D&D Aangvanced (Avatar: The Last Airbender Screencap Comic)

[aurilee]

And once again the villain taunts the player not the character.
Oh well, whatever works for them.

But it is interesting that Allie is there and not at whatever party(?*) Naotak taunts her with.
I mean we already knew the game means more to her than she would admit (outside the group), but this kinda implies the group takes a pretty central spot in her life.
Considering this group seems to be mostly held together by the fact that they have nowhere else to go** I'm not sure that's a good thing.

*No really, what's Homecoming and why is it said like it's important?
People come home every day and no one makes a big thing out of it.

**I exaggerate. Slightly.

My understanding is that Homecoming is sort of a mini-prom kind of thing at the beginning of the school year for American High Schools. All the popular kids go and have a good time and whatever.

And it's primarily a celebration of the football team, so there's usually also a big cheerleader rally thing.

So a popular cheerleader (especially the squad leader) not showing up would be a big deal, both socially, and also for her teammates.

[Kantaki]

My understanding is that Homecoming is sort of a mini-prom kind of thing at the beginning of the school year for American High Schools. All the popular kids go and have a good time and whatever.

And it's primarily a celebration of the football team, so there's usually also a big cheerleader rally thing.

So a popular cheerleader (especially the squad leader) not showing up would be a big deal, both socially, and also for her teammates.

Sounds unpleasant.
Can't blame Allie for choosing the group over that. Disfunctional as they might be, that sort of thing is worse.

[eschmenk]

My understanding is that Homecoming is sort of a mini-prom kind of thing at the beginning of the school year for American High Schools. All the popular kids go and have a good time and whatever.

And it's primarily a celebration of the football team, so there's usually also a big cheerleader rally thing.

So a popular cheerleader (especially the squad leader) not showing up would be a big deal, both socially, and also for her teammates.

Yes, and usually high schools have dances. Universities have Homecomings, too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homecoming

And yes, if Allie still wanted to be a typical cheerleader, going to Homecoming would have been a big deal for her. Then, again, she hasn't acted as much like a cheerleader lately. When was the last time she said, "Fleek?"

[aurilee]

Yes, and usually high schools have dances. Universities have Homecomings, too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homecoming

And yes, if Allie still wanted to be a typical cheerleader, going to Homecoming would have been a big deal for her. Then, again, she hasn't acted as much like a cheerleader lately. When was the last time she said, "Fleek?"

I'm very much familiar with high school dances, but Homecoming isn't really a thing in Canada.

I think the big thing with Allie right now is that she's caught between two worlds. She likes being a cheerleader still (presumably), but she also likes gaming now, and she wants to hold on to both. Now she's made a big move towards one and away from the other.

Which I think we're about to see her struggle with.

Also holy ****. Rick may be the DM but this is clearly still Manny's campaign.

EDIT: YEAH GO ALLIE! *tearing up*

[DeadpanSal]

The worst kept secret ever. Everybody knew that already, girl!

[aurilee]

D'AWWWWWWWW

This cuteness is exactly what we need right now!

I had to go back though, since I thought we had basically already seen Allie's first session.

I guess what we're seeing now is when Rick was telling Allie about the campaign and convincing her to join in.

EDIT: And...this is how you know it's definitely Rick DM'ing, not Manny.

*cue Manny bursting through the door screaming about how Naotak goes all out on Korra*

[JohanOfKitten]

OMG! Rube's given my ludicrous Mai's son's theory about Amon identity. Love that guy :')


I'm out for half a week and things get really intense. Allie and Mac are pushed further and this would lead to a big finale.

[aurilee]

OMG! Rube's given my ludicrous Mai's son's theory about Amon identity. Love that guy :')


I'm out for half a week and things get really intense. Allie and Mac are pushed further and this would lead to a big finale.

Rube has all the best theories

I really like this development with Mac right now. She's acknowledging how she can't roleplay, and it's bothering her. She *likes* Asami and she wants to do right by her.

Caring about your character is the first step to roleplaying, and I hope this sets Mac on the right path.

Spoiler: Spoilers for the show

Show

Maybe Allie can help

#Korrami

[aurilee]

Oh no...oh no oh no oh no...

I was really hoping that somehow Allie wouldn't be as dejected as Korra was in the show...

oh no oh no oh no oh no...

Lex's dad better have had good advice, since I doubt "Katara" will be much help

Spoiler: show spoiler

Show

I still think that it might be Manny that comes in as Aang in the end, since he usually did Aang's Avatar Mode.

