OOTS #974 - The Discussion Thread

[davidbofinger]

does Bozzok have no knees? I mean, I get that the boots are supposed to be knee-high, but there doesn't seem to be much leg left after that.

It seems unlikely he rides a horse very much (a common reason for high boots). Maybe he likes them for trudging around in sewers?

[HandofShadows]

GREAT Page. I somehow get the feeling that turning Crystal into a golem is going to bite Bozzok REALLY hard at some point.

[Keltest]

It seems unlikely he rides a horse very much (a common reason for high boots). Maybe he likes them for trudging around in sewers?

Actually, now that I look at it again, theyre the same height they were back in Greysky. Odd.

[Ivrytwr]

Plot exposition! Elan would approve.
Bozzok and Grubby, ha.
More gnome hats and a gnome with flower in her hair.

Thanks Giant!

[davidbofinger]

give him good reason to not cooperate with Guild, unless he somehow sees Haley stealing as more revenge-worthy than Crystal killing him.

From Grubwiggler's point of view, bringing together all the people he hates - Bozzok, Crystal and Haley - means there's a good chance at least one of them will die. Even if he's not planning betrayal, it's a start. (This was a crucial plot point in one of Vance's Demon Princes series.)

Crazy ideas: What if it's not really Crystal in there, but a creature of Grubwiggler's, and the reason it chased them around the corner was so Bozzok couldn't hear it betraying him. And what if one of the characters figures out what's happened to Durkon by analogy with what was done to Crystal.

[Werbaer]

Hm, interesting how Bozzok found Haley in random city pretty much immediately when she was travelling on an airship during colossal storm. That was some Epic grade tracking rolls.

He knew they were heading towards the north pole with an airship. There surely are't many places where you can get a refuel on route.

[Lhynard]

How does one pronounce "SCCHTRLK!!" anyhow?

[oppyu]

Every now and then, you can tell when the Giant is just sick of the rampant speculation in the Playground. 'Here is a thorough and completely canonical explanation. Now for the love of God stop arguing.'

[Jaxzan Proditor]

So, she isn't a normal flesh golem; there is something different in her creation. Good to know. I really want to see Grubwiggler backstab Bozzok in some way. Maybe he created Crystal to help get his revenge too?

[AsteronIronhoof]

Man, all these gnomes wearing hats makes me think this is Gnome Fortress 3: Steampunk edition!

[davidbofinger]

How does one pronounce "SCCHTRLK!!" anyhow?

With your internal organs and great pain.

[Martok]

Bwahahaha!! Love Crystal's threat, and the quizzical reactions to it.

[William Fox]

Every now and then, you can tell when the Giant is just sick of the rampant speculation in the Playground. 'Here is a thorough and completely canonical explanation. Now for the love of God stop arguing.'

Lol. My thoughts EXACTLY.
I expect to see some Author Commentary in the next book on this very page; "Now everyone on the forums had their panties in a twist with what Crystal was, how she got there, and who brought her back. There was so much arguing and speculation, I decided "Screw IT!" and just cast 'Summon Plot Exposition!"

[goto124]

Who is 'Starshine's ally', dead Roy?

And have people argued over HOW exactly they managed to keep Crystal's skills?

I like how there's always time for a joke. Or 2.

[Peelee]

I really love Bozzok's jacket. Those are both the simplest and also best pockets ive seen in comic form.

A lot of questions answered.....
Nice exposition without it feeling forced.

I'm still curious about what species Grubwiggler is.

I'd say he is the eggman, but he may also be the walrus.

[xroads]

Hmmm... I wonder how Bozzok plans on countering the rest of the Order?

[Keltest]

Hmmm... I wonder how Bozzok plans on countering the rest of the Order?

Scroll of Expeditious Retreat?

[Brumagris]

Every now and then, you can tell when the Giant is just sick of the rampant speculation in the Playground. 'Here is a thorough and completely canonical explanation. Now for the love of God stop arguing.'

I adhere, I thought the exact same while I was reading

A lovely strip, great exposition and references to clarify this messed up issue. I liked the last joke very much, simple and strong, refreshengly reminded me of the humor in the first hundreds of strips.


Newbie question, though: is there such thing as "crystal golem" in any D&D manual or it is just a pun based on Crystal´s name? If such creature exists, is she, in fact, a crystal golem?

[Roland Itiative]

Also, I was sure Grubwigler was killed to write him off the comic, his death seems kind of pointless now. Especially seeing it give him good reason to not cooperate with Guild, unless he somehow sees Haley stealing as more revenge-worthy than Crystal killing him.

I think his cooperation is based on the fact that Bozzok could easily... let's call it "dispell the Raise Dead cast on him". He may try to backstab Bozzok when the opportunity arises (maybe the Crystal Golem has an override that turns control back to him?), but right now, he might as well cooperate and get yet another enemy out of the way and lull Bozzok into a false sense of security in a single move.

[The Giant]

Lol. My thoughts EXACTLY.
I expect to see some Author Commentary in the next book on this very page; "Now everyone on the forums had their panties in a twist with what Crystal was, how she got there, and who brought her back. There was so much arguing and speculation, I decided "Screw IT!" and just cast 'Summon Plot Exposition!"

No. More like when I introduce something that's not immediately apparent, I always have a plan for, at some point, explaining what's going on—it's just that everyone spends all their energy arguing about it from the moment it shows up that by the time I get around to explaining, everyone else is so sick of arguing and speculation that they project their feelings on to me.

I'm explaining these things now because to not do so at some point would be a glaring omission, nothing more. What people speculate about on the forum doesn't really matter to me very much. If I really just wanted to shut up forum-goers, I would just post a clarification here, not spend comic time explaining something that I don't think needs explaining.

For example, people have been confused about how Bozzok found them, and I assure you no explanation is forthcoming in the comic beyond the information already revealed, because it can be easily deduced and it doesn't need further dwelling upon for the story to make sense.

[littlebum2002]

Meh, too much exposition.

thog want return to action

[Psyren]

To the folks wondering: finding Haley is easy, Bozzok had enough of her hair to make Grubby a wig. Certainly more than enough to pay for a quick scrying.

The real cliffhanger: Is going around a corner a bigger problem for Bozzok's ability to see the fight, or Crystal's ability to figure out Haley's location?

I was totally thinking it could be either or both of these

So, she isn't a normal flesh golem; there is something different in her creation. Good to know.

That was kinda obvious from the fact that it had class levels.

[Kgw]

Nice! Update! I like Grubwiggler's open mind about deals -even if deals with thieves and thieves' guild had never ended alright with him- Also, I'd never understood why Bozzok prefer Crystal that much. He's clever enough to know she's "dumber than a brick", no matter how good as a killer she is/was.

[gerryq]

Also, I was sure Grubwigler was killed to write him off the comic, his death seems kind of pointless now. Especially seeing it give him good reason to not cooperate with Guild, unless he somehow sees Haley stealing as more revenge-worthy than Crystal killing him.
used:

My thought was that he was a minor character (at least in the webcomic), and he only got killed off in the print edition so most readers of the webcomic probably won't know about his death (I knew from talk on this forum). So maybe Rich simply decided he wanted him after all and that he could safely have such a character rezzed without running the risk of cheapening the deaths of major characters. [Also he can use it to show that Bozzok is high-level (commanding such resources) and mention Bozzok's motivation (Haley's supposed hoard.)]

I enjoyed this strip, some good jokes. I guess the Gnometown arc is going to be longer than expected...

[Tragak]

From Grubwiggler's point of view, bringing together all the people he hates - Bozzok, Crystal and Haley - means there's a good chance at least one of them will die. Even if he's not planning betrayal, it's a start.

I like this

[Breccia]

Wait, she got high a lot? She really is a Crystal Meth golem? That was my joke guess!

[allenw]

A lot of questions answered.....
Nice exposition without it feeling forced.

I think most readers would find it far more forced than, say, any conversation between any two named female rogue cast members (to chose a totally random example).

But it was useful exposition nonetheless.

[SavageWombat]

Anyone else think that Bozzok comes across as "evil-er" than previously? He seemed a lot more "practical evil" before. This is probably his true colors showing.

[Ornithologist]

Exposition is everyone's job, so says Elan. Otherwise it will happen during an important action scene.

[M.A.D]

Anyway, is it just me, or does Bozzok have no knees? I mean, I get that the boots are supposed to be knee-high, but there doesn't seem to be much leg left after that.

Those are thigh-high boots, I think. The same kind that cowboys wear.

Who is 'Starshine's ally', dead Roy?

Bozzok should have met all of the Order + Celia already, except for living Roy.