My webcomic "Thieves can't"

[etchant]

Me and a buddy have been making webcomics for years now and I recently started my passion project. Thieves can't, a 5e D&D comic with the best art I can muster, some great gags, and building into an epic adventure, I hope. I would love it if you would take a look and tell me what you think.

[Fri]

I would if you'd give us a link.

[etchant]

Sadly I am new to the forum and can't add links yet :(

Googling thieves can't or going to ramen-empire.com will get you there. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[Spojaz]

That was much better in both writing and art than I was expecting, given the new-profile-timidly-asks-for-critiques introduction. Those usually lead to "you had to be there jokes" and mspaint stick figures, but here led to a solid comic I had even seen a few pages somewhere before.

Not much to discuss, just a solid, fun, adventure style comic.

[Admiral Squish]

Definitely agreeing with the above sentiment. Really good art, solid jokes, interesting characters... Already bookmarked, looking forward to seeing where it goes.

[etchant]

Thank you for the kind words. I am good at the art but not so much with the self promotion.

[Fri]

I second the above reviews. Maybe you could start by interacting enough in the comic until you actually can post image/link, and post link and example page from your webcomic :smallbiggrin:

[2Comic2Furious]

There's no reason those of us with link privileges can't just post the link, is there?

http://www.ramen-empire.com

[keybounce]

I'm glad to see new comics; I had stopped checking your site.

If you're new to here: "Ramin Empire" and "Thieves Can't" are two very different comics at the same site.

RE starts at http://ramen-empire.com/strip/afterglow_cover/
It is the story of a foreign student living with an American family. In the words of a famous fictional figure: "Not everyone is exactly who he or she appears to be". It starts with a film class, and learning english translation issues.


Ramen Empire is about college students who make movies at Alexandria University, with a touch of the fantastic and supernatural sprinkled on top. Its main characters are a Chinese exchange student, a woman rebelling from her super-Christian father, and a cadre of wanna-be film makers. At its heart, Ramen Empire is a serial drama who’s thesis statement is to model what healthy and healthful relationships can look like, even in bad situations and moments of awkwardness.

TC starts at http://ramen-empire.com/strip/thieves-cant/
At the moment, there's only the introduction to the campaign, unless there's a section I've missed.

[Ibrinar]

Thieves Can't - not bad but not much out yet can't tell where it is going, the drawback with stories about actual games is that I am less invested in the story so they need good jokes instead.


Ramin Empire - Like it so far, the second chapter really has much more weirdness.

Seems to lack a proper comic only rss though. Well the main one will have to do I guess.

[Pocgels]

This is pretty good... art style is definately refreshing, even if it is a little rough

[AdmiralCheez]

I'm actually enjoying the rough style, honestly. It's more fitting to the "this is a D&D game" tone of the comic and the casual writing style. It's a nice surprise; thanks for sharing it!

[keybounce]

http://ramen-empire.com/strip/the-bargain/

So we have another page in the meta-physical modern setting. Todd is basically getting ready for an Infodump, but first he has to recover more.

[keybounce]

Hmm. Something's wrong.

If you start at the beginning, and go comic by comic, you get the first chapter of Thieves Can't, at http://ramen-empire.com/strip/thieves-cant/

This goes to http://ramen-empire.com/strip/thieves-cant-5/, and you never see another episode of thieves can't.

I just found out that there is another chapter. If you start at http://ramen-empire.com/thieves-cant/go-ask-another-one-life-story/, you get a different set of comics, that continues with http://ramen-empire.com/thieves-cant/thieves-cant-kill-goblins/

[Sermil]

Ya, I can't figure out the website at all. Laughed at a few of the jokes in the first(?) section (where the two guys meet the two women), but have no idea if there's more or where to go to find it.

Hate to say it, but the website would convince me never to return, even if the comic is good.

[keybounce]

There is more, which is why I linked the proper start of that story

[keybounce]

Alright, here's an update that confuses me.

http://ramen-empire.com/thieves-cant/why-the-myconids-where-youll-be-landing-of-course/

At first, I was thinking that this was the mother of the person whose house they are at, trying to provide some refreshments. Heck, the end of the comic looks like someone going home.

And yet, it's supposed to be splitting the party -- not a case of real-life showing up in the comic, but the party is actually doing this.

I am confused here.

[Mith]

Alright, here's an update that confuses me.

http://ramen-empire.com/thieves-cant/why-the-myconids-where-youll-be-landing-of-course/

At first, I was thinking that this was the mother of the person whose house they are at, trying to provide some refreshments. Heck, the end of the comic looks like someone going home.

