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Annotations Every Day - Written by T Campbell & Flo Kahn - Illustrated by John & Jason Waltrip

The one where the real fifth member shows up.

Chapter 5 – Cover

on April 28, 2010
Chapter: Chapter 05
└ Tags: Bandit, Byron, Gravedust, Syr'Nj
Comments RSS

Discussion (64) ¬

  1. Hypothetical
    Hypothetical
    April 28, 2010, 12:35 am | # | Reply

    Yay, we get to see a fifth member, for real.

    This party seriously needs a Arcane caster. We’ve got a full tank, a support tank, a healer, and a trap-killer. Just need a DPS-whore to round it out.

    • Joe
      Joe
      April 28, 2010, 12:53 am | # | Reply

      DPS whore?
      Bandit to the rescue!

      • Hypothetical
        Hypothetical
        April 28, 2010, 1:16 am | # | Reply

        Bandit seems to be speced more towards the thief-evasion type Rogue, than the Assassin type.

        We still have no clue as to the level of this party, but I would love to see a Human Wizard, speced-out with Energy-Sub Cold, Energy Sub Lightning, Energy Admixture, Lord of the Uttercold and Born of the Three Thunders.

        I just have this thing for Cold-static Fireballs with Negative Energy and Hyper-Sonic damage.

        • Kenddrick
          Kenddrick
          April 28, 2010, 2:56 am | # | Reply

          Hypothetically, a rouge can out dps a mage on a single target. Sure, a mage is unrivalled in AoE dps…. but when flanking a target, a rouge can out dps a mage. Those chances improve if the rouge has a very good weapon and/or is a two weapon fighter.

          Also, do they even need a mage? In my opinion it would be much more interesting for them to not have a mage. At the high levels, mages start to steamroller the foes. Also, Syr’njwill at some point be able to make explosives. There’s the answer to the AoE problems.

          • Hypothetical
            Hypothetical
            April 28, 2010, 4:51 am | # | Reply

            How often does a Party come up against a single target? And even when they do, a Rogue still has to be able to Flank to really be effective.

            Based on what little we’ve seen of the Sky-Elves Arc the guilded league is looking at facing an army. At that point a Mage, of any type, becomes the Kingpin of any strategy.

            Sure, our buddies are going to be having a ball, but without an AoE Mage ( Chain Lightning anyone?) to bang out the low-level army types they will have serious issues. Even if the army consists of a few hundred level 1’s and 2’s, that still leaves a 1 in 20 chance ( per 20 opponents) of a lucky hit disabling one of our heroes.

            Even assuming that the GL would be sent on a sneak attack, they will still need to get through untold numbers of guards and minions. You’ve got to have a Mage ( Sleep…Charm..hold Person) to get though all of that with minimal HP loss, unless you like going up against the BBEG and friends when you are bleeding profusely and have already used up your healing potions.

            • Joe
              Joe
              April 28, 2010, 8:22 am | # | Reply

              I think this might be the point where we have to stop thinking of it as a game of D&D, then, because we’ve SEEN Bandit and we KNOW she joins the party.

              • Michael Ezra
                Michael Ezra
                April 28, 2010, 9:00 am | # | Reply

                I’ve in fact just been reading this as a story set in a (humorously anachronistic) medieval fantasy world in its own right, as opposed to an acted-out D&D game. The latter is a legitimate interpretation; don’t get me wrong. It’s just that I’ve never gamed myself and therefore whatever knowledge I have of D&D and other RPGs is secondhand. So I don’t naturally “think in D&D,” as it were. :-)

                Also, IIRC, the only in-comic hints that the whole comic is a game, played by unseen geeks in our present-day world, have been the “Achievement Unlocked” inset panels emphasizing that Best is being a “douche.” We don’t see dice being cast, DM narration, players talking out of character, and the like, as in, e.g., the gaming sequences in Something Positive or Loserz or what have you. But again, it’s certainly a plausible way to read the comic.

                • Em
                  Em
                  April 28, 2010, 9:07 am | # | Reply

                  I find it interesting to try and emulate the characters in a game (just like you might try to stat out Indiana Jones), but I don’t see that as actually being the case.

                  • Joe
                    Joe
                    April 28, 2010, 5:46 pm | # | Reply

                    I’m familiar enough with D&D to understand the interpretations people are making, but I’ve never actually played it either.

                    More importantly, I want to see how far to the right we can get these comment strings to go.

                    • Harrowed
                      Harrowed
                      April 29, 2010, 3:25 am | #

                      I don’t think it’ll go much farther…

                    • Niall
                      Niall
                      April 30, 2010, 10:43 am | #

                      Ouch! My text…

                • Carl-E
                  Carl-E
                  April 29, 2010, 7:12 am | # | Reply

                  “Hits or GTFO” is game-speek enough for me…

          • Phil
            Flo
            April 28, 2010, 9:18 am | # | Reply

            Dear everyone,

            Warlock is Superior.

