OOTS Strip Summaries

[SaintRidley]

1017: There's a new High Priestess of Hel. Durkon's body can now leave.

[SaintRidley]

Looks like I accidentally edited rather than replied and deleted the entry I'd proposed for 1016.

So, a new 1016 one. 1016: Dvalin must consult the elders. Time for the vampires to split.

[Gwynfrid]

1018: A battle erupts between Roy and the vampires, with priests picking sides.

[Gwynfrid]

1019: "Durkon" escapes, along with three thralls.

[DaggerPen]

Blackwing saves the day with a catastrophic scroll misfire

[SaintRidley]

1021: V retrieves Little Whiskers, time to take the tiger to Veldrina

[The gF]

1021: V tows a tiger by the cantrip, shoves character development in your face

[Gwynfrid]

1021: V retrieves Little Whiskers, time to take the tiger to Veldrina

I much prefer this one. A summary should be factual rather than elliptic.

[The gF]

Probably, I just couldn't resist.

[Gwynfrid]

1022: Roy decides against fighting the new High Priestess of Hel, takes revenge on Malack's staff instead.

[SaintRidley]

1023: Roy's leaving. If the vote is no, Veldrina should contact him. If yes, Send goodbye to a loved one.

[Gwynfrid]

1024: Roy learns where to go next, Durkon's banishment is lifted.

[unbeliever536]

1024: Roy learns where to go next, Durkon's banishment is lifted.

Durkon's banishment has technically been lifted since as far back as #375. I'd prefer something like "1024: Roy learns where to go next; the message from the High Priest of Thor to Durkon finally reaches the Order."

edit: or something about how this is old news that got blocked. My version is rather clumsy.

[Gwynfrid]

Durkon's banishment has technically been lifted since as far back as #375. I'd prefer something like "1024: Roy learns where to go next; the message from the High Priest of Thor to Durkon finally reaches the Order."

edit: or something about how this is old news that got blocked. My version is rather clumsy.

We aren't going for faithful and exhaustive recount here, just a quick and easy to use tool (easy to use = short to read). I believe brevity should trump precision in nearly all cases. Anyway, "Durkon's banishment is lifted" is correct: It just doesn't say when exactly it happened. That's because this information isn't necessary, when all you want to do is find the comic from the summary.

[Jasdoif]

We aren't going for faithful and exhaustive recount here, just a quick and easy to use tool (easy to use = short to read). I believe brevity should trump precision in nearly all cases. Anyway, "Durkon's banishment is lifted" is correct: It just doesn't say when exactly it happened. That's because this information isn't necessary, when all you want to do is find the comic from the summary.

How about "Roy learns where to go next, and that Durkon's banishment is lifted"? Roy did learn both those things, after all. The "that" is rather optional, too.

[ti'esar]

The Book 6 summaries haven't been updated since November.

[DaggerPen]

The Book 6 summaries haven't been updated since November.

Jeez, it's been that long? Sorry everyone - I've been heavily stuck mobile blogging recently, which makes it a pain to update. I'll get on that tonight though.

[Gwynfrid]

How about "Roy learns where to go next, and that Durkon's banishment is lifted"? Roy did learn both those things, after all. The "that" is rather optional, too.

It's wholly unnecessary imo, but if you insist, why not. But don't you think we're overthinking this a just a little?

Jeez, it's been that long? Sorry everyone - I've been heavily stuck mobile blogging recently, which makes it a pain to update. I'll get on that tonight though.

No rush. I don't think anybody is using the summaries to find a strip with in the past dozen or two.

[Jasdoif]

It's wholly unnecessary imo, but if you insist, why not. But don't you think we're overthinking this a just a little?

The cost of two extra syllables to your proposed summary for the payoff of extra clarity for anyone reading the summary? It seems a worthy trade to me.

If someone did happen to catch the summary for 375 over six hundred summaries before, reading "Roy learns where to go next, Durkon's banishment is lifted." could very well trigger a "wait, didn't that already happen?" break in the personal chain of thought, which is going to consume more time than reading a couple short words will.

[unbeliever536]

How about "Roy learns where to go next, and that Durkon's banishment is lifted"? Roy did learn both those things, after all. The "that" is rather optional, too.

Significantly better than mine. And in general, I think accuracy is of critical importance in a summary because it is short. The goal is not just to quickly pass information to the reader but to quickly pass correct information. Anything that needs to be justified with technicalities over the meaning of a tense in order to evade the charge of being misleading ought to be avoided.

[Gwynfrid]

The cost of two extra syllables to your proposed summary for the payoff of extra clarity for anyone reading the summary? It seems a worthy trade to me.

If someone did happen to catch the summary for 375 over six hundred summaries before, reading "Roy learns where to go next, Durkon's banishment is lifted." could very well trigger a "wait, didn't that already happen?" break in the personal chain of thought, which is going to consume more time than reading a couple short words will.

Yup, we're totally overthinking this, thanks for confirming.

Seriously, though: the summary isn't an educational tool. It just a quick reference list meant to find any strip without combing through the comic page by page. Anyone who begins to draw conclusions, whether wrong or correct, from the summary's language is just using the wrong tool.

... That said, I'm fine with adding two words if that makes you more comfortable.

[SaintRidley]

1025: Wrecan gives Roy his copy of Weapons of Legacy, also a beautiful speech about inevitable and unplannable death.

[rodneyAnonymous]

I think including that adjective is editorializing, and it would be simpler to use the word "and" instead of "also".

1025: Wrecan gives Roy his copy of Weapons of Legacy and a speech about inevitable and unplannable death.

[ti'esar]

For summary purposes, I feel like it might be better to focus on why that speech is so significant to people, as in (hypothetical writeup):

"1025: Wrecan gives Roy his copy of Weapons of Legacy, while paying tribute to his real-life namesake."

[Gwynfrid]

For summary purposes, I feel like it might be better to focus on why that speech is so significant to people, as in (hypothetical writeup):

"1025: Wrecan gives Roy his copy of Weapons of Legacy, while paying tribute to his real-life namesake."

This is much better.

[Gwynfrid]

1026: Belkar doesn't get to gloat, or defeat even one vampire.

[SaintRidley]

1027: Roy points out Banjo would be unable to vote and is also a puppet.

[Gwynfrid]

1028: Gold gets the Mechane's team on board with saving the world.

[Gwynfrid]

1029: Durkon's resurrection will have to wait.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

1029: Roy and Haley talk shop, money & Durkon's resurrection.