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TremendousMajestic posted:Speaking of old rules, what was the justification in 2nd ed for getting xp from found magic items? That was first ed as well. I believe it was an outgrowth of money for xp - you could sell the item and get the cash, or keep it and get (a lot less) xp. And money for xp was the rule we always ditched when we played back in the 80s, but in retrospect it was sort of key. Get in - get out - get rich is the old school way, getting the maximum reward for the minimum risk. So any fight that could be avoided by trickery, negotiation, or stealth should be - since the xp reward for monsters was minimal compared to what you'd get from treasure. The trouble with money for xp, of course, is it relies on having a good GM to really work.
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May 10, 2012 23:44
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NihilCredo posted:I actually agree with DMBFan23, it feels pretty lame to be all looking forward to (for example) an epic rematch of V vs. ZZdtri, only to then have V knocked out of the stage through a fairly contrived sequence of events ("Our verbose and stoic wizard suddenly screams and runs away in an epic-level pyramid that we know is trapped to hell and back? Ah, no worries, he's probably just taking a bit of fresh air outside, it's perfectly OK to have a party member walk around alone in this adventure." Reading back through the thread - V falling into the pit is possibly the least satisfying plot development of the whole series. It's such a transparent way of fiddling the scales, and having it as a random coincidence is very cheap. It's a minor thing, but it stands out because Rich is normally so good at making up clever developments from known events or lampshading obvious plot-dickery.
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May 11, 2012 00:01
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Alchenar posted:I thought (and still think) it was fairly natural thing to happen; V panics, runs off into a dungeon created by an epic illusionist and pays the price. V also has a really good reason to panic, he/she has had a paradigm shattering realisation over the consequences of their actions. To a point. The uncharacteristically emotional reaction was well done and appropriate. And, yeah, trap-filled dungeon. But this is about the fifth time Rich has had to come up with a reason why V can't be around to fix the encounter, and it's getting a bit obvious. I wouldn't be surprised if it's lampshaded later on, as he's very sharp on that kind of thing. quote:The Linear Guild showing up immediately afterwards is what feels a bit unsatisfying to me - we knew that they were going to be showing up fairly soon after The Order found the Gate, but the fact that they showed up literally before The Order actually managed to do anything suggests that Rich didn't have anything for them to do. I didn't mind that so much as the interplay is funny, and there's a couple of shoes waiting to drop. Plus - they didn't achieve anything but it's still nice seeing them working as a competent group. sebmojo fucked around with this message at 02:26 on May 11, 2012 |
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May 11, 2012 02:22
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Danzou posted:These are fun characters. I love Malack blowing off Nale. What I don't get is - what's Varsuvius' actual status? In rules terms? Either he's under zero hits, (in which case he's dying - unlikely), or subject to an incapacitating effect (spell/poison, no indication that this is the case), or at exactly zero hits (which gives you consciousness and a single action via a bizarre little rule). Falling down pits in 3.5 doesn't knock you unconscious. It's the first plot development I've really not liked in the strip, since it's so transparently to keep V out of the fight. So this is rules-nerd gravy on my disgruntlement steak. Edit: Unless - subdual damage putting him under zero? Would that do it? But falling damage is lethal! INSUPPORTABLE, MR BURLEW
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May 21, 2012 02:08
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Colon V posted:He could have gone into negatives, but made her stabilization roll. Unlikely, but definitely not impossible, especially with some minor DM Fiat. Is stabilisation a 3.5 rule? It's in 4e, but it's been a while... let's see: Oh, right. Didn't know that, thanks.
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May 21, 2012 03:55
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LightWarden posted:I fully expect these two to be close allies for life. It's something Rich has discussed before. Part of Nale's characterization is that he and Tarqin don't get alone, and now we know that Tarqin is far more impressed with Elan. Oh, great catch. I read all those articles years ago when he was still under strip 100, I must go back and reread them. It's neat how much of the characterisation in OOTS they hint at.
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May 31, 2012 05:18
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I am in New Zealand and bought the full slate of books - nothing yet, but I'm being calm like a motherfucker. I'll give it... three weeks. Then my calmness will commence to getting frayed. Until then. Calm.
