A mixed bag at Bag End
Added 2020-11-02 16:03:40 +0000 UTCHi folks,
Best wishes from all of us at Rusty Towers! As there is a lot going on this week, including a return to full lockdown in England, this is going to be a little on the shorter side.
Thank you everyone who tuned into our big Hallowe’en crossover stream with Alasdair & Marguerite of EA Podcasts at the weekend! Seems like a good time was had by all, despite a few technical issues. If you’re interested in hearing more of the fantastic speculative fiction across a variety of genres that Escape Artists publishes, please do check out their website. And between this and the Among Us streams earlier in the month, it seems that the multiplayer shows have been extremely popular, so we’ll be looking to see what other Crew shenanigans we can schedule on the channel.
As you may be aware, our new storefront on TeePublic also launched at the weekend with a new range of designs from noted horror artist Mark Anzalone. I think we can say at this point, that this has been our most successful opening weekend for a design drop so far.
While we’re pleased that this has been our most popular launch to date, do not fear – we're not resting there! For those of you looking for something in a different lane to our Halloween Horror high-concept artwork, Chief Marketing Officer, Callum Dougherty, is already hard at work on a new set of designs with an altogether different aesthetic to shake things up.
And despite several plans sadly falling through with artists and suppliers (need we say more than “2020”), we're optimistic we can still work on them and deliver more options to choose from. We have also been looking at 2021 in particular for projects, as it is the 5th anniversary of The Magnus Archives, as well as the run to its finale in March. But more to come on that early next year.
One thing that folks may also want to keep an eye on, is the upcoming Art Competition that we announced would be the $29k milestone reward. We’re working on the details for that and will be launching it in due course; we’re really looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
Reminder also that for the return of Stellar Firma in December, there is one more prompt for suggestions to go into the show as the Board look to identify company threats! You can provide your intelligence HERE and the form will be open for another two weeks or so to collect your submissions.
And, here's what you can expect from us this week (all shows release at 4pm UK time, unless otherwise stated):
Tue 3rd November
RQG/STL – Hallowe’en 2020 Special, Part 3 (Patreon)
Wed 4th November
MAG186 – Quiet (Patreon)
RQG/STL – Hallowe’en 2020 Special, Part 3 (Public)
RQ Streams – Anil plays… Chuchel (5pm)
Thu 5th November
MAG185 – Locked In (Public)
MAG186 – Quiet (Public)
Fri 6th November
EGSM004 – ‘Fellowship of the Trivia’ – Lord of the Rings #1, with Annie, Lydia & Nico (6pm)
Noble Bonus – (RQG) Azu’s Letter to Emeka
RQG/STL – Hallowe’en 2020 Special, Part 2 (Public)
Sat 7th November
RQ Streams – Mike plays… XCOM: Chimera Squad (4pm)
Have a good week all!
Anil
Community Manager
Comments
Man, nice job spinning/framing the reaction to the new merch line. My friends and I all agreed you framed the release and future plans really elegantly, nicely done!
Autumn Brooks
2020-11-05 03:28:04 +0000 UTCDear Lottie, not offended at all! I love the podcast and it's the best thing really if everybody does. If I decide to speak up on behalf of individuals from a group, I know that not everybody within that group will agree with me, that's just how it is, and I'm OK with it. To be honest, I don't know what would be a good thing to say or do for them. Personally, I think the episode would have been a great opportunity to have a POC guest writer on the show. From where I'm standing the most important thing is that the conversation keeps on happening. Nobody's perfect, everybody's learning. RQ has exceeded so many of my expectations since I've started listening to their shows and I honestly wouldn't bother asking them for more consideration if I thought they wouldn't want to or weren't able to give it.
Resa
2020-11-03 06:23:55 +0000 UTCGlad to see the multiplayer streams have been popular and that you all have noticed--I've really enjoyed them so far!
Lauren Allen
2020-11-03 05:08:21 +0000 UTCHey there! Just want to suggest the TeePublic link be put on the RQ website (or somewhere more conspicuous, if it's already there.)
Meredith
2020-11-02 23:33:17 +0000 UTCDear Resa, Your intentions are very well-received, I'm sure. I mean this with no irony, but it is really nice to see someone care so much about our PoC voices and work so hard to uplift others whom you believe to be the receivers of injustice. I'm unfortunately not really sure what else Jonny or Alex could say to you, or, more crucially, the PoC who have been hurt by this episode, that hasn't been in the episode already. They seem to have intended to make a point about how positions of privilege (not JUST white privilege--police brutality and the carceral state exist in countries that don't have a majority white population too) affect how one interacts with authority, and if we are assuming in good faith that that was what yourself and other fans got out of it also, then I fail to see what further clarification they could provide at this stage other than just saying "We shouldn't have written that episode, sorry." Which, again, as you seem to know, isn't something all or even most PoC fans would agree with. Even on the episode proper there are comments from British PoC who have found the episode to touch on very important topics that ought to be addressed! Nor does Anil saying he'd mention the feedback to Jonny and Alex definitely mean they'll respond publicly; they could just file it away for the future. In any case, I do hope you aren't needlessly offended by other PoC finding your demand to be futile or even unreasonable.
