Line #22 Webcomic/FlintlockesGuideToAzeroth


1	''Flintlocke's Guide to Azeroth'' is a popular {{webcomic}} by Dave "Fargo" Kosak, made using screenshots from ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''. Originally conceived as part of a column about virtual life in ''[=WoW=]'', focus soon shifted to Flintlocke and his quest to discover the ultimate weapon.
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3	Flintlocke is a dwarven warrior who prefers to fight with his bizarrely engineered weapons, to his own detriment and that of those around him. Scatterbrained and none-too-bright, he nonetheless slaps together a party to aid him in his quest for more boom. This team includes:
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5	* Kathrena, a night elf huntress who is by far the [[OnlySaneMan most level-headed member of the group]]
6	* Schweitzer, a [[DirtyCoward cowardly]] human [[WhiteMage priest]] who avoids enemy attention by [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything never casting his healing spells]]
7	* Bloodrose, a gnome mage and extreme [[TheMunchkin powergamer]] who boasts that she "blows through levels like Kleenex!"
8	* and Lowping, a gnome rogue running entirely on macros and scripts written by a Chinese gold farmer, making him an effective looter but unreliable fighter.
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10	The original comic ran for two years before reaching its explosive conclusion, after which a "drawn" comic was planned to follow it up. That didn't pan out, so [[OrphanedSeries after spending some time in limbo]], [[UnCanceled the comic was revived]] with a new story, ''Flintlocke Versus the Horde'', focusing on a group of Horde players opposing Flintlocke's band. The new story concluded in early 2009, and with the creator's [[strike: decision to move on]] getting hired by Blizzard to work as a designer for ''World of Warcraft'', this would seem to be the end of Flintlocke's adventures, at least in this format.
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12	The Horde counterparts include:
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14	* Rok'tar: A [[TheRoleplayer Roleplaying]] Orc Hunter who gets a bit too much into his character.
15	* Gravy: A Troll Shaman who prefers to just get high all the time.
16	* Bubbles: A Forsaken Priest who serves as the group foil to Bloodrose.
17	* Cheri: An incredibly ditzy Blood Elf Warlock.
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19	Due to Gamespy having been taken down, Flintlocke is no longer available to read there. However, someone was nice enough to copy both comics and place them on a zipfile, found [[http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/1267556-Flintlocke-s-Guide-to-Azeroth-Backup here]]. Or if you still prefer to read them online, Dave uploaded the whole series to Platform/ComicFury, [[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com found here (original series)]] and [[http://flintlockevshorde.thecomicseries.com here (Flintlocke vs The Horde).]]
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22	!!This comic contains examples of:
23	* AbnormalAmmo: A lot of what Flintlocke ends up shooting from his musket is both alive and reluctant to take part in the fighting.
24	* AchievementsInIgnorance: Flintlocke regularly performs ludicrous feats without understanding it should be impossible, such as gaining negative reputation with his own race (they charged him ''more'' money than the default amount for riding training) and binding his hearthstone to Thunderbluff somehow.
25	* AllNaturalFireExtinguisher: {{Parodied\|}} with [[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com/comics/356 its titular character certain that he and Schweitzer]] can pull this off to put out ''a burning town''. It doesn't work, but [[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com/comics/357 according to Schweitzer's shocked yelling]], Flintlocke might have stood a slightly better chance attempting this than one would expect.
26	-->''You just knocked over a tree!!''
27	* AscendedFanboy: Dave Kosak gave up doing the series...because he got hired by Blizzard to work as a designer for ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''. Huzzah! (and yes, that's the real reason Flintlocke, Schweitzer, Rok'tar, and Gravy appear in Cataclysm).
28	* AscendedMeme: The Twilight Highlands, one of the new zones in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'': ''Cataclysm'', features [=NPCs=] named Fargo Flintlocke and Doc Schweitzer. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyOzDTuYGHE Flintlocke's even got custom lines!]]
