Comic 443 - Cramming Tactic

6th Jun 2016, 6:00 PM in Chapter Seven
443 - Cramming Tactic
Average Rating: 5 (13 votes)
rufiangel 6th Jun 2016, 6:00 PM edit delete
rufiangel
Hey guys! Happy Monday! :)

Hope you're having a good start to the week. I hope today's strip makes sense to non-gamers; if it doesn't I'll tweak the wording some more.

Otherwise, hope you enjoy the update! The next one will probably go up on Thursday again. I am considering making a permanent switch, but also wondering if I need to take further measures and alter my production schedule. Not sure... but I'll let you guys know when I do!

image
rufiangel 9th Jun 2016, 2:20 PM edit delete
rufiangel
Hey guys, sorry for being so spotty with update times as of late. There are things going on and it's just been hard for me to focus.

It's a public holiday today in Hong Kong so I'm going to take a break. I'm sorry for the lack of responses to comments lately, I promise I'm reading them!

I'll plan for the next update to go up either late on Friday or early Saturday. And then I will probably announce a break, because I am travelling next week and there will be things going on that I need all my energy for. But it won't be a break for long, because this project is my baby, and you readers are the bestest readers.

Thanks for reading, and for understanding. <3
mjkj 6th Jun 2016, 6:03 PM edit delete reply
mjkj
...or he will break and cry... poor Cain...

Well, monster away...!

Uh-oh, those faces in the last panels... O_O'

Thank you for the info - please take whatever update-schedule that fits for you *hugs*


PS: seems like here and on Tapastic the topic is a certain cleric learning how to cope in a team...

rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:47 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Thank you Mjkj! :) I think I've come up with a schedule I'm comfortable with. I'll share it next week!

I do spend a lot of time in the comic focusing on party dynamics, primarily because it's something I enjoy analysing and expressing through a different medium. X3
mjkj 27th Jun 2016, 1:12 AM edit delete reply
mjkj
Great to hear *hugs Rufi* <3
kaiki83 6th Jun 2016, 6:06 PM edit delete reply
Lol this is what we did all the time on RO... hahahahahahaha... Oh the fun times we had...
rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:48 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Yep, exactly, unni! XD All those times I got flattened because you got killed and then you would have to find a way to get to my body and revive me while all the mobs we gathered would be dancing on my corpse, too... LOL
MST3KFan 6th Jun 2016, 6:14 PM edit delete reply
MST3KFan
Well, Kylie was quick to attract monsters. I guess she has a... 'magnetic personality'!

*ducks behind chair for cover*

I like how the monsters in Kylie's description all look like Pac-Man ghosts. X3
rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:49 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
*throws a Kylie plushy and magnet at MST3K* XD

And thanks for spotting that, MST3K! XD It was actually pretty intentional on my part. Very mild callback and reference to a classic representation of 'enemies' ;D
KAM 6th Jun 2016, 6:20 PM edit delete reply
KAM
So Kylie is monster baiting? ;-)
Nef 7th Jun 2016, 12:39 AM edit delete reply
Nef
\
That explains why she wanted to go alone...
rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:50 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Does... 'monster baiting' mean something other than what is being shown in the comic here? :'D
KAM 27th Jun 2016, 5:11 PM edit delete reply
KAM
No, just innuendo based on the similarity to a word that begins with M and ends with bate.
azureXtwilight 6th Jun 2016, 7:48 PM edit delete reply
azureXtwilight
Poor Cain's kokoro is brokoro~
rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:50 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
LOL Azure XDDD you poet, you
Slim Kittens 6th Jun 2016, 8:11 PM edit delete reply
Slim Kittens
Pacman called. They want their ghosts back.
Visvires 8th Jun 2016, 8:37 PM edit delete reply
Too bad. They're dead. Again.
rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:52 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
They got them back alright. A little crispy, but hey... XD
Prayformercy 6th Jun 2016, 9:04 PM edit delete reply
Prayformercy
Moneys on break and cry... lets see what happens!
rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:52 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Lolol mercy XD looks like the only thing Cain can do is... pray for mercy ;D
mjkj 27th Jun 2016, 1:16 AM edit delete reply
mjkj
*lol* <3

*shakes pun-jar infront of Rufi* <3
Jarvi 6th Jun 2016, 9:52 PM edit delete reply
Jarvi
I know this tactic as "trains" or "locust" and I love it. Never been for killing one by one mobs, the more the merrier :D
That's why I like ToS so much, all the time killing multimobs :D
rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:53 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Oooh, is that what it's called? XD I've only heard the Korean terms for this!

Multimob kills can be fantastic XD ... when it's working out the way it should, that is :'D (the number of times I died while doing it because we got too greedy or an unexpectedly powerful mob got stuck in the crowd somehow ... :'D)
CiciEnixa 6th Jun 2016, 10:54 PM edit delete reply
CiciEnixa
Oooohhhhh, I know this trick! I didn't know it was "illegal" though, but I guess I've never witnessed more than one party at one area doing this.

