August 21st, 2009
Page 301
Comics for August 21, 2009 - Page 301
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August 21st, 2009 at 10:19 pm
YAY!!!!! <..> FIRST!
August 21st, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Great background! That’s one things I really like about your web comic, along with the expressive faces, great writing, and the amazon types. You really work at more than just the models; the entire setting keeps to a high level of quality.
Thanks again for all of your hard work!
August 21st, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Panel 1 is gorgeous.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Gods!!! I love your art! Oh my friend, I love your work. I can smell the air in those mountains…. Ummmmm.
Sooo…. Fox Tribe?
Thank you for making my glum friday a bit more…… FRIDAY!
August 21st, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Bull tribe I think. Not sure, but have a memory that it would be bull tribe.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:59 pm
I suppose it’s the end result that matters, but the background is just a high-res photo I got from the Yellowstone site. (free, PD images.) At this point, when I’m struggling to create my own landscapes in Vue, it feels almost like cheating to go back to the older ways, but as I said yesterday, nothing I did was coming out and it was taking FOREVERRRRR!!
And Nytsky: Bull tribe. Just take a gander at the wrestler’s bodies on those guys.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Not Bull tribe - they have no women warriors. I’m guessing Bear tribe.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:46 pm
LOL Mac…. John is JED. It’s the Bull tribe. Nice transition JED. I can’t wait to see this interaction.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I was in my seeekrit identity!
But about six years ago, when Zona defeated Tor’s champion, she changed the Bull king’s heart, and the strongest and fiercest of the women can now be warriors. You will notice that there’s only the one woman among four men, because it’s still not that common.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Nice background, JED-great choice of photos for it. I love how cool Tethik is even after having an arrow whiz by his face AND facing a crew of bad-tempered trigger-happy warriors-who remind me SO much of Klingons in their mannerisms.
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:50 am
Wait, MEMORY? When the hell did we cover the other tribes?!
I love Tethik’s style of delivering sarcasm. It’s so smooth and dry, it makes me smile.
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 am
“Ok.. concentrate on staying in saddle… ok, keep horse moving… right.. good.. nice mountain view, note to self to invent postcards.. ok.. horse still moving, butt getting sore from saddle… hmmm. WTF was that????? Oww… eyes hurt from focusing sooo $%^ fast… was that a fabled green tailed sausage bird.. hmm. methinks it may have been an arrow… Ok.. stay cool… I do NOT want to piss of anyone who can fire an arrow, cause it to ricochet off a stone, and then fly back past my nose. (Eyes still hurt from focusing on it as it went past)….. Or maybe the muscly chap who looks like Freddy Mercury threw his voice?…. Ok.. time to speak.. must say something cool… the large breasted lass has another arrow ready…
(I could have said… Did the arrow come from the left of screen and the voice bubble only fitted on the right? or is he surrounded?)
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:38 am
Man, those are some serious nipples.
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:59 am
The style is indeed different, i however like it. Keep upp the good work!
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:22 am
@Kosine - click on the Erogenia link at the top to see a description of the tribes.
@Sage - you were expecting comedy nipples?
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:36 am
whoa awesome
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:28 am
Tethiiiik.
I currently have hearts around my head like (and a similar, but more smiley, face to) Mentl on page twelve. (Linked!)
Also. First panel. Desktop background plskthxbye.
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:11 am
I suggest the placement of the “Halt, Kivalian!” shout-bubble is simply to indicate that as Tethik soon as sees the arrow thwipping right past his nose, that’s when the shout happens. In the same space/time as the arrow’s passage.
At least to me, if the shout-bubble had been to the left side, it would’ve seemed like it happened *after* the arrow came flying past, not simultaneously, since it would have “followed” in the wake of the arrow, even if the eye on the page would have read the bubble first.
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:56 am
You gotta love Tethik’s face here, though. Totally unflappable, completely unsurprised, and very, very calm. Almost like he’s just out for a Sunday ride
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:22 am
JED, the out-of-focus background of the third panel is simply outstanding.
Don’t worry about cribbing landscapes; you do superb characters and plots - - concentrate on that instead.
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 am
Sleepinin
I think Tethik is more shaken than you might think. After all, he pronounced “committee” with only one “m”.
LOL
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:33 am
And JED? An archer wears a brace that extends higher up the arm - has to, less the bowstring leave a savage friction burn when it’s released — and either a shooter’s glove or a thumbring to take the load of the drawn bowstring, which can badly damage the fingertips, to the point the archere can’t draw a bow until they heal. I speak from bitter experience here.
Purely as a personal observation, the lass needs to be in a wider stance as well - more stability to aid aim. But that’s the shooter’s choice. Some don’t use it.
