Results 1,111 to 1,140 of 1473
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2024-02-22, 11:39 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
- Location
- Colorado
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
Othar has not attempted to kill a Spark on screen since - the escape from Castle Wulfenbach? Has he done anything to advance the de-Sparkification of Europa since then?
It's pretty clear he has a to-do list, and stopping the Polar Lords was ahead of killing Gil, and probably not having an Eldritch Horror manifest in Mechanicsburg is ahead of killing Agatha.
Question for discussion - if, once things are more or less normal by Europa standards, Othar were given a choice of killing only one of Agatha, Gil, and Tarvek, which one would he kill?
Probably *not* Tarvek, who works very hard at appearing to be non-threatening, and is therefore probably the most dangerous of the three in a political sense.
Is Tarvek a Spark whose specialty is spy networks?This ... is my signature finishing move!
"It's never good when you make a fiend cringe" - MadGrady
According to some online quiz, I'm a 6th level TN Wizard. They didn't give me full XP for all the monsters I've defeated while daydreaming.
http://easydamus.com/character.html
I am a Ranger Archetype: Gleaming Warden (thx to Ninja Prawn)
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2024-02-22, 11:43 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- On Paper
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
I feel like "Unhinged Othar" really lasted like, three pages until Agatha pushed him out of the balloon. Ever since then he's been fairly reasonable.
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2024-02-22, 11:47 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- right behind you
"Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum"
Translation: "Sometimes I get this urge to conquer large parts of Europe."
"If you don't get those cameras out of my face, I'm gonna go 8.6 on the Richter scale with gastric emissions that'll clear this room."
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2024-02-22, 01:35 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2012
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2024-02-22, 02:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
- Location
- Colorado
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
Let's assume that unhinged Othar is still there, ready to spring forth once The Other and Eldritch Horrors are no longer threatening to end Europa's very existence.
Once unhinged Othar pops back out, what's his to-do list look like? There's the "kill in this order regardless of difficulty" list, and then the "kill in this order considering whether I can hope to do it" list. I mean, he's not going to free Europa from Spark rule if he waits for 72 years and finally takes out Gil or Agatha, then another 45 years to get the heir, and then 37 years to get the new Big Bad.This ... is my signature finishing move!
"It's never good when you make a fiend cringe" - MadGrady
According to some online quiz, I'm a 6th level TN Wizard. They didn't give me full XP for all the monsters I've defeated while daydreaming.
http://easydamus.com/character.html
I am a Ranger Archetype: Gleaming Warden (thx to Ninja Prawn)
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2024-02-22, 02:29 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Gender
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2024-02-22, 02:51 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- On Paper
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
My personal take is that Othar's "Mission" is more a goal than a practical day-to-day concern.
Which is to say, his primary goal is to be A Hero. He can't do that if he goes around trying to assassinate every considerable political figure. Sparks are usually either 1) Obvious Threats, 2) Major Political Leaders, or 3) Valuable assets for major political leaders.
When he tries to kill Agatha, he knows nothing about her except that she's a Spark who just fled Castle Wulfenbach. He has no idea what she's going to do. My guess is that Othar's policy if he encounters a lone spark that he can kill without consequence and knows nothing about is to kill them before they get a chance to blow up the nearest village with their Exploding Omelette.
Any other spark he handles on a case-by-case basis. If they're a known heroic quantity, he'll spare them. If they're well known or work for somebody powerful, he needs to consider the risks and consequences of a little impromptu assassination. Agatha in the Balloon is basically one of the few cases where he'll just kill somebody for being a spark. Otherwise, he's either sparing them, or killing them because he's a Hero.
Like, woe become the minor spark who happens to spot a friendly campfire and asks to spend the night, but in general, I think he's far less practically devoted to his Mission.
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2024-02-22, 03:44 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
Interestingly enough Dumedd survived exactly such a situation.
In a war it doesn't matter who's right, only who's left.
