The Index of the Giant's Comments

[Kish]

Rich doesn't at all care what the most cost-efficient option is by the rules.

[137beth]

Why Haley doesn't use wands for healing.
EDIT: ninja'd

[Sniffnoy]

The sand elemental was in fact killed.

[137beth]

The sand elemental was in fact killed.

You mean the Silicon elemental

[137beth]

Nale messed up the vocal component of Dimension Door due to deafness.

[The Recreator]

"Free-willed" in the context of D&D simply means "not being dominated, charmed, or otherwise explicitly controlled by a source outside the person's body."

[Lvl45DM!]

Thats just explaining a D and D rule though isn't it?

[Coat]

Haley looting wands from Z's body was not a call-out to forum speculation about why she doesn't normally use wands.

Not sure this is worthy of inclusion. Could be relevant to discussion about how much the Giant is influenced by the forum, and whether (and how) plot-critical those wands are likely to be.

[137beth]

Thats just explaining a D and D rule though isn't it?

No, it's explaining a philosophical concept as it applies in D&D. Like alignment, it is very setting-specific, which means he is explaining something about the OOTS-world.

[137beth]

Haley looting wands from Z's body was not a call-out to forum speculation about why she doesn't normally use wands.

Not sure this is worthy of inclusion. Could be relevant to discussion about how much the Giant is influenced by the forum, and whether (and how) plot-critical those wands are likely to be.

I'd say no:
in a couple months, no one will remember the thread about why Haley doesn't use wands, so this quote would be obsolete.

[FlawedParadigm]

I'd say no:
in a couple months, no one will remember the thread about why Haley doesn't use wands, so this quote would be obsolete.

Due in part to within the next couple of months, she may in fact be using them. Especially if V keeps getting absented from battles.

[Petey7]

I also believe we already have quotes of him saying he doesn't let others influence his writing.

[137beth]

I also believe we already have quotes of him saying he doesn't let others influence his writing.

It's in the FAQ:

Q: Hey, you used my idea I posted! Cool!

A: No, I didn't. Even if your idea that you posted completely matches what eventually happened, you can be sure I was not inspired by your post. Largely because I probably didn't read it (see above question).

[Sir_Leorik]

Thats just explaining a D and D rule though isn't it?

No, it's explaining a philosophical concept as it applies in D&D. Like alignment, it is very setting-specific, which means he is explaining something about the OOTS-world.

I think it might be necessary to include that explanation. In D&D it is possible for Golems, Skeletons or Zombies to be Free-Willed, even though none of these creatures are sentient. All that Free-Willed means in this context is that the Golem, Skeleton or Zombie in question is not under the control of a Cleric, Sorcerer or Wizard, and are probably running amok and killing things randomly.

A Wight, Ghoul, Vampire or Mummy that lacks Free-Will is still sentient, until it breaks free of the Cleric, Wizard, Sire, or whoever, that is Controlling or Dominating it. Then they become Free-Willed Undead. Wights and Ghouls created by the Create Spawn ability are created Free-Willed; Vampires and Vampire Spawn are not. Wights and Ghouls created using Create Undead are not Free-Willed.

[Peelee]

I think it might be necessary to include that explanation. In D&D it is possible for Golems, Skeletons or Zombies to be Free-Willed, even though none of these creatures are sentient. All that Free-Willed means in this context is that the Golem, Skeleton or Zombie in question is not under the control of a Cleric, Sorcerer or Wizard, and are probably running amok and killing things randomly.

A Wight, Ghoul, Vampire or Mummy that lacks Free-Will is still sentient, until it breaks free of the Cleric, Wizard, Sire, or whoever, that is Controlling or Dominating it. Then they become Free-Willed Undead. Wights and Ghouls created by the Create Spawn ability are created Free-Willed; Vampires and Vampire Spawn are not. Wights and Ghouls created using Create Undead are not Free-Willed.

Fully agree. I think it should be included.

[NerdyKris]

Agreed. Red Cloak's speech about undead being tools confuses a lot of people who aren't familiar with the rules. I'd include it as a general "Undead and free will" explaination.

[GameJudge]

Where can I find the Giant's quote from Phantasm's sig file? "This is why The Phantasm maintains his useful Index of the Giant's Comments."

[Rakoa]

Where can I find the Giant's quote from Phantasm's sig file? "This is why The Phantasm maintains his useful Index of the Giant's Comments."

Right here. For future reference, clicking the green arrow symbol in a quote will take you to that quote's source.

[Peelee]

Where can I find the Giant's quote from Phantasm's sig file? "This is why The Phantasm maintains his useful Index of the Giant's Comments."

See that little right arrow next to your name in the quote box? Click that, and it takes you straight to the original post.

But for now, you can just click here.

