Index OOTS Strips by Final Post Count (update 3-9-2012) [Archive]

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B. Dandelion

2012-02-13, 10:36 PM

This thread is for keeping track of which comics generated the most discussion in their official threads here on the board. Sometimes this is not strictly accurate, as many comics spawn huge related threads with many posts that aren't in the official discussion, but I can't do too much about that. In any case very popular, and especially controversial, comics seem to generate a lot of discussion in their own official thread regardless of how many side threads may exist.

Please keep all discussion of post count totals out of the threads being counted! Horse-race posts (e.g. "OMG the newest strip is cranking it into the top 25 in just 30 hours!") can go here instead. I haven't tried to enforce this in any way thus far, and it'd be way cool if I never had to, because the only ways I can think of to try and do such a thing would be really tedious and annoying and probably turn me off of trying to keep up with things at all. So please keep it cool.

Thread count includes all strips from #253, but some strips have been affected by the peculiarities or the policies of the board. Strips thus afflicted are:

#263 - The Great Escape (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0263.html)
#340 - You Should Have Seen What He Did With the Corsage (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0340.html)
#363 - I Fought the Law (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0363.html)
#364 - Consider Their Lineage (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0364.html)
#365 - Caught in the Act (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0365.html)
#574 - A Seller's Market (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0574.html)
#575 - I Think They're in One of the Rulebooks, Right? (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0575.html)
#576 - Construction Workers (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0576.html)
#669 - Logical Conclusions (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0669.html)
#885 - Silence is Golden (Or At Least Electrum) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0885.html)
#889 - Get Real (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0889.html)
#897 - Headed Downtown (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0897.html)
#913 - Independent (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html)

#263, #340, #363, and #365 are "lost threads" meaning their post count is forever inaccessible to me. #574, #575, and #576 occurred during a period of board downtime and so threads were not created until newer strips were already online, making their post count so low as to effectively be unrepresented. #885 also went up during a blackout period (but no new strips were put up until the board came back online). #669, #889, #897, and #913 gathered too much off-topic and/or religious-themed posting, so #669 had a number of posts purged, lowering its count in both the 24-hour tally and the total tally, while the other three were locked before their time, potentially lowering their totals in the total tally.

TOP 25 STRIPS, posts total
(#253-#942)

#25
830 - Tidying Up (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html) (854 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229826))
(Redcloak kills Tsukiko.)

#24
878 - Little Brother (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0878.html) (861 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274483))
(Malack raises Durkon as a vampire in the hopes of recreating a sibling.)

#23
639 - If They Pull a Knife... (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0639.html) (875 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107479))
(Familicide.)

#22
408 - Fallsville, Population: 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0408.html) (876 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33423))
(the immediate aftermath of Miko's Fall.)

#21
917 - Hold On (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0917.html) (895 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=301726))
(The Order have to try and hold off Tarquin's army from killing Roy, Durkon, and Belkar at least until dusk.)

#20
842 - All in the Family (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) (904 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234495))
(The mural on the wall reveals Girard Draketooth's grandfather was a black dragon.)

#19
935 - Caster Fight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0935.html) (906 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=320843))
(The fight between Vaarsuvius and Laurin is decided as much by inside intelligence as by spellcasting might, though there's no shortage of that either.)

#18
907 - Always Hiring (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0907.html) (916 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295787))
(Nale and Zz'dtri try to persuade vampire Durkon to join the Linear Guild. He declines. Strenuously.)

#17
908 - Reverse Polarity (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0908.html) (930 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=296373))
(Vampire Durkon kills Zz'dtri and rejoins Roy, but fails to account for the fact that he's now channeling negative energy when he tries to spontaneously convert a spell to heal him.)

#16
595 - Trial of the Century (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0595.html) (958 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91722))
(V disintegrates Kubota.)

#15
928 - Go (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0928.html) (966 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=312730))
(Under Roy's command, the Order is able to take out Miron, but Laurin is proving to be more of a challenge...)

#14
877 - The Bright Side (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html) (1040 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274269))
(Malack drains Durkon to death, but he dies with a smile on his face believing that at least he'll be returning home.)

#13
406 - A Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0406.html) (1048 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32867))
(Miko kills Shojo.)

#12
939 - Donation Drive (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0939.html) (1084 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=325960))
(Roy plans to accommodate Durkon's need for blood with his own, and only Belkar seems to have any misgivings about his vampirization.)

#11
929 - Through (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0929.html) (1110 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=313797))
(Elan's attempt to pull a "you'll have to go through me!" on Tarquin for Roy's sake fails to produce the desired results.)

#10
936 - End of the Line (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0936.html) (1122 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=323356))
(Over Tarquin's objections, his contribution to the main plotline comes to a close.)

# 9
932 - His Number One Fan (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0932.html) (1123 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=315582))
(The party retreat to Scoundrél's ship, and Blackwing swoops in to help out Bloodfeast, whom Belkar is worried about.)

# 8
886 - Victory Comes from Within (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html) (1128 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282219))
(The Order is victorious over Team Evil! ...in their dreams. Literally, thanks to Girard's illusion runes.)

# 7
913 - Independent (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html) (1136 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298967))
(Tarquin kills Nale.)

# 6
448 - Just Crazy Enough to Work (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0448.html) (1160 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43173))
(Xykon slaughters the Sapphire Guard.)

# 5
906 - Nothing Lasts Forever (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0906.html) (1331 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294877))
(Nale and Zz'dtri kill Malack by dispelling his protection from daylight spell and letting the desert sun fry him to ash.)

# 4
930 - Overshadowed (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0930.html) (1349 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=314330))
(Just In Time, who should come to save the party from Tarquin but Julio Scoundrél aboard the magnificent ship Deus Ex Mechane.)

# 3
934 - All Hands on Deck (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0934.html) (1375 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=318515))
(Laurin and Tarquin storm Julio's ship, Tarquin intending to kill everyone and chop off Elan's hand.)

# 2
870 - Death in the Family (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0870.html) (1424 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272178))
(Malack vamps out and bites Belkar.)

# 1
841 - Lunchtime (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0841.html) (1447 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233979))
(The Order, looking for the defenders of Girard's Gate, instead find a mess hall full of corpses and bugs.)

TOP 25 STRIPS, posts in 24 hours
(#253-#946)
#25
934 - All Hands on Deck (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0934.html) (566 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16575463#post16575463[/url))
(If Tarquin has his way, the number of hands on deck total will be 5. Fortunately for the heroes, Vaarsuvius is back in the game.)

#24 - TIE
916 - Executive Order (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0916.html) (576 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15955336#post15955336))
(Tarquin gives the order to kill the Order, sans Elan and Haley.)

935 - Caster Fight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0935.html) (576 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16652850#post16652850))
(Vaarsuvius v. Laurin.)

#22
928 - Go (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0928.html) (601 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16363335#post16363335))
(The Order are able to take out Miron, but that still leaves one badass psion yet to deal with...)

#21
464 - Not for Everyone (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0464.html) (603 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47226))
(Redemption is a rare and special thing, and so Miko dies without achieving it.)

#20
830 - Tidying Up (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html) (606 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229826))
(Redcloak kills Tsukiko.)

#19
870 - Death in the Family (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0870.html) (608 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272178))
(In a dramatic reveal, Malack's vampirism is exposed as he bites Belkar.)

#18
932 - His Number One Fan (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0932.html) (634 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16472198#post16472198))
(The Order retreat to the Mechane, and Blackwing rescues the dinosaur--lizard--lizard who used to be a dinosaur Bloodfeast.)

#17
842 - All in the Family (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) (649 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234495))
(The mural on the wall reveals a Draketooth ancestor was a black dragon... meaning Vaarsuvius was their killer.)

#16
946 - It's What's Inside That Counts (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0946.html) (651 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332153))
(In the final strip of Blood Runs in the Family, the Order vow to weather whatever changes are yet to come, while in the Mechane's storeroom the vampiric High Priest of Hel assures his mistress the real Durkon is kept locked away in his own mind.)

#15
886 - Victory Comes From Within (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html) (655 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282219))
(Team Evil arrives! The Order attacks! Belkar is slain! Vaarsuvius to the rescue! Roy is victorious! The lich is dead! Or would be, if it weren't all in Roy's head!)

#14
707 - That's Probably Why There Are, Like, 17 Types (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0707.html) (658 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146041))
(The Peregrine commander coldly executes a prisoner because "the only good goblins are dead goblins".)

#13
908 - Reverse Polarity (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0908.html) (682 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=296373))
(Newly-freed from thralldom, Durkon wastes no time in snapping Zz'dtri's neck and attempts to aid Roy, although the spontaneous healing bit doesn't work out so hot.)

#12
929 - Through (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0929.html) (696 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16402477#post16402477))
(Elan tries to shield Roy with his own body from Tarquin, but knowing that his son is at full hit points the general still goes for the kill.)

#11
408 - Fallsville, Population: 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0408.html) (699 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33423))
(Roy vs. Miko in the immediate aftermath of her Fall.)

#10
876 - Ensnared (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0876.html) (709 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274104))
(Malack grapples Durkon with his tail, dismisses his Death Ward via the back door he'd installed in the spell, and then bites him.)

# 9
595 - Trial of the Century (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0595.html) (714 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91722))
(Vaarsuvius dispassionately executes Kubota.)

# 8
406 - A Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0406.html) (769 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32867))
(Leaping to conclusions, Miko executes Shojo.)

# 7
878 - Little Brother (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0878.html) (816 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274483))
(Malack raises Durkon as a vampire to make a new "sibling".)

# 6
930 - Overshadowed (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0930.html) (834 pots (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16424016#post16424016))
(In this particular instance, the Order being overshadowed by a legendary hero such as Julio Scoundrél is a blessing.)

# 5
448 - Just Crazy Enough to Work (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0448.html) (873 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43173))
(Xykon executes the Sapphire Guard.)

# 4
841 - Lunchtime (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0841.html) (886 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233979))
(The Order, looking for the Draketooth guardians, find a mess hall full of their corpses.)

# 3
913 - Independent (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html) (909 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298967))
(Nale wants nothing but his independence from Tarquin, so his father removes his protection and kills him for having slaughtered Tarquin's best friend.)

# 2
906 - Nothing Lasts Forever (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0906.html) (922 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294877))
(In a moment of stunning competence, Nale gets the drop on Malack, who fries in the sunlight without his protection spell.)

# 1
877 - The Bright Side (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html) (1020 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=274269))
(Malack kills Durkon, who goes out with a smile as he believes death will finally take him home.)

TOP 25 BY BOOK

TOP 25 OF WAR AND XPS (#301-#484)
#25
459 - Negative Feelings (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0459.html) (349 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45891))
(Redcloak joins Xykon in the battle against the Ghost-Martyrs.)

#24
337 - Brief and to the Point (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0337.html) (350 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5177))
(Nale Sends to Roy about his kidnapped sister.)

#23
477 - Shock and Awwwwww (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0477.html) (355 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51462))
(The Monster in the Dark stomps the ground to prevent Haley and Belkar from fleeing with O-Chul and Roy's corpse, creating a earthquake.)

#22
428 - It Takes a Thief (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0428.html) (356 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38038))
(Which of the three apparent Xykons on the battlefield is the real one? Haley spells out for the painfully Lawful the real trick to the shell game.)

#21
446 - Hell of a Job (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0446.html) (365 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42711))
(Tsukiko joins team Evil: A Growth Industry!)

#20
388 - The Final Frontier (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0388.html) (367 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29409))
(Having escaped prison, Elan and Thog look for suitable disguises, including Locke Cole and Mog.)

#19
445 - A Song for the Departed (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0445.html) (371 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42385))
(Elan's battlefield eulogy to Roy.)

#18
423 - Periodic Bombardment (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0423.html) (393 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36900))
(Redcloak's opening salvo: catapults launching Titanium Elementals.)

#17
419 - A Special Pre-Approved Offer (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0419.html) (396 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35987))
(To the chagrin of blackguard and yuri enthusiasts alike, Miko turns down Sabine's offer of friendly contact.)

#16
327 - The Test of the Mind (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0327.html) (410 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5362))
(Haley fights her way past it.)

#15
310 - Advanced Dates & Dinners (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0310.html) (413 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5718))
(Roy and Celia's date is off to a promising start.)

#14: TIE:
452 - Breaking and Entering (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0452.html) (436 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44338))
(At the breach, Vaarsuvius is out of spells, morale is broken beyond repair, and the entire hobgoblin army is charging forward.)

393 - Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0393.html) (436 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30250))
(Haley's anguished declaration of love cures her aphasia.)

#12
400 - Your Ship Has Come In (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0400.html) (466 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31646))
(Haley and Elan consummate their new relationship.)

#11
462 - Good Idea, Bad Idea (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0462.html) (518 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46658))
(Miko blows the Gate.)

#10
386 - Not How She Pictured It, Certainly (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0386.html) (532 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29000))
(Nale: You know, the first two, I probably should have seen coming. The leprechaun costume? Not so much.)

# 9
449 - Land of the Rising... (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0449.html) (539 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43499) - part two (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43501))
(The most epic Oh Crap moment to come out of Xykon in the comic.)
post count total is both threads added together

# 8
316 - The Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0316.html) (645 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5641))
(The countdown on New Years.)

# 7
409 - Intercession (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0409.html) (661 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33708))
(Hinjo attempts to reason with newly-fallen Miko.)

# 6
443 - The First Step is a Doozy (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0443.html) (698 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41839))
(Roy falls to his death.)

# 5
407 - Fading (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0407.html) (705 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33162))
(Miko is dramatically stripped of her paladin powers.)

# 4
464 - Not for Everyone (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0464.html) (844 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47226))
(Miko dies without being redeemed.)

# 3
408 - Fallsville, Population: 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0408.html) (876 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33423))
(Miko vs. Roy in the immediate aftermath of her Fall.)

# 2
406 - A Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0406.html) (1048 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32867))
(Miko kills Shojo.)

# 1
448 - Just Crazy Enough to Work (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0448.html) (1160 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43173))
(Xykon slaughters the Sapphire Guard.)

TOP 25 OF DON'T SPLIT THE PARTY (#485-#672)
#25
633 - Where Do You See Yourself in Five Million Years? (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0633.html) (378 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105387))
(The IFCC explain the Soul Splice procedure.)

#24
628 - Every Parent's Worst Nightmare (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0628.html) (386 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103712))
(The Momma Black Dragon explains that she is after revenge.)

#23
660 - Lucky Breaks (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0660.html) (399 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114052))
(Xykon's phylactery narrowly misses falling into the rift, but goes into the absurdly spacious sewer.)

#22
612 - Technically, the "Fish" Version is a Subset of This One (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0612.html) (401 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98198))
(Belkar helpfully provides the cleric of Loki a chance to properly thank his old friend.)

#21
648 - A Dish Best Served wth +1d6 Cold Damage (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0648.html) (405 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110238))
(Haley ambushes and kills Crystal.)

#20
627 - Power Outage (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0627.html) (414 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103342)
(Using Anti-magic field, the Momma Black Dragon quickly takes the upper hand against Vaarsuvius.)

#19
635 - I See a Red Robe and I Want to Paint it Black (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0635.html) (452 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106260))
(The Ascension of Dark Vaarsuvius!)

#18
572 - The Resistance of Memory (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0572.html) (458 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84127))
(The Oracle tells Roy of Belkar's impending death, then banishes him... in the process causing him to bypass the memory charm.)

#17
672 - A Familiar Conclusion (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0672.html) (460 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120875))
(In the final strip of Don't Split the Party, Blackwing reveals what he saw in the Rift.)

#16
663 - Or Mention That He's Getting Too Old for This (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0663.html) (494 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114922))
(O-Chul and Vaarusvius drop in on Hinjo, literally.)

#15
610 - You're It (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0610.html) (505 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97251))
(Passcode: Evolve or die!)

#14
597 - Threat Assessment (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0597.html) (511 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92345))
(Unfortunately, Elan's too dumb for Vaarsuvius to effectively threaten.)

#13
659 - Flight of the Phylactery (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0659.html) (521 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113807))
(Blackwing sets off to drop the phylactery in the rift, Xykon in hot pursuit.)

#12
596 - Convenience Story (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0596.html) (527 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91940))
(Elan demonstrates an understanding of sarcasm.)

#11
657 - Second Chance (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0657.html) (536 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113032))
(Xykon explains Power to Vaarsuvius, who forgoes an opportunity to escape in favor of reviving O-Chul.)

#10: TIE:
611 - None Left Standing (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0611.html) (560 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97590))
(Belkar, newly freed of the Mark of Justice, takes out an entire room full of thieves.)

653 - Fun While it Lasted (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0653.html) (560 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111379))
(Vaarsuvius loses control of the final two Soul Splices.)

# 8
496 - Responsible (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0496.html) (576 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60242))
(Roy is reunited with the younger brother tragically lost to one of his father's experiments.)

# 7
652 - No Respect for the Wicked (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0652.html) (595 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111189))
(Vaarsuvius' attack against Xykon hits a few snags.)

# 6
629 - One Chance (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0629.html) (617 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103957))
(The momma black dragon teleports away after explaining how she will torture, kill, and Soul Bind Vaarsuvius' family.)

# 5
661 - The Path of Least Expectation (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0661.html) (626 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114300))
(The Monster in the Dark teleports his friend O-Chul (and Vaarsuvius) to safety away from Xykon.)

# 4
655 - With a Critical Eye (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0655.html) (648 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112025))
(O-Chul one-shots Redcloak with a Smite Evil to the eye, nabbing the phylactery in the process.)

# 3
658 - A Bird in Hand (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0658.html) (682 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113317))
(Blackwing's return.)

# 2
639 - If They Pull a Knife... (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0639.html) (875 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107479))
(All over the planet, Familicide wipes out black dragons by the score.)

# 1
595 - Trial of the Century (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0595.html) (958 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91722))
(Vaarsuvius dispassionately executes Kubota.)

TOP TEN STRIPS BY YEAR

TOP TEN OF 2006 (#262-#395)
#10
293 - This is Getting to Be a Habit... (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0293.html) (386 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5987))
(Having learned Xykon is still al-- er, a threat, Roy will take Shojo's offer. But not for Eugene's sake.)

# 9
327 - The Test of the Mind (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0327.html) (410 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5362))
(Haley solves an old riddle with a little application of violence.)

# 8
310 - Advanced Dates & Dinners (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0310.html) (413 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5718))
(Roy and Celia meet for their date.)

# 7
279 - No Soup for You (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0279.html) (425 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5958))
(During his fight with Miko, Belkar falls into a large bowl of soup.)

# 6
393 - Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0393.html) (436 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30250))
(Haley: I THOUGHT HE WAS YOU! I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU AND I THOUGHT I WAS KISSING YOU!)

# 5
386 - Not How She Pictured It, Certainly (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0386.html) (532 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29000))
(Nale-as-Elan's date with Haley officially goes off the rails.)

# 4
316 - The Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0316.html) (645 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5641))
(Multiple people are kissed on the countdown to New Year's Eve.)

# 3
285 - A Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0285.html) (662 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6106))
(The Order forestall Miko from killing Belkar, earning her enmity forever.)

# 2
284 - Shattered Expectations (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0284.html) (738 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6139))
(The Order being declared Not Guilty wasn't dramatic enough to satisfy Elan. Fortunately Miko and Belkar are around to rectify that problem.)

# 1
270 - Dueling Egos (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0270.html) (828 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6335))
(Belkar: It's as true today as when I started adventuring: "When in doubt, set something on fire.")

TOP TEN OF 2007 (#396-#517)
#10
462 - Good Idea, Bad Idea (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0462.html) (518 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46658))
(Just as Redcloak and Xykon are defeated, Miko destroys Azure City's Gate.)

# 9
449 - Land of the Rising... (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0449.html) (539 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43499)) (thread part two (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43501))
(Soon: Only the honor of a paladin is unbreakable--even by death itself.)
(Post count is both threads added together.)

# 8
496 - Responsible (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0496.html) (576 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60242))
(Eric: hi roy! wanna play blocks with me?)

# 7
409 - Intercession (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0409.html) (661 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33708))
(Hinjo attempts to reason with newly-Fallen Miko.)

# 6
443 - The First Step is a Doozy (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0443.html) (698 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41839))
(Roy free-falls on the infinite canvas.)

# 5
407 - Fading (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0407.html) (705 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33162))
(Shojo's final words: It appears... not everyone... agrees with your... analysis.)

# 4
464 - Not for Everyone (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0464.html) (844 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47226))
(Miko dies.)

# 3
408 - Fallsville, Population: 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0408.html) (876 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33423))
(Miko's fall in the immediate aftermath.)

# 2
406 - A Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0406.html) (1048 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32867))
(Miko fatally wounds Shojo.)

# 1
448 - Just Crazy Enough to Work (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0448.html) (1160 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43173))
(Xykon slaughters the Sapphire Guard.)

TOP TEN OF 2008 (#518-#618)
#10: TIE
593 - Another Choice (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0593.html) (362 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91367))
(Therkla dies in Elan's arms.)

536 - A Brief Tribute (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0536.html) (362 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74207))
(Roy pays his respects to Gary Gygax.)

# 8
599 - Separate Ways (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0599.html) (371 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93201))
(Vaarsuvius departs from his/her remaining allies and the Azurite Fleet.)

# 7
612 - Technically, the "Fish" Version is a Subset of This One (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0612.html) (401 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98198))
(The middle-aged cleric of Loki reunites with his old friend "Brainy" Pete.)

# 6
572 - The Resistance of Memory (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0572.html) (458 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84127))
(The Oracle informs Roy of Belkar's impending death, then banishes him.)

# 5
610 - You're It (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0610.html) (505 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97251))
(The party's darkest hour in Greysky.)

# 4
597 - Threat Assessment (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0597.html) (511 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92345))
(Vaarsuvius attempts to threaten Elan into silence over Kubota's death.)

# 3
596 - Convenience Story (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0596.html) (527 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91940))
(Vaarsuvius explains his/her motives for killing Kubota.)

# 2
611 - None Left Standing (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0611.html) (560 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97590))
(The triumphant return of the SEXY SHOELESS GOD OF WAR.)

# 1
595 - Trial of the Century (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0595.html) (958 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91722))
(Vaarsuvius: Disintegrate. Gust of Wind. Now can we PLEASE resume saving the world?)

TOP TEN OF 2009 (#619-#696)
#10
659 - Flight of the Phylactery (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0659.html) (521 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113807))
(Guess what spell I cast before giving this to the bird.)

# 9
657 - Second Chance (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0657.html) (536 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113032))
(Xykon explains Power to an invisible Vaarsuvius, who reconsiders his/her escape plan in favor of reviving O-Chul.)

# 8
653 - Fun While it Lasted (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0653.html) (560 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111379))
(With one final blow from Xykon, Vaarsuvius loses control of the remaining soul splices.)

# 7
652 - No Respect for the Wicked (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0652.html) (595 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111189))
(Vaarsuvius' battle against Xykon isn't going as well as s/he might have liked.)

# 6
629 - One Chance (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0629.html) (617 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103957))
(The momma black dragon explains what she will do to Vaarsuvius' family.)

# 5
661 - The Path of Least Expectation (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0661.html) (626 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114300))
(MitD: You're my friend, you HAVE to be OK! It can't end like this! It's not fair! You need to leave. You need to--ESCAPE.)

# 4
655 - With a Critical Eye (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0655.html) (648 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112025))
(Redcloak: My eye! You human bastard, my eye!)

# 3
658 - A Bird in Hand (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0658.html) (682 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113317))
(The return of Blackwing!)

# 2
695 - Paranoia Will Destroy Ya (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0695.html) (689 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135273))
(Girard: It should have been you who died in that rift, you cowardly son of a bitch.)

# 1
639 - If They Pull a Knife... (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0639.html) (875 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107479))
(Familicide.)

TOP TEN OF 2010 (#697-#766)
#10
762 - Just Trying to Help (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0762.html) (325 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177662))
(Tarquin: Wait, who do you consider a "somebody"?)

# 9
TIE:
757 - Something Blue (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0757.html) (375 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175293))
(Tarquin imprisons soon-to-be tenth wife Amun-Zora.)

708 - An Animated Discussion (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0708.html) (375 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146251))
("Wrong-Eye" objects to Tsukiko's using of hobgoblin bodies to make undead.)

# 7
702 - One for the History Books (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0702.html) (412 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140449))
(The Rise of Gobbotopia.)

# 6
712 - Neutralize Elf (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0712.html) (429 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147990))
(Vaarsuvius, Haley and Elan are ambushed by bounty hunters.)

# 5
759 - Yes, Apparently (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0759.html) (506 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176551))
(It did take 200-feet-tall flaming letters made out of escaped slaves to make Elan realize his dad was bad news.)

# 4
758 - Spins of the Father (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0758.html) (511 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176147))
(Tarquin's master plan.)

# 3
723 - Generally Relative (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0723.html) (525 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152309))
(Tarquin reveals his identity.)

# 2
763 - Plotting Something (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0763.html) (540 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177984))
(Tarquin's confident he and Elan will make a terrific story together, but whatever happens, Tarquin wins.)

