Yeah, if there's one thing I've learned about crowdfunding campaigns, when the updates start taking more than a couple of months to roll out, the project is in trouble. When it's six months or more between updates, it's dead, Jim.
After this long, based on my own KS experience, I would stop thinking about it, write it off as a loss, and move on with your life. Best not to worry about what can't be changed and you probably spent less than my parents gave to the divorce lawyers, so there is that. That's what I told myself for some of the failed KS I was involved in. Life goes on and best not to dwell on past events that didn't turn out well. Assume they meant well, but were grossly incompetent as business-people, which is often true in my experience.
Okay - so as far as I'm aware (and I'm no authority, but I was involved as an author of DC4 draft) a substantive version of 4th edition was completed. When Uhrwerk Verlag went into administration all the money raised in the crowdfunding was subsumed into the company's overall assets (i.e. not ring fenced for the DC production). Amargosa stepped in (it seems) to ensure the game was on developed, but this has obviously never happened as a) they don't have funding that was raised and b) their licensing arrangements (with the DC IP holder) may be expired/need further renewal.
Don’t be afraid to crowd fund something, but make sure that they are giving regular updates. Also if the price is hiked up in big boy pants, stay out of the playground. Fund moderate campaigns, so if you lose your money, the loss isn’t traumatic. I funded a miniature company about a year ago. I was most definitely pleased with what I received, and will most definitely be buying from them again soon. You probably have heard of it, Ravaged Starr. The minis are DEVINE!!! GW quality, if not better. Plus they are pre assembled!!!!
Those people got took. After five years of course it's not coming out. But given the craftiness of some fans. I'm pretty sure they could track down the business and find out who took their money in which beach they're living on right now. I have not ever backed. The kick-started for my own personal reasons. But this example gives me one more reason not to not do that. This being said, when a product does come to market I will fully support it. I have done so many times no kick starter but I will buy the product that I like when it comes to market.
The upside is that this company made a 4th ed. of Twilight: 2000. Both that game and Dark Conspiracy were GDW games and Dark Conspiracy 1e did have a Twilight: 2000 conversion section. So if they build upon the T2k 4e base we could get a DK 4e from them. 🤷🏼♂️
I would assume when the new company acquired the dark conspiracy license the old license holder folded. Doubt if a new company would honor the funding of the previous publisher if they didn't in some way get the funds from the previous publisher. Their only recourse would have been a new KS charging much more the the original and using the extra money to produce the items for the previous funded items. I'm wondering if they decided against it completely as unfeasable
More like what's commonly referred to as "Near Future". A game that was created when cyberpunk style games were still hot. Pretty innovative game -- it was basically X-Files before X-Files came out. 🙂
QotV - I would put the product in the 'vapourware' bin. The company/companies have ghosted and there is nearly no chance of the product seeing release. Many a Kickstarter has gone down this path. I backed a game "Domina Magica", an RPG that was to replicate the 'magical girl' stories like Sailor Moon, back in 2016. It was to have been delivered by 2019. The last update was 2 years ago and the creator has virtually vanished. They did provide a PDF rough draft of the game, but none of the physical products. I had wanted it for my daughters, thinking it might be a nice way for them to be introduced into RPGs, as they tended to like those cartoons. Had it been released when promised they would have been 11, 13 and 15. But that is the deal with KS, and the like, it isn't a pre-order of an existing product, it is you providing seed money to 'kick start' the product with the reward of being provided something for your funding the project. There is absolutely no guarantees. I wonder if the backers have tried to do the typical tactic of requesting refunds or suggesting class action lawsuits for fraud.
Its really sad. As a group of fans, we can easily get baited by nostalgia. I personally snagged all the stuff for Kult: Divinity Lost. Not huge on the system created.
Dark Conspiracy becoming the victim of a ... DARK CONSPIRACY????? I think I am going to hunt down the GDW collection instead. If I really want it updated, I will probably use PEG's SWADE system.
Last time I downloaded "DC4 Introducing Dark Conspiracy 4" was in 2022. It looked hyped, but was wary after DC from 3Hombres. (Which I own the license but cannot find my PDF anymore) TBH I am on... "I will play Cypher System with original DC source books". The game is a great concept, but the rules are hard going, usually when guns and grenades start coming out your pack. I always come back to the game just hoping I might actually play a game after years of waiting. At least with 3Hombres I thought I was getting something authentic, and their facebook page was pretty entertaining with all their "real life" story hooks they would post. I haven't check facebook in years now though.
It’s quite a Dark Conspiracy
Yeah, if there's one thing I've learned about crowdfunding campaigns, when the updates start taking more than a couple of months to roll out, the project is in trouble. When it's six months or more between updates, it's dead, Jim.
After five years either you get your money back or you were taken ,
I would not hold my breath waiting on it.
After this long, based on my own KS experience, I would stop thinking about it, write it off as a loss, and move on with your life. Best not to worry about what can't be changed and you probably spent less than my parents gave to the divorce lawyers, so there is that. That's what I told myself for some of the failed KS I was involved in. Life goes on and best not to dwell on past events that didn't turn out well. Assume they meant well, but were grossly incompetent as business-people, which is often true in my experience.
I pledged, you have not missed anything. They just screwed us.
Isn't that just the worst?
