Tefler from patreon - Three Square Meals Ch. 172 (Part 2)

Good point M56S! That is the bright side indeed! Truth be told, I'd rather get 5,000 words of TSM instead of either of the alternatives.

This Old Man

2025-01-01 04:41:35 +0000 UTC

... well, then that means we'll get no new Placeholder(s) this month, .... -- looking on the bright side, ... ;-) ttfm

Michael56Smith

2025-01-01 03:48:51 +0000 UTC

Tick tock tick tock . . . doesn't look like it's going to happen. He's ghosting us yet again . . . Surprise! . . . not.

This Old Man

2025-01-01 03:44:03 +0000 UTC

it's called 'pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps', .... and a pause to reassess before a major battle does make sense, .... they can continue their skyrocketing tech advancements in later chapters, ... first they must survive, ... -- Just because you might have wished the story to flow another way doesn't mean Tef's version lacks reason or predictability, ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2025-01-01 01:54:32 +0000 UTC

@Unresolved Plots: Unlike some scifi writers Tef is always brief with the explanations of stuff, which I appreciate. The purpose of getting a bit more understanding on the mini-Soulforge is that it is the key to the next evolution towards technological superiority. Achieving technological superiority has been a key to the plot since the beginning. Every new enemy and battle has been preceded by some breakthrough that has been quantified, if briefly. Now they have the ability to make (small) things out of stronger metal than progenitors. It should allow for technological superiority. Mael’s quantum flux cannons are more powerful and longer range because they are made with his white metal. Now they can somehow make Crystal Alyssium just as strong. Instead of continuing the theme of using such a discovery to achieve some level of technological superiority that entire plot mechanism was abandoned. They used their super-forge to make a standard progenitor power core, shield generator, and wormhole generator and called it a day. I’m just saying that everyone is behaving out of character for how big of a game changer this breakthrough should have been.

AzureReader

2025-01-01 01:16:35 +0000 UTC

Me too.

MVFast

2025-01-01 00:22:55 +0000 UTC

@EroticPoetic: Chapter 156 quantifies how strong Crystal Alyssium gets when used in the small Soulforge aboard the Invictus: “We got the Soulforge working!” Dana exclaimed, breaking into a grin. “We can make metal that’s as tough as Mael’nerak’s white metal,” she explained proudly, staring at the spinning disk. In numerous other places it is pointed out that Mael’s white metal is much stronger and more resilient than Progenitor black metal. They needed something that could forge parts as strong as progenitor black metal to build the wormhole generator and progenitor grade power cores and shield generator. Instead they are now using a white Soulforge that can forge components much stronger than needed. That seems like it should enable components that are much more capable: larger wormholes, more powerful cores, and stronger shields.

AzureReader

2024-12-31 17:10:17 +0000 UTC

..... Crystal Alyssium versus Mael's White Metal (MWM), .... although similar, MWM is a simpler / more basic formula that supposedly was created in Mael's Star Forge (now in the hands of the Trankarans), ... MWM appears to be made using a one-time process and is almost exactly like the process that is used by the 'evil' Black Metal producing Soul Forge that follows Xar'aziuth's design, .... it just follows a Positive Eldritch energy format instead of a negative one, .... -- And yeah, the gorgeous and delightful Auburn-haired genius, Dana, needs to take a minute to examine and work out how to 'fix' / upgrade the mostly restored Star Forge in the Trankaran's possession, ... and make some MWM with it, .... and then use the Star Forges to make a superior (Dana designed) Dreadnaught for John, .... -- Then she can move on to fashioning many fascinating new and improved pieces of gear for the crew's use, .... and for the amazing CEO (Chief Engineering Overlord), Dana, to design her own White Metal producing Soul Forge (a totally non-lethal version only), ... perhaps to be placed on Kythshara, or possibly on Valaron, ... so then the Trankarans can start to build their very own, MWM based, Great White Fleet, ... and be ready for the next invasion, .... -- Also, Dana's version of CA is really a lot more versatile than the stronger MWM for use in their gear as with CA they can do quick repairs jobs in the field, without the need for a bulky Soul Forge, ... although a mini soul forge similar to the one currently on the Invictus could still prove useful, .... -- A Thought: did Larn'kelnar have an 'evil' Black Metal version of a mini–Soul Forge on his Dreadnaught that he used to make gear for the Drakkar with? and if he did, and Rah'hagon recognizes it, then he might use its functions to make stuff for Jessica and himself, ... just a thought, .... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-31 15:37:42 +0000 UTC

It is stated that Crystal Alyssium has more elements than Mael's metal (a simpler formula), so this tells us they are different materials. Wrt how the Soul Forge works, I think it is a bit silly to want an explanation of how the fictional, futuristic non scientific machine exactly works. I don't need that to explain how psychic forging is different to psychic shaping. The Tefler explanation of it focusing psychic powers using a machine is enough for me to suspend my belief!

Unresolved Plots

2024-12-31 13:19:51 +0000 UTC

Fingers crossed we’ll get 172/173 to kick off the New Year.

EroticPoetic

2024-12-31 11:01:18 +0000 UTC

Azure, do you recall what chapters the broken Star Forge you’re referencing was in? Dana created Crystal Alyssum which gets stronger with each reforming, but does not come close to Mael’nerak’s white metal we’re assuming was created in the Star Forge. We’re all waiting for a break in the battle for Dans to fire up the Star forge and figure out how to create Mael’nerak’s White Metal. I wonder what limitations the mini Soul Forge remnant that they used to make the multi colored white metal are. I actually forgot they used it. I wonder if it’s possible to do more with it… looks like I’ll have to go back and read those chapters again.

