Why I'm Glad My Kickstarter Failed Miserably

Just a little bit over a month ago I started the OSR Calendar Kickstarter with a goal of $7,500 (or roughly 375 backers). It's over now with a grand total of 5 backers and $130 raised.

This, I believe, qualifies as a substantial and miserable failure.

I could be disheartened as I wanted to do the calendar, but I am instead glad that this is the result. For if success was not in the cards, I'd feel much worse were we to have failed by only a few hundred dollars. This definitive failure tells me that there was *no* demand for the product. It's a crystal message from the customer-base. "Nope, we're not interested."

I also view this definitive failure as a definitive success. I think I view Kickstarter in a different way than many other creators. I have the capital to do what I want when it comes to rpg-related products. If I wanted, I could have created the calendar, printed it up, and shipped it out like any of our other publications. Many other creators have the vision and the drive, but not the capital, to do something. For someone like that, this failure would sting.

For me, it a great relief. It's a great relief because I accepted that I did not have knowledge on how the OSR Calendar would be received and I mitigated my risk by using Kickstarter as a market tester requiring only minimal effort. My failed Kickstarter saved me thousands of dollars. I did the right thing for my business.

So, although I'd rather have seen it funded, published, and enjoyed. I am *far* from disappointed in the results. A spectacular failure is always an opportunity to learn.

OSR Calendar Kickstarter Started!

Ok, ladies and gents, I've thrown my hat into the Kickstarter ring with a different kind of rpg-gaming-related project -the 2013 Old-School Renaissance Calendar!

I've spoken about this before and am going ahead with the project. It is a 12-month calendar that will have 12 brand-new OSR illustrations from artists involved in the OSR. Also the calendar will have dates of when OSR material was published as well as dates on when some of the important original material was published. Finally, I'm offering those who wish a chance to immortalize themselves or their games on the calendar by including a specific date of their choice - such as birthdays, fantasy holidays, etc...

I think the calendar will be a cool thing to hang on the wall, and I hope everyone else thinks the same. For a full-sized sample of what January will look like (sans-illustration of course) click here.

For this to be successful, I'll need your help. Please tell your gamer friends about it and lets get an OSR calender ready for the new year!