OOTS #1034 - The Discussion Thread

[Peelee]

Snips, Snails and Dragon Tales. Not actually a prequel book

Yeah, but the original commenter called all three books as prequels, and was corrected that there were only two prequels. Your post merely re-affirms what you're quoting.

[foobar1969]

Given the relative sizes of the (Huge) yrthak and the rider, I'm inclined to think the latter is Large. That would make an annis more likely. Bonus, they're native to cold marshes.

Yes, it's at least 8' tall. Size comparison from the 2nd panel:

[GrayGriffin]

Yes, it's at least 8' tall. Size comparison from the 2nd panel:

Man, this makes them look like they're sitting on an invisible wall side by side. For some reason it makes me imagine them eating lunch together as well.

[littlebum2002]

It's pretty funny that we're using Size to figure out the race of a character when there's a Medium size slyph in this strip

[Peelee]

It's pretty funny that we're using Size to figure out the race of a character when there's a Medium size slyph in this strip

Also Medium size goblins. Like, tons of them. A virtual army, one might say!

[goodpeople25]

Also Medium size goblins. Like, tons of them. A virtual army, one might say!

Sorry for picking nits but the main comic has tons of medium sized Goblins? Not sure I would call the goblins in the beginning a virtual army. I think there are more in the prequels (wouldn't really know for sure) and yeah i know hobgoblins are Goblinoids too but they are already Medium so the distinction seems moot.
But still nitpicking.

[Peelee]

Sorry for picking nits but the main comic has tons of medium sized Goblins? Not sure I would call the goblins in the beginning a virtual army. I think there are more in the prequels (wouldn't really know for sure) and yeah i know hobgoblins are Goblinoids too but they are already Medium so the distinction seems moot.
But still nitpicking.

Eh, point taken.

[8BitNinja]

It's pretty funny that we're using Size to figure out the race of a character when there's a Medium size slyph in this strip

Just find a fully shown stick figure, look up height in the D&D monster manual, and use pixel measurements, Game Theory style

[davidbofinger]

Yes, it's at least 8' tall. Size comparison from the 2nd panel:

I'm not sure we can draw that conclusion in absolute confidence, since there aren't a lot of perspective cues to tell us the paladins and the yrthak are the same distance from the viewer. The best hint we have is that the yrthak is ensonifying the paladins while showing a profile but that's not really conclusive.

Another method is to use Panels 4 and 5 because they have an object in common which can be measured in each case. Unfortunately the object being measured is the fletching on a crossbow quarrel so the height estimation is very dodgy.

I tried measuring the neck-hip-knee-ankle and crown-neck-hip-knee-ankle distances of each, testing the technique on Roy and Belkar to check it gave a sensible answer. A compromise between the two methods gave something consistent with my vague memory of 2'11" for Belkar and an arbitrary guess of 6'2" for Roy.)

On this basis the yrthak pilot could be anywhere from 1.4 to 1.7 times the height of Lien. So he could be less than 8' but I'm guessing more.

But seriously, I'm measuring the fletching on a crossbow quarrel...

[martianmister]

Man, this makes them look like they're sitting on an invisible wall side by side. For some reason it makes me imagine them eating lunch together as well.

It's a date!

[8BitNinja]

It's a date!

No, this is a date

[Bulldog Psion]

It's a date!

If it is, it looks like O-Chul is about to leave in a huff.

[8BitNinja]

If it is, it looks like O-Chul is about to leave in a huff.

Honestly, I'm not exactly into women who wear intimidating masks around me.

It would be nice to see their face every once in a while

[rambaldi]

Man, this makes them look like they're sitting on an invisible wall side by side. For some reason it makes me imagine them eating lunch together as well.

Probably what they do between scenes. Union rules, can't have them working all day.

[JustinKase]

Yes, it's .. Size comparison from the 2nd panel:

You could also compare the size of the fletching on the crossbow quarrel in frames 4 & 5 to rescale the rider for comparison to the Paladins.

... and I can't post pics yet. I need to post more often :P sheesh

[bengator]

Given the title, I was hoping for a reappearance of Sir Thumb!

[8BitNinja]

Maybe the picture is the cast on break, but before this scene.

Ever noticed how the hobgoblins and the order read the fanmail at different times?

[Grey Watcher]

I'm not sure we can draw that conclusion in absolute confidence, since there aren't a lot of perspective cues to tell us the paladins and the yrthak are the same distance from the viewer. The best hint we have is that the yrthak is ensonifying the paladins while showing a profile but that's not really conclusive.

Another method is to use Panels 4 and 5 because they have an object in common which can be measured in each case. Unfortunately the object being measured is the fletching on a crossbow quarrel so the height estimation is very dodgy.

I tried measuring the neck-hip-knee-ankle and crown-neck-hip-knee-ankle distances of each, testing the technique on Roy and Belkar to check it gave a sensible answer. A compromise between the two methods gave something consistent with my vague memory of 2'11" for Belkar and an arbitrary guess of 6'2" for Roy.)

On this basis the yrthak pilot could be anywhere from 1.4 to 1.7 times the height of Lien. So he could be less than 8' but I'm guessing more.

But seriously, I'm measuring the fletching on a crossbow quarrel...

Well, given that, as you say, using the fletching on a crossbow bolt isn't proving terribly conclusive, until and unless the yrthak rider and a human character stand side-by-side, OOTS #1034, Panel 2 is the best comparison we've got.

