The reason why rich is not showing the order...

[Niburu]

Hi! I have been seeing alot of posts wondering about why the order isn't being shown and why Rich is focusing on other plotlines. Rich has done this before, actually stating in the commentary of his books that he uses these secondary character and villain scenes as a way to show a passage of time between boring points of plot in the OOTS's main story. Namely, he doesn't want to show the order traveling to each and every city only to go, "nope, nobody here." So to save time, he pulls out a nice dozen pages of villain strips to give a long passage of time.

He did this a few times before. Namely, when Miko had captured the order and was forcing them to march to Azure City (he stated that strips of their travels "either would have resulted in them escaping, or (end up) in a very boring story where all of the main characters were chained up." (from the OOTS book No Cure For The Paladin Blues)

So don't worry friends (those that were worrying at least.) we'll get back to the main characters soon enough.

Thanks for reading

[Maximum Zersk]

Um, okay...

I don't remember many people complaining about it...

And if they did, did you have to make a thread about it?

[Niburu]

I saw a couple on the latest update thread, so I thought I might help anyone who needed it out.

*shrug*

[Ancalagon]

I'm not wondering.

It's just a "pan away from the heroes". Has happened very often before, will happen again. Move along, citizen.

[NerfTW]

Well, yes, occasionally you need to show what's happening elsewhere. Especially when it's going to be relevant later. Imagine not seeing where the Linear guild was during the kidnapping plot. We'd have no idea who Julia was. Or why Xykon had an army outside Azure city if we never saw his trip to the tower.


If people are wondering why, I'd question if they've ever read a book or seen a movie in their life.

[Morthis]

People complain it's not always focused on the oots?

I doubt I'm the only one who is just as interested in seeing what team evil is up to as seeing what the order is up to. Some of the minor villain plots, sure, if they drag on too much it might get annoying, but team evil is very much a major part of the storyline as well. They're not just villains sitting somewhere waiting until the good guys finally kill them.

[Turkish Delight]

This is actually incorrect. Rich got bored of the Order and the comic will soon be renamed 'The Team Evil and Elf Show.'

[Asta Kask]

If it stops Closak from ranting about V, I'm all for it. Wait, Elf Show?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[talkamancer]

I'm still waiting to see what happens next in Iron Mage. Now thats a long cuttaway.

[FabuVinny]

It's only been 11 strips and we seem to be done with Azure City for now...

[Ancalagon]

This is actually incorrect. Rich got bored of the Order and the comic will soon be renamed 'The Team Evil and Elf Show.'

Actually, the reason is that the comic *is* based on a real gaming group and the players of the Order just decided they had enough of Rich's moral play and they simply want to "kick in the door and slay evil things for xp for a change".

The player of Belkar is DMing that round now.

[Optimystik]

If it stops Closak from ranting about anyone who looks at dragons funny

Fixed for posterity

[Ancalagon]

Fixed for posterity

What's so wrong about ranting about people who look funny at dragons? :smallconfused:

[Trebuchet]

Actually, the reason is that the comic *is* based on a real gaming group and the players of the Order just decided they had enough of Rich's moral play and they simply want to "kick in the door and slay evil things for xp for a change".

The player of Belkar is DMing that round now.

I figured that Haley sprained her ankle and the Giant didn't want to write around it in the action scenes. It's just so great he doesn't have to do a clip show like on Xena.

[Snake-Aes]

People complain it's not always focused on the oots?

People complain about absolutely everything, my friend. Even about not having what to complain about, what gives them a reason to complain, which invalidates their only reason to complain, leaving them without reason to complain, which is reason to complain...

[Gift Jeraff]

190 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0190.html)-197 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0197.html): 8 strips focusing on Team Evil (+4 pages in the compilation)
252 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0252.html)-258 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0258.html): 7 strips focusing on the Linear Guild (+1 in the compilation); followed by one that focuses on one-off characters & Team Evil (although it doesn't show up that way in the book)
368 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0368.html)-376 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0376.html): 9 strips focusing on Miko and Team Evil (one is a double strip)
541 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0541.html)-550 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0550.html): 10 strips focusing on O-Chul and Team Evil (two are double strips)
699 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0699.html)-709 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0709.html): 11 strips focusing on Team Evil, Team Peregrine, and the Resistance (one is a double strip)

So, as the OP points out, this is nothing new. It just seems extra long due to The Topic Which Must Not Be Brought Up,* but that seems to be getting better. :smallsmile:

*Although it is technically the longest, going solely by strips (and not pages; it's tied with the diary and O-Chul chapters unless a bonus strip is added in the book).

[zql]

190 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0190.html)-197 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0197.html): 8 strips focusing on Team Evil (+4 pages in the compilation)
252 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0252.html)-258 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0258.html): 7 strips focusing on the Linear Guild (+1 in the compilation); followed by one that focuses on one-off characters & Team Evil (although it doesn't show up that way in the book)
368 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0368.html)-376 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0376.html): 9 strips focusing on Miko and Team Evil (one is a double strip)
541 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0541.html)-550 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0550.html): 10 strips focusing on O-Chul and Team Evil (two are double strips)
699 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0699.html)-709 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0709.html): 11 strips focusing on Team Evil, Team Peregrine, and the Resistance (one is a double strip)

So, as the OP points out, this is nothing new. It just seems extra long due to The Topic Which Must Not Be Brought Up,* but that seems to be getting better. :smallsmile:

*Although it is technically the longest, going solely by strips (and not pages; it's tied with the diary and O-Chul chapters unless a bonus strip is added in the book).

Ooo, detailed analysis. Neat!

[Degnared]

What's so wrong about ranting about people who look funny at dragons? :smallconfused:

*looks at Ancalagon funny*

[Nimrod's Son]

If people are wondering why, I'd question if they've ever read a book or seen a movie in their life.
Exactly. I noticed the (few) complaints in the first place, but didn't bother replying for fear of confusing the posters in question with my mysterious squiggles.