Vision Riders Entertainment Blog - Swordmaster Odyssey

Alas, Poor Update, I Knew You Well

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:59:15 -0700

My rich younger brother bought a new Intuos for reasons I do not comprehend and gave me his old one. This is nice and all, but having used my tiny 6x4 Graphire. Problem is, thanks to the size change, my work flow has been completely thrown off. It's hard to explain, but basically I can't judge the distance between objects on screen anymore. I'll be looking at something, but I can't tell how far or at what angle I need to move the pen in order to undertake what I'm trying to do.

Finally, I gave up for the time being and thought "Well, maybe I can plug my Graphire back in so I can finish off today's page?" I tried this, and all I managed to do was crash my computer. :/

Guess I'll just have to keep practicing with the Intuos so I can get the page up next week.

An Apology

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:28:42 -0700

I'm so sorry! I keep promising things that I am unable to deliver on. I said I would have some Adventurer's Guide entries up by now, but so far I haven't even gotten around to drafting them. I'm such a horrible person!

For the past week or two I've been storming through the second draft of Under a Different Moon, that is, Iccari's story. You may remember Iccari from some of the many Sketchbook Monday entries in which he has appeared. It is rare for me to keep up such an extended session of creativity and, as I near the end of the second draft, I fear it will go out again before I finish. Please understand my predicament. I still plan on getting a page up this week, but if it doesn't happen, at least it won't be due to my own laziness for a change.

Thank you for your understanding (or your lack thereof as the case may be). I really am sorry.

In the meantime, how about taking a minute to vote in the annual character poll?

Wherein Life Conspires Against Me

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:20:29 -0700

A continuation of last week's problems, along with a small horde of new ones, means that once again there will be no update. Bah! What a lousy relaunch, eh? I'll try and get some Adventurer's Guide stuff up later today or early next week. Hardly makes up for it, I know, but it's better than nil.

When they say "Life is unfair" it should be followed by a rimshot.

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:42:55 -0700

Today is shaping up to be a horrible day, topping off an equally horrible week. Alas, I haven't even finished today's page! Far from it, in fact, as it sits in the corner sketched and still waiting to be inked. However, you must forgive me, for I have more important things to attend to at the moment. The toilet has just backed up, you see, and that is only the latest in a series of downers.

The Gears Grind to Live Once Again

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:58:42 -0700

Finished inking this week's page.

The Blog Smells Funny

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 10:25:29 -0700

Q: Is Swordmaster Odyssey dead?

Heavens no! It will probably be a few more weeks before I get back to it, though. Right now my focus is on getting the initial in-game art for AetherFall together, which is no small feat. Once I get a hold on the style I want, and get into the groove of producing it, things should lighten up quite a bit on that end.

Q: Is Sketchbook Monday dead?

No, I just keep putting it off.

Q: Is My Brother dead?

No, my brother is still alive and well ~~unfortunately~~, and so is My Brother. However, there likely won't be any work on it until next year. The project has not been canceled, just delayed in favor of AetherFall.

Q: Is Procyon dead.

Yes. As explained before, the project was axed due to major story problems, made even worse by a horde of technical problems.

Hiatus

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:45:00 -0700

I hate to announce this, but Swordmaster Odyssey will be going on an indefinite hiatus until further notice. There may be some sporatic updates here and there, but I don't see the comic gaining any kind of stability in the near future.

Sorry everyone.

No Page This Week

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:18:21 -0700

Sorry, but there likely will not be an SMOdyssey update this week due to the nature of various things I need to get done. (Ooo... Vague...)

Wherein Dale Belittles Himself

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:16:44 -0700

Swordmaster Odyssey has certainly been a learning experience for me. I tend to wing it when it comes to stories, starting with a general idea of where I want things to go and then coming up with the actual story as I work. SMOdyssey is lucky in this regard in that when I started, I actually knew how it was going to end. However, as time has passed and I've actually finished things I've started (or gotten close to as much), I've begun to rethink a lot of my writing techniques, and my shoot-from-the-hip approach is no different.

When I started inking SMOdyssey, I had a basic summary of the first seven chapters lying around somewhere (which became the first five chapters since some events were longer or shorter in practice than anticipated) and little else. I'd just storyboard about five to fifteen pages ahead and go for it. In the end, though, this has resulted in a narrative that just isn't as tight as I wish it were. So, as of late, I've really started getting in the habit of doing full outlines for things. Not the scattered, disheveled notes a lot of people use, but a very clear and well-arranged summary breaking down major events and assigning them to chapters or whatnot.

To this end, today I sat down and began something I should have done two years ago: plan out the entire story, beginning middle and end. Granted, things can change as I go, but I'm tired of loose story threads getting lost in the shuffle, and the pacing not always panning out as well as it should in hindsight. Hopefully, this should prove for a better over-arching story when everything's finished because I can stand back and see where everything should go and get a glimpse of whether or not it'll end up reading like I want it to.

As for Sketchbook Monday, sorry about that, but I've missed it again. I spent all week writing a book and didn't get around to drawing anything. I'm back to work this week, though, so there'll be no excuses next week! (I hope.)

Correction

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:42:27 -0700

It says more articles this week, but I'm opting to enjoy my vacation instead.

Sorry.

In any case, my vacation ends on Monday when I have to get caught up on everything again. Bah—I was just getting comfortable with not having to work all week.

Second Annual Character Poll Results

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:01:01 -0700

It's a bit discouraging to me, but here's the results for this year:

Dale Johnson (!?!?) - 1 vote
Pyr - 1 vote
Erith - 2 votes
Kevin - 2 votes
Hayden - 3 votes
Silver - 3 votes
Jessie - 3 votes

So there you have it, a three way tie for first place. There were only thirteen votes this year, which is nearly half what there was last year. C'mon, people, if you want multiple pages per week again, you're going to have to show some more enthusiasm.

Hopefully This Doesn't Become a Habit...

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:16:24 -0700

This week's Swordmaster Odyssey update will be late on the account that I animated only half of a scene of My Brother yesterday and scanned it, forgetting that I can't scan anything else until I've scanned the whole scene (or else the animation frames won't line up right). Stupid me! I'm trying to finish clean up animation on these last frames so I can scan them and then finish up today's page.

I Blame the Turkey

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:41:03 -0700

There will be an update today, but since it's the day after Thanksgiving here in the US, I can't say I'm in any hurry to complete it. It'll probably be up late today.

A Late Update? What Does That Even Mean?

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:24:53 -0700

Today's SMOdyssey update will be late because it's not finished yet. I had to drive across town yesterday because the pen I needed was out-of-stock here. -_-

Today's page should be up by this afternoon sometime.

The Car Went "Click-Click-Click-Click-Click"

nospam@example.com (Dale Johnson) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:31:09 -0700

Due to last minute story problems (and serious car troubles), I still have to pencil and ink a few of the panels on today's page. It'll still get done, but it will likely be done late. And by "late", I just mean "much later than usual". :/