OOTS #1051 - The Discussion Thread

[zimmerwald1915]

As much as POINTY DEATH INCARNATE is hilarious, I feel the need to register just a little bit more love for V's response, the true VIP of the strip imo. If I were to get some new OotS schwag, I'd lean much more toward "Yes, yes, magic is very nice. Shall we?"

It's just perfectly written in a way that conveys an almost bored tone immediately, but in the perfect way that's actually a lack of hubris that shows character growth for V and and and... er... I likes it. Yes. This entire paragrah seems very unnecessary, but not so unnecessary that I'm going to delete it. I think that in order to stop my ramblings, I'd better just hit the post bu

I still say the two lines are inseparable.

[Harrymcb]

I just found my signature for this comic. As soon as I learn how to add a signature :)

[F.Harr]

Haley being excited plus V being sensible is FANTASTIC. I hope we get more.

And it's nice When Bandana and Roy are on the same page. But do they need to talk about it so much? Yeah, they do.

Do you think they could throw rocs back at them?

Oh, and YAY nice magic!

[Snails]

If combat lasts longer than 10 rounds something is usually really wrong though.

Frost Giants average 133hp. Haley is going to do an average of 38 per shot (1d8 + 8d6 + 5), so at 4 shots with Haste she has decent odds of dropping a Giant every round and they'll never even see her.

Potentially she could down 1 per round. But realistically speaking, she will need to re-position herself to be within sneak range after killing off targets so quickly. And she can sometimes miss.

The net result is she could very easily average killing 1 frost giant per two rounds, which is probably sufficient to defeat a 20 giant encounter all by herself.

That is sufficient to achieve a Death Incarnate achievement badge.

[Peelee]

According to the D&D wiki, 400ft + 40ft/level

That's the range that you can cast the spell at, not the area it affects. That would be not beyond four 10-ft. cubes + one 10-ft. cube/level.

[Lhynard]

I'm curious about the reason for the non-standard size of the second panel.

I wondered this also.

[ManuelSacha]

Oh, Vaarsuvius!
I've missed your deadpan snarking so much!

[zimmerwald1915]

I wondered this also.

If you mean "why is the second set of panels not the same size as the first" that's usually done with an eye towards the eventual printing as a book. Another half-strip (from the next strip, or perhaps bonus content) could fit on the page, or author commentary, or something else.

[Darth Paul]

May I just join all those who have surely rejoiced in quoting;

I AM POINTY DEATH INCARNATE.

This is gonna be great.

[OctoberRaven]

"I am Death Incarnate, and the last living thing...you are ever going to see....GOD sent me." -- Cmdr. Susan Ivanova.

Though in this case, Haley is the last thing you NEVER see.

[dtilque]

That's the range that you can cast the spell at, not the area it affects. That would be not beyond four 10-ft. cubes + one 10-ft. cube/level.

If the Giant wanted Elan to cast a Silent Image over the Mechane, such a restriction would not keep it from happening. So I'm not sure why anyone brought it up. (OK, I do know; you're D&D nerds.) But as pointed out in the quote below, it's probably not a good idea.

The problem isn't WHAT they disguise as; it's that their cover is already blown. Unless the Frost Giants are as dumb as the rocks they're throwing, they're not going to forget that that sudden cloud, bird, dragon, unusually large buffalo wings or whatever WAS an airship a minute ago.

OK, so hiding behind an illusion is a no go. Let's go on the offensive, instead.

A winged, fire-breathing stegosaur emerges from the airship and swoops down to attack the giants. It's an illusion, of course, but its breath attack is coordinated with V's fireballs, its claw attacks are coordinated with Haley's arrows, and Belkar is hanging from a rope and trying to make his knife attacks synchronous with the stegosaur's thagomizer. OK, that's probably more coordination than is realistic to expect, but it sure sounds like fun.

[Lhynard]

If you mean "why is the second set of panels not the same size as the first" that's usually done with an eye towards the eventual printing as a book. Another half-strip (from the next strip, or perhaps bonus content) could fit on the page, or author commentary, or something else.

Yes, but it's still rare that he does that. (I own all the books.) His commentaries tend to be at the start of "chapters", and I don't think he's ever put a 1-1/2-page strip next to a "1/2-1-page" strip, so I'm curious. I'm wondering if it's for a bonus trip. I guess we have years to wait to find out!

[Mathalor]

Possibly stupid question, but, does Haley have to be within 30 feet of her target to sneak attack? Does that include altitude?

[Darth Paul]

As I recall, ranged attacks have to be at point blank to be a sneak attack, so yes, 30'. And altitude would factor.

Nothing says Haley can't shoot arrows from directly above, 30' straight down into the tops of the giants' heads, though. Might even get a damage bonus for the flat trajectory.

[Lombard]

Cool strip. I wonder if it's going to be as easy as all that though.. in a group of giants that size they probably have a caster or two.

[Harrymcb]

Yes, but it's still rare that he does that. (I own all the books.) His commentaries tend to be at the start of "chapters", and I don't think he's ever put a 1-1/2-page strip next to a "1/2-1-page" strip, so I'm curious. I'm wondering if it's for a bonus trip. I guess we have years to wait to find out!

Look at 1012 and 1013

[Roger_Druid]

Hi all!

Great comic! Just wanted to point out that Haley's catch phrase "I'm Pointy Death Incarnate" probably is a tip of the hat to Wolfenstein's most difficult skill level of play; see for yourselves:

http://wolfenstein.wikia.com/wiki/Difficulty_levels

("I'm Death Incarnate")

Roger Druid

[Nith]

It's possible, but I wouldn't think so. It is not so complicated an expression that two people can't have come up with it independently.

[Ruck]

Wow, Hayley is beginning to sound like Belkar...

"Each brings out hidden qualities in the other, until they arrive at a sort of equilibrium."

[Lkctgo]

Haley looks really scary when she's grinning with lustful glee at death.

[DaggerPen]

It's not really that uncommon these days for the Giant to post 1.5 sized strips and just have them seam together in the book - take 915/916, for example. Strip flow reads differently online than in the book, and sometimes ending in the middle of a page makes for a more satisfying update.

[Emanick]

May run into a snag of incompatible orientations there.

Poppycock. Roy likes women; so does Bandana! They have the same orientation!

[Hopeless]

Though in this case, Haley is the last thing you NEVER see.

For reference purposes only!

[arrowed]

For reference purposes only!

At the risk of horribly offending at least one fandom... what's that from? I'm not really into space stuff.

[shylocxs]

We haven't had an epic old fashion battle in ages! I'm so excited!

[Kantaki]

At the risk of horribly offending at least one fandom... what's that from? I'm not really into space stuff.

Babylon 5. Its where the name of the website comes from.

And I have to join those that say that Haley channelling Susan Ivanova is awesome.

[Quebbster]

Why did this need to be a separate thread?

[Berserk Knight]

One of the primary reasons thieves dual-classed into mages back in the day...

[Vinyadan]

The ninja in azure city called himself death incarnate, too.

[hroþila]

It's most likely not a reference to anything. It's what "incarnate" means.