Summary: <h4 style="font-weight: normal;">What is a companion, in an RPG context? What is a henchman? Does the distinction even matter, and if so, why?</h4><a id="more-5775291"></a><p style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id978223252">Subscribe on iTunes</a> | <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/spam-spam-spam-humbug">Subscribe on Stitcher</a></p><h4 style="font-weight: normal;">Intro</h4><p style="font-weight: normal;"><em><a href="http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00810">Ultima VI Gates of Creation</a></em> by OC ReMix</p><h4 style="font-weight: normal;">New Patrons & Shout-Outs</h4><p style="font-weight: normal;">This week, the Ultima Codex has new supporters on Patreon! Thank you, <strong>Pascal </strong>and <strong>kodenkm</strong>, for helping keep the site running.</p><h4 style="font-weight: normal;">Follow-Up From Previous Episode</h4><p style="font-weight: normal;">So how about that timing? I <a href="http://ultimacodex.com/podcast/episode-10-mass-effect-4-ultima-6-and-the-future-of-the-codex/">find time to actually comment</a> on the latest and greatest <em>Mass Effect 4</em> rumours, and BioWare up and <a href="http://ultimacodex.com/2015/06/mass-effect-andromeda-revealed-at-e3/">announces <em>Mass Effect Andromeda</em> at E3</a>. The setting would seem to have changed (per the rumours, it was to be set in a galaxy called, if memory serves, the Helius Cluster), but it looks like many of the other details that were leaked on Reddit have proven true. And the choice of Johnny Cash's <em>Ghost Riders in the Sky</em> for the trailer soundtrack was hilarious, and brilliant.</p><p style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Additionally, Stirring Dragon left a very </span><a href="http://ultimacodex.com/sword-and-shield/topic/spam-spam-spam-humbug-episode-10-mass-effect-4-ultima-6-and-the-future-of-the-codex/#post-33502" style="font-size: 10pt;">lengthy and well-thought-out comment</a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> in reply to last week's episode. In particular, he made a couple of suggestions regarding how I might change my approach to the Codex in the future. The first one, I agree with unreservedly:</span></p><blockquote style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><i style="font-size: 10pt;">First, I think it would be a good idea if you just offered early podcast access as a reward to anyone that donates to your Pateron campaign, even if they back it at the $1/month level. You can always come up with some higher tier rewards down the line if you think you need to, but this would be at least a nice incentive for all your supporters.</i></p></blockquote><p style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">This is a good idea. And as such, this episode of SSSH — and all future episodes thereof — will be available a day early to anyone who contributes at least $1/month to the Ultima Codex on Patreon.</span></p><p style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Stirring had another suggestion:</span></p><blockquote style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><i style="font-size: 10pt;">It may be a good idea to consider creating a Patreon tier level for covering large budget game studio projects and their updates. How I envision this working is that any game company that has an RPG related game they would like to be covered by the Ultima Codex and a budget of $500k+ will need to at least be supporting your Patreon at the correct base level for that to happen. This level should also be required for any Kickstarter coverage for any related games. I think a $50/month tier for this is more than reasonable for the marketing exposure these type of games would get from the Ultima Codex. Honestly, there is no reason you should be spending your time covering large studio Kickstarters and updates about their games if they are not in some way supporting your efforts to do so. This is a very easy win-win for both sid</i></p></blockquote>
