OOTS #676 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Liwen]

Hurrah Simply awesome!

[Alteran]

:smallbiggrin:

Nice comic, it's good to see Belkar as his old near-deaf self. Today is my birthday actually, and all day I was hoping I'd get a comic to celebrate. Thanks for the good timing, Giant! You even managed to post it within a minute of when I checked for the comic.

[Mauve Shirt]

Oh Belkar.
Awesome comic. :smallsmile:

[Oshirokita]

I don't know why, but the wagon of Chinchillas got me to LOL

[Malkar Grumbo]

I don't know why, but the wagon of Chinchillas got me to LOL

It's because Chinchillas are funny.

[ref]

Faking contribution to the team, but as useless as he ever was. Poor Roy.

[Blue Ghost]

Ah, back to the old OOTS antics. It's nice to see a bit of a break from the drama of the split party. Hoping that this shopping spree can continue for a few strips longer.

[Aethir]

Wow, lizard hookers and chinchillas in the same strip. Never thought I'd see the day in ANY comic ever.

Still, goes to show what an odd society is at large on the continent I suppose, heh.

[Nevitan]

Well.. at least Belkar is sort of trying..

[Toper]

...huh. I feel like the jokes aren't up to the usual standard. But I like the desert art, and the updates are fast!

[Raz_Fox]

Wow, lizard hookers and chinchillas in the same strip. Never thought I'd see the day in ANY comic ever.

Still, goes to show what an odd society is at large on the continent I suppose, heh.

:smalleek: Seconded. I fully agree with Roy.

Though the hilarity in the last panel more than made up for the revulsion in the first.

[shadowninja666]

I like it. keep up the good work.:smallsmile:

[Glyde]

Nothing wrong with a reptile with boobs... Especially if you can explain it away that they're in fact mammals that look like reptiles! Ah-ha!

[AlterForm]

Heh. Dragonboobies. Takes me back to Summer '08.

[Trobby]

...Ow, I think I just took 5d6 damage from those puns. Gah...I think I'll need a cleric soon. I'm starting to see lizard boobies. D:

...Say, does that mean that she has "Great Cleavage"? :smallbiggrin:

[timbot]

You know, as soon as I read the title, I knew this comic would be good. Then I read "This is a cart of gophers, isn't it?" Every time I think this comic can't get better, it does.

[kpenguin]

Belkar is the back-up Elan. When Elan's getting too competent, Belkar takes his place.

[Deuce]

Needs more lemming! :smallbiggrin:

Good thinking on Roy's part - but won't they need an accurate clock?

[dps]

I wonder if now the OotS will be stuck pulling a cart of gophers and a cart of chinchillas across the desert.

I rather hope so.

[Tubal-Cain]

Mr. Scruffy is eying that wagon a little too intently...

[link55557]

Classic OotS!
Good god, that was hi-larious!

[Trobby]

Belkar is the back-up Elan. When Elan's getting too competent, Belkar takes his place.

Elan? Competent? This is the same Elan who is very, very likely to actually purchase a bridge, right?

...Well, Cart of Gophers is pretty bad too. *Though I'm not sure how the Chinchillas could help...*

[Tubal-Cain]

Maybe Roy should just see if V can get a Global Positioning Spell. It'll be less painful that way.

[shadzar]

:smalleek::smalltongue: Is right to those hookers Roy.

I would add a :yuk: and X.X in there too.


GROSS! dragonboobs!

[Raging Gene Ray]

When I saw the last panel, my first reaction was to wonder what it would feel like to lounge in a cart of small furry mammals like some sort of ball pit.

[chiasaur11]

You know, I almost groaned at the gophers joke.

And then the chinchilla bit...

It's the exact same kind of amusing as the Pearls Before Swine that lead up for 8 panels to the world's worst puns.

Heh.

[Jagos]

...Ow, I think I just took 5d6 damage from those puns. Gah...I think I'll need a cleric soon. I'm starting to see lizard boobies. D:

...Say, does that mean that she has "Great Cleavage"? :smallbiggrin:

... *Takes 2d4 damage*

*groans*

Anyway, I like this comic for the very fact that we have the old gang back and ready for action. Even Belkar faking sincerity is doing a good job as the foil and he's getting his jokes. Now for Vaarsuvius' turn again...

[Mr. Scaly]

Well, I know what I'M sigging! :biggrin:

[Ruduen]

*Punned to death*

Implants, huh. I wonder what that consists of in a fantasy worldset. I wonder what polymorphs count as, too.

[littlequietguy]

New comic! Updated later in the day then it usually does. Well what do you expect from me commenting on a comic before I read it?

Edit: Aaaahh sextant jokes. Never gonna get old. I thought this ones humour fell a little flat.

[Another_Poet]

One of the best comics ever. And I'm not even a fan of puns!

[Galileo]

I have a friend who's allergic to puns. Showing him this comic should be enough to finally make him lose consciousness.

[MacGiolla]

I don't care who you are, that's just funny.

[Shale]

Not exactly the height of sophisticated wit, but hysterical nonetheless. Well done, sir.

