Upcoming Hiatus and Reader Questions!

I've been trying to think of some questions that aren't spoilertastic, but I think all my theorizing about Thistle is getting in the way of that. I will say that it's nice to see fantasy cities where no-one comments on orc children and human children playing together though. ...Actually, I got one. Brent, did you have do deal with much prejudice growing up? Like from being part Orc?

Michael Brewer

Usually when I needed a few weeks to work on pages, I posted guest art or sketched funny comics. I banged out the sketched comics in a day or 2 and wham bam thank you ma'am two week vacation.

Isa and Meg, the Namesake Team,

aaaaughhhh answering/not answering these is spoilersssssss take that as you will

Meg Syv

Seems fair to me! Though please say you aren't gonna leave us hanging here with upcoming fight/frog squashing extravaganza. As for questions: How many races are present in your world and what are they? Has there really been some kind of weird alternative reality apocalypse type thing or are all the "relics", like pokeballs, just funny Easter eggs?

Build the buffer by all means, we can wait as long as you come back eventually. Need my DotL fix.

The contract I have with Hiveworks says that I literally cannot do that if I want to stay with the network, so I promise that will not be something you have to worry about while I'm with them. I take professional agreements very, very seriously.

Meg Syv

Hey, hiatus is fine with me. The only problem I ever had with people who went on hiatus was that one month turns into two.. then 6, then two years and not a peep out of them. So yeah as long as I know you're alive and plan to come back, I'm super cool with it :) We can't have you dying from stress till you finish the story right?! Hahaha! <3

Sure, why not. Do whatever it takes for you to feel comfortable, I'd say. I see the patron system a bit more the way it used to be centuries ago. We give you money so you don't starve and show you around like a coloured dog on our lavish parties ... no, that came out wrong. ;) Take your time and when the comic will continue, we'll be all the more excited. And we're not your bosses, we're your patrons .. we're on your side, actually. Reader questions I have none, I still lament the fact that I didn't pay closer attention to your devArt account back in the days .. now I have to wait for the comic to show everything I missed back then.

Christian Hoepfner

No objection! Take your time! And don't stress out! :D You can upload a few sketches or doodles here so we know that you are still doing okay and you are still living on this planet with us!!! LOL :D

Kit

Here are my questions: 1) What "era" are they in? It looks like it's pre-electricity. Bonus Question: Will you write in where the "iPod" artifacts came from? Or was it just a fun add-in? Feel free not to answer this if popping the theorists' bubble isn't something you want to do :) 2) Orcs obviously exist, what's their history? Are they normally like the pink skin hating mob like Warcraft? Are they coexisting like Skyrim? Perhaps they used to be at war with humans but since the era seems much more advanced, they learned to give up their hating ways? 3) Is nobody bothered by Orrig being shirtless? Or is it nobody wants to bother the shirtless Orrig about being shirtless?

Suuuuuure we're not.

Meg Syv

yes good these are excellent yes I'm going to use them as examples next time as questions I look for.

Meg Syv

Why did Thistle choose that particular outfits? Were there other outfits she checked out? Was their a changing room? How did the shop react to her interesting pile-of-clothes outfit? Very important question for ALL of them: Did any of you have a childhood dog? Also yes I am good with hiatus *sits patiently*

I've noticed a lot of online comic artists are taking August off as a kind of holiday to recharge the batteries or deal with real life issues. I see no problem with this. Everybody needs some down time. It's not like you folks are soulless machines or something. You're not....right?

Nathan Weber

Seems reasonable, and as the others say, keep in touch. Always nice to know stuff is still happening :)

Horza

a break between chapters is not uncommon, and certainly not a bother between chapter arcs for some of the better online comics. you take that time to build your buffer, little lady. we'll chill out expecting awesome things to come in all due time.

Naziha Zahed

The comic would still update every week (or twice a week?) with answers to Reader Questions, so there would at least still be new content going up. It's just to buy me some time.

Meg Syv

Maybe update once every other week? Just to keep us from itchin? Maybe? But yay Reader Questions! Are those questions directed at characters?

Raye.Guns

Frankly, I think it would be a little disappointing, and the page views would drop for awhile (don't know if it is a concern for you or Hive). But, it's entirely up to your scheduling. Talking to the viewers, though, may maintain the vibe.

augh man thank you

Meg Syv

noooooooooooo augh man thanks

Meg Syv

I was thinking I could just update the site once or twice a week with answering Reader Questions so you guys have at least SOMETHING to look at.

Meg Syv

Dude, you can bet I'll be keeping you guys in the know about things. In fact, you guys will be getting previews of thumbnailed pages and then whatever progress I'm making during that time, as well as being the only ones who can ask Reader Questions. I'm treating this like a job - and you guys are my bosses.

Meg Syv

(P.S. I am entirely okay with any break that makes an artist happier and their work smoother/better.)

Jessica K

I in fact have a question about the most recent page spurred by an excellent book I read recently! :P So in Uprooted (Naomi Novik) there is The Wood, and it has similar corruption/possession powers as are implied with the drath so far. In one exchange between Sarkan (the dust jacket teaser "Dragon" wizard) and the main character Agnieszka, he tells her that the wood getting a hold on him is WAY worse than getting a hold on any old farmer or baker because it gains access to his powers and knowledge along with his body. Are the drath more of a "typical" possession trope where its just the power of the demon/spirit creature that comes through, or is this some serious SERIOUS business that the experienced mage teacher got possessed and not one of the less powerful students? Also, how do magic? Is it something that is grown and cultivated like a normal skill and limits are theoretically nonexistent, or is there an in-born power limit that can be reached and no more? (I've missed previous reader Q&As so feel free to point me there if this has been answered.) Also also, are there other things besides drath in the world that can hijack/corrupt your bod? :P

Jessica K

Nuu! We give you pennies a month! You must be our slave labor >:D ...It's cool! take a break and get stuff ready! But like people said, just keep us updated so we know you didn't die :3

I would be okay with the hiatus, personally (though I might go through withdrawal), but a month might be long for readers with short attention spans. There's a phenomenon with webcomics going into hiatus and never coming out that's left many viewers jaded. You might lose some of the momentum you've gained very recently. That said, burning yourself out is a real concern if you're feeling stressed with the sudden load. Maybe a compromise of one page every 2 weeks or something to that effect?

Take your time, with finishing the script and getting that buffer. if you overwork yourself and stress out about it, you'll end up needing to take a break later anyway ^^

Kell

I have no issue with a hiatus for the actual comic. I think it's important to keep communications up though, which is pretty much what you're doing anyway. Keeping "on schedule" with filler content, especially if it's reader questions sounds awesome. I've got some burning questions. Might be good to collect a number of questions in case every other question ends up being answered with.... "I can't say... spoilers" :)