We’re nearing the one year anniversary of launching Stately Play and while we haven’t reached the heights of our old living quarters, it’s been a lot of fun being able to write again about topics that I love. Of course, I could write all I want but without you guys reading it, I would just be another mad man bellowing into the wind. Therefore, I have to thank each and every one of you, whether you stop by every day, once a week, or only when you spy a story you might like via our Facebook or Twitter feed. None of this would exist without you reading, contributing in the forums, playing in tournaments, and all the other stuff you do that doesn’t deal directly with what appears on the front page.
When we started Stately Play, just having a place to write about all this crazy stuff was our goal, and we succeeded. Here we are, after all. That said, I really love this place and want to make it both my and your permanent home. I have big plans that involve more writers, more content, new features, and getting Kelsey that espresso machine he keeps prodding me about. Maybe not that last one, but I really want to make Stately Play a place that’s more than just me pooping out 2-3 news articles a day with an occasional review here and there. I don’t want us to be a mere echo of what our old digs were, I want to compete with our old digs. To be a place that gets their pull quotes on Steam and iTunes pages, etc. Yes, most of this rant is about me needing to stroke my own ego, but you guys would benefit as well. Who doesn’t want more articles at Stately Play especially if they’re written by real writers instead of this old hack?
Unfortunately, it’s hard to create things in this world and not start talking about cash. We’ve been an Apple Affiliate since the beginning, so every time you click on an iTunes link here on Stately Play, it helps us out. That said, since they pay a pittance per click, we need a new revenue stream. I’m looking into advertising and, possibly, attracting some sponsors to the site but I have no experience doing such a thing, so I’m doing a lot of reading [where’s Owen when you need him, amirite? -ed.]. Until then, we’ve gone with Google Ads, which are kind of annoying but we’ll take anything we can get at this point. We’ve also recently become an Amazon affiliate, so all those links under our board game reviews benefit us as well.
The other funding mechanism we’re trying out is Patreon. You might have noticed the Patreon links in the sidebar or at the bottom of articles. If you like what we’re doing here at Stately Play, please consider becoming a patron and sponsoring us. Hiring good writers that we’d be proud to publish at Stately Play costs money, not to mention my conscience has a problem not paying writers for their work [except for Alex…let’s keep this whole ‘paying writers’ thing under our hats when we see him, okay? -ed.].
We have all new badges ready to hand out in the forums for patrons, and we’re happy to listen to any other suggestions when it comes to getting something in return for pledging with us. We’re nothing if not flexible. Hell, if you have ideas for other revenue streams, we’d love to hear those, too. This is all new for Kelsey and I, so we’re trying to get up to speed as quick as possible.
If you don’t have any extra cash right now, no worries. Stately Play is still small enough that I feel we’re like family, and we’re definitely not going to look down our noses at anyone who can’t chip in. Hell, I can’t afford to chip in (which is kind of the problem, I guess). We’re glad you’re here, reading and contributing to something that started as a dream Kelsey and I conjured up in the summer of 2016.
Thanks for reading, and I promise I won’t be hitting you over the head with this every week. Maybe once a month. Okay, no more than every two weeks. Promise.
Threw you $5 a month… for what I get out of this site, that’s a mere pittance. And maybe pledging at the Captain level will be good karma for my exam next month!
Can’t thank you enough, sir.
That said, I’m still going to trounce you in our TtA game.
I love Patreon as a mechanism for supporting content. Gladly in for $5 a month also.
You guys are too awesome! Thank you so much.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pVT_mvvZLoI would expect no less!
Well, we’re both going to get trounced by @Hardco, so I don’t know that it matters much.
Story of my life, my friend, story of my life…
For as little as 3 cents a day you too can help feed starving game-writers… call me Captain Giant. I try really hard to minimize recurring bills, but I get so much joy from StatelyPlay, how can I not…
I’ve got a trip to Barcelona burning a hole in my bank account this month but I’ll be on for 5 next month. Roughly what I would’ve spent on my gaming mag subscriptions back in the day and this is my go to game site.
In for $5 a month
I’m in for $5/month. You guys are awesome, and the community we’ve formed here is worth so much!
It’s a no-brainer … very happy to contribute to keep your lights on … illuminating us all.
Okay, enough of the sycophancy. What I really want to know is … does my Captain rank come with a hat?
I take serious offence that there is no “Private” rank and badge but since this place was/is so awesome© I went all in and went for the equivalent of 10 Netherworld Coffees of Doom.
Also my first backed Patreon, I didn’t know that I can do this trough paypal. I thought it only works with CC (which I loathe).
Am I the only one who is charged VAT? Ist it a Germany (EC) only thing or is everyone charged VAT?
Also duly patronised. I’ve been meaning to support various things though Patreon for yonks, but this is the first time I’ve actually got off my virtual arse and done so. Almost got you to triple digits…
It surprises me how niche good quality premium strategy games are on iOS. You guys do the best job of covering them anywhere on the internet so I’m more than happy to donate a fiver a month. You cost me much more than that in Apple fees from my daily visits.
sigh I may have to cave on patreon. I hate the whole notion of it personally (being ongoing) but there are a couple places I’d like to support that have made this a part of what they do.
I, um, kind of can’t handle the appreciation here. I’m more grateful than I know what to do with, honestly. I mean, I know it’s Dave who does most of the work, but I’m wicked glad to have had a hand in arranging that he has a platform everybody gets to read. And the forum here is a friggin’ library of awesome, so that’s all you fine folks.
There are a handful of people on Patreon that I’ve been considering supporting. But I know that once I’ve opened that floodgate of money, it’ll never be closed. However, I’ve gotten so much out of the site that shall not be named (when you all were in charge) and Stately Play over the years that you’ve pushed me over the edge.
I’ll set up an account and send a few bucks your way. You’re certainly responsible for more than of few of the ones I’ve spent over the last few years on the App Store (actually probably all of them).
Supported.
Keep up the good work.
(Ps. I noticed your stretch goal. I rather read articles then watching vids. So for me personally, I dont mind if you arent going that direction)
Goddammit. Don’t tell Owen, or he’ll reappear only to put my nuts in a vice. As much as I’d like to see him again, that’s not what I was thinking.
That stretch goal was the result of me not having any good ideas when putting together the Patreon. Would be happy to hear other ideas that the less-video-oriented would like us to incorporate!
I don’t have any specific ideas, but I would suggest a combination of video and written.
I love watching playthroughs on Heavy Cardboard, for example. But also really love written works (and writing works!)
Sorry for the lack of responses. Like Kelsey, I spent a good portion of the weekend overwhelmed with the idea that people were spending their hard-earned dough on something that we were creating. I haven’t had that kind of visceral feedback before (we’ll ignore this post) and I’m really not sure how to handle it, other than saying thank you to all of you who backed, those who shared it with their friends, and for everyone who comes here every day to read the verbal diarrhea I spew forth on a (almost) daily basis.
I’ve wanted to write since I was a kid, and everyone at this site–whether you signed up for the Patreon or not–is keeping that dream alive. I cannot thank all of you enough. I can, however, get you all those badges and make sure I switch the damn 1st and 2nd Lieutenant thing. (My dad and grandpa would be so pissed at me…)
I’ll also see what other cool stuff we can do in the forums. There are so many options and things we can do with Discourse, that Kelsey and I haven’t even really delved into them yet.
Thanks again!
No way we’re giving up the written part. Sorry if the stretch goal thing at Patreon inferred that. My goal would be to supplement the written with videos. For example, play the game via video a few times, followed by the written review (or vice versa, depending on when we get our hands on a game and when any embargoes end).
We’ve been throwing around playing a tabletop RPG with myself and the writers using a virtual table like Fantasy Grounds or Roll20 and recording it as we go and posting the vids. Not sure if that’s up anyone’s alley here, but we thought it would be a funny insight into the heads of many of the folks whose names you see on the bylines at SP. It would allow me to play D&D again so, yes, it’s a completely selfish goal. Surprise!
That’s a good idea. I’ll research how we’d go about doing such a thing without my garage becoming a warehouse for thousands of unsold shirts. Unless you’re willing to buy 1000 up front, @js619?
Pretty certain Mrs. JS619 would have 999 unhappy thoughts / things to say about that!
ETA: I’ve never done it myself but I have to imagine there’s internet companies that’ll handle everything down to the creation, sales, and shipping? Not sure if it works out profitably though…
ETA2: @Neumannium, check out https://www.merchify.com and / or https://www.printful.com might do the trick?
I’m telling, you, man, we need to get on the horn to the Franklin Mint about commemorative Stately Plates.
Did you watch the “Stream of Annihilation” when WotC announced that Tomb of Annihilation was the new 5th edition content for this year? It’s pretty cool, and live streaming in general has been a huge boon for D&D over the past several years.
Put me down as another person not interested in video content. That’s my biggest complaint about a lot of the bgg content now. I’ve got no new ideas for you though, that’s what you get paid the big Patreon bucks for!
Pledged. Patreon is a great idea for the site.
Like some others have stated, I am also not interested in video content. Unless you mean music videos, with Dave and Kelsey lip-synching to their favorite 80s hits. Then I’d be on board.
I’m also not that excited about video. Reading is faster.
I have an idea, or an idea of an idea. How about an article every few weeks on an older multiplayer game that is still great (and available). Maybe talk about strategy for the game. The idea is to generate interest in playing some older games instead of always focusing on the new next best thing. Also, it will help newer players learn about great games they may have missed.
For example, Carcassonne is a great game, but it doesn’t get much discussion (other than the new Asmodee android version). Ticket to Ride is another. It is a well known, well loved game. I could use some tips about how to play the newer expansions that I own but just haven’t played yet.
Just an idea.
So we’re now on a countdown until you’re ‘acquired’ by Asmodee?
Great idea! Would love to do more “strategy” articles, the only issue being I pretty much suck at every game and don’t feel comfortable telling other people how to beat a game other than my favorite method: play at the easiest difficulty level.
Oh, please. We’re way too small for Asmodee to care…oh, hold on. My phone’s ringing…
I’ll pay another dollar/month to not see that
Hire Owen to write Sunday Almanac?
It’s been on my wishlist since last October. Hard to do when he won’t return my calls, though.
Still have my fingers crossed that, someday, he’ll come back. Miss that guy.
I think putting the out-there stuff on the site is one of the things that makes the site unique. It would not be a positive to relegate those to rewards, IMO.
I’m not sure how many of the people who have pledged are even thinking about “rewards” (I wasn’t) so much as just supporting what’s happening here.
Don’t make me beg for a podcast.
You could even have forum members as guests!
While I’m here, might as well do my bit whoring for Big Cardboard. GMT are currently doing a pretty excellent deal on a couple of titles right now.
https://www.gmtgames.com/p-568-american-revolution-tri-pack.aspx - Essentially three games in one, for $45. American War of Not Doing As They Were Bloody Well Told.
https://www.gmtgames.com/p-659-death-valley-battles-for-the-shenandoah.aspx - Six battles for $59. American War of See We Tried To Tell You Now Look What’s Happened.
I’d love to see some AARs of these. If they’re a bit too staid, please take a look at Hermann Luttmann’s Blind Swords series for some top-notch excitement for a reasonable price, without lots of counters or complexity. I’m a Hermann Luttfann and the third game is out soon.
Okay, done, you can shoot me now.
What I personally miss most compared to the old site, are the threads on movies (especially those, I miss the short movies), books, podcasts, comics, food, travel experiences, etc.
Owen didn’t initiate those threads, but the community and they kept feeding them with good stuff. I would hope that the same people who did this in the old site would find it in themselves to reestablish those threads. Personally they were a major source of input for my “cultural time”. Maybe the site’s editors can choose a “topic of the month” sort of thing, where we all discuss movies for instance, to get the threads going and keep us focused for the start?
Ok, I think I have the forums/badges and whatnot figured out. Everyone should have their badge and title in the forums. If you do not, please let me know. There were a few names on the patreon who didn’t have corresponding emails to anyone in our forums. Not sure if they just aren’t active in the forums, or used a different name/email.
Let me know!
Also, thank you to everyone once more. The last week+ have been surreal. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be here, and have all of you along for the ride.
(Everyone should have “flair” added to their icon in the forums, as well as a title, if you donated. I can see them, but let me know if I’m the only one and you can’t see anyone else’s flair or title.)
Yes, I don’t really like putting stuff behind a paywall. For a lot of people, it’s not a choice to support a Patreon…they just don’t have the cash. I’ve been there (hell, I am there), and would hate to punish people because of it.
I don’t consider flashing the bling on the avatars being too over the top, though. Maybe? I don’t know, I thought it was kind of cool.
Yup. Cosmetic stuff is fine.
Finally got setup on Patreon and joined the club official.
I made a discord account when it started, but I totally forgot about it. Something about discord makes me uneasy… it’s like there is too much movement on the screen and I feel overwhelmed, don’t know where to start. I admit I bearly played around with it so far, but and I still hope this website stays our main focus.
My 2 cents
I had a problem with Discord when it first came on the scene. And then my work switched almost all communication to Slack, and not long after, Discord made sense to me.
This is going to sound bad, but I have to ask considering I just reread the first post in this thread:
Is the Patreon helping to support the forums? Or (as it seems to read in the opening post) was it mainly for supporting the site (which appears not to be around anymore)?
If it’s for the forums (because they are a subset of the site), then I’m happy to keep it up.
But if it’s just for the site and it’s now mostly defunct, then I think it may be time to move that money somewhere else.
His profile no longer seems to exist, for me anyway.