Comments like these make tim think he should lock Starcaster, a series I enjoy almost equally to the DND and A&D, behind a paywall. I understand you might only come here to read one series and that’s fine but we don’t need to hear about it, and frankly neither does the web author.
Tim has the stats – such runs does reflect lower web traffic. Whether you like it or not this is not as popular as others.
I’m saying this as someone that actually like Starcasters better than analog + d pad.
I get why you’re upset that Tim might want to put it behind paywall but now gate keeping other people’s opinion is just next level bullshit from you. This comment section doesn’t belong to you.
Starcaster doesn’t necessarily draw lower traffic, but there can be lower engagement because a lot of the people most invested in the story have already read these issues a year prior. So these six weeks of updates here are basically reruns for them. Also, Starcaster patrons get a steady drip of pages, keeping the story fresh in their mind, whereas the website waits six months between issues, so when one drops there’s a period of “where were we again?” for many people that probably contributes to a slower ramp-up of engagement (less discussion at the start of an issue compared… Read more »
Nope! I happily read whatever he posts. All of his comics are well written and drawn. One of the only webcomics I still read actually, as all the others have moved on or met natural deaths.
Benjamin
1 day ago
I have no clue about time in this universe, but it sounds way out of his life expectancy.
Guess that depends on how ‘extreme’ the healing is. I mean, you age out of your physical prime and into ‘old age’ because your cells are replicating and eventually the original dna that guides what the new cell is supposed to be and do break down more and more over all the replications. If the healing is just providing energy to speed up the cells replicating themselves and heal, then if anything he’s functionally aging faster with injuries. I mean, it’d take a lot to be meaningful but he’ll… probably heal that much. On the other hand if the healing… Read more »
Hoenstly, I think firmly on the science end, it is not so far advanced as to think it is magic. We already as a species know how to undo the DNA strand shortening, telemorase. what we don’t know how to do is to do that without giving us cancer. One of the first mutations needed for cancer to be more then a short term annoyance, is reactivating telemorase. So just giving that to a human body, makes the cells younger again, but any proto-cancers become full cancers instantly. so if you combine it with a type of healing that can… Read more »
I’ve been working up some sort of theory here. Cort, Nayra, Speck, have been using normal periods of time most of the comic. Days, months, years, etc. This new unit of time, however, is something that we only started seeing when we were hip-deep in the Federation. Rather than assume this was a mid-series shift, I’m going to assume there’s a difference. Obviously our length of time (day, month, year) is based on the movement of the Earth. I suggest that those terms are simply the colloquial, inexact measurement of time, as it’s clearly translated from Galactic Common (or whatever… Read more »
Just FYI, the pages on the website are outdated. When I put together the first Starcaster book (what I consider the definitive versions), all of the dialogue was updated to reflect the Federation time standard; I just don’t feel like reuploading 120 pages.
Lune would be 13 if based on earth. There are 13 lunar months in an earth year. Centivale lends to being 100years but I kinda think decade can fit too.
About 12 7/19 lunar months per year according to the Hebrew calendar
Kenju
1 day ago
….Tim, we love your work, but can we please have an idiots guide to time and distance translation one of these days lol
A centivale could mean either a hundred years, or one hundredth of a year, though I am inclined to believe it is the hundred years measure.
Though what I would really like to see is the Lance Major and Nyrah meet, as it seems highly likely Nyrah could still teach her a few things about how to use her Starcaster.
Heck, I’d just prefer to use standard units. I get that this is an alien organization, but encountering these mystery units with no frame of reference distracts me from the excellent story. I think we can assume that the characters aren’t speaking English, so having translated ranks (“Lance major” as opposed to “Quar Silek” or whatever) and objects (“Cruiser”, “Starcaster”) seem just as reasonable as translated units. It might be a bit jarring to switch tacks in the middle of the work, but perhaps for a 2nd edition, I’d recommend just using standard units, or else perhaps have an asterisk… Read more »
A year, for example, is a distinctly Earth-based construct whose value is directly related to the rotational period of our planet around its sun. So to then say “year” when living in a society that includes dozens of habitable worlds of various sizes, all of which will have their own unique rotations around their suns, doesn’t work because the definition of the word changes based on where you’re standing when you say it, or who you’re talking to. So it makes sense to me that the Federation would implement a time standard to make it easier to conduct communication and… Read more »
I am pretty sure a centivale is a century, as centi means 100.
