# 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:** 362
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7222 "2013-09-05T03:50:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s only running water that’s a problem, like rivers. The ocean shouldn’t be an issue. Good. Otherwise, we’d have to rule out the vampiric plesiosaur. (It was attacked by [vampire squid](http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/597/overrides/vampire-squid-found-to-eat-marine-snow-open_59706_600x450.jpg), no doubt.) Ahem. That aside, I find this quote from _Dracula_ notable: “It is said, too, that he can only pass running water at the slack or the flood of the tide.” Those would be the points at which the movement of water would be at a minimum, but it suggests that it applies to the ocean. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7223 "2013-09-05T04:29:08Z")
TV Tropes has a decent discussion about Vampires and running water. > **[Cannot Cross Running Water - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CannotCrossRunningWater)** > > Like garlic and salt, water is one of the common substances widely held to have special powers. Among other things, this means it can be used to protect against various creepy-crawlies and things that go bump in the night. Putting yourself across … Folktales are inconsistent on which creatures this works best, but it’s generally best against vampires, ghosts, and witches and wizards. For almost anything else, it’s still worth a try. … Symbolically, it makes sense for water to work as a barrier against certain monsters. Water is the source of life and so naturally works against the undead. … There are some variations as to what form of water will work. Almost always, the water must be moving, as discussed above. Rain or the ocean may or may not qualify, but rivers always do. Holy water, of course, packs extra punch, but is less frequently found about the landscape. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7224 "2013-09-05T05:34:02Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I think referring to that encounter as a “fight” is being over-generous, to say the least. Hey, Elan actually got some swordplay in against him. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7225 "2013-09-05T05:41:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Beats me. I barely know the regular rules of D&D.He was a Poochie character that appeared in the _Dragon_ strips (which can be read in the _Snips, Snails, and Dragon Tales_ collection). Just to clarify: Psteve was in one of the “Bonus” strips that were loosely based on the Dragon Magazine strips, but which actually only ever appeared in **Snips, Snails, and Dragon Tales**. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7226 "2013-09-05T05:42:30Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I’ve seen that used in a comic book once (although not with a T-Rex). I won’t name the book for fear of spoiling it, but it was surprisingly effective. Can you name it in a spoiler box for those of us who want to see it? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7227 "2013-09-05T05:57:58Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > Can you name it in a spoiler box for those of us who want to see it? TOP 10: The Forty-Niners. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7228 "2013-09-05T15:57:13Z")
[917 is up!](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0917.html) ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7229 "2013-09-05T16:19:32Z")
Even at somewhat low-level, wouldn’t Roy be leveling up rather quickly slicing through those mooks, or is it similar to the goblin-slaughter for Belkar? ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7230 "2013-09-05T16:22:53Z")
> [@thinksnow](#): > > Even at somewhat low-level, wouldn’t Roy be leveling up rather quickly slicing through those mooks, or is it similar to the goblin-slaughter for Belkar? Probably not worth much XP, given the ease with which Roy is one-shoting them. Also, whatever experience they might be worth is shared among the whole party, not just the person dealing the death blow. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7231 "2013-09-05T16:26:11Z")
It’s similar to the goblin-slaughter. Enemies that are too far below give no XP at all. The party might still get XP from the encounter as a whole, but that’s a bit more slippery on how to assign it. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7232 "2013-09-05T16:29:21Z")
I have to say, that panel where Belkar is kicking up sand and complaining about his rep … he just looks so cute and hilarious there. Almost like he’s dancing. And I just noticed Mr. Scruffy is helping him kick up clouds of sand as well. Ha! That raises the cuteness factor by at least an order of magnitude. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7233 "2013-09-05T16:33:19Z")
I note that Mr. Scruffy is demonstrating that his Int score is higher than Belkar’s, by actually trying to dig for cover. Whereas Belkar is spending his action complaining. Either that, or Mr. Scruffy thinks they’re in a sandbox and felt the call of nature. Also, any player I know would have had Haley and Elan attack _Tarquin_, rather than running back to help against the army. They not only had him somewhat isolated from other meat-shields, they even had him _flanked_. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7234 "2013-09-05T16:37:26Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Also, any player I know would have had Haley and Elan attack _Tarquin_, rather than running back to help against the army. They not only had him somewhat isolated from other meat-shields, they even had him _flanked_. Tarquin has also shown that he can solo the entire Order. And that he’s not above straight up murdering his own children if they don’t do what he wants. Fighting the army is probably the smart move, here. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7235 "2013-09-05T16:40:47Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > I have to say, that panel where Belkar is kicking up sand and complaining about his rep … he just looks so cute and hilarious there. Almost like he’s dancing. And I just noticed Mr. Scruffy is helping him kick up clouds of sand as well. Ha! That raises the cuteness factor by at least an order of magnitude. Man, you better just _hope_ Belkar isn’t a Doper, and following this thread… ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7236 "2013-09-05T16:54:17Z")
How crushed will Tarquin be when he finally learns that HE is the sub-boss, not “Xyklon?” ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7237 "2013-09-05T17:00:27Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > I note that Mr. Scruffy is demonstrating that his Int score is higher than Belkar’s, by actually trying to dig for cover. Whereas Belkar is spending his action complaining. > > Either that, or Mr. Scruffy thinks they’re in a sandbox and felt the call of nature. No, they’re both kicking up clouds of sand for concealment against the next cloud of arrows that will be coming after the crossbows are reloaded. Which, as Roy said, is a more useful action for Belkar to be performing than him killing two soldiers, then immediately dying. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7238 "2013-09-05T17:05:05Z")
And I think it’s interesting that Roy is basing his tactics around shielding the most vulnerable member of his team… Even though that’s Belkar. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7239 "2013-09-05T17:12:22Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Either that, or Mr. Scruffy thinks they’re in a sandbox and felt the call of nature. If I were at the bottom of a pit and an army was coming to kill me, I’d feel a “call of nature” myself. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7240 "2013-09-05T17:12:28Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Man, you better just _hope_ Belkar isn’t a Doper, and following this thread… Heh heh … I already made numerous comments about how cute my daughter and I think he is[sup]1[/sup] on the Giant in the Playground forums, and although people said similar things, no psychotic halflings ever came to my door to kill me. And you’d think if Belkar was going to hang out on message boards, it would be there, so I’m probably safe. [sup]1[/sup]Especially when he’s wearing his [hood for](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0107.html) [concealment](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0469.html) – don’t you just want to hug him and squeeze him and call him George in that “Piece of cake!” panel in 107 and that “Skullsy is here to stay!” panel in 469? Oh, hang on, someone’s at the dooUUUUURK ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7241 "2013-09-05T17:12:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And I think it’s interesting that Roy is basing his tactics around shielding the most vulnerable member of his team… Even though that’s Belkar. Roy’s a lawful good leader - he’s going to be loyal to his team whether they deserve it or not. The last time he wasn’t, he got called on it in the afterlife. I don’t think he’s making that transgression again. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=361) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=363)