The Order of the Stick Megathread

[Mirai Gen]

Because the rift is where the Snarl exists, as established by Shinjo back during Azure City, and it's odd to say that the rift itself has a separate world inside it...next to the Snarl? Or maybe the Snarl reformed himself over time into a stable universe? Little of it really makes sense, which is why it's a huge plot choice.

[Kim]

Or it could be that it's Earth and the Snarl is the rift itself or some other plot thingy due to what people believe being different from the actual truth. I'm not saying I want it to be true, I'm just arguing so I can be proven wrong.

[Meister]

It doesn't look a thing like Earth?

[Kim]

It's the same color. Just because the continents are all sidieways and misshapen doesn't necessarily mean it isn't Earth. This is a comic where the characters are really detailed stick figures mind you.

[Aerozord]

My first instinct was earth, then I realized he probably wouldn't go for such an obvious cliche

[Mirai Gen]

Couldn't be Earth casue the continents are all screwy and taht's way too predictible.

Burlew's very good at doing exactly what you don't expect so I dont' think he'd be so simple-minded creatively.

[Aerozord]

unless he makes it earth because he knew we'd think he wouldn't make it earth

[Kim]

It's all leading up to his sequel comic, "Stick in the Hood", where the characters awkwardly try to fit in in our crazy, mixed-up world.

[Meister]

The planet they're already on is blue too. And if Burlew wanted this to be Earth he's talented enough to make it look like Earth. The only thing more stupid than introducing a gate to our Earth in a D&D story would be introducing a gate to a distinctly non-Earth planet, only to go "oh btw it's Earth" later on.

... just the other day I was talking to people about how, miraculously, we have an OotS thread here that has none of the outlandish just-for-the-hell-of-it theories of the official forums like "the planet has two suns" or "Haley is an archdevil", please don't take that away from me.

e: you're making fun of these theories aren't you? Yes, of course you are. I'm relieved.

[Mirai Gen]

Thta kind of sounds like just throwing out theories so whenthe truth is revealed you have a small chance of being all "I CALLED IT!"

[Kim]

No, Meister. I'm deadly serious about Stick in the Hood. You mean you aren't looking forward to Roy rap-battling Eminem in a turf battle because he's black and black people rap?

[Zanaril]

Erfworld had dance-fighting. So far, Oots does not. I strongly hope it stays that way.

It's strange. Now that I've been told it's on a confirmed hiatus I can't help but check the site every few hours. o_O

I go there anyway for the crack pairings thread.

[Aerozord]

now if you want a crazy theory that stands a chance of being true. Maybe its a paradox thing. They are looking at the world they are in. Kind of an infinite loop thing. We are talking about a hole in the fabric of reality, dont think its too unlikely its some time-space defying impossibility

[Meister]

But Roy is a Fighter and any well-played Fighter does not take ranks in perform and also not levels in Fighter but instead in Cleric and buys metamagic rods and nightsticks http://forum.nuklearpower.com/picture.php?albumid=11&pictureid=24

[Kim]

Remember, this is a world where people don't know there are Skill Points... Anything is possible.

[Zanaril]

Remember, this is a world where people don't know there are Skill Points... Anything is possible.

Comic #2: Elan: Skill points! I love my six new Skill Points!

[Kim]

I was actually talking about our world where Roy becomes a gangster rapper, while also referencing the comic where Roy and his girlyfriend talked about why people kill each other.

[Aerozord]

But Roy is a Fighter and any well-played Fighter does not take ranks in perform and also not levels in Fighter but instead in Cleric and buys metamagic rods and nightsticks http://forum.nuklearpower.com/picture.php?albumid=11&pictureid=24

most well-played fighters also dont put points in intellegence and charisma

[MFD]

I still like the idea that the Eastern gods were able to work the Snarl into a central world, and actually saved the Stickverse already.

[Art of Hilt]

...
Ooooh.
"A FAMILIAR Conclusion".
I just got it.

[Meister]

Ladies and Gentlemen, the gang's back (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0673.html).

Durkon's either too good for this world or needs to brush up on his spot checks, and Haley's morals continue to be called into question.

e: and I notice Blackwing or whatever his name was is still with the party as opposed to in familiarspace.

[Mirai Gen]

e: and I notice Blackwing or whatever his name was is still with the party as opposed to in familiarspace.
Oh hey! Nice touch, Burlew. Maybe this is way of introducing a new character.

[Kim]

Haley's morals continue to be called into question.

Really? Stealing from someone who steals from you first seems like a perfectly reasonable response, and, not only that, will hopefully teach the kid a lesson.

[phil_]

Really? Stealing from someone who steals from you first seems like a perfectly reasonable response, and, not only that, will hopefully teach the kid a lesson.Those twelve silver pieces were this week's dinner for those kids. They're going to starve now for trying to steal a pittance from a wealthy adventurer worth a small nation's GDP, not to mention what's going to happen to them once their handler finds out they screwed up so badly. Totally reasonable.

[Meister]

Clearly the poor little tykes are living a hard life and have no other choice but to liberate small amounts from passing strangers and hope it will be enough to buy some scraps from a food stall. And now not only has Haley denied them this, she took their saved money and valued string collection as well! No sir, I say if there ever was any doubt about Haley being a fiend, this event removes it entirely.

[krogothwolf]

The kids should learn to not leave their own wallet where someone can steal it. They learned a valuable lesson in thiefdom. When stealing, protect your own belongs as well. Haley is just teaching the next generation of thieves. She isn't a fiend, but providing a community service!

[Kim]

But, by D&D standards, isn't twelve silver more than enough to feed them for a while? That's what they get for having eyes bigger than their stomachs.

[Meister]

They were saving up for their own tent, you monster!

(10 GP)

[Kim]

If they were real thieves, they'd just take somebody else's.

[BitVyper]

Mr. Scruffy is a treasure hog.

[Meister]

If they were real thieves, they'd just take somebody else's.
One string at a time.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Mr. Scruffy is totally badass.

Fix'd it for you, and Haley is just trying to teach the children a lesson about thieving; don't steal from a high level thief's ally.

[Mr.Bookworm]

Oh hey! Nice touch, Burlew. Maybe this is way of introducing a new character.

Note that he's actually sitting on V's shoulder too, instead of just hovering, so their relationship must still be on the up track (and given that V appears to have rediscovered his sense of humility, probably will continue on so).

Also I guess the new hairstyle is permanent? Makes V look a lot more like his mate/master.

[Ryong]

Why they don't remember the raven? Any ideas?

[Mirai Gen]

I'm not too familiar with 3.5 but I'm guessing that V has all of his levels back?

Its also nice to see Blackwing act as a new character rather than convenient comedic relief; I'm going to like him and V working together.

EDIT: I can't tell if the last panel is a joke or if he's actually restraining Black Mage tendencies there, what with his most recent fall from Neutral grace.

[Zanaril]

EDIT: I can't tell if the last panel is a joke or if he's actually restraining Black Mage tendencies there, what with his most recent fall from Neutral grace.
A bit one this, a bit of that.

V has always had moments of wanting to fireball people.

[phil_]

Why they don't remember the raven? Any ideas?Meta-V, who does not exist, has only mentioned Blackwing to the Meta-OotS, which also doesn't exist, very rarely. Blackwing wasn't involved in getting loot or killing things. The Meta-OotS have been at this campaign for a while, and after a while players forget things, especially flavor things that were only rarely mentioned.

