New OOTS products from CafePress
New OOTS t-shirts, ornaments, mugs, bags, and more
Page 4 of 10 FirstFirst 12345678910 LastLast
Results 91 to 120 of 277
  1. - Top - End - #91
    Magnificent Boop in the Playground
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by Gez View Post
    So it should, tactically, be the first target for Parson's swarm. Cut her escape route and let her plummet on the dead dwagon to a watery grave (gwave?), forcing one of the Archons to intercept her fall (meaning that said Archon won't instakill another Dwagon during this battleround).
    If Parson thinks of that in time. (The uncroaked warlords won't, after all; they'll just follow their current orders to swarm Jillian and strike to croak.)

  2. - Top - End - #92
    Orc in the Playground
     
    EntilZha's Avatar

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Arlington, TX
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by JazzManJim View Post
    It's interesting to me that Parson gave the croak order without asking Stanley or Wanda first.
    Wanda's the only one I'd see objecting to it. As far as Stanley's concerned, she works with Ansom, obviously making her the enemy, and eminently croakable.
    Another Erfword Tool

    Official Metalhead of the I Hate Club. Good riddance.

    W.W.S.H.D.
    (What Would Sledge Hammer Do?)

  3. - Top - End - #93
    Ogre in the Playground
     
    Surfing HalfOrc's Avatar

    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    White Sands Missile Range
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by SteveMB View Post
    Actually, it might be even more entertaining if Parson starts the tirade (if he gets a moment free from the task of trying to salvage this mess), with the Tool fully backing him up.
    That is what I was thinking. Parson knows how to fight this type of battle, commanding troops, not having to worry about his own personal shortcomings. If and when Parson finishes the fight, and withdraws the B-dwagons, and any surviving A-dwagons, he can try something else. But from this point forward, I don't think he or anyone else will be depending on Wanda's control over Jillian.

    Parson has Sizemore, Misty and Bogroll, and now probably the Tool. Wanda only has her rather impressive force of personality. Looks like the pecking order is about to change.
    Thanks to Ceika (X2), Yeril, Holammer and Dr. Bath for the Avatars!
    New Avatar, new form of self-destruction! Ceika is Beyond Awesome!

  4. - Top - End - #94
    Pixie in the Playground
    Join Date
    Jun 2007

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    I know someone has probably mentioned it but in panel three that peep is eating a dwagons head. That is just freaking awesome.

    And to chime in on the Jillian/Wanda topic. I an not sure Jillian has totaly broken the spell, notice how she says 'Whatever happens one of your dolls is about to get broken." I think this attack is her method of choosing by not choosing. If she wins the fight she gets Ansom, if she loses then Wanda can uncroak her. A kind of skewed win-win depending on your point of view.

  5. - Top - End - #95
    Orc in the Playground
     
    PaladinGuy

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Huh. An unexpected update. How nice! I thought it would be two more weeks before saw anything.

    Quote Originally Posted by tomaO2 View Post
    He can still win, theoretically, but it's pretty much game over.
    Phat-Singh is still around, so calling it game over is silly. (Seriously, though, this is the last move for Ansom's side and Parson has plenty of resources.)

    As a main character Jillian, can't die this early in the comic.
    Having Jillian wiped out adds interesting complications to the story.

    And even if she lives, having them go for a kill is easier than going for a capture. They might merely disable her, but at least they don't have unnecessary losses trying to capture.

    Quote Originally Posted by Burrito View Post
    She has a whole lot of rage inside her, just wondering who she is going to let it out on?
    Wanda versus the Archons would be hella cool, yes?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lazy Fat Man View Post
    Yeah, What's up with that. Maybe he still thinks this is all in his head. Either that or he never had any cumpulsion against killing.
    So the dozens of towers filled with marbits that he set aflame were just ... what, exactly?

    Quote Originally Posted by Stormbright View Post
    Seems like Parson is sacrificing the trap he laid for Jetstone in an attempt to take out Jill, and that really doesn't make much sense at all.
    Parson is trying to survive, which should hopefully make some sense. The trap still exists, but until this battle is complete, it is too early to tell what will happen.

