Speaking of the next book...

[FlawedParadigm]

Aren't we about due? DStP was 188 strips, and stopped at 672. We're 208 past that now, and I'm sort of hoping the next book won't be long enough to be $50. Of course we're also in the middle of a major conflict, hence the nature of my worry.

[The_Tentacle]

Didn't you know? The plot arcs always run long.

But yeah, I have the suspicion that this next book will be longer than average. Becasue we are currently in a big plot arc. I think the book will stop somewhere around the gate going KRACKAKOOM.

[FlawedParadigm]

Although looking back, only 833 and 839 presented anything even remotely close to resembling a good stopping point recently, and even then the emphasis would be on remotely. I don't know if the KRAAAAAACKAKOOOOM is going to be the stop point for this book, though - at a guess, I would say 878 was the climax and we're about to hit denouement. If I'm not mistaken, Team Evil still needs to show up before the fate of the gate is decided, and between their arrival and the resolution of the three-way engagement, that still seems to be a long way off. Unless Rich is planning on the next book running to 256 strips or something, I think the fate of the Gate will be the territory of the next-next book.

[Peelee]

Although looking back, only 833 and 839 presented anything even remotely close to resembling a good stopping point recently, and even then the emphasis would be on remotely. I don't know if the KRAAAAAACKAKOOOOM is going to be the stop point for this book, though - at a guess, I would say 878 was the climax and we're about to hit denouement. If I'm not mistaken, Team Evil still needs to show up before the fate of the gate is decided, and between their arrival and the resolution of the three-way engagement, that still seems to be a long way off. Unless Rich is planning on the next book running to 256 strips or something, I think the fate of the Gate will be the territory of the next-next book.

Actually, looking back at the ones you linked, I could see 839 being the end of a book. I do fully expect it to not be the case, and for the book to actually end after the gate has been dealt with, but that would make the best stopping point we've seen so far, if it's to be finished before the gate.

[Zerter]

I'm actually thinking that Burlew has the story worked out in his head, but not the exact amount of comics he'll need to tell it and is running long because he is having tons of fun doing this one.

I have to admit, I have selfish reasons for wanting this arc to be extra long. It is my personal favorite. Malack and Tarquin are characters I could imagine playing and I love desert settings. I also disliked the Dwarf and hope he grew some personality to go with the fangs..

[JustWantedToSay]

Might even end the very next strip. I think it's clear that the Order has already lost. As soon as they receive the sending, it will be clear to them, if it isn't already. Moving to plan B starts a new book.

[Porthos]

Aren't we about due? DStP was 188 strips, and stopped at 672. We're 208 past that now, and I'm sort of hoping the next book won't be long enough to be $50. Of course we're also in the middle of a major conflict, hence the nature of my worry.

It's not the strip count that matters. It's the page count.

(Ignoring Dungeon Crawlin' Fools)...

Book	# of Online Strips	# of Online Pages	Total Book Pages
NCftPB	180	197	244
W&XP	183	242	288
DStP	188	226	272
Book 5	208+	233.75+	????

So we are in fact past Don't Split the Party. But we haven't quite reached the behemoth known as War and XPs. And if it does? Well maybe Rich figures that the Kickstarter drive proved that people are in fact willing to shell out for books as long as (or a bit more than) W&XPs.

[FlawedParadigm]

Oh sure, it's just that we're rapidly approaching that behemoth stage, especially considering pages set aside for author commentary and bonus strips. Once you figure that in, we can't be more than a few pages from WaXP's size already.

[Porthos]

Oh sure, it's just that we're rapidly approaching that behemoth stage, especially considering pages set aside for author commentary and bonus strips. Once you figure that in, we can't be more than a few pages from WaXP's size already.

Already accounted for that in my chart above. I figure we're about 8-10 pages from a book the size of War and XPs.

[Thrax]

I think #841 would make great book ending. Of course there's been no announcement so it may still be up in the air, but if I were to make that choice, that's what I'd do.

[XxXU2XxX]

I think #841 would make great book ending. Of course there's been no announcement so it may still be up in the air, but if I were to make that choice, that's what I'd do.

#841 would be a TERRIBLE comic to end the book on. It's right in the middle of the arc for crying out loud! Let's face it everyone, we are still in Book 5 at this point. When it will end who can say, but it's story is still on-going.

[SavageWombat]

The book will end when it ends, and no sooner. Length is not a critical issue.

And when it's complete, put it in a time machine and immediately send it to me dated Mar. 22, 2013.

[Olinser]

The book will end when it ends, and no sooner. Length is not a critical issue.

And when it's complete, put it in a time machine and immediately send it to me dated Mar. 22, 2013.

If you can go ahead and stick the completed volumes of Naruto in there that would be cool too.

