When a webcomic updates but you don't want to make a huge deal out of it, what you do

[Arhra]

Cucumber Quest: Whaaaat, that goes against just about every rule in the Hero's Journey!

You can't just have things appear like that! It's unethical!

[Loyal]

OotS has been updating quite frequently lately, just so you guys are aware. I am liking what's going on with how the teams are handling the latest development.

[tacticslion]

OotS has been updating quite frequently lately, just so you guys are aware. I am liking what's going on with how the teams are handling the latest development.

It's really fabulous!

[MuMu]

Holy shit, Reynardine just lost it

[Odjn]

Welcome to the life of a meat shield, Haley.

Also Nautilus shut UP.

[Arhra]

It's a little overdue, but I love seeing Tagon in action.

[tacticslion]

It's a little overdue, but I love seeing Tagon in action.

Me too!

Also...

Gunnerkrigg: Rey is the MAN... who is a stuffed plushy.

And...

Holy FRIGGIN COW, OOTS. :aaa:

[phil_]

Holy FRIGGIN COW, OOTS. :aaa:Wait, someone remind me what beef nine-year-old Nale would have with a vampire lizard. Am I supposed to know that?

[Menarker]

There isn't any specifically mentioned incident between the two and Nale has always been quick to take offense. The point two years ago when Nale slew Malacks's children was also the same time period when he tried to steal the crown from the Empress of Blood. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0725.html)

But it should also be mentioned that Nale may not have spent his entire childhood alongside Malack since Tarquin and his crew change partners every few years within their schemes to keep things fresh. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0759.html)

I must confess it's a shock to see Nale act hyper-competent for a change with one of his schemes actually succeeding.

[Amake]

Well, he is fighting a partyless cleric vampire in the middle of a featureless desert in the middle of the day. Ten plus years of preparation or no, on some level I think we could have seen this coming.

[Menarker]

Very true, but Nale previously always tends to botch one of his plans due to his lack of impulse control. This time he actually managed to stay under the radar of an experienced professional high level character long enough to bide his time, observing until the opportune moment.

[tacticslion]

My guess?

Nale simply took advantage of the situation to do what he does best: deceit and betrayal.

While Nale has - so far - inevitably done something to ruin his own plans, keep in mind that he's generally been exceedingly patient up until the 'breakdown'... which is pretty much what this is. It's Nale's breakdown, his end to patience. The difference here is that all the circumstances are on his side.

That's really the big deal here, I'd say: the scenario-changer.

[MuMu]

So, DnD Nerds, what happens with Durkon now? I know he won't miraculously turn back but something probably will change.

[Mr.Bookworm]

So, DnD Nerds, what happens with Durkon now? I know he won't miraculously turn back but something probably will change.

Now that Malack's dead, he gets his free will back. The books don't specify beyond that. He might be all evil, because his alignment didn't change, or he might just go back to being who he used to be.

[Aldurin]

Now that Malack's dead, he gets his free will back. The books don't specify beyond that. He might be all evil, because his alignment didn't change, or he might just go back to being who he used to be.

I expect an alignment conflict as he copes with what he is and fights the urges of being a vampire. At least Malack's parting gift means he won't necessarily suffer the same sunny fate.

[tacticslion]

I expect an alignment conflict as he copes with what he is and fights the urges of being a vampire. At least Malack's parting gift means he won't necessarily suffer the same sunny fate.

Yeah, you guys thoroughly covered it.

I'm still expecting "grave" things (d'ohohohoh!) based on the twin prophecies that a) he'd bring catastrophe to his people, and b) he'd return to them posthumously.

I'm wondering if he'll still feel the friendship that he did so strongly with Malak before.

[Amake]

Yeah, the prophecies make it seem inevitable that Dwarfland will darken under Durkon's vampire scourge. It seems so obvious in fact that I'd bet money on it not happening. Except that half of it is print book-only information, which is supposed to not be essential to following the story. It could really go either way. Unless I'm thinking too much about it.

Anyway. Traditionally you'd expect Durkon to be conflicted about the mere fact of being undead. He has, shall we say, feelings towards things that are affected by Turn Undead that are like on the same level of Tsukiko but in the other direction. It should be a question if he wants to stay un-alive long enough to struggle with bloodthirst etc. It's never been conceivable for Durkon to quit on any level, and if he remembers that he's going to be the nicest vampire ever, but I expect he might be somewhat rattled.

[Loyal]

Chances are Durkon will regain his free will and rejoin the Order, after some humorous and/or heartwrenching misunderstandings. With the cleric abilities and better numbers (one of the summoned creatures is Durkon's, after all), the Order will have a much better time fighting the Elemental and fleeing. Not sure whether Nale will try to fight them, but with it being just him and the drow, escape is more likely.

I doubt Nale will be able to get one up on his father, or at least not yet, but the loss of Malack will force Tarquin to fall back and regroup for a time. He might even decide to fully commit his resources to assisting the Order (or at least trying to, they obviously have no reason to trust him), once he realizes that Nale cannot be controlled reliably enough to make capturing/harnessing the final gate a realistic objective.

e: another possibility is that Nale somehow convinces Tarquin that the Order is responsible for Malack's final death, which would be very bad news, but Tarquin is too savvy about literary tropes to fall for that, especially if he makes any attempt to communicate with Elan whatsoever.

[Menarker]

Chances are that things are going to be rocky on the cleric side since Durkon is going to struggle with the very real possibility that, as a vampire, his relationship with Thor is going to be heavily strained if not broken.

[tacticslion]

It's a possibility, but Thor's bent, if not outright broken, the rules for Durkon before. I'd not be surprised if he did it again.

On the Gunnerkrigg Court, I'm reading the comments of people going, "No! Don't kill Hetty, that'd be evil too!" or similar.

I get that they're equating killing with murder, but beyond the fact that we still don't know if he's killing the prawn-spirit or liberating it, Hetty has nearly admitted to murdering a young girl and then slowly working up towards murdering a young boy for the 'crime' of not knowing she exists when she explicitly kept her existence hidden from him.

Rey, then, isn't killing for any sort of personal desires beyond simply caring about people, and the killing of Hetty isn't cruelty, it's good sense and justice.

And, you know, he might be freeing her instead. So, you know.

[Arhra]

And, you know, he might be freeing her instead. So, you know.
Yes.

With his teeth.

[MuMu]

He has no opposable thumbs, how do you expect him to save her

[Aldurin]

Whelp, there's our answer about Durkon.

[Flarecobra]

So long as he doesn't sparkle, he'll still be awesome.

[Amake]

When a webcomic updates every hour for over four months and doesn't tell anyone about it until it's done: xkcd strikes again (http://blog.xkcd.com/2013/07/29/1190-time/).

[Aldurin]

This is why xkcd is the best, but doesn't bother to make sure everyone knows it 24/7.

But damn, that's nuts. This whole thing is even deeper than the super image he did a while back.

[Arhra]

Wow, Vampire-Durkon gets shit done.

[Aldurin]

Wow, Amya (http://www.amyachronicles.com/archives/117) was being a nice and happy webcomic for quite some time but now shit's getting serious.

But really if you're into an interestingly-written story-driven webcomic you should check it out.

[MuMu]

So, looks like this chapter is going to be about the Forest subtle invasion of the Court

[tacticslion]

Yes.

With his teeth.

It's how I'd do it. :)

Also, OotS is incredibly great.

[Flarecobra]

And shit is about to kick off in OotS.

[tacticslion]

So, anyone want to help a fellow forumer out?

I've totally forgotten the name and history of Kat's girlfriend in Gunnerkrigg. I feel doofy, but right now I'm so scatterbrained I'm impressed I'm typing in more or less sensible senetnes.

1) which story line was she most involved in (the one that got her interested in Kat)

2) what's her name - which, really, I can't believe I've forgotten since it was mentioned, like, one storyline ago. Ugh.

[MuMu]

Her name is Paz, she has some kind of bond with animals. The story where it started was Faraway Morning (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=900) around here (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=922).

She appeared before being scared shitless by Mort (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=64) and disappointed in Laser Cows. (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=602)

[tacticslion]

Her name is Paz, she has some kind of bond with animals. The story where it started was Faraway Morning (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=900) around here (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=922).

She appeared before being scared shitless by Mort (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=64) and disappointed in Laser Cows. (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=602)

Sweet! I especially super-appreciate the links! :D

[Shyria Dracnoir]

Shit continues to be kicked in OotS

[MuMu]

I actually expected this Gunnerkrigg's plotpoint to be awkwardly avoided for a long time, glad it's being brought up so soon.

[MuMu]

And completely dumped it.

[Amake]

Meanwhile, things are almost sort of maybe beginning to happen in Misfile. It's a painfully slow process, and I'm not entirely sure it's not some optical illusion, but it's possible. Emily and Ash are trying to have some kind of romantic relationship, talking frankly to each other about their feelings, screwed up as those feelings may be to them, and generally being very brave. And we've just learned Ash is freaked out at the thought of touching himself which I think shows a whole new dimension to the pain he lives with. Character development!

Still no plot development in sight though.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

Still no plot development in sight though.

Holy shit seriously? I remember reading that stuff in like, '04. How could they have made so little progress?!

[Amake]

Well, a lot of it is due to everyone keeping secrets from everyone else. A tried and trite plot-filling gambit. Loads and loads of characters with unrelated stories (and who when they interact get to spend pages explaining things to each other that we already know) help too.

And there's the fact that the main plot point by design appears unsolvable, which is kind of original. Rumsiel still has to get back to Heaven to put things right, and no one still has any idea how he's supposed to accomplish that, or even what would happen if he did I mean, it's never even touched upon, it must be kept a complete secret from everyone who might possibly have answers, the plan so far is for him to try to be nice to people (although Ash keeps him on a short leash so he doesn't really get to ever meet people and they just make each other miserable) and wait 70 or 80 years to maybe possibly see if anything happens. And of course every year that goes by it seems more likely these kids will just get used to their shitty deal, not to mention get scared of what they could lose (each other, mostly) and give up entirely.

Although then I can't see how the comic would continue, which I guess is the main reason: The authors are obviously trying not to move the story forward so they can keep making the comic as long as humanly possible. And they're good at it.

Maybe they're trying to make us feel sympathetic to certain people who're living an unending nightmare with no options other than death and suffering, in which case the comic is a major conceptual success, for the two minutes every weekday morning I'm stuck with it.

[Bells]

Sooo... does anybody here follows Spinnerete? I would actually be surprised if so...

