OOTS #811 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Blisstake]

Arg, so close!

[ThePhantom]

Oh yes, the anger is quite strong. Also, Nale has been improving his spells, dismension door is quite handy.

[Silva Stormrage]

Love the comic. So glad I checked right now.

"So, hows the family"... Thats just cold Nale.

[Steward]

I forgot that the Death domain gives you a death touch special ability.

[Sarone]

Now that's just awe inspiring awesome. And rather expected from Nale.

So, who thinks Malack isn't going to be chewing out Elan for what happend, only to shut up when Elan explains that he was "expecting" Nale to survive due to the dramatic effect that he and dear old dad love?

[Forealms]

Dammit, Nale, just die already. While I can appreciate you as a villain, you're still kind of a ****.

Edit: Jerk. I meant jerk. :smalltongue:

[Neoseanster]

That was fun to watch. Nale had it coming.

[GalenDev]

That was so utterly and completely one-sided. Nale got whooped. Well done!

[Gift Jeraff]

Go Naley! :nale:

[KKgourmet]

NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!

That may in fact be one of the best lines I have ever read from OOTS!

It even beats the line "No, the etymologies are unrelated."
Also bonus points to whomsoever can name which strip that line is from.

[dps]

Love the comic. So glad I checked right now.

"So, hows the family"... Thats just cold Nale.


Not exactly smart, though. But it wasn't a situation that Nale was going to talk his way out of anyway, so he might as well have his fun, I suppose.

[Kareasint]

As far as spells go, stick with the basics. Interesting idea to follow up with a quickened inflict moderate wounds. That would definitely put him close to death on a hit.

[Sarone]

Also, double NO!

That was also awesome.

I'm split on how Malack will want to do next. Is he going to be pissed at the OotS for not expecting Nale's return? Or is he going to take a little time, energy, and resources to further kit the OotS out to take out Nale in a more permenant fashion?

[Forealms]

NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!

That may in fact be one of the best lines I have ever read from OOTS!

It even beats the line "No, the etymologies are unrelated."
Also bonus points to whomsoever can name which strip that line is from.

Too easy. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0761.html) But, then, I was on that page when 811 popped up :smalltongue:

[Yendor]

Malack seems rather upset.

[fishguy]

"Daddy's pet iguana".... burn!!

[d24478667]

NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!

That may in fact be one of the best lines I have ever read from OOTS!

It even beats the line "No, the etymologies are unrelated."
Also bonus points to whomsoever can name which strip that line is from.

Easy. Here. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0761.html)

Shame Nale got away.

[Hiro Protagonest]

Dammit, Nale, just die already. While I can appreciate you as a villain, you're still kind of a ****.

Edit: Jerk. I meant jerk. :smalltongue:

It's annoying when you type Moby ****. See?

This has been rather fast updating lately. I noticed the thread figure the update.

And it looks like Malack channels negative energy.

[slurpz]

NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!

That may in fact be one of the best lines I have ever read from OOTS!

It even beats the line "No, the etymologies are unrelated."
Also bonus points to whomsoever can name which strip that line is from.

Haha this (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0761.html)?

EDIT: And ninja'ed a gazillion times.

[Gift Jeraff]

Oh, and I like how the double magic aura effect is becoming more commonplace. :smallsmile:

[MikelaC1]

Im actually rather disappointed in that, expecting a major butt-kicking to be administered to Nale & Co, and he ends up getting clean away.

[Anarion]

NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!

That may in fact be one of the best lines I have ever read from OOTS!

It even beats the line "No, the etymologies are unrelated."
Also bonus points to whomsoever can name which strip that line is from.

I concur. Malack going into berserker frenzy was totally hilarious. I think though that Tarquin's long pun-duel with Elan had a better lasting effect, but Nergal's scream of rage has more of a punch.


Malack seems rather upset.

This is likely correct :smallwink:



By the way, does Malack's tail and posture seem a bit off to anyone in the last panel? It looks like he's about to fall over.

[KoboldRevenge]

Hah! The teeth really come out don't they.

Well that's what he gets for attacking his most hated enemy with Magic that can be blocked with a sword! :smallbiggrin:

[Ekul]

Nice. I really like Malack, especially in this strip. He's more interesting than the entire linear guild.

Still, it's a shame V wasn't there to counterspell or dimensional anchor.

[Neoseanster]

By the way, does Malack's tail and posture seem a bit off to anyone in the last panel? It looks like he's about to fall over.

It's an action shot, he's mid-lunge and hasn't had a chance to properly re-balance himself yet after.

[Seerow]

Dimension Door is a relatively short distance teleport (few hundred feet). They still have a chance to find him, especially if either malak or Durkon have an intelligent spell selection.

[Howler Dagger]

Awesome! Could it be that the Giant is well enough to return to the Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule? Yay Giant!

The how's the family line, that must of hurt. Not as much as Malack's choice of spells though.

[dogmac]

"Hows the family" may not have been the most TACTFUL question there, Nale.

[Gift Jeraff]

Still, it's a shame V wasn't there to counterspell or dimensional anchor.Eh, V isn't able to reliably counterspell conjuration spells.

[silversnowe]

Bahaha awesome. As expected, Malack is the opposite of Durkon in terms of cleric spell choice, walking around with a Quickened Inflict Moderate Wounds prepared.

[MoonCat]

Augh, this is amzing! I feel so sorry for Sabine, and furious at Nale.

[Aurenthal]

"Daddy´s pet iguana" I loled

Great comic!

[blueblade]

Did anyone else get excited from the comic title that we were going to get a full on antagonist death? Which we haven't had since... Miko? oh wait, I guess Kubota counts?

Hmm, and anyone else thinking that mark on Nale's face is permanent now? It's nicely tropey, and gives Nale another reason to hate Elan/daddy/everyone (despite it being his own fault).

[Brahamut]

Does Malack not have legs? Is this old news to everyone else?

[Pterocards]

GO Malack!!! :D

"How's the family?" Just...terrible Nale....just terrible...

[Commander672]

"So, hows the family?"

You have to TRY to be that cruel! Wonderful way to end my day!

[MoonCat]

Hmm, and anyone else thinking that mark on Nale's face is permanent now? It's nicely tropey, and gives Nale another reason to hate Elan/daddy/everyone (despite it being his own fault).

Which one? :smallamused:

Just noticed the 'Naley', amazed no one commented on it yet. Don't think I've ever heard Sabine say that yet.

[Anarion]

Dimension Door is a relatively short distance teleport (few hundred feet). They still have a chance to find him, especially if either malak or Durkon have an intelligent spell selection.

Given the character levels, it's probably closer to 1000 feet. Plus, if Nale knows the terrain well enough he could have ended up inside somewhere or even in a shelter of some kind. We know he's been in the palace for some time since Z had been there disguised as an elven ambassador. There's a good chance he has a place to hide that he can reach before he's found.


Does Malack not have legs? Is this old news to everyone else?

He prefers the longer hemline because he doesn't wear a rope belt. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0764.html)

[Pokonic]

:smallbiggrin:Edit: Nevermind, its the hemline. Good call.

[Gray Mage]

Awesome comic as always, I expecially liked the smoke effect on panel 3. And Malak almost dropping Nale in a round too. :smallamused:

I'm curious about where did the broken tea set and Durkon went off to, however. :smalltongue:

[Gift Jeraff]

Hmm, and anyone else thinking that mark on Nale's face is permanent now? It's nicely tropey, and gives Nale another reason to hate Elan/daddy/everyone (despite it being his own fault).Naley = Palpatine? http://209.85.48.11/14814/47/emo/palpy2.gif

[Shoelessgdowar]

So, since Elan didn't let Nale Waltz, Tango, Pirouette, nor Foxtrot out of there... would we call that a Freestyle, Rumba, Cha-cha, Electric Slide, Boot Scoot Boogie, Moonwalk, Jitterbug, or some other style?

[fishguy]

So, since Elan didn't let Nale Waltz, Tango, Pirouette, nor Foxtrot out of there... would we call that a Freestyle, Rumba, Cha-cha, Electric Slide, Boot Scoot Boogie, Moonwalk, Jitterbug, or some other style?

Perhaps he got the Frug (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frug) out of there?

[Calanon]

Awesome comic as always, I expecially liked the smoke effect on panel 3. And Malak almost dropping Nale in a round too. :smallamused:

I'm curious about where did the broken tea set and Durkon went off to, however. :smalltongue:

WHAT ABOUT THE TEA!? when will there be more tea time? :smalleek:

[arpin]

Given the character levels, it's probably closer to 1000 feet. Plus, if Nale knows the terrain well enough he could have ended up inside somewhere or even in a shelter of some kind. We know he's been in the palace for some time since Z had been there disguised as an elven ambassador. There's a good chance he has a place to hide that he can reach before he's found.



He prefers the longer hemline because he doesn't wear a rope belt. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0764.html)

Erm ... Belkar hasn't gotten to kill anyone today, and Nale knows where Thog is ... and Roy/Belkar are within 1000 feet ... Nale may die yet.

[Kyronea]

Damn it! Nale got away. I was really hoping Malack would succeed in killing him.

But I suppose that'd be a bit anticlimatic for someone who's been in the comic since the beginning and who will probably be around till the comic itself reaches a climax at the last Gate.

[Mithroch]

As far as spells go, stick with the basics. Interesting idea to follow up with a quickened inflict moderate wounds. That would definitely put him close to death on a hit.
Meh... any evil cleric worth his salt knows to follow Harm with quickened Mass Inflict Light Wounds.

[Forikroder]

Now that's just awe inspiring awesome. And rather expected from Nale.

So, who thinks Malack isn't going to be chewing out Elan for what happend, only to shut up when Elan explains that he was "expecting" Nale to survive due to the dramatic effect that he and dear old dad love?

what?
Elan had absolutely no idea Nale was alive, Elan was sure Nale died at azure city

man i think this is really gonna stop people from underestimating Tarquins group though... i wonder if its possible to take a good guess at malacks level based on those spells though....

they must be pretty high though, that first shot seemed to have pretty mcuh KOd Nale right there

[Gift Jeraff]

Erm ... Belkar hasn't gotten to kill anyone today, and Nale knows where Thog is ... and Roy/Belkar are within 1000 feet ...Sure about that? (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0775.html)

[fishguy]

Meh... any evil cleric worth his salt knows to follow Harm with quickened Mass Inflict Light Wounds.

That's a 9th lvl spell equivalent... not sure Malack is high enough level to cast that one.

[Aerysil]

As I understand Dimension Door, Nale can't be very far away...

