ABOUT THIS PROJECT
The aim of this project is to raise enough capital to establish my card game, Pirate Masters, as a "Beta Version" in the market and then to take this South African created and manufactured game to the international stage via the Essen Spiel Convention (the world's largest board and card game convention).
Why make a card game when we are living in the digital age?
1) 'Laughter, the best medicine' - Reader’s Digest
The best answer I could give is evident in the ‘How to play Pirate Masters’ video.
It is one thing to type “LOL” on your computer or device, however, laughter across a table with friends or family will always trump online communication.
2) Education
Despite what computers do for us, they also rob us of our mental agility. Board and card games are a great, fun way to enhance our mental faculties.
3) Load-shedding and Power outages
With the continued power outages due to load-shedding and power failures, especially in South Africa, there is now even more reason to be investing in a form of entertainment that thrives in the light of candles and torches.
THE BACKGROUND
Pirate Masters was first conceptualized in late 2009/ early 2010 as a board game - an activity to do with my daughter who loved old school games and crafts. After the board game was done and with the continued pleas by my daughter for more games, I decided to try to convert the board game into a card game.
Initially, the card game was made from playing cards covered with plain paper and handwritten notes of instruction. I then approached some friends to play the game to see what it would be like with more than two players. My friends were so impressed that they convinced me to find pictures and graphics to go along with the cards, and thus the journey began.
It has been 10+ years of playing, learning, changing rules, graphics, pictures, the number of cards in a deck, and so on, to reach this current stage. This current stage represents the continued requests from people that I have played with (and some that I have not) for reasonably priced decks of Pirate Masters to purchase and gift to others.
Testimonials
Here are the Testimonials that I have gathered from some of the people that have played Pirate Masters: https://bit.ly/3SrvXA6
In addition, the sheet also includes results from a short survey.
Pirate Master Cards
To show you how far we've come, below are two images, the first is some of the original playing cards from the very first Pirate Masters deck, and the second is some of the playing cards from the current version of the Pirate Masters deck.
Some of the original playing cards are from the very first version of Pirate Masters.
Some of the playing cards are from the current version of Pirate Masters.
THE PLAN
The plan is to raise enough capital to mass produce the game at a lower manufacturing cost and thus a decent selling price. I will then establish a web store to offer Pirate Masters to the public without the added cost of a middleman.
Once this is achieved I will take Pirate Masters to the Essen Spiel Convention, the world’s largest board and card game convention as well as look into other conventions around the world to showcase this South African created and manufactured game.
The growth of South African created Pirate Masters card game.
REWARDS
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Pledge R300 = Reward #1: Deck of Pirate Masters
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- Receive a deck of 144 cards, a holding box, and rules for the Pirate Masters card game.
- One for you and two for your family and/or friends. Alternatively, a unique Birthday and/or Christmas gift for your family and friends.
- Please note that the shape and size of the holding box may vary from the picture (which is made in the USA, the only place that will make individual decks, unfortunately at a very high price). Future plans incorporate the creation of a treasure chest-looking box by a local, South African manufacturer.
- A Shout Out on social media.
- Postage for areas in South Africa is included in the pledge amount.
- Unfortunately, we will not be able to cover all of the international postage, but we will contribute to it. The greater the pledge the more we will contribute.
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Pledge R550 = Reward #2: Deck of Pirate Masters x 2
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- Receive 2 x decks of 144 cards, a holding box, and rules for the Pirate Masters card game.
- One for you and two for your family and/or friends. Alternatively, a unique Birthday and/or Christmas gift for your family and friends.
- Please note that the shape and size of the holding box may vary from the picture (which is made in the USA, the only place that will make individual decks, unfortunately at a very high price). Future plans incorporate the creation of a treasure chest-looking box by a local, South African manufacturer.
- A Shout Out on social media.
- Postage for areas in South Africa is included in the pledge amount.
- Unfortunately, we will not be able to cover all of the international postage, but we will contribute to it. The greater the pledge the more we will contribute.
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Pledge R800 = Reward #3: Deck of Pirate Masters x 3
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- Receive 3 x decks of 144 cards, a holding box, and rules for the Pirate Masters card game.
- One for you and two for your family and/or friends. Alternatively, a unique Birthday and/or Christmas gift for your family and friends.
- Please note: that the shape and size of the holding box may vary from the picture (which is made in the USA, the only place that will make individual decks, unfortunately at a very high price). Future plans incorporate the creation of a treasure chest-looking box by a local, South African manufacturer.
- A Shout out on social media
- Receive a set of 3 Pirate Masters Captains cards specially made with a picture of you and the Captain’s name of your choice. Add the set to your own Pirate Masters deck for play.
- Postage for areas in South Africa is included in the pledge amount.
- Unfortunately, we will not be able to cover all of the international postage, but we will contribute to it. The greater the pledge the more we will contribute.
Updates
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01/01/1970R300.00
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01/01/1970R1,600.00
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Anonymous01/01/1970R4,000.00
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01/01/1970R1,900.00
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Anonymous01/01/1970R800.00
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Anonymous01/01/1970R800.00
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01/01/1970R300.00
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01/01/1970R550.00
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Anonymous01/01/1970R300.00
Project FAQ
Who am I?
- My name is Ronald Schutze, and I am an ex-restaurateur with a passion for people and life.
- I am a proud father, history lover, a philosophical thinker, and enjoy the mental challenge and stimulus of strategy games.
- I matriculated in 1987 from DHS
- ND: Accounting from Technikon Natal
- 20+ years as a restaurateur
Where are we based?
- Sheffield Beach, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
Why Crowdfunding?
- Card games are a great way of bringing people together, just like crowdfunding, let us join the two together and make this happen.
What is the plan once 100% funding is received?
- The plan is to raise enough capital to mass produce the game at a lower manufacturing cost and thus a decent selling price.
- I will then establish a web store to offer Pirate Masters to the public without the added cost of a middleman.
- Once this is achieved I will take Pirate Masters to the Essen Spiel Convention, the world’s largest board and card game convention as well as look into other conventions around the world to showcase this South African created and manufactured game.