World, Cup (OotS-style Fantasy)

[M@XWeru]

I can't think of a good, or even half-way decent opening for this, so I'll just post the first few pages and see what happens, eh?

This is the story of a normal adventuring party with a normal DM running them through a normal adventure in a normal campaign world... or is it? Join them as they try to figure out if this half-baked adventure even has a plot.

I'm only going to embed pages in replies, and keep this first post link-only. Just in case you're wondering.

Pages:

#1: Inattentive is teh Awesome! (http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/4643/p1inattentive.png)

#2 Tact is for Non-Casters (http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9161/p2friends.png)

#3 Unorthodox and a Scholar (http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/9083/3chaosdreary.png)

#4 No Respect, I Tells Ya (http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5915/p4relations.png)

#5 Bovine Intervention (http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/2038/p5tankalicious.png)

#6 Honour among Giants (http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9456/p6sleuthdiplomacy.png)

#7 Hindsight Needs Glasses (http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/3079/p7applause.png)

#8 But 'Idiot' is Fine (http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/4809/p8idiot.png)

#9 Leomund, Roll Over and Die (http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/318/p9xhm.png)

#10 Why not Longhorn? (http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8996/p10longhorn.png)

#11 Doodlehat (http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8030/p11crap.png)

#12 A Gentle Shove (http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1710/p12roar.png)

#13 The Plot Coagulates (http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7035/p13plot.png)

#14 Gods and Immorals (http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5226/p14representing.png)

#15 A God's Chance in Hades (http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1590/p15divinecomedy.png)

#16 Tomb Raiders (http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1538/p16bah2.png)

#17 It's not a Trap! (http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5715/p17blagh.png)

#18 YEAH (http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2339/p18makeit.png)

#20 Evil Side Quest (http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/818/p20later.png)

#21 Best. Domain. Ever. (http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/9633/p21halflingsrshort.png)

#22 Everyone and His Uncle (http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3141/p22faito2.png)

#23 Another Flaw in his Plan (http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/4736/p23inattentiveagain.png)

#24 Now He's Doing It Too (http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2691/p24derailedagain.png)

#25 Jungle Fever And Nausea (http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/1706/p25ewww.png)


Other Things:

Drawings & Such
Isobel the Immodest (http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/823/92063743.png)

Devil King Temple Explained (http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/4052/ugglyrat.png)

Settran Snapper (http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/5783/redsnappah.png)

Large but stealthy, this scaled pack hunter is a common sight in the steamy jungles of Settra, where they prey on just about everything else thanks to their great intelligence and tendency to attack in overwhelming force. Fast sprinters, good swimmers and avid climbers, Snappers can be found just about anywhere there is food to be had, though they are wise enough to stay well clear of civilization. Though sizeable and ferocious, Settran Snappers are built for speed and stamina rather than toughness, and individually pose little threat to more dangerous predators - such as humanoids.

Settran Snappers are intelligent enough that their young are easily domesticated despite their size and strength, and are widely used as guard beasts and pets. Snapper whelps mature only slightly faster than humans, and tend to live much longer. A well-trained Settran Snapper makes a lifelong and faithful companion, and their catlike grace means that they tend to destroy a disproportionately small amount of furniture along the way.

Another Important Character I Wish I Could Tell You About (http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7601/martinlkobold.png)
I really hate these inelegant teaser things, but it was already finished and so easy to upload...

Hanzel the Ogre (http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/4163/hanzel.png)
Hanzel is a mutant ogre and a veteran of the Settran armed forces, an expert brawler who currently serves as one of the Settran War Marshal's personal bodyguards. Right now, he guards the door to the inn where the Marshal is staying... because the Marshal is mean like that.


Other People's Things:

Fan Art: (Gasp!)
By Ninjaman (http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g467/Ninjamanhammer/FanArt.png)

By araveugnitsuga (http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss257/araveugnitsuga/IsobelDemotivational.png) (Yes, I had to copy and paste his username)

By araveugnitsuga #2 (http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss257/araveugnitsuga/KuragasanaDenotivational.png)

By Worlok (http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/2052/deathtrampling.png)

[mastermind]

I approve of this comic.

What program are you using? Is it gimp/adobe or are you using something else?

[M@XWeru]

Thank you.

I'm using InkScape - I'm too cheap to buy anything Adobe, and GIMP would take too long. Plus I like infinite rescalability.

[CrimsonAngel]

Yay, I thought it was going to be about soccer for some reason, but this is really good. :smalleek: I can't wait to see more, your art is fantastic, the script is funny, and I have a thing for old women and cows.

[M@XWeru]

How brave of you to admit it!

As a reward, here's an update:


#6: Honour among Giants

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9456/p6sleuthdiplomacy.png


Also, there's a reason why there's a comma between 'World' and 'Cup'. Oh yes. Blood Bowl is the closest I get to soccer.

[CrimsonAngel]

I get that as a reward? Did you know that i'm also in to people who update their comics quickly? :smallwink:

Nice chain work, I'm too lazy to do that. :smallfrown:

[M@XWeru]

I'm fine as long as I don't have to draw chain. D:

Thanks, though I make no promises about how often I'll update in the future.

[someonenonotyou]

wow awesome, funny, well drawn great comic keep it up

[Ninjaman]

Like this, i will be looking.

[M@XWeru]

Thanks, everyone. Hopefully, this'll all go somewhere interesting. :P

#7: Hindsight Needs Glasses
http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/3079/p7applause.png

[Ninjaman]

How long can they keep in roleplay mode? Not for long, i think.

[super dark33]

lets see:
a big half red dragon fighter or barbarien
a lusty shadowdancer or ninja
a snarky combat caster
an old healer(?)
a tiefling monk
and a happy chaotic netural paladin/somthing else

[M@XWeru]

Hee, guesses. Awesome.

Most of those are wrong, though.

Anyone else wanna take a shot?

[Ninjaman]

Hee, guesses. Awesome.

Most of those are wrong, though.

Anyone else wanna take a shot?

Minotaur Fighter
Thiefling Monk
Human Evoker
Human Not-rouge
Human Old-woman
Human Paladin, Chaotic neutral

:smallconfused:

[Worlok]

You know, I've been wondering: When the huge fighter guy says "I'd better aks around." in panel 3 of #6, is that a typo or a pun on 'axe'? :smallbiggrin:

Guesses-wise, I'd say:

Human, elven or half-elven bard/wizard mix (The rather unorthodox "Jimmy's handy hair stylist" and "Bigby's resounding facepalm" spells indicating researching his own spells, which I personally associate primarily with wizards, the harp included in the "suitably heroic gear" indicating some musical ability - and he doesn't seem like the type who'd keep useless stuff that looks valuable), probably named Jimmy.

Human ninja, assassin or similar non-rogue with sneak attack progression. Or rogue with self esteem issues.

Lesser tiefling monk variant.

Human paladin of anarchy.

Lysara Arrowfoot, human hexer.

Minotaur (possibly with helpings of ogre or other giant, perhaps half-ogre, genetics-wise, explaining the title of #6 per creature type - somewhat) barbarian (or perhaps war hulk or similar).

[Raging Gene Ray]

(The rather unorthodox "Jimmy's handy hair stylist" and "Bigby's resounding facepalm" spells indicating researching his own spells, which I personally associate primarily with wizards, the harp included in the "suitably heroic gear" indicating some musical ability - and he doesn't seem like the type who'd keep useless stuff that looks valuable)

I don't think he's used any spell not on the Bard list, and grooming and hand-gestures sound like very bard-like spells.

I was expecting them to start playing some sort of cosmic soccer (yeah, I'm an American) match after the first few comics on account of the name. Why is it called World, Cup anyway (I just noticed the comma there).

[M@XWeru]

For classes, I'm counting as correct any guess involving a base class or PrC in which the character has at least one level.

Ninjaman: That's 4 correct races, and 3 correct classes.

Worlok: It's a pun. (:

That's 3 correct races, and 4 correct classes.

The Jimmy mentioned in the spell is a reference to Jimmy Bond. I wasn't really expecting anyone to make that connection, though. :P

Ray: The reason for the comic's name is so simple as to be unimaginative and silly. Just what it is, though, I'm not ready to reveal just yet.



Edit:
Oh, and another page.


#8: But 'Idiot' is Fine

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/4809/p8idiot.png

I know it's rushed-looking, but it was so boring to make. D:

[Ninjaman]

For classes, I'm counting as correct any guess involving a base class or PrC in which the character has at least one level.

Ninjaman: That's 4 correct races, and 3 correct classes.

Worlok: It's a pun. (:

That's 3 correct races, and 4 correct classes.

The Jimmy mentioned in the spell is a reference to Jimmy Bond. I wasn't really expecting anyone to make that connection, though. :P

Ray: The reason for the comic's name is so simple as to be unimaginative and silly. Just what it is, though, I'm not ready to reveal just yet.



Edit:
Oh, and another page.


#8: But 'Idiot' is Fine

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/4809/p8idiot.png

I know it's rushed-looking, but it was so boring to make. D:

In the third last panel the thieflings horns are switched. I was right about them not being able to keep in character. This is getting exiting.

[Raging Gene Ray]

So...I'm guessing the old woman is 1) a race that gets an obscene CHA bonus 2) A CHA based caster that prepares spells (?) 3) Some sort of Evil-flavored class, like Dread Necromancer.



Ray: The reason for the comic's name is so simple as to be unimaginative and silly. Just what it is, though, I'm not ready to reveal just yet.



That won't stop my rampant speculation: Their universe is actually in a giant, cosmic cup. The eons that have passed within it seem as just seconds for the being that poured the cup and the last panel will be said being drinking it.

[Shadowleaf]

I like this comic already.

I'ma guesstimate classes and races:

Half-Ogre (half-)Minotaur Fighter and/or Barbarian

Human SA Fighter/Swordsage

Tiefling Monk

Silverbrow Human (maybe Necropolitan?) Dread Necromancer

Human Paladin of Anarchy

Elf Bard

[M@XWeru]

Ray:
That's cheating. Ya gotta guess on all of 'em at once, or I can't make suitably vague answers.

Shadowleaf:
That's 3 correct races and 4 correct classes.

[Worlok]

Silverbrow Human (maybe Necropolitan?) Dread Necromancer
But didn't she explicitely state she's a hexer (http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5915/p4relations.png) (as of "Masters of the Wild")? If so, well, that's a prestige class, so I see how she'd probably branch into one from dread necromancer, but I'm not entirely clear on whether someone that minmaxing-inclined would see a point in such a pairing.

[M@XWeru]

Who knows, eh?

So anyway, I dunno if I'll be updating this comic much before Christmas is over, cuz food and family makes Maxie a dull boy.

But I might, just might put in some things that require less concentration and time. For example, I just uploaded a lazy and incompetent sketch of the party leader - damn, I wish I could just use his name - and I'll probably add in a few more later today. I doubt I'll bother to actually post in the thread whenever I upload something that isn't a comic page, though.