So the players don't remember Blackwing because they forgot he existed and have no evidence that he ever did. Thus, the OotS doesn't remember him, because they live in a world where it's like they have players outside the story, even though they don't.

[Meister]

There is in fact such a thing as an overabundance of lampshade-hanging. Didn't like this one at all.

[Aerozord]

well the whole issue of the familar suddenly appearing was a DnD trope of completely forgetting about some seldom used aspect of your character until it became useful. But everyone else refusing to acknowledge its existance when they had in the past, if I recall correctly once Haley was the one to bring up the bird and thus pop it back into existance. So while amusing it really makes no sense in the story

PS why is it whenever people see children pick-pocketing they assume they are poor. For all you know they are the kids of wealthy merchants just looking for some quick spending money until their next allowance.

[Solid Snake]

There is in fact such a thing as an overabundance of lampshade-hanging. Didn't like this one at all.

I agree, actually. Burlew always had his moments of fourth-wall shattering and lampshade indulgences, but it's become more and more a frequent and crucial element in the comics lately. The fourth wall gags used to be pleasant, intermittent surprises occasionally interrupting a larger and more pertinent narrative; it increasingly feels that Burlew allows himself to get derailed with 'fourth wall' or 'meta-jokes' strips (either to drag out the comic or just for 'grins and giggles' -- see also #669.)

It's strange but I actually think the increasing percentage of lampshade-hanging and 'meta' moments in OOTS -- as well as the unfortunate (but necessary) ending of the awesome Sapphire Guild War arc -- that's largely responsible for OOTS being dethroned from its former pedestal as my favorite webcomic. Here's hoping the new plotline injects new life.

[phil_]

It's strange but I actually think the increasing percentage of lampshade-hanging and 'meta' moments in 8BT -- as well as the unfortunate (but necessary) ending of the awesome Sapphire Guild War arc -- that's largely responsible for 8BT being dethroned from its former pedestal as my favorite webcomic. Here's hoping the new plotline injects new life.8-bit had a Sapphire Guild arc?

[Solid Snake]

I'm not sure whether to apologize for having gotten my acronyms mixed up, or if I should chastise you for making a snarky comment regarding an obvious mistake when my intent should have been clear.

[Mirai Gen]

It was technically called the Azure City but I figured it was perfectly clear what he had meant.
There is in fact such a thing as an overabundance of lampshade-hanging. Didn't like this one at all.
Yeah, I got that feeling too, more than a little bit. My favorite part is actually just the implementation of Blackwing as a 'new' character, but the whole clash of not remembering the familiar seemed like a bad setup for a joke.

[Steel Shadow]

I dunno. If this is lampshade hanging it's pretty outta place, and I'd agree not that great. But it feels more like a plot thread. I mean, V even points out that Haley named the bird right there. Somethings up. :shifty:

[Kim]

I dunno. If this is lampshade hanging it's pretty outta place, and I'd agree not that great. But it feels more like a plot thread. I mean, V even points out that Haley named the bird right there. Somethings up. :shifty:

No. Nothing's up. It was a joke. Laugh. LAUGH!

[Krylo]

I kinda gotta agree with Steel.

I'm guessing it has something to do with the bird getting so close to the tangle or whatever that he could actually see into/through it.

Or it's the worst joke the comic has had.

[phil_]

I'm not sure whether to apologize for having gotten my acronyms mixed up, or if I should chastise you for making a snarky comment regarding an obvious mistake when my intent should have been clear.The second one. It wasn't funny, looking back on it.

[Meister]

New strip. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0675.html)

My dislike of last episode does in no way extend to any before or, as I can safely say now, after it.

[Mirai Gen]

Art upgrade!

I do like knocking on the more armor/more skin showing for females. I mean the joke sure as hell isn't new but I like his execution of it.

EDIT: Woah, midnight update on Saturday? I cross my fingers this trend continues.

[Jagos]

Uh...

That one's been up all Friday. No one noticed it yesterday.

[Meister]

20,000 GP, as long as you don't mind my children starving.
Really this is probably one of the oldest points about RPGs you can possibly make - that merchants regularly and routinely handle sums that most people in the world would consider plain unreal - but it's rarely delivered this well in D&D media. Many comics would waste an entire episode on making that point and do nothing more than have their characters stand in a shop going "Have You Ever Noticed..."

[Mirai Gen]

I also like that Elan's braindamaged childishness is coming back; he's supposed to be a wise fool, except for the last plot arc he forgot the 'fool' part. Looking back the presence of the entire 'haste' argument with V seemed kind of out of place.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Really this is probably one of the oldest points about RPGs you can possibly make - that merchants regularly and routinely handle sums that most people in the world would consider plain unreal - but it's rarely delivered this well in D&D media. Many comics would waste an entire episode on making that point and do nothing more than have their characters stand in a shop going "Have You Ever Noticed..."

I always saw Dnd economies as incisive commentary on modern day economies.

But yeah this was handled very well in that it wasn't the punchline and was just slipped in and could easily go unnoticed. Much better after the last couple of strips which I didn't like.

[Odjn]

It's funny...a belt of charisma improves your charisma until you take it off...

[Arhra]

But do you really need it at that point?

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

[Aerozord]

yes, because the last thing you want is for her to notice your charisma isn't so hot under the hood. If you know what I mean

[Jagos]

Dear god Dragonboobies...

[Kim]

Belkar sucks at being a helper.

[Mirai Gen]

Ehh, this episode wasn't great. Too much wacky-misunderstandings for my likings.

[Masaki-kun]

Main punchline was pretty lame. Lizardboobs was kinda funny.

[Aerozord]

hmm guess I'm the only one that finds chinchilas inherently hilarious

[Meister]

Bag of Tricks v2.

[Mirai Gen]

I honestly think that these few comics are trying to restore the natural order now that Roy is back. Belkar's brain-damagedly stupid again, Elan's lovable and exciteable but a dummy, Haley is clever and questionable, Roy is the tough-guy straightman, V is too good for the party, and I predict Durkon is, next episode, getting the focus.

[Zanaril]

I honestly think that these few comics are trying to restore the natural order now that Roy is back. Belkar's brain-damagedly stupid again, Elan's lovable and exciteable but a dummy, Haley is clever and questionable, Roy is the tough-guy straightman, V is too good for the party, and I predict Durkon is, next episode, getting the focus.

The whole point of Durkon is that he doesn't get any focus. Whatsoever. He's just a first aid pack with the personality of a plastic box full of plasters and healing spells.

He will specifically get a comic not focusing on him.

[Osterbaum]

Just going to comment on the latest episode by saying, I don't really like those misunderstanding-words-jokes.

[Nuklear Waste]

I think it works best when it's playing on double meanings and/or not stretching the believability of mishearing something (such as OOTS's several takes on Who's on first?, with the King of Nowhere one being my personal favorite). I mean, "sex taint" is kinda dumb. Hell, I think "sex tent" would have been better and fit the setting.

[Aerozord]

yea sex taint sounds like something you'd want to avoid, and probably get whatever the hell DnD has for illness curing

[Meister]

Clerics.

[MFD]

Like they'd help.

... Well, maybe Freya would. And Aphrodite, before the Snarl got her.

[Kim]

Welp, V, nice job.

