Will Save World for Gold

[stsasser]

There's probably something simple like a Ring of Feather Fall at the very least, but not everyone has the common sense to sleep with their gravity-fighting items just in case.

Plus he was hanging out with dwarves for a while now, right? Not much call for flying items among dwarves, I'm sure.

They do not even defend their airspace
l.

[Anteros]

Do note that he had been fighting off an entire army before that scene. We don't know how much stuff he had used or how much damage he had taken. It's possible that he was running on fumes by that point. And the fall also didn't even kill him. Ardon had to finish the job.

So what exactly does his level 30 gear consist of? It must have horrible AC if a bunch of low level mobs can even hurt a level 18 fighter. We're also assuming he can't fly, regen health, or even slow a fall...is it level 30 paper mache? These are all really standard things for even a mid level fighter to invest in.

All I'm saying is, I wouldn't be shopping at Groffnar's if I lived in this world.

gargoyal only had to get him high enough that othger gargoyles would get involved. Groffnar then spent sevral rounds fighting off Dire's Gargoyles while Ardon's continued to go up.

I feel like that's just another example of him being incompetent. Maybe attack the one carrying you ever-higher?

I'm just being nit-picky.

[Draconi Redfir]

I feel like that's just another example of him being incompetent. Maybe attack the one carrying you ever-higher?

I'm just being nit-picky.

*Shrugs* Maybe he breifly thought Ardon was just bringing him to more gargoyles. or maybe he couldn't reach behind him enough.

[Celestia]

You'll note that the reason he falls is because Ardon's gargoyle takes damage from him.

[JumboWheat01]

Fighters aren't generally known for their high INT scores, after all.

[Chives]

Ardon was able to kill Groffnar because the dwarf had summoned the guardian.

http://willsaveworldforgold.com/?p=1390

Having the Guardian in the physical world weakens the summoner considerably.

[Anteros]

Ardon was able to kill Groffnar because the dwarf had summoned the guardian.

http://willsaveworldforgold.com/?p=1390

Having the Guardian in the physical world weakens the summoner considerably.

That's a very good point, but it does not fit my narrative and so I will ignore it.

[Hamste]

Ardon was able to kill Groffnar because the dwarf had summoned the guardian.

http://willsaveworldforgold.com/?p=1390

Having the Guardian in the physical world weakens the summoner considerably.

Makes sense though I'm curious why one of them was able to say his eulogies while powering down after Groffnar died but the other one disappeared immediately after the castle crashed. The task most likely wasn't done as the city was still in danger from gargoyles so they were both dismissed from caster death. Do they just take a large amount of damage each turn until they disappear and so the one that was in combat disappeared first? Do they store energy over time so the longer they are summoned the longer they last if power is severed?

[LoneStarNorth]

Makes sense though I'm curious why one of them was able to say his eulogies while powering down after Groffnar died but the other one disappeared immediately after the castle crashed. The task most likely wasn't done as the city was still in danger from gargoyles so they were both dismissed from caster death. Do they just take a large amount of damage each turn until they disappear and so the one that was in combat disappeared first? Do they store energy over time so the longer they are summoned the longer they last if power is severed?

In game mechanics terms, they both became harmless an equal amount of time after their summoner died.

In narrative/fluff terms, Glend's Guardian disappeared instantly because its summoner was incinerated in an explosion. Groffnar's Guardian stuck around for a few seconds because its summoner was killed by a blow to the head, but some of his body remained "alive" long enough to allow for a short monologue.

Also, if the Guardian is killed it leaves a body behind. If its summoner is killed it just dissolves into smoke.

GUARDIAN MINUTIAE!!

[Hamste]

Glad you pointed out the guardian body thing, I completely missed that :P. Got to love little details like that even though I have no clue what that could mean from an in world perspective.

[Jane_Smith]

"In narrative/fluff terms, Glend's Guardian disappeared instantly because its summoner was incinerated in an explosion. Groffnar's Guardian stuck around for a few seconds because its summoner was killed by a blow to the head, but some of his body remained "alive" long enough to allow for a short monologue."

Actually, I think the bard lied about his first death saving throw in his shadow-illusion/copy when talking with his friends. He could have died several moments before the castle crashed: he got it just far enough that the momentium carried it away from the city. Which would mean - neither guardian was dismissed instantly. They lingered for 1-2 rounds after their masters deaths, more or less.

[Anteros]

"In narrative/fluff terms, Glend's Guardian disappeared instantly because its summoner was incinerated in an explosion. Groffnar's Guardian stuck around for a few seconds because its summoner was killed by a blow to the head, but some of his body remained "alive" long enough to allow for a short monologue."

Actually, I think the bard lied about his first death saving throw in his shadow-illusion/copy when talking with his friends. He could have died several moments before the castle crashed: he got it just far enough that the momentium carried it away from the city. Which would mean - neither guardian was dismissed instantly. They lingered for 1-2 rounds after their masters deaths, more or less.

