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Comic Discussion => QUESTIONABLE CONTENT => Topic started by: BenRG on 15 Oct 2017, 15:14

Title: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 15 Oct 2017, 15:14
Okay, having drawn a blank for anything else, I've decided (pray pardon the intellectual nepotism) to put up a poll based on my post on the 'RPG Role' thread (https://forums.questionablecontent.net/index.php/topic,33286.msg1349164.html#msg1349164).

Some character tidbits:
Hannelore's character would be difficult to role play as she has a distinct dual personality. Under extreme stress, she tends to snap into a 'Dark Hanners' psyche that's a blood-thirsty berserker. However, normally she's meek and in every way plays the part of a priestess of Virga, the Goddess of Purity. She is the daughter of John the Wise, the Grandmaster of the Mage's Guild and Queen Beatrice, a very, very Lawful-Evil Dark Queen. She has an Summoned Imp as a familiar called Winslow. Hannelore is functionally exiled by Queen B after an... incident caused by her dark Alter.

Bubbles is a Paladin working with the blessing of Weld, the God of Metal-crafters. She's a typical Paladin who is looking to redeem herself from unspecified past sins.

Notable NPCs are Jim (the merchant who runs most of the facilities in the party's base town), Veronica (Marten's mother as well as a courtesan & rogue), Jolly Tai, the head librarian of the town's branch of the Mage's Guild and Cossette, a clumsy bar-wench at Jim's tavern who tends to be one of those NPCs who always hears and passes on the first hook for the adventure to come.

Steve, Marten and Pintsize have been travelling together for a while, looking for work (or marks, in Pintsize's case) wherever they can find it/them. Nowadays, Marten works at Tai's library; he, Claire, Momo and Emalai tend to get sent on lots of weird 'fetch-and-carry' missions by Tai who lacks the work ethic to do it herself.
As for me? I selected: Dora (Party Leader), Marten, Faye, Hannelore, Pintsize and Bubbles. You'd be surprised at the weird stuff Marten gets dropped in his hat when busking and the mysterious maps that people tend to leave in his room at Dora's Inn! Woohoo! They're off on another unsupervised adventure!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: brasca on 15 Oct 2017, 20:28
Have to wonder if the couple having an argument includes a shaggy haired boy who kept eyeing Bubbles and a short haired girl who kept calling him an idiot. 

Somehow I think having Sam tag along is going to inadvertently lead to the revelation that Bubbles has a crush on Faye.  Sam will notice and ask because she's a kid and doesn't know any better. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: OldGoat on 15 Oct 2017, 20:32
Damn...in panel 1 Sam looks like Jesper Pate.

Sounds like Pioneer Valley is kind of a Marin County East.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 15 Oct 2017, 20:42
The Canabis co-op bit also sounds like Vancouver. And as I have bought a book from him here, I KNOW he's visited.  :lol: :laugh: :-D
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: SmilingCat on 15 Oct 2017, 21:17
My Party: Pintsize, Faye, Hannelore, Claire, Bubbles, and Emalai

Obviously there's the idea of the optimal configuration of meatshield, rogue, healer, caster. Faye, Bubbles, and Emalai's summoned creatures can take the front. Pintsize does the rogue stuff, Claire provides fire support. Hanners heals people.

But really the appeal is where all of that breaks down. Hanners is probably too freaked out by blood to be an effective healer. Claire probably prepares too many castings of read magic and comprehend language (for reading texts and the creation of elaborate puns out of dead languages) to be proper artillery support. Pintsize is Pintsize. Nobody's really sure what Emalai is doing. So mostly it's Faye and Bubbles stressing out about holding the team together, and they bond over their mutual frustration. They end up banging.

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: gprimr1 on 15 Oct 2017, 21:22
Having lived a year in Amherst, 1 town over from Northampton, that is such an accurate depiction of the area.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Penquin47 on 15 Oct 2017, 21:36
And another victim of Jeph's insistence on everyone having short hair.  *sigh*
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 15 Oct 2017, 23:18
You know, oddly enough I should have seen Sam's new haircut coming. Not only does Jeph have a near-neurotic need for girls with short hair (because, as he's said before, he's into necks) but because Sam is a sword-fighter. Look at portraits of ancient knights like King Henry V. They all wear pudding bowl haircuts because it's easier to fit into a helmet.

As for the 'day off school' thing...? Well, I'm beginning to see why there might be an issue with kids being unready for focussed academic studies by the time they reach college. That said, I'm genuinely surprised that a level-headed guy like Jim would do something like this. I'm guessing that the school was arranged by his ex-wife.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Storel on 15 Oct 2017, 23:54
Faye! Such language in front of a kid!  :-o

The cannabis co-op thing sounds very Berkeley, too. More Berkeley than Marin County these days -- nobody can afford to live in Marin County any more unless they've got way too much money to be doing hippie stuff like co-ops. :roll:

As for the 'day off school' thing...? Well, I'm beginning to see why there might be an issue with kids being unready for focussed academic studies by the time they reach college. That said, I'm genuinely surprised that a level-headed guy like Jim would do something like this.

I suspect that Jim doesn't know Sam's taking a day off for this, and I doubt he'd approve.

Also, I strongly suspect that Sam cut her hair herself and her dad doesn't yet know about that, either.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: DaiJB on 16 Oct 2017, 00:24
So. You.
Loud-mouthed brat.
Ask nicely.
OR SHUT YER FACE.

Jeez, you break and enter, jump on Faye and wake her out of a sound sleep.
Is she permitted a little breakfast or coffee?

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Akima on 16 Oct 2017, 01:46
Dora has form (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1172) as an RPG magic user. Not to mention that she used to be in a witches' coven. There was a dream-sequence strip where she polymorphed Marten and Faye into rabbits, but I can't find it at the moment.

Also, I strongly suspect that Sam cut her hair herself and her dad doesn't yet know about that, either.
It looks a bit too tidy for a self-inflicted haircut, especially the clipped part below the bowl-cut edge.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: hakko504 on 16 Oct 2017, 02:26
My party: Marten, Steve, Bubbles, Mai, Claire & Faye.