Either way, what started as a super silly gag comic about super heroes has matured a decent bit in 3 years. Go take a spin with it (heh)

http://www.spinnyverse.com/2010/02/09/20100209/

[Loyal]

I think the most entertaining thing about a given OOTS update these days is watching all the people on its forums scrambling over each other so they can, with determination and some glee, boast about their theory of how this is the turning point in Tarquin's arc and how he's finally sown the seeds of his own downfall.

Every single time.

And goddamnit Captain SNES, update already. You can't leave us hanging here of all places!

[tacticslion]

I think the most entertaining thing about a given OOTS update these days is watching all the people on its forums scrambling over each other so they can, with determination and some glee, boast about their theory of how this is the turning point in Tarquin's arc and how he's finally sown the seeds of his own downfall.

Every single time.

Hey! My theory was tota-

... er, uh, never mind. Move along.

And goddamnit Captain SNES, update already. You can't leave us hanging here of all places!

What's going to happen? WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?! THE EPIC BATTLE OF STICK V. HAT MUST NOW COMMENCE!!

EDIT:
Sooo... does anybody here follows Spinnerete? I would actually be surprised if so...

Either way, what started as a super silly gag comic about super heroes has matured a decent bit in 3 years. Go take a spin with it (heh)

http://www.spinnyverse.com/2010/02/09/20100209/

Actually, yeah, I follow it.

EDIT 2:

So, does anyone still follow Power Puff Girls Doujinshi (http://ppg.snafu-comics.com/archive.php)? Or, the related comic, Grim Tales (http://grim.snafu-comics.com/archive.php)? (Links are to the archives, by the way.)

The first is pretty well done, if a rather "intense" updating of the Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon cartoons. While the "protagonists" are the Power Puff Girls, Dexter (from Dexter's Laboratory, and some of his related characters), Samurai Jack, and a few others make up recurring important characters (the most recent arc focusing heavily for a time on XJ9 - "Jenny" - from My Life as a Teenage Robot on Nickelodeon, among others). It's really well written, though, of course, you don't want to read it if you don't want someone else's (rather dark) vision of your childhood (or teenage) cartoons.

The latter is a super-grim*-dark (alternate?) future-history of the former based predominantly on the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. It's pretty awful in most ways, although it's really well done. If you thought that PPFD mentioned above was a "darkening" of the cartoons in question well... I'll go ahead and spoil it for you: everyone is dead in this one (well, everyone that was a major character from the other one). It deals with the (sort-of) dead son of Mandy and presumably Grim, although it's pretty clear that it's only sort of Grim's son (which is, it seems, the only way Grim can have children). Named "Junior" in the comic, has a sister who recently died (at the start of the comic) and he... well, he stitched her back together (similar in some regards to Sally, from Nightmare Before Christmas).

And that is about the least "awful" thing (sort of) in the entire comic. It's quite well written, but it's also really difficult to read. Incest (at least desired), Betrayal, corruption of children, purposeful rejection of Paradise (and cosmic Good, in general, for, of all things, temporary emotion, especially the corrupt). All of that sort of thing.

It's well written, as I've said, but it's really hard to read.

EDIT 3: Fair warning, really slow updates in general on both of them. Six to nine days between updates is normal, but maybe more.

* See? It's a pun! HAH! Oh, wait...

[Arhra]

OK Xykon, I think Tarquin just usurped your place as best villain.

[tacticslion]

OK Xykon, I think Tarquin just usurped your place as best villain.

Yep.

Also, Sluggy Freelance (http://sluggy.com/) finally came up with a reason behind the name. I've no idea if it was there all along or not, but... huh.

[Menarker]

So hey, you know that Katt? The cool new character in Captain SNES? (http://www.captainsnes.com/)


Apparently she's not that new. And she might be a pain in the butt for Alex later... (http://www.captainsnes.com/2006/02/28/526-the-stolen-thunder-of-chaos/)

[tacticslion]

So hey, you know that Katt? The cool new character in Captain SNES? (http://www.captainsnes.com/)


Apparently she's not that new. And she might be a pain in the butt for Alex later... (http://www.captainsnes.com/2006/02/28/526-the-stolen-thunder-of-chaos/)

Katt is pretty awesome.

EDIT: upon rereading your post: oh, sorry. I didn't realize that people hadn't noticed that. I probably would have mentioned something earlier. (My knowledge probably comes from the archive binge I completed recently.)

Yeah, actually, it's pretty cool that she's been there for a while.

[Amake]

Is it just me or does Tarquin become more obviously disconnected from reality every time he opens his mouth? It's fine and well to game the system and all, but he's apparently a fundamentalist, evangelist dramatic trying to convert the world to following story logic instead of, I don't know, some kind of human morality or something. Of course it is a story, but if you're living inside it I think on some level you have to treat it like real life even if you're aware that it's a story.

Also, there's something poetic about Roy, at the end of a long day of hard battles, with nothing left but his sword and a handful of HP, just going right on cutting up row after row of soldiers every turn. While directing the battle with what appears to be flawless strategic thinking, of course. This is what that long, straight, one-dimensional line of Fighter levels has led to.

[Menarker]

Captain SNES update! In a way I would have never predicted! (http://www.captainsnes.com/2013/09/04/833-fight-for-whats-right/)

[tacticslion]

Captain SNES update! In a way I would have never predicted! (http://www.captainsnes.com/2013/09/04/833-fight-for-whats-right/)


This. Is. So. Awesome.

[Amake]

Oh Gunnerkrigg, that's so "Mystery solved!" of you.

[Bard The 5th LW]

That escalated pretty quickly, Annie.

[Intern Nin]

My 'angelic being that appeared at an awfully convenient moment' sense is tingling.

dgbrw8wbvWg

[Menarker]

No Need For Bushido is back from its long time absence with several new comics. Starting with this one, presumably set back in the past. (http://nn4b.com/?webcomic1=495)

[Tev]

Does anyone remember a comic or comic-esque blog written by a lowly goblin who is fated to guard the first room of the first level of a dungeon and how he sort of turns the place around and actually makes it a better dungeon and keeps getting rewarded by his superiors? I think the name was something like "I'm probably going to die tomorrow." or something like that. That was the way he signed off on each of the posts.

Does anyone remember that? Or can link me back to that? I'm having trouble finding it again.

[Amake]

I remember playing a text based game about that, where you stood and guarded a hallway until an adventurer came and killed you. That comic sounds more interesting, and I too wish to read it.

[tacticslion]

I don't believe I've ever read that one, Tev, but it sounds neat.
EDIT: Googling it for a bit yields nothing I can really point to either.

On a similar topic, does anyone remember an old sprite comic about a guy obsessed with playing games who, through falling out a window, gets a head injury and comes to believe he's actually in a video game? I vaguely recall him skulking about the hospital collecting a cactus as a party member (at a crazed old man's suggestion) and there was an insane woman who's delusions (different than his) kind of lined up, forming a "party" to slay things (like the hospital jellos).

It was written by somebody named "Q-tip" or "W-tip" or something like that?
EDIT: Similarly, google searches have been fruitless.

[tacticslion]

So, I just recently caught up on years of missed Megatokyo (http://megatokyo.com/) comics. I'd kind of forgotten it existed. Pretty good story. Interesting mythos being built up around itself.

I like how it plays with the ideas of the "real" world and the "fantasy" world, and presumes both are entirely true, but in different ways, and the "true fantasy" that happens right out in front of everyone isn't noticed by most people because, you know, it's "obviously not real, so I couldn't see it" or something.

EDIT: By the way, the latter mostly is explained in chapters 10 and 11... which I actually generally recommend that you shouldn't start reading unless you're okay with waiting for a while. Basically I'd recommend stopping at comic 1125. It leaves a lot of questions unanswered, but it generally feels a lot like the ending, and it functions extremely similarly to many Anime in its own way. :)

Kind of similar, in some regards, to themes found in The Unwritten (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unwritten) in a way (a great print comic that you should totally read, by the way. It does contain nudity and swears, though, so, you know).

[tacticslion]

... does anyone know what Coyote is saying in gunnerkrigg (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/)? Or what that sound means or is?

[Intern Nin]

He just keeps repeating the letters "L", "I", "A", and "R". Could mean anything really.

[MuMu]

There's probably a Rail somewhere

[tacticslion]

He just keeps repeating the letters "L", "I", "A", and "R". Could mean anything really.

Thank you. My poor screen resolution plus my blurred contacts meant I wasn't making it out. :)

[Tev]

I remember playing a text based game about that, where you stood and guarded a hallway until an adventurer came and killed you. That comic sounds more interesting, and I too wish to read it.

I don't believe I've ever read that one, Tev, but it sounds neat.
EDIT: Googling it for a bit yields nothing I can really point to either.
Ha ha! Found it! Enjoy, everyone (http://www.koboldpress.com/k/tag/thppgrg).

It has like 24 parts and you'll have to scroll down to find the beginning because they are sorted in reverse order for some reason.

[tacticslion]

Ha ha! Found it! Enjoy, everyone (http://www.koboldpress.com/k/tag/thppgrg).

It has like 24 parts and you'll have to scroll down to find the beginning because they are sorted in reverse order for some reason.

Sweet! Thanks, Tev!
(Now to attend fatherly duties...)

[MuMu]

Oh jesus, today's Gunnerkrigg is the single most terrifying thing ever featured in the webcomic

I hope Annie learned something from Rey about dealing with weird spirits

[tacticslion]

Oh jesus, today's Gunnerkrigg is the single most terrifying thing ever featured in the webcomic

I hope Annie learned something from Rey about dealing with weird spirits

And Coyote is a hero?! Who'd've thunk it?

[DarkDrgon]

Anyone read book 2 of erfworld?l I like the way the conflict is setting up, and its nice to see a big overarching villain who actually understands parson

[phil_]

I read it. Don't have much to say about it, but I read it. I'm enjoying the almost consistent updates recently.

[Flarecobra]

So, OotS. Think Tarquin's actually thought this thing though all the way?

[Aerozord]

So, OotS. Think Tarquin's actually thought this thing though all the way?

I think its a no lose situation for him. He clearly cares little even for his own rule as long as his defeat is epic enough. Worst case they wreck his army and they get away. Best case his plan works. He is the kind of enemy thats dangerous because he doesn't ultimately care if he wins.

[Aldurin]

It seems more like a "he who lives by the tropes dies by them" kind of situation. Though the death won't be the climatic one he wants as his subjects point out that his obsession with orchestrating story structure is driving his resources into the ground.

[tacticslion]

Anyone read book 2 of erfworld?l I like the way the conflict is setting up, and its nice to see a big overarching villain who actually understands parson

Yes. I like Erfworld.

