OOTS #711 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[The Rose Dragon]

I hadn't laughed at OotS in some time.

This strip was a nice change, though.

[Nerocite]

Oh first edition...

Good comic.

[Cisturn]

awesome it loaded up while i was on the site!

[t3h l3g1t m4g3]

Wow the comics have been coming fast recently. Great comic too! I wonder where the first piercing was though. :smalleek:

[PhantomFox]

How long have you been waiting to pull THAT joke? But well done!

[Forever Curious]

Ah, finally some nice simple humor again.

[CoffeeIncluded]

.....*Starts laughing* Nice one! Can't wait to see who's up next! (And what shenanigans they'll get into. :smallamused:)

[Manicotti]

As someone who plays a rogue-type character in almost every RPG that gives the option...

*twitch*

[hamishspence]

yes- and the point about unrealistic looks for adventurers is a good one.

[Drolyt]

That was a pretty darn funny strip, brightened my day. The update schedule is nice too. Keep up the good work Giant!

[brionl]

So Haley isn't having much luck with her gather information either.

[Aragehaor]

"Wait a minute, the tough-looking chick at the bar told me that this was the place where i could find a bunch of thieves and robbers!" :smalltongue:

Awesome page Giant, especially liked the title.

[derfenrirwolv]

What, no slurpee joke?

Although are they unrealistic expectations when the system allows the leather dental floss +5 to have the same protective value as a suit of platemail?

[Mariel Dragon]

Ingenious.

[Private-Prinny]

At first I thought it was a typo, but then I read it and laughed. The last panel was gold.

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

Hmmmm, I think the last comic was funnier but the art was good.

[Mando Knight]

The rouge angles of satin strike again. :smalltongue:

[Phoenix Xul]

Heh, great strip.

[hamishspence]

Looks like this prediction:


I expect that we'll have one strip for each OOTS party member, showing us their particular style of gathering information... and I expect the Belkar strip will involve numerous dead bodies. :smallbiggrin:

stands a chance of being correct. We've had an Elan strip, a Haley strip- maybe the others will get them.

Or maybe it will go straight to them meeting the others, and theirs will be summed up with "no luck" or something like that.

[mucat]

Rich, that was awful!

And I loved it! Thanks!

"Hey! Our retail prices are competitive!"

[Shale]

Okay, that was awesome.

[RebelRogue]

I get that Aton is the egyptian name for the sun, but I feel I am missing something here :smallconfused:

[Optimystik]

Okay, I take it back... filler can be quite entertaining.

"The Aton Lady"

[hamishspence]

There was a "rouge" reference in Origin of PCs, but aside from that, I can't think of any offhand in the main strip, before this one.


I get that Aton is the egyptian name for the sun, but I feel I am missing something here :smallconfused:

I've usually seen it spelled Aten, but Haley's "where the sun-disk doesn't shine" seemed like a nod to it.

[Woodsman]

Awesome.

Keep rolling, Giant.

[Water-Smurf]

I liked the last panel. Everyone needs to get at least one jab in at the freakish expectations of the adventuring women.

[Kurald Galain]

That was really funny :P

[Jokasti]

Does Aton mean something, or is that just the name of the company?:smallconfused:

[Optimystik]

Does Aton mean something, or is that just the name of the company?:smallconfused:

It's a parody of "Avon" a cosmetics company known for very aggressive marketing and female saleswomen.

[SPoD]

I get that Aton is the egyptian name for the sun, but I feel I am missing something here :smallconfused:

The entire set-up is a parody of AVON, a cosmetics company that sells its products by recruiting women (usually housewives) to serve as door-to-door salespeople.

EDIT: Ninja'd. But it's funny that some people get the reference to Aton (or Aten), and some people get the reference to Avon, but not everyone gets both.

[Moran]

Simply awesome. :smallbiggrin:

[Stomp]

Rouge guild cracks me up. 'You are autumn':smallbiggrin:

[Strawberries]

Simply awesome. That's all :smallbiggrin:.

[Elfin]

Nice one. Great.

[Big Hungry Joe]

Another great one -- and definitely sets the floor on all those "how to fail a gather info check" posts. I'm really looking forward to seeing Belkar's version of this.

[hamishspence]

it's funny that some people get the reference to Aton (or Aten), and some people get the reference to Avon, but not everyone gets both.

I've heard the term "Avon Lady" but I wasn't quite sure what it meant.