[Eleanor_Rigby]

That sketch is pretty awesome. It's a pity you probably don't have the time to do the whole strip in this style because it really stands out. I thought the stick figures mostly looked pretty finessed too but didn't have much else to comment on so kept schtum until I saw this and had to act all impressed. His skin's a lot pinker than it is in the comic though? I guess you did say it was a quick sketch.
I've not played any d&d so I can't really guess much about the characters races and classes (I also assumed the party leader was a woman until the strip where the paladin arrives and says otherwise, so that's about the level of my judgement...) but I assumed just from reading OotS that the old lady is undead since her skin's grey. I'm ready to be proved wrong though. I don't see any pointy ears and most of the cast are sort of standard height so my guess was that the paladin, the not-a-rogue and the leader are human. I thought it had been stated that the red guy was a lesser tiefling monk so that's my guess for him and the big guy came in with a comic that had 'bovine' in the title so I'm assuming minotaur or minotaur hybrid, but again, no d&d knowledge so...

[M@XWeru]

Thanks - and yeah, the inconsistencies are mostly due to sloppiness.

That would be something, wouldn't it. There are loads of reasons why I don't draw the comic like that, though maybe I'll try it at some point.

Rigby:
That would be 3 correct races.

Everyone else, I broke my promise. D:

Here's another page:

#9: Leomund, Roll Over and Die
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/318/p9xhm.png

Yes, that's his name. Yes, it is feminine. Yes, he will be made fun of for it.

[Strife Warzeal]

What are the approximate levels of the party? Shadow Evocation on a bard (guessing based on the Singing/Harp) is a 5th level spell which means 13th level PCs minimum. And to use it (I think) 3 times now would indicate about level 15. Is that a good estimate?

[CrimsonAngel]

Never before have I seen that expression in an oots comic. I love it.

[Ninjaman]

Yea I love the expression too. This comic is awesome, keep it up.

Edit: This comic needs one thing that all the good comics have:
Fan Art. Please accept my humble offer.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_VNsRqOWzhhw/TQt3EZgLoHI/AAAAAAAAAT8/ZU-jCKaXnVA/s600/Fan%20Art.png.jpg

[Eleanor_Rigby]

The two methods are pretty different beasts, yes. Still, I'm probably not the only reader who looks forward to seeing more sketches when the mood takes you to draw and post them.
And I agree with CrimsonAngel and Ninjaman on that last panel. Sometimes the simplicity of a stick figure stlye just says it best, apparently.
I'm not sure whether to be pleased or disappointed with my guesswork on the party's races - 50/50 eh?
Is the Leomund of the title the name of the party leader? Whoever he is, he can tell the others from me that I don't see anything girly about the name. It's a portmanteau of Leopold and Edmund - two mens names. Right? :smallbiggrin:

Edit: And Ninjaman, an unnecessary and probably un-provoked act of violence well rendered!

[Strife Warzeal]

Leomund, If i know my spells correctly, has a line of spells in core(I think) that summon a basic living space that can hold a party of adventurers.

[blackjack217]

yup you are correct phb I

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Leomund, If i know my spells correctly, has a line of spells in core(I think) that summon a basic living space that can hold a party of adventurers.

[facepalm] ...And is not the party leader's name. Because his name is Isobel, which is written in large red letters on the door of the shack he built for his exclusive personal use...
In fairness I did wonder if Isobel was his name when I first read the strip and hadn't noticed the comment about girly names yet, but then I remembered that he'd also cast a hair styling spell that had 'Jimmy's' in the title so I thought that maybe he just wanted to name his shack randomly so it felt more like he was staying at an inn....?
I'm actually no longer sure what I thought!
Thanks for clearing that up though.
[leaves to google for male Isobels]

Edit: :smalleek: My google search taught me two things: 1) Isobel is indeed a predominately female name and 2)The party leader of this comic shares his first name with "the world's most-tattooed senior woman".

[M@XWeru]

Warzeal:
It says their exact level in the comic. D:

Ninjaman & Crimson:
I never though that expression would be so well-received. O:

Your humble offering is humbly accepted. Awesome.

Rigby:
Poor Eleanor, so confused and befuddled. :P

The party leader, and the world's most tattooed old crone - a coincidence? Stay tuned, you may find out.

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Rigby:
Poor Eleanor, so confused and befuddled. :P

The party leader, and the world's most tattooed old crone - a coincidence? Stay tuned, you may find out.

:smalleek: please can it be a coincidence? :smalleek:

Also, confusion and befuddlement are common side effects for those who insist upon reading d&d based comics (Oots, World, Cup, Murphy's Law and YAFGC, plus Flaky Pastry which dabbles in it) without learning anything about d&d rules! It's not refusal per se but I know nobody in the real world who plays it (unfortunately) and I can enjoy reading most of these with the d&d knowledge I get from the others and basic familiarity with fantasy conventions...

[Savannah]

Wow, awesome comic! Great art, well written, hilarious....I love it!

Eleanor Rigby, if you're interested, here are the D&D 3.5 rules (http://www.d20srd.org/) and a place to play (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=3) :smallwink:

[Strife Warzeal]

Warzeal:
It says their exact level in the comic. D:



I don't see it. Can you point it out, because apparently I'm blind.

[M@XWeru]

First page, fourth to last panel, "(...) have ten levels(...)".

[M@XWeru]

I had hoped I could avoid this, but - double post!

It seemed appropriate to point out that there's a new page.

Thank you all for the compliments.

10th page. Woo! Made it before Christmas.

#10 Why not Longhorn?
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8996/p10longhorn.png

[Mina Kobold]

What's the girl and not-rogue's new nicknames?

Pip and Nog?

Oswaldine and Uncle Syrup?

Cheese and Crackers?

I we wanna know!

[Ninjaman]

Why is there a dragon

[Strife Warzeal]

First page, fourth to last panel, "(...) have ten levels(...)".

Oh, I had a hard time reading that page do to colorings, so I just glanced at it and moved on.
So Izzy is a wizard then, for the shadow evocation? With a dip in bard or something to that extent to explain the instrument?

[M@XWeru]

Kev: O:

Who knows?

Ninjaman:
What ever do you mean?

This is a dragon:
http://www.apegames.com/oots/oots-dod/beigedragonthumb.jpg

You all know that.

Strife:
You really ought to complain about stuff like that, so it doesn't happen again.

Come on now, I can't just go ahead and tell people what classes everyone is. ;P

[Ninjaman]

Ninjaman:
What ever do you mean?

This is a dragon:
http://www.apegames.com/oots/oots-dod/beigedragonthumb.jpg

You all know that.


Well what is that giant lizard then? By the way lovehow you have drawn it.

[Shadowleaf]

Well what is that giant lizard then? By the way lovehow you have drawn it.I think it's a dinosaur.

[Ninjaman]

Please post a new one!

[Mina Kobold]

I think it's a dinosaur.

Nah, definitedly a Therapsid. They're cooler :smalltongue:

[HalfTangible]

Laughing... so hard!

Lungs... can't... feel... MY LUUUUNGS!

*gasp*

[M@XWeru]

Shadow: You know my policy about not telling anyone anything at any point in time.

Ninjaman: I'm working on it. D': All I've got right now is this crummy netbook that can barely handle Inkscape. Work is progressing slowly. ):

Fortunately, I'm buying a new laptop this Thursday, and am hoping the next strip (or two, if you're really lucky) will be finished during the weekend.

Keveak:
Word.

HalfTangible: Why, thank you. :smallredface:

[Strife Warzeal]

Silverbrow Human (maybe Necropolitan?) Dread Necromancer





Lysara Arrowfoot, human hexer.




Human Old-woman

I assume all of you are talking about Lysara.
Looking back there is no way she is human, if you take what they are currently saying at face value, as per strip 4 (http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5915/p4relations.png)(third to last panel) the elven maiden of death.
On the same note as Lysara, look were her staff thingy lands, and the resulting sound effect in the second to last panel.

[CrimsonAngel]

Oh god, I didn't notice that the first time! :smalleek:

[M@XWeru]

It happens again in the last panel.

I'm sneaky like that.

[M@XWeru]

At long last, a new update. From the bowels of my useless netbook, I present to you what I'm quite positive is the worst page so far. Let's hope it remains the worst.

#11 Doodlehat:
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8030/p11crap.png

[AsteriskAmp]

I find this comic quite comic.

It's good, the punchlines are solid and the characters seem like a real adventuring party, stupid, OOC, and willing to change systems at a blink.

The one thing though, the pyramid could have done better, a lot better.

But I like it overall.

Ps: You may want to resize your avatar down to 120x120pxls, the forum is cutting it.

[M@XWeru]

What's really, really bad about the pyramid is that it's screwed up so badly you can't even tell that it's not as screwed up as it seems - at least, I seriously doubt anyone could infer the actual design of the pyramid from the graphics in the comic. This calls for a sketch.

I know about the avatar. I've had it since before it stopped being automatically resized... which is a long, long time ago. But hell, I can't be bothered to change it.

[Ninjaman]

Whoo carnifex for the win.
But the piramid is a little sad:smallfrown: Otherwise funny as always

[M@XWeru]

New Page!

#12 A Gentle Shove.
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1710/p12roar.png

[CrimsonAngel]

The pyramid looks much better now!

[AsteriskAmp]

The pyramid looks much better now!

The Pyramid looks amazing, I love the level of detail and the way you have shaped it and given it dimension, I think it looks great, a lot better.

[M@XWeru]

Thank you kindly. Consider it an apology. :P

The next page is aaaaalmost finished. In the meantime, there are some new sketches back in the first post.

[Zexion]

I just found this comic, and I judge it to:
1. Have fantastic art,
2. Have funny dialogue, and
3. Have excellent characters.

Basically, it's awesome. :smallbiggrin:

[AsteriskAmp]

Thy sketches are awsome, and extremely detailed.

I'm gonna make what any form of written or visual expression need, no, not slahfic, MORE FANART!.

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss257/araveugnitsuga/IsobelDemotivational.png
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss257/araveugnitsuga/KuragasanaDenotivational.png

[M@XWeru]

...And now that the first page is finally updated, I can reply to posts.

Zexion:
Why thanks - but you ain't seen nothing of the characters yet. :P

Guy whose name I'd have to copy and paste:
I love fanart - but then again, who doesn't? Much appreciated, as well as slapped on the first page.

[Mina Kobold]

This comic is awesome, the sketches are awesome.

And you're making me feel bad about my poor skill at drawing my trademark creature!

(A kobold, which I assume is what your final sketh is, it looks more like one than mine do anyway)

[Ninjaman]

Your new drawings are awesome, and the piramid is way cooler now, i guess the Pharoe switched achitect.

[M@XWeru]

Keveak:
Indeed it is a kobold. I always thought they don't get enough love.

Ninjaman:
It's just seen from another angle. )':


New page!

#13: The Plot Coagulates
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7035/p13plot.png

[HalfTangible]

Not as funny overall this time but that last line was pure gold.

Get it? :smalltongue:

[AsteriskAmp]

WHERE ARE THE KOBOLDS!?