[shadzar]

I thought this ones humour fell a little flat.

You must have missed the blonde lizard. :smallbiggrin:

[Charles Phipps]

I am a horrible human being.

All I could think was.

"What the Hell is Roy's problem with the cute Harem garb girl?"

[Harr]

Hilarious, and nice 4th-edition reference too.

[Lamech]

ahahahahahahaha lawls rofl

Anyway this is a nice break from plots. (Wait I guess the giant did slip some in.)

And the joke about breasts was funny.

[Starscream]

Simply hilarious. Nice to see that the old "Roy wishing he had hair to tear out" dynamic is back and at full swing.

[Trobby]

... *Takes 2d4 damage*

*groans*


...

:smallbiggrin:

Terrible Pun

Evocation [Sonic]
Level: Brd 2, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30 ft.
Area: Radius-Burst burst
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial
Spell Resistance: No

You speak a pun so terrible that any creature within the area suffers from the pain of hearing said pun. Any creature within the area takes 1d6 points of temporary damage to their intelligence score and 1d6 points of sonic damage per caster level, up to a maximum of 5d6. A successful save negates the intelligence damage and reduces the damage by half. Creatures with an intelligence score lower than 6 cannot be affected.

[Shale]

I am a horrible human being.

All I could think was.

"What the Hell is Roy's problem with the cute Harem garb girl?"

A girlfriend who can shoot lightning out of her fingers, I'd imagine.

[DnDgeek13]

Great. he is a player, and a literalist.

[Flickerdart]

Man, that was funny. If there's anything Roy needed it was more useless small, furry animals. Bag of Tricks 2.0: Two Carts of Tricks.

[David Argall]

For once I predict the scene shift correctly. And next we should be seeing V, and maybe get a line on what's with Blackwing.


Nothing wrong with a reptile with boobs... Especially if you can explain it away that they're in fact mammals that look like reptiles! Ah-ha!

Well, you explain it as 4e dragonborn. However, mammals are merely modified reptiles, so there is nothing horribly impossible about reptiles with figures.

Charles Phipps
"What the Hell is Roy's problem with the cute Harem garb girl?"

Celia may be able to scry on him.

[Silverraptor]

Belkar and his listen checks.:smallamused:

[shadzar]

Flickerdart:

Roy's got a thing for the furries. While Roy turned down the hookers, Belkar gladly took the merchants chinchilla. :smallbiggrin:

[NeonRonin]

Belkar. He may be a sexy shoeless god of war, but he also has two ruptured eardrums and a brain the size of a garbanzo bean.

Funny as hell, but still... *facepalm* :smallsigh:

[Tubal-Cain]

I don't care who you are, that's just punny.

Fixed that for you.

[Elfin]

Heh. :smallamused:
Very funny.

[SteveMB]

Well.. at least Belkar is sort of trying..

"Sort of" trying? Belkar is extremely trying. :smalltongue:

[DBear]

"Once you go scaly, you'll be back daily

At least there were no yiffing references. I don't think anyone's ready for that. :smalleek:

[otakuryoga]

...

:smallbiggrin:

Terrible Pun

Evocation [Sonic]
Level: Brd 2, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30 ft.
Area: Radius-Burst burst
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude partial
Spell Resistance: No

You speak a pun so terrible that any creature within the area suffers from the pain of hearing said pun. Any creature within the area takes 1d6 points of temporary damage to their intelligence score and 1d6 points of sonic damage per caster level, up to a maximum of 5d6. A successful save negates the intelligence damage and reduces the damage by half. Creatures with an intelligence score lower than 6 cannot be affected.


luckily as a long time reader of Xanth i automatically take no damage from this spell


great comic

[Super_slash2]

Comic was funny. But I didn't get the chinchilla joke. What is the punch-line?

[Ravenred]

Oooh... the lowest form of humour, Rich, the lowest form of humour...

:wink:

[Shale]

The punchline is how completely Belkar missed the point.

[Ellen]

Ah, Belkar. You just can't underestimate his intelligence.

[Lkctgo]

Does anyone else think that Belkar is doing this on purpose? Just to piss off Roy? Or does anyone think he is serious?

[shadzar]

Does anyone else think that Belkar is doing this on purpose? Just to piss off Roy? Or does anyone think he is serious?

Already a thread asking about that. :smallwink:

[Herald Alberich]

Comic was funny. But I didn't get the chinchilla joke. What is the punch-line?

The punchline is "cart of gophers", as a pun on "cartographer." Belkar's final line is just a tag for extra funny. He can't imagine what the gophers are for, but supposes that if one cartful of furry rodents is good, two must be even better!

[Trobby]

Does anyone else think that Belkar is doing this on purpose? Just to piss off Roy? Or does anyone think he is serious?

That's like asking if Elan is really as dumb as he seems to be, or how many licks it will take to get to the center of a Tootsie pop.

http://spinneraf.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/tootsie-pop-owl.jpg

The world may never know.

[lothos]

Was Roy's decision to turn down all three ladies morally justified ?

Ok, let's not have a thread for that.

