OOTS #347 - The Discussion Thread [Archive] - Giant in the Playground Forums

mikeyq6

2006-09-13, 01:58 AM

Great strip (as usual)

I love that they can tell a 1d12 weapon from a 1d8 one! I suppose there must be all kinds of 'magical' equivalents to modern day forensics. I would imagine the OOST CSI team would be composed of high-level wizards specialising in Divination.

lol :)

(first page, yahoo!)

Sky_Schemer

2006-09-13, 01:59 AM

Ha! I love it!

And a cute reminder how we always seem to "forget" the city guards in urban adventures. :)

Pheldagriff

2006-09-13, 01:59 AM

zomg the police officer is teh funny
first page

edit: zomgwtfbby, I really hit page 1 :o
I especially liked the part where they indentified the two weapons ::)

edit2: Cliffport Police Department CPPD ;D

Thomar_of_Uointer

2006-09-13, 02:01 AM

Fornesic weapons diagnostics? Kewl...

I kinda expected to see what Elan and Belkar were doing, but this is pretty good too. ::)

Charity322

2006-09-13, 02:02 AM

LOL, ranks in ride my ass. ;D

Platinum_Mongoose

2006-09-13, 02:03 AM

I was hoping the cops would show up again.

...I never thought I'd use that sentence.

Obligitory first page comment!

Spiky

2006-09-13, 02:09 AM

Wow, 2 in a row again. I'm....at a loss to understand what Nale is doing. Or how I got on the first page!

Freshmeat

2006-09-13, 02:10 AM

The discussion on the weapons was neat :D

thewamp

2006-09-13, 02:10 AM

I love the discussion of the murder weapons... "+3 enhancement on both murder weapons, too..." ;D

Ink

2006-09-13, 02:12 AM

This is like one of those creepy serial murderer cases you see on tv. Heheh, CSI: Stick Land. Isn't it interesting how in most of the games you play the city guard is useless.

Miraqariftsky

2006-09-13, 02:14 AM

Eh, what's with the chief's uneven compexion? Helmet-tan?

mikeyq6

2006-09-13, 02:16 AM

Eh, what's with the chief's uneven compexion? Helmet-tan?
Nah, that's his 5 o'clock shadow. The ubiquitous accessory (along with the mo') of any police chief worthy of the name.

Calamity

2006-09-13, 02:29 AM

I was hoping Chief would make another appearance! ;D

As usual great comic.

Arky

2006-09-13, 02:36 AM

I find it interesting that the police chief has six class-levels - not bad; he's practically a hero, himself. Police training and more than a few years of service should count for at least that much, I say. Yay for NPCs who don't just sit on their rears! (The levels should come in handy vs. some grumpy trees, too.)

And congrats to Giant for another excellent comic. Each and every one has something very memorable - "nail down the crit range on that d8 weapon" is a classic line. (would that be a Heal check?) ;-)

Heads_or_Tails

2006-09-13, 02:36 AM

Ooh, I like this comic, mostly because I had assumed that the police department were a one-off, but there you go.

Skyserpent

2006-09-13, 02:40 AM

6 levels of Warrior...wow that's harsh...

5tephen

2006-09-13, 02:47 AM

Wow, I've never seen a bad guy actually do it THAT literally before....

(I love the CPPD!)

LE4dGOLEM

2006-09-13, 02:51 AM

Gotta love Police Strips :D

Eldhrin

2006-09-13, 02:54 AM

I am very concerned about what this means for Nale's plan... it's even more diabolical than we thought! Hopefully Durkon will recover from his tree-induced panic attack and come back to save the day.

Of course we've not seen Elan or Belkar for a while...

ElfLad

2006-09-13, 03:02 AM

This was hilarious. Rich Burlew has acheived critical win.

Flyerfye

2006-09-13, 03:07 AM

Police! HA! Second page aint that bad either

Behold_the_Void

2006-09-13, 03:11 AM

I'm wondering what Nale's plan is, since he's trying to get the cops to go to that area.

tamtam1991

2006-09-13, 03:12 AM

WOOT! Now we finally get the needed satire about policework! Believe me, after watching enough CSI episodes, karma demands that something like this be created. Awesome job Giant! 'Specially with the finding of weapons damage and crit range, genius! Once again, I am taken in by your grip.

alanbahr

2006-09-13, 03:13 AM

Awesome job Giant...

PercyBlakeny

2006-09-13, 03:34 AM

Riding (My Ass)

Loved it!

w00t first post (meaning this is my first time posting on the message boards, not that I got first on the thread)

Dinosxanthi

2006-09-13, 03:55 AM

The chief rocks, great job Giant!

I still don't understand how did he knew the spells were cast at the park...

(woot 2nd page!)

(update: damn it!)

Felinoid

2006-09-13, 04:06 AM

Nice bit on the weapons.
Geez, the Chief looks like Roy in a party made up entirely of Elans (idiots with successful Forensic Lore checks). :o
And where's the arrow pointing to the lower right corner, huh Nale? That's some sloppy work. :P

Caelestion

2006-09-13, 04:26 AM

Now that's a forensic team! :)

TheDRaconicLord

2006-09-13, 04:31 AM

Just one of the best god damn comics I have ever seen yet...