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2024-02-22, 03:49 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- On Paper
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
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2024-02-22, 06:16 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Gender
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2024-02-22, 07:12 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
Well, it was not stated in the comics as that meeting was only briefly mentioned in one flashback panel. That being said, they did meet at the Castle Wulfenbach, when Klaus tried to do research on Othar and Dumedd was brought there as he did not do his grease trap cleaning duties. Possibly Othar did not catch during that time that Theo is a spark.
In a war it doesn't matter who's right, only who's left.
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2024-02-23, 06:24 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2007
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
Man, the Foglios are just dropping great lines all over the place this week. I would like to add "Super-science, on the other hand, appears alive and well" to the list of potential thread titles.
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2024-02-23, 07:22 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
- Location
- Colorado
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
What sort of Vozzler would I be if I let a spell cast by a near-deific super-Spark stop me raise the question of just how powerful a humble Vozzler actually is - and how humble Thotep actually is.
This ... is my signature finishing move!
"It's never good when you make a fiend cringe" - MadGrady
According to some online quiz, I'm a 6th level TN Wizard. They didn't give me full XP for all the monsters I've defeated while daydreaming.
http://easydamus.com/character.html
I am a Ranger Archetype: Gleaming Warden (thx to Ninja Prawn)
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2024-02-23, 10:46 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2022
- Location
- Canada
- Gender
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2024-02-23, 11:49 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
- Location
- Colorado
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
This ... is my signature finishing move!
"It's never good when you make a fiend cringe" - MadGrady
According to some online quiz, I'm a 6th level TN Wizard. They didn't give me full XP for all the monsters I've defeated while daydreaming.
http://easydamus.com/character.html
I am a Ranger Archetype: Gleaming Warden (thx to Ninja Prawn)
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2024-02-23, 12:08 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- On Paper
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
While the exact details are not spelled out, Europans do seem to follow several flavors of Christianity.
I wouldn't be surprised if a strict line is drawn between "magic" and "science". Old school sparks were apparently often referred to as wizards or sorcerers anytime Clarke's Third Law came into effect. Whatever Albia did is so far beyond Agatha's understanding of science that she calls it a "Spell". The implication has been that the "magic" we see is just as much sparkwork as deathrays and clanks, that Sparks reach a point where they're no longer visibly using anything we recognize as "technology".
Note that Othar is, I believe, scandinavian, putting him near the territories of the Polar Lords, who seem to favor this style of "magic" over southern spark's use of machines and things. As a result, his culture might be especially gung-ho about such things.
My personal headcanon is that as the general tech level advances, more Sparks break through and become apparent. Until the industrial revolution or so, only sparks good enough to bend the fabric of reality by wiggling their fingers or brewing things out of herbs really got to play around in the Madness Place, and even then only if they had a mentor OR were smart enough to work it out from first principles alone, hence "Wizards". As understandable technology and scientific education become more common, the proverbial "bar" is lowered.
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2024-02-23, 01:49 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2006
- Location
- England. Ish.
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
Warning: This posting may contain wit, wisdom, pathos, irony, satire, sarcasm and puns. And traces of nut.
"The main skill of a good ruler seems to be not preventing the conflagrations but rather keeping them contained enough they rate more as campfires." Rogar Demonblud
"Hold on just a d*** second. UK has spam callers that try to get you to buy conservatories?!? Even y'alls spammers are higher class than ours!" Peelee
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2024-02-23, 04:03 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
- Location
- Colorado
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
It makes sense that Clarke's 3rd law would apply, and that therefore the stronger the Spark the more they are referred to as wizards / witches.
I remember old Andronicus referring to Van Rijn as a sorcerer, which makes sense in this context.
Technology makes it easier for humans to do things. Therefore, it make sense that a weak Spark without any tech to help them would not find it easy to accomplish much. It would take a strong Spark indeed to go from "live in cave with flint knives" to "I'm going to create metal alloys of various levels of ductility and hardness and craft clanks from them".This ... is my signature finishing move!
