Let’s talk about Patreon
The Gauntlet is launching a Patreon soon, but I get the impression a lot of people, both within our community and listenership, as well as the greater RPG hobby, don’t actually use the service. It’s certainly nowhere near Kickstarter in terms of users.
Patreon is great because it allows creators to make a little money on things that would otherwise be difficult to monetize. For example, our podcasts have a passionate, dedicated audience, but the niche nature of the games we cover (within an already niche hobby) ensures we’ll never have an audience big enough to earn advertising revenue.
But more important, I think, is the fact that Patreon allows you to become a stakeholder in the creator’s work; it’s a way of saying “I’m with you on this.” You’re engaging with the creator in a meaningful way, and you’re not just helping pay the bills, you’re encouraging them to make even more awesome things you love.
And that last bit is particularly important to the Gauntlet. Our monthly operating costs in terms of money and time would make your eyes go wide, but we’ve been happily covering it, and will continue to do so no matter how the Patreon turns out. What we really want to do is give you more.
So, to encourage you to get into a Patreon frame of mind, here are five creators I think are doing awesome things, and you should consider joining their caravan (to steal a term from Meguey Baker ).
Andrew Medeiros is my number one Patreon pick. No one is more passionate about Powered by the Apocalypse games than him, and his Patreon feed is full of awesome little hacks, including The Woodlands, which we recently played on Gauntlet Hangouts. Drew is also just a really, really great guy; he’s someone you can feel proud supporting.
https://www.patreon.com/medeiros
Anna Kreider is one of the most important voices in the hobby. I can’t think of anyone who has had a more profound impact on how women are depicted in RPGs, and her blog, Go Make Me a Sandwich, is destination reading for me. She will open your fucking eyes, and like a lot of the women who do this good work, she has had to endure some serious bullshit for it.
I’ve said it a hundred times, but Michael Prescott’s work is the best way to spend a single buck. He puts together the most amazing, detailed dungeon maps, combined with some very inspirational text. He makes them all available for free on his blog, so if you like what you see, kick over some money to him. His stuff is a marvel.
https://www.patreon.com/adventures
Gennifer Bone was put on my radar just recently, but I’ve been getting into her work in a huge way. She makes full-color character drawings that are beautiful and phantasmagoric, and makes them available under a very generous usage license.
https://www.patreon.com/ladyredfingers
Stephen Dewey is the author of Ten Candles, and has been putting out small, experimental games on Patreon, one of which we recently played on Gauntlet Hangouts (To Serve Her Wintry Hunger). Above all, Stephen is deeply passionate about indie games and indie game design, and I think he represents the future of the hobby.
https://www.patreon.com/stephendewey
Who do you support? Feel free to note your favorite Patreon creators in the comments!
I’m currently backing Worlds Without Master, but it seems like that hasn’t updated yet this year. Perhaps my money might be cursed.
I’m considering backing the Fate Codex, but I need to at least skim through the first anthology before I do so.
I’m certainly going to back The Gauntlet’s Patreon endeavor.
I’m currently backing Worlds Without Master, but it seems like that hasn’t updated yet this year. Perhaps my money might be cursed.
I’m considering backing the Fate Codex, but I need to at least skim through the first anthology before I do so.
I’m certainly going to back The Gauntlet’s Patreon endeavor.
Totally, I support most of those people already. I also support Kate Bullock (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2986659), who puts out a lot of great content on her blog like Anna Kreider. You’ve probably seen her blog posts making the rounds in recent months and they are fantastic.
I really like Eric Vulgaris Patreon too (https://www.patreon.com/ericvulgaris), he runs a twitch stream called Once Upon a Game that does AP’s live and records them, all of which are small press story games usually. He recently just got his Patreon and is converting those episodes to MP3 and other cool rewards. It’s a really great show for video AP of small press titles.
Quinn Murphy (https://www.patreon.com/quinn) is also putting out some stellar stuff so jumped on his Patreon.
Totally, I support most of those people already. I also support Kate Bullock (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2986659), who puts out a lot of great content on her blog like Anna Kreider. You’ve probably seen her blog posts making the rounds in recent months and they are fantastic.
