OOTS #538 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Kyeudo]

Belkar, once again, is awesome!!! "Anyone else want to discuss my creature type with me?"

[wowy319]

It's just appearing as a broken image for me... :(

[The Giant]

It's just appearing as a broken image for me... :(

Yeah, it had some issues getting up, I had to try it a few times before it would show. Try forcing your browser to reload.

[Lira]

Great comic. :smallbiggrin:

I liked Haley's line, "Says the man who lit the bandit camp on fire".

[Weirdlet]

*cackles*

Love that. Instant promotion.

[Lawliet]

Awesome, looks like Celia is actually pretty useful.
Loved the last panel.

[EmeraldRose]

Belkar does have some of the best lines in the comic...although I will agree with Celia, the pink does not 'go' with her new look. The colors simply are not good together. :smallwink:

[Atheist_Cleric]

Heh very nice. Although Belkar saying "Brains" when he stabbed the hobbo in the head would have been funny too.

[DragonSlayerDan]

Very funny.
Belkar always has to stab someone.

[memnarch]

"Thanks for the promotion new comic!"

[Lizardfolk Lich]

You deliver once again, Rich.:smallsmile:

[Djinn_in_Tonic]

Awesome, as usual.

[teratorn]

Great, I just had my breakfast, and here it is OOTS. Belkar saves a plan? There's a first for everything.

[batsofchaos]

Great stuff!

[RosesOnConcrete]

Not sure what's funnier - a fiend in a pink tank top, or Belkar's tried and true method of solving problems. Though I agree, a "Braaaains" would have been completely appropriate.

[Dire_Weasel]

Belkar is made of awesome and win. I wish Celia had come up with a better name than Darkblood Gloomgloom, though.

[silvadel]

Welcome celia to the life of professional murderer -- or at least accessory to professional murderer...

[Bitzeralisis]

I congratulate the hobgoblin on his promotion.

[blennus]

"Anyone ELSE wanna discuss my creature type with me?" :smallbiggrin:
:belkar: FTW

[SirBel]

That one made me laugh out loud...Or LOL, if you prefer...:smallbiggrin:

[Monation]

OMG Belkar friggin rawks!!! Celia looks sexy in her fiendish disguise, too XD
For a moment I thought they were going to have to fight their way through, which would have been interesting...

[Forum Explorer]

That has to be one of my faviorite comics, Great job Giant!:smallsmile:
Sweet first page!

[Teron]

Knowing these boards, I expect there will be a Darkblood Gloomgloom fan club by Monday. And they will have exhaustively debated her possible connections to every other character, independantly from Celia, before the week is done. :smallamused:

[BisectedBrioche]

Heh, I hope Celia's "new look" last a while. It's better than her as a fay, IMO.

[fractal]

I'd like to take this opportunity to take credit for successfully predicting Celia's imminent Alter Self into an evil Outsider.

Anyway, I thought this comic was really funny, and Belkar makes a great unholy semblance of life. Better at it than Celia, anyway, who should have realized that this is the way "usually evil" creatures treat each other.

Really, what was that Hobgoblin thinking, "Show us a little of your dark power"? Famous Last Words, I'd say!

[Lerch]

He shoulda let him say "Halt"

[Wolfram]

It's so hard to convince Belkar that violence is not the solution when is seems to work wonders for him!

BTW, is it just me or is coffee an important tool for necromancers? :smallbiggrin:

[BisectedBrioche]

It's so hard to convince Belkar that violence is not the solution when is seems to work wonders for him!

BTW, is it just me or is coffee an important tool for necromancers? :smallbiggrin:

Well it certainly creates an unholy semblance of life :smallwink:

EDIT: In fact it has me trapped in one right now, BEANS!

[Wolfram]

And Mr. Scummy was just too perfect.

[dogmac]

Nice purple wings Celia!

Thanks for the promotion and have a nice day.. hehehehe

Bet Celia enjoyed smacking Belkar on the head too. I mean, who hasn't wanted to.

[Rockphed]

And :belkar: gets something out of a hobgoblin's eye...again.

Mwahahahahahahaaaaa!

[Aerysil]

Snarky lil zombie, in' e?

[Icewalker]

Hehe, awesome. This is gonna be a fun portion of the story.

[Zienth]

Great comic, Giant. And belated kudos for the EGG tribute, that was well done.

I love they way they painted 'X'es over their eyes to make themselves look dead. Very convincing. :)

And I think Celia's clothes are quite appropriate. With that reddish-orange skin tone, wearing pink is just EVIL.

Zienth

[Itdano]

Well, so much for Celia's "Lets Not Murder Anybody" plan. Well done you sexy, shoeless god of war, you.

[Forealms]

I don't laugh out loud much, but I could not resist with Celia's description of herself.

"And this is my evil cat... uh... Mr. Scummy."

[Kedami]

Awesome.

