OOTS #1116 - The Discussion Thread

[Rockphed]

Does "A Monster for Every Season" contain giraffes?

I don't know, but I hope the Giant puts out a giraffe printable miniature after this.

I wonder how many rounds it'll take before Durkula realizes he's accidentally ordered his spawn not to attack the summons until they've killed the elf.

What a great surprise!

(for them and for us :) )

Are giraffes really cheap? I couldn't find any real D&D references to this, and they seem like they wouldn't be too cheap. Just curious.

If they are using similar rules to the bison, then they would show up on the Summon Monster 3 list. If they are a bit better than a Bison, they might get bumped up to summon monster 4. So it looks like Hilgya could get the 4 out of either 1 level 5/6 slot or 2 level 4/5 slots. Since the party is about level 15 at this point, Hilgya will have level 7 slots and anything below 5th level is probably not a good use of her time. A divine smite on the lot of the vampires might do all sorts of cool things, but it would only do half damage at this point (since they probably have protection from fire up.

And I love that Hilgya, and by extension Loki, is more chaotic than anything. Anarchic Giraffes are indeed the most random ungulate that could have come storming through that door.

[GudBelkarIsGud]

Ye gods. This'll learn me to read a new strip while at the office again. Actually laughed out loud hysterically. Had some coworkers look at me funny :P

This is my favourite start to any epic battle scene ever.

[Sky_Schemer]

Should the death traps already been triggered?
Will the giraffes trigger them all?
I don't know the rules, it looks like there are many traps, more than there are giraffes...

"As a default, a symbol of death is triggered whenever a creature does one or more of the following, as you select: looks at the rune; reads the rune; touches the rune; passes over the rune; or passes through a portal bearing the rune."

Since giraffes are animals and have no reason to look at runes written on the floor, the symbol will trigger next panel as the herd passes over them.

[2.5 cats]

Summoning Anarchic monsters isn't the sort of thing done by either V or by a cleric of Thor. Will Durkon figure out that they have a friend...and who it is?

[Lord Torath]

Does "A Monster for Every Season" contain giraffes?

Not that I can find...

[zimmerwald1915]

And I love that Hilgya, and by extension Loki, is more chaotic than anything. Anarchic Giraffes are indeed the most random ungulate that could have come storming through that door.

More random than anarchic onagers? Anarchic oryxes?

Yeah, probably.

[Shining Wrath]

Alright, you guys have helped me process what I'm seeing.
Hilgya summoned the giraffes, Roy added the miscellaneous small creatures from his Bag of Tricks, and a somewhere around 125 HP worth of traps get soaked by temporary allies. Plus it appears at least one spawn is knocked prone.

Of the 3.5 SRD creatures, the giraffe is closer in weight to the rhino than the bison. I think they'd be CR 3, so Hilgya thinking pulling 4 of them is "cheap" implies an ability to cast Summon Monsters V as "cheap". I'm saying that makes her level 12, minimum, and probably Durkon's level (15 or 16) by the rule of Nemesis.

[Sian]

If it looks stupid, but it works, it's even better because the enemy is gonna underestimate it.

if it looks stupid but it works, it's not stupid, but merely enforcing a will-save against a confusion-effect :D

[Zehridamus]

Sometimes the Giant's mind goes off the deep end and it's possibly one of the most beautiful things ever. Chaotic giraffes? That's comedy gold

[Reltzik]

Yes, giraffes might seem big and powerful, but they're still don't last nearly long enough and when they go, they take your childhood with them.

There's still the question of why OotS is bothering with the hall. They know the vampires want to take over the dwarven kings but the kings aren't in the hall. The vampires have to leave and they can ambushed then.

Because the alternative is to find and protect the dwarven kings (who probably haven't assembled yet, so you have to guard multiple targets and multiple places) while the vamps vamp everyone else and then attack in overwhelming force.

[Seto]

I must admit, when I read the title, I thought "ah, a vampire-related pun! The big fight probably starts now". I thought myself clever.

Giraffes hadn't crossed my mind.

