Aaaaahhh, that’s my man Mentl there. And my girl Zona. And my dude Vito. And, somehow, my girl Tula. The mix of her features with Vito’s expression is even better than last page. And I love that king Tor, who may have looked like a strong guy with maybe not that much social refinery at some point, closes the page with a brief slice of wit.
Hi kids! There was a delay in updates, and I think you ought to know why.
Didja ever want to know what an actual heart attack feels like? Well, with any luck you never will. I, on the other hand, know exactly what it feels like. It’s not like Aunt May clutching her heart and collapsing. It was more like the worst acid reflux you can think of for about 24 hours straight. Went to the doc, and to make a long story short, anyone can have clogged arteries under the right conditions – even me!
This was about a week and a half ago, and yeah, I spent a couple of miserable nights in hospital where they kindly opened my artery and put a nifty little mesh tube in there to keep it open. Did I ever wish there was some kind of wormhole and Tula could come use Erogenian Magick to heal things quicker. Hospital sucks.
Otherwise, I am fine, and looking forward to eventually splitting logs again and doing other macho stuff around home, just like before. But, as I write this I need lots of rest and can’t lift anything heavier than ten pounds. (That means I have to put my little dog or my cat on the scale before I heft them, just to be sure. )
But I am now well on the mend, and look forward to making regular updates – or even more to make up for the lost time.
Soooo – I know the comic is a bit late, but I have not been idle. Nor has Brian. We are now really, truly and officially out of preproduction. The hernia was to transition all the assets, including out titular heroine, into Unreal Engine 5. It was a seemingly Sisyphean task, involving lots or frustration, hard hard work for my dauntless perfectionist animator and some creative innovations to solve the problems that they can absolutely take complete credit for solving.
We are now in production and animating scenes for the final trailer in UE5. Well, why did we go to UE5 in the first place? If you look at this picture, maybe you’ll understand. It’s representative of what you will be seeing on screen, and this is just one frame. UE will show you 60-120 fps of THIS in real time.
I’m extremely pleased. This is much much more than I thought I wanted. She’s going to live, breathe and act out the story in the world we’ve created.
Naturally, if you want to see more, then go to Patreon.com/ JEDraft
Our ongoing incompatibility issues with the new WordPress are still not worked out, and I am afraid I might have to just redo the whole site again, but until I absolutely have to do that, I have this kludgy workaround.
See at the top menu on the right, “, I have converted the entire history of the web comic into a series of yeary PDF files that any one can download.
It’s not elegant, kind of a brute force workaround, but at least you all now can really start at the beginning and read the whole thing at your leisure.
Many thanks for your patience, and with hopes of a permanent solution in the near future.
In this, the final version we’re doing of this proof-of-concept video, Brian put in more fancy stuff and fixes and attention to wonderful details. Now we dive into production of the actual product, beginning a trailer for the series itself with all the new elements and knowledge we have put together so far.
This is the proof of concept for Zona in action. Brian’s solved a truckload of challenges and details with the hair and cloth simulations, animation and incorporating it all in the impressive realism of Unreal Engine. I put the music in … 🙂
We are moving from California to Connecticut, and we’re driving with the dogs and cat and so for the next couple of weeks the updates are going to be sporadic, and communication with you all might drop out. Never fear, we will return as surely as the sun rises and sets on our VW camper van. Still, I might have a little surprise for you Thursday or Friday. Stay tuned! Warmest regards, -JED
This is the final version of Zona in Unreal Engine before we begin full production on the trailer. Long time coming. Brian’s outdone himself, IMHO.
She breathes, she moves, she inhabits the space. Next update will have her in full-on sword-slinging action. Brian wanted to show her being something other than angry and hulked out, so he imagined her swooning at the sight of Mentl. I said that’s not really how the story goes, but it could be her first sight of Mentl naked, which is, well … long-time Zonaphiles know about Mentl’s Pride.
This is the realization of a dream I’ve had for a very long time, to bring Zona and Mentl fully to life in an animated series telling their story. Romance, violence, adventure and sexy stuff! Thanks to all of you for your support, and especially to all the Patreon Patrons for the generosity that they have shown and continue to show.
We have been at this for a long time now, and using Daz Studio for animation is adequate, but we needed much much more than it could deliver in order to do justice to Zona’s world. So we have ported all the Daz character assets into Unreal Engine, and Brian is finding that this is not only more realistic than we could have realized before in Daz, but also so much faster that he has accomplished more in six weeks than he did in six months before – maybe more. For myself I could not possibly be more pleased. This is a huge game changer!