"Darkblood Gloomgloom"

[FoE]

You know, I know it's an illusion, but I could swear I know that Darkblood Gloomgloom from somewhere. I think she and I might have gone to high school together. :smalltongue:

"Anyone ELSE wanna discuss my creature type with me?" Awesome. So much for Celia wanting to pass by the hobgoblins without bloodshed. :smallamused:

[Monan]

I love Belkar!!!! Freaking hilarious. BTW him saying brains would be in character for someone playing a zombie, however it wouldn't be in character for Belkar. The cold silence as he delivers another death blow is totally appropriate!

[Ganurath]

An easier alibi would have been that she was a half-demon apprenticing to a necromancer who didn't trust mindless undead with haggling. Still, anything that gives Belkar an opening for stabbity.

[Leebot]

You just gotta love Belkar's argument ad baculum (ie. appeal to force): *kills* "Anyone else?"

I'm normally all for good debating tactics, but sometimes a fallacy is just awesome to ignore.

[Scatman]

Belkar, you do indeed kicketh ass. But now, your doing it as a zombie that can kill people for discussing his creature type.

[Raven777]

Celia is a Sorcerer ?

[SPoD]

Celia is a Sorcerer ?

According to #530, she has a sorcerer casting level equal to her monster Hit Dice, like a nymph or dryad does.

[Martok]

Pure awesomeness! Belkar's been getting some great lines this week. This strip was truly classic. :smallamused:

[Morgan Wick]

Okay, I completely don't get "Thanks for the promotion"...

I kinda don't buy "Darkblood Gloomgloom"... she almost looks kinda "cute"...

[Elrond]

LOL "Any one else want to discuss my creature type with me?":smallbiggrin:

loving in :smallcool:

[Phase]

Now I'm really curious as to what sort of horrible experiments Darkblood Gloomgloom wishes to perform...

[CRAZYMONGOOSE]

Okay, I completely don't get "Thanks for the promotion"...

I kinda don't buy "Darkblood Gloomgloom"... she almost looks kinda "cute"...

Well, one of the hobgobling had a book, so I guess he is a subordinate to the one being stabbed in the face by belkar (muahahaha).

So if you are the sencond in charge and your boss dies painfully in front of you... then congrats!!! you are PROMOTED!!!

Great strip... :smallbiggrin:

[Stallogarro]

I just realized how convenient evil clichéd jargon is for bluffing...
"What sort of experiments?!
"I just said they were far too horrible to contemplate! Geez, pay attention!"
"Oh right, sorry." :smalltongue:

[SteveMB]

Well, one of the hobgobling had a book, so I guess he is a subordinate to the one being stabbed in the face by belkar (muahahaha).

So if you are the sencond in charge and your boss dies painfully in front of you... then congrats!!! you are PROMOTED!!!

"And now, you die, and we all move up in rank!"

[Elrond]

It's so hard to convince Belkar that violence is not the solution when is seems to work wonders for him!

BTW, is it just me or is coffee an important tool for necromancers? :smallbiggrin:

yes coffee is important 4 necromancers

[Snadgeros]

Why wouldn't she just use prestidigitization to change her clothing color? Or forget alter self and just use disguise self? And how do the hobgoblins not notice that she didn't place any 25gp onyx gems on Belkar's eyes?

Gotta love rule nitpicking. But seriously, hilarious. I love it when they one-shot the mooks.

[John Campbell]

Bluffing is all well and good, but when someone calls, it's real nice to have some face-stabbings to back it up.


Why wouldn't she just use prestidigitization to change her clothing color? Or forget alter self and just use disguise self?
Probably doesn't know them. Drawbacks of being a sorceress instead of a real wizard.


And how do the hobgoblins not notice that she didn't place any 25gp onyx gems on Belkar's eyes?
Oh, yeah, like basic hobgoblin warriors have ranks in Spellcraft.

[JessmanCA]

Hahaha, Mr. Scummy.

Loved the ending too.

[Ridureyu]

Knowing these boards, I expect there will be a Darkblood Gloomgloom fan club by Monday. And they will have exhaustively debated her possible connections to every other character, independantly from Celia, before the week is done. :smallamused:

Darkblood Gloomgloom is really Miko!

Just doing my part to help.

[Snadgeros]

Probably doesn't know them. Drawbacks of being a sorceress instead of a real wizard.

What kind of caster doesn't know PRESTIDIGITIZATION?! It's one of the few cantrips with any real use, along with detect magic and resistance.

[Pip]

Hobgoblin: "Regretable. But it does leave me in command."

:smallbiggrin:

[Lunaya]

XD It figures Belkar would be able to effectively stab someone with his eyes closed.

[shadowdemon_lord]

Haha:belkar: "Anyone else wanna discuss my creature type?". Yay for referencing one of the single coolest movie lines EVER! That made me laugh hard Giant, thank you.

[Ilphros]

As to the previous comment on onyx gems... Doesn't that just make it permanent, as opposed to 1 minute/level or some such?

