Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLIV: Stunt Bro and Hella Jayden

[Cavelcade]

I got it!

Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLV: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Voting for this so much.

But it's just...it does nothing dangerous. I know there's a problem with having villains that are too efficient and don't let the hero get out their self righteous speech but honestly, he did nothing the entire time they were talking? Not even just killing Stunt? Or attacking again while she's casting her spell? I need to see more veggie-deegan comics to make up for this.

[TheLaughingMan]

I got it!

Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLV: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

I guess I'll put my vote here as well.

[rocketpony]

Options I thought of so far plus what others already suggested here:
- Spell with an area effect, doesn't even have to do damage
- Target caster to break spell
- Super speed, clones or something similar to attack all targets at the same time.

So, uh, something like this?
Something exactly like that, actually, seems pretty good.

Also: which way are Dominic and Luna facing? Is the answer Bumper? Does this mean they have literally turned their backs on the archmage? Are they high?

[Mr. McGician]

Okay, so the fact that the archmage is a pathetic opponent makes logical sense, as he's trying to fight his own mind control. The problem is, of course, that there's no tension, because, as stated above, he's a pathetic opponent.

I noticed that Dominic called Luna's illusion an "old-school" spell. This seems to be Mookie saying, "See guys? I'm returning back to what made the comic good! I can still write battles that aren't just beam spams!" Sorry, Mookie, but it still doesn't work. You missed the main point that you need to have threatening antagonists in order to make your comic interesting.

[guttering flame]

It's not a big thing but "Smog"??? Wouldn't Fog be more fitting?

[Mr. McGician]

It's not a big thing but "Smog"??? Wouldn't Fog be more fitting?

No, because then Mookie couldn't make his precious "smoke and mirrors" pun.

[random11]

So, uh, something like this?
Something exactly like that, actually, seems pretty good.

Also: which way are Dominic and Luna facing? Is the answer Bumper? Does this mean they have literally turned their backs on the archmage? Are they high?

That's it, from now on I'm naming them itch-mages, they'll get the title back when they do something to deserve it.

[AgentofOdd]

Honestly, don't think today's strip is worth mentioning, but for the sake of habit.

Sneaky Link
Future Link

I eagerly await Luna's counter beam spam.

[hierophant]

Clunky dialogue: 1 - My brain: 0
...and that's just from the first panel. Ow.

But seriously, there's still no sign of Spark. I can only hope he has been disintegrated by all the beam-spamming.

[Acanous]

Why? Spark is totally the third best character in the comic, after Rillian and Stunt.

[hierophant]

He's a hideous abomination masquerading as a cat and his alliterative "jokes" are as terrible as stealing pies.
We all know none of the main characters are ever going to be killed, so I'm running with the next closest thing. A man can dream.

[random11]

Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLV: Beams and shields, nothing else

Honestly, don't think today's strip is worth mentioning, but for the sake of habit.

Sneaky Link
Future Link

I eagerly await Luna's counter beam spam.

Seeing how the itch-mage is using his powers and can't even catch one thief with a minor illusion spell makes me very sad.

Imagine this chain of events:

Dominic and Stunt exit the house and meet with Luna and Bumper, and they all see the grasshopper.

The grasshopper casts the big boom spell, Luna raises the shield, but it immediately breaks knocking them all back.

Grasshopper grabs Stunt, but bumper shows that he now has the necklace.

Dominic casts the illusion spells to buy some time, Luna is recovering from being knocked back earlier.

Not bothering to fight the illusion, Grasshopper conjures an entire field of entangle weeds, instantly destroying all the copies, and capturing all the team.

Luna, in desperation, casts a large fireball on the field. All the team are now hurt from the fire, but also free from the weeds.

The grasshopper punches the ground, creating a huge hole, dropping everyone except him in it.

Using a spell, Bumper is flying out of the hole with the necklace, the grasshopper easily caches him with one jump and throws him back, only to discover that it was just another illusion by Dominic.

These precious seconds give Luna enough time to cast her one last spell...

---
This chain of events has the same elements of what happened so far: No one is killed, grasshopper wants the necklace, and it all ends up with Luna casting a big spell.
The difference is that the way the story is told in DD, it's like team Deegan is playing games with a mage, instead of desperately trying to protect themselves against a superior force.

[T-O-E]

I think she's going to use her most powerful spell... Magic beam 3.

Truly, an awesome force.

[slayerx]

Strip slays

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[Trazoi]

The difference is that the way the story is told in DD, it's like team Deegan is playing games with a mage, instead of desperately trying to protect themselves against a superior force.

Case in point: just look at Luna's face in that last panel. That is not the face of a junior mage forced into a life-and-death struggle with one of the most powerful magical beings in the universe.

How did Luna get that powerful anyway? Did Maltak not take her Tusk Powers away? Did she study to be this powerful while still in the Travoria Estate, and if so why would Croona let her do that if she was going to use her in a stupid suicide insurance fraud scheme?

Of course we all know the reason - she's a main character, and powering up main characters to be above their adverseries is what Mookie does. But it's so blatantly stupid in this case when Mantis Mage is, by definition, one of the best wizards in the universe.

And don't get me started on Mantis Mage defaulting to quad lazors.

[random11]

And don't get me started on Mantis Mage defaulting to quad lazors.

You're going to get it now, no more useless beam attacks.
Now I'll use FOUR useless beam attacks!

[rocketpony]

You remember what happened ago and was super-rad? When TIM, who was always kind of a goofball, just showed up in Dominion and crippled Greg. He wasn't an archmage or anything, but Greg was all "Dohoho I'm the best" and then he didn't get beaten, he got humiliated. Also: lots and lots of people died. Celesto, who's supposedly Dominic's opposing number, got knocked down enough to be captured by the king's men. Remember that? Remember that encounter?
Let's compare that to what's happening right now, which is a guy who isn't supposed to be a goofball, but a player of some consequence, is just being completely outclassed by Luna.

Now, on the other hand, if the Friday cliffhanger has the bug turn around and throw a knife right into Luna's unspeakable face, in a callback to this, well. That would be grand.

[Traab]

Rocketpony and random, you have to keep in mind that the archmage is specifically NOT trying very hard to win here. This unfortunately means that it isnt worth it to point out how stupidly he is fighting, because it can always be handwaved with, "But he isnt really trying, so he is being as ineffective as his mind control orders will let him be."

Also, those strip slays were awesome slayerx. The worst part is I am sure that is only scratching the surface of ways that this is a worthless plan if used against an archmage that isnt struggling desperately to not kill them.

[random11]

Rocketpony and random, you have to keep in mind that the archmage is specifically NOT trying very hard to win here. This unfortunately means that it isnt worth it to point out how stupidly he is fighting, because it can always be handwaved with, "But he isnt really trying, so he is being as ineffective as his mind control orders will let him be."

Also, those strip slays were awesome slayerx. The worst part is I am sure that is only scratching the surface of ways that this is a worthless plan if used against an archmage that isnt struggling desperately to not kill them.

We're talking about a creature that can kill them all while watching TV and drinking beer.
Even if he's trying not to kill them, at least show that Luna needs to put some effort from her side to fight back, right now they treat him like just another mook.

As for consequences, sure, they won't die, but at the very least they should be wounded like the wolves in the previous itch-mage attack

[Traab]

We're talking about a creature that can kill them all while watching TV and drinking beer.
Even if he's trying not to kill them, at least show that Luna needs to put some effort from her side to fight back, right now they treat him like just another mook.

As for consequences, sure, they won't die, but at the very least they should be wounded like the wolves in the previous itch-mage attack

Well, I think Stunts shirt collar might have gotten stretched when mantis mage grabbed him, does that count as a consequence? Anyways, i am now taking bets. 5-1 odds that luna will mention aciebeks principle in some way when she sets off this spell, or afterwards when the talking heads get involved. 2-1 odds say her spell will fail to do anything effective against the archmage. 10-1 she will obliterate the bastard with her awesome might. 2-1 dom will use his mighty mind powers to eventually save the day.

[Trazoi]

Rocketpony and random, you have to keep in mind that the archmage is specifically NOT trying very hard to win here. This unfortunately means that it isnt worth it to point out how stupidly he is fighting, because it can always be handwaved with, "But he isnt really trying, so he is being as ineffective as his mind control orders will let him be."

It's an exceptionally poor handwave in this scenario because Mookie could easily show that Mantis Mage is not trying to win throughout the fight. Have him yell warnings and apologies, yank his spells so they miss their target, have occasional disabling migranes as he battles for control of his mind. Anything other than what is currently depicted, which is Mantis Mage by all appearances desperate to win and sucking at it.

[random11]

Well, I think Stunts shirt collar might have gotten stretched when mantis mage grabbed him, does that count as a consequence? Anyways, i am now taking bets. 5-1 odds that luna will mention aciebeks principle in some way when she sets off this spell, or afterwards when the talking heads get involved. 2-1 odds say her spell will fail to do anything effective against the archmage. 10-1 she will obliterate the bastard with her awesome might. 2-1 dom will use his mighty mind powers to eventually save the day.

We have two more pointless characters approaching the fight, I'll bet they will somehow help.
No idea what a zombie and a singer screamer can do, but it's not much worse than two thieves (and a cat), who already managed to stab and pickpocket the itch-mage.

[Mewtarthio]

Rocketpony and random, you have to keep in mind that the archmage is specifically NOT trying very hard to win here. This unfortunately means that it isnt worth it to point out how stupidly he is fighting, because it can always be handwaved with, "But he isnt really trying, so he is being as ineffective as his mind control orders will let him be."

Here's the thing, though: Works of fiction are not accurate retellings of events that have already happened. The author is allowed to manipulate the events to achieve a desired result. Now, it might make sense for the archmage to just lazily spam beams for two weeks while our heroes take him down with preschool-level tactics, but it makes for lousy storytelling. If Mookie wants an easy fight, then he shouldn't spend so much time on it. If, as I suspect, he's going for a dramatic fight, then he needs to have some actual tension in there. Alright, so Mantis Mage probably would be holding back. He's a freaking archmage. "Holding back" could very well mean "Our heroes have a tense struggle and barely get out alive"; it's not unbelievable, given Miranda's power level.

[M84]

It's an exceptionally poor handwave in this scenario because Mookie could easily show that Mantis Mage is not trying to win throughout the fight. Have him yell warnings and apologies, yank his spells so they miss their target, have occasional disabling migranes as he battles for control of his mind. Anything other than what is currently depicted, which is Mantis Mage by all appearances desperate to win and sucking at it.

Naruto already did that. One especially awesome example had the guy giving instructions on how to beat him...and he won anyway because he was just that strong.

Edit:

The biggest problem with all of these fight scenes is that Mookie refuses to put his protagonists in any actual danger. Ever since he chickened out on killing off Luna, any drama related to the main characters' mortality vanished.

[Traab]

Naruto already did that. One especially awesome example had the guy giving instructions on how to beat him...and he won anyway because he was just that strong.

Edit:

The biggest problem with all of these fight scenes is that Mookie refuses to put his protagonists in any actual danger. Ever since he chickened out on killing off Luna, any drama related to the main characters' mortality vanished.

True, it wouldnt matter if mantis mage was holding back or not. He could have some obscenely powerful strategy that in any semi rational world would have obliterated then in seconds, but because mookie refuses to risk his characters lives, we would know that it will end favorably anyways. Something will always happen to save the day, and even the pathetic attempts he makes at tension are dispelled in a few days or less. The current fate of nimmel is the closest thing we have to tension or drama right now. And even that is stupid. He is in a void, just hanging out, in no danger.

[slayerx]

The ironic thing is that Stunt's, "knife to the face" actually would have made for a better ending. Yes it was stupid because we are dealing with an archmage, but atleast it was funny and brief. Without tension or originality, this long epic battle just comes off as being tedious and dull.

[MReav]

Strip slays

Hilarious images

You could also do the part where he just shoots Luna, thus disrupting the originator of the spell.

[Myrdhale]

The ironic thing is that Stunt's, "knife to the face" actually would have made for a better ending. Yes it was stupid because we are dealing with an archmage, but atleast it was funny and brief. Without tension, this long epic battle just comes off as being tedious and dull.

Exactly, Mookie is spending way to much time on a non event.

More to the point, going back to an earlier idea, If DJ Callan has sent the archmages out to get the necklace rather than just to have them obliterated by the Deegans, then again, he's being super inneffective with his acquisition. He's sending them in one by one, knowing they aren't going to try very hard and will be thwarted.

What exactly is the point here? If he really needed the necklace why not send TIM and just get it? If he isn't really after the necklace and this is just some elaborate way of occupying and eliminating some problems, then he has just alerted the Deegans to the endgame beginning, when they weren't doing anything about it to begin with.

My point is, if the Arch-Mages are fighting DJ's control so effectively as to render their assaults meaningless, why is he bothering at all. Why not just have the 5 of them off one another and still maintain the illusion that nothing is happening so the Deegans (who are an issue to his plans for some reason....?) don't suddenly decide to get involved when they haven't done anything previous to this.

[Veridis Quo]

Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, Mk. XLV: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Placing my vote for this as well

Strip slays

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I laughed way too hard for that last one. These are great.

[Mr. McGician]

Oh man, for a few seconds I thought that was Luna in panel 1. Then I compared it with panel 8 and saw that they're basically the same person. Greg really has become Luna without tusks.