OOTS #1240 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[pendell]

Can't see it.

The last comic I see is 1239.

ETA: Okay, I can see it now. Thanks!

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[TRH]

Can't see it either.

[Trisk]

Hahaha, I love it. Moments he can shine his way are always great.

e: For those struggling https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1240.html

[Quebbster]

I am always a bit surprised when Elan manages to actually be useful to the team.
I really shouldn't be as it happens more and more frequently, but still.

[Fyraltari]

Oh gods, Elan was the most clever of the bunch. The world is doomed.

[Ivrytwr]

Elan being effective intentionally, kind of brings a tear to my eye.
Looking forward to the onion monologue, got my tissues...
Thanks Giant!

[Peelee]

I love Elan knowing how to be effective.

[Morty]

This is really a "magic is shut down so mundane skills can take the spotlight for once" scene, isn't it?

[Gift Jeraff]

Good title.

[Sir_Norbert]

Good strip all round.

[GKBeetle]

Elan shows his merit once again. Love it when his unconventional tactics save the day.

Great job, Giant.

[GKBeetle]

This is really a "magic is shut down so mundane skills can take the spotlight for once" scene, isn't it?

Yes, yes it is, exactly!

[Deathhappens]

Of all the potential things that could save the day, a flare arrow (that Serini can extinguish in any number of ways as soon as her round is up) was the one you grabbed first?
Eh, hopefully there was some sleight of hand involved and Haley managed to pocket something else real quick.

[Rogan]

If this was a game, what kind of skill would Elan have to roll here? Bluff?
Very likely a Cha skill and we know he got enough of that.

I am reasonably sure that THIS solution is something nobody would guess, not even remotely.
And I like it. Both funny and effective, giving sunny some character and showing Elans growth. He was presented with a problem and managed to find a solution that played to his strengths, without outside help. He really got a long way from the times where V had to give him a step by step guide on the usage of his illusions.

Edit:

Also good work from Haley. She was fast to understand Elan and acted in the short moment that presented itself.

[Blatt]

Does a Beholder blink, or does it wink?

[MirEgal]

I really appreciate the icon choice for this thread.

[dancrilis]

Nice comic - still leaves them with the question about shooting the nice beholder who has done nothing to them except look at them or doing something else.

[Ruck]

Hooray! Storytelling is useful!

[woweedd]

I think we keep forgetting that Elan is, in all likelihood, currently the most convincing human on the planet.

[Brumagris]

Great strip, thanks Giant!

call me soft, but I found lovable the engagement between Elan and Sunny. Hoping it will build up from there towards a truce with Serini in next stripes

[KorvinStarmast]

Elan being effective intentionally, kind of brings a tear to my eye.

Once again, the blind squirrel found an acorn. This kind of effectiveness reminds me of the confusion cast on the frost giant lady (though not quite as funny) during a critical part of that fight, or the swinging by a rope to get Roy back into that fight. It is also a great use of Elan being true to who he is: a genuinely nice guy boosted by bard skills.

Thank you Giant; the cherry on top of this dessert for me was the gourmet chef, Belkar, making with the onion joke. Nice touch!
(And also, the Haley is Smart theme rises to the fore again).

This is really a "magic is shut down so mundane skills can take the spotlight for once" scene, isn't it?

Nice when the DM can manage that.

Too bad Belkar didn't catch on quickly enough; I would have loved a little Bloodfeast action but I guess we can't have everything in one strip.

Strip Title: Win.
Strip Smilie: Win
Lots to love about 1240.

[Rogan]

Oh, observation.
Haley had no problem at all shooting the arrow straight up to the ceiling. Last strip, her arrows where not flying straight when she shot Sereni.
I think this gives some credibility to the assumption that she has some protection online instead of the strange flightpath of her earlier arrows being caused by the distance.

[SlashDash]

If this was a game, what kind of skill would Elan have to roll here? Bluff?

Perform actually. He isn't lying, he's trying to paint a mental image using oratory skills.

[Sylian]

Elan sure has come a long way, he's such an important asset of the team these days (as is Belkar).

[RMS Oceanic]

Oh, observation.
Haley had no problem at all shooting the arrow straight up to the ceiling. Last strip, her arrows where not flying straight when she shot Sereni.
I think this gives some credibility to the assumption that she has some protection online instead of the strange flightpath of her earlier arrows being caused by the distance.

I think it's more in the last comic she was aiming at an unseen foe and didn't aim properly, but shooting straight at the roof is straightforward.

Well looks like bl/winking isn't a free action.

[danielxcutter]

I'm glad this isn't a "lol you can't do anything so my encounter's going to stomp you guys into the ground, suck it up assclowns" thing like half the fights in DStP were.

[Worldsong]

Hats off to you Elan, for finding a solution to a problem which plays to your strengths and which is both creative and clever.

In the past, Elan would have required prompting from the rest of the party, so it's really nice to see such an explicit example of his growth as a character and an adventurer, in such a way that it's directly beneficial to the rest of the party.

[2D8HP]

"monologue about cutting onions.
Chop, chop"

Oh I'm delighted!

[danielxcutter]

Hats off to you Elan, for finding a solution to a problem which plays to your strengths and which is both creative and clever.

In the past, Elan would have required prompting from the rest of the party, so it's really nice to see such an explicit example of his growth as a character and an adventurer, in such a way that it's directly beneficial to the rest of the party.

I'm also happy that, well, this encounter wasn't a meatgrinder like the Legion fight or the big events in DStP.