[Jagos]

I've heard the term "Avon Lady" but I wasn't quite sure what it meant.

They've just recently changed tactics to be in malls. But the Avon Lady is like any other marketing group where some women work years with the same people.

Yeah, I found a LOT of them in Vegas...

[Crusher99333]

My gods...

Bahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
That's really good. Well done Rich

[pflare]

I thoroughly enjoyed the rogue-rouge word play in the title

[Jack of Spades]

Nice! Took me a frame or two to figure out what was gong on, but amazing nonetheless :smallbiggrin:

I bet Haley would have immediately found a way out of any binding contract with the guild anyhow.

[Arakune]

The entire set-up is a parody of AVON, a cosmetics company that sells its products by recruiting women (usually housewives) to serve as door-to-door salespeople.

EDIT: Ninja'd. But it's funny that some people get the reference to Aton (or Aten), and some people get the reference to Avon, but not everyone gets both.

Two references in a single joke? Awesome!

[derfenrirwolv]

Took me a second to notice Rouges guild as opposed to Rogue's guild

I can't speel

[fruityjanitor]

Very amusing strip, even before I had the Aton/Aten thing pointed out to me. I bet Rich really has been waiting a while to tell this joke. lol

And that was a pretty hardcore initiation test for a bunch of makeup merchants!

[CWater]

Teehee...this one was funny! :smalltongue: Ah, those ridiculous unrealistic expectations... I hate them too:smallamused:

[Gez]

If that robot in the first panel is a subtle allusion to Edward Scissorhands, this is awesomely clever. :smallbiggrin:

[Bartonar]

I wonder where the first piercing was though. :smalleek:

Im not sure you want to know.

The comics have been coming faster lately, which is great :smalltongue:.

[SPoD]

wonder where the first piercing was though. :smalleek:

Haley used to have her eyebrow pierced; we can see it in flashbacks to her teenage years, and in her Self-Doubt manifestation.

[Bartonar]

I cant believe i forgot the eyebrow piercing :smallredface:

[gibbo88]

Hahahaha, another quality failed Gather Information check...

[Edric O]

"You can stick your sisterhood where the sun-disk doesn't shine."

Hehe... Aton. God of the sun-disk. Nerdy Ancient Egypt jokes ftw. :smallamused:

[Jake]

I bet Haley would have immediately found a way out of any binding contract with the guild anyhow.

Considering how she got out of her binding contract with the thieves' guild in Greysky City...

[TerrickTerran]

All right, that was just fun.

[esmerelder]

And to think I was all ready to pounce on the 'typo' in the strip title... *is thoroughly ashamed of self*

I love this strip so much -- ridiculous wordplay, elements synthesised from Ancient Egypt and modern-day cosmetics companies, obscure references to past canon, and playfully biting satire of gender stereotypes in D&D/fantasy literature in general... it's the happiest an OOTS strip has made me in quite some time.

[Dusk Eclipse]

It took me closing the comic and coming to the thread to notice the pun on the comic name (note to self: be more attentive)

It was great, the punchline was by far the best in this particular comic

[Laketh Stadt]

Funny, we were just discussing avon at the local watering hole.

[Draxonicar]

Ah, love the "Rouge" joke.

and the "where the sun disk don't shine" is a reference to what Aton means: The disk of the sun, it was a deity in ancient Egyptian mythology

[Shatteredtower]

Wow. I wasn't expecting so many updates this week. This one was surprisingly satisfying. Didn't give me so much as a smile, let alone a laugh, but there was a definite feeling of correctness about it.

Well done.

[The_Weirdo]

I support unrealistic expectations of what a female adventurer should look like. :smallbiggrin:

[Ravenred]

Throwaway, but awesome all the same.

:)

Hmmm... who's best placed to succeed in this, if even Elan the exceptionally CHArismatic fails...

[whitemane]

Supporting unrealistic expectations since first edition... ROFL...

Would be even better if one of the Aton ladies was wearing a chainmail bikini....

[Puns de León]

I've noticed all sorts of new hues being used by the Giant since ~ V's encounter with the ABD, and which have become especially obvious as of late, and I'm thrilled by them! I loved the generous combination of orange, purple, and grey in this comic, and I am enjoying the greater variety in colours like red, green, blue, and brown present in 710. Great use of paler and darker colours as well as of light, shadow, and transparency. It certainly seems like the strip has taken on a more artistic identity; strips that stand out in particular for me are 627 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0627.html) and 628 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0628.html), showcasing different magic and a nice sonic effect, 639 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0639.html), with its view of the planet, and 672 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0672.html)'s natural imagery and purple goodness.

