# 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:** 107
**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:** [May 14, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2121 "2011-05-14T16:56:13Z")
Since people are going to ask: MAD, among D&D nerds, means “multiple ability dependent”, referring to a class which needs several good ability scores to work well. The counterpart is SAD, “single ability dependent”, for a class that isn’t hurt much by 5 out of 6 scores being bad, so long as one is good. Strictly speaking, both Fighter and Barbarian are MAD, since in addition to strength, they also really ought to have good scores in Constitution and probably Dexterity. But a fighter who took a prestige class to add his Int bonus in combat would be even more MAD. Thog, by contrast, doesn’t bother at all with any of the mental ability scores, and so is much closer to being SAD than Roy is. ---
**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:** [May 15, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2122 "2011-05-15T04:11:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Thog, by contrast, doesn’t bother at all with any of the mental ability scores, and so is much closer to being SAD than Roy is. Only because there’s no puppies. But seriously, thanks for explaining the D&D in-jokes. I never played the system and I miss all of the references unless somebody points them out. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2123 "2011-05-25T00:10:31Z")
[New strip.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0792.html) Things look grim for Mr. Scruffy. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2124 "2011-05-25T00:16:46Z")
That is going to be one dead Ranger. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2125 "2011-05-25T00:18:30Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [New strip.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0792.html) Things look grim for Mr. Scruffy. Not as grim as they’re going to look for YukYuk once Mr. Scruffy finds Belkar… ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2126 "2011-05-25T00:57:39Z")
> [@thinksnow](#): > > That is going to be one dead Ranger. He should be so lucky. Belkar only kills people he’s mostly indifferent about. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2127 "2011-05-25T01:10:00Z")
Hopefully the pace will pick up. This might be the only strip that came out this month (can’t tell unless there’s a hidden or coded time stamp on each strip somewhere). ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2128 "2011-05-25T01:27:08Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Hopefully the pace will pick up. This might be the only strip that came out this month (can’t tell unless there’s a hidden or coded time stamp on each strip somewhere). The last two came out on the 4th and the 13th. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2129 "2011-05-25T01:35:07Z")
You can also check my scrolling up - this thread is pretty diligent! I hope Mr. Scruffy makes it… ☹ ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2130 "2011-05-25T03:25:16Z")
So, does it look to you like Qarr is deliberately shooting to miss? ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2131 "2011-05-25T03:26:08Z")
NOOOOO, NOT MR. SCRUFFY! Belkar is going to turn Yukyuk into a hat _and_ shoes _and_ a jacket. Either that, or Mr. Scruffy is going to run ahead and hide, leap out in ambush, and make Yukyuk imitate the late Eviceratus. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2132 "2011-05-25T05:40:08Z")
Prediction? Belkar. Jailbreak. Epicness ensues. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2133 "2011-05-25T08:29:49Z")
I can’t help but think that if Belkar dies saving Mr Scruffy’s life, he’s going to be VERY surprised which afterlife he ends up in. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2134 "2011-05-25T09:46:22Z")
Remember what Belkar did to an _old friend_ for even _talking_ about hurting/eating Mr. Scruffy. I don’t know who I fear for more: the cat or the kobold. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2135 "2011-05-25T11:45:53Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I can’t help but think that if Belkar dies saving Mr Scruffy’s life, he’s going to be VERY surprised which afterlife he ends up in. Bingo. I don’t know how anyone can think this means anything other than the end of Belkar…I mean, “they’re no real threat to us”?? C’mon… ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2136 "2011-05-25T17:35:36Z")
Prediction: Belkar dies saving Mr. Scruffy, and then, in his memory, the rest of the order turns Yukyuk’s head into a litter box. It’s what he would have wanted _sniff_ ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2137 "2011-05-25T17:49:28Z")
I think Mr. Scruffy’s demise is going to be the turning point of Belkars life. He might realize that his best friend died because he was lazy and apathetic. ---
**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:** [May 25, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2138 "2011-05-25T18:11:20Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I think Mr. Scruffy’s demise is going to be the turning point of Belkars life. He might realize that his best friend died because he was lazy and apathetic. Hmmmm, Interesting. If he reinvented himself and changed his name to reflect his worldview change, would that fulfill the death prophecies? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2139 "2011-05-25T18:32:18Z")
It’s a pretty poor ranger/rogue who can’t straight up kill a housecat by shooting at it. Especially considering this probably counted as a sneak attack (assuming the “don’t worry I won’t hurt you” bit was a successful bluff attempt). Note to mention, he must have taken at least Rapid Reload and some mounted combat feats instead of, y’know, good ones. I must admit I’d never thought about using two-weapon fighting with hand crossbows before though, that’s pretty clever. In a retarded way. In summation: who’s up for some extra-chunky salsa ? ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2140 "2011-05-25T19:26:58Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > It’s a pretty poor ranger/rogue who can’t straight up kill a housecat by shooting at it. Especially considering this probably counted as a sneak attack (assuming the “don’t worry I won’t hurt you” bit was a successful bluff attempt). > > Note to mention, he must have taken at least Rapid Reload and some mounted combat feats instead of, y’know, good ones. I must admit I’d never thought about using two-weapon fighting with hand crossbows before though, that’s pretty clever. In a retarded way. > > In summation: who’s up for some extra-chunky salsa ? As Mr. Scruffy is Belkar’s animal companion, he’s quite a bit tougher than the ordinary, Commoner-slaying house kitty. The OOTS forums at giantitp go into some details as to their guesses about Scruffy’s stats. And how the V vs Z duel is playing out, etc… They’re worth looking at anyways, for the sheer amount of their howls of rage over Scruffy getting shot. It’s funny, Belkar and Thog have killed how many innocent, hapless people, and both of their characters are amongst the most popular in the strip, but stick one housecat and suddenly you’re worse than Xykon and Bozzok combined. I agree with those of you who think this is it for Belkar. Sure going to be entertaining though to see who ends up taking Belkar down, and how Burlew makes it happen. (Hopefully, he’ll make it happen a little faster though. This two weeks between strips is ridiculous.) I wonder how Belkar’s going to be “kill” or “cause the death of” V before he dies though? [“And as for the elf—”](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0567.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=106) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=108)