Looking for Group

[Natural20]

A webcomic I want to talk about is Looking for Group (http://www.lfgcomic.com/). For those of you not in the know, Looking for Group is a fantasy webcomic based on World of Warcraft and other MMOs. It is also quite popular in those very circles. Looking at it, it's not hard to understand why that is: the art's decent, it's fairly amusing, and it's created by the same guys over at Least I Could Do.

I find it a waste of time.

Upon reflection, Looking for Group was an exciting find for me. This was after I got hooked on OOTS, and was craving for a good fantasy webcomic. Maybe OOTS set the bar too high, but I read the first few strips with bemusement. Things were dying, and it was amusing... sometimes. Well, OOTS took a few strips to get on track too, maybe I just needed to give it a chance. And so I've read it up to today, and I'm still as confused as I was on day one.

Things are happening, characters are introduced, plots are thrown in, and I'm left with a sense of dissatisfaction because nothing makes any sense. It's strip 105 and I still can't make heads or tails of it all. The characters quest together to find the All-mighty MacGuffin, but there's no reason for them to be sticking together at all. Oh sure, one of them stays around because "he's bored", but to me, that's a pile of BS, and is lazy writing. There is not enough character exploration to make me care about any of them, and makes any justification to their actions seem weak. There's the elf, who's Drizzt but not. The evil warlock, who's evil and likes senseless killing. There's the orc cleric, who's charged with finding the MacGuffin. And the minotaur, with his race being all that I care to know about him. That's your cast in a nutshell.

I think part of the problem of LFG is because the creators' previous project was Least I Could Do, a gag-a-day strip. Early strips of LFG were plagued by this, ramming punchlines into panels for the sake of a laugh. This adds to my initial confusion: was this a story? A joke-a-day comic? It's disorienting. That's one of the rare qualities of OOTS that sets it apart: it has jokes in it, but the story is rarely delayed because of it, and they fit in naturally with the exposition. In short, Richard Burlew has his cake and eats it too. Not so for LFG. The plot's progress is sacrificed for a cheap joke far too often. While reading it, I'd wish the characters would stop making wise-cracks and shut their airholes so the story can continue.

The art's not bad though, and the comic does have moments where it makes me crack a smile. Still, it fails at one of its main objectives, and that is to get me into the story. The inability to do so makes me dispassionate about everything and everyone in the LFG world.

[nerulean]

I know what you mean. I'm still diligently reading the comic, largely because I like LICD, but I too am waiting for the plot to fall into place.

I went back and re-read the whole archives once it got to 100 pages, and I'm still honestly none the wiser. I'm studying English at university so I'm pretty much trained to spot a plot and tease out meaning from what's implied and suggested, but LFG really doesn't give us much to go on.

I think a large part of the problem is that Sohmer's pacing it like a novel, when in fact it's a webcomic. What might work brilliantly as a ten page chapter in a novel to set up backstory for the world and introduce interesting facets of your characters really doesn't work at all when it's four pages of comic that you have to wait a fortnight to read, all the while wondering when the actual plot's going to turn up. He's suffering from trying to make his exposition interesting and instead just makes it confusing.

Less than a month after re-reading the entire archives, and I've already forgotten what the motley crew are actually questing for. Something about a handfork of truth, or maybe something related to a lost civilisation that they had to destroy so it could come back? Maybe?

[Vondre]

I don't read it religiously at all - probably as a result of its relatively weak plot/characters - but I enjoy it when I read it. I enjoy it a lot, especially the earlier strips, for one reason and one reason only: Richard.

Yes, he's the general stereotypical anti-hero, who's only along for the opportunity to kill stuff (*cough*:belkar:*cough*), and maybe I'm just a sucker for dead-baby-type humor, but I have had many a good laugh from several of Richard's lines.

I do agree on many points. The plot is very forgettable, as are many of the characters. But it's a fun comic nevertheless.

[Raroy]

Plot? We don't need no stinkin plot.

I think the problem is that the comic is trying to be smooth and slick but suffers from being too slippery. The characters are just there as a character and in the story. It's just a shallow pool that looks pretty because the bacteria are making interesting colors and patterns(I do not know what this analogy means but it has its uses). Most of the humor is just Richard being evil. This web comic can be deceitful with its ways but don't fall for it unless you like this sort of thing.

