OOTS #472 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Cpt. Sqweky]

AWESOME! I havn't laughed that loud in quite a while. Bravo, sir... Bravo.

[Repzak]

Hahaha. So true :smallbiggrin:

[Pink]

They have names!

Kazumi is a pretty name too.

[Mazar]

Good planning.

[Deimos_]

Great comic, those Redshirts really rock the house. :smallsmile:

[Flying Elephant]

That had me incredibly scared until I got to the last few panels! The (now) named NPCs must not die!

[Ronsian]

Hehe, funny. I thought they would die. Wonder what they'll do now :smallcool: .

[Thrivol]

Outstanding. And first page!

[onasuma]

I was just looking to see if there was an explanation of where the comic is, and then it turned up! There really is a god.

[Sage in the Playground]

Without flaw!

[Fishies]

So having a name will help you survive if someone tries to kill you? Awesome.

[Dalenthas]

Kazumi!! That was freaking sweet.

[Ithekro]

Wedge symdrome is taking effect, in real time.

Actually it is not quite Wedge-like since they were not in the Order's first adventure. But this will do.

[InfernusTribble]

Yesss! :)

That really cheered me up

[marquiz]

Definitely a campaign reality setter one. I do wonder though if I can pull this with my players... " the orcs you have been slashing though began stating names, and now they are rising up to engage you again..."

[teratorn]

Oh well, they are real characters now. And Kazumi's hot!
(I thought she reminded me of Azumi, maybe they're sisters)

[Ashtar]

Love it!

Name: Instant effect, gain 1 level in NPC Class.

^^

[plainsfox]

They have names!

Kazumi is a pretty name too.

Darnit! Beat me too it.

I wonder what event will require Daigo to reveal his family name.

[TDKa]

Lol @ this comic :D

Guess having a name does matter alot in DnD :smallbiggrin:

[Neon Knight]

My new favorite comic. Yay Kazumi and Daigo!

[Zictor]

Brilliant!

Thank you Giant, so much! I really needed a funny joke today.

[The_Kobold_Hero]

Yay! I'm so glad the soldiers have names now, makes them that much cooler.

Nice "in-yo-face, Star Trek!" comic. :smallbiggrin:

[EvilJames]

that made me giggle

[elliott20]

stop making me like red-shirts, rich!!! If I like them too much, I'm going to be ultra-sad when you finally off them!!!

[DrivinAllNight]

that was totally awesome :)

I love it when the war is over, and now the beautiful comedy of this strip can continue.

I suppose this also means we're gonna find out this guys last name sometime soon. :smalltongue:

[CockroachTeaParty]

HA! Eh heh heh. From now on I'm giving my NPCs only first names. The important ones will save their last names for times of great need.

[BRC]

Behold, names and being a sympethetic character triumph over expendibility!

[Xanos]

Broad smile. That was just.. Cute. Not as dramatic as the OOTS have been lately, a nice fresh breath of air :).

[ref]

Go team named NPC!!

[Sigbru]

Always save your name
it can save your life someday

[Alysar]

Happily ever after, baby. Happily ever after.

[malakim2099]

So I guess getting a name is a special ability of the Redshirt class if you survive long enough to level. Sweet. :smallamused:

[Guts]

so now they have names :smallwink: so their survival chances increased. seriously though the elan's story sense is getting annoying. its cool to see how much they care for hinjo

[rosebud]

:smallsmile:

It's so nice just to have a nice strip some days. :smallsmile:

Thanks!

[Snake-Aes]

That's golden, I tell you!


"I'll save my surname for an emergency."

[The Vorpal Tribble]

You... you named the NPC's?! Guess we'll have to keep them now :smalltongue:

[Djinn_in_Tonic]

One of the best comics in a LONG time. Which is saying something.

Go NPCs! :smallbiggrin:

[Hart av Srednak]

Heh heh heh

So now they have names. As a GM I know that good names don't come easy. They'll survive.. at least for a while.

[Vargtass]

It's sooo funny, because its true...

[EvilElitest]

So having a name will help you survive if someone tries to kill you? Awesome.

only from other no names, no names can't kill named characters easily
from,
EE

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Uh... They're going the wrong way...

I wonder if that will make a difference...

[Icewalker]

Oh, man, it's so true...

Excellent. I like these two, hope they stick around a while longer.

[Alkor Eldric]

ROFL

Very funny indeed :smallbiggrin:

[Emperor Ing]

All nameless NPCs are killable, but now that they have names, theyve been promoted to quest-related. Now, theyre unkillable, at least until the plot requires them to die.

[Porthos]

Sheer. Comedic. Genius. :smallbiggrin:

[Rhuna_Coppermane]

I really hope those two live.

[Slothboy]

I loled!

Yay for comic relief.

[TigerHunter]

Hehe... I love it!

[Freelance Henchman]

I'd like to apply for membership in the Kazumi Kato & Daigo fanclub.

[esmerelder]

Awwww - hilariously meta, and I think I have *two* new favourite characters!

[RTGoodman]

(Because I don't think anyone else has said it...)

Hooray for the return of Elan's Bardic Music!

[squidthingy]

I liked them better without names, but adding the part about how being a more important character somehow makes you stronger made it worth the loss

[Caractacus]

Eeeexcellent recovery! Think I'll save my full name in future meetings with people until I am totally sure there'll be no attempts on my life that day... :smallcool:

[Ezlo]

Rich! You cruel cruel cruel cruel CRUEL man! I thought you were actually killing them off! I'm still calling them the nameless NPCs though.

[Meditating Mike]

That was insanely funny, I am laughing as I type.
I admire your manipulation skill, Giant.

[SolkaTruesilver]

You... you named the NPC's?! Guess we'll have to keep them now :smalltongue:

Like that prevented Rich from killing the blind diviner?

What was her name, already?

What about the blue-hair girl-paladin that emprisonned Belkar? She got killed too..

Sadly, I'd have to say that Azure-City named people get killed a lot...

[Nazzo, the 102nd]

Heh! Now just look at this.

http://unit.aist.go.jp/amri/group/talint/en/member.html

And this:

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

Neat, eh? Guess that after the cup of coffee, they will marry and one will be emperor of the Southern Lands and the other will enter Azure City's Univeristy and become a great physician. :smallbiggrin:

[Uzraid]

Beautiful! Perfect! Bravo!

U

[Haruspex]

The anti-genre convention strikes again. I was actually worried for Daigo's life, Giant you, you bad guy. Now that Elan has his lute he can sing "Kazumi and Daigo sitting in a tree, sharing a cup of sake? tea?"

[The Wanderer]

Bwahahahahaha!

That was truly, truly great. :smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin: Rich, I salute you. Thanks for giving me a laugh before going into work.

[blackout]

That was fun. :)

[MythicFox]

That's just great. It's funny, and it's also very cute. It warms the cockles of my heart.

[Asarth]

I really thought Kazumi Kato and Daigo(? I can't see if it's an 'a' or an 'o'.) were going to die. Like Elan said, they were being sentenced to death when they were holding the hobgoblins off. But then they survived. And they have names.

I bet they die within the next 10 strips...

Excellent comic.

