...as I mentioned over in the cosmic power levels thread...
I have been studying up on Kickstarter and they are saying do about 6-12 months of a prelaunch campaign before you launch the actual Kickstarter. The problem with that is they say also have the product ready (or 80-90% ready) before you start the pre-launch, so you have stuff to show. Clearly with procrastinating being my Achilles' Heel, I'll want as much done as possible.
I don't see myself sitting on this book for 6-12 months after its finished, but I will need at least a few months to build up an email list when I start my launch page.
I am happy to set a $5000 Funded total, even though that is well below my break even point.
Assuming I have less than 300 backers wanting a print copy (and that's a fairly safe assumption) my plan is to still have 300 copies printed (just under $8000) and hope to sell them over the subsequent 12 months on either Amazon or Ebay. Printing 300 means each will only cost $25, whereas anything under 300 copies is about $33 per book or more.
As noted before the Reward Tiers will be:
$25 - PDF
$55 - Hardcover 320 page book + PDF
$85 - Slipcase + Signed Hardcover 320 page book + PDF
So I am not going too crazy on the Rewards - I may have something extra for those who pledge in the first 48 hours (still working on that). I may also have an add-on for a miniature from the book (but still very early days on that idea - I am not sure it will be feasible.).
Stretch Goals (my current thinking at least):
$6000 - Monster Stats Chart Card printed out
$8000 - Bookmark Beast, an additional epic monster on a bookmark.
$11,000 - Extra colour art commissioned
$15,000 - Extra colour art commissioned
$20,000 - Extra colour art commissioned
$26,000 - Extra colour art commissioned
While the book has a ton of art (90 or so illustrations) it will be 90% black & white (albeit I am experimenting with adding spot colour to some of the B&W art). What colour art I have (and will have - still some pieces to commission) is good but currently at best I will have 8-10 full colour pages inside the book. So using stretch goals to boost that amount seems like a good idea.
If anyone has any thoughts, comments or suggestions on the above feel free to let me know.