Hurfworld? No - Erfworld!

[Geminex]

Sooo... Erfworld. World's only comic set in a world that abides by rules more usually applied to turn-based strategy games. Book one finished a while ago, after a long line of very informative updates, today is the launch of book 2. What fascinates me most about it, is that behind the brightly colored panels and grotesquely-cute characters is a really vast world. You really get the feeling that there's been huge amounts of planning, that the entire world you're reading about plays by rules that are just as rigid as, say, physics, and you really join the PRotAgONiSt in discovering the rules through observation. That's what I really love about the comic. That and, y'know, constant war.
For those of you who do not know Erfworld, READ IT! (http://www.erfworld.com/) It's main protagonist is a fat, antisocial nerd, so you shouldn't have any trouble sympathiZING.

Okay, sorry.

Anyway, the website's back up, though the first page of book 2 has yet to appear. Still update 49 gives us quite a lot to talk about.

First very informative moment: Jillan and Vinny now appear to be a couple. Very interesting. Very nice. My fanfic has come true (not really). I won't start speculating about this yet, because I have a feeling we'll be told a lot more about this very soon.

Second moment: Apparently GK now knows about FAQ. Or it does if the scouting stacks managed to report back. If that's the case, I'm guessing there's gonna be a few Dwagons heading their way fairly soon.

Third moment: Charlie seems to be chanelling all the resources he would otherwise be putting into helping the coalition through Jillan. Looks like he really did persuade her to trust him, most likely by showing the decrypted ansom to her. That makes her relationship with Vinny even more interesting. Back to Charlie, I understand the Turnamancer thing, but I wonder how they got the natural allie's alleigance? Money? Whatever it was, seems to have been effective.
Of course, considering Jillan's apparent reliance on Charlie, if any element of the Coalition found out about this, that might be quite effective at hurting the coalition, as Translyvito, as faq's closest ally, would now also be accused of treachery.

And finally, wonder what "Charlie's next plan" is gonna be?

[Riin Whitewind]

I seem to remember something about book two having a different artist as book one? EDIT: Yeah. (zhttp://www.erfworld.com/2009/10/the-big-news-new-artist-book-2-start-date/)

If so, the style of art is probably going to shift around. I hope it doesn't too much - the art's what got me hooked in the first place.

[Fifthfiend]

Art's by one of the people who did some Summer Update art. It's a bit sharper, but that seems fitting given that Erfworld is becoming a more defined place.

[t_catt11]

To the OP - it is my understanding that you are correct - a TON of planning has gone into the backstory and world that this comic is set in.

[Ravashak]

Page 1 of book 2 is up now. Stanley is still his cheerful old self.

[Geminex]

"Life is like buying a spell to summon the perfect warlord but refusing to pay for the support plan. You never know what you're going to get".

I wonder if his mamma always said that?

Also, I really like the new art style. Edgier. Even more fitting.

Also also, Fifth, thread title should be "Smurfworld"

[Arhra]

I like the chinese dwagons.

Parson's definitely slimmed down too.

Also is Maggie wearing the Triforce?

[Malek]

There's also a fire flower in one of the pots in the background.

[Arhra]

Hmm, the summer updates seem to have been taken down.

That's really annoying.

[Kim]

No, they didn't. There's a drop-down list where you can select "Summer Updates '09".

[Loyal]

Until they come up with a half-decent archiving system for their text updates, you can just hit Older Entries on the news page.

[Fifthfiend]

I don't love the new art but I don't dislike it, it'll probably grow on me.

Maggie in particular does look about a million times better.

[Loyal]

I just realized... They seem to have their old tac-room, real-time battlefield table again. Wasn't that a direct result of the now-defunct tri-mancer link?

[Geminex]

I don't think that's real time. I'm guessing it's just a map and they move the pieces manually according to scout reports. It's mentioned in one of the text updates.

[Arhra]

Hmm, odd. I tried looking for the summer updates last night, the archive section only showed the pictures, I couldn't go any further back than the starting page and could only find news posts otherwise.

I even tried the forums and all the direct links were broken. They must have fixed it already.

Interesting a turnamancer lets you do more stuff in a turn and is good at turning enemies to your side. Punny. Yes.

[Kim]

Hmm, odd. I tried looking for the summer updates last night, the archive section only showed the pictures, I couldn't go any further back than the starting page and could only find news posts otherwise.

The pictures represent the updates and the actual updates are below the full size pictures when you click them.

[Funka Genocide]

I've been reading this here and there and I've got to say so far I'm totally digging it. Could use a little less lengthy texty strategy-y stuff but I understand why they exist.

gotta say I am strangely enjoying the fan service bits with that one caster lady

[Geminex]

Aaaand I really didn't like the art style in the last update. The faces seemed all wrong.
Though
a) I doubt I could do better
and
b) we'll probably get used to it.

[phil_]

I have the opposite opinion and find the new art an improvement, especially on the latest page. Ansom never looked so dashing, though perhaps it's the new armor. Regardless, Geminex and I must now fight to the death, as is customary.

[Geminex]

Stand back, non-German. You don't know what you're dealing with.

[phil_]

Stand back, non-German. You don't know what you're dealing with.Meister seems to still be posting, Mr. Sniper Rifle, and I haven't heard jack about Poland. You'll never prove the factuality of your opinions with idle threats.

[Geminex]

You know, in any other circumstances this would be sufficient provocation for me to either brutally murder you and your family or, failing that, make a snappy retort regarding the fact that you haven't heard about Poland because it no longer exists. Thanks to me.

However, it has come to my attention that we must band together against a common enemy, an enemy so vile and devious and hatefull, that even I fear him.

Ossomer's chin.
What... what is it?
Does he have a black hole stored in his face?
Does he have, like a... face-vagina or something?
Does he do push-ups with his face? Does his chin have biceps?
And the worst thing is... I can't look away! And even when I close my eyes, it's burned itself into my brain! The chin! THE CHINNNNNN!!!!!

Honestly, I'm gonna have nightmares about that.

[Kerensky287]

For some reason Ansom looks strikingly like Lucas (http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/characters/images/lucas/lucas.jpg) in this comic.

And obviously Ossomer's chin has a mighty dent because he's some kind of... super-man.

Still not sure who Prince Tramennis is supposed to be other than a total wad.

Also, it appears to me that the Archons have had costume changes under Wanda's control. The white shirt and frilly red skirt for some reason reminds me of Touhou characters...

[Arhra]

It is called a chin cleft. A slightly excessive one, but one nonetheless. Quite common in lantern jawed heroes of justice!

This is because Ossomer is Superman. Duh.

EDIT: Curses, beaten to it!

[Loyal]

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/7867/fanboyscloft.png

It's Tramennis I'm worried about. For some reason his face just seems very punchable.

[Geminex]

I support the idea that Ossomer=Superman. Especially considering that he he's wearing what appears to be a skintight suit of armor. You can see the rivets in the first panel.
Though is there a correlation between black holes in your chin and heroism? Does having a singularity there somehow grant both superpowers and complete adherence to ethics?