[GameJudge]

Thank you both.

[DeliaP]

Two. ..........

There will be seven books in total.

[RMS Oceanic]

There are two main story books planned after book five.

[Reddish Mage]

I think it might be necessary to include that explanation. In D&D it is possible for Golems, Skeletons or Zombies to be Free-Willed, even though none of these creatures are sentient. All that Free-Willed means in this context is that the Golem, Skeleton or Zombie in question is not under the control of a Cleric, Sorcerer or Wizard, and are probably running amok and killing things randomly.

A Wight, Ghoul, Vampire or Mummy that lacks Free-Will is still sentient, until it breaks free of the Cleric, Wizard, Sire, or whoever, that is Controlling or Dominating it. Then they become Free-Willed Undead. Wights and Ghouls created by the Create Spawn ability are created Free-Willed; Vampires and Vampire Spawn are not. Wights and Ghouls created using Create Undead are not Free-Willed.

I don't think Rich went so far (or it is accurate in the rules) to state that descriptionnon-sentient creatures as Golems and Zombies as having free will. I agree that the term "free-will" is used primarily by the D&D authors to mean the creature is not being controlled by some external intelligence, but I thought it also had the meaning that the creature was controlled by its own intelligence, hence excluding non-inteligent creatures.

Edit: Hence I think it might be good to include it, but not with any implications about zombies.

[137beth]

I don't think Rich went so far (or it is accurate in the rules) to state that descriptionnon-sentient creatures as Golems and Zombies as having free will. I agree that the term "free-will" is used primarily by the D&D authors to mean the creature is not being controlled by some external intelligence, but I thought it also had the meaning that the creature was controlled by its own intelligence, hence excluding non-inteligent creatures.

Edit: Hence I think it might be good to include it, but not with any implications about zombies.

Sentience is usually indicated by a wisdom score, not intelligence (and anything without a wisdom score is an object, not a creature). Zombies have wisdom scores.

In any event, the "rules" for what constitutes free-will are setting-specific, so what is shown in the comic and what the giant says about it are all we have to go on.

[Sky_Schemer]

There are two main story books planned after book five.

...and it will definitely be two, even if that means the last book ends up being really big.

[Porthos]

...and it will definitely be two, even if that means the last book ends up being really big.

I think this is the one which should be included since it gives the fullest answer.

[137beth]

I think this is the one which should be included since it gives the fullest answer.

Agreed, there's no reason to have both.

[Sir_Leorik]

I don't think Rich went so far (or it is accurate in the rules) to state that descriptionnon-sentient creatures as Golems and Zombies as having free will. I agree that the term "free-will" is used primarily by the D&D authors to mean the creature is not being controlled by some external intelligence, but I thought it also had the meaning that the creature was controlled by its own intelligence, hence excluding non-inteligent creatures.

Edit: Hence I think it might be good to include it, but not with any implications about zombies.

Sentience is usually indicated by a wisdom score, not intelligence (and anything without a wisdom score is an object, not a creature). Zombies have wisdom scores.

In any event, the "rules" for what constitutes free-will are setting-specific, so what is shown in the comic and what the giant says about it are all we have to go on.

Zombies and Golems are non-sentient beings: they have no Intelligence score. A Zombie or Golem that breaks free of the spellcaster who created it will often run amuck and attack anything in sight. This is because it is "Free-Willed"; it still lacks an Intelligence score and is thus non-sentient. Tsukiko's Wights, Durkon while he was Malack's thrall, and Belkar while he was dominated by Nale or Malack, all lacked "Free-Will". Tsukiko's Wights, Durkon, and Belkar (all indications to the contrary), have Intelligence scores and are considered sentient, even while under Tsukiko, Malack or Nale's control.

[137beth]

Zombies and Golems are non-sentient beings: they have no Intelligence score. A Zombie or Golem that breaks free of the spellcaster who created it will often run amuck and attack anything in sight. This is because it is "Free-Willed"; it still lacks an Intelligence score and is thus non-sentient. Tsukiko's Wights, Durkon while he was Malack's thrall, and Belkar while he was dominated by Nale or Malack, all lacked "Free-Will". Tsukiko's Wights, Durkon, and Belkar (all indications to the contrary), have Intelligence scores and are considered sentient, even while under Tsukiko, Malack or Nale's control.

Huh...I seem to recall a table in one of the books (possibly the MM1) describing a wisdom score of 1-2 as indicating a creature was "barely sentient"...
let's see if I can track that down...

[Flame of Anor]

Huh...I seem to recall a table in one of the books (possibly the MM1) describing a wisdom score of 1-2 as indicating a creature was "barely sentient"...
let's see if I can track that down...

Barely sentient perhaps, but not sapient, which is probably what Sir Leorik meant.