Usually, I've found that an improvement in art on web-based entertainment - sites, games - is correlative to a step down in quality, but it doesn't look like this is the case here. I don't value art close to as much as I do the material, but it's good to see you developing the aesthetic aspect.
Laudable attention to detail, Giant! Much appreciated!

[Hardcore]

I didn't get the joke until reading the name of the strip for the second time. I bet Rich had wanted to do that one for ages and was looking for the opportunity.:smallbiggrin:

[Teleporker]

I'm loving the update rate, I'm loving moving away from the politics stuff, and I'm loving the funny stuff that gets funnier after looking at the references!

If there is a Belkar strip (PLEASE RICH!!! PLEEEEEASE!!!), we're supposed to see him checking the brothels for prostitutes of both genders...

I say that either he gets lucky with the girls and fails to find any info, or murders all the guys and fails to find any info, or gets lucky with the girls, murders all the guys, and fails to find any info!

Or maybe he gets lucky with the guys, fails to find any girls and murders all the info?

[Islander]

Thank you Giant. This made my day.

[GenPol]

Hah, that's great. But the update times are greater! Keep them coming Giant! :smalltongue:

[Sijo]

OK, now THIS was the first strip in quite a while that actually made me laugh. Didn't advance the plot on inch, but it was creative. :smallbiggrin:


a Belkar strip (PLEASE RICH!!! PLEEEEEASE!!!), we're supposed to see him checking the brothels for prostitutes of both genders...

I'll skip that one, tho. :smalleek:

[waterpenguin43]

I like your jab at the possible sexism in the drawings. Also, I'm dying for a look at the Linear Guild.

[Squeejee]

I love the break away for humor in the past few strips - that title pun is simply awful, hilarious, but awful! :smallsmile:

EDIT: I predict that the Belkster will be the only one to succeed in his Gather Information check, possibly by way of Scruffy intervention.

[Inhuman Bot]

.. what is this I don't even >.>

Oh, I just saw how the title said "rouge".

[ScottishDragon]

Just lovin the new updates,great comics comin in,wonder whats gonna happen.

[iwarriorpoet]

The women in the First Edition Deities and Demigods... Lord... I was around 12 when it came out. Many, MANY a nasty thought started with some of the images from that book.

[Orodruin]

Great title!
They got Haley's money too, hah.

[Lord of Syntax]

This is my favorite gag strip in some time, because it is actually funny. :smalltongue:

[Scarlet Knight]

I've noticed all sorts of new hues being used by the Giant since ~ V's encounter with the ABD, and which have become especially obvious as of late, and I'm thrilled by them! I loved the generous combination of orange, purple, and grey in this comic, and I am enjoying the greater variety in colours like red, green, blue, and brown present in 710. Great use of paler and darker colours as well as of light, shadow, and transparency. It certainly seems like the strip has taken on a more artistic identity; ..

Sounds like you work for Aton... ok , give me a bottle of earth tones... :smallwink:

[derfenrirwolv]

EDIT: Ninja'd. But it's funny that some people get the reference to Aton (or Aten), and some people get the reference to Avon, but not everyone gets both.

Wait, you mean that the people who know egyptian gods and the folks that know about beautifying products that you need from going outside AREN"T the same demographic?

[ref]

I'm loving the update rate, I'm loving moving away from the politics stuff, and I'm loving the funny stuff that gets funnier after looking at the references!

If there is a Belkar strip (PLEASE RICH!!! PLEEEEEASE!!!), we're supposed to see him checking the brothels for prostitutes of both genders...

I say that either he gets lucky with the girls and fails to find any info, or murders all the guys and fails to find any info, or gets lucky with the girls, murders all the guys, and fails to find any info!

Or maybe he gets lucky with the guys, fails to find any girls and murders all the info?

And then he dies.

[Tricksy Hobbits]

Love the puns and update schedule. Hope we'll see everyone's gather info checks, Durkon and V should team up and do a "good cleric, bad wiz" type thing on some people. Keep up the good work, Giant.

[Kareasint]

Well, Haley made her "Gather Information" check but it turned out to be the wrong type of thieves and robbers. The lady at the bar must have really been ripped off by Aton.

Life as a saleswoman must be tough in these parts to require that kind of training shown in the first panel.

[Xorbon]

What? Nobody else will do it?

:smallsigh: *sigh*

Giant, it's spelled "rogue". "Rouge" is a type of makeup.


:smallwink:

[ThePhantasm]

Great strip. Feels like we are back to classic OOTS days again.

[Xentropy]

What? Nobody else will do it?

:smallsigh: *sigh*

Giant, it's spelled "rogue". "Rouge" is a type of makeup.


:smallwink:

...

Did you read the STRIP or just the title?

(Hint: They're a guild of makeup saleswomen. It's not a misspelling, nor a typo.)

[TheYoungKing]

...

Did you read the STRIP or just the title?

(Hint: They're a guild of makeup saleswomen. It's not a misspelling, nor a typo.)

Somebody failed their Sense Motive check.....

[Lawless III]

If that robot in the first panel is a subtle allusion to Edward Scissorhands, this is awesomely clever. :smallbiggrin:

That was my thought as well. In fact, Edward Scissorhands is the only reason I got the Avon/Aton joke in the first place.

[Blanth]

Hark! Aton™ calling!

[Tobimaro]

I really believe that those women really wanted Haley to join them, but Haley's preference in liberating others wealth usually involves using lock picks instead of persuasion. :smallwink:

[Vectner]

It's hard to resist their products. Great strip made me chuckle. I still don't get the blindfolded trial though.

[Samuraiko]

This thread was made even funnier for me by the fact that my husband and I (both of whom play CITY OF HEROES) were just laughing about how many villains spell stuff wrong.

And just as John tells me about seeing YET ANOTHER character called "Rouge Angle", I open today's OOTS and see this.

I think the neighbors could hear me laughing for six blocks in every direction.

Poor Haley... but I wonder what Elan will think when she gets back and smells the ylang-ylang moisturizer.

[factotum]

Somebody failed their Sense Motive check.....

Don't forget, they can teach them to detect evil, but not sarcasm! :smallwink:

[Santiago]

Thanks Giant! I had the ****tiest day before, during and after work. This brought a smile to my face. :smallsmile:

[Tundar]

Hahaha :smallbiggrin:

Incoming >>A Tupperware party<<

[danielmayer]

yeah,
I really liked the last panel of the strip. As far as I recall, and was playing 1st Ed. in School, it's as true as any fact in the universe!
Damn, where were all the good looking adventure-ladies???? :smallredface:

[Je dit Viola]

This is pretty funny!

I saw the title...and thought "Red? Maybe it's going back to that 'Goat turns, Red strikes True' thing", so I (accurately) guessed it would be Haley in the strip, but for completely the wrong reasons.

Anyway, I thought it was really good!

[snikrept]

They all have to pass the Test of the Oscillating Doom in order to be qualified to do sales? :smalleek:

Ninja Cosmetics Saleswomen. Climbing walls and slipping through keyholes to sneak up on people and relieve them of their money; and then replacing the money with fine cosmetic products. :smallbiggrin:

[Roger_Druid]

Hi,

'Aton' was Pharaoh Amenhotep IV's try to establish a monotheistic religion in ancient Egypt. When Alexander the Great went there, he was greeted by Aton's priests as his son, a sign of power. Aton was the god of the sun disk, a god of might, whereas Apollo (the ancient Hellenic god of the sun), was a god of culture. So, maybe the Giant wanted to stress out the power of the 'Aton' company, actually being the only one to be of value in the OotS world,

Roger Druid.

P.S. I *GREAT* strip!

[hamishspence]

True- though it seems these days that "Aten" is a more common spelling than "Aton"- with Amenhotep IV's new name for himself usually written as Akhenaten.

Though I have seen Ikhnaten on occasion.

[warmachine]

This one didn't really work for me as I don't even look at Avon products.

[Terbovus]

Absolutely inspired!

Brilliant! :smallsmile:

[pjackson]

Great strip.

[Garwain]

I was trying to find the pun for the rogues and their guilt. I bet the salesladies don't feel any guilt selling their products. Maybe the rogue was Haley, feeling guilty of admitting to the 1e expectations, but nah.... that didn't work for me.
Being the rouge guild however, was a lot better.