I really like Eric Vulgaris Patreon too (https://www.patreon.com/ericvulgaris), he runs a twitch stream called Once Upon a Game that does AP’s live and records them, all of which are small press story games usually. He recently just got his Patreon and is converting those episodes to MP3 and other cool rewards. It’s a really great show for video AP of small press titles.
Quinn Murphy (https://www.patreon.com/quinn) is also putting out some stellar stuff so jumped on his Patreon.
Daaaw! Thank you so much, J! (dies from the love)
Daaaw! Thank you so much, J! (dies from the love)
To add something from the other side. I don’t give to Patreon for 2 reasons.
1) I like to 100% control when I give money. I don’t like to be subscribed to anything not necessary (utilities, phone, internet). Which is funny because I work for a subscription (SaaS) business.
And 2) If I opened that can of worms, I’d very quickly be backing $100’s of worth of Patreons. And I can’t afford that.
To add something from the other side. I don’t give to Patreon for 2 reasons.
1) I like to 100% control when I give money. I don’t like to be subscribed to anything not necessary (utilities, phone, internet). Which is funny because I work for a subscription (SaaS) business.
And 2) If I opened that can of worms, I’d very quickly be backing $100’s of worth of Patreons. And I can’t afford that.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Jason Cordova! <3
Thank you so much for the kind words, Jason Cordova! <3
Looks like Patreon won’t allow you to back Gennifer Bone at the $0.50 tier any more, as “the pledge amount is below the minimum”.
Looks like Patreon won’t allow you to back Gennifer Bone at the $0.50 tier any more, as “the pledge amount is below the minimum”.
Chris Shorb And, in fact, a lot of creators eventually make their Patreon-funded work available in some other form (like putting their games up on DriveThru). The Gauntlet doesn’t have that option, and yet we still have tremendous costs associated with everything we do. The podcasts alone cost me about $130 a month out-of-pocket, to say nothing of the incredible number of hours the editors and hosts donate to the cause for free (conservatively, it’s 30-40 man-hours a week). When you add-in the costs of Meetup, and the hours associated with managing and executing a large, public gaming calendar (and near-flawlessly so), it starts to add up.
And Codex is just a bonus. I’m reserving that for Patreon backers.
Here’s the thing: the Gauntlet makes it look really easy (note the number of similar podcasts that launch each month, only to flame out a few episodes in). It is definitely not easy. It’s an extraordinary effort of organization, creative thinking, and manpower. And like I said, we’re going to keep doing it no matter what. We love doing it, and we’re certainly not the type to complain. But we think people should welcome an opportunity to help us take this thing to the next level.
Chris Shorb And, in fact, a lot of creators eventually make their Patreon-funded work available in some other form (like putting their games up on DriveThru). The Gauntlet doesn’t have that option, and yet we still have tremendous costs associated with everything we do. The podcasts alone cost me about $130 a month out-of-pocket, to say nothing of the incredible number of hours the editors and hosts donate to the cause for free (conservatively, it’s 30-40 man-hours a week). When you add-in the costs of Meetup, and the hours associated with managing and executing a large, public gaming calendar (and near-flawlessly so), it starts to add up.
And Codex is just a bonus. I’m reserving that for Patreon backers.
Here’s the thing: the Gauntlet makes it look really easy (note the number of similar podcasts that launch each month, only to flame out a few episodes in). It is definitely not easy. It’s an extraordinary effort of organization, creative thinking, and manpower. And like I said, we’re going to keep doing it no matter what. We love doing it, and we’re certainly not the type to complain. But we think people should welcome an opportunity to help us take this thing to the next level.
I’m backing Eric Vulgaris already mentioned above. He put out a lot of quality stuff on small press things I’m really interested in (also just a nice guy which always is a good thing) and Vincent Baker because it’s Vincent Baker and to get to see small stuff that comes out of his and Meguey Bakers game design brains is really inspiring and John Harper because he has designed some of my favorite games and I want in on all of it.
I’m backing Eric Vulgaris already mentioned above. He put out a lot of quality stuff on small press things I’m really interested in (also just a nice guy which always is a good thing) and Vincent Baker because it’s Vincent Baker and to get to see small stuff that comes out of his and Meguey Bakers game design brains is really inspiring and John Harper because he has designed some of my favorite games and I want in on all of it.