[Brahamut]

Strips where we see Malack moving. In every panel where he's moving, his robe flows backwards against his body - there's never legs pushing it forward or feet poking out. I've never really noticed this before, but now that I see it, I'm really thinking he has no legs. Maybe he's a Yuan-ti or some kind of snake-folk. I don't mean to start some crackpot theory here and I'll drop it if no one else sees, but am I the only one?

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0719.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0723.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0724.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0735.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0739.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0743.html

[Forikroder]

i think i want a large version of panel 2 to sue as wallpaper

maybe Malack has some flight spell or levitate or something constantly in effect since hes so weak and doesnt want to walk everywhere?

[arpin]

Sure about that? (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0775.html)


Yep. The last line says it all. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0584.html) I mean, a picture can be really, really off scale.

[Howler Dagger]

I don't mean to start some crackpot theory here and I'll drop it if no one else sees, but am I the only one?
Dont worry, crackpot theories are half the fun of the OotS forum! In all seriousness, this may be one of the most credible theories, compared to some of the REALLY weird ones. At least yours has > 6 comics to support it! Also, yes, i also want panel 2 wallpaper.

[Chess435]

Meh... any evil cleric worth his salt knows to follow Harm with quickened Mass Inflict Light Wounds.

Isn't that like a 9th level spell slot? :smallconfused:

[Forikroder]

with that we wont see any LG action for a while therell probably be a couple chapters of cleaning up afterwards then back to the main plot and rescuing V

Sabine is the only one left who can actual continue to fight, Nales practically dead, Thogs been burried, Z arrested and kobold is trapped with V

i wonder how theyll manage to get V out though, i suppose its possible the Directers will get someone to bust him out, at the very least theyll need the imps help to figure out where he is

so what will Tarquin do about Z, Thogg, Kobold, Roy and Belkar? getting roy and the Belkster out of chains wouldnt be hard (and completely legal for Durkons sake) but i wonder if Thogg and Z can survive Tarquin to remain returning characters though, Thogg could get rescued if Nale and Sabine hurry but Z might be long gone

[nonamearisto]

Was anyone else wishing Malak had used a lightning-based spell, just to complete the Palapatine reference? :smallwink:

[Darthteej]

Was anyone else wishing Malak had used a lightning-based spell, just to complete the Palapatine reference? :smallwink:

Ehhh, Star Wars references ended a while ago, and I doubt Rich will make the joke.

Which doesen't mean I don't want to see this OH GODS RICH IF YOU MAKE THIS JOKE I"LL BUY YOU HOOKERS

[Nevereatcars]

"So... how's the family"

"NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!!!!!!!!"

Jeez, Nergal, bit of an overreaction there. He was just being polite. Also, loving the third person speech pattern. Totally going to start screaming that at people in my games. "NEVEREATCARS WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!!!"

[Gift Jeraff]

"So... how's the family"

"NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!!!!!!!!"

Jeez, Nergal, bit of an overreaction there. He was just being polite. Also, loving the third person speech pattern. Totally going to start screaming that at people in my games. "NEVEREATCARS WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!!!"Nergal is his god's name. Malack is his name. :smalltongue:

[AbuSpud]

Dammit, Nale, just die already.

Hmmm. Anybody else notice that the linear guild requires the best effort and coordination of the OOTS to handle, but Malak just whaled on Nale without breaking a sweat? (Yeah, well, okay, if he were a mammal, he still wouldn't have.)

The OOTS is probably not ready to confront Dad and Friend just yet... :smalleek:

[CarpeGuitarrem]

DANG YOU NALE!!!!!!! :smallfurious:

[Forikroder]

Hmmm. Anybody else notice that the linear guild requires the best effort and coordination of the OOTS to handle, but Malak just whaled on Nale without breaking a sweat? (Yeah, well, okay, if he were a mammal, he still wouldn't have.)

The OOTS is probably not ready to confront Dad and Friend just yet... :smalleek:

"best effort and coordination"

ummmmm
there really wasnt any coordination though, noone really had any idea what was going on and just running around doing what they wanted

also only V and Roy really gave it there best effort, Elan had to run all fight, haley got petrified, durkon only gor 2 spells off, the belkster got our after everything was really over

but ya Tarquin and co would demolish the OoTS...

[zimmerwald1915]

Strips where we see Malack moving. In every panel where he's moving, his robe flows backwards against his body - there's never legs pushing it forward or feet poking out. I've never really noticed this before, but now that I see it, I'm really thinking he has no legs. Maybe he's a Yuan-ti or some kind of snake-folk. I don't mean to start some crackpot theory here and I'll drop it if no one else sees, but am I the only one?

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0719.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0723.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0724.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0735.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0739.html
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0743.html
No, you are most certainly not the only one. Personally I think the reason this theory hasn't gained more traction is because it's too well-supported and not crazy enough. After all, Malack being a yuan-ti instead of a lizardfolk doesn't change all that much.

[nolispe]

I'd just like to say... Was I the only one hoping for Nale's permanent destruction at Malack's hands?

Giant, could you please please please have Malack getting his revenge at some point? He's got moral ambiguity and the best reason for revenge in the comic.
On an unrelated note, vote Tarquin and his adventuring party for president ('s shadow manipulators) in 2012!

[J's]

Dang Nale, I know they claim to have been, but were your parents married?
(yes I know it would be the same with Elan, just getting around filters. Even tho everyone else has said it too)

[SamBurke]

Niiiiiiiiice. Sure hope that Nale gets what's been coming for so long.

[Turgon9357]

Hmm, and anyone else thinking that mark on Nale's face is permanent now? It's nicely tropey, and gives Nale another reason to hate Elan/daddy/everyone (despite it being his own fault).

That would be pretty cool.

[rewinn]

I love the new cussphrase: "NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL" is an elegant way to say "D*MN YOU!".

Nale's wholly unnecessarily cruel "family" remark reminds us that he is, after all, evil; he enjoyed the renewed pain he inflicted on Maleck. The "pet iguana" remark also suggests a certain racism. One really wonders how and why Elan killed the kids.

Also, Elan and Maleck may have formed a new bond - united in their desire to crush Nale.

What do you think of the shaky tails on Maleck's word balloons? I don't recall seeing that effect before, but it suggests strong emotion.

---
EDITTED: my bad ... it turns out to be common with Maleck, as in 764 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0764.html). I just didn't notice!

[veti]

Hmmm. Anybody else notice that the linear guild requires the best effort and coordination of the OOTS to handle, but Malak just whaled on Nale without breaking a sweat? (Yeah, well, okay, if he were a mammal, he still wouldn't have.)

The OOTS is probably not ready to confront Dad and Friend just yet... :smalleek:

The LG devotes its entire time and energy to ambushing the OOTS, taking them by varying degrees of surprise and at whatever artificial disadvantage they can engineer. Whereas Malack took Nale by surprise.

In a fair fight, if such a thing were ever likely to happen, the OOTS beats the LG handily. (At least they did the first time (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0064.html).)

[zimmerwald1915]

What do you think of the shaky tails on Maleck's word balloons? I don't recall seeing that effect before, but it suggests strong emotion.
We've seen it before - from heavily injured characters. It suggests a breathy, weakly supported voice.

[kreszantas]

If Malack really wanted to take Nale completely out and I expect him to be at least 13th if Durkon is at least that (casting Res) I would have used Destruction :smallamused:

So, no, Malack was not going for the kill but to merely bringing him a touch of how Death feels. I wouldn't have even wasted my QIMW in this situation. When you are a bad ass cleric just go for the kill worry about the after effects later :smalltongue: there is always True Res

[Forealms]

Hmmm. Anybody else notice that the linear guild requires the best effort and coordination of the OOTS to handle, but Malak just whaled on Nale without breaking a sweat? (Yeah, well, okay, if he were a mammal, he still wouldn't have.)

The OOTS is probably not ready to confront Dad and Friend just yet... :smalleek:

In all fairness, I think Malack got a surprise round. That said, the OotS combined could probably take down Tarquin and Malack (if it came to that, though I don't really think it will, at least not in the broadest sense*), but certainly not Tarquin's entire party of 6 or so people. Even the "OotS v. Tarquin and Malack" would probably result in the deaths of a few of the OotS.

(I'm spoilering the rest of my thoughts on the off-chance that 1) The Giant reads this, 2) I am correct or on the right track, and 3) The Giant is feeling contrary.)
But, I don't think that'll be a problem. Yes, Tarquin's group is overall evil, but they are a lesser evil compared to Xykon & Co. I can see them tag-teaming with the OotS to take down Xykon and whomever he manages to recruit, and some of them (Tarquin's group) dying in the process (including possibly Tarquin), which would render moot the outcome of the potential "OotS v. Tarquin's Group" matchup.

* I can't imagine Durkon having to fight Malack. Well, I can, but the scenario seems unlikely. Maybe Malack would just avoid attacking Durkon, and Durkon would return the favor. Or maybe Malack would just be a total... jerk... and backstab Durkon. Can't say for sure.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Ah darn, I was kinda hoping this was it for the Linear Guild. Does this mean that Thog survived too?

Ooh, I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Warren Dew]

Dimension Door is a relatively short distance teleport (few hundred feet). They still have a chance to find him, especially if either malak or Durkon have an intelligent spell selection.
Presumably he will be all healed up if they do, though.

[R. Shackleford]

Wow, the LG really rolled poorly on this outing.

If they were the PCs, the players would need a week off after seeing such a plan backfire that badly...

[Kingscourt]

Ahh so close! :smallbiggrin: and a quick update too, thanks Giant!

Nale and Sabine both seemed terrified of Malack, and I can imagine why now too, considering he must be near Tarquin's level. Can't wait to see what happens next

[Morgan Wick]

Not knowing how Dimension Door works, I interpreted this strip as indicating that Nale knows Sabine is in cahoots with the IFCC and in fact is every bit as in cahoots with them as she is.

Now I'm just wondering where "base" is and whether Dimension Door will carry him close enough.

[Incom]

So "Base" presumably is where Sabine brought Elan to when she kidnapped him? Or is that too far?

Also, wouldn't mind having those negative levels restored next strip...

[Blisstake]

SI'm really thinking he has no legs.]

You know, from the moment I saw him, I figured he never had legs, but I never thought there was anything unusual about that. In fact, this is the first time I ever heard anyone mentioning him having legs at all.

[Morgan Wick]

So "Base" presumably is where Sabine brought Elan to when she kidnapped him? Or is that too far?

