These types of videos are my favorite to watch! I've definitely taken your advice from videos on maintaining a "fit" collection and have asked myself these very questions when something catches my eye on Crowdfunding. Great topic and info, Alex!
I'd put all of these above some mentioned in the video: - Shipping Costs: the shipping costs way too much, either due to horrible shipping prices compared to other campaigns, or it's a low price game and shipping would be too much for the size of game. - Publisher History: if the publisher has a history of issues, has too many unfulfilled campaigns, has angered backers with their past campaigns, or has history of poor production quality. - Won't Get to Play It: if it's a huge campaign game, where you just don't think you'll get the chance to play it. Or if it's a game you don't think your gaming group would ever want to play.
There was a game I was really interested in called “Rise & Fall”. I love one of the designer’s other game called “Archipelago”. One of my top 100 games for sure. But they did something really odd during the campaign. They only offered the ability to play 5-8, if….and only if……you bought a whole ‘nother game. Yes, you had to get 2 copies of the same game and not all the components would be needed. You would have an excess of tiles, 2 rule books, two boxes, etc. Why wouldn’t they offer a 5-8 player expansion and make more money. Nope, their advice was to get a friend to purchase another box. Here’s another wrinkle in this. If you do happen to find someone who purchased this game……they have to had purchased the version of the game that has the opposite colored meeples than the one you purchased. There are relatively few people backing for 2 almost identical versions. TLDR; I figured any company that would 1) Ignore the pleas of their backers and potential backers 2) Purposely, not do a relatively simple thing that would make them more money imo, I had to walk away from. Imo, if they are not savvy enough to understand how to maximize their profits, I am a bit unsure they can deliver the product in the first place. And thus…..I skipped “Rise & Fall”. I have far too many games as it is.
I used reason 5 to not back the recent KS for the "Elric of Melinbone" game. I love the game but I know from the people I usually play with it wouldn't hit the table often enough to justify spending the money. H00t!
I slammed on the breaks hard this summer because a whole bunch of delayed Kickstarters we're arriving at once and I suddenly realized my size limitation in regards to storage. It also helps that I have a very nice diversified small collection now so I'm able to say no much easier. Legacy of Yu I'm interested in, but decided to wait until retail to see if I still feel that way.
Your first point is something I've been leaning on lately. I see a game on KS and think "wow I want that!" and yet there's dozen of top 100 games for sale that I haven't bought yet but could right now. So if I'm not jumping to buy these proven games, why am I jumping to buy a game that no one has played yet? This has held me back from backing certain games and I'm happy for it.
After looking at my backs, i would have gotten most of them at retail except maybe 5 of them : because of price point (pagan, waste knight, black hole) but they are difficult to find at retail or second hand (even tho i found waste knight not long after backing the full pledge u_u) , because of lack of information on Veiled Fate and because of the box cover for Era of kingdom. The main reason to not back the game for me are : the art, the shipping prices, no exclusive content, the theme There is so many games coming up i'm interested in and i already passed on some because i think i'll get them at retail but it will be difficult to not pull the trigger on a lot of games in october... Great tips !
One minor correction to your list. It’s not don’t buy a game if it will fight other games to be played but instead “Don’t buy games you won’t get to the table”. I almost backed Eleven (to the extent I had a pledge). However I asked my game group if they would play it, and without them… it’s not worth any money. Don’t back games you won’t play. Sure you might get your money back, but you could have spent that money on a retail game you did play.
I don't quite use your All or nothing approach, because by default I take the approach that I want the base game and only one or two expansions that sound intriguing. If the price gets too high at that point, I reevaluate and usually just wait for retail and will seek out the expansions if I still really want them after playing the base game. There are only 3 exceptions where I have gone for a gameplay all in
A thing I’m starting to feel with Kickstarters (especially with FOMO) is that if I’m backing a product just to make sure I get it is the game going to be good enough? And now I’m seeing so many kickstarter games that say “don’t miss it it’s only available in this campaign”, and that makes me want to not back it. I feel like I would rather back a project that they are trying to get to everyone. That they’re making a game good enough to last for years and want to get it to retail. If they are not doing so is it really going to be worth my money?!
More and more I'm "letting the game price me out". Especially when the price looks okay... And then you need to add expensive shipping... And then you need to add 21% tax. It's just getting too pricey. This is why I appreciate campaigns that include tax in the price (like awaken realms is doing).
ive stopped backing most big campaign style games or games with a huge setup. Ive even cancelled a few pledges (euthia expansion, storm sunder). A lot of money, and a lot of time to set stuff up. The games I play the most are the ones with a sub 5 minute setup time (my wife doesnt have the patience to spend 10+ minutes help setting up, and some of the bigger games can take me 20-30 minutes to setup myself, especially if using multiple expansions)
Interesting thread as I am (so far) resisting the new Tainted Grail crowdfunder. Trying to remember I'm new in the hobby and have a $1000 of games on my wishlist. They've stood the test of time with many reviews, not just a few. I'll never have time to play them all. Just have to stay focused.
