So... Stretch Goal question
🕑 Added 2025-03-19 19:18:33 +0000 UTCSo because I'm irrationally skeptical of my own success, I sorta didn't plan out any real stretch goals for the Dark Science Kickstarter.
For those who are backing or are interested in backing, what kind of stuff would you like to see? Examples include (at the lower end) new sticker sheets included in every order, new patches, reprints of older books (The Tomorrow Girl is basically sold out!), or even printing new companion books for every order, like a new Dark Science primer/art book.
Honestly though, throw anything at the wall, the sky's the limit. Maybe at $500k we make Kim's cool jacket for the store. Maybe if we reach a million dollars I'll develop a Dark Science point and click adventure game, etc.
What kind of stuff would you guys be interested in?
Comments
Torabi
The world could use some quality opposition right about now.
Sen
Oh awesome! I was kinda hoping this would happen to free up some spots!
Aurorachimera
I already have the Silver Edition of Tomorrow Girl, so Junior Giantslayer is ideal.
Bernard
Kind of letting the viewer break the fourth wall
Bernard
How about a slightly interactive single dresden codak comic? Something to enjoy the art of and lazily play around with at the same time. Click and Watch some characters run up to someone. Or toss melcheor across the pages, back and forth. Etc.
Bernard
A dark science visual novel would be awesome but imho difficult. Should it be short, so we could play all the paths and get to see all the art? Should it be long as some ppl would expect? How much work and time would tons of drawings be until you can string them into a novel? Would it be feasable without hiring help?
Bernard
I have seen comic prints on canvas material with a frame for wall decoration and they look great and fancy and would be awesome with some of your work
Sen
So this will be up tomorrow as a Kickstarter update if you're already a backer, but I thought I'd give you cool cats an early heads-up: I WILL be opening up a few more tiers of "Junior" Northstar and "Junior" Giantslayer, just without the Tomorrow Girl books included, but they're going to be in pretty small supply (25 copies for Northstar and 100 for Giantslayer). So if you wanted to grab one of those, keep an eye on that for tomorrow morning!
Sen
It'll have to be a pretty high stretch goal, but I'd like to do that!
Brad
Reprints of prior books would be fantastic.
Awkward Dragon
I still need Tomorrow Girl >.>
Tao Gold
I would love to see the sticker set or the like turned into little jpg/gif/png that can be used as avatar pictures for my windows login, patreon profile etc! I’ll be honest, I took the dept of opposition logo and made it small so I could use it as my windows login picture, I work in IT and it makes me happy everytime I see it.
Roo
Is there something we could get you? Knowing that you are happy, comfortable and have all your needs met is important to my enjoyment of your art.
Torabi
Pizza Dungeon. Anything Pizza Dungeon. Shirt? Cloth napkins? Stickers? Magnets? Anything with their logo would be great! I want to be a pizza master!
Torabi
I think expanding on any of the in-world media you've hinted at within the comic would be great! Night Puncher, Sword Magician, Dr. Kill / Captain Freedom... I'm probably forgetting some! But Streets of Fraiser is probably the one we've seen the least of, and it would be great to have more than just the one shot of the arcade cabinet!
Torabi
I think people's understanding of crowdfunding may have decayed almost instantly, but it's not just supposed to be some fancy preorder or exclusive shopping mechanism. It's to fund the initial development of something that will go on to see wider availability.
William Cole
YES!
GearedForMusic
I replied with this in a different comment, but high quality pngs that can be used as backgrounds? maybe of scenery or also characters specifically formatted to look nice in those asepct ratios?
Tim Starliper
Tomorrow Girl is on my list as well. I can't believe how fast those tiers sold out! I have to wait for pay day before I make a pledge, but the upper levels were certainly within what I am willing to pay for a Kickstarter. :(
Jarrod Rose
Lapel pins. ALLLLLLLLL the lapel pins!
GearedForMusic
I also love the scenery! Prints or downloadable phone/tablet/laptop high quality PNGs of the scenery?
