Quote from: Ruprecht on September 05, 2023, 08:18:27 AM
What I don't understand is that for weeks the full game has been available on her website but ot on drivethru. What's the logic in that?

97% revenue stream vs. 75% revenue stream.

I get that but exposure to a lot more customers should more than make up the difference. At least in the short term before everyone forgets about shadowdark and jumps on the next big thing.

Quote from: TheGlen on August 18, 2023, 03:18:16 PM
I will send her an email requesting a full version once I've finished the next preview as it's a little time sensitive

I watched your updated review.  Thanks.

Quote from: Ruprecht on September 05, 2023, 10:11:23 AM
I get that but exposure to a lot more customers should more than make up the difference. At least in the short term before everyone forgets about shadowdark and jumps on the next big thing.

That could depend on your marketing strategy. I think Kelsey has talked about spending a lot more time building up her own internal marketing lists, so new product basically already has her own baked in market to advertise to. I've seen a few other creators do the same as well. Once you build up enough of a marketing platform, then it seems to make sense to move to a self owned distribution platform. Though most of them do still have their product on DTRPG as well(Cypher, Savages Worlds, GURPS). But it may be that her customers aren't the typical RPG players that shop there anyway.

Quote from: BadApple on September 18, 2023, 06:15:28 PM

Quote from: TheGlen on August 18, 2023, 03:18:16 PM
I will send her an email requesting a full version once I've finished the next preview as it's a little time sensitive

I watched your updated review.  Thanks.

Had to be me.  Someone else might have gotten it wrong.

Bit of an older thread, but seemed relevant enough.  The fact that Kelsey's discord community not only has a legit "no politics" rule, but actually enforces it is enough for me to feel like the product is at least worth a try.  Recent kerfuffle with ACKS 2 has me seen several communities just ban any talk about the game, or you have people smearing Macris whenever people try to talk about the game itself. This was shot down very quickly by a mod on Kelsey's discord, and the offender banned. Happened to be the same person who made a big smear post on r/rpg and r/osr too.

I like to support people who don't hate me, even if it could be argued there's not a lot that is original in her game.

She seems smart enough to realize that regardless of her personal beliefs, allowing the discussion in the community causes nothing but problems and ends up limiting her customer base.

Quote from: shoplifter on November 07, 2023, 11:26:22 AM
She seems smart enough to realize that regardless of her personal beliefs, allowing the discussion in the community causes nothing but problems and ends up limiting her customer base.

Not telling a significant part of your customer base that you hate them is something leftists struggle with every day. The smart ones put profit over virtue signaling.

Quote from: Gooberguh on November 06, 2023, 09:52:21 PM
Recent kerfuffle with ACKS 2 has me seen several communities just ban any talk about the game, or you have people smearing Macris whenever people try to talk about the game itself. This was shot down very quickly by a mod on Kelsey's discord, and the offender banned. Happened to be the same person who made a big smear post on r/rpg and r/osr too.

Hrm, actually that is a pretty big mark in her favor.  This latest push was coordinated across several reddit subcommunities and involved a swarm of socialist-posters descending and defaming, and of course both /r/RPG and /r/OSR banned all mention of Autarch, ACKS, and Macris himself (except to defame him I think?), which means the mods were either in on it, or were totally willing to surrender to it.  Any place that shuts that down immediately with a ban is pretty good.

However, if I want to discuss ACKS on Discord, like, ACKS has a Discord.  I don't know much about the Shadowdark Discord- does it have a place where people discuss other games in the OSR?  If there's already no mention of ACKS allowed on the server as off-topic, then they are probably just pushing out a provocateur who already technically has what he wants (no ACKS discussion allowed).  But again, I don't know- I've never been to the Shadowdark Discord.

Quote from: Gooberguh on November 06, 2023, 09:52:21 PM
Bit of an older thread, but seemed relevant enough.  The fact that Kelsey's discord community not only has a legit "no politics" rule, but actually enforces it is enough for me to feel like the product is at least worth a try.  Recent kerfuffle with ACKS 2 has me seen several communities just ban any talk about the game, or you have people smearing Macris whenever people try to talk about the game itself. This was shot down very quickly by a mod on Kelsey's discord, and the offender banned. Happened to be the same person who made a big smear post on r/rpg and r/osr too.

I like to support people who don't hate me, even if it could be argued there's not a lot that is original in her game.

I have had a few interactions with Kelsey now and have found her to be genuine.

Personally, I really do not like Shadowdark, but I think Kelsey's modules have a lot to recommend for them.

Quote from: shoplifter on November 07, 2023, 11:26:22 AM
She seems smart enough to realize that regardless of her personal beliefs, allowing the discussion in the community causes nothing but problems and ends up limiting her customer base.

Yes, and kudos to her for doing it. But, of course, to the Leftists her policy will no doubt bring accusations of White Supremacy or something, because "silence is violence".

So, in review, this is what most people think of Shadowdark?

1.  Shadowdark is OSR, but nothing special.  It's only real standout feature is real time tracking of torches. 

2.  The author is a legit gamer and nice person. 

3.  The author is exceptionally good at marketing and knows a lot of YouTubers who help hock her new game.

Quote from: weirdguy564 on November 09, 2023, 09:07:08 AM
So, in review, this is what most people think of Shadowdark?

1.  Shadowdark is OSR, but nothing special.  It's only real standout feature is real time tracking of torches. 

2.  The author is a legit gamer and nice person. 

3.  The author is exceptionally good at marketing and knows a lot of YouTubers who help hock her new game.

I think that probably sums it up. It was at the right place/time to do a gangbusters kickstarter and is a high quality product, while not being revolutionary for most people that play OSR games.

I think the art for it is fantastic.  Wouldn't surprise me if that's a draw for some people.  Maybe even a lot of them.

Quote from: I on November 10, 2023, 01:05:44 AM
I think the art for it is fantastic.  Wouldn't surprise me if that's a draw for some people.  Maybe even a lot of them.

the black and white art is very evocative , done by Runehammer (the guy who made IndexCard RPG), and very styalistic. Reminds me of Darkest dungeon and Veins of the Earth which is what Shadowdark's core gameploy is about: dungeon crawling and trying not to die.

The other key draw is the tightness of rules, very simple, easy to pickup and learn and run with. Little complexity and a focus on less rolling for tasks and more doing things your character is naturally good at.