OOTS #602 - The Discussion Thread

[Incendius]

Anyone seeing the following happening?

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"Wohoo... I see again!!!!"
/fly passes by
"Ouch, I think there's something in my eye"
"Got it out for you"

His major problem wasn't that he could not afford new eyes, but rather that they wouldn't let him have new eyes.

[Dreamthiev]

It seemed to me like the cleric knew the password. That's why he was telling Haley that it was a good thing she brought Belkar to him. He even knew it came from the lord of Azure City, and was even ready to cast it on Belkar (hands glowing and everything).

It does seem that they may need Belkar's help to defeat the thieves' guild. Haley, a cowardly cleric, and a pacifist slyph seems to be a poor match up. Maybe Belkar can make a deal with the cleric, remove the mark and Belkar will protect him? Or maybe Haley will just concede she still needs his help.

Anyone want to bet that the password for the mark is "Mr. Scruffy"?

[Yendor]

Haley's still giving Belkar no sympathy. Good for her.

Also: The Order of the Stick -- saying no to fourth walls since 2003!

[Jan Mattys]

His major problem wasn't that he could not afford new eyes, but rather that they wouldn't let him have new eyes.

I know. I just thought it could be a neat way to have Belkster back in action with that classic reprise :D

I'm not english... what do you guys mean with 4th wall, exactly?
I fail to understand the many comments about that...

[Jan Mattys]

It seemed to me like the cleric knew the password. That's why he was telling Haley that it was a good thing she brought Belkar to him. He even knew it came from the lord of Azure City, and was even ready to cast it on Belkar (hands glowing and everything).

It does seem that they may need Belkar's help to defeat the thieves' guild. Haley, a cowardly cleric, and a pacifist slyph seems to be a poor match up. Maybe Belkar can make a deal with the cleric, remove the mark and Belkar will protect him? Or maybe Haley will just concede she still needs his help.

Anyone want to bet that the password for the mark is "Mr. Scruffy"?

I'm betting it's Squiddleydoodlefluffer

[Taekwondodo]

Another thought. If this Cleric of Loki wants to last past strip 2, it would behoove him to tell the girls his name soon.

True tho maybe the fact he hasn't told them his name means he has been marked out by the Giant. It's a red uniform...

[Skaven]

Cleric of Loki Rocks. I hope he replaces Belkar.

[Castamir]

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Anyone seeing the following happening?

"Wohoo... I see again!!!!"
/fly passes by
"Ouch, I think there's something in my eye"
"Got it out for you"

His major problem wasn't that he could not afford new eyes, but rather that they wouldn't let him have new eyes.

'cept, no one has survived Belkster removing something from their eye before.

[Querzis]

what do you guys mean with 4th wall, exactly?
I fail to understand the many comments about that.

The fourth wall

And in OOTS there is No fourth wall

[turkishproverb]

Cleric of Loki Rocks. I hope he replaces Belkar.

If the belkster dies, he would be an interesting choice to replace him, fairly unfleshed out and all.

[Laurentio II]

I agree on the fact that the cleric seems to know the password (wanted to point it, but got ninja'd. Ratz!). Probably, he knows the "default" password, that if working would means that lawful caster are dumb, too.

Now, everything brings to Belkar start kicking asses, with great fans joy. But question: what can give Haley and Celia to Belkar, after refusing to pay for healing him on the first chance, that the Guild can't double on the spot?

[Jan Mattys]

The fourth wall

And in OOTS there is No fourth wall

Ohh got it now.
In italian we call it another way.

Tnx for the explanation. Much appreciated.

[Tobz]

LOVED THE CLERIC!!!

Can we keep him please? Pretty please with sugar on top?

[shylocxs]

The more I read this, the more I hope this cleric stays around. I really like this fellow.

Yeah, but he's wearing a red cape. Which is pretty close to wearing a red shirt. Which is pretty close to you know what...

"I don't want to die. I've only been in one strip." Great quote, and I love the metareferences.

[Jan Mattys]

I agree on the fact that the cleric seems to know the password (wanted to point it, but got ninja'd. Ratz!). Probably, he knows the "default" password, that if working would means that lawful caster are dumb, too.

Now, everything brings to Belkar start kicking asses, with great fans joy. But question: what can give Haley and Celia to Belkar, after refusing to pay for healing him on the first chance, that the Guild can't double on the spot?

That's an interesting question, even though I've always had the feeling that Belkar isn't *buyable*, but quite psychotic instead. So he might just want to start kicking arses instead of just letting himself be bought. Probably, he would just take the money THEN kick them for just thinking he could be bought...

Also, do anyone else think that

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if belkar gets healed and starts saving the day with his daggers, that would be the "glorious" moment preceeding his death? I can see him becoming a hero in front of the ladies, having *his moment* as the ultimate shoeless god of war, and then die in some important way (like sacrificing himself - probably unwillingly - to let Roy be raised)...

[Deepkicker]

Damn it, Pete!! And damn it, Giant!! My anticipation for the next strip is now so great that I'm actually physically uncomfortable.

Also...I KNEW they were braiding each other's hair because they were bored.

[Surfing HalfOrc]

Twenty minutes?
Haley's hair isn't that long....

And good for making Belkar suffer a bit. I'm so glad they have some idea of what happened...

I'm thinking it was a "French Braid." Takes a lot longer than a regular braid.

The "Joys" of having little sisters. You learn about these things...

Love ya Sis!

[Alces]

Even the strip title - clerical temp - suggests rather strongly that this cleric is going to get it in the neck posthaste. He's even drawn to look older than the average character, just as the Cliffport chief of police was...

[_Zoot_]

Well, Belkar is due to drop off the hook soon isn't he? About now seems like a good spot to do it. But that might be to simple for the Giant.....