[zimmerwald1915]

Yes, giraffes might seem big and powerful, but they're still don't last nearly long enough and when they go, they take your childhood with them.

Oof, right in the 'nineties!

[Peelee]

And don't underestimate the damage they can do by whipping their necks, either. Unfortunately, I suspect that this, despite being one of their primary methods of fighting IRL, is not stat'ed in D&D.

GW

I choose to believe you speak from experience, and have fought at least one giraffe.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Should the death traps already been triggered?
Will the giraffes trigger them all?
I don't know the rules, it looks like there are many traps, more than there are giraffes... Can they trigger them all? Can a giraffe trigger more than one symbol?
I think I remember someone saying that the death trap is only triggered when it can kill... or only attacks those it can kill (it doesn't cause hp loss). Is it so?

The rune doesn't target anything it cannot kill in one go, which doesn't apply to these animals (only applies to Roy and other individuals with 150 HP or more). In this case, if the trap is set to trigger when a living thing gets close enough, the summons will indeed trigger it.

That said, there was speculation that the vampires set the traps to be activated only by touch, and so these animals are mostly chaff to block vision and either delay the trap activation, or force them to activate it and waste them on the summons.

Grey Wolf

[Elkad]

Should the death traps already been triggered?
Will the giraffes trigger them all?
I don't know the rules, it looks like there are many traps, more than there are giraffes... Can they trigger them all? Can a giraffe trigger more than one symbol?
I think I remember someone saying that the death trap is only triggered when it can kill... or only attacks those it can kill (it doesn't cause hp loss). Is it so?



THIS WAS AMAZING!

They are splitting up. Whichever Symbol is closest to that giraffe will fire (or when they touch one). When it triggers, it hits everything, closest to farthest. Using a bunch of it's total hitpoints of allotted effect. Enough that the party can maybe move in and be relatively unaffected (at least until they take some damage). The high hitpoint people (Roy, Belkar) can charge in immediately, while the casters work on Dispelling what is left or something.

Regal Procession (for characterlevel horses - so 12-16? of them out of a 3rd level slot) would be a good call too. But it's Conjuration school, which V has banned, and it's not on the Cleric list. Plus it's not as funny as Anarchic Giraffes.

[D.One]

Greg's expression is fantastic
Can't... stop... laughing...

[Hiro Quester]

the anarchic giraffes are hilarious. But are they distracting us from the other important line?

Greg said that Xykon will be dead tomorrow.

Is that just because everyone will be dead? Or is there a related Xykon-relevant part of Greg's plan I have missed?

[ellindsey]

the anarchic giraffes are hilarious. But are they distracting us from the other important line?

Greg said that Xykon will be dead tomorrow.

Is that just because everyone will be dead? Or is there a related Xykon-relevant part of Greg's plan I have missed?

Xykon's dead today, he was dead yesterday, and he'll be dead tomorrow.

Ok, Greg probably meant actually all the way dead as opposed to undead. In which case he's probably talking about the plan by the gods to unmake the world, which he expects to go into effect by tomorrow.

[Toper]

I must admit, when I read the title, I thought "ah, a vampire-related pun! The big fight probably starts now". I thought myself clever.

Giraffes hadn't crossed my mind.

Definitely this! I love that anarchic creatures come in randomized colors. I also love that Durkula has his minions bring out a chair on top of the table for his dramatic evil speech.

[DaggerPen]

*wheezing with laughter* Beautiful, Giant. Just beautiful.

the anarchic giraffes are hilarious. But are they distracting us from the other important line?

Greg said that Xykon will be dead tomorrow.

Is that just because everyone will be dead? Or is there a related Xykon-relevant part of Greg's plan I have missed?

I think it's just because his plan is to destroy the world before then, which will include Xykon.

[Peelee]

the anarchic giraffes are hilarious. But are they distracting us from the other important line?

Greg said that Xykon will be dead tomorrow.

Is that just because everyone will be dead? Or is there a related Xykon-relevant part of Greg's plan I have missed?

Well. Hell wants to destroy the world, and Xykon has previously explained that he is part of the world. So, transitive property and all.

