While the forums were down, I wanted to post fairly simple, straight-forward comics that didn't need writeups. But, alas people have requested writeups anyway, so here goes:

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Placeholders: The Mob's Perspective (1/23)
It's a commonly known fact that in EQ there are such things as "placeholders". That is to say that certain mobs would pop in the place of the mob you actually wanted. Said mob had to be destroyed. But, on exceedingly rare spawns, like... oh... the Ancient Cyclops... there were a LOT of placeholders. So, the joke idea Salizzar submitted was basically the idea of a rare spawn having to wait in line behind all his placeholders. And, like anyone else, he's probably not too happy about the delay.

Booth Babes (1/24)
There has always been a rule at E3 that booth babes shouldn't be wearing bikini-esque outfits. But, until this year, it's gone largely ignored. Everytime the convention staff would come to request the booth babes get dressed, they simply moved on before the convention staff got to them. This year (2006) however, the E3 staff has decided to back the rule with some real chops. If a Booth Babe is caught violating the dress code, her sponsor will get handed a $5000 fine. Whoopsy!
[color=#999999][i]Source: GameSpot [ more info ][/color]

9mm Encouragement (1/25)
So, despite getting pretty much slammed by gaming press reviews, rapper 50 Cent's game "BulletProof" has gone platinum. The way I see it, the only reason 50 got people to buy his game, was because he stood outside game stores and "strongly suggested" that gamers shell out their allowance for it.
[color=#999999][i]Source: GameSpot [ more info ][/color]

He's Here (1/26)
The foks at Mythic invited me out to DC to visit their studios and see what they're up to. And, the idea of Ted in our nations capital amused me.

Ted was here (1/27)
I couldn't have the build of the 1/26 comic without having some kind of pay off. Could I?

It's nice... but... (1/30)
I've see links to uber gear in guild chat, the trade channel, general, etc etc etc. So, of course, I look over all the nifty stats and crap. But, I wouldn't be the cynic you all expect if I didn't say something snide.

Deadrick's Tongue (1/31)
This idea came to me while I was listening to som ex guildies talk about a high level raid mob they were working on. It was very much "everything was going fine until" situation. And I like to make up my own endings for those things. You know like: Everything was going fine until... the monkey absconded with my last popsicle.

Deadrick's Tongue (2/1)
Now, because of the name in the 1/31 panel, I knew it was an undead guy stuck to the ice giant. Then it occurred to me WHY he might have gotten his tongue stuck. Being a warrior meant being up close in melee range... but being one of the undead with no bottom jaw completed the picture for me. And I just HAD to draw it.

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So there you have it; a look into the midnset behind the comics that were posted while the forums were down.

sweet, thanks.

Cool thanks, most of your comics are self explanatory but I had missed the lead up to the Deadrik the day before so was scratching my head on that one.

And of course never playing EQ or dealing with placeholders I didn't get the Placeholder's one with out explanation.

Some people complain about an artist where they need to "explain" a joke but I see it as part as the humor. An inside joke is just as funny when you are told what the inside humor is. Penny Arcade gets that complaint often enough for me to see them comment on it. But I enjoy reading the news and then checking out the comic.

So take this as a compliment Woody, and thanks for letting me "in on the joke."

Originally Posted by Woody:

There has always been a rule at E3 that booth babes shouldn't be wearing bikini-esque outfits. But, until this year, it's gone largely ignored.

See, I have a problem with this. I think it was best said in this week's episode of Boston Legal. "Those that are against breasts are against life!"

The booth babes make the show. Without that sex-appeal, it's just a stuffy corporate event. Blah blah blah, frames-per-second, blah blah blah, one-million polygons, blah blah blah, available fourth-quarter... blah, blah blah whatever.

Hopefully the ladies will just get more creative with their outfits. Bare naked flesh isn't always necessary. Skin tight clothing will work. :-)

Originally Posted by Woody:

...Deadrick's Tongue (1/31)
This idea came to me while I was listening to som ex guildies talk about a high level raid mob they were working on. It was very much "everything was going fine until" situation. And I like to make up my own endings for those things. You know like: Everything was going fine until... the monkey absconded with my last popsicle.

Deadrick's Tongue (2/1)
Now, because of the name in the 1/31 panel, I knew it was an undead guy stuck to the ice giant. Then it occurred to me WHY he might have gotten his tongue stuck. Being a warrior meant being up close in melee range... but being one of the undead with no bottom jaw completed the picture for me. And I just HAD to draw it.

hahahahahahahahaha (and I rarely laugh out loud like that). These two made me laugh until I cried. You know what would have made it even funnier (just a little)? If instead of saying "guys," he said "guysh." Okay maybe not, but that's how I read it.

*walks off still laughing and remembering the time she stuck HER tongue on a deadly ice giant - okay, a frozen door knob, but same effect*

He's used to talking without a bottom jaw. Why would having his tongue stuck to an icegiant change his speech patterns?

Woody has a point...

:: giggles:: I kinda feel sorry for the booth babes.. For any con. Think about, they are usually models hired to sell a product they know nothing about..

Somebody did a comic about, not sure who....

" I look horrible and I don't even know what I am suppose to be!"

Oooooh... the one about the ancient cyclopse; I thought it was refering to Oasis of Marr and how no one goes there anymore, so all the mobs are now bored out of their minds. Come to think I'm not sure there are human mobs there.. hrm.. oh well, thanks for the clarification!

Edit: Or maybe North Ro with it's Dervish camps.. I know there are cyclopse spawns there rarely.

Originally Posted by Woody:

He's used to talking without a bottom jaw. Why would having his tongue stuck to an icegiant change his speech patterns?

I didn't believe you so I...no, no, didn't chop off my bottom jaw...but I tried it.

I tried saying "guys" with my jaw not moving at all...and it came out "guyshth."

Then I tried saying it with my tongue not moving and flat against the top of my mouth. Be damned if it didn't come out the same - "guyshth."

You win, Woody ...this time

It's still a funny funny cartoon.