# 1
707 - That's Probably Why There Are, Like, 17 Types (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0707.html) (809 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146041))
(Elves are speciest jerkwads "awesome".)

TOP TEN OF 2011 (#767-#823)
#10
800 - Right Tool for the Job (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0800.html) (412 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210598))
(A Dominated Yukyuk proves invaluable in Vaarsuvius' battle against Zz'dtri.)

# 9
822 - Line Quality (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0822.html) (416 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226413))
(The Linear Guild gains a general, albino lizard priest, and flying kobold.)

# 8
789 - Also, His Popularity Has Waned (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0789.html) (425 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196981))
(Zz'dtri's surprise return!)

# 7
808 - Five Rows Down, Three Columns Over (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0808.html) (441 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217610))
(Roy: THAT'S how I use my Intelligence score in combat, DUMBASS!!)

# 6
784 - Unexpected (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0784.html) (446 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192724))
(Enor and Gannji are saved by a T-Rex let loose by Ian and Belkar.)

# 5
790 - Unfamiliar (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0790.html) (449 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197952))
(Zz'dtri has a new familiar too.)

# 4
794 - We Recommend Tsukiko (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0794.html) (451 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202440))
(Elan escapes from Sabine by making out with her.)

# 3
788 - A Vexation or Irritation (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0788.html) (476 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195709))
(Roy isn't as happy to see Thog as Thog is to see him.)

# 2
783 - Cold Blooded (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0783.html) (510 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192034))
(Enor vs. Gannji in the arena.)

# 1
796 - Smash (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0796.html) (543 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207519))
(Thog gives Roy a no-holds barred beatdown in the arena.)

TOP TEN OF 2012 (#824-#864)
#10
845 - The Last Laugh (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0845.html) (512 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236269))
(Via Speak With Dead, Roy questions one of the Draketooth corpses as to the location of Girard's rift.)

# 9
826 - Minimal Resistance (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0826.html) (530 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228414))
(Redcloak curbstomps the Resistance, reveals he's gotten to level 17, and his spy retrieves the phylactery.)

# 8
859 - Smoked (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0859.html) (539 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250693))
(The Linear Guild flail around in the smoke after step one of the Order's ambush. Step two begins when Durkon comes out of hiding...)

# 7
850 - not-thog (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0850.html) (554 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240516))
(Tarquin leaps down to attack the Order, disguising himself as Thog and clearly enjoying the challenge.)

# 6
857 - The Pit of Despair (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0857.html) (619 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247670))
(Wracked with guilt over the unintended consequences of Familicide, Vaarsuvius is in the pits both literally and metaphorically, while Blackwing tries to talk some sense into him/her.)

# 5
860 - Wasn't Going to Listen to Orders Anyway (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0860.html) (636 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252215))
(The Linear Guild is in total disarray after Holy Word. The spell deafened Belkar too, but that actually works to the Order's advantage.)

# 4
843 - Lack of Foresight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0843.html) (698 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235169))
(Vaarsuvius spells out exactly how extensive the ramifications of Familicide were, and while feeling bad about not thinking that out well falls headlong into a trap.)

# 3
830 - Tidying Up (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html) (854 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229826))
(Redcloak reveals the real motive of the Plan and his decades-long deception of Xykon, while cold-bloodedly murdering Tsukiko.)

# 2
842 - All in the Family (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) (904 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234495))
(Vaarsuvius finds the Draketooth family mural, which clearly illustrates that they were descended from a black dragon and thus all likely taken out by Vaarsuvius' casting of Familicide.)

# 1
841 - Lunchtime (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0841.html) (1447 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233979))
(The Order finds the Draketooth clan, or rather a room full of Draketooth corpses who've clearly been dead for weeks.)

Much gratitude is owed to the Discussion Thread Index (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103669), making the official discussion threads easy to find and count. Thanks, Lira and hamishspence!

I've had people ask me for the XML data in the past, so they can try their own tricks with it, which is cool with me. It keeps track of titles, # of pages in the strip, the date the strip's online thread was posted, and a few others, with links to every online strip and relevant discussion thread. Latest download (thru comic 915) here. (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7Ow5EvJS9QsQ3BVVmQ4NXBQbkU/edit?usp=sharing)

The Black Cat

2012-02-13, 10:46 PM

Very interesting idea!

Zea mays

2012-02-14, 12:07 AM

ti'esar

2012-02-14, 12:09 AM

ella ventic

2012-02-14, 12:36 AM

I'm interested to notice that quite a few posts in the 448 thread are bewailing the unceremonious slaughter of the Sapphire Guard and citing it as more evidence that "Rich hates paladins". Quite a bit jarring for those of us following the threads for the demise of the Resistance. Maybe SoD hadn't come out yet then?

SoD? Try #449 hadn't come out yet. 'Cause it only took one strip to turn the paladins into ultra-heroic game-changing lich-kicking goblin-trouncing badasses. :smallamused:

B. Dandelion

2012-02-14, 12:46 AM

That's some impressive work B. Dandelion.

Thank you!

I can't help but wonder though, can the growth in forum membership and participation be factored in to account for the more extensive discussions of some of the latest strips?

Do you mean, is the data probably going to skew somewhat towards more recent strips?

Or is there some process I can apply to the data to account for it?

To the first, I would say yes, although actually less than I would have thought. The third, fourth, and fifth books seem to be able to compete pretty fairly, and even the second book manages to crack the top ten.

As to the second, I'm not sure. I could easily give breakdowns by book, but I don't think I have any data that I could use to "adjust for inflation", as it were.

ti'esar

2012-02-14, 12:57 AM

SoD? Try #449 hadn't come out yet. 'Cause it only took one strip to turn the paladins into ultra-heroic game-changing lich-kicking goblin-trouncing badasses. :smallamused:

What I meant is that SoD is probably the reason why the status of paladins/Azurites in general fell among the forum-goers. Like I said, nowadays I don't think that Rich "hating paladins" is what people would whine about.

(And in point of fact, one of the first posts in the 449 thread said something along the lnes of "betcha Xykon kills them all again next strip").

factotum

2012-02-14, 02:42 AM

What I meant is that SoD is probably the reason why the status of paladins/Azurites in general fell among the forum-goers.

Think it's more likely that Miko started this idea that Rich hates paladins, because nobody seemed to get that Miko was the specific example of how NOT to play a paladin in Rich's eyes--e.g. Detect Evil on everything and smite if it glows! We'd already seen plenty of better examples of paladins by the time #448 rolled around, but the "Rich hates paladins" idea was thoroughly ingrained into the forum consciousness at that point.

ti'esar

2012-02-14, 04:54 AM

Think it's more likely that Miko started this idea that Rich hates paladins, because nobody seemed to get that Miko was the specific example of how NOT to play a paladin in Rich's eyes--e.g. Detect Evil on everything and smite if it glows! We'd already seen plenty of better examples of paladins by the time #448 rolled around, but the "Rich hates paladins" idea was thoroughly ingrained into the forum consciousness at that point.

I agree - my point as far as the "Rich hates paladins" thing goes is that it's just very jarring to read people complaining about this alleged bias when nowadays, speaking from a very broad stereotypical standpoint, it's the forum-dwellers who hate paladins. It's hardly a universal attitude, but (for instance) I remember following the 827 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0827.html) discussion, and despite the general tone of "Thanh! Nooooo!", there were a few people legitimately cheering Redcloak on. And in most other threads, it's more then a few. Either attitude is sort of a fringe view, but I just think it's very odd to see the reversal, and I figure that SoD is the most likely reason this changed. Everyone's a sucker for a tragic villain's backstory...

Mr. Snuggles

2012-02-14, 06:38 AM

Great data! You should post it in .XLS so we other people can make pie charts and such out of it.

Dr._Demento

2012-02-14, 06:53 AM

I agree - my point as far as the "Rich hates paladins" thing goes is that it's just very jarring to read people complaining about this alleged bias when nowadays, speaking from a very broad stereotypical standpoint, it's the forum-dwellers who hate paladins. It's hardly a universal attitude, but (for instance) I remember following the 827 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0827.html) discussion, and despite the general tone of "Thanh! Nooooo!", there were a few people legitimately cheering Redcloak on. And in most other threads, it's more then a few. Either attitude is sort of a fringe view, but I just think it's very odd to see the reversal, and I figure that SoD is the most likely reason this changed. Everyone's a sucker for a tragic villain's backstory...

Don't underestimate the controversy of the Elven Strike Team. I think they more than anything else turned opinions about the Resistance.

fergo

2012-02-14, 06:57 AM

Cool :smallbiggrin:. It's interesting to look at some of the old threads from long before I started watching the forum (or even started reading the comic).

B. Dandelion

2012-02-14, 08:07 AM

Well, you can access the xml data if you want... here (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7Ow5EvJS9QsWVB2a0tQWDdZWm8/edit?usp=sharing).

It lists all the strips, the dates for the ones I know, and the post count for the ones after #253. Also it keeps track of the number of pages per strip and the book they're included in (or will be included in, I assume).

Quild

2012-02-14, 08:32 AM

That's some impressive work B. Dandelion.

I can't help but wonder though, can the growth in forum membership and participation be factored in to account for the more extensive discussions of some of the latest strips?

This should be taken into account for sure.

Another thing that should be accounted may be that there are for sure more answers to a topic when we have three weeks between two strips, rather than three days.

So the length of time between two strips could be taken into account.

The Pilgrim

2012-02-14, 09:13 AM

The whole list from 253-853, lowest to highest:

0577 You Can Take the Rogue Out of the City... (15 posts)
0574 A Seller's Market (15 posts)
0575 I Think They're in One of the Rulebooks, Right? (21 posts)
0566 One for the FAQ (74 posts)
0258 I Think That Violates the Geneva Convention (93 posts)
0262 All You Need is Love and Improvised Thieves' Tools (96 posts)
0557 The Puppet Mistress (98 posts)
0534 Medium Creatures (98 posts)
0537 What Do You Think Comes in a Disguise Kit, Anyway? (100 posts)
0564 It's What's For Dinner (102 posts)
0260 The Prison Blues (102 posts)
0523 Orders That Won't Stick (103 posts)
0342 Dangling the Bait (103 posts)
0259 Son of Mail Call (103 posts)
0562 Heroic Fantasy (104 posts)
0278 A New Strategy (105 posts)
0264 I Cannae Tell a Lie (110 posts)
0378 He Didn't Even Have to Say Please (113 posts)
0558 Sort of Like a Reverse Psion (115 posts)
0403 Leadership Is About the Tough Decisions (118 posts)
0343 Served with a Side Order of Whoop-Ass (118 posts)
0341 Setting Up the Board (118 posts)
0544 A Lot at Stake (119 posts)
0519 Nightmare on Blue Street (119 posts)
0624 This Happens to Telemarketers All the Time (120 posts)
0404 A Paladin's Duty (121 posts)
0305 The Epistle of Durkon (121 posts)
0552 And Yet the Turtle Got Away on His Own (122 posts)
0535 The Cat Stays in the Picture (122 posts)
0773 Never Mind, She'd Need a Better Bow to Use It (123 posts)
0395 Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (123 posts)
0366 Porting Out (123 posts)
0356 Knight Takes Pawn (123 posts)
0559 An Introduction to Comparative Theology (124 posts)
0292 Non-startling Revelations (124 posts)
0579 What They Need is a Writ of Habeas Corpus (129 posts)
0512 They've Had Time to Train, Too (131 posts)
0738 Pooling Resources (133 posts)
0680 That's Why It's Called a Running Gag (133 posts)
0644 An Unsung Legend (133 posts)
0493 Led Zeppelin Lied to Us All (133 posts)
0346 Swoop, There It Is (133 posts)
0254 Half the Elf, Double the Fun (133 posts)
0507 Fantasy Troll-Playing Game (134 posts)
0528 The Ghost Screamer (135 posts)
0255 Meep meep! (135 posts)
0563 Air Mail (137 posts)
0339 C.P.P.D. Blues (137 posts)
0522 We're Doomed If She Finds the Map Key (139 posts)
0362 Grand Theft Identity (141 posts)
0769 Because Really, That Would Be Less Improbable (142 posts)
0561 Pop Idolatry (142 posts)
0546 O-Chul's Razor (142 posts)
0351 Pop Quiz, Hotshot (142 posts)
0349 Every Couple Has Their Quirks (142 posts)
0256 Six Degrees of Evil Separation (142 posts)
0548 His Most Despicable Act Yet (143 posts)
0336 Bedtime for Elan (143 posts)
0330 Paid in Full (144 posts)
0625 Bargain Hunter (145 posts)
0556 Nuthin' But Net (145 posts)
0338 Tactical Priorities (145 posts)
0277 The Crayons of Time: Breaking Up is Hard to Do (145 posts)
0686 Also, At Lower Altitude (146 posts)
0516 Turning Azurite, I Think I'm Turning Azurite, I Really Think So (147 posts)
0691 All Available Resources (149 posts)
0333 The Bright Side (149 posts)
0303 Phrenology Today (149 posts)
0384 Words Get in the Way (150 posts)
0304 A Leper Can't Change His Spots (150 posts)
0739 A New Friend (151 posts)
0308 Sword Envy (151 posts)
0257 POW! (151 posts)
0533 Open to Multiple Interpretations (152 posts)
0733 Collect Call (153 posts)
0532 The Exposition Fairy (153 posts)
0531 Wake Up Call to Action (154 posts)
0745 It Does Beat Scissors (155 posts)
0487 Their Concierge Service is Heavenly (155 posts)
0268 The Lawyers Strike Back (155 posts)
0565 The Test of the Memory (156 posts)
0545 Someone Should be Wearing Safety Goggles (156 posts)
0473 On the Waterfront (156 posts)
0314 Goth Advice (156 posts)
0578 A Slick Getaway (157 posts)
0576 Construction Workers (157 posts)
0553 Diplomacy is a Beach (157 posts)
0586 No Encounter is an Island Unto Itself (158 posts)
0368 All Along the Watchtower (158 posts)
0299 A Calling Missed (158 posts)
0269 A Familiar Face (158 posts)
0590 Role Reversal (159 posts)
0776 A Sombering Oration (160 posts)
0681 All in the Family (160 posts)
0354 Copper Piece Arcade (160 posts)
0770 Hard Time (161 posts)
0554 You're No Help at All (161 posts)
0486 Next on "As the Plane Turns"... (162 posts)
0347 On the Map (163 posts)
0291 Not to Mention Little League (163 posts)
0817 General Assistance (164 posts)
0751 Tree is Within 10-ft. Radius of Apple (164 posts)
0350 At Least You Get Course Credit (164 posts)
0592 Stuck in the Middle (165 posts)
0357 Pen Beats Sword (165 posts)
0379 Perform IS on the Aristocrat's Skill List (166 posts)
0710 Does He Get XP for Their Buzz? (167 posts)
0746 Ask Your Grandparents (168 posts)
0740 The Great(ish) Escape (168 posts)
0549 Grueling Ordeal (168 posts)
0283 Rock the Vote (168 posts)
0734 Maybe He Can Get Credit for Time Served (169 posts)
0601 She Obviously Doesn't Have the Endurance Feet (169 posts)
0589 Entrance Qualifications (169 posts)
0514 Elan Would Be So Proud (169 posts)
0505 ...Or We Will All Stick Separately (169 posts)
0369 Fight! (169 posts)
0585 Immaterial Components (170 posts)
0551 Slow and Steady, My Ass! (171 posts)
0515 A Momentary Experience (171 posts)
0466 I Think I Left it in the Bag... (171 posts)
0377 Travel Delays (171 posts)
0495 (Eu)gene Therapy (172 posts)
0332 The Ephemerality of Memory (172 posts)
0272 The Big Secret (172 posts)
0683 Whatever You Do, Don't Oscillate (173 posts)
0580 Hey, I Need to Sell Them Somehow (174 posts)
0527 Pep Talk (174 posts)
0483 Broken Stick (174 posts)
0538 Fiend or Foe? (175 posts)
0526 He's Just Pine-ing for the Fjords (175 posts)
0482 Leaving Azure City (176 posts)
0391 Eye of the Tiger, Baby (176 posts)
0711 The Rouge's Guild (177 posts)
0521 Remorse (177 posts)
0394 Hell Hath Exactly As Much Fury (177 posts)
0524 Pretender to the Throne (178 posts)
0818 Also, the Desert is Dry (179 posts)
0609 It Takes TWO Thieves, Actually (179 posts)
0471 A Triumphant Return (179 posts)
0370 Kills 'Em Every Time (179 posts)
0326 Getting Ahead in Business (179 posts)
0620 Probably About an "8" (180 posts)
0433 Resource Management (180 posts)
0359 Roll Over (180 posts)
0543 Shhh! Principal's Coming! (181 posts)
0525 Look More Closelier (181 posts)
0513 Security Deposit (181 posts)
0324 Consult Your Doctor Before Reading This Comic (181 posts)
0367 Innocent Man (182 posts)
0280 The Boot (183 posts)
0779 They Follow His Lead (184 posts)
0570 Clean Slate (184 posts)
0302 New Beginnings (184 posts)
0560 Meanwhile, His Teammate Was in Rhodes (185 posts)
0253 Larry Gardener and the Angry Half-Orc (185 posts)
0375 Undeliverable (186 posts)
0307 Take the Problem By the Hand (186 posts)
0682 Plus, He Probably Spits, Too (187 posts)
0491 Those Singing Lessons Cost Money, You Know (187 posts)
0334 If You Want Something Done Right (188 posts)
0805 Dropping In (189 posts)
0778 Nitpick Your Battles (189 posts)
0775 Welcome to the Arena (189 posts)
0728 The Price of Yummies (189 posts)
0345 He Invented the Magic System (189 posts)
0261 I Smell a Solo Adventure (189 posts)
0781 Companions (190 posts)
0581 A Sight for Sore Eyes (190 posts)
0539 Well There is That "Saint" Prestige Class (190 posts)
0416 It's Battlicious! (190 posts)
0402 Speaking From the Heart (190 posts)
0328 The Test of the Heart (190 posts)
0717 No Incarceration Without Compensation (191 posts)
0676 There's More Than One Way to Fail a Listen Check (191 posts)
0567 The Simplest Explanation (191 posts)
0492 Things to Do in Heaven When You're Dead (191 posts)
0437 Battle Momentum (191 posts)
0742 Monkey Do (192 posts)
0741 Scheduling Conflict (192 posts)
0693 Tragically, His Arms Would Be Too Short for the Lute (192 posts)
0412 Catching Up (192 posts)
0582 Moonlight Rendezvous (193 posts)
0687 Actually, That's Probably You (194 posts)
0777 Under the Arena (195 posts)
0809 Except Maybe the Undead (196 posts)
0511 Guerillas in Their Midst (196 posts)
0426 Three of a Kind (196 posts)
0329 The All-Seeing Oracle (196 posts)
0786 One Step Worse Than "Diminutively" (197 posts)
0767 And Yes, There is a Santa Claus (197 posts)
0617 Power Meeting (197 posts)
0469 Crossbones (198 posts)
0731 Long Tail of the Law (199 posts)
0820 Son Catcher (200 posts)
0814 The Answer Is Blowing in the Wind (200 posts)
0813 Pardon Me (200 posts)
0737 Comparative Mythology (200 posts)
0706 He's Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today (200 posts)
0591 Antipathy for the Devil (200 posts)
0434 Heavy is the Head (200 posts)
0467 Learn to Play it Right (201 posts)
0436 Non-Military Intelligence (201 posts)
0432 Let Slip the Dogs of War (201 posts)
0689 Live Bait (202 posts)
0646 …And It Feels So Good (202 posts)
0732 The Papers Chase (203 posts)
0645 It's Where the Cool Kids Swim (203 posts)
0541 He's a Gamblin'...Thing (203 posts)
0517 Probably Best to Choose at Random (203 posts)
0771 Also, "Chib" Would Have Been Acceptable (204 posts)
0488 This is Your Life (204 posts)
0815 Close Call (206 posts)
0697 Stuck in the Sand Trap (206 posts)
0478 On Usefulness (206 posts)
0312 Where the Buffalo Wings Roam (206 posts)
0768 +2 Embraces (207 posts)
0344 A Walk in the Park (208 posts)
0649 It's a Shame She Didn't Grab That Script While She Was There (210 posts)
0455 Incoming! (210 posts)
0380 While the Fiend's Away... (210 posts)
0460 Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign (211 posts)
0604 Bailout Plan (212 posts)
0699 Escape Clause (213 posts)
0529 The Summons (213 posts)
0480 Change of Address Needed (213 posts)
0520 The Power of Immediate Gratification (214 posts)
0335 A Grand Experiment (214 posts)
0474 The Body Snatcher (216 posts)
0323 Don't Make Me Turn This Quest Around (216 posts)
0306 Power Word: Annoy (216 posts)
0550 +1 BFF (217 posts)
0502 And I-I-I-I Will Always Love You (217 posts)
0431 My Three Xykons (217 posts)
0373 Caged (217 posts)
0282 Closing Arguments (217 posts)
0276 The Crayons of Time: The Order of the Scribble (217 posts)
0508 Sure Beats Flatware (218 posts)
0801 Bound to Happen (219 posts)
0749 Savings and Trust (219 posts)
0509 It Has Flowers, Hearts, and a DC (30 Lock (219 posts)
0458 Exit Strategy (219 posts)
0360 Hail to the Chief (219 posts)
0274 The Crayons of Time: The Snarl (219 posts)
0540 Melts in Your Mouth, Not on Your Alignment (220 posts)
0430 Rematch (220 posts)
0399 Death Actually IS Too Good For Them (220 posts)
0420 The Trial of Belkar Bitterleaf (Abridged) (221 posts)
0361 Framing the Picture (221 posts)
0390 In a Class All His Own (222 posts)
0772 Haley's Commitment (223 posts)
0348 Someone Was Looking For You (223 posts)
0721 Pain Threshold (224 posts)
0692 Searchin' (224 posts)
0632 My Three Fiends (224 posts)
0614 A Cut Above (224 posts)
0479 Jaws of Life (224 posts)
0389 As Good an Explanation as is Forthcoming (224 posts)
0819 Parental Insight (225 posts)
0573 Slumber Party (225 posts)
0425 War Makes Boys of Us All (225 posts)
0392 Death From Above (225 posts)
0647 Be Prepared (226 posts)
0288 First Word... (226 posts)
0273 The Crayons of Time: Doodles on the Sketch Pad of Eternity (226 posts)
0736 Do You Like Comics About Gladiators? (227 posts)
0555 Half-Dragons Are Even Worse (227 posts)
0481 Cutting the Cord (227 posts)
0470 With Three Arrows Left in the Quiver (227 posts)
0396 The Door Knocks on YOU (227 posts)
0752 Picking Locks (228 posts)
0325 The Test of the Body (228 posts)
0675 It Costs an Armor Leg (229 posts)
0298 The Future is Forged in the Fires of Today (229 posts)
0753 Slash Attack (230 posts)
0453 Heck of a Fight (230 posts)
0413 Not to Scale (230 posts)
0401 Breakfast of Champions (230 posts)
0355 Sore Loser (230 posts)
0713 Oh, Right. That. (231 posts)
0518 At Least It Wasn't the Fourth Wall Again (231 posts)
0696 Still a Long Way to Go (232 posts)
0569 Justice Can Be a Messy Business (232 posts)
0547 Endurance Feat (232 posts)
0475 Crashing the Party (232 posts)
0454 The Longshot (232 posts)
0415 Idiot Box (232 posts)
0810 The Kind That Makes Friends Easily (233 posts)
0750 Making Up for Lost Time (233 posts)
0716 She Didn't Miss (233 posts)
0289 Senility Now! (233 posts)
0735 Of Clerks and Clerics (234 posts)
0638 A Dragon's Victory (234 posts)
0583 Love's Sweet Sting (234 posts)
0385 A Sympathetic Ear (234 posts)
0300 Pick Your Doom (234 posts)
0747 Make It Three, Just to Be Safe (235 posts)
0510 Killer View (235 posts)
0782 Not Yet Met His Match (236 posts)
0774 Telling Lies (236 posts)
0715 Wanted (236 posts)
0440 Flew the Coop (236 posts)
0821 Raiders of the Lost Plot Arc (238 posts)
0766 Breaking In is Hard to Do (238 posts)
0456 Saved Game (238 posts)
0311 Internal Dialogue (238 posts)
0427 They're Just Another Brick in the Wall (239 posts)
0381 Improved Feint (240 posts)
0685 On Friendship (241 posts)
0530 Regarding the Speed With Which One Removes Band-Aids (242 posts)
0441 Getting Ahead and Staying Ahead (242 posts)
0729 No Real Shocker (243 posts)
0684 V Was Only Waiting for This Moment to Arise (243 posts)
0637 It Only Shows Reality Programming (243 posts)
0353 If a Druid Falls in the City, Does He Make a Noise? (244 posts)
0720 Breakfast of Champions (245 posts)
0641 For Every Action (245 posts)
0608 Mean Girls (245 posts)
0829 Ritual Behavior (246 posts)
0730 Brunchroom Brawl (246 posts)
0722 Block and Tackle (246 posts)
0494 DMILF (246 posts)
0669 Logical Conclusions (247 posts)
0668 Moving the Pieces (247 posts)
0266 Guessing Game (247 posts)
0615 It's a Real Life-Saver (248 posts)
0319 Healthier Living Through Repression (248 posts)
0265 A Tale of Two Paladins (248 posts)
0679 Oh, Right, That Other Problem… (249 posts)
0501 No Cure for the Wedding Bell Blues (249 posts)
0718 Spring Break Never Dies (250 posts)
0744 A Tale of Two Suppers (251 posts)
0295 Belkar Leashed (251 posts)
0754 Maybe She Ate a Zeppelin (253 posts)
0727 And It Will Never Work Again (253 posts)
0719 Seat of Power (253 posts)
0803 Saved by the Belt (254 posts)
0619 Wow, That's a Spicy Meatball! (254 posts)
0571 Return Engagement (254 posts)
0476 I Don't Suppose You Have Any Nutmeg? (254 posts)
0823 Yes, It Is (255 posts)
0812 And Yet, the Canned Meat Merchant Still Gets Through (255 posts)
0785 The Cost of Freedom (255 posts)
0764 Small Talk (255 posts)
0726 Mammals Can't Seem to Get Enough of Those Things (255 posts)
0605 Return of the King (256 posts)
0421 Oratory of the Stick (256 posts)
0331 For the Future (257 posts)
0756 He Sure Dodged an Arrow There (258 posts)
0504 That's a Surprisingly Common Reaction (258 posts)
0290 Shojo's Big Secret (258 posts)
0607 Gherkin Her Chain (260 posts)
0824 Losers Weepers (261 posts)
0267 The Cat Behind the Throne (261 posts)
0438 The Paladin is Your Pal (262 posts)
0287 Paladins Make Good Tour Guides (263 posts)
0804 Where Her Loyalties Lie (264 posts)
0309 My Dinner with Elan (264 posts)
0414 Noble is Goodble (265 posts)
0673 Too Slow (266 posts)
0626 Good to the Last Drip (266 posts)
0584 Improbable Causes (266 posts)
0376 All Too Easy (266 posts)
0372 Pot v. Kettle (266 posts)
0725 The Significantly-More-Secret Origin of Tarquin and Nale (267 posts)
0542 In Azure City, Shark Jumps You! (267 posts)
0497 The Grand Fighter (267 posts)
0748 Top of the List (269 posts)
0714 This Whole Time, He'd Thought of It as the Snack That Got Away (269 posts)
0701 Curtains for You (269 posts)
0397 Leggo My Ego! (269 posts)
0724 It IS Fairly Spicy, However (271 posts)
0602 Clerical Temp (271 posts)
0444 He's Dead, Jim (271 posts)
0297 Sword Speak (271 posts)
0765 The Love of Money (273 posts)
0674 The Elf Who Cried Raven (273 posts)
0506 Flanking Crush (273 posts)
0651 Two Eyes in the Dark (274 posts)
0587 What to Expect When You're Expecting Assassins (274 posts)
0503 Surreptitious Admirer (274 posts)
0755 Brought to You By Mace-y's (277 posts)
0703 Meet the New Boss (278 posts)
0424 A Wizard's Work (279 posts)
0499 No Time to Lose (280 posts)
0743 Dinner Conversion (281 posts)
0322 Maybe the Quailtiger? (281 posts)
0677 This Never Happens to Jiminy Cricket (282 posts)
0630 Shoot the Messenger (282 posts)
0468 Splitting Up is Hard to Do (282 posts)
0411 The Power Behind the Throne (282 posts)
0700 They Would Likely Both Disagree with That Sentiment (283 posts)
0816 General Knowledge (284 posts)
0640 Madness (284 posts)
0797 Bird Brained (285 posts)
0709 No Scry Zone (285 posts)
0698 Stopping for Direction (285 posts)
0642 Choice (285 posts)
0600 Headed Down (285 posts)
0405 The Secrets (285 posts)
0374 Black and Blue (285 posts)
0568 A Sign That You Have a Problem (287 posts)
0371 The Road to Heck (287 posts)
0315 On Sylph's Wings (288 posts)
0383 What's Really Scary is That He Knows the Words (289 posts)
0313 Words Fail (289 posts)
0828 A Study in Veridian (290 posts)
0793 Critical Thinking (291 posts)
0450 Wands Are for Suckers (292 posts)
0594 Rock the Boat (294 posts)
0429 Stay on Target... (294 posts)
0472 I'll Hold Them Off (295 posts)
0382 Risk vs. Reward (295 posts)
0275 The Crayons of Time: World 2.0 (295 posts)
0485 Hey! You! Get Off of My Cloud! (296 posts)
0317 The Best Part of Waking Up (297 posts)
0606 The Philosophy of Chaos (298 posts)
0490 Final Review (299 posts)
0447 Guarding the Sapphire (299 posts)
0705 Those Don't Take Over Until the Graveyard Shift (300 posts)
0618 Flank Cut (300 posts)
0286 A Minor Glitch (300 posts)
0398 We All Just Want to be Held Sometimes (301 posts)
0321 Q & A (301 posts)
0806 Holy Enunciation (302 posts)
0760 Realizations & Rationalizations (302 posts)
0465 No One Likes a Tattletale (302 posts)
0802 Took a Level in Sauceror (303 posts)
0704 Dead Men Give No Speeches (304 posts)
0603 Familiarity Breeds Piercing Damage (304 posts)
0636 Shattered, Shattered (305 posts)
0588 His Name Probably Helps, Too (305 posts)
0417 The Most Important Place to Be (307 posts)
0631 Who Doesn't Get Ten of These a Week? (308 posts)
0666 But Seriously, She Won't (311 posts)
0457 Anti-Human Resources (311 posts)
0761 Advanced (S)wordplay (312 posts)
0598 To Say a Few Words (312 posts)
0451 Change of Direction (313 posts)
0318 The Move Action of Shame (314 posts)
0271 The Prosecution's Case (314 posts)
0484 At the End of the Day (316 posts)
0463 Shattered (317 posts)
0296 Boons (317 posts)
0616 An Opponent or Rival Whom a Person Cannot Overcome (320 posts)
0352 The Turnaround (320 posts)
0643 A Wizard Did It (321 posts)
0621 At Least There Weren't Any Cryptograms (322 posts)
0650 A Lot Can Happen in Ten Minutes (323 posts)
0799 In the Bag (324 posts)
0387 The Cliffport Redemption (324 posts)
0762 Just Trying to Help (325 posts)
0320 Bing Crosby's Got Nothing On Us (325 posts)
0410 The New Lord in Town (327 posts)
0301 A Brief Intermission (327 posts)
0418 It's a Type of Boat (329 posts)
0435 Amoral Dilemma (330 posts)
0791 Don't Get MAD (331 posts)
0665 In the Flesh (331 posts)
0667 Mending Wounds (332 posts)
0807 Wild Empathy (333 posts)
0439 Seeing Orange (333 posts)
0787 No Time for Losers (334 posts)
0500 A Reason to Keep Trying (334 posts)
0690 Riders on the Worm (336 posts)
0662 The Price Is Right (338 posts)
0623 Running Away (338 posts)
0442 We Can Do This the Easy Way... (338 posts)
0780 The Duel Everyone's Been Waiting For (341 posts)
0613 I Need a Hero (342 posts)
0654 Cages (Steel and Otherwise) (343 posts)
0461 I've Got a Bad Feeling About This... (343 posts)
0792 Animal Instincts (344 posts)
0656 It Probably Squeaks, Too (345 posts)
0422 March to War (345 posts)
0688 The Comics Must Flow (347 posts)
0489 Keepin' the Little Man Down (347 posts)
0664 Down to Earth (349 posts)
0459 Negative Feelings (349 posts)
0337 Brief and to the Point (350 posts)
0827 Crushed (351 posts)
0294 Contracts, Shmontracts (352 posts)
0622 Don't Hate the Player Character... (354 posts)
0498 Gone Fishin' (355 posts)
0477 Shock and Awwwwww (355 posts)
0428 It Takes a Thief (356 posts)
0670 The War Council (357 posts)
0634 The Wrong Reasons (359 posts)
0593 Another Choice (362 posts)
0536 A Brief Tribute (362 posts)
0446 Hell of a Job (365 posts)
0388 The Final Frontier (367 posts)
0599 Separate Ways (371 posts)
0445 A Song for the Departed (371 posts)
0811 A Touch of Death (373 posts)
0757 Something Blue (375 posts)
0708 An Animated Discussion (375 posts)
0281 Get the Lead Out (375 posts)
0798 Change of Plans (377 posts)
0671 Also, She Needs Her Clothes Back Now (378 posts)
0633 Where Do You See Yourself in Five Million Years? (378 posts)
0831 Two of a Kind Beats King High (383 posts)
0628 Every Parent's Worst Nightmare (386 posts)
0293 This is Getting to Be a Habit... (386 posts)
0678 The First Step in the Process (388 posts)
0423 Periodic Bombardment (393 posts)
0419 A Special Pre-Approved Offer (396 posts)
0660 Lucky Breaks (399 posts)
0612 Technically, the "Fish" Version is a Subset of This One (401 posts)
0648 A Dish Best Served wth +1d6 Cold Damage (405 posts)
0795 Back to the Action (408 posts)
0327 The Test of the Mind (410 posts)
0800 Right Tool for the Job (412 posts)
0702 One for the History Books (412 posts)
0310 Advanced Dates & Dinners (413 posts)
0627 Power Outage (414 posts)
0822 Line Quality (416 posts)
0789 Also, His Popularity Has Waned (425 posts)
0279 No Soup for You (425 posts)
0712 Neutralize Elf (429 posts)
0452 Breaking and Entering (436 posts)
0393 Truth (436 posts)
0832 Loose Ends (439 posts)
0808 Five Rows Down, Three Columns Over (441 posts)
0825 Good Thing He's Already Partial to Red (445 posts)
0784 Unexpected (446 posts)
0790 Unfamiliar (449 posts)
0794 We Recommend Tsukiko (451 posts)
0635 I See a Red Robe and I Want to Paint it Black (452 posts)
0572 The Resistance of Memory (458 posts)
0672 A Familiar Conclusion (460 posts)
0694 Poor Coordination (466 posts)
0400 Your Ship Has Come In (466 posts)
0788 A Vexation or Irritation (476 posts)
0663 Or Mention That He's Getting Too Old for This (494 posts)
0610 You're It (505 posts)
0759 Yes, Apparently (506 posts)
0783 Cold Blooded (510 posts)
0758 Spins of the Father (511 posts)
0597 Threat Assessment (511 posts)
0462 Good Idea, Bad Idea (518 posts)
0659 Flight of the Phylactery (521 posts)
0723 Generally Relative (525 posts)
0596 Convenience Story (527 posts)
0826 Minimal Resistance (530 posts)
0386 Not How She Pictured It, Certainly (532 posts)
0657 Second Chance (536 posts)
0449 Land of the Rising... (539 posts)
0763 Plotting Something (540 posts)
0796 Smash (543 posts)
0653 Fun While it Lasted (560 posts)
0611 None Left Standing (560 posts)
0496 Responsible (576 posts)
0652 No Respect for the Wicked (595 posts)
0629 One Chance (617 posts)
0661 The Path of Least Expectation (626 posts)
0316 The Moment of Truth (645 posts)
0655 With a Critical Eye (648 posts)
0409 Intercession (661 posts)
0285 A Moment of Truth (662 posts)
0658 A Bird in Hand (682 posts)
0695 Paranoia Will Destroy Ya (689 posts)
0443 The First Step is a Doozy (698 posts)
0407 Fading (705 posts)
0284 Shattered Expectations (738 posts)
0707 That's Probably Why There Are, Like, 17 Types (809 posts)
0270 Dueling Egos (828 posts)
0464 Not for Everyone (844 posts)
0830 Tidying Up (851 posts)
0639 If They Pull a Knife... (875 posts)
0408 Fallsville, Population: 1 (876 posts)
0595 Trial of the Century (958 posts)
0406 A Moment of Truth (1048 posts)
0448 Just Crazy Enough to Work (1160 posts)