  6. - Top - End - #96
    Orc in the Playground
     
    PaladinGuy

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    (2/3 -- Breaking up replies to be a bit more manageable)

    Quote Originally Posted by SteveMB View Post
    Interesting question -- is Parson still treating it like a game, or is he making a cold pragmatic decision that in war, you kill the enemy when you get the chance and don't have a reason not to?
    Game or not, he's living in it, and he'd like to live.

    In hard practical terms, he doesn't really have the luxury of going for the capture; at the very least, that means one dwagon loses its breath weapon or claws to keep hold of the prisoner during the battle.
    True on the first part, but not on the second. Knock her into the water. That has the advantage of using up an action of at least one if not all archons since they were hired to protect her.

    Quote Originally Posted by SteveMB View Post
    I expect that Part I to be a sufficiently self-contained story to stand on its own whether or not that happens.
    Jillian's survival is not required or prohibited. As heir, there is usefulness in her staying in the story. As a tension point, I can also see her passing.

    Quote Originally Posted by SteveMB View Post
    If so, I think he's going to head there.
    That could either be ugly or interesting.

    Quote Originally Posted by Gamebird View Post
    It can be followed by Ansom cradling her dead body and swearing vengeance against Stanley, etc.
    Whew. Good thing he hasn't already sworn vengeance against him. Oh, wait...

    Quote Originally Posted by the_tick_rules View Post
    guess wanda's gonna ahve do take off her clothes again to calm stanley down. i've heard of taking one for the team but darn.
    Technically, that would be two for the team.

    Quote Originally Posted by JazzManJim View Post
    It's interesting to me that Parson gave the croak order without asking Stanley or Wanda first.
    Yeah. Of course, he's the only one capable of coherent thought and action at the moment. But I do like it.
    Last edited by rosebud; 2007-09-07 at 07:23 AM.

  7. - Top - End - #97
    Orc in the Playground
     
    PaladinGuy

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    (3/3 -- Breaking up replies to be a bit more manageable)

    Quote Originally Posted by Girl Wonder View Post
    I, for one, could not be happier.
    Well, I have to say you've been both defiant and consistent. (I like characters on both sides, but I'd like to see Parson survive. But I do admire your point of view.)

    Quote Originally Posted by SPoD View Post
    I expect this will end with Parson dressing down Wanda, and Stanley approving.
    Only if Parson is a complete idiot. You don't need internal dissension -- you need the team working together. The best thing Parson can do after completing this battle is ensure this does not happen.

    Quote Originally Posted by tomaO2 View Post
    the odds are not overwhelming for Parson, Jillian's side has all the momentum.
    I'm not sure what story you're reading, but it's been lopsided from the beginning of the story. And nothing is certain right now, such just enjoy it.

    The goodbye did release a plot point that that had to be dealt with before Jillian died.
    She might live. She might not. There's clearly reasons to have her live even if she loses this engagement. And there's reasons for her not to. Personally, the character development would be sufficiently interesting that I would like to see it.

    Quote Originally Posted by Fuzzy_Juan View Post
    I think the only way she can stay true to both is just to take herself out of the fight the only way she knows how...to 'die' in glorious combat.
    She takes risks and might die, but dying is not on her agenda. Please don't misunderstand what she's doing.

    Quote Originally Posted by israfel420 View Post
    Why is everyone acting like Parson is the hero here?
    Because he's able to act.

    I mean if he hadn't tried to trap Ansom with that fort gambit he could have simply stacked all the dragons over the one lake(A and B) and been immune to this pitiful band of flyers.
    It's not "pitiful". And he had reasons to expect that Jillian was not in the battle. If he took the mass stack approach, he would not have a situation where the fliers and air-attack capable units were separated from the column. Instead, the column would have been better fortified and attacking the siege engines would have been much more dangerous.

    So I feel Parson has majorly booped up by taking a risky maneuvor that was unlikely to pay off considering Ansom's move rate and strength.
    Gobwin knob is still strong, and Parson can still hurt the siege if he has a means to get warlords in place (which could easily be possible). As far as his commander is concerned, Gobwin knob is expendable -- his main goal are the Arkenpliers, which could have a major effect on the balance of power. If Parson can win this encounter and still obtain the pliers, he's doing fine as far as his overlord's goals are concerned.

