Order of the Stick: September I

[drothgery]

your logic is very flawed. I'm assuming you're suggesting that V has a thing for Roy and is jealous of Roy's attraction to Miko. Let's say for the moment that that's true, It's just as likely that V is a gay man, instead of a straight woman.

Assuming the Giant's elves are very nearly humans in funny suits (like most D&D elves), it's far more likely that V's a straight woman than a gay man, simply because the former are far more common.

[Jaqrabbit]

That was absolutely priceless. This has to be one of the funniest strips in a good while (possibly since the last Explosive Runes gag ;D ). V is getting close to a tie for my 2nd favorite character (with Redcloak, behind Roy, whose reaction contributed to the hilarity).

[DarkMonkey]

this made me laugh so hard, my cat freaked out and started hissing at me. Now we just need Banjo again, perhaps more powerful now that he has 50 some followers.

[manscatha]

My love for V knows no bounds. I don't think s/he is being particularly petty/jealous when presenting that bill, just 1) annoyed by the delay and 2) horribly offended by the Elf comment, which really was fairly offensive. I mean, if Miko is going to treat V impersonally, as a living weapon rather than a fellow being with a name, I don't see why V shouldn't impersonally bill Miko. (This may have been discussed to death already, but Miko seems to be a low-CHA Paladin build. The poor girl just keeps alienating people.)

The Explosive Runes, OTOH, are a bit petty. Especially since Roy, who doesn't have Evasion, is standing right there.

[LordMiritar]

I think V is just as equally mad at Roy as he is at Miko. Think about it, Roy has been her greatest supporter, and I think V feels as though he has been thrown to the sidelines and he may percieve that as Roy's fault.

[Winged One]

That was hilarious.

"This makes even less sense. I don't recall you casting a spell called 'Explosive Ru-'" "NO!"

The best part is that I don't think the one who triggers it is allowed a save. ;D

[Taren]

Heh...this comic is the best one OOTS I've seen in a long time. In fact, this whole sidequest has been pretty good so far.

My take on the whole V thing? I think V is female. There's just something about the character that implies feminimity. Maybe it's the casual conversation V had with Haley about gemstones, or the way V acted while she/he was polymorphed into a lizard, but V has always seemed female to me. There's not necessarily any attraction to Roy revealed in V's behavoir, (We've seen that in the past, V has always been, if nothing else, professional around all her comrades.) but there does seem to be a bit of malice towards Miko, done very subtly. You don't get that kind of behavoir from men, at least not most men.

On a sidenote, am I the only one who thought that the "that paladin" reference was V's poetic revenge for Miko calling her/him "elf"?

[The_King_of_Durf]

The best part is that I don't think the one who triggers it is allowed a save. ;D

They aren't *grin*

Good for V for standing up and not takin err... stuff from that paladin.

[Ilaun_Undil]

You know, I never really appreciated how much V has something up her/is butt. seriously.. s/he obviously doesn't like something about this... Wonder why she found the other quests worth doing?

[silvadel]

Nope -- I posted(as the last post on the last page) that the "That Paladin" line was the best part of the comic...

I prepared explosive runes today -- the reason why a wizard never forgets his invoice =)

[Jades]

Excellent.

I was waiting for

"And sulfur? Bat guano? Vaarsuvius, don't you have a feat that makes it so you can eschew those materials?"

"Its a principle of the thing. While I need not those materials, your standard spellcaster does. Should I be penalized because I cared to pick my feats wisely?"

[Gary_Schaper]

Truly, Vaarsuvius' snark dwarfs that of mere mortals.

I mean, this was even better than Lizard Vaarsuvius.

[although]

The Explosive Runes, OTOH, are a bit petty. Especially since Roy, who doesn't have Evasion, is standing right there.

Well, there's always the possibility that the paper doesn't really contain Explosive Runes or anything else dangerous. V might have written "I prepared Explosive Runes this morning" in perfectly ordinary script, just for the satisfaction of hearing Roy shout "NO!!!"

Actually injuring Miko and Roy would probably weigh on V's conscience, but from her/his grin in the final panel, V seems to have fully enjoyed Roy's moment of panic...

[Tawkis]

Great as always, I especially like V's vote of confidence in Roy's leadership over Miko's. Well other than the explosive runes... ;D

[Sir_Banjo]

Tawkis has got a point. I never thought about it in this way because Roy just seemed unable to lift his jaw of the ground, but Miko has issued a leadership challenge. Not a coup for sure, but the party has something of a choice to make.

[Rethorn]

Regarding V being a female and jealous of Miko, you may be on to something. Remember, that V only takes orders from those smarter than itself, and the Mind Flayer went for Roy instead of V. So, perhaps, she admires Roy for being so intelligent? I can just see Roy's grandfather telling him to drop the Paladin and go for that wizard chick.

