Color Scheme

[MoonCat]

I can't help but notice that orange is something of a common color when it comes to being sneaky. The Potion of Glibness is orange, as well as most of Haley's clothes, hair, sneaky stuff. Do you think this is intentional? If so, can you think of any other colors that represent something in the OoTS world?

[TimelordSimone]

Blue = Azure City

/deep insight

[Pyron]

The Potion of Glibness is orange,


That's because it's really orange juice. Elan just bluffed Haley into think it's a potion of glibness.

[MoonCat]

:smallsmile: Well yes, but it doesn't necessarily mean Lawful, or Good

[Cizak]

That's because it's really orange juice. Elan just bluffed Haley into think it's a potion of glibness.

"And Haley, you wanted skill points in Bluff. Little did you know, you had skill points in Bluff all along!"

[DraPrime]

That's because it's really orange juice. Elan just bluffed Haley into think it's a potion of glibness.

Funny, I didn't know that placebos worked for potions. Magic seems like a hard thing for your brain to self-induce. :smalltongue:

[Comet]

Funny, I didn't know that placebos worked for potions. Magic seems like a hard thing for your brain to self-induce. :smalltongue:

Psionics is the answer to all of life's problems!

[DraPrime]

Psionics is the answer to all of life's problems!

So Haley is a psion?

[The Rugi]

Duh. Didn't you get the memo?

[MoonCat]

I am deeply reminded of one of my other threads I made. It also went off-topic on the first page. Is there any colors related to things in OoTS?

[factotum]

It's difficult to say. Magic in the Stickverse seems to have a characteristic colour dependent on the caster, not the magic itself--for instance, Xykon's normally black magic appeared yellow when he used Dorukan's headband to cast Cloister, and V's magic is always pink regardless of what spell he happens to be casting. Given that, one would say that the orange effect of the glibness potion might actually just be because it was mixed by someone with that characteristic magic colour rather than any property of the potion itself!

[MoonCat]

Is there anyone we've seen with an orange magical aura?

[DraPrime]

Is there anyone we've seen with an orange magical aura?

No, but that does not rule out the possibility of someone having it,

[Pyron]

So Haley is a psion?

No, Elan. After all, aren't all Elans natural psions?



Given that, one would say that the orange effect of the glibness potion might actually just be because it was mixed by someone with that characteristic magic colour rather than any property of the potion itself!

In all seriousness, I think this is pretty spot on. Case in point, we have another orange potion (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0594.html) used by Elan when he was separated from Haley. Chances are it's made by the same person (maybe from the orange elephant country in the 10th panel (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0501.html)).

[Dr.Epic]

I can't help but notice that orange is something of a common color when it comes to being sneaky. The Potion of Glibness is orange, as well as most of Haley's clothes, hair, sneaky stuff. Do you think this is intentional? If so, can you think of any other colors that represent something in the OoTS world?

Haley's clothing is more brown. Also, I think it's just a coincidence.

[the300]

maybe orange is the color of a queen, since elan is going to become a king one day, so orange is something royal...

[Swordpriest]

Limited color palette, I'd say. Random chance, and maybe the fact that the color makes it stand out. I think Rich's "cigar" quote fits here. :smallsmile:

[AsteriskAmp]

IRC this is called chromatology, the study of coulors on a given setting and their usage for representing concepts.

Like numerology, it can be true or completely fake, there is no real way to know, as we humans have a tendency to find patterns in things when in reality there could be none.

I believe in this cases it's just a coincidence and the fact that there really aren't that many colours that represent potion adequately.

This reminds me of some Evangelion fans who found that the color of the Evas had a deep psychological meaning...

[Dr.Epic]

maybe orange is the color of a queen, since elan is going to become a king one day, so orange is something royal...

...:smallconfused:I'm sorry, Elan's going to become what some day?

[Leecros]

...:smallconfused:I'm sorry, Elan's going to become what some day?

it's a scary thought....

