Book 2 – Text Updates 019

[OneHugeTuck]

Jillian really messes with her exes heads.
If Ansom gets distracted from directing the battle to take a chance at 'saving' Jillian for redemption as a decrypt things could go bad very quickly.

I imagine that when he said 'save', he meant croak and then decrypt.

[sheepfly]

Hmm... my guess for a twist here is that Vanna bites it when Jillian recklessly lands in the middle of battle to confront Ansom one on one. This could prevent the next 50 pages from turning into the Great Hunt for the Turnamancer Who Screwed Over Gobwin Knob. Neither Parson nor Stanley would want to leave that threat looming unseen, ready to strike at them again when they least expect it.

[Snowtitan]

Hmm... my guess for a twist here is that Vanna bites it when Jillian recklessly lands in the middle of battle to confront Ansom one on one. This could prevent the next 50 pages from turning into the Great Hunt for the Turnamancer Who Screwed Over Gobwin Knob. Neither Parson nor Stanley would want to leave that threat looming unseen, ready to strike at them again when they least expect it.

unlikely, that would leave a body, so that they could finally answer the great question of can casters be decrypted, and I don't think they're ready to answer that just yet

And before somebody says it, even if Wanda's not back next turn, they can keep the body 'live' by shifting it.

[Lord Kasavin]

Hmmm... neither the picture nor the text mention archers. If Ansom knew about Jillian's flyers, and if he really is a "planner for setbacks," he had to have brought up archers to the main hex. I suspect we'll see Jillian try to signal a parley, only to be answered with a volley of arrows. At which point... things get more interesting.

Also, ths update is pretty strong evidence against Ansom being disillusioned with "Toolism." He's incredibly upset about being denied command of the attack, but thats it. Stanley's banner still flies over his head.

On a strategic note, the hex is still somewhat outgunned at this point. It seems the best units that weren't heavies all went with Wanda. Ansom's presence (and bonuses) might be the only thing giving them a chance against Haggar's headbangers. I'm surprised the hex has any Warlords left. They must be pretty low level to not bring to the main charge.

[Dances-with-Marbits]

I hope Sammy gets the ever loving crap kicked out of him.

[Oberon]

Well done Ansom indeed. He's no Parson, but he's no idiot either and is a pretty good commander in his own right.

He seems to have the same philosophy of battle planning: Plans fail, then you pick up with new plans and go with them.

it makes me sad inside, but I don't think Ansom has a chance. He's got one hex of units facing down 6 hexes of Haggar, then Jetstone and Faq. It looks as if the RCC must have 7 times the forces.

Yes, but numbers aren't everything. Ansom is the highest level unit we're aware of. If Sammy or another unit was higher level, this should have been hinted at, at least. Some kind of touting of their past battle glories, whatever. Ansom we know has been in many fights, and has apparently won them all. With one exception, of course.

One thing which struck me: "Multiple Casters?" Jack, and who else? Multiple implies more than two, otherwise it's just as easy to say two and be done with it. Maggy is at GK. Sizemore? When was the last time we saw him? In Page 13, when Parson was calculating Wanda's odds, he specifically factored in Jack's presence, but made no mention of Sizemore. That would be odd, were Sizemore with the field units.

[Fug]

I still think there is no way Sammy will end up fighting Ansom and GK. Look at the units behind Tremmenis when Charlie is mentioned. They will not let an army through to the bridge under the direction of Charlie because they think he is the enemy and is going to reinforce GK. They might even think the spell was in order to give Sammy time to bring up his units to help GK.

Also I notice in this text update that Ansom has 16 archery not 16 archers. Maybe his pikers can throw spears or archer units are made up of more than one person?

Also, I wonder what Erfworlders think nipples and belly buttons are all about (looking at the GK Twolls/Golems).

[Zak3056]

What I'm expecting - One side or the other will make this a Dance Fight, Probably Haggar playing Aerosmith [Edit - My money's in 'Dream on'].

His name is Sammy Haggar, and you're expecting Aerosmith?

[Snowtitan]

One thing which struck me: "Multiple Casters?" Jack, and who else? Multiple implies more than two, otherwise it's just as easy to say two and be done with it. Maggy is at GK. Sizemore? When was the last time we saw him? In Page 13, when Parson was calculating Wanda's odds, he specifically factored in Jack's presence, but made no mention of Sizemore. That would be odd, were Sizemore with the field units.

not GK multiple Casters - Jetstone, Dittomancer, possible Hatmancer and others

His name is Sammy Haggar, and you're expecting Aerosmith?

Sorry Van Halen, Getting Confused

[ftl]

not GK multiple Casters - Jetstone, Dittomancer, possible Hatmancer and others

We know that Jetstone has a Dittomancer, Healomancer, and Dollamancer in that hex. The hatomancer (if Cubbins is in fact a hatomancer) is back at the city.