            Love,

            Phil

            • Claire
              Claire
              April 28, 2010, 11:48 am | # | Reply

              only in 3.5, the 4th ed one is ok, but not as epic as 3.5’s

              • Zakrael
                Zakrael
                April 28, 2010, 5:00 pm | # | Reply

                4th ed one is actually pretty terrible. Sorcerers kick out more damage without much effort, and if you build a Wizard properly, they can be even more painful than that, whilst retaining all the crowd control abilities.

                The Illusionist wizard in a 4e campaign I’m currently in is doing the same single-target damage as the Rogue. With higher accuracy. But against the whole battlefield. So yeah.

              • Tsenzei
                Tsenzei
                April 28, 2010, 6:52 pm | # | Reply

                If we’re talking 3.5, then Combust says that Duskblade wins. (Or Daggerspell Mage, at higher levels)

                Honestly though, not terribly important.

            • Shplane
              Shplane
              April 29, 2010, 7:20 am | # | Reply

              I would like to express agreement. Warcocks (Because they fuck enemies to death with their awesome) are the best caster-ish class.

              Why? Because they’re NOT HORRENDOUSLY BROKEN.

              • Cote
                Cote
                April 29, 2010, 11:43 pm | # | Reply

                “Because they fuck enemies to death with their awesome”

                Just so you know, I’m totally filing this saying away for future use.

                Cheers!

                Cote

            • Velsharoon
              Velsharoon
              May 2, 2010, 7:28 am | # | Reply

              Yes, yes he is. Best striker around.

  2. Joe
    Joe
    April 28, 2010, 12:54 am | # | Reply

    Anyone taking bets on how many people freak out that there’s going to be a flash-forward before we continue with the current story?

    • Hypothetical
      Hypothetical
      April 28, 2010, 1:03 am | # | Reply

      I think the fifth member is going to come from among, or be somehow met through, the sky-Elves. I’m guessing that the flashbacks are now over, and we will be joining our story, already in progress.

      • MrTeatime
        MrTeatime
        April 28, 2010, 4:18 am | # | Reply

        … I hope this is some kind of irony that I don’t quite understand. I really do.

        • TexasRed
          TexasRed
          April 29, 2010, 1:32 am | # | Reply

          I am right there with you…

  3. Rook
    Rook
    April 28, 2010, 2:24 am | # | Reply

    Yay for Bandit! Can’t wait to see how she ends up in this motley crew.

  4. SaltyKracka
    SaltyKracka
    April 28, 2010, 3:44 am | # | Reply

    IT’S BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMEEEEEEE!!!

    • Phil
      Flo
      April 28, 2010, 9:15 am | # | Reply

      No, Dad, no!

      • SaltyKracka
        SaltyKracka
        April 28, 2010, 10:13 am | # | Reply

        YES! YES!

  5. Arklite
    Arklite
    April 28, 2010, 4:25 am | # | Reply

    GO GO GUILD AGE RANGERS!

    • Nate
      Nate
      April 28, 2010, 8:33 am | # | Reply

      I was thinking more along the lines of the A-team. Frigg would be an awesome BA, she just needs to get a horse cart and paint it black with a red stripe.

      • TexasRed
        TexasRed
        April 29, 2010, 1:33 am | # | Reply

        And now I have an image of Gravedust smoking a cigar and saying “I love it when a plan comes together.”

  6. TraderInTown
    TraderInTown
    April 28, 2010, 7:29 am | # | Reply

    Sweet. Nice cover for the next chapter.

  7. Carl-E
    Carl-E
    April 28, 2010, 7:54 am | # | Reply

    Byron wins! That’s his hand on top, right?

    • Joe
      Joe
      April 28, 2010, 8:20 am | # | Reply

      Ah, but it’s Syr’nj’s hand on bottom, which means she’s the one who started the “hands in” moment.

  8. Caradin
    Caradin
    April 28, 2010, 8:28 am | # | Reply

    I don’t know what you guys are talking about with the fifth member. There is Byron (1), Syr’nj (2), Frigg (3), Gravedust (4), and Bandit (5). Bandit is definitely the fifth member. There will be no mages. Gravedust is the closest thing we’re gettin’.

    • Rook
      Rook
      April 29, 2010, 7:13 pm | # | Reply

      I want to say that I’m more then content with the party as it is, but I have to admit with all this mage chatter I wonder just what kind of mage (both in personality and specialization) would have ended up in this comic if that was how things were to be >.>

  9. AdamZero
    AdamZero
    April 28, 2010, 10:16 am | # | Reply

    All for one and one for all.
    United we stand, as divided we fall.
    Ready to stand and answer the call.
    All for one, and one for all.

  10. TraderInTown
    TraderInTown
    April 28, 2010, 1:15 pm | # | Reply

    “All for one, and one for all!”

    “1, 2, 3, GUILDED AGE!!”

    “Goooooo CAPTAIN PLANET!”

    • TexasRed
      TexasRed
      April 29, 2010, 1:34 am | # | Reply

      By your powers combined? Or just “By your command.”

      • Carl-E
        Carl-E
        April 29, 2010, 7:11 am | # | Reply

        “As you wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiissssssssssssshhhhhhh”

        • Cote
          Cote
          April 29, 2010, 11:44 pm | # | Reply

          Nice.

  11. TraderInTown
    TraderInTown
    April 28, 2010, 1:31 pm | # | Reply

    Enough of this nonsense about wizards.