However, V may dislike taking orders from Miko BECAUSE V only takes orders from those smarter than himself. Also, Roy (Again assuming that V is a female) might not go for V just because V is a wizard to spite his father.

But, either way, hilarious comic.

[Devils_Advocate]

Assuming the Giant's elves are very nearly humans in funny suits (like most D&D elves), it's far more likely that V's a straight woman than a gay man, simply because the former are far more common.

Well...

That was the joke; too often people assume that dwarves are just short humans, and I wanted to highlight the idea that they have ideals and priorities wholly alien to our own. Dwarves don't have those rights--they are expected to do their duty and die as required by their clan and king, regardless of their personal wishes.

I suspect that the Giant's elves aren't too near to being just humans in funny suits at all.

Which means, incidentally, that it would be a bit foolish to try to infer Vaarsuvius's gender based on human stereotypes. Frankly, if elven gender roles are even slightly different from human, that would be quite sufficient to account for all of the evidence along those lines, as V hasn't really behaved in ways that are strongly and distinctly masculine or feminine.

Also, I really don't think that V is attracted to Roy in any case.


Incidentally, did anyone else notice how the spell components aren't even included in the bill's total? So they (a) don't need to be kept track of, and thus (b) don't need to be bought, and (c) they just get rounded off in the end anyway. No one involved in the exchange actually need know what components were used or will have to pay for them. But they're still listed... just to make the point. ;D

"It is more the principle of the thing."

[Raeden]

Regarding V being a female and jealous of Miko, you may be on to something. Remember, that V only takes orders from those smarter than itself, and the Mind Flayer went for Roy instead of V. So, perhaps, she admires Roy for being so intelligent? I can just see Roy's grandfather telling him to drop the Paladin and go for that wizard chick.

However, V may dislike taking orders from Miko BECAUSE V only takes orders from those smarter than himself. Also, Roy (Again assuming that V is a female) might not go for V just because V is a wizard to spite his father.

Why does every little thing need an extended theory as this? V is loyal to Roy because he is the leader of the party. He has proven himself a loyal companion and qualified leader, and also he is a more accomplished strategic mind than V is probably.

Also, the Mindflayer thing was just funny.

[MrMage]

Looks like V isn't good or LN at all, TN would probably the best I could do for her at this point.

Oh, great comic Giant.

[Rethorn]

Why does every little thing need an extended theory as this?

Because its fun? Why does there always be someone who, despite people saying they're doing it for geekery or fun, ask why people are debating V's gender/shadow monsters identity/feats and skills/etc.?

[AtomicKitKat]

This is a little late, but I just re-read the previous strip, and I had this hilarious mental picture of a bunch of Dwarves bouncing around to the Gummi Bears theme. ;D

[Sc00by]

Looks like V isn't good or LN at all, TN would probably the best I could do for her at this point.

What is unlawful about taking measures against a 3rd party that refuses to pay your invoice? OK pretty extreme measures, but probably more humane than setting the lawyers on Her... ;)

I LOVED this comic. Great job Giant.

[Sundog]

When you get right down to it, V is really saying, "DON'T take me for granted, DON'T assume I'm going to obey your orders, treat me with RESPECT." Then followed it up with a fairly strong reminder (KABOOM...)

I don't see anything non-good about that. Maybe non-Lawful (but then, I've always seen V as NG anyway).

[Lancelot]

Now what I wonder is if Rich just got his phonebill from GenCon since he thought up this one ;)

(I'm dreading mine...)

[Kish]

When you get right down to it, V is really saying, "DON'T take me for granted, DON'T assume I'm going to obey your orders, treat me with RESPECT." Then followed it up with a fairly strong reminder (KABOOM...)

I don't see anything non-good about that.

Hypocrisy is not good. And calling someone simple-minded, followed by (after an exchange of escalating insults and slights on both sides) "treat me with RESPECT or I'll blow you up," is hypocrisy.

[Ikkitosen]

My favourite comic since Belkar's chat with "Mr. Paladin Warhorse" ;D.

[GreyRat]

I'm glad I read the comics before my co-workers come in, because there's no way I could explain to them why I was laughing out loud this morning.
Reminds me of a Black Hands comic (for Knights of the Dinner Table fans), where the cleric started charging for healing the other PCs. Pretty soon the fighter was calculating his fee per hitpoint of damage inflicted, and the rogue was demanding hazard pay. The explosive runes are a nice touch, though. It's like Inspector Gadgets' secret instructions. :)

[Turin]

:D Great comic as always. Anyways, I was just curious if anyone else noticed the fact that V seems to either consider herself of very high level or actually is! 360 gp for a fireball is the standard price of an NPC casting of 12th level, which is almost double what they are supposed to be! Any thoughts (not sure if this is the right thread)?
Túrin

[Sylian]

Most people thinks that tOotS is around level 12.
I've just noticed, Miko has the lower body of a male!

[nick012000]

The Giant has stated that they are about 12th level.