Speaking of the next book...

[Kish]

I would also like a pony.

Because you'd need one to carry your massive many-thousand-page graphic novel?

[Gift Jeraff]

So my original bet of Book 5 ending on strip #916 turned out to be wrong.

[FlawedParadigm]

Because you'd need one to carry your massive many-thousand-page graphic novel?

Now, now. It might only be two thousand, not many thousand. Figure 1,400-1,500 strips, 100-200 bonus strips, another 100 pages of commentary, and a couple of hundred strips from StickTales, SSaDT, et cetera.

[Porthos]

Just curious: Why don't you include Dungeon Crawlin Fools in your graphs? Does it not have extra strips or something?

Oh it does. But it has been fairly anomalous for being so short compared to the rest of the books, that it wasn't really worthwhile to include as a point of analysis. Most of us have concluded that there will never be another compilation book as short as DCF again.

But, I suppose, I could start throwing it in. If only for completeism. I have the info already compiled* just waiting to be plugged in.

* This should surprise no one, of course.

[Porthos]

Now, now. It might only be two thousand, not many thousand. Figure 1,400-1,500 strips, 100-200 bonus strips, another 100 pages of commentary, and a couple of hundred strips from StickTales, SSaDT, et cetera.

*checks running count on home computer*

Counting everything we are as of this exact second at:
Total Comic Pages: 1437.75
Total Pages: 1580.75

Includes Kickstarter comics, does not include Kickstarter update graphics.

Ok, subtract a few pages for getting rid of the superfluous Cover Pages/Library of Congress info. It's still a lot of pages out there.

====

As of 917

Book	# of Online Strips	# of Online Pages	Xtra Pages	Total Book Pages
DCF	121	122.5	37.5	160
NCftPB	180	197	47	244
W&XP	183	242	46	288
DStP	188	226	46	272
Book 5	245+	281.75+	???	???

6 pages away from the Online Comic portion of the book equaling the total size of W&XPs.

NOTE: (DCF added by request)
NOTE: 'Xtra pages' = Bonus Strips (including Recaps), Commentary, Chapter Pages, Character Sketches, Cover Page/Library Info, and Other Assorted Extras

[Cizak]

Just curious: Why don't you include Dungeon Crawlin Fools in your graphs? Does it not have extra strips or something?

Oh it does. But it has been fairly anomalous for being so short compared to the rest of the books, that it wasn't really worthwhile to include as a point of analysis. Most of us have concluded that there will never be another compilation book as short as DCF again.

But, I suppose, I could start throwing it in. If only for completeism. I have the info already compiled* just waiting to be plugged in.

* This should surprise no one, of course.

It's also worth noting that NCftPB was the first arc Rich knew was going to become a book when he wrote (most of) the strips it contains (thus being able to plan where he could throw in bonus strips) and WaXPs was the first arc that was planned entirely as a book.

[littlebum2002]

Oh it does. But it has been fairly anomalous for being so short compared to the rest of the books, that it wasn't really worthwhile to include as a point of analysis. Most of us have concluded that there will never be another compilation book as short as DCF again.

But, I suppose, I could start throwing it in. If only for completeism. I have the info already compiled* just waiting to be plugged in.

* This should surprise no one, of course.

Thanks. I wanted to start getting the books, but I was going to skip that one if it didn't have anything extra. Now that you told me, I just ordered my copy. Can't wait!

[Zmeoaice]

So my original bet of Book 5 ending on strip #916 turned out to be wrong.

Man, what a cliffhanger that would have been.

[Nimrod's Son]

Thanks. I wanted to start getting the books, but I was going to skip that one if it didn't have anything extra. Now that you told me, I just ordered my copy. Can't wait!

DCF often gets short shrift because of its length, but in terms of bonus material it's up there with the best of them - personally I'd rank DStP slightly higher because it includes two brand new scenes and significantly extends another, but the new intro that shows the order entering Dorukan's dungeon is maybe my favourite "deleted scene" of the entire saga.

[littlebum2002]

DCF often gets short shrift because of its length, but in terms of bonus material it's up there with the best of them - personally I'd rank DStP slightly higher because it includes two brand new scenes and significantly extends another, but the new intro that shows the order entering Dorukan's dungeon is maybe my favourite "deleted scene" of the entire saga.

Good, that sounds like something to look forward to.

The only other "deleted scenes" that I am aware of are some submarine scene and How Xykon Got His Zombie Dragon. Oh, and something about another prophecy regarding Belkar. i'm very excited to read them all. I ordered the first 2 books today.

[137beth]

DCF often gets short shrift because of its length, but in terms of bonus material it's up there with the best of them - personally I'd rank DStP slightly higher because it includes two brand new scenes and significantly extends another, but the new intro that shows the order entering Dorukan's dungeon is maybe my favourite "deleted scene" of the entire saga.

Yea, the introduction is among my favorites (although really, it does sorta use a plot point from Sondheim's Into the Woods.
Also, Elan's summary of DCF in the beginning of NcfPB.

[FlawedParadigm]

Well we may hit a few thousand after all then. Son, we're going to tell the greatest story EVER!

[Nimrod's Son]

The only other "deleted scenes" that I am aware of are some submarine scene and How Xykon Got His Zombie Dragon. Oh, and something about another prophecy regarding Belkar.

All the books have a handful of "throwaway gag"-type bonus strips scattered throughout them. In addition to these DCF has the aforementioned intro; NCftPB has an extended scene in Wooden Forest just before the bandit arc that shows how Roy got his club, and the extended of Team Evil's dungeon crawl that you mentioned; W&XPs extends the "New Year" and "Battle of Azure City" scenes considerably; and DStP has an extended ending (which contains the Belkar prophesy*) and two brand new scenes: Elan and Lien searching the ocean for clues to Therkla's identity, and the Thieves' Guild's retrieval of Roy's bone golem from Grubwiggler.

