OOTS #808 - The Discussion Thread

[Concept]

At any rate that's a tremendous lot of skill points spent on a fluff skill rather than core warrior specialty. But I guess that's because he's supposed to be a 'real person' rather than an ultra-optimized combat guy. Why would Roy do that? Does he plan to become a civil engineer when he retires from adventuring?

It's a very reasonable skill for an intelligent leader fighter type, although he probably though it would be used for destroying actual fortifications. Siege warfare, yo.

Roy's plot armor shines through yet again, sooooo awesome

That is both cynical and snide and worst of all, it isn't plot armor. Plot Armor would be something we all know to be fatal hitting Roy and him surviving.

While I agree with irenicObserver, I don't think you can object on the basis of what is or isn't fatal damage. The whole fight involved a visual style that that depicts anime/cartoon levels of destruction which vastly exceed fatal damage, resulting in moderate bruising and scraping. It's just how the story was told in this case.

(But it does make it hard to tell whether the roof falling is supposed to be a real kill this time, or just more anime. I think it's a real kill because the fight has back to the starting narrative point, and has closure.)

[Sebastrd]

Fantastic comic on many levels. Well done.

[Cyborg Mage]

This...

Okay, I think Roy gets free XP for this. That was pretty awesome. Though yes, it does seem something of a surprise to see Thog go out like this. Though knowing the Linear Guild...

[ORione]

I may be failing basic arithmetic, but who's the third? We have Z and Thog down (at least thats what it seems). And as some one else pointed out, two for sure to go and a third is still possible.

Maybe Wanda is counting Qarr.

[Ingus]

It was fantastic at the first thought, very good rethinking on it, maybe back to fantastic 'cause the end-of-rage/frenzy-effect.

And by the way, I'm fond with the protagonist of this strip.

...cross class skills, I love them

[3d6]

Of course Thog isn't dead...he's much too lovable.

Besides, Nale already explained why: http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0793.html

[Thalnawr]

The kobold is technically down and out as well, off on his feel-good adventure with V in Ranch Dressing land. Edit: Which would be the 3rd Linear Guilder down that whoever was talking about.

[MesiDoomstalker]

The kobold is technically down and out as well, off on his feel-good adventure with V in Ranch Dressing land. Edit: Which would be the 3rd Linear Guilder down that whoever was talking about.

D'OH! Forgot about the random new member.

[rbetieh]

Relevant:



From http://www.d20srd.org/srd/dungeons.h...ndCollapsesCr8

I doubt that's damage enough to kill Thog on its own... and a DC 25 strength check is probably difficult but manageable for him. He probably has a +6 or 7 strength modifier, even without his magic items and rage (18 base strength, 3 or 4 from level ups depending on if he's reached 16 yet or not, 2 from half orc racial bonus).

Which is more dramatic? Thog staying down, either dead or incapacitated by the collapse, and Roy walking away with a victory? Or a heavily battered but still dangerous Thog bursting from the rubble, still looking to fight, and needing to be finished off in another way?

Thog is not the Shredder....

[Doug Lampert]

I loved the way Roy won this fight.

But what exactly did all the puppy trash-talk aim to accomplish? Thog was already laying the smackdown on Roy anyway, did all that trash talk somehow made Thog's rage run out faster? It certainly seems Roy was counting on that, considering he probably wouldn't be able to push Thog in position had he not been "confused".

He's distracting Thog from Z being dragged off by the guards. Thog ISN'T attacking at that moment and Z, a much more dangerous foe, is in sight and can be put back in the fight by Thog's actions.

[Asthix]

Thog is not the Shredder....

I don't know, the TMNT do all sorts of crosovers, you're going to have to provide evidence that Thog isn't the Shredder.

[rbetieh]

I don't know, the TMNT do all sorts of crosovers, you're going to have to provide evidence that Thog isn't the Shredder.

Well I was going to say no mask...but he was wearing a helmet when he entered the arena so um....gimme a few hours?

