 So you all know I love cohosting the fortnightly podcast Nerd & Tie, but for a while I'd been considering expanding my podcasting stuff. Because of this, I officially launch today a new, daily (and very short) podcast called On This Day With Trae. It's a daily history podcast, where I talk about a random historical event that took place that day. I tend to look for events that are interesting or fun, and avoid the, ummm... darker bits of history?
It's really something that I've done in person at my day job for a while to conclude morning meetings -- I just thought it might be nice to record my random tidbits.
Each episode is only about a minute and a half too -- so it won't take up too much of your time if you choose to listen.
Which you should.
Because it'll be entertaining.
- Traegorn
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So I often talk about starting projects on this blog and major milestones involved, but it's rare that I talk about, y'know, the ongoing work that I've been doing. Sure, I mention The Chronicles of Crosarth and UnCONventional all the time -- but there's other stuff that gets kind of swept along.
So I thought I'd rectify it.
First off, I just want to talk a bit about the Nerd & Tie podcast. Pher, Nick and I have been putting out some pretty great episodes over the last year, and I think you should check it out if you haven't already. Last night we put out a pretty great "special" epsidoes about Godzilla (2014). It's a wonderful place to start.
On a more selfish note, while I've put links up all over my site, I haven't tried to promote my ongoing Patreon campaign for a while either. If you feel like helping me out, please consider making a recurring donation via that site. It would be nice to start covering my costs a bit more at the very least.
I've got other stuff going on -- like a new Lt. Snorkel album in the works, more cons will be added to the schedule -- so please know that lots of stuff is slowly moving forward.
Things are very much still happening, even if I haven't been talking about them.
- Traegorn
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Pictured above is the evolution of my ever expanding workspace. I refer to it as my "cyberpunk desk," and I think it's with good reason. The photos above are, in order, my desk in 2010, 2012 and finally its current state in 2014.
To break it down, there are two main computers at work here: the Windows PC in the center (my work computer) and the laptop on the right (my personal computer). The work computer has only one monitor, but it's the one I spend 8-9 hours a day on. My laptop also powers the old Commodore 64 monitor (as I have used it as a second screen for watching Hulu and Netflix for years) as well as my old iPad 2 which has been repurposed as a third monitor. The bluetooth keyboard in front of the iPad 2 is actually connected to the MacBook Pro as well, so I can type on the other two screens without turning around.
Next to the iPad 2 is my microphone for podcasting. It's a new addition, and it kind of makes me happy.
In the photo my iPad mini sits on the desk. It's not always propped up like this, as I use this to draw on (and it is my satellite device around the apartment). The screen on top of the minifridge is connected to an old pentium laptop, and it pulls down weather conditions, forecasts and current news headlines.
So yeah, my desk is awesome.
- Traegorn
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The above image has been on my website for quite some time. Anyone who was conscious in the 1990s will recognize the figure in the foreground as Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson, as it features the infamous "glove" moment from his murder trial. In the background though, you might notice someone else -- No Brand Con mascot Duct Tape Boy.
I created it for a random project called Duct Tape Boy's Adventures through time, where Duct Tape Boy was inserted into the background of various real and fictional events via photo manipulation.
But because he's in the background, a lot of people don't notice he's there.
In fact, this is the most stolen image from my website. Every once and a while someone notices the bailiff who is supposed to be standing there has been replaced with a person covered in duct tape, but usually they don't. I mentioned it a few years ago, but it just keeps happening.
Like this is the image used for O.J. Simpson on ComicVine. I've seen it as people's avatars. Many, many blog entries about Mr. Simpson have featured it.
But no one notices Duct Tape Boy.
Which just amazes me, frankly.
- Traegorn
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In creating a world for The Chronicles of Crosarth, I've been forced to think about how different circumstances of a nation influence the designs of the airships that represent them. Crosarthian airships, for example, are usually utilitarian but sleek. They are meant to be elegant looking ships, but still basic and streamlined. You can see that reflected in the interiors of the Hummingbird as well - furniture is basic and bolted down and most of the ship is plain, unadorned metal.
 The Black Rose, air pirate Samantha Von Taeliac's flagship, is an entirely different beast. Originally an airship designed by the now long fallen Pavanussian government, it has to reflect the values that its now usurped monarchs would have valued. It also has to reflect any changes made by it's current owner as well. Because of that, light fixtures and furniture on board are unnecessarily ornate. Where the Hummingbird has nothing that isn't needed, The Black Rose has (likely useless) wood paneling. The Black Rose sports two observation decks - useless tactically, but would have been employed by Pavanussian Royalty while using the ship to travel.
Those observation decks though are currently bare - the ornate furniture which would have originally furnished them stripped away... as, again, its air pirate owners have no use for it.
The Black Rose was built to impress people, likely slightly more so than to be an effective weapon, and that's what I put into every angle of it that I can.
- Traegorn
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So this week marked the five hundredth installation of my webcomic UnCONventional. Which strip is the actual five hundredth strip is actually a bit complicated. I consider this particular comic to be number five hundred, but if someone was just looking at the books it'd be number four ninety-nine ( and this comic would be five hundred).