[Dr.Epic]

it's a scary thought....

No, I mean where did that idea come from? Has it ever been implied Elan's going to become king because Viggo Mortensen he is not?

[Leecros]

No, I mean where did that idea come from? Has it ever been implied Elan's going to become king because Viggo Mortensen he is not?

not as far as i know.....Although he did have a brok'd sword (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0017.html). So perhaps someday in the future he may have to reforge it? I'm kind of grasping at strings here....:smallconfused:

[Dr.Epic]

not as far as i know.....Although he did have a brok'd sword (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0017.html). So perhaps someday in the future he may have to reforge it? I'm kind of grasping at strings here....:smallconfused:

Having a broken sword doesn't mean you will become king. Heck, Roy had a broken sword. You don't become king because someone shatters your sword. You become king by pulling some sword out of a rock because no one else can.

[Zmflavius]

Having a broken sword doesn't mean you will become king. Heck, Roy had a broken sword. You don't become king because someone shatters your sword. You become king by pulling some sword out of a rock because no one else can.

Which was possible because it turns out that you're from this lineage of ancient kings and stuff.

(Yes, that's how the traditional Arthur stories go)

[Leecros]

Which was possible because it turns out that you're from this lineage of ancient kings and stuff.

(Yes, that's how the traditional Arthur stories go)

from a practical viewpoint though, ramming a sword into a rock isn't the greatest idea...

[Dr.Epic]

from a practical viewpoint though, ramming a sword into a rock isn't the greatest idea...

What about when fighting an earth elemental?

[AsteriskAmp]

What about when fighting an earth elemental?

If you are a fighter you have no business near an earth elemental.

Silly fighter, elementals are for Clerics and Wizards.

[Dr.Epic]

If you are a fighter you have no business near an earth elemental.

Silly fighter, elementals are for Clerics and Wizards.

If they're higher enough level and the elemental is low enough CR, then why not?

[AsteriskAmp]

If they're higher enough level and the elemental is low enough CR, then why not?

Because if the DM throws something under CRed to you, you ran away real fast, it's template to heck and back mother will appear shortly after it's demise.

[ref]

Having a broken sword doesn't mean you will become king. Heck, Roy had a broken sword. You don't become king because someone shatters your sword. You become king by pulling some sword out of a rock because no one else can.

And he became a king. The King of Nowhere, to be precise.

[factotum]

Having a broken sword doesn't mean you will become king. Heck, Roy had a broken sword.

And he *did* become a king, albeit briefly--remember the inn Miko took them to? :smallwink:

[Dr.Epic]

And he *did* become a king, albeit briefly--remember the inn Miko took them to? :smallwink:

impostoring a king =/= being a king

[Occasional Sage]

No, I mean where did that idea come from? Has it ever been implied Elan's going to become king because Viggo Mortensen he is not?

When he defeats his father (with the assistance of the adventurers he leads), perhaps?

[HappyBlanket]

Factotum and Pyron seem to have it right, on two accounts.

1) There is a color scheme as far as magic goes.
Each caster has a color to represent his or her magic. V's magic is pink (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0678.html), Aardinarius' (V's mentor's) magic is dark purple (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0630.html), Julia's magic is green (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0354.html), Nale's magic is yellow (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0393.html), and Elan's magic is blue (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0647.html), just to name a few.

But of course, there are only so many distinct colors, and overlaps are inevitable. For example, Pompey's magic is a bit difficult to distinguish (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0354.html) from V's and Aardinarus'.

Meanwhile, some spells have consistent colors regardless of who uses them. For example, necromantic spells are always dark gray(this citing sources thing is getting annoying), as seen by various spells cast by Xykon, Haerta (through Darth V), and several Wights. Divine spells of the twelve gods are always azure (shocking) as seen by spells cast by several clerics, Miko, and other Azurites. Individual spells like Magic Missile and Disintegrate also have unique colors.

