Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, MK XVI - Dances With Orcs

[Winterwind]

This is the sixteenth thread dedicated to the discussion and snarking of the Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire (http://dominic-deegan.com/) webcomic, where the great clans of Moral Dissonance, Sueishness, Bad Art, Inconsistency and Awkward Dialogue dance hand in hand in the shadow of the last dead hope. Let the Snarking go on! :smallbiggrin:

Chronology
Thread I (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26550) - 77 pages, the first half of which actually contained praise yet. Then Snowsong came about...
Thread II (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53160) - the epic one, 301 pages, OVER NINE THOUSAAAND posts. Here the foundations of Domiology - our snarky fanon - were created.
Thread III (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82855) - 63 pages of snarky goodness, first one to contain the archives in the first post.
Thread IV (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87587) - 50 pages, the one that carried us through the first half of the horrid Vacation Arc and brought the first actual fans into our threads (of course, their resolve starts to falter by now :smalltongue:)
Thread V (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91533) - 50 pages, the Vacation Arc continues to our unimaginable horror.
Thread VI (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94191) - 50 pages, the final part of the vacation. So much to be learnt about walls and limbs; knowledge that Mookie, unfortunately, shall never possess.
Thread VII (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96181) - 50 pages, finally the Plot Creature caught up - but what has Mookie done to Celesto and TIM?
Thread VIII (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98206) - 51 pages, wherein Dex rises from the dead and we are introduced to Sn'gl'euth'u, the cutest extradimensional Lovecraftian being since Hello Cthulhu.
Thread IX (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100412) - 50 pages, which taught us that orcs not only have despicable traditions, they are also completely insane.
Thread X (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105160) - 50 pages, which taught us that orcs are not only completely insane, they are actually crazy enough to make Cthulhu roll Sanity checks!
Thread XI (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108632) - 51 pages, in which the orcs are at their height of insanity (going one step beyond), Luna is the designated Messiah of Everything and that tusks make you speshul.
Thread XII (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110535) - 50 pages, where the orcs, after reaching the height of insanity previously, find ways to fly to entirely new planes of mind-crushing madness, sufficient to warp their plain to the size of a backyard and time to freeze, as nothing interesting happens at all.
Thread XIII (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113899) - 50 pages, where the orcs continue to plumb the bottomless depths of inanity. Oh, and insanity too. Meanwhile, Luna discovers a new Sue power: inflicting the worst monologues ever on hapless readers. Also, Jacob is evil.
Thread XIV (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117735) - 50 pages, where we are still occupied with Orcs. Orcs. Orcs, everywhere! Oh gods, is this arc not going to end ever?! I repent, Mookie! I repent! Just make it stop! Make it stooooop!
Thread XV (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120700) - 50 pages, with Orcs, who do Orc things and KILL THEM, KILL ALL THE ORCS, EXTERMINATE THEM, SO THIS HORROR CAN END!

And our sister threads:
Strip Slays, the best thread ever (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37014)
Strip Slays 2: the best thread strikes back (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91628)
Strip Slays 3 - Someone Is Going To Slay For This Outrage. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108763)
If the madness of this thread does not suffice to bring your SAN rating down, those will. For sure. :smallcool:
Dominic Deegan - The Second Coming (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99280) - the on-going Dominic Deegan rewrite, where everyone can contribute!

And of course, the Dominic Deegan Wiki (http://dominic-deegan.wikia.com/).

There is also an Archive of all Dominic Deegan threads, courtesy of Whoracle:
I finally got my lazy backside to bring the backups up-to-date, that means up to Thread XIII.
But there's more:
The previous backups were simply saved pages off the GiantITP-Archives, which were kind of fractured. But no longer!
I present you the backups in not one, not two, but three different versions:

Ultralight Version (http://www.frozeninfinity.de/austausch/dd_snark_backup_ultralite.rar)
The ultralight version is the same as the backups I madebefore.
It contains each thread in a single folder, with html-files named thread_X_Y.htm(l), where X is the thread number and Y is the page mumber as presented in the GiantITP-Archives.
Furthermore it contains a file named current_status.txt, which is a plain text file including information on the date and time of the last backup, the threads backupped and who made the backup.

This version has the smallest filesize, but is not that convenient for full text searches, especially in the legendary thread.

Light Version (http://www.frozeninfinity.de/austausch/dd_snark_backup_lite.rar)
The light version includes everything from the ultralight version.
In addition to this I added another folder called complete threads that contains files named X-complete.html, where X is the thread number.

These files contain the complete thread that corresponds to its respective number.

While larger than the ultralight version, the good thing about this is that you have a much easier time full text searching the threads if you now in what thread to look.

Complete Version (http://www.frozeninfinity.de/austausch/dd_snark_backup.rar)
The complete Version conatins everything from the previous versions.
In addition to this I merged every single page into one big (20+ MB) file called Dominic Deegan Backup.html that resides in the document root of the archive, plus I made a backup of the GiantITP-Archive-stylesheet, so even if giantitp.com should someday go offline (I expect this to happen shortly after satan starts ordering winter woolens :) ), the integrity and viewing pleasure of the backups won't be disrupted.

I added an index in the beginning of The Big File(tm) for easier referencing.

This version is the biggest of the bunch. I recommend you download this if you want the easiest way of full text searching something.

!::! WARNING !::!
[i]The Big File(tm) is really big, and some PCs might experience browser or even system crashes opening it. I recommend at least 1 GB of RAM for viewing this, as that's the spec I tested it with. I take no responsibility for any damage that occurs to your PC when opening that file.
!::! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !::!

All files are virus checked and should be ok, but better be safe than sorry: Go ahead and check them again before unpacking.

Averagejoe's One Panel Arcs
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u282/teddifunken/DDonepanel.jpg

The Encyclopedia Dominica
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA DOMINICA!
created by the joint efforts of all the Mookiemockers in this very thread, working tiredlessly to reveal the secrets and inner workings of the Deeganverse and the broken plots, drawings and writing of our most favourite (to make fun of) author.

Aberthast Cathedral
Resocialization centre. People who go there return as mindless sheep in service to the Dominus. It is a horrible place, where - no, please, no, don't take me, take Oracle_Hunter instead, please, it was him who---
Nothing to see here, citizen. Keep going. The Dominic is Your Friend.

Acibek's Principle
Makes any spell better for just about zero extra effort, even when chucked into a spell as an afterthought. Nobody really knows what it does, not even the Lord Dominus, just that it is better.
Basically the magic equivalent to painting vehicles red.

Airships
Magical boats that fly through the air at approximately twice the speed of plot, which can therefore only catch up for brief moments while the ship is in dock for extended periods. The planks on an airship change direction from moment to moment, possibly as a result of its powerful magic.

Ass Shot, Inappropriate
Is a myth, or maybe propaganda spread by vile Mookiemockers opposed to the just rule of Lord Dominus. There is, in fact, no situation which cannot be improved by showing the behind of a female character. Especially well suited are scenes when the character in question is either dying, traumatised, despaired or fighting her former friends. In short, drama and tragedy are enhanced by ass shots. The more you know!

Balloon Boobs
A sexual ideal. Albeit I don't want to know for whom.

Callan
Basically the US in a supposedly (but not really) medieval setting, this unfortunate realm has drawn the relentless wrath of the Dominus upon itself. Therefore, it's failings must be pointed out and despised (instead of tolerated, accepted and embraced, as would be the case with other nations).
The population consists of either mindless sheep (see Deegandrug) or ignorant racists (who happen to be 100% spot on with their prejudices).
It is also hated by everyone else.
Because.

Caste
See Caste System.

Caste System
The Deeganverse has a simple caste-system, with five castes with a strict hierarchy.

The First Caste is the Deegan Family; they have practically a monopoly on good karma in the Deeganverse. They are good, perfect, always right (including and especially if they are not), and ultimately always win. Association with Dominic is more important than the Deegan name, in this regard: Luna is First Caste, Jacob is not.
Examples: Dominic, Gregory, Luna.

The Second Caste are the Deegan Friends. They, too, are good and (save for occasional moral slips, like Pam's Incredibly Unjust Punishment of Dominic) moral, but lack the power to overcome anything on their own, and therefore need the Deegans to help them. With everything.
Examples: Pam, Milov, Jayden

The Third Caste are the Anti-Heroes. These are morally wrong, but are handsome, powerful and therefore worthy of being saved. The major difference between them and the Fourth Caste is that, while both often exhibit the very same negative traits, the Deegans arbitrarily decide that members of the Third Caste can be forgiven, whereas those of the Fourth Caste cannot. Even if the Third Caste members do things actually much worse.
Examples: Siegfried, Szark, Snowsong, probably Karnak, maybe Celesto

The Fourth Caste are the Enemies. They are precisely the same as the Third Caste, except that they are not redeemable. The reason is: Because. Yep, that's the entire reason. Fourth Caste is often, though not always, ugly, and almost comically over-the-top in their negative traits, prominently racism, and hating gays, (like Szark, who's gay).
Examples: Taggerty, Boris, any infernomancer

Fifth Caste is all the non-magical people who live their lives without any relevance to the plot.
Examples: per definition, Fifth Caste members do not have a name.

The Caste a character belongs to is determined at his birth and, save for a few exceptions, usually does not change. The actual deeds and alignment of a character do not matter: First and Second Caste characters can do things as evil as they wish to, and will be praised for that.
The only Caste-change which occurs often is from Third to Second: redeemed Anti-Heroes ultimately become Deegan Friends. The most prominent examples of this are Szark Sturtz and Bumper. A rarer case might have occured with regard to Celesto: arguably, by blowing Dominic's leg away, the fool might have sealed his fall from Third to Fourth Caste.
Another Caste change could be observed rather recently with the initiation of Nimmel's ascension to First Caste.

Cave-Garland
A just-discovered vine that mimics tinsel. Just why it mimics tinsel is unknown; some Domiologists have speculated that they may have some modicum of movement and originally come from the Winter Archipelago, where they strung themselves in the glasswood trees to mimic decorations during Christmas Wolfmas. A-whoo.[/QUOTE]

Celesto 5
Our last best hope for Dominic's fall.

Cheap
See Death.

Cheekmouth
A common affliction in the Deeganverse, this horrible disease causes the victims to mutate into horrible things with a seperate mouth on both of their cheeks. Other side effects include a higher willingness to worship the Dominus, racism and inconsistency.

Chimney
Since glasswood is the only kind of lumber that has been positively identified by the people of the Deeganverse as such, they are forced to use it for the purpose of warming their houses. Burning glasswood produces a smoke so thin, so volatile that it can pass through solid bricks, allowing the Fifth-Casters to not build hollow chimneys in their fireplaces. Instead, they build solid brick columns. However, while glasswood smoke can pass through bricks, it doesn't pass through cloth. For this reason, people wanting to look all badass and cool often prowl atop these chimneys, so that their capes will billow out dramatically, lifted by the fumes.
A side-effect of glasswood fumes is terminal stupidity.
Possibly the source of the Deegandrug. See Deegandrug, Glasswood.

Churchspace
A place for holding currently unused characters, while redeeming them if necessary. See also Aberthast Cathedral.

Dancing
An awkward ritual whose primary function is to be a source of ass shots. Except in Semash(i), where it is a substitute for debates, brawls, and warfare. It doesn't seem to involve a lot of motion, though: See "Ass-shot, Inappropriate".

Death
An event which, if directed against higher Caste members, is tragic enough for The Dominic to be sad. Possibly even for as much as ten minutes. But don't worry, it is a highly temporary affliction, since deceased higher Caste members can reincarnate to keep protecting the main characters. Even if it includes dying again.
See also Cheap.
If applied to Fourth Caste members, on the other hand, it is a reason to celebrate. These tend to be gone permanently, too.

Deegandrug
An air-born substance released by the First Caste into the air. Causes sheep-like obliviousness to the First Caste's failings, blind following and deep admiration for all of the First Caste's deeds. Only few remain immune to the Deegandrug's effects.

Demonic Badass Leadership Disfunction
A law of nature states: The bad-assness of a demon lord is inversely proportional to his skills as leader. The stronger and combat-capable any given demon lord is, the more unlucky he will get with his followers: They will upstage, overthrow, betray and ridicule him. Thus any sense of bad-assness is drained from the comic again, and natural order is restored. All bad-assness to the First Caste!

Disfigurement
A thing of beauty, which must under no circumstances be removed. But who would want to do that, anyway? Other girls and boys love hideous disfigurements! Isn't that good to know, kids?

Dominic
The immaculate self-insertion character, the All-Seeing Eye who is never wrong and solves any problem before the problem even knows it is about to occur. His morals are not to be questioned (even if questionable), he is always right (especially when he is wrong), and his defeats can be but temporary. His mind is superior to demon lords, his perfection knows no bounds. Lord of the First Caste. The Dominus. Loved by all, particularly by Szark (he's a gay who loves other men).

Dynamic Panel Layout
A way to put the plot on hold for a week. Means that the same layout will be used throughout that week each and every day, but it's a different layout than usual. Yay?

Evil
A rare condition found only in fourth casters, despite allegations about the third caste. To be evil, and remain a persistant threat, you have to arbitrarily kill everyone to show how evil you are, and express a particularly graphic ammount of petty cartoonish villainy.
The moment one develops an actual plan, and tries to achieve something rather then murder for murders sake this trait leaves you and you cease to have any meaning, beyond being curbstomped by previously minor characters.
The best plan is to have no conceivable plan. The best motivation is to have none explained. Villains in this webcomic exist only to be first touted as deadly threats with absolutely no traits beyond violence and the ability to shoot lazers. Should they try to be anything more, they will cease to be a threat. See: Jacob.

FaRIA
The land of elves, where nobility is decided by whether trees like you. These guys are so amazing they can pronounce certain letters in lower case. The magic of FaRIA protects its residents from plot.

Fairies, Nipple
Nefarious creatures who steal the nipples of sentient creatures, and are largely responsible for the lack of nipples in Dominion. Merfolk are particularly badly-afflicted. Some say the fairies steal nipples for food, others for construction materials, while some insist that they are merely thralls to some greater power (see "Progenitor").

Fangly
A cute little symbiote that resides upside down under Luna's nose, this delightful parasite feeds on Luna's emotions but inverts them. In layman's terms, when Luna is happy, Fangy is sad, and vice versa. It is likely that the Travorias knew of Fangly's existence, and tormented Luna in order to cheer Fangly up.

Foliage, Color-Draining
Recently discovered aberrant floral growths that seem to drain the color from their surroundings, possibly as some sort of sustenance (however illogical that is). Examples include grass and small mushroom clusters (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-06-30).
See also: Cave-Garland

Forsaken
Characters meant to appear in the strip and then forgotten for such long periods of time readers had already given up hope of seeing them ever when they finally arrived. Include the Oracle Hunter and Huk Thak. See Trailer.

Galloping Orc-Hunter
Ravenous quadrupedal carnivorous plants that bear a vague resemblance to a similar breed of creature from a planar expanse guarded over by a demigod known as the Red Plumber; while some Domiologists argue that these are a planar drifting evolutionary offshoot of said creatures, this can neither be confirmed nor denied. Galloping orc-hunters were killed by orcs for their decorative leaves in times past, but are now presumed extinct due to Plot Contrivance those dastardly spoilers of Maltak.

Glasswood
This curious tree is the main source of building material in the Deeganverse - probably, because the inhabitants have not figured out that the green triangular mountains surrounding them are trees as well. They are hardly to blame for that. Unfortunately, glasswood has very poor properties as building material, for, true to its name, it is prone to shattering in a glass-like manner. For this reason, higher Castes prefer to live in stone-houses, while listening gleefully to the painful screams of the lower Castes as those are slashed to shreds by their walls and furniture. See Trees.
A second theory persists, however, which maintains that glasswood is actually not wood at all, and that lower Castes instead choose to build their houses out of baked pottery painted to appear like wood. Which, again, would be well within the limits of their stupidity, lacking a First Caste character to lead them.

God
Whatever is going on, he has nothing to do with it.

Gregory
A brainwashed god.

Hobgoblins
Unpredictable creatures who act based on the results of a D20. Little is known about their language, but attempts to communicate have revealed that the hobgoblins are in possession of a large supply of babel fish. Those who do communicate believe that the word "Arf" roughly translates to "Hail Dominus". Very susceptible to the Deegandrug.

Homosexuality
There are gay people in Dominion. They are not to be considered inferior in any manner to heterosexuals, which was elegantly expressed by homosexual relationships being only played for laughs and consistently portrayed as shallow and meaningless. See Szark (he's gay)

Hope
A strange substance often held in abundance by Dominic Deegan fans, but which we snarkers syphon off using agressive cynicism to use as fuel. Typically found in abundance at the beginning of every new arc, but wanes as time goes on.

Huk-Thak
A sacred orc weapon whose use is outlawed by most governments as a breach of human rights. While nominally a simple double-bladed spear, this weapon, when used properly, actually makes an indiscriminate attack on the mental faculties of those around it, leading to horrific trauma caused by bad dialogue. Because of this, this weapon is very adept at killing. It is believed that the weapon may in fact have a crude form of sentience as it has expressed in the past a desire to kill Melna.

Ilka Tuk Tak
Ilka Tuk Tak is the most excessively overused expression in the Orcish language, featuring in just about every second Orcish sentence. Long time presumed a swearword, it is now theorized that, due to the limited expressiveness of the orc facial features (in no small part to be blamed on the excessively unwieldy cheek-mouths and prominent snouts), Ilka Tuk Tak is an auditory indication that the speaker is undergoing an emotional state of surprise or disbelief. The reason it isn't translated is simply because there isn't an equivilant word or phrase in human dialects.
Alternately, the entire Orcish race suffers from a particularly nasty case of Tourette's Syndrome.

Illusions
Problem solvers. No, really! There's no problem a well placed illusion could not solve! One might kinda call them Deus Ex Machinas, but that would be mean, right?
They are also well suited for fun activities, like children birthday parties or horribly traumatising friends. Fun times!

Infernomancer
Unlike other noble wizards, infernomancers are not nerds; they are just jocks who purchase (magic) steroids from shady demon dealers.[/QUOTE]

Inquisition
Prominently lead by h_v, the Inquisition serves to cart off all the heretic posters on this thread who dare to speak the name of Our Lord Dominus, Who Sees Everything, The Great Manipulator, The One Behind The Strings without proper reverence to Aberthast Cathedral. Main enforcer of the Dominus' control.
Noone expects the Deegan Inquisition!

Invisible King
The evil ruler of Callan who never appears or does anything in the strip, lord of the government. Which is evil. And never seen either.
We do not know why the government or the king are evil or why they do what they do, because they never actually appear in the strip to present their case, but since they are a government, they obviously must be evil. This is political sophistication for you.
Alternately, them being evil might be only propaganda, for they seem to be one of the last groups not yet under the Dominus' manipulative control.

Jacob
A sad example of what happens to those who are Evil when they develop motives (or "reveal," if we suspend disbelief and presume that they were designed with these goals in mind). Initially capable of doing many scary things, Jacob's newly acquired actual goals soon neutered him of Evil, and thus, competence. His greatest accomplishments include, in chronological order:
-Telling some poor misguided idiots that Vilrath died three days ago - he killed him himself.
-Creating a cross between Forrest Gump and Frankenstein.
-Combining necrophilia and narcissism via attempting to turn himself into a "zombie alive."
-Creating zombie hookers.
-Being pimp-slapped by a spear that is highly adept at killing after trying to take it without saying please.
-Becoming the first person to recieve a full bill of payment for his Outrage, after beating up a cripple that attacked him first.

Jocks
People who mocked Mookie in school, and therefore are Fourth Caste material destined to die horribly.

Klo-Tark
Why won't he die?! WHY WON'T HE DIE?!

Legs
Biological symbiotes that fuse with Dominion Apes at or close to birth, and usually remain present throught said ape's life. However, atmospheres of extreme stress or inappropriateness can sometimes cause one or more to camouflage themselves for protection, or even detach from their owners temporarily to seek refuge. This has no noticable effect, as best evidenced by the Dominus himself, who got bored of one of his legs and guided Raf Maliksh into getting him rid of the damn thing.

LiveJournal
Basically Evil Twin Universe us. I can only assume there's each and every one of us represented there, with a goatee, babbling genuine praise towards Mookie and Lord Dominus. Also known as sheep.

Luna
The First Puppet. Tusks.

Lynn's Brook
The little town of Lynn's Brook is a most wretched haven for jocks and other worthless Fourth Caste scum, cursed with the Dominus' uttermost contempt. While this was formerly believed to be mere happenstance, newer research hints at a much darker nature of this accursed trap. Lynn's Brook harbour a malicious source of evil power which corrupts everything in the town's vicinity, lowering intelligence and Caste status of everyone who stays in it for too long. Many of the town's inhabitants may well have formerly been innocent Fifth Caste or even good-hearted Third and Second Caste members, before the Horror of Lynn's Brook changed them into the monsters they are now. Sometimes single positive character traits they used to have before Lynn's Brook devoured them can still shimmer through. Even a short stay in this accursed region suffices to bestow a character with horrid deeds in his past. This is also what kept the Dominus' power in check while he still lived there, depowering him and greatly lessening his Sueness.
Even though it might appear Lynn's Brook was destroyed by TIM and Celesto, it still lives on, for Lynn's Brook is far more than just a town; it lives, it feeds... it grows.
A rumour says that if one speaks the town's name with the order of the two words inverted, one's brain will explode.

Magic
...sometimes is just Magic.

Maltak
A land that is a phenomenon even by Dominion's standards. It allegedly used to be a grassy plain, but nowadays it's a desert. It's a very curious desert, however - it's unique properties allow old friends, raiders, and enormous mountains to hide and attack from ambush despite the area being completely featureless. One possible explanation is that in Maltak, Dominion's poorly defined laws of nature turn to those of a JRPG, where invisible random encounters stray loose. Also, it might be theorized that before it was turned into a desert, vegetables grew on Maltak in a matter of days, as it's the case on the magically restored pieces of grassland.
Further evidence also indicates that due to some strange planar inconsistency, the warped sense of reality of whatever gods created the plains, or those that named the area the "Plains" of Maltak being in a drunken stupor, the Maltak Plains are grotesquely distorted spacially, stretching for over a thousand miles in each direction, giving it a total land area of approximately twelve square feet.

Manipulation
Desirable.

Mavpel
Long thought a relatively harmless (if addicting) candy, this substance is in fact the foundation of the First Caste’s powers. Using specialised glands, they transform Mavpel into the chemical known as the Deegandrug and expel it as a gas (see “Deegandrug”). Mavpel deprivation can lead to psychological breakdown in the First Caste, with symptoms including outbursts of berserk rage, drastically-lowered Mary-Sue levels and a higher-than-usual drive to mind rape. Ambitious lower-caste members can use this to their advantage, as when Cassafin usurped Dominus’ rightful position as headteacher.
The only known location of Mavpel plantations is the Winter Archipelago, increasing its importance to the First Caste and explaining the teleportation ban there. The supply of Mavpel was cut off by the Archipelago recently, possibly as part of a werewolf rebellion, but the crisis was resolved when the “archtraitor” Milov broke the embargo and granted the Dominus his own personal Mavpel supply.

Merfolk
Deceptive jerks who deserve whatever they get. Whatever they get.

Miranda
The heavy artillery. As long as Dominic's mother remains around, we can rest assured that even if something should go awry, the good guys can always call on this Deus Ex Momina support. That helps to not make things too exciting.

Mirror
The perfect psychological instrument, heals any depression, insecurities, mental trauma and shyness, may also induce a complete 180 degree personality flip. This occurs by the character taking 5 minutes to remind her or himself of their successes or the necessecity for them to behave that way.
It is unknown why Mookie has not yet patented this method, since it would easily replace all psychiatrists on the planet.
Note that a physical mirror is not necessarily required; it's the 5 minutes reflection that counts.

Mookie
See Dominic. Sans perfection.

Mookinsertion
A strange creature, of which two races, mookius vulgaris and mookius nobilis, have been identified so far. Distinguished for their intellect and flawlessness, Mookinsertions are living avatars of the Mookie on the physical plane, and are, as such, immortal - the most lethal weapons will cause only minor injuries to a Mookinsertion, which will (of course) be forgotten as soon as the arc is over. Typically, a Mookinsertion lives in human disguise for up to thirty years, before it begins its metamorphosis to a fully grown Mookie Sue. This process can be easily observed in a rapid rise through the Castes - within only a few years, a Mookinsertion can grow from Fifth Caste to Second, bordering First.
A mookius vulgaris is lauded for its intellect and skills at all times, and may even every now and then save the day.
A mookius nobilis is Dominic Deegan. 'Nuff said.

Mooklone
A humanoid that looks just like all the other humanoids in its vicinity. While all Dominion Apes are Mooklones to an extent, as often only cosmetic details (such as hairstyle or their choice of clothing symbiont) can tell them apart, the true Mooklones are identical even in these aspects. While common enough amongst humans, Mooklones are very widespread amongst orcs. The Bikta clan in particular seems to be a colony (or maybe quarantine zone) for these creatures.

Moon
A huge, gargantuan round orb that is always in the background. How it accomplishes that feat is unknown yet.

Murder
Minor infraction. May cause Death. Easily redeemable (see Caste System, Redemption).

Mustache
A strange form of parasite, the mustache will attach itself to the face of an individual, and allow them to become successful in their chosen field. Feeding off negative emotion, it often causes its host to deliberately antagonize nearby people in effort to provide for their symbiont.
The larger the mustache, the more poignant its effects. Also grants the host total immunity to consequences of their actions, partial immunity to Deegandrug and the ability to wholesaley slaughter individuals of a higher caste with relative ease.
Is believed to have some strange charisma boosting effect, as mustache hosts tend to be found in high ranks or influential positions.
How it has evolved is unknown. Perhaps some relation of Fangly.
Individuals known to have Mustaches: Warlord Sandor Damaske, Runcible Spoon, Arcangelo Scarlatti.

Nagastrali
Home of four-armed fish people and the world's only dragon.

Nineteen Eighty-Four
Main inspiration for Dominic Deegan.
Okay, not really, but for a major part of our MST3King anyway.

Orcs
Noble savages. Can save by rape.

Perspective
Is a lie told by Mookie's stupid art professor who didn't even like his awesome anime drawings.

Plan
Put simply, a plan is typically any procedure used to achieve an objective. Though planning can occur in any caste, only members of the First Caste are seen to formulate plans which achieve their desired objective. All other castes require the assistance of the First Caste in order to successfully complete their own plans. For the same reason, the creation of a plan is a sure way to ensure failure for anyone of the lower castes. One notable exception is the necromancer Rillian, who is able through unknown means to complete plans without the assistance of the First Caste.

Plot
A psychological disorder, leading to people behaving temporarily or permanently in a way completely inconsistent with their character as established previously (see Mirror).

Progenitor
Far removed from the turmoil of civilisation, just beyond the Edge of the Dominus' sphere of influence, lives a creature that is above time, nature, and even the Caste System itself. Few know of its existance, and whisper its many titles with fear and adoration: The Alpha. The Progenitor. The Anchor of Dominion. For none dare to call upon it by its true, world-shaking name: Bort.
First being to be shaped by the Mookreator's hand (and, admittedly, his shape does reveal a certain... lack of experience on this omnipotent god's part), the Progenitor is capable of re-writing reality on a whim, break continuity and drain any sense from his surroundings - clearly attributes he shares with the Mookreator himself and signs of his divine descent!
The Progenitor stands above the castes, and even the Dominus himself felt the need to bow down and do hard physical work for the Progenitor, which the latter could have easily accomplished in seconds - the grand manipulator finally found his master. Whether this was for fear of drawing his elder brother's wrath upon him, or whether the Dominus fell victim of the powerful Deegandrug that forced him to accept the superiority of a being of an even higher caste than his own remains a mysterium of Domiology.

Puns
The highest form of humour, and don't let anyone who isn't Mookie tell you differently! Perfectly suitable to any situation, be it everyday conversation or severe and traumatic loss of loved ones, because they do not harm drama! At all!

Races
There are two kinds: Callanians and Non-Callanians. The former are mostly individuals, but pay for this by having much more severe moral standards applied to them (see Callan).
Non-Callanians, on the other hand, are defined by single traits. Which is not racist at all. Obviously.
Of course, there are still single individuals who break with their races customs and redeem them that way, because, even though other cultures' traditions are great, they can't possibly be as great as our own, right?

Racism
See Death.

Rape
Salvation, if administered by a noble savage, preferably of Orcish heritage.

Rays, Manta
Ridden on saddleback despite all blatant safety hazards. Possibly immune to the Deegandrug.

Redemption
Handed out arbitrarily. Minor crimes, like murder, are redeemed easily, rendering everyone completely oblivious to them. Worse crimes, like speaking badly about the Deegans or thinking about other cultures in a somewhat critical way, however, cannot be redeemed (see Caste System). Even if they are, they still may lead to Spontaneous Fourth Caste Reemersion Syndrome.

Red Shirt Soup Wench
A very special specimen of the Fifth Caste species, this curious creature can live for as long as thirty years apart of the protagonists. However, sooner or later, in a fashion similar to lemmings' mass suicide, these beings are drawn into the proximity of First and Second Caste members, where their function is to serve them soup (though rarer sub-species have been observed to secrete other liquid beverages instead). When they do so, they produce special pheromones, which can be perceived by the current story arc's antagonist and throw him or her into a murderous frenzy, which does not end until the Red Shirt Soup Wench has been slaughtered horribly. Considering how unlikely it is that such a creature would have evolved on its own, it is probable that Red Shirt Soup Wenches have been genetically engineered by the First Caste to make their opponents look more bad-ass, and thus enhance the glory of the First Caste when they defeat them in the end.

