THE OotS Thread, Part IV.

[Simon_Jester]

Back off, guys. He is *STILL* ill and trying to post this comic as best he can. Give him a break.

I don't mind the slow updates- Burlew's been very up-front about how hard it is for him to produce rapidly on this comic, and I respect that he's candid about his limitations.

I do think that it's not good plotting to create a situation where comics are coming in every fortnight and you have comic N's plot twist totally negated by comic N+1. Episodic format with a resilient status quo works best for things that are updated frequently.

[Ralin]

Has this comic ever had someone cast Control Weather and not turned it a cheap gag?

Given that this is the second time, no.

Was pretty sure this was at least the third time when I posted that, but I can currently only remember the fight with the gnome druid.

[RecklessPrudence]

I think this is supposed to give Belkar reason to be suspicious rather than just hateful and annoyed at the hypocrisy, the rest of the Order reason to disregard Belkar's rantings even later when he has more evidence, and Durkula reason to start thinking about how to "eliminate" Belkar. So, not as pointless as people have apparently been thinking.

[Sharp-kun]

I do think that it's not good plotting to create a situation where comics are coming in every fortnight and you have comic N's plot twist totally negated by comic N+1. Episodic format with a resilient status quo works best for things that are updated frequently.

Depends. We don't know that this has been resolved, and even if it appears to be resolved now, doesn't mean that its still not a set up for later.

I think its not helped that we're coming off the whole desert arc where we've had loads of stuff going on for over a year's worth of updates and are now back to the slower bits again.

[Irbis]

Back off, guys. He is *STILL* ill and trying to post this comic as best he can. Give him a break.

Is he?

The thumb thing was so long ago it should have healed by now even given very long rehabilitation. The other thing, well, he didn't said what it was, but it was even longer ago and we can't even speculate about it.

Plus, he sort of didn't help himself drawing 9 strips extremely quickly (granted, it was kickstarter bonus) and that was when he genuinely could have used thumb excuse. No, I think delays, whatever they are, were caused by him making side material, not health.

I do think that it's not good plotting to create a situation where comics are coming in every fortnight and you have comic N's plot twist totally negated by comic N+1. Episodic format with a resilient status quo works best for things that are updated frequently.

I think its not helped that we're coming off the whole desert arc where we've had loads of stuff going on for over a year's worth of updates and are now back to the slower bits again.

Yeah, pretty much this. Nothing in last 4 pages couldn't have been shortened by half, except then we'd have twist and counter-twist on the same page. I guess that's why it feels like padding.

[Highlord Laan]

What the vampire may be forgetting is what happens when he starts saying he's acting in Thor's name. Active gods tend to frown on that sort of thing.

[Raesene]

954 is up.

[Irbis]

What the vampire may be forgetting is what happens when he starts saying he's acting in Thor's name. Active gods tend to frown on that sort of thing.

The vampire has a point though - even without his little speech, I'd expect the gods to be very vary of interfering with each other and their agents, seeing what divine conflict did last time they tried.

Anyway, okay-ish strip, but I feel it could have been cut by half, too.

[Simon_Jester]

Trimming it to six panels and grafting it onto the previous one COULD have worked, yeah.

On the whole, I'm happy with this one because it actually explains something that would otherwise have been a lame throwaway.

[Crazedwraith]

How long does the Weather Control effect last? I mean Durkon can disrupt this one but if Thor keeps taking every opportunity to pelt 'his' servant with lightning bolts, even the Order's going to notice?

eta: I answered my own question 4d12 hours.

[Ralin]

And Stickverse Thor doesn't seem to be known for his patience and attention span.

[Simon_Jester]

Yeah, but this probably really ticked him off, so he may keep it up.

On the other hand, Durkula can keep up Control Weather effects pretty much continuously if it lasts 4d12 hours unless he rolls really unlucky.

[Irbis]

New comic, I guess...

Anyone want to bet when anything of importance happens? Also, what kind of Ref save was that?

[Welf]

New comic, I guess...

Anyone want to bet when anything of importance happens? Also, what kind of Ref save was that?

I guess when travelling on the Machina spells are also cast with the speed of plot? Although I notice the plot gets very slow every time Roy is on cloud level altitude. So I'm out of theories.

[Irbis]

Another interesting thing of note is that Rocs have 18HD. So, V would need to be both 18th level, 3-4 levels higher than before, and need to use epic polymorph, because regular ones only go to 15 HD...

[Crazedwraith]

new comic is new

So this is going to force them to... go to a place they were already going. A huge plot development

[Gaidin]

So this is going to force them to... go to a place they were already going. A huge plot development

It wasn't ever supposed to change anything about that. It was meant to bring out inner-party conflict. Or show it up specifically and remind the reader of it in case it was forgotten between now and the beginning(middle?) of the hilariously long fight that ended the last book. Namely the conflict between Belkar and Durkon, because that only really got to last for two frames when he attacked Durkon and no one else did and then the fight against the bad guys was forced to pick up again.

[Spekio]

new comic is new

So this is going to force them to... go to a place they were already going. A huge plot development

They are stopping for a full day, so surely the plot will happen there?

It would surely help if we had a regular schedule. Has been like what... 3 weeks?

[Irbis]

Why I have a feeling there was some tablerageflip after comments in last comic then several pages were cut?

[LadyTevar]

And Roy is still holding the rope.

[Rogue 9]

Why I have a feeling there was some tablerageflip after comments in last comic then several pages were cut?

If so, they'll be in the book. He's done that before, cutting the entire retrieval of Roy's body for pacing reasons with the online release non-schedule, and then putting it in the printed collection.

[Crazedwraith]

New strip

This one's pretty good. Character stuff happens. I like Belkar's comment on a gradual descent of evil. Given comments in Origin of PCs book, it sounds like we're going to find out why Belkar is Belkar in the main strip.

[Grumman]

This one's pretty good. Character stuff happens. I like Belkar's comment on a gradual descent of evil. Given comments in Origin of PCs book, it sounds like we're going to find out why Belkar is Belkar in the main strip.

Oh? I read Belkar's comments as being based on his own descent to good.

[Isolder74]

I see is more to the point that you can fool anyone OTHER then the person who already knows every part of the playbook that you are trying to read from. It's sort of a rookie vs expert situation.

[Gaidin]

The "descent into good" is also an interesting point though. Though for Belkar I'd think it'd only apply to the party so it might be more neutral than anything. I can't see Belkar as going good so much as he is forced. Does he still have that symbol on him? I honestly can't remember.