Heh. I love how those 3 can annoy Abel all at the same time.
Yes, we want the puppets.
Edit: Beat By one minute. Can someone combine them?
The expression on Dan's face in the last panel is positively frightening.
You beat me by a minute. Oh well. They get on his nerves so well.
Jyrras would be the one taking notes. And I don't mean because he's a nerd: it's because he's interested in researching magic and understanding it. This is an excellent opportunity for him to learn about a new topic, maybe even learn some stuff about Deebs or how to summon his own Warp-Aci. Also, I really like Jy's pose in that last panel for some reason. I just like how he's so engrossed in this topic.
A good haiku.
But Dan is a poor student.
Poor Teacher Abel.
Strangely, whenever both Dan and Fi are boared, they have a big resamblance. just look at page 959.
I have a whole new sympathy for all my college professors now; though, I have to say, Warp-Aci is a class I would love to be a part of. Where can I sign up?
Quote from: Garsemor on July 19, 2009, 12:16:42 AM
Strangely, whenever both Dan and Fi are boared, they have a big resamblance. just look at page 959.
That may have something to do with Fi belonging to Dan/being his summon now; though, if past comics are any indication, they may simply have similar personalities.
Who's reminded here of when Abel first met Dan and taught him about cubi history?
Fa'Lina uses puppets. >:3
Which side do you think Dan get's his love of puppets from anyway? Mom or dads?
Quote from: Nobody on July 19, 2009, 01:47:28 AM
Which side do you think Dan get's his love of puppets from anyway? Mom or dads?
Mom's side, I'd say. Cubi tend to be that weird.
Well I do wonder how long Abel can hold out till he reaches his boiling point..Then again he looks more ticked off enough already
Haikus are easy.
But sometimes they don't make sense.
Refrigerator.
Aside from first real post outside of introductions, I thought Jyrras was sitting on his tail in the the last panel and I was going 'Oh gheez I wonder if that's painful' and now I just realized it was the angle of my laptop screen. *fail*
Quote from: Corgatha Taldorthar on July 19, 2009, 12:04:35 AM
The expression on Dan's face in the last panel is positively frightening.
Indeed. So much for his fresh start with Abel. Though at the end of the day he does seem to have switched from distrusting him to winding him up.
I wonder whether this is part of Fa'Lina's plan? Get Abel used to teaching so that he can return to SAIA as a staff member instead of a sort of wastrel student?
In Dan's defence, there is probably a lot of information being thrown at him at once, whereas a properly-structured course would layer it. That and if it's anything like our sciences there's going to be a lot of prerequisite theory that Dan doesn't yet know.
Quote from: Tapewolf on July 19, 2009, 05:27:40 AM
In Dan's defence, there is probably a lot of information being thrown at him at once, whereas a properly-structured course would layer it. That and if it's anything like our sciences there's going to be a lot of prerequisite theory that Dan doesn't yet know.
Doesn't most Cubi have a short attention span anyway?
Quote from: Turnsky on July 19, 2009, 05:46:59 AM
Doesn't most Cubi have a short attention span anyway?
I considered that, but I'd expect Abel to have taken that into account. He might just be in a bad mood for some reason, but conceivably the first few semesters at SAIA include ways of improving concentration (which Dan obviously wouldn't have done).
Dan and Fi are twins separated by dimensions and such.
I don't think that Fi's personality changed much since Dan became his master. Actually before Dan and After Dan Fi just appeared to loosen up.
Though Fi asking to look at Jyrras's notes is what really make this one a keeper. I would have guessed Dan would ask for the notes but Dan went for the puppets.
Quote from: Jairus on July 19, 2009, 12:09:38 AM
A good haiku.
But Dan is a poor student.
Poor Teacher Abel.
Unlike that haiku
You have just four syllables
in your first line there
Technically one
should have mention of seasons
in a haiku, too.
They are learning! They've learned that annoying Abel is hilariously good fun!