*Which, as far as I'm concerned, had already been fulfilled in perfectly satisfactory fashion by that point of the story anyway.

[Porthos]

The Death Star is closer and closer to clearing the planet....

As of 919

Book	# of Online Strips	# of Online Pages	Xtra Pages	Total Book Pages
DCF	121	122.5	37.5	160
NCftPB	180	197	47	244
W&XP	183	242	46	288
DStP	188	226	46	272
Book 5	247+	283.75+	???	???

4 pages away from the Online Comic portion of the book equaling the total size of W&XPs.

NOTE: 'Xtra pages' = Bonus Strips (including Recaps), Commentary, Chapter Pages, Character Sketches, Cover Page/Library Info, and Other Assorted Extras

[Procyonpi]

This book is going to be massive.

Although I do think we're really on the final or penultimate round.

[Porthos]

Although I do think we're really on the final or penultimate round.

Don't say that.

Still, I do think this book is real close to the end. Though I sometimes wonder if every time someone says that Rich adds another three pages to the book count just to spite us.

*throws salt over shoulder*
*recites the Blackadder Scottish Play mantra three times*
*wards off the evil eye*

et etc.

[Solse]

How do you know that the current arc won't be split into two books?

[Solse]

Because you'd need one to carry your massive many-thousand-page graphic novel?

Because this is the internet. Everybody wants a pony.

[Porthos]

How do you know that the current arc won't be split into two books?

Because:

A) Rich has said there will be seven total books, even if (paraphrasing) the last one has to be a doorstopper.

and

B) When the Kickstarter launched last year, he said that he wasn't taking orders for Book 5 because it was nowhere near completed yet.

Plus

C) He's always told us before when a book ends.

That last point might not mean much by itself. But when combined with Points A and B, I think it's pretty likely we're still in Book 5.

[137beth]

The Death Star is closer and closer to clearing the planet....

As of 919
{table]|Book | # of Online Strips |# of Online Pages | Xtra Pages | Total Book Pages|
|DCF |

121

|

122.5

|

37.5

|

160

|
|NCftPB|

180

|

197

|

47

|

244

|
|W&XP |

183

|

242

|

46

|

288

|
|DStP |

188

|

226

|

46

|

272

|
|Book 5 |

247+

|

283.75+

|

???

|

???

|[/table]

4 pages away from the Online Comic portion of the book equaling the total size of W&XPs.

NOTE: 'Xtra pages' = Bonus Strips (including Recaps), Commentary, Chapter Pages, Character Sketches, Cover Page/Library Info, and Other Assorted Extras

Yep, I think book 5 is going to clear the W&XP hurdle

[Solse]

Because:

A) Rich has said there will be seven total books, even if (paraphrasing) the last one has to be a doorstopper.

and

B) When the Kickstarter launched last year, he said that he wasn't taking orders for Book 5 because it was nowhere near completed yet.

Plus

C) He's always told us before when a book ends.

That last point might not mean much by itself. But when combined with Points A and B, I think it's pretty likely we're still in Book 5.

Very good points.

[Neosmith]

Porthos, thanks for making that chart!

I had no idea that this was the longest arc in the OOTS history.

I guess that means we likely won't see a Book 5 until next year.

[David Argall]

Porthos, thanks for making that chart!

I had no idea that this was the longest arc in the OOTS history.

I guess that means we likely won't see a Book 5 until next year.

We are within 5 strips of the end [but we have been within 5 for the last 20] and so the book will end this year. Now it can take quite a bit of time to write up those extra 45 pages, and January is a better guess than December.

[NerdyKris]

Also, it takes a few months to print the book. I wouldn't expect this book before May, even if the book ends this month.

[Gift Jeraff]

As of #920

{table]|Book | # of Online Strips |# of Online Pages | Xtra Pages | Total Book Pages|
|DCF |

121

|

122.5

|

37.5

|

160

|
|NCftPB|

180

|

197

|

47

|

244

|
|W&XP |

183

|

242

|

46

|

288

|
|DStP |

188

|

226

|

46

|

272

|
|Book 5 |

248+

|

284.75+

|

???

|

284.75+

|[/table]

3 pages away from the online portion of the book equaling the total size of yo mama.

[137beth]

Well if yo'mama is only the size of a copy of WaXP, then you have a pretty small mama

[Gift Jeraff]

As of #922

{table]|Book | # of Online Strips |# of Online Pages | Xtra Pages | Total Book Pages|
|DCF |

121

|

122.5

|

37.5

|

160

|
|NCftPB|

180

|

197

|

47

|

244

|
|W&XP |

183

|

242

|

46

|

288

|
|DStP |

188

|

226

|

46

|

272

|
|Book 5 |

250+

|

286.25+

|

???

|

286.25+

|[/table]

Less than 2 pages away from the online portion of the book equaling the total size of WaXP.

[rgd20]

... which comic had the .25 / .75 strip in?


Bob

[Gift Jeraff]

... which comic had the .25 / .75 strip in?


Bob

Second page of #841.

[NerdyKris]

... which comic had the .25 / .75 strip in?


Bob

And if you mean Dungeon Crawling Fools, it was strip 50, The Semi Secret Origin of Elan and Nale. It was presumably before he started planning for the books, so there was no extra half page on the next strip.

As for the one in the current book, I'd assume he's going to make the discovery of the bodies a full page panel.