deathblight
patreon
I need to get this off my chest
🕑 Added 2019-10-30 00:20:22 +0000 UTCAhoy everyone, Cres here!
This post is somewhat more of a "personal" one, as it serves to get something off my chest.
(Usually most posts on here are written by Wolfenstahl, but this one is written by me, Cres.)
You see, I'm the one handling the patreon page which means I'm also the one checking the exit surveys and stuff.
For quite a while now people leave with the reasoning of us doing "too slow progress", so after watching that trend for a while I figured I want to say something myself.
Wolf already explained it multiple times in the past, and in general is always open for questions, but I figured I need to make a post of my own.
I mean, sure, waiting 6+ months for an update on DB RPG seems quite long but let my try to explain why it takes that long.
As you can see we have about 4000$ from Patreon each month.
Since we are 4 people on the team, each of us therefore get's roughly 1000$ (~850€) per month before income tax.
Now here's the catch: In Germany (which is where Wolf, Blade, and I live) the poverty line is about 1000€ (Euros) per month per person, meaning each person earning less that 1000€ a month is considered to live in poverty. Renting an appartment and paying bills is almost impossible below that.
Which is why we don't work fulltime on Deathblight RPG. We HAVE to work on other projects as well in order to make ends meet.
If I had enough funds to focus on DB RPG, I would not need to split my attention on 3 games (DB RPG, DB Guilty Raid, and my hired work on "Once Ever After" for Sierra Lee).
I also occasionally do commissions to make ends meet.
Now you may wonder "But Cres, isn't 1000$ a lot of money for just about 1 CG scene a month?"
May look like that, but my current commercial rate is 50$ per hour (which isn't an unusual rate for an illustrator) and I usually need 3-4 full work days on avarage for 1 complete CG scene for DB RPG.
Which means I spend around 18-24h on a CG which then makes a CG scene cost something around 900-1200$. And on top of that I also have to draw the Patreon rewards like the 2 monthly speedpaints and the sketch package (and the webcomic will also come back soon-ish since we absolutely wanna wrap up chapter 5) which are not even accounted for in this calculation.
So you see, I do use up the funds for everything that is Patreon funded. And so are Wolf and the rest of the team. Especially Wolf is working his butt off for the little payment he gets. It's just hard to showcase project planing, programming, game testing, community management, teamleading and all the other stuff he does on a daily basis, compared to me who can show artworks as proof of my work.
But without him nothing of all of this would work, as the rest of the team can testify.
(Feel free to ask them on Discord, we are all active there.)
Now that you know that I can only finish about 1 CG scene a month (sometimes I even need a bit more time), and a full dungeon has about 5-6 CG scenes (so do the minijobs), that means the CG scenes alone need about 6 months to get finished. And that doesn't include all the other small graphics that need to be made aside of that, like new outfits, cut ins, new poses ect.
And since we can't split the minijobs in half like we do with the dungeon updates, the updates are less frequent since ALL the art must be done in order to release it. Not just half of it.
It's unfortunate that the minijobs aren't liked by all our supporters, but art wise they certainly are just as much if not more work than the art for a dungeon. So we aren't slacking off there, it's in fact the usual pace.
It probably only feels like less content since the CG scenes are far quicker to access in the minigames compared to a dungeon.
After Catheline's minijob is done in the upcoming update, we will do the next dungeon and add Esmoda as new character. Wolf is already planning it out.
And that is what I wanted to get off my chest.
Thanks for reading and most importantly thanks for all of your support^^
~Cres
Comments
Crescentia
thank you very much for your kind words ^w^
Lord_Alucard
I have been supporting for quite some time now, not really sure when, but I have known you guys since paperheads and love your work, since following from the shadows (in the Discord and all) but never really chatting. It really bugs me that people complain that much, they really can't see when someone makes quality work, to be honest I only played the early version of DB RPG the first dungeon, and now I'm just waiting patiently till the game is actually finished. I might not be the best to know what actually is going on with the minijobs and all and can't give my input on that, but from what I saw from the first dungeon and the previous games I'm pretty sure this one is gonna end up being great too ^^ I don't think you should bug yourself too much with this, sure your monthly income from Patreon might be getting lower because of those guys, but they wouldn't have stayed anyway after the completion of the game and i don't believe they will comeback either after the post. So just keep doing what you are doing guys, cuz you guys are great <3
Crescentia
Thank you very much ^w^
Crescentia
Thank you^^ reading all those encouraging comments really helps :3
Crescentia
Thank you very much for your kind words^^
Andreas Klärner
Honestly, i am in no rush. You guys offer great results for the money so i am fine with it.
KakashiHyuuga
Do not let yourself be rushed cres. after all, you have to plan everything and you also have a privacy. Although I have to admit, sometimes I get impatient. But the work you put in there is worth the wait. especially because I admire your drawings.
No problem. I know it take time and making a game can be frustration. But I am a patreon because I want to support one of my favorite artist.
Crescentia
Also thank you to you too ^w^
Crescentia
Thank you very much for commenting and supporting us ^w^
Crescentia
Yeah, we are a bit sad too that the webcomic has to come to an end earlier than expected, but thank you very much for still supporting us^^
Crescentia
Aw, damn. Okay we're not going to do it then. Bye bye epic store (haha^^) Thank you very much ^w^
Crescentia
Thank you ^w^
Crescentia
Thank you very much for your kind words^^
Bradley Jensen
I appreciate what you do! Thank you!
I first found this group through the web comic and even though I don't comment much, I still watch and I still support you.... even if I am a bit quiet ;)
Nori
I'm still staying cause I like the content so much but one thought I have had is the not having the web comic. I know the vote went in favor of changing it, but not having that page a week makes content feel slower than it was. I'll still be here for the great art though. 🙂
EnterTheNameHere Bohemian
Don't take that Epic cashout! Heh. I just wanted to write that. I didn't even joined for RPG, I only wanted to give something for the comic, but since you guys communicate and still make updates and art, I'm not going away...
IrishPeanut
Keep up the good work and take as much time as you guys need.
Patrick Hastings
It's always mind boggling at how much work and love all of you pour into the project! I also never see anyone that speaks so often to fans, supporters where it be here or on Discord! I understand that things are slow and proud to support such great work!
