sierralee
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October 24 Update
🕑 Added 2021-10-24 22:27:40 +0000 UTCFirst, we have some fun things!
- Check out the new fanart above, courtesy of genericname12345, commissioned from this artist. There's no context, but we see Ginasta, both versions of Robin, and Mithyn all enjoying some tentacles. The corners of an orgy room, perhaps?
- I posted another collection of new TLS art for $10 backers. Annikath has continued working hard and sometimes shows special previews or WIPs at her Patreon, if you'd like to check that out.
That aside, this was another week of work. =/ Not excessive work, but not a vacation either. While this is all self-inflicted in a sense, I think it's also time to examine my own tendencies seriously.
I like platformers and have a plan for one that I think is reasonably innovative, similar to Ouroboros, but it's not going to happen now. I could, but it would turn into another draw on my time. It also doesn't seem that I'm going to gain enormous motivation on one of the books or experimental projects, as much as I might like that. Inspiration moves in strange ways, and I'm sticking to what I said about not forcing things.
This week I had the idea that writing a few experimental short stories would be a good way to decompress, and hoped I'd write a whole set of them. Instead, I have finished one (1) short story. I wrote two others that are 70% finished or more and I'm just feeling burned out on those. Losing momentum on something so short feels silly, but for a number of reasons I'm not feeling it regardless of whether the original concepts have value.
My position is enormously fortunate, even before you compare it to people in truly difficult situations, but this sort of creative work does come with downsides. One is that there's no one to cover my shift at work, so to speak. I could ignore emails/notifications and vacation for a week, but it would just mean double the work when I got back. All of you will be patient and understanding, but in the long term people only see the release schedule.
If it's any reassurance, I did taking some time off this week. There is a very long list of games people have recommended to me and I was able to play some of them. I'm also probably going to go see Dune, conditions permitting. Hopefully after this weekend a few other things will ease off and leave me less drained overall.
The good news is that the longer I'm away from TLS the more time I spend thinking about the characters. While I think the final war update will be pretty intense for me, it should also be rewarding. Just not yet.
Comments
genericname12345
Most of the well-wishes have been already said, but I'll still chip in that I'm glad that you've managed to unwind a bit. The release gets done when it gets done - don't burn yourself out or agonize over it. Side note: Feels weird to comment on fanart I commissioned, but I can't help but wonder what the characters in question would think of these pieces depicting them. I mean, I can take an educated guess, but where's the fun in that?
Reddy Bread
Hmm interesting. But I feel like the religious and spiritual aspects of the game are pretty similar to my actual beliefs of the Divine, ethereal and astral realms. Thats why I was curious about how you came up with it. You have to be pretty well versed into such subjects to be as creative and descriptive as you are with them in this game. Even things as simple as enemies being called "Corporeal" Demons because not many even know what that word means. You have definitely done a good amount of research which makes the story so much more interesting cause its so much deeper then just a powerful sovereign having a harem and sex. I consider myself to be pretty intelligent but the depth you have implemented into this game is kinda surprising, with economics, knowledge of the divine and occult, esoteric science and alot more. Either your brain is in overdrive most of the time or your just super intelligent. EIther way much respect to you. Its pretty funny also when Grubbak wants to create a democracy with the Orcs and Simon basically says that system of government never works and here we are living in a kinda shitty Democracy hahaha.
Reddy Bread
Im super curious about how you came up with the Lore about the Succubi and Incubi? Did you get the inspiration from other stories or games or something else?
Nathan Phoenix
Commenting on the fan art: Ok now I have head-cannon where Robin's transformation causes her to grow a split personality that physically manifests. Now we can get the Last Sovereign twist on twincest make it happen Sierra. 😋
Nathan Phoenix
Can't speak for your book fans but on the videogame side I don't think anyone would fault you for asking for a paid vacation. The last thing you want as an artist is to think of your art as a crunch job. That's how we get flops like Cyberpunk... Also I love Simon and his girls and I'm in no hurry for this story to end.
Mycroft
"but in the long term people only see the release schedule" : I disagree, I think in the long time, people only see the game and its quality. Many popular project do not have a stable schedule. Even in AAA games, deadlines are often postpone. In fact it's nearly always the case. In my opinion, as long as you do not go missing for a few month (ie no weekly report for a few month), people will not complain and stop suscribing.
Quiet Stranger
I very much enjoyed the fan art. And I'll take a peek at Annikath's criminally underappreciated page, too.
Taium
I refuse to believe the Ginasta one isn't going to happen. Obviously the shit is going to hit the fan so hard with Simon gone that she's actually gonna be happy enough to have him back that she jumps in feet first and embraces the tentacle.
Dmitry F
I rather like the fanart here with tentacles. Hope Dune lives up to its namesake.
Sierra Lee
While I think the final war update will be pretty intense for me, it should also be rewarding.
JJS
Well I hope things are working out for you Sierra Lee. Tell annikath I said "hello"
JJS
Maybe if you see dune. Your molar will go crazy with pain.
DukeLeto7
For some reason, I've got a bad feeling about going to see Dune... And that molar full of cavities I have is acting up again. I'm sure it's probably nothing...
Jeffrey Lebowski
Sorry to hear decompression is difficult, and glad to hear you had a least some success. Also glad you know that we would be totally understanding, but I also totally get where you're coming from regarding work piling up and people mostly just paying attention to the release schedule. Hope you manage to work it out and find some good strategies and balance.
Jeffrey Lebowski
Note the wings
JJS
Your last sentence about it being rewarding or intimidating does that mean it will be either/both but not yet?
JJS
That's mithyn in the third picture? I thought it was Hilstara.