Also, wouldn't mind having those negative levels restored next strip...

Actually, reading another thread gave me another idea: What if "base" is Girard's Gate?

[Red XIV]

Not knowing how Dimension Door works, I interpreted this strip as indicating that Nale knows Sabine is in cahoots with the IFCC and in fact is every bit as in cahoots with them as she is.

Now I'm just wondering where "base" is and whether Dimension Door will carry him close enough.
Dimension Door (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dimensionDoor.htm) is a short-range teleportation spell.

Given that Nale will still be nearby, his best bet would be to use the breathing space he bought to escape the Empire of Blood by whatever means are at his disposal. Otherwise, Malack is going to find him and feed his soul to Nergal.

[Mastikator]

I'd just like to say... Was I the only one hoping for Nale's permanent destruction at Malack's hands?

Giant, could you please please please have Malack getting his revenge at some point? He's got moral ambiguity and the best reason for revenge in the comic.
On an unrelated note, vote Tarquin and his adventuring party for president ('s shadow manipulators) in 2012!

Not only are you not the only one, but I also hope Nergal will eat his soul. I was like "holy crap" when I saw this.

[JSSheridan]

Thanks Giant!

[Calanon]

Meh... any evil cleric worth his salt knows to follow Harm with quickened Mass Inflict Light Wounds.

Any evil Cleric worth his salt knows that its not worth the 9th slot, and you would get more damage off of a quickened Inflict Crit wounds (AND he only wanted to kill "Naley" so why lower his damage to hurt Sabine as well?)

[Mutant Sheep]

Which one? :smallamused:

Just noticed the 'Naley', amazed no one commented on it yet. Don't think I've ever heard Sabine say that yet.

Naley... Haley.. :smalltongue:

NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!

[Douglas]

"So... how's the family"

"NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!!!!!!!!"

Jeez, Nergal, bit of an overreaction there. He was just being polite. Also, loving the third person speech pattern. Totally going to start screaming that at people in my games. "NEVEREATCARS WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!!!"
That wasn't being polite, that was rubbing Malack's nose in the fact that Nale killed Malack's kids.


Any evil Cleric worth his salt knows that its not worth the 9th slot, and you would get more damage off of a quickened Inflict Crit wounds (AND he only wanted to kill "Naley" so why lower his damage to hurt Sabine as well?)
Because the Mass version can't miss. It's near-guaranteed damage, and when you've already got your target really low it's more important to make sure you hit than to get more overkill.

[Toper]

It's true, Malack's lunges -- the first one in particular -- are at very sharp angles that wouldn't really work for legged creatures. You'd think the characters would notice that he wasn't a lizardfolk if he regularly slithered instead of walking, though, so it could possibly be an art mistake.

edit: no, seeing the other panels of him moving, I'm pretty convinced. It would also explain him not being at dinner if he needed to eat live food like a snake.

I love Nale's opening and closing remarks; it's good to be reminded that he's seriously, as well as comically, evil.

[Akritas]

Actually if you look at the back of Malack's robes in the last panel here there is something that looks remarkably like a snake's tail coming out the far end.

[MesiDoomstalker]

First reaction: ARGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! NALE GET YOUR SCRAWY, PANSY BUTT BACK HERE SO MALACK CAN KILL YOU ALREADY! :smallfurious: :smallfurious: :smallfurious:

After cooling down: Malack you are awesome and my new favorite non-OotS character.

[Wanderer]

HARM! Heck yeah. Nale just ate 150 points of damage. Although it's a shame it wasn't the 3.0 version. Back in the olden days, Harm reduced the target to 1d4 hit points. No save. It was the ultimate reason why you did not screw with the cleric. Of course it was massively overpowered, because you could drop the tarrasque down to 1 HP in a single attack, but damn if there were not times when that felt freaking awesome.

[legomaster00156]

Daannngg. Dimension Door? Nale's been level-grinding.:smalleek:

[Clovis]

Nooooo! Nale got away, Nergal damn it! Kudos to those who predicted that -- dramatically he had to get away from this one, if only to meet a more horrendous end later on.

[ORione]

Anyone else hope there'll be T-shirts with "NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!" on them?

[Jast Boris]

Damn, stupid Nale with his yellow pseudo magic)

[WickedWizard17]

NALE YOU UNBELIEVABLE HORRIBLE ****. "HOW'S THE FAMILY?" ARE YOU FREAKIN kidding ME??!!!! ROT IN THE NINE HELLS!!!

Lol I notice that word it wouldn't let me say is getting thrown around a lot xD

Also, sweet Sabine moment!

And Malack is EPIC.

New spell for Nale! After their last encounter, he probably put some effort into learning it xD

BUT WHAT WILL THIS MEAN??!! Z's in custody, Thog may be dead (if he's not he's in custody too), Nale's just flown the coop, Sabine'll probably follow, Yukyuk's in Ranch Dressing Land with V . . .

Hey, where IS V anyway???!!!

And hopefully, Haley will finally get de-petrified! I miss her so!

Fantastic comic, Giant!!! Can't wait for the next one!!!


Anyone else hope there'll be T-shirts with "NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!" on them?

YES ABSOLUTELY!!! I would so wear that.


Just noticed the 'Naley', amazed no one commented on it yet. Don't think I've ever heard Sabine say that yet.

SOO CUTE!!! I love Sabine. She's gotten some character development to go with her bikini.

Also, we now know that Malack DOES have the opposite spell selection of Durkon - he has the Death domain that comes with the "Harm" touch attack, hence the strip name.

[ShippoWildheart]

Malack has earned a permanent spot in my book. :thog:

[MesiDoomstalker]

I just realized this, Haley has been petrified for ~1 year real time. This whole in-comic day took over a year to churn out.

And you know what?

So, totally worth it. Giant, your amazing, keep it up. :smallcool:

[WickedWizard17]

I just realized this, Haley has been petrified for ~1 year real time. This whole in-comic day took over a year to churn out.

And you know what?

So, totally worth it. Giant, your amazing, keep it up. :smallcool:

I completely agree.

This fact also give me hope for the fact that we apparently only have five weeks left of comic time before Belkar kicks the bucket. Or whatever. Remember, the whole Soul Splice thing, which was so many strips, only took TWENTY MINUTES OF COMIC TIME? Lol.

[ORione]

I just realized this, Haley has been petrified for ~1 year real time. This whole in-comic day took over a year to churn out.

And you know what?

So, totally worth it. Giant, your amazing, keep it up. :smallcool:

Has it really been that long? I'm fairly sure I started reading OotS last January, but when I finished the archives 781 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0781.html) was the most recent strip.

[Holy_Knight]

NALE YOU UNBELIEVABLE HORRIBLE word I can't say. "HOW'S THE FAMILY?" ARE YOU FREAKIN kidding ME??!!!! ROT IN THE NINE HELLS!!!

"Hows the family" may not have been the most TACTFUL question there, Nale.

"So, hows the family?"

You have to TRY to be that cruel! Wonderful way to end my day!


Nale's wholly unnecessarily cruel "family" remark reminds us that he is, after all, evil; he enjoyed the renewed pain he inflicted on Maleck.

That wasn't being polite, that was rubbing Malack's nose in the fact that Nale killed Malack's kids.


I love Nale's opening and closing remarks; it's good to be reminded that he's seriously, as well as comically, evil.

...and other, similar reactions.

I may be the only one considering this, but might Nale's remark actually indicate that he really didn't kill Malack's kids? More specifically, take a look at his expression as he says it. It doesn't exactly scream "Hahaha I'm delighting in your pain!", especially compared to other times when we have seen Nale gloat over his own evilness. For example, remember when he beheaded the Chief of Police in Cliffport? He was really pleased with himself, and had a huge, evil grin on his face. In this instance, though, he's extremely casual about it, without even a smirk. It reads like a remark meant to delay battle, not a taunt. Add to that how tactically stupid it would be to specifically enrage someone who wants personal revenge on you and you know from experience to be significantly more powerful than you are--especially when you're already in battle with two other enemies--and it kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it?

[Gift Jeraff]

Haley was petrified on April 27 of this year, and the current in-comic day began on February 11th.

[FujinAkari]

I just realized this, Haley has been petrified for ~1 year real time. This whole in-comic day took over a year to churn out.

So its been a year since April 27th? (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0789.html)

[Mr. Snuggles]

I just realized this, Haley has been petrified for ~1 year real time. This whole in-comic day took over a year to churn out.
No way. I know the comic is slow as hell these days, but it hasn't been a year. OOTS #789, April 28, 2011 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196981). 5 months, 23 days petrified, and I bet she gets released next week when the next update comes out, which would make it an even 6 months. It sure feels like a year, though.

[EnragedFilia]

Here's what I noticed:
Malak would have been much better off opening with hold person rather than harm. Both are on a will save, but Nale held = Malak wins, while Nale takes 150 damage = Nale escapes. As such, Nale's opening taunt may have been specifically intended to goad Malak into using the more survivable direct damage.

Of course, if he'd had destruction prepared, that would probably be a better option than either, as Nale has quite demonstrated that the majority of his levels are in sorc, and thus likely has a better will save than fort save.

As for V, there should be no need for the directors to risk tipping their hand with direct involvement. Either V or Durkon can easily contact the other with Sending or Scrying+Message, and once Durkon knows what plane V is on, he should have no problem with the rest of the rescue. In the meantime, V can find out the details of Nale's plan from the still-dominated kobold.

[J's]

It's true, Malack's lunges -- the first one in particular -- are at very sharp angles that wouldn't really work for legged creatures. You'd think the characters would notice that he wasn't a lizardfolk if he regularly slithered instead of walking, though, so it could possibly be an art mistake.

edit: no, seeing the other panels of him moving, I'm pretty convinced. It would also explain him not being at dinner if he needed to eat live food like a snake.

I love Nale's opening and closing remarks; it's good to be reminded that he's seriously, as well as comically, evil.

So do you also think that his 'frail health' was just a polite excuse for not eating with the others?

[dtilque]

Not knowing how Dimension Door works, I interpreted this strip as indicating that Nale knows Sabine is in cahoots with the IFCC and in fact is every bit as in cahoots with them as she is.
Nale doesn't even know the IFCC exists. In fact, very few characters do. V and Blackwing do, as do Qarr and Sabine, of course. I can't think of any other characters that know of the group.


Now I'm just wondering where "base" is and whether Dimension Door will carry him close enough.

My guess is that it's somewhere in the unfinished part of the palace, so it's likely it could take him there directly.

