# Order of the Stick - Book 6 Discussion Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755 "2014-03-03T16:07:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 164
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3261 "2017-02-09T21:39:17Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > We’re not allowed to discuss politics and current events in the GitP forum, and it may not be an especially good idea here, but what the hell. > > Did anyone else see a parallel between Andi’s reaction to barely making it past the mountain with probably some damage and a certain person who’s recently become a world leader? Someone who thinks they had a landslide victory when they actually squeaked out a technical win? I have no idea if this was intentional, but I can’t help but think so. Not only is this a stretch, but I’d really be happy if we didn’t confuse a tragicomedy about the end of the world brought about by a deranged fossil and his evil henchmen with my favorite web comic. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2017, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3262 "2017-02-09T22:14:55Z")
I’m pretty sure that he started planting the seeds for this mutiny before the election, and I imagine that he intended right from the start to show that the chief mutineer was unsuited for leadership. Plus, “incompetent leadership” is about the only commonality between Andi and Trump: She’s extremely competent in her proper role, she took power through a sudden mutiny instead of through a protracted legitimate election, she’s a young woman instead of an old man, she has good hair, etc. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3263 "2017-02-09T23:31:49Z")
Yes, you’re right, Chronos. Politics has been on everyone’s (certainly mine) mind way too much the last half year or so, so this kind of thing jumps out at me where it wouldn’t under more usual conditions. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3264 "2017-02-10T00:55:06Z")
Besides everyone knows Xykon is the strip’s Trump stand-in. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3265 "2017-02-21T15:34:51Z")
**[1066](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1066.html)** Not worth the wait, IMHO. I probably need to take a hiatus from viewing the strip. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3266 "2017-02-21T15:36:59Z")
On the plus side, it looks like there’s another Haleo and Julelan story for sale (pay-what-you-want) and Blood Runs In The Family’s now out in .pdf. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3267 "2017-02-21T18:53:38Z")
Yeah, this side plot involving a crew of people we’ve never seen, will likely never see again past this particular arc, and thus don’t care about in the slightest, combined with the lengthy times between installments, isn’t exactly retaining whatever is left of my interest. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3268 "2017-02-21T19:00:27Z")
Huh, I would not have guessed that Andi would be older than Bandana. ---
**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 21, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3269 "2017-02-21T19:38:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Huh, I would not have guessed that Andi would be older than Bandana. Why not? She’s been complaining about “[taking orders from a kid](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0961.html)” from the start. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3270 "2017-02-22T05:53:14Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Yeah, this side plot involving a crew of people we’ve never seen, will likely never see again past this particular arc, and thus don’t care about in the slightest, combined with the lengthy times between installments, isn’t exactly retaining whatever is left of my interest. O.K. guys: which of you dropped [this bomb](http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?516130-So-the-gang-has-been-on-the-airship-for-almost-a-year-now-(spoilers)) over at GiTP? [Kidding. Mostly.] But while I don’t agree with a lot of the OP, and I don’t think Burlew is only in it for the money, the quoted material makes some decent points. They’ve been on the airship since last March? “Pointy Death Incarnate,” was a great line, but still. OP quoted in full because I’m still surprised their site hasn’t nuked the thread yet: > [@](#): > > So the gang has been on the airship for almost a year now (spoilers) > > Remember when OOTS was so popular that you couldn’t even get on the site to see the latest page? Remember when the comic updated 2-3 times a week? Remember all the times Burlew insisted that he knew where the story was going? Remember all the fan incentives for supporting the comic? > > According to the Wiki, the Order got on the airship to chase Durkon on March 7th, 2016. It’s been almost 40 pages since then, and here we’re seeing some of the least interesting storytelling of the entire comic now. The brief interlude with the paladins and Xykon was kind of interesting, but otherwise the gang is just fighting some giants (usually off-panel) and now there’s a mutiny among a bunch of characters that we otherwise have no need to care about (I sure don’t care about them), but we’ll probably have to spend another 15-20 pages following them anyway. How much of this “arc” is going to make up a book? > > In the meantime we get plenty of updates about all the wonderful stuff for sale. It doesn’t matter how quickly or slowly the comics come out now because crap will always be up for sale. There’s no need to send out freebies for votes anymore because there’s a big enough fanbase that’s willing to stick around and maybe throw money at $19 PDFs (srsly?). We don’t even see guest comics, and there’s probably not going to be a guest comic by Burlew because it doesn’t pay. Like calendars? You can still buy the 2016 one if you’re so inclined to remember the Year of the Dumpster Fire. > > At this point I’m still following the story out of habit and because I’m invested enough in the story to see it to the end (hopefully before middle age). I completely understood when Burlew took hiatuses in the past, and when he injured his hand I had no problem with him taking as long as he needed to have it heal properly. I don’t expect to see updates as frequent as in years past (and agree that it was not a healthy or sustainable