Either the guy is dead and you are a murderer and will get cussed out by your party, or...

You just don't get the diamond dust.

Either sucks.

[Jagos]

Damn, either way, that guy got owned.

At least until the next comic.

[Bard The 5th LW]

It was his fault for being a prick.

[Krylo]

Nah, see Noncon, the trick is to put him into negative HPs, but above -10, so he has to be rushed off to a healer but isn't dead, and still doesn't get the diamond dust as he's too busy recovering from near death.

[Kepor]

V could have avoided all that with an insult. Something like, "You have a silver tongue, bard." I don't know.

[Mirai Gen]

This solidly confirms that V took a serious step on the Evil side of the street.

I mean you can argue all you want but casting Lightning Bolt on a rival wizard that you know is just trying to get a rise out of you by insulting your intelligence - rather than a more harmless spell that'll just kick the prick's ass outside - is pretty Evil.

I like the first line. "We need 500 GP worth. Go back." It ignores Appraisal but it's still funny.

[Masaki-kun]

Dude did call him a warlock. That's going too far.

[Mirai Gen]

Yeah I know how serious it is to say a wizard is actually a warlock - I mean that shit just ain't right, maternal insults and dick jokes are cool, but warlock? That's just plain uncool - but that doesn't excuse Lightning Bolting the dude in the face.

And that's an AoE spell, too.

[Aerozord]

Yeah I know how serious it is to say a wizard is actually a warlock - I mean that shit just ain't right, maternal insults and dick jokes are cool, but warlock? That's just plain uncool - but that doesn't excuse Lightning Bolting the dude in the face.

And that's an AoE spell, too.

you are right, quickened disintigrate would have been much more appropriate. I mean if he has resistance to lightning then he may only be slightly injured instead of feeling his very molecules ripped apart

Oh and I love that, despite being intellegent and wise, he's still a raven

[Mirai Gen]

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, so I will say that with a Quickened Lightning Bolt slot he could have easily cast Bigby's Grasping Fist and just chucked the fucker out of the store. Nobody would have questioned his awesomeness that way.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Ah the really annoying NPC, a classic of mine. But yeah, that's pretty out and out evil right there.

[Amake]

Evil? More like Chaotic Stupid. And unsure. Wah, an NPC I've never seen and never will again is saying mean things, I have to prove him wrong! And punch him in the face. With magic.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

No, that is out and out evil.

[Amake]

As reassuring as it would be if Evil was defined by pettiness, pride, shortsightedness, immaturity, bad temper, needing to prove yourself and disproportionate lust for revenge, I'm pretty sure those attributes can go with any alignment. >_>

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Shooting people with spells likely to kill them for no real cause is evil.
The difference between the alignments is how they act on those attritubes. Acting with extreme violence is evil.
You can have pride and not be evil but putting your pride over the life of other people is pretty much the definition of evil. Having pride so ridiculously extreme is pretty evil.
Let's quote the SRD:

Good characters and creatures protect innocent life. Evil characters and creatures debase or destroy innocent life, whether for fun or profit.

"Good" implies altruism, respect for life, and a concern for the dignity of sentient beings. Good characters make personal sacrifices to help others.

"Evil" implies hurting, oppressing, and killing others. Some evil creatures simply have no compassion for others and kill without qualms if doing so is convenient. Others actively pursue evil, killing for sport or out of duty to some evil deity or master.

People who are neutral with respect to good and evil have compunctions against killing the innocent but lack the commitment to make sacrifices to protect or help others. Neutral people are committed to others by personal relationships.

Being good or evil can be a conscious choice. For most people, though, being good or evil is an attitude that one recognizes but does not choose. Being neutral on the good-evil axis usually represents a lack of commitment one way or the other, but for some it represents a positive commitment to a balanced view. While acknowledging that good and evil are objective states, not just opinions, these folk maintain that a balance between the two is the proper place for people, or at least for them.
Emphasis mine.

[Amake]

I assumed a single spell wasn't going to do a lot of damage to anyone at this stage of the campaign. (At least not what looks like a high level wizard.) And the jerk was asking for it. Obliging him is a good act in my book. . . it's just dumb cause he tries to resist doing it but can't.

Guess I'll wait to see what the spell does before judging.

[Krylo]

Shooting people with spells likely to kill them for no real cause is evil.
The difference between the alignments is how they act on those attritubes. Acting with extreme violence is evil.
You can have pride and not be evil but putting your pride over the life of other people is pretty much the definition of evil. Having pride so ridiculously extreme is pretty evil.


I'm pretty sure stabbing the fuck out of people that wound your pride is like 90% of every cliche paladin's roleplay, and paladins are Lawful Good.

Not saying zapping the dude in the face with a lightning bolt wasn't evil, persay, just saying that pride, ego, and honor are the same exact thing--except killing someone over honor is usually a 'good' act so your argument as to WHY it was evil doesn't really stand up.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

I assumed a single spell wasn't going to do a lot of damage to anyone at this stage of the campaign. (At least not what looks like a high level wizard.) And the jerk was asking for it. Obliging him is a good act in my book. . . it's just dumb cause he tries to resist doing it but can't.

Guess I'll wait to see what the spell does before judging.

Yeah my point is that skill was kill the majority of the people in the world. And even if it doesn't kill it will cause serious damage, especially to a wizard who have low HP. It's not really justified.

I'm pretty sure stabbing the fuck out of people that wound your pride is like 90% of every cliche paladin's roleplay, and paladins are Lawful Good.

Not saying zapping the dude in the face with a lightning bolt wasn't evil, persay, just saying that pride, ego, and honor are the same exact thing--except killing someone over honor is usually a 'good' act so your argument as to WHY it was evil doesn't really stand up.
Well not sure how to answer that because any paladin who tried that in my campaign would find all their paladin abilities gone straight away. I mean surely a paladin would find a solution that doesn't involve killing/maiming, especially in such a minor case?
I guess I would have to say that I would at least expect the paladin to give a warning first or organise some kind of duel or something not "I can handle the insult, I can handle the insult, BAM! You are dead!"

I will concede that I possibly interpret the alignments different to other people. My players tend to load up on subdual damage options for a reason :).

[Jagos]

...

V isn't known for Wisdom. He is still impatient and easily angered. And the guy provoked him for diamond dust. Saying every last action he's done (rather than the huge ones such as Familicide as well as saving O-Chul while invisible) is "evil or good" is kinda like making a mountain out of a molehill.

He's Neutral. He's going to have good acts as well as bad acts. Right now, I don't see many good acts coming up for story purposes. But at least we get to see that his "conscience" (Blackwing) is going to be a staple of the party for the time being.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Remind me never to get on the bad side of you guys... Being short tempered doesn't justify murdering people based on that temper.

As for the balancing evil and good V's just been doing evil for a long while now.

[Jagos]

I doubt the guys been murdered. Wouldn't it be likely that he has some type of shield but was still blasted off camera?

[Meister]

I think this is just V being V. Whatever his alignment is after everything he's been up to with the fiends and soul splice, this is not gonna change it. Sure in a real life campaign you could probably spin it into a mini-adventure ("You meet back up and find out your wizard's been put in jail") or give some negative karma points, but in the context of OotS it's just slight misbehaviour.

