IMPORTANT - Content distribution rework + Patreon changes on subscription billing (Patreon)

Hello there everyone! I wanted to take a moment to follow up and explain my plans for changes coming to my patreon beginning next month.Moving finished art to MEGAI'll keep the explanation as to why short and sweet: For security reasons, finished illustrations (the usually 3 pics I determine and draw throughout the month and the monthly poll winner) will no longer be posted to patreon itself. I will instead be uploading them (and their corresponding clip files) to a dedicated MEGA drive folder."How do I see the art?"Beginning next month, you will be sent a password key for the mega drive folder via patreon messages (please make sure you look for it there). The folder will contain the currently still exclusive images/files all sorted by month. You do not need to download the files to view them if you don't want to. It functions very similarly to a google drive, but more secure. This basically only adds a couple more clicks to view finished art.A link to this folder will be sent alongside the password at the start of each month, and the link will be resent underneath any of the image posts on Patreon itself as art is finished. The link underneath the posts will be valid for the month the art is posted.IMPORTANT: The link and password are planned to be rotated every month. A new password and link will be distributed via patreon message at the start of each new month.Once an image has finished it's 6 month exclusivity run, the post on Patreon itself will be updated to have the actual image/file directly on Patreon.Alternative methodCurrently, Patreon finished images have been posted on my discord server in a dedicated, patron-only archive. Starting in November, this channel will become exclusive to gold tier members. I am trying to make things as convenient as possible, but still want to maintain some security, as such, this note is subject to change, and this channel may change/be removed in the future.If you do not already have your patreon linked to Discord, linking it will automatically have you join my server, where you will be assigned corresponding roles for your tier.To wrap things upI know this isn't ideal for some, and adds an additional layer of inconvenience, but I consider the added security to be very important as I continue to run this business. I sincerely thank you for your understanding and am happy to answer any and all questions you may have.While we're hereWhile I consider this less important, it's also a good time to mention some changes for Patreon itself and how they're adjusting billing: Beginning next month, new patrons will be charged the day they join each month instead of the 1st. It's important to note: if you are currently pledged, your billing date will remain the 1st, this only affects anyone newly joining, or cancelling and re-joining. This generally doesn't affect me except for sketch requests. I have traditionally closed the form on the 22nd, and will be continuing to do so. To break down how this may happen to affect new gold/silver tier patrons- The form will close on the 22nd as usual, and remain closed for the rest of that current month

- If your pledge billing date is after the form has closed, your sketch request will be distributed the following month, where you will fill out the form when it re-opens on the 1st at 12pm est.Again, this won't currently affect any patrons now, but I figured it was important to write out somewhere. And again, do reach out with any questions. Thank you all so much for your time.