OOTS #876 - The Discussion Thread

[Samalpetey]

Ok, this leaves the question: why bother checking if Durkon protected himself if you could simply dispel the spell and not care at all*?

*yes, I know it's for the plot, but still..

I think Malack was trying not to reveal that he had that key word, so that he could dismiss it when Durkon used it in a big showdown. Now that durkon's grappled, it's unlikely he'll be able to cast it again though EDIT: Damn, ninja'd by the Giant himself

[Harry Leipzig]

I don't know if Roy actually would. He and Durkon are pretty close.

Making for an even more emotional scene. Roy being forced to kill his best friend, people would be bawling. And I think an emotional death in the OOTS right before the climax could really drive the seriousness of the situation home. I wouldn't put it past The Giant, remember Roy's death?

[Paseo H]

No it isn't. Malack wasn't considering Vamping ANYONE until a few minutes ago. Malack was just aware that giving Durkon a spell that could basically completely nullify him was a foolish decision, thus he worked in a way to nullify it, just in case.

A simple "WRONG" would have sufficed.

[teratorn]

Malack's is a regular reptilian, from a race derived from Bipes biporum.

[Arkanist]

But I think a vampire Durkon would be able to satisfy his need for blood in a nonevil way.

Maybe he will drink the blood of the wicked. But then he'll end up blunting his teeth on all those trees. Either way, he'll need to buy a lot of d12s...

[stsasser]

Awesome Giant.

'Xxzerkqei' is the new '1234password'.

[TRH]

Wow, looks like Tarquin's not the only one who goes easy on the OOTS: Malack could have owned Durkon at any time by dismissing the Ward and then going for a grapple. What would be his ECL if he's a Naga instead of a Yuan-Ti, out of curiosity?

[Chessgeek]

And another (final?) twist in the Durkon - Malack struggle! It was a good effort by our bearded friend, much closer than anyone expected.

Oh, and Malack doesn't have legs. Possibly the most important part of this update, actually.

EDIT: And how does one pronounce "Xxzerkqei"? Answer: With great difficulty.

[Arkanist]

Wow, looks like Tarquin's not the only one who goes easy on the OOTS: Malack could have owned Durkon at any time by dismissing the Ward and then going for a grapple. What would be his ECL if he's a Naga instead of a Yuan-Ti, out of curiosity?

Probably high enough that the Snail would be shocked and appalled.

[Samalpetey]

Wow, looks like Tarquin's not the only one who goes easy on the OOTS: Malack could have owned Durkon at any time by dismissing the Ward and then going for a grapple. What would be his ECL if he's a Naga instead of a Yuan-Ti, out of curiosity?

But by grappling first, he stops Durkon casting a regular death ward on himself (assuming he has one prepared)

[Kaulguard]

"What the wha-?"

To quote the MC Bat Commander.

Man this isn't going well at all.

[WoLong]

Geez, a huge twist every comic.

[Grey Watcher]

Durkon will enter his Homeland.....Post Humorously.

... I can't believe I only just got that.

If Malack were a Yuan-Ti Abomination with exactly the minimum levels in Cleric to cast Harm, he would have 9 racial hit dice, 11 class levels, +7 LA from his race and +8 LA from vampire, putting him at ECL 35.

Well, 200 years as a vampire plus however long he was alive before that allows for a lot of time spent level grinding. Or maybe he spent a period as the personal nemesis to an epic-level PC, mooching free level-ups? [tinfoil hat]Maybe Malack was in the Holey Brotherhood? Or was once known as Baron Pineapple?!?[/tinfoil hat]

On the one hand, I think this might be it for Durkon, since playing the Here-Comes-the-Cavalry Card twice in such quick succession seems unlikely. On the other hand, Burlew might be banking on us thinking that very thing. All I know is that it would be quite tragic for Durkon to return to his beloved homeland not as the honored and revered dead he was expecting, but instead as something unholy and reviled by his people.

I'm crossing my fingers that Vaarsuvius will blunder onto the scene and start unloading 1d4 cans of whoop-ass. Or maybe Xykon's arrival will actually do some good for the Order by sparing Durkon from vampirism?