Archons have had costume changes under Wanda's control.
They might, but I think they were wearing it when they got croaked. Possibly they were supposed to be Vinny's "Linedancers" when they ambushed Stanley.

[greed]

Only problem with the new art is the text seems smaller, not unreadable, but verging on annoying.

Otherwise I liked book 1 and Book 2 looks better, Ansom's brothers in the third update made me laugh.

[Kerensky287]

Page 4 is up. Kinda wish they had cut back at the last moment to see Tramennis and Ossomer's reactions.

[Fifthfiend]

It really bothers me how everyone's heads are normally proportioned all of a sudden.

EDIT: No wait, it looks like the bobblehead look got scaled back pretty rapidly after the start of book 1. Dunno how that never registered before.

[Loyal]

Jack's looking mighty fancy there. I know I've seen his outfit somewhere before but I can't place what or where...

I wonder what type of caster Cubbins is.

[Wigmund]

Jack's wearing the Joker's get-up from Tim Burton's Batman (http://www.specter-web.com/cm/audio/graphics/JACK_NICHOLSON_JOKER.jpg).

[Kim]

I see Kain there as well. That's pretty awesome.

[Kerensky287]

I see Kain there as well. That's pretty awesome.

I agree, especially because I'm fairly certain Jack had disguised himself as Kain. That leads me to believe that, trying to look unassuming, he had disguised himself as a fairly common or completely different unit - does Stanley's army include dragoons?

It really bothers me how everyone's heads are normally proportioned all of a sudden.

EDIT: No wait, it looks like the bobblehead look got scaled back pretty rapidly after the start of book 1. Dunno how that never registered before.

Holy crap, you're right. The transition is actually incredibly (http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F007.jpg) jarring (http://www.erfworld.com/book-2-archive/?px=%2F2009-11-07.jpg).

[Geminex]

I revise my opinion of the art-style. What they're doing to booping awesome. Mostly the amount of detail (and pop culture references) per page is what's impressing me. They were doing this before, but only now have I had time to appreciate it (due to reading every strip several times. Due to having to wait for updates.)

As for the strategic developments... I dunno. It seems a little too obvious for Ansom to just turn up going "Lookit mah Armay!", prompting his opponents to reply "Your Armay's da shit!", whereupon it turns out that his Armay isn't da shit after all. I mean, Ossomer (sorry, Prince Ossomer) knew that he had a cloakamancer. Why would he commit so many resources to countering what seemed like Ansom's plan? What's more, why would he tell him about the resources committed?

Admittedly, even if there hadn't been a negotiation, Ansom's dwagons would probably be capable of taking the capital (from what we've read so far, Dwagons are pretty much the most powerful single unit avaliable, and assuming this is 60 turns after Parson persuades Stanley to go hunt some dwagon, they'd have the equivalent of between 90 and 180 battlecruisers attacking a protoss base), but now he has even less need for caution. Unless Ossomer was lying... and I don't think that.

[Kim]

does Stanley's army include dragoons?I think you mean dwagoons.

What's more, why would he tell him about the resources committed?

Because he's a snobby, elitist prick, and his justification for it seems as simple as rubbing it in his brother's nose that daddy likes him more.

[Kerensky287]

I think you mean dwagoons.

Point.

Because he's a snobby, elitist prick, and his justification for it seems as simple as rubbing it in his brother's nose that daddy likes him more.


Point again, however I would like to mention that damn near everything in Erfworld works with multiple layers of shout-out. Prince Ossomer is Superman, that much is clear, but in what ways? Is his superness meant to show his superiority (tactically, etc) to Ansom? We don't know enough about him yet to make judgments, but I'll hazard a guess that he's a lot smarter than we're giving him credit for.

Plus, Jetstone can't fall this quickly - it just doesn't make sense. They're pretty much the main antagonists of the story. I actually wrote up a massive, 3-paragraph prediction for what would happen in the rest of the story but I got a little out of control with it. Still, everyone notice they're on a bridge? What if Ossomer decides to collapse it as Wanda's army crosses? Then she's left with Dwagons and Archons, which Ossomer's army can probably handle. Plus... Ossomer has all but one of Jetstone's casters with him. He can probably pull something off we don't even know is possible.

[01d55]

Point again, however I would like to mention that damn near everything in Erfworld works with multiple layers of shout-out. Prince Ossomer is Superman, that much is clear, but in what ways? Is his superness meant to show his superiority (tactically, etc) to Ansom? We don't know enough about him yet to make judgments, but I'll hazard a guess that he's a lot smarter than we're giving him credit for.

It probably means he's stronger in direct combat, and possibly has a higher leadership bonus. One of the text updates (http://www.erfworld.com/page/12/) claims that Ansom was considered a big deal in the smart guys department.

[Malek]

I'd say Jetstone is done. The foolamancy wasn't to convince them that their force was smaller than it was, it was to convince them that they were ground based and thus had to cross the bridge to reach Jetstone. If Ossomer is telling the truth, then the majority of Jetstone's forces are likely on that bridge, leaving the castle fairly undefended. Ansoms flying units can simply go around them and hit the castle directly.

[Odjn]

I highly doubt they used all their units for this. After all, their strategy involved heavy use of powerful abilities to keep their troops refreshed and slowly whittle away at their foe- why would they commit all their troops to one hex? There's probably most of them at the castle.

Also, nice Rocky Horror reference (Wanda is Magenta, and I would like to see the Time Warp ((again)) )

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

I'd say Jetstone is done. The foolamancy wasn't to convince them that their force was smaller than it was, it was to convince them that they were ground based and thus had to cross the bridge to reach Jetstone. If Ossomer is telling the truth, then the majority of Jetstone's forces are likely on that bridge, leaving the castle fairly undefended. Ansoms flying units can simply go around them and hit the castle directly.

But the Vampire dudes and Whatsherface the former barbarian have both been preparing for this for quite a while. And in fact she has focused almost exclusively on Air based units. I wouldn't be surprised if Charlie had seen this ploy coming and has directed her to save the city.

[Malek]

I had forgotten about Charlie and Jillians secret plan, but they'd have to be inside Jetstone already to be able to help, since it's still Gobwin Knobs turn so no other sides can move between hexes yet.

I highly doubt they used all their units for this. After all, their strategy involved heavy use of powerful abilities to keep their troops refreshed and slowly whittle away at their foe- why would they commit all their troops to one hex? There's probably most of them at the castle.


Well Ansom did make the comment that they were more committed to holding that bridge than he'd realised, since all but one of their casters is in that hex, and they would probably have a large enough force to keep those casters protected. Even if there were still a lot of troops in the castle, they would not be getting the benefits of those casters and so would be quite a bit weaker.

[Odjn]

I had forgotten about Charlie and Jillians secret plan, but they'd have to be inside Jetstone already to be able to help, since it's still Gobwin Knobs turn so no other sides can move between hexes yet.