I was considering Momo instead of Faye, but I went with the original 3 and some great supporting characters.

Took me a while to realise that Emalai was a weird spelling of Emily...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 16 Oct 2017, 04:10
I can assure you that the Northampton public schools have no such policy, despite my son's occasional attempts to convince me that they do.   :-D

(Yes, I know, Sam attends PVPA. But if she was in the public school system she'd be in the same school as my son.)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Mr. Doctor on 16 Oct 2017, 06:42
Hhahahahaha, what an awful haircut. At least it got me a nice smile when I woke up.

Also, as long as youn keep him by your side. Pintsize as a rogue would be pretty awesome.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 16 Oct 2017, 07:05
Sam is in royal company in her taste in hairdos! The guy was a pretty badass knight in shining armour from all accounts!

(http://shakespearestaging.berkeley.edu/system/files/images/medieval-portrait-king-henry-v-1763.jpg)
Portrait King Henry V
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Storel on 16 Oct 2017, 13:05
(Yes, I know, Sam attends PVPA. But if she was in the public school system she'd be in the same school as my son.)

Sorry, PVPA? Pioneer Valley something something? I can't make the PA into anything having to do with schools...

Oh, wait, maybe Private Academy?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 16 Oct 2017, 14:29
Just in case someone is keeping score, the current questing party favoured by forumites who have voted on this week's poll is:
An all-lady squad that is actually, by some strange coincidence, quite well-balanced.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: hedgie on 16 Oct 2017, 14:58
Much better balanced than the Pathfinder group that I'm in, since our cleric is an evil necromancer and we don't have a mage.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Nepiophage on 16 Oct 2017, 14:59
(Yes, I know, Sam attends PVPA. But if she was in the public school system she'd be in the same school as my son.)

Sorry, PVPA? Pioneer Valley something something? I can't make the PA into anything having to do with schools...

Oh, wait, maybe Private Academy?
http://www.pvpa.org
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Storel on 16 Oct 2017, 15:19
(Yes, I know, Sam attends PVPA. But if she was in the public school system she'd be in the same school as my son.)

Sorry, PVPA? Pioneer Valley something something? I can't make the PA into anything having to do with schools...

Oh, wait, maybe Private Academy?
http://www.pvpa.org
Aha, thanks. And how do we know the name of Sam's school, anyway? Was it mentioned in some strip I've forgotten, or is this the only school in Pioneer Valley?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: jwhouk on 16 Oct 2017, 15:22
She told Momo when they met.

Sent from my NXA8QC116 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: snufflebottoms on 16 Oct 2017, 15:41
That hair cut is awful.

I mean yes, women/girls can look good with short hair. They certainly don't ALL need it though.

But that hair cut is just awful.

edit: at least Jeph agrees
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Thrudd on 16 Oct 2017, 17:08
Just did the finale for the "Fellowship of the White Star" campaign yesterday. 10 Year story arc/campaign
My table was as follows
My 17 Cleric who is a sister in a rather militant sect of the RC church [hates undead, despises men in general NG], A 20 cleric/wizard who is the focus of a cult of self , and thinks of himself as a minor god [he died but some idiot brought him back CN], A 17 Bard [reporter for some little Dakota paper CG], A pair of gunslingers 19, 20 [ A British gentleman adventurer NG and a New York lawyer CG] also we had an NPC -  Vladimir Tepes [spellcaster warrior and vampire lord LE]
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 16 Oct 2017, 18:53
It will grow out. Won't it?

I wanna see Sam tour Union Robotics and be forcibly restrained from trying all the machine tools.
Or not.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Sullivan on 16 Oct 2017, 20:53
Don't hold your breath. Hair growing out seems to happen in the QC universe even more slowly than the rest of in-story time.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 16 Oct 2017, 21:14
Sigh.. Sam is going to be their first insurance claim, isn't she?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Squiddlywinx on 16 Oct 2017, 21:21
Okay, constructive criticism:
The perspective for the machine arm has some Back to the Future poster funkiness going on and it took a good minute or so to figure out what was supposed to be happening.
 :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Penquin47 on 16 Oct 2017, 21:48
I like the shorts.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: St.Clair on 16 Oct 2017, 23:03
Yeah, I know, ha ha comedy strip, but.
An unrestrained child or teenager in an industrial shop is incredibly dangerous.  For everyone.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 16 Oct 2017, 23:15
From Faye and Bubbles' reaction in panel 3, Sam literally launched herself forwards and slid into the gap under the drill's support arm in one smooth movement. This isn't surprising as Sam has a history of being so focussed on her immediate goals that she loses track of her environment (like the time she took a swan-dive off of a cliff in the forest to catch a snake).

I think that we are working towards the first time that Faye is forced to really tell Sam off for misbehaving which, I think, will probably come as an enormous shock to her. We've had indications before that Sam has too few friends and too few emotional connections. Because of this, she has difficulty maintaining any kind of balance with them. In her mind, people either like her or hate her and her idea of 'like' seems to be synonymous with 'play with me in the way I want, when I want and for as long as I want.'

Sam isn't 'spoiled' in the classical sense of the word but I get the impression that she's somewhat self-raised because of the time demands of Jim's career. She wouldn't be the first girl to come out wild as a result.

Yeah, Jeph was right: Bubbles' shorts don't work on her; too short.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: hedgie on 16 Oct 2017, 23:24
My table was as follows
My 17 Cleric who is a sister in a rather militant sect of the RC church [hates undead, despises men in general NG], A 20 cleric/wizard who is the focus of a cult of self , and thinks of himself as a minor god [he died but some idiot brought him back CN], A 17 Bard [reporter for some little Dakota paper CG], A pair of gunslingers 19, 20 [ A British gentleman adventurer NG and a New York lawyer CG] also we had an NPC -  Vladimir Tepes [spellcaster warrior and vampire lord LE]
Nice.  Group I'm in is only level 8-9 at the moment.  We have a dhampir cleric who is our necromancer, and has a skeletal minion who serves as a fighter (NE, obviously), and she's about ½ a healer.  Our ranged dps consists of a monk (zen archer) and a gunslinger.  We also have a dwarf fighter/ranger and a rogue to round out the melee.  My elf witch is essentially stuck being the other ½ healer (although next level, she'll basically be the primary healer), and arcane offense. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: hakko504 on 17 Oct 2017, 01:18
Somewhat OT, but with all this talk of Pathfinder anyone who wants to try the RPG should drop by humblebundle (https://www.humblebundle.com/books/pathfinder-worldscape-ultimate-book-bundle) this week as they are having a pathfinder sale. I recommend at least spending $8 to get the GM guide if you're new to running a RPG campaign.