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:50 am
Mmmm love the first panel, so scenic. Photo or not it’s purty. I also like the dialog in the last panel I swear I can practically hear his voice. I’m sure Jean and Kailia are glad we finally see Erogenians with chest hair. They aren’t quite as hairy as me but then few folks are.
John, is the lady archer not wearing a torque, or can I just not see it due to the bow and arrow and the angle and such? As far as your ability with backgrounds go, keep practicing. I’m sure you will get the hang of it with effort. You are awfully good at this after all!
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:13 am
Great first panel. An seriously, just how many level in “Stay Cool” does Tethik *have*?
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Someguy:
The archer is wearing a torque, though it is nearly hidden: at the point where her neck rises vertically from her shoulder you will see a silver knob; across from it and higher, level with the knuckle of her third finger on the hand drawing the string, another silver knob.
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I must be more tired than I thought - two misspellings, one incorrect usage, and a grammatical horror, in only three posts.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
For myself, I don’t use an archer’s brace. I have to watch out for hyperflexion in the elbow joint, so I fire my bow with a slight curve to my arm…which actually makes it feel stronger, allowing me to draw a slightly higher poundage of bow. So long as my wrist is also part of that curve and not countercurved like an S, I never get wrist-whapped. It does look like her elbow is straight, though, and those little banding ridges on her bracer would concern me when it comes to string-catching possibilities. But her wrist isn’t hyperflexed, so she may be holding it just curved enough the other way so that the string won’t catch.
I believe her legs are positioned well for her shooting stance, as far as I can tell. Shoulder-width is good enough for most people, and being a gal, her shoulders are usually narrower than a guy’s.
As for the need for finger-tabs…owie owie…I totally agree! Anything over 35 pounds pull is going to hurrrrt after the 3rd draw-and-release…and anything 60 pounds and over will hurty-hurrrrrrrt on the very first draw and release–heck, it’ll hurt just to draw it!
August 22nd, 2009 at 9:43 pm
As another archer (and coach)…instead of the slight bend rotate out and your flexibility won’t lead to the purple arm (have coached several gymnasts…). This also prevents torquing the bow when you release (should use a finger or wrist sling whether you use this technique or not). I would not really criticize the stance or position since I have had to twist to get the shot while walking in the woods and the terrain could be rough; but, I would comment that the quiver as worn wouldn’t work. It needs to be on the other hip, or it would get entangled with the lower limb. Looks like that left thumb would have some massive calluses since it is used as an arrow rest.
If you aren’t target shooting, but only taking a few arrows with you, there is no need for a finger tab and it would be a hindrance when moving through rough mountainous terrain. A thumb ring would work, but needs a difference stance….the problem with the tab is what you have put your hands on while trekking. Messes with your grip, especially if you are carrying your bow in the other hand, and could get pretty wet/muddy. If your tab gets wet or muddy, you would be much better off with your skin. A quick rub on the pants leg gets you ready to shoot. I shoot 40lbs for indoor target (takedown Samick), but 65lbs in the woods (single piece old Damon Howatt I’ve had for 22 years). Completely different recurves and experiences. You are right, I can only shoot about 60 arrows at a time with the 65lb bow, but can easily shoot 240-250 with the 40lb in a session. I have only shot about a dozen at a time (65lb) without a finger tab and it really starts to hurt.
On the other hand, the English Warbows were around 120-140lbs, pulled to the chest and had a completely different stance than what we use today in target, field, or hunting.
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 am
Yesss!
Tethik is close to being my favorite character. If this were D&D, he’d have +95 to Diplomacy. I think he’s gonna talk his way right through this one and out the other side!
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:25 am
Not to nitpick but…
Is there something wrong with the guy’s neck in the background? Last panel, seen inside the curve of the bow, dude on the right…I know they all have these huge shoulders, but that guy’s neck seems really long and mismatched to where his torso is. Are those sorts of things related to why you wouldn’t show us the page at first?
Is that the sort of thing that was
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:51 am
HAIRY CHEST!…YES!!!
Thanks JED!
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:53 am
BTW, that first panel is really great! It looks like a photo.
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:34 am
Well worth the wait JED. Re: archery comments. When I first took up the bow many years ago (young and foolish) I thought fingers guards were for wussies. About 15 minutes of pratice disabused this notion. I use both bracer and finger guards but I’m just an amateur casual archer. That looks to be some hella composite bow she’s got, over 100 lb pull I’d bet. For the experts- isn’t her arrow on the wrong side of the bow? At least I’d find it awkward shooting like that and I’ve never seen anyone do so.