Rilianization
The act of producing reason through a contrivance of logic brilliant scheme in a time after the fact. Such acts seem to be a common occurance in Dominion, as if crafted by some deity playing with the universe as their play as a way to cover up inconsistencies with further inconsistencies and/or fallacious logic.
Summed up in one sentence: there is always a logical course of logic, despite the illogical illogicity of said logic...logically!

Semashi
A mysterious people who steal beauty from other cultures and resolve any and all disputes with dance-offs. Their skin tone, like their country's name, varies from day to day. Being humans, some Semashi are allowed personalities even though they're not Callanian.

Seer
Apparently some other term for 'deity', albeit much less likeable due to its scheming, manipulative ways.

Sheeta Plant
Apparently named by a botanist with a sick sense of humor and knowledge of the orcish language, the sheeta plant is able to move its entire girth through the ground like a great phytoformian mole (just HOW it does this act is up to debate by many domiologists). An ambush predator, the sheeta sits perfectly still beneath the soil, waiting for an unlucky (or improbably short-sighted) gathering of creatures or beings to nest upon its designated patch of soil. Prey items are then lovingly caressed by its tentacles like a hentai monster octopus before being pulled into its maw for a meeting with its digestive enzymes. The fine, invisible spores of the Sheeta Plant are known to affect the brain, loosening the victims' control over their speech and dragging irrelevant trivia into their minds, causing them to compulsively give exposition or describe what is happening around them. This, presumably, serves to prevent them from escaping, as the primitive brains of Dominion Ape are unable to focus on talking and fleeing/fighting simultaneously. It is currently unknown as to how biologically close the sheeta is to the galloping orc-hunter plants of Maltak's olden plains.

Snout
The horrible malformation of the nose/mouth-region, implanted into prisoners in Aberthast Cathedral and into any new-born child. It probably serves to improve the inhalation of the Deegandrug.

Sn'gl'euth'u ("Snuggly" for short):
The "avatar of snuglyness" (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5451070&postcount=780); a being of purity and innocence from the planes beyond all reason and imagination (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2004-04-14), resembling an amoeboid eyeball surrounded by a mass of tentacles.
Though his exact motives are unknown, Snuggly is a kind and simple creature who just wants friends and hugs. As a being from an isolated plane, Snuggly was very lonely. He befriended Tim when the latter was cast into his dimension by Miranda Deegan. He tried to befriend Celesto, but Celesto--being the loner that he is--rejected Snuggly's offer and fled. After the attack on Lynn's Brook, Dominic met Snuggly during his attempt to scry on Celesto. Unfortunately, Snuggly's strangely cute appearance did not conform to Lord Dominus' standards of goodness; naturally, Dominic blamed Snuggly for the recent troubles and attacked him.

Soul Displacing Mookie Possession Syndrome (SDMPS)
Even the existance of self-insertion Mookie Sues and the wide spread of the Plot plague do not suffice sometimes for Mookie's broadcast of his enlightened world-view and ethical opinions. In such cases, the force of Mookie can temporarily take possession of a character to force him to do Mookie's bidding. The character completely turns into a mouthpiece for Mookie's messages. A much more dangerous mutation of this affliction is the Karma Balancing Soul Displacing Mookie Possession Syndrome (SDMPS-KB), where Mookie specifically possesses Third and Fourth Caste characters to force them to deal completely just and not at all exaggerated punishment on other Fourth Caste characters, such as womanizers and people who happen to be athletic, who may spontaneously pop or be mutilated to a never-ending unholy existance of eternal torment and agony. In spite of its dangerousness, this is a very important thing to the ecological balance of the Deeganverse, for it keeps the hands of First and Second Caste members free of blood, while dealing appropriately with people Mookie finds somewhat unsympathetic. See also: Mookinsertion, Plot.

Spine
Overrated. Noone in the Deeganverse uses these anymore.
Same goes for all anatomy, really.

Spontaneous Fourth Caste Reemersion Syndrome
A highly dangerous condition, lethal in 100% of all cases, so far incurable. It may occur in redeemed Third Caste members if their previous failings were grave enough (i.e. murder would not induce SFCRS, but being displeased with another culture's murdersome traditions might). The effect is an aura of Fourth Castiness in an otherwise Second Caste character, which may resurface at any time, thus causing the Deeganverse to believe the character is evil and must be purged.

Strip Slays
Pure awesomeness. averagejoe, ElfLad, Mewtarthio and Turcano are just a few of the grandiose artists who turn meager B-strips into victory with win on top.

SuperGreg Aardvark
An abomination that must not be spoken of.

Szark
A gay man, gay in a gay way, he's skilled in swordfighting, maintaining position as Third Caste, and being gay. For more information on gay people (including Szark), See Homosexuality, for information on the man Szark loves (because he's gay), See Dominic, for information on the scum who hate Szark, and other gays (like Szark), See Fourth Caste.

Tentacle Rape
Umm... let's change the subject, shall we?

That Which Is Quoted
Attention duelists! My hair wants to warn you of the dangers of reading this thread if you have not watched Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series. If you ever want to watch this series without having every joke spoiled pre-emptively, my hair reccommends you watch it now or stay away from the thread... In America!

Time
Changes everything. Time is believed to be roughly sixty years old; its first documented effect was the breakup of the Kelsheen. Note that some scholars believed that the elves invented Time first, but discarded the idea after it caused the Raf Malkish War and created the Chosen. No further evidence of Time has been uncovered in any other era of history.

Trailer
Mookie's attempts to make it seem that something is happening, or at least will happen at some point in the future. A good bunch of trailers were forgotten, thus creating the Forsaken.
Might also be a genuine attempt of Mookie to find out just what the hell he is doing. This might explain such questions like "Who is XXX?" or "What does YYY want?".

Trees
Green mountains with snow on top. Weird.

Tucklebruck Island
A place so idyllic that its occupants, dwarves and halflings, have nothing better to fight about than what type of alcohol the others like. Major exporter of bizarre, sometimes toxic beer, teddy bears, and pictures of the Dominus being punched in the balls.

TVTropes
The lifetime stealing device employed by Oracle_Hunter to fuel his ingenious evil plans (I'm on to you, pal!). Contains all the wisdom of mankind and the explanation for every dumb turn the comic takes - if you can find them.

Violin
A strange, flat, solid instrument played with the wooden back of a bow.

Wall, Inappropriate
A recently introduced (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-01-20) character, originally mistaken for a chimney despite the lack of a fume outlet, the Wall has since reappeared in FaRIA (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-06-03), land of the elves, and followed Dominic and Luna around the world, apparently drawn to exceedingly absurd and/or clichéd situations.
Its evident purpose is best explained by its inanity: always spotted where it is obviously useless, yet seeming to be a natural part of its surroundings as well. It also has to be noted when it was shown: The first time, a stereotypical mysterious cloaked assassin knelt on it. The second time, it was embedded in the structure of a clichéd elf village. Afterwards, it showed up in the Wild Edge Territories (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-09-04), in a compound otherwise surrounded by wooden palisades (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-09-05), when Luna and Dominic heroically saved Stunt from getting fired by telling his employer how he risked their lives and contravened her instructions. Its last sighting (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-10-05) was in Semash, directly after Scarlatti’s rather peculiar behavior which probably attracted it.
This character is obviously meant to illustrate that behind the cliché, behind the generic fantasy tale, behind this mask that appears almost too familiar lies a world of absurdity.
The fact that this is achieved by randomly placing an everyday object like a brickwall inmidst a city or other settlement, where it would normally belong yet doesn’t truly makes it a dadaist masterpiece.

Werewolves
Schrödinger beings, fluctuating between people in furry suits and raging racists prone to murderous frenzies. Best left alone, which fits well with the theme of them wanting to be left alone, being an isolationist, territorial species. Except for 90% of them, who are open-minded towards strangers.

Winter Archipelago
In Winter Archipelago, Mookie mocks you!

[Winterwind]

Why We Snark - Collective Responses of a Thread of Snarkers
Since every few weeks somebody comes around and asks us why, if we apparently hate the Dominic Deegan comic so much, we still keep reading it instead of deleting it from our bookmarks. This post shall serve as a collection of all our stances on the comic and why we keep reading it after all, so that we can refer the person asking to this post (or just quote it), and be done with it.

Anyone who wants his opinion mentioned here - or who wants his previous statement changed - shall tell me so, so I can edit this post.


rubakhin
Honestly? I get more entertainment out of all the snark than I would probably get from Dominic Deegan if it were a good strip.

Also, it's interesting to read as a writer. For the same reason why in writing groups you're encouraged to listen to the critiques directed at other members as well. You learn a lot whenever you see the flaws in a work of fiction being dissected like this. You get a better feel for what works, what doesn't, and why.


Winterwind
Most (all?) of us used to enjoy reading DD and, when it went bad, stayed in the hope it might recover. Meanwhile, we kept discussing the comic, which invariably ended in mocking its failings. Over time, we found that mocking the comic is far more funny and enjoyable than the comic ever was even before its great fall. I presume you did not read this thread, else you would have noticed what this thread has spawned. There were many sides long parodies of Dominic's over-manipulativeness comparing the comic to 1984. There were parodies on his Mary Sue'ness, drawing an analogy to the Inquisition. There were such things as the Encyclopaedia Dominica, or just utterly bizarre and mind-blowing stories and explanations for the comic's logical fallacies. The strip slay thread, undeniably funny, is just the other side of the same coin, where this thread is the other - more of the same parody, except now in words, not in images.
Delete it from our bookmarks? Are you freakin' kidding me? Why the hell would we want to block ourselves from the fun which is this thread?


MReav
Originally I read DD because at first it was kinda cute and funny, and the consistent updates were a welcome change from some of my more favoured webcomics at the time (namely, Captain SNES). Yeah, the preachiness was annoying, as was the constant portrayal of common people as ignorant thugs, but I could skip those comics by and large. But it got a lot worse.

Now I read DD because it's kinda like watching a trainwreck in slow motion. It's entertaining in a MST3K sort of way now, going over with fellow mockers the incredible amounts of Mary Sue-ness, the idiot plots, the poor art, the attempts at the fetishistic, the rampant anti-jock sentiment (which I really think was derived from watching college films than any real human interaction), the Deus Ex Machinas, the gobs of poorly-thought-out Fantastic Racism, and all the other entertainingly bad actions of the comic and its writer.

I won't bash Mookie too much, since I don't pay for his comic nor is anyone making me keep the bookmark, but since his comic is on the web for all to see, I'll enjoy snarking about it over here.


averagejoe
If I could appreciate this thread, and strip slays, without reading the strip, I probably would. I've tried to quit several times, but these guys keep drawing me back!


M0rt
I can already say that I'm reading DD primarily out of curiosity- I want to see what will author screw up this time. But reading strips to them being mocked here is fun as hell too.


Oracle_Hunter
As I've said before, DD is compelling for me because of Mookie's guileless writing style. He is probably well read, and is in any case well familiar with a wide variety of Tropes, and he can even put a plot together in a Fridge Logic kind of way.

Yet, despite all this apparent sophistication, the man writes Eragon-level stuff. Vastly derivative and often very loopy... yet he is not like the average attempted webcomic writer. He occupies a twilight realm between Total Crap and Graphic Novel Writer and that makes him unique, and worthy of study.

Nobody else can do what Mookie does, for better or for worse.


CrazyFatGoblin
I personally read DD for literary ideas, for Mookie *does* have some good ideas, but really sucks at execution. Well, if he *did* have execution, it'd be awesome, but thats not the point.
I read DD to try and wonder what it would be like if such and such happened, or if Mookie was actually good at writing.
I read DD because Mookie is a *genius*, transporting his readers in a masterpiece of suffering so powerful, a few weak-willed ones do not even realize they are suffering, and ask for more. I read DD because I cannot look away, same as if a trainwreck was shown on constant loop.
I read DD because the madness that is Mookie is fascinating, like a book that cannot abide, yet still read to find out what happens in the end.
In short, I read DD because, quite simply, I desire what twisted knowledge Mookie has at his disposal to make us suffer so. What could I do with that knowledge?


Spiryt
The whole problem is that we (or at least I) don't hate that comic. I, in fact, think that it will be rather silly thing to hate damn poor internet comic.

I just recently discovered that making fun of it is good entertainment.

I however had Stoped Reading : some strips appeared so horrible to me (Sword of Centuries... Arghhh) that I literally hadn't dared to read them.


kukn
The reasons are varied. Mostly, I wouldn't call it hatred, at least not for me. The posts here are mostly an intellectual excersise in criticism and satire. Which is fun. (It can get a bit too much at times, a negative stance makes people see only the negative side of DD, often twisting neutral or even good aspects of a strip into yet more negativism.)

We can get a bit full of ourselves here, to be fair. But then, we're only human.


Johnny Blade
It all starts with the author, here, because you must think of DD not only as a webcomic that tells a story or tries to be funny, although it briefly (for the first few arcs) fell into the latter category. No, DD also serves as a means for Mookie to preach his opinionated world-view and show the greatness of his self-insertion, the namesake of this train wreck.
Well, I guess it’s unnecessary to discuss why a blatant Mary-Sue who knows everything about the setting, is always right, served as the chosen savior of the world and can solve almost every problem with his convoluted, logically questionable plans is not a sign of good writing.

So on to Mookie whoring out his opinions. First, it is done in a totally obvious way – the villains seldom let a chance to say how racist/sexist/homophobic they are pass, and don’t get me started on the “Nerds always get their revenge.” thing.
Second, it gets creepy from time to time. Well, often. Examples include Mookie using Celesto, one of the Third Caste (arguably) villains, to brutally kill Brett Taggerty as punishment for being a jock (by the way, there’s only one jock who isn’t stereotyped) and Mookie using Jacob, another Third Caste member, to torture Neilen as punishment for being a womanizer trying to get into Luna’s pants.
Third, Mookie is a pseudo-liberal hypocrite, though I don’t even know if he’s truly aware of this. Yes, racism is bad, but the cultures besides the United States of Wapan/Callan that he has shown us consist of noble savages oppressing their women and living in barbarism or bipolar nudist werewolves who are racists themselves. And yes, homophobia is bad, but yet Szark-who-is-gay’s sexuality is played for laughs where nobody else’s is (exception: Gregory, who now has a girl) and he is apparently unable to have any romantic feelings besides those for Dominic, shown by his reaction to Alseltio’s death. And yes, sexism is bad, too, but even though Mookie seems to be careful here, just take a look at Luna. A wonderful, intelligent, caring and whatnot woman, blah blah. Yet she obsesses about a (minor) physical detail and needs Dominic to save her from herself. Granted, this type of female character is an archetype in and of itself, but it really is a sort of damsel in distress who had the dragon holding her captive replaced by society and a bad childhood.
Fourth, Mookie likes to bash the United States in a way resembling Michael Moore. Callan is full of idiots, tries to invade another country every now and then and is run by an evil government of some sort. The Encyclopedia lists this as the Invisible King, but I guess it really is a president who came into office through election fraud by devising a system that didn’t count the votes of all Orcs in the country.

Then, there’s Mookie’s inconsistent world-building. Not only does it seem to be a really small world, given how at least Dominic apparently has friends everywhere. No, it’s also full of anachronisms which aren’t explained anywhere. It is generally assumed magic does the trick here, although we interestingly don’t get to see too many wizards besides the protagonists and the populace of Lynn’s Brook (GAH!) were quite easily scared by magic.
This leads to another point: magic in general and illusions in particular can solve everything. Everything, I tell you. Drive away an angry mob, trick extremely powerful enemies even if they know about magic, fake your death (to calm down loved ones in a frenzy, for example) and whatever else it is you want – illusions can do it.

Add in horrible writing, best shown by the recent proposal: So, we have Luna, who actively helped Dominic manipulate everyone back during the Snowsong arc, even if it meant risking the life of Greg and the rest of Barthis. And then there is Dominic, who as always been really patient when it comes to Luna being the emo crybaby she often was. But all of a sudden, Luna is pissed off by Dominic’s puppet-mastery and Dominic finds Luna’s emotional problems annoying, although they weren’t actually significant as of late – all we had was Luna running around babbling about how she feels inferior, which probably was done by Mookie to signify she still has these problems. Great. So they tell each other how annoying they are, bicker around a little, don’t resolve their problems at all, and then…marry! Yay!
I won’t even comment on the Snowsong arc with its downright bizarre jump-the-shark moments and yet another instance of Dominic saving the day with an overly complicated scheme.
Mookie’s laughable art also has been mocked to an overdue death and I wholeheartedly recommend reading the Encyclopedia entries on Balloon Boobs, Glasswood, Snout and Trees on this subject.
Actually, one Encyclopedia Dominica article is enough to prove why Dominic Deegan is bad, so I’ll just stop here. I forgot what I was going to write, anyway. Hopefully, more will come later, though.

But you shouldn’t think I hate Dominic Deegan. Most of those who post here don’t. I actually find it one of the most entertaining webcomics around, because no one can do what Mookie does. Yes, there are other webcomics which are so bad they’re funny, but Dominic Deegan actually has a setting created for it, relatively complex arcs, an extensive cast etc., yet it is a horrible train wreck that just keeps going on and on. Like Ed Wood producing comics with the subtlety of Ayn Rand’s works instead of movies.
Seriously, just look at a random DD strip, sit back, and think about it for two minutes. It may drive you insane, but it will make you giggle in a fashion implying you are in any case.
Oh, and this wonderful thread here is a great reason to love Mookie’s stillborn brainchild, too.

___________

Not exactly part of our declarations why we keep reading the comic, but, as I feel, an important message to newcomers into this thread nevertheless:

Jerthanis
If you like the strip, don't read this thread. I'm serious and am not being a jerk... this thread will indoctrinate you if you're not careful. You'll come to realize things about the writing, characters, art and so on that you would have never noticed, but once you see them, you can't stop thinking about them.

Basically, if you enjoy the comic, please continue enjoying it and don't let us ruin your fun. If, at some point, you find yourself scratching your head, dry heaving, or the like, remember that lambasting it here is still a way to enjoy it still. The sad fact is that while it would be nice to have an alternate opinion around these boards, we've all been burned by the comic, and to varying degrees we're all stubborn about our reasons for not liking it. Either way, good luck.
___________
Listen to Jerthanis here, for his words are distilled truth.


The Snarker Index

Here is an alphabetically sorted collection of all posters on these threads who posted when we made a call to see how many snarkers we have actually have around here. If you want your name added to the index as well, feel free to post your snarking details at any time.

The form for that is here:

Name:
Started Reading:
Joining GiTP Thread:
Starting Disposition:
Time to Convert:
Current Stance:

A very big thanks to Webox, who took the effort of going through the thread where we had our initial tally and copying out all the responses there out of it upon himself. :smallsmile:

Posters who, by their own declaration, are not snarkers (or at least still consider the comic to be good) are in blue. Considering the corruptive quality of these threads, it cannot be guaranteed this is still up to date at any given time. :smallwink:

A-J

Name: accountingninja
Started reading: From the beginning!
Joined GitP thread: Lurked a long time before jumping in just a few pages ago.
Starting disposition: I actually heard about DD from "Your Webcomic is Bad and You Should Feel Bad". I just had to see what rankled Solomon so. But in the beginning I didn't think it was THAT bad, except the puns, which I hate. So call me: Groaning a bit, but still engaged.
Time to convert (if applicable): During Battle of Barthis I began thinking, "This is stoopid!" But I may have been pre-biased because I'd already discovered this site.
Current stance: Oh, who could pass this up? It's just magnificently BAD! It's a GOLD MINE of laughs! I've always been an MST3K fan.

Name: Akedhi
Started Reading: I don't honestly remember. I think it was somewhere around the end of Battle for Barthis, because I remember reading through most of that in a sitting.
Joining Thread: Posted once during Shadows, and one other time during the vacation arc, but I read the thread daily after reading the comic.
Starting Disposition: I thought it was cute and kind of entertaining, and it made me smile. The orc rape storyline didn't bother me at first - even now, doesn't bother me as much as it seems to bother a lot of people - because the situation could have been fascinating, if Mookie had handled it well. (Which, you know, he can't. So.)
Time to Convert: I think it was around the beginning of Snowsong, though I still hoped that Mookie might improve.
Current Stance: I've about given up on DD, but the thread is interesting enough to keep me reading.

Name: Aidan305
Started Reading: Battle for Barthis
Joining GiTP Thread: Same Time
Starting Disposition: Contentment
Time to Convert: First sighting of Aardvark, though hope was retained until Zombie Dex
Current Stance: Were it not for this thread I would have given up on DD long ago.

Name: Amazed
Started Reading: hmm, *strums lip* actually around the war in Hell stage
Joining GiTP Thread: I believe I started lurking around say the current arc, as we all know was a long time ago.
Starting Disposition: A fan more or less, but I was diddling around on here one day, and once I started reading the reads, I realized what everyone said was more or less right, and the plain crazy that is dominic deegan was revealed to me in one crashing moment
Time to Convert: Geez like a couple seconds after processing the thread, I think I was pretty much prepared to snark, I just wasnt really thinking about it, since at the most I was only a casual deegan fan
Current Stance:Snarker ready and willing

Name: Artevoi
Started Reading: About the end of the dreaded "Snowsong" arc. (During the big exposition week).
Joining GitP thread: Started reading thread after I heard about it at TV Tropes. Just now started posting. (I think the comic was just before "World Tour" by then)
Starting Disposition: Meh.
Time to convert: I gave the comic a pass during my Archive Binge, Snowsong (I assumed Terracciano was trying to be funny), and Shadows (Bad breakup, I assumed) but drew the line during the Oracle Hunter arc (especially when the Dominus was "redeeming" the unrepentant murderer, just because she told a sob story that made no sense).
Current Stance: I read only for the snark at this point.

Name: averagejoe
Started Reading: I read from the first page. I think at the time the comic was at "Wrapped up and Returned." I dunno, I don't feel like checking. The most current comics were the ones where Szark (who is gay) was being accused of trying to turn his students gay.
Joining GitP thread: Lurked for awhile, but I was dissapointed to find actual fans and thought it would be kind of a jerk move if I just went in and was like, "This comic sucks, guys."
Starting Disposition: Curious, and somewhat fascinated. There was a lot I didn't like about it, but it was charming in its way, and somewhat exciting. (The Knight Vision strip still makes me laugh.)
Time to convert: It was more of a slow process, really. For example, I was bothered by the whole, "It's wrong to kill all people because then you might kill some people who are worth saving," philosophy present in the Storm of Souls, but this wasn't enough to push me over the edge, it just added to the pile, to mix metaphors. At the orc rape storyline, though, I knew I had to snark the strip. I knew there were probably people who thought this made a good or interesting story, and I knew it was my job, nay, my sacred duty to set them straight.
Current Stance: Still fascinated but getting increasingly irritated and bored with the comic.

Name: busterswd
Started reading: "Taggerty is an ******* part 1" storyline
Joined GitP thread: After Siegfried died
Starting disposition: Daily updates on a fantasy story with magic? Not a bad way to waste a minute or so.
Time to convert (if applicable): ...did he just justify raping a little girl...?
Current stance: "Let's see if there's any new strip slays... what are they talking about? Oh right, I didn't check for a new comic on the actual site yet."

Name: Clockwork Seal
Started reading: I can't give you a day at the moment. I started reading it when someone in my IRC channel shouted CURSE YOU RUNCIBLE SPOOOOOON! and linked it, which would give a rough estimate if I remembered when he showed up (IE it was a little bit past that point).
Joined GitP thread: During 'Shadows,' got linked to this thread (well, the then 200-something page mk2 thread) while *****ing about the comic in the very same IRC. Read thread. Registered Account. Joined in.
Starting disposition: I enjoyed it, mostly because of the puns and because it actually kept updating regularly. And it managed to not offend my sensibilities at every turn (often, but not EVERY turn).
Time to convert (if applicable): I was peeved when the comic kept going after SoS. Battle for Barthis was incredibly stupid, but not bad enough. Orc Rape was awful, but not enough. The War in Hell was a terrible arc with no redeeming qualities (It is actually the worst pre-supergreg full arc). Urban Eddie was a lot worse than Orc Rape (And a lot worse than Supergreg, too, but I'm not there yet), but Bumper actually managed to be the comic's first character during Two Thief so it was forgiven. Even Supergreg wasn't intolerable (though it was, of course, incredibly stupid.) Ultimately, it was this exact moment that I started to hate the comic a far as its ability to provide entertainment on its own merit. Terracciano had the best ending for an arc that he ever had two pages prior, and then used this awful setup to spend two weeks telling the reader what they already knew (because said ending actually revealed that Dommykins had said hand in everything), and only making the resolution look worse in the process.
Current stance: The comic is a waste of bandwidth, which is unfortunate, but the community that has sprung up around mocking it is wonderful.

Name: Colonelslime
Started Reading: Into the Woods (the one with the Dryad and Dirk the Mighty)
Joining GitP thread: When the Aardvark showed up, because I was so mad at Mookie's stupidity
Starting Disposition: I actually like it early on, though there were a few minor issues that bugged me.
Time to convert: I started getting miffed after the Storm of Souls. The Battle for Barthis seemed too silly and out of place, hated the Orc Rape sub-plot, and found the War in Hell extremnely melodramatic for something that would end up having almost no effect on the story. I actually kinda liked Two-Thief, Stunt and Bumper being my favorite characters. I only really started hating the comic (and lurking here) during Snowsong, not because of the Aardvark (though that sealed the deal), but because we found out that snowsongs big pain was that she was boo-ed off open mike night in some medieval comedy club. Also the cake thing. And how for the entire arc I was saying to myself "Mookie can't be going with a Superman parody here", only to have all my hopes crushed. Snowsong was pretty much one big draught of Snark for me.
Current Stance: I watch with a morbid fascination, thinking everyday,"no Mookie, you cannot possibly be doing this, 10 year-olds come up with more cohesive and thought-out narratives." And then he does... and I am filled with the urge to either laugh at the stupidity, cry that this can even pass for writing, or yell at my screen at the sheer god-awfulsness. Mookie's work excites my emotions in a way good stories rarely do. So I guess that soemthing in DD's favour.

Name: Cthclain
Started Reading: Battle of Barthis
Joined Thread: Followed since a little past Snowsong only joined in towards the end of the last.
Starting Disposition: Found it interesting, at least as passing entertainment
Time to Convert: Faltered with the End of Snowsong, switched entirely with Shadows
Current Stance: A failing B-movie level webcomic, it's still great snarking material (especially with this community) and because of this is still entertaining. Theoretically still has a chance to recover most of its ground, though it's unlikely.

Name: Death Dragon
Started Reading: Beginning of this arc. Maybe three weeks ago? A month?
Joined Thread: As soon as I was done with the archives.
Starting Disposition: Thought that it was pretty good, funny at best and not a waste of time at worst.
Time to Convert: Still a fan. YES, I come to the thread anyway. I can be a snarker and a fan!
Current Stance: Was a lot better before Aardvark showed up again, but I still like it, and would read it with or without the snarking.
Update: I might still be able to enjoy the comic without snarking, but testing that would mean not reading the thread for at least a month, and can you imagine how long it would take to catch up on all that?

Name: Deus_e_Machina
Started Reading: About three or four years ago? I don't recall exactly when, but I archive binged on my first go anyway.
Joining GitP thread: Started lurking in the Epic Thread. I don't quite remember where; somewhere in the early 100's. I went through the slowest archive binge ever to stay on the current comic as I read through all 100 pages. By the end, I was long since converted.
Starting Disposition: Somewhere between amicable and obsessive. Wait, towards the comic? I liked it - protagonist who uses cleverness and manipulation to do the hero schtick, without ever crossing the line on the manipulation to seem like an evil bastard instead of a chessmaster (at the time, mind).
Time to convert: Not far into reading the Epic Thread.
Current Stance: I love the snark community - the strip slays and this thread make reading the comic tons of fun.

Name: Domochevsky
Started Reading: Years ago
Joining GiTP Thread: After weeks of lurking and thinking that id never reach the end of the most current thread. Damn, you move fast.
Starting Disposition: When Teh Drama entered.
Time to Convert: I remember the exact strip when i stopped to read DD. It was when the planes of... Maltak was it, were done with the storms and everyone rushed in to find nearly everything was dead. Then blame started to get passed around again.
Current Stance: Neutral. Humor is what drew me to DD in the first place. Now humor is it again what draws me to it. Weird how these things work out sometimes. :smallamused:

Name: DoubleBlackbird
Started Reading: The one where Pam says she has to fire Garrit. But I actually starting reading the Strip Slays before reading Dominic Deegan proper, so I had known about the main characters for some time (I was actually surprised, once I convinced myself to read DD, to get to the Siegfried's Dead part of the story and find that his final speech was not 'Tell everyone my last word was... *lastword*').
Joining GiTP Thread: The one where Spark inexplicably hires a guide (but we do not know who it is). I guessed Stunt, but the correct answer was Hansi, putting me at 0% correct predictions (a figure comparable to Dominic's in recent weeks). Unfortunately the shame was so intense that I ran far away, never to be seen again. So you could say I only just joined the thread. hi every1, im new, wat is a 'supergerg'
Starting Disposition: Not applicable. I already knew it was going to be awful. I just didn't realise how awful.
Time to Convert: From 'non-reader' to 'snarker'? About as long as it took me to type in the URL.
Current Stance: It is a bad webcomic, but it is the best bad webcomic, and even though the current arc is ultra-boring, I can't and won't stop reading. Mookie's got himself a reader for life here.

Name: Elhana
Started Reading: I can't remember, but I've been reading it a couple of years at least. I'm pretty sure I started reading before Storm of Souls. I'd guess...somewhere around Ecstasy & Evil.
Joined GitP thread: Oh that's easy. I posted my first post in this thread...not that long ago. I lurked for like...a year. Maybe more. I just checked...I joined a year ago. Man, I am a profession lurker. Ok, I probably lurked for two years then. *cough* I only really started posting...um...a couple of weeks ago.
Starting Disposition: Well, when I first started reading I thought it was pretty good.
Time to convert: Probably a couple of years. Once I started reading this thread I think. The Aardvark was when I really started questioning why I read this comic...every day.
Current Stance: Sometimes I can't even stand to look at the comic. I dread looking at it knowing that I will read the comic and go "WHY! Mookie! WHY!" And yet I do it anyway. I think there is something wrong with me.

Name: EvilDMMk3
Started Reading: Late Oracle Hunter
Joining GiTP Thread: A while back, got really annoyed and gave up snarking during the "holiday of tedium" arc.
Starting Disposition: :smallyuk:
Time to Convert: 0.00002 seconds
Current Stance: :bigyuk:

Name: Face of Evil
Started Reading: Oracle Hunter arc
Starting Disposition: I'm an unusual case, because what actually got me into Dominic Deegan was reading the Strip Slays thread. I didn't understand the context, but I found a lot of the Slays were hilarious on their own. As such, I had some shockers like Siegfried's Dead and Melna Rape already spoiled for me when I finally started reading the comic. (I also thought Melna was a vampire and Dominic was secretly evil.) I felt that the comic in its early days was good, but I find the turning point is the introduction of Mama Deegan, whose amazing Deus ex Machina powers would rob the comic of a lot of its tension.
Current Stance: I'm mildly interested in seeing where DD is going, but mostly I'm just in it for the snarks.

Name: Falco
Started reading: Sometime before the Deegan Parents appeared.
Joined GitP thread: Right now. I figured I've been lurking long enough.
Starting disposition: A fan.
Time to convert (if applicable): Sometime during Storm of Souls after too many "Is he dead? Nope, I missed/it was an illusion!" moments. Got bored, then came back to it awhile ago thinking maybe it got better. How wrong I was...
Current stance: Morbid curiosity, and this thread is funnier than the comic *ever* was.

Name: Friv
Started Reading: Mob Mentality, I think
Joining GiTP Thread: Really not sure. Class Action-ish?
Starting Disposition: Thought it was a lot of fun
Time to Convert: Two Thief or Not To Thief (yeah, my optimism survived the War in Hell)
Current Stance: It's so beautifully awful.

Name: Frogwarrior
Started Reading: A long time ago... best I can figure is the "Evil and Ecstasy" arc or thereabouts... dang it's been a while
Starting Disposition: Favorable. It had some obvious flaws from the start, and I would not have let anyone else see that I read it, but I was able to wave them aside as forgiveable errors.
Said errors compounded and multiplied, and my appreciation waned, as Dominic and crew turned from barely powerful (ooh, I can find your keys!) to godlike (I can rape you WITH MY MIND! And my brother is Superman! And my dad is a powerful swordsman who negotiated some important orc thing, and my mom is an archmage!). Yet even that wasn't enough to get me to admit that it sucked.
Time to Convert: Happened at about the Snowsong or Shadow of Siegfried arc. By then, I had kinda lost excitement about DD, even to the point of forgetting to check it often (this was before I gave in and put my favorite comics in bookmarks). But at about that time, I read John Solomon's absolutely brutal saving of Mookie's work. It broke down the inappropriate walls in my brain, punching my esteem for DD in the balls, guiding me to the truth: DD sucks.
Current stance: Even some of the arcs that sucked were fun to read. That was long in the past. There is nothing about it that I enjoy other than mocking it and making slays. And yet... I can't stop reading... not just because it's fun to mock, but because I actually want to see what happens in the story. I hate myself.

Name: Snoogums, you stooge. (Ganurath)
Started Reading: Snowsong's stomach rumbling.
Joining Thread: Some point in the epic-ness of the first thread.
Starting Disposition: Some points of moral inconsistency, and... What the fork have you done to my orcs, Mookie?!
Time to Convert: Nevrmore was my first exposure to other people's opinions. Parts of me die inside when he talks for a different reason now, but he really killed it for me.
Current Stance: Word of God says he'll be ending it soon. Let there be much rejoicing.

Name: I'm Batman. (Gez)
Started Reading: I think it was during the Battles for Barthis arc.
Joining Thread: Page 40 of the first thread.
Starting Disposition: At first it was "okay, a very D&Dish webcomic, let see what ideas I can mine from it." I liked Acibek's Principle, or at least the idea of having wizards giving their names to principles of magic rather than just to a few spells, à la "Mordenkainen's Magnificient Mansion".
... I think that was the only idea I thought was worthy of being taken, though.
Time to Convert: It was a gradual process. I never thought it was a great comic, but I saw potential in it. For a long time I cut Mookie some slack: "okay, this is bad but it can be justified this way". Eventually, though, I had the Revelation: what Mookie was really trying to do was an Encyclopedia of Failure in webcomic form. This gave me a new appreciation for the comic and the amount of thought and work put behind. Mookie will explore, with an admirable and painstaking meticulous devotion, each and every way to sabotage his webcomic. At least, the non-meta ones: he hasn't pulled crap such as surprise hiatus, access restricted to only paying readers, and other such silliness.
Current Stance: Eager to see how long Mookie can manage to sink his webcomic ever further without making it really awful (like some other comics I don't even want to talk about).

Name: HellfireLover
Started Reading: DD was one of the first webcomics I discovered. I started reading it when Luna was the current arc. So Yeah.
Joining GiTP Thread: Lurked since the Epic Thread, joining now.
Starting Disposition: Hmm, the art is pretty weak, but the premise is promising.
Time to Convert: Started having doubts at Storm of Souls. Champion of Balance? Laaaaaaame. Converted at Battle for Barthis. Medieval fantasy rock benefit concert was the clincher. Gave up reading in disgust. Now read only for teh snarkz (not to be confused with Gay Szark the Gay man who is Gay, oh did I mention he is Gay?)
Current Stance: Learning the way of the Snark and longing to snatch the idea whole-cloth off'f Mookie and do it properly. :smallannoyed:

Name: Hell Puppi
Started Reading: Around the start of the second GiTP thread, I decided to slog though DD to see what it was all about
Joining GiTP Thread: Somewhere near the middle of the second thread after I had finished my archive trawl
Starting Disposition: Interested
Time to Convert: When I got to the part where Siggy was beating on Dom and NO ONE HELPED. No, not even the healer/cleric girl. I noticed from that point on that pretty much everyone was a jerk.
Current Stance: I haven't read DD in months and there would be no force on earth that could make me...aside from my desire to snark. And my hope that at some point Dom gets eaten.

Name: High-chancellor (One of many!)
Started Reading: Round abouts Erossus I think, actually. shortly before or after.
Joining GitP thread: First thread baby, yeeeeeaaaah. *random other punk elitist stupid stuff*
Starting Disposition: First started... I was mostly bored, and was amused before... well... it seems to me the stupidity of DD is like one of those poisons that builds up over time, in the beginning. Both in the way that it's gradual so I didn't notice it till it was bothering me, and in the way that low levels accumulated to drive me insane. I always had a sort of love-hate relationship. (Well, after it started trying to take itself seriously with this "plot" nonsense. I'm looking at YOU "chosen of balance". I think I'd seen that coming from so far away it hit me in the back of the head and gave me a savage headache.)
Time to convert: Truly converted... combination of Szarks flanderization as a flamboyant gay who was in love with dommie-chan, YES the orc rapesez, aaaand... Mookie. Srsly.
Current Stance: Really, I find the comic to be the literary form of a train wreck involving one freight train full of rubber chickens and perhaps a secret military unmanned spyplane. One really feels like he should stop watching it, but he just can't! It's at the same time monstrous, bizarre, and strangely entertaining in a horrific way.

Name: Humbug
Started Reading: 2 years ago, when the Neilen arc started.
Joining GiTP Thread:Some time later, it was because the Comicgenesis snark thread got closed and I eventually stumbled onto this one.
Starting Disposition:I thought the earlier parts of DD were okay, I was indifferent to the Orc Rape arc at first, but the comic really started getting bad for me after the Thief to Thief arc.
Time to Convert:From the beginning when the Comicgenesis thread was started, that's what got me reading DD in the first place.
Current Stance: Mookie obviously breaks all the writing rules, but the greatest offender to me is how he handles his artwork, awful anatomy, boring composition, hardly improving after 5 years, etc.

Name: h_v
Started Reading: About halfway through 'Two Thief or not Two Thief' after mention on Websnark.
Joined GitP thread: About halfway through the 'Class Action' storyline, I think. It was a while ago, so I'm not too clear on the details.
Starting Disposition: Thought it was a little unsubtle, but overall positive.
Time to convert: Opinion started to turn two thirds of the way through 'Class Action', 'Snowsong' put the nail in the coffin.
Current stance: Ironically, I'm reading it far more regularly for snarkage than I ever did when I semi-liked it. I don't post as often as I should, but I always keep up to date on the thread.

Name: Ichini Sanshigo
Started Reading: Started during the Vacation Arc, but i went back through the archives before I started on the current strips. I was releuctant to start because it looked tacky compared to other webcomics, like crap I doodled in my notebook during Trig class.
Joined GitP Thread: I actually found out about the comic through TV Tropes. I think it was in the "So Bad it's Horrible" webcomic section. For some reason I love bad media ("Earth: Final Conflict" comes to mind), so I bookmarked the comic and said I'd get around to it. After slogging through Mookie's awfulness, I decided to look for a place to snark. I noticed that TV Tropes has a lot of references to GitP comics, so I checked out the forum here and lo and behold, the Dominic Deegan thread was a shiny beacon unto snark.
Starting Disposition: From the get-go I realized that this comic was at best mediocre. To me at least, it was never very funny. Everything about it was weak: weak jokes, weak dialogue, weak characterization, weak setting, lame plot... but I figured it might improve. I was wrong.
To be absolutely honest, I agree with many of the criticisms of that dude from Your Webcomic is Bad and You Should Feel Bad. He's kind of a jerk, and his reviews are often marred by needless ad hominems and a tendency to take some scenes out of context, but he was right on the mark with Dominic Deegan.
Time to Convert: Like, when I first started reading.
Current Stance: The only reason I read the comic is for this thread.

Name: InkEyes
Started Reading: I started reading during the Shadow of Siegfried arc, thanks to this site.
Joining GitP thread: I was browsing this site one day and I noticed the epic thread here and I had to find out what could create such a thread. I lurked for a few pages before doing a short archive binge and jumping in the epic thread around halfway through it.
Starting Disposition: The comic as a whole isn't really my cup of tea. The psuedo-anime art and the rather forced humor overrode the story-driven aspects of the comic that I would normally be drawn to.
Time to convert: Right off the bat I didn't think the comic was great, but this thread has helped me realize that there is just so much more to it. I don't hate the comic, in fact I'd probably be completely indifferent towards it if I hadn't found this place, and I've always felt the mockery was all in good fun.
Current Stance: My opinion is that, overall, the comic isn't immensely terrible, but I don't think there's much more that can be done to 'fix' the comic short of starting a new one taking into account the lessons learned from this one. When Mookie pulls out comics that really bother me, then it can get my bile going, but most of the time I think he's just an okay guy who's really bad at articulating his point in any sort of graphic or written medium. It's a shame given the following he was able to create with his minimal skills, I think the comic had the potential to be good if Mookie had tried different things more often and taken time to improve himself.

Name: Jahkaivah
Started Reading: Think it was when Milov was in the Werewolf place thingy.
Joining GiTP Thread: I started reading this thread during Oracle Hunter Arc, I made my first post during the Vacation Arc.
Starting Disposition: I liked the old grumpy kickass Dominic and how his only strength was second sight, also enjoyed that it was very humble in its scope.... yeah
Time to Convert: Dominic's trademark character writing bothered me right from the begining but I lost all interest in the plot during Storm of Souls when random characters were suddenly being told they were a chosen one and stupid villains was sprouting out of every orifice. I read the whole comic ignoring the stupidities, including that one, simply put as soon as I read this thread and realised how much fun snarking Dominic Deegan was I swtiched.
Current Stance: Bloody awful writing, poorly done art, and thats why I love it.
PS: I just noticed that I refered to Mookie as Dominic, I think that is so perfect I am not going to change it

Name: Jayngfet
Started Reading: About a year ago
Joining GitP thread: Two days later
Starting Disposition: I wondered what J Soloman was complaining about, loved it for a bit.
Time to convert: A week and a half.
Current Stance: I like some of the stranger ideas(medieval rock concert? Awesome), and some of the overlooked bits mookie go right, but I stay to work on dominoligy and point out details missed by everyone else.

Name: Jerthanis
Started Reading: Middle of Battle for Barthis
Joining GitP thread: I actually started a Dominic Deegan thread sometime around the middle of War in Hell, it went about 16 posts and died out. It was mildly praiseful towards the comic. I've been around these threads since before they became snark threads.
Starting Disposition: I liked it a lot at first. Clever writing made a nonstandard hero archetype really successful I thought, and while nothing after Storm of Souls really quite clicked as anything before, I maintained hope.
Time to convert: .035 seconds after seeing this That was when I knew for sure it was never going to be good again.
Current Stance: The comic is infested, infected with suck. Right now it's circling the drain, winding down towards oblivion, collapsing in upon itself. The only thing left to do is watch in pity as it gasps its last. Meanwhile we get to commiserate and share a laugh, like we're attending a loved one's funeral and we're telling embarrassing stories about them.

Name: Johnny Blade
Started Reading: I found the comic through the epic thread, when The Shadow Of Siegfried was about to end, and, since the thread had more than 100 pages at this time, went on an archive binge to see what it was all about.
Joining Thread: During Endings And Annoyances, after I posted my first strip slay. I lurked for some time before, however.
Starting Disposition: There were some things I disliked, but Spark, as well as Stunt and Bumper, made up for it. And The Curse was actually great.
Time to Convert: When Luna appeared, I realized that, from then on, Dominic Deegan wouldn't be a comic I could ever like. After that, it got gradually worse, but it wasn't until Storm of Souls started that I found the comic actually bad.
Current Stance: I love the comic's hilarious badness, as well as this thread and our mini-community here. Granted, the comic is boring sometimes, but Domiology carries me through those periods.

Name: Joro
Started Reading: Around the end of the Vacation Arc, I believe.
Joining GiTP Thread: Now! (February '09)
Starting Disposition: I was vaguely aware of the existence of Dominic Deegan through webcomic cultural osmosis, but I never actually knew any specifics until I read the Your Webcomic is Bad writeup. This prejudiced me unfairly against it at the start. Next, I discovered the strip-slay thread here, which was awesome enough to make me abandon my blind dislike in favor of a healthier, snarky appreciation. I read the entire archive just to properly enjoy all the happy-fun snarking.
Current Stance: I mentally maintain a long list of things not to do unthinkingly in my own writing, and Dominic Deegan is endlessly helpful.

[Winterwind]

K-Q
Name: Kasrkin
Started Reading: Late Snowsong Period (i.e. The Aardvark apocalypse)
Joined Thread: Pretty Recently. Vacation Arc, I think.
Starting Disposition: !?!
Time to Convert: Almost immediately.
Current Stance: The aberrancy of FATAL combined with the ineptness and general lameness of Ishtar. Fun to riff, though.

Name: Khosan
Started Reading: Way, way back. I think some time around Visions of Doom when they arrived in Barthis.
Joining GitP thread: I think I was here as early as the first thread, but I didn't start posting until the second.
Starting Disposition: I was...13 or 14 at the time. I thought it was pretty good, considering I really didn't have much concept of what was good writing/art.
Time to convert: Second thread or Supergreg. Whichever came first. It was a pretty slow and gradual decent that started around Storm of Souls. The "Tension! YOINK! Nope!" (Luna cringing away from her death in panel 8 one day, eyes open looking confused panel one the next day) deal bothered me. I suppose that's when I caught on to the characters being Mary Sues and being surrounded by ultra-plot armor. Supergreg was the real killer though. Up until then, it had been my line of thinking that the quality wasn't quite how I remembered it and maybe the comic was just in a slump after the Epic Hijinx™. Then I saw Supergreg and his Superbulge and any hopes went out the window.
Current Stance: Tenuous. The comic manages to hit such depths of bad now that not even snarking can make me look forward to reading it. The vacation arc and the mindbreak arc in particular broke my spirit.

Name: KillerSquid
Started Reading: Vacation Arc. I didn't like it, but found the thread and loved snarking.
Joining thread: The second thread, near the end, too many pages to remember.
Starting Disposition: Disliked the later comics, but reread quite a bit of the earlier ones, and found a charm, if lacking in artwork.
Time to convert: Started as a snarker.
Current Stance: Pessimistic of Mookie's writing future, optimistic for snarking.

Name: Kizor
Started Reading: Way back during the early Shadows of Doom. I've been around long enough to write some of the tropes that are often mentioned here. I can also shoot a laser from my mouth and bend girders.
Joining GitP thread: During the Vacation Arc.
Starting Disposition: I loved the comic! The idea of a mage protagonist without the fireballs was one of those great, fresh inventions that are only obvious in retrospect. Dominic Deegan was a seriously underpowered character who got by with creativity and good thinking, not the ability to rend threats out of reality with mageeeek. His foresight was a vague aid to a more important tool, his intellect. I didn't think of this at the time, but a cynical misanthrope forced to be a puppet-master fit like a glove where a straightforward hero would've been (and now is) repulsive. The plot was interesting. The puns were truly atrocious. I was a forum member. I filked. I'm not a native English-speaker, so the results were unspeakable.
...Brett's now inside-out - goin' to Elemecca...
Time to convert: I'm easy to please with entertainment. The Storm of Souls was neat, though the comic could've explained what it actually does. Medieval rock concert? Sure, it's silly fun and characters I like are really enjoying themselves. Orc rape? A honest attempt to tackle difficult themes that didn't work out. All doubts I had and more were abruptly confirmed on the day of the Aardvark.
Current Stance: I don't hate the comic or its author. That's silly. I simply wouldn't be able to enjoy it anymore. Because of that, I find the Strip Slays - and to a lesser extent, this thread - to be genuinely funny, not lol-funny as is too common on the Internet or even, Heaven help us, lulz-funny. I like hanging out here. From time to time the discussion gets too hostile or mean towards Mookie, and I wonder if the strip is genuinely bad after all, but then we receive a He-Dom or a Dulk or wondrously resurrecting/legless Dex, and I abandon those thoughts in good conscience.

Name: kukn
Started Reading: At the first coming of the dread Aardvark. I actually started reading because I wanted to see what was so funny about the Strip Slays.
Joining GitP thread: Sometime during the epic thread (Mk. II), towards the start of it. I wanted to see what other people thought about DD, I was quite eager myself at that time I admit. Don't post much, only flit through the comments, as I don't have much time.
Starting Disposition: Well... I read through the whole archive in three days. I really enjoyed it the whole way through, I liked the original and non-cliché characters (a weak, grumpy, smoking seer; a wise-cracking cat; a disabled youngster capable only of healing others; a kick-ass evil necromancer brother; and the rest of the cast tbh, including Dom's parents, Siegfried, Luna, Stunt and Bumper, Szark)
Time to convert: After catching up with the Snowsong arc (then nearing the end), I still liked the strip. I continued to generally enjoy for its own merits, though starting to see its flaws, until around the start of Shadow of Siegfried, about here. From then on it's been downhill.
Current Stance: Somewhat sickened, in a bored and 'meh' kind of way. I personally haven't considered a single strip to be good since the plot and character depravity of Shadow started. Not single one (maybe a few have been just about okay, but that's it).

Name: Kyeudo
Started Reading: Shadow of Sigfried
Joined Thread: Two Thief or not Two Thief
Starting Disposition: Not impressed, but tolerable.
Time to Convert: Shortly after joining this thread.
Current Stance: Mookie could make this comic a masterpiece dispite his bad art, but he won't. There are so many wonderful possibilities in his characters, even the Aardvaark, that could be used, but he just doesn't seem to care enough anymore.

Name: Lenlalron.
Started Reading: Summer of 07. I think that was Snowsong. I'm pretty sure I heard about DD from this thread, but never really read the snark until now.
Joining Thread: I totally forget. Sometime in the first thread, though.
Starting Disposition: It's decent. The daily update makes it a daily checker for me, which is great since most of my comics are MWF or alternate days of that sort.
Time to Convert: Pretty sure when I finally read snowsong. (it took me awhile to archive binge!).
Current Stance: What hilarious mishaps in webcomicery do you have for us next, Mookie?

Name: Lord Fullbladder, Master of Goblins
Started Reading: Uh, wow. Damned if I know. Probably somewhere in the War in Hell. I always read archives obsessively before I read the newer stuff.
Joining Thread: Late first thread. I'd lurked a bit before that. I also made particualrily embarrassing comments in the later threads (turns out I'm someone who would say "Abrakaboom").
Starting Disposition: I liked it.
Time to Convert: Shortly after joining this(ese) thread(s). It was a long time ago.
Current Stance: I'm hear for the snark, dudes.

Name: Just look to the left of my message to figure it out! Er, my name isn't "Just look to the left of my message to figure it out!" I mean you should look to the left of my message to figure it out.(Lord Seth)
Started Reading: During Shadow of Sigfried. I'm pretty sure that I started reading when this was the newest strip. I went through the archives really fast.
Joining GitP thread: Hrm, I read it a bit during Shadow of Sigfried, but I think I don't think I really posted until Oracle Hunter.
Starting Disposition: Thought the comic was pretty good. As dumb as it was, I still thought Supergreg was sort of funny, and while the orc rape was ineptly written, Mookie at least seemed to recognize that people hated it and quietly ended it. I really did like the strip, and was puzzled as to why so many people seemed to hate it...
Time to convert: I was wavering during Oracle Hunter; there were some good spots, but they were always followed by bad spots. I think I "converted" soon after He-Dom.
Current Stance: Deegan used to be a good comic, and we still on occasion get peeks of its former glory. But it's fallen horribly. Rather than trying to fix the problems the comic had (overuse of bolding, cheek teeth, etc.) Mookie now seems determined to top himself in badness in every arc. I'd say it's been declining ever since Storm of Souls ended. The only thing Mookie can do at this point to salvage it is to transplant his mind to when the comic was good, then bring up the lingering plot points (Jacob, for example) and use them all in an epic, climactic final arc. Then take a break, get his writing skills back to what they used to be (I'd say get them better than that, but one step at a time) and get his drawing better so we don't have the cheek teeth. If he wants to keep going with the Deeganverse, maybe he can make a new main character and relegate Deegan to Obi-Wan status.

Name: Lowkey Lyesmith
Started Reading: somewhere around the Visions of doom arc. But I always read comics from the beginning so not quite sure. But somewhere around there.
Joining Thread: During Oracle hunter, a friend( Doompuppi) told me about it.
Starting Disposition: Liked it. It was a funny story with some good drama.
Time to Convert: I found it irritating how big guys were always stupid and violent jocks. I'm big, I do like some sports, but I don't beat people up and I try to solve problems with my brain.
The time of convertion is hard to place. But the first time I got angry was this http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2005-03-01
Reason? Why must he be the champion of balance? The strip before had Klo tark saying that he was'nt the champion of law. I was happy then, wondering, who could it be?
After that, I disliked Dominic and around Snowsong, I got enough.
Current Stance: Hmm, I find myself hoping at times. But to be honest, the snarking is better then the comic ever was.

Name: MacPuck
Started Reading: Two Thief
Joining GiTP Thread: Tail end of XIII
Starting Disposition: Not too bad, but the Keenspot slays were much more fun.
Time to Convert: SNOWSONG. Didn't look back at the site until, curse my timing, Oracle Hunter.
Current Stance: Pretty firmly on the snark side.

Name: Magnax
Started Reading: Partway through Storm of Souls.
Joining GitP thread: Around this time last year, though I lurk a lot more than I post.
Starting Disposition: This used to be one of my favorite webcomics.
Time to convert: Around War in Hell the comic started going downhill for me. Then I read John Solomon's blog, and while my initial reaction to it was unfavorable, I realized he had a few good points. The Snowsong arc finally clued me in to how bad the comic really was.
Current Stance: I read it to see if Mookie can somehow recover this train-wreck of a comic, but usually I'm just amused at the new ways he finds to screw up and offend people.

Name: Mauve Shirt
Started Reading: War in Hell
Joined the thread: In the middle of the epic thread, during the Oracle Hunter arc.
Starting Disposition: I really loved the comic up through the War in Hell, and I had no problem with the following arcs until I started reading this thread and realized you all were right.
Current Stance: I keep up with it for the purposes of following this thread. I have no problem with the arcs up until the end of War in Hell.

Name: MeklorIlavator
Started Reading: Around the start of the First Thread? I don't really remember, and it could have been a bit later, maybe in the next January or February. In any case I read it over the course of 3 days(one reason that I thought it was really good as long as I did, as you miss alot when reading it that fast).
Joined Thread: First post was in the Original thread, during a discussion about how the words species/races applies to fantasy worlds, though I had been a lurker for some time in that thread.
Starting Disposition:
Time to Convert: I forget. I know that I was originally a fan and supported some of the Defences put forward in that thread, but I know that at the very latest I had changed my mind in the early parts of the Legendary thread.
Current Stance: (For very different reasons. Mainly, MST3K value)

Name: Mewtarthio
Started Reading: Archived binged up through "War in Hell," which was the limit of the archives at the time. I did not continue to follow the comic, however, until reading the giantitp Strip Slays thread, at which point I archive binged again and got up to around the end of the Nielen arc.
Joined GitP thread: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showt...32#post2274832
Note that this is several days after I posted my first Strip Slay. I only joined the main thread because I was already reading the comic and wanted to... "discuss" it.
Starting Disposition: My first post says it all, really. I thought everything before Storm of Souls was decent. Storm of Souls itself made Dominic a bit Mary Sueish (I didn't know the term "Mary Sue" at the time, but I immediately thought of that arc once I learned it), particularly given that magical blasty powers seem a bit incongruous on a seer.
Time to convert: I did not deem the comic worthy of a single minute of my attention each day after the archive binge. The thread actually had to convert me from the other direction: In fact, I nearly quit the thread entirely following the Snowsong debacle. Morbid curiosity drew me back to the comic, and then the snarking began in earnest on the main thread.
Current Stance: Dominic Deegan died long ago. At this point, Mookie is simply churning out comics because he feels like he has to.

Name: Minion992929
Started Reading: Midway March across Maltak:
Joining thread: Immesurable speed that disproves physics.
Starting Disposition: Disbelief - (i.e Nothing can be that bad...)
Time to convert: Ten minutes before I started reading
Current stance: Resigned, but I rant about it because misery loves company (as you all no doubt agree.)

Name: M0rt
Started reading: Around the end of Snowsong arc.
Joining thread: Shortly after starting to read the comic, after finishing Battle of Barthis arc.
Starting disposition: First, I thought it was mildly amusing. Then, I deemed it mediocere. After Snowsong, the slippery slope to the snarking was short.
Time to convert: See above. When I started reading, the comic was already in its mind-numbingly bad status.
Current stance: Morbid curiosity that can be compared to pushing the red buttons with warnings over them or reading Necronomicon to see if there are pictures inside.

Name: MReav
Started Reading: Forget when... before the Battle of Barthis I think.
Joining GitP thread: Shortly after Oracle Hunter, but more because I started perusing the GitP boards more.
Starting Disposition: Interested because of the constant updates and overall cuteness of the series.
Time to convert: Your Webcomic is Bad and You Should Feel Bad planted a few seeds of doubt, but the SuperGreg plotline definitely threw this into guilty pleasure, mostly because I tried to not to think about the rape storyline.
Current Stance: I enjoy the Strip Slays more than the actual strip, but I still have respect for Mookie because he makes a comic consistently. That doesn't make him immune to criticism, his world building is atrocious, some of the swerves make me want to head bash a wall, the stereotypes that permeate are outright offensive at times, but it's got a small amount of charm that doesn't make me drop it.

Name: Mr. Scaly
Started reading: Midway through the vacation arc, though I began with an archive binge.
Joined GitP thread: Late into the Vacation arc, mostly through random forum surfing for interesting topic. Saw the massive amount of posts and took a look see.
Starting Disposition: Interested. Had seen a lot of references to DD in TVtropes and was looking for a new webcomic to read so I thought I'd take a look. Was pleasantly surprised at how the early humour kept making me laugh and the interesting plot lines, and enjoyed the continuing story arcs.
Time to convert: Haven't yet (and probably won't) but first started getting ill during the "Snowsong arc." I liked most of it but The Abomination's first appearance and undeniable proof that Dominic is a manipulative bastard, if not an anti-hero.
Current stance: Have honestly enjoyed most of the most recent arcs (though Dominic in a loincloth is scary as Hell...) The orc rape didn't phase me, the vacation arc was interesting and I'm willing to give Mookie the benefit of the doubt on most of his goofs. It's in this most recent 'death to all' arc that's making me bitter and resentful...turning Celesto into a jerkass, TIM into a pansy, Gregory into a comic book superhero with no personality and Dex and Rachael into mindless drones.