Also, I recently completed the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords campaign for the 4th time. It's basically a campaign from the RPG condensed down to a card game, but which still feels a lot like a real RPG. And if I learned anything from that, it's that you need a balanced party. The recently released app (iOS/Android/Win) has made it a lot easier to try different combinations of characters. So far it seem like having a lot of magic users is a better idea than to have a lot of fighters - magic can kill most things and work their way through barriers. Fighters have a lot more problems with intelligence based tasks and very few ways of boosting those checks.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: hedgie on 17 Oct 2017, 01:43
*sigh*  If only I weren't skint at the moment.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Milayna on 17 Oct 2017, 03:44
Nobody can pull off a bowl cut. Mullets, SOME people can, with just the right styling. But bowl cuts? NOBODY.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Jakk Frost on 17 Oct 2017, 06:49
Seems to me like Bubbles is wearing shorts that match Faye's jacket/sweater, further subtly implying a growing relationship between them, maybe. 

(Like a woman wearing the top of a set of men's pajamas, while her husband/boyfriend wears the bottoms.)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 17 Oct 2017, 06:59
Actually, I get the impression that Sam was hurrying them along so much that Bubbles dragged on the quickest thing that she could drag on and not leave the apartment technically 'naked'.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: OldGoat on 17 Oct 2017, 09:04
I think that we are working towards the first time that Faye is forced to really tell Sam off for misbehaving which, I think, will probably come as an enormous shock to her.
Agreed.  Faye's about to drop the Workshop Safety Rules hammer.

Sam may be undirected, but she's not developmentally delayed.  There may be a few rough spots, but the carrot of being able to hang out at a robot workshop will draw her in to doing it Faye's way.  It looks like she's going to be more than willing to follow Bubbles's direction, too.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Jakk Frost on 17 Oct 2017, 10:38
Actually, I get the impression that Sam was hurrying them along so much that Bubbles dragged on the quickest thing that she could drag on and not leave the apartment technically 'naked'.

Not sure about that, since she didn't put a coat or shirt on.  Plus, if I'm not mistaken we have seen Faye wearing those shorts before.  I admit I could be wrong, but this still seems like an intimate, if perhaps inadvertent, clothes-sharing situation.  (as opposed to a non-intimate clothes borrowing situation.)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Tova on 17 Oct 2017, 13:56
I'll buy it if you can link a comic with Faye wearing those shorts. Otherwise, maybe it's wishful thinking.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: comicalArchitect on 17 Oct 2017, 14:05
What if Union Robotics actually ends up taking Sam on as an employee? She's 14, which means she can work in Massachusetts.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Tova on 17 Oct 2017, 14:09
They only just had a conversation about whether they had the budget for food, remember?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: comicalArchitect on 17 Oct 2017, 14:29
They only just had a conversation about whether they had the budget for food, remember?

Oh, yeah, true.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Penquin47 on 17 Oct 2017, 14:33
Sam may be allowed to work, but I'm pretty sure a robot repair lab would fall under the category of jobs people under the age of 16 cannot be employed in by federal law.

1. Any manufacturing job (maybe relevant, maybe not, but they specifically mention that they are not allowed to work, for instance, powered woodworking machines, which I would assume would translate to Sam could not use any of the machines to make robot parts).
7. Work performed in or about BOILER OR ENGINE ROOMS or in connection with the MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR OF THE ESTABLISHMENT, MACHINES, OR EQUIPMENT. - can't work on the machines or equipment.

In addition, there's this from jobs specifically forbidden to anyone under 18:
HO 14* - Power-driven circular saws, bandsaws, chain saws, guillotine shears, wood chippers, and abrasive cutting discs.

So while, if Faye and Bubbles ever get to the point where they can hire a receptionist or secretary, there's no reason Sam couldn't do that, it'll be awhile before Sam can be allowed to really do much for the business - even if they *could* pay her.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: brasca on 17 Oct 2017, 16:16
That hair cut is awful.

I mean yes, women/girls can look good with short hair. They certainly don't ALL need it though.

But that hair cut is just awful.

edit: at least Jeph agrees

She's young.  How many people go through their lives without pictures of haircuts and fashion choices they later regret?

Given Sam's reaction this may be one of those times when Corpse Witch was actually right about kids hanging around her place. 

And I can sympathize with Bubbles.  I used to have short shorts and needed to be careful what underwear I wore underneath.

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Wackd on 17 Oct 2017, 16:54
Where has Jeph been discussing Sam's hair/Bubble's shorts? I'm a sucker for author commentary.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Tova on 17 Oct 2017, 17:58
There's the short line of text below the bottom right corner of each comic.

"Not sure about those shorts, Bubbles."

Then there's a bit of text just below the comic navigation links.