That's why there's a sign saying "no spellcasting." If it was a big deal there wouldn't even need to be a sign for the same reasons there don't need to be signs everywhere that say "no murdering people."

[Mirai Gen]

I think it's worth mentioning that the last time he cast a lethal spell on someone for the express purpose of teaching them a lesson it was Explosive Runes on a ranger and a paladin (Belkar/Miko), and on one of those he even expressed "She has a d10 hit die, she was in no real danger."

This is him casting a much more powerful spell on a d4 class. I think this is solidly evil. Borne out of pride and arrogance, true, but very evil.

[Meister]

Well then it's just as evil as back when he did it to Belkar or Miko. Which depending on your interpretation might of course be not that evil at all. But either way, surely casting a damage spell on someone you're angry at doesn't get any less evil just because they'll probably survive?

[Kim]

I would argue killing someone out of anger is less evil than injuring someone out of anger.

[Mirai Gen]

Well then it's just as evil as back when he did it to Belkar or Miko. Which depending on your interpretation might of course be not that evil at all. But either way, surely casting a damage spell on someone you're angry at doesn't get any less evil just because they'll probably survive?

It does considering he planned those out; something about the way he monitored his actions to attack Miko or Belkar says he knew he was just doing it to annoy them. This is much more spur-of-the-moment and I don't think he'd think 'I might kill him' in this instance.

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut this discussion's pretty moot as undoubtedly next episode Burlew is going to have V get tossed out of the shop comedically to no effect so I'll call it good for now.

[h4x.m4g3]

You know looking back at the last panel, that guys arms and legs are still there, so either V blew just his head of or the guy did a cartoony head-inside the shirt at the last minute thing.

[Meister]

... he's falling backwards and those are his legs.

[h4x.m4g3]

I must be sicker then I thought, the way his turban is floating in mid-air in near the same spot threw me off.

[Meister]

If it's any consolation, now I'm going to see it that way forever.

[Aerozord]

Hey in my younger days, I would totally have punched that guy in the face. Thats not evil thats losing your temper. Yea its bad, but its not like he did it just to do it, or simply because he was annoying. His familar was even talking him out of it, he tried to ignore him but he just kept going. Remember what they told Roy in heaven, what matters is that you try to be good.

Besides this guy knew what he was about to get to the face, I doubt it would kill him.


That's why there's a sign saying "no spellcasting." If it was a big deal there wouldn't even need to be a sign for the same reasons there don't need to be signs everywhere that say "no murdering people."

wait... you dont have those? Wow this must be a worse neighborhood then I thought

[Meister]

New comic already (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0678.html).

Now if this didn't go in a completely different direction than what everyone thought. Also, ouch.

[Kim]

Bwuh?!

What the shit.

Well... Um... Wow.

[Art of Hilt]

Hey hey hey hey hey
Where did that come from? Dang.

[Mirai Gen]

He is dedicated to his job, apparently.

Way to go V! Let it be said that you didn't fuck everything up completely!

EDIT: I like Blackwing more and more. "So, you know. Progress."

[Aerozord]

I believe this would qualify as a xanatos gambit, and it is the most lovely one I have seen in a long time.

oh and spoiled because no way I'm gonna be the one to ruin that joke for people gotta say I cant really blame her either. After seeing your spouse hopped up on dark magical energy being leached from the most evil mages to ever live and using it to commit genocide on an entire family line, yea I'd call those legit grounds for divorce.

[Loyal]

"Served", indeed.

[Jagos]

*ahem*

V just got served!

Yeah, I went there.

Darn Ninjas!

[russianreversal]

That was a totally pointless and rather painful way to deliver a summons. I'm still trying to figure out why anyone would go though that sort of trouble just to be that much more of an asshole than he already is.

[Meister]

He's probably Evil.

[Mirai Gen]

Cause it's funnier, honestly. There's tons of fun jokes that get kicked around about being served (since you can refuse to be served) and this one was pretty funny and unexpected.
He's probably Evil.
Honestly, I kind of deserve this.

[MFD]

It was an elaborate trick to get V to accept the summons.

I mean, how else will you get a nearly epic mage to accept it? He can just say "I never received it," or just refuse to touch it. But he declared himself by name and physically touched the summons.

[Jagos]

He could have burned it...

[Aerozord]

it was delivered and a witness verified that it was, legally he received it

[Mirai Gen]

He could have burned it...

You should do that next time someone serves you, Jagos. See how well it works out.

[Kepor]

They'll put a burn notice on you.

[Krylo]

You should do that next time someone serves you, Jagos. See how well it works out.

To be fair, Jagos isn't an epic level mage that could probably deal with any officers of the law that came after him with a few uttered words.

[Mirai Gen]

That's completely not the point. Plus I doubt V is going to start nuking officers of the law just because his wife is divorcing him anyway.

[Jagos]

There's an obvious Evil joke there but...

I'm gonna digress.

They'll put a Burn Notice on you.

*chuckles* I see what you did there...

[Aerozord]

I think legally they just have to inform you of appearing in court. Beyond that why would they care, its a civil suit, you dont show up you just outright lose.

[Masaki-kun]

Well, he may have won the duel, but man. That guy had his number.

[Amake]

Haha, I was completely thrown by the twist. Been reading so much Wheel of Time I expect all magic users to be unable to lie.

So, you know, progress. V is totally less evil than a few strips ago. Maybe xe has to die before we find out what alignment xe really is.

[Loyal]

...that may be the most obnoxious means of dodging around V's gender I've ever seen.

[MFD]

What, "mate"? They've done it before. They've even used "spouse" which sounds more obnoxious.

V referring to his better half as "mate" actually makes sense since that may just be what the elven word means. No difference between husband and wife. Just mates.

[Dracorion]

...that may be the most obnoxious means of dodging around V's gender I've ever seen.

Have you forgotten his kids, his freaking kids, referring to him as "Other Parent"?

[BitVyper]

I'm pretty sure he's referring to IQ using "xe" instead of he or she.

[Krylo]

That's completely not the point.

I got the point.

My point is that what wouldn't go well for a normal person in a normal law situation might not actually cause many problems for an epic level mage if they feel like being an asshole about it.

Not that I think V would do that, just that I don't see where V is still at a power level where mortal laws can really apply to him unless he wants them to. Kind of like how, sure, you can tell Superman he's in trouble for destroying those five skyscrapers he just punched Darkseid through, but unless he feels like letting you put him in prison, you aren't going to put him in prison. On the same note you can tell V that the divorce went through because the summons weren't answered, but V's 'mate' isn't going to be free of V unless V feels like letting V's mate be... not V's mate. Same goes for V's kids and any of V's stuff that V might want that ended up going to V's mate after V didn't show up to court.

Edit: Though is V epic level? I'm not actually sure, come to think of it. What level is the group at this point? I know they're supposed to be in the high teens at least, but I'm not sure if they've breached 20 yet.

[BitVyper]

Nah, I don't think they're at the epic levels. I'm guessing 16 or so. They haven't done anything beyond that power range that I can think of.

V isn't really at the Nietzschean Superman level just yet. I mean, there's a lot of things he could pull if he were so inclined, but he couldn't act with impunity due to being so powerful that no one could tell him to stop. Worst case scenario, I'm guessing his master would probably take responsibility for putting a stop to it.

