# 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:** 129
**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:** [September 20, 2011, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2562 "2011-09-20T07:51:11Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Is there some reason Nale is using a skull-wand to cast Enervation? Is it like a scroll, a one-time spell? Or a device that lets him cast higher level spells? Or does Nale just like carrying around a stick with a mini-skull to cast with? As Miller said. Basically, a wand is like 30+ one-time scrolls in a conveniently portable (and re-chargeable) form. They’re pretty useful for getting around limited spell slots, or casting spells that you don’t have yet (or are in your opposition school(s), in the case of specialist wizards), but high level ones can get ridiculously expensive. The cost is somewhat balanced by the fact primary spellcasters need less magical gear overall (whereas fighters, thieves & even clerics will need magical weapons, armours, shields, helmets of this, boots of that, ring of thingamabob, boosts in at least 2 or 3 stats…) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2563 "2011-09-20T11:52:19Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Ahhh I see…so what’s the punchline about, where Thor doesn’t know what he’s talking about? It’s a new spell he’s researching, not a standard one in the repertoire of Thor’s clerics. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2011, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2564 "2011-09-20T12:19:59Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > As Miller said. Basically, a wand is like 30+ one-time scrolls in a conveniently portable (and re-chargeable) form. Wands aren’t rechargeable in 3.x. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2565 "2011-09-20T15:56:38Z")
“Cleric’s _Feather Fall_”, hee hee. 😃 ---
**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 20, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2566 "2011-09-20T16:46:08Z")
> [@](#): > > They’re pretty useful for getting around limited spell slots, or casting spells that you don’t have yet (or are in your opposition school(s), in the case of specialist wizards) Specialist wizards can’t use wands from their prohibited school, as they’re considered no longer on their class spell list. Another thing they’re good for, though, is those spells that are really handy in specialized situations, but which are too specialized to prepare every day (ditto for scrolls). ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2567 "2011-09-20T20:08:28Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > It’s a new spell he’s researching, not a standard one in the repertoire of Thor’s clerics. Which leads me to wonder if it’s being used as a joke now so that when Durkon deploys it against Xykon, we’ll already be familiar with it and so will Thor. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2568 "2011-09-20T21:23:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Specialist wizards can’t use wands from their prohibited school, as they’re considered no longer on their class spell list. Another thing they’re good for, though, is those spells that are really handy in specialized situations, but which are too specialized to prepare every day (ditto for scrolls). Must be (once again…) a \*Pathfinder \*difference, then - in PF you still have access to spells in your opposition school, but they cost double the spell slots to memorize so essentially you never touch them outside of downtime, enchanting and such. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2569 "2011-09-20T21:28:50Z")
DnD noob question: what’s this about opposition schools? ---
**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 21, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2570 "2011-09-21T00:51:31Z")
A run-of-the-mill wizard can record in es book and cast any spell on the wizard spell list. But those spells are divided up into eight schools, and you can choose to specialize in one of those schools. Doing so gets you an extra spell slot of each level that has to be from that school (and assorted other minor benefits, but that’s the big one), so most wizards end up specializing. The downside, though, is that you have to give up access to two other schools. For instance, Vaarsuvius has chosen to specialize in Evocation (which has most of the 'splody spells), and has given up access to Conjuration (summoning monsters and teleportation, among other things) and Necromancy (spells dealing with death, negating life force, and so on). ---
**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:** [September 21, 2011, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2571 "2011-09-21T13:04:15Z")
Just ordered Snips, Snails and Dragon tales. Exactly the wrong time to ask this question but… Is it any good? ---
**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:** [September 21, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2572 "2011-09-21T13:44:28Z")
Much of it is. Especially the Stick parody of Hamlet- that’s just priceless. Back to the main: I betcha ten gold pieces the Masked Debt Gourd shows up next strip and saves the day. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2573 "2011-09-21T16:54:35Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > It’s a new spell he’s researching, not a standard one in the repertoire of Thor’s clerics. It’s also a running gag about Durkon’s accent. The brogue is so thick that even Thor & Co. can’t understand what he’s saying. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2574 "2011-09-21T17:00:11Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > Exactly the wrong time to ask this question but… Is it any good? It’s in roughly the same vein as Book 1: entertaining, but not even close to the best of the strip. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2575 "2011-09-21T23:33:27Z")
807 is up! [http://www.GiantITP.com/comics/oots0807.html](http://www.GiantITP.com/comics/oots0807.html) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2576 "2011-09-21T23:40:58Z")
Holy crap, did Belkar just have a moral epiphany? Also, [to save other folks having to dig through the archives…](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0783.html) ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2577 "2011-09-21T23:45:32Z")
New Theory: Belkar changes his name because he feels like a new person, so “Belkar breathes his last breath” because he becomes somebody else. That or he doesn’t change his name and it’s just a philosophical death, where one Belkar dies and the other is “born.” (I’m sure this has been thought of before). ---
**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:** [September 22, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2578 "2011-09-22T01:03:14Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > New Theory: Belkar changes his name because he feels like a new person, so “Belkar breathes his last breath” because he becomes somebody else. That or he doesn’t change his name and it’s just a philosophical death, where one Belkar dies and the other is “born.” (I’m sure this has been thought of before). That’s a valid interpretation of the oracle’s words. From a certain point of view. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2579 "2011-09-22T01:16:57Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Holy crap, did Belkar just have a moral epiphany? Is that what that panel was supposed to be? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2580 "2011-09-22T01:18:24Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > Is that what that panel was supposed to be? He was flashing back to the fight between the dragonkin and the lizardman, remembering Roy’s (?) words, and seeing them as himself and Mr. Scruffy. That’s actually the beginnings of empathy. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/2581 "2011-09-22T01:53:52Z")
A more burning question - why is Belkar wearing shoes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=128) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=130)