OOTS #1246 - The Discussion Thread

[Shining Wrath]

Of course Serini knows the layout of her own dungeon and thus where #8 should fire.
Now, once again, we've split the party; Elan is not going to succeed in persuading Sunny to get out of the way, and Sunny is quite willing to die fighting to buy "Mom" time. And Roy is not on his feet yet, although quite a bit could be happening off screen with Durkon, Minrah, and Roy.

[Crusher]

And this is where the Order finally takes the upper hand: Elan vs Sunny.

Diplomacy vs vulnerability to Diplomacy.

[Shining Wrath]

Possibly both? After all, I imagine it wouldn’t be good for bloodfeast to get restored to max size right now.

Also, Sunny is adorable.

We know need a favorite monstrous sidekick contest: Sunny versus Grayview!

So, V got hit by the eye directly to the right of the central eye. If it's consistent with the eye layout in 1241, that should be the eye that Minrah got hit with, the sleep beam.

And as a person of elf, Vaarsuvius would simply ignore a sleep ray. Sunny may not have known that, or just fired eye beams more or less at random. Also, Sunny's aim is poor.

[KorvinStarmast]

Now, once again, we've split the party;

Wasn't there a whole book about that?

[danielxcutter]

Wasn't there a whole book about that?

Yeah, I think it was called… uh, No Cure For the Paladin Blues.

[Shining Wrath]

Wasn't there a whole book about that?

Yes, and anyone not nervous about Serini versus only 3 of the order, ought to be. OTOH, she lacks a crossbow, so V can rain spells upon her.

[The MunchKING]

Wasn't there a whole book about that?

Snips Snails and Dragon Tails?

[danielxcutter]

Yes, and anyone not nervous about Serini versus only 3 of the order, ought to be. OTOH, she lacks a crossbow, so V can rain spells upon her.

I suspect that’s specifically why V got zapped by Sunny at the tail end of this comic.

[smuchmuch]

5. The cliff hanger: now that Sunny has turned his anti-magic eye back on, what magical effect across the room, off screen, is going to be dispelled? Will Durkon turn back to flesh? (Not sure how that might work in 3.5e).

Could be wrong but I do not believe that anti magic can reverse petrification effect, especialy if it comes from a supernatural ability rather than the flesh to stone spell, once the petrification is complete.
It might reverse Bloodfeast the Xerminator back to a dinosaur if the lizard was in the cone radius (but I doubt it, Belkar probably took em back with him.)

[danielxcutter]

Could be wrong but I do not believe that anti magic can reverse petrification effect, especialy if it comes from a supernatural ability rather than the flesh to stone spell, once the petrification is complete.
It might reverse Bloodfeast the Xerminator back to a dinosaur if the lizard was in the cone radius (but I doubt it, Belkar probably took em back with him.)

I don’t think that’s how it works. Petrification is pretty specific IIRC.

[The MunchKING]

I don't remember if people knew for sure what number eight does, but I mostly bring it up because The Simpsons has ruined my brain, and you know what I'm talking about if you were thinking about what I was thinking about when I read "number eight."

When he said he wouldn't use it on people earlier every one assumed it was disintegrate.

So is Elan just being himself and politely asking to go around Sunny? Or is it tactical and he's keeping the anti-magic field out of the hole?

I hadn't thought of that interpretation.

[SlashDash]

So is Elan just being himself and politely asking to go around Sunny? Or is it tactical and he's keeping the anti-magic field out of the hole?

As Durkon told Hinjo, Elan has Ignorance as a power source.
My guess is, he had no idea this would be the side effect of his action and he was just being nice. But it worked out regardless as he usually does.

Can I just say that following a rogue halfling with dimension door into a dark hole is an extraordinarily bad idea?

It's not a dimension door, Sunny used a disintegrate beam to create a hole.

Betting Haley might get some mileage out of those boots; Serini should only have a 20 ft. movement speed and Haley with Haste has three times that.

I think it's unlikely for someone of Serini's caliber not to have her own boosts to speed from items.

Plus wouldn't surprise me if she has more ally monsters in the dungeon, so she could get another mount soon.

Also, even from a plotting point of view, even if Serini just runs away, Sunny is still behind and he could talk to Order and learn from them some things that once he tells Serini, she might think twice about attacking again.

Obviously, we haven't heard the last of her even assuming she completely flees this encounter.

[danielxcutter]

When he said he wouldn't use it on people earlier every one assumed it was disintegrate.

Untrue; some people guessed that it was Finger of Death :p

[SlashDash]

Side note :
I recall Roy saying earlier, he doesn't just think the trap was meant to keep people away from what's inside but also seems to keep things inside from coming out.

Which makes me wonder if there's some really powerful monster in the dungeon and Serini is trying to lead the group to it perhaps?

[Peelee]

It's not a dimension door, Sunny used a disintegrate beam to create a hole.

Yes, Sunny has disintegrate, but Serini has a wand of Dimension Door.

[danielxcutter]

For what it's worth, if Serini is trying to escape through there it's probably not that deep a hole.

[The MunchKING]

Untrue; some people guessed that it was Finger of Death :p

The implication was "Everyone I remembered saying anything about it"

[littlebum2002]

Given what Sunny is, I wouldn't hold my breath for that one

Given what Sunny is, there are also dozens of stuffed animals of "Sunny" available for purchase already. Just not from here.