[DeadpanSal]

I don't think Mac will be much help of anyone. But this page at least might help her some!

[aurilee]

WOAH

Mac is being helpful, Allie's bouncing back a bit...and we finally get to see the Battousai?

Nice page

[Kantaki]

Is it bad that my first thought was „Haw Haw”?

I mean sorry, but Mac knew what she was getting into.
She could have just as well thrown those dice away.
Sure, Shelby won, but she's Shelby.
Those three or so people who managed that feat all aren't exactly normal, gaming-skill wise.

[Shogo]

I know I'm not really a fan of Mac, but even if I were I'd have to agree with what Kantaki is saying.

[eschmenk]

So now Mary Wears has the Battousai?

[Kantaki]

So now Mary Wears has the Battousai?

I don't think so.
If you loose the stupid tournament you collateral gets destroyed.
That's literally the whole point of the exercise.

[aurilee]

Is it bad that my first thought was „Haw Haw”?

I mean sorry, but Mac knew what she was getting into.
She could have just as well thrown those dice away.
Sure, Shelby won, but she's Shelby.
Those three or so people who managed that feat all aren't exactly normal, gaming-skill wise.

Mac probably convinced herself she could do it. She wanted to prove that she could be as good as Shelby.

Of course, she should have known better. It was hubris at its worse.

It's still sad though, but I like Mac and want to see her get better...

Also Allie. It's so sad to see her losing her pep...She really *did* do well. Amazingly well. Time to see if Rick can put his degree to good use.

EDIT: And she's saved by mechanics :) Rick is just too nice

EDIT2: Rick getting the swear bell just for Allie is adorable. And WOOO ALLIE UNLOCKED AVATAR MODE WITHOUT DM INTERVENTION (at least, less DM intervention than Rick needed). I'm really happy now.

[Shogo]

So on thinking about it . . . Is it weird if I think this comic is better than the actual Legend of Korra show?

[DeadpanSal]

I would never laugh at Mac losing, but I definitely agree that in the end she knew exactly what would happen. Her gaming career has proven to her that she can't keep up with Shelby and she doesn't need the Koyabashi Maru to remind her. Oh well, at least she's trying to have fun again! Almost done with the arc! Yaaaay!

[Kantaki]

Demons Run
Where a good man goes to war

And so should Mary Weers.
Cause there's a whole bunch of good people coming for her.

This will be fun.

[JohanOfKitten]

Great arc ending!

Rick is too goodie as a DM. He's too soft when it gets hard for players and I don't think that's a good thing in the end. It's fine to be careful and to avoid crushing a loved player's character, but it removes challenge and ultimately, it will remove fun.
It was the main subject of objection between him et Allie ("I said don't go soft on me! I can deal with it"). For now, it's okay, but it leads to a lot of anticlimatic situations, like Naotak so moved by Allie's speech that he betrays his own concept and let her go (before being pushed by Allie to continue the fight) or the main ennemies of the arc going Boom by themselves so they won't bother heroes again.
Rick is kind of pushing toward the opposite of Villatic if we let him do.



The war against Mary Weers is going to be huge!

Is it me or Damian is in a total concordance with Zuko right now:
Full of anger, craving to restore his honor by confronting his parent

[aurilee]

Great arc ending!

Rick is too goodie as a DM. He's too soft when it gets hard for players and I don't think that's a good thing in the end. It's fine to be careful and to avoid crushing a loved player's character, but it removes challenge and ultimately, it will remove fun.
It was the main subject of objection between him et Allie ("I said don't go soft on me! I can deal with it"). For now, it's okay, but it leads to a lot of anticlimatic situations, like Naotak so moved by Allie's speech that he betrays his own concept and let her go (before being pushed by Allie to continue the fight) or the main ennemies of the arc going Boom by themselves so they won't bother heroes again.
Rick is kind of pushing toward the opposite of Villatic if we let him do.



The war against Mary Weers is going to be huge!

Is it me or Damian is in a total concordance with Zuko right now:
Full of anger, craving to restore his honor by confronting his parent

Damien is definitely channelling Zuko right now. They really are a good fit (but my headcanon for Damien has always been that he looks like Seto Kaiba, which is sort of how I imagine Damien wants to be ).

Super excited for CritCon! It looks like Rick is having a talk with Allie, which will prep her for what's ahead...

A meta-question I have is what screencaps will be used? Will CritCon be the next season of Korra? Or will we be visiting another universe? Personally, I think it makes more sense for it to be another world/adventure since it takes place outside of the standard group/setting, and I'm curious to see where we're taken to next.