If that's where their base is, then it's real convenient for the LG that the overseers are on strike and no work is being done on the palace. I would say suspiciously convenient. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Nale were behind the strike. Perhaps he has a friend or two who are influential among the overseers and who suggested/advocated the strike in the first place. Or maybe he just cast Suggestion on the leaders of the overseers. Or perhaps some of each.

[The MunchKING]

He's been working on his Sorcerer levels hasn't he?? Dimension Door was pretty high-powered for such a dillente.

[Mithroch]

Any evil Cleric worth his salt knows that its not worth the 9th slot, and you would get more damage off of a quickened Inflict Crit wounds (AND he only wanted to kill "Naley" so why lower his damage to hurt Sabine as well?)
Meh... use your domain slot (assuming you have Destruction). I admit... this was a much better tactic in 3.0 when Harm had no save and dropped the target to 1d4 HP. Pretty much insta-kill. Prolly why they changed Harm.

Mass Inflict doesn't require an attack roll... and no evil cleric is really going to care if a few innocent (or not) bystanders take some pain.

[Feytalist]

I just realised something. Malack is outside in broad daylight. He's going to have hella sunburn tonight.

[Ancalagon]

This is a good comic.
But Nale should have died. The Linear Guild escaping again...again...again is getting a bit stale. I read the (good) comic but feel no sense of drama at all anymore on "Nale Escaped".

[factotum]

He's been working on his Sorcerer levels hasn't he?? Dimension Door was pretty high-powered for such a dillente.

You need to be an 8th level sorcerer to cast that spell, so it means Nale does have more sorcerer levels than Fighter or Rogue ones...however, I'm pretty sure that was known anyway from what he's done to date.

[Ancalagon]

... where is the drama in that? While I really like the comic at the moment and the arc (Tarquin) is pretty good, Nale escaping again feels totally lame and undramatic. Yes, he got punched hard, but there was no price to pay (for him).
Thog might have died, that is good.

But Nale should have lost (permanently) an arm or or leg or his hair or be differently permanently dismembered (massive minus to looks etc). If Nale hat paid a very steep personal price, it would have been ok but as it happened, at least for me, it does not work out.

Nale has become a (Out of Comic) joke now (even if he is in-comic still dangerous etc yadda).

"See you next time, Villian of the season, you won't die and escape until episode #22, no matter how dramatic the fight in #17 was". *yawn* :smallsigh:

I'm done whining (for now). :smalltongue:

"That was no climix", would Elan say. And I hope his next sentence in the next comic is "THAT is a climax..." or to say it differently with a somewhat questionable but awkwardly fitting pun: Nale pulled out.

[Procyonpi]

Eh the arch isn't over yet.

[snikrept]

Nergal eats souls? As in destroys them, instead of keeping them on some appropriate Western Gods themed outer plane?

EDIT - also, Nale seems very ... terse in this episode, with none of his usual grandstanding, gloating and soliloquizing. You'd think he'd have more to say to an old enemy with whom he has a long history.

Malack must scare the crap out of him.

[Dr.Epic]

But Nale should have lost (permanently) an arm or or leg or his hair or be differently permanently dismembered (massive minus to looks etc).

Really? Losing hair is the equivalent of amputation or massive disfigurement?:smallconfused: I don't think a shave is the same as Harvey Dent's backstory.


Eh the arch isn't over yet.

Yeah, same. I doubt Nale would randomly show up for like five minutes and then just disappear for another few hundred strips.

[Nephrahim]

It's true, Malack's lunges -- the first one in particular -- are at very sharp angles that wouldn't really work for legged creatures. You'd think the characters would notice that he wasn't a lizardfolk if he regularly slithered instead of walking, though, so it could possibly be an art mistake.

edit: no, seeing the other panels of him moving, I'm pretty convinced. It would also explain him not being at dinner if he needed to eat live food like a snake.

I love Nale's opening and closing remarks; it's good to be reminded that he's seriously, as well as comically, evil.

Maybe he's trained to move like he was walking while slithering? I dunno. While it could be an art mistake, it is definitely what I thought the moment I saw him lean like that.

[Mr. Snuggles]

He's a recurring villain, he's always going to escape. He won't get killed until the plot is wrapping up. Even then, if he did actually get killed, he'd get raised faster than you can say "reduced impact of character mortality."

[Mr. Snuggles]

Really? Losing hair is the equivalent of amputation or massive disfigurement?:smallconfused: I don't think a shave is the same as Harvey Dent's backstory.
Nale would consider permanently losing his evil goatee a disfigurement. :smallwink:


Yeah, same. I doubt Nale would randomly show up for like five minutes and then just disappear for another few hundred strips.
He was gone for four years real-world time after the castle blew up. Some of us were wondering if the Linear Guild would ever reappear.

[Ancalagon]

Sure.

But read the comic, the first six panels are some awesome climax, it's fight. Malack oneshots Nale and has him down before Sabine can react, the character knows it's his end, the readers are tense. And then... twice a measly *pop*.

Really, this comic is the first one where I read the conclusion and think "Well, that was a totally lame ending".

If Nale had jumped over the balcony, slid down a wall, slid down some canvas blinds or at least did something... it would still be "Nale escapes again" but having him escape this cheaply and quickly and unspectacular and without even having him fight for the his escape in some way... him simply *popping* out really feels to me like letting the air out of a balloon.

I just say I do not like this and have no feeling of drama and that Nale, a character I found working, but not awesome, has taken another dent and has become a tad more "Come on, get your awesome final fight but please die already?"
Your opinion might differ, of course.


Really? Losing hair is the equivalent of amputation or massive disfigurement?:smallconfused: I don't think a shave is the same as Harvey Dent's backstory.
Having your hair permanently burned off when you are such a Looks-based Show Off... yes, that could be a blow. It at least would be something and shows there "was" a fight with a consequence.
Apart from that: You totally got what I wanted to express: Some Harvey-Dent-Fate would have been very fitting to conclude this fight. Instead... *pop*.

Of course, we do not know where Nale ends up. Maybe he still gets burned, but he really should have received his scars from Elan or Malack here.

[ZerglingOne]

Wow, Nale almost got 1-shot. That would have been embarrassing. Although to a high level cleric, a weak multi-class combination such as Nale's is even weaker than normal.

[nonamearisto]

This is a good comic.
But Nale should have died. The Linear Guild escaping again...again...again is getting a bit stale. I read the (good) comic but feel no sense of drama at all anymore on "Nale Escaped".

They are major recurring characters. If they all die for good, it will be a sign the story will be nearly coming to an end, or the "for-real-very-last dungeon" will be upon them.

Keep in mind that the whole gladiator/Elan's dad/Haley's Dad/Linear guild events are a sideplot to finding another gate... which is in turn a subplot to finding and stopping Xykon and keeping the Snarl away from the world.

I have noticed that Haley does tend to get long periods of being silent or unintelligible, although this more recent one is only long in real life.

[jrmasson]

So what is Dimension Door? (Never played D&D)
Is it controllable? Do you have to set up target co-ords beforehand? Does it send you to a random dimension?

In other words, could Nale find himself facing a certain elf?

[EnragedFilia]

Nergal eats souls? As in destroys them, instead of keeping them on some appropriate Western Gods themed outer plane?

EDIT - also, Nale seems very ... terse in this episode, with none of his usual grandstanding, gloating and soliloquizing. You'd think he'd have more to say to an old enemy with whom he has a long history.

Malack must scare the crap out of him.
Maybe just eating 150 (or 75) points of damage in a surprise round scares him from 'grandstanding' mode into 'survival' mode.

As for Nergal's treatment of petitioners, it could also involve continuously devouring traitors for eternity, like Judas, Brutus or Prometheus.

[Killer Angel]

NAHHAAARGHHH!!!
NOT AGAIN!


This is a good comic.
But Nale should have died. The Linear Guild escaping again...again...again is getting a bit stale. I read the (good) comic but feel no sense of drama at all anymore on "Nale Escaped".

:smallsigh:
I agree with you 'bout "Nale must die", but... Nale should be killed by the OotS

[JoseB]

I don't care whether it is the OotS or Malack, or whoever, who does it... But, really Nale needs to be killed. Now.

Nale, you insufferable prick, die already!

If it is true that dimension door only takes you away for a few hundred feet, there is still hope that he may be dealt with once and for all. Honestly, I can't take him any longer!

[Hardcore]

I note the spells used was most appropiat considering Malacks feelings, something I think was overlooked in the thread discusing what spells he should cast.

As always, Rich is better artist than we are audience:)

Badass comic!

[faustin]

The irony is, if Malack had chosen a better selection of spells (as we would expect from an high level ex-adventurer cleric) Nale and Sabine would have been obliterated in 3 turns.

[Ancalagon]

The irony is, if Malack had chosen a better selection of spells (as we would expect from an high level ex-adventurer cleric) Nale and Sabine would have been obliterated in 3 turns.

They were obliterated in two and fled at the end of the second.


So what is Dimension Door? (Never played D&D)
Is it controllable? Do you have to set up target co-ords beforehand? Does it send you to a random dimension?

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/dimensionDoor.htm
So, funnyly, it does not transfer you to another dimension, just to another location on the same plane, within the range of the spell.

Nale should be somewhere around, ready to make his escape. But he really has to screw that up to... screw that up. :)

[gibbo88]

Well done Giant, for one extremely happy round there I thought Nale was gone.

[RMS Oceanic]

So what is Dimension Door? (Never played D&D)
Is it controllable? Do you have to set up target co-ords beforehand? Does it send you to a random dimension?

In other words, could Nale find himself facing a certain elf?

It's a short-range teleport, roughly 600-800 feet depending on Nale's level. More than enough to take him clear of the Castle and give himself a headstart.

[Aldrakan]

I feel the yunati/ other snake creature theory has some strength. Looking back over his previous strips we've never seen any sign of knees. The long robe covers up most of the tail, and he's been moving in a way perfectly consistent with having legs - until now, when he's angry, where he's leaning over at some pretty extreme examples. Possibly he's been pretending to be a lizardfolk, and in his anger has forgotten the act.

Very little idea what purpose this deception could have though.

[Aricandor]

Holy crap, Malack is pretty mean. Don't mess with a death cleric. :smalleek:

[aldeayeah]

The irony is, if Malack had chosen a better selection of spells (as we would expect from an high level ex-adventurer cleric) Nale and Sabine would have been obliterated in 3 turns.
How? Hir attack lasted just one round and was rather efficient and uncounterable as far as core spells go.

Actually, after that attack, I thought Nale should be dead, or dying and unable to take actions (if he saved against CMW).