Well Ansom did make the comment that they were more committed to holding that bridge than he'd realised, since all but one of their casters is in that hex, and they would probably have a large enough force to keep those casters protected. Even if there were still a lot of troops in the castle, they would not be getting the benefits of those casters and so would be quite a bit weaker.

Except the RCC2 was formed exactly for this sort of thing so I'm pretty sure they have more than enough troops/casters/whatever to keep things cool at the palace.

[Geminex]

Really? I wouldn't be so sure. Admittedly, yes, the RCC2 was formed to fight Stanley... but it's a big coalition. Covering a lot of nations. Covering a lot of ground. I doubt they could have all their resources pooled at jetstone, mostly because of the distances involved. And besides, Dwagons are rather powerfull, aren't they? And they have rather a lot of them, don't they? And they have quite a lot of Archons, too. And leadership. And who knows what else? I don't give a lot for Jetstone's chances.

[Loyal]

While I"m sure Jetstone's gonna get hurt real bad, the mere fact that the Jetstones knew to meet Ansom's forces at the bridge tells me that they knew ahead of time...

And since someone suggested that "Cubbins" would be the guy behind the communication Hats, it's not hard to believe they'd have gotten the word out.

[Eltargrim]

I'm not as impressed as to their decision to fortify this hex. It's a choke point, and if Ansom followed his traditional tactics, it would have to fall in order to allow for his siege to pass. Ossomer quite literally attempted to head him off at the pass. Ansom, it appears, was expecting that much. What he wasn't expecting was the casters to be there. Honestly, though, with both Jack and Wanda in their stack, I feel that the Jetstone forces are doomed.

[Loyal]

It's not that they were trying to head him off that clues off Jetstone's probable intel, it's the fact that they knew at all that Ansom was planning to go straight for the capital with minimal engagement.

[Geminex]

Well, to get there he'd have to cross quite a lot of Jetstone territory. Even if he passed cities by, they'd know that the force was approaching and would have gathered some forces. They deployed them near a chokepoint (where they'd have tactical superiority), and waited. Unless any of their scouts had warlords, they wouldn't have seen through the cloak, and I think it'd be perfectly likely that they get close without Jetstone realizing that they're Dwagons, not Infantry, particularly since I'm sure they have the Infantry stashed away somewhere.

I think Jillan's and Charlie's plan will target GK.

[Geminex]

Apparently, my last comment was of such literary quality that it stopped any potential response in its tracks. I'm bumping this, cause there've been two more updates since the last post, both of them quite interesting. Maggie in a miniskirt up until now holds the title of "most unexpected sight of book 2"... It's good to see Stanley's still living up to his title and Wanda still has quite a lot of loyalty to Ansom. Every caster that spends time in Ansom's company seems to, really... Sizemore, Maggie, Wanda, and, as evidenced in the last comic, Jack as well.
Also, Archons having the Flash skill is an awesome idea.

[Gregness]

and Wanda still has quite a lot of loyalty to Ansom. Every caster that spends time in Ansom's company seems to, really...

I think you mean Parson?

Anyway, Ansom seems more than a little jealous of the respect parson commands from the rest of Gobwin Knob (excepting Stanley), maybe this will lead to some sort of betrayal? The loyalty mechanics would seem to rule that out, but Ansom is probably loyal to wanda and not the whole side.

[Loyal]

Which means that as long as Wanda remains loyal/respectful of Parson, Ansom will do nothing.

[greed]

It's possibly because Wanda's resurrection brainwashing made him think that Arkentool ordained people are above nobles didn't make him a meritocrat. Thus while he's fine with Stanley and Wanda bossing him around, Parson with no nobility and no Arkentool is as far as Ansom is concerned a complete nobody.

[Wigmund]

If I was a betting man, I'd wager that either Ossomer or Tramennis is immune to the flash mob and notices what Ansom, Wanda and Jack are up to. While Tramennis is the obvious one, I would not be surprised if it's Ossomer instead.

[Dracorion]

Which means that as long as Wanda remains loyal/respectful of Parson, Ansom will do nothing.

I think not necessarily. Decrypted are as close to alive as you can get without actually being it. I wouldn't be surprised if Ansom can twist the enchantment of the Arkenpliers. I'm not saying he'd break it, but twist it so that in his mind he could kill Parson and remain Loyal to Wanda.

It would certainly keep the Pliers from being the most powerful Tool in the game.

[Odjn]

I think not necessarily. Decrypted are as close to alive as you can get without actually being it. I wouldn't be surprised if Ansom can twist the enchantment of the Arkenpliers. I'm not saying he'd break it, but twist it so that in his mind he could kill Parson and remain Loyal to Wanda.

It would certainly keep the Pliers from being the most powerful Tool in the game.

Depending on exactly how powerful the other two are. We don't know for sure.

[MFD]

I tend to think the Hammer is the most powerful. Like, the Titans handicapped it by attuning it to a complete idiot.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

I tend to think the Hammer is the most powerful. Like, the Titans handicapped it by attuning it to a complete idiot.

The hammer certainly does seem to have its uses.

And the early scene with him cracking walnuts open to make pigeons always seemed to imply that he could actually make Dragons if he smacked something big enough with it.

[EVILNess]

I don't think Stanley is an idiot, but merely insecure and that is his biggest handicap. He wants to be the biggest, and is overly concerned with the cosmetic.

Also, he (and by extension everyone but Wanda, Sizemore, and Maggie) doesn't know how to deal with Parson's lateral thinking since no one in Erfworld seems to be capable of it and I think that is the biggest obstacle to them coming to at least respect each other. There seems to be some glimmers of Stanley at least starting to respect Parson though.

Also, I would love a complete list of the Erfworld rules (It strikes me as an awesome game.) but that's not likely to happen until the comic is done, if it ever happens.

[Geminex]

...

Do any of you know the Heroes of Might and Magic series? Turn-based strategy with RPG elements?

That, with Erfworld. And a good level editor.

Best game ever.

But anyway, Charlie seems to have been interested in getting Ansom on his side... Wouldn't it be conceivable that so is Wanda? What's more, if she killed and decrypted Parson, she'd have the best of both worlds, wouldn't she?

[Loyal]

I imagine Wanda attacking Parson would cause Stanley to instantly either disband her or try to kill her. Regardless of her ultimate goal as far as Stanley is concerned, Wanda wants him content with her for the moment so that he doesn't do anything rash. Or moreso than usual anyway.

[Jagos]

He's already afraid of her... Afraid and jealous. That's kept him at bay from beating on her since the first turn after Gobwin Knob was destroyed.

[Loyal]

The thing is, he doesn't quite know what she's capable of right now. After everything else that's happened (and given how Parson reacts to the rules, conciously or otherwise), Stanley believes he is losing power. While he is content, he will probably do nothing to Wanda, but if she turns obviously hostile (by, say, croaking and decrypting the one guy who could possibly help Stanley if Wanda DOES turn), that's going to shake him into action.