"It's never good when you make a fiend cringe" - MadGrady
According to some online quiz, I'm a 6th level TN Wizard. They didn't give me full XP for all the monsters I've defeated while daydreaming.
http://easydamus.com/character.html
I am a Ranger Archetype: Gleaming Warden (thx to Ninja Prawn)
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2024-02-23, 07:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2022
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
He has already made an exception for Agatha due to her being a Heterodyne (as Othar seems to equate the name to her father and uncle rather than any other ancestor) so likely Gil whose family lineage was very much on Othar's chopping block.
Also, I am not even sure if Othar has even realized Tarvek is a spark yet.Last edited by Devlerbat; 2024-02-23 at 07:23 PM.
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2024-02-23, 08:58 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Location
- Pacific NW
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
He knows, he said so during the meeting in Paris, and that Tarvek will be among the last to die.
In his Twitter adventures, he describes himself a Deist. And since Albia is older the Jesus, if you follow the latter's teachings in some form, that makes her a heathen.
Moloch's mother picked his name out of a copy of the Bible (without reading the context), so it does exist in some form in Europa.Last edited by geoduck; 2024-02-23 at 09:18 PM.
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2024-02-23, 11:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2006
- Location
- Watching the world go by
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
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2024-02-24, 06:10 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2006
- Location
- England. Ish.
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
Warning: This posting may contain wit, wisdom, pathos, irony, satire, sarcasm and puns. And traces of nut.
"The main skill of a good ruler seems to be not preventing the conflagrations but rather keeping them contained enough they rate more as campfires." Rogar Demonblud
"Hold on just a d*** second. UK has spam callers that try to get you to buy conservatories?!? Even y'alls spammers are higher class than ours!" Peelee
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2024-02-26, 02:29 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2005
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
New comic.
SpoilerFighting like cats and dogs...I'm pretty much the opposite of concise. If I fail to get to the point, please ask me and I'm happy to (attempt to) clarify.
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2024-02-26, 12:03 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2012
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
Thread title: I'm bigger than you! Run!
GO FOR THE EYES, BOO!!!
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2024-02-26, 01:33 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
- Location
- Colorado
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
And Gil and Tarvek are once again reminded that "sane" in Agatha's entourage doesn't mean the same thing as "sane" in the rest of Europa.
This ... is my signature finishing move!
"It's never good when you make a fiend cringe" - MadGrady
According to some online quiz, I'm a 6th level TN Wizard. They didn't give me full XP for all the monsters I've defeated while daydreaming.
http://easydamus.com/character.html
I am a Ranger Archetype: Gleaming Warden (thx to Ninja Prawn)
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2024-02-26, 02:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2006
- Location
- England. Ish.
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
Warning: This posting may contain wit, wisdom, pathos, irony, satire, sarcasm and puns. And traces of nut.
"The main skill of a good ruler seems to be not preventing the conflagrations but rather keeping them contained enough they rate more as campfires." Rogar Demonblud
"Hold on just a d*** second. UK has spam callers that try to get you to buy conservatories?!? Even y'alls spammers are higher class than ours!" Peelee
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2024-02-26, 03:53 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2022
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
Last edited by Devlerbat; 2024-02-26 at 03:53 PM.
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2024-02-26, 03:55 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2015
- Location
- Germany
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
"If it lives it can be killed.
If it is dead it can be eaten."
Ronkong Coma "the way of the bookhunter" III Catacombium
(Walter Moers "Die Stadt der träumenden Bücher")
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2024-02-26, 05:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2012
- Location
- Colorado
- Gender
Re: Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!
IIRC one of the older Heterodynes managed to become a pope, as a sort of sick joke?
This ... is my signature finishing move!
"It's never good when you make a fiend cringe" - MadGrady
According to some online quiz, I'm a 6th level TN Wizard. They didn't give me full XP for all the monsters I've defeated while daydreaming.
http://easydamus.com/character.html
I am a Ranger Archetype: Gleaming Warden (thx to Ninja Prawn)
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2024-02-26, 05:48 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2015