OOTS #1161 - The Discussion Thread

[SlashDash]

Is it bad that I kind of want Wormy not to lose?

I wonder if this is setting up Belkars death- but then again someone always says that whenever Belkar is in trouble

Yeah, no way in heck.
We've seen Bloodfeast being mentioned several times including when they came here.

That's definitely Checkov's Dinosaur.

I think this is the first time a non-periodic elemental shows up.
Although I don't want to reread the entire comic to be sure.

Weren't there any classic elementals during the first book? With the Earth\Fire\Air sigil parts?

Where IS Hilgya? We saw her from the back in the previous comic, but she's no where to be seen here. I guess she's going to hit the elementals from behind? maybe she's not very fast.

My guess, Hilga is working on something with a long casting time. Hilga is far closer to the "classic" cleric than Durkon - She uses scrying for crying out loud.
Heck, he doesn't even put points in knowledge (Religion)

I would also guess that Hilga could something something of her own (like the Giraffes) but that would be too much going on in the battle for this comic.

[Sniccups]

I didn't mean THAT Team Evil. I meant the OTHER Team Evil. Or one of them.

Xykon's actually referred to his team as Team Evil.

On another note, this is the first time since book 2 (!) where the entire Order is fighting an actual monster. For every fight since then, at least one member has been missing or evil.

[zimmerwald1915]

Xykon's actually referred to his team as Team Evil.

On another note, this is the first time since book 2 (!) where the entire Order is fighting an actual monster. For every fight since then, at least one member has been missing or evil.

At least one member is still Evil.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

On another note, this is the first time since book 2 (!) where the entire Order is fighting an actual monster. For every fight since then, at least one member has been missing or evil.

Slavers are monsters (Durkon doesn't do much on-screen in that fight, be he was present).

Grey Wolf

[gatemansgc]

oof, everyone failed their save against mass hold monster.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

oof, everyone failed their save against mass hold monster.

No they did not all fail. Durkon saved.

Grey Wolf

[Reboot]

On another note, this is the first time since book 2 (!) where the entire Order is fighting an actual monster. For every fight since then, at least one member has been missing or evil.

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0688.html

[Anarion]

I really like the zoomed back scene with the summon monster pulling the stone elementals out of the bridge while the order is fighting. Any chance that could end up being a wallpaper or calendar scene with higher detail at some point?

[gatemansgc]

No they did not all fail. Durkon saved.

Grey Wolf

then why did he still get hit by the rock? was he standing there confused? he did look confused.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

then why did he still get hit by the rock?

Because his reflex save is terrible.

was he standing there confused? he did look confused.

The fact that he changes expression from panel to panel is what clues you that he was not in fact not paralyzed. And he stands around because it is not his turn.

Grey Wolf

[Peelee]

Reached the end of his movement range for his turn? Remember when he stopped in mid-air for that same reason?

Grey Wolf

Currently I think thatd be shown by Belkar just catching up to them actively.

[gatemansgc]

Because his reflex save is terrible.


The fact that he changes expression from panel to panel is what clues you that he was not in fact not paralyzed. And he stands around because it is not his turn.

Grey Wolf

makes sense.

also it's lucky mr scruffy didn't get a direct hit from the rock, that likely would have been an instant kill.

[KorvinStarmast]

There was an above mention of the worm's spell.
Mass Hold Monster

This spell functions like hold person, except that it affects multiple creatures and holds any living creature that fails its Will save.

makes sense.
also it's lucky mr scruffy didn't get a direct hit from the rock, that likely would have been an instant kill.

I think that the animal buddy gets some extrah HD/HP from his Ranger,
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/druid.htm
If Belkar is level 14 - 16, it's like a 7th or 8th level Druid animal companion.
Bonus HD: +4; Natural Armor Adjustment; +4; Dex Adjustment: +2; Bonus Tricks; 3, etc. (See the table) at the link.

This ability functions like the druid ability of the same name, except that the ranger’s effective druid level is one-half his ranger level.

[Gorm_the_DBA]

Any Player Except V: Roy is falling, can I cast Busby's Hand matching his falling rate, then slow down after catching him, so that he takes no damage?
DM: No, your character doesn't know enough about physics and calculus to do that.

