The Order of the Stick: October

[Bogotter]

Carry on.

[WampaX]

D'oh

Should have realized it was a new month (my favorite) thanks for the catch Bogotter.

[Adghar]

Yes, that's right, let's blame Haley. The rogue-ish rogue that escaped the grasp of a dastardly villain. Well, not that dastardly. But she's making her way as quick as she can. She's not one to betray a group. Well, yes she is, but still. She'll come back in good time... they always do.

[penguinscanfly81]

Hooray for october!

[Hadoken]

mmm...october...the only month with more October than you can shake a stick at, and all jammed into only 31 days.

[Caledonian]

Medoken, Hadoken.

I just love the latest comic, particularly the look on Durkon's face as he's overwhelmed by goblins.

If the healer goes down, who'll put him back together?

And whatever happened to his girlfriend?

[Grey Watcher]

And whatever happened to his girlfriend?

They broke up, remember?

[Nighthawk4]

So the guys are now in trouble - in the case of V, I may be using the term 'guy' loosely, or maybe not. ;)

Only Haley, or perhaps Elan, can save them now............



Yeah, you are right - they are screwed :D

[NackterGolfer]

Durkon is a dwarf! He cannot be overwhelmed by stinkin Goblins! He'll smite them with his racial bonus on attack rolls!
Fear Thor's might!

[Adghar]

Y'know what he should do? Since Clerics fight now, he needs Power Attack, Cleave, Improved Power Attack (If there is that in P&P D&D that is not NWN), Great Cleave, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, Greater Weapon Focus, and Greater Weapon Specialization.

Silly caster Clerics.

[Grey Watcher]

Y'know what he should do? Since Clerics fight now, he needs Power Attack, Cleave, Improved Power Attack (If there is that in P&P D&D that is not NWN), Great Cleave, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, Greater Weapon Focus, and Greater Weapon Specialization.

Silly caster Clerics.

Well, remember, Clerics don't get any bonus feats, so he probably chose to spend the few feats he's entitled to on further specializing his role as a healer and protector. Speaking of which, unless you take Fighter levels, you can't qualify for Weapon Specialization.

[Scorpina]

Unless you take Fighter Level 3, infact.

Fighter Level 3 Is Stupid Level.

[Matuse]

Just as a bit of trivia, October *is* the longest month of the year.

[Elethiomel]

Unless you take Fighter Level 3, infact.

Fighter Level 3 Is Stupid Level.

Which is true, but you also need to take Fighter Level 4 to qualify for Weapon Specialisation. ;)

Anyway;
Haaaaaley's here to save the daaaaay!

[DrDoom]

Haley to the rescue!

Dang, I really *wish* that OOTS would be updated more often...


btw, the overview with the colored circles was just nice, as well as the look on V's face, as the ghasts have lifted her (him?) above ground...

Oh, and of course: "Tumbling skill, dont fail me now!"

[Terandir]

Whew. Now, that really IS a "cliffhanger".... ;D

Terandir

[goblin]

too bad haley lost her bow. i guess she'll have to buy a new one.

or steal one, i guess.

haley rules.

[OzRic_The_Unhinged]

My Life is complete. I have OOTS to read every week.

[Rhuna_Coppermane]

Oh. My.

Thursday cannot come soon enough.

[Pharazon]

Wow, this should be good. I'm surprised she lost her bow, D&D characters always seem to have some hidden storage for all that stuff :)

I love the overview of Haley standing in the big mouth, with goblins below. Nice work. Keep it up!

Oh, and... Haley will fail some way or another. I mean... I'm so looking forward to whatever is behind that portal, it just has to open some time!

[RawBearNYC]

Whew. Now, that really IS a "cliffhanger".... ;D

Terandir

Um, I don't see a cliff. and she is not, in fact, hanging from anything. :P

[Tarlonniel]

Wow, tumbling practice sure paid off for Elan! I do hope Haley gets there in time to warn him. And then I hope he touches the gate anyway :D

I'm very :-/ about poor V, though....

[RawBearNYC]

I think one of the things that I enjoy the most about the Order of the Stick is that, despite a myriad of other dysfunctions and ineptitudes, they seem to be competent in a battle. That makes me happy.

[Grey Watcher]

I think one of the things that I enjoy the most about the Order of the Stick is that, despite a myriad of other dysfunctions and ineptitudes, they seem to be competent in a battle. That makes me happy.

Becaue people who can't carry on a civil conversation, but can slaughter mercilessly are always such nice people to meet.

[Blackdog]

Wow, I was sure that thing was going to eat her. :)

[Invariel]

I think Rich has been playing too many fighting games. Or reading up on them. After all, the goblin that Elan tumbled past "Whiff"'d his attack. :)

[MacDude]

Unless you take Fighter Level 3, infact.

Fighter Level 3 Is Stupid Level.

Not as dumb as Sorcerer Level 2!

[Grey Watcher]

You know, I could wish that Rich had gone for a wordless comic. I mean, he did such a good job telling the story of this strip without words, that's it kinda seems tacky to have that "Tumble skill don't fail me now" line stuck in there.

[Aerysil1]

I think hearing Haley talk reminds us she has a brain.

In any case, I'm glad Elan didn't strip down for the Tumble check.

[Grey Watcher]

I think hearing Haley talk reminds us she has a brain.

In any case, I'm glad Elan didn't strip down for the Tumble check.

But she clearly has a thought bubble when she recalls that she left her bow and arrow behind, so she is clearly capable of thinking.

And yes, I was just thinking that hopefully this should dispel Elan's superstition about nudity and Dexterity-based skills.

[Lilly]

IloveitIloveitIloveit I Love IT!

Thank you for bringing back happy Calvin and hobbes memories. (Almost wordless comic)

There isn't anything else to say.

[GypsyThorn]

My Life is complete. I have OOTS to read every week.



Correction: Your life is complete after you read OOTS AND have clicked both voting links at the bottom of the page.

[WhiteMonkey]

#108

I counted 10 attacks of opportunity! And he was flanked!

It's like they want him to get to the door...
Oooohhhhh, I get it.

ha ha ;D

[Terandir]

Um, I don't see a cliff. and she is not, in fact, hanging from anything. :P

Yeah, right, kill my metaphor, spoil my stupid attempt to be funny. Why do you always have to make me cry? :'(

Greetings,
Terandir
*thinking about divorce*

[Shatteredtower]

You know, I could wish that Rich had gone for a wordless comic. I mean, he did such a good job telling the story of this strip without words, that's it kinda seems tacky to have that "Tumble skill don't fail me now" line stuck in there.

Gotta disagree. The comment was true to the form for OotS. As much as I dislike having player characters refer to game mechanics within a game I'm playing or running, it's thematic within this comic strip. I can't see someone who calls out, "Sneak Attack!" passing up mention of her Tumble skill at a time like this.

Besides, this wasn't the first word balloon and there are a plethora of sound effects, so it wouldn't be a truly wordless strip anyway, despite a lack of audible dialogue. (Maybe dialogue is a poor choice of words, though, since this strip technically didn't include any.)

[Sundog]

#108

I counted 10 attacks of opportunity! And he was flanked!

It's like they want him to get to the door...
Oooohhhhh, I get it.

ha ha

Good point. I was just thinking he'd gone more than 20 feet with that tumble...

[Shatteredtower]

Well, since he's taking no other actions, he can easily tumble for thirty feet in a round -- half his move for two move actions.

Besides, who says today's strip was only one round long? ;)

[MacDude]

But where are all the zombies!?

I guess they couldn't be trusted to let Elan through (they are brainless after all.)

[NackterGolfer]

roy is possibly showing them his cleavage :)

[Lilly]

She jumped him!

Elan isn't all that smart but his player is at least logical. And did he bring any arrows for Haley to use with her bow?

[Jaws]

Ah. Ya did it. I care about the characters. Even the bard.


Peace and smiles :)

j.

[Lilly]

I just noticed the super-special-nifty-in-the-messageboards-title and, curse my band girl brain, "Tensions aren't the only things that are rising are they?"

[Terandir]

But where are all the zombies!?

I guess they couldn't be trusted to let Elan through (they are brainless after all.)

I guess that's why they were lined up to the left, while the goblins were standing to the right, on the way to the gate.

