OOTS #806 - The Discussion Thread

[J's]

Well said


Also:




I don't understand who this is not what just happened. Nale, being down a divine spellcaster, has in his possession a means of alleviating that shortcoming. He is being smart and using his own means - he is in essence thinking things through.

Soo, a change from his normal mode of operation? Which, I believe, is to overdo things till they are guaranteed to fail. Though I guess that possibility isn't off the table at this point.

[J's]

That didn't stop Zz'dtri in 800.

Yes, but in the thread for that strip the giant said he didn't look up the cast time. He knows what it is now. Not to mention it is better tactics to prevent a death instead of bringing in an ally that is off balance from a spell and may not be armed. She did drop the bag of holding after all.

[KoboldRevenge]

I... Didn't get the punch line.

[Blaznak]

Clerical feather fall. Heh.

[Mutant Sheep]

I... Didn't get the punch line.

He researched a spell from an entirely different pantheon and Thor has no clue what he means, since he doesn't know the spells those weird gods on the other continent use. Or Durkon's accent is not understandable by the gods of the Norhtern Lands, which seems to be like 1/3-ish dwarves. /nosenseofhumor

[Blisstake]

Yes, but in the thread for that strip the giant said he didn't look up the cast time. He knows what it is now. Not to mention it is better tactics to prevent a death instead of bringing in an ally that is off balance from a spell and may not be armed. She did drop the bag of holding after all.

Eh, I'm just saying I wouldn't be surprised if he just decides Break Enchantment has a 1 round casting time from now on. Wouldn't really make much of a difference. I wasn't saying un-stoning would be the best option, only that you shouldn't be surprised if he does manage it in a single round.

[Knellroy]

It's the same wand as in number 11!
Well, minus the horns...

[dsavereide]

Funny what people choose to complain about. We didn't even know which spell Durkon was reasearching, so his not being able to cast it is fine. We know you don't have to be a magic user to use magic items. And the last think you expect Nale to say, is let's give this one up. So he has to have something to fall back on. And this is not going to turn the tides of the fight... only make fighging an option for him.

[EmperorSarda]

I wasn't arguing about the item itself. While it IS fairly acceptable (from a reader's point of view) for him to possess such a wand at that present nick of time, it rings a bit too much of "deus ex coming to the rescue!" if you pair it with Zz'ditri's similar hijink of just a few strips before. Every time they lose the upper hand "something happens", and the odds are rebalanced, in spite of actual, shown combat prowess.
Which also kind of adds insult to injury seeing that Durkon's "surprise" got an arbitrary failure instead.

Odds are rebalanced? The only thing that happened was the Durkon lost access to his 7th level spells such as Holy Word (Which if successful would have sent Sabine back to her plane for 24 hours). There is still a lot that Durkon can do. Such as casting a level 4 Restoration spell on Elan and himself to rid themselves of the negative levels.

[Gilphon]

Really. I mean, if you're complaining about something we didn't even know was an option one panel ago failing to turn the tide, well…

Let's just say it would've been a far greater Deus Ex Machina if Durkon's spell had worked. What Durkon pulling the perfect spell for the situation largely out of nowhere and all.

[Qwertystop]

It's the same wand as in number 11!
Well, minus the horns...

Actually, that's a staff. Yes, there's a difference besides length.

[Charmy]

I really enjoyed this strip! Hats off to Nale with picking up that wand. Level draining is such a powerful and frequently used mechanic in OoTS, so Durkon made an excellent decision in researching this ward spell. I look forward to seeing its successful application soon!

And I must say its super cool to see Rich himself posting in this thread so many times. It seems to me, as a long-time forum lurker, to be quite a rare occurrence, so just wanted to say "Thanks!" Even if this will likely remain a rare treat, I savor it all the same n.n

[Sethala]

...We know you don't have to be a magic user to use magic items...

Just nitpicking, but Nale is a magic user. He's a multiclass fighter/rogue/sorcerer that specializes in enchantment spells.

[King Neptune IV]

Did anyone else read durkon's "mass death ward" as "mass death word" I got excited because I thought I was going to see durkon's epic spell kill everyone, and then it fizzled out anyway and when I read the comic again I saw it was ward not word

[Geech]

Really. I mean, if you're complaining about something we didn't even know was an option one panel ago failing to turn the tide, well…

Let's just say it would've been a far greater Deus Ex Machina if Durkon's spell had worked. What Durkon pulling the perfect spell for the situation largely out of nowhere and all.