[/QUOTE]

Mmmhhh... the strip numbering looks like a cluster of hexadecimal code. If we translate it, it will give us a cryptogram whose traslation provides a hidden message from Rich. Probably the answer to the identity of MitD. Or maybe it's the code for an OOTS computer game.

Mr. Snuggles

2012-02-14, 09:15 AM

Thanks for the spreadsheet data! Now we can do cool things like show the top 10 threads for the past twelve months:

Posts // Date // Info
851 // 23-Jan-12 // Tidying Up (death of Tsukiko) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html)
543 // 15-Jul-11 // Smash (STOP TALKING) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0796.html)
530 // 10-Jan-12 // Minimal Resistance (Implosion) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0826.html)
510 // 23-Mar-11 // Cold Blooded (Crossbowmen fire on Enor & Gannji) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0783.html)
476 // 18-Apr-11 // A Vexation or Irritation (Thog says, "fudge the police!") (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0788.html)
451 // 8-Jun-11 // We Recommend Tsukiko (Elan kisses Sabine) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0794.html)
449 // 5-May-11 // Unfamiliar (Qarr reappears) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0790.html)
446 // 28-Mar-11 // Unexpected (Allosaurus ex machina) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0784.html)
445 // 6-Jan-12 // Good Thing He's Already Partial to Red (Redcloak redecorates) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0825.html)
441 // 4-Oct-11 // Five Rows Down, Three Columns Over (Roy drops a roof on Thog) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0808.html)

Tsukiko had 300 more posts than the second place topic, an increase of 36%.

http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx163/marvyy/Untitled-1copy.jpg

The twelve month average was 305 posts per comic, and the lowest number of posts was 123, Never Mind, She'd Need a Better Bow to Use It (Roy & Haley making contingency plans) (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0773.html)

The Pilgrim

2012-02-14, 09:15 AM

The whole list from 253-853, lowest to highest:

