The Order of the Stick Megathread

Meister · 06-16-2009, 10:31 AM

Order of the what?

The Order of the Stick is an excellent fantasy webcomic, available over at www.giantitp.com. It's got simple stick figure visuals and makes fun of D&D rules a lot. It also has a suspenseful story, very good characterization and outstanding pacing.

The Order of the Stick is a group of adventurers tasked with protecting the five gates that hold together the fabric of reality. They're up against the undead sorcerer Xykon and his associate Redcloak, a goblin cleric, who want to use the gates for their own evil purposes. So far they only managed to destroy three of the gates between them.

Recent events:

- Vaarsuvius made a deal with evil outsiders to gain ultimate arcane power to save his family from a black dragon. He held on to it for a whopping 20 minutes and, in that time, managed to kill about a quarter of the planet's entire black dragon population. Then he tried to kill Xykon, which went considerably less well and pretty much only accomplished pissing Xykon of to the point where he's actually willing to head for the next gate again instead of sitting around in a city with a dimensional rift in it. Good going, Vaarsuvius.

- Although he did manage to escape with O-Chul, who had been imprisoned by Xykon for probably close to a year now. So there's that.

- The Order itself has been separated for about as long, too, and they only recently found together again. Roy is only minutes away from being resurrected so they can all have a proper reunion.

- After which Rich Burlew will probably have reached another book's worth of episodes and take the opportunity to take a break for a few weeks, making this the most awkwardly timed new thread in a while.

e: anyone who attempts to argue that Vaarsuvius is definitely male/female because another character referred to him or her as such will be publicly ridiculed. It's never more than that character's own take on V's gender.

Mr.Bookworm · 06-16-2009, 10:39 AM

You should probably mention the spoilers, since you guys seem to be cracking down on that lately.

Anyway, yeah, it looks like a break is imminent. The bad guys are getting ready to move, the Azurite refugee problem has been solved at least temporarily (the one good thing V did, even if it was out of annoyance), and the entire gang is finally getting back together.

Meister · 06-16-2009, 10:53 AM

Yeah, try to avoid spoilers when a new comic has just gone up. The last few pages of the old thread are a pretty good guideline.

Mirai Gen · 06-16-2009, 12:46 PM

It hits me now that O-Chul might be a little annoyed at Belkar.

Also I love that Hinjo and Lien needed to be there, so they were. Burlew likes to break the fourth wall.

Fifthfiend · 06-16-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meister

Yeah, try to avoid spoilers when a new comic has just gone up. The last few pages of the old thread are a pretty good guideline.

You should OP the thread guidelines somewhere prominent.

Mr.Bookworm · 06-16-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirai Gen

It hits me now that O-Chul might be a little annoyed at Belkar.

Also I love that Hinjo and Lien needed to be there, so they were. Burlew likes to break the fourth wall.

I don't think that was fourth wall-breaking. They get magically transported to a new island, and they don't know how (well, Kasumi and Daigo do, but they probably haven't talked about that to Hinjo yet). Lien and Hinjo, the two most powerful members of the group, go off to explore the island.

MFD · 06-16-2009, 01:24 PM

I'm curious as to why V and O appeared there. Did the Monster send them there, meaning that he is somehow connected to that old Elven Fortress, or did Exit just bring O-Chul (with V) to his liege? Like, Hinjo was the target of the teleport spell?

Mirai Gen · 06-16-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Bookworm

I don't think that was fourth wall-breaking. They get magically transported to a new island, and they don't know how (well, Kasumi and Daigo do, but they probably haven't talked about that to Hinjo yet). Lien and Hinjo, the two most powerful members of the group, go off to explore the island.

Oh! I hadn't thought about that. Good point.

Aerozord · 06-16-2009, 04:56 PM

I am still wondering if there is a spell/feat/artifact/whatever called escape. We still dont know for sure the monster did it. It seems obvious forshadowing but I dont think he is above tossing in a red herring

Jagos · 06-16-2009, 04:59 PM

His eyes did brighten when he said escape. As well, his text got bigger. I'm betting money it was our Monster, especially because now he's sleeping.

