# 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:** 58
**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:** [September 25, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1141 "2010-09-25T13:56:43Z")
> [@Omi\_no\_Kami](#): > > What was the thing about halflings not being allowed to advance past level 8? That’s not something I remember hearing- was it a first edition rule or something? Back in the early days of D&D - and I mean Dungeon and Dragons, not \*Advanced \*Dungeons and Dragons - demihumans were character classes, with level caps of various heights (Halfling 8, Elf 10 and Dwarf 12). They could also get “attack ranks” past the level cap, which means their attack tables got better, but their HP, saving throws and spells remained the same. Just look in your Expert Set - it’s all there (although I think attack ranks were only introduced in the Companion Set). ---
**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:** [September 25, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1142 "2010-09-25T14:05:57Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > … demihumans were character classes, with level caps of various heights (Halfling 8, … Weren’t they called Hobbits in the early editions, until Tolkein’s estate objected? ---
**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:** [September 25, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1143 "2010-09-25T14:16:14Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@Alessan](#): > > > > … demihumans were character classes, with level caps of various heights (Halfling 8, … > > Weren’t they called Hobbits in the early editions, until Tolkein’s estate objected? That’s before even my time. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1144 "2010-09-25T14:39:52Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Just look in your Expert Set - it’s all there (although I think attack ranks were only introduced in the Companion Set). Oh, not the Expert Set. Belkar got knocked back to Basic. 🙂 (See, Rich explained the joke in the joke. Nicely, too.) ---
**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:** [September 25, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1145 "2010-09-25T14:46:50Z")
But the Basic Set only went to Level 5. I think Rich was referring to “Basic” D&D. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1146 "2010-09-25T18:11:42Z")
True, true. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1147 "2010-09-26T09:57:03Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@Omi\_no\_Kami](#): > > > > What was the thing about halflings not being allowed to advance past level 8? That’s not something I remember hearing- was it a first edition rule or something? > > Back in the early days of D&D - and I mean Dungeon and Dragons, not \*Advanced \*Dungeons and Dragons - demihumans were character classes, with level caps of various heights (Halfling 8, Elf 10 and Dwarf 12). They could also get “attack ranks” past the level cap, which means their attack tables got better, but their HP, saving throws and spells remained the same. > > Just look in your Expert Set - it’s all there (although I think attack ranks were only introduced in the Companion Set). AD&D level-limited halflings severely too - except as thieves. All demihumans were limited in most of the classes they could enter in 1st Ed; other than thieves, the few exceptions were half-orc assassins, and half-elven druids and bards (but those classes themselves have level limits). ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1148 "2010-09-27T18:25:00Z")
Hi. Can you guys help me out. I’m having a little trouble with the webcomics on the page. See, about six weeks ago I started out on Order of the Stick for the very first time. I started from the begining and read them in the downtime from work. And so when I was done with one page, I could click that little “next” button and it would go to the next comic and I could find out what happened and continue on with the storyline. But there seems to be an issue with comic #748. See, when I click on that, it just takes me back to the top of the same comic. That’s not the next comic. That’s the same comic. I want to find out what happens next. You know, like every other time I’ve pressed that button and gotten a new part of the story. I keep clicking it and it keeps sending me back to the page I’ve already read. I’ve already read that page! Where’s my new page? Where’s the rest of the story? There’s a Next Comic button and so clearly there must be a Next Comic! I think maybe I should complain to Rich’s webmaster. Maybe he doesn’t realize there’s a problem in the coding. This sucks. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1149 "2010-09-27T18:38:23Z")
On the chance that you’re serious, and not trying to whoosh us, it’s an ongoing comic. There’s a new page added every few days. #748 is the most recent. You’ll have to wait a while to see #749. They are posted at an irregular schedule. Sometimes 2 days apart, sometimes 2 weeks apart. No telling how long you’ll have to wait. ---
