OOTS #1026 - The Discussion Thread

[skim172]

I am afraid I find it amusing that people are citing the achievements of 90 and 100 pound adult humans as evidence that a 30 pound halfling would be capable of human strength. Does the phrase "factor of three" mean anything? So if 100 pound mom can bench press 80 pounds, a proportionately strong 30 pound Belkar bench presses 24 pounds. If swinging a weapon, also reduce by a factor of two for arms half as long.

Ah, such naivete. That's the problem with humans, always thinking other races are the same as they are.

See, you all are thinking of halflings as just really small humans. But their biology is utterly different. Unlike humans, halfling bodies are composed entirely of muscle, from skull to hairy feet. This explains how Belkar can leap and flip several times his height despite having stubby little legs - the raw force packed in that dense musculature is like the explosion of several atomic bombs in a single bound.

In fact, halflings are so densely-packed with muscle that the very atoms in their bodies have collapsed under their own gravity into material akin to that of a neutron star. Such is the amount of strength Belkar has. The gravity he generates is so intense that he requires the strength of several gods just swing and move his arms - this is the only reason he doesn't obliterate every enemy with a mere flick of a fingernail.

As for why he only "weighs" thirty pounds, the neutronic composition of a halfling's body is such that technically, he exerts more gravity on the planet than it does on him. When he leaps and jumps around, he's actually pushing the planet around under his feet.

Incidentally, this is why you never see a group of halflings together. Their collective gravitational force could rip apart fabric of space-time. No halfling can ever spend too much time near another halfling, lest they end the planet as they know it. They live solitary lives, separated from their own mothers from infancy, for the sake of the planet. It is a grave burden they bear...

Which is, incidentally, why they're all sociopathic munchkins.They're very disturbed little singularities - and they have no brains, just coiled muscle tissue in their skulls, and collapsed miniature black holes in place of a soul.

[Shining Wrath]

Ah, such naivete. That's the problem with humans, always thinking other races are the same as they are.

See, you all are thinking of halflings as just really small humans. But their biology is utterly different. Unlike humans, halfling bodies are composed entirely of muscle, from skull to hairy feet. This explains how Belkar can leap and flip several times his height despite having stubby little legs - the raw force packed in that dense musculature is like the explosion of several atomic bombs in a single bound.

In fact, halflings are so densely-packed with muscle that the very atoms in their bodies have collapsed under their own gravity into material akin to that of a neutron star. Such is the amount of strength Belkar has. The gravity he generates is so intense that he requires the strength of several gods just swing and move his arms - this is the only reason he doesn't obliterate every enemy with a mere flick of a fingernail.

As for why he only "weighs" thirty pounds, the neutronic composition of a halfling's body is such that technically, he exerts more gravity on the planet than it does on him. When he leaps and jumps around, he's actually pushing the planet around under his feet.

Incidentally, this is why you never see a group of halflings together. Their collective gravitational force could rip apart fabric of space-time. No halfling can ever spend too much time near another halfling, lest they end the planet as they know it. They live solitary lives, separated from their own mothers from infancy, for the sake of the planet. It is a grave burden they bear...

Which is, incidentally, why they're all sociopathic munchkins.They're very disturbed little singularities - and they have no brains, just coiled muscle tissue in their skulls, and collapsed miniature black holes in place of a soul.

I stand corrected!

But now I'm wondering about Halfling reproduction - sounds like sex could be, er, explosive.

[Keltest]

I stand corrected!

But now I'm wondering about Halfling reproduction - sounds like sex could be, er, explosive.

Halflings form from meteorites. Whenever someone wishes on a shooting star, all the non-happy energy that isn't used in the wish gets used to make a Halfling.

[Rift_Wolf]

Please cite, I believe you, but I would like to recall which comics

There's a lot of details to remember

I'm on the mobile site so can't link. However, the first showdown between V and Z has Z firing Lightning without saying anything, and at the end of the Xykon/V duel, Xykon tears down the walls of his Tower after V and O-chul escape. In the latter case, X was yelling while casting, so the spell he was casting would've been out of place. Likewise, in 1026, when V flies past its a very busy shot; there's a lot of elements we need to see. Having him stuff 'burning hands' into a speech bubble might've been too much clutter in the frame. That's my guess, anyway.

Halflings form from meteorites.

Isn't that a Moby song?

[Quibblicious]

What I mean is: Should the honor I amassed in life be tarnished by the actions of my body after death, then my spirit will rise and wreak vengeance upon those responsible.

So... making a ghoul is right out?

