Blog of Last Resort

The Blog has Moved!

2009-01-27T11:01:00.003-05:00

I've moved lastres0rt.com over to wordpress, and so the blog is going with it! You should notice the RSS feeds being redirected over to there (if you've been going through feedburner, at least) as the blog and comic are unified under one feed.

I've included a handy side-by-side of the old design and the new one, and in addition to the new backend, I've made several alterations to the overall look and feel of Last Res0rt in order to make it more accessible to new and old readers alike, as well as make it easier than ever to leave feedback and make Last Res0rt even better than before. (As a bonus, it makes it easier than ever for me to adjust and add new content to the site!)

Thanks for reading the blog; I hope the new changes suit you all. :)

#118! (and a few other details...)

2009-01-24T23:34:00.004-05:00

We've got some big surprises planned this next week... you'll just have to wait to see them all, of course.

For those debating whether or not to get the $15 conbadges I started offering last week, you'll be glad to know that I should be at MomoCon as well as FWA, so if you're in the Atlanta area and too cheap to pay for an admission fee to FWA (or you'd just rather go to an anime con than a furry con), you can still get your fix and enjoy picking them up there.

As far as the rest goes... you'll see. You won't be able not to. ;)

#117, Furry Weekend Atlanta, And Free Shipping on Conbadges!

2009-01-17T23:12:00.004-05:00

In no particular order:

#117 is up!
I'm pausing the "bonus updates" now that I've paid off the remaining ones, since I've been hovering at about three weeks of buffer (and so any more bonuses are likely to wipe them out entirely). Besides that, my upcoming convention appearance at Furry Weekend Atlanta means I need the extra time (HA!) to work on making nice shiny things for the southerners.
This said, I'm including more wallpapers now as donation incentives... including this week's top panel of the arena, sans text so you can enjoy the pretty glowy cameras and the whole "I can draw in perspective!" aspect of it.
I'm also offering a little special something for anyone looking for a conbadge and wanting to save some coin in the process... to help cover my FWA expenses before I get there (things are much more fun when you've already broken even), I'm offering more $15 conbadges, with free shipping! The idea is that you'll either see me and pick it up at FWA, hence no need for the post office, or you won't mind that I'm holding onto it through FWA (March 20-22, 2009) in order to show off my talents and convince more people to buy badges, in which case giving you a break on the shipping's the least I could do. The offer's open until I decide I can't take any more badges. Email me or DM me on Twitter @lastres0rt to request one, and I'll walk you through the rest from there.

The forums, as always, await you. See y'all next week!

#116!

2009-01-10T23:20:00.002-05:00

Place your bets, folks! ;)

Another week of being quiet on the front, but that should change in short order. Lots of things being due all at once makes for a busy me.

The forums are always there for you though.

See you next week!

#115!

2009-01-03T19:23:00.002-05:00

Because sooner or later, Kernkraft 400 just gets old.

Not much to say in regards to this page, except that if you like it, head on over to the forums. :)

Take care!

#114, and the 2009 Last Resort Preview!

2008-12-30T20:13:00.008-05:00

Happy (almost) New Year! Here's something to make light conversation over while you're out at whatever party you've got planned.

Speaking of conversation, let's give you a taste of what the future of Last Resort in 2009 holds in store!

The First Volume of Last Resort?

We've hit over 100 pages of comic (not including any potential bonus material!) already, so odds are good once this current episode finishes, I'm calling it a book! Of course, this depends on more things than you'd think (For starters, actually finishing the episode within the next year), on top of the efforts it'll take to actually assemble the book, so it's not a done deal yet.

More Convention Work (Hopefully!)

Well, I managed to work a few conventions in 2008, but they were all fairly localized affairs... which may not change in 2009, but given the hit-and-miss nature of the earlier appearances, the more I get out there the better they're bound to get!

And hey, doing more official artwork for conventions like I did for PhreakNIC isn't out of the question either.

New LR Merchandise!

These're still in beta, but hey, that doesn't mean I can't show them off:
In case you've not seen them before, they're window sitters, designed for MaCoPiX (Good for Windows, Mac, and Linux!) -- More details will be available whenever they're actually available, but they're cute, tiny, unobtrusive, and the closest you'll get to seeing these characters come to life for a while, I imagine.

Finishing Up The Cast Profiles!

... Or at least getting all 16 players' profiles up there.

This isn't as big a list as the 2008 version, sure, but these are some solid steps to be taking in the new year regardless... and they're not easy ones either!

See you next time!