Name: Mr. Silver
Started Reading:First began my archive Binge towards the end of Two Thieves. Predates my joining this forum by a fair while.
Joining GiTP Thread:Misery loves company?:smallwink:
I'd kind of given up on DD before I stumbled upon this forum and the thread. The mentioning of Snowsong in it re-awakened my curiosity and I went back to the archives. As a result, I felt an overpowering urge to take the piss as a form of cathartic recovery for the 'saving' of my senses the re-exposure had inflicted. So I signed-up. Rest, as they say, is history.
Starting Disposition: Ooo, big archive. Seems interesting anyway, if the artwork is a bit poor I'll give it a go.
Time to Convert:Don't think conversion is quite the right word on account of the whole finding there before here. I guess my first misgivings started with the death of Amelia way back in Ecstacy and Evil and started to grow from then on. Finally went past the point of no return into outright hatred with The War in Hell for the huge character derailment, the rape etc.
Current Stance: Drift back in and out depending on how busy/bored I am and/or my tolerance levels for mindbreakingly bad comicry (is that a word? It should be). My actual relations to this thread are somewhat linked towards my interests in the rest of the GITP forums (sometimes inversely, for some reason).

Name: Myrdhale
Started Reading: End of the Soul of Storms arc, But I went through the archives first.
Joining GiTP Thread: Lurked During the war in hell, actively joined at the unholy sight of the Aardvark. I have yet to forgive Mookie for the Terror seeing it caused.
Starting Disposition:I genuinely enjoyed DD during the first few arcs. I was a little put off by the erossus arc; the overly sexual jokes, in really childish ways, struck me really as a very immature attempt to make a comic 'more adult'. But I went with it, and had a great time right up until the Battle for Barthis.
Time to Convert: Started having my doubts right after the Storm of souls, but only truly began doubting at the Snowsong arc. From there on in, its just kept getting worse.
Current Stance: Morbid Fascination. I have some aspirations of writing a webcomic and novel, so I also take Mookie as a cautionary tale. Not just his writing and story, but his disposition towards fans and critiques. I'm sure he's a very nice person, but as an Artist, he is everything I wish to avoid. So at least he serves some purpose.

Name: Neoriceisgood
Started reading: Somewhere around the Battle for Barthis
Joined GitP thread: Around last week I was reading Dominic Deegan, and suddenly the question popped up; "why am I reading this?"
Realising that I was only reading it because it was like a bad B movie, I suddenly realised that I had absolutely no excuse to read this comic unless I actually knew people I could bitch at about how hilariously contrived this comic is.
The next thing I did was googling "Dominic Deegan + Terrible" to see if I could find any place dedicated to active bitching, and one of the top results was the current active thread on giantitp.
As I was already registered I made it my new DD place for bi-snarking.
Time to convert (if applicable): Hard to say, I started reading Dominic Deegan based on one of my general rules by just looking at a few facts.
1. is it readable? - yes
2. does it update often enough to be worth bookmarking? - yes
3. is the last comic updated something I'd read? - yes
4. is the first comic posted "clean" enough to bother reading a few pages of it? - yes
5. [if the art is subpar] is the improvement from the first to the last page significant enough to expect the comic to move into the realm of comics with actual good art? - yes
I never really saw DD as a great or ingenious comic art/story and dialogue wise, but it passed a few of the basic rules that make reading a comic okay for me, I became a "snarker" during the holiday arc, as it triggered my inner conscious asking me why I was still reading it to begin with.
It's not that the comic wasn't bad before that moment, but it was more a calm collected realisation that the comic's "improvement" hardly went in the right direction, It just made me realise I honestly shouldn't expect it to ever get any better, and allowed me to realise that I'd have to settle with humouring myself by the notion of how bad it was.
Current stance: As said before, It's like watching some sort of bad B movie, I managed to salvage the fact that it wouldn't become good by fully embracing how terrible it'll always be, and in that will glorify each and every step the comic makes in it's negative spiral of being terrible.
Right now I'm completely indifferent about where the comic will go, if it improves I may regain some respect for it once more, though this path seems unlikely, if it stays bad I'll be actively laughing at it from the comfortable boundaries of this thread.

Name: Nerd-o-rama
Started Reading: Battle for Barthis, just before the concert
Joined Giantitp thread: around that time. I think the thread might have been how I found it, actually...
Starting Disposition: Enjoyed it, thought it was cute and clever during archive binge. Thought it lost something after the Storm of Souls climax, but figured it'd get it back. Neeewp.
Time to Convert: I think orc rape did it fully, so a couple months.
Current Stance: A genius of badness, but not something I read every day, even just to mock it.

Name: Ninja_penguin
Started reading: First Errosus arc, I think
Joined GitP thread: Difficult to pinpoint. I did a significant amount of lurking.
Starting Disposition: Was okay, I'm a bit of a webcomic junkie, and something that updated daily and wasn't lame pixel art worked for me
Time to convert (if applicable): When Klo Tark couldn't stay dead. or alive again, either, during the War in Hell arc. I really liked Klo Tark as a character the first time around, and thought that he had a good run. Bringing him back was iffy, but I was hoping that he was actually some sort of angelic version of an infernomancer, empowering the human form that we'd originally seen. He pointless re-death by Siggy, and the equally pointless death of Siggy directly afterwards tore it for me.
Current stance: I read to keep up with the strip slays. if not for that, it'd have dropped off my radar long ago. I still miss the updates randomly as it is.

Name: nooblade
Started Reading: ~Oracle Hunter
Joining GitP thread: Sometime around then. Actually read strip slays first, then went to comic, then these series of threads.
Starting Disposition: The first ones (up to the sixth comic?) were great. Just like the strip slays, short and witty. Then the plot started to creep in behind my nerves (actually, plot kicked down Dominic's door, and I kinda laughed, but looking back, all I have to say is that that was a miserable day). I also resented the way the upper castes got so much attention when they aren't even funny half the time, it'd be more funny if we saw random people in action too for some pun-age for no good reason. Before I knew it, I went through the whole archives, thinking only about strip slays and hoping to find some more of the funny stuff...
So I dunno what to call it. Expectant, you might say.
Time to convert: Instantaneous
Current Stance: Now I think I'm done. There's nothing more to talk about, no new brilliantly witty jokes to make, really. Making fun of the art would be beating a dead horse. Expounding on character development would be dull, since I've lost respect for any of them long ago. And the fifth caste is dying out. It's so sad.

Name: Oracle_Hunter
Started reading: The beginning of "Shadows" though I Archive Binged before reading the current comics
Joined GitP thread: Around the same time I joined the GitP forum I had been lurking briefly, and was unsure of a good handle when Winterwind popped a link to the then-unresolved "Oracle Hunter" Arc, which tickled my sense of irony. Oh, specifically in Thread II, Page 46.
Starting Disposition: I was fascinated by Mookie's guileless application of Tropes, and while I could see that the comic was weak in many places, it certainly seemed better than some of the other comics I've read.
Time to convert (if applicable): "Snowsong" was pretty dumb, but to be honest it wasn't until Jayden was derailed in "Shadows" that I was truly outraged by Mookie.
Current stance: I've become increasingly embittered since the Derailment of Jayden. I still have fun with the snarking, but since "The Neverending Arc" it hasn't been as pure a joy. Mookie is finally getting to me.

Name: PaladinFreak
Started reading: Around the beginning of the Oracle Hunter arc
Joined GitP thread: Almost as soon as I started reading. I mostly just lurk though.
Starting Disposition: I found it moderatly funny in the beginning, and liked Storm of Souls, but started WTFing around War in Hell.
Time to convert (if applicable): Very little.
Current stance: I read the strip to keep up with the thread. I lurk, lurk, lurk. Every so often I'll jump in.

Name: Simon/Darth Graphite (Paragraph)
Started Reading: Vacation arc was well underway , and I saw the latest page (something with Hobgoblins, I think) at a friend's at sunday. I remembered seeing a DD thread in the forums, so I told my friend that a lot of people seemed to hate DD; he said he loved it and I should check it out, so I did, reading the archives first and ending when Bort came to.
Joining Thread: About a month later, after being surprised how many flaws you reallly could find in the single strips. I thought most people here were kind of overreacting and thought it my duty to bring in fresh opinions and some of my legendary optimism.
Starting Disposition: I had liked most of the archive, and had not yet to experience day-by-day vacation, so apart from the art, I definitely enjoyed DD so far and loved the daily updates.
Time to Convert: Monday this week (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-11-17), when after Aardvark returned, just about nothing happend but a splash page which had been wasted...
And Dex' by now famous expression summed it all up: This is the end of optimism. It can't get any better, it will only get worse. I had waited and hoped so long for action after only experiencing the dying throes of dreadful vacation, then THIS sorry excuse for a battle came along and something died inside of me - to be replaced by someONE different.
Current Stance: I'm in a win-win situation. Either Darth Graphite will get a chance to work his snarky ways, or Simon will not have hoped in vain if a good comic comes about.
To indicate this, I will differentiate who wrote which post of mine by changing the signature at the end . Also, if Graphite wants to say something in Simon's posts, he will do so in Firebrick, Simon can post in Graphite's posts with Green.

Name: Penquin47
Started Reading: Thanks to a link from here. I really don't remember exactly where I came in, but it was less than a year ago while still before the Vacation From Hell.
Joined GitP thread: To see what the buzz was about. Don't post much but I read it.
Starting disposition: I love stupid puns! The alliteration sucks. And I like the silly lazy anime art.
Time to convert: Still haven't fully, although it's really getting hard not to. I can even somewhat defend the Orc Rape as just part of the ZOMG DRAMA!!!111!!one!!!1!! turn the strip took.
Current stance: I still read it, and I'm the one person who still somewhat likes Luna... although I miss old actually-getting-better Luna and her relatively healthy relationship with Dominic... dang, I think I just fully converted.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT EQUAL DARTBOARD PERSONALITIES! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Name: PhantomFox
Started Reading: Shortly after Snowsong
Joining GitP thread: Perused it for a while and make a comment here and there when appropriate
Starting Disposition: I liked it after doing an archive binge. This soon turned when the flaws were pointed out to me and I actually started thinking about it.
Time to convert: Once I started thinking about it critically
Current Stance: The strip is slowly devolving, giving me more wallbanger moments as they go on, and being horribly susceptible to fridge logic. The more you think about it, the less sense it makes. It's mostly like comic junk food.

Name: Phase
Started reading: Around this (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2007-05-10) strip.
Joined GitP thread: As soon as I found it.
Starting disposition: Thought it was a really great comic... when reading the archives. I didn't realize what daily reading was like until I had found other, better webcomics.
Time to convert (if applicable): About a page. Thoughts went from "Hey, these guys are ragging on a great comic! What are they doing!" to "Wait, a cheek-what now?"
Current stance: Crappy comic, great riffing.

Name: Quayleman
Started reading: 2007
Joining the GITP thread: started lurking the tail end of Snarke on a plain
Starting disposition: I thought it COULD have been developed into a good setting, you know, BEFORE everyone became a racist.
Time to convert: Snowsong
Current stance: Mookie needs to go all or nothing. Either start slaying your own ideas, or start writing a story again.

[Winterwind]

R-Z
Name: Radar
Started Reading: About the end of vacation arc. Generally because of Strip Slays thread, to get all the jokes.
Joining GitP thread: When the TIM/Celesto/Greg random fight begun (as i recall). Lurked in the Strip Slays thread much longer (beginning of the second one i think).
Starting Disposition: Strip Slays fan.
Time to convert: Started here, so it is no concerne of mine.
Current Stance: I like the wild slays and reading bizzare theories in DD thread. What's more fun, these theories make more sens, then the DD itself. Somehow the entertainment from reading a bad comic remindes me of this.

Name: Rappy
Started Reading: The Battle of Barthis...I think. Archive binging fried my brain and sense of space-time.
Joining GiTP Thread: I lurked in and eventually joined Thread IV.
Starting Disposition: It's bad, but in a good way.
Time to Convert: About two days of lurking.
Current Stance: Call out Joel and the 'Bots, because this is constantly striving for new levels of "so bad it's good".

Name: Raroy
Started Reading: The first thread. A few pages in.
Joining GitP thread: Lurked for a long long time. Two years? Made a dumb post. Hid while I was in shame. Rinse and repeat.
Starting Disposition: War in hell. It was a question of, "Why do I even care anymore?"
Time to convert: Pretty early, class action I believe.
Current Stance: It's just a fantastic time waster.

Name: Raz_Fox
Started Reading: Around the time Pam broke up with Greg, took me several days to read through the entire thing.
Joining Thread: I decided to make a post about how I actually liked DD... on the day of Catboy Celesto.
Starting Disposition: It's alright. I like some of the characters, and it has room for improvement.
Time to Convert: I haven't yet. I enjoy both the comic and the threads about it. Collateral Damage Man... hehe.
Current Stance: Wait and see is my current stance.

Name: RedScholarGypsy
Started Reading: Roughly here in VoD http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2003-05-31 I saw it on keenspot and gave it a whirl.
Joining GiTP Thread: I saw 9th just as it was ending and was curious, and followed to X.
Starting Disposition: Puns are my crack. So bad for me, but I just need them. So DD seemed like another good source. Plot's also good, and if it's somewhat coherent I'll follow. Since it's hard to make me laugh, any comic that gets even a chuckle out of me I'll follow for a long time.
Time to Convert: Orcrape didn't affect me really, and Dejah calling it out was nice. But WiH continued...and continued... and am I the only one who thinks D deserved, if not that much beatdown, just a bit? Then Supergreg happened...and more bad comic book hero shtick...and instantly forgiving a mass-murdering oracle hunter? Plus alcoholic dwarves (But you better not stereotype orcs!) and every other tolkien race popped up, plus others. Next the cows will have a secret society. Hmmm...Dom in the secret cow level. Run gimpy! Yeah, i feel the snark.
Current Stance: Still somewhat a fan despite all. I usually read anything at the level it's presented. I don't expect sirloin steak when I buy a Hershey bar, but even I got pissed when cadbury shrunk the egg size, and that's kinda how I feel.

Name: rubakhin
Started Reading: Hrm - after my archive binge, I think I ended on the very day of SuperGreg. Jesus.
Joining GitP thread: When I finished it. I joined up just to read the snark thread. Now I am a marginally productive member of the GitP community!
Starting Disposition: The week I read it I was sorta nostalgic for when I was still in the single digits and liked watching kid's fantasy anime on TV (for some ungodly reason). It hit the spot at the time. I knew it wasn't fantastic or anything, but I got what I wanted out of it. And I liked that the love interest suffered from depression and a bad home life, and that earlier Dominic was a cranky reclusive bastard. Not so much heroic Dominic later on.
Time to convert: About a week after I finished it. I had thought the whole Snowsong arc was ridiculous and was having some issues with the protagonist and the condescension by then, but was willing to overlook all this. Only by then I had wandered on the snark threads and was digesting what I had read. After which I rapidly went from "That was flawed, but pretty satisfying" to "Wait a minute ... Goddamn it, that was awful!"
Current Stance: I think Mookie has some potential, if he just tried. Like the one time he drew a violin bow upside-down. (I still do not forgive. :smallmad:) It would have taken him thirty seconds to Google or YouTube a guy playing a violin and based his drawing off of that. Also, his experiments with a different facial style look markedly better than the snouts and cheek teeth we're used to, and I think a lot of the pacing problems and other kinds of things would clear up and evolve into something better if he switched to a typical comic/manga panel layout instead of adhering strictly to the four squares thing. Also, he'd benefit from an editor who can look over his scripts and point out when something doesn't make sense. He's never going to draw The Brothers Karamazov, but he could probably put together a nice way to kill time.

Name: Schlega
Started Reading: Some time around 2006 or 2007
Joining GiTP Thread: I don't recall exactly when I started lurking, but when Snarks on a Plain came around and no one was willing to make the obligatory slay, I had to step in.
Starting Disposition: I initially thought it had potential.
Time to Convert: About half way through the archive binge it turned into "Gah! It's a train wreck but I can't look away!"
Current Stance:

I read it with thimbles, I read it with care;


I peruse it with forks and hope;

I threaten its life with a railway-share;


I slay it with smiles and soap.

Name: SnowballMan : Arch-Nemesis to Johnny Blade
Started reading: No clue. I was looking for a new good comic to replace a few that had stopped being worth reading. And as with all new comics, I jump straight to the beginning and start archive binging until I decide it's not worth it or I come up to the current one.
Starting Disposition: I like really bad puns. So I liked the way it started out. I think I stopped reading it when they got to Sin City. The only thing that got me back into reading through the whole of the archives was the Strip Slay thread. I used to do that a lot with another comic, and when that comic ended I was going through withdraw. (of course, we were a lot less critical of the source material there)
Current Stance: Partly snarky with a chance of cynicism later in the day. Honestly, if it weren't for the Strip Slays I wouldn't still be reading.

Name: Spectralphoenix
Started Reading: Around the Orc Rape section (somebody linked to it to start a paladin debate on the Wizards boards.) Didn't seem as bad (writing-wise) without the thousand comics worth of context about how awesome the orcs were and how everyone who didn't like them sucked, and all the attempts to justify it later on in the arc.
Joining Thread: Now (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5333081&postcount=883).
Initial Stance: Started out kind of cool (the beginning of the comic, not the Orc Rape section,) then went downhill as the archives went on. Surely things were going to turn the corner and start improving again, right? RIGHT?
Time to Convert: I'm not sure if there was a single moment of insight when I realized just how bad the comic was or just a slow, steady march downward. It was probably around the Storm of Souls arc where things passed the Lameness Event Horizon.
Current Stance: So the last arc was basically a conspiracy by a dozen unrelated B-list characters to get together and talk about how awesome and important the Mary Sue is, and now we're in another never-ending battle sequence. Next up: Aforementioned Sue comes up with a ridiculous scheme to get rid of TiM and return Greg's superpowers (and possibly his ex-girlfriend.) Bonus points if this scheme gets Dex back with his ex. He only hit her instead of making misogynistic remarks like Taggerty did (and got killed for,) so he still has a chance.

name: starburst98
started reading: i think it was when dom slapped luna's mom with a fish.(i have lurked for EVER)
joined thread: finally see what was gong on in here
starting disposition: oh, another webcomic, i'll just read this
time to convert: think i finally said "screw it" around war in hell
current stance: hahaha, i can't believe i ever thought this was good!

Name: St. Salieri
Started reading DD: Around "Into the Woods" (the arc after Luna's introduction).
Joined GitP thread: I've followed the GitP DD discussion since late in the first thread, but only joined in a few pages ago.
Starting Disposition: When I started reading DD, I found the art charming, the writing clever, the characters engaging, and the puns deliciously bad. Little did I know that each of those qualities would be reversed in the years to come (except the puns, which just became stupid).
Time to convert: Medieval Rock Concert"Battle for Barthis" was one extended "WTF" for me (especially "salvation by rape" and the ensuing "in love with the rapist"). "War in Hell" slowed the descent somewhat, but not for long.
Current stance: This thread has grown steadily more entertaining in proportion to DD's increasing failure, and I now rely on it for my daily MST3K fix.

Name: Steilos
Quest: To snark Dominic Deegan.
Favourite Colour: Red! No, wait blu-Aaaahhhhhh
Started reading:..I don't even remember. I don't want to either.
Starting Disposition: To my everlasting shame I found the first bits of this comic to be actually funny. I liked it. I was thinking that there was no way in heck that this train could derail this far. It's like boarding a train in Bristol then sliding uncontrollably into Austrailia.
Time to Convert: The snowsong arc got a chilly reception from me (......dear god it's catching) and then the Aardvark came into the equation. At that point I just went to hell with it and drew obtuse-angles-that-are-really-acute on the walls, got myself a nice comfy sleeping bag and worshipped the elder gods for a week or two. After my belated recovery I came here to snark 'er up. even to this day I reassure my self that the bad blonde underpants man isn't coming back but he does he does he does he does he d0es
...
Current Stance: Sorry about that small hiccup there. I am sane now. I hope. Anyways, my current opinion is of slight curiosity couped with massive jadedness. I know this is going to get worse. I know we ain't scraped the bottom of the barrel yet. I know I am freqeunting fanfics to toughen up my mental defenses- Wait, why am I telling you this? All you need to know about my opinion is that just because we've fallen off of the bottom of the slippery slope, don't mean it's over yet. The seabed's slippery too. We ain't stopping till we hit a subduction zone and fall into the mantle.

Name: Textual Predator
Started Reading: Somewhere around the end of Erossus/the start of Storm of Souls.
Joined GitP thread: Just now. I've been lurking for a while, though. The roll call seemed to be as good a time as any to jump in. Er...hi? (Editor's note: Hi )
Starting Disposition: Initially, it seemed pretty good. Not brilliant, by any stretch of the imagination, but I liked the fact that most of the characters had support abilities rather than openly offensive ones. It was like they were a low-level running a fantasy comic.
Time to convert: First came Mama Deegan. Then came the DBZ beam-trading antics of the Storm of Souls finale. The characters seemed to have suddenly power-levelled. With most of what I'd enjoyed about the strip stamped flat and left to die in the desert, I began to drift away, reading only out of inertia. Then came Orc Rape 2006, and a macabre fascination took hold of me. I may have gotten bored and wandered off a few times, but ultimately I couldn't stay away. I had to see what perversions of writing Mookie would attempt next. I never could have guessed just how deep the rabbit hole goes. These threads help soothe the madness, or at least to quantify it.
Current Stance: Horrified bemusement.

Name: Thalraxal
Started reading: Beginning of the Ecstasy and Evil arc (right whenever Stunt and Bumper ambushed Dom and Luna on their way to Erossus)
Joined GitP thread: Right now, have been an avid lurker since the Legendary First Thread
Starting disposition: Huge fan! DD was for a while one of my favourite comics, and one of the comics I suggested the most to my friends.
Time to convert (if applicable): Sometime during the War in Hell arc. I was surprised by Mookie's descion to go into the War in Hell so soon after SoS, and felt it would have been a better choice to give his cast a longer break instead of trying to one-up his last epic arc. I was also really worried about his habit of bringing back villains all the time, and didn't want to see the one villain he killed off for real (Helexia) come back again. The comic dropped off my regular reading list during the War in Hell, and I read it on and off throughout Two Thief or Not to Thief? and I probably would have dropped it completely before Snowsong if it weren't for this thread. Thanks alot guys.
Current stance: Everytime a storyline starts, I'm hopeful. I had the same feeling at the start of Snowsong, Shadow of Siggy, The Oracle Hunter and the current arc. It starts off good, and I get the feeling that this is going to be the story where Mookie gets good again... but he doesn't... and my hopes are dashed everytime. I keep reading partly because of this thread, partly because I do hope to one day have a webcomic of my own and I would like to avoid making the same mistakes Mookie has.

Name: The Archivist
Started Reading: The March Across Maltak
Joining GiTP Thread: The March Across Maltak…three months later…
Starting Disposition: I first heard about the strip here on the OotS forum and “Your Webcomic Is Bad and You Should Feel Bad”. I thought people might have been exaggerating the badness of the webcomic, and decided to give it a shot. If worse came to worse I would understand the context of the strip slays.
Time to Convert: I believe my first thought on the comic amounted to “Seers catalogue? Really…Really?” It was gradually downhill from there with a few ups such as during points in the Storm of Souls arc (where it could have really been good, but instead swerved into a number of inappropriate brick walls near the end) until it just became awful during the Snowsong arc.
Current Stance: Dominic Deegan is a special kind of failure. It is the type of failure you can read and laugh at, but not so horrible it is unreadable like some webcomics. Reading Dominic Deegan is like watching a train wreck, a train wreck with puppies, kittens, nuns, orphans, and radioactive waste. You don’t want to watch, but you cannot help yourself and have a certain amount of guilty pleasure watching.

Name: TheCheshireHat
Started reading: I don´t quite remember, but I think it was sometime prior to the Storm of Souls arc
Starting Disposition: I liked it. Mostly, I think, this was a hangover from the archives but I still enjoyed it a fair deal. I couldn´t point to a precise moment, but eventually reading DD became a thing of habit.
Current Stance: I read it because otherwise I would miss out on the entertainment provided by this thread. I generally end up laughing at things that Mookie didn´t put in as jokes, and groaning at the jokes.

Name: Tom Violence
Started Reading: Archive-binged my way up to somewhere towards the end of the Storm Of Souls arc (which was current at the time) over the course of only an evening or so, but then stopped reading completely for quite a long time (I blame all the pictures of Mookie's greasy head that are wantonly bundled in with the strip). I then discovered this thread, thinking at the title "Yeah, I quite like that strip too", but on discovering all the snark within I had to know what inspired such bile.
Joining GitP thread: No frigging idea, really.
Starting Disposition: As mentioned, initial fan.
Time to convert: In a flash. I have a vague inclination that I found this strip around the War In Hell arc, so not only was I confronted by the horrors of the Orc Rape Is All Great bit, but also references to the wall of cheese that was the Rock Concert In A Fantasy Setting
Current Stance: This strip has made me vomit appear in my mouth, and this thread made me laugh my hole off, too many times for me to ever think of looking back on the days when I enjoyed the strip with anything other than confusion and embarrassment.

Name: Trazoi
Started Reading: Half-way through the Oracle Hunter arc. Archive binged at the end of the vacation arc.
Joining GitP thread: Somewhere in the middle of the epic thread. It started as just a few questions and small comments until I figured out the nuances of the comic.
Starting Disposition: I was one of those people who started reading because of the monster threads here. I couldn't help but be curious about this webcomic that caused so many posts. So I started reading through an already jaded lens.
Time to convert: If anything, archive binging caused me to convert the other way. Once I'd read all the background I can see why so many snarkers were once fans. I liked the early arcs of cranky Dominic getting cursed with fish on his head - then it started to fall apart as Luna stole more page time and everyone gained ridiculous powers.
Current Stance: The comic teeters on an edge between good and bad. Or perhaps good and dull. There's a spark of a great comic in here. I think if Mookie listened to a few critics, got a friend to act as editor to his ideas and put some effort into self development, I'd think this comic could really shine. But since it's been several years of this, I suspect he's in a rut and it's only going to devolve from here. As it stands, Dominic Deegan is the webcomic equivalent of a soap opera; silly fluff you can't take seriously but is yet somehow strangely compelling. Strangely, that makes it a better read than about three quarters of all webcomics out there...

Name: Turcano
Started Reading: Here (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2007-05-15).
Joined Thread: I started reading out of curiosity as to why the comic was generating such a large thread, so I entered the thread the day after I finished the archive trawl (around page 50 in the first thread).
Starting Disposition: I thought it was okay, but not that great; I particularly noticed the preachiness and the fact that Mookie apparently hadn't gotten over how he was treated in high school and was using the comic to hash these issues out vicariously.
Time To Convert: Almost immediately.
Current Stance: The comic is a joke of the unintentional variety; unlike lazier webcomic hacks like Tim Buckley, Mookie goes to great lengths to make his work as terrible as possible. However, the joke is not that funny on its own; if it weren't for this and the strip slay thread, I probably would have stopped reading over a year ago.

Name: Vael
Started reading: Around 'Class Action,' I believe. I archive binged.
Joining GitP thread: I lurked for a time, then posted on page 24 of the first thread.
Starting Disposition: I didn't really pay close enough attention to the comic until I started lurking, so I was initially disposed to be nice to it, but when I first posted in the thread, I had been convinced.
Time to Convert: Uh... difficult to pinpoint. I think I was most of the way through my archive binge when I looked at the thread, then as soon as I caught up I was a snarker.
Current stance: This comic is grotesque and yet somehow grand, sinking to magnificent depths that describe an almost artistic level of failure. It is not for someone such as I to perceive it fully- it is too alien and strange- but to even grasp a facet of its terrible splendor of ineptitude broadens my mind.
It's like if you converted Cthulhu to a badly made webcomic. This is what would happen.

Name: Webox
Started reading: Around the Oracle Hunter Arc.
Joining GitP thread: Lurked since the middle of the third thread.
Starting Disposition: Well... you hear a lot about DD in various places i check(TvTropes, GiTP, others) and I was curious what all the fuss was about. It didn't strike me as a good comic from the start, but it wasn't awful then, either.
Time to Convert: The main reason I wanted to read the whole comic was so I could understand what was going on in these DD threads, so almost as soon as I finished the archive binge(wich I often had to stop due to boredom, in various separate attemps) I started enjoying the snark here, but mostly lurked... then started actively snarking in the middle of the vacation arc.
Current stance: Im in a So Bad Its Good stance.

Name: Whoracle
Started Reading: Here (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2007-09-12), then went on an archive binge.
Joining GiTP Thread: Dunno when my first post was, and I don't post all too often, but I joined before I first looked upon DD.
Starting Disposition: "Let's see what this is about." -> Binge.
Time to Convert: Two days later, when I hit this (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2006-01-25) during my binge.
Current Stance: I've pretty much given up on the comic, but it's worth reading for the snark here alone.

