When Belkar dies, who should get the panel time he frees up?

[Sewblon]

A thread about who should replace Belkar has been going on for awhile. I reason that if The Giant writes him out of the comic outright, the resulting free panel time should go to one of the surviving main cast instead of to a replacement. I think it should either be Durkon because he hasn't gotten much attention lately, or Vaarsuvius because he/she still has many issues to deal with.

[Echowinds]

Everyone else in the order?
Belkar's afterlife adventures?

[FlawedParadigm]

Probably the guy who posted this thread: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126643
on the same topic, right on the first page.

[OberonFrost]

Probably the guy who posted this thread: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126643
on the same topic, right on the first page.

Apparently you didn't even bother to read the OP on this thread. It is a different question. He even said he knew the other thread was there and had been going on for a while. His question isn't the same.

I'd like to see more Haley/ Elan time myself.

[Raging Gene Ray]

Durkon needs to get himself a sidequest...then again, Blackwing, Haley/Elan, V/Inkyrius are all good candidates.

Outside of the order, we have Thanh and the resistance plus Team Peregrine. Then there's O-Chul and Lien's expedition to Kragoor's Gate.

We definitely don't need a new member of the Order to replace Belkar. There's plenty going on as it is for a good story.

[Warren Dew]

Mr. Scruffy.

Half a strip of him eating Belkar's liver would be a great transition. Can't let it go to waste, right?

[Bibliomancer]

Outside of the order, we have Thanh and the resistance plus Team Peregrine. Then there's O-Chul and Lien's expedition to Kragoor's Gate.

I would be most interested in reading about these plot arcs.

Out of curiosity, do has any indication been found for who "Thanh" might be?

[Allan Surgite]

You mean besides the leader of The (Combined) Resistance after Haley left Azure City?

I think Durkon could use some more screentime/character development, since I think that suddenly switching between The (Combined, Now With Elves) Resistance/O-Chul and Lien and the Order might be a tad jarring. I would rather get more information when the Order go to Kraagor's Gate/back to Azure City for whatever reason.

Maybe combine the two? Go to Azure City to get back to the Eastern Continent, then head north and go for Kraagor's Gate, even though there's probably easier ways to go about it.

[Raging Gene Ray]

Out of curiosity, do has any indication been found for who "Thanh" might be?

Thanh is a Sapphire Guard paladin who was outside of Azure City during the attack. He returned to find it under Redcloak's rule and joined Haley's Resistance fighters.

Due to the serendipitous presence of Mr. Scruffy, the leaders of the two other factions decided he was chosen by the Gods (or maybe the Spirit of Lord Shojo) to lead a new, unified Resistance.

EDIT: Ninja'd while I was trying to think of big words.

I wonder if Niu (the Rogue/Fighter multiclass girl from the Resisty) has become Thanh's second in command.

[Allan Surgite]

Oops, sorry~ I prefer your explanation, however.

Hm, the idea of Niu being the second-in-command is interesting. I would be a tad more inclined to say that she's somewhere around fourth down the line, since the other two factions of the unified Resistance would probably take offence to being passed over in favour of some commoner, if Kubota's response to making Daigo and Kazumi nobles was an indication.

[Bibliomancer]

Thanh is a Sapphire Guard paladin who was outside of Azure City during the attack. He returned to find it under Redcloak's rule and joined Haley's Resistance fighters.

Thanks. I missed his name being used.

[ClericOfBelker]

NO-ONE *Stab*

[theinsulabot]

Mr. Scruffy.

Half a strip of him eating Belkar's liver would be a great transition. Can't let it go to waste, right?

theres a man who obviously owns a cat.

its an odd experience the day you realize, no matter how friendly your little lap kitty is, he/she would eat your corpse

[TheBibliophile]

Oops, sorry~ I prefer your explanation, however.

Hm, the idea of Niu being the second-in-command is interesting. I would be a tad more inclined to say that she's somewhere around fourth down the line, since the other two factions of the unified Resistance would probably take offence to being passed over in favour of some commoner, if Kubota's response to making Daigo and Kazumi nobles was an indication.

Besides, I don't think they'd take to kindly to being passed over for someone who has levels in rogue, either.