[Pepz]

that really cheered me up :) I really like Kazumi and Daigo :D let them live happily ever after ... please? :D

[Shadic]

They have names! Thank god, I was worried for poor Daigo's life!

[Flak_Razorwill]

Wait...what if they have the same last name?

:frown:

[skywalker]

Awesome.

There shall be the starting of a Kazumi and Daigo fan club. Or a renaming of their current fan club, if one already exists.

To Kazumi and Daigo, may their love blossom a thousand times greater than any other.

[lukelightning]

Wow, Elan got me worried that these two nameless guards would die.

[Pyro]

I guess they aren't nameless redshirts anymore. I wonder if they will be important later.

[Calsan]

That made me actually chuckle and reminded me of a Corporal Na'me Less that just got killed in my last adventure, a couple of days ago.

It was so sad. (and my best soldier)

[Rad]

YAY! Go redshirts!

EDIT: I am beginning to wonder what it is they are going to have a cup of :smallbiggrin:

[Ithekro]

So will these two be getting their own stock to replace the MIKO stocks?

Remember, a lot of "Redshirts" had names in Star Trek.

[Elderac]

Perhaps I'm looking too much into, but it seems like the male's name could be a pun. If we consider a Japanese pronunciation, his name sounds like "Die Go", which is exactly what happened when he said his name.

[mikeejimbo]

I was going to say something, but it's been summed up:


Bwahahahahaha!

[Krytha]

hahahha ohhh dear me. Set phasers to enunciate! stupid elan...

[Lefty the Drunken Lush]

Now THAT'S funny.

*relurks*

[Omicroncubed]

So their NOT nameless... Haha good strip. No wait... good? Nope... Wonderfull :smallbiggrin:

[Guildorn Tanaleth]

Ha, ha, brilliant! No one can say you don't read the forums now!

[Messenger]

Let them live long, Giant! And now that they're named, please promote them from NPC's into recurring, non-main PC's! :smallsmile:

[TiamatRoar]

Those nameless NPCs really add a lot of tension to the story arc. We can generally be reasonably assured that Haley, Belkar, Elan, and Durgon etc will survive (reasonably assured. Not 100%, of course), but those two really make me wait in eagerness for the next strip and the next one to see if they'll survive through all this.

...I hope they do!

Also, interestingly enough, they technically no longer even have a "generic redshirt" appearance now that they're the only soldiers we've ever seen with the helmets off.

And Kazumi just killed three hobgoblins in a row. That is one powerful generic npc!

[Tundar]

Haha that was a fun strip!

[MReav]

Hmm... I'm wondering if they managed to level up...

[Moral Wiz]

Viva Redshirts! :D

[daydreamer]

Their fan clubs are probably being created as we speak....soon they'll have their own smilies and everything!

[Fishybugs]

That was absolutely awesomtastic. The first comic in a long while to get an out loud laugh from me. And a nod at the forums too.

Brilliant.

[Alysar]

Like that prevented Rich from killing the blind diviner?

What was her name, already?


Her name.... was Sangwaan.

[Tordek]

And T-shirts! They'll have their own T-shirts! Great comic, I hope they get their cup of whatever.

[GoC]

This is one of the few comics that actualy made me laugh out loud!
Horray for the not_so_nameless NPCs!

[Quikngruvn]

Uh... They're going the wrong way...

I wonder if that will make a difference...

That's because
they're still holding off the hobgoblins.

Which means
we probably won't see them board the junk. Hope they'll be okay!

Very nice comic-- and way to skewer yet another fantasy-literature convention!

[moscatabaco]

Brilliant!!! I haven't laughed as much since :redcloack: dueled the 12 gods cleric (not that long ago, but hey, this is my favourite comic).

[F.H. Zebedee]

Indeed. Quite the enjoyable one today. Maybe not the funniest, but giggleworthy, and very sweet.

[brionl]

So, they've been promoted from Redshirt to...
Spear Carrier?
Cup Bearer?
Speed Bump?
PMD?

What's the next step on the heirarchy of NPCs?
:confused:

[Lord Zentei]

Aye, the NPCs gained a level... in a literary sense at least. :smallwink:


Their fan clubs are probably being created as we speak....soon they'll have their own smilies and everything!

Damn, I was just about to call for someone better at graphics related stuff to make some.

[Twilight Jack]

This episode reminds me of something that happened in a game I ran once.

The good guys were raiding the temple of the God of Night, slashing and burning their way through temple guards and vampire spawn, in search of the vampiric High Priest and his two consorts. The party consisted of a Paladin, a Cleric of the Sun God, an elven Sorcerer/Rogue, and a half-orc Barbarian/Divine Champion. All characters are about 13th level.

Through a series of events, including an assault by a 14th level vampire Rogue, the characters wound up getting seperated, with the Paladin and Cleric rushing down one corridor in an attempt to smoke the vampire out of hiding, while the half-orc was left to guard the seriously wounded elf (couldn't be fully healed because she'd been poisoned and the Cleric didn't have the right spells ready). As he's standing watch over her until the other two get back, I decide to give him something to do. A murder of vampire spawn break down the door, flanked by a dozen low-level fighters. An easy enough encounter under normal circumstances, but complicated by the elf's condition. Playing for keeps, Thwaak (the half-orc) flies into a rage and rushes forward to meet them, holy greataxe brandished. A few rounds and a judicious usage of Power Attack and Great Cleave later, the room is a strew of wreckage, with only a single 2nd level Fighter left standing against the righteous Barbarian (although the elf had gotten dropped into negative hit points in the melee).

What followed are the strangest three rounds of combat I have ever witnessed. Somehow, Thwaak's player becomes suddenly incapable of any roll above a 5, while this nameless evil Fighter rolls 19, 19, 20 on his next three rounds of combat, confirming the critical each time. A great respecter of martial prowess, Thwaak elects to show mercy in round 4, accepting the penalty to hit to deal subdual damage. The guy finally drops in round 5, having dealt roughly 45 points of damage before he went down. Thwaak managed to stabilize the elf and the two then waited for the Cleric and Paladin to get back (having failed to force the vampire into combat). They flee the temple at this point, having sustained too much damage to press their assault. Once the scene is over, Thwaak's player demanded that I give the Fighter he let live a name and include him in the story in the future.

Thus began the fateful saga of Rendell Tallstag, Lawful Evil Fighter and eventual vampire Blackguard of Nudd. By the time the campaign was over, he had become one of the party's most hated adversaries, due to his cunning and will. Thwaak's player eventually grew to regret his suggestion, needless to say, but the players in that game still talk about that villain's humble beginnings.

[LCR]

The redshirts live? Heresy!

[chibibar]

Woo hoo... I'm so happy they have names.

That was good 4th wall breaking about saving the last name for emergency.

[Lord Zentei]

The redshirts live? Heresy!

Well, apparently, they're not redshirts any more. Kazumi Kato got to announce her name in a dramatic decapitation panel, and Daigo announced his in a loving embrace panel. That's not redshirt stuff.

[Fascisticide]

YAY!
Now they can live happily everafter!

[mockingbyrd7]

I really did think Daigo was dead, but this way was MUCH cooler. I love how the Giant take cliches and then breaks them into so many tiny little pieces. They go smashy-smash.

thog like the smashy-smash.

