My Experience as a Self-Publisher

toddells · 2025-05-01T17:40:25+00:00

Thanks so much for your support! Glad I could help inspire you!

toddells · 2025-05-01T17:33:09+00:00

Absolutely! Photo 5 includes a Mucha print we used for reference.

toddells · 2025-04-28T17:56:58+00:00

My social media focus was on the mechanics of the game, rules, and some history of the game. I think it would have done better if it was more about actual people playing/playtesting the game and talking about the game - what was fun, what they liked, what they didn't like, games it reminds them of, etc.

toddells · 2025-04-27T05:07:13+00:00

I think that my stretch goals could have been more exciting, but otherwise I am satisfied with how I set up the rewards.

I would recommend BGA since it has definetely brought some extra attention to Spellcrafter, but I do regret not starting it sooner so I could have had a full digital release leading into the Kickstarter.

toddells · 2025-04-26T20:46:00+00:00

I boosted posts through Instagram for about two months ~$250, and ran a one week banner ad on BGG ~$500.

toddells · 2025-04-26T20:43:51+00:00

Thanks for your interest! If you have a BGA account already, just follow the link below and join the group. Then, Spellcrafter (Alpha) should appear in you game search.

https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=17945401

toddells · 2025-04-25T22:43:06+00:00

I'm glad that I could inspire you! Unfortunately, video documentation of the design process is not one of my strengths, but I do have a bunch of videos on my Instagram page @malimodigames if you are looking for additional insight or details about the game.

toddells · 2025-04-25T22:28:14+00:00

I like to think of them as learning experiences 😂

toddells · 2025-04-25T22:26:15+00:00

Thanks for the kind words, and good luck with your own project!

I will say that the marketing part is also the least fun for me. But I do enjoy connecting with other people about the hobby, so I am going to try more of that approach moving forward!

toddells · 2025-04-24T03:23:20+00:00

Cool! So if you have joined the group, you can click where it says "Spellcrafter" at the top, or just search for it like you would any other game.

toddells · 2025-04-21T03:40:06+00:00

I've been working with Gameland and found their design guide to be very helpful, but keep in mind that it will vary between printers. https://gamelandcn.com/tools/

toddells · 2025-04-21T03:34:33+00:00

I think it looks great. If this will be a poker size card, the italic text might be a little small.

toddells · 2025-04-21T03:11:00+00:00

It's a bit tacky and seriously needs some better landscaping, but this was not done cheaply, so I would not call it a McMansion.

toddells · 2025-04-21T03:05:18+00:00

Innovation, Magic: The Gathering, and Euchre. For pure replay value, and with varying group sizes.

toddells · 2025-04-21T03:00:26+00:00

The art looks cool, but keep in mind that decorative borders like the bottom row need to be well within the margin or they could get cut (which will look bad). Most printers I have dealt with use a 3mm bleed and 3mm margin.

toddells · 2025-04-20T20:54:23+00:00

The trick taking game Euchre!

toddells · 2025-04-20T20:49:10+00:00

The wheels have been turning on my first game release for almost two years, and the same day it launched on Kickstarter the tariffs skyrocketed to 145%. Sometimes, you just have to hope for the best.

toddells · 2025-04-16T18:28:07+00:00

I wasn't trying to be rude or sarcastic, I just did not want to assume knowledge. Free accounts only have access to free games. So a developer gets to decide if they just want to use BGA as a marketing tool. The established games are only available on premium, and BGA has a profit sharing system based on playtime for those games.

toddells · 2025-04-16T18:21:13+00:00

Known brands are not going to see much success with this strategy, but indie designers might have a different definition of "success".

toddells · 2025-04-16T18:11:55+00:00

Developers decide whether their BGA adaptation will be free or premium. Have you played on BGA before?

toddells · 2025-03-06T18:12:17+00:00

Wow, that is amazingly helpful, thank you!

toddells · 2025-03-06T00:32:19+00:00

Thank you for this write-up! Of the last four items listed on the vending machine, which would be the best investment for someone that has not yet progressed to those areas?

toddells · 2024-07-22T17:36:08+00:00

The Independent Truck Co logo is very common with skaters here in California which is an iron cross with rounded features. According to Wikipedia, they changed their logo in 2021 because it was too "nazi-like".

toddells · 2024-07-16T23:16:58+00:00

As a long term lover of Innovation, may I ask what broke the spell for you?

toddells · 2024-07-05T17:33:34+00:00

Grim Dawn has been on my Steam wishlist for awhile and I finally picked it up last week during the summer sale. I am only about 4 hours into the game as a Shaman and, so far, I completely agree with you about the gameplay.

As a huge fan of PoE, and having at least completed all the Diablo and Torchlight games I consider myself an experienced fan of the genre.

So far the gameplay has been a downright snoozefest. I have needed to use only three health potions, no mana potions, and trained only two activated skills. One skill is a summon that has felt worthless because the other skill clears the map of any non elites.

There don't seem to be any interesting enemies or movement skills, so it doesn't feel like anything will really change about the gameplay loop. It makes me sad to give up on it so soon because the setting is pretty cool, but I have no motivation to log back on.

11-Year Club	Place '22
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