Check out the latest on the TTRPGkids works in progress to stay up to date on upcoming releases! This Dev Log will cover what’s going on leading into the StoryGuider campaign launch, fulfillment for Greeting Games, and my tentative plan for the next 10 conventions.

Jump to:

• StoryGuider
• Greeting Games
• Conventions

StoryGuider: less than one week to launch!

StoryGuider is launching on September 9 (next Tuesday)! It’s in good shape to launch, and I’m going to cover what that looks like for me plus what I’ve been doing with it the past couple weeks so other folks looking to run campaigns can see the set up process.

The past couple weeks, I’ve met with an advisor to review the campaign page, submitted the campaign page for review by the Backerkit team, and have been making final adjustments based on feedback or materials I was waiting on from other folks. These include adding:

• Artist headshots/drawings to art team graphic
• All-in tier that includes the core + full add-on menu
• Images of coloring pages that folks have colored in
• A section with bonuses pertaining to the Printopia event
• Quotes from folks who have played StoryGuider before
• Trying to find a launch partner

For that bullet point, I have been trying to find a launch partner, but I haven’t had much success, so I’m planning to launch the campaign solo (but still part of the Printopia event). Backerkit allows you to partner with another project to help cross-promote your work. If you partner with someone, backers get a notice encouraging them to back the other project when one is supported… and then backers get a bonus if they do so!

I’ve done this with A Construct’s Nature and Greeting Games with success, so I am… admittedly, a bit disappointed that I couldn’t find a buddy for this one. My project is for kids ages 2-7, so my audience is a bit different (caregivers/educators of young kids who may like TTRPGs) from most other projects that can apply to a wide audience, so I get why. My lesson learned here is to maybe pick my buddy first and then choose a date whereas I picked the date and then am trying to find a buddy who is launching at the same time.

That aside, I still think the project is in good shape to launch. There’s 140+ followers of the project, which is the highest pre-launch following I’ve had so far, I have my newsletter and socials, and there’s potential for a boost from Printopia. My calculations show good odds of hitting my core goal ($3k), decent odds for my core art/book variant goals ($5k)… and maybe a bit of a longshot for hitting the French translation ($10k). I’m hopeful, but I’m also going in with what I think are realistic expectations, and we’ll see what happens!

Next steps are:

• July: reach 100 pre-launch followers
• July/Aug: kick off teen artists based on pre-funding goals
• July/Aug: pull ads on indie newsletters/websites
• Aug: start launch party on Backerkit
• Aug: submit campaign page for review by Backerkit team
• Sept: launch day!
• Aug -> Sept: finish the digital doc for Will the Wizard
• Aug -> Sept: order prototype print for Will the Wizard (to test out/confirm printer)

ALSO… make sure to sign up for the raffle! There’s only a few days left to enter since the winner will be notified before launch day.

Greeting Games: fulfillment phase

Greeting Games is my mini games on cards campaign, and this one is now solidly in fulfillment phase.

Art is done, and surveys have been closed, albeit about a week after I had planned, due to some background questions from a few folks who needed to make adjustments. Because of that I did nudge the collect payment and lock address date back to 9/1, but I had a bit of buffer built in, so things are still on track.

I’m ordering the cards today based on final quantities from the surveys, and they should be in by around 9/15. Once the arrive, I’ll be kitting up everyone’s orders and shipping them out!

There’s not a ton going on with this probably until 9/15 since it’s kind of a hurry up and wait for the product to come in, but once cards arrive, I will have a busy week of mailing.

Next steps are:

• July: Talk to Backerkit about pre-order store for late backers
• July: Send out surveys
• Aug: Finalize art
• Aug -> Sept: Collect payment and lock addresses
• Aug -> Sept : Order cards based on final quantities
• Sept: Cards delivered from printer
• Sept: Ship cards to backers

Convention plans: late 2025 – mid 2026

The next big thing that I’m working on (and can talk about) is my convention schedule for the next year!

I’ve picked a mix of local conventions (that don’t really require travel expenses) and out-of-state conventions, looked at which ones I will likely have a badge covered for, and gotten an idea of where I can help work a booth to make up for travel costs where needed. I also chose a convention or two that I just like going to because I know I’ll have friends there.

With all that, here’s the plan, and please fill out the form here if you want to team up for a panel at any of these! I LOVE being on panels and doing workshops, so please reach out.

* = boothing

** = presenting or planning on presenting

2025 conventions

• Sept: My city’s local corn roast*
• Oct: Ban This Book Fest (MI)*
• Oct: Gamehole Con (WI)**
• Nov: U-Con (MI)*
• Nov: Pax Unplugged (PA)**

2026 conventions

• Jan: ConFusion (MI)**
• Mar: SXSW EDU (TX)**
• May: Motor City Comic Con (MI)**
• June: Origins Game Fair (OH)**
• July/Aug: GenCon (IN)**

At this point, I’m mostly getting ready for a bit of boothing (3 cons at the end of the year here), which means ordering a little bit extra stock on a couple books that have gotten low and making sure my paperwork is all filled out. I’m also starting to reach out for planning meetings on the Gamehole Con panels. Once that’s set up, I’ll know know pretty soon (likely by Oct) while panel submission were apporved for Pax Unplugged, ConFusion, and SXSW EDU, so there should be more planning meetings to come!

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Thank you for checking out this update and just kind of being interested in what TTRPGkids is doing! I hope it helps with seeing some of the self-pub, crowdfunding, and convention circuit life for anyone who is thinking of getting into that themselves, and I’m looking forward to meeting up with folks at the various conventions planned.

Until next time…. happy gaming!

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