Book 2 – Page 41

[Sixty]

Heh, people in this topic have complained that Charlie is both too powerful and yet not powerful enough to deal with Tram.

[Danetrix]

Heh, people in this topic have complained that Charlie is both too powerful and yet not powerful enough to deal with Tram.

Mmm. The verdict is still out on this one for me. We'll see how the convo ends in its entirety.

[Svankensen]

Man, with this webcomic it is always like this:

I grow impatient for a new page, even annoyed. Then the page goes up, and its wonderfull. I mean, just look at the art, the great use of the colors, and add the interesting conversation going on between them. Still, i'd like more actual pages and less text, but i really cant complain. When i get a credit card i wont be able to resist buying this book in paper. I'm pretty sure this is the best webcomic i've ever read, both in plot and art.

Thanks a lot guys ; )

[Camouflage]

How does Charlie know Parson's last name?

http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F089.jpg

First Panel.

How does Charlie know what Parson looks like (such that he is able to provide a very accurate image to Tramennis)?

In Book 1 Charlie's Archons were holding the airspace over GK for some time while maintaining an inofficial cease-fire. They were giving him live video-surveillance of all that happened in and around GK via Thinkagramm, including what they saw through the big windows of the old throne room.

[fruityjanitor]

Heh, people in this topic have complained that Charlie is both too powerful and yet not powerful enough to deal with Tram.

When I first read it, I was surprised that Tram was apparently getting the upper hand on Charlie. Then I remembered that Charlie's worst fear (Parson becoming Chief Warlord again) just happened. The only reason Tram is able to get Charlie this flustered is because he is freaking out right now.

Spoiler: show

(Either that, or it is a trick Charlie is using to put Tram at ease so he can cast some sort of Suggestion spell on him...)

[Dr Pepper]

Even when Charlie lays his cards on the table, there's still an angle.

[Krennson]

How does Charlie know Parson's last name?

How does Charlie know what Parson looks like (such that he is able to provide a very accurate image to Tramennis)?

Parson used his full name, title, and position when he called charlie in book one.

http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/?px=%2F089.jpg

Charlie basically just read that information back to Trammenis, almost word for word.

[Altima]

Tee hee, with Tram's eyes and the glasses, it looks like he's wearing those tanning bed eye thingies in the last panel.

Tram going from battle-Caesar to peace-hippie? Awesome.

Still, this all seems very odd. From all the characterization going on, I wouldn't expect Tram to, you know, die, especially since there's all this talk of bounties and Tram getting promoted...on the other hand, I refuse that Wanda will die, and I don't want Jack to taste key lime pie, either. But with the way the battle seems to be going on, someone's gotta croak.

[StClair]

Probably a lot of someones, based on Parson's angsting.

And I still think that the reason Charlie's so worried is that (as others have observed) Parson has a better shot than anyone at actually Ending The Game. And when that happens, Charlie the Arkendish goes back into the game box along with the other Tools.

[Qwert]

Hm? The swirl on Tram's hippy shirt reversed in the last panel...

FEAR THE POTATO

[build6]

So, I guess it's clear now Parson's not widely known around Erfworld, even amongst GK's direct enemies.

Charlie is scared of Parson because Charlie is SMART.

Right - I get the feeling that in the entire course of the game, Charlie has never found himself outwitted, or perhaps not even simply surprised, before - it's one thing to be uncertain as to which of a range of options an enemy may take, it's another thing entirely if he does something completely out of the blue - and which defeats you.

Parson is the only thing around that brings anything "unknown" to him, and that ought to be pretty crap-inducing. Particularly since what Charlie primarily trafficks in is information...

Nothing good comes out of talking with Parson.

heh. Poor Parson

Re: heir promotion - the minute that came up, I found myself thinking "but would Slately WANT to promote Tramennis to heir?" - I mean, it's quite clear (fool that he is) Slately certainly would prefer someone else.

then again I guess it could be sold to Slately as a self-preservation measure: "if you don't promote Tramennis, that makes you the single most valuable target for GK and they'll hit you specifically; promote Tramennis and they'll just attack more conventionally..."

But that's going to be a hard sell if Slately's convinced they're going to win, though

[TheDarkOne]

I am on the edge of my damn seat. I know the action is still a long ways off but when the battle for Spacerock begins i think my head may explode. Parson blew up a mountain last time, I can't wait to find out what Rob has him planning this time.

