The League of Gamemakers brings you more Kickstarter tips! In our series, Kickstarter Questions, we’ve asked the same 7 questions of project creators who have started and finished a campaign to discover the best practices and common paths to success.

Our next set of questions was posed to Ryan Laukat, who has launched an impressive seven Kickstarter campaigns! His latest, Eight-Minute Empire: Lost Lands is LIVE NOW, funded 250% with several days to go. Ryan’s continues to gain backers each time and has built on his original games each time. Let’s find out what tips he has to share about Kickstarter:

7 KICKSTARTER QUESTIONS

 

WHAT ARE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE ADVERT OUTLETS YOU’VE FOUND TO DRIVE FOLKS TO YOUR CAMPAIGN?

The best method by far for me has been boardgamegeek.com banner ads. Also, I rely heavily on the visibility that comes from posting pictures of game art on that site (which is free, so I guess it doesn’t get much more cost effective than that).

 

NAME YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO ENGAGE BACKERS.

Because I illustrate all my games, I like to give an inside look at the process. I post an illustration in various stages from start to finish, and many backers have told me that it’s really interesting to see what it takes to paint something.

 

WHEN DO YOU KNOW YOUR GAME IS READY FOR KICKSTARTER?

If people are choosing to play the game again and again, and I’ve finished at least 50% of the art, that’s usually when I think it’s ready.

 

WHAT IS YOUR ACTION PLAN FOR AFTER A CAMPAIGN ENDS?

My goal is always to send the files to the printer within one month of the campaign ending, to make sure everything gets done as quickly as possible. This doesn’t always happen, but I think my deep fear of delivering late drives me to get the game printed on time.

 

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY ON YOUR NEXT CAMPAIGN?

Probably look for cheaper shipping options. So much of the cost of the campaign comes down to shipping, and I’m always trying to figure out how to do it better.

 

WHAT 3 TIPS WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW PROJECT CREATOR?

First, even though it might just be a one-man operation, look as professional as possible- don’t make it look like a one-man operation. Also, in my experience, the game art is as important as the game itself during the campaign. Finally, recruit proofreading help from backers.

 

WHAT’S KICKING AROUND IN THE NEXT YEAR?

War of the Void, a team-based galactic war game. It’s a sequel to Empires of the Void for 2-6 players.

1 BONUS QUESTION, JUST FOR FUN

 

A BACKER IS WILLING TO GIVE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A KS CAMPAIGN. WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST AND BIGGEST REWARD YOU’D OFFER?
I’d make a gigantic, magnetic version of the game! It would be at least 5 times as big, contained in a flat, wooden cabinet that you’d hang on the wall, and all you’d have to do to play was open up the doors. You could leave a game half-way finished for days and continue any time. It would have lights at the top that would shine on the board and a drawer for each type of component.

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Ryan Laukat is the founder and president of Red Raven Games. He is the designer and illustrator of Empires of the Void, City of Iron, Eight-Minute Empire, and Eight-Minute Empire: Legends, The Ancient World, and more.

Ryan’s artwork is gorgeous and immediately captures attention on his project pages. According to his website he’s a self-taught illustrator and as a freelance artist he’s handled design and art on over 50 game prototypes and illustrated many Dominion cards (such as the Adventurer). Ryan is a member of the Board Game Designers Guild of Utah.

More Kickstarter Questions here!

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If you have crowdfunded a successful campaign and would like to participate in our KS Questions, send us an email! – we’d love to hear and publish your answers and tips.