Line #102 Webcomic/MurphysLaw


1	[[quoteright:229:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/s_Law_6021.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:229: Left-to-right: [[ButtMonkey Matt]] and [[OnlySaneMan Radic]].]]
3
4	''[[http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?362792-Murphy-s-Law-X-I-Really-Need-To-Post-A-Map Murphy's Law]]'' is a fan-comic based in the [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Giant in the Playground]] forums. In a similar vein to ''Webcomic/AntiHeroes'', it borrows from Burlew's style, but the characters are a touch elongated. Finds its muse from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''; a RagtagBunchOfMisfits gather together and have zany adventures, and get on each other's nerves.
5
6	The comic follows the adventures of Lloyd Zephyr, a Fighter/Paladin of Astrid with a mysterious past; Radic Quilla, a druid who knows marketing; Janine Nova, a LovableSexManiac who's terrified of orcs; and Matt Silver, a rogue [[ButtMonkey with a horrible streak of bad luck]]. In time, two more party members came forth: Serrin Peakane, a [[GenkiGirl hyperactive]] half-elf wizard, and Tinder, the dragon that they were supposed to kill on their first adventure together.
7
8	Not to be confused with ''WesternAnimation/MiloMurphysLaw''.
9	----
10	!!This comic provides examples of:
11	* AccidentalMisnaming: Hyperion can't seem to get Miles' last name, Lamplight, right. It may or may not be intentional on his part.
12	* AerithAndBob: People called Lloyd, Janine and Matt alongside people called Radic and Serrin.
13	* AlienSky: Aequar, the comic's world, has two moons.
14	* [[AllLoveIsUnrequited All Lust Is Unrequited]]: Janine to Lloyd, Matt to Radic.
15	* AlwaysChaoticEvil: Subverted, as WordOfGod has stated that [[spoiler: no race or culture is universally good or evil]]. It's also quite possibly deconstructed; while the goblins and orcs are treated like monsters by many of the characters, they're shown to be regular people who are sometimes forced to do crimes like robbery.
16	* AmbiguousGender: Some elves have this quality, as an extension of [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Burlew's]] work. Justified, in that, according to WordOfGod, male/female elves produce less testosterone/estrogen, respectively, than male/female humans, and thus have less noticeable secondary sexual characteristics. Anyone who grew up around elves (like Serrin) would be able to tell the difference
17	* ArtEvolution: Comparing the latest and earliest strips demonstrates a noticeable improvement in art quality, as is natural.
18	* ATeamFiring: Dragons have no concept of aiming.
19	* TheAtoner: [[spoiler: Lloyd]] is certainly one, being a former [[spoiler: paladin of Kago]], and apparently recognizable enough to be seen by as a murderer by one of the Plavaan who survived Kago's raids. ''Go, [[spoiler: Lloyd!]]''
20	* BadassBookworm: Serrin is pretty handy with a dagger.
21	* BearsAreBadNews: Therefore Radic [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/RuleOfCool.png wildshapes into one]].
22	* BlatantLies: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/AnyFresherAndShedBeAlive.png Luckily, Commoners' Sense Motive skills aren't all that amazing.]]
23	* BlowYouAway: The ThemeNaming of the group. Nobody's shown real affinity with the element, though.
24	* BookSafe: Serrin keeps a dagger in her spellbook. The book's not hollowed out, though; she uses the dagger as a bookmark.
25	* BreakingTheFourthWall: Considering the fact that it's a fan comic on [[Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick Giant in the Playground]], this shouldn't be too surprising [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/ThinkFast.png Lucrid's Protagonist Detection]] is the most notable.
26	* BrickJoke: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/NotToMentionTheCart.png The cart girl]] [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/NPCsNeverMove.png makes a return.]]
