Patreon!

I launched my Patreon yesterday, as many of you are already aware.  I thought it a good idea to describe the various rewards I have set out for each tier in more detail than I really can in a sidebar, so that folks are clear on everything.

Remember that crew that come on early at Tier III or higher before the start of April get a free bonus bust sketch of any character of their desire – comics, literature, you name it, I’ll look it up and give it a shot! I can do a sketch of a small ship as well, if you prefer!

General notes on art rewards:
I will request information on what patrons want for their rewards, and begin on the reward art, once the pledges have cleared through for each reward cycle; so if you signed up for March, say, at a level with a monthly sketch reward, I will start that in early April as payment comes through.  Rewards that recur every two months will be begun once the second month of payment has cleared, and so forth.  Rewards will have priority over non-critical projects whenever possible. 

I'll have examples of different kind of sketches soon.  All art will continue to be digital for the short term at the least, but I plan on adding traditional art reward options in the future.  Time has not been kind to my traditional studio supplies in the decade since I last used them.

Tier I - 'Spectators and Well-Wishers' - $1USD/month.

• Every single bit counts!  You have my thanks!  <3  Kindness is its own reward!
• Access to Discord chat server, once I have this set up and am comfortable with it.
• All supporters will have access to rewards from meeting funding goals (special drawings, et cetera.)  This will be retroactive as well.

Tier II - 'Ground Crew' - $3USD/month.

• 1 on the ground already!  Thank you!
  
• High-resolution files of all publicly posted works.  This generally means 1/2 the full resolution, so files will be suitable for printing at 150-300dpi, depending on the working file and the style of the drawing or painting.
• Early access, previews, and WIPs I don't share elsewhere.  Patreons at Tier II will get to see the majority of finished pieces, excluding Daily Doodles, a full day before I post them anywhere else online.  I'll also upload WIP shots of longer-term projects, and little teasers or ideas I might not share anywhere else.
• I'll use your OCs when I need background characters.  This doesn't just apply to pony-folk, mind.  I'm rebooting my long-dormant comic project, and there's always a need for more faces.  This is a recurring monthly reward, though it may be dependent on the scenes I'm drawing that month.
• All previous rewards.

Tier II - 'Ensign*' - $5USD/month.

• 2 aboard!  Thanks!
  
• Detailed print-size files and working files of all publicly posted works.  These will usually be 300-600dpi, and I generally work in the 9"x12" range -- though some paintings are much larger.  Private commissions may be excluded from this from time to time, but everything I work on for myself and for rewards will always be included.
• Exclusive early access to world-building and behind-the-scenes technical data for my comics.  I have folders and folders of work that I've done to create my setting of Tethys over the past two decades, and I'm always doing more world-building.
• All previous rewards.

Tier III - 'N.C.O.' - $10USD/month.

• 26/32 slots. 6 aboard already!  Hot dang.
  
• A shaded bust sketch of  a character of your choice, or a small ship sketch if you prefer, for every two full months of support at this level.  Character sketches will generally be formatted at 8" square, 300dpi; ships will be around 6"x9" at 300dpi. Shading can be in greyscale, loose hatching/pencil shading, or colour, depending on your preference -- but it must be said that I'm still just barely getting a handle on colour.
• All previous rewards.
• Have I told you how great you are?  You're pretty darn great.

Tier IV - 'Lieutenant' - $20USD/month.

• 15/16 slots.  My ship already has a commissioned officer! \o/
  
• It is pronounced 'lef-ten-ant.'  Or /lɛfˈtɛnənt/ to be more precise.
  
• A shaded bust sketch of  a character of your choice, or a small ship sketch if you prefer, for every two full months of support at this level.  Same as Tier III, but monthly.
• All previous non-sketch rewards.
• Certificate of Being Pretty Damn Cool.  (Variable, once per annum Reward.)  For every full year of support at this level or above, I'll do my darndest to make a Damn Nifty Drawing for you, and try to make it a Nice Surprise - or ask you what sort of thing you'd like, if inspiration fails me!  Note that the year doesn't have to be continuous; if you sign on for a few months as a Lieutenant but the exigencies of life expenses mean you can't support me for a while, I'll log those months and the counter will resume where it was if your support resumes.

Tier V - 'Commander' - $50USD/month.

• 8 slots.
• Monthly full-body sketch, or finished bust (cleaned lines or fully painted), of a character of your choice, or if you prefer, a larger ship sketch or a more detailed small ship drawing or painting.  You get the idea.  ^^
• Extra-special behind the scenes access (details forthcoming.)  Even more in depth world-building things, secret stuffs. 
• All previous non-sketch rewards.
• Certificate of Awesomeness (Variable, once per annum reward.) Like the Certificate of Being Pretty Damn Cool, but better by at least 20%.

Tier VI - 'Captain' - $100USD/month.

• 4 slots.
• Wow.  Okay, we're on some sort of small-scale commission payroll here.  We'll work it out in detail privately!  <3!  What it says on the tin.
• All previous non-sketch rewards.
• Certificate of Certifiable Awesomeness (Variable, twice per annum Reward.) Like the Certificate of Awesomeness, but  every six months.

Tier VII - 'Admiral' - $200USD/month.

• 2 slots.
• Okay, dang, this involves long-term commissions or collaborations.  We'll work it out in detail privately.  <3!  What it says on the tin.
• All previous non-art rewards.
• Certificate of Yeah Wow Okay You Are Bleepin' Awesome and I Love You (Variable thrice per annum Reward.)  Like the previous Certificates, but every four months.

Okay, I think that covers it!  Feel free to ask away if I've still been obtuse on a point or you need more clarification.  Don't forget that bonus sketch for those who sign on before the April cycle starts!

--Amar


www.patreon.com/amarynceus

*I know how normal ranking systems work.    In this case I'm using, as it turns out, a ranking system I use aboard my skyships, where 'Ensign' is basically equivalent to a regular rating and commissioned and non-commissioned officers both start from this pool.  More than one person has pointed this seeming oddness in my tiers out to me, and the Patreon went live less than 24 hours ago -- clearly some of my watchers are as nerdy as I.  Excellent.

(Ensign is a type of junior commissioned officer in most ranking systems, for those wondering.  I tend to think of them as middies/snotties (midshipmen) and thus kind of useless compared to most NCO ranks aboard a ship, even though the rank is generally above the entry level.)