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The Order is going through a boss fight and getting points for lateral thinking.

Cast[]

Transcript[]

Panel 1

Roy: I'll take on the archers. Haley, V: Slow down that wizard!
Haley: She's a sorcerer, actually.
Vaarsuvius: Technically, a sorceress.

Panel 2

Roy: Wow, I can't tell you how much more fulfilling this battle will be now that I can refer to my enemy by the proper appellation.
Roy: Now stop wasting time and get moving!
Haley: Relax, speaking is a free action.

Panel 3

Samantha: I don't know who you people are, but I am going to kick your asses!

Panel 4

Samantha: Fireball!
Vaarsuvius: Counterspell!

Panel 5

Samantha: Hold Person!
Vaarsuvius: Counterspell!

Panel 6

Samantha: Chain Lightning!
Vaarsuvius: Counterspell!

Panel 7

Samantha: Gah! Stop doing that! It's not fair!
Vaarsuvius: On the contrary, counterspelling is a legitimate, if seldom used, means of neutralizing a spellcaster.
Haley: Translation: Choke on it, bitch!

Panel 8

Samantha: Fine! Keep on counterspelling, if you want.
Samantha: But I get more spells per day than you do, so eventually, you'll run out and then I'll blast you into oblivion and dance on your rotting corpses.

Panel 9

Vaarsuvius: True, except that we have no need to continue this exercise indefinitely.
Haley: Yeah, we're just keeping you busy while we set up the "Tetherball Special".

Panel 10

Samantha: What the heck is a—

Panel 11

Elan bats Belkar, "whop!", into Samantha's back like a tetherball, "WHUMP!"
Samantha: GAAAH!

D&D Context[]

  • Counterspells require the spellcaster to wait until another spellcaster casts a spell, then, as a free action, perform a check to see if they can identify the spell. If successful, they may cast the same spell (if they have it prepared) in a modified version that nullifies the other caster's spell.
  • Sorcerers gain more spells per day than Wizards, however they don't gain as many options as Wizards when it comes to spell selection.
  • Hold Person is a 3rd-level Sorcerer spell that paralyzes a person unless they succeed a Will save.
  • Chain Lightning is a 6th-level Sorcerer spell that shoots a jumping lightning bolt at enemies.
  • Fireball is a 3rd-level Sorcerer spell that explodes and deals damage at a target.
  • It appears Samantha also has a Protection from Arrows spell cast as she's magically deflecting arrows, although this was not seen in-panel.
  • A Free Action is an action that may be performed in combat in addition to the player's regular action for the turn. Speaking is considered a free action if it is brief. This occasionally results in unrealistic dialog taking place during combat.

Trivia[]

  • The title is a reference to Wolverine's "Fastball Special" move in X-Men.
  • This is the final appearance of the Light Bandit Guard.

External Links[]

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