Murphy's Law 8: College? What About It?

[Asta Kask]

Out to California and Yosemite. I've never been there before. Update tomorrow; I think you'll like the first panel.

There are bears there. Better bring a cat.

[t209]

Out to California and Yosemite. I've never been there before. Update tomorrow; I think you'll like the first panel.

I will come back to California in two weeks too. Isn't it a great coincidence since I am in Burma for summer vacation before I return to California in two weeks.

[SamBurke]

I will come back to California in two weeks too. Isn't it a great coincidence since I am in Burma for summer vacation before I return to California in two weeks.

Glad you got some net in Burma.

That sounds like an interesting vacation.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Comic time!

#193: Wait Until Photography's Invented

[McDouggal]

Wait... What about Lexi?

OMG MILES KILLED LEXI AND IS NOW GOING AROUND REMOVING AS MUCH EVIDENCE AS POSSIBLE!!!!

Or, Lexi's hiding and Miles is using his scrolls of teleport to run around and tell everyone he's worked with, "Stop now."

First theory: Removing all evidence, the most efficient way to do that is killing. Think disintigrate followed by gust of wind. Second theory: more likely.

Dang.

[Savannah]

Ya know, he would probably get better results if he, say, took two minutes to explain why he's making that request (Sigh is purely directed at Miles, not Coffee -- it's completely in character for him.)

[SamBurke]

Good brother, Y U NO EXPLAIN DIRE PLIGHT?

Lyra's doomed.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Ya know, he would probably get better results if he, say, took two minutes to explain why he's making that request (Sigh is purely directed at Miles, not Coffee -- it's completely in character for him.)

Exactly. Especially if the person isn't smart enough to get it unless he spells it out for them. Lexi isn't the sharpest tool in the shed either, but he's intelligent enough and knows Miles well enough to understand that if he tells you to stop doing something, it would be a good idea to listen to him.

Also, do other countries have something like a shack selling souvenirs on a road in the middle of nowhere that's also next to unusual geographic features or the world's largest ball of twine or whatever?

[SamBurke]

Exactly. Especially if the person isn't smart enough to get it unless he spells it out for them. Lexi isn't the sharpest tool in the shed either, but he's intelligent enough and knows Miles well enough to understand that if he tells you to stop doing something, it would be a good idea to listen to him.

Also, do other countries have something like a shack selling souvenirs on a road in the middle of nowhere that's also next to unusual geographic features or the world's largest ball of twine or whatever?

Yes. There's a commemorative pottery place down a highway from my house, at random, behind a dump.

I do live in a pretty crappy area, so that make require a pound of salt.

[Silverraptor]

Out to California and Yosemite. I've never been there before. Update tomorrow; I think you'll like the first panel.

Well, well, well. Looking who's coming over to my state then. Where in California are you going to?

[t209]

Well, well, well. Looking who's coming over to my state then. Where in California are you going to?

I am also coming back to California too (live near San Francisco).
I wanted to point finger at Lexi's stupidity after seeing Lyra and Cole are in big trouble now.
P.S- what is the stat template on Half Hobgoblins? In addition, how would half drows look like?

[CoffeeIncluded]

Well, well, well. Looking who's coming over to my state then. Where in California are you going to?

Huh? To San Francisco.

So any more commentary on what's been going on? What do you think of Lyra?

[t209]

Huh? To San Francisco.

So any more commentary on what's been going on? What do you think of Lyra?

Lyra's good, she's protective of her half-brother and doing pretty good until Lexi decided to scream in horror of faked Llyod's death instead of holding his emotion. I wonder if Half Hobgoblin has low stat in intelligence, just like Half orcs (starts off with 9 or something dumber).

[Silverraptor]

Huh? To San Francisco.

So any more commentary on what's been going on? What do you think of Lyra?

Ahh. I have a cousin who lives up there. If I recall correctly the golden state bridge still charges a toll going across it, but only 1 way and I think its leaving the city. I'm not entirely sure I'm remembering it right as its been a number of years since I last visited him. Anyways, have fun!

[HalfTangible]

Lyra's good, she's protective of her half-brother and doing pretty good until Lexi decided to scream in horror of faked Llyod's death instead of holding his emotion. I wonder if Half Hobgoblin has low stat in intelligence, just like Half orcs (starts off with 9 or something dumber).

Half-orcs get a -2 int penalty >.> where's this 9 stuff coming from?

[Alagaesian]

...Huh. I just realized that a 30-point-buy will get you a character with 13 in every stat. Such a character would not be particularly useful, however.

Also, Lyra strikes me as the kind of person who has literally had to struggle their whole life to make due with what they've got. I mean, a souvenir shack in the middle of nowhere's probably not making her that much money, certainly not enough to move and set up shop at a more profitable station. Now that she's gotten this job smuggling Plavaans across the border, she's making enough money to easily make ends meet while simultaneously dedicating her existence to something besides just scraping by. I can understand why she wouldn't want to give either of those up. However, I think she might be smart enough to at least consider making a break for it.

