When Do You Officially Call a Project "Dead"? re: City State of the Invincible Overlord (Judges Guild)

Tonight as I was flipping through Facebook, I saw a post from The Tavern from exactly three years ago - Oh My! Crowdfunding Update from Judges Guild (CSIO). Well, three years later (and a final update over two years ago on the CSIO Kickstarter page) and I think we can all agree, CSIO is NOT going to get the Marmoreal Tomb treatment. No publisher is going to swoop in and spend the dollars, nor the man-hours, to fix this failure. Unlike the Marmoreal Tomb, there are no funds left to pay for layout and development. There's nothing left but promises and disappointed backers.

CSIO didn't fail to complete its obligations because of Bob II and Bob III going out in burning flames on social media, it failed because neither Bob II nor Bob III had the faintest ideas about:

- handling business finances

- managing a budget

- writing RPG material

- project management

- layout (oh my God, the layout horror stories)

Most of all, and perhaps the crux of their issues, is that they lacked simple honesty. With their backers. With their freelances. And yes, even with each other.

This isn't unique to Judges Guild. I wish it was. We see it right now, with companies taking money for products and never shipping them. If it isn't straight-up malfeasance, it's most likely due to one or more reasons stated above.

I am not judging Judges Guild by the social media insanity of its owner but by the incompetence of that very same owner. Bob II has set a new standard that I hope no other companies come close to meeting, but I suspect one or two may actually surpass, and do so with glee in their eyes.

Judges Guild is dead, and its best years were well over 40 years ago. It was a slow death, but a death nonetheless.

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Wayward Kickstarter - CSIO Excuses

Offered without comment:

Stormy Weather but Pushing Onward

Judges GuildCreator

May 11, 2020

Backers and Friends (I hope we still have some), as help from other sources never seem to come forth as promised, the going is slow, but I have not given up. Progress is being made and print funds are still being raised. This is largely due to our new website store and new book (Badabaskor) financed by son Aaron Bledsaw, who is granting 50% of the proceeds from the site to the CSIO/KS print-fund.

   Also, additional material is still going into the CSIO from Bob Bledsaw's own material... if you see how Badabaskor has expanded from 30 to 70 pages, the material used is much of the same which has added an additional 30+ pages to CSIO. This material is Bob Sr's unfinished draft material, edited of course. Those of you who would like to see samples of the expanded Streets can email me at jgww@comcast.net, and I will gladly drop a large Street (text only) for you to see. Maps (interior) and artwork is also being polished and cleaned by Aaron Bledsaw. 

I wish you all to know that I am not squandering any cash here, nor have I used any Judges Guild cash for my own purposes since 2015. I had a cardiac incident in 2018, and have not sought treatment, my sole vehicle quit on me in 2018, so I did not have it repaired, I need eye surgery, but rather than have it, I did not renew my drivers license the same year. I have not driven in 2 years. Also in 2018 the furnace in my home quit, it too has not been repaired, and in 2019, my water-heater stopped lighting... so no, I am not spending the cash for anything here until this project is fulfilled. This is me being honest about my situation, I do have a modest living, and anyone who doubts this can ask my immediate family. I tell you all this because I am in your debt, and you should know how I do thereby.

I was asked to address allegations that I am a racist (I am not), or if I am an anti-semite (again, I am not). Anyone who sees the posts they selected for that narrative ignored the many other posts made to the contrary. There are many reasons to rake me over the coals, and I understand that, but anyone who knows me, or with eyes to see, can be judge. Just because I criticize, jest, or lampoon, does not mean I am any of the things I am being labeled as. If all you see are those selected posts, and ignore that those posts were liked by others, you will be angry. Give me the space you afford Mel Brooks. (and they will run with that quote also). As it is, I run the Guild as my father instructed me, non-political, non-biased... so years back when the LGBTQ asked us to openly endorse them as other companies openly did, I refused, and maybe that marked the Guild in the modern climate... it had nothing to do with my personal position, in fact, I posted that we make games for everyone, why choose sides on an issue like that? So, I guess that was not enough and I was informed in 2016 that the Guild was labeled an "Orange Business" (meaning a pro-Trump pox). I tried to inform people that I did not support Trump, but as my personal wall showed posts critical of the Left, some just assumed I was a liar. I did make insensitive posts, but a search of my wall shows jabs at everyone; preachers, popes, musicians, politicians, AND Trump!  In 2014 I created a Photo Album on FB singing the praise of my favorite Blues musicians, many are black, and yet they would rather see me as Hitler for a few critical posts. As I said, all those posts were liked my someone, so we are talking "taste." I can accept that I am in bad taste sometimes.

Again, I ramble, and I would update more if more was to tell. If you re-read this, you will see how the Guild is doing... for the last 10 years, other companies have made money on the Guild, but that has changed. Our sales are up on the new book, and Aaron has others soon to be released, when he has the capital to print. I hope you all do give those books a chance. Reviews have been very good so far, and that is encouraging to me as to how you will like the City State, as it draws from the same Bob Sr draft material. The fact that it is being well-received and re-ordered, tells me that using it as the filler was the right move. I do believe you will be happy with the words.

Please remember to update your addresses, this will get done! 

Some of the minis are yet to go out, if you wish them sent prior to the book, send me your address along with backer # and I will send them in order of request. Otherwise. they will be mailed along with the printed book and maps. Also, any other issues I can help with, feel free to ask, I will help as I can. My health is not the greatest now, but if you consider the sacrifices I have confided to you above, you know my heart is still with this project, and seeing it thru. All the polish will show.

Sincerely, 

Bob Bledsaw II

Is Judges Guild F'ing CSIO Backers YET Again?

Ah, the fiasco best known as the CSIO Kickstarter by Judges Guild. Misspent monies, mismanagement, and other stupidity all were blamed on Bob III. Well, guess what? The current "fuck you" is from Bob II.

Only one map has been released to backers by Judges Guild - Map1. If you want maps II, XI or XII expect to pay Bob II for the privilege.

Bob II, go fuck yourself.

Oh My! Crowdfunding Update from Judges Guild (CSIO)

I'm going to drop this without comment. I may comment later on the podcast side. Oh, and a LotFP update later today ;)

July, and Progress on the Book

Posted by Judges Guild
Jul 5, 2019

- Update from Bob Bledsaw II.

I could not simply sit on my hands here (having promised to halt other Guild projects and stop my convention appearances). I want the City State to be better, and so began a rewrite of the original texts. This is changing the City State Book in the following ways:

1. Additional material is being added to enhance and fresh-out the descriptions of people, places and things. Some of this material draws from Bob Bledsaw's original 1970's campaign (unpublished writings), and alternate drafts, the Guild's unpublished works Gem City, Bob's Lonely Mountian, and Book of Rumors.

2. Weapons on NPC's are now described as in-hand, worn, secreted, or near-by. This will help judges determine readiness in combat situations.

3. The Tri-stat system is has been stripped out for the lighter generic version. This is the one thing that has been altered away from Bob Bledsaw's 1999 Universal design. (the last digit imposed an endurance factor to all stats, meaning how many times per day the stat held without degradation). This is a good feature, but for this product, I have bowed to popular opinion here.

4. Many NPC's have now complete stats, where before it was only sketched. This created full NPC listings for many new characters.

5. Many NPC's have been given their own combat style and tactics which they will employ if provoked. Their aggressiveness or passiveness with help judges determine how they with interact in various situations.

6. Drawing from Bob Bledsaw's unpublished ideas for monsters and items, some new surprises in the way of creatures, rare weapons, and back-stories have been applied.

7. The original artwork needed cleaned and digitally enhanced. Also, new illustrations are being applied, but sparingly to avoid over-extending page-count (which has jumped significantly with the additional text).

I feel this expansion of the material will enhance your product, because aside from the great map and concept of the City State as a whole, the meat of the product has always been the richness of ideas within. Although a lot of the new material draws from Bob's scattered thoughts jotted down on scraps of paper, I think they have a place here, and have inserted the best of these where I felt they fit best.

I want you all to know that as of yet, no large project has added substantial funds toward the account, but the account is growing from sales royalties coming in from third-parties. As for now, I continue to make this something you will all treasure. My goal remains to get this into your hands as soon as possible.

- Bob Bledsaw II