OOTS #323 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[King_Troll]

Give a hoot, don't pollute

ROFLMAO!!!

Oh, and fire trap on the toilet lid... I think I did that in college

[WNxArrakis]

like an owl. omg lol.

and 11 explosive runes with 6d6 damage each.. thats 66-396 Damage, meaning that Belkar has a lot of hitpoints for a little guy at lvl 7-11..

[IvanGS]

Poor Roy...now he has to worry about the two of them rather than just Belkar in general. Heh.

[KuH]

Middle of the day posting - I thought it was only at night! Now I really am going to have to check this any time of day!

Gotta love prestidigitation, by the way. I can think of lots of times that would come in handy.


And should I do the obligatory first time first page post dance?


P.S. I notice Belkar doesn't remember kissing V ... or has persuaded himself that V liked it!

[Noctus]

Great comic as always.

[thorindale]

Funniest comic in a long time.

[kyrin]

Ah, Prestidigitation. A useful spell.

Sweet strip. Nice to be back on the road, hitting those sweet, sweet random encounters.

JIM
aka kyrin

Postscriptum: Wow, first page! Um... Woot, I guess.

[HypnoticMonk]

LOL ... as much as I had NO issue at all with the earlier kind of strips... man I just realized how much I missed the more D&D related ones..

^5 to The Giant

Edit: and a pat on my own back for being a first pager for the second time

[kaairn]

Spoil my Mac mikey taking fun then Giant ;)

Poor Belkar, I can't wait for him to find out about why V has been blowing up... and the technically arguement is brilliant with a strangely witty replay from belkar... and wow... Roy turning into a teacher/leader figure?!? who'da thunk it?

Shame that he just wont be able to stop them ;)

[ChristopherDK]

hehe.. V covered in drool..

and how mean is it to firetrap a toilet seat when one has a Hang-over..

I call V to be at the very least CE !!!!

:)

[nordyboy]

Yay! New comic!
Poor varsuvious...

[Suzaku]

So they're even now huh but meh they'll continue to fight it's not like they're lawful. btw DIng first page

[DArKandEViL]

Great comic, Giant. heh heh spot and listen low.

11 explosivise runes. BOOM

EDIT: First Page!

[Loball]

Xtra-cool. Intra-party fighting is *always* good for a laugh....





... especially if you're the GM ;D

[thespyder]

Yay! new comic!
hehe, prestidigitation. i love that spell.

[Saithis Bladewing]

Great comic!

Two big claws up! ;D

[BrockGarthok]

How many more owl references will there be? I thought "Please Mister Wise Owlbear" was funny, but you gotta love "Give a hoot, don't polute."

[Behold_the_Void]

That was rather amusing. It reminds me of an earlier comment by V, "I take solace in the fact that your vengeance first requires you to outsmart someone's mount," I believe it was. Poor Belkar is in over his head.

[DarkCorax]

lol I knew that Belkar didn't know why it was happening...

Like the Owl :D

10000 uses for Prestidigitation!

[Mal_the_Mad]

darn random encounter over time for the oracle,

[Aurorax]

Great Comic. Who knew adventuring could be just like a car-ride with kids.

Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
He touched me!
He's on my side!
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.

[Papa_Bitterleaf]

Great one, giant. I was so busy reading the *ahem* discusison on the other thread, I stopped refreshing!

[AzSteven]

Well, I suspect somehow B and V will be in the midst of a big furball fight when teh next wandering monster shows up. I jsut hope its nothing REALLY dangerous like an OwlBear...

[Adder]

Great comic. I especially like V's and Belkar's expression in the last panel ;D

[The Doctor]

It's good to see V and Belkar don't hold grudges.
;D

[Mercutio01]

That made me laugh out loud twice. Very funny Rich. The fact that only V and Durkon know why V is hitting Belkar is even funnier.

I just wanted to note that I love the word asshat.

[Swashbuckler]

Another very funny comic ... not quite as "LOL" as the last couple, but definitely up there in my book! Great job!

[Bookman]

haha great comic. Didn't know Belkar was smart enough for the word "androgynous". ;D

[Carrion_Humanoid]

Roflcopter

[mack962289]

I dont post to often. But that was a great comic. I laughed until I fell out of my seat. I loved the first panel.

Edit: Yay! Top of third page.

[orcmonk89]

LOL, I loved it. Fire trapped toilet seat. I'll have to remember it.

Keep the gags rolling Rich!

[snelson66]

Wow... some great lines in this one... "give a hoot..." "you androgynous twit..." This one might be a classic.

Nice work, Giant.

[DwaggieBard]

The comics don't seem to have as good a punchline anymore. I mean, they're still funny, but... in a diferent way.

[Eldred]

Haha, very nice comic!! The fire-trapped toilet seat made me laugh so much... can't wait for more of their antics ;D

[Neopolis]

Ha. Fun. Poor Roy though. Now he has two of those guys (or girls, or things) to watch over.

[Mizak]

gotta love the quote from Belkar, "All because HE, SHE or IT knows" say that several times fast and we'll have a new gender for V... hesheit

[sugarmouse121]

Heh heh heh..................... 11 explosive runes! V sounds menacing "Your doom shall be swift and silent- like the owl."

[Valda, Adlav and Samiam: the Jacked-Up Trinity]

Asshat... that's a funny word. I got called that the other day. Must be an east coast thing (Rich is from Queens, right?) , cuz in every easter state I've been to I've been called that at least once, but when I went to California it never happened.

EDIT: Third page. I think that's the best I've ever done.

I didn't catch the 'give a hoot' part until you guys brought it up. Another owl reference. I seriously think if OoTS were a movie it'd be the kind you'd have to watch with friends to catch everything.

[Brother_Hood]

Too Funny. Glad I'm not Roy though. I've V's done all that to Belkar, that's more than simple revenge for a kiss.

[Felinoid]

Oh wow. ROTFLMAO. This definitely makes it into the favorites. Still not the best EVAR, but I'll have to re-evaluate some of my favorites to cut the list down to strictly the pure gems like this one.

I was way off with the Explosive Runes (I thought ~6, when it turned out to be ELEVEN), and the Fire Trap on the toilet lid? Cracked me up. Loving Belkar's insults, and Roy finally taking charge. Great job as always.

[WampaX]

I thought ~6, when it turned out to be ELEVEN

[Spinal Tap]Its one more than 10, idn't it?[/Spinal Tap]

[Zaruthustran]

Good one. I like the prestidigitation cleanup. And the simmering feud.

[TroyXavier]

I liked that one. It was simple and fun, built up the feud some more. Re-reading the old comics, I realized those two haven't liked each other at all for the longest time.

[Adeptus]

Nice, if a bit grim :O

[Morrandir]

Prestidigitation! :P

[warmachine]

Detente be damned! A feud is a beautiful thing. From a distance.

[BelkarsDagger]

Great strip - made me laugh.

"Damnit V, I've told you before NOT to blow up other members of the party!!!"

:D

[Holy_Knight]

I'm glad to see that the feud won't really be stopping. That would be a shame! I particularly liked panel 5.

[Korta]

Brilliant as always! :)

Thank you!