[Natural20]

A prime example of what I'd like to call "wasting my precious time" would be this strip (http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/105). 10 panels. That's how much it takes for Richard to climb through the window, recite his titles, and pray. We get it, the guy has a lot of names. It's funny sort of. Sohmer dedicates 10+ panels just for his joke, instead of doing something relevant with the space. At the rate we're going, this story's heading nowhere FAST.

[JackMage666]

Well, it sounds like you're trying to push you're idea of what he should be doing onto what he's actually doing.

If he wants to do a joke-a-day comic, he's free to. I personally find it funny, and read it every week. Do I think it has a great plot? Not especially, but I don't think that's the point of his work.

What I'm saying is, if it's not or you, don't read it. Not all comics are going to follow the same formula, even if it's the same genre.

[Natural20]

If he's free to do a comic, certainly I'm free to complain about it. I know I can turn a blind eye, but I don't see how that conflicts with my pointing out why I don't like it, and flaws I see as legitimate. My very point is that he ISN'T trying to follow a joke-a-day formula.This isn't like LICD, where there's the occasional story arc lasting 3 to 4 strips. LFG is a tale where it all adds up to something. I'm saying he's trying to do both, and ends up bungling the story. And there IS a story, hard as it could be to find at times. But don't let my complaints detract you from your enjoyment of the comic. To each his own, right?

[Jibar]

Actually, I'd say the problem is that he's not writing this as a novel, or a webcomic, but as a published comic.
He's just drumming up attention for it by posting it on the internet. If he thought it would sell without its status as a webcomic, then he would sell it straight off and just advertise it on LiCD.
Therefore, as a published comic, it is barely beginning.
There is a plot in there by the way, which is largely taken up by Gid's search for the Sword of Truth and whatever this prophecy about Cale is.
I'll admit, I only read it because Sohmer rules me, but I still like it with all the problems.

[nerulean]

I'm pretty sure the only reason I'm complaining is because I'm disappointed. LICD is awesome and Lar's art is the sort of pretties that I could sit and look at all day, and the amount Sohmer reads and his love of the genre must surely mean he has a decent grasp of how to poke together a fantasy plot. It has all the ingredients for awesomeness, but lacks the awesomeness itself.

[doliest]

I believe the old line required here is-'Don't like? Don't read.'

[Heliomance]

Things are happening, characters are introduced, plots are thrown in, and I'm left with a sense of dissatisfaction because nothing makes any sense. It's strip 105 and I still can't make heads or tails of it all. The characters quest together to find the All-mighty MacGuffin, but there's no reason for them to be sticking together at all. Oh sure, one of them stays around because "he's bored", but to me, that's a pile of BS, and is lazy writing. There is not enough character exploration to make me care about any of them, and makes any justification to their actions seem weak. There's the elf, who's Drizzt but not. The evil warlock, who's evil and likes senseless killing. There's the orc cleric, who's charged with finding the MacGuffin. And the minotaur, with his race being all that I care to know about him. That's your cast in a nutshell.


Summary of character motivations.

Orc cleric: Looking for the MacGuffin so she can trade it in exchange for her life.
Minotaur: Knows the cleric from when she was a kid, raised her, likes her (possibly loves her, in the familial sense) and is coming along to help her out and make sure she doesn't get into anything she can't handle.
Elf: Is ridiculously noble and naive, and has pledged himself to the orc as her knight errant, without actually considering the fact that her alignment hovers dangerously around evil, when he is struggling to be the epitome of all that is good and pure. In his eyes, she's a damsel in distress and that's reason enough.
Warlock: Seriously, he's bored. He has ADHD, and the elf amuses him. He's just along for the lulz. And the chance for mass destruction.

[Narmoth]

I love it!

[Arakune]

There is Richard, what isn't to love?

[Tekraen]

Summary of character motivations.

Orc cleric: Looking for the MacGuffin so she can trade it in exchange for her life.

Not her life, just to be left alone. Even so, she still chose to stay with Cale's group even though she could've searched Kethnecia for the sword. There is a chance to restore balance to the world, and she's seeing that.



Minotaur: Knows the cleric from when she was a kid, raised her, likes her (possibly loves her, in the familial sense) and is coming along to help her out and make sure she doesn't get into anything she can't handle.

He's also one of the sons of one of the most well-known and possibly feared clan chiefs of his people - and he's the scholar. His search is for knowledge, and he's found the greatest archaeological find in world history. He knows how the world works, that it exists in shades of grey, and stands with Cale as he begins to understand it as well.