The Police Chief in just 2 comics is beginning to be a favorite of mine...I hope we can see plenty more of him during the battle

"I think the killer might be trying to tell us something...but what?"
Ah Dear Gods, what a comic ROFL

You da man, Giant! :D
(3rd Page! Wooot! Wooot!) ;D

battleburn

2006-09-13, 04:36 AM

Huh?!?
"Six levels of Warrior to be outsmarted by a serial killer"

Where is the logic in that.
But I think he might need those levels when he sees a;; those trees there.

fractal

2006-09-13, 04:38 AM

Too bad the Chief hasn't reached the next logical conclusion, "They have +3 weapons and I'm only a level 6 NPC Class. We'll get massacred and barely even scratch them."

TheDRaconicLord

2006-09-13, 04:39 AM

Too bad the Chief hasn't reached the next logical conclusion, "They have +3 weapons and I'm only a level 6 NPC Class. We'll get massacred and barely even scratch them."

Hey, it's their job. But because he knows they have at least +3 weapons, I hope he takes loads of reenforcements. And if that doesn't work, he can call the army ;D

bexie

2006-09-13, 04:44 AM

"I think the killer might be trying to tell us something."

"Yeah, but what?"

"I think the secret message is, "I need to toughen my hiring standards.""

LMAO!!!

Great comic Giant, keep up the brilliant work :)

Maelin

2006-09-13, 04:59 AM

Antina

2006-09-13, 05:09 AM

It says "I need to toughen my hiring standarts" - hillarious!!!
ROFL!!!

;D

I don´t know if the expression does exist in English: "really pointing hints"?

Max_Sinister

2006-09-13, 05:12 AM

"Ride (My Ass) Skill" - simply great.

If the Giant should ever run out for ideas, or wants to start a second comic, CPPD is what he should do ;D

rosebud

2006-09-13, 05:13 AM

(Begin Gratuitous Nitpick :)) Is there an extra massacre? There's sixteen dots (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0347.html), but #339 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0339.html) claims there are fifteen massacres. True, a massacre could have happened between #339 and #340, but that requires two to three days between the strips. Was that the travel time back to Azure City? That would have meant Nale had a few days more setup time, as well. (End gratuitous nitpick. ;))

Antina

2006-09-13, 05:13 AM

I love the Chief. He's such a great character.

The fantasy/D&D twist on all the clichés of the overworked, raspy-voiced NYPD police chief image is excellent.

Woot, n th page!*

* Stop doing this. It's lame.

I have to agree!
The chief is simply great!

And thank you for your WOOOT - commentary - it is GREAT TOO!!!

I´m waiting for OOTS-Charys to say, that they made it to n.th page...

Antina

2006-09-13, 05:15 AM

1st page!

This is all you wanted to say?!

???!!! WHATS THAT ALL ABOUT ???!!! >:(

Antina

2006-09-13, 05:17 AM

Lmao. Ride (My Ass) skill. Pure gold.

In other news, maybe OotS will be saved by the city police?

No - I don´t think so... - hints show otherwise...

bosssmiley

2006-09-13, 05:24 AM

CSI: OOTS! Thus was it prophesied, and so has it come to pass. Love the idea of finding out the crit range via further lab work. Props Mr Burlew. ;D

Zuzuzu

2006-09-13, 05:36 AM

Incredible. IMO this strip is the best in, like, last hundred, hands down. Well, mostly cuz I love forensic stuff, and this D&D adaptation of CSIing rocks beyond any expectations. Deepest respect, mr. Burlew :).

sakusha

2006-09-13, 05:52 AM

I love the police chief's snarky comments! I love the conveniently placed murder locations on the map! I love the "forensic" discussion the police have of the weapons! It's just another awesome comic! ;D

Edit: Uhm, woot 4th page? It's my highest so far...

dabone

2006-09-13, 05:56 AM

jep really funny indeed :p Don't forget the police :p

Sir_Norbert

2006-09-13, 06:03 AM

I still don't understand how did he knew the spells were cast at the park...
You're joking, right? ;)

If not, take another look at that map..........

BunBunBot

2006-09-13, 06:08 AM

I love the Chief. He's such a great character.

The fantasy/D&D twist on all the clichés of the overworked, raspy-voiced NYPD police chief image is excellent.

Woot, n th page!*

* Stop doing this. It's lame.

Yes! And now he just needs to send in the John McClane/Axel Foley/Agent J/Sledge Hammer! parody! Lots of explosions!

Shakalooloo_Doom

2006-09-13, 06:14 AM

Just gotta pray that the chief isn't 'one day away from retirement'...

smellie_hippie

2006-09-13, 06:41 AM

Hee hee hee. "Go and find out the crit range on those weapons..." Exactly what forensic test would that be? I'm hoping it doesn't call for flat-footed "volunteers".

W00T 4th page. W00T great comic!

Snake-Aes

2006-09-13, 06:45 AM

Criminal investigation based on dice and threat range? wow, XD
think about it irl:
Sir, first report on the murderer's weapon!
It seems to be some sort of piercing weapon with a damage dice of 1d10, and a range increment of 60 ft.
--
Okay, that's cutting into hand pistols, try to find the threat range of the weapon, if we're lucky to get a 18-20 we'll have an extra action against him for carrying a kevlar-piercing one
....

lol

Calsan

2006-09-13, 06:56 AM

I loved the the comic, especialy the last panels. "thoughen up the hirering standaards indeed" lol

Delgarde

2006-09-13, 07:05 AM

I love that they can tell a 1d12 weapon from a 1d8 one! I suppose there must be all kinds of 'magical' equivalents to modern day forensics. I would imagine the OOST CSI team would be composed of high-level wizards specialising in Divination.