I was promised kobolds...:smallbiggrin:
I quite liked the humor in this one, rather good execution.
I liked the character design, those wounds looked rather good.

But character positioning in the ramp seemed odd, specially when the chaotic neutral paladin was upright while the rest was tilted.

The background design looked a little bland, and so much yelloe (even desaturated) does hurt the eyes after a bit and since the evil palace was only one panel, you could have gone overboard with it.

But overall quite good, had me laughing from start to finish.

[M@XWeru]

HalfTangible:
D'oh, I was gonna use that! :P

Other guy:
Patience! There will be kobolds.

My only excuse for the ramp scene is that it was too cramped to do much with, and by the time I was finished with all those hieroglyphs (you didn't think I just put them there at random, did you?)I just didn't have much interior design left in me. :P

I make no excuses for the evil palace, though - and you'll know exactly why once the next page is up. You're right about the yellow, though; I don't know about hurting the eyes, but the inside of a windowless temple should be darker, or at least have an awesome scene with loads of mirrors turning to reflect the sunlight every which way.

...And I spelt 'archvillain' wrong. *Facedesk*

[Ninjaman]

I agree with araveugnitsuga on most of the things.
Also just notised that the minotaur had a mowhawk.
Also: :smallbiggrin:Yay plot:smallbiggrin:

[Worlok]

Where did the blackened eye on Isobel in comic 13 come from? I mean, I won't rule out that that bitey reptile thing somehow had a weaponised tongue that it used as an improvised fist or club, but I wonder why being in a mouth that size and full of teeth would blacken an eye, rather than, say, put it out. Error or highly elusive statement on unrealistic damage mechanics? :smallconfused: Sorry, just being a pain today.

I love how ''I'm an arcane caster, nothing can hurt me!'' became ''Sure thing, man. Anything you say.'' after one close call. I absolutely celebrate his respect for the guy he should by cliche just consider his meatshield (beefshield? I'm sorry!). Also, Death-by-Trampling rocks. :smallbiggrin: The aforementioned bitey reptile thing, however, could have been handled with a tad more epicness, in my opinion. I mean, after the build-up with it sniffing out the camp at night and the fact that anything that looks like a half-dragon gorgonopsid should be awesome by nature, I felt its eventual defeat to be somewhat anticlimactic. However, as I may or may not have said before, Death-by-Trampling rocks and totally gets a nice (potential) hat out of this, which to begrudge a victorious hero I would not be able to forgive myself. So, no complaints here. :smalltongue:

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Nice updates :smallbiggrin:


The aforementioned bitey reptile thing, however, could have been handled with a tad more epicness, in my opinion. I mean, after the build-up with it sniffing out the camp at night and the fact that anything that looks like a half-dragon gorgonopsid should be awesome by nature, I felt its eventual defeat to be somewhat anticlimactic. However, as I may or may not have said before, Death-by-Trampling rocks and totally gets a nice (potential) hat out of this, which to begrudge a victorious hero I would not be able to forgive myself. So, no complaints here. :smalltongue:

Looking through the extras in the first post, I have a feeling that the encounter in the temple wasn't the last we'll be seeing of those dragon like creatures:


Pages:

Other Things:

[...]

NEW: Settran Snapper (http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/5783/redsnappah.png)

Large but stealthy, this scaled pack hunter is a common sight in the steamy jungles of Settra, where they prey on just about everything else thanks to their great intelligence and tendency to attack in overwhelming force. Fast sprinters, good swimmers and avid climbers, Snappers can be found just about anywhere there is food to be had, though they are wise enough to stay well clear of civilization. Though sizeable and ferocious, Settran Snappers are built for speed and stamina rather than toughness, and individually pose little threat to more dangerous predators - such as humanoids.

Settran Snappers are intelligent enough that their young are easily domesticated despite their size and strength, and are widely used as guard beasts and pets. Snapper whelps mature only slightly faster than humans, and tend to live much longer. A well-trained Settran Snapper makes a lifelong and faithful companion, and their catlike grace means that they tend to destroy a disproportionately small amount of furniture along the way.

I'm assuming the big red beasty was a Settran Snapper, judging by the sketch that accompanies the above description. Anyone reckon our arcane-caster-chomper left a little one behind who might become the party pet? :smallbiggrin: I can hope anyway. I'd be a little surprised if there wasn't at least some character introduced at some point in the story who has a domesticated snapper - perhaps our non-moustachioed villain?

Also, speaking of nonsensical injuries, I only just now looked up the not-rogue's weapon. Guys - you're supposed to disarm and trip 'em with the flail and then move in with the sickle end in your hand. But of course that wouldn't look nearly as cool :smallwink: [is slow at getting jokes]

As far as this update itself goes, if I have one problem with it, it would probably be the speech bubbles. (Not the golden villain's one at the end - that one looked pretty cool). The worst panel for this is the second to last one: Isobel and Ms. Chaotic Neutral Paladin both have multiple speech bubbles but it's not really clear if Is says his piece first and then the lady made her comments or if there was some back and forth between the two. I think if it had been me (which, thankfully for everybody else, it's not) I would have used conjoined speech bubbles where there are pauses but nobody else interrupts or responds to their speech and use fresh speech bubbles to indicate responses in a dialogue with someone else. Did that make any sense? If not, I can try to find an example of a comic doing this later and edit it into the post. The speech bubbles seems to be one of the more persistent kinks with this comic - I remember the joke where Isobel affirms that his speech bubbles are more important than the other characters' faces being one of the ones that I laughed at out loud because I'd just been observing myself that the speech bubble placement was still a bit hinky and especially in that panel.

PS: Savanah; thank you very much for the rules link :smallsmile: I don't think I could really be depended on to remember to show up and post at the right time on the ongoing roleplaying games forum and I'd hate to ruin anybody else's experience but I will be looking through those rules... maybe the comics I read will make a little bit more sense now!

[Worlok]

Settran Snapper could well be. Excuse the 'bitey reptile thing' thing. Thanks, Eleanor. :smallsmile: I had missed the extras so far. Somehow. :smallconfused: Anyway, I agree that having that as a party pet would be nice, even if I can't exactly picture anyone of them to be the kind for animal caretaking.

Also, M@X, provided you approve, there's some spontaneously inspired, if likely quite underwhelming, additional fan art in this spoiler, featuring Him Who Rocks (Which should be pretty obvious code since my last post), some choice quotes and the snapper's head, which, come to think of it, could use more visible horns. I'm sorry:

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/2052/deathtrampling.png

[Strife Warzeal]

Also, speaking of nonsensical injuries, I only just now looked up the not-rogue's weapon. Guys - you're supposed to disarm and trip 'em with the flail and then move in with the sickle end in your hand. But of course that wouldn't look nearly as cool :smallwink: [is slow at getting jokes]


Counter-argument:
Why not de-arm them (quite literally) with the sickle end and then move in with flail end and bash the enemies heads in.

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Counter-argument:
Why not de-arm them (quite literally) with the sickle end and then move in with flail end and bash the enemies heads in.

...I think the whole point of adding a weighted chain to a sickle is so that you can incapacitate your foe from a distance before moving in and finishing them off with the blade, but if that's how you want to play it I for one am not going to try to stop you. Your way sounds like the slower, more sadistic method - perhaps the one the CN paladin would prefer, judging by her treatment of the ogre?

and Worlok, I agree with you entirely about the party's capacity for pet caretaking, I think that's part of why I thought it might be fun to see: it kind of fits with their haphazard tendencies. It would seem fitting to me for them to a) acquire a pet because they deliberately slaughtered its guardian, b)acquire a pet chiefly because it 'looks badass' and c)acquire a pet because they can either let it tag around after them and fight to defend them or deny it and have it turn on them... then again, Death-By-Trampling would easily be able to deal with it... most of the other party members? Less so. Maybe the argument against DBT doing this would be certain party members saying they can't kill the baby because it's cute... which Isobel would likely disagree with...
Anyhow, just a thought :smallbiggrin:

[M@XWeru]

Questions, comments and critique - oh, my!

Worlok:
Good catch there - the black is another inadequately explained weapon damage joke. Bite attacks to slashing, piercing and blunt damage, no matter what sort of teeth are attached to. So, highly elusive statement on weapon damage mechanics.

I'd love to tell you exactly what's going on with the Snapper, but that would be a complete and utter spoiler. Rest assured that very few things in anything I write or draw makes a single appearance, never to return.

Oh yes, I approve of all fan art. Hell, I'd even approve of troll art.

Rigby:
I know what a kusari-gama works like (I still say it's a ****ty weapon, but I digress) - what that scene makes fun of is that in the DMG, it's listed as a slashing reach weapon. Back when we found it, my friends and I did a double-take.

I see your point about the speech bubbles, and will chain them together in the future. They do give me a terrible amount of trouble. :\

Warzeal:
Swinging the flail is hard in such close quarters, and chopping someone's arm off with a kama is all but impossible for several reasons. If you're joking, I'm sorry I took you seriously. :P

[Worlok]

Well, when you look at it that way (This is an edit, I had missed your post.) the team pet idea does look promising, Eleanor. However, I still think it would end horribly in one way or another. Unless the little one takes at all after Death-by-Trampling. :smallbiggrin: Or, you know, especially then. :smalleek:


Good catch there - the black is another inadequately explained weapon damage joke. Bite attacks to slashing, piercing and blunt damage, no matter what sort of teeth are attached to. So, highly elusive statement on weapon damage mechanics.
First, I wasn't even sure whether or not I should ask because of the bludgeoning damage thing, but then I thought it couldn't hurt and would probably even make its way to bring out the joke more clearly. Also, I got to propose weaponised tongues. For great awesome!

Nicely done. :smallbiggrin:


I'd love to tell you exactly what's going on with the Snapper, but that would be a complete and utter spoiler. Rest assured that very few things in anything I write or draw makes a single appearance, never to return.
I see. Alright, good to know. I'll be on the lookout then. :smallwink:

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Oh yes, I approve of all fan art. Hell, I'd even approve of troll art.

Rigby:
I know what a kusari-gama works like (I still say it's a ****ty weapon, but I digress) - what that scene makes fun of is that in the DMG, it's listed as a slashing reach weapon. Back when we found it, my friends and I did a double-take.

I see your point about the speech bubbles, and will chain them together in the future. They do give me a terrible amount of trouble. :\

Warzeal:
Swinging the flail is hard in such close quarters, and chopping someone's arm off with a kama is all but impossible for several reasons. If you're joking, I'm sorry I took you seriously. :P

I was completely unfamiliar with the weapon so I googled 'kusarigama d&d' and arrived at this: http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Kusarigama_(3.5e_Equipment) which offers a slightly more reasonable description for its d&d applications. When I realised it was a real weapon I also googled kusarigama on its own. I wasn't trying to suggest you didn't know what it was though or how it worked, sorry it came across that way!