And I love the creature in the shadows... reminds me of a Loserz-comic, where they try to persuade Jodie to a game of AD&D. "Come on, roll the dice... all the uncool kids are doing it." :D

BTW: Is that "Almost there..." from Xykon a Star Wars Reference?

Greetings,
Terandir

[Purplet]

Fall Fall Fall Fall in love with a brown dressed rogue chick !

[Invariel]

I always thought that Elan and Haley had a 'thing' going. She calls him sweetie back at the start of the Linear Guild stuff, and Sabine and Nale are kinda an item, ...

And that seems like quite the lovely date. "So, umm, wanna kill some goblins?" Le swoon.

[Purplet]

And she touched him when they were invisible! And she appriciated the 18 charisma under-the-hood :D

[Pharazon]

Ahh.... that's so cute. The old cliche of the 'moment', the speechlessness, and the quick changing of the subject. How nice.

Speaking of Sabine, though... when is she coming back, anyway?

[Elethiomel]

Haley ought to be too smart to fall for a dunce like Elan. But then, who needs conversation?

Love the strip. I just wish there were more Mondays and Thursdays in the week so I could get all these cool build up scenes -and- get to watch the Xykon-finale sooner. I'm really curious how the Giant is going to do all the after-adventure stuff... selling of loot, dividing treasure, maybe a few scenes in a magic shop... or some wilderness encounter on the way back.

[Abelard]

I'm really curious how the Giant is going to do all the after-adventure stuff... selling of loot, dividing treasure

Elethiomel, I think that everything they find in this place will just be more "feminine products". Hee.

[mossfoot]

I dunno, I think "Tensions Mount" might have been a more appropriate title concidering the positioning ;)

[AngelSword]

So I'm not the only one who thought that the sexual tension in today's strip was so thick, you could cut it with a butter knife.

[Aralen]

I can´t believe there is a comic so cool, free, and smart!!!

I love this!

[Tarlonniel]

Drat.

I wanna see what's behind the gate

Also, I'm now a bit jealous of Haley >:(

[AngelSword]

Also, I'm now a bit jealous of Haley >:(
Coincidentally, I'm jealous of Elan.

[Sebastian]

I always thought that Elan and Haley had a 'thing' going. She calls him sweetie back at the start of the Linear Guild stuff, and Sabine and Nale are kinda an item, ...



Not only that, she even stole a healing potion and a rapier for him without asking nothing for it, If that is not love... ;D

[Nighthawk4]

Hey - Haley to the Rescue ;)

I was wondering what happened to her bow. I wonder where Elan carried it? It is always visible when Haley carries it - like Roy's Greatsword. However, Elan's rapier doesn't show up either.

Sorry Boss, just nitpicking.

A very good strip again. Lots of Haley, plus some Elan. An embarrassing moment for them both. What more could you want - maybe some Belkar-Goblin action with witty repartee, or some dry Elvish comment from V?

As for the question of why Haley would fall for Elan - who else would she choose? V may or not be male, Roy is too thick (dumb Fighter), Belkar is too blood-thirsty and Durkon is already spoken for.

[Scorpina]

Well, y'know, female characters don't always have to fall in love with a male party member. ::)

I do think Haley and Elan go well together, with her brains and his...well...he adds nothing, but still...they could rule the world...

[Jarlo]

Personally I think Elan totally missed his Sense Motive roll on Haley and didn't realise the sexual tension in their compromising position.

Or maybe he would prefer Roy to fall on him...

[WhiteMonkey]

I was wondering what happened to her bow. I wonder where Elan carried it? It is always visible when Haley carries it - like Roy's Greatsword. However, Elan's rapier doesn't show up either.
Um... Helloooooo! V has a raven familiar, and it only pops up when needed. So how is it surprising that a bow or a rapier might do the same? Duh! ::)

[Fire_Wolf]

Or maybe he would prefer Roy to fall on him...
Well, Roy does have great cleavage. :P

I love this comic. I should've started posting ages ago. I can't wait until Monday.

[Starbuck_II]

Well, y'know, female characters don't always have to fall in love with a male party member. ::)

I do think Haley and Elan go well together, with her brains and his...well...he adds nothing, but still...they could rule the world...

Shh, don't tell them that!

I feel tensions rising between Elan and Haley. Look the akward silence, the closesness, and more.

Think they will hook up soon? Or too shy?

Elan adds Charisma, jokes, cuteness(maybe to a girl eh), great tumbling, good music, and a candlelight dinner.
Okay the last part has not occured yet. ;D

[Duskrider_Moogle]

Yeah, it seems to me that Haley has always been going after Elan in subtle and not-so-subtle ways since the beginning of the strip. A good couple they are...

I was kind of disappointed to find that Haley's Tumble didn't fail her, though. I REALLY wanted to see what was behind the Gate.

Oh man, what if we never see the Secret Weapon and we never find out what's behind the Gate? I will have lived my life in vain!

[Blackdog]

Or maybe he would prefer Roy to fall on him...


I doubt it, because whatever you heard about what happened at Summer camp...

[Sebastian]

Elan adds Charisma, jokes, cuteness(maybe to a girl eh), great tumbling, good music, and a candlelight dinner.
Okay the last part has not occured yet. ;D

Plus, he use his rapier like a pro.<wink><wink><nudge> <nudge> ;) ;)

[bor]

Yeah, it seems to me that Haley has always been going after Elan in subtle and not-so-subtle ways since the beginning of the strip. A good couple they are...


Dear Duskrider,
May I remind you that Haley totally ingored Elan when they set out to explore this dungeon?
It's clear to me that Rich is showing us all some serious Character Development (allthough the literature terms "Round Character" doesn't really apply, now does it?) ;D

[JD]

Okay, I've been to lazy to post here for a while but I simply had to see how many others had noticed the akward moment.... Somehow I wouldn't be surprised if Haley dumped him for snooping through her "feminine products"

[Matuse]

I just hope they save the "DurkonView" crystal ball for the Haley/Elan hook-up...they both have really high tumble after all. I wonder if either of them are double jointed.

[evileeyore]

Okay, I have looked high and low...

Where are you guys seeing the titles? I can't seem to find them.

Not that I'm really missing anything, but...

Feeling oh so left out--EvilE

[Aramul]

The changing text banner at the top of the Forums page usually displays it. You can't actually find them after a new one has been put up.

[Duskrider_Moogle]

Dear Duskrider,
May I remind you that Haley totally ingored Elan when they set out to explore this dungeon?
It's clear to me that Rich is showing us all some serious Character Development (allthough the literature terms "Round Character" doesn't really apply, now does it?) ;D

Dear Bor,
How do you mean? If you're talking about the fact that they didn't get together before the beginning of the strip, that's entirely true but it's also possible that she was always hitting on him but we only started seeing it during the strip because we didn't see the OotS before then. However, either way you're right in that major character development is indeed occuring.
With affection,
Duskrider
PS: How are the kids?

[Nighthawk4]

Okay, I have looked high and low...

Where are you guys seeing the titles? I can't seem to find them.

Not that I'm really missing anything, but...

Feeling oh so left out--EvilE


Click on the Archive link to see the title of each script. ;)

[Shatteredtower]

Well, y'know, female characters don't always have to fall in love with a male party member. ::)

Is true. I once had a DM insistently try to arrange a romance for a female player despite her repeated requests that he cut it out.


I do think Haley and Elan go well together, with her brains and his...well...he adds nothing, but still...they could rule the world...

You know... there's a lot of opportunities...

Thank you so much for leaving a Pet Shop Boys song rolling around in my head.

[ThogLikesPuppies]

Has anyone else noticed how it's Monday and there's NOT been an update?

Ok, Rich may have posted somewhere else that it's delayed because of x, y, z, but I'm at work, and don't have the luxury of reading ALL these boards.

I feel so betrayed... but in a warm, tingly way.

[Master_of_Dragons]

Well, I have noticed that he's a bit later than usual today, too, but... please read this (http://www.giantitp.com/FAQ.html#faq11), then remember that Rich lives in America, which means that he's some hours behind us. I think HE wouldn't consider the strip late right now... :P

Master of Dragons

[ThogLikesPuppies]

;D
I know, I was just complaining
I like complaining
And Thog. Thog's cool.