EDIT: Oh, and there has to be a scene were Kazumi is in great danger and says, "MY MIDDLE NAME IS <insert middle name here>!" and lives. NOBODY but her has a middle name. And she becomes all-powerful. Or something.

[Bluecloak]

Good lord, Giant, you really had me worried there for the first half of the comic:smalleek: Especially since Elan thought they were going to die, and he is usually good at genre conventions. Instead, you had me really laughing at the end:smallbiggrin:

However, I am still worried about them; as has been suggested in this thread, having a name only marginally raise the life expectancy of a redshirt. Basically, it only means that their death scene will be dramatic instead of just "background", possibly being killed by a named enemy, whereupon one of the main characters can say "You killed Kazumi, you b*stard! Prepare to die!"

In short, I really do hope that they will live through this, giving hope to redshirts and nameless cannon fodder worldwide...

...but I am not going to buy stocks in them yet, that's all I'm saying.

[comicadv]

I'm going to have to change my sig!!

It used to say "founder of the two nameless NCP's of 468 fanclub"

[Nomadic]

Heh, now that they have names, anyone attempting to kill them will get the message "Daigo/Kazumi has been knocked unconscious"

[Elaro]

I think I understand. If you're a nameless NPC, you get 1 HP. (Because it's not worth the time to roll hit dice for every Redshirt.) But if you're named, you get the HD. Seems like the DM rolled high.

Yeah.

[RyQ_TMC]

Oi, bloody! I didn't see THAT coming...

Wonderful strip, anyway.

[Xiander]

As Elan-songs go, Enact the daring escape is rather imaginative.

[Blood]

Awesomeness. We finally get to keep and develop secondary (started out, anyway) nameless guards!

[Snipers_Promise]

They are nice names.

[StClair]

Just like in Feng Shui. Once you have a name (even just one, like Daigo), you are no longer a mook.

[Sir_Norbert]

:elan: :elan: :elan:

That totally made my day. I laughed and cried and smiled. That was just awesome.

And yes, Kazumi, lovely name, I'm half in love with her already.

[David Argall]

Uh... They're going the wrong way...

I wonder if that will make a difference...

Probably not. Most likely we should just assume this is from looking from the other side of the street.

[clem]

Hmm... I'm wondering if they managed to level up...
Well, they are mingling with a higher-level group now. If they don't get themselves killed, they stand to level up fairly quickly -- perhaps even long enough to take a few non-NPC class levels.

[Tredrick]

I really thought Kazumi Kato and Daigo(? I can't see if it's an 'a' or an 'o'.) were going to die. Like Elan said, they were being sentenced to death when they were holding the hobgoblins off. But then they survived. And they have names.

I bet they die within the next 10 strips...

Excellent comic.

I'll take that bet!

Keep in mind that a name is a good thing, being called that name by a main character is better. Redshirts could live if a main character used their name three or more times.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

I wonder if its a cup of "bow-chicka-bow-wow"

[johnnyriot999]

I seriously lol'd when I read that last panel.

Great comic~! :smallbiggrin:

[SETI_fan]

Okay, that was frellin' awesome! Very nice play on that idea, and well done making me care about the fate of these soldiers as much as our main team. I was genuinely sad when the guy--Daigo--got stabbed! Good job, Giant! Thank you for the great comics as always! And hope you're feeling better!

Seti

[Bendal]

lol: Stating your name is equivalent to at least a Cure Light Wounds spell!

I was afraid that Diego would either stop in mid sentence and realize he didn't HAVE a name (and die shortly thereafter), or be killed right before he utters his name (thereby preserving his redshirt status). Now he and Kazumi aren't officially redshirts!

[Twilight Jack]

lol: Stating your name is equivalent to at least a Cure Light Wounds spell!

I was afraid that Diego would either stop in mid sentence and realize he didn't HAVE a name (and die shortly thereafter), or be killed right before he utters his name (thereby preserving his redshirt status). Now he and Kazumi aren't officially redshirts!

Most Redshirts in Star Trek had names, even if it was just Ensign Jones.

[dish]

General comment: Awww, bless.

I was wondering how the mechanics of 'naming an NPC saves their life' could work, but thanks to Elaro...


If you're a nameless NPC, you get 1 HP. (Because it's not worth the time to roll hit dice for every Redshirt.) But if you're named, you get the HD. Seems like the DM rolled high.


...suddenly it all makes sense.

[Vulion]

Woot! They live! Come on, Daigo and Kazumi, survive and get the cup of...whatever it is you're gonna drink!

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Most Redshirts in Star Trek had names, even if it was just Ensign Jones.

Having only a last name or NO name is usually a death sentence. Having a first name gets you your first pardon, having both gets you the second pardon, and having a middle name, and that the middle name is that of a twisted Roman Emperor?

Immortality!

[ChowGuy]

Wait, having a name is a automatic save against a critical hit? Does this mean Gollum (http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=780) isn't really dead? Or does it not count for critical stupid?

[TreesOfDeath]

Awesome comic, and I have a feeling their gonna be great npcs

[Lyinginbedmon]

For some very scary reason Kazumi seriously reminds me a very specific girl from Odishon...

Excellent comic! Of course, now half of my players will keep their names secret to get a cure light wounds effect...

[Dragon48]

Great comic, those Redshirts really rock the house. :smallsmile:

I think they are no longer redshirts, they DO have names you know! :O
Mice comic, was really funny, and I am glad that they get to live. :D

[redcodekevin]

Now, will they get to be Paladins once this mess gets settled? They've shown enough courage by now. Or NPC classes (assuming they're warriors) cannot get to PC classes?

[StupidFatHobbit]

Laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh at the awesome comic.

[Dr'uun Unnh]

Oh, that strip made my day. :smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin:

[Twilight Jack]

Having only a last name or NO name is usually a death sentence. Having a first name gets you your first pardon, having both gets you the second pardon, and having a middle name, and that the middle name is that of a twisted Roman Emperor?

Immortality!

Yes, I've found that giving characters (or children) the middle name of "Tiberius" ensures future greatness.

Actual quote from the Friar's Club roast of W. Shatner, from the man himself (paraphrased), "You can't talk to me this way. I'm William Tiberius Shatner!"

[Bunny]

Bahahahahaha! "Save it for an emergency!"

A very classy way to put all the predictions on their collective ear. A gentle, good-humored nose-pulling, as it were.


Actual quote from the Friar's Club roast of W. Shatner, from the man himself (paraphrased), "You can't talk to me this way. I'm William Tiberius Shatner!"

Thank you, Rich Tiberius Burlew! I needed a laugh!

Bunny

[silvadel]

Hmm -- I wonder how many extra hit points having a name is worth.... Got to be at least 20.

[stickygoo]

Of course if this were a western, having no name could make you the main character.

[Solara]

Giant I love you! :smallbiggrin: Seriously, I thought there was a good chance they were actually going to die, what with another excess NPC (the EoFaF) recently getting trimmed out of the cast.

I just hope the fact that Kazumi and Diago now have names really does mean they're now relatively safe and you're not just messing with us... :smallwink:

Anyway, I liked those two before but now I can't help but absolutely love them after they went and beat all the odds like that. I mean, in this strip alone they blatantly broke more rules than the old guy that got crushed in the prison...that and it's just so awesome seeing the 'nameless NPC guard' stereotype turned on its head.

