158 The battle for Gobwin Knob, page 145

[eaten by a grue]

I was wondering if Stanley was still in charge. Gobwin Knob, Stanley's last city, was destroyed. Doesn't that change his status to barbarian?

[usolangto]

The arkenpliers seem too powerful in comparison to the arkenhammer and arkendish. We probably don't know everything with the arkendish, and it seems likely that there are powers associated with the arkenhammer that we're not aware of yet (or Stanley for that matter).

Okay how about an arkentools discussion

it appears each arken tool is linked to a certain creature type

arkenhammer = dwagons
arkenpliers = croaked
arkendish = the angels?

[Mal]

I gotta say, I'm digging the skulls much better than the radishes. oh and yay for WORLD DOMINATION!!!!!

[KeiranHalcyon31]

I was wondering if Stanley was still in charge. Gobwin Knob, Stanley's last city, was destroyed. Doesn't that change his status to barbarian?

It would seem that the city was merely reduced to level 0, not destroyed outright. If it was destroyed, I suspect Parson et. al. would have been trapped in the Magic Kingdom.

So many comments:

If I were Parson (to Ansom): "Has it occured to you that maybe the Titans don't give a flying boop about what happens on Erfworld?"

Two things I'm looking forward to: Stanley's reaction to Ansom, and Ansom's reaction to Stanley's reaction to Ansom.

Speculation on Ansom's condition - a free-thinking, 10th level, 0-upkeep warlord, who so far has only shown loyalty to Parson. His memories may be largely intact, and even his personality seems similar (good old fascist Ansom), but his world view has been inverted. A combination of the magic that brought him back and respect for the man who beat him? It seems a bit beyond the scope of croakamancy as we know it - it seems like it would have to have an element of thinkamancy in there to preserve parts of his mind, but alter others - but there was an artifact involved, after all.

Further speculation on Ansom's condition - Whatever sort of unit he is, there seems to be a consensus that it's rather overpowered. Perhaps he can't level ever again? Or croaks if Wanda croaks? Or some other disadvantage we have yet to discover?

Speculation on the Arkenpliers - They do seema mite more powerful than the hammer, in the grand scheme. But, Stanley is not a caster; Wanda is. So it makes sense that the combination of her spellcasting and the Pliers would kick ass. It might also be that the decrypt ability is limited-use (once per month would sound appropriate, or maybe "maximum of one uber-uncroaked-warlord per side").

Things will be interesting going forward...

(EDIT: NINJA SHIELD! Why didn't anyone thing of this feature sooner?)

[Mikalyaran]

I'm thinking book two might pick back up with Parson et al having retaken some of the cities which were lost by stanley and his parade of pretty boy warlords. They may have an army now but they still have only one city where other sides, presumably, have many cities. Starting their gives GW some punch but gives the other sides time to rebuild their armies some as well. Also they may very well just got off after some bit of info they have on the 4th arkentool. Knowing Parsons cleverness and capability they may do both. Our author and artist may go with telling the story from the other side though, maybe from within one of the former rcc factions, or perhaps show us a different area of erfworld all together. Regardless im looking forward to book two immensly.

[dragonus45]

IT might seem to be a game breaker with the mass zero upkeep army, but how does that scale to any other tools. Its possible that Charlies Archons could put of quite the fight.

On the subject of the 4th tool, what if it was a hippiemancer artifact.

[Subtext]

I wonder if Archons retain ther abilities in the same way when they are decrypted.

[Welf von Ehrwald]

I don't think it would be a bad idea to make Ansom chief warlord. Think of Transylvito style with dwagons (and archons?). And Stanley's first order could be "do what parson says".

[CourtJester]

Ansom overpowered? Perhaps... but recall that he is uncroaked, despite his lively demeanor. The Arkenplier's were especially deadly to the dead in Ansom's hands; who's to say that there isn't 'mancy out there that has the same effect? The undead are famously weak against "holy" magic...

[Hobgobwin]

He might not be an uncroaked. Maybe he was resurrected?

