# Order of the Stick - Book 5 Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 31, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323 "2009-08-31T04:09:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 103
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2041 "2011-04-18T23:53:27Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > That leaves an intentional attempt to disable, and while Roy’s certainly LG enough to try it, I’m not sure why he’d be trying to with _Thog_. Thog’s bad-ass enough to really harm or kill Roy if Roy’s pulling his punches, I can’t imagine Thog having any knowledge about Nale, and I can’t see Tarquin letting Roy walk hand in hand out of the arena with Thog. I think it was just Roy’s way of getting his attention, so he could call Thog out properly. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2042 "2011-04-19T01:12:52Z")
I’m with **Kobal2** on Roy’s blow being a non-lethal strike. It explains the sound effect and the lack of a slash line, plus it fits Roy’s alignment. Roy’s lawful good. In a one-on-one duel, I don’t see him stabbing the other guy in the back. It’s not a fair blow, and as a lawful person, he’d likely be concerned about that sort of fairness. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2043 "2011-04-19T01:42:10Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m with **Kobal2** on Roy’s blow being a non-lethal strike. It explains the sound effect and the lack of a slash line, plus it fits Roy’s alignment. Roy’s lawful good. In a one-on-one duel, I don’t see him stabbing the other guy in the back. It’s not a fair blow, and as a lawful person, he’d likely be concerned about that sort of fairness. I completely agree. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2044 "2011-04-19T03:44:21Z")
> [@](#): > > the fact that Roy’s going upside Thog’s head didn’t even leave one of the little red lines that Burlew uses to indicate damage…well, that doesn’t bode well for Roy. I also agree that this was a non-lethal attack, designed to get Thog’s attention and make him quite playing to the crowd and get into the fight. Also, as my father always said, “where there’s no sense there’s no feeling.” Basically, it’s impossible to damage Thog by hitting him on the HEAD. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2045 "2011-04-19T14:48:14Z")
Both are armoured. The thing about fighters is that they get lots of feats. Say they’re both 15th level. Thog has 5 feats total; Roy has **14** feats, of which 8 must be fighter feats. This is probably going to be a war of attrition. We’re going to see if Roy’s +4 damage for Weapon Specialisation and Weapon Mastery are enough to counter Thog’s Barbarian Rage. Given his high Int, Roy’s probably got Expertise and Improved Expertise too. Hmm… do we actually know that Thog’s a Barbarian? Sure he dresses like one, but have we actually seen him Raging? ---
**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:** [April 19, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2046 "2011-04-19T14:57:00Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Hmm… do we actually know that Thog’s a Barbarian? Sure he dresses like one, but have we actually seen him Raging? Thog only took two levels of fighter. Fighter level three is stupid level, Thog not take. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2047 "2011-04-19T15:32:11Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Hmm… do we actually know that Thog’s a Barbarian? Sure he dresses like one, but have we actually seen him Raging? He’s in their guild. > **[142 Misdirection and Subterfuge - Giant in the Playground Games](https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0142.html)** ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2048 "2011-04-19T15:35:24Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > We’re going to see if Roy’s +4 damage for Weapon Specialisation and Weapon Mastery are enough to counter Thog’s Barbarian Rage. The answer is no. When Thog rages, he’ll _also_ get +3 to hit and +4 damage for his higher strength, as well as the extra 45 hit points. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2049 "2011-04-19T16:03:48Z")
> [@MHaye](#): > > Also, who’s Thog been talking to for crying out loud? “Update on relationship status?” Thog shouldn’t manage more than one word with two syllables in a sentence. A four syllable word should melt his brains - and unlike hp, Thog’s got very little reserves for ability damage. I dunno–Thog has irregularly burst out with surprising vocabulary, even though his grammar is uniformly atrocious. [Here](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0064.html), for instance: “thog reluctantly forced to agree!” As I look at that quote, I realize that his capitalization leaves a lot to be desired as well. I’m not sure exactly what verbal behavior this is supposed to represent. Or are the word-balloons part of the OotS universe too? That could explain a few things … ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2050 "2011-04-19T16:28:20Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > Or are the word-balloons part of the OotS universe too? They can see if someone is talking in black and red. > **[584 Improbable Causes - Giant in the Playground Games](https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0584.html)** ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2051 "2011-04-19T17:11:56Z")
thog only pawn in game of life. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SKRma7PDW10/hqdefault.jpg "Mongo only pawn in game of life") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKRma7PDW10) ---
**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:** [April 19, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2052 "2011-04-19T17:51:01Z")
I think the lack of capitalization harkens back to Calvin and Hobbes, when Moe the bully would always talk in boldface lowercase. It’s become standard for dumb, musclebound characters in comics since then. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2053 "2011-04-27T21:58:53Z")
[789 is up](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0789.html). ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2054 "2011-04-27T22:07:28Z")
Okay, raise of hands: who saw _that_ coming? _crickets chirping_ No, me neither. I’ve gone through all the strips since we met “Polozius”- and sure enough, he’s never spoken until now. Not once. Just glaring at V. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2055 "2011-04-27T22:12:08Z")
Nope, I was totally blindsided. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2056 "2011-04-27T22:17:36Z")
V may have changed a lot over the past few hundred strips, but he still takes his time getting to the point, huh? ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2057 "2011-04-27T22:18:12Z")
It’d be just like Nale to intentionally place Thog in the arena for some byzantine plot, but since he’s been there for a while, it can’t have been related to Elan’s presence. He’s up to something. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2058 "2011-04-27T22:28:33Z")
Most likely, Nale just doesn’t give much of a damn about Thog. Nale likes him, a bit, but not enough to risk himself in any kind of rescue. He’s just perfectly happy to abandon Thog. It’s no plan at all. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2059 "2011-04-27T22:34:30Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > V may have changed a lot over the past few hundred strips, but he still takes his time getting to the point, huh? He also let his/her hair grow long - so Z got a haircut. Opposites! Interesting point made on the OOTS forum; we now can guess who was spying on the Order earlier. [Compare](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0698.html) the [colors](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0789.html) of the magic auras. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2060 "2011-04-28T00:31:57Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Interesting point made on the OOTS forum; we now can guess who was spying on the Order earlier. [Compare](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0698.html) the [colors](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0789.html) of the magic auras. Or even [earlier](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0065.html). It’s one of the things I love about this story. Burlew actually plots out little details like this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=102) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=104)