Saying no if I wouldn’t have gotten it retail is a big one for me. Especially since there have been a bunch of times that I’ve said “I will wait for retail” and I never actually pick up the game.
I hear you! Thanks for this video! Helps strengthen my resolve to hold back! 1. Did exactly that with Western Legends and Isle of Cats. 2. Feeling that for upcoming Spirit Island. Haven’t found the gears to dive into Jagged Earth. 3. Yeap, almost did Forsaken but cancelled last minute. 4. I’m waiting for retail for Wayfarers of South Tigris indeed. 5. Dune: War of Arrakis I stayed away too due to my lack of love for Star Wars Rebellion. I do disagree with you keeping games due to your game group! Haha. Being the one who provides the games, you should have more say than your friends which games get tabled? Or you could find more than 1 game group to play with, since you have the games anyway! Haha
This should be mandatory viewing for anyone getting into board games. I currently own 2 of all kickstarters ive ever backed. And prices keep getting bigger and bigger. I now back 2-3 projects a year and thinking about slowing down.
Equitable means something like impartial. Sounds like you were going for equivalent or comparable and merged them. 😄 Anyway these are all great reasons. Especially about retail, there are so many great sales in retail while crowdfunding prices continue to spiral into the stratosphere.
KS have made me hesitate to buy retail especially the classic, thinking there might be a remake or deluxification of it popping up anytime soon. Castle of Burgundy, Castle of Mad King ludwig, 51st state and more have proven it true.
I have been not backing most Kickstarters now because I'm trying to cut down. Even with some of my favorite IPs like Aeon's End I had to slow down on. I have too many unplayed games and it's all expensive.
These types of videos are my favorite to watch! I've definitely taken your advice from videos on maintaining a "fit" collection and have asked myself these very questions when something catches my eye on Crowdfunding. Great topic and info, Alex!
Awesome :)
ty for this video!
I use #1 and #4 quite often. #5 isn't as useful because my collection is quite small. #3 is an incredible idea, I may take advantage of it. Thank you
Enjoy :)
I'd put all of these above some mentioned in the video:
- Shipping Costs: the shipping costs way too much, either due to horrible shipping prices compared to other campaigns, or it's a low price game and shipping would be too much for the size of game.
- Publisher History: if the publisher has a history of issues, has too many unfulfilled campaigns, has angered backers with their past campaigns, or has history of poor production quality.
- Won't Get to Play It: if it's a huge campaign game, where you just don't think you'll get the chance to play it. Or if it's a game you don't think your gaming group would ever want to play.
Great points and honest real-talk, per usual. Thanks Alex.
Thank you :)
There was a game I was really interested in called “Rise & Fall”. I love one of the designer’s other game called “Archipelago”. One of my top 100 games for sure. But they did something really odd during the campaign. They only offered the ability to play 5-8, if….and only if……you bought a whole ‘nother game. Yes, you had to get 2 copies of the same game and not all the components would be needed. You would have an excess of tiles, 2 rule books, two boxes, etc. Why wouldn’t they offer a 5-8 player expansion and make more money. Nope, their advice was to get a friend to purchase another box. Here’s another wrinkle in this. If you do happen to find someone who purchased this game……they have to had purchased the version of the game that has the opposite colored meeples than the one you purchased. There are relatively few people backing for 2 almost identical versions.
TLDR; I figured any company that would 1) Ignore the pleas of their backers and potential backers 2) Purposely, not do a relatively simple thing that would make them more money imo, I had to walk away from. Imo, if they are not savvy enough to understand how to maximize their profits, I am a bit unsure they can deliver the product in the first place. And thus…..I skipped “Rise & Fall”. I have far too many games as it is.
Totally understand that.
waiting for the follow up "5 excuses to Back a Gamefound" 🙂
I used reason 5 to not back the recent KS for the "Elric of Melinbone" game. I love the game but I know from the people I usually play with it wouldn't hit the table often enough to justify spending the money. H00t!
I slammed on the breaks hard this summer because a whole bunch of delayed Kickstarters we're arriving at once and I suddenly realized my size limitation in regards to storage. It also helps that I have a very nice diversified small collection now so I'm able to say no much easier. Legacy of Yu I'm interested in, but decided to wait until retail to see if I still feel that way.
Your first point is something I've been leaning on lately. I see a game on KS and think "wow I want that!" and yet there's dozen of top 100 games for sale that I haven't bought yet but could right now. So if I'm not jumping to buy these proven games, why am I jumping to buy a game that no one has played yet? This has held me back from backing certain games and I'm happy for it.