And yet, it's supposed to be splitting the party -- not a case of real-life showing up in the comic, but the party is actually doing this.

I am confused here.

The Hag that they are coming across offers them refreshments, and the barbarian decides to straight up attack, for predictable results. The Paladin goes to help the Barbarian while the rest of the party decides to be good guests.

[Stale Tales]

I really love this comic, make me want to DM more games.

[Kantaki]

That little mushroom is so cute.:smallbiggrin:

[keybounce]

Update on the Phoenix story in Ramen:
http://ramen-empire.com/strip/for-real-though-they-should-teach-this-in-school-or-something/

Turns out that Phoenixes in this universe are not quite as nice as normally portrayed.

[Yes_Thieves_Can]

Hey, holy crap. A thread about both my comic strips. <3

Zach (Etchant) is the co-creator and doesn't usually do a lot of stuff on forums. I'm glad I found this and I'm glad folk seem to like it.

[keybounce]

http://ramen-empire.com/strip/non-reproductive-perpetuation/
New episode, and a look at what it means to be a curse or a blessing.

[Max_Killjoy]

Something about a Kickstarter?

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?254357-General-Crowdfunding-Thread-Mark-I&p=22186113#post22186113

[keybounce]

http://ramen-empire.com/strip/chapter-five/

New chapter starts. We find out what's happening with the strange dad and ...

The phoenix issue will stay down for a while, I guess.

[Max_Killjoy]

http://ramen-empire.com/strip/chapter-five/

New chapter starts. We find out what's happening with the strange dad and ...

The phoenix issue will stay down for a while, I guess.



That punches right in the feels, doesn't it?

(I'm trying out my webslang there...)

[lord_khaine]

Alright the first comic had me laughting, and the art is indeed surprisingly good.
This does deserve some more attention.

[keybounce]

Next chapter has started.
http://www.ramen-empire.com/thieves-cant/on-gold-of-the-realm-part-1-of-4/

[Yes_Thieves_Can]

We're updating again! :)

This is the writer btw.

[Anarchic Fox]

This is quite good!

[Anarchic Fox]

Bump with a link: http://www.yesthievescan.com/

The creators are currently running a poll on what type of story arc to run next (the link is below the current comic), if anyone wants to vote.

[Narmoth]

The comic is quite fun so far (I'm still in the tavern). Well done. I will follow this one

[Yes_Thieves_Can]

Bump with a link:

The creators are currently running a poll on what type of story arc to run next (the link is below the current comic), if anyone wants to vote.

Just popping in to say that the Spelljammer Setting was the vote winner. I'm working on it now. =)

[Max_Killjoy]

FYI -- http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?254357-General-Crowdfunding-Thread-Mark-I&p=23393497#post23393497

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't -- Patron Ain't (http://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-summon-mimicthulhu/).

Candor is best tiefling.

[Max_Killjoy]

Dark and Foreboding (http://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/dark-and-foreboding/)

"It's what we do."

AKA, the path of most resistance.

[Max_Killjoy]

Skulls... and running... (http://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/the-escape-from-skull-cave-i-said-the-escape-from-skull-cave/)

Which is more meta?

[DeadToRide]

Hey, I'm new here, just digging around. Your comic is outstanding, I really love the art style.

[Yes_Thieves_Can]

Hey, I'm new here, just digging around. Your comic is outstanding, I really love the art style.

Thanks so much :)

[Max_Killjoy]

Hey, I'm new here, just digging around. Your comic is outstanding, I really love the art style.

Hello fellow fan.

Thieves Can't has a sub, and Bart (the writer) is active there as well -- if you're on reddit stop by and say hello there too.

https://www.reddit.com/r/thievescant/

Same question here as I asked there -- which is really more meta?

Candor using in-character knowledge to make a decision that avoids her (the character's) potential death?

Or Renauldo setting a high bar for what counts as "in-character" knowledge so as to avoid leaving and grab the loot the player wants?

[Max_Killjoy]

Thanks so much :)

Hey, didn't see you there -- you must have posted while I had the REPLY screen open putting my post together.

[DeadToRide]

Hello fellow fan.

Thieves Can't has a sub, and Bart (the writer) is active there as well -- if you're on reddit stop by and say hello there too.



Oh, rad. Yeah I'm on reddit, I'll pop over there and check it out. Gotta set aside a good chunk of time to get caught up on your comic.

[Celticbear]

Starts reading, sees darkest dungeon reference, dies laughing XD

Love what I'm reading so far!

[Max_Killjoy]

Oh, rad. Yeah I'm on reddit, I'll pop over there and check it out. Gotta set aside a good chunk of time to get caught up on your comic.

