Biggest Patreon Changes Yet (PLEASE READ SUMMARY AT LEAST!)

Patrons!

Quick first point - if you're waiting for me to reply to a message, don't worry, I have read everything you've sent up to a few days ago, I just haven't replied yet. Names lists, end credits, etc are updated and ready for next episode. I have been adding in your requests as they've been coming in over the past week or so, I just haven't responded to all of you quite yet, but requests have been fulfilled!

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The Patreon page is about to undergo some massive changes, please watch the attached and very well annotated video for full explanations, but I'll give a very brief overview here for lazy, lazy people:

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STARTING AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE:

- Names list will be OPT-OUT, rather than the current OPT-IN, everyone will be included by default at the relevant tiers, if you want to change your name on Patreon have a look at links at the bottom of this post!

- Going foward, NEW in-game names will be submitted through the google form I made a while ago. If you want to change a name on the list just message me like usual.

- In-game names list will be updated and accessible to everyone so you can see where you are on the list!

- Discord-Patreon integration now works, links at the bottom of this post will tell you have to connect Discord and Patreon if you haven't already!

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Why?

So, for those of you with a bit more patience, I wanted to explain all of the changes in a bit more detail, and give me reasonings behind it all. I explain it in the video with visual notes on screen, so that might be easier than reading a wall of text, but you do you, I'm just here to give some options.

Firstly, the Discord-Patreon integration is working now. For the past year I've been manually assigning roles and ranks to everyone that joined the Patreon, and it was a lot of extra work, and you had to wait for me to do it before you could access the Discord channel. Now it's all automated and instant, so everyone wins!

It is possible that if the billing is interrupted or delayed that your rank might disappear for a little while, but it should link back up immediately. Don't panic, and as always, message me ASAP if there are any issues with that and I'll get to it as soon as I can.

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The biggest of the changes will be with the shout out list. Currently there are many, many problems with my method of doing things. Having over 1000+ patrons to each individually manage with an opt-in system is an absolute nightmare and takes a whole day to sort out at the start of each new month, hence why I got Elise to do it for me, otherwise I'd have to take a day out of making videos just to sort out the shout outs.

Massive time sink aside, there are problems with having to download the Patreon lists. One of them is that anyone who signs up with a non-latin alphabet username (cyrillic, hebrew, greek, even scandinavian names for example) would be broken, and we'd have to try and work out who's username it was from the email address of the user, which might also have the same problem. If everyone is opted-in, then it won't be an issue because it narrows down a potential 1000+ patrons to whoever has messaged and opted-out.

The other issue with opt-in is that if some funny joker wants me to shout out something horrible and renames themselves mid-month and doesn't tell me, then they won't match our opted-in names list, and won't be on the next end credits/shout out screen. This is completely solved with an opt-out system and you can rename yourself to silly thing til your hearts content.

The other deciding factor for making it opt-out system, instead of opt-in, is that no other Youtuber's I've spoken to do it. I was even laughed at by one person. A lot of people just have a big scrolling names list at the end of episodes, but I think that's a bit boring and not very personal, but this comes at so much more management.

Of course, if you don't want to be shouted out with your username, and would like to opt-out, please send me a message before next month. Alternative, if you want to change your Discord username it's extremely easy and quick to do so, I'll include the link and guide at the bottom of this page!

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The biggest of all of my terrors is the in-games names list. As always, we have maybe 15 new colonists a series, and that makes adding in so many name requests borderline impossible.
Though, there is a new series coming soon that has had a lot of planning involved, and should give plenty of spaces for people to get a character.

To help streamline the process a little bit, people who join at one of the name request tiers will be given the link to the google form to submit a character name, gender preference, and notes to fulfill, where possible, as soon as they sign up. Those of you who have already sent me a name don't need to worry about this. Changing names on the list will work the same as always, just send me a message!

But how do you know if you're on the list, or what name you have? I'll be making the in-game names list accessible by all patrons, so you can double check your on there, or message me to make alterations.

The reason I had to stop updating it was because there were many people on the in-game names list who didn't opt in to the shout out list, so to prevent any privacy problems for them I had to keep it private. If everyone is opted-in by default, I don't have to worry about usernames on display, in theory, though I will always be careful for people who care about that.

To clarify, all it will say is your Patreon username, in-game name request, in-game character's gender, and notes. Nothing at all that would be something to worry about, nothing that isn't shouted out, or in episodes, but I like to be very overcautious when dealing with peoples user names, just in case they would prefer it private, for whatever reason. Probably just me being paranoid on your behalf, but I think that's the least I can do.

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Overall, if you have any questions or queries that you'd like to bring up - potential concerns, or arguments against some of the changes, feel free to message me, or better yet, leave them below so other people can see it as well!

Hopefully this will be a massively positive change for the page - you get rewards quicker and much more clearly, I get less busy work and can focus on the main channel more, rather than trying to work three jobs at once!

As always, your continued support is more than generous, massively appreciated, and makes it so I can continue doing this, without sponsors, or merchandise, or all the usual Youtube corporate nonsense that I try and keep out of the videos.

Thank you.

Mr Samuel Streamer
Formerly: Roll1D2Games
Currently: very tired as it's 5am but I wanted to get this video out there ASAP
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Links:


Discord Invite Link: https://discord.com/invite/mrsamuelstreamer
How to connect Discord and Patreon: https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-gb/articles/212052266-How-do-I-connect-Discord-to-Patreon-Patron-

Where to change Patreon Username: https://www.patreon.com/settings/basics
How to change Patreon Username: https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-gb/articles/4408270922893-How-do-I-change-my-name-on-Patreon- 

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