OOTS #712 - The Discussion Thread

[ZerglingOne]

The Giant upgraded the art in this book. The rapier used to be a black line, but it's been silver since the fight with the slaver bugs.

No no, I know that, But it's like...transparent in panel 9.

[Kaytara]

It's possible this is related to V's mass dragon killing spell, but if a God like Tiamat really wanted V dead I'd have expected either a poision that does CON damage (almost certainly lethal in V's case) or a lot more attackers. This seems a bit too small scale (relatively speaking) to be a revenge attack.

If they wanted to kill him, yes.

If they just wanted to capture him, on the other hand...

[HandofShadows]

Ah V is learning but can still see the practical side of things. I'm withg those that think that this is not a revenge for the killing of the black dragons.

[Teddy]

Ah, I love V's ability to make correct observations in situations where "Aaaaaaaaaahh!" would be the most common response.

[warmachine]

OMFG! Elan knows that bard spells can do things besides illusions! He's actually using his bard levels more effectively.

[Nilan8888]

Battle raging while V, on the ground, is freely able to comment on it?

I sense the best comedy oppetunity in at least a hundred strips on the horizon...

[taltamir]

"Mage Guild". I think that that joke is funny. All the Aton products and the "free" gift was so true. I always think that if a store can afford to give you a "free" gift, think how much they must be making off of you? Anyway, I predict a fight scene (duh) with Elan probably making some flight-related puns. I have noticed that Elan seemed to be more mature immedeatly after becoming the Dashing Swordsman, which has recently degenerated back to his original, immature, state.

-Selif

he only got slightly more mature when he became a dashing swordsman... he became more competent then...
He became a little more mature from being in a relationship with haly.
when that half orc ninja girl died he became a lot more mature...
His character development occurred over time, not all at once.

[Sterm]

Why V doesn't get up?The poison was neutralized.

[Zxo]

Why V doesn't get up?The poison was neutralized.

It's explained in the comic - the spell stopped the poison from doing more damage, but it didn't give V back the strength that has been drained already, so s/he is too weak to move.

[Sterm]

But she can still casts spells,right?

[Teddy]

But she can still casts spells,right?

No, V is effectivly paralyzed and helpless, and thus can't cast spells (at least not those with a somatic component, but both Suggestion and Feather Fall have proven to be usefull before and they are both verbal. There might be a lack of portals for Hold Portal though.

[Zxo]

But she can still casts spells,right?

Only still spells, ones that do not require the caster to move. Spells require words, gestures, sometimes material components, being immobilized limits what you can cast. Wizards prepare spells for the day, so it may be that V, not expecting this, does not have anything useful that s/he could cast while unable to move.

[J.Gellert]

Awesome strip! Awesomest in a while

[Moogleking]

5GP say's that Dragon formed Girard.

[Skeppio]

On topic, I don't think it's related to familicide. Those were Black Dragons, this is blue. Far more likely this is related to Girard.

The children of Tiamat can be of four more colours than Black.

[Athaniar]

I don't think Tiamat is behind this, Girard is more likely. If Tiamat wants revenge, she has more effective means than two half-dragons and poison arrows. And yes, I think the second one is also a half-dragon. It seems to be about the same size as the blue (i.e. large), and the snout has the same general shape.

[hamishspence]

Two? I thought it was the same guy- who shot a crossbow bolt, and then swooped down to attack.

[talkamancer]

Enjoying the action Giant.

[kusje]

Two? I thought it was the same guy- who shot a crossbow bolt, and then swooped down to attack.

I initially thought so too but different colored snouts and the word "attackers" being used by V leads me to conclude otherwise.

[Dark_Tangente]

Great comic,
It is likely that the rest of the party arrive to help even the fight
or... they can be captured by the half-dragons and brought directly to Girard

Maybe the second reptilian thing is the lizardman from #210

[Orzel]

rule 1
Run from all types of blue dragons.

[Kareasint]

It's quite simple really. They have been asking questions. They now have someone's attention. More than likely, the sniper was using strength poison to immobilize V to prevent spell casting. It appears to have been watching the OOTS for a while.

[Weimann]

Okay, what am I missing with the supposed punchline? It seems a correct statement. Why is it funny?

[DeltaEmil]

Okay, what am I missing with the supposed punchline? It seems a correct statement. Why is it funny?

The title is spoofing the spell 'Neutralize Poison'.

[HandofShadows]

The title is spoofing the spell 'Neutralize Poison'.

It can be played several ways. Elan nutralizing (the poisoned) elf and the poisoned crossbow bolt neutralizing an elf. The Giant must put a creat deal of though into his titles.

[Optimystik]

No, V is effectivly paralyzed and helpless, and thus can't cast spells (at least not those with a somatic component, but both Suggestion and Feather Fall have proven to be usefull before and they are both verbal. There might be a lack of portals for Hold Portal though.

Prediction spoilered:

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He knows one spell that might be very useful here, that doesn't require somatic components.

Chekhov's Skill anyone?

What puzzles me is why they didn't just skewer all of them from hiding before sending in the big guy with the morning star...

Maybe they are trying to capture and not kill.

you know I've always been curious what schools people considered the best, worst, mediocre

I know Conj and Necro seem to be regarded as the two best

imo Illusions gotta be low on the list but that could just be my opinion

Spoilered as this is somewhat off-topic:

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Necromancy is actually somewhat poor - like evocation, it's narrow, just lots of different ways to kill things or ruin their day. You can obtain minions with it, but that's a job better left to the Cleric.

The two best are Conjuration and Transmutation. Either you're summoning what you need to solve a problem, or you're turning into what you need to solve a problem. In addition, Conjuration can damage almost as well as evocation, and it got all the teleportation and planar travel spells as well.

Transmutation was by far the best school in 3.0, especially with Haste jacked up the way it was.

The two worst are Evocation and Enchantment. Each is a one-trick pony; Evocation does little besides damage, and Enchantment's tricks are all blocked by a handful of spells. (Mind Blank, Pro: Evil.)

Illusion is actually 3rd strongest, because it can mimic Conjuration so well. It has significant combat and social uses.

[hamishspence]

I initially thought so too but different colored snouts and the word "attackers" being used by V leads me to conclude otherwise.

There could be two guys up there in that first panel of the attackers- a guy with a greenish snout (and crossbow), partially obscured by the blue guy with wings.

[Phoenix Xul]

Oracle? That's how the Momma Black Dragon found hir in the first place, after all.

I was kind of under the impression that, technically, Haerta did the Familicide, which could render the oracle useless.

[factotum]

Maybe they are trying to capture and not kill.

I meant, why not put a STR-reducing poison bolt into all three of them before entering melee? Not that they should try to kill them with the arrows.

[doodthedud]

I'll admit, I only read the first page....but did anyone realize it appeared to be aiming for Elan's head, and not V's chest? Because it hitting V only happened because Elan was moved.

There could be two guys up there in that first panel of the attackers- a guy with a greenish snout (and crossbow), partially obscured by the blue guy with wings.

This looks to be true, that crossbow is at an odd angle to be held by Blue, V mentioned AttackerS, and nothing on the blue dude's person seems capable of being mistaken for the green snout.