Of course, given that the Paladins are using the ice wall as cover, then if anything, the yrthak should be FARTHER from the "camera", which would make the rider even larger compared to O'Chul than this comparison suggests.

Actually, random thought, what if the rider is a bugbear? I don't recall that we've seen one in this comic yet, but I think the Gobbotopian flag suggests brown skin and/or fur, which, assuming the rider's barehanded, is what we seem to be seeing.

[Kish]

Bugbears are Medium though, unless Rich decided to inflate their size too.

[Shining Wrath]

I am fairly confident the rider is size large. I'm also confident it has long dark hair on the head from panel #5. Boots with toes indicates probable "monstrous" race.

Bugbear is not a bad guess.
Long-haired ogre, not impossible, although ogres aren't that bright.
Were-X where X would give the hybrid form large size and long hair/fur - X=bear, boar, maybe tiger.
Given that it attacked without communication and werebears are normally NG, I'm guessing bugbear first, wereboar second.

[aurilee]

Actually, random thought, what if the rider is a bugbear? I don't recall that we've seen one in this comic yet, but I think the Gobbotopian flag suggests brown skin and/or fur, which, assuming the rider's barehanded, is what we seem to be seeing.

Not to steal your thunder or anything but...

The boots are very much goblinoid though, which is why hobgoblin or bugbear is a likely choice for race. Probably bugbear since that's not really yellow enough for hobgoblin.

Agreed, the boots are 100% goblinoid. I'd suggest there's a chance someone is wearing them as a disguise, but I doubt a human foot could even squeeze into them, without a polymorph. And who the heck would be wearing fake footgear anyway?

And from the last thread...

I'm thinking Bugbear, a larger than normal goblinoid, and given that the normally 3 foot goblins are portrayed as human sized in this comic, bugbears could easily be pushing the limits of medium size.

The mask definitely looks ceremonial, but it could also be to protect from the cold. The eye-holes might also be goggles/glasses to protect from the wind and snow-blindness. If that's the case, then it's more likely to be a bugbear or other goblinoid since frost giants wouldn't need any protection.

I'll second "bugbear." I actually thought that prior to reading the thread, but someone beat me to mentioning it. Goblinoid feet, large size, shaggy ruff of hair around the face, beige hands. Sounds like a bugbear to me.

Leaving aside the decorations, that hood is probably quite practical. Can you imagine how searingly cold that arctic air is with the yrthak's speed thrown in?

So yeah, bugbear seems pretty likely. I did notice when reading the last thread again that someone mentioned they recalled seeing a bugbear in SoD (in a crowd shot somewhere). If someone has their book handy and some time to spare, they could see if our rider matches up at all.

[KillingAScarab]

So yeah, bugbear seems pretty likely. I did notice when reading the last thread again that someone mentioned they recalled seeing a bugbear in SoD (in a crowd shot somewhere). If someone has their book handy and some time to spare, they could see if our rider matches up at all.

Spoiler: Start of Darkness

Show

I'm aware of a single bugbear featured in one of the crayon drawings, regarding the creation of the goblinoids.

The comic anti-HEROES uses bugbears which look similar to how The Giant draws them. Here are two examples.

[aurilee]

Spoiler: Start of Darkness

Show

I'm aware of a single bugbear featured in one of the crayon drawings, regarding the creation of the goblinoids.

The comic anti-HEROES uses bugbears which look similar to how The Giant draws them. Here are two examples.

Yeah, that hair on its own is pretty convincing. It matches the shagginess that's protruding from behind the mask/helmet.

[8BitNinja]

Yeah, that hair on its own is pretty convincing. It matches the shagginess that's protruding from behind the mask/helmet.

Or it could be a part of the mask

[LordFluffy]

No, this is a date

The internet has ruined me.

That is all.

[Grey Watcher]

Not to steal your thunder or anything but...

Nah, I figured the idea was out there already, I was just stream-of-consciousness writing there.

Actually, come to think of it, assuming the perspective in panel 2 does indeed make for a fair comparison, the rider might still be Medium. I mean, O'Chul and Roy are about the same height (as are most of the other Medium-sized characters). Bozzok is noticeably taller than average, but still a Medium-sized half-orc. On the other hand, definitively Large creatures, like Half-Ogres and Trolls are like more like 150% - 200% the height of their Medium-sized counterparts.

So, I guess I'm back to :shrug:

(Also, I must've misremembered, I had thought bugbears were Medium in Core.

[8BitNinja]

The internet has ruined me.

That is all.

So you don't like palm tree fruit?

I'm going to tell the palm trees you that

[Shining Wrath]

So you don't like palm tree fruit?

I'm going to tell the palm trees you that

Dating your palm is just less satisfying.

[ChillerInstinct]

So you don't like palm tree fruit?

I'm going to tell the palm trees you that

Crossing the palms, hmm? I see you've multiclassed to some sort of oracle? :P

Back to bugbear... I notice they can learn Draconic as a bonus language, so that MIGHT explain the mount. Supposedly they ARE fond of ambushing opponents, and as a Usually Chaotic Evil race it would explain why it was so trigger happy when Paladins showed up.

Now, the question is... if it's a bugbear, is it alone? From the site I'm reading, if they're hunting they tend to report back to their kin, then bring reinforcements. A sonic based attack MIGHT work instead, I guess, if it can be heard for a fair distance away.

[8BitNinja]

Crossing the palms, hmm? I see you've multiclassed to some sort of oracle? :P

No, I have a cleric buddy who did