OOTS #1022 - The Discussion Thread

[rman]

Roy's reputation among any fighters present is going through the roof.

- spell splinter
- going mano-o-mano with a high level cleric/vampire
- attitude

[IDrankWHAT]

My guess of what would happen:
GPD(Guy Pretending to be Durkon) goes to the dwarven lands, but encounters Durkon's mum/friends and Durkon starts fighting back. He manages to hold distract GPD long enough for OOTS to come over and defeat GPD.
My guess anyways, idk how that would actually work out, but its my guess...

SO glad that I'm not the only one who's thinking that Durkon will fight back with all his will once he sees his mother. I know I would if I hadn't seen mine because of circumstances beyond my control. But then again Giant knows what he's doing.

[Byzantine2]

I think this is both how Belkar dies and why he stays dead. He's going to go "**** it" kill the vampire, and be killed in some unfixable way in the process. This will save the world, but the damage to the Dwarven lands is still certain as Durkula is already there.

Roy won't die as he technically has no involvement in these events.

He's evil and has very little care for anything, but he really, really hates vampires, and has shown a reckless disregard for his own life to harm those he hates. (Under the presumption he would just the raised after, see what happened with Miko).

[drazen]

Roy could be intentionally provoking the new High Priest of Hel. He might not have protection as an outsider, but he did escort Veldrina.

Is there anything saying a bodyguard cannot be the bodyguard of two DIFFERENT representatives at the moot? The rules say each priest has a maximum of two, but they don't mention overlap. If the vampire attacks Roy over his pettiness, she'd have to get smacked down by everyone present.

[GreatWyrmGold]

I just guessed the single most frustrating way to rules-lawyer it.

To rephrase it, the rules are such that the simple solutions don't work, allowing the plot to continue.
It really says something about this arc that this is the best way to figure out the rules of the Godsmoot, and that's not a thing I'm glad can be said.

[8BitNinja]

What would happen if a bunch of casters killed Durkon in a way he couldn't be revived?

[Keltest]

What would happen if a bunch of casters killed Durkon in a way he couldn't be revived?

Such a way technically doesn't exist, as True Resurrection is a spell that hypothetically exists. However it is functionally out of reach for the Order, so... I guess Durkon would stay dead? And it would suck?

[8BitNinja]

Such a way technically doesn't exist, as True Resurrection is a spell that hypothetically exists. However it is functionally out of reach for the Order, so... I guess Durkon would stay dead? And it would suck?

But that's stupid

so it won't happen I guess

[Keltest]

But that's stupid

so it won't happen I guess

It strikes me as rather unlikely, yes.

[Spoomeister]

It doesn't matter which order they do it in. The Mechane has enough speed to get them to each place just barely in the nick of time.

Ha! I forgot about that completely, very good point. It'd be hilarious if that comes up again sans Julio.

[ReaderAt2046]

Once it's broken, its no longer magical.So it's presently a broken nonmagical stick.

And since the chances that Macey Fangface can cast Protection From Daylight on her own are slim to none, the clock's now ticking. Once the Protection spell already on her runs out, then sunlight will become a lethal threat. And the church has those nice huge glass windows...

[Doug Lampert]

Given that Xykon's signature move for beating down tough opponents is spamming Energy Drain--an attack for which it is ordinarily hard to come up with a decent defense against, explaining why an epic level wizard like Dorukan was so readily slaughtered by it--Roy having an item which can make it a momentary annoyance is bound to be rather significant going forward. Fire and gravity--which was mostly what killed him last time--are a tad easier to defend against.

This is wrong. Energy drain is level 9, yet there's a level four spell that provides complete immunity, so it's fairly easy to block.

Unfortunately you need a divine caster (or a limited wish spell) to cast it:

Death Ward
Necromancy
Level: Clr 4, Death 4, Drd 5, Pal 4
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
The subject is immune to all death spells, magical death effects, energy drain, and any negative energy effects.

This spell doesn’t remove negative levels that the subject has already gained, nor does it affect the saving throw necessary 24 hours after gaining a negative level.

Death ward does not protect against other sorts of attacks even if those attacks might be lethal.

[Jasdoif]

And since the chances that Macey Fangface can cast Protection From Daylight on her own are slim to none, the clock's now ticking. Once the Protection spell already on her runs out, then sunlight will become a lethal threat. And the church has those nice huge glass windows...

I don't think sunlight will be a problem, actually. On top of it needing to be direct sunlight, and how she'll have the opportunity to get out of the exposure....I don't think the staircases have windows.

[NihhusHuotAliro]

Dangit, Roy, that's a priceless historical artifact in the making! In ten thousand years, that staff will be over ten thousand years old!

Send it to a museum!

[DaggerPen]

This is wrong. Energy drain is level 9, yet there's a level four spell that provides complete immunity, so it's fairly easy to block.

Unfortunately you need a divine caster (or a limited wish spell) to cast it:

Indeed, I believe there's even a mass version of it.

[eilandesq]

This is wrong. Energy drain is level 9, yet there's a level four spell that provides complete immunity, so it's fairly easy to block.

Unfortunately you need a divine caster (or a limited wish spell) to cast it:

Which is why V. didn't have the option to use it (rules of the deal with the fiends), and Dorukan may simply not have had it prepared (which should probably lose him his Batman Wizard license, since any epic level wizard with an ounce of common sense will have Limited Wish prepared at least once, and probably Wish on top of it in case a resurrection is needed).

So yes, if you've got access to clerical magic and have that spell prepared, there is a defense against Energy Drain.

