OOTS #801 - The Discussion Thread

[JoseB]

Does the present-day color of Zz'dtri's magic match the color of the scrying sensor?

Comparing the latest Zz'dtri's dweomer here (#800) with the dweomer that accompanied the scrying eye in strip #698, I am of the opinion that yes, the colours do match.

If there is any difference, I attribute it to transparencies over a differently-coloured background.

I think that the balance of probabilities is that, yes, it was Zz'dtri who was scrying on the OotS in the middle of the desert.

[Lvl45DM!]

Genius, Genius GENIUS!

I think Elan wasn't punning cos...he couldn't come up with a pun. Go on come up with a pun for the situation I dare you.
And it seems the Giant specifically drew elans face in the cell door so as to conceal any goatee or lack thereof making it plausible that Amun goes for Nale. I'm more impressed he managed to sneak by the two combatants without Nale noticing

[wzeller]

She saw he didn't have a goatee when he was standing between her and Tarquin, but she's probably too enraged to notice.

Anybody who has had a beard and shaved it, or grown one anew can attest: People really don't tend to notice right away.

I had a full beard for ten years. Many people I knew had never seen me without it. Then I shaved the whole thing off. Maybe 1 person in 5 noticed right away. Most looked at me strangely for a few minutes before figuring out what had changed, sometimes even asking me if something was different.

Then, while away on vacation, I grew a goatee. (Which is why I chose this posting avatar.) When I returned, it was the same thing all over again.

I found it all highly entertaining.

So for her to notice the beard and stop her attack to wonder if maybe there's a twin around would have been highly unbeleivable.

[warmachine]

D&D definitely needs a mechanic for serendipity, such as landing on a convenient guard. Bards would definitely have it. In my opinion, it would help with the linear warrior, quadratic wizard problem. The spellcaster players rely on their spells, other suggest fortuitous events and have luck save the day.

[Lvl45DM!]

D&D definitely needs a mechanic for serendipity, such as landing on a convenient guard. Bards would definitely have it. In my opinion, it would help with the linear warrior, quadratic wizard problem. The spellcaster players rely on their spells, other suggest fortuitous events and have luck save the day.

That would work for bards. It would suck butt for any DM to make work and for fighters it wouldn't fit the flavour but it would be cool for bards. Take your idea to the Homebrew board my good man!

[Ekul]

After all those negative levels, it's no wonder he failed his balance check. I wonder if he has balance trained...

[Aerysil]

The ad hoc plan was just silly and crazy enough to work.

Go Elan!

[Dr.Epic]

energy drain can do anything in this comic, didn't you know that?

No it can't. The only thing that can do anything a writer wants in a comic is radiation that that only applies during the Golden and Silver Age of Comics. Learn your comic history people!

[Thomar_of_Uointer]

Wow, it's astonishing that Nale doesn't have a plan for this. I'm sure he's coming up with one right now, but it'll be interesting to see how he thinks on his feet.

[t209]

Nice Comic! Best since the kobold based weapon used by V

[joela]

Dang. Elan's definitely evolved into a *gasp* competent hero

[137beth]

Wow, Nale isn't smart enough to realize that Elan isn't smart enough to have tracked him?

[baerdith]

Which is weird, because a Bard's class abilities are mainly buffing and some healing.

Blasphemer!



Seriously, the Bard is the ultimate class. He's part everything: some fighter, some rogue, some wizard, some cleric. A Bard is THE solo class....

[Wanda V'Orcus]

Comparing the latest Zz'dtri's dweomer here (#800) with the dweomer that accompanied the scrying eye in strip #698, I am of the opinion that yes, the colours do match.

If there is any difference, I attribute it to transparencies over a differently-coloured background.

I think that the balance of probabilities is that, yes, it was Zz'dtri who was scrying on the OotS in the middle of the desert.

I concur with Sir JoseB's analysis of said arcane emanations.

Cheers, JohnH / Wanda

[Umberhulk]

Actually, Elan´s effectiveness increases when he is alone and/or forced to rely on his own abilities.

And he has to save Haley.

[Jay R]

Wow, Nale isn't smart enough to realize that Elan isn't smart enough to have tracked him?

It's not a question of "smart enough". Nale's' ego always trumps his brains.

Nale is egotistical enough that he never considers the possibility that he isn't on everyone's mind at all times. Besides, he knows the whole Order of the Stick is here,so Elan wouldn't have done the tracking anyway.

[willpell]

Actually, Elan´s effectiveness increases when he is alone and/or forced to rely on his own abilities.

