I’m fine with the “wont be in retail”, sometimes the business finds it unprofitable. Depends on the case. I do a a big beef with CMON’s “we aint gonna reprint this ever again”.
Anyway, I’m on the fence with Assault on Doomrock here. I’m not super with the insufficient central common space. At least, that’s my impression. Will have to look more on how it is actually played.
Lack of common space is pretty much a thumbs down to me nowadays as all of my big box games are played like this - except of a rare few like Seasons.
I’d be out because of app-required and because of Van Ryder’s NFT connection (talking of artificial scarcity), but the non-white-man representation seems pretty decent. On the other hand, when you’re selling a work of fiction you don’t say “over 100,000 words!”…
Eh? Maybe this is true for other countries, but in the US prices have almost never been lower than retail. Usually the other way around. What people generally crowdfund for is guaranteed access (well, if it ships at all!) and exclusives/freebies (sold separately at retail or not at all). Or at least, that’s always been my approach. And that hasn’t changed. If anything I’m finding it’s harder to get stuff at retail these days.
Don’t be fooled by the pledge tiers, you can get the original game without paying for a bunch of non-game-related bling or even the expansion content, you just have to do it as an addon. It’s not actually $205 now. Or 300-something.
My partner and I really enjoyed Sleeping Gods, but we’re almost certainly passing on this. Too expensive, and the bonus content just isn’t worth it. We’ll wait for retail.
Hopefully Red Raven games continues their really satisfying tradition of each game being slightly better than the last!
I must admit that one really piqued my interest, I saw a playthrough of the prototype and it was very interesting. I gave up because:
1- I have plenty of crowdfunding games coming my way.
2- Too adult (swear words and themes) means I will not be able to play it at home.
3- First I’d like to try something a tad lighter like like Detective: City of Angels.
4-It seems very likely it will hit retail.
Looking at that list makes me think how much I have improved controlling my FOMO. Until the next shiny new thing comes round, that is…
VAT and Kickstarter has been an intermittent nightmare for a while. When I shipped Die of the Dead I was lucky enough to do it just before the new EU rules, and because I live in the UK those rules don’t apply either.
The issue is now, if you sell to Europe from an online website, the website owner needs to register and pay for VAT in the EU. Even through IOSS that’s a not-insignificant amount each month, but it’s the website which should register, just as ebay has, and etsy, but not Kickstarter. Because they aren’t a shop, they aren’t registering or collecting any EU VAT. Also if you’re not UK VAT registered and you try to register for EU VAT it’s even more of a headache, in my limited experience.
That makes it very difficult for any small publisher to ship to the EU. To ship to europe from a non-european Kickstarter you need to be VAT registered in Europe, which is way too much unless you are doing a significant number of sales each month (around £2k a year, which isn’t bad, but how many small Kickstarters are making 2k profit on their EU sales?). I can’t see a way around it, and whilst I’m sure some people will just try it on, as far as I can see there are just disasters waiting to happen, or non-friendly shipping.
Gamefound, however, have registered for EU VAT, and do collect it on their site. If you are an EU backer Gamefound add on 20% to the cost. I was talking to one person who actually hated this as they had registered themselves, but for small publishers it’s the only viable option I can see.
So hopefully all Gamefound projects should do the EU VAT thing automatically, even if not listed in the pledges.
I presume that Kickstarter registering would be an acknowledgment that they are a store not whatever type of funding they claim to be and thus be on the hook with the creators to deliver?
Got some really good previews up, just hope we don’t lose too much from moving away from KS. If anybody does visit it, please elt me know of any spelling or grammar mistakes, as you can’t setup a preview page like in Kickstarter, so this is the first time anybody is seeing the page.
As I received my long-awaited pledge for Spirits of the Forest (without so much as an announcement they were shipping and DPD just left it at the door…), it’s time for another overview of my “outstanding” (sorry that is a direct translation of “ausstehend” obviously I mean “still not delivered”) crowdfunding campaigns. (I am putting those in bold that I would back again at this point). From oldest to newest:
Kickstarter
Frosthaven–I think this may yet arrive this year But I have a lot of understanding for the delays for this one. And I don’t mind, there is still a lot of Gloomhaven to explore for us.
Hoop Godz–last I heard was an angry update in January by the creator who hates that backers are getting impatient–game was supposed to deliver in December 2021. Ah well, this has taken so long, all the excitement of getting a basketball themed game for my partner… is gone.
Raid A Viking Card Game–supposed to deliver in May 2021. Considering that this is a really small card game… the sporadic updates suggest that the people who are behind it are doing their best but have no idea what they are doing. I suppose eventually it will get here and they can put “published a game” on their resume.
Darwin’s Journey–last year January I was on a spree… it’s supposed to be shipping sometime soonish now but that’s been the case for the last 6 months or so. I have no idea if I will like this game. If I had been thinking clearly I would not have backed it, so my excitement is… but since I don’t have any similarly themed game and generally enjoy worker placement games there is a chance this might click.
Everything Ever Everdell–from their updates I gather they are struggling to get this giant project done with all the current shenanigans, I won’t be surprised if it takes another year to get here. But I am quite excited to finally get to play Everdell–whenever that may be (at this point they aren’t even overdue, May 2022 is their target date… but I doubt that)
Sefirot–that Tarot boardgame, I only backed the cards, I can download the rules and check it out. Due in May. The updates suggest it may be mostly “on time” but I am not sure, also not sure what is taking so long for what is mostly a deck of Tarot cards.
Stationfall–that wild Ion games solo-able hidden identities game was due in December '21 and current updates suggest it may deliver this year. I am still excited to see how the game works out on the table. Can’t wait to get that one but I guess I will have to wait. The updates felt like the troubles are less global more Ion specific but I could be wrong.
Hoplomachus Victorum–my very first foray into Chip Theory was due in March 2022. At least they do almost regular updates and it feels as if this one may be done sometime this summer. I am excited to see a chip theory game up close. I am not sure at this point that this was the right one to check out.
Paperback Adventures–was due in February. The recent update showed of components. So… they haven’t started final production yet. After playing Hardback so much, I am looking forward to this one quite a lot.
Forests of Pangaia–something something wooden components and “local” designer, it felt like it should be more sustainable. But printing in China like everyone else took some of the shine of this one. Overdue like so many others, they are getting closer to actual production.
On Mars Alien Invasion: I still have hopes that the coop mode may induce my partner to actually try this. I have cooled on On Mars considerably due to realizing that this type of game needs other players willing to play–I tried the solo and it’s good but…–still it’s here to stay for now and the expansion will arrive sometime this summer as far as I can remember from recent updates. (would not back again because would not buy On Mars again, maybe I should find someone to trade me The Gallerist)
Earthborne Rangers: yet another game with story and campaign and cards. Also an attempt to take a more sustainable approach by printing regionally (as far as I remember it failed because of lack of interest in some regions). I have cooled on campaign style games a lot because most seem to value story over gameplay. I’ll see where this one ends up. I do not think they’ll hit their July 2022 delivery.
Voidfall: this is another one I am quite excited about. Big space game. Please take your time, and get it right. My first Mindclash game ever. Delivery sometime early 2023… would still not hesitate to back this.
Verdant: #3 in the Beth Sobel trilogy (I believe she did art on both Calico and Cascadia as well) probably my first ever set of games that I know the artist but not the designers. I sold my copy of Calico to get KS versions of all 3 with this campaign. Can’t wait… delivery this fall seems likely.
Marvel Dice Throne: I hope its good, I hope my partner likes it, I hope it clicks We like us some Marvel but don’t have a lot of Marvel themed games–Splendor doesn’t really count as the theme is as thin as… anyway… would back again at this point. Also seems like they are still on track to deliver mostly on time–June 2022.
