MitD VIII: Everything we know about MITD (but were afraid Tarrasque)

[Emanick]

- causing an earthquake
No. Using powers to achieve nothing doesn't give you XP. Otherwise, Munchkins would never stop casting cantrips

- learning Go
No. If anything, that required using up skill points

- teleporting O-Chul
No. Using powers to achieve nothing doesn't give you XP. Otherwise, Munchkins would never stop casting cantrips

- outsmarting Redcloak & Xykon
Maybe, but probably not. We have seen people changing other people's minds, and it does not seem to have gained them XPs. The only non-combat XP gain was Belkars BS tearjerking tale of his difficult childhood.

Grey Wolf

FWIW, as a DM I would have given a character playing the MitD XP for the latter two events. They don't require combat, per se, but they do require the application of power and/or a risky diplomatic move to achieve a very combat-related outcome.

I still agree that it's very unlikely the MitD is gaining levels in anything, though.

[Ron Miel]

In what way does the earthquake or the teleport 'achieve nothing'? It seems to me that they both achieve something.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

In what way does the earthquake or the teleport 'achieve nothing'? It seems to me that they both achieve something.

The earthquake definitely doesn't achieve much. In general, XP is gained for defeating something, or overcoming some kind of challenge. With the earthquake, all he does is recapture O-Chul, which (while probably not nothing) isn't really worthy of an XP gain. With teleport, you could make a better case, but it still probably wouldn't be a whole lot of XP.

[mouser9169]

Finally chiming in here. I miss the guy, hope we see him again soon.

My thoughts (which I'm sure have been asked and answered before, probably several times):

1) I don't have the books, so can't see the actual picture - but in the circus scene description it seems the females are the ones who find "him" beautiful. Maybe a creature with some sort of 'sexual/gender based' appearance or affect? Would explain why a child 'feels funny' if she isn't old enough to really process what's going on. Some of the male devil/demons come to mind, but they're out since they're 'embodiments' of evil and we know that MitD is "a good man".

2) The fine line. My first thought when I read that long ago now was that there might be some book out there where Rich has a monster (or something) published next to the entry that someone else wrote (which is the MitD), separated by a fine line.

3) The Go board is definitely Raccoon Mario. Definitely

[Jaxzan Proditor]

1) I don't have the books, so can't see the actual picture - but in the circus scene description it seems the females are the ones who find "him" beautiful. Maybe a creature with some sort of 'sexual/gender based' appearance or affect? Would explain why a child 'feels funny' if she isn't old enough to really process what's going on. Some of the male devil/demons come to mind, but they're out since they're 'embodiments' of evil and we know that MitD is "a good man".

There is only one female who says that. Most of the others have a expression on their faces. None of the goblins seem to view him either way.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Finally chiming in here. I miss the guy, hope we see him again soon.

My thoughts (which I'm sure have been asked and answered before, probably several times):

Actually, refreshingly new thoughts - thanks. Particularly glad not to have the "meaning of the fine line" discussion in the exact same way for the umpteenth time. And I love your take on the Go! board.

1) I don't have the books, so can't see the actual picture - but in the circus scene description it seems the females are the ones who find "him" beautiful. Maybe a creature with some sort of 'sexual/gender based' appearance or affect? Would explain why a child 'feels funny' if she isn't old enough to really process what's going on. Some of the male devil/demons come to mind, but they're out since they're 'embodiments' of evil and we know that MitD is "a good man".

Yeah, as Jaxzan said, it's only the one female. It's important in that whatever disgusting thing he is, some people find it beautiful, but I don't think reading too much into the sex of the person is warranted. Small sample size and all that.

2) The fine line. My first thought when I read that long ago now was that there might be some book out there where Rich has a monster (or something) published next to the entry that someone else wrote (which is the MitD), separated by a fine line.

A little too literal for my tastes, but I can see that being a cryptojoke, I suppose. That said, I had the occasion to check out the infamous "acid shark" book, and I do not recall any lines between entries (each entry had its own page), so unless it was one of the other manuals, I think we are out of luck down this alleyway.

Grey Wolf

[...]

After weeks scrounging in the dark corners of the Steam Forums, I think I have found just the right evidence for MitD being a rock! Prepare yourselves for the perfect explanation for MitD's increased strength and durability!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cY67PQFOVE

Are you impressed yet?