Jacob Kessler
I'll second that some printable stuff - characters, symbols, items - would be great and seemingly in-theme. Plus, no physical production / distribution means low per-backer costs so it's easier to add to each pledge rather than requiring an addon
Rob Scott
An adult coloring book, and by adult I mean more sophisticated and not like “for adult audiences only” (although a little tasteful PG-13 work would be in-theme). I work in a bookstore, and complex, sophisticated coloring books are popular.
Raine
Probably not a great stretch goal idea, but I'd love a process timelapse, love how DS evolved over the years and want to know how you're currently doing it <3
Sen
I'm working on a solution to this, stay tuned!
Dezz
My 2 cents: Figures and apparel are the dream, and enamel pins and stickers never disappoint. My rising sun patch is on my favorite jacket, so the Official Licensed Product version would be crazy to own lol
aran
I am bummed I didn't get the Giantslayer edish with Tomorrow Girl physical - would be thrilled to add it on (I have the PDF but have since done a full 180 on my "don't clutter your life with physical media" policy from however many years ago)
Mel Orr
I also love coins but I agree that this should be kept within your means.
Mel Orr
Shut up and take my money![/Fry]
Mel Orr
I second a map of Nephilopolis! I always need to know where everything is in relation with everything else.
GrimmSalem
Would love it if we can get at least a nice STL of some of the characters we can print ourselves
Preppikoma
"Tomorrow Girl", but a 12x16” version, to match the dimensions of Platinum "The City of Giants". Perhaps, an option to change the TG version in the current pledges, which would free the regular-smaller ones to become optional add-ons? And pins.
tagno25
"Legally Obligated Gay Drawing" and "Legally obligated Extra Gay drawing" in print
Peter Scheyer
You can do anything you want though. You could have the dark science characters do a dungeons and discourse mini arc and THEN release dungeons and discourse pins. I'd pay for both/either and i haven't contributed yet. I mean i just found out about the kickstarter but yeah
Sen
I can't do Dungeons & Discourse in a Dark Science Kickstarter because there's no Dungeons & Discourse in Dark Science!
Wtcher
Gosh, dungeons and discourse renditions of popular classes. I remember being mildly disappointed I couldn’t play that game. :)
K Monika Hawkinson
Sen, I love your scenery! I would love to see a compilation of scenery and vistas, and maybe even a map of Nephilopolis? Call me crazy, but I want to see the bones of the Giants!
Wtcher
Rationally? I’m not sure you really need more stretch goals. The project is a success :) If anything, things that are low impact — low logistical needs, you don’t want to find new ways to torpedo your project. Irrationally? I’d love some sketch tiers, some commission tiers. Maybe some people would enjoy watching a stream of you completing some artwork. Maybe something like character art (e.g. in the mode of band posters — here’s team evil, here’s team Kim) would be cool, and could be recurring revenue content in the future. Perhaps donations (books to libraries, funds to appropriate charities) would be swell.
Tabby
Now that you mention it, I vaguely recall lusting after them back in the before times when I couldn't afford to order cool stuff from America. It did feel like a familiar idea. Brains are weird
Peter Scheyer
I want dungeons and discourse pins!
Sen
We actually used to sell a cyborg pride messenger bag that I really liked (I still have mine), but for reasons I can't remember, we weren't able to make more with that manufacturer
Tabby
Heck, prints/posters of the gay and extra gay drawings would be sweet :3
Tabby
Not super into patches and badges, but posters, prints and stickers are always good, ditto more books or a reprint of the shinier version of the Tomorrow Girl. The jacket idea is cool, and a decent cyborg pride laptop satchel might be neat but might be tricky Love the idea of a point & click game but for your sanity I dunno how much of a good idea that is 😅 As others have said though, I backed at the level I did to get the things I wanted with no expectation of more, so I'd be happy even without stretch goals. Enjoy that sweet sweet profit from your labour that you put out into the world for free ^_^
Sen
Well now I feel like I definitely have to!
Sen
Maybe at $300k I make "official" game art for Streets of Frasier...
