OOTS #1248 - The Discussion Thread

[Doug Lampert]

Silly wizard. You can't dramatically reveal something you outright revealed only 10 panels ago. How short do you think our attention spans are, an-

Hey, Belkar is being funny!

Squirrel!

I wonder how this will work in the book. It was 10 strips, not 10 panels, so there is a good chance readers will have forgotten. Usually Rich's timing is aimed more at book readers than online readers.

[TheNecrocomicon]

As enthused as I am by the prospect of the Order finally reuniting with the paladins, I fully expect Serini to have a full suite of nigh-infallible countermeasures ready to go as long as the plot demands, especially now as she seems to have returned to her long-maintained and well-stocked personal hideout to regroup and rearm.

Either that, or she's going to have dosed the paladins with her epic level amnesia potion by the time the Order gets through, just so that this has the most frustrating way forward possible for all involved.

[SkepticalSquid]

I'm not sure what it is specifically, but man, this strip really made me think about how much I've missed getting some solid Haley and V time. They've been established as close, but it feels like we haven't had some focused interaction between them in a while, so it's great to see them getting the joint spotlight again in this sequence (with bonus Belkar lol)

Their friendship is one of my favorites too. I hope we get more of it on-panel!

[Kantaki]

Belkar's logic is absolutely flawless.

Squirrel!

I wonder how this will work in the book. It was 10 strips, not 10 panels, so there is a good chance readers will have forgotten. Usually Rich's timing is aimed more at book readers than online readers.

Well, I definitely did (dramatic pause) forget.

[littlebum2002]

Too bad it's a scroll of passwall, not a scroll of passfloor.

[Onyavar]

It takes us way back - this was one of the original groups when they split the party all the way in comic number 2. 18 years ago.

I just hope the party doesn't stay split.

Hm, we have a stoned Durkon (no cure for him currently, unless Sunny's ray was just temporary or can be lifted), an unconscious Roy and a very eloquent Elan. If Durkon can't be rescued right now, I am seeing Elan persuading Sunny that he and Roy are the good guys, and they go and find Serini right in time as she has overwhelmed V, Haley and Belkar.

[Fyraltari]

Too bad it's a scroll of passwall, not a scroll of passfloor.

It's okay, it's also a ceiling, so it averages out to a wall.

[Kantaki]

Too bad it's a scroll of passwall, not a scroll of passfloor.

A floor is just a wall that's lying down a little while.

Edit:

It's okay, it's also a ceiling, sonit averages out to a wall.

Also this.

[Quizatzhaderac]

"I didn't spot jack!" Classic.

I vote we call the floor monster "Jack".

[Psyren]

I dunno, I can't help but question the logic of having a monster there at all. The lurker above slowed them down, yeah, but unless that trapper managed to kill all three of them all it would manage to do would be to mildly inconvenience one of them before they noticed the different stone anyway.

I mean, what else would she cover it with? She can't use the dimensional stone there or she locks herself out. An illusion would just be a neon sign saying something interesting is underneath. Dirt maybe? Paint?

Why didn't the floor monster fight back after being stabbed? Just caught off guard?

Her sneakier monsters are pretty weak overall. Belkar having stabbed it with a +5 Impact Dagger probably left it rethinking its commitment to its job.

[Fyraltari]

I vote we call the floor monster "Jack".

But Belkar was the one who hit the road.

[faustin]

Is it legit to use an assumption to skip a spot or ability check?

[KorvinStarmast]

Either that, or she's going to have dosed the paladins with her epic level amnesia potion by the time the Order gets through, just so that this has the most frustrating way forward possible for all involved.

That would be consistent with the trends of this book so far.

I vote we call the floor monster "Jack".

You have my vote of Yes.

Her sneakier monsters are pretty weak overall. Belkar having stabbed it with a +5 Impact Dagger probably left it rethinking its commitment to its job.

Likely.

[Corian]

But Belkar was the one who hit the road.

First: slow clap. That was brilliant.

Second: He "hit the road: Jack". I never realized it was an apposition.

[Psyren]

Is it legit to use an assumption to skip a spot or ability check?