[Rock270]

After weeks scrounging in the dark corners of the Steam Forums, I think I have found just the right evidence for MitD being a rock! Prepare yourselves for the perfect explanation for MitD's increased strength and durability!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cY67PQFOVE

Are you impressed yet?

While this is an excellent theory, it is quickly disproved because the rock showed no ability to teleport others.

[edit] However, it could explain the circus scene as the rock was horrific and beautiful at the same time; I am very impressed.

[...]

While this is an excellent theory, it is quickly disproved because the rock showed no ability to teleport others.

[edit] However, it could explain the circus scene as the rock was horrific and beautiful at the same time; I am very impressed.

How do you know that the rock was showing its full capabilities?

[Rock270]

How do you know that the rock was showing its full capabilities?

You are right, we don't know whether the rock was showing its full power; there just isn't any evidence showing that it can teleport others.

[AsteronIronhoof]

You are right, we don't know whether the rock was showing its full power; there just isn't any evidence showing that it can teleport others.

Either way, that video was not posted before comic #100, so it, unfortunately, is not the MitD.

[...]

Either way, that video was not posted before comic #100, so it, unfortunately, is not the MitD.

Obviously this individual rock is not MitD, due to its time of posting, but it shows traits that both MitD and a rock have in common. Just pick up a rock, throw it, and watch it mow down a small city.

[lt_murgen]

New to this forum, but I thought I would throw a half-serious suggestion out there:

MitD is a giant snowman.
Yes, I got that directly from the artwork Rich released, seen here

From the big 5 questions:
1) How did giant snowman punch Miko and her horse through a wall?
- appropriate strength

2) Why didn't Miko or Belkar's weapons hurt [insert suggestion here]?
- slashing weapons would have little effect cutting through snow, it would jsut ooze shut.

3) Why wouldn't a wizard recognize [insert suggestion here]?
- don't knpw specifically, unless wizard was from some place where building snowmen was unknown (tropical climate?).

4) Why would humans become nauseous at seeing [insert suggestion here]?
- watching Frosty the Snowman at christmas time each year always makes me queasy.

5) How did [insert suggestion here] teleport V and O-Chul to the beach with Hinjo?
- its a magical hat that grants wishes.

It does explain why he needs the umbrella- he would melt in the sun. It also explains why he didn't go to the beach- too hot.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

New to this forum, but I thought I would throw a half-serious suggestion out there:

MitD is a giant snowman.
Yes, I got that directly from the artwork Rich released, seen here

From the big 5 questions:
1) How did giant snowman punch Miko and her horse through a wall?
- appropriate strength

2) Why didn't Miko or Belkar's weapons hurt [insert suggestion here]?
- slashing weapons would have little effect cutting through snow, it would jsut ooze shut.

3) Why wouldn't a wizard recognize [insert suggestion here]?
- don't knpw specifically, unless wizard was from some place where building snowmen was unknown (tropical climate?).

4) Why would humans become nauseous at seeing [insert suggestion here]?
- watching Frosty the Snowman at christmas time each year always makes me queasy.

5) How did [insert suggestion here] teleport V and O-Chul to the beach with Hinjo?
- its a magical hat that grants wishes.

It does explain why he needs the umbrella- he would melt in the sun. It also explains why he didn't go to the beach- too hot.

Since the MitD lived in a hot sunny climate at one point, I think it is unlikely he is a snowman. An amusing suggestion, though.

[Bongos]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm hoping the reveal comes soon, however I'm sure it won't happen before more character development. Actually Rich seems to be setting the MiTD for a big double cross against Team Evil.

[AsteronIronhoof]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm hoping the reveal comes soon, however I'm sure it won't happen before more character development. Actually Rich seems to be setting the MiTD for a big double cross against Team Evil.

Well, at the rate new comics are coming out, it we be a few years before that happens. But if the Giant decides to show what Team Evil is doing before that we may get some new clues about the MitD.

[lt_murgen]

Since the MitD lived in a hot sunny climate at one point, I think it is unlikely he is a snowman. An amusing suggestion, though.

I know! But that is why the explorers were so surprised to see it. A snowman, in a jungle. And it talks!