Pulling the spell out of nowhere? We had a research montage, and other characters in recent comics have explicitly mentioned that Durkon was researching a spell. On top of that, Durkon mentioned the prospect of researching Mass Death Ward in update 672. There was plenty of reason to believe this spell was coming.

If anything, this fight could have been a great opportunity for Durkon to display a major new piece of the OOTS arsenal against Xykon.

[Tobimaro]

Thor really needs to invest in some better service.

I was thinking of computers which can better translate between dwarven and celestial. Or maybe hearing aids.

Other than that, Bravo, Giant! I greatly appreciate the "cleric's Feather Fall (aka Heal).

[dmorenus]

"Tha's Elan up thar, wit Sabine?!? Holy Smite!"

I think we just learned a new euphemism...

[aart lover]

Yup, Thor is still a jerk xD

[Hamiltonz]

Great comic! Nice play on Durkon's Incoprehensible Accent. I'm just wondering how he's going to use his +1 Attack and +3 Defense while battling Nale (Human)

For those that don't play the card game I am referencing one of Durkon's Verbal Schticks.


There is also a joke in there (intentional or not) about how a Cleric is only good for one thing, healing.

[ORione]

OK, here's a Masked Debt Gourd, used to mask (conceal) your gold against debt collectors ...

Spoiler

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That is awesome.

[DougTheHead]

I also might, if I were you, choose a better literary example than, Lord of the "I can't figure out a way to end my story that rings* true to what I have already established, so I'll have a character slip and fall into lava while dancing about and end the main plot line that way" Rings.

* No pun intended.

Yes, that whole bit about temptation leading to destruction certainly hadn't shown up at any place in the series until Gollum slipped and fell. It certainly wasn't a thematic backbone of the entire trilogy.

[MoonCat]

Okay, so are you talking about a hypothetical? Because, speaking as someone who just started The Two Towers, I'd REALLY rather not find out what happens, since I've been really good at not finding out so far.

[Pronounceable]

I might play DnD someday just to cast cleric's featherfall.

...

That sounds like such a Vaarsuvius line.

Which shouldn't really be a big surprise.

[AgentofOdd]

My knowledge of D&D is limited, but I was under the impression a cleric asks for spells when they pray, and that's when they know whether or not they'll get the requested spells. Am I mistaken, or is this another case of OotS isn't (quite) D&D?

[DougTheHead]

Okay, so are you talking about a hypothetical? Because, speaking as someone who just started The Two Towers, I'd REALLY rather not find out what happens, since I've been really good at not finding out so far.

Yes. That was just a possible example, with a certain metaphoric significance for those who have read all the way through. Now leave this board immediately before you find out anything that matters.

[Toofey]

Am I the only one who thought we already basically knew what durkon was studying.

I like the Cleric's feather fall bit, what is the deal with level drain in 3rd, the party is losing a ton of levels and that would be a bit of a pain in 2nd ed.

[ORione]

Am I the only one who thought we already basically knew what durkon was studying.

No. He and Roy were talking about it at the end of DStP.

[Porthos]

Yes, that whole bit about temptation leading to destruction certainly hadn't shown up at any place in the series until Gollum slipped and fell. It certainly wasn't a thematic backbone of the entire trilogy.

Why I'm spoilering a 60+ year old story, I have no idea, but here goes and simplfying hugely to avoid a lot of mess...

Spoiler

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I am referring to the fact that when Frodo got to Mt. Doom, Tolkein found that he simply could not have Frodo dump the ring into the lava because he made such a big deal about temptation.

Thus when writing his outline he came up with the idea of Hopping Happy Gollum plunging to his death when he failed his balance check.

It has been a bit of a source of commentary ever since it came out, you know.

Now mind, I still like the story. A lot, actually. But, really now.

[SamBurke]

Am I the only one who thought we already basically knew what durkon was studying.

I like the Cleric's feather fall bit, what is the deal with level drain in 3rd, the party is losing a ton of levels and that would be a bit of a pain in 2nd ed.

It's a pain in 3.5, too.

[Mordokai]

A joke from some 800 comics ago? Seriously?

I is dissapoint.