Unseen Details in OOTS

[cheezy puff]

So, we know, whatever gender Vaarsuvius happens to be, the embroidery/runes on the cloak suggest attention to detail in clothing.
Sadly, there's no way to tell what those runes might be. So, what do you think they are? For that matter, what other subtleties of costuming and character do you think might escape view in the esteemed stick-figure form?

[Keltest]

Unless its explicitly stated somewhere, I don't think we have any way of knowing what material Roy (and I suppose Thog's) armor is made of. The fact that he doesn't have a clanking problem like Durkon does suggests that it might not be plate armor. But the chest piece at least is visibly one or two pieces of material, so its not scale or chain armor.

[Trillium]

Unless its explicitly stated somewhere, I don't think we have any way of knowing what material Roy (and I suppose Thog's) armor is made of. The fact that he doesn't have a clanking problem like Durkon does suggests that it might not be plate armor. But the chest piece at least is visibly one or two pieces of material, so its not scale or chain armor.

Judging from the way he put it on, it may be something like ancient greek hoplites' armor - a cuirass of two pieces (front and back) on hinges. Most probably it didn't clank.

[Keltest]

Judging from the way he put it on, it may be something like ancient greek hoplites' armor - a cuirass of two pieces (front and back) on hinges. Most probably it didn't clank.

That would explain how its made, but not what its made of. I believe the greeks used leather treated in some way that's beyond my limited understanding of leather armor, but im skeptical that a fighter of Roy's intelligence (not to mention penchant for ending up in the middle of a melee) would use leather-based armor unless its heavily magic.

[TroubleBrewing]

I think the Class and Level Geekery thread has it listed as Breastplate, which seems reasonable.

[ORione]

Breastplate is medium (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Armor) though, and Roy says (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0902.html) his armor is heavy.

[Trillium]

That would explain how its made, but not what its made of. I believe the greeks used leather treated in some way that's beyond my limited understanding of leather armor, but im skeptical that a fighter of Roy's intelligence (not to mention penchant for ending up in the middle of a melee) would use leather-based armor unless its heavily magic.

Hoplites' armour was actually metal - you can see some in museums, similar to this one. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Hoplite_armour_exhibit_at_the_Corfu_Museum_closeup .jpg)

[Kish]

Breastplate is medium (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Armor) though, and Roy says (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0902.html) his armor is heavy.
We* know Durkon has a Dexterity penalty. I don't think there's a need for Durkon to be actually wearing heavier armor than Roy for Durkon's armor to be clankier.

*In the absence of being ennobled by any lizard-rulers, this We is the Society of People who Read Snips, Snails, and Dragon Tales And Consider Its Answers To Such Questions Sufficiently Official, or SPRSSDTACIATSQSO for short.

[rodneyAnonymous]

Breastplate is medium (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Armor) though, and Roy says (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0902.html) his armor is heavy.

Pretty good chance he meant the adjective for "weighs a lot", not the size category.

[theinsulabot]

I am kind of fuzzy on the details, but I think I remember a while back a detect magic was used and roy was partially caught in the beam. his armor became see-through, but some sort of vest underneath gleamed purple, implying his main armor is mundane, but he has some kind of secondary layer or mesh that is actually magic.

[ORione]

I am kind of fuzzy on the details, but I think I remember a while back a detect magic was used and roy was partially caught in the beam. his armor became see-through, but some sort of vest underneath gleamed purple, implying his main armor is mundane, but he has some kind of secondary layer or mesh that is actually magic.

I believe this (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0693.html) is the strip you're talking about. Analyze away.

[rodneyAnonymous]

Arcane sight (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/arcaneSight.htm) never makes anything see-through; it detects magic auras. That looks like "everything normal, except some color changes" to me.

Anyway Roy doesn't wear anything under that armor. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0809.html)

[Kish]

I remember people suggesting that that strip indicated Roy's armor was magical. Don't remember anyone saying it indicated something under his armor was magical before, though.

[Amphiox]

That would explain how its made, but not what its made of. I believe the greeks used leather treated in some way that's beyond my limited understanding of leather armor, but im skeptical that a fighter of Roy's intelligence (not to mention penchant for ending up in the middle of a melee) would use leather-based armor unless its heavily magic.

One of the common armors used by the ancient greeks was made of linen. It was particularly favored in Alexander the Great's armies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linothorax

[Keltest]

One of the common armors used by the ancient greeks was made of linen. It was particularly favored in Alexander the Great's armies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linothorax

Told you I don't know anything about non-metal armors!