27	* ButtMonkey: Matt. So far, he's been {{Groin Attack}}ed with (not by, ''with'') a [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/DontWorryTheWeaselsAlright.png weasel]], poisoned by a GiantSpider, [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/RollAFortSavepng.png dragged awkwardly by a dog while he was poisoned, ending with him in an awkward and painful position]], [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/ActuallyRadicHasAHigherDexScore.png attacked by said dog]] and [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/DejaVu.png covered in dragon acid breath.]] His scene in the page image actually shows up (slightly edited) [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/AtLeastHesWarm.png in canon]].
28	* CanineCompanion: Radic's animal companion, Remus, is a riding dog.
29	** A short-lived Druid also has a much larger one. It inspires envy. It is then reincarnated as a dire tiger.
30	* CaptainObvious: As mentioned in the [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/CaptainObvious.png strip title]], Radic did not actually have to point out the GiantSpider. The comic is also chock-full of moments like these; some getting by, some not.
31	* CassandraTruth: Miles tries and fails to warn his superiors about [[spoiler: Rust being bad news.]]
32	* CharacterAlignment: InUniverse examples, due to the setting.
33	** ChaoticGood: Janine. Serrin straddles this and NeutralGood, according to WordOfGod.
34	** ChaoticNeutral: Matt.[[invoked]]%%This is just to remove the YMMV tag.
35	** LawfulGood: As a paladin, Lloyd has to be this and he demonstrates it well. There are also the Paladins of Kago[[spoiler: (which Lloyd once was)]], who, according to their reputation, are... not nice, despite being paladins.[[invoked]]
36	** LawfulNeutral: Tinder.[[invoked]]
37	** NeutralGood: Radic. Serrin, sort of, as noted above.[[invoked]]
38	* CoolHorse: Sandstorm, Lloyd's paladin mount. He also envisions himself astride a different one in a flashback detailing his past.
39	* ConscienceMakesYouGoBack: This happens to Matt after [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/NoMore.png he runs away from Tinder]].
40	* CoveredInGunge: Lloyd and Radic get [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/LloydIsNotAMorningPerson.png covered in spider innards]].
41	* CurbStompBattle: The mercenaries quite firmly crush [[TheWorfEffect Tinder's family.]]
42	* CurseCutShort: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/GuessWhosNotSleepingTonight.png An inversion.]]
43	* CuteButCacophonic: Iris
44	* CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon: Matt:
45	--> "If you break out into a song and dance number, I will beat you with your femur."
46	* DitzyGenius: Serrin
47	* DoNotCallMePaul: Matt dislikes his full name, Matthew.
48	* DopeSlap: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/ForTheRecordShesNot.png Also, "dope punch".]]
49	* DrinkingContest: Serrin and Matt have one. It ends about as well as you'd expect.
50	* DrunkenSong: Serrin sings a version of "[[Literature/{{Discworld}} The Hedgehog Song]]", as well as "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts".
51	* EpicFail: How Matt did on the [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/AtLeastHesWarm.png Test of Hidden Traps]].
52	* EroticDream: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/WellThisIsntForebodingAtAll.png It appears that Janine has been having these about Lloyd.]]
53	* EyeScream: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/TheyreRequiredToDoThisEverySoOften.png Matt does this to the dragon]], Tinder.
54	* {{Familiar}}: Fir, the cat and Iris, the hawk.
55	* FantasticRacism: Matt hates elves partly due to their [[CantArgueWithElves arrogance]] but mainly because they [[GreenEyedMonster have a +2 dexterity bonus and are the only species allowed to become Arcane Archers]]. The elves in this setting are remarkably human-like in their portrayal, however, making this closer to a InformedAttribute point for Matt's prejudice. There's also the point that most paladins discriminate against the races who supposedly killed Astrid; and then there's Janine's hatred of orcs. This might be a theme.
56	* AFateWorseThanDeath: Taking levels in [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/AndYouThoughtRoguesGotBucketsOfSkil.png Dragon Disciple]] [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment or]] [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/ThisWillWorkOutGreat.png Monk]].
57	** The latter is most likely because Monks need to be Lawful, which Matt... isn't.
