Kickstarter Burn-out

[TaleSpinner]

Before the Reaper Kickstarter, I hadn't even heard about Kickstarter. The Reaper one was a fantastic ride and I had a blast. Now, seemingly suddenly this Fall every small mini producer under the sun has a new Kickstarter. There are so many suddenly, I can't keep track.

 

Anyone else feeling a bit burnt-out from all the new Kickstarters?

[joshuaslater]

Yes. So much so that my own little miniature endeavor will just see the catalog expand without a kickstarter. I think it's a wonderful idea to get things going, but every small manufacturer will have to decide for themselves how to best go about their business.

[Gailbraithe]

So many people jumped on that poor bandwagon so fast the darn axle done broked.

[ub3r_n3rd]

Yeah, I saw it and originally pledged only the $100... after we shattered goal after goal my pledge ended up tripling. I hopped on it hard and definitely helped break that axle!

[Last Knight]

I think that's part of the current plethora's issue, so many people saw the Reaper KS rock out with its socks out and hope the same lightning will strike for them.

[ub3r_n3rd]

They need to hold off a bit and let those of us who pledged for the Reaper KS save up some more funds, otherwise they are trying to get blood out of a bunch of turnips!

[recruittons]

I think that's part of the current plethora's issue, so many people saw the Reaper KS rock out with its socks out and hope the same lightning will strike for them.

 

I really don't doubt this is true. Tons of these minis kickstarters have massive, pre-constructed lists of stretch goals that many of them won't even achieve half of.

[Adrift]

Yes.

[Niranth]

I wonder how many of these recent Kickstarter projects were in the planning stages before Reaper set the bar? I doubt most of them are really jumping on the bandwagon because of Reaper's success.

[Last Knight]

I wonder how many of these recent Kickstarter projects were in the planning stages before Reaper set the bar? I doubt most of them are really jumping on the bandwagon because of Reaper's success.

 

Then, quite frankly, they have really bad luck and really bad timing.

[Darsc Zacal]

Miniature kickstarters are nothing new. They were on kickstarter long before Reaper ran theirs. Some met their goals, others failed. However what did happen earlier this year is that a couple of companies discovered the sweet spot of stretch rewards vs pledges that really produced some notable outstanding financial results that made pretty much everyone in the industry look up and take notice.

 

Reaper fine tuned it even further, with obvious results. :)

 

Anyway, point is its always been a case of buyer, or pledged, beware on kickstarter. Don't let yourself get caught up in the hype. Stick to styles and genres that you collect and/ or play, and I believe you'll have a more satisfying kickstarter experience.

[Nocturne]

I think it's been a double edged sword. Reapers KS has hit a lot peoples hobbying wallets hard, twice over with the pledge manager. On the other side I think it's got a lot more people looking at Kickstarter for miniature projects to back, doing a quick search of Miniatures shows a lot of the older projects either failing or ending around the 6K mark, recent ones seem to pass that within the first couple of weeks, if not sail right past it. You could probably pin point the dates when Kickstarter became better known and when the right formula for a mini project came about.

[Orlando_the_Technicoloured]

Each KS (especially the really big ones) end up bringing in a load of people who have never pledged before

 

So while some have reached the 'no money left' (like me basically), or the 'I'm so sick of this' stage, they will be replaced by new fresh faces

 

A good KS with interesting product, good stretch goals and good value will still pull in the cash

 

(while the 'value' test may be many peoples first concern, even 'expensive' figures will pull folk in if they look good enough, maybe not raise a million, but 100K or so is certainly do-able)

[Frankthedm]

Kickstarter lets a mini maker have a low risk way of offering figs. They get the backers to fund early costs, ensuring the mini line will have a portion of it's costs covered before it even gets made. That alone is a big deal since traditionally preorders don't come in until AFTER production is in motion and money is being burned.

 

It also is fantastic to try experimental figure lines, like the super deformed minis heavily inspired by the D&D cartoon, which are doing quite well.

 

Plus the manufacturer can offer a lower price point since it is directly dealing with the investor / backer and doesn't have to cut in a distributor or set a price point that gives a brick and mortar store breathing room. This might not be the healthiest thing for the FLGS, but it DOES lower what the customer is paying for the mini.

[badocter]

While many Reaperites are tapped out for now, there are others who still have cash in hand, particularly those who are interested only in metal figs or other styles. Dreadball managed over 700 k$ in September even while Reaperites were still scraping together more dough for the RPM. Patrick Keith's Bombshell Babes came in at a respectable 144 k$. The next "big one" in progress aimed at gamers appears to be the Catan board which is already at 144 k$ and still has a month to go.

 

For my part, I confirm that I dropped enough on Reaper that I am tapped out until probably next June, and at that point I will have an intimidating stockpile of unpainted bones. I just have to hold out until Reaper delivers. If they really want to tempt me next summer, do a KS that includes some HD paint sets and perhaps another sweet 240 figs for $75 deal.