#113, and a Bonus Update On the Way!

2008-12-27T22:22:00.003-05:00

Because we all know exposition is the best gift of all.

Don't worry, part 2 of this revelation is coming as a bonus update Wednesday (I've actually owed this one for a little while, but waited until I had my ducks back in a row...), so either check back then or make sure you're subscribed to either the blog feed or the comic feed. Either works.

And coming up soon along with that bonus update, since it'll be on New Year's Eve and all, will be my predictions for 2009. Most of the resolutions for 2008 happened, so if you've got any ideas for things I need to keep doing, need to change, or really just need to get freaking done, a comment in the blog (or some other way to get my ear) would be a good idea. I'll have some ideas regardless, but there's no reason NOT to ask...

#112!

2008-12-20T23:32:00.004-05:00

Of note: Thanks to a few mishaps in pacing and buffer-handling, this is the first comic I've done since IsItFunnyToday hit the webcomics scene. So please, for the good of the comic, head on over there and give some feedback. I don't necessarily care if you vote it up or down, even; consider it an experiment on my part if nothing else.

After all, I'll try anything once, and that includes being funny.

See y'all next week!

#111!

2008-12-13T20:20:00.004-05:00

This week's comic is up a little early (not that you mind).

Between finals, graduation, and other things (hooray DIY laptop repairs!), today has been a very busy day, and a pretty busy week too. And lots of things to continue to be busy about and with in the near future.

But for now... sleep. I'd say I've earned it.

See you next week!

#110, Plus Some Reminders

2008-12-06T22:42:00.003-05:00

This year's "Golden Bladder 2008" award goes to...

For those just here for the weekly update, let's recap!

Last Resort's been featured in a magazine now! W00T! Seriously, it's the cover story. Check it out.
Those Badge Auctions are still going on until Tuesday, and spaces are still available. Worth note, I'll need to go into overdrive on pages once I've got my diploma, so if you're at all anxious for your badge, go bid on the dedicated auction.

As always, don't forget to go say something in the forums, and we'll see you next week!

Another Last Resort Interview... in an actual NEWSPAPER?!

2008-12-04T14:46:00.004-05:00

Two months of keeping my mouth shut on this story is totally worth getting bragging rights on the cover.

The actual story (FUR-ther) only has a fraction of the interview I actually did for the paper, but I'm still thrilled to see it's finally gone to print. Go ahead and read the story for yourself; there's quite a few folks interviewed for this one, so you'll have to scroll down a bit to find my part.

In the meantime, I'm one step closer to a Wikipedia article. ;)

Just as a reminder for folks who haven't seen my earlier post or are just coming in from the paper, I still have auctions running for conbadge commissions through this week... the Dutch auction still has a few slots open, which means it's still quite possible to get your hands on some original work for downright cheap and not much effort.

And if you've come here after reading the article... leave a comment and say hi, will you?

Want a Commission? Auctions Are Running All Week!

2008-11-30T18:29:00.005-05:00

CONVENTION GOERS: Get a Custom Badge that Stands Out from the Crowd!

In accordance with Seth's Holiday Shopping Guide, I'm offering you the ability to buy something handmade from someone you (hopefully) like.

This isn't limited to furries; If you've got a character on World of Warcraft, Gaia Online, Second Life, or another avatar-based system, I can draw those too! (I can do caricatures too -- so if you're really stumped for a character, I can just work off of a picture of yourself!)

Lock in a Badge with the Dutch Auction!

There are three badges available for you in the Dutch Auction -- that means up to three people can bid the same amount and secure their orders! If you're not picky about when you receive your badge or if you just want to make sure you win a badge, period, here's your best bet.

Guarantee Your Badge will be finished by December 25th with the Dedicated Auction!

If you're time-sensitive and want the badge in time to gift it for the holidays and/or before you go to that big convention, You'll want the Dedicated Badge Auction where I'm offering a single badge that will be my first priority once the auctions finish and I know who the winner is.

Both auctions will be running through to next week, so I have half a chance of getting the Dedicated Auction finished in time. Check them out and bid today!

#109 Posted, and Conbadge Auction Coming up This Week!

2008-11-29T22:18:00.004-05:00

Say Hello Once Again to Your Weekly Dose of Last Resort!

Finally, some brighter colors and a little entertainment.

As always, the forums are wide open for you, so if you like it, go over there, speak up and say something about the newest comic.

And Now for Something Completely Different.

