OOTS Kickstarter Bonus PDFs: The Discussion Thread *Unmarked spoilers*

[JCarter426]

Great story! This was the first OOTS content I received because I'm still waiting on my patience pledge, so it was especially great! I have nothing to add, it was just great. Well, one thing does come to mind: Belkar's real name is never mentioned in the actual story... unless Ali S. Fakenamington is his real name.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the others... I presume Haleo & Julelan is next.

[zql]

I laughed so hard with the venture capitalist joke
excelent material!

[ahdok]

Loved the story. Guessed the twist, but that's probably just because that's how I expect anything Belkar does to turn out.

Your puns in the tailor's office almost deserve their own entire thread.

[MaximKat]

shades of blue instead of shades of grey

So, 49 shades of blue? Or will they import the missing one by then?

[ThePhantasm]

I love that Fakenamington's illustration looks like Bilbo or Frodo, complete with Sting in hand.

[Red.Tide]

Wow, I never even thought about that . This may well be the last time we ever see Belkar as, well, Belkar.

I thought the timing was perfect... just as Belkar is (probably) about to undergo a permanent change, the details of which are not yet clear, we get one encore performance of the old Belkar. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the reason that Rich started working on this one first (although I wouldn't be surprised if it weren't)

[Forderz]

You never disappoint, Rich.

I thought I saw the twist, but then it all became so gloriously clear.

[oball]

Anyone else thinks that baker's wife looks like Haley?

For a second I thought it was Inkyrius, who is after all an apprentice baker.

[fergo]

I thought the timing was perfect... just as Belkar is (probably) about to undergo a permanent change, the details of which are not yet clear, we get one encore performance of the old Belkar. I wouldn't be surprised if that were the reason that Rich started working on this one first (although I wouldn't be surprised if it weren't)

Good thinking. It is rather well timed.

But still... I don't want Belkar to die .

I don't want to start off another prophecy/resurrection/leaving-this-world debate, so I won't go further than saying that it seems likely Belkar as we know him won't be around much longer. He's an odious little so-and-so, to be sure, but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't going to miss him.

[SaintRidley]

I, too, expected the mayor to be heading the racket and not what we got.

I'm now very curious as to what happened when Belkar was a slave. Perhaps if we have a rumored Linear Guild/Tarquin prequel we'll have a single panel Belkar cameo where he's in Buggy Lou's chains?

[Arin]

Great story! This was the first OOTS content I received because I'm still waiting on my patience pledge, so it was especially great!

Didn't you get the Spring Monster for Every Season? Amazing stuff in there, I'm kinda hoping summer's next, my gaming table is heading in that direction. ;)

I thought the timing was perfect... just as Belkar is (probably) about to undergo a permanent change, the details of which are not yet clear, we get one encore performance of the old Belkar.

Actually, if I'm totally honest, it took some of the fun out of the story for me. Just two weeks ago I could have enjoyed it with care free frolic and laughter, but tonight it was... I dunno, kinda like watching a VHS of a dead kid's birthday party. The pain runs beneath the surface, even while you're smiling at the antics on the screen.

Not to say it wasn't a great story, but I think I'll enjoy it a lot more re-reading it months from now, when the pain isn't so fresh.

[JCarter426]

Didn't you get the Spring Monster for Every Season? Amazing stuff in there, I'm kinda hoping summer's next, my gaming table is heading in that direction. ;)

The monsters are great, of course, but I mean story content.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Actually, if I'm totally honest, it took some of the fun out of the story for me. Just two weeks ago I could have enjoyed it with care free frolic and laughter, but tonight it was... I dunno, kinda like watching a VHS of a dead kid's birthday party. The pain runs beneath the surface, even while you're smiling at the antics on the screen.

Not to say it wasn't a great story, but I think I'll enjoy it a lot more re-reading it months from now, when the pain isn't so fresh.

You've got a point. A lovely last send-off to Belkar, but it's got a bit of a melancholy feel to it. Then again, he's not dead-dead yet!

[The Pilgrim]

Well, looks like Belkar's dealings with slavery weren't just an anecdotic episody of his past.

