OOTS #334 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[alanbahr]

Bloody Brilliant! I love Roy's face in the last panel!

I guess I'll oblige...


'Woot!' First Post!

[Flabbicus]

Finally a use for those images on the front page. ;)

[loial77]

It's about time Belkar got some revenge.

[Jibar]

That stepladder is bigger than him...
I know this is D&D and all but...well...how!?

[Skyserpent]

That's just hilarious. I didn't know V floated when prepping spells. maybe she's sleeping... Didn't know V floated either way. Odd...

[Darkash]

First Page and First Post

Great Comic Love them all Giant

[Thomar_of_Uointer]

That's a new interpretation of trancing...

I predict that Belkar will completely ignore this advice when it comes to fulfilling his own prophecy and kill someone on accident in a completely unsatifying manner.

[mrnomas]

First post, first page - I'm a dork ;D

[Gnorosch]

This comic finally proves that Belkar is truly and incurably evil. :(

Doing something as mean as that to Elan! Vile! Heinous!

[metawidget]

I was afraid Elan would be on too much of a clever streak...

I nearly snarfed my lunch reading that.

[Sekko]

I was hoping for Miko.


(Wow 2 posts and 2 1st pages)

[Antina]

strange

but huzza! seeing haley wearing her hair like that! :o

But hornets... - strange idea little man...

I liked a lot the gag about the ladder "coming out of nowhere at all" very roleplaying-likely ;)

[radishlaw]

happy ending so soon?

nice to see the one-strip funniness again

[xyzchyx]

Hmm... I see Belkar's decided to ignore Roy's heeding after the owlbear incident (not that I'm suprised).

This could get ugly.

wow. First page. (yeah, I know... I have no life)

[Sarahphina]

Great comic.

[Furin_Mirado]

Haha! Excellent! So is that an elf meditation thing or is that how wizards rest?

[Abd al-Azrad]

How amusing. That's right, Belkar! Show that elf what's coming to him- er, it.

[geez3r]

this is the closest i have ever gotten to the first page. I'm happy none the less.

Anyways, this is the reason that you need a trickster in every party, it makes for some interesting R&R, and uses of high level arcane spells.

I'm pretty sure that no matter V's gender, that is going to be one rude awakening.

[BelkarsDagger]

LOL! One ofthe best comics so far, Rich.

[EmeraldFire]

*shudder* I hate to think about what's going to happen to V.

Awesome comic Giant... No matter what you do, Belkar will always get revenge.

[Nixie]

;D Yes! I loved it! I can't wait for more!

P.S. I love Elan waiting for his happy ending... too cute. :D

[Eldritch Knight]

Belkar - Lovable Evil all the way.

A brilliant strip. V's vengeance should be sweet!

[Samiam303]

GREAT line by Roy about the stepladder... great comic. Keep them coming! :D

[soni]

i don't even want to know where he was storing thatladder...

it's like when an animal mob drops loot.... where was it storing that loot..... LOL

[Brett Wong]

Lol, "im waiting for my happy ending"

[Deckmaster]

Maybe Belkar has a bag of holding?

I don't think this is all going to work out the way Belkar thinks it will.

[Bunny]

Ha ha ha!

I love that Belkar just happened to have a economy-sized jar of killer hornets! I also enjoyed the contented whistling ... reminded me of Calvin! La, la, la, doop de doo ... I get to kill an elf ... La dee da ... how many bottles of hornets do we have?

This shows that V and Belkar have more than one thing in common: they both enjoy revenge, and they both pay attention to details. Nice touch, turning the elf upside down. Most likely this will not be fatal to V, though V won't want to sit down for some time! Indignity can be worse than death for some people, so it's better this way.

Thanks for a fun strip! I laughed out loud!

Bunny

P.S.

I love that, even when "asleep", V's mouth is always open.

[Korta]

*giggle*
Sometimes, you have to love Belkar.
And you ALWAYS have to love Elan!!!
Thanks!
;D

[The_Kobold_Hero]

Awesome job. You made me spit coke on my keyboard. ;D

Havn't laughed that hard in a long time.

[SumGuy]

Does this mean that Roy gave Belkar a +2 on his "Screw with the Elf" check?

Edit: And horray for the third page!

[Joseph_Awesome]

Oh my god!!! He is planning to kill the floating elf!!

OH MY GOD I'M ON THE SECOND PAGE LAST TIME I WAS ON PAGE 10 I'M MOVING UP IN THE WORLD VERY FAST!


That is.....AWESOME


I have altered my post since its initial conception. it appears I was too slow in my writing and I am on the third page.

Still this is a significant improvement over last time. Does this mean that i have power and authority over all those who post on lesser pages?

[ARMOURERERIC]

You all realize that Belkar missed a golden opportunity to manually "detect gender".

Dang Giant doing that to V is just mean, I remember being in my library listening to the "Sounds of Ocean Waves" relaxation tape while hoveing 2 feet off the floor in meditation, when my ex-girlfriend came in and turned off the stereo, even right side up, hitting the floor hurt big time.

Eric

[Flabbicus]

No. I hope that that was supposed to be a joke. All posting in the first few pages does is give you an oh so brief feeling of accomplishment.

^ That hardly sounds appropriate... ;) :o

[Soul_Selim]

Well Done! But Belkar might end up Killing Miko's 'Stupid' Horse. She might have more than one, and therfore, Kill the wrong one.

[Varian7]

I love the look on Roy's face in the last panel. Belkar was right, Roy doesn't have spot and listen checks high enough to watch him all the time!

[Martok]

LOL. Hilarious strip; thanks Rich!


"You know, that would have been a lot less ominous if he wasn't carrying a stepladder..."

That line by Roy, combined with the expression on his face was priceless!

[Kresalak]

I laughed at this longer than I have for any other strip.

[Ronald_saveloy]

This is truely evil!

Anyway, with his stepladder, Belkar reminds me of Casanunda the Dwarf, a character from Therry Pratchetts Discworld novels! Anyone read these books too?

[Krytha]

Oh, Belkar. When will you learn?

[Eriol]

I love that, even when "asleep", V's mouth is always open.
I do as well. Awesome.

Though yes, as somebody above said, I'm quite suprised that Belkar didn't do the manual "check gender" maneuver. Or even you'd think he'd almost have to in order to balance the jar.

[Doug_Lampert]

This is truely evil!

Anyway, with his stepladder, Belkar reminds me of Casanunda the Dwarf, a character from Therry Pratchetts Discworld novels! Anyone read these books too?Nope, no one else reads those books. You are the only one in the entire world to read the works of Pterry. He's one of the best selling authors in the world solely because of all the other people buying his books to NOT read them. Sort of like the importance of not doing magic.

DougL

[efi]

"A whistle! I really DID get a happy ending." ;D

Outstanding!

[Brother_Hood]

Oh, Belkar. When will you learn?

Knowing him, a couple of minutes too late. :D

Fortunately for us, however.

(third page!)

[Ronald_saveloy]

Nope, no one else reads those books. You are the only one in the entire world to read the works of Pterry. He's one of the best selling authors in the world solely because of all the other people buying his books to NOT read them. Sort of like the importance of not doing magic.

DougL


Ok, what you write is what you get. A spunky answer to a stupid question. Touché my friend, touché!

[Felinoid]

Mwehehehe! I can tell I'm going to be enjoying this feud of theirs. ;D The upside down thing I knew was coming, but the hornets...icing on the cake.

And thanks to the people who pointed out the open mouth. Got a chuckle out of that the second time around.

[Deuce]

Love the dead-pan from Belkar as he goes about his work.

Big thumbs up on this one! ;D

[Elcaz]

V snores! I can't believe it! Though it must be a pretty silent type of snoring and not apnea, like I've got, which makes me be heard through a couple of walls.

[Eldhrin]

So he's willing to risk Roy activating the curse if he pulls this off? Hmm, stupider than I thought.

Well maybe not, after the incident with trying to make Miko fall and forgetting about the diamonds required for a resurrection.

In the mean time... where did he get the jar of hornets from? Where did he get the stepladder from?

And why do I get the feeling that V's robe has +10 to all checks against hornets?

[androgial]

well heres a question. Since V regularly tells the laws of physics to shut up and sit down, Belkar having thus turned v upside down, would v then fall up as, to her gravitational sense, down is towards her folded legs?

[orcmonk89]

I sense that V will prepare Explosive Runes next morning...

[warmachine]

Turning a meditating Vaarsuvius upside down made me laugh.

[Blackeagle]

Great strip!

But what is it with the Giant and hornets (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=138)?

[Coffee_Dragon]

Great; I giggled softly. Much better than the last one, which was the meh-iest one since... Roy's dinner, I guess.

[Alfryd]

New comic is up.
This one was pretty classic, alright. I think I may give it a 9.0.

I love that, even when "asleep", V's mouth is always open.
Yes, there were quite a few nice touches in this installment.


Doing something as mean as that to Elan! Vile! Heinous!
I didn't pick up on that, actually. Thanks for pointing it out.

A brilliant strip. V's vengeance should be sweet!
I think Belkar is at least hoping the hornets will, in fact, kill V. Using Elan as a scapegoat in the event of failure, however, is just... beyond reprehensible. I mean, really, a new low.

Most likely this will not be fatal to V...
Of course not. But not for lack of trying.


...but huzza! seeing haley wearing her hair like that!
There is something deeply, deeply, wrong with us.

[Panzar_NSidious]

Good Comic

I wonder who will get stung? ;)

[Scion_of_the_Light]

Damn you Belkar, and your overtly byzantine plots!

[Behold_the_Void]

Quite amusing. It's a good page.

[Aerysil1]

I guess there are indeed hazards to levitating while asleep... *marks that one off his fantasy list*

[Nowingsforbalrog]

Wow, Great comic. This reminds me of the old days in the dungeon of durokon(Sp?).

The jar does say killer hornets

[Coldwin]

That is the funniest, yet the most horrifying thing ive ever seen! A halfling with a step ladder

Reminds me of Gnome Shadowknights in EQ. Harm touch at crotch level. FUnny but deadly.

WOOT! First page!

(This is the 5th page but why should I let that stop me?)

[Yorkiebar]

Haley looks so cute when she's sleeping...

although it'd be better if she was smiling.

[Archonic Energy]

Haley looks so cute when she's sleeping...

is anyone else creeped out ?

[NullAshton]

The upside down V is funny. :)

[Scipio]

That was a truly priceless end panel. Thanks Giant for a big laugh.

[chibibar]

hehe.... well.. remember belkar also has a jar or two of the poison that paralyze roy... remember? the 10k gp trap? hehehe....

[Wiggle]

I'm sure Durkon will have handy vials of Antihistamine + 2, and Adrenaline + 3 for the inevitable hornet stings and pending severe allergic reaction.

(Apologies to North American readers if you prefer the use of the word Epinephrine to Adrenaline)

[sugarmouse121]

Belkar's finally listening to Roy! :o ;D

Poor V!

[Steward]

Does Belkar's blanket look like it was made of Haley's hair?

[The Vorpal Tribble]

*glances at his signature, then at the comic, and back again*

Hrmmmm...



Funny ;D

[smellie_hippie]

I believe V's mystical powers will offer an immunity to "stinging hornets"... effort wasted? But it would look pretty funny to see him/her drawn with multiple puffy red welts...

[Messy]

Belkar said he's trying to make his prophecy come true...but seriously, falling a foot from the ground and being stung by a bunch of hornets. Possibly fatal in real life, but this is D&D. Somehow I think V will still be there to get back at him.

And even if by some miraculously crazy stunt, V dies, there's always ressurection for vengeance. Or there's V's line back from comic 163 -- "I would just like to point out that my ghost will be both angry and vengeful and will retain all of my spellcasting powers."

[spoonman]

i just finished reading the all of OotS (all on night duty... i love my job) and as a long time D&D player you guys (guy) have nailed it. Interesting characters, plot development, twisting script... not to mention pi~~ funny!!!!! (whoops thats my bad australian rural upbringing :-) I know i'll be a fan for a long time... good work dudes (dude)

col

[Legendcrafter]

WOW! This is the funniest comic in a long while! So much of humor is what you DON'T see, rather than what you DO. ;D

Gratz Giant!!

[fwiffo]

Oh, for god's sake. This is not an attempt to kill anyone. It's a prank. A practical joke. Not exactly a nicest form of humor, sure, but something that those two have been doing to each other for a long long time.

[blackfox]

I love Belkar...



And I hate hornets. They're the most evil, painful creatures on earth, besides 11-year-old little brothers. :P

[silvadel]

<Bzzzzzt> Nope Belkar -- you can't kill V until V gets supreme magical power by saying 4 words for all the wrong reasons....

[charik]

Oh, for god's sake. This is not an attempt to kill anyone. It's a prank. A practical joke. Not exactly a nicest form of humor, sure, but something that those two have been doing to each other for a long long time.
No, Belkar is trying to make his prediction come true by killing V; after all, the jar is labelled "Killer Hornets".

And that seals it, I'm putting "1 jar killer hornets" on Charik's equiptment list! 8)

And now, a prediction:when the whistle blows, V will be jolted awake and her/his/its legs will spasm, tossing the jar randomly towards Belkar.

[Flak_Razorwill]

If Belkar kills my love, then there will be bloodening.

Anyways, does the hovering require any energy?

[Messy]

You're right, V has to achieve ultimate arcane power before dying, but that doesn't mean he can't achieve the power and then wake up and be killed ;)

It was a prank, but Belkar did mention that he was trying to make his prophecy fulfill, so he was trying to kill V.

[Kanashimi]

hee hee hee, Belkar's revenge begins. excellent

[Mordeus_Dire]

Bad move Belkar.
While I love his idea, according to the wording on his prophesy, he only gets to kill ONE person from the list.
I'd save that very special privilege for a certain female paladin! hehe (evil grin)

[Messy]

Actually, it could be one, all, or any number of them, based on his wording of his question. His only problem was that he wasn't smart enough to specify who.

Be careful saying that! A lot of people will get real mad; Miko's a hot subject! ;)

[5tephen]

Haha!

Hooray for indirectly dealt damage!

-spoil-
I can't wait for Belkar and Vaarsuvius to admit that they love each other and get together.
-end spoil-

[Kish]

[font color=#F0E7D3]I can't wait for Belkar and Vaarsuvius to admit that they love each other and get together.
[font color=#000]
I can't wait to wake up one morning and find I've suddenly become telekinetic.

It's about as likely.

[5tephen]

Exactly, Kish!

Exactly....

(I have said often, and quite recently, that Rich is one of those immensely talented writers who can make characters do exactly the opposite of what you expect them to, and yet have it make perfect sense when it happens.
In fact, it is one of his favoutite tricks.)

P.S: finally remembered how to fix up the text colour.

[Lo_aJeNo]

Good strip, but why is V's hair immune to gravity?

[5tephen]

Posted by: Lo_aJeNo Posted on: Today at 8:38pm
Good strip, but why is V's hair immune to gravity?

Product.

[Messy]

Good strip, but why is V's hair immune to gravity?
The robes I understand, because his legs folded are pulling it taut, but half of his hair should be falling downward (other half is being held in by the crown thingy). I suppose either Rich messed up (he's drawn V wrong before), it's a joke of some sort (probably unlikely), or it's enchanted (he is a wizard!).

[Blaznak]

I'm really enjoying these "on the road" strips. The Oracle forward (So what, the last 5 or so?) have been especially good.

Nice job!

Later!

[Niskers]

revenge is a sweet sweet thing...

[Eighth_Seraph]

Was it ever revealed exactly when and whythe feud between V and Belkar ever started? The first thing I remember is V's Explosive Rune spree back in Azure City, followed by Belkar pushing him into the owlbear, and then by V stopping Durkon from revealing the origin of his ire. Any ideas?

[Shea Landford]

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!


Don't do it! They need V or else their all dead!

[Leo_Forestclaw]

Does Roy have any long standing rules on V using Evard's Spiked Tenticles of Forced Intrusion on a team member?

Just in case the killer hornets fail... Just asking...

[KuH]

Seeing the killer hornets brought to mind this spoiler: What if Durkon's army comes marching by in the middle of the night - and gets pursued by the killer hornets somehow.

[Bilbo27]

He must store those hornets in his extra-planer space all comic people have. Like Bugs Bunny pulling an extra size mallet out of nowhere to whop Yosemite on the head with. How else would he find them in such short notice.

[Messy]

Was it ever revealed exactly when and whythe feud between V and Belkar ever started? The first thing I remember is V's Explosive Rune spree back in Azure City, followed by Belkar pushing him into the owlbear, and then by V stopping Durkon from revealing the origin of his ire. Any ideas?
Yes, Belkar drunkenly kissed V during the New Years' Comic, then he got revenge by the exploding runes, and it's back-and-forth since then.

And why is everyone saying they think V will die? Just because they're called killer hornets, doesn't mean he'll die. This is D&D.

Oh, and, you mean Xykon's army, not Durkon's, right?

I think Evan's Spiked Tentacles of Forced Intrusion was just a one-time thing that was funny. But still, you never know.

[Tobimaro]

Oh, Belkar. When will you learn?

And where would the fun be in that? ;)

Grovar

[Tobimaro]

This was a very good comic, Rich. I actually liked Belkar's attitude about attaining one's dream.

But I do have to wonder just where he was storing that ladder? Or the hornets? Maybe right next to Vaarsuvius's familiar? ???

Just a thought.

Grovar

[Krytha]

So exactly how does this work? When V regains consciousness, he falls to the ground, the jar of hornets gets shaken up and opens somehow?

[Dawnstrider_Moogle]

Hahaha, awesome. Although I thought the entire reason he picked the ring of jumping was so he wouldn't have to use ladders anymomre...?

[divine]

the little half-frown expression on Belkar's face in the panels where he's casually going about setting up his scheme is priceless

[Axl_Rose]

V was pushed into an owlbear? When did that happen? Anyways, funny comic as usual, hehe.

[Messy]

V was pushed into an owlbear? When did that happen? Anyways, funny comic as usual, hehe.
Comic 322 http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=322

[saraswati]

Hahaha, awesome. Although I thought the entire reason he picked the ring of jumping was so he wouldn't have to use ladders anymomre...?


Well, allways possible he is storing the ring of jumping and the ladder in the same place....ewwww... never mind.

[Holy_Knight]

Awwwww... my favorite part might be seeing Haley asleep like that--she looks so cute! :D

Liked the interaction of the other characters, too. Elan's like a little kid waiting for Christmas, and Belkar's as destructively funny as usual. I'm looking forward to the aftermath.

[Freelance Henchman]

LOL!

1. Does Belkar carry a jar of killer hornets at all times (AND a stepladder)? Standard psychotic halfling equipment?

2. What's with V's open mouth? Is s/he snoring?

[Sir_Norbert]

Yes, Belkar drunkenly kissed V during the New Years' Comic, then he got revenge by the exploding runes, and it's back-and-forth since then.
Actually, no, it goes back further than that (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=177)
:D

[Ronald_saveloy]

I wonder, wether the "Protection form Arrows"-Spell will work on killer hornets too?

[Mr_Shrubber]

LMAO.

I suspect the killer hornets came from Roy's Bag of Tricks (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=130). ;D

[Messy]

Actually, no, it goes back further than that (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=177)
:D
Actually, even FURTHER (read first panel)

http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=129

[Sir_Rosh]

Yep, all cos V cast Crushing Despair on Belkar to make him a blubbing wuss.

http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=127

Edit: I'm willing to bet the rivalry goes back further. Belkar has referred to V as "Ears" for as long as I can remember.

[The Glyphstone]

Funny, really - you'd think Belkar would actually be grateful. V was (indirectly) responsible for freeing Belkar from jail in the first place....(see OtOoPC's).

[Messy]

Funny, really - you'd think Belkar would actually be grateful. V was (indirectly) responsible for freeing Belkar from jail in the first place....(see OtOoPC's).
Conveniently, Belkar doesn't know that. ;)

And I think that night might have been erased from his mind at least partially, look how it ended ;D

[Nutmegger]

Actually, my thoughts were that Belkar's plan will not actually have any effect. If V is sufficiently entranced that s/he can be turned upside-down and remain asleep, then Elan's whistle will not disturb him. Likewise, if the jar of hornets has a lid on it tight enough to allow Belkar to place it on V without incident, a whistle won't take the lid off either. So, Elan blows the whistle, nothing happens, Belkar goes to check out why, and we have Wily Coyote/ACME effects.

[Messy]

Actually, my thoughts were that Belkar's plan will not actually have any effect. If V is sufficiently entranced that s/he can be turned upside-down and remain asleep, then Elan's whistle will not disturb him. Likewise, if the jar of hornets has a lid on it tight enough to allow Belkar to place it on V without incident, a whistle won't take the lid off either. So, Elan blows the whistle, nothing happens, Belkar goes to check out why, and we have Wily Coyote/ACME effects.
But that wouldn't be as funny for the Belkar-V feud. I suppose the whistle will jerk V awake, he will fall on his head, jar will fall off him and open, and hornets will attack. ;D

Poor Vaarsuvius.

[Messy]

The robes I understand, because his legs folded are pulling it taut, but half of his hair should be falling downward (other half is being held in by the crown thingy). I suppose either Rich messed up (he's drawn V wrong before), it's a joke of some sort (probably unlikely), or it's enchanted (he is a wizard!).

I looked back at Comic 321, where V is also upside-down, and there his hair remains in place as well. I'm betting either it's enchanted or somehow that crown thing holds it in.

(Cool! I got to quote myself! ;D)

And V only has one arm in the second-to-last panel of said comic (321). I know it's been mentioned, but just bringing it up while V's art is discussed. :)

[Elcaz]

It'd be far more satisfying for Belkar if the jar breaks instead of just opens.

Odd bit: V is floating, with his mouth open, with his arms extended, with his legs folded and s/he's supposed to be resting?

[Eriol]

Edit: I'm willing to bet the rivalry goes back further. Belkar has referred to V as "Ears" for as long as I can remember.
Ya, but I don't think V's offended by that. Probably more of a "whatever" attitude towards it.

Personally, I'm waiting for V to use the tentacles on Belkar. Ouch!

[armatil]

now that's a cliffhanger :D

[Alsadius]

You want to know what would be *really* cruel? Ending the strip right here :P

After all, it's a happy ending for him, right?

[Old_el_Paso]

Introducing the amazing gravity-defiant hair!

[dragonspar]

Perhaps in oots Elves have unusualy oily hair, and v needs to wash its more often?

[Nekkira]

Naw...V's just really wound that tight and his/her hair shows it.

[Blackeagle]

He must store those hornets in his extra-planer space all comic people have. Like Bugs Bunny pulling an extra size mallet out of nowhere to whop Yosemite on the head with.

It's called hammerspace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerspace).

[Hyrael]

Funny, really - you'd think Belkar would actually be grateful. V was (indirectly) responsible for freeing Belkar from jail in the first place....(see OtOoPC's).
Even if belkar did know about that, he wouldnt give a ****. the belkster doesnt do "grattitude"

[saraswati]

It's called hammerspace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerspace).

Wikipedia is so out of control.

I know its been said a million times, I just had to be the million and first.

[charik]

Well, allways possible he is storing the ring of jumping and the ladder in the same place....ewwww... never mind.
Curse you for putting that image in my head and scarring me for life! >:(

[Axl_Rose]

Comic 322 http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=322
Wow, I musta missed that. Thanks a lot, a new comic to read, yay =)

[Hototo]

Belkar, always good for a laugh.

[Messy]

Wow, I musta missed that. Thanks a lot, a new comic to read, yay =)

No prob. And check the comic before it, in the second-to-last panel, V only has one arm! :o

I guess even humor gods like the Giant make mistakes. ;)

[MathiasTheDiviner]

Here's a theory: Elan blows the whistle, V falls, the jar breaks, and the hornets go berserk (as Belkar planned it, obviously). One thing he forgot(or doesn't really care about) is that the rest of the party is in the danger zone. Some or all of the hornets completely ignore V and start attacking the rest of the party. Haley gets stung many times (or we find out she's allergic). As a side effect of the stings, Haley gets her speech back (fist word: @#%$!). The Oracle did say not to look the gift horse that in the mouth, implying that getting her speech back will involve some sort of unpleasantness. Or maybe I misread the question (I'm WAY to lazy to decode it or look it up). Meh, whatever.

Regardless of my long-winded and sleep-deprived theories, this is a great comic. I love the setup, and Belkar's expressions were truly classic.

Praise be to the Giant! May his beard e're be soaked with ale rather than vomit, and may he always have the last laugh.

Long time lurker, 1st time poster.
Yay me.

[saena]

Okay, I can't take it anymore, so I registered with the forum just to point out the continuity issue with the latest comic installment:

How the heck does Belkar remember about his nearby-death prediction?! He's only supposed to remember the answer to his question, which was if he was going to cause the death of [list of people I don't feel like typing] or [continuation of said list]. Did no one else realize that? D: The poor continuity, someone just asskicked it!

Then again, this could lead to an interesting lawsuit of Belkar vs. Oracle for "emotional trauma" resulting from the unrequested prediction that was not taken care of as it should have by the memory spell.... XD

[Felinoid]

Okay, I can't take it anymore, so I registered with the forum just to point out the continuity issue with the latest comic installment:

How the heck does Belkar remember about his nearby-death prediction?! He's only supposed to remember the answer to his question, which was if he was going to cause the death of [list of people I don't feel like typing] or [continuation of said list]. Did no one else realize that? D: The poor continuity, someone just asskicked it!

Um, what makes you think he remembers that he's going to die? The prophecy he's talking about fulfilling is killing V (or Roy, or...).

[saena]

Um, what makes you think he remembers that he's going to die? The prophecy he's talking about fulfilling is killing V (or Roy, or...).


Oh? I must have read that entirely wrong, then, because the prophecy I saw him carrying out there was his own demise: i.e., what would happen after V got horribly stung but probably not killed. XD But! That certainly answers the doubt, thanks!

[Murky_Pool]

I like Elan's 'happy ending'

If nothing else, the man is easily pleased

[The Glyphstone]

Even if belkar did know about that, he wouldnt give a ****. the belkster doesnt do "grattitude"

True - but it would definitely irritate him. Until he forgot about it.

[UtherSRG]

OH MY GOD I'M ON THE SECOND PAGE LAST TIME I WAS ON PAGE 10 I'M MOVING UP IN THE WORLD VERY FAST!Please don't shout.



Still this is a significant improvement over last time. Does this mean that i have power and authority over all those who post on lesser pages?Of course not.

[UtherSRG]

You all realize that Belkar missed a golden opportunity to manually "detect gender".Really! And you'd think that Belkar would want to know, one way or the other, and then keep that info to himself..... to use at the right opportunity.

[UtherSRG]

I sense that V will prepare Explosive Runes next morning...
Nah. That gag's been done. It's time to move on to more subtle things...

[UtherSRG]

There is something deeply, deeply, wrong with us.You are just now realizing this? ;D

[UtherSRG]

Great strip!

But what is it with the Giant and hornets (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=138)?
Hornets hurt, supposedly, more than bees and wasps.

[UtherSRG]

Oh, for god's sake. This is not an attempt to kill anyone. It's a prank. A practical joke. Not exactly a nicest form of humor, sure, but something that those two have been doing to each other for a long long time.
The jar did say killer hornets.

[UtherSRG]

<Bzzzzzt> Nope Belkar -- you can't kill V until V gets supreme magical power by saying 4 words for all the wrong reasons....


Oooohh... good point. So we can realistically cross V off of the list of whom Belkar will cause the death of, at least for quite some time....

[UtherSRG]

revenge is a sweet sweet thing...


Heh. *WEG*

Anyway, I think your username is the best! :)

[The Glyphstone]

Hey Uther?

Take a look at the upper right hand corner of your first post.

There's a little thing there called the "modify" button. It lets you add something to a post you've already made, instead of doubleposting, tripleposting, or (you may have set a record here) octupleposting....which the mods don't like, don't like at all.

Try it. :D

[battleburn]

no that is how she could get the power
that doesn't mean she will...

[UtherSRG]

I looked back at Comic 321, where V is also upside-down, and there his hair remains in place as well. I'm betting either it's enchanted or somehow that crown thing holds it in.

(Cool! I got to quote myself! ;D)

And V only has one arm in the second-to-last panel of said comic (321). I know it's been mentioned, but just bringing it up while V's art is discussed. :)
Product. Definitely product.

[UtherSRG]

Wikipedia is so out of control.

I know its been said a million times, I just had to be the million and first.
Given what it is, it is so not out of control.

[UtherSRG]

Hey Uther?

Take a look at the upper right hand corner of your first post.

There's a little thing there called the "modify" button. It lets you add something to a post you've already made, instead of doubleposting, tripleposting, or (you may have set a record here) octupleposting....which the mods don't like, don't like at all.

Try it. :D


Bah... I'm particularly annoyed when someone makes one post with replies to 8 different posts in it. Just pretend I'm eight different people replying separately to 8 different earlier postings.

Besides... I prefer to use "modify" to add to a post, like I'm doing now, instead of replying to myself. Also, using "modify" to rpely to multiple posts I have to cut & paste from another window, where I used "quote" to get the quote part from in the first place. Too many hoops to jump through. I'll stop now before I start mentioning YABBC's shortcomings....

[Miraqariftsky]

Whaaat?!? A levitating elf in Reverie? And rotating, too... Great comic, as always.

[Joseph_Awesome]

Please don't shout.

The prank is on you! For shouting is to increase voice volume and such a thing is not possible on the text.

I will give you a hint to see if you can decipher my means:

capslock

oh wait I mean CAPSLOCK. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?


Of course not.

I am under the suspicion that you play White Wolf LARP.

Why is there the eight posts in order? a mystery to be sure

[UtherSRG]

The prank is on you! For shouting is to increase voice volume and such a thing is not possible on the text.

I will give you a hint to see if you can decipher my means:

capslock

oh wait I mean CAPSLOCK. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?*blink* Um. You do not know that all caps represents a raised voice volume? Or are you trying to imply that your original post is a joke?


I am under the suspicion that you play White Wolf LARP. I have indeed played WW LARPs in the past, but what makes you think so?


Why is there the eight posts in order? a mystery to be sure
Because I was several pages late in reading the forums, and I had a lot to say. Not much mystery.

[saraswati]

How the heck does Belkar remember about his nearby-death prediction?! He's only supposed to remember the answer to his question, which was if he was going to cause the death of [list of people I don't feel like typing] or [continuation of said list]. Did no one else realize that? D: The poor continuity, someone just asskicked it!



That's a good point Saena. If we were to take the Oracle's statement at face value ("You will only remember the answers") then you are completely right, Belkar couldn't remember the list of people, he would only remember the word "yes".

But IMHO #332 and #333 make it clear that the question itself is somehow implied in the memory of the answers. Otherwise no one's answers would make sense at all. Durkon especially seems to understand that the answer "posthumously" refers to his desire to return to the dwarven homelands. Otherwise he wouldn't be so happy.

What Roy seemed to forget in #332 was not his question itself, but everything else that happened surrounding the question and its answer. He forgot that the Oracle tried to give him hints. All that he remembers is the question "which gate?" and the answer "Girard's".

Anyway, that's my rationalization about it.

[Leatherman]

Saraswati, you hit the nail right on the head. Nice explanation. Belkar has no idea he is due to die sometime after his next birthday. The one thing however that I think people are forgetting, is that its possible that Belkars death is not going to happen in the timeline of the OoTS. Only the Giant knows. I wait patiently to find out. *refreshes browser* Maybe not THAT patiently ;D

[Nasrudith]

See V, this is why you don't mess arround with the laws of physics. They mess with you back. Great comic. But where did Belkar get the hornets from?

[chibibar]

See V, this is why you don't mess arround with the laws of physics. They mess with you back. Great comic. But where did Belkar get the hornets from?


same place he got the step ladder?

[Joseph_Awesome]

*blink* Um. You do not know that all caps represents a raised voice volume? Or are you trying to imply that your original post is a joke?

This is a statement that is clearly false as for example later on in your post you use LARP WW but I assume you are not yelling?

Also to say that text represents louder sound because it is bigger and of one case, that seems silly.


I have indeed played WW LARPs in the past, but what makes you think so?

Ahahaha.


Because I was several pages late in reading the forums, and I had a lot to say. Not much mystery.

Then perhaps the mystery good sir is why you have not read the rules of posting which clearly state such a thing is to be disapproved!

[Sir_Norbert]

Then perhaps the mystery good sir is why you have not read the rules of posting which clearly state such a thing is to be disapproved!
You know, it would be nice if someone would explain HOW to quote multiple posts within one post. On all the other boards I belong to it's very easy to do this.

(And I know you can just use [ quote ] [ /quote ], but that doesn't display the posters' names if you're replying to several people.)

[The Glyphstone]

It's difficult. You have to quote person 1, then open a "quote-reply" window to each other post, but don't actually post it, instead copy-paste the text and your response into your original post with the [modify] button.

[Pet_Flumph]

Nice comic.

(w00t, 11th page! :P)

[Steward]

It's difficult. You have to quote person 1, then open a "quote-reply" window to each other post, but don't actually post it, instead copy-paste the text and your response into your original post with the [modify] button.

So, I'm guessing all that it's not worth it.

[UtherSRG]

It's difficult. You have to quote person 1, then open a "quote-reply" window to each other post, but don't actually post it, instead copy-paste the text and your response into your original post with the [modify] button.
Yeah... nice and easy. Hence, my 8 separate posts. If we had a threaded message board.....

[UtherSRG]

This is a statement that is clearly false as for example later on in your post you use LARP WW but I assume you are not yelling?You are correct. Then might I say that given the proper context, all caps may be interpreted as shouting. Can you offer what context your all caps was in that wold not imply shouting?



Also to say that text represents louder sound because it is bigger and of one case, that seems silly.Hardly.




Then perhaps the mystery good sir is why you have not read the rules of posting which clearly state such a thing is to be disapproved!
Perhaps it is a mystery. Disapproved is not the same as absolutely forbidden. Rules, especially wishy-washy ones, that are overly burdensome, should be disregarded.

[Kish]

If we had a threaded message board.....
...then you would follow the rules of posting? ::)

[UtherSRG]

...then you would follow the rules of posting? ::)Hee! Then none of us would be worried about 8 posts in a row, for they would each fork off a new reply thread.

[Messy]

Bah... I'm particularly annoyed when someone makes one post with replies to 8 different posts in it. Just pretend I'm eight different people replying separately to 8 different earlier postings.
Actually, I do just that, and I find people don't complain as much. :(

It takes up a lot less space to have one post with 8 replies than to have 8 posts with a different reply each. Just take the time to skim through the person's 8 replies in their post to find your reply.

[saraswati]

It's difficult. You have to quote person 1, then open a "quote-reply" window to each other post, but don't actually post it, instead copy-paste the text and your response into your original post with the [modify] button.

Thanks for explaining that Glyphstone, I never could get that to work.

[Aliquid]

This is a statement that is clearly false as for example later on in your post you use LARP WW but I assume you are not yelling?

Also to say that text represents louder sound because it is bigger and of one case, that seems silly.Clearly you are new to the concept of communicating with text over the internet (or maybe you simply haven't been paying attention).

It is a commonly accepted rule that TYPING IN ALL CAPS is the equivalent of yelling. The reason is reasonably simple: it jumps out and is more noticeable than the other text, and it can be annoying to read. In comparison, shouting stands out and is more noticeable when compared to talking, and it is annoying when someone always shouts.

Your example of LARP and WW II is clearly a different situation, as those are not words, those are acronyms. As such, they have to be typed in caps.

[Steward]

So, Vaarsuvius...hornet? Or hairnet? You make the call.

[UtherSRG]

Actually, I do just that, and I find people don't complain as much. :(

It takes up a lot less space to have one post with 8 replies than to have 8 posts with a different reply each. Just take the time to skim through the person's 8 replies in their post to find your reply.
No. When I'm reading 10 pages of forum posts, I dont know that I'm going to be making multiple posts. Maybe I will, and maybe I won't. But if I find a post I want to reply to, I'll reply to it. When I find another pot I want to reply to, I'll rpely to that, too. Which is what I did. I'm not going to go back and modify the post with multiple replies, each of which may be on a somewhat different subject.

[Coffee_Dragon]

I'm not going to go back and modify the post with multiple replies, each of which may be on a somewhat different subject.

Which goes to show that you're not willing to expend a little effort on your part to make things easier for a thousand others. Thanks for clearing it up.

[UtherSRG]

Which goes to show that you're not willing to expend a little effort on your part to make things easier for a thousand others. Thanks for clearing it up.
I don't consider the effort required to be "little". Or should I have added this reply to some previous post I made?

[The Glitter Ninja]

So, is it too late to talk about the comic then? I was going to say how I thought it was funny and that Belkar must use the same mail-order service Wyle E. Coyote does, to get hornets and a stepladder so quickly. But I guess we're talking about someone's posting habits instead?

Fascinating topic. Really. Tomorrow, let's list 1,000 uses for ear wax.

[Steward]

So, is it too late to talk about the comic then? I was going to say how I thought it was funny and that Belkar must use the same mail-order service Wyle E. Coyote does, to get hornets and a stepladder so quickly. But I guess we're talking about someone's posting habits instead?

Fascinating topic. Really. Tomorrow, let's list 1,000 uses for ear wax.


1) Build a time machine and go back in time to the future (which is your past's present's future's next week's right now) and talk about ear wax.

[Holy_Knight]

Bah... I'm particularly annoyed when someone makes one post with replies to 8 different posts in it. Just pretend I'm eight different people replying separately to 8 different earlier postings.
Perhaps, but the majority of posters are annoyed when people make multiple posts in a row. It may be a hassle to do so, but condensing into one post demonstrates courtesy for the rest of the board.


It is a commonly accepted rule that TYPING IN ALL CAPS is the equivalent of yelling. The reason is reasonably simple: it jumps out and is more noticeable than the other text, and it can be annoying to read.
The even simpler reason is that CAPS designates a raised voice in books. The internet, as another written medium of communication, has the same conventions.

[Puck]

Awesome comic, Rich!

[timothyx]

I got a platinum peice, says V has "repel vermin" memorized in the hopes that one day it'll repel Belkar.

[Calamity]

Nice comic ;D

I laughed a lot when I saw V upside down with a jar of hornets on top of/under him/her.

Elan- So easily pleased, someone should point out to him thats is not an ending ;)

Roy should have been able to tell by what Belkar said without him carrying the stepladder!

[Sir_Norbert]

Roy should have been able to tell by what Belkar said without him carrying the stepladder!
Perhaps they each only remember their own prophecies -- Roy knows Elan's because Elan told him.

[Calamity]

Perhaps they each only remember their own prophecies -- Roy knows Elan's because Elan told him.

But Roy knew what Durkon's answer was without him being told.

[TroyXavier]

The comic was nice but what I really enjoyed was Elan's reaction to the whistle.

[Messy]

But Roy knew what Durkon's answer was without him being told.

True. We get the impression that Roy hadn't talked to Durkon until after their little cry/laugh discussion.

Oh, and look, UtherSRG, I'm putting two responses in a post. It is easier for people if you do this, and easier for yourself, really. There's no reason for you to post 8 posts with a different reply in each when you can post one post with 8 different replies!

[UtherSRG]

Oh, and look, UtherSRG, I'm putting two responses in a post. It is easier for people if you do this, and easier for yourself, really. There's no reason for you to post 8 posts with a different reply in each when you can post one post with 8 different replies!(So we're going to continue this discussion, eh?)

I'm not saying no one can or should do this. I'm saying I find the effort more than "little", and enough that it crosses my threshold of "not worth the effort". When I find a post I want to reply to, I'll reply to it. When I find another post I want to reply to, I'll reply to it, too. whether it's 5 minutes later or 5 hours later makes no difference.

[Messy]

(So we're going to continue this discussion, eh?)

I'm not saying no one can or should do this. I'm saying I find the effort more than "little", and enough that it crosses my threshold of "not worth the effort". When I find a post I want to reply to, I'll reply to it. When I find another post I want to reply to, I'll reply to it, too. whether it's 5 minutes later or 5 hours later makes no difference.

Suit yourself. I'm saying that if you do post too many times in a row, you're breaking the rules of posting. So reply 8 times if you want, but just know that it may get you warned.

On a side note, whoever just mentioned it, what was Elan's reaction to the whistle? Edit: Ah, ok, just reread it..."Wow, a whistle! I really did get a happy ending!!" ;D

[Joseph_Awesome]

Clearly you are new to the concept of communicating with text over the internet (or maybe you simply haven't been paying attention).

It is a commonly accepted rule that TYPING IN ALL CAPS is the equivalent of yelling. The reason is reasonably simple: it jumps out and is more noticeable than the other text, and it can be annoying to read. In comparison, shouting stands out and is more noticeable when compared to talking, and it is annoying when someone always shouts.

Your example of LARP and WW II is clearly a different situation, as those are not words, those are acronyms. As such, they have to be typed in caps.

Thank you sir for your calm and timely response. There is truth to be found in your statings as I am new to communicating in text in this language. I have been chastised for my spelling and unpleasing grammar in ways less kind before.

There is perhaps a bit of a farce in my statement with the relevance to LARP? Yes. Perhaps it is lame, like WW LARP.

That the parody enters into it is the criticism of using upper case letters in the midst of a knowing 8 posts. Thus my degree of serious was low.

The statement that it is representing of shouting in many cases is true, in books as well. To respond to it as if it were actual shouting is to me the strangeness, as writing has no volume. Perhaps in his head when he reads it is loud and hurtful. Perhaps in my head I WAS shouting.

However just there I was not shouting as I am also told that it can be respresenting of emphasis. This is the case often with my trademarked use of AWESOME. However this trademark is violated in routine. :(

[Ronald_saveloy]

I'd rather prefer to discuss the comic some more, than arguing about posting conventions. Just make a cut here!


So, is it too late to talk about the comic then? I was going to say how I thought it was funny and that Belkar must use the same mail-order service Wyle E. Coyote does, to get hornets and a stepladder so quickly.


That would be ACME's mail-order service, isn't it?

Truely, the last comic had a lot of Loony Toons humor!

[originalpimp]

I cannot wait for new page! Belkar pwnz you! And you know what? I'm going to read that strip again for the hell of it! Even though my eyes are still burning (see welcome thread)!
*goes to read strip again*