El Goonish ShIVe: Damn It, Dan, Stop Teasing Us!

[Pablo360]

It is a direct sequel in that it overlaps and continues with Marker.

Honestly, they're barely separate storylines. I basically consider Marker to be EFTM0.

[Mith]

Honestly, they're barely separate storylines. I basically consider Marker to be EFTM0.

Fair enough.

As for the current EGS: NP, it gave a chuckle.

Granted, Nanase is probably my overall favourite character in the series (Susan and Tedd are also up there.) I just like her reactions to things in general.

Tedd is fun because they provide a fun character that works well for the better parts of world-building with the setting, and Susan for a different but interesting reaction to scenarios as Nanase.

[Lissou]

Yeah, I was actually wondering if they were both canon for that very reason: because they're pretty much the same story, I thought maybe Dan had separated them into two titles because only one of them was canon. I stand corrected!

[Douglas]

They're separated because they focus on different characters. Marker is all about Pandora looking for people to give marks to. EftM is all about Catalina accidentally using the spell Pandora just gave her, and the hijinks she and Rhoda get up to as a result.

[Fyraltari]

Spoiler: NP

Show

That's a weird way to push a scale upward.

[Lissou]

Yeah, are the wires actually metal rods or something? Why are they still taught?

[DavidSh]

The wires are behaving normally. If Nanase lifts her pan slowly, the weight of Sarah's pan will exert torque on the balance arm, lifting the arm on Nanase's side, and maintaining some tension.

[ElementalKnight]

Hm. The scales in the NP comic might make a fun dungeon puzzle, actually...

I'm imagining something like, a door with a particular profile on it - it might be asking for a particular combination of races, or a particular loadout of stats. Players could use the scales to rebalance and mix-match their numbers to get someone to that proper profile, to open the door. Perhaps it's some long-ago hero's specific build, or the 'ideal' hero of an ancient race.

You'd probably want to have it also shuffle things like powers, spells, or what-have-you, so that if, say, the Fighter gets some of a Wizard's INT, they also have some spells to go with it. Then have a few fights past the door for players to play around with their madlib'd character sheets, before they can reset back to normal.

Nothing too crazy, but it could be fun for a lark. Hrm!

Anyway. I'm curious to find out what the other settings on the dial do. Shenanigans, I'm sure.

[Pablo360]

The wires are behaving normally. If Nanase lifts her pan slowly, the weight of Sarah's pan will exert torque on the balance arm, lifting the arm on Nanase's side, and maintaining some tension.

It all depends on whether she accelerates it upward more than the force of gravity accelerates the other end downard — or, more accurately, whether the difference is small enough to not be noticeable during the instant time which the middle panel portrays.

[Pablo360]

Spoiler: Panel 2 of the new comic

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Sam (thinking): “I am now retroactively terrified.”

[Vinyadan]

"Tears for Pandora" could be a nice title for a music album. I still think they are unwarranted, by the way. Although Grace is excused, given that she does cry very often.

[Kish]

Yeah, Grace tried to save Damien, even.

It's actually surprising to me that she seemed as ambivalent to Pandora as she did before the last panel, rather than getting right on the "she's totally a friend!" train along with Tedd and Sarah.

[Gez]

Yeah, are the wires actually metal rods or something? Why are they still taught?

Took me a while to get what you meant, so I'll point it out because I was confused and thought you meant something about teaching how to use balance scales: taut.

[Lissou]

Took me a while to get what you meant, so I'll point it out because I was confused and thought you meant something about teaching how to use balance scales: taut.

Thanks! Sorry for the confusion :)

[Pablo360]

Spoiler: New comic

Show

Aha, Grace! Now the awkwardness shoe is on the other awkwardness foot! How does it awkwardness feel to be in Sam's awkwardness position? I bet it's awkwardness awkward.

[Kish]

I'm guessing that "Gods, Grace! Way to make it all about you!" is not the reaction Dan's going for.

[Pablo360]

I'm guessing that "Gods, Grace! Way to make it all about you!" is not the reaction Dan's going for.

Yes, how dare Grace apologize

[Rater202]

Panel two is the Gracest thing that Grace has ever said or thought.

The image in my head is adorable.

[Lizard Lord]

I kind of hope learning that Sam doesn't hate her doesn't cause Grace to change her mind about Luke. Simply because Luke didn't give Grace the same reasons Grace gave Sam. He has treated Grace differently and he has told other people (which Grace can deduce given that (I'm pretty sure) she knows that Luke came to the comic book shop on a reconnaissance mission in the first place.)

I don't say this to pass judgment on Luke, simply to state that if/when Dan wants Grace to bury the hatchet with Luke it would make sense for her to have other reasons than her talk with Sam.

[Vinyadan]

Wow, Dr Germahn really let himself go.

[Rater202]

I'm like, 99% sure that's Cadmin based on the link in the commentary.

[Fyraltari]

I'm like, 99% sure that's Cadmin based on the link in the commentary.

Yop looks like his mark gives him some invisibility power. And he uses it to spy on people.

[Vinyadan]

I have to say that this conversation was the part of EGS I have enjoyed the most since I can't remember when. I can't really put my finger on why, though.

[Pablo360]

I have to say that this conversation was the part of EGS I have enjoyed the most since I can't remember when. I can't really put my finger on why, though.

Probably because, weirdly enough, this is the most grounded it's been for quite a while. I like Sister III as much as the next guy but The Secret of Sam feels like a way more human story.

[Mith]

I have to say that this conversation was the part of EGS I have enjoyed the most since I can't remember when. I can't really put my finger on why, though.

To me, EGS is at it's best with it's character interaction, and worst with it's action scenes. Dan can probably draw an action sequence I would enjoy, but he doesn't like hurting his characters in any fashion, and it shows in the combat scenes, IMO.

It also shws in that all the trauma we've seen on most characters post Painted Black is either backstory or fairly quickly resolved in story. I was kinda annoyed when this alien Will of Magic made a point to console Tedd with something that could have been a surprise reveal. And as noted, Tedd and Adrian are the only people that really have a reason to be teary eyed about Pandora's passing.

[Rater202]

To me, EGS is at it's best with it's character interaction, and worst with it's action scenes. Dan can probably draw an action sequence I would enjoy, but he doesn't like hurting his characters in any fashion, and it shows in the combat scenes, IMO.

It also shws in that all the trauma we've seen on most characters post Painted Black is either backstory or fairly quickly resolved in story. I was kinda annoyed when this alien Will of Magic made a point to console Tedd with something that could have been a surprise reveal. And as noted, Tedd and Adrian are the only people that really have a reason to be teary eyed about Pandora's passing.

Sarah had just made friends with someone who died shortly after, which is sad.

And Grace is sad because everyone else is sad.

[Mith]

Sarah had just made friends with someone who died shortly after, which is sad.

And Grace is sad because everyone else is sad.

I guess this reaction just seemed a bit much for me based on what we see of Sarah and Pandora's interactions.

But that's just me.

[Pablo360]

I promised myself I wouldn't get sucked back into that argument about “Dan being afraid to hurt his characters”, please don't make me break that promise

[halfeye]

I suspect Smoke is Pandora returned. Any reasons I'm wrong on that one?

[Mith]

I suspect Smoke is Pandora returned. Any reasons I'm wrong on that one?

I am thinking Camdin, since he planned to do his own snooping about.

Plus one of the marks was a cloud, which could be a smoke cloud.