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I know! But that is why the explorers were so surprised to see it. A snowman, in a jungle. And it talks!

That is a good point. However, I think it crosses the line from "climate it is not usually found in" to "climate wherein it couldn't survive.

One other problem I see is size.

[Rock270]

That is a good point. However, I think it crosses the line from "climate it is not usually found in" to "climate wherein it couldn't survive.

One other problem I see is size.

Snowmen vary greatly in size and shape.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Snowmen vary greatly in size and shape.

In this case, the size was specified as "giant".

[DaggerPen]

God, this thread needs a Team Evil cutaway.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

God, this thread needs a Team Evil cutaway.

Agreed.

GW

[Jaxzan Proditor]

God, this thread needs a Team Evil cutaway.

That's what I'm really wishing for. It's been how long since we last saw them?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

that's what i'm really wishing for. It's been how long since we last saw them?

901, 2013-07-17

Grey Wolf

[mouser9169]

Whatever he is, I think the "Escape!" moment represented him moving up an age category, or something similar. Granted, we haven't seen much of him since then (we need to get Team Evil back into the strip, it's been like a year now since we've seen them), but look at what we have seen:

The MitD making a "bluff" or some other check to outsmart Xykon and get him to leave the OotS alone.

That's something I can't see MitD pulling off with all we knew about him prior to that. Yes, Rich said he 'dug deep', and found powers he didn't know he had, but isn't that exactly what "growing" and gaining powers would be like for a creature that didn't have peers around to explain what was going to happen to him?

Personally I think he kind of knew he should have that ability before, which is why he kept betting on "escapes and lives happily ever after", and is confused that his 'hoping really hard' didn't make it happen. He just finally grew enough and cared enough for it to work.

[DaggerPen]

I like the idea that MitD knew vaguely that he should be able to do something like that, perhaps from something his father did at some point. It being an age category changeover seems sensible to me, but creatures with clear age categories are far and few between.

[Windscion]

One thing that really puzzles me, is MitD's mass. (Weight, for non-STEM types). In SoD, Redcloak moves MitD's cage (with itself inside it) by himself. While RC's strength is unclear, I thinks it's safe to assume that he is not exceptionally strong. Even with leverage, MitD cannot therefore weigh much more than 140kg (300 lbs). I thought maybe MitD floats (making it effectively weightless), but then why would it describe the Astral plane as weightless?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

One thing that really puzzles me, is MitD's mass. (Weight, for non-STEM types). In SoD, Redcloak moves MitD's cage (with itself inside it) by himself. While RC's strength is unclear, I thinks it's safe to assume that he is not exceptionally strong. Even with leverage, MitD cannot therefore weigh much more than 140kg (300 lbs). I thought maybe MitD floats (making it effectively weightless), but then why would it describe the Astral plane as weightless?

I did the math some threads back. If the box is made of light wood (like pine) and it is not as reinforced as it looks, MitD can be of humanoid size or even a quite light large creature (500 lb.) and RC could still have pushed it onto the cart. The key is that RC planned the robbery, so he would have had access to strength-boosting spells.

That said, I suspect that Rich did not do the math. He needed MitD's cage on the cart, so RC pushed him onto it - it is as simple as that. If the box is reinforced (which it looks like) and made of something a little more reliable than pine, no amount of boosts would give a non-melee cleric the strength to lift it, never mind anything inside it.

Grey Wolf

[DaggerPen]

I did the math some threads back. If the box is made of light wood (like pine) and it is not as reinforced as it looks, MitD can be of humanoid size or even a quite light large creature (500 lb.) and RC could still have pushed it onto the cart. The key is that RC planned the robbery, so he would have had access to strength-boosting spells.

That said, I suspect that Rich did not do the math. He needed MitD's cage on the cart, so RC pushed him onto it - it is as simple as that. If the box is reinforced (which it looks like) and made of something a little more reliable than pine, no amount of boosts would give a non-melee cleric the strength to lift it, never mind anything inside it.

Grey Wolf

There was a multi-page discussion of wood densities, medieval construction techniques and likely forest growth patterns. We were quite thorough.

[lt_murgen]

If he was made of snow, and got a bit melty, that would lower the friction and make the box easier to slide.