# Order of the Stick - Book 5 Discussion Thread

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323>\
**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:** 2

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**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/21 "2009-09-01T15:03:16Z")

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I don’t think it is a line of people waiting to go in; more of a “two-way” road for the caravans that go out into the desert for their trek to other cities, and those that are arriving to Sandsedge after their crossing. Lots of people coming and going.

After all, our heroes have arrived there (if I am not wrong) by sea… There might be a seaport of some description at the _other_ edge of the city, not shown in the 1st panel.

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**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/22 "2009-09-01T15:06:32Z")

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He does like to start soft, doesn’t he?

As a storyteller, though, it does allow him to set the stage for this next cycle. We’ve done woodland, mountain, and city. This presents us a new terrain type and possibly new, and unfamiliar monsters for our heroes to overcome.

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**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 1, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/23 "2009-09-01T20:49:02Z")

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> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#):
>
> He does like to start soft, doesn’t he?
> 
> As a storyteller, though, it does allow him to set the stage for this next cycle. We’ve done woodland, mountain, and city.

And dungeon.

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**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 1, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/24 "2009-09-01T21:02:48Z")

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And [del]Heaven[/del]Celestia, of course.

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**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:** [September 1, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/25 "2009-09-01T21:43:44Z")

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> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#):
>
> As a storyteller, though, it does allow him to set the stage for this next cycle. We’ve done woodland, mountain, and city.

And ocean and island.

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**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\
**Post date:** [September 1, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/26 "2009-09-01T22:08:29Z")

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I have nothing to add to this discussion; I’m just pinging the thread because it was a convenient way to know when the new strip was up.

Yes, more convenient than an RSS feed.

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**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/27 "2009-09-02T04:08:26Z")

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A nice opening salvo! The desert appearance could get a bit samey but I’m not too worried about that; I didn’t even mind the blue of Azure City. I got a kick out of Elan’s disappointment at having been beaten to the string prize.

Of course, as a Vaarsuvius fan, I’m very glad to see that Blackwing is on V’s shoulder. Nice subtle characterization touch there by Rich (so subtle it’s easy to miss, in fact).

(BTW, I’m actually sad to see the other thread go. It was through its beginning that I was introduced to OotS, so curious was I by the Vaarsuvius/Ancient Black Dragon strip that was discussed there. I also love that it grew to become the second biggest thread in CS of all time – even beating the famous “If \_\_\_ wrote LOTR” thread!)

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**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/28 "2009-09-02T17:19:20Z")

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Sorry for the double post but I’m rather astonished there’s been a new strip ([#674: The Elf Who Cried Raven](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0674.html)) for a couple of hours and no one’s noted it yet!

Is Blackwing able to cast amnesia spells or something? It seems odd that the Order can’t remember him at all, especially Haley! Poor V, as if being ignored while paralyzed (and having one’s cloak used to cover Roy’s nekkidness) wasn’t bad enough. Heh. Well, as BW says, serves him/her right for forgetting a familiar for so long.

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**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:** [September 2, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/29 "2009-09-02T17:31:01Z")

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Four “laugh out loud” moments in one strip – nicely done, Rich!

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**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:** [September 2, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/30 "2009-09-02T17:39:04Z")

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> [@choie](#):
>
> Sorry for the double post but I’m rather astonished there’s been a new strip ([#674: The Elf Who Cried Raven](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0674.html)) for a couple of hours and no one’s noted it yet!

Woah, he’s fast!

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**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 2, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/31 "2009-09-02T17:47:58Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> (BTW, I’m actually sad to see the other thread go. It was through its beginning that I was introduced to OotS, so curious was I by the Vaarsuvius/Ancient Black Dragon strip that was discussed there. I also love that it grew to become the second biggest thread in CS of all time – even beating the famous “If \_\_\_ wrote LOTR” thread!)

And the longest thread that really belongs here-- The Diablo II thread really should be in the Game Room, except that it lived and died before that forum existed. The LotR thread is probably still the longest in absolute length, though (word count or bytes or whatever), since it tended to have long posts in it.

**CrazyChop** , coming off of a hiatus like this, he probably has a reserve of strips built up right now. So we’ll probably see a semi-regular MWF schedule for the next couple of weeks.

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**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\
**Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/32 "2009-09-02T17:54:19Z")

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I’m still thrilled to get another strip in such quick succession. I had figured he’d revert to a twice-weekly update system, (Monday-Thursday, I think, was one attempted OoTS schedule) so I was pleased to see a fresh comic this morning.

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**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/33 "2009-09-03T01:29:27Z")

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I foresee a Share Spell: Ray of Enfeeblement and a halfling cutely wriggling on the ground pinned by the weight of his light armor, followed by “Does anyone else wish to advance the hypothesis that Blackwing is not in fact my familiar?” in the near future.

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**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/34 "2009-09-03T06:51:25Z")

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For anyone looking at the thread in several months time, link to original

> **[Order of the Stick General Discussion Thread (Open Spoilers and Speculation)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=504715)**
>
> Ok, I’m now convinced that Burlew has indeed planned out the whole story arc. Today’s comic, number 628 brings in a character obliquely referenced once 440 comics earlier.and again in strip #572. Could this be what causes V to crack? Also, V has...

And if this is going to be the new real thread, could a mod change the title? Preferably including the full name of the comic, rather than initials.

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**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:** [September 3, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/35 "2009-09-03T15:07:12Z")

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I really, really liked Elan’s familiar…

😃

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**Author:** ![cletus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@cletus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cletus)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/36 "2009-09-03T22:18:17Z")

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Can a mod please change the title to include ‘Order of the Stick’ rather then simply OoTS? I skipped right past this thread yesterday. I’ll try reporting my own post and see if that gets a mods attention. Unless some of our mods are fans too.

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**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/37 "2009-09-03T22:30:31Z")

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> [@kaylasdad99](#):
>
> I really, really liked Elan’s familiar…
> 
> 😃

I was surprised it wasn’t a Psyduck. 🙂

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/38 "2009-09-03T23:22:19Z")

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Thread name has been changed, as requested.

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**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/39 "2009-09-04T07:25:48Z")

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It still says “staging area”. Could you change it to “Order of the Stick book 5 discussion thread” or similar?

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/40 "2009-09-04T10:21:15Z")

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OK, done. For future ref (this means everyone) please be specific when requesting title changes. I have no idea what any of this means or is about, so no way of knowing how to change to be more specific without clear direction. 😉

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