[Quibblicious]

I am afraid I find it amusing that people are citing the achievements of 90 and 100 pound adult humans as evidence that a 30 pound halfling would be capable of human strength. Does the phrase "factor of three" mean anything? So if 100 pound mom can bench press 80 pounds, a proportionately strong 30 pound Belkar bench presses 24 pounds. If swinging a weapon, also reduce by a factor of two for arms half as long.

The scaling is non-linear, and training matters.

That's my counterargument in a nutshell.

Q

[Quibblicious]

Ah, such naivete. That's the problem with humans, always thinking other races are the same as they are.

...

In fact, halflings are so densely-packed with muscle that the very atoms in their bodies have collapsed under their own gravity into material akin to that of a neutron star. Such is the amount of strength Belkar has. The gravity he generates is so intense that he requires the strength of several gods just swing and move his arms - this is the only reason he doesn't obliterate every enemy with a mere flick of a fingernail.

As for why he only "weighs" thirty pounds, the neutronic composition of a halfling's body is such that technically, he exerts more gravity on the planet than it does on him. When he leaps and jumps around, he's actually pushing the planet around under his feet.

My gods! Chuck Norris is a tall halfling!!

[KorvinStarmast]

Halflings form from meteorites. Whenever someone wishes on a shooting star, all the non-happy energy that isn't used in the wish gets used to make a Halfling.

This is why we can't have nice things.

[Pyrous]

Incidentally, this is why you never see a group of halflings together. Their collective gravitational force could rip apart fabric of space-time. No halfling can ever spend too much time near another halfling, lest they end the planet as they know it. They live solitary lives, separated from their own mothers from infancy, for the sake of the planet. It is a grave burden they bear...

There are three halflings at the Godsmoot. Guess how the Gods will destroy the world if Dvalin votes yes.

[8BitNinja]

There are three halflings at the Godsmoot. Guess how the Gods will destroy the world if Dvalin votes yes.

We are all dead

[PallentisLunam]

Ah, such naivete. That's the problem with humans, always thinking other races are the same as they are.

See, you all are thinking of halflings as just really small humans. But their biology is utterly different. Unlike humans, halfling bodies are composed entirely of muscle, from skull to hairy feet. This explains how Belkar can leap and flip several times his height despite having stubby little legs - the raw force packed in that dense musculature is like the explosion of several atomic bombs in a single bound.

In fact, halflings are so densely-packed with muscle that the very atoms in their bodies have collapsed under their own gravity into material akin to that of a neutron star. Such is the amount of strength Belkar has. The gravity he generates is so intense that he requires the strength of several gods just swing and move his arms - this is the only reason he doesn't obliterate every enemy with a mere flick of a fingernail.

As for why he only "weighs" thirty pounds, the neutronic composition of a halfling's body is such that technically, he exerts more gravity on the planet than it does on him. When he leaps and jumps around, he's actually pushing the planet around under his feet.

Incidentally, this is why you never see a group of halflings together. Their collective gravitational force could rip apart fabric of space-time. No halfling can ever spend too much time near another halfling, lest they end the planet as they know it. They live solitary lives, separated from their own mothers from infancy, for the sake of the planet. It is a grave burden they bear...

Which is, incidentally, why they're all sociopathic munchkins.They're very disturbed little singularities - and they have no brains, just coiled muscle tissue in their skulls, and collapsed miniature black holes in place of a soul.

*Single Tear*

I think this is the most beautiful thing I have ever read.

[Havelocke]

Now I can only think of Halflings as short Klingon's...rough sex and all that...little people with forehead bone ridges and oddly shaped sharp metal objects...

[aurilee]

Ah, such naivete. That's the problem with humans, always thinking other races are the same as they are.

See, you all are thinking of halflings as just really small humans. But their biology is utterly different. Unlike humans, halfling bodies are composed entirely of muscle, from skull to hairy feet. This explains how Belkar can leap and flip several times his height despite having stubby little legs - the raw force packed in that dense musculature is like the explosion of several atomic bombs in a single bound.

In fact, halflings are so densely-packed with muscle that the very atoms in their bodies have collapsed under their own gravity into material akin to that of a neutron star. Such is the amount of strength Belkar has. The gravity he generates is so intense that he requires the strength of several gods just swing and move his arms - this is the only reason he doesn't obliterate every enemy with a mere flick of a fingernail.

As for why he only "weighs" thirty pounds, the neutronic composition of a halfling's body is such that technically, he exerts more gravity on the planet than it does on him. When he leaps and jumps around, he's actually pushing the planet around under his feet.

