Discussing about SatOH funding
(There's a TLDR at the bottom)
The Odysseus Chapter is now complete (at least on Patreon. It'll be released publicly here later for free, don't worry)āthank you so much for following along!
Itās been a real pleasure working with Ebetto, Baban, and Miitara to bring it to life. The team has been wonderfully efficient, and I think the final result speaks for itself.
That said, even though the comic has been warmly received, the financial reality is becoming more challenging. Our initial goal of ā¬600 per month now feels like a distant memory. Each page costs around ā¬300 to produce, with each person involved earning between ā¬50 and ā¬100. Honestly, given the quality of their work, I wish I could pay them moreāthey truly deserve it.
Beyond the pages themselves, there are also cutscenes, which are essential for storytelling since 10 pages per chapter donāt allow enough space to go in-depth without cutting the action short. On top of that come character and monster designs, as well as location concept art.
We could, however, cut down on Miitaraās amazing ālevelā illustrations if necessary, since they are mostly there to enhance the atmosphere.
Nevertheless, thanks to your support, we managed to finish the Odysseus Chapter. But unless things change, we risk running out of funds midway through the next one. Continuing a project of this scope for free simply isnāt possible. Even if every artist chose to work out of passion alone, sooner or later one of them would understandably need to focus on paid work to cover their bills, which would slow their contribution and eventually force them to step away. Finding replacements under those conditionsāprofessional-level work with no payā would be extremely difficult. After more than a decade making fan comics, I know this all too well.
Slowing down production to just one page per month isnāt a viable solution either. At that pace, the project would drag on far too long, risk being forgotten by the audience, and drain the motivation of the teamāeven if they are paid.
Thatās why Iād like to discuss possible ways to keep the project sustainable. Here are a few ideas Iāve been considering:
Adding another donation platform (like Ko-fi or even DeviantArt), for those who donāt wish to use Patreon.
Resetting the funding goal with each new chapter, so we can begin every stage of the story with a clean slate.
Relying more on a smaller number of higher-tier supporters (for example, 25,50ā¬, which is how I fund my other comics). In return, these supporters could be credited directly on the pages, forever linking them to the project. (We wonāt add paid OC cameos, since the story doesnāt naturally allow for them, and it wouldnāt feel fair to charge for a brief background appearance.)
To make this sustainable, weād need at least 20 people per month at that level.
Working with donation goals. Producing a full chapter costs around ā¬3000āincluding designs and cutscenes (writing excluded, which I cover myself). One idea would be to hold off until that goal is reached, so the chapter can be produced in full without financial strain. This way, whenever we do continue, we know we can deliver the story as it deserves to be told.
Other suggestions from you. Iād really like to hear your input.
Ending the project if funding cannot be secured. Some people have expressed frustration that this project requires funding, but since it cannot realistically be done for free, stopping would be the only alternative. At least we kept our promise and fully completed the Odysseus Chapter.
Given how well the team works together and the generous support weāve already received, weād much rather avoid that outcomeābut it still remains a possibility to consider.
You might wonder how long we plan to carry this project forward. The goal, if everything goes smoothly, is to have "one world for each Chaos Emerald" (they donāt appear in this story, they are the Heroes instead, but you get the idea), plus one for the final boss, and maybe a special ālast stage.ā
Each chapter is supposed to feature 10 pages and two cutscenes. (Ideally, Iād also love to add more cutscenes to give extra context between chapters.)
These are already drafted in concept form, and only need the green light.
The prologue was chapter 0, and Odysseus was the first chapter.
Please let me know your thoughts in the commentsāyour feedback will help us decide on the best path forward.
And once again, thank you so much for your continued support.
TL;DR: The Odysseus Chapter is complete thanks to your support, but funding is running out. Each page costs ~ā¬300, plus designs and cutscenes.
Unless we find new ways to sustain it (Ko-fi, chapter-based goals, or higher-tier backers), the project risks stopping mid-story.
Your opinion about SatOH funding
Adding another donation platform (Kofi, DeviantArt, ā¦)
Resetting the funding goal with each new chapter
Relying more on a smaller number of higher-tier supporters (25,50ā¬)
Working with donation goals
Other suggestions (Comment)
Cancel the project
Voting ended onOct 9, 2025
!!Your ideas and feedback are welcome!!
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