However, we dont know if it refers to the calender of the earth as we know it, or of some other constant to measure time by.
If it is different, then age is measured differently and thus you can be called 100 years old, but probably are only 42 in earth years?
Personally I think it’s easy from context. Sounds like century. In space you have different measurements, probably based on more galactic constants, like the flicker of a pulsar or the time it takes from a certain distance from the supermassive black hole in the center to make a full round. That’s why it can be centi as well. A 100th of something instead of 100 times. It is simply a boatload of it regardless.
BeanJuiceBenny
1 day ago
I’m loving this run honestly. The lore and the character development is really grabbing me.
foducool
1 day ago
the joys of not being an extremely long lived species (80 years or so is still pretty long if you ask me)
PhobosRising
1 day ago
Apply marvel protagonist yeast, aaaannd should be mastered in a week. By tomorrow if you have something cute to sacrifice.
Context? I don’t fully agree with Dark, he just is pointing out a side-effect of bloated hero sagas subject to the “Hold My Beer” policy. Gamemasters recognize it as trying to inject newer characters in settings at either existing group power levels or campaign end power level goal for relevancy purposes.
Last edited 8 hours ago by PhobosRising
Ash Ketchup
23 hours ago
Figures the Lance Major lady has a long lifespan. Us humans always get the short end of the stick in high-fantasy and sci-fi universes.
wolph
20 hours ago
I’ve got to say that those time values really annoy me… the language is obviously translated from some alien language to English, but the time units are not. The way they’re used feels really forced to me… but that’s just my opinion.
ChibiAcer
20 hours ago
A centivale is like, 100 Earth minutes. Surely. 🫤
Edit: Read Tim’s post below. RIP
Last edited 20 hours ago by ChibiAcer
Crestlinger
18 hours ago
Was there a chart of the time units made up by author or anyone else on the other Patapatapatapon (couldn’t resist) side? Seems like it would be relevant particularly for the amount of time terms thrown around in this chapter.
Mikko
18 hours ago
It seems that new special forces do not require full publicity, the knightly honesty, from their members.
You know, federation could fabricate a look-alike for front lines purposes. Nobody really knows about cort yet. The PR bullet shield could help morale, while real starcasters do cloak and dagger work. Just make the PR one have a larger fleet presence to encourage lack of direct conflicts. That or test that starcaster fabrication theory.
pookysgirl
16 hours ago
Next comic: “Well, I’m a terrible person, as Nyrah used to keep reminding me. Speck thinks I’ve got some redeeming value, though. You can guess which one of them I prefer to hang out with.”
Nightdagger
14 hours ago
That brings up a point that I’m not sure has been addressed yet…the regenerative effect of the Starcaster, does that also account for normal wear and tear and genetic degradation?
In other words, are Starcasters effectively immortal outside of unnatural deaths?
Vukodlak
12 hours ago
I think Cort is going to unlock the true secret of the Starcaster, how to use it to create rather then destroy.
24
Looking forward to the conclusion of this run, and the return of the DnD group.
Comments like these make tim think he should lock Starcaster, a series I enjoy almost equally to the DND and A&D, behind a paywall. I understand you might only come here to read one series and that’s fine but we don’t need to hear about it, and frankly neither does the web author.
Tim has the stats – such runs does reflect lower web traffic. Whether you like it or not this is not as popular as others.
I’m saying this as someone that actually like Starcasters better than analog + d pad.
