Crowdfunding for RPG books has been outstanding for the hobby. It brings us a tremendous range of systems, supplements, and accessories to enjoy our games – more now than ever before.
For many of us, the RPG products we buy don't get used at our table.
Crowdfunding helps creators become small businesses and helps those businesses survive year to year.
Crowdfunding can create FOMO from those who cannot afford to pick them up and can make some who pick them up feel like they wasted their money if they don't use them.

What Can You Do?

If you have the means and get excited for the products you see – go with the gods!
If you don't have the means, remember that your game benefits most by things you can do yourself for free. You need very little to run awesome games.
It's fine to buy products you don't use. Don't feel guilty. Your library exists to fuel your imagination for the games you run.
Set up your own rules for choosing what to buy and what to back:
- Have they regularly produced awesome work? Do they deliver on time?
- Do they have a sample that shows the full breadth of their product?
- Does the product seem reasonable to produce?
- Can I afford it?
- Do I really love this idea and see myself using it?

Two Potential Pitfalls for GMs

I think there are two potential pitfalls when it comes to the large amounts of RPG products hitting the market.

Does it create FOMO for those who don't have the means to pick these things up?
Do people feel bad buying stuff they don't use?

On the flip side of the the whole croudfunded industry:

It helps creators make things they likely otherwise would never have made.
It builds and supports small businesses that otherwise couldn't make enough to survive.
It lets creators experiment in ways that big companys can't and won't. We have a much wider range of products because of it.
It lets creators test the waters on a project. Will enough people be interested in the City of Arches to fund it? And can we make it better than we thought?

According to Kickstarter, 9% of Kickstarters fail to deliver but I think there are some heuristics you can employ to decrease that failure rate when backing projects.

Have they succeeded before?
Are the products they're claiming to deliver reasonable?
Do they have samples that show the full breadth of production?
Are you aiming for less experimental rewards (digital versus physical – books versus accessories).

I get to ask myself, am I ok with that? And the answer is yes because

I helped a creator make a project.
I like having a huge wealth of stuff I can mine whenever I want.
I like watching the process of making these things.
I don't know for sure which projects are going to be huge hits at my own table.
even a quick flip through helps fuel my mind.

I think there are some good lessons people can take away as individuals though:

Just because something looks cool doesn't mean it will help your game.
A lot of the ways you can improve your game are free.
You shouldn't fear missing out. You probably have enough.
If you don't have the means, don't feel bad. You're doing fine with what you have.

Investing In Your RPG Hobby

The amount you invest has diminishing returns
Playing for free
If you have $50
If you have $200
If you can invest $25 a month
If you can invest $100 a month