That’s very kind, Jason Cordova. One that I back is Vandel J. Arden, who makes stunning, atlas-style wilderness maps:
https://www.patreon.com/mapforge/posts
Also, Joe Banner has been pumping out great stuff for DW for ages:
https://www.patreon.com/jbinc/posts
One that I have my eye on is Hillary McNaughton, who makes really fun 3D dungeon maps: https://www.patreon.com/asasparrow
That’s very kind, Jason Cordova. One that I back is Vandel J. Arden, who makes stunning, atlas-style wilderness maps:
https://www.patreon.com/mapforge/posts
Also, Joe Banner has been pumping out great stuff for DW for ages:
https://www.patreon.com/jbinc/posts
One that I have my eye on is Hillary McNaughton, who makes really fun 3D dungeon maps: https://www.patreon.com/asasparrow
Eric Vulgaris (his AP archive is incredible) https://www.patreon.com/ericvulgaris
tony dowler (amazing maps and drawings and mini games) https://www.patreon.com/tonydowler
Jackson Tegu (experimental and fun game designs) https://www.patreon.com/jacksontegu
Vandel J. Arden (beautiful fantasy maps) https://www.patreon.com/mapforge
Willow Palecek (cool indie rpgs) https://www.patreon.com/willowpalecek
Nate Marcel (gorgeous art — he did the Dungeon World cover!) https://www.patreon.com/Nate
J. Walton (one of the best indie game designers around!) https://www.patreon.com/corvidsun
Chris Chinn (one of my fave writers on games/theory/design) https://www.patreon.com/bankuei
(and others already mentioned)
Eric Vulgaris (his AP archive is incredible) https://www.patreon.com/ericvulgaris
tony dowler (amazing maps and drawings and mini games) https://www.patreon.com/tonydowler
Jackson Tegu (experimental and fun game designs) https://www.patreon.com/jacksontegu
Vandel J. Arden (beautiful fantasy maps) https://www.patreon.com/mapforge
Willow Palecek (cool indie rpgs) https://www.patreon.com/willowpalecek
Nate Marcel (gorgeous art — he did the Dungeon World cover!) https://www.patreon.com/Nate
J. Walton (one of the best indie game designers around!) https://www.patreon.com/corvidsun
Chris Chinn (one of my fave writers on games/theory/design) https://www.patreon.com/bankuei
(and others already mentioned)
Chris Shorb, many of us are on a ‘pay per project’ model instead of subscription based, if that helps at all. Your second point re: falling down the rabbit hole is not something I can help with. [stares at all his creators in awe]
Chris Shorb, many of us are on a ‘pay per project’ model instead of subscription based, if that helps at all. Your second point re: falling down the rabbit hole is not something I can help with. [stares at all his creators in awe]
Johnstone Metzger makes monsters monthly (for LL and DW): https://www.patreon.com/johnstone
Evil Hat Productions makes consistently good stuff on their Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evilhat
Naturally, Dyson Logos makes maps: https://www.patreon.com/dysonlogos
Johnstone Metzger makes monsters monthly (for LL and DW): https://www.patreon.com/johnstone
Evil Hat Productions makes consistently good stuff on their Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/evilhat
Naturally, Dyson Logos makes maps: https://www.patreon.com/dysonlogos
Not adding much to the thread but my first and so far only patreon has been, Andrew Medeiros because I love the idea of PBTA mini hacks and I really wanted The Woodlands. I will be backing The Gauntlet one as soon as it launches.
Not adding much to the thread but my first and so far only patreon has been, Andrew Medeiros because I love the idea of PBTA mini hacks and I really wanted The Woodlands. I will be backing The Gauntlet one as soon as it launches.
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Stuart Venable for the Happy Jacks RPG podcast, an old favorite. Dyson Logos for his maps and adventures. And aforementioned Michael Prescott .
It is a dangerous road. If it ends anything like Kickstarter has for me, I’ll be sinking too much money here. For good reason, but still…
Stuart Venable for the Happy Jacks RPG podcast, an old favorite. Dyson Logos for his maps and adventures. And aforementioned Michael Prescott .
It is a dangerous road. If it ends anything like Kickstarter has for me, I’ll be sinking too much money here. For good reason, but still…
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