Correction. Magic Missile is pink when used by Vaarsuvius, but dark gray (like necromantic spells) when cast by Xykon. Disintegrate has only been cast by a single person, so I'm not saying anything about it. But, since it's not pink like other variable-color spells cast by V, it's safe to assume that it's always green.

2) The potion is not orange because of it's individual properties.

Ever since Elan left Azure City, nearly every potion he's used (if not every) has been orange in color, regardless of the effect (and the effect has varied extensively). For exaaaaample (yay for more sourcing?).

The Potion of Heroism (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0593.html),
A potion bolstering jump and/or movement (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0594.html) and of course, the
Philtre Potion of Glibness. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0767.html)
I think there was another one, but I can't seem to remember where.

I think it's safe to say that these potions were mixed and sold by the same person.

[Dr.Epic]

When he defeats his father (with the assistance of the adventurers he leads), perhaps?

Since when does killing a high ranking general ensure you a position of kingship? No political system works like that unless you're trying to say Elan will try to gain power during the chaos caused from his father's death, and Elan is not power hungry. Besides, considering Roy is the leader of the Order, wouldn't he be more likely?

[JonestheSpy]

Funny, I didn't know that placebos worked for potions. Magic seems like a hard thing for your brain to self-induce. :smalltongue:

Ron Weasley would like a word with you.

[Dragon Star]

Ron Weasley would like a word with you.

This.
Though, it didn't have exactly the effect it really would have.

[Dragon Star]

Ron Weasley would like a word with you.

Whoa. Sorry for the double post how do I delete this?

[Lemonus]

Wow. Has this thread gone off topic.

It seems that healing magic not from the Azurites is white.

[MoonCat]

Whoa. Sorry for the double post how do I delete this?

Edit your message, there is an option the top saying "delete this message?"

[HappyBlanket]

Wow. Has this thread gone off topic.

It seems that healing magic not from the Azurites is white.

But is that healing magic in general, or just magic by Durkon? Or just magic by clerics of Thor?

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

Blue = Azure City

/deep insight
:smallsmile: Well yes, but it doesn't necessarily mean Lawful, or Good

This might actually be a motif, come to think of it. I mean, Roy wears blue, the Deva and the cherubs in Celestia are blue, Banjo wears a blue robe... there's probably other stuff in there, too. Tsukiko uses blue magic, but I think she technically gets that from the dark side of the Twelve Gods anyway, and her heterochromia is employed to underscore her twisted dual nature.

I think part of it is that Blue has a sort of natural opposition to Red, which is the classic color of imps and demons and lava and whatnot. Elan knows that Red and Black mean scary (like the Balrog), so it stands to reason that Blue and White would mean just the opposite (like Celia).

Of course, that's not really OOTS-specific - it's pulled in from the sources the series draws from.

Also, Belkar wears green because he wants to look like a nature-loving ranger, even though he really isn't.

[MoonCat]

This might actually be a motif, come to think of it. I mean, Roy wears blue, the Deva and the cherubs in Celestia are blue, Banjo wears a blue robe... there's probably other stuff in there, too. Tsukiko uses blue magic, but I think she technically gets that from the dark side of the Twelve Gods anyway, and her heterochromia is employed to underscore her twisted dual nature.

That had semi-occured to me, but after I stopped reading (it got really off topic)

I think part of it is that Blue has a sort of natural opposition to Red, which is the classic color of imps and demons and lava and whatnot. Elan knows that Red and Black mean scary (like the Balrog), so it stands to reason that Blue and White would mean just the opposite (like Celia).

Huh, I hadn't caught that, just to add, the commentary by Rich during the RedCloak/Miko fight was titled Red vs. Blue


Also, Belkar wears green because he wants to look like a nature-loving ranger, even though he really isn't.

Or just to look more like a stereotypical hobbit when Rich first created them.

