company |