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Jun 5, 2012 05:35
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Baron von der Loon posted:I found my copy of $25 pledge in the mailbox yesterday... twice. Not sure what happened, but I got everything double: the coloring book, the notepads, the fridge magnets, everything. Send it on, dude. Spread the love. I'm sure there's someone out there who'd love to have the spare 
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Jun 6, 2012 00:11
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RentACop posted:Looking back on it, this comic has a lot of arcs that are boring as hell to read when they aren't in book form and you can just power through it. It's more noticable after the paladin-boogaloo. I'd be surprised if Tarquin didn't get a big reversal some time soon. Maybe via V and the three fiends, since they're probably due to make an appearance (<= official prediction marker for bragging rights in vanishingly unlikely case this happens).
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Jun 18, 2012 03:13
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Ponsonby Britt posted:http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0854.html Smart points. V's had the true horror of his deeds brought home to him, so now's the time to bring out the rest. It's also a good avenue for lampshading the 'take out/cripple the high-level wizard at the big confrontations because otherwise they're too hard to write' syndrome - make him (briefly) into an antagonist. And the story of the Linear Guild, and therefore the three fiends, is almost certainly going to finish at this gate. My other !!PREDICTION!! is that Draketooth has swallowed the gate, then had himself turned to stone. Making the results of the Speak with Dead spell accurate.
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Jun 19, 2012 03:08
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jng2058 posted:Gotta disagree here. Chekov's Evil Adventuring Party says that Tarquin and Malack aren't going down for real until they're there with their whole crew, including Miron, the catgirl thief, and the mage with all the ioun stones. Getting beat by the Order or Team Evil? Sure. Getting killed permanently this early? I don't think we'll ever see the rest of their party - it's just a nod to the 'adventurers hang out in parties' trope.
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Jun 19, 2012 03:12
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Ha! Well, that's just, that's just, well! Ha! OHMYGODLOOKATTHATTHINGOVERTHERE (scampering feet, distant slam, car starts up outside, peels off)
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Jun 19, 2012 05:13
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jng2058 posted:My money's on it going the other way. I expect Tarquin, Malack, Miron, and all the rest to be big players in the last book, presuming that we're nearing the end of book five and that book six is the dramatic finale....though I do see a way that it might go to seven, depending on how Rich wants to play it. The reason I think that is because Tarquin has replaced Nale as Elan's personal foil. Indeed, I'll wager that Tarquin's crew becomes the new "Linear Guild" and that we'll get to see the Order have to take on a team of evil opposites who are not only higher level, but also dangerous because, unlike the Linear Guild or Xykon and Redcloak, Tarquin's team like and respect each other. Thus the one thing that the Order can usually rely on against the Guild, namely teamwork, will be superseded by Tarquin's crew's superior teamwork...it should be quite interesting. Put like that, it makes a lot of sense. If Tarquin et al die here it's a lot of buildup for not too much payoff. And as you say, it's a clever new take on 'evil opposites'.
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Jun 19, 2012 11:28
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Soonmot posted:I've got 250 on Tarquin turning into an anti-hero once he finds out Xykon's plan is to destroy the world. I'll take that (as in I don't think he will, he'll be in it as a separate evil villain rather than working with the OOTS - is that what you meant?) And lay 250 on V getting possessed by one of the fiends within the next ten strips. And another 250 on Belkar never leaving the temple (secret base, pyramid, whatever) alive.
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Jun 21, 2012 00:04
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CapnAndy posted:I will take both those bets. This isn't the final dungeon you think it is. Done. Belkar has been on deathwatch for ages, so it would be very surprising if he makes it to the next book. And the logic of the fiends intervening now is, if not inarguable, at least convincing. YOUR GOONYBUX SHALL BE MINE, SUH.