    I do agree that he took dangerous risks that were probably not warranted, but it is still possible to make this scenario work in his favor. And, yes, he could be defeated, but that's what made the setup challenging and interesting.

  8. - Top - End - #98
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    Freederick's Avatar

    Join Date
    May 2007

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by Scientivore View Post
    Wow! That is some awesome art, and a very dramatic twist with Parson's order to croak Jillian. His cool control in a crisis is impressive.
    Impressive my arse! Parson is, regrettably, not what he was advertised to be. He loses his cool in the last panel and reacts emotionally, making the worst possible decision for irrational reasons. At this point, it is more than ever critical to capture, rather than croak, Jillian. Her worth to Ansom has just skyrocketed; as a hostage she would be a very valuable bargaining piece, and a crimp in Ansom's plans. This is doubly important now that the dwagons and the warlords are going to heck in a bucket. On the other hand, if she's killed, Ansom will be after Parson's arse personally--no more maneuvering, coalition politics, etc. Neither can live while the other survives.

    But Parson reacts emotionally like a newbie gamer--he has cracked under pressure, and is about to discard a key asset in a fit of childish pique. This is unforgivable in a strategist. Contrast this with Ansom, who has been shown to think coolly and creatively even with his boops in a vice. I find this hard to admit, being a fan of Parson from the start, but Ansom is the better warlord of the two.

    Quote Originally Posted by Krelon View Post
    ...
    prediction:
    Spoiler
    Show

    (Tool round) -Jillian
    (Ansom round) -4 dwagons
    (Tool round) -4 peeps
    (Ansom round) archons disengage (carrying badly wounded Jillian to safety)
    result: half of the dwagons lost, nearly no losses to the coalition but Parson can still carry out his siege trashing.
    Wanda booped big time, Parson the hero
    Hardly the hero, but otherwise a nifty resolution. I like it.

    _____________
    P.S.: For another very cogent Parson-debunking analysis, see this post. Get your act together now, Mr. Holy-boop-unbeatable-extradimensional-super-duper-warlord!

  9. - Top - End - #99
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    BlackDragon

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Ooh, Parson's pissed. Seems like he can be scary when he's pissed. But I hope his manuever doesn't get all his warlords killed. That would make his run as commander of The Tool's Army pretty short.
    Telling someone they have some kind of mental problem because they disagree with you is not a good argument.

  10. - Top - End - #100
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    Krelon's Avatar

    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Europe, GMT+1

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    hmm.. capture might be better in the long term, but:

    I think he played with his mathamancy tool in the meantime (talking to friends, e.t.c.) and is maximizing the odds through micromanagement. However... the battle itself is real time! Therefore he must act fast.

    Let's say the default is that dwagons attack randomly and the standard warlord tactic is set to capture (no death attacks on the warlord). You get 39%.

    If he forgoes the chance to capture then that might increase his chances to remove Jillian in one round. As a result the peeps and archons lose their +9 and suddenly he gets a much higher %-age.

    Of course this is pure speculation, so take it with grain of salt.
    Orc Girl Avatar by Yeril !

    Irideen Yoannaell,woodelf ranger Into the Depths of the Earth (Dawnhorn) character sheet

  11. - Top - End - #101
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    warmachine's Avatar

    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Reading, England
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    I reckon Parson is activating a backup plan. He was hoping Jillian wouldn't fight for Ansom but had a plan if she did - exploitation of an obscure battle rule. I reckon there's a rule for a stack mobbing a warlord. Two units for every enemy unit must engage with the remainder end running the target. However the size of the dragons permits them just one to one engagement. Merging the two other stacks and attacking as one stack means plenty of dwagons remaining for the end run. This is enough to take out Jillian but with heavy losses. The Archons inflict more losses then fly back to base to demand more payment, which isn't available.

    This leaves half the dwagons gone but Ansom's dwagon hunter gone as well. This gives Parson almost uncontested air superiority. Stacks of powerful, mobile creatures and unmatched battlefield information means he can pick his battles on his terms. This is what he needs to pull off the successful defence of Gobwin Knob.
    Matthew Greet
    My purpose in life is to play games.

