# 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:** 20
**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:** [September 27, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/381 "2012-09-27T20:58:57Z")
Meanwhile, in the text update, we learn something new about the nature of Erf: Jillian makes up a fake name for a nonexistent caster, but that fake name still somehow manages to fit the pattern of Erfworld names being Earth references. Did Jillian know that “Kiln Kenny” would be a suitable name for a Dirtamancer who makes ceramics? Did she know _why_ it would be a suitable name? And how do new units get their names, anyway? Are they named by those who pop them, or do their names just arrive with them, automatically labeled with their stats? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/382 "2012-09-27T22:35:29Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > I’m getting annoyed with the agonizingly slow story progress due to the multiple threads that keep getting juggled. Yeah. Parson started running down that damn tunnel in **May 2011**. It’s really hard to sustain a sense of urgency when it takes 30 strips (a third of Book 2!) for him to cover 50 yards. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/383 "2012-09-28T12:49:13Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And how do new units get their names, anyway? Are they named by those who pop them, or do their names just arrive with them, automatically labeled with their stats? We’ve seen that Wanda knew her name immediately on being popped. And Jillian could have met a Kiln Kenny who was a dirtamancer at some point in tim, and just appropriated the name for her ruse. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/384 "2012-09-28T12:53:49Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Yeah. Parson started running down that damn tunnel in **May 2011**. It’s really hard to sustain a sense of urgency when it takes 30 strips (a third of Book 2!) for him to cover 50 yards. I keep thinking “When are Itchy and Scratchy going to get to the fireworks factory?” ---
**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:** [October 1, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/385 "2012-10-01T14:29:13Z")
[New Text Erf](http://www.erfworld.com/2012/10/inner-peace-through-superior-firepower-%e2%80%93-episode-045/) that actually has some good info on captives’ upkeep and Turn order and such. And I wouldn’t have thought you could _do_ that with dwagons so easily, or else why don’t more Sides besides Gobwin Knob field dwagons? ---
**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:** [October 1, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/386 "2012-10-01T14:43:06Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > [New Text Erf](http://www.erfworld.com/2012/10/inner-peace-through-superior-firepower-%e2%80%93-episode-045/) that actually has some good info on captives’ upkeep and Turn order and such. And I wouldn’t have thought you could _do_ that with dwagons so easily, or else why don’t more Sides besides Gobwin Knob field dwagons? I suspect the fact that the dwagon “has just eaten three High Elves” may have facilitated the matter. I might have thought that normally you’d either need the Arkenhammer to make using dwagons a practical matter, but Jillian had expected it to already be a Haffaton mount so clearly other sides ARE using them. Maybe certain cities pop different mounts, and most of the ones we’ve seen have popped other things (gwiffons and so forth). ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/387 "2012-10-01T16:43:41Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I might have thought that normally you’d either need the Arkenhammer to make using dwagons a practical matter, but Jillian had expected it to already be a Haffaton mount so clearly other sides ARE using them. Maybe certain cities pop different mounts, and most of the ones we’ve seen have popped other things (gwiffons and so forth). Well, it’s already established that you can tame feral non-speaking units. Vinny tamed a feral bat at one point; it could be that this is a general ability, not a special thing for Transylvitians and bats, although his familiarity with the bats may have helped. It could be as simple as offering the feral critter “rations”. If it accepts, you’ve effectively “paid” its upkeep, and it joins your side. That’s essentially what Jillian did in this update. It might be classified as “natural Hippiemancy”. If so, the fact that Haffaton has a powerful Hippiemancer might result in them having an unusually high proportion of tamed units. The Arkenhammer, on the other hand, seems to automatically tame all dwagons. Additionally, it apparently gives your side the ability to pop dwagons, as the Arkendish gives Charlescomm the ability to pop archons. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/388 "2012-10-04T14:50:54Z")
[New Erf](http://www.erfworld.com/2012/10/book-2-%e2%80%93-page-91/) In related news, Monty Python’s Lancelot is still on the horizon running madly and should arrive in-shot any moment now. Any moment. Still running. Any moment now. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/389 "2012-10-10T03:41:12Z")
[Text update](http://www.erfworld.com/2012/10/inner-peace-through-superior-firepower-%e2%80%93-episode-046/) So, it appears that Charlie wants Jillian to escape-- There’s no way he’d turn down deals from both sides unless he had some ulterior motive. But why? Is he getting worried about the Thousand-Pounders getting too big for their britches, too? Or is he trying to prove something? And I think we can safely assume that the presence of the feral dwagon was somehow his doing, too. It just stretches coincidence too far otherwise, especially given that Fate is supposed to be punishing Jillian for choosing the very hard way. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2012, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/390 "2012-10-10T12:34:47Z")
That Archon called Haffaton and offered to recapture Jillian for them (for a price). Haffaton refused. Jillian wouldn’t reveal that she was a Faq unit, because she didn’t want Charlie to know anything more about Faq. And Charlie does not appear to have been involved at all in the call (we know he lets his Archons have some field autonomy by following Charlie’s Rules). Charlie obviously _is_ spying on Haffaton; that’s why the Archons were there. But he’s not using Jillian as a catspaw, and there’s no reason to think he had anything to do with that dwagon. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/391 "2012-10-10T22:51:39Z")
I just generally assume that Charlie has something to do with _everything_. ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/392 "2012-10-11T07:18:22Z")
New comic is up. The plot is threatening to think about moving forward. I don’t see why Parson needs lessons in the reality of war. Didn’t he get that in book 1? ---
**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:** [October 11, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/393 "2012-10-11T13:07:41Z")
Sheesh, this plotline is thudding along with all the speed of a car with square tires. I suspect that Parson is going to step through into a garrison aflame, just as Slately switches capitols (and burns up), stranding all of Parson’s casters in the Magic Kingdom. ---
**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:** [October 11, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/394 "2012-10-11T15:56:59Z")
I suspect Parson is going to step through just as the bombardment hits. After that, I got nothing. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2012, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/395 "2012-10-12T10:30:09Z")
New Erf > **[Book 2 - Page 92](https://archives.erfworld.com/Book%202/180)** > > Book 2 - Page 92 Guess who is still not thru the portal! ---
**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:** [October 22, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/396 "2012-10-22T16:47:48Z")
[Text Update](http://www.erfworld.com/2012/10/inner-peace-through-superior-firepower-%e2%80%93-episode-047/) Guess Wanda really did play around with other types of Casting… Oh, and the last comic didn’t have Parson go through the portal, either. But we all expected that, didn’t we? ---
**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:** [October 26, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/397 "2012-10-26T16:26:08Z")
At long last… [there is a new comic up.](http://www.erfworld.com/2012/10/book-2-%e2%80%93-page-94/) Wherein Parson does _not_ go through the portal, of course. Still more shoes to drop, apparently. Although I think we’ve been through the inventory of several Payless stores by this point. Whatever. Anyway, that’s probably Charlie with the “one last thing”, and looks like if/when Parson goes through, the Casters might not. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2012, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/398 "2012-11-16T11:29:17Z")
interesting tet update. Is Judy from Earth? is the nice man she let go Charlie? ---
**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:** [November 20, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/399 "2012-11-20T19:18:09Z")
New comic up. Looks like the Carny (Carnie…Carney?) is trying to get Parson through the gate now, right around the time the whole thing will come down on his head (that’s my prediction and I’m sticking to it.) ---
**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:** [November 27, 2012, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528/400 "2012-11-27T13:05:13Z")
He’s at the gate! Even has a drumroll from the crowd. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erfworld-book-2-discussion-spoilers/542528.md?page=21)