Viscounts Expansions: the final KS for the West Kingdom trilogy. They’ve always been very much on time. I am semi-excited for the expansions as I have not had a chance to play the base game as much as I would have liked but I cannot hold it against the game. I like it a lot. But the expansion KS was more or less the completionist in me that wants it all.
Mind MGMT Secret Missions: I still haven’t finished reading the comic. I have played on the app a few times but the base game arrived here at an inopportune FOMO driven moment and I have not convinced my partner to try it with me. Backing this was a must obviously, but the question is was buying the game a must?
Ares Expedition Expansion: this is pretty fresh, so very little in the way of updates or schedules. I like the base game. I disagree–though not vehemently–with SVWAG about this one. But then I only got my expansions for RftG the other week and haven’t had a chance to try them on the table (I know them from the app)
Rove + Expansions: another attempt to find a second Button Shy game that is as good as Sprawlopolis. This one with the programmed movement has good chances.
Gamefound
(these are all quite recent, so it is hard to tell if I will regret backing these before delivery)
51st State Master Ultimate Set: I couldn’t help myself. This has a lot of things that I am excited about, apparently great solo, great theme and engine building. I have not played the game before but I have played Imperial Settlers which didn’t click with my partner at all and thus left the collection quickly because that solo-mode was a bit too barebones for me.
Tindaya Deluxe Edition: this is one of the riskier campaigns in terms of how sure I am this will be a good game. But if it is one, I want this edition of it. I’ve been following the game for a while and it channels Spirit Island in a few aspects…
Tamashi Chronicles of Ascend: probably too much story but how could I NOT pick up a game with this much Cyberpunk and hot-pink color scheme in it?!
Assault on Doomrock: so that’s the latest one. I blame SVWAG. And my partner for wanting coop games. This one seems to have refreshingly little story to it. Just like Tindaya I see this as a coin-toss in either it fails miserably for us or we’ll love it. But because it is fresher, I find I am a bit more excited abot it than Tindaya.
Crowdfinder
I backed Unsettled via crowdfinder. So that is still many months off. Another one of those that I hope my partner will enjoy with me. I hear good things about the gameplay–despite the apparently excellent writing for the story elements.
Spieleschmiede
Distilled–not sure about this one at this point. But I was so miffed about the shipping for the English version that it seemed like a no-brainer to back the German edition that has far less shipping attached aka none.
Other
Blood on the Clocktower seems like it may deliver sometime before SPIEL at last. I ordered this directly from their website after missing the KS. Quite excited about this after having played it here a couple of times.
My biggest issue with Gamefound is that I have 2 accounts. One was created “accidentally” because they act as pledge manager for many Kickstarter projects and refuse to move them over to another email Adress. I almost backed Doomrock twice because my devices were logged into different accounts and I was sure I had backed it but it wasn’t on my listed projects and… turns out different account. I tried to consolidate the accounts before and support told me they couldn’t do it.
I’m quite excited about too, but the local area has many voracious KS backers so I’ll play their copy. The joy is I sat it in the wants for a short while and cooled off backing it.
I wish I knew other “voracious” KS backers… my friends all play boardgames, because everyone does in these parts but I am the only one who has ever backed any crowdfunding.
Oh, I do love a good recap. My Kickstartering has slowed considerably in the last year, so my outstanding liesgames list is getting shorter:
Frosthaven – I have no idea when this will arrive, but I’m 100% sure it will eventually. My enthusiasm for it has waned a bit, after staring at my untouched Gloomhaven box and thinking, “When am I ever going to play this?”
Rallyman: DIRT – this one may actually arrive this year, roughly a year late. Their timeline was very aggressive at the time of the KS, but I think they have a good, realistic plan now for 2022 fulfillment.