Name: Winterwind
Started reading: During Storm of Souls
Joined GitP thread: ~page 50 of the First Thread (beginning of Snowsong arc)
Starting disposition: Optimistic if critical fan
Time to convert (if applicable): About 40 pages of GitP thread (end of Snowsong arc)
Current stance: Likes Dominic Deegan... because nothing is so very, very bad in so many, many ways. It's hilarious! I wouldn't want it to turn better even if it was, somehow, possible for Mookie!

Name: Wraith
Started reading: Somewhere around the apex of 'Into The Woods' and 'Couch Forts & Crying' (and mildly surprised that seemingly few people have been reading it for longer).
Joined GitP thread: February 14th, 2008 (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-02-13), midway through the Oracle Hunter arc and out of coincidence rather than seeking out like-minded souls.
Starting disposition: Mildly entertained by a value-for-money Gag-A-Day fantasy webcomic, and read out of habit more than anything else. DD was little more than a gentle distraction over lunchtime websurfing.
Time to convert (if applicable): After 2 pages of binging the contemporary Snark Thread, and realising how much more sense (and fun!) was to be had than contained in the actual comic.
Current stance: Reading DD occurs almost exclusively to understand the context behind the Snark, which itself is revered as though it were part of a much better comic about a similar subject. If I were to put it into Video Gaming terms, the Snark is our 'Zero Punctuation' compared to Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire's 'Ctrl+Alt+Del', if you will.

Name: I'm just that guy. (YeahThatGuy)
Started Reading: Reply Hazy, try again. My first memory of Dominic Deegan was in a thread somewhere when another member posted something along the lines of "LOLOL TEH NOES DIS BE TEH WURST PUN EVARZ". The look of the webcomic immediately killed any curiosity I had. Later, I remember seeing the thread here for Dominic Deegan. I read, found it humorous, and occasionally read a few of the most-current strips ( at the time it was Snowsong but before SuperGreg ) to know what the hell you people were muttering to yourselves about. When SuperGreg appeared I found the reactions to it quite amusing.
Joining GitP thread: Recently, as obvious by the date I joined.
Starting Disposition: Bland, uninteresting.
Time to convert: When people took note of how manipulative Dominic looked during the talking-heads ending of Snowsong, I discovered a new outlook of the world. Suddenly, instead of finding Dominic Deegan bland, I found it to be a rich lode of dark, disturbing humor ( my favorite ).
EDIT: By the way, actually analyzing old cartoons will net the same reaction as analyzing Dominic Deegan. I never cared for the Jetsons but after watching the episode that Mac is built on Boomerang again gave me the chills at how horrific such a future would be.
Current Stance: I read the current strip when I can, cry, then come here to make the burns from my acidic tears worth it. I have not gone through the archive and read through it all, although I usually read whatever strip is linked-to in this thread ( which, over the time period that I've visited this thread, is a lot ) and I will admit that Mookie has created ( or "borrowed"? ) many ideas that ( could ) have been very interesting and/or good. I think the format he uses has crippled him, preventing any of those ideas from actually reaching their potential.

Name: Yhuntresse
Started Reading: It was for a review I was doing of the webcomic where I started from the begining and ended near the begining of the Oracle Hunter arc.
Joining GitP thread: Mid-Oracle Hunter
Starting Disposition: The early stuff was mediocure with over-reliance on horrid puns and a writer who writes like a teenager who watches too much anime (and not the good kind). It just got worse as Dominic became more of a Mary Sue, the lack of subtilty, the stupid puns, bad art, too much of the ol' illusion trick, and character derailment that I skipped a few storylines to get my review done.
Time to convert: Instantaneous
Current Stance: DD is the comic I love to hate and mock. It's a perfect guide for aspiring writers on what not to do and a source of rage as to why such a hack can still have fans (I even met one once.)

[Winterwind]

(reserved if needed)

Alright, let's go! :smallsmile:

[Steilos]

I have no words. Just..no. Since when could Luna out necro a necromancer? And also, killing every living thing in a decent radius kinda yknow, bad?
Whatever happened to persuasion and peace and all tha sueish stuff? Or has the moral dissonance really become that obvious, and she will be praised for her efforts?

In other news, I put forward "One does not simply snark into Maltak" for the next thread.

[MacPuck]

Wait, this is the EIGHTH Maltak thread? :smalleek:

I have to admit the last panel amuses me. The one orc just looks mildly inconvenienced at the fact that everything is dying.

[Domochevsky]

...
In other news, I put forward "One does not simply snark into Maltak" for the next thread.

I support that statement. (And if i could be bothered to search for it i would prepare a picture of Warlord Moustache rockin' into it) :smallamused:

[Drakyn]

So....351 pages of Maltak, plus whatever's going into this thread.

Maltak has lasted longer than the entirety of the most epic DD thread you guys ever made.

[Kizor]

I still like "The arc goes ever on," but "snark into Maltak" - that's great! When did we last have a proper rhyme?

Anyway, a possible explanation for this strip (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-07) is that the Nakta is acting through Luna and her will doesn't enter into it. This would fit the expressions and have the massive benefit of assigning a cost for her ongoing deification. (Appearing as a response to prayers! Well, really!) No such power, however positive, should be convenient. I'll quote my rant below once again.

The downside is that being taken over by the Nakta drops the number of Luna's independent acts in this arc to one, attacking the She-Hulk orc in the cave.





I'll like this if Luna is further and further taken over by the powers that work through her. They don't need to be malicious: just too large to fit comfortably in a human.

Have her dislocate an arm by making spell gestures that are not entirely inside the conventional dimensions. Explode mooks that she was trying to frighten away. Exhaust her in a day-long ritual that keeps going long after she would stop. Blast a route to an acquifier while giving barely sufficient warning for others to get away. Any power strong enough to revive Maltak and save a race should be scary, regardless of how benign it is. In the Bible, people who witness angels - beings of the highest good, proof that the universe is on your side - routinely react by FREAKING OUT.

In general, keep us aware that being the Chosen One means not being asked, and that miracles bear a heavy price.

[The Linker]

Huh, that thread lasted precisely one month. August 8 to September 7.

Impeccable timing!

Edit: No, wait. August 6 to September 7. So... a month and two days. Sort of.

Well, it's still pretty close!

[Mr. Scaly]

Holy smoke, half of these threads have been made in the orc arc of suck.

I just went back and read through my entry on the list of snarkers. Ironically, it's still pretty accurate. I just wish we could cut out everything from Built to Resist onward.

[Steilos]

This arc is defintely dragging it's heels. No wait that's wrong. It stopped dragging it's heels long ago because they wore down to nothing.
Now it's crawling along, having died about 5 times and been resurrected with a limb less each time.

It started in the Arctic and set out for the South Pole. It started to drag heels about 0.5km from the North Pole. Now it's a torso sliding along the arctic seabed. Stuff is finally happening, but I bet there'll be about 4 strips of everything dying. Maybe 3 panels to show this effect this has on Adrak. And everything after that will be the Dominus' reacton.

Theory time to suppress the boredom!
Mookie is Astfgl in disguise. Discuss.

[Jahkaivah]

How many threads has this arc spanned?

[TheArchivist]

350 pages of Maltak? Eight months this arc has been going on, and we still probably aren't on the final act of it yet! It is going to be a long time before I ever want to see an orc ever again. At least Mookie seems to have all his pieces in place to start moving towards a conclusion.

Luna seems to be a full blown puppet for the Nakta now, with no discernable will of her own. At least I get to see Luna, the orc messiah, terrorizing the very people she is supposed to be saving. Granted, the Bikta Sanctuary isn’t good, but those Bikta just have to be terrorized of her. They have no defense we can see against Luna given that she is a magic user. Perhaps the Bikta Chief is also a magic user, or Nielan is going to be making an appearance soon. It seems unlikely that the Bikta’s Sanctuary is going to be whipped out so quickly and easily. At least that’s what the plot logic part of my brain says. But then again this arc is all about making the villains into jokes, and the protagonists not do anything helpful.

I wonder how Dominus will manage to manipulate this whole confusing situation to his advantage, and the way he acted after his weed vision suggests he is going to pull an “exactly as planned” by the end of the arc. At least it should give us plenty to snark about.

[Rappy]

At least I get to see Luna, the orc messiah, terrorizing the very people she is supposed to be saving.
I hope we don't get to see that. :smalleek:

But in all seriousness...yeah, 8 months is pushing it for a weekdaily strip story. I can understand a novel or something taking that long to be written, but not a story arc for a webcomic that updates every weekday.

[Shadowtraveler]

I wasn't sure which one was the most popular, but Dances with Orcs seemed popular enough, so I went with that. I hope that's fine.At last. AT LAST!!! BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!

...I've...really been eager for a thread named Dances With Orcs....*cough*


Soooo, Luna's ruining everything again, how 'bout that?

[Gez]

How many threads has this arc spanned?
More than the total, cumulated amount of IQ point from the entirety of Maltak's inhabitants.

[T-O-E]

Including the Nakta soul pile? :smalleek:

[Trazoi]

Luna seems to be a full blown puppet for the Nakta now, with no discernable will of her own. At least I get to see Luna, the orc messiah, terrorizing the very people she is supposed to be saving. Granted, the Bikta Sanctuary isn’t good, but those Bikta just have to be terrorized of her. They have no defense we can see against Luna given that she is a magic user. Perhaps the Bikta Chief is also a magic user, or Nielan is going to be making an appearance soon. It seems unlikely that the Bikta’s Sanctuary is going to be whipped out so quickly and easily. At least that’s what the plot logic part of my brain says. But then again this arc is all about making the villains into jokes, and the protagonists not do anything helpful.
Luna has to face some resistance from something. We know from Dominic's visions (which never lie, except when it does) that if Dom doesn't do his patented "save the day" shtick then the end result will be Luna... dead. So something is going to have to defeat her unless Dom gets in the way first.

The way this arc is heading, I suspect the danger to Luna is the Nakta itself. Nakta Luna is going to steamroll over everything right to the end of the arc, and then if Dominic doesn't do something it will leave her a burnt-out husk. Dom will be Luna's personal hero, and it will once again prove that Dominic > Rest of First Caste > Everyone Else.

[MReav]

Dude, we should archive TheArchivist's posts on Melna! That was an awesome analysis.

[Johnny Blade]

Luna has to face some resistance from something. We know from Dominic's visions (which never lie, except when it does) that if Dom doesn't do his patented "save the day" shtick then the end result will be Luna... dead. So something is going to have to defeat her unless Dom gets in the way first.

The way this arc is heading, I suspect the danger to Luna is the Nakta itself. Nakta Luna is going to steamroll over everything right to the end of the arc, and then if Dominic doesn't do something it will leave her a burnt-out husk. Dom will be Luna's personal hero, and it will once again prove that Dominic > Rest of First Caste > Everyone Else.
I'm rather sure that Nei...len... is going to be Luna's almost-killer.

Something like having people actually pay for their powers is probably unthinkable for Mookie.


EDIT: I...I'm not paranoid, right? I really get randomly ninja'd all the time.
Anyway, quote added.

[Trazoi]

I'm rather sure that Nei...len... is going to be Luna's almost-killer.

Something like having people actually pay for their powers is probably unthinkable for Mookie.
On the one hand, the Nakta almost-killing Luna is the more dramatic option, which never happens in this arc.

On the other, Neilen almost-killing Luna involves a villain actually doing something, which never happens in this arc.

Maybe Luna eventually trips over one of those hidden bluffs and can't get up?

[spectralphoenix]

I don't know, I could see a cutaway to Stonewater & Co., getting all the orcs on the march and stuff, acting like they're going to actually do something, and then arriving at the Bikta camp to see Luna using Spirit Father for a footstool, having dealt with the entire tribe off panel and without any help from the orcs. Then she sets up the dance party, only to have Dom and the Crone show up at the last minute to prevent Neilen from sabotaging it or something. Orcs dance, Maltak is fixed (again) and Luna's Nakta powers wear off. Cue some sort of Melna/Crone/Hukthak interaction, the 1st caste saving the day again, and then everyone rides off into the sunset. The arc ends with Jacob rising from the dead, stroking a flesh-golem cat, and saying "Next time, Gadget, next time!" while Hansi stays in Maltak to help rebuild and get some Orc nookie.

On one hand, that would be really stupid. On the other hand, it would end the arc fairly quickly and more or less wrap up everything that's going on, which by this point is probably the closest Mookie could come to salvaging it.

[Mewtarthio]

On the other, Neilen almost-killing Luna involves a villain actually doing something, which never happens in this arc.

You can compromise, though. Observe:

COMIC 1:
Panel 7:
DOMINIC: And, might I add, Luna, that new black hair is really sexy on you.

Panel 8:
[Neilen sneaks up behind Luna]
DOMINIC: Oh, no! Look behind you!

COMIC 2:
Panel 1:
[Luna turns around and kills Neilen in one blow]

Panel 2:
LUNA: Thanks. Now, about that behind...

[Cracklord]

350 pages of Maltak? Eight months this arc has been going on, and we still probably aren't on the final act of it yet! It is going to be a long time before I ever want to see an orc ever again. At least Mookie seems to have all his pieces in place to start moving towards a conclusion.

Luna seems to be a full blown puppet for the Nakta now, with no discernable will of her own. At least I get to see Luna, the orc messiah, terrorizing the very people she is supposed to be saving. Granted, the Bikta Sanctuary isn’t good, but those Bikta just have to be terrorized of her. They have no defense we can see against Luna given that she is a magic user. Perhaps the Bikta Chief is also a magic user, or Nielan is going to be making an appearance soon. It seems unlikely that the Bikta’s Sanctuary is going to be whipped out so quickly and easily. At least that’s what the plot logic part of my brain says. But then again this arc is all about making the villains into jokes, and the protagonists not do anything helpful.

I wonder how Dominus will manage to manipulate this whole confusing situation to his advantage, and the way he acted after his weed vision suggests he is going to pull an “exactly as planned” by the end of the arc. At least it should give us plenty to snark about.

She can't win. If she does, it means Mookie spent all this time on the other orcs for NO DAMN REASON. My brain will not, can not accept this.

[Johnny Blade]

Maybe Luna eventually trips over one of those hidden bluffs and can't get up?
Well, considering that she's the Chosen One in this arc, she'll have a lot of random appearing to do before it is over and the five shadow people will be dancing in the first orc to last mountains as one, meaning there'll be ample opportunity for this.

[TheArchivist]

Dude, we should archive TheArchivist's posts on Melna! That was an awesome analysis.

I certainly have no problem with that if the community wants it. Granted I would want to clean up some of the typos and stuff…

As for how the plot will go with Luna. It should be…interesting to see how Mookie tries to tie all his trainwrecks together. Thing is Mookie isn’t going to want anything bad to happen to his protagonist. He said not everyone would come back, but that could easily be saying that some people like Melna could just decide to live in Maltak. I certainly doubt Luna is in much danger give Mookie’s writing style, and her sue-powers.

Maybe I would feel more tension if I felt any of the villains here were credible threats. Jacob is suffering from severe villain decay, the Shintula have pretty much been shown to be unable to get a job done, and the Bikta have not been able to prove they can beat anyone who doesn’t lie down to die without a fight. Nielen was killed in a single shot, but seems to have a power boost, and is out to kill Luna now. So maybe he is a threat to Luna, except for the fact we know Dominic is out there with his plot clairvoyance ability that pretty much eliminates the chance of anything going wrong. Also Jacob might be up to something. But overall it seems that Dominic is confident he already has checkmate on the plane of Maltak, it’s just a matter of everyone going through the paces.

[Trazoi]

Hang on - isn't Neilen also supercharged with the Nakta now that he's physically leaped out of Hades?

I guess this means the arc climax will be yet another superhero supervillain superfight, just like nearly every other arc except this time with orcs demanding MORE NAKTA! Sigh. :smallsigh:

I still suspect Luna will win against Neilen but end up dying from overuse of Nakta. However that might be because if Neilen were to win, she'd have looked a lot more messed up than she did in Dom's vision.

[The Linker]

...except this time with orcs demanding MORE NAKTA!

*giggles profusely*

:smallbiggrin:

[MacPuck]

I guess this means the arc climax will be yet another superhero supervillain superfight, just like nearly every other arc except this time with orcs demanding MORE NAKTA! Sigh. :smallsigh:
Oh, not another one. Especially since it'll be Luna, and just about every superheroine ever ends up in skimpy spandex. :smalleek:

[Cracklord]

Luna: ABRAKABOOM!

[Trazoi]

Luna: ABRAKABOOM!
No, no. It's Neilen who says Abrakaboom! He's the one stopping the superpowered villainess from destroying the village.

[Cracklord]

No, no. It's Neilen who says Abrakaboom! He's the one stopping the superpowered villainess from destroying the village.

That is correct. Sorry.

[Oracle_Hunter]

So....351 pages of Maltak, plus whatever's going into this thread.

Maltak has lasted longer than the entirety of the most epic DD thread you guys ever made.

:eek:

What a terrifyingly depressing thought! And Mookie's only been doing 5/week comics while all that happened.

[Helanna]

Ugh, just think of this in terms of a novel instead of a webcomic. Now, I'm not necessarily against slow pacing OR filler - I'm a big fan of the Wheel of Time - but DEAR GOD MOOKIE! This isn't even "The plot is moving slowly." There's not a plot! This is 8 months of people walking around. What's actually happened so far?

1) Luna becomes the Chosen Sue, gets instructions to do something that I just can't remember. Maybe Mookie should mention it a few more times.
2) They meet Suyan and suicide orc.
3) Jacob undergoes severe villain decay and then dies.
4) The orc tribes are planning on fighting, or something, I'm really not entirely sure at this point.

Assuming I haven't left anything major out (which I probably have, actually), this is 8 months - 8 MONTHS! - on 4 events. 8 MONTHS ON 4 EVENTS. It could have been summed up in 2 months, and that's giving it extra time! Coming from someone who really does not mind filler almost at all? THIS IS KILLING ME. My mind is rejecting the fact that pacing this bad can exist at all.

[Drakyn]

:eek:

What a terrifyingly depressing thought! And Mookie's only been doing 5/week comics while all that happened.

Well, in all fairness, I think these threads get chattier and chattier over time as more and more people flow in to gawk at the spectacle of Mookie (I cannot believe a grown man calls himself this) innocently making some of the worst jerkass heroes ever, while the snark unfolds o'erhead like a billowing comet.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Jacob's dead? Really? That's almost interesting enough to make me read the comic.

[MacPuck]

Well, he's dead for the moment. I think Siggy may be one of the few named characters who has stayed dead when killed only once.

[RedScholarGypsy]

So we've done over 9000 posts on Maltak? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBtpyeLxVkI)

I give up. I can't really care anymore. Honestly, fights in DBZ went faster than this arc. There is no reliable foreshadowing, no consistency, no characters I care enough about to take two S* on, let alone just give it to them. I'm going to check back in a month to see if it feels not as bad in archival mode. Why the hell is Luna the Nakta-avatar? The Crone makes so much more sense it's not funny. X's, Z's, and K's are good for high Scrabble scores, not believable words. A gutteral scream would have been better. Also, her teeth are going canine. Yay not doing the research!

Though if her arm starts going like A****aka in Princess Mononoke, someone PM me so I can get back; that might be entertaining to watch.

[Cracklord]

Well, he's dead for the moment. I think Siggy may be one of the few named characters who has stayed dead when killed only once.

He's not dead, he's some sort of demon thing guy, because he hit Lord Dominus and so hell is to good for him.

[Humbug]

Well, he's dead for the moment. I think Siggy may be one of the few named characters who has stayed dead when killed only once.
Jacob's mortal husk is dead, tho his soul is still kicking around in the Nakta/Afterlife. Death and Character Death are two different things IMO. :smalltongue:

[MacPuck]

Ah, right. I forgot Siggy violated the rules of his caste.

[averagejoe]

Well, in all fairness, I think these threads get chattier and chattier over time as more and more people flow in to gawk at the spectacle of Mookie (I cannot believe a grown man calls himself this) innocently making some of the worst jerkass heroes ever, while the snark unfolds o'erhead like a billowing comet.

Even so, this arc has received more snark than all the snark from roughly the Aardvark's appearance to roughly the elf guy's appearance in the vacation arc. That's slightly more than four chapters worth of snark. Fairly impressive either way.

Man it was a lot harder to tell back before we started posting the comic of the day link.

(What's wrong with someone calling himself Mookie?)

[Silverblood]

Jacob's mortal husk is dead, tho his soul is still kicking around in the Nakta/Afterlife. Death and Character Death are two different things IMO. :smalltongue:

But, but, but... if you get killed in Maltak - or possibly, if you get touched offensively with the Stick, you remain corporeal and just go sit in the big cave under ther ground.

Unless you jump.

[Mewtarthio]

Jacob's mortal husk is dead, tho his soul is still kicking around in the Nakta/Afterlife. Death and Character Death are two different things IMO. :smalltongue:

Well, Jacob's character has already been beaten, strangled, and left in a gutter filled with rabid vermin, so the difference is really academic in his case.

[spectralphoenix]

New Comic (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-08)

So want to bet that Luna vaporizes Neilen while under control of the Nakta, thus eliminating another 4th caster without Dom or his friends taking responsibility?

[Castel]

New Comic (http://dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-08)

Dance, Puppet, Dance!

I'd say it looks like Neilen's gonna give Luna a good fight, but with the way "villains" have been acting lately...

[battleburn]

New update (http://dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-08) Wait, is Mookie really spotting a continuity error?

So here comes the epic battle, I don't think this one is going to be done so quickly as last few fights. That would be a really big mistake on Mookie's part. And I got the feeling he has really been working towards this one.

-Battleburn

[spectralphoenix]

New update (http://dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-08) Wait, is Mookie really spotting a continuity error?

So here comes the epic battle, I don't think this one is going to be done so quickly as last few fights. That would be a really big mistake on Mookie's part. And I got the feeling he has really been working towards this one.

-Battleburn

Oh joy, another week of DBZ energy beams.

[Oracle_Hunter]

New update (http://dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-08) Wait, is Mookie really spotting a continuity error?
I know! He's been doing a lot of apologizing for errors lately... though he never seems to take those errors seriously.

Also: this fight will be like the last Nielen Fight (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2007-03-23) and end anticlimactically. Odds are good that Snuggly will eat Nielen, so that Luna doesn't need to soil her First Caste hands with killing a bad guy :smallsigh:

[Trazoi]

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3839/20090908l.png

So after eight months of filler, we're now going to be treated to a repeat of Built To Resist. Hooray! :smallbiggrin:

Does anyone else read Dr.McNinja and find the parallels yet contrasts between the current storylines there and here quite interesting?

[Oracle_Hunter]

Does anyone else read Dr.McNinja and find the parallels yet contrasts between the current storylines there and here quite interesting?

:confused:

[Whoracle]

Well, that pretty much settles the argument of Nei...len... going OneTwo Winged Angel, doesn't it? :smallbiggrin:

Apart from that, this update isn't that bad. OK, We've got minor art fail in panel 3, and Tim Burton seems to have loaned props from the penguin from Batman 2 for panel 4...

One question remains, though...
What animosity does the Nakta have towards Nei...phi...roth..., and why?

[FoE]

So, umm, Lord Khaine, what were you saying about wings? :smallamused:

Neilen's looking suitably badass. But can he avoid going down like a bitch? See tomorrow's exciting update of Dominic Deegan: Neilen Goes Down Like a Bitch!

EDIT: It's the possession thing, Oracle Hunter.

[Trazoi]

:confused:
We've got two lead characters both under the spell of some mysterious higher power, destroying things somewhat against their will. It's just that everything else seems completely opposite (and I suspect Dr.McNinja will face consequences and regret his actions, while Luna probably won't). It just struck me when I was reading that comic as being eerily similar yet different at the same time.

[Humbug]

You say the art is decent in this page, but Luna looks UGLY in the last panel, (I think she kinda resembles a frog there) not to mention the messed up anatomy, but that's just regular Mookie fare. :smallamused:

[Oracle_Hunter]

We've got two lead characters both under the spell of some mysterious higher power, destroying things somewhat against their will. It's just that everything else seems completely opposite (and I suspect Dr.McNinja will face consequences and regret his actions, while Luna probably won't). It just struck me when I was reading that comic as being eerily similar yet different at the same time.
Well... one's an Enemy Within (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EnemyWithin) situation - Luna is filled with the Nakta and trying to control it For Great Justice. The annoying parts are that she got this extra power for no reason and she (usually) doesn't think about exactly what she's doing.

In a more responsible story, she'd be treated as a Person of Mass Destruction (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PersonOfMassDestruction) and her inner struggles would mean something.

Dr. McNinja is a more traditional Demonic Possession (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DemonicPossession) story - likely of the Powers By Possession (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PowersViaPossession) school. Here, the good doctor is slowly discovering what his latest toy (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EvilIsNotAToy) really is; instead of a sideshow, it is the focus of the story.

So... basically it's Mookie throwing tropes at a page and seeing what sticks versus a competent author using tropes to tell a good story.

Unless you see a deeper thread? :smallconfused:

[Trazoi]

Unless you see a deeper thread? :smallconfused:
Well, in the right sort of light Outrage Chief would look kind of like King Radical... :smallbiggrin:

Nah, no greater similarity. I was just struck by how two webcomics I read were going through a trippy mind control scene where the protagonists were both about to/were committing an atrocity while not themselves. However it seems Luna conveniently managed to snap out of it for long enough to not actually do any damage, while the Doc has not.

[Oracle_Hunter]

Well, in the right sort of light Outrage Chief would look kind of like King Radical... :smallbiggrin:

Nah, no greater similarity. I was just struck by how two webcomics I read were going through a trippy mind control scene where the protagonists were both about to/were committing an atrocity while not themselves. However it seems Luna conveniently managed to snap out of it for long enough to not actually do any damage, while the Doc has not.
That's nothing.

Did you know that all the best comics have Ben Franklin as a major character? (http://project-apollo.net/ab/ab094.html)

[Turcano]

Assuming I haven't left anything major out (which I probably have, actually), this is 8 months - 8 MONTHS! - on 4 events. 8 MONTHS ON 4 EVENTS. It could have been summed up in 2 months, and that's giving it extra time! Coming from someone who really does not mind filler almost at all? THIS IS KILLING ME. My mind is rejecting the fact that pacing this bad can exist at all.

Just you wait. I predict that by three or four arcs, Mookie will actually find a way to make his pacing go backward.

[lord_khaine]

So, umm, Lord Khaine, what were you saying about wings?


Well, i will take a close look at the odd limbs Nielen seems to have spawned in panel 5, and conclude, that unless the 3 "fingers" are connectet by invisible fields of force, then those limps are as much a set of wings as the ones These (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin) guys have.

On another note, Luna finaly became a puppet to the nacta, wich also explains a lot of her recent behavior, why are there not more happy people around?

[Whoracle]

[...] I predict that by three or four arcs, [...]

Maltak is starting to seep into my brain... I just spent 5 minutes trying to figure out what you meant with by three or four orcs...

Edit:

Well, i will take a close look at the odd limbs Nielen seems to have spawned in panel 5, and conclude, that unless the 3 "fingers" are connectet by invisible fields of force [...]

Oh, come on... That's just arguing semantics. It's an extra set of limbs that clearly resemble (anti)angelic wings. And, if you want to split hairs, being that Nei...len now has 6 limbs, you should concede that he is no more a mammal, but a new species. As such, his wings should be defined anew, unless you now of other (warmblooded?) species that share a lot of traits with mammals but have six limbs?


[...]then those limps are as much a set of wings as the ones These (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin) guys have.

Well, they are, by the way, even though they're not used for flying.
Or does running around on all fours transform your hands into feet?


On another note, Luna finaly became a puppet to the nacta, wich also explains a lot of her recent behavior, why are there not more happy people around?

Because seeing something bad that you predicted doesn't make it better?

[Trazoi]

On another note, Luna finaly became a puppet to the nacta, wich also explains a lot of her recent behavior, why are there not more happy people around?
It was just a teensy bit obvious that that was what was going on, what with the black hair and the personality change and everything. We didn't need the thought bubbles in panels 1, 2 and 3; it was fairly clear from Luna's actions what she was thinking.

And now we have two characters squaring off who speak ZOM...BIE. It's either going to be Born to Resist - The Sequel with weeks of DBZ style fighting, or one character goes down like a punk. I'm leaning on the former myself, but I'm usually wrong.

And to finish on a non-sequitur:
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/4615/lunaz.png

[lord_khaine]

Oh, come on... That's just arguing semantics. It's an extra set of limbs that clearly resemble (anti)angelic wings. And, if you want to split hairs, being that Nei...len now has 6 limbs, you should concede that he is no more a mammal, but a new species. As such, his wings should be defined anew, unless you now of other (warmblooded?) species that share a lot of traits with mammals but have six limbs?


There isnt any semantics here, there is a excelent definition of Wings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing) here, and without the presence of before mentioned fields of force, then those limbs have nothing to do with it.


Well, they are, by the way, even though they're not used for flying.
Or does running around on all fours transform your hands into feet?

Well, they arnt, they are no longer caple of flights, and have become flippers.
This is a case of a limb having changet so much that it can no longer fulfil its original purpose, and yes, if you and your decendants all run on all four for a couple of hundret generations, in a selective enviroment, then their hands will become feet (that or you will all die out)


Because seeing something bad that you predicted doesn't make it better?

