OOTS #962 - The Discussion Thread

[Jaxzan Proditor]

There's also the detail that after Roy and Durkon got tired of the

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paladin's passive-aggressive murder attempts

and quit, there was only three.

I really hope we see those twits get curb-stomped at some point. They annoy me on so many levels.

That would be funny to see.

[Crusher]

There's also the detail that after Roy and Durkon got tired of the

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paladin's passive-aggressive murder attempts

and quit, there was only three.

I really hope we see those twits get curb-stomped at some point. They annoy me on so many levels.

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Seriously. Its bad enough that they were trying to get other party members killed (and especially that the *paladin* was trying to get other characters killed), but what moves it from irksome to downright smite-worthy is that they were trying to get the *healer* killed. I mean... seriously? The *HEALER*? How friggin stupid do you have to be to intentionally try to kill off your healer while on an adventure?

I guess its possible one of them was multi-classed and thus technically could also heal, but it seems unlikely. Its just a great way to turn a mildly difficult encounter into a TPK.

It reminds me of a long time ago when I was playing with some friends in a non-D&D fantasy game world that explicitly gave XP (and quite a significant amount) for killing off PCs and as a game system had relatively weak healing abilities. As soon as we got a basic understanding of the rules, I immediately called dibs on being party healer, lied to the party about my character build (why max out healing skills when you can focus on poisons?), and then stood by "helplessly" as PC after PC under my care died to what initially seemed like trivial injuries. I got away with it for a while, but once people noticed I was leveling noticeably faster than everyone else, they figured it out and turned on me in the middle of a fight. I was nastier than they expected (since I didn't waste any points on healing skills I was a pretty good fighter and used poisoned weapons) and we did end up with a TPK, after which we never played that game again.

[ReaderAt2046]

It reminds me of a long time ago when I was playing with some friends in a non-D&D fantasy game world that explicitly gave XP (and quite a significant amount) for killing off PCs and as a game system had relatively weak healing abilities.

This? Bad idea. Major bad idea. What was your group thinking to play that?

[Jaxzan Proditor]

This? Bad idea. Major bad idea. What was your group thinking to play that?

Perhaps they wanted to play some PvP.

[oppyu]

This? Bad idea. Major bad idea. What was your group thinking to play that?

'I hate these people I'm playing with and I'm going to ruin this session for everyone. evil laughter.'

[Jay R]

This? Bad idea. Major bad idea. What was your group thinking to play that?

They were thinking that they were playing a game, like almost every game that they had ever played. In Chutes and Ladders, chess, checkers, Monopoly, or any other game, each player is trying to defeat each other player. This is a perfectly valid way to play a fantasy role-playing game as well.

It's not to my taste, but that doesn't make it wrong or incorrect.

[BannedInSchool]

It's not to my taste, but that doesn't make it wrong or incorrect.

What Internet are you from?

[Keltest]

They were thinking that they were playing a game, like almost every game that they had ever played. In Chutes and Ladders, chess, checkers, Monopoly, or any other game, each player is trying to defeat each other player. This is a perfectly valid way to play a fantasy role-playing game as well.

It's not to my taste, but that doesn't make it wrong or incorrect.

While I agree it isn't "Wrong", I tend to view any activity that encourages infighting amongst its players (rather than the friendly competition of chess and Chutes and Ladders) to be a bad idea that isn't destined to end well.

[Porthos]

While I agree it isn't "Wrong", I tend to view any activity that encourages infighting amongst its players (rather than the friendly competition of chess and Chutes and Ladders) to be a bad idea that isn't destined to end well.

Friend Computer, I wish to report that Kelest doesn't seem to be very happy playing the game you have so selflessly provided for us right now.

[Keltest]

Friend Computer, I wish to report that Kelest doesn't seem to be very happy playing the game you have so selflessly provided for us right now.

-----> Joke


-----> My Head:

[GAAD]

-----> Joke


-----> My Head:

Perhaps some life ruining will ease your pain...
Warning: Security level Violet only.
Have a nice daycycle!
I *might* use TVTropes for all my educational needs.

[Grey Watcher]

They were thinking that they were playing a game, like almost every game that they had ever played. In Chutes and Ladders, chess, checkers, Monopoly, or any other game, each player is trying to defeat each other player. This is a perfectly valid way to play a fantasy role-playing game as well.

It's not to my taste, but that doesn't make it wrong or incorrect.

If everyone goes in with an understanding that it's going to be a game of backstabbing and treachery, it could actually be pretty fun as a one-off session or short campaign. I mean, apart from being fantasy-themed, that could easily have been a session of Paranoia.

(That said, if you're playing that way when it's not expected, and/or your fellow players tend to take character vs. character attacks as personal attacks, then yes, it's a recipe for disaster.)

[Porthos]

-----> Joke


-----> My Head:

As others have said, I was referencing the wonderful game, Paranoia.

The only game I know of where knowledge of the rules is treason*.

* Of course, everyone is a traitor in the game, so.....

Part Marx Brothers, part Brazil, part 1984, part Kafkaesque.... and all fun.

Happiness is Mandatory, after all.

It was originally designed as sort of the anti-RPG of the 1980s but actually proved to be extremely influential. One of the central conceits of the game is that it's not so much Players vs DM (which is an unfortunate style of play that has invaded many a game) as Everyone Vs Everyone. Where the concept of The DM Is ALWAYS Right is taken to a nightmarish conclusion. And a game where, if you get past the "Bob's a Commie Mutant Traitor, I ZAPZAPZAP HIM!!!!" style of play, can get quite thrilling and intense.

[Drathon'Tal]

{{Scrubbed}}

I have another profile on here. its Morchaint. but a. forgot password etc. and the email I used for it is now dead, and thus I cant reactivate it. Id love to have that back. but I cant get to it. tried to get to it, or get someone to send me password and a way to get that forum person back. that all being said.

I loved this comic.

[Reaver]

{{Scrubbed}}

[Drathon'Tal]

I dont want to leave here. I love the comic. I like the people here. but yes its frustrating for the comic to go so long between comics.

[Tara]

I dont want to leave here. I love the comic. I like the people here. but yes its frustrating for the comic to go so long between comics.

I've long been in the habit of letting myself get months behind on the strip and then reading all the 'new' ones at once to catch up. Of course, I completely missed out on the Kickstarter this way so that may not be the best solution.

Anyway, we know there's only so much story left, and I figure the less frequently the Giant updates the longer it'll last.

[Erix]

I've long been in the habit of letting myself get months behind on the strip and then reading all the 'new' ones at once to catch up. Of course, I completely missed out on the Kickstarter this way so that may not be the best solution.

Anyway, we know there's only so much story left, and I figure the less frequently the Giant updates the longer it'll last.

True, but it's also been about 6 months since the comic restarted, and they're still on the airship. I've been hoping the pace would pick up sometime, but it's been rough. The FAQ still says it updates three times a week, but I guess I missed that golden age.

[jere7my]

Same here. I'm actually considering just deleting this from my bookmarks and not checking it anymore. The comic seems like its getting updated maybe twice a month at best, and its hard to follow the storyline with gaps that long. Besides, you lose interest in the time off anyway.

Wish this was like schlock mercenary. He manages to update every evening.

Hey kids, this is your friendly reminder to check the forum rules about discussing the update schedule!

[GAAD]

'I hate these people I'm playing with and I'm going to ruin this session for everyone. evil laughter.'

Wait a minute...
I know who you are, OLD DM!

"The Search for the Chaos Ruby": We were EVIL. We had a whole evil plan going on to take over the world and it was GOING NICELY. The last thing we wanted was a dungeon crawl, especially considering we were second level and had a sizable army already and were preparing to go a'Viking with them. So, naturally, you make us go in to this cave to earn the lizardmen's trust. Then you throw fifteen direbats at us. Fifteen. At second level. With a party of three diplomacy-focused adventurers that don't include a ranger or druid.

Okay, so you're probably not him, but I'm still a little miffed about that campaign.

And Old DM, in case you're reading this, turning that campaign into a game of Farmville as a punishment was a MASTERSTROKE, even if it didn't succeed in getting our characters back on the rails.

And don't get me started on Frustration Walls...

Oh right! OOTS thread. Uh...

I think Durkon has seen himself naked 532,914 times.
I wonder if somebody is ACTUALLY going to link to a cat video.

[oppyu]

I've never played tabletop roleplaying games before, so yeah I'm probably not your old DM.

Also, I feel I need more information before answering how many times Durkon has seen himself naked. What are the dwarven customs regarding underwear and bathing?

[DaggerPen]

I've never played tabletop roleplaying games before, so yeah I'm probably not your old DM.

Also, I feel I need more information before answering how many times Durkon has seen himself naked. What are the dwarven customs regarding underwear and bathing?

... I was going to answer this with "according to Belkar, not nearly up to scratch," but then I realized he's only ever complained about humans smelling. As far as I can remember, anyway. So if he has the tentative Belkar stamp of approval, they're probably pretty stringent.

[Porthos]

... I was going to answer this with "according to Belkar, not nearly up to scratch," but then I realized he's only ever complained about humans smelling. As far as I can remember, anyway. So if he has the tentative Belkar stamp of approval, they're probably pretty stringent.

You were probably thinking of this strip.

: See? You wanted the dwarf back, and Elan wanted a shaggy, smelly, ill-temptered beast with a hump. Everyone's happy!
: I love helping people!

[DaggerPen]

You were probably thinking of this strip.

: See? You wanted the dwarf back, and Elan wanted a shaggy, smelly, ill-temptered beast with a hump. Everyone's happy!
: I love helping people!

That was it! Thank you!

[Jaxzan Proditor]

So, I guess that would mean that dwarves bathe about as much as humans.

[Keltest]

So, I guess that would mean that dwarves bathe about as much as humans.

Or at least that no matter how much they bathe, they can never get that well-watered-with-ale smell out of their beard and armor.

[Rogar Demonblud]

I don't remember exactly where it was, but at the end of DCF, Durkon was ripping into Belkar over something, and Belkar added it to the list of reasons not to be a dwarf, next to Miscellaneous Odor Offenses.

[Keltest]

I don't remember exactly where it was, but at the end of DCF, Durkon was ripping into Belkar over something, and Belkar added it to the list of reasons not to be a dwarf, next to Miscellaneous Odor Offenses.

He was going after Belkar for abandoning the casters for personal glory, and saying that in the dwarven army, he would have been dismissed for such an offense.

[Jasdoif]

I don't remember exactly where it was, but at the end of DCF, Durkon was ripping into Belkar over something, and Belkar added it to the list of reasons not to be a dwarf, next to Miscellaneous Odor Offenses.

He was going after Belkar for abandoning the casters for personal glory, and saying that in the dwarven army, he would have been dismissed for such an offense.

That'd be comic 111.

[Reaver]

Hey kids, this is your friendly reminder to check the forum rules about discussing the update schedule!

I actually had a very hard time finding that section in there, and all I saw was "Missed/Late Comics: Threads speculating on when a comic will be posted or why it may be late will be locked; this does not apply to official threads started by site staff providing notification of a late comic."

Doesn't this mean its okay if we're just discussing how the gaps between the comics affect our enjoyment of it, rather than wondering why they're late or when the next one will be up?