[MeanMrsMustard]

No, I'm implying that Malack thinks this is the last play, and chose his actions accordingly.

When I saw this, the first thing I thought was "I imply nothing! I state openly that…"

[factotum]

No "holy"? Now would be a good time...five minutes ago.

Holy Word is a 7th-level spell, and Durkon has already said he doesn't have anything useful left above 4th level. So yes, you're right, it would be a good time, but Durkon doesn't have the spell to use!

Anyway, oh, snap...surely this fight can't be over so quickly?

[Mantine]

...

So...Malack intended to vamp Durkon from the very beginning?

It's official.

I am impressed.

Well, you shouldn't. There's nothing pointing that way.

[Koraxx]

YES!

Oh god yes.

Strip a day is probably spoiling me but I don't care, this is freaking AWESOME!

[Lex-Kat]

I'm actually happy with this, so far. In a way, I think Durkon deserves to lose this, Malack tried to remain peaceful and nice toward Durkon at the start. It was Durkon who turned on the friendship, and for who? For Belkar.

[stsasser]

No, I'm implying that Malack thinks this is the last play, and chose his actions accordingly.

Can I get a 'DUN DUN DUNNN!'?

[Paseo H]

Well, you shouldn't. There's nothing pointing that way.

Already ceded above. You'll have to forgive me, I was just sufficiently whammed by 876 that I forgot some details. :p

[ellindsey]

How does grappling work in D&D? Can Durkon do anything, like present his holy symbol to repel Malack, while being held like that?

[Stormlock]

This would be our first instance of seeing a good character become an intelligent undead if I'm not mistaken (well, garden variety always evil undead anyways- Soon doesn't count) so I'm very interested to see what it may do to Durkon's personality. Assuming he is freed from Malack's enslavement before he gets destroyed.

Also, I love how I completely overlooked the possibility of Malack simply dismissing the death ward thanks to the subpar/feinting combat that led up to this. Who needs to shapeshift or summon minions when you can just dismiss your enemy's (second) most powerful spell?

I suppose there is still the slim chance V walks in on this, or team evil shows up, or Girard or god knows what. But right now all signs point to dead dwarf and Sexy Shoeless Vampiric God of War, and I love it.

[Darth V.]

It seems sooner or later every linear guild cleric ends up grappling with Durkon

[Arkanist]

How does grappling work in D&D? Can Durkon do anything, like present his holy symbol to repel Malack, while being held like that?

I think the comic title accurately describes Durkon's situation. Malack is a vampire/cleric/naga/yuan-ti who is trained in exotic grapple techniques. He's probably caught in a bind.

[Morty]

I just realized... as a vampire, Durkon won't be able to drink alcohol.

[Tragak]

Given the rate at which The Giant Troll has been whip-lashing between who's winning, what are the odds that Malack will spit him out for having a Blood Alcohol Content of 65%?

[bookguy]

How does grappling work in D&D? Can Durkon do anything, like present his holy symbol to repel Malack, while being held like that?

The grappling rules are too complicated. By the time Durkon figures out whether or not he can do it, he will already be dead.

[Amidus Drexel]

I'm actually happy with this, so far. In a way, I think Durkon deserves to lose this, Malack tried to remain peaceful and nice toward Durkon at the start. It was Durkon who turned on the friendship, and for who? For Belkar.

I'm pretty sure Durkon's motivation for attacking Malack was a combination of dislike for undead, and a sense of duty to what the party was trying to accomplish (i.e. protect the gate (however that would actually have worked out)). The fact that it was Belkar was largely irrelevant.

[Raineh Daze]

So, Yuan-ti Abomination ECL answered...

Anyone got an answer on the 'grappling targeting' thing? I think I remembered something about there being a chance to hit the wrong combatant, but I can't remember which system that's from.

[MeanMrsMustard]

It seems sooner or later every linear guild cleric ends up grappling with Durkon

Did I miss the part where Leeky Windstaff did?
Also, yuck. :P