Elf: Is ridiculously noble and naive, and has pledged himself to the orc as her knight errant, without actually considering the fact that her alignment hovers dangerously around evil, when he is struggling to be the epitome of all that is good and pure. In his eyes, she's a damsel in distress and that's reason enough.

Was. The Kethnicia arc existed to show him there was something worth fighting for (Gamlon) and that he would have to sacrifice to achieve his ideal - again, the world exists in shades of grey. Everything comes with a price (current arc). Gid is no longer a 'damsel in distress' to him.


Warlock: Seriously, he's bored. He has ADHD, and the elf amuses him. He's just along for the lulz. And the chance for mass destruction.

Heh, yeah. The funny part is that in doing what he wants most (destruction) he actually begins to accomplish a lot of good in the world. Cale's turning him and Richard doesn't realize it.

I think LFG started as a gag-a-day with a fantasy motif, but it's theme has changed to a search for balance, redemption, and justice. The story began as Cale's attempt to become 'not just another evil elf' of old, and he discovered where that legend began and even now he continues to fight it. What's more, it's working. He's not standing for good or evil, but justice, and justice is neither good nor evil.

[Johnny Blade]

There is Richard, what isn't to love?
The fact that there really can be too much of a good thing, I'd say. I mean, most of the gags are about Richard. Often, there aren't even gags at all, just Richard uttering one of his ludicrous lines.
Granted, this can be funny and thus LFG has its moments, but often, I find it just annoying that too many strips are claimed by Richard, as in my eyes, it gets boring after some time and distracts from the rest of the cast and the story.

The convoluted plot doesn't help either, since you know this whole thing is going somewhere, but can't figure out where exactly, because new subplots and characters are randomly thrown in and plot development is often stifled by Richard, even now, where his potential to kill anything in sight is constricted a little.

[NEO|Phyte]

Incidently, I don't think Gid is an orc. She is slightly lacking in fingers to be a regular orc, plus the fact that if she WAS an orc, people wouldn't be asking what she was (http://lfgcomic.com/page/63).

[BlackStaticWolf]

Incidently, I don't think Gid is an orc. She is slightly lacking in fingers to be a regular orc, plus the fact that if she WAS an orc, people wouldn't be asking what she was (http://lfgcomic.com/page/63).

She actually looks a lot like a WoW-style female troll to me.

[Arakune]

She actually looks a lot like a WoW-style female troll to me.

The authors say she is a half-orc/half-troll thing of unknown pedigree.

[Hood]

LFG is a comic I enjoy, but I actually think the plot advances too fast.

Wait, that's not it. It's either it goes too fast or not at all.

Seriously, half the strips are jokes, and the other half rushes through a plot I can't make head nor tail of. Balance, please?

And Richard... I like him, but he's too obviously the comedic relief. That's pretty much his only role- no character development at all, just a shallow killer. Maybe it wouldn't be so noticible if he wasn't the ONLY funny character in the strip. Seriously, how many of the punchlines or humorous strips don't involve Richard? Variation would be nice.

Maybe the pacing is off because he loves the Wheel of Time books, so it might it influence his writing. That would explain a lot.

[FoE]

I've been reading the LFG comic from the beginning and here are my thoughts:

1) Occasionally funny.
2) Good art. Very well-drawn.
3) The plot stinks.

I'll admit to reading LFG whenever it updates, but I don't love the comic. The story feels rushed and is somewhat incoherent. Having said that, I've read far, far, far worse.

[Lunaya]

I love LFG. The plot is exciting (to me) and I find several of the characters to be very endearing. As of late, I think they are even making an attempt out of fleshing out Richard's character.

After being placed under a curse that severely weakened his powers, he was left to wonder what good he was to anybody. Eventually he said it outright, "My power is who I am. Who am I without it?". Character development anyone? I say, give it a chance. :smallwink:

[Natural20]

A valid point, Lunaya. Except Richard grew back to his normal size when something magical landed on him, so existential crisis over. We'll see how that goes. Hopefully Sohmer can provide an adequate explanation, but if he pulls something like "it's maaaaaagic", then that just proves my point.

[Heliomance]

I'd say that the probable explanation is that that immense magical blast destroyed the freaking cursed amulet. Thereby undoing the curse, through the fact that there is No Ontological Inertia (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoOntologicalInertia).