[Baalzebub]

:smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin:

Excellent Strip! Behold the power of the names!

[Recursive]

Like that prevented Rich from killing the blind diviner?

What was her name, already?
THAT'S why she died! She was gonna shake off that dragon bite and keep fighting, but YOU forgot her name!

You bastard! You killed Sangwaan!

What about the blue-hair girl-paladin that emprisonned Belkar? She got killed too..
That's Lien. As far as we know, she's alive and well, holding Hinjo's junk.

Sadly, I'd have to say that Azure-City named people get killed a lot...
Yeah, sadly, they do. This story line, while quite well done, really hurts to read. After the initial bad impression from Miko, Azure City folks have turned out to be a genuinely likable bunch. I hope things turn around for them soon...

[Alces]

I felt an overwhelming compulsion to register just to applaud this superb installment of OotS. Fan-booping-tastic. Alas, I fear for Daigo, as his haircut - or lack thereof - is just a bit too Russian conscript for extended survival. You see, while sartorial armour is not bullet-proof, it does reach a point where you bcome too cool, or to well-dressed, to die in any but the most heroic circumstances.

[sealemon]

Outstanding. I don't usually laugh out loud at a strip, but this one got me. Nicely done.

[Friv]

Brilliant! I think I will have to join that fanclub, now.

*goes to do so*

[Imrahil]

Methinks somebody has been spying on the forums. Rich, you are an evil, evil man...don't ever change.

[David Argall]

THAT'S why she died! She was gonna shake off that dragon bite and keep fighting, but YOU forgot her name!

You bastard! You killed Sangwaan!

Retain hope. She was a fairly high level character, so a mere dragon bite and a fall of less than 100' can qualify as minor wounds. Of course, an enemy army running thru the area, a castle exploding, ... doesn't make for good odds, but if she should be plot useful, somebody will find her still bleeding body in an overlooked corner.
I can't say I see a real need for her, but if the plot goes into the right elaborations, she may be back.

[Mystyco]

omg, that was the most hilaryous comic of the month, really xD

i haven't laugh so hard from the last time my dog tried to backflip xD

[Fighteer]

Retain hope. She was a fairly high level character, so a mere dragon bite and a fall of less than 100' can qualify as minor wounds. Of course, an enemy army running thru the area, a castle exploding, ... doesn't make for good odds, but if she should be plot useful, somebody will find her still bleeding body in an overlooked corner.
I can't say I see a real need for her, but if the plot goes into the right elaborations, she may be back.
She also gets a mere d4 hit die, with no evidence of a Con bonus, and being bitten by an ancient silver dragon is a LOT of damage.

Theorycraft: To cast true seeing, she must be an 11th level wizard (or a 9th level cleric). I'm going with wizard since it's the more plausible class choice for a diviner, and she doesn't wear a holy symbol. I also assume no Con bonus. Hit point range: 11-44 (average 28).

Ancient Silver Dragon bite attack: 4d6 (Gargantuan dragon) +12 (Strength bonus). Damage range (non-crit): 16-38 (average 27).

The snatch feat makes the character take damage as from a fall from 1d6x10 feet, or falling distance, whichever is greater. Let's assume a 60-foot wall for the sake of convenience - 6d6 falling damage: 6-36 (average 21).

The least damage Sangwaan could have taken was 22, the most was 74, and the average was 58. Aside from a freakin' miracle, she's paste.

[fruityjanitor]

I loved that! You really had me going, Rich. I was starting to freak out after I saw Daigo get stabbed. I'm glad they both ended up okay! (The punchline was pretty good too)

[Pantler]

I can't say that was completely unexpected... But still it was funny AND cute. :smallsmile:

[ChowGuy]

Having only a last name or NO name is usually a death sentence. Having a first name gets you your first pardon, having both gets you the second pardon, and having a middle name, and that the middle name is that of a twisted Roman Emperor?

Immortality!


Yes, I've found that giving characters (or children) the middle name of "Tiberius" ensures future greatness.

Dibs on Caligula!

[Mojique]

Without helmet, Kazumi is nearly so pretty as Miko was...

The sentence of the day is from Daigo in the last panel.

[Welf]

lol
Simple, True, and just hilarious.
That was what I needed after the near end-of-the-world-everybody-dies-super-drama some strips ago.

[FlawedParadigm]

His name is Robert Paulsen.
His name is Robert Paulsen.
His name is Robert Paulsen.

Slightly unobscure reference to non-obscure film. Enjoy!

[Gamaliel_the_Bard]

It's been a long while since a comic was dedicated to the "unknowns" of the OoTS world.

And a Great Comic it is! WOOT!

Kazumi and Daigo in the spot light, doing the honorable and noble act of looking out for the greater good of their city and liege...

:biggrin: And they LIVE!:biggrin:

Thanks Giant!


PS:
Most of the time it's true, in D&D and other RPGs, what Elan said in panel #3.

"Don't you understand? Saying, "You go, I'll hold them off," is a death sentence, even for main characters!"

Been there died that.

[sklar dansig]

absolutely hilarious joke :smallbiggrin:

[nifler]

Broad smile. That was just.. Cute. Not as dramatic as the OOTS have been lately, a nice fresh breath of air :).

Cute it was!

[Forealms]

I KNEW they would have a name soon. Probably wouldn't have predicted it would come up in that case, but whatever.

Great comic, with just the right amount of hobbo killing.

[AyuVince]

Yesss! They've got names! The Giant is merciful, after all.

Now the two need to gain levels in a PC class. Roy could use some trainees once he's alive again.

[Czarzhan]

This comic just ROCKS!

[Mordokai]

Me likes!

Seriously thou, I liked those two even before, now I like them even a little bit more. And that was cute. Last line from Daigo was hilarious!

[lavidor10]

I felt an overwhelming compulsion to register just to applaud this superb installment of OotS. Fan-booping-tastic. Alas, I fear for Daigo, as his haircut - or lack thereof - is just a bit too Russian conscript for extended survival. You see, while sartorial armour is not bullet-proof, it does reach a point where you bcome too cool, or to well-dressed, to die in any but the most heroic circumstances.

I just thought he looks like a differently coloured Roy.

Could this mean

...Roy will be reincarnated into him and forced to share his body?

Or maybe

Replacement of Thog? (NEVER!)

Random theories brought to you by...

Umm, me.

[Aereshaa_the_2nd]

Plot armor taking immediate effect... that was funny.

[16oz]

YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

Of course, this could all be just to tease us before they die later on, but for now?

LONG LIVE KAZUMI AND DAIGO!!!

<<Leaves to find the registration desk for the Kazumi and Daigo fanclub>>

[PhallicWarrior]

Awww... That was sweet...

[David Argall]

She also gets a mere d4 hit die, with no evidence of a Con bonus, and being bitten by an ancient silver dragon is a LOT of damage.

Theorycraft: To cast true seeing, she must be an 11th level wizard I also assume no Con bonus. Hit point range: 11-44 (average 28).

Ancient Silver Dragon bite attack: 4d6 (Gargantuan dragon) +12 (Strength bonus). Damage range (non-crit): 16-38 (average 27).