  12. - Top - End - #102
    Magnificent Boop in the Playground
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by Maelore View Post
    I know someone has probably mentioned it but in panel three that peep is eating a dwagons head. That is just freaking awesome.
    Indeed. Also note the fourth gwiffon being attacked by a fire blast from the red dwagon.

    And to chime in on the Jillian/Wanda topic. I an not sure Jillian has totaly broken the spell, notice how she says 'Whatever happens one of your dolls is about to get broken." I think this attack is her method of choosing by not choosing. If she wins the fight she gets Ansom, if she loses then Wanda can uncroak her. A kind of skewed win-win depending on your point of view.
    I think she has broken the spell, but probably retains some effects from mundane psychological manipulation (which are, however, pushed to the back of her mind by her immersion in battle and counterbalanced by her reaction to knowing about Wanda's spell after being freed of its influence).
    Last edited by SteveMB; 2007-09-07 at 09:51 AM.

  13. - Top - End - #103
    Troll in the Playground
     
    Trixie's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    TGaPT

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Yes, capturing her is not worth the loss of several dragons, and Parson is already quickly running out of them. If killing Jillian saves even a few of those, he still can do several things with them. If he loses too many trying to capture her... well, the game's over no matter if they capture her or not.

    He already lost 5 dragons in exchange for one peep.

    And, by the way - the peep killing dragon is absurd. Attacking the only point where the dragon has a perfect opportunity to empty several buckets of chlorine acid... in your face?

    It should have ended like that peep wasted by red's flame breath just above in the same frame

  14. - Top - End - #104
    Magnificent Boop in the Playground
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by Freederick View Post
    Impressive my arse! Parson is, regrettably, not what he was advertised to be. He loses his cool in the last panel and reacts emotionally, making the worst possible decision for irrational reasons. At this point, it is more than ever critical to capture, rather than croak, Jillian. Her worth to Ansom has just skyrocketed; as a hostage she would be a very valuable bargaining piece, and a crimp in Ansom's plans.
    How so? (The fact that she's just confessed her love to Ansom is irrelevant. There has been absolutely no indication that the trimancer can detect, much less eavesdrop on, Thinakagrams, so it must be presumed that Team Stanley doesn't know that.)

    This is doubly important now that the dwagons and the warlords are going to heck in a bucket. On the other hand, if she's killed, Ansom will be after Parson's arse personally
    Ansom doesn't know that Parson exists, and won't find out (at least not for the time being) if Jillian is croaked before communicating with him again. (And that's assuming that Wanda went on to tell her about that part after griping about Stanley making her cast the spell and yelling garbage at her, and permitted her to remember it.)

  15. - Top - End - #105
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    Freederick's Avatar

    Join Date
    May 2007

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by SteveMB View Post
    How so? (The fact that she's just confessed her love to Ansom is irrelevant. There has been absolutely no indication that the trimancer can detect, much less eavesdrop on, Thinakagrams, so it must be presumed that Team Stanley doesn't know that.)


    Ansom doesn't know that Parson exists, and won't find out (at least not for the time being) if Jillian is croaked before communicating with him again. (And that's assuming that Wanda went on to tell her about that part after griping about Stanley making her cast the spell and yelling garbage at her, and permitted her to remember it.)
    1. Team Stanley already knows that Ansom loves Jillian, which is what matters here. They also know she just pulled his boops out of the fire, or is valiantly trying to, at any rate. It doesn't take much pie brains to figure out that she'll be very valuable as a hostage, and that croaking her will up the ante with Ansom.

    2. Ansom will inevitably find out sooner or later, which also should be obvious.

  16. - Top - End - #106
    Magnificent Boop in the Playground
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by Freederick View Post
    1. Team Stanley already knows that Ansom loves Jillian, which is what matters here. They also know she just pulled his boops out of the fire, or is valiantly trying to, at any rate. It doesn't take much pie brains to figure out that she'll be very valuable as a hostage, and that croaking her will up the ante with Ansom.
    That much was already known to them when they had her as a prisoner earlier. They didn't seem to think the "hostage" gambit was even worth attempting.

    While I don't deny that Parson is reacting in part out of irritation at his plan going bubar, I think he's simply decided that he doesn't have the luxury of pulling any punches in this battle.

