3377 God Smacked
I knew I’d used that title before!!!
Sorry gang. I’m in a bad place psychologically. I’ve got art tech issues (a broken tablet pen) and employment issues (rejection after rejection) and I’m… just feeling low.
EDIT:
Thank you for the kind words. And especially the gracious suggestions to take some time off of YAFGC to take care of me. But please rest assured, I don’t want to stop this. If anything my prolonged unemployment has made me want to spend more time in that world, where I can and do create everything. And among you all who are always so kind and value what I draw and write. So, thanks! But I’m not going anywhere. Output has been slow but that’s more of a case of my being busy with family stuff and/or not being in the mental place I need to be to do the story. Going into YAFGC world is a mental vacation for me.
EDIT EDIT:
Holy crap, my dear friends! Your generosity is amazing. I spent most of today struggling with my computer, starting, restarting, uploading, downloading, uninstalling reinstalling and plugging and unplugging to try to get my HUION tablet pen to work with my old Monoprice (with some actual help from a Monoprice Tech Support guy.) When I took a break and checked out today’s comments… I discovered that so many of you had donated money -and set up a monthly payment plan- that I’ve already collected about $300.00!!! I can’t thank you enough. You’re beautiful, generous people and I love you all.
I have set up a Patreon account for YAFGC but I’ve been terrified of launching it because I’m afraid of making commitments that’ll be hard to keep up with. And disappointing you all. I need to rethink this.
EDIT EDIT EDIT:
Okay, it is done. I officially have a YAFGC patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/YAFGCRIch
I hope it works out for us all and at some point I’ll try to include a fancy button on the site like the DONATE one. But in the meantime, let’s see how this sucker goes!
Give it a good smack with two handed axe, always worked for me. No matter how many times.
Look at it like this – there are only so many rejections in life. You are just taking a bunch of these now, so they are out of the way later on.
*big hugs*
I love this comic, and I can wait if you need to do other things. Self care is important. Keep on plugging, and I know things will look up.
Ben of the Fields took an axe
and gave the godess forty whacks
When he saw what he did.
He gave another 41 whacks.
And since the goddess didn’t stop
42 more, hop, hop, hop!
Ranna: "So long, and thanks for all the souls."
I find it appropriate that the guy who Marion, guardian of music, was travelling with wields a wicked axe.
Time for some heavy metal!
Appropriate since Ben looks like he’s going to be doing some head banging.
Just a he lays down some hot licks, I take it.
A most righteous and excellent solo that drives home some heavy, heavy chords, dudes!
"Ben and Heth [Make Ranna and Ch’Thier] Face the Music!"
There’s that god-whacking stick. Looks effective.
Do whatever you need to do to stay afloat, Rich. You’ve spent years toiling to give us quality entertainment, and every one of us fans appreciates what you do. If you need a break, go for it.
It’s hard times right now for lots of folks, we’ll understand.
Did Ben grow to dragon size or is that just perspective?
Ben got REALLY BIG!
Ben is a god too isn’t he…
That is not disappointing, it would be awesome.
Giant Dwarf Oxymoron FTW- always!
I believe the operative phrase is "THOR’S MIGHT!"
Sorry to hear about your current woes. I think work for artists is going to be pretty thin on the ground (if that was, indeed, what you were applying for) for quite a while. As for the pen… that can be replaced, right? Otherwise, it’s back to the old drawing board. Literally.
Or a new tablet.
Has YAFGC ever been compiled into Trades? Obviously you’d have to get the art work inked but it might be an option worth looking into.
I sell YAFGC in book form in the shop section of the site here. I’ve only gotten up to Vol.5 (up to the Jone: Half Orc storyline) so far. And I have trouble mailing them out sometimes. Especially during the COVID issue.
There’s a shop!?
Yep: https://shop.yafgc.net/
Those books are regular items on my birthday and/or Christmas wish-list. As I still don’t have them, if it helps you any way, I could make sure that this time they are the only items on the lists. 😉
Hahah! 😀 It could help a lot! 🙂
Then I must ask, how does it work with the artist’s edition? Is that still an option? If yes, how would it work in case of the Books Four-Pack?
The artist’s editions are indeed an option. And what they are is the same book as the regular edition, but you get a hand drawn pictures in the intro page of a character of your choice -be it one of mine or otherwise, with my autograph.
