# 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:** 287
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5723 "2019-03-18T23:01:46Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > What does Gatespender mean? I didn’t want to bump the thread until there was already a new comic, but did anyone ever figure this out? Am I missing a super-obvious reference? ---
**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:** [March 18, 2019, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5724 "2019-03-18T23:23:20Z")
What’s that about an invisible raven ? I don’t get the joke ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5725 "2019-03-18T23:29:43Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > What’s that about an invisible raven ? I don’t get the joke The dumb muscle mistook the raven for a crow. The raven, hearing this, reacted not by saying “Hey, it mistook me for a crow” but by looking around for a crow. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5726 "2019-03-18T23:29:48Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > What’s that about an invisible raven ? I don’t get the joke The whatever-wurm referred to a _crow_ - which Darkwing\* is not, he’s a raven. So Darkwing is talking about the crow the wurm referred to. \*Darkwing? Suddenly I’ve blanked on his name. ---
**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:** [March 18, 2019, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5727 "2019-03-18T23:50:32Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > The whatever-wurm referred to a _crow_ - which Darkwing\* is not, he’s a raven. So Darkwing is talking about the crow the wurm referred to. > > \*Darkwing? Suddenly I’ve blanked on his name. Blackwing. Darkwing is, famously, a [duck](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQGcE-p11WUEpe5yFfj2RB6qzheCaZxnQmohjFPtZJYJAKsksnn). ---
**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:** [March 19, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5728 "2019-03-19T00:15:08Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I didn’t want to bump the thread until there was already a new comic, but did anyone ever figure this out? Am I missing a super-obvious reference? Only explanation I’ve seen is from the [OOTS Wiki](https://oots.fandom.com/wiki/Gatespender). \*The title plays on the term “gatekeeper”. Instead of keeping the Gate scroll in reserve, Gontor “spends” it, making him a “gatespender”. \* Bit weak,IMHO, if that really is the intended meaning. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5729 "2019-03-19T00:20:42Z")
Something I just noticed: A nightshade (such as a nightcrawler) generates a Desecrate effect, which among other things, suppresses (and is suppressed by) any Consecrate effect it overlaps with. The Council Building is probably Consecrated. And the defenses which the vampires are exploiting are probably based, in part, on that Consecration. The vampires might have accidentally sabotaged their own plan. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5730 "2019-03-19T00:54:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Something I just noticed: A nightshade (such as a nightcrawler) generates a Desecrate effect, which among other things, suppresses (and is suppressed by) any Consecrate effect it overlaps with. > > The Council Building is probably Consecrated. And the defenses which the vampires are exploiting are probably based, in part, on that Consecration. > > The vampires might have accidentally sabotaged their own plan. Is it that the Nightcrawler would cancel out the Consecration, and therefore the Order would just have to make saving throws to avoid triggering the defenses stated by the Exarch? Or would the Desecration take down the defenses entirely? Neat idea. I hadn’t thought the creature could interfere with the building to that extent but it’s an interesting case you make. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2019, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5731 "2019-03-19T04:01:59Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > The whatever-wurm referred to a _crow_ - which Darkwing\* is not, he’s a raven. So Darkwing is talking about the crow the wurm referred to. > > \*Darkwing? Suddenly I’ve blanked on his name. :smack: Thanks guys ---
**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:** [March 19, 2019, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5732 "2019-03-19T13:18:12Z")
That worm reminds me of [someone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdKa9bXVinE). ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5733 "2019-03-19T13:36:55Z")
[1159 now up](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1159.html) Nice spot check for a creature with no eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5734 "2019-03-19T13:41:14Z")
> [@Strassia](#): > > [1159 now up](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1159.html) > > Nice spot check for a creature with no eyes. Poor spot check for a (presumably) human with 2 working eyes. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5735 "2019-03-19T14:32:35Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > That worm reminds me of [someone](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdKa9bXVinE). Yeah, that’s what I was referring to. ---