EroticPoetic

2024-12-31 10:57:09 +0000 UTC

There are some odd gaps in explanation around the soul forge on the Invictus. It uses Crystal Alyssium, not a new material, but can make things as strong as Mael’s white metal. Crystal Alyssium gains its strength through reforming, but there is no mention of reforming when the soul forge is in play. John can reform 35x without the soul forge. If it was said somewhere the white soul forge allows 100x reformings that might explain a lot. But the implication is that it doesn’t reform. There is no mention of what it is doing. Or whether the new white metal that is as strong as Mael’s white metal is actually Mael’s white metal, or a new material that is as strong as it. There are hints that Dana’s invention, Crystal Alyssium, is something new, since they have mentioned that both black metal and Mael’s white metal were forged once. The impression given is that Crystal Alyssium is being forged once in the white soul forge. But single forged Crystal Alyssium is not as strong as 35x shaped Crystal Alyssium, which is not nearly as strong as Mael’s white metal. Way too much mystery here, especially given John is actively using the soul forge to make stuff… which implies the should know how it works. Also, we do know that because Mael’s white metal is stronger than black metal he was able to make improved Quantum Flux Cannons with added range and power, and I believe also advanced tacheon lances that hit harder than the black versions. What’s odd is that they are building other things now like power cores and shield generators. It has been stated that the strength of the metal of a power core, for example, is what limits the pressure and temperature of the fusion reaction. But nowhere does it suggest that the new devices with metal much stronger than black metal are more powerful. Did they forget they can now crank up those deivces and are merely running them at normal levels for a progenitor device? Finally, it’s odd that no one has thought to make armor suits with the white soul forge. John highly values protection for his girls and the parts of a suit are all smaller than the tiny white soul forge’s diameter. Obviously they haven’t had a lot of time but to not even mention the possibility of dramatically better armor, when they are fighting directly with multiple progenitors, suggests they haven’t thought of it. Which is the height of weird since it seems like just abut the most desirable thing to build given the combat they are actively engaged in.

AzureReader

2024-12-31 08:12:07 +0000 UTC

Hey not so Santa Tef, were we not good enough for Christmas chapters, or was it you? ... although I hope that you are not too unhealthy, I'd really rather be thinking that you were too sick to write, instead of just getting too burned out, or worse too lazy to continue this epic tale, ... that would be really sad, .... and so, for now anyway, you are in my prayers, .... get well, and be happy, .... -- Now it is your turn to be good, and to do that you must really try to do those status updates, ... a promise is a promise, ... you can get help, if necessary, ,,, see ya in the future, .... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-28 23:43:33 +0000 UTC

A Christmas gift chapter or two would be most welcome, .... come on Santa Tef, we've been good boys and girls this year, not too naughty, but we've been exceedingly nice, .... please come through for us, ... ty ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-25 08:05:26 +0000 UTC

To limit the number of times you can be charged per month before the end of the year to take care of that pesky second placeholder. Go to Membership -> Edit -> Payment Amount -> Set Monthly Limit and enter "1".

Tom Ray

2024-12-22 11:04:19 +0000 UTC

I am truly sorry for being rude/ harsh/ whatever, but.... you know..... butt...

Unctadsk

2024-12-21 16:43:43 +0000 UTC

To all fellow TSM readers out there, and Tefler, i hope you all spend as mutch quality time as you kan with your loved ones this holiday.

Ricardo Miguel Pereira da Silva

2024-12-20 21:52:15 +0000 UTC

Error early in part 2?: "...to attempt an ambush all the forces..." should be "... to attempt an ambush WITH all the forces ..."

2ndAndrocentric

2024-12-20 21:30:24 +0000 UTC

Sinking further in debt would increase my depression. Studies have shown that that people with time to think about their problems are more depressed. It’s one of the reasons people with physical jobs tend to be less depressed along with better sleep with being physically tired. With a medical condition doing physical work around the house may be out but forcing himself to dedicate x number of hours to writing may provide a first step to climbing out of this morass. Does anyone doubt that if he had dedicated an average of two hours a day since 171 part 1 had dropped he would be much further along. No I haven’t walked in his shoes but like most I have had my share of grief,loss,depression as well as being a life long procrastinator. The only way anyone can get themselves past their problems is one step at a time. Waiting on the UK’s health system to come through before he starts climbing out of this hole is foolhardy. Tef is lucky his incredible talent doesn’t require great physical effort which would have been medically impossible. Even the people grumbling want Tef to succeed. It has gotten old and repetitive that promises of a few days mean at the end of the month when he has to pay bills. I’m working 70 hours a week to pay for a trip for my kids and grandkids. I don’t believe he has approached that level of effort.

20 ton

2024-12-20 14:14:15 +0000 UTC

,,, so, a made-up word to rag on our favorite author with, not the nicest thing you might have done, ... -- happy holidays, ... ;-)

Michael56Smith

2024-12-20 12:48:37 +0000 UTC

Correct Dan

Unctadsk

2024-12-19 15:03:21 +0000 UTC

I came close to dying 10 years ago, it was a slow build-up till it wasn't, it was debilitating and people didn't understand, that, and a marriage breakup and moving back to OZ, it was a dark time. I worry for him and understand the darkness it can bring.

Wozza

2024-12-18 18:54:39 +0000 UTC

mmmm, ... perhaps, .... thanks Dan, ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-18 16:14:07 +0000 UTC

I read it to be a weird combo of alms (charity) and monger (always asking for).

Dan

2024-12-18 03:39:50 +0000 UTC

A lot of people quit for a number of months, then rejoin for $1 and download any completed chapters on the site, then quit before they can be charged again. they work around it like that.

Greg Hill

2024-12-18 01:56:15 +0000 UTC

We might cut him a little bit of slack.

