Donation Incentives….

Okay folks, today I’m going to ask for your help. I need some ideas.

This year we’re trying out something new to encourage people to donate and spread the word about Worldbuilders.

Call them Stretch Goals, or Donation Incentives, or bonus cookies or whatever. The upshot is that for every 50,000 dollars we raise on the Worldbuilders Team Page, I wanted to add something cool to the fundraiser.

When we started back in November, these were the goals I listed:

$50,000: Secrets revealed on Pat’s blog.
$100,000: Pat’s favorite things added to the lottery.
$150,000: Q&A with Amber Benson.
$200,000: Win a trip to Heifer Ranch.
$250,000: 200 books from Pat’s library.
$300,000: Win a Favor from Pat Rothfuss.
$350,000: Secret-Surprise Stretch Goal #1.
$400,000: Pat will donate an extra $100,000 to Heifer.
$450,000: Secret-Surprise Stretch Goal #2.
$500,000: Trey Ratcliff, Veronica Belmont, and Pat Rothfuss will visit a Heifer Project in Nepal and report back to you.

Just yesterday, I posted up some of the secrets I promised. I’ll be posting up information on the Four Corners, too.

Soon you’ll be seeing the blog full of my favorite things added to the lottery. And we’ll be having our group Q&A with Amber Benson, too.

But I have two questions, really. This is where I need your help.

1. What do you think of this year’s list of donation incentives?

#2 is closely related:

2. What sort of things would you like to see on this list?

Not only do I need some cool ideas for the $350,000 and $450,000 goal, but I need ideas for next year, too.

What could we put into these slots that would really motivate people to donate and spread the word? What could we do to really push this year’s fundraiser over the top?

Lastly, keep in mind that these incentives should be sort of, y’know… bonus cool. Like the surprise in the bottom of a box of CrackerJack, but cool. Not like that lame goddamm fortune telling fish.

No. These things should be like you get to the bottom of the crackerjack and you get… like…. I dunno. A coupon for a hug from Joss Whedon. Or an old key. Or, like, a decoder ring or something.

These things should be like…. special features on a DVD. GOOD special features. Like on the Dr. Horrible DVD. Stuff that a wide range of geeks would be excited about seeing happen, or things people would be excited to win in the lottery.

Help me out here folks. I need some ideas.

Feel free to discuss below. Also, feel free to be polite to each other.

(By the way: That second statement should be read as, “Be nice or I will descend on you with all the wrath of an angry god.”)

Hugs and kisses,

pat

This entry was posted in Worldbuilders 2012. By Pat122 Responses

122 Comments

  1. Kerensky287
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 11:50 PM | Permalink

    Stretch goal: you send someone a copy of Book 3 as it stands in its in-progress editing phase? Maybe? :3

    Other possibilites: you carve Kvothe’s face into Mount Rushmore, you assemble an elite team of authors to dress up as a superhero team at an upcoming convention (remaining in character for the duration), you teach a goat sympathy and donate it to Heifer International…

  2. Celt42
    Posted December 27, 2012 at 11:59 PM | Permalink

    Either yourself or someone who wins the lottery getting to go on Top Gear (UK VERSION!). This one would be pricey, but maybe they’d be willing to donate the airfare?

    A youtube video of you doing a puppet show. With song!

    A comic book entitled “The Beard”.

    Talking your publisher into adding a stop at a lottery winners choice of towns during your next book tour.

    The goat and sympathy? That’s got my vote! Much laughter engendered over here.

    • Neville Longbottom
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 10:15 AM | Permalink

      “a stop at a lottery winners choice of towns”

      This is a very good idea!

      • Thebackpack
        Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:36 PM | Permalink

        Oh, I like that one! Pat comes and does a Q&A session in the winners town(s)!

        Also, Pat, I get nervous when I see the 400k. goal. That is a lot of money. I don’t know why, but it makes me uncomfortable…

    • strawberryjamm
      Posted January 1, 2013 at 9:42 PM | Permalink

      I really like the idea of offering to do a reading stop in the city of the lottery winner’s choice. :-)

  3. Hansel
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:17 AM | Permalink

    I would love to know how the Calender in the books works.
    Do “we” already know? If so I feel stupid.
    If not I think lots of people want to know.

    I think what I’m getting at is that every goal could be secrets and I’d be more than satisfied.

    I have a feeling others feel the same.

    • thistlepong
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:03 PM | Permalink

      I’m pretty sure the heifer page and the original blog used to say “secrets of the calendar and currencies,” but they’ve both been changed and links have been added.

      • thistlepong
        Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:31 PM | Permalink

        Nah, it’s still on the blog. I second the calendar! We know a lot about it between the books and their translations, but there are a few mysteries left.

        • harrity
          Posted January 2, 2013 at 6:16 PM | Permalink

          Wait wait wait, could the calendar feature pictures of different characters, like the pin up calendars, but with pics of kvothe, denna, devi, etc?

    • amara64
      Posted January 2, 2013 at 7:24 AM | Permalink

      Pat showed me the calendar once at a book signing. I think that is something he should really share! I found it very helpful and, of course, meticulously organized.

  4. Constance
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:30 AM | Permalink

    Firstly: I would LOVE to see in-world currency for sale as a collectable.

    Secondly: I got my Worldbuilders stuff in the mail today and my husband was elated by those Cthulu playing cards. (We decided the Hobbits would not get to use them- it’s a larp thing…). The calendar is gorgeous and the signed Kidby print will be framed and put in a place of honour . So THANK YOU!

    Thirdly: I’d like to see ‘deleted scenes’ from the first and second book. Things that were put on the cutting room floor. The disastrous boat ride. The trial. The script for 3 Pennies for Wishing or the TenPenny King. The poetry Kvothe is forced to recite. Names of other ‘specialties’ that Felurian teaches him which didn’t make it in.

    Fourthly (although it’s technically part of part the third): Release lyrics for some of the music in the stories. Jackass especially.

    • Celt42
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:54 AM | Permalink

      I love the deleted scene idea!

  5. Westerstyle
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 1:03 AM | Permalink

    Bring back Firefly. Make it so.

    • Dulcet
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:06 PM | Permalink

      Yeah, if that didn’t make the first 5 comments, I woulda cried. But I second that. If you promised us Firefly, you’d be able to visit Nepal on a weekly basis.

  6. christie
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 1:26 AM | Permalink

    Ok, you do so much for us, your fans, I don’t think more could or maybe even should be requested. Thank you for all you do. It is such a great charity doing so many wonderful things for people, I don’t know that a “reward” is needed.

    That said…you asked for cool Cracker Jack prizes and because of all you do, I will try.

    As a fan, your writing is truly the best reward. Sharing deleted scenes, inside scoops about days of the week, song lyrics, the “ring” system, details about names of people and places, character’s back stories, essentially anything that adds depth to the story and the four corners of the world. If you have ever written from another character’s perspective for a “scene”, I think that would be interesting.

    So in short, I don’t know that incentives are needed, but I tried so that maybe a suggestion will lessen the stress a bit.