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:45 am
Moox: I think the reason his neck looks that way is because he’s got a very well developed trapezeous (sp?), the muscle that runs between the shoulders (deltoids), shoulder-blades (rhomboids), and the base of the skull. I’ve known a couple of guys whose necks look like that and it’s usually from a lot of neck work, like wrestling and/or football.
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
The background is nice - you said you were having trouble in Vue. Have you thought of trying Terragen 2? It shines at that kind of mountain scene.
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Ga’Tor …… Insofar as the side of the bow the arrow is on, that’s the preference of the archer - I’ve seen both used. It has something to do with the dominate eye. But you’re right, the use portrayed is very rare. In either instance the arrow needs to ride on the whatchamacallit – the arrow rest, the little ledge just above the grip that keeps the shaft off the hand, and prevents the fletching from slicing you as it goes past.
Jean …… as far as the bracer is concerned, I personally think that under combat conditions one would be mandatory. The last thing you need is being distracted by your weapon biting you.
Patrick ……You’re right about the quiver – I didn’t pick up on that at all.
Poor JED! He busts his hump over the scenery, working like hell to get it right, and then a minor, unrelated point draws all the attention – and all the adverse comments! Ah, well, his field of expertise is Magick, not archery …
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Uh, new scenery.
Very beautiful.
Hmm, on the archery debate, I’d say the arrow is on the right side. I would put it on that side at any rate, but ok I’m not an expert at all. Been years since I fooled around with a bow and arrow.
But yes, her thumb being used as an arrow rest? Ouch! Glad I’m not the one doing that.
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:40 pm
No, wait. I rethought it; I’d put it on the other side, too. And tilt the bow a bit. Gah, I must be getting tired.
And the scenery is still very nice, if there should be any doubt.
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Well, look at it this way. She’s not just getting a lot of attention because she’s the only female in the strip. People are paying attention to more than just anatomy!
August 23rd, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Lictre: *applause* How true!
JED: We nitpick because we love your work and we care. Constructive commentary may be annoying at times, but at least you genuinely know your readers are paying attention.
My personal rule? Ignore the comments which are all squees and no substance, extinguish and toss out the flames which have no basis, but treasure like gold any comment which contains a mix of enjoyment, disappointment, and most especially details as to why on BOTH counts.
And I’d like to take a moment to point out something I think you did very, very well (since I’ve already chipped in on the archery thing for the other half). The lighting.
Yes, the lighting. Tethik and the Bull Tribe are in that perfect shaded light of either early morning or early evening. I’d gauge it as early evening myself, since it looks like he’s been riding all day and has just finally reached the edge of the defended bits of Erogenian territory. the light is definitely coming from the horizon, and certain patches of the terrain and the people are lighter than others, matching the cloud-cover in the photo very realistically–the sun is clearly struggling to shine through the thin haze in the sky.
Plus, you gave the Bull Tribe speaker a hairy chest. (Lol, is that a result of our discussions regarding Ponty & the Twins?)
Anyway, good job!
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:45 pm
I don’t think so Jean. I believe he said a while back that the programs he uses makes it very hard for fair hair to show. As black hair seems to run rather strongly in the Bull tribe we get to see them in all their Fuzzy glory. Also about the archery debate, I haven’t used a bow and arrow since I was a kid at summer camp and we just had wimpy 25 and 30 pounders. It seems to me though that a member of the Erogenian warrior class would be using a bow several hours every single day. In which case would she have developed calluses on the string fingers, and not need to use finger guards? Especially since Erogenians like to go with as little clothing as possible. ; )
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:46 pm
If that doesn’t convince you then I’d have to say that it’s a magic bow so a wizard did it.
August 24th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Fatuncle, I have not mastered the no bracer technique, but I’ve watched some guys put a bunch of arrows down range with it. I learned a couple of decades ago and….umm…..ugh…. I just realized I haven’t fired a bow in almost 20 years, except for a couple in the last year when being shown the no bracer trick. As for finger tabs, I didn’t use them except when I was shooting more than a few arrows, which meant about once a year when I rezeroed and got back in the habit each year before hunting season.
August 24th, 2009 at 1:32 am
Oh, BTW JED, can we pump Mentl’s chest/shoulders/upper arms a bit? I think he was a bit more strut earlier (or concealed by clothes more). I dunno it is just been bothering me the last few comics. His chest looks a bit, sunken or out of proportion with his abs somehow. Gah, get one of the girls or someone who plays on Tethik’s team to comment, I’m not used to checking guys, but it just struck me as odd on the last couple of pages.
