# 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:** 263
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5242 "2013-03-06T03:35:29Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Perhaps next we should postulate that Malack is really a kobold who answered an “Increase your tail size in just 2 weeks!” ad back when he was alive, and his stubby little legs are just dangling up in his robes somewhere. 😃 Good Christ, that’s his dick? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5243 "2013-03-06T03:47:34Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Good Christ, that’s his dick? I said nothing of the sort! Just something that would almost inevitably lead you to that mental image. Besides, snake or lizard, he’s more likely to have hemipenes. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5244 "2013-03-06T04:57:22Z")
So now I’ve lost track – was 878 “Little Brother” the 8th or 9th daily one we’ve had? Edit: nm, I see it was the 8th. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5245 "2013-03-06T05:08:12Z")
> [@](#): > > I said nothing of the sort! Just something that would almost inevitably lead you to that mental image. Besides, snake or lizard, he’s more likely to have hemipenes. [Indeed](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0738.html). ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5246 "2013-03-06T05:10:40Z")
And we’re up. [879.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0879.html) ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5247 "2013-03-06T05:14:58Z")
We’re all asking that question, Belkar. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5248 "2013-03-06T05:18:39Z")
You have to expect the floor is going to be shaky when you go breaking the fourth wall like that. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5249 "2013-03-06T05:32:00Z")
I wonder how much the title of the strip also applies to Rich after finishing strip #9 in nine days. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5250 "2013-03-06T05:40:56Z")
I guess that answers my question upthread re: will Belkar remember what happened while held/dominated. Yes, he will. Does. Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5251 "2013-03-06T08:09:08Z")
Rich has confirmed via Twitter that #879 was the Kickstarter-promised 9th strip in a row, so there won’t be any more this week. But what a time to do them, huh? ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5252 "2013-03-06T08:17:44Z")
Belkar is showing concern for the well being a second creature that’s not himself. He keeps this up, they might revoke his sociopath license. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5253 "2013-03-06T08:32:19Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Said “snake features” mostly being scales and a snake head. The variants table shows a 20% chance of a variant with no legs, so I’ll grant you that much. As to the abominations’ status in society–“Our snake-people are different.” My only problem with that is that this would be the first time that OotS has ever used the “Our X are different” trope, and doing so (particularly with such an important character) feels like a violation of the comic’s main theme, which is exploring an absolute bog-standard D&D world through characters who are dimly aware of the tropes and archetypes that populate their world. I mean, Rich doesn’t write his comic with much attention to whether the stats make sense, but has there ever been a character or monster in the comic (other than the Snarl, I suppose) that didn’t come directly out of a D&D sourcebook? I’m not really 100% sold on the yuan-ti explanation, and I’d probably be happier if Rich just didn’t bother addressing it in the comic. But it’s the only way I can see to make Malack’s character work without assuming the Rich has suddenly started inventing entirely new species, or radically redesigning existing ones, neither of which are things that he’s done before now. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5254 "2013-03-06T10:16:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I don’t know the vampire rules for D&D. Is it possible that Malack is shape-shifting? It’s a relatively common trait for high-level vampires and it would explain why a lizardfolk would suddenly have a long anaconda-like tail. After hanging around with Tarquin for years, someone would learn that changing into a snake never helps. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5255 "2013-03-06T13:05:03Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > …has there ever been a character or monster in the comic (other than the Snarl, I suppose) that didn’t come directly out of a D&D sourcebook? TBD: see the MitD ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5256 "2013-03-06T13:18:15Z")
How is it possible for such a minimally-drawn cat to look so forlorn as Mr. Scruffy does when he lays down next to Belkar? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5257 "2013-03-06T14:20:17Z")
> [@thinksnow](#): > > TBD: see the MitD We don’t KNOW that, though. 99% of the speculation on what the MitD is has been things out of the various MMs (and/or Deities & Demigods). ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5258 "2013-03-06T14:25:02Z")
That’s why **thinksnow** put “TBD.” it stands for _To Be Determined._ ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5259 "2013-03-06T14:49:10Z")
> [@thinksnow](#): > > TBD: see the MitD Burlew has said he didn’t make up whatever the MitD is. ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5260 "2013-03-06T14:51:25Z")
> [@thinksnow](#): > > TBD: see the MitD IIRC, Burlew has said that it’s a creature from a sourcebook, not just something he made up. Edit: Bah, ninjaed ---
**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:** [March 6, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/5261 "2013-03-06T14:52:05Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Belkar is showing concern for the well being a second creature that’s not himself. He keeps this up, they might revoke his sociopath license. Maybe. Or he might just realize how dangerous the situation has become and think he needs to stick with the rest of his group for his own survival. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=262) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=264)