This little teaser is a taste of what we will be making the series look like. It’s just the prelude to the opening scene where Mentl comes upon the Urtts. In 2021 the real stuff begins.
Until then, judge and compare the previous efforts to what Brian’s doing now.
Enjoy, and don’t forget, the patrons on Patreon.com/jedraft are going to see more sooner and enjoy additional benefits and rewards as well!
NOTE ALL: We recommend that the video be watched in at least 1440 at 60fps for full effect. Auto video quality in Youtube is set to much lower than that due to a decision on behalf of Youtube to decrease playback quality as a response to the increased use of broadband during the current crisis.
There are however, some ways to defeat this, as detailed in the video here:
One of my favorite webcomics is “Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic” (https://www.yafgc.net/). Its creator, Rich Morris is a telented professional who has been creating these delightful fun, engaging and funny long form fantasy comics for years. At long last he’s got himself a Patreon site so that we can give back a little for all the free stuff he’s put out there. My Zonaphiles will recall when he did the portrait of Zona and Mentl, and now as part of my Patreon-age, he’s doing a finished portrait of my choice. And I chose Ipola. The prelim sketches see below.
I cannot urge you strongly enough to support art, and support artists, and support this artist and his art.
4 thoughts on “The Straight Dope – Page 1278”
jd.
Aaaaahhh, that’s my man Mentl there. And my girl Zona. And my dude Vito. And, somehow, my girl Tula. The mix of her features with Vito’s expression is even better than last page. And I love that king Tor, who may have looked like a strong guy with maybe not that much social refinery at some point, closes the page with a brief slice of wit.
Lora
Well, that settles it. Zona, go kick ass! Mentl said so. 😉 And now she can do it without feeling bad about leaving Mentl behind while he heals.
ThoDanll
Is the neck of Tor intentional
jedraft
No.
Fixed
-JED
Latest Comics
#1366. The Straight Dope – Page 1278
0 5897 May 28, 2023
#1365. Weirdness – Page 1277
0 16106 May 18, 2023
#1364. Hold Yer Horses – Page 1276
0 13262 May 10, 2023
#1363. I’m Just Fine – Page 1275
1 3677 Apr 30, 2023
#1362. Something Sneaky – Page 1274
0 8526 Apr 16, 2023
#1361. He Aiten’t Dead – Page 1273
0 7465 Apr 05, 2023
#1360. Your Own Two Feet – Page 1272
0 17765 Mar 24, 2023
#1359. Everything’s Just Fine – Page 1271
1 10424 Mar 17, 2023
#1358. Reason Not The Need – Pg1270
0 7520 Mar 12, 2023
#1357. Big Ideas – Page 1269
1 9096 Mar 07, 2023
Latest Chapters
The Straight Dope – Page 1278
A Minor Inconvenience …
Hi kids! There was a delay in updates, and I think you ought to know why.
Didja ever want to know what an actual heart attack feels like? Well, with any luck you never will. I, on the other hand, know exactly what it feels like. It’s not like Aunt May clutching her heart and collapsing. It was more like the worst acid reflux you can think of for about 24 hours straight. Went to the doc, and to make a long story short, anyone can have clogged arteries under the right conditions – even me!
This was about a week and a half ago, and yeah, I spent a couple of miserable nights in hospital where they kindly opened my artery and put a nifty little mesh tube in there to keep it open. Did I ever wish there was some kind of wormhole and Tula could come use Erogenian Magick to heal things quicker. Hospital sucks.
Otherwise, I am fine, and looking forward to eventually splitting logs again and doing other macho stuff around home, just like before. But, as I write this I need lots of rest and can’t lift anything heavier than ten pounds. (That means I have to put my little dog or my cat on the scale before I heft them, just to be sure. )
But I am now well on the mend, and look forward to making regular updates – or even more to make up for the lost time.
Warmest regards,
JED
Zona in Unreal Engine 5
Soooo – I know the comic is a bit late, but I have not been idle. Nor has Brian. We are now really, truly and officially out of preproduction. The hernia was to transition all the assets, including out titular heroine, into Unreal Engine 5. It was a seemingly Sisyphean task, involving lots or frustration, hard hard work for my dauntless perfectionist animator and some creative innovations to solve the problems that they can absolutely take complete credit for solving.
We are now in production and animating scenes for the final trailer in UE5. Well, why did we go to UE5 in the first place? If you look at this picture, maybe you’ll understand. It’s representative of what you will be seeing on screen, and this is just one frame. UE will show you 60-120 fps of THIS in real time.