[Athaniar]

I must say, this is one of the funniest strips in a while. Sure, it doesn't have much story development, but it's really humorous. As one who likes puns, dislikes bad spelling, and is interested in Egyptian mythology, there was much appeal to this one, even though I didn't get the cosmetics reference until I read this thread.

[Zazu Yen]

Oh man, my wife sells Mary Kay so I completely got this strip. It was great. Their passive aggressive tactics can sometimes make you wish you could just run a gauntlet of traps instead.

The Belkar "gathering information" strip could be handled in one panel, in which he says "I forgot to ask the question" while cleaning his daggers.

Lol, I would join City of Hero's to play a Villain intentionally titled "Rouge Angle", all decked out in red and loaded with misdirection and deception themed powers. What a great idea, too bad it's unintentional. Maybe you can convince one of them to change their theme to match their name...

[LuisDantas]

Refreshingly funny strip. :)

We are probably indeed going to see (roughly) each of the Stickers at a time in their own strip now for a taste of humor before going ahead with the plot. It is a good thing that we have been receiving them every two days, so the plot will not wait too long, either :)

[Dark_Tangente]

Nice one,
first panel recalls me of Hammerfight :smallbiggrin:

[Lkctgo]

Well at least we know Haley wouldn't get cracked skin under the sun. Her relation with Elan is safe.

[pendell]

And everyone was knowledge-checking feverishly.


Respectfully,

Brian P.

[DabblerWizard]

I greatly enjoyed the gender-role commentary as related to gaming within a male-centric, heteronormative framework. - In other words, good strip.

I also continue to wonder about what or whom OOTS is searching for. I eagerly await the next post.

[Pyron]

Poor Haley... but I wonder what Elan will think when she gets back and smells the ylang-ylang moisturizer.

:elan: "Haley, you've gone rouge!"

[Tarnag40k]

The Belkar "gathering information" strip could be handled in one panel, in which he says "I forgot to ask the question" while cleaning his daggers.

I agree belkar checking for both genders just smells of a spaghetti story in the making.

[Gitman00]

Wow the comics have been coming fast recently. Great comic too! I wonder where the first piercing was though. :smalleek:

My money is on nipples. Haley seems the type. :smallbiggrin:

[Gwynfrid]

Awesome strip. I mean, recent strips were pretty good, but this is just hilarious. Great start of the day. Thanks !

And, thanks to those who pointed out the Avon reference. That's the one joke you can't get if you're not US-based.

I especially love the way Haley, even though she's pissed off, just has to buy at least some moisturizer. Talk about effective marketing.

I'm wondering which, if any, of the OoTS members will finally make that Gather Information check. My bet is on the least likely : Durkon.

[Ransle]

Love 711! I've been playing since d&d began (still play, mostly 2nd edition with all the original books) The women were even less realistic than superheros, and the other players' comments were annoying at best.
Thanks for remembering us "normal" women.
PS - once found a large cache of vials and potions in a castle -- yes, cosmetics.When we sold them I argued for a bonus for the rare items (never saw them in a shop before) and made good money. Go ATON!:smallbiggrin:

[Eran of Arcadia]

My money is on nipples.

This deserves to be quoted out of context.

[Selif]

Fun. I am glad we got back to the party. I like the catch phrase for "Aton". So real. I hope we see Vaarsuvius next.

-Selif

[Pandabear]

Oh man.. the title itself is enough to kick the shins and bust them for anyone consistently insisting on misspelling rogue.. :smallbiggrin:

[Faramir]

Okay, the last one was funny but this was hilarious. A blow struck for all of us who compulsively proofread and have to force ourselves not to point out spelling mistakes :).

[mastermind]

I believe they are going to attract the attention of Girard and his friends, if they haven't already.

I had a situation like this once with my PC's I was DMing for. It ended with some blindfolds, a few saps, and an uncomfortable interrogation.

Albeit, they were looking for info on the main antagonist, so Girard may not use such tactics.

But they will attract some attention.

[amuletts]

Brilliant and funny, the best strip for a while. I love puns and this one just makes so much esnse given 1st ED artwork. Rouge Guild LMAO.

[ArqArturo]

Hahaha :smallbiggrin:

Incoming >>A Tupperware party<<

Platemail party?.

[Roland Itiative]

Is selling Aton products morally justified? *hides under a rock*

Great comic! I didn't even noticed the "typo" in the title until it was mentioned here...