[Aawill]

"you, androginous twit."................... simply awesome! ;D

[rcuhljr]

happy tuesday :)

[M._A._Foxfire]

You'd think Roy would at least try to find out what's going on with V's sudden penchant for beating on Belkar.

Give a hoot... Heh. Still, an owlbear head has many varied uses... 4/5th page post w00t.

[auron_the_awesome]

Fourth or fifth page? Well, it's as good as I'm ever going to get. :)


Awesomeness. Of course.

[Solmage]

You'd think Roy would at least try to find out what's going on with V's sudden penchant for beating on Belkar.

Give a hoot... Heh. Still, an owlbear head has many varied uses... 4/5th page post w00t.

Well, Belkar's explanation was fairly plausible, considering their past history. However I found it funny how V didn't want anyone, including Belkar "to know" :) .

[Kanashimi]

Okay, I just have to say. "Asshat" is probably the BEST insult I've heard so far. Go Belkar (Go Giant)

Very funny comic.

[Djagir]

However I found it funny how V didn't want anyone, including Belkar "to know" :) .
Given Belkar's feat of Craft Disturbing Mental Image (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=249), I think V has good reasons for not wanting him to know.

[rcuhljr]

Asshat must be an eastcoast thing, because it's been one of our favorite terms for the last 4-5 years.

[Ronald_saveloy]

Does this give us another hint about the matureness of the PC's players? V's and B's players seem to be real silly billies.

[armatil]

i gotta say, absolutely loved this instalment. more than average. :D

it's got those keenly-edged details of humor (a.k.a. sarcasm) in it that i love the OotS so much for, but that have largely been missing for a while (with the whole court/azure city arc)... especially in the 2nd row of panels. ("Technically..." heh heh heh)

also... is it just me, or do V and belkar truly love to hate each other's guts?

[Kish]

Does this give us another hint about the matureness of the PC's players? V's and B's players seem to be real silly billies.
I'm still inclined to think Lilly nailed it here (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=comics;action=display;num=1129265322 ;start=28#28).

[a1057soul]

heh Great one Giant!!!

And I'm glad to see 'asshat' has finally made it into the general parlance (I've been using if for years)....

:-)
Dan

[ianuk]

I'm still inclined to think Lilly nailed it here (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=comics;action=display;num=1129265322 ;start=28#28).

Wow, I had missed that post...it really does fit. We just had a situation where a few of the players weren't getting along and it translated into the game...now one of them is dead and its seemed to have made things better.

Very fun comic...Giant, are you listening to the Saturday Morning Specials?...sure seems like it for some of the puns. ::)

[Blaznak]

Ok, I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than most, recently. The dialogue felt more natural (I know, that seems weird to say 'bout stick figures) and Roy was a strong leader.

Also, the humor did not seem as 'forced' (at least to me) but again, was more organic to the situation.

Fun stuff!

[RecklessFable]

like an owl. omg lol.

and 11 explosive runes with 6d6 damage each.. thats 66-396 Damage, meaning that Belkar has a lot of hitpoints for a little guy at lvl 7-11..

Yeah, but his base reflex save is 6 and he probably got Evasion at level 9. I'm thinking it was the toilet that really got him when he was still "sickened" with a hangover.

[hyikim]

wow 2 first time posters and 2 second time posters on the first page

[drgrumpus]

We just had a situation where a few of the players weren't getting along and it translated into the game...now one of them is dead and its seemed to have made things better.


Tough group.


;)

[Varian7]

Great Comic! Lots of good one-liners from V and Belkar, and I loved the last panel.

[Varian7]

Hooray for upcoming news on the third book!

[Evik]

YAY!
Many wild and crazy antics await us now!
we get to have a not-so-secret fued!
cant wait to see what happens next!

WAY TO GO GIANT


LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL (like the owlbear's head) LOL

[Nekkira]

Very funny strip! Just what I needed today!
Belkar must be smarter than I give him credit for...throwing the word androgynous around like that.

[KuH]

The funny thing about the 'asshat' comment is that V's hairdo, if you look closely at it, really does look like a rear end.

[Miarae]

I loved this strip ;D The prestidigitation made me smile, it's one of the most used spells in our group. I loved the owl-jokes and the "he she it" line from Belkar.

I know, really nothing to say that hasn't been said already. Just loved the strip (especially panel 5)

[soozenw]

hehehe. "asshat". that was the best part. my favorite swear word to yell at sucky drivers.

[Theodoxus]

Asshat's been around - we use it here in New Mexico... but we also have friends all over the US and Canada thanks to MMORPGs... never realize what a cultural equalizer online games/message boards/chat rooms, etc. are until you see something like that.

Used to be colloqueal words didn't enter a new region until someone moved there with charisma enough to make it into the mainstream speech. Nowadays, anything that you read online can end up in common parlance fairly quickly.

[Don Beegles]

Just remember :a bird in teh henbush is worth two in the asshat.

Name that quote!

[Ethdred]

Really loved this one - some excellent jokes. Also, I've been reading the forums a lot recently, and did anyone else feel like a lot of this was deliberately reacting to stuff that's been discussed a lot? (Like the "but he's got the mark of justice""no, that onlyworks in the city" that went round a few times, and, of course, 'he,she,it'!)

11 Expplosive Runes! Gotta love improved evasion!

[charik]

Loved it. I just knew Belkar had no memory of what happened New Year's Eve. Roy puts his foot down to end this silly feud and they both agree ... to continue.

Now, for a rules discussion: 11 (!) Explosive Runes in one day. Obviously V couldn't possibly have that many spell slots of that level (my books are in the car from last night's game), so he she it must have been preparing for this for at least a couple days.

Anyone think V will use that old reliable line from #41, but for Belkar?

[n11]

I suspect Belkar's "11" was an exaggeration (average roll on 66d6 is 231... explosive runes allows no saving throw for the reader), but I would still wager that V's Ring of Wizardry (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=182) is type III, as I doub't even V would jeopardize the party's first travel day wasting so many high level spell slots on explosive runes.

At least I hope so.

I think V has finished her, uh, his, uh, whatever, shift from good (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=comics;action=display;num=1073635653 ;start=307#307) to neutral (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=comics;action=display;num=1138426781 ;start=1#1) on the moral (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=comics;action=display;num=1138426781 ;start=9#9) scale.

[Sothicus]

And for those who complain about when the comics are up, V has one word for you: Silence.


Else, you may be receiving 11 explosive rune traps in your future :)

[LordVader]

I guess Belkar forgot about his promise to wait late in the day before pissing off Vaarsuuvius... ;)http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=20

[Xenon]

11 is possible... some the night before, and some in the morning. spread over two days, with durkon (who knows whats up) doings some heals at just the right moments.

[LordVader]

I hope for Belkar's sake that V decided not to bring along the spellbook w/ Tentacles of forced Intrusion-otherwise, that is gonna be painful for the halfling. GO V!!!

[Krytha]

oh my god... so funny! I enjoyed muchly.

[paul_brown_1973]

So many fantastic lines, V cutting Durkon off with a simple "silence" and a fire trap on a toilet lid, yet still the line that makes me smile every time I read it (sixteen times so far and still laughing) is "pointy-eared pissbucket".

Clearly I'm just more juvenile than the rest of you.

(seventeen).