Yup, those forensics guys are pretty sharp, allright. Although telling a 1d12 weapon from a 1d8 shouldn't be too hard - I imagine the injuries made by a greataxe are hard to mistake.

As for the CSI team, no doubt some clerics and necromancers too - murder investigations (and prosecutions) are a lot simpler when the victim can testify...

Delgarde

2006-09-13, 07:07 AM

I'm wondering what Nale's plan is, since he's trying to get the cops to go to that area.

The more chaos (and carnage) the better, I imagine.

Delgarde

2006-09-13, 07:12 AM

Too bad the Chief hasn't reached the next logical conclusion, "They have +3 weapons and I'm only a level 6 NPC Class. We'll get massacred and barely even scratch them."

Never seen a party of adventurers taken down by a kobold horde? They'd get massacred in melee, but not when they stand back and attack with crossbows - fire enough bolts, and some of them are gonna be crits.

faerwain

2006-09-13, 07:22 AM

Niiice job.

Frankly, I thought the giant overdid breaking 4th wall in 346. Though the characters always did something like that from time to time, the druid non-stop talking about class features and range of sneak attak like he was reading from the source book got on my nerves.

But weapon stats used as "forensic results" are absolutely fitting and very funny, especially as I thought of the massacre as simply being the result of Thog running out of ice cream finally and the chief as a one-strip-wonder.
(Who knows, maybe he will talk to his sword before battle and command his officers into fight with saying: "Trust me, I know what I'm doing" ;) )

So, let's see what mayhem will break over poor Cliffport..

" Alrik, drive up the horses already!"

(Little in-joke for german roleplayers/tv-crime-show-watchers ;D )

Ronald_saveloy

2006-09-13, 07:32 AM

So we've got another Spinoff: CSI Cliffport.

Anyway, that so reminds me on my RPG group playing detective scenarios in renaissance setting - of course with a lot references to todays detective TV shows. We had a pathologist who gave the SC's the examination results while munching his bread an butter.

Sebastian

2006-09-13, 07:35 AM

Just what every running spell-battle needs - Innocent bystanders. Or worse, low-level NPCs trying to intervene.

This keeps getting better (and worse) with every passing moment. Nice work.
Never understimate the strength of low level NPCs in the hands of a good DM.

Also, subtetly, your name is Nale... NOT!!!

Great metagaming jokes here.

Mattias

2006-09-13, 07:41 AM

Excellent comic.

That Sam Vimes like character is already winning over the crowd. Let's hope he survives long enough to enjoy it.

StickMan

2006-09-13, 07:51 AM

6 lvls of warrior. Man he's going to be useful.

Great strip.

Fri

2006-09-13, 08:06 AM

God... the plot thickens! this is the first time I really need to post something in the official discussion thread, just to let off some steam!

go giant! go cppd!

Blaznak

2006-09-13, 08:10 AM

I liked the map the best.

As to the weapons, I think you can get that sort of information from your D20 heal check, depending on how you roll and how the DM handles such matters. Maybe the crime lab just takes a few levels in heal?

thornir

2006-09-13, 08:17 AM

It has been a while since I laughed out loud at work reading one of the strips. Glad my boss isn't in yet, or he would surely be making a Ride (my ass) check.

Heads_or_Tails

2006-09-13, 08:22 AM

6 lvls of warrior. Man he's going to be useful.

Well he may have clawed his way through six levels of warrior to qualify for an obscure prestige class (Cliffport Police Officer), and then, remembering the hardships he had to face, began hiring level 1 commoners.

Only now does he realise why the Cliffport Police Officer prestige class was made with those requirements...

dsollen

2006-09-13, 08:26 AM

great strip Giant! I've always loved my CSI parodies (http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20040426.html)

and let me be the first to applaud nale for an irionically appropriate justice-as seen by the psychotic killer. Not sure how he is going to manage some of the details of the plan; but still my estimation of nale has gone up

bbugg

2006-09-13, 08:29 AM

Spoiler??
Anyone else think that this is a way to frame Oots for the other killings?

Aerysil1

2006-09-13, 08:38 AM

Funny :)

Leave it to *Nale* to make a plan so needlessly complicated that his murders actually draws arrows...

EDIT: My apologies, it's early.

Heads_or_Tails

2006-09-13, 08:44 AM

Leave it to Elan to make a plan so needlessly complicated that his murders actually draws arrows...

I believe that you mean Nale, not Elan.

Sebastian

2006-09-13, 08:46 AM

Too bad the Chief hasn't reached the next logical conclusion, "They have +3 weapons and I'm only a level 6 NPC Class. We'll get massacred and barely even scratch them."
Only if they go hand to hand, but try with,for example, a dozen of tanglefoot bags or thunder stones, or similiar items for each one of the bad guys.

or what about a dozen of low level wizards with wand of acid splash (0 level, 1d3 acid damage, ranged touch attack, no saving throw, no SR) or magic missile (I don't need to stat it out, do I? ). with 12 of that is 12d4+12 (avg 36) hp, no saving throw, auto hit every round, even a 10 level character would not take it lightly. Or Color spray, with a dozen of it every round even high level characters are bound to roll a 1 on their saving throw soon or late, And that are just some examples.