Not a bad comic. A smile rather than a loud laugh. An interlude between classics.

[zql]

on the next strip: haley demanding a refund from a vermin dealer

[SteveDJ]

Well, I thought it was funny. I also have liked the titles of the last few strips - I was even starting to chuckle just reading the title of this strip, before reading the strip itself.

Nice job!

[Swordguy]

"Just trying to stay current."

Well played, Giant. Well played.

[Balkash]

My gold says Elan adopts at least one of them and then Mr Fluffy eats it.

[Charles Phipps]

A girlfriend who can shoot lightning out of her fingers, I'd imagine.

What happens in Western continent, stays in Western continent.

[Milskidasith]

That was amusing, although I'd kind of been expecting a more story driven strip.

[Herald Alberich]

So, the joke about "staying current" is a reference to 4th edition's well-endowed depictions of reptilian races? I'm trying to compose this strip's entry for Non-Mammal Mammaries (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NonMammalMammaries), and I want to be sure.

edit: Nevermind, it works better with a simple link without getting into the details of the joke.

On another note - "rub down your potion factory for you." I can't decide whether to be amused or disturbed; whether the innuendo is clever and creative or just ... gah. Craft Disturbing Mental Image at work, I suppose.

[shadowxknight]

The last panel was was hilarious. :smallbiggrin:

[Raging Gene Ray]

My gold says Elan adopts at least one of them and then Mr Fluffy eats it.

My gold says he adopts one, Mr. Scruffy eats it. He mourns and adopts a second one...Belkar eats it. This goes on for a few hours until all the mammals are gone.

Is Mr. Fluffy Beklar's aminal conpanion?

EDIT: The mention of 4e and Lizardboobs reminded me of a few comics Holammer did for the Evil OotS thread featuring the Good Linear Guild:


Yik & Yok Comic

http://www.fryppe.com/holammer/yik&yok.gif
I'm really patting my own back over the speech bubble solution between panels 2&5. :smalltongue:



http://www.fryppe.com/holammer/z-intro4.png

[Kaytara]

Chinchillas are cute (and Mr. Scruffy surely thinks so, too! :D), gophers are cute. :) That's already fine with me. And did nobody notice how oddly helpful Belkar is trying to be, and yet he still can't help being the same in very certain ways? XD Hilarious.

[FoE]

How ... did they find that many gophers in the desert? o_O

I'll have to remember the scaly line if I ever play dragonborn. :smallbiggrin:

[Olorin Maia]

I think this comic completely redeemed the last few that kinda fell flat. I thought it was absolutely wonderful.

[Optimystik]

I get the feeling that "helpful Belkar" is even more useless than "psycho Belkar" was.

Well, useless at non-stabbing ventures, anyway.

[Kayeich]

Heh, funny comic. The chinchilla bit also got an -extra- laugh out of me, because in World of Warcraft, one of the better addons that can be used to modify the utility of the map is called Chinchilla.

[Ikkitosen]

Fork handles anyone?

[Kish]

I get the feeling that "helpful Belkar" is even more useless than "psycho Belkar" was.

Well, useless at non-stabbing ventures, anyway.
Pretty sure he's doing it on purpose.

[Raging Gene Ray]

Fork handles anyone?

I don't get it :smallconfused:.


Heh, funny comic. The chinchilla bit also got an -extra- laugh out of me, because in World of Warcraft, one of the better addons that can be used to modify the utility of the map is called Chinchilla.

Now that's still kind of funny even though you had to explain it. I wonder if it was intentional.

[Jimorian]

Prediction: at some point in the future, somebody will utter the line, "If only we had some chinchillas..."

[RMS Oceanic]

I don't get it :smallconfused:.

A classic The Two Ronnies sketch:

RB: (Broad accent) I'll have four candles.
RC: Here you are.
RB: What's this?
RC: It's what you asked for, isn't it?
RB: Four candles! 'andles for forks!

[FoE]

A classic The Two Ronnies sketch:

RB: (Broad accent) I'll have four candles.
RC: Here you are.
RB: What's this?
RC: It's what you asked for, isn't it?
RB: Four candles! 'andles for forks!

I still don't get it. What do candles and forks have to do with one another? :smallconfused:

[RMS Oceanic]

I still don't get it. What do candles and forks have to do with one another? :smallconfused:

It's a spoken joke. It would be simpler if you watched it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu9MptWyCB8).

[FoE]

It's a spoken joke. It would be simpler if you watched it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu9MptWyCB8).

Ah! Now I get it! :smallbiggrin:

[Captain Alien]

Oh man, that was really funny. I liked this one a lot.

[Killer Angel]

Sex taint... LOL
Thanks, Giant. :smallsmile:

[thunderclan]

I loved this comic. The gopher/chinchilla thing was awesome and its nice to see Belkar being his usual not-paying-attention self. :smallsmile:

[Rhydeble]

I still don't get it. What do candles and forks have to do with one another? :smallconfused:

they are not four candles

they are fourc andles (fork handles)

[Owl]

Hooray for topless lizard stick figure hooker babe! In full color! :smallcool:

[Thant]

Good comic, like in the old days, props.

