Erfworld, The Thread.

[Stegyre]

Though I can't recall pages, i can say we are certain...
A side ends when it has no ruler, and ALL units that are out in the field vanish. However, as an heir, Jillian's side did not technically truly end. She had on official side since she lacked a capitol, but all the units she had with in the field remained with her; though ofcourse they would eventually get disbannded when she could no longer pay the upkeep.

You're probably thinking of this one from book one.

Just realizing that at least part of the new tactic in the Jetstone battle was foreshadowed here.

[Killer Angel]

We have a text update.

I'll never look a playground in the same way...

[Miklus]

We have a text update.

I'll never look a playground in the same way...

This was one of the better updates. I can just see all the great thinkers in the playground. Two of them going up and down on the see-saw, both dead serious.

[Killer Angel]

This was one of the better updates. I can just see all the great thinkers in the playground. Two of them going up and down on the see-saw, both dead serious.

Mommamancer: you're late again! what's your excuse now? and don't try to tell me that you were "thinking on the universe nature"... I saw you on the slide!

[hajo]

I'm wondering about that cipher. If they can do it in their head, without using paper or equipment like tables, codewheels, calculator etc., it cannot be very complicated.

Maybe something like Caesar or Rot13, so not really secure if the message gets intercepted.
So, mostly 'security by obscurity'.

[NEO|Phyte]

I'm pretty sure thinkamancers don't think the same way we do, based on the text update we got when maggie was coding the message.

It could also be that he was able to decode it so easily because he's the one that came up with the cipher to begin with.

[Radar]

I'm wondering about that cipher. If they can do it in their head, without using paper or equipment like tables, codewheels, calculator etc., it cannot be very complicated.

Maybe something like Caesar or Rot13, so not really secure if the message gets intercepted.
So, mostly 'security by obscurity'.

If Thinkamancers can decipher the messege in their heads, it doesn't mean it's simple.
It is by will alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of sapho that thoughts acquire speed, the lips acquire stains, the stains become a warning. It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.

[Redpieper]

As much as I love erfworld, the painfully slow updating killed my interest. Erfworld we will meet again. Next year or so.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Rereading the first book was amazingly epic. I suggest you all go reread it in one sitting. It is mindblowing.

[factotum]

When are the print versions of Book 1 supposed to be done? They've been on the verge of publication for months if not years, it seems...

[Cen]

When are the print versions of Book 1 supposed to be done?

They are supposed to be released in a packet with Duke Nukem Forever

[Tavar]

So.. May 6th?

[Cen]

So.. May 6th?

what?

:checks internet:

OMG! Oh my god! OH MY GOD!!!!

:screams like a little girl:

well, I didn't know about that...

Well, the joke still fits - as DNF is released 14 years after its first announcement...

[Killer Angel]

New update!

Spoiler

Show

At least, Tram doesn't want to face a fight that he could lose. Wise man.

love the sound effect.

[Coidzor]

BURN!

...Yeah, I got nothing else to say. Other than I guess "Yay!"

[Killer Angel]

I wonder who's the mysterious king's friend. Transylvito, maybe?

[BRC]

I wonder who's the mysterious king's friend. Transylvito, maybe?

King Slately isn't all that mysterious.

This is an odd change of heart though, is it just that he realizes Trammenis is smart? Is he saying that, were Trammanis in charge, they would not have lost the Battle for Gobwin Knob?

[rocketpony]

This is an odd change of heart though, is it just that he realizes Trammenis is smart?

He knew Tram was smart - back in a text update, he indicated that Tram's diplomacy may have been at least as beneficial, if not more, than any military adventure of his other sons.
I guess here he's admitting that Tram is the only son who's really thought of The Side - other sons have deferred to the King, who's sent them to fight certain battles, but Tram is ready to override the king to get what needs to be done, done.

So maybe it's not that if Tram had been in charge, they would have won Gobwin Knob, maybe it's that if Tram had been in charge, they wouldn't have needed to win that battle. The situation would have never spiralled so far out of control.

[Killer Angel]

This is an odd change of heart though (snip) Is he saying that, were Trammanis in charge, they would not have lost the Battle for Gobwin Knob?

It's a possibility. Still don't know if it's a real change of heart, or just a momentary bitterness.

[BRC]

He knew Tram was smart - back in a text update, he indicated that Tram's diplomacy may have been at least as beneficial, if not more, than any military adventure of his other sons.
I guess here he's admitting that Tram is the only son who's really thought of The Side - other sons have deferred to the King, who's sent them to fight certain battles, but Tram is ready to override the king to get what needs to be done, done.

So maybe it's not that if Tram had been in charge, they would have won Gobwin Knob, maybe it's that if Tram had been in charge, they wouldn't have needed to win that battle. The situation would have never spiralled so far out of control.

Tram is also showing an ability to think about the big picture. He is using Parson's trick, thinking about his real goals, and knowing that they don't always equal winning the battle. Most warlords start with "Win the battle" and work from there, counting on the Chief Warlord to handle the big picture. Which is good, until they become Chief Warlord, and are expected to handle that big picture themselves.
Trammanis dosn't think like a warlord though, he thinks like a diplomat, and Diplomats can't think in terms of absolutes. They have to look at the big picture.