Nostrabel

2006-09-13, 08:48 AM

Genius, as always. ;D

ibitak84

2006-09-13, 08:48 AM

I'm wondering what Nale's plan is, since he's trying to get the cops to go to that area.Spoiler:
Well, Nale tries to finally get some use out of this evil opposite thing. He's clearly trying to frame The Order for those murders. He wants the CPPD to show up at the park where they'll see Elan and Roy all caught up in fighting...

Spoiler??*Yup, see above in this post! :-D
*Actual spoiler not included - Which color is the background of the quote-frames? So I can quote spoilers and they don't show up?

Sebastian

2006-09-13, 08:51 AM

(Begin Gratuitous Nitpick :)) Is there an extra massacre? There's sixteen dots (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0347.html), but #339 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0339.html) claims there are fifteen massacres.

Counter nit-pick, it says 15 massacres like this, so there is that massacre and other fifteen equal 16.

Nightfall

2006-09-13, 08:55 AM

Great comic, as usual, Giant. I have only one comment: "CSI meets OOTS"! ;D

Sebastian

2006-09-13, 08:56 AM

Spoiler??
Anyone else think that this is a way to frame Oots for the other killings?

Maybe, but then it is going to backfire, because noone in the OotS use greataxes.

Heads_or_Tails

2006-09-13, 08:56 AM

Spoiler: *snip*

Well I could see Elan as Nale, but Roy as a half-orc with a +3 greataxe...

ibitak84

2006-09-13, 09:00 AM

Spoiler-answer:Yup, the competent police might spoil it, but it's still a good plan (for Nale).

(Begin Gratuitous Nitpick :)) Is there an extra massacre? There's sixteen dots (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0347.html), but #339 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0339.html) claims there are fifteen massacres. (End gratuitous nitpick. ;))
Counter nit-pick, it says 15 massacres like this, so there is that massacre and other fifteen equal 16.

While we are at it, in the 3.5 edition of the D&D game, the Ride skill is just Ride, not Ride (something that can be ridden in brackets).
PS: I know, it's a joke...

Hyrael

2006-09-13, 09:01 AM

wOOT for competent police officers. As an avid Vimes fan, I'm liking this plotline more and more.

and as for the stupidity of the other officers; what can you expect from a bunch of 1st level warriors? at least the rookie seems to be competent.

I really cant see how nale can use this to his advantage, though. if he's planning to frame the Order, none of them use a greataxe, or come to think of it, a d8 slashing weapon.

Saithis Bladewing

2006-09-13, 09:17 AM

Hah. Reminds me of the OotS 'youarenex" in Dwarfland. XD

krai

2006-09-13, 09:30 AM

This sorta reminds me of Scary Movie 3 after the crop circles appear and the guy says i wonnder what their trying to tell us and the crop circle says Attack Here ->

LordOfNarf

2006-09-13, 09:32 AM

I love it, this is OotS as gaming humour at its highest, deteriming murder by weapon damage, i laughed real hard.

great job as always, Mr. Giant!

Kesnit

2006-09-13, 09:52 AM

Never seen a party of adventurers taken down by a kobold horde? They'd get massacred in melee, but not when they stand back and attack with crossbows - fire enough bolts, and some of them are gonna be crits.

I once saw a LVL 15 Cleric killed by a LVL 1 Dueragar fighter armed with a crossbow. The Duerager rolled a crit, confirmed the crit, and the Cleric failed his savings throw vs Death.

Tass

2006-09-13, 10:36 AM

Who said "new stick" can't have nice rule-jokes?

Papa_Bitterleaf

2006-09-13, 11:11 AM

It's been said, but it bears mentioning again:

The Cliffport guys are so funny, they deserve a spinoff.

At least a mini-series.

Funny stuff!

Snake-Aes

2006-09-13, 11:12 AM

I once saw a LVL 15 Cleric killed by a LVL 1 Dueragar fighter armed with a crossbow. The Duerager rolled a crit, confirmed the crit, and the Cleric failed his savings throw vs Death.
It was pretty much a bolt in the eye, eh? That crossed the whole way to the cranium's end...

ouch

Sir_Norbert

2006-09-13, 11:25 AM

Has to be said, though, Nale got so lucky.

Sixteen massacres and they just happen to figure out the pattern in exactly the right time to arrive at the park while the OOTS are there. What are the chances of that?

Ephir

2006-09-13, 11:35 AM

All this talk about plused weapons. (new word?)

I just recalled that Ol' Roy has a +5 sword made with starmetal with an added ability as a bane for undead.

Good Strip Giant. I've had a good chuckle the last couple :)

Jukashi

2006-09-13, 11:56 AM

That poor CPPD girl seems to have back problems... and no wonder. ;D

Kesnit

2006-09-13, 12:07 PM

It was pretty much a bolt in the eye, eh? That crossed the whole way to the cranium's end...

ouch

Exactly. Luckily, that was the player's back-up character. He just had his primary (a wizard) teleport in and say he was bored with his druid girlfriend.