0577 You Can Take the Rogue Out of the City... (15 posts)
0574 A Seller's Market (15 posts)
0575 I Think They're in One of the Rulebooks, Right? (21 posts)
0566 One for the FAQ (74 posts)
0258 I Think That Violates the Geneva Convention (93 posts)
0262 All You Need is Love and Improvised Thieves' Tools (96 posts)
0557 The Puppet Mistress (98 posts)
0534 Medium Creatures (98 posts)
0537 What Do You Think Comes in a Disguise Kit, Anyway? (100 posts)
0564 It's What's For Dinner (102 posts)
0260 The Prison Blues (102 posts)
0523 Orders That Won't Stick (103 posts)
0342 Dangling the Bait (103 posts)
0259 Son of Mail Call (103 posts)
0562 Heroic Fantasy (104 posts)
0278 A New Strategy (105 posts)
0264 I Cannae Tell a Lie (110 posts)
0378 He Didn't Even Have to Say Please (113 posts)
0558 Sort of Like a Reverse Psion (115 posts)
0403 Leadership Is About the Tough Decisions (118 posts)
0343 Served with a Side Order of Whoop-Ass (118 posts)
0341 Setting Up the Board (118 posts)
0544 A Lot at Stake (119 posts)
0519 Nightmare on Blue Street (119 posts)
0624 This Happens to Telemarketers All the Time (120 posts)
0404 A Paladin's Duty (121 posts)
0305 The Epistle of Durkon (121 posts)
0552 And Yet the Turtle Got Away on His Own (122 posts)
0535 The Cat Stays in the Picture (122 posts)
0773 Never Mind, She'd Need a Better Bow to Use It (123 posts)
0395 Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (123 posts)
0366 Porting Out (123 posts)
0356 Knight Takes Pawn (123 posts)
0559 An Introduction to Comparative Theology (124 posts)
0292 Non-startling Revelations (124 posts)
0579 What They Need is a Writ of Habeas Corpus (129 posts)
0512 They've Had Time to Train, Too (131 posts)
0738 Pooling Resources (133 posts)
0680 That's Why It's Called a Running Gag (133 posts)
0644 An Unsung Legend (133 posts)
0493 Led Zeppelin Lied to Us All (133 posts)
0346 Swoop, There It Is (133 posts)
0254 Half the Elf, Double the Fun (133 posts)
0507 Fantasy Troll-Playing Game (134 posts)
0528 The Ghost Screamer (135 posts)
0255 Meep meep! (135 posts)
0563 Air Mail (137 posts)
0339 C.P.P.D. Blues (137 posts)
0522 We're Doomed If She Finds the Map Key (139 posts)
0362 Grand Theft Identity (141 posts)
0769 Because Really, That Would Be Less Improbable (142 posts)
0561 Pop Idolatry (142 posts)
0546 O-Chul's Razor (142 posts)
0351 Pop Quiz, Hotshot (142 posts)
0349 Every Couple Has Their Quirks (142 posts)
0256 Six Degrees of Evil Separation (142 posts)
0548 His Most Despicable Act Yet (143 posts)
0336 Bedtime for Elan (143 posts)
0330 Paid in Full (144 posts)
0625 Bargain Hunter (145 posts)
0556 Nuthin' But Net (145 posts)
0338 Tactical Priorities (145 posts)
0277 The Crayons of Time: Breaking Up is Hard to Do (145 posts)
0686 Also, At Lower Altitude (146 posts)
0516 Turning Azurite, I Think I'm Turning Azurite, I Really Think So (147 posts)
0691 All Available Resources (149 posts)
0333 The Bright Side (149 posts)
0303 Phrenology Today (149 posts)
0384 Words Get in the Way (150 posts)
0304 A Leper Can't Change His Spots (150 posts)
0739 A New Friend (151 posts)
0308 Sword Envy (151 posts)
0257 POW! (151 posts)
0533 Open to Multiple Interpretations (152 posts)
0733 Collect Call (153 posts)
0532 The Exposition Fairy (153 posts)
0531 Wake Up Call to Action (154 posts)
0745 It Does Beat Scissors (155 posts)
0487 Their Concierge Service is Heavenly (155 posts)
0268 The Lawyers Strike Back (155 posts)
0565 The Test of the Memory (156 posts)
0545 Someone Should be Wearing Safety Goggles (156 posts)
0473 On the Waterfront (156 posts)
0314 Goth Advice (156 posts)
0578 A Slick Getaway (157 posts)
0576 Construction Workers (157 posts)
0553 Diplomacy is a Beach (157 posts)
0586 No Encounter is an Island Unto Itself (158 posts)
0368 All Along the Watchtower (158 posts)
0299 A Calling Missed (158 posts)
0269 A Familiar Face (158 posts)
0590 Role Reversal (159 posts)
0776 A Sombering Oration (160 posts)
0681 All in the Family (160 posts)
0354 Copper Piece Arcade (160 posts)
0770 Hard Time (161 posts)
0554 You're No Help at All (161 posts)
0486 Next on "As the Plane Turns"... (162 posts)
0347 On the Map (163 posts)
0291 Not to Mention Little League (163 posts)
0817 General Assistance (164 posts)
0751 Tree is Within 10-ft. Radius of Apple (164 posts)
0350 At Least You Get Course Credit (164 posts)
0592 Stuck in the Middle (165 posts)
0357 Pen Beats Sword (165 posts)
0379 Perform IS on the Aristocrat's Skill List (166 posts)
0710 Does He Get XP for Their Buzz? (167 posts)
0746 Ask Your Grandparents (168 posts)
0740 The Great(ish) Escape (168 posts)
0549 Grueling Ordeal (168 posts)
0283 Rock the Vote (168 posts)
0734 Maybe He Can Get Credit for Time Served (169 posts)
0601 She Obviously Doesn't Have the Endurance Feet (169 posts)
0589 Entrance Qualifications (169 posts)
0514 Elan Would Be So Proud (169 posts)
0505 ...Or We Will All Stick Separately (169 posts)
0369 Fight! (169 posts)
0585 Immaterial Components (170 posts)
0551 Slow and Steady, My Ass! (171 posts)
0515 A Momentary Experience (171 posts)
0466 I Think I Left it in the Bag... (171 posts)
0377 Travel Delays (171 posts)
0495 (Eu)gene Therapy (172 posts)
0332 The Ephemerality of Memory (172 posts)
0272 The Big Secret (172 posts)
0683 Whatever You Do, Don't Oscillate (173 posts)
0580 Hey, I Need to Sell Them Somehow (174 posts)
0527 Pep Talk (174 posts)
0483 Broken Stick (174 posts)
0538 Fiend or Foe? (175 posts)
0526 He's Just Pine-ing for the Fjords (175 posts)
0482 Leaving Azure City (176 posts)
0391 Eye of the Tiger, Baby (176 posts)
0711 The Rouge's Guild (177 posts)
0521 Remorse (177 posts)
0394 Hell Hath Exactly As Much Fury (177 posts)
0524 Pretender to the Throne (178 posts)
0818 Also, the Desert is Dry (179 posts)
0609 It Takes TWO Thieves, Actually (179 posts)
0471 A Triumphant Return (179 posts)
0370 Kills 'Em Every Time (179 posts)
0326 Getting Ahead in Business (179 posts)
0620 Probably About an "8" (180 posts)
0433 Resource Management (180 posts)
0359 Roll Over (180 posts)
0543 Shhh! Principal's Coming! (181 posts)
0525 Look More Closelier (181 posts)
0513 Security Deposit (181 posts)
0324 Consult Your Doctor Before Reading This Comic (181 posts)
0367 Innocent Man (182 posts)
0280 The Boot (183 posts)
0779 They Follow His Lead (184 posts)
0570 Clean Slate (184 posts)
0302 New Beginnings (184 posts)
0560 Meanwhile, His Teammate Was in Rhodes (185 posts)
0253 Larry Gardener and the Angry Half-Orc (185 posts)
0375 Undeliverable (186 posts)
0307 Take the Problem By the Hand (186 posts)
0682 Plus, He Probably Spits, Too (187 posts)
0491 Those Singing Lessons Cost Money, You Know (187 posts)
0334 If You Want Something Done Right (188 posts)
0805 Dropping In (189 posts)
0778 Nitpick Your Battles (189 posts)
0775 Welcome to the Arena (189 posts)
0728 The Price of Yummies (189 posts)
0345 He Invented the Magic System (189 posts)
0261 I Smell a Solo Adventure (189 posts)
0781 Companions (190 posts)
0581 A Sight for Sore Eyes (190 posts)
0539 Well There is That "Saint" Prestige Class (190 posts)
0416 It's Battlicious! (190 posts)
0402 Speaking From the Heart (190 posts)
0328 The Test of the Heart (190 posts)
0717 No Incarceration Without Compensation (191 posts)
0676 There's More Than One Way to Fail a Listen Check (191 posts)
0567 The Simplest Explanation (191 posts)
0492 Things to Do in Heaven When You're Dead (191 posts)
0437 Battle Momentum (191 posts)
0742 Monkey Do (192 posts)
0741 Scheduling Conflict (192 posts)
0693 Tragically, His Arms Would Be Too Short for the Lute (192 posts)
0412 Catching Up (192 posts)
0582 Moonlight Rendezvous (193 posts)
0687 Actually, That's Probably You (194 posts)
0777 Under the Arena (195 posts)
0809 Except Maybe the Undead (196 posts)
0511 Guerillas in Their Midst (196 posts)
0426 Three of a Kind (196 posts)
0329 The All-Seeing Oracle (196 posts)
0786 One Step Worse Than "Diminutively" (197 posts)
0767 And Yes, There is a Santa Claus (197 posts)
0617 Power Meeting (197 posts)
0469 Crossbones (198 posts)
0731 Long Tail of the Law (199 posts)
0820 Son Catcher (200 posts)
0814 The Answer Is Blowing in the Wind (200 posts)
0813 Pardon Me (200 posts)
0737 Comparative Mythology (200 posts)
0706 He's Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today (200 posts)
0591 Antipathy for the Devil (200 posts)
0434 Heavy is the Head (200 posts)
0467 Learn to Play it Right (201 posts)
0436 Non-Military Intelligence (201 posts)
0432 Let Slip the Dogs of War (201 posts)
0689 Live Bait (202 posts)
0646 …And It Feels So Good (202 posts)
0732 The Papers Chase (203 posts)
0645 It's Where the Cool Kids Swim (203 posts)
0541 He's a Gamblin'...Thing (203 posts)
0517 Probably Best to Choose at Random (203 posts)
0771 Also, "Chib" Would Have Been Acceptable (204 posts)
0488 This is Your Life (204 posts)
0815 Close Call (206 posts)
0697 Stuck in the Sand Trap (206 posts)
0478 On Usefulness (206 posts)
0312 Where the Buffalo Wings Roam (206 posts)
0768 +2 Embraces (207 posts)
0344 A Walk in the Park (208 posts)
0649 It's a Shame She Didn't Grab That Script While She Was There (210 posts)
0455 Incoming! (210 posts)
0380 While the Fiend's Away... (210 posts)
0460 Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign (211 posts)
0604 Bailout Plan (212 posts)
0699 Escape Clause (213 posts)
0529 The Summons (213 posts)
0480 Change of Address Needed (213 posts)
0520 The Power of Immediate Gratification (214 posts)
0335 A Grand Experiment (214 posts)
0474 The Body Snatcher (216 posts)
0323 Don't Make Me Turn This Quest Around (216 posts)
0306 Power Word: Annoy (216 posts)
0550 +1 BFF (217 posts)
0502 And I-I-I-I Will Always Love You (217 posts)
0431 My Three Xykons (217 posts)
0373 Caged (217 posts)
0282 Closing Arguments (217 posts)
0276 The Crayons of Time: The Order of the Scribble (217 posts)
0508 Sure Beats Flatware (218 posts)
0801 Bound to Happen (219 posts)
0749 Savings and Trust (219 posts)
0509 It Has Flowers, Hearts, and a DC (30 Lock (219 posts)
0458 Exit Strategy (219 posts)
0360 Hail to the Chief (219 posts)
0274 The Crayons of Time: The Snarl (219 posts)
0540 Melts in Your Mouth, Not on Your Alignment (220 posts)
0430 Rematch (220 posts)
0399 Death Actually IS Too Good For Them (220 posts)
0420 The Trial of Belkar Bitterleaf (Abridged) (221 posts)
0361 Framing the Picture (221 posts)
0390 In a Class All His Own (222 posts)
0772 Haley's Commitment (223 posts)
0348 Someone Was Looking For You (223 posts)
0721 Pain Threshold (224 posts)
0692 Searchin' (224 posts)
0632 My Three Fiends (224 posts)
0614 A Cut Above (224 posts)
0479 Jaws of Life (224 posts)
0389 As Good an Explanation as is Forthcoming (224 posts)
0819 Parental Insight (225 posts)
0573 Slumber Party (225 posts)
0425 War Makes Boys of Us All (225 posts)
0392 Death From Above (225 posts)
0647 Be Prepared (226 posts)
0288 First Word... (226 posts)
0273 The Crayons of Time: Doodles on the Sketch Pad of Eternity (226 posts)
0736 Do You Like Comics About Gladiators? (227 posts)
0555 Half-Dragons Are Even Worse (227 posts)
0481 Cutting the Cord (227 posts)
0470 With Three Arrows Left in the Quiver (227 posts)
0396 The Door Knocks on YOU (227 posts)
0752 Picking Locks (228 posts)
0325 The Test of the Body (228 posts)
0675 It Costs an Armor Leg (229 posts)
0298 The Future is Forged in the Fires of Today (229 posts)
0753 Slash Attack (230 posts)
0453 Heck of a Fight (230 posts)
0413 Not to Scale (230 posts)
0401 Breakfast of Champions (230 posts)
0355 Sore Loser (230 posts)
0713 Oh, Right. That. (231 posts)
0518 At Least It Wasn't the Fourth Wall Again (231 posts)
0696 Still a Long Way to Go (232 posts)
0569 Justice Can Be a Messy Business (232 posts)
0547 Endurance Feat (232 posts)
0475 Crashing the Party (232 posts)
0454 The Longshot (232 posts)
0415 Idiot Box (232 posts)
0810 The Kind That Makes Friends Easily (233 posts)
0750 Making Up for Lost Time (233 posts)
0716 She Didn't Miss (233 posts)
0289 Senility Now! (233 posts)
0735 Of Clerks and Clerics (234 posts)
0638 A Dragon's Victory (234 posts)
0583 Love's Sweet Sting (234 posts)
0385 A Sympathetic Ear (234 posts)
0300 Pick Your Doom (234 posts)
0747 Make It Three, Just to Be Safe (235 posts)
0510 Killer View (235 posts)
0782 Not Yet Met His Match (236 posts)
0774 Telling Lies (236 posts)
0715 Wanted (236 posts)
0440 Flew the Coop (236 posts)
0821 Raiders of the Lost Plot Arc (238 posts)
0766 Breaking In is Hard to Do (238 posts)
0456 Saved Game (238 posts)
0311 Internal Dialogue (238 posts)
0427 They're Just Another Brick in the Wall (239 posts)
0381 Improved Feint (240 posts)
0685 On Friendship (241 posts)
0530 Regarding the Speed With Which One Removes Band-Aids (242 posts)
0441 Getting Ahead and Staying Ahead (242 posts)
0729 No Real Shocker (243 posts)
0684 V Was Only Waiting for This Moment to Arise (243 posts)
0637 It Only Shows Reality Programming (243 posts)
0353 If a Druid Falls in the City, Does He Make a Noise? (244 posts)
0720 Breakfast of Champions (245 posts)
0641 For Every Action (245 posts)
0608 Mean Girls (245 posts)
0829 Ritual Behavior (246 posts)
0730 Brunchroom Brawl (246 posts)
0722 Block and Tackle (246 posts)
0494 DMILF (246 posts)
0669 Logical Conclusions (247 posts)
0668 Moving the Pieces (247 posts)
0266 Guessing Game (247 posts)
0615 It's a Real Life-Saver (248 posts)
0319 Healthier Living Through Repression (248 posts)
0265 A Tale of Two Paladins (248 posts)
0679 Oh, Right, That Other Problem… (249 posts)
0501 No Cure for the Wedding Bell Blues (249 posts)
0718 Spring Break Never Dies (250 posts)
0744 A Tale of Two Suppers (251 posts)
0295 Belkar Leashed (251 posts)
0754 Maybe She Ate a Zeppelin (253 posts)
0727 And It Will Never Work Again (253 posts)
0719 Seat of Power (253 posts)
0803 Saved by the Belt (254 posts)
0619 Wow, That's a Spicy Meatball! (254 posts)
0571 Return Engagement (254 posts)
0476 I Don't Suppose You Have Any Nutmeg? (254 posts)
0823 Yes, It Is (255 posts)
0812 And Yet, the Canned Meat Merchant Still Gets Through (255 posts)
0785 The Cost of Freedom (255 posts)
0764 Small Talk (255 posts)
0726 Mammals Can't Seem to Get Enough of Those Things (255 posts)
0605 Return of the King (256 posts)
0421 Oratory of the Stick (256 posts)
0331 For the Future (257 posts)
0756 He Sure Dodged an Arrow There (258 posts)
0504 That's a Surprisingly Common Reaction (258 posts)
0290 Shojo's Big Secret (258 posts)
0607 Gherkin Her Chain (260 posts)
0824 Losers Weepers (261 posts)
0267 The Cat Behind the Throne (261 posts)
0438 The Paladin is Your Pal (262 posts)
0287 Paladins Make Good Tour Guides (263 posts)
0804 Where Her Loyalties Lie (264 posts)
0309 My Dinner with Elan (264 posts)
0414 Noble is Goodble (265 posts)
0673 Too Slow (266 posts)
0626 Good to the Last Drip (266 posts)
0584 Improbable Causes (266 posts)
0376 All Too Easy (266 posts)
0372 Pot v. Kettle (266 posts)
0725 The Significantly-More-Secret Origin of Tarquin and Nale (267 posts)
0542 In Azure City, Shark Jumps You! (267 posts)
0497 The Grand Fighter (267 posts)
0748 Top of the List (269 posts)
0714 This Whole Time, He'd Thought of It as the Snack That Got Away (269 posts)
0701 Curtains for You (269 posts)
0397 Leggo My Ego! (269 posts)
0724 It IS Fairly Spicy, However (271 posts)
0602 Clerical Temp (271 posts)
0444 He's Dead, Jim (271 posts)
0297 Sword Speak (271 posts)
0765 The Love of Money (273 posts)
0674 The Elf Who Cried Raven (273 posts)
0506 Flanking Crush (273 posts)
0651 Two Eyes in the Dark (274 posts)
0587 What to Expect When You're Expecting Assassins (274 posts)
0503 Surreptitious Admirer (274 posts)
0755 Brought to You By Mace-y's (277 posts)
0703 Meet the New Boss (278 posts)
0424 A Wizard's Work (279 posts)
0499 No Time to Lose (280 posts)
0743 Dinner Conversion (281 posts)
0322 Maybe the Quailtiger? (281 posts)
0677 This Never Happens to Jiminy Cricket (282 posts)
0630 Shoot the Messenger (282 posts)
0468 Splitting Up is Hard to Do (282 posts)
0411 The Power Behind the Throne (282 posts)
0700 They Would Likely Both Disagree with That Sentiment (283 posts)
0816 General Knowledge (284 posts)
0640 Madness (284 posts)
0797 Bird Brained (285 posts)
0709 No Scry Zone (285 posts)
0698 Stopping for Direction (285 posts)
0642 Choice (285 posts)
0600 Headed Down (285 posts)
0405 The Secrets (285 posts)
0374 Black and Blue (285 posts)
0568 A Sign That You Have a Problem (287 posts)
0371 The Road to Heck (287 posts)
0315 On Sylph's Wings (288 posts)
0383 What's Really Scary is That He Knows the Words (289 posts)
0313 Words Fail (289 posts)
0828 A Study in Veridian (290 posts)
0793 Critical Thinking (291 posts)
0450 Wands Are for Suckers (292 posts)
0594 Rock the Boat (294 posts)
0429 Stay on Target... (294 posts)
0472 I'll Hold Them Off (295 posts)
0382 Risk vs. Reward (295 posts)
0275 The Crayons of Time: World 2.0 (295 posts)
0485 Hey! You! Get Off of My Cloud! (296 posts)
0317 The Best Part of Waking Up (297 posts)
0606 The Philosophy of Chaos (298 posts)
0490 Final Review (299 posts)
0447 Guarding the Sapphire (299 posts)
0705 Those Don't Take Over Until the Graveyard Shift (300 posts)
0618 Flank Cut (300 posts)
0286 A Minor Glitch (300 posts)
0398 We All Just Want to be Held Sometimes (301 posts)
0321 Q & A (301 posts)
0806 Holy Enunciation (302 posts)
0760 Realizations & Rationalizations (302 posts)
0465 No One Likes a Tattletale (302 posts)
0802 Took a Level in Sauceror (303 posts)
0704 Dead Men Give No Speeches (304 posts)
0603 Familiarity Breeds Piercing Damage (304 posts)
0636 Shattered, Shattered (305 posts)
0588 His Name Probably Helps, Too (305 posts)
0417 The Most Important Place to Be (307 posts)
0631 Who Doesn't Get Ten of These a Week? (308 posts)
0666 But Seriously, She Won't (311 posts)
0457 Anti-Human Resources (311 posts)
0761 Advanced (S)wordplay (312 posts)
0598 To Say a Few Words (312 posts)
0451 Change of Direction (313 posts)
0318 The Move Action of Shame (314 posts)
0271 The Prosecution's Case (314 posts)
0484 At the End of the Day (316 posts)
0463 Shattered (317 posts)
0296 Boons (317 posts)
0616 An Opponent or Rival Whom a Person Cannot Overcome (320 posts)
0352 The Turnaround (320 posts)
0643 A Wizard Did It (321 posts)
0621 At Least There Weren't Any Cryptograms (322 posts)
0650 A Lot Can Happen in Ten Minutes (323 posts)
0799 In the Bag (324 posts)
0387 The Cliffport Redemption (324 posts)
0762 Just Trying to Help (325 posts)
0320 Bing Crosby's Got Nothing On Us (325 posts)
0410 The New Lord in Town (327 posts)
0301 A Brief Intermission (327 posts)
0418 It's a Type of Boat (329 posts)
0435 Amoral Dilemma (330 posts)
0791 Don't Get MAD (331 posts)
0665 In the Flesh (331 posts)
0667 Mending Wounds (332 posts)
0807 Wild Empathy (333 posts)
0439 Seeing Orange (333 posts)
0787 No Time for Losers (334 posts)
0500 A Reason to Keep Trying (334 posts)
0690 Riders on the Worm (336 posts)
0662 The Price Is Right (338 posts)
0623 Running Away (338 posts)
0442 We Can Do This the Easy Way... (338 posts)
0780 The Duel Everyone's Been Waiting For (341 posts)
0613 I Need a Hero (342 posts)
0654 Cages (Steel and Otherwise) (343 posts)
0461 I've Got a Bad Feeling About This... (343 posts)
0792 Animal Instincts (344 posts)
0656 It Probably Squeaks, Too (345 posts)
0422 March to War (345 posts)
0688 The Comics Must Flow (347 posts)
0489 Keepin' the Little Man Down (347 posts)
0664 Down to Earth (349 posts)
0459 Negative Feelings (349 posts)
0337 Brief and to the Point (350 posts)
0827 Crushed (351 posts)
0294 Contracts, Shmontracts (352 posts)
0622 Don't Hate the Player Character... (354 posts)
0498 Gone Fishin' (355 posts)
0477 Shock and Awwwwww (355 posts)
0428 It Takes a Thief (356 posts)
0670 The War Council (357 posts)
0634 The Wrong Reasons (359 posts)
0593 Another Choice (362 posts)
0536 A Brief Tribute (362 posts)
0446 Hell of a Job (365 posts)
0388 The Final Frontier (367 posts)
0599 Separate Ways (371 posts)
0445 A Song for the Departed (371 posts)
0811 A Touch of Death (373 posts)
0757 Something Blue (375 posts)
0708 An Animated Discussion (375 posts)
0281 Get the Lead Out (375 posts)
0798 Change of Plans (377 posts)
0671 Also, She Needs Her Clothes Back Now (378 posts)
0633 Where Do You See Yourself in Five Million Years? (378 posts)
0831 Two of a Kind Beats King High (383 posts)
0628 Every Parent's Worst Nightmare (386 posts)
0293 This is Getting to Be a Habit... (386 posts)
0678 The First Step in the Process (388 posts)
0423 Periodic Bombardment (393 posts)
0419 A Special Pre-Approved Offer (396 posts)
0660 Lucky Breaks (399 posts)
0612 Technically, the "Fish" Version is a Subset of This One (401 posts)
0648 A Dish Best Served wth +1d6 Cold Damage (405 posts)
0795 Back to the Action (408 posts)
0327 The Test of the Mind (410 posts)
0800 Right Tool for the Job (412 posts)
0702 One for the History Books (412 posts)
0310 Advanced Dates & Dinners (413 posts)
0627 Power Outage (414 posts)
0822 Line Quality (416 posts)
0789 Also, His Popularity Has Waned (425 posts)
0279 No Soup for You (425 posts)
0712 Neutralize Elf (429 posts)
0452 Breaking and Entering (436 posts)
0393 Truth (436 posts)
0832 Loose Ends (439 posts)
0808 Five Rows Down, Three Columns Over (441 posts)
0825 Good Thing He's Already Partial to Red (445 posts)
0784 Unexpected (446 posts)
0790 Unfamiliar (449 posts)
0794 We Recommend Tsukiko (451 posts)
0635 I See a Red Robe and I Want to Paint it Black (452 posts)
0572 The Resistance of Memory (458 posts)
0672 A Familiar Conclusion (460 posts)
0694 Poor Coordination (466 posts)
0400 Your Ship Has Come In (466 posts)
0788 A Vexation or Irritation (476 posts)
0663 Or Mention That He's Getting Too Old for This (494 posts)
0610 You're It (505 posts)
0759 Yes, Apparently (506 posts)
0783 Cold Blooded (510 posts)
0758 Spins of the Father (511 posts)
0597 Threat Assessment (511 posts)
0462 Good Idea, Bad Idea (518 posts)
0659 Flight of the Phylactery (521 posts)
0723 Generally Relative (525 posts)
0596 Convenience Story (527 posts)
0826 Minimal Resistance (530 posts)
0386 Not How She Pictured It, Certainly (532 posts)
0657 Second Chance (536 posts)
0449 Land of the Rising... (539 posts)
0763 Plotting Something (540 posts)
0796 Smash (543 posts)
0653 Fun While it Lasted (560 posts)
0611 None Left Standing (560 posts)
0496 Responsible (576 posts)
0652 No Respect for the Wicked (595 posts)
0629 One Chance (617 posts)
0661 The Path of Least Expectation (626 posts)
0316 The Moment of Truth (645 posts)
0655 With a Critical Eye (648 posts)
0409 Intercession (661 posts)
0285 A Moment of Truth (662 posts)
0658 A Bird in Hand (682 posts)
0695 Paranoia Will Destroy Ya (689 posts)
0443 The First Step is a Doozy (698 posts)
0407 Fading (705 posts)
0284 Shattered Expectations (738 posts)
0707 That's Probably Why There Are, Like, 17 Types (809 posts)
0270 Dueling Egos (828 posts)
0464 Not for Everyone (844 posts)
0830 Tidying Up (851 posts)
0639 If They Pull a Knife... (875 posts)
0408 Fallsville, Population: 1 (876 posts)
0595 Trial of the Century (958 posts)
0406 A Moment of Truth (1048 posts)
0448 Just Crazy Enough to Work (1160 posts)

Mmmhhh... the strip numbering looks like clusters of hexadecimal code. If we translate it, it will give us a cryptogram whose traslation may provide a hidden message from Rich. Probably the answer to the identity of MitD. Or maybe it's the code for an OOTS computer game.

dps

2012-02-14, 10:28 AM

Something else to keep in mind is that in many instances, posters started threads to discuss issues that should have been brought up in the official thread for a particular strip. This happened more with some strips than others, but I certainly wouldn't expect anybody to actually do a count of such threads by strip (especially as some of them would be judgment calls, anyway).

dps

2012-02-14, 10:30 AM

Morgan Wick

2012-02-14, 02:36 PM

Another thing that should be accounted may be that there are for sure more answers to a topic when we have three weeks between two strips, rather than three days.

So the length of time between two strips could be taken into account.

Seconded..

Chronos

2012-02-14, 10:03 PM

Another thing that should be accounted may be that there are for sure more answers to a topic when we have three weeks between two strips, rather than three days.Yeah, I was expecting the strip just before the long hiatus to have been on the list, for that reason. Or was it closed before the next one was up?

ti'esar

2012-02-24, 03:46 PM

841's thread has just catapulted itself onto here.

LudiDrizzt

2012-02-24, 03:52 PM

It's broken the top 20 in like 12 hours.

Porthos

2012-02-24, 04:39 PM

It's broken the top 20 in like 12 hours.

And a couple of thread merges later, it's about to crack the Top 10.

Kaurne

2012-02-24, 06:06 PM

Does anyone know if there is still data on the exact day each strip was posted? Because there may well be a correlation between the amount of time when a strip is the latest (and thus its official discussion page is near the top of the thread list) and the number of posts it gets.

And considering that #841 is the last strip of our strip-a-day week, and Rich has a lot of Kickstarter stuff to organise, and so might not post again for a while, it may well be that #841 is the most commented on strip ever.

It certainly deserves it. At the culmination of a great week for Order of the Stick as a whole, and as the last part of a fantastic reward, we get a strip that is perfectly plotted, brilliantly drawn, and simply chilling to read. And it's not a cliffhanger involving what the characters will do or say, or a cliffhanger with a huge revelation - it's a cliffhanger where we are given a mystery and are desperately theorising and debating over its meaning.

There are so many great theories in the thread, and so many arguments in support of each of them, I'm not sure I want to keep reading the thread. I just want the next strip, so I can see what happens.

If Rich decides to switch to the PoV of Team Evil, or the Linear Guild, or some other characters, for the next strip, then I might tear my hair out in frustration - although I won't be angry at Rich.

Despite the theorising, I prefer to think of this strip as quite possibly Rich's best so far. Sure, it doesn't have the raw awesome factor like some other strips do, but its brilliantly plotted, written, paced, drawn and styled. That final image at the end is horrifying, but magnificently so. Well done Giant. At the end of a hectic week for you, you produced something amazing. I certainly think you deserve a break right now :) .

B. Dandelion

2012-02-24, 06:23 PM

(more recent XML data is here (https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7Ow5EvJS9QsNUhBQnJGTWZobDA/edit?usp=sharing))

Does anyone know if there is still data on the exact day each strip was posted?

Yes. For any that have a thread.

Because there may well be a correlation between the amount of time when a strip is the latest (and thus its official discussion page is near the top of the thread list) and the number of posts it gets.

There is, although it might be somewhat less than you expect. Of the top ten, for example, the longest time up was 7 days, while the others were all under five days. Of the top 25, one strip was up for 12 days, but again most were much less.

The strips most affected by time seem to be the 1-day strips -- it makes more difference to the comments to have a shortage of time than an excess.

And considering that #841 is the last strip of our strip-a-day week, and Rich has a lot of Kickstarter stuff to organise, and so might not post again for a while, it may well be that #841 is the most commented on strip ever.

Most commented-on strip ever -- 1160 posts -- was up for three days. The strip that was up for the longest amount of time, 794 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0794.html), for a full 32 days, only garnered 451 posts. Runner up for 23 days, 672, had 460 posts.

It certainly deserves it. At the culmination of a great week for Order of the Stick as a whole, and as the last part of a fantastic reward, we get a strip that is perfectly plotted, brilliantly drawn, and simply chilling to read. And it's not a cliffhanger involving what the characters will do or say, or a cliffhanger with a huge revelation - it's a cliffhanger where we are given a mystery and are desperately theorising and debating over its meaning.

There are so many great theories in the thread, and so many arguments in support of each of them, I'm not sure I want to keep reading the thread. I just want the next strip, so I can see what happens.

If Rich decides to switch to the PoV of Team Evil, or the Linear Guild, or some other characters, for the next strip, then I might tear my hair out in frustration - although I won't be angry at Rich.

Despite the theorising, I prefer to think of this strip as quite possibly Rich's best so far. Sure, it doesn't have the raw awesome factor like some other strips do, but its brilliantly plotted, written, paced, drawn and styled. That final image at the end is horrifying, but magnificently so. Well done Giant. At the end of a hectic week for you, you produced something amazing. I certainly think you deserve a break right now :) .

Well I can't really touch any of that! Nicely said.

jmucchiello

2012-02-24, 11:30 PM

I'd be curious about this stat: number of posts divided number of days between comics. Some post counts climb due to people getting impatient between comics.

Kaurne

2012-02-25, 05:37 AM

Tev

2012-02-25, 03:13 PM

#841 is up to #4 on the list now, and still growing strong. I'm pretty sure it's going to be the most commented on ever. I mean, it only came out yesterday, so there's still a lot of mileage left in the discussion.

#841 is now 3rd and still rising.
Considering current Rich's workload (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/599092525/the-order-of-the-stick-reprint-drive/posts/180096), new comic won't be out very soon.
So 841 sure is climbing to the top.

Flame of Anor

2012-02-25, 05:31 PM

BaronOfHell

2012-02-25, 05:41 PM

Miss Dandelion, if you would, please be so kind and share what program you ran to collect all these data and how long it took. It's a great interest of mine and would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance and thanks for your great contribution.

martianmister

2012-02-25, 06:12 PM

#3: 595 - Trial of the Century (958 posts)
(V disintegrates Kubota)

It's redirecting to the wrong thread.

B. Dandelion

2012-02-25, 06:29 PM

Very cool index! A point of organization, though: if you have a tie in lists like this, it's customary to skip the next number so it lines up at the end.

Example:

1st place: Roy
2nd place: Horace
3rd place: Julia and Eugene (tie)
5th place: Sara

Sara is in 5th, not 4th, because there are four people ahead of her.

Hee, thanks. I actually had a bit of an ulterior motive for making it, essentially, the top 26 strips -- thought it was interesting that despite the insane levels of fanlove Tarquin generates, in the most recent period of time with tons of posters to make comments, he was getting his butt kicked and I wanted to talk about that. And then it seemed just a little unfair when, okay, he almost made it, and if I allowed the tied strips to only take one slot together, he squeaked across the line.

Now that #841's come along to nearly the top of the chart (and may yet surpass it), he's only a footnote of a runner up. He shouldn't feel too bad, I guess, until very recently Redcloak's only super-discussed strip was the one where O-Chul gouged out his eye.

Miss Dandelion, if you would, please be so kind and share what program you ran to collect all these data and how long it took. It's a great interest of mine and would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance and thanks for your great contribution.

Thank you, as well. I really wish I could be more helpful here, but for the purposes of collecting data all I had was Microsoft Excel and Lira's Discussion Thread Index (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103669). I went to the threads individually, skipped to the last page and wrote down the number of the last post. It's exactly as tedious as it sounds.

It took a couple of hours.

It's redirecting to the wrong thread.

Oops! TY, that should be fixed now.

Kaurne

2012-02-26, 05:41 PM

It's official - #841 is the most commented on strip ever. Not surprising, really.

Warren Dew

2012-02-26, 06:38 PM

Thanks. Interesting information.

Fan-favorite Tarquin only barely cracks into the top 25. I guess that's the difference between being popular and being controversial.
True when compared to Miko and Darth Vaarsuvius, but that doesn't explain the popularity of Xykon slaughtering the paladins. I think that was more surprise at unexpected slaughter, similar to the present strip.

What would be interesting to me would be how long the threads were as a function of time after the comic was published. My memory, which may be incorrect, was that the familicide strip had the fastest growth rate, reaching 30 pages within a couple of days. I suspect there are a significant number of strips where the thread gets kind of cut short by the next strip.

