Final Patreon Thoughts

Final Patreon Thoughts

Final Patreon Thoughts

Our Patreon is launching tomorrow morning! I’ve gotten a lot of feedback on different aspects of it, including the dollar amount of each pledge level, and different types of ‘thank-you’ rewards that are available. I hope you guys will take a look when it launches and consider pledging. We have a secret bonus gift for pledging which will be distributed in the Thank-you message. I think you’re going to like it.

A lot of you know I have been going back and forth on whether to even launch a Patreon in the first place. I’ve been thinking about it for awhile, and the following represents my thinking on the matter.

When I discovered the Gauntlet in early 2013, it was a small message board for organizing D&D games in Houston. It had fewer than 30 members, and was basically inactive. I had just moved to the city, and I was having a hell of a hard time finding a group to play with. For starters, no one was interested in playing the small, weird games I wanted to play. Second, and worst of all, a lot of the established groups in the city weren’t taking new members. I was pretty exasperated by the situation and decided to do something about it. With the help of Kerry Harrison, Dan Lewis and others, I began to organize games through the Gauntlet on a weekly basis.

We had a hell of a lot of pushback at first, because we inadvertently stepped into the middle of the damnable (and ridiculous) indie games vs. trad games tribal wars. We eventually decided the Gauntlet was going to be different. Rather than get dragged into controversies or spend all our time justifying our choices, we were going to simply focus on play. We would organize and play dozens of different games with dozens of different people. Our weekly game night quickly turned into two nights a week, and then three and then four. Gauntlet Houston eventually grew to have 400+ members on its Meetup, second only to the Pathfinder Meetup in terms of size.

In late 2014, Dan and I decided to launch The Gauntlet Podcast. We had a tiny listenership in the beginning. It was just our friends, really, until Paul Czege gave us a boost and we ended up in the Story Games newsletter. Since then, The Gauntlet Podcast has grown to be a real voice in the indie game scene, and it will probably stand as one of the coolest things I’ve ever been a part of.

As our show began to find an audience, people outside of Houston started asking about how to get involved in our game sessions, or forming a Gauntlet Meetup of their own. We started to answer that demand with the launch of Gauntlet Hangouts in September 2015, which has been wildly successful. In the year since we launched Gauntlet Hangouts, we have organized over 350 online game sessions. Of those 350 sessions, fewer than 15 have been canceled or didn’t make. Gauntlet Hangouts is basically a machine that produces fun on an almost non-stop basis, and I am so very proud of it.

Our growth has continued apace with the addition of three more podcasts (and a couple more in the works) and Codex, our monthly zine. I have gained a tireless partner in Rich Rogers, and there are a number of people who are helping us kick ass on a regular basis because they believe in what the Gauntlet is all about.

And this is where the Patreon comes in. The Gauntlet organizers have a huge amount of energy, and there is a lot we’re going to do, but we need stakeholders who are willing to pitch in and take ownership of this thing. I have people ask me all the time “What can I do to help?” or they tell me “I really want to help out, but I don’t have the time to dedicate.” My response to those people is very simple: join our Patreon. That is how you can help us, and we will be very grateful for it.

This has gone a lot longer than I originally planned, so I’ll wrap-up quickly by saying I get a ton of joy from the Gauntlet community. I have met so many awesome people these last few years, and made a lot of great friends. If you have ever played a game with us, been on one of our podcasts, or even just offered a bit of insight into a discussion thread, you’ve played a part in making this a really special community, and you have my thanks. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Gauntlet, and I hope you will continue to be a part of it.

34 thoughts on “Final Patreon Thoughts”

  1. Geez, has it been 3 years already? I remember the podcast setup, late Wednesday night after sessions.

    Makes me nostalgic.

    Seeing this turn into the juggernaut it is now is kinda like watching a kid grow. It’s been a fun journey and looking forward to the future!

  2. Geez, has it been 3 years already? I remember the podcast setup, late Wednesday night after sessions.

    Makes me nostalgic.

    Seeing this turn into the juggernaut it is now is kinda like watching a kid grow. It’s been a fun journey and looking forward to the future!