For the four-pack I do an image in each book. I suppose if you ask I could just to one of them… I don’t imagine my autograph quadruples in value if you get a bunch of them or anything.
OK, thanks! I think I’m really going to order them this time. 🙂 I just have to narrow down the list of characters I would want to have a picture of… to 5… Well… That will be hard.
Rich does take commissions!
Take care of you. So sorry it’s such a rough time for you, lately. If YAFGC is helping, then by all means, YAFGC…just, take care of you, first and foremost.
Thank you. 🙂
Part of me began to think Moradin, the genetically default Dwarven god (be it FR or GH).
Guys… Rich has a donate button.
He has provided us with free entertainment for a decade and a half.
QUALITY free entertainment. This is seriously better written than half the comic books written by DC or Marvel, and they are not shy of charging high prices.
I am a little embarrased I havn’t donated anything before, because yes. I have followed this comic eagerly for YEARS. I discovered him through the Doctor Who comic he did with the eleven Doctors. He wasn’t done writing it when I first started following.
And i still love that comic book to bits. It really deserve an official release or something.
So yeah… Have a beer on me Rich, or spend the money how-ever you like. You EARNED them.
Been putting of donating too long. Thankfully there is a set to recurring monthly donation option too. Best wishes, Rich!
It might just be my technical incompetence but the Donate button isn’t working for me. Hitting it takes me to a page headlined ‘Paypal’ but with nothing to pick a sum and donate
Aw. You’re right. It isn’t working. I’ll try to figure this out.
Just clicked on the Donate button and it worked fine for me—schlorped 5 Canadian dollars out of my PayPal account into Morris’ coffers. Not sure why the button’s behavior was different for me than for Dave… maybe Dave doesn’t have a PayPal account? Or not, I dunno.
It’s working now. Rich must have fixed it over night
Alas, I did not! I looked at it sadly and added it to the list of crap that’s not working properly…. but lo and behold, all’s good now?
*checks the cards* Nope. Did not see that coming at all.
Well done sir. Have some brownies.
Read, on reddit, about how National parks are always hiring people (or something like that), so maybe look into them? — Though, person was talking about Yellow Stone, so it’s probably just a USA thing.
Sorry to hear you’re feeling low. I was in a funk recently and YAFGC archives were a great company until a got better, so know that your work matters. I’m sending you a token of gratitude to help you with that pen.
That was a complete surprise! Now that he’s Big Ben, does he chime every hour?
Sending lots of good wishes your way, Rich. I hope that you’ll get that tech problem solved soon, and that you’ll also get a great animation job even sooner. Lots of hugs, my friend.
Pun Thing!! You make my heart sing!! You make everything groovy.
*gives you brownies*
Aw, Fang FanGirl, you are so kind! Thank you so much! Lots of hugs and good wishes. [nomnomnomnomnom!]
Well, damn. I was not expecting Ben to step up to the plate here, even after his ominous glower at the twins two pages back.
And while I applaud the general badassery of his stance, I don’t see this ending well for gods and demigods in general, himself and Marion included. Marion isn’t just mourning the loss of Ch’Thier and Ranna; she’s mourning the necessary end of an age. The age she and Ben were part of.
Rich, thanks as always for the gripping and moving story. As much as we all love to tune in to hear more of it, it means far more to know you and your family are happy and healthy. May you, and all of us, weather the current chaos (no disrespect intended, Ranna) and come out stronger on the other side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrB77DLw8sY
I like how Ch’Thier gets a mention in the roll call, basically for her shins and feet. I guess that’s in case anybody wonders, "Whatever happened to… ?"
t!
Well, technically she’s still onscreen in that panel.
I was actually expecting this strip to be a single, giant shot of a towering angel-demon hybrid with feathered wings, horns, and a sadistic grin making it plain that, as the other times when Ranna has devoured rivals, she’s seized Ch’Thier’s divine essence but the personality in charge is still 100% Ranna.
Maybe she’ll still show off her new portfolio while fighting Big Ben.
Technically, heh, yeah. Exit, stage Gulp.
That giant shot of Ranna would have been awesome.
t!
Panel 5 is so beautiful.
Her sense of exhaustion is palpable, as is her love and gratitude for him.
t!