[zimmerwald1915]

Correction. Magic Missile is pink when used by Vaarsuvius, but dark gray (like necromantic spells) when cast by Xykon. Disintegrate has only been cast by a single person, so I'm not saying anything about it. But, since it's not pink like other variable-color spells cast by V, it's safe to assume that it's always green.
Redcloak casts Disintegrate (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0480.html). While the ray itself is green, the aura around his hand is rust red. Whereas, when V casts Disintegrate (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0437.html) a few strips earlier, the aura around his hand is her normal pink.

[Felixc-91]

Malak's magic is the same grey-ish color as zykon's. it might mark him as evil, IDK.

[HappyBlanket]

So the ray of Disintegrate is green, but it's accompanied by the caster's personal color. Makes sense.

Anyway, the dark-gray magic is a bit interesting. I listed it as the color of necromantic magic (which I still maintain), but Xykon seems to have it as his personal aura, as exemplified by his Meteor Swarm (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0442.html), which is not a necromantic spell.

Malack used dark-gray magic when he casted Heal (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0718.html), which is clearly not a necromantic spell. But Malack is a cleric of death, so...




You know what would be great for this thread? This. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0739.html)
Well, maybe not exactly, but that book could be quite the Chekhov. Durkon learning a spell or two of Death magic? It'd be nice to see necromantic spells cast by somebody who doesn't already have dark-gray aura.

[Lemonus]

When Hilgya casts spells, it's orange. http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0074.html
Is it because she's a follower of Loki?

[Nimrod's Son]

When Hilgya casts spells, it's orange. http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0074.html
Is it because she's a follower of Loki?
Probably. The other cleric of Loki casts in orange, too. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0610.html)

[Lemonus]

Also, when we see the Northern Gods, they all have a yellow aura.

[HappyBlanket]

When Hilgya casts spells, it's orange. http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0074.html
Is it because she's a follower of Loki?

The azure aura or the Paladins and Clerics is probably due to their association of the Southern Gods. It's safe to assume that clerics and paladins of the same deity all have the same magic aura as well (including Redcloak, Durkon, Malack, Miko, etc.).

The four pantheons have their own colors. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0273.html)

[Felixc-91]

Malack used dark-gray magic when he casted Heal (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0718.html), which is clearly not a necromantic spell. But Malack is a cleric of death, so...

You know what would be great for this thread? This. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0739.html)
Well, maybe not exactly, but that book could be quite the Chekhov. Durkon learning a spell or two of Death magic? It'd be nice to see necromantic spells cast by somebody who doesn't already have dark-gray aura.we also see him use the same color of magic to cast blade barrier (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0721.html).
we do see Durkon, prep whatever spell (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0750.html) he learned from Malak's library. it was white.
the evidence so far seems pretty definitive that the color of one's magic is dependent on the source of the power (divine) or the caster (arcane)

[HappyBlanket]

SUDDENLY

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0465.html

Three goblin clerics with different casting auras. Their colors correspond with their rope belts. Not terribly significant in the long run I imagine, but certainly just as significant as anything else in this thread.
Worth noting is that Redcloak's goblin religion is monotheistic, iirc.

[Boogastreehouse]

Having a broken sword doesn't mean you will become king. Heck, Roy had a broken sword. You don't become king because someone shatters your sword. You become king by pulling some sword out of a rock because no one else can.


Which was possible because it turns out that you're from this lineage of ancient kings and stuff.

(Yes, that's how the traditional Arthur stories go)

Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

[MoonCat]

Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

You sir, have just won yourself a coconut. Click on the sparrow to receive it.

[zimmerwald1915]

SUDDENLY

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0465.html

Three goblin clerics with different casting auras. Their colors correspond with their rope belts. Not terribly significant in the long run I imagine, but certainly just as significant as anything else in this thread.
Worth noting is that Redcloak's goblin religion is monotheistic, iirc.
That seems to follow the pattern of arcane spellcasting, where the caster's magic aura corresponds to their clothes. For what it's worth, Redcloak's own aura does not match the Dark One's, despite the fact that he's the high priest of his god; the Dark One's is purple while Redcloak's is the color of the Crimson Mantle.

