Deciding on a print run

It’s time for some deep cuts and exciting news!

After doing *a lot* of calculations around producing the game, I’ve decided the best way forward is to do a print run of at least 2000 copies. My goals have always been:

1. get the game into people’s hands

2. break even (or better)

I’m confident that a 2000 print run of the game is the best way to do this. Based on my research, an indy board game that sold 2000 copies would not be unusual. There’s two ways this could work:

1. Launch a successful crowd funded campaign (probably on Game Found https://gamefound.com/), and sell most of the copies up front. If the crowd funding is successful, it means the extra expense of the platform fees and fulfillment costs.

or 

2. If the crowd funding fails, take a business loan, get the game printed and ramp up marketing efforts for a long term campaign. Either way, I think I could sell all the copies in about 4 years. That means some extra expense from marketing/advertising, financing and storage costs. I would probably sell and distribute the game myself in North America. If I can find a European distributor, I may send 1/3 of the copies there to be sold to the European market.

Either way, I will need your help to get word out about the game!

I’ve started building a website for Theophilus and Vance. The primary purpose of the site right now is to build an email list. My goal is to get 500 people on the mailing list. That should be enough to start a successful crowd funded campaign (The recommendation is to bring 25% of your needed audience to the campaign. Honestly, 500 people does not equal 500 sales -but that’s my goal number).

As promised, I have some “deep cuts”. While I was search for some unrelated photos, I found pictures of the first two game prototypes I made back in 2013/2014

The very first board for Ghosts & Lanterns

The second board for Ghosts & Lanterns. Here I’ve added the Haunting mechanic as well as rooms where the doors can change.