Do Not Want (sort of)

[Dr.Bedlam]

Y'know, I get a lot of bulletins from Kickstarter. I also have a lot of friends on Facebook who post about various Kickstarters. And lor' knows I've helped fund enough Kickstarters. So, yeah, I guess I'm a Kickstarter kind of guy.

But this morning, I was thinking: my life, as far as miniatures, used to be simple. There were miniatures I wanted, and miniatures I did not want. That was it. Two categories. Two choices. I either want a given product, or I do not. It's not manufacturer exclusive, either -- there are Reaper products I want, and will buy at some point, and there are other Reaper products I will leave on the pegboard. Do not want. Nothin' against Reaper or the product in question... I simply don't WANT that particular thing.

But ever since Kickstarters began popping up like popcorn, and I discovered the joys of a successfully funded one that treats me like a mensch and comes across with the rewards, albeit maybe a little delayed, I've discovered new realms, and new complications... hence new categories.

1. STUFF I WANT. Most Reaper dragons fall into this category, as well as a variety of products from different manufacturers. Some I will buy next Friday. Others will have to wait, for one reason or another.
 

2. STUFF I DON'T WANT. Sorry, Reaper, I have all the orcs I am ever going to need. You want to sell me orcs? Need something new and outstanding. Nothing against Tre's orcs -- the reason I don't want them is because I already have more than I know what to DO with. But this category is for "minis I will not buy," for whatever reason.

3. STUFF I WANT BUT DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT. And this is where we get into Kickstarters. I can think of one KS that's offering this one critter I would like to have... but I have reason to mistrust the outfit running the KS. I'd have to support the KS to the tune of some forty bucks to get this one item, and that's assuming they're trustworthy and will actually produce and distribute the product before the pigs fly home to their nests for the winter.

4. STUFF I WANT TO SUPPORT BUT DON'T NECESSARILY WANT. And there's a lovely kickstarter going right now with some really impressive looking goblins. They look like they'd be fun to paint. But they are not offering product in a way that makes it easy for ME. That's what Stretch Goals should be about -- I send you five bucks or whatever, and can then access individual items I like, rather than having to buy a cargo pod full of stuff I don't want in order to get what I DO want. I'd sure like a sprue of three or five goblins, but I don't want enough of them to launch a full scale invasion of Canada.

Sigh. Yeah, I know, I'm whining. Would that the entire third world should have problems as ugly and debilitating as mine...

[Talae]

I concur and share similar emotions.

[vutpakdi]

The words "free", "limited time", "exclusive", "sale", and "discount" (or their synonyms) are very seductive and hard for many to resist. At the very least, they open people to considering projects that they wouldn't buy at the same price in a store. I know that I have backed some Kickstarter projects for more than I should have because of those words.

 

That many projects are presented only in the best light and without those pesky details of flaws doesn't help resisting temptation.

 

Ron

Edited September 13, 2014 by vutpakdi

[lowlylowlycook]

After rereading this I'm  not exactly following your train of thought.

 

For me category 4, would be kickstarters where I want to support the people behind the KS because of their evident passion for their project or where I want the KS to succeed because I want the product to be available to others but can't justify buying it myself.  What you list under category 4 seems to fit more in category 3 because there is something you want  but for whatever reason you don't want to back the kickstarter. 

 

Yeah, so the Minion Miniatures KS fits in category 4 for me because I already have a ton of various bones goblins but on the other hand there can't be too many high quality, plastic fantasy minis because a certain company charges way too much for theirs and thus people need options.

Edited September 13, 2014 by lowlylowlycook

[ced1106]

Eh, I think it's the nature of crowdfunding -- and miniatures.

 

KS is not a store. In a store -- well, one that sells miniatures to hobbyists -- you can usually pick-and-choose which mini you want. Blister packs, and all that. I think once miniatures became plastic, things changed. GW started (?) the model of buying armies of miniatures, not individuals. Boardgames began to include miniatures, and, typically the quality of the miniature sculpts and materials were secondary to the game itself. And, with randomized boosters, you didn't even know what miniature you got. But, if you're looking for the higher-end miniatures, you could still buy them individually (if only on the manufacturer's website).