Two things have become increasingly obvious, or at least hard to ignore:

If people are buying things, it's going to be right now (i.e. the "Holiday Rush").
My laptop's screen just died. Well, the backlight did, anyway, but from the looks of things I need to buy a new screen for it.

The solution seems rather obvious, and since I don't feel like asking you all for more donations while my buffer is where it is, I'm offering the next best thing: Commissions!

Sometime Sunday afternoon (Nov. 30), I'll post the link to the auction(s). If you're one of the dedicated ones who check the comic early Sunday morning, you're getting a little advance notice so you can keep your eyes out for when it shows up (or at least pester someone into trying to get it for you as a gift). Details will follow, but just so you have some idea what's coming up:

I'm offering full-body (albeit chibi-sized) commissions
They'll double as conbadges
You'll be able to guarantee completion by December 25th! (Delivery is another issue, but hey, that's the internet for ya.)

Stay tuned; if you're not subscribed to the blog's RSS feed already, now's a great time to subscribe and make sure you don't miss this offer.

EXCLUSIVE: Last Resort Interview over at Palace In The Sky!

2008-11-27T19:05:00.003-05:00

Looks like there's something more to be thankful for.

You might remember me mentioning Palace In the Sky when I joined with them a few weeks ago, but now there's a whole new reason to talk about them; There's an exclusive interview up there about Last Resort that you're sure to enjoy!

If you've not seen it already (and statistics show that's pretty unlikely), head on over and give it a read. It's good stuff.

#108!

2008-11-22T22:09:00.005-05:00

The buffer is getting smaller, but the comics just keep getting better.

More to come next week!

Showing off More Random Artwork...

2008-11-17T15:26:00.000-05:00

Just because showing you guys awesome artwork is half the reason for this blog being here.

I decided to catch up on a few of the commissions I've been accepting -- this one's of Bacent the Blue Tiger. Expect more to show up within the next few weeks.

#107!

2008-11-15T23:06:00.002-05:00

Not even a power outage will stop me from updating... well, not this time anyway.

Don't forget to stop by the forums with your opinion, and I'll be back next week with more goodness!

What Everybody Ought to Know About Comic Buffers

2008-11-13T13:01:00.002-05:00

I should really know better than to respond to anything written by Scott Kurtz.

For those who actually care about what the rest of the webcomic blogs (all four of them) are saying, Kurtz has a diatribe that doesn't really get to the heart of why cartoonists need buffers. Or rather, he talks about it but glosses over the reasons why, boiling them down to "Other people will think less of me".

I'll be the first to admit, having a buffer quickly becomes the best and the worst thing about your comic if you're not careful. It's good to have because it means you can relax and not have to worry about deadlines past a certain point. It's bad because if something about the comic ever gets received poorly, you're at a loss to do anything about it until your buffer runs out (especially if your plot continues on this hated portion for the next few strips)!

My main list of reasons for a buffer?

Having a professional comic means I respect deadlines -- because I've already told my readers to come check for the comic then.
Maintaining a constantly increasing archive / buffer makes the comic appear more "stable" and healthy.
Working on the buffer NOW means I'm not working on it during the school year -- or at least not as hard as I would over the summer.
I worry less about deadlines -- I have a hard enough time remembering what day to update the comic just to do the minor task of uploading it to the site, let alone if I had to work the week before to finish a comic in time!
Even if vacations are working vacations, I can relax on the weekends -- which are when I'd have to be working like mad to get the next comic ready for an update if I didn't work at least that far in advance!
Knowing what happens in future comics (and not just what I think will happen) gives me a sense of security -- because I'm following and reading along with my comic the same as everyone else, with the exception that I'm expected to figure out what happens next based off of these strips.
Maintaining a buffer and reducing the stress to pop out a comic rapidly gives me more opportunity to experiment with new ideas -- not just for saleable materials but also for advertising and general growth of the comic.

If you're comparing my list to Kurtz's, you'll notice that only the first two are "worrying about what other people think" -- and it's not even thinking about Joe Random, but about the perception of the comic as a whole. The rest are either somewhat selfish (work now to goof off later), or otherwise useful to the growth of the comic. Even if I sacrifice being able to react immediately to problems within the comic, I make up for it by having more time to tinker to be able to respond to those problems properly.

I'm not saying Kurtz's list is "bad" or even ill-informed, but he's working from the perspective of a mature comic -- PvP isn't struggling for acceptance and awareness now, except against those who don't read comics. He doesn't have to work at advertising his comic to say that it's different from other comics, or struggle for legitimacy, or even deal with the fact that his comic appeals to a certain audience like it was somehow a bad thing. He has a whole different set of problems to worry about, not the least of which is that the time he could spend on advertising PvP is having to be spent just advertising webcomics in general because being a big fish in a small pond does you no good if the entire pond exists inside of a water cooler.