Jyrras would also be the type of person to carry a notebook and a pen to take notes with on a normal day. :3
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on July 19, 2009, 07:53:35 AM
Quote from: Jairus on July 19, 2009, 12:09:38 AM
A good haiku.
But Dan is a poor student.
Poor Teacher Abel.
Unlike that haiku
You have just four syllables
in your first line there
Technically one
should have mention of seasons
in a haiku, too.
However, "haiku"
has three morae (syllables)
when in Japanese.
A haiku without
a
kigo (season word) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kigo) is
known as a Senryū (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senry%C5%AB). :tmyk
Quote from: Tapewolf on July 19, 2009, 05:27:40 AM
In Dan's defence, there is probably a lot of information being thrown at him at once, whereas a properly-structured course would layer it. That and if it's anything like our sciences there's going to be a lot of prerequisite theory that Dan doesn't yet know.
I saw it more as an expression of the bane of any fantasy based story taking place in another universe: buckets of magical theory, backstory, species and history to convey to the reader without them getting bored and still enjoying the story.
Some webcomics fall into this trap, overloading the reader with explanation or necessary information on the universe starting with the second page and going on till the fifth in the form of a dialogue or caption boxes.
Tales of the Questor (http://www.rhjunior.com/totq/) largely avoids this by having a clear reason why the exposition is taking place; by having the universe being thought out and interesting in and of itself in the first place; and still keeping a focus on the character who are listening (I loved the part where Quentyn gets a long explanation about a magical sword and then just yells out "but how do I USE it?", something I was focused on too).
Amber has a different style, that which she doesn't explain in non comic forms such as forum posts or Demonology 101, she delivers through casual conversation and just the regular happenings of the plot. When exposition is required, it is delivered in short, sharp bursts interspersed with jokes and antics, or with a character having a bored or funny reaction to it, and possibly also a self reference over the "joy" of having these nice explanations ("gratuitous economics lecture").
It's a good strategy in my opinion. I mean, we here are hardcore fans (mostly) so we largely like discussing finicky plot point and universe elements in forum posts.
But for other casual and regular readers, they just want to enjoy the comic, and not as many of them enjoy long winding exposition on theory and history that doesn't exist in the real world.
Quote from: Darkdragon on July 19, 2009, 09:34:03 AM
However, "haiku"
has three morae (syllables)
when in Japanese.
Really? How are the three broken up, then?
Quote from: Turnsky on July 19, 2009, 05:46:59 AM
Doesn't most Cubi have a short attention span anyway?
You know th-Oh look a kitty...What was we talking about again?
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on July 19, 2009, 07:53:35 AM
(snip)
Technically one
should have mention of seasons
in a haiku, too.
Salting the wounds, Dan
and Fi make Abel's life much
more miserable.Like that? :3
With regards,
Ted
Quote from: JackTheCubiFerret on July 19, 2009, 12:07:15 AM
You beat me by a minute. Oh well. They get on his nerves so well.
That's the problem of dealing with Beings or those who were raised as Beings. On the one hand, they are mature at such an early age. On the other hand, one can only learn so much in twenty-some years.
With regards,
Ted
Quote from: Ted Schiller on July 19, 2009, 12:24:34 PM
Quote from: JackTheCubiFerret on July 19, 2009, 12:07:15 AM
You beat me by a minute. Oh well. They get on his nerves so well.
That's the problem of dealing with Beings or those who were raised as Beings. On the one hand, they are mature at such an early age. On the other hand, one can only learn so much in twenty-some years.
With regards,
Ted
Well, on the flip side, how the heck is Abel mature? He's got the maturity of an angsty teen, really.
It might just be me, but something tells me Dan would probably learn it better the hard way. :B
I hope amber gets her arrow keys fixed soon >.>
Quote from: Nyomi on July 19, 2009, 02:54:28 PM
It might just be me, but something tells me Dan would probably learn it better the hard way. :B
With Dan, learning through pain is not the hard way. :) But, yeah, he would learn better that way.
