OOTS Polls (feat. Favourite NPC Tournament)

[oppyu]

You don't need to wait for comic updates.

I have a process.

Reader Poll for #846
The Order just found a corpse. Is that corpse Girard Draketooth?
Yes: 26 - 89.65%
No: 3 - 10.34%

Round 1, Match 2
: 17 - 62.96%
: 10 - 37.03%

Reader Poll for #847
The Order of the Stick find themselves in a familiar situation; off-balance and facing the Linear Guild ambush at a severe tactical disadvantage. Will the Order (minus V) be forced to return to their most successful tactic? (Will they flee from Linear Guild v.4 like little girls). Yes or No?

Round 1, Match 3
"thog is the champion, thog's friends! and thog keeps on fighting to the end!"

VS

"But you can't make an omelette without ruthlessly crushing dozens of eggs beneath your steel boot and then publicly disembowelling the chickens that laid them as a warning to others."

[MyNameIsSecret]

Reader Poll for #847
The Order of the Stick find themselves in a familiar situation; off-balance and facing the Linear Guild ambush at a severe tactical disadvantage. Will the Order (minus V) be forced to return to their most successful tactic? (Will they flee from Linear Guild v.4 like little girls). Yes or No?

No. That would be a bit anti-climatic and I don't really see them running away from the LG. When Xykon arrives, however...

Round 1, Match 3
"thog is the champion, thog's friends! and thog keeps on fighting to the end!"

VS

"But you can't make an omelette without ruthlessly crushing dozens of eggs beneath your steel boot and then publicly disembowelling the chickens that laid them as a warning to others."

Thog is funny, but I'm going to have to go with Tarquin here. A better character in almost all respects.

[zimmerwald1915]

Reader Poll for #847
The Order of the Stick find themselves in a familiar situation; off-balance and facing the Linear Guild ambush at a severe tactical disadvantage. Will the Order (minus V) be forced to return to their most successful tactic? (Will they flee from Linear Guild v.4 like little girls). Yes or No?

Yes. Because that's what they do. The question then becomes "will they be cornered, or allowed to escape with their lives?"

Round 1, Match 3
"thog is the champion, thog's friends! and thog keeps on fighting to the end!"

VS

"But you can't make an omelette without ruthlessly crushing dozens of eggs beneath your steel boot and then publicly disembowelling the chickens that laid them as a warning to others."

I despise the RNG you're using to generate these matchups almost as much as I despise the characters it's selected for this round. I suppose will have to do, as at least he isn't annoying.

[Gift Jeraff]

I'm guessing they'll try to fight the Linear Guild, but when Xykon shows up they'll fall back to their most successful tactic (which will cause them to bump into a Girard illusion). I'm not sure if that's a yes or a no.

Thog > all (except Xykon)

[MeanMrsMustard]

Yay, updates!
As for the poll:
Yes, the new Linear Guild is too awesome, and Tarquin definitely beats Thog in my book.

[ti'esar]

Yes to the main question, at least as a "tactical withdrawal".

As for the characters, Thog is amusing, but essentially a one-note character, so I've got to go with Tarquin.

[t209]

The Order of the Stick find themselves in a familiar situation; off-balance and facing the Linear Guild ambush at a severe tactical disadvantage. Will the Order (minus V) be forced to return to their most successful tactic? (Will they flee from Linear Guild v.4 like little girls). Yes or No?

Round 1, Match 3
"thog is the champion, thog's friends! and thog keeps on fighting to the end!"

VS

"But you can't make an omelette without ruthlessly crushing dozens of eggs beneath your steel boot and then publicly disembowelling the chickens that laid them as a warning to others."

No
and

[FujinAkari]

No, they may relocate within the ziggarat, but they won't flee outright. They came here specifically TO defend the gate from attack.

[LadyEowyn]

No. They don't really have anywhere to run, and they can't abandon the gate, so they'll either fight or convince Tarquin of the need to team up against Xykon.

Also, voting for Tarquin; I don't like either of them, and Tarquin's got way too much of a fan club, but he's still more interesting than Thog. The only time Thog was entertaining was during his team-up with Elan.

By the way, how do you insert the little faces to show your vote?

[ti'esar]

I think the "Will the Order run?" question may need some clarification - I assumed it to include falling back deeper into the pyramid, but others seem to interpret it as "will they just run away altogether?"

[Elfinor]

Reader Poll for #847
The Order of the Stick find themselves in a familiar situation; off-balance and facing the Linear Guild ambush at a severe tactical disadvantage. Will the Order (minus V) be forced to return to their most successful tactic? (Will they flee from Linear Guild v.4 like little girls). Yes or No?

Yes. I strongly suspect a Linear Guild vs. Team Xykon confrontation in a few comics.

Round 1, Match 3
"thog is the champion, thog's friends! and thog keeps on fighting to the end!"

VS

"But you can't make an omelette without ruthlessly crushing dozens of eggs beneath your steel boot and then publicly disembowelling the chickens that laid them as a warning to others."

Tarquin.

[RSLee]

Well, I hate being forced to choose, but I have to go with . As entertaining as Tarquin's been, Thog is just a funnier character and he's got the advantage of having been around longer.

And as for the OOTS, I've got to vote no. They've really got no choice but to stand their ground at the moment. After all, they absolutely can't let the villains get ahold of Girard's gate and, most importantly, I'm pretty sure that the only exit is the one that the Linear Guild will soon be entering throuhg. There really isn't anywhere for them to run.

