OOTS #968 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Lateral]

...'Greige?'

Hmm. See, now, if these low-level clerics know how vampires work, then it must be information with a fairly low Knowledge (Religion) DC. I guess no one aside from Durkon took any ranks?

[Seracain]

Oh Elan, even when you don't try, you still get the Dun dun dun in.

Also I guess the soul not being in control is a known thing for those with high ranks in relegion. Interesting.

...'Greige?'

If I remember correctly, Greige means it hasn't been dyed.

[Tom Lehmann]

Just who is learning what is nicely conveyed!

[KillingAScarab]

Turn undead looks different, now. I wonder if bolster undead does, too. Stab undead probably looks the same.

Edit:
I had forgotten, stab undead does look a little different.

[Porthos]

Ah, Elan, always looking for ways to keep his material fresh.

[Oneris]

It's funny how Vaarsuvius should logically be the party member with the highest number of skillpoints, but didn't bother to max out hir 4 main knowledges. Where did all those points go?

[oppyu]

I realise that narratively speaking it's unlikely that not-Durkon would be exposed at this point. And that this is a storyline and it's irrational to be angry at Roy for not possessing knowledge he... well, that he doesn't possess. Regardless...

God damn it Roy you were two seconds away! JUST KILL IT ALREADY!

[Porthos]

Stopping this before it even begins.

<SNIP>

All of Malack's dialogue regarding who he is/was should be viewed through the lens of me not wanting to spoil the scene from #946. Some of what he says is metaphorical and all of it is deliberately ambiguous, because I was consciously trying to make you think one thing while another thing was actually true. As a rule of thumb, it is not in my interest to lock down the metaphysics of things if I don't have to, so don't expect that I will have characters exposition How Things Work just to clear up your confusion.

Likewise, any assumptions that characters in the comic know or understand the details of how this process occurs on a detailed internal level should be thrown out the window. They don't. Being a vampire is super-rare; being returned to life after being a vampire so you can share the logistics of how it worked from your point of view in such a way that it entered a general body of knowledge that people would have learned about in the course of their education is simply not something that has ever occurred.

<SNIP>

Exact Words strikes again!

Specifically "in such a way that it entered a general body of knowledge that people would have learned about in the course of their education"

In other words, this is something you'd need enough ranks in Knowledge: Religion to know.

Sneaky sneaky, tricksy tricksy Giant.

===

Still, it makes for interesting situations in the future know that we have confirmation that at least some priests will know the dark of how vampirism works in OotSWorld.

Gonna get the popcorn ready for those instances.

[Thomar_of_Uointer]

It's funny how Vaarsuvius should logically be the party member with the highest number of skillpoints, but didn't bother to max out hir 4 main knowledges. Where did all those points go?

Self-Loathing and Tolerate Avian Menace.

[ti'esar]

One of the greatest twists on a running gag ever. I cracked up.

The sixth and seventh panels kind of bugged me, though. The HPoH got very lucky Roy was looking in the other direction there, and the implication of this random, apparently not-all-that-high-level gnome priest knowing how vampires work makes it a little implausible that no one in or around the Order does. We all know Durkon's Knowledge: Religion was terrible, but what about, say, that cleric of Adad on the Mechane?

[HUMVEE Driver]

For once I can appreciate the running gag! I get it! Roy should really try to work on his diplomacy. Skills aren't his strong suit, but you'd think being the leader he'd work at it. To be fair, he's only got, what 2 points per level? Plus his INT bonus of course. All the same, not a bad strip. Got to keep them coming, Giant! Especially since we are nearing #1,000!

[Porthos]

We all know Durkon's Knowledge: Religion was terrible, but what about, say, that cleric of Adad on the Mechane?

Whoever said he was a cleric? Could just be a crewperson whose duty it was to make appropiate sacrfices to various pantheons as they travel through the lands where they are worshipped. Clerics aren't the only ones to do that, after all.

[Doug Lampert]

...'Greige?'

Hmm. See, now, if these low-level clerics know how vampires work, then it must be information with a fairly low Knowledge (Religion) DC. I guess no one aside from Durkon took any ranks?

Do we have any evidence that even Durkon has any such ranks?

Hilgya didn't do anything much to hide who and what she was, and Durkon due to his complete lack of knowledge religion missed it.

Non-human clerics often get about 2 skill points per level, and want to max concentration and spellcraft. I've seen clerics in play with no knowledge religion, it isn't all that common a skill choice.

[t209]

I know there isn't a Gnome Cleric isn't wearing pilot hat but I am feeling that one of them is wearing a hat that look like the one from Inquisition.
http://imageserver.moviepilot.com/-3...641&height=441

[TerrickTerran]

Love Elan's line in the end, and Durkon making sure his secret isn't revealed just yet.

[ti'esar]

Whoever said he was a cleric? Could just be a crewperson whose duty it was to make appropiate sacrfices to various pantheons they travel through. Clerics aren't the only ones to do that, after all.

He does have a holy symbol, but you're right that we don't see him explicitly casting spells.

[Porthos]

He does have a holy symbol, but you're right that we don't see him explicitly casting spells.

Well, as Durkon himself proved, not all clerics put points into Knowledge Religion. So, narratively, the HPoH got lucky. Or unlucky if the gnome cleric rolled really well.

Sides, the HPoH has already shown he knows how to deal with lowish level clerics who speak out of, ahem, turn.

[Mith]

So it is known in world that the deceased is not in control of the vampire. Good to know.

[DolGrenn]

It's so hard these days to find the right shade of dun to match your new decor; Elan really is lucky he gets a selection like that...

[zinycor]

Nice comic Giant!!

What does Durkula want to find out? what shrine does he want to go and what does he expects to find there?

I really want to find out!! I want things go to hell soon!!

[Shining Wrath]

That was a timely save by Durkula. The secret was almost revealed. One wonders why the other clerics didn't feel the need to supply more information.

[multilis]

Durkon's Knowledge: Religion was terrible, but what about, say, that cleric of Adad on the Mechane?

It could be backstory for NPC means NPC learned about vampires from some real life experience. (Real life includes being told a story by a bard, oracle, high level cleric, etc)

[Porthos]

I want things go to hell soon!!

I believe you passed up an opportunity there to pun.

[zinycor]

I believe you passed up an opportunity there to pun.

hahaha xD didn't catch it, nice one!

[SaintRidley]

That was a timely save by Durkula. The secret was almost revealed. One wonders why the other clerics didn't feel the need to supply more information.

The other two may well not have known.

[Boogastreehouse]

*

Awww!

It's true! If their little church-hats were flying off in fear it WOULD be adorable!


*

[stsasser]

Dramatic cue subverted. Nice.

[Pearstriker]

Love Elan's line in the end, and Durkon making sure his secret isn't revealed just yet.

He was verrrry close to it getting out right there.

But the Cleric was neither Willful enough to make the save, nor clever enough to stay out of range.

And of course, Elan was too distracted by the greiges to see that (thematically) something sinister was clearly going on.

Well done sir!

[The Giant]

That was a timely save by Durkula. The secret was almost revealed. One wonders why the other clerics didn't feel the need to supply more information.

My intended implication was that even among the clerics, this was not common knowledge; only 1 out of 4 knew. Maybe that one had Skill Focus (Knowledge (Religion)) or something.