The next one is going to be so cool!!!

[Alces]

Yeah, but he's wearing a red cape.

To be fair, a similar cloak is worn by a main antagonist... who's even named after that fetching piece of outerwear.

[Mercenary Pen]

Personally, I get the feeling that our Cleric of Loki might well Remove Curse on Belkar anyway, just to even the odds so that he doesn't die.

The cleric didn't mention any scrolls when asked about Sending, so I assume he has 4th-Level Cleric spells (how many, I wouldn't like to say) since Sending isn't a domain spell at lower level, but that'll permit useful Cleric spells such as Divine Power, Lesser Planar Ally and/or Summon Monster IV (or just Greater Magic Weapon on Haley's bow)... However, the only thing this cleric seems to have for attacking with is his holy symbol (though he could have a concealed weapon somewhere)... I don't want to try predicting the outcome of this next encounter...

[ref]

Looks like #603 might be the beginning of Haley vs. Crystal: the final showdown!!!

But Crystal isn't airborne!

Blind Old Pete is a traitor. Too bad for him that he won't be able to keep faking blind and do the "everyone is decent" thing to catch them really naked. Serves him well.

[Scoutninja]

V to the Rescue!

[pendell]

I don't want to die -- I've only been in one strip!

*Chortle* *Guffaw*

Best punch line for a while. Or maybe I just like Haley & co better.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Totally Guy]

The cleric wants no names mentioned. Guess that makes him a Low-key cleric.

[pendell]

I saw Pete's betrayal a long way off.

Yes, yes you did. Have a cookie.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Thant]

And V-man departed just 24 hours ago...too bad I just wonder how Durkon will react when he is contacted via sending spell by cleric of LOKI...maybe he refuses to talk to him and spoils the chance of contact. I mean, Miko and Redcloak tried to spill each others guts out when they saw each other in azure city outpost, and these two clerics are in opposing religions. Seems that religious conflicts are at rampage level in OotS.

And it just occurred to me: what if this new cleric is also a traitor like Pete? Maybe he's faking his naive-ishness...and it looks like they are all connected and ploting together against the Order Good comic, Giant.

[Dreamthiev]

You know, I don't really think the cleric is meant to replace Belkar, but the more I think about it the more he seems like a good choice.

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If you consider that the PC's are designed to emulate D&D PC's, then besides being a character each of them would have a theoretical and imaginary "player" behind them.

Now, imagine the kind of player who would be playing a character like Belkar. He's gotta be getting pretty bored and frustrated. His only real contribution is melee. But he's been stuck with the mark of justice for a long time now and that seriously cramps his style. On top of that, he gets shown up by the rest of the party. Roy's a better warrior, so's Durkon when he calls upon Thor's might. Now even Elan is "horning in" on Belkar's territory with his Dashing Swordsman prestige class.

But if the player dumps Belkar and picks up a cleric character he's going to be much more vital to the party. Durkon has always been a major contributor, and is always essential. Haley's half of the party has spent months trying to find a cleric. If the Belkar-player swaps to cleric he'd always have a function in the party. Plus they would be far less likely to turn against him or abandon him if he provides necessary healing.

The cleric in question is also a good choice. He's a cleric of loki, so I believe his alignment is CE. Clerics of Loki get the flame domain, which'll let the Belkar-player rain down some destruction. Yeah, the character appears old, but the Belkar-player could have chosen an older age category to increase his wisdom score.

We know that the cleric is less than level 13, because he can't cast ressurection. But if the rest of the party is level 13 then a new character would start out at the beginning of level 12, typically. So that works, too.

But I hope it's not true, I like Belkar and want to keep seeing more of him.

[Laurentio II]

I just wonder how Durkon will react when he is contacted via sending spell by cleric of LOKI...maybe he refuses to talk to him and spoils the chance of contact.

It's not how it works. And anyway, Durkon lacks several ranks in Knowledge (Religions).

I mean, Miko and Redcloak tried to spill each others guts out when they saw each other in azure city outpost, and these two clerics are in opposing religions. Seems that religious conflicts are at rampage level in OotS.

It happens when one is a fanatic good-doers with not a grain of common sense, and the other had his whole family slaughtered by people with the same uniform.
Religion is really the last problem, there.

And it just occurred to me: what if this new cleric is also a traitor like Pete? Maybe he's faking his naive-ishness...and it looks like they are all connected and ploting together against the Order Good comic, Giant.

Seems to me a little too convulsed for nothing more than what they already got. They have three victims in a closed room, what need of a fourth? Old (actually) Blind Pete named the cleric as a traitor, during a cutscene no one (is supposed to have) seen.

You know, I don't really think the cleric is meant to replace Belkar, but the more I think about it the more he seems like a good choice.

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Have you ever seen a player in OotS? No. Know why? Because Mr. Burlew explicitly did not included them in the comic, not even as a meta joke.
Beside, there is a serious lack of "twing twing" and instant sympathy between the characters. Anyone familiar with character replacement should know what I means.

[Yendor]

And V-man departed just 24 hours ago...too bad I just wonder how Durkon will react when he is contacted via sending spell by cleric of LOKI...maybe he refuses to talk to him and spoils the chance of contact. I mean, Miko and Redcloak tried to spill each others guts out when they saw each other in azure city outpost, and these two clerics are in opposing religions. Seems that religious conflicts are at rampage level in OotS.

Durkon got along well with the last cleric of Loki he met. Very well. Haley and Celia will have to give him some sort of token so the cleric can prove he's genuine, though.

(Oh, and they can't contact Vaarsuvius, because then Haley would have to let slip whether or not she knows V's gender. )