# 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:** 89
**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:** [September 16, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1761 "2015-09-16T13:25:48Z")
Well, in that case it must be one-way or else they’re going to have a hard time getting the demigod vote. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1762 "2015-09-16T13:39:19Z")
Is it possible to damage a vampire in mist form? I’ll assume the protection from daylight remains. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1763 "2015-09-16T13:51:39Z")
That depends on how the vampire got into mist form. If he voluntarily assumed mist form, then it works just like the Gaseous Form spell, which is pretty worthless as a defense at this level: It just gives damage reduction 10/magic, meaning that a magic weapon (like Roy’s) is still 100% effective, and even a nonmagical weapon can do damage if it rolls high enough. On the other hand, if he was forced into mist form by virtue of taking enough damage, then all further damage is irrelevant… but the downside is, he only has two hours to reach his coffin, or be utterly destroyed. And so far as we know, this particular vampire doesn’t even have a coffin. Judging from what we see in the comic, it looks like it’s the latter. Presumably the vampire is unperturbed about its imminent destruction because it believes that it will soon be an, ahem, moot point. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1764 "2015-09-16T13:54:41Z")
In standard Dungeons and Dragons, yes. In Burlew’s version, who knows? ---
**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:** [September 16, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1765 "2015-09-16T14:03:57Z")
Yeah, I looked up Gaseous Form when last strip when I assumed that was Durkon’s response to being “pinned” and it sounds like it’s good for escaping through cracks but pretty worthless for not getting killed. It doesn’t even move particularly swiftly (10’). On the other hand, Malack [used it effectively](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0874.html) to retreat and Durkon just stood around like a stump watching him float off so… who knows? ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1766 "2015-09-16T16:48:26Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Yeah, I looked up Gaseous Form when last strip when I assumed that was Durkon’s response to being “pinned” and it sounds like it’s good for escaping through cracks but pretty worthless for not getting killed. It doesn’t even move particularly swiftly (10’). > > On the other hand, Malack [used it effectively](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0874.html) to retreat and Durkon just stood around like a stump watching him float off so… who knows? Vampires get a move speed of 20’/round while in gaseous form, which Durkula, being a dwarf, would be used to. Agreed though, that it isn’t very effective for defense, although floating 10’ about Roy and continuing to mock him would be effective given Roy’s lack of ranged weapons. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1767 "2015-09-16T17:12:12Z")
So yeah, I guess all Durkula needs to do now is run out the clock. But what if he gets damaged to the point where one of the high priests could unload on him and take him out before the others buff him? I suppose that would still be a death sentence for that priest, but it would render that one priest’s threat to buff him moot if they could do it in one shot. On a side note: how compelled are the ushers and other staff to comply with the order to fetch the priests of the demigods? We see that halfling shouting at the force field, so it looks like the timer is ticking. Still, is there anything stopping them or the lower priests from deciding to wait out the Roy/Durkula fight before they vote? I suppose the answer to both of the above is that either conclusion would be narratively unsatisfying, so Rich is very unlikely to go that way. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1768 "2015-09-16T17:41:08Z")
Well, in theory, priests whose demigod would want to end the world would still be inclined to enter rather than running down the clock. And those who don’t want the world to end would want to enter in order to vote down Hel. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1769 "2015-09-16T17:46:42Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > So yeah, I guess all Durkula needs to do now is run out the clock. But what if he gets damaged to the point where one of the high priests could unload on him and take him out before the others buff him? I suppose that would still be a death sentence for that priest, but it would render that one priest’s threat to buff him moot if they could do it in one shot. It would be interesting if a CG high priest of a yes vote decided this was a good time to disagree with his or her patron diety, fry Durkula with a _Cure Critical Wounds_, and accept the immediate application of 16 castings of _Inflict Critical Wounds_ as the price to pay for usurping one’s diety. Then the vote would be 7 for, 9 against. Dunno if any of the yes votes are from a chaotic good god’s high priest, but it would be an interesting scenario. I doubt it will play out that way though. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1770 "2015-09-16T17:52:53Z")
Following up on my wacky idea (because I want to, not because it’s likely) here are the gods and their domains of the yes votes: Tyr, War Heimdall, Watch Sunna, Sun Njord, Sea Skadi, Hunt Hoder, Winter Fenrir, Monsters Vafthrudnir, Secrets Could be any of them, I suppose. EDIT: the goddess of the sea has the least mature reasoning for voting yes (“ooh, I could try out that new coastline”) which might make her high priest feel less bad about betraying her patron. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1771 "2015-09-16T18:09:24Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > It would be interesting if a CG high priest of a yes vote decided this was a good time to disagree with his or her patron diety, fry Durkula with a _Cure Critical Wounds_, and accept the immediate application of 16 castings of _Inflict Critical Wounds_ as the price to pay for usurping one’s diety. Then the vote would be 7 for, 9 against. Couldn’t they simply toss one of the priests out through the force filed and null their vote that way? No falling on their sword required. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1772 "2015-09-16T18:32:41Z")
