# 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:** 174
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3462 "2017-05-30T20:34:13Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > We’ve got a ticking clock, but we’re taking time out for this whole other plot. It’s a story within the story, while the PCs have this battle that doesn’t even actually tie in to the overarching plot. They’re just an enemy that would happen to be in that location. The giants are definitely part of the overarching plot. They’re attacking the Mechane at the bidding of their god, Lord Thrym, who “for reasons of his own,” [voted yes to end the world at the Godsmoot.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1012.html) This isn’t a random encounter, this was an ambush set specifically to stop the protagonists from completing their mission. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3463 "2017-05-30T20:35:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No, it’s not a complaint about the pace of the action. As I’ve pointed out, nobody complains about the pace of the action when they read these stories in book form. Burlew, in fact, often adds extra pages into the story in the books. > > The complaint people are making isn’t that the story has too many pages; they’re complaining that the pages aren’t coming fast enough. If Burlew stopped posting pages as he produced them and simply kept everything in his office until he released them in book form, there wouldn’t be complaints like this. > > You’ll notice nobody complained about the pacing of _How the Paladin Got His Scar_ (or _Haleo and Julelan_ or _Spoiler Alert_ or _Uncivil Servant_). Because Burlew released them as finished works. If he had released them one page at a time, people would have been complaining about how page 18 was pointless and didn’t advance the story. No one complained about those because the pacing is fine in them. At least, the two of those I’ve already read. I was actually quite impressed at how well he condensed the important parts of the original in Haleo and Julelan. People are complaining about the pacing here. And I did my best to explain why. This is a side story about side characters. This is the most character development any of the characters in this have gotten. And it’s in the middle of ticking clock scenario. The tension was high when they left. It is now extremely low. It’s as if the main plot doesn’t matter. Yes, having the comics come out more slowly exaggerated the effect. But it’s still there in the main story, too. Before this, the pacing was generally fine. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3464 "2017-05-30T21:40:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What do you mean? That’s when O-Chul first attempts peaceful negotiation with the hobgoblins! OMG Spoiler Alert! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3465 "2017-05-31T05:09:56Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > …Another part of it is that, while I don’t hate or dislike the Mechane’s crewmembers, I really don’t give much of a shit what happens to them, or how they grow as people. I am hoping that their character growth will matter with respect to the main plot. I guess he could end them like he did the Resistance and that Elven hit team, but that would really seem like the prior 12 months of this was a bit of a waste… well, I hope they matter, too. But I find them interesting and engaging characters. That will do it for me, so long as I get semi-regular fixes of new material. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3466 "2017-05-31T10:31:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > No, it’s not a complaint about the pace of the action. Some of it is - see BigT’s post. > [@](#): > > The complaint people are making isn’t that the story has too many pages; they’re complaining that the pages aren’t coming fast enough. If Burlew stopped posting pages as he produced them and simply kept everything in his office until he released them in book form, there wouldn’t be complaints like this. That’s not my complaint. I wouldn’t give a toss if they came out one page a month, as long as they were pages of Belkar being awesome, Redcloak being a great villain or Elan being silly (or even, as recently, awesome). But they’re not. > [@](#): > > You’ll notice nobody complained about the pacing of _How the Paladin Got His Scar_ (or _Haleo and Julelan_ or _Spoiler Alert_ or _Uncivil Servant_). Because Burlew released them as finished works. If he had released them one page at a time, people would have been complaining about how page 18 was pointless and didn’t advance the story. I didn’t complain about the pacing of earlier slow patches of the comic, because they still focused on cool character interactions not this stupid crew sideshow. And it’s crappy pacing that can kill even devoted fandom of a comic - look at Sluggy Freelance (or _don’t_ look at it, like I haven’t since Oceans Unmoving - or Unending, more like) - I used to be a huge fan, hell, I have the t-shirts still. But shitty pacing killed it for me, more than irregular updates ever could. And if I’m not reading the free main comic, I’m also not hanging out in the forums or, more importantly, buying new printings or other merch. The comic is more than just a loss leader, i’m afraid. it’s the raison d’etre for all the rest. > [@Chimera](#): > > No, sorry, Mr. Dibble. […]You’re just whining about people complaining. Err, are you sure you wanted to address this to me? _i’m_ not whining about people complaining, I can perfectly well understand _why_ people are complaining. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3467 "2017-05-31T15:04:37Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Err, are you sure you wanted to address this to me? _i’m_ not whining about people complaining, I can perfectly well understand _why_ people are complaining. Yup, my apologies. Should have been aimed at Little Nemo and the “but he put out 100 pages of other stuff so stop complaining!” crowd. ---
**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:** [May 31, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3468 "2017-05-31T15:51:51Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > well, I hope they matter, too. But I find them interesting and engaging characters… I feel the same way about Oona and Greyview; just not these guys. But reasonable people can differ. > [@](#): > > That will do it for me, so long as I get semi-regular fixes of new material. Me too. ---
**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:** [May 31, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3469 "2017-05-31T16:04:12Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The online comic is a loss leader, to draw in customers who will buy his books. Even if we accept that premise, that means he has an interest in keeping “potential customers” happy so that he’ll sell more books. I’m at least one reader who has gone, over the last year or two, from an OotS strip being a highlight of my day to it being just another comic in my feed. Loss leaders only work if they actually get people in the door. ---
**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:** [June 5, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3470 "2017-06-05T23:24:28Z")
[**1075**](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1075.html) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3471 "2017-06-06T01:49:40Z")
Interesting development. They still need to find Roy’s sword, though. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3472 "2017-06-06T02:53:40Z")
That’s the Elan we know and love! ---
**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 6, 2017, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3473 "2017-06-06T03:06:44Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Interesting development. They still need to find Roy’s sword, though. That was a cutlass though. I’ve lost track. Where’s Roy’s sword? His real one. ---
**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 6, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3474 "2017-06-06T03:20:03Z")
Over the side a couple of years ago. Probably skewered Belkar. We’ll find out in 2019. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3475 "2017-06-06T04:03:22Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > That was a cutlass though. > > I’ve lost track. Where’s Roy’s sword? His real one. It should be roughly somewhere below where they are now. The sword went over the side just after they hit the ridge that they’re near. Not that it’d be easy to find without magic. Which gives me an idea. Perhaps V, in trying to find the Mechane, casts Locate Object on the sword, it being a well known object in the possession of Roy. So it leads him to the sword, if not to the Mechane. Alternatively, Elan may have that spell and so they find it that way. Which if they’re following D&D rules, is more likely to work. At their level, that spell has about a 1000 ft range, and V is almost certainly farther away than that. But the author doesn’t follow the rules to the letter, so it may work for V anyway. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2017, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3476 "2017-06-07T14:04:36Z")
Half a page, a full page and another half page. Has this ever happened before? ---
**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 7, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3477 "2017-06-07T15:09:28Z")
Another case of victory not being a matter of killing. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3478 "2017-06-07T15:51:01Z")
Will she survive the fall? ---
**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:** [June 7, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3479 "2017-06-07T17:09:21Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Half a page, a full page and another half page. Has this ever happened before? The previous comic was 1 and a half. So the second half was completed today, followed by another 1 and a half. Though I don’t know how it will work in book form. Those are good splits. ---
**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 7, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3480 "2017-06-07T17:48:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Will she survive the fall? [She’s pretty confident that she would.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1061.html) Sure, she’s taken some damage since then, too, but only a little, and she probably anticipated that she’d take some anyway. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/3481 "2017-06-16T15:27:05Z")
[1076](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1076.html) is up. Good plot progression. They’re over the ridge now! No more ballistas, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=173) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=175)