Monstrous: Because Not All Heroes Are Humans

[Babale]

Welcome to Monstrous!

About (Comic):
Monstrous is a comic about a group of... What else, Monstrous Humanoids, out on a quest to create their own nation. Of course, not everyone is happy about that...

About (Updates):
We'll have an update about once every 3 days, more often when I'm happy, less when I'm sad.

Currently, we are in Once-A-Day-Athon, meaning I'll post every day until we get to 10 comics! Yay!

About (Characters):
Whoops! Natural 1 on your Knowledge(characters) check! Try again later.

THE COMIC!
Current Comic:
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv160/babale/Monster%20Comic/Monstrous3.png

Past Comics:
#1: I Guess He Took That Homebrewed "Racist" Flaw (http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv160/babale/Monster%20Comic/Monstrous1.png)
#2: "Run" Wasn't on the Build Guide (http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv160/babale/Monster%20Comic/Monstrous2.png)

[Babale]

So my comic is up now.

Hope you like it.

And yes, "Racist" is a real flaw:

http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Racist_(DnD_Flaw)

[Tempest Fennac]

I'm curious about where this is going to go. (I find it ironic that Ogres are Giants rather then Monstrous Humanoids, though.:smalltongue:)

[Babale]

Oh comon! You get the point.

Is it bad that there will be a troll, too?

[Ichneumon]

I like it, I'm going to see where this is going.

I never understand the logic behind the giant types anyway, so

[Babale]

Neither do I. Especially since really, why should an ogre be immune to Charm Person, while a half-orc isn't?

[Babale]

I was gonna wait until I had more of a buffer, but... Update #2 is here!

[Tempest Fennac]

I don't think the presence of a Troll would really be an issue. Will races like Gnolls or Lupins appear in the comic? (I never got why Lupins are classed as Monstrous Humanoids when they are only the same size as humans while Gnolls are Humanoids dispite being more animal-like then Lupins.) I think with Charm Person, it's just a balancing mechanism to avoid players getting something that's too powerful as a friend at low levels.

[The Blackbird]

Looks good so far but...*Punches* don't steal flumps:smallfurious:

[Green-Shirt Q]

This seems okay so far.

Why is there always a hooded guy whose face is not seen in fancomics? Is that the only way to be mysterious? :sigh:

[Lyinginbedmon]

No, but it helps.


Although, for a pair of guys running they're not exactly..."dynamic"

[Tempest Fennac]

Based on the text, I think that they were only just starting to run, Lying; that would explain the lack of apparent movement.

[Babale]

Based on the text, I think that they were only just starting to run, Lying; that would explain the lack of apparent movement.

This. They only now ran

[lord of kobolds]

Come on, let's see us some kobolds.

Daddy needs a new pair of kobolds.

[Babale]

No kobolds! At least, not as PCs.

Well, maybe one...

[Green-Shirt Q]

No kobolds! At least, not as PCs.

Well, maybe one...

But he'll end up as a hat.

Or a nacho container.

That statement is probably the 4th best way to get people to NOT read your comic.

[Babale]

Whua? People like kobolds that much?

[CrimsonAngel]

He means copying oots stuff.

[Babale]

Fixed.

Besides, anyone who actually READS the comic will see that there's only going to be 1 OoTS reference.

[Babale]

Hey guys!

I'd like to present:
THE ONCE-A-DAY-ATHON!

I need to reach 10 comics in order to join the Webcomic Secret Santa, and so, I'm going to post a new comic every day!

[CrimsonAngel]

Get on with it then. :smalltongue:

[Babale]

I did. Monstrous 3 is up.

And say hello to all the cast!

[Jallorn]

There, I posted, now hush.

[Babale]

Alright: I haven't seen any of you post something CONSTRUCTIVE here.

[Tempest Fennac]

I can't honstly think of anything to say about the comic; I've been enjoying it so far, and I'm curious about where it's going to go. Regarding Kobolds, they seem to be an incredibly popular race with some people who post frequently in the Roleplaying Game section, but I'm not sure how universal that is. Q, what were the other best ways to discourage people from reading the comic?

[onasuma]

At a guess:

#3: Actually steal jokes from another comic.

#2: Try to do a humour comic based heavily around a real world religious crusade.

#1: Repost someone elses comic and claim it as your own work.