It seems more like a "he who lives by the tropes dies by them" kind of situation. Though the death won't be the climatic one he wants as his subjects point out that his obsession with orchestrating story structure is driving his resources into the ground.

I would say both Aerozord and Aldurin are correct. Though I doubt Tarquin is going to be taken down by his subjects - he doesn't care about the economy so long as he has what he wants - I suspect he will eventually go down more or less like a punk in a non-epic manner. Possibly betrayal by his allies. Possibly he just lives so long and successfully as a despot, that it just loses all of its fun and charm, perhaps even in the midst of dementia. Possibly dying by disease or something. Maybe even eventually getting conquered by one of the "dupes" his people set up. But one way or the other, Tarquin sounds like a crazy person to those around him. It's only to the audience that he seems sane and clever.

[Flarecobra]

...Belkar with a T-Rex mount.

You know this won't end well.

[tacticslion]

You know this won't end well.

You're right. It'll end awesomely! :D

[Aerozord]

I legitimately forgot he was a ranger. I am completely serious

[Loyal]

Guilded Age really is just the best damn webcomic lately.

[MuMu]

Today's Gunnerkrigg is so goddamn :3:

[Menarker]

Agreed!

Also today's OotS is an awesome wrap-up to the recent events!

[Tev]

I forget if I've plugged Unsounded (http://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounded/comic+index) here or not before. If not, then I'm doing it now and if you haven't read it you really should. The art is phenomenal and the story is great.

[tacticslion]

I forget if I've plugged Unsounded (http://www.casualvillain.com/Unsounded/comic+index) here or not before. If not, then I'm doing it now and if you haven't read it you really should. The art is phenomenal and the story is great.

Pretty sure you have, because I don't know it, but it's in my Comic bookmarks. Still, it was a good reminder, as I'd forgotten about it.

Also, OotS is pretty awesome.

[MSperoni]

I decided to plug my comic here because I wanted to make sure you all saw this update.

BAM (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2013/10/10/the-dreadful-240/)

Mwahahahah

[Tev]

I decided to plug my comic here because I wanted to make sure you all saw this update.I'm waiting to find out how this turns out (http://www.nuklearpower.com/hikym/).

[MSperoni]

You're gonna be waiting awhile!

Plus The Dreadful is where it's at these days.

I have it on good authority that reading The Dreadful will make you more popular with the men and/or ladies. Which is the opposite of what other webcomics do.

[MuMu]

Oh, it's going to be great when Annie comes back to the court in a mess and covered in blood. "It's okay", she will say, " It's not mine."

[Bum Bill Bee]

In Girl Genius we're finally getting some answers as to what happened to Mechanicsburg, and a surprise resurfacing...

[Aerozord]

In Girl Genius we're finally getting some answers as to what happened to Mechanicsburg, and a surprise resurfacing...

its about freakin time, I dont know about you but I was growing tired of this fog of war thing

[RickZarber]

MuMu called it. But no one could predict that face.

[Loyal]

Nor this one.

http://i.imgur.com/EoT6IJ5.png

[tacticslion]

That's because the child delights in violence.

[Intern Nin]

Cucumber Quest (http://cucumber.gigidigi.com/cq/page-421/) continues to be perfect. Much like Legato's lips.

[RickZarber]

Squeed a bit at today's Gunnerkrigg...

[Menarker]

Order of the Stick has a vague Star Wars' gag incoming with a returning character! ^__^

[Tev]

so I just found out about Rare Candy Treatment (http://www.rarecandytreatment.com), a Pokemon comic. It's been a good read so far. You should give it a spin as well.

[Arhra]

Oh my gooooooosh, it's Bacon!

Let's talk about Bacon. Should have expected he'd have some fine acting chops.

[Loyal]

Dr McNinja: Home of the most radical twist in history! Couldn't resist.

It's very... let's call it interesting, when QC's Marigold does yet another stupid/dickish thing and the fandom's response is to debate which, if any, mental sickness(es) she is suffering from to enable her to do these stupid/dickish things.

I can't say I've been digging the new artist of Erfworld. It's technically okay, but it lacks the sort of quirky charm I've come to expect from the World that is Erf, both from Jamie and Xin's art style. Gonna miss Xin.

Or I will, anyway, when they actually finish their Kickstarter stuff and get on with the comic.

[Aerozord]

Dr McNinja: Home of the most radical twist in history! Couldn't resist.Kinda, a good twist requires set up and hints. The only real set up is if you assume certain, to steal a phrase from bioshock, constants and variables

[Loyal]

I had a perfectly good thing going there and then you ruined it. I hope you're happy.

[Intern Nin]

HOW DARE HE INDEED! (http://cucumber.gigidigi.com/cq/page-438/)

[mauve]

Gunnerkrigg's Robot is getting a bit creeeeepy...

[Intern Nin]

Gunnerkrigg's Robot is getting a bit creeeeepy...

He's been creepy ever since he started a pseudo-religion based around a preteen girl. This has leveled him up to frightening.

In other news, Manly Men points out that Zordon really didn't understand what he was asking for (http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/comic/merry-200th-strip).

[Flarecobra]

And in Order of the Stick, we finally move on.

[tacticslion]

And in Order of the Stick, we finally move on.

And it. Is. Awesome.

[Bum Bill Bee]

The Gutters has been back for a few days now, and The KIRKMAN appearances never get old (http://www.the-gutters.com/)

[Menarker]

DUN DUN DUNNNNN!!!! (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0946.html)

Last few pages of Order of the Stick both wrap things up and leave us hanging for more! Onto the final arc! ... Or at least once the haitus is over.

[Aerozord]

thats gonna be rough. I remember the entire reason I stopped reading that series was because of it often going on Hiatus for months on end.

[Amake]

Well Durkon's days of being the most predictable party member are certainly coming to an end.

Meanwhile, is it bad that I wish this (http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp02142014.shtml) would happen to more people who go out of their way to invent reasons to blame other people for their problems and set out to ruin the lives of those people as though that would fix anything?

[Arhra]

Kat is amazing.

Agree: y/y?

[Amake]

Amazing and terrifying. Remember how she looks to Zimmy? I'm scared to find out what apparently everyone but her is seeing. And why. . .

Edit: I mean whoa, now the latest page shows the library guy looks like something similar to Kat in terrifying-o-vision with the eye tubes and things.

Heh, remember this page (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=1312)? It just occurs to me there's a couple of extremely foreboding ways to interpret Kat's line in the third panel. Like if she said "You're seeing something different than what I'm seeing" it would be a lot less ambiguous. Of course that's not a way humans speak to each other, so that's really convenient.

[Jagos]

Well Durkon's days of being the most predictable party member are certainly coming to an end.


That amazed the hell out of me...

[Flarecobra]

And new OotS episode... with an adorable Durkon.

[Loyal]

Woah, it's all less... sticky.

[Shyria Dracnoir]

Well I've got a raging case of dorfabetes now.

[Dracorion]

Now, I'm sure all your comics are amusing and all but why isn't everyone reading the most adorable thing ever? (http://limbero.org/jl8/1)

[tacticslion]

Linking the new OotS artsy madness (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0947.html)!

Honestly, something looked prettier, but it didn't occur to me at all why I was noticing their sleeves, legs, arms, and hands so terribly much... at least not until someone pointed it out on a another forum.

Also, 'dem feels, man. 'Dem feels.

AND JL8 is pretty adorable. :D

[Jagos]

(None of the links contain nudes but there is some parts in the story containing nudity of the breast and but variety.)

So a new comic to discuss but to mention it's not safe for work by just the name... Menage a 3 (http://www.ma3comic.com/strips-ma3/completely_irrelevant_to_our_contest) which has adult oriented content but is done in a comedic 4 panel style with characters you might see in an Archie cartoon.

The most recent comic here needs a little bit of explanation:

In the first panel we see Zee... A bisexual woman who has a very large lust for yaoi, her big breasted roommate Didi (http://www.ma3comic.com/cast/) and has basically been avoiding how her ex boyfriend in the last panel is at a concert that she's at.

The boyfriend in question is Erik, who is currently (possibly?) going out with one of Zee's other exes who she cheated on for her boyfriend (It's complicated...)

The girl in the middle is Yuki. Yuki is a genki girl who likes Gary (our main loser guy that has quite a roster of women that want him for various reasons)... But hates penises. If she sees one she considers them tentacles and anyone with a yardstick in their pants gets [kicked](http://www.ma3comic.com/strips-ma3/chuk) (No exceptions)

Other characters include a "Lady Boy" named Senna (http://www.ma3comic.com/strips-ma3/i_mean_human-alone) and some guest appearances by [Dillon](http://www.stickydillybuns.com/strips-sdb/right_by_my_side) whose comics are just as entertaining but told about his love for Matt.

Overall, great site, great comics, and I think some people will enjoy the more adult oriented comedy. The hijinx aren't too serious and I feel the comic is great to look into for people and see if they like it. Alright, back to your regularly viewed comic channel...

[Aldurin]

Isn't that the one where the shy nerd guy is just stuck in a tidal cycle of drowning in ass and getting no ass at all?

[Jagos]

He got out of that. Still a nerd though... and that's Gary. The other characters are still as crazy as ever though. And I enjoy the SDB comics right now which tell another side to the main story.

[Loyal]

I remember reading briefly through Ma3 once, and being unable to decide whether I was put off more by the ridiculous, creepy sexual content, or by the ridiculous, creepy mouths the artist was consistently incapable of not drawing.

e: this also goes for Eerie Cuties, with the added bonus of having sometimes-borderline-sometimes-outright sexual content featuring underage highschool girls.

ee: On a positive note, I've learned that Fanboys Online started updating again via a swap-comic thing (http://www.fanboys-online.com/index.php?id=531) it and MGDMT did. (http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/comic/what-are-those-guys-up-to) Love me some Fanboys.

[Tev]

I read through Menage a 3 once. It's been a long time ago though so I'd basically have to go through the entire backlog again since I have no real idea of where I left off. Since it's not really something that I can knock out in my eight hours at work, the comic has been one of those things I planned on "getting around to at some point" for a few years now.

[tacticslion]

ee: On a positive note, I've learned that Fanboys Online started updating again via a swap-comic thing (http://www.fanboys-online.com/index.php?id=531) it and MGDMT did. (http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/comic/what-are-those-guys-up-to) Love me some Fanboys.

Hah! I did as well! I'd actually forgotten Fanboys existed - it's a comic I came across once, thought I'd look into more later, and forgotten about some years back, now.