[MartianInvader]

I remember people suggesting that that strip indicated Roy's armor was magical. Don't remember anyone saying it indicated something under his armor was magical before, though.

It seems like the visual effect of arcane sight is to change the (normally black) outline of some objects a purplish-pinkish color, and do some other weird color replacement on the rest of these objects.. It does this for Roy's armor and sword, but not his boots. It'd make sense if this effect occurred for magic items, which would indicate his armor is magic but his boots are not. This would also indicate V's robe is nonmagical, via the first panel.

[Haar]

I believe this (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0693.html) is the strip you're talking about. Analyze away.

I think it's just how the spell's light is cast over objects. From what I see, the next panel shows the beam hitting Roy's sword and the effect looks the same as it did illuminating his clothes.

[Prospekt]

Breastplate is medium (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Armor) though, and Roy says (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0902.html) his armor is heavy.

"Guy in medium armor says, 'No thanks'." Not exactly the best sounding sentence- I would assume it's better to have your dialogue make sense, and armor that's 30-40 pounds is still heavy to wear. Granted, I'm not much for upper body strength, but I have carried the backpack of supplies on hiking trips all the way up mountains, and even only probably being 10-15 pounds at most, that's really exhausting. Anyway, I really don't think it answers what type the armor is, and I'm guessing at the time, the armor's check penalty (and going along with however much stuff Roy carries on his person) was: "Exactly high enough for Roy not to want to go swimming in it."

Maybe The Giant has thought about it in his off-time? But there'd actually have to be a reason to bring it up in the story itself, and other from that, I don't think he wants to encourage the people who are already incredibly anal about figuring out every stat any further.

[Trillium]

I think it's just how the spell's light is cast over objects. From what I see, the next panel shows the beam hitting Roy's sword and the effect looks the same as it did illuminating his clothes.

Sword is also magical (+5). As you can see, boots are also in the spell's area, but ain't outlined.

[NihhusHuotAliro]

We* know Durkon has a Dexterity penalty. I don't think there's a need for Durkon to be actually wearing heavier armor than Roy for Durkon's armor to be clankier.

*In the absence of being ennobled by any lizard-rulers, this We is the Society of People who Read Snips, Snails, and Dragon Tales And Consider Its Answers To Such Questions Sufficiently Official, or SPRSSDTACIATSQSO for short.

As konungr of Rozburg, I now pronounce you to be Hertig Kish.

[Kish]

As konungr of Rozburg, I now pronounce you to be Hertig Kish.
Thank you. Much easier to remember than that acronym.

[Haar]

Sword is also magical (+5). As you can see, boots are also in the spell's area, but ain't outlined.

Thank you for pointing out that I have no idea what I'm talking about. :smalltongue: It also helps if I bothered paying attention to what spell V had used.

[Bulldog Psion]

Well, the clankiness of Durkon's armor is kind of a D&D oddity anyway. Actual plate armor was fairly quiet to wear, with a slight tapping being the usual sound when it was it was correctly laced in place. So, it's kind of a humorous take on a fairly ridiculous rule. Plate armor may clank in Monty Python, but not otherwise. :smallbiggrin:

[Trillium]

Well, the clankiness of Durkon's armor is kind of a D&D oddity anyway. Actual plate armor was fairly quiet to wear, with a slight tapping being the usual sound when it was it was correctly laced in place. So, it's kind of a humorous take on a fairly ridiculous rule. Plate armor may clank in Monty Python, but not otherwise. :smallbiggrin:

I always had impression that Durkon's armor was chain mail or ring mail, or whatever it was called. It should clank, as I imagine.

[Kish]

I always had impression that Durkon's armor was chain mail or ring mail, or whatever it was called. It should clank, as I imagine.
What Durkon's armor is is completely unambiguous (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0025.html).

[Keltest]

What Durkon's armor is is completely unambiguous (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0025.html).

Full plate still has/can have a chainmail component. While the level of noise is obviously exaggerated, it would be much louder than, say, Roy's armor (assuming its actually a breastplate)

[CRtwenty]

Anyway Roy doesn't wear anything under that armor. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0809.html)

I always figured that he just wasn't wearing anything under his armor in that specific scene since he didn't have anything to put under it. He probably has a shirt and padding of some kind he wears under normal conditions.