MVFast

2024-12-17 03:20:22 +0000 UTC

I don’t think it’s a lack of a sense of responsibility. Any long term illness can start a subtle sense of depression making it extremely difficult to get things done. Procrastination is an obvious symptom. Worse, on top of the actual issue is the frustration of knowing the problem is “easily” fixed by modern medicine. The quotes are because “easily” is a loaded term here. Recognizing the issue helps, but definitely doesn’t get you around the problem. You continue to plod through, struggling even if you know you’re dealing with depression. I’m making an assumption here, but before his medical problems, he had no trouble getting the story out.

MVFast

2024-12-17 03:18:15 +0000 UTC

Okay, Unctadsk, I give up, ... what the heck is 'almmonger'? is this a typo / mistake for another word? or something you may have overheard, but is wrong? or a word from a non-English language? ... and I couldn't guess its meaning from context either, ,.. Aluminum Monger makes no sense, so I am stuck, ...anyway, happy holidays, ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-16 20:42:12 +0000 UTC

Dear M56S, how many days of December passed so far... and the outcome... I think Tefler should join his previous job which would inculcate some sense of responsibility in him and put out of almmonger mindset... What do you think?

Unctadsk

2024-12-15 08:11:39 +0000 UTC

USA, November 14th, 2024, 18:00 Pacific Standard Time… … … …

MVFast

2024-12-15 02:00:26 +0000 UTC

Tef knows he’s incapable of delivering anything until the final hour of the month. I honestly think he makes ridiculous promises, and then never delivers, specifically to drive people batshit crazy. More than half his Patreon blog are people having fits. Seriously, no one can say “I’m going to catch up this month” for five years with a straight face.

AzureReader

2024-12-13 20:24:03 +0000 UTC

I believe George RR Martin has a similar problem with his series, Lots to pull from, and even has story lines but he is now 13 years behind. (‘How could I be 13 years late?’ I don’t know, it happens a day at a time.” ~ GRRM) With TSM, You have to know that what started as a whimsical fantasy is now this massive story with hundreds of threads laying around that takes lots of thought to get out and on paper, when life is at its best, and it certainly hasn't been for Tef. I personally continue to stay connected on the hope that I can contribute some small way toward completion ( hopefully in less than 13 years ;~)

!raptor

2024-12-12 22:08:25 +0000 UTC

-- wow Russell, (also yourstruly, and AzureReader), ... then again, some folks can take their grumbles and just go away, ... live with your options people! ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-11 03:05:09 +0000 UTC

-- where, oh where are you tonight, ... why did you leave me here all alone? ,,,, I searched our Patreon completely, .... and thought I found TSM, ... but you got gallstones, ... and phffft you wuz gone. ... ---- Hee Haw - ish, ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-11 02:53:17 +0000 UTC

Ha - ha, yes, that's the gift that keeps on giving alright, .... good one, .... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-11 01:52:35 +0000 UTC

Why bother trying to write two chapters a month when you can write 1/3 chapter and charge for 2 chapters? Not a lot of motivation to change if people grumble but keep paying him.

AzureReader

2024-12-11 01:51:17 +0000 UTC

2 weeks later… more than a couple days…. Still no finished chapter

Calvin Martin

2024-12-10 23:10:02 +0000 UTC

Enough material for many years considering we get a full chapter every month rather than a third or half of one. At this speed, we have enough material for decades or perhaps even a century. Considering Tef supposedly has an unbreakable bond and permanent residence with the NHS though, i doubt he has that long.

yourstruly

2024-12-10 22:50:35 +0000 UTC

Dana’s Christmas gift to John and the Lionesses is easy. It is a micro blackhole rifle. It shoots blackholes using a microscopic progenitor particle accelerator. When the blockhole strikes its victim, it creates a pucker pulling in all mass within a 3 cm radius. Since the pucker looks like an anus, Alyssa wants to call the rifle an anus devastator.

thomas rodrian

2024-12-10 18:28:23 +0000 UTC

Tefler really needs to find a way to refocus himself. At $6k per chapter I would be doing my best to drop at least two of those bad boys every month. I know writing is not always easy and finding ways to come up with new stuff but keep the cash cow going is difficult, but with hundreds of potential enemies, not to mention the lingering empire relations issues, one would think he has enough material for years yet.

RUSSELL H WRIGHT

2024-12-10 14:09:15 +0000 UTC

You can limit your payments per month, just set the limit for $1 and you’ll only be charged that amount per month.

Amathew2

2024-12-10 12:48:01 +0000 UTC

DANG! ... 12/10/24, I had held out some small hope that, after this weekend, we might get the conclusion to chapter #172, .... (a part 3?), .... but it looks like Tef wants to include that with a chapter #173, or a part of it anyway, along with the completed #172, .... Poor Tef really can't seem to shake the 'dropping chapters at EOM' habit, .... that makes me sad, ... -- aww shucks, ... I'll bet he is having problems coming up with Dana's Awesome Christmas gifts, after all, she's the super-cool Grand Engineering Overlord, .... her presents have got to be good, ... :-( ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-10 10:26:29 +0000 UTC

I hope so. John needs her psychic power

thomas rodrian

2024-12-10 01:21:46 +0000 UTC

A daunting foreseeable future for what has been a great series. Such a shame.

yourstruly

2024-12-09 21:44:50 +0000 UTC

The speed had recently been averaging about 1/2 chapter a month, but it has been gradually slowing down for several years. In the past couple of months it’s at 1/3 chapter a month. If that was the new average, and the trend for declining speed doesn’t continue, it will take 3 years for Tefler to write 12 chapters. If you continue to support Tefler during that time he will pre-charge for 63 chapters in that 3 years based on 1.75 pre-charges per month average. If you think being owed 12 chapters for 3 years is better than being owed 63 chapters your best bet is to come back in 3 years, support him for 1 month, and pick up the 12 chapters you already paid for. That’s assuming everyone hasn’t jumped ship by then, forcing Tef to take a regular job.

