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The problem with Kickstarter

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markgrafn
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I have a Kickstarter running right now on its Last few days. I THOUGHT I had learned a few things from my prior Kickstarter and would have an easier time with the monster that is Kickstarter this time around. I was wrong. With what is looking like a failure coming soon, i woukd like to hear some oppinions on where/what is wrong with the campaign so I can fix it come time to relaunch.

Thanks in advance.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pawnjokergames/bushido-the-card-gam...

radioactivemouse
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Merely opinions...

markgrafn wrote:
I have a Kickstarter running right now on its Last few days. I THOUGHT I had learned a few things from my prior Kickstarter and would have an easier time with the monster that is Kickstarter this time around. I was wrong. With what is looking like a failure coming soon, i woukd like to hear some oppinions on where/what is wrong with the campaign so I can fix it come time to relaunch.

Thanks in advance.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pawnjokergames/bushido-the-card-game-of-virtue-and-dice

Is there any benefit to having more than 1 copy of the game other than "gifts"? Having a tier that's 5 games at a discount isn't really appealing to me. I'd rather see possible stretch goals with better components...maybe some exclusives for pledging Kickstarter?

I mean it "looks" ok. Personally, I think you could have more energy in your presentation or a voice over showing off the game.

It's also very possible that your campaign just came out at a bad time. I think there were a few high profile games that were going on at the same time, but that may be just me.

Anyways, I hope this helps. This is what I've seen on first glance.

polyobsessive
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Preparation

I think the big question is how much marketing and publicity did you do ahead of the launch, and what did you do to build a buzz within the community?

Corsaire
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Some problems that stand out

Some problems that stand out for me:
At 25 for sixty six cards and three dice, I'd hope for compelling components. Generic white dice is a turn off; I didn't see anything about card stock.

Being in the US I wonder how much would be me paying for others free international shipping.

The basic description is "push your luck" but I'm not seeing that in the game as best I can figure.

If the cards offer interest interactions, I'd want see the text of some.

After watching three videos, I'm not quite getting a feel for the game. The third one with some guys in a bar was very noisy distracting. The cuts on your video were quite odd as the cards kept changing. Even a stop animation play through of the game would've been better.

If I think Bushido and samurai, I think combat, therefore I probably need to be lured more into why I want to play the philosophical version.

Also, other kickstarters I've looked at give me a sense that I'm going to help make so ething happen, here it feels like I may just be buying games that are raedy to go.

chris_mancini
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I agree that "plain white

I agree that "plain white dice" makes the game feel uninspiring; I think we've become so used to unique and interesting dice being a huge draw for games that basic D6 dice, especially in a small game like Bushido, makes it feel incomplete in a sense. Perhaps most critically, I think they take the players out of the world in which they're playing; these dice should look and feel like relics from feudal Japan, enhancing the immersion in the game.

We all understand the cost required to tool custom dice, and that typically embossed icons are preferred to cheaper printed icons (no tooling). I do think however you'd be better off looking into one or the other, as even printed icon dice is far preferable to standard a D6. Printed dice also gives you the opportunity to feature embossed dice as a stretch goal, so the cost of tooling isn't immediately on you.

From the play-through, I don't get the sense that the numbers on the dice are intrinsic to gameplay, rather they could be any icon which serve to differentiate each Daimyo. Therefore, you should easily be able to create custom dice without any interruption to current rules and gameplay.

Your character art is great, gameplay is clear...although I do agree that "dojo" makes me think a battle of some sort should happen there.

markgrafn
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Corsaire wrote: If I think

Corsaire wrote:

If I think Bushido and samurai, I think combat, therefore I probably need to be lured more into why I want to play the philosophical version.

Bushido is the Samurai code of honor and has very little to do with combat. Though I do realize there is some conflicts with this and what most people perceive as Bushido. This gets me thinking of a new way to introduce the "subject" of the game. Learning (collecting) the virtue of Bushido.

And about dice. First I hate dice. For many reasons. I designed Bushido to "fix" everything I hate about dice. I've added effects to give some strategy to simply rolling dice. Ive added ways to re-roll them and exciting benefits for super rolls like triples. The last thing I hate, and the reason I am just using the typical die pips, is losing dice. If you lose a custom die mid-game you have to stop and tou can play the game for 1 to 2 weeks it takes for the manufacture to ship them to you. May not be that big of a deal but I hate it. All that being said, i would like Bushido to have wooden dice but still with pips so they can be replaced easily when lost while waiting for replacements.

