August 22, 2019: Kickstarter Reports, August Update

[RoboAdmin]

August 22, 2019: Kickstarter Reports, August Update

Read this article on the Illuminator.

[DouglasCole]

Just as feedback, I think this update style is really informative. Keep doing them.

[AndreasDavour]

Just a thought. If you wont allow international backers on future crowdfunding campaigns, wont that skew the data on measuring demand if you cut out all international potential buyers?

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by AndreasDavour

Just a thought. If you wont allow international backers on future crowdfunding campaigns, wont that skew the data on measuring demand if you cut out all international potential buyers?

I believe this to be an overstatement. They've said PHYSICAL rewards will not be available directly as part of the crowdfunding campaign, and that international physical product will be fulfilled by Print-on-Demand. I've not seen a single thing suggesting PDFs will be denied to anyone.

In general, my experience - which is likely smaller and different than SJG - is that generally 1/5 to 1/3 of backers of any stripe are from "not the USA," and of those, they self-select to the digital-only rewards. The typical shipping costs to serve that fraction is easily double to quadruple those of the USA, and not all of those costs are passed on to the backer due to the complexity of the fulfillment process.

[AndreasDavour]

I might have interpreted the news post differently then. But, that was why I asked anyway, to be sure I understood the implications.

[Turhan's Bey Company]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

I believe this to be an overstatement. They've said PHYSICAL rewards will not be available directly as part of the crowdfunding campaign, and that international physical product will be fulfilled by Print-on-Demand. I've not seen a single thing suggesting PDFs will be denied to anyone.

Phil did say explicitly when announcing the Magic Items 2 KS that international customers could do digital rewards (and it'd thereafter be available as POD, so physical copies will eventually be available to anyone who wants them, just not as part of the KS). That the Illuminator says "not offering international awards" is likely a small but significant misstatement.

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

In general, my experience - which is likely smaller and different than SJG - is that generally 1/5 to 1/3 of backers of any stripe are from "not the USA," . . .

You avoid shipping stuff out of the USA, once it's in the USA, don't you? That seems to avoid the highest prices.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by johndallman

You avoid shipping stuff out of the USA, once it's in the USA, don't you? That seems to avoid the highest prices.

I do. I'd be happy to discuss what I actually do, but I don't think this is the forum for it. Maybe Roleplaying in General or perhaps the Industry forum. Even so, the very best would likely be something like the GURPS or Gaming Ballistic Discord Channel.

Not trying to VagueBook so much as keep the conversation focused on SJG stuff.

[philreed]

Originally Posted by AndreasDavour

Just a thought. If you wont allow international backers on future crowdfunding campaigns, wont that skew the data on measuring demand if you cut out all international potential buyers?

We have no plans to take Magic Items 2 into distribution. As with Monsters 2, this is a direct-only title that will be offered through Kickstarter and then, later, Amazon print-on-demand and/or Warehouse 23.

[AndreasDavour]

Thanks for the update Phil.