OOTS #1146 - The Discussion Thread

[Fyraltari]

I haven't read LotR or the Silmarillion in forever. Is it confirmed that the Arkenstone was a silmaril?

No. I don't even like that theory, personally.

[factotum]

No. I don't even like that theory, personally.

I can see why people might think that, given it's stated that one of the Silmarils was thrown into a chasm filled with fire and thus found its home deep in the earth, but it would have to have travelled pretty rapidly to get from the western shores of Middle-Earth all the way over to the Lonely Mountain in time for the dwarves to discover it, so I don't think it's terribly likely either.

[AvangionQ]

Hmm, what's a 1e dwarf got in his racial abilities that a 3.5e dwarf doesn't?

[Linneris]

"So remember, it's called Divine Metamagic."

"Aye."

"And then you take these things called nightsticks..."

I don't get it. Can someone explain this to me?

[D.One]

Thor: "Look, whatever solution you think up that involves me fixing it for you... I guarantee you there's a bunch of dumb god laws tying my hands, OK?"

Loved it!

It would only be more direct if he stated that looking to the audience...

[Riftwolf]

I don't get it. Can someone explain this to me?

The first part is a powergaming technique to turn a cleric into the best melee fighter. Divine metamagic (if I remember) lets you expend Turn Undead charges to lower the effective level of metamagic enhanced spells. So you can walk around all day 15ft tall with full base attack, armour bonuses up the wazoo and a gigantic divine beard.
If none of that makes sense, don't worry, I highly doubt it'll be relevant in the comic.

(OK the Silverbeard spell is Paladins only. My point still stands!)

[Grey_Wolf_c]

I don't get it. Can someone explain this to me?

Nightsticks increase the number of turn undeads a cleric can use in a day. Not that scary, you think? Well, it turns out that a cleric can power metamagic spells with turn undead slots, rather than spell slots. So the nightsticks can be used to abuse metamagic: where normally you'd need a spell slot, say, four times higher to make a spell last an entire day, now it is just a nightstick's worth.

Grey Wolf

[Grey Watcher]

The first part is a powergaming technique to turn a cleric into the best melee fighter. Divine metamagic (if I remember) lets you expend Turn Undead charges to lower the effective level of metamagic enhanced spells. So you can walk around all day 15ft tall with full base attack, armour bonuses up the wazoo and a gigantic divine beard.
If none of that makes sense, don't worry, I highly doubt it'll be relevant in the comic.

(OK the Silverbeard spell is Paladins only. My point still stands!)

What Would Thor Do, indeed.

[b_jonas]

I haven't read LotR or the Silmarillion in forever. Is it confirmed that the Arkenstone was a silmaril?

No, the Arkenstone is not one of the Silmarils.

[Resileaf]

At least it shouldn't take too long for that dramatic reveal to happen if Durkon is to use that trick against Hel's minions. Can't wait to see what crazy ability is going to happen!

[Garwain]

I don't really get Durkons last reaction. Is he reacting to 'the secret' or to the fact that Minrah has not been affected by Elan's sense of drama? To be honest, I can't fit the reaction to either one...

[Resileaf]

I don't really get Durkons last reaction. Is he reacting to 'the secret' or to the fact that Minrah has not been affected by Elan's sense of drama? To be honest, I can't fit the reaction to either one...

He's calling back to when he said "Dinnae get ta spend much time talkin' ta Elan, then?" a few strips back.

[luagha]

Awwwwwe Thor, even the you're sarcastically reprimanding people, you seem so NICE about the whole thing.

Best god-talk ever.

My money's on the ancient dwarven secret of either black powder or nitroglycerin - whichever one is most like beer.

[luagha]

Doesn't Belkar get a racial bonus to throwing things such as daggers?

And he did plenty of it against Miko. But in general, at this level dagger-throwing either requires a specialty build, or it's just something you do off-handed when you don't have anything better going on. Like when you're halfway into your slice and dice and all targets in hand to hand are down; you toss off a dagger to dramatically start bleeding the next opponents.

[Korith]

Seeing that Thor knows Elan and Banjo so well makes me wonder if Banjo will be, not raised per se, but recognized in some fashion as Elan's reward for saving the world.

Beyond that - since this world seems to allow ascension by the power of belief, it seems to me that after The Dark One refuses to aid the other gods, Banjo will step in and save the day as the needed 4th color.