I can't take credit for it -- that would be Bart (posting here as Yes_Thieves_Can) and the artist Zach (etchant here, I think).

Just a reader trying to help them get a little more exposure.

[Max_Killjoy]

Weight a Minute... (http://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/turns-out-that-dcs-can-go-past-16/)


Gravity... proof that DMs can suck. :smallwink:

[Max_Killjoy]

Now that people have had a chance to read this week's installment, some fan commentary.

You have read it, right?

Good.


Moments like these, I file under “as a DM, assume most characters are not in fact stupid, inept, and ignorant”. Even if the players don’t think of it, the characters were clearly concerned about how much the bridge could withstand, and they’re right there in the “fictional world” looking at the bridge and at their hulking compatriot. This doesn’t require a narrative approach or anything (for those allergic to such), just treating the characters as “people-who-could-be-real” in a "world-that-could-be-real".

To me these “gotcha!” moments tie back to an older approach to RPGs that treated the PCs as “playing pieces” for the players in a “freeform boardgame”.

As a GM, I'd give the characters more of a chance to realize that tanky mctankerson might put more stress on the bridge than other characters, and maybe more importantly, that crossing together is not the same as crossing one at a time.

[Mith]

Yeah, it's hilarious in this format, but can be really frustrating otherwise.

I made a goof of being a wizard in a room that flooded, and didn't specifically dictate that I stashed my spell book somewhere outside the room. Ended up losing a good chunk of spells, and had to rescribe them.

I realise I made a goof, but I would think an individual whose power depended on a bundle of paper would guard things better, much like the above example.

Maybe within 5e, use Inspiration to counter gaffs like this?

[Max_Killjoy]

Plummeting Home Value (http://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/on-bypassing-skill-challenges-with-magic/)


Also, every adventurer should have PJs in their kit.

[redjinx]

Oh heeeey, it's SHOVEL knight! I've been looking for this comic since I saw that one page!
"Fried goblin corpses. Magical defenses. Bad adventurers. Bad!"
"But what do we find though?"
"DAMAGE. You found DAMAGE."

[Max_Killjoy]

Oh heeeey, it's SHOVEL knight! I've been looking for this comic since I saw that one page!
"Fried goblin corpses. Magical defenses. Bad adventurers. Bad!"
"But what do we find though?"
"DAMAGE. You found DAMAGE."

They'll be happy to know you found them.

Drop a comment under the most recent comic, and/or in their subreddit.

[Max_Killjoy]

Raising The Roof (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/raising-the-roof/)


There's something familiar about this plan...

:smallwink:

[Iruka]

Finally got around to reading. Classic D&D humour and pretty good art., will definitely keep reading it. =)

[Max_Killjoy]

Keepin it real, bro. (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-play-hoard-of-the-dragon-queen-zero-session-1/)

Monday update is up, on this date.

[Bohandas]

What I've read so far is good

[Max_Killjoy]

Finally got around to reading. Classic D&D humour and pretty good art., will definitely keep reading it. =)


What I've read so far is good

Welcome aboard. Bart and Zach will be happy to hear it.

[Max_Killjoy]

There's no reason those of us with link privileges can't just post the link, is there?

I've been linking to the updates each week.

[Max_Killjoy]

Holiday greetings from Bart and Zach:

https://old.reddit.com/r/thievescant/comments/a98f40/happy_holidays/

https://i.redd.it/3ce7f44sba621.png

[lopa12]

Googling thieves can't or going to ramen-empire.com will get you there. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[Max_Killjoy]

"But I Monologued!" (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-play-hoard-of-the-dragon-queen-zero-session-2/)

The character creation back-and-forth here is... familiar.

[Max_Killjoy]

People Who Live Behind Glass Fourth Walls... (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-play-hoard-of-the-dragon-queen-zero-session-3/)


:biggrin:

[Max_Killjoy]

The Power of Backstory Compels You! (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-play-hoard-of-the-dragon-queen-zero-session-4/)

The throne of... well, not skulls, at least.

[Mith]

The Power of Backstory Compels You! (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-play-hoard-of-the-dragon-queen-zero-session-4/)

The throne of... well, not skulls, at least.

If Candor was a Dragonborn, it could have been "Books for the Book Wyrm".

[Max_Killjoy]

If Candor was a Dragonborn, it could have been "Books for the Book Wyrm".

+1 Internet for you. Awesome.

[Max_Killjoy]

"I think I speak for all of us..." (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-play-hoard-of-the-dragon-queen-zero-session-5/)

I guess the Tiefling CHA bonus still works for this.

