The Weekly Podcast no.349 – $1 Million Crowdfunders, John Blanche Tribute, Malegothica Miniaturesand Crows: Fortune or Death

  The TTRPG industry has seen a notable shift in how crowdfunding campaigns reach the million-dollar milestone, moving away from simple book sales toward becoming “pop-up merchandising storefronts.” Campaigns like Deathbringer illustrate this strategy, where high-ticket add-ons such as custom dice, playmats, statuettes, and even denim jackets significantly boost the average pledge level. While these massive funding totals capture attention, experts note that profitability often relies on these high-margin items to offset the costs of advertising and production, while raising questions about the logistical challenges of fulfilling such complex pledges. A tribute to the late legendary artist John Blanche. Organized by Secret Passages, this initiative invites artists and writers to contribute to a standalone 40+ page zine that celebrates Blanche’s five-decade career. This collection of original essays, interviews, and artwork aims to capture the spirit of his influence on the gaming community and will be available alongside the upcoming Secret Passages Issue 4 in Autumn 2026. Magnagothica: Maleghast, a collaboration between Tom Bloom and Taiga Miniatures. This campaign focuses on bringing the heavy metal-inspired wargame to life with official 30mm miniatures. With a goal of US$6,666, the project has already seen significant success, raising over US$78,000 by late August 2026. The campaign offers a range of options, including physical resin models and STL files for at-home printing, targeting an early 2027 delivery for backers. MCDM Productions is promoting Crows: Fortune or Death, a new survival horror RPG that emphasizes high-stakes dungeon crawling and resource management. Built for challenging gameplay where players must survive on wits rather than stats, the game features mechanics like “Dungeon Turns” and robust inventory management via cards. The campaign also introduces a town-building aspect, where players invest loot to improve their home base, creating a lasting legacy for future adventurers while offering backers various tiers that include starter sets, rulebooks, and specialized equipment decks. #johnblanche #malegothicamaleghast #OSE2026 #crowsrpg https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/mugen-gaming/sword-world/pre-launch Batteltech PRG Bundle Encore: https://humblebundleinc.sjv.io/9VBLr4 Secret Passage Zine John Blanche Tribute Page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jdhoare/secret-passages-4-an-old-school-rpg-and-oldhammer-magazine Magnagothica: Maleghast – STL & physical resin miniatures Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/taigaminiatures/magnagothica-maleghast-miniatures Crows: Fortune or Death: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/mcdm-productions/crows-fortune-or-death Playtest here: https://mcdm.gg/crowsplaytest Mantic Companion App: https://companion.manticgames.com/ Use our Referral code: MCTXEE Support Us by Shopping on DTRPG (afilliate link): https://www.drivethrurpg.com?affiliate_id=2081746 Matt’s DriveThruRPG Publications: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?author=Matthew%20Robinson https://substack.com/@matthewrobinson3 Chris on social media: https://hyvemynd.itch.io/​​ Jeremy’s Links: http://www.abusecartoons.com/​​ http://www.rcharvey.com ​​Support Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/upturnedtable Give us a tip on our livestream: https://streamlabs.com/upturnedtabletop/tip​ Donate or give us  a tip on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/2754JZFW2QZU4 Intro song is “Chips” by KokoroNoMe https://kokoronome.bandcamp.com/