    Thanks again

    • christie
      Posted December 29, 2012 at 11:54 AM | Permalink

      I have mentioned it before…and there seems to be a lot of interest in “deleted scenes”….

      Please consider releasing deleted scenes to be purchased in an ebook format (for simplicity ?). Think of all the goats!!!

  7. Yoni
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 2:10 AM | Permalink

    The deleted scenes and fleshed out songs/plays from the books would be great.

    Along the same lines, perhaps a short story of an adventure in the world which doesn’t mess up canon?

    The best I could imagine winning is a signed ARC of book 3 whenever such a thing is ready.

  8. jayh
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 2:59 AM | Permalink

    I like the suggestion the guy above had about setting up a signing in the winner’s city. Your publisher could probably write it off as a promotional expense. Of course that could get expensive if the winner is international, and knowing you, you wouldn’t want to limit it to North American fans just out of fairness.

    So, something cool but doable, and I’m sure someone would point you at the person to do the work … custom tailored Browncoat regalia; your game designer had some swank stuff. Or maybe some Foglio designed steam punk gear. I guess the ridiculously fearsome battle armor with hastily improvised rocket boosters might be a bit much to ask for.

  9. Posted December 28, 2012 at 3:01 AM | Permalink

    hm. you know those gift books you can get where they put your name and some details in the book so you read a little superhero/fantasy/crime story and it’s full of you/your/friends/family?
    You could offer to write one of those in the four corners world and put it on Tinkers pack as a stretch goal incentive… :-)

    Or you make it a one-time-thing and put it in the lottery, but with the tinkers pack think you could even use it to make more money for Heifer…

    Yoni, you just gave me the idea :-)

  10. Ellie
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 3:54 AM | Permalink

    I also liked the suggestion about the deleted scenes it’s always fun to see what didn’t make the cut and maybe you could even explain why.

    You could also offer to show the first chapter of book 3 whenever you feel it is ready.

    Well, at last something that is not really a goal but just a suggestion. Maybe you could make a pin-up calender with male characters as well. I mean the female charcters are great and the pictures are really beautiful and classy, but still as a girl I personally don’t feel the need to purchase this calender. But with a halfnaked Kylar Stern, Jaime Lannister or Bast. I know I couldn’t resist and would buy probably buy one for my sister and aunt as well.

    • JenMo
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 9:41 AM | Permalink

      Yes please! To the make pinup idea!

      • JenMo
        Posted December 28, 2012 at 9:47 AM | Permalink

        Male* pinup

    • Neville Longbottom
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 10:19 AM | Permalink

      The calendar’s not really my thing. But you have to admit the ladies do deserve a turn at this point….

    • Celt42
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:23 AM | Permalink

      Male pin ups!

    • strawberryjamm
      Posted January 1, 2013 at 9:40 PM | Permalink

      Ooooo. A “pinup” illustration of Bast…. that would be yummy!

      Mark me down as a +1 to an all male pinup calendar for 2014. :-)

  11. balion
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 4:30 AM | Permalink

    I like the deleted scenes idea. I think I read some stuff about Elodin taking Kvothe to a brothel as part of instruction here in the blog long, long ago. It would be nice to read some things like that.

  12. BurstDragon
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 5:19 AM | Permalink

    I think reading a few chapters from Book 3 would be a nice idea.

  13. BurstDragon
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 5:21 AM | Permalink

    Or how about a giveaway of the first draft of either The Name of the Wind or the Wise Man’s Fear.

  14. talismanmkr
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 6:37 AM | Permalink

    I don’t know how difficult it would be, but what if you did a mini book tour of the 3 highest donation areas? Say if they were LA, Chicago and NY, you could do maybe 2 or 3 book signings in each area over the course of the next year (so as not to make you spend too much time away from the fam…). That would get friends telling their friends about it to get more donors in their area.

  15. Isladar
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 6:52 AM | Permalink

    Get Comic*Con and Dragon*Con to throw a pair of VIP badges into the raffle/auction.

    Fan appearance on Table Top, the Flog, or the Guild.

    Fan appearance in the Dr. Horrible sequel.

    See if Kingdom of Loathing (or other such online game) would be willing to offer a donation incentive of an in-game item(s).

    A chance to meet The Doctor. (Or Joss Whedon. I’m pretty sure they share the same cosmic significance.)

    (Unrelated: Have you thought of contacting Stephen Colbert? Because you could really use the Colbert Bump.)

  16. canadades
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 7:05 AM | Permalink

    Love the deleted scenes idea as a stretch gift for everyone who donates, but the thought of getting an ARC for book 3 makes me drool and feel faint (in a good way)… still, that’s only for one lucky (very very lucky) person.

    Also, major YES to the Colbert Bump! There’s a limit to how much we few geeks can accost our frie… I mean, spread the word ^_^ Besides, he’s a Tolkien Tweaker already, let’s get him hooked on Pat!

  17. Sean
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:41 AM | Permalink

    How about if you collaborate on a short story with a fan for e-publication?

  18. Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:48 AM | Permalink

    What about your beard goes into the lottery?

    Like, if everyone raises $350,000 you shave off your beard and mail it to someone.

    • Constance
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:25 AM | Permalink

      Noooo. Pat would lose the source of his power then, much like Samson before him!

    • Posted December 28, 2012 at 3:22 PM | Permalink

      I think the shaving should be something like the 5-million-goal. if at all. and the mailing would be creepy… :-O

    • jayh
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:37 PM | Permalink

      ya know, I don’t think Locks of Love does beard hair.

    • priscellie
      Posted December 29, 2012 at 4:00 PM | Permalink

      That would make a better threat than incentive. “If you jokers don’t raise $350,000,” I’m going to shave off my beard and mail it to a random person who didn’t donate this year!”

      The SAVE THE BEARD campaign would be staggering.

  19. He without a clever name
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:50 AM | Permalink

    Someone above posted Pat doing a puppet show with a song. That sounds like an awesome incentive and I give it a +1 vote.

    A couple of years ago you did awesome and hilarious interviews for World Builders with Brent Weeks and Joe Abercrombie. I would love to see that happen again with Scott Lynch, Neil Gaiman, and/or Joe Hill.

    The cries from the masses seem to be deleted scenes and Book 3 stuff. I can’t imagine early book 3 scenes or whatever is a possibility, so I’m sliding it off my mental table. Besides, finding out about the ‘making of’ is always fun after the fact, but am I the only one who doesn’t really want spoilers?

    So maybe so ‘making of’ blogs about book 1 and 2. These could include some deleted scenes if that’s a possibility, or some changed scenes, talk of how you edited parts of the book and why, and maybe more stuff like the recent currency blog, or like what inspired this or that part of the book or what you were doing in real life while writing book 1, the hardships of writing before the big break.