The person you replied to is the author, so their interpretation is probably pretty solid.

[stsasser]

The person you replied to is the author, so their interpretation is probably pretty solid.

Back-chatting the WoG shows chutzpah.

[JumboWheat01]

And just like that, Peanut shows how smart he really can be.

[Drakilian]

Aren't Warlocks supposed to have really high ACs for casters? Surprised they're wailing away at him so easily.

[Celestia]

Aren't Warlocks supposed to have really high ACs for casters? Surprised they're wailing away at him so easily.

Dire seems arrogant enough to not invest anything in AC.

[Anteros]

Somehow I forgot about the rocket boots. I liked the comedic timing on this strip.

[Douglas]

Just how many hit points does Dire have, anyway? He's down by 216 by my count, and that's after accounting for the 30 healing from Devour Magic.

[The Glyphstone]

Do we know his class? Not sure if he's a Warlock or a Wizard.

[Kantaki]

Do we know his class? Not sure if he's a Warlock or a Wizard.

Well, he calls himself Archwarlock, so I would assume he's a Warlock.
Unless it's like Miko's Samurai title.

[Seerow]

Just how many hit points does Dire have, anyway? He's down by 216 by my count, and that's after accounting for the 30 healing from Devour Magic.

Do we know his class? Not sure if he's a Warlock or a Wizard.

Well, he calls himself Archwarlock, so I would assume he's a Warlock.
Unless it's like Miko's Samurai title.

He's a boss in 4th edition. One who is clearly taking on the party with no backup/support.

I see no reason to believe he's following the same rules as a player character, or to assume he has class levels. I would be shocked if he's not designed as a Paragon tier solo encounter. While I am a bit hazy on the rules (I haven't touched 4e in literally at least 7 years), I know the HP there tends to be around 5x higher than a normal monster of that level. I would guess 500hp as a fair estimate to start from. If anyone feels like digging out a 4e monster manual, look for a level 15 Control Solo, as that's roughly where I peg Dire (Though he may be closer to 11).

[Anteros]

Last time they fought Dire he was KOed by a measly 123 damage, and only 21 of that was delivered before that Guardian fell. Even if we're accounting for some additional damage he might have taken fighting Sarris off panel, I doubt he's rocking 500+ hitpoints now.

I think the most likely explanation is simply that he healed himself between the encounter with Ardon and the current encounter with the Sons, which would put him at losing 167 so far. This is all assuming that all the combat is happening on panel. He could be healing between panels for all we know.

Of course, it's also assuming that he even has stats.

[Hamste]

Is it possible that he has a hidden damage reduction (Is DR a thing in 4e?) and physical wounds deal less damage or regenerate quickly? For example Odi had resistance to lightning but his damage was similar to the amount Ardon took (I'm not sure how much resistance Odi had though I would guess 5 or 10 if it is like 3.5 and Ardon could have just high rolled and the resistance is not shown or Ardon could have low rolled and Odi's resistance was factored in). If that is the case that would explain why he could be defeated by an explosion and lightning strike but many smaller attacks didn't phase him as much.

[Douglas]

I think the most likely explanation is simply that he healed himself between the encounter with Ardon and the current encounter with the Sons, which would put him at losing 167 so far. This is all assuming that all the combat is happening on panel. He could be healing between panels for all we know.

My count of 216 was from only the current encounter.

[Anteros]

My count of 216 was from only the current encounter.

It appears I started counting on the wrong comic.

[Leewei]

It was at this point, the players quietly packed up their books and headed out for pizza, leaving the DM wondering why they didn't seem to be having any fun.

[ImperatorV]

It was at this point, the players quietly packed up their books and headed out for pizza, leaving the DM wondering why they didn't seem to be having any fun.

Ardon's player did. Ell's player is listening with rapt attention, 45 and Peanut's players are playing games on their phones, and Odi's player ragequit a while back.

[Hamste]

So where did the cleric guy go? We see him crying earlier when the warlock appeared but haven't seen him in the fight at all.

[Anteros]

So where did the cleric guy go? We see him crying earlier when the warlock appeared but haven't seen him in the fight at all.

My best guess is that he's in shock from losing his surrogate son. He'll be back soon enough.

It was at this point, the players quietly packed up their books and headed out for pizza, leaving the DM wondering why they didn't seem to be having any fun.

The Sons are actually starting to grow on me. Besides, it's ok for things to happen to non protagonists in a story. Especially if it's used to set up the protagonist's plots in a bit.

[Jane_Smith]

Sometimes, the players need to realize the world is full of bigger fish, and the cosmos of the setting does not revolve around them. They were someones drunken escapades most likely; whereas some heros, monsters, and villians have been playing "the game" sense before there great great grandfathers were even thought of. Sometimes seeing this puts there position in perspective - or gives them some kinda aspiration to continue to grow.