The snatch feat makes the character take damage as from a fall from 1d6x10 feet, or falling distance, whichever is greater. Let's assume a 60-foot wall for the sake of convenience - 6d6 falling damage: 6-36 (average 21).

The least damage Sangwaan could have taken was 22, the most was 74, and the average was 58. Aside from a freakin' miracle, she's paste.

Actually these figures, with a couple of adjustments, give her a much better chance of survival than I would have thought.
A standard PC hp system is full at 1st, and 1/2 rounded up for all later levels, which would give her 34 base as 11th level wiz.
The assumption of zero con bonus is clearly suspect. Whether by magic or basic build, an adjusted stat of 14+ is highly likely = +22+ hp = 56, about our average damage from the attack. [The possibility of both magic and build is not unreasonable and gets us another 22+, which gets us in the range of picking herself up and rushing off to the nearest cleric.]
56-58 = -2, which gives her seven chances to stabalize, a majority chance.
And while she can't be much higher than 11th, she can easily be a level or two, making her odds a lot better.

So
if Haley and Belkar can't find Roy, but do find a live, badly wounded [unconscious?], Sangwaan and give her a little healing, after which she tells them where to find Roy
We have not given the rules a really serious twist, certainly not compared to some we have done here.

[tamashii]

HAHAHA!

That was great! What a way to really play off the D&D game aspect of this comic. It's stuff like this that gives me the good chuckle.

I don’t tell people my middle name, so I am assuming that will help me out of a scrape such as a bullet to the chest or judo chop to the temple or even a badger to the balls.

[Starla]

How do you pronouce Daigo? DYE-go? DAY-go? DAY-ee-go? Dye-EE-go? DYE-ee-go?

I think I will go with the last one. I am almost used to thinking of Elan pronounced like "EE-lin" with a brooklyn accent but it is not always easier to retrain your habits.

What is the cup they have to get!!??

[Olorin]

Excellent comic! Kazumi and Daigo are so cute together. I wonder why they think Hinjo needs protection though.

Olorin

[TheLizzaard]

Sheer genius.

[Black of Night]

Well, they aren't nameless anymore, so they have a chance of living. Man, when I checked this morning, no comic. Now, mid-afternoon, not only is the comic up, but 6 pages!

You people must be as bored at work as I am. Kudos.

[DSCrankshaw]

Actually these figures, with a couple of adjustments, give her a much better chance of survival than I would have thought.
A standard PC hp system is full at 1st, and 1/2 rounded up for all later levels, which would give her 34 base as 11th level wiz.
The assumption of zero con bonus is clearly suspect. Whether by magic or basic build, an adjusted stat of 14+ is highly likely = +22+ hp = 56, about our average damage from the attack. [The possibility of both magic and build is not unreasonable and gets us another 22+, which gets us in the range of picking herself up and rushing off to the nearest cleric.]
56-58 = -2, which gives her seven chances to stabalize, a majority chance.
And while she can't be much higher than 11th, she can easily be a level or two, making her odds a lot better.

So
if Haley and Belkar can't find Roy, but do find a live, badly wounded [unconscious?], Sangwaan and give her a little healing, after which she tells them where to find Roy
We have not given the rules a really serious twist, certainly not compared to some we have done here.

Not to mention that if she is a wizard, there's a pretty good chance she has Featherfall prepared. I mean, what wizardess doesn't when she knows she's going to be standing on the ramparts during a siege?

Anyway... it looks like my prediction was correct:

Fortunately, they're with Elan. He may not be the brightest torch in the dungeon, but he's the one character most likely to realize that he can increase the no-names' chances of survival by at least 1000% just by asking them what their names are.
I didn't realize it was worth a hit die, though.

[smellie_hippie]

Heh. Rich knows funny. :smallamused:

[A Quiet Person]

That was awesome.

Now all Kazumi and Daigo need is individual costumes, and they'll be on their way to becoming even more distinctive and empathetic characters.

They've done some cool things, too. Kazumi kicked ass in the last comic, and Daigo pulled Hinjo off the battlements, and was the guy who convinced Hinjo to retreat.

It would be nice if they were to survive the fall of Azure City. The comic often does very well at reminding the OoTS and the audience that the PCs may be the heroes, but the universe does not revolve around them; the NPCs have lives too. Having two relatively plot-irrelevant, minor but sympathetic characters make it would be a nice expression of that.

Either that, or, if they do die in the future, the Giant will be able to work that moment for so much pathos...

[ThorFluff]

the more true rule is, named charakters cannot die offscreen for the main party, that would just be poor storytelling so aslong as they have names and are offscreen they're unkillable.

But my comment to the giant is:

YOU SIR! are made of awesome and win.

[StupidFatHobbit]

I just thought he looks like a differently coloured Roy. Could this mean...

Nah, I think it just means there are a limited number of looks you can achieve with stick figures. The more amazing thing is that Rich manages to draw so many recognisable individuals using the limited options he's given himself. Anybody bald without facial hair is going to look sort of like Roy.

[Ave]

Lol, having a name can cure a pierced lung.
Who could have guessed?

[bdh5533]

Definitely a campaign reality setter one. I do wonder though if I can pull this with my players... " the orcs you have been slashing though began stating names, and now they are rising up to engage you again..."


LOL that would be awesome

[holywhippet]

Lol, having a name can cure a pierced lung.
Who could have guessed?

Speaking of which, is it just me or is armour not worth jack in this world? I doubt the hobgoblin grunts are carrying enchanted weapons, so how did one manage to stab him with an (allegedly) fatal blow straight through his breastplate?

BTW, notice how Kazumi suddenly seems to become a stronger fighter after she gives her name? She kills her first hobgobin with a stab wound, but her second hobgoblin (after giving her name) is decapitated. She even kills the last one while barely even looking at it. So maybe it's a tradeoff - naming your self when dying = get out of death free or name yourself while healthy and get bonus to hit.

[galdon]

wonder if it's too early to hope the two will become lord hinjo's royal guard and be alive when the oots part ways with hinjo

and you know, i should probrably get an avatar already >.> i'm worse off then the npcs, you dont even know what i look like!

[16oz]

BTW, notice how Kazumi suddenly seems to become a stronger fighter after she gives her name? She kills her first hobgobin with a stab wound, but her second hobgoblin (after giving her name) is decapitated. She even kills the last one while barely even looking at it. So maybe it's a tradeoff - naming your self when dying = get out of death free or name yourself while healthy and get bonus to hit.

Actually, Daigo killed the first one, not Kazumi, although I agree that stating one's name for the first time DOES seem to give you a decent power boost; way to confirm that crit girl!!

[Zhrec]

I really liked that, it is so sweet... :smallredface:

[galdon]

Actually, Daigo killed the first one, not Kazumi, although I agree that stating one's name for the first time DOES seem to give you a decent power boost; way to confirm that crit girl!!

i think the intention was kazumi's first kill, not first killed hobgoblin

[Luklan]

Broad smile. That was just.. Cute. Not as dramatic as the OOTS have been lately, a nice fresh breath of air :).

QFT. That was an awesome comic Rich. Certainly brightened up my morning, and I have a job interview in 3 hours :smalleek:

[Twisted Otaku]

Hehe that was awesome! Elan was almost right eh? and I love the punch line at the end ^_^ Excellent comic, and I'm sure you had quite a few people scared.