  7. Gauntlet and the friendships, partnerships, and projects that have grown out of it are the one thing that I really loved about moving to Houston. I moved there having never anticipated living there or knowing the city at all. I wanted to get plugged in and play board games with a group. I found The Gauntlet on Meetup and went to a session of Letters from Whitechapel. I had never heard of nor played an indie RPG, and to this day probably never would have had I not met Jason Cordova and Ferrell Riley on that Wednesday night at Jax Grill. I love this community and am excited for the future and the Patreon.

  8. Gauntlet and the friendships, partnerships, and projects that have grown out of it are the one thing that I really loved about moving to Houston. I moved there having never anticipated living there or knowing the city at all. I wanted to get plugged in and play board games with a group. I found The Gauntlet on Meetup and went to a session of Letters from Whitechapel. I had never heard of nor played an indie RPG, and to this day probably never would have had I not met Jason Cordova and Ferrell Riley on that Wednesday night at Jax Grill. I love this community and am excited for the future and the Patreon.

  9. This place definitely have a very cultured and specific spirit which feels very special. I feel like the people who I see engaging with the community very much feel the social contract that is derived from both the podcast, as well as the way in which the people running the games play — in the same way that you don’t want to disappoint someone you love.

    This is all to say there is a very real and palpable feel to this community and the games Ive been lucky enough to partake in. The way in which complete strangers come together to game and support indie or small press publishers to tell stories in the spirit that is in the heart of the games we all play is personified in the individuals I find here.

    The process of finding this podcast and interacting with everyone here and playing games with you all has given me very much, an excitement that doesn’t really go away. I am always excited to play and interact with everyone–which is all to say I would be elated to support all of what I have found here and you all very much on Patreon.

  10. This place definitely have a very cultured and specific spirit which feels very special. I feel like the people who I see engaging with the community very much feel the social contract that is derived from both the podcast, as well as the way in which the people running the games play — in the same way that you don’t want to disappoint someone you love.

    This is all to say there is a very real and palpable feel to this community and the games Ive been lucky enough to partake in. The way in which complete strangers come together to game and support indie or small press publishers to tell stories in the spirit that is in the heart of the games we all play is personified in the individuals I find here.

    The process of finding this podcast and interacting with everyone here and playing games with you all has given me very much, an excitement that doesn’t really go away. I am always excited to play and interact with everyone–which is all to say I would be elated to support all of what I have found here and you all very much on Patreon.

  11. Beware, long comment – I am very grateful to the Gauntlet Hangouts and Community, so wanted to share my story:

    I was in a similar situation to yours when you moved to Houston, Jason Cordova. I’ve lived in Vienna all my life, but there’s no indie RPG scene to speak of here.

    I’d discovered Microscope and Fate at my FLGS and some PbtA stuff I couldn’t wrap my head around just from reading. I got my regular RPG group to try Microscope, and I converted them to Fate for our regular campaign. But all the other stuff was too out there for them.

    And then a few things happened: I’d been wary about playing in English and playing online. But I’d discovered there were several groups playing in public, on YouTube, and there were so many games out there I wanted to play.

    So I dared to sign up for as many games as I could on last year’s VirtuaCon – and it was a revelation. I played DungeonWorld, Night Witches, Malandros, the Quiet Year. I wanted to play more games like that.

    Then I dared contact Ben Robbins about his Story Games Seattle Meetup group: I posted in the Story Games G+ Community. And I got the “you have eaten from the tree of knowledge” comment from Wilhelm Person. Also on G+ I discovered the Gauntlet Community. And these people were playing all the games I was interested in!

    I went to Meetups and started my own group, together with Daniel Adams – pretty much copying Ben’s setup. This was my face-to-face play lifeline. And ever since, I got to try the hottest new indie stuff on the Gauntlet, sometimes playtests, sometimes fresh from the press.

    A lot of my now favorite gems I tried on the Gauntlet first. Now I play once or even twice a week. Half online, half in-person. And I’ve made new friends, especially on the Gauntlet UK and through my own meetup, Story Games Vienna.