06-16-2009, 10:31 AM	#1
Meister Pure joy Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 10,689	The Order of the Stick Megathread Order of the what? The Order of the Stick is an excellent fantasy webcomic, available over at www.giantitp.com. It's got simple stick figure visuals and makes fun of D&D rules a lot. It also has a suspenseful story, very good characterization and outstanding pacing. The Order of the Stick is a group of adventurers tasked with protecting the five gates that hold together the fabric of reality. They're up against the undead sorcerer Xykon and his associate Redcloak, a goblin cleric, who want to use the gates for their own evil purposes. So far they only managed to destroy three of the gates between them. Recent events: - Vaarsuvius made a deal with evil outsiders to gain ultimate arcane power to save his family from a black dragon. He held on to it for a whopping 20 minutes and, in that time, managed to kill about a quarter of the planet's entire black dragon population. Then he tried to kill Xykon, which went considerably less well and pretty much only accomplished pissing Xykon of to the point where he's actually willing to head for the next gate again instead of sitting around in a city with a dimensional rift in it. Good going, Vaarsuvius. - Although he did manage to escape with O-Chul, who had been imprisoned by Xykon for probably close to a year now. So there's that. - The Order itself has been separated for about as long, too, and they only recently found together again. Roy is only minutes away from being resurrected so they can all have a proper reunion. - After which Rich Burlew will probably have reached another book's worth of episodes and take the opportunity to take a break for a few weeks, making this the most awkwardly timed new thread in a while. e: anyone who attempts to argue that Vaarsuvius is definitely male/female because another character referred to him or her as such will be publicly ridiculed. It's never more than that character's own take on V's gender. Last edited by Meister; 06-25-2009 at 11:02 AM.

06-16-2009, 12:46 PM	#4
Mirai Gen We are Geth. Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 14,032	It hits me now that O-Chul might be a little annoyed at Belkar. Also I love that Hinjo and Lien needed to be there, so they were. Burlew likes to break the fourth wall. __________________ Last edited by Mirai Gen; 06-16-2009 at 12:51 PM.

06-16-2009, 01:24 PM	#7
MFD THWIP! Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,626	I'm curious as to why V and O appeared there. Did the Monster send them there, meaning that he is somehow connected to that old Elven Fortress, or did Exit just bring O-Chul (with V) to his liege? Like, Hinjo was the target of the teleport spell? __________________ And The Lord did curse Caine for his sin, for by The Lord blood may only be repaid in sparkly glitter. - DFM 11:30

06-16-2009, 04:56 PM	#9
Aerozord So we are clear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Former murder capital of the world Posts: 13,824	I am still wondering if there is a spell/feat/artifact/whatever called escape. We still dont know for sure the monster did it. It seems obvious forshadowing but I dont think he is above tossing in a red herring __________________ "don't hate me for being a heterosexual white guy disparaging slacktivism, hate me for all those murders I've done."

06-16-2009, 04:59 PM	#10
Jagos FRONT KICK OF DOOM! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Howdy pardner... Posts: 6,399	His eyes did brighten when he said escape. As well, his text got bigger. I'm betting money it was our Monster, especially because now he's sleeping. __________________ Copyright musings World ramblings Scifi stories

06-16-2009, 10:39 AM	#2
Mr.Bookworm YYYEEEEEAAAAAAHHH Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,034	You should probably mention the spoilers, since you guys seem to be cracking down on that lately. Anyway, yeah, it looks like a break is imminent. The bad guys are getting ready to move, the Azurite refugee problem has been solved at least temporarily (the one good thing V did, even if it was out of annoyance), and the entire gang is finally getting back together.

06-16-2009, 10:53 AM	#3
Meister Pure joy Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 10,689	Yeah, try to avoid spoilers when a new comic has just gone up. The last few pages of the old thread are a pretty good guideline.