Tangible goods a popular choice for crowdfunders

Crowdfunding has been highly successful for some entrepreneurs, with websites like Kickstarter leading the pack. The basic project puts together a concept, some pictures of the work in progress, and asks for backers to fund the product. 

Funding is typically requested through an escalating tier of pledges, with larger backing eligible for a product with more features. The whole process can be gamified with stretch goals, with growing backing for the project 'unlocking' a new reward for everyone at selected milestones. 

Some of the most popular projects on Kickstarter are games with immensely detailed universes, slick packaging and sophisticated pledging plans. While anyone can try crowdfunding, the Internet recognises those who have clearly put a lot of effort into their proposals. 

The Super Dungeon Explore universe, says Soda Pop Miniatures, brings classic video game style hack and slash adventures to your tabletop.  

Super Dungeon Explore: Forgotten King is a standalone board game that 51 preassembled miniatures, six illustrated double-sided dungeon tiles, counters, and game cards. 

Despite asking for a flat "US$100 or more", it is already 418% subscribed, or has reached over four times the targeted investment amount, as of the time of writing, and still has more than 20 days to go before the offer closes. An associated video on Kickstarter can be viewed here.

MERCS: Recon is more than six times subscribed at 617%. The year is 2184, and nations have merged with corporations to form mega-conglomerates called MegaCons. Elite military and counter-security units in the MegaCons have been given the acronym MERCS, and are involved in everything from internal security to reconnaissance and clandestine operations. 

In the Recon version, players infiltrate an opposing MegaCon location, fight through crowded hallways, capture and interrogate employees, find mission objectives, and secure the package, say manufacturers MERCS Miniatures. Pledges begin at US$10, where a backer is entitled to a single miniature. The video can be viewed here.

Darklands: First Edition II allows pledges from £10, and is 151% subscribed. "Choose any one miniature whose bronze cost is worth £10, and increase your pledge for any other miniature or unit you would like at bronze cost prices," makers Mierce Miniatures explain. For £2,000, something even more interesting happens: Mierce Miniatures will insert the backer into the game as a descendant of a mercenary, "complete with your own rules and a miniature of yourself - suitably garbed, of course".

The company will literally ensure that the backer fits into the Darklands universe. "All you have to do is supply photographs of yourself, tell us what realm you'd like to be from and why, and we'll do the rest - our artists will draw you in all your finery and our sculptors will bring you to life! We'll even name you as closely as possible to dark age names! You'll get ten copies of your miniature for yourself, your friends and family!" states the Kickstarter project page for Darklands: First Edition II.

*All images from the Kickstarter website.

*All percentages correct at the time of writing.