It's... really funny!

[walkertexasdruid]

Favorite Web Comics:

Order of the Stick, Darths & Droids, Legostar Galactica, Captain SNES.

Web Comic that ended that should not have ended:

8-Bit Theater

[Loyal]

No Need For Bushido has been in amazingly fine form lately.

I'm also enjoying the political intrigue angle that's been slowly building up in Schlock Mercenary of late. It seems we never get a proper appreciation of just how big the UNS really is. I hope that will change soon.

[mauve]

Favorite Web Comics:

Order of the Stick, Darths & Droids, Legostar Galactica, Captain SNES.

Web Comic that ended that should not have ended:

8-Bit Theater

I'd never heard of Darths and Droids. Reading it now from the beginning and it is amazing. XD Thanks walker!

[synkr0nized]

DnD is pretty great, and at times I found myself enjoying the bits written below more than the actual strip. Tabletop might not be my thing, but I definitely like when someone who's very into a hobby talks about it with evidence of their passion and knowledge and can use that to craft something else, such as this webcomic.

The way they have constructed personalities for the players that integrate with the [often] poor plot elements of the movies is quite entertaining.



I keep reminding myself that, yeah, I kind of do still read a couple web comics, and then I go and check things like Gunnerrkrigg. I also had added Paranatural (http://paranatural.net/) to my short list, and I cannot recall if I ever popped in here to talk with any of you about it.

[Aerozord]

Web Comic that ended that should not have ended:

8-Bit Theater

I think 8-bit theater ran its course, was satisfied. As for one I think ended when it shouldn't, Keychain of Creation

Especially since it ended because the artist was injured and it was physically too hard on him.

[walkertexasdruid]

I was also sad when Irregular Web Comic ended. Though his academic articles he posts are interesting.

[Loyal]

This week's What If (http://what-if.xkcd.com/96/) has been pretty great, I have to say.

[Arhra]

If you're not reading Paranatural (http://paranatural.net/index.php?id=259), what's wrong with you?

Imagine magical ghostbusting school students! Then forget all about them because this is even better!

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Power Nap (http://www.powernapcomic.com/) is also one of the few great gems that deserves more recognition. Updates sporadically but is always worth the wait. Every page is a feast for the eyes.

[Flarecobra]

Suddenly, things are afoot in OotS.

[Loyal]

Meanwhile, in Guilded Age: Meanwhile ... in Ancient Greece?

[Intern Nin]

RE: Cucumber Quest~If the pizza delivery person isn't a turtle then what's the point?

[Shyria Dracnoir]

T. rex continues to be my spirit animal (http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2638)

[phil_]

The punchline to today's Wondermark (http://wondermark.com/1k40/) is really cute.

[Intern Nin]

A guy who somewhat resembles Master Roshi is also acceptable.

[Aerozord]

Had to share this recent xkcd (http://xkcd.com/1386/) just for how common it is to see not just online but in person too

[mauve]

Camp Weedonwantcha (http://campcomic.com/comic/) takes a dark turn.

[Flarecobra]

OOTS has updated.... and Belkar REALLY needs to work on his Will Save.

[Intern Nin]

If you're not reading Paradox Space, do yourself a favor and go read it right now. While you're at it, do yourself a huge favor and go read Paranatural which is by the writer of the latest Paradox Space story. It's a funny and neat comic and somewhat reminiscent of Bleach before it became the adventures of Soul Reapers and the uncool semi-useless people who used to be important but aren't anymore because they are not Soul Reapers (I haven't read the comic in years so I don't know if this is still accurate). Trust me, you're gonna owe yourself so many favors.

[Gregness]

I doubt you guys have heard of this, but I recently found out about Kill Six Billion Demons. (http://killsixbilliondemons.com/?comic=kill-six-billion-demons-chapter-1) It's about a girl whose boyfriend is kidnapped by demons, while she is shunted to Throne, the center of the omniverse. It's not very long, but it already has some of the coolest world-building I've seen, and the art is absolutely nuts (http://killsixbilliondemons.com/?comic=228) once it hits its stride.

Part of the world-building comes in the forms of pslams and stories from the in-universe religion:

---------------------------

iii. The lie of the water house

YISUN and Hansa walked the king�s road once, drinking plum wine. They were enfleshed as maidens at the time, for boastful, drunken Ogam swore on his high seat at the speaking house that any feat accomplished by his brothers he could redouble seven times again. Hansa, of crafty mind, and bearing little love for a brother whose raucous singing frequently interrupted his philosophical fugues, immediately saw an opportunity to deprive Ogam of his prized and well-boasted-about manhood for a fortnight, and challenged him to a contest of womanly love-making, sewing, and hearth sweeping, and for a time there was great mirth in the Red City.

�Dearest Un-Hansa,� spoke YISUN, after a moment, as they strolled along an expanse of fractal glass and cold fire, �Art thou not flesh of my self love? Springst thou not from my recursive womb?�

�Sprung I from your brow, for it is my lot in life to beat my hands against it in return for ejecting me,� said Hansa, in jest, but in truth he listened.

�Knowst thou the meaning of my name Y-S-U-N is the true name of sovereignty?� spoke YISUN plainly.

� I do,� spoke Hansa, for it was true.

YISUN then assumed a speaking form that was bright and very cold, from her breath she inhaled the void, and when she exhaled, beautiful water came forth from her pliant lips in great rushing gasps, and there was a sound like a clear bell that meant emptiness. Hansa was very moved by this display and watched as the shining water curved and bent upon itself and crystallized, and suddenly before the pair was a great, beautiful house, translucent and all filled with light of many colors.

�Observe my work,� said YISUN, pleased.

�It is an astounding work,� said Hansa, clearly impressed. They strode inside the house at YISUN�s bidding. The walls were clear and smooth as crystal, and warm to the touch. It had a wide hall, and a full hearth, and was full of light and air, and the openness of the place with the starkness of the void was incredibly pleasing. Hansa would have given half his lordship for such a house, in truth, for his own was a dark and cramped tomb of iron and dust.

�Observe again,� said YISUN, with a keen eye. Hansa did, and as he looked closer, he saw the walls, the floor, the vaulted roof, the wall coverings, and even the altar with the flowers in the visiting hall were all made of water � water as clear and still and solid as smooth and perfect glass.

�Water, lord?� spoke Hansa, sensing some purpose.

�What,� spoke YISUN playfully, �is the meaning of this allegory?�

They reposed for a while as Hansa thought, in the resting hall of that great water house, and gazed through the shining rim of that house across the great void, where the empty sky was perfect in its nothingness. The house rung gently like a bell and it was pleasing to Hansa as he sat in his woman�s flesh and thought.

After a while, he said this:

�The house is a man�s life.�

�Why this?� answered YISUN, as was the fashion.

�Because although it is very beautiful and filled with many fine things, it is only water, after all. It would be poor to rely on its existence - it is only water pretending to be a house. In truth, there is no real house here at all, just as there is no Hansa, or no plums.�

�This is a good answer,� said YISUN, and made a small motion with her long white fingers, and smiled.

�It is an infuriating answer,� said Hansa, his mood darkening, and his borrowed brow furrowing, �As is common with you. How can one grant themselves the pleasure to enjoy such a fine thing? It sparkles and shines like a gorgeous jewel, but its sparkle is an intimate falsehood.�

�Death is my gift to you,� spoke YISUN in reply.

�What�s the point,� spoke Hansa, bitterly,�Of such a fine house, if it is only a lie? What is the point of Hansa, if Hansa is only a lie?�

�I am a fine liar,� spoke YISUN in reply.

Hansa was silent a moment.

�It is a beautiful house,� he admitted, after some time, �It is a beautiful lie.�

�Our self-realization is the most beautiful lie there is. I am the most conceited and prime liar. Lies are the enemy of stagnation and my self-salvation. How could we appreciate the shining beauty of my house of lies,� spoke YISUN, arching her supple back, �if there was always such a house? How could we appreciate Hansa if there was always such a Hansa?�

They sat in stillness a while longer.

�In truth, we would get very bored,� said Hansa, after a while.

�In truth, we would,� said YISUN.

��������

iv. The lie of the small light

Hansa was of sound mind and proud soul and only once asked YISUN a conceited question, when he was very old and his bones were set about with the dust and bent with age. It was about his own death.

�Lord,� said Hansa, allowing a doubt to blossom, �What is ending?�

It was said later he regretted this question but none could confirm the suspicion.

�Ending is a small light in a vast cavern growing dim,� said YISUN, plainly, as was the manner.

�When the light goes out, what will happen to the cavern?�

�It and the universe will cease to exist, for how can we see anything without any light, no matter how small?� said YISUN. Hansa was somewhat dismayed, but sensed a lesson, as was the manner.

�Darkness is the natural state of caverns,� said he, vexingly, �if I were a cavern, I would be glad to be rid of the pest of light and exist obstinately anyway!�

�Hansa is observant,� said YISUN.

[RickZarber]

Are you all reading Octopus Pie (http://www.octopuspie.com/)? If not, first, what is wrong with you, second, get on that! Today's comic was just... I'm dead. I am a dead person now.

[Flarecobra]

So, how about that OotS update? Just what has Crystal become?

[Bum Bill Bee]

I was assuming she was some kind of zombie.

ohhhhhhhh wait a frig, where did this old thing come from!? I swear I didn't see it anywhere!

Ah well, I forgot to mention that El Goonish Shive's style lately has been a tiny bit odd. It feels like everyone's got wide eyed expressions all the time now.

[Menarker]

I assume it was a golem (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0578.html) via Grubwriggler's work. He's not the only character with green skin, and he at least has specific greviances against Starshine that might make his scowling face the page before more plausible. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0575.html)

There was further matters that caused Grubwriggler to be angry at Haley (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0645.html)other than the three raids Haley made on his home/business (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0577.html) (two mentioned but unseen in Haley's past and the one to save Celia that we actually see.) They are seen in the bonus content in the printed books which I put in spoilers below.

He died during the raid on his place to get Roy's body, when Haley was trying to negotiate with him but Crystal backstabbed him just as he was starting to be convinced to let Haley have Roy's body peacefully in exchange for a favor from the OotS group. So he died thinking Haley tricked him into negotiation to open up guard.

He has a 5 star protection plan from the guild (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0580.html), so he probably got backing from the guild to attack her for the injustice she has inflicted (and supposably inflicted) on him. This may include being ressed by the guild since he was killed by Crystal. His golem making services are pretty valuable, especially with the loss of staff that happened when they tried to kill Haley/Celia/Belkar; thus requiring them to swell their ranks somehow.

