# 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:** 431
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8603 "2014-01-28T23:09:13Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > [Yes](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0136.html). It is only on re-reading that strip that I realized the cat dragged in a dead parrot. The cat also dragged in a live snake. I don’t know the significance of that off-hand. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8604 "2014-01-28T23:11:51Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > The cat also dragged in a live snake. I don’t know the significance of that off-hand. Perhaps an eel, suitable for hovercraft ---
**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:** [January 28, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8605 "2014-01-28T23:17:03Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > longest brick joke ever I don’t understand why this is a brick joke, rather than just a random callback to someone we’ve tangentially met before. A brick joke requires a set-up and a payoff, which I don’t see here. ---
**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:** [January 28, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8606 "2014-01-28T23:25:23Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > The cat also dragged in a live snake. I don’t know the significance of that off-hand. Python. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8607 "2014-01-29T06:32:58Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Python. :smack: ---
**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:** [January 29, 2014, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8608 "2014-01-29T09:44:49Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > longest brick joke ever No, I think **8-Bit Theatre** decisively won that one with **9 years and 1200 strips** between setup and payoff. Plus, of course, this isn’t a brick joke but just a callback. I did look to see if the picture was there in the first strip (it isn’t) but even then that would just be a sort of Chekhov’s Gun. But regardless, it’s a fantastic punchline. ETA: Also nicely done: we’ve just seen a Wand of Sending discussed by Haley and Julio, so there was no need to explain this one. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8609 "2014-01-29T09:59:31Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > No, I think **8-Bit Theatre** decisively won that one with **9 years and 1200 strips** between setup and payoff. > > Plus, of course, this isn’t a brick joke but just a callback. I did look to see if the picture was there in the first strip (it isn’t) but even then that would just be a sort of Chekhov’s Gun. > > But regardless, it’s a fantastic punchline. > > ETA: Also nicely done: we’ve just seen a Wand of Sending discussed by Haley and Julio, so there was no need to explain this one. Ok, I’ve heard this one referenced before, but never was able to find it. Linky please? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8610 "2014-01-29T10:09:48Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > Ok, I’ve heard this one referenced before, but never was able to find it. Linky please? [Here](http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/03/20/episode-007-kamehameha-or-something/) and [here](http://www.nuklearpower.com/2010/02/20/episode-1221-longest-set-up-in-webcomic-history/). ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8611 "2014-01-29T23:05:06Z")
[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0942.html](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0942.html) New strip? Am I finally in first?? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8612 "2014-01-29T23:11:27Z")
> [@Gadarene](#): > > [New strip.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0942.html) > [@mlees](#): > > [942 But He Probably Has a Halberd Now - Giant in the Playground Games](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0942.html) > > New strip? Am I finally in first?? Nay. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8613 "2014-01-30T00:18:59Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Python. > [@shantih](#): > > :smack: :smack: It’s worth two. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8614 "2014-01-30T14:46:36Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Nay. ☹ ---
**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:** [February 5, 2014, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8615 "2014-02-05T11:33:26Z")
[New strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0943.html)! ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8616 "2014-02-05T12:27:16Z")
_Love_ the expressions in the second-to-last panel! Is there any significance to Bandana’s ordering the guy with the mop to go clean the deck? Just a sign that they’re tidying up in the wake of the fighting or did I miss some clever visual pun again? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8617 "2014-02-05T15:03:00Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > Is there any significance to Bandana’s ordering the guy with the mop to go clean the deck? Word of Giant says no. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8618 "2014-02-05T16:13:30Z")
It just illustrates that she’s currently in charge of the ship. “Swab the deck” is a command frequently given by ships’ captains in fantasy literature, and can be easily illustrated without words. ---
**Author:** ![satogata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@satogata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satogata)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8619 "2014-02-11T04:34:17Z")
[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0944.html](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0944.html) New strip! ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8620 "2014-02-11T04:39:42Z")
That’s a Gordian Knot if ever there was one… ---
**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:** [February 11, 2014, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8621 "2014-02-11T04:46:31Z")
> [@satogata](#): > > [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0944.html](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0944.html) > > New strip! Every time Roy’s little brother is mentioned (however obliquely) [that goddamn strip](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0496.html) comes back up into my memory and suddenly someone’s chopping onions in the room… ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/8622 "2014-02-11T04:47:07Z")
I love that Burlew is addressing one of the biggest problems in protracted, character driven epic settings: Nobody talks to each other and tells the people they trust all about all the crucial information they have. I gave up on The Wheel of Time because of that (not to mention the fact that the end goal was further away at the completion of every book). Keeping secrets like that just creates artificial drama. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=430) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=432)