OOTS death pool (thread #4)

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Fun fact: I really don't get why everyone likes Thog.

He's quite amusing. I find it understandable. I don't understand how people can find him to be not Evil, but that's a different matter.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Fun fact: I really don't get why everyone likes Thog.

I like Thog for the humor value- the Giant writes his lines, so the lines are written by an intelligent guy who is writing for an incredibly stupid character. But it isn't all "duh" and drooling, there are glimpses of the Giant's sense of humor plastered all over Thog's dialogue. Especially the parts where his vocabulary becomes temporarily polysyllabic for the sake of a joke.

Some excepts of stuff I laughed literally out loud at, so you can get what I'm referring to, with a marking my absolute top favorites.

I first became a fan with this comic:

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0051.html

(It featured non-traditional panel layout.)

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"thog like puppies."

Was quite a while until I was amused by thog again. But...

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0367.html

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"thog hears you!".

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0387.html

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"how thog's pants turn purple?"

"yay! thog and not-nale on zany whirlwind adventure!"

"thog wonders how thog will cope with life outside jailhouse walls. prison changed thog."

"We were only in there for 40 minutes."

"prison changed thog quickly."

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0388.html

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"*sigh* thog never get anything pretty."

"thog believe thog can fly."

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0392.html

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"thog like costume. thog get in touch with inner greenness."
"thog get in touch with outer greenness too."

"thog brought breadcrumbs!"
(obviously, in case Nale got lost. Those breadcrumbs will help Nale get un-lost, somehow, in that sack that they are presently contained in.)

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0787.html

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Thog singing Queen.

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0788.html

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"Thog will always treasure thog's adventure with talky-man. it featured non-traditional panel layout."

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0791.html

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The entire last six panels of this comic.

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0808.html

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Thog's epic swan song. Not so much for anything funny he said, but it is essentially Roy's rebuttal to the previous reference. A memorable exit from the stage, for sure.

Roy: "I hate puppies! I think they're dumb!"

Tarquin: "It's weird, no matter how many people he kills, the audience still thinks he's lovable."


Thog was not always funny, he was fairly one-dimensional, especially at first. But he quickly becomes a parody of all dumb, bumbling evil sidekicks that are strong enough to threaten protagonists, but have the mind of a child.

Thog was the quintessential that character, we all know that character. It's been in a lot of different stories. That character is a trope. And, in my opinion, perhaps the best representation of that character in the format of panel-based storytelling.

With all humor, it either appeals or it doesn't.

thog amusing in thog's simplicity.

[GM_3826]

I know why people find him funny, I just don't get WHY he's not funny, or more specifically, why I'm not laughing. Like, I'm not laughing at any of the jokes there. Must be my sense of humor.

[Askthepizzaguy]

I know why people find him funny, I just don't get WHY he's not funny, or more specifically, why I'm not laughing. Like, I'm not laughing at any of the jokes there. Must be my sense of humor.

In much the same way some people will laugh their butts off at the Big Bang Theory, and others won't understand what the big deal is... humor is rarely universal.

It's like flavor.

I don't understand why people like most kinds of seafood. I don't understand why people eat cottage cheese, or most kinds of cheeses in general. I don't like anything cold, wet, and rubbery, other than perhaps jello. I don't like food that you have to heap a bunch of other flavors on top of to find palatable, such as baked potatoes. If it's bland, it's bland. Why do you like a big mass of flavorless starch that you then have to infuse with butter and sour cream and bacon bits? Why not just eat flavorful food instead?

Other people think I'm bleepin' crazy for not liking things like cheese or lobster. Well, I don't get the same mouth sensation others get, and to me, it tastes like the bottom of someone's foot. And no, I'm not into that.

Different sensations appeal to different folks, and most definitely are unappealing to others.

[Askthepizzaguy]

So we've established several things:

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1) Crystal can knock Elan unconscious with a single punch, at present.'

2) Crystal is immune to things which affect the undead because she is not undead. She's a flesh golem, which has different rules.

3) Crystal has spell resistance strong enough to deflect presumably the strongest spells that Haley can cast with her wands, because I'm pretty sure she would use her best wand first (or, at least, second) in a desperate situation.

4) Crystal is basically immune to Haley's normal arrows, and Haley missed with her more potent arrows.

5) Haley will stand absolutely no chance against Crystal in a straight up melee, even with Bandana helping.

6) Crystal so far outclasses Bandana that for all intents and purposes, Bandana isn't even there

7) Due to the imminent threat Crystal poses to the dwarven civilians all around, and Haley being good, Haley cannot simply escape from the battle. She can only attempt to evade.



