The comments-section polls are back on random rotation for a while. A couple of them have been retired because the answers were time-sensitive — and here are the results.

I’d been planning for a while now that the team’s new mage would be Tamaputian, because it’s been too long since I’ve had a regular excuse to draw Tamaputians. But this is the reason why Atarangi is a fire mage:

And since the Kickstarter for Leif & Thorn Volume 2 ends in just over two weeks, let’s talk about which bonus features made it in!

In order of popularity:

1. Guide to heartsword types — done! It uses the art from the heartsword wallpapers used in 2018 Patreon rewards.
2. Guide to countries/languages — done! I even made some new flags — get a sneak preview on the “countries” Crystalpedia entry.
3. Character profiles – done! Let’s be honest, this one was never in doubt. I didn’t know which storylines would open Volume 2 when I was drawing them, so there’s no special effort to re-introduce anyone.
4. Themed recipes – not in this volume. Partly for lack of space, partly because I didn’t have any bright ideas. (It’s not like there’s much that gets cooked in Volume 2.) Might bring it up again, and ask readers what specific recipes they want to see…
5. Exclusive Q&A comics – not in this volume, entirely for lack of space. Will definitely be offered again.
6. Bonus art by the creator – well, I already promised this as a reward for Kickstarter backers, so it’s on the to-do list. Besides, it’s the best way to fill the smaller blank spaces on certain pages.
7. Bonus art by guest artists – heh, this wasn’t even half as popular. Not in this volume.
8. Filksong – not in Volume 2, but almost definitely going to be arranged for Volume 3, which is The One With The Musical.
9. Puzzles, riddles, mazes, and activities / Coloring pages (I’m putting these in one broad “back-of-the-placemat activities” category) – not in this volume, and I don’t know if I ever want to put them in books, but “printing them on regular paper and tucking them into the reward shipments” is a definite possibility. Did a test run on making a maze — let me know what you think.

Speaking of “things that get tucked into the book,” I’m getting ready to do a poll for the mini-print that’ll ship with the Volume 2 Kickstarter.

There are a few illustrations I already know I’ll offer…but do readers have any requests? Almost anything in the Saturday Sketchbook category is eligible! (If it’s not in a nice 5×7 rectangular format already, I can almost certainly tinker with it to get a version that works.)