Things You Never Noticed VII: Wait, This Isnt the MitD Thread?

[Jasdoif]

Or Rich simply doesn't care about the rules minutia anymore.

Why would I let the obvious truth stop me from being amused at oblique self-reference?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Because it confuses us when you reference somebody other than The Giant? Now I'll have to rethink if I want to get Summon Banana VI.

[Jasdoif]

Because it confuses us when you reference somebody other than The Giant?

That's not oblique reference, that's direct reference.

As far as this thread goes, or any other attempt to align the events of the comic with D&D, my suggestion is to treat the comic as if it is based on "OOTS RPG," a hypothetical game that is exactly like D&D in every way—except for those ways that the comic shows that it isn't. Everything is D&D until proven otherwise. Because that's sort of how I write it; I use the D&D rules when they fit into the story (and I remember them), and break them when they don't. Thus, you can still extrapolate D&D stats of the characters unless I show something that simply defies the game as written—like Roy casting a fireball. And you can still make predictions about what might happen in the future as if it were all going to unfold according to the D&D rules, as long as you understand that hey, maybe I might fudge that one. And then don't complain if I do.

[Ionathus]

I suppose it's possible he defeated a rival cleric of a faith that has access to that spell, and that cleric happened to be carrying the scroll at the time.

How long would it take for a cleric to create such a scroll? Could he have spent some time at Firmament writing it?

That's what I'm more focused on: whether or not his domain allowed him to use it, Horrid Wilting just didn't seem at all within the living Exarch's philosophical wheelhouse, although it fits perfectly within Hel's. Defeating a rival who was carrying it does make some sense.

[danielxcutter]

I would personally not be surprised if someone paid him for something with spare scrolls instead of money and he died before he could sell them, but of course we don't know what happened.

[Peelee]

That's what I'm more focused on: whether or not his domain allowed him to use it, Horrid Wilting just didn't seem at all within the living Exarch's philosophical wheelhouse, although it fits perfectly within Hel's. Defeating a rival who was carrying it does make some sense.

He is part of the Creed of Stone. Plants disrupt stone and break it apart, as we have seen. I have no problem with a homebrew domain for those in the creed having Horrid Wilting be a domain spell.

[Metastachydium]

He is part of the Creed of Stone. Plants disrupt stone and break it apart, as we have seen. I have no problem with a homebrew domain for those in the creed having Horrid Wilting be a domain spell.

So the entire Creed was EVIL ALL ALONG?

[Peelee]

So the entire Creed was EVIL ALL ALONG?

I'm confused?

[Metastachydium]

I'm confused?

Gruesomely murdering planties is just plain wrong.

[Peelee]

Gruesomely murdering planties is just plain wrong.

Don't tell Durkon.

[Fyraltari]

If he did the above just so that he can hurt poor planties, I'm afraid I have to conclude that HE WAS EVIL ALL ALONG.

Of course, he was a rebellious youth, wasn't he? And, as we know from Tsukiko, any youngling that rejects established authority is inherently a moral monster. It just makes sense.

[The Linker]

I was going to say "Isn't it possible it was just a scroll left around the council chamber, or somewhere else they stumbled upon in Firmament, to get rid of encroaching plant life," but I guess it is a level 8 spell and I don't know if it's reasonable that this place has casters that powerful. Really, I know very little about how scrolls work. At all.

EDIT: Ahh, I see now he does mention where they came from.

[Fyraltari]

Elan demonstrates on panel 4 the power to see the future. Well, either that or V is right on panel 7.

[Scizor]

I was going to say "Isn't it possible it was just a scroll left around the council chamber, or somewhere else they stumbled upon in Firmament, to get rid of encroaching plant life," but I guess it is a level 8 spell and I don't know if it's reasonable that this place has casters that powerful. Really, I know very little about how scrolls work. At all.

EDIT: Ahh, I see now he does mention where they came from.

Nicely spotted, I hadn't noticed that.

[Ruck]

Kandro's line to Durkon in the second-to-last panel here takes on new weight considering what happens in the next strip.

[ziproot]

In the second-to-last panel in comic #1203 you can see Therkla in the background.

EDIT: Also, in comic 1233, panel 18, you can see Blackwing from the dead end.

EDIT 2: And in comic 1037, panel 7, it says Oona was planning on feeding O-Chul to the MITD. That would not have gone well.

EDIT 3: And in comic 864, panel 11, it talks about Sir Thumb getting defeated by some glass. That most likely has to do with Rich's hand injury that caused the delay.

