Results 121 to 150 of 187
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2024-02-29, 03:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2022
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
Which is amusing, since "sur" in Spanish means "south, southern, southwards" (context dependent of course). I would not be surprised if the two words do share some common etymology somewhere. My French is pretty much nonexistent, but assuming that "sur" is in reverence to the thing that one is on top of (gathered from the lyrics), there's an implied directionality there which could kinda fit.
Or not. Always find it interesting to encounter similar or even identical words in different languages that sometimes mean things absolutely different, but sometimes seem tantilizingly similar in some ways. Heck. Pont and Point are interesting as well.
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2024-02-29, 03:31 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Jun 2015
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
ungelic is us
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2024-02-29, 05:45 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Aug 2022
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2024-03-06, 10:58 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2024
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
That's a fascinating observation about the words "sur" and "sur"! It's definitely intriguing to encounter seemingly similar words across languages that hold different meanings. While their etymological paths may diverge, it's still a cool example of how languages evolve and sometimes retain echoes of their shared history.
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2024-03-11, 03:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
- Location
- Olympia, WA
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
I’ve got it. I know what the point is.
Belkar.
Calder will dominate Belkar; Belkar will have his protection from evil clasp, which shows his alignment has changed. Belkar will then have to ride the dinosaur back into the stasis circle, dragging Calder, whereupon the magic will be restored.
Belkar draws his last breath. No more birthday cake.Last edited by Fish; 2024-03-11 at 03:05 PM.
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2024-03-11, 05:59 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2015
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
I can't remember, does the order knows what V did to that dragon back in the Don't Split the Party book? In details, I mean.
Maybe V will confess now. Or Calder somehow knows and will reveal.
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2024-03-11, 06:03 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2019
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2024-03-11, 10:01 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2024
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2024-03-11, 11:56 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2024
- Location
- Massachusetts
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
Oooo, I didn't think of that! That'd be cool! I think! Probably!
As for other narrative purposes, I'd imagine the Order is likely to level up from this (Minrah perhaps twice?), and that might give them some cool new abilities to show off against Xykon and Redcloak - it'd be a perfectly reasonable form of "final arc power creep" like you see in anime and whatnot, lol.
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2024-03-12, 02:20 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2019
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
The point of the battle is to demonstrate the Ama-Zing Feat of Head Injury Side Swapping. That way when Redcloak suddenly changes his eyepatch to other side in the final battle, it's been demonstrated earlier and the Order is prepared for it.
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2024-03-12, 11:47 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2006
- Location
- Meridianville AL
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
You can't gain empough XP to go up more than one level at a time. If you are level 10, you need 55,000 XP for 11, you would need 66,000 XP fo 12, but you can't go above 65,999 XP till you have reached level 11.
Doesn't matter how epic the challenge, by RAW, you only go up one level at most from any single encounter.
Note that XP and leveling up aren't covered fully in the SRD, you'll need to dig out your books to find this one.
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2024-03-12, 12:47 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2009
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- Birmingham, AL
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
Cuthalion's art is the prettiest art of all the art. Like my avatar.
Number of times Roland St. Jude has sworn revenge upon me: 1
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2024-03-12, 02:13 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2006
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- Meridianville AL
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
I maintain that Shelby got a NAME when he killed that dragon, Shelby the Dragon Slayer, and that it was the awesum powerup from having a name like that that made him too dangerous to live. Level is almost irrelevant by comparison. And we do know that having a name powers up characters in tOotS.
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2024-03-12, 02:34 PM (ISO 8601)
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- May 2015
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- Texas
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
Avatar by linklele. How Teleport Worksa. Malifice (paraphrased):
Rulings are not 'House Rules.' Rulings are a DM doing what DMs are supposed to do.
b. greenstone (paraphrased):
Agency means that they {players} control their character's actions; you control the world's reactions to the character's actions.
Second known member of the Greyview Appreciation Society
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2024-03-12, 02:42 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2009
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- Birmingham, AL
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
Cuthalion's art is the prettiest art of all the art. Like my avatar.
Number of times Roland St. Jude has sworn revenge upon me: 1
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2024-03-12, 02:45 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2009
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
Do we need more than, jokes, that are also funny?