I fought a pretty big battle with myself on that last part and I decided the fame would actually benefit with just pips.

Thanks everyone for the comments and I hope the 2nd time things will go a little smoother.

chris_mancini
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You say "Bushido" stands for

You say "Bushido" stands for the samurai code of honor, which you are obviously correct, however the cover features a samurai clutching a sword...it's no surprise that people think this should have some sort of combat involved.

As for dice, you may hate them, but most people enjoy them...some (like Tom Vasel) even LOVE them. I don't think permanently losing dice is as big of an issue as you may think, and while I see your point about using dice which many gamers have multiples of laying around, its no substitute for custom dice which serve to further immerse players in the world in which they're playing. On this point, I think you need to put your personal preferences aside and think of what's best for the game and most appealing to players. If you hate dice that much, why design a game featuring them?

If you're adamant about keeping the pips, you could design dice which put a thematic spin on the classic D6...or even combine a set of unique symbols with a number marker in the corner so that if any dice are lost, players can swap out a standard D6; going for a "best of both worlds" situation.

jasongreeno
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Hey, Rather than try to give

Hey,

Rather than try to give my amateur advice I'd recommend you take a look (if you haven't already) at Jamey Stegmaier's site about Kickstartering board games. It's immensely helpful and contains over 170 lessons. I've been listening to the audio book and I can say it's the best way to find ways to improve your campaigns.

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter/

markgrafn
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chris_mancini wrote: If

chris_mancini wrote:

If you're adamant about keeping the pips, you could design dice which put a thematic spin on the classic D6...or even combine a set of unique symbols with a number marker in the corner so that if any dice are lost, players can swap out a standard D6; going for a "best of both worlds" situation.

That... is something I hadnt thought of. I think I could make that happen!

Corsaire
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You might consider kanji

You might consider kanji numbered dice:
http://www.sausalitoferry.com/products/japanese-number-language-dice

The art is beautiful; Kickstarter only player mats using the art you've already commissioned could up the ante.

ElKobold
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Probably it's a combination

Probably it's a combination of factors.
Here are my guesses (as nobody could tell you for sure):

1) Timing of the campaign. This February was crazy on KS. Nothing you could have done about it.
2) As was already pointed out above, it might be the theme. People hear 'samurai', they expect swinging swords.
3) Odd choice of music in the presentation video. Loud and 'melancholic' and not linked to the theme.
4. Presentation video is not showing game-play.
5) BGG page voting comments didn't help either.
6) Apart from that, zero activity on BGG forum. And very few comments on the campaign page itself.

gilamonster
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radioactivemouse wrote:Is

radioactivemouse wrote:

Is there any benefit to having more than 1 copy of the game other than "gifts"?

Yes there is. For those of us who live in slightly more obscure parts of the world (and have a lousy currency exchange-rate), it is often worthwhile for backers to pool together when supporting a kickstarter, to save on shipping, etc.

To the original poster:
I just skimmed the kickstarter quickly, but I have to agree with those who say they'd expect a game about samurai to involve swordfighting. For a game focussing on philosophical or spiritual aspects, a monastic or priest/temple theme might have been more "appropriate" to the broader public?

markgrafn
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Thanks for all the input everyone!

Looks like I wont need to relaunch! And now that I said that 50 backers are going to cancel.....

Anyway, awesome advice everyone and I will be keeping all the information in mind for project #3! And 4, and 5 and 6 and so on.

jbship628
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Quick point about dice

Sorry for being late on the uptake in this conversation. I agree with other posters about the use of generic dice. One idea that could benefit the feel of the game is simply using the Japanese versions of 1 through 6. I think most people would figure it out really quickly, with the only real addition is just a picture key added to your rules sheet.

Especially since you seem to really be emphasizing a piece of culture, adding that little flair would be a nice touch without having to design symbols or character dice. (Not to mention Japanese dice are probably already being made by someone)

Just a quick addendum to the advice others are giving.

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