Crafting the new year in the Lab!

Happy New Year, y'all. This is a big one for Kathryn and I, and there's a lot of machinery at work, and that means a few changes and new goodies. First up, here's what I'm shooting for in 2023:

• Two videos per month on YouTube
• New Discord Craft Night
• More short content on YT and Tik-tok
• Weekly news updates for supporters
• Monthly Themed Maker Challenges

Before we get into any of that though, we gotta address the glaring pachyderm in the room. THE MOVE.

For those of you unaware, Kathryn and I are having to move cross-country as we're being priced out of the area where we live. We're going to miss Colorado, but even with both of us working our asses off it's become too tight and pay-check-to-paycheck for us to do anything but survive.

With that in mind, I'm going into this year doing everything I can to make this move happen. Pushing the Patreon, making more content to get eyes on my work, and doing whatever I can to give y'all cool bonuses. We also have a GoFundMe set up to help us with the expense, if you're feeling kind enough to share: 

https://gofund.me/26c190c3 

TIER CHANGES

Because of that, I also want to make minor adjustments to the tiers here to better balance the support against what's on offer. Nothing major, but I understand completely if folks wish to adjust their level. Here's what tiers are getting adjusted:

$3 Lab Goblin - Names will also be included in the supporter roll during videos.

$5 Coffee Goblin - Adding early access to videos. Blooper reels will still be for the $10 and up tiers.

$10 Arcane Barista - Adding a new members-only section to the Discord for this tier and higher, where folks can get help on their TTRPG or Maker projects from me directly.

These changes will go into effect later this week.

NEXT VIDEO AND POLL

I'm starting work on the next build this week, and it's the Mimic Statue, as voted on by you! The next build poll will be going up soon, so be sure to get your vote in. I'll be posting WIP shots and updates on when the video will be completed to the supporter newsfeed.

DISCORD CRAFT NIGHT

To make a long story short, my only scheduled stream every week is the Artificer Chat. While I'll try to stream here and there in addition, keeping up with everything as a one-man show can spread me pretty thin, pretty quick. Posting to social media, making content for multiple platforms, making sure i stay on top of things for y'all here; it's a lot.

So I'm creating something new as a compromise. The Discord Craft Nights will be every other Wednesday evening, and open to the entire Discord. Consider it a craft-along, as I'll turn on my camera and mic, and hang out with whomever wants to as I get more work done. More laid back that a standard stream, it'll still give me the opportunity to hang with you all, and have some company while I do my thing.

Those will start soon. I'll keep you posted.

MONTHLY THEMED MAKER CHALLENGES

I've wanted to do this one for a while! Basic gist: at the start of each month, I'll announce a theme in the #maker-space section of the Discord. Everyone is invited to participate. All you have to do is make something that you feel fits the theme. All creative mediums welcome. Just post your finished piece in that section with the theme's tag, and you're in.

After that month, I'll feature all the works in the following video to show off the amazing talent in this community. Not a contest, no prizes, no pressure, just fun.

This month's theme will be dropped in the Discord very soon!

NOW WITNESS THE FIREPOWER OF THIS FULLY ARMED AND OPERATIONAL LAB...

This year is going to be challenging for Kathryn and I, but I'm hopeful. If we can make this move, that will be such a tremendous boon for our lives, and give us the room we lack right now to make things better. Beyond that, I'm excited for the things I've got planned for y'all, and I dearly hope you enjoy them.

Thank you all for supporting what I do! Now let's go make some more cool shit.

~XR
The Artificer