OOTS #1203 - The Discussion Thread

[Hopeless]

Is it possible that entire ravine is the result of that material AND the gate was turned into some kind of earth mote and is currently high above the clouds hidden from view?

They're just assuming those doors have the gate behind one of them when it's not even on the ground...

Is that possible?

[Fyraltari]

Is it possible that entire ravine is the result of that material AND the gate was turned into some kind of earth mote and is currently high above the clouds hidden from view?

They're just assuming those doors have the gate behind one of them when it's not even on the ground...

Is that possible?

We’ve seen the Rift in flashback, it was about ground level. Meanwhile the Azurite had to build the castle high enough to reach their Rift, so the answer to your question is no.

[WindStruck]

Who here thinks there will be a little trail of Go pieces, like Hansel and Gretel leaving bread crumbs?

[KorvinStarmast]

Belkar has gotten noticeably better at tracking over the years.

Which means that the Order is doomed. When Belkar acts like a Ranger, Roy worries.

man, how did Hinjo manage to stay a Paladin around Elan for literal months?

If being a Paladin was easy, anybody could do it.

I assume we've got some Doctor Who-type spatial warping going on, where they're all bigger on the inside.

Occam's Gygaxian Razor arrives at "sloping passageways" as a suitable explanation. But then, the Gygaxian "teleport your party somewhere else" trap as a standard feature also fits.

The remaining 25% are cause Elan is an idiot.

Raise that to 95% and we can take that to Vegas when it reopens.

In all seriousness, I get the sense that Elan is cleverer than he initially appears.

Not seeing it.

The Korean name is baduk, which confusingly is also used as an affectionate term for a stray dog.

The Ramones tried to name their song Let's Baduk but it just didn't scan.

[Grey Watcher]

Looks like Oona saw them, and didn't care, or didn't see them at all. Oh well.

The art really is amazing. Thanks for pointing out Therkla; I totally missed her on first reading.

The dungeons could be each within their own demiplane space. Or the corridors could loop over each other without perceptible slope, like the corridors of the Demonweb Pits were described to do in that long ago TSR module.

I'm sure you all have noticed the potential spacing issues with the dungeons as soon as the Giant did the first reveal of the Tomb, but I never realized it until he brought it up with this strip. Funny. It seems obvious as soon as Roy says it. Putting those ranks in Architecture to use.

I had just assumed each dungeon was a succession of rooms in a straight line. What's wrong with that?

That would be consistent with the "boss rush" ethos the dungeon was (according to Shojo) built around.

I definitely think this means there's something going on, especially since back when they came out of the dungeon a few years/days back Onna said it had twisting and turnings and the MitD called it visually interesting.

"Visually interesting" could be parsed as referring to the monsters and spell effects rather than the terrain, but you have a solid point on the "twistings and turnings." I suppose it's [I] possible that they sort of corkscrew and tangle around each other until they get far enough away to have room to branch out. Or maybe there really is some spatial malarkey.

[Fyraltari]

Who here thinks there will be a little trail of Go pieces, like Hansel and Gretel leaving bread crumbs?

Given the paladins were unconscious and carried away above a chasm that’s unlikely to say the least.

[Ghosty]

Given the paladins were unconscious and carried away above a chasm that’s unlikely to say the least.

They were picked up by their feet, weren't they? (Double-checked, and they were: https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1189.html)

Stuff spills out of pockets when you're upside down. Usually all at once, but who knows with these pockets?

[skim172]

The history lesson is interesting, but I'm unsure what relevance it has here - the full Common/Azurite name is Go.

Just a fun history nugget.

Let's Baduk[/URL] but it just didn't scan.

The folk etymology in Korea is that stray mutts with spotted white-black fur reminded people of a full Go board, and eventually all strays were called "baduki". Like if Americans referred to all doggies as "Checkers".


"You Ain't Nothing But A Go Board Nearing The Endgame" was considered by Big Mama Thornton, but it just lacked a certain catchiness.

[Lexible]

Therkla!

<3 <3 <3

[MartianInvader]

Halflng footprints, eh? Sure they *could* just be Belkar's, but the odds that we'll see Serini just went up in my book.

[t209]

Go piece?
Was it Monster In the Darkness or O-Chul?

[Schroeswald]

Go piece?
Was it Monster In the Darkness or O-Chul?

O-Chul, thats where he was hiding and he had a Go set with him

[LadyEowyn]

I just noticed that in the third panel Durkon is frowning and facing in a different direction from the others, and after that we see the other five members of the Order re-corporealize on the ledge, but not Durkon.

It’s probably nothing, just coincidence - can’t fit every character in every strip - but does anyone thing Durkon might have gone to try to talk to one of the members of Team Evil?

[Emanick]

I just noticed that in the third panel Durkon is frowning and facing in a different direction from the others, and after that we see the other five members of the Order re-corporealize on the ledge, but not Durkon.

It’s probably nothing, just coincidence - can’t fit every character in every strip - but does anyone thing Durkon might have gone to try to talk to one of the members of Team Evil?

