# 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:** 46
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/901 "2010-06-11T17:13:09Z")
I have the RSS feed for OotS, but for whatever reason I often find out about the new strip here before it appears on my list. Still, thanks to the magic of different time zones, I find the new strip before anyone else here posts it just often enough that I’m encouraged to keep checking. In fact, let me just pop over to [www.giantitp.com](http://www.giantitp.com) to see if … Damn. I’ll check a bit later just in case. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/902 "2010-06-12T03:57:00Z")
> [@Randy\_Seltzer](#): > > You know, GITP has an [RSS feed](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots.rss) for OotS. I dunno how to work those new-fangled things. Besides, I like the discussion here. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/903 "2010-06-16T19:51:35Z")
it’s up! [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0729.html](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0729.html) ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/904 "2010-06-16T20:08:51Z")
Woo! I’ve already got a grin on my face anticipating what the Belkinator is going to do in the next strip. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2010, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/905 "2010-06-17T11:39:27Z")
I noticed that the folks at the table in the background are even distracted by the lightning. Pretty jaded crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/906 "2010-06-17T12:03:30Z")
I like how Belkar is just quietly launching Plan B: track them to wherever they live and work it from there. No demonstrations, no braggadoccio, no nothing. Just go with it. ---
**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:** [June 18, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/907 "2010-06-18T16:49:21Z")
I meant that the folks in the background are NOT even distracted by the lightning. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/908 "2010-06-19T07:15:51Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I meant that the folks in the background are NOT even distracted by the lightning. We knew what you meant, H - T. Don’t sweat it. I wonder how long before Roy recovers. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/909 "2010-06-19T19:45:00Z")
He’s not actually incapacitated in any way. For a fighter of his level, half-dragon breath is about the equivalent of someone sneaking up and shouting “Boo!”. Enough to get his attention, but won’t really hurt him in any significant way. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/910 "2010-06-19T23:50:34Z")
Is it me, or did the Order go up a couple levels recently? Ignoring the Wall of Blades, I could walk off, but when the lizardman comments on it specifically, it means the rogues, and even the wizard, are _that tough_. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/911 "2010-06-20T00:42:02Z")
I don’t think the lizardman is actually all that tough. Reference his conversation in the bar with Sparky, talking about all the buff spells and potions they used to be able to allow them to take down --part-- of the Order. And yeah, a blade barrier is something like 15d8 damage. That’s an average of 60 points right there, or 30 with a save (which an incapacitated mage likely will not get, and 2 rogues encumbered with a falen mage probably suffered some huge penalties to their save as well). Considering a 10th level mage, without a con bonus, has a max HP of 40, it’s pretty impressive. And Elan had already taken quite the beating from Sparky (I don’t think his name is actually Sparky, but I like it for a nickname, for now). Tough is a pretty good adjective for the Order, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/912 "2010-06-20T12:26:07Z")
I have to say, I never really got into TOOTS online, even though I found the individual strips pretty funny. A couple of weeks ago, though, my Comic Book Shop Guy\* told me that I really should read the books, and I bought _On the Origin of PCs_. I LOLled repeatedly. I grappled my husband and read some of the strips to him. I went back to the Comic Book Shop, and bought the only other issues he had in stock, #1 and 4. I read #1, and now I have been reading the online version, until I can get to #4. I don’t know why reading the strip online didn’t do it for me before, and now it does…but after this session of reading the SDMB, I’m gonna go back and read some more. And I WILL be buying #2 and 3 in dead tree version when the Comic Book Shop gets them back in stock. I haven’t been following this thread, because I want to avoid spoilers. If Haley ever hooks up with Elan, I don’t want to know about it until it happens, for instance. And I can’t pick a favorite character, dammit. Usually I have one or two favorite characters, but in TOOTS, they’re all favorites. \*He almost never steers me wrong, so I’m happy to buy the initial book of a series on his recommendation. I can always give it to someone else, or donate to the library. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/913 "2010-06-20T14:56:08Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Is it me, or did the Order go up a couple levels recently? Ignoring the Wall of Blades, I could walk off, but when the lizardman comments on it specifically, it means the rogues, and even the wizard, are _that tough_. In the fall of Azure City, V appeared to be 15th level. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/914 "2010-06-20T18:38:03Z")
No, in the Fall of Azure City, e was 13th (es mass spells that effect one target per level hit 13 targets). 15 is probably correct for right now, though. > [@](#): > > And Elan had already taken quite the beating from Sparky (I don’t think his name is actually Sparky, but I like it for a nickname, for now). The evil high priest dude cast a Heal spell on him, though, so he was back in peak shape. And the two bounty hunters are pretty high level, too, considering how quickly the smart one recovered from a Power Word: Stun. They probably could have survived chasing the heroes through the Blade Barrier, if they were getting paid enough for it. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/915 "2010-06-25T10:15:20Z")
[New strip #730](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0730.html) in which we learn Roy has some decent strength to go with his intelligence. “Sparky” weighs about 400 lbs? Nice going leader man. Plus he doesn’t even have a scratch on him from the breath attack. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2010, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/916 "2010-06-25T10:23:57Z")
Our pussycat friend has a devious streak, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/917 "2010-06-25T11:04:35Z")
1. Mr. Scruffy is a kittycat. They’re all devious. 2. Mr. Scruffy’s previous slave was a devious SOB. 3. Mr. Scruffy’s current slave is a psycopath, although Belkar is usually not terribly devious, he is becoming more so after his little talk with the ghost of whatshisface. I am now current on the comic. My daughter is visiting for a couple of weeks, and so far she’s read On the Origin of PCs and Dungeon Crawling Fools. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/918 "2010-06-25T13:54:25Z")
Hey, Belkar hasn’t even drawn his weapons. That’s progress. Last bar brawl he was in, he killed everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/919 "2010-06-25T14:24:19Z")
Yay, bar brawl ! _checks former strips_ Aww, this bar doesn’t seem to have a chandelier. It’s not a proper bar brawl unless someone’s swinging from chandeliers, or at the very least dropping them on someone… ---
**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:** [June 25, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/920 "2010-06-25T14:28:16Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > 1. Mr. Scruffy is a kittycat. They’re all devious. 2. Mr. Scruffy’s previous slave was a devious SOB. 3. Mr. Scruffy’s current slave is a psycopath, although Belkar is usually not terribly devious, he is becoming more so after his little talk with the ghost of whatshisface. > > I am now current on the comic. My daughter is visiting for a couple of weeks, and so far she’s read On the Origin of PCs and Dungeon Crawling Fools. Now you just need to read _Start of Darkness_ and your journey to the Dark Side will be complete. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=47)