And Worlok? Sigh. You may be right about my snapper idea. I thought you did a good job on the snapper's teeth in your fanart, by the way. The angles are kind of awkward so well done and all that! Araveugnitsuga, it was your fan art that got me looking up the kusarigama in the first place. I think both pics were pretty nifty, you have an interesting style.

[Worlok]

Don't take it too hard, Eleanor, dear, many a campaign around snapper cubs sure will follow! :smallfurious: :smalltongue: Also, thanks for your kind words! They mean much to me! :smallsmile:

On the other hand, I can't seem to find it - did we actually find out any of the class-race-combos of the party? :smallconfused:

[Strife Warzeal]

On the other hand, I can't seem to find it - did we actually find out any of the class-race-combos of the party? :smallconfused:

Well Lysara is an elf Hexer(if that is a class). That is the only one I know off-hand.

[M@XWeru]

Whew, this one took a damned long time. It's finally done, though.

Worlok: I saw your question, though I'm not 100% sure what sort of answer you'd like. It looks like you drew it in MS Paint with a mouse, which is what I assume you did. There isn't much you can do with that. :P

#14: Gods and Immorals
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5226/p14representing.png

As for the classes:
This is what's been given away in the comic so far.

Isobel ?: Chaotic Neutral ? Sorcerer/?/?

?: Chaotic Neutral ? Anarch/?/?/?/?

Death-by-Trampling: Neutral Good Minotaur ?/?/?

?: Lawful ? Tiefling Monk/?/?/?/?/?

?: ? ? ? ?/?/?/?/?

Lysara Arrowfoot: ? ? Elf ?/?/Hexer/

[CrimsonAngel]

I liked this one alot. Dude needs to find antoher bathroom.

[Ninjaman]

He IS comedic gold:smallbiggrin:. And quite cool too:smallcool:. Mummys are badass:smallamused:. The ones that are thousands of years old that be, not like your mom:smalltongue:.

[M@XWeru]

Oh, and another thing!

That's not an incredibly ugly scythe, but in fact a threshing flail.

[Strife Warzeal]

As for the classes:
This is what's been given away in the comic so far.

Isobel ?: Chaotic Neutral ? Sorcerer/?/?

?: Chaotic Neutral ? Anarch/?/?/?/?

Death-by-Trampling: Neutral Good Minotaur ?/?/?

?: Lawful ? Monk/?/?/?/?/?

?: ? ? ? ?/?/?/?/?

Lysara Arrowfoot: ? ? Elf ?/?/Hexer/

Does every question mark directly transfer to something about the character? Is the one we know nothing about not-rogue? and isn't the monk a teifling?

Also: Damn do these people multiclass/prestige like hell.

[M@XWeru]

Yes to everything. I put 'Tiefling' in there.

[CrimsonAngel]

Oh, and another thing!

That's not an incredibly ugly scythe, but in fact a threshing flail.

I thought it was a mop or something.

[GreenMuffin]

You might want to update the first page. It's on Comic 12

[M@XWeru]

Yes, I suppose I should...

There, it's done.

What should my next sketch be of?

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Yes, I suppose I should...

There, it's done.

What should my next sketch be of?

Death-By-Trampling seems to have his fans. Although perhaps ...Amsi Sinrasuli Kambythet Tutsekani Kaldum would be more topical? My less specific suggestion would be "whatever you feel like drawing" :smallbiggrin: [/helpfulness]
Like the new avatar.

[AsteriskAmp]

Yes, I suppose I should...

There, it's done.

What should my next sketch be of?

I vote for the miniatures panel at the end of the last comic.

[Ninjaman]

Please post a new one. This comic is too epic to die.

[CrimsonAngel]

It hasn't been THAT long since the last comic, has it?

[M@XWeru]

I hasn't been that long, no. I went back to work this week, and for the rest of this month I doubt I'll get a moment's peace and quiet. I'll try to update despite all distractions, though I have nothing right now.

[M@XWeru]

Doing these in the middle of the night isn't all that wise, but at least I get some peace and quiet during.

#15: Screw this, I'm not naming the strips anymore.

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1590/p15divinecomedy.png

[blackjack217]

The grim reaper is talking back to the god of death? Also I assume the GoD (god of death) has a good reason not to use overwhelming force?

[AsteriskAmp]

Just gotta love the fact that casters can stay away from the potentially murderous stuff while the meatshields party has to go melee.

Now for a review [All criteria is in the range of 0 to 10]:

{table]Art|6
Funniness|9
Design|8[/table]

Ok, let's begin with the highlights:
It was very funny, specially the ending scene, a mix between been there and a mere lulz.

The design was nice, specially in the last panel, the feeling of chaos and battle was excellently portrayed, the characters positioning was perfect and their expressions were appropriate and during the dialogues, the movement and flow was good, the placement of the speech bubbles is what annoyed me though, it seemed to random and crowded.

Now, for the art. The characters in the first part seemed odd, the God of Death seems to be a bit disproportionate, his head is too small and his body too big. Death hood also looked weird. Also, the setting seems both empty and weird, the columns having a visible top looks weird, and the flaming background looks more like a sea than fire. However I did like what was done on the last panel, the art was extraordinary on the last panel, though the rest of the page dragged down the score.

All in all, I liked this one, but it's not the best.

[M@XWeru]

Blackjack217:
I think that 'Grim Thresher' would be a more appropriate title, if you want to base it on which farming implements they carry around. ;P

And as for overwhelming force, I'm not sure who he's supposed to use it against - the goddess (I suppose it doesn't hurt to tell you all that she's a deity) that leaves, the intruder, or someone else? Either way, you can be pretty sure the only reason he needs is his personality. ;P

Blackjack217:
How ironic that the "sea of fire" alone took more time to make than that last panel. ):

But you're right, of course, and the review really helps. I am actually planning to go back and edit all the previous pages at some point, fixing all the mistakes as I learn more about Inkscape (it was only two pages back I realized you can edit parts of groups without degrouping them ;P) and general comic design. Maybe at twenty pages. Maybe I'll just keep on procrastinating.

Thanks.

[blackjack217]

I meant the adventuring party. You gotta kill them before they level.

[Ninjaman]

Update please!:smallfrown:

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Update please!:smallfrown:


I hasn't been that long, no. I went back to work this week, and for the rest of this month I doubt I'll get a moment's peace and quiet. I'll try to update despite all distractions, though I have nothing right now.

It's not been a very long time this time either, Ninjaman. Patience is a virtue. :smallwink:
Also, female grim-thresher... intriguing. In spikey-hair-guy's defence, a dressing gown doesn't look as slobby on a god - you can just argue that they're your swish deity robes, not nightwear. I'm assuming it's a dressing gown rather than robes (which I thought they were) because otherwise "And put on some damn pants!" doesn't make that much sense...

[Ninjaman]

It's not been a very long time this time either, Ninjaman. Patience is a virtue. :smallwink:
Also, female grim-thresher... intriguing. In spikey-hair-guy's defence, a dressing gown doesn't look as slobby on a god - you can just argue that they're your swish deity robes, not nightwear. I'm assuming it's a dressing gown rather than robes (which I thought they were) because otherwise "And put on some damn pants!" doesn't make that much sense...

It is five days.

[blackjack217]

It is five days.

So deal with it. Murphy's law has a once a week update schedule and the only feelings expressed are happiness and encouragement when the update does come out. M@XWeru is under no obligation to create even one more comic, much less adhere to a specific update schedule or frequency.

[Ninjaman]

So deal with it. Murphy's law has a once a week update schedule and the only feelings expressed are happiness and encouragement when the update does come out. M@XWeru is under no obligation to create even one more comic, much less adhere to a specific update schedule or frequency.

Yea i guess you are right, but cofeeincluded post once in a while to tell when the update is going to come. But M@Xweru haven´t posted in five days, so we don´t know if it´s dead.

[CrimsonAngel]

Only 5 days, though.

[AsteriskAmp]

He said it would slow down heavily for the time being, I'll start worrying in two weeks, and before the sixth week I'll probably keep posting fan-art to keep this alive and probably instil guilt in M@Xweru so that he keeps updating this comic.

[Akrim.elf]

Calm down ...
In the first post of the author does not write comics, how often the update.
So do not take account of other comics. Someone wrote once a week, month, year ... uh, just make note of how often and where of prosecution (which each has in your life quite a lot) and apologizes ...
So the argument - it's five days - in this case does not stand as it is not a given that the author wants to update comics every week (at least I did not notice)
so it remains only to wait .. and hope we impressed them enough to continue ...

[Ninjaman]

He said it would slow down heavily for the time being, I'll start worrying in two weeks, and before the sixth week I'll probably keep posting fan-art to keep this alive and probably instil guilt in M@Xweru so that he keeps updating this comic.

Yea sounds like a good plan B
plan C would be to pm him like hell!

[smuchmuch]

I would just like to say that I find this comic really funy.
I particulary like Hades. Second to last pannel in strip 14 craked me up.

[Akrim.elf]

C[/B] would be to pm him like hell!

Plan C but with possibility arises that can poison so that the entire comic throw it ends ...

[M@XWeru]

I don't like to report when I've got nothing to report. Made another quick page. Gotta scoot. Will reply to comments later.

Page #16
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1538/p16bah2.png

[AsteriskAmp]

Great, funny and plot advancing.
Not much to say but great and totally made up for the updateless time.

Now for a review [All criteria is in the range of 0 to 10]:

{table]Art|9
Funniness|10
Design|10[/table]

The fire still bothers me but everything else is great.
Character positioning and Tomb design were awesome and the plot moving while jokes get told is merely great.

[M@XWeru]

Blackjack: Kill my main characters? What an awful thought!

Oh right, they're PCs...

We'll see.

Rigby: It's supposed to be a fancy bathrobe, yes. :P

Owning your soul means never having to be appropriately dressed.

Ninjaman: I can't make any guarantees as to my update schedule, especially not now that I'm back to working several days a week. Fortunately, I have no work until next week, so I may be able to come up with something one of these days. (Yes, fortunately - I do actually hate work more than I love getting paid).

And I usually make a whole page from start to finish in one sitting, so I tend not to know in advance when I'll be finished. If I start posting randomly, people will think I'm fishing for thread views. ;P

Akrim: I can't be PMed to death - my inbox is full of hate mail. From haters. Who're gonna hate.

Smuch: When it comes to gods, the ancient Greeks knew where it's at.

Pinky: Actually, guilt tactics would probably work. D:

I may some day give the fiery realm of Hades a face-lift, but that would take time I don't have at the moment. ):

Other than that, I think you need to raise your standards! I mean, what would Q say if he knew you were letting people get away that easily? ;P

[AsteriskAmp]

Pinky: Actually, guilt tactics would probably work. D:

I may some day give the fiery realm of Hades a face-lift, but that would take time I don't have at the moment. ):

Other than that, I think you need to raise your standards! I mean, what would Q say if he knew you were letting people get away that easily? ;P

Let it not be said that you didn't brought whatever is coming next unto yourself...

[Ninjaman]

Nice new comic. Sorry about buggering you.