[katana2665]

Well i was ready to call it quits on this comic, but this one pulled me back...very funny.

[Xartyve]

Wow... I laughed out loud in this one. Has Rich finally stopped making gooey war epics? Let's hope so. But one thing I still want, IS V DEAD YET?!!?! Please I hate him/her.... so very much...

[Fighteer]

Actually these figures, with a couple of adjustments, give her a much better chance of survival than I would have thought.
A standard PC hp system is full at 1st, and 1/2 rounded up for all later levels, which would give her 34 base as 11th level wiz.
The assumption of zero con bonus is clearly suspect. Whether by magic or basic build, an adjusted stat of 14+ is highly likely = +22+ hp = 56, about our average damage from the attack. [The possibility of both magic and build is not unreasonable and gets us another 22+, which gets us in the range of picking herself up and rushing off to the nearest cleric.]
56-58 = -2, which gives her seven chances to stabalize, a majority chance.
And while she can't be much higher than 11th, she can easily be a level or two, making her odds a lot better.

Well, first I actually misquoted the dragon's bite damage: it should be 4d6+13, not +12, assuming that it gets the standard +2 Strength score from the zombie template. This brings the average encounter damage to 49 (not 59... apparently I can do complex multiplication but not simple math).

Second, there is no reason to assume an NPC specialist will optimize their build for adventuring or even for combat. While the Elite point buy makes it possible for Sangwaan to have a modest (+1) Con bonus, it's highly unlikely that she would have any stat boosting magic items that didn't directly improve her effectiveness at her primary role - casting divination spells.

Even given a PC rolling scheme, that's 45 hp ((4+1) + (3+1)*10), which still brings her to dying after 49 damage.

Third, while she could have prepared feather fall in anticipation of possibly falling off of the walls, again you're talking about a PC-esque decision, not necessarily something an NPC specialist would consider or care about.

While it wouldn't surprise me to see Sangwaan waiting on Hinjo's junk with some scars and a traumatized expression, it would be equally unsurprising to find her shambling after Tsukiko muttering "brains".

[Tawkis]

That was fan-freaking-tastic.

I haven't had a laugh out loud moment like that in awhile.

[Aerysil]

I know there is a certain satisfaction derived from the comedy and sentiment of the moment, but there is a burning question etched into my biological pathways...

What are they going to have a cup of!!???

[Ronald_saveloy]

Just like in Feng Shui. Once you have a name (even just one, like Daigo), you are no longer a mook.

That's exactly what I thought too. That's so Feng Shui! Instant death after melodramatic death speech!


Anyway, I had a funny scene in an RPG too. It was a detective story. At the beginning I introduced a bunch viking-like characters, of which only one was introduced by his name. At the end of the scenario, the PCs had discovered a plot to assasinate the Empress and this very viking was the assasin. (Actually, the story was ripped from Star Trek VI The undiscovered country). After the assasin was killed in the nick of time, one player said to me: "I should have known it. He was the only one of the vikings you gave a name!"

[kirbsys]

Love it, I think I might use that line some time.

The name's Calvin

You have a last name?

Yeah, but I'm saving it for an emergency.

[IronSoldier820]

Phew, dodged a bullet there. For a second I was afraid that the Giant would kill off those two NPCs, they were beginning to grow on me too. I'm glad they're still alive, I hope we see more of them later in the comic.

[Eccerion]

Aye aint it the truth? any NPC that dosnt have a name might as well put on the red shirt, cause there is no way they will be alive for long.

Loved the comic, "...its..Daigo...huh, I..uh...I think I'm OK now":smallbiggrin:
Genius, freaking genius.

[galdon]

not to mention that any damage above 50 is an automatic fortitude save roll againced death, and magic users do not have much in the way of strength.

fast posts, i was responding to a post way up the page XD

[galdon]

I know there is a certain satisfaction derived from the comedy and sentiment of the moment, but there is a burning question etched into my biological pathways...

What are they going to have a cup of!!???

my best guess would be coffee

[Recursive]

Y'know, it's easy to imagine those two getting cocky at this point...

(Imagines Kazumi and Daigo carving a swath of destruction through a vast horde of hobgoblins, both absolutely invulnerable as they shout their warcries:

"My middle name is Todashi!"

"My childhood nickname was ZumZum!"

"My three-year-old neice calls me DayGlow!"

"My ICQ handle is AzureGrrrl429!"

"There are those who call me...Tim?"

...)

[Fighteer]

not to mention that any damage above 50 is an automatic fortitude save roll againced death, and magic users do not have much in the way of strength.

fast posts, i was responding to a post way up the page XD
There are two separate attacks involved: the bite and the fall, neither of which can reach 50 points (unless the bite crits). However, 50 points of damage, in and of itself, is enough to drop her unless she's got a really super Con bonus.

Also, Fortitude saves are based on Constitution, not Strength.

[cavalier973]

Wait...what if they have the same last name?

:frown:

It's legal...In the Southland

[shaddy_24]

I can't wait to see them run into Elan again. He will be all messed up because the "nameless redshirts" survived an automatic death situation. And then they'd tell him their names.
And by the way Giant... that was awesome. This is my absolute favorite comic now. I love it.

[galdon]

There are two separate attacks involved: the bite and the fall, neither of which can reach 50 points (unless the bite crits). However, 50 points of damage, in and of itself, is enough to drop her unless she's got a really super Con bonus.

Also, Fortitude saves are based on Constitution, not Strength.

ok, so if the bite doesnt do enough, and she were to land on a taller building instead of the ground, what would be the odds of survival?

[cavalier973]

And T-shirts! They'll have their own T-shirts! Great comic, I hope they get their cup of whatever.

Some sort of mug with their images would probably be more appropriate

[Ebonwoulfe]

So an NPC randomly gets a name, and it just happens to be a male, bald, fighter type?

Is this a new character sheet?

[Maulem]

Minor Fame:
Ability
Granted to NPC's who complete one of the following
1) Survive more than 20 turns
2) Are shown sincere concern from a current PC of at least 5th level

Result:
Grant first name immediately. Recover up to 10 HP.

Residual:
Choose a last name at a key point in the plot to recover an additional 10 HP and +2 to STR and DEX for the next 2 turns.

[wagomorph]

So will these two be getting their own stock to replace the MIKO stocks?

Remember, a lot of "Redshirts" had names in Star Trek.

Kirk, Spock, Mccoy and ensign Figowitz beam down to the planet. Guess which one gets eaten by the gelatinous cube.

[cavalier973]

Kirk, Spock, Mccoy and ensign Figowitz beam down to the planet. Guess which one gets eaten by the gelatinous cube.

What they needed was to beam Belkar down first. Then the gelatinous cube would be eaten.

[Quietus]

Some sort of mug with their images would probably be more appropriate

So you want mugs with their mugs?

*Collective groan*

[The_Hunting_Enemy]

Hooray! They lived! An they can't be called 'Redshirts' anymore because they have names now! Although, what are they now? Minor characters?

[Dervag]

What they needed was to beam Belkar down first. Then the gelatinous cube would be eaten.To Belkar, cubes really are Jell-O.

