This is the thread for discussion of The Order of the Stick plot, characters, etc. We have a separate thread
for discussing game rules and mechanics. Excessive rules discussions here may be thumped as off-topic.
OP edited to make this header - Fighteer
edited 18th Sep '17 1:08:08 PM by Fighteer
This comic is really good at subverting expectations. Of course, after some time it becomes unclear what the expectations are: that there will be a mutiny or that the mutiny will be averted?
The universe is under no obligation to make sense to us.
Pretentious Git
...I gotta ask, is "blue" a specific part of that fetish, or..? 
More of a bonus. :P
What matters in this life is much more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping others win, too. - F. Rogers.
Unless those frost giants have magic of their own, they are going to have a bad time.
Also why the actual hell would someone try to throw fireballs on an airship?
Apocalypse: Dirge Of Swans.
It's helium. The hydrogen ones are the sort that go boom.
Somebody get this freaking duck away from me!
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
The Frost Giants must have magic of their own, or the last two panels of the previous page don't make any sense.
Pretentious Git
^ Er, no. The giant cleric isn't implying that there are more giant casters, he's pulling a "I'm not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me," in response to V saying that at least s/he and Haley are keeping the giants' casters busy. i.e., the giant casters are keeping the Order's casters busy so they can't stop the barbarian pair from wrecking the Mechane.
Side note, how are you guys pronouncing "Mechane?" Are you reading it "Meka-Nay," or "Meh-Cane?" Because neither one is quite settling with me.
edited 10th Dec '16 6:32:04 PM by Wryte
What matters in this life is much more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping others win, too. - F. Rogers.
Meh-CAH-nay.
I pronounce it like a mechanical but without the -ical.
I mentally pronounce it "Meh-Cane." Or "McCain," I suppose. There's a political joke in there somewhere.
"We'll take the next chance, and the next, until we win, or the chances are spent."
If it was a standalone word I'd probably do that too but it seems to be derived from mechanical.
idk how to read IPA but Wikipedia says /ˈmɛkəniː/;
No longer a forum herald
If you moused over each character on Wikipedia, it tells you - the answer is meh-kuh-nee (as a single syllable word).
As for why the second vowel is "a" in English...don't ask. Just don't.
edited 10th Dec '16 8:13:12 PM by TotemicHero
Expergiscēre cras, medior quam hodie. (Awaken tomorrow, better than today.)
Zzzzzzzzzz
Given that it was Julio's ship I've been mentally pronouncing it "meh-Shayn"
...if you don’t love you’re dead, and if you do, they’ll kill you for it.
What Kostya said: meh-CAN, /mə'kæn/, as in "mechanical" or "McCann".
Didn't realise it was an existing Greek term, though, and the source of the term Deus ex Machina. Seems pretty clear it should be "MEH-cn-ee" then.
edited 11th Dec '16 4:21:27 AM by johnnye
How appropriate. I didn't really give a second thought to that name.
Worldbuilding is fun, writing is a chore
@Madrugada- That makes so much sense. Going to adopt it as headcanon.
Just a little for-fun thing, the latest Darths & Droids comic is titled "Disorder of a Stick".
Poor Elan.
I dunno: "suddenly blender" is a bit worse, I think.
That made me wince too, although since he didn't lose any limbs, I'm guessing we are to take it that that giant got inured by leaning into the blades, but is going to be okay at least in that respect (thankfully we didn't see his viscera raining down on Elan).
I think gravity is probably going to be more of a problem for him.
Mistakes Were Made
That other one mentioned they would survive the crash, so he should be relatively okay.
‘My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’
Those two were the strongest warriors. Who knows how strong this one was. Either way, the fall is going to hurt more than those little nicks he took to the arm.
That depends on whether falling damage in this world goes up linearly (rules as printed) or triangularly (rules as they were supposed to be printed).
Though judging by Roy I'm inclined to believe the latter.
she her hers hOI!!! i'm tempe
I've been thinking that maybe mutiny will ultimately be averted. Not just talking about immediately, where it's in the Mechane crew's best interest to fight alongside the Order, but it would be a nice character moment/subversion of expectation to have Andi and Bandana have an angry discussion but end up on the same page (pun unintended). Because these are people that have served together for a long time and even though it's clear that Andi has some resentment of Bandanna being given command, it doesn't necessarily follow that this resentment is enough that she or others would be motivated to violently remove Bandanna from command and couldn't change their minds.
As a comparison, I was reminded of that little subplot with Geoff and Ian, where it turned out that Geoff had a quite good reason for betraying Ian and when Ian found out about that reason, the two reconciled.