Just how many HP does Nale have? Assuming Malack were 15th level, he just ate 150(75)+12/26(6/13) in HP damage. That's a lot for someone who has that many levels in Sorcerer!

[pasko77]

"How's the family?"

BEST. LINE. EVER.

[aldeayeah]

They were obliterated in two and fled at the end of the second.

Actually, it all happened in one round, right? Harm (standard action) + Quickened CMW (swift action), then some speaking (free action).

Nale teleported either in the end of the first round or the beginning of the second.

[Killer Angel]

... where is the drama in that? While I really like the comic at the moment and the arc (Tarquin) is pretty good, Nale escaping again feels totally lame and undramatic.

The final panel is perfectly dramatic. You can feel the frustration.



If Nale had jumped over the balcony, slid down a wall, slid down some canvas blinds or at least did something... it would still be "Nale escapes again" but having him escape this cheaply and quickly and unspectacular and without even having him fight for the his escape in some way... him simply *popping* out really feels to me like letting the air out of a balloon.


Nale is a coward. It's a perfect escape's style, for him.
I want to see Nale dead. Badly. I HATE to know he's still alive (and returning, yadda yadda). But probably he should by killed by the OotS.


In other words, could Nale find himself facing a certain elf?

Even an halfling could work. :smallwink:



Just how many HP does Nale have? Assuming Malack were 15th level, he just ate 150(75) +12/26(6/13) in HP damage. That's a lot for someone who has that many levels in Sorcerer!

Uh? :smallconfused:

[turkishproverb]

I don't care whether it is the OotS or Malack, or whoever, who does it... But, really Nale needs to be killed. Now.

Nale, you insufferable prick, die already!

If it is true that dimension door only takes you away for a few hundred feet, there is still hope that he may be dealt with once and for all. Honestly, I can't take him any longer!

Mr. Scruffy should get the killing Blow.

[Clovis]

Mr. Scruffy should get the killing Blow.

...wearing the belt of giant strength... :smallbiggrin:

[aldeayeah]

Uh? :smallconfused:

I hadn't noticed the CMW touch attack had missed by the time I wrote that.

(If it had hit, it would have done 2d8+10 (12-26) hp, or 6-13 if saved against.)

Now I understand. Nale probably saved against Harm but was nearly incapacitated, that's why he escaped without delay.

[Ancalagon]

Ah, yes. One round. Malack was pretty successful in his attempt to kill Nale.


The final panel is perfectly dramatic. You can feel the frustration.[/quopte]

Well, I disagree. Yes, there is frustration. But as much the charaters' as mine. :)

[QUOTE]Nale is a coward. It's a perfect escape's style, for him.

Yes, but come on. More than a *plop*, please. The fight and setup was awesome, the conclusion of the immediate scene (not the entire thing, that might or might not be over) feels like a total letdown.


I want to see Nale dead. Badly. I HATE to know he's still alive (and returning, yadda yadda). But probably he should by killed by the OotS.

Well, given Malack's Personal Plot I (personally) would find it fitting if he got the final stab. But... Elan could have stabbed Nale (which would be a fitting end for Nale, given how he once stabbed Elan). Another fitting end for Nale would him dangling high above and Elan not rescueing him (or coming too late for that).
While I agree in general the order has to kill Nale I can accept any other epic scene as well. Nale is not someone I consider important enough to die by a PC, he can also get killed by Xykon, Tarquin, or Malack if the scene fits.

[Killer Angel]

I hadn't noticed the CMW touch attack had missed by the time I wrote that.

(If it had hit, it would have done 2d8+10 (12-26) hp, or 6-13 if saved against.)

Now I understand.

Yep, I wasn't debating your math, only the hit. I should have been clearer. :smallsmile:


Yes, but come on. More than a *plop*, please. The fight and setup was awesome, the conclusion of the immediate scene (not the entire thing, that might or might not be over) feels like a total letdown.


Thinking on it, it's the way many fights in D&D end... :smalltongue:


While I agree in general the order has to kill Nale I can accept any other epic scene as well. Nale is not someone I consider important enough to die by a PC, he can also get killed by Xykon, Tarquin, or Malack if the scene fits.

That's true: sometime, it's more important the kill, than the one that delivers the final blow.
With Nale killed by Malack, I would be here cheering for Daddy's lizard pet... :smallwink:

[SoC175]

How? Hir attack lasted just one round and was rather efficient and uncounterable as far as core spells go.

Actually, after that attack, I thought Nale should be dead, or dying and unable to take actions (if he saved against CMW).

Just how many HP does Nale have? Assuming Malack were 15th level, he just ate 150(75)+12/26(6/13) in HP damage. That's a lot for someone who has that many levels in Sorcerer!Or in rogue, that really screams Plot Armor. Nale should have been dead

[SoC175]

Plot Armor shines again, no way someone with levels spread among rogue and sorcerer should have been able to withstand that, not even while making both saves.

[The Pilgrim]

Nice to see that Nale keeps it classy when meeting Malack. The lizard was going to almost-one shot him anyway.

[Zach J.]

Plot Armor shines again, no way someone with levels spread among rogue and sorcerer should have been able to withstand that, not even while making both saves.

It looks like the Quickened Inflict Moderate Wounds missed Nale. All he had to do to survive was make the Will save for Harm which is doable for a character with as many sorcerer levels as Nale.

Edit: Awesome comic! I was rooting for the old iguana the whole time. :smallbiggrin:

[Douglas Limmer]

http://www.weirdspace.dk/JimDavis/Graphics/Nermal.gif (http://www.weirdspace.dk/JimDavis/Nermal.htm)
NERMAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!

Sorry; I couldn't resist.

[Lord Bingo]

After #810 I was really looking forward to Nale being brutally beaten down and captured by Malack (which may still happen) who would probably do unspeakable things to him if allowed... I am a little disappointed, but only a little. From the looks of it he barely survived the ordeal.

Still, I am getting a little tired of infinitely unresolved plot lines. I realize keeping all ends open extends the life time of the strip, but my personal need for some closure is continuously frustrated:smallfurious: For once I would like something to change the status quo. For once I would like to see someone die and be gone.

Since I am unwillinng to relinquish Belkar, Nale and his pathetic guild would be suitable candidates. Now, I realize that they probably have a larger role to play in relation to the gates/Snarl, so killing Nale or Sabine was probably never an option, but then at least give us assured permanent disfigurement (as mentioned above -and we might still get that).

[Ancalagon]

In regard to "never an option to kill off main characters":

Read Song of Ice and Fire. That totally showed me: We do not need the "usual" rules of storytelling to make a good story. Main characters do not have to live on and on and on and on and on towards the final showdown.

Yes, we are reading a somewhat "cliche story" here that does some things on purpose, but I think Nale really has outlived his time. How long since the status quo (The Order goes around, the LG pops in once and while and does stuff, pops out again, Xykon also does stuff) really has been rattled? Not since Miko died, no?

Ok, Thog might have died. But until that is confirmed, I have to assume he'll just join pop-out-Nale again.

PS: Really read Song of Ice and Fire. ;)

[Ashadar]

Or in rogue, that really screams Plot Armor. Nale should have been dead

Yes, I thought so too at first. But then I read the spell's description:
"Harm charges a subject with negative energy that deals 10 points of damage per caster level (to a maximum of 150 points at 15th level). If the creature successfully saves, harm deals half this amount, but it cannot reduce the target’s hit points to less than 1. "

So basically Nale has like.. 70 HP, he made his save, took the 75 damage, but the spell will still leave him with 1 HP. What we're seeing here is Nale with 1 hit point.And he dodged the second attack. My question is, wouldn't a better choice for a spell have been destruction or disintegrate? at least with those spells if he made his save there would have still been a chance for him to die.

[Volthawk]

Yes, I thought so too at first. But then I read the spell's description:
"Harm charges a subject with negative energy that deals 10 points of damage per caster level (to a maximum of 150 points at 15th level). If the creature successfully saves, harm deals half this amount, but it cannot reduce the target’s hit points to less than 1. "

So basically Nale has like.. 70 HP, he made his save, took the 75 damage, but the spell will still leave him with 1 HP. What we're seeing here is Nale with 1 hit point.And he dodged the second attack. My question is, wouldn't a better choice for a spell have been destruction or disintegrate? at least with those spells if he made his save there would have still been a chance for him to die.

The Inflit spell was Quickened, so he could cast it in the same round, so it was a 6th level spell (base spell level 2, Quicken adds 4). A Quickened Destruction or Disintegrate would be an...11th level spell, ie he'd either need to be level 23 (to get Epic Spell Capacity twice) or have some way of reducing the cost of Quicken in order to cast it.

[Morty]

I agree. Nale's escape was anticlimactic and implausible to boot. I felt as though Malack had just stood still while Nale and Sabine were talking. On top of that, Nale really is kinda wearing thin as a villain. He's not as bad as Zola from Girl Genius in this regard, but the "just die already" factor is there.

[Yuki Akuma]

The Inflit spell was Quickened, so he could cast it in the same round, so it was a 6th level spell (base spell level 2, Quicken adds 4). A Quickened Destruction or Disintegrate would be an...11th level spell, ie he'd either need to be level 23 (to get Epic Spell Capacity twice) or have some way of reducing the cost of Quicken in order to cast it.

...Or, he could have... you know... Cast Disintegrate or Destruction instead of Harm?

Ashadar wasn't talking about the Inflict spell at all. He was talking about Harm. Harm always leaves you with 1 HP left if you succeed - it's not a great 'I kill you now' spell. Disintegrate and Destruction still deal damage when you succeed the save, and can still kill you. They would have been better options.

[Sanraal]

Hmmm... Nergal... I didn't know Rich listens to Behemoth...

[Yuki Akuma]

Plot Armor shines again, no way someone with levels spread among rogue and sorcerer should have been able to withstand that, not even while making both saves.

Both saves? He only got hit with Harm. The other spell missed.

And if you make your save against Harm, you're always left with at least 1 HP remaining. So yes, he could totally have survived if he made the saving throw. Harm is not a great 'I kill you now' spell against people with good saves.

[Killer Angel]

Disintegrate and Destruction still deal damage when you succeed the save, and can still kill you. They would have been better options.

with the save, they deal 5d6 or 10d6 dam. A killing is very unlikely, and probably the loss of HP wouldn't have been enough for the quickened inflict to finish the job.

[Volthawk]

...Or, he could have... you know... Cast Disintegrate or Destruction instead of Harm?

