Tier Change and update plans. Please Read (Patreon)

Hey guys,

This is a bit long winded so please stay with me lol.

So, I've been looking at the Patreon and how it is growing, it's content and I first want to start by saying a HUGE thank you to every single person who has pledged, be it a month, a year, or since I started this journey back in 2019. You all mean so much to me and I'm incredibly humble.

I get DMs on Twitter and occasionally Discord with questions surrounding Patreon, the costs, the benefits, the content and everything else. A few have said they'd rather 'tip' than subscribe and if so could they see content. I checked the tiers and even the descriptions are really old! (Apparently, you guys are meant to get 6 pics a tier. Pretty sure the last few years you have been getting 12-36. So that is an error on my part, and the models in the thumbnails have been greatly improved since too lol.)

The first plan was to change the way Patreon bills pledgers. New ones anyway as it wouldn't matter to preexisting. So, it avoids quick succession and double charges as it was doing that if you pledged on the last day of the month, you'd then be charged again on the first of the next so it was a headache. This is now already in effect.

The second plan is outlined below:

I'm entering year 4, and after feedback, am thinking about adding a fourth Tier. So, my way of thinking is:

Tier Zero = $5

- 2 random images from each of the three sets featured that month. 6x 4k images total. This tier will also be able to vote, see WIP and support the development of the content in the same fashion as the other 3 tiers as I'm not going to segregate people based on pledge value. Discord linkage will also be on this tier like the others two. The purpose of this tier is to allow the suggested 'tip' tier and for folk to drop in/out as they please. Options to upgrade to Tier 1 - 3 will be available too.

Tier 1 = Unchanged

Tier 2 = Unchanged

Tier 3 = Unchanged

I want to also look to reward Patreons who are ongoing too, so each month I'm going to get back into the habit of doing commissions for pledgers! 

Therefore, people with 12-months continual pledging will be selected for a FREE commission. The commission will be for up to two characters from the current line up and includes the retired characters. I'll contact these patrons directly and form a list each month. The commission is optional - but once contacted you will need to let me know asap what you want so I can factor it into my work plan. It is up to the person if they want the commission to be public or private.

I'll contact the patrons separately as I'll need to work out how many I can make on top of the workload I have. So, if you don't receive anything straight away, don't worry I'll get around to you. In terms of the content, you guys know what I will render and what I won't, so if you ask for something I'm uncomfortable doing that is out of my remit, then you'll be asked to rethink. Only characters in the roster are useable so don't ask for characters that are unavailable.

Important: If you leave and come back, the counter resets, this isn't me being a tight, it's the patron counter. It should be noted however, if you change tiers, the counter will continue!  This means if you pledge for 5 months stop for a year and come back and pledge 7, I'm only going to be made aware of the 7 so you wouldn't get a commission invitation ping. 

If you start as Tier 3, and throughout the 12-months, you were Tier 1 or 2 for 8 of those months, the counter will register 12 months of pledges and you'll ping for an invitation.

In terms of invites, it maybe rocky to start with but once the back log has been processed and the perk is working correctly, then invites should be closer to month 12, 24, 36, etc.

So, what does this mean for existing three tiers?

Nothing. Further, there are NO price changes for the existing tiers, no need to change pledges to get the content that is currently provided, it won't have any changes other than the description and thumbnail updated. A few have asked if I'm going to increase the tiers in line with the planet's economy, the answer is... No.

I never set out to make loads of money from this and the pledges I receive are reinvested into either games, 3D assets or model commissions, other artists starting out and program license costs/subscriptions, so I don't need to change anything as it's a well-oiled machine in that respect. Therefore, the prices of the tiers will remain regardless of the cost of living increasing. Hopefully this'll put your minds at ease and you're in a comfortable position to keep pledging for as long as you're happy with my content.

If you're still with me, thank you. Was a bit "war and peace" in terms of length. Any questions please ask. 

To surmise, no change for the tiers current, just a bonus commission reward for long term pledgers of Tiers 1 - 3 and the introduction of a 'tip-tier' for people to drop in and out or upgrade into the main three later. More importantly there are no price changes to be nervous of and the same content you guy's love being provided.

Thank you for your time

DJ x