Does anyone remember what Lirian's aura looked like? I remember Leeky's was brown, a little darker than his robe.

[martianmister]

Does anyone remember what Lirian's aura looked like? I remember Leeky's was brown, a little darker than his robe.

Green:

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0276.html

[HappyBlanket]

That seems to follow the pattern of arcane spellcasting, where the caster's magic aura corresponds to their clothes. For what it's worth, Redcloak's own aura does not match the Dark One's, despite the fact that he's the high priest of his god; the Dark One's is purple while Redcloak's is the color of the Crimson Mantle.

I'm not familiar with D&D's magic system. Can arcane casters heal? If not, this would make the goblins definite clerics divine casters. Seems weird that they'd follow arcane colors, as opposed to the color patterns of every other divine caster.
And it's not that aura is defined by clothing. The in-game determinant of color is probably the source. In terms of meta, however, the matching clothes/aura ensemble is mostly aesthetic.

V's aura is pink, and she wears red.
Xykon's aura is black, and he wears blue and red.


As for the Dark One's aura: Durkon's aura is white (like lightning) and Hilgya's aura is orange (like flame). But Thor and Loki (and Odin as well) both have yellow auras. It was previously mentioned that each of the four pantheons had colors for the entire pantheon, as opposed to an aura for each individual member. That explains why Redcloak's aura does not match that of his deity.
Additionally, the high priest of the 12 gods, who... "dueled" Redcloak in Azure City, had the same casting aura as the typical assortment of clerics and paladins.


If Lirian's aura was green while Leeky's was brown, then Druids must not have a unified color like Azurites do.

[Swordpriest]

I'm not familiar with D&D's magic system. Can arcane casters heal? If not, this would make the goblins definite clerics. Seems weird that they'd follow arcane colors, as opposed to the color patterns of every other divine caster.


No, arcane casters can't heal. Arcane spells are all about the elements, telekinesis, etc., while divine spells are healing, things concerned with life (curing poison, conjuring food, and so on).

So, if they healed, they're divine casters.

[zimmerwald1915]

So, if they healed, they're divine casters.
Or arcane casters with an ACF that grants a domain or Arcane Disciple. But that would be outside core (unless you count the whole SRD as core, in which case you get Domain Wizards), as well as highly improbable and a bit silly.

[Roland Itiative]

Elan would like you guys to know that he uses arcane magic to heal.

[Boogastreehouse]

Elan would like you guys to know that he uses arcane magic to heal.

Yup, somehow bards can do that, but other arcanists (sorcerers, wizards, etc...) can't seem to manage it.

[HappyBlanket]

Oh yeah, Elan heals (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0647.html) too. I looked it up (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Cure_Light_Wounds), and it looks like it's a Conjuration (Healing) spell for Bards, Druids, and Clerics... As well as anyone with the Cleric Domain (Healing). Which I assume is different from simply being a Cleric.



...Hey, you know what? The belt/cape goblin casters might not be Clerics at all. I don't think they're Wizards, or Sorcerers either. I just looked up (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Dancing_lights) another spell they used, (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0706.html) and it doesn't seem to be on any of the divine caster's lists.

...My god. It all makes sense now.
Their casters have different auras, so they aren't divine casters.
They can cast Cure Light Wounds. They can cast Dancing Lights.
They're entirely incompetent.
Gobbotopia's militia is filled with oboists. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0703.html).. Get it? Cause they invented the oboe? And Bards learn CLW and Lights?

Somebody please correct me.

[martianmister]

I think both arcane magic users and clerics have different magic colours for themselves...

[HappyBlanket]

I think both arcane magic users and clerics have different magic colours for themselves...

Your brilliant and obviously well investigated view point overwhelms me with both it's clarity and it's sheer magnitude of evidence. Read as: How do you figure? Supporting evidence wouldn't hurt.