AzureReader

2024-12-09 19:01:13 +0000 UTC

Same question is being asked by all of us bro.

Unctadsk

2024-12-09 04:21:51 +0000 UTC

How can I stop paying for further placeholders but not lose access to the patreon? I have paid for all the placeholders until 184, so i am owed 12 or so chapters but everytime i stop payment, i lose access to all the future chapters i already paid for. How can i stop getting scammed and also get the chapters i paid for, which gonna take 1.5 years at the current speed for 12 chapters. Someone genuinely help me please

yourstruly

2024-12-08 22:06:44 +0000 UTC

I'm uncaring regarding the length/frequency format. I do find the amount of placeholders getting a bit high but have decided not to bitch about it as the place holders produce a very enjoyable comment section which I call "the Tribe Wars". I just find the actual quality of the story far better. Annabelle has way more plot holes and is at times very incorrect. For example the "4 horsemen of the Apocalypse" are NOT what she wrote. Sure there's some unexplained stuff in Tefler such as why certain weapons have different ranges (space dust?)

2ndAndrocentric

2024-12-07 18:07:07 +0000 UTC

EroticPoetic I thought it predated the war with Ran, rather than Mael?

ThunderBird Two

2024-12-07 11:21:02 +0000 UTC

Is Edraele going to be awake for any of these progenitor battles?

AzureReader

2024-12-07 03:29:34 +0000 UTC

-- oh yeah, John / Baen'thelas's message of love and appreciation, plus his removal of that pesky Obedience Compulsion allows for over 2x the Eldritch energy to flow through the network to charge John, ... a lot more than the standard / average that a 'normal' Progenitor receives, ... -- just as the few thousand Maliri Wards linked through to Edraele gives her the energy of more than 10,000+ Wards / Thralls, ... So, too will the new Wards from the new Empires that Baen'thelas has claimed, ... from their Naval officers, and Planetary supervisors, and others, ... all grant him much more eldritch power than they would have done for the previous Progenitor, .... -- if Rachel (and / or others) can come up with a way to mass recruit / claim many, many new Wards for Baen'thelas without draining a crippling amount of power from John's Psychic reserves, then that would mean potentially millions if not billions more Wards for a young / new Progenitor (like John) to have, ... so, an Elixir that mimics John's Psychic sperm might be really nice to have about now, .... What with the Laranthyrans, the Galkirans, the Aethians, and the Maliri, ... plus all the weakened and soon to be claimed Empires that Irillith has pulled from the Dreadnaught's archive, of locations of recently defeated Progenitors, ... John's next few years should be some quite interesting times, ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-07 01:14:29 +0000 UTC

You are both forgetting the love and the message of appreciation John left with the girls increased the strength of the connection. The girls and five nymphs were stronger than millions of Larn’s thralls.

20 ton

2024-12-06 19:46:14 +0000 UTC

Or perhaps John needs to dedicate some 5-6 load days exclusively to recruiting. That’s 50-70,000 recruits a day. Although other Progenitors seem to use a coming-of-age ceremony to recruit perhaps hundreds of thousands with a diluted serum. Maybe Rachel can come up with an even more efficient method. Maybe Dana can create a mass drone swarm delivery system. Although it is possible that the nymphs kisses also amplify the connection.

EroticPoetic

2024-12-06 19:13:56 +0000 UTC

--- Well yeah, Erotic Poetic, ... if Dana could make John multiple Shroud generators, .... then he could leave one in each new Empire, ... and Xat'aziuth would stay mostly clueless, ... -- And then Rachel along with maybe a few genius Maliri doctors all need to develop a way for John to 'claim / recruit' many, many more Wards, from these new Empires.... more Wards will mean more Eldritch Power, ... and all without a 'cum-vat'... -- We know that the Nymphs can turn one of John's full loads into a few thousand new wards, ... that's really good, but with multiple Empires, John needs several times that amount, ... he needs an Eldritch Elixir that potential wards can drink without John being around, .... that's manufactured / mass-produced to service millions, ... possibly billions, ... then he'd have the power to let him face off against Xar'aziuth, Mano un Mano, ... -- Although I do wonder what Tef's twist will be on this, ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-06 19:04:16 +0000 UTC

ThunderBird: that’s an interesting and possible conclusion, except that the shroud predated Mael’nerak’s reign by several millennia. Comparing the timeframes set by Mael’nerak’s invasion and the Kirrix de-evolution and the shroud came long before Mael’nerak. Although it could have been implemented by a previous civilization like the Achonin, so it’s still a possibility. But there is definitely something MAJOR to be discovered at Genthalas. However, if the shroud generator can be found and replicated, it would completely change the relationship John has with his claimed empires. Imagine ALL of John’s claimed empires being under a shroud, hidden from Xar’s influence and perception.

EroticPoetic

2024-12-06 18:10:28 +0000 UTC

The foreshadowing of the ancient relic is very interesting. Would there be notes on Rills data crystals about what was giving orange team so many problems. This matriarch seems servile and submissive making her a much more sympathetic character than Valeria. Another wounded little bird. My curiosity has been raised by Meta Edraele. Could the weapon that is strong enough to destroy a trillion soul empowered Demi god be a group of interconnected meta kyfarien warrior princesses. Empowered by love. The sum greater than the collective parts. So many rabbit holes to keep us enthralled with this story. Enthrallment? Does that make us Maliri? Nah

20 ton

2024-12-06 15:13:19 +0000 UTC

I think genthalas is hiding the shroud generator.

