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linluvsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Online comic! So cute!!!
http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript
http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript
dreamnetic's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
mistled's review against another edition
5.0
Order of the Stick is the best D&D comic that exists. If you're a fan of D&D and comics, you need to read this series. It is available online for free in its original form as a webcomic, or you can get in print, which has some bonus comics and other material.
literarydragons's review against another edition
5.0
What can I say about OotS that hasn't already been said? It's just plain amazing. Funny, dramatic, insightful, with a cast of well crafted characters and a great plot. While the first bit of this book might be a bit tough to read if you're unfamiliar with gaming, stick with it (pun absolutely intended). Soon the main plot takes over and you'll get pulled in.
lanikei's review against another edition
2.0
Actually bought this for Josh while browsing the comic book shop by work. I suppose I should enjoy that while it is still somewhere nearby. Disturbing to think that once I quit this job I will no longer have easy access to bookstores. I so prefer the browsing and random finds to Amazon - even considering the price difference.
At any rate, the book was mildly entertaining to someone who does not play D&D, but is surrounded by it. I'm sure someone who plays the game would be more heartily amused. There was a very cute mindflayer though. <3
At any rate, the book was mildly entertaining to someone who does not play D&D, but is surrounded by it. I'm sure someone who plays the game would be more heartily amused. There was a very cute mindflayer though. <3
badcushion's review against another edition
5.0
Always remember: Bard's Song adds to damage! And sometimes, you have to go down a level to go up a level.
mikhailrekun's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, Order of the Stick... quite honestly, this webcomic occupies a role in my literary pantheon roughly on the same level as Discworld or the Vorkosigan Saga -- it's part of the canon, one of the best long-form fictional stories I have ever read, and which I have been following enthusiastically for ten years now.
Now, it has flaws and limitations, of course. It's a gaming comic in its origins, even if the gaming aspects get less and less important as time goes on -- if you've never played D&D or one of its derivatives, quite a lot will go over your head. The treatment of gender could be better, particularly in the early part of the series, although this has improved and Burlew has stated he regrets some of the stereotyping of early strips (Burlew generally means well, but he's also a fifty-something white male who started writing quite a while ago, so there's some biases that weren't examined until recently). And it takes a while for the story to find its feet. When Burlew started drawing it, it was a gag-a-day thing, funny but without the depth it gets later on.
But. But. But.
What makes OotS stand out is dialogue, the plot, the sheer depth and complexity of characterization. On the surface, the story has a slight meta edge to it, as most gaming comics do, but the characterization, the character growth... I honestly find myself at a loss to describe it. I'll put it this way. One of the most interesting recent character arcs has been watching a complete sociopath go twitchy because someone sacrificed their lives for them, and our killer simply doesn't know how to deal with that emotionally. It makes for great reading, both insightful and hilarious in equal measures.
Now, it has flaws and limitations, of course. It's a gaming comic in its origins, even if the gaming aspects get less and less important as time goes on -- if you've never played D&D or one of its derivatives, quite a lot will go over your head. The treatment of gender could be better, particularly in the early part of the series, although this has improved and Burlew has stated he regrets some of the stereotyping of early strips (Burlew generally means well, but he's also a fifty-something white male who started writing quite a while ago, so there's some biases that weren't examined until recently). And it takes a while for the story to find its feet. When Burlew started drawing it, it was a gag-a-day thing, funny but without the depth it gets later on.
But. But. But.
What makes OotS stand out is dialogue, the plot, the sheer depth and complexity of characterization. On the surface, the story has a slight meta edge to it, as most gaming comics do, but the characterization, the character growth... I honestly find myself at a loss to describe it. I'll put it this way. One of the most interesting recent character arcs has been watching a complete sociopath go twitchy because someone sacrificed their lives for them, and our killer simply doesn't know how to deal with that emotionally. It makes for great reading, both insightful and hilarious in equal measures.
lordofthemoon's review against another edition
4.0
Being a fan of the webcomic it was nice to go back to the beginning and read a large chunk of it in a short space of time [1]. I had forgotten just how much the early part of the strip was based around role-playing humour with characters explicitly making skill checks and the very first strip being a joke on the change from D&D 3rd edition to 3.5. The scripts are funny though and there were many laugh out loud moments (the "bluff the stupid ogre" line still makes me giggle when I think about it). I think I'll definitely pick up the other volumes once they're back in print [2], since the strip becomes much more story-oriented later on and I found it difficult to follow online.
While I imagine that this volume would be difficult for non-roleplayers to follow, that being what much of the humour is based on, it's definitely very entertaining for those in the know. And for others, it's worth persevering as the plot starts to take over before too long.
[1] one of the problems I have with webcomics is the wait between pages. It makes it difficult for me to keep track of what's going on and who the characters are
[2] huzzah for Kickstarter!
While I imagine that this volume would be difficult for non-roleplayers to follow, that being what much of the humour is based on, it's definitely very entertaining for those in the know. And for others, it's worth persevering as the plot starts to take over before too long.
[1] one of the problems I have with webcomics is the wait between pages. It makes it difficult for me to keep track of what's going on and who the characters are
[2] huzzah for Kickstarter!
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