Edit
Self-Ninja Via early click...
Belkar can probably stab someone lacking up to 80% of his major organs. The only problem is that he just stabbed someone in an urban enviroment, no? Hello, Mark of Justice.

[factotum]

Belkar can probably stab someone lacking up to 80% of his major organs. The only problem is that he just stabbed someone in an urban enviroment, no? Hello, Mark of Justice.

A mining path through the mountains doesn't look much like a city to me, and in the previous strip they said they were taking that route specifically to AVOID going through the city, so goodbye, MoJ theory. :smallsmile:

[fractal]

XD It figures Belkar would be able to effectively stab someone with his eyes closed.
If the 50% miss chance had gotten him on that attempt, he had two more iterative attacks to try again.

[random11]

Using Belkar in the subtle art of deception = bad idea.

Then again, it worked...

[fractal]

Using Belkar in the subtle art of deception = bad idea.

Then again, it worked...
It worked on Thanh, too. Maybe Belkar should consider a new career as an actor!

[Holammer]

The dialogue in today's strip was solid gold, as always. But Roy is hardly Fresh Grade-A compared with the others :smalltongue:

[David Argall]

Since it is way too early for another strip to be posted, I just start reading the new comments to 537 at the top of the page. I read about a dozen postings before I notice they don't seem to fit 537...

Would have been worth waiting for, but I'm glad I didn't have to.


XD It figures Belkar would be able to effectively stab someone with his eyes closed.
Belkar is about +20 to hit, and the victim has identified the square by talking, so if he gets by the 50% miss chance, he hits on a 2.

Now we might note that Celia told a story that was clearly false by her previous statements. She said the trail led only to the mine, and now she says she had been to the city to buy bodies.
Fortunately there has been approximately one successful sense motive roll in the entire history of the strip.

[Woof]

Hahahaha, awesome! Celia is very cute and Belkar rocks!

[Antina]

Where did Mr. Scruffy go in the 3rd panel?:smallconfused:

[Neopolis]

Red looks good on Celia. :P

[kukn]

Eheh. Ehehehehee! :smallsmile:

[Kronos_LostSoul]

Belkar is awesome! He's unstoppable! :biggrin:

[Zerkai]

Darkblood Gloomgloom can conduct horrible experiments on me anyday. :smallwink:

[Daen]

Absolutely brilliant! :belkar:

[Baltek Grimm]

"Anyone ELSE wanna discuss my creature type with me?"
That is a great one :smallbiggrin:

And by the way... the rest of this Episode is great, too!

[Oregano]

Awesome Comic, I personally liked the "okay, I'm rising up already." line from The Belkster.

[Bernemer]

And how do the hobgoblins not notice that she didn't place any 25gp onyx gems on Belkar's eyes?


I guess, logically, it could be counted not as a spell, animating a dead, but as the simple commanding of an already animated undead (that is, the undead already does as she wills him to), thus no gems would be needed.

[Santiago]

This one made me laugh out loud! :smallbiggrin:

[nli10]

Wow - Belkar was topped by a Hobgoblin! I shall call him Clippy.

I hope Clippy has to escort them through the bad guys in the next strip, there could well b further promotions in it for him! :smallbiggrin:

[hewhosaysfish]

I just realized how convenient evil clichéd jargon is for bluffing...
"What sort of experiments?!
"I just said they were far too horrible to contemplate! Geez, pay attention!"
"Oh right, sorry." :smalltongue:

I said not to mention unspeakable. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/erf0015.html)

[LesserHellspawn]

*Noone* noticed how stunned Celia is in the last two panels ? I fully expect her to stay that way in the next update, raising suspicion again and ultimately ruining the plan.

[Caractacus]

Now we might note that Celia told a story that was clearly false by her previous statements. She said the trail led only to the mine, and now she says she had been to the city to buy bodies.

I had assumed, seeing as they were in the city before, that if the trail leads only to the mine, that it leads from the city to the mine...:smallconfused:

[HOLEkevin]

Ow! This one hurt me!

(In the good way.)

Wonderful!

[Silverpearl]

Ahh, the one word that completely sums up everything that Belkar stands for....




"shtunk"

[Ian Pikklock]

Great Strip :)
Celia is great as Darkblood Gloomgloom.
I quite like the title fiend or foe ^^

[chibibar]

Love that Promotion!!! :)

Go Belkar!

[Saph]

I didn't know Celia was a sorcerer - I'd guessed she just had some Fey or Outsider HD and spell-like abilities.

Loved the strip. I guess pretending to be evil is a lot easier when you've got someone with you who doesn't have to act the part.

- Saph

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Knowing these boards, I expect there will be a Darkblood Gloomgloom fan club by Monday. And they will have exhaustively debated her possible connections to every other character, independantly from Celia, before the week is done. :smallamused:

And whether or not she is a demon, or a devil!

[Miraqariftsky]

Incredible!

Hey CurlyKitGirl, looks like ye got an almost-cameo!