[Thrax]

#841 would be a TERRIBLE comic to end the book on. It's right in the middle of the arc for crying out loud! Let's face it everyone, we are still in Book 5 at this point. When it will end who can say, but it's story is still on-going.

That's called a cliffhanger. Face it, leaving on such a note would be a major "Oh sh-, what happens now?" moment.

[Porthos]

That's called a cliffhanger. Face it, leaving on such a note would be a major "Oh sh-, what happens now?" moment.

The better point is that Rich has always told us before when one book ends and another is about to begin. So what makes people think that he is suddenly going to go, "Oh, BTW, all of the people waiting for the book to end, it already ended 40 strips ago!!1!"?

[genderlich]

We're about due in many ways. I just realized the other day that DStP was published in November of 2009...

[FlawedParadigm]

We're about due in many ways. I just realized the other day that DStP was published in November of 2009...

Yeah, I was looking at that last night. That's what prompted me to make the thread. Like I said earlier though, I feel like we just hit climax and will be in denouement for the next few strips. I wouldn't be surprised if we hit book's end before 900, prior to Team Evil showing up and really rocking the boat. I think once they show up, unless they immediately go all-out on everyone present which might strain even their resources (assuming we're not so close to the end that MitD is going to be unleashed) that we're looking at 30 or more strips of additional conflict, and that would make for a very fat book, hence my thought that the gate may not be resolved this book.

[NerdyKris]

If I'm not mistaken, Team Evil still needs to show up before the fate of the gate is decided,

That's not required. We only know that Xykon will pass within 1000 feet of the gate before being within 1000 feet of Kraagor's gate. Granted, they're on their way now, but for all we know, they might arrive to find the gate destroyed or otherwise inclined to go after Kraagor's gate instead, through some other means, be it illusion or a massive army from the Kingdom of Blood.

[Dr.Epic]

Aren't we about due? DStP was 188 strips, and stopped at 672. We're 208 past that now, and I'm sort of hoping the next book won't be long enough to be $50. Of course we're also in the middle of a major conflict, hence the nature of my worry.

What part of the current comic implies we at the end of one chapter and about to start another? We still have a Gate, undead teammate, and evil group to deal with.

[FlawedParadigm]

What part of the current comic implies we at the end of one chapter and about to start another? We still have a Gate, undead teammate, and evil group to deal with.

The part where I suspect Rich doesn't want a book so big he has to charge $50 for it and cut into the number of people who can afford it. Plain old practicality.

That's not required. We only know that Xykon will pass within 1000 feet of the gate before being within 1000 feet of Kraagor's gate. Granted, they're on their way now, but for all we know, they might arrive to find the gate destroyed or otherwise inclined to go after Kraagor's gate instead, through some other means, be it illusion or a massive army from the Kingdom of Blood.

Unless we have evidence to the contrary, Xykon's last plan was to teleport to this gate the moment he's done with whatever he's about off-panel. The original plan was to teleport two rounds after the phylactery was found. Either way, we know the plan is to teleport exactly where the gate is (because he's the person who knows exactly where it is.) He *may* have some kind of plan that hasn't been at all foreshadowed to begin assaulting Kraagor's Gate just a few minutes later, or simultaneously through other means, but I think the world is pretty much screwed if that's the case, and Elan has a happy ending coming.

[Olinser]

The part where I suspect Rich doesn't want a book so big he has to charge $50 for it and cut into the number of people who can afford it. Plain old practicality.



Unless we have evidence to the contrary, Xykon's last plan was to teleport to this gate the moment he's done with whatever he's about off-panel. The original plan was to teleport two rounds after the phylactery was found. Either way, we know the plan is to teleport exactly where the gate is (because he's the person who knows exactly where it is.) He *may* have some kind of plan that hasn't been at all foreshadowed to begin assaulting Kraagor's Gate just a few minutes later, or simultaneously through other means, but I think the world is pretty much screwed if that's the case, and Elan has a happy ending coming.

He can't teleport 'exactly' where it is. Even Xykon isn't that stupid. He knows that an Epic illusionist defends the Gate, and has doubtless set up some heavy defenses - he has no idea that Girard and his entire clan have been wiped out.

He'll definitely teleport close in though - and as soon as he realizes the place is undefended he'll definitely be barging in the front door.

[JustWantedToSay]

The part where I suspect Rich doesn't want a book so big he has to charge $50 for it and cut into the number of people who can afford it. Plain old practicality.

With the jump of price that USPS charges for priority mail to Canada: I'd much rather pay 21$ shipping on a 50$ book than on a 20$ book.

[FlawedParadigm]

With the jump of price that USPS charges for priority mail to Canada: I'd much rather pay 21$ shipping on a 50$ book than on a 20$ book.