    Edit: The "In Memoriam" avatar -- heh!
    Last edited by SteveMB; 2007-09-07 at 09:50 AM.

  17. - Top - End - #107
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    TheOtherMC's Avatar

    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Erving, Massachusets
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Will the Leroy Jenkins references ever end?!?!?!?!


    ....not if I can help it
    "All sorts of nastiness happens in a dungeon. That's why they are not called "malls"." -Wehrkind

  18. - Top - End - #108
    Orc in the Playground
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by Freederick View Post
    1. Team Stanley already knows that Ansom loves Jillian, which is what matters here. They also know she just pulled his boops out of the fire, or is valiantly trying to, at any rate. It doesn't take much pie brains to figure out that she'll be very valuable as a hostage, and that croaking her will up the ante with Ansom.
    Actually, Ansom is suspecting that she's a traitor, and he's not the only one. He's already suspicious of all the times she was captured. Hence, if Jillian is captured AGAIN, he might not be willing to go after her, especially considering what happened the last time he tried.
    Quote Originally Posted by Freederick View Post
    2. Ansom will inevitably find out sooner or later, which also should be obvious.
    How?

  19. - Top - End - #109
    Halfling in the Playground
     
    DwarfBarbarianGuy

    Join Date
    Sep 2007

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Oh. My. God.

    I know its free, but if you're only going to post one or two comics a week, can we pick up the story pace a little? This is slower than an episode of Dragonball-Z on Ketamine.

    Liked that last panel though. Parson's getting ruthless :)

  20. - Top - End - #110
    Troll in the Playground
     
    DwarfClericGuy

    Join Date
    Jun 2007

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by Demonix View Post
    Liked that last panel though. Parson's getting ruthless :)
    No, not ruthless. Practical.

    He can't rely on Jillian - she's already taken out one warlord and a dwagon, and will presumably keep going until she takes them all out.

    He can't use Wanda's spell - Jillian's shown Wanda can't control her anymore.

    He can't capture Jillian - he needs every dwagon he can muster to take out the remaining siege if his warlords survive this battle. Capturing Jillian again would risk more dwagons AND ensure a dwagon isn't in the siege battles because it'd have to return to GK with Jillian.

    Plus, it wouldn't give him any advantage. Jillian hasn't been out in the field long enough to have any new info on Ansom's plans, she can't be used as a bargaining chip, and she's shown herself able to resist Wanda's spells.

    Jillian is, to Parson, fully on the enemy side now and to be treated as such.
    May you get EXACTLY what you wish for.

  21. - Top - End - #111
    Dwarf in the Playground
    Join Date
    Jun 2007

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Well, that cleared a lot of things up for me.

    Vengeful barbarian Jillian is much more fun than conflicted schlub Jillian.

    Wanda just learned that you can't make something harder without also making it more brittle. Jaclyn broke the enchantment on Jillian exactly the way Sizemore said it could be broken: By forcing her to realize that there was no rationalization that could accommodate her conflicted loyalties. Now she wants Wanda to watch what she's doing to her "toys" as payback for what Wanda did to her. If Wanda's next word is "Inconceivable!" I will fall out of my chair laughing.

    Parson's response is sound: He has better-than-even odds of losing his entire elite tactical force (the B dwagons aren't so mobile). The biggest threat, the warlord and commander of the enemy air force with a superabundance of courage, a 9 ranking and a grudge, has to be eliminated. (The Archons are ferocious, but they're also contractors: if Jillian dies they might return to Ansom.) By ordering a croak rather than a capture he's allowing the dwagons to use bweath weapons rather than getting close enough for her to croak them. No, it's not an ideal long term strategy, but right now he's more concerned about whether there will be a long term. His side has already lost a major asset: Their mole in the enemy ranks.

    GK has nothing to blame but the fog of war they created among their own senior command. Their has to be one commander, one strategy, and open and frank lines of communication or you get situations like this.

    Speaking of that, here's the next question: Does Wanda love Jillian? She has a distinctly jilted look in that panel. If so, the situation is reversed and GK is the side with the powerful but conflicted warlord. My guess is that Stanley won't be quite as patient with the situation as Ansom was.
    Last edited by Wender; 2007-09-07 at 09:52 AM. Reason: <em> -> [i]

  22. - Top - End - #112
    Titan in the Playground
     
    Planetar

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Raleigh NC
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Thank you, authors.