[Gourtox]

Yay its here now. Also why is that troll the aquaric subtype troll? Seems a bit out of place. I will be following this.

[Green-Shirt Q]

Whua? People like kobolds that much?

Yes. It's an incredibly popular race. In fact, adding a kobold character is the the 5th best way to get people TO read the comic!

Of course, you don't have to add any character you have no plans for just to pander to the audience. But saying officially that you'll only bring in kobolds to have them die is a deal breaker for some.

He means copying oots stuff.

No, but that's bad too.

Q, what were the other best ways to discourage people from reading the comic?

3rd best way to get people to NOT read your comic: swearing. Thankfully, this comic is without that for now. And even if it was put in, the mods will cancel the webcomic, so we probably won't be seeing it at all.

2nd best way to get people to NOT read your comic: jokes about foreign cultures, even if those cultures themselves find it funny. This is a good way to discourage anybody (mainly white people, I would guess) away from any form of media. The more obscure the culture you make fun of, the more discouraging. People will read it and say "Wait, is that offensive? Can I laugh at that without being a racist?" and it will scare them away. This comic also seems to be without that.

And finally, the 1st best way to get people to NOT read your comic:
*drumroll*
Crappy writing. :smalltongue:

[Babale]

Yay its here now. Also why is that troll the aquaric subtype troll? Seems a bit out of place. I will be following this.

The troll is an aquatic subtype IN OotS. I decided I liked how it looks, so in MY comic, it's a normal troll.

[Cizak]

I think it looks good :smallsmile:

One thing though, isn't it ResistAnce?

[onasuma]

3rd best way to get people to NOT read your comic: swearing. Thankfully, this comic is without that for now. And even if it was put in, the mods will cancel the webcomic, so we probably won't be seeing it at all.

I disagree. C2H5OH has swearing and roughly a page of comments per comic drawn.

[Green-Shirt Q]

I disagree. C2H5OH has swearing and roughly a page of comments per comic drawn.

Yes, but these rules just make it slightly less likely that people won't read. They won't forcefully stop anybody from reading.

And your comic swears? Really? I'll have to reread, because somehow I missed them. :smallconfused:

[T-O-E]

Sometimes swearing's needed. I mean, it's useful for impact and can be very meaningful (see the latest Erfworld page for an example). Also, it's kind of unrealistic to leave out curses.

But yeah, don't just add them anywhere. Use sparingly and appropriately. Unless one of your characters swears a lot.

[Green-Shirt Q]

Okay. I've reread C2H5OH. I haven't seen any of the swears I was talking about.

I didn't mean little swears like "hell", "crap", "ass", or any other swears that OOTS has put in themselves.

I'm talking biggies, here. F-word. S-Word. N-Word! Those are the kinds of words that put people off reading the comic!

And I mean frequently, too. Erf doesn't count because they've said one of them only once at the end. That won't drive anybody away (particularly since it has ended).

[Babale]

Hey Q, why dost thou hate Inkscape?

[T-O-E]

People kept trying to get him to use it and now he's annoyed.

[Babale]

Oh. So what DOES he use?

[The Dark Fiddler]

I was going to say Fireworks or w/e, but that's Nameless.

And now I fell I'm officially a member of the community; I can remember people I don't directly interact with.


3rd best way to get people to NOT read your comic: swearing. Thankfully, this comic is without that for now. And even if it was put in, the mods will cancel the webcomic, so we probably won't be seeing it at all.


I have to disagree; people like swearing. If anything, it'll increase readership.

The sad part is, I don't know whether I'm kidding or not.

[Babale]

No, no. BEST way to get people to stop reading: Realistic gory photos of mangled dead bodies that are nauseating even to soldiers and police officers.

[Green-Shirt Q]

Hey Q, why dost thou hate Inkscape?

I don't have a reason. It's on my Meaningless Rage List! There is a reason my list is called "Meaningless".

Oh. So what DOES he use?

Why do you care? :smallannoyed:

[Babale]

I care from general curiosity.


And sorry for the delays, I've been very busy. No promises, but another comic may show up today.

[Jallorn]

If I'd nagged you yesterday about getting a strip out like I thougt about doing, would that be considered saying something constructive?

[Babale]

No, I'd just ragequit.

