Goblins VIII: This Thread Contains An Unexpected Variable

[Mastikator]

I don't think you understand what deus ex machina is, then.

Something totally out of the blue that helps the antagonist but doesn't fit into the context of the story nor was even foreshadowed?
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph.../DeusExMachina or longer version here.

[SaintRidley]

Makes him look fabulous.*

*Representing the application of the character's Charisma bonus, if any, to Armor Class.

[Marnath]

It's also possible that it's not Rage per se, but he's just really really angry - when people get normal-angry in Goblins their eyes blank out all shiny-style. More angry means more flashy eyes?

Only goblins get the thing where their eyes go black, it's called willowing if I remember correctly and it is a natural defense that goblins evolved due to how large and relatively vulnerable their eyes are compared to the rest of them.

[The Linker]

Something totally out of the blue that helps the antagonist but doesn't fit into the context of the story nor was even foreshadowed?
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph.../DeusExMachina or longer version here.

Kin's ability to allow Minmax to touch her has been a gradual progression and has absolutely not gone without foreshadowing. I don't know how you can think it's out of the blue. She threw herself on Minmax in the spike room. That's how they survived.

If you're talking about the rage thing, you quoted the wrong post.

Spoiler

Show

Well, that settles the issue of him being allowed to touch her. She's not swooning or anything, she's just scared stiff. Which is what I expected the answer might be.

Yes and it feels like a deus ex machina :/

[Mastikator]

Ops, looks like I quoted the wrong post. My bad. I meant to quote the one about Minmax newfound ability to rage.

[teratorn]

Ops, looks like I quoted the wrong post. My bad. I meant to quote the one about Minmax newfound ability to rage.

I see it quite differently. This is just a way to show the armor possibilities in a reasonably dangerous situation but not in a climatic battle moment.

[Killer Angel]

I see it quite differently. This is just a way to show the armor possibilities in a reasonably dangerous situation but not in a climatic battle moment.

Given that the armor was found with the sword, and the sword could take different properties, it's a good guess that the armor can do the same.

Why, thank you, kind Sir. Would you like to analyze today's witty repartee? I shall reproduce it here for your convenience. Hope this is not a spoiler for anyone.

* RRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAHH!

When a magical tree is piercing and strangling you, and you're struggling for your life, you don't have time for funny quotes or long speeches. Then, a (magical?) rage kicks in, and you see MinMax's primal scream, overcoming the enemy.

[Puschkin]

Although the rage being a colour related ability of the armour is a very good guess I have to say that I always thought MinMax looks exactly like the classic barbarian. It would not surprise me at all if he had any levels/feats outside his class. Especially in a universe where you can

a) trade all kinds of stupid things for extra feats (MinMax)
b) gain levels as advanturers even if you are monsters/NPCs (the GAP)
c) get fractional levels of all classes at once (Senor Vorpal Kick-Asso)
d) Paladins keep their paladin skills after committing evil acts (Kore)

MinMax might have traded his ability to make sense for the ability to rage.

[Yuki Akuma]

Rage is not a feat, monsters and NPCs could always have PC class levels, Fumbles probably doesn't actually have 2/11th levels of every class, and Kore is a special case.

Just so you know.

[Albertyon]

my guess is: Minmax hit level 3 and uncounsciously chosed to gain a level as barbarian.

[Albertyon]

sorry, I meant "CHOSE", my bad

[Yuki Akuma]

There is in fact an edit button.

[Flickerdart]

d) Paladins keep their paladin skills after committing evil acts (Kore).

What makes you think Kore has any levels in the Paladin class?

[t209]

Maybe it is the armor that gives him rage?
Red- Barbarian
Blue- Paladin
Grey- uhhhh?

[Radar]

What makes you think Kore has any levels in the Paladin class?

He used Lay on Hands and cast Speak with Dead.

[The Linker]

What makes you think Kore has any levels in the Paladin class?

It's... a rather huge plot point regarding Kore. That's the whole mystery behind him.

Although the rage being a colour related ability of the armour is a very good guess I have to say that I always thought MinMax looks exactly like the classic barbarian. It would not surprise me at all if he had any levels/feats outside his class.

Even if this was possible, that would be terribly anticlimactic. This epic moment of coming back after being at the brink of death shouldn't come from another "Oh, yeah, I traded X for Y." Suddenly it devalues any other life-threatening situations he might come to be in because he could literally use any level 1-2 ability from any class and say he traded something for it.

[The Glyphstone]

He's level 2, isn't he? Maybe he just has a legitimate level of Barbarian and never bothered to Rage before, because his other cheesy bonuses were enough that he didn't want to 'waste' the 1/day rage boost?

[Marnath]

What makes you think Kore has any levels in the Paladin class?

Dude, what?
He used lay on hands and cast holy sword. You need at least 14 paladin levels to cast that.

[The Glyphstone]

Dude, what?
He used lay on hands and cast holy sword. You need at least 14 paladin levels to cast that.

Nonsense. He has magic gloves that can use Lay On Hands a limited number of times per day, and a scroll of Holy Sword hidden inside his armor that he UMD'd.

[Flickerdart]

It's... a rather huge plot point regarding Kore. That's the whole mystery behind him.

He doesn't have to be a Paladin to be a paladin.

He used Lay on Hands and cast Speak with Dead.

So could a Divine Champion, or Hospitaler, and they don't need to be Good. Speak with Dead is also available on 8 lists - and Paladin is not among them.

Dude, what?
He used lay on hands and cast holy sword. You need at least 14 paladin levels to cast that.

Archivist 4, Champion of Gwynharwyf 4, Glory domain 5, Slayer of Domiel 4, Vassal of Bahamut 4, Extra Spell...

[Marnath]

Archivist 4, Champion of Gwynharwyf 4, Glory domain 5, Slayer of Domiel 4, Vassal of Bahamut 4, Extra Spell...

..Were all published after the story had been written in it's entirety.

[The Linker]

He doesn't have to be a Paladin to be a paladin.

When I say it's a plot point, I'm saying it's a plot point. I should hope the answer to one of the biggest mysteries of the comic is not going to be "Yeah, turns out he's not really a Paladin".

[VariaVespasa]

I'd go with it being a property of the armor myself, since Thunt has been waiting a loooong time to put these two items into the game, as it were, and decent armor that changes color, while interesting, isnt in the same league of DM-entertaining as the sword.

[McStabbington]

So could a Divine Champion, or Hospitaler, and they don't need to be Good. Speak with Dead is also available on 8 lists - and Paladin is not among them.

The Axe of Prissan wouldn't have passed through a Divine Champion.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

The Axe of Prissan wouldn't have passed through a Divine Champion.

This bit is the clincher: you really can't argue that Kore isn't a paladin.

[t209]

The Axe of Prissan wouldn't have passed through a Divine Champion.

But he speak with dead with tablets in his belt (maybe some potions or something in DnD that could speak with dead).

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

But he speak with dead with tablets in his belt (maybe some potions or something in DnD that could speak with dead).

Perhaps he didn't have it prepared. Either he's a Paladin or he has something that fools the Axe of Prissan into THINKING he's a Paladin.

[Imgran]

That seems plausible. I wonder what pink does then?

Not enough to save the prior owner, apparently.

[Marnath]

Not enough to save the prior owner, apparently.

We don't know that for a fact, it was found in a chest and not on a corpse. The previous owner could easily have put it there after a long and successful career.

[The Linker]

Oh, it was a joke. This thread is too analytical sometimes.