OOTS #1186 - The Discussion Thread

[Darkone]

I'm kind of impressed by Bandana's comment in the second panel. Just off the cuff saying that her crewmates should report to the person who knocked her unconscious and almost killed them all when necessary is both important as a clear statement of 'business as usual' and that Andi, despite treading on thin ice, should be relied on as mechanic.
It was the right decision, clearly, but saying it so readily and unprompted is impressive.

[Petrocorus]

I wonder what that line about fuel lines pressure may mean.
This is foreshadowing something.

No.

Also "pole" implies non-flatness.

Edit: Oh, come on!

Indeed, there is no such thing.

Seriously, how do you all find the right page to quote in less than a minute?

[LadyEowyn]

I love that Belkar knows what a train sounds like, despite there being no evidence of trains in this world ;) Honestly, this entire comic was excellent - "I said might" ;)

Redcloak does mention “making the magical lightning-powered trains run on time”, but I’m betting it’s an anachronistic idiom since, as you point out, we’ve seen no evidence of trains.

Though if someone did introduce magic-powered industrialization, it would be Redcloak. He’s got the right combination of intelligence, scientific knowledge (he’s already introduced chemical warfare in pretty much its most Evil form), and practicality. It’s sheer good luck that he hasn’t hit upon the idea of summoning a uranium elemental yet.

[Jasdoif]

Redcloak does mention “making the magical lightning-powered trains run on time”, but I’m betting it’s an anachronistic idiom since, as you point out, we’ve seen no evidence of trains.

Pretty sure it's an Eberron reference.

[bc56]

For all we know, they may not realize the difference between magnetic and rotation poles. Or care.

That's fine.
If they don't know the difference, it's unlikely Serini did when she made the dungeon. If it's at the North Pole, it's almost definitely at the magnetic one, since it's easier to find.

[Dire Moose]

Ooh! Ooh! When we get to the North Pole, can I sit on Santa’s lap? Please?

[The Aboleth]

I wonder what that line about fuel lines pressure may mean.
This is foreshadowing something.

Maybe. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[Dion]

Maybe. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

A big balloon shaped cigar with leaking fuel lines, you mean...

[The Aboleth]

A big balloon shaped cigar with leaking fuel lines, you mean...

I really think the point of that scene was to show the crew's relationship with Andi being normalized (because their Captain, very bluntly, pretty much said to do exactly that). I don't think the fuel lines bit was anything more than an excuse to get Andi into the scene and show the reader, "Bandana was serious when she told Andi she'd keep her aboard as long as she (Andi) stuck to her job."

Maybe I'm wrong. Only thing to do is wait and see.

EDIT: Also, the fuel lines aren't leaking. The question was whether or not to reduce pressure in the fuel lines, not fix a leak.

[Dion]

EDIT: Also, the fuel lines aren't leaking. The question was whether or not to reduce pressure in the fuel lines, not fix a leak.

Look, I’m just saying that Bandana’s clan violently pressured the fuel in this way, it’s not fuel’s fault if it leaks, ok?

[5crownik007]

Looking forward to seeing Team Evil again... I always want to see more Redcloak for some reason which I can't put my finger on. Maybe I just feel like his character arc's trajectory is most interesting...

[Ruck]

Well, in-comic the only times we've seen anyone drunk are a) the Azure City New Year festival(only Belkar and maybe Durkon) and b) the feast with Tarquin(Haley). So Belkar's ahead in terms of on-screen drunkness.

(Yes I know that's not quite what you mean but whatever)

He also tossed back a few in his solo comic...

We also know that Belkar used to get drunk with Buggy Lou, and we know (from one of the prequels, I forget which, but I think there have been in-comic hints too) that Roy spent a lot more time at Fighter College studying than partying.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I like the casual reminder of Andi’s presence in the story. I suppose strictly speaking while the Order’s death toll was negative, it was not exactly a casualty-free operation. It’s nice to see actual Durkon interacting with the crew. And of course, Drunk Roy continues to amuse. I’m excited to see what the next strip has in store for us.

[Fyraltari]

Seriously, how do you all find the right page to quote in less than a minute?

I remember the title of some of the strips and search for one close to what I am looking for (in this case «*A wizard did it*» or «*If they pull a knife*») and do a ctrl+f on the archive pages and then I sweep through the pages manually. Alternatively, I remember roughly the numbers that match with a particular event and I skim through the titles looking for one that would fit the page I am looking for.

he’s already introduced chemical warfare in pretty much its most Evil form

Either I don’t understand what you are referring to or you don’t know much about chemical warfare.