Crystal was veering straight into liability for the guild, and she didn't have her magic dagger anymore, so she probably wasn't worth the effort of raising like Haley thought they might try, opposed to ressing Bozzak and Grubbwriggler. The fact that Crystal was directly responsible for the guild's expense of having to ress their 5 star protected client probably doesn't help her case. That she became Grubbwriggler's golem after she was directly responsible for his death is laser-guided karma.

Hank did agree to keep up the illusion that Grubbwiggler lost the protection of the guild due to Haley secretly being part of the guild and thus making the above issues guild approved project, (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0620.html)but when Haley killed Crystal and ditched without paying the guild the money (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0648.html) that Celia's negotiation with Hank stipulated Haley to pay (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0621.html) in exchange for helping get Roy's body back, the guild probably pretended the discussion never happened and went back to being hostile with Haley, thus supporting Grubbwriggler in his endeavors to get back at her.
They had the resources to pay for two resurrections (Bozzak and Grubbwriggler). The guild had money for one on their own when they offered to help pay for Roy's ressurection, although they had expected to be compensated. The second one was probably paid for by the diamonds that a certain pair of lucky thieves swiped from Durkon, (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0649.html) which as per the guild protocol detailed in Haley's backstory in the printed books, they had to give to the guild in exchange for a tiny wage and room/board. .

If I'm correct about Crystal being a golem, this would make things a bit tricky as golems are immune to Sneak Attacks, as Haley herself mentioned to Celia.

[Flarecobra]

Well, Grubwiggler also had mottled skin, whereas the green-skinned figure did not. Also, I am pretty certain golems generally cannot talk. Also, why would they have details that would not be available for the general audience?

[Menarker]

Grubwriggler already had sufficent reason to hate Haley just from the details that is available to everyone. The book stuff is pretty much bonus. They add to the story, give some further depth, but they aren't completely neccessary to understand the gist of the story (and it encourages people to actually buy the books). Xykon and Redcloak's origins is a pretty big and important storyline, but that's only in printed books too.

As for being unable to speak, in the printed books, one particular golem was able to roar and grunt (although was mostly mute). Crystal's speech might be a special case, although I'd imagine it would still be severely hampered. Possibly locked onto a few choice phrases. Her appearance, which includes the stitch patterns consistent with Grubbwriggler's other works, still makes me think golem.

That said, this is entirely conjecture and I'm perfectly at ease with the possibility that I could be wrong. (But I'll be giddy if I called it.)

---------- Post added at 07:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:22 PM ----------

And oh hey, an OotS update. Evidence apparently supporting the flesh golem route, although still no sign of Grubwriggler.

[Arlia Janet]

Hymns of the Apostate (http://fortunasaga.com/h400.html), the sequel to the Fortuna Saga, concluded last week. 400 pages of sprite-y goodness*.

* Full disclosure, I'm married to the writer so I'm a bit biased.

[tacticslion]

On OotS: actually, flesh golems in particular are known to occasionally retain their sentience. Basically, it's a byproduct of using an old brain that sometimes they just "OOPS I'm totally sentient with 3d6 INT, foo!" for no particular reason that anyone could figure out.

... also there's a 9th level spell* called Awaken Construct in... one of the SPLAT books anyway... that does the same for any golem, though it's expensive and requires the brains of a sentient creature as material components.

(Which is different from the enflesh golem** 9th level spell*, which instead turns a golem into a real boy a living, sentient, independent living creature made of flesh and blood that has its own hopes, dreams, etc.)

* For the record, 9th level spells are the most powerful non-"epic" spells you can get - basically, you're dealing with the end-tier of mortal magic and beginning of near-godlike power. 9th level spells can grant wishes; create small pocket dimensions called "demiplanes"; and grant a form of immortality via cloneing and/or astrally projectioning yourself into another reality where you can't really die, but instead go back to your body upon "death"; or gate in near-godlike angels, devils, demons, etc. to serve the will of the caster. Anyone reading this probably knows this already, but, uh, I dunno, I'm covering my bases, I guess. Also, using italics and spelling in the weird way I am because of the way spells are referred to in D&D and related products.

** I think that's what it's called, anyway.

Hymns of the Apostate (http://fortunasaga.com/h400.html), the sequel to the Fortuna Saga, concluded last week. 400 pages of sprite-y goodness*.

* Full disclosure, I'm married to the writer so I'm a bit biased.

Arlia: congratulations! That's so awesome! Long time coming, eh?
(Well done!)

[phil_]

[s]real boy[/i]I need to know what you were trying to accomplish with these two tags in this sequence.

I don't really have much to say about webcomics right now. Kinda sad Gunshow ended.

[Intern Nin]

I need to know what you were trying to accomplish with these two tags in this sequence.

I don't really have much to say about webcomics right now. Kinda sad Gunshow ended.

Then might I suggest you read K. C. Green's new comic, Back (http://backcomic.com/1).

[tacticslion]

I need to know what you were trying to accomplish with these two tags in this sequence.

I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about, considering I certainly did not make any tag errors. Nope. Not me.

Yep, I get things correct the first time, yessir!

(Fixed. Sorry.)


AAAAAAAAAAAAALSO:

Dang it. I just finished catching up on Kill Six Billion Demons. And then finished catching up on the original Kill Six Billion Demons. DANG. IT. (Hint: neither have yet been concluded. The Re-booted K6BD is, in many ways, a vastly superior product, and is currently ongoing. The other is hilarious and was ended without conclusion in order to reboot the series. Both are... amazing, if NSFW, though more for violence and gore reasons rather than sexual ones.)

[Menarker]

New OotS comic.

Also, called it. =3 (http://www.nuklearforums.com/showpost.php?p=1249079&postcount=1144)

[BitVyper]

I figure Annie's dad hasn't bothered to give her a book because he's seen her previous work and realised that she's been copying off Kat, and he's just responding to it in the assholest way he can.

[Flarecobra]

OotS's alternate title for today: Turnabout Golem.

[Loyal]

Guilded Age has been unimaginably heavy lately.

Like. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'r'body dead.

[mauve]

I figure Annie's dad hasn't bothered to give her a book because he's seen her previous work and realised that she's been copying off Kat, and he's just responding to it in the assholest way he can.

I seriously hate Annie's dad already. He's an asshole and has no right to criticise Annie's behavior since she nasically spent the last eight years without parents, even though he has apparently been working right down the freaking hall from his kid all this time.

Gunnerkrigg Family Services needs to step in here and get that girl some help, since Annie's practically being raised by the Court anyway. XD Hell, Jones and Coyote make better parents than her actual dad, and Coyote's a douchey trickster god and Jones is some kind of emotionless golem.

Seriously, to hell with Anthony Carver. Guy's an ass and I don't like this chapter.


...Hi, my name is Mauve and I get too worked up over comics.

[tacticslion]

I seriously hate Annie's dad already. He's an asshole and has no right to criticise Annie's behavior since she nasically spent the last eight years without parents, even though he has apparently been working right down the freaking hall from his kid all this time.

Gunnerkrigg Family Services needs to step in here and get that girl some help, since Annie's practically being raised by the Court anyway. XD Hell, Jones and Coyote make better parents than her actual dad, and Coyote's a douchey trickster god and Jones is some kind of emotionless golem.

Seriously, to hell with Anthony Carver. Guy's an ass and I don't like this chapter.


...Hi, my name is Mauve and I get too worked up over comics.

While I tend to agree, my guess is that there's more to this than it currently appears. He... did not have those facial scars when courting her mother, and he was a very different person back then, by all the accounts of past recollections we've seen.

Something changed him - perhaps it was just the death of Berma (I think that's her name? Now I'm not sure...), but I remain unconvinced.

I do think he's a jerk and being a terrible father right now... but I'm also hoping that there are some sort of extenuating circumstances or some sort of explanation - not that it fully justifies his behavior, but at least explains it better.

(Of course that could just be because I'm a husband and father and want there to be good husband/father figures in comics, so...)

[mauve]

Yeah, but it's not just that he's being a terrible father right now: He's been a terrible father since page 1 of the comic when he dropped her off at school and never contacted her again. Ever. And he works in the Court. It's not like he lives far away and can't be bothered to check up on the welfare of his only child carrying the immortal soul of his wife. He's a short walk away and can't be bothered.

My guess is that the scars and prosthetic hand come from some super sciencey attempts to bring his wife back to life; maybe he avoids Annie because he'll have to kill her in order to revive Senya or whatever the mom's name was and so he doesn't want to get attached to her.

But unless the next comic has him saying "Lol just kidding, good to see you Annie," I shall continue to hate him.

[Menarker]

Annie's mum's name is Surma.

I hate Anthony too, although the court is partly to blame for letting Annie get away with all of this cheating. Someone commented that the Court might even be intentionally letting it rack up to extreme heights so they'll have something to leverage against Annie in case she acts against the Court in favor of Coyote and his forest friends/minions. Basically holding her membership in the court (and thus the school) hostage by her records of academic dishonesty. Anthony's harsh methods might be intended to remedy a bad situation before it gets even worse; although I'm sure we'd all appreciate it if he could at least be a bit open and kindly about why he's doing it instead of being all clinical and cold about it.

[Amake]

I liked him better as an absent dad than an asshole dad who apparently either assumes his kid should somehow still respect him or doesn't care and expects her not to care when he suddenly shows up after seven years to teach her class.

Not that I know why we should have expected anything different. What little has been revealed about Tony has shown him to be completely emotionally incompetent and subscribing to the "maximal loyalty for minimal effort" John Constantine school of building personal relationships. I just think everyone would have been happier if he had stayed gone.

[tacticslion]

Yeah, but it's not just that he's being a terrible father right now: He's been a terrible father since page 1 of the comic when he dropped her off at school and never contacted her again. Ever. And he works in the Court. It's not like he lives far away and can't be bothered to check up on the welfare of his only child carrying the immortal soul of his wife. He's a short walk away and can't be bothered.

My guess is that the scars and prosthetic hand come from some super sciencey attempts to bring his wife back to life; maybe he avoids Annie because he'll have to kill her in order to revive Senya or whatever the mom's name was and so he doesn't want to get attached to her.

But unless the next comic has him saying "Lol just kidding, good to see you Annie," I shall continue to hate him.

No, I think I'd hate him more for that kind of weird turn-about.

The point is, something has gone wrong with him and whatever he's trying to do.

He's never been a good father, but there might be an understandable (maybe compelling, maybe not) reason he's not a good father.

