Nah, halberds are basically an axe/spear hybrid on the end of a long pole. Used a lot by “royal guard” types to block doorways and generally get in the way.
Naw, fantasy fiction makes no apologies for violating that. I believe the logic is {A} Fighting giant spiders is cool, {B} Giant spiders are not compatible with our understanding of modern physic: therefore {C} Modern physics can just stay out of it. Something like that…
Because if physics shows up, we grab it by its scrawny neck, whack its head against the wall a few times, and then hurl it out the window as far as we can throw it.
It’s weird now, because I discovered her after seeing Madeline the first time, but I think Lindsey Stirling would fit in her shoes so nicely. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGCsyshUU-A
Boots of Springing and Striding!!! It’s been over 20 years and I still remember that! You can take the geek out of the game but you can’t take the game out of the geek.
I was worried for a moment, but it looks like the fur toque didn’t get any blood on it.
I’m beginning to suspect that Madeline’s low INT (or WIS) score is sometimes helpful to her : would she really have been able to make a shovel go snickersnack if she realized it’s in no way a vorpal weapon ?
So is she taking a Final Fantasy Dragoon Prestige Class?
Interesting thing is given that most of her abilities are based on her powerful faith, it could be argued that her shovel IS a halberd for all combat intents and purposes because she believes it to be so.
Funny thing is, shovels are actually pretty good at decapitating. Many soldiers in World War 1 used preferred them in melee combat over bayonets. And then there is the monk’s spade….
She upgraded her hoe’ly avenger to that vorpal spade.
Her armor looks quite the same, even added that fur-hat for the winter.
So, what exactly got downgraded ?
You may laugh at her weapon choice now, but just wait until she upgrades to the Combine Harvester of Justice! She’ll revolutionize evil-smiting in the most terrifying way possible x3
The alt-text is pretty funny to anyone familiar with Dragon Age, a game that may slightly postdate this strip or not, but is well known for letting you shower your character in gore and then just have totally normal conversations that way.
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Snickersnack! 😀
And anything that goes snicker-snack is vorpal!
(Unless you want to argue with Lewis Carroll.)
And who wants to do that? Not I.
nameless comic considers all vorpal weapons to have their own unique sounds
Oh man I could really GO for a snicker-snack right about now, too.
Yeah, but don’t lose your head over the idea.
She seems to fight better with her eyes closed. I noticed it when fighting Plaidbeard but wasn’t sure if that wasn’t just the way it was drawn.
her ‘master’ is obviously Zatoichi.
Isnt a halberd a sword?
Nah, halberds are basically an axe/spear hybrid on the end of a long pole. Used a lot by “royal guard” types to block doorways and generally get in the way.
A halberd is a pole arm with a spike at the end that has an axehead on one side and a hook on the other side.
It stabs like a spear, hacks like an extended axe, and the hook can be used to yank people, including pulling a rider off of a horse.
Consult Wikipedia for further details
Ew, gross. Besides, not to find something about a POLEARM in xD&D materials – seriously? It’s not even a bill bec-de-bardiche glaive-guisarme. :]
Holy shit!
It’s a VERTEBRATE! Well, that explains the apparent defiance of the square-cube law.
Naw, fantasy fiction makes no apologies for violating that. I believe the logic is {A} Fighting giant spiders is cool, {B} Giant spiders are not compatible with our understanding of modern physic: therefore {C} Modern physics can just stay out of it. Something like that…
Because if physics shows up, we grab it by its scrawny neck, whack its head against the wall a few times, and then hurl it out the window as far as we can throw it.
Which, considering the laws of physics have just been put out of commission, is very, very far.
Or we just cast Defenstrating Sphere on it. Which is an actual D&D spell, and the best-named spell ever.
Am I the only who read that as “Defecating Sphere”? I sure hope so…
Of course it’s a vertebrate. How would it crossbreed with a dragon otherwise?
… wait, don’t answer that.
Too late! You imagined it – you can’t -un-imagine- it!
i think either she or the princess are my favorite characters in this comic. probably which ever appeared latest at any given time.
My is definitely the paladin, as the princess smoke.
Looks Like She has The Spring Attack Feat….Emphasis on the Spring!