Ashadar wasn't talking about the Inflict spell at all. He was talking about Harm. Harm always leaves you with 1 HP left if you succeed - it's not a great 'I kill you now' spell. Disintegrate and Destruction still deal damage when you succeed the save, and can still kill you. They would have been better options.

Well, maybe he had other things prepared in his 7th level slots? I mean, both Harm and Quickened IMW are 6th level spells, so perhaps as he isn't in an adventuring situation, he didn't use his highest level spells on damaging spells.

[Yuki Akuma]

Well, maybe he had other things prepared in his 7th level slots? I mean, both Harm and Quickened IMW are 6th level spells, so perhaps as he isn't in an adventuring situation, he didn't use his highest level spells on damaging spells.

This is, of course, perfectly reasonable. Harm and IMW can be used as healing spells on undead, after all - they're not just fightan spells.

[LuPuWei]

It was a bit disappointing at first, yes- especially since Nale and the Linear Guild having to go through the same Resurrection ordeal as Roy and the OotS (albiet, mostly off-panel i'd hope) might be interesting, not to mention alot of character developement...

But on reconsideration, we've never really seen the full extent of Nale's capabilities, and if Dimension Door isn't an odd spell for him to have, I think it adds to the story. Not only do we know a bit more about our buddy Nale- having Nale actually escape rather than end up (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0070.html) in prison (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0401.html) is character growth for one of my favorite villains. Awesome :smallcool:

[ThePhantasm]

What happened to discussing this stuff in the main strip thread? Is that not cool anymore?

Of course Nale escaped. I didn't expect him to die in this scene before we could have the long awaited Nale - Elan - Tarquin scene. Doesn't mean Nale won't be ultimately defeated / die in this arc.

[Michaeler]

I figured Malack chose to finish Nale with a spell that requires a touch attack because that was how he wanted Nale to die, in his grasp.

[hewhosaysfish]

edit: no, seeing the other panels of him moving, I'm pretty convinced. It would also explain him not being at dinner if he needed to eat live food like a snake.

Or maybe he can swallow a whole pig/goat/gnome and then eat nothing for the rest of the month.

[ThePhantasm]

If this arc is to be the end of the LG (and I think Thog's fall suggests that, though we aren't 100% sure he is dead) then I'd think Nale and Sabine would be the last to die. There's still stuff to be wrapped up in their character arcs before that happens, though it can happen soon.

[Burner28]

Liked this strip.:smallsmile:

[The Pilgrim]

Nice to see that Nale keeps it classy when meeting Malack. The lizard was going to almost-one shot him anyway.

[pendell]

I don't care whether it is the OotS or Malack, or whoever, who does it... But, really Nale needs to be killed. Now.

Nale, you insufferable prick, die already!

If it is true that dimension door only takes you away for a few hundred feet, there is still hope that he may be dealt with once and for all. Honestly, I can't take him any longer!

Agree. I've had enough of them. I'm not interested in them showing up again to eat up another dozen strips. I want to see the main story.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Skios]

And no evil cleric is really going to care if a few innocent (or not) bystanders take some pain.That's a very two-dimensional view of evil (if Malack even is evil, flipping out like that over Nale insulting the memory of his murdered children certainly doesn't make him evil). There are plenty of reasons why an evil cleric would not want to harm any innocent bystanders. Assuming for the moment that Malack is evil, at the very least he wouldn't want to antagonize Durkon by causing unnecessary injury. Then there's also the matter that Malack might be lawful, in which case he would have plenty of reason to care about innocent bystanders no matter whether he was good, neutral or evil. And even a chaotic evil character would think twice about burning up a high level spell slot like that.

[Feytalist]

This has probably been mentioned, but I'm going to repeat it anyway: Nergal actually is the Babylonian god of the dead. This pantheon seems pretty closely based on the Babylonian one, Tiamat's five-headed dragon form notwithstanding.

[Ancalagon]

What happened to discussing this stuff in the main strip thread? Is that not cool anymore?

No idea, actually. Is there some rule what has to be discussed there and what not? If yes, I am not aware of it. I never really discussed a lot there, so I would not know.

[ThePhantasm]

No idea, actually. Is there some rule what has to be discussed there and what not? If yes, I am not aware of it. I never really discussed a lot there, so I would not know.

Generally threads about the current strip (such as this one) get merged by the mods into the main strip thread. If you check that thread some people are discussing this very topic in there. Thus there are two threads on the same topic.

[Juggling Goth]

It would also explain him not being at dinner if he needed to eat live food like a snake.


Snakes don't need to eat live food. Hence the venom or squeezing. In fact, feeding live is pretty much a last resort among reptile-keepers, because something like a rat can put up quite a fight and hurt the snake. Plus they're much easier to store when frozen.


Or maybe he can swallow a whole pig/goat/gnome and then eat nothing for the rest of the month.

That, however, could work. And his 'frail health' or bookish lifestyle is just an excuse to sit around digesting for a week.

[The Pilgrim]

Well, the whole fight was cheesy, with all those "petrify" and "energy drain" and "first tier allies and powerful artifacts showing up to turn the tables once and again".

I suppose the final, climatic battle between Elan and Nale must be carried out on (relative) fair terms between the two. Not one in which Nale and Sabine outnumber Elan, drain him, and have him saved by papa Durkon and mama Malack.

[Roland Itiative]

I was expecting more ass-kicking before Nale escaped. Oh, well. Still, I loved how one single spell got Nale completely wrecked :smallbiggrin:

[Ancalagon]

Then let the mods merge it. I think taking care of ordering stuff is their job.
Be careful they don't slap you for Vigilante Moderating for raising questions like this.

[ThePhantasm]

Then let the mods merge it. I think taking care of ordering stuff is their job.
Be careful they don't slap you for Vigilante Moderating for raising questions like this.

I'm not vigilante modding. As far as I know, I don't think it is a rule violation for this thread to be here. I asked the question simply because it is inconvenient to be keeping track of two threads on the same topic at once. It has been happening a lot lately and I get confused as to which conversation is going on where. That may, however, just be my own individual problem.

Anywho, I didn't intend to derail the whole thread, so please continue.

[Ancalagon]

If you want to discuss the topic, I suggest you do it here as I did not found a real "discussion" in the official thread, just a couple of people agreeing Nale should die already. The more elaborate stuff has, so far, only popped up here.
That is why a Thread with a title is good, you know what topic you are talking about without getting other intermingled discussions.

I prefer it this way and always assumed "discussions about a specific topic" belong in different threads (which will quickly vanish from the first page if no one is interested) and the main thread was for few-liners where you drop your first (or second thoughts) and tell Rich you liked the latest update (either with or without a "but..."). :smallwink:

If some mod feels it should be merged, it'll be that way but I do not really care.

I think the topic in itself has also reached an end. Without more comics and us finally knowing if Nale really gets away, there does not seem to be that much more to add anyway.

edit: Oh, and discussions in the official thread vanish when a new comic comes out.
Therefore, I only see reasons to move "serious" discussions that might last longer than one comic out of there and leave only the one-liners and quick comments in there.

[iTookUrNick]

Bahaha awesome. As expected, Malack is the opposite of Durkon in terms of cleric spell choice, walking around with a Quickened Inflict Moderate Wounds prepared.


That's a 9th lvl spell equivalent... not sure Malack is high enough level to cast that one.

Is Divine metamagic under the OGL? If not, it would make it far more viable...

[HandofShadows]

Nuts. Nale is still alive. Great page though.

[3d6]

Did Malack actually grab Nale by the goatee when he delivered that spell? That's getting personal!

[Blaznak]

Really excellent beat-down battle scene! Great to read and see. Well done!

Insert polite golf clap here.

[willpell]

Wow, those are some Greater Orbs of Brass Dragonkind on Nale in panel 1.

Also, in five pages, I can't believe I'm the first one to mention that the last panel makes it look like Elan might just be about to accidentally receive whatever death-touch Malack has online. Not that this would be more than an inconvenience with Durkon around, but it certainly would be interesting to see Elan's version of the afterlife (assuming it hasn't become X-rated since he shacked up with Haley).

[The_Ditto]

T
Because the Mass version can't miss. It's near-guaranteed damage, and when you've already got your target really low it's more important to make sure you hit than to get more overkill.


Here's what I noticed:
Malak would have been much better off opening with hold person rather than harm. Both are on a will save, but Nale held = Malak wins, while Nale takes 150 damage = Nale escapes. As such, Nale's opening taunt may have been specifically intended to goad Malak into using the more survivable direct damage.


I'm thinking (purely mechanical) -
Harm
Followed by Quickened Sound Burst
for the win :)

Quickened Sound burst is a better option than the Mass Inflict - since it's lower level, and still provides the auto-dmg.

Might not do as much dmg, so it's only an auto-win if your Harm was strong enough to bring them down to 1 hp. *shrug*

Still - I think I just found my next 3.5 character concept :smallbiggrin:

[cheesymetal]

im really starting to think that nale didnt kill malack's family.

[ScrapperTBP]

Wow I love today. I come home arly from school. New LFG comic and new OotS comic.
Scary stuff though that line from Nale was harsh but clever. I liked it.Great job Giant

[legomaster00156]

I don't care whether it is the OotS or Malack, or whoever, who does it... But, really Nale needs to be killed. Now.

Nale, you insufferable prick, die already!

If it is true that dimension door only takes you away for a few hundred feet, there is still hope that he may be dealt with once and for all. Honestly, I can't take him any longer!

Unless he's out of 4th-level spells (Sorcerers get MANY spells per day, and he has good Charisma), he can simply cast it again on account of being capable of spontaneous casting. It would be really, really hard to finish him off.

[Da'Shain]

I seriously doubt that Malack is a Yuan-Ti or anything like that, rather than just a Lizardfolk. It's a possibility, but a remote one, what with his posture being that of a biped, his tail being far too short if he was forced to rely on it for movement, his snout (as big as the other Lizardfolks' we've seen, when snakes' snouts are shorter) and Nale's comment about "pet iguana"; if Malack was a snakefolk, Nale's almost certain to know about it, yet he chose a lizard, not a snake.

What he is, though, is certifiably badass. I'm torn between whether I want to see him take over after Tarquin's defeat and be slightly more benevolent, or whether I want to see him try to go all souleater on the Order itself.

[hamishspence]

This has probably been mentioned, but I'm going to repeat it anyway: Nergal actually is the Babylonian god of the dead. This pantheon seems pretty closely based on the Babylonian one, Tiamat's five-headed dragon form notwithstanding.