[Mith]

"I think I speak for all of us..." (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-play-hoard-of-the-dragon-queen-zero-session-5/)

I guess the Tiefling CHA bonus still works for this.

Great-great grandad was Admodeus, but Grandpa was Smaug's cousin, so dragon is a more dominant trait.

And yeah, it sucks when someone shuts down your groove. The whole point of D&D is to be a giant ham that makes Brian Blessed to think it's all a bit much.

[Max_Killjoy]

Great-great grandad was Admodeus, but Grandpa was Smaug's cousin, so dragon is a more dominant trait.

And yeah, it sucks when someone shuts down your groove. The whole point of D&D is to be a giant ham that makes Brian Blessed to think it's all a bit much.

Unfortunately, Keelie's player cares not for your RP, it's all about the numbers and the kill and the loot. :smallwink:

[Max_Killjoy]

Character Redesigns for Hoard of the Dragon Queen (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/some-redesigns/)


I like all four. The new outfits obviously belong to each character, while also reflecting the changes to their "builds" for the new campaign.

[Mith]

Agreed. While writing would have been enough for me to check for updates, the art style really makes it worth it.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Ask Questions. (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/critical-questions/)

New comic up -- the best part of a Monday.

[Vinyadan]

Very nice comic. The only problem I had was when the first long story ended, it was somewhat unexpected. Otherwise, it's cool.

[Max_Killjoy]

“Can Our Kobolds Have Sidekick Levels?” should be the title or tagline of something.

[DeTess]

Ah, good old Kobold Diplomacy. It isn't a DnD campaign without it (seriously, over the course of about 6 years parties I've been in have graduated from diplomancing a single Kobold on our first session ever to having about half a roman Legions'worth of Kobolds obeying our every command in our most recent campaign).

[Mith]

Ah, good old Kobold Diplomacy. It isn't a DnD campaign without it (seriously, over the course of about 6 years parties I've been in have graduated from diplomancing a single Kobold on our first session ever to having about half a roman Legions'worth of Kobolds obeying our every command in our most recent campaign).

To be fair, kobolds are pretty awesome. At least in my (not so humble) opinion.

[Max_Killjoy]

Could you give a Kobold some levels in Bard, use today's Aracana Check, and have a Rock and Roll Kobold?

[Mith]

Could you give a Kobold some levels in Bard, use today's Aracana Check, and have a Rock and Roll Kobold?

Make a group of them that are allies of a Druidic Circle and get Kobolds in Silvanus' Service

[Max_Killjoy]

Buttons. And Keelie tries to "RP". (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/529651417/thieves-cant-kill-goblins/comments)

[Mith]

Keelie would do very well in older editions of D&D, with retainers being a primary resource for a typical adventuring party.

[Bohandas]

This comic is great!

[Max_Killjoy]

This comic is great!

Drop a comment under the comic and let them know. :smallsmile:

[Max_Killjoy]

Sling Slang. (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/sling-slang/)

Or "Good, bad... I'm the man with the pun."

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't... Blow That Horn (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/the-horn/).

I've been there as a GM.

And as a player, when it comes to the puzzle, which is why I'm lukewarm on puzzles in RPGs. Unless carefully handled, they so often come down to some crucial detail that the players missed, or something the DM considers obvious that the players don’t, or players off on a tangent that has nothing to do with how the puzzle actually works, or players paranoid about the consequences of trying it and getting it wrong, or…

[Max_Killjoy]

Two for one...

Rehearsed Mayhem... (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/montage/)

Look out, it's a comic! (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/lookout/)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Do It All (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/a-mimic-walks-into-a-bar/)

There are mimics, and then there are mimics...

"A mimic walks into a bar... he should have watched where he was going."

"Two mimics walk into a bar... you'd think they'd have noticed the first one and stopped in time. "

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Whip It. (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/sleight-of-whip/#comment-904)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves (Still) Can't Notice Traps... (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/never-trust-the-page-the-dm-has-open/)

Hijinks ensue...

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Pause for Reflection (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/did-you-know-light-clerics-can-cast-fireball-i-sure-didnt/)

ALL YOU CAN!

[Mith]

I would call that a fair play as a player.

[Max_Killjoy]

Alternate title... "Everybody Must Get Stoned".

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Eat Local (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/fairy-food/)

But... is it non-GMO, clean, gluten-free, free-range, and paleovegan?

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Re-Porpoise Magic Items (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/extra-dimensional-bag-of-rapid-swimming/#comment-978)

"Swim Bladders".

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Avoid Tangents... (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/max-is-gonna-make-a-better-title-than-i-will-anyway-and-im-sick-so-im-just-gonna-lean-on-him/)

Or cut the chord.
Or square the circle.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Loot Propane (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/king-of-the-hobbit-hole/).