EDIT 4: One of the things I noticed was found by MReav earlier:

In the fourth to last panel of 1223, there is a portal shimmer while Roy's back is turned. That's why he didn't know Blackwing had already left despite the obvious effects that entering/leaving the portal have.

[Ruck]

I just realized how the title of #836 ties into the final punchline.

[arimareiji]

996:9 - What's actually happening to Belkar in that panel? According to the wiki he's "overcome" by his Protection from Evil, but I don't understand the basis for saying that. It looks like maybe gaseous Durkula is overtaking him, which seems to eliminate my initial thought of "He failed a saving throw against something that rendered him unable to struggle in the next few panels".

V is an elf, and thus does not require a bed. They may use one to trance on if one is available, but it's by no means necessary.

Now I'm wondering how many parallels can be drawn between trancing and marital relations, for instance "Technically you're not required to".

[Schroeswald]

996:9 - What's actually happening to Belkar in that panel? According to the wiki he's "overcome" by his Protection from Evil, but I don't understand the basis for saying that. It looks like maybe gaseous Durkula is overtaking him, which seems to eliminate my initial thought of "He failed a saving throw against something that rendered him unable to struggle in the next few panels".

He’s overcome by all the constant pain from the fact that he’s evil and protection from evil hurts him so he can’t focus.

[arimareiji]

He’s overcome by all the constant pain from the fact that he’s evil and protection from evil hurts him so he can’t focus.

I understand that for Belkar PfE "doesn't exactly tickle", but I'm not clear on why that would cause an event only at the moment Durkula catches up to him. There's no evidence of it in any of the other panels where it's active, and while "he rolled a 1" is possible it's not especially satisfying if there are other possibilities or if there's a deeper explanation.

[Schroeswald]

I read it as Belkar is running, but it’s hurting too much (especially in combination with bite) so he falls down, letting Durkula catch up with him and attack him.

[Fyraltari]

I understand that for Belkar PfE "doesn't exactly tickle", but I'm not clear on why that would cause an event only at the moment Durkula catches up to him. There's no evidence of it in any of the other panels where it's active, and while "he rolled a 1" is possible it's not especially satisfying if there are other possibilities or if there's a deeper explanation.

If think the constant loss of hp just took its toll on him.

[arimareiji]

I read it as Belkar is running, but it’s hurting too much (especially in combination with bite) so he falls down, letting Durkula catch up with him and attack him.

If think the constant loss of hp just took its toll on him.

Indeed, the Giant doesn't have a problem with tossing exact game mechanics aside when it's needed to tell a better story -- I don't see it here, but as with all things subjective, YMMV.

[Lord Torath]

Roy is warning Belkar about being unable to heal damage with no Durkon, but he seems to have forgotten they have access to near unlimited quantities of healing potions.

I mean, now they don't, but I'd be highly surprised if they didn't take as many as they could carry when they left. And at the time, they were literally on top of the supply.

[danielxcutter]

Roy is warning Belkar about being unable to heal damage with no Durkon, but he seems to have forgotten they have access to near unlimited quantities of healing potions.

I mean, now they don't, but I'd be highly surprised if they didn't take as many as they could carry when they left. And at the time, they were literally on top of the supply.

To be fair a) Roy probably doesn’t want to drain the Mechane’s resources too much(especially since the crew and the rest of the party needs them to heal as well), and b) he’s been adventuring longer with Durkon than anyone else I think.

[Fyraltari]

Also, he doesn't know that Belkar jumped carrying any potion (who might be destroyed by the fall, even).

[ziproot]

The beginning of this strip happened in the past. It is just one of V's memories.

[arimareiji]

The beginning of this strip happened in the past. It is just one of V's memories.

Until recently, I didn't know if V's "nightmares" about Azure City during trance were memories or dreams. With my human bias, I was thinking the latter was equally-or-more likely until I did a careful reread.

[Yanisa]

Until recently, I didn't know if V's "nightmares" about Azure City during trance were memories or dreams. With my human bias, I was thinking the latter was equally-or-more likely until I did a careful reread.

Seeing as V did indeed used Invisibility to flee (Page 2, Panel 7) the battle, that strengthens the idea. Maybe the words turned harsher because of V's poor mental state, but it is based on a memory.

[danielxcutter]

Just realized that Durkon's dodging and jumping here is probably helped by scrags being aquatic trolls, which are giants like ogres.