Frequently asked questions
Login, downloads, billing, and cancel — short answers for Patron Vault subscribers.
What is the Patron Vault?
- What is this site?
- The Patron Vault is the subscriber library for Michael Loucks’s advance chapters and archives. You pay through Stripe, log in with a magic link (no password), and download entitled files with no DRM.
- Is this the same as Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee?
- No. Those platforms can still run for existing patrons, but new memberships and the main library for Stripe subscribers live here. Day-to-day file access for Vault tiers is this site (Benefactor Sync.com extras are handled separately).
Subscribe
- How do I subscribe?
- Open Pricing, pick a tier and monthly or annual billing, and complete Stripe Checkout. After payment succeeds, return to the vault and log in with the same email you used at checkout.
- What do the tiers include?
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- Gold ($5/mo or $50/yr) — Gold advance depth; Archives after the unlock gate.
- Platinum ($10/mo or $100/yr) — Platinum advance; Archives after the unlock gate.
- Collaborator ($15/mo or $150/yr) — Collaborator advance; Archives immediately.
- Benefactor ($25/mo or $250/yr) — Same vault files as Collaborator, plus non-vault perks managed separately.
- Can I use a promotion code?
- Yes, when Stripe Checkout offers a promotion field. Valid codes apply at payment time.
Log in
- How do I log in?
- There is no password. Go to Log in, enter the email on your active Patron Vault subscription (or gift), and open the one-time link we send when that address has access. The form always shows a confirmation message so we do not reveal whether an email is registered.
- I didn’t get the magic-link email
- Links are only sent for addresses with current membership (or gift). Confirm you used the same email as checkout, then check spam/junk and promotions. Wait a minute and try once more. New subscribers should complete payment first, then log in. If you still need help, write to author@michaelloucks.com from that address.
- The link says invalid or expired
- Magic links are single-use and time-limited. Request a new one from Log in. Do not forward an old link.
Downloads
- How do I download files?
- After login, open Library. Browse folders you are entitled to, download individual files, or download a folder as a zip where offered.
- Is there DRM?
- No. Files are ordinary downloads. Keep your own copies; re-download while your access is active.
- What is “advance” content?
- Advance folders hold the current book(s) in progress for your tier. When a new book starts, prior advance material is typically moved into Archives (and cleared from the live advance tree). That is intentional — it protects the live feed.
Archives
- When do I get Archives?
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- Collaborator and Benefactor — Archives as soon as the subscription is active.
- Gold and Platinum — Archives unlock after a short anti-abuse gate:
- Monthly: after two successful paid invoices.
- Annual: after one successful annual payment and 14 days have passed.
- Early Access (legacy only) — advance only; no Archives.
- If I cancel and re-subscribe later, do I wait for the gate again?
- No. Once Archives have unlocked for your account, they unlock again immediately on a later active Gold/Platinum subscription (Collaborator/Benefactor remain immediate while active).
Book bundles (shop)
- What is the book shop?
- One-time purchases of completed-book packs (no subscription). Browse /shop, pay with Stripe, then log in with the same email to download from your library.
- I already subscribe — do I need bundles?
- If your tier has Archives unlocked, those completed books are already in your library. The shop shows In Archives for you. Bundles are mainly for people who want books without a subscription (or a second email / gift).
- I already bought a pack — can I buy it again?
- When logged in, owned packs show Owned and link to the library. Checkout is blocked for packs you already own on that email.
Billing and cancel
- How do I update my card, change tier, or cancel?
- Log in → Account. Use Change tier (or Pricing upgrade/downgrade buttons) for plan changes among Gold, Platinum, Collaborator, and Benefactor. Use Manage billing for card, invoices, and cancel. Everything runs through the Stripe Customer Portal on your existing subscription (not a second overlapping membership).
- How do upgrades and downgrades bill?
- Stripe updates your current subscription to the new tier and interval. Proration is calculated in the portal before you confirm (you typically pay the difference when upgrading; credit or adjusted timing may apply when downgrading). After you confirm, library depth, Discord roles, and email lists update from the new plan (usually within a minute or two).
- I changed plan — when does everything catch up?
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- This site (library / Archives depth) — usually within a minute or two after Stripe confirms.
- Discord roles — shortly after, if Discord is linked; use Account → Re-sync roles if needed.
- Email lists — automatic for your tier.
- Sync.com folders (legacy shares only) — updated manually by the author and may lag. The Patron Vault website is the live source of truth for your membership. You do not need to email about Sync unless a share is still wrong after a few days.
- How does cancel work?
- Cancel is set for the end of the paid period (not mid-cycle). You keep advance and Archives access through that date. When the period ends, vault access for the subscription is revoked. You can re-subscribe later from Pricing.
- What if a payment fails?
- You keep access for a 3-day grace period. If the invoice is not paid after that, advance and Archives access are revoked until a successful payment. Update your card in the Stripe portal as soon as you can.
- Who handles refunds?
- Billing is Stripe. For refund questions, contact author@michaelloucks.com with the email on the subscription.
Other
- I still support on Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee
- Existing memberships may continue there until you choose otherwise. New Early Access is not sold. For the Stripe vault library, use this site with the email tied to your Stripe (or granted) account.
- Book bundles
- Buy completed-book packs one-time in the Shop (no subscription required). After payment, log in with the same email to download. Subscribers who already have full Archives may not need bundles. Questions: author@michaelloucks.com.
- Privacy and terms
- See the site privacy policy and terms on the author hub.
- Discord roles
- After you subscribe, log in and open Account → Connect Discord. That links your Discord user and applies the vault tier role (Gold Patrons, Platinum Patrons, Collaborators, or Benefactor). If you cancel Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee and those bots remove roles, use Re-sync roles on the same page (or join the server first if needed).
- Still stuck?
- Email author@michaelloucks.com from the address on your account, or ask on Discord.
Pricing · Log in · Author hub