[Mith]

Thieves Can't Loot Propane (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/king-of-the-hobbit-hole/).

That's a show I haven't thought of in a looong time.

As for what an adventuring party can do with that much propane? The world's largest fireball, if you go by R.A. Salvatore's The Orc King.

[Max_Killjoy]

That's a show I haven't thought of in a looong time.

As for what an adventuring party can do with that much propane? The world's largest fireball, if you go by R.A. Salvatore's The Orc King.

Or the world's loudest lock pick.

[Mith]

Or the world's loudest lock pick.
One hell of a Knock spell

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Take Shortguts
(https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/if-you-kick-a-halfling-while-its-down-youre-always-kicking-them-because-theyre-short/)

My knack for coming up with punny unofficial titles came up short this week.

[Mith]

Thieves Can't Take Shortguts
(https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/if-you-kick-a-halfling-while-its-down-youre-always-kicking-them-because-theyre-short/)

My knack for coming up with punny unofficial titles came up short this week.

Don't worry, I won't kick you while you're down.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can’t say “Noooooooooooo!” (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/beholders-apparently-eat-resurrection-scrolls-also-sorcerers-can-read-them-because-sure/#comment-1075)



Beholders can’t digest paper.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Take Things So Literally. (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/beauty-is-definitely-elsewhere/)


PS, there's something extra being added to their website.

[Honest Tiefling]

As for what an adventuring party can do with that much propane?

Unfortunately, for most parties, the answer is either torture or a circumstance bonus to an intimidate roll for any given object or substance.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Take A Long Rest (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-take-a-long-rest/)

Or...

Thieves Can't Bear It.
Thieves Can't Sleep.
Thieves Can't Come Down.

[Squire Doodad]

Just started reading this.
This is beautiful, art is very nice, humor is largely spot on thus far.
How long until I'm this good

[Max_Killjoy]

Just started reading this.
This is beautiful, art is very nice, humor is largely spot on thus far.
How long until I'm this good

I forwarded a link to your post to Bart and Zach (the guys who make the comic).

:smile:

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Believe it's Not Butter... (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/underappreciated-monsters-kuo-toa/)


Butter for the butter god, skulls for the lobster throne.

[Honest Tiefling]

As someone with problems with gluten, I think the Gluten-Pox adventure is a bad idea, unless you want the players to ask if Dragonborn can vomit and breathe acid at the same time or try to make the halflings into poop cannons.

Never give the players anything you don't intend for them to weaponize or use for questioning.

The Kuo-Tua also have the same problem, because the comic doesn't address the issue of the bard trying to become a god.

[Max_Killjoy]

As someone with problems with gluten, I think the Gluten-Pox adventure is a bad idea, unless you want the players to ask if Dragonborn can vomit and breathe acid at the same time or try to make the halflings into poop cannons.

Never give the players anything you don't intend for them to weaponize or use for questioning.

The Kuo-Tua also have the same problem, because the comic doesn't address the issue of the bard trying to become a god.


It just occurred to me that the Gluten villain should have had the first name Vladimir.

[Max_Killjoy]

Figured I'd ask this here as well:


Does a god created by the Kuo-Toa collective power reflect its actual purpose and history, or their frightful misperceptions of it?


Is that lighthouse still going to act as a protector of ships and sailors, a beacon to the lost, as it was before… or is it going to be a baleful towering form with an unblinking searching eye of fire and a mind-shattering mournful voice that stomps across the shore spreading the same terror it always caused the Kuo-Toa for all those decades?

[Honest Tiefling]

Given that the physical form can be fairly 'random and nonsensical', I assume that the godly powers follow suit. So that lighthouse god could be a god of fertility and pleasure or whatever the DM wants to throw at their players.

[Happygiraffe]

Good stuff! Great art and writing. Only thing is is the comic / website a bit blurry for anyone else? It seems like its scaled up too much to me.

[Max_Killjoy]

Good stuff! Great art and writing. Only thing is is the comic / website a bit blurry for anyone else? It seems like its scaled up too much to me.

Some elements, including the main image, auto-size across a wide range of sizes depending on screen size.

Shrink your browser down to half your screen size and see what happens, if it looks different.

[Happygiraffe]

Some elements, including the main image, auto-size across a wide range of sizes depending on screen size.

Shrink your browser down to half your screen size and see what happens, if it looks different.

Yeah I have a weird wide-screen maybe its me. Site looks great on a phone though which is probably the instrument of choice for most people anyway :)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Be Lycanthropes (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-be-lycanthropes/)

Also, Keelie is Unbearable.