[Tundar]

Ok Giant, where the heck did you come up with this?

Once you go scaly, you'll be back daily.

I'm disturbed :smallbiggrin:

[banjo1985]

Lizardwomen whores and a cart of gophers...Belkar, I love you :smallbiggrin:

[Aerysil]

At least he's begin cooperative.

And dragonborn. Hee.

[Klose_the_Sith]

This is one of my favourite OOTS strips, it's about time we got back to some gag blasts, especially with my beloved OOTS approaching "tl;dr" levels

[Hrairoo]

Prediction: at some point in the future, somebody will utter the line, "If only we had some chinchillas..."

hehe, u know they will... haha lol, this was awesome, giant!

oh man, come on roy, u should've seen this one coming definitely. belkar? it's going to be either hookers, animals, or food...

and belkar? ur new shtick ain't gonna work... character development doesn't cut it if u can't pull off competence while ur at it, only elan can do that, and he took levels to do it...

hmm... can't remember if this is the western or northern continent... anyone care to enlighten? and which one is oots originally from? (sorry, i did know this, but i've forgotten...)

[zyphyr]

That was painful. I loved it.

[Rustic Dude]

Belkar is the best tracker ever.

It's only, that those for who he tracks, don't know what they want. A pity.

[Athaniar]

Another good one, Giant. Wonder if they'll ever find a use for the rodents?

[The Odor]

Another good one, Giant. Wonder if they'll ever find a use for the rodents?

Dah of course they will :smallsigh:they had a lot of use of the belt of gender switch (not only on screen (read the crack paring thread))

[The_Void]

Hrairoo - It's the Western Continent. Kraagor's Gate is on the Northern Continent.

[Pentegarn]

No time to read the replies, I gotta go to work. So I will just say the new 'helpful' Belkar is freaking hilarious. :smalltongue:

[LuisDantas]

Funny strip. Has been quite a while since I enjoyed Belkar this much. :smallwink:

[RoninAngel]

My favorite line was "Right, a sex taint." I LOL'd! :smallbiggrin:

Also I don't know why everyone is so grossed out by the lizard hookers.
Dragons are reptiles.
And as everyone knows...
Dragons...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/210/512695996_b3df0406e2.jpg
Are...
http://a723.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/76/l_a7d6c2c55cea60df9cc1281c2d00ab8a.jpg
Sexy! :smallredface:
http://a0.vox.com/6a00c225203d4b8fdb00f48d070a000001-320pi

[Woodsman]

I, for one, think it's great we're seeing more comedy right now. I haven't enjoyed a series of strips like this in a while.

[HOLEkevin]

Maaaybe Belkar would be a better guide if Roy could write everything out for him. Though if he's going by smell, I'm not sure "cartographer" would be enough to go on. Perhaps "the map/cheese/perfume/tannery shop up the hill" would be easier.

More Lizards With Boobs. (http://www.heroesoflesserearth.com/2009/05/479-the-lizard-king-•-06/)

[JoseB]

The language nerd in me is going *insane* trying to translate (mentally) this comic into Spanish :) The puns... THE PUNS! THE HORRIBLE PUNS...! *gurglblblurg*

*collapses, foaming at the mouth*

[Onyavar]

I'm a cartographer.

When I tell anyone about my profession, they either ask "Whats that? What do you do?"

...or they mistake me for a cardiologist assistant. "huh, i thought a cardiographer is something which draws cardiograms".

So I'm used to horrible misunderstandings. But "cart of gophers", thats low. The sex taint however...

[mistformsquirrl]

Bwahahaha... Cartographer <X_X>

I'm finding this far more funny than I rationally should... but omg >_<

Oh Belkar <;_;> Please do not die, we need funny in our lives.

[Taekwondodo]

"...rub down your potion factory" :smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin:

Too funny! Feels a bit like filler however.

[John Cribati]

The lizard boobs went over my head a bit. I actually thought one of them was a man-whore.

[Marcsin]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Xavius View Post
Another good one, Giant. Wonder if they'll ever find a use for the rodents?

Dah of course they will :smallsigh:

Sure they will, just get Roy a few big sacks and Great Cleave.

[Berserk Monk]

"Once you go scaly, you'll be back daily." So wrong, yet so funny.

[Selene]

So Belkar needs to work on that helping thing.

[Blaznak]

Ok, I thought this was very funny. I love the hookers, including the (even if not intended) Hannah Montana lizard. Best of both worlds indeed!

I also love the way that Belkar is TRYING to help and because of that, his failure is even funnier. We really need to see the two carts of animals become useful, later.

[Berserk Monk]

The lizard boobs went over my head a bit. I actually thought one of them was a man-whore.

Too bad they don't literally go over your head.:smallbiggrin:

[Tobimaro]

"...rub down your potion factory" :smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin:

Too funny! Feels a bit like filler however.

But a filler full of awesome funny!

"Once you go scaly, you'll be back daily." :biggrin:

[Cleverdan22]

Oh god, great strip. This was a great instance of classic "exasperated Roy" and "goofy teammate." Made me happy.

