tonycliff
patreon
Splish Splash!
🕑 Added 2023-03-23 23:53:33 +0000 UTCOh hello, Dear Reader.
As you can probably see, I've been working on the first of the two "cover" images. It's a work-in-progress! I'm happy with it right now, but I'll have to take a fresh look at it next week and see how it holds up.
The goal is not necessarily to have an actual book cover, but I do need some sort of cover-type image that I can use for promotion. For example, this week I've been working on a postcard to take to VanCAF.
(Side note: I'll be at VanCAF this year! It's my only planned convention this year and my first since 2019. If you're able, please do come and say Hi!)
MORE BOATS!
This video dissection of an 18th-century warship is fascinating - I've been neck-deep in sailing ships for a while now, and a lot of this was still new to me. It's wild to think about the necessity that required so many of these innovations. For example, how did they discover that they needed air vents down in the orlop deck? Who figured out that rolled-up hammocks would make good shielding? How many disasters led to all the choices about where and how to store gunpowder?
Make sure to stay for the animation explaining how sails were raised and lowered. I was surprised to learn it's both as straightforward as I thought (men walk out on the yards and release the sails by undoing zap straps) and much more complicated than I thought (so many lines involved).
As another side note, I guess this is the natural evolution of those Eyewitness Books I had as a kid with all the exploded diagrams? Assuming all the information in these videos is actually correct, then kids these days are so lucky.
A POINT OF CURIOSITY
I was going to run a poll on this, and I might still do so, but I'm wondering: is it important to you, Dear Patron, that PRACTICAL DEFENCE is available for free online to anyone who wants to read it there?
- - - - -
Next week I'll continue flatting Chapter Three, which means… finished pages for Chapter Three could be going up as early as the end of the month? That's what I'll be working toward!
EDIT: I forgot about Colour Script. I need to make one of those for Chapter Three, so that's what will be happening next week.
I hope everyone is enjoying the turning of the season as much as I am (at least up here in the Northern Hemisphere),
⛵
TC
Comments
Tony Cliff
YOU'RE NEVER TOO LATE
Tealin
Late, but ... Cover: fun, engaging, energetic! Somewhat distracted by the tangent her sword is making with the stem of the T though. (I am one to speak, I am haunted by tangents night and day.) Ships: YES, so many lines. But they're easier to keep track of (and simplify, sensiby) when you know what they do. Free Comics: I have to admit I am grateful for Chapter 2 being shared online, because I failed to keep up with it when you were posting on Patreon, and it's a more comfortable read on your site than on This Fine Domain. But in a less selfish vein, I think having maybe one chapter, or a preview section of your choosing, is useful to have online for free, whereas ~the whole thing~ might be too much of a good thing, for your interests? I know some aficionados of The Free Economy, where you give the main product away and make up the erstwhile income in goodwill [subscriptions] and merch. I think your Patreon has a lot of room for expansion, but you could probably get this by pushing the limited free sample rather than letting it all out. Whether you want to spend a lot of time and effort merchandising is up to you, but it sounds like a full time job in itself, and is perhaps morally grey re: consumption ... Ultimately you're the one who has to call the cost/benefit on where you put your assets and resources, but that's my $5.50!
Jana
Project awareness is such a battle, you do what you gotta do with the pages you make. Show em, hide em, which ever.
Thomas Price
Just finished watching the video. So cool. Thanks for sharing.
Carla Tavares
Great cover, it's very dynamic! I discovered DD through the previews on the website so I don't mind the comic's free. I'm here to read about behind-the-scenes and support the project - and buy a print version in the future :)
Abrian Curington
I first found DD through the free previews on the website back in the day, so I think it's awesome that this book is going out for free! That being said, if you needed to stop adding to the free version of this book, and leave it as a preview, I think that's okay too! And the cover looks great :)
Jonathan Phillips
Amazing work, going to watch the video next. Just wanted to say I like that the books are available to be read online for free. Not everyone can support a patreon or even buy the book. I can and do both. Can't wait to read the print version as well.
Mike Maihack
I love it! Great cover, Tony. Especially like how you get a sense of each characters' personality based on their different expressions/body language. Also share the comic with everyone however and wherever you can. I'm mostly here to support. Getting some pretty art in my inbox every so often is a nice bonus though. :)
That cover is fantastic! And the video is incredible! I have ships in a story I'm working on and I've been looking for anatomical reference like this for forever. Thanks for sharing both! As for your poll, I certainly don't mind if the non-patron public can view the story online. I can only speak for myself, but I support your patreon so you can get DD seen by more people. Patrons get an inside scoop which is enough. My big hope is that a print version will be available in the future. Anyway, keep up the good work!