My sig is something witty.
78% of DM's started their first campaign in a tavern. If you're one of the 22% that didn't, copy and paste this into your signature.
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2024-03-12, 03:55 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2006
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- Meridianville AL
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
472 doesn't only show Daigo being saved by having a name, Elan also points out that not having names is why they can't defeat the hobgoblins if he leaves them behind. Yet, they both have names and so they defeat the hobgoblins and live. Clearly someone with a name can defeat overwhelming odds.
Consider that tOotS is overwhelmingly likely to win by defeating overwhelming odds, and EVERY ONE OF THEM has a name (albeit Elan and Minrah seem to lack a last name, but then they're the least capable members of the order, coincidence, I think NOT).
Meanwhile nameless goblin warriors die like flies, while Redcloak keeps going and going.
It's all in having a name, I'll bet you can't name a single powerful character in all of fiction who doesn't have a name. Come on, give me the name of even one character of real power who has no name. (Clint Eastwood's man with no name is of course named "Clint Eastwood's man with no name". Alternately, and more boringly, "Joe," "Manco," and "Blondie" depending on the movie.)
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2024-03-12, 03:59 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Mar 2024
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2024-03-12, 04:08 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2009
- Location
- Birmingham, AL
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
X-Files' cigarette smoking man. Everyone on the island in The Island. As you said, Eastwood's man with no name is, simply, a man with no name. Claiming "well that's his name" is like saying "Goblin warrior #373 is that goblin's name so he was clearly more powerful". Also, we have seen named characters be completely sidelined in the comic, despite your claims.
Also, by your logic of "OotS will win because they have names", then Xykon will win because he has a name. Now we have a paradox. Also, Shelby should have defeated Xykon and Redcloak by virtue of having a name and it being overwhelming odds.Last edited by Peelee; 2024-03-12 at 04:10 PM.
Cuthalion's art is the prettiest art of all the art. Like my avatar.
Number of times Roland St. Jude has sworn revenge upon me: 1
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2024-03-12, 04:46 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Oct 2015
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
A name and a title! Plus, it's his real, given name, as far as we know. "Xykon" was a self-styled appellation and "Redcloak" is what he told Xykon to call him to keep things simple.
Shelby the Dragonslayer vs. two guys with nicknames, in the face of overwhelming odds? It's a no-brainer; Xykon and Redcloak should surrender in advance.
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2024-03-13, 04:30 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2016
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
Well yes, obviously, having a name in most fictions means you'll at least get your own death scene. Maybe the heroes will even angst about wether they have the right to murder you.
If you're a no-name extra? The Good Guys will gut you like a fish, and let your corpse fall offscreen.
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2024-03-13, 05:09 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jun 2015
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
Me, I'm just happy whenever Shelby is mentioned. Forever in our hearts o7
Anyway, Xykon's actual words:
It's just that with all that XP you just earned there, you'll soon be overqualified for the position of Random MookLast edited by hroşila; 2024-03-13 at 05:09 AM.
ungelic is us
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2024-03-13, 05:22 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2004
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
Xykon's explanation for why he's killing one of his minions, unless said explanation is literally, "I'm a sadistic row of asterisks, LOL!" should always be taken with a keg of salt.
Orth Plays: Currently Baldur's Gate II
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2024-03-13, 05:31 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jun 2015
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Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
I would say he's usually pretty upfront about his reasons for killing minions. But regardless, I'm taking his words with a shipload of salt and they still ring true in this particular case due to the context, Redcloak's reaction and/or lack thereof, the absence of the slightest hint that Shelby's name was the problem, and the fact that the strip would be much less funny otherwise
ungelic is us
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2024-03-13, 05:37 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2004
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
I'm not saying "Xykon was lying: Shelby's name was the problem."
I'm saying "Xykon was lying: Shelby had no expectation of gaining any significant power there at all, but had just committed the fatal error of drawing Xykon's attention in any way, and even upstaged him by killing something he couldn't."