schedule in the long run), but really the amount of story that gets covered in the span of time we’re seeing, and the quality of the humor and storytelling lately, just seems to me that OOTS has become more of a marketable enterprise and less of a tale. > > If there really is an end to the story, get there. If not, maybe stop leading us on about it. EDIT: I don’t want the story to end; I like reading about the OOTS. But there was a time not too long ago where each strip update would lead to two or three pages of discussion here. And now? A few follow-on posts and then the thread falls off the SDMB for another two weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3271 "2017-02-22T06:18:52Z")
And a final post on this, now that I’ve read Burlew’s contributions to the thread. As much as I like reading updates to the strip, I selfishly would prefer it if he _could_ put the strip on hiatus for a half year so he could finish his commercial obligations. The pitfall though, is that once he stopped the strip, I think it’d be awfully hard for him to restart it. I suspect he wouldn’t. The need to satisfy those commercial obligations and “the income-generating products” will never go away. As well as what I perceive is his need to see if he is going to only be remembered by his OOTS work. I suspect that part of Burlew would like nothing better than to burn the whole thing down and try and create something else. If only to avoid feeling the pressure about the work like this alleged quote from him infers he does: > [@](#): > > “In twenty years, you will have forgotten all about the Order of the Stick, but I will still be judged for it—a judgment that will be rendered on the entire story, not just these few pages.” Though I do think he’ll eventually finish the Kickstarter rewards. (Aside, where does the time go? Has it really been since 2012 that he had the Kickstarter?) I don’t want the strip, like so many webcomics, to stop and never restart. I kinda want to know how this all ends. And how they get there. So if he needs to hobble in this sort of three legged race between the free strip, the Kickstarter stuff, and other commercial endeavors, then I guess that’s what we’re going to have to expect. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3272 "2017-02-22T11:58:49Z")
In 20 years, the comic will be forgotten, which means no one will judge you on it. That’s just an excuse to discard opinions now. He foolishly thinks the comic will have a larger lifetime after it is finished. But it won’t. No webcomic does. When was the last time you got recommended a webcomic that has been over for years? ---
**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:** [February 22, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3273 "2017-02-22T12:38:18Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > In 20 years, the comic will be forgotten, which means no one will judge you on it. > > That’s just an excuse to discard opinions now. He foolishly thinks the comic will have a larger lifetime after it is finished. But it won’t. No webcomic does. When was the last time you got recommended a webcomic that has been over for years? FWIW I still recommend [Digger](http://diggercomic.com/) to lots of people. As indeed I recommend it to you. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3274 "2017-02-22T13:33:06Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > But it won’t. No webcomic does. When was the last time you got recommended a webcomic that has been over for years? Semi-regularly, especially if it’s a webcomic that established and concluded a plot arc. That’s the beauty of the internet, after all - everything on it is forever. Various blogs will occasionally put out lists of defunct webcomics worth checking out. There’s a certain freedom to knowing that you’re reading a finished product. For a comic that hasn’t updated regularly in years, I would recommend _Perry Bible Fellowship._ For a comic that wrapped up just a few weeks ago, check out \*The Adventures of Dr. McNinja. \* ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3275 "2017-02-22T14:33:49Z")
Closer to OOtS would be [8-Bit Theater](https://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/03/02/episode-001-were-going-where/) which ended in 2009. Although, I do agree with **BigT** in principle. **Gyrate** , thanks for reminding me about Digger. I was reading it once upon a time but reached the “end” at the time and never went back to read the new stuff. ---
**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 22, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3276 "2017-02-22T14:44:36Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > FWIW I still recommend [Digger](http://diggercomic.com/) to lots of people. As indeed I recommend it to you. I’ll second this. ---
**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 22, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3277 "2017-02-22T14:46:21Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > That’s the beauty of the internet, after all - everything on it is forever. Sadly not. You’re dependent upon the author continuing to pay hosting fees or for someone to archive it. Link rot is real. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3278 "2017-02-22T15:01:55Z")
True. Luckily, most successful-but-defunct webcomics seem to produce enough residual traffic to justify keeping them around. ---
**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:** [February 22, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3279 "2017-02-22T15:17:41Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > FWIW I still recommend [Digger](http://diggercomic.com/) to lots of people. As indeed I recommend it to you. Thirded. I have the gathered volumes and the omni hardbound book. I still go through the website at least once a year. Some of the comments are excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3281 "2017-02-25T23:06:36Z")
> [@](#): > > According to the Wiki, the Order got on the airship to chase Durkon on March 7th, 2016. It’s been almost 40 pages since then, and here we’re seeing some of the least interesting storytelling of the entire comic now. And here I thought it was just me getting seriously annoyed with this long damned boat ride. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=163) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=165)