I've decided to start another thread about the kickstarters?indigo etc I've back and how they are going.. This will be a list of about 200+ (almost entirely rpg) RPG projects that I've backed, what happened, where they are up to, prospects of delivery etc. I have quite a optimistic view that most of these will pan out.. but we shall see.. Almost universaly I will be using the word "late" a lot! I'm doing this from memory at the moment so may be some mistakes (which I'll fix if I find them)

I'll be listing the oldest first to the newest.. (as per my kickstarter page)

You can see the kickstarts I've back here Brett Easterbrook — Kickstarter (you can even follow me and see what I fund in the future, some people are doing that now).. I've tried to slow down a bit in my funding recently.. and while I haven't backed every rpg product I gave it a pretty good go;) (I've also picked up an odd 1 or 2 after they have finished.. ) All of this is as at 7/2013..

Brette:)

General comments.. almost all are late (or were), most backes are prepared to wait (those that comment on the kickstarter site anyway, some people discenting of course)

1) Far West: Western/Wuxia Mashup adventure game
Backers :717
Target: $5000, Raised: $49324
Est Delivery: December 2011
Status: 17 months late, written and almost completed editing.. "bonus" stuff not even done yet by the looks which is of some concern (expexting to be 2 years late I think)

2) Children of Fire RPG
Backers: 113
Target: $625, Raised: $2954
Est Delivery: April 2011 (not really stated, project was complete at the time of the kickstarter, this added a full colour version, thick glossy heavy pages from memory) delived about 10/2011
Status: Delivered, ontime

3) Adventurer Conqueror King
Backers: 246
Target: $4000, Raised: $11648
Est Delivery: March 2012
Status: Delivered, ontime

4) Mystic Empyrean - Create. Discover. Become.
Backers: 233
Target: $3000, Raised: $10050
Est Delivery: November 2011
Status: Delivered, 6 mths late

5) Shadowlands: Epic Fantasy Sci-Fi Mashup Setting
Backers: 120
Target: $10000, Raised: $11772
Est Delivery: May 2012
Status: 14 mths late.. almost done

6) Reclamation: Post-Apocalyptic Horror RPG
Backers: 119
Target: $5000, Raised: $9411
Est Delivery: April 2012
Status: Delivered on time (june 2012)

7) Encounters ~ Plots ~ Places
Backers: 52
Target: $500, Raised: $660
Est Delivery: January 2012
Status: Delivered apparently April2013 (pretty sure I don't have anything yet) , 17 mths late

8 ) Quantum Roleplaying Game: An ALL NEW Science Fantasy RPG
Backers: 580
Target: $13000, Raised: $42747
Est Delivery: April 2012
Status: less than 50% complete, currently 15 mths late

9) Dark Nova Roleplaying Game
Backers: 66
Target: $3250, Raised: $4337
Est Delivery: Jan 2012
Status: delivered july 2012, 9 mths late.. I have a different option with three books.. I'm pretty sure I don't have the 1st book, second book is only 80% done. my delivery date is Sept 2012.. looks to be a long way off.. must check up..

10 ) Castles & Crusades: Classic Monster A Monster Manual
Backers: 166
Target: $4000, Raised: $9108
Est Delivery: Jan 2012
Status: Delivered, Oct 2012, 8 mths late

11) Wreck Age: A far-future dystopian post-exodus adventure!
Backers: 99
Target: $5000, Raised: $10674
Est Delivery: July 2012
Status: 50%(unknown) complete, currently 13 mths late.. delivery ?? (artwork looks good though)

12) The Demolished Ones
Backers: 155
Target: $3000, Raised: $5430
Est Delivery: Aug 2012
Status: delivered 12 mths late

13) Wandering Monsters High School RPG
Backers: 54
Target: $1000, Raised: $1598
Est Delivery: Jan 2012
Status: Delivered, 7 mths late

14) Homicidal Transients: A Comedic Rules-Light RPG
Backers: 65
Target: $300, Raised: $720
Est Delivery: Jan 2012
Status: Delivered, 4 mths late

15) Journeys to the West: A Pathfinder RPG Voyage
Backers: 286
Target: $4200, Raised: $15425
Est Delivery: July 2012
Status: Delivered, about 4 mths late I think (missing 1 item.. don't know if they are going to ptoduce.. disappointing)

16) They Became Flesh: A game of God, Humanity, and the Fallen
Backers: 276
Target: $1500, Raised: $7434
Est Delivery: Feb 2012
Status: Some Delivered (sort of).. let me expand on this one.. one of the worst run kickstartes I have been in, product was finished and sold at conventions before backers got coppies, looks like all international orders aren't done (at all), looks like hardcovers and special ed aren't done at all.. no communications, promised refunds to customers haven't happened.. I can buy this from Noble Knight and get it faster than getting through the kickstarter.. I suspect that they ran out of money long ago and are still trying to catch up.. Terrible!!.. currently 17 mths late

17) It Came from the Stars: Bringing the Weird to Pathfinder RPG
Backers: 88
Target: $4000, Raised: $4596
Est Delivery: June 2012
Status: delivered 13 mths late

18 ) Streets of Bedlam: A Savage World of Crime + Corruption
Backers: 262
Target: $3000, Raised: $10267
Est Delivery: April 2012
Status: second book done.. near shipping.. currently 15 months late..