**Author:** ![double0gold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@double0gold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/double0gold)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5736 "2019-03-19T15:00:06Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > That joke leaves me flat. > > I was afraid for a moment that the comic was about to rehash the guard scene/skit from Holy Grail. Would be the first [Monty Python rehash](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0136.html), though. 🙂 ---
**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:** [March 19, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5737 "2019-03-19T15:08:28Z")
Nor the second, third or fourth. [Help help I’m being oppressed.](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0373.html) [Pine-ing for the fjords](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0526.html) [Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Book](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0901.html) ---
**Author:** ![ebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@ebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ebb)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5738 "2019-03-19T19:16:05Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Hopefully engaged in some well-planned shenanigans (no, not _that_ kind). Durkon already knows the plan so hopefully they can come up with a nice countermeasure. I want something like the Order kicking Tarquin’s crew’s butt in the pyramid rather than the usual reactionary saved-by-a-miracle victories. My money’s on climbing up top to knock a hole in the roof and let the sun shine in. But whatever they’re doing, it has a good chance to work, because we didn’t see them spelling out the plan ahead of time. I’d like to see more of that in 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:** [March 19, 2019, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5739 "2019-03-19T19:39:00Z")
> [@ebb](#): > > My money’s on climbing up top to knock a hole in the roof and let the sun shine in. > > But whatever they’re doing, it has a good chance to work, because we didn’t see them spelling out the plan ahead of time. I’d like to see more of that in the strip. Range increment on the [Hammer of Thunderbolts](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/artifacts.htm) is 30 feet, and (I’ve not played 3.5 enough to really have this down), you can throw a weapon up to five range increments. With to hit penalties on each successive increment. So Durkon can throw the Hammer at something 150 feet away from him, and since the hammer is returning, it’ll come back. Is he 150 feet away from the ceiling of that cavern? Alternately, if V doesn’t get dropped off a bridge by the nightcrawler, a [Disintegrate](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/disintegrate.htm) at the ceiling might also help with letting light in. I think when they say “10 foot cube” in the spell description, they mean 1000 cubic feet of material. I’m sure there are other spells that’d be better for rapidly excavating rock, but we know V loves to use Disintegrate, and so would likely have it prepared. ---
**Author:** ![ebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@ebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ebb)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5740 "2019-03-19T21:02:19Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Range increment on the [Hammer of Thunderbolts](http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/artifacts.htm) is 30 feet, and (I’ve not played 3.5 enough to really have this down), you can throw a weapon up to five range increments. With to hit penalties on each successive increment. So Durkon can throw the Hammer at something 150 feet away from him, and since the hammer is returning, it’ll come back. Is he 150 feet away from the ceiling of that cavern? Well, Durkon’s not in the picture yet. My theory (not mine originally) is that he, Roy and Belkar are climbing up on the roof of the temple from the outside and plan to break in through the ceiling there. In other words, V and Haley are really just a distraction. ---
**Author:** ![Sasquatch\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@Sasquatch\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sasquatch_1)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5741 "2019-03-20T02:27:07Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Only explanation I’ve seen is from the [OOTS Wiki](https://oots.fandom.com/wiki/Gatespender). > > \*The title plays on the term “gatekeeper”. Instead of keeping the Gate scroll in reserve, Gontor “spends” it, making him a “gatespender”. \* > > Bit weak,IMHO, if that really is the intended meaning. A bit better when you consider that he spent the gate spell to summon a monster which itself is a gatekeeper, in guarding the passageway. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2019, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5742 "2019-03-20T03:31:16Z")
> [@ebb](#): > > Well, Durkon’s not in the picture yet. My theory (not mine originally) is that he, Roy and Belkar are climbing up on the roof of the temple from the outside and plan to break in through the ceiling there. In other words, V and Haley are really just a distraction. Works for me. There, Durkon can easily open up the roof of the building, as well as try to open the ceiling of the cavern. He even has Roy there, with cross-skill ranks in Engineering and Architecture, to advise Durkon on just where to smash. Keeps them out of the line of sight of the worm, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=286) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=288)