OOTS #542 - The Discussion Thread

[Kanthalion]

The *gulp* image just before he's munched by the shark for a second time bears an unfortunate similarity to the expression I'd expect on the face of a person urinating in a public swimming pool.

That's because O'chul is so tough he urinates acid, and that little bit of weight loss is what got him the couple more inches on Xykon this time--you don't want to see what he does to get even closer next time.

[Fingolfin]

Uh, although funny in some way, this comic brought so much cruelty and described the seriousness of how evil Xykon really is.

[Bernemer]

Just wondering: Am I the only one who actually gets a little worried about the "Jumping the shark"-reference in the title?

After all, if a series goes "jumping the shark", it is - to use a different metaphor - after a certain event only going downhill ever again...

[TheCountAlucard]

and as said, he cant be paralyzed for four months. sure he could be reparalyzed if/when it wears off, but he would have been owned too quickly that way.

Just so's ye know, the paralysis ability of a lich causes one to be permanently paralyzed; they wouldn't need to "reparalyze" him unless they removed it from him first.

[Behold_the_Void]

Let's run the numbers real quick.

Let's assume O'Chul is probably around level 13-ish. Paladin with a d10 Hit Die and... probably around 20 con at least has about 141 hit points. Being immersed in Acid for what appears to be 3 rounds would do about 105 damage (10d6 damage 3 times over for an average of 35), plus the two shark bites (using the large Monster Manual shark it would do about 8 damage for a total of 16 damage) plus the large spike he got impaled on (let's estimate that as pit spike with around a 10 foot drop for 1d4+10 damage, possibly halved for slowed falling from the acid) for another 6-12 damage, and we're looking at about 127-133 damage (depending on how the DM ruled falling onto the spikes with the Acid to cushion your fall). So given everything is totally average, O'Chul makes it out with 8 hit points left, not enough to be dropped by a Ray of Frost. That being said, add the randomness factor in, and it's easy to see how there could be a + or - somewhere in this equation that brings him closer to death's door.

[jamroar]

Just wondering: Am I the only one who actually gets a little worried about the "Jumping the shark"-reference in the title?

After all, if a series goes "jumping the shark", it is - to use a different metaphor - after a certain event only going downhill ever again...

Nah, the series already did that gag back in that comic where Hinjo nearly did got disintegrated by Redcloak.

[Moechi_Vill]

This newly-realized competency almost makes me forgive O-Chul for having a dumb name.

and thus he suffers

[Mordokai]

While this comic makes me appreciate O-Chul even more, the last two comics were still a little bit of a let down. It's great to see that O-Chul is still alive and feeling(reasonably) well, but I'd like the story to progress further, not stagnate. While some comedy comics are still needed, if O-Chul's fate doesn't have something to do with story development, I'd really like to get back to the main comic arc.

[Khatoblepas]

Let's run the numbers real quick.
-MATHS-

Don't forget falling damage! That drop is easily 10ft.

Awesome comic, though. :) We need to see more Team Evil. :( I was missing their evilness. Things were just too Good.

(Though, Xykon's turned from Saturday Morning Cartoon villain to Twisted Vile Mockery of Saturday Morning Cartoon Villain)

[Pellias]

The spirit of Miko Miyazaki will live on in Paladins who are truly commited to their cause. One day, O'Chul might be a worthy candidate for her new earthly vessel.

[Pandabear]

That was really awesome..

Indeed, those betting on alive were still right.. even the MitD could technically speaking be right if O-Chul manages to escape..

[Max_Sinister]

Poor O-Chul. And he was so damn close. But even if he hadn't been stopped - does he have a realistic chance to smite Xykon?

And Xykon is yet again the old bastard he always was.

[Phase]

Man, all the extra levels O-chul would need to survive that? They're in badass...

[Felixaar]

Just so's ye know, the paralysis ability of a lich causes one to be permanently paralyzed; they wouldn't need to "reparalyze" him unless they removed it from him first.

Ah, thanks. It seems I need to either start playing DnD more or start hanging out on these forums less.

Or just go with old faithful, Proscrastination.

(Also, 10 points for using "Ye")

[hewhosaysfish]

They took O-chul's pants, but not his shoes.

But the wight already has shoes.
I guess he already has pants too, but that's not the point.
What is the point?
Uh...
They're not paladin pants. Yes, that's it: he wanted Paladin Pants.
He's building up a whole outfit, one warrior of the gods at a time.

[Tundar]

Wowsers, that's one badass paladin.