[Bulldog Psion]

I don't think sunlight will be a problem, actually. On top of it needing to be direct sunlight, and how she'll have the opportunity to get out of the exposure....I don't think the staircases have windows.

Exactly. I'd imagine she can even stay in the council chamber if she's careful -- it's not a glass dome, that gallery is going to create an area of shade inside no matter what angle the sun is relative to the interior.

[Quibblicious]

this may be relevant
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0906.html

That's a brilliant catch! I'd never noticed the speech bubble change on that strip and I've read it a dozen times or more.

[DaggerPen]

That's a brilliant catch! I'd never noticed the speech bubble change on that strip and I've read it a dozen times or more.

FWIW, after the soulful dirge for the departed comic, I'd interpreted the speech bubble differences Malack had as speaking with lungs vs. The Deep Booming Vibrations of Pure Dark Energy

[Lordchoculla]

New comic is up.

Thanks again, mr.Giant.

Well, technically this was a weak attempt at catching the broken staff. Not an attack.

Also, can we say that they were chatting when Roy snapped the staff?
Or that the failed attempt to catch the broken sticks resulted in a chat to the vamp's face?
If either way, then I now know what snapchat is... [waving my ears like Fozzy Bear from The Muppet Show]
My apologies for the weak attempt at humour

[blunk]

Actually, one could argue it started with an "Oops."

Talk about butterfly effect...

So it was Haley's fault, but Roy blames himself? Rogue evades, fighter takes the hit.

[IDrankWHAT]

Thanks again, mr.Giant.

Well, technically this was a weak attempt at catching the broken staff. Not an attack.

Also, can we say that they were chatting when Roy snapped the staff?
Or that the failed attempt to catch the broken sticks resulted in a chat to the vamp's face?
If either way, then I now know what snapchat is... [waving my ears like Fozzy Bear from The Muppet Show]
My apologies for the weak attempt at humour

Bull hockey! That was friggin hilarious! LOL

[gia]

Too bad, It was such a nice stick.

Hold on, throwing a thing at someone's face can definitely be construed as an attack. Why would Roy assume that a weak throw with non-lethal intent is any less of a cause for his own destruction than using a throwing weapon?

yeah and he threw a splintered wooden thing! a stake!

if the vamp is smart she can getroyin trouble, although maybe she decides he lost already and doesnt need to risk her undoing

[Ruck]

yeah and he threw a splintered wooden thing! a stake!

if the vamp is smart she can getroyin trouble, although maybe she decides he lost already and doesnt need to risk her undoing

Haha, now I'm laughing at the thought of Roy throwing the stick and "accidentally" dusting HPoH II, then trying to argue "What? I was just trying to return their property!"

[Silverionmox]

The Vampire Formerly Known As Durkon could have reduced the risk much more (and reduced the risk of the Order coming after him) by simply whispering to the usher that not only was he entering as Hel's high priest, but also that those two schmucks following him were *not* his bodyguard, and therefore should be denied entrance. But I suppose the urge to gloat was too strong :)

[Gnoman]

That would have shown his hand too early - Roy would have known then that something was up, and even if the ushers whisked the vampire away, the resulting commotion would probably have alerted the priests that Hel was sending a representative, possibly convincing otherwise Yes gods to vote No.

[enh]

Explanation here: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/shows...postcount=1218

Ah. Okay. I don't do the twitter thing, missed all that. Thank you for the pointer.

[DaggerPen]

That would have shown his hand too early - Roy would have known then that something was up, and even if the ushers whisked the vampire away, the resulting commotion would probably have alerted the priests that Hel was sending a representative, possibly convincing otherwise Yes gods to vote No.

While I buy the vampire being concerned about showing his hand just before the most crucial part of the plan (rather than after the vote, where Roy being able to attack the then-HPOH may not have been foreseen anyway), I find it unlikely that just knowing that Hel had shown up would have swayed any of the Yes voters regardless, even if they would have been swayed to change their vote if they'd known Hel's plan.

I mean, it's not like Hel wouldn’t have gotten the dwarven souls if she hadn't been able to vote but the Godsmoot still voted Yes, after all. Everything but the likelihood of "Yes" passing was exactly the same with or without her having a representative - her presence was a shock, but didn't give away the game.

Gods though they may be, I doubt a single Yes voter would have made the jump from "Wow, Hel finally got a delegate and the world might be about to end?" to "She's gonna get all the dwarven souls and take over!" Before Hel said anything, either no one considered the dwarf situation, or anyone who did realize it didn't find it important enough to sway them/mention in their vote.

Heck, if she hadn't decided to gloat about it, I imagine even Heimdall would have shrugged, gone "Well, she's the death goddess, no surprise she's in our court" and maybe frowned in vague disapproval at her shenanigans with the dwarves, even if it was in support of his vote.

[BriarHobbit]

Very nice. Not sure why Roy doesn't need healing. He got hit by multiple Energy Drains and other nefarious attacks. One healing potion probably should not have fixed it. The priest of Baldur being clueless was funny. Still no news on Belkar. That is not good, but I think that he makes it.

[goodpeople25]

Very nice. Not sure why Roy doesn't need healing. He got hit by multiple Energy Drains and other nefarious attacks. One healing potion probably should not have fixed it. The priest of Baldur being clueless was funny. Still no news on Belkar. That is not good, but I think that he makes it.

One healing potion didn't fix it. He lost all damage marks after activating his greenhilt rage so presumably so is all damage. now sure he might have negative levels but i think him saying he dosen't need healing is indicative that he healed that as well.