OOTS #600 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[afroakuma]

Awesome. :smallamused:

[Setra]

So was there another timeskip? :smallconfused: Or am I missing something?

[hamishspence]

Most definitely. Am suspecting this bodes well for next one.

[Adumbration]

Made me chuckle. :smallbiggrin:

Hopefully this will actually be followed by more Roy. Believe it or not, I was starting to miss the bugger.

[Raz_Fox]

:smallbiggrin: BRILLIANT!

Giant, you're awesome! That was nowhere what I was expecting, but you're simply amazing. Nice anticlimatic joke at the end.

[Nevitan]

Oh boy, That was great to see Roy with his family, and Learning from his grandpa.
I loved how Horace tried to justify his Joke.

[Oregano]

Cool, but Roy's going to be dissappointed I think.

[Shatteredtower]

Not sure what to make of this one. Nice to see Roy and family again, though.

[Belkar Rocks]

This is exactly what I wanted for #600. I'm thinking this means we're going to see some Roy-back-to-life action soon. :smallsmile:

[Stabbify]

Yeah, I'm also kinda wondering what happened time-wise. Everyone seems to be anticipating Roy's departure, but why? It's also stated it's been weeks since Roy returned from the Oracle, but how much in-comic time has gone on since that strip?

Also, Roy seems to continually ask what time it is, as can be gathered from the archon's response. What are the chances of Roy having visited the Oracle asking him when he was going to be resurrected?

And a nice "In your face!" for all #600 freaks. ;) Though I can't deny I was anticipating something big too.

1gp on #666!

[Zerg Cookie]

There was a 10 seconds delay between the time I finished reading and thetime I ROFLMAO'ed

Great strip :smallbiggrin:


Edit: For all those who didn't understand how could it possibly be 3 years: Roy's not dead for 3 years. His mother is dead for 3 years, so he didn't eat anything she cooked in those 3 years she was dead.

[chiasaur11]

Yes!
Roy's coming back!

I am pleasantly surprised.

[Lamech]

When I saw the strip heading I thought V was going to fall. Er... turn evil.

I guess this why we shouldn't speculate too much.

[Gez]

Very cute. :smallsmile:

I like the awkward silence at the end.

[Salty]

Ha! oh well, I think Roy will be raised soon. Great strip! :smallbiggrin:

[Hoplite]

I loved this one, but did we see this elevator before? Because I can't remember...

[hamishspence]

Or, if you think strip 11 proves V Good and no strip since then has proven otherwise, Turn Neutral.

I personally don't, but thats me.

[Nevitan]

So was there another timeskip? :smallconfused: Or am I missing something?

I think that it may just be that Roy has been constantly checking how long he had been practicing.
I also think he had been training with Horace for a long time without Scrying on Haley and doesn't know about the golem and thieves guild situations.

[Holammer]

How about they take a trip to the basement and say hello to Miko? That'd make my day for the the next strip... oh and finally! No more #600 speculation! :smallamused:

[Deepkicker]

Oh Giant, you lovable rogue!

When we get back down to the others, does this mean more time will have passed?

[Lira]

Well, I can honestly say I wasn't expecting that. Still, good strip. :smallbiggrin:

[Mercenary Pen]

Yep, we were well and truly due for a change of pace (and scenery) about now. Question is, will this be the real thing for Roy, or just a false alarm?

Also, there's no way that #666 will be up in time for October 31st this year (surely the most appropriate date for it)... But that date needn't be thrown out the window if the year changes...

[Monation]

Hey but remember, this doesn't mean Roy is about to get raised. Roy just suspects that by this time Haley and Celia have gotten to Cliffport.
They still have to find a way to get Roy's skeleton back! Then they still have to find a high level cleric who can cast the spell. For the time being, it doesn't seem like there aren't any clerics that can help them out.

[Bartok]

I wonder if Horace will say anything Eugene when the door opens...

[xelliea]

:smallsmile::smallsmile:sweet

[PaladinFreak]

Awesome!

Even anticlimax can be funny in the right hands.

Oh, and I second the 666.

[nowiwantmydmg]

Meh. Like the implications, but somewhat disappointed.

[Lerky]

I...feel ripped off:smallfrown::smalltongue:

I was expecting that it shows Hilgya as the cleric of Loki in Graysky but I guess not.

[Gnomish Lab]

Anticlimactic never looked so good

[BizzaroStormy]

A funny comic, and a new quote for my sig.

:roy:: *munch munch*

[Sequinox]

Yes! Its Here!

[shylocxs]

Mmmmmm.... mombalaya!

[Silakka]

I totally wish Roy'll finally get resurrected. Although, that would most likely mean the next dozen strips would be just showing how they ended up finally resurrecting him, so meh...

Don't get me wrong, I love the strip more than ever but I'm kind of anxious to see the Order finally together again.

Oh the suspension....

[TengYt]

Awesome ;) Great reference to all the mad theories about what was gonna happen in Strip 600. Hopefully this means Roy will return to life soon...

[Sequinox]

On a side note, what is Jambalaya?

[HUMVEE Driver]

I guess I'm in the minority, but

WTF?

Its like watching the first part of Deathproof.

[RMS Oceanic]

Heck of a non sequiter. We all sure got told! :smallsmile:

I suspect the plot is immediately gonna snap back to where it was before, like it did when Gary Gygax died.

[Glorfindel]

Stupid fighters ... they should be breaking doors, not 4th walls ...

[Gnomish Lab]

On a side note, what is Jambalaya?

Wiki is your friend - Trust the wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambalaya)

[FoE]

Take THAT, OotS readers! :smalltongue:

[Crystalkestrel]

I saw this coming. There are way to many loose ends for any one of them to be resolved in 600. An anticlimax was the only way to go. To keep spoilers to a minimum, I scrolled down the page slowly, reading each line of panels before moving on. The last panel hit about as hard as the time Roy hit the ground in 443.

[Lord_Butters_I]

Gaah, now the focus is going to shift to Haley and it'll be weeks if not months before we find out what Quar wants with V!

[TheBST]

I am appalled and infuriated, but I've learned a valuable lesson...

[David Argall]

finally! No more #600 speculation! :smallamused:

They are already started on 666 [which also might be the end of the current book, and might actually be a big page.] But we may be able to point this one out to the pixies when we approach 700.

[Eran of Arcadia]

Huzzah! Well done, Giant!

[Ancalagon]

No training in the afterlife, yes? ;)

[Talya]

Rich! You're killing me. Seriously. I gotta stop reading this comic and wait for you to release another 200 comics and maybe something will actually happen... this is getting to be like reading Robert Jordan...at one page a week.

[Mando Knight]

I am appalled and infuriated, but I've learned a valuable lesson...

Which is, "It don't mean a thing if you ain't paid for that swing."

[Mc. Lovin']

Aw. The anticlimax joke doesnt help the fact that it was a huge anticlimax =/

[chibibar]

Wow.... that is awesome.. Mom-balyah! I want some!

[TheBST]

Which is, "It don't mean a thing if you ain't paid for that swing."

That and to treat big events in stories like the Spanish Inquistion. They will not come if I'm expecting them.

[Vulion]

Just frickin' great, Giant.

[HOLEkevin]

Hey, who's that bald guy walkin' around up in the clouds talkin' to a lightbulb? I sure don't remember anyone like that in this comic, and I've been here since the beginning!

He must be a new NPC.

(LOL, nice 600th. Gratz on ya!)

[SteveMB]

Sorcerers get no respect, even from meat shields. :smallwink:

I can imaging Roy's reaction when he finds out how much the situation with the Order has gone from bad to worse....

[Deth Muncher]

Anticlimax ftw!

[hexe]

Yeah, nice. Kick #600!

[Saint Nil]

Ah, I love that new comic smell. This is the oots I've come to know and love. Thanks giant. Can't wait to see Roy use some of those moves.

[Enlong]

Ahahah! That was funny. Nice to see that Roy has learned the pre-feat stuff for Horace's anti-spellcaster moves. That should come in handy. Also, yes! Jamablaya! I LOVE that stuff, though I've never actually had Mom-balaya, I'm always the one to make it.

[Swordguy]

Mmmmmm...delicious metahumor...

[Raging Gene Ray]

Hey but remember, this doesn't mean Roy is about to get raised. Roy just suspects that by this time Haley and Celia have gotten to Cliffport.

Yeah; I'm actually looking forward to finding out about Eugene, if he's been scrying on Haley and how he breaks the news of the golemification to Roy.