[Breccia]

My money's on the ancient dwarven secret of either black powder or nitroglycerin - whichever one is most like beer.

That would be nitroglycerin, then. At least in its liquid form.



Good ol' C₃H₅N₃O₉ does not share much else with (ethyl) alcohol. Other than the fact they're both used as blood thinners.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Best god-talk ever.

My money's on the ancient dwarven secret of either black powder or nitroglycerin - whichever one is most like beer.

They haven't forgotten black powder.

Grey Wolf

[chy03001]

I hope the secret is that all dwarves are proficient in the Dwarven Waraxe. This would give Durkon a weapon upgrade and coincide with movie Thor wielding an axe ;-)

[luagha]

They haven't forgotten black powder.

Grey Wolf

Oo, nice. Been a while.

I just thought that napalm/greek fire is also an option and maybe even closer to dwarven ale.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Oo, nice. Been a while.

I just thought that napalm/greek fire is also an option and maybe even closer to dwarven ale.

Honestly, I very much doubt it is a weapon at all. Durkon's strength has never been in the field of battle. If he is to replace his weapon set at all, I'd think some kind of family heirloom would be far more appropriate anyway. But we'll see.

Grey Wolf

[D.One]

I expect some ability/combo/spell from previous editions, probably something that wouldn't require a feat, since Durkon won't gain one for now.

Or maybe something in the lines of retraining from PHB2, since that would allow Durkon to improve his Diplomacy.

[Snails]

Beyond that - since this world seems to allow ascension by the power of belief, it seems to me that after The Dark One refuses to aid the other gods, Banjo will step in and save the day as the needed 4th color.

We do know there are ways for an existing pantheon to help someone enter that pantheon, but that does not help the color problem.

But once Elan has slaughtered his millionth victim in Banjo's name, this theory will start to look pretty solid.

How many left to go? Shall we start a countdown?

[Dion]

I hope the secret is that all dwarves are proficient in the Dwarven Waraxe. This would give Durkon a weapon upgrade and coincide with movie Thor wielding an axe ;-)

What movie did Thor yield an axe in? That’s just... strange.

[Snails]

No. I don't even like that theory, personally.

Me neither.

I just assume that all truly beautiful faceted gemstones were, at some level, inspired by the memory of the Simarils. If the fact of the Simarils means that no astoundingly beautiful gemstone can be created in Middle Earth without it actually being a lost Simaril, that actually lessens Feanor's accomplishment, while also being unnecessarily denigrating to the dwarves.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

What movie did Thor yield an axe in? That’s just... strange.

Avengers (3): Infinity War

Grey Wolf

[Fyraltari]

Me neither.

I just assume that all truly beautiful faceted gemstones were, at some level, inspired by the memory of the Simarils. If the fact of the Simarils means that no astoundingly beautiful gemstone can be created in Middle Earth without it actually being a lost Simaril, that actually lessens Feanor's accomplishment, while also being unnecessarily denigrating to the dwarves.

The Noldor started crafting gems long before Fëanor perfected that by making the Silmarils. And the fëanorian lamps can glow without being Silmarils either.

[dtilque]

I am a bit surprised that the dwarf anti-tree belief hasn't in turn influenced Thor to actually become anti-tree.

It might have if dwarves were Thor's only worshippers. But humans worship Thor too, including the ones from the team from Minnesota.

Yeah, thinking about it, it very well could be Mjolnir...

Isn't that Mjolnir hanging from Thor's belt right now? Or is that just the movie prop Mjolnir?

[D.One]

It might have if dwarves were Thor's only worshippers. But humans worship Thor too, including the ones from the team from Minnesota.

Maybe he told Durkon where he can find Stormpiercer, the Holy Drill, and Tempestmaker, the Holy Screwdriver, Thor's forgotten weapons, as we are told in this same strip you referenced.

[Fyraltari]

Maybe he told Durkon where he can find Stormpiercer, the Holy Drill, and Tempestmaker, the Holy Screwdriver, Thor's forgotten weapons, as we are told in this same strip you referenced.

Don't you mean Snowmaker?

[greenfunkman]

Actually, pretty sure Vaarsuvius is older than either, in pure chronology.

It's not the years, kid, it's the mileage.