[Wanderer]

Well, I have noticed that he's a bit later than usual today, too, but... please read this, then remember that Rich lives in America, which means that he's some hours behind us. I think HE wouldn't consider the strip late right now...

Well, I live in America too, and it's almost 8 AM with no comic. That's later than I ever remember him being before. I hope everything's all right.

[penguinscanfly81]

Remember though, it is Colombus day here in America. Could Rich be taking a little vacation. I would hope so, or else he will have ruined his perfect update record.

[Tunic]

Where I am, it'll be Tuesday in one hour. *sigh* No Stick-fix for me till breakfast. *wanders off to bed*

[Baron]

Patience.

And stop pressing F5 like that, you'll go blind. :P

[Aerysil1]

Don't rush it - go for quality!

[Ferret_Dragon]

Heheh...

Cute filler on lateness...

Joke:
See, this is a conspiracy... Rich didn't think traffic on his site was increasing enough so he delayed OotS to increase the number of hits ;)

[Rromagar]

Oh, man, StickRich with angry eyebrows....

Can't breathe, laughing at that image...

*gasp*

Oh, man that's awesome.

[SimonMoon5]

And what's he wearing?

Is that a too-short blue miniskirt, with reddish-brown underwear?

Edit: Oh, wait, never mind, I think that's supposed to be blue shorts, with the back of the reddish-brown shirt sticking down behind him.

[Blackdog]

Don't get too excited -- from the look of things, 110 is just a repeat of 107.

Seriously though, this is a good thing; we're supposed to get our comic later today, and in the meantime, there's some amusing filler.

[MacDude]

Um... Helloooooo! V has a raven familiar, and it only pops up when needed. So how is it surprising that a bow or a rapier might do the same? Duh! ::)

The way that D&D is played, every charater has a virtual bag of holding. I know of characters that have a number of very large items and they run around through adventures carrying it all with aplumb. Great Flail for this, Great Sword for that, ladders, cooking pots, etc. Most DMs let it slide as long as the charater has the strength for it. :-/

[MacDude]

Thank you so much for leaving a Pet Shop Boys song rolling around in my head.

Um.... Tears for Fears?

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=411490&selectedItemId=411462

[Invariel]

"You killed more than one guy named Fyron in Cliffport?"
'Five, actually.'

Buah. This is quite worth the wait.

And, to all you Canucks, happy Thanksgiving.

[The Giant]

I posted this on the main page, but I'll repeat it here:

"Without going into too much detail, today's Order of the Stick was late because the original (completed) strip poked fun at something I then decided wasn't really appropriate, given an item in the news today. I thus had to write and draw a second strip, which ended up taking way too long."

[Narfink]

Worth the wait. Thanks for the explanation Rich, though you don't owe us one.

"If you can't open my gate for me, you can suck on this Symbol of Pain instead." That was a nice line. You have obviously played the villain with the DM hat on.

[Pharazon]

I can't believe I can still view the comic before I have to go to bed :)

It was worth the wait, good comic. Guess the showdown's coming very soon! And that Xykon sure has a history of killing people! Imagine that, killing multiple Fyrons in Cliffport in 1 spring...

But that original comic... I don't know what news you are talking about, but most bits of news lose attention over time... will you still put it online some day? Or is its humor forever lost to us?

[DamotheBoyWonder]

I'm curious now... what was the story that you were originally making fun of? I'm sure everyone will understand if you tell us, since you already explained that you didn't know when you were making the cartoon.

The only thing I saw on ChicagoTribune.com of note was Christopher Reeves dying and a bus crash that killed a bunch of people.

[The Giant]

It might be seen someday, but not for a while. The fact is, the story is soon going to move past the point where it would have made sense anyway. Perhaps someday in a compilation book, if I can ever print one.

[penguinscanfly81]

.... or else he will have ruined his perfect update record.

This case counts too. We wont mark you down for tardyness this time.

[Aser]

Hahahaha! Lots and lots of Xykon at his most arrogantly evil! Ah, don't let Roy kill him, Xykon is too funny.

[Tarlonniel]

Okay, we need an icon for ROTFLOL. :D and ;D just don't cut it. Laundry Night! Hee hee hee hee ha ha *snort* Ah, I love it.

[firefighterbard]

Hey, I just want to say first that this is a great strip! Myself and a few members of my gaming group make a point to read each and every strip and use it for discussion fodder during lulls in the weekly game. The strips this month have been some of the best in my opinion, especially this 'climactic' battle.

[Wanderer]

Myself and a few members of my gaming group make a point to read each and every strip and use it for discussion fodder during lulls in the weekly game.

??? That's exactly what MY group does... *looks at the bard closely* Do I know you? ;)

[Grey Watcher]

Rich Burlew, you

are

a

GENIUS!

[Warrior]

I gotta say, I've been reading since #50 when an old gaming buddy told me that I really probably couldn't live without reading this strip. I checked it out, and, I'll be darned, he was right.

This is, truly, hands down, a brilliant comic and I am a shameless slacker for having waited so long to humble myselves before the creator on the message boards to say so. Knights of the Dinner Table are funny, but they do not possess the genius of OOTS, nor do they carry the broad appeal that OOTS does. I have friends who would never dare roll a d20 in their life who call me and ask if I've read the OOTS yet twice a week. My husband and I have seriously contemplated having our first born's name legally changed to OOTS, or perhaps getting pictures of the entire cast of characters tattooed across our ever-broadening, middle-aged backsides, simply because any lesser act fails to do honor to the magnificence that Burlew has created here.

OOTS is way better than Garfield.

Nuff said.

[Invariel]

OOTS is way better than Garfield.
Truer words have ne'er been spoken.

[mossfoot]

Truer words have ne'er been spoken.


True... but it also qualifies as understatement of the bloody year... I got laundry that's funnier than Garfield.


That said, this strip was the funniest one in a long time. Hilarious! I loved it! Had to share it with everyone I know :D

[Hagar]

Oooh, I missed the filler :-[

After being a lurker for months, I might as well say it: Great comic, ... no ...., 'The' Best Comic in The Know Universe ... and Beyond ;D

[Fire_Wolf]

:D This is the stuff of which legends are made.

"More specific." Teehee.

[Gamebird]

Yes, the comic is great!!! More accolades to Rich!!

A friend of mine emailed a link to me one slow morning at work and I blew the next three hours reading the whole series! Since then I've told all my gamer friends about it and a lot of them now follow the strip. I'm going to get my husband a t-shirt for Christmas. He really likes the Banjo the God of Puppetry thing, since he despises the idea of being able to get spells from worshipping a "concept".

[eldersphinx]

I posted this on the main page, but I'll repeat it here:

"Without going into too much detail, today's Order of the Stick was late because the original (completed) strip poked fun at something I then decided wasn't really appropriate, given an item in the news today. I thus had to write and draw a second strip, which ended up taking way too long."

If the news item in question was the death of Christopher Reeve, then I for one wholly back the rewritee decision. Good call, man.

[Grey Watcher]

The only thing I saw on ChicagoTribune.com of note was Christopher Reeves dying and a bus crash that killed a bunch of people.

I'm guessing it was a Superman parody of some kind. After all, I can't imagine a bus getting involved in this....

[Sundog]

Whichever, it was worth the wait!

My preferred humor is more visceral, but for the first time I was laughing out loud. Brilliant!

[Invariel]

Oooh, I missed the filler :-[

The filler was stick-Rich-with-angry-eyebrows chasing after strip 107-with-legs shouting, "Come back here, you ungrateful..." I hope it goes up with the rest of the filler stuff.

[Wanderer]

You know, this has been nagging at me ever since this battle began, and I finally went to the trouble of looking it up. Disrupting Weapon (the only spell in the PHB that matches what Rich has simply identified as "Disruption") only lasts one round per caster level. And Roy Greehilt (whose sword has a green hilt, I just noticed that) has already been wasting most of those rounds.

[Aralen]

did the simbol of pain work??

[Elethiomel]

You know, this has been nagging at me ever since this battle began, and I finally went to the trouble of looking it up. Disrupting Weapon (the only spell in the PHB that matches what Rich has simply identified as "Disruption") only lasts one round per caster level. And Roy Greehilt (whose sword has a green hilt, I just noticed that) has already been wasting most of those rounds.