[CourtJester]

He might not be an uncroaked. Maybe he was resurrected?

That may be, but, why then would he not require upkeep?

[Hobgobwin]

Decrypteds might be different from uncroaked.

[THE ARKENHAMMER]

Do you think it's possible for Misty or Bogroll to be decrypted, or is a body necessary? Can the arkenpliers turn uncroaked to decrypted? I'm thinking decrypted are definitely different. They can have deep philosophical discussions, or at least explain their motives, and they don't rot.

Poor Jillian. She finally escapes Wanda only to let beloved Ansom fall into her clutches.

[kreszantas]

Ansom has not been resurrected, if that was the case he would have an upkeep, therefore is a sentient undead (his own will and ability to think as he once did) the skulls that are on his jumpsuit could have a duplicate meaning
1) "I was decrypted by Wanda with the ArkenPliers into a new never seen before on Erf unit" (as they both elude to in 157)
2) That he is still an uncroaked unit and would have the weaknesses of it. Right now we have not been given enough information to know for sure that UnAnsom is nothing more than a uncroaked warlord like before just that can follow orders that are more complex (Maggie's statement about rudementry orders to Parson when giving the fall back orders)

edit: fix the quotes in line #1

[BarGamer]

It would seem that the city was merely reduced to level 0, not destroyed outright. If it was destroyed, I suspect Parson et. al. would have been trapped in the Magic Kingdom.

"Congratulations, there is now a level zero." *Pinches out the flame(war).*

I also love the new Ansom. I hope he stays this way. And also, kills Jillian, but they capture/decrypt Vinny. I am worried that now there's just no way for Parson to lose, except by Stanley pulling yet another bone-headed move, and thus there is no tension. Granted, they are starting pretty much from scratch. Here's hoping that his little drive and therapy session with Jack is enough...

Or, the authors could switch viewpoints on us, and show us Erf from the viewpoints of the new Coalition/some other side, and we watch as Parson totally conquers the world while they stand around scratching their heads, and we wildly speculate how Parson did it... That would be cool.

Starting their gives GW...

Someone's been playing too much Guild Wars... XD (Not that I don't approve, but I'm sure you meant "GK." XD)

They can have deep philosophical discussions, or at least explain their motives, and they don't rot. Poor Jillian. She finally escapes Wanda only to let beloved Ansom fall into her clutches.

Their arguements would still stink, though. XD Also, I can totally predict how Jillian will answer that one: "I loved Prince Ansom of Jetstone. You are Captain Ansom of Gobwin Knob. I will stab your eye out with my salad fork, if need be."

[Dude]

Would people please stop using "Decrypted" in regard to Ansom's new status as a unit?
It doesn't mean what most of you probably think it means (hint: it has nothing to do with a crypt). It means decoded.

How about you use reanimated instead, and stop sounding stupid?

Ansom looks pretty determined in the second to last panel. He seems proud to serve under Lord Hamster. My opinion is that it has more to do with being defeated by him, than it has with a side-effect of his reanimation.

[Infidel]

Would people please stop using "Decrypted" in regard to Ansom's new status as a unit?
It doesn't mean what most of you probably think it means (hint: it has nothing to do with a crypt). It means decoded.

How about you use reanimated instead, and stop sounding stupid?

It's a new word. Deal with it.

[BarGamer]

Would people please stop using "Decrypted" in regard to Ansom's new status as a unit?
It doesn't mean what most of you probably think it means (hint: it has nothing to do with a crypt). It means decoded.

How about you use re-animated instead, and stop sounding stupid?

"Stop saying that!" "You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means." I hereby propose we call whatever-Ansom-is "Decwypted." Let's see if we can get another "Princess Bride" line in this thread. XD I'm hoping for "Inconceivable!" or even "My name is not Inigo Montoya. You did not kill my father. Prepare to die anyway."

[The Dark Fiddler]

How about we call him "UBEREPICNEWUNIT"

[BarGamer]

How about we call him "UBEREPICNEWUNIT"

Nah, "Decwypted" is shorter.