ThunderBird Two

2024-12-06 09:02:40 +0000 UTC

Ha! I hadn’t considered a shape shifting lesbian 3some. 🤯

Fred Hunter

2024-12-05 20:01:09 +0000 UTC

20 ton : This new Progenitor’s enemy has an ancient relic that somehow balances their forces. A smaller armada with tech that can even the playing field completely fits John’s MO. What are the odds that John and the girls get their hands on it, or another such relic, in the next 10-20 chapters? Perhaps John’s rune sword has some hidden, yet-to-be-revealed powers &/or latent consciousness? It’s a relatively unexplored manifestation of Kyth’faren technology and consciousness. I’m hoping this battle doesn’t drag out, so Dana can fire up the Star Forge and figure out how to build next generation white metal ships - reimagined by Alyssa - with next level weaponry and Tech designed by Dana with AI integrated by Faye and the collective. That could include armor & firearms with lethal and non-lethal settings. Then of course we need to see what secrets Genthalas Station is hiding. Gahl’Kalgor saw something John didn’t - something obviously hidden by Mael’nerak’s genius. What other treasures will be revealed to improve their tech advantage?

EroticPoetic

2024-12-05 17:49:32 +0000 UTC

I think you’re underestimating how big Jehanna’s freak flag is 😂. Betrixa played sexy succubus, Ailita played the impregnating alien futanari. That woman has a serious alien/demon porn fetish. 😈

EroticPoetic

2024-12-05 17:39:32 +0000 UTC

I love the latest installment. (I count installments not chapters, chapters are weird ontological entities which have no relevance to me and my reading experience - same for other authors and stories). Great tension as I am so invested in these characters and their trials and relationships.

Stephen Paynter

2024-12-05 16:38:52 +0000 UTC

Hey Florida for once we are at an agreement well at least till tefler catches up so placeholders are done and dusted ( English expression meaning all done finished ) then he can get better and get back to his 30k chapters but I agree on the battle chapters they must be a right old pain in the ass to write so they should be shorter to give himself the right amount of time to do them justice. See I’m not all bad buddy. This chapter was great it just ended at the wrong time for me it should have ended when John shoved his sword up the evil proges asshole lol.

Jim lynch

2024-12-05 04:53:14 +0000 UTC

To set your expectations correctly you need to translate Tefler’s estimate of when he will deliver with this table. Tefler Time Translation Table: Couple of days = End of day, last day of month One week = End of day, last day of month Tomorrow = End of day, last day of month Next few days = End of day, last day of month Any other way of describing any number of days = End of day, last day of month

AzureReader

2024-12-05 01:49:56 +0000 UTC

I think this would be good for readers also, as Tefler does tend to pad out the difficult plotting with easier-to-write relationship chats in order to meet deadlines and commitments. Don't get me wrong: the close interpersonal relationships between the characters is an important part of what makes TSM what it is. However, one can have too much of a good thing!

John Jameson

2024-12-05 01:05:27 +0000 UTC

Actually, we are supposed to receive an update today.

thomas rodrian

2024-12-04 18:13:29 +0000 UTC

If they overwhelm him with a massed attack, it should be over quickly. As long as they chop his head off, so he can't heal. But saying that, he does seem to have the makings of a good returning villain. Very Blowfelt, to Johns Bond.

ThunderBird Two

2024-12-04 17:44:36 +0000 UTC

Warfare has always been moved by increasing technology. Knights stopped wearing armor when arrows were developed to puncture the armor. A farm boy with a Botkin point, I believe it was called, could defeat a lord with expensive armor. Dana almost defeated gally but only had a dozen rounds. Several rifles on full auto might be able to to overcome regeneration. Al least it will surprise the hell out of him.

20 ton

2024-12-04 13:48:57 +0000 UTC

Totally agree. He should simply post his half chapters as full chapters. I am quite satisfied by this particular update. Planning out battles is a lot of work.

G E

2024-12-04 02:04:43 +0000 UTC

This chapter was worth the wait… another cliffhanger. Only thing is that it’s just an in-between filler chapter. Nothing much happens, although the stage is set for a showdown with the Progenitor with minimal Thrall involvement. I guess it remains to be seen whether John and the girls are up to battling a progenitor as ruthless as Larn’Kelnar who perhaps focuses on psychic abilities rather than melee combat. Gahl’Kalgor was ‘young’ - and therefore brash and like a violent teenager - by progenitor standards. Whereas Larn’Kelnar’s reign was protracted and apparently steeped in mental strategies and psychic combat tactics. He was severely weakened by his time under the shroud, however. This new Progenitor on the other hand hasn’t been directly involved in combat in 600 years. Has he become a master tactician? A master space battle strategist? Has he been honing his psychic abilities or has he become sedentary due to his lack of direct conflict? Any chance he thwarts John’s ambush and escapes to hopefully return after licking his wounds? That doesn’t really fit the Progenitor mold, but Tefler is known for flipping the script on its head at the last minute 😝. Hopefully we don’t have to wait another month or two to see how this battle ends.

EroticPoetic

2024-12-03 21:38:49 +0000 UTC

It will be interesting to see if we get an update to finish Chapter 172 within the next couple of weeks, much less the next couple of days. Seeing when we get that will be an indication as to what else we might hope to see before the end of this year.

Evan

2024-12-03 19:26:43 +0000 UTC

Thank you for doing that. So, considering an average 15k chapter length and only using his 30k chapter outputs (which I am counting as two chapters), he has essentially written 12 chapters this year alone. It does lend some perspective to the discussion. As you mentioned, I agree there are simple ways for readers to mitigate frustration over the placeholders, but I understand the whining and complaining. Sometimes people just gotta bitch. Tefler could start calling the "parts" chapters. That would be something proactive on his part.

Florida Reader

2024-12-03 17:27:58 +0000 UTC

Tefler’s chapters are definitely much longer - often 2-3X as long, and the storyline is arguably better. However, Annabelle Hawthorne definitely produces more regularly, has multiple intersecting story arcs and commissioned artwork, with regular updates and author interaction. Teller could learn a lot from her format as well as many others. If Tefler switched to a weekly production schedule of 10-page chapters, or even bi-weekly 15-page chapters his patronage would skyrocket and he’d make tons more money. After the initial complaining, I think people would be much happier with regular releases.