Lottie Lynn
2020-11-02 22:58:22 +0000 UTCHey, I think I wrote very clearly whose voice I was trying to uplift: black fans/of colour who have serious issues with or been hurt by MAG 185. I know that many fans and many black fans/of colour enjoyed the episode and found it meaningful and I am glad because that‘s what they‘re for! However, me speaking up for the parts of the community that felt very different doesn‘t take away anything from those who enjoyed it. When MAG 185 was published on Patreon last week, Anil already said in a reply to a fan that he would mention this to Alex/Jonny. Asking the community manager about this is something respectful I was taught an ally could do when the cheers of the majority threaten to drown out the concerns of the few/vulnerable. Your assumptions about my (or other fans‘) ignorance of different justice systems, intersectionality, who RQ‘s sensitivity editor is or “what the episode is about“ are also the most patronizing comments I‘ve read online in a while. Nice to meet you, person on the internet. I do know all of these things and I still have an opinion that is different from yours. Your concerns with my comment do sound genuine, but the way you present them has “whataboutism“ and “derailing the argument“ written all over it. My point was: “Please Anil, tell us about the thing you said you would do last week,“ and that still stands. Take care Resa
Resa
2020-11-02 20:13:36 +0000 UTCI am sure this comment is well intentioned but it continues the trend I saw this week where a lot of white people kept treating POC as a homogeneous group that has all the same opinions. This isn't true. Different POC have different views and lived experiences...like ANY group of humans. What about the POC who enjoyed the episode? Many found it meaningful and important. Look at the comments on the actual episode on the Patreon post below for example. And what about the POC who were hurt by white people continuously speaking over and for them (I saw SO much of this on Twitter)? Some people also were upset because based on the trigger warning they assumed the episode was about different content than it actually was. Also remember different countries have different types of justice systems and systems of oppression. The episode was about how it is bad for the privileged to ignore systems of oppression that don't hurt them but do hurt underprivileged groups (which include POC but also the neurodivergent, the poor, immigrants, queer people etc....and of course there is a lot of intersectionalism between these identities). The content and trigger warnings were reviewed/generated by the sensitivity editor who is a WOC. I certainly think the content is not for everyone. (That's why trigger warnings exist, but I don't think saying that privilege can lead to harmful complacency is a bad message).
ThirdFromTheLeft
2020-11-02 17:29:16 +0000 UTCHey Anil, great news all around! I hope everybody at Rusty Towers is well or as well as can be considering everything. I'm typing this comment from my kitchen in Germany where we're also going into lockdown today and I just... You know, I hope you're all safe. I was also wondering if you'll have any news for us maybe later this week about the concerns raised about MAG 185. Seeing many fellow fans hurt by the episode's topic and its presence in the podcast at all, I hope you'll have a word for us from Alex/Jonny. It didn't hurt me directly because I'm white, but I'd still like to know that you take these concerns raised by your black/fans of color as seriously as you take others. What I love so much about your content in general is how safe you make for so many different people to enjoy. Please don't be silent about this. Take care Resa
Resa
2020-11-02 17:04:44 +0000 UTCHope you all stay safe, sane and healthy with the new lockdown. On the merch front if you were able to do an enamel pin set that would be incredible! I'm a sucker for a good pin.
Shelby C
2020-11-02 16:50:09 +0000 UTCIt's Emeka - I have corrected it above.
Rusty Quill
2020-11-02 16:46:05 +0000 UTCSo glad the merch launch went well! Looking forward to the Halloween Special part 3 and of course Quiet which looks like it will be another delightfully complex, intellectually and emotionally compelling episode. Stay safe in lockdown. The amazing work you guys do has definitely helped me stay sane in quarantine.
ThirdFromTheLeft
2020-11-02 16:41:15 +0000 UTCYesss lotr episode!! Excellent.
Lurkin
2020-11-02 16:34:07 +0000 UTCLike this comment if you want enamel pins 👀
Arcturus
2020-11-02 16:28:47 +0000 UTCquick question that is mostly minor: is azu’s brother’s name meant to be spelled emeke or emeka? would be helpful clarification for the rqg wiki so we can make sure it’s correct 😊
2020-11-02 16:20:23 +0000 UTCi hope its not the last merch drop for TMA next year!! theres really so much to explore (especially with in-universe merch)
Nicole Stevenson
2020-11-02 16:13:05 +0000 UTC❤🧡💛💚💙💜 Love and support all around!
Sinclair Cross
2020-11-02 16:13:05 +0000 UTCExciting developments! Hope everyone takes good care of themselves.
thenonsensearchives
2020-11-02 16:12:02 +0000 UTC
