The next artwork project and some notes on the creative process: (Patreon)

Ok so yesterday I promised you 3 dollar members that you'd find out what the next Artwork project is going to be :)

Based on the previous Poll (Which you lunatics managed to *tie* xD) the two top contenders were Noble Team and Vicky vs Orbital strike from the Battle of Corellia.

Like I said, the results after the three day lockout on voting was a straight tie between those options. Now we could go sudden death and cut out the other two options that would swing the result (unless you guys manage to just straight up 50/50 it) But given that Anti was the one who actually suggested Vicky vs Orbital strike, because she was inspired to do it/wanted to do it I'm gonna be the tie breaker here and decide in her favor, when an Artist wants to do something typically it goes very well :)

So, next artwork is going to be Vicky stopping the orbital bombardment on Corellia :D

After that we'll have another Poll where some of the previous options and some new ones will be available. If you'd all like to leave suggestions on what you'd like to see depicted/what we should vote on, please leave a comment down below :)

Now; lets give you guys some insight on the battle of Illum :D

Now; for those of you who know a bit about military action and tactics; some things might stand out to you in the battle of Illum as wrong/inefficient on *both* sides.

This is true, and its by design.

Someone I'm consulting with who is ex military and is reading the fic has coined it; stating that "The Republic and CIS militaries in the Clone Wars series feel mostly like a Peacekeeping force that's suddenly been thrust into a wholly different theater and scale to what they're used to.

And I agree.

I wanted to depict that as best I could in the battle of Illum, which, for all intents and purposes is the first *real* pitched battle we see between the GAR and the CIS in this fic just six months into the war.

I wanted to convey that these militaries are very much two amateur fighters squaring up and making *a lot* of dumb mistakes. 

For example on the CIS side; There's very little combined arms tactics or at least its extremely limited. The infantry attacks without artillery, the artillery isn't screened by heavy armor, the heavy armor isn't supported by infantry the air superiority is being squandered by not using simultaneous assaults etc etc.

And on the GAR side of things, we see that mostly; the GAR is genuinely "Brute Forcing" victory through the sheer Power of their "champions" and the inherent superiority of clones to cheap B-1 droids.

Granted this is a relatively "static" defensive strategy that they're employing to spring this trap on the fleet, but even so when Anakin first proposed his "sally out and attack using the blizzard as cover" the Clones immediate knee jerk reaction was "Sir this isn't our job." 

And these mistakes aren't limited to just clones or the Orthodox Jedi even Taylor and Victoria are making mistakes. They're not in the same vein; but they are mistakes regardless. When Vicky saw the approaching droid air force her immediate instinct was to lead a full on counter charge rather than pull back, and taking up consolidated defensive positions. Because she, like Anakin isn't used to or comfortable playing defense. She, to a degree, bought into her own hype and Yolo'ed into an attack that was never going to be won easilly if at all and because she didn't pull back to strengthen defenses, an infiltrator unit slipped right past her and is now loose inside the temple, potentially compromising everyone's safety.

Taylor's desperation to get off that defensive line and go help her friends and her lover is making her reckless, and even though the assassination attempt on her failed, Pors could see *instantly* that the second she found out her kids were in danger, that she was going to leave that line to defend itself and rush back to help her kids, which is why he ordered an immediate attack on that line to take advantage.

These two armies and the commanders of those armies are still in "amateur hour". And this is a choice by me to a large degree, given that I am NOT writing the 500+ battles of the Clone Wars and I'm limiting myself to three major battles (Illum is the first) one thing I'm looking forward to is to compare and contrast THIS "early" GAR/commanders vs a future GAR we'll see a bit further down the line when we reach those next two battles, and we'll see if I can properly depict growth and professionalism both in the clones, our protagonists, the jedi and even the CIS command structure.

Here's hoping I can do it and I'm not just talking out my ass xD

Anywho, that's all for today's update on the art and the creative process/thinking for the battle of Illum :)

(Also, if anyone knows a decent mapmaking tool or would be willing to volunteer as a map maker for future battles pls let me know, the maps of Illum were a very good proof of concept :D)