Penny Arcade can't afford a large buffer because they're building off of pop culture, but there's no reason they can't build up a few PA-oriented strips that they can intersperse with the gaming-focused comics so at least they have something to throw on the fire when the news is slow or that next idea just isn't coming. If your comic isn't oriented on popular culture at all, there's little reason to NOT build up a buffer. In my case, having an insane buffer makes sense, especially while I'm still in school (I'm currently freaking out right now because I'm still two strips shy of having enough for the semester!), and because I want to be able to produce more pages for the comic -- having a buffer allows me to do that without having to stress over deadlines, at least!

You're going to have your own reasons for keeping a buffer, depending on what kind of comic you're doing, how much effort it takes you, and what length of a buffer you feel comfortable with. Regardless of which path you go, keeping at least "the next update" in your buffer is just good sense; if nothing else, it's insurance.

#106!

2008-11-08T21:46:00.002-05:00

If you don't groan at this week's page, you need to press this button.

Not much to say for now (besides hello to the folks at Startup Weekend Atlanta -- hi!), so I'll see you folks next week!

Last Res0rt at the Webcomics Collage!

2008-11-03T14:35:00.004-05:00

Let's try something interesting.

Last Res0rt has just attached itself to the WebComics Collage; if you've got a comic, give the man a 40x40 PNG, JPG, or GIF (non-animated), and you get included on the page ~~for a year~~, free. He DOES want money after that point... but for a year you can sign up free for now, see how a year on the collage impacts whatever site analytics you use, and decide later if it's worth it. ($3/year should be plenty cheap if it's successful!) EDIT: It's free for all time now! No pressure!

So go ahead; sign up soon and you'll get in on one of the first few rows, which I suspect will be valuable space if this takes off.

#105 Up!

2008-11-01T22:47:00.005-04:00

And it appears we are back on schedule. No convention booths shoved in the back corner, no food poisoning, no intermittent internet that only lets me post all but the punchline of a comic page...

... please, nobody jinx me.

Don't forget to sound off in the forums, and we'll be back next week with more! :)

Finally, back from PhreakNIC! (Also, the complete #104...)

2008-10-26T20:25:00.003-04:00

Just in case nobody believed me when I said I did the shirts. :-p

Apologies for the "incompleteness" of #104... apparently the internet connection at the convention, in addition to being a source of much pwnage, was going down more than a... well, let's just say I'm happy the amount that DID get through included enough content that you were still able to enjoy it. Either way, I've fixed it and provided an intact version of #104.

(I'm also going to have to remind myself that no matter how urban the location, how connected to the internet I am, or how smart the hackers I'm with are, to either upload the page BEFORE leaving town or else finally figure out how to automate updates. It ain't worth the headache otherwise.)

As always, if you love what you see, go ahead and leave a comment on the forums or right here.

Convention Alert: PhreakNIC is October 24-25!

2008-10-22T13:54:00.000-04:00

There's one more convention to hit for this year: PhreakNIC's up in Nashville this weekend, and things are... a little different this time around.

Namely, guess whose art made the convention shirts?

Sorry I couldn't tell you folks sooner (well, unless you already caught wind of it on Twitter or otherwise), but it'll be hard to keep under wraps after this weekend for obvious reasons. I expect things to be low-key (since it's a small convention), but safe to say I'm thrilled.

... And yes, there shouldn't be any delays in the comic as a result. It's a hacker convention after all; I'll find an internet connection somewhere, I'm sure.

#103, where we separate the women from the... um...

2008-10-18T22:53:00.003-04:00

Stomachaches suck. Fortunately I don't sick easily.

She looks like she's about to lose her lunch though. Among other things.

Just a quick update, so you all can head onto the forums without further delay. Also, hello to all the new folks visiting this from BarCamp Atlanta -- all three of you! :-p

#102 is on the loose!

2008-10-11T18:17:00.003-04:00

As time goes by, it becomes more obvious that the strips aren't getting done any faster so much as it is the art's improving and expanding to take up whatever time saved.

That or I spend more time than is healthy talking to certain folks about the pages I'm currently working on instead of just doing said pages. One or the other.

Anyway, we've got a new page up; tonight's is up a little early since I'm hanging out with the fellow behind Pearls of Mer, and then it's back to the drawing board to get caught back up.

See you folks next week!