[hamishspence]

I presume they are referring to the chlorine elemental:

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0457.html

[Emanick]

Either I don’t understand what you are referring to or you don’t know much about chemical warfare.

While phosgene, mustard gas and sarin gas are even worse than chlorine gas, I very much doubt that any of them exist in elemental form in the OOTSverse.

[Verappo]

I kind of love how consistently unimpressed Bandana has been with Roy throughout the book . 6 years of "meh"

[Jannoire]

Pity they wouldn't work IRL, since Magnetic North (a) moves and (b) is quite some way south of True North.

Or Mr Giant built this world in a way that would allow for the magnetic north pole to be exactly at True North.
Also, magnetic south is located closer to true north than magnetic north is... That way the north point of a compass points north...

We also know that Belkar used to get drunk with Buggy Lou, and we know (from one of the prequels, I forget which, but I think there have been in-comic hints too) that Roy spent a lot more time at Fighter College studying than partying.

It was Origin of PCs.

[FlawedParadigm]

He doesn't get smarter, he gets a stick shoved up his arse.

He's multiclassing Paladin???

[diremage]

These last few strips have me wondering what the rest of the order would be like drunk.

We've seen drunk Haley, in addition to Roy and Belkar. My guesses for the others:

Elan: Acts drunker than he is.
Vaarsuvius: Acts exactly the same as they do sober.
Durkon: Is actually incapable of getting drunk.

Of course, Durkon's been in human lands so long, maybe he's (the Dwarven version of) a lightweight now.

Elan: Turns "Invisible", runs through town.
Vaarsuvius: Unlocks the universe-shaking, eldritch power of a humble tea cozy.
Durkon: Picks a fight with a park, loses.

[Anansiil]

Lol, I might report my captain to HR for that quip lol.
North pole *grumbles* lol

[ijuinkun]

I suppose strictly speaking while the Order’s death toll was negative, it was not exactly a casualty-free operation.

True. Kendro died fighting the Likable Death Worm, but his friends cheered since his method of death assured his ticket to Valhalla. Also, Durkon and Minra did need to get Resurrected/Raised.

[Blatt]

Navigating to the North Pole is easy enough. Navigating away is hard, because every direction is south.

[goodpeople25]

Navigating to the North Pole is easy enough. Navigating away is hard, because every direction is south.

That's why you also use other navigation techniques like star charts.

There is no possible way that being at the north pole could ever mess that up.

[Drascin]

...Is it just me, or is drunk Belkar smarter than drunk Roy?

His wisdom is so low that when he gets a minus from drinking he overflows into the high end of the scale. Like how in Civ 1 Ghandi's warlike score was so low that when you gave him an extra minus to warmongering he flipped to the other end of the scale and became a nuclear-toting psychopath.

[Bazounga]

Great! A dialogue between the two strongest accents in the comics!

It would have been a shame to lose such a nice occasion to write a totally off dialogue...

As a French, it took me a while getting it straight in my mind but it was totally worth it!

[Jannoire]

His wisdom is so low that when he gets a minus from drinking he overflows into the high end of the scale. Like how in Civ 1 Ghandi's warlike score was so low that when you gave him an extra minus to warmongering he flipped to the other end of the scale and became a nuclear-toting psychopath.

You mean to tell me that this isn't based on accurate history?!

[Mad Humanist]

I have never before in my life wanted to get drunk, and certainly not to such a precise degree as to match the level of drunkenness Roy is holding right now. I would need to be drunk enough to spontaneously say what Roy is saying, but not so drunk I could not remember the lines.

[gerryq]

I'm kind of impressed by Bandana's comment in the second panel. Just off the cuff saying that her crewmates should report to the person who knocked her unconscious and almost killed them all when necessary is both important as a clear statement of 'business as usual' and that Andi, despite treading on thin ice, should be relied on as mechanic.
It was the right decision, clearly, but saying it so readily and unprompted is impressive.

Right or wrong, she already made that decision, so now she's just sticking to it.

[gerryq]

That's fine.
If they don't know the difference, it's unlikely Serini did when she made the dungeon. If it's at the North Pole, it's almost definitely at the magnetic one, since it's easier to find.

Easy to find within a few hundred kilometres, if Stickworld is like Earth. Close to the magnetic pole, the field points down rather than North, and it also (I learned today) wanders up to 80km from its mean position daily as a result of interactions with charged particles from the Sun.

Hopefully there will be geographical (or magical) cues when they get where they are going.