Yes I'm aware that there's no rules for chafing in D&D but still... I don't see Roy going commando all the time.

[rodneyAnonymous]

He probably has a shirt and padding of some kind he wears under normal conditions.

Sure but not, like, armor.

[CRtwenty]

Sure but not, like, armor.

So under his armor is... underarmor? :smallamused:

[Dr. Gamera]

So, we know, whatever gender Vaarsuvius happens to be, the embroidery/runes on the cloak suggest attention to detail in clothing.
Sadly, there's no way to tell what those runes might be.

There actually is a way to tell what those runes might be, or at least some of them: buy the poster for the Good Guys (http://www.ookoodook.com/store/GoodGuysPoster.shtml). They look something like this:
http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii535/drgamera/Vcloak1.png

I started a thread to discuss the possible encoded message (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242780), but it went nowhere.

[rodneyAnonymous]

Some runes (like those in the air when Darth Vaarsuvius appears, and on the wall in Girard's pyramid) were deciphered by figuring out what font they're in. Does the same apply to the runes on the cloak?

[Dr. Gamera]

Some runes (like those in the air when Darth Vaarsuvius appears, and on the wall in Girard's pyramid) were deciphered by figuring out what font they're in. Does the same apply to the runes on the cloak?

No one has yet identified the font, if it is one.

[konradknox]

Anyway Roy doesn't wear anything under that armor. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0809.html)

Arguable. He seems to be wearing a shirt here, unless that is a temporary or a loaner.

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0666.html

[Keltest]

Arguable. He seems to be wearing a shirt here, unless that is a temporary or a loaner.

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0666.html

That's the fancy shirt he wore on his date with Celia. Presumably he doesn't wear that under his armor so that it doesn't get destroyed in combat. Even without the stab wounds, it would get all sweaty

Moreover, the fact that he resorts to wearing that when his armor is unavailable actually supports the theory that he does not wear anything underneath the breastplate.

[rodneyAnonymous]

Presumably there is some kind of padding or simple cloth shirt that is part of the breastplate, but what I meant was Roy doesn't seem to wear any armor under it. A magic shirt would be armor.

(Also, the basis of this speculation seems fallacious, Vaarsuvius's arcane sight doesn't confer X-ray vision or otherwise make things see-through, and it made the breastplate glow.)

[konradknox]

Presumably there is some kind of padding or simple cloth shirt that is part of the breastplate, but what I meant was Roy doesn't seem to wear any armor under it. A magic shirt would be armor.

(Also, the basis of this speculation seems fallacious, Vaarsuvius's arcane sight doesn't confer X-ray vision or otherwise make things see-through, and it made the breastplate glow.)

Usually yes there is padding, worn separately, called a gambeson or a jack. A thick padded coat. Because you wouldn't wear plate on a naked body. Under that gambeson there may be a thin linen shirt, but depending on weather conditions, it may get too hot.

I wear a thin linen shirt under my gambeson, because it's fairly itchy, then on top of that a chain shirt, and then plate pieces get strapped on on top of that. 4 layers total, but I've seen people do it without shirts, but never without gambesons. (I do historic fencing)

Likely Keltest is right and that shirt is his fancy shirt. It even has drawn sleeves to mark fancyness.

[Nimrod's Son]

I always had impression that Durkon's armor was chain mail or ring mail, or whatever it was called.
:durkon: A long beard an' tiny pinchy loops o'metal dinnae mix as well as ye might believe. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0552.html)

[Keltest]

Usually yes there is padding, worn separately, called a gambeson or a jack. A thick padded coat. Because you wouldn't wear plate on a naked body. Under that gambeson there may be a thin linen shirt, but depending on weather conditions, it may get too hot.

I wear a thin linen shirt under my gambeson, because it's fairly itchy, then on top of that a chain shirt, and then plate pieces get strapped on on top of that. 4 layers total, but I've seen people do it without shirts, but never without gambesons. (I do historic fencing)

Likely Keltest is right and that shirt is his fancy shirt. It even has drawn sleeves to mark fancyness.

Given that weve seen roy put on the breastplate without anything underneath it, is it possible that the breastplate itself has the padding attached somehow? Its possible that he simply is too manly to care about such trivialities, but that seems somewhat unlikely.

And before you answer, remember that magic is a thing, and so is superglue apparently, so keeping it attached would not likely be a problem, if it could function properly while so attached.