Good Deeds Gone Unpunished - The Discussion Thread (Unmarked Spoilers!)

[The Giant]

Since people have started receiving their pre-orders in the mail, I'm starting a discussion thread for the new OOTS prequel, Good Deeds Gone Unpunished.

Some guidelines:

1. You do not need to mark or mask spoilers in this thread. If you haven't read the book yet, assume that you could come across spoilers at any point, and read accordingly.
2. This thread is for the content of the book, not discussions about ordering or shipping or other concerns. For that, use the existing stickied thread.
3. Due to the nature of some of the dilemmas in the book, here's a reminder that discussions of whether or not a character's actions are morally justified in real-world terms is not OK. If you want to talk about what alignment a character's actions would make that character, that's fine.
4. Since this thread will obviously turn into an argument about Miko at some point, and those tend to get very heated, be aware that at any point the moderating staff might insist that the topic be changed/dropped, or individual posters may be instructed to stop posting. Basically, we're not going to let this thread get turned into a huge flaming multi-quote debate between two people.

So everyone, play nice and keep in mind that the thread is for everyone. Thanks.

[Peelee]

I'm impressed at how Thog doesn't have a good grasp of capital letters or pronouns, but a fair command over umlauts.

[Darth Paul]

Just a thought; possibly this thread could be stickied to make it easier to find, keeping it separate from the other (older) discussion threads?

[Peelee]

Ok, that was easier than I thought. Surprised I manager to get it all read before nightfall.

I don't want to sound ungrateful; the book is fantastic. But I'm a little sad that Lien's story was so short. She was my favorite of them all (not counting O-Chul's), and I'd love for there to be more to her story. Like the early days of paladinship or something.

They were all wonderful though. Well worth the money. The Katos really nailed down the whole fear of parenting thing. And the whole pregnancy thing.

[Shmuel]

For anybody else who might have wondered...the new bonus page in O-Chul's story is page 84.

[2.5 cats]

The banana is the greatest thing ever! I couldn't stop laughing.

[Ornithologist]

The picture of Shojo and mr scruffy, is like the best.

[Yana]

Burn the tree?

Burn the tree.

[SaintRidley]

I loved Lien's story. I wish it there were more of it, but it's such a good story.

[Peelee]

I loved Lien's story. I wish it there were more of it, but it's such a good story.

The intro did say that while fleshing out the Azurites, the Giant wished he'd had more stories about them (IIRC, away from book at the moment) and who knows there may be another book sometime later, so I'm hoping for a Paladin Lien - The Early Days story.

[Jasdoif]

The banana is the greatest thing ever! I couldn't stop laughing.

Such a short-lived research opportunity...sigh.

I loved Lien's story. I wish it there were more of it, but it's such a good story.

Yes. It's quite impressive how much it gets across, especially with only eleven pages.

[Peelee]

Having had more time to think about it, I'd also really love more stories about the Azurites on the tropical island.

I think I just want a sequel to this book. It's really becoming one of my favorites.

[Sermil]

So, the other creature in the Mr. Scruffy story is a Carbuncle, right? But they aren't listed as having the ability to teleport people -- or even cute cats. So what's up with all the teleporting?

[Dr. Gamera]

So, the other creature in the Mr. Scruffy story is a Carbuncle, right? But they aren't listed as having the ability to teleport people -- or even cute cats. So what's up with all the teleporting?

Some write-ups (such as this one) give the Carbuncle the blink or dimension door ability.

[2.5 cats]

Not unreasonable to assume that this was a variant carbuncle with a better teleport (hence why it was being studied)--or possibly with its teleporting magically enhanced by the goblin who had captured it and surrounded it with magical runes.

Totally love that story--have read it probably 5 times. Amazing how much thought and emotion can be conveyed without words.

[Xianthe]

Question for those who know 3.5E better than myself.

How much would Lien's ring be worth? In addition to Water Breathing, we know it has some sort of cold resistance built in (per #1031).

I'm guessing it's worth quite a bit more than the 50 gp reward.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

we know it has some sort of cold resistance built in (per #1031).

It's more a required secondary power of water breathing if it allows you to go to the depths of the sea (where it gets really chilly). It also, presumably, makes you resistant to pressure beyond 1 atmosphere.

If anything, it's a subtle dig at the fact that every player and DM tends to assume the ring allows you to go to the bottom of the sea just because you won't drown, despite that being just one of the many issues the ring would need to solve.

Grey Wolf

[Peelee]

Question for those who know 3.5E better than myself.

How much would Lien's ring be worth? In addition to Water Breathing, we know it has some sort of cold resistance built in (per #1031).

I'm guessing it's worth quite a bit more than the 50 gp reward.

Can't find it, but...

Water Breathing is a 3rd level Transmutation spell. Water Walk is also a 3rd level Transmutation spell, not to mention very close thematically. A Ring of Water Walking costs 15,000 gold.

So... yeah, I'd say that was a pretty amazing gift. And a helluva thing to tempt Lien with.

[Emanick]

What I’d like to know is what the hint about Hinjo playing a prominent part in the plot going forward means. What’s his role going to be? I can’t imagine what he could do for the Order at this point, besides maybe acting as a point person remotely for coordination purposes, and maybe the odd spell and bit of lore.

[Peelee]

What I’d like to know is what the hint about Hinjo playing a prominent part in the plot going forward means. What’s his role going to be? I can’t imagine what he could do for the Order at this point, besides maybe acting as a point person remotely for coordination purposes, and maybe the odd spell and bit of lore.

Well, O-Chul and Lien are going to report to him, and after that bomb was dropped I started figuring that he may respond in a much more direct way. It also goes towards that prophecy of Belkar saving his life a second time, as well.

[NRSASD]

Hats off once again to Mr. Burlew! An excellent and wonderful piece of work.

I too really enjoyed Lien's story. I've always loved her sardonic humor and her story just makes her that much more awesome. Here's to hoping she doesn't die once OoTS is all said and done.

[Rogar Demonblud]

thog is schrodingers antagonist

Okay, Rich, I don't know what you've won, but you won something. Let me get back to you after the gut I busted laughing heals.

[godsflunky]

Okay, so Mr. Scruffy's story implies that Belkar picked him up in the middle of a battle and their friendship began instantly, not developing over the months of resistance fighting. I know Belkar's a ranger and all, but... ah well. Rule of Funny.

Unless there were multiple times Belkar attacked wights with pineapples, which is arguably funnier.



...Is it bad that I'm totally in love with Lien now? And that I want to be O-Chul when I grow up? "...And mirrors exist." Twelve gods, he's everything I've ever wanted to be.

[RabidEel]

If OOTS were a real game, "I can't hear you over the sound of my nipples screaming" would be a great submission for Out of Context D&D Quotes.

[AutomatedTeller]

the Mr Scruffy story is awesome. Not only does Rich have an amazing comic known for stick figures and awesome dialog, he can create an amazing comic with stick figures and no dialog whatsoever!!

And obscure monsters, too!!

Loved the other two new stories, too!

[Stabbey]

Good book, I think I liked the Kato story the best of the new ones.

Okay, so Mr. Scruffy's story implies that Belkar picked him up in the middle of a battle and their friendship began instantly, not developing over the months of resistance fighting. I know Belkar's a ranger and all, but... ah well. Rule of Funny.

It was already strongly implied that Belkar first met Mr. Scruffy while on that mission and not earlier.

[Kish]

Okay, so Mr. Scruffy's story implies that Belkar picked him up in the middle of a battle and their friendship began instantly, not developing over the months of resistance fighting.

If you hadn't posted that, I would never have thought that was ever ambiguous. Belkar went after Mr. Scruffy here and pulled him out here.

[ti'esar]

There's an argument to be made (first two panels) that Belkar and Mr Scruffy were already bonding before Shojo even died, but there's never been an implication that they kept meeting during the time skip or something.

[MoonCat]

While we're on the subject of the Scruffy story, could someone explain why Mr. Scruffy sadly leaves at the end? I understand he was annoyed at being abandoned at the bottom of the hill, and then met the Carbuncle's family, but the last page has me lost.

Unrelatedly, I loved the ettin. I'd completely forgotten about it when I read HtPGHS as a pdf, and it was a pleasure all over again.

[Eve]

With the way count Durkula was just defeated I had to love this exchange

Saha Kapoor:The other option is to try and take all the empathy you've learned since you were 12 and cram it into Gin-Jun's head before dawn
O-Chul:Thirty years worth in seven hours?