Also note the derro’s blood colour. Hemoglobin is such a strong pigment that he can’t have it in his blood, but hemocyanin in a vertebrate would require pretty drastic changes in body metabolism. So what the hell these derro are?
She has a high Dexterity, since she’s both a Halfling and a Rogue, and in 4E Halflings get a bonus to Acrobatics.
As for the Derro, their DNA was tampered with by ancient Suloise Wizards, they were driven insane by Eldritch Horrors from the Far Realms, and they have been subsisting on fungus and subterrenean cattle for millenia. It wouldn’t surprise me if they bled Fresca. 😛
Serious answer: Derro used to be Humans. Then bad stuff happened, like being experimented on by the aforementioned Wizards, being driven into the Underdark to avoid a magical upheaval, then they began summoning Lovecraftian monsters to keep themselves safe from the Drow and the Mind Flayers. Over the millenia they became shorter and more Dwarflike, and their skin and hair changed. They also have a well deserved reputation for being insane.
In 3e they get a +2 racial bonus on Jump checks… although that’s overshadowed by their -6 speed penalty on Jump and their -2 racial penalty to Strength, the key ability for Jump. So that was probably Tumble.
In 4E Jump got folded into Athletics, along with Climb and Swim, while Tumble got folded into Acrobatics, along with Escape Artist and Tightrope Walking. Also, Halflings didn’t have a penalty to Strength in 4E. Ability Score penalties are coming back in D&D Next, but they’re not as harsh as they are in 3.X, since it’s possible to offset a Racial Ability Penalty by choosing a Class that grants an Ability Score bonus in the same Ability score. So a Halfling has +1 Dexterity, -1 Strength, but if she chooses a class that gives +1 Strength it counteracts the penalty.
Personally, I can see a lot of sense in folding a lot of the less powerful, less-used skills together, a trend that started in 3.5e, continued in Pathfinder, and went just slightly overboard in 4e.
The good news is that Stabs got to inflict full Sneak Attack damage by striking the Derro on the hand. That might upset some people, who insist on realism in their D&D games. To those individuals I’d like to point out that Halflings, Derro and whatever Presti used to fire Stabs, are fictional and that Hit Points are an abstract representation of damage in combat. So let’s all hum a few bars of the MST3K theme song and enjoy the fun. 🙂
given how sharp Stabs keeps her knives, it probably doesn’t hurt at all. A little of that funny numbness you get when you cut yourself with a razor, or at least til the air starts making it sting.
And here is where my archive run ended the first time I read this comic. Less than a year later, I’m stopping by on this page again during my 4th archive run. This comic is just too awesome. 😀
Rusty and Co. and rustyandco.com is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC. For more information about Wizards of the Coast or any of Wizards’ trademarks or other intellectual property, please visit their website at Wizards.com
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Being chaotic means you don’t have to play by the rules when you don’t want to.
Really, it’s her own fault. She’s the one who blew their cover and then blamed Presti for doing it.
“And that’s ANOTHER thing I’m mad at Presti for. Not even being at fault so I’d have somebody to blame!”
I think someone’s a little p***ed
Remember, there is probably also a rhino following Stabs on a ballistic trajectory. That’ll be sure to brighten up her day a little.
Or can you dry-fire a rhino cannon?
I think she used Stabs specifically because she was out of rhinos.
Why pin a sleeve when you can do limb damage? Attack penalty in case of escape and all that.
Thinking he should just be happy she didn’t hit something vital.
The hand is pretty vital to a juggler.
Eminently fixable in a D&D world.
Of course, so is her hitting something vital, but that’s a bit more cash.
This was the Card Tosser. The Juggler is underneath a Rhino.
If she casts Angry Hobbit … It may Sting a little.
Grooooan ! “You have nice manners, for a thief and a liar.”
She’s surprisingly acrobatic for someone obese.
Also note the derro’s blood colour. Hemoglobin is such a strong pigment that he can’t have it in his blood, but hemocyanin in a vertebrate would require pretty drastic changes in body metabolism. So what the hell these derro are?