The reason goes back to some filler I ran back in 2010. I was in the middle of moving to Lafayette and my buffer ran out. I put out two updates - the first of which was a "Whoops, no comic!" image, but the second was a comic called Awesome Roy's Words of Wisdom.
Which, to me, counts as a comic.
When it came time to do the first book though, I left it out. It happened in the middle of a storyline and I decided to preserve the flow of the narrative.
Either way, no matter which one you think should be number five hundred, this is a major milestone in the life of a comic. One I'm happy I've reached.
Now on to the next five hundred.
- Traegorn
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So I got home from No Brand Con 2014 yesterday evening, and while exhausted, I have to say it was probably the most fun I've had at a convention in years. This is not to demean any other cons I've been to, it's just that this was a particularly awesome weekend.
All of my panels and events went as well as I could hope. " Nerd & Tie LIVE" went great, and we had a great crowd. I survived another Hanzo the Razor screening, much to my chagrin. "How to Art?" with Katie Tiedrich and Erika Flanagan was really fun on Saturday, and I think really well for a panel I did zero preparation for. And co-hosting Cosplay with Nick Izumi? That went as perfectly as I could hope for.
Seriously, I've haven't had that many people tell me how much they loved the cosplay contest since 2009.
I also sold some UnCONventional and Crosarth books, but that was just icing on the cake.
On a personal level, this was an almost completely drama-free event. In fact, it was in many important ways a mending one. I know most of you read this blog for stick figures, snark and faux-self righteousness, so I won't bore you with the details. To say it feels like a great weight has been lifted would be an understatement though.
So yeah. It was good.
- Traegorn
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So this upcoming weekend is a convention dear to my heart - No Brand Con, in Eau Claire, WI. Mostly because I'm one of No Brand Con's co-founders. I'm not actively staffing the event anymore (due to my living about 500 miles away), but I make it my mission to be there anyway.
Because, y'know, I love that con.
Needless to say, I'm super excited about this con. And just because I'm not actively a part of the hard working crew there doesn't mean I'm just taking this con off. I've got a pretty full schedule... which I thought I'd share.
First off, I'm going to be in the Artist Alley most of the weekend. There you can find me, print copies of UnCONventional and The Chronicles of Crosarth, and just general awesomeness. Beyond that, I'm doing several events and panels: Nerd & Tie LIVE!
Friday 10:30PM, No Mercy Room
Join Pher Sturz, Nick Izumi and myself for a live recording of our podcast Nerd & Tie. This is our second live show, so it ought to be a ton of fun. Also, we're in an 18+ room... so... expect the same show as always? Yeah.
HANZO THE RAZOR: SWORD OF JUSTICE
Friday 11:59PM, No Mercy Room
A No Brand Con tradition, I host a showing (and public mocking) of the first Hanzo the Razor film. Audience participation is encouraged as we mock one of the strangest films to come out of Samurai cinema.
How to art?
Saturday 1:00PM, Main Programming
It's a webcomics panel! So I've been told! I think! No one's given me an exact description! I was just asked to be on it! Join Awkward Zombie's Katie Tiedrich, Parking Gulls's Erika Flanagan and... me. For a panel. On something. That's webcomics related. I think... or an elaborate trap to kill me.
Not sure.
No Brand Con 2014 Cosplay Contest!
Saturday 7:00PM, Main Programming
Join Nick Izumi and me as we host the 2014 cosplay contest! I've hosted this contest for many years, but this'll be the first time I do it without wearing a mask! You'll see my face and everything! Hooray!
I may still bring the rake.
So that's the whole schedule. That's like seven hours of work for a con I'm not staffing any more.
Wait, if I'd done just three hours more, I could have gotten in for free.
I may be an idiot.
- Traegorn
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So Sarah is a new character I introduced to UnCONventional this year. She's become an unexpected success, and easily risen through the ranks to fan favorite alongside Lynn and Awesome Roy. Frankly, at this point, I'm considering promoting her to "main cast."
Sarah wasn't a part of my original plans for Chapter Five. I came up with her only days before her first appearance, and she wasn't on the roadmap. But in January I was at a convention, and there was one particular staffer (whose name I never learned) who was so positive it reminded me how negative the comic had gotten. I needed to introduce some optimism immediately.
Tara originally served that role, but her arc made her more cynical. By Chapter Four she no longer served that role, and no one new had taken her place.
So Sarah has become a breath of fresh air. In her design, I've tried to make her more expressive. I also want to vary her outfits, as one day I will hopefully break the "Everyone always wears the same thing" trap of comic strips.
Okay, probably not with Max. But at least the rest of the cast.
- Traegorn
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The Black Rose, air pirate Samantha Von Taeliac's flagship, is an entirely different beast. Originally an airship designed by the now long fallen Pavanussian government, it has to reflect the values that its now usurped monarchs would have valued. It also has to reflect any changes made by it's current owner as well. Because of that, light fixtures and furniture on board are unnecessarily ornate. Where the Hummingbird has nothing that isn't needed, The Black Rose has (likely useless) wood paneling. The Black Rose sports two observation decks - useless tactically, but would have been employed by Pavanussian Royalty while using the ship to travel.