Wasting them? Nay! He's been bravely charging t'wards the evil overlord Xykon, never stopping on the way.
(remember, talking is a free action in 3.5 ;) )

[Rodrick_the_Red]

And that Xykon sure has a history of killing people! Imagine that, killing multiple Fyrons in Cliffport in 1 spring...

No problem, Xykon figures out he needs the magic dodad from a Fyron in Cliffport. Does he waste time trying to figure out which one?

Of course not he just gets the tax rolls and starts offing Fyron's until he gets the right one. ;)

[Grey Watcher]

did the simbol of pain work??
Judging by their "Argh", I would assume it did.

[The Giant]

You know, this has been nagging at me ever since this battle began, and I finally went to the trouble of looking it up. Disrupting Weapon (the only spell in the PHB that matches what Rich has simply identified as "Disruption") only lasts one round per caster level. And Roy Greehilt (whose sword has a green hilt, I just noticed that) has already been wasting most of those rounds.

Y'know, this is the most annoying thing about using D&D as the basis for a comic strip. Dude, it's a STORY first. If I stuck to the spell duration, I could not tell that story and you would not have gotten today's strip. Is accuracy to the spells in the PHB worth not getting the jokes in today's strip? Would you have been happier if his spell had run out in the middle of the joke today?

Further, I specifically did NOT call the spell Disrupting Weapon to try to avoid this, and there's no real proof that more than 9 rounds have passed anyway (Strips focusing on different characters take place simultaneously). Try to relax and realize that it is more important for the story to work than for me to slavishly follow the details of the rules.

[Adghar]

(remember, talking is a free action in 3.5 ;) )
This does not register as a point. Because while it's a free action, they have to switch for each one to speak. It's like that one time I thought "Free action to load a crossbow? Snap!" but then realized that attacking ends a turn. Actually, that isn't related too much. But still, it is true that they have to switch to actually talk.

But Rich's idea is better. Like one wise man once said, "The magic of comic strips stretch the laws of physics. Deal with it."

[Wanderer]

Y'know, this is the most annoying thing about using D&D as the basis for a comic strip. Dude, it's a STORY first. If I stuck to the spell duration, I could not tell that story and you would not have gotten today's strip. Is accuracy to the spells in the PHB worth not getting the jokes in today's strip? Would you have been happier if his spell had run out in the middle of the joke today?

Further, I specifically did NOT call the spell Disrupting Weapon to try to avoid this, and there's no real proof that more than 9 rounds have passed anyway (Strips focusing on different characters take place simultaneously). Try to relax and realize that it is more important for the story to work than for me to slavishly follow the details of the rules.

:o Oy! I didn't intend my comment as a criticism or an attack. I didn't mean it as a "Rich you're breaking the rules you can't do that now I'll hate you for eternity" kind of thing. Not at all!

My comment was meant as a story-related concern. You know, the fear that the spell's going to run out any second now... I figured it would be better to say it like that than to say "And just watch... Roy's going to rush up and swing at Xykon and right then the spell effect is going to wear off." It was a concern related to the story rather than to your mechanics.

Am I making any sense?

[Blackdog]

Try to relax and realize that it is more important for the story to work than for me to slavishly follow the details of the rules.

I think this is why OOTS may actually be more entertaining to non-DnD players. I do not play DnD, but I have a good deal of experience with other RPGs. Thus, when a character says "spot check", or "invisibility purge", it makes sense, even if I had not previously heard that term.
I feel that Rich does an excellent job differentiating between the more general RPG jokes and jokes that require specific knowledge of DnD, in which case I find that he provides ample explanation. Disruption is a perfect example of this: in a system I play, "Disruption" is a spell that deals direct damage to an enemy. Since The Giant outlines the spell only as it is important to the plot, the problem of limited duration did not occur to me except as a general concern for any temporary effect.

[Nighthawk4]

So are we saying that, if the strip had been out on Monday, Roy's spell would still have been in effect, whereas because it was not out until Tuesday, it is too late? :D

I think it is best to be reasonably familiar with the ideas behind D&D, but not have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the exact details. I play on an online NWN PW, as a Player and as a DM, but have never been able to try PnP. This can be a pain at times, since I do not have the depth of knowledge of the PHB and DM Guide - but seems just about right for enjoying OOTS.

OOTS Rocks ;)

BTW - my Banjo T-Shirt arrived yesterday. It looks great, thankyou Giant. It is the second option, the one with Haley. Might need one with Belkar eventually as well.

One advantage of Monday's strip coming out a day late - we don't have to wait as long for Thursday's ;)

[GypsyThorn]

Y'know, this is the most annoying thing about using D&D as the basis for a comic strip. Dude, it's a STORY first. ... Try to relax and realize that it is more important for the story to work than for me to slavishly follow the details of the rules.

Dating myself, but back in the 1980's, there was a play running for four years in Chicago called DungeonMaster. (It's been reincarnated in Santa Monica.) Produced, directed, and sheparded by Bruce Young, it involved a group of audience members playing D&D type characters running through a scenario staged by the regular cast.

For the most part it used D&D type rules. Combat between characters and NPCs was done with foam weapons in slow motion. (Although the players used slow motion, we were often treated to a set of stage combat between NPCs in full speed wonderfully choreographed by David Wooley.) Spells were cast by declaiming in a loud voice a bit of rhyming doggeral. ("Perhaps they can't hurt what they can't see/grant me from my enemies invisibility". Ogden Nash would do well here as a mage.)

But to the point. Bruce often had to remind the rule lawyers playing a character or in the crowd that the play was thing for which they came, not the rules. Whenever someone complained about how unfair it was that they died or something didn't work like it should or that they really, really should have been able to avoid a trap, Bruce just went back to his statement that this wasn't D&D (or life), it was a play.

So let's remember, people, it's a comic strip. True, it springs from D&D. But if Rich needs to make something work at the expense of page 37, column 2 in the players handbook, I'm willing to let it slide. (Please don't look up page 37, column 2. I have no idea what's there. It's just two numbers I picked at random.)

[AngelSword]

I think he actually said it best himself (quoting some other source I am too lazy to look up...something involving Babylon 5) when he said, "It moves at the speed of script." If he wants it to last 37 years, 8 months, 12 days, 7 hours, 26 minutes, and 5 seconds, it will. If he wants it to run out just as he's about to swing, it will. Being the person behind the pen is a powerful feeling, especially having that much control.

[GypsyThorn]

... Being the person behind the pen is a powerful feeling, especially having that much control.

Don't forget, though, Rich is powerful only because he has an enourmous group of readers who follow his strip. I believe this would make us his followers.

And yes, I did click the voting links today.

[Tarlonniel]

I'm guessing it was a Superman parody of some kind.

Parody Superman? He wouldn't dare! Well, yes he would... and I would laugh hysterically... but I'd still be mad. Kinda. ;) *hugs her video tapes of the '50s TV show*

[Shalbatana]

...and another thing! I see their sticks plain as day, so they must not be waring any leg or arm protection. You can't tell me they don't get injured more often than they have so far! Their AC must be super bad. ;D

on the other subject, knowing Rich, the last comic was probably about the Jib Jab site presidential cartoon, and he dropped it because they dropped the lawsuits.
just kidding

[Gamebird]

What was that about the Jib/Jab presidential stuff? Was it over the "This is your land, this is my land" thing? That one was awesome!

[Wanderer]

Folks, nobody's questioning Rich's right to draw whatever he wants. Nobody's accusing him of breaking any rules of D&D. I'm certainly not. These aren't even issues that are up for debate, as far as I'm concerned.

What I was doing was USING the rules from D&D to make a PREDICTION about possible future events in the comic. People here do that all the time.

I wasn't clear enough, it seems, and Rich misunderstood. Thus, I attempted to explain that I wasn't criticising him or anyone at all. That accomplished, there was no justification for others to jump in and starting beating me over the head about something I hadn't even DONE. Especially since I had just explained what I DID mean.

Are we finished now? Good. Sheesh.

[GypsyThorn]

Folks, nobody's questioning Rich's right to draw whatever he wants. Nobody's accusing him of breaking any rules of D&D. I'm certainly not. These aren't even issues that are up for debate, as far as I'm concerned.

