# Erfworld: Book 2 discussion (spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 9, 2010, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528 "2010-06-09T12:58:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/281 "2011-12-07T18:08:26Z")
Croakamancy certainly provides [an effective deterrent](http://www.erfworld.com/2011/12/inner-peace-through-superior-firepower-%E2%80%93-episode-014/) to unwanted attentions… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/282 "2011-12-20T14:19:59Z")
[New Update](http://www.erfworld.com/2011/12/inner-peace-through-superior-firepower-%e2%80%93-episode-017/) I confess, I’ve found this all-text digression less interesting that the one the summer before Book 2 started. But at least in this one, things are _finally_ starting to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/283 "2011-12-20T15:00:26Z")
More punnage: we get Mack Ramay (with “habitually knitted brows”) and Rex Cakes which I’m assuming is a play on [this](http://www.cakewrecks.com/). Le sigh. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/284 "2011-12-20T15:50:55Z")
What got Tommy? Poison kiss? I assume without an heir the Firebaugh side is now very vulnerable. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/285 "2011-12-20T16:39:18Z")
Poison kiss was my guess. And Goodminton besieged by _aerial_ units already implied they were toast. I’m thinking that when Overlord Firebaugh knows that Tommy is dead, he’ll have to trade Wanda just so his side can survive. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/286 "2011-12-21T02:14:13Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > More punnage: we get Mack Ramay (with “habitually knitted brows”) and Rex Cakes which I’m assuming is a play on [this](http://www.cakewrecks.com/). > > Le sigh. Just for completeness, Larry Ansell is [ancillary](http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ancillary). ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/287 "2012-01-11T05:55:33Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > [New Update](http://www.erfworld.com/2011/12/inner-peace-through-superior-firepower-%e2%80%93-episode-017/) > > I confess, I’ve found this all-text digression less interesting that the one the summer before Book 2 started. But at least in this one, things are _finally_ starting to happen. That new update was #17. The current issue is #20. I’m having trouble figuring out the pun/logic behind the spell that Wanda casts: “Dobler,” she incanted, “Tatum, Samuelsson, McSorley…” The tower rumbled. “Cobb!” Wanda shouted. “Rose!” If it helps, the spell makes the tower double in height. Li[nk to #18.](http://www.erfworld.com/page/3/) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/288 "2012-01-11T06:11:30Z")
Not sure. Ty Cobb and Pete Rose are two of the only three MLB players to hit over 700 doubles in their careers, but the other three names don’t even appear on a list of guys who hit 400. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/289 "2012-01-11T06:25:57Z")
Are they all baseball players? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/290 "2012-01-11T06:28:30Z")
Ah, no. One is Kru Bryan “Double Dose” Dobler, who does Muay Thai martial arts. So “Double” is the theme. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/291 "2012-01-11T06:35:16Z")
Now that I know to include the word double in the google: Cameron Tatum plays basketball and got at least one double-double. Per wiki A double-double is an individual basketball performance in which a player accumulates a double digit number total in two of five categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots. Cool. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/292 "2012-01-11T07:03:33Z")
Mikael Samuelsson scored twice and Chris Osgood made 19 saves as the Detroit Red Wings skated to a 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final in 2008. Or, Mikael Samuelsson Vs Nathan Oystrick Double Roughing Penalties, 2009. Or, there are a bunch of articles where he’s referred to as having double trouble or is saying that someone else is double trouble. Not sure exactly. Seems like kind of a stretch. And there’s a mathematician named John P. McSorley who wrote [such things as:](http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/do/search/advanced?q=author%3A%22McSorley%22%20AND%20author%3A%22John%22%20) Cyclic Permutations in Doubly-Transitive Groups Double Arrays, Triple Arrays, and Balanced Grids with v = r + c - 1 and Counting Structures in the Möbius Ladder (Abstract begins: The Möbius ladder, Mn, is a simple cubic graph on 2n vertices. We present a technique which enables us to count exactly many different structures of Mn, and . . . ) That seems like a stretch, too. Neither of these two may have been what was intended. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_w](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b77776/32.png) [@matt\_w](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_w)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/293 "2012-01-13T20:40:50Z")
You guys inspired me to think about the spell. Conrad Dobler, Jack Tatum (NFL), Marty McSorley, Ulf Samuelsson (NHL), Ty Cobb, and Pete Rose (MLB) were all notoriously dirty players. Many of them were known for injuring opponents; Pete Rose in the All-Star game collision with Ray Fosse at home plate, Marty McSorley concussing Donald Brashear with a two-handed stick attack, Jack Tatum paralyzing Darryl Stingley, Ulf Samuelsson with a knee-to-knee check on Cam Neely. Cobb was known for sharpening his spikes and there’s an amazing picture of him delivering a flying kick to an opposing catcher’s crotch as he comes into the plate. I don’t know if there’s an iconic injury Dobler inflicted, but he’s number one on [this](http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/dirtiest/players.html) list of dirtiest players, and the rest are on that list or the [readers’ list](http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/readers/dirtiest/players.html) (though Rose is way down in the Honorable Mentions). So I’m convinced it’s a list of dirty players. But why? Because it’s a Dirtamancy spell? I think Balder just makes a lot of these jokes for his own amusement and those of whoever gets them. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/294 "2012-02-13T16:00:14Z")
Anyone still reading this? Interesting story line, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/295 "2012-02-13T16:06:19Z")
Interesting but a tad slow. BTW, anyone still reading Sluggy Freelance may have spotted a Hamstard cameo a few weeks ago following the appearance of Bun Bun in the last proper Erfworld comic. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/296 "2012-02-13T17:01:59Z")
This prequel storyline has fairly killed my interest. Not so much the slowness – things were fairly slow through the “Love is a battlefield” storyline already, and I was still interested. It’s just so _dull_. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/297 "2012-02-23T01:09:52Z")
Interesting update (Episode #26). I’m not sure though, is Goodminton attacked and destroyed, or was the side simply disbanded? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/298 "2012-02-23T03:21:29Z")
Goodminton was attacked: That’s why the numbers were dwindling before the end. Lord Firebaugh saw that he had no chance to save the city, so he did the only thing he could: He drained the treasury nearly completely to promote his daughter all the way to Overlord (i.e., replacing himself), with the residual going into that tiny green gem. He’s literally given her _everything_. When the last defender fell, the city fell (razed or captured, it doesn’t matter), and since it was the side’s last city, the side fell, which is what caused Wanda to become a barbarian and all remaining Goodminton units not stacked with her to disband. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/299 "2012-02-23T04:09:30Z")
It does go a long way toward explaining why Wanda is no mere _subject_ of Stanley’s. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/300 "2012-02-23T05:01:51Z")
Actually, one minor addendum: She didn’t get the rising feeling (the promotion) at the same time as the overlord special senses, so he probably actually promoted her to Heir, and then got croaked, at which she was automatically promoted to Overlord. It might not actually be possible for an Overlord to replace himself directly, and even if it were, it wouldn’t be worth spending any extra Schmuckers on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528.md?page=16)