So, while Rich is on a much-deserved break, and hopefully behaving himself while he heals and not giving Mrs. Giant too much grief...
I'm re-reading the Archives. And it occurred to me that the entire run of OOTS is made of pure, unadulterated awesome, but we all have our favorites, the ones we go back to time and again when we're in need of a Stick-Fix.
One of my personal preferences is the sequence in Greysky City from strip #601 concluding in strip #622, where Haley, Celia, and Belkar are beseiged by the Thieves' Guild. Haley gets to shine like nobody's business, Celia is consistently hilarious, and the strip where Belkar is visited by the Shojo-vision and the action intercuts between Roy and Celia, Belkar and Shojo, and Crystal and Haley had me on the edge of my seat. For a comic about stick-figures. Awesomeness squared.
THEN, Belkar gets to save the day, Celia gets to save the day, and Haley gets to triumph, in that order. There are lots and lots of amazing arcs in the strip, and I'm enjoying the re-read, but this one gets my vote for coolest run.
The siege of Azure City is pretty high on my list, though the New Year's sequence was rather fun, too. Azure City probably hits the high points for me, up to and including the crowning moment of "Ghost-Martyrs of the Sapphire Guard -- ATTACK!"
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Originally Posted by SaintRidley
Stats of the Snarl:
HP: Lots.
Armor Class: Can't touch this.
Saving Throws: Yes.
Attack: Successful - undoes target.
Challenge Rating: Too high.
As it's called in the book, Heroism for Dummies (#377-400).
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~R.I.P. Thog (possibly) and Durkon Thundershield (eventually)~
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Originally Posted by martianmister
Mongolian hordes. Lots of lots of mongolian hordes. With a mongolian warrior chief. They will conquer Gobbotopia and rename it as Mongolitopia. Because that makes so much sense.
(Oh, you meant favorite story arc? In that case, probably Elan's The End of Innocence, starting with "I am your father", and ending with 200-foot flaming letters. Or possibly Elan & Julio.)
My favorite stretch would probably be the DSTP set, especially towards the beginning. We get to see new angles on the characters acting in unusual situations. Also, O-Chul.
I would go with the whole sequence from #336 to #400. "Elan grows up", as I like to think of it.
(Followed by the Therkla arc, which highlights Elan's new "responsible" character.)
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Originally Posted by warrl
"They didn't change the alignment system, they just augmented its inherent weaknesses and limitations with a few gaping holes."
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"Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children that dragons can be killed." - G K Chesterton
Honestly, I think it's a tie between Start of Darkness and the StickTales version of Hamlet for me.
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Originally Posted by The Giant
Fantasy literature is ONLY worthwhile for what it can tell us about the real world; everything else is petty escapism.
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Originally Posted by The Giant
No author should have to take the time to say, "This little girl ISN'T evil, folks!" in order for the reader to understand that. It should be assumed that no first graders are irredeemably Evil unless the text tells you they are.
Right, and thanks friends. I agree that "Land of the Rising" may indeed be the single most awesome strip in the whole series (and not for lack of other examples to choose from) and the look on Xykon's face at the end is absolutely priceless.
Elan and Julio Scoundrel? Check. Heartwarming and hilarious, even though Elan isn't one of my favorite characters. I have to grant him his moments, though. He got a time to shine confronting Kubota and then burying Therkla, and I loved his honesty with Haley when they reunited.
Abolutely anything involving O-Chul and/or the MITD is wonderful and fun to re-read.
On the villain side, there's Redcloak. His second-best arc began with his change of heart regarding the hobgoblins. His best arc, horrifying though it was, started when he crushed the Azure City Resistance and then took out Therkla effortlessly, and you got a sense of just what a ruthless chessmaster he could be when the occasion called for it. I look forward to seeing what else Rich has up his sleeve for him. (But I can wait, Rich. No rush. Take your time and get better.)
On the villain side, there's Redcloak. [...] His second-best arc began with his change of heart regarding the hobgoblins. His best arc, horrifying though it was, started when he crushed the Azure City Resistance and then took out Therkla effortlessly[...]
Redcloak killed Therkla???
I think you may have the wrong mixed-up young woman here...
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Caractacus
Last edited by Caractacus : 10-06-2012 at 04:25 PM.
I'm a big fan of Dorukan arc (Dungeon Crawling Fools, I think). It isn't as serious, and the plot is shallow at best, but it's light-hearted and funny, and it gets props for that.
My favorite "real" arc is Don't Split the Party, because it's so chaotic. Elan/Durkon/V, Belkar/Haley, and Roy are engaged in various problems, and it was fun and satisfying seeing everything wrap up nicely. The Greysky City arc was really fun, since it gave depth to Haley, a favorite of mine.