[super dark33]

this cant die

[CrimsonAngel]

It's. Been. Two. Days. :smallannoyed:

[M@XWeru]

No, it can't, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't say it. If I keep on getting new pages in just after people say something like that, it'll seem like I'm fishing for attention. :\

[HalfTangible]

It's. Been. Two. Days. :smallannoyed:

About a week, actually.

But that's not really better :smallannoyed:

Also: i just noticed the archive needs updating =/

[smuchmuch]

Rigby: It's supposed to be a fancy bathrobe, yes. :P

Owning your soul means never having to be appropriately dressed.

(Kind of make him look like a divine Hugh hefner, though...
Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, mind you...)



Smuch: When it comes to gods, the ancient Greeks knew where it's at.


I don't disagree witht the sentiment but I have to wonder why is Hades alway made to be the badguy in modern interpretations ?
Between 'My sons are canibalistic abominations and I sink ships everytime I feel a little moody' Poseidon and 'Let me send you to war so I may impregnate your wife while you are away' Zeus , he was probably the tamest of the three major olympians.

[CrimsonAngel]

Oh right. I forgot the date for a while there.

[HalfTangible]

(Kind of make him look like a divine Hugh hefner, though...
Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, mind you...)



I don't disagree witht the sentiment but I have to wonder why is Hades alway made to be the badguy in modern interpretations ?
Between 'My sons are canibalistic abominations and I sink ships everytime I feel a little moody' Poseidon and 'Let me send you to war so I may impregnate your wife while you are away' Zeus , he was probably the tamest of the three major olympians.

Well he did enslave a goddess to come to his part of the universe for six out of twelve months, he rules over the part of the world considered to be the bad part in modern interpretations (hell) and his name sounds very similar to 'hate'.

[CrimsonAngel]

Also he kicked a puppy.

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Also he kicked a puppy.

But then he felt bad about it and took it in to keep as a guard dog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerberus) so...
Wait... what were we talking about again?

[M@XWeru]

Allow me to apologize in advance for this unbelievably crappy page. It sucks.

Also, bringing back tons of loot is made a lot less fulfilling by bags of holding. :\

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5715/p17blagh.png

[Ninjaman]

Yay new one.

[Savannah]

*snicker* "Mayincatec" Yeah, I've had some run-ins with that culture....

[BeethroBudkin07]

Allow me to recite a much overused quote that fits with this page:

"IT'S A TRAP!"

Bad memes aside, this page was pretty good.

Oh, and the blue 'flames' in the other two pages look like spiked glowing blue mountains to me. :P

EDIT: I also think an update to the first post would be much helpful, since people like me who check topic first posts for updates might think the comic hasn't been updated in a while.

...Yes, I actually thought that was the case.

[M@XWeru]

Everybody be dissin' on my flames of Hades. D:

Well, I suppose I deserve it. That was an inordinately lazy way of doing flames, after all.

So anyway, I fixed the archives. And the next page should be out a lot sooner than this one was. :\

[M@XWeru]

Okay, I know, I know, there's no new page yet, and I shouldn't post when I don't have anything to post - but there's a reason why there's no new page yet. There's something I want to do. It'll be worth it, you'll see.

Well, maybe it won't, but I'll leave that up to you to decide once it's finished.

I'm posting this heads-up just so people will know this comic isn't sliding slowly towards death. I'm still hoping to have the next page up by the end of the week. But just in case I don't. Also, now that I've promised y'all a new page, there's added pressure. ;)

[AsteriskAmp]

Okay, I know, I know, there's no new page yet, and I shouldn't post when I don't have anything to post - but there's a reason why there's no new page yet. There's something I want to do. It'll be worth it, you'll see.

Well, maybe it won't, but I'll leave that up to you to decide once it's finished.

I'm posting this heads-up just so people will know this comic isn't sliding slowly towards death. I'm still hoping to have the next page up by the end of the week. But just in case I don't. Also, now that I've promised y'all a new page, there's added pressure. ;)

The comic kinda has Death himself up there, so sliding towards it seems improbable.

And, please, let it be the much asked for Flame of Hades rehash what this delay promises.

[Akrim.elf]

life is hard - work, school, love ....

I for one comic, I read that I sometimes even wait two months before new episode comes out ...

as for us says - be patient if to bear, make your own comics .. and then you realize how difficult it is ...

[M@XWeru]

Ara: That's harsh. It's so harsh, I'm calling you Ara.

#18
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2339/p18makeit.png

Well, I got delayed even more (now there's a surprise) and didn't get to doing the thing that I wanted to do to completion. Maybe next week. Any longer than that and I'd have to go back to advancing the plot. O:

This page wasn't meant to be a standalone, but such is fate.

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Yay new comic!

Lots of little details and I like the changes in view points. It's a strong comic visually. :smallsmile:
I did think for a moment that Izzy's eye had gone terrifyingly strange for a moment in the last panel when the page first loaded but I figured out they were sunglasses soon enough. I'm not really sure what, if anything, would make them more sunglassy... maybe if the highlights were more angular?
Also, one of Izzy's doubles (quintuples?) has a foot straying out of the panel barrier on the left hand side of the strip...

Also, also, your speech bubble work seems to be improving.

[Akrim.elf]

this last frame is Horacio Black Glass style or weird style of eyes???

[smuchmuch]

The last pannel is a little confusin, for a short while I was wondering if he was on a sudden drug trip before I realised that those weren't anormaly wide eyes, you should make the mount of the glasses a little more visible.

i do like the monsters, this comic really establishes them as smart pack hunters and a real threat.

[BeethroBudkin07]

Izzy suddenly got creepy... :smalleek:

Can't wait to see the battle unfold. From the looks of it, it's going to be awesome.

[Ninjaman]

Whooza! Nice one Max, keep it on.

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Glad I wasn't the only one who got confused about the sunglasses (:smallcool:).
I think LixLorn Smuchmuch has pointed out the biggest issue with them: the bridge of the sunglasses are very thin and meet almost exactly with his eyebrows. With all that black (hair, eyes, eyebrows, hand, arm, a lot of the mouth...) it was pretty much bound to get confusing... I think a different style of highlights might help too though, and I did realise they were sunglasses pretty quickly.

Edit: Woops Smuchmuch is using an avatar Lix used to use and I neglected to read the name. Sorry Smuchmuch!

[M@XWeru]

Hey, that's a more positive response than I was expecting. Thanks, y'all.

Rigby: Ach on the leg, that was a really bad miss. >_>

As for the glasses, I suppose I could have made the frames a different colour... but bleh. I'll try to keep it in mind for next time, though.

Akrim: Sunglasses.

Smuch: Ninja'd. You're absolutely right.

Memo to self: have characters trip on drugs.

Budkin: Let's hope it is. O:

Ninjaman: Thank you.

Rigby: Yup, no way of getting around it. My sunglasses need a fix. :I

[CrimsonAngel]

I could tell they were sunglasses right when I saw them...

[super dark33]

so he got out of there? and has shield of faith? hmmmmm...

[HalfTangible]

so he got out of there? and has shield of faith? hmmmmm...

Or somebody else cast it on him as noted by the differing font and color :smalltongue:

[Dvandemon]

I have as many gripe as I do approvals, I like how you draw those giant lizard things, I dislike how you leave the characters mouths closed. I'm amazed at your attention to detail in character design but the flawed and somewhat awkward positioning of other details. It's pretty good job though and I like how you drew the mummy villains :biggrin: I just wish Isobel used Shadow Necromancy too :smalltongue:

[AsteriskAmp]

The overall detail is nice as is the pyramid relative architectural consistency.

I praise:

The detail on the dragon thingies
The positioning and viewpoint changes
The deatil in the visual gore
The character design for this strip, sunglasess specially were nicely done IMHO
The details on the panel frames


I however criticise:

The palm trees. They need thinner trunks, and the tops need to be more varied.
The jungle background, related to above detail, it doesn't look quite right.
The before pointed out feet line.
The base of the spells fume, it's too perfectly rounded.
The lack of YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!! in the last panel, it had the sunglasses and if the comment balloon was shrunk a bit it would have fitted perfectly, even maybe a panel of the pyramid with the trees from far away.

[Akrim.elf]

I however criticise:

The lack of YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!! in the last panel, it had the sunglasses and if the comment balloon was shrunk a bit it would have fitted perfectly, even maybe a panel of the pyramid with the trees from far away.

I vote for this! :smallbiggrin:

[M@XWeru]

Crimson: At least someone did. B)

Dvandemon: Thank you, though the mouths will stay closed.

As for necromancy - Izzy is too handsome to mingle with rotting corpses.

Pinky & Akrim:
I don't support memes (yes I do), and I don't like CSI (I really don't), so this is all you're getting:
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/2779/izzy2.png

Still struggling to catch up. We'll see if I can do it. >_>

[Ninjaman]

Crimson: At least someone did. B)

Dvandemon: Thank you, though the mouths will stay closed.

As for necromancy - Izzy is too handsome to mingle with rotting corpses.

Pinky & Akrim:
I don't support memes (yes I do), and I don't like CSI (I really don't), so this is all you're getting:
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/2779/izzy2.png

Still struggling to catch up. We'll see if I can do it. >_>

Awesome White

[Akrim.elf]

Pinky & Akrim:
I don't support memes (yes I do), and I don't like CSI (I really don't), so this is all you're getting:
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/2779/izzy2.png


awww... fantastic!
thank you sooo much... =^!^=

[AsteriskAmp]

Crimson: At least someone did. B)

Dvandemon: Thank you, though the mouths will stay closed.

As for necromancy - Izzy is too handsome to mingle with rotting corpses.

Pinky & Akrim:
I don't support memes (yes I do), and I don't like CSI (I really don't), so this is all you're getting:
Yeahhhhh!!!!!!

Still struggling to catch up. We'll see if I can do it. >_>
Nice!

Also, we now know she has at least 3 collars and 1 ring, as well as an already occupied glasses slot.

[Ninjaman]

It has been a long time since you updated. New one upcomming:smallconfused:

[M@XWeru]

Yes, another one is coming up. It's almost done, but I'm having a hard time finding time to work on the comic right now.

I promise I'll tell you if I ever decide to give up.

[Ninjaman]

Yes, another one is coming up. It's almost done, but I'm having a hard time finding time to work on the comic right now.

I promise I'll tell you if I ever decide to give up.

you better not stop this:smallmad:
I made fanart for this:smallfurious:

[CrimsonAngel]

Stop it. :smallannoyed:

[HalfTangible]

Oh for the love of... It's only been six days!!!

[Ninjaman]

Oh for the love of... It's only been six days!!!

sik days? This was the last one, it was from the 2-12. today is the 3-14 that´s a month, did i miss something?

Ara: That's harsh. It's so harsh, I'm calling you Ara.

#18
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2339/p18makeit.png

Well, I got delayed even more (now there's a surprise) and didn't get to doing the thing that I wanted to do to completion. Maybe next week. Any longer than that and I'd have to go back to advancing the plot. O:

This page wasn't meant to be a standalone, but such is fate.