[Krylo]

I think a few of them were named at 16-18, but that was, I believe, around the time of the siege on Azure, so there should have been a few levels here and there since then. Also I don't think it really matters whether V is at those levels, as he'd never do it, anyway. He's not THAT evil yet.

[Masaki-kun]

Even if V were that evil, there's still enough good aligned mages about, V's master notwithstanding, who could step in and lay the funk should V decide "screw the rules I have magic."

[Jagos]

Class Levels by the Geekery thread:

Roy - 12
Belkar - 13
Durkon - 13
Elan - 14ish
Haley - 15 (needed a feat that put her pretty high)
V - 14

[Odjn]

I think a few of them were named at 16-18, but that was, I believe, around the time of the siege on Azure, so there should have been a few levels here and there since then. Also I don't think it really matters whether V is at those levels, as he'd never do it, anyway. He's not THAT evil yet.

V's master was shown as being pretty hardcore when the fiends said oh, you could die and do this message to your master who would pwn the elder black dragon with class levels. I think he might complain.

[Amake]

I'm pretty sure he's referring to IQ using "xe" instead of he or she. I hang with some transgendered people, so I've picked up some words. I like "xe", but "hir" is ugly so I avoid that. >_>

Anyway, for the record I believe V is female. I trust Belkar's nose. But I'm not sure.

[Mirai Gen]

I got the point.

My point is that what wouldn't go well for a normal person in a normal law situation might not actually cause many problems for an epic level mage if they feel like being an asshole about it.
...ahh okay that makes more sense. I was on the subjects of how legal summons work and I hadn't put it together as you taking a shot at how V can do whatever the hell V feels like doing. Withdrawn!

[Krylo]

V's master was shown as being pretty hardcore when the fiends said oh, you could die and do this message to your master who would pwn the elder black dragon with class levels. I think he might complain.

I don't know.

If he's that powerful and that willing to intercede on evil, then why are V and Roy and all bothering to fight Xykon? I mean Xykon's plans could very well destroy the entire world if things go even a little bit wrong, and V's master is just kinda chillin' in his tower even after an entire country was wiped off the map by the guy, and not even recent enough that one could make a reasonable argument that wizard of that caliber hadn't heard about it yet.

Either V's master is also some form of neutral (or evil) and just doesn't give a shit about whatever evil is going on so long as it's leaving him alone, or he's not actually all that super powerful.

Given the way the fiends were talking, I'm guessing the first of the two, unless I missed where V's master's alignment was stated as some form of good.

[Jagos]

I have to think he's TN for all intents and purposes. You leave him alone, he won't beat the hell out of you twenty ways from Sunday.

[Masaki-kun]

I was ABOUT to counterargue that his master might be more concerned with direct fuckups by his pupil than general issues with the world, but if his master's scrying him and cares, then Familicide would have been that trigger.

[Krylo]

I was ABOUT to counterargue that his master might be more concerned with direct fuckups by his pupil than general issues with the world, but if his master's scrying him and cares, then Familicide would have been that trigger.

Or taking the fiend's deal in the first place.

I would also have to assume that unless V went about casting familicide (which he no longer knows) left and right and destroying entire continents or whatever, that he'd be mostly left alone. Forcing his family to stay together or stealing his own things that he lost in a divorce or kidnapping his own children to raise them... while all illegal, I don't think any of those acts would exactly catch the attention of any high level characters who might be inclined to stop it, as they'd all probably be busy with their own more epic quests.

Like imagine if someone told Roy that some wizard had done that and wasn't actually threatening anyone else or really doing anything further or any kind of threat, but they needed him to go put a stop to it? Chances are even Lawful Good Roy would be like "Don't have time, bigger fish to fry" unless it was like two houses down or something.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

I like to think of all high and epic level NPCs, especially wizard ones, as arrogant dicks, just rocking out in their towers all day going "Yeah, I'm badass!". It helps explain why theyu don't fix any world problems.

[Mirai Gen]

If he's that powerful and that willing to intercede on evil, then why are V and Roy and all bothering to fight Xykon? I mean Xykon's plans could very well destroy the entire world if things go even a little bit wrong, and V's master is just kinda chillin' in his tower even after an entire country was wiped off the map by the guy, and not even recent enough that one could make a reasonable argument that wizard of that caliber hadn't heard about it yet.
IIRC, nobody except V knows how bitchin' rad his master is, and V would never admit to not being powerful enough to handle the situation himself, again. That was directly lead to his falling from (neutral) grace anyway.

As per a desperate measure, sure, but V seems like he'd want to handle this himself.

[Krylo]

Xykon just wiped out an entire country of paladins. Well not just. It was some odd months ago. More than enough time for news to travel.

I don't think V has to tell his master anything for his master to know about Xykon at this point. He might not know V is fighting Xykon, but he's gotta know about the ludicrously powerful lich that took over a country and put an epic anti-scrying spell over an entire city by now, especially considering the giant tears in reality that have been popping up here and there.

[01d55]

V's master is almost certainly an Elf, and is probably, like V, a citizen of the major elvish polity (It's my impression that there's only one of those). This major polity recently began a military operation against the occupation of Azure City.

[Mirai Gen]

Hey where are those guys anyway? I was curious about them.

[t_catt11]

I have to think he's TN for all intents and purposes. You leave him alone, he won't beat the hell out of you twenty ways from Sunday.

This seems like the most reasonable explanation to me.

[MFD]

He goes both ways?

I love how this comic shows different people with different interpretations of the same Alignment. Even beyond Hinjo, O-Chul, and Miko (LG), we have Belkar and Xykon (CE), and possibly V and Julia (NN).

Also, I must have missed the xhe bit.

[Krylo]

I think Belkar may have been persuaded to move more toward lawful evil or neutral evil after his spirit vision.

[Odjn]

I don't know.

If he's that powerful and that willing to intercede on evil, then why are V and Roy and all bothering to fight Xykon? I mean Xykon's plans could very well destroy the entire world if things go even a little bit wrong, and V's master is just kinda chillin' in his tower even after an entire country was wiped off the map by the guy, and not even recent enough that one could make a reasonable argument that wizard of that caliber hadn't heard about it yet.

Either V's master is also some form of neutral (or evil) and just doesn't give a shit about whatever evil is going on so long as it's leaving him alone, or he's not actually all that super powerful.

Given the way the fiends were talking, I'm guessing the first of the two, unless I missed where V's master's alignment was stated as some form of good.

He's willing to interceed where his pupil is involved. Keep in mind that I am sure V's master is powerful, but OOTS has a more 'realistic' viewpoint rather than D&D where he could probably be taken down by said government, or another elven wizard of similar power, etc etc.

I would doubt that he has no agreements with the government, and the elves do seem pretty well together as a nation, so V stomping around magicing people at whim would be quite embarrassing to his mentor, who is stronger than him.

This is also assuming that even a TN character won't allow something he might dislike- threatening an innocent woman for daring to divorce someone who just pretty much redefined their relationship in a really awful manner.

We don't know whether Aarindarius would actually DO it, but he has the capability of telling V to sit down and shut up. We would need to actually know his character to speculate.

As for him not fighting Xykon, Xykon has now cast at least two epic level spells, and might be able to craft a ring of fire immunity, in which case he is incredibly powerful by the standards of the OOTSverse and A simply might not be up to fighting him.

