# 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:** 184
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3662 "2012-02-21T16:41:19Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I was never much of a D&D player. Somebody educate me on the Ranger class. > > As Gray Ghost pointed out, Belkar appears to have skipped all the useful skills that come from being a Ranger. Given Belkar’s personality, the general image of Ranger doesn’t seem like a natural fit for him (I see him more as somebody who would have majored in Assassin Studies). So is there some in-joke about why Belkar would have chosen to become a Ranger? Two weapons. ---
**Author:** ![martu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@martu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martu)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3663 "2012-02-21T17:09:48Z")
$1,254,120 That’s a lot of Roy magnets. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3664 "2012-02-21T17:10:09Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Then there’s Haley sort of rationalizing her actions by pointing out that Y has rogue levels, while cleverly not stating how many, whether it’s more than she has, or whether Y’s Search skill is anywhere near her’s. Haley is lying through her Rogue teeth there. Freshmouth has _some_ rogue levels, but he also has Ranger levels and a feat-heavy combat build, which means that even _if_ he’d maxxed out his Disable Device skill each and every level he’d have less than her… provided she’d maxxed hers. Which she apparently didn’t - presumably her leading the Resistance had her rush-buy points in more social skills, leaving her pure Rogue skills lagging. Basically she’s just afraid she’s going to intercept traps with her face and would rather have the kobold do it. @ **Little Nemo** , back in 2nd edition, which the strip canonically started in, dual wielding was ridiculously overpowered, and rangers got it for free. Then 3rd edition came, and with it came ranger nerfs (also halfling nerfs - they used to have advantages to dodging for being small, and no penalties whatsoever to damage for being small at the same time). Basically, if Belkar re-rolled today he’d be, I dunno, a half-orc barbarian or a human fighter/weaponmaster or a Svirfneblin monk or something. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3665 "2012-02-21T17:12:51Z")
> [@martu](#): > > $1,254,120 > > That’s a lot of Roy magnets. Lousy cheapskates couldn’t cough up another 6K? Wassamatta U? ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3666 "2012-02-21T17:13:02Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > back in 2nd edition, which the strip canonically started in Did it? The first strip shows them switching from 3rd to 3.5, but I don’t remember any references to 2nd. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3667 "2012-02-21T17:16:56Z")
Ever hear of Drizzt? > **[Drizzt Do'Urden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drizzt_Do%27Urden)** > > Drizzt Do'Urden (/ˈdrɪtst doʊˈɜːrdɪn/) is a fictional character appearing in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Drizzt was created by author R. A. Salvatore as a supporting character in the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Salvatore created him on a whim when his publisher needed him to replace one of the characters in an early version of the first book, The Crystal Shard. Drizzt has since become a popular heroic character of the Forgotten Realms s A (little too) badass of the Forgotten Realms setting. (He could track, though.) ---
**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:** [February 21, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3668 "2012-02-21T17:17:32Z")
> [@cckerberos](#): > > Did it? The first strip shows them switching from 3rd to 3.5, but I don’t remember any references to 2nd. I thought it was from 2nd to 3rd ? My edition-fu is way rusty though, so you’re probably right. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3669 "2012-02-21T17:21:03Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > What’s inherently evil about animating the dead ? I guess there would be a consent argument, same as harvesting organs, but beyond that I honestly don’t see what’s the big, or how the “it depends what you do with them” argument wouldn’t apply. Black Dog (which I think was a division of White Wolf) had a d20 fantasy setting that included a city of good/neutral necromancers. As I recall, the attitude of the general population was that at death, the spirit/soul went on to the afterlife, the body at that point was just parts and they were fine with letting the necromancers use it to assist in the general welfare of the city. I believe the necromancers generally kept to skeletal-type undead, both for sanitary reasons and prevent problems of family members recognizing the undead. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3670 "2012-02-21T17:30:31Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Black Dog (which I think was a division of White Wolf) had a d20 fantasy setting that included a city of good/neutral necromancers. As I recall, the attitude of the general population was that at death, the spirit/soul went on to the afterlife, the body at that point was just parts and they were fine with letting the necromancers use it to assist in the general welfare of the city. > > I believe the necromancers generally kept to skeletal-type undead, both for sanitary reasons and prevent problems of family members recognizing the undead. It wasn’t Black Dog, it was Sword & Sorcery Studios, a different division of White Wolf that was for their D20 stuff. The city was Hollowfaust, and it was part of the Scarred Lands campaign setting. The general alignment of the city (as much as a city has an alignment) was Lawful Neutral. It was a really interesting take on the concept - I recommend picking up a copy of “Hollowfaust: City of Necromancers” if you get a chance. It’s out of print now, alas. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3671 "2012-02-21T17:32:04Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > It’s up to 1,220,519 with two hours to go. I even refreshed from about 10 minutes ago and it had jumped approximately $3,500. > > At that rate, it’ll make it. $6K short! So sad–now we’ll never know what mystery prize #whatever would have been. ☹ ---
**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:** [February 21, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3672 "2012-02-21T17:40:01Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > $6K short! So sad–now we’ll never know what mystery prize #whatever would have been. ☹ Rich lowered the line to 1.5million for the final chart. Maybe he has a change of heart. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3673 "2012-02-21T17:47:03Z")
I guess Durkon healed V’s sore foot along with his dragon-inflicted injuries. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3674 "2012-02-21T18:32:54Z")
Yeah, I love that V is in line along with the Oracle, the hobgoblin, that one rogue from the Thieves’ Guild, some Northern soldier, one of the slavers, a goblin ninja… ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3675 "2012-02-21T20:24:25Z")
Belkar question: In D&D ver 3.0, weren’t Rangers required to pick a “hated foe” every now and then? Did Belkar pick kobolds? 🙂 Is Mr. Scruffy his “animal companion”? ---
**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 21, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3676 "2012-02-21T20:40:47Z")
Belkar’s favored enemies are _probably_ reptilian humanoids, humans, elves, and goblinoids. Though it’s hard to tell, given that he hates pretty much everyone. And Mr. Scruffy is certainly his animal companion. ---
**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 21, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3677 "2012-02-21T20:42:11Z")
Oh, and a matter of terminology: The moral axis of alignment is good vs. evil, while the ethical axis is law vs. chaos. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3678 "2012-02-21T22:39:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Belkar’s favored enemies are _probably_ reptilian humanoids, humans, elves, and goblinoids. Though it’s hard to tell, given that he hates pretty much everyone. His favoured enemies are obviously: 1. living creatures 2. the undead ---
**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:** [February 21, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3679 "2012-02-21T22:49:16Z")
Oh, Belkar likes at least some female humans. Or perhaps I should say that his first impulse isn’t to kill them. ---
**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 21, 2012, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3680 "2012-02-21T23:19:05Z")
Actually, it’s pretty clear that undead are _not_ on Belkar’s favored enemy list, since he complains that it’s no fun to kill them. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/3681 "2012-02-21T23:56:40Z")
There are two types of people in the world: those who Belkar wants to kill, and those who… nevermind, there’s just one type of person. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=183) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=185)