Being absent doesn't make him malicious - I'd presumed it was because he was forced to work on something top secret, or something similar though, of course, I could easily be wrong (and now that he's teaching class like nothing happened... hm...).

What I meant earlier, is that now that he's back he's being actively unpleasant, which is different from either not being a good father or being an absent father (if related to those two things).

Also, I'm not convinced on the short walk thing? Have we seen this for sure? The court seems unimaginably vast, complete with city block-like structures (if not entire cities) inside of it, and vast orchards as well. Is there any proof he was very close? It seems obvious that he is "close" now, but what about previously?

Annie's mum's name is Surma.

Ah, yes, that's it. Sorry. Couldn't quite remember.

I hate Anthony too, although the court is partly to blame for letting Annie get away with all of this cheating. Someone commented that the Court might even be intentionally letting it rack up to extreme heights so they'll have something to leverage against Annie in case she acts against the Court in favor of Coyote and his forest friends/minions. Basically holding her membership in the court (and thus the school) hostage by her records of academic dishonesty. Anthony's harsh methods might be intended to remedy a bad situation before it gets even worse; although I'm sure we'd all appreciate it if he could at least be a bit open and kindly about why he's doing it instead of being all clinical and cold about it.

That's... an interesting theory. A very interesting theory.

I'm also curious what he's been doing for so long being absent.

It makes me wonder how much this whole thing is going to relate to the court's rather dubious-seeming methods of incarnating forest spirits as "humans".

I liked him better as an absent dad than an asshole dad who apparently either assumes his kid should somehow still respect him or doesn't care and expects her not to care when he suddenly shows up after seven years to teach her class.

Not that I know why we should have expected anything different. What little has been revealed about Tony has shown him to be completely emotionally incompetent and subscribing to the "maximal loyalty for minimal effort" John Constantine school of building personal relationships. I just think everyone would have been happier if he had stayed gone.

See, I never saw this. I saw him as being a shy, hard-to-relate (i.e. strongly introverted) nerd, but not a jerk - those are very different things. This behavior seems different from my recollection of his actions. (If you've links to back it up, though I wouldn't mind seeing 'em - no way I'm trawling through archives myself right now, as, unobviously enough, I have neither the time nor the focus for such a project).

[Amake]

I don't want to trawl the archives either, but, we can look at what Don says about Tony's one phone call. "He used your name even though he didn't have to, that's how he shows he cares! You've to pay special attention to everything your dad says and does and doesn't do because you can't expect him to behave like common men", to paraphrase. He seems to communicate in RISC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduced_instruction_set_computing), and that means you take the risk of people getting a different message depending on their compiler. His friends elect to read a shy misunderstood genius into those sparse signals, and for all we know they may be right, but I'm imagining what Annie might make of him when she has cause to dislike him, and it would not be easy to say she's wrong.

[tacticslion]

I don't want to trawl the archives either, but, we can look at what Don says about Tony's one phone call. "He used your name even though he didn't have to, that's how he shows he cares! You've to pay special attention to everything your dad says and does and doesn't do because you can't expect him to behave like common men", to paraphrase. He seems to communicate in RISC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reduced_instruction_set_computing), and that means you take the risk of people getting a different message depending on their compiler. His friends elect to read a shy misunderstood genius into those sparse signals, and for all we know they may be right, but I'm imagining what Annie might make of him when she has cause to dislike him, and it would not be easy to say she's wrong.

Ah, see, but again, that's now. I'm remembering their flashbacks to when Surma was young and dating him - it seems like they interpreted him "correctly" then, but now... now there's something different going on.

That's what I mean - something changed him, and it was something about Surma's death.

I'm wondering if his fear is that if he gets too close to Annie, when she has a child, he'll lose her, too. I'm not sure that's it (and it's a selfish reason*), but it's one thing that just crossed my mind just now.

* It really is, but what must that be like? Either hope your family line ends with your daughter (when she dies), or hope that your family continues... knowing that it will cost your daughter her life? Eeeeeeyugh. :( "Warbot" might have been a better icon for this post...

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Guilded Age has been unimaginably heavy lately.


callin it now: Byron has zerk'd his last ber.

edit: yep, called it.

[mauve]

To reiterate: Annie's dad = asshole.

[RickZarber]

Yeah this storyline is slow, cruel torture.

I feel kind of bad for Tom though, because apparently some of that (right and proper) anger being elicited by the story is being redirected at him? Enough that he's been kind of defensive on Twitter anyway.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/99745419/Gunnerkrigg.png

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

It's sad when an author, artist, writer, whatever has to defend themselves like that. Still, it's a light handed way for Tom to say "fuck your comfort zone, this train wreck stops for nobody."

[Arhra]

Still, it's a light handed way for Tom to say "fuck your comfort zone, this train wreck stops for nobody."
okay.

[tacticslion]

okay.

Beat me to it!

[Intern Nin]

Re: Gunnerkrigg

No. No. No. No. NO.

[RickZarber]

Yeah. Today's broke me. I'm broken now. T.T

[BitVyper]

I'm waiting for the end of the arc to read it, I think. Siddell is doing a fantastic job of presenting and handling the themes, and it's making for an emotionally powerful story, but I think I need to be able to check the last page and make sure the villain loses before I can read the rest.

I don't know why, but in general, it's always seemed like GC fans are oddly entitled/rabid when it comes to thinking Siddell exists for them alone. I've watched him take shit so awful on social media that I actually felt compelled to email him some reassurance about it.

[Amake]

I can guess why. Reading Gunnerkrigg feels less like a communal experience than most webcomics (not that reading is a very communal experience to begin with). It's more like a personal exchange between Siddell and the reader, or even the comic and the reader depending on how much of Siddell's meager public presence you pay attention to.

I've never talked to anyone who seemed to want to talk about the comic with anyone, beyond talking about how much they like it and what the many mysteries might be about. I can feel that reluctance myself. Those characters hold a very special place in my heart - I think I've touched on that before - to the point where opening up about what I really think about them seems like I imagine talking about your own children might be like.

So I can see why some shortsighted people might forget the comic doesn't belong to them, especially when emotions ride high and updates come slowly. Maybe just because I've taken to buying the lovely hardcover books, but I'm starting to think the audience would be better served without the comic on the Internet. In ten years, when it's probably long completed, maybe we'll be able to deal with it like it deserves. . .

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

I'm rather liking this arc because it's turning things up to eleven for just about everything. Particularly in how people are reacting to it is no shortage of amusement.

As for other comics: DUMM Comics has some damn great contributors this year.

[tacticslion]

... something seems "off" here. Besides the obvious.

make sure the villain loses

I'm still trying to learn who the villain is.

[tacticslion]

So. Old(ish) joke in OotS (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0767.html).

I... totally didn't get it.

I just recently remembered: "philter of glibness" was an old AD&D item.

It would, naturally, be updated to "potion of glibness" as glibness is now a spell.

Duh. I feel... I feel... duh.

[Flarecobra]

I can't believe Crystal is having more character growth as a golem then when she was alive.

[Menarker]

Yup! Although she still has some semblance of her mind intact. Well, as much as her seemingly brain-damaged mind could be called 'intact'.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Gunnerkrig theory time: When looking back at chapter 38, I've been led to think that Anthony sees Annie less as a daughter and more as the thing that directly led to the death of Surma. Something something keep the firehead girl from fraternizing with the forest folk; utilize fire elemental for the Court's use in seedier activities something something something hammering out the details on that one.

[Flarecobra]

Well, that was quite creative of OotS.

[tacticslion]

Well, that was quite creative of OotS.

I, for one, thought it was perfect. Sad, yeah, but Crystal really sealed her own fate when she explained to Starshine her plan for killin' folk.

[Arhra]

Gunnerkrig theory time: When looking back at chapter 38, I've been led to think that Anthony sees Annie less as a daughter and more as the thing that directly led to the death of Surma. Something something keep the firehead girl from fraternizing with the forest folk; utilize fire elemental for the Court's use in seedier activities something something something hammering out the details on that one.
There's something upsetting about that last panel showing her haircut. No more blinker stone antics?

[Loyal]

Out of curiosity I went to the OotS forums for the update. To my utter lack of surprise it took all of three posts for someone to question whether Haley's actions were justified.

[tacticslion]

Out of curiosity I went to the OotS forums for the update. To my utter lack of surprise it took all of three posts for someone to question whether Haley's actions were justified.

Heavy sigh. :/

[Flarecobra]

*Facepalm*

Though I admit, I could see Crystal flipping Haley the bird at the end.

[tacticslion]

Yeah, Katt's pretty much highlighting all my problems with the storyline so far. I wonder if this is to prove their they're unfounded or follow through?

EDIT: Well, that's an embarrassing spelling mistake.

[Flarecobra]

Well, that's not the sharpest arrow in the quiver.

[tacticslion]

Yeah, Katt's pretty much highlighting all my problems with the storyline so far. I wonder if this is to prove their they're unfounded or follow through?

EDIT: Well, that's an embarrassing spelling mistake.

Reynardine is being hard to control, eh? Hmmmmm...

[synkr0nized]

I can guess why. Reading Gunnerkrigg feels less like a communal experience than most webcomics (not that reading is a very communal experience to begin with). It's more like a personal exchange between Siddell and the reader, or even the comic and the reader depending on how much of Siddell's meager public presence you pay attention to.

This is an interesting comment. For me, I enjoy GC and the one or two other things I read because I don't need anyone else to enjoy it.

On the other hand, when I was open to and followed a lot more web comics in the early 2000s, I came at them more as a center point for a community, where collectively-held jokes and punchlines felt as at home in a panel of the comic as they did in a forum post.

This may be more a reflection of my own particular approach to webcomics (i.e. not joining the forum community, reading twitter, following authors on social media or blogs) compared to how I used to engage with them (joining their community, explicitly seeking out other readers to talk about the comic and, in extension, shared hobbies).

On the surface, I'd claim it's because it's a better comic, but that may be too subjective a claim to make.

[Aerozord]

Well, that's not the sharpest arrow in the quiver.

I thought wisdom and intel were kind of requirements for a priest build?

Anyways, I'm sure this whole thing is for naught. They wouldn't set up this plot point just to go "nope vampire failed, moving on." Plus since he is now "dead" and it was said that he'd return home post humorously I suspect the group will be hitting the Dwarven homelands before we get any real resolution here.

[tacticslion]

I thought wisdom and intel were kind of requirements for a priest build?

Anyways, I'm sure this whole thing is for naught. They wouldn't set up this plot point just to go "nope vampire failed, moving on." Plus since he is now "dead" and it was said that he'd return home post humorously I suspect the group will be hitting the Dwarven homelands before we get any real resolution here.