The situation is therefore untenable for Haley. There are only a few outcomes remaining:

A) Haley is slain by Crystal

B) The order of the stick comes to her aid

C) Something similar to B happens, but not exactly B

Since the author has effectively cut off every means for Haley to win this encounter without assistance, and has removed escape as an option, I believe the author is justifying Haley's upcoming death to the audience, explaining why Haley won the previous battle, but will lose this one.

As such, I am feeling much better about my bet, and much worse for Haley.

I would drop a wager that Haley will live again, and would give long odds for Rich killing Haley off for good, but it's looking more and more... deathly.

Blah blah blah stuff.

Edit: Rather than bump the thread yet again, let me just say this:

Zap.

[ella ventic]

Well, it looks like a death might be imminent; I'm going to guess it'll be Grubwiggler!

[Askthepizzaguy]

Heh, didn't even need a philter of glibness this time.

I won't ever be happier to be wrong, and it looks like I'm wrong!

Barring some sort of command ability / magic word / spell, Crystal's rage seems to have been redirected.

But, it was really not wise of Haley to follow Crystal back.... should have gathered the Order of the Stick, and bandana, and left... This is unnecessary.... and if it goes pear-shaped.... there are no more tricks Haley can use, folks.

[Sniffnoy]

Well, it looks like a death might be imminent; I'm going to guess it'll be Grubwiggler!

Only 6 appearances, but pretty significant, so sure, I see no reason to disallow that. (I wish I could change my own bet to Grubwiggler...)

[Tris]

It will be nice to be able to change my bet soon if that happens.

[ZidIles]

I think Bozzok is going to die next

[Sniffnoy]

And, ZidIles gets it in just in time! Nice going! The only one, too. I'll update the first post momentarily.

For everyone else, bets may be changed again now!

[GM_3826]

I'm putting my money into Haley now. It's either that she survives due to convincing Crystal or she dies. Chances of Bandana dying herself are looking pretty slim.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Get out of there Haley, you've won, babe, just get the hell out of there......

Oh. I understand.

She can't just leave. Because she has to deal with Crystal, she has to help protect the dwarf villagers.

....

Things are looking better, but the underlying dynamics haven't changed a whole lot.

Reinforcements, something..... Crystal still unstoppable if she wants to kill Haley.


I'll leave my bet on Haley for now.

[Sniffnoy]

I'm going to bet on Crystal. (Hopefully this doesn't turn out like my bet on Spiky...)

[ZidIles]

Yay!

Okay, I will vote for The High Priest of Hel this time.

[Sniffnoy]

Hey, I got it right! I'm a 2-pointer now! :D (Unless anyone wants to claim that shouldn't count as a death.) Too bad so few people here to gloat to now. :)

Anyway, bets may now be changed once again.

[GM_3826]

...Did Rich just pull a Diabolus Ex Machina?

...Now I know who's gonna die next. Voting for Tarquin.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

I was going to change my vote, but I figured I would have more time. Oh well.

[Elenna]

So I just found this game...I'm going to vote for the HPoH.

[Sniffnoy]

Bumping this since it'd fallen off.

[ramakidin]

I didn't see a place for her but I would like to place a bet on Captain Bandana.

[Sniffnoy]

I didn't see a place for her but I would like to place a bet on Captain Bandana.

Yes, I only list ones that people have currently bet on. If someone bets on someone new, I add them.

[dmaxno]

I just found the thread, and I am going to vote (despite my wishes) for Belkar Bitterleaf.

[Sniffnoy]

And with that, after being so close for so long, Belkar finally makes it to 50 bets.

[Ulthwithian]

I would like to bet on Belkar Bitterleaf.

[Sniffnoy]

OK, since nobody bet on Gontor and he's only appeared in 2 comics, his death doesn't count -- you still can't change bets yet if you've made a bet after Crystal's death.

[Rorrik]

I'm putting my money on Wrecan, but since he's only in 7 strips so far (counting a double long strip as two) I might be disqualified if he lasts less time than I expect.

[ajp1011]

Might I place a bet on one Belkar Bitterleaf?

[Sniffnoy]

I'm putting my money on Wrecan, but since he's only in 7 strips so far (counting a double long strip as two) I might be disqualified if he lasts less time than I expect.

I'd say Wrecan "has some significance", I'll allow it. :)

Edit: Come to think of it, I'll bet on Wrecan as well.

[Oudyn]

Since Wrecan is a tribute character, I'm pretty sure he'll make it out alive. The Giant can't be that cruel (...right?). Likewise, I think (read:hope) Belkar will live to the end of this book at least. One bet on Durkula, if you please.