[Bendal]

Wow, actual sort of intelligent cannon fodder! Not that it did them a lot of good, but still, hobgoblins with more than the usual amount of suspicion and less gullibility...

[OverWilliam]

Wow. Celia is a HAWT demon-chick. Or is she a devil-chick?

UUGH, not this again. :smallmad:

[Tundar]

I'd rather not discuss creature type with Belkar when he is in that mood.

Nice strike with closed eyes btw!

[Vectner]

omg that one has me in tears. I love Belkar!

[Fingolfin]

I say: Hahahaha :smallbiggrin: Now this was clean pure fun of a comic. Well done!

[Achilles]

I haven't laughed as hard as I did in a while. It was a quite funny strip.

[hajo]

Why wouldn't she just use prestidigitization to change her clothing color? Or forget alter self and just use disguise self?
Perhaps both Celia and Haley should talk more about their respective abilities ?

[otakuryoga]

bee-yoo-tee-full

[Catskin]

Celia and Belkar have fantastic chemistry. Hilarious!

[Snadgeros]

Celia and Belkar have fantastic chemistry. Hilarious!

SHH! Don't say that! You'll drive the forum shippers (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Shipping) crazy!

[Glyde]

Y'see, I never was that big of a Belkar fan. This strip seals the deal: He's totally amazing

[rman]

The head hobgoblin had 2 options

#1 question the being from another plane and likely suffer their wrath for interfering. "show me your power" worst line ever to a more powerful chaotic evil being from another plane, although as there were 2 hobgoblins there was only a 50% chance he would be the target of the example of power.

#2 let them go by without questioning and get ratted on later by an underling and be killed by Xykon or midlevel for not questioning the group.

Well the odds might not have been 100% on death but they were high.

-edit sp their->there

[Belkar Rocks]

Bwa ha ha ha ha!!! The last two comics have been totally Belkarriffic!

Oh man, Rich, I'm completely laughing my ass off! :smallsmile:

[the_tick_rules]

oh belkar, will your strip stealing never cease?

[Quorothorn]

It would seem Belkar has certain methods in common with Darth Vader.

[brionl]

She had to use Alter Self, otherwise the color of her speech balloon would have stayed airy-fairy blue. :smallbiggrin:
Also, it's Prestidigitation. No za.

[osyluth]

Why is it that, in an evil organization, if a low-ranking soldier is killed, the one next to or behind him is promoted?

[Jammeez]

Seniority.


...I wish Celia had come up with a better name than Darkblood Gloomgloom...

At the risk of not being the first to point it out ('cuz I can never read the whole thread before commenting - you guys are way too fast with the responses)...
*gasp*

ANYWAY...She can't come up with anything better. She knows nothing about being evil except Darkness, Blood, and Gloom. :smallamused:

[AyuVince]

Note to self: roll up an extraplanar sorcerer with a degree in law during next D&D session.

Celia is quite resourceful. She's well on her way to become one of those shrewd adventurer types who solve every problem with bloodshed. :smallcool:

[KIDS]

The suspense was absolutely great and well presented, for a moment I really thought that they would get exposed. And Belkar's "following" made me laugh a lot :)

[Mad Scientist]

Celia makes a pretty cute fiend - what with the purple wings and all. I bet Nale would go nuts for her. :smallbiggrin:

[factotum]

Why is it that, in an evil organization, if a low-ranking soldier is killed, the one next to or behind him is promoted?

Er...that pretty much happens in ANY army. The main difference is that actually killing your superior officer to gain the promotion might be a "legal" tactic in an evil army, whereas it's not likely to go down so well in a good-aligned one...

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Er...that pretty much happens in ANY army. The main difference is that actually killing your superior officer to gain the promotion might be a "legal" tactic in an evil army, whereas it's not likely to go down so well in a good-aligned one...

Not quite... You may move into your supervisor's position, but a promotion in rank is not automatic...

My supervisor died while I was serving on my second ship (peacetime, natural causes), and while I became the Torpedo Room supervisor, I remained an E5.

[Casey]

Wow. Celia is a HAWT demon-chick. Or is she a devil-chick?

UUGH, not this again. :smallmad:

Even worse: That's what they'll look like when Elan first manages to scry on them. Three corpses in a cart pulled by a demon. Or devil. He'll probably know.

-c.

[ChaoticEvilGuy]

Celia may have failed her bluff check but Belkar alway make his intemidate check!

[FujinAkari]

Even worse: That's what they'll look like when Elan first manages to scry on them. Three corpses in a cart pulled by a demon. Or devil. He'll probably know.

-c.

How exactly will Elan scry on them? Except for Haley, Cloister will still be affecting them for at least four weeks...

[silvadel]

Celia makes a pretty cute fiend - what with the purple wings and all. I bet Nale would go nuts for her. :smallbiggrin:

I was thinking the same thing -- only backwards -- what would happen if sabine saw her that way....