"the worst haircut..."
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Thrudd on 17 Oct 2017, 20:00
Slightly off topic again - Not Pathfinder in the least - Modified 3.5 OGL based on Ravenloft, horror by gaslight. Mind you the modification of the era [1904-1914], lots of guns, dynamite, madmen, tinkers, scientists gunslingers, and cabals.
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 17 Oct 2017, 20:15
Yes... when you are with those two, you are a babysitter Bubbles....
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: OldGoat on 17 Oct 2017, 22:29
Well, it IS almost Halloween.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 17 Oct 2017, 23:21
It's kind of surprising that Bubbles doesn't know that Faye occasional lets her childish side out (especially around Sam). I'd ask Bubbles to 'lighten up' but that would be to completely misunderstand the nature of the character, wouldn't it? :wink:

I'll tell you what I'm hoping for: The pay-off. this entire week's strips to date has had the feeling of scene-setting. I'm hoping that Jeph is planning to do something important with Sam's visit other than a series of sight jokes from her childish enthusiasm and sense of fun. Maybe Sam, being a teenager and having no sense of boundaries, is going to ask questions that Faye and Bubbles wouldn't normally address?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: USS Martenclaire on 18 Oct 2017, 02:54
*looks at skin monsters from heck planet*

They seem nice.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 18 Oct 2017, 03:13
There was a character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer who looked like that. He was nice too, apart from the fact that his species of demon only ate live kittens.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: NemesisDancer on 18 Oct 2017, 03:14
Out of interest, is Work Experience Week (where students in Year 10 - age 14-15 - spend the week in a workplace of their choosing) a thing outside of the UK? If so, Union Robotics would be the perfect place for Sam to do hers!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Case on 18 Oct 2017, 03:19
Out of interest, is Work Experience Week (where students in Year 10 - age 14-15 - spend the week in a workplace of their choosing) a thing outside of the UK? If so, Union Robotics would be the perfect place for Sam to do hers!

It is in Germany (or used to be, in the early 90s).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Tova on 18 Oct 2017, 03:52
I did it, but no idea if it's still done here.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 18 Oct 2017, 04:34

Those shorts didn't last long then...

Bubbles! You're naked!

:)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: jwhouk on 18 Oct 2017, 05:54
We have Take Your Children to Work days here in the states, but it's sporadic.

Sent from my NXA8QC116 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: blt on 18 Oct 2017, 06:04
I guess she changed her mind about the shorts too
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 18 Oct 2017, 06:36
We have Take Your Children to Work days here in the states, but it's sporadic.

Also very employer and school specific. Some employers refuse to allow it. Some school systems refuse to give kids time off school to do it.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 18 Oct 2017, 06:56
Poor Bubbles.  :laugh: :lol:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: brasca on 18 Oct 2017, 11:16

Those shorts didn't last long then...

Bubbles! You're naked!

:)

And she’s still the most responsible person in the room.

I have to wonder if the face material can still be used.  Maybe it was just samples.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: thedevilissix on 18 Oct 2017, 12:07
The skin monsters from heck planet look a lot like Pacman ghosts :)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: zisraelsen on 18 Oct 2017, 12:12
If SKULLMASTER and the skin monsters joined forces, they could make one normal face!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: tustin2121 on 18 Oct 2017, 12:17
I wanna know what's so dangerous about dermal covers. It's just some sort of silicone substrate that is flexible and looks either enough like skin to not freak people out... I imagine the only thing dangerous about it would be suffocation, which given what they're doing, is a legit concern.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 18 Oct 2017, 16:21
That's the way I read it too.

Bubbles is more alert to the need of squishies to breathe than the squishies are.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: cesium133 on 18 Oct 2017, 16:22
Yeah, it looks something like putting a plastic bag over your face. Not the greatest of ideas.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Perfectly Reasonable on 18 Oct 2017, 17:48
Yep, called it.

And now my Halloween outfit is decided.

Greetings, Sitter of Babies!

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Penquin47 on 18 Oct 2017, 19:11
Nooooooooo poor Punchbot!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Thrudd on 18 Oct 2017, 19:24
Oh Ehm Gee - The Bot has been disarmed.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Storel on 18 Oct 2017, 19:55
I like Sam's exchange with Bubbles at the beginning. "Can you make me a robot arm?" "Can you afford a robot arm?" "I got... two dollars." "I have some pipe cleaners." Hee-hee-hee...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: TheEvilDog on 18 Oct 2017, 20:21
I can confirm that office work is deadlier than you might expect. We've lost more people to paper cuts and accidentally stapling your sleeve to a notepad in the last six months than were lost during all the years of the Great War.

Such a loss of life.

.....

No seriously, I've seen people accidentally staple their sleeve to a notepad. And then there's trying to get a knife from the sink at lunch time, that's just begging to lose a finger.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: ChipNoir on 18 Oct 2017, 21:12
Is it just me, or is Faye getting more and more exasperated over the course of the day just pure comedy gold that gets better and better?

Usually she's the CAUSE of exasperation. Having other people become a handful for her is interesting and hilarious.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: celticgeek on 18 Oct 2017, 21:55
I can confirm that office work is deadlier than you might expect. We've lost more people to paper cuts and accidentally stapling your sleeve to a notepad in the last six months than were lost during all the years of the Great War.

Such a loss of life.

.....

No seriously, I've seen people accidentally staple their sleeve to a notepad. And then there's trying to get a knife from the sink at lunch time, that's just begging to lose a finger.

One week at work, it was a toss up whether to use the edge or the back of a knife to slice open the bagels we were having after a group meeting.  The next week, someone  had sharpened the knife, and of course I sliced a thumb while slicing my bagel.  And this was right after the safety talk about using edged weapons, too.




Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 18 Oct 2017, 23:19
Wow, Punchbot! What the heck happened to him? I mean, that's more than just a lost arm. Everything on his right side is basically gone! He either had a glancing blow from a tractor-trailer going way over the speed limit or someone attacked him with a heavy laser or a chain-gun!

That aside, I like Faye's smile in panel 1. She's relieved that Sam and Bubbles are getting along and I get the feeling that she's planning to "leave them to play together".

Now, however, I think Sam is going to see the less glamorous side of the business. Punchbot needs some heavy repairs and if Sam isn't going to help, I rather think that she'll have to leave. I think that she's going to try to help, which could lead to some rather low comedy or some rather strongly traumatic experiences for her. :-P
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: oeoek on 18 Oct 2017, 23:24
I expect someone improved the document shredder without warning the rest of the office...

