OotS #663 up

[Ambrus]

My guess is that the last panel of the next strip will feature a resurrected roy kissing Celia while Durkon happily looks on.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

If anything, I would say it's the equal and opposite of filler: it's bookkeeping. Tally up where everyone stands so we can end the arc and start a new adventure.

'Epilogue' would seem to be the best word for it in storytelling terms. Hopefully soon to transition into the prologue of a new chapter.

Yeah, this isn't filler, it seems much more like an Epilogue for this plot arc. Finishing Roy's resurrection and the OotS standing together again will probably be the end.

My guess is that the last panel of the next strip will feature a resurrected roy kissing Celia while Durkon happily looks on.

Ahem. I stand corrected. Epilogue is a much better word for it.

Has Rich actually mentioned anything about 666 being a special strip, or is that just an assumption that is being made?

 

[ArisKatsaris]

My own guess is that 666 will have everyone reunited celebrating alongside the Azurites who are glad to have found a new home. It will be the Number of the Feast.

 

[Asmor]

Everyone notice how O'Chul is too awesome to fall victim even to the demands of dramatic convention?

What are you talking about? That had nothing to do with O-Chul. By pointing said convention out, Elan saved his life!

And completely random: As I was typing out Elan's name, I just realized that Nale is Elan backwards.

Yes, it only took me 600 or so strips. >_>

 

[LightPhoenix]

The best part of the strip is that when Elan freaks out and talks about O-Chul getting killed, everyone looks around for something coming. Elan's credibility has skyrocketed since the beginning of the strip.

 

[Dausuul]

Ahem. I stand corrected. Epilogue is a much better word for it.

Has Rich actually mentioned anything about 666 being a special strip, or is that just an assumption that is being made?

It's just an assumption. Usually Rich marks the anniversary strips with a dramatic transition that indicates the wrapping up of an existing subplot or the start of a new one. Sometimes he subverts expectations and doesn't.

#50: The Semi-Secret Origin of Elan and Nale.
#100: Subverted, nothing special.
#200: Miko's big reveal.
#300: Splash page of Xykon's army, revelation that they're heading for Azure City.
#400: Haley and Elan's first kiss.
#500: Roy taking up observation of the mortal world.
#600: Subverted, nothing special. Shout-out to strip #100.

#666 isn't an anniversary per se, but it is a number with dramatic/cultural significance. (Especially among D&D players, seeing as how we all worship Satan and practice black magic... yeah.) And with the OotS being reunited and everything clearly moving toward one of those big transitional moments, expectations are high.

Edit: Also worth noting, we are almost certainly nearing the end of the next OotS book. IIRC, "Dungeon Crawling Fools" was 121 strips long, not counting bonus material. "No Cure For The Paladin Blues" was longer, clocking in at 179 (strips 122 to 300). "War and XPs" was similar at 184 (strips 301 to 484). If Rich wraps up on strip 666, then [insert name of next book here] will be 182 strips long, just about the same as the previous two.

Exact numbers may be a bit off; I don't have the books in front of me.

 

[freyar]

What are you talking about? That had nothing to do with O-Chul. By pointing said convention out, Elan saved his life!

? I thought whenever Elan points out dramatic convention, it happens? Hence V's line about probability serving drama like a two-copper harlot (or whatever).

 

[MarkB]

Everyone notice how O'Chul is too awesome to fall victim even to the demands of dramatic convention?

Indeed. Where most people have a dramatic convention, O'Chul has only another fist.

 

[Shieldhaven]

Personally, I expect to see the Dark Powers start their limited-term control over V in three strips. I expect them to use this control to screw the Order (or just the Azurites) over in the worst way imaginable.

Haven

 

[Filcher]

#666 will be drawn by guest artist, Jack Chick.