[Casey]

How exactly will Elan scry on them? Except for Haley, Cloister will still be affecting them for at least four weeks...

Depends on how long it takes them to get out of Hobgoblin-controlled territory.

It's "way more than four weeks" to Cliffport, but that doesn't tell us how much of the intervening landscape is currently hostile.

Edit: Sudden thought: What if Elan spontaneously decides to target Celia? Will he see the others too? In any event, that would be a dead giveaway. "I'm targeting Celia. Clearly, Celia has polymorphed herself, and is dragging the corpses of our friends out of the city. Durkon, you're going to need to memorize Resurrection more than once when we get there."

-c.

[CockroachTeaParty]

HA! Well done. This was my favorite strip in a long time.

[wagomorph]

Belkar is made of awesome and win. I wish Celia had come up with a better name than Darkblood Gloomgloom, though.

I think that's the joke. She isn't good at evil. Though she is a lawyer so her evil titre should be high.

W

[ref]

Gotta love Darkblood Gloomgloom.

[wagomorph]

Now we might note that Celia told a story that was clearly false by her previous statements. She said the trail led only to the mine, and now she says she had been to the city to buy bodies.
Fortunately there has been approximately one successful sense motive roll in the entire history of the strip.


Let's not forget she MUST have ranks in BS ...err bluff. I think she gets them free with her ranks in occupation:lawyer

[FujinAkari]

She said the trail led only to the mine.

Where exactly did she say this?

[Lira]

Where exactly did she say this?#537, panel 8.

[FujinAkari]

#537, panel 8.

Aaah... well then David was reading her words too literally. The path obviously -also- leads to Azure City (Who is gonna build a mine whose resources CAN'T be brought back to the city?)

Celia was saying that if the guards were killed, the only place the killers could have come from would be the mines or Azure City, and Azure City is mostly secure, at least in my opinion.

It is a bit of a misspeak, however.

[BisectedBrioche]

I'd just liek to say that this strip finally gave me something to create an animated OotS art of (sorry for the grammar, its late);

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3896/animationjm6.gif

[themightybiggun]

I liked this one a lot.

Bravo Giant.

[Dracosaur]

"Have a nice day and thanks for the promotion"::smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin:

And really....why am I not surprised that if anyone could stab someone in the face with their eyes closed it would be Belkar.

[Faramir]

You have no idea how much I needed that laugh today.

Thanks.

[Ascension]

I'd just liek to say that this strip finally gave me something to create an animated OotS art of (sorry for the grammar, its late)

That is awesome. Really, really awesome.

OOTS: The Animated Series anyone? :smallbiggrin:

[Grey Watcher]

Aaah... well then David was reading her words too literally. The path obviously -also- leads to Azure City (Who is gonna build a mine whose resources CAN'T be brought back to the city?)

Celia was saying that if the guards were killed, the only place the killers could have come from would be the mines or Azure City, and Azure City is mostly secure, at least in my opinion.

It is a bit of a misspeak, however.

I think it's supposed to be that the underground tunnels the Resistance is based in open up inside City at the warehouse where they fled from Tsukiko and continue under the walls to open up in a mine outside the walls. I think, though it makes Ceilia's story that she just purchased the corpses at the market a little... odd, since she should now be coming out of a pass that leads to an abandoned mine....

[strayth]

OOTS: The Animated Series anyone? :smallbiggrin:
It was one of my first impulses when reading through the series. And it would be so incredibly easy- probably only facing voice acting as the challenge.

My God I'd love it so much. I wanna see Nale in action! :smallbiggrin: Oh and Thog, he makes being green seem so easy.

:thog:

[ishnar]

Not quite... You may move into your supervisor's position, but a promotion in rank is not automatic...

My supervisor died while I was serving on my second ship (peacetime, natural causes), and while I became the Torpedo Room supervisor, I remained an E5.

However, wartime field promotions often, if not usually, stick. Especially, if the person demonstrates the requisite ability.

[fractal]

Knowing these boards, I expect there will be a Darkblood Gloomgloom fan club by Monday. And they will have exhaustively debated her possible connections to every other character, independantly from Celia, before the week is done. :smallamused:
Well, Darkblood Gloomgloom hasn't been seen at the same place at the same time as many of the other characters, now has she? How can we be sure she's not one of them in disguise? She could be Sabine, or Therkla, or maybe even Miko, returned from the grave!

That's my theory, actually. Darkblood Gloomgloom is Miko, now a fiend, who has escaped from the Lower Planes and killed Belkar and Haley. Half of the OotS is down, half to go! (Unfortunately for her, when Elan scries on them, he'll figure it out.)

[Solara]

How exactly will Elan scry on them? Except for Haley, Cloister will still be affecting them for at least four weeks...

I think he meant V. It's an understandable mistake, them being so similar and all. :smalltongue:

Anyway, I was fixing to post that theory myself. If Celia's little trick works this time she may decide to use it again later...