    I don’t have anything against wizards. Nothing says, “Words can cut like a sword” more than muttering an incantation and cutting someone with enchanted swords into chunks of meat. (Bite-sized, if you don’t want to choke.)

    But we have a thief, a Beserker, Fighter, Medic and an Archer who can’t miss. Why would they need a wizard?

    How high is Byron’s CON? Mid-twenties? Good enough to outlast a few spells.

  12. Hoo-ya
    Hoo-ya
    April 28, 2010, 4:43 pm | # | Reply

    One… two… three………. Am I missing something? I only see four hands there. If bandit IS a member of this party, shouldn’t there be five? Where’s Friggs hand?

  13. Trevron
    Trevron
    April 28, 2010, 5:51 pm | # | Reply

    Please correct me if I’m wrong, I’d like more to know for sure than make a point.

    What 5th member? The party actually has 6 members. The 4 on this cover are definitely Byron and Gravedust and probably Frigg and S’yn’rg. And if not that, there’s still Bandit, who’s less a social animal for sure.
    And I don’t think Best is really going anywhere, he’s probably just on hiatus. After all, he’s featured in the 1st chapter, which is still in the future as far as I know.

    • Trevron
      Trevron
      April 28, 2010, 5:51 pm | # | Reply

      sorry, repost

    • DangerGnome
      DangerGnome
      April 29, 2010, 3:07 am | # | Reply

      actually, he isnt featured in the 1st chapter, only on the cover of the 1st chapter, unless i’m mistaken???

  14. SteelRaven
    SteelRaven
    April 28, 2010, 7:06 pm | # | Reply

    “Together, we solemnly vow to kick Best’s ass!”

    • TexasRed
      TexasRed
      April 29, 2010, 1:37 am | # | Reply

      A-F’ing-men! I am SO glad that bad excuse for a bard is gone.

  15. TraderInTown
    TraderInTown
    April 29, 2010, 7:19 am | # | Reply

    Listen, dammit!

    You’re all reading too much into this! There’s five hands, and five people accounted for. Done. Over.

    How many hands there are is not the key to unlocking every secret the webcomic holds. Like what Phil’s favorite breakfast cereal is.

    • Seamus
      Seamus
      April 29, 2010, 11:39 am | # | Reply

      I see 4 hands?

      • TraderInTown
        TraderInTown
        April 29, 2010, 1:06 pm | # | Reply

        I’m going to burn down your house and kick your dog in the neck.

        • Phil
          Flo
          April 29, 2010, 1:41 pm | # | Reply

          TraderInTown, you’re starting to make me very uncomfortable with your presence here, with excessively violent remarks such as that.

          Keep it up, and you will be blocked from commenting.

          • TraderInTown
            TraderInTown
            April 29, 2010, 2:04 pm | # | Reply

            You’re no fun at all.

  16. Jean-Luc
    Jean-Luc
    April 29, 2010, 9:56 am | # | Reply

    I’m still hoping for a panel with Byron telling his drinking buddies “how it felt”.

    • T
      T
      April 29, 2010, 10:50 am | # | Reply

      “It felt like being unconscious.”

      • TraderInTown
        TraderInTown
        April 29, 2010, 1:11 pm | # | Reply

        That’s like saying, “Does this rag smell like chloroform?”

        “Does this taste like wood alcohol?”
        “Does that feel like numbness?”

        It also raises the question, why did Best monologue after he knocked out Byron? Then he can’t even hear it!

        • T
          T
          April 29, 2010, 3:41 pm | # | Reply

          On the other hand, monologuing beforehand wastes ax-swinging oxygen.

      • Jean-Luc
        Jean-Luc
        April 29, 2010, 3:11 pm | # | Reply

        True, true but I was more referring to the humiliation part. Getting “bested” if, after all, a pretty riveting experience.

        • Jean-Luc
          Jean-Luc
          April 29, 2010, 3:12 pm | # | Reply

          if = is, goddamit

          • Erica
            Erica
            April 29, 2010, 5:41 pm | # | Reply

            I would give him a break. The man was on fire not too long before this fight.

            • Phil
              Flo
              April 29, 2010, 5:47 pm | # | Reply

              Now, now. Don’t coddle the berserker.

            • Jean-Luc
              Jean-Luc
              April 29, 2010, 5:50 pm | # | Reply

              Pff, ’tis only a flesh burn. I agree about the break though, one in the leg area might wrap him up nicely.

  17. SwitchbladeKult
    SwitchbladeKult
    April 29, 2010, 2:06 pm | # | Reply

    Seriously, you think Frigg would join in a team building “hands in” moment?

    • SteelRaven
      SteelRaven
      April 29, 2010, 6:12 pm | # | Reply

      If it was to give a ‘hell yeah’ for more ass wup’n to come, yes.

    • Moe Lane
      Moe Lane
      April 29, 2010, 7:35 pm | # | Reply

      She actually plays well with others… when they’re PCs.

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Guilded Age is co-written by T Campbell & Flo Kahn, and illustrated by John Waltrip. Site design by Samantha Kyle. Fonts by Blambot.com.
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