 

I've seen KS where you could swap out this for that, pick which head you wanted for what body, etc. etc. But, logistically, this can be a nightmare (or at least PITA) for creators. Accurate packing and shipping attracts more money and backers, but can cost quite a bit of time and money NOT spent on sculpting and casting. Some creators, especially the ones who do the packing as well as other parts of the business, don't want to deal with the hassle of logistics and tedium of packing. So they only offer sets. If you want the customer service of selecting individual miniatures, it's there -- at retail, and you have to pay for it.

 

Then you have to paint it. That's *my* problem with KS. Why aren't these miniatures painting themselves? :D

[72moonglum]

I guess my problem/question, is just where do you guys get all this disposable income to have this problem?  I have yet to actually participate in a Kickstarter just because I can't plunk down 130.00 for a bunch of delightful half-orcs even though I'd really like to.  It keeps all my will power until now just to say no to any of them.  I watched the Reaper Kickstarters like a sporting event or the daily news, but could never bring myself to do it, plus I've watched the Stonehaven Kickstarters with the same result.  It makes sense I guess in an overall economic point of view on the old cost per miniature aspect I guess, but putting so much down so often is a threshold I just haven't hit, which is probably good because once I do.....

[joshuaslater]

it's a brave new world, Doc.

[TGP]

#3 Is pretty easy---you buy that one critter later. If the KS actually delivers, eventually you get that figure. If the outfit fails, bonus, you didn't support it, didn't lose anything. 

[Dr.Bedlam]

@Cook... well, maybe I could have pit it better. In the case of #3... I am skeptical of the outfit making the minis.

 

In the case of Minion, I heartily support their efforts, but I don't really wanna dive in for a huge investment. #4 is the category where, unless those orcs are truly amazing and I can buy them in small sets... I'm prolly not gonna get involved, even if I salute your efforts.

 

#3 might as well be labeled "Doc suspects these people are crooks or that the sculpts will be a mess, or this company will somehow be disappointing."

 

And TGP, you are being entirely too rational.

 

I want it NOW.

[Bruunwald]

If only my own feelings on this matter were as simple as yours, Doc.

 

Kickstarter... where to begin? What a great idea... on paper. What an abomination it has become in practice. What awful end must this flood of product into our collective hobbies portend? Can't end well, fellows. This is a bubble. A big, conflated and swelling one. You know how bubbles end.

[Goblyn]

theres not such thing  as " too many orcs" 

[Dr.Bedlam]

theres not such thing  as " too many orcs" 

You've never seen my garage.

[Jubilee]

I have "exclusive, kick-starter only" item fatigue.  To the point where I start to feel irate about and don't want to get it on general principal.  I'm tired of feeling pressured that I have to get it RIGHT NOW along with a bunch of other things I don't really need or want in order to get the one cool thing that is ONLY EVER AVAILABLE NOW.

 

sigh.

[ShadowRaven]

I'm right with you there miss Jubilee. Sure some of the promo offers have been pretty cool, Both of Reapers Kickstarter Sophies for example, are nice but I am truly tired of having to buy stuff I don't want or need to get that one cool once only item.

[Dr.Bedlam]

Meh. With Reaper, it was largely a matter of "lots of cool stuff, other stuff I already have but don't want... but, hey, I'm helping move Bones production to the USA." So I didn't feel bad about contributing, although I gave away a lot of my first Vampire box.

Second Kickstarter... well, actually, I want nearly all of what I have coming. A few items are low priority, sure, but, again, I'm helping out a cause I believe in, and I am being well rewarded for doing so.

CAV... well, I don't need ALL those CAVs, but at least I'll have plenty of minis for teaching people how to play...

...the one overarching point being, "I'm good with Reaper. They'll keep their promises."