V: Roy is falling. I use my knowledge of physics and calculus to --
DM: Yeah yeah, you catch Roy and he takes no damage. Mr. Scruffy, you're next in initiative.

Bugsby's Roy Catching Hand to the rescue! A modified version of the classic, but it matches the rate of the target to gently cushion the fall.

[Elves]

Continuity problem: shouldn't the Invisibility Purge have been dispelled when he walked through the barrier?

Also, by default nightcrawlers have Quicken SLA (Cone of Cold).

I like the blue breath effect for the SLA.

[Jasdoif]

Continuity problem: shouldn't the Invisibility Purge have been dispelled when he walked through the barrier?

How would we tell either way, if Haley and Vaarsuvius had lost their invisibility spells after attacking?

[Turin_19]

So, when Roy's sword falling off is no longer an issue, Roy falling off is.

Huh.

[ken]

Continuity problem: shouldn't the Invisibility Purge have been dispelled when he walked through the barrier?

Also, by default nightcrawlers have Quicken SLA (Cone of Cold).

I like the blue breath effect for the SLA.

As pointed out earlier - they both made attacks since the invisibility purge, which ends normal invisibility.
Apparently V chose not to spend two 4th level slots on greater invisibility.

Ken D.

Ninja are everywhere!

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Continuity problem: shouldn't the Invisibility Purge have been dispelled when he walked through the barrier?

Yes, but I suspect that the author has taken a look at the spell name, decided that the effects should match the name (i.e. it purges invisibility, rather than suppress it while within a set distance) because it is easier to follow for the non-experts than to have to spend a panel explaining "yes, it's called purge, but it doesn't actually purge, not as such".

Grey Wolf

[dtilque]

Continuity problem: shouldn't the Invisibility Purge have been dispelled when he walked through the barrier?

If they just used plain old Invisibility and not the Greater version, the spell would end when they attacked some being, such as the Nightcrawler.

[Ayek]

Is it bad that I kind of want Wormy not to lose?
. . .
We've seen Bloodfeast being mentioned several times including when they came here.

That's definitely Checkov's Dinosaur.
. . .

If Bloodfeast were thrown through the orange barrier, wouldn't that dispel the polymorph effect and allow it to revert to allosaur form? That could be very bad for the vampires, but also for their thralls. And possibly for the ceiling.

[Reboot]

If Bloodfeast were thrown through the orange barrier, wouldn't that dispel the polymorph effect and allow it to revert to allosaur form? That could be very bad for the vampires, but also for their thralls. And possibly for the ceiling.

Neither a lizard nor an allosaur is a dwarf. Bloodfeast can't go through.

[understatement]

Work that will save (I think), Durkon.

Is this the rare time Roy fails a will save?

[The MunchKING]

On another note, this is the first time since book 2 (!) where the entire Order is fighting an actual monster. For every fight since then, at least one member has been missing or evil.

One of the team members is ALWAYS evil.

[D.One]

Work that will save (I think), Durkon.

Is this the rare time Roy fails a will save?

This raises a question. Didn't any of them got protected by (a new casting of) Mind Blank? Apparently, not. (Yeah, I've answered my own question...)

One of the team members is ALWAYS evil.

Which one of them is a fiend in disguise?

[Keltest]

V, there's politely listening to your friends' ideas and thinking about whether they're good or not, and then there's taking them seriously even when they're completely stupid. You're in a party with Elan and Belkar, you should have figured this out ages ago. Or at least pages.

I kind of assumed V was being rhetorical, and that the more important point was he would continue spellcasting.

[ti'esar]

The mental image provoked by V and Blackwing in the last panel made me laugh so hard.

[Pampukin]

Cool comic, as always. It does bring a question up though, what would be the clerical spell to release them of the hold? I havent played a 3.5 cleric in so long. Dispel magic? That would kill any prior buffs, assuming there was some cast. Is there a more efficient way for Durkon to help the party?

[Gluteus_Maximus]

Well, we know Gontor* is at least 13th level.

[Jasdoif]

Cool comic, as always. It does bring a question up though, what would be the clerical spell to release them of the hold? I havent played a 3.5 cleric in so long. Dispel magic? That would kill any prior buffs, assuming there was some cast. Is there a more efficient way for Durkon to help the party?

Remove paralysis is the most obvious; it's even an ideal candidate for a wand, should Haley retroactively have one.