29	** [[http://www.wowhead.com/item=70139 Players can now use the Chuck Shot!]]
30	** Additionally, Gravy is an innkeeper in the Valley of Honor, and Rok'tar is commander of a ship that crashed in the Twilight Highlands.
31	** The Twilight Highlands introduction questline for Alliance Players has them partner up with Flintlocke for a while... with hilarious results.
32	** Both of the crews can become your followers in ''Warlords of Draenor'', minus the nameless Shadow Priest. Many of them had had cameos and short appearances, but now [[PuttingTheBandBackTogether they're back together for new adventures in Draenor]]! Fittingly, Schweitzer can become a follower for both the Alliance and the Horde.
33	* BaitAndSwitch: Flintlocke refuses to use the Ultimate Goblin Engineered Weapon on the Everblooming the group is being attacked by... because the forest they are surrounded by is too green for the weapon to achieve maximum collateral damage.
34	* BatmanGambit: Schweitzer pulls of a funny one in the sequel: [[spoiler:Flintlocke bought a "strategy guide" on Ebay, which tells him that random people across the world are dangerous bosses such as Illidan or Kel'thuzad. In Southshore, Flintlocke suspects the barmaid to be Kael'thas Sunstrider. Schweitzer immediately goes to "interrogate" "Kael'thas", and starts hitting on her. When she doesn't return the feelings and insults him, he calls out, "Kael'thas, you fiend!". Already pumped from killing a "turkey scourge", Flintlocke immediately yells out that he'll save him and starts shooting the barmaid.]]
35	* BecomingTheBoast: Rok'tar does become a powerful hero of the Horde, proving himself after [[spoiler:taking on Flintlocke and Schweitzer (using one of the Wuuf's talent build and macros no less) alone with Bun'kar and winning]].
36	* BigNo: In the [[http://flintlockevshorde.thecomicseries.com/comics/161/ July 9, 2009]] strip.
37	* BillBillJunkBill: "Auction... auction... vendor... auction..."
38	* BrickJoke: Very nearly involving actual bricks in fact. Early on, [[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com/comics/46 Flintlocke finds a way to make gold.]] Seven months later, [[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com/comics/172 this happens.]] Of course, the author made sure [[ViewersAreGoldfish to point it out]].
39	* ChekhovsGun: The Wuuf training Schweitzer and reallocating his talent points.
40	* CherryTapping: In the final battle between Rok'tar and Flintlocke, Bun'kar finishes off Lowping, who had previously been reduced to 1 hp.
41	* ContemplateOurNavels: When the alliance isn't raiding crossroads [[http://flintlockevshorde.thecomicseries.com/comics/46 they take the time.]]
42	* DeathIsCheap: It ''is'' based on ''World of Warcraft'', after all. Slightly subverted in the battle between Rok'tar's party and Flintlocke's party; death is still cheap, but the closest Graveyard to the area is too far away for anyone killed in the battle to return in time to be effective again.
43	* DestructiveSaviour: Flintlocke's party manage to save Stormwind from the Horde raid by crashing a zeppelin into the Cathedral of Light and unleashing the Ultimate Goblin-Engineered Weapon on the city, resulting in heavy amounts of damage and the flooding of the Valley of Heroes. This leaves Darnassus very wary of his definition of "saving" them when Rok'tar is mistaken for a OneManArmy assaulting the city.
44	* DeusExitMachina: In the battle between Rok'tar and Flintlocke's parties, Bloodrose, TheMunchkin of Flintlocke's party, is the first to be killed, having been caught while out of mana.
45	* DistantReactionShot: Common when Flintlocke gets his hands on anything explosive.
46	* DualWield: Exclamation points.
47	* EdibleAmmunition: According to Flintlocke, a Dwarven Thanksgiving tradition is to stuff the turkey with blasting powder, so it can be fired as-is from a cannon in the event of an attack. The party ends up actually doing so, albeit offscreen.
48	* EpicFail: An oddly victory version. According to Bloodrose, the Horde once went AFK for an entire battleground and lost... 3-2.
