OOTS #1202 - The Discussion Thread

[Schroeswald]

In fact we've gone through 13 full thread, we're currently on Number 14, currently the top/most popular theories explanations for being really hard to hurt are: DR 10-15, having some DR and little fast healing, being immune to all non-bludgeoning damage and being a member of the main characters species from Schlock Mercenary (this one isn't very popular).

[ebarde]

This is what's called a Chekov's Dinossaur

[TheNecrocomicon]

Haley Wrote the word Lovers with her vapor trail. It's a big heart (Love) followed by cursive "e" "r" and a capital S.

So she wrote "lovers" in a dangerous time?

[Frozenstep]

Man, what a cool visual, and really sets the stage. Here they come Xykon, and this time they're entering in STYLE.

[Ruck]

I almost wish somebody would write "SURRENDER XYKON" in the sky in black smoke, but that would certainly kill all hope of a successful Stealth check.

And given his attitude and power level, if Xykon thought one of the gods was trying to send him a sign to stop, he'd probably try to kill that god.

[b_jonas]

What kind of extra-planar storage solution do you think our dreadlocked friend is using?

Julio said when he left that he's going to the Outer Planes. So the pirates may have a stash on one of those. Probably the Plane of Air, since they're air pirates.

[t209]

Genasi, in 3rd ed, are part-human, and descended from beings native to the Elemental Planes - Elementals or Outsiders.

Marids, dao, djinni, and efreeti, the four major "genie races", are Outsiders native to the elemental planes, which interact with humankind a lot.

As such, many (but not all) genasi will be descended from one of those.

Thanks, just didn't know what the DnD genies are as of newer editions.

[Dethrek]

"Cause that's where I keep most of my stuff."

Definitely a (near) quote of the Tick.

Thank you Rich!

[Dilvish]

Speaking of cross hatching on their sprites after they finish a Tomb-crawl, has there been a single one yet on the MITD's umbrella? He (O-Chul calls him, "a good man") did get jacked up after Girard's Gate exploded, so it's possible to damage his umbrella. At least the one pre-art upgrade.

But AFAIK, and am willing to check, he hasn't been touched yet. Just what is his DR?! Or does he just have Fast Healing out the wazoo?

Lately I've been thinking the MiTD is a greater dread gazebo. The umbrella suggests to me that the MitD is an immature greater dread gazebo. The outer shell/skin/scales has/have yet to fully harden.

Another possibility is that of a greater dread Diva. The umbrella then being a plot device to keep the Diva's true identity secret until exactly the right moment.

Now a Greater Dread Diva Gazebo is a truly terrifying foe, known to even take out powerful starships.

[Rizzer]

Now a Greater Dread Diva Gazebo is a truly terrifying foe, known to even take out powerful starships.

They only ever do it in self-defence though, if the starship is stupid enough to ram one of them.

[Kayvaan]

So in the first page of this book, we get that awesome Dutch angle. And now we get a wide, cinematic shot for our heroes departing that reminds me of a superhero story? The art is amazing! I feel really spoiled at this end of the saga!

[TheNecrocomicon]

Now a Greater Dread Diva Gazebo is a truly terrifying foe, known to even take out powerful starships.

They only ever do it in self-defence though, if the starship is stupid enough to ram one of them.

So that's what "God" needed with a starship!

[mucat]

I don’t know but the term “Genie” being offensive sounds like Simpsons’s “living impaired” for zombies.

"Impaired?" Bite your tongue!

Zombies are metabolically challenged.

[Marcotix]

I don't think I've ever seen the reason I play DND outside of my imagination before Giant.

Thanks :)

[ratfox]

I love the automatic reaction of Haley that the end of the world is the best moment ever for price gouging...

Beautiful visuals. I can almost hear the music.

[Liquor Box]

Haley is pregnant confirmed....

but it's Belkar's because she didn't use enough protection while zooming around merging cloud stuff.

Agreed. I noticed Hayley hadn't just introduced her gall bladder's to Elan's - she also zigged through Belkar's smoke trail a few times, so their lower parts were well acquianted.

[Kornaki]

Very nice, although all this cute and happy stuff is making me nervous about what comes next.

Minor plot hole: Roy mentions that they used Wind Walk to get into Bleedingham without proper paperwork, so the rest of the party should already be familiar with it.

