Wow, it has been too long since I've done any updating on the blog, and I'm aware I still owe a part two to the Eternal GM topic I started on prior to the Time Heroes Kickstarter, but hey, who know managing a Kickstarter project was such hard work? If you haven't had a chance to see how the Kickstarter has been going, feel free to check it out: Time Heroes Kickstarter Project.
Kickstarter Experience
I've been doing quite a few things to try and spread the word about the Kickstarter project. There hasn't been a crazy rush of backers like I've seen for a few other RPG projects, but there has definitely been an amount I'm pleased with. At this point, I'm extremely confident that we will fund and possibly hit a couple of the stretch goals. Of course, there's still time to hit most, if not all of them, so who knows? Anyway, here are a few of the ways I've tried to spread the word about the Time Heroes KS, for those of you curious or looking for ideas on how to promote your own.
RPG Communities - I'm an active participant over at +RPG Geek (more the main website than the community, though, truth to tell). That made it the perfect place to make an announcement as I'm known, and have friends, there. I also posted on RPG.net and asked +Russell Morrissey to post a link in his news feed for EN World, which he was kind enough to do.
Social Networking - Yup. Google Plus and Facebook is the way to go. I've been making sure my updates get over to both social networking sites and I know several new backers resulted from it. I am also currently running a FB ad (only $25 total) that links to the KS and I've gotten at least one backer off of that. I also used the networks to ask people in the industry like +Fred Hicks if he wouldn't mind giving it a look, and have gotten some great tips from +Steve Russell , who recently finished the successful Lords of Gossamer and Shadow Kickstarter project and +Kevin Mickelson, the man behind the Berserkon Kickstarter. My social networks have been a great way to both boost the signal for my project as well as get advice on running a successful Kickstarter. If I had one recommendation for people new to Kickstarters, it would be: Don't be afraid to approach industry pros. In my experience, they have been extremely friendly and more than happy to help a new RPG Designer get off the ground.
Additionally, I've picked up some great items to offer via the Kickstarter from social networking. +Jacob Poss is offering up his Defenders of Amaranthia Fate Core setting as a stretch goal, which I have gladly accepted. +Amanda Mickelson has just agreed to make some Cthulhu plushies that I can offer as add-ons to any reward level. Both of these items are sure to help boost the funds Time Heroes ultimately raises.
Lastly, having a presence on G+ recently lead to my being approached by +Stacey Chancellor, one of the hosts of Fate Points, and now I'll be a guest on the show June 17, right around the time the Kickstarter hits the one week remaining mark.
Physical Presence - I backed the Berserkon Kickstarter at the Artisan level, so that I could have an artist's table setup there. We made a banner with sample artwork from +Melissa Gay on it and had it manned by kind volunteers the entire weekend of the convention (I had intended on being there more myself, but ended up running back-to-back Time Heroes sessions the entire weekend).
This gave a couple of boosts to the Kickstarter. First, there was hands-on experience available. I ran about ten sessions of the game over the course of the weekend, and I know several of the people who played turned around and backed the project (a couple even mid-session). This was fantastic in and of itself, but this also gave me the chance to run the game for the likes of +Joanna Gaskell and +Brian Lewis. Even +Bill Cavalier stopped by to visit about the game. What started as simply wanting to be able to run the game to let people see how it plays turned into a surprise chance to boost the signal a bit by running for some gaming celebrities. Trust me, no matter how small the con, if there's one you can get to to promote your project (particularly as it's running), DO IT.
The second boost to the Kickstarter came from the fact that I was able to be interviewed for the local news and for a podcast. I'm not sure that these resulted in anyone backing the project, but it's quite possible (and in either case, was a lot of fun).
Chase Mechanics
The second part of today's blog post is about me (possibly) changing how chases work in Time Heroes.
As they stand now, chases in Time Heroes are resolved just like they would be in Fate Core. However, thinking back on Saturday morning cartoons, I seem to recall chasing happening a lot. Maybe even once or twice an episode. As I thought about this, I decided maybe it would be a good idea to make chases have a more prominent role in the game. From there I decided to add a Chase Stress Track to the Physical and Mental ones.
I think that the stress track itself will be based on Athletics. Yes, Athletics is already used for quite a bit, but I can't think of a better skill to use. I'm debating possibly dropping Athletics as a defense against Fight to balance it out better. So, this means that the Chase track will have its boxes determined the same way Physical and Mental do.
Additionally, chases are more of a "between scenes" situation. When someone can no longer take Chase stress, it merely will determine the way the next scene starts for the players. As an example, in the "Rise of the Plushies" episode, there is a scene where the players are chasing H.P. Lovecraft through city streets as he attempts to reach the field to complete a ritual. No matter how the chase scene turns out, the next scene will take place at the football field. The difference between success and failure will simply be whether they get there before Lovecraft has jumped into the ritual or if they arrive as he's nearly completed it.
With that in mind, I think I will be having the Chase track not involve the ability to take consequences. Also, in all likelihood, I'll probably have the chase be the ultimate chase roll determined by the PC with the lowest Chase track (the speed of the group is determined by the slowest member, after all), with the other PCs able to assist.
The full mechanics haven't been worked out yet, but that's about as far as I've gotten. I may end up also adding a Chase skill to the franchise and use THAT to determine how many "hits" the group can take before they fail, which would require changing the way franchises are built. Anyway, that is a start on how I'd kind of like to envision the new mechanic.
