Line #3 Webcomic/Yamara


1	[[quoteright:191:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/yamara_technique.png]]
2	''[[http://www.yamara.com Yamara]]'' is a comedic webcomic by Barbara Manui & Chris Adams. The first strip appeared in ''[[Magazine/{{Dragon}} Dragon Magazine]]'' in 1988, staying until 1996 when it moved online. A 'relaunch' set after a three-year timeskip ran from 2004-2006 and unceremoniously stopped mid-story.
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4	The setting uses [[RPGMechanicsVerse mechanics]] from the ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons AD&D]]'' [[RolePlayingGame RPG]]. It follows the misadventures of a party of monster hunters: Yamara Tooke (a halfling Fighter/Thief), Joe Holy (a human Cleric of St. Nobian's, the church that funds the group), Fëa of Ping Forest (an elf Magician and former Game Show Hostess), and Blag (a dwarf fighter). Blag and Fea eventually faded out of the storyline, while several other characters rose to starring roles - Fëa's familiar Ralph, Ogrek the Undisciplined, Persephone the love-sick vampire, Matron [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Stress]] of the dark elf city of Ekmuz-Strel-Thridd, and more. Although their adventures started on the generic gameworld planet Wyhtl, the cast did take an extended trip via TabletopGame/{{spelljammer}} to the world of [[TabletopGame/DarkSun Hard Fun]] in order to mock it for a while.
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7	!!This webcomic provides examples of:
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9	* TheAce: Ogrek the Undisciplined: Irredeemable {{Munchkin}}? [[http://yamara.com/comics/its-sunlight-in-a-paste/ (check)]] [[ChivalrousPervert Has a big bonus to spot ladies whom he deems "cute" even if they are hiding]]? [[http://yamara.com/comics/hi-my-name-is-ogrek/ (check)]] [[GoodScarsEvilScars "Heroic" scar]] and "veteran parade" uniform? Right here. Evading compromising situation ''with grace''? [[http://yamara.com/comics/the-axe-contraindication/ (check)]] Comment on having 20,000 hobgoblings as neighbors? "[[http://yamara.com/comics/new-digs/ Nice, quiet professionals]]". CrazyPrepared while carrying almost nothing and ''[[ForgottenBirthday remembers her birthday]]'' no matter what's going on? [[http://yamara.com/comics/experience/ (check)]] And let's not start on his ''other'' wife.
10	* AllThereInTheManual: The name of Yamara's homeworld, Wyhtl, ''did'' finally get into the strip, but one had to buy the book to discover that it was an acronym ("Where Yamara Has To Live.")
11	* BerserkButton: Yamara as a halfling and thief seems to be accustomed to some people's disdain, but ones who miss her multiclassing while showing it provoke her to make a point. It isn't UnstoppableRage, but they just earned a ticket to the world of hurt, [[http://yamara.com/comics/little-fighter/ one way]] or [[http://yamara.com/comics/little-thief/ another.]]
12	* CasualDangerDialogue: Ogrek employs the trope hilariously.
13	* CerebusSyndrome: Fairly early in its run, did a LampshadeHanging in [[http://yamara.com/comics/blag-loses-it/ this strip.]]
14	* TheChosenOne: [[http://yamara.com/comics/lo/ It is -- THE PROPHESIED ONE!!]] Now, if scrolls specifically said "a halfling, [[NoodleImplements bearing springs, a whoopee cushion, a songbird and an inflatable raft on its jetpack]]", it really doesn't looks like [[MissedTheCall there can be some mistake]]...
15	* CoverInnocentEyesAndEars: A dark elf mother covers her son's eyes when the tour they're on visits an erotically-carved temple. Ironically, the tour members had already been tortured as part of their visit, but the boy's mom doesn't mind that, only the raunchy art.
16	* CrazyPrepared: Ogrek is more a fan of the IndyPloy himself, but he insists that his darling wife be Crazy Prepared. (Emphasis on 'crazy'.)
17	--> '''Ogrek''' ''(criticizing Yamara's pack full of traditional adventuring gear):'' Waterskin? Take a dowsing rod instead. Rope? Extra-long elastic cords are better. And forget all these iron rations. I'll take you to a nice restaurant. You'll need some springs, a whoopee cushion, a songbird, and an inflatable raft - just to be on the safe side. Judicious use of the jetpack should [[MediumAwareness allow you to remain in the 'unencumbered' category throughout the adventure.]]
18	--> '''Yamara:''' How ''thoughtful.'' And what will ''you'' be bringing?
19	--> '''Ogrek:''' Oh, just a toothbrush.
20	* CuttingTheGordianKnot / DungeonBypass: One brief gag had some non-traditional "adventurers" blow up a dungeon with dynamite, then tally their experience points and break out the shovels.
21	* DeathWorld: ''[[TabletopGame/DarkSun Hard Fun]]'' is set in a world rendered barren by [[GreenAesop overuse of magic]], which in ''D&D'' 2nd Ed. had you starting at level 3 so you weren't killed the first time you stepped outside. As [[http://yamara.com/comics/hard-fun-9-obsessions/ this strip shows]]:
22	--> Our scans show that Hard Fun has only about five weeks left.
