dorkfactory
patreon
A New Dorkfactory Patreon is coming...
🕑 Added 2023-09-10 15:00:04 +0000 UTCHello everybody,
I've built something, and it's going to open a lot of really cool doors for the dorkfactory patreon.
say hello to...
The Dorkfactory Reward Portal
For a long time, subscribing to this patreon meant you get whatever new stuff I've made and a few items I fix up and add to the monthly bundles -- A fixed batch of stuff. Those days are over because now --
YOU CAN CHOOSE ANYTHING YOU WANT
You don't get access to STL files for subscribing anymore. Now, you get DORK POINTS, and they can be turned in for ANY dorkfactoy models -- including any new stuff that comes out. I've wanted to do this for a long time and it's finally here. Now that it's happening, all the doors this opens up are coming into view.
Here's why this system rocks:
The obvious parts:
1) You pick your own rewards. So many people have joined and left based on the models chosen in a given month. Now you don't have to ponder whether it's worth it to stay signed up because you make your own bundle!
2) The points are a really good deal and you can save them up until something you like comes along. Depending on what you use the points on it's somewhere in the range of a 40-60% discount. If you want to use them on new stuff, great! want to save them up for something bigger, also great! Subscribing and challenges (more on that later) will be the only way to get dork points, so it's worth it to wrack them up if you think a dork factory model will catch your eye in the future.
Some very cool side effects
3) Since rewards are no longer tied to patreon's limited features, I can now set up ANY reward system we can think of! I want to give out points for participating in painting contests, doing the printing challenges on the discord, and maybe even just dumb arbitrary things like "that was a funny joke, here's a couple points." PLEASE give me suggestions for cool things to reward, I'm all ears.
4) Bigger projects can happen now!!! The monthly cycle has been motivating, but honestly pretty soul crushing and any projects that span more than a month are just off the table. but nowwwwww since you still get points and can spend em or save em, cooler, bigger, crazier models can span more time and come out when they're good and ready (I am really excited about this part. Dork titan, anyone???) Also I can slow down to create lore and homebrew rules which I love doing but never have time for. This opens the door to the best dork work possible.
5) This one's more abstract but I think it's important: patreon becomes less about buying specific STLs and more about being rewarded for supporting the creation of dorkfactory models.
for these reasons and more I am very, very pumped about this new system, and I'm sure there are more cool benefits that haven't dawned on me yet (comment if you think of one!). I really hope you all like this new setup. Please give it a chance if it feels weird at first. If you want, you can still use it the same way as before and just spend the points on new stuff.
Oh, and of course, all the previous perks like mmf discounts and discord roles etc. are still in effect.
This month I'll be focused on launching and monitoring the new system, getting feedback from you all and making sure everything runs perfectly. I do however have... I think 9 base-models already started so I might have something new at the end of the month -- we'll see. Releases are now going to happen on their own time! This might mean more then 1 per month, it might mean a month goes by where I'm working on something huge that'll take longer. No more back to back 80 hour weeks rushing to finish multiple kits. No more cutting ideas short because of the monthly deadline. Stuff will come out when it's AWESOME and you'll all be able to grab it at a hefty discount if you stick around.
New site opening soon...
I plan to make the new website public on Friday the 15th! All current patrons will be able to use the site and start trading in points then. I'll be doing a patron-only post explaining how to use the new reward portal when it launches.
Thanks for all the support over the years everybody. I hope this is the start of something even bigger and better!
~Charlie
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Links:
Full Catalog (don't forget the patron discount code)
The Dorkfactory Discord Server
Social media and more
Join the dork updates mail list to stay in the loop and get free sample models every month! To join, either send an email to dorkfactoryminiatures@gmail.com with the subject "dork updates" or click the easy button on this page.
Comments
sorry I'm not totally sure what you mean in the last sentence. The way it works is you get X number of points per month depending on your tier (definitely consider switching to one of the current 4 tiers as the old ones unfortunately can't be supported in the same way). Those points can be spent on anything in the reward portal website. There aren't necessarily monthly releases anymore (though I'll probably have something new most months) I just add new things to the catalog on the reward site when I feel like they're as cool as I can possibly make them. I know some people are mad about the change and I'm really sorry for rocking the boat. I'm very excited about the point system because it give's me way more breathing room with the model releases and gives people the chance to get deals on whatever they want, but I know for some of the oldest tiers it feels pretty lame. Sadly I had to develop the website and reward system specifically around the new tiers to stave off massive amounts of manual monthly spreadsheet work. You've been around for a super long time and I really appreciate the support and feedback. I hope it's not enough to make you leave but I understand if that's the case.
So, if I understand correctly, I don't get models for my monthly support, but points that I can convert to certain models ? but does it remain the same that I get all the models in a given month for the promotion?
well possibly if I can turn one around quickly enough. This month has been mostly about making sure the new site is rock solid. I'm trying to move toward just releasing things when they're good and ready instead of rushing every month. most months will still have new models but now instead of just 'money in, models' out you get points which are good forever and you can use them on new stuff as it comes out or bigger bundles or older stuff.
so there are no models to be released this month ?
