# 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:** 369
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7362 "2013-09-13T01:18:56Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Wouldn’t a mercenary most likely be True Neutral? It probably depends on the type of mercenary. Members of a company of mercenaries are part of a hierarchy, give and/or follow orders, and risk their lives in combat for a contract. That strikes me as pretty Lawful. On the other hand, a lone-wolf bounty hunter type is more likely to be True Neutral. ---
**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 13, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7363 "2013-09-13T01:22:19Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Wouldn’t a mercenary most likely be True Neutral? Depends on the kind of mercenary. The sort who does anything he’s paid to do and always keeps to his contract would be LN. On the other hand, the sort who regards being a mercenary as a way to rape-pillage-burn while being paid for it would obviously being some variety of Evil. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7364 "2013-09-13T03:13:40Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > I thought they lost it when Malack blew them off of it back in #[849](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0849.html). I don’t remember them saying later that they recovered it. > > Edit: Oh, and if they had it, wouldn’t they have used it to fly away from the explosion, instead of riding it out in the sarcophagus? OK looking at it. I had remembered that the V controlled minion had it. But I realize that it’s been long gone and it was before the explosion that the carpet was last seen. I think Burlow is a better storyteller than to pull it back out as a convient McGuffin. So OotS plan A; run away, into the rift they go is my wager. ---
**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 13, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7365 "2013-09-13T03:18:19Z")
And the Giant has said that the two mercenaries we’ve seen prominently, Ganji and Enor (the lizardfolk and half-ogre) were both true neutral, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7366 "2013-09-13T03:19:50Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Who says the army \*is \*volunteer? Don’t dictatorships generally have a lot of conscription? No one did. I didn’t, either, as I wrote in the post you quoted: > [@Knorf](#): > > I’m not assuming many in Tarquin’s army are exactly volunteers. Conscription is part and parcel of a LE regime, one might assume. So that would mix alignments more, but CG and CN are likelier to go AWOL. I started talking about volunteer armies simply as a beginning to explore the ideas of alignments likely to be found in armies in an alignment-based fantasy setting. > [@Chronos](#): > > Belkar follows Roy’s orders well enough, as long as Roy is ordering him to kill something (and Belkar doesn’t care too much just what). And I’m sure that Tarquin would be able to find good use for someone like Belkar, too. Though not necessarily in the regular troops. Indeed. Chaotic characters will always chafe at the bureaucracy, regimentation, and discipline required by an army. As **Jophiel** and I noted, CE characters are going to be problems in a disciplined army, especially without a lot of intimidation and fear. The OotS is hardly a disciplined squad in any sense. Roy’s control of Belkar is fairly complex. But as long as Belkar sees following Roy’s orders as being in his interest, it works out. > [@](#): > > Alignments of individuals can also be influenced by culture. There are probably more lawful evil people in societies ruled by a lawful evil dictator than there are in good-led lands. One would so suppose. It would depend on the setting. > [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Wouldn’t a mercenary most likely be True Neutral? I suppose you’re right. Just cause is probably not required, and probably would never be a particularly strong motivating factor regardless. Just self-interest. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7367 "2013-09-13T03:23:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And the Giant has said that the two mercenaries we’ve seen prominently, Ganji and Enor (the lizardfolk and half-ogre) were both true neutral, as well. Were they actual mercenaries? Or just bounty-hunters? I’m not remembering. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7368 "2013-09-13T17:50:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And the Giant has said that the two mercenaries we’ve seen prominently, Ganji and Enor (the lizardfolk and half-ogre) were both true neutral, as well. You meant “half-dragon”, of course. ---
**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 13, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7369 "2013-09-13T20:27:22Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > You meant “half-dragon”, of course. [A half dragon, half ogre actually](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0721.html). ---
**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 14, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7370 "2013-09-14T01:09:57Z")
But yes, I did mean to say “half-dragon”. Big blue sparky guy. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7371 "2013-09-14T01:24:19Z")
But is the dragon half full, or half empty? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7372 "2013-09-14T07:55:55Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > [A half dragon, half ogre actually](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0721.html). However, the wings, reptilian head and lightning breath are the noticeable features. That and being freakin’ _huge_, of course. ---
**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:** [September 14, 2013, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7373 "2013-09-14T08:08:49Z")
Since V’s about to come back, I don’t think retreat is necessarily Option A for the Order. With 5 able-bodied members (plus Belkar, creating concealment), maybe the Order could take all these guys. Now if they have to go head-to-head against Tarquin and his party, they’re in trouble. ---
**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 17, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7374 "2013-09-17T20:31:26Z")
New one: [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0919.html](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0919.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7375 "2013-09-17T20:41:36Z")
V to the rescue! ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7376 "2013-09-17T20:55:02Z")
That’s why people play magic users: It’s a long slog of being too easily killed and not having enough spell slots for the day, but eventually you get to a level where your presence or absence can turn the tide of epic battles. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7377 "2013-09-17T21:07:02Z")
Yay, V! Woot! I figure V’s also pretty full-up on spells, since I think all she’s cast today were [Pass Wall, Quickened Expeditious Retreat](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0857.html) and [Bugsby’s Pounding Fist](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0896.html). (I’ve wondered about this before: why does V refer to Roy as, “Sir Greenhilt” ?) ---
**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:** [September 17, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7378 "2013-09-17T21:28:40Z")
I was totaling in my head all the stuff V doesn’t know about yet: - Z-person is dead. - Malack is dead. - Durkon is dead, sorta. V does know about Nale being dead, since she watched that on the hell-plasma screen. And I’m sure she already knew Tarquin was an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7379 "2013-09-17T21:57:24Z")
Key to modern (snerk) warfare is air superiority. However what or who does Daddy Tarq. have as a counterstrike? If V can be equaled or beat back, or the hoard is big enough to outlive V’s spell slots and Durkula’s potions I still see the gang heading toward the rift. ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7380 "2013-09-17T22:05:55Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I was totaling in my head all the stuff V doesn’t know about yet: > > - Z-person is dead. > - Malack is dead. > - Durkon is dead, sorta. > V does know about Nale being dead, since she watched that on the hell-plasma screen. And I’m sure she already knew Tarquin was an asshole. All of that stuff happened before Nale died. V should know about all of that. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/7381 "2013-09-17T22:08:39Z")
Hmmm. Tarquin is not stupid, nor is he a noob. He must have a contigency plan to conteract wizards in army/battle situations. (Would that be the Psion’s role?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=368) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=370)