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It's level up time, but Belkar is missing out.

Cast[]

Transcript[]

Panel 1

Haley comes running down the stairs.
Haley: Hey geys! Guys! I just went up a level!
Roy: Actually, since you came from upstairs, you just went DOWN a level.
Belkar: Ugh, let's not start that again.

Panel 2

Haley: No, really, I checked my XP total when I woke up. We must have gotten a story award for completing the Xykon quest.
Elan: Sweet!
Roy: Hold on, let me check my total...

Panel 3

Each character dings, "DING! DING! DING! DING!"
Roy: Hey! I gained a level too! Nice!
Durkon: Och! Me too!
Elan: Woot!
Vaarsuvius: Exxxxcellent.

Panel 4

Beat. Belkar waits, but nothing happens.

Panel 5

Belkar: DAMN IT!

Panel 6

Belkar notices a rat.
Elan: Gee, Belkar, I guess you were a little behind us on XP when we started.
Belkar: Hold that thought.

Panel 7

Belkar attacks the rat.
Rat: Squeak?

Panel 8

Belkar hold the dead rat on his dagger.
Belkar: Crap. Too low of a Challenge Rating, I didn't even earn any XP.
Elan: Awww, that poor little rat! *Sniff*

Panel 9

Elan: Belkar, stop hurting the rats. You need to defeat something close to the same level as you to earn XP.
Belkar: Hmmmm. Same level, you say?

Panel 10

Belkar sees Elan as a chunk of XP.

Panel 11

Belkar is chasing Elan with his daggers.
Belkar: Stand still! I just need to "defeat" you!
Elan: Help! Help! I don't want to be a hat!

D&D Context[]

  • Experience Points (XP) can be given for killing a monster, but also for defeating it in combat without killing (for example, forcing it to flee).

Trivia[]

  • Vaarsuvius's pose and drawn out "Exxxxcellent" when they gain a level is a reference to Mr. Burns from The Simpsons.
  • The last line uttered by Elan is a reference to Yikyik's demise in #63, which is becoming a running gag.
  • Belkar's line "Ugh, let's not start that again" is a reference to #12, Up a Level, Down a Level.
  • Woot! is a common expression in gaming, of uncertain origin.
  • This strip establishes the convention used throughout the comic that when a character gains a level, a "DING!" sound is heard over their head.

External Links[]

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