This entire arc could have been avoided

[TheSaracen]

If Elan had stayed long enough at the temple of Freya in #137, and therefore been made a demigod (since Odin remarked that he liked puppets), this entire arc wouldn’t have happened, as Banjo would’ve been the deciding demigod vote at the summit.

Just sort of weird to think about, right?

[snowblizz]

It could also have been avoided by probably half the decisions made since comic #1.

Or if Rich decided to do things differently. Which ofc is the more likely decision to have happened.

[Lethologica]

My headcanon is that at some point the plan was for Banjo, rather than Hermod, to cast the tying vote.

[Linneris]

From a narrative perspective, there was always zero chance of Banjo joining the Northern Pantheon, because it would 1) upset in-universe power-balance and 2) damage the story's credibility. It worked as a throwaway gag, but wouldn't have worked as an actual plot development.

</captain-obvious>

[TheSaracen]

My headcanon is that at some point the plan was for Banjo, rather than Hermod, to cast the tying vote.

I guess if Odin can just made demigods when he pleases, that might not be a bad idea.

Vote Banjo for Demigod 2018!

Though of course Linneris is correct

[hroþila]

I don't think Odin could do that. Odin could however have welcomed Banjo in Asgard as a puppet.

Which would have changed approximately nothing.

[Synesthesy]

Still Banjo would have 0 clericls able to cast "summon proxy" to actually vote at the Godsmoth.

[RatElemental]

Still Banjo would have 0 clericls able to cast "summon proxy" to actually vote at the Godsmoth.

Also, he's a puppet.

[Riftwolf]

If Banjo had voted, then Redcloak would've also voted and retied the vote. Obviously.

[Dion]

I’ve seen no evidence that Banjo would vote to save the world.

[Dr.Zero]

Also, he's a puppet.

I think I've read somewhere that the author usually avoids to read the forums for some reasons, but in that period he probably he made an exception because that strip seems clearly aimed to the forum fanbase.

[zimmerwald1915]

Still Banjo would have 0 clericls able to cast "summon proxy" to actually vote at the Godsmoth.

You need a cleric capable of casting summon proxy to speak at the Godsmoot. To vote, all you need to do is "zot!" your cleric.

[martianmister]

This entire story could have been avoided if Roy had studied enough about how to kill a lich. Then they'd been killed by Redcloak.

[KorvinStarmast]

I guess if Odin can just made demigods when he pleases, that might not be a bad idea.

Vote Banjo for Demigod 2018!

Will do. He can visit with Thrym and discuss how the gods themselves don't show enough respect to demi-gods.

I’ve seen no evidence that Banjo would vote to save the world.

Fair point. Clown ~ malevolent seems to be a modern meme/trope.

[Kish]

You need a cleric capable of casting summon proxy to speak at the Godsmoot. To vote, all you need to do is "zot!" your cleric.

Hel was previously unable to vote in Godsmoots due to the lack of any high-level clerics.

[Reboot]

Hel was previously unable to vote in Godsmoots due to the lack of any high-level clerics.

And yet, Veldrina clearly cast no spell when she got ZOT!ted - she didn't even know she was about to be possessed by someone representing the Western Pantheon.

[Kish]

So conveying another pantheon's already-made vote goes by different rules than the gods currently voting at the Godsmoot. I'm not seeing a good reason (or even a bad one, really) to ignore what Roy says in panel 8.

[hroþila]

And yet, Veldrina clearly cast no spell when she got ZOT!ted - she didn't even know she was about to be possessed by someone representing the Western Pantheon.

But Veldrina wasn't speaking for any one god, she was speaking for a pantheon. I imagine it's not the same spell because it works differently. The art suggests the spell in question came from the representative of the Western gods channeling all the other high priests, but it still required high-enough-level clerics to cast it none the less.

edit: partially Kish'd.

[brian 333]

The OP overlooks the inevitable consequence of Banjo's divinity:

Giggles would have voted the opposite way as Banjo just to cancel out Banjo's vote. Then he'd have smacked Banjo on the back of the head with his Stick of Slapstick Schtick.

The single very easiest way to have avoided this entire arc would have been to listen instead of arguing when The Oracle suggested rewording Roy's question. Simply knowing Azure City was the next target could have mitigated a lot of other issues as well, and it looked like the Oracle wanted to give them that information until Roy acted the jerk.

[KorvinStarmast]

and it looked like the Oracle wanted to give them that information until Roy acted the jerk.

Until Roy acted like a rules lawyer.

[brian 333]

Until Roy acted like a rules lawyer.

Gosh, Korvin Starmast, you say it so much more eloquently than I.

[Throknor]

If they'd noticed Redcloak sneaking off they could have stopped things even quicker. Not much of a story though.

[Sylian]

If they'd noticed Redcloak sneaking off they could have stopped things even quicker. Not much of a story though.

This assumes that the Order could defeat both Redcloak and the Monster in the Darkness at that time (and maybe some goblins), which is far from certain (especially since V was paralyzed). Redcloak probably didn't want to take the risk, though.

[Rogar Demonblud]

and it looked like the Oracle wanted to give them that information until Roy acted the jerk.

Until Roy acted like a rules lawyer.

You say that as if there's a difference.

All of this could have been avoided if Fyron would've ignored the opportunity to drone on about classist bigotry in favor of making sure the murderhobo trying to loot his home was 100% dead.

[TheSaracen]

Still Banjo would have 0 clericls able to cast "summon proxy" to actually vote at the Godsmoth.

Nah, that's just what they WANT you to believe. It's a big conspiracy, you know.

All hail the mighty Banjo!

But, yes, assembled forum-members, the story never would have gone there for a host of reasons.

[KorvinStarmast]

You say that as if there's a difference..

I have quoted Dave Arneson before, but I can't find the exact words. The gist is: Rules lawyers; they are the enemy It's one of those axioms that I have discovered to be sound due to experience at the table. (Plus having a bit of fun with brian's post ... )

[Psyren]

Veldrina's ZOT was cast by the clerics 'Mooting elsewhere in the world for their/her pantheon, not by any single god. That method wouldn't have worked for Hel at all.

[Goblin_Priest]

If Banjo had voted, then Redcloak would've also voted and retied the vote. Obviously.

Speaking of which... why wasn't he, again? Why wasn't the Dark One there? Weren't some other mortal-made-gods there?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Yes, the elves. They became part of the system. TDO is the angry teenager trying to rip down the system. Plus he learned the hard way not to trust the pantheons, since their first act on his ascension was to try and kill him. Hinting that there may have been a few other ascended mortals with the 'wrong' color skin.

[Michaeler]

Giggles would have voted the opposite way as Banjo just to cancel out Banjo's vote. Then he'd have smacked Banjo on the back of the head with his Stick of Slapstick Schtick.

My first thought was that surely smacking another god with a stick would violate the terms of the godsmoot.

My second thought was Elan running around the godsmoot desperately protesting that being smacked with a stick was against the rules and the real gods and clerics pointedly discussing the catering arrangements and ignoring them while the smacking intensified.

I'm going with the second one.