It's also good to see Roy lern the feat from his grandfather as it was foreshadowed. That's one Chekhov's Gun out of the way.

[Nidhögg]

He he, that anticlimax was great, thank you Giant. :smallsmile:

I also like that Roy apparently doesn't trust his sense of time when he's not watching the events of the living. Not falling far that one again Roy? :smallwink:

[Querzis]

Thats just plain great. I just love that last panel: «munch munch».

I cant believe the Giant can make even Anticlimax good and funny...but I kinda wonder how this is gonna work in the book.

[Jan Mattys]

I think this is a great 600 strip, and more than ever...

/Pixie in the playground comment MODE ON

...I think we should just stop all these [Spoilers] thread and just enjoy the comic without too much speculation, which both seems to irritate the Giant AND makes him re-design his strips to surprise the now un-shockable audience.

Thanks Giant. I'm just a n00b but all I can say is "lesson learnt"

Oh, and grats. The Strip rocks.

/Pixie in the playground comment MODE OFF

[B.I.T.T.]

Dude, that was funny.

[Kyeudo]

I see the fourth wall has been broken so much that they didn't bother to replace it anymore.

[R.O.A.]

awwww!:smallsmile:

[Alces]

This isn't quite as far beyond the fourth wall as No. 100 was. Ad I did giggle, despite the Giant yanking our collective chain...

[Athaniar]

I waited long and eagerly for the 600th strip, expecting, of course, some awesome, plot-shaping strip, and then we get this?

The Giant is a genius.

[SPoD]

Am I the only one who smiled at the optimism of this strip?

Yes, obviously, huge anticlimax, but here we basically have wink-wink confirmation that Roy is coming back soon-ish. You don't stage a goodbye scene if the character isn't leaving soon. It may be 40-50 strips before he's back, but I'm willing to bet that this scene (which may last a few more strips) will be the last time we see Roy in heaven before the big resurrection.

Also, Roy has mastered his Grandpa's anti-spellcaster secret, which will likely play a role in battling Xykon (or possibly Vaarsuvius?) AND has won over his archon friend to the point of the archon bending the rules of heaven iteself so that he can help out.

I think this is definitely the start of the rally for Team OOTS.

[Kurald Galain]

This strip reminds me of Brian Clevinger...

[FireDrake]

Lol, everyone thought Roy would be raised in this comic, but actually he was lowered (in the elevator). Also, he's going down a few levels, and when he is raised, he will be lowered one level.

Very good comic, I love the Roy in paradise parts. But hopefully he'll be ressed soon.

[Dacia Brabant]

Well at least now we know who the real Magnificent Bastard is around here. :smalltongue:

[Maxdibe]

...and that's why I LOVE oots.
A huge 2 panel comic describing... nothing in particular! :smallbiggrin:

[randomnondescri]

Heh, loved the standing around awkward silence strips.

Munch munch...

Unfortunately, I don't think stick hands can make the awkward turtle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SULsR9-lbw)...

[Wreckingrocc]

He totally did that just to shove the #600 predictions in everyone's faces :smalltongue:

[Krelon]

It looks like Roy is on his way down to resurrection already, or where does the elevator go? But, isn't he turned into a golem already? Can he even be resurrected?

Or will there be a Roy-golem? Fight undead with undead ...

[AyuVince]

I expected to see Roy again, and wasn't disappointed. After all the dying, crying and breaking up it's reassuring to see some lighthearted comedy in the peaceful afterlife. You need these moments from time to time in a good story. If everything turned bleak and pessimistic, I couldn't bear to read it for long.

[Neko Toast]

Dunno if it's been posted yet, but I'm just gonna put it out there anyway.

Anyone else get a sense of foreboding with Roy's grandpa teaching him how to interrupt a caster's spells?

Maybe he'll be using that against a certain wizard soon.

[Zordrath]

Heh, not bad. I like how it's at the same time extremely anticlimactic, yet still foreshadows events worthy of a #x00.

Still, I can't help feeling slightly... ripped off. I thought we were safe from that joke as it's already been used...

[XenoTherapy]

I wasn't expecting anything big for a X00 strip, just something....important.

And 600 definitely delivers. Excellent job, Giant. :smile:

[LavenderIsGreen]

I think I can safely say without any exaggeration whatsoever that it is the greatest feeling in the world to expect the possibly irreversible fall of your favorite character but then get a couple of guys standin' around in an elevator.


...okay, but no, it's a pretty good feeling.

[Jophes]

I wasn't really all that surprised hehe

Also, I don't think V is going to end up turning against the order, but I could be wrong.

[Lamech]

Am I the only one who smiled at the optimism of this strip?

Yes, obviously, huge anticlimax, but here we basically have wink-wink confirmation that Roy is coming back soon-ish. You don't stage a goodbye scene if the character isn't leaving soon. It may be 40-50 strips before he's back, but I'm willing to bet that this scene (which may last a few more strips) will be the last time we see Roy in heaven before the big resurrection.

Also, Roy has mastered his Grandpa's anti-spellcaster secret, which will likely play a role in battling Xykon (or possibly Vaarsuvius?) AND has won over his archon friend to the point of the archon bending the rules of heaven iteself so that he can help out.

I think this is definitely the start of the rally for Team OOTS.

That would be irony, the 600th strip jokes about being unimportant, but turns out to mark when the OotS gets back on track to the next battle with Xykon.

Anyway, that new technique won't be all that effective against Xykon unless he get something else too; Roy could barely hit Xykon in the last fight. Xykon won't have any trouble casting spells while Roy sits their missing up a storm. Would work against V though...

[xyzzy]

Ha! That was wonderfully anticlimatic. Wonderfully done. Bravo. Other words of "you are awesome." Et cetera. And so on.

[Teatime]

Hmm...waited excitedly for the new strip...finally saw it was up, clicked the link with great haste...and was hit with an anticlimax. The Giant pulled a fast one that wasn't what I was expecting, but still made me chuckle in an odd way...

...Oh snap...I've just been Richroll'd.

[Cleverdan22]

I find it funny to see people thinking that the Giant is spiting those who made predictions because they made predictions. The Giant cares enough about his story enough that he wouldn't ruin an x00 strip to be mean to a few people. He either had this planned for a while, as a purposeful joke, or he spent too long on a particular story arc than he wanted to, as in comic 100.

I actually liked this one a lot, because for the first time in quite a few strips, we got a very positive feel, while the Order has been gloomy for a while now. Greysky, Therkla's death, and V leaving, for instance. Also mom-balaya rules.

[FriskyDingo]

Am I the only one who smiled at the optimism of this strip?

Yes, obviously, huge anticlimax, but here we basically have wink-wink confirmation that Roy is coming back soon-ish. You don't stage a goodbye scene if the character isn't leaving soon. It may be 40-50 strips before he's back, but I'm willing to bet that this scene (which may last a few more strips) will be the last time we see Roy in heaven before the big resurrection.

Also, Roy has mastered his Grandpa's anti-spellcaster secret, which will likely play a role in battling Xykon (or possibly Vaarsuvius?) AND has won over his archon friend to the point of the archon bending the rules of heaven iteself so that he can help out.

I think this is definitely the start of the rally for Team OOTS.

Yeah, I actually cheered after reading this strip. Got strange looks from my roommate. But I just had so many warm, excited feelings after reading I just couldn't help myself :smallwink:

I can't help but feel that now that Roy is back on the scene, things are going to start going slowly but surely more uphill for the party.

Keeping my fingers crossed, at any rate!

[Starscream]

I like it!

After weeks of drama and foreboding, we hit 600 with something nice and smile-inducing.

And we finally get back to Roy! Elan will always be my favorite, but without Roy being the center of attention it just doesn't feel like Order of the Stick.

And if anyone can talk (or smack) some sense into V, it's him.

Thanks, Giant, I needed that boost.

[Kwarkpudding]

:smallbiggrin: That was great. As was the optimism in this strip and seeing Eric again. :smallsmile:

One small thing, it seems Horace has switched belts. In this (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0499.html) strip he's still wearing a yellow belt with a buckle, yet in the most recent one he's wearing a green one.

OK, I'll stop nitpicking now. Awesome comic as usual. :smallsmile:

[Lupy]

This was a great comic, and I'm looking forward to the next hundred even more now. :smallsmile:

I was glad for the anticlimax, it let off a lot of the tension that's been building, and really drives home just how good a write you are.

[Linkavitch]

YEEEAAH!
It's Finally Here! And one of the best ones, too, in my opinion, if it matters.