    So, thank you, Jason, and everyone else who makes the Gauntlet breathe, and keep going!

    plus.google.com – I love story games like Microscope and Kingdom for a lot of things, but I…

  12. Beware, long comment – I am very grateful to the Gauntlet Hangouts and Community, so wanted to share my story:

    I was in a similar situation to yours when you moved to Houston, Jason Cordova. I’ve lived in Vienna all my life, but there’s no indie RPG scene to speak of here.

    I’d discovered Microscope and Fate at my FLGS and some PbtA stuff I couldn’t wrap my head around just from reading. I got my regular RPG group to try Microscope, and I converted them to Fate for our regular campaign. But all the other stuff was too out there for them.

    And then a few things happened: I’d been wary about playing in English and playing online. But I’d discovered there were several groups playing in public, on YouTube, and there were so many games out there I wanted to play.

    So I dared to sign up for as many games as I could on last year’s VirtuaCon – and it was a revelation. I played DungeonWorld, Night Witches, Malandros, the Quiet Year. I wanted to play more games like that.

    Then I dared contact Ben Robbins about his Story Games Seattle Meetup group: I posted in the Story Games G+ Community. And I got the “you have eaten from the tree of knowledge” comment from Wilhelm Person. Also on G+ I discovered the Gauntlet Community. And these people were playing all the games I was interested in!

    I went to Meetups and started my own group, together with Daniel Adams – pretty much copying Ben’s setup. This was my face-to-face play lifeline. And ever since, I got to try the hottest new indie stuff on the Gauntlet, sometimes playtests, sometimes fresh from the press.

    A lot of my now favorite gems I tried on the Gauntlet first. Now I play once or even twice a week. Half online, half in-person. And I’ve made new friends, especially on the Gauntlet UK and through my own meetup, Story Games Vienna.

    So, thank you, Jason, and everyone else who makes the Gauntlet breathe, and keep going!

    plus.google.com – I love story games like Microscope and Kingdom for a lot of things, but I…

  17. I’m a total observer to all this, but I want to thank you all for disseminating a culture that celebrates play itself instead of celebrating arguments about types of play. You’re showing the whole planet how to do it better.

  18. I’m a total observer to all this, but I want to thank you all for disseminating a culture that celebrates play itself instead of celebrating arguments about types of play. You’re showing the whole planet how to do it better.

  21. Ive only been part of the community for a short time when it sprang up on G+, and ive loved listening to the terrific podcasts that the Gauntlet team has put together.

    Lately my life has been a bit rough, not terrible just allot of changes. I have a small group i get together with, though id love to do more. Ive been wanting to plant the seed for a Pittsburgh group and haven’t been able to with all of life’s changes. I hope that soon i can take that next step, deepening my part in this community that keeps on giving.

    Props to all of you who make the gears turn!

  22. Ive only been part of the community for a short time when it sprang up on G+, and ive loved listening to the terrific podcasts that the Gauntlet team has put together.

    Lately my life has been a bit rough, not terrible just allot of changes. I have a small group i get together with, though id love to do more. Ive been wanting to plant the seed for a Pittsburgh group and haven’t been able to with all of life’s changes. I hope that soon i can take that next step, deepening my part in this community that keeps on giving.

    Props to all of you who make the gears turn!

  23. Thanks everyone for sharing.

    Saffire Rainbo It’s the one thing that bums me out about the Gauntlet’s online presence. We actually have a fair number of women players in the face-to-face Meetups, but online is tougher, and I understand why. I do think it’s one of the things we should try to actively tackle, though, and would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

    For anyone who wants a peek at the Patreon page before we launch, here is a preview link: patreon.com – The Gauntlet is creating podcasts, game events, and zines. | Patreon

  24. Thanks everyone for sharing.

    Saffire Rainbo It’s the one thing that bums me out about the Gauntlet’s online presence. We actually have a fair number of women players in the face-to-face Meetups, but online is tougher, and I understand why. I do think it’s one of the things we should try to actively tackle, though, and would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

    For anyone who wants a peek at the Patreon page before we launch, here is a preview link: patreon.com – The Gauntlet is creating podcasts, game events, and zines. | Patreon