I'm not suggesting that you go back to get those stats, mind. I'm just wondering in kind of a rhetorical sense.

Flame of Anor

2012-02-26, 06:43 PM

What would be interesting to me would be how long the threads were as a function of time after the comic was published. My memory, which may be incorrect, was that the familicide strip had the fastest growth rate, reaching 30 pages within a couple of days. I suspect there are a significant number of strips where the thread gets kind of cut short by the next strip.

I'm not suggesting that you go back to get those stats, mind. I'm just wondering in kind of a rhetorical sense.

What I'm wondering is how long the threads are compared to the number of active members at the time.

rrgg

2012-02-27, 12:19 AM

Hrmm, I'm wondering if it would be fun to look at those old threads again and see how long it took them to guess what was really going on, if at all.

B. Dandelion

2012-02-27, 05:45 AM

Thanks. Interesting information.

True when compared to Miko and Darth Vaarsuvius, but that doesn't explain the popularity of Xykon slaughtering the paladins. I think that was more surprise at unexpected slaughter, similar to the present strip.

What would be interesting to me would be how long the threads were as a function of time after the comic was published. My memory, which may be incorrect, was that the familicide strip had the fastest growth rate, reaching 30 pages within a couple of days. I suspect there are a significant number of strips where the thread gets kind of cut short by the next strip.

I'm not suggesting that you go back to get those stats, mind. I'm just wondering in kind of a rhetorical sense.

Oh, I am very sure this is so. Strips up for a single day seem to be at a marketed disadvantage. The highest-rated single day strip is... jeez... 664 - Down to Earth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0664.html), at rank #98 most discussed.

I do have the data already for how long the strips were up. It would be pretty easy to apply it as a function to the post count. But I don't quite have a function worked out. A straight up division of posts by time would just unfairly penalize strips that were up for extended periods, since the # of posts per day a strip gets seems to go way down after about three days (usually). I feel a bit stupid about it -- it's the kind of math problem I haven't had to do for a really long time. But I know it's doable.

Bedinsis

2012-02-27, 09:38 AM

Something I note is the down-turn in commenters at strips around 576. I wonder if the cause is that it was in the middle of July, when people are more prone not to sit indoors in front of the computer, or that it was at a point in time when the forums hadn't migrated to the new server (which happened within a week of 5/8/2009... boy, the forums where prone to be inaccessible back then) or frankly that there wasn't much to discuss regarding those pages.

Nice work by the way.

Cronos988

2012-02-27, 01:17 PM

Flame of Anor

2012-02-27, 01:58 PM

I wonder if the cause is that it was in the middle of July, when people are more prone not to sit indoors in front of the computer,

Well, does it happen every year?

veti

2012-02-27, 03:48 PM

I do have the data already for how long the strips were up. It would be pretty easy to apply it as a function to the post count. But I don't quite have a function worked out.

Well, since you've done the hard work of collecting all that data - which is amazing, by the way, thank you so much for that - let's just do some very simple crunching.

(Note, this analysis was done on your spreadsheet containing meaningful data for strips 253-822. Anything outside this range is not included.)

0 days: 6 strips, average 214.5 posts
1 day: 55 strips, average 206.5 posts
2 days: 155 strips, average 260.2 posts
3 days: 112 strips, average 274.1 posts
4 days: 70 strips, average 256 posts
5 days: 60 strips, average 288.5 posts
6 days: 36 strips, average 290.2 posts
7 days: 24 strips, average 260 posts
More than 7 days: 53 strips, average 319.6 posts (I think the standard deviation on this must be pretty huge, there are some big outliers in this group)

So although there is a connection, it's not as strong as you might think. It looks like after 2-3 days, most people have had their say, and discussion either dies down or spins off into other threads.

In a similar vein: average number of posts per strip, broken down by book:

Book 2: 246
Book 3: 266.7
Book 4: 259.9
Book 5: 279.1

So again, I think it's easy to overstate the "growing popularity" effect. The strip has been pretty popular since before December 2005, when these stats started, but participation in the daily threads hasn't increased very much at all.

ti'esar

2012-02-27, 05:10 PM

A very interesting project, thank you very much for all that work!

It is funny to look at the comments for Strip 448 now and read all those angry comments. It shows us that when something seems utterly lame and one sided, its probably because we have not yet seen it all. The same happened when the resistance stole the phylactery.

That kind of thing has always depressed me - people always seem to leap to conclusions about an ongoing storyline and rant because of it, when the very next strip can change things around. It's sad how little faith people seem to have in Rich (and other authors - this is hardly unique to OOTS) at times.

B. Dandelion

2012-02-27, 06:09 PM

:smallredface::smallsmile: Thank you, Veti, both for doing that, and for saying that!

"3 or so peak days" sounds just about right. I suspect a really good and/or controversial strip might be at a disadvantage if it's only at the top for one or two days, but there isn't usually a correspondingly large advantage granted to strips up for more than three. I think 841's benefitting from it, but it's also benefitting from increased traffic to the site due to the Kickstarter pledge drive, being the last in a one-strip-per-day sequence, AND being a major wham episode in its own right.

(I find it kind of amusing I started doing this whole thing just to see if I could find any strips surpassing 448, and couldn't, but then almost as soon as I'd finished looking a new strip came out that did surpass it, nearly 400 strips later.)

Porthos

2012-02-29, 02:39 PM

842 - All in the Family (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) has jumped into the Top 25 with 564 posts and counting (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234495).

This puts 611 - None Left Standing (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0611.html) and 653 - Fun While it Lasted (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0653.html) at a tie for Spot #25 at 560 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97590) each (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111379).

LudiDrizzt

2012-03-01, 02:18 AM

First post needs updated.

B. Dandelion

2012-03-01, 02:28 AM

Porthos

2012-03-01, 02:35 AM

...would you guys prefer I keep the top post current, or do later lists in succession?

The only change since I first put it up, is that we have a new #1, "Lunchtime." "All in the Family" is definitely charting as well, but I like to wait until we have the next strip before settling on the final post count.

Personally I think whatever works for you is best. :smallwink: But I think doing it a week or so after the comic has been de-pinned might be best, as that allows for the occasional discussion that is still going on to die out.

I don't know when the mods lock threads when posters keep commenting in them, but if a thread keeps getting posted to after you update the list, you can always update it again later on when you get the time. :smallsmile:

Also, constantly updating your chart as it works its way up sounds like an awful lot of work. Might as well wait until things look like they've settled.

Besides, it gives us something to talk about here as we watch a discussion thread rise up to meet its fated destiny. And if there is one thing that the Kickstarter drive showed, we like commenting on things rising through various charts. :smalltongue:

B. Dandelion

2012-03-01, 03:21 AM

Personally I think whatever works for you is best. :smallwink:

:smallcool:

I'm a little torn because I think it's fun to see the previous winners and yet if I kept replying to this thread with updates people would have to dig to find the current winners instead of having them right at the top.

Hmm. I guess I'll do the top. I can also do like, "top ten of 2011", which ought to cover "previous winners" well enough.

But I think doing it a week or so after the comic has been de-pinned might be best, as that allows for the occasional discussion that is still going on to die out.

Yeah, I had been thinking that too...

I don't know when the mods lock threads when posters keep commenting in them, but if a thread keeps getting posted to after you update the list, you can always update it again later on when you get the time. :smallsmile:

Also, constantly updating your chart as it works its way up sounds like an awful lot of work. Might as well wait until things look like they've settled.

Besides, it gives us something to talk about here as we watch a discussion thread rise up to meet its fated destiny. And if there is one thing that the Kickstarter drive showed, we like commenting on things rising through various charts. :smalltongue:

I know, it is pretty fun, isn't it? :smallbiggrin:

One thing I would like to ask people, is if we could in the future, keep the discussion of the official thread's popularity on this chart out of the thread itself? Since commenting of course raises the post count. I felt a little bad to think my publishing of the post counts led to the direct outside influence on the post count.

I will post to this thread as I make updates to it, so you'll know when the data at the top has been changed.

Porthos

2012-03-01, 05:30 AM

Waaaaaay too late here on the Left Coast to talk about anything in detail, but I wanted to quickly respond to this:

One thing I would like to ask people, is if we could in the future, keep the discussion of the official thread's popularity on this chart out of the thread itself? Since commenting of course raises the post count. I felt a little bad to think my publishing of the post counts led to the direct outside influence on the post count.

Absolutely 100% in total agreement.

It really didn't matter in this case as, #841 smashed through the top spot like a Dire Tiger on Steroids. But I also didn't like it as I saw in the Discussion Thread various "countdown posts" and "Oh look, now we're #3" et etc.

That's what this thread is for, after all. :smallwink:

Besides, we need to have something to talk about in this thread. So might as well leave the cheering 'sober and dispassionate' analysis to here where it belongs. :smalltongue:

B. Dandelion

2012-03-02, 12:17 AM

Okay, there's an update.

Porthos

2012-03-04, 01:17 PM

Okay, there's an update.

Great work on all of the reorganization! :smallcool: :smallsmile:

Also, as of right now, 842 - All in the Family (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) has broken into the Top Five.

It looks like V's little sojourn (and the fallout from said sojourn) into The Dark Side is finally rivaling Miko when it comes to enduring controversy. :smallwink:

i6uuaq

2012-03-05, 02:34 AM

Oh, I am very sure this is so. Strips up for a single day seem to be at a marketed disadvantage. The highest-rated single day strip is... jeez... 664 - Down to Earth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0664.html), at rank #98 most discussed.

I do have the data already for how long the strips were up. It would be pretty easy to apply it as a function to the post count. But I don't quite have a function worked out. A straight up division of posts by time would just unfairly penalize strips that were up for extended periods, since the # of posts per day a strip gets seems to go way down after about three days (usually). I feel a bit stupid about it -- it's the kind of math problem I haven't had to do for a really long time. But I know it's doable.

Ah, math. :) my math is quite fuzzy now, but I can take a stab at this.

A simple approximation we can make is to assume that posts on a topic accrue according to an exponential decay graph - in other words, the rate at which new posts are added decreases over time. This roughly reflects reality, reducing the weighting of long-lived threads.

The relevant equation would be y = A*e^-x, where A is a constant to be determined.

With this model, the x-axis would represent time, and the area under the graph would represent total post count. I think you can use those two inputs to determine the constant A, which would reflect the popularity of the thread, adjusted for time.

You could apply other simple adjustments for member count of the forum, but you'd probably want a way to account for active members versus dormant ones.

B. Dandelion

2012-03-06, 03:20 AM

ti'esar

2012-03-06, 04:59 PM

Great work on all of the reorganization! :smallcool: :smallsmile:

Also, as of right now, 842 - All in the Family (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) has broken into the Top Five.

It looks like V's little sojourn (and the fallout from said sojourn) into The Dark Side is finally rivaling Miko when it comes to enduring controversy. :smallwink:

Really, the controversy seems to be less over the act and its consequences then over how Familicide works. Two discussion threads, and numerous "other" threads, largely concerned with arguing over the details. Yeesh.

B. Dandelion

2012-03-06, 07:30 PM

Really, the controversy seems to be less over the act and its consequences then over how Familicide works. Two discussion threads, and numerous "other" threads, largely concerned with arguing over the details. Yeesh.

Unfortunately, yeah. 448 is kind of similar in that a lot of the conversation is about how that should or should not have worked under the rules -- however. In both cases one could argue the reason people care so much about the rules and are willing to debate them so fiercely and relentlessly is precisely because of the huge and controversial use they've been put to. There are always people willing to spend time and effort nitpicking mechanics or calling out errors, but that usually doesn't represent the majority of thread participants. With Familicide, everyone seems to want to throw in their two cents, and I think that partly does reflect how important people find it, that it becomes something so worth arguing over that it motivates people who wouldn't ordinarily get sucked into that kind of conversation.

That's how I'm looking at it, in any case.

Flame of Anor

2012-03-07, 12:34 AM

Really, the controversy seems to be less over the act and its consequences then over how Familicide works. Two discussion threads, and numerous "other" threads, largely concerned with arguing over the details. Yeesh.

And about 20% of these:

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but <thing that has already been done to death>

Yoyoyo

2012-03-07, 02:02 PM

Ah, math. :) my math is quite fuzzy now, but I can take a stab at this.

A simple approximation we can make is to assume that posts on a topic accrue according to an exponential decay graph - in other words, the rate at which new posts are added decreases over time. This roughly reflects reality, reducing the weighting of long-lived threads.

The relevant equation would be y = A*e^-x, where A is a constant to be determined.

With this model, the x-axis would represent time, and the area under the graph would represent total post count. I think you can use those two inputs to determine the constant A, which would reflect the popularity of the thread, adjusted for time.

You could apply other simple adjustments for member count of the forum, but you'd probably want a way to account for active members versus dormant ones.

While this is undoubtedly the best method, I took the lazy/dumb person's method and simply counted up the number of posts made in the first 24 hours for the seven highest posting strips. Results were sort of interesting:

#639 -- 392 posts in first 24 hours

#408 -- 699 posts in first 24 hours

#842 -- 648 posts in first 24 hours

#595 -- 714 posts in first 24 hours

#406 -- 769 posts in first 24 hours

#448 -- 873 posts in first 24 hours

#841 -- 886 posts in first 24 hours

While #408 is out gained by #842 overall by 24 posts, in the first 24 hours #408 had more than 50 posts than #842.

Likewise, the discrepancy between #448 and #841 in the first 24 hours is very small when compared to the overall numbers, 1160 posts and 1440 posts respectively.

Also I was very surprised by the gulf between #408 and #639 in the first 24 hours, the overall difference is one post, by #408 has 300 more posts in the first 24 hours. IMO, shows how Miko is still the queen of causing posts or going postal, if you will. :smallbiggrin:

Ms. Dandelion, great job on this and thanks for all your hard work.

Mr. Pants

2012-03-17, 11:07 AM

So Tidying Up has become popular, huh? I guess people are happy that Tsukiko has been brought to justice for betraying her people... :smallbiggrin:

Squirrel_Token

2012-03-17, 11:56 AM

Link to 842 is currently broken (directs to 843 instead)

B. Dandelion

2012-03-17, 11:58 AM

Link to 842 is currently broken (directs to 843 instead)

Thank you, that should be fixed now.

Squirrel_Token

2012-03-17, 12:02 PM

Thank you, that should be fixed now.

Wow, you're fast! :smallbiggrin:

Thanks for all the work you put into this!

Mr. Pants

2012-03-18, 09:48 PM

841's the most popular strip? :smallconfused: Then again it is the latest one...

Gift Jeraff

2012-03-18, 11:38 PM

841's the most popular strip? :smallconfused: Then again it is the latest one...What? There's been 4 strips since #841, and I know you know that since you've commented on those threads. :smallconfused:

MyNameIsSecret

2012-03-19, 01:24 AM

841's the most popular strip? :smallconfused: Then again it is the latest one...

Not the most popular, just the most discussed. There's a difference. 841 contains the revelation of the dead Draketooths and there was much discussion over what caused it. When Xykon killed the Sapphire Guard, there was a lot of discussion on that because a number people thought it was unfunny, anti-cilamtic and sickening (or so I assume from reading the thread). The most discussed threads are usually big cliff-hangers, unexpected discoveries or are just plain controversial, and not technically the most popular. Though popular ones do tend to gain a lot of discussion.

B. Dandelion

2012-07-10, 10:55 AM

So strip #857 has been up for almost two weeks and is now threatening to crack it into the top 25. Seems unfair. I've started keeping track of the number of posts every thread got within 24 hours of the posting date. Using that data, we've got a similar but notably different Top 25 (which would put the current strip at the decidedly mediocre rank of 167th most popular). I noted the changes between this list and the original Top 25 so we can see which strips benefited and lost from using a different measurement.

TOP 25 STRIPS MEASURED IN FIRST 24 HOURS

#25
0758 - Spins of the Father (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0758.html) (402 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176147) New Entry (Rank change: +16)
(Tarquin is a bad bad man... Tarquin's got the master plan...)

#24
0386 - Not How She Pictured It, Certainly (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0386.html) (410 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29000) New Entry (Rank change: +10)
(Nale-as-Elan's date with Haley officially goes off the rails.)

#23
0611 - None Left Standing (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0611.html) (415 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97590) New Entry (Rank change: +5)
(In Greysky City, The Sexy Shoeless God of War makes his triumphant return!)

#22
0759 - Yes, Apparently (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0759.html) (416 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176551) New Entry (Rank change: +22)
(Elan finally realizes the kind of man his father truly is.)

#21
0658 - A Bird in Hand (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0658.html) (426 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113317) (Rank change: -4)
(After a long absence, Vaarsuvius' companion Blackwing returns to help dispose of Xykon's phylactery.)

#20
0659 - Flight of the Phylactery (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0659.html) (445 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113807) New Entry (Rank change: +18)
(Blackwing rushes off with the phylactery... with one special spell still embedded...)

#19
0409 - Intercession (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0409.html) (454 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33708) (Rank change: 0)
(Hinjo attempts to reason with newly-Fallen Miko.)

#18
0655 - With a Critical Eye (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0655.html) (455 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112025) (Rank change: +2)
(O-Chul puts out Redcloak's eye.)

#17
0449 - Land of the Rising... (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0449.html) (466 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43499) New Entry (rank change: +15)
(As it turns out, the Paladins of the throne room are not undone by Xykon's brutal massacre.)

#16
0462 - Good Idea, Bad Idea (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0462.html) (468 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46658) New Entry (Rank change: +23)
(Just as Soon turns the tables on Xykon, Miko destroy's Azure City's Gate.)

#15
0285 - A Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0285.html) (472 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6106) (Rank change: +3)
(The Order forestall Miko from killing Belkar, thus earning her eternal enmity)

#14
0496 - Responsible (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0496.html) (479 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60242) (Rank change: +11)
(Roy is reunited with the younger brother he tragically lost.)

#13
0843 - Lack of Foresight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0843.html) (499 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235169) (Rank change: +2)
(Vaarsuvius' grief leads him/her right into a booby trap.)

#12
0661 - The Path of Least Expectation (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0661.html) (511 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114300) (Rank change: +10)
(The MitD warps O-Chul and Vaarsuvius to safety, enraging Xykon)

#11
0407 - Fading (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0407.html) (542 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33162) (Rank change: +2)
(Miko is stripped of her Paladin powers by the 12 Gods.)

#10
0443 - The First Step is a Doozy (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0443.html) (550 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41839) (Rank change: +5)
(On the infinite canvas, Roy falls to his death.)

# 9
0464 - Not for Everyone (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0464.html) (603 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47226) (Rank change: 0)
(Redemption is a rare and special thing, and so Miko dies without achieving it.)

# 8
0830 - Tidying Up (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html) (606 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229826) (Rank change: 0)
(Redcloak kills Tsukiko.)

# 7
0842 - All in the Family (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) (649 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234495) (Rank change: -2)
(The mural on the wall reveals a Draketooth ancestor was a black dragon... meaning Vaarsuvius was their killer.)

# 6
0707 - That's Probably Why There Are, Like, 17 Types (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0707.html) (658 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146041) (Rank change: +5)
(The Peregrine commander coldly executes a prisoner because "the only good goblins are dead goblins".)

# 5
0408 - Fallsville, Population: 1 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0408.html) (699 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33423) (Rank change: +1)
(Roy vs. Miko in the immediate aftermath of her Fall.)

# 4
0595 - Trial of the Century (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0595.html) (714 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91722) (Rank change: 0)
(Vaarsuvius dispassionately executes Kubota.)

# 3
0406 - A Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0406.html) (769 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32867) (Rank change: 0)
(Leaping to conclusions, Miko executes Shojo.)

# 2
0448 - Just Crazy Enough to Work (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0448.html) (873 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43173) (Rank change: 0)
(Xykon executes the Sapphire Guard.)

# 1
0841 - Lunchtime (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0841.html) (886 posts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233979) (Rank change: 0)
(The Order, looking for the Draketooth guardians, find a mess hall full of their corpses.)

Dropped from list:
652: No Respect for the Wicked (Rank change: -29)
629: One Chance (Rank change: -19)
316: The Moment of Truth (Rank change: -39)
695: Paranoia Will Destroy Ya (rank change: -13)
284: Shattered Expectations (rank change: -35)
270: Dueling Egos (rank change -51)
639: If They Pull a Knife... (rank change: -19)

B. Dandelion

2012-07-17, 12:33 PM

All right, we have an update to the main page. 857 - The Pit of Despair (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0857.html) charts at number 23 for most discussed.

Since I know some of you must be curious, no, 858 is NOT the strip we've waited for the longest... it's the third most awaited. 794 - We Recommend Tsukiko (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0794.html) and 672 - A Familiar Conclusion (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0672.html), which was a scheduled break, were both up longer than 857.

B. Dandelion

2012-08-28, 06:23 PM

'Nother main page update.

With 635 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252215), 860 - Wasn't Going to Listen to Orders Anyway (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0860.html) is charting at #22 on the all-time list. Like 857 - The Pit of Despair (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0857.html), length of time posted is probably working in its favor, since it only ranks at #82 on the 24-hour-chart.

This bumps the former #25, 652 - No Respect for the Wicked (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0652.html), off the all-time chart.

B. Dandelion

2013-01-09, 10:27 AM

I did a top ten for 2012 -- which kinda got knocked out in that final quarter due to the Giant's unfortunate injury, yeah, but as far as popular strips went, 2012 was still a good year.

TOP TEN OF 2012 (#824-#864)
#10: 0845 - The Last Laugh (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0845.html) (512 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=236269))
(Via Speak With Dead, Roy questions one of the Draketooth corpses as to the location of Girard's rift.) (1 page)

# 9: 0826 - Minimal Resistance (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0826.html) (530 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=228414))
(Redcloak curbstomps the Resistance, reveals he's gotten to level 17, and his spy retrieves the phylactery.) (1 page)

# 8: 0859 - Smoked (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0859.html) (539 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250693))
(The Linear Guild flail around in the smoke after step one of the Order's ambush. Step two begins when Durkon comes out of hiding...) (1 page)

# 7: 0850 - not-thog (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0850.html) (554 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240516))
(Tarquin leaps down to attack the Order, disguising himself as Thog and clearly enjoying the challenge.) (1 page)

# 6: 0857 - The Pit of Despair (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0857.html) (619 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247670))
(Wracked with guilt over the unintended consequences of Familicide, Vaarsuvius is in the pits both literally and metaphorically, while Blackwing tries to talk some sense into him/her.) (1 page)

# 5: 0860 - Wasn't Going to Listen to Orders Anyway (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0860.html) (636 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252215))
(The Linear Guild is in total disarray after Holy Word. The spell deafened Belkar too, but that actually works to the Order's advantage.) (1 page)

# 4: 0843 - Lack of Foresight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0843.html) (698 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235169))
(Vaarsuvius spells out exactly how extensive the ramifications of Familicide were, and while feeling bad about not thinking that out well falls headlong into a trap.) (2 pages)

# 3: 0830 - Tidying Up (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html) (854 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229826))
(Redcloak spells out the real motive of the Plan and his decades-long deception of Xykon, while cold-bloodedly murdering Tsukiko.) (3 pages)

# 2: 0842 - All in the Family (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) (904 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234495))
(Vaarsuvius finds the Draketooth family mural, which spells out that they were descended from a black dragon and thus all likely taken out by Vaarsuvius' casting of Familicide.) (2 pages)

# 1: 0841 - Lunchtime (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0841.html) (1447 posts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=233979))
(The Order finds the Draketooth clan, or rather a room full of Draketooth corpses who've clearly been dead for weeks.) (1.75 pages)

B. Dandelion

2013-02-18, 08:44 PM

We're gonna have a new champion in a few hours if "Death in the Family"'s posting rate keeps up.

"Lunchtime" had 886 posts in 24 hours. "Death in the Family" is up to 400 in 6.5.

LadyEowyn

2013-02-19, 06:37 PM

Well, this one's already made it into the top 25.

LadyEowyn

2013-02-21, 07:55 PM

B. Dandelion

2013-02-22, 09:13 AM

Strip #870 is now in the top three of all time.

Can we get a sticky on this thread to keep it at the top of the page? It would be handy for keeping track of it - since there aren't generally posts on it it tends to disappear. A sticky on the post that keeps a list of links to the discussions of each strip would also be nice.

Gotta say, I feel flattered somebody'd want a sticky for my thread here, I was kinda thinking everybody'd lost interest entirely.

I really agree about sticky-ing Lira's index to the discussion pages too, especially since that thread contributed to the ease of making this one. It doesn't seem like we get stickies for fan-run threads though? ThePhantasm's Index of the Giant's comments is another one that that's super-useful and could do with a sticky. Me, I love my crazy spreadsheet but I have to admit it seems less essential then those two, it's fun but a little more on the trivia side. If you were sticky-ing all the fun fandom threads like this one, we'd probably have a front page full of stickies.

You can use bookmarks, and/or set email notifications to when threads get replies. When strips chart here, I usually update pretty quickly.

...Oh hey, looks like 870's pulled into a tie for the #2 spot. C'mon guys, you can do it!

