The Order of the Stick

IIRC, wizards spontaneously develop spells when they gain levels too. Probably, the explanation is along the lines of "everything comes together" and they write down what they realize is the spell method.

Yes, they get two free spells per level, which essentially represent long-term study and understanding.

Of course, since I'm a nitpicker, I have to point out that the joke wasn't actually accurate. V copied one of the Power Word spells by simply writing down a single word, and was told they had to leave the remaining pages blank. But the fluff is quite clear that spells are far more complicated than just the words and gestures. That's why wizards have to prepare their spells ahead of time. Essentially, preparing a spell is like building a bomb, and then you activate that bomb by a few weird words, gestures, and materials. The Power Word spells only need one word to activate them, but the rest of the spell is just as complex as any other.

/end rant

New comic!

#1092: Entrance Seekers

Man I sure hope Roy doesn't drop the rune by accident and then Elan picks it up for him, because that might break it.

If it can understand the difference between being freely given and being taken, I'm sure it understands accidental droppage too. (Though if Elan picked it up with no ill effects and then Roy gave him a Dope Slap and snatched it off him, I could see that being misinterpreted).

I like to think that Power Words really are just a single word (perhaps in a Language of Magic) but they need to be surrounded by several pages of magical wards to keep from tearing the book into pieces...

Personally, I assume that after the instructions for each spell comes a stupendous service agreement.

I'm pretty sure all of what you said was still implicitly there; that doesn't make it any less frustrating though.

Anyone remember what strip that was?

Power Word: Annoy

I was a wizard in a group that sort of did this, where I just sort of knew the spells in the core rulebook that I was able to cast. Granted, that was more likely due to both me and the GM not knowing any better ("What, you mean wizards don't just automatically know their spells the same way a cleric does?").

That, and I fell into the noob trap of trying to play my wizard as a blaster instead of as a Batman, so it ended up being much less of an issue than it could have been.

Just as funny as I remember. Still, I feel like the real issue there is that at that point in V's career she should already be aware of everything that guy is telling her.

edited 17th Aug '17 6:23:38 PM by LSBK

Ever been in a situation where someone is telling you a bunch of stuff you already basically knew and were already irritated by, but you feel like arguing with them anyway because they've made themselves the face of an unjust system?

"No, I know why I can't do that. My question is, why can't I do it?"

edited 17th Aug '17 6:16:21 PM by johnnye

Teamwork is about everyone covering each other's blind spots and then shooting at random till you hit something.

I expect most wizards are familiar with relatively common spells, such has fireball and haste, but may be unfamiliar with more obscure ones, such as the Ruby Ray of Reversal or what-have-you.

To say nothing of custom spells created independently by other spellcasters.

I'm still amused by the idea of clerics researching new spells though.

For clerics, researching new spells is like wandering into your local games store, perusing the Pre-Owned aisle, and spotting something you didn't realize was a thing.

• Cleric: Wait, there's a Greater Spell Immunity?
• God: Oh, yeah. that was a hot item a few weeks ago, but it's starting to mellow out. You want to give it a try?
• Cleric: What about Etherealness? Is that out yet?
• God: Not yet. Come back in a couple of levels and we'll have it in stock, but if you want, I can take a preorder.

edited 18th Aug '17 7:05:12 AM by TobiasDrake

Cleric: "Hey, <god>, I want to do this really cool thing that I thought up. It's related to your domains and all, so I thought maybe you'd consider adding it to my spell list."
Deity: "Show me you really want it by making valuable sacrifices. Oh, and since this is a special order, I'll need some of your XP."

You missed out the sucking-in-sound and the umming and ahing. And, in the case of the Lawful lot... the terms and conditions.

edited 18th Aug '17 10:36:45 AM by Euodiachloris

Did...did Elan just drop a burn on Belkar? Unintentionally, it would appear, but still...

Why yes, yes he did.

Not sure it's a burn so much as... racial abuse?

up d8

All hail the glorious and powerful defenders of the dwarven race, apparently.

"You should just run away before we use our holy power that we definitely have more of!!"

Well, they are the night caretakers.

So given the Suspiciously Specific Denial that they're not out of spells and the fact that they chucked off a couple of level 3 ones, these guys are about level 5, right?

Wonder if this strip was purposefully released following the eclipse.

I like the callback to Roy being blinded by Durkon's spells.

Also wondering if this is the set-up for something bad, in that those guards have now used up for the day/wasted the optimal vampire-fighting spells.