Category Archives: Meta

META: Site back up

Sorry about that, the site was down all day but should be back up now. Joy. There was some MySQL problem blah blah blah, hopefully the tech guys at UGO can make a change on the back end to make sure it doesn't happen again next time.

META: Open thread

Because I got nothin'. Talk about whatever you like folks, I'm off to an actual real-people, not-online party. Craziness! And yet, apparently this sort of thing is not only legal but encouraged. Strange.

HM3: Sleeve questions

I've been struggling the last couple of days trying to figure out exactly what you guys want when you say I need to work on "sleeves" next. Do you want an entire set of Tops that are the whole shebang -- a vest portion and sleeves, broken out into just the vest; just the upper sleeve; just the lower sleeve; and the whole thing assembled? Or do you literally want an entire set of just sleeves, presumably at some point to be followed by a set of just vests?

If you mean you literally want just sleeves, do you want them broken out into upper and lower sleeves? Each complete shoulder-to-wrist sleeve, then, would actually be SIX items -- upper right only, lower right only, complete right, upper left only, upper right only, complete left.

Or is that too complicated?

META: Movin’ on up

Just a heads-up, I'll be in San Antonio all day helping a buddy move, so if your comments and whatnot take a while to get approved, that's why.

In the meantime, consider this an open thread, talk about whatever you like.

Open help thread

Coming out of the discussion earlier in the week were several requests for a "help" post. So here it is! If you want to know how to do something in HeroMachine, or how to draw something specific by hand (or computer), or you wonder how an effect you've seen in comics somewhere was achieved, leave a comment describing what you want help with and I and the other commenters here will try to give you a hand.

You can also use this space to ask someone about a character they posted. For instance, if you can't figure out how Imp gets those spiffy circle gradients behind his characters, you can ask him in the comments. No guarantees that anyone you ask will either see or respond to your question, of course, but hopefully someone will get you squared away.

I'm honestly not sure how this will work, or if it's even what you were asking for, so by all means feel free to correct me if you were hoping for something else.

I'll also be posting another "Hammerknight Recipe" later in the day, as I figure that fits under the concept of "Helpful Thursdays" too.

See you in comments!

META: Running late

Guys, I've been out of pocket all day, we got a nasty bug here with our dogs and I've been spraying our back yard with ammonia to try and kill it. In 104 degree Texas heat. I'm just blasted, and I still have quite a bit to do. So I will be posting both the results from the last contest and the new one, but not for a couple of hours yet at least. Before midnight, though!

In the meantime, cast your vote for whether you want a caption contest for old times' sake, or a new character design one. If the latter, would you want a "Nineties Image Character" theme (make a character who might have been published enthusiastically by the 1990's era Image line -- thigh pouches, names with "War" or "Blood" get bonus points) or a "Self Portrait" contest where you'd put your HM self portrait up side-by-side with an actual photo of yourself.

I'll count em up when I finally get done with the emergency animal spore patrol and go with that one.

Thanks for your patience! I wish I were more regular about this, too, waiting til this late at night blows.

META: I need your bloggy feedback

What do you like or dislike about the blogging side of HeroMachine.com? Do you have any ideas for a regular feature to replace "Liefeldian Friday"? Are there any other regular features you'd like to see added, or current ones replaced, or changed? Is the posting frequency right, too much, or too little? Do you have any ideas for future contests or poll position questions?

Consider this an open thread to talk about anything you want regarding the HM blog, and to throw out any ideas or suggestions you have pertaining thereto. Thanks for your feedback!

DamienBlog-Hiatus!

Well, I'm afraid to say it, but circumstances in my life are forcing me to go on hiatus for an unknown amount of time. It's a number of things and personal issues that I have to deal with. I'll still be around though, helping Jeff occasionally and answering questions that show up in my old posts, but for now I'm not going to be able to run weekly blogs.

I don't know what Hammerknight has in mind yet, but he's agreed to step in with Hammerknight's Recipes, which so far seem to be geared more towards what people are asking for anyway. So good luck, HK!

For those needing a quick reference on (useful) things I've already written--

Introduction to Human Bodies In HeroMachine 3

Masking Cool Animal Legs and Custom Heraldry on Shields

Queer Eye for the Superhuman Guy! (the weird superhero story)

Studly Male Poses and Looking Different Directions

Alluring Female Poses and Provocative Hair-Masking

The Official Masking Tutorial Work-In-Progress

Yes, "questions" includes requests for step-by-steps, but those take awhile to make, and until my "State of MY Union" post, I wasn't as aware that so many people wanted it broken down like that. I'll do my best to serve!

META: Out of town

I'll be headed out of town around noon today for a family wedding, back again late Sunday night. I've got some random panels and such scheduled for your entertainment and edification, but if I'm slow to respond to stuff that's why. Don't burn the place down while I'm gone.

META: State of my Union? You tell me!

This is Damien, back from my "vacation" at the inlaws, and I decided to ask a very important question.

How am I doing in my job here? I know there are people who like my stuff  and my efforts on Jeff's behalf, to keep comments posting regularly and stuff like that. But what of you nay-sayers? Are there those among you who don't like me, or think I'm a hack writer? Maybe think I'm too pretentious? Obviously those who are ignoring me wouldn't be reading my posts much, so I'll ask right here. Am I doing ok? What needs to change?

(Loyal fans, please let them have their say and not start a flame war, okays?)

Next weekend or before is going to be a special "Females ONLY!" Poses Post, so tune in next time!