[One Skunk Todd]

What? No celestial elevator music? :)

Seriously, can Roy earn a level, or XP by training with his grandfather in the afterlife?

[Yendor]

Obviously, this is all building up to the discovery that Eugene has entered Celestia, because Haley, Celia, Julia, Hilgya and Niu (aka the Order of the Chick) have already defeated Xykon and are busy dealing with Vaarsuvius, who is Redcloak's new teammate. They'll get around to retrieving Roy's body sometime. Maybe.

[Zythran]

great !!! let'em spam !

[3Power]

.....

Lame.

[Jan Mattys]

I think this is a great 600 strip, and more than ever...

/Pixie in the playground comment MODE ON

...I think we should just stop all these [Spoilers] thread and just enjoy the comic without too much speculation, which both seems to irritate the Giant AND makes him re-design his strips to surprise the now un-shockable audience.

Thanks Giant. I'm just a n00b but all I can say is "lesson learnt"

Oh, and grats. The Strip rocks.

/Pixie in the playground comment MODE OFF

[Kato]

Arr, lamp shading, my mortal enemy! Why must thou always spoil my hopes!

nah, great comic again, guess we should have seen it coming ^^
(btw, how do you train disrupting spells? Don't you just... hit em with the sword as always?)

[Greg]

Here's hoping 601 is like 301, but with mombalaya!

[Aristeidis]

You should be ashamed toying with us like that!!!!!!! :smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin:

You really showed us!!!!

hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

[Nerdanel]

I was worried that those people who didn't bother spoilering their speculations for #600 and especially those who put spoiler hints in thread titles ("certain templates", I'm looking at you) would change what was about to happen. Now it looks like the plot might have been changed just because of us speculators.:smallannoyed: I'm not big on anticlimaxes, especially when that joke has been done before.

Let's hope this is just a change in the strip schedule and not a huge plot change...

[Evaine]

Very entertaining (as always). I'm hoping this means we now get to see what Haley, Celia, and Belkar are up to...:smallsmile:

[Mant]

Is there some kind of drug spreadt into the air?

"Brilliant" ?
"Amazing joke" ?

What the hell?

It's not like i expected a chorus of delusion, but we waited a week for a strip that is basically a recycle of old arts & a plain facepalm "you expected something great? haha! so not sorry".

Seriously, at this point i believe that even a fully pitch black screen panel with no dialogues whatsoever would get acclamation and admiration.

[Fraxinus]

Hehe, so many expectations, so much debate, so many conjectures... and here it comes, baffling most readers, a brilliant and witty anticlimax! :smalltongue:
It's so good to see Roy again, up there... oh and nice Ella Fitzgerald citation, anyway... :smallwink:

[Falconer]

Nice strip, Giant. A nice break from all of the drama going on down below


I loved the little "EMPLOYEES ONLY: Enforced by honor system" sign; it gave me a laugh :smallsmile:

[Mastikator]

Preditions on #601
They're taking the elevator into the lower planes to fight demons and gain levels, so that once Roy is ressurected he'll be more powerful than Xykon.

The first panel was pretty sweet though. I don't think it was a waste, there is just as much, if not more, substance in character development by drama as in plot development and violent action.
Not to mention that the drama was sweet. Made me smile.

[Superglucose]

Giant, I love your comic but imo the second half of today's was a waste of time and space. It did not serve to further the plot and was utterly unfunny. To be perfectly honest, it felt kind of like a "you guys want content? SHAFT!" moment.

Thanks for the first half though, it was great!

[Monsterknuffel]

Is there some kind of drug spreadt into the air?

"Brilliant" ?
"Amazing joke" ?

What the hell?

It's not like i expected a chorus of delusion, but we waited a week for a strip that is basically a recycle of old arts & a plain facepalm "you expected something great? haha! so not sorry".

Seriously, at this point i believe that even a fully pitch black screen panel with no dialogues whatsoever would get acclamation and admiration.
Well it´s a fanthread the Giant doesn´t care very much about,(at least he wrote it somewhere) it´s normal that nearly everybody thinks every comic is the best of the best.

I didn´t expect something great/epic/world destructing innovative, but the Giants standard is better in my opinion.

I definitely disliked the "Hey I bet everyone was expecting a big battle for strip #600,eh ?" "Ha HA!" "Heh yea."
This was not funny. It was crude, below the belt, or so

Sure the Giant is allowed to make fun of his readers, but not like this. :smallfrown:

[RosesOnConcrete]

Gah, title scared me bad. As someone else said, it's pretty relieving to click on something expecting to see one of your favorite characters turn Evil, and get a couple dead guys standing around in an elevator. *whew*

Also, Roy's Mom, I love you. Jambalaya and hinting about "I wanna be a grandma, get on with it!" Sounds like my mom. Eric is still cute as anything, too.

[Lumenadducere]

Heheh, definitely got a laugh. Nice one, Giant.

[itsmeyouidiot]

As soon as I read the punchline, I looked up comic #100.

Gah! Can't... Stop... Browsing... Archives! (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ArchiveBinge)

[LordSintax]

First off, awesome anticlimax. almost pythonesqe.

second, OOOO! are we about to witness a Horace-Eugene reunion???

[Lord Seth]

The joke for this one should've been compressed into one normal-length strip. It was definitely not worth the long wait. The anticlimax works far better in 8-Bit Theater than in OOTS anyway.

It would've been funnier if it hadn't come after when the story's been stalling for so long, and if it hadn't been a repeat of a joke that was executed far better the first time around.

[Eorek]

Ooo errr.
Loved it :)
The Giant's comedy genius

[Eorek]

.....

Lame.

You're lame :smallmad:

[Blaznak]

I don't get it. Who's this "Roy" character? Have we seen him before? :smallwink:


Ok! Just kidding! Its just been so long since he's been in a strip! Hee hee!

Later...

[HUMVEE Driver]

Originally Posted by Mant
Is there some kind of drug spreadt into the air?

"Brilliant" ?
"Amazing joke" ?

What the hell?

It's not like i expected a chorus of delusion, but we waited a week for a strip that is basically a recycle of old arts & a plain facepalm "you expected something great? haha! so not sorry".

Seriously, at this point i believe that even a fully pitch black screen panel with no dialogues whatsoever would get acclamation and admiration.


Well it´s a fanthread the Giant doesn´t care very much about,(at least he wrote it somewhere) it´s normal that nearly everybody thinks every comic is the best of the best.

I didn´t expect something great/epic/world destructing innovative, but the Giants standard is better in my opinion.

I definitely disliked the "Hey I bet everyone was expecting a big battle for strip #600,eh ?" "Ha HA!" "Heh yea."
This was not funny. It was crude, below the belt, or so

Sure the Giant is allowed to make fun of his readers, but not like this. :smallfrown:


I agree with both of you 100%.

I mean, I want to like this strip... (Insert WTF smiley face)

Its just getting harder and harder to click on the link and finally after a week get a new one and be disappointed more often than not.

I know, fanboys and girls, its my prerogative to stop clicking on it, and believe me, I will probably do just that.

[bluewind95]

I didn't exactly find the strip funny, but I did find the more optimistic viewpoint quite nice. The comic has lacked that for a long time, in my opinion.

[Wreckingrocc]

Preditions on #601
They're taking the elevator into the lower planes to fight demons and gain levels, so that once Roy is ressurected he'll be more powerful than Xykon.That made me LoL. You had me going for a second. Good job :smallbiggrin:

[Hithros]

I'm pretty happy that its become more lighthearted, especially after Kubota and then V's leaving the premises.

I do hope that the strip would go back to what Haley, Celia and Belkar are doing, now.

[brionl]

While this was a pretty good strip, Vaarsuvius was right in at least one thing. It's long past time that we started moving on the main plot line again and just wrapped up all these sub-plots. I really don't want to see another 200 strips of Haley & Celia's and Durkon & Elan's wacky adventures.

One more thing:
Get on with it (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KexudBb_oc)

[Nightfall]

How perfect was THAT??? Great comic, once again, Giant! I LOVE character development!

[itsmeyouidiot]

I kind of expected an anticlimax joke, to be honest. OOtS and Anticlimaxes go together like TV Tropes and the GitP forums.

Of course, given the Giant's tendency to defy expectations, expecting an anticlimax would've resulted in a climax, and expecting a climax because you're expecting an anticlimax would result in an anticlimax, and...AUGHH!:smalleek:

[Forealms]

The Giant has earned himself a cookie.

Have a cookie, Giant, on me.