[Fyraltari]

Spoiler: My reaction, to music

Show

WHEN THE CHAOS GIRAFFES ARRIVED!
A cry for help in time of need
Await relief from holy moot
12 hours of siege, outnumbered and weak
Sent a message to the skies
Wounded Clerics left to rise
Will they hold the door or will the temple fall
Dedication, dedication
They're outnumbered eleven to six
And the battle's begun
THEN THE CHAOS GIRAFFES ARRIVED!
Coming in the montain's inside
THEN THE CHAOS GIRAFFES ARRIVED!
Coming in they turned the tied.
As the morn is passing by
And the dead are climbing high
No escape no salvation
Traps in explosive hall
Are carved deep inside the walls
Plant the spells there andwatch the Order fear
Desperation - desperation it's a desperate race against the dwarves
And a race against time
THEN THE CHAOS GIRAFFES ARRIVED!
Coming in the montain's inside
THEN THE CHAOS GIRAFFES ARRIVED!
Coming in they turned the tied.
Fireballs are coming down from the foof
Vampires are you ready to die
We will seek our veangeance eye for an eye
You will be smoked upon the steps of that chair
On this field you're only facing our hate
But back home the goddess' sealing your fate
We remember
In september
That's the night Firmament was freed
We made the ennemy bleed
THEN THE CHAOS GIRAFFES ARRIVED!
Storm clouds, fire and steel
Death from above made the ennemy kneel
Coming in the montain's inside
Fighting, power and grace
Death from above it's an army of hooves
THEN THE CHAOS GIRAFFES ARRIVED!
Storm clouds, fire and steel
Death from above made the ennemy kneel
Coming in the montain's inside
Fighting, power and grace
Death from above it's an army of hooves
THEN THE CHAOS GIRAFFES ARRIVED!
Storm clouds, fire and steel
Death from above made the ennemy kneel
Coming in the montain's inside
Fighting, power and grace
Death from above it's an army of hooves
THEN THE CHAOS GIRAFFES ARRIVED!
Storm clouds, fire and steel
Death from above made the ennemy kneel
Coming in the montain's inside
Fighting, power and grace
Death from above it's an army of hooves
WE REMEMBER
IN SEPTEMBER
WHEN THE CHAOS GIRAFFES ARRIVED

This is amazing. I doubt anyone could imagine this as the beginning of an epic combat. Attack of the jiraffes!

I have actually seen this before. Truly, there is nothing new under the sun.

Heh, the vampire's surprise is priceless. I like that Durkon is just completely surly and checked out at this point.

Hm... Belkar's not getting tapped with Protection From Law? It's not exactly redundant to his clasp. Wouldn't hurt him, for starters.

He seems to be hiding that Protection from Evil harms him, for some reason.

There's still the question of why OotS is bothering with the hall. They know the vampires want to take over the dwarven kings but the kings aren't in the hall. The vampires have to leave and they can ambushed then.

Because Durkon* is there.

That Durkon face! I think anyone would make that when you get attacked by something THAT RANDOM. that face should get something, like an smiley, or a meme or being framed upon somebody's wall as a work of art.

I vote this is added to the Order of the stick smiley thread as soon as humanly possible.

1) His spawn are not as stupid as the sand elemental
2) The summons will soon be killed by the traps
3) Even if some survive, their ability to contribute to the fight is close to nil - they are too weak to pose a threat to vampires.

Indeed I counted three more traps on the last panel.

Also Greg had more vampires with him than we knew of (three Clerics!)
I wonder how many more there are.

Also also the dwarves' habit of ridiculously disproportionnate tunnels and buildings finally pay off!

Also also also if avampire bites a giraffe, at what height would he do it?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

I choose to believe you speak from experience, and have fought at least one giraffe.

Perish the thought of me disabusing you of such a wonderful belief.

GW

[Bloodsausage]

But are they distracting us from the other important line? Greg said that Xykon will be dead tomorrow.