    TBH, I just about gave up on this comic on the last strip. Why? Because it seemed to show Team Ansom simply walking over Team Tool with nothing they could do about it but simply take it. Turn-based warfare strikes again.

    But now that we've seen that Parson can control the tactical battle ... NOW it's a fight. NOW it's not just sitting passively waiting to be raped by three archons.

    NOW there's some dramatic tension, and you've perked my interest anew.

    About the only complaint I have is the pacing. But then, the art is beautiful. It must take longer to make than the Giant's stick figures.

    My guess is that in just a few turns Parson's side will have only two warlords -- Parson himself, and uncroaked Jillian. That, at any rate, would be the revenge I would expect Wanda to extract if Jillian dies and Team Tool recovers the body.

    I would also hope Parson convinces the Tool to buy the Archons. They're too useful in a fight to leave to the other side.

    Respectfully,

    Brian P.
    Last edited by pendell; 2007-09-07 at 09:35 AM.

  23. - Top - End - #113
    Halfling in the Playground
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    I really don't see the whole, "Jillian can't die this early on thing."

    To make a comparison, its near the end of the first part(book).

    So far the story has centered mostly around her.

    She has been the hero but circumstances have suddenly and drastically changed.

    She seems a lot like Ned Stark from A Song of Ice and Fire.

    Good storytelling doesn't give a pass on anyone to stay alive, all characters are mortal. Makes the decisions more dramatic. And killing off a character so central to the plot makes you wonder for characters that you are SURE will make it through. What if they don't? What if I am reading this wrong.

    That's good storytelling, keeps you on your toes.
    "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." - Freud
    Spoiler
    Show



  24. - Top - End - #114
    Barbarian in the Playground
     
    TheMeanDM's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    The Ice Fields of Iowa
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by tomaO2 View Post
    [COLOR="Indigo"][FONT="Comic Sans MS"] As a main character Jillian, can't die this early in the comic. So we know that any attempt to kill her ins pointless so in a meta way, that's another reason why she will win this.
    If anything, the authors have shown that they're not afraid to break with conventional thinking.

    I wouldn't discount the idea that Jillian gets croaked...then uncroaked...by Wanda.

    Wouldn't that be interesting...

  25. - Top - End - #115
    Troll in the Playground
     
    DwarfClericGuy

    Join Date
    Jun 2007

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by Wender View Post
    Speaking of that, here's the next question: Does Wanda love Jillian? She has a distinctly jilted look in that panel. If so, the situation is reversed and GK is the side with the powerful but conflicted warlord. My guess is that Stanley won't be quite as patient with the situation as Ansom was.
    Wanda love Jillian? I find it difficult to believe that someone like Wanda could truly love someone. She likes being manipulative and having control. She's just realized that someone she enjoyed controlling is out to get her now. That and a potential escape route if Stanley lost is gone.

    Quote Originally Posted by pendell View Post
    My guess is that in just a few turns Parson's side will have only two warlords -- Parson himself, and uncroaked Jillian. That, at any rate, would be the revenge I would expect Wanda to extract if Jillian dies and Team Tool recovers the body.
    In a few turns it could be all over anyway. Ansom's siege will be at GK in a turn or two. It wouldn't take that long, given the size of Ansom's army, to crack GK's defenses and break through.

    Now, if you're referring to battle ROUNDS, then, no. There are still 2 uncroaked warlords back at GK; Parson only sent 3 out for his assault.
    Last edited by sihnfahl; 2007-09-07 at 10:09 AM.
    May you get EXACTLY what you wish for.

  26. - Top - End - #116
    Pixie in the Playground
    Join Date
    Sep 2007

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    The thing I think is most interesting about this page is Jillian's statement that "One of your dolls is about to get broken." Jillian is obviously one of them, but who's the other?

    All signs point to Stanley, to my mind. We've seen Wanda manipulating him throughout (and using some of the same techniques *koff* on both of them), and there's no one else we've seen who fits the bill; most of them are unimportant, and Parson's come onto the scene too late for it to be him. Unless it's a foreshadowing of the appearance of another major player (unlikely at this point), I think this is the strongest evidence yet that Wanda has been playing both ends against the middle in this conflict.

