If you play D&D, you should be reading OOTS.

Friends, Nerds, Role-players, lend me your pointy ears!

For several years now (since back when D&D switched from 3rd Edition to 3.5) I’ve been reading the Order of the Stick web-comic.  In fact, the very first comic strip was about that very conversion.  You can start there if you haven’t begun reading yet.

Now, being the fan of the strip that I am, I actually have also purchased all the comic strip compilation books that have been put out.  Every one of these books has extra strips included with the regular storyline and also have some commentary (typically by one of the characters) as well.  Plus, if you’re like me, sometimes it’s just nice to be able to pick up a book and read it and laugh instead of having to be online.

• Order of the Stick: Snips, Snails, and Dragon Tails (it’s a stand-alone book that includes all of Rich’s strips from Dungeon and Dragon Magazines, as well as a BUNCH of extra stuff)
• Order of the Stick: Book -1 – Start of Darkness (it’s a prequel about the bad guys)
• Order of the Stick: Book 0 – On the Origin of PCs (it’s a prequel about the Order of the Stick adventuring group)
• Order of the Stick: Book 1 – Dungeon Crawlin’ Fools
• Order of the Stick: Book 2 – No Cure for the Paladin Blues
• Order of the Stick: Book 3 – War and XP’s
• Order of the Stick: Book 4 – Don’t Split the Party

Now, if you check the links, you’ll see that not all of these are available right now.  The company is usually pretty good at getting more in stock, though, so don’t fret too much.  You can probably find them on amazon, but I’m betting it’ll be at scalper’s prices.

So anyway, I assure you that if you play D&D, you WILL find humor in these web comics.  At least check out the online strips and see if you like it.  Trust me, though, the art gets better.  Rich even makes fun of himself in one of the books about it.  🙂  So from one gamer to another… Enjoy!

Sad day in gaming

E. Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons, has failed his saving throw vs. death.

Gygax died the morning of March 4, 2008, at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He was in semi-retirement, having almost suffered a heart attack after receiving incorrect medication to prevent further strokes after those on April 1 and May 4, 2004. He was diagnosed with an inoperable abdominal aortic aneurysm. Even while his health failed, gaming remained very much a part of his life. Gygax was still active in the gaming community and had active Q & A forums on gaming websites such as Dragonsfoot and EN World.

“I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else.”

Here’s an Order of the Stick memorial comic strip for him. These 3d6 are for you, Gary.