[Mauve Shirt]

Heeheehee. What a ripoff. But a wonderful one. :smallbiggrin:

[UncleWolf]

Great comic as always. Jambalaya is good.

[Ceric]

Great comic. Did NOT expect to see Roy so soon and so very glad that the plot is starting to move! :smallsmile: I wonder how many metaphorical floors that elevator has to travel through?

[Georlik]

Great strip. Just loved it. Orange shiny-thingy is now one my favorite characters.

[Xallace]

Having a hard time breathing thanks to laughing. That was fantastic.

[Warren Dew]

He totally did that just to shove the #600 predictions in everyone's faces :smalltongue:

Especially David Argall's predictions, which were spot on? David has been saying for months that Roy would not be resurrected in #600 and that likely nothing special would happen.


...I think we should just stop all these [Spoilers] thread and just enjoy the comic without too much speculation

I'd like to see the speculation keep coming, as sometimes they're more interesting than the strips.

[DaveTheTurd]

I'm afraid I officially love this web comic more than any other strip I check regularly. Just wanted to drop that in here. I hope you don't get sick of creating it for a long, long time.

Selfish of me, I know. Sorry.

[kerravon]

NOOooooooooo.....!!!

What is happening with Varsuvius?????

I am on pins and needles waiting! (Ouch - trust me on this)

Still, great comic - I was wondering when Roy would resurface...

[Mr. Scaly]

I hereby nominate Rich for Magnificent bastard status. :smallbiggrin:

[ericgrau]

Hee hee.

No more predictions for me thx.

[Querzis]

I hereby nominate Rich for Magnificent bastard status. :smallbiggrin:

I second that.

[Dunesen]

When I saw the new strip was I up I "squeed," and then I slowly moved down the page as I read it, expecting some huge thing in the last row.

And then nothing happens.

Please reference the last two panels here. (http://picturesforsadchildren.com/index.php?comicID=168) That's my go-to imagery for anger.

[Ron Miel]

I found it rather disappointing. I'd have to say that it's my least favourite strip out of all 600. Not bad as such, just a bit meh.

[keilyn]

I was dissappointed at first thanks to my own hyped-up expectations- though I did kinda have a feeling we were going to change locale, though I was kinda hoping more O-Chul and MitD, how weird is that? Anyway, reading through the posts helped me get some perspective....but I'm still going away pouting. Maybe I'll even hold my breath, throw myself on the floor, all of that. ;) Well, thanks anyway, Rich, for the comic.

[starfalconkd]

How perfect was THAT??? Great comic, once again, Giant! I LOVE character development!

Perfect. That's the exact word I was thinking. :smallsmile:

[Demon Slayer]

Nice comic. But I wonder if the cleric that Haley asked from Pete is 17th level if not then no dice.

[mlsq42]

Tossle? It's spelt tousle. But that's just nitpicking on an otherwise awesomely awesome comic.

[Nimrod's Son]

Seriously, at this point i believe that even a fully pitch black screen panel with no dialogues whatsoever would get acclamation and admiration.
Well, it would from me. Not only would that be the most punk-rock comic strip ever, but it'd be a well-deserved slap in the face to everyone who gets stroppy every time Rich doesn't come up with exactly what they want to see, when they want to see it. Like he's under some sort of obligation or something.


I know, fanboys and girls, its my prerogative to stop clicking on it, and believe me, I will probably do just that.
Anyone else get the feeling that this heralds the Apocalypse?

...No? Oh well.

[Enigma95]

Great comic giant. Heh it's true, everyone hopes for something big on each hundreth comic. :smallamused:

[Dunesen]

No training in the afterlife, yes? ;)

Valhalla...?

[the_tick_rules]

Oh giant, you tricked us again.

[Lord Seth]

I kind of expected an anticlimax joke, to be honest. OOtS and Anticlimaxes go together like TV Tropes and the GitP forums.Seriously? I don't recall OOTS having too many anticlimaxes. That's more 8-Bit Theater's shtick.

[David Argall]

Especially David Argall's predictions, which were spot on? David has been saying for months that Roy would not be resurrected in #600 and that likely nothing special would happen.

And I shall now predict that 700 will not be particularly above average.

[Now 666, which might be the final page of the current book, I will make no predictions about. The last page of these books usually ranks pretty high.]

[Monation]

Don't know if this should go in the Class Geekery thread, but I just realized the feat Roy was talking about with his gramps might have been Mage-Slayer (Complete Arcane) or its derived feats.
Oh and I've heard people who don't understand the feat. Allow me to explain: Let's say you are right next to a spellcaster and you have the Mage-Slayer feat. He has a nasty touch spell prepared (Harm or the like) but hey, check it out! He can't cast defensively while he is next to you, so that means no same-turn touch spells.

[eggamagga]

I personally found it amusing. Not something to use often, but well worked in this instance!

Side note: 'jambalaya' is misspelled by Roy's mom...

[delguidance]

An anti-climax should resolve something.

An anti-climax would be if Durkon convinced V to stay because he likes Elan's cooking or something trivial.

You could even mark the occasion with a huge splash scene of Mr. Scruffy, that would be anti climatic, but still fun, this comic contained Marshmellowy niceties of nothing important. You could have shown every character doing nothing important and I would have been on board for that. But this left most of the comic in the lurch.

This strip is fine as a meta-anti-climatic scene in that it resolved fan speculation at the cost of the dramatic arc. While I suppose breaking the 4th wall is part of the Giant's style, this isn't a case were I would have done it at the expense of the story.

I guess its a pacing or consistency issue for me. Who gets to break the fourth wall, only Roy, all of the order, anyone at all, and or the author himself? If everyone knows its only a comic I'd expect the characters to talk to the giant directly more often like in the Duck Amuck cartoon where Bugs is drawing Daffy.

I mean Monty Python anti-climaxes were great because you could expect them. "Who cares, its all good fun" they seemed to say.

Conversely the oots does have people invested. People obviously care, and the giant can do what he wants with that.

For those invested in the drama this was less an anti-climax than a stall.

I love this comic. I'm on board. This comic was a tie.

[Siriln]

*grin* I don't know why, but this amused the heck out of me, when I got down to the bottom and the punchline is *munchmunch*. Maybe a bit too long to get to that point, but still funny :smallamused: .

[Monation]

Is there some kind of drug spreadt into the air?

"Brilliant" ?
"Amazing joke" ?

What the hell?

It's not like i expected a chorus of delusion, but we waited a week for a strip that is basically a recycle of old arts & a plain facepalm "you expected something great? haha! so not sorry".

Seriously, at this point i believe that even a fully pitch black screen panel with no dialogues whatsoever would get acclamation and admiration.

600 is just a number. I suspect The Giant doesn't care if it is round and pretty. He wouldn't hurry the plot just so it magically fits in with these numbers. No decent self-respected writer would.
That is all.

[Morchaint]

man the strips do fly dont they. I remember first reading this, like it was yesterday. oh wait I did read 599 yesterday.. funny as usual.

no elevator music? lol.

I would hope that things would get back to how they were, but I really doubt that will happen for quite some time.

I didnt expect battle for number 600. so I wasnt disappointed

[esmerelder]

Aw, for a comic as sweet as that, I'm willing to wait another little while to find out what's going on with V/Elan/Durkon or Haley/Celia/Belkar. Roy and Eric and Roy's mum are just adorable!

Also, the idea of 'mom-balaya' made me squee just a little bit.

[Watchdog]

Jambalaya! I knew there would be something special! Thank you, Giant. Thank you.

[Demented]

Is he eating jambalaya with his fingers? Can you do that?

[Elladin]

Fantastic. I love the silence in the elevator. :smallbiggrin:

[Amarsir]

What amuses me is that The Giant really did have to make an effort to put 600 here. It's an act break, a shift from Elan to Roy with an eye toward Celia. We got a "time passes" indication. And Roy said a significant "goodbye" to his Mom and Brother.

This advanced the plot, and couldn't have been done 5 strips or 10 strips earlier had 600 happened to fall there. All in all it's a very meaningful "nothing happening" strip. And I love it.

[drakokirby]

Aw man. Oh well. I guessing maybe a joke at every 500. Like a Joke reunion. At least we don't have to see something totally bad or good happen for another 100 comic strips. Hmmmm, mom jambalaya.

[chiasaur11]

Is he eating jambalaya with his fingers? Can you do that?

You can in heaven.

[dogmac]

Oh dear, Roy doesn't realise he is now a golom.