[A_Gray_Phantom]

As a bard, I am forced to come up with new uses for my underpowered daily allotment of spells. Thus, I've found several new uses for prestidigitation. I once combined it with a simple mending spell and added a fistful of grass to create a grass hoola skirt for our dwarven fighter :o. Yeah, I know, but without it, the stink fella would've been naked :P.

[BlythraB]

he he he... niiiiiiice one...

[mamaphoenix]

My favorite panel is about Roy's spot and listen check abilities. There is definately a heavy grudge here.

I've learned my lesson. Let someone else read the scrolls.

[Dugray]

Why does everyone always exagerates how funny they found the comic to be? Sure it's comedic, worth a chuckle here and there, but I can't recall a single comic except the Ninja Atom one from the first book that actually made me laugh out loud slightly.


And by the way, the reference Give a hoot don't pollute comes from the American Forest Service Owl called Woodsy Owl, Lend a Hand - Care for the Land and other such nonsensical hippy crap has come straight from that owls mouth. Therefore, he should be shot.

[TinSoldier]

Well, see the Crying Indian was a sorcerer and he took Woodsy Owl and Smokey the Bear and created the owlbear! See, it all makes sense now!

The owlbear only attacks those who set fire to litter in the forest.

[Dugray]

Well, see the Crying Indian was a sorcerer and he took Woodsy Owl and Smokey the Bear and created the owlbear! See, it all makes sense now!

The owlbear only attacks those who set fire to litter in the forest.

That's actually pretty creative, I'll give you props for that one.

[Tobimaro]

Well, this is an interesting turn of events.

Glad to see that Roy is making good use of that Leadership feat that he took some time ago. Of course he needs a good cohort to keep V and Belkar in line. ;D

And I suspect that Belkar has been stocking up on Cure Serious Wounds potions. Or at least has a good Use Magic Device score.

As for Roy's wish for peace in the party. That would be no fun. ;)

Grovar

[Karui_Kage]

Belkar makes me happy. ^_^

[Kontonshin]

Heh. I really liked this one. The icing on the cake is that Belkar has no idea why Vaarsuvius is suddenly leaving explosive runes (and the firetrap) in his path other than sheer opportunistic orneriness.

And Roy's comment to V. reminds me of a friend who once told me about a particularly vicious fraternal feud which ended with his mother saying, "I never thought I'd have to tell you boys this: Don't set your brother on fire!"

[Ota]

V for Vendetta

[The_Kobold_Hero]

V for Vendetta

You got that right! ;D

[Bakta]

I really loved this one.

Few comments :

- Has no one connected the fire-trap seat with a very strong chili?. :o

- That Belkar cannot stop himself from willing to get even is understandable, but V?. Wher would that put him in the rating, above the horse and table or between these two :)?.

- Why did Durkon agreed to shut up, he knows this situation will only deteriorate?.

[Felinoid]

- Why did Durkon agreed to shut up, he knows this situation will only deteriorate?.
Six words: Evard's Spiked Tentacles of Forced Intrusion. :o :o

[Arian]

The Giant said a while ago that a possible explanation for V never correcting anyone about using the wrong pronoun was that V was always concentrating on something else whenever the subject arose, and only half (if that) paying attention.

I've not always regarded that as probable - I've tended to believe that V does hear (at least on some occasions) but simply chooses not to correct any mistakes.

We can't doubt after reading #323 that V knows that Belkar at least doesn't know whether V is male or female, and V has no intention of telling. :)

Come to think, the thing with Belkar trying to sex the lizard, and the time Belkar called V "ambiguously-gendered" make it pretty clear too.

So does V think that it's only Belkar who can't tell - presumably because he's so spectacularly thick - or is V just not saying anyway?

I still think the latter, but I grant I can see an argument for the former.

[Winged One]

No comment that I could make that hasn't already been made, so I'll just say that I plan to steal V's last line of this comic. ;D

[Bilbo27]

Well technically it was the owlbear you asshat

I was laughing my butt off on that one

And then, your doom shall be swift and silent, like the owl( by the way, which spell offed him, or was it Roys sword?)

Another gut buster

Love ya Giant

[infiniteviking]

Why, those blank-faced little liars! "Affirmative" indeed! *falls over laughing*

See, this is what happens when the party's spellcaster gets swallowed. They just destroy the monster and make a mess. So much less sanitary than a simple 'Suggestion' (the owlbear spoke Common, right?).

Well. To quote my favorite purple-haired elf, exxxxxcellent! Eleven Explosive Runes spells? V doesn't waste any time, eh? And the dialogue made me laugh all the way through. Vaarsuvius is the essence of dignity, even when slimed -- which makes Belkar's uncomprehending rage all the funnier. Kudos to Roy for laying down the law, however futile that may prove. ("I am extremely disappointed in all of you" -- *snicker*)

Let me repeat: the dialogue was FANTASTIC. V's vocabulary is always great, but both of them got in a few good zingers this time.

"Your doom shall be silent and swift".... does that mean V's contemplating something even more dire than Explosive Runes? ;D

Thanks, Giant -- I've been grinning all evening because of this.

[EmeraldFire]

lol, nice comic Giant. it's nice to see them back on the road and continuing their adventure.

All that I can think of now is what Belkar and V are planning for each other later down the road.

[Krytha]

"Your doom shall be silent and swift".... does that mean V's contemplating something even more dire than Explosive Runes? ;D


It's more like he is cooking something that won't attract Roy's attention, but still painful and humiliating for Belkar...

[Furin_Mirado]

"Your doom shall be swift and silent...like the owl."
I love that line! Not only is it a fun nod back to the owlbear but it implies that it will be too swift for Roy to spot and too silent for Roy to listen-er, I mean hear. ;)

[TinSoldier]

V -- Silent but deadly...

[Thortok2000]

Does anyone else now have 'Prestidigitation' going through their head to the tune of 'Californication'? Or am I just that insane? *sings* "Insane, need medication..." Heh. I wonder how many other things rhyme with that.

Anyway, funniest pannel was the 'Silence' line, otherwise it was just standard funny, not exceptional funny. ^_^

[walkeronthehorizon]

what dos Prestidigitation do?

[charik]

what dos Prestidigitation do?
Many things, none of them earthshattering, but all of them useful in the dull routine of life. As used by V in this strip, it can be used to clean. Roleplaying xp can get awarded for finding actual meaningful uses in game.

[divine]

rich wrote "asshat"
made my night >)

[CatBoris]

Good strip!

[silvadel]

Maybe V will finally learn silent spell -- she needs it....

Silent and Quickened...

[Corylus]

The final panel was oh so predictable but I admit to it making me laugh.

[Kriel]

*Sigh* This is only going to get worse (albeit much funnier) before it gets better. And on a related note, I'm amazed Roy hasn't lost complete and utter faith in the group.

[battleburn]

Many things, none of them earthshattering, but all of them useful in the dull routine of life. As used by V in this strip, it can be used to clean. Roleplaying xp can get awarded for finding actual meaningful uses in game.

Like when Belkar is gonna explode without apparent reason ::),
V will want to get those bloodstains off.


Disclaimer
This is not a prediction, it was just for the sake of argument/humor.

[Antina]

"Your doom shall be swift and silent" GREATGODs that´s GREAT!!!

;D Couldn´t resist bursting out laughing

[paul_brown_1973]

Does anyone else now have 'Prestidigitation' going through their head to the tune of 'Californication'?

I didn't, but now I do.

Curse you. I'll be singing that to myself all day now...

[Pelziges_Ohr]

The fire trap on the toilet lit

Wow, this one gave me a good laugh. The last panel gave me the rest.

[Lucid_Gizmo]

Darn my job for making me work with the lateness and thus force the much sleepage...thus miss comic arrival!!
Prestidigitation...probably my favorite 0 level spell, so many
uses... ;D

[Zzarchov]

is Prestidigitation actually magic? Its just another word for "sleight of hand", at 0 level I thought it was just used to represent "magic"

[Kanashimi]

I would have to agree that prestidigitation is probably the most useful 0-level spell. (aside from the essential Detect Magic)

My favorite use was when we had to schlep through the sewers and then meet a noble at their house. We realized we probably would not have been allowed entrance smelling like poo.

Also good for preventing forest fires. My DM used to be a boy scout so has us make survival checks to properly put out fires. He ruled that prestidigitation effectively "cleans" the campsite, which includes putting the fire out.

[Calaveron]

So will we be getting a new strip today? Or until Sunday just because yesterday we got a new strip already?

[rakkoon]

Apparently I'm seriously lacking in D&D knowledge. Prestidigitation means conjuring I though, and this is the name of spell that cleans stuff in the D&D world? Why not call it The Immense Spell of Cleaning then?

[Felinoid]

So will we be getting a new strip today? Or until Sunday just because yesterday we got a new strip already?

Check the home page, homeslice. No schedule at all for the time being. It happens when it happens.

[Kanashimi]

Prestidigitation does more than clean, that's just one of its more useful applications. It can also temporarily mend and item, or permanently mend it if you also provide thread. i think it can subtly change the color of things, so your nonmagical black armor can temporarily be red. Help me out, anyone got the PHB handy to go through all the possibilities?

My DM plays it that it can do pretty much any minor thing that a humanoid could normally do, but quicker, and without all that cumbersome effort ;)

[TreesOfDeath]

it CAN conjure a very small item, iirc

[Lucid_Gizmo]

Direct from the SRD...

Prestidigitations are minor tricks that novice spellcasters use for practice. Once cast, a prestidigitation spell enables you to perform simple magical effects for 1 hour. The effects are minor and have severe limitations. A prestidigitation can slowly lift 1 pound of material. It can color, clean, or soil items in a 1-foot cube each round. It can chill, warm, or flavor 1 pound of nonliving material. It cannot deal damage or affect the concentration of spellcasters. Prestidigitation can create small objects, but they look crude and artificial. The materials created by a prestidigitation spell are extremely fragile, and they cannot be used as tools, weapons, or spell components. Finally, a prestidigitation lacks the power to duplicate any other spell effects. Any actual change to an object (beyond just moving, cleaning, or soiling it) persists only 1 hour.

[rakkoon]

Fabulous, sounds like a spell every person should have.

Thanks people, was my first post but couldn't contain my curiosity

[Kanashimi]

that's right, I had almost forgotten about its "flavoring" effect. I remember a wizard who would use it to flavor the porrige from a Murlynd's spoon Spicy wet cardboard yum!

[Nixie]

Great one. I loved it. 11 Explosive Runes and a Fire Trap... wow, Belkar is low on hit points, lol
Belkar- "Roy's spot and listen checks are too low for him to watch us all the time, you androgynous twit."

V- "Your doom shall be swift and silent- like the owl."

[Alfryd]

New comic is up.
Hilarity 6.7. I dunno. Nothing wrong with it really.

I'm glad to see that the feud won't really be stopping. That would be a shame!
Depends on just how serious it gets. Sadly, V is unlikely to let rip with, say, Disintegrate unless Belkar becomes *extremely* aggravating.

Poor Belkar is in over his head.
V doen't seem to go in heavily for illusion spells, but Suggestion would be quite effective against Belkar. V seems to have respectable spot checks, but I'd say Belkar could still use stealth to his advantage. He'd also have respectable fort and reflex saves.

Yeah, but his base reflex save is 6 and he probably got Evasion at level 9. I'm thinking it was the toilet that really got him when he was still "sickened" with a hangover.
Last time they checked, V and Belkar were the same level, V must be level 14 to have learned a word of power spell IIRC, but the Miko fight description specifies 12 hit dice for Belkar, putting him at ranger 11/barbarian 1. So, base reflex 7. He probably has decent con.

I've V's done all that to Belkar, that's more than simple revenge for a kiss.
Oh, there's no end of perfectly good reasons to hurt Belkar. This is just the recent rap sheet.

I think V has finished her, uh, his, uh, whatever, shift from good to neutral on the moral scale.
Nah, V pretty well always struck me as LN.

[themunck]

Hilarity 6.7. I dunno. Nothing wrong with it really.
Depends on just how serious it gets. Sadly, V is unlikely to let rip with, say, Disintegrate unless Belkar becomes *extremely* aggravating.
V doen't seem to go in heavily for illusion spells, but Suggestion would be quite effective against Belkar. V seems to have respectable spot checks, but I'd say Belkar could still use stealth to his advantage. He'd also have respectable fort and reflex saves.
Last time they checked, V and Belkar were the same level, V must be level 14 to have learned a word of power spell IIRC, but the Miko fight description specifies 12 hit dice for Belkar, putting him at ranger 11/barbarian 1. So, base reflex 7. He probably has decent con.
Oh, there's no end of perfectly good reasons to hurt Belkar. This is just the recent rap sheet.
Nah, V pretty well always struck me as LN.
A wizard can cast PWB at lvl 13, not 14

[Sanctu]

Hm.. a lot of discussion about Prestidigitation. I'll add, neutrally, that the ability to clean yourself (or others) with Prestidigitation is why when I play any kind of arcane caster, I'd choose that cantrip always, no question.

I realized something while reading this one again this morning. "-- like the owl" is more humerous yet. Previously, Varrsuvius had ranted loudly about what possible use could someone have for crossing an owl and a bear, because the owl adds nothing. But here, interestingly, Vaarsuvius may now know exactly why you'd do that: for it would add swiftness and silence to the already dangerous bear. Or he still doesn't get it, even though he's in the same mind-space as a wizardmight be in to consider this particular blend.

Personally, I'm always a fan of inter-species romance stories, though. I suppose Elan is, too. (Well, he seems to be a fan of any romance story, which is cool.)

You'd think the owlbear would be notural, but then random encounter charts rarely take this into account.

[octobergirl]

"Your doom shall be swift and silent - - like the owl."

LMAO - Oh! That was great!!! :D

[Erimore]

OK, it's a Very Good comic when I laugh out loud...the last few have been Very Good.

It's a Exceptional comic when I laugh out loud the 3 time reading it...

This one has me laughing out loud after the 10th reading.

Giant, you are truly an artist.

[Solara]

Great comic! I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. :D

And ditto on what infiniteviking a couple of others said - the dialogue really made this one.

[BalinShortstuff]

Roy, I feel your pain. ;D

[battleburn]

If V was Lawfull, she would have stopped the feud right there and then when she said to Roy she would.

Or another possibillity:
I play the White Wolf system and there they use Nature and demeanor instead of Lawfull, Evil, etc.
Obeying the Law is something you decide to do. It is in your nature to do so, but like Miko when she almost unlawfully killed Belkar, V is having the same experience right now. She is Lawfull, but because of the agravating nature of Belkar, she is angry enough to ignore here nature. Thus breaking the "Law" and continuing the feud.

[Elurindel]

Great comic there, Giant. "Androgynous twit." classic stuff, as always ;D

[Solara]

I've always seen the whole concept of 'alignment' as pretty pointless, actually. We hardly ever use it when we play...it's the individual character's actions over a course of time that determines the way an adventure and their relationship with the rest of the party will go, not some arbitrary decision the player made during creation.

[humanpylon]

I'd still really like to know who killed the owlbear. Or was it a case that since one owlbear is like an insect to 6 12th lever adventurers Rich didn't bother to show it?

[octobergirl]

I'd still really like to know who killed the owlbear. Or was it a case that since one owlbear is like an insect to 6 12th lever adventurers Rich didn't bother to show it?

When I read it, I was assuming Roy had killed it since he had his sword out and then puts it back up.

[Kresalak]

Giant, you are truly an artist.

If he was a real artist, no one would care about OotS until after he was dead. ;)

[octobergirl]

Great comic there, Giant. "Androgynous twit." classic stuff, as always ;D

For some reason, I totally missed that comment when I first read it. So I went back and re-read. Totally hilarious! LOL

[Elcaz]

I've never played tabletop D&D games so excuse my ignorance, but according to the prestidigitation description, does that mean that V will be soiled again in one hour or are the cleaning changes permanent?

[fwiffo]

I'd still really like to know who killed the owlbear. Or was it a case that since one owlbear is like an insect to 6 12th lever adventurers Rich didn't bother to show it?

In panel 1, Roy is wielding his sword. In rest of the strip, he has it sheathed on his back. I'd say Roy separated owlbear into the owl part and the bear part.

[humanpylon]

In panel 1, Roy is wielding his sword. In rest of the strip, he has it sheathed on his back. I'd say Roy separated owlbear into the owl part and the bear part.

D'oh! Missed that. Chalk another one up for Captain Oblivious.

By the way everytime I see Alas poor Yikyik I giggle.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

*guffaws*

See, now THIS is the OOTS I remember ;D

Best ones I've seen in awhile now!

[Son_of_Meepo]

Yay! new comic!
hehe, prestidigitation. i love that spell.

Since it has such a long duration, I find prestidigitation to be a great shield for area dispel magic attacks. There have been several cases where it ended up being the spell that got popped rather than something more valuable.

[The Glyphstone]

Doesn't area dispel start with the highest spell level and work its way down? or is it the other way round?

[Kanashimi]

no, actually, an AREA dispel goes by proximity, I believe. a targeted dispel on a character goes by level though.

[LordVader]

Belkar is going to get his posterior kicked. Perhaps a silence spell and then Evan's Spiked Tentacles of Forced Intrusion? :)

[Doug_Lampert]

no, actually, an AREA dispel goes by proximity, I believe. a targeted dispel on a character goes by level though.

Wrong, from the SRD (This sort of thing is not hard to look up people):

Area Dispel: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell affects everything within a 20-foot radius.
For each creature within the area that is the subject of one or more spells, you make a dispel check against the spell with the highest caster level. If that check fails, you make dispel checks against progressively weaker spells until you dispel one spell (which discharges the dispel magic spell so far as that target is concerned) or until you fail all your checks. The creature’s magic items are not affected.
For each object within the area that is the target of one or more spells, you make dispel checks as with creatures. Magic items are not affected by an area dispel.
For each ongoing area or effect spell whose point of origin is within the area of the dispel magic spell, you can make a dispel check to dispel the spell.
For each ongoing spell whose area overlaps that of the dispel magic spell, you can make a dispel check to end the effect, but only within the overlapping area.
If an object or creature that is the effect of an ongoing spell (such as a monster summoned by monster summoning) is in the area, you can make a dispel check to end the spell that conjured that object or creature (returning it whence it came) in addition to attempting to dispel spells targeting the creature or object.

Note that you hit EVERY character, object, or ongoing area effect spell in the target area. You check against their spells, and check from the highest down.

Prestidigitation can't protect ANYTHING or higher level.

[Ghosthunter]

"How many times have I told you "We do not blow up party members"

Sounds like my dad...ahh childhood.... :D

Great strip, Giant

[Brasswatchman]

Great Comic. Who knew adventuring could be just like a car-ride with kids.

Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
He touched me!
He's on my side!
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.
Are we there yet? No.



I don't know about the rest of you, but you just summed up every RPG I've ever been in...

[Pocal]

I've never played tabletop D&D games so excuse my ignorance, but according to the prestidigitation description, does that mean that V will be soiled again in one hour or are the cleaning changes permanent?


In an earlier post, cleaning is listed as one of the effects that are permament.

[Seik]

Isn't prestidigitation just 1 square foot of cleaning, though? Or a single small object?

[Kish]

Per round. The spell last for an hour. Vaarsuvius just directed it, like a vacuum cleaner, all over his/her robes.

[maputo]

Asshat? Oh dear lord thats good stuff!

[LurkerBeneath]

Belkar is going to get his posterior kicked. Perhaps a silence spell and then Evan's Spiked Tentacles of Forced Intrusion? :)

I think silence is not a Wizard spell.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/silence.htm says it's Bard/Cleric.

[dragon95046]

I love how quickly V stops Durkon from explaing the reasoning behind the Explosive Runes.

Priceless.

[Durin]

I think silence is not a Wizard spell.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/silence.htm says it's Bard/Cleric.

If a bard can cast it a wizard can too it's arcane magic so a wizard could cast it as easily as a bard

[molonel]

Okay, I've been complaining a lot and saying a lot of things about what the comic is doing wrong.

So here is what you're doing right:

1. You actually did something that made a gamer look up a rule in the SRD: I didn't know you actually use Prestidigitation to scrape away slime. So you're paying attention to the game, instead of relying on old saws.

I liked that.

If you're curious, you can review the forums over at Enworld.org about nitpicky rules arguments for more material. Gamers are a strange breed, and if you're not in a gaming group, the best way to view us in our natural habitat is watch Rules Lawyers arguing over irrelevant minutae.

You did something similar when V had to scribe Power Word: Blind. I'd never thought about that particular rules conundrum.

2. You used the word "a**hat." I was afraid you were becoming too much of a girly-wuss to swear. Thank you for reaffirming my faith in your ability to be crude. You may think I'm being sarcastic, but I'm not.

3. The last panel, instead of feeling like a tacked-on yuck yuck, actually felt like the old humor.

I liked that.

This is my first genuine praise.

[battleburn]

If a bard can cast it a wizard can too it's arcane magic so a wizard could cast it as easily as a bard

Do bards learn from a spell book?
The description says bards and clerics. Not all spell-casters.

[Durin]

so? a bard can cast any spell a wizard can if he get's a high enough level. it's the fact that silence is an arcane spell that allows wizards to use it.

oh and no bards don't use spellbooks and neither do sorcerers. Bards and sorcerers use arcane magic based around there charisma so everything kind of comes naturally to them

[paul_brown_1973]

You used the word "a**hat." I was afraid you were becoming too much of a girly-wuss to swear.

I could say the same thing; it's not like you to be prudish, so why the asterisks?

Seriously, though, good to hear from you again - I was starting to think that you'd stopped caring and, whether I agree or disagree, the majority of your posts make me stop and think which is never a bad thing.

Has anyone else wondered if "pointy eared pissbucket" was Bones' pet name for Spock?


Just me then.

[Kish]

so? a bard can cast any spell a wizard can if he get's a high enough level.

::)

No. Where are you getting this stuff? 2ed?

Bards can potentially learn every spell on the bard list. That list is neither a subset of, nor a superset of, nor identical to the sorcerer/wizard spell list. Cure Light Wounds and Silence are two examples of spells a bard can cast that a single-classed wizard never can and Fireball is an example of a spell a sorcerer or wizard can cast that a single-classed bard never can. If a spell says, "Level: Brd 2, Clr 2," it means neither "and I'm just going to not mention it's also Sor/Wiz 2" nor "and sorcerers and wizards can learn it but I'm not telling you when." It means it's not a sorcerer or wizard spell.

[molonel]

I could say the same thing; it's not like you to be prudish, so why the asterisks?

I just came from a forum that uses filtering software, and in order to swear, there, you have to use asterisks.

Does the word asshat get nixed here? Yes? No? I'll be watching after I hit the word post.



Seriously, though, good to hear from you again - I was starting to think that you'd stopped caring and, whether I agree or disagree, the majority of your posts make me stop and think which is never a bad thing.

I just couldn't stand it, anymore. I needed my gaming humor fix, so I read the entire 160-some comics of Full Frontal Nerdity. (A webcomic I recommend very highly for gamers, btw - it's like KoDT: The Next Generation.) I tried to space it out over time like a chainsmoker on his last pack.

Plus, the forum where I normally post has been down for nearly two days. So posting here is kind of like snorting flour, when I'm jonesing.

[Sc00by]

I thought pissbucket was a much better insult that asshat tbh.

But that's just me I guess?

As a side note, almost as funny as the comic;

The comment at the top of the comics page. Updating twice a week - at random!

:(

[Dugray]

If it's twice a week at random it'll probably be once a week. Oh well, just gonna check every month or so instead.

[Delgarde]

Now, for a rules discussion: 11 (!) Explosive Runes in one day. Obviously V couldn't possibly have that many spell slots of that level (my books are in the car from last night's game), so he she it must have been preparing for this for at least a couple days.

A theory I suggested some time back is that one of the spells V copied from the wizard's library was some pointless cantrip that does no damage but causes a big flash of heat. Afterall, the point is to annoy Belkar rather than kill him, so such a spell would be ideal.

Of course, that's still not enough to account for 11 spells in a single day, since V wouldn't get more than 5 or 6 cantrips a day. Maybe a ring of spell storing, or a wand?

[Delgarde]

If V was Lawfull, she would have stopped the feud right there and then when she said to Roy she would.

Varsuvius is a complete pyromaniac with a tendency to blow people up for being annoying. You think Lawful was even worth considering?

[charik]

2. You used the word "a**hat." I was afraid you were becoming too much of a girly-wuss to swear. Thank you for reaffirming my faith in your ability to be crude. You may think I'm being sarcastic, but I'm not.
I think I speak for most of us when I say: no, we know you really mean it.

At least, I a**ume so. (see, language filters look for words, not merely letter combinations)

[okpokalypse]

A theory I suggested some time back is that one of the spells V copied from the wizard's library was some pointless cantrip that does no damage but causes a big flash of heat. Afterall, the point is to annoy Belkar rather than kill him, so such a spell would be ideal.

Of course, that's still not enough to account for 11 spells in a single day, since V wouldn't get more than 5 or 6 cantrips a day. Maybe a ring of spell storing, or a wand?


Actually, any caster can memorize (or channel) a lower level spell through a higher level spell slot. I've done this in a campaign with Stone Shape when I was a L9 Cleric - just so I could cast 9 in a given day (w/ Wis Bonus).

As long as Varsuvius is at least 11th Level with a 16 Int, memorizing 11 Explosive Runes is possible, and then he could just rest again right afterwards to regain spells normally.

This issue is how can Belkar take 11 6d6 Damage Spells with no save (since he's triggered all of em)? Damage on average should be around 231. Maybe he had Cure Potions he was taking after each pop?

[Orin_Ironhammer]

i thought it was rather humorous Giant.

And you know its going to get ugly and give roy an anerism at some point. Probably right before Roy can invoke the mark of justice too.
;D

Poor, Poor Roy.
:-[

[LordVader]

I feel sorry for Roy- guess someone is going to be pulling guard duty all night again... poor guy.http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=14 "I have deep-seated emotional problems!Die!Die!Die!" :)

[Otterella]

I play with a group of lawyers, and we don't argue about rules anywhere near as much as the posters here on this forum.

That's not a complaint, just an observation.

[Muscadine]

If it's twice a week at random it'll probably be once a week. Oh well, just gonna check every month or so instead.
Or, alternatively, it means it will be at random, at least twice a week. Like it actually says.

[Felinoid]

I play with a group of lawyers, and we don't argue about rules anywhere near as much as the posters here on this forum.

That's not a complaint, just an observation.

A common phenomenon known as "not wanting to take your work home with you."

Personally, I preferred the spell as a 1st level spell called Cantrip, but I can definitely see the idea behind grouping "useless" spells into 0-level.

[humanpylon]

Has anyone else wondered if "pointy eared pissbucket" was Bones' pet name for Spock?


Just me then.

ROFL I'm enough of a trekkie that I can even hear his voice saying it! I still haven't decided whether I like pointy eared pissbucket or asshat better.

[Kish]

A common phenomenon known as "not wanting to take your work home with you."

Personally, I preferred the spell as a 1st level spell called Cantrip, but I can definitely see the idea behind grouping "useless" spells into 0-level.
Actually, I think it has more to do with not wanting first level characters to be pathetic anymore. Now an average first-level wizard can cast four spells of the lowest level (cantrips, which include Detect Magic, Read magic, and Ray of Frost among others) and two of the second lowest.

[armatil]

I still haven't decided whether I like pointy eared pissbucket or asshat better.
my choice would be asshat. i like my insults short and snappy. (and with a decent chance of pronouncing it correctly while inebriated.)

[CelestialStick]

Actually, I think it has more to do with not wanting first level characters to be pathetic anymore. Now an average first-level wizard can cast four spells of the lowest level (cantrips, which include Detect Magic, Read magic, and Ray of Frost among others) and two of the second lowest.

Yes, the addition of cantrips as zero-level spells, as Gygax designed them, along with bonus spells for high intelligence, really allowed the first-level wizard to come into his or her own.

[Zaha]

Personally, I preferred the spell as a 1st level spell called Cantrip, but I can definitely see the idea behind grouping "useless" spells into 0-level.