[DracoDei]

The Celia -> Fiend animation is very cool... and the comic isn't bad either!

[Blaznak]

Have a nice day and thanks for the promotion.
Prediction? This will be THE convention shirt of 2008 if printed...
Too freakishly funny!
Later!

[Syraider]

is cool xD:smallbiggrin: :smallbiggrin:

[David Argall]

Even worse: That's what they'll look like when Elan first manages to scry on them. Three corpses in a cart pulled by a demon. Or devil. He'll probably know.

Elan, or V or Durkon, has no reason to scry Celia. She is, as far as they know, in some city other than Azure City, one far enough away from Azure City that she does not even hear that Azure City was taken over by the forces of evil. So the only reason to scry on her is that she is a known individual one might use to test a spell with. Unless they are casting scaning spells a dozen times a day or more, they are unlikely to try her at all, and the chance they do so on one particular day are way small. [Of course, such extremely unlikely events can be plot useful, but unless the story requires it, it can be dismissed. And right now several other plot lines look more likely.]



David was reading her words too literally. The path obviously -also- leads to Azure City (Who is gonna build a mine whose resources CAN'T be brought back to the city?)

Celia was saying that if the guards were killed, the only place the killers could have come from would be the mines or Azure City, and Azure City is mostly secure, at least in my opinion.

It is a bit of a misspeak, however.
You are trying to put words in her mouth. She says "This path only leads back to the mines." No "or the city" or any other limitation.

Now we can argue that Celia didn't know where the path led and was simply wrong in saying "only". However, Haley and Belkar should know and do not correct her. So it is most easily read as she is correct.
538 presents us with a related problem in the subordinate saying he wanted to do it "this time". That does not require there be other times, but that is the implied situation. But if the path only leads to the mine, why would there be other people coming by?
One idea would be that these are disguised members of the resistance, using a convenient means to reach the city and making sure the hobs in the area were not up to anything.

As to the guard station itself, one situation consistent with Celia's statement wold be that there is a crossroads, with one path leading to the mine, another to the city, another away from the city, and possibly other in other directions. Having lots of troops to keep busy, the hobs put guards on each road rather than 1 guard post at the intersection. Now if the guards on the mine road are slaughtered, the threat must have come from the mine. But if they are bypassed, it is assumed there is no threat that way, even if Haley and Belkar wipe out another guard station.

As to the oddness of her claim to have purchased bodies in the city and now coming down a path that does not lead to the city, that may well be a blunder on her part that the hobs didn't catch. It's quite possible they have never bothered to go up the path and have very little idea where it goes.

[DrivinAllNight]

However, wartime field promotions often, if not usually, stick. Especially, if the person demonstrates the requisite ability.

but he was only given more responsibility, not a higher rank because of the persons untimely death.

also on the Comic side, Belkar once again proves why he is my favorite character.

[factotum]

Depends on how long it takes them to get out of Hobgoblin-controlled territory.

It's "way more than four weeks" to Cliffport, but that doesn't tell us how much of the intervening landscape is currently hostile.


Alter Self has a duration of only 10 minutes per level. For it to last 4 weeks Celia would have to be a little over level 4000, and I don't think that's likely. Also, there's no evidence that the hobgoblins are covering a particularly wide area...in fact, Xykon would presumably want to keep them all inside the radius of the Cloister spell anyway, so by definition they can't be scryed on until they get outside hobgoblin territory anyway!

[Kronoss]

In the #538 Celia definitely looks more cute in her fiendish disguise. Hope Roy get's to say what he thinks about it :smalltongue: even if i guess Haley don't like it since the red skin reminds of sabine.

[banjo1985]

Celia does look better as a fiend. :smallbiggrin:

Belkar alkso makes a very good zombie, mindless killing is his forte!

[pendell]

*Applauds*

Now THAT is comedy.

Note the look on Celia's face last panel .. oh , well, she should be happy only 1 hobgoblin got killed instead of 30.

I'm a little ticked at Celia for throwing around the word 'murder' so casually. Killing enemy soldiers in time of war is NOT murder.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[fractal]

Note the look on Celia's face last panel .. oh , well, she should be happy only 1 hobgoblin got killed instead of 30.

I'm a little ticked at Celia for throwing around the word 'murder' so casually. Killing enemy soldiers in time of war is NOT murder.
That's an excellent point. These hobgoblins have kind of used up any benefit of the doubt they might otherwise be due.

[BisectedBrioche]

Morning all. Here's a couple of tweaked versions of the gif I posted above;

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8667/animation2zj9.gif

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/6306/animation3bl2.gif

EDIT: And one of Haley using a scroll for good measure;

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/634/animationach8.gif

[zyphyr]

Not quite... You may move into your supervisor's position, but a promotion in rank is not automatic...

My supervisor died while I was serving on my second ship (peacetime, natural causes), and while I became the Torpedo Room supervisor, I remained an E5.