[Aerozord]

on the whole legal thing. Its a civil suit, he doesn't show he loses. Just about anything the spouse wants is granted. atleast how real world law works

[Kim]

How's he going to explain this to them team?

[Loyal]

I imagine he'll make no attempt to. There's no reason they would know of it, and no reason for him to tell them.

[Kim]

He's going to have to leave to go to the divorce proceedings, won't he? He just going to leave and hope they don't notice?

[Loyal]

Not so much "hope they don't notice" as "pretend to not give a damn".

He just came back from a few months of "fuck y'all, I got shit to do," it shouldn't be too hard to come up with a decent excuse as to why he would need to extend the leave.

[Mirai Gen]

There's also the fact that, despite everything he says about how much he cares for Kyrie and how great their wedding was (I can't remember his full name), V honestly doesn't seem to give that much of a shit.

[Aerozord]

well not like V going there will help. Can you image going to a judge and telling him your reason for commiting genocide was "the voices in my head thought it was a good idea". Lets not forget the big one that really screws things
V: "I only sold my soul to save my family"
Judge: "I see so there was no other choice?"
V: " 0_0...uhhh"

[Meister]

New comic's up! (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0679.html)

[Professor Smarmiarty]

No way are NPCs real people. They are just there for amusement, to provide direction, to sell loot and feature hazily in a character's background/motivations.

If you ever want good times as a DM, run your party into another party of NPC adventurers and have them treat your PCs like NPCs. Classic times.

[Mr.Bookworm]

There's also the fact that, despite everything he says about how much he cares for Kyrie and how great their wedding was (I can't remember his full name), V honestly doesn't seem to give that much of a shit.

I would argue that it's not so much that V doesn't give a shit, it's just that he's socially maladjusted and arrogant to the point where he has hard time expressing his feelings and understanding how relationships work.

The deal with the fiends, the murder of the dragon, the subsequent genocide of 1/25 of the world's chromatic dragons, all of those show his caring a lot (in a very evil sort of way), but he was only able to express it when he had a clear, direct goal to achieve.

[Mirai Gen]

Yeah; you're completely right, as shown by today's episode.

[Art of Hilt]

Look at that. You can sort of see V struggling somewhat with the whole idea, but then he decides upon a course, and when that course is taken, you can tell he has grown as a- sombrero?
What

[Meister]

Update! (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0680.html)

It's true, if your backstory involves finding something, you don't stand a chance of finding it unless it's dramatically appropriate.

[Solid Snake]

My only regret with the latest strip is that Durkon's been reduced to something of a punchline, and he's presumably a PC...one of my favorite PCs, at that. =(
I know Burlew wouldn't take my advice but damn man, you've done such a great job with all the other characters, why not give Durkon some much-needed depth.

[Corel]

My only regret with the latest strip is that Durkon's been reduced to something of a punchline, and he's presumably a PC...one of my favorite PCs, at that. =(
I know Burlew wouldn't take my advice but damn man, you've done such a great job with all the other characters, why not give Durkon some much-needed depth.

On one hand I completely agree with you, as he is one of my favourite characters too.

But on the other there's something nice about the fact that through all this he is mostly unchanged, and is a good measurement on how much the other characters have changed at the end whilst he is still Sturdy Durkon.

I see him as the rock of the party and I think at the final battle he will be the one to pull everyone through, he just strikes me as somone who would.

[krogothwolf]

Not only that, Dwarven Clerics tend to have lower int so it is sort of believable he could be convinced of that.

[Aerozord]

am I the only one that read this and thought the entire "we have your dad" thing was a scam to con money out of her? I know the thieves guild said and all that but it was my knee jerk reaction

Oh and incase I'm the only one keeping track we are already at about a once a week update schedule again

[Mirai Gen]

I think he's setting it up to be a definite possibility. But knowing Burlew it can't be that obvious.

I think it's more likely that her dad set it up so he could go off and do his own thing, and the letter was a forged letter to...do something, I'm not sure. Granted it doesn't stack up but if Burlew is making it so totally obvious that it might be a con he's just putting the rug down so we can stand on it before he yanks it out.

[Jagos]

The greatest possibility that's come up is that the dictator might just be Nale and Elan's father. But with Tyrinaria gone, it seems there's gotta be a new theory on who the dad is.

Now if they turn out to be siblings...

[russianreversal]

I don't want to like this one, as it's just going way over the edge with Burlew's "LOOK AT ME LAMPSHADING BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL" thing, but something about it (probably the phrase "arboreal army") forced me to.

[Loyal]

Oh and incase I'm the only one keeping track we are already at about a once a week update schedule againSpoke too soon it would seem.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

That means new comic is up. Or in this case, wads of exposition are up.

[Mr.Bookworm]

Anyone think this lends whole new evidence to the "Haley's mom is an angel" theory?

[Meister]

"new" evidence?

[Loyal]

Apparantly there's whisperings/wild speculation/hogwash about one or both of Haley's parents being either angelic or demonic for some reason. Possibly related to her "relation" to Sabine.

[Mr.Bookworm]

"new" evidence?

Okay, "evidence" is probably to strong a word. "Fuel for the fires of wild mass guessing" is probably better.

[t_catt11]

I posted this over at GitP, and I'll post it here.

Child Haley saying that her mommy went to Heaven is a really poor basis for "her mom is a celestial". Not saying that's not possible, of course, but it's vastly more likely that it's a childish manner of saying "mommy is dead".

You know, since that is a pretty common saying?

[Professor Smarmiarty]

The idea behind the speculation was that if she was a celestial that is how you could drop a coded clue with no one being suspicious because it could be completely normal.
Everyone knows it a normal saying, that is the point behind the speculation.

[Mirai Gen]

There's also the fact that as far as a storyline like Order of the Stick people have been quick to gleefully shout out random ideas like a scam psychic in hopes of getting something right.

I mean it works sometimes, like murder mysteries, but Burlew's telling a story and clambering for a preemptive "I called it" is kind of futile.

[Dracorion]

The idea behind the speculation was that if she was a celestial that is how you could drop a coded clue with no one being suspicious because it could be completely normal.
Everyone knows it a normal saying, that is the point behind the speculation.

I don't know, to me it just seems too contrived to be true.

I mean it works sometimes, like murder mysteries, but Burlew's telling a story and clambering for a preemptive "I called it" is kind of futile.

We do the same for 8BT. People are always going to be looking for chances to show off their e-peen, even if it's a longshot and especially if it costs them little to no effort.

[Mirai Gen]

We do the same for 8BT. People are always going to be looking for chances to show off their e-peen, even if it's a longshot and especially if it costs them little to no effort.
Yeah and the whole "Onion Kid is Sarda" thing was kind of annoying there too, and thankfully it's over. Most of the guessing games today are just crackin the joke of "Fighter will, of course, block the earth," and then turning out to be right.

[Aerozord]

I posted this over at GitP, and I'll post it here.

Child Haley saying that her mommy went to Heaven is a really poor basis for "her mom is a celestial". Not saying that's not possible, of course, but it's vastly more likely that it's a childish manner of saying "mommy is dead".

You know, since that is a pretty common saying?

this is also a DnD setting. if I understand plane shift correctly she could both be mortal, and alive, and go to heaven

[Nuklear Waste]

Inane theory: Her mother was a devil and went to go attack or spy on the Upper Planes or something.

