Where have all the high-earning Kickstarter projects gone? Why aren't there any 5E Kickstarters that have broken a million lately?
The answer is, people have moved on. The 2024 D&D release has effectively killed most third-party 5E Kickstarter campaigns, as people fear compatibility issues and are hesitant to buy into one side or the other, leaving the market stagnant. Perhaps for now, and likely gone for good. Even DM's Guild is seriously hurting.
As the third parties go, the main game will surely follow.
Many have moved on to other games, like Dragonbane, which is doing exceptionally well with its expansion Kickstarter. A half-million with 20 days to go is impressive, not Shadowdark levels, but still, this is impressive. Shadowdark's Kickstarter projects continue to impress, and even first-time and new creators are breaking 10 or 20K in support. That is not 5E levels, but for books few have heard about, people are grabbing them for their groups.
Shadowdark is here to stay.
Even ToV, with its expansion Player's Guide currently moving towards 200K, is a good showing for something that is a game that most already have. ToV's problem is that people need a reason to switch, and for me, the PDF ownership, solid 2014 compatibility, support, and the Not Wizards factor are good enough reasons to go Open 5E. ToV also offers far better support and future-proofing than A5E, a game I still like but have grown less fond of. ToV is the solid, forward-looking choice here, and we can always add in rules to replace what other 5E versions offered.
But Dragonbane is more than worthy, and with its solo-play rules, it is a very compelling game for people like me. The half-million mark means you are a serious contender in the hobby. For an expansion? These are good numbers.
Dragonbane is still on my living room shelves as one of my "guests see this" games, and one I am proud to display. Visually, this is stunning and grabs me; it's an instant point of interest and discussion: "What is that?" The monster rules are amazing. The design is solid. Everything about this game sings to me.
Dragonbane is worthy and growing in the post-D&D age.
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