    I think it’s safe to say that we all originally came here due to your writing, so more of that is a pretty awesome incentive. I’m seeing a couple people say scenes or short stories based in your world, and while that would be awesome, I can see how that might not be possible to do for free. So how about some writing not based in the Four Corners? I while ago, you wrote a blog about you and your family going to House on the Rock and you basically wrote half a short story about you and Oot walking around. It was beautiful and awesome. So maybe you do something in life and think to yourself ‘this would make an awesome story,’ you make it into a short story. Still waiting on the second half of that blog, nudge, nudge.

    I think the biggest problem here is how to get the fans to spread the word more, because if they’re anything like my wife and I, and I’m betting many of them are, they’re already throwing the signal every which way they can think of. I post links on facebook, my wife takes to the twitter machine, and we’ve both spread word to family and friends. So I do know how much more spreading the fans can do. It seems to me what you need is a bit of media attention like you got the first year you gave away a favor. I saw that news article in several geeky news places. I blank on what you could do to get achieve this, but that seems to be what’s needed.

    I see Colbert mentions, and if you could someone be a guest on the show next year during World Builders, I definitely think you would see a “Colbert Bump.” I know you weren’t giddy for The Hobbit movie, but the week he did dedicated to the movie with his set built like The Shire was awesome.

    Sorry it always seems like my blog posts are written by Stephen King. Best of luck.

  20. He without a clever name
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:52 AM | Permalink

    I’m not sure if my thing is posting correctly. Let’s see if this gets posted.

  21. JohnNevets
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 9:04 AM | Permalink

    I also think the deleted scenes would be a great idea (probably a lot of work as well, but you asked).

    Or how about back stage passes to Wootstock at Comicon? That reaches a pretty big variety of pop-geek culture.

  22. angel
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 9:27 AM | Permalink

    Donation incentive: Hotel and Airfare to WorldCon, hotel and airfare to ComiCon, ARC of book 3 (with legal paper saying NO COPIES or you will burn in bone-tar!!).

  23. pdi180
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 9:48 AM | Permalink

    I think it would be cool if you could work with a musician (maybe Danny Elfman) and have the songs from the books scored out for guitar/lute/piano.

    • Neville Longbottom
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 10:24 AM | Permalink

      I’ve repeatedly thought that Rodrigo y Gabriella could do nice versions of them. Imagine what those two could do with lutes….

      • Constance
        Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:26 AM | Permalink

        Damn you. Now I have to mentally imagine this in my head because it is gorgeous.

  24. nabb
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 9:57 AM | Permalink

    The incentives are pretty damn awesome I’d say!

    And as for the 450,000$ mark you have ten copies of Caesura, or maybe the sword folly made and added to the lottery? Or just one of them added?

  25. rjleduc
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 10:00 AM | Permalink

    – Post an update on book 3

    Judging by how often people ask about book 3 and the fact that most people who read the blog probaby started because they liked your books and are looking forward to book 3, I think it would have universal appeal. It would get me donating! ;-)

    By “update” what I mean is a general description of your writing process so that people would be able to understand where you are
    currently in the process, and what is left to do. You could talk about what has happenned so far and what steps are still to come.

    You could finish this with a general warning that steps could change, the number of iterations at a given step is not set, and if you found an issue, you might revert to earlier steps etc.

    I also want to stress that this suggestion should NOT be taken as a disatisfaction in your writing speed, or an attemp to “rush” your book.
    Just that people are looking forward to its completion and are just curious about the process.

    I think I speak for the majority when I say we understand such books are written on the time scale of years, not months, and if given the choice of having the book released now, or “when it’s ready,” we would choose when it’s ready.

  26. Neville Longbottom
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 10:07 AM | Permalink

    Build Imre.

    I mean really build it. In Wisconsin. With the Eolian and actual musicians presenting each other (or not) with talent pipes. Employ people. Make it a place of pilgrimage (I won’t say tourist draw). Host conventions there. Make sure it’s connected so people who can’t afford to get there can at least experience it on the web.

    You’d have to be a wild-eyed lunatic to try it. But then again, you’d have to be a wild-eyed lunatic to think a bunch of geeks can make the world a better place through a charity….

    • bremon
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 5:03 PM | Permalink

      Oh my god.
      Yes. This.
      I would change my major to business and music.
      We could make it a nonprofit business or something.
      Wisconsin needs this.
      And it needs to be by a river.

  27. SkylerH
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 10:20 AM | Permalink

    I would love to see a short story “Deleted Scene” from book 2. I’ve been wanting to read a short story of Kvothe’s journey to Severen since, I assume, it didn’t fit into WMF. His trial would be fun to read as well, but I don’t crave it as much as the other one (and I’m sure won’t involve in-depth language loopholes)

  28. Robo
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 10:21 AM | Permalink

    I want Pat to mow my lawn.

    Edging is optional.

  29. leaf101
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 10:49 AM | Permalink

    I would want a video of Patrick Rothfuss and several other authors LARPing! Just like the video of them playing D and D that as recentley posted!!!

  30. Jonathan
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:01 AM | Permalink

    How about something related to The Princess and Mr. Whiffle?
    What I was thinking was maybe we could see a few pages of how the book was created, or how certain scenes were made out… I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but like how trade paperbacks of some comic books have a special section at the end showing the rough drafts and scripts of a few of the pages of the book, to show a little bit of the background on how it was made.

    Or maybe a good auction idea would be for the chance to appear in one of the future Story Board episodes? Maybe something specifically focusing on how to get your work published, or some other topic?

  31. fattylumpkin
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:06 AM | Permalink

    I agree with others that your incentives are already awesome. BUT since you asked how about a replica of Kvothe’s lute for those of us musically inclined. Or a green cloak with little secret pockets?

    • Celt42
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:28 AM | Permalink

      Cloak!

      • elfofbooks
        Posted December 30, 2012 at 12:40 PM | Permalink

        Cloak!

  32. Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:06 AM | Permalink

    1. Coffee with Pat – in your city.
    2. An all-expenses-paid weekend jaunt to Stevens Point, and some time to hang with Rothfuss.
    3. Guest commentator on the Story Board.
    4. Pick a Con – We’ll get you there, deck you out in your geekly garb of choice and cover the costs.
    5. Attendance at a Hollywood premier of a geek-worthy film – with Pat or one of his lovely assistants.
    6. Lifetime supply of Rothfuss’ mead – or rights to name a particular batch.
    7. Party at Gaiman’s house until the cows come home.

    • Sandhya
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 6:43 PM | Permalink

      I am all over the coffee with Pat or even dinner. Or how about a guarantee of entrance into a panel Pat is on at one of the cons?

  33. Joe H
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:17 AM | Permalink

    Getting an ARC of book three, signed and doodled would be a mother of a prize!

  34. Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:24 AM | Permalink

    I think the current stretch goals are wonderful. They’re full to the brim with your obvious passion for the project and innate generosity. Just looking at them makes me feel like a better person, especially because I donated.

    But we’re the unwashed masses, man! Give us the spectacle! The sensational wonder! The cheap thrill!