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Jun 21, 2012 00:32
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CapnAndy posted:I would not have taken the bet on V if you'd said "before the end of this arc". Next ten strips, though? I think I've got your money. AUDACES FORTUNA JUVAT V's gotta wake up at some point soon, and I'm guessing it'll be the fiends that do it. I won't double up on it, though - 250 imaginary spondulicks seems right for a long bet. sebmojo fucked around with this message at 05:41 on Jun 21, 2012 |
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Jun 21, 2012 05:34
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Amateur Sketch posted:
Definitely. Thinking out loud, the succubus is working for the fiends. So whatever she's trying to get Nale to do is what they want - currently it's to ignore his suspicions and keep working with his dad. And his dad's aiming to ... what? Get control of the gate - why? Hm, it suddenly occurs to me that if Malack were on their side, and with (x minutes, y seconds) of V's time, the fiends have both a high level arcane and divine caster available. And with Elan, they have something that Tarquin would possibly not want to lose. And Tarquin and Malack have a 'no questions asked' support agreement. And if Nale knows about the ritual, then so does Sabine. Who's on the side of the fiends. HmmMMMmmmm. sebmojo fucked around with this message at 13:05 on Jun 21, 2012 |
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Jun 21, 2012 05:40
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New Strip!
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Calaveron posted:Ok you know what? I'm going to make a prediction here: I'll take that bet, if you want to make it one.
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Jun 21, 2012 05:45
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greatn posted:That's not slick writing, that's lazy writing. Everytime you want to challenge your party get rid of most powerful member. Slick writing would be to just use something actually a credible threat in the first place. For me that's Rich's worst development in the series to date. Which after 856 strips is a pretty amazing accomplishment, he's a great plot weaver. I mean roughly how many spells would V have at her disposal in 3.5e, per day? 50?
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Jun 21, 2012 22:34
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Niton posted:For a high-level 3.x Wizard, that's not really much. At the very least, it's not anything that would make the story interesting. Yeah. He's running hard up against the Linear Fighter/Quadratic Wizard problems that are inherent in the system.
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Jun 21, 2012 22:36
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Alchenar posted:"You didn't think I was going to let YOU keep carrying it, did you?" Yes, that scene warrants very careful reading. Xykon behaves quite ...specifically.
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Jul 6, 2012 11:37
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Colon V posted:This means that, as things stand, if MitD DOES eat Redcloak, he'll be eating Xykon's real phylactery, and won't spit it out. Huh. That's about clever enough to happen, nice catch. Rules question, how much power would Redcloak have over Xykon as an undead? Are Lichs exempt from turning etc?
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Jul 8, 2012 09:02
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RentACop posted:The prequel book about the heroes was a boring waste of time and money so I don't blame anyone for being leery about SoD, but it's seriously excellent and has actually interesting backstory Aw, it's not that bad. But yes, SoD is proper pop literature and a must-get.
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Jul 9, 2012 02:10
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Stabbey_the_Clown posted:It's hard to say. I don't think it's actually going to be that much. I got the impression from his updates that most of that will go into materials or upgrading the servers, and a lot of the rest will be reserved for other projects, like the 5th compilation. True - though he also has a bunch of books now printed and ready to sell through normal channels, which will presumably be pure profit. I'm sure he's worked the numbers very carefully, he seems to be almost pathologically prudent. I think the thing that makes me happiest is that he seems to have realised how many sane and kind fans he has, instead of just the sperglords and crumpetheads on his forums. The OOTS Kickstarter backer forums are just adorable to read.
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Jul 16, 2012 00:11
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XkyRauh posted:The strip about readied actions got a good laugh out of me. And the Dwarf city bit with the breakfast beer was funny.
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Jul 16, 2012 23:17
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Why is Haley's face grey? Signifying she's hiding in shadows?
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Jul 18, 2012 08:48
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So... how many strips is it since an OOTS plan went entirely their way? 500? 600? In other news, I just got my Kickstarter shipment in NZ, and it is hilarious reading them in chronological order - Redcloak goes from a properly tragic, almost Shakespearean figure who's sacrificed everything he's ever loved for a goal that might not even exist (in SoD), to a slightly sarcastic middle management goblin in DCC. And yet it kind of works. With goodwill and a little squinting, you can just about read Redcloak as being deliberately dead inside up until he charges into the city about halfway through War and XPs.
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Aug 13, 2012 05:50
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Cliff Racer posted:Great, so the imp is probably going for V. I guess the Fiends are likely to be out of the loop after this arc? I've got a bit of imaginary money riding on that, so I hope so: sebmojo posted:And lay 250 on V getting possessed by one of the fiends within the next ten strips (posted at strip 856, so five to go). That's one hell of a  from Roy at the end, though.