What I was doing was USING the rules from D&D to make a PREDICTION about possible future events in the comic. People here do that all the time.

I wasn't clear enough, it seems, and Rich misunderstood. Thus, I attempted to explain that I wasn't criticising him or anyone at all. That accomplished, there was no justification for others to jump in and starting beating me over the head about something I hadn't even DONE. Especially since I had just explained what I DID mean.

Are we finished now? Good. Sheesh.

Ah-hah! He's flip-flopping! Trying to get off the hook!

(P.S. Let's never let the fact that there is no basis for debating stand in the way of a good debate.)

(P.P.S. In any case, I'm certainly willing to let you off the hook. Even if it was a stretch to get debate on de hook in the first place.)

(P.P.P.S. And that last comment was also quite a stretch.)

[Starbuck_II]

Don't forget, though, Rich is powerful only because he has an enourmous group of readers who follow his strip. I believe this would make us his followers.

And yes, I did click the voting links today.

There are voting links? ???

I wonder if Elan will cast any spells soon.

[Sebastian]

(about Disruption)
Probably what happened is that Durkon prepared it with the Extend spell feat, in the same situation I would have done the same.

Or is just plot power. ;)

[3volution]

I would point out now that, in case the almighty author has somehow failed to contemplate it, that since the shadowy creature of mysteriousnessness (tm) has spoken in front of Roy he has almost certainly been heard by the party. This means no surprise round or sneak attacks, if it matters.

Also he possesses large glowing yellow eyes which would appear to give away his position.

[DwarvesArePeople2]

i think the reason for the late comic PROBABLY had something to do with paralysis (drawing from a few strips back...ghoul's paralyzing touch thing)

[Lilly]

Belkar was right, "Holy Crap!" It's very holy and crap is the only thing to describe it.

[Invariel]

Finally, we see Durkon able to Do What Thor Would (or, a reasonable facsimile thereof), I'm just sad that there was no reference to WWTD today.

As for Monday's comic being up a day late, it went up on Monday, just rather late Monday. My post on it (about 5 minutes after the strip came out) was at 5:40 PM EST, and within two hours of the artist's location, the time zone by which his comic is measured. :)

Can't wait to see how Xykon gets tetanu... Oh, right, he's undead.

[Aramul]

God bless Righteous Might. And he does!

[SpitwolF]

V is male! look Durkon says so! I saw it first! Dibs or what ever! GIVE ME MY BADGE! ;D

[Shatteredtower]

No, Belkar says so, and when have you known him to be the most objective observer?

Or even the most perceptive observer?

I'm going to have nightmares about Fisher Price figures for days after this one.

Edit: I appreciate someone earlier sending me a link to a Tears for Fears piece in order to get the Pet Shop Boys out of my head, but I couldn't access it, I'm afraid. I had to settle for humming some New Order until I got to the arcade, which always works to get songs out of my head.

[Abelard]

OK, if anyone ever wants to do a character study of Belkar, then the first three panels of today's strip are all you'd need.

1. It's not my fault.
2. How does the situation affect me?
3. Your primary concern should be "How does the situation affect Belkar?"
4. I look down upon you because you are not me.
5. I want to stab things that are not me.
6. And do all the above dripping with sarcasm.

I think I love Belkar.

[GypsyThorn]

OK, if anyone ever wants to do a character study of Belkar, then the first three panels of today's strip are all you'd need.

1. It's not my fault.
2. How does the situation affect me?
3. Your primary concern should be "How does the situation affect Belkar?"
4. I look down upon you because you are not me.
5. I want to stab things that are not me.
6. And do all the above dripping with sarcasm.

I think I love Belkar.

Wow.

[Rhuna_Coppermane]

*giggle*

Oh my. I never thought I'd feel sorry for Belkar.

[Tarlonniel]

:o

Wow.

Just one question - what's an inukchuk? ???

[Grey Watcher]

I love the afterthought stabby moment.

[RawBearNYC]

isn't "Inukchuk" what that native american super hero from the superfriends cartoon used to say when he grew big?

[The Giant]

Just one question - what's an inukchuk? ???

Clearly, you weren't watching superhero cartoons in the late 70's/early 80's. ;)

EDIT: Yeah, RawBear got it while I was posting. "Inukchuk" was Apache Chief's magic word to grow bigger.

[Terandir]

Just a question... to me as a stranger to english language, Panel 2 looks strange.

Is there missing a word in Belkar's speech, or am I plain wrong? Shouldn't he say "... on my list of reasons why I'm glad I'm not a dwarf..."?

Hoping to get wiser,
Terandir

[Grey Watcher]

Just a question... to me as a stranger to english language, Panel 2 looks strange.

Is there missing a word in Belkar's speech, or am I plain wrong? Shouldn't he say "... on my list of reasons why I'm glad I'm not a dwarf..."?

Hoping to get wiser,
Terandir

Yeah, if he wanted to be strictly correct, he should say "... list of reasons why I'm glad...." But English is full of casual/lazy usages that drop words, mangle words, and otherwise make an already confusing language next to impossible for a non-native speaker to understand.

And, for the original intent of my post. I also love the throwaway line: "We have big guns?"

PS - I alas, was not watching cartoons of any kind in the late 70's and early 80's. In the late 70's I didn't exist, and in the early 80's I think the mobile over my crib was of greater interest to me.

[Lilly]

Clearly, you weren't watching superhero cartoons in the late 70's/early 80's. ;)

EDIT: Yeah, RawBear got it while I was posting. "Inukchuk" was Apache Chief's magic word to grow bigger.

Some of us didn't exist until the mid-80's and just think that the title is a very silly word.

Silly silly word.

[Shalbatana]

Folks, nobody's questioning Rich's right to draw whatever he wants.

Sorry dude, I was just playin. didn't mean anything. it wasn't towards you.

as for not existing in the 60's / 70's...that's what stations like cartoon boom and Nickelodeon are for.

You're missing out on some cartoon heritage! and some really cheezy stuff at that!
Seriously, it upsets me that you can't find woody woodpecker cartoons on tv anymore (though some subject matter was a little dated),. Hell it's hard to find old Bugs Bunny! Now there's all this anime garbage with whiny little girls and punk hairdo kids who have nothing to do but flip cards all day. What I wouldn't give for a good run of the oldies again. (I don't get CN Boom). Oh well.

[Shalbatana]

What was that about the Jib/Jab presidential stuff? Was it over the "This is your land, this is my land" thing? That one was awesome!


really long story short:
The guys who owned the rights to the song said that it's use was copyright infringement and that the song's meaning was altered. JibJab said lighten up it's just a parody, everyone started to sue everyone else, then realized how silly they were all being and the matter was dropped by all sides.

Search cnn or someone for more info.

[aoshi961]

The thing about the Jib-Jab parody is...

That song had been in public domain for a long time,and it falls under the category of parody anyway,so they were safe from the dreaded copyright infringement lawsuit.

[Duskrider_Moogle]

but how come that lady with the leopard-skin undies never had to say any magic words?

[Shatteredtower]

Clearly, you weren't watching superhero cartoons in the late 70's/early 80's. ;)

Oh, you young people and all this floccinaucinihilipilification. I was watching that show regularly from the Wendy and Marvin era (isn't it sad when a show can be defined by its comic relief sidekicks?), but never once knew what the heck Apache Chief was saying when he did that.

As for "Thor's Might," I assume this was an attempt to get around the issue of people counting spell durations again. Fair enough.

[GypsyThorn]

Oh, you young people and all this floccinaucinihilipilification...

2,380 hits in Google.com.

All that for a worthless word.

[Ferret_Dragon]

So, what's happening to V?

Getting chewed on by Ghasts? They playing with the paralyzed elf like a volleyball?

Or will Durkon Turn and then Remove Paralysis?

[Tarlonniel]

Supersized American Indian action heroes? Magic words? Coooool. :D

[yersch]

I think he actually said it best himself (quoting some other source I am too lazy to look up...something involving Babylon 5) when he said, "It moves at the speed of script." If he wants it to last 37 years, 8 months, 12 days, 7 hours, 26 minutes, and 5 seconds, it will. If he wants it to run out just as he's about to swing, it will. Being the person behind the pen is a powerful feeling, especially having that much control.
I think the "speed of script" quote came from Harlan Ellison, a fine writer and a shrewd critic of media.