Ouf. If CH’THier was devoured that it would mean that they finally fuse and become one. Probably. Hve no idea what is happens next, but I really hope for a happy ending [>_<]
Wanted to say for a long time that this comic is amazing. The most epic thing that I have ever seen in webcomics.
Beautiful clip – well done Rich.
Love the fact that Lady Marion foresaw the possible outcome, but tried anyway from the pureness of her hear.
Yeah, now she doesn’t have to feel bad about killing her niece… because, technically, it’s not her delivering the fatal blow
That’s a really weird and kinda tasteless thing to say. Are you still seeing Ranna as the victim here?
Seeing *both* sisters as victims
Lady Marion saw (or at least guessed) the outcome, and still allowed it to happen
This reminds me of a fairy-tale, about a pompous pilot and a carpenters son tried with treason
You’re assigning Marion quite a lot of power and control here. I would cast her not as Pilate but as Cassandra. She knows that the positive feedback loop between gods and mortals is spiraling toward universal destruction, but the only tools she has to steer events are her words, which have never been enough.
She gave it one last try — doubtless optimized with every hard-won iota of skill and cunning from two million years of bardcraft — and still couldn’t stop the cycle. So she has to step aside and watch Ben and the mages draw the curtain on the age of the gods, in order for the world to go on existing at all.
This is, of course, just a single viewpoint
Huh, post comments allowed only for those who payed or what?
No sir, but new commenters are held for my approval. Once I approve your first comment, then all others just go through. Unless you use words that WordPress deems very very naughty.
(Wags a finger at t!’s potty mouth.)
(Smackingly apply your lips to my posterior.)
t!
(sorry for using such a naughty word, lol)
Please take care of yourself Rich!
For what its worth, we’re here for you!
It’s worth a lot Miss Diketon! Thank you!
On the previous page I still thought Ch’Tier could still be saved, but I guess not. Feel kinda torn between being sad at the death of a character and yet again applauding you for not shying away from killing off a character. This will never stop being impressive.
Aw… of course Marion knew how it would go. Of course she did.
And now it’s Ben’s turn to surprise us, huh? I want to know what’s his deal now!
Although, knowing that magic will be lost anyway, I’m scared for him. After all, if Ben kills Ranna now, would there be a need to use the magic trap anyway?
And I hope things will get better for you soon!
Now I feel bad for Ch’thier…
She tried to fix things, but Ranna backstabbed her, and Marion and Ben, who expected her to be betrayed and killed (and still went on with their plan, anyways) now speak about her as if she were the same as Ranna… "you gave them one last chance to make things right…" …well, Ch’thier tried to make things right, and she got killed for it! Marion should feel bad!
I don’t think Marion specifically knew that Ranna would devour Ch’Their; just that the mortals-empowering-gods-to-empower-mortals feedback loop would almost certainly continue, and that it left to its own dynamic, it really WILL tear the world apart.
My guess is that Marion knows what has to happen next: the age of the gods must end, so that mortals can write their own destiny. Her "one last chance" was not just an ultimatum to the twins; it was a longshot dream that maybe gods and mortals could fundamentally change the way they related to one another. Perhaps in the distant future the possibility will be revisted; I doubt the gods will or can be banished forever, but for the next few Ages they’ll be thin on the ground.
I don’t know what Ben’s exact portfolio is, but my guess is that all these eons as Marion’s roadie have been just a pleasant way to pass the time waiting for this moment, with the mages and their godtrap in place to do their part. It’s been a great gig, but it’s closing time.
Certainly the third panel indicates the problem is just as much the followers. The Rannites are obviously stoked by the thought of their goddess ripping the world apart
I actually think that Marion still believes that Ranna and Ch’tier still represent the balance of chaos and order and so they either both live or both die.
But as I see it Ch’tier has moved away from order long ago, so the balance between those concepts is back in the hands of whoever/whatever ensured it bevor Falaan’s ascention (if it actually needs somebody to watch over it in the first place, the world seemed to do just fine prior to the ascention of the gods). So it should be perfectly possible for one to exist without the other.
