Downer Poll

[Olive]

I don't find the story hard to follow at all

So what's the story? give us a synopsis.

 

[Jorath Calar]

I don't really like it, I want Phil and Dixie back

 

[Laslo Tremaine]

I don't really like it, I want Phil and Dixie back

Aside from the fact the What's New with Phil and Dixie was in Dragon, I probably would have given that strip the same rating I gave Downer... Poor.

 

[Patlin]

I don't read Dungeon cover to cover, the way I read Dragon, since I want to be able to play if someone else DMs a module out of my Dungeon collection. I find it hard to read *any* of the comics unless they are clearly listed in the table of contents. I think I've missed most of the Mount Zogon strips because of this problem, and I really like those. I have read Downer a number of times, and find it uninspiring. A comic strip in Dungeon or Dragon has to be short, since it's not the main focus of the magazine. I think drama is a hard target for a short strip, and I think that's what Downer's going for... if it's funny, I sure don't get it. I'd be happier to see the Order of the Stick, personally.

By the way, I subscribe to both mags.

 

[BryonD]

And then we'd hear from everybody who doesn't enjoy Downer, but thinks
it should stay. No thanks.

The poll format is a pretty standard (best - worst) format.

Edit: never mind, who cares

Not that the results matter anyway.....

 

[kilamanjaro]

I'm still at work (sucks to be me) but here's a summary from memory. Downer is working dungeon security for a beholder named Manglecramps. A party of adventurers penetrates the dungeon and Downer ambushes them. Two of the adventurers pursue him, a female elf wizard and a male halfling rogue. After a stand off Downer recognizes the halfling as a fellow thieves guild member. Downer lets the two go after asking the halfling to file a complaint with the guild about his working conditions and stealing a kiss from the elf.
Manglecramps is not pleased that Downer let the two go and sends Downer's brother, his imp familiar, and a bugbear to fetch Downer so he can be punished. Manglecramps order his guards to execute Downer but the remains of the adventuring party have scried Downer in order to find Manglecramps. They teleport in and a melee ensues. The adventurers are revealed to actually be assassins sent by someone from Carceri who is displeased with Manglecramps. The only survivors of the battle are Downer, his brother, and the imp who slipped away during the fight.
Downer collects some magical weapon the beholder had and he and his brother head for Oubliette (sp?), their home city in the underdark. Before they leave the elf wizardess reappears and blasts Downer foot off at the ankle. The imp also reapears polymorphed to look the wizardess and Downer kills him thinking that it's her.
Wow this is long.

 

[kilamanjaro]

So the two dark elves return to their home city, unaware that the halfling rogue is following them. Downer pays a visit to a xorn necromancer who fuses a new heavy duty foot on to his leg. The two then head for a tavern to meet up with a friend of Downers named the Needleman ( a dark stalker). A mindflayer bursts in saying that githzerai are after him and soon a fight breaks out with the bar patrons taking on a bunch of gith.
Meanwhile the halfling spies on a meeting with a rakshasa, illithid, and drow (and probably others i'm forgetting). I don't remember what the meeting was about but the halfling barely escapes and disguises himself as a dark creeper to try to leave the city.
The illithid in the bar eats the githzerai and receives flashes from his memories about what the gith are doing in town.
The head priestess of the Drow in town meets with some sort of extraplanar lover who appears to be a winged Drow. The two of them are plotting to take over the town.
I think that's about it, at least as far as #111. When I have time I'll reread them and see if I've fubbed it up.