Remorhazn’t!
It’s weird now, because I discovered her after seeing Madeline the first time, but I think Lindsey Stirling would fit in her shoes so nicely. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGCsyshUU-A
This is pretty awesome.
Boots of Springing and Striding!!! It’s been over 20 years and I still remember that! You can take the geek out of the game but you can’t take the game out of the geek.
“Give me that old time equipment !
Give me that old time equipment !
Give me that old time equipment !
Like Grandpa used to play! “
Close my eyes; I can’t miss you
For in my spirit has tracked you
Remember to cleave
strong and true
Darkness not withstanding
Nor winter halt the planting
My blade shall split the earth
to bury you
— In Vecna’s name, you somehow got me thinking of Project Djedi and the Beetle-bots exploring the Tomb of Khufu! Good trick.
Is it wrong that I heard that in my head to the tune of “All My Loving” by The Beatles?
Beetle-bots, beetle-bots, beetle-bots …
Funny – I got half way through it before I realised I was reading it to the same tune 🙂
Kaloo Kalay!
Oh frabjous day!
I was worried for a moment, but it looks like the fur toque didn’t get any blood on it.
I’m beginning to suspect that Madeline’s low INT (or WIS) score is sometimes helpful to her : would she really have been able to make a shovel go snickersnack if she realized it’s in no way a vorpal weapon ?
Who says it isn’t vorpal? As long as it’s a slashing weapon…
Oh dear… Since it went “snicker-snack”, I suppose that makes it her Vorpal Spade. XD
You are a horrible person for making that pun.
… and I’m a horrible person for laughing at it. XD
Remorhaz it you don’t have no head anymore!
(Remorhaz it, ooooh)
(Remorhaz it, ooooh)
(Remorhaz it, ooooh)
So is she taking a Final Fantasy Dragoon Prestige Class?
Interesting thing is given that most of her abilities are based on her powerful faith, it could be argued that her shovel IS a halberd for all combat intents and purposes because she believes it to be so.
Also, I like her new outfit, very cute.
Only Madeline could look that cute while covered in the blood of her enemies.
She reminds me of a kitten who’s managed to acquire opposable thumbs. Cute, adorable, affectionate, and deadly as all heck!
You have the perfect avatar for that comment…
Makes a change from the usual adventurers, who slaughter their way through an army, yet somehow never need to clean their clothing…
how true!
Nobody has any right to look that cute while covered in blood. It’s just wrong.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
That is all.
Where are the wings she was supposed to get for her last good deed? Or did enabling Rusty to eat Tokyo disqualify her?
it does explain the leaping ability no?
Maybe she has Cruxis wings from Tales of Symphonia and just has them invisible at current time?
Funny thing is, shovels are actually pretty good at decapitating. Many soldiers in World War 1 used preferred them in melee combat over bayonets. And then there is the monk’s spade….
New Houserule: All shovels are vorpal.
I thought they used spades for that.
Nice to have Madeline back. She may not be the brightest bulb in the lamp, but she does what needs doing, while looking adorable about it.
Spatha – Latin for ‘sword’, becomes both Spade and Spatula under the rigors of time….
That factoid makes this even more awesome.
I used to have an intelligent vorpal sword. It wasn’t very smart, though, since the only thing it could say was: Snicker-Snack!
Also, Madi must have leveled and picked up Leap Attack. I wonder if she’s a Shocktrooper too?
She upgraded her hoe’ly avenger to that vorpal spade.
Her armor looks quite the same, even added that fur-hat for the winter.
So, what exactly got downgraded ?
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/shovel
Okay, coding doesn’t work.
Wow. The “Vorpal Shovel” is now, officially, my favorite melee weapon.
You may laugh at her weapon choice now, but just wait until she upgrades to the Combine Harvester of Justice! She’ll revolutionize evil-smiting in the most terrifying way possible x3
The Vorpal Spa- Halberd!
It made me chortle in my joy!
It is the user, not the weapon.
The alt-text is pretty funny to anyone familiar with Dragon Age, a game that may slightly postdate this strip or not, but is well known for letting you shower your character in gore and then just have totally normal conversations that way.
Madeline takes the level-inappropriate encounter in striiiide.