23	--> Before its biosphere collapses?
24	--> No, before its ''[[PlanetEater entire planetary mass]]'' is eaten by inhabitants.
25	* DigitalPiracyIsEvil: [[http://yamara.com/comics/hard-fun-5-someone-has-to-own-it/ Glathheld claimed skull as his trademark]] and made people pay for "lease" -- [[http://yamara.com/comics/hard-fun-9-obsessions/ when he could]]. Since he forgot about another entity with the right of prior use ([[AC:[[Literature/{{Discworld}} Not the Taxes]].]]), HilarityEnsues [[http://yamara.com/comics/hard-fun-14-the-staff-of-public-domain/ shortly afterward.]]
26	* EvilCostumeSwitch: Happens instantaneously to Fea, when Dark Natasha sneaks up behind the heroes and slips a "Helm of Opposite Alignment" over her head. Next panel, [[http://yamara.com/comics/darth-fea-rise/ Fea's gone from ditzy faerie to black-clad biker chick,]] complete with viper tattoo.
27	* EyepatchAfterTimeSkip: [[http://yamara.com/2006/07/20/dickory-dock/ This strip]] does double duty on eyepatch cliches; not only does the character's future self show up wearing one, she acquired it after going off to be a time pirate. (Well, time privateer. Close enough.)
28	* {{Familiar}}: Fea has "Poopsie"... er... Ralph the toad. [[http://yamara.com/comics/poopsie-generation/ "Poopsie" has nightmare.]]
29	* FantasticRacism:
30	-->[[http://yamara.com/comics/actually-fea-sucks-at-cosplay/ "There's no racism like fantasy racism. Like no racism I know."]]
31	* FauxAffablyEvil: Yocchi. There's hardly anything "redeeming" about her, as she happily plays villain, but...She manages to be so stylish and funny even in the ToThePain [[http://yamara.com/comics/yocchi-is-not-harmless/ sequence]] that even her victim [[http://yamara.com/comics/boys-boys-boys/ doesn't seem]] to hold too much of a grudge, and after all, she herself is [[http://yamara.com/comics/i-like-working-with-people/ known to be]] TooKinkyToTorture, cheerfully crazy, ''and'' TheChewToy to boot, so it's somehow hard to blame her.
32	* FunWithAcronyms: The world is called Wythl: Where Yamara Has To Live. When the drow conquer the surface, this becomes Where Yocchi Helps To Lead.
33	* GiganticAdultsTinyBabies: In an early strip, the adventurers come across a tiny two-legged creature and start arguing about what sort of monster it might be. In the last panel, a gigantic foot of the same type appears behind them, and Yamara looks up very high while fearfully suggesting that the tiny creature might be somebody's baby.
34	* GodGuise: The titular protagonist had ascended to Godhood for a storyline, and accidentally had a religion grow around her by the time she returned to normal — except for the three wishes she was granted as a "parting gift". She finally tries to talk her followers out of it with a heartfelt and humble speech — which she ends by saying "I wish you all the finest things in life" when she's on her last wish. An audience member says, "Whatta kidder!"
35	* GoingForTheBigScoop: [[http://yamara.com/comics/embedded-npcs/ That time when]] Yamara discovered the most outrageous (if not most dangerous) monster...
36	* HeinzHybrid: Ogrek the Undisciplined is one-quarter orc, one-quarter pixie, one-eighth human, one-eighth ogre, one-eighth elf, and one-eighth... ''[[http://www.yamara.com/warchief/warchief13.html something.]]''
37	* LadyLand: The Drow are used as a way to comment on institutionalized male-centric sexism:
38	-->'''Mother Clerd''': This is my lovely young son Freznip and my promising daughter Voor.
39	* LoopholeAbuse: Ralph, a toad familiar, is tasked with bringing a newly-revived ex-vampire her first non-blood meal in centuries. The cleric forbids him from serving her meat, while another character threatens him with punishment if he offers her fruits or vegetables. His solution is to serve her cream of mushroom soup.
40	* MediumAwareness: Yamara and several others seem aware they're operating under AD&D rules. Ogrek occasionally exploits it.
41	* MirrorMoralityMachine: When a [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Helm of Opposite Alignment]] winds up on Fëa's head.
42	* NoEndorHolocaust: Lampshaded when Ogrek's castle explodes and collapses.
43	--> '''Ogrek:''' Happily, everyone survived. So did all the furniture.
44	* OneStatToRuleThemAll: Invoked (for the purpose of picking up women).
45	--> '''Blag''': Cause ya see, girlie, nobody cares if ya got an 18 Intelligence. Nobody'd care if you were one o' th' lucky broads with a 18 Wisdom! All that counts is a nice, round 18--
46	--> ([[http://yamara.com/comics/all-18s/ see the right answer]])
47	* ThePollyanna: Quite justified in the case of Yocchi, she's TheChewToy ''and'' TooKinkyToTorture... [[spoiler:Then she's TheChewToy no more and it's a subject of rejoicing as well.]]
