# 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:** 215
**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 18, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4282 "2012-05-18T20:21:25Z")
[#853 is up](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0853.html) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4283 "2012-05-18T20:30:15Z")
Ooh…some dissension in the ranks. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4284 "2012-05-18T20:50:15Z")
Comments on 853: [spoiler] Dwarf toss! & Haley backstabs! Finally, using a weapon other than her bow. 🙂 & Whew! V’s eyes aren’t little x’s![/spoiler] ---
**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 19, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4285 "2012-05-19T01:19:41Z")
A speculation. I wonder if the three fiends were somehow behind that trap. We know they have future plans for Vaarsuvius and we know they regard the Linear Guild as their pawns. So maybe they set up V’s entrapment to keep V safely out of the way while the Linear Guild attacks the Order of the Stick - they don’t want their pawns killing each other off. ---
**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 19, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4286 "2012-05-19T22:39:20Z")
I just noticed Tarquin doing the “hand on the short guy’s forehead” thing while Belkar is trying to stab him. Ah, it’s nice to see the classics… ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4287 "2012-05-19T23:25:08Z")
Well I have a better sense of Malack’s alignment and POV now. He seems LE, not to mention impatient. I noticed his dwarven pal didn’t get flamed. And Malack doesn’t wholly respect Tarquin’s authority, at least without good reason. Interesting strip. I’m fairly meh on Tarquin, but I really like Redcloak. And Malack doesn’t seem like such a bad guy – just be sure to stay on his good side. He seems more predictable and therefore manageable than, say, Belkar. Upthread, I see that others have differing character affinities, which is refreshing: we’re not all simply glomming on to the protagonist. Not bad for a stick figure comic. ---
**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 19, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4288 "2012-05-19T23:58:58Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I just noticed Tarquin doing the “hand on the short guy’s forehead” thing while Belkar is trying to stab him. Ah, it’s nice to see the classics… I don’t think so. It doesn’t look like he’s making contact with the forehead. Looks more like the arm is out for balance. It’s just occurred to me. In the old days, they wouldn’t have fall;en into the trap, what’s more, Durkon could [jump over it unassisted](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0004.html). They’re not improving, they’re getting worse. ---
**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 20, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4289 "2012-05-20T00:04:44Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I don’t think so. It doesn’t look like he’s making contact with the forehead. Looks more like the arm is out for balance. I disagree - note that Belkar is “whiffing” his attempts to slice Tarquin. He doesn’t have the reach and can’t move in because he’s being held back. ---
**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 20, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4290 "2012-05-20T00:47:44Z")
I don’t think so. Those two blue lines next to Tarquin’s helmet look like movement lines to me, indicating that he is dodging Belkar’s knives by moving his body out of the path. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4291 "2012-05-20T06:14:32Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > It’s just occurred to me. In the old days, they wouldn’t have fall;en into the trap, what’s more, Durkon could [jump over it unassisted](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0004.html). They’re not improving, they’re getting worse. You are wrong on two points. One, it’s much easier to avoid falling into an open pit than it is to avoid falling through a well concealed trapdoor. Two, your own cite explicitly states that Durkon was _not_ jumping unassisted - Elan was magically making Durkon better at jumping - an effect equal to a difference of two feet. ---
**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 20, 2012, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4292 "2012-05-20T10:29:06Z")
Someone on the OOTS forum has made the following observation: > [@not me](#): > > So Tarquin, the military supreme commander hunting the Gate, has cautioned Nale against the AoE acid and fire spells, because they gave away position? > > So the searchin’ General warns: smoking ziggurats may be hazardous to your stealth. Just thought I’d share. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4293 "2012-05-20T11:09:09Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Someone on the OOTS forum has made the following observation: > > Just thought I’d share. :smack: ---
**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:** [May 20, 2012, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4294 "2012-05-20T11:33:00Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Someone on the OOTS forum has made the following observation: > > Just thought I’d share. Wow. ---
**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 20, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4295 "2012-05-20T15:19:04Z")
There should be a foundation that awards large cash prizes and sound beatings to folks who can come up with ones like that. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4296 "2012-05-20T15:46:54Z")
Several small furry mammals were slightly offended when the previously posted bad pun was created. These creatures are now fashioning a new counter-offensive that will undoubtedly a weaponized pun of some sort. ---
**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 20, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4297 "2012-05-20T16:20:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Well I have a better sense of Malack’s alignment and POV now. He seems LE, not to mention impatient. I noticed his dwarven pal didn’t get flamed. And Malack doesn’t wholly respect Tarquin’s authority, at least without good reason. He doesn’t wholly respect _Nale_’s authority. As far as Malack (and probably Kilkil) is concerned, Tarquin is the leader of the party, and we don’t know what plans they agreed to out of Nale’s earshot. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4298 "2012-05-21T02:20:51Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > There should be a foundation that awards large cash prizes and sound beatings to folks who can come up with ones like that. Reader’s Digest paid somebody at least a few dollars for that one back in the nineteen-sixties. Please don’t ask how I know that. And I’m not aware whether the payment was accompanied by a beating. ---
**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 21, 2012, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4299 "2012-05-21T12:28:41Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Just thought I’d share. Wars have started over less. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4300 "2012-05-27T04:10:19Z")
[854](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0854.html) ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4301 "2012-05-27T04:26:50Z")
Nice double-cross. Wait… triple-cross? Hmmmmm… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=214) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=216)