[Kilarny]

The pain! The PAIN!
The puns! :smalltongue:

Awesome as usual.

[Dudde]

Nice one! Puns are the lifeblood of any good comic, and these were classics!

Thank you Giant!

Also: Huzah for scaly boobs!

[JustRain]

Took we a few moments to catch the joke, but once I did I couldn't stop laughing... It's great

[Sijo]

Eeh, I didn't find this strip that funny. Reptilian hookers? "Potion factory"? Taint jokes?? Did Burlew have a horny teenager ghostwrite this strip?

In fact, none of the strips since the current "book" started have made me laugh. And OOTS used to have me ROTFL. :smallfrown: Let's hope things improve when the adventure proper starts...

Edit: Before anyone accuses me of being a prude, I KNOW there are sexual references in this webcomic, I've read all the strips. And some of them were even funny (particularly Roy finding out that his mom is really "hot" in the afterlife! :smallbiggrin:) I just don't feel that the latest ones are as good.

[DigoDragon]

At least the gophers can be a makeshift food ration. :smallbiggrin: Nice to see that Belkar can take hors d'oeuvres from his leader.

[General Valter]

I'm amused that Belkar is supposedly the ranger in the group, and has failed rudimentary spot and listen checks in the last two comics he's been in.

I expect he's doing this on purpose, though, so whatever. :smalltongue:

[shadzar]

On another note - "rub down your potion factory for you." I can't decide whether to be amused or disturbed; whether the innuendo is clever and creative or just ... gah. Craft Disturbing Mental Image at work, I suppose.

Well the first thing I thought of when I read that part was Robot Chicken Harry Potter vs Purbutious.

[Scarlet Knight]

"We here at the Comic League Enforcing Regulations Involving Censorship are glad that you have learned from your unfortunate full frontal Roy episode and placed panties on the lizard hooker. Still, the topless shot was gratuitous. I mean, really, think of the hatchlings!"

:smallredface:

[the_tick_rules]

I think Belkar did the carts on purpose.

[Bianco]

Remember this (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0177.html)? If Belkster still remembers what he saw back then, he should use the opportunity to expand his knowledge and thus solve the mystery that troubles us all. :smallbiggrin:

...why do I come up with these thoughts?

[Acero]

HEY! Belkar stole my gophers!

[Kaytara]

I thought the reptile joke was great. Just like he's made fun of unrealistic female armour, Rich is now making fun of the fact that furries (or scalies, as in this case) usually have certain anatomical qualities regardless of how little sense it makes.

[Prince_Rohan]

On behalf of navigators everywhere who own sextants, I thank you Giant.


.

[Optimystik]

Pretty sure he's doing it on purpose.

Nah, I think Belkar's just that bad at listening, especially given the title.

[Ikialev]

Whoa, reptillian boobs. I would hit it. ^

[Acesolid]

Oh no! Reptile Hannah Montana!

[Starbuck_II]

Ok Giant, where the heck did you come up with this?


I'm disturbed :smallbiggrin:

I'd hit it.

[Draquenoire]

Excellent comic. Reminded me of the inane nerd fights on the 4e forums about Dragonborn boobs. I had a good laugh anyway.

[Yoyoyo]

"I was just trying to stay current." Love it. To me, better than the last pannel.

[Linkavitch]

I Love these new desert strips. They're hilarious!:smallbiggrin:

[Kish]

Nah, I think Belkar's just that bad at listening, especially given the title.
More than one way to fail a listen check...including, when it enables you to mess with the lawful good party leader while still claiming to be entirely well-meaning, on purpose.

[Shale]

Nice to see that Belkar can take hors d'oeuvres from his leader.

I hate you.

[Optimystik]

More than one way to fail a listen check...including, when it enables you to mess with the lawful good party leader while still claiming to be entirely well-meaning, on purpose.

Bet 10gp? :smallamused:

[Kish]

Sorry, I only bet when I'm more certain than I am here. :smalltongue: Besides, I don't think we'll ever find out for sure.

[Wormwood74]

"How about the best of both worlds, baby?"

I thought at first this was reference to a discussion Ranadall and Donte had in "Clerks", as well as the fact that many species of desert lizards normally (i.e. naturally) reproduce via hermaphroditic sex.

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidoscelis_tigris

[Optimystik]

Sorry, I only bet when I'm more certain than I am here. :smalltongue: Besides, I don't think we'll ever find out for sure.

If he is just messing with Roy, he'll be bound to lampshade it, especially now that he has a non-judgmental cat he can monologue to. OTOH, If he's just that dense, his confusion will probably continue up to and beyond the point that Roy gives up and looks for something on his own.

...that's my theory anyway. Belkar is a much harder read now that the Giant fleshed him out some; I'm actually interested in the little psycho again. If only he'd do the same for Durkon :smallfrown:


"How about the best of both worlds, baby?"

I thought at first this was reference to a discussion Ranadall and Donte had in "Clerks", as well as the fact that many species of desert lizards normally (i.e. naturally) reproduce via hermaphroditic sex.