19) Always/Never/Now
Backers: 266
Target: $1500, Raised: $8363
Est Delivery: April 2012
Status: Shipping? currently 15 months late

20 ) Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea
Backers: 184
Target: $6000, Raised: $13216
Est Delivery: April 2012
Status: Delivered, 5 mths late

21) Warren C. Norwood's Double Spiral War RPG
Backers: 35
Target: $500, Raised: $821
Est Delivery: April 2012
Status: looks like need to be rewritten, problems with the licensor not liking system.. currently 15 months late

22) Carmine: Truth in the Darkness
Backers: 15
Target: $350, Raised: $818
Est Delivery: Feb 2012
Status: Delivered on time. I rank this kickstarter as one my top ones! Guys were easy to talk to and answered questions quickly (helps when only small number of backers I suppose) product was delivered quickly (most work had been done I think), they followed me up on their new products as well.. Noble knight has just started to carry them, its a quirky fantasy/horror setting (reminds me of Ravenloft.. land is surounded by mists)

23) THE BOOK OF THE EMPRESS
Backers: 217
Target: $10000, Raised: $15660
Est Delivery: April 2012
Status: Delivered on time (may 2012) Probably one of the most boring kickstarters I've been in. You could get a numbered plate stuck in book.. was so unimpressed I didn't back their other 2.. however they had done their numbers and it was well run, basically a preorder..

24) Tephra: the Steampunk RPG
Backers: 374
Target: $1000, Raised: $22821
Est Delivery: March 2012
Status: Mostly delivered, 1/2 international orders not done (i'm one), second book not completed (and currently out of money).. currently 15 months late

25) Ellis: Kingdom in Turmoil Roleplaying Game
Backers: 39
Target: $400, Raised: $2586
Est Delivery: March 2012
Status Delivered, about 5 mths late from memory

You back a lot.

I think I have done one KS.

Brette et al,

KS discussion question:  What percentage of RPG KS projects do you think are merely ideas when started?  How many do you think have done all the work (or a large percentage of it) before starting the KS project?  

Obviously, if the vast majority of the work is done before the end of the project, time lines are easier to hit.  With all these late projects, I wonder if these individuals/companies have either exaggerated how much was already done or have underestimated the work left to complete them.  Many of projects are probably boot-strapped (i.e. done on the side with real, full time jobs in other industries); getting the time to write/draw/etc. can be impossible when the rest of the life gets in the way.  I should know, I had an on-line game in development for several years and can never seem to find enough time to finish it!

If I ever do my KS, I'll only start it when 100% of the work (writing, editing and maps/illustrations) is done.  That way, backers get the finished product on-time!

~throwi

Mars wrote in Bretts rpg Crowd funding (kickstarter/indigo etc):I'm more curious how many KS projects get the money, spend it things not related to the project, then don't have enough to complete the project.

I don't know if there is an exact count, but it clearly has happened.

beasterbrook wrote in Bretts rpg Crowd funding (kickstarter/indigo etc):33) Everything is Dolphins - an RPG and art book
Backers : 112
Target: $1000, Raised: $4480
Est Delivery: June 2012
Status: Delivered 4 mths late

Good God, you'll throw money at just about anything...  

Grug Greyskin wrote in Bretts rpg Crowd funding (kickstarter/indigo etc):

beasterbrook wrote in Bretts rpg Crowd funding (kickstarter/indigo etc):33) Everything is Dolphins - an RPG and art book
Backers : 112
Target: $1000, Raised: $4480
Est Delivery: June 2012
Status: Delivered 4 mths late

Good God, you'll throw money at just about anything...  

Yeah, but Brette is going to have one helluva a collection.

I think the pre-bub version was done on time and that's what I went off,  you are right, those early ones didn't have an "official" due date.. I think the ACK companion was a bit late from memory.. but not up to that just yet.. you'll also notice that while Dwimmer is late its by far not the worst of the lot;)
I might list when the crowd funding finished as well as it looks like even those that were complete before even starting were "late"> think its just an underestimation of how long it takes.. I of the opinion now that anything 3 mths and under, in my view, is "on time"

Brette:)

And that's is for a little while.. I could do another 25 or so, but I'll leave it prob till the end of this month.. its more of the same as above.. I will update when stuff rolls in as well

On the whole.. things are late.. even if the product is "finished" I think there is an underestimation on how quickly things happen.. getting the money from kickstarter looks to be a 2 week thing.. waiting on backers to send back surveys.. printing and shipping (and it doesn't help I'm in Australia)..

Any questions about specific ones let me know

Brette:)

There seems to be one common point about all of these KS.......it's right there but I can't seem to put my finger on it....hmmm.....

Great list, Brette!

Mike B.