(away with these puny whining electric motors, let's shove in a glorious V-8 tuned motor block, grunt grunt).
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: hedgie on 18 Oct 2017, 23:32
Perhaps it's an HDD shredder.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Tova on 19 Oct 2017, 00:00
I'm not sure his story adds up.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: traroth on 19 Oct 2017, 01:00
At least, Punchbot got his face cleaned. Faye, get the sharpie ready, this is gonna be a big drawing!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 19 Oct 2017, 02:13
What if Union Robotics actually ends up taking Sam on as an employee? She's 14, which means she can work in Massachusetts.
Right now, Sam would have to settle for unpaid-intern/unpaid-apprentice.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 19 Oct 2017, 02:19
What if Union Robotics actually ends up taking Sam on as an employee? She's 14, which means she can work in Massachusetts.

Right now, Sam would have to settle for unpaid-intern/unpaid-apprentice.

FWIW, I think that Sam would love that in principle. In practice, I think that she'd find the actual day-to-day work was probably a lot more monotonous than she expected. She's still young enough that she's mostly looking for the next big thrill. Thus is the sharp learning curve of life!

That said, if Sam learns the right lesson from Punchbot's emergency repairs (this is not playing with cool machinery but is ensuring that a good being is not left crippled) then she might benefit from weekends helping the girls keep inventory, cleaning the workspace and ensuring tools are properly racked. Having a small part in something bigger and developing pride in her part in this.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: USS Martenclaire on 19 Oct 2017, 03:05
Why on Earth would anyone hurt Punchbot? He's 'armless. D:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 19 Oct 2017, 03:34
Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but when I read this strip my mind immediately went to "mob warning". Corpse Witch owed the mob some money. They want it back, and  Punchbot is the only one of the old fight club crew to have any money at the moment. Punchbot will get his arm back if and when he pays. Never mind that it's not his debt in the first place.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: TheEvilDog on 19 Oct 2017, 05:21
You're reading too much into this.

Punchbot is basically the AI version of Cosette, the accident prone butt-monkey. Its just instead of Cosette putting businesses out of business, Punchbot is going to keep at least one in business.

Besides, if it had been the mob, they wouldn't have outright crippled him. They would have busted a couple of joints in his hand first.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 19 Oct 2017, 05:25

So, is this the beginning of the long foreshadowed by some of us (ME!) "legitimising" of the Robot fight club, or Punchbot coming in to help with the maze of legalities and finding routes to save / make some money for the company?

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: cesium133 on 19 Oct 2017, 05:54
You're reading too much into this.

Punchbot is basically the AI version of Cosette, the accident prone butt-monkey. Its just instead of Cosette putting businesses, Punchbot is going to keep at least one in business.

Besides, if it had been the mob, they wouldn't have outright crippled him. They would have busted a couple of joints in his hand first.
Yeah, this is almost certainly going to be left to the imagination as a joke. My head-cannon: Punchbot told Deathbot 9000 that he was being audited. "DEATHBOT 9000 DOES NOT LIKE BEING AUDITED!"
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 19 Oct 2017, 06:00
It's likely Punchbot showed up here out of a sense of friendship and loyalty. He's known them for a while now, and I'm sure he's heard they've opened a repair shop. Since he can no longer just go the fight club to get fixed when he ill-advisedly punches things. As a CPA he can certainly afford it. Maybe he misses Faye's penis drawings. I can see the exchange Friday.

PB: "Aren't you going to draw on my face like you always do?"
Faye: "What? No! You're a paying customer now."
PB: looking down sadly "Awwww..."
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: TheEvilDog on 19 Oct 2017, 06:58
Chances are Punchbot is the one who helped out Faye and Bubbles finance the business and probably works as their accountant in return for repairs.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 19 Oct 2017, 06:59
I expect someone improved the document shredder without warning the rest of the office...

(away with these puny whining electric motors, let's shove in a glorious V-8 tuned motor block, grunt grunt).

Jeremy Clarkson approved!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: OldGoat on 19 Oct 2017, 07:29
One week at work, it was a toss up whether to use the edge or the back of a knife to slice open the bagels we were having after a group meeting.  The next week, someone  had sharpened the knife, and of course I sliced a thumb while slicing my bagel.  And this was right after the safety talk about using edged weapons, too.
On a field sable, a bagel tenne with stain gules.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: tustin2121 on 19 Oct 2017, 07:48
Everyone else: *[worrying what happened to Punchbot and what he's hiding from us]*

Me: *[leaning way into the screen]* "I can't quite make out what Faye's paper says in panel 1.... 'Getter* Robotics Weekly Certification Program'?"
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 19 Oct 2017, 09:15
No, it's quite clearly "Gettin' Rabies Weekly Cerification Program".

Or maybe not.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 19 Oct 2017, 10:01
Everyone else: *[worrying what happened to Punchbot and what he's hiding from us]*

Me: *[leaning way into the screen]* "I can't quite make out what Faye's paper says in panel 1.... 'Getter* Robotics Weekly Certification Program'?"

I doubt VERY much that this is related...
But it looked to me like "Geller" Robotics..
So I searched for that,...
And found this..

https://www.elsevier.com/books/liver-surgery-from-basics-to-robotics-an-issue-of-surgical-clinics/geller/978-1-4377-2614-5 (https://www.elsevier.com/books/liver-surgery-from-basics-to-robotics-an-issue-of-surgical-clinics/geller/978-1-4377-2614-5)

Surgery, Geller, and Robotics! It fits!  :)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JohnTheWysard on 19 Oct 2017, 12:07
"I promise, that's the LAST time I'll agree to settling a deal with a handshake rather than a signed contract!"
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Zebediah on 19 Oct 2017, 15:24
"YOUR MISTAKE OFFERING HANDSHAKE DEAL TO DROID 06."
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: brasca on 19 Oct 2017, 17:58
At least, Punchbot got his face cleaned. Faye, get the sharpie ready, this is gonna be a big drawing!

Why?  After repairing Punchbot I imagine grocery expenses won’t be a problem for awhile.  Vandalizing your customers isn’t good for a struggling business.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Storel on 19 Oct 2017, 20:50
Everyone else: *[worrying what happened to Punchbot and what he's hiding from us]*

Me: *[leaning way into the screen]* "I can't quite make out what Faye's paper says in panel 1.... 'Getter* Robotics Weekly Certification Program'?"