EroticPoetic

2024-12-03 17:22:47 +0000 UTC

A while back, I made a spreadsheet with the dates and lengths of all chapters. There are various ways to measure Tefler's output. I used units of 30K words, since that was the average chapter length from late 2016 until late 2021. More recently, he almost always writes c. 20K words/chapter. The number of 30K units of TSM has been: 37 (2016), 34 (2017), 22 (2018), 15 (2019), 10 (2020), 8 (2021), 11 (2022), c. 3 (2023), 6 (2024 to date), so 146 such "chapters" in total. Obviously, if you are happy with 15K chapters (which I also find reasonable), then you can just double these numbers. I don't really see the point in complaining: if anyone finds the over-optimistic promises, the place-holders and/or TMI about the difficulties causing them, my suggestion is to unsubscribe for several months and have a good binge read when you return!

John Jameson

2024-12-03 15:46:05 +0000 UTC

Look, stop being a chair leader for Tef. Your post have been the same for years - read - fucking sad. You are either Tef, of a fanatical fan girl.

rich ed

2024-12-03 06:58:16 +0000 UTC

Or he waited for the kids to fall asleep so they would not see him scamming people again.

rich ed

2024-12-03 06:55:08 +0000 UTC

Drop to the free tier but don't remove him from your list. Check back every couple of months. If/when he catches up to 184, subscribe at the $1 per new chapter level, download all the chapters you're missing, then either lock down to only $1 per month charge or unsubscribe again.

Woodrobin

2024-12-02 12:39:52 +0000 UTC

-- Well, his chapter #172 part 1 was 15 Word pages long, and Part 2 was 20 pages long. that's 35 pages so far, ... and Tef's normal chapter length is around 47 Word pages long, ... I tend to believe that he can complete this chapter (#172) in the next few days, ... -- and yeah, I could live with shorter chapters as long as he dropped them regularly, ... he had tried shorter a while back, but I do not think his writing style worked for that length of a chapter, ... Although with shorter chapters he could catch-up on those placeholders more quickly, ... so that would be a plus, ... -- I look forward to the completion of #172. and to the Christmas themed chapter later this month, ... any more chapters would be a bonus, ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-02 05:41:56 +0000 UTC

Eh, it's more that he keeps releasing less chapters than he charges for that annoys people. Back when he was still releasing monthly chapters on time there were little to no complaints. Do remember that we're paying per chapter, not monthly, at least until November next year when Patreon removes the per-post paying method.

Qahlz

2024-12-01 23:36:22 +0000 UTC

While I enjoy the horny house as well as Out of Cruel Space (Youtube and Reddit) a fun romp; Tefler's writing is much better. I happen to be fanatical about a numeber of areas including etymology and their interaction with archetypes. Tefler's naming of his Terran characters alone is astoundingly brilliant. I do NOT believe Tefler did any of it consciously. There's an enormous power to the subconscious that properly tapped is staggering. A first class story teller taps into something very deep in his culture that even the storyteller and audience is usually not aware of.

2ndAndrocentric

2024-12-01 22:19:55 +0000 UTC

They might. However, I thought 172.2 was a decent length and am satisfied with the content. What frustrates people is waiting so long. If Tefler posted content equivalent in size to 172.2 twice a month, I don't think anyone would get too upset.

Florida Reader

2024-12-01 21:48:26 +0000 UTC

No. Once you stop paying you don’t get access to the paid posts anymore

Calvin Martin

2024-12-01 21:46:24 +0000 UTC

A whole month to put out not even half a chapter. This is beyond ridiculous at this point.

Calvin Martin

2024-12-01 21:45:37 +0000 UTC

Not to spam the comments, but I am curious. Unlike some, I don't think 172 Part 2 was a rip-off. I think it is a chapter by itself. I keep thinking Tefler screws himself by trying to make these long chapters which really should be multiple chapters. The battle with this new progenitor should encompass four or five chapters (even without milking it). If Tefler had been breaking up his work all along, he would have already wiped out his chapter deficit. I read a number of authors who provide excellent content frequently, but in smaller chapter lengths. So, while I understand readers' frustration, I do not share it in the same way. My frustration is that Tefler keeps hampering himself by trying to deliver high word-count chapters. This doesn't help his readers, and it definitely can't be good for his self-esteem (which is pretty essential for an author). I don't know if anyone has done an analysis by breaking up Tefler's content into reasonable chapter breaks over the past couple of years and determining how many chapters would have been delivered after resizing them accordingly. Has anyone broken this down?

Florida Reader

2024-12-01 21:44:26 +0000 UTC

I bet people would complain when the chapters turn out shorter than usual though. Can't make everyone happy.

Qahlz

2024-12-01 21:37:31 +0000 UTC

This was a great addition to the series. Not that you will read my thoughts, Tefler, but if it adds anything -- I agree with so many others—you could have easily made 172.1 chapter 172 and 172.2 chapter 173. I appreciate your writing and your vision, but I think you make things so much harder for yourself. You could have been caught up by now had you just created reasonably broken-up smaller chapters. I might point out that, in a way, it makes it harder on your fans as well. Getting a couple of reasonably lengthen chapters a month would go a long way to repairing relations. Like I said, what is currently Chaoter 172 easily could be 172 and 173. The battle could be 174 and 175, with maybe 176 as an after-action thing. Don't stress about it, though. You just keep being you, and I will keep reading as you put it out there.

Florida Reader

2024-12-01 21:30:47 +0000 UTC

John is the "Forrest Gump" of Progenitors.

Green Seadragon

2024-12-01 20:07:04 +0000 UTC

No! Sorry, not me.

