OOTS #873 - The Discussion Thread

[Alex Star]

Sad. Didn't expect Malak to die like a gimp before Belkar or Vaarsuvius could even show.

as a T1 class Cleric is OP on it's own. Being undead actually creates the issue of adding more vulnerabilities. Sure Malak gets some nifty powers being a vampire, but lets be honest here, they didn't make him a better Cleric, all they did was make him extra-vulnerable to the things a positive energy channeler can do.

And aren't a vast majority of a vampires serious abilities "touch" effects. That would explain why Malak made the mistake of getting into touch range with Durkon.

[ThePhantasm]

Durkon badassery... I love it!

[PhantomFox]

Nice perspective shot with the Thor's Lightning.

[dethkruzer]

By his noodly appendages, you're on a roll Rich. Awesome comic, really looking forward to how this turns out.

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

Huh. I didn't expect Durkon to be winning.

Then again, I didn't expect another comic so soon, either. I hope Sir Thumb's not overdoing it.

[Alaris]

Woah, comics are coming out really fast! And I'm loving it!

Very nice comic!

[Deepbluediver]

Whoa! What's this? Two comics in as many days? Not that I don't love the speed but be careful that you don't strain yourself there, Giant. Maybe consider easing back into things?

Still, I love the Princess Bride feel of this fight.
But I KNEW you would put the poison in my cup, and therefor I switched cups, which you knew I would do, so you put the poison in your own cup, but I knew that you would know to do that, and so I did NOT switch the cups, which you undoubtedly predicted, and hence....

[Tridax]

I've just thought about it for a second. Malak can not die that easily (not ASOIAF after all). And his children problem is still not resolved. So what if Vaarsuvius suddenly rushes in, something happens that Malak mentions his children 'not being avenged' or something like that...

The rest is blurry, but I can imagine V doing something that would turn the outcome in another way. The thing is, V is already balancing on a rope with all the 'child' stuff.

[Armaius]

I love how quick these are coming out.

This fight is shaping up to be awesome! (Though not nearly as good as our first Battle of the Clerics ). Go get 'em Durkon!

[ThePhantasm]

Whoa! What's this? Two comics in as many days? Not that I don't love the speed but be careful that you don't strain yourself there, Giant.

Three. And Rich would prefer people not to give him advice on his thumb.

And if it gets to the point where I think that continuing will, in fact, overtax it, then I'll stop. That's why I didn't formally announce, "This is the nine-in-a-row."

But at the risk of being rude, that's my call to make, not anyone else's. I'm the one who is living with the pressure of a hundred or more pages of unfinished commitments that people paid for over a year ago. If I think I can clear one of those off the plate, then I'm going to. I would be working on pages every day right now regardless, it would just be for one of the backer stories that you then saw all at once. This is no different than that.

Further, when I made that commitment in the first place, it was ALWAYS my intent to honor it at this exact point in the story. It's just that we were supposed to get here last September or so.

So, while I always appreciate well-wishes and encouragement, it's my call.

[t209]

I've just thought about it for a second. Malak can not die that easily (not ASOIAF after all). And his children problem is still not resolved. So what if Vaarsuvius suddenly rushes in, something happens that Malak mentions his children 'not being avenged' or something like that...

The rest is blurry, but I can imagine V doing something that would turn the outcome in another way. The thing is, V is already balancing on a rope with all the 'child' stuff.

Now I'm wondering if his children were actually vampire slaves.
P.S- Either i hope v isn't involved in his death.

[Anarion]

Actually, now that I think of it, I wonder if we should have expected some awesomeness as soon as we realized Durkon was alone.

The Giant has discussed how the caster classes can dominate large fights if allowed to rampage unchecked, and specifically explained in War and XPs how he separated V during the Azure City battle so that V could cut loose without eclipsing the rest of the party.

So, having Durkon alone here might well have been an indication that clerics going all out against each other was the plan from the start, with the rest of the party out of the way to avoid complications or overshadowing other characters.