    Let’s see a video of you and the Worldbuilders team singing Tinker Tanner!
    Let’s see play dates (à la Geek & Sundry’s The Flog) with interesting people to interesting places!
    A paintball fight from a Rothfuss cam!
    A ballad about one goat’s journey to Nepal!
    A guest spot in a Penny Arcade Acquisitions Incorporated game!
    You and Jim Butcher in an Epic LARP Showdown!
    Commentary the Musica… wait, no, that’s been done.

    But don’t pander to what we want; do something that you think will be awesome. Chances are good that we’ll agree with you.

    • Amanda
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:00 PM | Permalink

      You’ve filled me with an incredible need to play paintball mercilessly with Pat. You know, because the fans want it.

  35. Kavb
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:31 AM | Permalink

    First off, in response to some other suggestions I have seen, Geeks can make a world of difference. We are slow to anger and quick to compassion, this combination is what makes our communities so enjoyable. Second, (this is my personal view), if you are holding your Donation ransom in hopes Mr. Rothfuss would add a ARC or share pieces of book/day three, then I think you miss the point of charity entirely. With Donating to this cause, you are changing the course of human lives, that in itself feels pretty good, but to add some cool stuff to get in addition, well that is icing on the tasty goodwill cake we are baking as a community.

    Also to all future commenter’s, let’s put some deep thought into the incentive idea’s. Like all of you here, I am literally frothing from the mouth for the next book but, we should help all aim to help keep Mr. Rothfuss focused. So any ideas for incentives should be something relatively easy for him to provide/post/fulfill. From what I can tell about Mr. Rothfuss from reading his blog is that he feels a great deal of devotion to his reader base and fans. So if we all ask for some short story, he will do it as long as we do our end of the Charity. However the downside is that he will feel compelled to finish that short story quickly, therefore probably devote all his time and attention to it and with all his time and attention on a different project, the one we all long for in our dreams (book 3), gets put on the back burner. I also get the feeling that Mr. Rothfuss is a perfectionist, I mean he had all three books “written” even before the first one was published, and the time between one and two was like seven years, so he puts in his due diligence in making sure the world and story he provides us is one we can get lost in easily. So even a short story of his would take a profuse amount of time to reach the quality mark needed to be released and dispersed among his beloved fans. So while this is only a questionnaire and there are no Bad ideas and I have no real knowledge on how he would react to whatever option we give him, let’s be a bit sneaky and try to make him do things that are easy so he can keep writing/revising the book!

    BUT!

    I really do enjoy the idea of deleted scenes. I say if they are written include them, however do not add short stories that take away from your time allotted to the creation of the last book. Awhile back you answered a question about how Master Archivist Lorren knew Arliden, and it was a quick answer like all his works are archived and Lorren liked them or something. Little connections like these I think work great! We get views into the world while not taking away time from the creation of the next book. Maybe you can put together a fact sheet about places or things from the book, or do one of those Hey did you know… facts about things that may not be fully expressed in the book. I would particularly love to have more information about Ademre. I find that section of book 2 my favorite, maybe brief explanations about other paths and their Ketan’s.

    I love the idea of collectable coins from the four corners. Maybe to add value to the coins included in the fundraiser, do something special to them, sign them, or for the first minting use special molds with something unique in it so that the collector and lover of the books gets something highly valued and one of a kind. Then the ones sold in the Tinkers pack can be done differently, so it is easily to distinguish one from the other.
    An idea I came up with, but I am not sure if I like it or not, is to have a brainstorming session with the winner. It can be conducted by e-mail or telephone and lasts a minimum of 1 hour. The results of the brainstorm can be posted on the blog. However, I do believe that the brainstorming would eventually be distilled down to a Q&A a fan gets to conduct. Maybe it can be a reverse Q&A, Mr. Rothfuss gets to ask questions of his readers and why they like certain things in the books.

    Lastly, maybe one reward is that you promise your fan base a solid week of 8 hour days devoted to working on the book. No diversions, no e-mails answered, no blogs except maybe a post at the end of one of the day giving a quick summary of the work you did, maybe even drop a hint here and there (touching up the section in Vintas). Now, I know nothing about your writing/revising method this suggestion might even be a affront to you and how much work you actually do on a daily basis. I merely offer this up as a suggestion because from my point of view (a reader of your books / blog) you seem overburdened with tasks and project. I think this would be a nice reward to your reader/donation base.

    anyway just some musings, no offense offered here.

  36. Jhirrad
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 11:50 AM | Permalink

    I love a lot of the ideas that have been posted here so far. An ARC, or possibly being allowed to be a Beta reader for D3 would be an awesome $350K goal. Though I understand the hesitancy you might have towards that.

    Of all the goals I saw listed, the one I think would be the most epic and awesome, is arranging for someone to get to be on TableTop, possibly with you and Wil and Felicia playing. It could be a super special episode where the winner gets to pick the game played, and hell, honestly, you could probably do the whole thing as a Google+ hangout. I mean, plenty of people run entire D&D campaigns with that these days.

    Another thought I had would be the chance to hang out with you or one of your awesome geek/nerd world friends for an hour. Something as simple as coffee where you can just shoot the shit with someone, and the winner is responsible for putting themselves in the right place for the meeting. Obviously, you work together to make sure it happens at a time/place which is convenient (around a book signing, or at a con).

    A shout out from Felicia Day on the Flog and/or her including something of the winners choosing on Trio Mio.

    Or since you’re such close friends with FD and WW a signed DVD of the final season of Eureka, which they are both a big part of. Or maybe since it is a really big goal, maybe the entire series on DVD/Blu Ray?

    Just a few thoughts.

    • Oatmeal
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 2:45 PM | Permalink

      I second the Eureka thing. Or really anything FD and WW related. They’re huge in the world O’Geeks, and stuff from them would draw in a bunch of different types of fans.
      Many who have (to their vast loss) never read Pat’s books still know who Wil Wheaton is, and would love something from him. Felicia Day is getting bigger every year and when I mention her to people they don’t know who she is until they see a picture of her. Then they’re like “Oh HER! She’s awesome!”
      Some other things that might appeal to masses of geeks.
      ~ Tickets and Hotel for SD ComiCon
      ~ RPG with a group of authors as you did in the video you previously posted.
      ~Private screening of Firefly/Serenity/Doctor Who/Dr. Horrible/etc with you and other nerd celebs that you can get to attend. If you rent out a theater you can even have “with 50 of your closest friends” or whatever.

      • Oatmeal
        Posted December 30, 2012 at 5:13 PM | Permalink

        Also, I don’t know if you’re close enough to Felicitate Day to suggest it, but I know many people who would donate for a chance to win a guest spot on The Guild.

  37. Dianadomino
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:13 PM | Permalink

    Perhaps a photo-journal “Day-in-the-life-of-an-author.” Of course, your life, Pat would be the most interesting, but perhaps you could persuade other authorly types to do the same. It would satisfy our deep-seated curiosity about what authors DO all day. ^_^

    Perhaps something like “Lunch with Patrick Rothfuss and Neil Gaiman.”