  27. Preface: I am talking about my gauntlet experience and no one else’s. Actually, I like that Gauntlet conversation isn’t, by and large, gendered. I just want to play, I don’t want to talk about the patriarchy. The gauntlet (that I have played with) does a good job of not thinking of me (and other women at the table) as female players, but rather players who happen to be female. And when something needs to be addressed, it is. In fact the only time that I feel uncomfortable with being a woman in the gauntlet is when I find a post by a male member provoking conversation on a gendered topic and then having others jump on in defense of my “oppressed” or “disadvantaged” gender. I’m here; I’m quiet because our community works, and when it doesn’t I’ll be here too, to chime in and be heard. When I hear comments like “more identifiable women’s voices” and that it “bums [you] out” that there are fewer of us online I worry that we are perceived of as some affirmative action demographic that needs to be acquired for some further purpose. If you want female gamers, build a community that is open and accessible to all, a community where women aren’t pandered to, coddled, cajoled, or thought of as different (a community I think we have built). In time, people will join…or they won’t. That’s their prerogative. I have only once felt uncomfortable at a gauntlet event because of my gender and I handled it my way, but I know that if I had wanted it to be known to others at the time, they would have backed me up. But here, I don’t want to have to be a “voice” for women, I just want to be a player. Asking me to be other is the surest way of driving me away, but that’s just me…I don’t speak for anyone else.

  28. Preface: I am talking about my gauntlet experience and no one else’s. Actually, I like that Gauntlet conversation isn’t, by and large, gendered. I just want to play, I don’t want to talk about the patriarchy. The gauntlet (that I have played with) does a good job of not thinking of me (and other women at the table) as female players, but rather players who happen to be female. And when something needs to be addressed, it is. In fact the only time that I feel uncomfortable with being a woman in the gauntlet is when I find a post by a male member provoking conversation on a gendered topic and then having others jump on in defense of my “oppressed” or “disadvantaged” gender. I’m here; I’m quiet because our community works, and when it doesn’t I’ll be here too, to chime in and be heard. When I hear comments like “more identifiable women’s voices” and that it “bums [you] out” that there are fewer of us online I worry that we are perceived of as some affirmative action demographic that needs to be acquired for some further purpose. If you want female gamers, build a community that is open and accessible to all, a community where women aren’t pandered to, coddled, cajoled, or thought of as different (a community I think we have built). In time, people will join…or they won’t. That’s their prerogative. I have only once felt uncomfortable at a gauntlet event because of my gender and I handled it my way, but I know that if I had wanted it to be known to others at the time, they would have backed me up. But here, I don’t want to have to be a “voice” for women, I just want to be a player. Asking me to be other is the surest way of driving me away, but that’s just me…I don’t speak for anyone else.

  29. Kristen D Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the matter. I think we’ve done a good job creating a very friendly space. In terms of our G+ Community, I would say we’re the healthiest, most pleasant RPG space there is. I don’t think I want to cater to anyone in particular, but I do think there is a way of reaching women that we haven’t landed on yet, and that we should be doing. Frankly, I really enjoy playing games with women. It’s something I miss since leaving Houston.

  30. Kristen D Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the matter. I think we’ve done a good job creating a very friendly space. In terms of our G+ Community, I would say we’re the healthiest, most pleasant RPG space there is. I don’t think I want to cater to anyone in particular, but I do think there is a way of reaching women that we haven’t landed on yet, and that we should be doing. Frankly, I really enjoy playing games with women. It’s something I miss since leaving Houston.

  33. Kristen D​ Thank you for your perspective! I noticed the lack of women in the hangouts sessions too and thought that might be because they don’t feel welcome, for lack of a better explanation.

    Since you feel at home in the community that puts me at ease. I like playing with all kinds of players and feel more comfortable when all kinds of players show up in the games. I’ve experienced the hobby as a boy’s club in my youth and it wasn’t a good place to be in.

  34. Kristen D​ Thank you for your perspective! I noticed the lack of women in the hangouts sessions too and thought that might be because they don’t feel welcome, for lack of a better explanation.

    Since you feel at home in the community that puts me at ease. I like playing with all kinds of players and feel more comfortable when all kinds of players show up in the games. I’ve experienced the hobby as a boy’s club in my youth and it wasn’t a good place to be in.

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