[kpenguin]

Durkon. He needs a good sideplot.

[Raging Gene Ray]

Hm, the idea of Niu being the second-in-command is interesting. I would be a tad more inclined to say that she's somewhere around fourth down the line, since the other two factions of the unified Resistance would probably take offence to being passed over in favour of some commoner, if Kubota's response to making Daigo and Kazumi nobles was an indication.

Maybe they'd be more tolerant of the idea when they realized that it was the will of Thanh...and that being second in command means taking care of the dirty work not suited to a paladin or noble, but fitting for a commoner rogue.

[FlawedParadigm]

Apparently you didn't even bother to read the OP on this thread. It is a different question. He even said he knew the other thread was there and had been going on for a while. His question isn't the same.

I'd like to see more Haley/ Elan time myself.

Apparently you didn't even bother to read the OP on this thread. It is 99% the same question. He even said he knew the other thread was there (which is obvious, since he posted in it a couple of times.) His question was similar enough to have not derailed that thread.

There's a very tiny difference between "Who will replace Belkar?" and "Who will get Belkar's screen time?" Unless the answer to the first is "no one", then both answers are even the same.

[Desmond Tiny]

I think thog will become friends with elan join the order and replace Belkar as a melee warrior.:smallbiggrin:

[JaxGaret]

Who says that Belkar is going to die long before the strip concludes?

It's entirely possible that his death will be near the end.

[multilis]

Miko. Would drive the discussion board crazy. ;-)

[Yora]

Why should Belkar be replaced? Even if it comes to an apocalyptic end, I think Belkar will be the last one to survive.
We could probably live without any character and go on, but what would be the point of OotS without Belkar? :smallconfused:

It's entirely possible that his death will be near the end.
Roy was dead and Xykon still is.

[theinsulabot]

Miko. Would drive the discussion board crazy. ;-)

hey i dont know about everyone else but i wouldn't mind an occasional cut away to her unmarked grave or rotting corpse :smallamused:

[CletusMusashi]

If Belkar dies, we'll probably still see his adventures raising hell in the afterlife. He might also still be able to communicate in this world with Mr. Scruffy. Or... he might get raised by the bad guys and drive Redcloak and Xykon up the wall. So loss of screentime might never be a factor even if he dies early. But if it is, there ares still two members of the core cast who have been sadly neglected. Not only do I think we should see more of them, but since they've never really been utilized together, I think there is room for some very deeply thought-provoking character interaction. I am referring, as you have no doubt surmised already, to Durkon and Banjo.

[HealthKit]

Durkon. He needs a good sideplot.

Here, here!
Assuming he doesn't die (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0331.html) first (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0333.html).

[Kish]

Why should Belkar be replaced?
Because he's going to be dead and gone forever within seven weeks.

[derfenrirwolv]

Durkon.

Character growth would first require that he get character.

[Bibliomancer]

Durkon.

Character growth would first require that he get character.

Isn't it a bit late for that? I would prefer to find out about what Team Evil is doing, especially MitD, given that it already has more character than Durkon.

[Spiky]

Durkon. He needs a good sideplot.

A pulse would also be useful.

[Raging Gene Ray]

hey i dont know about everyone else but i wouldn't mind an occasional cut away to her unmarked grave or rotting corpse :smallamused:

Considering how he made her take a somewhat sympathetic turn as she lay dying, I doubt Rich is the kind to provide hate-porn to the Anti-Miko extremists.

If he does mention or show Miko again, I have faith that he'll do it in a way that shows her more human side, a bittersweet mixture of regret and rebirth. Either that or just write her out of the story altogether.

And as for Belkar...since my last post in this thread, I heard someone mention that Rich mentioned in a commentary that he always regretted missing the chance to show Belkar in the afterlife. To me, this definitely means at LEAST one comic detailing Belkar's adventures (or misadventures) in the Abyss.

[Kish]

And as for Belkar...since my last post in my thread, I heard someone mention that Rich mentioned in a commentary that he always regretted missing the chance to show Belkar in the afterlife. To me, this definitely means at LEAST one comic detailing Belkar's adventures (or misadventures) in the Abyss.
He said he regretted missing a chance to do afterlife jokes, if Miko had killed Belkar.

