Post Kickstarter
After a couple of much-needed days off, I am home again to start processing through the results of the Kickstarter and to get started working (again) on Numenera.
If you haven’t heard, Numenera earned over half a million dollars on the Kickstarter campaign. 4658 people backed the project, which is probably the thing that makes me happiest. That’s a great start toward building a sustainable, heathy audience for the game and the subsequent game line.
So does that mean that I put 500 grand in my wallet and walk away whistling? No. Not even close. These first few days after the campaign, we watch as Kickstarter (and Amazon Payments) attempts to collect and process the funds. So far, it looks like about $7000 worth of the payments failed. They’ll continue to try to collect, but you have to expect that some of the people who pledge are going to be in knowingly or unknowingly be in situations that result in payment failure. Frankly, I’m happy that it’s only about $7000. Next, Amazon and Kickstarter take their cuts, which end up being (so far) about $18,000 and $26,000, respectively.
After that, we need to start commissioning the people needed to make this happen, including artists, graphic designers, editors, and more. On that front, I’m happy to announce that Sarah Robinson will be doing our graphic design, Sean Reynolds will assist in rules development, Ray Vallese will help with editing, and Christopher West will be doing the cartography. You likely know Sarah as the graphic designer of many gorgeous Paizo products. Sean, of course, has been a long-time designer and developer in the industry, working with TSR, WotC, Paizo, Malhavoc, and his own company. Ray has worked as an editor for TSR and WotC as well as others. Chris has worked for a number of companies as well as developing his own Maps of Mastery. These fine folks will join myself, Shanna Germain (lead editor) and Kieran Yanner (lead artist).
We also have to sock a lot of this away to pay for future printing and shipping, which will be the vast majority of our budget. Remember, we’re creating not just the Numenera book, but the deluxe leatherbound version, the Player’s Guide, three print adventures, and three big hardcover books. As well as dice, GM screens, cards, t-shirts, and more.
If you missed out on the Kickstarter, never fear. The books and other products (other than the few Kickstarter exclusives) will be available next year. Please tell your local retailer that you are interested so he or she can talk to the distributor reps. Seriously, this will make a huge impact on the success of the game if you do this, particularly between January and March of next year.
I tried to get a lot of information about the game out there while the Kickstarter was happening, so people could make informed decisions. If I am quieter here over the next few months than I have been, it’s because I’m really, really busy pull this all together, and doing a lot of fun research, design, and writing.
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Take your time, Monte. Everybody know that rushing things up is one of the reasons the quality of a product falls. So keep it up. We will be waiting until 2013!
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“No Character Without Portrait” Project: http://www.indiegogo.com/portraits-for-characters -
I’m very excited about Numenera and wish you the best of luck in pulling it all off.
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Monte,
We know this is a business venture for you. Hope that part of it does not drive you crazier than you want to be? We will be eagerly awaiting the playtest as well as news along the way. Understanding that this is the part of the process that takes a great deal of time and energy, but we also know you will provide a superior product to be proud of. So work away and throw us a tid bit now and again but know that you are supported by a vast number of fellow gamers waiting to share in the experience of what Numenera brings. I personally sit just a little south of Lake Geneva where the crazy gaming world came to life. Long live tabletop RPG’s!!! Thanks Monte!!!
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The fact that Christopher West will be doing the maps for this product makes me ridiculously happy. He’s the most talented cartographer in RPGs.
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I hope your vacation went well Monte, however brief it was! You’ve started the ball rolling for quite an incredible community of fans and followers. I, for one, can’t wait to hear more goodness about Numenera. Can’t say thank you enough for an incredible project.
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Best of luck. Looking forward to the final product.
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Good luck, sir. We’ll see you on the other side!
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I backed Numenera and am anxious to receive the loot! My boy and I will be trying this out, though I’m more interested in the possibilities of telling stories than the actual gaming. Anyway, just an off question, there are a few independent hobby/gaming stores in my area and is there any information they should have if I mention about getting Numenera resources or will whatever distributors they talk to for other products have that info? Just want to be sure they are able to get in touch with the right people for this product.
Thanks!
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$7k out of $517,256? Sounds really positive to me, and a good chunk of that will likely get resolved. Have fun developing the game!
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Exciting!
8′)
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Even if you pledged and will be getting the books etc, please talk to your local shops anyway to get this game. We need to spread the word as much as possible and make this game even more successful than it already is. We will conquer the world. Numenera FTW!
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Hey Monte,
When do you think you will be putting the Numenera Forums up on numenera.com? It would be cool to start to capture and build on the excitement already started by the kick starter campaign.-
I, too, am looking forward to connecting with fellow Numenera GMs and Players, to discuss potential story ideas, and really just have people “in the know” to nerd-gasm with. I know you are busy, Monte, but activating those forums will be a good way to not only get feedback from us, but so we can continue to Hype ourselves, and have a community to which we can point future Numenera players.
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Good luck Monte! A lot of work ahead, but we are looking forward to the end result! Quite a team you’ve got.
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Somebody needs to update the wikipedia article on Monte with news of Numenera.
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Will be making out flyers we could give are local game shops to advertise?
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Looking forward to seeing this move forward and hearing more about playtesting.
If you need any help with copy editing feel free to let me know, I’ve got the time and the will to assist.
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Oh guys this is going to be so much fun when all is said and done. I look forward to the adventure and community it will bring together.
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Take your time getting everything set up Monte. I backed Numenera (although not as heavily as I wanted to), and I’m waiting for the books. Hopefully I will be able to find you at some point and get you to sign a book for me.
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Its really cool how transparent you chose to be about the way the Numenera Kickstarter funds. I have to respect that as you weren’t obliged to. I will second the request or a discussion forum, or at least endorse an “official” fan created discussion forum. It will make the year that more bearable and allow your following to discuss and grow.
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Any news on the short film stretch goal?
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One of the things that’s true about Kickstarter is that while the KS is going, it seems like things move really fast. (And they do.) One of the truisms about real life is that things move pretty slowly. It’s only been a couple weeks. I promise that when I have things to announce, I’ll announce them.
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