    And I do like the idea of the winner’s city being put on the book tour. ^_^

  38. Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:17 PM | Permalink

    Love you, Pat. Not exactly what you’re asking for but… I’ve always been disappointed that I can’t participate in your fundraising efforts. It’s my own fault… But I vowed many years ago never to support Heifer International. Not because they don’t do good things. They do, certainly!

    It’s just that I can’t support a charity that helps people at the expense of animals. Not even for signed copies of first-run books by my favorite authors or professional critiques of my own work. I love animals more than books. It’s an extremely close race — without either I would suffer tremendously. But books don’t suffer in their own turn, so they can’t win out for me.

    I want to help the world, in a way that doesn’t take anything away from anybody. Maybe that’s impossible. But still, I did my homework years ago and I just can’t support the lack of value the organization puts on all those other lives they involve themselves with.

    Of course, I realize that everyone draws their own lines in the sands of ethics and all positions are equally valid and equally arbitrary. They are lines we draw on our egos, to give us shape. So, I don’t want to downplay at all what you’re doing here with WordBuilders — I think it’s phenomenal.

    What I’m saying is that I’m sad that I can’t participate. Can you find a way to make room for the vegan folks to help you help somebody in need, too? I mean, we can do it on our own, but moral stubbornness gets lonely. We still want to sit at the dinner table with you, even though we’re in mourning over your meal. We’ll even be cheerful about it, and pretend we like salad way more than we actually do. Just let us give you our nickels and promise to throw them at something we can live with.

    • Robo
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 2:25 PM | Permalink

      I thought dawookie’s sentiments were articulate and very much the opposite of “pompous.” He/she is entitled to his/her opinions and beliefs, and as with the rest of us “meat eaters,” should be able to contribute to such a worthy cause in a way that makes them feel comfortable.

      • Andrew
        Posted December 28, 2012 at 2:35 PM | Permalink

        The sentiments and how they are expressed are fine. The pompous part comes in even posting that at all–if you don’t support the charity, then don’t support it. But if you stand on a soapbox and shout, someone’s going to want to push you off. This is why I don’t stride into the middle of an AA meeting and say, “Wow, I’d totally support you if you weren’t a Christian organization. It’s too bad you’re so mired in antiquated religious beliefs.”

        And for the record, I happen to like Christianity.

        So my trollish point is: if he or she wants to contribute to a charity, then by all means, reallocate possible Heifer funds to the proper charity, and thank you for it. But don’t preach fire and brimstone at the rest of us who happen to like what Heifer does.

    • DrFood
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 3:18 PM | Permalink

      dawookie, what about bees? Couldn’t you get behind donating a bee hive to a family in need? The bees don’t die, they just tend to make a lot more honey than they need. . .

      My own small flock of laying hens is not suffering by giving me their eggs. Since there is no rooster, if we don’t eat the eggs, they will just explode, eventually (and with great stinkiness!!).

      Look, it is admirable to avoid the loss of life in one’s own choices and daily decisions, but it is unrealistic to think that the whole world can follow this path. Countless life forms die in all forms of agriculture–even the agriculture that provides you with plant based food. Sustainable food production simply can not happen in some climates without involving animals.

      I don’t think you’re doing the world any favors with your moral stubbornness. And, there are many ways you can participate. You can buy things from the Tinker’s Packs–why not? Stipulate that your money goes towards bees.

    • Sandhya
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:58 PM | Permalink

      Many of my friends are vegans and I am very much an animal lover, but I really think you should put this in perspective. When looking at it from a Western mind set, we who have access to everything, it is easy to say that the animals are being mis-treated. The people that Heifer is helping are hungry, poor beyond anything most of us could imagine. They would be grateful to have a choice as to whether to eat meat or not. But Heifer does so much more than just provide meat to eat. Maybe we should not try and force our values on others, but help each person to rise up and make their own choices.

    • cotterdan
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 9:08 PM | Permalink

      You are free to donate to whatever charity you want. You don’t need Rothfuss to go start up another time consuming venture just to find you a vegan friendly charity. Just find one you like and donate. Simple.

      Also, this. http://theconversation.edu.au/ordering-the-vegetarian-meal-theres-more-animal-blood-on-your-hands-4659

    • AliB
      Posted December 29, 2012 at 1:52 AM | Permalink

      I always think the animals probably have a better life with a family who depends on the eggs or milk they produce. Think of Primrose’s goat in the hunger games, she loved it.

    • sparrowhawk
      Posted January 4, 2013 at 2:49 PM | Permalink

      On Pat’s team page you can choose to donate trees to help families in need. While this doesn’t change Heifer’s practices, you could at least know that your money specifically was being used to purchase plants instead of animals.

      From the Heifer website: “Tree roots hold together topsoil and lock in moisture and nutrients.

      Heifer often uses fruit trees, which provide an additional source of food for families. Passing on seedlings ensures that this sustainable cycle of production continues.”

  39. cotterdan
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:22 PM | Permalink

    If you wanted to motivate people who frequent this site, you could offer to do a video update, or written update, on where you’re at in your process for the new book. Maybe talk about some of the new challenges you have faced so far with the third book. I think things like that are probably topics that would interest all of us. Of course this may very well be a topic that you would rather avoid like the plague, but that’s my suggestion.

  40. Dulcet
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:23 PM | Permalink

    I like the deleted scene idea.

    Super Bowl tickets (not geeky, but for $10…)

    Joss Whedon on Storyboard.

    Rare Firefly stuff

    Win a Chance to geek out your bedroom

    Win ALL the shirt swag from the Tinker’s Packs.

  41. Kitika
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:25 PM | Permalink

    There are some really great ideas here, but I agree with some other posters that the suggestions for book 3 are getting out of hand. Yes, we all want it, and we are all chomping at the bit for a teaser…. but isn’t Worldbuilders supposed to be a bit of a diversion? Related, but not living in the same house? Anyway, great suggestions all around!
    Here is my list:
    1. Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaimen singing Tinker Tanner (with new verses) was what first popped into my head, and then it grew into, well, why not have a new verse from a new GeekStar at certain marks? Maybe Felicia Day, Hank or John Green, or anyone from the cast of Firefly etc. It could become the ultimate in Geek round robin.
    2. The ultimate Pat Rothfuss music playlist/200 cd’s from the library.
    3. Live Q&A with the cast & crew of Dr. Horrible
    4. Recipes from the Four Corners
    5. The addition of low population areas to you next book tour.
    6. A lottery for a book to read with Oot (video footage required).
    7. A lottery for 1-10 schools to spend an afternoon with (which could fit in with the next book tour I’m sure).
    8. %50 code to the Tinker Packs (one use per/limited time/spending limit etc).

  42. thistlepong
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:31 PM | Permalink

    I really like the extra donations andpublicity for heifer goals, like those at 400k and 500k. They capture the spirit of the fundraiser and help folks directly or indirectly. A single contributor getting a fancy prize is exciting and all, but those really shine.

    Perhaps getting contributing authors to read Beatrice’s Goat and posting them, like your rendition? Interview conversations with contributing authors, like the one with Sanderson at Amazon? Audio versions of published short stories, like “The Road to Levinshir” and “How Old Hanna Came to Be,” read by you or Nick Podehl?