After he said that, Roy died, and we all know what happened.

Whether Rich feels a burning desire to do Abyss-specific afterlife jokes, or more afterlife jokes than he has done, is...questionable.

[Xzeno]

I don't think that Durkon lacks a character altogether. Every once in a while, his personality shows through. I would like to see him more, even without a devoted subplot.

[Liwen]

My guess is there won't be much of a story left when Belkar dies. I don't think he will perish until the very climatic ending battle. After that only a happy closure shall remain, seasoned with yet more fantastic D&D jokes!

[Optimystik]

Mr. Scruffy.

Half a strip of him eating Belkar's liver would be a great transition. Can't let it go to waste, right?

Evil, evil, evil. :smalltongue:

[JaxGaret]

Considering how he made her take a somewhat sympathetic turn as she lay dying, I doubt Rich is the kind to provide hate-porn to the Anti-Miko extremists.

I still am saddened that we didn't get to see red-and-black clad death knight Miko.

Would have been awesome.

[Optimystik]

Considering how he made her take a somewhat sympathetic turn as she lay dying, I doubt Rich is the kind to provide hate-porn to the Anti-Miko extremists.

While I wouldn't classify myself an "extremist," the knowledge that she is forever barred from the celestial paladin club is more than enough to compensate me.

[Yora]

Because he's going to be dead and gone forever within seven weeks.

But why would he?

[Kish]

But why would he?
Few words succeeds, in this case, in obfuscating where you're coming from. Are you someone who only started reading recently and knows nothing of the Oracle? Someone who rejects the Oracle's predictions about Belkar? Someone who thinks the Oracle's predictions are true but Belkar will slip through a loophole of unbreathing, uneating, untaxpaying not-in-the-worldness?

[thelveres]

When Belkar dies it wont really matter, he was the only cool character in the party anyway.

[theinsulabot]

When Belkar dies it wont really matter, he was the only cool character in the party anyway.


meh, his ax crazy shtick got old 300 pages ago, he could never quite pull of that black mage mix of evil and humor. he gets some amusing snark now and then, but pretty much anyone in the oots world could pull off his deadpan snarker routine without trouble.

[Trixie]

No one. Appropriate amount of panels should be left black. :smallamused:

[JaxGaret]

meh, his ax crazy shtick got old 300 pages ago

As opposed to Roy's knight in not-so-shining armor shtick, Haley's thief shtick, Durkon's stoic dwarf shtick, V's condescending wizard shtick, and Elan's stupid but pretty bard shtick?

They're all caricatures but I appreciate and love them all for what they are, and they've all had a fair degree of character development (except for Durkon).

[theinsulabot]

As opposed to Roy's knight in not-so-shining armor shtick, Haley's thief shtick, Durkon's stoic dwarf shtick, V's condescending wizard shtick, and Elan's stupid but pretty bard shtick?

i have a feeling this is not the answer you were looking for, but essentially, YES.

[thelveres]

but pretty much anyone in the oots world could pull off his deadpan snarker routine without trouble.

Ye the giant could have anyone pull any routine, but as it stands he is the only cool guy,

he is like a cool bad ass goku, has that child like intellect and sincerity of intent.

[Cracklord]

Considering how he made her take a somewhat sympathetic turn as she lay dying, I doubt Rich is the kind to provide hate-porn to the Anti-Miko extremists.

If he does mention or show Miko again, I have faith that he'll do it in a way that shows her more human side, a bittersweet mixture of regret and rebirth. Either that or just write her out of the story altogether.

And as for Belkar...since my last post in this thread, I heard someone mention that Rich mentioned in a commentary that he always regretted missing the chance to show Belkar in the afterlife. To me, this definitely means at LEAST one comic detailing Belkar's adventures (or misadventures) in the Abyss.

Isn't that just glorifying Belkar in pain? Well, I'd love some Belkar hate porn. Can we get him being strung up by his figgin by some demonlord?

[Cleverdan22]

As I stated in a thread similar to this a while back, I doubt anyone but the rest of the Order will have his panel time, as I feel his death will come very close to the end of the comic.