Historically (ie., as recently as WWI and back into the dim mists of history), rank and position were intimately tied together, at least in the enlisted ranks (Officers have always had their own rules). If you were the senior enlisted person in the platoon, you were a Sergeant. It didn't matter if you were a Private yesterday - if they gave you the job you got the rank automatically and you wouldn't get the rank without the job being available. Most fantasy worlds go with a semi-historical military, so it is quite reasonable to assume that such a system is in effect here (especially given the dialog).

[FujinAkari]

I'm a little ticked at Celia for throwing around the word 'murder' so casually. Killing enemy soldiers in time of war is NOT murder.

Somehow, I think Celia is a bit more of an expert on Azurian Law than you are :P

[SteveMB]

Note the look on Celia's face last panel .. oh , well, she should be happy only 1 hobgoblin got killed instead of 30.

I'm a little ticked at Celia for throwing around the word 'murder' so casually. Killing enemy soldiers in time of war is NOT murder.

In fairness to Celia, I point out that she was referring to adventurer behavior in general, which does tend to be pretty murderous by most civilized people's standards. ("I just figured we'd wander around, kill some sentient creatures because they had green skin and fangs and we don't, and then take their stuff." (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0013.html))

[Morgan Wick]

Since it is way too early for another strip to be posted

If you check the timestamps on the 537 and 538 threads you see that more than 24 hours elapse between them. Two strips being posted within a little more than a day of each other is hardly unheard of. Or have you never heard of strips going up on the weekend, shock horror?


*Noone* noticed how stunned Celia is in the last two panels ? I fully expect her to stay that way in the next update, raising suspicion again and ultimately ruining the plan.

I did, but I only expect it to take the form of Celia and Belkar arguing, with Celia going "How could you?" and Belkar all "It worked, didn't it?"


Wow. Celia is a HAWT demon-chick. Or is she a devil-chick?

UUGH, not this again. :smallmad:

I doubt she's the same type as Sabine, though. Their skin colors are different, for one thing. And Sabine has much larger wings, though that may be the limitations of the spell... and Sabine's wings aren't purple...


How exactly will Elan scry on them? Except for Haley, Cloister will still be affecting them for at least four weeks...

You mean "except for Celia", right? And whether it's Elan or V, that wouldn't really change the effect of Cloister, right? The real question is, can bards scry? (I'm too lazy to look at the rules right now)


That is awesome. Really, really awesome.

OOTS: The Animated Series anyone? :smallbiggrin:

How are you going to do V's voice? It's kind of hard to come up with a voice that could be either male or female and yet still be adult.

[lyric76]

Best part of my day...:smallsmile:

[ravenmonkey]

belkar is so funny lol

[williamland]

Thog is awsome.My fav is Durkon.:smallsmile:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !1:smallbiggrin: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!1


ME TOO!!!

[Huckminster]

Celia's pretty cute as a brunette.

[williamland]

pervert
CENTER]http://www.wizards.com/magic/images/whatcolor_isred.jpgTake the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz. (http://www.wizards.com/magic/playmagic/whatcolorareyou.asp)[/CENTER]

[Svethnika]

Lmao, oh man. Today's comic was a good one! :smallbiggrin: Nice job Giant!:smallsmile:

[BisectedBrioche]

Celia's pretty cute as a brunette.

Where does Celia appear as a Brunette?

[David Argall]

Celia does look better as a fiend.

To each their own. Personally I prefer fems without overbite or underbite.

[teratorn]

Shouldn't Belkar open his eyes now that he is undead?

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Shouldn't Belkar open his eyes now that he is undead?

He's freshly undead... Like a little, cuddly, newborn baby puppy. :smallwink:
His eyes just haven't had time to open yet!

Give him a few days before you put him in a bag and toss him into the creek. :smalleek:

[Kilarny]

You have to love that low Intelligence on your average humanoid.

So, now I own all the published books, the board game, and I've read everything at least twice...I'll be checking back a lot for new strips.

*bounces up and down eagerly* :smallbiggrin:

[SteveMB]

Give him a few days before you put him in a bag and toss him into the creek. :smalleek:

I don't think that works on undead, and probably won't work on Belkar, either.

[williamland]

<bannedstory version="3.0"><character><01002551/><00002000/><01052075/><00020000 c="0" e="blink"/><01082168/><00030030 c="0"/><01072273/><01702120/></character></bannedstory>

[El_Jefe]

He he he, this has to be one of my all time favorites...

And Celia is awesome! I am starting to really like her. Cool and funny character.





Me wonders where :thog: ?

[Alporik]

How are you going to do V's voice? It's kind of hard to come up with a voice that could be either male or female and yet still be adult.

Just use the voice of Pat from Saturday Night Live.

[sealemon]

Actually made me LOL, no small feat that, when I'm at work. Great job.