[Strife Warzeal]

sik days? This was the last one, it was from the 2-12. today is the 3-14 that´s a month, did i miss something?

That he said he will directly say if he is canceling/stopping the comic?

[HalfTangible]

sik days? This was the last one, it was from the 2-12. today is the 3-14 that´s a month, did i miss something?

Six days since you last posted.

Anti heroes went without updates for nearly six months. Calm down!

[Ninjaman]

Six days since you last posted.

Anti heroes went without updates for nearly six months. Calm down!

Six days where noone posted. This thread is dying and i will do anything in my (very small) power to hinder it from doing so.

[HalfTangible]

Six days where noone posted. This thread is dying and i will do anything in my (very small) power to hinder it from doing so.

You're not helping :annoyed:

[Ninjaman]

You're not helping :annoyed:

well it got 8 post in very few hours this might catch m@x´s attention.

[CrimsonAngel]

Dude, stop it. This is getting kind of wierd.

It's just a webcomic.

[Savannah]

It doesn't need to catch his attention; he has said he has no intention of stopping and if he did stop he would tell us. He has a life outside of making this comic. You know how the Giant doesn't want us asking about OotS updates? It's likely because he doesn't want to be nagged the way you're nagging M@XWeru. That's why everyone's telling to you relax.

[M@XWeru]

Look, it's got nothing to do with attention. I look at the Fan Comics forum practically every day, but I haven't had the time to update this comic lately.

I really do appreciate that you like my comic, but posting in this thread is not going to make the updates come any faster. Also, If you complain about the slowness just before an update comes around, all that'll do is make me look like a desperate attention whore, which is not something that I want.

As I said last time, the next page is almost finished, and I'll tell you if the comic dies.

So please, stop posting to ask for more updates, and stop posting to complain about people asking for more updates.

[Ninjaman]

Look, it's got nothing to do with attention. I look at the Fan Comics forum practically every day, but I haven't had the time to update this comic lately.

I really do appreciate that you like my comic, but posting in this thread is not going to make the updates come any faster. Also, If you complain about the slowness just before an update comes around, all that'll do is make me look like a desperate attention whore, which is not something that I want.

As I said last time, the next page is almost finished, and I'll tell you if the comic dies.

So please, stop posting to ask for more updates, and stop posting to complain about people asking for more updates.

Yeah, i´m sorry m@x. I will stop now.
Just wan´t to tell you that i really look forward to the update:smallbiggrin:

[M@XWeru]

#20
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/818/p20later.png

[mastermind]

What happened to 19?

[Strife Warzeal]

What happened to 19?

My guess is that it was intentional.

[Ninjaman]

Yay new one. I love it. And i love the guys smile, looks like a selffish prince or something.

[smuchmuch]

I love the details in the background.
I guess it's the downside to having a large size category.

[Ninjaman]

I love the details in the background.
I guess it's the downside to having a large size category.

Oh yea now you say it those are pretty funny.

[M@XWeru]

Mastermind & Strife: Cough, ahem, yeah, about that... That thing I wanted to try turned out to be wa-ha-hay more time-consuming and difficult than I could deal with at the time, and was holding up the comic something terrible.

Smuch: One of the downsides. ;P

Ninjaman: Hee, that's not the guess I would've expected~

[Ninjaman]

Ninjaman: Hee, that's not the guess I would've expected~

Why not?:smallconfused:

[M@XWeru]

And just to prove that I'm really, truly, honestly back, here's another page, fresh from the printing press.

In this episode, our heroes learn of the many uses of a party wherein basically everyone is a god of social interaction.

#21
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/9633/p21halflingsrshort.png

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Nice comics (surprise surprise)

I kind of wondered whether you'd planned to skip over #19 when you wrote #18 but the jokes at the beginning of #20 were solid enough to make me consider that having been "your plan from the beginning" as a possibility. Sounds like it wasn't really though. :smallamused:

And I noticed it more in #20 than in #21, but my, Richard Fortune's hair is hee-yow-je. I thought you'd actually given him a bigger head template to emphasise vanity for a little bit there with the grin and the hair...
Nice to see that the party's making some "friends" too. I wonder if the minotaur will notice the halfling hurtling out of the building? Kind of makes it look like a medium creature exclusive joint... :smalltongue:

I liked what you did with the dialogue in the last panel, quite a smart effect (I realise it's been done before but that doesn't mean it's not good). Not sure what "second floor" means in this context mind; I've grown up aware of two systems - one that would have the second floor as the second floor from the ground (first floor at ground level, then you go up some stairs and you're on the second floor (one flight of stairs to climb/fall down)) and one that would have the second floor as the third floor from the ground (the floor at ground level is called the ground floor, the floor above that's the first floor, and the floor above that is the second floor (two flights of stairs to climb/fall down)) I tend to think in terms of the former system automatically but always ask for clarification since where I live the latter system seems to be prevalent. I guess in this case it doesn't matter a whole lot - she fell from the window of a floor that was at least one flight of stairs up, which is usually bad enough to be honest....

[super dark33]

nice falling effect :smallbiggrin:

[Ninjaman]

How a lame page :smallannoyed:
I love it :smallbiggrin:

[M@XWeru]

Eleanor:
My original plan *was* to skip #19, actually, but then I went and turned into into a massive project instead, sucking up loads of time and making everyone wait forever for nothing. It was a bad, bad idea. Might put it in later as a special "lost page" or some dumb crap like that, if I ever get to finishing it.

What does 'hee-yow-je' mean? Googled it, found nothing. I tried giving him a bigger head. Didn't turn out very well.

The place is rather medium-centric. It's part of the attraction (you'll soon see why) and it makes it easier to defend against jungle ogres. >.>

The second floor is one flight of stairs up. The punchline was that halflings are so short, it takes them forever to hit the ground even from a short fall. I guess it would have been funnier if she'd said, "Noo! We're ten feet uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup..."

Super & Ninjaman: Thanks. :J

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Eleanor:
My original plan *was* to skip #19, actually, but then I went and turned into into a massive project instead, sucking up loads of time and making everyone wait forever for nothing. It was a bad, bad idea. Might put it in later as a special "lost page" or some dumb crap like that, if I ever get to finishing it.


This sounds like the sort of approach I take to projects! I tend to get over involved in specific details until it takes over the whole project and I end up with nothing to show for it for ages. I also change my mind a lot. A lot. It's sort of due to being both a procrastinator and a perfectionist who happens to have quite a few ideas (occaisonally).



What does 'hee-yow-je' mean? Googled it, found nothing. I tried giving him a bigger head. Didn't turn out very well.

'Hem. That was my silly way of saying "huge" whilst trying to both a) overemphasise most of the sounds in the word and b) use as little of the original format of the word as possible. It seemed like it would be witty at the time. If I had a day job I probably wouldn't be wise to give it up to become a comedian!

I think the hair being so much bigger than his head is probably a better look than an actual massive cranium - the contents of his head are probably less voluminous than usual and the hair's a big priority. :smallbiggrin:



The place is rather medium-centric. It's part of the attraction (you'll soon see why) and it makes it easier to defend against jungle ogres. >.>

The second floor is one flight of stairs up. The punchline was that halflings are so short, it takes them forever to hit the ground even from a short fall. I guess it would have been funnier if she'd said, "Noo! We're ten feet uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup..."


I'd have been more likely to have 'got' it but that doesn't mean it would have been funnier. To be honest, my sense of humour is sophisticated enough that I was happy enough with the punchline being "heh: she chucked her out of the window with considerable force because of appearances... imagine the (lack of?) reprecussions!" although I did suspect I was missing part of the intended point. :smalltongue:

I suppose a lot of d&d settings are likely to be pretty medium-centric given that it tends to be played by humans who gave themselves a medium template, suggesting that anything significantly larger or smaller was not the norm and that our own race is the default.

PS: I just noticed by the way that the ogres have proportionally smaller eyes (and I think probably just smaller eyes in general) than the medium sized human races. Nice touch. Will have to look at the OotS ogres to see if that was borrowed or "invented"...)

[HalfTangible]

How a lame page :smallannoyed:
I love it :smallbiggrin:

I think you mean 'what a lame page' :smalltongue:

I like it too.

[Ninjaman]

I think you mean 'what a lame page' :smalltongue:

I like it too.

Or do i :smallconfused:

[HalfTangible]

Or do i :smallconfused:

'how a lame page' isn't a proper sentence. At all. :smallwink:

'how' tends to refer to methods or degrees of an adjective, whereas you used it to refer to a noun (page), in which case it would be 'what'.

Grammar is very important to the Nazi Party. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4vf8N6GpdM) :smalltongue:

...

That is a joke. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZTBaUME-n4)

[Ninjaman]

'how a lame page' isn't a proper sentence. At all. :smallwink:

'how' tends to refer to methods or degrees of an adjective, whereas you used it to refer to a noun (page), in which case it would be 'what'.

Grammar is very important to the Nazi Party. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4vf8N6GpdM) :smalltongue:

...

That is a joke. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZTBaUME-n4)

Or is that what they want you to think :smallconfused:

[HalfTangible]

Or is that what they want you to think :smallconfused:

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNN NO.

[Ninjaman]

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNN NO.

Are you sure:smallconfused:
Is that your final answer:smallconfused:

[Eleanor_Rigby]

I'm kind of caught in the middle here (not that this is any of my business) since I'm a pedant and a language student but...

Ninjaman's location is listed as Denmark - given that a few Playgrounders post in English (because that's the language of the site's host) despite it not being their first language and Ninjaman's grammatical errors strike me as the sort I tend to make when trying to speak or write French/German/Swedish (my point is just about understandable but I've got the grammar badly wrong, sometimes that mangles the statement beyond belief, and sometimes it's not too tricky to extrapolate what I meant) I'd guess Ninjaman's Danish-Danish. If Ninjaman is Danish then chances are English isn't his first language but his English is more impressive than most native English speakers' Danish would be. I kind of feel that foreign language speakers should get a little bit of slack when it comes to pedantry - although if I were posting in a French forum I'd want my grammar corrected because I'm learning it academically, if it was just a recreational thing I might be content at just getting my point across...

But yeah, I did kind of wince at how gramatically unsound that was because I'm a big ol' hypocrite. Also, I hope it *is* his final answer because I didn't intentionally tune into "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" :smallsigh:

Er... that's not really about "World, Cup", is it?

Are any of the party members grammar pedants? Izzie strikes me as a likely one, and the not-rogue and Lysandra and th- most of the party do really with the possible exception of the Paladin.
Also, I get that there's a demonic language of some sort which the Tiefling Monk probably knows as well as common and there's elven/elvish and common, but is there a Minotaur language? What would you call that? (I guess google could tell me, or the rules site that somebody on this very thread helpfully linked me to, but I'm trying to steer us obnoxiously back on course here).

[M@XWeru]

Eleanor: Word.

That hair thing was pretty clever. Let's go with that. I really should have got the 'huge' thing, on closer though. Too bad I didn't think that closely about it. <_< >_>

I promise the lack of repercussions will only be slightly handwaved.

