OOTS #979 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Mad Humanist]

I wasn't expecting that. She turned a golem! And there's no tweet yet.

[Roland Itiative]

Wait, logic, worked on Crystal? I think becoming a golem actually increased her intelligence

[SinsI]

So, turning enemy against another target... What DC Diplomacy check is that?

[Puschkin]

Wow, epic diplomacy (and probably bluff?) skills! Elan would be proud of her. Reminds of when she stole a potion from Belkar and made BELKAR feel guilty for it :)

[Thrawn4]

Very unexpected, but a nice turn of events

[ZestG]

A bit odd turn of events, but I'll take it!

[Ciffo]

I was half-expecting something like that, but as usual Rich manage to draw the tale in his usual awesome mode. Keep it going!

[Yendor]

Oh man, that is brilliant. And Bozzok is hoist by his own petard. If he'd just made Crystal a dumb(er) brute, that would never have worked.

[carborundum]

"I shot you in the face, Bozzok stabbed you in the back."
What a line. Hat off, sir.

[maxon]

WTG Haley.

[galan]

Haley once again proving her quick thinking. good job haley!

[KillingAScarab]

Wow, epic diplomacy (and probably bluff?) skills!

Only bluff would be regarding being shot in the face, since it was a slash from Crystal's dagger which killed her. Makes for a more poetic argument, though. That, or the part she says she hasn't lied to Crytsal.

It's also so appropriate that the way Haley gets the chance to make this argument is by using the very boots which set the tone for their relationship.

So far, this is just as great of a payoff as when Roy outsmarted dungeoncrashing Thog. Can't wait to see how she handles Bozzok and Grubwiggler.

[Fellow]

Bozzok's view is obstructed no more. He should be glad.

[Tass]

Yeah! Go crystal. Get that green piece of ***.

[St Fan]

Wow, epic diplomacy (and probably bluff?) skills! Elan would be proud of her. Reminds of when she stole a potion from Belkar and made BELKAR feel guilty for it :)

It's not bluff, because everything that Haley says is true. There's no need for lies when the truth can be so much more damaging.

And it needs to be said: Bozzok's expression in the last panel is a thing of sheer beauty.

[Murk]

I like. But is it just me, or does anyone else remember Haley using the knife, instead of shooting? :)

[lothos]

A wonderful reminder of why I read this comic and buy the books.
I love the way that there are so often thoughtful or surprising solutions to problems.

Also loved the way that the boots still glow lime green, even though they were dyed in Sandsedge.

[Bulldog Psion]

So, she did manage to turn Crystal against Bozzok. Huzzah!!!

[Manga Shoggoth]

I love the way the boots turn back to lime-green when activated.

And I really love the way Haley turned Crystal round. And everything said was the truth as well - that's breaking from her past with (a) vengance.

[Sylian]

Heh. I wonder if Bozzok will be able to talk his way out of this situation.

[With a box]

All I did was kill you!

I hope I'm not only one think that this is funny.

[cc_kizz]

Someone is pissed!

I loved that this was talked through. :)

[SinsI]

It's not bluff, because everything that Haley says is true. There's no need for lies when the truth can be so much more damaging.

The ability is actually right there in the Flesh Golem's SRD Entry:

Berserk (Ex): When a flesh golem enters combat, there is a cumulative 1% chance each round that its elemental spirit breaks free and the golem goes berserk. The uncontrolled golem goes on a rampage, attacking the nearest living creature or smashing some object smaller than itself if no creature is within reach, then moving on to spread more destruction. The golem’s creator, if within 60 feet, can try to regain control by speaking firmly and persuasively to the golem, which requires a DC 19 Charisma check. It takes 1 minute of inactivity by the golem to reset the golem’s berserk chance to 0%.

It seems that since Crystal is Intelligent, anyone can use that DC 19 check to control her after she goes Berserk.

[Stabbey]

I'll be honest. I had been thinking that the Crystal chase/fight scene had been dragging on for what felt like too long.

But this payoff was totally worth it. Excellent work, Giant.

[Edhelras]

Wow! What a way to do a rushed Diplomacy check, in the heat of battle! Against a golem, no less!
And what a way to utilize those Boots of Speed - lime green or not - to achieve a tactical advantage - time enough to make that diplomacy check.

And, karma sucks for Bozzok.

[Mordae]

I like. But is it just me, or does anyone else remember Haley using the knife, instead of shooting? :)

Haley Shot First. (Roland 'Itiative, and his four friends Sneak Attack, Sneak Attack, Sneak Attack, and Sneak Attack.)

And then stabbed.

[Great equalizer]

Nice turnabout.

I noticed how Crystal's both hands glow with lightning in the beginning of the strip and on previous strips, but only one is glowing after she picks up the dagger.
Would this mean that her unarmed attacks deal electricity damage? That's some cool custom effect (Haste+damage), since by SRD, electricity only un-slows and (over)heals flesh golems.

[Ron Miel]

I like. But is it just me, or does anyone else remember Haley using the knife, instead of shooting? :)

She first shot her, sneak attack, several times, then finished her off with the knife.

edit - ninja'd

[Ave]

Yeah, you can beat an encounter without DPS. This is what most modern "RPGs" forgot.