And i though bad stuff happening to luna made you happy?

[Gez]

It was just a teensy bit obvious that that was what was going on, what with the black hair and the personality change and everything.

Luna had a personality? :smallconfused:

[Whoracle]

There isnt any semantics here, there is a excelent definition of Wings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing) here, and without the presence of before mentioned fields of force, then those limbs have nothing to do with it.

Wrong on that account. From your linked article:

A wing is a surface used to produce lift for flight through the air or another gaseous or fluid medium.
Therefor, a penguin has Wings. And one can argue that Nei...len...s wings are at least sufficient for swimming...


Well, they arnt, they are no longer caple of flights, and have become flippers.
This is a case of a limb having changet so much that it can no longer fulfil its original purpose, and yes, if you and your decendants all run on all four for a couple of hundret generations, in a selective enviroment, then their hands will become feet (that or you will all die out)
On the penguins, see the Wiki definition above. I rest my case with the very evidence you have provided. Your turn.


And i though bad stuff happening to luna made you happy?
That may be, but the comic getting progressively worse makes us (or at least me) unhappy, and more unhappy than my happiness over Lunas behind getting thoroughly booted.
Apart from that she'll suffer no permanent or even more than slightly aggravating harm rom it. The only harm that'll be done to her (maybe) will be courtesy of Nei...phi...roth.

[YeahThatGuy]

My god Luna is ugly. And is that dress really the only thing she's wearing now? It doesn't look like she's even wearing shoes, but it's hard to tell since Mookie avoids feet.

A shame Nei...len... didn't blow her dress up.

Also: more Zalgo.

[lord_khaine]

Wrong on that account. From your linked article:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wikipedia
A wing is a surface used to produce lift for flight through the air or another gaseous or fluid medium.

Therefor, a penguin has Wings. And one can argue that Nei...len...s wings are at least sufficient for swimming...


incorrect, also from my linket article


Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid, and other forms of sealife caught while swimming underwater. They spend about half of their life on land and half in the oceans.



Therefor, a penguin has Wings. And one can argue that Nei...len...s wings are at least sufficient for swimming...

that would only be true if the flippers providet lift.
And i would defently argue against Neilens limps being in any way sufficient to swim without fields of force.


On the penguins, see the Wiki definition above. I rest my case with the very evidence you have provided. Your turn

You really should read those articles though before giving the turn up, ill be nice and let you redo your Turn.


That may be, but the comic getting progressively worse makes us (or at least me) unhappy, and more unhappy than my happiness over Lunas behind getting thoroughly booted.
Apart from that she'll suffer no permanent or even more than slightly aggravating harm rom it. The only harm that'll be done to her (maybe) will be courtesy of Nei...phi...roth.

Thats to bad, i think the comic has recently taken a turn for the better again, since the plot is finaly starting to move towards something that would look like a finale.

[battleburn]

Yes, birds such as the majestic eagle, the boisterous crow and the beautiful cardinal all do fly but so too do the dolphin, the shark, the killer whale and our black and white feathered penguin. (http://askville.amazon.com/penguins-fly/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=456148)

Hard to find a good youtube link, but if you see a penguin swim, you see that the movement of the flippers are just the same as a bird flapping its wings. Where a dolphin really swims in my opinion because it propels through the water using a tailfin, a penguin really flies through the water using its wings flippers.

Neilen's extra limbs have the general shape of a wing, at least the bone structure, but they are made of rock, also they have nothing in between them to get lift. Penguin flippers get lift enough flying through water, not enough for air. Neilen's wings cannot get any lift at all.


Originally Posted by Wikipedia
A wing is a surface used to produce lift for flight through the air or another gaseous or fluid medium.

Penguin's get lift through the fluid medium water. Neilen does not get lift at all. Ergo, no wings.

-Battleburn

[Whoracle]

that would only be true if the flippers providet lift.
I concede this point on account of the source being ambigious. They say "fluids" but later retract this about the penguins, and I'm too lazy to look up which is really true.


And i would defently argue against Neilens limps being in any way sufficient to swim without fields of force.
Since his "fingers" have substance, that gives him more surface for propelling himself through water as opposed to his earlier form. The point stands. The wings may not be all that helpful, but we're not talking efficiency here, but existance, so...


You really should read those articles though before giving the turn up, ill be nice and let you redo your Turn.
My bad, although, as said above, I didn't expect the source to contradict itself.

One thing I'd like to clear up, though:
You really stand by your statement that Nei...phi...roths current shape resembles no winged creature whatsoever, but rather a creature that grew an extra set of hands out of his back, where traditionally and in all of the history of (fictional, because they don't exist) six-limbed angelic/draconic/whathaveyou beings the wings would be attached?

And what d'you think mookie'd say if you asked him what those things on Neilens back were?


Thats to bad, i think the comic has recently taken a turn for the better again, since the plot is finaly starting to move towards something that would look like a finale.

Well, yeah, stuff finally (seeming to) happen sure is nice, but this has nothing to do with glee on Luna being whacked. And, even though I personally am glad that something happens, the way it happens may be worse than nothing happening at all. This remains to be seen, though.

[Gez]

Enough silliness. A penguin's flippers are actually wings because it's a bird. An ostrich has wings, too, even though they're non-functional.

Definitions based on the medium is how mankind classified whales as fish species, which is blatantly incorrect.

[lord_khaine]

Since his "fingers" have substance, that gives him more surface for propelling himself through water as opposed to his earlier form. The point stands. The wings may not be all that helpful, but we're not talking efficiency here, but existance, so...



Well, if Nielen had to depend on those limbs for sink or swim, then it would be time to start discussing the end of his existance as well.


One thing I'd like to clear up, though:
You really stand by your statement that Nei...phi...roths current shape resembles no winged creature whatsoever, but rather a creature that grew an extra set of hands out of his back, where traditionally and in all of the history of (fictional, because they don't exist) six-limbed angelic/draconic/whathaveyou beings the wings would be attached?

And what d'you think mookie'd say if you asked him what those things on Neilens back were?


well, i wont call them hands before i see them picking something up, and if Neilen shows that he needs to beat the "wings" in order to stay airborne, then i will accept the existance of invisible planes of force connecting them, and be forced to call them wings.

As for asking Mookie, even i will be ready to admit his grip on reality is not as firm as it could have been, and im sure i can find people who will support that he is in no way a authority on basic anatomi, much less wings/flippers7hands.

[Whoracle]

As for asking Mookie, even i will be ready to admit his grip on reality is not as firm as it could have been, and im sure i can find people who will support that he is in no way a authority on basic anatomi, much less wings/flippers7hands.

Ah, but in this particular case we're (or at least I'm) not arguing anatomy, but his transformation and the catchphrase "One Winged Angel" for said transformation. And as such it's not Mookies (barely existant) grasp on anatomy that counts towards the applicability of the trope, but his intention.
In short: If he meant the things as wings, then the trope fits, no matter how inept his execution is...

[Job]

More charts for you, for anyone still interested. Seems your snark is leveling off a bit,

As for this arc, well, I finally stop checking, makes the vacation arc seem worthwhile.

anyhoo,

Total post plotted against the passage of time since the first DD thread was created:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/chopstewie/DD_postvsdate.png
The trendline equation is wrong for some reason, but the correct equation does have a .994 R square value
--------
Average number of posts per day (for a particular thread) plotted against its thread number:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/chopstewie/DD_avgpostvsthread.png
Big dip in participation when Mookie went of vacation, has not recovered since.

[lord_khaine]

Ah, but in this particular case we're (or at least I'm) not arguing anatomy, but his transformation and the catchphrase "One Winged Angel" for said transformation. And as such it's not Mookies (barely existant) grasp on anatomy that counts towards the applicability of the trope, but his intention.
In short: If he meant the things as wings, then the trope fits, no matter how inept his execution is...

Ahh no, the first discussing was running on whereever the phrase actualy required real physical wings.

Now that Nieleen has grown some weird limbs from his shoulders, the second discussion was now whereever we can call them wings or not.

And it seems that now we are moving towards a 3rd discussion, on whereever its what Mookie thinks or what he shows thats important.
I will personaly not have any trouble with the first version, as it will make it so much easyer for me to defend the comic :smalltongue:

[Whoracle]

Ahh no, the first discussing was running on whereever the phrase actualy required real physical wings.
Nope. YOU were arguing that in order to apply this trope, the character in question needed real wings. Which simply didn't stand. There really was no discussion, just people trying (desperately at the end) to explain this to you.


Now that Nieleen has grown some weird limbs from his shoulders, the second discussion was now whereever we can call them wings or not.
You started the discussion if they could be called wings in answer to my and Face Of Evils reprise on the first discussion, and to me it seems that you simply are not willing to concede the point. Sorry, but that's how it comes across.


And it seems that now we are moving towards a 3rd discussion, on whereever its what Mookie thinks or what he shows thats important.
I will personaly not have any trouble with the first version, as it will make it so much easyer for me to defend the comic :smalltongue:
Don't get me wrong: Mookies intentions do not excuse the constant artanatomy failures, but in this particular case there is no subtext in Neilens transformation (unlike the love/rape scenario or the mindrape ... thing), it's just that he sprouts wings (or whatever Mookie thinks are wings), which in point is only used as an argument against your earlier refusal to aknowledge the validity of the trope. *phew* talk about long winded sentences...

[Johnny Blade]

I'm not sure what to think of Luna being possessed by the Nakta (Which also transformed her right arm into an amorphous black mass, judging by the first and last panel. I wonder why.).
On the one hand, it is refreshing, and I wouldn't have thought that Mookie would really do it to that extent, but wasn't there some other prophecy? You know, way back? Something about friend to the elements and dancing orcs and stolen gods? What happened to that?



8 MONTHS ON 4 EVENTS. It could have been summed up in 2 months, and that's giving it extra time! Coming from someone who really does not mind filler almost at all? THIS IS KILLING ME. My mind is rejecting the fact that pacing this bad can exist at all.
On that note, most of the time when there are questions or discussions about this arc, the strips that are linked to seem to be from around April or earlier.
I'm not sure if that says more about waning interest or horrible pacing, but it does say something about both.



Wait, is Mookie really spotting a continuity error?
Well, one thing you can't really accuse Mookie of is that he doesn't pay attention to details like that. Usually.

[Trazoi]

On the one hand, it is refreshing, and I wouldn't have thought that Mookie would really do it to that extent, but wasn't there some other prophecy? You know, way back? Something about friend to the elements and dancing orcs and stolen gods? What happened to that?
Was the prophecy from the Nakta, though? I can't remember. I know there was a dragon involved, but I can't remember how or why (nor can I be bothered to dig through the archives and check. :smallsmile:)

Isn't the Nakta also the thing that causes the Crone to regularly go berserk and try to kill people?

I don't know myself. Maltak is somewhat like Lewis Carroll's Wonderland; the more you try to understand it, the less you do.

[Shadowtraveler]

And now we have two characters squaring off who speak ZOM...BIE. It's either going to be Born to Resist - The Sequel with weeks of DBZ style fighting, or one character goes down like a punk. I'm leaning on the former myself, but I'm usually wrong.I really hope it's the first. Any further reduction of the Orc population means it's less likely we'll have an another arc in Maltak ever again.

[Johnny Blade]

Was the prophecy from the Nakta, though? I can't remember. I know there was a dragon involved, but I can't remember how or why (nor can I be bothered to dig through the archives and check. :smallsmile:)

Isn't the Nakta also the thing that causes the Crone to regularly go berserk and try to kill people?

I don't know myself. Maltak is somewhat like Lewis Carroll's Wonderland; the more you try to understand it, the less you do.
Well, from what I remember:

First problem:Infernal poison still lingering despite storms makes orcs crazy.

Second problem: Bikta try to stop Nakta and thus make it stronger.

Prophecy: Something about calling purifying water and/or elemental orc gods to make the orcs dance, which, judging by the Hirek episode, would cure the effects of the poison.

Current ongoings: Luna attacks the Bikta, thus possibly solving a completely different problem en passant. That means Luna is two Chosen Ones rolled into one, I guess.
It would also prove how utterly worthless the Shintula are, were it not proven already.


EDIT: Oh yeah, and Luna was chosen in the first place because she's got tusks. Also because she can talk to the elements, of course. I have no idea what this whole element stuff actually means, and the part about tusks is ridiculous anyway.

[Trazoi]

Current ongoings: Luna attacks the Bikta, thus possibly solving a completely different problem en passant.
Brilliant term to use! Not only does it accurately describe the incidental* nature of Luna's attack on the Bikta, but it accurately implies everyone is a pawn. :smallbiggrin:

* By the way, exactly why did Luna head over to the Bikta anyway? Was it just on a whim? Was she trying to collect dancers for the prophecy?

[Shadowtraveler]

* By the way, exactly why did Luna head over to the Bikta anyway? Was it just on a whim? Was she trying to collect dancers for the prophecy?Same reason anyone goes anywhere in this arc. The Plot Gods demand it.

[Aidan305]

Neilan's wings remind me of Tyrael (http://skullwarriorjay.com/freelance3/Tyrael%27s%20Entrapment.jpg)

I know they're supposed to be skeletal, but it doesn't really work out like that.

[Humbug]

Neilan's wings remind me of Tyrael (http://skullwarriorjay.com/freelance3/Tyrael%27s%20Entrapment.jpg)

I know they're supposed to be skeletal, but it doesn't really work out like that.
Naw, they are much closer to Trias. (http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/569/180085-trias_large.jpg) Though in Trias' case, I don't think he can fly anymore with his ruined wings.

[Jahkaivah]

Or does running around on all fours transform your hands into feet?


Well... according to a Famous Bolshevik analogy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm):smalltongue:

[Whoracle]

Well... according to a Famous Bolshevik analogy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm):smalltongue:

OK, let me rephrase that. If you use an 16-sided regular polygon as an substitute for a wheel, does that make it a wheel? :smallbiggrin:

[Thrawn183]

So long as he gets to stab luna with the ends of those wings, I'll be satisfied. Personally, I think things are finally about to start happening now.

The shintula, the rhaz.... ok, the three orc tribes other then the bikta are all going to show up and find the bikta obliterated and dominic will get his sue on and this arc will finally end.

I actually feel pretty decent about this prediction.

[Neoriceisgood]

Cheeknose.

[choken1]

So it appears we're due for another superfight. This time between one who is controlling the Nakta while the other is being controlled by the Nakta.

So how will that work?

[Morty]

* By the way, exactly why did Luna head over to the Bikta anyway? Was it just on a whim? Was she trying to collect dancers for the prophecy?

I asked the same question few days ago. My answer right now is, Luna is walking around smacking people out of frustration, as she doesn't know what to do, having not understood the phropecy. Nakta is trying to control her to get her to actually do something. How does it fit within the "watercalling" and "stolen gods"...

[Neoriceisgood]

The Nakta's saving the plot by saving Luna from the otherwise unavoidable saving that Neilen has planned for her as the Nakta saved him from death and resurrected him with the powers of a true saviour.

[Arakune]

So it appears we're due for another superfight. This time between one who is controlling the Nakta while the other is being controlled by the Nakta.

So how will that work?

Badly, for everyone. Even on meta level. Expecially on meta level.

[Johnny Blade]

The Nakta's saving the plot by saving Luna from the otherwise unavoidable saving that Neilen has planned for her as the Nakta saved him from death and resurrected him with the powers of a true saviour.
I don't think the plot of this arc can be saved anymore...than it already has.

[MacPuck]

So it appears we're due for another superfight. This time between one who is controlling the Nakta while the other is being controlled by the Nakta.

So how will that work?
Well, neither can be considered competent...so my money's on a week of flashy build-up, culminating in a slap fight.


I don't think the plot of this arc can be saved anymore...than it already has.
Plot?

[Johnny Blade]

Plot?
It stands for Preposterous, Ludicrous, Otiose Trash.

[ichini_sanshigo]

Well, I just learned not one, but two (2!) new terms. Aside from that, can I just express my awe that we've already started another thread?

I do think that we may be entering that last few acts of this arc, though. It's apparently "Days Later", so surely Stonewater's army should be close to the Bikta sanctuary by now. They'll show up just as soon as this pointless Neilen fight is over. I gave this arc... until the first week of November, max. I just don't see how Mookie can possibly drag this thing out any longer.

Defeating the Bikta is stage one to resolving all the loose conflict threads floating around. I give that 2 weeks. Melna/Huk Thak/Crone, I give another 2 weeks. Jacob has to pop up again to be defeated ignominiously, thus making his presence in this arc completely superfluous. That's another week. Then they have to have the dance off (1 week). And of course, DBZ II this week. Oh, also, the Shintula chief has to see the error of his ways, or something. And there has to be lots of pointless exposition. All in all, I give this arc 8 weeks, 9 weeks to be safe (it doesn't pay to underestimate our esteemed artist.

So yeah. First week of November. You heard it here first, folks.

[Domochevsky]

Oh joy, another week of DBZ energy beams.

Im looking forward to it. :smallbiggrin: (I certainly can use the practise this will provide me with)


Today's art is just the usual stuff (arms and faces mostly) and panel 4 looks more like a gust of wind instead of an earthly explosion, but eh, not worth it.

[Frogwarrior]

Geez.
He's undead, so they're skeletal wings. The fact that they are (or shoud be) entirely nonfunctional doesn't change the fact that they're wings.

So, basically, he went Bone Winged Angel...

[Epsilon]

Look on the bright side. When this arc is over we'll get to unwind with a nice, looooooooooooong marriage arc.

[SlyGuyMcFly]

Geez.
He's undead, so they're skeletal wings. The fact that they are (or shoud be) entirely nonfunctional doesn't change the fact that they're wings.

So, basically, he went Bone Winged Angel...

So Nei...len was boned by the Nakta? Or could we say that he's just boned?

[T-O-E]

Look on the bright side. When this arc is over we'll get to unwind with a nice, looooooooooooong marriage arc.

:smalleek:
...
Oh God no.


Please, Mookie, spare us the marriage arc! I beg of you! PLEASE!

[Ganurath]

Actually, the wings are made of rocks.

[MacPuck]

Please, Mookie, spare us the marriage arc! I beg of you! PLEASE!
But think of all the potential side stories! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WeddingAndEngagementTropes)

[Clockwork_Seal]

I did not say that their oppinion does not matter, but i do say they are in no position to say if something art is "fail", and i will stand by that statement.

this again? really?

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u182/Clockwork_Seal/lowdeesunsetscarfshadow.png
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u182/Clockwork_Seal/titletextless.png

As you can see, I am better than Terracciano by a wide margin. My art is nowhere near professional level. The art in Dominic Deegan fails. I'd cite reasons, but they've already been cited a thousand times over and I strongly suspect that you're just trolling anyway.

After all, I can't see anyone but a troll or someone desperately attempting to duck out of the embarrassment of being proven horrifically wrong trying to argue that Neilenmancer's wings aren't supposed to look like skeletal wings. Just admit that your argument was retroactively proven even more laughable and move on. And I prefer to err on the side of malice.

[Aidan305]

But think of all the potential side stories! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WeddingAndEngagementTropes)

*Thinks of Luna as Bridezilla.*

*Goes to hide in a corner until it stops hurting*

[Oracle_Hunter]

More charts for you, for anyone still interested.
Seems your snark is leveling off a bit,

As for this arc, well, I finally stop checking, makes the vacation arc seem worthwhile.

anyhoo,

Total post plotted against the passage of time since the first DD thread was created:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/chopstewie/DD_postvsdate.png
The trendline equation is wrong for some reason, but the correct equation does have a .994 R square value
--------
Average number of posts per day (for a particular thread) plotted against its thread number:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h291/chopstewie/DD_avgpostvsthread.png
Big dip in participation when Mookie went of vacation, has not recovered since.
Huzzah!

I, for one, am always interested in moar charts :smallbiggrin:

As for the plot:
(1) Warlord Mustache comes to Maltak and kills a lot of orcs. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-02)
(2) Outrage Chief curses Callan, and hilarity ensures (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-03)
(3) Infernomancers poison the land, turning orcs into jerks (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-21).
(4) Infernal poison results in Stonewater raping Melna (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2006-01-24)
(5) Infernal poison results in the Crone flipping out (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-22) and Melna killing her (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-17). Note that the Infernal Poison "reacts" to Melna showing up in Maltak for no good reason :smallannoyed:
(6) Nakta Rain washes the poison from Maltak (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2007-05-09), but it remains in the Crone (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-22). Note that the Crone "just knows" that Melna killing her will prevent the new Crone from inheriting the poison :smallannoyed:
(7) Prophecy #1 - Melna will kill New Crone
(8) The Bikta pick up Grench and strap her to their Soylent Village. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-05-08) It becomes larger and now includes killing.
(9) Huk Thak begins smacking around Random Encounter Orcs and delivering refugees to Soylent Village. He never checks to see if they're OK - they're not. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-01-20)
(10) The Prophecy chills until Dragondragondragon unlocks Luna's Sue Potential (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-10-20).
(11) Dominic kicks off the Prophecy with a vision (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-01-06) and The Crone decides it's time to die and shoves Melna into Maltak (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-01-30).
(12) As Suena unlocks her potential (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-02-09), Outrage Chief looks for someone to pay for her outrages. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-03-02) Oh, and Jacob. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-03-09)
(13) Prophecy #2 - Suena is granted the power of Waterbending so that she can... do something... man, it's really hard to remember. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-28)
(14) Jacob reveals he wants to eat the Nakta. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-08-26) It goes poorly for him. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-02)
There. And that ignores all the really stupid sideplots (like Kinsi, and Stonedwater).

[T-O-E]

Haha, just noticed an epic continuity error that's probably been pointed out a thousand times.

"I stayed with her for years" (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-16)
"I ran for the second time that night" (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-17)

Fail, Mookie, fail.

[FoE]

Haha, just noticed an epic continuity error that's probably been pointed out a thousand times.

"I stayed with her for years" (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-16)
"I ran for the second time that night" (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-04-17)

Fail, Mookie, fail.

Actually, I think that's just clumsy phrasing. A better quote would have "I ran that night. I ran for a second time from the place I had once called home."

[MReav]

Actually, I think that's just clumsy phrasing. A better quote would have "I ran that night. I ran for a second time from the place I had once called home."

Yeah, I think that was the intent, but screwed up in execution.

[T-O-E]

Actually, I think that's just clumsy phrasing. A better quote would have "I ran that night. I ran for a second time from the place I had once called home."

Huh? I don't see it.

[FoE]

She doesn't actually mean she ran a second time that night, but she ran for a second time that night. She's referencing her earlier escape from the Doma Clan and her marriage to Stonewater.

[Zanaril]

Or simply "That night, I ran for a second time." would have worked.

[T-O-E]

She doesn't actually mean she ran a second time that night, but she ran for a second time that night. She's referencing her earlier escape from the Doma Clan and her marriage to Stonewater.

Oh, right. Sorry.
Crap. :smallredface:

[The Linker]

Don't feel bad. Even if it's not Continuity Fail, it's still Phrasing Fail. :smalltongue:

[FoE]

Please, Mookie, spare us the marriage arc! I beg of you! PLEASE!

"How about a crazy wedding, where something happens, a-do-do-do-do-do? Have no fears, Mookie's got stories for years!"

Actually, I predict this arc will be followed by the battle against Snuggly FOLLOWED by the wedding arc. Which, if Mookie had any sense, would be the climax.

[T-O-E]

Is the site down for anyone else?

[MacPuck]

Actually, I predict this arc will be followed by the battle against Snuggly FOLLOWED by the wedding arc. Which, if Mookie had any sense, would be the climax.

Nah, Snuggly will interrupt the wedding. Or TIM. He's still in this comic, right?

[AgentPaper]

"That night, I ran for the second time."

[Oracle_Hunter]

The Wedding Arc will be the end of the comic - which means we will never actually see it.

Mookie should be too aware of manga conventions to know that no story continues after the OTP is married - unless that marriage is to be short lived.

[Morty]

The Wedding Arc will be the end of the comic - which means we will never actually see it.

Mookie should be too aware of manga conventions to know that no story continues after the OTP is married - unless that marriage is to be short lived.

You might also say that he ought to know that in any form of literature, manga included, a couple of main protagonists should experience some actual troubles that aren't resolved in a week. And look how did that work out.

[Oracle_Hunter]

You might also say that he ought to know that in any form of literature, manga included, a couple of main protagonists should experience some actual troubles that aren't resolved in a week. And look how did that work out.
No no.

It would be unreasonable to expect Mookie to follow techniques for good storytelling; however it is entirely reasonable to assume he will follow storytelling conventions from his favorite media.

Note the Random Encounters (JRPG), Superhero Costumes (Comics), Beam o' War Battles (Anime), and so on. I'm pretty confident with this prediction.

[Morty]

No no.

It would be unreasonable to expect Mookie to follow techniques for good storytelling; however it is entirely reasonable to assume he will follow storytelling conventions from his favorite media.

Note the Random Encounters (JRPG), Superhero Costumes (Comics), Beam o' War Battles (Anime), and so on. I'm pretty confident with this prediction.

I see. Yes, in this case, it's fairly probable that the wedding - and all the wallbanging it would bring - won't occur until the very end of the comic.

[Johnny Blade]

I see. Yes, in this case, it's fairly probable that the wedding - and all the wallbanging it would bring - won't occur until the very end of the comic.
Although it will still be delayed by some sort of shenanigans.

Apropos shenanigans, I'd like to, in advance but also good faith that it's deserved, call them on the wedding arc.




Also, I just had a horrible thought: What if Luna manages to beat Neilen, then, as she is about to deliver the killing blow, shake off the Nakta, redeem him (may involve magic), and follow it up with negotiating with the Bikta and convincing them to abandon their Sanctuary (and possibly their Spirit Father), essentially making her just so much better than the Nakta?

[T-O-E]

Is the site down for anyone else?

An error on my part. God, I'm so careless.

[Gez]

Also, I just had a horrible thought: What if Luna manages to beat Neilen, then, as she is about to deliver the killing blow, shake off the Nakta, redeem him (may involve magic), and follow it up with negotiating with the Bikta and convincing them to abandon their Sanctuary (and possibly their Spirit Father), essentially making her just so much better than the Nakta?

This wouldn't make sense for the following reasons:
- Luna does not know how to speak Orcish. It's only through the Nakta (and, previously, through the Crone Cave's enchantments) that she could.
- Spirit Father has had in clan under control for a long, long while (he was already chief when Donovan negotiated) and given the spirit he fathered, his clan isn't going to listen to someone who is A: a weak woman, B: an impure Callanian and C: an enemy that just destroyed their camp and their food stockpile.

The absurdity being very high, it is quite probable it will happen.

[Johnny Blade]

I completely forgot that she doesn't really speak Orcish, but the second part is actually why I came up with this in the first place. :smallamused:

[T-O-E]

That doesn't stop the Bikta from knowing Callanian.

[Johnny Blade]

Now that's a thought. For extra failure, have them translate word for word using Donovan's phrasebook.

[T-O-E]

I swear, if the Bikta chief starts speaking mangled Callanian for comic effect-

[Trazoi]

Also, I just had a horrible thought: What if Luna manages to beat Neilen, then, as she is about to deliver the killing blow, shake off the Nakta, redeem him (may involve magic), and follow it up with negotiating with the Bikta and convincing them to abandon their Sanctuary (and possibly their Spirit Father), essentially making her just so much better than the Nakta?
I don't see Luna coming up with that much initiative on her own. However if Dominic was around to guide her...

[Epsilon]

I don't see Luna coming up with that much initiative on her own. However if Dominic was around to guide her...

But what if Luna IS Dominic? In a Luna costume? And he's been pulling the strings all along!

[Oracle_Hunter]

But what if Luna IS Dominic? In a Luna costume? And he's been pulling the strings all along!
Then who's wearing the Dominic suit...?

[Epsilon]

Then who's wearing the Dominic suit...?

Dominic's mother of course! And Luna is really neilen! And the nakta was all Dominic's doing! He just wanted to test the orcs, really...

[Winterwind]

Then who's wearing the Dominic suit...?"You fool! The Dominic suit died three months ago!" *Rillian wearing a Jacob suit for no reason at all jumps out of Dominic's remains*
:smallbiggrin:

[Mr. Scaly]

I have nothing to say about this comic except that Luna's obvious possession once again removes all responsibility that she might have for wreaking havoc in the Bikta sanctuary, thus removing all possible interesting development she might have.

I note this trend seems to occur for the entire Deegan family.

Not to guys like Milov, Jayden and Celesto though.

[Jerthanis]

Luna seems dead-set on doing nothing this entire arc. "I came to the Bikta to heal the land according to prophecy by enacting the will of the Naktaaa-ohwait! I'm doing something! Stop it! No! I refuse to do anything!"

[Cracklord]

Although it will still be delayed by some sort of shenanigans.

Apropos shenanigans, I'd like to, in advance but also good faith that it's deserved, call them on the wedding arc.


No doubt involving smugness and justified rape.


I have nothing to say about this comic except that Luna's obvious possession once again removes all responsibility that she might have for wreaking havoc in the Bikta sanctuary, thus removing all possible interesting development she might have.

I note this trend seems to occur for the entire Deegan family.

Not to guys like Milov, Jayden and Celesto though.

