The Sticks Awards 301-305

[Nazzo, the 102nd]

Hi, and welcome to The Sticks Awards: The Best of the Hundred!

The Sticks Awards are given to the best strips of all times, chosen by the polls here in the Playground. Read the The Sticks Awards Results Compilation (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34791) thread for more details and previous results.

To vote, simply post your favorite strip of the current 5 on the thread. You have 3 days to do it. Let's get this show back on the road.

The poll will close on August 31, 08:45 AM forum default time.


The Sticks Awards 301-305

301 A Brief Intermission (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0301.html)
302 New Beginnings (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0302.html)
303 Phrenology Today (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0303.html)
304 A Leper Can't Change His Spots (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0304.html)
305 The Epistle of Durkon (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0305.html)

[Nazzo, the 102nd]

I know it's not OotS humor, but still. A little intermission is good. #301 it is.

[dish]

301, without a doubt. The Azure City new year party series is good, of course, but the tragic death of Milk Dudes is an absolute classic.

[Reigheena]

My vote's for 303.

[Oblomovism]

Definately 301.
"We have become like unto tiny refreshing GODS!" - I love that line; it's also perfect for any situation!

[Xaydx]

NOOOOOOO! Not Milk Duds! He was so young! :smalltongue:

301 for me please

[Fitzclowningham]

Hard choice, but, uh...302.

[LM TR]

what´s wrong with you
302 is KILLER

[Porthos]

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8485/popcornru9.gif: Let's all vote for the best strip!
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/166/sodaqc9.png: Let's all vote for the best strip!
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/3738/milkduddd6.png: Let's all vote for the best strip!

And hope that 301 wins!

[phobiandarkmoon]

301 for me please

[Otoserdan]

#301, it's awesome.

[Porthos]

I know it's not OotS humor, but still.

Actually, I disagree. :smallsmile: I think that 301 is a classic example of (a style of) OotS humor. Does it show the "main characters"? No, but it does the absurdist humor that many OotS strips are known for. Yes, many of the best strips are centered around the drama and inherent contradictions of the characters/game system. But a lot of them are also great for the sheer "What did I just see?!?" quality of them. Besides, you can clearly make out DnD weaponry and tatics amongst the little fellas. :smallwink:

Then again, I still think that this comic (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0091.html) was one of the high points of the strip, so whadda I know? :smalltongue:

Mind you, I know that you're voting for #301 as well, so I'm just talking in General Terms here. :smallwink: But I really do think that #301 captures the feel of what The Order of the Stick is about just as much as any of the other Greatest Hits strips. Would I like a steady diet of strips like #301? Probably not. But, when they do come down the pike, if they are all good as 301, then I would welcome them with open arms.

<We now return you to your voting, already in progress. :smallwink:>

[boomwolf]

wooooooooo! I'm invisible!

302 if you didn't get my point...

[Jasdoif]

Definitely 301. The power of popcorn shall not be denied.

[Dennetik]

301 A Brief Intermission forever! It is probably one of my favorite OotS strips alltogether, in addition to the mail call that pities the d12. :smallwink:

[Surfing HalfOrc]

302! I spent too much time in Hawaii to NOT celebrate the Lunar New Year!

[mockingbyrd7]

301 in a landslide, but 303 and 302 are close behind for me.

[Kurald Galain]

Difficult. 302 probably. Compared to the last five, these are... I don't know.

[Vargtass]

301. The demise of Milk Dudes brings tears to the eyes.

[Lavidor]

Darn it, 3 great strips (301, 302 and 304). I'm gonna have to go for...
-And now, a brief intermition-
301: Vote for me!
-We now return to lavidors decision-
... :smallbiggrin: Heh, #301.

[anyone]

301 ist not bad, but I'll take 305.

[BobTheDog]

Tiny refreshing GODS!

#301

[happyturtle]

302, for the return of "wooooo! I'm invisible!"

[Artega]

301. You can't go wrong with popcorn lightning conjurers

[David Argall]

Having lost all the way in the last set of pollings, I'll continue the string by voting for 302.

I'd call 301 the least likable one of the lot.

[Emperor Ing]

302. pure win...okay? I got no commentary. As usual. :smallfrown:

[Lissou]

302 for me

And I'm surprised at all the people voting for 301. It's the one I like the least of the 5. Weird.

[The 6th Side]

It's gotta be 301 for me, loved it

[Ithekro]

301 for me.

[RMS Oceanic]

301 for me. It's a classic.

[Chronos]

302. Really, how can you beat Elan maintaining his dignity?

[kukn]

302 here, Elan is hillarious.

The other party strips are good, but not as much. The 301 intermezzo is fantastic, but I don't think it would be right if the best OotS comic strip of all times turned out to be the one that has nothing to do with OotS as such (apart from the style of humour, ok that's important, but still).

[AlisdairM]

The Belkar strip is great, and it is rare to get a chance to vote for my man, Durkon. But Elan takes the win with the instant party, invisibility, and cameo by Banjo.

I'm not keen on #301 but I won't get on my high horse and preach about it like I did for #226 ;) Intermissions are an established OOTS humour.

Edit: vote for 302, just to be clear

[SteveMB]

302 -- I almost voted for 301, but the contrast between Hinjo maintaining his dignity and Elan's wacky hijinks edges it out.

[Mobius Stripped]

The fact that #301 is unique is what makes it great. The strip wouldn't be what it is if there were too many strips like it, but as a standalone, it is wonderful. 301 gets my vote.

[Chronos]

Just a note, here... If 301 wins, then Nazzo is going to have to find a Popcorn emoticon for the compilation thread. And really, we don't want to inflict that on him, right?

[Porthos]

Just a note, here... If 301 wins, then Nazzo is going to have to find a Popcorn emoticon for the compilation thread. And really, we don't want to inflict that on him, right?

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8485/popcornru9.gif Yes we do. :smalltongue:

[David Argall]

The fact that #301 is unique is what makes it great. The strip wouldn't be what it is if there were too many strips like it, but as a standalone, it is wonderful. 301 gets my vote.

That 301 is unique is a reason to vote against it, and more so in future rounds of balloting. A winner that is not typical of the comic? That's saying the entire comic is inferior.

[Lira]

302 -- I almost voted for 301, but the contrast between Hinjo maintaining his dignity and Elan's wacky hijinks edges it out.I completely agree. My vote is for 302.

[Aethir]

301 Most definitely.

[blackspeeker]

I vote for 301, A TOAST TO TINY REFRESHING GODS EVERYWHERE!

[Porthos]

That 301 is unique is a reason to vote against it, and more so in future rounds of balloting. A winner that is not typical of the comic? That's saying the entire comic is inferior.

Two things:
1) By definition, the "Best of X" always says that the rest are inferior.
2) You can have a series of strips be rated 10, 9.9, 9.9, 9.9, 9.9, and 9.5.

Again, by definition, all of the 9.9's are inferior to the 10. But, obviously, the 9.9's are fantastic as well. Heck, even the "worst" one at 9.5 is pretty darn good. That's why a loaded term like "inferior" really doesn't work in this context, IMO.

I happily put #301 in my All Time Best list for The Order of the Stick. Is it different in characterization than the rest of the strip? Yes. Does it matter? Not to me it doesn't.

So what would it say if #301 wins this little mini-competition? It would say that Rich can write a strip that doesn't depend on the inherent knowledge and backstory of the strips to produce a funny and memorable comic. That is a strength, and it should be recognized as such. :smallsmile:

Besides, I wouldn't worry too much about #301 winning the Best of the Hundred. Not when it has strips like this one (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0316.html), or this one (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0331.html), not to mention this one (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0392.html) to compete against.

As fantastic as #301 is, and in my eyes it is very fantastic, there is no way it's going to supplant all of the above mentioned comics (or many of the other memorable strips in the next 100 strips). Heck, I'm fairly sure it ain't going to get past the winner of the #316-#320 block. So why not let The Order of the Snacks have their moment in the sun? :smallsmile:

[Jamie Fameflame]

I wasn't reading the comic when the intermission came on, but I know that I would absolutely HATE having a story line interupted... Who cares if it shows that The Giant has skill? Who didn't know that already? Who ever doubted???

This is about which of the OOTS comics that are better, not which Rich Burlew comic made you giggle the most. Intermissions and Q & A's are a pain.

I vote for either 302 or 304, tough choice. In the end it has to be 304.

"Leprosy."

...

"What?"

[Sampi]

I'll go for 303. I remember that one making me laugh hard.

[Spiryt]

304

Leprosy. What?

[DarthMauler64]

304 is what I pick!

[boiled bones]

Bah. Funny as it is, I can't see how so many can get behind 301.

It's a tough decision, and may Belkar forgive me for it (ha!), but 302.

[Ashtar]

302

I love all that elan can get away with, even though Spot and Listen are wisdom dependent... It's amazing what Elan can pull!

Go deaf and blind paladins, go!

[TroyXavier]

302 edges 301 here. Elan at his best....

[Dunamin]

301 for me. Great strip.

[DomaDoma]

#301 - it was the only one I laughed out loud for.

[SKarious]

305 for me, please.

[ChopSticks28]

303. This part of the comic is my least favorite.

[Actana]

301 dominates. Milk Dudes for president!

[karen451]

302 definitely, having Hinjo there as the straight man while Elan runs around doing his invisibility trick is total comedy gold.

[Nazzo, the 102nd]

Poll is closed.

301 - 23 (46.93%)
Nazzo, the 102nd; dish; Oblomovism; Xaydx; Porthos; phobiandarkmoon; Otoserdan; Jasdoif; Dennetik; mockingbyrd7; Vargtass; Lavidor; BobTheDog; Artega; The 6th Side; Ithekro; RMS Oceanic; Mobius Stripped; Aethir; blackspeeker; Dunamin; DomaDoma; Actana

302 - 18 (36.73%)
Fitzclowningham; LM TR; boomwolf; Surfing HalfOrc; Kurald Galain; happyturtle; David Argall; The Randomizer; Lissou; Chronos; kukn; AlisdairM; SteveMB; Lira; boiled bones; Ashtar; TroyXavier; karen451

303 - 3 (6.12%)
Reigheena; Sampi; ChopSticks28

304 - 3 (6.12%)
Jamie Fameflame; Spiryt; DarthMauler64

305 - 2 (4.08%)
anyone; SKarious