Blood on the Clocktower Video Kickstarter Survey

Couldnt have said it better myself, i would happly pay a few pennies to get a game with some of the crew involved, or to storytell for a group of my friends,

Bob Thompson

I thought the in person format was pretty good. I'm also guessing on the mid-low end of how much money it all cost. Though if someone DID have the disposable income to throw 10k your way, I think they get to be on at least one of those episodes.

Kamvex

I loved the in person format, personally. I enjoy the zoom videos, but the in person games feel like an event, and more social reading without notes, and gut checks. I'd say if there's a reason to use a larger studio space like is required for in person BotC, then perhaps looking into a lease or purchase of a building/space would be in order. At that point, buying props instead of renting them, buying and setting up cameras and rigging would be possible, and all around would cut down on recurring costs. I'd pitch in for in person games, and definitely if it meant a stronger foothold for NRB to continue to do these. Furthermore, I think an awesome way to raise money would be to run zoom games for patrons or as part of a kickstarter reward. Perhaps run them as patreon only videos, or do some play tests of shorter games to see how they vibe. I think I'd pitch in the most to get a chance to play BotC virtually with you folks, even if there were other patrons/viewers in the game, also.

Wallace Marbach

I just joined the Patreon to stay up to date with the Kickstarter. As such, maybe my thoughts aren't as valuable as others who have been here all along. I have loved what you've been doing with NRB since it started, and think the in-person board game club videos are so much better than the Zoom ones. I also think the in-person Blood on the Clocktower videos were worth making. I don't want to say they were better or worse than the Zoom ones, because they are very different from each other. On Zoom, I feel we get more conversations and more personalities than we did with in person Blood on the Clocktower. It allowed for moments like Adam playing detective or Jon singing. We also would get more interaction between the players and the storytellers which was nice. In-person we got to see how everyone is when they don't have the ability to take notes and got a more...I want to say natural...gameplay. What I mean by this is, I guess, is we didn't get as many bits that derailed the game. I enjoyed both and think both are worth making as long as costs are reasonable. I'll be honest, I'm not seeing more than 10,000 an episode. I imagine travel and studio rental is the most costly, and if episodes are filmed in succession then that's just an upfront cost. Maybe I'm undervaluing how much each person makes per episode, but I can't see asking for more than 100k in the Kickstarter for 7-8 episodes. I'll be more honest, I don't know if you'll even reach 100k pledged for it to be a successful Kickstarter. I have no clue what different tier perks would be, nor do I know what I would want as I have never pledged to any Kickstarter before. I would give maybe 100 or 200, but it would really depend on the perks you came up with. I didn't put it in the survey, but awhile back you guys did a very long stream for 50k subs, maybe a perk is another board game club livestream. I'll be happy with whatever the decision is and can hopefully help (financially) support you from here on out!

EverdarkRaven

Will also add that I would be really happy to see a similar series to BOTC done with Cosmic Encounter! I would not say no to seeing more whacky space battles.

I would be happy to contribute a little to see more in person games, it was definitely fun and the big set was really cool. But I am more than happy to see more Zoom games with different scripts and people.

Just adding in my thanks with all the others for putting out the amazing BOTC episodes! :) I, too, would be very happy with the Zoom calls. Thank you to the NRB team!

Keltic

I’m going to add myself to the chorus of people who were perfectly happy with the online games. The in person games were fun and added a different dynamic, but if it’s too expensive to run in person games on the regular, then more online games would be fine by me.

Lexicorn Fell

I agree wholeheartedly, it was certainly a fun experience but I personally get just as much enjoyment from the zoom sessions tbh and they look a lot easier/more streamline to run

Noony x33

I want to start by saying I LOVED the in person Blood on the Clocktower. I also LOVED the Zoom version as well. I don't know that the in-person version actually made the video any more enjoyable to watch. If the in-person videos are as insanely expensive as you are making them out to be, I don't know that they are worth it and I'd personally say to just keep the Zoom ones.

Keep the costs down. I'd be happy with regular zoom videos and maybe an in-person video every once in a while.

SEAN BADGER

Agree with the main sentiment here - the in-person videos are really enjoyable, but not significantly more than the zoom videos. Therefore I don't think the massive costs to produce them are particularly worth it. A much more scaled down and sustainable version of in-person videos would be preferable. I personally would not be contributing to a kickstarter whilst I already pay for the Patreon.

I really enjoyed the in-person episodes - everything about it. I do think that the main factor that made it more enjoyable was the fact that chemistry between you all was easier to see in person. I think that if the cost is too high, you could scale down the production and simply have a halloween decorated AirBnb!

Danny

The in-person games were more enjoyable, just not 10-20 times more enjoyable, yet they probably cost 10-20 times more to produce.