Ninjaman & Tangible:
"How lame a page" would be a proper... uh, probably not a sentence, but at least it'd be a proper fraction. Dammit, I really need to start learning grammatical rules. >.>

Eleanor again:
I'm from Sweden, but I have to say that being from Denmark is a perfect excuse for any language errors ever. (http://satwcomic.com/art/stop-talking.jpg)

Actually, everyone in the party is a language nazi. They just don't all go to the same lengths enforcing grammar. Not that this is likely to ever become relevant, unless other, less eloquent (or less angry) players join them at the table.

Minotaurs in DnD normally speak 'Giant'. In this particular setting, though (I've been trying to avoid giving out important/relevant/interesting background info in the thread, but I guess this isn't any of those things...) the languages aren't the same - there's one language for each major nation, a hideous pidgin language with two very different dialects spoken by the barbarians of the east and west, a couple of ancient/dead languages, and a few types of "scholarly" speech (Draconic, Classic Arcana, High Elven). There are no racial languages, no celestial or demonic languages and there's no druidic language.

[HalfTangible]

Are you sure:smallconfused:
Is that your final answer:smallconfused:

hmmm ... Yes. :smalltongue:

@Elenor: I'm not trying to be mean =( just saying. And then making a massive joke out of it...

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Ooh languagey background material. :smallcool: (Yes, I am a nerd.)

I find it amusing that the Swedish lecturer from my university is married to the Danish lecturer. Y'all have a fair bit of infighting/ "racist" jokes but then Britain's like that too I guess (as the comic you linked to indicates (Scotland is heinously underrepresented but the English/British one is usually about right for the majority of the UK as a whole, just especially true of England so I'll accept it). This is what comes of being countries with a lot of "history", I guess.

(I realised the "spat" was pretty much all in fun but it looked like it might have kept going for a while... so I decided to wade on in there like the busybody I be sorry, am)

As far as the whole party being pedants/ grammar nazis... well, they've not corrected a lot of grammar but they all seem to bear at least some of the typical traits of the grammar nazis (chief amongst these are pedantry (how does the flail work???) and snarkyness(most of the time anyone says anything!) so I can't say I'm surprised. :smallwink:

[M@XWeru]

That may just be my English failing me - I know there are a few mistakes (though I think "but seriously, though" is going to be Hades' new catchphrase >.>) but there aren't that many, are there?

I might add that no one in this group would ever make the mistake of correcting the DM's grammar.

[Ninjaman]

I'm kind of caught in the middle here (not that this is any of my business) since I'm a pedant and a language student but...

Ninjaman's location is listed as Denmark - given that a few Playgrounders post in English (because that's the language of the site's host) despite it not being their first language and Ninjaman's grammatical errors strike me as the sort I tend to make when trying to speak or write French/German/Swedish (my point is just about understandable but I've got the grammar badly wrong, sometimes that mangles the statement beyond belief, and sometimes it's not too tricky to extrapolate what I meant) I'd guess Ninjaman's Danish-Danish. If Ninjaman is Danish then chances are English isn't his first language but his English is more impressive than most native English speakers' Danish would be. I kind of feel that foreign language speakers should get a little bit of slack when it comes to pedantry - although if I were posting in a French forum I'd want my grammar corrected because I'm learning it academically, if it was just a recreational thing I might be content at just getting my point across...

But yeah, I did kind of wince at how gramatically unsound that was because I'm a big ol' hypocrite. Also, I hope it *is* his final answer because I didn't intentionally tune into "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" :smallsigh:

Er... that's not really about "World, Cup", is it?

Are any of the party members grammar pedants? Izzie strikes me as a likely one, and the not-rogue and Lysandra and th- most of the party do really with the possible exception of the Paladin.
Also, I get that there's a demonic language of some sort which the Tiefling Monk probably knows as well as common and there's elven/elvish and common, but is there a Minotaur language? What would you call that? (I guess google could tell me, or the rules site that somebody on this very thread helpfully linked me to, but I'm trying to steer us obnoxiously back on course here).

Your signature said you could do stuff like this :smallannoyed:
Now i know what a pain in the ass you can be :smallbiggrin:

Also i know that it should be "what a lame page" that one just slipped.
And i got a habbit that every time someone corrects me i just pretend like that was the point from the start.

[M@XWeru]

Now, that's just plain rude.

[Ninjaman]

Now, that's just plain rude.

Who :smallconfused:
Me :smallamused:

I changed to photobucket long ago and i forgot to give you my fan art picture in better resolution. So here it is :smallbiggrin:
http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g467/Ninjamanhammer/FanArt.png

[M@XWeru]

I bet you thought I wasn't coming back, but you were wrong!

...I wasn't really planning on it taking this long, however.

Page 22:

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3141/p22faito2.png

I even went and edited the last pages into the first post, and replaced Ninjaman's old fanart picture with the new one. Whew, I've been busy today!

Aw, man... I still didn't get it all right. Grr, this time I think I'll actually edit the page. That speech bubble in the first panel is supposed to be a thought bubble, of course.

[Ninjaman]

Yay it´s back. Shouldn´t the ninja say Who also happen to be ninjas.
Also why didn´t you update, or even post, for so long.
Again nice page, glad that it is back.

[super dark33]

Nice page!

[M@XWeru]

Yay it´s back. Shouldn´t the ninja say Who also happen to be ninjas.
Also why didn´t you update, or even post, for so long.
Again nice page, glad that it is back.

Actually, in Japanese, pluralization doesn't work like that, so it's about as accurate as using, say, 'cacti' instead of 'cactuses'. This usually annoys people who use 'cacti', which in turn makes me happy.

I didn't post because I've lately been incredibly busy with... well, everything.

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Actually, in Japanese, pluralization doesn't work like that, so it's about as accurate as using, say, 'cacti' instead of 'cactuses'. This usually annoys people who use 'cacti', which in turn makes me happy.I didn't post because I've lately been incredibly busy with... well, everything.

whort, so this is like the whole "octopodes" gig then? :smallconfused:

Liking the new page very much, although I've gotta admit I don't understand precisely what's happening in the last panel with Lyssandra in it. Katana/sword, plus upward pointing arrow, plus the head of an ass?

My favourite ninja would probably have to be the kobold-esque one.
I was kinda hoping your page for Round Robin meant that World, Cup might be back soon. :smallbiggrin: I was sssorta riiight, yeah?

NB: You may wanna rinse out a bit of the profanity from the dialogue just to stay on the nice side of the forum guidelines [/pokin' my nose into business of others]

[M@XWeru]

It's related (though I personally use the English pluralization for everything).

In the panel with Lysara, the head is there because I couldn't fit the whole donkey in the picture. It was meant to be read as 'sword up ass'. The first attempt was rather more graphical, but that didn't really seem appropriate.

My favourite ninja is the one with the spear. I love rice hats.

And I was kind of hoping World, Cup would be back too. I also hope I'll be able to think of a better title before the next thread. Not that I'm in any hurry.

Edit: Uh, apparently one of the words I used in that last comic page was offensive and earned me an infraction. While I'm looking into exactly what word that is, I'm breaking the link until such a time as I can rub that one word out.

[Worlok]

In the panel with Lysara, the head is there because I couldn't fit the whole donkey in the picture. It was meant to be read as 'sword up ass'. The first attempt was rather more graphical, but that didn't really seem appropriate.
Honestly? I called that as soon as I had seen it. :smallbiggrin:

Also... What's with the pirate and the zombie? I mean, should we expect robots (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NinjaPirateZombieRobot) (Warning: TVTropes-Link) soon, what with them being in that particular order? :smalltongue:

Anywho, good to see you're back. This is as awesome as ever. :smallsmile:

I have to ask, though - what's with paladin-guy's perpetual smile? That borders on the terrifying, there. :smalleek:

[Eleanor_Rigby]

:smallredface: Yeeeaaaah... I was pretty sure that was what it meant it just struck me as... unusual? The question was mostly tongue-in-cheek but I've got this kind of thing completely back to front in the past, so...
Also my old-woman-like-sensibilities were shaken by such graphic threats. Kinda. Sorta. Let's pretend they were.
I kinda imagined the "speaker" to be somesort of Ancient Egyptian style character (in the Asterix comics, for example, all such characters speak in images, although I believe those were read left to right instead of bottom to top).

As for Paladin-Guy's perpetual smile being scary? I just find the dude creepy full stop. But in a funny way. The constantly visible teeth is a big part of it though. Bet they're still visible in pitch darkness. :smallbiggrin:

[Worlok]

:smallredface: Yeeeaaaah... I was pretty sure that was what it meant it just struck me as... unusual? The question was mostly tongue-in-cheek but I've got this kind of thing completely back to front in the past, so...
Also my old-woman-like-sensibilities were shaken by such graphic threats. Kinda. Sorta. Let's pretend they were.
It's alright. That way of handling insults is not thaaat common.

Then again, I knew that kind of image-bubble thingfrom that Spanish comic with the secret agents ("Clever & Smart" in Germany, I think in English they're called "Mort & Phil"), where it's usually used for insults. Meaning it's used almost constantly. So yeah, I may not have been entirely unprepared. Pretension accomplished. :smallbiggrin:


I kinda imagined the "speaker" to be somesort of Ancient Egyptian style character (in the Asterix comics, for example, all such characters speak in images, although I believe those were read left to right instead of bottom to top).
Wasn't there one scene (or rather, sidegag) in one of the comics were this bunch of people from various provinces visits the Colosseum and the tour guide changes font five times in the same speech bubble to indicate that he's adressing them in their respective languages? I think one of the "fonts" even was that Egyptian-images-thing. :smallconfused: (Which reminds me: I haven't read an Asterix comic in years now. Shame on me!)


Bet they're still visible in pitch darkness. :smallbiggrin:
Paladins - Making you see the light one way or another. :smalltongue: But seriously - That would really make him even creepier. :smalleek:

[M@XWeru]

Worlok:
There may be robots...

Thank you, I try. :P

As for the smile, it's to make it obvious to everyone that he's the hero of the story. Couldn't you tell? ;J

Rigby:
The speaker is the samurai girl from before. Though I suppose the inclusion of several other characters with eastern swords of various kinds might have served to make that less obvious.

And as for the teeth? Hells yeah - casting any [Light] spell of 2nd level or higher in range of them blinds everyone within sight. No save.

[M@XWeru]

Yeah, another page! I'm on a roll now!

No profanities this time, I promise.

Page 23: Another Flaw in His Plan
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/4736/p23inattentiveagain.png

[Ninjaman]

Awesome page.Like the ogre

[Akrim.elf]

you comics still awe... ehm, i mean amazing!
hm, those spots on the face services are branded, ie, they are slaves, or where the women grow beards?

[M@XWeru]

Ninjaman:
Thank you.

Akrim:
It's a brand - the servants are all slaves. That's not a woman, however - he doesn't have the curvy body shape.

[Doorhandle]

...I have a new favorite comic.
This is HILARIOUS.

