Patreon Revamp! (Please Read!) (Patreon)

I want to preface this by saying not much is changing. I don't want people to get overly worried about this. You shouldn't be losing anything from this, and everyone is gaining something they didn't have before. I intend to implement the changes at the same time that I post this update, so hopefully you all have a reference.

Let's start with WHY:

The why is simple. As I currently have the Patreon set up, I can see a point of failure coming down the line. We are not there yet, but given the rate at which I've grown so far, I feel it is necessary to make the change now. 

Essentially, under the current system there will come a point where I am writing for more people than there are days in the month. I will have to post multiple pieces a day, leading to over saturation and inevitable burn out. This is mostly because of Tier 3, and as a result that's where the biggest change will be found.

Under the new system, over saturation and potential burn out should be held off by a limit on Tier 4 and Tier 5 Patrons.

Moving on to the WHAT:

So here's the new system in a nutshell. The biggest change is that Tier 3 Patrons will no longer be entitled to a 1-2k piece of writing from me per month. However, current Tier 3 Patrons (of which there are three) will continue to enjoy this reward for as long as they pledge to me.

On a more positive note, I am implementing Weekly Patron Prompts, a system that will give all tiers the ability to influence something I write every week. Under the new system here is what the Tier system now looks like.

Tier 1 (Basic Tier)

- Access to all Patreon Works the moment I post them.

- One vote in the Weekly Patron Prompt Poll.

Tier 2 (Not so Basic Tier)

- Access to all Patreon Works the moment I post them.

- Five votes in the Weekly Patron Prompt Poll.

- Suggest prompts, but no guarantee they will happen.

Tier 3 (Epic Tier)

- Access to all Patreon Works the moment I post them.

- Ten votes in the Weekly Patron Prompt Poll.

- Suggest prompts with no guarantees.

- One guaranteed prompt per month that will appear in a Weekly Poll.

Tier 4 (Beyond Epic Tier)

- Access to all Patreon Works the moment I post them.

- Ten votes in the Weekly Patron Prompt Poll.

- Suggest prompts with no guarantees.

- One guaranteed prompt per month that will appear in a Weekly Poll.

- 2,500-4,000 words of Creative Writing that you get to outline for me each month.

Tier 5 (Legendary Tier)

- Access to all Patreon Works the moment I post them.

- Ten votes in the Weekly Patron Prompt Poll.

- Suggest prompts with no guarantees.

- One guaranteed prompt per month that will appear in a Weekly Poll.

- 5,000+ words of Creative Writing that you get to outline for me each month.

-x-X-x-

Things may be worded different, but the way it works, all of the Tiers above have only had things added. Nobody except Tier 3 has lost anything. 

Weekly Patron Prompts will happen on a simple system. Saturday and Sunday will be the days that Tier 3, 4, and 5 can submit their prompts to me. Monday through Wednesday will be the days people are able to vote for the prompt they want to see the most. This leaves Thursday and Friday for me to write the prompt, and my promise to you all is that the finished voted for prompt will go up by Friday.

Finally, the WHEN:

The new system goes into effect immediately.

Weekly Patron Prompts will begin on March 20th. 

That is also when the number of votes you get according to your Tier will go into effect. For the current GoT poll up right now, everyone gets one vote.

Conclusion:

I've come to the inescapable conclusion that this is what has to happen so that I can sustain and grow this Patreon well into the future. However I am open to suggestions and feedback and happy to answer questions and concerns. Please let me know what you think of this, even if it's just to say you like it, that alone helps tremendously.