If you're asking "can you attack an object/square just in case it might secretly be a creature" - yes, you can do that without needing to make a check.

[Dewin Dwl]

But Belkar was the one who hit the road.

No problem: Belkar just hit Jack, but Jack is clearly already on the floor/road, so must have hit it earlier.

[Edward15]

First up, when did Belkar figure out that thing blocking the door the Order went through was a monster?

Second, what was that creature that was on the floor? Another Mimic?

[RickDaily12]

If that stone on the other side leads to Serini's secret hideout...

...why do I have this terrible sense of impending dread that this encounter is only going to end with Serini having all of her memories wiped out?

[Coyote0715]

First up, when did Belkar figure out that thing blocking the door the Order went through was a monster?

Second, what was that creature that was on the floor? Another Mimic?

It's probably a Trapper. And apparently, his name is Jack.

[Gnome Alone]

Always happy for a cool moment from Vaarsuvius, my favorite physiologically and morally ambiguous character. Actually I think V might be my favorite character period. I relate to a lot of their issues, I guess. Also nice to see an annoyed reminder that Elan, bards and the genre savvy don't have a monopoly on the shape of stories and showmanship. Showpersonship.

[Edward15]

I just hope the party doesn't stay split.

Hm, we have a stoned Durkon (no cure for him currently, unless Sunny's ray was just temporary or can be lifted), an unconscious Roy and a very eloquent Elan. If Durkon can't be rescued right now, I am seeing Elan persuading Sunny that he and Roy are the good guys, and they go and find Serini right in time as she has overwhelmed V, Haley and Belkar.

You forgot about Minrah. She won't like that.

[Hurkyl]

So Serini is nervous about putting her plans into action. Makes sense really; she was more of a follower and/or wander, was she not? But now she has to play the responsible party leader, and it's not like she would have much chance to actually execute these plans in earnest.

I was kind of thinking this from the wording in #1189 -- the idea that she knew intellectually that a confrontation was coming and was resigning herself to actually having to go through with it -- but I think the first panel of #1248 makes it more clear.

I also think this is strengthening my interpretation of #1229 that Serini's frustration is more directed at the other Scribblers than it is at the remnants of Soon's legacy, and that the failures of their defenses have forced a responsibility upon her that she was hoping to avoid.

[Edward15]

I also think this is strengthening my interpretation of #1229 that Serini's frustration is more directed at the other Scribblers than it is at the remnants of Soon's legacy, and that the failures of their defenses have forced a responsibility upon her that she was hoping to avoid.

Hey, SHE was the one who convinced them to go their separate ways.

[gatemansgc]

well even though belkar didn't spot the monster he still used logic to find it! and then stabbed it of course!

[Askthepizzaguy]

Noting how Belkar's character is getting better and better at "playing the game". Not just fighting, but advancing through the obstacles and clearing them using his wits.

He may not be super intelligent, or morally insightful, or particularly skilled at tracking, but he's gotten worldly enough and experienced enough that he does possess a certain type of wisdom: genre savvy.

He's possessed far more of that type of wisdom than Roy for a couple of books now.

He actually rounds out the team and is helpful, and has saved their necks more than once. The world gets saved, its partly because of Belkar, and literally because of Belkar helping turn the tide in several instances.

Not to steal the thunder of any other character. No way in heck does Belkar even embark on this adventure for the cause. He needed all of them.

It's just nice to see that they need him too, and he delivers.

[RatedArgh]

It takes us way back - this was one of the original groups when they split the party all the way in comic number 2. 18 years ago.

Dear Pantheon! Have I been reading this strip for 18 years???

[Dire Moose]

With all these disguised wall/ceiling/floor monsters, I can’t help but recall the concept of the perfectly ordinary-looking room where literally everything in it is a well-disguised monster waiting to kill you.

I wonder if that still lies ahead.

[bravelove]

honestly this level of competency from them is starting to scare me

[Edward15]

honestly this level of competency from them is starting to scare me

Well, what do you expect? It's the final arc. Obviously they'd start pulling the act together right.

[Fitzclowningham]

It's probably a Trapper. And apparently, his name is Jack.

Jack Trapper has 3 for company