I’m extremely pleased. This is much much more than I thought I wanted. She’s going to live, breathe and act out the story in the world we’ve created.
Naturally, if you want to see more, then go to Patreon.com/ JEDraft
Warmest regards,
JED
NEW PDF ARCHIVE
Our ongoing incompatibility issues with the new WordPress are still not worked out, and I am afraid I might have to just redo the whole site again, but until I absolutely have to do that, I have this kludgy workaround.
VDSD – 2021 (barbarianprincess.com)
See at the top menu on the right, “, I have converted the entire history of the web comic into a series of yeary PDF files that any one can download.
It’s not elegant, kind of a brute force workaround, but at least you all now can really start at the beginning and read the whole thing at your leisure.
Many thanks for your patience, and with hopes of a permanent solution in the near future.
Warmest regards,
JED
Zona Animation: Morning Exercises V2
In this, the final version we’re doing of this proof-of-concept video, Brian put in more fancy stuff and fixes and attention to wonderful details. Now we dive into production of the actual product, beginning a trailer for the series itself with all the new elements and knowledge we have put together so far.
Rubbing my hands with glee.
Warm regards,
-JED
Zona Animation: Morning Exercises
This is the proof of concept for Zona in action. Brian’s solved a truckload of challenges and details with the hair and cloth simulations, animation and incorporating it all in the impressive realism of Unreal Engine.
I put the music in … 🙂
We’re On The Road!
We are moving from California to Connecticut, and we’re driving with the dogs and cat and so for the next couple of weeks the updates are going to be sporadic, and communication with you all might drop out. Never fear, we will return as surely as the sun rises and sets on our VW camper van. Still, I might have a little surprise for you Thursday or Friday. Stay tuned!
Warmest regards,
-JED
Animated Zona – Final version for Unreal Engine
This is the final version of Zona in Unreal Engine before we begin full production on the trailer. Long time coming. Brian’s outdone himself, IMHO.
She breathes, she moves, she inhabits the space. Next update will have her in full-on sword-slinging action. Brian wanted to show her being something other than angry and hulked out, so he imagined her swooning at the sight of Mentl. I said that’s not really how the story goes, but it could be her first sight of Mentl naked, which is, well … long-time Zonaphiles know about Mentl’s Pride.
This is the realization of a dream I’ve had for a very long time, to bring Zona and Mentl fully to life in an animated series telling their story. Romance, violence, adventure and sexy stuff! Thanks to all of you for your support, and especially to all the Patreon Patrons for the generosity that they have shown and continue to show.
patreon.com/JEDraft
Warm regards!
-JED
GAME CHANGER: UNREAL ENGINE
Zonaphiles:
We have been at this for a long time now, and using Daz Studio for animation is adequate, but we needed much much more than it could deliver in order to do justice to Zona’s world. So we have ported all the Daz character assets into Unreal Engine, and Brian is finding that this is not only more realistic than we could have realized before in Daz, but also so much faster that he has accomplished more in six weeks than he did in six months before – maybe more. For myself I could not possibly be more pleased. This is a huge game changer!
This little teaser is a taste of what we will be making the series look like. It’s just the prelude to the opening scene where Mentl comes upon the Urtts. In 2021 the real stuff begins.
Until then, judge and compare the previous efforts to what Brian’s doing now.
Enjoy, and don’t forget, the patrons on Patreon.com/jedraft are going to see more sooner and enjoy additional benefits and rewards as well!
NOTE ALL:
We recommend that the video be watched in at least 1440 at 60fps for full effect.
Auto video quality in Youtube is set to much lower than that due to a decision on behalf of Youtube to decrease playback quality as a response to the increased use of broadband during the current crisis.
There are however, some ways to defeat this, as detailed in the video here:
Warmest regards,
JED
R
Happy Holidays – 2020
Best wishes to all of you! Be safe!
We will soon have really exciting news for you, so watch this space!
Warmest regards,
-JED
Rich Morris – YAFGC Patreon
One of my favorite webcomics is “Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic” (https://www.yafgc.net/). Its creator, Rich Morris is a telented professional who has been creating these delightful fun, engaging and funny long form fantasy comics for years. At long last he’s got himself a Patreon site so that we can give back a little for all the free stuff he’s put out there.
My Zonaphiles will recall when he did the portrait of Zona and Mentl, and now as part of my Patreon-age, he’s doing a finished portrait of my choice. And I chose Ipola. The prelim sketches see below.
I cannot urge you strongly enough to support art, and support artists, and support this artist and his art.
https://www.patreon.com/YAFGCRIch/posts
Warmest regards,
JED
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