EDIT: This one is particularly adorable

[Rogan]

Of course Serini knows the layout of her own dungeon and thus where #8 should fire.
Now, once again, we've split the party; Elan is not going to succeed in persuading Sunny to get out of the way, and Sunny is quite willing to die fighting to buy "Mom" time. And Roy is not on his feet yet, although quite a bit could be happening off screen with Durkon, Minrah, and Roy.

If I were the betting type, I would bet you 5GP that Sunny is not going to die fighting. In fact, I don't think anybody left behind will even try to fight Sunny.

[Psyren]

Given what Sunny is, there are also dozens of stuffed animals of "Sunny" available for purchase already. Just not from here.

EDIT: This one is particularly adorable

Right, but those are officially licensed. Note their use of the brand name.

If I were the betting type, I would bet you 5GP that Sunny is not going to die fighting. In fact, I don't think anybody left behind will even try to fight Sunny.

Agreed, in fact Elan is probably the best possible person to be left behind with him.

Hopefully Elan woke up Roy also (since Durkon failed to.)

[Skull the Troll]

Given what Sunny is, there are also dozens of stuffed animals of "Sunny" available for purchase already. Just not from here.

EDIT: This one is particularly adorable

Anyone know how to crochet?

[Tvtyrant]

So can Sunny and Serini replace Belkar on the party?

[Wintermoot]

I'm glad the "is eye 8 is disintegrate or finger of death" debate is resolved even if I was on the losing side.

If there is going to be a comic of Elan and Sunny calmly discussing things I just really want to see Franklin slowly crawling to the wall then up the wall to happen in the background. If only so seven strips later with team Haley returns and wakes up Roy, Franklin can end a strip by falling on Haley again.

[KorvinStarmast]

So can Sunny and Serini replace Belkar on the party?

Serini is not going to play second fiddle to Roy nor to Haley. She's an epic level rogue, Roy has a Rogue who is his second in command; Belkar is a foot soldier.
Not gonna happen.
Might Sunny ally with the Order at some point? It would be cool if he did; he and Elan have so far had a good chemistry on screen.
Beyond that, nobody can really replace Belkar; his position in the Order is unique to him.

If there is going to be a comic of Elan and Sunny calmly discussing things I just really want to see Franklin slowly crawling to the wall then up the wall to happen in the background. If only so seven strips later with team Haley returns and wakes up Roy, Franklin can end a strip by falling on Haley again.

Rich has used running gags before. (Most recently "has anybody seen Durkon?" got pulled up).

[Ionathus]

What a delightful strip. Elan, you silver-tongued devil, you almost had it!

I know this is because we're waiting weeks for an update, but boy do I want the Order to actually score a win here.

I'd say they already are -- or at least have scored a partial win that they're still trying to convert into a complete one. Serini is on the run and separated from Sunny, her strongest ally (that we've seen).

Elan being able to talk to Sunny without interference. This is an extremely promising development and I'm guessing it will be what finally turns things around for our heroes. Looking forward to seeing how it goes.

Agreed! I'd bet a truckload of quatloos that Sunny is about to have a chat with Elan, Durkon, Roy, and Minrah that completely changes their (Sunny's) mind on the situation, while the Non-Diplomacy Gang is off chasing Serini...

And as a person of elf,

Beautiful.

I don’t think that’s how it works. Petrification is pretty specific IIRC.

I don't know how it is in 3.5e, but the beholder lore for 5e says that they decorate their lairs with petrified adventurers. My guess is that their AMF eye doesn't negate petrification because that would be a pretty big pain in the butt, day-to-day.

For what it's worth, if Serini is trying to escape through there it's probably not that deep a hole.

I got the impression Sunny was making a hole in a wall, and Serini escaped to the room beyond.

[Thecommander236]

Yeah, they are chasing her, but now it's 3 v 1 and they were losing 7 v 2. The odds haven't improved. In fact, they are worse.

[KorvinStarmast]

I don't know how it is in 3.5e, but the beholder lore for 5e says that they decorate their lairs with petrified adventurers. My guess is that their AMF eye doesn't negate petrification because that would be a pretty big pain in the butt, day-to-day.

Hmm, with two different editions accounted for, I am good with "nope, AMF will not unstone Durkon.

I got the impression Sunny was making a hole in a wall, and Serini escaped to the room beyond.

Or into the passageway beyond, or into the cave beyond, or into the pit beyond, or into the hole beyond since she knows that there's a pit trap ... (Rogue's gotta rogue)

[hamishspence]

My guess is that their AMF eye doesn't negate petrification because that would be a pretty big pain in the butt, day-to-day.

Since it suppresses but does not dispel magical things (even supernatural ones), it should actually suppress petrification, but only while the petrified being is in the field. Take it out of the field and the petrification effect reappears.

[npc revolution]

My guess is that Serini is escaping into the actual dungeon.

We know that both the Order and Serini have plans that give them the upper hand vs Xykon. If either group gets their way, Xykon doesn't find the backstage area (And I assume the Gate) for a while. To get Team Evil back into contention I think we need this struggle between the Order and Serini to clue Team Evil in.

So, Serini opens a hole into the real dungeon, and they all bump into Xykon. Personally I think the Order and Serini then split into two groups. I think Roy got a big dose of amnesia potion, if so then that puts Durkon and Elan in charge, that'll be fun to see.

[pendell]

As expected, Serini is breaking contact to fight another day.

Ah, Sunny vs. Elan. Truly a duel of wits -- or lack thereof -- for the ages. Here's hoping Elan can win Sunny over.

What eye did Vaarsuvius get hit with? It's not disintegration or petrification. Does anyone recognize what hit, or will we only find out in a few strips?

Respectfully,

Brian P.