Paladin

2024-12-01 20:04:51 +0000 UTC

Hey Paladin, were you a War Dragons team leader?

EroticPoetic

2024-12-01 19:15:02 +0000 UTC

If someone stops contributing to Teffler now, will they still have access to chapters 173-184?

Hojay

2024-12-01 18:48:25 +0000 UTC

How do his chapters compare lengthwise to Mike's house of horny monsters or something like that

Johnkr

2024-12-01 18:24:33 +0000 UTC

If it took a month to write the first 1/3, another month to write the second 1/3… how long do you think it will take to write the last 1/3? Hint - it’s not a couple of days. I like this chapter though. Everyone is working together. Love the creative idea of locking down the barracks and armory. That should allow the team to really focus on the progenitor. As well as the story. Like how the progenitor is set up as a conceited asshole who put himself on the highest of pedestals. It’s a long way down and Tefler is great at portraying shock and fear.

AzureReader

2024-12-01 17:35:54 +0000 UTC

I wonder what is xar's psychic overhead is. How many less progenitors before it affects his strength. I think at some point Helene becomes the weapon to bring him down. She plucked souls from him.

Johnkr

2024-12-01 17:03:51 +0000 UTC

I enjoy how Tefler copies and pastes the phrase “l’ll work on the rest next week and finish it soon” from the previous placeholder. See you next year for another partial chapter and another placeholder.

Paladin

2024-12-01 16:18:37 +0000 UTC

Well this is it for me. I'm out. I will come back next summer and read the 2 or 3 chapters he will have done by then.

Jim Owens

2024-12-01 14:16:58 +0000 UTC

Tef it seems like Alita not Betrixa played succubus with Jehanna.

Fred Hunter

2024-12-01 13:57:27 +0000 UTC

I’ll be canceling my subscription after this rip off.

GH

2024-12-01 13:19:56 +0000 UTC

See the message posted by Tef while posting 172 part1 end of october :« Here's the first part of chapter 172, which covers the lead up to the next battle. I'll work on the rest next week and hope to finish it soon. » Then, 4 weeks later, we got 172 part 2, 172 still not complete…! I call that, procrastination….

Philippe Berthon

2024-12-01 13:10:18 +0000 UTC

And you truly believe that M56S? Even to the most ardent Tefler follower, your sycophantic act is really tiresome.. It was over 24 months ago when Tefler dropped a remaining chapter part before months end. Excellent writing is a real skill, but there is the night after the children hit the bed. That's when I wrote my tech materials for my old jobs.

Big Dude

2024-12-01 12:40:22 +0000 UTC

And Oh Yeah, part 2 was pretty good, ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-01 08:28:50 +0000 UTC

11/30/2024, ... after 10pm (PST) Tef finally drops chapter #172, part 2, still incomplete, .... and by about 11pm (PST) he drops two additional Placeholders (#183 and #184), he just beat the EOM deadline, .... -- I bet he had to wait for the kids to go to sleep before he could write what he could before the deadline closed, .... So now we are waiting for the 3rd part (completion) to chapter #172, and we now have placeholders for chapters #173 through #184, ... Our lives are certainly interesting, ... --- Merry X-mas! ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-01 08:22:37 +0000 UTC

$72,000 American dollars worth of unwritten chapters right now. Just an FYI tef. Kinda fucked up.

Zachariah Beasley

2024-12-01 08:05:14 +0000 UTC

But this time Tef has stated that when he finally completes the chapter (#172) then he will drop it to us right away, ... no waiting for the EOM, .,. see, he is listening to his fans, .... So, a few more days, or possibly a week or two, .... then a Christmas gift, ... Happy Holidays! .... ;-) ttfm

Michael56Smith

2024-12-01 07:57:48 +0000 UTC

you must be new here

JP

2024-12-01 06:54:17 +0000 UTC

Typo "her" should be "here": “I’m done her, let’s move on to the next one,”

Jarrod Lombardo (he-him)

2024-12-01 06:40:21 +0000 UTC

172 to 184?

Hugo

2024-12-01 06:25:24 +0000 UTC

Aaarrrgh.... Another part chapter... and surely spme place holder to follow leading to 11 chapter placeholders. Dude can you close all placeholders anytime in your future.

Unctadsk

2024-12-01 06:10:03 +0000 UTC

--- YAY! ... and I hope your nap refreshed you, ... -- And we had a very nice Thanksgiving, ... thank you, ... ;-) ttfn

Michael56Smith

2024-12-01 06:07:39 +0000 UTC

Thanks

thomas rodrian

2024-12-01 06:06:26 +0000 UTC

Three Square Meals Ch. 172 (Part 2)

Comments

Good point M56S! That is the bright side indeed! Truth be told, I'd rather get 5,000 words of TSM instead of either of the alternatives.

... well, then that means we'll get no new Placeholder(s) this month, .... -- looking on the bright side, ... ;-) ttfm

Tick tock tick tock . . . doesn't look like it's going to happen. He's ghosting us yet again . . . Surprise! . . . not.

Me too.

Fingers crossed we’ll get 172/173 to kick off the New Year.

A Christmas gift chapter or two would be most welcome, .... come on Santa Tef, we've been good boys and girls this year, not too naughty, but we've been exceedingly nice, .... please come through for us, ... ty ... ;-) ttfn

To limit the number of times you can be charged per month before the end of the year to take care of that pesky second placeholder. Go to Membership -> Edit -> Payment Amount -> Set Monthly Limit and enter "1".

I am truly sorry for being rude/ harsh/ whatever, but.... you know..... butt...

To all fellow TSM readers out there, and Tefler, i hope you all spend as mutch quality time as you kan with your loved ones this holiday.

Error early in part 2?: "...to attempt an ambush all the forces..." should be "... to attempt an ambush WITH all the forces ..."