Wanda, who knows Stanley better than anyone, is surely aware of this. Whether she is content to remain in his service or not, ruffling his feathers while she's in the middle of leading a war charge would be highly inadvisable.

[Fifthfiend]

Re: Wanda and Stanley, he's afraid, jealous, and also she's the only reason he has an army right now, so he kinda needs her.

Re: Parson and Stanley, it's interesting how even being able to misunderstand an order makes him a threat. Hypothetically Stanley could order him to disband and he just wouldn't know how.

Re: Ansom and Wanda I thought it was interesting that he's got a surprising degree of free will in terms of disagreeing with his 'mistress'; he's probably not much more mind controlled post-decryption than he was as one of his own side's units.

[Dracorion]

New comic.

And here I thought Ossomer was the brains.

[Kim]

This does not bode well for our heroes.

[Loyal]

And here I thought turnamancy was overpowered. Good grief.

[01d55]

And here I thought turnamancy was overpowered. Good grief.

Well, so far we've seen casters produce A. Parson, B. Most of Gobwin Knob's pre-arkenpliers army C. veils, which are crazy good D. instant communication between any two points in the world, which is not available otherwise.
And if you link 'em, you get the live battlemap and a goddamn volcano.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Expect them to be patched in v 1.2.

[Loyal]

Well, so far we've seen casters produce A. Parson, B. Most of Gobwin Knob's pre-arkenpliers army C. veils, which are crazy good D. instant communication between any two points in the world, which is not available otherwise.
And if you link 'em, you get the live battlemap and a goddamn volcano.Which, compared to cutting the production time of otherwise expensive things by a third PLUS being able to convert powerful units to your side, or creating a literal "blot out the sun" moment and doubling pretty much everything, ever... is rather lacking.

I mean, I expect casters to be powerful and useful since they're supposed to be prohibitively costly and rare, but holy shit.

[01d55]

Which, compared to cutting the production time of otherwise expensive things by a third PLUS being able to convert powerful units to your side, or creating a literal "blot out the sun" moment and doubling pretty much everything, ever... is rather lacking.

I mean, I expect casters to be powerful and useful since they're supposed to be prohibitively costly and rare, but holy shit.

Cutting production time almost certainly doesn't cut the shmuckers cost. Converting units requires capturing them first.

There's also the "juice" mechanic - a dittomancer can't just keep doubling everything forever.

Also new text update wut.

[Loyal]

New comic update.

Even in Erfworld, "brotherly love" and "sibling rivalry" are not mutually exclusive.

[Odjn]

Unless Tramennis has a huge leadership bonus, the highest bonus is now Jillian's 9.

[Steel Shadow]

Aw, Wanda! Stop tryin' to make me hate you, you're one of the fun characters!

[Loyal]

Poor Ansom. He'll never look at Wanda the same way again.

On the plus side, you can see Jack being tended to in panel 2, so it seems he's not quite dead after all.

[Geminex]

What fun. Though, really, on a military level that "tactical surprise", doesn't seem all that dangerous. I would guess that they have at least 50 Dwagons (which I maintain are the strongest erf units we've met so far), so they should be able to wipe out the city fairly easily. They probably wouldn't be able to hold it, but that doesn't really matter, does it? All they have to do is sack the capital and kill slately. Unless I'm mistaken, that would automatically make all other Jetstone properties barbarian, right? Not to mention that losing their capital and king would damage morale horrendously. Dwagons have a lot of move, I'm sure that after destroying Jetstone they could get out of range. Maybe return to their lines and issue an ultimatum: Unless the remaining sides surrender and the coalition breaks up, they'll hit one capital after the next. But this is just speculation. Military speculation at that. I'm not sure what'll happen on the personal level. D'you think Wanda will want Jillan decrypted? Because I'm not so sure...

[Odjn]

NEW COMIC

Apparently Jillian has a secret force of Archons in Jetstone's airspace. A very large force of Archons that would hugely skew Parson's odds there.

Also shame on Parson for not doing the obvious tactic.

[Geminex]

We shall see what happens. I wouldn't count on the Archon force being too large, but Wanda will be getting a lot more than she planned for. I wonder... if she dies, will all decrypted be wiped out with her?

One thing that I find strange is that Parson reported only a 56% probability of capturing the Garrison. Are "9 unipegataurs, a few Orlies, 26 Gwiffons and 4 Megalogwiffs" really that strong a force?

[Loyal]

With the right leadership bonuses.

Besides, we can only assume that Megalogwiffs are utterly, absolutely, shit-your-pants terrifying in battle.

[Geminex]

Possibly. Though considering the cost and training times of Dwagons (and the fact that you need an artifact to train them) I would've imagined that they'd be the ultimate flying shizzle. But we shall see...

[01d55]

With the right leadership bonuses.

Besides, we can only assume that Megalogwiffs are utterly, absolutely, shit-your-pants terrifying in battle.

My best guess is that Megalogwiffs are on par with Dwagons - you match Faq's air force against 15 Dwagons and they go down, 70-90% of the time.

[Odjn]

For those who don't know, the obvious strategy is wing it to one of the capital sides (preferably Hagger) and raze THEM, and continue to do so for the other sides until they're too severely depleted to maintain that huge force.

[Geminex]

Thing is, while Wanda and Ansom picking off the smaller sides they'll be pursued by Charlie and Jillan, while the royal coalition continues to consolidate and take back their old cities.

[Loyal]

Besides, the whole reason they're at Spacerock right now is because Ansom wanted a "decapitation strike" to bring down Jetstone as quickly as possible.

And now, with the updated battle plan it appears that applies now more than ever.
My best guess is that Megalogwiffs are on par with Dwagons - you match Faq's air force against 15 Dwagons and they go down, 70-90% of the time.Well, Jillian on a Gwiffon was able to solo one dwagon (before being swarmed and captured by the rest). That tells us that either regular gwiffs are decent fighters or that dwagons themselves, while fearsome, aren't quite the holy grail they've been made out to be.

Considering what we've seen Dwagons do, and considering Stanley himself, I wouldn't be surprised if Dwagons were meant to be 'specialist' units, to be used in specific situations like siege or casters, instead of the front-line heavy powerhouses that you'd expect a dragon to be. For instance, they may be good for hit and run attacks or just a proper blitz, but less effective when fighting toe-to-toe against more conventional units that can fight back (such as Jillian's gwiffons, which are clearly more all-purpose units or she, an experienced and intelligent warlord, wouldn't use them so much).

[BitVyper]

That tells us that either regular gwiffs are decent fighters or that dwagons themselves, while fearsome, aren't quite the holy grail they've been made out to be.

Or that Jillian is a high level character as opposed to an ordinary unit.

[Loyal]

The Gwiffon killed the dwagon. Jillian just provided a combat bonus.

[Odjn]

The Gwiffon killed the dwagon. Jillian just provided a combat bonus.

Since Jillian was in the same hex/stack as it, it got her full bonus of 9. Which makes it a hardcore Gwiffon as compared to an unled Dragon, which is merely a very good unit.