[Elfin]

Having a broken sword doesn't mean you will become king. Heck, Roy had a broken sword. You don't become king because someone shatters your sword. You become king by pulling some sword out of a rock because no one else can.

Look, pulling swords out of strange rocks is no basis for a system of government!

Ahem.

This seems like it's purely a coincidence. I'm definitely in the 'orange is the color of the person who created the potion's magic' camp.

[Gift Jeraff]

The hobgoblins are wizards. Haley says as much. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0512.html)

Also, Rich explains the magic auras here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8800637#post8800637).

[zimmerwald1915]

Your brilliant and obviously well investigated view point overwhelms me with both it's clarity and it's sheer magnitude of evidence. Read as: How do you figure? Supporting evidence wouldn't hurt.
Thank you, sir, for giving me an excuse to archive-trawl. In order to aid in achieving the purpose of this thread, I'm making a spreadsheet of all the magic-users in the comic, their magics' auras' colors, and any distinguishing features about them, including class, type, power source, and appearance, that might have a bearing on said colors. I'm up to Strip 252 right now, and will probably be done by tomorrow. I'll see if I can get it up on googledocs at that point. Until then, an interim report:

As of Strip 252, there are twenty identifiable magic-users in the comic, eighteen if Dorukan's sigils are not included. Their magic auras have the following colors:

Pink: 1 (Vaarsuvius)
White: 3 (Durkon, Belkar <the two Cure Serious Wounds he cast from a scroll; I'm counting this as his magic because when V casts from the Dismissal scrolls he identifies as having purchased (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0424.html), the aura is still pink, suggesting that scrolls take on the auras of their casters>, Celia)
Grey: 5 (Goblin Whitecloak #1 <appears in strip 11, identified by Haley as a cleric>, Xykon, Goblin Greycloak #1 <appears in strip 90, casts Invisibility Purge, thus a cleric>, Goblin Greycloak #2 <appears in strip 107, identified only as "spellcaster" by Belkar>, Sabine <used for her Energy Drain and Change Shape supernatural abilities>)
Blue: 2 (Elan, Miko <used for her Smite Evil and Lay on Hands supernatural abilities, as well as for her Detect Evil special ability>)
Orange: 1 (Hilgya)
Green: 2 (Zz'dtri, Green Hag <used for her Baleful Polymorph spell, which she presumably got from a class as no Hag species has it as a special attack>)
Yellow: 2 (Nale, Dorukan)
Dark Red: 1 (Redcloak)
Purple: 3 (Dorukan's Gate sigil, Dorukan's self-destruct sigil, Samantha)


The hobgoblins are wizards. Haley says as much. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0512.html).
That hobgoblin's wearing a brown cloak (later, during the prison break, hobgoblins wearing brown cloaks are referred to collectively as "browncloaks" suggesting that they occupy the same position within the hobgoblin heirarchy; perhaps they're all arcane spellcasters?), while the hobgoblins that healed Redcloak were wearing blue cloaks, and green and purple belts.

[HappyBlanket]

Also, Rich explains the magic auras here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8800637#post8800637).


Every spellcaster has their own color; it is not based on their alignment or type of magic or anything. It is mostly a matter of choice or personality, though most clerics tend to clump into the same general color if they worship the same gods because they tend to choose the same colors and/or have similar personalities.

Elan has a similar color to the Azurite priests because it's not as if everyone in the North sits around going, "Gosh, we can't pick blue, because those people on another continent all picked blue!" Tsukiko uses the same color for her divine magic as the Azurite priests because they both worship the Twelve Gods, who are worshipped as a pantheon by all alignments in Azure City.

And as far as the girl in #730, I promise that whether she is using mind energy or fire does not affect the story in the slightest, and therefore it doesn't matter whether or not you can tell what it is.

Word of God.

/thread

Edit: I feel compelled to note that the thread linked above continued discussing the topic for 1 or 2 pages after WoG for no discernible reason whatsoever. Which is suboptimal.