OOTS #1175 - The Discussion Thread

[D.One]

Pretty much. Malack had every reasonable precaution taken to make sure that he'd be fine. Then he took another set of precautions. Nale was just a bit ahead of him, and caught him unawares.

Just remind me: why are we resurrecting Malack again?

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Just remind me: why are we resurrecting Malack again?

Because we now have yet another vampire that could have been able to escape her current predicament if she had thought to (& been allowed to) fill her spell slots with escape plans rather than quick-vampire-raise spells. To counter the idea she should have, bringing up Malak again is warranted.

Grey Wolf

[Dion]

I want Curly to live so that Minrah Murray can hunt her down.

[D.One]

Because we now have yet another vampire that could have been able to escape her current predicament if she had thought to (& been allowed to) fill her spell slots with escape plans rather than quick-vampire-raise spells. To counter the idea she should have, bringing up Malak again is warranted.

Grey Wolf

Let's just pray we don't have another paladin falling and letting redemption escape because of his/her hubris then...

[Fish]

Let's just pray we don't have another paladin falling and letting redemption escape because of his/her hubris then...

And she sounds like Janice Hosenstein. “I’ve fallen and lost my powers? OH. MY. GOD.”

[Squire Doodad]

And she sounds like Janice Hosenstein. “I’ve fallen and lost my powers? OH. MY. GOD.”

I'm quite certain she's far less likely to go berserk and try to kill her liege lord though.

[Fish]

Unless that laugh is lethal. “You’re so adorable, King-a-ling, HNA HNA HNA!”

[Squire Doodad]

Unless that laugh is lethal. “You’re so adorable, King-a-ling, HNA HNA HNA!”

It's a free action that deals moderate non-lethal damage, along with a Constitution save to prevent INT damage from being in place until the next extended rest.

[Goblin_Priest]

Well, one could say they really blew the visuals budget on this one. Good thing nobody had to draw that!

[DavidBV]

The purple trail is she starting to turn to mist? I thought that was instantaneous

[Grey_Wolf_c]

The purple trail is she starting to turn to mist? I thought that was instantaneous

No, the purple mist is her turned into mist. Unless you are referring to the next-to-final panel, in which case it is a dynamic image of her turning from mist back into corporeal form.

Grey Wolf

[Yirggzmb]

The purple trail is she starting to turn to mist? I thought that was instantaneous

It's indicating her turning back to normal. Even if it's instantaneous, it's a good visual cue.

[chiefwaha]

I want Curly to live so that Minrah Murray can hunt her down.

That's a spin off series if ever I heard one.

[Schroeswald]

The purple trail is she starting to turn to mist? I thought that was instantaneous

The purple trail is her as mist, there's a little mist as she turns back to a dwarf but she'll be back to full dwarf next strip.

EDIT: Ninja'd by Grey Wold and Kirrg

[DavidBV]

No, the purple mist is her turned into mist. Unless you are referring to the next-to-final panel, in which case it is a dynamic image of her turning from mist back into corporeal form.

Grey Wolf

ohhh I get it now thanks.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

ohhh I get it now thanks.

No problem. I should thank you: any occasion that gives me the chance to ninja two other posters is a good occasion.

Grey Wolf

[Squire Doodad]

No problem. I should thank you: any occasion that gives me the chance to ninja two other posters is a good occasion.

Grey Wolf

X2 Ninja Combo

+5000 points

[DavidBV]

One question that comes to mind is, why abandoning mist form at all? it sounds like an unnecessary risk to take.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

One question that comes to mind is, why abandoning mist form at all? it sounds like an unnecessary risk to take.

They run significantly faster than they float as mist

Grey Wolf

[Rogar Demonblud]

Pretty much. Malack had every reasonable precaution taken to make sure that he'd be fine. Then he took another set of precautions. Nale was just a bit ahead of him, and caught him unawares.

Related to same, if he did have Word of Recall memorized, Z was right there to counterspell it. Nale did plan this one well. Well, to be fair he probably had like 18 pages of contingencies that weren't needed, which is why it looks like a simple plan.

[Worldsong]

Malack versus Nale really comes down to "Sometimes the other guy just played it better than you."

[HouseRules]

Mist form: 20 feet per move action, 2 move action = 40 feet max per round.

Corporeal form: 30 feet per move action, run 4x = 120 feet per round.

Edit: Normally, a dwarf has 20 feet move action, but Giant make changes to make the story work

[Squire Doodad]

Related to same, if he did have Word of Recall memorized, Z was right there to counterspell it. Nale did plan this one well. Well, to be fair he probably had like 18 pages of contingencies that weren't needed, which is why it looks like a simple plan.

