# Order of the Stick General Discussion Thread (Open Spoilers and Speculation) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2009, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096 "2009-02-02T07:39:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 103
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2041 "2009-07-30T13:49:10Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > [Sure it was](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0528.html). > > It may not have been her magic, but she was the summoner. It broke as a result of the magic not because Haley was trying to break it. Haley happened to be holding it when it broke but Xykon’s pet necrophiliac was the one who actually broke it and triggered the summons. Haley just happened to be there when Celia showed up and Celia made some assumptions. Though I fully acknowledge that there’s no chance that Burlew will make a point of that. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2042 "2009-07-30T14:05:15Z")
No, Haley snapped it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2043 "2009-07-30T14:07:25Z")
Actually, Haley DID break it. In the next comic after the one that **Alessan** linked, Celia says that electricity weakens the amulet. So Tsukiko (I think that’s her name) weakened it enough for Haley to break it by accident. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2044 "2009-07-30T16:00:30Z")
This one occurred to me earlier today just out of the blue… did Vaarsuvius ever level up after killing off all those dragons? Even if s/he were Evil that many kills has to be worth _something_. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2045 "2009-07-30T16:04:29Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > This one occurred to me earlier today just out of the blue… did Vaarsuvius ever level up after killing off all those dragons? Even if s/he were Evil that many kills has to be worth _something_. As mentioned by the Three Fiends, her effective character level during the soul-splice was so high that she effecively would get no experience for anything during that time. You can look it up on the SRD, but basically if your level is so much higher than your opponent’s, you get no exp. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2009, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2046 "2009-07-31T08:06:58Z")
Missed that part. Thanks. ---
**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:** [July 31, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2047 "2009-07-31T18:28:02Z")
> [@](#): > > You can look it up on the SRD, but basically if your level is so much higher than your opponent’s, you get no exp. Actually you can’t. The XP table is one of the few things they left out of the SRD, so you’d still have to buy the books. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2048 "2009-08-08T10:09:06Z")
[#672 is up!](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0672.html) End of the book too; and no more till the 31st. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2009, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2049 "2009-08-08T11:35:18Z")
Well… well, well, well. It seems as though some key mythology has yet to be revealed. Excellent. On another note, how about we start a new thread on the 31st, in honor of the new arc? ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2050 "2009-08-08T11:45:09Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > [#672 is up!](http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0672.html) > > End of the book too; and no more till the 31st. Roy is apparently not getting a lot of use out of his MBA. Flanking tactics are of only moderate effectiveness against enemies with Overland Flight. Likewise, reliance on protective spells when your opponent has secondary casters who can throw around Dispel Magic is highly dangerous, especially when your opponent can disengage at will. Plus, those secondary casters can rapidly heal Xykon; one Harm spell from Redcloak can undo entire rounds of combat actions from the team. Ootsverse has mixed the laws of dramatics pretty thoroughly into the rules of D&D, but there is one pretty fundamental hurdle that needs to be overcome in Roy’s plans; that the utter contempt Xykon has for him as a possible threat is pretty much justified. I am curious to see what will happen between now and their next confrontation that will give the OotS any chance against Xykon. Right now, Xykon pretty much has the overwhelming force necessary to ignore or batter through any stratagem they attempt. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2009, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2051 "2009-08-08T12:16:59Z")
Well, that pretty much shoots down one of my pet theories. When V’s familiar looked into the snarl and exclaimed "It’s so beautiful. I don’t understand.’ I thought maybe it was channeling the thoughts of the Snarl itself. That the snarl was fascinated by the beauty of the world and universe and that’s why it didn’t continue growing when loosed above Azure City. But, dang it, apparently not. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2052 "2009-08-08T12:24:32Z")
Well, there’s Roy’s feat. Which I _suspect_ is a stunlock/anticast feat. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2053 "2009-08-08T12:28:19Z")
Doesn’t matter - Roy’s not going to be the one who defeats Xykon. That’ll be either Belkar, or Elan. Probably the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2054 "2009-08-08T12:34:04Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > On another note, how about we start a new thread on the 31st, in honor of the new arc? Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2055 "2009-08-08T13:12:27Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > On another note, how about we start a new thread on the 31st, in honor of the new arc? I have no objections; certainly would be less intimidating to anyone who wanted to jump into the discussion. So is it recursion, the original world, some kind of un-entropic effect, the snarl’s own creation that it’s protecting, a giant firebreathing space hamster egg, or something strange? Oh, and I have to wonder if we’ll see Blackwing around more now. Originally the joke was that no one ever remembers their familiar until they need it but perhaps he’s a bit too hard to ignore now… ---
**Author:** ![robertliguori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@robertliguori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertliguori)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2056 "2009-08-08T13:37:40Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Well, there’s Roy’s feat. Which I _suspect_ is a stunlock/anticast feat. I think it’s the Magekiller feat; his conversation with his grandfather implies that disrupts spellcasting. This would be of more use if its target couldn’t just fly 40’ up and rain magical death down upon Roy. And I can totally see Elan being the one to take down Xykon, by using Bardic verbal-jutsu on Xykon’s battle monologues and focusing Xykon on him and, e.g., a nasty environmental effect bearing down. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2057 "2009-08-08T14:35:40Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Doesn’t matter - Roy’s not going to be the one who defeats Xykon. That’ll be either Belkar, or Elan. Probably the latter. It’s going to be a team effort. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2058 "2009-08-08T15:07:10Z")
> [@Just\_Some\_Guy](#): > > So is it recursion, the original world, some kind of un-entropic effect, the snarl’s own creation that it’s protecting, a giant firebreathing space hamster egg, or something strange? Although the continents aren’t exactly right, I’ll say it’s our/the DM’s world. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2059 "2009-08-08T15:39:56Z")
I’m guessing recursion. The world contains the snarl and the snarl contains the world. Once this is realized the characters will understand that they have to take care not to destroy the snarl but only contain it. And another yes vote for starting a new OOTS thread with the new arc. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096/2060 "2009-08-08T15:51:30Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Although the continents aren’t exactly right, I’ll say it’s our/the DM’s world. My guess: it’s the original world, the one the Snarl supposedly destroyed. I wonder what else the gods have been lying about. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096.md?page=102) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/order-of-the-stick-general-discussion-thread-open-spoilers-and-speculation/484096.md?page=104)