OotS 611 is up!

[StreamOfTheSky]

Minions. The Giant said that he will use 4e rules were he wants and 3.x rules were he wants. I think that was a perfect example of what a minion is and what is should be used for.

Or they were just many levels lower than him, as others have said. Aside from the wizard/rogue who needs to be around level 5, there's little proof the others are even above level 2-3. The triple sneak attack panel only moderately hurt Belkar, and the Bard went with a level 1 spell before having it fizzle. Also as noted, the orc guy survived at least one attack, and assuming Mr. Scruffy hit the mage, he took at least two to down as well. So it's not likely they were minions.

I still don't know how Belkar's supposed to beat a level 16+ Rogue and his help all by himself*, though he does tend to outperform expectations. Still, I'm, predicting that if the good guys win the fight either Bozzak calls a retreat to regroup or Celia ends up saving Belkar, as she's waiting for "the right moment."

*Yeah, he got the cleric, but if he stands out too much, he's just going to die. I hope he doesn't. Seems kinda cool. "I hear that priest is a coward." End of strip: the coward's already gotten two kills.

 

[Storm Raven]

Or they were just many levels lower than him, as others have said. Aside from the wizard/rogue who needs to be around level 5, there's little proof the others are even above level 2-3.

The last panel shows 11 defeated opponents. If they were all 5th level, that would be an EL 11-12 encounter.

 

[roguerouge]

OotS: What stage of the monomyth are we at?

great strip.

 

[Squizzle]

Anyone want to lay odds on "Evolve or die" turning into the title of the collected volume?

 

[MarkB]

None of them had "wound lines", so it's more likely they were just low level.

Remember, it's fairly well established, based on displayed powers and spells, that OotS are all somewhere in the teens for levels. These guys were a big crowd of Thieves Guild nobodies, and many of them multiclassed.

Using standard 3.5 rules, consider the Wizard/Rogue... He casts Bull's Strength, Acid Arrow, and Scorching Ray. He sneak attacks, and uses a short sword. Assuming he's got an Intelligence of at least 14, he'd need to be at least a 5th level character (Rogue 1/Wizard 4) to do all that. Even then, he'd only have, on average, 15 or 20 hit points.

If most of these Rogues were in the level 5-ish range, it wouldn't be a stretch to see a high level Ranger/Barbarian taking them out that fast.

Notice that at least one of them (the half-orc with the big sword) survives an attack by Belkar and must be finished off by the Cleric of Loki.

Also, most of them aren't wearing much armor to speak of, making them easy to hit.

Also, also, his dice might be especially hot tonight.

Or maybe they were minions.

Except Jenny, obviously. She's got a name now, so she's promoted off the Minion list.

 

[jeffh]

More apropos of the previous strip than this one, but I figure more people will see it in this thread:

I just noticed that we've seen Hayley's new look before.

 

[Miyaa]

Hmm...anyone dare put up what kind of stats Mr. Scruffy might have as an Animal Companion? (Oh, Mr. Scruffy: 1, Magic Users: 0.)

 

[dmccoy1693]

Well, Rangers don't get cats as animal companions (at least not in the SRD), but lets ignore that for the moment.

Mr. Scruffy.
Size/Type: Tiny Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8 (9 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 17 (+2 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural), touch 15, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-11
Attack: Claw +6 melee (1d2-4)
Full Attack: 2 claws +6 melee (1d2-3) and bite +1 melee (1d3-3)
Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Evasion, link, low-light vision, scent, share spells (and 2 bonus tricks)
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 4, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7
Skills: Balance +11, Climb +7, Hide +17*, Jump +11, Listen +6, Move Silently +9, Spot +6
Feats: Stealthy, Weapon FinesseB

I may have messed the skills up, I was doing it fast.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Or they were just many levels lower than him, as others have said. Aside from the wizard/rogue who needs to be around level 5, there's little proof the others are even above level 2-3. The triple sneak attack panel only moderately hurt Belkar, and the Bard went with a level 1 spell before having it fizzle. Also as noted, the orc guy survived at least one attack, and assuming Mr. Scruffy hit the mage, he took at least two to down as well. So it's not likely they were minions.

I still don't know how Belkar's supposed to beat a level 16+ Rogue and his help all by himself*

Well, if Belkar can finish of the Rogues flanking partner, he has a definitive advantage. A Rogue without sneak attack against a raging Ranger/Barbarian and his animal companion? I wouldn't bet on the Rogue, not at that level range and difference.

 

[Paradigm]

3 Words: Undead Don't Breathe.

3 other words: Necklace of Adaptation, ok well technically I guess you still breath, but close enough.

Also, how many hit dice would a house cat animal companion have at Belkar's level? As for the SRD, stat it as a Dire Rat or something, it isn't as it is a national security matter!