    A children’s book of “Cobbler, cobbler, measure my feet?”

  43. lbmartin
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:32 PM | Permalink

    A NOTE FROM A COLLEGE STUDENT:

    This is my problem with the auction system– I am a college student and can’t afford any of the cool items. And I would love to just flat out donate (which I have done in the past), but if feels like my money is evaporating into thin air. Like when you give money to the Salvation Army… it is just gone. Like that.
    To fix this problem, I would suggest more items on the auction list that are multiples of the same item (to decrease their value). Or you could just auction plenty of smaller goods. Or you could SELL items that were of lesser value. Think stocking-stuffers.

    I know that might be a silly idea, but I believe a lot more people would participate if they could afford the items. Who is your main audience? A bunch of rich, well-off people or young, poor, artsy adults?

    Logan

    • jayh
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:52 PM | Permalink

      does his main audience have to be either rich or poor? Giving is giving, you give what you can.
      Personally, I give as much as I can, and the whole winning thing isn’t even secondary. The idea of maybe winning a book to me is as cool as anything because there’s a really strong possibility I probably wouldn’t have bought that book myself. And I really have no clue what to do with something like the golden ticket, though I really wanted to see the ring.

      Also, he’s been fairly even handed, throwing some really cool stuff into the raffle side of things so the struggling students such as yourself have a chance to win something out of the ordinary.

  44. Mojojojo449
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:32 PM | Permalink

    1) Male pinup calendar
    2) ARC of Book 3
    3) A green cloak with pockets
    4) Deleted scenes of book 1 or 2
    5) Auction – become a beta reader for Pat’s upcoming works < I would love to win that

    • strawberryjamm
      Posted January 1, 2013 at 9:48 PM | Permalink

      Green cloak with hidden pockets FTW!

  45. masha
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:35 PM | Permalink

    The deleted scenes is a great idea! or maybe leak a scene from book 3 (nothing that gives anything away, just enough to make us even more excited…though at the same time I’m not sure I want to know anything yet so maybe scratch that idea…). Or I really like the thought of a short story (perhaps set in four corners) and you could post it up here on your blog as a treat for all the donations because that way even if someone wins nothing in the lottery they still get a lovely pesent… Anything in any way connected to Dr.Horrible would be awesome too.

  46. Cynicallyric
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 12:50 PM | Permalink

    Hmmm… tried to think about what would make me want to help you raise money. This is what I came up with:

    If you made a fund raiser competition where the winner got to have a month long internship as an apprentice author to any number of big shots… ya, I think that would be amazing. You see, having a book reviewed would mean you would need to have a book finished that needed reviewing. However, most of us no namers don’t know how to write a good book.

    We have bad habits and don’t know what it takes to be a pro, and we don’t want to have to stumble through it for ten years to figure it out. So ya, Just watching one of you guys in your process would be an invaluable prize.

  47. rnutz930
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 1:14 PM | Permalink

    1. Book 3 ARC

    2. Tag a long with Pat all day long at the Comicon of your choice.

  48. gardinmj20
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 1:18 PM | Permalink

    This isn’t necessarily a kickstarter-based push goal idea, but now that the fundraiser is maturing, you might think about the following:

    Options for:
    Recurring giving (i.e., funds withdrawn monthly from paychecks)
    Rewards for those that give each year (tracked by email address?)
    Other more standard contributing methods (corporate matching?)

    The idea is that, even though the fundraiser occurs over a two month time period, people can give to the fund throughout the year, and you don’t have to reboot completely from a grass roots perspective once Fall rolls around. Hopefully that’s not too corporate an idea :)

    Even if you don’t go for some of those, I definitely think that rewarding repeat giving is always a good thing – it keeps people thinking about it. And I’m not just saying that because I’m a repeat giver.

    As for actual reward ideas, I’m in favor of:
    Lunch with Pat
    Trip to a Con (even a smaller one) + Con Bonus Awesomeness (guaranteed panel seats, etc)
    Similar things that don’t involve book three because book three is sacrosanct and not to be spoken of by the laity.

  49. Posted December 28, 2012 at 1:59 PM | Permalink

    I would so love to be able to work for Pat for a certain amount of time… like an internship…. for food and home…!!! lol! that would be an incentive… plus, I don’t really understand how does the lottery works for people abroad, does it?
    And:
    I agree on:
    Previews of the book 3
    Co authoring
    And visiting to the winners town for a QA or a book sign, we don’t all live in the States, which does not mean we are not willing to touch our beloved author :D

  50. Jessica Brown
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 2:21 PM | Permalink

    Maybe Kvothes Cloak signed by you :)

  51. Andrew
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 2:37 PM | Permalink

    I’m all for the “Deleted scenes” idea. I’d also like to know if Patrick has any idea what Kvothe’s friends at the University are up to now? We know Kvothe is a hollow shell of a man, but how are Will and Sim and Fela and all those guys doing? How about a very special “Where Are They Now? Four Corners Edition” for the delight of the readers?

  52. Michael
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 3:30 PM | Permalink

    The ideas that jump out and catch my attention are showing us ‘cut’ scenes, chance(s) for an ARC of book 3 or chances to be a proofreader for book 3. Though the idea of knowing about where in your process you feel you are for book three would always be nice.

  53. beto552005
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 3:52 PM | Permalink

    It’d be cool to have a helmet video of Pat and some other authors or whoever in a paintball showdown…

    Some sort of autographed version of something from the Tinker’s Packs, like the calendar?

    Short animated video?

    Freddiew video with effects about something in Kvothe’s world/universe, which could maybe show some aspect of how the magic works? It’d be visual, maybe reveal a secret, and would look really cool.

  54. April
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 4:21 PM | Permalink

    My list:

    1. Deleted scenes
    2. Skype-date with Pat (or, for those of us who actually live within driving distance of Pat or who are willing to make the trip, an actual lunch date or something)
    3. I agree with Pat visiting the city of your choice during the book tour (and maybe tie in the lunch idea here – Pat gets to eat, we get to geek out, everyone wins!)
    4. As far-out as that paintball idea is, I would love to be able to pummel some authors with paintballs. Or watch them do that to one another on a video. You know, just for the fans. They wouldn’t enjoy it at all.

  55. kdculb
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 4:47 PM | Permalink

    I think the cause is incentive enough. I could not help kicking in to put Worldbuilders over $200,000.

  56. Thuruk
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 5:13 PM | Permalink

    1. What do you think of this year’s list of donation incentives?

    It’s cool, especially the ring.

    “$400,000: Pat will donate an extra $100,000 to Heifer.”

    Wow, authors seem to earn better than expected. :-)

    2. What sort of things would you like to see on this list?

    Deleted scenes and a signing event at the winner’s city. And yeah, paintball sounds great. :-D

    But I disagree at releasing book 3 chapters. Please no spoilers.^^

  57. itsjusthim
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 5:21 PM | Permalink

    I feel like the obvious choice is a signed copy of the current version of book 3 with the opportunity for the winner to give any feedback they feel you may find useful.