**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 27, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1150 "2010-09-27T18:55:24Z")
Pretty sure it’s a whoosh. Hey, **Enderw24** , why don’t you go read Erfworld while you wait? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1151 "2010-09-27T19:01:36Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Pretty sure it’s a whoosh. > > Hey, **Enderw24** , why don’t you go read Erfworld while you wait? No woosh on this, what’s Erfworld? I see that’s in the same grouping of GITP but I’ve not heard of it. Man, I haven’t played D&D in years and I’ve absolutely loved OOTS. It’s hilarious. I can’t believe I run through seven years of material already. Now I’m caught up with the stupid present and that’s not fun at all I’m going to be heading to my comic book store and see if they have the OOTS books I keep hearing about. ---
**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 27, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1152 "2010-09-27T19:55:08Z")
Erfworld is a completely separate webcomic, connected only in that it was originally hosted on the Giant in the Playground site. Synopsis, there’s this fantasy world which operates under rules which (to us) resemble a game, and a nation losing a war commissions a very powerful spell to summon the greatest warlord from anywhere in creation to try to save them. It turns out that the best warlord in all creation is a fat slob gamer from our world, who’s won thousands of battles… on his tabletop. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1153 "2010-09-27T19:57:17Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > No woosh on this, what’s Erfworld? I see that’s in the same grouping of GITP but I’ve not heard of it. \*Erfworld’\*s another webcomic. It’s by a different writer and artist but it used to be published on the same website as _Order of the Stick_, which is why they’re associated together. _Erfworld_ ended its first series and switched to a prose format (although it later switched back to a comic format) and moved to its own website for its later series. The early _Erfworld_ comics are still available at the Order of the Stick website. Look over to the left and you’ll see a section of links to comics. Or click [here](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/erf0001.html). The new website is [here](http://www.erfworld.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1154 "2010-09-27T20:01:00Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I’m going to be heading to my comic book store and see if they have the OOTS books I keep hearing about. You’ve likely come across this already in the thread, but let me stress the point – _On The Origin Of PC’s_ is a nice little read, but _Start Of Darkness_ is nothing short of a necessity. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1155 "2010-09-27T20:49:04Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Pretty sure it’s a whoosh. Maybe, maybe not. I’ve seen someone ask a similar question (different comic, different message board) in perfect seriousness, so it is at least possible. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1156 "2010-10-01T13:58:43Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > > > Pretty sure it’s a whoosh. > > Maybe, maybe not. I’ve seen someone ask a similar question (different comic, different message board) in perfect seriousness, so it is at least possible. It was a joke. But this isn’t. [Savings and Trust](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0749.html) is up. Ha. You old hands need to be more on the ball to let an OOTS newb like me get the scoop on you. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1157 "2010-10-01T14:12:58Z")
And rob you of the thrill of finding and reading the new strip first? Never! _One of us, one of us …_ I like where this is headed! Haley is as sharp as a tack. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1158 "2010-10-01T14:25:24Z")
What’s really annoying is checking to see if a new strip is up, then discovering from work that they posted it right after you left home! Giant In The Playground is blocked from work because it has “tit” in the url. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [October 1, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1159 "2010-10-01T15:23:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > What’s really annoying is checking to see if a new strip is up, then discovering from work that they posted it right after you left home! Giant In The Playground is blocked from work because it has “tit” in the url. :rolleyes: Well this strip does have gratuitous Haley cleavage. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323/1160 "2010-10-01T17:21:20Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > What’s really annoying is checking to see if a new strip is up, then discovering from work that they posted it right after you left home! Giant In The Playground is blocked from work because it has “tit” in the url. :rolleyes: Aw, gee, **silenus** , that’s really too bad. Especially because as much a fan of OotS as I was before, my enjoyment of the strip has just _skyrocketed_ – this most recent strip is breathtaking! I had no idea Rich Burlew was taking the story in this direction but suddenly so much makes sense! I feel vaguely sorry for the me of just a couple of hours ago, the me whose mind hadn’t been blown by the sheer perfection of … _OotS 749_. But, you know, I’m sure your working day will just fly by. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=57) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-5-discussion-thread/508323.md?page=59)