New Board Game Prototype

How much playtesting have you done?

The next step would probably be to do a lot more playtesting before you even think about publishing.

If you already have tested a lot, then you probably still need to do more.

Good start. :) Seriously, just getting a game into a playable state and going through a load of plays is already way ahead of most people. Good work.

Follow-up questions...

Were you playing every time? Or were some of these tests played purely by other people?

Were some of your playtesters from outside your circle of family and friends?

Have any players tried playing the game from the rulebook, without you helping?

What feedback have you received?

If you ignore all the positive "We really like your game" feedback, were there any criticisms that meant you had to rethink aspects of the game?

(Hint: if nobody has criticised any part of the game, you need to find playtesters who do.)

I can only base my comment on what I've read from your earlier messages. Please don't take this personally, because it may seem a bit negative.

It's strongly recommended that you have a look at these "The 10 Reasons I'll back a Kickstarter Project" by industry guru, Jamey Stegmaier:

http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-77-the-10-reasons-ill-back...

From what I've read there (and all across his blog), having a project "about halfway done" is not the right time to be investing your energy into a kickstarter campaign. To be successful, by all accounts the game must be done.

Instead, focus on making an excellent game. Playtesting with people who don't know you is essential. Look to your local game stores and see if they have any game nights or other events where they can host your game at a table for the day. Demo it with any living, breathing person with the patience to sit down with you. Thank them all profusely. Come up with a finished rulebook and have it proofread by someone - other than yourself - who knows a thing or two about proper grammar and text layout.

After that, I think it would be a safe time to have Kickstarter under consideration.

To put it another way... When your game is at the state shown in this message thread, THEN have a go at Kickstarter. These folks came at it correctly:

http://www.bgdf.com/node/17648

For your next step: playtesting. That should be the one thing on the top of your list right now. This cannot be understated.

Wishing you nothing but success on your project, MAD. :D

Yup, I've just had a look through, and this page might help:
http://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-7-the-funding-goal/

It includes a worked example with some numbers for what might be considered a fairly standard boardgame. Of course, your game probably has different requirements, but it is at least a load of actual numbers from someone who has been through the process (very successfully) a few times.