B. Dandelion

2013-02-25, 09:54 AM

Y'all tried, but 870 didn't quite -- and it was a squeaker -- make it to #1. Though really, "Lunchtime" really did turn out to be the product of Familicide, whereas "Death in the Family" was a red herring, so in retrospect isn't that the preferable outcome? Though if people would like to keep replying to the post after my update now, it can still make it to #1, it is indeed that close. Of course for obvious reasons I'd ask you not to do that.

By 24-hour count, "Death in the Family" scores at #8 rather than #2, suggesting it was a greater beneficiary of having been a week on the front page than the strips that scored above it, which racked up higher numbers sooner. By the way, enjoy that being a new index on the front page.

Mike Havran

2013-02-25, 10:21 AM

In that 24-hour count, is the note for #13 correct? Strip 661 says nothing about Belkar ot his prophecy.

B. Dandelion

2013-02-25, 10:35 AM

In that 24-hour count, is the note for #13 correct? Strip 661 says nothing about Belkar ot his prophecy.

Uh, no. No it doesn't. And no it's not. ::facepalm::

Thank you. (edits)

B. Dandelion

2013-02-27, 01:31 AM

As 0871 - Just a Couple of Blooddrinkers (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0871.html) only had a single day to rack up posts as the most recent strip under discussion, it's unlikely to crack it into the 25 of all time because ongoing discussions usually route themselves into the newest thread.

But wouldn't you know it, it charts #23 on the 25-in-24 list, which is nice. 1-day strips are something everyone actually loves because they're the product of a rapid update schedule, but they do tend to wind up getting a bit penalized in overall post count.

B. Dandelion

2013-02-27, 08:44 PM

Another one-day strip (whoo, Kickstarter rewards week?!) and another charter to the 25-in-24. 0872 - Concession Stand (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0872.html) charts at a very respectable #11, just beating out Roy's death (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0443.html) (and coming just short of Miko's (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0464.html)).

We knocked the old #25, 0611 - None Left Standing (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0611.html) off the 24-hour chart. (Previous comic killed off 0386 - Not How She Pictured It, Certainly (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0386.html).)

One of these days I may do the 25-in-24 chart for the individual books and maybe years, although probably not this week.

B. Dandelion

2013-03-02, 03:15 PM

0873 - Spell Check (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0873.html), with 531 posts in 24 hours, charts on the 24-hour chart at #14.

This bumps the old #25, 0759 - Yes, Apparently (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0759.html), off the 25-in-24 chart.

Incidentally it also bumps another in this 1-day-posting streak (specfically, 0871 - Just a Couple of Blooddrinkers (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0871.html)) to #25, so if another in the sequence charts (as 875 is already guaranteed to do, so really that's not an "if,") they'll start cannibalizing themselves! But note that 0874 - Allies like This (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0874.html), does not chart on either list, and not for having been locked prematurely when it comes to the 24-hour count.

Nonetheless "Allies like This" did garner a pretty respectable amount of posts within 24 hours without quite reaching the heights of the chart. On an extended chart we'd see it rank at #37 out of all the strips whose totals I keep. So it seems safe to say we're seeing a lot of increased rapid posting as a result of the rapid update schedule.

LadyEowyn

2013-03-02, 03:44 PM

It's interesting to see which characters provoke the most discussion. Of the top ten strips for total post count, 8 deal primarily with either Miko or Vaarsuvius, and so do a lot of the others in the top 25.

Porthos

2013-03-03, 11:13 PM

I suspect we might have a new contender for Most in 24 hours. :smallfrown:

Nearly 400 posts in just under two hours so far.

Gift Jeraff

2013-03-04, 11:13 AM

In top 25 total, it skips from #14 to #12. Perhaps you meant to skip from #16 to #14, due to the tie?

Procyonpi

2013-03-04, 11:49 AM

I suspect we might have a new contender for Most in 24 hours. :smallfrown:

Nearly 400 posts in just under two hours so far.

Considering it's already darn close to number 3...

B. Dandelion

2013-03-04, 02:11 PM

In top 25 total, it skips from #14 to #12. Perhaps you meant to skip from #16 to #14, due to the tie?

Yes, that's it exactly.

Sorry I keep making mistakes. I just went through that list and tried to make sure there weren't any more, but I missed that numbering error. Thanks for pointing them out so I can correct them.

B. Dandelion

2013-03-04, 02:40 PM

In any case, on the 24-hour chart:

0875 - Calm, Orderly, and Efficient (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0875.html) racked it up to #15,

while 0876 - Ensnared (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0876.html) shot all the way up to #5.

(Kicking 0871 - Just a Couple of Blooddrinkers (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0871.html) and 0658 - A Bird in Hand (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0658.html) off the chart.)

We are looking at our new #3 at least in 0877 - The Bright Side, but it hasn't been 24 hours just yet. Quite conceivably it is destined as the new #1.

Incidentally, Ensnared is going to chart on the all-time as well, so by extension so will The Bright Side, but people are still commenting on that thread so I can't get a total count yet.

Mordae

2013-03-04, 03:57 PM

Given there's 5-ish hours left and only 7 posts to go, it's a foregone conclusion that #877 will be the new leader in the 24-hour count. The only question is, will it be eclipsed by #878?

Procyonpi

2013-03-04, 04:10 PM

Well, #877 is officially the most posted in the first 24 hours, as of a few minute ago.

Porthos

2013-03-04, 04:17 PM

Well, #877 is officially the most posted in the first 24 hours, as of a few minute ago.

The real question is, does it crack 1000 by the 24 hour mark?

Given that it is starting to pick up the pace a little in the last couple of hours, I'd say it is very possible.

Procyonpi

2013-03-04, 04:21 PM

The real question is, does it crack 1000 by the 24 hour mark?

Given that it is starting to pick up the pace a little in the last couple of hours, I'd say it is very possible.

It depends on when Rich posts the next strip. If it keeps pace, it will make it with room to spare, but I'd imagine things will slow down quite a bit when the next strip goes up. Although Rich's current pace has been one strip every 25-30ish hours, so that might not be an issue.

Mordae

2013-03-04, 08:08 PM

Looks like 1000 in 24 hours is fait accompli. If the next two strips are equally stunning/revealing, this 9-in-9-days series will have a huge chunk of the top 10.

Porthos

2013-03-04, 09:21 PM

#877 clocks in at 1020 posts at the 24 hr mark. Most impressive for a very deserving strip.

Flame of Anor

2013-03-04, 09:56 PM

Looks like 1000 in 24 hours is fait accompli. If the next two strips are equally stunning/revealing, this 9-in-9-days series will have a huge chunk of the top 10.

I'm glad that the Giant is putting the 9-in-9 on such a momentous piece of story. I can barely imagine how much more agonizing it would be if this had played out over a month or two.

Mordae

2013-03-04, 10:06 PM

Indeed.

And 878 is off to a smashing start, clearing triple digits in under 25 minutes.

Porthos

2013-03-04, 10:11 PM

#877 will probably get a sprinking of posts over the next few days, but I doubt it'll be enough to overtake #406 (1048 posts). Though, who knows. Only really need one spirited discussion to do it I suppose.

Either way, getting Spot Number Five All Time is a massive acomplishment, considering it did that in 24.5 hours.

LadyEowyn

2013-03-05, 08:27 AM

"Ensnared" should be above "Trial of the Century" in the ranking; it has 755 posts to the latter's 714.

Procyonpi

2013-03-05, 09:29 AM

Sorta sad that "spins of the father is now off the 24 hour list. That was a great reveal, and reminiscent of 1984.

B. Dandelion

2013-03-05, 03:28 PM

#877 clocks in at 1020 posts at the 24 hr mark. Most impressive for a very deserving strip.

Indeed. Front page updated.

We bumped 0659 - Flight of the Phylactery (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0659.html) off the 24-hour chart.

"Ensnared" should be above "Trial of the Century" in the ranking; it has 755 posts to the latter's 714.

Actually, the error is in the tally rather than the rank. I accidentally stuck in "Ensnared"'s total tally and not its 24-hour count, which is 709.

In any case, fixed and thanks.

hamishspence

2013-03-05, 03:35 PM

Shouldn't 877 be in the top 25 of all time as well, around 5th, at 1039 posts?

Porthos

2013-03-05, 03:38 PM

Shouldn't 877 be in the top 25 of all time as well, around 5th, at 1039 posts?

B. Dandelion waits for the posting to stop on a thread before slotting it in. Understandable since it is something of a moving target right now. :smalltongue:

hamishspence

2013-03-05, 03:39 PM

Good point- maybe give it a day or two to settle down.

B. Dandelion

2013-03-05, 10:41 PM

Sorta sad that "spins of the father is now off the 24 hour list. That was a great reveal, and reminiscent of 1984.

Oh yeah, I agree. The fact that we lose former winners on the main charts is the reason I put together lists by book and by year -- "Spins of the Father" ranks #4 on the 2010 list. Book 5 isn't out yet, but once it is and I have the full list of strips + commentary totals, it may chart there as well.

B. Dandelion waits for the posting to stop on a thread before slotting it in. Understandable since it is something of a moving target right now. :smalltongue:

This, yes. It's a moving target and a hairsbreadth within the next item on the list currently. I'd rather not have to shuffle my list around more than I have to, I seem to make enough embarrassing errors as it is.

#878 - Little Brother (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0878.html) racked up 816 posts in 24 hours (looks like Kish (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=14837141#post14837141) got in "the final word" before the deadline), so it slots as #4 on the 24 hour chart. So say farewell to 0409 - Intercession (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0409.html), dropping off the chart to #26.

It'll be easier to do updates to the all-time chart once the increased traffic and commenting from the one-a-day posting streak has passed -- updating once for every strip has gotten to feel a little silly. But since 879 should be the last in the series, it won't be too long.

B. Dandelion

2013-03-07, 11:57 PM

All right, I think I'm caught up with the Giant's awesome 9-day streak.

On the 24-hour chart, we kicked off the old #25, 655 - With a Critical Eye (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0655.html)..

In order to make room for the new #21, 879 - Running on Empty (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0879.html).

On the total chart, we bumped off the old #25 (857 - The Pit of Despair (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0857.html)), #24 (661 - The Path of Least Expectation (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0661.html)), and #23 (860 - Wasn't Going to Listen to Orders Anyway (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0860.html))...

In order to make room for the new #15 (0876 - Ensnared (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0876.html)), #10 (0878 - Little Brother (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0878.html)), and #5 (0877 - The Bright Side (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html)).

I definitely think the Giant knew what he was doing when he selected this run of strips for the 9-day marathon...

B. Dandelion

2013-03-14, 09:25 PM

All right, so 879 - Running on Empty (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0879.html), with 837 posts, charts on the all-time list at #13.

We bumped 316 - The Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0316.html) off the chart.

By the way, Daylight Savings Time is giving me a huge headache. Last week I was double-checking my spreadsheet for any errors and saw a lot of my old timestamps were off by an hour. So I corrected a ton of them. After we rolled over into Daylight Savings Time those old timestamps retroactively became correct. So now my "corrected" entries are wrong again, but they'll be right when Daylight Savings Time ends. I changed my options in the control panel from "automatically detect DST settings" to "DST corrections always on" which I hope will mean I won't endure this retroactive-DST business again, but it means I have to re-correct the spreadsheet (fortunately I have backups from before the "correction" spree), and it's not done yet. Sorry for the one-hour inaccuracy many entries will have.

B. Dandelion

2013-05-05, 08:43 AM

Updated... and it's a late update, but I had to fix my spreadsheet and it took an extremely long time to double-check everything. As far as times are concerned now, either there's no such thing as Daylight Savings Time or it's always Daylight Savings time, because you couldn't get an exactly accurate account of how long things were up for if you treated DST literally like time travel. Which is how the board does it too, and likely why. Anyway.

No change to the 24 hour chart, but the all time chart dropped its old #25: 655 - With a Critical Eye (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0655.html).

The new (or if you need to be snarky, "new") #16 is 880 - Getting the Message (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0880.html).

Also because of people making additional posts to old threads after new ones had been counted already I wound up having to swap numbers #12 and #13. I hope we don't make a habit of this...

factotum

2013-05-05, 11:36 AM

Can't help but wonder how high up the list #885 would have been if we hadn't had several days of forum outage when that strip was first released! :smallsmile:

Porthos

2013-05-05, 01:41 PM

Missed this. Thanks for bringing it back up (and thanks as well for the work you put in it). :smallsmile:

B. Dandelion

2013-05-06, 02:28 AM

Thank you, Porthos, I really appreciate it! :smallsmile:

#885 probably would have charted, yes. #886 - Victory Comes From Within (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html) has already cranked it up to a solid #10 on the 24-hour count, which just expired.

Sadly, this pushes #449 - Land of the Rising... (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0449.html) off the 24-hour chart! Dammit, that's one of my favorite-ever comics! At least it was a really good comic to displace it, and we'll always have the "best of War and XPs" chart...

ti'esar

2013-05-06, 02:30 AM

To be honest, I think all older comics are going to be pushed off the list eventually, simply because there's more time on average between strips these days.

B. Dandelion

2013-05-06, 02:41 AM

It got knocked off the 24-hour chart, I haven't placed it in the 25 of all time chart yet. I don't think it's actually ranking just yet, but it's close and probably will ultimately. My hope was the 24 hour chart might equalize things between strips up for various lengths of time.

On the all-time chart, the newer strips do have something of an advantage. Not as much of one as you might think, since posting seems to drop off sharply after about 2-3 days, but not insignificant.

Porthos

2013-05-07, 01:06 PM

886 (thanks to a thread merge) has now smashed into the Top Ten. Depending on when the next update is, it looks to have a pretty decent shot at entering the Top Five when all is said and done.

137beth

2013-05-07, 01:07 PM

868 (thanks to a thread merge) has now smashed into the Top Ten. Depending on when the next update is, it looks to have a pretty decent shot at entering the Top Five when all is said and done.

Do you mean 886?

Porthos

2013-05-07, 01:21 PM

Do you mean 886?

That post has always been at war with said 886, it has never been at war with said 868.

In other words, fixed. :smallredface: :smallbiggrin:

sam79

2013-05-07, 02:26 PM

Sadly, this pushes #449 - Land of the Rising... (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0449.html) off the 24-hour chart! Dammit, that's one of my favorite-ever comics! At least it was a really good comic to displace it, and we'll always have the "best of War and XPs" chart...

Agreed; an awesome strip. Though this current one (886) is pretty darn good too.

And thanks, also.

ETA: on an unrealted note, I wonder how much of the 449 thread was people arguing over the rules implications of Ghost Martyr paladins...

Porthos

2013-05-08, 02:39 AM

ETA: on an unrealted note, I wonder how much of the 449 thread was people arguing over the rules implications of Ghost Martyr paladins...

From what I recall, not too much. Most of the rules talk was centered around "Wow! Cool! It's the Risen Martyrs from Book of Exalted Deeds!" and talking about the Deathless in general.

There was some speculation about Redcloak being able to 'turn' them (which turned [no pun intended :smalltongue:] out to be true). But most of it was just cheering at the kickassness of the comic.

sam79

2013-05-08, 02:44 AM

From what I recall, not too much. Most of the rules talk was centered around "Wow! Cool! It's the Risen Martyrs from Book of Exalted Deeds!" and talking about the Deathless (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Deathless_(3.5e_Template)) in general.

There was some speculation about Redcloak being able to 'turn' them (which turned [no pun intended :smalltongue:] out to be true). But most of it was just cheering at the kickassness of the comic.

That's good to hear.

Oh wow, I didn't realize that the ghost martyrs were an actual D+D thing. I'd just kind of assumed it was a homebrewed story device from our author. Which leads to the question; did any of the Mad Crazy Speculation predict that Soon and his fellows would show up in the throne room before it happened?

Porthos

2013-05-08, 02:47 AM

That's good to hear.

Oh wow, I didn't realize that the ghost martyrs were an actual D+D thing.

More like an 'actual DnD thing with the serial numbers filed off'. :smalltongue:

As for anyone calling it in advance? Not that I recall. But I don't remember EVERY converstation that happened back then either. :smalltongue:

ETA::

BTW, I had the wrong link in my original post (which is why I edited it out). The Deathless could be found in both The Book of Exalted Deeds and Eberron.

Here's the Eberron take. (http://eberronunlimited.wikidot.com/deathless)

The Eberron connection, naturally, led to a few fair share of jokes. :smalltongue:

I don't recall the differences, if any, between the deathless in BoED and Eberron. But, basically, just consider them undead powered by positive energy instead of negative energy.

Umberhulk

2013-05-08, 08:54 AM

It seems - judging by the strips per year count - that every year Rich releases about ten strips less than the previous year. We've got three years and 60 comics left for a story conclusion. ;)

Bulldog Psion

2013-05-08, 04:44 PM

This is a very interesting thread, thank you for compiling it. :smallsmile:

I notice that 7 of the top 25, or 1 in 3.6, relate to Miko. :smalleek:

SaintRidley

2013-05-13, 04:46 PM

So #886 has clocked in at 1125 posts, unless people add to it for some reason (but we should be able to see in the next couple days whether it gets any more). And that means we have a new #4 of all time, a pending #3 for Book 5, and a #2 for 2013 (so far).

Not bad for a strip that takes place entirely in the characters' heads.

factotum

2013-05-14, 01:35 AM

So #886 has clocked in at 1125 posts, unless people add to it for some reason

And already it has another three posts on it... :smallsmile:

B. Dandelion

2013-05-14, 02:12 AM

And thanks, also.

This is a very interesting thread, thank you for compiling it. :smallsmile:

Thanks guys! :smallsmile:

On the 24-hour chart:
887 - Happy Ending (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0887.html) just rolled over onto 24 hours, and having collected 526 posts in that time it charts at #19.

This bumps 462 - Good Idea, Bad Idea (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0462.html) off the chart. We seem to be trading out the previous climax for the current one...

On the all-time chart:
I'm gonna wait a little bit before doing 886. I'm not sure it really could rack up enough posts to change position, but people were still making posts as of today, so I'll give it a little bit to finalize the count. But yeah, it'll be #4 if it doesn't collect almost two more standard pages of posts.

sam79

2013-05-14, 02:36 PM

This bumps 462 - Good Idea, Bad Idea (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0462.html) off the chart. We seem to be trading out the previous climax for the current one...

Another great strip gone (the third panel is awesome; while the author does go in for the occasional Wall O Text, he can do so much with just the 'simple' facial expressions).

But 887 is simply awesome, so I can't be too upset.

Regarding 886; it is still racking up a fair bit of comment, but on the 887 thread. And a lot of it a fairly silly debate about whether the people who called 'illusion' were Wild Mad Guessing or making a reasonable, evidence-based claim (FYI, it's the latter).

B. Dandelion

2013-05-15, 07:14 AM

To the all-time chart
886 - Victory Comes from Within (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html) bumps 409 - Intercession (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0409.html) off the chart.

Another great strip gone (the third panel is awesome; while the author does go in for the occasional Wall O Text, he can do so much with just the 'simple' facial expressions).

But 887 is simply awesome, so I can't be too upset.

Regarding 886; it is still racking up a fair bit of comment, but on the 887 thread. And a lot of it a fairly silly debate about whether the people who called 'illusion' were Wild Mad Guessing or making a reasonable, evidence-based claim (FYI, it's the latter).

Of course that was a reasonable evidence-based claim.

Hogwarts9876

2013-05-15, 04:39 PM

I think you may have made a mistake - the description for 886 on the all-time chart looks more like a description for 887.

B. Dandelion

2013-05-15, 06:25 PM

I think you may have made a mistake - the description for 886 on the all-time chart looks more like a description for 887.

Ooops! :smallredface: That's what I get for updating at like 5 in the morning. Sick of coming up with multiple descriptions for the same comic? Why not just describe another comic entirely! ::facepalm::

Thanks! It's fixed now.

B. Dandelion

2013-05-20, 05:13 AM

Since 887 - Happy Ending (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0887.html) charts at #20 on the all-time list, we bumped 285 - A Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0285.html) off the chart.

888 isn't charting anywhere significant though.

sam79

2013-05-21, 12:39 PM

Main thread for strip 889 locked. :smalleek: At least that means you can place it in the lists definitively.

B. Dandelion

2013-05-22, 12:48 AM

Yeah. I can't remember a main thread ever being locked before its successor was online prior to now. I regret having said anything myself. :smallfrown: It is annoying that so much of its post count was people wrangling back and forth about filler, when the strip is such a shining moment of character growth displayed by Elan (and a real tear-jerker too, how can you not feel bad for him when he says his family is screwed up and broken and can't be fixed, ever?). Plus it's a three-pager.

I can't say where "Get Real" would have scored on the all-time list, but on the 24-hour chart it ranks just below "Land of the Rising" which was only recently displaced from the top 25. It's #28 on an extended chart.

Gift Jeraff

2013-05-22, 02:12 PM

Pretty sure #669 suffered a similar fate due to religious debates. But a second thread was made, in that case.

137beth

2013-05-22, 03:03 PM

Could we put some sort of notice in the OP that it was locked early, and may have gotten higher otherwise?

B. Dandelion

2013-05-22, 04:11 PM

Pretty sure #669 suffered a similar fate due to religious debates. But a second thread was made, in that case.

Wow, I don't remember that for some reason... but yeah, the 669 thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118522) that we still have is full of comments about the old thread getting zapped, and quite a few scrubbed posts in the remaining thread too.

Could we put some sort of notice in the OP that it was locked early, and may have gotten higher otherwise?

Sure. I'm going to drop a mention of #669 while I'm there.

B. Dandelion

2013-06-29, 11:59 PM

Update to the main page.

865 - Plain Sight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0895.html) charts at #24 on the all-time list, so that bumps 658 - A Bird in Hand (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0658.html) off the chart.

Emanick

2013-06-30, 10:46 PM

B. Dandelion

2013-07-01, 03:48 AM

:smallsigh: at least the link worked right...

What is it about this thread that makes me so error-prone? It's downright embarrassing by this stage.

137beth

2013-07-01, 12:41 PM

896 got 378 posts in the first 24 hours. Considering the huge reveal at the end, I'm surprised it didn't make the 24 hours chart:smalleek:

Porthos

2013-07-02, 12:51 PM

You're gonna have to do some minor bookeeping, I'm afraid. The chatter hadn't quite cleared off in #895. In fact there was just enough posting to move the strip up exactly one spot by exactly one post.

Since I was one of the ones finishing up their points, I'll say 'Sowwwwy' in advance.

...

Sowwwwy. :smallredface: :smalltongue:

B. Dandelion

2013-07-02, 08:33 PM

::shakes fist:: Porthossss!!! :smallfurious:

:smalltongue: Heh heh. No big. I did actually notice that as it was going on... I thought about saying something as we crept up to the edge, but that would have been a violation of my own rules PLUS upped the post count anyway, so yeah. I bumped it up a notch. 895 - Plain Sight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0895.html) is now #22.

137beth

2013-07-08, 09:14 AM

I really thought 897 was headed for the top 25, but it got locked early. So we have another addition to the "threads that got locked" list.

B. Dandelion

2013-07-08, 01:24 PM

Yeah, it's #27 in the total tally, so it probably would have charted. I dropped a note, condensing that section a bit since it's getting kind of lengthy.

Gift Jeraff

2013-07-09, 02:28 PM

I was surprised at how slow the thread was moving before the derailment. You'd think the nature of V's debt being revealed would spark much more discussion about the actual strip.

Hogwarts9876

2013-07-29, 02:31 AM

906 has only been up for three hours and is already almost in the 24-hour list!

Porthos

2013-07-29, 02:37 AM

906 has only been up for three hours and is already almost in the 24-hour list!

And I'm not even responsible for ten percent of the posts so far. :smalltongue:

...

Though, I suppose if you take into account that I'm in the middle of a 'little' debate in there, it does comes out to quite a bit more than 10% of the posts..... :smalltongue: :smalltongue: :smalltongue:

Emanick

2013-07-29, 12:40 PM

Wow. #906 is already to #22 overall and #7 in the first 24 hours of activity.

That is one hoppin' thread.

Edit: Make that #20 overall and #6, respectively. :smalleek:

Porthos

2013-07-29, 07:08 PM

Wow. #906 is already to #22 overall and #7 in the first 24 hours of activity.

That is one hoppin' thread.

Edit: Make that #20 overall and #6, respectively. :smalleek:

It's gonna easily hit #2 for the 24 hours list. Don't think it quite has the juice to hit #1 though.

137beth

2013-07-29, 09:47 PM

Yea, it has now reached #2 (dethroning the previous #2, which is also #1 on the all time list), but it needs another hundred posts in just over an hour to get to number 1.

Porthos

2013-07-29, 11:01 PM

And Comic #906 officially clocks in at 922 posts in 24 hours!

*salutes The New Number Two*

B. Dandelion

2013-07-29, 11:19 PM

Porthos, you are fast!

I bumped 285 - A Moment of Truth (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0285.html) off the 24-hour chart.

white lancer

2013-07-29, 11:25 PM

Malack may be dead and gone (and what a glorious end it was!), but he can at least take solace in being a big part of the top two strips after 24 hours of posting.

