More Game Design or Less?

I've been thinking more about game design but not actually getting much done. :D
I've started writing some thoughts on the design process that I want to share here later and I've been musing a few changes to my game but I stillh have to find the time to do it.

I haven't been doing much game design, but that's not really got much to do with staying at home. Of my works-in-progress, I recently gave up one early design as being unpromising, and the other is just at the point where I need live playtesters, and of course right now I can't get any. So I've been working on other projects: music and software are my other interests.

I should get busy and learn how to make games for Tabletop Simulator, then I could maybe get some actual playtests going.

Tabletop sim is fully integrated with steam for a lot of stuff, like addons and modules so there's no non-steam version and probably won't ever be.

If you stop steam from starting with the machine and use it only when running Tabletop sim the only moment it will try to update is when first running steam and it shouldn't bother you when you are in game. It's not perfect but it's the only way to use it :/

I found Tabletopia to be a good alternative for quick digital prototyping but it's not without issues.

TL;DR:
It's been a rough time for me, personally. Game projects have been pushed to the wayside while I deal.

A few things have pushed tabletop game design to the way-back-burner lately:

• Creative energy spent on converting analog curriculum to virtual classroom learning for my day job (I'm still at work).
• The atmosphere and general vibe brought about by the pandemic event has affected me personally and my mood is not the strongest it could be right now.
• I no longer feel the urgency to have my designs professionally-published. It took some time for me to admit this to myself, and was difficult to acknowledge. This emerged prior to COVID-19, and is representative of my low productivity in this area since maybe mid-2019.
• My limited energy remains for physical exercise, journaling, contacting friends/family, and working on smaller, low-pressure video game projects.

Hmm... Just a quick comment. While FREE would be good in most instances, in your particular case it doesn't help. Why? Because you already have the e-mails of all your players (or KS Backers). Offering something free to those people is of "no value" to you.

I know that I've already mentioned that you should POLL your KS Backers to ask THEM what would interest them the most. I still think you should do that otherwise you might waste resources on a fourth effort that doesn't fund.

Sure a "FREE Adventure" will be good for ALL your backers. But it doesn't really help GROW the brand. It may solidify a "core" group of supporters that may be loyal... But if the quantity of these individuals is too small... You can't FUND projects and therefore the game could disappear into the void.

Of the projects that I can see as of "interesting" (even if you may disagree ... They interest me and I have no skin in the game):

1> Miniatures. Could start small and only offer the "core" Heroes. If this funds, you've minimized your initial funding. How to make this POSSIBLE??? Start with the "core" Heroes and OFFER a reward for a modest reward like: "$25.00 USD get eight (8) Heroes".

I think this is something you could GAUGE and see if your Backers would like. This opens the door BIG TIME to future KS content. You could have small KS campaigns and produce like a MOQ of 500 units and since you are NEAR 500 overall backers... You could sell through most of your inventory.

Some math: $25 x 500 = $12,500. So about $10k. $600 x 8 = $4,800 cost + $200 x 8 = $6,400 USD. Cost of models = 500 x 8 x $0.30 = $1,200 Leaving you with a small profit of $3,650 USD (1/3rd profit). If you get more than 500 KS Backers, well then CONGRATS.

And then you can take it SLOW. Offer COLLECTIONS: like the "Sewer Set" ... Features some rats, snakes and ??? But you get the idea. Have FUN designing what you offer to SELL.

I can get you a 3D Modeler for $200/model + 1 Render. Maybe that might interest you, IDK?! I can ask my publisher for the contact information of "Santiago". He did the models for all the starships in Tau Ceti and TradeWorlds. He works well with initial illustration to accomplish 3d models. Like I said it wouldn't hurt if I ASKED (if you are interested)!

2> Adventure/Campaign Book. Could offer a "FREE" PDF "sneak peek" at a couple of pages of the book... Now that FREE makes sense because you stand to maybe entice people to Back you for another component that augments your game. And you could have a Kickstarter for just that based on how many people share their e-mail for the free preview.

Yes I know most will be e-mails that you ALREADY have. So you're wondering: "What's the point???" Well it's a question of GAUGING the market... Seeing how many backers would WANT an additional Adventure/Campaign Book.

3> "Monster/Boss" Pack. This was another idea about having MORE "standies" and dice for additional Monsters/Bosses. To add some more variety for the Quest Master and to make the game more of a challenge and a bit of "spice". But I don't know how many of your Fans will go for this. This is something that I would look for ... especially with your kind of game (RPG adventures).

So those are three (3) kinds of things that I would look for to entice your existing Fan base and maybe earn some additional backers (that are at home presently with their children)...

As usual, I'm not telling you what to do... I'm just saying these are the type of things that would interest me (as a parent/Quest Master)... But this is only my OWN opinion... I don't know what your Fans might like!

Feel FREE to ignore my advice... I'm just offering you another perspective into the gamer mind and what I think my own kids would have enjoyed in their younger years.

I'm just offering to you... What would interest me in your product. But at the end of the day, it's still YOUR game. I agree that producing some free content may be beneficial in terms of "longevity". And it is TRUE, it does "increases the value of the overall game".

I just want you to "succeed". I'm not a egoist. I very much want our BGDF members to succeed in their ventures. Why do you think that I respond to many of the threads sharing from my pool of experience??? Because I've seen good days and I've seen bad ones.

I'm hoping that at some point in time, my own game ideas (and future games) may have some level of success also. But that doesn't stop me from wanting to help others get to another level.

I really feel "bad" over Mike's passing. It wasn't my fault, God chose to take Mike from this world. But Mike was a great resource and I'm sure we maybe could have launched more games together EVEN if their Branding was mostly for Sci-Fi. To be honest, I'm sure Mike would have enjoyed Fantasy oriented games too...

So I do mourn this person (whom I never met) but who was very kind to me. Mike could have told me "It's Confidential" when I asked him about the cost of making Miniatures... He versed me in all the details from models to renderings to molds to unit pricing... He was a good person who wasn't afraid of sharing in his knowledge.

Anyhow, I think your 8 Heroes would make real nice 3D Miniatures. But it's not your direction and I'm fine with that. No worries... Wishing you all the best in success in 2020!