[Natural20]

I'd say that the probable explanation is that that immense magical blast destroyed the freaking cursed amulet. Thereby undoing the curse, through the fact that there is No Ontological Inertia (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoOntologicalInertia).

That's an awesome link, Heliomance. I respect Ontological Interia, and any fantasy setting that respects it as well. I guess we'll see, won't we?

[Tekraen]

I'd say that the probable explanation is that that immense magical blast destroyed the freaking cursed amulet. Thereby undoing the curse, through the fact that there is No Ontological Inertia (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoOntologicalInertia).

In the Shadowrun system particularily, that's because the objects destroyed are the power focuses for said effects. While I don't like the "Kill the bad guy and the sun comes out" type of inertia, destroying a focus to release the spell is something I can respect.

[Gez]

Many RPGs have a complicated system with subtle distinction between "permanent" or "persistent" effects (which are continuously maintained, and thus which are dissipated if whatever maintains them gets destroyed) and "immediate" or "instantaneous" effects (which make a change and then dissipate, without cancelling their effect).

Typically, a spell such as fireball (to take a staple -- whatever the game, as long as it has magic, it has a fireball) is generally instantaneous. Killing the spellcaster won't resurrect his torched victims. However, spells such as petrification or metamorphosis can be of either type.

[Sc00by]

because of this thread I went and read LFG.

Why had no one told me about this before?!

It's great! Though I may just LOVE Richard! :confused:

I agree that the pacing might be a little off in places and I have to confess that I sometimes have to read the strip twice to work out how the narrative flows, but I fail to quite see the OPs point. It's an awful lot better than a huge number of other webcomics.

[Jayngfet]

And Richard... I like him, but he's too obviously the comedic relief. That's pretty much his only role- no character development at all, just a shallow killer.




A valid point, Lunaya. Except Richard grew back to his normal size when something magical landed on him, so existential crisis over. We'll see how that goes. Hopefully Sohmer can provide an adequate explanation, but if he pulls something like "it's maaaaaagic", then that just proves my point.

let me be the first to say pwned

[sihnfahl]

I'd say that the probable explanation is that that immense magical blast destroyed the freaking cursed amulet. Thereby undoing the curse, through the fact that there is No Ontological Inertia (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoOntologicalInertia).
Actually, it's heavily implied that Richard's selfless act is what caused the amulet to break.

The amulet was designed to diminish Richard and his powers. Richard, being a very self-centered person, would presumably not be able to break the amulet as he would never be 'selfless'; this is borne out by Hctib's statement "howcanthisbe?onlyanactofselflessness" when he's facing a fully-grown and powered Richard.
When Richard protected the boy from the magical blast, and suffered for it, the magics of the amulet took that to be a selfless act, which then broke the amulet and the spell.

[Zenos]

It's a good comic, although slightly schizo about either advancing plot, have a gag or put in a side quest for some action.

[Mc. Lovin']

I recently stopped reading it after having no clue why they were in the town fighting the elementals. It's only ever been okay, I think the only thing that keeps many people is richard killing things, which is pretty poor :smallannoyed:

[Natural20]

let me be the first to say pwned

Wow, guys, did you see how harsh I got PWNED? I'm reeling from the PWNAGE I was just dealt. Capital P. Oh, nevermind; it's more from the idiocy than from a defeat delivered by an argument which invalidates my own.

[hanzo66]

I like the comic decently. Caught my interest with the "Slaughter the World" video. Been following it since.


Richard for my part doesn't seem to be a complete and utter Black Mage ripoff. While Black Mage is much more rage-filled and commits his acts more out of self-hatred and general rage, Richard seems to be more light-hearted and jovial at nature, but finding humor in violent acts and other things that are not so much meant to be funny.

I liked Hctib's seemingly extremely fast style of speech. Wonder if he's an arc-specific secondary villain or will he return...

[sihnfahl]

I recently stopped reading it after having no clue why they were in the town fighting the elementals.
Because they were hired to. They need to be able to pay for food, equipment and transportation...
Unless you mean 'why did the elementals attack the town?'


It's only ever been okay, I think the only thing that keeps many people is richard killing things, which is pretty poor :smallannoyed:
Not really. If it was just 'Richard Killing Things', then it wouldn't be that popular. Yes, Richard does kill a lot of things, and makes jokes about it, but there are a host of other webcomics out there where you have a crazy party member who enjoys killing things.
Take a look at what happened with Cale in the story so far. How did he start out? What happened to him? Is the Cale we know now the same Cale?