As someone else who pledged, yes, it is the worst
Okay - so as far as I'm aware (and I'm no authority, but I was involved as an author of DC4 draft) a substantive version of 4th edition was completed. When Uhrwerk Verlag went into administration all the money raised in the crowdfunding was subsumed into the company's overall assets (i.e. not ring fenced for the DC production). Amargosa stepped in (it seems) to ensure the game was on developed, but this has obviously never happened as a) they don't have funding that was raised and b) their licensing arrangements (with the DC IP holder) may be expired/need further renewal.
I had a bad feeling when I heard Angus Abranson was taking it over and unfortunately so far, my gut was right.
DC4, living up the the title, a dark conspiracy!
Don’t be afraid to crowd fund something, but make sure that they are giving regular updates. Also if the price is hiked up in big boy pants, stay out of the playground. Fund moderate campaigns, so if you lose your money, the loss isn’t traumatic. I funded a miniature company about a year ago. I was most definitely pleased with what I received, and will most definitely be buying from them again soon. You probably have heard of it, Ravaged Starr. The minis are DEVINE!!! GW quality, if not better. Plus they are pre assembled!!!!
The board game for Dark Conspiracy was really good Id love them to release it again. So disappointed the KS didn't totally go off.
I feel silly.
I went from part one of the history to part 2 of character creation - now catching up to this 2nd part of the history.
After my experience - this ship is sailed. There will be no refund and most likely you will heare nothing ever again.
_The Mystery of Dark Conspiracy 4_
Wait, I missed two parts?
Nope, I just didn't read it 🤦♀️
I think was the company that restarted Space 1889. Their system is...okay
This is exactly why I don't pay for Kickstarter products. I wait for the final product unless it's a publisher I trust like sine nomine publishing.
Those people got took. After five years of course it's not coming out. But given the craftiness of some fans. I'm pretty sure they could track down the business and find out who took their money in which beach they're living on right now. I have not ever backed. The kick-started for my own personal reasons. But this example gives me one more reason not to not do that. This being said, when a product does come to market I will fully support it. I have done so many times no kick starter but I will buy the product that I like when it comes to market.
The upside is that this company made a 4th ed. of Twilight: 2000. Both that game and Dark Conspiracy were GDW games and Dark Conspiracy 1e did have a Twilight: 2000 conversion section. So if they build upon the T2k 4e base we could get a DK 4e from them. 🤷🏼♂️
I would assume when the new company acquired the dark conspiracy license the old license holder folded. Doubt if a new company would honor the funding of the previous publisher if they didn't in some way get the funds from the previous publisher. Their only recourse would have been a new KS charging much more the the original and using the extra money to produce the items for the previous funded items. I'm wondering if they decided against it completely as unfeasable
I always thought Dark Conspiracy was like CoC
More like what's commonly referred to as "Near Future". A game that was created when cyberpunk style games were still hot. Pretty innovative game -- it was basically X-Files before X-Files came out. 🙂
QotV - I would put the product in the 'vapourware' bin. The company/companies have ghosted and there is nearly no chance of the product seeing release. Many a Kickstarter has gone down this path. I backed a game "Domina Magica", an RPG that was to replicate the 'magical girl' stories like Sailor Moon, back in 2016. It was to have been delivered by 2019. The last update was 2 years ago and the creator has virtually vanished. They did provide a PDF rough draft of the game, but none of the physical products. I had wanted it for my daughters, thinking it might be a nice way for them to be introduced into RPGs, as they tended to like those cartoons. Had it been released when promised they would have been 11, 13 and 15.
But that is the deal with KS, and the like, it isn't a pre-order of an existing product, it is you providing seed money to 'kick start' the product with the reward of being provided something for your funding the project. There is absolutely no guarantees.
I wonder if the backers have tried to do the typical tactic of requesting refunds or suggesting class action lawsuits for fraud.
Its really sad. As a group of fans, we can easily get baited by nostalgia. I personally snagged all the stuff for Kult: Divinity Lost. Not huge on the system created.
QotVid: Not holding my breath... 😊
Uhrwerk Verlag went bankrupt in 2019, but was able to get back into business after being managed by an appointed insolvency administrator.
5: years is not good, I have been on a couple long wait crowdfunding stuff but never ghosted..
That project is dead, and thanks again for the info.
Dark Conspiracy becoming the victim of a ... DARK CONSPIRACY?????
I think I am going to hunt down the GDW collection instead.
If I really want it updated, I will probably use PEG's SWADE system.
Does everyone know the story of GDW’s demise?
I mean at this point I think the game is vaporware. I doubt we'll hear anything.
You never know, though...
QotV: not at all.
*sniff sniff* Smells like a scam. Chances of 4th edition coming out: zero. Those guys took the money and ran.
Last time I downloaded "DC4 Introducing Dark Conspiracy 4" was in 2022. It looked hyped, but was wary after DC from 3Hombres. (Which I own the license but cannot find my PDF anymore) TBH I am on... "I will play Cypher System with original DC source books". The game is a great concept, but the rules are hard going, usually when guns and grenades start coming out your pack. I always come back to the game just hoping I might actually play a game after years of waiting.
At least with 3Hombres I thought I was getting something authentic, and their facebook page was pretty entertaining with all their "real life" story hooks they would post. I haven't check facebook in years now though.