BackerKit FAQ
How does BackerKit crowdfunding work?
Crowdfunding is a collaborative way to bring ideas and projects to life. Project creators post their idea for a project, and backers pledge money to make the project possible. Backers get behind the scenes access and backer-only rewards, which can include exclusive products, special pricing, creative input, content, and more.
To become a backer, select a pledge level that features the reward(s) you would like to receive when the project is successfully completed and make your contribution.
All-or-nothing crowdfunding model: The creator sets a funding goal and a deadline to raise funds. If the project does not meet the goal by the deadline, backers credit cards are not charged and no money changes hands.
Crowdfunding projects can happen at various stages of the creative process. Make sure to check the estimated timeline of when rewards will be delivered. Project creators will keep you updated on the progress toward completion and delivery of your rewards.
Backing a crowdfunding campaign is not the same as purchasing an item from a store. When you back a campaign you are supporting the creation of something new. Rewards are almost always delivered, but are not guaranteed.
When will I be charged for my pledge?
Your payment method will not be charged right away. You will be charged for the amount of your pledge when the campaign ends and the project reaches its funding goal. You will not be charged if the campaign does not reach its funding goal.
What happens after the campaign is over?
The Creator will send out a survey that will ask you for more information about your pledge, your shipping information, additional items you may want to add to your pledge, and collect shipping fees if applicable.
The survey will be sent to the email address we have on file with your pledge.
Any additional payment will be charged when you complete your survey and confirm your order.
Project FAQ
What is this “ExpSim” and “Discord” that you speak of? Don’t tell me I have to sign up for another app?!
We hear you! We’re all a little saturated at this point. First off, you can play Eyeball to Eyeball entirely without electronics or internet access. We know the digital divide is a real thing, so every teaching package comes with a detailed timeline of the game and pre-written injects that let you do everything in an analog fashion. However, that puts a lot of administrative burden on you, the Game Master, during a time when you’d probably rather be observing your students (if you’re a teacher) or watching your friends squirm (if you’re running a gaming group.) To alleviate that burden, we offer Experiential Simulation (ExpSim), a bespoke online platform from Mustard Square in support of the game. ExpSim: • Provides an automated 66-minute timeline that requires multiple-choice style decisions from key leaders (usually Kennedy & Khrushchev) at specific moments. • Includes options that allow GMs to provide additional challenges (called “injects”) to increase the complexity of the environment. • Structures formal communications between contingents, limiting communication options to those that were historically viable (e.g., Kennedy and Khrushchev cannot message each other directly.) • Runs a Communications section that simulates national intelligence reporting, and a Newsfeed serves as the “global stage”. • Is fully pausable, in case you just need to put on the brakes for a moment! Each player runs ExpSim configured for their specific role on their own digital device. ExpSim runs on anything that can run a web browser: phone, tablet, laptop, etc. ExpSim works out of the box; there is no custom configuration or login creation required. If you back one of our classroom packages during our BackerKit, you get 5 years of access to ExpSim as part of your package. Considering that an individual ExpSim session normally costs $40 per game session, we think this is a pretty good deal! But again, you can absolutely choose to run the game without it. So what about Discord? Our custom Discord server allows for real-time discussions within contingents in place of having them in the same physical room. It allows you to run a fully online version of the game if you can’t be face-to-face. Discord facilitates live audio chat within each contingent and provides a space for informal, backroom or secret meetings. It also allows you as instructor to move quickly between contingents to monitor the action and provide feedback. Bottom line: We have carefully structured the supporting mechanisms of this game to support fully analog, partially automated, or fully remote play.