OOTS #680 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Kroy]

Yay, new comic! Thanks Giant. Particularly good one, too.

[WNxArrakis]

Ah, trees. They are the root of all evil. And the trunk. And the branches.

[tcrudisi]

What's an arboreal?

[Renegade Paladin]

I believe that in the last panel Haley is supposed to say "there were no flumphs available."

What's an arboreal?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arboreal

[Yana]

Yes, there are good reasons for running gags. Especially this one.

[MReav]

I wonder if there is an Autocratoria.

Nice comic man.

[GSFB]

This is why I still have all my old textbooks (and old Dragon magazines. and...)

[chiasaur11]

Trees. Untrustworthy to the last.

[Katana_Geldar]

I wonder what the new place is?

Thanks Giant! I was wondering if it would be today.

[Mystic Muse]

that was AWESOME!

[Ron Miel]

I don't understand the title. Which running gag does it refer to? Durkon and trees, or Haley's secrets? And why running gag, she's not running, she's hiding.

Other than that, great strip.

[MoleMage]

Typo in first panel: it says begin instead of being.

[Raging Gene Ray]

And so, Lord Tyrinar, widely thought to be father of Nale and Elan, is shown to be not another side in the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny, but just another ham-and-egger in a world where mighty warlords are a dime a dozen.

Of course, this won't stop the speculation on how essential he will be to the plot. Maybe Haley's dad was released and is lost...or maybe he's been passed around from prison to prison as new conquerors don't know or care why he's in there.

And it's called a running gag because it provides a distraction for running away. That's the pun

EDIT: Ninja'd.

[SPoD]

IO don't understand the title. Which running gag does it refer to? Durkon and trees, or Haley's secrets? And why running gag, she's not running, she's hiding.

Other than that, great strip.

She's running away from the Durkon in the second to last panel. She is using the running gag as a distraction so that she may run.

[theinsulabot]

there is never any flumps around when you need one anymore

[Smoke_Rulz]

Ah, Elan. You're so funny when you're being stupid.

[Blaznak]

Oh sure, more picking on the Flumpfs, even when they AREN'T here! Sheesh!
Actually, pretty funny. I like the explanation on why the maps aren't up to date, and the line about needing to keep a light inventory!

[RedScholarGypsy]

Didn't see that coming. Heh, he's probably ruling his own country now and Haley's going to be thrown into his concubine, and Hilarity Ensues.

By the way, any new ideas on what Haley was trying to confess while speaking babeltongue?

[Herald Alberich]

Well, well, well. All this time the forums have been buzzing about how close we are to Tyrinaria and its lord, and it turns out the place probably doesn't exist anymore and the lord could well be long dead! That means Haley's father could be anywhere by now. Who knows what sorts of interesting sidequests are on the horizon?

It's got to burn, though, finding out you went through all that trouble to raise a pile of cash only to find you might not need it after all. Fortunately, cash is a multipurpose item.

And, of course, there's "this new place", the description of which is conveniently cut off. Is it one of the new countries? A recently-arrived tent in town? Something else entirely?

[Dust]

I'm just surprised she's finally starting to come clean about her dad. I mean, we all know how well Elan keeps secrets from Roy.

[Ron Miel]

She's running away from the Durkon in the second to last panel. She is using the running gag as a distraction so that she may run.

It looks to me like she's walking, albeit with a quick step.

[Elfin]

Quite amusing. Great work.

[golentan]

Nice one, thank you. I like the east and west Despotonia gag meself.

[Haven]

I'm just surprised she's finally starting to come clean about her dad. I mean, we all know how well Elan keeps secrets from Roy.

Elan probably has high bluff, and it's established that Roy doesn't have the best Sense Motive, so no matter what Elan says the dice dictate he'll be okay (since apparently those skills work on other PCs in this game).

Anyway, while I laughed at this gag showing up again, it reminded me that Durkon gets the characterization shaft hard, and that made me sad.

But getting back to this subplot--with another twist that should have been foreseen but wasn't--is a good thing in my books.

My guess on the new place:

Spoiler

Show

Starshinia.

[DBJack]

Amsuing, and it mentioned that Haley really doesn't want anyone else to know about her Dad!

Great job

[Katana_Geldar]

Well, well, well. All this time the forums have been buzzing about how close we are to Tyrinaria and its lord, and it turns out the place probably doesn't exist anymore and the lord could well be long dead! That means Haley's father could be anywhere by now. Who knows what sorts of interesting sidequests are on the horizon?

It's got to burn, though, finding out you wet through all that trouble to raise a pile of cash only to find you might not need it after all. Fortunately, cash is a multipurpose item.

And, of course, there's "this new place", the description of which is conveniently cut off. Is it one of the new countries? A recently-arrived tent in town? Something else entirely?

Maybe a country that was started up by Mr Evil Chancellor Miron Shrewdanker?

[Draquenoire]

I wish I could find a sax tent, that would be awesome. Maybe Bill Clinton would be in it and we could do songs together and everyone would clap and admire us. That would be fun.

[Shale]

And that's why you shouldn't assume you know where the story's going.

Edit: Also, the idea that the most of the military leaders in the area are flashes-in-the-pan with a very short life expectancy seems to put a damper on the idea that Lord Tyrinar, who was active and running a kingdom as recently as two years ago, is the same warlord who already headed his own army when he fathered Elan and Nale.

[Crod]

I'm really getting fond of the new color palette used for this continent. You can really feel the change - good scenery work Giant. Also, very nice comic.