[Elentari]

This one was hilarious, especially when you factor in the fact that Haley paid up for those two jars of moisturizer even though she was mad at them.

[Darkfyre99]

.

Wait, you mean that the people who know egyptian gods and the folks that know about beautifying products that you need from going outside AREN"T the same demographic?Is it wrong that I enjoy the discussion threads almost as much as I enjoy the comics themselves???

[Aenghus]

In the OOTS-verse door to door salesperson is a high risk profession. Think of all the door traps, and suspicious residents who shoot first. And that's before any annoying sales pitch gets started.

I'm not surprised there's a stringent set of tests to qualify. :smallsmile:

[Petrocorus]

I can't believe it. Such quick update, i am HAPPY!

Thanks you, mr. Burlew!


There was a "rouge" reference in Origin of PCs, but aside from that, I can't think of any offhand in the main strip, before this one.


What's a "rouge" reference? Lipstick?


The women in the First Edition Deities and Demigods... Lord... I was around 12 when it came out. Many, MANY a nasty thought started with some of the images from that book.

Would you, by any chance, know where to find this picture on The Internet?

And, BTW, there is no unrealistic expectations! This how it is supposed to be, and this is how it is!
We all know that Joan of Arc was wearing a skinny closely fitting full plate with total cleavage and a perfect hair cut in all circumstances.

[hamishspence]

What's a "rouge" reference? Lipstick?


To be precise:


Roy: Well, uh, Haley, is it? It says on your application here that your class is "rouge". Assuming you are not actually a cosmetic applied to the cheeks and you thus meant to write "rogue," what kind of experience do you have?

So, the misspelling of "rogue" as "rouge" was brought up in Origin.

[BatRobin]

So Haley and Elan have failed.

Now, Roy, then V, then Durkon...And Belkar accidentally finds out. Probably.

[Kobold-Bard]

Woo, more updates.

Will we get one for each character?

[hihidude]

Wow.... very interesting. You'd think they would finish rubbing it in b4 talking about it. Woo hoo for random pink smudges!:smallamused:

[Joringel]

They all have to pass the Test of the Oscillating Doom in order to be qualified to do sales? :smalleek:

Sounds like a standard stress test to me. Who wants to buy cosmetics from a saleswoman who sweats at the slightest provocation, erasing the foundation and causing mascara to run all over the place?

...er, not that I would know. :smallredface:

[BoloYeung]

About ylang-ylang oil... maybe it has deeper meaning? Like in Veiled Dragon.

[Dr.Epic]

I like how the characters are trying to sell items in strip 711.

[Sutremaine]

Poor Haley... but I wonder what Elan will think when she gets back and smells the ylang-ylang moisturizer.
:elan:: Oh hi Haley, how'd your... *sniff sniff* I didn't realise you were interested in that stuff!
:haley:: Er, well,--
:elan:: Can I have some?
:haley:: :confused:
:elan:: It's hard to be dashing when your skin isn't unrealisticly smooth and soft. Really, you get a penalty to a whole bunch of things if you're not kissable at all times.

[Zanaril]

I'm just waiting for that piercing to be mentioned later.

Probably by Elan.

[Herald Alberich]

:elan:: Oh hi Haley, how'd your... *sniff sniff* I didn't realise you were interested in that stuff!
:haley:: Er, well,--
:elan:: Can I have some?
:haley:: :confused:
:elan:: It's hard to be dashing when your skin isn't unrealisticly smooth and soft. Really, you get a penalty to a whole bunch of things if you're not kissable at all times.

You win the thread.

[rockdeworld]

Very funny. Although I'm still waiting for the strip about how older women are sexier because of age-bonuses to charisma.

[Nimrod's Son]

I'm just waiting for that piercing to be mentioned later.

Probably by Elan.
We've already seen it. She had her eyebrow pierced as a teenager.

[Roland Itiative]

In the OOTS-verse door to door salesperson is a high risk profession. Think of all the door traps, and suspicious residents who shoot first. And that's before any annoying sales pitch gets started.

I'm not surprised there's a stringent set of tests to qualify. :smallsmile:

We need a Door to Door Salesperson PrC ASAP:smallbiggrin:

[Oshirokita]

At first I thought it was a typo, but then I read it and laughed. The last panel was gold.

Exactly my thoughts too. I had to backtrack to the previous strip wondering if I had missed one, but now see how it plays along in parallel. Great strip and good storytelling, plus nice to see the frequent updates.