[Jagos]

Can't be since her opposite is Sabine who literally IS a devil. Or Demon. Either way, it wouldn't work if both are from the same plane.

[Krylo]

Can't be since her opposite is Sabine who literally IS a devil. Or Demon. Either way, it wouldn't work if both are from the same plane.

Sure it would.

Sabine is a devil that is evil because she is a devil.

Haley is a half devil that has transcended her blood to become good.

It still provides a good dynamic, arguably better than angel/devil even.

I mean, I'm pretty sure all these theories are crazy and ridiculous, but whatever.

[Aerozord]

you know the opposite thing is on varying degrees I definitely would not use that as any justification. One of the opposites was halfling v kobalt

[Nuklear Waste]

Sabine is a demon, guys. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0637.html) And it would be an opposite of sorts 'cause of the whole Blood War thing (although Sabine is part of an organization that looks past that).

But it's probably not even true in the first place. (Especially since I think Haley thought she wasn't good enough for her mother.)

[BitVyper]

you know the opposite thing is on varying degrees I definitely would not use that as any justification. One of the opposites was halfling v kobalt

Er... what's not to get? It's Keppler's Kobold/Halfling scale. Observe:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/BitVyper/Scale.jpg

Didn't you go to school?

[Amake]

New comic (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0682.html).

I'm not sure if Belkar is really clueless or taking the piss. >_>

[Jagos]

Oh, Belkster is all about being "Killing with kindness"

[greed]

Either way, it was a pretty good one. Heh "date bearing bitch", how did he discern the tree's sex? Do palm trees even have single sex plants?

I'm still loving the new Belkar.

[Bard The 5th LW]

Belkar has taken a rank in helper. He's just using it in unison with his rank in barbarian.

[01d55]

Either way, it was a pretty good one. Heh "date bearing bitch", how did he discern the tree's sex? Do palm trees even have single sex plants?

I'm still loving the new Belkar.

It's unusual, but some plants are in fact single sex. According to Wikipedia, the date palm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_Palm) is one of them.

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_sexuality

[Solid Snake]

Love Belkar's characterization, but I'm still left wishing Burlew would do something productive and depth-enhancing with Durkon. Right now he's just such a one-dimensional stereotype, and it's glaring to compare him to every other character in the cast.

[Aerozord]

I'm just not sure how I feel at how transparent his change is. We already know Roy and Haley have no delusion that he has really changed and needing to verbalize when he is doing something nice isn't helping his case.

[Zanaril]

I'm just not sure how I feel at how transparent his change is. We already know Roy and Haley have no delusion that he has really changed and needing to verbalize when he is doing something nice isn't helping his case.

Right now, they're probably shuffling around thinking "Well, we can't really complain because at the moment he's not doing anything bad. But we know he will eventually, so lets go with it and keep an eye on him in the meantime."

[01d55]

I dunno how many of you guys have been following the non-comic updates for Erfworld, but they're totally worth reading.

Charlie continues to be my favorite character.

[Loyal]

Oh yeah, I've been loving Erfworld as of late.

Still. Nice to see that Charlie doesn't quite know everything yet.

[phil_]

While I enjoy the text-based Erfworld and appreciate that they're doing stuff with it that they couldn't do as well with a comic, I want some new Erfworld comics, darn it. Weren't new comics supposed to start a month ago?

[greed]

So new comic and slaving ant people? Also that random peasant look a lot like Haley to anyone else? I mean I guess in his style any red headed woman with a pony tail is gonna look similar.

[Mirai Gen]

Yeah, the only difference between humans is female/male, skin color, and hair, facial or otherwise.

I was kind of wondering if he was going to lampshade and move on with random encounters but this is kinda cool, going to be fun seeing the Order back in action.

[MFD]

Heeheehee, New V is still awesome.

[Mirai Gen]

It is interesting to see V trying to keep up good relations with the party. His friendship with Elan may be more important to him than I had thought.

[Mr.Bookworm]

Jesus Christ almighty, you don't fuck around with Belkar's cat.

[Jagos]

Wow... Belkar must have Duke Nukem on speed dial...

[Masaki-kun]

If he'd really changed he would have warned the man/bug before ripping his head off.

[russianreversal]

I'm pretty sure there's more to that cat then there seems (also, Belkar's just very possessive, but don't be surprised when it starts talking).

[Kepor]

I'm pretty sure there's more to that cat then there seems (also, Belkar's just very possessive, but don't be surprised when it starts BEING THE SNARL IN DISGUISE ALL ALONG).

FTFY

[Aerozord]

I'm pretty sure there's more to that cat then there seems (also, Belkar's just very possessive, but don't be surprised when it starts talking).

I hope not, that would really take away from things to me. Sometimes its nice when a cats just a cat

[t_catt11]

I think he's more than just a cat.

Also, it took me reading the strip twice to realize that Belkar was folowing through on all of his threat.

[Meister]

Well, he's definitely more than just a cat in that he's Belkar's animal companion.

[Aerozord]

I think he's more than just a cat.

why?

[Arhra]

Hmmm, there's a point I never expected to see get raised in Erfworld.

Kinda creepy.

[Meister]

Psst, Erfworld goes into the general Webcomics thread (http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?t=34997) now. Or you could start a designated Erfworld thread.

[Mirai Gen]

I love that Belkar and Buggy aren't even really fighting, they're just literally waving their weapons around.

[Kim]

So, does this comic update anymore, or can I start ignoring it?

[MFD]

Updates kind of come and go.

[Aerozord]

updates seem to be back to about once a week. Check back in november and you should have one or two updates, three if your lucky

[Loyal]

Or you could check right now. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0686.html)

[Kim]

Roy seems more lighthearted than before, but that might just be my imagination.

[Aerozord]

well Elan seems happy about it.

Suprise Roy was fast enough to catch up

[Jagos]

For all that INT he has, he's still an idiot sometimes...

[Mirai Gen]

Nah that's just Roy. He knows wounds are temporary in the end when you have a 16th level dwarven cleric.

[phil_]

For all that INT he has, he's still an idiot sometimes...He knew that he could survive a single round of attacks from the riders and most likely sunder the net in that round. Even if he failed to sunder the net on round one, another try wouldn't kill him and, if things really went badly he could fall onto the soft sand without taking any damage. It was a sound tactical decision befitting his high INT attribute.

But I don't think I've ever seen him smile and joke like that before. Must be some residual heavenly bliss.

[Mr.Bookworm]

But I don't think I've ever seen him smile and joke like that before. Must be some residual heavenly bliss.

Actually, I think it's more of a mundane psychological thing. Roy died, bad. Roy, however, got concrete confirmation of the afterlife and it's righteousness, hooked up with his mom and his little brother, spent some nice Fighter-time with grandad, and came back and got straight back into the fight.

Really, death was just a fairly nice break of R&R for Roy.

[Aerozord]

Actually, I think it's more of a mundane psychological thing. Roy died, bad. Roy, however, got concrete confirmation of the afterlife and it's righteousness, hooked up with his mom and his little brother, spent some nice Fighter-time with grandad, and came back and got straight back into the fight.

Really, death was just a fairly nice break of R&R for Roy.

though Roy doesn't remember most of that

[Mirai Gen]

Like I said guys, it's just Roy. He's well aware he's in no danger of falling for 20d8 damage while in a desert and he's got a cleric buddy well within arm's reach. This fight for him was extraneous and fun, same as the giants back when they were teamed up with Miko.

