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#1 Order of the Stick Comment thread MK2
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 7:21 am
by The Minx
Since the old thread had been inactive for so long, I thought I'd start a new one.
I had meant to get started on this some days ago, since there have been a few significant updates of late.
Fist some totally obvious clues as to Tarquin's alignment:
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But Elan steadfastly refuses to accept the truth.
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DUN DUN DUNN: we finally see not only Haley's dad but we realize that Elan's dad was behind the capture of Haley's dad (of course many suspected that all along)

Poor Elan still insists on believing his dad is a good guy.
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And he finally wises up. The title "Yes, Apparently" presumably refers to Haley's question in the second to last panel. Poor Elan. Tarquin really had to make it blatantly obvious for him though.
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Climatic battle scene ahoy! On a rooftop no less. Somehow I doubt that Tarquin will be defeated here, since it's not time yet for a villainous defeat. Unless Vaarsuvius or someone else manages to pull a spoiler like with Kubota or something. I doubt it though: Tarquin is more important than that.
#2
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 8:14 am
by Dark Silver
hmmmm..hadn't checked out OOTS in awhile...mostly because I keep forgetting to.....
Interesting Developments Afoot!
#3
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 5:05 pm
by frigidmagi
I like Tarquin, he's an affable evil bastard with a goal that's almost noble and he pursues it with a skill and ruthless determination that gives me a warm fuzzy deep inside.
I also like how he actually seems proud of Elan for challenging him to a rooftop duel.
I do got to wonder though, what would it have been like if Elan had been raised by Tarquin and Nale by their mother? I mean, would they retain the same alignments? Would Elan be Tarquin's loyal and dependable son? Would Nale have grown to be an egoistical hero who uses overly complex plans to save the day in a way that makes him look good?
#4
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:42 am
by Dark Silver
I'm thinking that is what would probably happen. Elan seems the kind of guy, who no matter the alignment, would be Lawful.
Nale is definatly in it for himself, not sure if that's Neutral or Chaotic, but as long as HE gets recognized for what has been done, is all that matters. Nale just seems to be a immense egotist, and that's part of the base personality.
Still...could you see Elan as evil? That'd be...almost scary.
#5
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:23 pm
by frigidmagi
Elan seems the kind of guy, who no matter the alignment, would be Lawful.

Elan's... Chaotic Good not Lawful... He's a bard sleeping with Haley... How the hell could he be lawful? Remember how he broke out of jail, stole, lied and allied with a near psychopath in order to get to Haley in the 1st place? Laws don't mean much to Elan, Good does. Even then it's more of a play yard style of good then any real deep abstract concept to Elan. Good is being cool to others and protecting them from mean people if you ask him. And Honestly... That's pretty much the heart of it. Don't Be A Dick and Protect the World from Dicks and Assholes.
Nale is definatly in it for himself, not sure if that's Neutral or Chaotic, but as long as HE gets recognized for what has been done, is all that matters. Nale just seems to be a immense egotist, and that's part of the base personality.
Could go either way. Neutral Evils for example can be team players, as long as it's best for them. They can also poison their best friends in their sleep to get ahead. Chaotic Evils are simply unpredictable, movatived by sheer desire untempered by any consideration of others. A CE is a sociopath.
Quick what are the major differences between Belkar and Nale?
#6
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:51 pm
by frigidmagi
Daaaammmnnnn
He met Elan pun for pun! He used nothing but a... Wow!
Tarquin should be a villain role model. That is all.
#7
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 3:20 pm
by The Minx
Tarquin beating Elan was to be expected, though his skill at punnery was surprising.
Now I wonder whether Elan is going to be meeting Roy in the arena one way or another.
#8
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:48 am
by Charon
Apparently not at all
Tarquin is once again showing that just because he's evil doesn't mean he's stupid. Elan is on a quest to stop someone from conquering the world, it is in his own interests to see that Elan stops that. Furthermore, he has no real reason to keep Elan and the others there as they don't really pose a threat to his plans in the immediate future. If they are free to leave in 3 days, they will leave in 3 days and not be a threat to his little empire. After that he can come up with contingencies for their possible return, assuming they survive the encounter and that he hasn't already died of natural causes or something along those lines.[/url]
#9
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:39 am
by frigidmagi
You know I often test out as CG...
I would have taken the regen ring and to hell with it.
#10
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 5:44 pm
by LadyTevar
frigidmagi wrote:You know I often test out as CG...
I would have taken the regen ring and to hell with it.
Elan is more Good than Chaotic, mostly.
#11
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 4:27 pm
by The Minx
frigidmagi wrote:You know I often test out as CG...
I would have taken the regen ring and to hell with it.
Likewise on both.
He may come to regret turning it down later on.

