OOTS Polls (feat. Favourite NPC Tournament)

[LadyEowyn]

I'm voting for Miko. And no (I expect what actually happened was that either the Kobold deliberately chose death over being continually used as a litter box, or that Belkar shoved him between the cat and the acid and then lied).

[Kalrany]

No.

[Rorrik]

Same here. I don't see anyone getting too mad over Yukyuk because it was the LG that took him out, and they were so eager to replace him that they got a new kobold even before finding out what happened to their old one.

Actually, that's kind of sad...

[death pig]

yes

[oppyu]

Reader Poll for #848
Yukyuk died shielding Mr. Scruffy from two consecutive acid baths. Does this elicit some kind of negative reaction? (sad? bad? mad?)
Yes: 4 - 20.00%
No: 16 - 80.00%

Round 1, Match 4
: 4 - 20.00%
: 16 - 80.00%

Reader Poll for #849
It seems there is little question that Tarquin will in some way double-cross Nale. Assuming both characters survive the upcoming kerfuffle, is Nale in any way prepared to counter said double-cross? Yes or No?

Round 1, Match 5
"Thus began the legend of Arrrghcloak!" (and numerous other witty observations)

VS

"FOR AZURE CITY!"

[ti'esar]

I'm actually going to go with a yes on this one - I don't know whether he's anything near sufficiently prepared, but I do think Nale might be more prepared for a double-cross then we expect.

As for the character tournament, no question for me: O-Chul.

[Gift Jeraff]

Yes. Even if he's not prepared to go against Tarquin specifically, he's aware that Malack wants him dead and thus likely has some complex plan to deal with him. Without Malack, I don't think Tarquin can take out 2 teleporting foes (3 if Z lives) by himself.

Demon-roaches all the way!

[Zevox]

No. Nale being prepared for a contingency rather than just overconfident in his first plan would be a first.

And the demon roaches. They're funny, and I've never understood why people like O-Chul.

Zevox

[suzaliscious]

No. Nale may think he's fine, but he's probably not prepared for whatever Tarquin's going to hit him with.

Anyone citing Nale's complex plans as a reason that he's probably thought of this contingency forget that he's dealing with Tarquin, the man running a three-man con on a whole continent. Who is also Nale's *father*.

Also, O-Chul, bro. I'm sorry, demon roaches are cool, but we're talking about a guy who spent months tortured extensively by Xykon and never broke once. His first action after escaping a shark-infested acid spike pit was to attack Xykon. And he's a deeply philosophical, rather wise man. I'll take that over the funny but one-note roaches.

[zimmerwald1915]

Reader Poll for #849
It seems there is little question that Tarquin will in some way double-cross Nale. Assuming both characters survive the upcoming kerfuffle, is Nale in any way prepared to counter said double-cross? Yes or No?

What do you mean? Are you asking whether Nale's made preparations, or whether those preparations are sufficient to counter Tarquin's double-cross? Nale got into this situation by improvising his way out of a near-death situation. He probably didn't have a contingency plan then. Two days later, he's probably come up with something. He's got a succubus, a mid-to-high level wizard, and potentially a mid-level sorcerer/imp to work with. Those resources are still limited, however, while Tarquin's are effectively not. Whatever his plan is, therefore, it is probably not sufficient to counter Tarquin's double-cross.

Round 1, Match 5
"Thus began the legend of Arrrghcloak!" (and numerous other witty observations)

VS

"FOR AZURE CITY!"

I never understood the appeal of the demon-roaches. O-Chul's both more plot-critical and more likable.

[RSLee]

Yes. Nale's been overconifdent in the past, but he's not stupid enough to blindly follow Tarquin without some sort of plan. I'm sure that Nale has no intention of sharing Girard's Gate with a guy that he's been trying to usurp.

And, I've got to vote O-Chull. The guy is just such a bad ass and he's much more interesting than the little bugs that tell jokes in the background.

[ti'esar]

What do you mean? Are you asking whether Nale's made preparations, or whether those preparations are sufficient to counter Tarquin's double-cross? Nale got into this situation by improvising his way out of a near-death situation. He probably didn't have a contingency plan then. Two days later, he's probably come up with something. He's got a succubus, a mid-to-high level wizard, and potentially a mid-level sorcerer/imp to work with. Those resources are still limited, however, while Tarquin's are effectively not. Whatever his plan is, therefore, it is probably not sufficient to counter Tarquin's double-cross.

My assumption is that the question is simply whether he has any kind of preparations at all, not whether they'd be sufficient. It might be rephrased "Is Nale expecting a double cross?"

[ti'esar]

What do you mean? Are you asking whether Nale's made preparations, or whether those preparations are sufficient to counter Tarquin's double-cross? Nale got into this situation by improvising his way out of a near-death situation. He probably didn't have a contingency plan then. Two days later, he's probably come up with something. He's got a succubus, a mid-to-high level wizard, and potentially a mid-level sorcerer/imp to work with. Those resources are still limited, however, while Tarquin's are effectively not. Whatever his plan is, therefore, it is probably not sufficient to counter Tarquin's double-cross.

My assumption is that the question is simply whether he has any kind of preparations at all, not whether they'd be sufficient. It might be rephrased "Is Nale expecting a double cross?"

[martianmister]

A. Yes, he'll make preparations.

B. Paladin one.

[SecondRevan]

Nale, Bond villain that he is, is either preparing to betray Tarquin or prepared for Tarquin's betrayal. Probably both. But I don't think he is prepared enough. So I vote no. From a story telling perspective, at least, Tarquin is the more important villain at the moment. We wouldn't have spent so long learning about him if Nale was going to take over.

Favourite character? I love O-chul, but their is something about the demon roaches that I love more. They provide a source of meta humour, self-depreciation and commentary to OOTS that none of the other characters can, no matter how meta or fourth wall breaking they get. It is kind of sad that we don't get more Greek chorus type characters these days.

I vote demon roaches

[MeanMrsMustard]

Well, I think Nale's made preparations. But no, I don't think he's actually prepared.

I never understood the appeal of the demon-roaches. O-Chul's both more plot-critical and more likable.

I'm with you, zimmerwald. I never liked the demon roaches. At all.
O-Chul all the way!

[t209]

Reader Poll for #848
It seems there is little question that Tarquin will in some way double-cross Nale. Assuming both characters survive the upcoming kerfuffle, is Nale in any way prepared to counter said double-cross? Yes or No?

Round 1, Match 5
"Thus began the legend of Arrrghcloak!" (and numerous other witty observations)

VS

"FOR AZURE CITY!"

No- Nale lack the genre savviness of Elan
- I wonder if he will break from the news from Niu (Blades cannot hurt him what if the words is like a +1 sword through a level one wizard's gullet.)

[Ferreroni]

Yes, I think Nale has a plan, but if it will work, thats a different matter.
The roaches are very funny, and O-chul is just... bland.

[FujinAkari]

Yes. He is prepared in a completely overcomplicated and ultimately ineffectual way, but he is technically prepared.

[Emanick]

Yes- Nale has surely thought of a plan for escaping from his father's inevitable betrayal. Whether it will work, I have no idea - though, incidentally, I don't see him dying here. It just doesn't make dramatic sense to me.

- O-chul is one of my favorite characters, perhaps the most admirable character in the comic, and the demon roaches are unimportant fiends that I've never found particularly funny. This is the easiest match-up I can imagine.

[Ellye]

No. While I think that Nale has the potential to actually be a very dangerous opponent (specially considering Sabine and Z), and while he is smart enough to know that Tarquin isn't truly his ally, he probably won't be able to come up with any (functional) plan to counter his eventual betrayal.
But perhaps Tarquin might let him escape on purpose.

And O'Chul.