[The Black Hand]

One thing which struck me: "Multiple Casters?" Jack, and who else? Multiple implies more than two, otherwise it's just as easy to say two and be done with it. Maggy is at GK. Sizemore? When was the last time we saw him? In Page 13, when Parson was calculating Wanda's odds, he specifically factored in Jack's presence, but made no mention of Sizemore. That would be odd, were Sizemore with the field units.

not GK multiple Casters - Jetstone, Dittomancer, possible Hatmancer and others

His name is Sammy Haggar, and you're expecting Aerosmith?

Sorry Van Halen, Getting Confused

So, next question . . . what songs do you think they're each going to play?

If Ansom starts Rocking Out, my money is on either "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" by Judas Priest, "Feuer Frei!" by Rammstein, AC/DC's "T.N.T.", or Fear Factory's "Back The F**k Up" - the latter particularly if he takes/has taken lessons from Parson on cursing in Erfworld.

(On a side note, that's the actual name of the song; they actually spell it "Back The F**k Up" on the case.)

For Sammy Haggar, I'd likely go with "The Dream Is Over".

[Ehbobo]

I don't think that there will be any rocking out by GK. Remember that the only time we've seen them do that was because of the 'hammer, and Ansom doesn't even have the ability to lead a dance-fight; he needed the archons for that in TBfGK.

[badninja]

Impressive, most impressive. I just gained a new respect for Ansom, he planed a back up plan just in case. I feel that his plans will allow for his forces to survive until either backup arrives, Wanda returns, or they all become dust. Interesting thought about his realizing that he hurt Jillian about returning her to her throne, he now wants to save her from it. I wounder how she is going to take it give her psyche is.

I feel that no matter what Jillian and Ansom will have a major story revelation during the up coming battle. I wonder would she work for GK if she knew the truth or would she want to croak Wanda for her actions? Her anger is based off an incomplete story and Wanda's treachery is probably going to come out sooner rather then later. Wanda's past actions need to be brought to light and her title deamoness is well earned. I wonder if the Tool even can conceive that he has little to no control over Wanda.

[Dances-with-Marbits]

I don't think that there will be any rocking out by GK. Remember that the only time we've seen them do that was because of the 'hammer, and Ansom doesn't even have the ability to lead a dance-fight; he needed the archons for that in TBfGK.

Granted Ansom has (presumably) gained levels since tBfGK, who knows what abilities he's unlocked since then?

[Lefish]

I don't think that there will be any rocking out by GK. Remember that the only time we've seen them do that was because of the 'hammer, and Ansom doesn't even have the ability to lead a dance-fight; he needed the archons for that in TBfGK.

I agree. GK won't rock out. So far the only characters that have been able to rock are Stanley with the hammer and Sammy and his troops.

But yeah, Ansom can lead dance-fight. If he didn't have the dance-fight special, he couldn't have led the coalition forces into dance-fighting with the DDR spell the archons casted (the arrows were to direct the troops, not Ansom). He just used the spell to lead into dance-fighting the RCC infantry in the entire hex, outside from his stack.

[Ehbobo]

He didn't. If Ansom could lead a dance-fight, why would they need to DDR spell?

[Lefish]

He didn't. If Ansom could lead a dance-fight, why would they need to DDR spell?

Well, I thought warlords that could lead dance-fight were only able to lead those troops in their own stack.

I could be wrong, of course.

[Oberon]

not GK multiple Casters - Jetstone, Dittomancer, possible Hatmancer and others

Ah, my mis-read. Thank you.

Upon re-reading with greater attention to detail, I am struck by the fact that Ansom, who was a strong proponent of Toolism, still carries out his habit of planning for contingencies. Even though his Commanders argue that their force is guided by the Titans and there is no need for such planning. Very interesting!

Where the heck is Sizemore? I've backtracked and can't locate him.

I don't think that there will be any rocking out by GK. Remember that the only time we've seen them do that was because of the 'hammer, and Ansom doesn't even have the ability to lead a dance-fight; he needed the archons for that in TBfGK.

If Sizemore is present, I would assume that golems can rock out. They haven't been explicitly described as doing this, but their characterization supports the theory.

[the_tick_rules]

Well good thing Ansom wasn't totally whipped.

[The Black Hand]

I would also be surprised if Ansom hadn't learned how to Rock Out.

It could very well be that he evolved from being a Dance-Fighter (which, I might add, seems rather pretentious to me - and thus suited to Royals) to a Rocker, which suits Gobwin Knob a lot better than the RCC2 (with the exception of Haggar, but then again they seem to be just barely Royal).

Besides, as has been pointed out, Ansom's leveled up. Who's to say he hasn't taken a few levels in badass, thus unlocking the ability to Rock Out/trading his Dance-Fighting special for Rocking Out (albeit not quite as well as Stanley with the Arkenhammer)?

Just sayin', it could be possible.