#12
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:40 pm
by frigidmagi
He may but not because he's missing anything, remember Elan is guaranteed a happy ending at the end of this. He will lose Belkar *weeps*, maybe Durkan, hell maybe even Roy but he personally is bullet proof and will come out of the end of this smelling like Roses.
Course it may be that ring could have saved Durkan or Roy in which case you would be completely right.
#13
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:07 pm
by The Minx
He won't die, presumably, but he may suffer between now and the end of the story.
Maybe they'll get some stuff from him later.
By the way: if Tarquin is willing to let them go, what does that mean about Roy and Belkar? They might get a "get out of jail free" card.
#14
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:28 pm
by frigidmagi
Tarquin doesn't know Roy is with Elan.
There's gonna be one hell of a fight!
#15
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 7:11 pm
by The Minx
Yea, not yet he doesn't.
Law of Plot says he won't know until they're on the arena floor and Elan sees what's up.

#16
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 5:43 pm
by LadyTevar
And what a wonderful series of jokes on StarWars and Avatar.
I have to admit I can't argue with Torq's reasoning. 30yrs as tyrant/king, then a legend as the Prime Evil the hero defeated. This man is so Genre-savvy he should be the new poster-child for it.
#17
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 7:22 pm
by The Minx
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Tarquin is my new favorite character.
And he raises a point my brother once pointed out: the good guys don't always win: the story only ends when they win, and between then and the beginning of the next story, the bad guys have a field day.
#18
Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 4:58 pm
by The Minx
Been a while since the last update.
But anyways:
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A bit meh, though the interaction between Malack, Durkon and V is interesting, I wonder how they'll react to having to be enemies later on. I also wonder how much Durkon realizes that Malack may be bad news but is just playing along due to Roy's orders.
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Not much to say here except I really love the interaction between those two, they make a good team (in more ways than one).
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www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0766.html]766[/url]
Tarqin and son stay in character.
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And we see just how scary a well buffed "face" character can be if s/he gets the chance to speak. +30 to bluff checks on top of her maxed ranks, those poor guards never stood a chance.

#19
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:13 am
by frigidmagi
I hope Elan remembers to hide those kind of potions from her later...
#20
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:23 pm
by The Minx
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Family reunion at last. (d'awww)
And Belkar gets dissed in the last panel.

#21
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 11:10 pm
by frigidmagi
He earned it. Still I wonder what they're going to do now?
#22
Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2011 6:35 pm
by frigidmagi
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Awwwww Family Reunions are so fun. Especially when your parents make their own assumptions about your job.
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"I got myself captured to recruit people to overthrow the bad guy!"
Granted, I am not a master thief. Granted I am not a experienced revolutionary or insurgent... But somehow... I think he did it wrong.
Also, this is what? The 3rd time Elan's face has gotten him into trouble?
#23
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:45 pm
by The Minx
Perhaps he underestimated the guards or something. Tarquin's memos may have foiled their attempts. On that note, Haley is no longer able to use her super-bluff, since she is inside, so they may have problems getting out.
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Roy steps in and takes control of the situation.
Also:
Ian: "You've been had, Haley."
Elan: "OK, yes, but it was consensual every time, sir!"

#24
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:37 am
by frigidmagi
Give in your anger Roy, STRIKE HIM DOWN!
#25
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:59 pm
by LadyTevar
Wow... Haley & Dad get a double-strip!