    I guess the question now is--is this Wanda's "Game Over"?
    Last edited by Neuromancer; 2007-09-07 at 10:16 AM.

  27. - Top - End - #117
    Barbarian in the Playground
    Join Date
    May 2007

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by Neuromancer View Post
    The thing I think is most interesting about this page is Jillian's statement that "One of your dolls is about to get broken." Jillian is obviously one of them, but who's the other?
    Jillian is Wanda's favorite doll no?
    Arena Initiate Referee

  28. - Top - End - #118
    Magnificent Boop in the Playground
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Northern Virginia
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Quote Originally Posted by Neuromancer View Post
    The thing I think is most interesting about this page is Jillian's statement that "One of your dolls is about to get broken." Jillian is obviously one of them, but who's the other?
    Leeroy (who did, in fact, get broken).

    All signs point to Stanley, to my mind. We've seen Wanda manipulating him throughout (and using some of the same techniques *koff* on both of them), and there's no one else we've seen who fits the bill; most of them are unimportant, and Parson's come onto the scene too late for it to be him. Unless it's a foreshadowing, I think this is the strongest evidence yet that Wanda has been playing both ends against the middle in this conflict.
    Huh? Even setting aside the much more obvious interpretation that she's referring to her uncroaked-warlord target, there's no reason to believe that Jillian knows anything about Wanda's manipulation of the Tool (it might have come up in their post-session "girl talk," but that's pure speculation).

    I guess the question now is--is this Wanda's "Game Over"?
    It's certainly looking bad for her. At the very least, she's just fallen flat on her face in front of everybody. If she had been cultivating Jillian as a backup option (eventual replacement for Stanley as manipulated nominal superior, an ally to cover her flight from the final defeat, Coalition-installed ruler of Gobwin Knob willing to let her off the hook), those plans have gone into Sizemore's cesspit.
    Last edited by SteveMB; 2007-09-07 at 10:25 AM.

  29. - Top - End - #119
    Dwarf in the Playground
     
    benthehater's Avatar

    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    ohio
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    This is awesome. :)

    I can't help but feel that my emotional investment into the story preventing me from making accurate objective speculation isn't such a bad thing. I'm certainly having a good time of it in any case.

    As for Parson's order to croak, I'm not so sure that's sound. I think there's a strong possibility that it's far easier to croak Jillian's mount than it is to croak her, which I suppose kind of explains how a warlord as strong as her gets captured so often.

    Then again, if Parson recognises that this entire mess occurred basically because of Jillian being allowed to continue to return to battle, and likely will continue to occur unless she's croaked, that it is sound to remove her from the battlefield.

    Love the RIP avatar for Leeroy, but find it funny that as an uncroaked, he certainly didn't the first time.
    might just play the wall with this mean look on my grill
    act like i'm the hater that hates you from hateville
    -
    Though I may not appear to be an actual hater, I assure you, my quiet hate for the stupid is very real, and I do have both authentic hater cred and a ballpeen hammer."

  30. - Top - End - #120
    Pixie in the Playground
     
    FoolishOwl's Avatar

    Join Date
    May 2007
    Gender
    Male

    Default Re: Erfworld 76, page 70

    Jillian's one doll, the other was Leeroy Jenkins.

    One thing that strikes me about that statement is that Jillian's resolved her conflict by settling on a deathwish, and hopes her own death hurts Wanda. Note, by the way, that she says, "Whatever happens... one of your dolls is about to get broken." That doesn't mean she's looking to be uncroaked.

    Parson is doubtlessly angry, but I don't think he's being irrational. Jillian's the warlord in the stack, the most important unit and now vulnerable to attack. The entire point of this and the last page is that Jillian is NOT an asset to Stanley's side. She's been a sort of double-agent, but has now firmly decided to side against them, making her doubly a threat. Finally, Parson's only hope to avoid being disbanded is to visibly do everything he can to recover from Wanda's mistake. If he's politically savvy, he may have to disassociate himself from Wanda, and in a hurry.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •