OOTS #256 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Lightman]

Necromancy 101! CLASSIC!

[Murphy]

Yay for rocket skates!

[Chlodwig]

Thog on rocket skates should be fun. :)

[DeathQuaker]

Brilliant! Here I thought Roy's sister was just a bit of background embellishment never to have any influence on the plot, and lookee here... nice. The next story arc's gonna rock.

Good punchline too.

[Taelas]

Superb! Roy's sister! :D

That IS quite serendipitous for the Linear Guild. ;)

[Chlodwig]

Hmm roys sister, most liked pupil of the school going to necromancy 101 is sort of an opposite to I guess....

[zibeck]

Rich, you are such a tease!

[Shatteredtower]

I agree with Thog.

[Zypher_X]

Great Comic but i don't get what Thog is refering to when he says: thog liked it

Is he refering to Greenhilt? Maybe not, he does not like girls.
The belt? Why would Thog like the belt? Has he tried one on?

I'm confused ???

[Marller]

We got to see Roy's sister.
We got a stab at Roys genderbending.
And Thog is simply the best.

Great comic. :)

[Nightfall]

Seeing the new one up before I have to go to work...sweet birthday present! Thanks, Giant! (How'd you know?)

[Runolfr]

"So, you have a younger sister. Obi-Wan's failure has now betrayed her, as well..."

Oh, sorry... getting my stories mixed.

[The Giant]

Great Comic but i don't get what Thog is refering to when he says: thog liked it?

The gender-swapping plotline, which Nale just called pointless and self-indulgent.

[Sylian]

This strip had two major comic points IMO.
First, when Nale said that about the belt. The second, see last panel. :D

[J0sh]

Ahhh Awesome!. :D

[Single Shot Zombie]

<Puts hand on his cheek and drops jaw in mock horror>

Roy has a SISTER!?

<Pretends to drop dead in shock>

[Chaos]

*snip*
Is he refering to Greenhilt? Maybe not, he does not like girls.
*snip*

We only know Thog doesn´t like cute half-orc girls with fangs and tusks. He seems to have no particular problems with Sabine, Hilgya or Haley.

[Winter_Wolf]

Priceless.

I think Thog may have dipped into the cursed items bin one time and tried a gender bender belt, at least that's what I inferred from his "Thog liked it" comment. It's just so hard to believe he's chaotic evil. Not that I want to get into alignment debates here, just what I inferred since he's a barbarian and Roy's opposite. It's almost like he should have been Belkar's opposite. I mean, Belkar is mean, cruel, and rude, all on purpose. Thog is just, ah, passionate. Rocket skates, sugar, and puppies for all!

[Zypher_X]

The gender-swapping plotline, which Nale just called pointless and self-indulgent.

Thank You!

I hadn't realized that Thog read Oots ;) Looked at the nice pictures anyway Forgot that Thog has two fighter levels. 64 (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=64)

[jackal59]

Great Comic but i don't get what Thog is refering to when he says: thog liked it

Is he refering to Greenhilt? Maybe not, he does not like girls.
The belt? Why would Thog like the belt? Has he tried one on?

I'm confused ???
I think it's a bit of metareference to Roy wearing the belt in previous strips. Now, I didn't think that was pointless and self-indulgent, but Rich might have received such criticisms. Unfairly, I'd say.

By the way, this comic is just perfect. I agree that this is a great story arc, and I like it that it is not the only arc going. One of the things I like about Web comics is that, at their best, you can see the growth in the narrative skill of the best authors. That OOTS demonstrates that while staying consistently funny on a number of levels (meta and otherwise) is even better.

O.K., enough ranting, off to take my Latin exam.

[Marller]

Hmm roys sister, most liked pupil of the school going to necromancy 101 is sort of an opposite to I guess....

I guess she is a generalist, taking every spells she can get and besides, not all spells in necromancy are inherently used for the creation of undead. :)

[Ebon_Drake]

Those last two panels cracked me up. Thog's expressions were absolutely priceless.

[Malachi, the Lich King]

Thog getting mad because he thinks the rocket skates are not going to be part of the new plan is priceless. I kind of thought Roy's sister might be at this wizard school but wasn't sure how she was going to fit in. I'm glad she wasn't the evil opposite as that would start working toward making it the "Evil sibling guild"

[Shiremaid]

Wonderful comic. Liked Nale's quickly trying to get his team into attack positions when he thought Roy was there. :)
As for Necromancy 101, maybe it's a core course?

[NEO|Phyte]

yay!

[Beelzebub1111]

Oh giant ::) you are such a tease. Starting us of with "The other members are..." then being interupted. How like you.

[U2QueenBee]

Joyful Thog ftw! :D

Roy's sister is cute...if a little scary (in a 'popular chick' kind of way.)

<- never a popular chick

[Amalthea]

I guess she is a generalist, taking every spells she can get and besides, not all spells in necromancy are inherently used for the creation of undead. :)
Meh, if the comic is still ripping on Hogwarts, then Julia might be required to take classes in all the basics for a certain amount of time, before she can specialize.

[Sebastian]

"That, um... that's not Roy Greenhilt"

Wow, looks like Nale put some rank in his spot skill

Another gem
"We are not ready. We didn't even find an anvil" ;D

[Banjo_Buddy]

Anybody got a link to the strips featuring Roy's family? I'm at work so I don't have time to search the archive.

I remember seeing his sister as an infant, but don't recall any mentions by his late dad about his sister and what she was doing now.

I wonder if she's in wizardry just to please Dad?

[Taliesin]

We wonder if the new members of the LG are similar to V-s gender or Sabine's alignment. ::)

[Elrohir]

Wondering how Roy will react upon seeing his little sister.

guess numero uno:

"Never mind guys. It''s just my daddy-pleasing, wanna-be-a-good-wizard sister"

guess numero duo:

"O NO. You horrible creature. You are using my sister against me. How awfully opposite-aligmenty of you!!!"

[Tetralemma]

"Yes, the new plan will STILL involve rocket skates."

And the sugar, Giant. Don't forget the sugar!

Great comic once again!

[Omellette]

ROFL!

Now that's a classic...

And, am I nuts, or is Roy's sister kinda hot in a punk-chick sort of way?

;-)

[Ilaun_Undil]

So just out of curiosity is giant hinting at the fact that Roy sister is a necromancer, or just taking that class. If she is a necromancer, maybe she'll figure out that liches don't die when you kill them. thought then again, she has bigger problems with the linear guild. Something tell me she aint' going to be fun having around. * How often are the popular girls fun to be around* Anyway I also think that Roy is going to have a few things to say about the way she dresses.
well unfortunatly time to study for psychology 101!!

[Duskrider_Moogle]

Wow, looks like Nale put some rank in his spot skill


Apparentlly Julia didn't, though. Or maybe she's just being nonchalant about a guy with an axe, a fiend, and a spellcaster who are pretty much ready to jump her. o.o

[Gary_Schaper]

Plenty of mages know necromancy spells without being necromancers.

[nirha]

A generalist would have to take Necromancy 101, I'd say.

All we can infer from that line is that she isn't a specialist with forbidden scool necromancy - not yet, anyway.

Analyzing with as little infomation as we have is perhaps not too conclusive.

[Elrohir]

Apparentlly Julia didn't, though. Or maybe she's just being nonchalant about a guy with an axe, a fiend, and a spellcaster who are pretty much ready to jump her. o.o

You forget, she's a popular chick, so what new for her....

[Istielthia]

Wheeeeeee! Rocket skates ftw! ;D

[Gleanerizer]

I love the facial expressions in the close-ups. The whole bottom row is a treasure. And Thog keeps getting better and better. 8)

[canceritispox]

<3 Thog

[Vernal]

Anybody got a link to the strips featuring Roy's family? I'm at work so I don't have time to search the archive.

I remember seeing his sister as an infant, but don't recall any mentions by his late dad about his sister and what she was doing now.

I wonder if she's in wizardry just to please Dad?

I'm at work too, but am lazy and procrastinating.

This is the comic I found (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=113)

However, I think the full sister story is in the Origins book. (Sadly I don't have it yet).

Yay rocket skates!

[The Vorpal Tribble]

And, am I nuts, or is Roy's sister kinda hot in a punk-chick sort of way?
Well, Roy likes to think of himself as a 'badboy' so its probably just a family trait 8)



It's just so hard to believe he's chaotic evil. Not that I want to get into alignment debates here
Too bad ;)
He's chaotic evil because he kills whatever he likes whenever he likes and doesn't give a flip about the consequences or who might come after him for it. Simple enough.

[Tawkis]

Fantabulous, absolutely fantabulous.

[watermammal]

Anybody got a link to the strips featuring Roy's family? I'm at work so I don't have time to search the archive.

I remember seeing his sister as an infant, but don't recall any mentions by his late dad about his sister and what she was doing now.

I wonder if she's in wizardry just to please Dad?

As Vernal guessed a little earlier, Roy's background family info is in the Origins book (On Sale Now!!). I won't say anything so as not to spoil anything, but it does talk extensively about the fam.

On a personal note, several points upon which to dwell. First, Rich, you are a tease. Hinting at the other members. <sigh>.

Second, I think it is interesting the way Nale seemed to panic over the possible prescence(sp?) of the Stick. Hmmm, didn't realize Nale gave his brother and the team that much credit.

Third, my initial thought b4 Giant cleared it up was I thought Thog was saying he liked the girls. Okay, I apologize, I am a male. Either way, still freakin' hilarious.

Also, I wonder how much trouble the sister will be? I.e., how accomplished is she? Seems to be some talent in the ol' genetic makeup.

Finally, I wonder if Rich is truly aware how popular Thog is becoming? Rocket skates...Yay...heh.

[watermammal]

BTW, since Giant has been getting some grief over latish comics, it is only fair he get some props for having the last two comics out super early. Thanks, Rich--great way to start the day.

[El Jaspero, the Pirate King]

Misdirection, teasing, rocket skates...yet another classic!

[Mr._Blinky]

YES!!! FRICKING HILARIOUSNESS!!!

[Malachi, the Lich King]

Misdirection, teasing, rocket skates...yet another classic!

Hard to go wrong with rocket skates though. Just like Thor, comedy gold.

[readaholic1019]

I just have to say the comics keep getting better and better. Thank you, Giant, and keep up the good work.

Thog+sugar+rocket skates...
priceless

[Eriol]

Those last two panels cracked me up. Thog's expressions were absolutely priceless.
/agree. The "anger" expression on Thog's face in the 2nd-last panel is the best. We've never seen Thog with that exact attitude before.


On another note, the Giant should sell plush Thog dolls. They'd sell like hotcakes.

[xyzchyx]

And, am I nuts, or is Roy's sister kinda hot in a punk-chick sort of way?

:o

To quote the dwarven assassin, "it's a friggen stick figure comic" (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=229)!

You need to get out more. ;)

[Midnight Son]

:o

To quote the dwarven assassin, "it's a friggen stick figure comic" (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=229)!

You need to get out more. ;)
Nah. She's freakin' hot. Just because it's a stick figure comic doesn't mean we have to turn our imaginations off.

[LurkerInPlayground]

Now, if only the Greenhilt ghost-father would show up and talk to Roy's sister...that'd be a funny conversation methinks.

[Marller]

Nah. She's freakin' hot. Just because it's a stick figure comic doesn't mean we have to turn our imaginations off.


Personally, i think her blue friend looks better. ;)

[Eldhrin]

I'm not convinced that Thog's intelligent enough to be aware of having an alignment.

Although I suppose he is clever enough to decide that fighter level 3 is dumb - even if Roy did demonstrate otherwise quite pointedly at their first confrontation.

Whatever it is really, I just love Thog. Sometimes I feel so sorry for him, and other times I just want to cheer him along. More please!

[mossfoot]

I strongly suspect that if Thog were to ever die, the hate mail to Rich would not stop. Kill Nale, kill Sabine, kill any of the Linear Guild you like, but I bet if Thog died, there'd be hell to pay from the fans ;)

(not me, though, drop an anvil on him anyway!) ;D

[DeathQuaker]

Nah. She's freakin' hot. Just because it's a stick figure comic doesn't mean we have to turn our imaginations off.


Does that mean I can stop worrying that I found naked Vaarsuvius hot back in #186? ;D

[Dark_Stalion]

Does that mean I can stop worrying that I found naked Vaarsuvius hot back in #186? ;D


It would seem from the debates that everyone at least wishes V to be the opposite gender, so I suppose thats ok, even if he/she/it does end up the same.

And by the way...

Nooooooooooooooooooo................ not Thoggywoggy (ahem, maybe I went a bit too far)

I was hoping for Roy's sister to turn up, though. Hurt my hand punching the desk when she did. Need a new desk.

[Electric_Monkey]

Now, if only the Greenhilt ghost-father would show up and talk to Roy's sister...that'd be a funny conversation methinks.

Bring on the ticked off grand-daddy I say!

[Gary_Schaper]

I strongly suspect that if Thog were to ever die, the hate mail to Rich would not stop.
Clearly, Thog should star in the first OotS spinoff in Mr. Burlew's media empire.

(not me, though, drop an anvil on him anyway!) ;D
Yeah, like falling anvils permanently kill anybody. ;D

[DeathQuaker]

It would seem from the debates that everyone at least wishes V to be the opposite gender, so I suppose thats ok, even if he/she/it does end up the same.

Being bi, I don't really care what gender V is. There's more than one way to please a person, after all. :)

I was just concerned that I found a stick figure attractive. :) But it seems to be a trend these days.

[Techonce]

Being bi, I don't really care what gender V is. There's more than one way to please a person, after all. :)

I was just concerned that I found a stick figure attractive. :) But it seems to be a trend these days.


TMI Lass TMI!

As for Roy's sister going to Necromancy 101. It would be expected. Ranks in spellcraft let you identify spells being cast, so you'd expect wizards to learn the basics, of necromany somewhere. It's when they take Necromancy 210 - How to Raise a Villiage that you have to worry about them.

Thanks Giant. You made it worth coming to work today.

[RecurringDream]

/agree. The "anger" expression on Thog's face in the 2nd-last panel is the best. We've never seen Thog with that exact attitude before.


On another note, the Giant should sell plush Thog dolls. They'd sell like hotcakes.

The would have to have talkboxes in them to say little short phrases. For example, thog like puppies or thog reluctantly forced to agree.

[humanpylon]

So....if its Thog that wants the rocket-roller skates,does that mean that he and Nale made this plan together? Could explain a few things. Should also make for a pretty funny result.

On another note....man I wish girls dressed like that when I went to school. ;D

[omikapsi]

I too would like to add a congrats to giant for the timely posting of the strip. I read it this morning, and immediately hopped to the boards to find out whether that really was Roys sister (could be a coincidence of last names).

Unfortunately, something happened, and I was only able to read the first two pages of the thread before I started getting 'connection refused' messages.

Now that she has been confirmed as his sister, I'm really curious about how this next portion is going to play out.

[zibeck]

Does that mean I can stop worrying that I found naked Vaarsuvius hot back in #186? ;D


Given V's gender (more specifically the lack thereof), you probably have a whole new set of things to worry about

EDIT: Well, nevermind. Although that could still be a problem for you, especially if you live in the southern U.S.

[thespyder]

that was perfect. it makes complete sense to me that roy would be the sibling to go against his father's wishes and become a fighter while julia wants to go out and be just like her dad and have her dad's respect.
lol, my dad is a lawyer and now my little sister is talking about becoming one too. roy, i feel your pain. giant, it was amazing, keep up the good work.

[Hermes]

EDIT: Well, nevermind. Although that could still be a problem for you, especially if you live in the southern U.S.

Being a gay man living in the heart of the southeastern United State (that's the Bible belt, ya'll) I've got to say that its really not as bad as people think. Even rednecks can be understanding- and in a lot of cases, supportive- of alternative lifestyles. Yeah, it amazes me too. Daily.

But that's not what this post is about. This post is about OotS. And just what a wonderful job the Giant did with todays comic. Personally, I could care less how late or early he is with the comic, just as long as he keeps writing.

Since I started reading Oots, I've flip-flopped back and forth between Belkar and Elan as favorites. Well, no more. It has been decided this day that Thog is by far the "bestest" character ever to grace the pages of Order of the Stick....

Maybe Rich could reform him and he could join the Order?? Nah... that wouldn't be as fun, methinks.

Anyway, great job Rich. The art on today's strip was fan-freadkin-tastic. Especially the last two panels. Thogs expressiveness = wonderful!

[Dalorien]

I think she's hott...stick figure or not. I can't wait to see evil durkon and alignly incorrect belkar

[Charity322]

Priceless.

I think Thog may have dipped into the cursed items bin one time and tried a gender bender belt, at least that's what I inferred from his "Thog liked it" comment.

OMG Thog is really a girl. :D :P

[Fale]

Julia Greenhilt, the most popular girl in school? - Pompey

Strange that Roy appered to be the least popular in his collage from what we had seen.

Yea. I got to agree with most of the other guys here. Julia is pretty attractive for a stick-figure in a stick-figure kind of way.

[enigma]

So....if its Thog that wants the rocket-roller skates,does that mean that he and Nale made this plan together? Could explain a few things. Should also make for a pretty funny result.I don't think Thog helped design the plan (I think Nale is a little smarter than that), but during the planning Thog was probably saying "ROCKET SKATES!!". Or maybe Nale mentioned it in passing and Thog wouldn't let it go.

Enigma

[BurntOfferings]

Giant, congrats on another great comic, and thanks for the extra-early posting! Now that's the way to start the week! ;D

So, did anyone else notice that in panel 5, we see Sabine in the middle of her transformation from fiend form to human form? I think that this is the first time we've actually seen her in the process of shifting. Kinda cool.

[Charity322]

I did wonder for a second if the Linear Guild were going to drop Pompey and decide that Julia was a much better opposite hehe.

Funny thing about Necromancy. I had a Wizard/Druid char who was totally against the school as evil and wouldn't cast it. Then I discovered that the Restoration spells I'd been casting with abandon were from the Necromancy school ... Guess I should have researched it more hehe.

[Deleran]

So, did anyone else notice that in panel 5, we see Sabine in the middle of her transformation from fiend form to human form? I think that this is the first time we've actually seen her in the process of shifting. Kinda cool.

Panel 2. (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=57) It looks different, too.

Panel 3. (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=142)

[Lightman]

So, I got first post. Woot!

[grim_chook]

I loved this comic, though it's very scary. Roy's sister looks exactly like someone I know. Serendipity indeed!

[Erathia]

This post gives me a headache to describe. You are forewarned.

I would assume that Julia would be in such a hurry to get to Necromancy because, apart from needing at least a 100-level education to graduate, as far as she knows Xykon is still not-quite-dead-enough. I mean he isn't but Roy and everyone who was around him thinks that he is, but since there's been no time to tell anyone else who cares Julia is probably eager to learn how to fight a Lich, which she should... unless she was told by her brother that she shouldn't any more because Xykon's at the maximum level of dead, which he's not but... this can go on for awhile so I'll just address my second point.


On another note....man I wish girls dressed like that when I went to school. ;D

Are you insane? I wish that they WOULDN'T! Most of the girls from when I went to school who dressed like that did not have the right figure for it...

[Herron]

I keep thinking I want to see Redcloak and Thog team up...

[Amalthea]

This post gives me a headache to describe. You are forewarned.

I would assume that Julia would be in such a hurry to get to Necromancy because, apart from needing at least a 100-level education to graduate, as far as she knows Xykon is still not-quite-dead-enough. I mean he isn't but Roy and everyone who was around him thinks that he is, but since there's been no time to tell anyone else who cares Julia is probably eager to learn how to fight a Lich, which she should... unless she was told by her brother that she shouldn't any more because Xykon's at the maximum level of dead, which he's not but... this can go on for awhile so I'll just address my second point.

The strip has given us no reason to believe or disbelieve that Julia knows anything about Zykon. All the information we have is that Roy has one female sibling who is a popular student at the magic school in Cliffport.

All we can do is sit and fret while waiting for Wednesday's edition. :)

[Oznstuff]

"It's when they take Necromancy 210 - How to Raise a Villiage" - I loved that, I almost hurt myself laughing!

Did anybody else notice that Nale said "My brother and his stooges are here?" Does that imply that Nale thinks Elan is in charge of the OotS group? Will he make his plans accordingly? I wonder what madness the Giant will concoct for us off of this...

I want my Thog doll!

[Eriol]

Did anybody else notice that Nale said "My brother and his stooges are here?" Does that imply that Nale thinks Elan is in charge of the OotS group? Will he make his plans accordingly? I wonder what madness the Giant will concoct for us off of this...
I think it has more to do with how you refer to those near you. If your brother is in some type of group, like a sports team, you'd say "that's my brother's hockey team." Sometimes you'd say "it's the team he's on", but generally in common conversation, both are interchanged. Thus it's "Elan's team".

He already knows from Roy's initial words to Thog that Roy's the leader, or at least he SHOULD.

[Deleran]

The strip has given us no reason to believe or disbelieve that Julia knows anything about Zykon. All the information we have is that Roy has one female sibling who is a popular student at the magic school in Cliffport.

All we can do is sit and fret while waiting for Wednesday's edition. :)

Well, you have to presume that since Roy's father encouraged Roy to go fight Xykon, he may have hedged his bets and asked Julia to do it too. Not to mention that it probably came in family conversations from time to time.

[ref]

What can I say? I'm speechless...
Well done, Giant!

[Swordster]

Loved Thog. When we first met him, he just looked like your stereotypical idiot barbarian. But Giant is making him more like a child than a simpleton. The facial expressions in the last couple have been hilarious.

[Blackeagle]

Well, you have to presume that since Roy's father encouraged Roy to go fight Xykon, he may have hedged his bets and asked Julia to do it too. Not to mention that it probably came in family conversations from time to time.

Actually, the Origins book would tend to suggest otherwise, but I don't want to spoil anything so . . .

[rwald]

Panel 2. (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=57) It looks different, too.

Panel 3. (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=142)
To be fair, the transformation has never looked the same. That means that if the Giant ever does decide what it looks like and sticks with that, we'll have cause for complaint. ;-)

[Amalthea]

To be fair, the transformation has never looked the same. That means that if the Giant ever does decide what it looks like and sticks with that, we'll have cause for complaint. ;-)
We've never seen the same transformation either. We've seen Sabine transform from chick to fiend (wings grew), transform from assumed dwarf shape to fiend (black aura-ish bit), and now transform from fiend to chick (fiend traits faded away).

[Magus]

YAY!

Hmm... that pretty much sums it up. Great job, Giant!

[Nightfall]

On another note, the Giant should sell plush Thog dolls. They'd sell like hotcakes.

I would buy one in a heartbeat. Where do I send my money?

[RawBearNYC]

OK, so, Rich's head is big enough, believe it, but I have to say this:

While I liked the Larry Gardner strip (unlike some others), I thought it was a fairly trivial digression of the comic from the direction it was heading. I though it was funny, and enjoyed it, but did want to get back to the order getting drugged to Miko's home.

Then, two strips later, it all came clear. Nale had to enter the school where Julia was enrolled. She had to casually walk past him so he could get his bright idea.

The Larry Gardner strip established the school for us. And it did it, casually in a joke. I didn't see the Julia switch coming at all. I didn't recognize the importance of their location because I thought their location was driven by the joke he wanted to tell. Turns out the joke was driven by the location he wanted to describe. Basically, I fell for his trick.

*applause*

[Nightmarenny]

Roys sisters freind's cloths remind me of something.

[Devils_Advocate]

Rich also used a seeming throwaway joke (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=226) to lead into the whole plotline with the assassins. Which then led to the current situation with Miko. Hmmm...

I think the comic as a whole is probably more plot-focussed now than it was in the early strips. That Rich can throw in seemingly random gags and still advance the plot is pretty impressive!

[Omniplex]

I thought something was up when Nale said they were going to Cliffport. Roy mentioned Cliffport was where his dad was when Xykon killed his mentor. So I guess this is were it ends up. I'm just wondering, though, how are they going to frame Roy and Co. while they are being detained in Azure City, if Nale and such are in Cliffport? They don't seem like they are culturally similar enough to be particularly close.

[Banjo_Buddy]

It's when they take Necromancy 210 - How to Raise a Villiage that you have to worry about them.


And of course, that involves the child sacrifice...

What? You never heard that it takes a child to raise a village?

(rimshot)

[Ragnarok]

And of course, that involves the child sacrifice...

What? You never heard that it takes a child to raise a village?
Where's the pun paladin when you need her?

Just... ow.

[Erathia]

I thought something was up when Nale said they were going to Cliffport. Roy mentioned Cliffport was where his dad was when Xykon killed his mentor. So I guess this is were it ends up. I'm just wondering, though, how are they going to frame Roy and Co. while they are being detained in Azure City, if Nale and such are in Cliffport? They don't seem like they are culturally similar enough to be particularly close.

If Miko knows that Nale would kill Julia if Roy doesn't show up, the Paladin code automatically forces her to detour to fight Nale.

[DOOM2099]

Roy's sister should join the OotS.

[evileeyore]

I strongly suspect that if Thog were to ever die, the hate mail to Rich would not stop. Kill Nale, kill Sabine, kill any of the Linear Guild you like, but I bet if Thog died, there'd be hell to pay from the fans ;)

(not me, though, drop an anvil on him anyway!) ;D
The day Thog dies, so does Thog's funny. That will be a very sad day in Thogville.

i look forward to it. As long long as the character stays dead, i like the occasional character death. It keeps the rest of them on their toes. ;)

[Ragnarok]

I don't know if this has been said yet.

Elan referred to the Order of the Stick as "My brother and his stooges," meaning that he thinks that the Order of the Stick work for Elan. This could lead to something interesting, and it points out that either he thinks much higher of Elan than is due or he thinks much less of the rest of the Order than is due.

[Omnipotent_One]

Roy's sister should join the OotS.


Come on. Oots will never be changed. The order has remained the same since the begginning of the strip, i see no reason for it to change now.

Besides, there's no way V is going to be replaced.

[Amalthea]

I would buy one in a heartbeat. Where do I send my money?
I'm considering trying my hand at making one... They're stick figures, it can't be THAT hard.
...
Crap, now I want to make dolls of the entire OotS, Linear Guild, and Xykon.

[ElfLad]

Why do people keep saying that Julia is an evil opposite. I got a clear impression that Nale was intending to use her as a hostage, not a companion.

Thog must live forever.

[Flak_Razorwill]

Gotta love Julia's hair. I know a punk girl who just rocks with that kind of hair.

So...how old is she? If she's in Gardner's/Potter's school, she must be of high school age. And most popular? Well, I guess she turned out to be more socially capable than Roy in college.

[Draco_06]

Not to totally jump on the bandwagon in my very first post, but Thog = greatness. Even if the rest of the comic had for some odd reason bombed, the last two panes would still make it excellent.

Don't know how you keep doing it Giant, but by all means keep it up.

[Devils_Advocate]

I'm considering trying my hand at making one... They're stick figures, it can't be THAT hard.
...
Crap, now I want to make dolls of the entire OotS, Linear Guild, and Xykon.
Might I suggest using pipe cleaners for the limbs?

(I have to wonder if someone has already produced some OOTS dolls. I never really read the arts and crafts threads...)

[Weiser_Cain]

I'm looking foward to thog killing himself on his rocket skates...

[That Lanky Bugger]

Note the first: Loved Julia's appearance, along with the entire comic. Thog acts like the first Barbarian I ever played, and reminds me so much of him it brings a tear to my eye.

Here's hoping he doesn't end up the same way.


Note the second: I need a Thog plushie. Seriously. If I need to make it, I will.

[humanpylon]

So if Julia is just a teenager, does that mean that Roy is at most mid to late twenties? I'd always pictured him as mid thirties - young enough to still fight well but experienced and a bit grizzled.

[Flak_Razorwill]

So if Julia is just a teenager, does that mean that Roy is at most mid to late twenties? I'd always pictured him as mid thirties - young enough to still fight well but experienced and a bit grizzled.

According the the Origins book, he graduates college a short while (I guess a month or few) before founding the Order and declaring jihad on Xykon's dungeon (as seen in comic 1).

[Nerd-o-rama]

Actually, not to go into too many specifics for those who haven't read the book, but Roy graduated (with an MBA) three years before the start of the strip, and his sister would have been (*calculates*) about thirteen then. So, she's 16-17.

[Techonce]

And of course, that involves the child sacrifice...

What? You never heard that it takes a child to raise a village?

(rimshot)

Pun and counter pun... Lets call it a draw and spare the forum.

[Amalthea]

Might I suggest using pipe cleaners for the limbs?

(I have to wonder if someone has already produced some OOTS dolls. I never really read the arts and crafts threads...)
Nah, the pipe cleaners would be way too thin for the size of doll I'm contemplating. I would however wire the limbs so they'd be poseable. The doll style I'm considering is mostly 2d with round limbs about the size of a quarter in diameter, felt features, and when required yarn hair.

Dang this would be so awesome. I just have to do this now. I have to get to Hobby Lobby!

[Edit] Pipecleaners would work for smaller dolls though, and it'd be easier. Maybe they're a better idea. Hmm.

[JessmanCA]

<3 thog

[humanpylon]

Ok I've been wondering for awhile now...what the hell does <3 mean anyways? e.g. <3 Thog

[Adghar]

It's a smiley. Look at it with the right as the top. <3 It's a heart. Heart. <3

If geekdom was an RPG, you'd need more levels in internet geek.

[humanpylon]

Ahhhhhhhhh! mysteries of the unverse explained!!!

Of course from another angle it kind of looks like a bum.....but I prefer the heart explanation

And as for the internet geekdom...what can I say? This is my first forum. :)

[Arolas]

Thog rules!
Great comic, I love it! *FrEaKs*

[Lankin]

Actually, am I the only one who thinks that Necromancy 101 is eerily similar to the webcomic known as Demonology 101? http://faith.rydia.net/

I have to admit, a Thog plushie would be bought immediately. How can you resist that face?

[Winter_Wolf]

@ VT: Oh, I wasn't questioning Thog's CE alignment. It's just that he's really likeable and, as Eldhrin said, I question Thog's capacity to even understand the concept of alignment. Although he seems slightly smarter than Elan. Or maybe he's just an idiot savant?

As for Julia, well how can I put this delicately? She seems to be wearing a tube top, and my experience has lead me to the conclusion that tube top=skank. I'd love solid evidence to prove me wrong, but still waiting. So when Pompey said, "...the most popular girl in school..." I thought, yeah I'll bet she's "popular". Then again, I'm 28 and married. My GODS! I'm turning into my dad! Worse things to turn into though.;D

[Dark_Stalion]

Personally I thinbk Thog's CN and kills cos he doesn't know better, but I suppose thats for the Alignment Topics.

On another topic you could use strips of felt os similar heavy fabric for the arms and leds. That way they are just lines. I don't know. Perhapse I should start a 'How to craft Thog' topic just to see what hapens.

[Tetralemma]

Yeah, I tried to build Thog at one of those "build your own bear" stores at the mall, and I got all kinds of strange looks when I started asking where the battle axes were.

;D

[mezz09]

The gender-swapping plotline, which Nale just called pointless and self-indulgent.

why did thog gender swap???

[mossfoot]

why did thog gender swap???

'cause he's ba-curious (ba for barbarian ;) )

[Zink]

As for Julia, well how can I put this delicately? She seems to be wearing a tube top, and my experience has lead me to the conclusion that tube top=skank. I'd love solid evidence to prove me wrong, but still waiting. So when Pompey said, "...the most popular girl in school..." I thought, yeah I'll bet she's "popular". Then again, I'm 28 and married. My GODS! I'm turning into my dad! Worse things to turn into though.;D

Well, let's look at it this way. Intelligence, the ability score that is, is probably genetic. As we know, Roy has a very impressive Int (especially for a fighter), possibly even more than 18. His father was a wizard, and so is his sister, so they probably have/had high Int as well, meaning that she is probably one of the best students; and, since this a school of mostly wizards, Int and excellence are probably the most valued stats, and it's possible that she's the most popular girl because she's also one of the best students (and Nale didn't get to interview her because she's Good and the headmaster isn't going to make the same mistake twice, of course). Of course, that theory could be uterrly destroyed by the fact that sorcerers, who value their Charisma more also attend this school...

[LaValle]

Maybe Rich could reform him and he could join the Order?? Nah... that wouldn't be as fun, methinks.


Imagine a Belkar and Thog duo roaming some alternate version of the OOTS universe. Doesn't that make you smile uncontrolably?

Anyways, I'm a <ltw,ftw> ( long time watcher, first time writer ;)) and I'd just like to express my adoration for the Gigant and his creation. I never felt a compultion to register on the forum before, even though I love the whole series, but after this comic I just failed my will check. THOG IS DA BEST!!! THOG RULEZ!!! Uhh, ok, I had my fix. Ave Giant.

P.S. can someone PM me regarding how to make my avatars' background transparent rather than white? I know it's just a lame first time attempt but I could use the info for future tries.

[bananna]

In OoPCS, Roy is in fighter college and tells his father that is sister is nine years old.

I don't know how old that makes either of them, but it is a comparison.

[Starla]

I love Thog's happy face in the last panel. You know who Thog reminds me of? The scary looking guy (Sloth?) from Goonies that the fat kid (Chunk?) makes friends with by feeding him Ice Cream. We thought he was an awesome character too. I love how he was "adopted" at the end by the kids.

EDIT: By the way, all this reading into the names and guessing at future plot lines is kind of funny. I like analyzing and looking for foreshadow as much as my english teacher but sometimes I wonder if Rich might choose a random name out of some baby book and we will still be able to tie it to some obscure fact and link it to their character traits and make predictions all based on nothing. Of course if Rich wanted to be obvious about a random name he could just type random letters on the keyboard "jriaoew" <= like that and make it the character's name to shut us up.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

Anyone find it disturbing that the obnoxious Lawful Good paladin is generally detested by many, but the puppy-loving Chaotic Evil mass-murderer seems to be gathering a following?

Makes you wonder... ::)



Personally I thinbk Thog's CN and kills cos he doesn't know better
"Thog delays boredom-driven rampage only for you!"

Naw, he doesn't know better... suuuure ;)

[Reptile]

Anyone find it disturbing that the obnoxious Lawful Good paladin is generally detested by many, but the puppy-loving Chaotic Evil mass-murderer seems to be gathering a following?

Makes you wonder... ::)


Thog isn't the first CE murderer to gain a large amount of popularity on these boards, either...

Realistically, though, Thog and Belkar's popularity is likely due to the simple fact that they consistently get funny lines. Thog gets laughs for saying dumb-but funny things and for having tendencies you wouldn't expect from a big, tough half-orc barbarian (as the store says, "Thog kill. Thog like puppies. Thog full of amusing contradictions." (http://www.cafepress.com/orderofthestick.11485758)); Belkar gets laughs from his casual vitriol and questionable usefulness at anything that doesn't directly involve stabbing. While Miko occasionally has amusing quips ("It's a class feature" (http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript?SK=223)), she mostly isn't funny herself--she just sets up the other characters' humor. Oh yeah, and furthers that whole "plot" thing as well. ;D

[Duraska]

Anyone find it disturbing that the obnoxious Lawful Good paladin is generally detested by many, but the puppy-loving Chaotic Evil mass-murderer seems to be gathering a following?

As someone who desperately loves every single thing about Miko, I can also say that I love Thog too.

However, I like Miko because of her whole package. Her determined attitude, her skill in fighting, her variant on the paladin class (monk/paladin w/ katana), and I just like her personality for some reason.

I like Thog cause he's cute. That's basically it. I generally dislike half-orcs, and I find barbarians to be dull, but darned if Thog doesn't just steal my heart every time he closes his eyes and smiles with that fang-filled mouth.

Kinda wierd... yeah... I know.

[manscatha]

Roy has a good intelligence and a decent charisma. Genetically, Julia could have high scores in both, too.

Back to the comic... as well as the other things people have mentioned, I love the conversation between the girls. I am now wondering how Haley will get on with Roy's sister. She seems to have a tendency to dislike other women. (Except, perhaps, for V.)

[Chaos]

Speaking of the "You broke my sword" flashback panels in #113...

As far as I´ve figured out for people mentioning OtOoPCs, We can be pretty sure Roy is in his late 20´s, and Julia is now about 16.

However, in the flashback panel with the baby, Roy would have had to be 12 at least, for that baby to be Julia - assuming he is 28* now and Julia is 16, he was 12 when she was born.
However, in that strip he looks awfully small for a 12-year-old. Also, I´m not sure that "Yay! Thwack! Thwack!" is the language of a 12-year-old with, as we know, above-average Intelligence.


*28 is an average for "late twenties", which I assume are about 27 to 29

[archon_huskie]

But it is appropriate intelligent language for a 12 year old boy using a sword. And Medival families had many children.

Just remember

THERE ARE NO PLOTHOLES!

[Dark_Stalion]

I recon Julia gets her looks from her mother. Now there's another hot stick figure.

[Shatteredtower]

The Larry Gardner strip established the school for us. And it did it, casually in a joke. I didn't see the Julia switch coming at all. I didn't recognize the importance of their location because I thought their location was driven by the joke he wanted to tell. Turns out the joke was driven by the location he wanted to describe. Basically, I fell for his trick.

Mmm... the Giant is of course welcome to correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't feel there was that much foresight involved. In light of another thread posted last week, I got the impression that it was a sudden effort to navigate past an obstacle thrown in his path by the readership. If so, it was an effective move. It is also likely give the impression RawBear describes to anyone reading the series from the beginning to the present for the first time, which would make it doubly impressive.

[Ironfang]

Now there's another hot stick figure.

I can't believe noone has mentioned the "cleavage" on her friend in blue yet. Va va voom. : P

[Silverblaze]

I can't believe noone has mentioned the "cleavage" on her friend in blue yet. Va va voom. : P


Ironfang - for the record; you are scary - It's a stickfigure for crying out loud *GG*

[Midnight Son]

Ironfang - for the record; you are scary - It's a stickfigure for crying out loud *GG*
So anyone turned on by this http://www.prensa.com/Entretenimiento/Cine/2005/02/02/imagenes/elektra_2.jpg is wierd for enjoying the view of shaded pixels? I mean it's not really her right?