Heh. "post humorously."

[Amake]

Wisdom is the only stat that matters for divine spellcasting bandaids. Of course a very high Wis can substitute for Int in some respects, but it's not a flawless process. . .

[Menarker]

It is also possible that this "cleric" is a Favored Soul class, which gets its power from Charisma instead (something which Veldrina seems to have in spades). It's basically what you get if Elan actually tried to be a cleric in any plausible fashion, instead of just being a worshipper of a puppet.

... And now I'm curious about the sort of schenanigans that Elan would get into if he met her. That Wrecan guy seems to behave as if Veldrina was his own Elan...

[tacticslion]

It is also possible that this "cleric" is a Favored Soul class, which gets its power from Charisma instead (something which Veldrina seems to have in spades). It's basically what you get if Elan actually tried to be a cleric in any plausible fashion, instead of just being a worshipper of a puppet.

... And now I'm curious about the sort of schenanigans that Elan would get into if he met her. That Wrecan guy seems to behave as if Veldrina was his own Elan...

This is what I was thinking as well.

Of course, if that's the case, the lack of wings indicates limits on her level, so she's unlikely to be able to raise Durkon... which should be perfect for the vampire's plans. Hm.

[Flarecobra]

And apperentally this elf cleric is a fan-made character..

[Menarker]

Back when I ran the Kickstarter campaign, the top reward was a walk-on cameo for a D&D character of your creation. It's taken a while, but today I fulfilled that reward in strip #986. Veldrina the elven priestess is the creation of one of my loyal backers and has been included here at their request. In fact, upon hearing the character's description for the first time, I immediately decided to slot her into an existing spot in the upcoming story where a divine caster would make the most sense, so she will be sticking around a bit more than the one page that was paid for. It just took a long time to get to this specific point in the narrative, though luckily the backer has been very gracious and patient for this entire time. So enjoy the first-ever fan-created OOTS character for however long she's here.

I also fulfilled another promise with today's strip, if a less joyous one. Mark Monack, who went by the screen name "Wrecan," was a pillar of the message board community for many years. He was, among his other roles, the founder of one of the forum's odder traditions: counting the number of strips each character appears in, a project that continues many years after he began it. When he passed in 2013, I asked his wife Jodie if there was anything I could do to help out. She told me he would have loved nothing more than to have a walk-on character named Wrecan in OOTS. Now, there is one.

Pretty much.

EDIT: And it turns out that the Favored Soul thing is correct!

[Bum Bill Bee]

Hello guys, I'd like to make an announcemnt: I've just gotten all caught up with Sluggy Freelance!

Which I had started to read in March.

While also juggling Problem Sleuth and Homestuck which I had started on 2 months later and am still working on.

SOMEONE GIVE ME A MEDAL FOR BEING SO NIFFTY!

[mauve]

Re: Gunnerkrigg-- WHAAAAAT.

[Bum Bill Bee]

In Sinfest:

Its now official that Monique is lesbians with that one devl girl. I find myself rather disappointed. I wanted them to be BFFs. Oh and Miko now has zero identidy outside of being a Monique worshipper fangirl.

And I'm starting to really get tired of the pop-eyed expressions he's doing in nearly every comic now. When did he start doing that even?

[Amake]

I'm hypothesizing the haircut disconnected Annie from the fire spirit part of her and/or her aetheric body. It would explain why she's been more stoic than usual I guess. Maybe causing the disconnect was even Tony's purpose, and will turn out to have saved her life, though that seems overly anticlimactic.

Her parts seem to be on the same side and to have a plan anyway, so I'm happy.

What I want to know is if the fire thing has physical presence. The empty white room could be either drawn that way for deliberate ambiguity or built that way to keep it from burning, but I'm inclined to think it's the latter given Siddall's track record of abstract art.

In conclusion, what a time to be alive.

[mauve]

The President in Doctor McNinja is pretty fantastic. The EXECUTIVE POWER karate kick was great.

[Arhra]

Get that in my house.

[mauve]

Re: Gunnerkrigg--

Uh oh. Mentioning a secret experiment and Surma's pregnancy in the same sentence? I get the feeling I'm going to start hating Tony again.

[Arcanum]

Too lazy to make a thread about this so posting it here. Doctor McNinja will be ending soon, somewhere near October.

News announcement here. (http://drmcninja.com/archives/news/dr-mcninja-the-end/)

Quote of the news announcement here:

I really blew it on preparing a nice blog post officially announcing this, but I don’t want to leave anyone wondering what’s going on while the current story title is hanging out there all “THIS IS IT EVERYBODY.”

Yes, I’m afraid it’s the beginning of the end for this comic. (Though, secretly it’s been happening since All the King’s Dirtbikes finished up. WHICH IS IN A BOOK NOW, BTW) I’ll have more to say on it in the next couple of days, but a couple quick points for now that haven’t exactly been a secret:

- I only wanted to do Dr. McNinja for 10 years, and that’ll officially be in October. (Not counting the time I spent on it before going full blast webcomic)

- The story’s been building up toward this for quite some time, and honestly I think it’s the only place it CAN go now.

- This whole thing will probably actually take quite a while. I don’t know exactly how long, but it certainly won’t be over in October. I won’t be neatly hitting the 10 year mark, because there’s a lot of stuff I want to get in before turning out the lights.

More soon,

-Christopher

PS: Thanks for reading! I have always appreciated your enjoyment of this comic, whether you just started yesterday, or back in 2005.

I'm not sure I will be able to handle a lack of ninja doctor in my life.

[Amake]

Finally, time to catch up with the Ninja (who is also a Doctor). All the King's Dirtbikes is exactly when I quit following every update. Guess my finely tuned storytelling instincts knew they were building up to something that'd read better in one sitting. (Why couldn't that have happened with Homestuck?)

Also, I approve of comics that end. Keeping it fresh and tight and other hip-hop buzzwords.

In other news, Tony Carver is acting more and more like a human. Still an asshole dad, though. He might have been screwed over by the Court, and by the laws of physics, but to me it sounds like he did worse to himself. And he calls Surma proud.

[Loyal]

The following Dr. McNinja strips must be read to the tune of the following song, or others as the tone of the comic shifts.

eaLY9HabUtQ

[tacticslion]

So, how about that threatened end of the world and falling Belkar?

OotS, man.

Re: Gunnerkrigg, I have to admit, it seems like I was wrong. I'm still not entirely sure that Tony didn't or doesn't have some idea of what he's doing. Harsh, kind of jerk-like, but still. I could be wrong.

... and I don't think Tony is proud. I don't think he's proud at all. I think he's ashamed*, and trying to sublimate that with making his daughter awesome.

* ... but only able to show it in front of his friend.

[Aerozord]

So, how about that threatened end of the world and falling Belkar?

OotS, man.


Did point out abit of an oversight. If the gods are so worried, why not mobilize their vast armies of clerics and paladins?

[Flarecobra]

Would you want to feed The God-Killing Big Bad vast armies of clerics and paladins?

After all, this is what it's capable of. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/images/oots0274.gif)

[tacticslion]

Would you want to feed The God-Killing Big Bad vast armies of clerics and paladins?

After all, this is what it's capable of. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/images/oots0274.gif)

Sadly, the link doesn't work. I'm not sure why?

[Aerozord]

Would you want to feed The God-Killing Big Bad vast armies of clerics and paladins?

After all, this is what it's capable of. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/images/oots0274.gif)

No I would want them to protect the things sealing the god-killing big bad. Heck the eastern gods DID. Admittedly it didn't work out but that wasn't a failing of the paladins.

[Flarecobra]

And let's see... we got two rifts open, two wreaked, and the evil Lich well on his way to the final one, whom has experance in defeating paladins...

[Aerozord]

And let's see... we got two rifts open, two wreaked, and the evil Lich well on his way to the final one, whom has experance in defeating paladins...

My D&D fu is admittedly weaker than most people on here. But aren't clerics and paladins traditionally the best classes against liches?

[phil_]

Clerics are the best class against anything because clerics are the best class. Also, speaking of the Eastern Gods, why don't they get a vote?

[tacticslion]

Clerics are the best class against anything because clerics are the best class. Also, speaking of the Eastern Gods, why don't they get a vote?

My guess? They've lost their everything. With the destruction of Azure City, it may well be that the Easter Gods have lost their "right" as it were, to vote for the creation or destruction of the world. (Similarly with any other gods who held domain over rifts that were lost. Effectively, if a Pantheon loses all of its rifts, it loses all of its rights). I guess I was wrong, having just seen the comic you were referring to. Sorry. No clue.

I find it very notable that it's the (traditionally) lawful good god who's arguing for the destruction of the world and the (traditionally) chaotic evil god who's arguing for its continued existence.

Kind of obvious, but still. What's Loki up to?

[Loyal]

In this case it seems less a matter of good vs. evil, since the subject at hand concerns a creature capable of destroying everything, up to and including the good/evil gods.

Rather, the matter at hand seems to be deciding whether it's still worth the risk to try and fix the Snarl problem the Mortal way, or whether the gods are better off cutting their losses now and starting over while they still have a handle on things.

[Aerozord]

My guess? They've lost their everything. With the destruction of Azure City, it may well be that the Easter Gods have lost their "right" as it were, to vote for the creation or destruction of the world. (Similarly with any other gods who held domain over rifts that were lost. Effectively, if a Pantheon loses all of its rifts, it loses all of its rights). I guess I was wrong, having just seen the comic you were referring to. Sorry. No clue.

I find it very notable that it's the (traditionally) lawful good god who's arguing for the destruction of the world and the (traditionally) chaotic evil god who's arguing for its continued existence.

Kind of obvious, but still. What's Loki up to?

I think its logical for Loki specifically. Loki is more chaotic neutral than evil. Part of that means he's far more inclined to take risks. On a more personal note he probably has lots of mechanations in the works he doesn't want to redo. On the other end, lawful good tends to be played more strict and understanding of sacrifice. If it gets out it might end EVERYTHING, better to play it safe and let people just live in the afterlife than risk perma-death for man and god alike (I believe it was said it shreds mortal souls)

[Flarecobra]

After all, it's better to do a controlled demolition yourself, then let a creature of pure chaos wreak everything.

[Flarecobra]

OOTS: This should be interesting. Judging from some of the reactions, I think there are some that are going to approve of this action.

[Aerozord]

Though really, why need a loophole? Gonna die anyways if this vote goes through so kill him. I guess lawful characters would respect this but thats about it.