[Sarone]

That, my good sir, is why I play decently intelligent melee characters.

[Tobz]

I'm not one to often comment on new pages, but... VERY NICE!!! It are updates like these that put OOTS on a level of excellence that most web-comics can only dream of.

*respect*

[Cerlis]

Thanks Giant
I now know what to do with my arcane archer's cross class skill points in Knowledge Dungeoneering

get some nice sonic spells in your arrows :P


speaking of pillars, does that make Roy a improvised weapon?

[SoC175]

Roy's plot armor shines through yet again, sooooo awesome

I have to agree

[Metahuman1]

While I agree with irenicObserver, I don't think you can object on the basis of what is or isn't fatal damage. The whole fight involved a visual style that that depicts anime/cartoon levels of destruction which vastly exceed fatal damage, resulting in moderate bruising and scraping. It's just how the story was told in this case.

(But it does make it hard to tell whether the roof falling is supposed to be a real kill this time, or just more anime. I think it's a real kill because the fight has back to the starting narrative point, and has closure.)

No. It depicts beginnings of High level D&D player character damage and encounter damage. It also depicts High level PC/NPC with PC class levels hit point totals.

[Lemur Bear]

"Permissive ideas about individual rights"

Classy, just below the radar.

Thog isn't dead, but I believe he is defeated. Thought is probably tired out and will say that he will go back to his iron maiden container and see talky man later. Roy will then meet up with Belkar probably after getting charged with destruction of property by the lawyers. Tarquin will waive the charges because of how good a fight it was, but demand that Roy stay imprisoned for more fights like that. Elan will come up and hug Roy saying "thank the DM you are alive!" and Tarquin will be clued in. Of course, there will need to be a resolution to the cleric&bard vs demon&multiclasser fight.

[the_tick_rules]

So int can help fighters, who knew

[Crisis21]

Never let it be said that Roy failed to bring down the house (or in this case the stadium).

[JSSheridan]

Thanks Giant!

Nice, a quadruple page. You've got nothing to be sorry for.

[Ridureyu]

Is Roy going to be smart enough to check the body and coup de grace it?

[Gift Jeraff]

Finally found the time to sit down and comment on the new strip.

Just gotta say, even if Thog does die, as someone who can perceive panel layouts, I think he'd be proud that he got to die in the second ever quadruple-pager. I doubt he will, though.

Anyway, awesome strip!

[Anarion]

I think that one could justify Thog being dead or Thog being alive either way. There was some regular damage inflicted with the swords and axes, so if you think that Thog was nearly defeated and then lost a bunch of hp when his rage ended, the rocks falling could have finished him off.

On the other hand, if Thog was still fairly healthy, he could probably survive the rock fall and simply be stuck for quite a while (say, until Tarquin or Nale dig him out). Particularly if all the dice came up below average, he could survive.

As for the rest of this comic, let me just quote Elan
"My mommy always used to say that cross-class learning was the key to a rich and fulfilling life."

[Hypothetical]

My cousin was in the living room watching TV, and came into my room to ask what the heck I was laughing about.

INT FTW!

[13ones]

Very, Very worth the wait. three down, two (three?) to go? Can't wait to see what happens next!

[Craft (Cheese)]

I may be failing basic arithmetic, but who's the third? We have Z and Thog down (at least thats what it seems). And as some one else pointed out, two for sure to go and a third is still possible.

The Kobold is, for all intents and purposes, defeated.

[Belsirk]

Bravo! Magnifico! Gran vida al gigante!

Very good comic, indeed, excelent end to this fight! , big applauses to the giant

[QDI]

Incredible comics!

Thanks Giant !

[Chad30]

Actually I think you're supposed to try to dodge when he charges towards the pillar. Though Roy may have been too exhausted to do that. Ironically, if he had put those points into combat, he probably could have just defended against Thog's attacks and won instead of being a punching bag.

Also wow. There are already so many pages in this thread. I know 808 hasn't been put out very long.