Caste syndrome, is there any problem it can't solve?

[YeahThatGuy]

Splash Attack (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-09).

[FoE]

Splash Attack (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-09).

What the hell is that supposed to be?! :smalleek: :smallconfused:

[Trazoi]

Nakta Luna decides to open the attack with... Summon Giant Knitted Dolly? :smallconfused:

[YeahThatGuy]

What the hell is that supposed to be?! :smalleek: :smallconfused:A bird, see the wings? :smalltongue:

[Oracle_Hunter]

I think it's supposed to be an Earth elemental.

This time, instead of looking like Aqua Milov (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-02-09) it looks more like Planty Klo Tark.

[FoE]

I call bull****. Luna only has Plains in play and yet she was able to summon a Thorn Elemental (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thorn%20Elemental)?

[Oracle_Hunter]

I call bull****. Luna only has Plains in play and yet she was able to summon a Thorn Elemental (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Thorn%20Elemental)?
That's no Plains... it's a Savannah! (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=184749) :smallcool:

[Cracklord]

Why? Oh dear lord, why? Why would you put it in the story. It's clearly not going to beat Neilan, so it is superfluous. And a good story can avoid superfluous elements, but Mookie can't.

I bet he and his friends watch B grade movies and anime all day while stoned as a kite and pissed of their faces, every ten minutes he takes some illegible notes, then the next day he compiles them, tries to make sense of them and turns it into a comic strip.

[Oracle_Hunter]

Why? Oh dear lord, why? Why would you put it in the story. It's clearly not going to beat Neilan, so it is superfluous. And a good story can avoid superfluous elementals, but Mookie can't.
Fixed that for you :smallbiggrin:

[averagejoe]

That's no Plains... it's a Savannah! (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=184749) :smallcool:

Ridiculous. Under most common classifications, a savanna (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savanna) has a significant wooded component, which Maltak certainly doesn't.

However, after all the storms parts of it might have become brushland. (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=129496)

[Johnny Blade]

What? Why is this there and...why does it have a snout!?

[Trazoi]

I'm still leaning towards that thing being made of wool. Clearly Luna is restricted to the elements present in the Maltak arc, which is why her elemental is made of badly spun yarn.

[Johnny Blade]

I'm still leaning towards that thing being made of wool. Clearly Luna is restricted to the elements present in the Maltak arc, which is why her elemental is made of badly spun yarn.
I declare this canon. :smallbiggrin:

[averagejoe]

I'm still leaning towards that thing being made of wool. Clearly Luna is restricted to the elements present in the Maltak arc, which is why her elemental is made of badly spun yarn.

A badly spun yarn about badly spun yarn. I like it!

[Neoriceisgood]

The idea of a golem/demon-esque creature made out of yarn ... is pretty darn interesting.

I should steal the idea, although I'm sure that wasn't Mookie's intention to begin with. :smallredface:

[Johnny Blade]

Much of what's good in Dominic Deegan isn't intentional. :smalltongue:

[Gez]

Egad, a Klo Tentarkle monster!


Ridiculous. Under most common classifications, a savanna (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savanna) has a significant wooded component, which Maltak certainly doesn't.

I'd say the way everyone acts in Maltak is very wooden.

[lord_khaine]

this again? really?


Spoiler




As you can see, I am better than Terracciano by a wide margin. My art is nowhere near professional level. The art in Dominic Deegan fails. I'd cite reasons, but they've already been cited a thousand times over and I strongly suspect that you're just trolling anyway.


Yes, this again, since it hasnt been resolved before, you should expect it to pop op once in a while.
And sorry, you are at most about as good as Mookie, and nowhere near good enough to call his art fail, This (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=614) is an artist who is a lot better than Mookie, you are not even close.


After all, I can't see anyone but a troll or someone desperately attempting to duck out of the embarrassment of being proven horrifically wrong trying to argue that Neilenmancer's wings aren't supposed to look like skeletal wings. Just admit that your argument was retroactively proven even more laughable and move on. And I prefer to err on the side of malice
If you had actualy been reading my posts, as well as the comic, then you might have been able to notice that the "wings" was first grow when he came back to Maltak, meaning that so far noone have been able to prove anything, besides me now prowing you are not paying attention.


Nope. YOU were arguing that in order to apply this trope, the character in question needed real wings. Which simply didn't stand. There really was no discussion, just people trying (desperately at the end) to explain this to you.

Of course there was a discussion, when 2 sides with different points of view try to convince each other of the error of their way, in this case it was me desperatly trying to explain to you that you was to early in calling the trope.


You started the discussion if they could be called wings in answer to my and Face Of Evils reprise on the first discussion, and to me it seems that you simply are not willing to concede the point. Sorry, but that's how it comes across.

It takes 2 for a discussion, and after what i can see i won that one, since noone else has been able to find any evidence whatsoever to suggest that its actualy Wings Nielen have on his shoulders.


Don't get me wrong: Mookies intentions do not excuse the constant artanatomy failures, but in this particular case there is no subtext in Neilens transformation (unlike the love/rape scenario or the mindrape ... thing), it's just that he sprouts wings (or whatever Mookie thinks are wings), which in point is only used as an argument against your earlier refusal to aknowledge the validity of the trope. *phew* talk about long winded sentences...
Fine, if we take it like this, and i give on on this point, then i can from this point allways defend the comic by pointing out, "mookie thinks its cool"

[Aidan305]

You'd think that the Nakta, being made of Nakta, would summon a Nakta elemental.

[Silverblood]

I am going to get ninjaed so hard, I know it.

Ah well. C'est la vie.

Edit: huh. I wasn't. HA. TAKE THAT NINJAS. YOU MISSED ME.


Yes, this again, since it hasnt been resolved before, you should expect it to pop op once in a while.
And sorry, you are at most about as good as Mookie, and nowhere near good enough to call his art fail, This (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=614) is an artist who is a lot better than Mookie, you are not even close.

Throwing my hat in the ring here...
1. Yes, Gunnerkrigg is amazing. REALLY amazing. However, compare the improvement from this page (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=2) to his latest. To be good, one must be willing to improve. Which means most people start off 'not so good'

2. I would consider myself a fairly good artist (the Punchy McShroom slay was a 'I think this is good enough to get on the site' example. I know it has issues). Compared to the DD strip? I would consider myself amazing (I repeat - *compared to* I have a long way to go yet! :smalltongue:)
I present my argument:


http://th01.deviantart.net/fs49/300W/f/2009/174/d/d/dd81ca50c8e780c848b82dabc8e2ab73.jpg (http://flynn-the-cat.deviantart.com/art/Negative-Space-126935673)
http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs29/i/2009/252/2/8/Calling_The_Great_Bird_by_Flynn_the_cat.jpg (http://flynn-the-cat.deviantart.com/art/Calling-The-Great-Bird-136400794)

With the supporting evidence, I will now make my statement:
I fully agree with those you are arguing against.

So by your own logic - enough. The DD strip is not good art.

[Phase]

This splash page fills me with "OH, NO! NOT THE BEES! NOT THE BEES! AAAAAHHHHH! OH, THEY'RE IN MY EYES! MY EYES! AAAAHHHHH! AAAAAGGHHH!"

[Gez]

Yes, this again, since it hasnt been resolved before, you should expect it to pop op once in a while.

Then let's resolve it right now. Film critics are not required to be directors. Book critics are not required to be novelists. Art critics are not required to be painters or sculptors. You can criticize even if you cannot do better. Affirming the contrary is essentially an ad hominem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem) fallacy: you are arguing that an opinion is invalid because of what the one expressing that opinion can or cannot do.

Imagine an excellent artist that becomes quadriplegic after a car crash. Too bad, he cannot hold a pencil anymore so he cannot technically do better, so he's not allowed to comment on Mookie's art fails anymore! Stupid, isn't it?

Now that this has been resolved once and for all, let's go back to saying that Mookie's art is terrible. :smallbiggrin:

[Neoriceisgood]

I think that, one way or another, Mookie's two biggest problems are and will always be.


1# his inability to improve his art beyond the point it is at now.

2# the fact that he seems to be entirely stuck in a style he can't advance any further without [seemingly] having any other style that he could focus on for a while to help him crawl out of the slump created by the first style.


As I draw a lot myself I know that one thing that has always helped me escape a dimp in my improvement is by shifting gears for a while and either trying to focus on a different style or a different method of art entirely.

If I can't seem to get my CG art to be as good as I'd like it to be and it's just entirely rusted in place, I'll focus far more on pixelart, as distance often brings insight.

As for the "Critics have to be at least as good. argument, here's my take.


I think that anyone can point out obvious flaws, even less obvious ones can be spotted by a proper critic, and as such anyone with a good eye for errors or inconsistencies can be a critic.

Now there's a few points where I may deviate a bit from the other sides here;


One thing I -do- think is that a teacher needs to have skill in a certain topic to really be effective at what s/he does.

And guess what? A lot of critics try to be teachers, or vice verca; and the big problem often comes when someone with very limited skill tries to "teach" someone who'se marginally [or a lot] better than they are.

Now I can tell you from personal experience, I tend to deal fine with people who point out errors/flaws and tend to fix them accordingly, critics are something you can use to polish your own skills & they're like an extra pair of eyes that often see mistakes/errors you simply may not have noticed yourself.

In my own comic, for example, I often make the mistake of accidentally using a sprite that's no longer holding an object the character was meant to hold, but due to being so used to seeing the characters, I simply don't notice this glaring and unnecessary error.

When someone leaves a comment like "Pablo's back magically reappeared in panel 5"; I fix that, it's useful criticism.

'Now I've made sprite work for some open source games in the past, and I can tell you what -does- piss me off.

People who have absolutely no say in the final product who aren't just inferior to me art-wise, but literally incapable of producing a stick figure, not just telling me what's wrong with my work [in extremely subjective ways that flat out contradict the sentiments of some people around and above my own skill level] and then having the nerve of telling me how I should do it in a way that best fits their personal vision.

There's a huge difference between telling an artist that there's obvious anatomical errors, factual mistakes or unclear art in his/her work, as it's meant to help them and trying to tell a person exactly how to do it right while you're not even capable of doing it right yourself.


Now I do find that the "I can make a better comic/produce better art"-argument is one that's used too much by certain people, as some of the things I've seen in this thread aren't necessarily better or worse as much as very different.


I think that's about all I had to say for now, I'd appreciate it if some of you wouldn't try to cling to extremes though, I don't like arguments that get such a strong party divide that both ends of the spectrum end up being wrong.

Good thing I'm here to be right about stuff, I guess. :smallredface:

[Silverblood]

Now I do find that the "I can make a better comic/produce better art"-argument is one that's used too much by certain people, as some of the things I've seen in this thread aren't necessarily better or worse as much as very different.


Iiiif that was aimed at me at all - and I don't mind if it is or isn't, as there's enough to spread around :smallbiggrin: - I agree. I was just getting sick of the onesided - 'hah, but only people-who-are-not-artists are saying this' argument. (ptherwise I'd have jumped in pages ago)

To the rest of yet, yes. Mostly obvious, nothing else really to add. Just... some people can put down what' in their head, some can't - but still know what it *should have looked like*

[Humbug]

Then let's resolve it right now.
Aww, but it's so much fun to see Lord_Khaine flail around trying to defend Mookie's art on the grounds that he can't draw any better. :smallbiggrin:

[Silverblood]

...on the grounds that he can't draw any better. :smallbiggrin:


...who can't? Mookie? Or Lord_khaine? :smalltongue:

[Humbug]

...who can't? Mookie? Or Lord_khaine? :smalltongue:
Lord_Khaine obviously, but it could also apply the other way around. :smalltongue:

[Gez]

stuff

Yeah, well. For technique criticism (the "you should do it this or that way") I agree that the validity of the argument depends on the person's qualification in that domain. But for criticisms such as "is this a tuft of grass or a tent? And where is that person's leg? etc." then it's not technical. The only technique criticism I remember directed at Mookie was about him using crayons for coloring.

[Silverblood]

Yeah, well. For technique criticism (the "you should do it this or that way") I agree that the validity of the argument depends on the person's qualification in that domain. But for criticisms such as "is this a tuft of grass or a tent? And where is that person's leg? etc." then it's not technical. The only technique criticism I remember directed at Mookie was about him using crayons for coloring.

I think that's covered pretty well by:


I think that anyone can point out obvious flaws, even less obvious ones can be spotted by a proper critic, and as such anyone with a good eye for errors or inconsistencies can be a critic.


edit: damncut-pastesabotage

[Winterwind]

Awwww, so awesome, Silverblood. :smallredface:



No comments on the vine elemental, everything's been said already (what's with that snout?!). I think I'll rather just look at Silverblood's actual art up there some more.

[Whoracle]

Of course there was a discussion, when 2 sides with different points of view try to convince each other of the error of their way, in this case it was me desperatly trying to explain to you that you was to early in calling the trope.

It takes 2 for a discussion, and after what i can see i won that one, since noone else has been able to find any evidence whatsoever to suggest that its actualy Wings Nielen have on his shoulders.

OK, last time I'll try to get this into your skull before I'll let it drop and leave you sitting with your fingers in your ears going "lalalalala":

The whole argument wasn't about if Neilen had wings, it was about the cliché of villains always transforming into more uber forms, a cliché that just happens to be named "One Winged Angel". A Cliché whose trope you clearly did not read or understand. The whole trope has NOTHING to do with ACTUAL wings, but with general transformation as a power up sequence.
Face Of Evils and my later comments were jabs at your unwillingness to get this simple fact, nothing more.



Fine, if we take it like this, and i give on on this point, then i can from this point allways defend the comic by pointing out, "mookie thinks its cool"

And you're missing the point again: Mookie clearly views this as wings, which doe not justify the crappy artwork, no matter how cool he thinks it is. If you stand by your conviction that by reversing my statements you'll get boatloads of arguments for the comic, choke on this:

We'll take it literally and you can go and explain the in-universe reasons for glasswood, the nipple faeries and the missing limbs. Thank you.

[Silverblood]

Awwww, so awesome, Silverblood. :smallredface:



No comments on the vine elemental, everything's been said already (what's with that snout?!). I think I'll rather just look at Silverblood's actual art up there some more.

:smallcool:

*basks*

*resists posting more*
:smalltongue:

[Johnny Blade]

Lord_Khaine obviously, but it could also apply the other way around. :smalltongue:
Aha! That's what it is! You see, Mookie obviously can't draw better than Mookie himself, so he is in no position to form any valid opinion about his own art. Therefore, he can't see how it could be better, so naturally, he doesn't know how to improve.
Therefore, Dominic Deegan's art is as competent as it could possibly be and thus to be considered good.

[Silverblood]

...now my head hurts.

[ichini_sanshigo]

Um... I don't think that's a snout. I think it's one of those face shields. Like Infernal Siggy had. I could be wrong, because what would an elemental need with a face shield?

[Johnny Blade]

...now my head hurts.
You apparently didn't understand any of lord_khaine's posts. :smallamused:

[lord_khaine]

2. I would consider myself a fairly good artist (the Punchy McShroom slay was a 'I think this is good enough to get on the site' example. I know it has issues). Compared to the DD strip? I would consider myself amazing (I repeat - *compared to* I have a long way to go yet! )
I present my argument:


Fine, the first pieces you linked were only as good as what Mookie makes, but the second ones are quite a bit better, though i also have a feeling you spend a bit longer on it than what mookie spends on his strips, could you make 5 of those pictures in a week?


Then let's resolve it right now. Film critics are not required to be directors. Book critics are not required to be novelists. Art critics are not required to be painters or sculptors. You can criticize even if you cannot do better. Affirming the contrary is essentially an ad hominem fallacy: you are arguing that an opinion is invalid because of what the one expressing that opinion can or cannot do.

Imagine an excellent artist that becomes quadriplegic after a car crash. Too bad, he cannot hold a pencil anymore so he cannot technically do better, so he's not allowed to comment on Mookie's art fails anymore! Stupid, isn't it?

Now that this has been resolved once and for all, let's go back to saying that Mookie's art is terrible.

Well, it seems you have been misunderstanding me, everyone is of course free to express their oppinions on matters both factual and not, but you cant just hand down such a heavy judgment as "fail" without arguments, when you are not a authorithy on the subject.
But authorithy on the subject of art is very hard to determine, the easiest way is to show you can do it better yourself then, if not you better be prepared to come with some propper arguments.


Aww, but it's so much fun to see Lord_Khaine flail around trying to defend Mookie's art on the grounds that he can't draw any better.

When you are standing on a tiny island surroundet by Sharks, flailing serves it purpose, since whatever you hit is bound to be either a shark or a argument.


OK, last time I'll try to get this into your skull before I'll let it drop and leave you sitting with your fingers in your ears going "lalalalala":

The whole argument wasn't about if Neilen had wings, it was about the cliché of villains always transforming into more uber forms, a cliché that just happens to be named "One Winged Angel". A Cliché whose trope you clearly did not read or understand. The whole trope has NOTHING to do with ACTUAL wings, but with general transformation as a power up sequence.
Face Of Evils and my later comments were jabs at your unwillingness to get this simple fact, nothing more.


Yeah, and if you had paid attention to the first argument, then i allready stated there that the inner core of my statements, was that i did not think the trope was fitting back then, since Neilen had hardly transformed by then.

It then annoyed me to no end when you used a later comic, where he had grown something resembling wings, against a argument i made on the ground of a older comic, so i desidet to show, that by standart definition its not wings Nielen have on his shoulders (unless connectet by fields of force)


And you're missing the point again: Mookie clearly views this as wings, which doe not justify the crappy artwork, no matter how cool he thinks it is. If you stand by your conviction that by reversing my statements you'll get boatloads of arguments for the comic, choke on this:

We'll take it literally and you can go and explain the in-universe reasons for glasswood, the nipple faeries and the missing limbs. Thank you.

Fine, that should not be hard.

Glasswood: why do you think that wood from a world much different from our onw, do not have different sorts of wood?

Nipple farie: Lord Dominus is messing with your mind.

Missing limbs: often is just bent in a akward position.


You apparently didn't understand any of lord_khaine's posts.


None of you do, it must be the same trait that makes me like the comic, that also makes me come back here.

[Silverblood]

Fine, the first pieces you linked were only as good as what Mookie makes, but the second ones are quite a bit better, though i also have a feeling you spend a bit longer on it than what mookie spends on his strips, could you make 5 of those pictures in a week?


Actually, the point of that was to prove *i knew what I was talking about* and refuting your implication that the only reason anyone disagrees is because noone here is an artist.

NOW you are changing to say it is 'not comparable'.

But my answer?
...yes. I could. My average painting time is about 4 hours, but it can range from half an hour, to up to ...15 is my max.

The first took 3-4 hours, the second around 10. Too long?
Fine.

Two hours

http://th06.deviantart.net/fs41/300W/i/2009/014/b/2/Careless_by_Flynn_the_cat.jpg (http://flynn-the-cat.deviantart.com/art/Careless-109439559)http://th02.deviantart.net/fs44/300W/i/2009/135/b/7/Suddenly_by_Flynn_the_cat.jpg (http://flynn-the-cat.deviantart.com/art/Suddenly-122563920)http://th01.deviantart.net/fs44/300W/i/2009/118/2/4/In_Your_Face_by_Flynn_the_cat.jpg (http://flynn-the-cat.deviantart.com/art/In-Your-Face-120525408)

1 hour
http://th00.deviantart.net/fs46/300W/i/2009/171/1/e/White_Moonlight_by_Flynn_the_cat.jpg (http://flynn-the-cat.deviantart.com/art/White-Moonlight-126359547)

20 minutes
http://th05.deviantart.net/fs46/300W/f/2009/212/f/e/fe151a35f62f08e241c85ad12f877712.jpg (http://flynn-the-cat.deviantart.com/art/Viewpoints-sketch-practice-131467521)http://th05.deviantart.net/fs43/300W/i/2009/108/c/e/Birthday_Birds_by_Flynn_the_cat.jpg (http://flynn-the-cat.deviantart.com/art/Birthday-Bird-119624732)


And for something closer to what he actually posts...
http://th02.deviantart.net/fs47/300W/f/2009/213/9/0/90aba34af00a46c018f2330ecec4eb68.jpg (http://flynn-the-cat.deviantart.com/art/Travel-131694901)http://th00.deviantart.net/fs46/300W/i/2009/222/e/c/Fae_by_Flynn_the_cat.jpg (http://flynn-the-cat.deviantart.com/art/Fae-132887002)

And I have a LOT more examples.
*oh, if I'm spamming anyone, tell me and I'll take the pictures away.

[Morty]

Wow, another superclimatic battle! I'm on the edge of my seat, totally.

[Neoriceisgood]

You may want to spoiler tag them.

[Whoracle]

[...]then i allready stated there that the inner core of my statements, was that i did not think the trope was fitting back then, since Neilen had hardly transformed by then.[...]
(emphasis mine)

Even if he had only slightly transformed (which is at lesat disputable. I find a complete rearranging of facial features that leaves only the basic shilouette (sp?) intact to be rather drastic...), the point still stands. He HAS transformed, and the trope does not state how much transformation there has to be, only that it gives the impression of "uber" and has to be an actual transformation. Theoretically even Lunas Nakta eyes would qualify, only she's not the villain (alas, not canonically...).

As for the "apart from wings" statement:

Actualy he doesnt have any wings at all.
Also, im still hoping that when the dust settles Jacob will be hiding in the shadows to pick op the pieces and become a propper villain again.


Then you really shouldnt link it to a guy who did not manage to grow any wings.
Ohh, but he did put some magical compulsion into his new friend, the problem was it had a "to death do us part" clause that released Nielen.


No, lack of wings trumps your crazy ramblings.
hmm? if you had actualy been reading the comic, you should remember that Jacob newer planned for Neilen to die.


If you are not refering to something with wings, then you should not start talking about wings, and im sorry to say, but repeating yourself doesnt make your statements less wrong.
Even if we look away from the wing issue for a moment, then this still hardly make any sense, since there is hardly a difference between the current Nielen, and the one Jacob made his servant.

Im just refering to the comic where Nielen died, Jacob send him to assult Hukthat, beliving he could get the staff back, but instead it killed him.
and how can we know if there was anything Jacob could have done to prevent subversion in the event of both his and Neilens death?
I believe you were talking about the bolded sentence (in this example set into relation to all your other sentences.
So, (my) final words on this:
If you really hardly see any difference between these
http://www.frozeninfinity.de/austausch/lax/tiny_merge.png

then sure, the trope wouldn't apply. For you. The rest of the world (including Mookie, if the whole rest of his comic, including his main character (storm of souls?), is something to go by), thinks otherwise.


Glasswood: why do you think that wood from a world much different from our own, do not have different sorts of wood?

Nipple farie: Lord Dominus is messing with your mind.

Missing limbs: often is just bent in a akward position.

Glasswood: Right, forgot you still suspend your disbelief. Point yours.
The other two points... Well, I'm not going to let you drag me into a lenghty discussion about something completely irrelevant to the topic at hand (your refusal of the tropes applicability, if that's a word...), so I'm not going to tell you how and why I think I am right in this regard. Take the point I conceded above and be happy with it, or let other people take over the argument, I don't care. Strawman arguments are bad, and I apologize to the public for bringing this tangent in here.

[Silverblood]

Wow, another superclimatic battle! I'm on the edge of my seat, totally.

Nah, I don't think he's planning on climaxing any time so-oh wait, you mean the comic?

Nah, that's not going to finish either.


You may want to spoiler tag them.

doh. Forgot those existed. Thanks.

[Johnny Blade]

None of you do, it must be the same trait that makes me like the comic, that also makes me come back here.
That's one way of saying you're a masochist. :smalltongue:


Nah, I don't think he's planning on climaxing any time so-oh wait, you mean the comic?

Nah, that's not going to finish either.
Ah, so I'm not the only one who thought this wasn't actually about the comic. :smallbiggrin:

[Mr. Scaly]

If you really hardly see any difference between these
http://www.frozeninfinity.de/austausch/lax/tiny_merge.png

then sure, the trope wouldn't apply. For you. The rest of the world (including Mookie, if the whole rest of his comic, including his main character (storm of souls?), is something to go by), thinks otherwise.


Eh, so he's lost his lips...not much change from what I can see.


Anywho, the only possible good end that I can see coming is if the Nakta eats Luna and Neilen both.

[Jahkaivah]

I've decided to start reading lord_khaine's posts the same way you're supposed to read Stanley's lines in Erfworld.

In other words, you imagine this guy talking:

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/snackeru/greet/images/vizzini.jpg

He just needs to say inconceivable from time to time and he's perfect :smallbiggrin:

[Gez]

Eh, so he's lost his lips...not much change from what I can see.

Eyes were all white, now they're all black. Teeth are bigger and pointer. I'm pretty sure horns are longer too, but with an artist as inconsistent as Mookie it might not be intended.

[Epsilon]

Eh, so he's lost his lips...not much change from what I can see..

Now that you bring this up I can't help but wonder if Mookie thinks having no lips is "badass". That would a strange obsession indeed.

[Drakyn]

Now that you bring this up I can't help but wonder if Mookie thinks having no lips is "badass". That would a strange obsession indeed.

Well, an accepted fact of superhero costumes is that if you can't see the character's mouth (and preferably nose as well) they look much neater. Maybe he's decided that this is all the fault of those darn lips.

[Rappy]

To Gez's earlier comment about l_k producing an ad hominem...it was actually closer to argument from authority, with Mookie/other artists as the authorities...or a non sequitur, because it sure didn't follow. :smallamused:

On today's comic: I'm tempted to say this purposefully hearkens back to and is meant to contrast the water elemental summon. Then again...Mookie.

[Ganurath]

Look out, Neilen! It can deal combat damage to the defending player as though it wasn't blocked!

*realizes he just called Neilen a player and goes to skulk*

[Winterwind]

Actually, I am not sure whose turn it is right now. Logically speaking, it's Neilen attacking Luna, so it should be his turn.
I think the Vine Elemental is more like:
GBB, Creature - Plant Elemental, 3/3, Flash,
or something like that, and Luna summoned it on Neilen's turn to block him.

[Johnny Blade]

Hm...considering that Luna is definitely clinically insane, and that means most likely Red (the color associated with the elements of Earth - well, sometimes - and Fire, which are her BFFs now), maybe it's actually a different kind of Elemental (http://magiccards.info/pc/en/108.html).

[Winterwind]

That does look similar... :smallconfused:

The only thing that doesn't quite satisfy me is that Luna is currently infused with the Nakta, which suggests Black...

[Drakyn]

That does look similar... :smallconfused:

The only thing that doesn't quite satisfy me is that Luna is currently infused with the Nakta, which suggests Black...

Red is the colour of simpleminded impulsiveness. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-06-29)

Black is the colour of selfishness and self-absorption (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-08-18).

Blue is the colour of insensitive manipulators (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2007-09-19).

Green is the colour of mindless brute force (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-07).

White is the colour of fanatics and self-righteousness (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2007-08-22).

Under the circumstances, I feel safe declaring Luna to be all colours at once.

[Winterwind]

Heh, good one. :smallbiggrin:

Also, considering what the cast has been doing this entire arc... are they all Plainwalkers? :smalltongue:

Which are like Planeswalkers, only smaller and without the awesome.

[T-O-E]

Red is the colour of simpleminded impulsiveness. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-06-29)

Black is the colour of selfishness and self-absorption (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-08-18).

Blue is the colour of insensitive manipulators (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2007-09-19).

Green is the colour of mindless brute force (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-07).

White is the colour of fanatics and self-righteousness (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2007-08-22).

Under the circumstances, I feel safe declaring Luna to be all colours at once.

Gee, must have taken you hours to track down all those comics. :smallwink:

[Drakyn]

Gee, must have taken you hours to track down all those comics. :smallwink:
It really was amazing how easy and fast it was. They stick so easily in your head, the worst moments. Plus, there's so many to choose from :smallbiggrin:

EDIT:

Heh, good one. :smallbiggrin:

Also, considering what the cast has been doing this entire arc... are they all Plainwalkers? :smalltongue:

Which are like Planeswalkers, only smaller and without the awesome.
Someone needs to make magic cards for the main characters of this pile of feces. And they'd be cruddy Pla(ain/nes)walkers, because they'd have 0 loyalty. The player is fifth caste, why should they listen to him?

[Morty]

This (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-03-10) comic also works for "selfishness and self-absorption". If only because of Luna's ultimate expression of a whiny brat.

[T-O-E]

Also these (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/archive.php?year=2008) comics (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/archive.php?year=2009).

[Drakyn]

This (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-03-10) comic also works for "selfishness and self-absorption". If only because of Luna's ultimate expression of a whiny brat.
It's good, but feels slightly too deliberate. I like the first example better because of the unconscious and unironicly bare of authorial intent contrast between "I got beaten up" and "They put me in this ridiculous outfit and laughed at me."

EDIT:

Also these (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/archive.php?year=2008) comics (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/archive.php?year=2009).
:biggrin: Like I said, spoilt for choice.

[multilis]

For a free comic with lots of updates a week (not based on cgi) the comic art isn't that bad. OOTS uses stickart and only updates once or twice a week, yes often with more detail but each update takes several times as long.

If the same criticalness was applied to the 100s of critics posts as to the author, you may not fair any better. Of course a lynch mob tends to see its strength in numbers rather than its bias.