It's not a plot hole. Elan just thinks it's likely the properties of wind walk will be important to what happens next in the plot, so is feigning ignorance of the spell to make sure the readers know how it works. Durkon is playing along, and Elan couldn't be prouder of him.

[Kantaki]

I love the automatic reaction of Haley that the end of the world is the best moment ever for price gouging...

Beautiful visuals. I can almost hear the music.

To be fair, she's not wrong.
If the heroes fail they won't need money anymore.
Or anyone else for that matter.
And when they succeed potion merchants are out of work- or at least loose their best customers.
So why not make sure you can retire rich?

[JessmanCA]

Did Durkon cast it twice, or is this just a rules fudge? He'd have to be 18th level to cast it on 6 people.

Experience he gained while a vampire, does he keep it now that he's changed back?

[Schroeswald]

Experience he gained while a vampire, does he keep it now that he's changed back?

Vampire's have such high LA's that Greg earning levels is incredibly rare and even then getting him 5 more levels from where he started is completely and utterly impossible.

[JessmanCA]

Vampire's have such high LA's that Greg earning levels is incredibly rare and even then getting him 5 more levels from where he started is completely and utterly impossible.

Not sure what LA stands for in this context, but I'm thinking the experience would be carried over back to his dwarf experience needs, and gain a couple levels?

[Peelee]

Not sure what LA stands for in this context, but I'm thinking the experience would be carried over back to his dwarf experience needs, and gain a couple levels?

Level Adjustment. Vampires have a +8 LA, so if Betty was 2nd level, then Vampire Betty would be treated as 10th level for the purposes of gaining experience.

Vampire Durkon would have been treated somewhere past epic level, and would not have gained much, if any, experience. Even if he did, once Durkon is raised, he loses a level regardless (going by the stock rules).

[Vrock Bait]

Level Adjustment. Vampires have a +8 LA, so if Betty was 2nd level, then Vampire Betty would be treated as 10th level for the purposes of gaining experience.

Vampire Durkon would have been treated somewhere past epic level, and would not have gained much, if any, experience. Even if he did, once Durkon is raised, he loses a level regardless (going by the stock rules).

Of course, Hilgya killed him again, so he would lose two levels. RIP Mass Death Ward.

[Peelee]

Of course, Hilgya killed him again, so he would lose two levels. RIP Mass Death Ward.

Indeed, and that's why I added that bit about the stock rules; I don't think that was enforced, at least so far as losing two levels. Just a theory of mine, I don't really have anything to back it up with.

[Dilvish]

Durkon's more expansive Wind Walk may be due to him being a cleric of Thor? Not 3.5 RAW, but maybe Durkon took some class abilities from an obscure 3rd party sourcebook. Or maybe Durkon, after returning to life in the current era, is now a 3.5/5.0 hybrid.

He is Thor's Chosen One, as well. A little boost for the dwarf...

[Anansiil]

crossing streams is probably an old experience, long left behind by the others in the party :P

I must admit that'd I wouldn't be fond of lamps or other reminders of genie-dom!

[thorr-kan]

You could start introducing OotS to your sons' friends.

Done.

Which has gotten the boys banned from bringing the books to school: some people have a problem with the language.

That's on them, though. Not me.

[Arkain]

When least expected, cloud connected

[bunsen_h]

Experience he gained while a vampire, does he keep it now that he's changed back?

I'm under the impression -- from playing a much earlier version of AD&D, decades ago -- that such experience doesn't "count" because it's so antithetical to the nature of the character. I may be thinking of someone afflicted with lycanthropy, a "lapsed" paladin, or something like that.

[Emanick]

I'm under the impression -- from playing a much earlier version of AD&D, decades ago -- that such experience doesn't "count" because it's so antithetical to the nature of the character. I may be thinking of someone afflicted with lycanthropy, a "lapsed" paladin, or something like that.

That does seem in the spirit of AD&D (although not 3.5e so much), but I think there's a simpler reason why Durkon wouldn't get any XP from those fights: He wasn't the one fighting. Durkon* is an entirely different character, one that Durkon was actively trying to thwart, so there's no reason Durkon should gain experience from Durkon* winning battles.

It might be quite reasonable to give Durkon XP from outwitting Durkon* from within the confines of his own mind, though. I doubt he would have gotten enough XP for it to make a difference, but hey, maybe it was a story award or something.