48	* PrehensileHair: Mistress Stress has her [[http://www.yamara.com/yamara/rfw/rfw03.html Stress' Sunblocking Hairy Cantrip.]] Repeated use has some... side effects.
49	* RedLightDistrict: The drow city has an ''infra-red'' light district which advertises "Boys! Boys! Boys!" (since drow are matriarchical).
50	* RodentsOfUnusualSize: Tim the paladin is turned into a vampire, but messes up his first attempt to turn into a bat, becoming a giant flying squirrel instead.
51	* RPGMechanicsVerse: ''Yamara'' has ''AD&D'' mechanics, not surprising, as it was published in ''Dragon''.
52	* SocialSemiCircle: [[http://yamara.com/2006/05/18/yamaras-dreme/ A strip]] featured the title character (a halfling in a D&D gameworld) having a dream in which she sees the gaming groups from ''[[ComicStrip/KnightsOfTheDinnerTable KoDT]]'', ''Webcomic/DorkTower'' and ''Commissioned'' and wonders why they're all on one side of the table. The answer: "Because the ''other'' side...is for people like ''you''."
53	* SpikesOfDoom: [[http://yamara.com/comics/survival-techniques/ This strip]] features an obligatory spike pit.
54	* SquareRaceRoundClass: Yamara Tooke [[http://yamara.com/comics/halfling-apocrypha/ became a barbarian]] before Belkar (from ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''). Also, the strip contains TooMuchInformation on halflings:
55	-->'''[[http://www.yamara.com/alcott/arcalula.html Arcalula Tooke]], cyborg halfling:''' And of course, who hasn't heard of the legendary '''Chibi''' -- the halfling Jester/Samurai of Japan?
56	* StarfishAlien: Frinn (both the unseen creator of the Headpiece and the three bizarre creatures who hire Yamara to recover it) seem to qualify.
57	* StopWorshippingMe: Yamara the halfling is temporarily elevated to a demigoddess by a magical artifact, then restored to mortal status. She then has to tell all the worshippers who've started to slavishly follow her around to go home and get on with their lives.
58	* SymbolSwearing: An episode has Drow leader Matron Stress say, "You just don't get it, do you, Elsa? Ogrek is beyond strategy. Better minds than mine have tried to undo him. Everything he does always @!$ works out for him. §%# his @*#¶>&¿¢£¥!!!" Persephone the Affably Evil vampire asks Elsa what that last word meant and is told, "I'll tell you when you're older."
59	** In another strip, Persephone, insisting that vampires are the epitome of cool, claimed to have "the lowest body temperature and !¥¢#ingest wardrobe of the lot of you!" A footnote pointed out that adding a superlative suffix to "!¥¢#" was completely ungrammatical.
60	* TooKinkyToTorture: This quality is one of the reasons why Yocchi is [[ThePollyanna constantly and utterly cheerful]]: ''because'' she's TheChewToy...
61	-->'''Elsa:''' You're welcome to kill Yocchi [[FromASingleCell as often as you like]], but I warn you: she'll ''enjoy'' it. After a few agonizing deaths, Yocchi may take to [[StalkerWithACrush following you around]].
62	* ToyTransmutation: When Fëa of Ping Forest is turned evil, she casts a "Flesh to Plush" spell on Yamara, turning her into a plush doll with a pull-string on her back that allows her to to speak. However, in doing so, Fëa unintentionally transforms the powerful magical artifact Yamara was holding (and that Fëa was planning on stealing) into a cheap plastic trinket that accompanies the doll.
63	* VerticalKidnapping: While two heroes are listening at a door, the third is grabbed and carried off by a floating undead that slipped right over them via the open transom above the door.
64	* WastefulWishing: Yamara wishes that Blag would fall off a cliff, that her followers should have all the good things in life, and that Blag would come back from wherever he's gone and repay the money he owes her. She is ''then'' informed that she has three wishes.
65	* WeirdTradeUnion: Ralph the toad has mentioned his membership in a Familiars' Guild.
66	* YouAllMeetInAnInn: Local bars double as employment centers, even officially. The title character goes out drinking with her friend Stress, and warns against trying to fight off the hordes of adventurers, sages in dark cloaks, and barmaids with the low-down on local dragon hoards, since a bar fight will likely lead to a memorable encounter and forming a lifelong fellowship with some dweeb, and who wants that? Then she announces they'll join the party of whichever group buys them the most drinks, and the two of them get plastered for free.
67	* YourVampiresSUCK: The vampire Persephone is a parody of the ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}''-inspired craze for unique variant vampires in ''D&D'', as she was immune to traditional vampire-banes but vulnerable to ''laundry products''. The paladin she turned was able to transform into a giant flying squirrel instead of a bat.

Context Webcomic / Yamara