Words every GM has had to utter at least once — “I don’t care if you rolled a 20….”



I'm afraid I missed an updates, so there's also: Thieves Can't Be Reincarnated (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-be-reincarnated-as-slimes/)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Abandon A Patient... (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/apparently-yes-thieves-can/)

...they took the hypocritical oath.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Reach the Cookies (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/you-must-be-at-least-this-tall-to-solve-the-puzzle/)

You must be this tall...

[tyckspoon]

Thieves Can't Reach the Cookies (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/you-must-be-at-least-this-tall-to-solve-the-puzzle/)

You must be this tall...

..so while the implication is that this is supposed to be an easy puzzle, I feel like it's actually one of those 'Communicating poorly is not the same as being clever' things. There isn't enough information provided to tell what the actual goal of the puzzle is or how you are intended to submit your answer to the implied question.

[Max_Killjoy]

..so while the implication is that this is supposed to be an easy puzzle, I feel like it's actually one of those 'Communicating poorly is not the same as being clever' things. There isn't enough information provided to tell what the actual goal of the puzzle is or how you are intended to submit your answer to the implied question.

Legit concern.

What we see in the strip works for the joke (at least, I laughed), but if we take it seriously I'd want to hear/read the full description that the GM gave to the players before making a judgement.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Avoid Metagaming (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-win-the-metagame/).


Also, another update (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/the-archfey-player-options-for-warlocks-patreon-exclusive/).

[Squire Doodad]

Thieves Can't Avoid Metagaming (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-win-the-metagame/).


Also, another update (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/the-archfey-player-options-for-warlocks-patreon-exclusive/).

Nicely done!

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Pardon... (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/no-moosery/)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Commit to a Character Concept (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/ignoring-the-dm-is-an-auto-fail/)


Looks like Starjammer Upcoming.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Read the Setting Summary (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/when-everyone-ignores-the-setting/)


PCs... in... spaaaaaaace.


Also, Reynauldo STILL has his face hidden.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Be From Space! (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-be-from-space/)

Domo arigato...

[Max_Killjoy]

Astroknight! (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/candor-dauntless-astroknight/)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Go Shopping (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/wait-this-game-has-food/)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Decide -- Digital or Analogue(s) (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/theyve-been-in-combat-this-whole-slime/)


Thieves Can't Cast "Identify Player Character" (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/i-hate-it-when-a-new-character-causes-instant-pvp-because-everyone-is-a-silent-loner/)

[Squire Doodad]

"Thieves Can't not make good comics" :smallbiggrin:

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Maintain A Democracy (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/vote-on-their-fates/)


Thieves Can't Sweep The Area (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/gingerbread-cottage-idle-thoughts-on-frozen-ii/)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Stir The Pot (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/special-agent-players-player-agency/)

I'm tired, my puns suck today.

Also, for Bart, please read the notes under the comic.

[Mith]

Thieves Can't Stir The Pot (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/special-agent-players-player-agency/)

I'm tired, my puns suck today.

Also, for Bart, please read the notes under the comic.

I appreciate the work you put into keeping the updates going. They've yet to not make me chuckle and/or grin.

[Max_Killjoy]

I appreciate the work you put into keeping the updates going. They've yet to not make me chuckle and/or grin.


Happy holidays. :smallsmile:

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't, Because of Those Meddling Kids! (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/my-npcs-are-like-if-perlin-noise-was-a-personality/#comment-21912)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Escape Their Backstory (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/comic-darkstar-12-blog-bad-weekend/)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Leave the Map (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/comic-starfall-12a-area-map/).


Plus some notes in the artist comments below the comic.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Hijack The Plot (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/thieves-cant-hijack-the-plot/)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't -- The Lost Episode (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-16-thieves-cant-die-on-this-hill/)

Thieves Can't... Get Out of Quarantine (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/coronacomic/)

Thieves Can't... Sidekick the Habit (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/comic-starfall-14-candor-gets-a-sidekick/)

Thieves Can't... Look Under the Hood (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-15-under-the-hood/)

Thieves Can't... Die on this (Glass) Hill (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-16-thieves-cant-die-on-this-hill/)


Sorry for the lack of "the comic updated" posts lately, I've been distracted by life.

[Anarchic Fox]

Keep up the good work! This has become my favorite tabletop gaming comic after OotS.

[Max_Killjoy]

Keep up the good work! This has become my favorite tabletop gaming comic after OotS.

If you get a chance, put that comment under the latest update so that the writer and artist are certain to see it.