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidoscelis_tigris

I thought it was a hermaphroditic reference too, and plainly so did Roy :smallbiggrin:

[Aris Katsaris]

In fact, none of the strips since the current "book" started have made me laugh. And OOTS used to have me ROTFL. :smallfrown: Let's hope things improve when the adventure proper starts...

When people stop liking something, they always tend to believe it's the thing that has changed for the worse.

Have you considered the possibility that it may be you who's changed?

[Aris Katsaris]

Btw, personally, I just think that "sex tent" would make a better joke than "sex taint". Given all the tents -- it'd be a bit more natural for Belkar to misunderstand it like that.

[Kaytara]

I'm wondering why Roy even trusted Belkar to find a sextant for him. I mean, what did he expect him to do? Track it?


This strip shows well that men like Roy should friggin' learn to just ask for directions. :smalltongue:

[Lkctgo]

Btw, personally, I just think that "sex tent" would make a better joke than "sex taint". Given all the tents -- it'd be a bit more natural for Belkar to misunderstand it like that.

I dunno, I think anyone would be incapacitated by Scaly Boobs.

[Scarlet Knight]

I'm wondering why Roy even trusted Belkar to find a sextant for him. I mean, what did he expect him to do? Track it?


:roy: "That one was my fault, really. I should have known better by now."

[Optimystik]

In fact, none of the strips since the current "book" started have made me laugh. And OOTS used to have me ROTFL. :smallfrown: Let's hope things improve when the adventure proper starts...

I wouldnt' go that far. The "Elan tax" had me grinning, and so did the byplay ("biplay?" :smallwink:) between the prostitutes, so I think this book is off to a strong start. I still don't like the Invisible Blackwing strip, but they can't all be winners.


This strip shows well that men like Roy should friggin' learn to just ask for directions. :smalltongue:

Funny then, how often women ask men. :smallamused:

[SolkaTruesilver]

Hum... don't you need a precise and working clock to properly use a sextant, in order to fix longitude?

(what city is used as reference...?)

Okay, now that this is out of the way, up to the important things:

ARGGG!!! THE PUNS HURT!!

[The Shadow]

At least the gophers can be a makeshift food ration. :smallbiggrin: Nice to see that Belkar can take hors d'oeuvres from his leader.

Oh, that's BAAAAD. I love it! :) Got a full-on LOL out of me.

And for those asking... You only need a clock to find longitude. A sextant will give you the latitude all by its lonesome. Navigators were finding the latitude for many, many years before longitude became feasible.

[Kaytara]

Funny then, how often women ask men. :smallamused:
In this case, the reverse was possible. He could have asked the "ladies". :smallamused:


ARGGG!!! THE PUNS HURT!!

You know... I have a general question to the community here. I grew up with pretty much zero exposure to puns, for some reason or another. I think my first real encounter with them was... Sweeney Todd's "A Little Priest", yeah. ^^; As a result, I never really quite got what's supposed to be so horrible and brainwreck-inducing about puns. Could someone clear it up for me?

[David Argall]

"A pun is the lowest form of humor, unless you think of it first."

There pretty much is no explanation. It has simply become the standard response to a pun to denounce it as deplorable. Of course, the fact that a very large percentage of puns are quite sexual probably contributed.

[Kaytara]

Huh. Well, thanks. Puns are usually a lot more just smartass-toned than sexually-toned in my culture, and they're viewed as witty rather than deplorable and are often used in classical poetry (not to mention that they're WAY too easy to make in Russian, to the point where you'll be talking in puns and not noticing it).... You learn something new every day. XD

[Watcher]

Chinchillas! Fluffy and stuff. That was probably the best part of the comic. I hope Rich doesn't spend 10 strips trying to find a cartographer.

[Optimystik]

In this case, the reverse was possible. He could have asked the "ladies". :smallamused:

Somehow, I think asking prostitutes about where to find a sextant would result in the same kind of outcome Belkar was expecting. :smalltongue:


You know... I have a general question to the community here. I grew up with pretty much zero exposure to puns, for some reason or another. I think my first real encounter with them was... Sweeney Todd's "A Little Priest", yeah. ^^; As a result, I never really quite got what's supposed to be so horrible and brainwreck-inducing about puns. Could someone clear it up for me?

I'd say that puns have groan (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main.IncrediblyLamePun) on me. :smallwink:

(I couldn't resist. Have you read any of the Xanth series?)

[Larocs Macalar]

I loved it. :belkar: is really bad with his listen check. look, he doesnt listened right to what :roy: is saying.
The best was the change of cartographer to cart of gophers.:smallsmile:
i think that his abilities are turnig low, because he, problably, couldnt see blackwing and now cant listen well to what :roy: is saying...

[Sijo]

When people stop liking something, they always tend to believe it's the thing that has changed for the worse.

Have you considered the possibility that it may be you who's changed?

Hmm...

*Checks back older OOTS strips*

*Laughs again*

*Checks the new ones*

*Doesn't laugh*

...I doubt it. Then again, maybe these have just not been my kind of jokes...