Woo Hoo!! My first post! Glad to be in the playground.

[The Giant]

The "speed of plot" line came from Joe Stracyzinski, though it is entirely possible he in turn swiped it from Ellison, since they worked on B5 together.

[RawBearNYC]

Or vice versa

[Shalbatana]

so let me get this straight....

Harlan ellison is really apachie cheif, the guy who once jib jabbed Wendy, Marvin's sister.
Marvin tried to sue because Apachie Cheif started using big words, and they almost won until Varsuvious erupted and everyone was agast to see her in her leapord underwear, thus learning she was a man.

Wow! What a trippy comic this is!!!!

[Shatteredtower]

All that for a worthless word.

Hey, now, profanity was uncalled for. ;)

So, what's the situation now? Elan and Haley are in tremendous pain, Varsuvius is paralyzed, and Roy is currently facing off with an unimpressed lich who reminds me too much of South Park's take on Saddam Hussein, despite my best attempt to hear the voice that would be best represented by those word balloons.

... Oh, great, now I'm hearing interpretations of the voice of a Neil Gaiman character. I only hope that Belkar and Durkon get there soon.

The reason I ask is this: Has anyone established a betting pool on all of the possible outcomes of this fight? Who lives, who dies, who strikes which killing (or unkilling) blow, how many times Belkar makes a smart mouth remark, how many spells Xykhon gets to cast before it's all over, etc. ...

We can't post one here, of course, but I was curious to see if anyone had one running with friends, family, or co-workers.

[Aerysil1]

I'm waiting to find out who or what this figure in the shadows is all about.

[DamotheBoyWonder]

We can't post one here, of course, but I was curious to see if anyone had one running with friends, family, or co-workers.


Why not? I've got 5 qualoos on Vaarsuvius going berzerk and nuking everyone non-stick in the room, Roy having some sort of moral quandry that renders him useless for the rest of the battle, Belkar forgetting the battle even exists, Durkon grinding Xykon's bones to make his bread with all that good ole' Dwarven repression, Haley making a pass at the monster in the shadows, the monster in the shadows turning out to be the lawyers from the beginning of the strip and Elan saving the day by slipping on something and accidentally crushing the empty pop can/makeshift phylactery that Xykon has so cleverly hidden his soul in.

Can anyone quote me the odds on that? I don't wanna make too risky a bet.. ;D

[Mizkyu]

Why not? I've got 5 qualoos on Vaarsuvius going berzerk and nuking everyone non-stick in the room, Roy having some sort of moral quandry that renders him useless for the rest of the battle, Belkar forgetting the battle even exists, Durkon grinding Xykon's bones to make his bread with all that good ole' Dwarven repression, Haley making a pass at the monster in the shadows, the monster in the shadows turning out to be the lawyers from the beginning of the strip and Elan saving the day by slipping on something and accidentally crushing the empty pop can/makeshift phylactery that Xykon has so cleverly hidden his soul in.

Can anyone quote me the odds on that? I don't wanna make too risky a bet.. ;D

Hey, you've completly nullified the chances of any and/or all of that happening now, so I shouldn't worry. ;)

[GypsyThorn]

Hey, now, profanity was uncalled for. ;)



I'm sorry, did you mean to say profanity or profundity?

In any case, I'm predicting behind the door number 2 (that's the one to which Carol Merrill* is pointing) is an undead version of Martha Stewart (tm). The comment about how things go better with a touch of nutmeg (#103) is a dead giveaway.

* http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0581269/

[Shatteredtower]

I'm sorry, did you mean to say profanity or profundity?

Profanity.

A mobility-impaired undead parrot on Belkar wearing socks by the end of this fight.

[evileeyore]

So, what's happening to V?

Getting chewed on by Ghasts? They playing with the paralyzed elf like a volleyball?



Personally the entire plight V is in leaves me aghast...


Sorry, someone had to do it...--EvilE

[DamotheBoyWonder]

Personally the entire plight V is in leaves me aghast...


A ghast?! :o

TURN UNDEAD!!!!!

[McMouse]

Gah! My poor, useless, melted, defiled, painful eyes!

[Adghar]

TEH GOGGLES! THEY DO NOTHING!

Not responsible for any agony caused by a LUE quote.

[The Giant]

ATTENTION!

The server is not letting me connect (that, or my computer is frelled), which means I can't post the new strip tonight. When Ray gets my email, he should be able to post the new strip, but I don't expect him to check his email until 9:00 am at the earliest.

Sorry for two straight late Mondays. The universe is being particularly uncooperative lately.

[Blackdog]

It's okay, Giant -- I think most of us know that Monday is the least cooperative day of the week. :)

[AngelSword]

Monday? What's a Monday? The day that starts the week for me is known as "Evil Friday." It's like a Friday, except doing the opposite.

[Shatteredtower]

I don't even know which day starts the work week for me any more, or ends it. Some weeks it ends in another eight hours, but too often it ends twenty-four hours after that. It usually starts on Thursday, but since I have to come in on Wednesday night, it never feels liike a Thursday and I end up feeling like Arthur Dent.

No worries, Giant -- as a friend of mine said to me (allow me to paraphrase): "The last strip deserves aniother look anyway."

As long as no one ends the world before the strip comes up, I'm willing to wait.

[Vik]

Argh !
Can't get my fix of OotS .. Too severely addicted ... :'(
Mondays are trully the devil's days >:(

[Nighthawk4]

Just out of curiosity, which Timezone are you in please Giant?

i.e. what time GMT is 9:00 am where you are?

It is not that I am panicking - just wondering if I need to wait until I get home or if it is worth sneaking another check during work this afternoon.

I am NOT panicking....... *bites fingernails and clicks repeatedly on F5* >:(

[DrMeglet]

...
The server is not letting me connect (that, or my computer is frelled), which means I can't post the new strip tonight.
...

You said "frelled"!
*grins and bows in reverence?*
With words like that, all is forgiven.

[yersch]

I read the "Once Upon a Table", checked on the "Bitches with Glitches" NWN fan site, and then moved over here to culminate my morning slack-off break, and it was the (very wonderful) strip from last Thursday!! Yay THOR's MIGHT!! And I will firmly agree that the first three panels are a nearly complete character sketch of my favorite bitter halfling. I read the Giant's post, sorry about your connection, Rich. (I guess now I have something to look forward to for lunch.) ;D

[Kashinn]

No problem Rich, we eagerly await your new masterpiece to overcome the technical difficulties :-)

But the question with the timezone is interesting though, I often wondered that myself, until I found that the board profile tells you everything you need to know...
...mine tells me that the site is -6 hours from GMT+1 (Germany for example) in which I live.

[The Giant]

OK, so, Ray has developed his own problem with connecting to the server, which he is working on fixing now. Strip is obviously delayed until he can figure it out (hopefully soon).

As far as time zones, I have no idea what my GMT zone is (Eastern Standard Time in the US), but the server is set to the same time as I am. That means if you didn't use your profile to alter the server's time to your local time, you should be looking at my time up in the corner.

[AngelSword]

So much about worrying how long the duration on Disrupt Undead will be. ;D

[SpitwolF]

ooohh! cliff hanger CLIFF HANGER! I hate them! :P

ROYS DEAD! ROYS DEAD!

[Peldor]

Time for Plan C! :o

[The Giant]

OK, so Ray got the strip up. Yes, I know there's a typo in the word "injuries" but I can't fix it until later tonight.

[Tarlonniel]

Oh man.

But that is my favorite Shatter technique ;D

[Vik]

Ahhhh ....

Got my fix ! ;D

Much better now ... Thanks Rich and Ray ! :-*

[Aerysil1]

Dang little acne goblin *kick*

[Invariel]

Lousy weapons and their poor saves..... And shame on Roy for failing his, assuming it's better than the weapon's.

EST is GMT -5, for those of you not in "the know", which means that 12 midnight in England is 7 PM in Toronto, New York, Montréal, Rich's House, and so forth. :)

[Karma]

Tsk, silly Roy, falling into the old trap of waiting for a natural break in the exposition instead of just getting on with things.

