On The Origin Of PCs
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On the Origin of PCS: A review of the Prequel to OOTS
The Order of the Stick is the very well known, well loved webcomic that manages to combine humour, Dungeons and Dragons and perspective in a stick-figure webcomic. Highly recommended to anyone, ever, who has even a passing knowledge of RPG games, the injokes only deepen with increased exposure. From dice rolls, to character archetypes (or stereotypes) such as androgynous elves, halfling thieves and moralistic paladins, turn-based gaming, evil goblins, dread undead, terrible puns, betrayal, loyalty and love, this comic satirizes it all. I would buy this for any gamer, comic-book afficionado, Pratchett fan or fantasy reader!
This black and white book is only available in print and well worth reading (also cheaper than the full colour versions). I bought this and the other prequel book Volume -1: Start of Darkness for my brother's Christmas presents last year, and they've been well read... and frequently stolen.
The introduction itself is almost worth buying the book for, with prefaces from the author and from Redcloak the Goblin Cleric (aka mister not appearing in this book). Even better, On the Origin of PCs is printed on 50% recycled paper (approved by the Forest Stewardship Council)
Do You Read Order of the Stick?
“Never before has a collection of stick figures reduced so many to such helpless laughter.”
On The Origin Of PCs
The Prequel to the Order of the Stick
- How did Haley leave the employ of the Thieves' Guild?
- Why was Durkon sent into human lands by the high priest of Thor?
- Why did Eugene Greenhilt swear revenge on Xykon?
- What was Roy like in Fighter College?
- What ever happened to Elan's last employer?
- What does Belkar really think of the Monk class?
- Why DO they call themselves the "Order of the Stick"? (No, for real this time.)
The Order of the Stick, Volume 0: On the Origin of PCs (v. 0)
Amazon Price: $13.95 (as of 06/03/2012)
List Price: $13.95
I'm not much of a comic book or manga fan. But the Order of the Stick is different, different, different! I must admit that a reader who has never played D&D might not catch every innuendo, but there are enough laughs for even the most uninitiated. The jokes and twists are hilarious and yet, with each comic, the story moves forward.
Origin of the PCs tells how the player characters (PC's) got their start and formed the infamous Order of the Stick. As Burlew's online strip starts with the party already together, it was fun to go back in time and see the characters before they knew each other. After all, how did a psychotic halfling, dwarven cleric, bumbling bard, androgynous mage, and opportunistic rogue all team up with a college-grad fighter on quest to avenge his father's death? Overall, a very fun read with plenty of chuckles. Now, I'm looking forward to 'Start of Darkness' for a similar look at the 'origin of the NPCs'. How did Xykon become a litch? What is the creature in the darkness? And how long will it take for SOD to reach Amazon, so we can order it here?
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What do you think of the Origin of PCs?
The Order of the Stick: What Is It About?
How did a dwarf and an elf start working in the same party as a paladin and a thief?
The Diverse Team of Heroes from halfling thief, to hammer-wielding dwarf, to mysterious and androgynous elf, to noble warrrior, ranging from chaotic to lawful, evil to good, is practically a stereotype of its own in role playing games. It makes sense, after all, to have a nice balance of abilites and temperaments - that, and everyone wants to be a different character!But how much sense does it make in a 'real' world setting? Why would such a conflicting group start working together - much less stay together? Where did the members of the Order of the Stick come from? Why is Roy in charge? (is Roy in charge?) Who named them? What are they really up to? Who stole the colour? Is this all just a flashback?
Giant In the Playground Games
Read the Original Webcomic
Rich Burlew's official site - and the homepage of the original Order of the Stick webcomic, which starts up where On the Origin of PCs and its prequel/parallel, Start of Darkness leave off.
- Giant In the Playground Games
- The official webcomic and gaming site for Rich Burlew and his works.
Who Are the Order of the Stick?
The party members: Tinker, Tailor, Halfling, Sailor, Paladin, Dwarf, Mage, Thief ...
Roy Greenhilt:Lawful Good.
In charge. An intelligent fighter, honourable, sensible... and on a quest to do with his ancestral sword, his dissapointed father, and the evil lich Xykon.
Durkon Thundershield: Lawful Good
Probably the person who best gets on with Roy, Durkon is a dwarf and a cleric of Thor, far from his homeland.
Belkar Bitterleaf: Chaotic Evil
Originally a halfling Ranger, swiftly advancing up the ranks of Barbarian. Psychotic and murderous are two words that spring to mind.
Alternate name: The SEXY SHOELESS GOD OF WAR!