*Still chuckling*

[Gryndel]

Where did Mr. Scruffy go in the 3rd panel?:smallconfused:
The Scruffinator clearly made an epic hide check when the hobgoblins approached, probably rolled a 20! Likely has the Hide n Plain Sight (or whatever its named) feat too, and slipped from the view of us all. :smallbiggrin:


Alter Self has a duration of only 10 minutes per level. For it to last 4 weeks Celia would have to be a little over level 4000, and I don't think that's likely.
Well she is a sorceress, so she could do it multiple times a day.

However, even if she used them all each day, they probably wouldn't last long enough to get through enemy territory, if indeed its occupied heavily (which I agree probably isn't).

Cute animation, Bisected8. :smallsmile:


How do we petition to get new smileys? Scruffy is, or should be, nominated! :smallwink:

[BisectedBrioche]

Well she is a sorceress, so she could do it multiple times a day.

However, even if she used them all each day, they probably wouldn't last long enough to get through enemy territory, if indeed its occupied heavily (which I agree probably isn't).

I was under the impression that they were using the disguise to get past the checkpoint rather than keeping it up throughout the trip (we don't know how much of the area surrounding AC (DC? :smallwink:) has been occupied after all.


Cute animation, Bisected8. :smallsmile:

Thanks. :smallbiggrin:

[MyrddinDerwydd]

He's freshly undead... Like a little, cuddly, newborn baby puppy. :smallwink:
His eyes just haven't had time to open yet!


He he he....For some reason this resulted in me thinking of the "undead" Belkar in a pink frilly dress crossed with a puppy version of Scruffy...:smallbiggrin:

[Senko]

Gah my eyes the googles do nothing!!! Seriously I really wish I hadn't read the latest update right now gah. Just came from finishing reading Tales of Mu so I saw Celia's comment about experiments to horrible to contemplate with Mu's main characters comment about the slight chance of her resurecting them as an undead sex toy being worth the risk fresh in my mind. Throw in a cart carrying a female human and a male halfling and brrrrrrr. As for why I'm saying this I want to share the horrror.

On topic I think Roy's a grade Skeleton and the others are grade A meatbags. I also agree about Celia's look being adorable especially the little fangs as she stares at the dead hobgoblin who incidently reminds me of a GM we had once in a starwars game. He wanted a fight so he had the stormtrooper just keep pushing till he found something he could use to justify the situation in spite of all the attempts to avoid it. The players (and this really does make me think Roy's character is playing Celia while dead) come up with a clever plan to avoid combat and the GM goes noooooo. Are they dead, really dead, are you sure, maybe you should prove it.....

[homestar3.14]

Gah my eyes the googles do nothing!!! Seriously I really wish I hadn't read the latest update right now gah. Just came from finishing reading Tales of Mu so I saw Celia's comment about experiments to horrible to contemplate with Mu's main characters comment about the slight chance of her resurecting them as an undead sex toy being worth the risk fresh in my mind. Throw in a cart carrying a female human and a male halfling and brrrrrrr. As for why I'm saying this I want to share the horrror.
*snip*

You read ToMU, too? Ook!
I like both MU and OotS for the random pop culture references. OVER 9000!, Gygax Memorial Healing Center, etc.

[Senko]

I think the image I posted killed the thread, hmmmmmm gay undead porn as a thread killer....Anyway I rather like the modern magic of MU and medieval magic of TOOTS.

[holywhippet]

Why wouldn't she just use prestidigitization to change her clothing color? Or forget alter self and just use disguise self? And how do the hobgoblins not notice that she didn't place any 25gp onyx gems on Belkar's eyes?

Gotta love rule nitpicking. But seriously, hilarious. I love it when they one-shot the mooks.

Exactly how many ranks in spellcraft or even knowledge: arcana do you think the average hobgoblin has? They aren't terribly bright so for all they know a necromancer can simply command a corpse to rise.

A better spot check would be noticing that Celia claimed to have 3 grade A corpses. While Belkar and Haley might look like recent kills, Roy's body shows months worth of decay.

Exactly how strong is Celia exactly? I wouldn't have expected a slender looking young girl like her to have a high strength score, but she is pulling a cart containing 3 dead bodies and a cat along.

[BisectedBrioche]

Exactly how many ranks in spellcraft or even knowledge: arcana do you think the average hobgoblin has? They aren't terribly bright so for all they know a necromancer can simply command a corpse to rise.

A better spot check would be noticing that Celia claimed to have 3 grade A corpses. While Belkar and Haley might look like recent kills, Roy's body shows months worth of decay.

Exactly how strong is Celia exactly? I wouldn't have expected a slender looking young girl like her to have a high strength score, but she is pulling a cart containing 3 dead bodies and a cat along.

Maybe whatever whe took the form of granted some racial bonuses to strength?

[holywhippet]

Maybe whatever she took the form of granted some racial bonuses to strength?

I don't think so, the spell description of Alter Self (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/alterSelf.htm) indicates that you keep your current ability scores. It's mainly a disguise spell to make you look like something else. To become stronger from a form changing spell you'd need to use polymorph.