Gonna agree with Belkar in Greysky, although the siege of Azure City and Team Evil post-Vaarsuvius are up there as well. Also, the Orc Island. Comic relief at its finest - while still contributing to the plot!
I am particular to Dungeon of Durokan. Sure, the story is lacking, but it is the start of my favourite webcomic and it reminds me of times when life was easier and more... fun.
It also still holds the best value as far as pure comedy goes and I am very fond of this, especially at these times. I also like the making fun of the system. In short, it's classic.
Not to say I don't find other parts good, because I do. But I really think that right now, Dungeon of Durokan is my favourite.
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"There will come a day so dark you will pray for death. On that day your prayers will be answered."
Book of shadows, book of night, wake the beast and banish light.
It also still holds the best value as far as pure comedy goes and I am very fond of this, especially at these times. I also like the making fun of the system. In short, it's classic.
I feel kind of churlish saying this given the way your post reads... but I always thought OOTS became funnier as it moved away from D&D humor to general humor. I don't think any of my favorite punchlines are rules-related.
One of my personal preferences is the sequence in Greysky City from strip #601 concluding in strip #622, where Haley, Celia, and Belkar are beseiged by the Thieves' Guild.
Me too.
Belkar's "turn of the tide" moment is totally drool inducing.
I'd blend the "Thieves' Guild saga" together with the "Darth V saga".
They're one after the other, and these two events are what bring the OotS back together from the brink of destruction.
Also, they put the focus on my two favourite OotS members (although Haley has a large part, too) and change them radically.
The Ghost Martyrs of the Azure Guard and O-Chul are just great, and I like Hinjo and the paladin-couple. And "Mass Enlarge Person" and Greater Invisibility Zombie Dragon.
"Badass... REAL Badass!"
And the Sexy, shoeless GOD OF WAR!!!
All my favorite moments are around there.
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I am particular to Dungeon of Durokan. Sure, the story is lacking, but it is the start of my favourite webcomic and it reminds me of times when life was easier and more... fun...
...."I'm a pineapple chunk!"
'nuff said. the defense rests.
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78% of all DM's start their first campaign in a tavern. If you're among the 22% who didn't, copy and paste this into your signature and tell us where you DID begin.The players were attacked individually on the road on the way to town by werewolves. To survive, they had to team up then and there without knowing anything about eachother (literally -- all character sheets were completed without other players' knowledge).
The Darth V/Xykon fight. Small as it may be, it's packed full of drama, tension, and character development. It had V not only at the height of her power, with all the arrogance such supremacy brings, but it also completely strips her to her core, and I really liked that when she was at her very end, wholly defeated and nearly dead, with one choice left - run away and likely live, or stay to help and likely die - that she chose to try to help.
It had O-Chul's entire essence in those few strips, his willingness to endure months of torture for his cause, his unshakable will and bravery, his belief in goodness in his dialogue with the MitD, and his sheer badassery.
654 is the best strip so far in my mind. There's so much packed into that last "O-CHUL!" Even the ever-childlike and quasi-innocent MitD knows that absolutely everything is about to go down. Still gives me shivers every time I read it.
So hard to choose...
I'd say Clifport city and almost tie the Miko arc from the firs encounter to the process.
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After years of disintoxication I'm back in the D&D tunnel
"I don’t understand God. I don’t understand how He could see the way people treat one another, and not chalk up the whole human race as a bad idea. I guess He’s just bigger about it than I would be."
Jim Butcher-Dresden Files, book 3
I've got a particular affection for the entire Azure City sequence, partly because it was just straight up big, and partly because it's when, I feel, the Giant really hit his stride, both drama and comedy-wise.
The Darth V/Xykon fight. Small as it may be, it's packed full of drama, tension, and character development. It had V not only at the height of her power, with all the arrogance such supremacy brings, but it also completely strips her to her core, and I really liked that when she was at her very end, wholly defeated and nearly dead, with one choice left - run away and likely live, or stay to help and likely die - that she chose to try to help.
It had O-Chul's entire essence in those few strips, his willingness to endure months of torture for his cause, his unshakable will and bravery, his belief in goodness in his dialogue with the MitD, and his sheer badassery.
654 is the best strip so far in my mind. There's so much packed into that last "O-CHUL!" Even the ever-childlike and quasi-innocent MitD knows that absolutely everything is about to go down. Still gives me shivers every time I read it.
This is why it is my favorite arc, too. (Also, I like "Guess what spell I cast before giving this to the bird")
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