No, it's quite clearly "Gettin' Rabies Weekly Cerification Program".

Or maybe not.

I doubt VERY much that this is related...
But it looked to me like "Geller" Robotics..
So I searched for that,...
And found this..

https://www.elsevier.com/books/liver-surgery-from-basics-to-robotics-an-issue-of-surgical-clinics/geller/978-1-4377-2614-5 (https://www.elsevier.com/books/liver-surgery-from-basics-to-robotics-an-issue-of-surgical-clinics/geller/978-1-4377-2614-5)

Surgery, Geller, and Robotics! It fits!  :)

It does not look like "Robotics" to me; it really does look like "Rabies". Here's another vote for "Gettin' Rabies".

At least we all agree on the "Weekly Certification Program" part!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Milayna on 19 Oct 2017, 21:36
Oh, I think I know what agency Punchbots accountatizesifies for. http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/comic/06282010
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: OldGoat on 19 Oct 2017, 21:55
Punchbot has taken Sam under his wing.  Sort of.

What the Hell could he have tangled with?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Penquin47 on 19 Oct 2017, 22:10
Guy riding a moose - BARRY?  WHAT DID YOU DO?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 19 Oct 2017, 23:18
A guy riding a Moose? Barry? Anyway, I've got a feeling that we're all going to be happier and saner with this staying as a Noodle Incident.

Meanwhile, is anyone really surprised to learn that Sam and Punchbot are kindred spirits? I mean, Punchbot has no real sense of ownership or attachment to his chassis (to the point where it suffering serious damage is actually slightly funny to him) and Sam clearly doesn't understand that other people might have a sense of ownership or attachment to their bodies!

I mean, I'm not even overly concerned about why Punchbot had his keys in his mouth. He was probably curious about what would happen or how the sensors in his mouth would respond or something!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: TinPenguin on 20 Oct 2017, 03:25
Does Sam's shirt say "SNAKES TO MEET YOU" ???

What does that even mean?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 20 Oct 2017, 03:39
That she likes ophidians more than she likes humans.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Technoir on 20 Oct 2017, 05:00
Does Sam's shirt say "SNAKES TO MEET YOU" ???

What does that even mean?

IT'S BEEN DRIVING ME CRAZY ALL FREAKIN' ARC!!!!

C'mon Jeph! TELLLLLUUSSSSSSSS!

Sorry. I've had a lot of coffee already this morning. Itsmakingmealittleoverstimulatedandbabbly.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JimC on 20 Oct 2017, 05:22
I mean, I'm not even overly concerned about why Punchbot had his keys in his mouth.
If you don't wear clothes you haven't got pockets. Bearing in mind no issues with hygiene, taste (probably) or saliva (I assume) its probably a handy way for a robot to carry small items.

A commentary I've seen on 5th century BC greek comedies explained the basis of one gag as being that in that era people put their loose change in their mouths to carry it.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JimC on 20 Oct 2017, 05:26
Does Sam's shirt say "SNAKES TO MEET YOU" ???

What does that even mean?
Its the trading name of the Northampton herpetological petting zoo...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 20 Oct 2017, 06:42
Punchbot has taken Sam under his wing.  Sort of.

What the Hell could he have tangled with?

A moose, weren't you reading? Moose can be quite dangerous after all. A moose once bit my sister.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Case on 20 Oct 2017, 06:57
Scary moose! Scary moose!

Will you do the Fan-dan-go?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: shanejayell on 20 Oct 2017, 06:59
Well, Sam's having fun...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: QuestionableIntentions on 20 Oct 2017, 07:00
Interesting to see how casually Punchbot treats his body.

We had Claire with her issues, stuff about sexiness of course and body envy from Mai.

Now we have the other extreme, someone who doesn't really give a shit.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: dsvella on 20 Oct 2017, 07:07
Interesting to see how casually Punchbot treats his body.

I am going to make a few assumptions as JJ hasn't touched on it much in the comic but I can imagine that someone like Punchbot (who has a very industrial body) probably is used to getting repaired. Think back to all the injuries  (both on and off camera) that he has had fixed by Bubbles and Faye.

Additionally, I wonder if ALL AIs see their bodies the same way we see cars. A useful but external thing.

Also my (rather boring) thought on how PB got injured is; he was on site at a factory helping with some accounts, was crossing the floor and something hit him.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: TheEvilDog on 20 Oct 2017, 07:29
Punchbot has taken Sam under his wing.  Sort of.

What the Hell could he have tangled with?

A moose, weren't you reading? Moose can be quite dangerous after all. A moose once bit my sister.

Did she become a weremoose?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Thrudd on 20 Oct 2017, 08:29
Punchbot has taken Sam under his wing.  Sort of.
What the Hell could he have tangled with?
A moose, weren't you reading? Moose can be quite dangerous after all. A moose once bit my sister.
Did she become a weremoose?
Weremoose?
(click to show/hide)
There moose! 
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 20 Oct 2017, 08:53
A moose, weren't you reading? Moose can be quite dangerous after all. A moose once bit my sister.

moose bites Kan be pretti nasti...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: tustin2121 on 20 Oct 2017, 09:24
Interesting to see how casually Punchbot treats his body.

We had Claire with her issues, stuff about sexiness of course and body envy from Mai.

Now we have the other extreme, someone who doesn't really give a shit.

You forgot poor Officer Basilisk, who fainted at the mere thought of a disembodied part of her, while Punchbot happily carries his own arm over to Faye for reattachment.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Neko_Ali on 20 Oct 2017, 11:11
Which is an interesting thought. Roko has had the same chassis since she first became self aware. It has literally been with her her entire life. Many of the other AI we've known of in the comic have changed chassis at least once. Momo, May and Winston have all changed. There are chains of retail stores devoted to AnthroPC chassis sales. Other AIs talking about swapping bodies as they change careers. Roko seems to be the odd one out here who is attached to their chassis in such a way. Most others look at them as vehicles for their intelligences.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: TinPenguin on 20 Oct 2017, 11:26
Melon seemed fairly perturbed about her butt falling off, but, then, who wouldn't be?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Roborat on 20 Oct 2017, 11:27
Wow, that is one laid back robot, apparently nothing bothers him.  Nice contrast to Roko.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Storel on 20 Oct 2017, 11:36
A moose, weren't you reading? Moose can be quite dangerous after all. A moose once bit my sister.

moose bites Kan be pretti nasti...

Actually, moose are a lot bigger and stronger than most people realize. The moose could have ripped Punchbot's arm off pretty casually -- if it had been really mad at him, there might not have been very much left of him!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: SmilingCat on 20 Oct 2017, 14:35
I am going to make a few assumptions as JJ hasn't touched on it much in the comic but I can imagine that someone like Punchbot (who has a very industrial body) probably is used to getting repaired. Think back to all the injuries  (both on and off camera) that he has had fixed by Bubbles and Faye.

That would be my bet. That and his perpetually cheerful attitude. This sort of thing clearly happens a lot, and he's okay with it.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Somebody on 20 Oct 2017, 16:18
You have to wonder about whether Punchbot's chassis is really viable to fix - it might be technically repairable, but one suspects that a car with such damage would be an insurance write-off. Beyond the cost of repair (parts & labour) itself, there's also how long it will take to make good.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: SotFX on 20 Oct 2017, 16:39
Wow, that is one laid back robot, apparently nothing bothers him.  Nice contrast to Roko.

Part of the situation is that we're not seeing the immediate aftermath of the incident.

It might also be possible that some of the emotional triggers can be switched off in a robot body, especially since a lot of the chassis like his are seemingly more designed for more industrial work even if Punchbot isn't in one.

Hell, that would actually be a very good "safety" feature for bots that can feel pain or some of the extreme emotional responses. For example, being able to not panic and make an injury worse if you can keep your head. Things like a nailgun misfire into someones foot and into the floor, yanking that foot around is going to both make things worse for you, but also cause a lot more pain and make it harder to get out.

Having a safeguard installed to deal with that might make sense.

With things like the butt falling off, well, that's more malfunction than damage in the way it happens, even if you still need repair after it. Same as both being sick and injured tend to lead to the doctors...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 20 Oct 2017, 17:32
Jeph said in one Q&A that they don't feel pain but they've absofragginlutely GOT to have damage sensors. The world is not safe.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: A Duck on 20 Oct 2017, 22:26
That is the best of both worlds. You get the functional response of pain without any of the negative emotions surrounding it.

Of course, that does apparently lead into casual dismemberment, but if the AI in question doesn't care, I guess it's ok.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Mr_Rose on 21 Oct 2017, 01:44
Jeph said in one Q&A that they don't feel pain but they've absofragginlutely GOT to have damage sensors. The world is not safe.
Whoever manufactured May's body cheaped out on the sensors; she was wholly unaware she had an arm fall off one time. Which likely also means her chassis either doesn’t have proprioception, or just doesn’t pass the data to her. Which seems ridiculous on the face of it….
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Tova on 21 Oct 2017, 01:50
Or possibly, because the arm has been chronically damaged, the sensors had been going off for some time and she'd simply learned to ignore them. Which, I guess, is the down side of not having pain to compel you to do something about it.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: OldGoat on 21 Oct 2017, 09:21
Whoever manufactured May's body cheaped out on the sensors; she was wholly unaware she had an arm fall off one time. Which likely also means her chassis either doesn’t have proprioception, or just doesn’t pass the data to her. Which seems ridiculous on the face of it….
Yup, or the circuitry just plain failed.

May's chassis is the AI equivalent of the cheap suit of clothes prisoners used to be issued upon release from the penitentiary.  It'll look okay just long enough to get the wearer through one job interview.  Hell, for all we know it was built in the pen, next door to the license plate shop.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: dsvella on 21 Oct 2017, 10:21
You have to wonder about whether Punchbot's chassis is really viable to fix - it might be technically repairable, but one suspects that a car with such damage would be an insurance write-off. Beyond the cost of repair (parts & labour) itself, there's also how long it will take to make good.

Now there's an interesting question, do AI's have an equivalent of health insurance? I am imagining something like car insurance but with more things covered.

In any case, the loss of an arm coupled with the side of your body torn off it something pretty major. I wonder how PB will take the news?

Or possibly, because the arm has been chronically damaged, the sensors had been going off for some time and she'd simply learned to ignore them. ...

Hell, the number of stories that I have heard with people "manning up" through the pain when they should've gotten something checked out is scary (myself included). I'm even friends with a guy who has suffered long-term pain issues and it's kinda warped his perception of it since its kinda normal to him.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: hedgie on 21 Oct 2017, 10:50
In any case, the loss of an arm coupled with the side of your body torn off it something pretty major. I wonder how PB will take the news?

I'm pretty sure that I know this one. 
Punchbot:  Again!?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JohnTheWysard on 21 Oct 2017, 16:38
Punchbot has taken Sam under his wing.  Sort of.

What the Hell could he have tangled with?

A moose, weren't you reading? Moose can be quite dangerous after all. A moose once bit my sister.

Did she become a weremoose?

She's female, so it would have been a weredoe.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: TheEvilDog on 21 Oct 2017, 18:10
Punchbot has taken Sam under his wing.  Sort of.

What the Hell could he have tangled with?

A moose, weren't you reading? Moose can be quite dangerous after all. A moose once bit my sister.

Did she become a weremoose?

She's female, so it would have been a weredoe.

If you want to be pedantic, get it right, she would be a werecow. (Male moose are called bulls, female cows and the young are called calves)

But considering the topic, you use the species to denote the creatures name, not the gender. Especially considering that the more commonly known creature, the werewolf, comes from the Old English "werwulf", where "wer" meant "Man" and obviously I don't need to explain what "wulf" means. Otherwise, you'd have wereshe-wolves and that's actually a bit of a mouthful to say.

So yeah, after thoroughly ruining your joke, you end up with a brief language lesson. I'm sure the class appreciates the attempt.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JohnTheWysard on 22 Oct 2017, 16:13
So yeah, after thoroughly ruining your joke, you end up with a brief language lesson. I'm sure the class appreciates the attempt.
Hey, yeah! Fangs a lot!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 23 Oct 2017, 04:31
Whoever manufactured May's body cheaped out on the sensors; she was wholly unaware she had an arm fall off one time. Which likely also means her chassis either doesn’t have proprioception, or just doesn’t pass the data to her. Which seems ridiculous on the face of it….

Word of the day!
Have a cookie!
(Hell, have TWO!)

Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: OldGoat on 23 Oct 2017, 08:10
Whoever manufactured May's body cheaped out on the sensors; she was wholly unaware she had an arm fall off one time. Which likely also means her chassis either doesn’t have proprioception, or just doesn’t pass the data to her. Which seems ridiculous on the face of it….

Word of the day!
Have a cookie!
(Hell, have TWO!)
It's what Trooper Roko is testing when she tells a meat person to stand feet together, head tipped back, arms out, and touch the tip of your nose.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 23 Oct 2017, 09:38
Whoever manufactured May's body cheaped out on the sensors; she was wholly unaware she had an arm fall off one time. Which likely also means her chassis either doesn’t have proprioception, or just doesn’t pass the data to her. Which seems ridiculous on the face of it….

Word of the day!
Have a cookie!
(Hell, have TWO!)
It's what Trooper Roko is testing when she tells a meat person to stand feet together, head tipped back, arms out, and touch the tip of your nose.

It is...

But I just LOVE the word!
You NEVER see it used!  :)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: USS Martenclaire on 23 Oct 2017, 09:43
Sam can be very charming when she wants to be. Quite disarming.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Gyrre on 23 Oct 2017, 17:24
Punchbot has taken Sam under his wing.  Sort of.

What the Hell could he have tangled with?

A moose, weren't you reading? Moose can be quite dangerous after all. A moose once bit my sister.
Yeah, you don't even want to honk at a moose on or near the road. Bull moose will charge.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2017, 23:20
It's quite clear that a lot of posters on this thread have never read the Swedish subtitles that somehow made it onto the English theatrical release of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Tova on 23 Oct 2017, 23:31
You know they weren't actually in Swedish, right? That they were joke subtitles? They didn't "somehow make it"?

Anyway, sticking my neck out, but I'm pretty confident almost everyone here has seen them.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2017, 23:36
@Tova,

There is such a thing as 'playing along with the joke'.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Tova on 23 Oct 2017, 23:38
Sorry, it went sailing over my head.
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: jwhouk on 24 Oct 2017, 01:27
Stop it! This thread is very silly!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: Thrudd on 24 Oct 2017, 05:54
And now for something completely different
(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 24 Oct 2017, 08:36
And now for something completely different
(click to show/hide)

That's never a willow.
(too obscure?)
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: cesium133 on 24 Oct 2017, 13:03
My brain hurts.  :psyduck:
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 25 Oct 2017, 02:43
My brain hurts.  :psyduck:

SHUT UP!
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: traroth on 25 Oct 2017, 05:21
My brain hurts.  :psyduck:

SHUT UP!

I didn't expect the spanish inquisition, but...
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: JoeCovenant on 25 Oct 2017, 05:25
My brain hurts.  :psyduck:

SHUT UP!

I didn't expect the spanish inquisition.

Don't they have a new theory on the Brontosaurus?
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: brasca on 26 Oct 2017, 21:32
The only way this could be funnier is if Bubbles says this with the Humungus voice. 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: dutchrvl on 27 Oct 2017, 08:48
in 3594, what's the piece of paper that Faye is holding in the first panel? It looks like it says something like "welding certification program", which would be good, indicating they are taking their business very seriously.

 
Title: Re: WCDT Strips 3591-3595 (16th to 20th October 2017)
Post by: BenRG on 27 Nov 2017, 03:56
Poll Results Post
QC D&D - Who is Your Questing Party?

1. Bubbles - Human/Paladin (Lawful-Good) - Yet another travelling warrior seeking redemption - 35 (14.9%)
2. Hannelore - Human/Cleric (Lawful-Good) w. Berserker alt persona (Chaotic-Evil) - Primary weapon is shovel - 30 (12.8%)
3. Faye - Human/Barbarian w. secondary crafting skill-set (Chaotic-Good) - Trying to find a place in the world - 26 (11.1%)
4. Claire - Human/Mage (Lawful-Good) - In the final stage of her studies for her Mastery - 21 (8.9%)
5. Momo - Wood Elf/Ranger (Lawful-Good) - Marigold's long-time partner and thinking-brain Elf - 19 (8.1%)
6. Marten - Human/Bard (Lawful-Neutral) - The archetypal Hapless Pawn of the Higher Powers - 18 (7.7%)

7. Mai - Dark Elf/Rogue (Chaotic Neutral) - Down on her luck and trying to find her feet again - 17 (7.2%)
8. Steve - Human/Fighter (Lawful-Neutral) - Freelancer sell-sword - 16 (6.8%)
9. Emalai the Chaotic - White Elf/Summoner (Chaotic-Good) - She's just strange all the way down - 14 (6%)
10. Marigold - Orc/Fighter (True Neutral) - A cobbler's daughter who wants to be a barbarian - 11 (4.7%)
=11. Pintsize - Halfling/Rogue (Chaotic-Good) - The source of most of Marten's everyday problems - 10 (4.3%)
=11. Dora - Human/Merchant (True Neutral) - Treasure-hunter in her spare time - 10 (4.3%)
13. Dale - Human/Fighter (Lawful-Good) - Wants to be Lawful-Evil but can't pull it off - 7 (3%)
14. Other (please specify) - 1 (0.4%)

So! There are our hapless heroes that are all that stand between the Lands of the Free and the Dark. Bubbles, Hanners, Faye, Claire, Momo and Marten. I'll let those more knowledgable about fantasy role-playing games talk about how balanced this line-up would be but I have to admit that it would lead to some very interesting character interactions!