Now that I have read through Don't Split the Party a couple of times, I am ready for the next book. ha ha ha (well, semi-seriously).

[mucat]

The women in the First Edition Deities and Demigods...
So wait, you're saying the First Edition artists supported unrealistic expectations of what a goddess should look like? Man, those must be some artists.

[Blaznak]

Nice bags under the eyes. The woman must not use what she sells... :)

[Mystic Muse]

Is it wrong that I enjoy the discussion threads almost as much as I enjoy the comics themselves???

No. THere's nothing wrong with enjoying discussion threads.

[Djibril]

Way 2 go Giant!!!!

[Agi Hammerthief]

Is it wrong that I enjoy the discussion threads almost as much as I enjoy the comics themselves???
yeah totally wrong :smalltongue: :smallwink:

the rogue/rouge was totally lost on me, as I have to look up the spelling usually, and its my favourite class too (the rogue)
I just thought "well that's a strangely obvious title" :smallconfused:

[ClockShock]

Is it wrong that I enjoy the discussion threads almost as much as I enjoy the comics themselves???

No. In fact try reading the discussion BEFORE the comic once in a while. It's interesting.

[Nimrod's Son]

No. In fact try reading the discussion BEFORE the comic once in a while. It's interesting.
Just don't complain about spoilers.

[Garwain]

No. In fact try reading the discussion BEFORE the comic once in a while. It's interesting.

First you read the comic for it's story
Then you try to find the puns
Then you read the discussion thread to see what you've missed.

So reading the thread first, makes no sense to me. Unless you're trying not to enjoy the comic....

[Manga Shoggoth]

I showed this comic to my wife (who is a Beautician). Once she finished laughing I explained the Disk of the Sun/Aton reference. That set her off again.

Now she knows why I read this strip...

[sihnfahl]

So, the misspelling of "rogue" as "rouge" was brought up in Origin.
It's also acquired a bit of a headbang status:

"Rouges are overpowdered."

[zql]

Funiest comic of the year!!!!!
I laughed soooo hard at the last three panels.
Aton's marketing department (lead by a diviner, maybe) should work on that explicit message a little :smallbiggrin:

[vbushido]

:smallamused: Y'know, in Fellowship of the White Star, my American character is a California Perfume Company saleslady with levels in rogue. I find this comic exceptionally amusing for reasons no one else would.

As a bonus, I'm in real life a female Avon salesman. No, that's not a typo.

[Gift Jeraff]

So Haley and Elan have failed.

Now, Roy, then V, then Durkon...And Belkar accidentally finds out. Probably.

Still betting on the Linear Guild being the OOTS's ticket to Girard. Somehow.

[Fedaykin]

Now i'm waiting Belkar gather information in the "love house" hehehe :smallwink:

[hamishspence]

I wouldn't be surprised if (should this occur) the Giant has a poke at some of the standard cliche phrases:

Roy- "So, what info did you get from the house of ill repute?"
Belkar- "Hey! I'll have you know everybody speaks very highly of it!"

Or something along those lines.

[Scarlet Knight]

Supporting unrealistic expectations since first edition... ROFL...

Would be even better if one of the Aton ladies was wearing a chainmail bikini....

Doesn't have to be...

http://corky.net/dotan/log/images/fcov.jpg

[factotum]

Ah, but that woman is clearly a wizard of some kind, and since none of them wear any kind of armour the scarlet superheroine outfit is probably as practical as anything else!

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Doesn't have to be...

http://corky.net/dotan/log/images/fcov.jpg

:smile: I own that adventure! My God, I'm getting old!

[Swordpriest]

Now i'm waiting Belkar gather information in the "love house" hehehe :smallwink:

Since everyone is expecting that, I expect the Giant to turn that expectation on its head in some way. Either he won't manage to get into one (something will happen beforehand), or he'll make his discovery or lack thereof after leaving the brothels. With the Giant, expect the unexpected -- although it won't keep him from surprising you anyway. :smallamused:

[Skeppio]

I came, I saw, I laughed my ass off.

