Situation Abnormal (Patreon)

Given my regular predilection for introspective musing, here's one to tide you fine people over for a little while.

Sorry for my ongoing videotronic absence of late. Everything's fine.

What we have here is the collision of multiple forces, all of which have converged on my ability to A: have stellar ideas (or at least, ideas I think are stellar) B: merrily trot out new videos at a rate that anyone could deem satisfactory and C: escape from a motivational rut into which I have worked myself.

The forces in question are:

- the weather (heat in the bunker makes recording extra taxing)

- the death of my statistical spreadsheet (a lack of tracking progress has led to my foot leaving the gas pedal)

and the big one, 

- work.

A good community manager lives and breathes the job. There is no downtime, it preys on your mind constantly to stay on top of the situation. When I originally took on the extra responsibility for my nice, straightforward, low-drag job for Dovetail Games I figured "it'll be fine, I'm really good at this stuff" while entirely forgetting that when I Go Community I let it consume me. Those who know Trainboy will know he's a part of both the fine community of Fail Brigade and that which is heavily engaged with train simulation. On my first (for work) stream after accepting the larger role he asked "How do you think this will impact your videomaking?" I brushed it off, because I'm an overconfident so-and-so.

The more accurate answer would have been "badly."

Community managers burn out. Usually within 3-4 years if the community is fairly combative, but there are some that break past the burnout point and become more immune to barbed comments, unreasonable behaviour and people who you know really don't like you, but you have to paint on the appropriate face while delivering news they won't like. These community managers are Spartans. They've seen it all, and can flip a switch that makes them immediately professional without taking it personally (you always take it personally).

I retired from managing communities for a living because I found something I enjoyed more - building and managing my own community. I've seen a few comments in the past 6 years that I've been doing this along the lines of "how do you find the time?" when it comes to my various video and associated community antics. The answer to that is you let it consume you.

Frankly, you love it. It's the first thing you check in the morning, last thing you do before switching off the light. It's massively fulfilling, and gives back what you put into it. Yes, it's an addiction, but a very positive one and once you manage to find a home for it within all those other things you do, it's nothing but healthy. Those of you who've been around for a while will know there was a period where Herself was less than enthralled with the amount of time I was investing, so balance was worked out, and all was right in the world. She is the one who now prods me to Get Back To Work, and I'm really close to doing so.

The game I'm working on launches next week - yes, I'll make my own video on the topic (I've a great idea for a video). I also have a live stream plan I'm working on - although I'll need collaborators (if you have any experience in level editing in Far Cry, please get in touch!) - and it could be an absolute riot to take part in. I'm recording with Steggs this week. I've got my new high-concept series "Shady Palms" about ready to start recording, I know what I'm doing with Transport Fever 2's next series that is both let's play and standalone at the same time. I just need a little more time to get there.

Your support is massively appreciated. Massively. At the moment, so is your patience (although let's be honest, I often require the forebearance of any wandering viewers.)

So, here's my to-do list. The Battle Plan Battle Plan:

1 - create a second channel for backer-only and Wisio low viewer videos. There's no proof that having video 1 do 2,500 views, then video 2 doing 5 views is harming YT's promotion of my public fare, but if it were going to do anything at all it'd be negative.

2 - get tracks and beats done!

3 - end the sponsorship of the outro and save it for special occasions. I'll fulfill all requests I've received, it'll just take until the end of next week to clear them. Great fun, but I think they might be a detractor.

4 - Rimworld! I've got an episode just needs editing. I'll do it tomorrow. I also need to kick out a swift Soviet Republic or 6 and I'll stream it this Saturday to help the series along. 

5 - New game! A three and done is sat in my inbox, let's do it!

6 - Record your damn merch advert. I've got a great concept, just need to execute. This isn't because I think it'll sell stacks of new merch (it might) but it'll be fun to do.

7 - Do your product review video! I've had a "review this thing" box sat behind me for over a month. Again, I took it on as I thought it'd be funny.

Yeah, that should do the trick.

All being well, I'll be stepping back from my all-encompassing role at Dovetail within the next month, at which point I can pick the pace back up again.

As I opened with, everything's fine. I just felt that an explanation was warranted.

Right.

Good.

That is all. Expect a proper Battle Plan on Tuesday. I've let that slide too, not good enough.

-CF

*smileyface*