As for the comic, it's great. Perhaps Elan's best power is his lack of genre blindness.

[Faramir]

Elan learned everything he knows from reading these forums.

Explains a lot really.

[JannaM]

This is proof that Mr. Burlew does read the forums and enjoys toying with our collective hopes, dreams and spoiler-tag-less musings.

I'd build a little OotS shrine for Rich as gratitude for such light hearted, tongue-in-cheek storytelling, but I was outta Belkarisms after the first two walls of my room were scribbled full of 'em.

[Elfanatic]

Hmm, so those dead NPC's who have been haunting my dreams were right that giving them names in my campaigns could have helped them. I should make a note of this: after the third time your 5-year old sister gets possessed and recites ancient latin it kinda gets boring

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Like that prevented Rich from killing the blind diviner?

What was her name, already?

What about the blue-hair girl-paladin that emprisonned Belkar? She got killed too..

Sadly, I'd have to say that Azure-City named people get killed a lot...

The blind diviner was Sangwaan, and she died because she was a "cool" but ultimatly expendable NPC. Just like Robo-Paladin, the Azure City general, the Cliffport Chief of Police, and a host of others. Kazumi and Daigo dodged the bullet because they were supposed to die like the rest, but they just weren't cool enough.

Now if they were to develop some power, get a position of authority, take a few PrC levels... DOOMED!

But for now, they are safe. But only for now.

[Stagger Lee]

This failed to disappoint.

[NeonRonin]

ROFLMAO. :smallbiggrin:

Yes, in RPGs, having a name really DOES matter. Thanks, Rich, for turning the Redshirt convention on its ear. Keep up the good work!

[Fighteer]

ok, so if the bite doesnt do enough, and she were to land on a taller building instead of the ground, what would be the odds of survival?
Given the minimum and maximum hit points that Sangwaan could possibly have, and the minimum and maximum damage values of the things that happened to her, she could be splat dead (-10 hp or lower), dying (-9 to -1 hp), incapacitated (0 hp), or alive (>1 hp). Any of those outcomes are (more or less) possible. Therefore, her condition is in the "to be determined by author" category. There's no way we can know with absolute certainty until or unless it's revealed by the plot.

[Big Bug Basher]

Wow... I laughed out loud in this one. Has Rich finally stopped making gooey war epics? Let's hope so. But one thing I still want, IS V DEAD YET?!!?! Please I hate him/her.... so very much...
HOW can you hate v? I mean sure v isn't the best charicter *cough*Belkar*end cough but she (I asume she simply based on what I've read that she said) is funny!

[galdon]

Given the minimum and maximum hit points that Sangwaan could possibly have, and the minimum and maximum damage values of the things that happened to her, she could be splat dead (-10 hp or lower), dying (-9 to -1 hp), incapacitated (0 hp), or alive (>1 hp). Any of those outcomes are (more or less) possible. Therefore, her condition is in the "to be determined by author" category. There's no way we can know with absolute certainty until or unless it's revealed by the plot.

ah. it could be then that her being bitten like that could have been a plot device to get her out of a dangerious area, considering she is not a combat oriented charicter, she would have been slaughtered by a hobgoblin there

(finally got an avatar :smallsigh: but it probrably sucks)

[Screech]

Thats Priceless comedy!!

[DanShive]

That was pure awesome :smallsmile:

[Chronos]

What they needed was to beam Belkar down first. Then the gelatinous cube would be eaten.Less talk, more slashing damage (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/GuestStrips.html)
(it's near the bottom)

[Evik]

Ha haha
That was awesome!
way to avoid "red shirt" syndrome
:D

[David Argall]

Well, first I actually misquoted the dragon's bite damage: This brings the average encounter damage to 49 (not 59... apparently I can do complex multiplication but not simple math).

Second, there is no reason to assume an NPC specialist will optimize their build for adventuring or even for combat.

while she could have prepared feather fall in anticipation of possibly falling off of the walls, again you're talking about a PC-esque decision, not necessarily something an NPC specialist would consider or care about.

While it wouldn't surprise me to see Sangwaan waiting on Hinjo's junk with some scars and a traumatized expression, it would be equally unsurprising to find her shambling after Tsukiko muttering "brains".

Which puts us in basic agreement. If she is plot useful some way, there are no major rules problems with her being still alive. We should assume she is history, but she could come back.

By the way, what does "Sangwaan" mean? I find claims it is Thai, but not the meaning, and I wonder if there is not a joke here.

[Vamp-Elanor]

Y'know, it's easy to imagine those two getting cocky at this point...

(Imagines Kazumi and Daigo carving a swath of destruction through a vast horde of hobgoblins, both absolutely invulnerable as they shout their warcries:

"My middle name is Todashi!"

"My childhood nickname was ZumZum!"

"My three-year-old neice calls me DayGlow!"

"My ICQ handle is AzureGrrrl429!"

"There are those who call me...Tim?"

...)

:smallbiggrin:


Kazumi and Daigo will now be able to "Drink, drink, drink, drink a cup of ... together".

I HOPE!

Never know what the Giant's up to next. :smallwink:

[Koreku]

heheh... I just brought my players through a cave where and entire army of "redshirts" were killed in a cave-in. One of my players got really angry about it and multiclassed to Cleric and went on a mission to rez them all.

Sorry, just thought it was kind of relevent. great comic. :smallsmile:

[Rufio]

Hahaha, great one Giant!!! I wonder if they'll get their own smilie??? So... Elan has such good common sense, he's smart!! Hehe... he's my favorite.:smallsmile:

[Dentarg]

Well played, Mr. Burlew, well played...

I wonder what level they each actually are as well, if they can fight hobgoblins like they are now, and hold them off like that, they seem competent enough to be at decent levels.

- Dentarg

[Kai Maera]

:smallsigh: I have reason to believe that the establishment of a name for a character likely produces an effect similar to switching classes. As the Sapphire Guard was, they were mostly NPCs (with NPC classes), with the exception of the few designated as palidans. Since the guards do not heal themselves, it's reasonable to believe that they are "warriors", so their PC-equivalent class would be the "fighter" class - considerably stronger.

Why do I have a reason to believe this? Did you see how freaked out the people were that Shojo had NPC class levels? Anyone with a name must, therefore, usually not have NPC class levels. :smallbiggrin:

[Fighteer]

:smallsigh: I have reason to believe that the establishment of a name for a character likely produces an effect similar to switching classes. As the Sapphire Guard was, they were mostly NPCs (with NPC classes), with the exception of the few designated as palidans. Since the guards do not heal themselves, it's reasonable to believe that they are "warriors", so their PC-equivalent class would be the "fighter" class - considerably stronger.

Why do I have a reason to believe this? Did you see how freaked out the people were that Shojo had NPC class levels? Anyone with a name must, therefore, usually not have NPC class levels. :smallbiggrin:
Roy experienced chagrin over being "beaten" by an aristocrat as an expression of metagame humor. Remember that cute little fourth wall that Rich likes to break? In this case, he's expressing the "typical" player's chagrin in such a situation, not the character's.

If I really had to explain our no-name soldiers' miraculous transformation into non-redshirts in game mechanics terms, I'd say they accumulated enough XP during the battle to gain a level. There is really no reason why they wouldn't continue to advance as Warriors if that was their original class, nor any reason why they couldn't have been Fighters to begin with. Even a 2nd level Warrior is significantly stronger than a 1st level one.