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Aug 28, 2012 01:48
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Hive of vile nerdery though it is, the OOTS forums occasionally make a good point:quote:Also, I'm still thinking that the mummies were foreshadowing with their echos. So who needs to knock on what for safety? It struck me as a strained turn of phrase from Haley so I think it's probably signifying something.
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Aug 28, 2012 03:28
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inthesto posted:That's some incredibly weak deus ex machina right there. No it's not. Tarquin's been established as powerful enough to hold off the Order by himself, so taking one member out for a round isn't deus ex machina. And the OOTS won that encounter, no question. Great passage of play (plus fast strips thank gently caress). V is next I am guessing. FIENDS AHOY.
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Aug 30, 2012 23:57
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greatn posted:Randomly knowing Drow sign language is INCREDIBLY deus ex machina Like randomly knowing how to pun-duel? Wearing a ring of true seeing? Knowing where the draketooth clan was at? Being able to catch all the slaves and nail them up in some tiny amount of time? Writing a manual with every possible PC scheme in it? He's been set up as a character who's more skilled and knowledgeable than anyone in the strip to date. That's the joke - he's an Evil Mary Sue. Him always having some absurdly detailed skill (and associated awesome story about the time he...) that fits the needs of the plot is the basis of his character. Unless you want to say he's a walking DEM, in which case, sure.
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Aug 31, 2012 01:09
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inthesto posted:I'm referring to the drow sign language. I know it's a callback to a really esoteric rule, but it's really not an interesting or entertaining one. Oh, ok. Sorry, I misunderstood. I think Rich just liked that line about 'unbalanced in the best way' and wanted that in.  And Tarquin has to leave in a stylish and in-command way, because he hasn't had his reversal yet. So a quick story about some awesome Drow hottie he banged back in the day is a way of showing he's retreating, rather then running away. I actually quite liked the old school call back - though it never made sense to me that a purely visual language would develop underground. THOSE WACKY OLDSCHOOL DUDES.
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Aug 31, 2012 01:21
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Ursine Asylum posted:It'll depend hugely on how Tarquin keeps dealing with Nale. If Malack sees that Tarquin has no intention of letting him deal with Nale eventually, I wouldn't be surprised. In fact, given their relationship, I wouldn't be surprised unduly if Tarquin takes in completely in stride instead of going off on a ranting revenge angle. It's a really interesting question. I love Malack too, he's a fascinating character.
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Aug 31, 2012 02:06
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Redeye Flight posted:He's pretty rad. Kobolds in general are cool, though. Drama demands that he kill Belkar. Maybe a bit too pat, but.
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Aug 31, 2012 10:50
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greatn posted:Any chance Elan pulled the switcheroo with Nale? Would be a pretty convoluted and sneaky trick. Nope, it would make Tarquin look stupid. And Elan is not the man you want on the inside.
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Sep 1, 2012 22:12
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Zore posted:I mean, just for the sake of example, a Druid can shift into the form of a bear and keep the bear's stats along with his natural spellcasting from level six and by level ten can literally keep it up all day. Oh and he can also summon a horde of bears and has a special bear companion while the fighter can hit things roughly as hard as one of those bears. The "aggressively hegemonizing ursine swarm" approach
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Sep 2, 2012 21:06
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Edition war. Edition war... never changes. 4th undoubtedly has flaws (for me it's the graunching gearshift between in and out of combat) but you have to be pretty groggy to not see the quirks of 3.x that led to it. Especially in an OOTS thread. Hell, Burlew just had the high level fix-everything wizard literally unconscious in a hole for the last ten strips so he didn't break the plot.
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Sep 3, 2012 05:37
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Looking for Regroup.
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Sep 12, 2012 08:58
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LightWarden posted:20% failure, actually. I'm surprised it actually prevented anything. I'm sure the OOTS forums have three threads on DM Fiat already.
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Sep 13, 2012 02:49
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The trick would be to have like 20 posts so everyone is all UUUHNNNNFNFFFFFF with OOTS balls when they find out his hand is still stuffed.
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Oct 31, 2012 22:06
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