Redcloak, at that time, also casually and gratuitously killed hobgoblins; what reaction would he have had?Orth Plays: Currently Baldur's Gate II
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2024-03-21, 12:09 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2024
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
In light of how the Paladins seem to be about to get involved, and with how Serini said they weren't there to get Calder spared this time, I'm posting to push my theory that V is going to be a proponent for letting Calder run, and dealing with him later if he goes back to the cult thing.
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2024-03-21, 06:19 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2011
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
I think if anything, the dragon episode taught V to be specific when targeting.
The reasons matter.
Innocent bystanders matter.
Unintended consequences matter.
"Calder is a dragon," does not equate to, "I murdered uncounted innocents." This is a false equivalency, especially to a logical mind.
Calder is a criminal who mind-controls people then uses them like gymnasium towels, not an innocent dragon-spawn going about his daily life.
V will act rationally. Calder cannot be allowed to be free because he is an unrepentant mind-thief. Letting him free will endanger others, many of whom have no defense against him, and all of whom he will use up and discard like theater popcorn buckets. Letting Calder go free will put uncounted elves and other people in physical and mental danger.
Is imprisonment better than a clean death? Is there a third choice? I don't know, but letting Calder go free is a more dangerous choice than either of the first two for everyone.Last edited by brian 333; 2024-03-21 at 06:33 PM.
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2024-03-21, 06:33 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2016
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
I'm going to make the bold, likely inaccurate prediction that this...might be it for Belkar. He jumps into save Bloodfeast and gets roasted for his trouble.
It would kinda be the ultimate culmination of his character, even more so than sacrificing himself to save one of the sapient members of the party. Belkar started out as a Ranger for purely mechanical reasons, and has always sucked at it. But along with his character growth from textbook, comical CE he's also started to do more and more Ranger-like things over time.
What would be a more fitting end to the character arc than dying selflessly to save an Animal Companion he put into danger? It even fits the recent reiteration we've had that the main character trait he never lost from the early days is his tendency to leap before he looks. He's probably gonna jump in out of pure reflex and impulse.
Maybe a last bit of snark ("Damn...rolled a 1.") and burnt to ashes; notably a form of death that is VERY hard to remedy in 3.5, as it prevents you from using normal Raise Dead.
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2024-03-21, 10:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Mar 2024
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
That was the battle with Xykon, to be precise with magic. Power = Power and all that.
The reasons matter.
Innocent bystanders matter.
Unintended consequences matter.
"Calder is a dragon," does not equate to, "I murdered uncounted innocents." This is a false equivalency, especially to a logical mind.
Calder is a criminal who mind-controls people then uses them like gymnasium towels, not an innocent dragon-spawn going about his daily life.
V will act rationally. Calder cannot be allowed to be free because he is an unrepentant mind-thief. Letting him free will endanger others, many of whom have no defense against him, and all of whom he will use up and discard like theater popcorn buckets. Letting Calder go free will put uncounted elves and other people in physical and mental danger.
Is imprisonment better than a clean death? Is there a third choice? I don't know, but letting Calder go free is a more dangerous choice than either of the first two for everyone.
________________
Ultimately, I think it comes down to being part of V's redemption arc:
V was prideful (against the Black Dragons, not considering they could be peaceful), and begging (for Calder to be spared) would be a sign of humility.
V was wrathful (against the Ancient Black Dragon, not accepting a surrender), and sparing an enemy (Calder) would be a sign of changing to mercy.
Calder will likely go out and cause trouble again, but in the here and now, he's merely a threat to V and allies. Once neutralized there... well, he did spend ~50 years in a tailor-made hell for a prison.
And if V can't be merciful to someone for evils committed... then how can V hope for mercy themself?
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2024-03-22, 01:56 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2011
Re: So, what is the pont of the battle with Calder?
Not what I was referencing. I was referencing V's freakout in the pyramid when he realized the magnitude of his crime.
Why would V be merciful to Calder? So he can make the exact opposite mistake he made with YABD? To give undeserved mercy in the hope that it lessens the crime of withholding it when it was deserved?
This came from the idea that Calder would in any way or to any degree abide by any surrender agreement. Even if V "kept an eye on him," what could V do about it when he started a new mind controlled cult?
ABD and Calder have no equivalency save their shared dragon ancestry. V cannot find redemption by granting undeserved mercy to pay for previously not granting it where it was deserved.