Bones Kickstarter #2 Pre-discussion

[Bender]

My point is that at the one million mark, KS 1 already had 30 stretch goals, and it started at 30.000. At the rate they updated, that would mean they pass stretch goals before they get a chance to announce them in a teaser, which defeats the whole purpose of stretch goals.

I don't think it really matters, because the end result will be very similar either way, but it might avoid awkward late updates. For me, it doesn't matter either way; being in my time zone, I predict the 500.000 mark will be crossed by the time I get to see it. Once past the initial goals, I expect them to put the stretch goals at a similar rate as last time. They'll probably be spaced slightly further apart, because they expect more backers and the predicted cost of adding the free minis to all backers might be higher this time.

[Adrift]

I'm not sure. Everyone is predicting explosive growth in the balance immediately, but some of that immediate growth may be predicated upon people's expectations that the stretch goals will be similar to last time. If KS2 launches and hits the $300-$500K mark without a single stretch goal being revealed it could cool off fast as people start to whine about the lack of stretch goals. I mean, it's nice that everyone participating in this discussion thinks it'll explode with growth, but let's face facts; with looming alterations to the initial pledge levels it's going to be difficult to predict how (most) people are going to react.

[ced1106]

Instead of blowing through 30 stretch goals on the first day and lacking the time to update, they might consider putting the initial goal a bit higher, so they could offer e.g. immediately 150 mini's for the Vampire equivalent and even a bunch of add-ons, to make an amazing deal right from the start.

 

fwiw, A low funding goal -- especially when a funding goal is meaningless to a KS -- means good publicity. It sounds better if a so-called news article says "This KS blew through its funding goal in 2 hours and is at 10726% funding!". As Bob says, psychology *is* important in a KS, and setting a goal is part of it.

 

Of course, with Reaper, just as a funding goal isn't important, I'm thinking the RAH RAH RAH FIRST DAY buzz won't be as important as other KS. I did like Reaper's strategy in their first KS of offering a pledge level where you got fifty cents per miniature for fifteen bucks on the first day of the KS. Not only did this help get the fund momentum started, but allowed pledgers to jump to the $100 pledge later on in the campaign, further assisting it. If you look at the Reaper KickTraq, it didn't have the classic U-shape most KS have today and I'm guessing this fifteen buck deal was part of this. (OTOH, The Reaper KS was around before everyone was on KS.)

 

I'm thinking the curve will fit Zombicide 2 and possibly Dwarven Forge. Initial flood of pledges caused by pre-KS publicity and company reputation, party atmosphere during the campaign, and final spike. Hopefully, there won't be as much of a "we can't offer as good a deal as we did with our previous KS" effect.

 

Also, anyone interested in Reaper and stretch goals, particularly towards the end of the campaign, should listen to the Reaper Nerdherder's podcast. Very interesting stuff!!

Edited September 25, 2013 by ced1106

[TaleSpinner]

 

 

Also, anyone interested in Reaper and stretch goals, particularly towards the end of the campaign, should listen to the Reaper Nerdherder's podcast. Very interesting stuff!!

 

 

Link?

[smokingwreckage]

I think the stretch goals will just be spaced out a bit further. The difference will not be huge or obvious, just a bit higher starting goal (maybe with a big mini up front to balance it out) and then a bit wider spacing in the stretches. I think the last kickstarter maintained smooth momentum because it was a good deal from the outset, and I agree that the nice dungeon-stocking low pledge got people in, whereafter upping to Vampire became an easier and easier sell over time. My real problem was resisting the urge to dump all my funds into repeated Vampire boxes.

 

In the end I took a bunch of funds I had for options and dropped it into a second Vampire for a mate. This left me slightly short on a couple of options, but even with one Vampire taken out I still got an amazing swag full of great gaming miniatures. So, stretch goals a bit more spaced out and say, $5 to $10 more per option is not going to phase me.

[Lord Dragon]

I don't care what it is just give it to me now.

[Bender]

But now they won't need the lower pledge levels to get people in and get the momentum started.

 

My only problem with the lower pledge levels is that it made the "original 30" at 60$ a non-option as add-on.