[Snowyowl]

I'm inclined to agree with Sijo. Except that it's just this one that I didn't like.
Somehow, reptile hookers are a serious turn-off to me. Go figure.
Also, using practically the same joke twice in one strip? My punchline... NOOO!:eek:

However, I will remain a diligent OOTS fan in the faith that this upcoming storyline will be awesome.

[ThePhantasm]

Boy, I am really really really really really going to miss Belkar when he is gone.

[lothos]

"How about the best of both worlds, baby?"

I thought at first this was reference to a discussion Ranadall and Donte had in "Clerks", as well as the fact that many species of desert lizards normally (i.e. naturally) reproduce via hermaphroditic sex.

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidoscelis_tigris

I thought it was a reference to the Borg attacking the federation :-)


Hum... don't you need a precise and working clock to properly use a sextant, in order to fix longitude?

(what city is used as reference...?)

(snip)

Assuming you are on a (roughly) spherical planet and don't have a system of GPS satellites in orbit, to determine longitude you do indeed need an accurate clock. You can see what the precise difference in time of (say) sunrise between where you locally are on the planet and a fixed point. So if you know the precise time that the sun rises in say Grenwich, London, then you know the precise time that the sun rises for you locally, then you calculate the difference. As you move east, the sun rises earlier. As you move west, it rises later.

However even before the advent of accurate clocks, navigators used a sextant to determine JUST their latitude. Even without knowing the longitude it was still helpful. The technique was to sail to the correct latitude and then sail along the line of that latitude until you hit the land you were looking for. This was obviously somewhat inefficient, since if you can just sail in a straight line (well a geodesic) from your origin to destination you can save time.

Also this limitation could cause some serious problems. For example a certain ship (I forget the name) was blown off course and they didn't know how far east/west they were. They could find their latitude easily. They had limited rations. They knew there was an island near their latitude, but didn't know if they were east or west of it. So they guessed and headed east... luckily they were right and got there in time before starving.

Wikpiedia have a good article on longitude (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitude) and also on the history of longitude calculations (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_longitude). There is also a very good book about it called "longitude" which I won't link to because it could be considered spam advertising if I did, you can find it easily enough if you want to.

Possibly Roy's intention is to walk through the desert on the right line of latitude until they hit the gate. However I suspect that he is actually aiming directly for the coordinates, because he says "Shojo gave me the coordinates for Girads Gate...". I assume they will either use a spell or some other method to figure out the longitude.

[shadzar]

Clock....sundial..... You think they had clocks on ships for Columbus.

Shoot an azimuth for the suns current position or from Polaris to find out where you are and check your charts...you don't need no clock!

[Starbuck_II]

Hmm...

*Checks back older OOTS strips*

*Laughs again*

*Checks the new ones*

*Doesn't laugh*

...I doubt it. Then again, maybe these have just not been my kind of jokes...

Did you like the gaming humor more?

[Warren Dew]

I loved it. :belkar: is really bad with his listen check. look, he doesnt listened right to what :roy: is saying.
The best was the change of cartographer to cart of gophers.:smallsmile:
I don't think he failed his listen check. He just doesn't know what "cartographer" means, so he hears "cart'o'g[r]opher".

[waterpenguin43]

Mr. Scruffy is eying that wagon a little too intently...

I'm sure the scruffster is going to have quite the lunch.
:smallamused:

[SolkaTruesilver]

Clock....sundial..... You think they had clocks on ships for Columbus.

Shoot an azimuth for the suns current position or from Polaris to find out where you are and check your charts...you don't need no clock!

Silly Shadzar! It was Captain Cook who first thought of using a clock and managed to fix Longitude! ;) Guess why everybody know uses Greenwhich (and before it, London) as the Meridien 0?

[lothos]

Clock....sundial..... You think they had clocks on ships for Columbus.

Shoot an azimuth for the suns current position or from Polaris to find out where you are and check your charts...you don't need no clock!

Sundial is no good on it's own, because that tells you the local time. It's necessary to have an accurate clock because that keeps the time of a known location (e.g. your home port, say Greenwich, London) then you can find the local time (a sundial could be used for that) and calculate the difference. The difference translates to your longitude.

It's true that there are other methods other than an accurate mechanical clock. The wikipedia article I linked to earlier lists some of the other historical attempts. The core thing is, you need to know the time at some fixed point, not just your local time.

[the_tick_rules]

Can't they have magical spells for navigation?

[JoseB]

Sundial is no good on it's own, because that tells you the local time. It's necessary to have an accurate clock because that keeps the time of a known location (e.g. your home port, say Greenwich, London) then you can find the local time (a sundial could be used for that) and calculate the difference. The difference translates to your longitude.

It's true that there are other methods other than an accurate mechanical clock. The wikipedia article I linked to earlier lists some of the other historical attempts. The core thing is, you need to know the time at some fixed point, not just your local time.

The best one (and one you can do using just a sextant) is that of Lunar Distance:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_distance_(navigation)

Of course, you need some fixed point from which to count time, and a series of tables to work out the differences between local time (easily calculable) and the time at the original meridian.