Go go O'Chul!

I'm sure that;
When O'Chul takes a leak in an acidpool, the pH goes down.

[Roderick_BR]

Why did the shark spit him out? Am I missing something?

It didn't spit him out. It rushed at O-Chul so fast it flew out of the tank with him, that was apparently his plan since he coudln't get out by himself.

And damn! Now I do believe O-Chul is the most resistant member of the late Sapphire Guard! Maybe he took some levels of crusader?

[pasko77]

Now, can O-chul become more awesome?
except by beating Xykon, i mean.
Next time my money is on "escapes and lives happily ever after"

[pendell]

New comic is up.

And an awesome comic it is, too. YES! I'm glad to see O-chul beat the odds! I needed something happy, and to see O-chul do something heroic was just what I needed. Spectacularly well done!

What kind of acid is that, though ?

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[elonin]

Hello,

First post here. Xyrkon may have a couple of cleric levels and had cast status on O-Chul. Thus he knew exactly what to cast and not break his toy.

It's also obvious that the shark spit the guy out (perhaps in the hopes that more goblins would drop in on him...

[Finn Solomon]

O-Chul's bad-assness goes up to 11. That is all.

[Bendal]

Didn't Hinjo describe O'Chuul as the toughest paladin in the city? Now we know his Constitution score is 18 or higher, easily.

BTW, he wasn't paralyzed, he had his hands tied on the platform. Obviously he had Xykon's paralysis removed and they've been keeping him as a POW for entertainment purposes...

Did like how he kicked one of the hobgoblins off the platform first, then was hanging onto it with his knees until the other one shoved him.

[Scutatus]

Uh, although funny in some way, this comic brought so much cruelty and described the seriousness of how evil Xykon really is.

That's exactly what I see too. While many have focused on the "coolness" and "badass" I would say they are missing the main point here.

O'chul is in hell. For three months he has been repeatedly tortured and abused. He is being tormented. He is being beaten up, burnt, bitten, cut and dropped into insane death traps over and over again. All for the cruel enjoyment of the forces of darkness who relish in finding increasingly ridiculously painfull tests for him to endure; For beings who enjoy his pain. The man knows no peace, only perpetual pain and suffering, and lord knows how he still clings on to hope.

Only O'chul's strength of will keeps him going but after three months how much longer could that really last? This is a D&D world, not real life, so all he suffers has not yet killed him, but even here he has clearly come but a breath away from death many times. One day they won't bother to revive him. One day, at the whim of his torturers, it will be over. And frankly by then he'll probably welcome death.

This was horrible, truly horrible. I did not laugh. I cried.

[Alfryd]

This was horrible, truly horrible. I did not laugh. I cried.

Yeah, it was pretty grisly alright.

Of course, given O-chul's apparently astronomical fort saves, that sort of begs the question of how he ever fell victim to lich paralysis.

[Tola]

Heh.

I had the music here: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/5378/25 in my head as I watched.

That was impressive...shame he didn't land the hit.

[OperationTREX]

Originally Posted by Szilard View Post
Well, at 0hp, your unconcious and lose a hp every six seconds unless stabalized. You are dead at -10 hp.

0 hp is not dying, and no stabilizing rolls needed (yet.)

When your current hit points drop to exactly 0, you’re disabled.

You can only take a single move or standard action each turn (but not both, nor can you take full-round actions). You can take move actions without further injuring yourself, but if you perform any standard action (or any other strenuous action) you take 1 point of damage after the completing the act. Unless your activity increased your hit points, you are now at -1 hit points, and you’re dying.

Healing that raises your hit points above 0 makes you fully functional again, just as if you’d never been reduced to 0 or fewer hit points.

(taken from the d20srd.)

[Milandros]

After being tortured for two months and reduced to a toy abused out of spite, O'Chul is still fighting.

He hasn't even fallen.

That's a paladin.

[pasko77]

This was horrible, truly horrible. I did not laugh. I cried.

See, Scutatus, it is true that it was not a strip for laughs.
But remember it's a comic. It is a story about D&D, where vile evil is fought by great heroes. The author, in this strip, shows us both these facets, the evilness and the bravery of who oppose said evil.

My 2 copper pieces.

[Atanuero]

Why Smite Evil? Why not Lay On Hands? Do I sense a low Wis score for O-Chul?

[Agthorr]

Because its middle landed on the rim of the tank, and it got a bit winded as a result.

Winded? But sharks don't even have lungs...