OOTS #1121 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[jdb-44]

I *knew* there was a good reason to add Rich to my Twitter feed...new comic notification!

So...does this mean Durkon* will be forced to watch a 20-minute memory and won't be able to focus on the fight? That'd make this a pretty clever trick by Durkon! Kind of like the IFCC's ability to take V out of a situation at any point in time...

[Seerow]

I *knew* there was a good reason to add Rich to my Twitter feed...new comic notification!

So...does this mean Durkon* will be forced to watch a 20-minute memory and won't be able to focus on the fight? That'd make this a pretty clever trick by Durkon! Kind of like the IFCC's ability to take V out of a situation at any point in time...

I can only imagine this is happening at speed of thought, and even if Durkon* has to sit through the whole thing, it'll take a few seconds of real time, tops. Then figure the world operates on combat rounds where things like talking and thinking are free actions... I'll be surprised if that's the route this goes, rather than Durkon actually wanting to drive some sort of point home with the Memory in question.

[jdb-44]

I can only imagine this is happening at speed of thought, and even if Durkon* has to sit through the whole thing, it'll take a few seconds of real time, tops. Then figure the world operates on combat rounds where things like talking and thinking are free actions... I'll be surprised if that's the route this goes, rather than Durkon actually wanting to drive some sort of point home with the Memory in question.

Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Wonder what this memory will be? And how long has Durkon had it in mind as a last-ditch effort to sway/stop Durkon*?

[Lord Torath]

I like Durkon trying to look innocent in panel 3. The crack in the dinner plate is also great.

Thanks, Rich!

[Grey_Wolf_c]

So...does this mean Durkon* will be forced to watch a 20-minute memory and won't be able to focus on the fight? That'd make this a pretty clever trick by Durkon! Kind of like the IFCC's ability to take V out of a situation at any point in time...

It's been established that the memories are reviewed much too fast to affect combat rounds. Durkon's angle is probably to make use of Greg's lack of ability to connect memories together, although I've no idea how he'll do so (nor am I interesting in trying to guess - I'd rather just wait and see how it turns out).

Grey Wolf

[BowStreetRunner]

The real question for me is whether the 'no time jumps' also applies to the audience. If the next 10 comics are all Durkon washing up for supper...

[TRH]

I suspect the damage Durkon wanted to do to Greg's planning has already been done, but we'll see. I think this all but confirms that there will be another battle, though, since the deal only protects Kudzu "right now".

[Gallowglass]

Its seems obvious that Durkon has figured out a way to weaponize the fact that Greg (with his +2 int) is incapable of tying memories to meaning. I haven't the foggiest how, but I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store.

[Zyzzyva]

Heh, "as smart as you are, plus two points".

Also, the controlled detonation line reminds me that Durkon has pulled this scam before...

[Grey_Wolf_c]

I suspect the damage Durkon wanted to do to Greg's planning has already been done, but we'll see. I think this all but confirms that there will be another battle, though, since the deal only protects Kudzu "right now".

No, the deal protects him (from Greg), paraphrased, "at least until Hel destroys the world". There are loopholes aplenty, of course - Greg could allow the Exexarch to attack Kudzu, for example - but the deal, if Greg sticks to it (which he'd likely would, being Lawful) stops Greg from harming Kudzu for the foreseeable future.

Grey Wolf

[Renchard]

Considering it's something that happened on his first day of cleric training, I imagine it's something to do with the nature of the gods, Hel in particular.

[PH7]

As much as I was looking forward to Durkon's reaction to seeing he's 'a pa', I feel like the next comic may be the emotional climax we've been heading towards for these last few months years.
That, and the reunion between Belkar and Durkon of course...

[NRSASD]

Excellent comic as always!

Hehehe... I think Durkon* just signed his own undeath warrant. By demanding that Durkon stop showing him memories, he just cut off his only source of intel on the party. I have no idea what play is going to go down, but I'm pretty darn sure a memory from Durkon could prevent it. A memory that Durkon* no longer has access to.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Excellent comic as always!

Hehehe... I think Durkon* just signed his own undeath warrant. By demanding that Durkon stop showing him memories, he just cut off his only source of intel on the party. I have no idea what play is going to go down, but I'm pretty darn sure a memory from Durkon could prevent it. A memory that Durkon* no longer has access to.