But, if there are cartographers in Sandsedge, it is just within the boundaries of the plausible that they have compiled tables for the distance between the moon and other celestial objects, as well as that they would reference those distances with respect to a time meridian passing through Sandsedge. Even if (as is very possible) the coordinates that Shojo gave Roy are (longitude-wise) relative to the meridian passing through Azure City, it is not too hard to apply the necessary corrections.

(In the past, practically every country set their "0 meridian" to whichever meridian passed by their capital: The Paris meridian was even in use for some time after the London/Greenwich meridian had become a "de facto" standard).

Just my 2 eurocent!

[TheBibliophile]

For more about the search for a good method for finding longitude, I recommend Longitude, by Dava Sobel. Just sayin'.

[Gullara]

lol cart of gophers

[David Argall]

For the most part, worry about how to determine longitude is over-analysis. We just need to know this is something Roy is going to have difficulties with, and which he may make some plot-interesting mistakes doing.

[Mr. Pin]

That was genuinely funny. I never cease to be amazed at how the Giant can make something so hilarious and yet so gripping, thrilling and hardcore.

[Optimystik]

For the most part, worry about how to determine longitude is over-analysis. We just need to know this is something Roy is going to have difficulties with, and which he may make some plot-interesting mistakes doing.

The irony of you using the term "over-analysis" has ruptured my mind into smithereens. :smallsigh:

[Kaytara]

I've long been saying that all the debaters should just put all that precious writing energy into crack pairings fanfics, instead.

Things would be funnier that way.

[Aaron]

Belkar is the back-up Elan. When Elan's getting too competent, Belkar takes his place.

LOL!!! Correction, Belkar is the old Elan!:smallbiggrin:

Nice comic Giant. :) This is why you don't want your Wisdom score to be your dump stat. You will need hearing aids.:smallbiggrin:

[David Argall]

The irony of you using the term "over-analysis" has ruptured my mind into smithereens.

My level of analysis tends to be based on what is necessary to convince others of their errors. Since we do have some hard to convince people around here, that can be fairly deep, but I rarely look much at points that don't affect the plot.

[bobothegoat]

Putting all those gophers in one cart... it just seems pointlessly cruel, even for Belkar. After all, he is a ranger. I simply don't think Belkar was morally justified putting those gophers in such a small cart.

*puts on flame-suit and hides*

[Optimystik]

I've long been saying that all the debaters should just put all that precious writing energy into crack pairings fanfics, instead.

Things would be funnier that way.

I'd rather retain what tenuous grasp on my sanity I have left than actually contribute to THAT thread, thanks. :smallwink:


*puts on flame-suit and hides*

Yeah you'd better run! *shakes fist*

[Zanaril]

I'd rather retain what tenuous grasp on my sanity I have left than actually contribute to THAT thread, thanks. :smallwink:

We exaggerate about the mental scarring. Honestly.

[Hithros]

For me, the sextant part was just....:smallconfused:

I wonder if Belkar already paid for those carts?

[Malkar Grumbo]

For me, the sextant part was just....:smallconfused:

I wonder if Belkar already paid for those carts?

Knowing him, he threatened the dealer into throwing them in for free.

[Shatteredtower]

Seven pages in, and not one person has commented on the fact that Roy didn't start looking for a sextant until he parted company with the Azure City fleet?

Roy deserves ten times the torment Belkar's putting him through right now. Moron.

[Prowl]

Maybe it's just me, but I didn't find this one even slightly funny. Looks from this direction that the Giant mailed it in on this one. Sextant-"sex taint" is not even funny enough to carry a panel, forget about a whole strip. It's not even particularly imaginative... had he gone with a "sexed ant" I bet this could have been 20x better (not a high standard to meet).

[Pandora]

Excellent comic! I loved the chinchillas... Bwahahaha...
My chinchillas thank you for more public awareness.

[lothos]

We exaggerate about the mental scarring. Honestly.

Your avatar is mentally scarring enough on it's own :-)
Though it is probably the most memorable one in the forums for that very reason....

[Volkov]

My eyes! THEY BURN!!! Non-mammalian mammaries burn my eyes!

[TheBibliophile]

Forever after I shall refer to cartographers as "wagonochinchillas".

[Ichneumon]

I think the conversation about the dragon breasts was a needed reference to the whole D&D debate/controversy and was played moderately funny. The sextant explanation was lame and unnecessary, they could've just walked by the prostitutes without making the sextant joke and still deliver the dragonborn joke. The joke with the cart pun and the chincillas was funny, but it was ruined for me by the lame sextant joke earlier in the same comic.

[Lombard]

...best strip ever....

*cough*

[Wadoka]

...Well, Cart of Gophers is pretty bad too. *Though I'm not sure how the Chinchillas could help...*

Well, given enough (1) Chinchillas (2) Skill in Skinning and (3) Skill in Tanning, you can make a really nice fur coat...

...which is absolutely useless in a desert environment. Heh.

"Cat of Gophers". Someone's gonna pay...!