I don't agree with everything in DD but that also applies to other comics as well. The plot is deeper than many of you imply.

This current arc had its moments, eg I enjoyed DD being kind of useless and fretting about it, too bad that didn't last

[HamHam]

For a free comic with lots of updates a week (not based on cgi) the comic art isn't that bad. OOTS uses stickart and only updates once or twice a week, yes often with more detail but each update takes several times as long.

Phoenix Requiem updates two/three times a week with two full color graphic novel pages each update.

And nothing can excuse the art simply not improving ever and the complete lack of any sort of thought or research that goes into it. Like getting bows wrong. And realizing that you got them wrong. And not bothering to fix it.

[T-O-E]

For a free comic with lots of updates a week (not based on cgi) the comic art isn't that bad. OOTS uses stickart and only updates once or twice a week, yes often with more detail but each update takes several times as long.

Order of Tales updates eight times a week (granted, less content). And is very well drawn.

[HamHam]

Really, art quality has little to do with the effort needed to draw a given page, imho. It has a lot to do with style, because a more realistic style or just one with a lot of lines will take longer than a more simplistic or minimalistic one.

But you can have really good are that has very few lines and really bad art that has all kinds of attempts at detail.

[MReav]

It's good, but feels slightly too deliberate. I like the first example better because of the unconscious and unironicly bare of authorial intent contrast between "I got beaten up" and "They put me in this ridiculous outfit and laughed at me."

EDIT:

:biggrin: Like I said, spoilt for choice.

Yeah, that comic would have been some much better if they switched the first two panels. Makes Luna's changing of the subject seem more self-conscious that way.

[Mr. Scaly]

Eyes were all white, now they're all black. Teeth are bigger and pointer. I'm pretty sure horns are longer too, but with an artist as inconsistent as Mookie it might not be intended.

Well yeah but it's nothing substantial. It's still Neilen.

[Domochevsky]

Well yeah but it's nothing substantial. It's still Neilen.

Well, Sephiroth is still Sephiroth after going OWA. (And i kinda doubt that Nei... len... would have gotten out of the batcave without powering up of sorts. :smallwink: )

[multilis]

Phoenix Requiem updates two/three times a week with two full color graphic novel pages each update.

And nothing can excuse the art simply not improving ever and the complete lack of any sort of thought or research that goes into it. Like getting bows wrong. And realizing that you got them wrong. And not bothering to fix it.
Artist of Phoenix Requiem also does at least one other comic. But we are talking one of best arts out on free web rather than average. Most of the artists have to earn a living full time and this is just a side thing.

OOTS doesn't do much better than 1 update a week, Anti-heros less than an update a week, the noob comics similarly maybe one a week. (Each have only one artist)

Most of the nicer art comics have extra help with shading and or plot writing, eg Girl Genius has a shader and help with plot (3 artists in total for 3 updates a week), Erfworld has two artists and only manages around 1 per week. Goblins manages maybe one per week with 1 artist.

DD has only one artist for both plot and art, likely needs another job to earn a living and still manages more updates than almost all other comics.

[T-O-E]

Uh, I think Mookie is supported solely by his webcomic. And possibly his girlfriend's job.

Yep, he's on the wikipedia list of self-supported webcomic authors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_self-sufficient_webcomics).

EDIT: Have you seen his article?

Terracciano is notable among webcomic artists for the high output of his comic, almost daily until the end of 2008 (barring time off for holidays and conventions). In 2009 Terracciano adopted a Monday through Friday schedule posting of the comic, each one taking roughly 4 hours to construct.[2] Also notable is the fact that his drawing style has not changed much over the years.

[Rappy]

People! People! You seem to have not noticed what it is! An honest living defender that isn't khaine! *Gawks at multilis*

On a serious note: hi multilis! What brought you to our humble corner?

[Lord Seth]

We're seriously still on the orcs? We're still on this arc?

I stopped reading like a year ago because I simply gave up on the comic; it got so bad I didn't even find it fun to make fun of. So I decided to look back on it today, and we're still on this arc?

Has anything at least interesting happened in it? Any cool fights? I can put up with Bleach's poor pacing (e.g. the long Soul Society arc and the still-ongoing Hueco Mundo arc) because at least the fights are cool to see.

[Oracle_Hunter]

For a free comic with lots of updates a week (not based on cgi) the comic art isn't that bad. OOTS uses stickart and only updates once or twice a week, yes often with more detail but each update takes several times as long.
Perhaps, but Rich Burlew never forgets to draw legs. (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-11-08) This is by no means the only time Mookie has made this particular error, but it is by far his least excusable.

And, as has been noted, Mokie's lack of improvement is almost as damning as his art. For comparison, here is Howard Tayler's initial artwork. (http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20000612.html) Here is the same artist seven years later. (http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20070611.html)

Compare, if you will, Mookie's first strip (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2002-05-21) and his last strip (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-08) - more than seven years from the start of the comic. Can you say Mookie has made the same amount of improvement? Or even close?


I don't agree with everything in DD but that also applies to other comics as well. The plot is deeper than many of you imply.
This, I must hear more of. Please, what is the "deep plot" were are missing. And no, I'm not being sarcastic - whenever a fan comes by with fresh insight, I want to hear it. After all, it is easy to become blind to the positive when you spend so much time in the negative.

[Morty]

Against the "DD updates daily" argument, I raise Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic. It too updates daily and trumps Dominic Deegan in pretty much every regard - it has better art, better jokes and better plots. Now, it's not fantastic, merely good, but still better than Dominic Deegan by a fair margin. It even subverts the "always evil" cliche much better.

[averagejoe]

If the same criticalness was applied to the 100s of critics posts as to the author, you may not fair any better. Of course a lynch mob tends to see its strength in numbers rather than its bias.

I'm not quite sure why fans of the strip constantly paint us as hostile. I mean, we have our moments, but it's hardly the norm. We are generally pretty friendly, I think. Is it just that people read the premise and assume we're a ravenous bunch of haters? Is the us/them mentality people tend to fall into making us look bad?

[Mr. Scaly]

Well, Sephiroth is still Sephiroth after going OWA. (And i kinda doubt that Nei... len... would have gotten out of the batcave without powering up of sorts. :smallwink: )

I'll have to take your word on the Sephi bit, but I just would have figured that OWA would entail a greater physical change you know? We don't seem to be saying that Luna's gone OWA after all, but she went through a change too. :smallbiggrin:

[Rappy]

I'm not quite sure why fans of the strip constantly paint us as hostile. I mean, we have our moments, but it's hardly the norm. We are generally pretty friendly, I think. Is it just that people read the premise and assume we're a ravenous bunch of haters? Is the us/them mentality people tend to fall into making us look bad?
If so, it would be the false dichotomy fallacy. :smallbiggrin:

((Forgive me, I've been rereading some Sagan today.))

[Jahkaivah]

I'm not quite sure why fans of the strip constantly paint us as hostile. I mean, we have our moments, but it's hardly the norm. We are generally pretty friendly, I think. Is it just that people read the premise and assume we're a ravenous bunch of haters? Is the us/them mentality people tend to fall into making us look bad?

I think people sometimes confuse us with the John Solomon lot.

[Fawkes]

Green is the colour of mindless brute force (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-07).

Here (http://www.dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2008-08-05)'s an example that can't be written off as the 'Nakta'.

[Whoracle]

[...]We don't seem to be saying that Luna's gone OWA after all, but she went through a change too. :smallbiggrin:

See here:

[...]Theoretically even Lunas Nakta eyes would qualify, only she's not the villain (alas, not canonically...).[...]

The trope is about villains. Granted, it tends towards the final villains, but I think Nei...len... has to do for one this arc. Luna isn't a villain, but I seem to remember some trope like this for the hero side, too... anyone care to enlighten me?

[Domochevsky]

I'll have to take your word on the Sephi bit, but I just would have figured that OWA would entail a greater physical change you know? We don't seem to be saying that Luna's gone OWA after all, but she went through a change too. :smallbiggrin:

Here's a picture of him in the final battle. :smallbiggrin:

http://en.wikivisual.com/images/0/05/Final_Fantasy_VII_-_A_One-Winged_Angel.jpg

Note how he additionally went bishonen in the center. That's the White Haired Pretty Boy factoring in. :smallbiggrin:

As for Luna... well, she's too... "unmoved" for it, for a lack of better words. OWA occurs more at a breakdown point, when everything goes to hell after the heroes wreck your sh*t. So it's more reserved for villains and/or grey characters. (Note the word "character", so Luna disqualifies by default. :smallamused: )
Some amount of likeability/coolness also factors into this, but that has yet to be researched properly. :smallsmile:


Whoracle,
i think this may be in relation to unstoppable rage and the after-effects of a heroic BSOD. My trope-fu is kinda mediocre though. :smallconfused:



I think people sometimes confuse us with the John Solomon lot.
:sigh:

[multilis]

"read the premise and assume we're a ravenous bunch of haters"

Read the first post to this thread. Read the *majority* of posts... yes, ravenous bunch of haters imo.

There were times earlier when commentary on Erfworld also went into hate to point where the artists were discouraged from continuing Erfworld including complaints about art and plot.

I am not saying DD is a super plot but plot and foreshadowing there is and a reasonable consistancy. The current orc plot was to degree forshadowed since nearly the start of the entire comic.

Rather than good and evil being portrayed as mainly life verses death, it is angel/nature/balance verses demon forces.

Each person tends to act within his/her character, eg Jacob tends to always act like Jacob more greedy than pure evil, most even minor charactors are consistant. Each orc faction and character is acting within their world view.

The demon side as usual preys on whoever is willing to take advantage "at any cost", the angel side requires the opposite. Both the demon and angel side chessmasters are using the main characters as pawns to their ends.

[Domochevsky]

So you claim. However i can't help but notice that you're lacking a certain amount of... dare i say it, proof for your statements.
Like, at all. :smallconfused:

[multilis]

So you claim. However i can't help but notice that you're lacking a certain amount of... dare i say it, proof for your statements.
Like, at all. :smallconfused:Name a charactor who is inconsistant. In OOTS I might complain that Elan is various degrees of dumb.

Foreshadowing... DD's girlfriend is insulted from the beginning as orc like due to teeth. Female orc friend hates males and finds her not quite orc enough. We have hints from beginning of the importance the orc hate of humans, that infernomancers taint is the biggest evil, etc.

We have had foreshadowing for a long time that death magic is not all evil, some is used for good/balance such as case of orc lands now. Jacob was never as nasty as the infernomancers.

[Neoriceisgood]

Oh wow you have changed my mind, Dominic Deegan is a brilliant comic.

[averagejoe]

"read the premise and assume we're a ravenous bunch of haters"

Read the first post to this thread. Read the *majority* of posts... yes, ravenous bunch of haters imo.

There were times earlier when commentary on Erfworld also went into hate to point where the artists were discouraged from continuing Erfworld including complaints about art and plot.

I am not saying DD is a super plot but plot and foreshadowing there is and a reasonable consistancy. The current orc plot was to degree forshadowed since nearly the start of the entire comic.

Rather than good and evil being portrayed as mainly life verses death, it is angel/nature/balance verses demon forces.

Each person tends to act within his/her character, eg Jacob tends to always act like Jacob more greedy than pure evil, most even minor charactors are consistant. Each orc faction and character is acting within their world view.

The demon side as usual preys on whoever is willing to take advantage "at any cost", the angel side requires the opposite. Both the demon and angel side chessmasters are using the main characters as pawns to their ends.

Okay, but what does any of this have to do with us being ravenous? Point of view has nothing to do if one is a ravenous hater or not. For example, I would say that Jacob has, recently, been acting very out of character lately, which is a shame because he was previously one of the better written ones. I would also argue that a person always acting within their character is not necessarily a virtue if 1) it makes the character one dimensional or 2) it prevents them from changing in meaningful or believable ways. Now, these stipulations I've made seem like reasonable points of view. Whether or not you agree with them doesn't matter; you should be able to see where I'm coming from, however. I disagree with your analysis of the comic, but I don't hate you, or see what's ravenous about this.

I mean, you mention the first post. So, an archive of the previous threads and a few jokes is ravenous hate? I really don't know what you're seeing. Point out to me what you see as ravenously hateful.

[multilis]

How is Jacob acting out of character? (Compared to *any* in comic action before rather than your own assumptions)

Do you wish me to go through each post on this thread to rate as hostile? The DD threads btw was *famous* in other threads as being hostile to comic, even before I started reading them or the comic, read the comic as a result.

[averagejoe]

How is Jacob acting out of character?

Do you wish me to go through each post on this thread to rate as hostile?

See, you weren't paying attention. My post wasn't about Jacob acting out of character. I was just trying to illustrate my point. Let's not get sidetracked, eh?

And, no, you don't need to go through every post. One example from the first post will do fine. I mean, really, there are settings between "off" and "turbo."

[Rappy]

If you seriously have enough time for that, sure. :smalltongue:

But in seriousness (I've said that a lot lately...), just a few examples would suffice for me. I'm just curious as to what you find hostile, not wanting to prove you wrong. I'm rather neutral on fans of the comic for the most part.

[multilis]

See, you weren't paying attention. My post wasn't about Jacob acting out of character. I was just trying to illustrate my point. Let's not get sidetracked, eh?

And, no, you don't need to go through every post. One example from the first post will do fine. I mean, really, there are settings between "off" and "turbo."
"My post wasn't about Jacob acting out of character."

I was asked for evidence. I stated that every charactor seemed reasonably consistant and challenged anyone for in comic example of otherwise.

I get challenged for not backing my assertions...

[averagejoe]

"My post wasn't about Jacob acting out of character."

I was asked for evidence. I stated that every charactor seemed reasonably consistant and challenged anyone for in comic example of otherwise.

I get challenged for not backing my assertions...

And you still haven't backed your assertions that the thread is filled with hateful vitriol, which is what I've been discussing.

[Gez]

Do you wish me to go through each post on this thread to rate as hostile?

Yes, please do. Hurry, while there are less than ten pages. :smallamused:

[multilis]

And you still haven't backed your assertions that the thread is filled with hateful vitriol, which is what I've been discussing.
What do you wish me to do? I asked, do you wish me to go through every post starting in post 1 on this thread? Get told no. Then how?

What sort of evidence is acceptable? Name a formula.

If wanted can also go through any other comic thread of your choosing on this board to compare the nastiness level to DD.

[averagejoe]

What do you wish me to do? I asked, do you wish me to go through every post starting in post 1 on this thread? Get told no. Then how?

I believe I said,


And, no, you don't need to go through every post. One example from the first post will do fine.

For a meaningful dialogue to occur one has to pay attention to both sides of the discussion.

Edit: Formula? Anything you see as unduly hateful. Geez.

[Trazoi]

It's good to get another perspective on the comic. Be forewarned, multilis, that we've had a history of the true comic fans converting to snarkers. I think lord_khaine is the only exception I can think of.

Generally I'd rate the tone here as playful banter, as we enjoy overanalysing the comic. Lately though we've become a lot more critical, as this arc has been exceptionally muddled. There's been no clear direction for months until lately, and now we're suffering from plot whiplash as events move way too fast.

Jacob has been one of the casualities of this. He was always presented as a badass and quite powerful, but in this arc he has been completely ineffectual. To me, the humiliating defeats he suffered in this arc have completely derailed his character - he's nothing more than a joke, now.

[Cracklord]

Name a charactor who is inconsistant. In OOTS I might complain that Elan is various degrees of dumb.

Foreshadowing... DD's girlfriend is insulted from the beginning as orc like due to teeth. Female orc friend hates males and finds her not quite orc enough. We have hints from beginning of the importance the orc hate of humans, that infernomancers taint is the biggest evil, etc.

We have had foreshadowing for a long time that death magic is not all evil, some is used for good/balance such as case of orc lands now. Jacob was never as nasty as the infernomancers.

Karnak. In his first showing, he was mannipulative, preferiing to work through catspaws and agents like TIM, and had affectations of sophistication depite being fairly transparent, and enjoyed plotting elaborate scenarios. In his second showing he was bassically Rambo in hell, unable to plan or think or do anything but get angry and hit stuff. In his since showings he's been one or the other, so either he suffers from a severe case of split personality or he is whatever Mookie needs in an antagonist at that time. But there has been no effort to reconcile these two characteristics, so it's like he litterally is two different people.

Siegfried, who has never shown any racism to war in hell, suddenly is shown to commit warcrimes that have never been even brought up before. He goes from being a jerk, to a jerk with a heart of gold, to a jerk trying to improve himself to a tortured Byronic soul who has commited unrepetant attrocities, and only the first two parts of these transitions were actually shown, the others 'just happened'. I mean, where did the orc thing come from?

Nielan goes from being mannipulative to axe crazy, and has never shown any of his previous traits since.

Jacob... Can't bring myself to express this one, sorry.

A case could be made for Celesto, too. His character development has been patchy at best, and not particularly convincing.


How is Jacob acting out of character? (Compared to *any* in comic action before rather than your own assumptions)

Do you wish me to go through each post on this thread to rate as hostile? The DD threads btw was *famous* in other threads as being hostile to comic, even before I started reading them or the comic, read the comic as a result.

So if they act in a seemingly inconsistant way, this means they were this way all along and their previous behaviour never happened?

[T-O-E]

I've had more fun snarking 'Dominic Deegan' than I've had reading it. It's uniquely entertaining, and Mookie should be proud.

Why are you trying to ruin our fun?
Kidding!

@V "Wait. The Snarkta isn't this nice."

[multilis]

I believe I said,



For a meaningful dialogue to occur one has to pay attention to both sides of the discussion.

Edit: Formula? Anything you see as unduly hateful. Geez.

I thought the entire first post was so absurdly obvious as to misunderstand your statement. Snark=Nice or Snark=Nasty?

Rest of the post goes into details, claiming only 4 plot points, etc. Same could be claimed of OOTS for long stretches if one wishes to cherry pick and ignore the rest.


This is the sixtienth thread dedicated to the discussion and snarking of the Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire (http://dominic-deegan.com/) webcomic, where the great clans of Moral Dissonance, Sueishness, Bad Art, Inconsistency and Awkward Dialogue dance hand in hand in the shadow of the last dead hope. Let the Snarking go on! :smallbiggrin:

[Jahkaivah]

There were times earlier when commentary on Erfworld also went into hate to point where the artists were discouraged from continuing Erfworld including complaints about art and plot.

Only we don't want Dominic Deegan to end. We love snarking it.



The current orc plot was to degree forshadowed since nearly the start of the entire comic.

:smalleek:

Wow.... if you want to blow my mind, proove this, because I don't think Orcs were even mentioned untill Bumper's comment on Luna's teeth, or introduced untill even later in.



Rather than good and evil being portrayed as mainly life verses death, it is angel/nature/balance verses demon forces.

http://www.kungfudigital.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ying-yang_20424130_std.jpg

You mean like this?

[Wraith]

I'm not quite sure why fans of the strip constantly paint us as hostile. I mean, we have our moments, but it's hardly the norm. We are generally pretty friendly, I think. Is it just that people read the premise and assume we're a ravenous bunch of haters? Is the us/them mentality people tend to fall into making us look bad?

Perhaps we should make a note of this for our next thread:

"Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, MK XVII - We're Not As Vicious As We Pretend To Be" ? :smallwink:


Name a formula.

5 posts, from this or the previous thread only, that are 1) inarguably mean about Mookie or the Webcomic, 2) not later justified or explained in reasonable detail and c) not founded in an ACTUAL problem with the webcomic's art, plot ot characterisation.

It's a pretty arbitrary formula, I'll happily admit, but then I'm getting very, very tired of people bickering back-and-forth about what constitutes the absolutely acceptable definition of something that isn't to do with Domiic Deegan.

We're a fandom (of a sort). Can we stay on topic please, and not diverge into endless discussions about what a TV Trope may or may not mean...? :smalltongue:

[averagejoe]

I thought the entire first post was so absurdly obvious as to misunderstand your statement. Snark=Nice or Snark=Nasty?

Snark=snark. It can be either nice, nasty, or in the middle.

The passage you quoted seemed pretty jovial, and was clearly tongue in cheek. If any of us is hateful it sure as hell wouldn't be Winterwind.

[multilis]

Perhaps we should make a note of this for our next thread:

"Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire, MK XVII - We're Not As Vicious As We Pretend To Be" ? :smallwink:



5 posts, from this or the previous thread only, that are 1) inarguably mean about Mookie or the Webcomic, 2) not later justified or explained in reasonable detail and c) not founded in an ACTUAL problem with the webcomic's art, plot ot characterisation.

It's a pretty arbitrary formula, I'll happily admit, but then I'm getting very, very tired of people bickering back-and-forth about what constitutes the absolutely acceptable definition of something that isn't to do with Domiic Deegan.

We're a fandom (of a sort). Can we stay on topic please, and not diverge into endless discussions about what a TV Trope may or may not mean...? :smalltongue:
Post 1: Dedicated to snarking. Bad art... yes compared to OOTS for example which updates 1/5 as much. Yes compared to one of the best artists on web. Yes compared to web pages that update 1/2 as much and have 2-3 artists.

Inconsistancy... charactor wise, I don't see the inconsistancy. Jacob is claimed inconsistant, don't see an example of 2 different actions that are inconsistant. In comparison, I find OOTS Elan to be unbelievable cliche as dumbness while at times clever... as needed by humour.

Plot... much more than 4 plot events happenned.

Hell is unified which means more influence in orc lands/poison stronger, and both demon and death magic have an interest.

1. Jacob and DD work together.
2. Jacob gives his terms in foreshadowing and honestly keeps them to get his puppet and keeps the rock that makes his puppet stronger.
3. Vacation is shown to be angel mid lvl chess masters testing the main charactor pawns.
(can continue in same detail for many-many plot points)

[AgentPaper]

Can we stay on topic please, and not diverge into endless discussions about what a TV Trope may or may not mean...? :smalltongue:

You do realize that that topic is the maltak arc, right? :smallwink:

Let's see, Jacob inconsistencies:

Case #1 (http://dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-08-28)
Case #2 (http://dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-01)

[Rappy]

To add to that:

Nice snark = Mystery Science Theater 3000 on a decent enough movie

Mid-level snark = Us, usually (although we can waver into nice easily)

Naughty Nasty snark = John Solomon

[Cracklord]

Post 1: Dedicated to snarking. Bad art... yes compared to OOTS for example which updates 1/5 as much. Yes compared to one of the best artists on web. Yes compared to web pages that update 1/2 as much and have 2-3 artists.

Inconsistancy... charactor wise, I don't see the inconsistancy. Jacob is claimed inconsistant, don't see an example of 2 different actions that are inconsistant. In comparison, I find OOTS Elan to be unbelievable cliche as dumbness while at times clever... as needed by humour.

Plot... much more than 4 plot events happenned.

Here we go. Character inconsistancies, minion style. No doubt everyone else will elaborate.


Karnak. In his first showing, he was mannipulative, preferiing to work through catspaws and agents like TIM, and had affectations of sophistication depite being fairly transparent, and enjoyed plotting elaborate scenarios. In his second showing he was bassically Rambo in hell, unable to plan or think or do anything but get angry and hit stuff. In his since showings he's been one or the other, so either he suffers from a severe case of split personality or he is whatever Mookie needs in an antagonist at that time. But there has been no effort to reconcile these two characteristics, so it's like he litterally is two different people.

Siegfried, who has never shown any racism to war in hell, suddenly is shown to commit warcrimes that have never been even brought up before. He goes from being a jerk, to a jerk with a heart of gold, to a jerk trying to improve himself to a tortured Byronic soul who has commited unrepetant attrocities, and only the first two parts of these transitions were actually shown, the others 'just happened'. I mean, where did the orc thing come from?

Nielan goes from being mannipulative to axe crazy, and has never shown any of his previous traits since.

Jacob... Can't bring myself to express this one, sorry.

A case could be made for Celesto, too. His character development has been patchy at best, and not particularly convincing. He just suddenly became a Dragon Ball Z clone and lost his seer abilities.



You do realise that saying More then 4 plot events happened means nothing if you do not then explain what these events are.
Say how touched you were by Melna and Stonewaters reconciliation...
... (Sorry, laughing to hard to continue)
... (laughing)
...
... (Stil laughing)
...
... (Still chuckling)
Or By Domnic instantly solving her deep emotional problems with a heartfelt pep talk, or whatever. Explain how this moves the arc along.
See, the events that happened were character driven, not plot driven, and supurflous to the overall story.

[Jahkaivah]

To add to that:

Nice snark = Mystery Science Theater 3000 on a decent enough movie

Mid-level snark = Us, usually (although we can waver into nice easily)

Naughty Nasty snark = John Solomon

Pretty much this.

We are Joel/Mike and his robot pals, in what is basically a massive episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

[multilis]

You do realize that that topic is the maltak arc, right? :smallwink:

Let's see, Jacob inconsistencies:

Case #1 (http://dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-08-28)
Case #2 (http://dominic-deegan.com/view.php?date=2009-09-01)
I don't see the inconsistancy in character. He wants to use the power of the orc dead, he is outclassed by the strongest orc around who is boosted by both the death magic and a deal with demon side.

Once dead it has been shown before that a necromancer/demonic may find a way back to life, similar to Jacob's disloyal puppet does now.

He has a setback, some negative reaction but keeps working towards his goals in same cold way, compared to others who are overwhelmed by emotion. Jacob has always been shown to have *some* emotion, eg reason he joined the chaos forces for a while.

Jacob is inexperienced in being dead (rather than just undead).

(I have to do yard work now, so leaving discussion for a few hours)

[MacPuck]

Out of character? OK.

Jacob used to be a calculating figure, a bit of a chessmaster, really. He's turned into a braggart who couldn't plot a graph. Jacob from Visions of Doom would not have panicked and swore when a plan went awry.

[Mr. Scaly]

Here's a picture of him in the final battle. :smallbiggrin:

http://en.wikivisual.com/images/0/05/Final_Fantasy_VII_-_A_One-Winged_Angel.jpg

Note how he additionally went bishonen in the center. That's the White Haired Pretty Boy factoring in. :smallbiggrin:

Now that's what I'd call a transformation! Something that's visibly significant. Hehe.


As for Luna... well, she's too... "unmoved" for it, for a lack of better words. OWA occurs more at a breakdown point, when everything goes to hell after the heroes wreck your sh*t. So it's more reserved for villains and/or grey characters. (Note the word "character", so Luna disqualifies by default. :smallamused: )
Some amount of likeability/coolness also factors into this, but that has yet to be researched properly. :smallsmile:

I question the breakdown aspect of it. Off the top of my head I can think of a good half dozen or so villains who never lose control while electing to go OWA on the heroes. Of course I'll say you're spot on in regards to why Luna doesn't qualify. :smallwink: So how about heroes who transform into big monsters or something to fight? Like He-Dom for example?

[Trazoi]

Jacob used to be a calculating figure, a bit of a chessmaster, really. He's turned into a braggart who couldn't plot a graph. Jacob from Visions of Doom would not have panicked and swore when a plan went awry.
Exactly. Jacob used to enact complex plans. He was introduced as having infiltrated The Chosen for several days by wearing one of the chief member's face. That was involved subtlety and skill.

In this arc, his plan consisted of finding out about a magic stick with untold power (somehow), and just... hanging around it, really. When it appeared the stick was going to head away, his plan was basically "Give me the stick".

And ye gods, we're on the ninth page already after one day? The snark's gone critical! :smalleek:

[Amazed]

Okay this is it. Multilis, by now there have been severeal examples posted of how exactly Jacob has devolved from Badass to a constant *headdesk* everytime you see him on comic, so I am adressing the larger issue. You refuse to comment everytime someone errefuetably proves you wrong on an issue. For example you asked the thread to show you some character inconsities, Sevreal were shown and you then completely ignored those post and did not acknowledge that those characters were indeed way out of character, and instead started challenging the thread to prove Jacob was inconsistant. You refuse to acknowledge that there are flaws that you yourself did not acknowledge. Now I can understand that you simply like the comic in an unironic fashion, but you need to just admit that instead of fighting impossible fights on a webcomic forum. Don't pretend what we say doesnt exsist, it will only eat away at you in the long run.

[Amazed]

Eh sorry for the double post ,but I might as well get this over with, plus it might humanize me after my somewhat ( read very ) aggravated first post
Amazed
Started Reading:hmm, *strums lip* actually around the war in Hell stage
Joining GiTP Thread:I believe I started lurking around say the current arc, as we all know was a long time ago.
Starting Disposition:A fan more or less, but I was diddling around on here one day, and once I started reading the reads, I realized what everyone said was more or less right, and the plain crazy that is dominic deegan was revealed to me in one crashing moment :smallwink:
Time to Convert: Geez like a couple seconds after processing the thread, I think I was pretty much prepared to snark, I just wasnt really thinking about it, since at the most I was only a casual deegan fan
Current Stance:Snarker ready and willing

[Ganurath]

Hmm... My previous post started something. I should finish it. In order of introduction to the comic:

Dominic: Blue from divination and being a Manipulative Bastard. Black from being a selfish jerk.

Spark: Green from being an animal, red from being heavily toward emotion in emotion vs logic and having a heart that feels fondly for artistic alliteration.

Stunt: Red-Black for being selfish, stupid, and violent.

Bumper: Red-Black for caring about himself and his friends more than law or logic and stealing from a clergyman.

Siegfred Damaske: White/Red. Should be obvious.

More to come after dinner and 9.