Gift Jeraff

2013-07-29, 11:33 PM

Nale finally beat his dad at something.

Porthos

2013-07-30, 02:19 AM

I was just playing around with the numbers (playing with data is fun :smalltongue:) for the Top 25 of Book 5 and something just struck me. Out of the 25 slots, only two come before Comic # 830 (Tidying Up (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html)):

695 - Paranoia Will Destroy Ya (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0695.html)
707 - That's Probably Why There Are, Like, 17 Types (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0707.html)

That's. That's crazy! :smalleek: Of the 234 updates so far, 23 out of the Top 25 for this book came within the last 77 updates.

Breaking it down even more, 22 out of the Top 25 for this book started with Comic #840 (Thief's Tool (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0840.html)) and therefore the last 67 updates.

That's was when the OotS was just about to enter the pyramid.

...

This has been one popular arc! Or at least one that has driven a lot of chatter back and forth. :smallwink:

Gift Jeraff

2013-07-30, 02:24 AM

Incidentally, #830 was uploaded within like a day of the Kickstarter launching. I think that really helped in boosting interest in the comic and the forum.

nogall

2013-07-30, 07:58 AM

I was just playing around with the numbers (playing with data is fun :smalltongue:) for the Top 25 of Book 5 and something just struck me. Out of the 25 slots, only two come before Comic # 830 (Tidying Up (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html))

[....]

This [from 840 / Pyramid] has been one popular arc! Or at least one that has driven a lot of chatter back and forth. :smallwink:

One possible explanation is that most of the first part of the desert arc was a setup for the events that are unfolding since the pyramid (and even before that, considering, you know, that little familicide).

That seems to make sense if you remember how many people were complaining about pacing, fillers and that the plot was moving slowly in the early days of tarquin & co.

Oh, and also let's never forget that more recent strips may simply benefit from more forum members and posters, as the readership grows. I'd bet that the kickstarter brought in a sizable amount of new followers...

Porthos

2013-07-30, 05:24 PM

906 has now settled into 4th all time. Has a decent shot to hit third, depending on when the next update is.

One possible explanation is that most of the first part of the desert arc was a setup for the events that are unfolding since the pyramid (and even before that, considering, you know, that little familicide).

Possibly. But Tarquin was very controversial at times. I just think the pyramid was even more controversial, dramatic, and exciting.

Oh, and also let's never forget that more recent strips may simply benefit from more forum members and posters, as the readership grows. I'd bet that the kickstarter brought in a sizable amount of new followers...

Possibly. But you'd expect to see some sort of growth over the other books as well. And I don't think the posting figures are quite as lopsided for NCtfPB, W&XPs and DStP. Though I haven't checked so I most certainly might be wrong.

One thing that DID indubitably help was the nine-in-a-row. While having them one after another stopped each from realizing its full potential, it also set up a cascade where discussion was piling up by the hour as people were eagerly debating what happened next. As I look, five four of the nine-in-a-row strips are in the Top 25 for this past book. The one that immediately preceeded it is as well.

Funnily enough, if we restrict the range to 870 (Death in the Family) to 897 (Headed Downtown) you get 15 14 of the Top 25 of Book 5 in 28 updates.

...

That's not a bad run. :smalltongue:

ETA::: Whoops. Adjusted figures by one. Comic #872 (574 posts) got knocked off the Top 25 for Book 5 list by the discussion on Comic #900 (580 posts) and I missed it somehow.

Ooopsie. :smallredface:

Well, the numbers are still pretty impressive. :smallwink:

Ted The Bug

2013-07-30, 05:32 PM

\
Funnily enough, if we restrict the range to 870 (Death in the Family) to 897 (Headed Downtown) you get 15 of the Top 25 in 28 updates.

Wow, that really is impressive. I wonder if/by how much the comic's readership increased due to the Kickstarter. This is the first book-ending-level climax that's occurred since that happened, so that would explain why the larger number of readers is especially visible now.

Porthos

2013-07-30, 05:40 PM

Wow, that really is impressive. I wonder if/by how much the comic's readership increased due to the Kickstarter. This is the first book-ending-level climax that's occurred since that happened, so that would explain why the larger number of readers is especially visible now.

Well 'of Book 5', which was implied by my previous sentence. But no less impressive. :smallwink:

*goes back to edit that in for clarity*

As for KS driving things? Rich or the other admins (who have access to server stats) probalbly have a better judge on just how much the KS drive spiked forum activity and, more importantly, who long lasting that boost was. After all, how much of the KS drive uptick lasted after the enforced hiatius, to give one example.

Emanick

2013-07-31, 10:05 AM

It's official: #906 is the new #3 all-timer. That means that, as of now, the top 3 threads all postdate the Order entering the pyramid.

This has been one crackin' story arc.

Porthos

2013-08-03, 01:02 PM

907 misses getting into the Top 25 in 24 hours by one post.

Ouch. :smalltongue:

B. Dandelion

2013-08-03, 03:40 PM

First post updated. 906 - Nothing Lasts Forever (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0906.html) takes its rightful slot at #3 on the all-time chart, bumping the old #25, 695 - Paranoia Will Destroy Ya (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0695.html), off the list.

LadyEowyn

2013-08-05, 10:09 AM

Porthos

2013-08-05, 02:08 PM

Wow, 907's going to make the Top 25 as well. And it's not even very eventful, compared to some of the ones it's beating out (Roy's death; Miko's Fall).

That gives Book 5 at least 16 of the top 25 most-discussed strips. The audience for OotS must have grown quite a lot over the course of this book.

OTOH, in this specific case, the discussion in that thread stopped being about the actual comic a while ago and has kinda drifted into a free-for-all discussion about Tarquin, Nale and Redcloak. :smalltongue:

Gift Jeraff

2013-08-05, 05:07 PM

I would say that, even if the discussion has little to do with the actual strip, heated discussions still indicate a general interest in that particular strip. However, this is one of those "Forikroder frustrates everyone" derailments.

B. Dandelion

2013-08-07, 04:51 AM

Looks like 907 - Always Hiring (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0907.html) makes the all-time chart at #9, with 916 posts. But since this leaves the #25 slot as a tie, I can't bump just one of them off. So nothing's leaving the chart on this update. Next time a strip charts it will kick two strips off, but for now the top 25 is the top 26.

On the 24-hour chart, 908 - Reverse Polarity (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0908.html) racked up 682 posts, so it's the new #10. It kicks 496 - Responsible (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0496.html) from the bottom slot.

Porthos

2013-08-13, 08:05 PM

Something I've been working off and on for the last few days.

Still a Work in Progress to a degree, but I think I am satisfied with it enough to launch the first version of it.

I give you, The OotS Strips by Final Post Count, in Chart Form.

(Spoilered for long width)

http://i.imgur.com/o2CtO4c.png

I wanted to make the above chart to give some sort of visual representation to the growth of discussion over the years. See what sorts of peaks and valleys there were. Even see if there was a pattern at all. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised at how it actually came out.

Now, obviously, there are points to be made. Some discussions were ended early by a new strip going up. Forum being down or threads being shut down early are other considerations.

And yet I was still struck by the overall patterns that still emerged. Yes, there are spikes in discussion, along with large dips. Even so, there does seem to be a flow.

On my home version I played with some regression trendlines a bit. But, sadly, pretty much everything I know about regression analysis I got from reading Nate Silver. So not much, in other words. :smalltongue: But the overall trends seem to be pretty clear even without a dedicated trendline, so I nuked it in the design I have now.

I also have a VERY wide version of the above chart (coming in at over 3000 pixels wide :smalleek:) which can be clicked on here so people can see in detail the ebb and flow, strip by strip: http://i.imgur.com/AED883V.png

Other things I'm thinking of playing with is doing separate charts by book, by year, and possibly marking the chart by Big Events.

Currently it is updated to 910, as of an hour or two ago.

Finally, of course, I must give huge thanks to B. Dandelion for collating the raw data in the first place. Including trawling through all of the first threads to get post counts for the strips without their own dedicated threads. Without her work, I doubt I would have ever had the idea to do this. :smallsmile:

So with all of that said, anyone have any comments or observations about this?

Angel Bob

2013-08-13, 09:03 PM

Well, the first comment to be made is "Wow." That's a pretty awesome piece of work right there, and quite useful, to boot. For example, now we can see that the first significant bump in strip discussion came around #196 or so, the point at which Team Evil was reclaiming Xykon's fortress and recovered Serini's diary -- the first major infodump on the whole chronicle of the gates. And, of course, it should come as no surprise that the tallest peaks are from this past arc, which has been simply mind-blowing revelation after mind-blowing revelation.

Sir_Leorik

2013-08-13, 10:25 PM

So with all of that said, anyone have any comments or observations about this?

I'm speechless; you've put a lot of effort into that chart!

I noticed that a lot of the highest spikes are post-"DStP". Would any of those spikes correlate with the Kickstarter (i.e. did the forum gain many more members due to the Kickstarter)?

Grey_Wolf_c

2013-08-13, 10:29 PM

I'm speechless; you've put a lot of effort into that chart!

I noticed that a lot of the highest spikes are post-"DStP". Would any of those spikes correlate with the Kickstarter (i.e. did the forum gain many more members due to the Kickstarter)?

You can check for yourself - Kickstater is marked in the graph as "KS" and a dotted line.

GW

Sir_Leorik

2013-08-13, 10:36 PM

You can check for yourself - Kickstater is marked in the graph as "KS" and a dotted line.

GW

Thanks Grey Wolf c! I hadn't realized what the "KS" represented. It seems that the Kickstarter may have added to the frenzy that the discovery of the corpses of the Draketooths would have generated anyway.

Porthos

2013-08-13, 11:57 PM

Thanks all for the kind words. :smallsmile: Excel can be a handy tool at times. :smallwink:

And, yes, Grey_Wolf_c is exactly right about "KS". I gave it a dotted line to separate it from the books and made it a Kickstarter shade of Green.

If Book 5 is indeed Green colored, as I suspect it will be, I'll just go for a deeper shade of green for it. :smalltongue:

As for when spikes occur, that's one of the reasons I included the wiiiiiiiide version of the chart. If one looks closely enough for them, one can actually make out where each and every data point is, or at least guess when it is on an upward slope.

===

I mentioned trendlines earlier. Here is an example of what I was talking about:

http://i.imgur.com/KZ1C9ad.png

It's extremely smoothed out Moving Average Trendline (like order of 15 smoothed). Probably not what I am supposed to do with trendlines, but it seems to show the, well, trend, fairly well.

I'm not putting it my final version as it looks a little cluttered to my eyes. But it is a nice piece of extra info. For instance, it helps show how various story arcs went over well (or didn't as the case might be :smalltongue:).

If I ever do 'book charts' I might very well label it by arc as well as strip number. Mostly will depend on how cluttered it looks on the axis. :smallwink:

ChristianSt

2013-08-14, 06:32 PM

Really nice work!

What did you use to generate the graphs? (If I had to guess I would say gnuplot [because that is probably what I would try first for that], but I think there should be enough other options, so guessing might be not the best bet :smallwink:)

Seems you have beaten me to that, so Excel it was. (Maybe I should read more carefully before figuring out what I want to post :smallannoyed:)

B. Dandelion

2013-08-15, 01:22 AM

Porthos

2013-08-15, 01:51 AM

:smallbiggrin::smallcool::smallsmile: Oh gosh Porthos, wow! Seeing that visualized is a whole other ballgame. You can start seeing when the strip isn't just setting new records but new baseline posting averages. I love it. Thanks so much for putting it together.

So glad you like it. :smallsmile:

Also: whoo! Nate Silver rocks!

Yes he does. :smallwink:

I have fallen a little behind on updating with the newest strips, mostly 'cause my real life's gotten a bit hectic lately with work, family, and illnesses all acting up at the same time. I'll probably catch up sooner rather than later but I'm a little... drained at the moment.

Trust me when I say I understand completely. Hope things get better on that front.

Porthos you really made my week taking my old work and doing something new and exciting with it, I think that's a little more interesting than me updating with nearly every new strip the Giant puts out lately anyway, no?

The phrase 'shoulder of giants' comes to mind. :smallwink: And not just for the pun (which, honestly, I just realized I made :smallredface:).

In all honesty, I see them as complementary. It's not easy at all to see what the strips are in the Top 25 from either of my charts. At least not without spending a lot of unnecessary time. And you definitely can't peg the exact numbers of them.

To put it another way, my chart is the 30,000 foot view which can spot the overall trends while yours is the detailed in-the-weeds analysis if one wants to know the more exact information. To be honest, I've been getting a kick seeing your tables get updates and seeing old comics fall by the wayside.

So they're still interesting to me, I would say. :smalltongue:

Dr. Gamera

2013-08-21, 12:03 PM

Looks like 907 - Always Hiring (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0907.html) makes the all-time chart at #9, with 916 posts. But since this leaves the #25 slot as a tie, I can't bump just one of them off. So nothing's leaving the chart on this update. Next time a strip charts it will kick two strips off, but for now the top 25 is the top 26.

Looks as if 908 - Reverse Polarity (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0908.html) was the one to kick those two strips off, and unless everyone suddenly stops talking about 913 - Independent (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html) -- which includes the Giant having to lock the thread, should that eventuate for some reason -- the 913 discussion thread will also chart on the all-time list. It's already climbing up the 24-hour list.

137beth

2013-08-21, 04:03 PM

913 is currently number 6 on the 24 hour chart...and still several hours to go:smalleek:

Porthos

2013-08-21, 04:11 PM

913 is currently number 6 on the 24 hour chart...and still several hours to go:smalleek:

*does some back of the enevlope math*

Its gonna be close for the all time 24 hour mark. It's all gonna depend on whether or not discussion tapers off to plain energetic as opposed to streaming flood. :smalltongue:

137beth

2013-08-21, 08:30 PM

Up to 4th place! Still several hours left!

mattie_p

2013-08-21, 08:56 PM

My rough estimate is that it will finish at number 2.

Porthos

2013-08-21, 09:02 PM

My rough estimate is that it will finish at number 2.

It's dropped off dramatically the last few hours. If it's lucky, it might squeak into third, but I'm now pegging it for fourth. But I don't see much beyond that. Too much of the conversation splintered into all of the Tarquin/Nale threads on the first page right now.

As I said in a following post, I looked at the wrong list. My bad. :smallredface: :smalltongue:

Yeah, it'll hit #2, but that's it.

mattie_p

2013-08-21, 09:11 PM

It's dropped off dramatically the last few hours. If it's lucky, it might squeak into third, but I'm now pegging it for fourth. But I don't see much beyond that. Too much of the conversation splintered into all of the Tarquin/Nale threads on the first page right now.

It's already in 4th place at 879, with 3 hours to go. It can almost certainly get 8 more posts to bring it into 3rd, only needs another 36 beyond that to get into 2nd place. And there it will stop.

Porthos

2013-08-21, 09:20 PM

It's already in 4th place at 879, with 3 hours to go. It can almost certainly get 8 more posts to bring it into 3rd, only needs another 36 beyond that to get into 2nd place. And there it will stop.

Whoops. I was looking at the wrong list. :smallredface: :smalltongue:

*redoes calcuations*

Yeah, second sounds like a decent bet. My bad. :smallsmile:

B. Dandelion

2013-08-21, 09:38 PM

My dad's out of the hospital. :smallsmile:

Looks as if 908 - Reverse Polarity (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0908.html) was the one to kick those two strips off, and unless everyone suddenly stops talking about 913 - Independent (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html) -- which includes the Giant having to lock the thread, should that eventuate for some reason -- the 913 discussion thread will also chart on the all-time list. It's already climbing up the 24-hour list.

Yes. 908 - Reverse Polarity makes the all-time chart at #9 with 930 posts. That kicks 443 - The First Step is a Doozy (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0443.html) and 843 - Lack of Foresight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0843.html) off the chart.

I'm not gonna mention 910 being locked since that did happen after the next strip + thread were up.

I'll probably update with a new spreadsheet/main page change after the 24-hour deadline's gone by for 913. Which is in a few hours from now. Huh, I thought I was farther behind than this, but I got Reverse Polarity after the 24-hour mark and the following four strips didn't chart. That's a relief. My last two weeks kinda sucked and the comic's been on a real rapid winning streak lately, so I thought it was getting away from me as I was too tired to really keep track of it, but it looks okay. Cool.

Grey_Wolf_c

2013-08-21, 10:10 PM

My dad's out of the hospital. :smallsmile:

Congrats!

GW

Porthos

2013-08-21, 10:18 PM

My dad's out of the hospital. :smallsmile:

Congrats!

Likewise. :smallsmile:

137beth

2013-08-21, 10:56 PM

My dad's out of the hospital. :smallsmile:

Yay!

913 is 3rd on the 24 hour chart...will it make 2nd?!?

B. Dandelion

2013-08-22, 12:43 AM

Congrats!

GW

Likewise. :smallsmile:

Yay!

Thank you so much... I'm so relieved.

All right, so with 909 posts at the 24-hour mark (looks like post #909 is yours, Porthos), "913 - Independent (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html)" charts at #3, so Nale being killed rates just below Nale killing. Hrm.

It pushes 879 - Running on Empty (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0879.html) off the 24-hour chart.

Porthos

2013-08-22, 12:46 AM

All right, so with 909 posts at the 24-hour mark (looks like post #909 is yours, Porthos), "913 - Independent (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html)" charts at #3, so Nale being killed rates just below Nale killing. Hrm.

There's a little bit of serendipity there.

#3) Tarquin Kills Nale
#2) Nale Kills Malack
#1) Malack Kill Durkon

Logically the strip where someone kills Tarquin should clock in at #4. :smalltongue:

Crusher

2013-08-22, 06:27 AM

I'm glad to hear about your father, B. Dandelion.

Sir_Leorik

2013-08-22, 10:41 AM

My dad's out of the hospital. :smallsmile:

Congratulations! I hope he has a complete recovery! :smallsmile:

137beth

2013-08-23, 12:52 AM

Wow, 913 is already up to 6th on the all time chart:smalleek:

137beth

2013-08-23, 03:49 PM

913 is locked with 1136 posts, making it 5th on the all-time list.

Porthos

2013-08-23, 04:13 PM

913 is locked with 1136 posts, making it 5th on the all-time list.

Might be a bit premature as it is 'only' under review at the moment. Might get re-opened at some point.

===

On a different subject since my charts went over so well (and thanks for the appreciation :smallsmile:), I'm going to continue doing them. But I'm thinking about updating them every ten or twenty strips or so. No real point to putting them up one-by-one after all.

Also still thinking about breaking them down by book. Or maybe story arc. Just because. See how it goes, I suppose.

So the next ones I'll put up will either be at 920/930 or whenever this blessed book finally ends. :smalltongue:

hamishspence

2013-08-27, 09:09 AM

The 24 hour post count for strip #914 is 533 posts- which will correspond to #22 on the chart.

Dr. Gamera

2013-08-30, 12:02 PM

If I calculated correctly, it looks as if #915 slipped into the top-25 list for posts in the first 24 hours.

B. Dandelion

2013-08-30, 09:30 PM

Thanks again to everybody for well-wishing my dad. He had pneumonia and they had to drain his lung, which was a little scary, but he's been doing a lot better -- up and mobile and not housebound. Huge relief. Thanks everybody, you all are the best. :smallsmile::smallcool:

Okay! So, 913 - Independent (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html) charts on the all-time list at #5. (Unfortunately, it also rates a mention on the "locked prematurely" list.)

This pushes 895 - Plain Sight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0895.html) from the all-time chart.

I apologize as I wasn't quite timely enough to note 914 - Last in the Coffin (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0914.html) charting at #22 on the 24-hour chart, which bumped 843 - Lack of Foresight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0843.html) from the list.

Right on its heels, 915 - Custom Framing While You Wait (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0915.html) charts at #24 on the 24-hour chart, which pushes 661 - The Path of Least Expectation (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0661.html) from the list.

I look forward to your updated chart, Porthos! Thanks again for doing that, it is so neat to see all that visualized!

LadyEowyn

2013-08-31, 07:05 PM

Now every thread on the Top 25 all-time list has at least 700 posts.

Also, 16 of the top 25 are from Book 5 (and 14 of those are from after the Order found Girard's pyramid). That's pretty impressive.

Most of the ones not from Book 5 involve Miko or V.

137beth

2013-08-31, 07:13 PM

And on the 24 hour chart, 19 of the top 25 are from the current book.

hamishspence

2013-09-04, 01:25 AM

At 576 posts, strip 916 charts at 18 on the 24 hour chart.

Porthos

2013-09-04, 01:34 AM

Also, and this is more for the database you keep, but 19 posts should be added to Comic #74 (I think :smallwink:) due to the thread necromancy that occured recently.

Bookkeeping, gotta love it. :smalltongue:

Porthos

2013-09-05, 05:41 PM

Hey, remember when we were wondering aloud about the Tarquin strips not driving as much conversation as the pyramid arc?

*looks at the how the last eight or so strips have been doing in the totals*
*sees five of the last eight strips are now in the Top 25 for Book 5*

Yeah. Silly us. :smalltongue:

hamishspence

2013-09-06, 10:48 AM

#917 should be #19 on the 24 hour chart - at 565 posts- once #916 has been added.

Porthos

2013-09-26, 02:02 PM

I said before that I would update the charts I posted earlier every 10 updates or so. So with that in mind, I give you:

The OotS Strips by Final Post Count, in Chart Form - Updated Through Comic 920 :smallsmile:
http://i.imgur.com/rsMcPvH.png

And the customary link to the Long Form Version of the chart for those who want a much more detailed look at the chart. Reminder it comes in at over 3000 pixels, so be prepared for a bit of a long pic http://i.imgur.com/wKQ7SSk.png

But that's not all! I also have a new chart for people to feast their eyes upon (in two versions, naturally). :smallsmile:

I give you, for the first time:

The OotS Strips Post Count After 24 Hours , in Chart Form - Updated Through Comic 920:
http://i.imgur.com/rsMcPvH.png

And of course, the monitor breaking long width version of it, via link: http://i.imgur.com/j0WLoPg.png

What's interesting about that chart is the unprecedented spike the drive has seen ever since the Durkon/Malack fight. Yes, there had been a slow creep upwards (accounting for various peaks and valleys) throughout the course of the comic. And, yes, there was a bit of an uptick when the Kickstarter launched. But the comments absolutely exploded during and after that fight.

And it hasn't shown much signs of calming back down again.

What I will find interesting to see is if the rate of posting within the first 24 hours will dampen down a bit once this arc has faded into the rear view mirror. Or are we in a 'new normal' when it comes to commenting on the comic.

Time will tell, I suppose. Well that, and just how many controversial/exciting story lines are ongoing I suppose. :smalltongue:

LadyEowyn

2013-09-26, 02:37 PM

Strips 916 (770 posts) and 917 (895 posts) need to be added to the Top 25 (total posts) list.

hamishspence

2013-11-05, 01:56 PM

Have there been any that qualify for Top 25 since it was last updated?

Porthos

2013-11-05, 02:25 PM

Have there been any that qualify for Top 25 since it was last updated?

*does a quick scan*

Aside from 916 (Top 25/Top 25 24 hr) and 917 (Top 25/Top 25 24 hr) needing to be put in the list, no. Things have quieted down a bit in the last month and a half.

CORRECTION

Forgot to check the latest strip on the 24 hour chart. :smallredface: :smallredface: :smalltongue: :smalltongue:

928 will clock into the 24 hour chart, displacing Comic #887. :smallsmile:

Porthos

2013-11-05, 06:26 PM

Comic #928 officially clocks in at 601 posts at the 24 hour mark. That knocks off #887 off the list.

hamishspence

2013-11-11, 05:04 PM

At 696 posts, Strip 929 is definitely on the 24 hour chart.

Gift Jeraff

2013-11-11, 11:36 PM

This used to be V and Miko: The Thread, now it's all Elan's family and Malack.

Porthos

2013-11-13, 08:53 PM

#929 settles into the Top 25 at spot number seven.

I strongly suspect that #930 will not only break into the Top 25 in 24 hr but also smash its way into the Top 25 proper as well.

Just a hunch, mind. :smallamused:

Mordae

2013-11-14, 03:30 PM

#930 clocks in at 834 posts for 24 hours, a clear top 25 but not quite top 5 material.

Hogwarts9876

2013-11-16, 10:44 PM

genderlich

2013-11-17, 02:10 AM

This used to be V and Miko: The Thread, now it's all Elan's family and Malack.

Reading the past 30-ish strips, it's easy to see why so many of them are filling up the top 25. They've had a greater concentration of huge, crazy, dramatic twists than pretty much any other part of the comic. First the gate blows up. Then Xykon shows up, and promptly leaves. Then Nale kills Malack. Then Durkon kills Ztt'dri and rejoins the Order. Then Tarquin shows up with an army and two of his really high-level allies. Then Tarquin Kills Nale and orders his army to kill the Order. Then V is released from her imprisonment, Belkar gets a T-Rex, and they face off against Team Tarquin. They start losing, and it looks like Tarquin's about to kill Roy. Then Julio Scoundrel shows up. I'm surprised more of these aren't near the top by post count.

