Nogrod wrote in Failed Kickstarters:

Joe Franke wrote in Failed Kickstarters: It seems a shame that the larger companies (*that don't need the capital as much) truly deliver, and the small publishers, when they become infused with thousands of dollars, instead of creating monsters or adventures, start creating excuses...

As a small publisher I could list pages of reasons why delivery becomes delayed. I was able to deliver a box set on time, but only because time is what I had. The biggest reason, by far, smaller companies do not deliver is they vastly underestimate how much time is involved. Even now, 2 years into this, I start a task, believing with all my heart, that it will take 2-3 hours and by the time it wraps up it is closer to 10 hours. Those are uninterrupted hours as well- interruptions, of even the smallest variety, kills tasks dead. Especially when your immediate family doesn't see any real value to what you are doing.

I'm not going to repeat Zach - his points are dead on, especially with respect to time and energy and the immediate family support (I'm sure we could share those stories).

I started TSRS because it's what I love to do.  Sharing it with others is my new passion, and while PDF copies of all the guidelines and mods are free to download, I just want to see a few of them printed... enter KS.  It works for the small publisher.  I really can't afford to print the number of copies that makes it cost effective per book without crowdfunding... If i print the minimum number of books and pay for it up front, a $15 book nearly doubles in price.  I try to pass on the value to the buyer by setting my KS goal to the right number of books to print.

I also firmly believe in doing all the work up front before starting the KS project.  For example, I finished writing, editing, maps, and paid for all the art in False Promises before launching the project.  This way, backers know that I just have to print and ship the book when the project ends.  To me, that's important (and I back every other publisher who does the same thing).  I tend to shy away from the projects that will start writing *if* funded.  I think people should write because they love to do it as opposed to writing only for cash.

I hate that KS has taken a bit of trust hit recently.  Everyone thinks that they can build a project and make money (but then get in way over their head) - I just want to print my stuff.  

Thom (throwi)

Kickstarter isn't an investment vehicle; i.e., you're not getting shares of the company or anything like that.  You're essentially just pre-ordering an item that has yet to be produced; the funds obtained from this pre-order are what enable the individual or company to produce the item.

It's "crowdfunding" as opposed to "investor funding".  Biggest difference is that with investor funding, the investors have legal recourse to come after your ass if you fail to produce the item.  But, of course, it's a lot harder to secure investor funding if you don't already own an established company.

Foul

The game 'Up Front' is one of my favorite games to play. I am pleased with my decision to stay away from the failed kickstarter to re-print it. $339,000 up in smoke!
UP FRONT the card game by Rik Falch — Kickstarter

Read this today about the Tome of Horrors kickstarter.

Tenkar's Tavern: Centerstage Miniatures "Tome of Horrors" Kickstarter Hits High Horror, Complete with 3rd Party Takeover Attempt and PR Threats

JasonZavoda wrote in Failed Kickstarters:Read this today about the Tome of Horrors kickstarter.

Tenkar's Tavern: Centerstage Miniatures "Tome of Horrors" Kickstarter Hits High Horror, Complete with 3rd Party Takeover Attempt and PR Threats

I wonder happened to the money!! Awesome opportunity screwed away again

misterspock wrote in Failed Kickstarters:yeah, that sucks to say the least. I was still waiting for half my order on the Demons & Devils one

Sorry to hear that. I'd read that most of Demons & Devils had been fulfilled, except for the King of Evil Dragons. I didn't have the funds to back that one and I had been regretting it.

There are threads on Reaper and FGG about this as well.

misterspock wrote in Failed Kickstarters:Thanks. yeah, for certain they weren't all fulfilled. I orig received a box with about 1/3 of what I pledged for. But there was supposed to be others cast in metal which I'm not sure ever were made. I remember those of us who ordered for that category/add-ons were given a choice for metal or resin.

I've been reading up on all the threads after you posted about it. I had to just stop going through all the comments after a while because all it was doing was getting me more and more angry.  PDT_Armataz_01_32  :alien:  :mrgreen:  these are the only green emoticons I could find to express how close I was to changing into the hulk out of anger, but it might just come across as me about to throwup through my alien buckteeth

It is a sad and disgusting situation. It reminds me of things that would happen to my students at the community college. One bad choice or overwhelming circumstance would lead to another and they would reach a point where they could never catch up and then they would just stop coming. Math is very unforgiving. It seems to me that something like that happened here only magnified and reaching out to hundreds (thousands?) of other people.

Brian2112 wrote in Failed Kickstarters:Another failed KS - Ultimate Unofficial Collectors Guide to D&D:Forgotten Realms by Jim Hunton.

Fund date: August 2013
Ship date: November 2013

Some of the members here may have pledged for this one.  I felt it was safe because Jim Hunton had three other volumes complete and for sale on Amazon. I pledged way before I found this site and other online sources for collectors.

The project is now over a year late.  The only thing we have received are a few vague one line updates about some mystery modueles he needs to make the book complete.  It's the Forgotten Realms, there isn't that much stuff out there.

I've asked for a refund and have been refused.  I pledged at the $65 level which included the previous three volumes in addition to the new book.  I asked that Jim ship the three volumes and I give up any claim on the new book.  He refused.  

I'd stay away from all Kickstarters or business dealings with this Jim Hunton.

This joker also tried to fund a D&D museum, it was a miserable failure and never got funded.  This guy is another in a long line of unprepared non-starters that should just get a job.

Most of us have figured out that this is a hobby, not a job.  Even most of us indie publishers rely on our primary gigs to support our families.  Heck, this industry sucks for generating revenue... I've seen 3 LGS close in the last 6 months, and KS efforts fail more often than not because people want to make a living doing it.  It's just not feasible.

These two seem like they should enjoy the hobby as we do and just muscle through the M-F grind to pay the bills.

~throwi