Sen
Oh I'll certainly be cautious. The nice thing about working with Topatoco for this is that they're pros at Kickstarters and will keep me from throwing myself off the edge
Sen
It's always been my dream to have a cool jacket like Kim's, I'm glad I'm not the only one
Weston Clowney
Same. 🫤
Conduit of Snacks
On the one hand, I'd love a Cyborg Pride (edit: and Dark Science) challenge coin (I love coins). On the other hand, I'd warn against going crazy with physical rewards especially; they have been the bane of many Kickstarters past. Regardless, I'm delighted for your success!
Jordi
I love the pin idea! Departments or the faves from the latest sticker sheet. I already have a tattoo for this, no reason not to add Kim to my jacket! Outside of the Kickstarter, Kim's jacket (in plus sizes) in the store would be an easy auto-purchase for me!
Matt Grayson
+1 Snowglobe!
Hugh Eckert
Stickers and pins. And I like the idea of you treating yourself to cake as a stretch goal.
It's Lina
The jacket would be an absolute immediate purchase
Hugh Eckert
Yes!
Casual Cheese
I love stickers!
maillesmith9
Tomorrow Girl reprints would be lovely. At some point in the last 12 years and 5 moves my copy went MIA
Sen
Oh for sure. I learned a lot from the last Kickstarter, and this time around we're not going to realistically offer anything that I don't already have a design for, or have the means to realistically put out with the book.
John Whitley
I already have The Tomorrow Girl Freakin' Ginormous Edition, so no worries there... but for the love of all that's decent, upgrade the Sen name stickers to archival cloth and ink if they're not already.
Sen
Awesome! I've got some fun ideas for standees, and would definitely like to do something with that Giantslayer-style Kim design
Sen
We'll almost definitely be doing that too! What's nice about working with Topatoco is they've run countless Kickstarters at this point (though I was their very first!) and have all the financial calculations down to a science
Jesse Garrison
I kind of like crowdfunding that doesn’t go crazy with stretch goals. We’re here to fund the new book. Adding things that take a lot more development time outside of the scope of the project almost inevitably leads to delays. If you already have sticker sheets designed and just need to increase the print run, that’s fine. Reprinting the previous book, also seems doable. Development of a computer game or whatnot seems like a headache waiting to happen. New patches if you already have contacts for production and would just need to draw up the design also seems reasonable.
Matt Grayson
Tomorrow Girl Book, please!
DasGanon
Really I've got what I want, but more books & art would be awesome!!!
Orion Rhine
I've said it before and I'll say it again: PINS Get me some department pins!
DasGanon
Honestly I would love a Kim styled vintage looking nylon jacket, but I would want that as a store item not part of the campaign.
Joe
What about posters (e.g. of the desktop wallpapers) or prints from the comic?
Alex Macgregor
Stickers or a patch would be awesome, but be careful not to eat into your take too much with free goodies for us backers. Is it possible to add goodies like these to the optional extras section? That might be a clever way of getting people who want the new items to revise their pledges and make more impulse addons.
Joe
I love the snowglobe idea
Tiogshi Laj
* Matthias Melchi-orb "snowglobe". * Figurine/statue of Kim & Ling, inspired by last panel of DS #145
Aeryn Light
Tomorrow Girl reprints as an addon, maybe give a Tomorrow Girl pdf to every tier. I missed out on it somehow, and I have been a fan for over a decade.
Matthew Hoeveler
How about D&D 5e character sheets for various characters? (inspired by Dungeons & Discourse perhaps?)
Info_Overload
Yes!
Sen
Oh dang, I forgot: would people be interested in a Department of Opposition patch? I feel like that would be cool
Info_Overload
I'd be interested in some more patches and pin badges! I still love my cyborg pride ones from the Tomorrow Girl 😃
Francesco Villani
Ok, serious talk, I would LOVE Kim's jacket. I'm guessing a more sensible options would be more patches, more standees (My vote goes to "Do you not recognize Death?" Kim) and such.
j r conlin
You mean, other than you being happy and successful? I mean, you could get yourself a slice of cake or something, I suppose.
Emily
Personally, I'd love some stickers!