Gerrit Coulter

I decided to give money for live BotC episodes, now you want more money through Kickstarter as well??? No thanks. EDIT: I should add that the zoom episodes come across the same as the in-person ones, because - you know - they a both recorded anyway. I appreciate the production you put into the in-person version, but it's not worth any extra cost to me. If you require more cash through another outlet, I will just go ahead and cancel all of my donations.

Rolling up my sleeves to bring some more positivity to you. The in person games were fantastic. I have rewatched the zoom videos 10 times each easily and gave them all a personal ranking. The in person ones felt so special and we're very entertaining. I would honestly rate them higher than every zoom BOtC. I will happily contribute to the Kickstarter and help as much as I can. That being said, I understand the view that zoom was better for many. They are an entirely different show in my mind after watching everything again. I think of them as two separate entities and if a new one of either dropped tomorrow I would click them instantly and watch them all the way through with joy. The in person one I would likely only watch once vs the zoom I'd watch again and again. I get a bigger high out of the in person games and a longer high out of the zooms. In person doesn't have as much you can squeeze in to where you rewatch to enjoy small bits you forgot about but has large bits you don't need to watch again because they were so memorable. I suppose it comes down to what is more fun for NRB and what is more important: the highest quality 1 view or the also very high quality 10 views. I will support either decision with glee. Thank you all ❤️

Brandon Lee Abbas

Did I enjoy the in person episodes? Yes. Did I enjoy them vastly more than the online games? No. While they looked stunning (and a huge amount of credit needs to go to the whole team for putting them together) I don’t think the end product was considerably more enjoyable. Also, I agree with what another commenter said, there is very little re-watch value to these games. I would say a better use of your funds would be to keep diversifying the channel with more video types like Johnny Bollocks or Blair’s cosplay videos. For me, I wouldn’t put all my eggs in the same basket.

I for one am glad I read through most of the comments before actually taking the survey; they helped crystallize my thoughts and even brought things to my mind that hadn't occurred to me. Thank you all

Micah Newby

Personally greatly preferred in-person to the zoom-games but must be a lot cheaper an alternative for sure.

Rasmus Forchhammer

Yeah. As much as I liked the in person blood on the clock tower, the zoom ones are perfectly great as well. And because they are in zoom, the people get to explain their picks in the night with the storytellers.

David Monticchio

I'll echo a lot of my fellow Nerbs in saying that while the in-person eps were lovely, the Zoom ones were perfectly serviceable and the important parts of those games weren't the production values, it was the stories and the personalities involved. Jon's song as the minstrel, Carley's little dance when she realized she'd won as the demon, Adam's absolute shit-flipping when he realized he was the lunatic, Luke's betrayal of Ollie (side-note: I miss Luke), the immortal "ARE YOU EVIL?!"... All of these moments (and so many more) were YOU people, not the production values.

Simfers

I answered the survey, but like many here, I’ve no idea on costs of production! I personally preferred the in person episodes to the Zoom versions (although I do like them too) so I’ll def back the kickstarter. Everyone being together in the same room was more enjoyable for me. However, while I’d love to see more in person episodes, are there things that can be scaled back to save costs, like a smaller venue for example? I’m not saying have it in someone’s house, but just somewhere smaller! I’m certain that, even with scaling back on the venue or other areas, you would still make an amazing in person video that we would all love!

Margie-Pargie

My wife also said that she preferred the Zoom games to the imp-person episodes. She didn't elaborate on why, but I can see a few possible reasons. For one thing, there are a lot more nighttime conversations in the Zoom episodes, where the players actually get to speak privately with the storytellers instead of just waving hands at each other.

I came here expecting to be in a minority of one preferring the online versions, but it looks like I'm not alone. The best episodes were the ones that ended up with a great story arc. So if you were going to pump money in (and I'd pay modestly for this), I'd much rather it went into playing more games, and if necessary releasing only the best of them. Online via zoom also offers aspects you can't get with in-person, such as the reaction of players in the night phase. If you wanted to innovate, you could 'interview' players in the night phase to see what they think is going on and their strategies. As it is we tend only to get this via their interactions with each other, that can involve deception and obfuscation. And of course, online might make it easier to keep Carley on board.

Jo Wood

So I am probably going to be in the minority, but I kinda prefer the games over zoom. To me, it felt like the editing was tighter. The delays like walking to the side rooms or to the podium stood out to me. I enjoy the NRB versions of Clocktower because the all of the side conversations are edited in so we can see the sub-plots develop. If it is easier to do this via zoom I am fine with that. I mean, good lord, don't bankrupt yourselves for in person games...

I'd like to say I very much enjoyed the 'in-person' BotC episodes - but I would also like to say that one of the main reasons I found you guys where the 'virtual' BotC episodes and I thoroughly enjoy them as well and have watched them all multiple times, and I find they work very well. Sure - in person adds other perspectives - not only to you guys and to the game it self - but you've made the virtual ones just as good or me personally. It's the people - not the format - that drives it for me. What's most important to me is you have fun, because that creates fun.

Allan S. Hansen