[UA] Bizarre text distribution model

[Tatterdemalion]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Stolze" <holycrow at mindspring.com>

<sneep>

> The disadvantages are equally clear: I need a good reputation to make this
> work, since that's what I'm trading on.  If I set my goal at $4000 and
> people only pre-pay $2000, what do I do then?  If I release it anyway, the
> system collapses because everyone with a grasp of economics figures, "I
> shouldn't pay -- in a year, Stolze will cave and release it regardless".
> If I don't release it, I've effectively stolen two grand from my closest
> fans, which is not a route I want to go.  Plus, I can never earn more than
> what I get up front.  (Not that long-term royalties have ever paid out for
> me in gaming.  But I suppose there's still time.)
>
> What do you all think?

Set a certain date, say six months to a year.  If you get two grand out of
four in that time period, there seem to be a few decent options:

* Release 1/2 of the thing, and sell the other half;

* Release 1/2 of the thing, and use the same ransom scheme for the other
half;

* Lower your goal slightly and send out a "last call" to haul out both
people who are willing/able to pay more in addition to their first donation
and people who haven't heard a gosh-darn thing about it before, THEN release
however much of it.

--Alice