    Offer to do a free signing at a bookstore of the winner’s choice. (I know a manager at a bookstore tried to get him to bring you out, but he was concerned that they couldn’t pay you/ for your travel)

    those are my ideas. I know the first one was suggested (sans the feedback part)

  58. Constance
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 5:22 PM | Permalink

    While Dawookie is entitled to their opinion, there ARE options through Heifer which do not involve animals. Donations can go towards biogas stoves or towards clean water projects. If it’s an objection overall towards the use of animals as food sources/farm aides/shearing, I think Heifer teaches their recipients to truly be thankful for the gifts the animal brings and to appreciate every use of it; something Western farming tends to overlook.

  59. Marclee1703
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:54 PM | Permalink

    I want that LARPing, too! You and some of your friends should actually be Worldbuilding. The Four-Corners world for example.

    350k: Blogs about your character and costume creation

    450k: An official Four-Corners Larp convention with you guys there of course

  60. JediJoe
    Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:55 PM | Permalink

    Pat sings “Jackass, Jackass” on video, posted on the blog.

    Also, a guest appearance by Patt and/or assorted other authors at a gathering of the winner’s choice is great (subject to scheduling, of course).

    And any chance to preview material from Day Three would spark a lot of interest, whether it be a chapter or three for the blog or a full preview in advance of release for a lucky winner.

    • JediJoe
      Posted December 28, 2012 at 9:12 PM | Permalink

      Oh, and how about another replica from the Four Corners, like a replica of Caesura/Folly?

      A diagram of the Ketan? Or Felurian’s own Kama Sutra?

  61. Posted December 28, 2012 at 8:58 PM | Permalink

    I totally agree on someone’s marvellous idea of building Imre… I dreamt my hole youth to build a town, and it happened to have places like bars with lot of coolness :D I’m in for that!

  62. jayh
    Posted December 29, 2012 at 7:23 AM | Permalink

    Raffle off three slots for a fan hosted edition of Storyboard?

  63. isaacsas
    Posted December 29, 2012 at 1:58 PM | Permalink

    I second the adding a short-story or book status update. Alternatively, a blog post discussing some aspect of the history of the world of the Kingkiller Chronicles would be neat. I already donated this year, but these certainly would have increased my excitement about donating even more.

    Running another Reddit ama might help with advertising the donation drive.

  64. Lucas
    Posted December 29, 2012 at 8:32 PM | Permalink

    The winner gets all Cealdish and, why not also, Common Wealth coins like in ‘real’ form, true coins.

    Also would be nice a trip side by side Path signing and lecturing.

  65. ericturner29
    Posted December 30, 2012 at 12:15 AM | Permalink

    I believe that the path to glory here is to offer experiences, not stuff.

    People value getting cool stuff because it’s, well, cool, but some special event (dinner with famous author X, for example) is much better because (a) you cant buy it, unlike much of the cool stuff available, and (b) you dont just get something , you can tell stories about it for years.

    Real world example: I work for a corporation that years ago did a charity auction to raise money for a particular cause. The item that brought the most money? Dinner at the CEO’s house.

  66. 13
    Posted December 30, 2012 at 7:12 AM | Permalink

    Would love to see a book of deleted scenes, natch, with comments from the author about each.

    Would love to see this offered as a bonus with Subterranean Press limited editions of the books.

    Would love to see posted a video of Pat reading a scene from the next book.

  67. dcsfoyle
    Posted December 30, 2012 at 1:10 PM | Permalink

    I think as long as you are up for donating a lot of books and money ($250k and $400k incentives), it would be great to donate books and/or money to a local library of the winner’s choice (preferably to a low-income school). You could maybe also do a reading at the library (possibly with the winner).

  68. Posted December 30, 2012 at 11:15 PM | Permalink

    You should definitely do a book tour to the lottery winner’s town. I am also for the idea of carving Kvothe’s face into Mount Rushmore :) Or make like an awesome statue or sculpture of a scene in the book and put it somewhere. Again, possibly lottery winner’s town.

  69. yakaji
    Posted December 30, 2012 at 11:48 PM | Permalink

    This may seem like a strange suggestion, but previous blog posts seem to indicate that one ‘Oot’ has a good head on his shoulders.

    I’d like to see Pat and Nathan Taylor develop a short comic story based on an original idea by Oot.

  70. Posted January 1, 2013 at 12:11 PM | Permalink

    I have an idiosyncratic reason for wanting the duel with Iwan McGreggor. It comes from a story.

    See, my wife (now, then wife-to-be) and I spent a summer in Oxford. Being musical fans, we took a trip to London to see what cheap, day-of student tickets were available. Turned out, we could get back-row seats to Guys and Dolls, with the aforementioned Jedi in the lead role. My wife was a fan of Moulin Rouge, we were both massive Star Wars fans, and we both agreed entirely with the article, “Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Sex Symbol.” So we went.

    (link: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/7735858/ns/today-entertainment/t/obi-wan-kenobi-jedi-sex-symbol/)

    Turned out, the man’s voice had improved quite a bit. “Luck Be a Lady Tonight” filled the theater like nothing else. Afterwards, we went to get his autograph. When doing so, and after the general (and heartfelt) compliments, Hannah asked him how fun it was to hit Hayden Christenson with a stick. Not sure that he heard our question right, but he replied “fine, it went very well, thank you.”

    In conclusion, this story would only get better if he became, additionally, the guy to hit Pat Rothfuss with a stick. (Or get hit by Pat Rothfuss, it doesn’t really matter.) So I’m pro that particular example, if you can ever swing it.

  71. Posted January 1, 2013 at 12:26 PM | Permalink

    Andrew,

    I hate to jump into online discussions, especially on behalf of others, but here’s my thoughts on dawookie. He isn’t shouting that we are wrong or evil; he isn’t preaching against us. He seems, quite simply, to have expressed regret that he is excluded from this charity because of his convictions. I think this is as good a place as any to say that.

    It *is* sad that he can’t join in. If convenient, and especially if there are others of his mindset, it would be nice to have a “Vegan option” for Worldbuilders; maybe a way to earmark one’s funds for an organization that doesn’t involve itself with meat consumption, or some such. (I say this with trepidation–even a man who may or may not have emerged fully-formed from Marge Rothfuss and taught himself to read and write using only a shovel and a dead cat has limitations. It could be that an attempt to expand Worldbuilders in this manner would become the straw that breaks the camel’s back–while Worldbuilders itself is a fantastic thing, and we don’t want Rothfuss’s back broken, as that would be problematic both for Worldbuilders and the Kingkiller Chronicles, not to mention the general awesome quotient of the universe.)

  72. harrity
    Posted January 1, 2013 at 8:35 PM | Permalink

    I like many of these suggestions, especially the deleted scenes idea. From talking to friends and browsing the web, I think that a lot of people would be very excited to just get some kind of update on Book 3. Personally, if we were to just even get something small, like “The book is 50% revised” or something like that, I would be ecstatic. However, I realize that perhaps it is difficult to quantify such a process, and he will only know it is done when it is done…..

