OotS 448

[DevoutlyApathetic]

Count me with the folks that would have liked to see the Sapphire Guard be slightly more effective than a group of commoners armed with pillows, at least for a few panels.

I like how everybody is completely ignoring panels 2-4.

I liked the comic fine. When a 8-10 level disparity in power exists heroism doesn't count for much.

 

[Drowbane]

I dislike this strip because it makes absolutely no sense given what we already know about the Sapphire Guard. They've had literally decades to prepare for this attack, and they never once considered that they might be fighting a high level spell caster?



If he'd done it right, we wouldn't seen the scene period (particularly that ridiculous ball). He'd just cut away to something else, and have all the dead bodies discovered later, with Xykon gloating over them. That would be dramatic.

The symbol of insanity, however, turned it into something that was neither humorous nor dramatic.

Thats a whole lot of opinion you're swinging around there as if it were fact.

 

[Klaus]

They make their save against Xykon's symbol of insanity, but fail it against a much lower level caster's hold person?

"and whatnot".

And nothing in Confusion's description precludes an affected character from voluntarily failing his/her save, or from fighting defensively when attacking nearest creature.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Incidentally, the minimum DC on that Symbol of Insanity is (10+lvl 8 + minimum Int bonus 4) 22, and more likely to be 26; that's assuming Xykon has no way to boost the DC higher (feats, spells active, etc). A 10th level Paladin with a 18 Cha has a (+3 base save, +2? Wis bonus, +4 Cha bonus) +9 Will save - they'd need to roll a 17 to save, and more likely higher (some wiggle room there for magic items that boost Paladin saves, etc). And I'm not guessing that more than a few are 10th level.

Hallow could give the Paladins a +2 save versus the Symbol (Magic Circle vs Evil). Consecrate wouldn't really do anything (-2 to Xykon's saves! Woohoo! +6 to turn him! Good Luck!). As others have pointed out, Dispel Magic is of no use in this scenario.

To trigger the Symbol, the paladins just have to look at it - not even read it, which was my first question. I'm sure that Xykon used a Mass Suggestion in there to get them to look. All it takes is one to trigger it. The ball bounces, so if it bounces far enough and then back, the Paladins might have to make multiple will saves, leaving them well and truly screwed.

The paladins had decades to prepare for attacks, but not decades to prepare for this particular attack. If it were up to you, how would you protect the throne room from a high-level sorceror or wizard?

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

"and whatnot".

And nothing in Confusion's description precludes an affected character from voluntarily failing his/her save, or from fighting defensively when attacking nearest creature.

I certainly wouldn't allow that if I were the DM.

 

[Drowbane]

"and whatnot".

And nothing in Confusion's description precludes an affected character from voluntarily failing his/her save, or from fighting defensively when attacking nearest creature.

With respect Klaus, would you allow your PCs (or NPCs) to opt to fail saves while they were Confused?

I sure as hell wouldn't.

<snip>If it were up to you, how would you protect the throne room from a high-level sorceror or wizard?

Hire the PCs...

 

[Korgoth]

I get the feeling that people didn't like this one because it was vaguely disturbing, whereas most OotS are light-hearted and fun.

Not really my issue. I didn't like the cheesy use of the spell... pure munchkinism that I'd never let anybody get away with.

Yeah, yeah, so Xykon takes out one-millionedy-fifty-billion guys with a cantrip and has a 50-foot member. I get it. Is it a Mary-Sueism or just laziness? I don't really care about the explanation. As a reader I feel vaguely insulted.

 

[Drowbane]

I wonder if anybody would have blinked twice if V used this tactic against a similiar number of (oh, lets say...) drow (of similiar levels).

Assuming V had access to 8th level spells of course.

 

[Klaus]

Incidentally, the minimum DC on that Symbol of Insanity is (10+lvl 8 + minimum Int bonus 4) 22, and more likely to be 26; that's assuming Xykon has no way to boost the DC higher (feats, spells active, etc). A 10th level Paladin with a 18 Cha has a (+3 base save, +2? Wis bonus, +4 Cha bonus) +9 Will save - they'd need to roll a 17 to save, and more likely higher (some wiggle room there for magic items that boost Paladin saves, etc). And I'm not guessing that more than a few are 10th level.

Hallow could give the Paladins a +2 save versus the Symbol (Magic Circle vs Evil). Consecrate wouldn't really do anything (-2 to Xykon's saves! Woohoo! +6 to turn him! Good Luck!). As others have pointed out, Dispel Magic is of no use in this scenario.

To trigger the Symbol, the paladins just have to look at it - not even read it, which was my first question. I'm sure that Xykon used a Mass Suggestion in there to get them to look. All it takes is one to trigger it. The ball bounces, so if it bounces far enough and then back, the Paladins might have to make multiple will saves, leaving them well and truly screwed.

The paladins had decades to prepare for attacks, but not decades to prepare for this particular attack. If it were up to you, how would you protect the throne room from a high-level sorceror or wizard?

Factor in Prayer, Protection from Evil and a potion of Eagle's Splendor and you're boosting that Will save from +9 to +12. Against a DC 22, it's a 50/50 chance.

And Xykon is a Sorcerer, not a Wizard.

 

[Piratecat]

Fascinating. You know, you can tell that Xykon is a sorcerer with a high charisma. He's not workmanlike in his destruction. Rather, he's all about style; how he kills people is far more important than simply killing him.

That's a great bad guy!