Patreon Changes + How Financials, Logistics, and Health Affect Things
Added 2025-04-24 01:31:25 +0000 UTCSkip to the Bolded Parts For Changes
Buuuut for those who want some context...
First of all I would like to thank everyone for your kind words the last week regarding my health update. Your concern has been appreciated.
The harsh truth, however, is taking a break isn't so simple.
Audios just cost a lot, and I rely on daily medications that would cost a lot without insurance... which costs slightly less than the "a lot" those medications cost without it. So a monthly pause is not an option. But people put money into supporting me, and that money comes with expectations of delivery, so a month without promised content is a waste. In short, I can't give you financial reprieve, because I need your money. But I won't take a break, because you deserve your money's worth.
The other issue is that four audios a week was sustainable when I was putting out audios that were only two minutes long, both financially and in terms of workload. But once I re-opened polls the elaborate, lengthy, and costly audio ideas won every time, and it needs elaborate, lengthy, and costly art to go with it.
This means I need commissions to either pad out the page when I need to delay an audio, or when I need quick cash. But those commissions were not voted on.
For all those pleading with me to take a break and focus on my health, there's an inherent conundrum there. All I can do is ease up my schedule to allow myself breaks while maintaining the page and providing steady content. This is what I came up with.
Instant Ramen ($5) - Fewer, Longer, and Uncut
As mentioned, Exclusive Audios winners tend to be bigger and elaborate, with more characters, or they're driven by plot that needs set-up and resolution... but I get why "Seraphina From Disgaea 5 Takes An Uneventful Dump" isn't winning polls. $5 Patrons will still get weekly content, but starting in June only two Patron-voted audios, released bi-weekly, will be produced a month - One in the first week of the month, one in the third week of the month.
In May, I plan to release four audios - Konosuba Trio, Palutena, Lucina, Bayonetta, and Samus, and the Phantom Thief Girls, as well as the Dragon Zelda audio to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of Tears of the Kingdom (and my birthday!) So by June, it will be down to only two Patron-voted audios, but the early access period for commissioned audios posted to the $10 tier will lapse on every "off" week. Speaking of...
Shoyu ($10) - Instant Access To Comms/Personal Projects & Exclusive Access To Naughty Audios and Alts.
I have never felt like the $10 tier offers enough value. The naughty audios are a great solution, but they're still niche and only provide one additional audio a month at twice the cost. Starting in May, $10 Patrons will have early access (1 month) to commissioned audios, independently financed (including large patron backed) audios, and exclusive access to the naughty audio and alts.
The amount of content on the $10 tier will essentially be based around how much I can handle at a time. Ideally that means a lot of smaller supplementary audios every few days (possibly 1-3 a week depending on their length and complexity).
Please note these audios will not come with original artwork.
What's The Logic?
Without the schedule restrictions of the Patreon-voted audios, I can get more audios done on "off weeks" while maintaining a healthier work-life balance, and then set aside time to focus on the Patron-voted audios on their dedicated weeks.
$5 Patrons will still have the same amount of content, so the value of the tier does not decrease.
Some audios, like Sons of Calydon, Tohru, and Maya Fey are only funded due to the independent wealth of select patrons. While this is fantastic, it makes them hard to schedule out when I have to do weekly audios voted on by Patrons.
Similarly, commissions are not voted on by Patrons, so any week where a comm goes up instead of a voted audio is a week some patrons do not get what they paid to hear.
With more time and funding in general, I can finally close the books on a lot of audios that need extensive retakes or new VAs to complete (such as Frieren and Morrigan).
While I Have Your Attention
Felix, Rem, and Ram audio this week! I wanted to get Ophelia out first but since this is a paid audio, I want to waste as little time as possible to avoid anyone's subscription lapsing before they get a chance to hear it.
Expect a lot of scripts this week - Phantom Thieves, Palu/Samus/Bayo/Lucina, and a few fun commission scripts.
Closing Thoughts
Hot Ramen Audios is a difficult operation to keep running. The high cost of audios means I have to get them very, very right to make them financially viable and avoid this becoming too unprofitable to be my job. Between the limited talent pool (I'd wager 90% of NSFW VAs won't do scat), their tricky schedules, and the consequences of my chronic overwork, it was obvious things needed to change to keep the train on the tracks. As usual, thank you all for bearing with me as I work to tame the chaos surrounding the page. I feel confident in this model providing me with more time to work and to rest.