To paraphrase Eli Wallach in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, "If you want to stab, stab, don't talk."

[Sundog]

My question is, who was Xykon firing the Magic Missiles at? If it's Elan and Haley, well, neither of them has all that many hit points to lose...

[Denbar]

112, Nice! One of my new favorites!

[MacDude]

Bah, Roy should have timed it so that he killed the last goblin and then was able to use his cleavage against Xykon!

(Er, um, Cleave feat. Yeah, that's what I meant.)

P.S. I guess all the zombies got offed back in episode 106 (A Sure Bet). I never saw the big guys though. :'(

[Blackdog]

Whoa, archetypal exception here! The villain is supposed to lose when he gambles everything on a single die roll.

[Pharazon]

Well, unless Roy pulls off an Isildur (defeating the archvillain with the hilt of the sword), Xykon won't even need his secret weapon :P

[GypsyThorn]

Well, unless Roy pulls off an Isildur (defeating the archvillain with the hilt of the sword), Xykon won't even need his secret weapon :P

According to the Official Rules of Engagement, whenever a diabolical evil warlord (I do believe Xykon qualifies) has the spunky yet good hero at his mercy (I do believe the situation qualifies), he must immediately engage in extended gloating (see below*), thus giving the good guy(s) the opportunity to escape. Or, if it's nearly time for the credits, to pull the explosive gelatin from his back pocket and smite the evil doer.

*Re: Extended gloating must include at least one of the following, and may include as many as needed until evil is thwarted:
A quick death is too good for you!
So, I'm sure you're wondering just what I have in store for you.... (or for the world, or for you and your friends...)
Bwah-hah-hah (when necessary)
Follow me now into this room from which there are many ways to escape, in which you you meet your death!
You have been a worthy opponent. Perhaps a little game to make things more interesting...


**Edited to remove carelessly used and unnecessary reference...**

[RawBearNYC]

pull the explosive gelatin from his codpiece and smite the evil doer.
*snort* too many jokes, most of which are against the rules.

[Duskrider_Moogle]

Well, unless Roy pulls off an Isildur (defeating the archvillain with the hilt of the sword), Xykon won't even need his secret weapon :P

I just now noticed that the hilt is, in fact, green.

[Nighthawk4]

Great Strip, well worth waiting for.

By an amazing coincidence, you are in the same timezone as the NWN-based PW on which I play and DM. This is called Avlis and is based in NJ.

It must be the DnD Capital of the World :D


BTW - I realise the Wizards are not from that Coast ;)

[Rhuna_Coppermane]

Wow, another strip that leaves me on the edge of my seat waiting for Thursday. Poor Roy. My husband says if he (Roy) ever gets shown any respect, he'll probably faint dead away frm shock.

[Grey Watcher]

Great Strip, well worth waiting for.

By an amazing coincidence, you are in the same timezone as the NWN-based PW on which I play and DM. This is called Avlis and is based in NJ.

It must be the DnD Capital of the World :D


BTW - I realise the Wizards are not from that Coast ;)


No, its just New York City. Whatever you are (gay, straight, bi, geek, jock, bear, psychopath, criminal, scientist, etc.), there are, just by sheer numbers, going to be a lot of others like you.

[Shatteredtower]

I don't expect Xykon to observe the villain's rules when it comes to gloating. He strikes me as too impatient to go in for that sort of thing.

However, we all know what he wants here. I'm sure he's willing to use hostages to get it and spare lives until he's secured it.

No one can accuse me of shouting out ideas either, because that one is obvious. The villain's motives for not killing anyone yet have been well established.

I'll be interested to see if the strip sidesteps the obvious or even just delays it with the arrival of Durkon (pardon me if I'm spelling it wrong again -- I keep thinking of a vegetable when I see that name) and Belkar, though.

[evileeyore]

Yeah, I predict a quick get together as V gets thrown into/through the gate, thus sealing Xykon's DOOM (temporarily of course).

Oh damn, to much predication on my part, now it'll never happen that way.

;) , ;) , :nudge , :nudge--EvilE

[Fsi-Dib]

Okay, now Roy has to show if he's INT >18 is worth anything.

Both Xykon and Roy are practically within each other's reach. Xykon made his move by destroying the greatsword, so it's Roy's turn.

What should all fighters do against magic users?

GRAPPLE FEST!

[Pharazon]

Hmm... throwing somebody at the portal could work. What if Xykon and Roy fought, wrestled, 'grappled' if you will, and both rolled against the portal? Would it destroy Xykon, while releasing an even greater evil?

[Ikkitosen]

I don't think Xykon's going anywhere yet - reccurring baddy maybe? This is the first time they've met him after all........

Ikki.

[RawBearNYC]

You guys just don't get it. Through the portal is a Baby GAP Store. It used to be a Starbucks.

[CaptN]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! BABY GAP :o :o :o!
I don't believe grappling will be involved in this fight too much..don't lich's have touch attacks? That would make grappling with one oddly...dead-making, wouldn't it?

[Blackdog]

don't lich's have touch attacks? That would make grappling with one oddly...dead-making, wouldn't it?

Maybe...but shouldn't the Disruption be expired anyway now? And how could Elan have tumbled all the way to the Gate? And...

Fortunately, Rich has based the comic around ideas, not rules, which expands the possibilities tremendously!

[Wuffie]

Liches do indeed have a negative energy touch attack. I don't know how many HP Roy has, but grappling with a lich has to be a little like climbing an electric fence. Sopping wet. Personally, I think I'd pass.

Anyway, the Disruption is kinda a moot point now, given that Roy no longer has the weapon with the spell on it. Ick.

[Kashinn]

And don't forget that Durkon also used his 'Thors Might' special attack...

...so the heroes have 'lost' two very promising attacks against Xykon...

...what can they do? Maybe V. has something up his/her sleeve when he/she wakes up?

[Josh_Kablack]

Wow. Roy sure did have a crappy hairdo back in the 80s.

[Terandir]

Wow. Todays strip is truly a masterpiece... for, like every great humouristic narrator, Rich manages to place amidst a lot of truly funny things something truly touching. Kudos to Rich.
My main character has a inherited two-handed sword, too. I know what he would do when someone would break it...

But, hey, not everything is lost. If he really manages to pull an Isildur, the elves will repair the blade within a few thousand years... :D

Have a nice day,
Terandir

[Brakkart]

Wow. Roy sure did have a crappy hairdo back in the 80s.

Everyone had a crappy hairdo back in the 80's, one of the major things that decade is (in)famous for. Still the best decade for music though!

[Shatteredtower]

I wonder if what's really setting Roy off right now is his father's attitude moreso than the breaking of the sword itself.

Now might not the best time for anyone else to have picked wizard as a class.

Poor V.

[Baron]

Anyone else spot the snowdome next to the family photo?

Nice touch! ;D

[Ikkitosen]

Indeed I did, and indeed it was ;D.

Plus what's wrong with Roy's afro? He was a hip dude, dammit!

Ikki.

[Shatteredtower]

I was more interested in the younger sibling shown beside Roy's mother when he was thwacking the dragon.

Thwacking? Oh! This was back in 2nd Edition, right?

[Aerysil1]

Ooh, Roy's mad...

NEVER force someone to drudge up past memories that lead to anger...

[Pharazon]

Yupyup, one Isildur coming up. He now possesses the rage and anger required for beating a powerful enemy with a near-useless weapon. Of course, Isildur just had to cut off the finger to beat his foe... a bread-knife could do that, with enough force. Or a pair of scissors. Or any edged weapon, for that matter.

So that's where the Sigil of Pain went. Are they tossing it over, or are they...like...trapped in some sort of aura the sigil emits, while floating in the air?

Final comment: Roy obviously had hair between the age of 0 and his current age. Does early boldness run in his family, or do they shave their heads from a certain age?

[Callista]

Well, unless the Giant is taking things at the speed of plot again, the Symbol of Pain wil last a minimum of 50 minutes (10 per caster level) or until it's dispelled. It imposes a -4 to all attack rolls, skill checks, and ability checks to anyone within 60 feet, so it's fairly disabling. Actually, if this were a real game, it might have something to do with why Roy failed his save.