  73. Mark M
    Posted January 2, 2013 at 8:05 AM | Permalink

    Some one mentioned it above, but a number of cloaks with many hidden little pockets given away :D That would be amazing!

  74. Tryiscuit
    Posted January 2, 2013 at 2:22 PM | Permalink

    The best incentive I can think of is “Pat stops procrastinating and gets book 3 published!” Or in the preferred case where book 3 has already been published come December, a new book from Pat in 2014!

  75. cameronhopkin
    Posted January 2, 2013 at 11:24 PM | Permalink

    Going a little further with the “old key” idea, how about a locker key that the person has to sleuth out the location of, which is filled with great books?

  76. gardinmj20
    Posted January 3, 2013 at 9:34 AM | Permalink

    One thing I just thought of is this – if you’re friends with lots of authors and/or have relationships with them through varying publishers, what about getting them to offer book signings as part of stretch goals? Ideally authors that you never see at cons, like Stephen King, Gene Wolfe, etc. would be fantastic stretch goal adds, and are a guaranteed reward to collectors and non-collectors alike. I know I would freak out to get some of those signatures that are otherwise unavailable to me as a collector, and if you put most of them in the auctions, you wouldn’t have to worry about someone winning that doesn’t already own books by that author. Also limit the prize to, say, ten books, so you don’t have a jackass trying to get the author to sign 100 books for resale.

  77. Aaron Stanton
    Posted January 3, 2013 at 12:10 PM | Permalink

    I’m a bit late to the game, but for what it’s worth, I’ve always been fascinated with Denna, and her relationship to Kvoth. I also like hearing the same story from different perspectives that I care about. I’d love to have more hints of her background, her feelings and perspectives on the events in the first two books, etc.

    How about that at a certain goal, you sit down and write a short one or two page version of an existing scene from Denna’s perspective. For example, when she and Kvoth are sitting together by the fire at the end of the first book, as she’s falling asleep on the rock before Kvoth goes to fight the dragon… I’d love to see that exchange from her perspective, maybe up through the point that she wakes up to find him gone, and she’s in the dark by herself.

    It could be short (i.e. fairly easy to do), wouldn’t require the creation of any additional mythos, and if you can do it as a sort of hint into her background and personality, I think it would be pretty cool.

    And in the end, you auction the original two pages off as a separate auction for the fund raiser, as well.

    Just a thought.

    Aaron

  78. gantothekye
    Posted January 4, 2013 at 9:18 AM | Permalink

    Hiya, I’m coming late to this too, but how about an incentive that stretches out beyond the window when Worldbuilders runs and encourages people to put a bit aside during the other ten months or so of the year? (For example, last year, I put £1 into a jar every day I bought a crappy lunch at my crappy work canteen – hey presto, £300/$500 to kick into the Worldbuilders pot.

    Now if there was some incentive or a formal way of doing that saving when Worldbuilders isn’t running – kick in $20 a month over the course of a year and get access to an exclusive monthly blog post from Pat or some such box of delights – then it might help raise funds, especially as it would take it out of the ‘around Christmas’ domain when funds are usually a little bit stretched and make it an all year round thing.

    Just a thought. I recognise that would be more work for you and your team though. Feel free to point and laugh. ;-)

  79. harrity
    Posted January 4, 2013 at 12:04 PM | Permalink

    Wait, quick question Pat: if and when we hit the 400k mark, will your donation of 100k count toward the totals be reflected here? IE, will we instantly also hit the 450 and 500k marks also?

    • Amanda
      Posted January 4, 2013 at 3:28 PM | Permalink

      Nope – Pat will kick that in to Heifer outside of our team page. You know, so he doesn’t get 100 tickets to win something.

  80. sparrowhawk
    Posted January 4, 2013 at 3:54 PM | Permalink

    I think experiences work best for incentives, rather than adding things to the store or lottery pot, because then everybody donating gets to benefit from reaching the goal together.

    Ideas:

    – Someone mentioned putting up some recipes from the Four Corners. That would be very cool.

    – A video of Pat reading “The Princess and Mr. Whiffle” or telling the story of when he convinced his RA that a hamster was a fish. Or reading a book to Oot.

    – Contact youtube personalities like the Green Brothers, Alex Day, Charlie is so cool like, Elmify, and My Drunk Kitchen to talk about your fundraiser. They like to support charity, and I’m sure the fanbase overlaps a bit.

    – Maybe you could do a public meet up in Little Rock, Arkansas before or after the Heifer weekend. Your fans could gather and talk about the books and Worldbuilders and you could give a reading (Course, I live within driving distance of Little Rock, so I’m biased).

    Honestly, I’m having trouble topping the trip to Heifer Int’l in Arkansas, the trip to Nepal, and the other incentives you put up already.

    So let’s just throw in some crazy ones:

    – An interview with Stephen Colbert.

    – Pat appears on an episode of The Guild.

  81. sparrowhawk
    Posted January 4, 2013 at 4:06 PM | Permalink

    A big option for the SUPER-Secret-Surprise Stretch Goal #2 would be to throw one of everything not sold out in the Tinker’s Packs into the lottery! I bet that would get a lot of extra people to donate or to add a bit more to what they’ve already donated.

    Of course, I would also be excited to see things added to the Tinker’s Pack store even if I might not be able to afford them.

    I would love to buy Kvothe’s cloak, or an audiobook of “The Princess and Mr. Whiffle” narrated by Pat.

  82. Posted January 4, 2013 at 4:26 PM | Permalink

    What if Pat released portions of a Short Story over the course of the fundraiser? For each donation goal reached more of the story would be published on the blog.

    A Tease: A photo tease of the three most important items in book three with no context or comments.

    A secret revealed- Something that doesn’t impact the storyline of the book but provides insight into the world. Much like the currency exchange from this year.

    Other ideas:
    Google Hangout with Rothfuss for those that are too far away from signings and conventions.

    An incentive to save over the year for higher donation amounts – for every $100 you get an extra raffle entry.

    Not really a “stretch” goal but just fundraising in general:

    A “group” voted Art Contest. Pay $10/20 to enter a photo/art/video and have a public vote. The entry with the most votes wins x amount of raffle entries or x prize. Choose a single yearly theme in order to avoid having multiple categories. Having the public vote also keeps Mr. Rothfuss from being overwhelmed by thousands of entries.

    I would love to see the green cloak and currencies for sale in the Tinker’s Pack.

    PS- As a vegan I love Heifer. Eating vegan is very difficult to do in many places around the world. It’s something that most vegans take for granted. By providing animals, for meat or other purposes, it only helps the local economy grow. Perhaps one day those areas will be economically situated to be able to afford to choose to eat vegan year round.

  83. ladyblahblah33
    Posted January 13, 2013 at 10:55 AM | Permalink

    I think it would be awesome to have a game of corners! it would be a great marketing thing for the book, keepsake, collectors item!

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