[Natural20]

Because they were hired to. They need to be able to pay for food, equipment and transportation...
Unless you mean 'why did the elementals attack the town?'


Not really. If it was just 'Richard Killing Things', then it wouldn't be that popular. Yes, Richard does kill a lot of things, and makes jokes about it, but there are a host of other webcomics out there where you have a crazy party member who enjoys killing things.
Take a look at what happened with Cale in the story so far. How did he start out? What happened to him? Is the Cale we know now the same Cale?

I don't agree with that. Richard is the primary reason why people read LFG. As I see it, readers can be attracted to a comic by two things: they are drawn by the plot, or by the characters. Though it is by far a universal sentiment, there are those who feel that LFG's plot and transitions are quite weak, and that to them, Richard is the main attraction. So yes, Richard makes LFG popular, and what sets it apart from other characters who perform random killings is because he genuinely makes it amusing as opposed to others who try to mimic it pathetically. This, I feel, is an important point.

About Cale's supposed fall: I don't care one whit about it. This again falls back to Sohmer's inability to make me care about his actors or his story, and I viewed Cale's descent from his moral high ground with the same amount of attention as I give to the plot: very little. After the strip where Cale killed the "little boy" and escaped, we are treated to Emo-Cale. That is a prime example of the jolting transitions which I find so disorienting. The time gap is unexplained, and yes, though it is easy to assume why Cale is so distraught, (and a few panels elaborating on it would've been nice), it doesn't explain where the heck they are, and the plot recap was confusing as anything.

[doliest]

Natural20-Why do you complain about FREE ENTERTAINMENT?
Do you complain that free samples don't taste good? Do you complain about the free entertainment you get from videos? If you do, then you are a serious ingrate, I mean IT IS FREE!

[Natural20]

Natural20-Why do you complain about FREE ENTERTAINMENT?
Do you complain that free samples don't taste good? Do you complain about the free entertainment you get from videos? If you do, then you are a serious ingrate, I mean IT IS FREE!

The saying "getting what you paid for" comes to mind. That aside, how does the amount in which I pay in any way affect the merit of said thing which I scrutinize? Yes, I hold opinions about TV shows, about the taste of free samples, and I criticize the occasional webcomic. As long as my complaints are legitimate, I don't see why there are those who see it as a sacrilegious act when I speak my mind on these matters. See, that's why bad webcomics exist. We become complacent about quality because the allure of "free stuff" allows us to ignore many flaws, which, had we had to pay a price to acquire, would have aroused fierce emotions of anger and disappointment.

Out of curiousity, how much would you pay to read "Looking for Group"? Look at it, and ask yourself how much you would pay to continue to follow the adventures of Cale and the gang. The corresponding number should roughly equate the value of the webcomic.

In short, just because it's free, doesn't mean it becomes immune to the assessment of others.

[doliest]

Okay, now on a more legitamite arguement-You state people only read LFG for richard....where do you obtain your arguements? Can you show me people who only read for richard or are you pulling this idea out of hammerspace?

[Blayze]

Can you show me people who only read for richard

I can. Me. I only read LFG for Richard. There, you see. We exist.

[Natural20]

I can. Me. I only read LFG for Richard. There, you see. We exist.

Thank you. I wasn't even going to dignify that last post with a response, because all one has to do is read the previous posts in this thread and one would've found plenty of your elusive breed. Unless you're all from "hammerspace".

[Arakune]

I always though this comic was about the point of view of Richard.

[doliest]

Now on a bit more question-How does that make it a bad comic? Wasn't it one of your previous post that stated the two main things that attract mans to things are the plot & the characters? Certain characters being the main attraction to something is nothing new, there are people who only follow movie series because they like a certain characters.

[Indon]

Out of curiousity, how much would you pay to read "Looking for Group"? Look at it, and ask yourself how much you would pay to continue to follow the adventures of Cale and the gang. The corresponding number should roughly equate the value of the webcomic.


I need water to live, and a dollar for a liter of bottled water is absolutely ridiculous.

Similarly, I wouldn't pay to see any webcomic, regardless of quality (Even Narbonic!). Why should I? There are hundreds, if not thousands, that are free.