49	* FalseReassurance: When Bloodrose expresses concern that the "Remote Backstab" is just another ridiculous made-up tactic of Flintlocke's:
50	-->'''Flintlocke''': Nonsense. Tha' Remote Backstab is a time-honored move wit' tha utmost a' respectability.
51	-->'''{{Beat}}'''
52	-->'''Flintlocke''': Now reach into me backpack an' get out me toilet plunger.
53	** In Gadgetzan, when Schweitzer is buying drugs from a goblin merchant.
54	--->'''Goblin''': Here, try a hit of this!
55	--->'''Schweitzer''': Ooh... is it legal?
56	--->'''Goblin''': It's approved for industrial use.
57	* FastballSpecial: The "Remote Backstab," which involves six charges of blasting powder, a musket, a plunger, and Lowping the gnome.
58	* GratuitousSpanish: Flintlocke's "Human Accent".
59	* GrayAndGrayMorality: How Schweitzer's father sees the world, apparently.
60	* GrievousHarmWithABody: Besides Flintlocke's animal-based weapons, Bloodrose reflects that "[[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com/comics/279 it's amazing what you can learn while beating someone over the head with their own spine]]."
61	* GuyInRealLife: Cheri is initially suspected to be this. [[spoiler: She's not.]]
62	* HyperCompetentSidekick: Lowping; when he's actually playing, anyway.
63	* IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace: Apparently the reason the Horde overran West''fall''. And the next stronghold after that was ''Fort Pwned''.
64	* ImprobableWeaponUser: Flintlocke once wields a question mark in battle against a goblin using dual exclamation points.
65	* {{Im Going To Hell For This}}: Schweitzer notes this after he uses his revive on Flintlocke's ram and instead zombified it. He notes however that he'll have a drink first before hell.
66	* InsultBackfire: Kathrena calls Schweitzer "the worst living priest on the server". Schweitzer points out that, putting emphasis on the "living" part, it's actually not that bad a title.
67	* ItsAWonderfulPlot: One strip has a variation when the characters imagine what Azeroth would be like without rogues. Apparently, in such a world, the Alliance and Horde have settled their differences and the classes are all in perfect balance.
68	* JustOneMoreLevel: [[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com/comics/63/ The Five Stages of Warcraft]].
69	* KillerRabbit: Bun'kar. Although it's somewhat of an InformedAbility, as the most impressive thing it's actually shown doing is CherryTapping Lowping.
70	* LineOfSightName: The terrifyingly-named Horde guild, Desk Chair Lamp.
71	* MadScientist: Those who created The Ultimate Goblin-Engineered Weapon.
72	** Flintlocke to an extent. He's certainly got the "Mad" part down.
73	* MikeNelsonDestroyerOfWorlds: "We're gonna save and/or destroy tha world!"
74	* MistakenForBadass: During his infiltration of Darnassus, Rok'tar attacks a passerby with Bun'kar after being spotted. News of a Level 80 OneManArmy assaulting Darnassus quickly spreads. [[http://flintlockevshorde.thecomicseries.com/comics/82/ The passerby's description of Rok'tar may have helped.]]
75	* MoreDakka: When [[spoiler: Bun'kar kills Lowping]] and Flintlocke pulls out a ''minigun'' to kill him in a [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge Roaring Rampage of Revenge]].
76	* NoKillLikeOverkill: Flintlocke's philosophy in a nutshell.
77	** The Remote Backstab:
78	--->'''Bloodrose''': He bored a hole clear '''through''' him!
79	** And the Pween Scene Investigators mentioned that bits of his ribcage were found three zones away.
80	* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:The final showdown between Flintlocke/Schweitzer and Rok'tar takes place off-panel]].
81	** [[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com/comics/201/ According to this strip,]] exciting pirate battles, among other things, occur during loading screens.
82	* OlderIsBetter
83	-->'''Kathrena''': "I don't know if this map to the ultimate goblin engineered weapon is legitimate. It's written in crayon."
