I don’t want to waste too much time on this update. I’d rather focus on getting some useful work done. And the last twelve days have been extremely difficult for reasons I’m just too exhausted to go into. But there’s a few things that need addressing. First, last week’s article which has become this week’s article which has become a dead article. Second, the March Mostly Monthly Live Chat being canceled. And third, the fact that this shit isn’t working.
The Dead Feature
Last week’s Feature ended up stuck in development hell. It was supposed to be a feature about designing and executing character arcs in tabletop roleplaying games and it was posed and then selected by my supporters in my You Pick the Feature poll. Folks who saw the fallout in my supporter Discord server know there was a great deal of strife surrounding the topic, a few arguments, and ultimately some confusion about who had actually posed the topic and what they actually meant by Character Arcs. I tried to do what I felt was “the right thing,” by adjusting the topic to what it seemed like my supporters wanted while also poking some fun at the whole, giant, stupid argument.
The article that resulted was both a terrible, awful mess and it ended up being more mean-spirited than funny. After two attempts to rescue the article, I am forced to admit it’s crap and I am not happy putting my name on it. Even if it digs me further into my scheduling hole. I’d rather be behind schedule than release an article I’m not happy with.
The topic itself isn’t dead, but it’s going to have to wait. I have cleared up a lot of the confusion regarding the Feature and will address it next month.
This leaves me in a massive bind. I took too long deciding the article was unsalvageable crap. And the topic needs to rest before I take a second stab at it. I will recover with a different topic or, perhaps, an Ask Angry Mailbag.
Mostly Monthly Live Chat Cancelled
I am not in a position to host the Mostly Monthly Live Chat which was originally scheduled for last week and rescheduled to tonight. Unfortunately, unless something changes very soon, I think March is going to have to pass without a Live Chat. I may drop an impromptu chat if I can turn some things around very quickly, but I am not promising it.
This Isn’t Working
It’s clear that the approach I adopted to catching up last month just isn’t bearing fruit. It was going well for a little while, but I lost some ground and making it up is just taking too long the way I’m going now. These updates aren’t really helping. And while I’ve turned a lot around in the last week in my personal life and I’ve started some work to improve my physical and mental health, that’s taking some time to bear fruit and it’s left me feeling wrecked for this past weekend.
As it stands right now, here’s what I want to accomplish for the remainder of March…
Thursday, March 21: Publish the replacement for The Dead Feature. Whatever it is.
Wednesday, March 27: Publish the next True Campaign Managery Lesson.
By March 31: Publish the Tension Dice Angry Hack.
That last one is very ambitious. I have two weeks left to get it completed, cleaned up, and laid out, and I feel like I can do it. But I have said that before. The damned Angry Hacks thing and getting the Tension Dice release perfect are becoming my Everest for reasons I really don’t want to go into. I need to do my everything to get it done or else it’s going to be the thing that breaks me as a content creator.
Thank you for the update and the honesty in how things are.
I know how hard it can be to see the sunlight even if the clock says it is noon.
I believe you will be successful and look forward to the days when you will laugh at these times. It will happen.
Thanks for the update. I’m just glad you didn’t say “I told you so” about letting us pick a topic
At your worst, you’re still the best
You’re not alone, brother. One day at a time.
Fingers crossed for you, Angry.
“Time to post the weekly report on my failures. What fun.”
Accountability is good keep doing that. But while negativity is fine don’t call it a failure out loud. That’s no good. You can’t do that. Don’t do that.
I think whether it’s good or bad depends on the person. If you’re thinking it and refuse to articulate it, that can be a problem too.
At least for pretend elves. 😉
Just for the record, I think it was me proposing the topic.
It was you. And nothing that happened was your fault. Someone else accidentally let me think they had proposed the topic and meant something completely different. It was, in the end, my own fault for not doing the due diligence. I will address the topic you proposed. I was cheering for it to win.
I like the topic and look forward to Mr. Angrys take on it. Whenever this will be, it will be good.
Hold on, Angry, continue living, one breath after another.
Good Luck Angry & thanks you for your hard work.
Is your name actually Thane?
I’ve never met another in person.
Just my 2¢ maybe character arc can be part of a bigger topic like “Cooperative campaign plots”. I think it’s a worthy topic. It’s not my style as a player or DM (that’s why I like Warforged, easiest “no backstory” race). But you’re a great essayist and you can appeal to various DM styles. Good luck on salvaging your current script.