[Paranoid Tune]

Nice bags under the eyes. The woman must not use what she sells... :)

I believe the only woman with bags was elderly. It was to show her age, though she is probably a lot older but looks younger due to her probably constant use of cosmetics. :smallbiggrin:

[Agi Hammerthief]

I believe the only woman with bags was elderly. It was to show her age, though she is probably a lot older but looks younger due to her probably constant current use of cosmetics.
fixed :smalltongue:

[The_Weirdo]

:elan:: Oh hi Haley, how'd your... *sniff sniff* I didn't realise you were interested in that stuff!
:haley:: Er, well,--
:elan:: Can I have some?
:haley:: :confused:
:elan:: It's hard to be dashing when your skin isn't unrealisticly smooth and soft. Really, you get a penalty to a whole bunch of things if you're not kissable at all times.

That. Would be. AWESOME.

[Jack of Spades]

I believe the only woman with bags was elderly. It was to show her age, though she is probably a lot older but looks younger due to her probably constant use of cosmetics. :smallbiggrin:

Given that we're talking possibly-magical cosmetics here, there's really nothing stopping "Immortality Balm" from existing. She could be millenia old (that'd explain the cultlike cosmetics business) :smallbiggrin:

[Vemynal]

awesome comic!

[KuH]

There is another level of awesomeness to this strip that doesn't seem to have been commented on yet. Egypt is where the practice of using cosmetics first started!!

To quote Wikipedia: "The first archaeological evidence of cosmetics usage is found in Ancient Egypt around 4000 BC".

So that Sun-disk of Aton for the Rouge's Guild is just astonishingly great!!!

[Bows down to the master.]

[Dilvish]

:smallamused: Y'know, in Fellowship of the White Star, my American character is a California Perfume Company saleslady with levels in rogue. I find this comic exceptionally amusing for reasons no one else would.

As a bonus, I'm in real life a female Avon salesman. No, that's not a typo.

vbushido,
Maybe you can answer something I've wondered about. Do Avon ladies really go through field training at Quantico, VA? :)

[Nighthawk4]

Very good.

I have always hated it when people talk of Rouges instead of Rogues. :haley:

[Dilvish]

Very good.

I have always hated it when people talk of Rouges instead of Rogues. :haley:

Really? Do you get red with anger?

:smallsmile:

[ThePhantasm]

I like the current pace of the comic. It will make it even more meaningful when the story hits top speed again. Can't be all climax, you know, because then things become anticlimactic.

[Hithros]

Yay, First Edition ideals!
(I don't actually know what they're referring to, since I haven't even seen a First-Edition D&D Book.:smallsigh: I'll see what the Internet turns up)
But I'm sure I get the meaning anyways! Haha....

[Tyrion L.]

Yay, First Edition ideals!
(I don't actually know what they're referring to, since I haven't even seen a First-Edition D&D Book.:smallsigh: I'll see what the Internet turns up)
But I'm sure I get the meaning anyways! Haha....

I think the joke is that, though male adventurers tend to look rugged and well-muscled, sometimes with multiple battle scars no matter what series they are in, female adventurers tend to somehow come out without a scratch from nearly everything, have ridiculously nice skin, and look very unrealistic.

Nice lampshading, Lord Burlew.

-Tyrion Lannister

[cyan-shine]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HILARIOUS! Well done!

So that's what all those guys mean when they say LFG rouge! :P

[Fernando_]

You know, Avon has a pretty bad name in Brazil, I'm surprised he chose that product to make the joke.
I suppose it could be more popular in USA (or wherever the giant's from).

[Kish]

You don't think Aton's supposed to have a bad name in the OotS universe? "She told me this was where I could find a bunch of thieves and robbers."

[Scarlet Knight]

"She told me this was where I could find a bunch of thieves and robbers."

"Hey, we're make up specialists, not illusionists!" :smallredface:

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

I can't wait to see Belkar at the "love shack". :belkar:

[waterpenguin43]

Quick theory concerning who (if anyone) finds out about Girard:
Well, Elan and Haley have failed. This leaves Vaarsuvius, Durkon, Belkar and Roy.
My suspicions:
-Vaarsuvius: If Rich wishes to showcase the changes V has and is going through, then V will most likely find it, if anyone.
-Roy: Might be used to show that deep down, they're still the same babblingly incompetent party they were in the Dungeons of Dorukan and only Roy has really been the competent one this whole time.
-Durkon: I doubt it. If so, then only for irony.
-Belkar: If Rich is going for humor, Belkar will find it, if anyone.

[Agi Hammerthief]

Quick theory concerning who (if anyone) finds out about Girard <snip spoiler>

you don't find Chuck Norris Girard, Chuck Norris Girard finds you