Shipping and VAT. Backed 2 games in 2 years because of that
After looking at my backs, i would have gotten most of them at retail except maybe 5 of them : because of price point (pagan, waste knight, black hole) but they are difficult to find at retail or second hand (even tho i found waste knight not long after backing the full pledge u_u) , because of lack of information on Veiled Fate and because of the box cover for Era of kingdom.
The main reason to not back the game for me are : the art, the shipping prices, no exclusive content, the theme
There is so many games coming up i'm interested in and i already passed on some because i think i'll get them at retail but it will be difficult to not pull the trigger on a lot of games in october...
Great tips !
One minor correction to your list. It’s not don’t buy a game if it will fight other games to be played but instead “Don’t buy games you won’t get to the table”.
I almost backed Eleven (to the extent I had a pledge). However I asked my game group if they would play it, and without them… it’s not worth any money.
Don’t back games you won’t play. Sure you might get your money back, but you could have spent that money on a retail game you did play.
Absolutely agreed
I don't quite use your All or nothing approach, because by default I take the approach that I want the base game and only one or two expansions that sound intriguing. If the price gets too high at that point, I reevaluate and usually just wait for retail and will seek out the expansions if I still really want them after playing the base game. There are only 3 exceptions where I have gone for a gameplay all in
A thing I’m starting to feel with Kickstarters (especially with FOMO) is that if I’m backing a product just to make sure I get it is the game going to be good enough?
And now I’m seeing so many kickstarter games that say “don’t miss it it’s only available in this campaign”, and that makes me want to not back it. I feel like I would rather back a project that they are trying to get to everyone. That they’re making a game good enough to last for years and want to get it to retail. If they are not doing so is it really going to be worth my money?!
More and more I'm "letting the game price me out". Especially when the price looks okay... And then you need to add expensive shipping... And then you need to add 21% tax. It's just getting too pricey.
This is why I appreciate campaigns that include tax in the price (like awaken realms is doing).
Shipping is why I’ve cut back a lot. And my shelf is full with overflow to the side of it.
Is this one half of a 2 part video where the second one is 5 excuses to back every kickstarter you see?
Ummm...maybe
ive stopped backing most big campaign style games or games with a huge setup. Ive even cancelled a few pledges (euthia expansion, storm sunder). A lot of money, and a lot of time to set stuff up. The games I play the most are the ones with a sub 5 minute setup time (my wife doesnt have the patience to spend 10+ minutes help setting up, and some of the bigger games can take me 20-30 minutes to setup myself, especially if using multiple expansions)
Interesting thread as I am (so far) resisting the new Tainted Grail crowdfunder. Trying to remember I'm new in the hobby and have a $1000 of games on my wishlist. They've stood the test of time with many reviews, not just a few. I'll never have time to play them all. Just have to stay focused.
*scratches veins* C'mon Alex I need a hit of that Darkest Dungeon review.
Saying no if I wouldn’t have gotten it retail is a big one for me. Especially since there have been a bunch of times that I’ve said “I will wait for retail” and I never actually pick up the game.
I hear you! Thanks for this video! Helps strengthen my resolve to hold back!
1. Did exactly that with Western Legends and Isle of Cats.
2. Feeling that for upcoming Spirit Island. Haven’t found the gears to dive into Jagged Earth.
3. Yeap, almost did Forsaken but cancelled last minute.
4. I’m waiting for retail for Wayfarers of South Tigris indeed.
5. Dune: War of Arrakis I stayed away too due to my lack of love for Star Wars Rebellion.
I do disagree with you keeping games due to your game group! Haha. Being the one who provides the games, you should have more say than your friends which games get tabled? Or you could find more than 1 game group to play with, since you have the games anyway! Haha
This should be mandatory viewing for anyone getting into board games.
I currently own 2 of all kickstarters ive ever backed. And prices keep getting bigger and bigger. I now back 2-3 projects a year and thinking about slowing down.
Equitable means something like impartial. Sounds like you were going for equivalent or comparable and merged them. 😄
Anyway these are all great reasons. Especially about retail, there are so many great sales in retail while crowdfunding prices continue to spiral into the stratosphere.
But, but,m but… it looks so shiny n my shelf1 :-)
I am afraid of a world war, so I will not back anything from now on.
Alex trying to call me out while I continue to back all-in. 😅😂
KS have made me hesitate to buy retail especially the classic, thinking there might be a remake or deluxification of it popping up anytime soon. Castle of Burgundy, Castle of Mad King ludwig, 51st state and more have proven it true.
I have been not backing most Kickstarters now because I'm trying to cut down. Even with some of my favorite IPs like Aeon's End I had to slow down on. I have too many unplayed games and it's all expensive.
Getting more content than I need.....