In Dragon Magazine 329 (March 2005) the Mesopotamian pantheon is given alignments, domains, and favoured weapons.

In that, Nergal is a CE lesser deity of death, destruction and plagues, the mace is his favoured weapon, and his domains are Chaos, Death, Destruction, Evil.

[King of Nowhere]

and we STILL don't know what level malack is!

I mean, we never saw him cast anything higher than level 6 spells, but nale consider him a fiercer opponent than durkon despite his bad con, and a cleric who can use a 6th level slot on a quickened inflict wounds must already have some room for heal and harm, so it stands tio reason that he's much higher than that...

[mrmcfatty]

i think the main reason malack chose his spells this way is because he doesnt want to kill off nale right away, he wants to make him suffer, if he dies, thats it he is dead. the only thing he can do at that point is soul bind.

other than that he cant do anything, rez or true rez will not work cause the soul has to be willing to return( and i dont know about you but i wouldnt return to face malack)

granted, he could have used better spells to keep him from running away but i think he was trying to take him out without killing him, makes sense why he didnt use destruction then.

[Zolem]

Eh, V isn't able to reliably counterspell conjuration spells.

Dispel Magic is still on her list. You can counter anything with that.

[Ancalagon]

If you make a caster level check. Which is a flimsy, flimsy thing and only reliable if you caster is considerably higher than your opponent's.

[leden]

I agree with the "Nale didn't kill Malack's children" theory, what's more, i'd bet that tarquin killed them, maybe so that he wouldn't retire from adventuring?

[whitemane]

Wow... never thought I'd say this, but...

"Go Malack! Kick his a**!"

Just goes to show that sometimes, two wrongs do make a right...

[whitemane]

and we STILL don't know what level malack is!

I mean, we never saw him cast anything higher than level 6 spells, but nale consider him a fiercer opponent than durkon despite his bad con, and a cleric who can use a 6th level slot on a quickened inflict wounds must already have some room for heal and harm, so it stands tio reason that he's much higher than that...

Given that Malack has a personal grudge against Nale, I'm guessing that he is 11th or 12th level since one would think he would use the most powerful spells in his arsenal as quickly as possible to ensure success. (And Quickened IMW and Harm are both 6th level spells.)

That having been said, it seems a little odd that his level would be that low since the OOTS are all about 14th level. Maybe Tarquin's party peaked at 11th or 12th level and has been sitting back enjoying their spoils since then?




i think the main reason malack chose his spells this way is because he doesnt want to kill off nale right away, he wants to make him suffer, if he dies, thats it he is dead. the only thing he can do at that point is soul bind.

other than that he cant do anything, rez or true rez will not work cause the soul has to be willing to return( and i dont know about you but i wouldnt return to face malack)

granted, he could have used better spells to keep him from running away but i think he was trying to take him out without killing him, makes sense why he didnt use destruction then.

I'm thinking he would've done some sort of soul-binding ritual on Nale. Let's face it, with an entire kingdoms resources behind him, I'm sure he has a few rituals at his disposal which will let him torment Nale for eternity once he's dead...

[Thalnawr]

If you make a caster level check. Which is a flimsy, flimsy thing and only reliable if you caster is considerably higher than your opponent's.

Well, considering V's caster level of at least 15, versus Nale's caster level of 8 to 12 at most, that's a pretty safe bet.

[Jeivar]

Could someone refresh my memory: Does Malack have any specific grudge against Nale, beside "Nale betrayed Tarkin".

[Thalnawr]

Could someone refresh my memory: Does Malack have any specific grudge against Nale, beside "Nale betrayed Tarkin".

See panel 5 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0724.html) of this strip...

[ArlEammon]

Anyone else hope there'll be T-shirts with "NERGAL WILL EAT YOUR SOUL!" on them?

I won't be taking mine to Church on Sunday.

[Gift Jeraff]

Perhaps he has a friend or two who are influential among the overseers and who suggested/advocated the strike in the first place. Or maybe he just cast Suggestion on the leaders of the overseers. Or perhaps some of each.Sabine could also do the "flirt/have sex with someone and tell them they deserve to paid more" trick. Plus succubi get suggestion at will. Or she could shapeshift into a fellow slave driver and start soapboxing about how they should strike.

[t209]

Where would nale go? (he use dimension door).
If he is going to ranch dressing plane, he's gonna deal with V!

[Mantine]

Well, that was a letdown.

[Mantine]

Just posting to say that I agree with OP entirely. The Linear Guild has evolved from "plausible and kinda hilarious opposites" to a "steadily appearing to slow down things, annoy over, then escape unscathed #3324" group.

Seriously, when you keep trying something and keep failing at it, you're expected to pay a price for the failure.
They feel like a random encounter now, except that they never die or lose anything in the attempt.

[Brumski]

More development of Sabine truly caring about Nale, otherwise he would have simply said "Lets get out of here" then dimension door, instead of the little back and forth.

Dimension Door was done differently, it's usually dimension- (appear in new location) -door. I would have loved for the next strip to start with,

Nale pops in, "-door" Nale turns around, "Crap, Hi Dad, and Roy, and Belkar"

[MesiDoomstalker]

Haley was petrified on April 27 of this year, and the current in-comic day began on February 11th.


Has it really been that long? I'm fairly sure I started reading OotS last January, but when I finished the archives 781 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0781.html) was the most recent strip.


So its been a year since April 27th? (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0789.html)


No way. I know the comic is slow as hell these days, but it hasn't been a year. OOTS #789, April 28, 2011 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196981). 5 months, 23 days petrified, and I bet she gets released next week when the next update comes out, which would make it an even 6 months. It sure feels like a year, though.

Ok, I misrememberd. Give me a break guys. But, this in-comic day has lasted a very ling real-time. But my statment still stands, its all totally worth the wait, regardless the actual amount of time we waited.

[Ancalagon]

What I find bad is: They probably lost Thog but they are so off the scale by now (for me) that even that feels not sufficient.

Unless Nale pays a very, very dire personal price - it's not enough. He did not start high but still suffered Villian Decay.

He has his high in Cliffport.

[Alaba Blackveil]

They feel like a random encounter now, except that they never die or lose anything in the attempt.

They are a random encounter... hopefully thog died and refuses to come back, so they actually lose something.
But there is hope, LG will come to an end in the next strips :D

[Sky_Schemer]

Indeed, Nale escapes again.

*yawn*

We've been surprised in this arc before, though, so I am holding on to hope that this will go somewhere new.

[Ancalagon]

They are a random encounter... hopefully thog died and refuses to come back, so they actually lose something.
But there is hope, LG will come to an end in the next strips :D

Actually... they are not a random encounter. They are purposely placed B-string antagonists that are heavily entwined in both the main story (IFCC and Sabine, maybe even Tarquin, if he has something with the gate) and with one main character (Elan).

They are far from a RC, that they come over (to me and others) as one tells something about their date of expiery.

But I think this whining is also (mostly?) a symptom for the bigger issue: It has been a long time (both in regard to Real time as well as Plot) since the Status Quo of the comic has been rattled in general (and the biggest hit so far, Roy's Death, got reverted).

[borg286]

Anyone notice that malak's cape spills from frame 5 to 6.

[Keibear]

In Dragon Magazine 329 (March 2005) the Mesopotamian pantheon is given alignments, domains, and favoured weapons.

In that, Nergal is a CE lesser deity of death, destruction and plagues, the mace is his favoured weapon, and his domains are Chaos, Death, Destruction, Evil.

Nergal is also a NE deity of death and the underworld in the Untheric pantheon from Forgotten Realms, granting the Death, Earth, and Evil domains; favored weapon Longsword.

(The Untheric pantheon is also based on Babylonian/Sumerian gods)

So he could be based on that Nergal which is neutral rather than chaotic.

[legomaster00156]

Where would nale go? (he use dimension door).
If he is going to ranch dressing plane, he's gonna deal with V!

Dimension Door doesn't actually take you between planes. It's merely a short-range teleportation spell.

[hamishspence]

Nergal is also a NE deity of death and the underworld in the Untheric pantheon from Forgotten Realms, granting the Death, Earth, and Evil domains; favored weapon Longsword.

(The Untheric pantheon is also based on Babylonian/Sumerian gods)

So he could be based on that Nergal which is neutral rather than chaotic.

Biggest problem with that is Malack already mentioned Destruction as one of Nergal's specialities.

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0737.html

Sandstorm also has Nergal as Death, Earth, Evil, NE, Longsword- and has the advantage of not being setting-specific.

[Alaba Blackveil]

Actually... they are not a random encounter. They are purposely placed B-string antagonists that are heavily entwined in both the main story (IFCC and Sabine, maybe even Tarquin, if he has something with the gate) and with one main character (Elan).

Yeah, i know. I mean, for me they appear to be just a random accounter after all their appearances...
Me, whining about Nale escaping feels like a biiig relief, you know.

[zimmerwald1915]

That having been said, it seems a little odd that his level would be that low since the OOTS are all about 14th level. Maybe Tarquin's party peaked at 11th or 12th level and has been sitting back enjoying their spoils since then?
Is there any indication that Tarquin and his party are close to the same level? The OOTS stopped levelling at the same rate after Roy died and they Split the Party. Tarquin split with his party before coming to the Western Continent to begin his conquering spree (which I would imagine would net him a level or two), and then gathered them back together when it failed so that he could implement this new plan. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Tarquin turns out to be significantly higher-levelled than his allies.

Then again, we've seen nothing out of Tarquin at all that can be unambiguously interpreted as being high level. Elan is unable to hit him, but AC isn't impacted by level. It is impacted by Dexterity (which can be pumped by levelling up) and equipment. How much wealth, and thus equipment, you have can be contingent on level, but I'd imagine being ruler of an empire or three excludes you from being subject to the WBL tables. Further, Tarquin's knowledge of pun-duelling can be explained in a couple different ways, one of which is that he's so high level that his rank in Knowledge (obscure combat techniques) is high enough to know about pun-duelling, and another is that he was simply trained in the technique in the past. As Elan himself demonstrates, only one level in DS (or some other, similar, prestige class) is necessary to be able to pun-duel. That's not to say that the ability's we've seen out of Tarquin cannot be explained by a high level on his part, but rather that he has been very guarded about the sources of his abilities, and thus their origin is to us, ambiguous and contestable.

[legomaster00156]

Knowledge (obscure combat techniques)

Heh, I like this. It should be a class skill for Fighters, Rogues, and Bards.