Porthos

2013-11-19, 02:31 PM

#930 will settle in at spot #3 All Time. Currently at 1345 posts, though that number might move a tad as the last of the arguments are settled.

*checks comic number*

Say, that was comic number 930. That means it's been 10 strips since comic #920. Which also means it has been ten strips since I last posted the updated grphical charts for this thread!!

Better get to it then, I suppose. :smalltongue:

The OotS Strips by Final Post Count, in Graphical Chart Form - Updated Through Comic 930:
http://i.imgur.com/w0RMqyx.png

And, of course, the link to the Long Form Version of the chart for those who want a much more detailed look at the chart. And when I say Long Form, I mean it (at over 3000 pixels). :smallwink:

http://i.imgur.com/WAhYOWn.png

And, as I introduced last time:

The OotS Strips Post Count After 24 Hours , in Chart Form - Updated Through Comic 930:

http://i.imgur.com/2XDtTkw.png

With the Long Form, as well:

http://i.imgur.com/U2ptfnw.png

===

The observation I take away from this is that, yes indeed there was a bit of a drop off in posting in this last ten set of strips.... Until it looked like the Order was about to get their heads handed to them. And then the fur really started to fly when a certain dashing swordsman re-entered the picture. :smallwink:

Still, as I look back, even though the posting was going in a downward trajectory (before the latest spike) there will still more posts being made than in the last downward trajectory before the Gate went kerplooie.

Flame of Anor

2013-11-19, 05:21 PM

Reading the past 30-ish strips, it's easy to see why so many of them are filling up the top 25. They've had a greater concentration of huge, crazy, dramatic twists than pretty much any other part of the comic. First the gate blows up. Then Xykon shows up, and promptly leaves. Then Nale kills Malack. Then Durkon kills Ztt'dri and rejoins the Order. Then Tarquin shows up with an army and two of his really high-level allies. Then Tarquin Kills Nale and orders his army to kill the Order. Then V is released from her imprisonment, Belkar gets a T-Rex, and they face off against Team Tarquin. They start losing, and it looks like Tarquin's about to kill Roy. Then Julio Scoundrel shows up. I'm surprised more of these aren't near the top by post count.

Well, also that the comic has gradually been getting wider and wider readership.

hamishspence

2013-11-21, 06:21 PM

At 634 posts, strip 932 is fairly low on the top 25 in 24 Hours chart.

What does the chart look like now with all the recent additions?

Porthos

2013-11-21, 08:59 PM

At 634 posts, strip 932 is fairly low on the top 25 in 24 Hours chart.

What does the chart look like now with all the recent additions?

Here's the Quick and Dirty version I have on my home computer:

Top 25 24hr All Time
Comic Posts
0877 1020
0906 922
0913 909
0841 886
0448 873
0930 834
0878 816
0406 769
0595 714
0876 709
0408 699
0929 696
0908 682
0707 658
0886 655
0842 649
0932 634
0870 608
0830 606
0464 603
0928 586
0916 576
0917 565
0872 561
0443 550

DeliaP

2013-12-20, 09:51 AM

Did #934 make it to the #3 spot? (Not sure how it's counted.) When does the main list at the beginning get updated?

LadyEowyn

2014-01-08, 11:49 PM

Well, 936 is going to be one of the top 25 by final post count. So far, it's 13th. Did it make the top 25 for posts in the first 24hrs?

Porthos

2014-01-09, 12:42 AM

Well, 936 is going to be one of the top 25 by final post count. So far, it's 13th. Did it make the top 25 for posts in the first 24hrs?

No it didn't. Missed it by around 70 posts. FWIW, Comic #936 is currently sitting at Slot #20 (more on this below).

===

B. Dandelion hasn't logged in a while, so the charts haven't been updated. I keep track of things on my own computer (though without the wonderful descriptions she provides), so I can give a temporary update in mini-chart form until she comes back to the thread. :smallsmile:

(As of Jan 08, 2014 - 9:30 pm PST)

{table]# | Comic # | No. of Posts
1 | 0841 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0841.html) | 1447
2 | 0870 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0870.html) | 1424
3 | 0934 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0934.html) | 1375
4 | 0930 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0930.html) | 1349
5 | 0906 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0906.html) | 1331
6 | 0448 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0448.html) | 1160
7 | 0913 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html) | 1136
8 | 0886 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html) | 1130
9 | 0932 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0932.html) | 1123
10 | 0929 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0929.html) | 1110
11 | 0406 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0406.html) | 1048
12 | 0877 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html) | 1040
13 | 0928 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0928.html) | 966
14 | 0595 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0595.html) | 958
15 | 0908 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0908.html) | 930
16 | 0907 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0907.html) | 916
17 | 0935 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0935.html) | 906
18 | 0842 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) | 904
19 | 0917 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0917.html) | 895
20 | 0936 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0936.html) | 890+
21 | 0408 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0408.html) | 876
22 | 0639 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0639.html) | 875
23 | 0878 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0878.html) | 861
24 | 0830 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html) | 854
25 | 0879 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0879.html) | 848[/table]

{table]# | Comic # | No. of Posts
1 | 0877 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html) | 1020
2 | 0906 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0906.html) | 922
3 | 0913 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html) | 909
4 | 0841 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0841.html) | 886
5 | 0448 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0448.html) | 873
6 | 0930 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0930.html) | 834
7 | 0878 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0878.html) | 816
8 | 0406 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0406.html) | 769
9 | 0595 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0595.html) | 714
10 | 0876 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0876.html) | 709
11 | 0408 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0408.html) | 699
12 | 0929 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0929.html) | 696
13 | 0908 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0908.html) | 682
14 | 0707 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0707.html) | 658
15 | 0886 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html) | 655
16 | 0842 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) | 649
17 | 0932 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0932.html) | 634
18 | 0870 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0870.html) | 608
19 | 0830 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html) | 606
20 | 0464 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0464.html) | 603
21 | 0928 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0928.html) | 586
22 | 0916 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0916.html) | 576
23 | 0935 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0935.html) | 576
24 | 0934 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0934.html) | 566
25 | 0917 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0917.html) | 565
[/table]

{table]# | Comic # | No. of Posts
1 | 0870 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0870.html) | 1424
2 | 0930 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0930.html) | 1349
3 | 0906 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0906.html) | 1331
4 | 0913 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html) | 1136
5 | 0886 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html) | 1130
6 | 0932 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0932.html) | 1123
7 | 0929 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0929.html) | 1110
8 | 0877 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0887.html) | 1040
9 | 0928 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0928.html) | 966
10 | 0908 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0908.html) | 930[/table]

{table]# | Comic # | No. of Posts
1 | 0841 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0841.html) | 1447
2 | 0870 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0870.html) | 1424
3 | 0934 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0934.html) | 1375
4 | 0930 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0930.html) | 1349
5 | 0906 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0906.html) | 1331
6 | 0913 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0913.html) | 1136
7 | 0886 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html) | 1130
8 | 0932 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0932.html) | 1123
9 | 0929 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0929.html) | 1110
10 | 0877 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html) | 1040
11 | 0928 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0928.html) | 966
12 | 0908 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0908.html) | 930
13 | 0907 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0907.html) | 916
14 | 0935 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0935.html) | 906
15 | 0842 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) | 904
16 | 0917 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0917.html) | 895
17 | 0936 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0936.html) | 890+
18 | 0878 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0878.html) | 861
19 | 0830 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html) | 854
20 | 0879 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0879.html) | 848
21 | 0934 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0934.html) | 825
22 | 0707 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0707.html) | 809
23 | 0916 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0916.html) | 770
24 | 0880 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0880.html) | 764
25 | 0876 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0876.html) | 763[/table]

I went ahead and quickly complied some 2013 and Book 5 (so far) mini-charts in case people were curious about them. Hopefully B. Dandelion won't think I am stealing her thunder. :smalltongue: :smallwink:

137beth

2014-01-09, 08:48 PM

So, how long do we wait before you start a new thread?

Porthos

2014-01-09, 09:15 PM

So, how long do we wait before you start a new thread?

I think I'll drop her a PM (in case she has email notification) within the next few days and go from there. I am loathe to start a new thread when she hasn't been offline that long.

Flame of Anor

2014-01-10, 02:44 AM

I think I'll drop her a PM (in case she has email notification) within the next few days and go from there. I am loathe to start a new thread when she hasn't been offline that long.

I'd give it a week or so, but after that go for it.

137beth

2014-01-11, 12:37 AM

936 is currently at 11th place for all time, and could well breach the top 10.
Incidentally, only one of the top 10 on the all time list was from before book 5.

LadyEowyn

2014-01-11, 02:37 PM

Incidentally, only one of the top 10 on the all time list was from before book 5.

Three of the top 10 are from before Book 5 - Miko killing Shojo, Xykon killing the Sapphire Guard, and Vaarsuvius killing Kubota.

Porthos

2014-01-11, 02:49 PM

Three of the top 10 are from before Book 5 - Miko killing Shojo, Xykon killing the Sapphire Guard, and Vaarsuvius killing Kubota.

No, 137ben is right. Currently, only one pre Book Five comic is in the Top Ten:

Comic Posts
1 0841 1447
2 0870 1424
3 0934 1375
4 0930 1349
5 0906 1331
6 0448 1160
7 0913 1136
8 0886 1130
9 0932 1123
10 0929 1110

Remember, the OP hasn't been updated since #915.

Porthos

2014-01-20, 03:56 PM

OK, I've both PMed and sent email (via the Forum) to B. Dandelion, and I haven't heard back from her. Thing is, I am loathe to restart someone else's project without a long absence or without their OK. It just feels a bit off.

OTOH, there is clearly still interest in the community for this, and the Opening Post hasn't been updated since last September. So with reluctance, I think I might indeed be willing to take over and start a new thread.

I'd have to get the mods permission to start a new thread on this subject though, given that this thread is still within the 45 day window (even more so since I am responding to it again :smalltongue:). I'd also might want some time to possibly rework things a tad so it has my own voice and isn't stealing B. Dandelion's postings.

If I do indeed restart this, I'll be adding my visual charts that I've been making into the OP, for instance. And I think I might either use my own descriptions for the comics, or use the ones given in the Summaries of the Stick (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=325095) project that has just launched. Want to think about that a tad.

Since the end of the current book is nigh, I think I would relaunch this project, pending mod approval, once Book 5 is over. That way we can start fresh with the Top Lists of 2013 and Book 5 all in one go. It'll also give me time to ruminate about what other things I might add to the Opening Post.

Plus, you know, it gives a little bit more time for B. Dandelion to come back. :smallwink:

Any thoughts on the above?

LadyEowyn

2014-01-21, 08:35 PM

I think it would be good to post an new thread with an update, and if B. Dandelion comes back then she can make another new thread and resume being in charge of the list. In the short term, less 'taking it over' then maintaining things while she's away. If she doesn't come back for a couple months then - if you want to - you could take things over.

Waiting until the end of Book 5 makes sense.

137beth

2014-01-23, 11:10 PM

The only catch about waiting until book 5 is over is that a long break in the comic updates could mean a slowly-but-steadily-expanding discussion thread.

Porthos

2014-01-23, 11:14 PM

The only catch about waiting until book 5 is over is that a long break in the comic updates could mean a slowly-but-steadily-expanding discussion thread.

True. But I don't particularly care that much about shifting things up/down if need be. :smallsmile:

Makes something to talk about, actually. :smallwink:

137beth

2014-01-26, 04:31 PM

941 gets 213 on the 24 hour chart...nowhere close to the top 25.

Gift Jeraff

2014-01-26, 06:05 PM

Wait until start of Book 6, says I.

Porthos

2014-01-31, 02:49 PM

I've heard back from B. Dandelion and she had that noxious combination of having a dead computer and being really busy in RL. She hopes to get the time/energy to get back here soon. Hopefully within the next week or so.

As such, I'm calling off the putsch (that I didn't want to do in the first place :smalltongue:) and will patiently await for her return. :smallsmile:

PS: I'll get up the visual charts for the 930-940 group soon. Hopefully today. I was a tad busy myself the last couple of days with the Stick Awards project plus setting up my fantasy baseball league that I host elsewhere. :smallwink:

Porthos

2014-02-01, 02:05 PM

Well I said I would update the Post Count in Visual Chart form, so here it is.

I hope people are still finding it useful/interesting. :smalltongue:

The OotS Strips by Final Post Count, in Graphical Chart Form - Updated Through Comic 940:
http://i.imgur.com/OcqqYuB.png

And, of course, the link to the Long Form Version of the chart for those who want a much more detailed look at the chart. And when I say Long Form, I mean it (at over 3000 pixels). :smallwink:

http://i.imgur.com/WKZBrsg.png

And, as is now standard:
The OotS Strips Post Count After 24 Hours , in Chart Form - Updated Through Comic 940:

http://i.imgur.com/xwefTCd.png

With the Long Form, as well:

http://i.imgur.com/w0XViWk.png

NOTE:::::: I just noticed as I was about to hit Submit Post that the charts say "Last Updated 930" instead of "Last Updated 940".

Err... Ooops. :smalltongue: Well, I don't feel like fixing it right now. Maybe later. But probably not. :smallbiggrin:

I'll make sure to edit it proper like the next time I post 'em though.

===

As for observations on the posting in the last 10 strips? Well I actually think the post spikes in this group is a tad misleading as there was a flood of off-topic posting going on in quite a few of those threads. But that's an observation and not a complaint.

Well, for the purposes of this thread at least. :smalltongue:

But I do think things are starting to quiet down a bit on the posting front, even though the chart doesn't show it yet. Perhaps a consequence of being in the denoucement phase of the current arc. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a bit of a downtick in the posting curve as the next book starts up (whether or not there is a vacation to allow Rich the oppritunity to recharge :smallwink:).

Jaxzan Proditor

2014-02-01, 02:21 PM

Wow! That's amazing, Porthos. Totally bookmarking those.

Crusher

2014-02-01, 09:23 PM

I really do like your charts and appreciate them, Porthos, as well as you having picked up the slack while B.Dandelion was out (and I'm also glad to hear that she's ok. You never know about these things).

B. Dandelion

2014-02-09, 11:49 PM

My sincerest apologies for the wait, guys. Major props to Porthos, again, for his hard work, especially in my absence. Thanks a lot, man, it's appreciated.

New totals are up. I'll give you guys a play-by-play in a bit, and then the top ten for 2013.

Porthos

2014-02-10, 02:13 AM

*throws confetti in the air for the return of B. Dandelion*
:elan:: It's celebration time!!!

B. Dandelion

2014-02-10, 03:15 AM

I lucked out severely in that none of the strips I was gone for appeared and then immediately disappeared from the all-time charts. They did change position from when they first arrived, of course, and you can see their final position on the chart on the front page, but here's where they debuted (and what got knocked off when they did).

916 - Executive Order (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0916.html) charted on the top 25-in-24 chart at #18, bumping off 873 - Spell Check (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0873.html). It didn't chart on the all-time list, however.

Strip 917 - Hold On (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0917.html) debuted on the all time chart at #13, pushing 407 - Fading (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0407.html) off the charts. It also placed #19 on the 24-hour chart, kicking off 915 - Custom Framing While You Wait (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0915.html).

Bit of a break, then:

928 - Go (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0928.html) came in at #9 all-time, killing off 887 - Happy Ending (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0887.html). On the 24-hour chart, it came it at #18, where it killed off -- again -- 887 - Happy Ending (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0887.html).

929 - Through (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0929.html) debuted at #7 all-time, pushing 284 - Shattered Expectations (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0284.html) from the chart. On the 24-hour chart, it came in at #11, and kicked off 914 - Last in the Coffin (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0914.html).

930 - Overshadowed (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0930.html) jumped straight up to the #3 spot all-time, which bumps 876 - Ensnared (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0876.html) from the list. On the 24-hour chart, it was #6 at debut, knocking off 875 - Calm, Orderly, and Efficient (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0875.html).

932 - His Number One Fan (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0932.html) came in at #8 for its all-time debut, which bumped off 880 - Getting the Message (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0880.html). On the 24-hour chart, it ranked a much lower #17, displacing 407 - Fading (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0407.html).

Then 934 - All Hands on Deck (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0934.html) took the #3 slot for itself, which took 707 - That's Probably Why There Are, Like, 17 Types (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0707.html) from the all-time chart. On the 24-hour chart, its rank to start was #23, which kills off 443 - The First Step is a Doozy (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0443.html) for good this time.

935 - Caster Fight (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0935.html) started at position #17. So Vaarsuvius v. Laurin bumped off Miko v. Belkar in 270 - Dueling Egos (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0270.html). This means the second book no longer charts in the top 25 of all time at all (:smallfrown:), although it's a lopsided contest since we didn't change to the modern method of having one thread per strip until a good 3/4ths of the way through that book. Caster Fight also charted on the 24-hour chart as #23 (so yes those two strips in a row came in at 23, obviously this bumped down 934), displacing 872 - Concession Stand (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0872.html).

936 - End of the Line (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0936.html) started at position #10 all-time. Tarquin's exit killed off Miko's in 464 - Not for Everyone (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0464.html), which leaves the chart. It did not chart on the 24-hour list. (!)

939 - Donation Drive (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0939.html) scores a #12 spot all-time and kicks 879 - Running on Empty (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0879.html) from the list. Oddly thematically similar there. Again, didn't score on the 24-hour chart.

137beth

2014-02-10, 09:18 PM

Welcome Back:smallsmile:

Porthos

2014-02-19, 09:36 PM

#946 comes in at 651 posts at the 24 hour mark, settling in at #16 on the 24 hour chart with #917 being knocked off the list.

B. Dandelion

2014-02-20, 01:29 AM

#946 comes in at 651 posts at the 24 hour mark, settling in at #16 on the 24 hour chart with #917 being knocked off the list.

That, yes. :smallsmile: Once 946 has been up for sufficient time it'll finally be time to do the top 25 for the upcoming book.

factotum

2014-02-20, 03:08 AM

#946 comes in at 651 posts at the 24 hour mark, settling in at #16 on the 24 hour chart with #917 being knocked off the list.

I'm surprised it only got that far, considering the revelations the strip contains!

Porthos

2014-02-20, 03:22 AM

I'm surprised it only got that far, considering the revelations the strip contains!

The conversation really died off after the initial OMGWTFBBQ11!1 factor faded.

Maybe people are all argued out after this epic arc, and they want to take a bit of a breather. :smallwink:

I joke a bit, but I have noticed something of a dropoff the last couple of months in posting, although it was masked a tad with some of the Friendly Banter style chatting that has occasionally reared its head in the Discussion threads.

I think the other factor is, for this specific case at least, a lot of the discussion about the ramifications of 946 are being done on other threads instead of most of it happening in the main thread.

Makes for a slightly livelier forum, at least. If not as an exciting main thread. :smallwink:

Unless some sort of flame war spirited discussion breaks out in 946's discussion thread, I don't think it's gonna rise that much higher up the various lists. Even with a six week gap between strips.

NOTE: By saying this, I have of course, jinxed it.
NOTE NOTE: By saying that, I have of course jinxed the jinx.
NOTE NOTE NOTE: And by saying th...

Well, you get the idea. :smalltongue:

Porthos

2014-04-01, 06:15 PM

Looks like 946 will now fade into the sunset at a symmetrical 1001 posts. And since it won't move much beyond that, I believe I promised some people some of my Posts in Graphic Chart Form for the end of Book 5.

And what better time than the present to do so?

[NOTE: Fair warning for the extreme spoilerphobes: The following charts all contain the acroynm for Book Five, as well as the approximate color shade of the book. I may be putting it behind White Space elsewhere, but here is where I draw the line (pun unintentional). :smalltongue:]

So without further ado:

The OotS Strips by Final Post Count, in Graphical Chart Form - Updated Through Book 5:
http://i.imgur.com/a41pjfb.png

And, of course, the link to the Long Form Version of the chart for those who want a much more detailed look at the chart. When I say Long Form, I really do mean it (at over 3000 pixels). :smallwink:

http://i.imgur.com/JidVq2g.png

As is now standard:
The OotS Strips Post Count After 24 Hours , in Graphical Chart Form - Updated Through Book 5:
http://i.imgur.com/vFUj8z3.png

With the accompanying Long Form, as well:

http://i.imgur.com/crSd2HJ.png

===

Analysis perhaps later. Gots other things to do right now. :smalltongue:

DeliaP

2014-04-02, 04:41 PM

I'm surprised it only got that far, considering the revelations the strip contains!

Ah, maybe the really high ones are the ones that raise questions and possibilities. #946 mainly answered questions (or at least answered the biggest most argumentative question stalking the forum at that point), so less to argue about?

137beth

2014-04-02, 06:20 PM

Ah, maybe the really high ones are the ones that raise questions and possibilities. #946 mainly answered questions (or at least answered the biggest most argumentative question stalking the forum at that point), so less to argue about?

Makes sense. Seeing the Draketeeth dead generated a lot more posts than finding out how they died did.

Porthos

2014-05-15, 06:37 PM

We haven't come close to having thing enter anything on the all time charts, but that's to be expected at the beginning of an arc/book. And I have the charts to prove it. :smalltongue:

More importantly, we passed 950 a while back and I think enough time as passed to ensure that no one else is going to be posting in that thread. Thus, time for the 10 strip update. Would have posted it a while ago, but I've been swamped with other projects. Oh well, better late than never, as they say.

[NOTE: Fair warning for the extreme spoilerphobes: The following charts all contain the acronym for Book Five, as well as the approximate color shade of the book. I may be putting it behind White Space elsewhere, but here is where I draw the line (pun unintentional). :smalltongue:]

So without any further waffling from me....

The OotS Strips by Final Post Count, in Graphical Chart Form - Updated Through 950:
http://i.imgur.com/my2RC2B.png

And, as is standard, the link to the Long Form Version of the chart for those who want a much more detailed look at the chart. Remember, when I say Long Form, I really do mean it (at over 3000 pixels).

http://i.imgur.com/9ZS3UEV.png

As well as:
The OotS Strips Post Count After 24 Hours , in Graphical Chart Form - Updated Through 950:
http://i.imgur.com/l1Su2Lw.png

With it's accompanying Long Form:

http://i.imgur.com/5wTcq7i.png

=====

As I noted at the top, things have been a little quiet, both in post totals and in initial response. I think part of that was due to the forum downtime and other factors. But I think most of it is simply due to the fact that we're at the beginning of a brand new book, thus there isn't much out there for us to instigate flamewars over have long passionate discussions about. It also helps that where there IS discussion, it's being done in various dedicated threads as opposed to happening in the main thread.

Makes for a nice change of pace, IMO. :smallsmile:

Aside from that, not much to analyze. It's only been four strips, after all. Only so much blood one can squeeze out of a stone, even in this community. :smallwink:

=====

NOTE: As I was about to hit Submit Post, I realized I didn't update the "Lasted Updated - XXX" bit in the charts. Well I don't feel like going back and fixing them and re-uploading them. :smalltongue: But they are indeed updated to 950, even if it doesn't say so.

That's the second time I've made that mistake. :-o Must remember to triple check that before I start playing with the image files.

Porthos

2014-07-29, 10:07 PM

Jaxzan Proditor

2014-07-29, 10:17 PM

Well, looks like we have the first entrant into the Top 25 for this book.

...

Not exactly the discussion thread I would have guessed when the strip went up, but these things happen I suppose. :smalltongue:

One day, I'll look back at this thread and go "how did that strip get so many posts?" and then I'll remember...

Porthos

2014-08-02, 02:31 PM

One day, I'll look back at this thread and go "how did that strip get so many posts?" and then I'll remember...

It's about to break into the Top Five if it keeps going like it is today. :smallsigh:

And, really, it's not about the comic anymore, if it ever really was. The truly sad thing is, it was starting to quiet down before flaring back up again today. :smallsigh:

Jaxzan Proditor

2014-08-02, 02:57 PM

It's about to break into the Top Five if it keeps going like it is today. :smallsigh:
I hadn't realized it had gone that far. I can see my reactions now.

"That's the strip where the Draketooths were revealed to be dead, makes sense. That's where Malack was revealed, also makes sense. Then we have Tarquin threatening to kill everything Elan holds dear, Julio coming to the rescue, Malack' s death, and... Haley and Bandana sitting down and talking? :smallconfused:"

And, really, it's not about the comic anymore, if it ever really was. The truly sad thing is, it was starting to quiet down before flaring back up again today. :smallsigh:
Yeah, we were having a discussion about LOTR and it's movie adaptation and then things exploded. :smallsigh:

Porthos

2014-08-02, 03:03 PM

I hadn't realized it had gone that far. I can see my reactions now.

"That's the strip where the Draketooths were revealed to be dead, makes sense. That's where Malack was revealed, also makes sense. Then we have Tarquin threatening to kill everything Elan holds dear, Julio coming to the rescue, Malack' s death, and... Haley and Bandana sitting down and talking? :smallconfused:"

There is a slight mitigating factor in regards to how long the strip has been up (which I can only reference, but not discuss).

But, even so.

....

Yeah. One of these is not like the others.