Sebastian

2006-09-13, 12:12 PM

I don't know how I missed this the first time

"how did you know? did you take a level of diviner"

LOL ;D ;D

Heloisa

2006-09-13, 12:37 PM

OMFG! I think I'm in love with the Chief! He's so cool!

LOL

Again, great jog Giant! Thank you! ;D

Melnor

2006-09-13, 12:38 PM

I'm so happy that the comic is up so early!
Hee hee....I love this comic ;D

The_Kobold_Hero

2006-09-13, 12:42 PM

Heh. So I guess the OOTS isn't going to get their asses kicked after all!

Martok

2006-09-13, 01:28 PM

"I think the secret message is, I need to toughen my hiring standards." ;D

Hilarious strip, Rich. I love the Chief!

sakusha

2006-09-13, 02:17 PM

Okay so everyone knows that Thog is the great-axe weilder, but last I checked a rapier is not a slashing weapon, but a piercing weapon.

But then again I'm probably forgetting whether or not Elan and Nale used the same weapon. After all, with levels of Fighter Nale can use just about anything he wants to use other than exotic weapons and two-handed weapons (otherwise no Somatic-component spells for him).

So I guess my question is ... did Nale use a longsword? a greatsword? OR ... is this Belkar's evil opposite we haven't seen yet?

Nerd-o-rama

2006-09-13, 02:40 PM

As far as I can tell, Nale has always used a longsword. Observe the size difference between his weapon and Elan's rapier here (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0061.html).

As for this comic, I'm reminded once again of classic 8-Bit Theater (http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=031118). In a good way.

And yeah, the CPPD needs their own spin-off.

Puck

2006-09-13, 03:16 PM

Today's comic felt like good old-fashioned 100-ish OOTS humor. I snickered like a little kid with loaded d20s before the final PvP arena.

Nice job, Rich.

TheDRaconicLord

2006-09-13, 03:38 PM

*snip*

So I guess my question is ... did Nale use a longsword? a greatsword? OR ... is this Belkar's evil opposite we haven't seen yet?

Like Nerd-o-rama said, Nale always used a Longsword and the Greatsword is 1D10, not a D8. Besides Giant seems to be having his fun making us wait and wait for Belkar's opposite so I bet he won't say one single thing about him before THE page.

Wrecan

2006-09-13, 04:02 PM

in the 3.5 edition of the D&D game, the Ride skill is just Ride, not Ride (something that can be ridden in brackets).
PS: I know, it's a joke...
I think the parens are just indicating an "aside". As in "I think you're great (at missing the point)."

That sentence doesn't apply to you!!

Varian7

2006-09-13, 04:04 PM

Let's hear it for the return of the CPPD! I hope they show up at the park with LOTS of reinforcements!

imageek

2006-09-13, 04:08 PM

and kill mister windstaff and kitty

Glorfindel

2006-09-13, 05:04 PM

Terrific comic!

Go CSI Cliffport 8)

Leo_Forestclaw

2006-09-13, 05:10 PM

Oh the horrid despair! I get back from the optometrist only to find that OotS has been updated - the tragedy is the doc dilated my eyes so I can't read the text (thank goodness I'm a touch typist) but until my eyes recover I have no way of knowing what's going on!

ARGH!!

OK, who gonna be a peach, call me and read this to me? ;-)

Ezbez

2006-09-13, 05:13 PM

Beware of the... level 6 fighter? Somehow I doubt that's going to do much when V and Haley together have hardly even hurt Leaky.

Either way, great strip. This fight is really thickening.

Aereshaa_the_2nd

2006-09-13, 05:29 PM

LOL.
ROFL.
LMAO.
ROFLOL.
ROFLMAO.
ROFLMAOXQZ.

(I just made that last one up.)
:D

^ He's a lv.6 warrior.
Which makes it even more pathetic.

Shara_Littlebottom

2006-09-13, 05:36 PM

Thanks for this one Giant, I was having a bad day and it really made me smile! Funny stuff, good quoteable lines. The establishing shot reminded my a little bit of a scene in The Matrix for some odd reason....

I like the smoke from the cigar as well.

Daedrous Avari

2006-09-13, 05:53 PM

Yay!

Shea Landford

2006-09-13, 06:12 PM

WOO! A good comic!

saraswati

2006-09-13, 06:24 PM

So happy to see the return of the police captain!

I also really love the fact the the CSI type shows use such impossibly technical science-type stuff that it pretty much indistinguishable from magic (at least to me, my friend in the actual forensic labs just snickers at the errors). Hence, you can just substitute a D & D magic world and it still totally works!

I'm very much looking forward to a OOTS vs Linear Guild vs Police vs Trees vs townsfolk mash-up!

Dumbledore_lives13

2006-09-13, 06:46 PM

Awesome strip, It's good to remind people that there are police in a town and no just adventurers and random NPC's

Tobimaro

2006-09-13, 07:12 PM

Here's another vote for the Chief being a first-rate NPC.

"...you'd think that he put max rank in Ride (My Ass) skill." LOL :D

"I need to toughen my hiring standards." First rate! ;D And this also shows what happens with first-level fighter types who use Intelligence as a dump statistic.