[Freed]

I've been waiting for this for about 6 months. I feel like I've seen that character before, but I'm not exactly sure what they're from.

[DeadpanSal]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzQ6gRAEoy0

Shelter! Come because it's in the comic, stay for the GREAT MUSIC.

The story is about a girl who can imagine anything and her tablet brings it to life in a magical interactive world (then things get heavy!). Sounds like a nice parallel to Allie's arc.

[aurilee]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzQ6gRAEoy0

Shelter! Come because it's in the comic, stay for the GREAT MUSIC.

The story is about a girl who can imagine anything and her tablet brings it to life in a magical interactive world (then things get heavy!). Sounds like a nice parallel to Allie's arc.

Oooo is Shelter going to actually be CritCon?

I have it on my list in Crunchyroll...I'm unsure of whether to watch it this weekend to avoid having the comic reveal spoilers, or not watching it until this arc is over so I don't get spoiled for the comic :P

[Kantaki]

Allie's willingness to stand with the group against the Witchqueen of D&D is impressive.
Let's hope she won't regret it.

Because if even half the stuff we heard about this horrible person is even halfway accurate the whole group will have to give more than their best to stand a chance.

Mind you, as motivated as those guys are right now she won't know what hit her, but they still fight outside their weightclass.

Sure, „the bigger they are the harder they fall” and a bigger target is easier to hit, but at the same time it makes it more difficult to get them to fall. Plus falling giants cause a lot of collateral damage.

Oh well, making Mary Weers stumble should already be a huge victory.

[aurilee]

Oh man, I'm loving this intro to CritCon!

From the different gaming "factions" (D&D, Magic etc.), to the reactions of everyone watching the group strut in...this is some good stuff.

I really wish we had some art of the gaang all strutting in there.

Anyone have any ideas what they might recognise Rube from? I didn't think he did any gaming outside the group, or in any public spaces. Maybe people know him from accompanying Manny to some place?

[aurilee]

That last panel has left me smiling uncontrollably like an idiot for a few minutes now.

IT'S ON

*squeal*

And it seems that the podcast of this group's sessions has gotten pretty popular.

I seriously wish I could have seen them strutting around the convention hall.

Oh this is going to be so good.

Question: Is the speech bubble in the upper right corner having a different font supposed to indicate something? Or is that just a mistake?

[Kantaki]

Well, this is promising.
I pity all who try to stand between Damien and his mother('s table).

Because while „Being run over by a ticked of Roleplaying Group on their way to bring war to the Witchqueen of D&D” sounds like a awesome story behind scars it also sounds really unpleasant.

Meanwhile the Crystal GMs' war against Mrs. Weers is about to begin as well.

Meaning we will meet Tom.
Considering the character he played in the flash back to the first Yabu... Yaba.. that stupid tournament with the dumb rules and the unpronounceable name I'm sure that will be a pleasant experience.

And speaking of Mrs. Weers goons- maybe we will see Manny again?
I mean he was last seen walking into her headquarters.
Who knows what kinda deal they cooked up.
But I doubt it. Even at his worst I doubt he would have sunk that low and he seemed to be (mostly) over that.
On the other hand the thought is terrifying...

[aurilee]

Well, this is promising.
I pity all who try to stand between Damien and his mother('s table).

Because while „Being run over by a ticked of Roleplaying Group on their way to bring war to the Witchqueen of D&D” sounds like a awesome story behind scars it also sounds really unpleasant.

Meanwhile the Crystal GMs' war against Mrs. Weers is about to begin as well.

Meaning we will meet Tom.
Considering the character he played in the flash back to the first Yabu... Yaba.. that stupid tournament with the dumb rules and the unpronounceable name I'm sure that will be a pleasant experience.

And speaking of Mrs. Weers goons- maybe we will see Manny again?
I mean he was last seen walking into her headquarters.
Who knows what kinda deal they cooked up.
But I doubt it. Even at his worst I doubt he would have sunk that low and he seemed to be (mostly) over that.
On the other hand the thought is terrifying...

I got the vibe that Manny was against Mary Weers. I mean, can you imagine Manny being okay with someone taking control over *his* campaign?

"Being run over by a ticked of Roleplaying Group on their way to bring war to the Witchqueen of D&D" is a fantastic "how I got my scars" story. It may be worth it.

Also, I just call it the Kobayashi Maru in my head. It's easier to remember ;)

[eschmenk]

Poor Lex. The only mention of him: "Who's the guy with Shelby?"