The problem is, Stanley has most likely vetoed any attempt to decrypt the dragons, so they don't get the huge stats the Archons do.

Also, Charlie can't reveal that he has units in the airspace. If they did, the sides would start bickering since Charlie is the enemy according to Slately.

[Loyal]

Ha ha. Poor Ossomer. Still doesn't get it.

[01d55]

Also, Charlie can't reveal that he has units in the airspace. If they did, the sides would start bickering since Charlie is the enemy according to Slately.

If Charlie reveals his units, he has one turn to act. That turn is for croaking Wanda. My feeling is that Parson's big moment in this engagement will be whether or not he stops that from happening.

[Odjn]

Oh shit son, turnamancers are hardcore.

[Loyal]

Good grief, what CAN'T they do?

[Geminex]

Ah...

It's an interesting twist, and suitably awesome, but the Dei-ex-machinae are beginning to pile up. I do hope that's the last one for a while yet.

[Odjn]

I think each caster level has its own ability in addition to buffing their juice and power. So a normal foolamancer can do one thing, an adept gets another ability and a master has three.

[Loyal]

Forum suggests that the Turnamancer is linked, which would make sense with the "DO NOT TRY TO TALK TO THIS UNIT" bit in the text update, but still.

Bullshit. (http://www.erfworld.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1139&start=20#p25584)

[Ravashak]

Wonder when they'll get back to strategy instead of "My caster can suddenly do ..."

[Arhra]

You know if it just rearranged the turn order, it's something that still has the potential to be devastating but not as repeatable as old fashioned "Take another turn!"

There's always those moments where taking two turns in a row followed by your enemy taking two turns in a row is more favourable for you.

[01d55]

Forum suggests that the Turnamancer is linked, which would make sense with the "DO NOT TRY TO TALK TO THIS UNIT" bit in the text update, but still.

Bullshit. (http://www.erfworld.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1139&start=20#p25584)
Given Stanley's reaction to his turn ending unexpectedly, I'm guessing that even a linked Turnamancer couldn't do this. Given that the caster is linked, yet no other casters are present to be linked to, the link has to be running through the Arkendish - and we already know that attuned Arkentools are cheating.

[MFD]

Charlie and Jillian have a plan, and we haven't seen what the Arkendish can do yet.

Maybe it can link mages?

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Turnamancers OP. Ban plz.

[BitVyper]

Given Stanley's reaction to his turn ending unexpectedly, I'm guessing that even a linked Turnamancer couldn't do this.

If it's a link, then the reason for his surprise is probably just inability to predict what linked casters can do. Their abilities seem pretty open ended.

[Loyal]

Caster abilities in general seem pretty open ended at this point. It seems if it's tangentially related to the root word of their -mancy, they can do it one way or another.

One person, for instance, suggested that hat magic might be usable to 'portal' in troops from one hat to another. It was said in jest, but now it seems almost tame by comparison.

[The Argent Lord]

Well, this latest update mas made me a big fan of Tramennis.

[01d55]

Well look at that new update, proving my easy guesses totally right. Slately and Stanley have never even heard of this before; it's clearly outside the bounds even of linked Turnamancy and only Charlie can make it happen.

[Wigmund]

I'm wondering who Jillian's gonna have turned.

[Gregness]

Forum suggests that the Turnamancer is linked, which would make sense with the "DO NOT TRY TO TALK TO THIS UNIT" bit in the text update, but still.

Bullshit. (http://www.erfworld.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1139&start=20#p25584)

That guy does a lot of bitching. Notably, he says that not even Magic: the Gathering has anything so obviously bullshit. He's wrong. (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=129898)

[Odjn]

Ansom.

Also, yeah, I forgot what card it was but I remembered there was a blue blueshit card. Though to be honest half of blue is blueshit.

[Arhra]

And just ending the turn is bullshit? There's a hojillion games that allow you to take an extra turn. Having it cut off the middle of the opponent's turn is the unexpected part.

How about "you control your opponent's next turn (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=46724)" ?

[Odjn]

And just ending the turn is bullshit? There's a hojillion games that allow you to take an extra turn. Having it cut off the middle of the opponent's turn is the unexpected part.

How about "you control your opponent's next turn (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=46724)" ?

Well, there's a reason TS is ten times as hax as that one, and one of them is there's no set up. Anyone can play mindslaver, but not instantly. In addition to that, there are effects that cannot be countered at all, yet Time Stop counters them. The drawback of course is the high cost and you can play spells to resolve after someone hits you with it, but if you're tapped out/no cards in hand/etc it basically ruins the game for you because A) it gave them another turn to pull off more blue bullshit and B) if he didn't know what you were doing before, now he does.

Also also, Mindslaver has a setup time, then a use time. Even if you have the mana to play and use mindslaver the turn it comes out, someone can Time Stop the mindslaver while it's still on the stack, or counter it with a spell that costs less, or even wait til you activate the ability and use a spell to destroy it before the effect resolves (actually not sure on that one, been a while since I played MTG).

[Arhra]

Mindslaver was used in a nasty infinite lockdown deck that was quite effective in the Mirrodin era, as well as buying time for the Tooth and Nail archetype while Time Stop did see some use but it was more conditional. So one could argue it wins there. Besides, you control your opponent's next turn. It's madness!

Besides, someone can counter Time Stop with a spell that costs less too you know. Relatedly, once Mindslaver's ability is on the stack, there's very little you can do to stop it. A stifle-type ability will work, but it's impossible to destroy Mindslaver in response - it's already been sacrificed as part of its activation cost and an ability on the stack exists (mostly) independently of its source anyway.

But this is getting a little off topic.

So far Erfworld's 'end the turn' trick has had at least one drawback adressed - high cost. It's also at least a dual linkup and I'm hoping it'll turn out to be three. If the dual linkups are quite safe, surely someone would have known this trick already.

Honestly, it's not as impressive a trick as 'uncroak the volcano', although it does have a lot more utility.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Not so high a magic cost as to prevent them still being able to turn a high level warlord. Turnamancers still op!

[Geminex]

Definetly. I'd hate to see what one's like with an Arkentool.

[MFD]

So, we have a warrior Arkenhammer that allows a warrior to do alot of cool warrior things. The Croakamancer Arkenpliers that super-uncroaks units. The Thinkamancer Arkendish that creates remote super links.

And a fourth, unknown Arkentool. Right?

[Geminex]

Yah. It probably won't fall into the hands of a turnamancer, but can you imagine? Turn entire enemy army, end enemy's turn, take capital, the end.

[01d55]

It's also at least a dual linkup and I'm hoping it'll turn out to be three. If the dual linkups are quite safe, surely someone would have known this trick already.

Three nothing. Dollars to Donuts that was a QUAD link.

[Odjn]

It was probably a three or four caster link, and even if four were possible, it's clearly the Arkendish pumping up the spell.

[Loyal]

I believe it was previously mentioned that four was absolutely impossible. FWIW.

[Odjn]

I believe it was previously mentioned that four was absolutely impossible. FWIW.

Arkendish. Ending a turn is supposedly impossible either. And we've never seen casters not in physical proximity of each other, either.

BREAKING DA RULEZ!!

[Loyal]

Ending a turn prematurely has never been mentioned up till now. The proximity of linked casters has never been mentioned.

Four-caster links have been explicitly debunked by, I believe, Sizemore.

[Dracorion]

Nah, I think he said it was never done, not that it couldn't be done.

Again, Arkendish.

[Odjn]

Ending a turn prematurely has never been mentioned up till now. The proximity of linked casters has never been mentioned.

Four-caster links have been explicitly debunked by, I believe, Sizemore.

Who doesn't have an Arkentool attuned to the discipline that makes links possible, so that info is based on what's normally possible. Sizemore didn't know anything about the tools except maybe a bit about the hammer.

For fuck's sake, they explicitly are shocked what the Arkenpliers are capable of and how Croakamancy can't do what Wanda does.

[Loyal]

Again, Arkendish.You guys keep saying that word. I do not think it means anything like you seem to think it means anything.

We know nothing about it. It's about as plausible to say that, for instance, the Arkendish confers Predictamancy, or the Arkendish doubles as a Killsat within a certain range which is the real reason nobody's gone after Charlie, or the Arkendish gives Charlie the ability to perceive everything in a given hex.

Just because we don't know what it CAN do doesn't make it an argument to say that it made something possible.

Nah, I think he said it was never done, not that it couldn't be done.His exact words: "Four can't even be done." (http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F054.jpg)

[Dracorion]

Fair enough. But it's been said the Arkendish affords him (Charlie) command over Thinkamancy. (http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F088.jpg)

So we know Thinkamancy is what it does.

Hence why I think if anything can make a four-man link, it's the goddamn Arkendish.

[Raiden]

I'm surprised that no one's made a mention about Jillian.

And how she shouldn't be put in command of anything.

Ever.

"What? Oh yeah, I know that hundreds of people have already died. Hrrrm? Yeah, I know hundreds more will, too. Yeah, my people will likely be enslaved. Why? Well, duh. I have a bi-crush on Wanda and the ex-prince who now hates me and loves Wanda."

Seriously. Goddamn.

[Odjn]

You guys keep saying that word. I do not think it means anything like you seem to think it means anything.

We know nothing about it. It's about as plausible to say that, for instance, the Arkendish confers Predictamancy, or the Arkendish doubles as a Killsat within a certain range which is the real reason nobody's gone after Charlie, or the Arkendish gives Charlie the ability to perceive everything in a given hex.

Just because we don't know what it CAN do doesn't make it an argument to say that it made something possible.

His exact words: "Four can't even be done." (http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F054.jpg)

Before the Arkenhammer dragons were unrecruitable, so people would say "You can't pop dwagons." And they'd be rightish. Turns out you can when you have the hammer. Because it changes da rules. Same with the pliers, most of the Magic Kingdom is 'whut.' when they learn about decrypting, because it isn't possible...without the pliers.

Your point is thus: Sizemore said it, so it's a fact. Clearly that's wrong since he's not infallible. He is knowledgeable about other Disciplines, but that means nothing; Maggie thought the Eyebooks were completely secure, but Charlie with his "unsurpassed Thinkamancy" proved her wrong...and she's a Thinkamancer, presumably knowing more about it than Sizemore. Additionally, the one caster we HAVE seen with an Arkentool has also completely changed the rules. So again, it is not proven, but it is certainly possible that the Arkendish allows Charlie to do 4 person link ups especially if you consider that link ups are made possible by Thinkamancy, which is what (http://www.erfworld.com/wiki/index.php/Arkendish) the dish does. (http://www.erfworld.com/2009/10/summer-updates-%E2%80%93-046/)

What Sizemore says is a good guideline but nothing more.

[Geminex]

What Sizemore says definitely isn't word of god, I agree with that.

What I don't get is how Haggar can't sneak attack because his turn is after Jetstone's. Is it simply because, if he breaks alliance, Jetstone will get to act before him?

Anyway, the text update is interesting. Charlie is badass, pop culture references (though Archons seem really expensive in that sense), the Archons actually seem to love Charlie (which is probably the "big secret" he's worried about others finding out), and Erfworld has naval combat. Very nice.

[Odjn]

What Sizemore says definitely isn't word of god, I agree with that.

What I don't get is how Haggar can't sneak attack because his turn is after Jetstone's. Is it simply because, if he breaks alliance, Jetstone will get to act before him?

Anyway, the text update is interesting. Charlie is badass, pop culture references (though Archons seem really expensive in that sense), the Archons actually seem to love Charlie (which is probably the "big secret" he's worried about others finding out), and Erfworld has naval combat. Very nice.

From what I understand about NTO, if you are allied with someone, you move on the slowest guy's turn, so when you're allied with Haggar you are effective taking their turn. If they broke alliance, you would either presumably be able to finish your turn, or they would lose their turn, or you'd get a completely new turn, as long as your order is before theirs. Which exactly I'm not sure.

[Wigmund]

Anyway, the text update is interesting. Charlie is badass, pop culture references (though Archons seem really expensive in that sense), the Archons actually seem to love Charlie (which is probably the "big secret" he's worried about others finding out), and Erfworld has naval combat. Very nice.

I think Charlie's secret is that he's from Earth like Parson is, he just traveled to Erfworld from sometime in the 1970s or real early 80s.

Explains one of the reasons he's obsessed with Parson (other than that it seems that Parson is one of the few known people to have dealt a serious blow to Charlie's power and security).

[Loyal]

It's nice to see what Charlie can do when he's not intellectually (out?)matched.

[Raiden]

Seriously. Jillian.

Get the fuck out of the field. You have added nothing to this fight and have only served to screw your side over repeatedly.

And now a major warlord on your side got killed because you have a crush on a zombie.

Worst. Queen. Ever.

[BitVyper]

Worst. Queen. Ever.

Being fair, she didn't really want to be a queen because she doesn't want to have to give a shit about all of that stuff.

[Geminex]

And now a major warlord on your side got killed because you have a crush on a zombie.
I think that Sammy would've died anyway. He seemed to be intent on a 1-on-1 with Ansom, whereas Ansom had his pikers support him. Not to mention that, despite damage, I think Ansom's stats are significantly better than Sammy's.

[EVILNess]

I don't think Sammy is dead since it shows him retreating. Still, Jillian is playing a DANGEROUS game that seems to have no real point.

[Geminex]

Didn't we see him getting beheaded? Yeah, I think we did.

They might be carrying the body off so he doesn't get Raised by Wanda?

[Loyal]

Seems to be the general consensus.

I liked the "Okay yeah, we're not having this conversation" bit.

[Ravashak]

Am I the only one that facepalmed at what just happened?
Use a giant flyer to squash something equals capture, wtf?

