Skylords Announcement (Patreon)

As we get closer to the end of 2020 (assuming 2020 ever ends), the launch of Skylords comes ever closer - although we'll probably tweak the name a bit as there are a lot of results for Skylords when one googles it.  We will be changing things a bit from Druids, so I wanted to explain those changes prior to the comic launch so no one gets caught off guard.

Early Access and Patreon Changes

We're going to be doing something similar to the side comics and providing an 'early access' mechanic to the comic.  We'll be releasing the comic on Patreon two months early.  This means that the comic will start for Patreon supports on Jan 1st 2021 and then will be released to the public on March 1st 2021.  

I do NOT plan on making another Patreon for Skylords.  Three Patreon accounts are annoying enough to manage.  I will be using this Patreon to deal with Skylords comics (and the off shoot Patreons might eventually include Skylords characters or story lines)

To do this we'll be tweaking out Patreon Tiers.  All one needs to do to get early access is subscribe to the $1 USD tier - that's it.  The current $1 USD tier will be shifted to a $2 USD to get the inked adult picture.  Everyone else above that will get the comic without any changes, so if you're already a Patreon then you'll already get the comic.

Release Schedule

I'm going to be tying my release schedule to earnings this time around.  By default, and at our current earnings level, I'll be releasing two comic pages a month.  One on the 1st and one on the 15th of every month.  I'll be adding 2 'stretch goals' in Patreon: one for 3 pages a month and one for 1 page a week.  That means at the start Skylords will move a bit slower than Druids, but hopefully we'll be able to to grow our audience when we have enough public pages out.

The reason behind this is pretty simple: Life has grown more complex and busy with three kids, home schooling, and a pandemic.  So I'll be honest, if I have to invest more time into a task / project (and less time in the rest of my life), I'd like to earn more.  I know this may disappoint some folks, but I'm trying to be honest and practical with myself.

Future Art

As you've probably guessed, Druids hasn't magically disappeared nor will it.  The next side comic will drift us through 2021 and monthly pictures are still being released with Druids characters.  I don't plan on flipping a magical switch when Skylords comes out over to those characters, but I will be adding them into the vote rotation.  Then we might get some zany matchups like Rayne and Anders - who knows!  The possibilities...are...well, less limited.  

So the short answer is: Things aren't going to change much!

Conclusion

I really appreciate all of this continued support through the Pandemic and I hope everyone has been safe.  I'm really looking forward to Skylords but I'm trying to avoid burning myself out.  I hope you all understand.  Honestly, it's going to take a while for Skylords to ramp up and hopefully by then my kids will return to school and I can start advertising the comic (as it will fundamentally be SFW).  

I also want to do more side projects like the pins.  That was fun and I'm curious what you guys think when you get them.  I have all the pins packaged up and will be mailing them out soon.  

Anyways, thanks for sticking with me for this long and I hope you stick me for the next project!