[Tvtyrant]

I believe the "friend" will be Charlie and he is going to borrow money to get Tram made heir. Its the only really logical move at this point; Tram is a better leader then the king could ever be.

[slayerx]

he is going to borrow money to get Tram made heir. Its the only really logical move at this point; Tram is a better leader then the king could ever be.

Yes at this point i'm expecting the king to make trem his heir and then force trem to leave the city while he himself attempts to protect the city. To me it felt like this page was stately was making an honest acknowledgement of his shortcomings and acknowledgement of trem's ability to lead... i think he realized now that he should have chosen Trem a long time ago

[Tvtyrant]

Yes at this point i'm expecting the king to make trem his heir and then force trem to leave the city while he himself attempts to protect the city. To me it felt like this page was stately was making an honest acknowledgement of his shortcomings and acknowledgement of trem's ability to lead... i think he realized now that he should have chosen Trem a long time ago

That was almost verbatim what I thought as I read the comic. And honestly his character will get much more credit for dieing doing the right thing then living and being a jerk.

[factotum]

So maybe it's not that if Tram had been in charge, they would have won Gobwin Knob, maybe it's that if Tram had been in charge, they wouldn't have needed to win that battle. The situation would have never spiralled so far out of control.

From Jetstone's point of view, Gobwin Knob was hardly "out of control"--they'd wiped out all of Stanley's cities apart from that one, and they had overwhelming force to steamroll it! If it hadn't been for some highly unorthodox thinking on behalf of one Parson Gotti they would have won that battle easily.

[lord_khaine]

Gotta say, they would have won even so, if not for a Deus ex machina saving Gobwin Knob.

[Radar]

Gotta say, they would have won even so, if not for a Deus ex machina saving Gobwin Knob.

One Deus ex machina (volcano) against the other (Charlie), so they had it coming.

[BRC]

Slately has little idea what actually happened at GK. All he knows is that the RCC lost, and Jetstone won in a very, very big way.

Would Trammenis have won the battle for GK? Perhaps, a key part of Parson's strategy was taunting Ansom, luring him into making a reckless attack. That wouldn't have worked on Tram.

On the other hand, Tram might not have gone after Jillian, resulting in the destruction of most of GK's Dwagon force, and he almost certainly isn't as good a fighter, and there is no way he could have seen the Volcano coming.

So yeah, if Tram had been in charge, who knows what would have happened.

[rocketpony]

From Jetstone's point of view, Gobwin Knob was hardly "out of control"--they'd wiped out all of Stanley's cities apart from that one, and they had overwhelming force to steamroll it!

Hmm
I'd been under the impression that Gobwin Knob had kind of been steamrolling across the countryside in pursuit of the Arkentools, which is why the RCC ever needed to exist (as opposed to just Jetstone itself being like ENOUGH OF THIS and backhanding them). Canon doesn't back me up too much though - the wiki just says that the course of the campaign is unknown.
But that premise was where I was coming from - Gobwin Knob was a problem, with a game-breaking piece in play (attuned Arkentool), and they tried to handle it like they handled all their other problems.

[Cestrian]

Hmm
I'd been under the impression that Gobwin Knob had kind of been steamrolling across the countryside in pursuit of the Arkentools, which is why the RCC ever needed to exist (as opposed to just Jetstone itself being like ENOUGH OF THIS and backhanding them). Canon doesn't back me up too much though - the wiki just says that the course of the campaign is unknown.
But that premise was where I was coming from - Gobwin Knob was a problem, with a game-breaking piece in play (attuned Arkentool), and they tried to handle it like they handled all their other problems.

I think this strip backs you up, to be honest.

Vinnie says that Stanely hit jetsone, transylvito, the elves and wiped out the milquetoasts alltogether. Enough to get him labelled as bad news by the guy, anyway.

Which reminds me, I miss Vinnie. It's been ages since we've seen him.

[ChowGuy]

Hmm
I'd been under the impression that Gobwin Knob had kind of been steamrolling across the countryside in pursuit of the Arkentools, which is why the RCC ever needed to exist
<snip>

I think this strip backs you up, to be honest.

Conversely, at least with regards to the "pursuit of the Arkentools" this strip does not, given that Wand explicitly states that they "have not won a battle" since begining that quest.

Now it's true that at that time they did perhaps hold 11 coties, some of which may have been taken from neighboring sides, but it's also true that Sizemore claims Stanley won many battles for Saline IV even before being named heir, much less becoming overlord.

We also know that war and conquest are the basic business of every side in Erfworl; Jetstone "rubbed out" at least one side, the one that previously held Spacerock as it's capital, and point blank trheated to do the same to Haggar if they wouldn't support the RCC2. How does that make them "superior" to GK?

Trasylvito routines extorts "protection" money fro neighboring sides, and considers any resistance grounds for an attack. How do we know that GK didn't "hit" them in response to a similar demand? In Vinny's view of course that would be "bad news" but would it be in anyone else's?

What's more interesting to me is that (also per Vinny) Jetstone did not even have a legitimate reason for joining, much less starting a fight with GK. Except, of course, for the fact that JS also had a artifact, and presumably would like very much to acquire a second. So again, not so different from GK, except maybe that they went about it by forming a "coalition" that they could then leverage into a greater empire.