At any rate, I think Haley can disable the Symbol. Correct me if I'm wrong, though; because it's already been triggered and that might make a difference.

It also has a casting time of 10 minutes... so obviously it was cast beforehand and Xykon just activated it. I wonder if he has other such Symbol spells around the room? And, wow, that would be a really cool strategy for my next BBEG... *evil grin*

[Wanderer]

He broke the fighter's weapon. You NEVER break the fighter's weapon! Doesn't he know that breaking the weapon temporarily grants them Rage as a special ability? ;D

Well... it should, anyway. ;)

[Sundog]

D'you remember what Roy said to Nale?

Well, there've been a lot of strips between then and now. A lot of stress. A lot of frustration, both at opponents and party members.

And now it's allllll going to come out.

Poor Xykon!

[MacDude]

Wow. Roy sure did have a crappy hairdo back in the 80s.

I think he should have had a 'fro. :-)

[MacDude]

Still the best decade for music though!

Wha? Really? Oh Man. I thought I was a zombie...

[Invariel]

Roy can't do the Isildur thing. Because, by merely suggesting it, you have erased the possiibility that such a future could exist in the Order of the Stick. It's in the rules.

I'm kinda wondering what Belkar will do once he realizes that there are more fun things to kill than Zombies.

[Caledonian]

I was more interested in the younger sibling shown beside Roy's mother when he was thwacking the dragon.

"If Roy fails... he is our last hope."

"No. There is another."

[Vik]

"If Roy fails... he is our last hope."

"No. There is another."
May the Stickness be with him !

[Rromagar]

I need to stop taking care of children, because the last panel immediately reminded me of Toy Story 2.

"Prepare to meet MR. ANGRY EYES!!"

I love when Rich does the angry eyebrows.

[Cleb]

Gotta say, I was most interested in the sibling as well.

lol @ the Star Wars references.

-Cleb

[Tarlonniel]

ARRRRRRGGGHHHHH!! And if the hotel's internet station isn't working on Sunday night/Monday morning, so I'm forced to fly off for boot camp without getting to read the next strip, I really will scream >:(

[Lilly]

Poor V, got attacked by the giant red demon roaches.

And to the turn, bolster, rebuke, create undead family of stuff comes a new easy and cheap alternative... STAB UNDEAD!

The sibling intrigues me.... we all know what happened last time the order met one of their siblings...

[Aralen]

Is Roy mad with Xykon?


Maybe he is mad with his father and gets out of Xykon´s Castle right now!!!

[ChaoticGod]

XYKON RULES!!

But I predict that he will lose. <Crosses fingers>

Btw, where did those Magic Missiles go?

[Grey Watcher]

This is a great strip. Stab Undead is very funny, but my personal favorite is Haley and Elan's reaction to the Symbol of Pain.

Believe it or not, Roy's sibling for me is taking a back seat to exactly what form Roy's unleashed anger will take.

[Lilly]

This is a great strip. Stab Undead is very funny, but my personal favorite is Haley and Elan's reaction to the Symbol of Pain.

Believe it or not, Roy's sibling for me is taking a back seat to exactly what form Roy's unleashed anger will take.

I think he'll break down and cry. Like a little baby right there.

[Shatteredtower]

I think he'll break down and cry. Like a little baby right there.

You're just saying it so it won't happen. ;)

And while we're on that page:

I predict that he'll tell Xykon that he's made him angry and that he won't like him when he's angry.

And then he'll turn into Thog.

[Kashinn]

Something along these lines maybe?


Roy like swordy-thing!
Xykon bad to Roy's swordy!
Roy angry! Xykon pay!

[Shatteredtower]

Something like that, yeah, but with a "Roy SMASH puny skeleton!" thrown in there at some point.

[Rhuna_Coppermane]

That was a great strip. Not funny, just great. Xykon is toast.

[Grey Watcher]

That was a great strip. Not funny, just great. Xykon is toast.

Really? I thought he was a lich.

:rimshot:

[Potato_the_Great]

Poor Zykon! Roy looks pissed.

[GypsyThorn]

Now that the blade of the sword is broken off...

What's been hidden in the hilt for three generations?

[GypsyThorn]

Now that the blade of the sword is broken off...

What's been hidden in the hilt for three generations?
[hr]
30 minutes later
I know what's in the hilt! It's a green hilt, right? Green means life. Work with me here - the hilt has a potion/amulet/device/whatever that does resurrections (green - life - resurrections). I think that might not be a good thing for Xykon to be hit with.

On the other hand, I think the door is getting opened no matter what happens with Roy vs. Xykon, grudge match of the century.

[Sir_flatus]

Funny, funny stuff ;D Belkar is my favorite.


I just wanted to let you guys know that I truly enjoy reading this comic.

Thanks and keep up the good work!

[Victor]

;D I love this series i have been reading it for a while but never posted till now... one question it seems from roy's flashback he has a younger sibling hmmm... brother or sister time will tell i cant wait to see what's behind that door maybe a new sword for roy !! :) I know this might have been mentioned several times when can we see this series compiled into a book i would be first in line to buy one anyway thanks for a great series can't wait for next week!!!

[Alistar_da_Bard]

First -> sorry if i will make some mistakes, i dont speak eng very well, heh.

Second -> Order iz my favourite comics! Elan iz great :D. And da murder Belkar heh, hiz a great maniac :D. Da all comics iz good. Re5pect to Rich Burlew.

[evileeyore]

New Sword for Roy?

Are you kidding? No, no, no, no.

It will be an epic quest into the nearest town with a smithy, but it shall be reforged! As good as new!

Unless the smith is a gnome... then it could go a bit like this:

Roy: Sir, is there anyway you can fix this. (he holds out the peices of the sword)

Gnomish Artificer: Oy, what 'ave we 'ere? (he takes the wrapped sword bits)

Roy: My Grandfathers Great Sword. Shattered by an evil Liche. Can you reforge it?

GA; Oh, aye lad. We can and more. We have the technology. Better, faster, stronger. Mr Greenhilt we have the capacity to make it better than it was before...

Roy: Uh, wait...

I love wacky gnome artificers--EvilE

[CaptN]

New Sword for Roy?

Are you kidding? No, no, no, no.

It will be an epic quest into the nearest town with a smithy, but it shall be reforged! As good as new!

Unless the smith is a gnome... then it could go a bit like this:

Roy: Sir, is there anyway you can fix this. (he holds out the peices of the sword)

Gnomish Artificer: Oy, what 'ave we 'ere? (he takes the wrapped sword bits)

Roy: My Grandfathers Great Sword. Shattered by an evil Liche. Can you reforge it?

GA; Oh, aye lad. We can and more. We have the technology. Better, faster, stronger. Mr Greenhilt we have the capacity to make it better than it was before...

Roy: Uh, wait...

*Thirty minates later*
Roy: Yeah I'm here to pick up my great sword?

Smith: 'ai got it 'ight h're, 'sir.

Roy: It's..it's GLOWING! Did you enchant it?

Smith: n'ai, boot I inst'ald a tr'ac lightin' system, I did. Scar' da bageez'rs o't of people 'it will.

[ShadowDragon8685]

Roy has the most awesome look on his face, the 'shaking with rage and about to go postal on every skeletal, necrotic and/or goblinoid arse within visual range' look.

The look like he's about to perform a Thor's Football Tackle on Xykon and literally rip him bone from bone.

[Caledonian]

You've gotta hand it to The Giant, he comes up with the best plot twists.

[evileeyore]

The look like he's about to perform a Thor's Football Tackle on Xykon and literally rip him bone from bone.

Yeah I foresee a Me-Doken (http://www.nuklearpower.com/latest.php)coming on.

--EvilE

PS: Sorry no links straight to Fighter performing a Me-Doken... my link-fu is sooo weak today.

[L_Opoponax]

Roy has the most awesome look on his face, the 'shaking with rage and about to go postal on every skeletal, necrotic and/or goblinoid arse within visual range' look.

The look like he's about to perform a Thor's Football Tackle on Xykon and literally rip him bone from bone.
Ha, and then he takes a level in Barbarian! :P

Roy to DM: "But I got really mad that one time, so I learned to Rage..."

[Duskrider_Moogle]

Holy crap! That was kickass!

Too bad the "secret weapon" didn't get to come out though.