[Silkspinner]

Very much enjoyed the entire story, though still admit to having looked forward to a childhood tale of 'why isn't he jolly???'.

Granted, he isn't a main main character like Roy/Xykon/Redcloak, but still would have been interested to see what brought him to be blood-thirsty. Slavery could have something to do with that I suppose.

[fergo]

Very much enjoyed the entire story, though still admit to having looked forward to a childhood tale of 'why isn't he jolly???'.

Granted, he isn't a main main character like Roy/Xykon/Redcloak, but still would have been interested to see what brought him to be blood-thirsty. Slavery could have something to do with that I suppose.

I think Rich has said a few times in the past that he's simply not interested in giving Belkar anything that could be construed as a sympathetic backstory

[FujinAkari]

That was great Rich!

[Vinsfeld]

I laughed for about 10 minutes when I saw the panel with the volleyball field.

Great work, Giant.

As a non-native english speaker, I had some trouble with the 'stationary' part. But google saved the day. And I still laughed a lot.

Also, Belkar was one of my favourites characters and I never wanted him to die. I hope he doesn't get killed off, because I like him even more now. He's just too funny.

[Procyonpi]

I loved the meta Kickstarter reference making fun of venture capitalists.

[Vinsfeld]

Thoughts:

• Is... is that the Giant's hand? Is this the first ever in-comic appearence of Rich?

I didn't see a hand. Where's it?


EDIT: I just got the joke. I feel dumb

[ti'esar]

I'm surprised by how much this actually did provide Belkar with a backstory - based on some of Rich's previous comments, I expected it to just be a random adventure from before he met the group. Instead, we got the origin of his outfit and his first foray into adventuring.

Also, the shoemaking elves gag was just hilarious.

[Anarion]

One thing I find really interesting about this story is that it plays up Belkar's extremely low wisdom as the basis for much of his character. It seems like a lot of "evil" is simply being concerned for his personal well-being and at the same time being totally unable to distinguish between violence that people think is useful or good and violence that is monstrous and abhorrent.

It actually makes me think that the "Belkar becomes good when he gains wisdom" gag from way back in strip 58 had a real insight into the character, rather than simply being a throwaway gag.

Dim Sun will be in full color.

My anticipation is heightened.

[Hrairoo]

Wow! yeah, Uncivil Servant definitely does not disappoint! i will admit, though, even though this is an awesome origin story, i still want to know more about belkar's life before adulthood...

[Nephrahim]

That was a fun little story. I, like many others it seems, did not expect the twist. I suppose that's just how you dress in a D&D setting...

[Yana]

Well played, Giant. Well played.

I honestly thought that this was a joke comic until we met the tailor. An excellent transition.

[Ted The Bug]

*sigh*

I'm gonna miss the evil little blighter. Loved this as a final encore of the Belkar we knew and tolerated.

[pearl jam]

Also, the shoemaking elves gag was just hilarious.

Yes, I got quite a kick out of that, too.

[Exediron]

Well worth the wait; started out a bit slow, but it really started to warm up quickly and stayed hilarious to the end. I - like most people, apparently - expected a twist in the plot, but didn't see it coming the way it ended up (I prefer it that way). I also really love how when you go back and re-read it everything just falls into place and makes sense.

I'm sad to say it, but I'm really not sad that Belkar may not be with us much longer; while I find him to be an amusing character to watch, and sometimes even an interesting character, I've never found him to be sympathetic. So my enjoyment of the story was not damaged by recent events in the main strip.

Also: Yayy! Print collection to come! Put me down for that one. Print collections make the Neo-Luddite in me happy.

[Squark]

Thank you, Giant. Haven't enjoyed a comic this much in a while.

[Sethala]

Hah, well done. I didn't predict the twist perfectly either, though I did start to think that the guys weren't just thugs when I saw Belkar going back to the mayor. Instead, I thought they might be related, sons of his or something (one adopted, perhaps), but I still thought they were thugs.

Though I do have a crazy theory. How old is Belkar in the main comic, does anyone know?