[Prospero7]

Good stuff. I love cleric battles.

[Deepbluediver]

And aren't a vast majority of a vampires serious abilities "touch" effects. That would explain why Malak made the mistake of getting into touch range with Durkon.

Does it explain why Durkon is the only cleric we've seen who wears armor and carries a decent melee weapon? Cause I'm still wondering about that, actually. Because I can't think and any good not-fluffy justifications (I live at the temple and don't adventure, etc etc etc).

[Dr. Gamera]

Alas, Belkar is still held, so he can't yet use his "class feature": Stab Undead.

[ti'esar]

Does it explain why Durkon is the only cleric we've seen who wears armor and carries a decent melee weapon? Cause I'm still wondering about that, actually. Because I can't think and any good not-fluffy justifications (I live at the temple and don't adventure, etc etc etc).

Goblin clerics wear armor. And the nameless cleric of Loki had both armor and a mace.

[Rui]

I think... I think he is going to spare Malack. Or V/Belkar will interrupt him to kill Malack. But I flippin' KNEW he was going to use heal! Battle ends now, Malack!

[Eldest]

Hey, he was casting a negative energy spell, and had a good reason for it! Cool!

[SavageWombat]

Durkon can't kill Malack by reducing his HP to 0 - that will force him to gaseous form and force his retreat.

Sure hope Malack has a coffin nearby - oh, wait...

[Starbuck_II]

as a T1 class Cleric is OP on it's own. Being undead actually creates the issue of adding more vulnerabilities. Sure Malak gets some nifty powers being a vampire, but lets be honest here, they didn't make him a better Cleric, all they did was make him extra-vulnerable to the things a positive energy channeler can do.

And aren't a vast majority of a vampires serious abilities "touch" effects. That would explain why Malak made the mistake of getting into touch range with Durkon.

Too bad Durkon didn't dispel protection from sunlight.
A "killed" vampire turns to gas and has to return to his casket or die.
If he removed the sunlight protection, he can't escape to his casket without being in sunlight first.
So Malak might "live" after this fight.

[hamishspence]

It would have to be his own, not just "a coffin".

[Djinn_in_Tonic]

I surely squealed in joy when I saw the last panel. Though i thought Malak would be more... lethal. Guess I underestimated Durkon.

Malak would be more lethal, but he explains that in this comic: "It is fairly difficult for a Vampire Cleric to find appropriate challenges." Vampirism is a +8 level adjustment, so if we assume that Malak is, say, a level or two higher than the Order (putting him somewhere between levels 13 and 15) he really doesn't earn much experience for anything below about CR 16-17. Durkon is a credible threat to him, but Malak probably wouldn't even get much XP from the fight because of how the XP system works.

[Raineh Daze]

May I take the time to remind people that Heal is exactly as dangerous as Harm and that Clerics get a good Will save (as well as high Wisdom), so it's a bit early to be declaring anybody dead?

[Deepbluediver]

Goblin clerics wear armor. And the nameless cleric of Loki had both armor and a mace.

Ah, you're righ! I had totally forgotten about the cleric of Loki. He should make a comeback one of these days. :P

I wasn't certain about the goblins, and if it was armor or just regular clothes. I certainly don't see them with a lot of weapons; maybe they just haven't needed to draw them.

[Shale]

Nice echo of Malack's fight with Nale.

Also, that's three days in a row with comics. Dare I hope...Is this the Kickstarter reward? We were promised another round of daily comics, which would come without warning.

[mawexzon]

I love when strips come fast.

[ThePhantasm]

Also, that's three days in a row with comics. Dare I hope...Is this the Kickstarter reward? We were promised another round of daily comics, which would come without warning.

Check the Kickstarter thread, where the Giant answered this at length.

[Kurald Galain]

C-H-E-C-K.

...what?

[attriel]

I warded the cat, too, in case you're wondering.

LOL!

How many spells did you use to find this place? !!!

and ... oops, malack!

[Gift Jeraff]

Go, Durkon, go!