With regards,
Ted
Quote from: Ted Schiller on July 19, 2009, 03:46:14 PM
Quote from: Nyomi on July 19, 2009, 02:54:28 PM
It might just be me, but something tells me Dan would probably learn it better the hard way. :B
With Dan, learning through pain is not the hard way. :) But, yeah, he would learn better that way.
With regards,
Ted
With Dan, pain is a learning incentive...
for Dan pain makes learning fun.
Quote from: Madmann135 on July 19, 2009, 04:03:56 PM
Quote from: Ted Schiller on July 19, 2009, 03:46:14 PM
Quote from: Nyomi on July 19, 2009, 02:54:28 PM
It might just be me, but something tells me Dan would probably learn it better the hard way. :B
With Dan, learning through pain is not the hard way. :) But, yeah, he would learn better that way.
With regards,
Ted
With Dan, pain is a learning incentive...
for Dan pain makes learning fun.
Since when? He's not exactly Cyra herself, you know. Just an adventurer. And although we've seen that pain often finds him, he doesn't exactly seem to enjoy it..
Quote from: Ghostwish on July 19, 2009, 04:05:48 PM
Quote from: Madmann135 on July 19, 2009, 04:03:56 PM
With Dan, pain is a learning incentive...
for Dan pain makes learning fun.
Since when? He's not exactly Cyra herself, you know. Just an adventurer. And although we've seen that pain often finds him, he doesn't exactly seem to enjoy it..
I don't think it works on a principal of enjoying it; yeah, Cubi can feed on emotions and have an affinity for a certain one, but I don't think that they actually have to enjoy that emotion; even though most seem to.
Quote from: Ghostwish on July 19, 2009, 04:05:48 PM
Quote from: Madmann135 on July 19, 2009, 04:03:56 PM
Quote from: Ted Schiller on July 19, 2009, 03:46:14 PM
Quote from: Nyomi on July 19, 2009, 02:54:28 PM
It might just be me, but something tells me Dan would probably learn it better the hard way. :B
With Dan, learning through pain is not the hard way. :) But, yeah, he would learn better that way.
With regards,
Ted
With Dan, pain is a learning incentive...
for Dan pain makes learning fun.
Since when? He's not exactly Cyra herself, you know. Just an adventurer. And although we've seen that pain often finds him, he doesn't exactly seem to enjoy it..
If some one wants to teach Dan quikli there is only one motivation. Amazons.
Quote from: Garsemor on July 19, 2009, 05:12:44 PM
Quote from: Ghostwish on July 19, 2009, 04:05:48 PM
Quote from: Madmann135 on July 19, 2009, 04:03:56 PM
Quote from: Ted Schiller on July 19, 2009, 03:46:14 PM
Quote from: Nyomi on July 19, 2009, 02:54:28 PM
It might just be me, but something tells me Dan would probably learn it better the hard way. :B
With Dan, learning through pain is not the hard way. :) But, yeah, he would learn better that way.
With regards,
Ted
With Dan, pain is a learning incentive...
for Dan pain makes learning fun.
Since when? He's not exactly Cyra herself, you know. Just an adventurer. And although we've seen that pain often finds him, he doesn't exactly seem to enjoy it..
If some one wants to teach Dan quikli there is only one motivation. Amazons.
Theeerrreeee's the ticket. :mowhappy
Quote from: Sofox on July 19, 2009, 09:45:24 AM
Amber has a different style, that which she doesn't explain in non comic forms such as forum posts or Demonology 101, she delivers through casual conversation and just the regular happenings of the plot. When exposition is required, it is delivered in short, sharp bursts interspersed with jokes and antics, or with a character having a bored or funny reaction to it, and possibly also a self reference over the "joy" of having these nice explanations ("gratuitous economics lecture").
It's a good strategy in my opinion. I mean, we here are hardcore fans (mostly) so we largely like discussing finicky plot point and universe elements in forum posts.