"...and then, when he pulls out the enchanted bag of tricks he stole from the Magistrate of Magicians, Z will use the makeshift magic squirt gun to ward off the muskrats. Of course, we'll also have to deal with the horde of demonic Capybaras from the modded Summon Monster possibly blocking our line-of-sight as mentioned in section 9b, so I'll use Silent Image to draw them away. If Malack attempts to use Divine Favor for the second time, then Z will have to use his Crushing Despair which will have a 30% chance to nullify the relevant bonuses on account of the debuffs already in place. At this time, if we can take the stake, Malack will panic letting us dive for the Holy Wafers, assuming any haven't been eaten by the Capybaras..."

Malack versus Nale really comes down to "Sometimes the other guy just played it better than you."

Well put.

[jwhouk]

I think we may be on to something here - Curly will be killed, inadvertently or otherwise, by some recurring, returning character that will hugely impact the next chapter.

Like, say, Tarquin?

[Wizard_Lizard]

I think we may be on to something here - Curly will be killed, inadvertently or otherwise, by some recurring, returning character that will hugely impact the next chapter.

Like, say, Tarquin?

or by notthad

[Schroeswald]

I think we may be on to something here - Curly will be killed, inadvertently or otherwise, by some recurring, returning character that will hugely impact the next chapter.

Like, say, Tarquin?

thog kill curly girl. curly girl icky.

[Quebbster]

I think we may be on to something here - Curly will be killed, inadvertently or otherwise, by some recurring, returning character that will hugely impact the next chapter.

Like, say, Tarquin?

I don't really see new pieces added to the board at this stage of the book. I do expect a cutaway to the North Pole crew though.

[Squire Doodad]

I don't really see new pieces added to the board at this stage of the book. I do expect a cutaway to the North Pole crew though.

That's guaranteed to either be the end of this book or the beginning of the next one.

[danielxcutter]

Re: Vampire Cleric discussion - Malack was preparing for general situations, while Nale was specifically planning to take him down; you'd need a far stronger spellcaster to get around that degree of planning without knowing in advance.

"...and then, when he pulls out the enchanted bag of tricks he stole from the Magistrate of Magicians, Z will use the makeshift magic squirt gun to ward off the muskrats. Of course, we'll also have to deal with the horde of demonic Capybaras from the modded Summon Monster possibly blocking our line-of-sight as mentioned in section 9b, so I'll use Silent Image to draw them away. If Malack attempts to use Divine Favor for the second time, then Z will have to use his Crushing Despair which will have a 30% chance to nullify the relevant bonuses on account of the debuffs already in place. At this time, if we can take the stake, Malack will panic letting us dive for the Holy Wafers, assuming any haven't been eaten by the Capybaras..."

Can I sig that?

[Schroeswald]

I don't really see new pieces added to the board at this stage of the book. I do expect a cutaway to the North Pole crew though.

Well, lets see the pieces still on the board (will this post actually mean anything? I have no clue, but I felt like making this post and nothing has ever stopped me from making long-winded random posts only vaguely related to what I'm responded too that no one would ever want to respond to before).

1. The OOTS: Along with their pets, they'll be heading North until they find Xykon.
2. Team Evil: Up in the North trying to get through Kraagor's Tomb, will presumably never leave it until the climax.
3. The Azure City Fleet: Will presumably stick around by the island until the year-long resolution (I'm calling that, after the climax the final book will go on for another year, give or take).
4. Lien and O-Chul: Up in the North, we'll check in on them a few times in the next few years before the order makes it up north.
5. Niu: All alone somewhere on the Southern Continent, we probably won't see her until we find out she made it to the Azurites in the resolution.
6. Gobbotopia: Same as the Azure Fleet, we might see Jirix doing something to help the Plan but I doubt it.
7. The IFCC: With Sabine and Qarr (who both might end up hanging around with a new short-term group), intermittently popping in until the climax when whatever they are planning is revealed and defeated.
8. The Anti-Tarquin League (I came up with this name): Presumably won't return beyond the resolution, but if Miron and Laurin end up important who knows? (My personal theory is that they kill Tarquin off-screen and then Miron and Laurin return).
9. The Vector Legion (Mostly M&L): Probably going to sit around in their continent doing whatever but I'm not willing to write them off quite yet due to last book's finale.
10. The Mechane Crew: Will stay next to the OOTS until they exit stage left (which might be the end of this book, they might never do it) until the resolution.
11. Assorted Dwarves: All of them are about to exit the story at the story, except Minrah who I still think has a chance to continue in this story for awhile.
12. Hel, the Frontarch and Curly: Completely falling apart, about to leave, barely warrant being counted but see what I said at the start of this post.
13. Hilgya (with assistance from Loki): I have no clue what their fate is in the story, they could immediately exit, they could join another group they could continue to work alone.

So yeah, any of the other groups could kill (or align with) Curly, and none of them are truly off the board (though quite a few of them are most likely gone until the resolution).