[Amake]

It took a second reading to notice what's not happening here. Roy doesn't realize that's not his friend Durkon. He doesn't even suspect it.

That's pretty good stuff for page 1000.

Meanwhile in Gunnerkrigg, Tony keeps making it harder to dislike him. He still really needs to talk to Annie like a week ago. But, how fitting that we also get distracted from the fact it's the Court that's actually screwing people over. It seems to want it that way.

[mauve]

Yeah, Tony's handled the issue pretty horribly, but at least I hate him less now that he's demonstrating that he's an actual human being.

[phil_]

So, is there any way Fighter-of-any-level versus high level Cleric with almost all his spells and also a vampire template that he's not paying a eight level adjustment for can end differently from "Fighter wins initiative, move action single attack, Cleric bodies Fighter?"

[Bum Bill Bee]

So much super awesomeness from Doc McNinja lately. I so did not see that twist coming! hoo hoo! I'm on the edge of my seat now!


...also, I wonder what they meant by the mention of "New Antartica" in that news report.

[Aerozord]

So much super awesomeness from Doc McNinja lately. I so did not see that twist coming! hoo hoo! I'm on the edge of my seat now!


...also, I wonder what they meant by the mention of "New Antartica" in that news report.

I imagine like New Transylvania its in reference to something obscure

[Bum Bill Bee]

I imagine like New Transylvania its in reference to something obscure

Oh, I was afraid it was referencing to something in the series that I had forgotten about.

[Aerozord]

For OotS I will say I am pleased they do answer why they don't just dust the vampire anyways

[katiuska]

Yeah, Tony's handled the issue pretty horribly, but at least I hate him less now that he's demonstrating that he's an actual human being.

Pretty much. I think I don't hate him anymore, though I can't say I was sorry when it became clear his story was leading up to a Zimmy face-punch. I also can't say I'm not feeling Fire Annie at the moment.

[tacticslion]

For OotS I will say I am pleased they do answer why they don't just dust the vampire anyways

YUS.

Pretty much. I think I don't hate him anymore, though I can't say I was sorry when it became clear his story was leading up to a Zimmy face-punch. I also can't say I'm not feeling Fire Annie at the moment.

YUS.

[Aerozord]

So I know, in D&D do vampires still die if you inflict enough damage to them or is there something extra you have to do? Like kill them with silver or cut off their head

[Menarker]

Quoted: (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Vampire) "Slaying a Vampire: Reducing a vampire’s hit points to 0 or lower incapacitates it but doesn’t always destroy it (see the note on fast healing). However, certain attacks can slay vampires. Exposing any vampire to direct sunlight disorients it: It can take only a single move action or attack action and is destroyed utterly in the next round if it cannot escape. Similarly, immersing a vampire in running water robs it of one-third of its hit points each round until it is destroyed at the end of the third round of immersion. Driving a wooden stake through a vampire’s heart instantly slays the monster. However, it returns to life if the stake is removed, unless the body is destroyed. A popular tactic is to cut off the creature’s head and fill its mouth with holy wafers (or their equivalent). "

I assume you're referring to the Roy/Durkula fight that is ongoing as of this post. The previous vampire in story that snuffed it (Malack) was killed via dispelling his protection from sunlight while in the desert sun. In this winter-mountain setting, sunlight isn't readily available, but there ARE two viable sources...
A: Vaarsuvius is capable of casting the spell Sunbeam, which would pretty much do the same thing. He/She might not have it prepared right this day, but if they can keep him unconscious, V can ready it.
B: If Sunna, that High Cleric of the Sun God, could be persuaded that a defeated cleric means that their vote no longer holds any sway, then he would be a more ready source.
C: A few pages back, as we saw Belkar falling down the mountain, we can see a river below. A few rounds of being submersed there would do the trick as well.

This is all assuming that positive energy that brings it below the killing threshold doesn't do the job on its own (and they are in a cleric-heavy surrounding).

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

So I know, in D&D do vampires still die if you inflict enough damage to them or is there something extra you have to do? Like kill them with silver or cut off their head

Depends on the version, but typically they follow standard vampire tropes. Generally the vampire template comes with a slew of special abilities that make them very durable if approached without planning accordingly. They're kinda like liches in that they'll keep coming back until you deny them their contingency plans.

Most notably (for 3.5)

armor class +6
DR 10 / silver & magic
heals 5hp each round if hp is greater than 1. When 0hp it assumes gaseous form until it finds its coffin home to regenerate. Cannot be hurt when in gas form.
Swarm spells. Lots of swarms.


Weaknesses include:

Sunlight. First round disorients. They get a single move or attack action, if neither allows it to escape it is outright destroyed.
Complete destruction of the body. Disintegration spell is handy for that.
Spark of Life. Removes undead immunities; makes for easier killing time.
Immersion in running water reduces its hp by 1/3.
Stake to the heart incapacitates said vampire but only for as long as the stake is in place.
When resting in coffin it is extremely vulnerable (helpless status aka coup de grâce time) for the first hour until 1hp is restored, losing helpless status and standard 5hp a round kicks in.

[Flarecobra]

Well, considering this vampire can still heal himself via Inflict (level) Wounds on himself... On the other hand, if you recall... Roy's sword is particularly effective against undead. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0297.html)

[Menarker]

Too bad that Roy:
A: Hasn't mastered how to unleash that anti-undead effect at will.
B: Hasn't caught on to the fact that that vampire is being controlled by someone who isn't Durkon as opposed to it being his friend with a new mindset. This misunderstanding means that he may hesitate to use absolutely lethal force against him.

Back before Durkula's great reveal, Roy thought he could get his friend back by just ressing him right after killing him. That despite all of the eccentricities of vampire-Durkon, he was still Roy's good ol' pal.
But now, the notion that Durkon has taken a 180 in mindset is putting a damper on that.
If Roy thinks he is unable to convert Durkon back to the side of good (or is unable to learn that real-Durkon is being held hostage), then logically speaking, attempting to kill him and then raise him would be a stupid act since he'd be wasting the ressurection spells (and the diamonds needed to cast it) if Durkon was just going to go back to being evil again. Then he'll be cleric-less again and would have to recruit another. (Although being in a cleric-filled Godsmoot helps on that regards.)
Subconsciously, Roy may be holding back because of this (something that Durkula is counting on, which he has specifically stated).

[Flarecobra]

I don't think that's something that can naturally be controlled though. Especally since the effect has showed up when he wasn't even fighting undead. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0898.html)

[Aerozord]

are we supposed to know why that forcefield is there in order of the stick?

[Terex4]

It was explained in a forum post.
The barrier is a normal part of the Godsmoot. It's the answer to the question that was voiced repeatedly around these parts, "Why doesn't one of the high priests just step out of the room and nullify the vote?" but I can't fit everything in every comic, so we haven't seen it until now.

I thought its origin would be somewhat self-evident given that I made it the same exact color as the Northern Gods' energy auras, but I guess not.

[Aerozord]

I'd say that was a poor explanation because of two reasons. First if its normal why is everyone unaware of it, secondly they clearly had a plan for what they'd do if there was a tie and yet standard set up for this prevents that plan from even occurring.

[Ryanderman]

I'd say that was a poor explanation because of two reasons. First if its normal why is everyone unaware of it, secondly they clearly had a plan for what they'd do if there was a tie and yet standard set up for this prevents that plan from even occurring.

I think everyone is aware of the force field. As one of the priests said, all they had to do was go to the top of the stairs and call for an usher. That is exactly what Balder's priest is doing; the problem is Durkula killed all the ushers.

[Gregness]

I'm really digging the new sidekick in Kill Six Billion Demons. She knows tropes.

[tacticslion]

I'm really digging the new sidekick in Kill Six Billion Demons. She knows tropes.

She's aaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeessssssssooooooommm mmmmme~!

[tacticslion]

So, I was on another forum (http://z4.invisionfree.com/Captain_SNES/index.php?showtopic=2950) recently, and was curious: does anyone remember an old web comic by a guy who (if I recall) called himself "W-Tip" or something like that?

It was a sprite comic following a guy who fell out a window, and woke up in a hospital convinced he was in a video game. There was a (different) crazy person (who was paranoid), a cactus, and an explosion. The guy raided the laundry for a red shirt to be fire resistant armor, and had received a request from an old man that he took as a "quest" for something.

Anyone? Just me? Should I have (or should I still) make a new thread? Does any scrap of this still exist on the internet?

[Flarecobra]

And in OotS... Shit just got very much real.

[tacticslion]

And in OotS... Shit just got very much real.

Indeed it did. Indeed. It. Did.

[Amake]

Literally, even.

(Cause the vampire broke character and the fake-Durkon act is over.)

Although, it doesn't feel very exciting to me. The exciting part was the mindgames; the vampire holding all the cards (I mean, he can stop time to think over his next move, just for a start) and Roy trying to fight an enemy he doesn't even comprehend and struggling desperately to leverage that average Int and Wis in the right direction and audience superiority turned around in the worst way. But now there's just the formality of huge undead slaying sword vs huge hunk of undead meat left.

Not that I'm complaining. The fight was a great piece of character revealing drama and probably a suitable prelude for what is sure to be an anguishing argument about right and responsibility mixed with big magic and fisticuffs for the finale.

[tacticslion]

(I mean, he can stop time to think over his next move, just for a start)

Unless OotS uses (some more) non-D&D rules (than I'm aware of already) I don't think he can.

(That would be arcane rather than divine.)

Otherwise, carry on.

[Amake]

Well he was going on about how he has all the time in the world to pick at Durkon's memories cause it's all in his mind or something. Seems like he's been abusing that to prepare speeches in a split second from the start.

[Aerozord]

I'm confused, what specifically set him off? I mean yes this isn't Durkon behavior, but thats been true since this fight started

[tacticslion]

I'm confused, what specifically set him off? I mean yes this isn't Durkon behavior, but thats been true since this fight started

I'm guessing there's a bit of a trick of wording here.

Today (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1009.html)'s page.

Important Reference (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0996.html) made in today's page.

A point at which Durkon seemed... pleased (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0963.html) with the vampire's inability to experience empathy.

I'm guessing the last link somehow relates to the second link, yielding the realization in the first link, while we (and Durkula) are meant to believe that it's Roy's brother. But that's just a guess - I don't quite see it, yet, myself, but rather it seems like it's supposed to (more than just taunting Roy about Roy's little brother).

EDIT: Hm. Nope, I was wrong. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19967620&postcount=39)

[Aerozord]

ok so it was more of a tipping point kind of thing