That said, I like the webcomic. I view the stock fantasy plot largely as a backdrop for the interesting character interactions (not just Richard, though he is much better written than Black Mage is) similar to that of a tabletop RP group, and the amusing nerd in-jokes (including the book-based ones I'm pretty sure most people probably don't get).

[Raroy]

Now on a bit more question-How does that make it a bad comic? Wasn't it one of your previous post that stated the two main things that attract mans to things are the plot & the characters? Certain characters being the main attraction to something is nothing new, there are people who only follow movie series because they like a certain characters.

A gimmick can only stand on its toes for so long until it falls down. Sure it may get back up on its toes but it is still not enough support. Some people would like substance that can stand on its own.

[North]

I like the comic. Richard does dominate but what else would happen with a character like him. The others have gotten thier moments to shine as well though so there is some balance.

[Firestar27]

I don't agree with that. Richard is the primary reason why people read LFG. As I see it, readers can be attracted to a comic by two things: they are drawn by the plot, or by the characters. Though it is by far a universal sentiment, there are those who feel that LFG's plot and transitions are quite weak, and that to them, Richard is the main attraction. So yes, Richard makes LFG popular, and what sets it apart from other characters who perform random killings is because he genuinely makes it amusing as opposed to others who try to mimic it pathetically. This, I feel, is an important point.

About Cale's supposed fall: I don't care one whit about it. This again falls back to Sohmer's inability to make me care about his actors or his story, and I viewed Cale's descent from his moral high ground with the same amount of attention as I give to the plot: very little. After the strip where Cale killed the "little boy" and escaped, we are treated to Emo-Cale. That is a prime example of the jolting transitions which I find so disorienting. The time gap is unexplained, and yes, though it is easy to assume why Cale is so distraught, (and a few panels elaborating on it would've been nice), it doesn't explain where the heck they are, and the plot recap was confusing as anything.

Richard brought me to the comic, Cale kept me there. His fall is very interesting to me. The last panel of the third book is the best one so far. Granted, the plot could be made less confusing. However, when there is plot, it's great. Sohmer just needs to learn proper pacing. Besides, it could be worse. He could take an entire year (real time) to get through a single night's event (comic time). (Hammer Time)

[Jayngfet]

to respond to the whole richard is the only reason to read, I'd like to point out that I(along with a few others who posted here) like cale, his reactions early on to richard made it sweeter, benny questioned his gender multiple times, and some third thing:smalltongue:

so yes there are people that like cale.

[Hell Puppi]

I also have to say I find the plot of LFG confusing and jolting. There's very little character development, and what there is just kind of gets thrown at you.
I think the art style and humor of LFG is excellent, he just needs to slow down a bit and explain things a bit more.

I do read it, though, but right now it's only for Richard.:smallwink: :smallwink:

[Midnight Lurker]

I think the whole point of the last several months of strips has just been revealed.

Gentlefolk, we have a plot. :smallamused:

[Sc00by]

"Has anyone seen my Fishy?" (http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/115)

I'm looking forward to the swathe of destruction they are abut to cut! (see previous comic)

I'm still at a loss as to what there isn't to like about this comic. And now I've read the Least I could do (http://www.leasticoulddo.com/) archive I actually like it more! (Oh and Ashley > Richard! :wink: )

All it really needs is a RSS feed (note: this is someone's cue to post a link to one that I'd missed :wink: )

[Tengu]

I stopped reading this webcomic sometimes around when they arrived to the dragon lands. The art is good and the jokes are funny when they are not about Richard killing people (which got boring very quickly), but I just find the characters extremely unsympathetic and cannot connect to them in any way (and a connection between the reader and the characters is crucial in a plot-driven story) - the elf is a retard, the tauren is boring and a hypocrite, the troll/orc/whatever she is is an annoying bitch, Richard (the only one whose name I remember, go figure) is sometimes amusing, but usually annoying and shallow - plus, he is pretty much "inspired" by 8-Bit Theater's Black Mage. Which is a much better "crapsack world" webcomic in my book.

[Hungry Kobold]

I read it for Richard and because it's a couple minutes that I can spend reading something light with pretty pictures. On Mondays and Thursdays I'm never going to have anything going on that requires my full attention all the time.


