# 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:** 310
**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:** [July 18, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6182 "2013-07-18T20:32:50Z")
'Spose. It’ll no doubt take the Order awhile to get to Kraagor’s Gate. Even if they _had_ V, V can’t teleport. I wonder if the book will actually end soon, or if we’ll go right to Kraagor’s Gate and get even more frenetic. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6183 "2013-07-18T21:32:30Z")
I am certain it has been mentioned before, but this medium lends itself to a certain uncertainty as to when a story might end. If this were a movie or a book, we could judge where in the narrative we were. The former would have a known (or estimated) running duration and the latter could easily be determined by the amount of pages left to read. In this medium, we only have a vague notion of when The Giant might decide to end the book. There was speculation that the 900th episode would be end of the book, but now that we have seen episode # 901, I suppose all bets are off. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6184 "2013-07-18T22:24:47Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > Now some distinctly crazy speculation: > If the Snarl World is supposed to be our world (or one like it), I wonder if it was created by the Snarl itself. I’ve been thinking on Roy and Celia’s discussion of the OotS world and how weird it would be to be in a world without skill points and a guaranteed appropriate afterlife and such. Just FYI, in **Don’t Split the Party** , Rich specifically states that the world-in-the-rift is not our world. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6185 "2013-07-19T00:18:15Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > I am certain it has been mentioned before, but this medium lends itself to a certain uncertainty as to when a story might end. If this were a movie or a book, we could judge where in the narrative we were. The former would have a known (or estimated) running duration and the latter could easily be determined by the amount of pages left to read. In this medium, we only have a vague notion of when The Giant might decide to end the book. There was speculation that the 900th episode would be end of the book, but now that we have seen episode # 901, I suppose all bets are off. It’s not like we’ll get a definitive strip that says “this is the end of book 5”. It could have already passed and the book hasn’t been published yet. Or we could have 50 strips to go. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6186 "2013-07-19T00:49:12Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > Just FYI, in **Don’t Split the Party** , Rich specifically states that the world-in-the-rift is not our world. Ah, I was unaware of that. Thanks! Good to know! ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6187 "2013-07-19T01:11:00Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > It’s not like we’ll get a definitive strip that says “this is the end of book 5”. It could have already passed and the book hasn’t been published yet. Or we could have 50 strips to go. Oh… OK. That make sense. Thanks, Wramblin Wreck Person. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6188 "2013-07-19T01:24:57Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > It’s not like we’ll get a definitive strip that says “this is the end of book 5”. It could have already passed and the book hasn’t been published yet. Or we could have 50 strips to go. Actually, [each book-ending](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0120.html) [strip so far](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0300.html) [has explicitly said](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0484.html)[it was one.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0672.html) The book will presumably end soon, but hasn’t yet. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2013, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6189 "2013-07-19T06:13:09Z")
So while we’re waiting for the next update: is it realistic in 3.5 rules that if O-Chul [received a Paralyzing Touch](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0448.html) from Xykon he would be [effectively indestructible](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0463.html) for the duration of that effect? I’ve reviewed the d20 notes on lich’s abilities, and it doesn’t seem to support this, but I’m very much a noob re all this D&D shit. Thoughts? My guess is that O-Chul’s indestructibility was an extended joke, not an actual feature of Paralyzing Touch. And if the answer is “Yes, if O-Chul got bit with that effect, he’s indestructible! For now!”, might we assume V is under that sort of effect from the TFs? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6190 "2013-07-19T10:46:07Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > So while we’re waiting for the next update: is it realistic in 3.5 rules that if O-Chul [received a Paralyzing Touch](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0448.html) from Xykon he would be [effectively indestructible](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0463.html) for the duration of that effect? I’ve reviewed the d20 notes on lich’s abilities, and it doesn’t seem to support this, but I’m very much a noob re all this D&D shit. Thoughts? My guess is that O-Chul’s indestructibility was an extended joke, not an actual feature of Paralyzing Touch. > > And if the answer is “Yes, if O-Chul got bit with that effect, he’s indestructible! For now!”, might we assume V is under that sort of effect from the TFs? O-Chul wasn’t indestructible because he was paralysed, O-Chul was indestructible because he was O-Chul. Even when he wasn’t paralysed, this was a guy for whom “wait in the tank of acid for a shark to bite me” is a viable escape plan. There are some really cool archetypes you can make work in 3.5, thanks to the massive array of options available. For example, one of the characters I created was a Drow who was so ridiculously prepared for a fight that he could respond to an ambush and sneak attack the ambushers to death _before the ambush was even sprung_. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6191 "2013-07-19T14:42:27Z")
[New one](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0902.html) Guess I was wrong about seeing sand. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6192 "2013-07-19T14:54:11Z")
You son of a beach! ---
**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:** [July 19, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6193 "2013-07-19T15:12:47Z")
This is a situation that could easily be remedied by a well placed fireball. Hint hint. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6194 "2013-07-19T15:31:35Z")
My guess? This is when Malack and his crew reappear and join in the fight. They’ll be as much of a target as Roy and his people are. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6195 "2013-07-19T15:34:04Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > This is a situation that could easily be remedied by a well placed fireball. Hint hint. Nah, it’s a silicon elemental. Hit it with a lightning bolt. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6196 "2013-07-19T15:42:36Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Nah, it’s a silicon elemental. Hit it with a lightning bolt. I’m a bit slow this morning. A fireball would, presumably, turn it into glass. WHat would a lightning bolt do to it? ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6197 "2013-07-19T15:58:49Z")
> [@Silophant](#): > > Actually, [each book-ending](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0120.html) [strip so far](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0300.html) [has explicitly said](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0484.html)[it was one.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0672.html) The book will presumably end soon, but hasn’t yet. I would like to withdraw my previous statement :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6198 "2013-07-19T17:25:18Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m a bit slow this morning. A fireball would, presumably, turn it into glass. WHat would a lightning bolt do to it? Well, in practical terms, the lightning is at least as likely to cause vitrification as a fireball; lightning does that in real life, producing [fulgurites](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgurite). I was, however, making an oblique joke about silicon-based semiconductors, which are extremely vulnerable to lightning damage. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6199 "2013-07-19T17:34:48Z")
Ah, gotcha. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6200 "2013-07-19T18:09:20Z")
I don’t really get the “weapons pass right through” concern. They all have enchanted weapons, I’d guess that they’d injure it the same way adventurers have always injured air/fire/water elementals – you hit it with your enchanted weapons until it stops moving. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/6201 "2013-07-19T19:01:48Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I don’t really get the “weapons pass right through” concern. They all have enchanted weapons, I’d guess that they’d injure it the same way adventurers have always injured air/fire/water elementals – you hit it with your enchanted weapons until it stops moving. DND3.5/PF introduced the “golf bag” of weapons concept. Instead of needing +X to hit, it might require a specific type of weapon, such as cold iron, good, or blunt. It’s even possible to combine two, such as magic AND good or blunt AND adamantine. Further, a creatures Damage Resistance (DR) is usually listed with a number that is subtracted from damage but no less than zero. So, blunt/5 means that if you don’t use a blunt weapon, the first five points of damage are negated. In this case, I think an elemental’s DR is 5/-, although a greater could be 10/-, such that all attacks subtract ten from the damage. (DR was introduced in 3E, as opposed to 2E or earlier’s “only +x or better weapons to hit”, which negated all damage unless you met the requirement.) Hope this helps. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=309) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=311)