58	* {{Foreshadowing}}: When [[spoiler: Lloyd]] introduces himself as a Paladin of Astrid, many characters assume he's a Paladin of Kago. He denies this, [[TheAtoner but...]]
59	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: Shown [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/ForTheLoveOfAstridDontTurnAround.png here.]] Two people in the background get hilariously drunk. It gets even funnier when the foreground Tinder says, "Relax, it's platonic," and the background characters begin making out on a table.
60	* GeniusBruiser: Lloyd. He's a physical powerhouse and very skilled with polearms. He also reads a lot, carries a trunk of books with him on his travels, and studies up on other religions.
61	* GenkiGirl: Serrin as mentioned in the title of the [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/GenkiIfThereEverWasOne.png first strip in which she makes an appearance]]. It appears that her brother, Luic, is a {{Keet}}.
62	* GiantSpider: The giant spider. Amazing.
63	* GirlOnGirlIsHot: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/240Proof.png Matt seems to think so.]]
64	* TheGlomp: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/GenkiIfThereEverWasOne.png Serrin does this to Matt]], who was, as far as she was concerned, an armed stranger.
65	* HalfHumanHybrid: Serrin is a half-elf. There's also an ancient hero by the name of Matthew, who Matt is eager to hear about... [[FantasticRacism until it is revealed he's a dirty, stinking half-elf.]]
66	* HeadPet: Fir is often seen sitting on top of Serrin's head.
67	* HeroicBastard: According to Janine, she was born [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/240Proof.png 5 months premature]].
68	* HeroicBSOD: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/TomorrowsSpellsConsistEntirelyOfCur.png Lloyd temporarily experiences this]] when he first discovers [[spoiler: that the green dragon that he has been fighting is not evil.]]
69	* HeroWithBadPublicity: There are some hints that Kago, as a nation, might be this.
70	* HeWentThatWay: Tinder's sister attempted this on the mercenaries. [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/SeatbeltsHelpPreventWhiplash.png They were not fooled]].
71	* ImportantHaircut: Lloyd cutting off his ponytail during a flashback to [[spoiler: his last days as a paladin of Kago.]]
72	* ImpossibleItemDrop: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/NoMore.png Matt wonders why a lawful dragon would keep anarchic arrows.]]
73	* IncompatibleOrientation: Although yet unknown to the rest of the party, [[spoiler: Lloyd is shown quite definitively to be gay, which throws quite a wrench in Janine's many attempts to hit on him.]]
74	* InformedAttractiveness: [[WordOfGod Word of Coffee]] says that Lloyd is very handsome, which isn't easily detectable in a [[StickFigureComic stick figure]].
75	* InnocentInnuendo: By the author. Look at the first two panels in the strip [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/ActuallyRadicHasAHigherDexScore.png Actually Radic Has a Higher Dex Score]] and strip the context. Does this remind you of anything?
76	* InterSpeciesRomance: Between Saphrin and Lucrid.
77	* KnightTemplar: Paladins of Kago are seen to be this by the population.
78	* LoopholeAbuse: The Larian government didn't exactly think things through when issuing the Edict of Toleration...
79	--> '''Lloyd:''' But the Edict of Toleration-
80	--> '''Hobgoblin Leader:''' -Says that the Larian goverment cannot close down our shops, or kick us out of the country, or lynch us. I know. But it DOESN'T say anything about regular people doing those things!
81	* LovableSexManiac: Janine, as mentioned above.
82	* LoveableRogue: Matt tries to be this, but is not successful.
83	--> '''Matt:''' I'm a ROGUE, dammit! I'm supposed to be suave and sly and witty and likeable no matter who I pickpocket, NOT a loudmouth perverted moron!
84	* LoveIsInTheAir: Janine buys a LovePotion which causes [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/InsultToRemus.png this effect when she drinks it]].
85	* MadeOfExplodium: Variant, with [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/NotToMentionTheCart.png a hay cart randomly catching fire.]]