Vinyl: Big Band Edition and Vinyl: Jukebox – I think I’ve lost all enthusiasm for this one. I messaged the creator on Kickstarter asking how much of a refund I could get; that was 9 months ago and the creator still hasn’t gotten back to me.
Frostpunk – this was a BGG contest win, so I don’t get regular updates without actively going to track them down. Looks like it may arrive 2022 Q4.
Root: The Marauder Expansion – some pledge levels have already started fulfilling in the US, but not mine I assume. Should arrive in the next couple of months
John Company: Second Edition – this one is coming along. It’s just barely late at this point, so for a Kickstarter, it’s actually doing quite well.
Empyreal: Far Corners – finished products are stuck in China, allegedly. I’m prone to believe it, but I suspect there’s a bit more of “we’re waiting for container/shipping prices to drop” than “we’re completely, 100% helpless to get these products on a boat”. Understandable, I guess. This entire project was just an excuse to get Empyreal: Spells and Steam back on Kickstarter, the expansion was a minor footnote in the project. But, this also includes the corrected dividers and errata for Millennium Blades: Collusion, which I’ve been avoiding opening the box because there’s so many cards and it’s so hard to organize them with the misprinted dividers that I just didn’t.
War Room (2nd Edition) – this one appears to be on-time. We’ll see in June if that’s the case.
Warehouse 13: The H.G. Wells Expansion – this was due to deliver in March 2021, but I don’t think they’ve even started production yet. This is not a surprise; the original Warehouse 13 Kickstarter project was, apparently, very much the same.
Shikoku: 1889 – at first, I was only going to back for $1 to get the 1861/1867 errata components (which even a $1 pledge wasn’t required for). But I ended up just grabbing the game. Eventually there will be a fight-to-the-death in my collection for 1889 vs 18Chesapeake (and I think 89 will win, but Chessie has Off The Rails in its back pocket to possibly even the score). Not late yet, due in September.
ORC BORG - brutal chaos powered by MÖRK BORG – backed this at the last minute based on @bruitist’s mention of it. I don’t need dayglow RPGs, but it looked interesting enough to support. Not late yet.
51st State: Ultimate Edition – grabbed this and plan to buy an upgrade kit for my existing 51st State Master Set, and then sell off the old stuff to offset the cost of the Ultimate edition. Portal Games has a pretty good track record; this one isn’t late yet and I’m guessing it’ll be roughly on time.
Twin Palms – backed this based on @lalunaverde’s mention of it. Not late yet
I haven’t been receiving anything for a while now! A combination of not backing a lot and supply issues. I also decided not to back Assault on Doomrock
Boring deets on my on-goings
Guards of Atlantis - thankfully, this is on-route now. Expecting this one next month. This one is an unpredictable one for me. I am truly unsure if this is go in the collection or not Spirits of the Forest - same as above 1860: Isle of Wight - same as above Shikoku: 1889 Joco2 - (insert board game tables KS here) - not super fuzz about these. BGT tends to be reliable American Bookstore/Cinderella’s Dance - backed this one this year so not much happening. Knizia’s Criminal Capers - another fairly recent KS Twin Palms - the latest I backed Pilgrim - back this one this year Warpgate: Beyond - same as above
So, it’s either the items are nearly here or they were funded recently
Expecting Guards of Atlantis, Sword & Sorcery Ancient Chronicles, wave 2 of Etherfields, Oathsworn, Burncycle and Marvel Dice Throne in the next couple months. Also Carnival Zombie 2nd edition is finally close to shipping… as in, ocean shopping, not fulfillment yet. And I think wave 1 of Aeon Trespass is likely coming soonish, also?
But I have a lot of understanding for the delays for this one. And I don’t mind, there is still a lot of Gloomhaven to explore for us.
We like us some Marvel but don’t have a lot of Marvel themed games–Splendor doesn’t really count as the theme is as thin as… anyway… would back again at this point. Also seems like they are still on track to deliver mostly on time–June 2022.