And yup, Mumma's are Mumma's even in heaven.

[Heroic]

Great one! Nice "nothing happened" strip. :smallbiggrin:

[Enlong]

Just read it again, caught the sign on the elevator this time "Enforced by Honor System". Haha. That works so well for Celestia.

[Violet Octopus]

Any strip that encourages me to learn more about food is a good thing. A short respite from seeing everything else get progressively worse is also good. Strips which reference long elevator scenes that minimise drawing make my day.

...but now I'm worried about the lantern archon underestimating Xykon and getting hirself killed.

[drakokirby]

I just thought of something. Isn't he immortal in heaven. If he is, why not jump down the mountain?

[Enlong]

I just thought of something. Isn't he immortal in heaven. If he is, why not jump down the mountain?

Remember the Evil Adventuring Party? Ghosts have stats and hit points and can be destroyed. Roy marveled at the 0 damage he took when falling off the clouds due to the Flumph of Squishings Past. He'd still take damage.

Besides, it's a mountain, it's inclined, not vertical. He'd not get there much faster.

[Finwe]

I just thought of something. Isn't he immortal in heaven. If he is, why not jump down the mountain?

Presumably, it's a slope, not a cliff, so it'd still be slower.

[Red XIV]

Aw. The anticlimax joke doesnt help the fact that it was a huge anticlimax =/
Oh, I disagree. It helps greatly. There's always room for a good 4th-wall breaking joke in OotS. And the execution of the joke is more important than the joke itself. It wasn't just the punchline. There's also the slightly ominous strip title, which no doubt had most readers thinking about V's actions last strip and his impending encounter with Qarr. And even when it's shown that we'd shifted back to Roy in the afterlife again, there's still the expectation that something big will happen. Even as they were getting into the elevator, I was still thinking we'd see them get out at the bottom and have something plot-important happen. But then Rich springs the joke, and puts a big smile on my face despite my having hoped for a big event of some sort.

Really, I find it quite amusing that 599 actually had a more "milestone-ish" event than 600. Or at least, that's how it seems for now. If it turns out that 600 is the chapter where things stop getting worse for the Order and starts moving back toward a reunion, then in hindsight this will turn out to be a milestone after all, despite self-referencing its own unimportance.

[Demon Slayer]

Roy's mom and Celia's have on thing in commen and thats they both want grandchildren

[Demon Slayer]

Well ligdetimite any way.

[Tobimaro]

So, is Roy going to be taking levels in Occult Slayer now? I know that he has a high enough Int to make his celestial retraining worthwhile.

And I suspect that we will be going back to Haley-Celia, if only because Mom wants that to happen. :smallamused:

[Kish]

So, is Roy going to be taking levels in Occult Slayer now? I know that he has a high enough Int to make his celestial retraining worthwhile.
Considering that Roy's grandfather is a single-classed fighter, and is proud of Roy for being the same, Roy is quite unlikely to ever multiclass, especially as a result of anything we've seen lately.

[Yendor]

And I suspect that we will be going back to Haley-Celia, if only because Mom wants that to happen. :smallamused:

Or maybe Haley/Celia, which Mom wouldn't want to happen. But Eugene would. :smallwink:

[Screech]

Just wanted to say that any comic that gets to 600 strips and still has its audience gripped to the story is a great effort.

I also love the fact that it returned to Roy as i was begining to forget him its been way to long and the sooner he coems back the beter for us all.

[Duos Greanleef]

I ROLLED on the floor!
But I'm a sucker for Irony!
AMAZING JOB, GIANT!:smallsmile:

[teratorn]

Is he eating jambalaya with his fingers? Can you do that?

I've spent a large fraction of the last few years eating ricy foods with my fingers, so it should be feasible. I never tried this jambalaya thing. It looks tasty...

[Enlong]

I've spent a large fraction of the last few years eating ricy foods with my fingers, so it should be feasible. I never tried this jambalaya thing. It looks tasty...

Oh, it's great stuff. It's... I wanna say... Louisiana cuisine? Perhaps Creole? Anyway, it's a nice, ricy dish, with lots of good spicy spices giving it a sufficient kick. Then (and this is the best part) you fill it with chunks of meat and stuff. The most popular around my house is boiled chicken and andouille sausage, but we also love to add little chunks of seafood, like shrimp and scallops, and I'm certain that crabmeat would work oh-so well. In short, awesomeness in ricey form, it's like western curry.
Also, there's gumbo, which is jambalaya stew.

[Laurentio II]

I feel so owned...
First feeling: disappointment. I don't like 4th wall jokes, but at least the sign on the elevator made my day.
Second feeling (some minutes after closing the page): relief. I was nervous before reading the page (where is Haley? Oh my, Vaarsuvius will do something irremediable? What would Dulkor do?) and a change of climax is welcomed.
Honestly, in a future archive reading, I will probably jump this mini-arc (I can't say now, maybe it's radically needed for the whole story) to follow the tension building, but this moment it's welcomed.

[wotsnow]

Wait, so what happens if ghosts are killed?

[Selene]

Thank you, Giant! I was missing Roy a lot. He is showing his true lawful goodness by planning to leave his family and agree to return when resurrected. It seems like he's having a great time in Celestia. The Deva is probably congratulating herself on making the right decision now.

Also, Eric is so sweet that he makes me cry. *sniffle*

[Tundar]

It don't mean a thing if you ain't paid for that swing.
Duu ahh du ahh duu ahh du ahh.

Yeah, that's an old song all right.

[Niknokitueu]

Heh heh heh. Gotta love ya, Rich!

#600 - the 'big battle' splash issue. Waiting in a lift. Priceless.

Keep up the good work, and please sir, can we have some more?

Have Fun!
Niknokitueu

[Tykopulus]

I wonder if Roy get happy when he sees his Bone Golem Skeleton ^^ (which hopefully NOT just trys to kill Haley and Celia)

But i hope we see Roy lifeing again in the next - uh - 100 (OR LESS!!!) Strips :)

He is dead long enough.
___________
Edit: And - oh - CONGRATS to 600 Strips!!!!!!!

[turkishproverb]

Mom-balaya.

Win.

[Dr. Simon]

Oh, it's great stuff. It's... I wanna say... Louisiana cuisine? Perhaps Creole? Anyway, it's a nice, ricy dish, with lots of good spicy spices giving it a sufficient kick. Then (and this is the best part) you fill it with chunks of meat and stuff. The most popular around my house is boiled chicken and andouille sausage, but we also love to add little chunks of seafood, like shrimp and scallops, and I'm certain that crabmeat would work oh-so well. In short, awesomeness in ricey form, it's like western curry.
Also, there's gumbo, which is jambalaya stew.

My impression of Cajun food was that you dredge the Mississippi, add chilli to whatever comes up and serve it (nice, though!)

I recall that, in descending order of sloppiness you have gumbo, etouffe and jambalaya. And crayfish were pretty much a given.

[Jenx]

...I am being mocked by a comic strip. Even more, I am being mocked by an ONLINE comic strip.


That's it, I'm done for.

[aka Argent]

Yay!!! Roy!!!

I don't know why everyone thinks V and Roy are going to be at loggerheads when he's raised. They're both the only ones keeping an eye on the greater threat, which is the opening of the rift that destroys the whole world. There'll be talk about V's method of getting Hinjo out of the way, but V is pursuing the greatest good s/he knows of.

[factotum]

Well, if anyone round here is Chaotic Evil, it's the Giant... :smallbiggrin:

Also, why do people keep asking if the lift is going to take them to fight demons or see Miko or something? Thought the dialogue made it pretty clear that it's just a quick way of getting to and from the clouds where Eugene is waiting.

[Armond]

Facepalm.jpg

They did it again!

[Daran]

Am I the only one who is dissapointed of this strip?
I've waited so long for *this* checking for updates several times a day?
This strip seemed like a punch into my face to me. :smallfrown:

[maxon]

He he - The Giant messing with us. Big battle scene.


oh and nice Ella Fitzgerald citation, anyway... :smallwink:

Duke Ellington


I also thought jambalaya was a sort of paella rather than curry.

[fruityjanitor]

Hilarious!

I totally didn't expect another "Well, it's the X00th strip but nothing happened!" joke since the Giant already did it in strip 100. So I was a little surprised when it happened. Roy pointing it out and causing a long awkward silence was comedy gold.

[Ron Miel]

Am I the only one who is dissapointed of this strip?

No you aren't, but we seem to be in the minority.

