# 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:** 291
**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:** [April 17, 2019, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5803 "2019-04-17T06:18:30Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And allowing crits & SA vs undead made sense- since many undead are traditionally killed by a heart or head hit. I like the logic of it. I was just curious whether elementals were susceptible to sneak attacks, as it wasn’t explicitly excluded from affecting them, yet didn’t seem like the sort of creatures one could backstab or that you got special credit for hitting them in the head. Oh well, not the first time the various D&D systems haven’t made sense to me; won’t be the last. As for V and not discounting magic attacks, V’s been doing that a lot in recent fights. (Forcecage galore anyone? And hoo-boy, the spell component cost: Ruby dust worth 1500 gp a pop. Lathander, you need to go adventuring just to afford your spell component costs… No wonder people Shoot The Mage first; it’s where all of the treasure is.) Even when the fight would, IMHO, be better solved with just a simple Disintegrate. Or a Sunburst for this fight. Just kill the damn vamps when they’re in the open already. The range is essentially if you see them, they probably will both die if it hits, just shoot while you’re invisible and the second you turn the corner to enter the chamber. (Even if it makes for a poorer story.) What I can’t figure out is how Roy has a Mind Blank operating on him, which works against the various Hold spells, and yet got held by the LDW. Or, per **dtilque** , he got the Mind Blank Dispelled off him during the DM/GDM barrage by all of the vamps back when Durkon was Greg, yet afterwards wasn’t dominated unlike seemingly everyone else in the party. Despite being the guy who was picking off vampires one by one with his throw-the-undead-bane-returning-greatsword-trick, and so being the guy you’d think the vamps would really try to dominate. I think it’s a simple as Burlew forgot that Mind Blank either was still active, or worked against the Hold family of spells. Despite him forgetting in a single afternoon more about the various D&D mechanics than I’ll ever know. I certainly was surprised when I read the description of it, and the Hold spells, and thought it would work to prevent being Held. Just not something I’d expect that kind of spell to also protect against. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2019, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5804 "2019-04-17T08:17:44Z")
Yes, Burlew forgetting Roy had the Mind Blank is the most likely. But I had another idea: Roy’s Mind Blank actually was Dispelled in [1122](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1122.html), but he’s immune to undead Domination (and perhaps other special undead attacks like energy drain) when he’s fighting with the Green Energy Eyeglow™. So while he was Dominated in [1009](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1009.html) when he wasn’t fighting like that, he wasn’t in the fight afterward when he was. ---
**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:** [April 17, 2019, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5805 "2019-04-17T11:29:42Z")
I was wondering about the GEE with the sword helping him out there too. But it starts to get a little ridiculous with all of the powers that thing has, at a certain point. Returns, heals wielder, and acts as, what? I thought Protection from Evil would be the lowest spell that would explain the domination not working, but that spell only abates domination while active, it doesn’t remove it. Mind Blank as well? Protection from Charm? I wonder if it works on Confusion too? I had no idea Burlew was a hack NWN2/BG2 mod writer… ---
**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:** [April 17, 2019, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5806 "2019-04-17T13:00:23Z")
It doesn’t have to be a specific spell effect. It could just be “While active, the user is protected from vampires’ _Dominate Person_ effect…” and maybe a few other anti-undead protections like paralyzing ghoul touch, mummy rot, ghostly possession or whatever. Powerful for fighting undead but not an all purpose Protection from Evil/Mind Blank/etc ---
**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:** [April 17, 2019, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5807 "2019-04-17T13:24:16Z")
It could also just be that the Mind Blank was dispelled, but he rolled his saves against the vampire domination attempts (we know he has a better Will save than most folks). Against the Death-Worm’s Hold, he just got unlucky. It happens sometimes. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5808 "2019-04-29T14:13:43Z")
**[1162](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots1162.html)** ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5809 "2019-04-29T14:14:49Z")
It’s a heartwarming strip. Albeit a little short, considering he had two weeks to draw it. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5810 "2019-04-29T14:19:23Z")
OK, first Endgame, then GoT, then this. I got no more emotional responses for the week, and it’s only Monday morning. One of the cats is going to do something cute this afternoon and the wife is going to find me in a puddle, bawling my eyes out. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5811 "2019-04-29T15:21:05Z")
Ah, the pitter-patter of little feet. > [@silenus](#): > > OK, first Endgame, then GoT, then this. I got no more emotional responses for the week, and it’s only Monday morning. One of the cats is going to do something cute this afternoon and the wife is going to find me in a puddle, bawling my eyes out. Just be glad you don’t read \*The Last Halloween \*by Abby Howard - the latest strip is an emotional wallop (also be glad because she produces like 2-5 strips a year and we’ll probably all be dead before she finishes the story). ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5812 "2019-04-29T16:40:15Z")
“Who died and made you boss?” “ME! On both counts, Miss Cleric-Who-Can’t-Resist-Domination-Magic!” Haha! Love ya, Minrah. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5813 "2019-04-29T16:42:17Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Just be glad you don’t read \*The Last Halloween \*by Abby Howard - the latest strip is an emotional wallop (also be glad because she produces like 2-5 strips a year and we’ll probably all be dead before she finishes the story). Ooh, did she update again? ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5814 "2019-04-29T17:06:08Z")
It’s clear Rich has seen Avengers Endgame. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5815 "2019-04-29T19:58:21Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > It’s clear Rich has seen Avengers Endgame. But I haven’t, so hush. Edit: pretty please with sugar on top. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5816 "2019-04-29T20:10:12Z")
I kind of forgot that there’s a whole city of potential help nearby. I’m used to PCs always being out in the wilderness on their own. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5817 "2019-04-29T20:17:02Z")
“Sometimes, ye haf ta leave yer cub behind in tha den so ye can brutally eliminate everythin’ tha indirectly threatens 'im” That’s the kind of mom who’d have no problem with a Familicide or two… ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5818 "2019-04-29T21:02:14Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > “Sometimes, ye haf ta leave yer cub behind in tha den so ye can brutally eliminate everythin’ tha indirectly threatens 'im” > > That’s the kind of mom who’d have no problem with a Familicide or two… That thought occurred to you too? Funny, the different reaction to Sigdi saying it, vs V actually doing it. I’m kind of surprised Burlew had her say it. Minrah’s lampshading of how a cleric blew such an easy domination save was pretty funny, as was her reaction to nearly getting scorched again by Hilgya. I just love the last panel. I don’t know how useful they’ll be, but it was very heartwarming to see. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5819 "2019-04-29T21:14:12Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > I just love the last panel. I don’t know how useful they’ll be, but it was very heartwarming to see. The Bards among them could use Song of Freedom to unDominate the Council members. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5820 "2019-04-29T21:26:07Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The Bards among them could use Song of Freedom to unDominate the Council members. Would that count as a spell for purposes of triggering the onion-layered defenses? I confess to being too lazy to parse which layer does what. Could the bards sing outside the temple, or inside the first layer, I guess, sing, and have that break the enchantment? ---
**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:** [April 29, 2019, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5821 "2019-04-29T21:26:30Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The Bards among them could use Song of Freedom to unDominate the Council members. Didn’t Gontor say that the rules prohibit using any spell or supernatural ability on any creature during a council meeting? He specifically cited Dispel Magic as an example. Anyone who did so would be turned to stone until the meeting is over. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/5822 "2019-04-29T21:28:16Z")
They’re not in the council meeting. They’re attacking the enemy outside the council meeting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=290) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=292)