Couldn't you combine the two and just sell a limited run via Kickstarter? Except for my copy, you could sell me that and avoid the kickstarter fees.

I think there is an appetite for games if you meet the person who made them in person at that kind of production run...or you know them. Kickstarter has changed a LOT of things it would appear. You have had success before with the hand crafted so do it again.

You're asking about a 1,000 True Fans business model and in specific whether you can collect and maintain 1,000 True Fans. So, can you?

So, do you think people are still interested or, in these days of KickStarter, is it a crazy idea?

I have no idea! Back in the day, I probably had quite a few, definitely less than a 1,000 though. It's been a long time since I was publishing, I don't have those peoples' details any more and they may well have forgotten all about me. So I doubt I've retained many of them.

Cheers,

Jack

Well, there are many people who think KS is a crazy idea....

To try and answer your question; yes, I think there is a market for anything well-made and "interesting" (in some way or the other). The internet, regardless of KS, allows you to reach an audience that are your potential buyers, but you still need a product they will want to buy.

Why are you asking US? Ask the buying public directly.

THis is EXACTLY what Kickstarter is designed to do! You first carefully and accurately figure out the numbers which will work for you, then launch the campaign. Your response will give you your answer with no risk. If the demand is not there, the campaign fails and you don't go into production, and are not out of pocket. If the campaign succeeds you have your customer list handed to you, get busy producing and shipping, and make your numbers.

There are numerous resources out there helping you with setting up a Kickstarter campaign, including several specific to boardgames.

If you don't like Kickstarter, then, well, OK, but Kickstarter is supposed to be there to allow you to test the market (rather than the goofy full-scale-company-boardgame-launches-hijacking-Kickstarter-I'm-talking-about-you-Queen-games things we see so often). This sounds to me like something you should investigate further.

I think Clearclaw is right that it's the model that most suits what you're trying to do.

I think it's feasible as a concept at least. Whether it's feasible for you (and equally whether you feel you want to take the risk to try and build it up) is a question only you can answer.

You've got 1 fan who remembers you!

Sumeria and Carpe Astra are two of my favorite games, and I've often hoped you'd begin designing & publishing more unique games again. I sometimes feel games have become a little generic sometimes, and feel you have a unique vision and great attitude about facing your mistakes.

I realize my post is probably not helpful to your point, but I hope I'm not out of line in saying I hope to see another published game from you in the future, and to say I'd be interested if I liked the theme/subject matter.

Best of luck

Paul

Kickstarter is great and all, but I feel its then not about making the game but more about being a logistics manager and coordinating all the disparate elements of production into a deliverable product, which seems to not be your focus at all from what I'm reading, so I don't know why you would want to put yourself into that. Anyhow, random observations from an internet stranger.

As I mentioned above, I fear what I want to do will be a really bad fit for KickStarter: fixed length run, no stretch goals, no pledge levels, plus getting all my orders up front would be a fulfilment nightmare if I'm making the games by hand in my spare time. While a more traditional KickStarter might succeed, I don't want to start a campaign where I have no idea what I'm letting myself in for until the campaign is over and I know how many copies and what stretch goals I'm committed to. The appeal of a small hand-made run is that I know ahead of time exactly how much effort is required and the order will (hopefully!) come in over a number of months thereby easing the fulfilment pressure.

Cheers,

Jack

I'm pretty sure that KickStarter backers are expecting great art, snazzy videos, stretch goals, etc.

As I mentioned above, I fear what I want to do will be a really bad fit for KickStarter: fixed length run, no stretch goals, no pledge levels, plus getting all my orders up front would be a fulfilment nightmare if I'm making the games by hand in my spare time.

Jackson,

Just finished researching some of your games and am really impressed with their designs. What an adventure you were on.

So I am curios what you mean by "Hand Made." The detail you shared of numbered/signed doesn't mean hand made to me- that means "limited edition," to me.

Are you actually asking about if there's an appetite for drawing/painting the cards by hand and handcrafted parts and doing some sort of bespoke manufacturing? Or do you mean just small print run and higher cost game that is limited to a set number? Or something else entirely?

Your game designs are intriguing to me. Maybe not the zombie one... but the historical stuff for sure.