[Kaytara]

Nooooo! Come on, we've been waiting for so long, I even had a frickin' dream about strip 600 last night, and to give the strip such an ominous title, to boot? It was really great to see Roy and the talk between him and his relatives was really heartwarming, too, but that second page. :smallsigh: That *munch munch* was a perfect way to drive home the point "nothing else is going to happen in this strip, thank you very much!"

Happy to see another strip, but I feel cheated somehow. XD

[pjackson]

Roy could barely hit Xykon in the last fight. Xykon won't have any trouble casting spells while Roy sits their missing up a storm.

Where did you get that from?
In 442 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0442.html) Roy hites Xykon 4 times out of 6 attempts - as you can see by the wounds.
Roy must have been hitting pretty hard to wound Xykon despite the latters damage resistance without using a bludgeoning weapon.

It sounds like Roy will be taking the Mage Slayer feat, which is a very logical choice for someone trying to prove that a single class fighter can beat a spell caster.

But back to the strip. It was a good one. It built suspense by leaving V's situation on a cliffhanger, gave a good picture on how nice Celestia is and how Lawful Good people have fun, reminded us what Roy is willing to give up to save the world, and after showing the OoTS break up some more reminded us about the one person who was able to hold it together.

[pjackson]

Don't know if this should go in the Class Geekery thread, but I just realized the feat Roy was talking about with his gramps might have been Mage-Slayer (Complete Arcane) or its derived feats.
Oh and I've heard people who don't understand the feat. Allow me to explain: Let's say you are right next to a spellcaster and you have the Mage-Slayer feat. He has a nasty touch spell prepared (Harm or the like) but hey, check it out! He can't cast defensively while he is next to you, so that means no same-turn touch spells.

I agree with the choice of feat, but not with your description of its effects.
He can't cast defensively still allows him to cast normally - allowing an AoO, which if it hits would force a concentration check, which will be more difficult than the one done to cast defensively if you do more than 5 points of damage, which will be needed as only low level casters would have a chance of failing the defensive casting check (or ones who decide not to max their concentration - which may include Xykon).
The AoO can be avoided by quickening the spell.

[banjo1985]

Pleasingly anticlimactic. :smallbiggrin:

I look forward to seeing what Roy's plan is.

[Adeptus]

Get back in the mortal realm Roy, you are sorely missed!

Maybe this marks the lowest ebb, and things will now start to go better for the Order of the Stick. Poor V has gone evil, Belkar is out of action and everybody is all scattered about. They can't save the world like this :eek:

[Prowl]

So... am I the only one who noticed that the 'spellcasting dummy' is wearing the same robe as a certain relative of Roy and Horace?

[vegetalss4]

i liked this

[pendell]

Am I the only one who is dissapointed of this strip?
I've waited so long for *this* checking for updates several times a day?
This strip seemed like a punch into my face to me. :smallfrown:

In all honesty, it felt that way to me as well.

But I've decided to re-interpret it as 'heartwarming' rather than a punch to the face. This may be the last time we'll see Roy's mom and brother again for awhile -- hopefully a LONG while -- so I'm glad we had one last picture before getting back to questing.

KInda nice thing Roy has that those of us in the real world don't have -- the sure, absolute certain knowledge that there really is a life after death, that there is a heaven, and that he gets to go there and be with his mother and grandfather and kid brother for ever and ever when all this is done.

*sniff*. Kinda envious, really.

Besides which, I think the Giant has been setting this joke up for a couple strips. I commented earlier that I felt the battle with the Big Bad Devil seemed rushed and the strips with V and Elan dialoguing felt like 'filler' -- well, I see now why that was. I think the Giant was deliberately plotting the pacing of the comics just so he could cut away at 600 and have his joke -- deliberately setting up expectations for a climax and then throwing us a curve ball with this strip instead. And that explains the apparent pacing of the strip earlier -- there was a point when the strip was taking too long, so it was sped up, then we were rushing ahead too quickly, so we needed to slow the pacing down again. All so that 600 could give us something radically different from what we were expecting. And thus be funny.

I didn't find it that funny, TBH. But obviously a number of people here did. So I'll just hang on for the ride until the worm turns and *I'm* laughing myself hoarse while everyone else is scratching their heads.

Anyway, gotta give him credit. He's certainly a master at managing his audience's expectations.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[hagnat]

http://xs132.xs.to/xs132/08423/afterlife-trainning422.png
anyone else remembered this ?

[someonenonotyou]

Yeah i finally go to read 600 great comic rich

[Tyrmatt]

http://xs132.xs.to/xs132/08423/afterlife-trainning422.png
anyone else remembered this ?

Mmm my thoughts exactly. I expect that 601 will probably be something more fighty.

[Dunesen]

http://xs132.xs.to/xs132/08423/afterlife-trainning422.png
anyone else remembered this ?

Technically it's not martial arts, Roy is keeping with the medieval knights-and-wizards theme. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0274.html)

[Lowkey]

So... am I the only one who noticed that the 'spellcasting dummy' is wearing the same robe as a certain relative of Roy and Horace?

Nope. :) I'm looking forward to seeing Horace and Eugene interact.

[garylian]

All I can say, and I mean this in the nicest way...

Giant, you are a brat.

Thanks!

[Roderick_BR]

Hahaha! The only thing better than 4th-wall jokes, inside jokes, and running gags, are when you tie all of them together in one strip :smallbiggrin:

And yeah, seeing Roy getting some fighting tips from his grandpa was great. Would that be a non-epic version of Spellcaster Harrier? There is already a non-epic feat called Mage Slayer, but Rich could just made his own custom feat. And I still think that Horace knows Devastating Critical.

And people! Stop whininng. "waah, I feel cheated". That was THE POINT of the joke. You don't like it? There's hundreds of webcomics out there.

[chef781]

HAHAHA!! ... sigh, (OLD LADY)BEEEWW! BEWWW!!!

[Laurentio II]

Technically it's not martial arts, Roy is keeping with the medieval knights-and-wizards theme. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0274.html)
Do you mind if I tell that technically, stabbing people with a sword IS a martial art? You are confusing with oriental martial artist, that involves, occasionally, stabbing people with a sword.

[Mant]

Well, it would from me. Not only would that be the most punk-rock comic strip ever, but it'd be a well-deserved slap in the face to everyone who gets stroppy every time Rich doesn't come up with exactly what they want to see, when they want to see it. Like he's under some sort of obligation or something.


Yeah, i suppose i expected too much when i hoped to see something interesting instead of receiving the usual methaphorical slap in the face. Owww.

[Phishfood]

</lurking>
Nice one Giant. 100% not what I expected (and I didn't expect an epic battle either)

[Daibhid C]

So... am I the only one who noticed that the 'spellcasting dummy' is wearing the same robe as a certain relative of Roy and Horace?

I missed that until you mentioned this but LOL!

Regarding the complaints about the strip (which isn't one of my favourites, but doesn't feel like a "slap in the face" either) let me get this straight:

The Giant writes strips in which exciting and unexpected things happen, including barrier after barrier being built to Roy's resurrection. People complain that this is all unnecessary, and want things to move back to the way they used to be.

The Giant does a strip in which Roy moves towards resurrection, which not only avoids introducing new problems, but lampshades this lack. People complain that nothing exciting happened.

The Giant may want to consider taking up professional golf instead at this point, but I hope he doesn't.

Edit: Another cool point: If this were a movie, then the transition from 599 to 600 would clearly be a slow fade combined with a pullback, so V in the final panel of 599 is replaced by the celestial in the first panel of 600.

[Dunesen]

Do you mind if I tell that technically, stabbing people with a sword IS a martial art? You are confusing with oriental martial artist, that involves, occasionally, stabbing people with a sword.

According to dictionary.com, (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/martial%20arts) martial arts are Oriental fighting forms. Stabbing someone is what swords are used for no matter the fighting style. Knights did it, the Romans did it, and yeah, samurai did it.

[Laurentio II]

According to dictionary.com, (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/martial%20arts) martial arts are Oriental fighting forms. Stabbing someone is what swords are used for no matter the fighting style. Knights did it, the Romans did it, and yeah, samurai did it.
I like link-fu! The Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_art). Oxford Dictionary (http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/martialarts?view=uk) (where "mainly" doesn't means "only")
The fact that modernly Martial Arts are considered to be oriental only, it's a common mistake. Just see the etymology (Mars), and it will became very clear that any practice useful in a combat context is a martial art.

[The Succubus]

I actually practice the martial art of stabbing someone with a sword - it's called kenjitsu.