I get why you’re upset that Tim might want to put it behind paywall but now gate keeping other people’s opinion is just next level bullshit from you. This comment section doesn’t belong to you.
Starcaster doesn’t necessarily draw lower traffic, but there can be lower engagement because a lot of the people most invested in the story have already read these issues a year prior. So these six weeks of updates here are basically reruns for them. Also, Starcaster patrons get a steady drip of pages, keeping the story fresh in their mind, whereas the website waits six months between issues, so when one drops there’s a period of “where were we again?” for many people that probably contributes to a slower ramp-up of engagement (less discussion at the start of an issue compared… Read more »
For what it’s worth as a fan since CAD 1.0 who is not in a good financial position to Patreon, Starcaster is my favorite, followed by Analog and D-Pad
Am I the only one that come here to read whatever Tim delights us? 😢
Nope, you are not.
Most certainly not.
I like all the stories here, and I’m quite sure most of Tim’s visitors would see it like that as well.
no you’re not i love all of tim’s work. been here since just a week or two after he started all of this back in the early 2ks!
Nope! I happily read whatever he posts. All of his comics are well written and drawn. One of the only webcomics I still read actually, as all the others have moved on or met natural deaths.
I have no clue about time in this universe, but it sounds way out of his life expectancy.
Assuming mortality is even a concern for someone fused to a starcaster? It constantly heals them, after all. Will Cort even continue to age?
Guess that depends on how ‘extreme’ the healing is. I mean, you age out of your physical prime and into ‘old age’ because your cells are replicating and eventually the original dna that guides what the new cell is supposed to be and do break down more and more over all the replications. If the healing is just providing energy to speed up the cells replicating themselves and heal, then if anything he’s functionally aging faster with injuries. I mean, it’d take a lot to be meaningful but he’ll… probably heal that much. On the other hand if the healing… Read more »
Hoenstly, I think firmly on the science end, it is not so far advanced as to think it is magic. We already as a species know how to undo the DNA strand shortening, telemorase. what we don’t know how to do is to do that without giving us cancer. One of the first mutations needed for cancer to be more then a short term annoyance, is reactivating telemorase. So just giving that to a human body, makes the cells younger again, but any proto-cancers become full cancers instantly. so if you combine it with a type of healing that can… Read more »
I’ve been working up some sort of theory here. Cort, Nayra, Speck, have been using normal periods of time most of the comic. Days, months, years, etc. This new unit of time, however, is something that we only started seeing when we were hip-deep in the Federation. Rather than assume this was a mid-series shift, I’m going to assume there’s a difference. Obviously our length of time (day, month, year) is based on the movement of the Earth. I suggest that those terms are simply the colloquial, inexact measurement of time, as it’s clearly translated from Galactic Common (or whatever… Read more »
Shit, I should’ve scrolled down.
Don’t click my wall of text. Not worth it.
Definitely worth it, you got it right.
Just FYI, the pages on the website are outdated. When I put together the first Starcaster book (what I consider the definitive versions), all of the dialogue was updated to reflect the Federation time standard; I just don’t feel like reuploading 120 pages.
Lune would be 13 if based on earth. There are 13 lunar months in an earth year. Centivale lends to being 100years but I kinda think decade can fit too.
About 12 7/19 lunar months per year according to the Hebrew calendar
….Tim, we love your work, but can we please have an idiots guide to time and distance translation one of these days lol
A centivale could mean either a hundred years, or one hundredth of a year, though I am inclined to believe it is the hundred years measure.
Though what I would really like to see is the Lance Major and Nyrah meet, as it seems highly likely Nyrah could still teach her a few things about how to use her Starcaster.