84	-->'''Flintlocke''': "''Ancient'' crayon!"
85	* PorkyPigPronunciation: [[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com/comics/320 Zeppelin would have been easier to say]].
86	* RammingAlwaysWorks:
87	-->'''Flintlocke''': "RAMMING SPEED!"
88	-->'''Bloodrose''': "What are we ramming?"
89	-->'''Flintlocke''': ''' ''"EV'RYTHING!!"'' '''
90	* TheRashomon: A few of the last strips are separately shown from the perspectives of Schweitzer and Cheri.
91	* RedBaron: Flintlocke's great-great-uncle "Triggerfinger" Ironstone.
92	-->'''Schweitzer''': So named for his legendary marksmanship?
93	-->'''Flintlocke''': No! So named 'cuz tha's tha only finger 'e 'ad left... after 'e mastered tha ''Chuck Shot''!
94	* RelaxOVision: Used for a particularly messy fight involving Flintlocke and the Beaverstick.
95	* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Flintlocke gets one after [[spoiler: he sees Lowping getting killed by Bun'kar. Unfortunately, it didn't work]].
96	* RunningGag: "Tell me you like my hat!"
97	** Early comics had comments on Flintlocke's purple boots. That went away after his first armor upgrade, though.
98	** Rok'tar's pets and animals he's decided to tame as pets getting killed, usually by his teammates.
99	** Almost every time the party or the PSI investigators come across dead bodies, they put a hanky on it as a very inadequate attempt at preserving the dignity of the dead.
100	* ShootTheMedicFirst: Schweitzer is convinced that '''all''' enemies subscribe to this philosophy.
101	* ShootTheShaggyDog: Rok'tar spends an entire story arc running through Alliance territory totally naked and unarmed in pursuit of a pet owl. [[spoiler: Gravy cooks it for dinner shortly after he gets back]].
102	* SmallNameBigEgo: The PSI guys see each other as competent and brilliant, though they come to conclusions that no detective ever would, ever.
103	** Flintlocke himself, though he does manage to be pretty effective in combat from time to time.
104	* TheStoner: Gravy the Troll Shaman.
105	* StuffBlowingUp: Generally the result of Flintlocke's actions.
106	* TemptingFate: In the final strip of ''Flintlocke vs. The Horde''.
107	-->"We can't possibly lose!"
108	* TookALevelInBadass: Schweitzer, after the reveal that the Wuuf had custom designed a "Murder" macro for him and his party managed to convince him to actually ''use'' it.
109	* TuxedoAndMartini: Bubbles' plan for Rok'tar to get through Teldrassil is pictured as him becoming this.
110	* UltimateGamer386: The Wuuf, a night elf priest who spends his time calculating the most powerful talent combinations, a gamer so hardcore that even ''[=WoW=]'''s developers are scared of him. His Horde counterpart is Bubbles the Forsaken Priest.
111	** He reached level 60 in a couple days. His only reviews, "Too easy." and "Nerf everything."
112	* UnusualEuphemism: Flintlocke appears to use the term 'jimmy/jimmies' instead of testicles.
113	** Justified, since it's a part of the Scottish accent Flintlocke favors.
114	** Tinkmaster Overspark calls Flintlocke a "lugnut" when he doesn't seem to grasp the concept of a mount.
115	* WeNeedADistraction: [[http://flintlocke.thecomicseries.com/comics/272 Flintlocke finds his true calling]].
116	* YouKilledMyFather: Rok'tar declares vengeance on Flintlocke due to him killing off his father. It's not really that big of a deal since his father's an NPC who just respawns in a few minutes. Admittedly, Flintlocke did kill his father twenty more times as well as Malakkaboom, as he thought that they were Kel'Thuzad and Illidan, respectively.
117	* YourMom: Barrens chat gives several of these([[NoodleIncident many of them unheard]]) to Rok'tar.

Context Webcomic / FlintlockesGuideToAzeroth