That's not how the arrangement works. This stops Durkon from offering up memories. But it doesn't stop Greg from obtaining them. He may choose not to request any, and currently that is his intention since he fears being mislead by Durkon, but if something unexpected comes up that he thinks might have an explanation in Durkon's memory, nothing in this agreement stops Greg from forcing it out of Durkon.

Grey Wolf

[137beth]

Maybe this memory is going to be something that could help HPoH, but he will ignore it because he thinks it's a trick?

[The Pilgrim]

So now Durkon feeds Durkon* with a totally pointless memory, and Durkon* and all the Forum Members will bang their minds thinking about where the trick is, when the trick is that there is none. And Durkon* will finally come to the conclussion that he has seen trough the ruse and will mkde plans to foil Durkon's trap and... will be defeated because of the distraction.

[HandofShadows]

I have NO idea what's goin on here, but I know it's a set up for something very interesting.

[hamishspence]

Agreed. Whatever Durkon's up to, it'll be good, I think.

[Crusher]

The big plan won't hit yet, but the set-up is almost done.

I'm eagerly anticipating this.

[happycrow]

Durkula isn't in control of what Durkon feeds him up.....

Holy COW what a reveal.

[Kish]

Greg isn't in control of what Durkon feeds him up.....

Holy COW what a reveal.

Really? It was pretty clear here. Not to mention earlier when Durkon showed gross-out memories.

[DaOldeWolf]

I wonder what is Durkon thinking? How is it supposed to help with this last memory if the vampire already knows of the possibility of him misleading with a memory?

[Chei]

So Sgt. Thundershield's clothes and tableware have been getting steadily more wretched over time. I wonder how that's going to play into whatever lesson this memory taught Durkon (that Durkon* will not ignore).

[Ruck]

Wait! I need closure on that anecdote!

That's not how the arrangement works. This stops Durkon from offering up memories. But it doesn't stop Greg from obtaining them. He may choose not to request any, and currently that is his intention since he fears being mislead by Durkon, but if something unexpected comes up that he thinks might have an explanation in Durkon's memory, nothing in this agreement stops Greg from forcing it out of Durkon.

Grey Wolf

Exact wording is "If you agree not to show me any more memories." I would think letter of the law means that this is whether or not they are requested. That said, I had previously thought memories were only shown when requested (I guess until #1089), so I'm not really sure how this will work.

It's been established that the memories are reviewed much too fast to affect combat rounds. Durkon's angle is probably to make use of Greg's lack of ability to connect memories together, although I've no idea how he'll do so (nor am I interesting in trying to guess - I'd rather just wait and see how it turns out).

Grey Wolf

While the memories may occur too fast to affect combat rounds, #1112 seems to suggest that at the least, Durkula finds it a little annoying or distracting when he has to see memories he doesn't want to.

[lcavalheiro]

So Greg tried to use Kudzu as a leverage against Durkon and our smelly little dwarf has a plan to turn this table against that vampire full of him(it?)self. I think Durkon's plan is just dulling Greg's analytical mind by pure boredom.

[ErebusVonMori]

The best trap is there is no trap, just Durkon* overanalysing things.

[DanielBDouglas]

I wonder what is Durkon thinking? How is it supposed to help with this last memory if the vampire already knows of the possibility of him misleading with a memory?

I imagine that there's the possibility of a double bluff. Durkon shows Durkula something that if interpreted naively, would actually help him, like "All clerics of Loki are bound to betray their comrades if you offer them gold." But Durkula assumes that it's a trick, and Durkon is concealing some second half like "but they are also bound to betray the person who bribed them, and Loki will grant them miracle-level spells to do so, because that's how Loki rolls." There is, in fact, no second half, but Durkula refuses to bribe Hilgya out of fear of a trap.

[2D8HP]

So now Durkon feeds Durkon* with a totally pointless memory, and Durkon* and all the Forum Members will burn their minds thinking about where the trick is[...]

You know me well.

So in suspense!

[Keltest]

So Sgt. Thundershield's clothes and tableware have been getting steadily more wretched over time. I wonder how that's going to play into whatever lesson this memory taught Durkon (that Durkon* will not ignore).

I believe the word youre looking for is "old". A chipped plate is still usable, so she wont spend the money to replace it until it breaks the rest of the way.