Incidentally, this is why you never see a group of halflings together. Their collective gravitational force could rip apart fabric of space-time. No halfling can ever spend too much time near another halfling, lest they end the planet as they know it. They live solitary lives, separated from their own mothers from infancy, for the sake of the planet. It is a grave burden they bear...

Which is, incidentally, why they're all sociopathic munchkins.They're very disturbed little singularities - and they have no brains, just coiled muscle tissue in their skulls, and collapsed miniature black holes in place of a soul.

Thank you.

This is why I come here every day.

[ChillerInstinct]

There are three halflings at the Godsmoot. Guess how the Gods will destroy the world if Dvalin votes yes.

...Yeah, I think I'm going to have to sig this. You understand, I'm sure. This comment chain must be preserved for future generations. If not for posterity, than as a PSA. :P

[8BitNinja]

...Yeah, I think I'm going to have to sig this. You understand, I'm sure. This comment chain must be preserved for future generations. If not for posterity, than as a PSA. :P

I'm sending this to Hasbro, they can use it for the end of a G.I. Joe episode

[Killer Angel]

Halflings form from meteorites. Whenever someone wishes on a shooting star, all the non-happy energy that isn't used in the wish gets used to make a Halfling.

...and the remaining waste is used for Kenders.

[Kareasint]

Okay, I'll admit to not knowing D&D, but it looks just like the Flame Strike spell I've seen in past pages of this comic, so that was the conclusion I made. In any case, is there some roughly equivalent wizard spell?

My point is still the same, that there are reasons to leave the spell name out of the panel that have nothing to do with the Silent Spell feat or any foreshadowing.

The spell was probably a Scorching Ray. V probably has the Silent Spell feat now. It would seem to fit what we are seeing in the comic.

[PallentisLunam]

The spell was probably a Scorching Ray. V probably has the Silent Spell feat now. It would seem to fit what we are seeing in the comic.

Can't be. Scorching Ray looks like this

[8BitNinja]

Burning hands maybe?

I don't know

[Keltest]

Can't be. Scorching Ray looks like this

And cone of cold looks like this. It could well be scorching ray, given the numerous art improvements Rich has made.

[Peelee]

And cone of cold looks like this. It could well be scorching ray, given the numerous art improvements Rich has made.

To give a true comparison:
Cone of Cold (Old), Cone of Cold (New)
Scorching Ray, Unknown Spell

Not to say it specifically is Scorching Ray, but it does seem to align with the art upgrade. It seems like Scorching Ray would be more.... well, ray-shaped, I'd have thought.

[Gnoman]

It probably isn't Scorching Ray, judging by the way Ray Of Frost looked post-upgrade.

[Pyrous]

I think it's burning hands.

[IamWeasel]

It was a fantastic comic. I am a big fan of Belkar so when I saw the title I was sure it was going to be fantastic as the goliath goes down the mountain. I was totally set up for it and strung along, and then the disappointment of the kill steal, and then I understood it was a dupe on me. Well played.

[Keltest]

I think it's burning hands.

Burning hands has a rather specific somatic component. As the name suggests, it uses two hands to cast, though a tool such as a staff can serve as a substitute should one possess such a tool.

[Pyrous]

Burning hands has a rather specific somatic component. As the name suggests, it uses two hands to cast, though a tool such as a staff can serve as a substitute should one possess such a tool.

Not per the SRD. One could, however interpret "from your fingertips" as "all your fingertips" (or at least two). I don't have the PHB on me right now, so the actual spell could be worded differently. (5e DOES specify the somatic component though, which I think is nice.)

[PallentisLunam]

To give a true comparison:
Cone of Cold (Old), Cone of Cold (New)
Scorching Ray, Unknown Spell

Not to say it specifically is Scorching Ray, but it does seem to align with the art upgrade. It seems like Scorching Ray would be more.... well, ray-shaped, I'd have thought.

Scorching ray should also have three distinct rays rather than one mass of fire.

[IamWeasel]

I wouldn't beat yourselves up over the spell. V is known to use spells that aren't in the SRD, for example, Bugsby's Cat Retrieving Hand.

[Pyrous]

I wouldn't beat yourselves up over the spell. V is known to use spells that aren't in the SRD, for example, Bugsby's Cat Retrieving Hand.

Which is the first spell that a wizard researches. If they survive the cat...

[goodpeople25]

This spell seems similar to one Xykon casts in 459 while fighting the ghost martyrs. Also without shouting out the spell name.
Though that one did have both hands so i suppose that could be burning hands. But this one does seem to me to be that spell while art upgraded. And well one finger fits the scene better.


But i really really doubt it was scorching ray