# 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:** 243
**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:** [January 30, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4842 "2013-01-30T23:51:51Z")
I’m surprised Haley missed noticing how to get past the traps. She said it herself: They were all triggered to go off if any of them was disabled. So, you just open the door and walk through, and leave them all intact and untriggered. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4843 "2013-01-31T01:39:01Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Belkar finally got his [mount](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0140.html). > > I predict he’ll try to keep it, not kill it. He is a ranger-can he charm a hell hound? ---
**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:** [January 31, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4844 "2013-01-31T03:05:06Z")
The ranger’s Wild Empathy ability works only on animals, and on beasts with an Int of 2 or less (at a penalty). Hellhounds are outsiders, not animals or beasts, and have an Int of 6. So, no. Of course, he _could_ try to befriend it the same way you’d befriend any sapient creature. But this is Belkar we’re talking about. So, no. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2013, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4845 "2013-01-31T03:08:17Z")
I really don’t think Mr. Scruffy would want any part of such an arrangement, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4846 "2013-01-31T04:15:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Of course, he _could_ try to befriend it the same way you’d befriend any sapient creature. But this is Belkar we’re talking about. So, no. He might learn to steer it with daggers embedded in its spine, though. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4847 "2013-01-31T14:42:23Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > That’s kind of been a feature of the strip since the beginning, actually. The characters are aware they’re in the world of a role-playing game, and also aware that they’re in a comic strip. Yes, but not _every_ strip. Seems like ever since Rich returned, he’s made some reference to his thumb or his long hiatus or whatnot in every strip. ---
**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 1, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4848 "2013-02-01T01:35:04Z")
There have been only three strips since he returned, and the second (the one with Blackwing and Vaarsuvius) didn’t have any fourth-walling. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4849 "2013-02-01T03:02:41Z")
OOTS, now with 33% less meta-commentary! ---
**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 1, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4850 "2013-02-01T04:23:22Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > He might learn to steer it with daggers embedded in its spine, though. Belkar would probably PREFER to steer it with daggers. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4851 "2013-02-07T20:51:57Z")
[868 is up.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0868.html) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4852 "2013-02-07T21:06:08Z")
Someone on the forums pointed out that the entire last row of panels show Mr. Scruffy freaking out. He obviously knows the scent of lizardman cleric when he smells it. This encounter probably won’t be good for SOMEONE, but damn if I know who… ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4853 "2013-02-07T22:10:06Z")
Wait… Why _is_ the lizardman-cleric there? What is his personal motivation? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4854 "2013-02-07T22:10:55Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > This encounter probably won’t be good for SOMEONE, but damn if I know who… If this plays out into a life or death encounter, Belkar is fucked. ---
**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 7, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4855 "2013-02-07T22:13:31Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > If this plays out into a life or death encounter, Belkar is fucked. I can’t imagine Belkar would die so ignominiously. It could happen, I guess, but it just doesn’t feel likely. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4856 "2013-02-07T23:42:17Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Belkar would probably PREFER to steer it with daggers. And, yep, he steers it with a dagger. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4857 "2013-02-07T23:58:26Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Wait… Why _is_ the lizardman-cleric there? What is his personal motivation? [Tarquin ordered him to come.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0822.html) ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4858 "2013-02-08T00:48:25Z")
> [@Trepa\_Mayfield](#): > > I can’t imagine Belkar would die so ignominiously. It could happen, I guess, but it just doesn’t feel likely. It has to do with how powerful a high-level cleric is. This won’t–and could never be–a fair fight. ETA: Isn’t the popular theory that Malack is considerably higher level than any of the OOTS, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4859 "2013-02-08T01:03:05Z")
I think they’ll have a calm discussion-IIRC Malack’s motivations here don’t dovetail very closely with those of Tarquin and/or Xykon. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2013, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4860 "2013-02-08T06:30:59Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I think they’ll have a calm discussion-IIRC Malack’s motivations here don’t dovetail very closely with those of Tarquin and/or Xykon. I was wondering the same thing. Malack and Belkar are kind of the outliers of their teams: along for the ride, willing to do whatever when when directed but not, hmm fanatical about their alignment…? I’m not sure how to state it. I can’t see them talking philosophy at length, but I can see some conversation may happen before fireworks start. Maybe. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2013, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/4861 "2013-02-08T10:09:41Z")
I feel that the last panel calls for a “ **DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUN!** ” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=242) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=244)