General Tarquin vs. Julio Scoundrél

[Messenger]

I'm of the "Julio is going to lose/die" camp, but after seeing this update/#931, I've got the same hopes as Elan: "a special hero can defy stories themselves."

So let's weigh things out, shall we?

Julio Scoundrel is #32 of the Top 100 Swordsmen of the Century. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0390.html) We've never seen him fight before, but he's doing pretty good now.

General Tarquin is, in his own words, "the finest warrior of his generation". (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0822.html) It's a shameless self-assessment, but then (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0761.html) he wasn't (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0851.html) just bragging (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0929.html). Makes you wonder where on that Top 100 list he is.

All that said, even if Julio does lose, maybe he won't really (despite trying to avoid this scenario):

"It doesn't matter if you win or lose- as long as you look really cool doing it!" (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0392.html) :smallbiggrin:

(Unfortunately applies to Tarkie as well. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0763.html) :smallmad:)

Let's do this like boxing/MMA commentators! Place your bets, people!

[konradknox]

Julio will win, because Julio is genre-savvy. Where as Tarquin is, meh, cliche-savvy.

[Cracklord]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the difference.

[Kurald Galain]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the difference.

The difference is between Genre Savvy (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GenreSavvy) and Wrong Genre Savvy (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WrongGenreSavvy).

[NerdyKris]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the difference.

Julio goes with the flow of the story. Tarquin sees a story and tries to fit whatever happens into his personal narrative, regardless of the facts.

Julio would see a plot twist and run with it. Tarquin found out his son isn't the leader and decided to force him into that role.

That's the difference. One is seeing the actual genre. The other is just seeing the story he wants to see. Which you'll see a lot in real life as well. You'll see it in other media all the time.

Directors wanting Superman to not use his powers. Wanting a dark horror series to be a comedy. Making a Spider-man cartoon where he doesn't punch anyone. Tarquin is that director. They get handed a genre and say "No, I'm making this". No matter how poorly it fits.

[Jay R]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand the difference.

It's the difference between being right and being wrong.

Julio is a mentor figure who knows he's a mentor figure.

Tarquin is a side-villain who thinks he's the main villain.

[Synesthesy]

Julio is following the story. Tarquin is trying to break the story.

This thinking the story as "the order of the stick in quest against Xykon" (when Xykon is the main villain, Elan is one of the six protagonist, and Tarquin is the side-villain of a side-quest);

Tarquin is following the story. Julio is trying to break the story.

This thinking the story as "Elan in quest to free western continent from Tyrant Tarquin" (when the old mentor die to make the "padawan" stronger in order to defeat the Emperor);


Wich is the story, right now?

[Jay R]

Julio is following the story. Tarquin is trying to break the story.

This thinking the story as "the order of the stick in quest against Xykon" (when Xykon is the main villain, Elan is one of the six protagonist, and Tarquin is the side-villain of a side-quest);

Tarquin is following the story. Julio is trying to break the story.

This thinking the story as "Elan in quest to free western continent from Tyrant Tarquin" (when the old mentor die to make the "padawan" stronger in order to defeat the Emperor);


Wich is the story, right now?

Even when Frodo is trying to escape a willow tree, or barrow wights, or wolves, or a Watcher in the Water, or trolls, or Gollum, or Shelob, the story is still Lord of the Rings.

Even when Harry Potter is trying to stay away from Dudley, or slip past Filch, or stand up to Draco, or catch a Snitch, or avoid Snape, the story is still about Harry and Voldemort.

Even when the Great Leslie is in a foil bout with Maggie DuBois, or a saloon brawl with Texas Jack, or a sabre duel with Baron von Stuppe, or a pie fight with, well, pretty much everyone, the story is still about his rivalry with Professor Fate.

Similarly, even through all the distractions from Nale, Samantha, Miko, the Oracle, the Greysky City Thieves Guild, the slavers, and even Tarquin, the real story remains Frudu and the Ming the long-term quest to stop Xykon.

[Oryutzen]

The difference is basically the difference between being chaotic and being lawful. Tarquin obeys them, appreciates them and even enforces them, Julio is aware of them, but only to avoid them, exploit them whenever possible, and even break them if he thinks he can get away with it.

[Lombard]

I was under the impression that Tarquin's favorite weapon was a greataxe, so it may not be fair or even worthwhile to debate about greatest "swordsman".

Anyways, semantics aside I am not convinced either one of them has to die here, both of them appear to have means of escape available.

[spambi]

Julio can hold his own as long as he keeps the puns coming. He obviously has mastery over the prestige class ability that lets him use charisma for his attack modifier.

He announces his intent to "fly in the face of tradition" while executing some sort of flying carpet-based kick to Tarquin's face, and gets a disarm in the process. That's pretty cool. :smallcool: