OOTS #479 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

Comment, so as not to spoil it before you read it:
About halfway through working on this, my SO informed me that it was "Shark Week" on Discovery Channel. Weird timing.

[RNG]

:smalleek:





THAT IS SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!

[PlasticSoldier]

Great comic thanks for the hard work


Edit: It feels great to actually get the references for the title.

[PirateMonk]

Great. :smallbiggrin:

"How did I cut tha tentacle wit a hammer ...?"

[a1057soul]

Awesome! I've always wondered why a paladin would choose an aquatic mount... this proves the use... and in such a dramatic way... thanks Giant!!!

:-)

[Dhavaer]

Razor is quite cute for a shark.

[Miraqariftsky]

Nice one! Chuckled in my seat, I did.

[Shadic]

Wow... That rocked!

Go sharks!

[PirateMonk]

Nice to have both an Erf and an OOTS in one day.

[Rama_Lei]

As if Lien need to become more badass. I think she's definitely a supporting cat member now, on par with the Linear gang.

[Khaldan]

... You can choose a SHARK as a MOUNT?!

[JazzManJim]

I suspect that this strip was just an excuse for Rich to draw a really cool shark...twice. :D

[Xandu Hotep]

This comic is made of awesome and win.

[RationalGoblin]

Wait, what? She's mounted on a shark?!?

....

....

Rich, may I become your Butler so that I make bask in your great comic-making glory forever?

[Lira]

That was great. Durkon's line made me laugh out loud. :smallwink:

[EntilZha]

A celestial shark for her paladin special mount...pure genius.

And how do you sunder a tentacle with a warhammer, anyway?

:smallbiggrin:

[MrGTST]

Hehe and the little "poke ball" reference slid in there too for good measure :smallbiggrin:

[Thormag]

:eek:

A Shark!?

Awesome!
Great comic, looking forward to see the next! :smallbiggrin:

[Sage in the Playground]

Shark!!!!!!

[Quikngruvn]

Wooo! Shark mount FTW!

Thanks, Giant!

[EntilZha]

Shark!!!!!!

At least Rich resisted the urge to name the shark Misterjaw, lol.

[Jefepato]

Holy crap, that's awesome.

(I never want to see a paladin with an actual horse again...)

[Krytha]

heh. Can they do that really?

[Fishies]

Woah, nice Pokemon. I mean paladin mount.

[jttm80]

So. much. blue. I'm sure Rich's copy of Photoshop must be out of that color by now...

[Aethir]

Hehe, devilfish XD

[Hankosha]

Rich - That was both Awesome and Horrible.
The pun makes my head hurt, but the Awesomeness makes up for it.

[Solmi]

Hehe ... devilfish. =)

EDIT: ninja'd!

[Guildorn Tanaleth]

Cool! Now why didn't Lien do that before now?

[shaddy_24]

Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool... ad infinitium. Sharks area awesome. Celestial sharks are even cooler. That was sweet. I want to do something like that now. That was just awesome.
Now, are there any paladins in this comic besides Miko who have a regular mount? I hope not, just to see what else the Giant pulls out!

[EntilZha]

Explains why O-Chul is still alive, doesn't have the X's in his eyes, being the toughest of the paladins.

[Geilan]

We're going to need a bigger octopus.

[geez3r]

Firstly, having a shark for a paladin mount is one of the singularly greatest ideas I have ever heard.

Second, wild speculation:
O-Chul is not dead.


"...I chose O-Chul to defend the throne room because he was the toughest of us all...

Toughest means alot of hit points. Of us all, means that he is referencing the Saphire guard, which until recently included Miko, who we all know was high level, at least on par with the OOTS. Furthermore, O-Chul was not attacked until the giant explosion went off, so he was at full hit points, which was a higher number than any other member of the Sapphire guard. Therefore, because he does not have the X's on his eyes, we can now assume he is still among the living (for the time being); albiet very heavy damaged.

Thridly, Great comic Giant.

[Elkarbay]

What makes that comic even funnier is the fact that it's Discovery Channel's Shark Week this week.

...and yes, I'm a loser.:smallbiggrin:

[starwoof]

Wow, I was going to mention the discovery channel but The Giant beat me to it!

[Solmi]

What makes that comic even funnier is the fact that it's Discovery Channel's Shark Week this week.

...and yes, I'm a loser.:smallbiggrin:

Since Rich made it a point to use spoiler on that, I thought you should too!

But I totally agree with you last statement! :smallbiggrin:

[Snow]

I want that mount, it's simple awsome.

[clight101]

I just love how paladin mounts come outta pokemon balls. It cracks me up every time. That's all. Have a nice day.:smallsmile:

[5tephen]

THAT's pretty friggen cool, right there.

[Raiser Blade]

"razor i choose you"

nice:smalltongue:

[Deuce]

Redcloak's gonna need a bigger boat. :smallbiggrin:

[Ezlo]

I have to say, today was my first D&D session, ever, and I just learned that little factoid about paladin mounts. Neat.:smallcool:

[kpenguin]

I wonder why there was a "pop" sound when Razor was summoned, though.

[malakim2099]

Yeah, Mr. Giant? We got a truckload of internets here for ya, if you can just sign here? :smallcool:

I know it's been said, but Lien is just made of awesome. She and Hinjo have to make it through this. PLEASE! :smallwink:

[Ettlesby]

...I wish I could summon a shark for a mount...

[ag30476]

Nice one. Now if the Discovery channel had one of those shark ve giant cephelapod from another dimension shows that would be really freaky

[Geilan]

Redcloak's gonna need a bigger boat. :smallbiggrin:

Beatcha to it bucko :P

[Kyeudo]

I'm waiting for a paladin mounted on a giant spider.

Giant, you are awesome incarnate. I just added you as a diety in my homebrew setting.

[FoE]

The question is: will Hinjo have a snowball's chance in hell against Redcloak? DUN DUN DUNNNNNN!!!

[Solharath]

IT makes perfect sense that Durkon severed the tentacle with hammer. At least to me, I made a Hydra dance around for six turns, so this is a normality.

[Timberboar]

And OOTS officially jumps the shark. :P

I kid, I kid...

[Porthos]

heh. Can they do that really?

Yes. Yes they can. :smallsmile:

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/classes/paladin.htm

The Paladin’s Mount

The paladin’s mount is superior to a normal mount of its kind and has special powers, as described below. The standard mount for a Medium paladin is a heavy warhorse, and the standard mount for a Small paladin is a warpony. Another kind of mount, such as a riding dog (for a halfling paladin) or a Large shark (for a paladin in an aquatic campaign) may be allowed as well.

[OwN]

And OOTS officially jumps the shark. :P

I kid, I kid...

That's........that's........beautiful. I love you.

Oh, and Rich..... I LOVE YOU MOST OF ALL!!

[TroyXavier]

That was just cool. I want a shark as a mount now.

[Draz74]

Cool! Now why didn't Lien do that before now?

Yeah -- otherwise I loved the comic, but this question is stuck in my mind. As soon as the octopus showed up, shouldn't this have been pretty automatic?

Nice to get a confirmation of the "O-chul must have an abnormally great Constitution" speculation, though.

[explanetpluto]

Yay for paladins in aquatic campaigns!

That was incredible.

[Elderac]

Great comic! Go Lien!

[BigDumbFighter]

I wonder, what does Lien do when she needs a mount on land? She must use a landshark... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landshark)

Awesome comic, Giant! Durkon's confusion over cutting the tentacle with a hammer, Hinjo's comic about high-level characters were both funny, and the shark was totally awesome. But that pun and the end hurt a little. Overall, great comic!

[Lord Fullbladder, Master of Goblins]

That pun made me slowly--very slowly, because in several departments of my brain the offices are understaffed--start to giggle uncontrollably. Magnefico.

[Aerysil]

*flips through PHB*

Nope, Water Breathing isn't a paladin spell. Oh well, you can still charge a surfaced kraken with a lance, I suppose :)

Maybe Durkon has a Hammer of Sharpness? You know, like Lenses of Moving Silently, and a Hat of Climbing!

[Alysar]

Lien the Sharkrider! So. Freakin. Awesome.




I suspect that this strip was just an excuse for Rich to draw a really cool shark...twice. :D

Psst.. he only drew it once. Then he copied and pasted it.

No, Giant isn't lazy. He just isn't stupid.

[Morchaint]

excellent comic. +3 hammer of dwarven cutting? lol. oh I could so use that in a game. isnt the pokemon/summon joke getting old yet? oh well. it was neat to see a pally mount that was unusual.

[Gez]

Well now it's official, OotS, through Lien, jumped (on) the shark! :smallbiggrin:

[Kinneus]

"How did I cut the tentacle with a hammer" earned a hearty chuckle from me.
Good stuff.

[Alysar]

excellent comic. +3 hammer of dwarven cutting?

But he didn't cut a dwarf. He cut a giant octopus.

[Shatteredtower]

O-Chul was the toughest paladin the Sapphire Guard had to offer? Has my early speculation truly been vindicated?

Nah, probably not. I just wanted an excuse to use the word "vindicated" today. :smallwink:

If V is correct, Lien has probably just advanced to the top of Belkar's lust list. And if speculation about the possibility of romance between her and Hinjo are correct (personally, I think they'd prefer to keep their relationship strictly professional), a certain Lord of Azure Citizen might be going straight to the top of the halfling's kill list.

Delightful strip.

[Alysar]

Lien has probably just advanced to the top of Belkar's lust list.

Or would have if Belkar had been there to see it.

[Lemur]

This calls for a speculation thread about Durkon's hammer!








No, not really. If someone does, I'll kick them in the Internet :smallmad:

[Ithekro]

:smalleek:





THAT IS SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!


:elan: Do it again! Do it again!

[Solara]

I loved everything about this comic, but I thought it was an especially neat touch that Lien having a shark mount makes perfect sense, seeing how we learned her parents were fishermen a few strips back, thus she probably spent/spends a lot of time around the ocean.

[David Argall]

Cool! Now why didn't Lien do that before now?

The shark wasn't useful before this. Up until now, the attackers were soldiers out of shark range. Now, it might have been used a little earlier vs the octopus, but that's a tactical decision. Granted, Hinjo has not shown much in the way of tactical or strategic sense to date, but he is still the boss, and Lien follows his orders. And an earlier use of the shark might have been dangerous. Presumably the critter has been softened up some now, which means shark and Lien can take it, but earlier it might have been able to withdraw and dispose of shark when other help is out of reach.

Those drooling over about a shark mount are reminded that the thing is about useless on land. So unless you have a water campaign, it is a terrible choice.

[Ink]

Whoa! How cool is Lien? A freakin' shark!

These Azure City paladins sure know how to pick mounts. And Durkon splurtching the squid was great as well.

[Vulion]

Man, do I feel sorry for all the devilfish of the world...

Survive, Lien! SURVIVE!!! I'm speculating a romance between you and Hinjo will blossom sometime in the future, so you must survive!!:smallwink:

[Thomar_of_Uointer]

Hehe. Back in the swing of things, though the OotS is still running ragged. Nice to see you're healthy (enough), Giant! Keep up the good work of being healthy! You know, so we can have more comics, see?

[MReav]

I can only assume Lien has a Ring of Freedom of Movement, and some means to breathe water.

[Ithekro]

Is there some higher level dwarven or cleric feat that Durkon could be forgetting about, or just got recently? Kind of like Belkar finding out he had Evasion.

[blennus]

Alternative paladin mounts are awesome. While it is true that a shark mount would not be useful for an adventurer unless in an aquatic campaign, for an NPC whose main duty is to patrol the docks it is an excellent choice. Far more useful than a warhorse. I'm gussing that the docks are probably her main post even during peacetime, which would make her choice of mount completely logical.

[Derivious]

The pun at the end made my curl up with a stomach crap for a minute.

[Brother_Hood]

Loved it.

Dibs on a Basilisk!

[fruityjanitor]

Wow! Lien became even more awesome! Go go shark mount!

[Faramir]

Ooh, Belkar's going to be so jealous.

[Ithekro]

Jumping the stark never looked so cool.

[Alysar]

Jumping the stark never looked so cool.

We've already had Batman, Firestorm and Green Lantern. Now Iron Man is going to be in it too?

[NeonRonin]

Well now it's official, OotS, through Lien, jumped (on) the shark! :smallbiggrin:

Ok, that in and of itself was a bad pun, but made me smile nonetheless. Lien's coolness factor(on a scale of 1 to 10) just jumped to 12. I LOVE the shark mount idea, especially since I never get to see aquatic mounts or companions in the games I've played.

Heh heh... devilfish. :smalltongue:

I'd like to get a closer look at Durkon's hammer one of these days- and find out where I can get one. It swings like a hammer, yet cuts like an axe! How? Nobody knows!!!

Good going, Rich. Yet another ace.

[Ithekro]

:smallredface: Well shark, perhaps, but jumping the "stark" might work too. :smallamused:

[Keri Thornwood]

Wow, what a great mount! Might be tough to ride it anywhere else though....

"How did I cut it wit' a hammer?" :smallbiggrin:

[SurlySeraph]

Okay, between this and the "catch of the day" line, I have to say that Lien is the most badass paladin in OOTS so far. She's like a blue-haired Private Vasquez...

[Naltyrr]

Best. Mount. Ever. better than Hinjo's dog, though only by a little.

[Malik]

DO DUN DO DUN DO DUNDUNDUNDUNDUNDUN

Shark attack

Awesomeness

[basilisk 89]

Laughing...so...hard...think...appendix...burst... .Rich...you better....cover medical insurance......can't....breathe.....

[Tharr]

More important over shark week Thor number 2 hit comics.
For once Donald Thunderstrike was Thors alter ego has reappeared now.
Basic Durkon Thundershield might be Thor avatar having break tenacle.
Hope when Durkon is killed he comes back as new character.

[boolean]

The question is: will Hinjo have a snowball's chance in hell against Redcloak? DUN DUN DUNNNNNN!!!
Quite probably. It's still the same day, so Redcloak hasn't had a chance to recover spells. So, all the spells he used during the invasion, including the duel against the High Priest, and the battle versus the ghost martyrs in the throne room, are all gone.
Plus, he just used an 8th level spell summoning that Fiendish Giant Squid. (Yes, it looks more like an octopus, but the giant octopus is Large, and that thing is at least Huge.)

[sum1won]

So, what does O-Chul have for a mount, do you think?
I think it's
http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k139/sum1won/bearcav.jpg

[malakim2099]

An opponent can attack a giant octopus’s tentacles with a sunder attempt as if they were weapons. A giant octopus’s tentacles have 10 hit points each. If a giant octopus is currently grappling a target with the tentacle that is being attacked, it usually uses another limb to make its attack of opportunity against the opponent making the sunder attempt. Severing one of a giant octopus’s tentacles deals 5 points of damage to the creature. A giant octopus usually withdraws from combat if it loses four tentacles. The creature regrows severed limbs in 1d10+10 days.

It doesn't say that you have to use a piercing or slashing weapon to sever a tentacle. Just do 10 hp of damage. Hence why Durkon "cut" the tentacle with his hammer. Yet another goofy property of 3.5 rules. :smallamused:

[Alysar]

So, what does O-Chul have for a mount, do you think?
I think it's
http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k139/sum1won/bearcav.jpg


You seen the trailer for the 'Golden Compass' movie that's coming out this winter?

Now what made me think of that?

[thubby]

So, what does O-Chul have for a mount, do you think?
I think it's
http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k139/sum1won/bearcav.jpg


first of all, rofl.

secondly, way cool comic.

[Thortok2000]

Love the sound effects.

Also, love how he's amused/amazed by the hammer vs tentacle thing. That got me, too.

[Shatteredtower]

Or would have if Belkar had been there to see it.He only has to hear about it. You think Elan would miss out on a story like that? :smallwink:

[the_tick_rules]

think our paladin can take redcloak, redcloak has gotta be almost spell dry by now, he has a very good chance.

[mockingbyrd7]

For the first time since comic 170 (or maybe strip 344), I found Durkon very amusing. (See my signature.)

Pretty cool comic, and Lien being raised by the sea n' all, it makes sense that her mount is a shark. (By the way, the fact that she rides a freakin' killer shark only makes her hotter still. :smalltongue: )

[chibibar]

LOL I love it!!! :) I didn't know about the shark as a mount.. make sense :)

[Goofy]

:smalleek:
THAT IS SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!
That's exactly what I said!

[H. Zee]

How much cooler would Jaws have been if it featured a paladin riding on the shark's back?

Well, probably not much cooler, to be honest. But it would have definitely improved Jaws 2 by a shedload.

Good work, Giant. :smallbiggrin:

[Eldhrin]

You seen the trailer for the 'Golden Compass' movie that's coming out this winter?

Now what made me think of that?

Armoured bears! Not seen the trailer, but I hope it's better than the hugely discouraging trailer for The Dark Is Rising. I love the books, so I'm very worried about film adaptations. If they're not careful they could be worse than the third Harry Potter film.

[Forealms]

That can only be listed under "completely awesome."

[Haruspex]

Nice! Never thought to see a shark as a good guy. Alternative mounts really define the paladin, don't they?

[Alex Kidd]

:smalleek:





THAT IS SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!

That was exactly my reaction, creepy. Awesome job Giant.

[denelian]

this was extra-amusing to me, for the follow short (i hope) reason
years ago, i was part of a large, ongoing Mage LARP. I was a Virtual Adept in my late 60's, who went everywhere as a hologram so that no one would know i was old, and tagged the most inconcievable things for later protection. i dropped an elephant on a sabertooth tiger, for instance. but, once i was finally forced to run the chantry, i took drastic measure - i aquired a pet Great White Shark. Wards that all around it, in a bubble, at three feet away from the shark, and two hermes portals constantly on to refresh his water...

i would take the damned things on WALKS...

[banjo1985]

Hehe a shark as a paladin mount, classy. A short comic but a good one!

[Freelance Henchman]

- Go Lien! *sigh* Miko would have kicked so much arse in this battle.

- As for Paladin mounts, does Lien never leave Azure City or is she only sent on island missions? Also, is that a *Celestial* *Shark*!? What does he eat on his home plane, celestial tuna?

- I would be worried about Hinjo taking on CoDzilla Redcloak, but I think he blew off so many spells during the battle (Fiendish Elephant, Battle vs. High Priest, Throne Room Battle) that R may be running pretty low.

[turn.self.off]

two things:

i would hazard a guess that one could crush a tentacle to "cut" it. may take a lot of pounding, and a hard surface on the other side tho... hell, lets just say its a hammer of tentacle severing and be done with it...

and i kinda recall that shark skin are like sandpaper. and i dont see a saddle...

[factotum]

think our paladin can take redcloak, redcloak has gotta be almost spell dry by now, he has a very good chance.

Does Redcloak have to be almost spell dry? He spent most of the battle standing out of range of the defenders, doing virtually nothing (apart from summoning the five Titanium Elementals). The duel with the cleric in the courtyard only used four spells. Apart from one Harm and one unidentified spell that fizzled when Soon attacked, he was using mostly Turn Undead (or equivalent) in the throne room--then we have a Chlorine Elemental, a Blade Barrier, and the octopus now attacking Hinjo's junk. We can assume he maybe cast a few more spells off-camera while we weren't looking, but even so, if he's a 15th level cleric with a decent Wisdom score, he ought to have getting on for 50 spells for the day--I reckon he still has a fair few available.

[Freelance Henchman]

and i kinda recall that shark skin are like sandpaper. and i dont see a saddle...

Liens probably used to it by now. I hope. It may have helped to grind down her stick up the you-know-what.

[O.T.R]

You go on the shark
Shark goes in the water,
you go in the water.
Octopus' in the water.
Our octopus

Alongside the ghost martyrs, I'm finally convinced that Hinjo knows what he's doing.

Even if attacking Redcloak is going to be a very bad idea.

[Cyborg Pirate]

Woooooo that was so cool! I want a shark mount!:smallbiggrin:

The strip has been so much more enjoyable since Miko's out of the picture! Now the Really Cool characters have the time to shine!

[DrivinAllNight]

At least we now know why O'Chul survived the blast, he's the toughest paladin, and a shark, that is quite a splendid thing to see indeed, and two tentacles cut in one attack, only 5 to go :)

[Kesnit]

I'm not sure which I liked better - :durkon:'s reaction to sundering the tenticle or his reaction to the shark.

[Evil DM Mark3]

Lien = Best Saphire guild paladin yet.

Also the name (if intentional) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lien) is a very nice little pun.

[isocum]

I think Durkon has an axe with rectangular blade, and thor doesn't give a sith about that:smallsmile: .

[Evil DM Mark3]

You can cleave with buldeoning weapons. Somtimes however it just doesn't make sence.

If I had been DMing it would have been a case of "smashed the arm so badly the it hangs limp and useless" but then when I DM I do so for belevability. When the Giant writes Comics he does so for humour and humour it was.

[kukn]

Shark, Durkon, hammer-cut. Neat :)

[Roderick_BR]

Hehe, I love Durkon's lines in this one.
And it's proved once again that the Saphire Guard's paladins RULES!
And given her backstory, that she brieflys mentions, her mount is really fitting.
Heh, weird coincidence, eh?

[Albion]

Hahaha. Neat little strip. Durkon shared my confusion regarding the cutting hammer! Shark, eh? Blackwing has got nothing on these guys. Then again, I think he never revealed his true use...

[Elurindel]

That final panel...had the most cringe-worthy joke I've ever read. Still, awesome action with shark. I couldn't help but laugh when I asked myself in my head "How the hell did Durkon remove a tentacle with his hammer?" only for him to ask that exact same thing!:smallbiggrin:

[Invisible Queen]

My life's goal is now to find a paladin with a dragon mount.

Also, the frequency with which Giant comes up with new ways to kick ass is alarming. And awesome. :D

[Emperor Ing]

Durkon's reaction in the last panel was almost as priceless as durkon's reaction in the last panel of this comic! (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0344.html) :biggrin:

[GrayMatter]

Those drooling over about a shark mount are reminded that the thing is about useless on land. So unless you have a water campaign, it is a terrible choice.

Well yeah, except for the part where you can always get a horse on land, and they don't generally try to eat their riders. Try to ride a (non-celestial mount) shark and see what happens :)

[GrayMatter]

I'm not sure which I liked better - :durkon:'s reaction to sundering the tenticle or his reaction to the shark.

__________________
Hello. My name is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.



About your sig, shouldn't that be "prepare to dye"? :smallbiggrin:

[Valley]

The best thing about a shark is if they are prepared just right and you add a light chedder cheese sauce they taste great.

What?

[Alyorbase]

Nice! :cues Jaws theme: (and yes I do happen to have that on a CD because John Williams is my hero, next to Rich anyway)

also :durkon: How did I cut a tentacle with a hammer?

Nice job Rich!

[Pantler]

Looks like so far I'm the only one who didn't like the strip. Sure, the shark was cool, but there was nearly no plot advancement and very little humor (practically only Durkon's line amused me). Well, I'm nervously anticipating the next strip,

which will show if Hinjo trying to fight Redcloak is screwed or just simply dead.

[Talyn]

Oh man, just when I didn't think Lien could get any cooler, she pulls out a freaking shark mount! I seriously love this girl.

[Kesnit]

Nice! :cues Jaws theme: (and yes I do happen to have that on a CD because John Williams is my hero, next to Rich anyway)

also :durkon: How did I cut a tentacle with a hammer?

Nice job Rich!

I thought about this and came up with a possible answer...

The tentacle is wrapped around Hinjo, so you could make a case that fluid wouldn't be flowing well and could be getting backed up. This would increase the pressure in the upper part of the tentacle. When :durkon: hit it, it added just enough force to break the skin and rupture the tentacle.

No, it's not likely, but I guess anything is possible! :smallbiggrin:

[crazycappie]

Five pages and no comment on how the shark would be the Greatest Shark Ever™ if it had a Circlet of Blasting?

[Adeptus]

Hehheh, the name of the strip really cracked me up. I never remember about the names before reading the strip, so the one-two punch was perfect.

Kudos Rich,

[Calix]

I love the continuing Japanese theme for the South with the Pokemon ball.

Sharp hammer you got there Durkon!

I honestly didn't see the shark coming... I was betting on Eagle or something else that flies. Woot to aquatic mounts.

Great comic! :smallsmile:

[Evil DM Mark3]

Looks like so far I'm the only one who didn't like the strip. Sure, the shark was cool, but there was nearly no plot advancement and very little humor (practically only Durkon's line amused me). Well, I'm nervously anticipating the next strip,

which will show if Hinjo trying to fight Redcloak is screwed or just simply dead.

What are you talking about? Plot wise we had:

Further development of a potentialy significant NPC.
Exposition and hints of Hinjo's long term plan.
Part of a set up of a significant fight scene.
At least three potential MacGuffin/Plot token evnets for later use.

What more do you want from a 10 pannel comic??

[pendell]

Cooooool. I WANT ONE!

You realize my GM .. .when I get one .. is going to hate you now, when I next roll up a paladin with a shark as his mount?

Of course, that would imply that he would only really be useful in maritime situations .. a new prestige class, perhaps?

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[SteveMB]

Ooh, Belkar's going to be so jealous.

Yeah, it seems like everybody gets a cooler mount than he had....

[TheJustWiseSage]

One of the best yet.

The devilfish pun just brings a big smile to my face :smile:

[SandroTheMaster]

Hehe and the little "poke ball" reference slid in there too for good measure :smallbiggrin:

Well, in the OotS universe all paladins mounts are stored in Pokeballs. Just for the sake of poking at the fact that paladins can simply call their mounts wherever they want in 3.5.

[Deme]

I guess the truth of the Sapphire guard is that with so many paladins, they just had to diversify. Which leads to Argent and Razor, who are so dang kickass it hurts.

I mean, wow.


EDIT: I just realised that I'm running a largely marine campaign with a large number of NPC paladins appearing, as well as a blackguard....*evil grin*

[Surfing HalfOrc]

You do realise all the people playing "The Savage Tide Adventure Path" are now going to want shark mounts, don't you?

Yeah, I'm DMing that one right now, and I can already hear my players clamoring! I even have a paladin in that group, and he hasn't called for his mount just yet...

Thanks Rich... Thanks a lot!

:smallbiggrin:
Nah! It's all good!

[Ravenatog]

Once again pure gold keep up the fantastic work :biggrin:
Wish these things could just spill out but I understand the hard work you have to put into each comic and appreciate the time you put into it just for our amusement.

[elynnia]

Just registered (although a rather long reader), and the OotS is a damn shiny comic. Praise be to Rich for, well, everything =D

Not sure if this has been said before, but my theory as to why Durkon's hammer cut the tentacle:

Just as everyone is a stick figure and dead people have the X's in their eyes, Durkon's hammer has no depth, and can easily slice through anything. ^^;

Just my 2 pennycents.

[Alysar]

Well, in the OotS universe all paladins mounts are stored in Pokeballs. Just for the sake of poking at the fact that paladins can simply call their mounts wherever they want in 3.5.

Wait a minute. Can't anyone call their mounts whenever they want?

If not, don't tell my DM.

[Deuce]

Wonder if we'll see this used in conjunction with Razor . . .


Once per day per two paladin levels of its master, a mount can use this ability to command other any normal animal of approximately the same kind as itself

[MReav]

- As for Paladin mounts, does Lien never leave Azure City or is she only sent on island missions? Also, is that a *Celestial* *Shark*!? What does he eat on his home plane, celestial tuna?

Celestial Devil Fish

[Elderac]

As a summoned creature, the shark is an outsider and therefore does not need to eat or sleep. See Monster Manual I, page 313 for further description of outsider traits. :smallbiggrin:

[sihnfahl]

I kinda recall that shark skin are like sandpaper. and i dont see a saddle...
Actually, while sharkskin isn't smooth, it's scratchy in only a single direction for most species.

The skin has a layout like _\_. If you move <-, it's smooth. If you go ->, it's rough.

Plus... armor. (Hope it's stainless steel!)

[berrew]

I liked Lien's mount. My assumption is that normally she is AC's "coast guard", able to rescue troubled citizens and chase down criminals.

But I am not so thrilled about the silly assumptions here in the forums. Just because men and women work well together, it does not mean that they will "hook up". Really. Heterosexuals can work just fine with someone of the opposite sex and not sleep with them, or even just become romantically involved.

Authors seem damned if they do, damned if they don't. Avoid introducing strong characters of both sexes and some declare you a sexist. Introduce them, and others try to push them all into sexual relationships...

[Pantler]

What are you talking about? Plot wise we had:

Further development of a potentialy significant NPC.
Exposition and hints of Hinjo's long term plan.
Part of a set up of a significant fight scene.
At least three potential MacGuffin/Plot token evnets for later use.

What more do you want from a 10 pannel comic??

I am talking about the difference between getting to know something and seeing something happen. Three of the things which you listed are plain information; as for the "part of a set up ", that could only count as a preparation to something actually happening. In other words, I was expecting some action. Character exposition and details about a plan that had been pretty obvious all along hardly counts.

[technophile]

As a summoned creature, the shark is an outsider and therefore does not need to eat or sleep. See Monster Manual I, page 313 for further description of outsider traits. :smallbiggrin:
Isn't that only true when the shark is outside its home plane? (Everything is an outsider on planes other than its native one.)

Presumably, the shark is not an outsider on its home plane and thus would need to eat (and sleep) there.

[Alces]

Celestial shark: eats devilfish is, strictly speaking, not a pun but rather a play on words. In an age where puns are well-nigh universally reviled, this is an important distinction.

[Elderac]

Isn't that only true when the shark is outside its home plane? (Everything is an outsider on planes other than its native one.)

Presumably, the shark is not an outsider on its home plane and thus would need to eat (and sleep) there.

Outsider is a "type" of creature, similar to humanoids, magical creatures, dragons and so forth. It retains its type even on its home plane.

However, just because it does not need to eat, does not mean that it cannot choose to eat. :smallsmile:

[CGM3]

also :durkon: How did I cut a tentacle with a hammer?

Because your hammer isn't really a hammer, Durkon, it's a dwarven waraxe under the illusion of a hammer, an ancient artifact of your people spoken of in prophecy as the weapon which will be wielded by a hero who will save dwarvenkind from the most dire of perils. You were exiled from the northlands through the machinations of jealous rivals who feared you might find the lost relic and become that champion, little knowing you already possessed it

(See how easily you can spin a throwaway gag into a whole new sub-plot? :smallwink: )

[The_Weirdo]

I loved everything about this comic, but I thought it was an especially neat touch that Lien having a shark mount makes perfect sense, seeing how we learned her parents were fishermen a few strips back, thus she probably spent/spends a lot of time around the ocean.

Lien essentially belongs to, and uses, and is centered on, the element of water. I'd not dislike at all seeing V Polymorph her into a mermaid. :smallwink:

[Baalzebub]

Devilfish :smallbiggrin: neat!!

[16oz]

I must admit to, when seeing a new comic is up, trying to guess what might happen based on the title of the strip. Yes, I am batting somewhere around 6%, but that's okay. Like today's strip, it was great to see how I was off and by how far (I was thinking it was going to be more Elan and V for some reason that I can't fully recall now). Great fun Giant, keep up the excellent work!!

[fractal]

I liked Lien's mount. My assumption is that normally she is AC's "coast guard", able to rescue troubled citizens and chase down criminals.

But I am not so thrilled about the silly assumptions here in the forums. Just because men and women work well together, it does not mean that they will "hook up". Really. Heterosexuals can work just fine with someone of the opposite sex and not sleep with them, or even just become romantically involved.

Authors seem damned if they do, damned if they don't. Avoid introducing strong characters of both sexes and some declare you a sexist. Introduce them, and others try to push them all into sexual relationships...
To be fair, the Giant himself involved Hinjo and Lien in all of those "junk" jokes. Jumping to conclusions from that is kind of natural.

[Invisible Queen]

Celestial shark: eats devilfish is, strictly speaking, not a pun but rather a play on words. In an age where puns are well-nigh universally reviled, this is an important distinction.
Because puns need to be more reviled? >_>

[Chronos]

First of all, let me just say that I love to see nonstandard paladin mounts used. It's way to easy to just say "OK, you get a horse". I've long thought that a paladin's individual mount should be chosen to distinguish and complement that paladin's style. So bring on the dire wolves, bring on the sharks, bring on the whatever-the-heck other mounts Rich is going to introduce!

Second, paladin mounts may or may not eat on the material plane, but in Stickworld, they clearly do eat sometime. We've already seen that Windstriker ate Heavenly Oats brand feed (and that he should maybe cut back a bit).

[Siwenna]

Gah, all the blue! I love the Azure city story arc, but I am looking forward to less blue. Having are shark mount is really cool though.

[Shatteredtower]

First of all, let me just say that I love to see nonstandard paladin mounts used. It's way to easy to just say "OK, you get a horse". I've long thought that a paladin's individual mount should be chosen to distinguish and complement that paladin's style. So bring on the dire wolves, bring on the sharks, bring on the whatever-the-heck other mounts Rich is going to introduce!Individually, it can sound pretty cool. En masse, it looks ridiculous.

When everyone is special... everyone looks like a posturing ninny.


Second, paladin mounts may or may not eat on the material plane, but in Stickworld, they clearly do eat sometime.A paladin's mount is not an outsider. It is a magical beast, which means it needs to eat and sleep, is not proficient with all martial weapons, and gets a base of only 2 (not 8) skill points per hit die.

It is an extraplanar creature, which means that it's affected by spells such as banishment, dismissal, and magic circle against good.


Because puns need to be more reviled? >_>More revealed, certainly.

[Drizzt]

The shark was sweet!!




( how did the hammer cut the tentacle?)

[Ithekro]

That shark can Smite Evil as well, if I recall correctly.

[Drizzt]

If V is correct, Lien has probably just advanced to the top of Belkar's lust list. And if speculation about the possibility of romance between her and Hinjo are correct (personally, I think they'd prefer to keep their relationship strictly professional), a certain Lord of Azure Citizen might be going straight to the top of the halfling's kill list.

Delightful strip.

HA!1

probably so

[Suraht]

Let's hope that the shark v. octopus battle doesn't turn out like this (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7004909622962894202).

[rgoodfellow]

If V is correct, Lien has probably just advanced to the top of Belkar's lust list. And if speculation about the possibility of romance between her and Hinjo are correct (personally, I think they'd prefer to keep their relationship strictly professional), a certain Lord of Azure Citizen might be going straight to the top of the halfling's kill list.

Delightful strip.

I was speculating about Durkon and Lien as a couple myself. Although I don't know if Durkon would have any interest in a non-dwarven female.

[hendrake]

I am talking about the difference between getting to know something and seeing something happen. Three of the things which you listed are plain information; as for the "part of a set up ", that could only count as a preparation to something actually happening. In other words, I was expecting some action. Character exposition and details about a plan that had been pretty obvious all along hardly counts.

Hmmm..."Action"

(1) Hinjo is grabbed by tentacle - oh no, danger!
(2) Durkon cuts tentacle with a hammer - humor.
(3) Lien's unexpected mount slices and dices summoned octopus, removing it from threat to ship / refugees - coolness.

That's not enough action? Well, to each his own.

[Heiru]

Hm, I'll have to see if I can get a Dingo as my holy mount.
Although I may have to go halfling for riding that.
Why not follow the same example and say "Yeah, it eats Tasmanian devils sometimes."
Same pun, more gritty style.

[Balance]

That shark can Smite Evil as well, if I recall correctly.

Don't you mean "Bite Evil"? :smallbiggrin:

[Moff Chumley]

1) Great Comic, I too love the nonstandard mounts,
2) Dear TPAM, That wasn't nescessary, was it? :smalltongue:

[Elderac]

Individually, it can sound pretty cool. En masse, it looks ridiculous.

When everyone is special... everyone looks like a posturing ninny.

A paladin's mount is not an outsider. It is a magical beast, which means it needs to eat and sleep, is not proficient with all martial weapons, and gets a base of only 2 (not 8) skill points per hit die.

It is an extraplanar creature, which means that it's affected by spells such as banishment, dismissal, and magic circle against good.

More revealed, certainly.

Shatteredtower is right. I assumed and we all know what happens when one assumes. :smallredface:

[Ariko]

Celestial shark: eats devilfish is, strictly speaking, not a pun but rather a play on words. In an age where puns are well-nigh universally reviled, this is an important distinction.

Awww..but I LOVE puns! :tongue:

[Yoritomo Himeko]

I liked Lien's mount. My assumption is that normally she is AC's "coast guard", able to rescue troubled citizens and chase down criminals.

But I am not so thrilled about the silly assumptions here in the forums. Just because men and women work well together, it does not mean that they will "hook up". Really. Heterosexuals can work just fine with someone of the opposite sex and not sleep with them, or even just become romantically involved.

Authors seem damned if they do, damned if they don't. Avoid introducing strong characters of both sexes and some declare you a sexist. Introduce them, and others try to push them all into sexual relationships...


Thank you! I'm so sick of people thinking that just because a female character shows up and becomes a regular, she is going to become someone else's girlfriend.

Lien is becoming a much better character each time she shows up. She should stick around for a while. I really hope Rich has some sort of long-term plan for her.

[sealemon]

:Goes off to figure out a feindish plan to convince his DM to let him have a griffon pally mount:


Awesome comic!

[chorpler]

Let's hope that the shark v. octopus battle doesn't turn out like this (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7004909622962894202).

Dangit, that's what I meant to post earlier before I forgot and you ninja'd me by several hours. ;)

Here's a YouTube link in case anybody prefers it to Google Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA8zQw6gDNI

[Nakun]

I have to say, I'm really enjoying how all of the Sapphire Guard stores their mounts in pokeballs, brings back memories of when I first started RPing.

Great Comic!

[Enlong]

I dunno. I liked Lien, but now she's just kinda jumped the shark.

*rimshot*:smallbiggrin:

[Sturmjaeger]

Heh, first thing I thought was, "It's shark week in OOTS!"

[Purple_cloack]

Shark as paladins mount? so..many..questions

well, its good strip, Lien is good character, nothing.


...

SHARK??

[Ithekro]

Yes. A Blue Shark.

[Em Blackleaf]

I loved it.
I like the "Poke Ball," and the shark was just awesome!

[shylocxs]

Oh, that was just so awesome! From hammer to shark. If only it had been a hammer shark!

[Alfryd]

New comic is up.
It becomes increasingly evident that Miko was a hard-core traditionalist.

Any bets on O-chul's mount? I'm laying 2:1 on Rhino.


About halfway through working on this, my SO informed me that it was "Shark Week" on Discovery Channel. Weird timing.
All the more ironic as rays are, in fact, close relatives of sharks. Those of you who tuned in will know both possess cartilaginous skeletons, electrical perception and lack swim bladders.
This useless fact was brought to you by our co-sponsors.

[nagora]

As if Lien need to become more badass. I think she's definitely a supporting cat member now, on par with the Linear gang.

Well, I suppose sharks are related to catfish, but I'm not sure where the "supporting" bit comes in...:smallwink:

[Yeril]

Any bets on O-chul's mount? I'm laying 2:1 on Rhino.


I'll raise 3:1 on Bull

[Frozen_Northman]

Bah! I, for one, am not impressed! All I wanted was a shark with friggin' laser beams attached to its head! Throw me a friggin' bone here!

(*mutters*)Well, I suppose it's better than ill-tempered mutated sea bass...

[thubby]

I'll raise 3:1 on Bull

just for humor's sake ill say turtle.

[Fabio_MP]

great "Razor. I chose you" :)

loved it

[Mordokai]

I do believe I'm falling in love with Lien :smallbiggrin: Everytime we see her she gets better.

And yes, I too am getting interested in what O'chul's mount is. One thing is sure: it's better(and by that I mean something not so traditionalistic than horse) than Miko's horse.

[crazycappie]

Bah! I, for one, am not impressed! All I wanted was a shark with friggin' laser beams attached to its head! Throw me a friggin' bone here!

(*mutters*)Well, I suppose it's better than ill-tempered mutated sea bass...

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2972773&postcount=134

Circlet of Blasting I say. Or somehow give it Scorching Ray as an SLA.

[Mongo 900 B.C]

:durkon: how did i cut it wit my hammer???.... 3 words LOL

[Surfing HalfOrc]

I do believe I'm falling in love with Lien :smallbiggrin: Everytime we see her she gets better.

And yes, I too am getting interested in what O'chul's mount is. One thing is sure: it's better(and by that I mean something not so traditionalistic than horse) than Miko's horse.

O-Chul rides a bear. No doubt in my mind. A tiger mught be a better fighter, but nothing I can think of off of the top of my head is "tougher."

[DrowWolfrider]

Heh, "devilfish", Heh Heh.

[Chronos]

A tiger mught be a better fighter, but nothing I can think of off of the top of my head is "tougher."A tasmanian devil. Those things don't even bleed.

Except that'd be too small for a mount... So a dire tasmanian devil.

[Rufio]

Excelent. Very good timing (for both the OOTS and the whole discovery channel). Keep it up Giant :smallsmile:!

[Slibs]

All the more ironic as rays are, in fact, close relatives of sharks. Those of you who tuned in will know both possess cartilaginous skeletons, electrical perception and lack swim bladders.
This useless fact was brought to you by our co-sponsors.


I wish my nieces and nephews lacked swim bladders when they come visit to swim in the pool.

[Heiru]

A tasmanian devil. Those things don't even bleed.

Except that'd be too small for a mount... So a dire tasmanian devil.

Than a Dire Dingo would mop the floor with it!
Apparently the Dingo are one of the few natural predators of the Tasmanian devil.

[Drizzt]

I like the rhino idea so im stickin with that

[RAGE KING!]

wow, paladins ARE worth playing.

:sigh: - I've always wanted a shark i can talk to...

:mitd: - Why does everybody else get a new pet to ride and i dont?

[Mordokai]

O-Chul rides a bear. No doubt in my mind. A tiger mught be a better fighter, but nothing I can think of off of the top of my head is "tougher."

You make a good point, and I like that idea. And O'Chul on bear would look cool :smallcool: Well, cooler at least.

[TheNovak]

SO. AWESOME.

Unconventional paladins for the win.

[Inhuman Bot]

what is o-chuls mount?

[Ithekro]

O-Chul is the MitD's new mount, or vis-versa. The MitD certainly wanted one when everyone else got one.

[MR.PIXIE]

O-Chul is the MitD's new mount, or vis-versa. The MitD certainly wanted one when everyone else got one.

ROTFLMAO@U!!!! :smallbiggrin:

[Blink Dawg]

Woohoo Lien kicks arse! :smallamused:

[Traker]

i love sharks

[Balkash]

Im all in on saying O-chul has an Ape, because there is nothing like going Ape S*** on somebody.

[SteveDJ]

Does Redcloak have to be almost spell dry? He spent most of the battle standing out of range of the defenders, doing virtually nothing (apart from summoning the five Titanium Elementals). The duel with the cleric in the courtyard only used four spells. Apart from one Harm and one unidentified spell that fizzled when Soon attacked, he was using mostly Turn Undead (or equivalent) in the throne room--then we have a Chlorine Elemental, a Blade Barrier, and the octopus now attacking Hinjo's junk. We can assume he maybe cast a few more spells off-camera while we weren't looking, but even so, if he's a 15th level cleric with a decent Wisdom score, he ought to have getting on for 50 spells for the day--I reckon he still has a fair few available.

I would think that Redcloak, indeed just about any cleric, would have mostly heal/harm spells. Redcloak said that he was using his last Harm spell in this strip http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0459.html , so might that alone suggest he is running low on spells?

[HUMVEE Driver]

Sometimes he go 'way, sometimes he don' go 'way.

[Jonty303]

So OotS has finally "Jumped the Shark"... :smallbiggrin:

[factotum]

I would think that Redcloak, indeed just about any cleric, would have mostly heal/harm spells. Redcloak said that he was using his last Harm spell in this strip http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0459.html , so might that alone suggest he is running low on spells?

Redcloak seems to be some sort of summoning specialist, so I would think he'd have a few Summon Monster VI spells in there and maybe not so many Harms. Also, his spell selection would be affected by his plans for the battle; if he was intending to spend the entire battle at the back, not getting personally involved (which seemed to be the case), then Harm would be pretty useless for him--summons would actually be a better option in that case.

[Elderac]

I would think that Redcloak, indeed just about any cleric, would have mostly heal/harm spells.


Because a cleric can spontaneously convert spells to heal/inflict spells, when I play a cleric, the only heal spells I take would be a domain spell. I feel having a variety of spells gives a cleric a greater versatility in combat situations. Then if he needs to, he can burn a spell to convert it to healing.

In any case, I feel that Redcloak was pretty low on spells after the fight in the throne room. The summons here might very well be from a scroll. Since it would not be a spell that he prepared, it would not have been available for spontaneous conversion.

Just a thought.

[Traker]

you know that clerics are very Powerful characters :belkar: :belkar:

[Dunamin]

In relation to all the speculation on O-Chul's mount I'm gonna go against the flow here and guess on heavy warhorse.
Unusual paladin mounts gain HD at a slower rate than standard mounts, so they would generally be weaker - a tough character would probably be better off with a tough mount, and O-chul sort of seems like the traditional type of paladin (though having noticably greater Con than his peers).

However, if O-Chul were to have a non-standard mount, I'd guess the most likely candidates to be an animal corresponding to one of the 12 Gods, thus including bulls and tigers, but excluding bears.


It becomes increasingly evident that Miko was a hard-core traditionalist.
I disagree.

The classic pally is a sword and board warrior with Dex and Int as dump stats, because they generally need the other abilities more.
Miko is a dual-wielder, has high Dex, and packs Monk levels. I'd say that's a fairly untraditional build for a paladin.

[Grey Watcher]

I disagree.

The classic pally is a sword and board warrior with Dex and Int as dump stats, because they generally need the other abilities more.
Miko is a dual-wielder, has high Dex, and packs Monk levels. I'd say that's a fairly untraditional build for a paladin.

Well, I think the dual-wielding Dex-heavy build is also Miko making the best use of her prior abilities as a Monk (which are quite traditionally monkish). As far as decisions she's made about her abilities since going Paladin, she's been more traditional. For example, she didn't stick with her fists, a Flurry-of-Blows compatible weapon, or even a finessable weapon. She chose one that is traditional for a samurai and allows her to use Power Attack to maximum effect. Yes, she makes use of her prior abilities, but she's still as much of a traditionalist as her prior training allows.

[Dunamin]

You make a good point, though my comment is in relation to her game-mechanical build on a whole, not as set from a midpoint in her career.

[Traker]

Miko mite of ben a monk but she is dead.
so it dose not mater.:belkar: :belkar: :elan:

[factotum]

In any case, I feel that Redcloak was pretty low on spells after the fight in the throne room.

Eh? As far as we know he only used two spells in the whole throne room fight--the Harm he cast on Xykon, and an unknown spell that fizzled when Soon attacked. Everything else he was doing was modified Turn Undead attempts.

[Elderac]

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that he used them up in the throne room, it is just my impression that by that point he seemed to be getting low on spells.

It is just an impression. I haven't gone through the comics to count each spell and level from the beginning of the battle to the fizzled spell in the court room. He does use a few healing spells on himself after they escape.

[Traker]

you know i agry weth elderac:belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar: :belkar:

[Danflor]

WOW! A pun and a pokemon reference in one comic! That's friggin awesome! :smallwink: