A bit of news (15.09.2019)

Been a while since I properly did one of these.

Big topic of today: Commissions. Waifu images are super great. We're also about to run out of Gamer waifus to be drawn. To be completely exact, next month won't even have the vote, due to Beatrice being the last one that needs to be drawn.

Which opens the obvious question: What's next?

If you frequent the Discord servers I hang around in, you know that my first idea to this is to just expand the vote to some other things, side characters, re-draws, future waifus, scenic art and so on. That is still the go-to plan, although there will be something in the way. Much of this will only affect those in the higher Tiers, but if you want to stay up to date, I suggest you read it anyway.

First off: What's in the way? The answer is, the cover for Drip-Fed. The story about the sapient slime has been left with Royal Roads default cover for a while now. As to the best of my knowledge, this means it doesn't get detected by the "Recommended Story" algorhythm. It also looks less intruiging.

It is in my best interest to get a cover image, for the obvious reason of trying to increase my audience and, therefore, my potential earnings. I have been refusing to put even a placeholder there, which would put me in the algorhythm at least, because I wanted it to be a proper cover whenever I get to it. Too many people take some non-copyright image and slap some text on, in my opinion. Not that that's illegitimate, I just personally dislike it. 

Well, I found an artist that has a good style. The cover will also cost me 500$. For reference, that's about 2 months worth of waifus.

So, here is the plan for the immediate future. Scarlett will be the commission for this month. Next month is Beatrice. Then, for the rest of the year, I am going to commission only Chibis. Double the amount I have been previously (or 2 a month). This is so I can save the money to pay for the cover commission in January. Which you will, of course, receive in full resolution, as always.

In summary: there won't be any votes on "proper" artwork until February 2020. 

I will open up the votes on Chibis, something I previously just decided on my own, starting next month though. Not the greatest replacement, but its the best I have, I hope you understand. Getting a cover image on Drip-Fed could be seriously important and it just really deserved one for a while now.

Past that, however, let's talk about what I have in mind for the art votes after that. I already mentioned a couple of things I have in mind about what could be voted on. Side Characters don't really need explanation. Redraws means of currrent art I am not too happy with/is outdated in terms of design will also be on the table (Gnome/Aclysia respectively). Scenic art would be certain scenes that happened in any story I wrote that I find particlarly memorable. Landscapes could also be a thing. Or proper maps.

All of these things will have WILDLY different price tags. Sadly, I am not made of money. In effect that means, much like I am now saving on the Drip-Fed cover, there will be breaks in the voting time. I will do my best to make clear which choice will come with which likely delay to the next vote.

As an example, if I knew that a scenic piece of art costed 600$, you can expect me to write something like [2-3 months delay] behind the voting option. The delay won't be on the deliverance, but on the time until I feel my finances allow me to get another piece done.

Similarly, if something is cheaper than the current waifu images, which you can use as a sort of measurement tool for what I can afford each month, I will do my best to get something else on the way the second that piece is done. Or, if I have contact with multiple artists, while it is being done.

Just in case anybody is worrying about it: No, I am not starving myself over these prices. I want to get these pictures either way. If I ever need the extra financial breathing room, I will let you all know.


TLDR: Images for Gamer waifus finished next month, pause filled with Chibis afterwards, January Drip-Fed cover, February re-start of commission votes with new system.