She has a high Dexterity, since she’s both a Halfling and a Rogue, and in 4E Halflings get a bonus to Acrobatics.
As for the Derro, their DNA was tampered with by ancient Suloise Wizards, they were driven insane by Eldritch Horrors from the Far Realms, and they have been subsisting on fungus and subterrenean cattle for millenia. It wouldn’t surprise me if they bled Fresca. 😛
Serious answer: Derro used to be Humans. Then bad stuff happened, like being experimented on by the aforementioned Wizards, being driven into the Underdark to avoid a magical upheaval, then they began summoning Lovecraftian monsters to keep themselves safe from the Drow and the Mind Flayers. Over the millenia they became shorter and more Dwarflike, and their skin and hair changed. They also have a well deserved reputation for being insane.
In 3e they get a +2 racial bonus on Jump checks… although that’s overshadowed by their -6 speed penalty on Jump and their -2 racial penalty to Strength, the key ability for Jump. So that was probably Tumble.
In 4E Jump got folded into Athletics, along with Climb and Swim, while Tumble got folded into Acrobatics, along with Escape Artist and Tightrope Walking. Also, Halflings didn’t have a penalty to Strength in 4E. Ability Score penalties are coming back in D&D Next, but they’re not as harsh as they are in 3.X, since it’s possible to offset a Racial Ability Penalty by choosing a Class that grants an Ability Score bonus in the same Ability score. So a Halfling has +1 Dexterity, -1 Strength, but if she chooses a class that gives +1 Strength it counteracts the penalty.
Thanks Gygax this comic isn’t based on 4e
Rusty & Co. isn’t 4e, thank all the gods above and below – it actually came up when WotC raised a ruckus about the Rusty plush toy.
In 3e, “tightrope walking” was part of Balance.
Personally, I can see a lot of sense in folding a lot of the less powerful, less-used skills together, a trend that started in 3.5e, continued in Pathfinder, and went just slightly overboard in 4e.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=10151909363736497
Video link to prove you’re wrong.
Obesity is only as limiting as you allow it to be.
The good news is that Stabs got to inflict full Sneak Attack damage by striking the Derro on the hand. That might upset some people, who insist on realism in their D&D games. To those individuals I’d like to point out that Halflings, Derro and whatever Presti used to fire Stabs, are fictional and that Hit Points are an abstract representation of damage in combat. So let’s all hum a few bars of the MST3K theme song and enjoy the fun. 🙂
How is a clown-squad supposed to be helping against a disguise ?
Also, the guy remained pretty calm, considering the knife thru his hand…
Depends on what they moonlight as.
Clowns know all about disguises.
Such a nice, polite villain. Probably won’t stop him getting skewered a lot more, but Stabs might feel a bit bad about it after she’s done.
Stabs, feeling bad about leaving a villian with multiple puncture wounds, just because he’s polite? Nah, don’t think so
The enemy cannot cast…if you disable his hand!
I have to give credit for to a villain who can calmly make a quip right after a piece of steel has been rammed though his hand.
He’s crazy. It helps.
given how sharp Stabs keeps her knives, it probably doesn’t hurt at all. A little of that funny numbness you get when you cut yourself with a razor, or at least til the air starts making it sting.
I think Stabs needs to take a page out of the Book of Belkar Bitterleaf here.
Less talking, MORE STABBING!
(Though Talking is a Free Action, of course.)
He should be grateful she went for the hand. And that she did it in a way that didn’t hurt or bleed.
The blue puddle under his hand is not a slip of the ink.
He’ll never play the piano again. (You’ll never guess how relieved the piano is.)
“Doc! Will I be able to play the piano after my hand heals?”
“Of course you will.”
“That’s great, Doc! I never could before!”
ow
ow
owowow
ow
owowowowowowowow
And here is where my archive run ended the first time I read this comic. Less than a year later, I’m stopping by on this page again during my 4th archive run. This comic is just too awesome. 😀