OOTS #760 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[zimmerwald1915]

Exquisite...in more ways than one.

It's a shame Elan had to jump into the fight scene though. It's not like Tarquin will share whatever he knows with the OOTS now. And they'll have to defeat/evade Malack, the Empress, and the guards in order to reunite.

[turkishproverb]

Tarquin is AWESOME. So wonderfully affably evil, and there's so very much of Elan in him.

[Edhelras]

I really appreciate that the Giant sticks to the same view on "Evil" alignment as I do: If you're evil, ultmately, you've got to show it. By doing something evil. Not just "mwahahaha I so Evil you can't believe it" while you go around acting like a Good or Neutral person, just because you cannot stomach the social consequences of being Evil.

[Jimorian]

Yeah, you totally have to make sure your eggs know who's boss.

[blueblade]

GO ELAN!! Pun the heck out him!!

[Kobold-Bard]

Next step: V flies Hayley up there and she snipes Tarquin during the duel while Malak & Durkon have another magnificent and visually stunning Cleric duel the shatters the tower around them.

[Basooned]

This is a battle of experience and skill versus TV trope!

[hamishspence]

I really appreciate that the Giant sticks to the same view on "Evil" alignment as I do: If you're evil, ultmately, you've got to show it. By doing something evil. Not just "mwahahaha I so Evil you can't believe it" while you go around acting like a Good or Neutral person, just because you cannot stomach the social consequences of being Evil.

There's plenty of ways of acting evil while being very hard to distinguish from a Good or Neutral person.

Most notably, by confining your Evil deeds to "acceptable targets".

That said, the climatic duel does look like it's going to be good.

[nihil8r]

From now on when people ask me what I'm doing, I'm going to say I'm working on a "realistic plan for world domination." ;)

[Weimann]

So different, yet so alike.

I like how Tarquin gathers tactical information in the middle of a family fight.

The Giant can really handle his villains.

[Edhelras]

I really appreciate that the Giant sticks to the same view on "Evil" alignment as I do: If you're evil, ultmately, you've got to show it. By doing something evil. Not just "mwahahaha I so Evil you can't believe it" while you go around acting like a Good or Neutral person, just because you cannot stomach the social consequences of being Evil.

And I just realized that the Giant (through Tarquin) is kicking at those who say the alignment system is outdated (hence 4E). In fact, Tarquin is showing exactly how Good and Evil (and Durkon and Haley is showing us Law and Chaos) can be used to flesh out a character, give him spice and a direction, and not only be a straightjacket hindering character development. On the contrary, picking an alignment and playing your character against it furthers character development.

[suszterpatt]

Aw, you can just tell how proud Tarquin is of his son's dramatic sense in the last panel. :]


Also, "Note to self: elf can't cast Teleport". Brilliant.

[I_Am_Muffin]

Does anyone besides me get a really bad feeling that nale is going to appear right in the middle of this fight and perhaps:
1. Help Elan defeat their oppresive father
2. Help Tarquin defeat his rebelious brother
3. Say: "Screw it" and form a side of his own
I'm just sayin, this is a totally possible possiblity. I could happen, he did fly away with sabine and Thog. I think it would be cool if that happened.

[talkamancer]

Go Elan, time to make a dad kebab

[hamishspence]

And I just realized that the Giant (through Tarquin) is kicking at those who say the alignment system is outdated (hence 4E).

4E still has an alignment system- it just took away mechanical penalties for changing alignment to one your class does not support.

That, and ability to detect alignment, and spells that work on an alignment.

But the basic guidelines are still there- and picking an alignment and playing to it, can still flesh out a character, especially if they do so in a distinctive, personalized way.

[Lusorius]

....And there's my WIN quota for the day.

Excellent, just excellent!

[Woodsman]

And so, the epic duel begins.

Anyone else getting a Luke v. Darth Vader in Cloud City feel here?

[Teddy]

Hehehe. I love Tarquin as a villain. He's so much an evil version of Elan (+Int). I also like how he finds it so insulting to be compared to Nale. He certainly houses no love for the son he raised.

[Squirrel_Token]

This whole arc is, I think, the Giant's best work to date. Just brilliantly executed at every stage. Bravo, Giant

[Klytus]

It seems that cluelessness runs in the family, as The Big T really was clueless about Elan's being clueless. A mastermind, a genius, and a ruthless bastard, but deep down, just like his kids... a clueless twit.

I love characters with nuance. :)

[Astrella]

Despite how much I've grown to despise Tarquin, I couldn't resist smiling when he said exquisite.

[Greenknight 007]

This is exquisite in a few levels: First, it completely shows Tarquin as having no restrains whatsoever, even in fighting his own son, it also shows that he knew from the first time that could happen. It's also a reminder of the family tradition for the over-the-top dramatic, as was the case with elan-nale fights, and it makes me wonder about why the obvious showing of evil, I only think it could be Tarquin WANTED Elan to confront him, and it has to do with the "destiny lies in your hands" thing.

[Taekwondodo]

GO ELAN!!

*giggle* Flan
(I don't get the thing about custard, though that's just a small trifle)

EDIT: Just looked it up and it's a different flan than I was thinking of. (The crème caramel one rather than the open fruit sponge pie one, which makes sense!)

[Paseo H]

Well, liquefying someone for being improper towards a woman isn't uncalled for.

I guess he's still a Complete Monster though.

[Susil]

It took me far longer than it should have to get the custard gag!

Also, I suspect Elan might be in some trouble in a one-on-one fight...

[Agi Hammerthief]

can't make an omlete etc...

bahaha

[Astrella]

GO ELAN!!

*giggle* Flan
(I don't get the thing about custard, though that's just a small trifle)

Flan (E without the bottom horizontal line) is a custard dessert.

[The_Admiral]

Empire Strikes Back reference right?

[Taekwondodo]

Flan (E without the bottom horizontal line) is a custard dessert.

Yeah I just googled it as I thought there must be something I was missing. When I hear flan I think of the open fruit sponge pie thing. Thanks though.