[Tharr]

The heroes of DC well do not have this power example Superboy Prime killed about 15 named Titans fast and he currently in the Sinestro Corps with Anti-Monitor about kill many heroes. Reading classic fiction most named heroes end up being killed by foes. Lets not forget all of named friends in Homers work its unknown people live because they get used in later works. For the red shirt in trek the same guy was killed but clones is the reason. Real great now from reading that Elan got away maybe V will show up.

Great comic however with big holiday week the chance of the next update comic possible out will be on Thursday with NYC fireworks. Fast note THor number one out July 5 hope Durkon has cash.

[H. Zee]

Best strip for ages, and there've been a LOT of great strips recently. The Giant must read the forums to pick up on all that discussion about how the NPCs are going to die because they are nameless...Either that, or he's freakily good at predicting what we are thinking...*looks over shoulder nervously*

[Baltek Grimm]

HAHAHAHA!!! :smallbiggrin:

That was one of the best OOTS-Strips ever...

A great one, thanx Giant!

[Balathustrius]

That was so awesome.

[Obscura]

Laugh out fricken loud! That was hilarious.

Awsome comic giant.

[Sir_Banjo]

I don't get it.

Who's Diago?

I think there was an Iago in Othello and Dago is 17th century slang for spaniards but I can't draw the connection.

I don't know what to say, it's never happened before. No, no it's not you it's me:smallwink:

[Enforcer84]

*scrapes knees*
Master...I-I ...er, these Samurai.
Can I Keep them? I likes them yes I do.
I will give them coffee.

[waffletaco]

I don't get it.

Who's Diago?

I think there was an Iago in Othello and Dago is 17th century slang for spaniards but I can't draw the connection.

I don't know what to say, it's never happened before. No, no it's not you it's me:smallwink:

Well there's a guy named Daigo that has this famous street fighter 3 video.

[David Argall]

Best strip for ages, and there've been a LOT of great strips recently. The Giant must read the forums to pick up on all that discussion about how the NPCs are going to die because they are nameless...Either that, or he's freakily good at predicting what we are thinking...*looks over shoulder nervously*

Neither actually are needed [tho we can't rule out both happening]. You bring some nameless characters on stage to make jokes about nameless NPCs and red shirts, and one of those jokes is that the NPC gains by the mere fact of his name being stated. So why the writer makes these jokes, we are also inspired to make more or less the same jokes. No need to read the forums to guess that.
What we have here is a "conversation" where it seems like whatever the writer does is a "response" to our suggestions. The redshirts get names? An agreement with us. They don't? A disagreement. It becomes hard to make an action that can not be deemed a response no matter how much or little the writer knows of these forums.

[Atheist_Cleric]

Great strip, take that drama stereotypes!

My DM always gives the npc's names regardless of their position...that way he can can punish/guilt us when we let one die :smallamused:

[banjo1985]

Yay for the no-name soldiers hehe glad they both have names now, just shows that a name makes you invincible!

Either Giant reads the forums or he's telepathic...

[Paperfury]

That was great, I figured that they would die, but nope, names save lives.

[coffeethrall]

Yay for the NPCs! Good to know they stand a chance now of getting to have their cup of --URRGH! :smallsmile:

[tgva8889]

Having a name is like a super power!

That was very good, Rich. Love Order of the Stick, hoping my recently shipped copy of Start of Darkness comes in soon!

[Mr Teufel]

I love the anti-trope!


She also gets a mere d4 hit die, with no evidence of a Con bonus, and being bitten by an ancient silver dragon is a LOT of damage.

Theorycraft: To cast true seeing, she must be an 11th level wizard (or a 9th level cleric). I'm going with wizard since it's the more plausible class choice for a diviner, and she doesn't wear a holy symbol. I also assume no Con bonus. Hit point range: 11-44 (average 28).

Ancient Silver Dragon bite attack: 4d6 (Gargantuan dragon) +12 (Strength bonus). Damage range (non-crit): 16-38 (average 27).

The snatch feat makes the character take damage as from a fall from 1d6x10 feet, or falling distance, whichever is greater. Let's assume a 60-foot wall for the sake of convenience - 6d6 falling damage: 6-36 (average 21).

The least damage Sangwaan could have taken was 22, the most was 74, and the average was 58. Aside from a freakin' miracle, she's paste.
If she was a blind wizard, then she would almost certianly have Featherfall memorised - if she didn't have a ring of Featherfall.

[Holammer]

So... They got names, just means they'll drop better than regular loot when they eventually get killed ;)

[Delgarde]

Hmm... I'm wondering if they managed to level up...

They've survived a lengthy battle, in the presence of characters far higher level than themselves. If they were PCs, they'd certainly be entitled to a huge chunk of XP... probably some for storytelling too...

[Poukis]

Excellent comic! It's been too long since I laughed so hard!
Excellent...
Cheers!

[motub]

Yeah! If only you could see the big grin on my face, Giant!

Great play on an inconsistency we've seen many, many times in movies and TV, finally working for the "redshirts" for a change!

I am so very, very glad that Kazumi (it is a pretty name) and Daigo (who is quite handsomely bald without his helmet) will get to have that cup of coffee someday (though I think it will be some time before they get to anywhere where there actually is coffee to have in a calm, romantic atmosphere).

I like them, and I'm happy that they're "people" now :smallsmile: .

[Delgarde]

Most of the time it's true, in D&D and other RPGs, what Elan said in panel #3.

"Don't you understand? Saying, "You go, I'll hold them off," is a death sentence, even for main characters!"

'Course it is. Having someone sacrifice themselves to hold the enemy back long enough for everyone else to flee is a long established tradition. Indeed, it's often a path of redemption, the traitor finding the ultimate way to prove his repentance was genuine... 'twould be a good option for Miko, if she hadn't already died.

Of course, four hobgoblins would hardly be worth such a sacrifice - had Elan stayed, he'd easily have defeated all of them singlehandedly, and without undue delay.

[Hel65]

'Course it is. Having someone sacrifice themselves to hold the enemy back long enough for everyone else to flee is a long established tradition. Indeed, it's often a path of redemption, the traitor finding the ultimate way to prove his repentance was genuine... 'twould be a good option for Miko, if she hadn't already died.


Exactly what was on my mind when I read the comic.

I actually find it silly when characters that go "holding off" survive. C'mon, they were fleeing for a reason.

[Lenny]

I haven't laughed at a strip that hard in a long time. Are you sure The Giant doesn't read the forums?

[Eldpollard]

If you do actually kill these NPCs I and a lot of forum goers will not be happy. They deserve to be happy. Well chosen names.

[Freelance Henchman]

Good to know... Having a name provides Damage Reduction 100/Railroad Plot.

[nerulean]

I cackled aloud for the first time in a while. Thanks Giant, I needed that!

[titan_monarch]

Great strip! Now we need Kazumi and Daigo smileys.

But oh, the irony. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0217.html) If the guard ogre in that strip had heard Elan, he would have signed his own death warrant.

[lemmor]

Maybe it's me, but I think in the last panel they are going the wrong way... I think the Giant drew them wrong...