:smile:

[Bohandas]

I thought they were on this forum, didn't one of them start this thread (although you're right, I haven't heard from them on here very much)

[Max_Killjoy]

I thought they were on this forum, didn't one of them start this thread (although you're right, I haven't heard from them on here very much)

They started this thread and posted a few times, but they're not regulars.

[Anarchic Fox]

They started this thread and posted a few times, but they're not regulars.

Oops, thanks for the correction. :smalltongue:

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't -- Starfall 18 (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-18/)

Thieves Can't -- Starfall 19 (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-19/)

(Thieves Can't Get to Space)

[Squire Doodad]

"The easiest way to get players on board for future plot hooks is to make them regret the ones they've already screwed up."

[Kantaki]

That moment when you realise the guys you're working for are evil...:smallamused:

[Max_Killjoy]

That moment when you realise the guys you're working for are evil...:smallamused:


Yeah, "let's torture the local sheriff because we think his story doesn't add up" pretty much leaps to "EVIL".

[Squire Doodad]

Yeah, "let's torture the local sheriff because we think his story doesn't add up" pretty much leaps to "EVIL".

Or aggressively Neutral, but yeah ten quatloos says Evil

[Max_Killjoy]

Or aggressively Neutral, but yeah ten quatloos says Evil

That look in the new last panel always says "not Neutral".

https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-20/

[Max_Killjoy]

Starfall #21 -- https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-21/

[Kantaki]

Poor armor (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-22/).:smallbiggrin:
I think those priorities are a bit off though.
Deal with the evil empire goon first, mourn the awesome loot later.

Also, doesn't the robot work for those guys?
Might complicate things a bit.

[Max_Killjoy]

This is a pickle.

https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-23/

[Squire Doodad]

That look in the new last panel always says "not Neutral".

https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-20/

10 quatloos for you then, my good sir!

[Max_Killjoy]

Recent updates, catching up:

https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-24/

https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-25/

https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-26/

I think any punny titles I made for these would be semi-spoilers.

[Anarchic Fox]

Healing as an alternative to putting up with more optimizing got a chortle out of me. :smallsmile:

[Max_Killjoy]

Healing as an alternative to putting up with more optimizing got a chortle out of me. :smallsmile:

Smudge is a good addition, I hope they keep him around.

[Max_Killjoy]

Mini-monster cards -- https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/monster-cards/

Low-level one-shot dungeon -- https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/the-mud-barrow-a-low-level-one-shot/

[Kantaki]

How does the Snapback have a negative charisma modifier?
It's a cutie.
No really, I want one.:smallbiggrin:

But that chicken...
I'm pretty sure that looks like a TPK in the making.
Oh well, at least they can be killed.:smalleek:

[Squire Doodad]

Fascinating idea for a small dungeon.

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Express Values Proportionally -- Starfall #28 (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-28/)

[Max_Killjoy]

Thieves Can't Plan. (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-29/)

[Anarchic Fox]

I liked the little campaign ideas. It's fun to read a tabletop gaming webcomic whose creators still play tabletop games. :smalltongue:

[Max_Killjoy]

Updates:
https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-30/
https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-31/

[Anarchic Fox]

Like somebody in the comments section said: "What’s the point of having access to a stat block for a tyrannosaurus zombie if you’re not going to use it?"

[AdmiralCheez]

I mean, that's a good point. If someone already did the work of making stats for this creature, surely it would be rude not to use it, right?

[Anarchic Fox]

I found the latest comic's blog entry interesting:




I want to add to this my “Three Step” rule, because I tend to have the environment have the occasionally lethal challenge in it. (I say “my,” but I’ve been playing this game for ages and consuming content on how to DM it for just as long; I almost certainly read or heard this somewhere else, but the original source is far receded into the fog of time for me.)

The three step rule is easy. In it, players fail three times to reach the really bad consequences, but succeed once to proceed. I don’t use it for everything – just where the stakes are much, much higher than normal. I do it for two reasons — it mitigates “save or suck” mechanics, like turning to stone, but it also ramps up the excitement of tense moments.

For example, suppose an ogre shoves a rogue over the edge of a cliff. Suddenly we’re making dex saving throws, but those dex saving throws are really death saves in disguise, because I know, as the DM, that the fall is too high to reasonably survive.

Our rogue fails the first dex save. He falls over the edge of the cliff and the ogre laughs. But! He was just quick enough and just wily enough to grab out to the cliff’s edge with one hand. (For the best effect, ask the player if they have a reaction. They tend to do their best thinking when their entire character sheet is on the line.)

He’s now prone, mechanically speaking, but the way we’re expressing in the game narrative is that he’s hanging onto the edge of the cliff by one hand. He can make a new dex save at the start of his turn. If he succeeds, he pulls himself up. If he fails, his hand slips and (for example) he lands painfully on a small outcropping of unstable rock. He’s one check away from getting himself out of the situation, but also one failed save away from taking all that gygaxian fall damage. In the meantime, the ogre and the rest of the party are doing stuff — possibly saving him or dropping rocks on his head.

However the next bit plays out, it’s far more memorable than simply vanishing over the edge of a cliff and splatting on the rocks below, and the death (if it happens) feels more fair, even though you actually stacked the deck in the players’ favor.

You can use this in a lot of places, and can use it to create consequences with more gradation in them than life or death. Failed stealth check that seems like the only outcome would be to wake up a dragon? The player’s character crunches the rocks and the dragon stirs to yawn — repeat the check. Fail again? The dragon starts looking around suspiciously. What do you do? Fail a third time? Initiative! Save? The dragon is awake and alert now, but doesn’t see you.

So next time you’re dealing with a save or suck mechanic, consider dividing it into three saves next time. Three saves to fail, one check to recover.

I think this is a consistent quirk of human psychology. Failure has more emotional weight than success. So in a situation where failure and success are equally likely, the experience will on the whole be negative, as the failures outweigh the equal number of successes.

[Max_Killjoy]

Recent updates.

Load Bearing -- https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/load-bearing-pg1/ (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/load-bearing-pg1/)

Starfall Pt2 -- https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-part-2-page-1/ (https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-part-2-page-1/)


Question -- when a thread for a comic goes dark for a while, do we need to start a new thread, or is there an exemption to the resurrection rules?

[Bohandas]

Recent updates.

Load Bearing -- https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/load-bearing-pg1/

Starfall Pt2 -- https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/starfall-part-2-page-1/



Are those links intentionally broken? They seem to have been formatted to look like links without actually having the link code?

[Max_Killjoy]

They were copied right out of the URL bar, I just formatted them so they didn't turn into the default barely-visible formatting.

I'll fix them.

[Anarchic Fox]

I liked the glimpse of the players themselves... we get a bit more characterization than I expected.

[Max_Killjoy]

I liked the glimpse of the players themselves... we get a bit more characterization than I expected.

Readers have been piecing together which character belongs to which player.

[Max_Killjoy]

The Trade -- an interlude.
https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/the-trade-page-1/

[Anarchic Fox]

I guess the creators were struggling a bit with such a long arc.

[Max_Killjoy]

The Hobgoblin -- https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/the-hobgoblin-and-you/
The Mimic -- https://www.yesthievescan.com/thievescant-comic/better-know-a-monster-the-mimic/

[Anarchic Fox]

The original roster of monsters was great for screwing with players... there's more gold in them there hills.

[Mith]

The original roster of monsters was great for screwing with players... there's more gold in them there hills.

Trying to think of good objects for mimics to duplicate. Unfortunately, my first thought is chamber pot, but that still leaves the issue of getting away afterwards. That likely won't be subtle.

[Anarchic Fox]

There's the monster that disguises itself as a ceiling (usually over an isolated chest), then drops on the party. Roll initiative, then roll to dodge. If you don't dodge, roll a saving throw. If you fail the saving throw, you die in two rounds. If you make the saving throw, you die in four. :smallbiggrin:

...That was the gist of it. I have my old Monster Manual nearby, but I forgot the name, so that doesn't help.

[Mith]

There's the monster that disguises itself as a ceiling (usually over an isolated chest), then drops on the party. Roll initiative, then roll to dodge. If you don't dodge, roll a saving throw. If you fail the saving throw, you die in two rounds. If you make the saving throw, you die in four. :smallbiggrin:

...That was the gist of it. I have my old Monster Manual nearby, but I forgot the name, so that doesn't help.

Sounds almost like a piercer, or a cousin of them. Perhaps a Deepmantle.

[Squire Doodad]

Trying to think of good objects for mimics to duplicate. Unfortunately, my first thought is chamber pot, but that still leaves the issue of getting away afterwards. That likely won't be subtle.

Haven't you ever read the story of The Magic Pot?

[Max_Killjoy]

New site design -- and updates:

https://www.yesthievescan.com/a-one-shot/
https://www.yesthievescan.com/oversized-weapons/

[Max_Killjoy]

A wild update has appeared.

https://www.yesthievescan.com/starfall-part-2-page-7/

[Anarchic Fox]

Sounds almost like a piercer, or a cousin of them. Perhaps a Deepmantle.

Oops, I forgot to reply. It was a green slime, which can deliberately wait in ambush. The 1st edition Monster Manual says, "They are sensitive to vibrations and will often drop upon passing creatures from above."