In the same way that he understands the basics of spellcasting, despite not having any magical capabilities himself.
You can’t say that’s a bad thing. There may have been some coursework in ‘Your team and their classes: proper management’ in his MBA program.
Though I think Elan’s ability is more obscure. I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t covered and Roy has had to pick it up on the fly.
If Tarquin wasn’t at least as adept at it, I’d assign Genre Savvy to be a bard class feat. Nale having it is explainable by the fact that he IS a bard, the long way round.
From that it appears that, whatever bardic info he might have had, Elan didn’t at that point use it instinctively. If he did his ‘genre savvy’ ability would have led him to know instantly that the boyhood stories of he and Nale matched up.
I think it’s likely that Genre Savvy may be a bit cross-class for bards (or at least an optional) but Elan took levels in ‘Dashing Swordsman’ under Julio Scoundrel. Given the way he trained for that it appears that ‘genre savvy’ is a prime feat for that class. Note that Elan is ahead of Nale in how to use the feat over the last few strips.
True. I keep forgetting about Dashing Swordsman.
Pobrecito. Here, have a look at #796 to make up for it.
He’s used it before he became a Dashing Swordsman, though. See, for instance, the escape from the first gate explosion.
And he explained just a couple of strips ago that he didn’t realize that Nale was alive, despite all the conventions saying that he must be, because those same conventions dictate that it’s more dramatic for him not to realize. The same applies to his not realizing when they met that he and Nale were twins.
Well, Haley and the rest seem to have some grasp of the concept as well.
I haven’t played D&D for nearly thirty years, but if I ever do again, I swear I’m gonna try to convince the DM that my character has Genre Savvy as a feat…
Yup. Here’s an example of V explaining a genre convention to Elan:
Bastard.
For real this time.
Look like they may need another diamond.
That’s going to leave a mark.
Yikes!!
Great, another gigantic “Let’s cart Roy’s body around sub-plot.” Jesus, what a beat-down. And all that after the barb had lost his ax.
Be nice to see Durkon do something this arc besides rezzing Roy.
I’m liking the update rate for the strip though…
Is Roy Thnnking him with a rock or what is that.
It’s his fist.
Awesome! Thanks for the update!
And it’s presumably thnnking because of Thog’s damage reduction. Though even bare-handed, Roy should be able to do enough damage to get through that.
And the Order really needs to stop letting the Guild dictate the terms of engagements-- The Guild all seem to be optimizing to fight their opposite numbers, which gives them an edge. But if Roy and Vaarsuvius, for instance, were to trade opponents, they’d probably both have the advantage.