[Ninjaman]

...I have a new favorite comic.
This is HILARIOUS.

I can only agree.

[M@XWeru]

Woo! A new reader.

In celebration, I slapped another sketch on the first page. =D How lucky that I was drawing it as I saw these last posts.

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Woo! A new reader.

In celebration, I slapped another sketch on the first page. =D How lucky that I was drawing it as I saw these last posts.

Sumo-sumo-ogre! Huzzah! (I've never met a sumo who didn't say "Huzzah!", have you?)

As for the most recent page itself, I have to admit, I found those last three panels bizarrely... adorable. :smallconfused:
I think it's just the way he peeps out of there from nowhere. Plus, rampaging beast though he is, I think I'm still bearing in mind here that your bog-standard minotaur has the head of a bull. Has anyone seen the eyes and lashes on those things?
[does a google image search on Jersey cows to prove her point]
...huh. On second thoughts I kinda see why that might also be fairly unsettling.

[Doorhandle]

Considering the minotaur has loads and loads of sharp, pointy teeth and the fact his mouth extends into a grin way WAY past were an actual cow's mouth goes... yeah, I'm pretty sure he's nightmare fuel to cows and humans alike.

Still my favorite character of the strip though.

[M@XWeru]

Well, this (http://www.freewebs.com/wolfsblood1/Minotaur.jpg) is what the Monster Manual thinks a minotaur looks like - I just took it to the next level.

By the way, uh, I'm using a different computer to write this and looked over the comics again on this screen. Uh... do the walls and streets and stuff look pink to you people? Because they most certainly weren't pink on my other computer, and they definitely aren't supposed to be pink. >_>

Rigby: I've never met any sumo wrestlers at all.

[CrimsonAngel]

Pinkish beige?

[Savannah]

Yeah, they're a little bit pink. Not so much that I went "why the heck are the walls pink?!" or anything, but definitely a little pink.

[Admiral Harkov]

Smoked salmon in my comp.

P.S. - I don't know how it works, but it looks happy making the wheels turn while running.

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Rigby: I've never met any sumo wrestlers at all.

Ergo, you haven't met one who didn't say "Huzzah"?

The first few panels have dusky pink walls and the later ones a "peach" colour on this computer. Don't remember what colour they were on mine. Either way they're not offensively or obtrusively pink.

[M@XWeru]

Maaan, this took way longer than it should have. I was expecting my workload to diminish over my vacation, but instead it tripled. Bah. Anyway, I'm still here and so is my little comic. We're getting closer and closer to a coherent plot, I think.

And then we derail it again. This took an uncomfortable amount of time to make.

Page 24: Now He's Doing It Too!
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2691/p24derailedagain.png

I have tried to lessen the pinkness, but this computer is still pretty unreliable in the colours department.

Rigby: ...Fine.

[Ninjaman]

Awesome, it´s back

[M@XWeru]

All views and no comments makes Max a sad pony.

Regardless, I've been making good use of this brief period of free time I have available, and here's another page.

Page 25: Jungle Fever And Nausea
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/1706/p25ewww.png

[Doorhandle]

Oh man! The marshal is teh awesome!

I want him as a DMPC!

Gushing aside... what is he? A hill giant, or a storm giant, maybe?

...dire ogre? dire HUMAN?

[smuchmuch]

well his bodyguard is an Ogre and barely get to his waist so Hill/rock giant (or something homebrewed but with those proportions) seems about right

I see a minotaur that should really stop talking and try to make himself very small right now

[Ninjaman]

Nice suit :smalltongue: This is getting pretty interesting.

[M@XWeru]

Thank you, thank you.

Doorhandle:
Dire human, that's an interesting concept. And a pretty good guess, at that! You'll have your answer in a page or two.

Smuchmuch:
Nah, Debbie's a player character. What's the worst that could happen? :smalltongue:

Ninjaman:
The marshal's or Izzy's sister's?

I actually had another sketch for y'all, but I'm fairly certain it violates the board rules against graphic violence, being both, well, violent and a piece of graphics. Then again, I don't think you're forbidden from having characters in comics and drawings commit crimes (criminal activity being a banned topic) so exactly where the line is drawn is a little fuzzy. At any rate, I'll be consulting a mod on this and see what we can see. >_>

[Ninjaman]

Ninjaman:
The marshal's or Izzy's sister's?


Both. White

[M@XWeru]

Yeah, I might as well quit while I'm ahead.

Comic Officially Down. I give up.

[Worlok]

What? Why? :smalleek:

[Admiral Harkov]

Duh. What a pity, it was really good.

Thanks for the strips you've done.

[super dark33]

Was nice... can you at least spill the beans for us?

[Eleanor_Rigby]

Yeah, I might as well quit while I'm ahead.

Comic Officially Down. I give up.

The update you were working on or the whole shebang? If the latter, well, that's a pity.
It probably doesn't make a big difference to know this, but I was still reading - in fact, I was drawing a portrait of Death-By-Trampling just yesterday. Well, correction: I was trying to draw a portrait of DBT... it didn't quite work out. :smalltongue:
Also, I meant to comment when Izzy's sister appeared that her pointy ear suggests Iz might indeed be part elf.

Anyways. Sorry it's not working out how you wanted and hope to see you around the forums anyhow.

[M@XWeru]

The whole shebang.

I'd end up breaking forum rules sooner or later - probably sooner (probably already did). I just don't have PG-13 in me. :P

Harkov: Hoh, you're most welcome. ;P

Rigby: Not that I didn't appreciate your lengthy comments (or the attempted drawing ;P), but the reason I quit is because of the impending rules issues mentioned above.

Oh, right, of course I can spill the beans. Edit incoming.

Stuff:

Ha-ha, I removed all the spoilers.


If there are any more questions, I'll happily answer them all of course. :smalltongue:

[Timeless Error]

Aw, man! I've been secretly following this for a while, and I've really enjoyed it. Sorry that it can't be continued. :smallfrown:

[Worlok]

Well... There would be one question... Dare I ask... What classes and races/templates were the rest of the party, then? If I recall correctly, we never really did find out what the class the non-rogue had was called, for one. :smallredface:

[super dark33]

or the old lady.

[smuchmuch]

Woah that was... pretty sudden.
A Shame, it was pretty good.

(I'm actualy curious at what you had planned that would break forums rules so bad ?)

[M@XWeru]

Well, we've already had cannibalism, which has to be at least skirting the line. What was to come would be wa-ha-ha-hay worse than some measly peasant getting messily ripped in half.

Worlok:

I removed even more spoilers, actually. =D

The BIGGEST spoiler of them all:
Nope, I removed this one too.

[super dark33]

well DAMN. im tottaly going to use Dukes build somtime.

[Teutonic Knight]

Sorry to hear it. Well, I knew something was "different" when your minotaur creature had an always grinning jaw the length of his body lined with razor sharp teeth. :smalltongue:

[Ninjaman]

Awwwwwww :smallfrown:
But this was my favorite comic in this forum.
Well thank you for that much.

[Worlok]

well DAMN. im tottaly going to use Dukes build somtime.
Word! It's got style. :smallbiggrin:


Well, I knew something was "different" when your minotaur creature had an always grinning jaw the length of his body lined with razor sharp teeth. :smalltongue:
You must know some... interesting females. :smalleek: :smalltongue:

And M@X, thanks for clarifying. And for the comic as a whole, I really liked the entire damn run. So good luck with whatever you'll do next, and if it should come to be that you revive this, let me know. :smallsmile:

[M@XWeru]

well DAMN. im tottaly going to use Dukes build somtime.
It is an old favourite of mine - has its definite points, though it requires quite a few sources. Packs a punch, though.


Sorry to hear it. Well, I knew something was "different" when your minotaur creature had an always grinning jaw the length of his body lined with razor sharp teeth. :smalltongue:
Oop, do you think perhaps that was a metaphor? :smalltongue:


Awwwwwww :smallfrown:
But this was my favorite comic in this forum.
Well thank you for that much.
Thank you right back. :smallwink:


And M@X, thanks for clarifying. And for the comic as a whole, I really liked the entire damn run. So good luck with whatever you'll do next, and if it should come to be that you revive this, let me know. :smallsmile:
Well... I suppose there's no real reason I couldn't just have it hosted somewhere else. Then again, actually having to do that, having to plug the comic, and whatever else is involved with that stuff, ehhh...

It could happen. Though if this comic does return somewhere else, I seriously doubt it'll be in vexel form.

[Teutonic Knight]

If people are misinterpreting my quote, then Doorhandle's quote does a better job of saying what I wanted to say.


Considering the minotaur has loads and loads of sharp, pointy teeth and the fact his mouth extends into a grin way WAY past were an actual cow's mouth goes... yeah, I'm pretty sure he's nightmare fuel to cows and humans alike.

If he needed to use the words nightmare fuel, then I knew this comic would be different, requiring way higher levels of creepiness (which can be translated into violent you were thinking of) than your average Dnd campaign based comic that comes out of these forums.

Actually you should have participated the last round of DYF, the theme was Cthulhu/Eldritch horrors.

[Worlok]

It could happen. Though if this comic does return somewhere else, I seriously doubt it'll be in vexel form.
Well, judging from the concept art in the first post, I'd be willing to bet that that is in no way a bad thing. :smallwink: However you eventually decide, though, this thing was awesome, and I wish you good luck with whatever else you're up to. Rock on. :smallsmile:

[M@XWeru]

Actually you should have participated the last round of DYF, the theme was Cthulhu/Eldritch horrors.

I would have won, but for the fact that I have no friends - I am simply too horrifying. :smallwink:


Well, judging from the concept art in the first post, I'd be willing to bet that that is in no way a bad thing. :smallwink: However you eventually decide, though, this thing was awesome, and I wish you good luck with whatever else you're up to. Rock on. :smallsmile:

Oh, you flatter me. I like it. ;P

I'll give it serious thought.

[Teutonic Knight]

I would have won, but for the fact that I have no friends - I am simply too horrifying. :smallwink:

You can't win in DYF because we just make avatars/art for each other Secret-Santa style. And that is why you lose. :smalltongue:

[Ninjaman]

I would have won, but for the fact that I have no friends - I am simply too horrifying. :smallwink:


I can be your friend. If you just keep those tentacles away from me.

[Worlok]

Oh, you flatter me. I like it. ;P
You keep those tentacles away from me, grab Ninjaman instead! :smalleek:

(By which I mean, sure, think about it. :smallwink:)

[Ninjaman]

You keep those tentacles away from me, grab Ninjaman instead! :smalleek:

(By which I mean, sure, think about it. :smallwink:)

Hey!
*throws smoke bomb*
*jumps out*
Fare well m@x (by the way how do you pronounce that? i just think of it as with an a).

[HalfTangible]

Hey!
*throws smoke bomb*
*jumps out*
Fare well m@x (by the way how do you pronounce that? i just think of it as with an a).

matx (mat-axe

[Ninjaman]

matx (mat-axe

Why that :smallconfused:

[Worlok]

Because he'll axe you when you make him mad? :smalltongue: