Philip Reed, CEO of Steve Jackson Games and Philip Reed Games, was one of the most prolific RPG Kickstarter campaigners of 2020 in terms of the number of successfully funded campaigns. Launching twelve RPG Kickstarters during 2020 (most of which have fulfilled digitally and physically*).
The numbers are staggering:
- 12 Kickstarters
- 15,390 backers
- An average of 1,282 backers per campaign
- $191,906 dollars pledged
- An average of $12.46 pledged per backer
Within those twelve campaigns, there are several types of RPG projects ranging from system neutral RPG zines to RPG hardcovers to GM-inspiration cards to third party content for some of the more notable indie systems. Toward the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, Philip switched his Kickstarter content from system neutral to third party engines such as Troika! and four compatible with Mörk Borg. These projects found a ready audience hungry for new content. Since Philip has a new Mörk Borg Kickstarter running, one that features a unique offering, I decided to look back on his run of third party projects compared to his other 2020 offerings to get a sense of how much of his campaign’s success is Philip’s fanbase versus the fanbase Mörk Borg.
What Is Mörk Borg?
“A doom metal album of a game. A spiked flail to the face. Light on rules, heavy everything else. MÖRK BORG is a pitch-black apocalyptic fantasy RPG about lost souls and fools seeking redemption, forgiveness or the last remaining riches in a bleak and dying world.”
Published by Free League and created by Pelle Nilsson of Ockult Örtmästare Games and Johan Nohr of Stockholm Kartell, Mörk Borg took Gold ENnie Awards for Product of the Year, Best Writing, and Best Layout and Design as well as a Silver ENnie for Best Game. This OSR is a great rules light RPG and a beautiful artbook that sells the idea of grim dark fantasy in an original, metal way. I’ve reviewed it for Knights of the Dinner Table and it is amazing in both content and presentation. But don’t take my word for it. Since I’ve interviewed Philip multiple times, including one about his first Mörk Borg Kickstarter, I asked him why he created so many Mörk Borg offerings?
“The game’s light, open approach to mechanics combined with the visual style speaks to me. I’ve been growing a little tired of overly-complex rules systems, so games like Mörk Borg, Troika!, and the 24XX series have been capturing more and more of my attention.
Rules light (to the point of almost no rules at times) games will never fully replace more involved systems for me, but they make for a great change of pace. After all, what GM doesn’t enjoy an engine that encourages and supports telling the rules lawyer in the group, ‘I don’t care what you think the rules say, the monster snaps your limbs from your body and uses them to pummel your defenseless corpse.’”
The Numbers
When I say that Mörk Borg did well, that needs a frame of reference. The ten non-Mörk Borg campaigns Philip did averaged $14,175 ($15,633 if you remove the Troika! campaign) per Kickstarter. His non–Mörk Borg campaigns managed 1,306 backers (1,416 if you remove the Troika! campaign) per Kickstarter. By comparison, the Mörk Borg campaigns averaged $19,659 (20% to 28% higher) and 972 backers per campaign (26% to 32% fewer backers). A higher dollar amount on fewer backers.
To give some comparison, let’s look at the other Kickstarter Philip ran during this time frame, Monstrum Prodigium, a Third-Party Troika! RPG Zine. Troika! is popular, though it’s hard to compare its market share to that of Mörk Borg. Regardless of the size of their respective fanbases, they’re well-done RPG offerings. With Troika!, you get one of the wideness ranges of gonzo setting fun at the gaming table. It’s a fun OSR experience.
When looking at the Troika! Campaign numbers, Philip’s third party Troika! Kickstarter, while short, was his lowest performing Kickstarter of 2020. That’s no slight against Troika!, Philip’s reputation, or the product, every company has to have a lowest-selling product. There are a variety of potential reasons why it was lower, and I don’t want to speculate. But, for the purposes of this comparison, it was lower while Mörk Borg, which is the closest apples to apples comparison, did excellent numbers.
One important note, despite the numbers for Troika!, Phil has plans to go back to that well. With that attitude, there’s no way to call this anything but a success.
Why Did These Hit?
Looking at the numbers between Philip’s Mörk Borg and Troika! offerings and Philip’s system neutral campaigns, Philip’s Mörk Borg Kickstarters shows clear demand for his work as well as more Mörk content. Part of that is Philip, his reputation, his excellent marketing, his gaming-ready products, his rapid delivery, and his profile, those components of his brand give backers confidence in the products he creates. If you back his work, you’re going to get your money’s worth and quickly.
But there’s another consideration when looking at the solid results of these Kickstarters, the system. The core RPG won a number of awards, and offered an Open Gaming License (OGL), while keeping a tight reign on their own offerings. The hotness of the system combined with a measured, high quality roll out from Pelle Nilsson and Johan Nohr, including the recent Heretic offering, created a world in which their system is compact and exceptional. However, that roadmap left a void that certain third party creators are filling. Taking the combination of a great creator and a popular, well-reviewed RPG led to fans backing Philip’s campaign.
Tower of Scoundrels, a Third-Party Mörk Borg Adventure
The spark that prompted this article is Philip’s newest compatible with Mörk Borg campaign, Tower of Scoundrels. Never content to *just* make awesome sourcebooks, Philip has something special planned with his latest Kickstarter offering: an adventure and a 7” record featuring original music by Philip Reed supporting it. This project provides the record, the cover of which can be used as a micro GM screen, and two booklets detailing the tower. A solid Mörk Borg adventure, a GM screen, and a record, it’s a unique offering and, most interesting, this is the only opportunity to pick it up as it will not be reprinted.
If you’re a fan of Philip Reed’s work or Mörk Borg, this project is worth picking up. Check it out here:
Tower of Scoundrels, a Third-Party Mörk Borg Adventure from Philip Reed Games
“A short adventure packed with a 7″ vinyl record of atmospheric tunes. Use the record sleeve as a GM screen! Includes two booklets.”
Shameless Plug – Love’s Labour’s Liabilities
Beyond Philip Reed’s awesome work, I’ll wrap this up with a plug for my current project, a Kickstarter that is part of Zine Quest 3. Along with novelist John McGuire and poet Leland Beauchamp, we’re creating a 56-page RPG zine about love at the gaming table and love of 5e with new subclasses, monsters, magic items, fiction, a poem, and an essay on keeping love safe at the gaming table. If you want to see what we love, check out our latest project.
Love’s Labour’s Liabilities – A 5e RPG Zine Quest from Egg Embry Publishing
END DATE: Saturday, February 13 2021 at 11:59 PM EST (PDF delivers on Valentines Day, Sunday)
*Two of the 2020 offerings are still fulfilling. Per Philip Reed: “Calo’s Book of Monsters is still in physical fulfillment. The book printer is scheduled to finish this month. Book of Collected Rumors is still being completed and is not yet fulfilled. It is on schedule.”
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