Order of the Stick

Jasper_Phillips · 2011-03-15T00:21:22.000Z

It depends on whether they’ve rolled doubles and picked up Block.

Jarmo · 2011-03-15T00:21:52.000Z

It’s great to get new, unseen material! New book preordered together with The Order of the Stick Adventure Game 140-card expansion, The Shortening. I have the original game and it’s way too long to ever finish a match. Once I played with two friends for over six hours and we didn’t finish. The game is great fun, though, so a shorter ruleset is welcomed.

Please note that the new book will not be reprinted and it will be available in limited quantity (printed to order). Preorder it if you want it, it’ll be hard to get otherwise.

Dave_Markell · 2011-03-15T07:36:09.000Z

Jarmo:

It’s great to get new, unseen material! New book preordered together with The Order of the Stick Adventure Game 140-card expansion, The Shortening. I have the original game and it’s way too long to ever finish a match. Once I played with two friends for over six hours and we didn’t finish. The game is great fun, though, so a shorter ruleset is welcomed.

I’m debating picking it up myself, for the reasons you mentioned. I’ve finished some games here and there, but just as many have been abandoned because of time constraints. It’s great fun even either way, though.

And, speaking of OOTS, yet more proof Belkar is evil (as if it was needed at this point, but despite outright declarations from Rich that Belkar is chaotic evil, he has deluded defenders on the forums that insist any character they find so funny/interesting/likable can’t possibly have that alignment).

BennyProfane · 2011-03-15T08:32:16.000Z

[QUOTE=Dave Markell;2605991
And, speaking of OOTS, yet more proof Belkar is evil (as if it was needed at this point, but despite outright declarations from Rich that Belkar is chaotic evil, he has deluded defenders on the forums that insist any character they find so funny/interesting/likable can’t possibly have that alignment).[/QUOTE]

The first panel of this one may well contain the best pun ever from an OOTS.

Matt_Bowyer · 2011-03-15T08:37:33.000Z

D’awwww kitty.

Pjerrot · 2011-03-15T13:17:38.000Z

I didn’t see what Belkar did to that guard that mocked him. Do you think he has the guts to do it again?

Sebmojo · 2011-03-16T00:36:16.000Z

BennyProfane:

The first panel of this one may well contain the best pun ever from an OOTS.

It really is. And the moment with Belkar and the cat is oddly touching.

Dave_Markell · 2011-03-16T08:58:47.000Z

Deliberately so, I’m sure; I expect Belkar’s demise any time now.

Glavias · 2011-03-16T14:42:07.000Z

“Hey! You! Uptight-looking androgynous elf!”

That particular phrase made me giggle all day.

Sebmojo · 2011-03-17T05:20:49.000Z

Shit, Belkar’s totally going to die in the next five strips, isn’t he?

John_Merva · 2011-03-17T08:02:25.000Z

Forgive me for not actually knowing a lot about D&D, but if Belkar dies, can they not just resurrect him? Is death really a penalty in D&D?

Brandon_Clements · 2011-03-17T08:21:55.000Z

John Merva:

Forgive me for not actually knowing a lot about D&D, but if Belkar dies, can they not just resurrect him? Is death really a penalty in D&D?

They can, sure. Big questions are a) will they and b) would Belkar want to be resurrected?

Jamie_Madigan · 2011-03-17T08:54:51.000Z

Rich already did the big resurrection storyline with Roy. I doubt Belkar will die.

Rasputin · 2011-03-17T09:34:16.000Z

Jamie Madigan:

Rich already did the big resurrection storyline with Roy. I doubt Belkar will die.

Belkar, per Oracle, is going to die before the strip is done. I don’t think it’ll be soon, though, since we’re not close to the end and he’s not going to deprive us of a fan favorite character this early.

SlyFrog · 2011-03-17T09:48:36.000Z

Okay, I get the Oracle thing, but why is everyone assuming that Belkar is going to die in the immediate future based on this current bit of plot?

Drastic · 2011-03-17T09:56:43.000Z

For reference, “Belkar will draw his last breath–ever–before the end of the year.” That’s an “in-comic” year, not a real-time year, Oracle fans!

So I wouldn’t expect it to happen right in the next few strips either; I imagine the rest of the year will take till at least 2014 at the strip’s rate. Also, the last breath thing supports no resurrections.

Although, he could die and be raised any number of times before he draws his last breath ever. If that happens a few times, he could reach a final death and refuse to be raised any more. Ideally after a final battle which cements him as a sexy shoeless god of war.

Dave_Markell · 2011-03-17T09:59:50.000Z

Because this current bit of plot has been engineered to make us like Belkar just a smidge as a person (instead of as a hilarious homicidal halfling) , which would make his demise all the more powerful. Rich ALWAYS pays off on his foreshadowings. Belkar is doomed; the only question is how much longer until said doom arrives.

JoshV · 2011-03-17T10:13:49.000Z

Draw his last breath? Undead Belkar!

Brandon_Clements · 2011-03-17T10:24:03.000Z

Drastic:

For reference, [url=http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0572.html]
So I wouldn’t expect it to happen right in the next few strips either; I imagine the rest of the year will take till at least 2014 at the strip’s rate. Also, the last breath thing supports no resurrections.

I don’t think it’s that long; just after they rez’ed Roy I remember he and Haley talking and him saying it wasn’t going to be that long until the clock runs out.

Jamie_Madigan · 2011-03-17T10:43:15.000Z

SlyFrog:

Okay, I get the Oracle thing, but why is everyone assuming that Belkar is going to die in the immediate future based on this current bit of plot?

In addition to the Oracle thing, Belkar seems to be telegraphing it by promising to come find Mr. Scruffy and be with him until the end when the gladiatorial thing is over. According to typical storytelling tropes, that’s the kind of thing a (anti)hero would say right before being killed. I’m surprised Elan isn’t freaking out over it.