Aside from the crappy 0-level damage spells, many of them are actually quite useful. Light is a must-have. Mending, Message, Ghost Sound and others have their uses.

A nice trick we used with Mage Hand was looking ahead in a dungeon by holding a sunrod. Mage Hand has Concentration duration, so the strong fighter of the party could carry the Gnome sorcerer in his back at light load. With the Gnome's low light vision, we could see things over 100 feet away.

[CelestialStick]

Aside from the crappy 0-level damage spells, many of them are actually quite useful. Light is a must-have. Mending, Message, Ghost Sound and others have their uses.

A nice trick we used with Mage Hand was looking ahead in a dungeon by holding a sunrod. Mage Hand has Concentration duration, so the strong fighter of the party could carry the Gnome sorcerer in his back at light load. With the Gnome's low light vision, we could see things over 100 feet away.
Detect magic is also particularly useful, and considering that the zero-level offensive spells generally require only a ranged touch attack, they're generally more reliable at 1st level than the futile effort to shoot a crossbow at enemies once the wizard has expended her one or two offensive first-level spells. :)

Edit: I liked the owl jokes, but I find the Belkar's juvenile use of expletives distasteful. If you need to find an intelligent way to insult someone, Rich, look back at some of Molonel's old posts before he got warned. Even coming from Belkar, who admittedly is pretty pathetic, the excessive use of expletives wears thin quickly.

[Aerysil1]

An assassin cast ghost sound to get a mage to get up from the sleeping group and look down the passage at the other end of the room. He turned around - death attack - dead. So yeah, 0-level spells do have their uses :)

[CelestialStick]

An assassin cast ghost sound to get a mage to get up from the sleeping group and look down the passage at the other end of the room. He turned around - death attack - dead. So yeah, 0-level spells do have their uses :)

Obviously the player running the wizard couldn't play a character with a much higher intelligence than he had himself. It's the rogue's job to sneak a peak down the hall. Especially at low levels, the wizard's job is to cower behind the fighters, hoping to live long enough to become a fully-contributing member of the party. :D

[Aerysil1]

Well if the rogue was anything like Belkar, the mage would have been skewered for waking him up anyway.

[CelestialStick]

Well if the rogue was anything like Belkar, the mage would have been skewered for waking him up anyway.


Belkar might seem like a "rogue" because he's evil, but rememer that he's a ranger and it's Haley who's the party's rogue. Typically the party's rogue isn't very physically intimidating.

[Durin]

speaking of Belkar any word on the new comic?

[Wren]

speaking of Belkar any word on the new comic?

It'll arrive.

[rcuhljr]

Edit: I liked the owl jokes, but I find the Belkar's juvenile use of expletives distasteful. If you need to find an intelligent way to insult someone, Rich, look back at some of Molonel's old posts before he got warned. Even coming from Belkar, who admittedly is pretty pathetic, the excessive use of expletives wears thin quickly.

.. Wow. just wow. oh noes someone said asshat?

[Felinoid]

Aside from the crappy 0-level damage spells, many of them are actually quite useful. Light is a must-have. Mending, Message, Ghost Sound and others have their uses.

A nice trick we used with Mage Hand was looking ahead in a dungeon by holding a sunrod. Mage Hand has Concentration duration, so the strong fighter of the party could carry the Gnome sorcerer in his back at light load. With the Gnome's low light vision, we could see things over 100 feet away.

Why do you think I put quotes around useless? Though I am not one of them, I know a few players that consider any non-battle-oriented spell to be completely worthless. ::) Putting a lot of them into a level without any really good battle spells forces them to expand their horizons.

[CelestialStick]

Why do you think I put quotes around useless? Though I am not one of them, I know a few players that consider any non-battle-oriented spell to be completely worthless. ::) Putting a lot of them into a level without any really good battle spells forces them to expand their horizons.

That's a good point. So many players don't think beyond combat.

[RoseKnight]

hahah totally bringing asshat to michigan.


randomPonder(OOTS * GAME + FLASH);

[The Glitter Ninja]

Edit: I liked the owl jokes, but I find the Belkar's juvenile use of expletives distasteful. If you need to find an intelligent way to insult someone, Rich, look back at some of Molonel's old posts before he got warned. Even coming from Belkar, who admittedly is pretty pathetic, the excessive use of expletives wears thin quickly.

You have GOT to be kidding me.

So it wouldn't seem out of character to you for Belkar to use some witty Oscar Wilde-esque insult instead of "asshat"?

With all due respect, if you want comic characters to say some stuff this Molonel person said, create your own strip.

[CelestialStick]

You have GOT to be kidding me.

So it wouldn't seem out of character to you for Belkar to use some witty Oscar Wilde-esque insult instead of "asshat"?

With all due respect, if you want comic characters to say some stuff this Molonel person said, create your own strip.

Frankly I'm disappointed that you think so little of Rich that you'd defend making Belkar sound like a 13-year old boy who's just discovered the wonders of potty mouth.

[Durin]

CS c'mon man give people around the world some credit.... I discovered the wonders of pottymouth when I was like eight.

Also, to CS. I think we all have come to expect such immature behavior from belkar it's part of what makes him funny.

And to the GN. CS is entitled to his opinion you can't jump on him just because you don't agree with his views if that were true the human race would be nothing but a bunch of idiots who were too busy griping aty eachother all the time to even breed

[CelestialStick]

CS c'mon man give people around the world some credit.... I discovered the wonders of pottymouth when I was like eight.

Also, to CS. I think we all have come to expect such immature behavior from belkar it's part of what makes him funny.

And to the GN. CS is entitled to his opinion you can't jump on him just because you don't agree with his views if that were true the human race would be nothing but a bunch of idiots who were too busy griping aty eachother all the time to even breed
LOL. You're right, Durin, I stand corrected: Potty-mouth at eight years old. :D Thanks for supporting my right to my opinion. :)

Potty mouth in an adult can be funny occasionally, but as I said in my initial post, it wears thin quickly. If I wanted regular potty mouth I'd go watch South Park. ;)

Edit: Um, Durin, you weren't covertly suggesting that Glitter Ninja and I breed, were you? Because I'm fairly certainly that I'm old enough to be her father. :D

[Durin]

well technically I was supporting everyones rights to there own opinions but your welcome anyway. ;)

also I would like to PAAAaaaannnnCAKE... I think my meds are wearing off.

Edit: CS no no friggin' no. NO

Pinesol Koolaid

OH YEEEEAAAAH!!!!
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c230/pandalord100/koolaid.jpg

[CelestialStick]

well technically I was supporting everyones rights to there own opinions but your welcome anyway. ;)

also I would like to PAAAaaaannnnCAKE... I think my meds are wearing off.


Hmm. I'm not quite sure what you mean, what with using "pancake" as a verb and all. Do you mean you want to flatten something?

If you're running out of meds, you can have some of mine.

Hey, what is a nice married guy like you doing out of bed at an hour like this?! ;)

[Durin]

She isn't my wife she just basically lives here. She's not here right now otherwise I would be playing unreal tournament with her.

[Schattendrache]

Aside from the crappy 0-level damage spells, many of them are actually quite useful.

Hey, those crappy little spells in the hands of a 4th level Warmage with a good Int, Extra Edge, and Spell Specialization in rays can do upwards of 10pts of damage! Not bad for a cheap little 0th level spell. ^_^

[Kanashimi]

I think it would be highly odd to hear Belkar make up an intelligent and witty insult, unless under the effects of an INT booster or WIS booster. He's a little 30 pound ball of fury, not clever insults.

Asshat fits him perfectly.

Wait, that sounds dirty. :)

[a1057soul]

I think it would be highly odd to hear Belkar make up an intelligent and witty insult, unless under the effects of an INT booster or WIS booster. He's a little 30 pound ball of fury, not clever insults.

Asshat fits him perfectly.

Wait, that sounds dirty. :)

I agree.

Yes, it's childish... coming from Belkar, who is like a spoiled evil little child... perfectly in character for him. We're talking about a CHARACTER who made a hat out of a Kobold's head (which I still want to see in the SHOP Giant ;-) )

I think one of the charms of the strip as a whole is Rich's ability to provide varying levels of humor. We have philosophical discussions of alignment with subtle jokes tied in, and jokes about the trouser titan and potty humor (or in the vernacular D!@% and Fart jokes). All successfully carried off in character.

You continue to be my comedic idol Giant.

;-)
Dan

[Son_of_Meepo]

Wrong, from the SRD (This sort of thing is not hard to look up people):

Area Dispel: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell affects everything within a 20-foot radius.
For each creature within the area that is the subject of one or more spells, you make a dispel check against the spell with the highest caster level. If that check fails, you make dispel checks against progressively weaker spells until you dispel one spell (which discharges the dispel magic spell so far as that target is concerned) or until you fail all your checks. The creature’s magic items are not affected.
For each object within the area that is the target of one or more spells, you make dispel checks as with creatures. Magic items are not affected by an area dispel.
For each ongoing area or effect spell whose point of origin is within the area of the dispel magic spell, you can make a dispel check to dispel the spell.
For each ongoing spell whose area overlaps that of the dispel magic spell, you can make a dispel check to end the effect, but only within the overlapping area.
If an object or creature that is the effect of an ongoing spell (such as a monster summoned by monster summoning) is in the area, you can make a dispel check to end the spell that conjured that object or creature (returning it whence it came) in addition to attempting to dispel spells targeting the creature or object.

Note that you hit EVERY character, object, or ongoing area effect spell in the target area. You check against their spells, and check from the highest down.

Prestidigitation can't protect ANYTHING or higher level.


Read the SRD again.

For each creature within the area that is the subject of one or more spells, you make a dispel check against the spell with the highest caster level.

It says caster level, not spell level. If I'm a 10th level wizard, then most likely all my spells are cast at 10th caster level. Prestidigitation has the same caster level as stoneskin if I cast both spells myself.

How you determine the order of spells checked that are the same caster level is up to the DM, but most of my DMs say to determine randomly (roll dice).

[LordVader]

If Belkar didn't swear, what else would make him funny? It goes with his *extremely* angry personality

[humanpylon]

Not really quoting anything you have to say, I just love your user name. My DM made Meepo (sunless citadel right?) one of the funniest NPC's I've ever seen!

[Durin]

BEHOLD the new Durin 2.0 faster, stronger, covered in armor, and with cool new sigs and personal text

[Dark_Stalion]

What's all this about the vernaculr? Last time I checked Ass was a crossbetween a pony and a donky or some such. A very different thing to what you all seem to be refering to.

[Son_of_Meepo]

Not really quoting anything you have to say, I just love your user name. My DM made Meepo (sunless citadel right?) one of the funniest NPC's I've ever seen!

Yeah, I've always loved kobolds. I've even played them as PC's a couple of times. I DM'd that series. Nothing like seeing high-level kobolds that can give even the mightiest PCs a run for their money.

[spinn]

Frankly I'm disappointed that you think so little of Rich that you'd defend making Belkar sound like a 13-year old boy who's just discovered the wonders of potty mouth.
Wow. What?

Belkar's a character. There's no reason to say it disparages Rich if he thinks it's appropriate for Belkar to talk like he does. That's like saying he thinks so little of Rich, that it's appropriate for Xykon to senselessly kill people rather than trying to resolve disputes through independent arbitration.

[Durin]

What's all this about the vernaculr? Last time I checked Ass was a crossbetween a pony and a donky or some such. A very different thing to what you all seem to be refering to.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA Ass IS a donkey a cross between a donkey and a pony is called a mule HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[HHLoneWolf]

"Ass, from Old English assa, ultimately from Latin asinus, is the older word for donkey" - from Wikipedia

"1 : any of several hardy gregarious African or Asian perissodactyl mammals (genus Equus) smaller than the horse and having long ears; especially : an African mammal (E. asinus) that is the ancestor of the donkey" - from webster.com


but somehow I don't think Belkar is referring to hats made from donkey pelts



first page!!! first page!!!


oh wait.... this isn't the first page... page 15!! page 15!!!

[okpokalypse]

I play with a group of lawyers, and we don't argue about rules anywhere near as much as the posters here on this forum.

That's not a complaint, just an observation.

Sometimes when I look back on a good argument over rules lawyering I just have to laugh...

[Possessed Character] I run out of the room full tilt (x4 move) with the tome.

[Other Character] I move to stop you since you're running and that seems very odd.

[Possessed Character] But I should have surprise on you - and you shouldn't be able to act. After all, were you readied for me to take off at a sprint? No. My full move puts me past where you were and then we should have initiative.

[Other Character] Ok - but you only get a standard action for surprise - so you can't run. You can only move 20' (medium armor). That puts you next to me and I'll try to grapple you.

[Possessed Character] Fine - but if I only get a move/standard action (20' move), I'm not running. So, nothing out of the ordinary is happening. I'm just walking towards you. Surprise is defined by one party being unaware of their opponents when combat initiates, and since you're not aware of anything weird, you'd consider me friendly, and still be in a surprised state.

[Obviously, the rules conflicted as to enact surprise rules would negate the surprise effect.]

This went roundabout for about an hour of the gaming session until the DM had enough of it and just said the possessed character got a double move as a surprise action. Then initiative was rolled.

What I later figured was that the would-be blocker should have made spot and sense motive checks to see if anything seemed off about the situation. Otherwise, a surprise situation would never have surfaced because no blocking (combat) would have been initiated.

[CelestialStick]

I think it would be highly odd to hear Belkar make up an intelligent and witty insult, unless under the effects of an INT booster or WIS booster. He's a little 30 pound ball of fury, not clever insults.

Asshat fits him perfectly.

Wait, that sounds dirty. :)
Yeah, I have to admit that he's pretty stupid and, as you say, Asshat fits him perfectly. :D




Yeah, I've always loved kobolds. I've even played them as PC's a couple of times. I DM'd that series. Nothing like seeing high-level kobolds that can give even the mightiest PCs a run for their money.

I love using kobolds! They are sneaky and saddistic. Right now the PCs in my campaign are fighting a whole kobold army in possession of a key bridge between two countries. The kobolds run from 2nd level foot soldier (Ftr1/Rog1) and 2nd level archers (Ftr2) to a 17th-level sorcerer, with lots of kobolds in between. The sorcerer hasn't even come out yet to play. :D