Update on Future Pledge Increase (Patreon)

Hey friends and fans, Kairomaru here to make an announcement for the largest group of my Patrons because I always want to be honest and upfront with all of you ahead of any changes to our group that we've made here.

As you all know, there has been a few changes to how Patreon Pledges are processed in the last few months, especially with anyone using an Apple device. While I've held off for quite some time, even as other people told me that maintaining a $1/month Tier simply wasn't smart with how things were changing on the platform, I'm sad to say that the simple fact of the matter is that in the current time, having a $1/month Tier isn't feasible any longer.

So, as much as I wanted to keep the Soldier Tier at only $1/month so that just about anyone could afford it and enjoy my writing, I'm going to have to increase the price of Soldiers soon. This comes from how much money Patreon is taking as Platform Fees and Payment Fees and the fact that Apple with their Appstore price increase that also allows them to not only take 30% off their increased price for themselves but also how they withhold my payments from them for up to 75 days. That's not hyperbole either, a payment through the Appstore is more expensive because Apple says so, they then pocket an extra 30% for themselves, and then (for the Soldier Tier) I have to wait up to TWO AND A HALF MONTHS before I see the change that's left over be available for deposit into my account.

These changes to Patreon (both the Appstore BS and the Fees from the platform) are really starting to make $1/month Tiers more of a loss each month, rather than actually collecting the money that is pledged by my readers, I'm only seeing about 55% of each $1/month Pledge. In the modern day of being a Patreon content creator, more and more of the Pledges are disappearing to Fees and Apple withholdings.

As I still want as many people as possible to be able to read and support my stories, I'm not going to eliminate the Soldier Tier, nor will I increase the price to something that would make it pointless to not just Pledge to the Officer Tier. Starting on May 1st (assuming Patreon makes it easy to update the Pledge amount) Support Soldier Tier will go from $1/month to $2/month in hopes that it'll offset some of these Fees and Appstore withholdings.

Once again, I'm terribly sorry that this has become necessary. I don't think I'm any more deserving of a larger Pledge from anyone and I know some of my Soldiers simply can't Pledge more than they already are. For that you all have my deepest apologies. My Soldiers, my friends, that decide to not renew your Pledges next month, I completely understand, and I want to both thank you and salute you for being on this journey together with all of us for however long you've supported the Dream. Those of you that stay even with the increased price, it means the world to me, and I can't thank you enough for your continued support.

For the Soldiers leaving and the Soldiers staying, SALUTE!!!

Salutes