[Halberd]

The question is if Nale is "in any way prepared" for the double cross, so I'm going to vote yes.
And I vote O-Chul, definitely. I've never understood how people can like the demon roaches- they do nothing but provide comic relief, and not particularly good comic relief, at that.

[LadyEowyn]

No (Nale seems highly overconfident and inclined to overestimate his father from this comic - "permission to hasten my inheritance granted" - so even if he has a plan it's unlikely to be anything functional).

Also, O-Chul, obviously. One of the best characters in the OotS-verse, and one of the few unambiguously good people as well. I love the scenes with him and the MiTD.

[Rorrik]

Yes, he's definitely got a plan, probably a dispelling wand to counter Malack's flight or something along those lines, but it will most certainly not be sufficient. Tarquin most certainly has something up his sleeve.

Ochul has always been one of my favorite characters, with all his gumption and wisdom. The roaches are good for a laugh, but don't add anything to the plot, and may be on their way out of the story altogether.

[ThomasMink]

I'm going to have to say yes, Nale is prepared for a double-cross.. or at least he thinks he is. I mean, I think Tarquin is quite a few steps ahead of Nale.

And I'll have to vote O-Chul. The roaches are decent for a snicker or two, but it's probably a bit telling when I like seeing them get impaled (by O-Chul no less..) and stomped.

[The Pilgrim]

No, Nale isn't prepated to counter his father. Even if he expects his father to betray him, even if he has made some preparations, and even if he thinks that he is prepared to deal with his father, the result still is that Nale isn't prepared to face his father and would be pwned by him.


And... O-Chul.

[Vulkos]

No, Nale is a fool and Tarquin a smart badass.

Mr. Paladin O-Chul, without any shade of doubt.

[Smolder]

This was a tough one for me... Team Evil needs it's comic relief... but
gets my vote for making me root for him despite my general distaste for paladins.

"in any way" That's tough. I'm going to hae to say Yes, Nale will be prepared in some way for the double-cross... but Tarquin will be prepared for Nale's preparedness.

[Kalrany]

That is kind of a hard one. I am not sure that Nale really does plan on Tarquin double-crossing him. That is not to say he has not considered it, maybe even worked up a couple of contingency plans, but nothing where he is actually really trepidatious... I think that Sabine has likely considered it much more seriously, which may well be why she is so defensive of Nale in the last sets of comics. She is waiting for the other shoe to drop. Nale seems to have more of a false bravado -- he seems to expect to be the one to do the double crossing if anything, considering he is egotistical enough to believe that he can get away with taunting Maclack... So no, I don't think he has seriously considered a betrayal. I do think he has some convoluted plan to deal with it kind of in-place, but it is likely old and even more unworkable now (bet that Thog was a part of it even).

And, O-Chul unquestionably. I love the humor of the demon-roaches, but O-Chul is just a really awsome character. As LadyEowyn said

One of the best characters in the OotS-verse, and one of the few unambiguously good people as well. I love the scenes with him and the MiTD.

. Also have to agree with suzaliscious:

I'm sorry, demon roaches are cool, but we're talking about a guy who spent months tortured extensively by Xykon and never broke once. His first action after escaping a shark-infested acid spike pit was to attack Xykon. And he's a deeply philosophical, rather wise man. I'll take that over the funny but one-note roaches.

[oppyu]

Reader Poll for #849
Is Nale in any way prepared to counter Tarquin's inevitable betrayal?
Yes: 11 - 50.00%
No: 11 - 50.00%

Round 1, Match 5
: 3 - 14.28%
: 18 - 85.71%

Reader Poll for #850
The Order vs Tarquin! There probably won't be enough time for either side to win, but who do you think will have the advantage by the time that the rest of the Guild intervenes? OotS or Tarquin?

Round 1, Match 6
"See, the first lesson of being 18-inches tall is: Find someone more powerful than you are, and glue your lips to their ass."

VS

"I know lots of tricks that'll help him get over it. Maybe we'll do some of them on top of your corpse."