OOTS #1197 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Ruck]

Simple but straightforward, with a good joke at the end. More importantly it clarifies that the Order is close enough to Kraagor's Tomb for V and Haley to make it all the way there on a recon mission and back. That probably means... something will happen soon.

[Shale]

Wow, I did not think the tomb was that *long*. Makes sense how Team Evil has been at this for a while!

[hroþila]

Is it wrong that the first thing this made me think of was the potential uses of Phantasmal Force for boardgaming/wargaming?

[Tarthalion]

I thought at first Roy was being sarcastic "oh, this is great..." about the size of the tomb, but on reflection I think he genuinely felt that the illusion was going to be a great aid to his planning.

[AstralFire]

C'mon, Elan, you have to start out with a more quiet segment no one really notices at first, then gradually crescendo! :P

[Peelee]

I was more expecting a Last Crusade comment or costume from Elan.

[Kantaki]

Wow. I didn't expect the whole thing to be this massive.
Funny how what's effectively a fancy map can be so awe-inspiring.
Elan's contribution is absolutely apropriate.

[AceOfFools]

What I love about this is that “Wait they’re already at Kragor’s gate with no side quest? **** is going to have to go sideways to get a whole book outta this...” ramps then tension *so hard*.

[Tom Lehmann]

Hmm... no Xs visible on the doors in V's illusion. Did they get close enough to see them?

[Goosefarble]

I wonder how much we'll actually get to see of Kraagor's Tomb when the order go there. I originally expected that this book was going to be kind of a call back to the first one - the order steadily working their way through a series of dungeon dangers and encounters - but somehow I doubt it's going to be that straightforward now.

[Canisius]

That was extremely satisfying.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Oooh, that's a pretty nifty spell. I love Elan's addition. And I'm very excited to see the Order actually get to the Tomb soon.

[ti'esar]

Elan's orchestral music took me completely off guard. Got a big laugh.

[ObeyMyBrain]

Phantasmal Force? Isn't that only visible to 1 person? Plus, it has sounds, and only lasts for 1 minute? Wouldn't Silent Image make more sense? Fits with what's happening in the comic and lasts for 10 minutes.

[NobleCuriosity]

Is it wrong that the first thing this made me think of was the potential uses of Phantasmal Force for boardgaming/wargaming?

No. Not enough thought is put into effective use of spells for the purposes of games, parties, and general quality of life. You can come up with some creative stuff thinking like that, sometimes.

[Morquard]

I wonder how much we'll actually get to see of Kraagor's Tomb when the order go there. I originally expected that this book was going to be kind of a call back to the first one - the order steadily working their way through a series of dungeon dangers and encounters - but somehow I doubt it's going to be that straightforward now.

Why would they do that? Their goal is not to reach Kragoors gate, they're goal is to keep Xykon from reaching it. By dungeon crawling through them, they just remove and weaken its protection and weaken themselves. Their best bet is to wait for Xykon and Redcloak to expend most of their spells and hten ambush them when they come out.

Of course, that also means, when they set up to ambush them, they won't come out since that was the one that contained the gate. Also they somehow need to meet the mysterious people and find out what happened to the paladins.

[Zweisteine]

Phantasmal Force isn't a standard spell in D&D 3.5e.

It is in 5e, but that's not the spell we're seeing here, as the illusion it creates can only be perceived by a single creature.

[Reboot]

So, since when can Elan make music with a spell? I thought bards needed to play music to cast, not cast to play music.

Of course, that also means, when they set up to ambush them, they won't come out since that was the one that contained the gate. Also they somehow need to meet the mysterious people and find out what happened to the paladins.

That seems like the first order of Actual Business for the book, regardless of what the OotS are planning presently, yes.

[The MunchKING]

Phantasmal Force? Isn't that only visible to 1 person? Plus, it has sounds, and only lasts for 1 minute? Wouldn't Silent Image make more sense? Fits with what's happening in the comic and lasts for 10 minutes.

Don't know. I didn't see a spell by that name in the SRD.

[Reboot]

Don't know. I didn't see a spell by that name in the SRD.

Even going outside the SRD, the only "Phantasmal..." spells I can find for 3.5e are Assailants, Decoy, Disorientation, Killer, Strangler and Thief.

Which makes it convenient for Rich, of course, in a "it can do whatever he wants" sort of way.

[Hardcore]

First page? First page.

I need meds. I didn't even smile here.

[understatement]

Can't wait for what OOTS is going to plan. (And probably fail in the process later.)

[Rockphed]

Has Elan leveled up to the point where he no longer needs mundane means to create his bardic music?

[Doug Lampert]

Is it wrong that the first thing this made me think of was the potential uses of Phantasmal Force for boardgaming/wargaming?

No, the suggestion that V could overlay a hex grid cued that thought. It was deliberate on Rich's part.

[Griffincat]

If one can overlay a hex on a projection, then they can metagame. Nice.

[Eragon123]

If one can overlay a hex on a projection, then they can metagame. Nice.

HEY! No recursing!

[Anarion]

I love that V considers a hex grid the best thing to suggest there, especially considering her distaste for hexes in the past.

[Schroeswald]

I love that V considers a hex grid the best thing to suggest there, especially considering her distaste for hexes in the past.

It's annoying to move around with but it can be helpful to look at.

[Gift Jeraff]

The title at the bottom of page is brand new or am I just now noticing it?