Stabbing something with a sword doesn't make it a martial art - it's the techniques used in said stabbing.

On-topic: a welcome return for Roy! :smallsmile:

[Shatteredtower]

After a day, I've a few more thoughts on this strip. First of all, a bit of praise for the little details. As Prowl notes, the spellcasting dummy wears a garment associated with a very familiar character. (Good eye, Prowl.) Hagnat draws the connection between Roy's training with Horace and a scene in strip #485. (Nice catch, Hagnat.) If this is the last time we'll see Eric, it's noteworthy that he's taken the role of the dragon, since the first time we saw him (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0113.html) was when his brother was playing the role of dragon slayer. Oh, and the symmetrical assymetry of the boots Roy and Horace wears is also cute.

I realize it's just because the arrow lights up to indicate the direction the elevator is going, but there's still something amusing about the fact that the up arrow is white and down is red.

I think the Giant covered his bases well with the line, "If she can't close the deal in a few more months, I'll come back up," a very "when the time is right" condition. It suggests progress while maintaining flexibility.

As for that finale... well, I don't have anything to complain about. We had a full-sized strip by the time we reached the fifth row, ending with the line, "Can one of you people with fingers push the button with the cloud on it?" The rest is a nine-panel format bonus strip, the sort of thing I tend to associate with Keith Giffen, with a bit of a continuity nod (toward strip #100), an acknowledgement of expectations (the Giant is fond (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0500.html) of (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0400.html) matching (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0300.html) big moments (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0200.html) to centenary strips, though he's not hopelessly addicted to the practice (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0406.html)), and a statement to the effect that he's not going to force the pacing of the story to meet such events. Admitting that he's said as much once before by reusing the same gag and admitting that it is the same gag seems entirely appropriate -- and a good means for establishing the traditional awkward silence that often goes with riding an elevator.


According to dictionary.com, (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/martial%20arts) martial arts are Oriental fighting forms.

In this regard, dictionary.com is incorrect. Aikido, karate, and the like are no more martial arts than fencing, capoeira, Greco-Roman style wrestling, or boxing (Queensbury rules or otherwise) -- and no less. Ancient Rome's professional armies drilled regularly in weapon forms a lot more elaborate than "poking and stabbing", and it's not like such concepts were unheard of in Europe and Asia before them.

[Scarlet Knight]

.....

Lame.

I concur. I guess Giant believes if we wait long enough for a comic, we'll be happy with anything.:smallyuk:

[GKBeetle]

Great strip. This may not have been what many people wanted, but I think it's what the strip needed. The strip had been pretty dreary for a while now with all the fighting between members and death of Therkla. This was a great change from the status quo, and exactly what was needed for the strip at this time. That's why, in my opinion, it's the best x00 strip so far.

Plus, we get to see Roy. I've been missing him so much.

[Simons Mith]

I'm so disappointed; I was expecting more than just a let-down, I was hoping for the biggest anticlimax of my entire life. :-(

[Timberboar]

To all the people encouraged by the more upbeat tone of this strip:

You poor, poor, deluded fools.

Don't you see?


Roy's been away from his scrying. He doesn't know what's been going on in Greysky or with Hinjo's fleet.

This bright shining moment exists only so that the letdown which follows hits all the harder.

This is NOT a turn for the better, NOT a rallying moment. This is the moment after you get cut where you don't feel anything. The pain should be coming along any strip now.

[EyethatBinds]

Yay.... filler comic.

[Shatteredtower]

Timberboar, I'm aware of the irony of this episode, in which Roy is as filled with anticipation for the events ahead as many of us had for the 600th strip. I fully expect for him to wish for a full head of hair again the moment he sees what's going on -- just so he can tear it out in frustration.

Nevertheless, he had the sense to give things a few months before he packs it in. Seems like a sensible approach, and I think I'll follow his lead at this time.

Even if I still have a bit more hair left to risk than he does.

Filler? Hardly. Roy has been up to something. I expect him to get stalled once more, but at least I know there's progress again.

[Silencer]

So, anyone else feels The Giant is booping with you?

Must be quite handy to have a healthy choice of plot threads to pick from :)

[ancev]

Omg, I've received a foreseen!

Horace and Roy could push Eugene to keep him resposability about xykon quest. Eugene could come back in spirit (because Eugene is linked with the sword) and help OOTS completing xykon quests because, actually, is Eugene's curse the OOTS is following to broke, and the first time OOTS meet xykon was for this reason.
Eugene could help, linking him spirit with the sword, to make party reunion and broke the golem-things-magic.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!:elan:

[Jammeez]

I can almost hear the Muzak.:smalltongue:

[Eric]

Yeah, i suppose i expected too much when i hoped to see something interesting instead of receiving the usual methaphorical slap in the face. Owww.

{scrubbed}

[pendell]

To all the people encouraged by the more upbeat tone of this strip:

You poor, poor, deluded fools.

Don't you see?


Roy's been away from his scrying. He doesn't know what's been going on in Greysky or with Hinjo's fleet.

This bright shining moment exists only so that the letdown which follows hits all the harder.

This is NOT a turn for the better, NOT a rallying moment. This is the moment after you get cut where you don't feel anything. The pain should be coming along any strip now.

Perhaps.

But y'know what? I have faith that even if this does turn into a downer , the Giant will reverse matters in time. And the pain and the down points will only make the eventual high points all the more high.

Consider: I remember the scene in the battle of Azure City when Xykon massacred the Sapphire Guard. I remember seeing that panel as the latest panel and being utterly horrified. I almost quit reading the comic that day.

And yet ... in the very next strip ... the paladins came back. And gave ol' Xykon a beating!
That was one of my favorite moments in the strip. Precisely because its predecessor was so dark, the bright shown out all the more brightly.

Nor is this the first time that has happened.

I remember the arc before, when Elan was in jail and it looked like Nale had once again avoided death by charming Belkar. And Elan kicked in the door at the last minute.

As a rule this comic is upbeat. It gets dark at points -- tragic, even -- but the Giant doesn't leave us there forever.

So far in this strip, joy does come in the morning. And I'm willing to wait patiently till it does.

If this strip does not end happily, it will only be because of events outside the control of real-life people. I think.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Adeptus]

Technically it's not martial arts, Roy is keeping with the medieval knights-and-wizards theme. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0274.html)

The term doesn't just refer to unarmed combat disciplines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_arts

"Martial arts existed in classical European civilization, most notably in Greece where sports were integral to the way of life. Boxing (pygme, pyx), Wrestling (pale) and Pankration (from pan, meaning "all", and kratos, meaning "power" or "strength") were represented in the Ancient Olympic Games. The Romans produced Gladiatorial combat as a public spectacle.

A number of historical fencing forms and manuals have survived, and many groups are working to reconstruct older European martial arts. The process of reconstruction combines intensive study of detailed combat treatises produced from 1400–1900 A.D. and practical training or "pressure testing" of various techniques and tactics. This includes such styles as sword and shield, two-handed swordfighting, halberd fighting, jousting and other types of melee weapons combat."


/edit oops, ninjad by about a dozen people

[Jorrath_Zek]

Even a repeat joke is a good joke when it's unexpected.

I'm glad the story wasn't bent to fit a number, and I'm glad we got to see Roy being seen off by everyone he loves in the Afterlife...

Based on what Gramps says to Roy, it seems that people carry thier memories of the afterlife back with them, or it wouldn't have been worth the effort. Logically, if they carry thier memories, then they should carry back thier experience regardless of the rules in so simular game type realities...

I wouldn't be surprised if the second pane was added just to slap the commentor who expected something more.

Some have speculated that there may have been another time jump, but the comments indicate that no more time has passed with Roy than we're already aware of with the other's.

I am anxious to see what heppens with V and the Imp, but I also know that is the timelines are all at the same place now, it's time to see Roy get a Regrowth spell cast on the rattling bone from his Toe.

With V's complete break down coming hard and fast, he's bound to make a choice for all the wrong reasons soon, so it's time for Roy to be back in the world of the living to both hide that choice from his eyes as well as remove the reasons that V might have for making a drastic choice.

As always, the story is coming allong well, and the readers are anxious for the next bit and upset that they can't have it all at once... Good stories are told in the details.

You can't rush awesome.

[derfenrirwolv]

Do you mind if I tell that technically, stabbing people with a sword IS a martial art? You are confusing with oriental martial artist, that involves, occasionally, stabbing people with a sword.