But for other casual and regular readers, they just want to enjoy the comic, and not as many of them enjoy long winding exposition on theory and history that doesn't exist in the real world.
There's something about this that has started to bug me. Given Amber's overall style, it makes sense to avoid long, detailed explanations of in-universe magical workings, history and personal backstory, just in case a major part of her casual reading audience would find that boring and wander off. However -- and I could just be misreading a few signals here, but this is the image I've gotten -- it's treated as if "walls of text" concerning these details were
universally considered boring, and are therefore skimmed, pointed out as an unfortunate necessity when they do appear, or skipped altogether, with Demonology 101's species descriptions as the sole exception.
However, apart from how interesting a lot of the information that has gotten through the "wall-o-text" filter sounds to me personally, I asked around at one point to find out who else was interested in hearing the "boring history" of, say, the 'cubi-dragon wars. (
Tell me that didn't just pique your interest.) The response (half a dozen strong from a casual question) was unanimously, sometimes enthusiastically, in favor of learning more.
If writing out and publicizing elaborate backstory on a scale measured in pages is unfeasibly time-consuming, that's understandable. But really -- this stuff is
interesting.
It's a good thought Caswin, but there's learning more, and there's being entertained while learning more.
The question isn't so much whether people would like to learn about the cubi wars, but how they would like to learn about it. Would they be okay if Amber wrote a 10 page document that was required reading for understanding the rest of DMFA?
Not saying that Amber's going to do about it, but just giving an extreme example.
Quote from: Sofox on July 19, 2009, 08:21:17 PM
It's a good thought Caswin, but there's learning more, and there's being entertained while learning more.
The question isn't so much whether people would like to learn about the cubi wars, but how they would like to learn about it. Would they be okay if Amber wrote a 10 page document that was required reading for understanding the rest of DMFA?
Not saying that Amber's going to do about it, but just giving an extreme example.
Not required reading, no, although I really was a little blindsided by Aniz's backstory. (To paraphrase The Nostalgia Critic, buh? War? Assault? Dragon? Pumpkin? War? What?) The comic itself sometimes feels like a story dealing with things I'm already supposed to know, while providing just enough information to let the plot move. Such "documents" would make plot points like that easier to understand at no extra cost to the reader (again, unless they added to the update burden), on top of the aforementioned interesting background.
Well, think of it this way.. If Amber reveals too much, she might be destroying the chances of future strips, and giving away valuable plot info.
Quote from: Ghostwish on July 19, 2009, 10:04:31 PM
Well, think of it this way.. If Amber reveals too much, she might be destroying the chances of future strips, and giving away valuable plot info.
not to mention throwing away lovely random sight gags, for example we may see wildy in a grass skirt or any number of equally random things
Jy seems strangely completely relaxed sitting next to the critter that just tried to eat him minutes ago. And probably saw Wildly gulped down as well. I'd be a little unnerved, if I sat that close to my devourer.
Quote from: ooklah on July 20, 2009, 01:36:08 AM
Jy seems strangely completely relaxed sitting next to the critter that just tried to eat him minutes ago. And probably saw Wildly gulped down as well. I'd be a little unnerved, if I sat that close to my devourer.
Remember that Jy is used to sitting near dangerous things: Wildy, Aaryanna, Lorenda, Pip, etc. If he wasn't able to deal with scary things, he would have probably moved out of Lost Lake a long time ago. Not to say that he can't be scared, just that his curiosity makes him forget his fear.
Quote from: Ghostwish on July 19, 2009, 10:04:31 PM
Well, think of it this way.. If Amber reveals too much, she might be destroying the chances of future strips, and giving away valuable plot info.
That occurred to me as I was writing it and it's a legitimate reason. What bugs me more is that the information is treated as "boring" rather than too plot-sensitive to reveal.
Quote from: Brunhidden on July 19, 2009, 11:15:16 PM
not to mention throwing away lovely random sight gags, for example we may see wildy in a grass skirt or any number of equally random things
You mean Questions from the Readers? I don't see why they would have to go away.