This is doubtlessly no coincidence. If the OOTS had players, Elan would be the Social Gamer of the bunch, more interested in hanging with his buddies than in pwning d00ds or getting his power trip on; when the other PCs are around he's content to coast and do goofy bard stuff for his own amusement while they haul most of the weight. But when separated from the group, he has to step up to the plate and do as much as he can manage, in order to survive, escape, and reunite with the group, whereupon he can go back to coasting and turning off his brain. It's a brilliant bit of meta-characterization, really.

On a distinctly less brilliant note, was I the only one who saw the strip title "Bound to Happen" and thought it would involve Belkar and his Ring of Jumping?

[Mutant Sheep]

Nice Comic! Best since the kobold based weapon used by V

I agree. Best one since the last one!

Genius, Genius GENIUS!
I think Elan wasn't punning cos...he couldn't come up with a pun. Go on come up with a pun for the situation I dare you.
And it seems the Giant specifically drew elans face in the cell door so as to conceal any goatee or lack thereof making it plausible that Amun goes for Nale. I'm more impressed he managed to sneak by the two combatants without Nale noticing.

Umm...yeah I got nothing pun-wise.

And with the sneaking past, 30ft. per round movement rate. (It can work on PC's too. Less effective, but works.)

Also, augh! Nale looks badass! Make it stop Giant!

@v Are you saying the good Captain Zora is Sabine in disguise? And the Sabine we just saw was actually Celia?

[Tundar]

This story arc just keeps getting better and better.

Karma is indeed a bitch. And a black haired, angry one too.

[Whiffet]

I love it. I especially love how Elan just hands her the sword from behind the door. Poor Nale has no idea what's going on right now.

[M.A.D]

Interesting.. I always thought that Elan was capable only when it comes to situations that his Charisma was involved, like when he seduced Sabine. I think today's strip is the only exception

[Rastaban]

Think of the poor lizard fellow minding his own business!

Great comic Giant!

[Mutant Sheep]

Think of the poor lizard fellow minding his own business!

Great comic Giant!

Don't worry, he read the Manual. That was a fake-guard balloon. The real guard is getting the magical hit squad.

[Rai Thunder]

I feel kinda bad for her though. Let's hope she has a high will save or it's unlikely Nale will have to do much Suggesting to turn her against Elan if/when she can see the two of them.

[narwhal97]

My first thought was 'Huh, never had Karma work out in my favor before.

Nice callback... loved the new comic but the joke at the end caught me off guard.

Elan's already pulled a karma joke in a face-off with Nale!

The only person who has to gain from yet another brother-brother fight is Tarquin, though. It is well within his possibilities that he knew of Nale being there, because of Thog; with that, it's also possible that he was able to manipulate the information available to Nale. It just fits with his character that he lets his two sons battle it out while Nale would have wanted to kill Tarquin instead.

But in this twin fight there is, of course, a chance of Elan dying, which would steal Tarquin's ending for his best story ever. Would he want to take the chance of Nale, a disorganized buffoon, stealing his dramatic ending by setting them up in a brotherly duel?

Fantastic comic, though! Way to go, Elan.

[legomaster00156]

Heh. It's about time NALE is the one framed.

[Doug Lampert]

Doesn't Nale know better than to split up in this sort of situation? They're much more vulnerable when they're by themselves than they are when they're together.

Nale's excessively elaborate plans ALWAYS involve splitting up.

It's characteristic of him, it provides dozens of extra low probability failure modes for his plans. (Note: The exact reason Nale's plans fail is usually something unpredictable, but the shear number of moving parts assures a failure even if his status as a villian in a universe largely ruled by dramatic convention weren't already doing so.)

They NEED to intercept Elan and prevent him from getting help at any cost. It's not just the OotS they are afraid of, if Elan escapes and shows up with Tarquin and/or Malack, the Linear Guild are toast.

That to.

Which is weird, because a Bard's class abilities are mainly buffing and some healing.

When the group is arround he sings, and everyone gets bonuses, and no one notices how big the Bard's contribution is. Just like in a real game!

DougL

[evillemming]

Elan using his brain, and Nale being framed. Things are really turning around for the Order.

[MoonCat]

Lovely Giant, lovely. Elan really is getting much better than the buffoon who attacked his own reflection, or the idiot who sang about Belkar's curse.

[EvilSnail]

Wow that was smart, I think somewhere between strips Elan must have found item grantin bonus to intelligence ability