,,, so, a made-up word to rag on our favorite author with, not the nicest thing you might have done, ... -- happy holidays, ... ;-)

Correct Dan

I came close to dying 10 years ago, it was a slow build-up till it wasn't, it was debilitating and people didn't understand, that, and a marriage breakup and moving back to OZ, it was a dark time. I worry for him and understand the darkness it can bring.

mmmm, ... perhaps, .... thanks Dan, ... ;-) ttfn

I read it to be a weird combo of alms (charity) and monger (always asking for).

A lot of people quit for a number of months, then rejoin for $1 and download any completed chapters on the site, then quit before they can be charged again. they work around it like that.

We might cut him a little bit of slack.

Dear M56S, how many days of December passed so far... and the outcome... I think Tefler should join his previous job which would inculcate some sense of responsibility in him and put out of almmonger mindset... What do you think?

USA, November 14th, 2024, 18:00 Pacific Standard Time… … … …

-- wow Russell, (also yourstruly, and AzureReader), ... then again, some folks can take their grumbles and just go away, ... live with your options people! ... ;-) ttfn

-- where, oh where are you tonight, ... why did you leave me here all alone? ,,,, I searched our Patreon completely, .... and thought I found TSM, ... but you got gallstones, ... and phffft you wuz gone. ... ---- Hee Haw - ish, ... ;-) ttfn

Ha - ha, yes, that's the gift that keeps on giving alright, .... good one, .... ;-) ttfn

Why bother trying to write two chapters a month when you can write 1/3 chapter and charge for 2 chapters? Not a lot of motivation to change if people grumble but keep paying him.

2 weeks later… more than a couple days…. Still no finished chapter

You can limit your payments per month, just set the limit for $1 and you’ll only be charged that amount per month.

I hope so. John needs her psychic power

A daunting foreseeable future for what has been a great series. Such a shame.

Same question is being asked by all of us bro.

EroticPoetic I thought it predated the war with Ran, rather than Mael?

Is Edraele going to be awake for any of these progenitor battles?

You are both forgetting the love and the message of appreciation John left with the girls increased the strength of the connection. The girls and five nymphs were stronger than millions of Larn’s thralls.

I think genthalas is hiding the shroud generator.

Ha! I hadn’t considered a shape shifting lesbian 3some. 🤯

I think you’re underestimating how big Jehanna’s freak flag is 😂. Betrixa played sexy succubus, Ailita played the impregnating alien futanari. That woman has a serious alien/demon porn fetish. 😈

I love the latest installment. (I count installments not chapters, chapters are weird ontological entities which have no relevance to me and my reading experience - same for other authors and stories). Great tension as I am so invested in these characters and their trials and relationships.

Actually, we are supposed to receive an update today.

If they overwhelm him with a massed attack, it should be over quickly. As long as they chop his head off, so he can't heal. But saying that, he does seem to have the makings of a good returning villain. Very Blowfelt, to Johns Bond.

Totally agree. He should simply post his half chapters as full chapters. I am quite satisfied by this particular update. Planning out battles is a lot of work.

It will be interesting to see if we get an update to finish Chapter 172 within the next couple of weeks, much less the next couple of days. Seeing when we get that will be an indication as to what else we might hope to see before the end of this year.

Look, stop being a chair leader for Tef. Your post have been the same for years - read - fucking sad. You are either Tef, of a fanatical fan girl.

Or he waited for the kids to fall asleep so they would not see him scamming people again.

Drop to the free tier but don't remove him from your list. Check back every couple of months. If/when he catches up to 184, subscribe at the $1 per new chapter level, download all the chapters you're missing, then either lock down to only $1 per month charge or unsubscribe again.

They might. However, I thought 172.2 was a decent length and am satisfied with the content. What frustrates people is waiting so long. If Tefler posted content equivalent in size to 172.2 twice a month, I don't think anyone would get too upset.

No. Once you stop paying you don’t get access to the paid posts anymore

A whole month to put out not even half a chapter. This is beyond ridiculous at this point.

I bet people would complain when the chapters turn out shorter than usual though. Can't make everyone happy.

John is the "Forrest Gump" of Progenitors.

No! Sorry, not me.

Hey Paladin, were you a War Dragons team leader?

If someone stops contributing to Teffler now, will they still have access to chapters 173-184?

How do his chapters compare lengthwise to Mike's house of horny monsters or something like that

I wonder what is xar's psychic overhead is. How many less progenitors before it affects his strength. I think at some point Helene becomes the weapon to bring him down. She plucked souls from him.

I enjoy how Tefler copies and pastes the phrase “l’ll work on the rest next week and finish it soon” from the previous placeholder. See you next year for another partial chapter and another placeholder.

Well this is it for me. I'm out. I will come back next summer and read the 2 or 3 chapters he will have done by then.

Tef it seems like Alita not Betrixa played succubus with Jehanna.

I’ll be canceling my subscription after this rip off.

And Oh Yeah, part 2 was pretty good, ... ;-) ttfn

$72,000 American dollars worth of unwritten chapters right now. Just an FYI tef. Kinda fucked up.

But this time Tef has stated that when he finally completes the chapter (#172) then he will drop it to us right away, ... no waiting for the EOM, .,. see, he is listening to his fans, .... So, a few more days, or possibly a week or two, .... then a Christmas gift, ... Happy Holidays! .... ;-) ttfm

you must be new here

Typo "her" should be "here": “I’m done her, let’s move on to the next one,”

172 to 184?

Aaarrrgh.... Another part chapter... and surely spme place holder to follow leading to 11 chapter placeholders. Dude can you close all placeholders anytime in your future.

--- YAY! ... and I hope your nap refreshed you, ... -- And we had a very nice Thanksgiving, ... thank you, ... ;-) ttfn

Thanks

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