[Geminex]

Indeed. But it makes sense, sorta. The megalogwiff is made of marshmallow fluff, when it squashed Ansom he simply sank into it. He is now trapped by confectionery, just as Tramemnis was. Nothing too... illogical there. At least not by Erfworld standards.

...

The fact that the megalogwiff was capable of this at all seems a little strange, but we're heard nothing about their abilities, so for all we know, they do this all the time.

[EVILNess]

Hmm, yeah I guess he did get beheaded, I just mistook the black haired guy that looks JUST LIKE HIM for him.

Also, Jillian's belly capture was probably the best thing in Book 2 so far.

[Loyal]

We saw regular gwiffs pin down/smush Duncan long enough for him to be turned earlier. It makes sense that the larger (gummier?) megalogwiffs would be able to simply carry their quarry off with them instead.

The m-gwiff with tears streaming down its face 'cause of all the arrows and pikes sticking out of it is adorably hilarious for reasons I can't explain.

[EVILNess]

Jack is quickly becoming my favorite Erfworld resident.

[Raiden]

I'm just really tired of the story being focused on Jillian. She's a piss-poor Queen and Commander since she lets her own side get wrecked just because she has a crush on a dead guy. And judging by the last panel, you can't seem to turn people that have been brought back to life because, well, they're DEAD. So there's a good chance she's doing all this for nothing.

I really just want to see more Parson. I like Parson. His stuff is INTERESTING. Things HAPPEN.

[tacticslion]

I'm just really tired of the story being focused on Jillian. She's a piss-poor Queen and Commander since she lets her own side get wrecked just because she has a crush on a dead guy. And judging by the last panel, you can't seem to turn people that have been brought back to life because, well, they're DEAD. So there's a good chance she's doing all this for nothing.

I really just want to see more Parson. I like Parson. His stuff is INTERESTING. Things HAPPEN.

Actually, I think I understand why we aren't seeing more Parson: he doesn't want us to. The end of book one pretty clearly emphasized that Parson isn't playing ball with the god-like force that's controlling the world and is, in fact, purposefully attempting to downplay his part.

As for Jillian, I agree, she's making a choad of "mistakes" and "bad choices". However, so did Parson. In fact, Parson's entire friggin' military was ready to abandon him because he made so many "mistakes" - mistakes that was, more or less, experimentation to learn the limits of what you can or cannot do. I think, in her own emotional non-reasoning way, that this is exactly what Jillian is doing. She wants Ansom back and so is playing around with the new rules - introduced by Parson - and is attempting to learn them. Really, she's doing what everyone in Erfworld should be doing, but she's doing it for the "wrong" reason - hers. Parson did it just to stay alive. Also, Jillian is, in many ways, like a child. She's never had responsibility for others, so she's still learning how to use it.

All that said, I find the character interplay rediculously fascinating. Each of the characters has, so far, displayed properties that I've, in parts, found admirable and aggrivating. Even Parson, in his insistance upon being pointlessly vulgar - just to break the power over him, but it's not a positive trait. Anyhoo, I like it - even the parts I don't 'like' - as it makes them real.

[Loyal]

When I read this paragraph:
"What if dwagons could tunnel?" his Lord would posit. "What if ships could travel on land?" And soon, Jack would be projecting a model battle in which dirt-burrowing dwagons clawed like sea serpents at the hulls of great wheeled galleons on grassy plains. Or a simple scenario would play out predictably, and Lord Parson would say, "Okay, now let's give all two thousand of those infantry the ability to cast like Archons, and see what happens." Marvelous. Marvelous.I couldn't help but reread the whole thing, only this time it was inexplicibly in Morgan Freeman's voice.

Also I like how Wanda is more skeeved out by Jack than anyone else would be by her.

[Raiden]

Actually, I think I understand why we aren't seeing more Parson: he doesn't want us to. The end of book one pretty clearly emphasized that Parson isn't playing ball with the god-like force that's controlling the world and is, in fact, purposefully attempting to downplay his part.

As for Jillian, I agree, she's making a choad of "mistakes" and "bad choices". However, so did Parson. In fact, Parson's entire friggin' military was ready to abandon him because he made so many "mistakes" - mistakes that was, more or less, experimentation to learn the limits of what you can or cannot do. I think, in her own emotional non-reasoning way, that this is exactly what Jillian is doing. She wants Ansom back and so is playing around with the new rules - introduced by Parson - and is attempting to learn them. Really, she's doing what everyone in Erfworld should be doing, but she's doing it for the "wrong" reason - hers. Parson did it just to stay alive. Also, Jillian is, in many ways, like a child. She's never had responsibility for others, so she's still learning how to use it.

All that said, I find the character interplay rediculously fascinating. Each of the characters has, so far, displayed properties that I've, in parts, found admirable and aggrivating. Even Parson, in his insistance upon being pointlessly vulgar - just to break the power over him, but it's not a positive trait. Anyhoo, I like it - even the parts I don't 'like' - as it makes them real.

Difference between Parson making mistakes and Jillian making mistakes is that Parson was using rules from the Real World in a fake world. Jillian KNOWS how that world works, she's just letting her side take major losses/try to sell out her side/do everything stupid because she has a crush on her ex-boyfriend and her old dominatrix. Parson meanwhile learned the rules and overcame it. Jillian will only win (which isn't looking likely) because four different factions are pushing and giving her aid and support.

I also like Parson more because he understands that what he does has consequences, while Jillian sees everyone besides herself, Ansom, and the woman who put her under a spell as expendable. She even distracted one of her side's MAJOR warlords and watched him die just because he had the GALL to try and KILL THEIR ENEMY.

Jillian is boring, predictable, and a horrible horrible warlord. I'm tired of her and tired of watching her flail about like a child who lost her toy while multiple kings and influential people try to satisfy her with other toys.

But that's just my opinion.

EDIT: Dammit Loyal, now Jack's voice is only coming out as Morgan Freeman.

[Fifthfiend]

You're blaming Jillian for playing badly at a game she's not playing. She's pursuing the objectives she's pursuing because those are the only reason she gives a shit about this fight in the first place, and her allies know that, because holding out one of those objectives was the entire way they got her to join their side.

Jillian "wins" if she 1. brings Ansom back to her side, 2. brings Wanda to her side, 3. kills Stanley as revenge for (in her view) taking away 1 and 2. Don King and Charlie are helping her pursue those goals because they believe her doing so will work out to their benefit. If it doesn't then oh well, they bet wrong. She's a means to an end for them and in turn they're a means to an end for her.

And I mean as far as Sammy of Hagar, you're talking about a guy who was only on the field for the sake of seeing if he'd be able to kill whoever won, which very well could have included Jillian; he had to be threatened into taking an actual side. What reason is there for Jillian to care what happens to him?

[BitVyper]

All in all, I think Charlie and the Don have underestimated her. I get the feeling neither were expecting her to have plans of her own.