August 24th, 2009 at 3:09 am
Kamatu, it’s been a comparison thing. Compared to Ponty & the Twins, Mentl does look a bit pectorially deficient…and biceptually deficient, and quadriceptually deficient…BiCEPTually deficient, people! Get yer minds outta the gutter! (You’re blocking my view through the storm drain grate…) Once we get back to seeing him and just him for a while, he’ll look normal.
But I will agree that Mentl needs to bulk up a little. He’s no longer living in a universe filled with labor-saving devices. He’s now having to walk all over, ride, haul wood, shift saddles and bedrolls, shoot shotgun pellets from his palms, so on and so forth. He’s getting a workout. Mind you, it won’t happen overnight, but he should be buffing up a bit.
Heck, he should be getting something of a tan, strutting around shirtless like that…unless this area is far enough north that there isn’t that intense of sunlight…
Just some thoughts!
August 24th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Thanks everyone for the in-depth technical critique of my fantasy archer woman. I do appreciate the interest you all take in the details, and it is very interesting information that is great grist for my mill, but I hope you all will also appreciate that, while I have at times dated Olympic-level female archers, I am not myself one. So I will forgive my own shortcomings in this, and hope that you all will too in the name of fantasy and the greater story.
Also, Mentl has, indeed, bulked up compared to his first appearances. Nonetheless, though he certainly will get a bit moreso, I’m afraid he’s not going to get *too* much bulkier just because of his youth, his own unique metabolism and the fact that, unlike our barbarian crew, he’s not in training to swing heavy weapons and throw heavy things at other heavy things. And they are in a far northern country where the sun isn’t as strong, though it’s also very much a fantasy thing because I haven’t changed the values on the skin textures. Have been worrying about other details, frankly.
August 24th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Nothing at all to do with this comic particularly, but was cruising around youtube and came across a song that I hadn’t heard since the mid eighties that might fit well in your endeavor somewhere.
“We fight for love” By the band “Powerstation”
Yes, you have heard it. I will forgive you for not remembering it though, it has probably been a while.
It plays at the end of “Commando.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzrofb0zaMQ
August 24th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
The sky is gorgeous. After caves and forests and huts and inns and castle rooms, the strip was beginning to feel a little claustrophobic. The only sky scene in a while was at night and that was full of distracting explosions. This sight of clear, blue sky is so refreshing. This strip is like jumping into a mountain lake. Thank you.
And I hate to bring this up but since no one else appears to have, committee is spelled with two m’s.
August 24th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
JED, this is the drawback to having a fanbase. Your fans are going to nibble on the scenery like cats nibbling on cardboard boxes. Why? Because we like it! Do we forgive you for the yummy flaws? Piffle! Of course we do!
(Besides, I’m quite sure you had other, more interesting things to observe and take notes on while out on a date. ‘Nuff said.)
August 24th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I asked this the other day but didn’t get an answer I hope JED will this time.You know, I was just looking over the last few pages and i noticed the neck collers. the slightly different shapes on the ends and construction. Does this indicate anything status, occupation, birth month(?) or is it simply decoration.
every Erogenian we have seen seems to have one ecept maybe your female archer and they all seem very similar. So whats the story?
August 24th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Pat, in all the tribes, a torc (the neck-ring) is a piece of jewelry symbolizing adulthood. They are as individual as a wedding ring, and to the Erogenians just as important as such wedding bands are to us. They are of many metals, and usually reflect what the family can afford. In this picture you see Donnil (the speaker) wearing a gold mesh with stylized bull’s horns as the cap, others are wearing iron twisted wire with simple bronze or copper ball caps. Zona’s is one such in gold and bronze, Yinaera the archer is wearing a silver and steel torc of that design. Pontagar’s torc and jewelry were all of red and yellow gold and the caps of his torc are stylized human faces. Also, like a lot of warriors, Erogenians will frequently have spells woven into their jewelry for protection and other useful qualities. Yinaera’s ornate vambraces, like Zona’s bracers, have spells for her protection as well as accuracy in shooting.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Ooh–Ooh! And spells to ward off getting wrist-slapped by the bowstring! It all makes sense, now! =D
Jean
(29 years of bsing her way through D&D games and 22 years of bsing her way through storytelling were clearly good for something, yes?) XD
August 24th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Told ya a wizard did it.
August 28th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Just to put my two cents in on the archery issue. As a female archer I would like to mention the fact that her breasts would VERY much be in the way.
A woman who sees herself as a woman would strap down her chest when expecting to do archery.
A woman who sees herself as a warrior will have the breast on the appropriate side removed.
August 28th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Chaos - NOT gonna happen in my strip. That’s why it’s a fantasy, not reality.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Thank goddess. Please let’s not start removing breasts, I’m quite fond of seeing them in this novel