Heck, I’d just prefer to use standard units. I get that this is an alien organization, but encountering these mystery units with no frame of reference distracts me from the excellent story. I think we can assume that the characters aren’t speaking English, so having translated ranks (“Lance major” as opposed to “Quar Silek” or whatever) and objects (“Cruiser”, “Starcaster”) seem just as reasonable as translated units. It might be a bit jarring to switch tacks in the middle of the work, but perhaps for a 2nd edition, I’d recommend just using standard units, or else perhaps have an asterisk… Read more »
A year, for example, is a distinctly Earth-based construct whose value is directly related to the rotational period of our planet around its sun. So to then say “year” when living in a society that includes dozens of habitable worlds of various sizes, all of which will have their own unique rotations around their suns, doesn’t work because the definition of the word changes based on where you’re standing when you say it, or who you’re talking to. So it makes sense to me that the Federation would implement a time standard to make it easier to conduct communication and… Read more »
The look on the face tells us all we need to know.
A Chryon is a Federation standard year. A Centivale is 100 years.
That’s what I assumed going by context, so I’d say you’re doing a good job.
Thanks! That makes sense.
I am pretty sure a centivale is a century, as centi means 100.
However, we dont know if it refers to the calender of the earth as we know it, or of some other constant to measure time by.
If it is different, then age is measured differently and thus you can be called 100 years old, but probably are only 42 in earth years?
Well, a centimeter is not 100m, but a 100th of a meter. By that logic, a centivale would be a hundredth of a vale, and 100 vales would be a hectovale.
By that logic, a centurion commanded 1/100th of a soldier, and a century is 100th of a year 😉
You can just say century. It’s okay, it won’t ruin the immersion.
Personally I think it’s easy from context. Sounds like century. In space you have different measurements, probably based on more galactic constants, like the flicker of a pulsar or the time it takes from a certain distance from the supermassive black hole in the center to make a full round. That’s why it can be centi as well. A 100th of something instead of 100 times. It is simply a boatload of it regardless.
I’m loving this run honestly. The lore and the character development is really grabbing me.
the joys of not being an extremely long lived species (80 years or so is still pretty long if you ask me)
Apply marvel protagonist yeast, aaaannd should be mastered in a week. By tomorrow if you have something cute to sacrifice.
If the protagonist is a woman, ignore recipe. They already are fully powered and at best just discover that they can already do whatever is required.
Do you two meed a ride in the Wambulance?
Besides that it is a joke, did you see the last so many movies/series of marvel?
Context? I don’t fully agree with Dark, he just is pointing out a side-effect of bloated hero sagas subject to the “Hold My Beer” policy. Gamemasters recognize it as trying to inject newer characters in settings at either existing group power levels or campaign end power level goal for relevancy purposes.
Figures the Lance Major lady has a long lifespan. Us humans always get the short end of the stick in high-fantasy and sci-fi universes.
I’ve got to say that those time values really annoy me… the language is obviously translated from some alien language to English, but the time units are not. The way they’re used feels really forced to me… but that’s just my opinion.
A centivale is like, 100 Earth minutes. Surely. 🫤
Edit: Read Tim’s post below. RIP
Was there a chart of the time units made up by author or anyone else on the other Patapatapatapon (couldn’t resist) side? Seems like it would be relevant particularly for the amount of time terms thrown around in this chapter.
It seems that new special forces do not require full publicity, the knightly honesty, from their members.
You know, federation could fabricate a look-alike for front lines purposes. Nobody really knows about cort yet. The PR bullet shield could help morale, while real starcasters do cloak and dagger work. Just make the PR one have a larger fleet presence to encourage lack of direct conflicts. That or test that starcaster fabrication theory.
Next comic: “Well, I’m a terrible person, as Nyrah used to keep reminding me. Speck thinks I’ve got some redeeming value, though. You can guess which one of them I prefer to hang out with.”
That brings up a point that I’m not sure has been addressed yet…the regenerative effect of the Starcaster, does that also account for normal wear and tear and genetic degradation?
In other words, are Starcasters effectively immortal outside of unnatural deaths?
I think Cort is going to unlock the true secret of the Starcaster, how to use it to create rather then destroy.
I think we all know that since the moment Checkow’s gun was hanged above the chimney