And to think that I thought that Nale's plan was supposed to be subtle. ;)

LadyOfTheStick

2006-09-13, 07:23 PM

Great Comic. Keep um coming.

Sebastian

2006-09-13, 07:56 PM

I think the parens are just indicating an "aside". As in "I think you're great (at missing the point)."

That sentence doesn't apply to you!!

Or maybe the Chief is old-school. :)

Ironfist Orc

2006-09-13, 08:29 PM

Posted by: Sebastian Posted on: Today at 4:56pm
on Today at 1:02pm, Wrecan wrote:
I think the parens are just indicating an "aside". As in "I think you're great (at missing the point)."

That sentence doesn't apply to you!!

Or maybe the Chief is old-school.

Or a converted Rolemaster character. (Hmm, levels halved, would have been 12th level-ish...)

A CPPD mini (or CSI:CP) would make for an excellent filler sequence between story-arcs.

No nested quotes?

Nazzo, the 102nd

2006-09-13, 08:42 PM

With all the respect the girls in this board deserve, the officer woman who gives the weapon report to The Chief is really... uh... busty, isn't it? :D

I know it's just to fit the "CPPD" letters on her armor. But I do pictured her that way...

Great comic as usual. The Chief is priceless! Can't wait to see more action in the park! Go sonic, Elan! :)

Bilbo27

2006-09-13, 09:40 PM

TinSoldier

2006-09-13, 09:42 PM

LtNOWIS

2006-09-13, 10:09 PM

Kish

2006-09-13, 10:12 PM

Nashua

2006-09-13, 10:43 PM

HAHAHAHAHA! Fave line: "Ride (My Ass)" The CPPD would be funny as a webcomic all by themselves!

charik

2006-09-13, 10:47 PM

ShadowBr

2006-09-13, 11:32 PM

Hi people this is my firsr post ^^

Well, the Chief remind me the Commander Root from the books Artemis Fowl, because he is smoking everytime, and he is being always politically incorrect with your subordinates.

This chapter make me fell like a genius: CSI Cliffport! Anybody more he/she thought about that?

Everybody stay beautiful =D

Fillbert

2006-09-13, 11:45 PM

Truly priceless. Great episode from beginning to end. ;D

fithi

2006-09-14, 12:30 AM

Highly amusing :D

As a fan of CSI (the original), this was great fun to read.

Haggis_McCrablice

2006-09-14, 02:32 AM

So is Nale's scheme to knock out the Order, plant a bunch of bloody and incriminating weapons in their hands, and then wait for the cops to come haul them off to the nearest gaol?

Ah, I see someone else had the same idea.

So do you think the Chief will call in an outside consultant on this case? Perhaps a certain wee brach of a paladin with a stick in her arse the size of Cleveland? And does anyone else hear the voice of B:TAS's Harvey Bullock when reading his dialogue?

CockroachTeaParty

2006-09-14, 04:21 AM

rosebud

2006-09-14, 05:07 AM

Counter nit-pick, it says 15 massacres like this, so there is that massacre and other fifteen equal 16.Oh, the joy of nits. :) It says "This makes 15 massacres like this", so it would be 15 inclusive. ;) Anyhow, whether that was the last one or whether there was one more, it's pretty close and there is some sense in there being one more after that -- OOTS did need to travel from the Oracle back to Azure City, which would have given Nale plenty of time to let Thog blow off some steam while Nale finished plotting.

Unrelated, one question -- level/skillwise, where would the Chief be compared to the pro and antagonists?

TheDRaconicLord

2006-09-14, 06:01 AM

I don't know if this has been mentioned before but... what's wrong with the female police officer? She looks... a little odd. This is probably some inside joke from CSI or something, but I think she looks freakish.

That's just nit-picking though. Great comic, great comic.

She is just too ... breasty ::)

Giant had to make her breast bigger to be able to write the CPPD so I guess that's why she looks so diferent.

And I don't think it's from any CSI. I watch all 3 of them, and I don't remember a character like her related to weapons forensic.

rxmd

2006-09-14, 07:21 AM

This would not happen in a real D&D world.
Could you elaborate what exactly you mean by "a real D&D world"?

Philipp

Haarculaneaum

2006-09-14, 09:59 AM

1) the city has a POLICE department

Just because formal Police departments weren't invented until the 18th century doesn't mean there weren't city guards. Besides, it's effing funny.

2) They have a coronor

Well, no one has a coronor. Many populations have coroners, however. Undertaking work has existed since time immemorial and coroner work has existed at least since Leonardo.

3) A forensics expert

Depends on what you mean. They have diviners. Also, less-modern real communities still had to figure out how & why people died. It's not like CSI made all of these jobs up just for our entertainment.

and 4) that Nale would be that smart as to plot the killings in that formation.

Umm, why? First of all, plotting points on a map is like a third-grade-geography class skill. Secondly, why can't Nale have a high intelligence. Elan, could have a high intelligence for all we know. We know his wisdom is about at a 3 but who knows about smarts and besides, especially in D&D, heredity does not equal stat scores.

As far as the "real D&D world" thing, you need to lighten up, Mr. Role-Playing-Rules-Lawyer-Guy (high voice "Mr. Role-Playing-Rules-Lahawyer-Guy!), the rules are created to make the game consistent, not rigid, so crack open an ice cold Orc Lite and let off some steam. Your DM and your other party members will thank you.