I am so proud to be a Tool, you guys are producing epic work and I love it.\

EDIT:

"On another note, how did Charlie know Parson was promoted?"

Janis no doubt.

[Sihoiba]

I'm surprised no ones mentioned this:

Charlie refers to Parson as a being (italicised and everything) he knows Parson's not just another Erfworld unit...

[I<3ChocolateMilk]

Isn't denial the first step on the path to acceptance? Bargaining is somewhere along that road as well, I think. Ah, here it is: Kübler-Ross model. Could be interesting to see a character as intellectual as Charlie step through these processes in terms of Erf.

Well, Charlie is starting to sound Angry, which comes right after Denial. I'll have to keep an eye out for Bargaining and Depression.

I think the time has come.

[BLANDCorporatio]

I am on the edge of my damn seat. I know the action is still a long ways off but when the battle for Spacerock begins i think my head may explode. Parson blew up a mountain last time, I can't wait to find out what Rob has him planning this time.

I'll tell you what's planned: nothing. That's why we're taking this long of a time to get to the bloody action.

Prove me wrong, Titans. Please, quickly.

[TheDarkOne]

Heh, people in this topic have complained that Charlie is both too powerful and yet not powerful enough to deal with Tram.

When I first read it, I was surprised that Tram was apparently getting the upper hand on Charlie. Then I remembered that Charlie's worst fear (Parson becoming Chief Warlord again) just happened. The only reason Tram is able to get Charlie this flustered is because he is freaking out right now.

I think Tram just happens to be the Son of Jetstone for the job. His brothers were the warriors but Tram seems to have a good head on his shoulders and I'm quickly growing fond of the character. I'm not at all surprised his conversation is going as well as it is with Charlie.

[Miklus II]

Is it possible that Charlie "hacked" Maggie way back in book one, when Parson called Charlie up? Maggie warned Parson about it beforehand. So now Charlie can listen in on all her calls?

Note that the call to Charlie happend BEFORE the eyebooks where hacked. Maybe Charlie got inside those via Maggie. Maggie made the books while in the link, right?

So which arkentool is the most powerful? It could be argued that the dish is. But remember what the 'pliers can do. You could singlehandedly conquer Erfworld with those alone. If you start up slowly and get a decrypted army going, you can go on a momentum-style rampage all over Erfworld. No upkeep needed! The 'hammer is not bad either. Free dwagons, the best combat unit there is? Yes, thank you. And let's not forget the "van graf" move. Stanley one-shotted Caesar and about 30 bats. Information is all well and good, but a hammer to the face...?

Personally I think the 'pliers are the most overpowered arkentool (giver that we don't know the fourth). The no-upkeep thing is just outright broken from a game perspective.

[Trotsky]

On another note, how did Charlie know Parson was promoted?

couple of theories.

1. Charlie has agents in the Magic kingdom, and one of them heard about sizemore's new bonus.
2. charlie has archons observing a Gobwin Knob unit somewhere, and archons are able to see enemy unit stats.
3. Charlie has the ability to "ping" major leaders of any and all sides, to determine how to communicate with them. Thus, he now knows that if he wants to call up the chief warlord of gobwin knob, he will be speaking to parson.
4. Charlie can intercept thinkagrams.

Charlie is...

JANIS (or, more likely the Mysterious "Predictomancer") in disguise!

How does Charlie know what Parson looks like (such that he is able to provide a very accurate image to Tramennis)?

In Book 1 Charlie's Archons were holding the airspace over GK for some time while maintaining an inofficial cease-fire. They were giving him live video-surveillance of all that happened in and around GK via Thinkagramm, including what they saw through the big windows of the old throne room.

Shown in panel 1.

[sleepymancer]

Just registered to make this comment (long time reader, not too often in the forums though)

I've just realised exactly what is in the dossier: its the copy of book 2 part 1. Charlie nabbed it from the "layout person" along with the rest of their hard-drive...

[Angband]

Ooooh -- I think Charlie may be about to step in it, big time...

Spoiler: show

When Charlie gives Tramennis his "dossier" on Parson, in order to warn him against parleying with GK, he will almost certainly tell Tramennis that Parson used the parley to croak Ansom.

However, Tramennis is smart enough to realize that the only reason Charlie knows about this is because his Archons were watching (and sending images back by thinkagram). The problem for Charlie is that his archons obviously knew what was happening, and did nothing to stop it.

I see Tramennis getting very angry at Charlie for failing to save his brother when he so very easily could have.