Elan: Chaotic Good
...the less said about the bard, the better for Roy's sanity, methinks. See the video below for a sampling.
Vaarsuuvius: True Neutral
The (androgynous) high-elf mage who is androgynous. Also power hungry and ambitious. And centuries old (elf). And did we mention noone knows zir gender? Really doesn't get on with Belkar, and the murderous pranking is mutual.
Haley Starshine: Chaotic Good
The thief. She likes gold. Also is skilled with the bow and finding treasure and sneaking... basically the standard rogue character. With red hair. Oh, and she likes gold.
Your Favourite Quotes From Origin of PCs?
Add the best from the book!
Crystal: It's like the old saying goes! There's no 'I' in Thieves' Guild!
Haley: ...you're an idiot.
Durkon: Thor's beard! These humans be like giants! *pause* Well, I guess at long last I know why we're called 'dwarves.'
(more - better - quotes to come when I actually find my copy)
More books by Rich Burlew
Vote for your favorites, or add any I missed.
The Order of the Stick, Volume -1: Start of Darkness by Rich Burlew
From the depths of time comes a story of wicked vi more...0 points
The Order of the Stick, Volume 0: On the Origin of PCs (v. 0) by Rich Burlew
Like all great stories in the history of the unive more...0 points
The Order of the Stick, Volume 2: No Cure for the Paladin Blues by Rich Burlew
The Order of the Stick: Dungeon Crawlin' Fools fol more...0 points
Order of The Stick: War and XPs by Richard Burlew
The epic battle between good and evil becomes more more...0 points
Reader Feedback
What Did You Think?
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WildFacesGallery
Mar 12, 2010 @ 8:11 pm | delete
- Very Informative and well built lens on something I've never heard of before. :)
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Kokanee_joe
Nov 11, 2009 @ 5:01 am | delete
- Haha Awesome Flynn! Order of the Stick" is Hilarious! It was a great read i also lens rolled yours through my D&D and D&D miniatures pages, and they were soooo well placed with OOTS! (just learned how...remember just started a day or so ago). Thanks again for the comments!
Kokanee_joe
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mysticmama
Nov 6, 2009 @ 5:41 pm | delete
- Very interesting, never seen these before... seems a lot like the rudimentary cartoon work from South Park.
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More Books You Might Like
Volume 0: On the Origin of PCs
The first prequel to the Order of the Stick
The Order of the Stick, Volume 0: On the Origin of PCs (v. 0)
Amazon Price: $13.95 (as of 06/03/2012)
Like all great stories in the history of the universe, this one begins in a tavern. The Order of the Stick: On the Origin of PCs reveals the secret character backgrounds of your favorite band of webcomic adventurers, the Order of the Stick. Spinning out of the popular online comic (and subsequent book collections), On the Origin of PCs presents 72 pages of all-new, never-seen- before-or-since OOTS action and comedy that detail what each of the six members of the Order were doing with their lonely and pathetic lives before they joined forces to become a less lonely (but no less pathetic) team. Presented in nostalgic greyscale that we like to call "Past-O-Vision", On the Origin of PCs is a vital part of your Order of the Stick collection. From new DBD publisher Paizo Publishing!
Volume -1: Start of Darkness
The second prequel to the Order of the Stick
The Order of the Stick, Volume -1: Start of Darkness
Amazon Price: $11.86 (as of 06/03/2012)
From the depths of time comes a story of wicked villains, terrible secrets, and monumental screw-ups! The Order of the Stick: Start of Darkness reveals for the first time the secret origins of Xykon, Redcloak, the Monster in the Darkness, heck, even the demon cockroaches. Containing 112 pages of all-new never-published-online comics in dramatic black-and-white, Start of Darkness is full of villainy goodness for any fan of the OOTS. Learn such secrets as: How did Xykon and Redcloak meet? How did Xykon became a lich? Why did Eugene Greenhilt swear revenge on Xykon? What ever happened to Lirian's Gate, anyway? How did Redcloak discover the Monster in the Darkness? Why on earth does Redcloak put up with Xykon's crap??? The Order of the Stick: Start of Darkness is presented primarily in black-and-white, similar to our bestselling On the Origin of PCs, but features a special full-color insert detailing the Secret Lore of the Crimson Mantle--in the popular crayon format, first seen in No Cure for the Paladin Blues. Featuring introductions by the author and Miko Miyazaki, paladin of the Sapphire Guard, this book is a flat-out must have for fans of the OOTS plotline, as it fills in missing details in the story of who these evildoers are and why they do evil. Wallowing in unrepentant villainy has never been this much fun (legally)!