I do think they're trying to distract us from an important line, but I don't think it's that one. Durkon said "It's def'nitely time for the big fight scene," which is obviously supposed to be about Roy & Co. crashing in.

But I think it's Durkon who's about to start something.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

OK, either I'm failing my search rolls, or D20 SRD doesn't have recitation. What does that spell do?

GW

[Kish]

I choose to believe you speak from experience, and have fought at least one giraffe.

Wolves don't typically eat giraffes, but he is a predator, still.

OK, either I'm failing my search rolls, or D20 SRD doesn't have recitation. What does that spell do?

GW

Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Cleric 4, Purification (CD) 3,
Components: V, S, DF,
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 60 ft.
Area: All allies and foes within a 60-ft.-radius burst centered on you
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

By reciting a sacred passage or declaration, you invoke your deity's blessing upon yourself and your allies while causing confusion and weakness among your enemies. The spell affects all allies and foes within the spell's area at the moment you cast it. Your allies gain a +2 luck bonus on attack rolls and saving throws, or a +3 luck bonus if they worship the same patron deity as you. Enemies suffer a -2 luck penalty on attack rolls and saving throws. After casting the spell, you are free to take further actions during the spell's duration as you see fit.

Divine Focus: In addition to your holy symbol, this spell requires a sacred text as a divine focus.

[Shining Wrath]

The symbol of death was scribed on the ceiling; unless a giraffe looks up, they won't trigger it. It will depend if Durkula chose "looks at the rune" or "reads the rune"; giraffes can't read.

It appears that the symbols shown are all different; all symbols have the same triggering mechanism choices, but not all have hit point limitations. The possible symbols are Death (known to be on the ceiling), Fear, Insanity, Pain, Persuasion, Sleep, Stunning, and Weakness. These are variously level 8, 6, 8, 5, 6, 5, 7, and 7.

Persuasion seems superfluous for a bunch of vampires. Insanity is unlikely as it would also consume an 8th level slot, probably leaving Durkula without any remaining. I guess the symbols are Fear (L6), Pain(L5), and Weakness(L7). That means that unless one of the other clerics helped, Durkula has really blown through a fair share of his high level spells.

Both Weakness and Pain would remain active for 10 minutes after being triggered. If, then, the giraffes set them off, the OotS would need to wait for 10 minutes before coming within 60 feet - which makes casting Protection spells a little premature.

It's still a good move, especially if the summoned creatures set off the Symbol of Death, but it might not help as much as one could hope.

[wumpus]

1) His spawn are not as stupid as the sand elemental
2) The summons will soon be killed by the traps
3) Even if some survive, their ability to contribute to the fight is close to nil - they are too weak to pose a threat to vampires.

GW

Giraffes are a cc force not a direct damage force. It appears they are in the midst of a bullrush attack, and can presumably physically move spawn away from the party as well as disrupt concentration and spell casting (although probably not by RAW [not enough hp damage], although how you would maintain concentration after being physically knocked 10' (3m) is beyond me).

Still, getting rid of the traps is enough. If they manage to scatter the enemy that is a bonus (unless V' wants to use something like fireball). After V's evocation habits, it is a sudden surprise to watch a caster lock down (ok, maybe only for a round at best) the combat *and* deal with traps in one go. I'd certainly expect her to get off a few more spells (and find out if Hilgya can't cast sunlight-based spells) as well as V.

[Shining Wrath]

OK, either I'm failing my search rolls, or D20 SRD doesn't have recitation. What does that spell do?

GW

Google search produced only hits on bad wrong websites, but it appears that it is an improved Bless; +2 to your side, -2 to theirs. But it also appears to be "those within range when cast", so the Order won't be negatively affected.

[Elkad]

Google search produced only hits on bad wrong websites, but it appears that it is an improved Bless; +2 to your side, -2 to theirs. But it also appears to be "those within range when cast", so the Order won't be negatively affected.

Newer Spell Compendium version is a Luck bonus to AC, Attacks, Saves. +2, or +3 if they worship the same deity. Which all the vamps do. And because it's Luck, it'll stack with Morale from effects like Bless.