[Raiden]

You're blaming Jillian for playing badly at a game she's not playing. She's pursuing the objectives she's pursuing because those are the only reason she gives a shit about this fight in the first place, and her allies know that, because holding out one of those objectives was the entire way they got her to join their side.

Which is a dangerous game considering she's made it dang clear she's more than willing to let her entire side die just so she'd get to hang out with her zombie ex-boyfriend and the girl she has a crush on. Which really doesn't cancel my claim of "she's a horrible warlord".

Jillian "wins" if she 1. brings Ansom back to her side, 2. brings Wanda to her side, 3. kills Stanley as revenge for (in her view) taking away 1 and 2. Don King and Charlie are helping her pursue those goals because they believe her doing so will work out to their benefit. If it doesn't then oh well, they bet wrong. She's a means to an end for them and in turn they're a means to an end for her.

Except right now she's actively doing everything in her power to make sure her side becomes weaker and weaker while strengthening Gobwin Knob, which is run by the man she hates. I don't even mind people who double-cross, but at least those people do it intelligently. Her actions so far have been that of a character we're supposed to despise and then laugh as their arrogance and pride get them killed in the field, not one we're supposed to root for or even like.

And I mean as far as Sammy of Hagar, you're talking about a guy who was only on the field for the sake of seeing if he'd be able to kill whoever won, which very well could have included Jillian; he had to be threatened into taking an actual side. What reason is there for Jillian to care what happens to him?

Yeah, and Charlie had him coerced to play ball. His death not only made all his units immensely weaker (he himself said most of his troops were only effective because he was in the field with them), but also means the defending side now has a crapload of unled grunts and troops that are just milling about until they announce their faction's new Warlord, who I guarantee will be much weaker than Sammy.


I get that she's not out to win for her side, but it doesn't make her enjoyable to read about. It makes her boring and predictable. She's going to screw over her side, she's going to put everyone at stake to convert someone who, as hinted strongly in the last comic, likely cannot be converted because he is a walking corpse who's been brainwashed into intense loyalty to the witch who brought him back to life.

And I want to read more about Parson because Parson's the one who plays Xanatos Gambits WELL, and the stuff he does is so interesting and great to read that it's such a shame this entire arc so far has been Dawson's Creek with Swords.

[Fifthfiend]

Hmmmmmmm. Point.

I would be happier if the comic were featuring like 300% more Trammenis, he seems like the sort of character I could be convinced to care about.

[Malek]

Except right now she's actively doing everything in her power to make sure her side becomes weaker and weaker while strengthening Gobwin Knob, which is run by the man she hates. I don't even mind people who double-cross, but at least those people do it intelligently. Her actions so far have been that of a character we're supposed to despise and then laugh as their arrogance and pride get them killed in the field, not one we're supposed to root for or even like.



She's not really done anything that has weakened her side that much, outside of letting Sammy get killed, but he probably would have been either way. If she'd been able to tell Wanda about her deal with Charlie, she might have been able to turn her, and if it wasn't for Jillian's turnamancer, Jetstone would have been demolished several comics ago. (Although that is more Charlie's doing than Jillian's.)

[Raiden]

I wanna see more Sizemore. Dude's been hiding himself pretty good in this arc so far and we really haven't had much chance to see what he looks like in this new style.

[Loyal]

New update.

I can't decide whether to interpret the warlord's face in the last panel as either "You think she's a good queen?" or "Uh... did you just say you wished to be a queen, sir?" Or which would be funnier for that matter.

[Fifthfiend]

Half the queen, holy shit.

Tramennis owns, make him the comic, kill everybody else.

[tacticslion]

Half the queen

Well, he would only have half the X chromosomes... if their world works that way, which I'm pretty sure it doesn't.

[Odjn]

Trammenis is a good leader, didn't fall for Ford's plan and trap sadly. They might try and croak him but I doubt they'll have a shot.

[Dracorion]

Lolwut. (http://www.erfworld.com/)

[Arhra]

Maggie... That's... that's fantastic.

[greed]

Man, Maggie is the best. Always gets great lines and actions. Nice leeway on that "can disagree/interfere if you think it's in the boss' best interest" rule huh?

[tacticslion]

Man, Maggie is the best. Always gets great lines and actions. Nice leeway on that "can disagree/interfere if you think it's in the boss' best interest" rule huh?

Maggie's long been trying her darndest to push Parson into ever-greater power, responsibility, and self-motivation. This is her way of doing so: pretty much the coolest ever. I'm not entirely certain that the destruction of the sword (when Parson threw it into the lava) ended the "ruthlessness" spell - it's quite possible that it's all around him, ruthlessly driving him toward becoming "the perfect warlord (http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F006.jpg)". Maggie's brilliant in her manipulations - always has been. This is just her proving it.

Also, I find it interesting that Parson (and his things) very far exceeds (http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F054.jpg) the value (http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F006.jpg) of the spell used to summon him. Just one item - his mathamancy bracelet - is worth 500k schuckers. His goggles and (presumably) his sword simply added to that value. Plus, they got Parson himself who is effectively the best kind of warlord - the one that thinks outside the box and then re-thinks outside the box, and plans for every contingency he possibly can - whether it's in the box or not. All this for the (relatively very low) price of 350k schmuckers. Even if they'd paid for the support plan, they couldn't have gotten a better deal. I think this has been somewhere mentioned on this thread already, but I can't find it.

Finally: anyone know what the value of his glasses are, exactly? I mean, they perform a seemingly redundant task - allowing him to do what everyone does automatically - but they can't be "free" to make.

EDIT: NOPE I DIDN'T DOUBLE-POST SPECTACULAR!
Interesting. It seems that there was more unison in the uncroaked units without a leader than there was with a leader? How fascinating. It also seems that what basically amounted to a no-name footsoldier may have actually made a difference in the conflict. Certainly Rob is making an interesting call-back to his previous text-update on this same seemingly unimportant character. I wonder if this is something like the "one extra gem" he used at the beginning of the series: his idea that the little things turn the tide.

[Geminex]

Time to uncroak this thread...

Because hey, will you look at that! An update!
Not a particuarly significant update, mind you, but an update nonetheless. And hopefully a herald of future updates. DISCUSS IT. Particularly how Parson's new discoveries are going to affect the battle.
Cause he's trying to come up with something he can do to save Wanda and the units in her hex, despite the fact that it's the enemy's turn. I'd imagine that his study of what you can and can't do during the enemy's turn would have something to do with that.

[EVILNess]

If the arrows unfreeze and don't disappear, well that is a big thing. If they just fall, it will rain arrows on your turn. If they move as normal, then well... you get the picture.

I see them falling though. Still Wanda has nothing but Fliers, so they could shoot the arrows and then fly above them where they have to go through the arrows to get to them.

[Arhra]

Trammenis, you'd better live through the literal shitstorm that is about to happen!

Or else everything will be terrible.

[Geminex]

Whatever happens in the next few turns, I doubt Tramemnis will go down. Ossomer, King Slately, even Ansom, maybe. But I think Tramemnis has greatness before him. Or at least plot-importance.