Haar.

Faramir

2006-09-14, 10:33 AM

It's been said, but it bears mentioning again:

The Cliffport guys are so funny, they deserve a spinoff.

At least a mini-series.

Funny stuff!

No, no, a television series ;)

Caelestion

2006-09-14, 12:10 PM

Actually, gunpowder is really easy to make. It's just convincing people of that timeframe that it's safe, easy and effective.

EloquentRune

2006-09-14, 12:48 PM

my first post

new comic was fantastic

its a refreshing break from the main plot

saraswati

2006-09-14, 02:29 PM

Me like much! ;D Now, does anyone else get the idea that the Chief makes a great opposite for Belkar? The same biting satire of comments "ranks in Ride (my ass)" "ranks in Kiss (my ass)" and is a law-enforcement officer while Belkar is a noted law breaker? Just saying...

I love this idea charik! But, unfortunately, {spolier} I can't see the police chief working with the guild.

Now for bonus points, what song by 'THe Who' should be the intro song for CSI: Cliffport?

Ronald_saveloy

2006-09-14, 02:54 PM

Also, OotS has gunpowder:
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0240.html

No, that's not a barrel of gunpowder but of Trinitrotoluol (TNT), which is far more explosive than gunpowder. And even at the new years party in Azzure City, there are no fireworks, which would be a proof for gunpowder (unless magically created). http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0316.html

Ironfist Orc

2006-09-14, 03:12 PM

Points I wanted to make, but forgot...

I see a promotion for the rookie - consider how many ways he could have chosen to "connect the dots."

The CPPD obviously buys its armour from a "standard fantasy sizes" catalog. The forensics officer is lucky she isn't in a chainmail bikini ... ;)

And I love Charik's point, but as saraswati alludes, sometimes getting a true opposite doesn't fit the plot.

Caelestion

2006-09-14, 03:37 PM

Ronald, that should be trinitrotoluene. Then again, I'm such a geek, I remember acronyms from over 10 years ago (when I last did A-Level Chemistry).

Lord_of_the_Helms

2006-09-14, 03:47 PM

Kylynara

2006-09-14, 04:32 PM

No, that's not a barrel of gunpowder but of Trinitrotoluol (TNT), which is far more explosive than gunpowder. And even at the new years party in Azzure City, there are no fireworks, which would be a proof for gunpowder (unless magically created). http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0316.html

However, in the previous comic Roy comments that he has heard they have fireworks. Which indicates that while not common, fireworks are something he has heard of and assumes that Celia would have heard of as well.
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0315.html

Haarculaneaum

2006-09-14, 05:01 PM

CSI: Cliffport The Who Theme Song

"Squeezebox"

as in

"Mama's got a squeezebox
she wears on her chest. . ."

Haar

Tussy the Druid

2006-09-14, 05:16 PM

Wow, good comic. Nice to see new characters every once in a while (even if they are temporary) [SPOILER] I think the CPPD is going to rush in and die, but give the Ootsters a chance to recover from the ambush and possibly get away.

Wrecan

2006-09-14, 05:21 PM

I'd be partial to Fortune Teller (http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Fortune-Teller-lyrics-The-Who/5E64BB554C4A0F164825697A0012C044)

Or, in honor of the dearly departed Greek mythos, Athena (http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Athena-lyrics-The-Who/D2C898B988D2A50D482569770033999D)

Arian

2006-09-14, 07:31 PM

I don´t know if the expression does exist in English: "really pointing hints"?

It would have to be "really pointed hints." But the pun still works ;D

Bilbo27

2006-09-14, 07:46 PM

Thank you Haarcul... for opeing my eyes.

And the Orc lite tasted great, thanks for the tip

Sorry about my spelling error.

I wanted someones perspective and u gave it--thanks again!

KeiranHalcyon

2006-09-14, 08:13 PM

The CPPD obviously buys its armour from a "standard fantasy sizes" catalog. The forensics officer is lucky she isn't in a chainmail bikini ... ;)
Think that's where the word "breastplate" came from? ;)

Nightfall

2006-09-14, 08:27 PM

Now for bonus points, what song by 'THe Who' should be the intro song for CSI: Cliffport?

I'm thinking possibly "Emminence Front"...it's got great instrumental, like the other three "Who" songs used in the three "CSI" series.

charik

2006-09-14, 08:55 PM

I love this idea charik! But, unfortunately, {spolier} I can't see the police chief working with the guild.

Now for bonus points, what song by 'THe Who' should be the intro song for CSI: Cliffport?

Depends on their pensions, doesn't it? Ever watch It's a Mad, Mad World with Spencer Tracy? ;D

As for The Who, how about 1921?
"You didn't hear it
You didn't see it
You never heard it not a word of it."
::)

Evik

2006-09-14, 09:18 PM

whew havent replied for like 4 strips been busy trying to sneak episodes at work so i havent had time to post but i love how its all coming together :)
cant wait to see whats next

fractal

2006-09-14, 09:46 PM

Unrelated, one question -- level/skillwise, where would the Chief be compared to the pro and antagonists?
Well, we don't know about the Linear Guild, but the OotS is level 12, more or less. Since power doubles about every two levels (not counting the distinction between PCs and NPCs), the Chief is less than 1/8th as powerful as a member of the OotS (due to being a Warrior).

It's safe to assume his officers are even weaker than he is, so unless he has an awful lot of them...

Deuce

2006-09-14, 10:44 PM

Now for bonus points, what song by 'THe Who' should be the intro song for CSI: Cliffport?

I Can See For Miles . . . (maybe by using a blimp?)

better yet - Boris the Spider!!!!!! ;D

Lundegaard

2006-09-15, 03:34 AM

Sir Norbert asked on page 6,
Sixteen massacres and they just happen to figure out the pattern in exactly the right time to arrive at the park while the OOTS are there. What are the chances of that?

Well if you are familier with Discworld, I'd say that it is a million to one chance.

And if anybody outthere likes CPPD, but is unfamiliar with Terry Pratchetts Discworld work, get a copy of "Guards Guards" immediatly!!

Oh, and have you DM's ever tried to calculate how many magic missile wands and tanglefoot bags you would be able to equip your cityguards with, when using taxmoney for city defence... The Chief might be lvl 6, but that dosn't mean he and his officers are useless!!!

I simply love OOTS more and more :)

mastroyo

2006-09-15, 08:37 AM

I Can See For Miles . . . (maybe by using a blimp?)

better yet - Boris the Spider!!!!!! ;D

I can't explain

or

Baba O'Riley.

(the last one just because I like that song so much... ;D )

Sereno

2006-09-15, 08:49 AM

Sir Norbert asked on page 6,

Well if you are familier with Discworld, I'd say that it is a million to one chance.

And if anybody outthere likes CPPD, but is unfamiliar with Terry Pratchetts Discworld work, get a copy of "Guards Guards" immediatly!!

Yeah ... but those million to one chances crop up nine times out of ten! :)

Lundegaard

2006-09-15, 09:30 AM

No. If you only have a million to one chance, you are always sure that the outcome will be succesfull!

But to be sure that you've hit a million to one, and not 999,999 to 1 or perhaps 1,000,001 to 1... thats were you will be wrong nine times out of ten. ::)

(Strangely enough, even my teacher in "applied statistics" agreed on this, which only shows that humor can be found in the strangest of places :))

Doug_Lampert

2006-09-15, 09:52 AM

Oh, and have you DM's ever tried to calculate how many magic missile wands and tanglefoot bags you would be able to equip your cityguards with, when using taxmoney for city defence... The Chief might be lvl 6, but that dosn't mean he and his officers are useless!!!

I always assume each squad has one or two bracelets of friends and one other item, then they call help if in trouble. You fight one group of guards and less than a minute later the city's elite guard + a bunch more of the watch are ALL there.

OTOH No NPC class can use wands of magic missile (pay no attention to the expert with UMD), OT3H Adepts can use scrolls of Scorching Ray, Web, Mirror Image, Invisibility, and Lighting Bold, and in a serious fight they can afford enough such to last the likely duration.

And yes, compared to a modest sized town's estimated taxes most low power items are dirt cheap. Level 1 combatabt NPC's are assumed to average 900 GP in gear each.

Khaim

2006-09-15, 11:48 AM

Well, we don't know about the Linear Guild, but the OotS is level 12, more or less. Since power doubles about every two levels (not counting the distinction between PCs and NPCs), the Chief is less than 1/8th as powerful as a member of the OotS (due to being a Warrior).

It's safe to assume his officers are even weaker than he is, so unless he has an awful lot of them...

Am I the only one that doesn't think he's a level 6 warrior? He has six levels of warrior, sure, but I very much doubt he doesn't have more on top of that. A prestige class, maybe. I mean, level six for a town that size is rather low.

Doomgiver

2006-09-15, 11:52 AM

New to the boards, but not new to the comic :) Picked up the first two books at GenCon 2005, and now I can't imagine what webcomics was like prior to that! Thanks for the great work. I am *totally* taking Ride (Minion's Ass) as a skill, and may even blow a Skill Focus feat on it ;D

Snake-Aes

2006-09-15, 12:04 PM

The population-per-level is halved at each level, right?
for reach level 6, we have 64~ level 1 (N)PCs... The chief isn't likely to be only a level 6 I guess, maybe 9 or 10..more than that is overkill for a city, even of that size

Hototo

2006-09-15, 07:02 PM

I don't care how strong or how many levels the chief has. He is simply the most amazing side character that OotS has had yet!

Dario

2006-09-15, 09:53 PM

Nice! A good "cop drama" spoof is never bad thing. I appreciate the more classic OotS humor, too.

taraxia

2006-09-16, 09:27 PM

I find it very unlikely that

1) the city has a POLICE department

2) They have a coronor

3) A forensics expert

and 4) that Nale would be that smart as to plot the killings in that formation.

This would not happen in a real D&D world.

Thoughts and opinions are welcome!

Since when is OotS supposed to be a "real D&D world"? It's a farcical comic that smashes the fourth wall to make real-life jokes all the time.

Also, they already remarked on the fact that Cliffport looks and acts like a modern city with skyscrapers and whatnot, thanks to magic acting in the place of technology and making it more advanced than its time -- a la tons of fantasy settings (the most obvious one being the Eberron setting, which Durkon riffed on with his "magic train" comment).