OOTS #1200 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[Shale]

Laws of drama dictate that this plan absolutely would have worked, right?

[hroþila]

Kinda agree with Roy here.

[Dread_Head]

That was a brutal burn from Roy

[KorvinStarmast]

I agree with Roy in regard sequencing. They can talk to Redcloak after they take out Xykon.

But I love the Minrah Durkon interchange at the end.

Thanks Giant, for getting the story moving again.
Durkon's effort to contact Lien looks to me like "the talking is going to soon end and action will soon follow"

Strip # 1200.
Nice milestone.

[trtl]

Laws of drama dictate that this plan absolutely would have worked, right?

Yes

I like how they have learned their lesson and now write out exactly what they are going to say BEFORE casting the spell

Congrats on another 100 episodes btw.

[Fitzclowningham]

I have no idea how Durkon and Minrah could explain the whole thing to Redcloak *and* convince him in only 25 words.

[PraetorDragoon]

Laws of drama dictate that this plan absolutely would have worked, right?

I doubt it. Redcloak doesn't strike me as the "I will listen to a random dwarf cleric using sending on me while I have a certain victory plan." kinda guy.

[Quebbster]

So, Durkon has one more Sending spell, and V has none. Do you think the party will get split up soon?

[Fyraltari]

Adventure takes many forms.

Isn't ther a missing "in" in panel 2? It would make the message exactly 25 words long.

Laws of drama dictate that this plan absolutely would have worked, right?

On the contrary, the plan was explained on-panel and thus doomed to failure.

[link3710]

Laws of drama dictate that this plan absolutely would have worked, right?

No way. The plan's purpose is not to show Roy making a bad decision, but Durkon's attempts to grow after recent events. Instead the plan will work, just at a later point in time when the situation has changed.

[Giggling Ghast]

Kinda agree with Roy here.

I do as well. Actually, the best route here (though it’s obviously easier said than done) would be to eliminate Xykon, thereby making it impossible to take control of the Gate. It might then be possible to talk to Redcloak.

[Shale]

Oh, I absolutely agree with Roy's decision here; it only would have worked because they're not doing it. Otherwise, like Fyraltari said it's been fully explained on-panel and thus doomed.

[Mic_128]

YES YES YES! I was wondering why they hadn't yet! Redcloak might just brush them off, but if they mention they know what his true plan is, well, he can't just ignore that! Woo!

EDIT: Dang. Probably shouldn't have started cheering halfway through. And Durkon's lawful, so he won't do it behind Roy's back either. Damn damn damn :(

[Arathorne]

Kinda agree with Roy here.

I much agree on this point, while Durkon has an idea that might work, it is probably to early to try this.

[Zhorn]

A first draft? HAH! Real adventurers make it up on the spot.

[Angrith]

Love the joke in this one. Makes sense that Minrah would be all for Thor's plan, and Durkon's refusal should dampen any forum theories on Durkon operating behind Roy's back.

[Ron Miel]

I agree with Roy in regard sequencing. They can talk to Redcloak after they take out Xykon.

But wouldn't it be better if they get Redcloak on their side? They won't have to fight him, and he can help them against Xykon.

Also, just telling Redcloak that Thor wishes to negotiate with TDO won't tell him they are coming.

And Redcloak is probably expecting them to come anyway. Even if he doesn't know exactly where they are.

I disagree with Roy's logic.

[Vinyadan]

Lawful with a capital L, our Durkon.

[Lheticus]

Why do I read ominousness into Durkon's "Whatever you think's best" (paraphrased) here?

[hamishspence]

Poor Durkon. When your idea's compared unfavourably with Belkar's, that got to sting.

[Mic_128]

I agree with Roy in regard sequencing. They can talk to Redcloak after they take out Xykon.

But if they spoke with Redcloak, he could've helped them take out Xykon.

I doubt it. Redcloak doesn't strike me as the "I will listen to a random dwarf cleric using sending on me while I have a certain victory plan." kinda guy.

On the other hand, I'm sure he'd listen to the dwarf that could go and expose his true plan to the powerful lich who's right next to him. We saw how he reacted to Tsukio threatening to talk, but the Order wants to work with Redcloak, not against him.

[Stabbey]

Would the sending to Redcloak even have worked at all, since that's not his real name, or is it enough just to be familiar with him?

[KorvinStarmast]

But wouldn't it be better if they get Redcloak on their side? They won't have to fight him, and he can help them against Xykon.

Since I get to see this from the PoV of a reader, I expect MiTD to neutralize Xykon when the battle comes, or to otherwise interfere with him, particularly if O'Chul is allied with the party.

But that's meta knowledge that Roy probably does not have.
But Roy is 100% correct in his analysis of this situation: their key advantage at this moment is surprise.

But if they spoke with Redcloak, he could've helped them take out Xykon.

Maybe, and maybe not. Unlike you or me or the other readers, Roy doesn't know how Redcloak feels about Xykon. It's a gamble, not a risk, to negate the element of surprise on that guess. (Though of course for dramatic reasons one can surely see the "why not take a risk" line of thinking ... but Roy is in it, not watching it).

[Griffincat]

Roy didn't order Minrah to not use Sending...

[Grey_Wolf_c]

I have no idea how Durkon and Minrah could explain the whole thing to Redcloak *and* convince him in only 25 words.

We had a thread about this when it first came up (ETA: found it). I think my contribution was something along the lines of "If Snarl is set loose, TDO will starve. Can offer an alternative. Let's talk".

The key thing is you don't need to explain everything in the first message, just enough that RC would be interested in establishing diplomatic channels. Opening with "your god will die if you keep going down this path" is, IMnpHO, a good opener.

Grey Wolf

[Xihirli]

But if they spoke with Redcloak, he could've helped them take out Xykon.

But he wouldn't have. If he did, then

Spoiler: SOD

Show

his little brother died for nothing

and the Plan he's dedicated his life to fails.

[Peelee]

I like how they have learned their lesson and now write out exactly what they are going to say BEFORE casting the spell

The Order never really had an issue with that. Nale did.

Also, just telling Redcloak that Thor wishes to negotiate with TDO won't tell him they are coming.

And Redcloak is probably expecting them to come anyway. Even if he doesn't know exactly where they are.

I disagree with Roy's logic.

Last Redcloak saw, the cleric was a vampire and Roy was likely killed. Also, they don't know about the Plan. The Order has a few cards Reddie doesn't know about at the moment.

[CriticalFailure]

Why do I read ominousness into Durkon's "Whatever you think's best" (paraphrased) here?

It absolutely seemed ominous. From the tone of this pacing I got the feeling that this decision may come back to bite later. Roy's call makes sense, but I think the Order will end up facing repercussions for not trying to communicate.

[JustAnotherSoul]

Very interesting opening to this book!

But it seems like they could reach out, just knowing roughly what Redcloak is doing doesn't imply that they're there, or know where Redcloak is, or know much about the gates even.

Edit: Ah. Yes. Not the first with the notion.