Miles appears to be in a hurry. Considering how verbose he usually is, a complete lack of any form of explanation seems a little odd. His sleep-deprivation probably contributes, though.

The Alagaesian Analyzer strikes again!

Also, it appears that Lyra has succeeded on a Slight of Hand check against the readers. Am I the only one who noticed her casually pulling a dagger on Miles?

[Savannah]

Also, it appears that Lyra has succeeded on a Slight of Hand check against the readers. Am I the only one who noticed her casually pulling a dagger on Miles?

You're right!

[alanajoli]

Hmmm... the link to the archive #192 is broken, and I missed that one. :(

[CoffeeIncluded]

...Huh. I just realized that a 30-point-buy will get you a character with 13 in every stat. Such a character would not be particularly useful, however.

Also, Lyra strikes me as the kind of person who has literally had to struggle their whole life to make due with what they've got. I mean, a souvenir shack in the middle of nowhere's probably not making her that much money, certainly not enough to move and set up shop at a more profitable station. Now that she's gotten this job smuggling Plavaans across the border, she's making enough money to easily make ends meet while simultaneously dedicating her existence to something besides just scraping by. I can understand why she wouldn't want to give either of those up. However, I think she might be smart enough to at least consider making a break for it.

Miles appears to be in a hurry. Considering how verbose he usually is, a complete lack of any form of explanation seems a little odd. His sleep-deprivation probably contributes, though.

The Alagaesian Analyzer strikes again!

Also, it appears that Lyra has succeeded on a Slight of Hand check against the readers. Am I the only one who noticed her casually pulling a dagger on Miles?

Glad you noticed!

Hmmm... the link to the archive #192 is broken, and I missed that one. :(

Huh? Okay, I'll go fix that now.

[Marnath]

Have we met this smuggler chick before? She doesn't seem familiar.

[t209]

Half-orcs get a -2 int penalty >.> where's this 9 stuff coming from?

I think it has something to do with starting intelligence of Half Orc from D&D's PHB.

[HalfTangible]

I think it has something to do with starting intelligence of Half Orc from D&D's PHB.

You mean the prebuilt character that you don't have to follow? >.>

[PurityIcekiller]

You mean the prebuilt character that you don't have to follow? >.>

More like the racial average. Your typical half-orc has an intelligence of 8 or 9. There are above-average half-orcs who are quite smart, but there are also plenty of below-average ones to counterbalance them. PCs tend to be the above-average ones.

[t209]

More like the racial average. Your typical half-orc has an intelligence of 8 or 9. There are above-average half-orcs who are quite smart, but there are also plenty of below-average ones to counterbalance them. PCs tend to be the above-average ones.

Thanks Purity, now I understand the 9 Intelligence part on Half Orcs in PHB now.

[SamBurke]

More like the racial average. Your typical half-orc has an intelligence of 8 or 9. There are above-average half-orcs who are quite smart, but there are also plenty of below-average ones to counterbalance them. PCs tend to be the above-average ones.

I personally would have said below, but....

[enderlord99]

I personally would have said below, but....

That's because of their players.

[Asta Kask]

PCs are idiot-savants. When it comes to solving mysteries and simple stuff like remembering names, they're idiots. But when it comes to screwing up your plans they're ****ing geniuses.

[SamBurke]

PCs are idiot-savants. When it comes to solving mysteries and simple stuff like remembering names, they're idiots. But when it comes to screwing up your plans they're ****ing geniuses.

Truth, my friend. Truth. PCs never, ever, do what you think they will. No matter how obvious it is, no matter how many options you've given them that make sense.

[Alagaesian]

Of course the PCs would refuse to do anything you'd expect them to do. The DMs have specifically charted out a path that is challenging enough to be "fun". Taking the intended path also means that they will get a certain amount of loot/XP that is barely enough to keep them from TPKing on the "fun" encounters. Hence, players are trained from the start to avoid doing what the DM wants/expects them to do.

Of course, in PbP games, the DM is given enough time to make stuff up as they go along, thoroughly fleshing out and planning the game as the PCs are playing. This means that the players can literally do anything within their vast realm of possibilities and the DM will still be able to set up level-appropriate encounters and rewards. This can often make the PCs extremely paranoid.

"There's no way the DM would write this detailed of a description for an area of town we decided to go to on a whim. This means she intended us to go here eventually! Quick, check for traps and use Spot checks before she tries to nail us with the ambush she probably set up."

[SamBurke]

Of course the PCs would refuse to do anything you'd expect them to do. The DMs have specifically charted out a path that is challenging enough to be "fun". Taking the intended path also means that they will get a certain amount of loot/XP that is barely enough to keep them from TPKing on the "fun" encounters. Hence, players are trained from the start to avoid doing what the DM wants/expects them to do.

Now you've got me thinking. There has to be a way around this tendency.