# 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:** 228
**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:** [August 1, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4542 "2012-08-01T22:57:25Z")
> [@MHaye](#): > > However, when figuring the result of Holy Word, you compare Durkon’s caster level to the opponent’s _character level_ - which does not tale the level adjustment into account. Sabine has just taken a hammering. Note that Sabine’s character level is her monster HD plus her class levels, so her character level will be around 9, not 3. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4543 "2012-08-02T00:55:13Z")
I’ve got an idea for the title of Book 6: _Alignment in the Sand_. (Also, I want it on record that I predict, when _Haleo and Julelan_ finally gets written, Sara Greenhilt will be playing the part of the Nurse, Julio Scoundrel is likely to be Mercutio, and if JS is Mercutio, then Tybalt will be Thog). ---
**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:** [August 2, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4544 "2012-08-02T01:18:41Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > I’ve got an idea for the title of Book 6: _Alignment in the Sand_. I predict: _The Empire Strikes Bard_. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4545 "2012-08-02T03:04:50Z")
That one’s even better. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4546 "2012-08-02T17:51:29Z")
> [@](#): > > One of my greatest triumphs was having a cleric cast a Silence on another spellcaster…we knew we were going up against this guy, we’d been pursuing him for about six sessions, and we knew that he was a pure spellcaster. My cleric had just leveled up, and apparently the DM didn’t realize that if his Big Bad Boss failed a save against Silence, the Minions were just so many gnats to the party. Depending on how you did it, the enemy spellcaster might not even get a save. You could just cast it on an area and count on other methods (like, say, walls) to keep the caster in that area. Or cast it on your fighter, and just have him chase the spellcaster to keep him in range. Or cast it on some small object (I favored burrs) that you could then stick to the caster’s clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4547 "2012-08-02T23:38:36Z")
Note to self: Never DM a game with **Chronos** or **Lynn Bodoni**. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4548 "2012-08-02T23:44:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Depending on how you did it, the enemy spellcaster might not even get a save. You could just cast it on an area and count on other methods (like, say, walls) to keep the caster in that area. Or cast it on your fighter, and just have him chase the spellcaster to keep him in range. Or cast it on some small object (I favored burrs) that you could then stick to the caster’s clothes. I used to cast it on a coin or a rock, which someone in your own party could reposition if it became problematic. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4549 "2012-08-03T11:18:55Z")
Has anyone received the bonus Kickstarter PDFs from Rich yet? I don’t think they were released but I wanted to check. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4550 "2012-08-03T13:51:44Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > Has anyone received the bonus Kickstarter PDFs from Rich yet? I don’t think they were released but I wanted to check. According to his most recent update (from August 2) he’s completed the Belkar PDF and it’s somewhere in the production process. He’s begun work on the Dim Sun, Sir Francois, and Haleo and Julelan PDF’s. The O-Chul, Thekla, Cliffport PD, and Julio Scoundrel PDF’s haven’t been begun yet. ---
**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:** [August 3, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4551 "2012-08-03T14:01:14Z")
> [@vislor](#): > > Has anyone received the bonus Kickstarter PDFs from Rich yet? I don’t think they were released but I wanted to check. The Spring “Monster for Every Season” was released a while ago, with the uncolored line drawing version of the same just released. As noted above, the stories aren’t out yet but the Belkar story shouldn’t be too long in coming (which in Burlew-time means probably before the end of September if we’re lucky). And my package is still waiting on the damn Sticky Shticks. Grr. Stupid printers. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4552 "2012-08-03T14:39:12Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > According to his most recent update (from August 2) he’s completed the Belkar PDF and it’s somewhere in the production process. He’s begun work on the Dim Sun, Sir Francois, and Haleo and Julelan PDF’s. The O-Chul, Thekla, Cliffport PD, and Julio Scoundrel PDF’s haven’t been begun yet. Ah, missed that update. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4553 "2012-08-09T19:07:45Z")
[860 is up](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0860.html). It does bring up a question about the whole alignment thing: If Belkar reforms, will he still be Evil? ---
**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:** [August 9, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4554 "2012-08-09T19:19:25Z")
Oh, gods, that was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4555 "2012-08-09T19:35:31Z")
> [@Strassia](#): > > It does bring up a question about the whole alignment thing: If Belkar reforms, will he still be Evil? Well, it’s a process. I’d say he won’t, but he’s not there yet. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2012, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4556 "2012-08-09T19:44:20Z")
So, Belkar was deafened by Holy Word, but no other ill-effect? Remind me, what does that mean about his level vs. Durkon’s level? ---
**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:** [August 9, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4557 "2012-08-09T20:00:19Z")
I’m not in a position to comment on that, but I will note that deafness is pretty much the only effect suffered by Nale, as well. P.S. Many Thanks to **Strassia** for the sharp-eyed vigilance. I just hope we don’t have to wait _another_ two weeks for 861. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4558 "2012-08-09T20:12:45Z")
I didn’t notice until just now that it was Belkar, not Nale, saying they must have cast a silence spell in the last panel. Makes it even funnier. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4559 "2012-08-09T20:51:45Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Well, it’s a process. I’d say he won’t, but he’s not there yet. Holy Word doesn’t distinguish between Neutral and Evil. > [@SRD](#): > > \*\*Nongood \*\*creatures in a 40-ft.-radius spread centered on you ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4560 "2012-08-09T21:44:21Z")
I love Z’s whispered mispronunciation of “Gust of Wind”. So much for clearing the smoke. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4561 "2012-08-10T02:02:07Z")
Since the first time he did it (“I have deep-seated emotional problems! Die! Die! Die!”), Belkar in mid-air, knives out and grinning, is absolutely one of my favorite things. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=227) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=229)