Well the larger books so far have been between 29-32 dollars US, and as this thread points out, this is already in that range, so 20 is right out. Me, I'm mostly paying for the author commentary and bonus strips. The only time I'm ever without internet is when the electricity I'd use to read the books by is also out. I see your point, but Rich can't do much about shipping charges. He doesn't get any of that money. :/

[deworde]

With the jump of price that USPS charges for priority mail to Canada: I'd much rather pay 21$ shipping on a 50$ book than on a 20$ book.

Amen my international brother. I'm in the UK. I mean, at least *you* could cross the border to pick it up from a Friendly Seattlite. An ocean stands between me and such books.

[zql]

It's not the strip count that matters. It's the page count.

(Ignoring Dungeon Crawlin' Fools)...

{table]Book | # of Online Strips |# of Online Pages| Total Book Pages
NCftPB| 180 | 197 | 244
W&XP | 183 | 242 | 288
DStP | 188 | 226 | 272
Book 5 | 208+ | 233.75+ | ???[/table]

So we are in fact past Don't Split the Party. But we haven't quite reached the behemoth known as War and XPs. And if it does? Well maybe Rich figures that the Kickstarter drive proved that people are in fact willing to shell out for books as long as (or a bit more than) W&XPs.

amazing job, pal

[Nimrod's Son]

Amen my international brother. I'm in the UK. I mean, at least *you* could cross the border to pick it up from a Friendly Seattlite. An ocean stands between me and such books.

Forbidden Planet stocks them; I bought all the books (apart from SSaDT, obv.) at my local branch as they were released and they're still well stocked to this day. And they have a Newcastle branch, so they should be able to order them for you even if they don't already have them.

[Porthos]

It's not the strip count that matters. It's the page count.

(Ignoring Dungeon Crawlin' Fools)...

Book	# of Online Strips	# of Online Pages	Total Book Pages
NCftPB	180	197	244
W&XP	183	242	288
DStP	188	226	272
Book 5	208+	233.75+	????

So we are in fact past Don't Split the Party. But we haven't quite reached the behemoth known as War and XPs. And if it does? Well maybe Rich figures that the Kickstarter drive proved that people are in fact willing to shell out for books as long as (or a bit more than) W&XPs.

It's been a while, so let's update this, shall we?

As of Strip #883:

Book	# of Online Strips	# of Online Pages	Total Book Pages
NCftPB	180	197	244
W&XP	183	242	288
DStP	188	226	272
Book 5	211+	234.75+	????

So, according to raw online page count, Book 5 is just 4.25 pages away from W&XPs. And since that .25 of an empty page (which for completists is the lower quarter of this strip) will almost certainly be filled with something, we really are 4 online pages from tying the length of W&XPs.

Now that doesn't necessarily mean that Book 5 would be the same length of W&XPs. But the number of pages devoted to 'extras' in the books (pages devoted to chapter splash pages, commentary, bonus strips/art, assorted other extras) have been remarkably consistent. So imma gonna guess that, yes, there is all the likelihood in the world that we're gonna get a book of the same length (or bigger ) than W&XPs.

[Dr. Gamera]

It's been a while, so let's update this, shall we?

As of Strip #883:

{table]Book | # of Online Strips |# of Online Pages| Total Book Pages
NCftPB| 180 | 197 | 244
W&XP | 183 | 242 | 288
DStP | 188 | 226 | 272
Book 5 | 211+ | 237.75+ | ???[/table]

So, according to raw online page count, Book 5 is just 4.25 pages away from W&XPs. And since that .25 of an empty page (which for completists is the lower quarter of this strip) will almost certainly be filled with something, we really are 4 online pages from tying the length of W&XPs.

4 online pages later, we've tied the number of online pages in War and XPs.

[fergo]

How about this book being split into two shorter volumes? Say, around the time the Order set off from the Empire of Blood? (Just a random suggestion).

The way things are heading, they won't be resolved any time soon, and the last book was long enough as it was.

The two volumes could still be released at the same time, or shortly after each other.

What do people think?

[sam79]

How about this book being split into two shorter volumes? Say, around the time the Order set off from the Empire of Blood? (Just a random suggestion).

The way things are heading, they won't be resolved any time soon, and the last book was long enough as it was.

The two volumes could still be released at the same time, or shortly after each other.

What do people think?

I'm not sure about this idea; a lot of the first part of this arc is build-up to basically where we are now. So a book that is just the build-up with no pay-off would be...not ideal. Also, two small books would cost more and probably be heavier/more expensive to post than one big one, so it would be a bit of a bind for the Loyal Customer, especially those of us who pay overseas shipping!