[Meister]

In fact this seems like the standard Good Adventurer thing to do and Haley comes off as worrying far too much. Though I suppose that can be expected when you've had your buddy die once already.

[Kerensky287]

I betcha 10 bucks that spear was poisoned.

[Meister]

Roy also definitely seems to have been waiting for an opportunity to get into fights again.

In other news and in case you miss it on the front page (I know I did), GiantITP and APE Games have started a dedicated merchandising website (http://www.ookoodook.com/store/index.shtml) for OotS books and other stuff. And Burlew heavily implies we should
check back often for more news...especially around, say, Monday, October 26. No reason, I'm just saying it might be beneficial. If you like books.

I do. Might be a good opportunity to get some OotS books. Now if I knew what "Scratch and Dent" means - I guess they're slightly damaged, therefore cheaper?

[Jagos]

yep, you got it Meister

[Mirai Gen]

I betcha 10 bucks that spear was poisoned.

I was going to make this point too, but then I realized, again, dwarven cleric. The most it'll be is a momentary inconvenience.

[Kerensky287]

I was going to make this point too, but then I realized, again, dwarven cleric. The most it'll be is a momentary inconvenience.

My concern is that the main point of that last page was just to show that Roy is at least somewhat undaunted by the prospect of death - an obvious side-effect of seeing how awesome the afterlife was and then coming back. He did something incredibly dangerous, got stabbed by a spear, but was totally fine, and yet I can't help but think there must have been something significant about the stabbing.

I mean, look at it differently - if, for some reason, Roy was poisoned (maybe with a magical poison or something else difficult to cure) he would doubtlessly try to continue on to Girard's Gate anyway. There would have to be some kind of hint at an antidote that takes some doing to acquire, but Roy just figures oh well, it's fine if I die again, it's more important that we reach the Gate before Xykon does. And yet all the while Roy is getting more and more debilitated by the poison, becoming more of a burden on the party, until the fact that he's poisoned actually inhibits them from doing anything at or around the gate.

Just strikes me as something Burlew would do, is all.

[Meister]

He's had Haley do something slightly similar back in Greysky when she said it didn't matter if they died as long as Durkon got the message and could still retrieve their bodies.

I gotta disagree that this was something incredibly dangerous though - not for a D&D character around level 15. In fact, I'd file it somewhere near "morning exercise". Any combat character on that level should be perfectly able to take a few spear hits, fall from a moving creature and still have nothing more than a few scratches. There is a certain amount of recklessness on Roy's part but judging from his line at the end I figure he's just gotten smarter about which situations he can afford to be reckless in.

[Mirai Gen]

My concern is that the main point of that last page was just to show that Roy is at least somewhat undaunted by the prospect of death - an obvious side-effect of seeing how awesome the afterlife was and then coming back. He did something incredibly dangerous, got stabbed by a spear, but was totally fine, and yet I can't help but think there must have been something significant about the stabbing.

I mean, look at it differently - if, for some reason, Roy was poisoned (maybe with a magical poison or something else difficult to cure) he would doubtlessly try to continue on to Girard's Gate anyway. There would have to be some kind of hint at an antidote that takes some doing to acquire, but Roy just figures oh well, it's fine if I die again, it's more important that we reach the Gate before Xykon does. And yet all the while Roy is getting more and more debilitated by the poison, becoming more of a burden on the party, until the fact that he's poisoned actually inhibits them from doing anything at or around the gate.

Just strikes me as something Burlew would do, is all.

While that is perfectly feasible part of what you have to remember is that this is still bound and restricted (mostly) by the rules of DND. If he's poisoned there's nothing a 16th level cleric can't cure that day, or maybe the next day with some Lesser/ Regular Sized Restoration. The only time poison's ever come into effect is back during No Cure for the Paladin Blues, when Elan was poisoned and it was literally "If I don't get you to Durkon, you're dead."

So yeah, I'm with Meister. Really looking at this from a DND perspective there's no way this could be something more than a fun battle, and really he's delayed the main story enough by now hasn't he?

[Kerensky287]

...Eh, I guess you're right.

Good thing I don't ACTUALLY owe anyone 10 bucks, though. That would be just silly.

[Aerozord]

oh and Elan now knows "neutralize posion" for just such cases.

Really this is normal Roy behavior to me, the joking about it not so much but this is the guy that jumped onto a flying undead dragon to battle an epic level lich. Compared to that jumping on the beetle is nothing. I think it show how Roy hasn't changed, then how he had

[Masaki-kun]

I just realised that as a ranger Belkar gets an animal companion.

[Jagos]

I just realised that as a ranger Belkar gets an animal companion.

...

Masaki, that's your third realization isn't it? XD

[Masaki-kun]

I just realized, I catch on really slow.

[Ravashak]

New one (687 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0687.html)) is up. Belkar showing he's not quite genuine.

[Kim]

He's not a very good faker. But I laughed.

[Mirai Gen]

More reassurances that Belkar, fake alignment change notwithstanding, is still Belkar.

[Krylo]

You know, his entire realization that led him to alignment shifting was that you get more out of shit by pretending to be good.

I'm not sure how it's news when we find out he is pretending to be good to get stuff.

Which, by the by, is basically the entire difference between chaotic evil and lawful evil. Belkar is just learning that lawful evil tends to get him more of what he wants.

[Mirai Gen]

It was less of the "haha Belkar's still evil" and more the "wow haha Belkar may have figured out pretending to be neutral benefits him but he's still brain-damaged enough to loudly vocalize everything that goes through his head."

[greed]

And now he's high on the Spice. Fantastic. Psychic junkie Belkar is all the party needs.

[Meister]

Quite possibly the best way to introduce that particular encounter you could take as a DM.

Plus there's a good chance that after this Belkar will actually be worth a damn as a tracker.

[Art of Hilt]

IN THIS COMIC-
The Order makes their case for drug use and alcoholism. Hoorah.

[Aerozord]

IN THIS COMIC-
The Order makes their case for drug use and alcoholism. Hoorah.

drugs bad
booze good

[Solid Snake]

I appreciate Durkon's line insofar as it's the first sign of personality I've seen from him in a while, though. Nice to know he has a sense of humor in the face of danger.

[Jagos]

Quite possibly the best way to introduce that particular encounter you could take as a DM.

Plus there's a good chance that after this Belkar will actually be worth a damn as a tracker.

???

Gah? Confused on how Belkar is going to be a tracker?

[Kerensky287]

???

Gah? Confused on how Belkar is going to be a tracker?

Well, it's been a while since I read Dune (didn't really resonate with me) but I'm pretty sure consuming the spice in some way granted limited prophetic powers. If Belkar can see into the future, or at least has some knowledge that he wouldn't otherwise have, he can probably track things he could never track before. Like, I dunno, birds. "I see that some point in the near future, it'll be over there. So if we go that way we'll probably find it."

[Mirai Gen]

Yeah if you're not into Dune the whole spice-blue-eyes thing is lost to you, as is the whole 'better tracker' line.

[Art of Hilt]

Is it me, or is there something off?
By that I mean, was Belkar's laughter genuine, brought up by drugs, or an attempt by him to save face in order to appear helpful to the party? I mean, I couldn't see 'old' Belkar be willing to be dangled in front of a giant worm like some carrot.