# 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:** 42
**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 18, 2015, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/821 "2015-03-18T11:38:50Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Magic missiles can’t be blocked by normal shields, so that’s not a magic missile the dwarf is shooting out of his gun. It only looks like Xykon’s magic missiles from earlier because all of Xykon’s spells use gray-colored magic energy, and lead shot also happens to be gray. When Varsuuvius casts magic missile, by contrast, the missiles are pink. I sit corrected. ---
**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, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/822 "2015-03-18T20:29:11Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Is that the point where the world’s demand for fuckery outstrips its ability to produce it? The opposite peak. The point where the world’s production of fuckery overwhelms even its own massive ability to swallow it, causing a sudden collapse of the fuckery-based economy through an deflationary spiral :). ---
**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 18, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/823 "2015-03-18T21:52:48Z")
For what it’s worth, in fifth edition, Levitate can in fact be used offensively. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/824 "2015-03-19T09:54:07Z")
I just want to know when I’ll be able to find the damn books available at the store. ---
**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, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/825 "2015-03-19T14:37:07Z")
[978](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0978.html) ---
**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, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/826 "2015-03-19T14:39:23Z")
Ouch. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/827 "2015-03-19T16:50:06Z")
Haley looks almost out there. Is Belkar going to come to her rescue and die in the process? ---
**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, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/828 "2015-03-19T17:27:39Z")
Belkar won’t die yet. He is prophesied to save Hinjo’s life twice, and he’s only done it once. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/829 "2015-03-19T17:28:48Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Haley looks almost out there. Is Belkar going to come to her rescue and die in the process? I think Haley is getting a pretty stiff dose of karmic retribution; maybe it isn’t such a great idea to stab your defenseless counterpart in the shower, even if they’re evil and annoying. Also…being a flesh golem apparently isn’t as much fun as it’s cracked up to be. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/830 "2015-03-19T19:05:22Z")
Maybe she’s just so goth that she’s even hurting as an emotionless golem 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/831 "2015-03-19T19:11:25Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > I think Haley is getting a pretty stiff dose of karmic retribution; maybe it isn’t such a great idea to stab your defenseless counterpart in the shower, even if they’re evil and annoying. Actually, killing an evil and annoying defenseless counterpart in the shower is such a perfect Chaotic Good action that I’d actually have given her bonus XP for it ---
**Author:** ![MHaye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@MHaye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MHaye)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/832 "2015-03-19T19:15:30Z")
Crystal isn’t a regular flesh golem. Maybe the way her body was built, animated and her spirit trapped in it is what makes Crystal feel pain. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/833 "2015-03-20T01:59:08Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > I think Haley is getting a pretty stiff dose of karmic retribution; maybe it isn’t such a great idea to stab your defenseless counterpart in the shower, even if they’re evil and annoying. Once again, referring to the books. Burlew has said he regrets not making it clearer in the strip. Bozzok never had any intention of honoring the deal he had made. He had already told Crystal to kill Haley (which Crystal screwed up). So Haley’s attack on Crystal, which we saw in the strip, was not the unjustified act it appeared to be. It was self-defense after Crystal had revealed she was going to kill Haley as soon as possible. ---
**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, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/834 "2015-03-20T03:46:27Z")
I love the Dylan Thomas pun in the title. Would normal D&D parties at the Order’s level have some means of alerting the rest of the party? A la, “Hey! We’re getting our asses kicked here! Get over here and help!” I know that the Order is hardly a normal party, and in fact often regards optimization and tactics as something to be actively avoided… ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/835 "2015-03-20T05:44:52Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > I love the Dylan Thomas pun in the title. > > Would normal D&D parties at the Order’s level have some means of alerting the rest of the party? A la, “Hey! We’re getting our asses kicked here! Get over here and help!” > > I know that the Order is hardly a normal party, and in fact often regards optimization and tactics as something to be actively avoided… Yes? Not directly but with magic, spells, or many other things, they could have something. I’m pretty sure 3.5 had magical tattoos, which could hold a spell, such as Sending. Or a wand of Sending. So, my “Yes?” was to convey that they could if they bothered to set it up but there is nothing inherent about their level that would do this. vislor ---
**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 20, 2015, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/836 "2015-03-20T06:38:42Z")
[New one - “Rage Against the Lightning of the Dead”](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0978.html) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/837 "2015-03-20T07:59:44Z")
Uhhh, thanks? In other news, is Crystal the Golem’s affliction out of the ordinary for golems? I’m wondering if she might be made aware of who is responsible for her continual torture and redirect her ire. Yes, I know her prime directive would seem to make that impossible, but if feeling no pain is being deliberately overridden, maybe an unintended consequence could be an impairment of her compulsion to obey it. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/838 "2015-03-20T11:46:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Once again, referring to the books. Burlew has said he regrets not making it clearer in the strip. Bozzok never had any intention of honoring the deal he had made. He had already told Crystal to kill Haley (which Crystal screwed up). So Haley’s attack on Crystal, which we saw in the strip, was not the unjustified act it appeared to be. It was self-defense after Crystal had revealed she was going to kill Haley as soon as possible. Which, IMHO, cheapens Haley’s character and is a sign of Rich wimping out (a rare one). A Haley who attacks in self-defense? What the hell, it’s self-defense. A Haley whose response to the existence of Crystal and her past behavior but cold-bloodedly assassinating her? That’s character development that establishes Haley on the badass meter somewhere near Redcloak and his treatment of Princess Gothy McWightlover. It also differentiates her from Belkar (who kills for sport) and Roy (who always tries to do the good thing. It makes her the character who has both decision making capability (Crystal needs to go) and agency (I’m going to do it). By making it self-defense Rich steals away Haley’s unique character and makes her one more adventurer who won’t kill unless threatened. Feh. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2015, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/839 "2015-03-20T11:49:20Z")
_Haley stabbed first!_ ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/840 "2015-03-20T13:00:14Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Which, IMHO, cheapens Haley’s character and is a sign of Rich wimping out (a rare one). > > A Haley who attacks in self-defense? What the hell, it’s self-defense. > > A Haley whose response to the existence of Crystal and her past behavior but cold-bloodedly assassinating her? That’s character development that establishes Haley on the badass meter somewhere near Redcloak and his treatment of Princess Gothy McWightlover. It also differentiates her from Belkar (who kills for sport) and Roy (who always tries to do the good thing. It makes her the character who has both decision making capability (Crystal needs to go) and agency (I’m going to do it). > > By making it self-defense Rich steals away Haley’s unique character and makes her one more adventurer who won’t kill unless threatened. Feh. I kind of agree with you. Also, it feels like Rich’s clarification may have been after the fact. When Haley explains Crystal’s assassination to Elan, it’s presented as though Haley just thought it was a necessary precaution, because she never brings up anything about Crystal being ordered to kill her again. She just tells him “If it helps, I once saw her headbutt an elderly gnome woman into a coma.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=41) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=43)