OK, will update soon... Sorry I'm so busy, I'll try to get multiple strips up over the weekend.

[Jallorn]

Don't make promises and you don't have to keep them.

[Nevitan]

This comic seems a bit above par in relation to most of the other comics. I think I'll follow it and see where it goes.

[Babale]

Thanks! In terms of art, plot, what?

And Jallorn: That's pretty much why I said "No Promises".

[Nevitan]

Well the art isn't the best but it's not painful to look at, which can't be said about a lot of the fan comics. You've also got the text at a nice readable size that doesn't take up too much of the panels.

It's too early to comment about the plot, but it seems like it could be going somewhere interesting.

[Babale]

Thanks!

I like your avatar's shadow... If I learn to, I may some day make my comic have shadows and light levels!

[Jallorn]

Hey babale, wanna join my game as I'm in yours?

[Nevitan]

I wouldn't if I were you. Shading is a bit of a pain, and takes quite a bit of time. It might work every now and again for a dramatic moment, but not for every comic. Even the Giant doesn't shade his comics.

[Babale]

Giant doesn't shade his comics because it goes against his style. I want to make that my style. But then again, I don't get my comics done AS IS; why would I wanna add MORE work?

Truth is, when I said EVENTUALLY, I meant When I Retire in 50 years.

[Jallorn]

Erf has shading.

[Nevitan]

Erf isn't vector art.

Feel free to shade, I'm just saying it's a lot of work.

[Babale]

So guys, I'm gonna need a little break... Please post questions about the comic, I'll be doing a QandA soon.

[Hacktor]

It looks nice... although the ogre's feet are disturbingly bent :D
Other than that :D great work

[Babale]

Guys? Please? I need fan-mail!

[Jallorn]

If someone comes up with a good idea when talking about what they expect will happen, will you use it?

[Babale]

Depends. Show it first.

[Jallorn]

Well I don't have anything yet...

[Babale]

Well, just ask about the cast or something... Oh well, I'll probably get 2 more REAL comics done before I need filler, so you guys have time.

[Mad Mask]

I wouldn't if I were you. Shading is a bit of a pain, and takes quite a bit of time. It might work every now and again for a dramatic moment, but not for every comic. Even the Giant doesn't shade his comics.

I have to disagree. I shade everything in my comics and I'm still able to put up with a 3 comics per week schedule (although I'm just at comic #7 :smalltongue:). It generally takes me about an hour to make a comic, and a bit less if I have pre-shaded templates.

[CrimsonAngel]

You're doing a QaA and asking for fan mail and you only have 2 comics?

[Babale]

3 questions. And the QnA won't be used for 2 or 3 strips at the least.

[Green-Shirt Q]

Alright, here's a question:

Why are you answering these questions instead of defending yourself against the knife-wielding madman STANDING RIGHT BEHIND YOU!

(Note: you get bonus points if you don't use the obvious answer)

[CrimsonAngel]

I weild a bow. :smallconfused:

[Jallorn]

Niiiiiiiice.

[Cizak]

I weild a bow. :smallconfused:

You win one(1) cookie.

[CrimsonAngel]

Why do I win a cookie?

[Cizak]

I weild a bow. :smallconfused:

Because that comment was pure cookie-win :smallbiggrin:

[Green-Shirt Q]

Because that comment was pure cookie-win :smallbiggrin:

I would have to disagree. :smallsigh:

[Cizak]

Meh, I thought it was funny. Nevermind, pretend I never typed anything:smallannoyed:

[CrimsonAngel]

I think it's because my location is "Behind you" and you said there was a knife weilding person behind him.

[SoD]

Thri-keen! I'm in love with this comic now!

[CrimsonAngel]

Thri-keen! I'm in love with this comic now!

You don't have to be a girl anymore...

[Green-Shirt Q]

You don't have to be a girl anymore...

Neither do you. :smallwink:

[CrimsonAngel]

Neither do you. :smallwink:

I can't think of a comeback...

[Fredthefighter]

Neither do you. :smallwink:

Zing! :smallbiggrin:

The_Q: 1, CrimsonAngel: 0

:smallbiggrin:

[Babale]

Hey guys.

I'm having a bit of a writer's block right now, so I'm gonna take a little break. Sorry. :smallfrown:

Instead, I'll be posting another webcomic in this thread called A Necromancer's Tale.