Assuming that it’s possible to toss someone through a forcefield, which kind of negates the whole point of a forcefield if you ask me. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1773 "2015-09-16T19:08:41Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Following up on my wacky idea (because I want to, not because it’s likely) here are the gods and their domains of the yes votes: > > Tyr, War > Heimdall, Watch > Sunna, Sun > Njord, Sea > Skadi, Hunt > Hoder, Winter > Fenrir, Monsters > Vafthrudnir, Secrets > > Could be any of them, I suppose. > > EDIT: the goddess of the sea has the least mature reasoning for voting yes (“ooh, I could try out that new coastline”) which might make her high priest feel less bad about betraying her patron. If anyone has their priest commit suicide, my money is on Heimdall. Hel even said “no changing your vote, Heimdall.” It all comes down to whether Heimdall or his priest thinks of that, and whether the loss of his high priest is worth it to prevent Hel’s enrichment. I still say it would be unsatisfying, though, so it probably won’t happen. Now, getting a last second assist from Heimdall’s priest might happen. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1774 "2015-09-16T19:21:04Z")
Heimdall seems like a LG/LN type of deity. Doesn’t seem like his high priest would be given to switching votes. ---
**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:** [September 16, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1775 "2015-09-16T20:45:31Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > If anyone has their priest commit suicide … . Not gonna happen. Word of Giant. > **[View Single Post: Has Roy already failed?](https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=19778430&postcount=26)** > > The Giant in the Playground message boards, where fans of the Order of the Stick webcomic congregate to discuss gaming and such. \*I am not going to draw a comic where committing suicide is portrayed as a reasonable and effective solution to a problem. I am certainly not going to draw a comic where a religious figure exhorts a believer to commit suicide in order to thwart the efforts of a rival religious faction.\* ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1776 "2015-09-17T01:34:26Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Not gonna happen. Word of Giant. > > [View Single Post: Has Roy already failed?](http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=19778430&postcount=26) > > \*I am not going to draw a comic where committing suicide is portrayed as a reasonable and effective solution to a problem. > > I am certainly not going to draw a comic where a religious figure exhorts a believer to commit suicide in order to thwart the efforts of a rival religious faction.\* That is a subtly but substantially different thing than I am discussing. Rich has said that he’s not going to let someone commit suicide (which I agree with). But there have been plenty of instances where someone (usually a paladin) is willing to die for a cause. I could see the High Priest of Heimdall (thanks **oft wears hars** ), under the direction of his patron diety, be willing to take actions to save the world that he knows are likely to result in his death. Heck, they probably all became high priests by adventuring, which is by definition putting yourself in harm’s way to end threats. Not to mention they’re _Dwarves_, and worship the Northern Pantheon. They probably think martyrdom is the way to go. The paladins guarded the throne room expecting they would die to an epic-level lich sorceror. A hobgoblin took an arrow for Redcloak. Haley engaged a much stronger Crystal in Gnomeport to save civilians. I’m sure there are others I can’t think of. A suicide would be out of character. A sacrifice is not. (again, I don’t think this is how the current story arc will play out. It’s just fun to speculate on) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1777 "2015-09-17T06:20:50Z")
> [@oft\_wears\_hats](#): > > On a side note: how compelled are the ushers and other staff to comply with the order to fetch the priests of the demigods? We see that halfling shouting at the force field, so it looks like the timer is ticking. Still, is there anything stopping them or the lower priests from deciding to wait out the Roy/Durkula fight before they vote? I think what we’re expected to assume right now is that all the ushers and other Stone Creeders have been drained, although probably not vamped yet, since it takes three days before they rise as vampires. The Insta-Vamp spell is in Durkula’s staff, so Gontor and the priestess he attacked may be vampires, but did he have time to do the entire group? I would guess not. He probably Insta-Vamped those two and sent them out to drain the rest of the Creed while he went to the Godsmoot. The high priests of the demigods I would not expect to be even drained. After all they are fairly high level clerics and should be able to defeat the vampires. Oh, and I would not expect anyone outside the nave and gallery to even know about the fight. That includes the demigod’s HPs. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1778 "2015-09-17T12:10:09Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The high priests of the demigods I would not expect to be even drained. After all they are fairly high level clerics and should be able to defeat the vampires. Hel could have directed Durkula to drain the high priests of the demigods that would vote no, thereby ensuring her victory. But I agree that a squad of high level priests with all their spells should be able to whack some spell-less newly raised cleric vampire thralls. Then again, we don’t know how high level the demigod priests are. Maybe the high priests of the big pantheons are character level 18+ but the high priest of the god of fig trees is just excited to be able to cast 3rd level spells now. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2015, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1779 "2015-09-17T12:59:18Z")
I think it’s less about the ability to kill a priest and more about the ability of the deity in question (even a demi-deity) to evoke the protection of the Godsmoot and object to their priest being attacked by the priest of another deity on supposedly neutral ground. If Hel wants to win this, she needs to play it by the book lest she disqualify herself for violating the rules. The stone guys are outside “the book” as it were which Durkon made sure to confirm before attacking. But two of he three things he said about the Exarch (No spells, No protection, No deity to object) don’t apply to the demigod priests. Heck, probably three-of-three don’t apply since the demigod priests should have their full allotment of spells. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755/1780 "2015-09-17T13:05:58Z")
Hmm… the force-field means that neither Durkula nor Roy can escape. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=88) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-book-6-discussion-thread/682755.md?page=90)