I don't see why not. Durkon has been secretly aligned with Team Evil since the first book, so it's completely in keeping with his character for him to betray The Order at this point.

[Qaanol]

...... we don't know for sure it's Belkar's halfling tracks he found....

…nor that the wizard slippers are from V.

In fact, I think the most probable outcome is that *all* the footprints Belkar describes are pre-existing:

Armored boots = O’Chul
Regular boots = Lien
Ridiculous little wizard slippers = unknown, maybe someone who appeared in only one panel?
Proper bare halfling feet = unknown, maybe Serini

[Schroeswald]

…nor that the wizard slippers are from V.

In fact, I think the most probable outcome is that *all* the footprints Belkar describes are pre-existing:

Armored boots = O’Chul
Regular boots = Lien
Ridiculous little wizard slippers = unknown, maybe someone who appeared in only one panel?
Proper bare halfling feet = unknown, maybe Serini

It looks to me like O-Chul and Lien are both wearing armored boots, they match up with Roy's more than any other OOTS member and Roy is definitely wearing armored boots.

[bunsen_h]

I've got a nagging recollection of some kind of standard magic item in the form of a little bead..? Though I expect this one really is one of O-Chul's go stones.

[Peelee]

I've got a nagging recollection of some kind of standard magic item in the form of a little bead..? Though I expect this one really is one of O-Chul's go stones.

Ioun stones?

[bunsen_h]

Ioun stones?

No, something that's to be thrown or tossed, not the small annoying thing flying around one's face.

[Emanick]

I've got a nagging recollection of some kind of standard magic item in the form of a little bead..? Though I expect this one really is one of O-Chul's go stones.

A necklace of fire beads that you can toss into melee to produce fireballs? Gotta love those.

[Peelee]

No, something that's to be thrown or tossed, not the small annoying thing flying around one's face.

Lodestone? I doubt it, but that's all i got.

[Rogar Demonblud]

No, something that's to be thrown or tossed, not the small annoying thing flying around one's face.

Bead of Force, best reason for ever taking the time to get a sling proficiency, full stop.

[Copo de Cerveja]

The Ramones tried to name their song Let's Baduk but it just didn't scan.

Wow ! First Ramones reference I ever seen on this Forum ! I have been thinking about registering for some time, but this made me do it...
Two of my favourite things together: Ramones and D&D... Add a pint of beer and we have 3 out of 4 !
Baduk Mental !

Edit: Quote

[Peelee]

Wow ! First Ramones reference I ever seen on this Forum ! I have been thinking about registering for some time, but this made me do it...
Two of my favourite things together: Ramones and D&D... Add a pint of beer and we have 3 out of 4 !
Baduk Mental !

Really? I could have sworn there was a Ramones reference 24 hours ago.

[Copo de Cerveja]

Really? I could have sworn there was a Ramones reference 24 hours ago.

Really? This forum is getting cooler by the minute !
I admit I have been less attentive to the discussions in the last few months, but I've been reading the comic since 2010 and I don't remember seeing anything about the Ramones in here... Weird...

[Peelee]

Really? This forum is getting cooler by the minute !
I admit I have been less attentive to the discussions in the last few months, but I've been reading the comic since 2010 and I don't remember seeing anything about the Ramones in here... Weird...

I think so. It may have been a little less. Yeah, probably under by a few hours. Though really, that's a bit semantic -what's really difference between twenty, twenty, twenty-four hours ago...

[Shoelessgdowar]

The little Therkla was neat.

Soooooo sad... maybe she will show up in spirit to help save the world.

Totally didn’t even see that until you said something!

Thanks for pointing out Therkla; I totally missed her on first reading.

So, you both failed your Spot Checks?

…nor that the wizard slippers are from V.

In fact, I think the most probable outcome is that *all* the footprints Belkar describes are pre-existing:

Armored boots = O’Chul
Regular boots = Lien
Ridiculous little wizard slippers = unknown, maybe someone who appeared in only one panel?
Proper bare halfling feet = unknown, maybe Serini

Ummmmm... I think you failed your deduction check, detect humor check, and bardic lore check... Belkar succeeded in finding the tracks the Order just made. Which is still darn impressive considering the terrain.

[Copo de Cerveja]

I think so. It may have been a little less. Yeah, probably under by a few hours. Though really, that's a bit semantic -what's really difference between twenty, twenty, twenty-four hours ago...

Hahuahauhauha.. Good one !
It's actually "Twenty, twenty, twenty-four hours to go", but that is probably because you can't control your fingers, you can't control your brain ! Oh no, oh, oh oh oh ...

[Fyraltari]

I doubt anyone would mistake their own prints that they just made, while in a marching order for someone else's. Especially cause if there was another halfling, there would be 2 sets of footprints, so Belkar would have needed to have detected everyone's prints but his own

This is the best argument for it being Serini’s tracks so far.

[Marp]

The art is great, the go flashback with the Therkla cameo is funny and I like how competently everyone is acting. Thanks, Giant!

Initially I just connected the go stone with O-Chul without thinking and only then I realized he actually mentioned them explicitly in #1042, back in 2016. Crazy how time flies!