[rgrekejin]

I think the question is unclear. I obviously think the Order may fall back to a more defensible position than the one they currently occupy (probably by moving deeper in to the dungeon) but they can't run away all together. So I guess I'll have to say No.

And Tarquin is much more interesting than Thog.

[zimmerwald1915]

Well, I hate being forced to choose, but I have to go with . As entertaining as Tarquin's been, Thog is just a funnier character and he's got the advantage of having been around longer.

And as for the OOTS, I've got to vote no. They've really got no choice but to stand their ground at the moment. After all, they absolutely can't let the villains get ahold of Girard's gate and, most importantly, I'm pretty sure that the only exit is the one that the Linear Guild will soon be entering throuhg. There really isn't anywhere for them to run.

As ti'esar pointed out, they could withdraw deeper into the ziggurat.

[FujinAkari]

As ti'esar pointed out, they could withdraw deeper into the ziggurat.

This isn't "flee from Linear Guild v.4 like little girls" Fleeing implies a full retreat, not a tactical withdrawl

[Jetty]

Yes, they flee.

[zimmerwald1915]

This isn't "flee from Linear Guild v.4 like little girls" Fleeing implies a full retreat, not a tactical withdrawl

"Like little girls" speaks to the Order's state of mind, not to the distance travelled from the point of origin. At least that's how I read it.

[FujinAkari]

"Like little girls" speaks to the Order's state of mind, not to the distance travelled from the point of origin. At least that's how I read it.

Yeah, but the key word to me is "flee." Flee is simply running away... falling back to a location less exposed to an aerial bombardment isn't running away from the LG, it is a strategic redeployment.

Basically, if the Order retreats to lower in the Ziggarat but then immediately moves to fight off the LG, they aren't fleeing. Fleeing would be if they tried to escape the LG within the passages of the Ziggarat.

[zimmerwald1915]

Fleeing would be if they tried to escape the LG within the passages of the Ziggarat.

Well, that's what I think they're going to try and do. It's not going to work, because the ziggurat's not got infinite space and Durkon and Roy would give the OOTS' position away if they tried to hide. Eventually, they'll be cornered and forced to fight for their lives, but we have not yet reached that point.

[Rorrik]

Yes, being so ambushed, the Order will flee deeper into the dungeon before considering a place to stand their ground. They will also likely wish to find the gate before beginning to give their lives in its defense.

And Tarquin, most of Thog's awesomeness of late was his doing.

[Syklone]

No, Tarquin.

[martianmister]

Yes, Tarquin.

[Crisis21]

I predict that yes, the Order will flee because their current position is tactically unsound. Disappearing into the lower levels where Z doesn't have as clear a shot at them is more conducive to their long-term survival.

And I vote for Tarquin over Thog.

[Ferreroni]

Yes, if they don't like the idea of being blasted to death.
Tarquin is yay cooler.

[Zevox]

Um, when has the Order ever run from the Linear Guild? They fought them each time they showed up - first by preventing them from escaping with their prize back in Dorukon's Dungeon, then by overcoming their divide-and-conquer tactic in Cliffport, then duking it out in Haley's room in Azure City. So, yeah, the premise of the question is rather flawed. For whatever it's worth, I'll vote no, since they really don't have anywhere to run to - they need to investigate the ziggurat to figure out where to go next.

Also, Tarquin.

Zevox

[Kalrany]

Round 1, Match 3
"thog is the champion, thog's friends! and thog keeps on fighting to the end!"

VS

"But you can't make an omelette without ruthlessly crushing dozens of eggs beneath your steel boot and then publicly disembowelling the chickens that laid them as a warning to others."

Lines like this is what makes it Tarquin all the way!
Thog was getting a bit annoying to me anyway.

As for fleeing....
If Fleeing is defined as "rapidly exiting the immediate vicinity" then yes. I think they will flee to better positioning for the confrontation.
On the other hand, if the above is considered a tactical retreat and fleeing is "getting the flip out of Dodge" then no. They are there to defend the gate, they have a split party (admittedly only V, but given the rather recent issue they had with being forced apart, I don't think they would go along with it fleeing if it is at all possible), and perhaps the most important they have no way of leaving that would not place them at a greater disadvantage (at least the ziggurat has cover options -- open desert… eh… not so much)...
So pick the answer based upon the OP's definition of the word flee.

[Anarion]

First, I'm pretty sure the order can flee much faster than most little girls.

Second, while they might withdraw into the ziggurat for cover (and because fighting flying vs. non-flying in a wide-open space heavily favors the flyers) I do expect them to make a stand fairly soon.
So, no, they will not flee.

And I agree that Tarquin wins against Thog. He simply has too many ways to defend himself and I would expect him to be able to stall Thog out past his rage duration.

[Rad]

If I can vote, I'd say no, they will fight.
And is best.

[T-Bone]

Yes and Tarquin for me.

It's nothing new to anyone here, but I'm amazed how many great characters this story has. Put it this way: if Tarquin or Thog were participating in The Hunger games, I'd cheer for either of them before any character from those books.

Come to think of it, Tarquin or Thog in The Hunger Games would be pretty awesome....

[Chess Tyrant]

Hmm... I'd have to go with 'yes,' and probably into the lower levels of the dungeon.

And, Tarquin.