[Forikroder]

i dont think Malacks spell choices have much to do with his level considering they worked, if Nale had eaten the quickened spell he would be dead

imo Tarwuin and crew are all level 20 or close to it

[zimmerwald1915]

i dont think Malacks spell choices have much to do with his level considering they worked, if Nale had eaten the quickened spell he would be dead

imo Tarwuin and crew are all level 20 or close to it
It's great that that's your opinion. It really is. But that's all it is. Well, it's a bunch of other people's opinion too, and it's vaguely supported by some circumstantial evidence, but that doesn't really change its being just an opinion. The idea that Tarquin's allies, and even Tarquin himself, are near-epic is still, barring further evidence, far from proven.

[Mantine]

They've become a random encounter in which they regularly appear, get beaten and then go out of the picture for a while, leaving behind but a chunk of px.

Only difference is that they're plot immortal. While your usual group of kobolds/ogres/whatever simply dies and get replaced by another, they escape.
Concept's the same.

[Ancalagon]

No, the Random Encounter is not an "Annoying Version of Elan, just in Evil". Nale really had his high in Cliffport, now, during this arc, all is left for him is to leave the stage and an angry, vengeful Sabine.

And yes, whining about it really feels good. :)

[Gift Jeraff]

Am I the only one who prefers the Linear Guild over Team Evil? (And Xykon's actually my favorite character.) EDIT: Post seems weird now that the threads were merged.

[Symmys]

DAMMIT NALE. :smallfurious:

At least Malack gets some more screen time. Whatever happens next should be interesting...

[Edhelras]

im really starting to think that nale didnt kill malack's family.

I'm trying to find out: In which comic did we hear about Nale killing Malack's family? I can't find it.

[Chad30]

Well that stinks. So close! should have used dimensional anchor. Assuming clerics can cast that.

There must be a lot of people who check this comic every day, because there are already at least several pages worth of posts by the time I come around.

[Orzel]

Anyone else feel the anger in that harm.

[pendell]

I am as frustrated as everyone else at Nale's apparent escape. But I don't think we're seeing the full picture here.

1) The OOTS now has two LG members --Zzd'tri and the kobold whose name I never remember -- in custody. It seems likely they will also acquire Thog or Thog's corpse.

If the LG is to continue as a story entity, Nale will have to rescue these characters. The LG without Thog would be like the Three Stooges with only two members. It doesn't work.

2) In addition, Dimension door has a limited range. While we don't know where Nale went to, I'll wager that both Zz'dtri and the kobold know the location of 'base camp'. I'm sure Tarquin has interrogation specialists who can acquire that information from them. Or even from Thog's corpse, thanks to Speak With Dead.

Both of these facts militate against Nale simply bugging out and disappearing. He needs to return and rescue his characters. Malack has a reason to hunt Nale down and two or three 'leads' to where he has gone.


In other words, this arc ain't over yet. Not by a long shot.

As an aside, I wonder if 'Nergal eating your soul' would prevent a later resurrection.

ETA: This is also in character for Nale. From the first use of 'Expeditious retreat' back in the original dungeon, Nale seems to always plan for things to go wrong and to leave himself an escape hatch if he needs it. So, although I don't like it, it would be even more cheap if Nale DIDN'T attempt a quick escape when things go bad. Failing to have an escape plan would be radically out of character, given his previous actions, and would have been bad storytelling.


E AGAIN to add:

Note the emoticon Rich used for the main discussion thread -- the angry, frustrated face. Note the disappointment and anger of both Elan and Malack. They are frustrated. As are we, the readers.

In other words, we've been deliberately set up to feel this emotion. And if Rich is setting us up, I expect there'll be a payoff of some kind.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[RecklessFable]

Isn't there a spell that lets you track teleportation? A few years ago my party was chasing down the BBEG in such a manner, but I wasn't the caster with the spell...

That seems like the kind of thing someone who has to keep track of slaves/rebels might have prepared.

[hamishspence]

I'm trying to find out: In which comic did we hear about Nale killing Malack's family? I can't find it.

Here:

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0724.html

[legomaster00156]

Well that stinks. So close! should have used dimensional anchor. Assuming clerics can cast that.

There must be a lot of people who check this comic every day, because there are already at least several pages worth of posts by the time I come around.

To be fair, the last time Malack heard from Nale, he was not a high enough level Sorcerer to cast a teleportation spell.

[Bilbo27]

I missed the whole hows the family quote. guess i need to back track a bit.
Of course Nale gets away, how can we have a dramatic ending otherwise?

[Chad30]

I don't blame him for going straight for the harm spell. I can also understand using harm to prolong the pain instead of going straight for the really big stuff.

[Bilbo27]

Perhaps he got the Frug (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frug) out of there?

I prefer the "Animal House" alligator myself.

[zimmerwald1915]

I'm trying to find out: In which comic did we hear about Nale killing Malack's family? I can't find it.
Nale killed three of his children. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0724.html) And then Malack muses about wanting more children. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0764.html) Incidentally, neither of these comics suggest that Malack hasn't still got some living children up and about, only that some - probably three, possibly more - have died. 764 also suggests that Malack isn't in a relationship at the moment. So there might actually have been some "family" left to which Nale was referring, making his taunt even more perverse.

EDIT: partially ninja'd.

[Stubbazubba]

Someone back on Page 5 mentioned the possibility of Elan getting hit by Malack's spell, and that is what I thought, too, when I first read the strip. But I think, if that were the Giant's plan, he would have had it just happen at the end of this strip; to add injury to the insult of Nale getting away making quips the whole while. I don't think it would serve as much purpose being at the beginning of the next strip, but I could be wrong in that.

This strip does serve to reinforce the "Sabine really has feelings for Nale" theory, which I thought was incorrect when it was first floated.

No, we have definitely not seen the end of this arc, and I'm pretty sure Nale has more coming to him before it's over. I don't really think he's done for, though. We're still several gates away from the plot wrapping up, and I'm pretty sure Nale and the LG will have an influence on that right up to the end, especially since the IFCC is specifically manipulating all the characters involved here to achieve their ends.

[ChrisTilley]

I liked Elan's list of dances, particularly 'Foxtrot'. Too many years of reading Schlock caused me to immediately think of 'Charlie Foxtrot'.

[e1_conquistador]

Dimension door is limited range. Go get him! ...Bloody plot armor...

Seriously, if we don't get some of these minor antagonists out of the way, we are never, ever going to see Xykon or the Snarl dealt with. I hate to think what a REAL bad guy like the lich could have managed by now.

[Mr. Scaly]

I wonder what Nale and company were doing out this way in the first place? I suppose Nale must be interested in the gates as much as Xykon and is fishing for clues.

Also, yeah I think Malack would have to be pretty high leveled. That was more of an ass kicking than I expected...and I expected a pretty severe ass kicking.

[Veya]

Okay... was a single Harm really suposed to do that much damage, or Malack put something else in it?

[zimmerwald1915]

Okay... was a single Harm really suposed to do that much damage...
Yes. Yes it can.

[Andorax]

The only plot armor here was Malack missing his second touch attack...generally speaking, touch attacks are pretty easy (for a high level cleric with a medium BAB).

The strategy was VERY solid, and very deadly. Two touch attacks (usually easy), and while both had saves, even on failed saves the likely end result was a kill.

Harm (given the presumed levels and Nale's already existant injuries) probably dropped Nale to 1 hp, even if he made his save. He sure looks like he's in the viscinity of 1 hp.

Quickened Inflict Moderate Wounds, again, deals half damage on a save..and if as presumed Nale is sitting at 1 hp, he was headed for X X land if Malack hadn't had an ill-timed 1 on his touch attack.

[BlackestOfMages]

Okay... was a single Harm really suposed to do that much damage, or Malack put something else in it?

potentially 150 damage, and Nale's at least rogue 2/sorceror 8 - that dosen't leave much space in there for hit dice, so 150 points is going to sting :smallamused:

[Gift Jeraff]

Nale's already existant injuriesNale shows no signs of injuries prior to Harm. :smallconfused:

[whitemane]

i dont think Malacks spell choices have much to do with his level considering they worked, if Nale had eaten the quickened spell he would be dead

imo Tarwuin and crew are all level 20 or close to it

If he were that high, then I don't understand why he wouldn't use a more potent spell that would assure victory... Implosion comes to mind... (I mean, seriously, what self respecting cleric of death and destruction doesn't have Implosion memorized?)

[snikrept]

im really starting to think that nale didnt kill malack's family.

The only direct info we have about it comes from Tarquin after all. He's not exactly a pillar of truth.

[le Suisse]

You know, you don't usually choose the deadliest spells for a tea-party with one of your friends. These two were probably the only hurting ones he can cast right now, and it's actually pretty amazing to be able to have a good strategy like this one when you're nearly berserk. It's not a plot armor if Malack missed his second attack: a old, frail, unprepared cleric punching a youthful rogue who is in battle suit that Dex is probably his second best stat and expecting it to come? my money on the rogue.

[Leecros]

If he were that high, then I don't understand why he wouldn't use a more potent spell that would assure victory... Implosion comes to mind... (I mean, seriously, what self respecting cleric of death and destruction doesn't have Implosion memorized?)

IIRC, on a successful fort save, Implosion does nothing. The likelihood of Nale succeeding on his save is greater than the likelihood of Malack missing with his ICW.

[CoffeeIncluded]

If he were that high, then I don't understand why he wouldn't use a more potent spell that would assure victory... Implosion comes to mind... (I mean, seriously, what self respecting cleric of death and destruction doesn't have Implosion memorized?)

Echoing several other people, I think there are two, maybe three reasons.

1. He was expecting teatime with Durkon, not a meeting with Nale. It's perfectly reasonable to assume that Malack didn't have Implosion prepared because he wasn't expecting this opportunity.

2. Malack likely didn't want Nale to die quickly from a one-hit-kill. He almost certainly wants Nale's death to be painful.

3. When you're blinded by fury and rage, you generally don't think as clearly as you normally would.

[whitemane]

IIRC, on a successful fort save, Implosion does nothing. The likelihood of Nale succeeding on his save is greater than the likelihood of Malack missing with his ICW.

But the lowest save possible for Implosion is 23 (10 + 9(spell level) + 4(minimum Wis modifier for wisdom needed to cast 9th level spells)) which is difficult for many people... and since Implosion lasts for 4 rounds (assuming concentration is maintained) chances are Nale would lose eventually...

Of course, I only say this because I DMd a campaign where the big bad guy used Implosion against a Barbarian PC and dropped him right away in spite of his impressive Con score.

[Ranzear]

Oh man do I wanna play a death domain cleric now.