Yes, the plot and characters are weak, but that's pretty much how I view all webcomics in comparison to Order of the Stick. And there aren't many webcomics I can stand to read, anyway. LFG is one of the five I read. (One of which is just starting out in the Arts and Crafts forum called Anti-Heroes. :smallsmile: It's good enough that I'm giving it free publicity, just because I can)

[Callos_DeTerran]

*Cough*

I'm actually a big fan of Looking for Group and not entirely for Richard either. It's much more so for the good art and the joke-time the other characters get then simply Richard draw me in. I've also had no trouble in following the plot as well and find it invigorating that it's not plainly stated or followed all of the time. Strikes me as more of what would really happen.

On another note, I couldn't give a rat's furry behind about connecting with characters. And this doesn't apply to just LFG either almost anything I read or watch. I watch to see what happens, to see if it's something new, old and re-hashed in a unique way, or just plain bad then to see what happens to the characters. In almost any comic I read I look for that. Characters and such could die left and right and I wouldn't care that it doesn't actually mean anything beyond the fact it happened which is not something I see often. (Dead dead, not 'we're going to reasurreact him once we can' ((Yes I'm looking at you Roy)) )

[Indon]

He could take an entire year (real time) to get through a single night's event (comic time). (Hammer Time)

What madman could possibly have a story arc go on for that long? (www.egscomics.com)

Though, I just noticed something about LFG - the art has not significantly improved, despite having quite a few pages. It started out good and the refinements have been minor. Not typical for an actually drawn webcomic.

[Indurain]

I'm not one to often brag about things, but this...I must.

My girlfriend and I took a trip to Montreal this past weekend. Montreal is the home of Blind Ferret Entertainment (creators of LFG and LICD). Well, we're both big fans, so a quick search through the phone book and a GPS and we found ourselves at the Blind Ferret offices.

We spent an hour chatting with Ryan Sohmer about books, life, and the comics (of course). But at one point I mentioned something about GenCon. Sohmer was curious and asked me more about it. After a bit of info, he calls in Randy and the conversation went something like this.

"Randy, I want to go to GenCon."

"You want a lot of things."

"Yeah, but I want to go to GenCon."

"I'll see what I can do."

Well, yesterday GenCon was officially added to the list of Con appereances by the Blind Ferret crew.

Tell me that's not awesome!!

[WanderingLich]

I just caught all the way up to the end of the comic today (Page 993) I can see where most of you are coming from about the plot and the jokes. How there is too little of one and too much of the other. The start was slow more jokes then anything. What 5 pages just to get Cale'anon introduced completely? I happen to like it all tho. Yeah it was slow, the plot is thin bare but the things some of them do and the ideas of it are good. And you gotta admit somewhere deep in all of us on here we all wish we were Richard sometimes.

[eschmenk]

This thread had been dead for almost eight years? If there is only a total of 993 pages, it seems as if the comic must have ended a while ago, too. I don't know, but I know that I gave up on it and stopped reading it quite a few years ago. :smallconfused:

[Kislath]

I've played a lot of World of Warcraft, and I can tell you that I've run across all of these characters! Not them literally, but the very sorts they're representing/parodying.

I like this comic. I can tell that there is more going on than we know. Richard isn't just hanging out with the rest because he's bored. No, he's on a mission of major significance. We just don't know what it is yet.

When I read the comic, I give Richard the voice of Christopher Lloyd. Try it, it's fun!

[Vinyadan]

I can tell that there is more going on than we know. Richard isn't just hanging out with the rest because he's bored. No, he's on a mission of major significance. We just don't know what it is yet.

So the comic hasn't changed. I read it for a while, and also posted about it in another discussion on this forum (a more recent one).

The first pages are genuinely funny, even though some things aren't really explained (Richard gives for assumed that all pink elves are evil: if you aren't a WoW player, that doesn't come all that easily.)
It was also clear that the event flow wasn't very important, and that the characters behaving like they do was the real strong point, exactly as it is in a video game.

Then the comic left video game land, or tried to. The characters stopped being avatars of players and became schizophrenic people. The plot didn't go anywhere, and everything was as anticlimactic as possible. The fight in the capital was the biggest disappointment for me.

Then Sohmer kept giving little hints about the truth behind Richard, and, in the end, that was all there was to it. Everything else was as sloppy as possible. So I stopped reading, although I don't really remember where that was. Even the NPC stories got boring, and their attempt to retcon stuff didn't make much sense anyway.

Sohmer has the record of making three comics I was very interested into for a few years and then stopped reading.