Defenders System

Overview
On May 15th, 2009, Ranma Hentai Books launched its Defenders System as a way to keep the site alive and continue producing top-notch Ranma Hentai, in the face of the economic slump and outrageous losses to piracy. It is, in essence, a pay-site membership subscription. However, the RHB vastly improved their service to their subscribers in order to justify the cost of subscription.

Defenders is the title given to those True Fans who support the continued production of First-Rate Ranma hentai art and comics, for that is quite literally what their subscription is doing; Defending the future of Ranma hentai. It is a title they can hold with pride... and has numerous more tangible benefits as well, naturally.

Reasons for the Switch
The economic slump was being felt by RHB every bit as much as other industries. The previous six months had not seen even one book break even; costing thousands of dollars more to produce than it made in sales revenue. That revenue was sorely needed to fund the continued creation of new books. Sales were unpredictable and steadily dropping.

Piracy had become a huge problem. By now it had become obvious to many that RHB was producing extremely high-quality Ranma H-mangas with stories written for an English-speaking audience; superior in just about every measurable way to the fan-made Japanese doujinshi that were the alternative for Ranma-fans. However, the considerably majority did not see a need to pay the $9.99 to $24.99 price tag for books that cost anywhere from $5,000-10,000 each to create, or considered that not paying would eventually (even very quickly) lead to an abrupt end to the books yet undrawn. The download links given to those who bought the books were far too easily shared by the shortsighted and unscrupulous. As many as 30 times more people downloaded the books than had actually bought them.

In short, RHB was unsustainable as a business (even a non-profit one) if major changes were not made to secure a steady line of income. The Defender System was their last gamble to avoid closing the business, and it has indeed succeeded very well. The subscriptions provide a steady and reliable source of funding for the future books, ensuring that the artists can be paid for their excellent work. It also provides the added bonus of putting a few more hurdles in the way of content pirates.

What Defenders Gained from the Switch

 * Prior to the launch of the Defenders System, RHB was releasing a completed book about every two months (of the several projects in simultaneous production; the books take much longer than that to produce). The Defenders membership area of the site posts a newly completed page from either the current narrative comic or pin-up book projects six days a week; a considerable increase in frequency for fans eager for their next fix of Ranma hentai.  At times, a third special project may be released on the weekend slot.


 * Defenders also gain far more influence and flexibility over the content and what the fans wish to see next. Page-at-a-time release even allows fans to suggest minor changes to improve the page (if it is at all practical to do so).


 * Free Requests can be ordered or requested by any Defender who has been a member for at least six months (to prevent abuse of this system). This is done by filing a request via the forum, for a pin-up done entirely to their specifications, within certain reasonable limits.  The rules are all listed at the start of the forum's Turn-Based Fan Request thread, and should be read thoroughly before posting any requests there.  Only official requests are allowed to be posted in this topic, as FRs are completed in the sequence they are requested.


 * Commissions may also be ordered (with far less restrictions, though greater complexity will influence the price quoted), but are to be ordered separately by Emailing Deep Star.  Commissions are naturally given priority over free Requests, and moved to the head of the production line.  Commissions are available only to qualified Defenders (6 months) and subsidized by RHB.


 * Yet more bonus art in the form of the Defenders Mascot (Ranma-chan in highly impractical paladin-like armor, wielding sword and shield).


 * Easy recovery of books and content following a hard-drive crash or similar loss. Defender content is available 24/7 to its subscribers.

Subscription Plan Options
Subscription plan prices vary depending on the length. Here are the current prices below: For those want to avoid automatic renewals, there is also a one month "TRIAL" option if they are on the fence about a long term subscription. As seen above, the longer the plan, the greater the savings. Defenders who select the four month plan save about 30 percent! Continuance has greater value towards the RHB's goal of keeping new Ranma hentai comics and art constantly in production than higher prices.
 * 1 month: 24.95 USD
 * 2 months: 22.95 USD per month
 * 3 months: 19.95 USD per month
 * 4 months: 17.95 USD per month