Well PUCKERNUTS. I tried to donate some funds, and it went through everything… then glitched. I’ll have to try again tomorrow or something, ( Just in case it actually goes through,)
Ooo, BIG BEN! It would be interesting to find out what he is the god of. Perhaps a Dwarven god of Justice, or the like? I love the scene with him and Marion. It is good that she has had a friend to be with her down the ages. It would be interesting to see a reaction shot of the Dwarven forces on the field to this development. 🙂
Congrats on always coming up with something unexpected. I could not have predicted this, but it is entirely fitting. Have you informed their real-world counterparts that they are now gods? What am I saying, I am sure they read this. 🙂
Take care of yourself Rich, and your family. Things are hard all over right now. Just know we always appreciate your stories, when you do have the time and other resources for them.
On the sixth panel, I thought he’s going to use a "Kamehame" attack. Did Ranna & him went super-sized?
Have you looked into making the comic into a full time job thing? There are other web comic creators that do similar.
I hardly ever comment but I’m always here (that sounded exactly as stalky as I wanted). Sorry you’re in a bad place, I wish I could do something more than comment here telling you how much I value you and this comic, and I hope, I really hope, things will get better. I would suggest taking some time off Yafgc if you needed it, but you already said you’re not, so ^^U
Lots of love from Spain.
Dude, this comic has seen me through some bad times. You need anything I am sure we got your back just like you’ve had ours through your stories and art.
This made me remember of a (very old!) sci-fi short story (I think I read it on Asimov’s Sci-Fi Magazine, maybe 30y ago).
In the end, one of the characters said, "now we have to find out, whether you can kill a God, without having to kill all of his followers as well" (or something like that).
That last panel looks like a classic 1970’s stadium rock cover, done by Rodney Matthews or Roger Dean, kudos!
I now want this on a shirt, with some psychedelic (like Yes or Tyger) or gothic lettering like Blind Guardian:
LADY MARION AND BEN OF THE FIELDS
GOD SMACKED
I may have missed it, but has Lady Vivay got hers yet? There’s someone who definitely needs to be turned to ash.
After Ranna gets trounced, the enemy army routed and with her with no where to run of course…
Until an hour ago, Lady Vivay thought Runt was her catspaw on this battlefield. She might still not know things have gone south…but being Lady Vivay, she probably has a bug-out plan lined up in advance, and will be difficult to catch. (Especially since she’s an established master of disguise. Granted, her disguise spells might fizzle in the new low-magic world…but then, so might the spells the good guys would use to track her down.)
Whelp…that did not end the way I expected at all! 😀
It makes sense that Ben would carry a big honking axe–he used (or menaced with it) during the Bard Competition (I think).
But Panel 6 confused me for a moment with his hand position.
Thought we were gonna see a BENDOKEN! Ha!
Oops, just saw Hee Fone got to my original conclusion ahead of me. Kudos and respect to them!
"I saw Ch’their swallowed by her sister,
When I hoped that Ranna would help heal the land,
Then Ben of the Fields grew ENORMOUS
With a GIANT BATTLE AXE clutched in his hands…
No, you can’t always get what you want,
You can’t always get what you want,
You can’t always get what you want…
But if you try sometime, you just might find,
You get what you need."
We needed this, Rich. And it sounds like you also need this. Please keep at it.
Ben uses Embiggen
I was expecting that Ranna eating Ch´tier was somekind of Plan B if she didn´t accept to make the peace with her sister, because we have seen that when Ranna eats another gods, she get part of her powers and characters, so this way, the Chaos and Order would really mix and a new Goddess born.
P.D: Really thank you Richard for giving these comics even in your worst moments
She gains their power and their divine portfolios ("god of such-and-such"), but it has always seemed to me that her mind and personality remain undiluted Ranna.
Of course, that could be different with Ch’Thier because they are two halves of the same whole. Maybe given a long enough timeout in the mages’ planar trap, it WILL happen…
BAD Goddess! BAD! Don’t make me get the squirt bottle!
You spit that out! You don’t know where it’s been! Spit it out right now!
Comic as always sublime. Sometimes you see where it is going other times you get hit by the train. 🙂
Probably won’t help but I once spent 7 hours a day 6 days a week for 2 years handing out resumes without getting an interview, not even at mcdonalds.
As for mental health, take very good care of it. People say stupid things like "it’s all in your head" my answer is well DUH! every bit of your existence is all in your head.
Not sure if that makes sense but I better stop before I really start rambling.
Dumbledore: "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?"
Now I really want to know Ben’s backstory. I did already before, but now even more.
First time commentor: just wanted to say that if there was a patreon I would donate in a heartbeat. I check this comic every day.
Thank you so much!
Rich, please don’t hesitate on the Patreon account for fear of disappointing us. Anything we give is in gratitude for the endless hours of entertainment and good community you’ve already provided.
While we all hope you’ll enjoy telling these stories for years to come, there are no strings attached. If you were to decide tomorrow your time and energy are needed elsewhere, we would still owe you nothing but thanks.
I’m getting anxiety about it. But I’ll try to get it going.
If it eases your mind any, the Patreons I donate to have little to no freebies, other than providing a back channel for the artist to show work before officially publishing (helps to catch typos), some behind the scenes sketches, and stuff like that. Really, the only real benefit to Rich Burlew’s Patreon is that I get an update by mail when the Order of the Stick updates.
What I would personally buy in a heartbeat is a shirt or a messenger bag or a hoodie with the chimera, or with Glon and Lukas, or even one of your Doctor Who designs. Preferably on Neatorama, as their quality is the best.
Awesome! Thank you for that. It helps my confidence quite a bit.
It’s funny, way back at the beginning we did sell mugs and tees and notepads and all sorts of things through a popular online shop, but of course back then nobody was interested. I’ve got a Lewie t-shirt and a couple of mugs out of it before we pulled the whole thing.
I’ve even got a really nice hoodie with the Chimera on it. And Hilary got one with a baby chimera on the back.
Might be time to see about setting it back up, eh?
Sure! Here’s my personal take:
Neatorama: best quality, more oriented to fan art, but the printing quality is superb.
Topatoco: great webcomic support, but the quality wasn’t so hot. One shirt had the artwork crooked.
Diesel Sweeties: rstevens does his own shop, maybe he could give you some tips.
Cafepress: good quality, I still wear the Star Trek tee I got from them. They seem to be an "on demand" shop.
Home Depot is hiring, if you are still looking for work.
So a straight up win by Ben seems unlikely, because then we’d never see the big spell go off.
Maybe each of them gets a few licks in before the spell hits, though.
Rich,
The entertainment you have given us over the years has been amazing.
🙂 Thank you so much.
I sent a small donation your way, now I am debating the patreon level. I have a reptile man character that along with swinging a mean axe and eating live chickens loves to knit.
$10 or $15 a month. So tempting…..
Alright, I remember a few creatures that had some big grapple/swallow/damage rules. One of the big problems with them was that someone could always teleport out. Surely a goddess could.
So, we always pumped up those monsters when we used them by adding in some anti-teleport things or even an anti-magic field inside the creature’s gullet. I imagine a deity would have the equivalent features when she swallows someone. Cuz’ if not, I envision an Aliens-like chest explosion.
Or it might be like the "SpaceBalls" chest explosion: https://youtu.be/aVZUVeMtYXc
Happy to see that people are signing on with your new Pateron. I work in live events and have not worked a single day since March 5th with no end of unemployment in sight. Unemployment benefits will run out next month and there is not even a glimmer of light at the end of my tunnel. Every night I lay in bed thankful that I survived another day and stay awake worrying about tomorrow. I really do understand where you’re coming from. I am sorry I cannot sign up and hope that will be able to in the near future.
So sorry to hear this Jonathan.
I have so many friends that travel the Ren Faire and the con circuits as vendors/entertainers and they are all hurting. I wish I could do more to help them.
First: employ yourself, open internet shop, start kickstarter for comics print, take comisions for rpg characters portrets ect. if you have talent don’t wait for otheres to use it.
Secont: don’t go the way of "omg no one wants me buuu hoo", it will get you nowhere, been there so you don’t have to. There are othere things you can do, don’t have tunnel vision and don’t ignore othere oportunityd.
3: You are talented, you are smart and you are butifule. I bilive in you.
Way back in strip 1321, someone wondered where he got the big axe. Now we know, right?
https://www.yafgc.net/comic/1321-this-ones-for-ben/
I had been wondering about Ben, given that Marion turns out to secretly be a goddess, if he was just one of her devotees or if he also had a similar secret.