[Talae]

 

 

 

Also, anyone interested in Reaper and stretch goals, particularly towards the end of the campaign, should listen to the Reaper Nerdherder's podcast. Very interesting stuff!!

 

 

Link?

 

This? http://www.nerdherderspodcast.com/exclusive-reaper-miniatures-kickstarter-interview/

 

That is what Google turned up.

[greyhaze]

My only problem with the lower pledge levels is that it made the "original 30" at 60$ a non-option as add-on.

Once it's there, it's permanent as long as 1 backer is sitting on it. I'm sure once the momentum was going Reaper would've liked to have dropped it, but couldn't (just conjecture on my part).

[naponatom]

I think the reason Reaper´s KS went so slowly at first (not U-shaped Kicktrack), was the fact that not so many backers were aware of it. I readied in a marketing mail from Paizo, and it happened just when the Pathfinder Goblins stretch goal were reached. And then I started to talk to my friends (some nerdier than me) who also weren´t aware of it.

 

Now there is 18.000+ backers from last lime and some that miss it completely (by not knowing or choice) that will jump on it in the first moment they hear about it. And they will jump on the "all initial plus stretch goal miniatures" because they know it will be good.

 

Every major (and some not so big) company that made some kind of marketing about the upcoming KS has a boom initially.

 

I agree that a "they got 10276% what they ask for" is great, but I also agree that "Update 01 - Sorry for the late update guys, but here is the stretch goals you reached in this first hour..." kinda sucks.

And remember that they had some trouble to do updates on the fly this time.

 

 

BUT... I have faith in Reaper´s Manage Team, and they know all this that we are discussing about, and probably will make the best decision they can came up to. (the best decision for us and for the company, which is the most important thing there is, if we hope to see future Reaper well and making some good to us too).

 

 

(and another) BUT... That said above won´t prevent us to talk about it and try to guess what it will be, and talk about what we hope for and stuff. It is fun, keep us occupied and excited.

[Gilfander]

I agree that the structure will change a little from last time. The most important issue is that Reaper has a plan! They had a well constructed plan for the first KS, and according to the podcast they only changed a few minor things once they started. These changes were also prompted by backer feedback, i.e. moving a few stretch goals around.

The reason we are waiting right now is because Reaper is making a new plan. They will again have things setup in advance for each stage of the new KS. They have experience now on what worked and what didn't. This includes the openning funding level and the amount between each stretch goal.

Based on this I expect this KS to be just as successful as the first one.

[Lord Dragon]

I agree that the structure will change a little from last time. The most important issue is that Reaper has a plan! They had a well constructed plan for the first KS, and according to the podcast they only changed a few minor things once they started. These changes were also prompted by backer feedback, i.e. moving a few stretch goals around.

The reason we are waiting right now is because Reaper is making a new plan. They will again have things setup in advance for each stage of the new KS. They have experience now on what worked and what didn't. This includes the openning funding level and the amount between each stretch goal.

Based on this I expect this KS to be just as successful as the first one.

 

 

Now all we need to is reaper bryan to come along and tease us a bit more with another mini. do you think we have been good enough for another preview or even a small little bitty update as to where you guys are at in the process. quick someone cast the summoning spell, all i remember of it is him tasting meat, I don't want to get it wrong and summon cthulhu instead i'm to pretty to go insane

[Pixel]

I don't care what it is just give it to me now.

+1

[Slendertroll]

I think a massive initial output (and thus a high goal) would be superior to a small initial goal and a glut of stretches, plus will be a much smaller headache for the Reaper staff.

[Magnus Mercury]

I think a massive initial output (and thus a high goal) would be superior to a small initial goal and a glut of stretches, plus will be a much smaller headache for the Reaper staff.

 

I agree, and they can give a frame of reference such as, "Due to the overwhelming success of our last Kickstarter...". In my opinion, having a pretty sure guarantee for success means they don't really need to hedge their bets on funding levels. Call me idealistic, but so long as Reaper is fairly transparent with what they are trying to do (like they were in the first KS), I'm pretty sure they could justify any funding goal that they want to target.

 

Personally, I'm curious if it will be similar in scope to the original KS, or if they're going to start out with a larger target goal than "30 new Bones + eventual stretch goals", given the expected level of support they'll receive.