86	* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/FirstImpressions.png Here.]]
87	* MoodWhiplash: Janine is distraught over Lloyd's rejection of her. She asks him to prove he cares for her by making love to her. Lloyd manages to talk her out of it and leaves. It's become quite apparent that Janine has some messed-up views on love and sex. [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/HeDidntSeePanelFive.png The page ends with Matt literally pouring a plate of cookies into his mouth.]]
88	* MoreDakka: Hector felt the need to buy [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/AllInGoodTime.png twelve axes.]]
89	* MorphicResonance: Tinder is a green dragon who takes a humanoid form, but he still has green hair, fangs and stunted wings, looking like a half-dragon. This is pointed out as unusual since a dragon's polymorph power is usually perfect, but Tinder is quite young and sucks at changing shape.
90	* MundaneUtility: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/ThinkFast.png using Unseen Servant to make dinner.]]
91	* NotSoStoic: Miles storms out of a meeting [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/MoreDramaticIfTheyHadChairs.png here]], when his words of warning fall upon deaf ears. (Caution: link may contain spoilers)
92	* NotWhatItLooksLike: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/FearTheDaySheDiscoversFanfiction.png Well, that could have gone better.]]
93	* OlderThanTheyLook: Some of the non-human races, like elves, half-elves, and dragons, get to be this. Also Serrin's dad Lucrid, a human whose lifespan has been extended with spells.
94	* OnlyOneName: Tinder
95	* OnlySaneMan: Lloyd, and at times, Radic.
96	* OurDragonsAreDifferent: They use the popular {{house rule\|s}} that all of them get [[VoluntaryShapeshifting alternate form]] and [[spoiler: are not ColourCodedForYourConvenience]]
97	* LeParkour: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/RoguesCreed.png Matt demonstrates.]]
98	* PoisonIsCorrosive: The spider venom ruined Lloyd's blanket.
99	* PrecisionFStrike: See CurseCutShort.
100	* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Lampshaded by Matt.
101	* RuleOfCool: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/RuleOfCool.png A strip indicating Radic's love of doing things the flashy way was named after this trope.]]
102	* ShoutOut: To ''Theatre/AvenueQ'', ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'', The ''Fanfic/OneiroiSeries'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'', ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', Creator/MontyPython, ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'', [[Advertising/TheManYourManCouldSmellLike Old Spice]], and ''Series/DoctorWho''.
103	* TheSpock: Miles
104	* StickFigureComic
105	* TheStoic: Miles
106	* StraightGay: [[spoiler:Lloyd]], confirmed by [[WordOfGod Word of Coffee]].
107	* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Janine, [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/Convenience.png here.]]
108	* SymbolSwearing: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/AFamiliarOccurrence.png Iris]] is rather [[IncrediblyLamePun Fowl mouthed]].
109	* TerribleIntervieweesMontage: Technically, we only see one [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/WhyIHateFanserviceRedo.png failed applicant]], but Lloyd implies that there have been others.
110	* ThemeNaming: All of the protagonists have sky-themed names; it appears that the cast are not unaware of this, so Serrin entitles the group "Team Gale".
111	* ThinkingTic: Radic has a habit of holding her chin when in thought.
112	* TruthSerum: Zone of Truth.
113	* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Radic is a druid who likes to use wildshape.
114	* [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes Why Did It Have To be Orcs]]: Janine.
115	* WizardingSchool: The Elven Magic Academy.
116	* WritersCannotDoMath: Done intentionally with [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/240Proof.png 240 Proof]], according to [[WordOfGod Word of Coffee]], dwarven beer is more than 100% alcohol as the [[AWizardDidIt extra alcohol is magically transported in from another dimension]].
117	* XanatosSpeedChess: [[spoiler: Rust]] is a grand master.
118	* YaoiFangirl: [[http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac294/caffeineincluded/FearTheDaySheDiscoversFanfiction.png Oh, Serrin.]]

Context Webcomic / MurphysLaw