Order of the Stick

Dave_Perkins · 2009-01-09T07:08:17.000Z

Aeon221:

You don’t understand why people would run screaming from a smile like that from a character that has never ever even once considered the possibility of a solution outside of mass slaughter?

I thought that’s why the two women ran, but it seems like a dorky over-reaction to me. As if Belkar would kill them. So, I was confused, too.

Drastic · 2009-01-09T07:13:18.000Z

I’m going to hypothesize that anyone confused by the dorky overreaction doesn’t come at the strip with a history of playing tabletop rpgs, where dorky over-reactions can be either distressingly or endearingly common. The last panel’s a fond nod to the kind of dynamics that build up in longstanding campaigns as played by friendly geek gatherings.

Dave_Perkins · 2009-01-09T07:14:51.000Z

You are right, at least about me never having played tabletop rpgs. Sounds like you’re right about your second point, too!

Drastic · 2009-01-09T07:18:45.000Z

My science is strong.

Jasper_Phillips · 2009-01-09T12:31:10.000Z

Clearly some sort of mind eating under-dweller had quietly replaced Belkar’s brain – obviously they should run for their lives! Seems far fetched, until you consider that it’s more probable than actual character growth in a D&D campaign. ;-)

Besides, as Drastic suggests, this is just the sort of thing that crops up in table banter at a casual hack and slash game.

Aeon221 · 2009-01-09T13:18:24.000Z

Dave Perkins:

I thought that’s why the two women ran, but it seems like a dorky over-reaction to me. As if Belkar would kill them. So, I was confused, too.

I thought it was a standard comedic trope. Apparently it’s popular with DnD players too.

Sarkus · 2009-01-09T14:33:23.000Z

Well, I do come from a tabletop background.

What I’m confused about is not why the two women fled, but how we as readers are supposed to interpret Belkar’s statement and smile. Unlike the two women, we know that Belkar is not quite the same as he used to be. It just isn’t clear to me if Belkar is being sincere but they were freaked out and assume he’s about to kill everyone or if Belkar really is about to do something more typical of the old Belkar. His question to the guild guy was not clear in that regard either.

Rimbo · 2009-01-09T14:44:18.000Z

I thought that very uncertainty was part of what made it so hilarious. We really don’t know what Belkar’s up to, either. :)

Ed_Solomon · 2009-01-09T15:29:32.000Z

Rimbo:

I thought that very uncertainty was part of what made it so hilarious. We really don’t know what Belkar’s up to, either. :)

We don’t? He’s hungry and he wants a freaking sandwich.

Jasper_Phillips · 2009-01-09T15:48:41.000Z

Rimbo:

I thought that very uncertainty was part of what made it so hilarious. We really don’t know what Belkar’s up to, either. :)

I don’t think Belkar really does either.

Rimbo · 2009-01-09T15:51:15.000Z

Ed Solomon:

We don’t? He’s hungry and he wants a freaking sandwich.

I mean, besides that.

Alan_Au · 2009-01-09T15:58:01.000Z

Old Belkar: The rules suck.
New Belkar: The rules are flexible.

Post-transcendence Belkar is my new favorite character.

Alan

Rimbo · 2009-01-09T17:13:55.000Z

At least there weren’t any cryptograms

Morberis · 2009-01-12T21:28:18.000Z

Don’t Hate the Player Character…

Gendal · 2009-01-12T21:29:35.000Z

Alan Au:

Post-transcendence Belkar is my new favorite character.

I always thought he was perfect just the way he was. Turns out I was wrong. Who knew?

Hanacker · 2009-01-12T22:21:40.000Z

All I need to be happy are an endless supply of strips about Belkar and cheap sex jokes.

Crispus · 2009-01-17T08:35:37.000Z

New one’s up

Tortilla · 2009-01-17T19:04:23.000Z

I’m not sure I like the new guilt ridden nutsoid V. I appreciate that Burlew goes for interesting character development but I’m afraid we might be in for a few boring strips.

Dirt · 2009-01-17T19:09:40.000Z

I’ve always considered the proverbial shark jumped when an author insults his readers.

Sebmojo · 2009-01-17T23:18:18.000Z

There’s a theory that ‘the right four words, to the right person, for all the wrong reasons’ that will lead to ultimate power for V are “Disintegrate. Gust of Wind.”

Which is, y’know, plausible.