No! only asians have martial arts! Only asians ever learned how to fight! everything the stupid europeans made was just beating people mindlessly over the head with the biggest weapon possible! Everything asian is inherentely superior to europe! Katanas would slice through plate mail!

Thats sarcasm for those of you who have come accross people who ACTUALY think like that

[The_Firenail]

Yeah...Three points about this:
-generally good
-shortest time between me first coming to this webcomic/toon (inc.H*R) and milestone (Edit: since mid-sept.)
-I actually saved the then non-existant webpage hoping it be a RickRoll (Edit: fine, but I still saved the link -after finding out it wasn't a Roll- to save me from the trouble of lagging clicks)

[David Argall]

I realize it's just because the arrow lights up to indicate the direction the elevator is going, but there's still something amusing about the fact that the up arrow is white and down is red.

On the elevator, we do have this employee only elevator that a major percentage of employees are apparently physically unable to use. Of course the archon may have other ways to operate the elevator, but on the face of it, we have a defective elevator [and maybe another excuse for allowing Roy in the elevator].

[Nerdanel]

I think the strip would have been better without the second page. Understatement, people! The first page was a good, solid page that is funny and advances the plot in a minor way. The second page explains the joke, making it utterly unfunny and a repetition of #100, and it's not that anything of significance happens in it, either.

[Talya]

The first page was a good, solid page that is funny and advances the plot in a minor way.


Minor being the main problem.

Rich, I beg you, get them back on course! Unbreak the Order of the Stick!

This is why I like Fellowship of the Ring far better than Two Towers or Return of the King, and why so many fantasy series irritate the hell out of me.

Never, ever, ever split up your party for an extended period of time in telling a story. It frustrates me.

[3Power]

600 is just a number. I suspect The Giant doesn't care if it is round and pretty. He wouldn't hurry the plot just so it magically fits in with these numbers. No decent self-respected writer would.
That is all.Except he has done that. Half the new content in book 2 is cut-out subplots that he removed so he could get miko's reveal on time for 200.



And people! Stop whininng. "waah, I feel cheated". That was THE POINT of the joke. You don't like it? There's hundreds of webcomics out there.

The Misplaced Champion: "Fandom — love it or leave it!" This fan gets a bit too confrontational when it comes to criticism of the object of their fandom. Regardless of how mild or gentle the criticism. Regardless of how valid or reasonable the criticism. Regardless, in some cases, of how even the Word Of God may even agree with the criticism. As such, even saying that you really liked last night's episode but thought that this particular scene was a little bit lame will have him swooping down to berate you for your lack of loyalty and demanding to know why you don't just go and watch something else if you hate the show so much.

[Dunesen]

I like link-fu! The Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_art). Oxford Dictionary (http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/martialarts?view=uk) (where "mainly" doesn't means "only")
The fact that modernly Martial Arts are considered to be oriental only, it's a common mistake. Just see the etymology (Mars), and it will became very clear that any practice useful in a combat context is a martial art.

Perception is 9/10th of reality. The term "martial arts" in modern vernacular is meant to be applied only to Asian practices. Stuff like boxing or greco-roman wrestling just aren't called martial arts, that's the way it is.

Sure, dig up all the articles you want about how historically/technically all fighting would be called martial arts. Etymology doesn't impress me because you're using an English (western language) term for Eastern practices, which simply means the Europeans and other westerners didn't feel like learning the original foreign term.

So I stand by what I said! :p :p :p to all of you! Nyah.

Besides, Roy doesn't know any hadokens. Clearly it's not martial arts. :p

[Stiletto]

Bravo, Giant, bravo

[Carteeg_Struve]

So, what does everything think will be the explosive reveal for strip #601!?

:smallbiggrin:

[lyric76]

Those tired, unyielding days are made immeasurably better whenever there's a new OotS strip. Thank you Rich.

One question... is jambalya the same as jambalaya?

[teratorn]

Anyway, it's a nice, ricy dish, with lots of good spicy spices giving it a sufficient kick. Then (and this is the best part) you fill it with chunks of meat and stuff. The most popular around my house is boiled chicken and andouille sausage, but we also love to add little chunks of seafood, like shrimp and scallops, and I'm certain that crabmeat would work oh-so well.
Now I have to try it. I love andouille and little chunks of seafood...


In short, awesomeness in ricey form, it's like western curry.
Ok, you've convinced me. My work related travel to the USA always takes me to the DC area and I remember a cajun place in Alexandria where I had this great thing called pecan crusted chicken (yummy). I'll check Jambalaya next time I go there.

OOTS it really broadens your horizons!

[Cleverdan22]

Ugh, gods, these complaints are annoying. The Giant is most often making strips, not killing time on the forums looking at prediction threads saying 'Oh, well, I can't use THAT." He has stated that the prediction threads make no impact on his writing, not the other way around. Also, for those who thought the comic was a disappointment, I choose to look at the glass half full, (Heck, even "Hey! There is drinkable liquid in that glass! Awesome!") and see the positive lightheartedness to this strip. It reminds me of the Azure city strips before the war, which were fun, jokey, not too much heavy depressiveness. strips, which I am all for, until the plot needs to resurface and the epic battle comes along.

[Eran of Arcadia]

I remember a cajun place in Alexandria where I had this great thing called pecan crusted chicken (yummy). I'll check Jambalaya next time I go there.

I live in Alexandria. What is this place called and where is it?

[Red XIV]

Where did you get that from?
In 442 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0442.html) Roy hites Xykon 4 times out of 6 attempts - as you can see by the wounds.
Roy must have been hitting pretty hard to wound Xykon despite the latters damage resistance without using a bludgeoning weapon.
Bear in mind that Roy's +5 starmetal alloy sword does an unspecified amount of bonus damage to undead foes. That's presumably why Roy was getting through Xykon's damage resistance.


Perception is 9/10th of reality. The term "martial arts" in modern vernacular is meant to be applied only to Asian practices. Stuff like boxing or greco-roman wrestling just aren't called martial arts, that's the way it is.
It (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savate) appears (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo_(martial_art)) not (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krav_Maga) everyone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pankration) agrees (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varzesh-e_Pahlavani) with (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_stick_fencing) your (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalarippayattu) analysis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jogo_do_Pau).

[Zeebiedeebie]

But I've decided to re-interpret it as 'heartwarming' rather than a punch to the face.

Same to me, but it was more of a heartwarming punch to the face.
Ah, just like father used to make...

[Nightfall]

Those who are less than satisfied with Mr. Burlew's efforts here would do well to remember: he's doing this because he WANTS to, not because he HAS to. And he can stop anytime. I would hate to see that happen, since I enjoy reading this so much. So perhaps a bit less criticism from those who don't know the Giant's "grand plan" for his creation, hmmm? He'll reveal it in his time, not ours.

(Getting down off my soapbox now. :smallsmile:)

[zach12376]

Those who are less than satisfied with Mr. Burlew's efforts here would do well to remember: he's doing this because he WANTS to, not because he HAS to. And he can stop anytime. I would hate to see that happen, since I enjoy reading this so much. So perhaps a bit less criticism from those who don't know the Giant's "grand plan" for his creation, hmmm? He'll reveal it in his time, not ours.


Well said,
and good job Giant, 600 strips in... darn, i don't know when the first came out. Does any one?

[EyethatBinds]

I went back and checked, #465, that was the last comic that made me laugh. Keep up the good work Mr. Burlew. I'm sure my opinion doesn't really make too much a deal, but I thought I'd just throw that out there.

[teratorn]

All the forum-drama that surrounds these last strips is getting old. The good thing is that in a few tens of strips from now we'll all be cheering when the order gets together.


I live in Alexandria. What is this place called and where is it?
I'll PM you, not sure about the rules on advertising restaurants.

[3Power]

Those who are less than satisfied with Mr. Burlew's efforts here would do well to remember: he's doing this because he WANTS to, not because he HAS to. And he can stop anytime. I would hate to see that happen, since I enjoy reading this so much. So perhaps a bit less criticism from those who don't know the Giant's "grand plan" for his creation, hmmm? He'll reveal it in his time, not ours.


Bizarro Chicken Little: In the same fashion as the Chicken Little above, this fan sees doom in every raindrop; however, whereas the former thinks that even the slightest misstep on part of the production team will result in cancellation, this Chicken Little seems to operate on the assumption that even the smallest voice of criticism will reach the ears of the Powers That Be, who will immediately cancel the show in the belief that nobody likes it anymore. Ergo, all voices of criticism must be silenced without prejudice in order to keep the show on the air.

This thread is a gold mine.