Something tells me from Cain's and Madou's faces that Kylie MAAAAYYYYYY have overdone things XDDD Whether that means too many monsters or too high-level monsters (or both), we'll just have to see :,D
rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:56 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Like Kylie says, it's not technically 'illegal' (at least, as far as I know) but it's definitely bad etiquette and also reportable to GMs if you spot it happening in a field being used by multiple players. The reason it's not cool has to do with spawning patterns. If one party is killing a large number of mobs in blasts, then not only do other players get less mobs (because the other mobs are getting dragged around by someone else most of the time) but there is a high chance of multiple spawns in one spot, potentially killing innocent solo-players who were just there slaying on their own. It sucks to be that solo-player. :'D (I've been that solo-player many times, dangit!)

Anywho, yes, Kylie brought over a LOT XDD and kind of both, too - they weren't TOO high-level but they certainly weren't low-level, either!
Seabiscuit 6th Jun 2016, 11:05 PM edit delete reply
Seabiscuit
"Or he'll break and cry" hahahaha~~ Such casual meaniness~
Hahahahaha, that part about it being bad etiquette! Pfft! Fond memories of my MMO days.>:D
rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:58 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Yesh, Kylie is most definitely a casual meanie XDD

I know, right? XD Sometimes even as I'm writing SF I feel like popping back on the RO server to see how things are again... XD
Nef 7th Jun 2016, 12:42 AM edit delete reply
Nef
\
I always tried to go far from others to do this kind of stuff, but then some very high level party would show up, steal all my kills, and leave me to gather monsters again... Maybe because of that, or maybe because it gets boring quickly, I don't like camping or monster farming that much.
rufiangel 26th Jun 2016, 11:59 PM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Yikes, that sounds so annoying! :'D Poor you, Nef!

It's probably best to do this sort of thing when less people are crowding the server, though understandably that's not easy to control. XD;;;
Chris the Blue 7th Jun 2016, 2:06 AM edit delete reply
Chris the Blue
Oh jeez, this is probably the first time, in my memory at least, Madou has not had that smug, assahoic grin on his face.
This is worrying.

Also, grinding for points? What is this, an RPG?
Digi5 9th Jun 2016, 1:40 AM edit delete reply
Digi5
It has been quite some time, but I can think of a time Madou hasn't had a smug grin on his face: pg 68, when Cain cast Holy Palm for the first time in the story. The expressions are remarkably similar!
Chris the Blue 9th Jun 2016, 4:45 AM edit delete reply
Chris the Blue
Oh jeez!
I remember Madou coming from way back, but I totally forgot it was that early!
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:02 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
@Digi: That's right, Digi! :D Madou is not infallible, he gets caught off-guard sometimes! ;)
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:01 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
@Chris the Blue: There are definitely points in the story so far Madou hasn't been grinning, though for sure it's his default~ XD

The fact he's dropped it is not necessarily indicative of a worrying situation, though that could be the case. He might be feeling more comfortable with the party to show how he's actually feeling, too. ;) Just a thought!

(And yep, Madou's been here since Chapter One, even before Nemi showed up! ;)
Chris the Blue 27th Jun 2016, 12:09 AM edit delete reply
Chris the Blue
Awww, he's becoming part of the group!
Matt Knab 7th Jun 2016, 5:03 AM edit delete reply
Matt Knab
They're just adding a little training to their training!
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:05 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Lolol Matt XD that's right! Adding an 's' to training! ... Straining? :'D
Crestlinger 7th Jun 2016, 5:28 AM edit delete reply
Not just that she pulled small army of Mobs, but that she pulled multiple elites of the strongest monsters in the region. Revive ImPending Cain.
Digi5 9th Jun 2016, 1:46 AM edit delete reply
Digi5
Madou's expression is very similar to his expression when Cain cast Holy Palm against him and Leela (all the way back on pg 68!), so I think you might have something there!
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:06 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
@Digi: Madou certainly wasn't expecting so many! XD
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:06 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
@Cresty: Don't worry, Kylie is smart enough not to go over the edge! XD; Though she did toe the line a bit... :'D
HeSerpenty 8th Jun 2016, 3:45 PM edit delete reply
HeSerpenty
You know.. I just started playing Final Fantasy...aaaand I feel like your comic is kind of teaching ME about proper etiquette for parties and groups on the game X'D-- I never noticed that til now! so cool!

Anyways... its go time, boys!!!
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:07 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Ahahaha Serpy XD I'm glad that you're finding the comic useful in learning tidbits for actual gaming experiences, LOL! <3

I know, they're just lounging around twiddling their thumbs while Kylie is out working, yeesh XD time to pull their weight, too!
MysticJanus 9th Jun 2016, 2:59 AM edit delete reply
Reminds me of the days of grinding my cooking skill in FFXI. Farming bees for honey and beehive chips (to make more honey) in order to make various au lait drinks. Doing this as a White Mage without a Thief subjob made it a very tedious thing to do.
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:09 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Oh gosh, I haven't played FFXI but that predicament does sound oddly familiar XDD must be the same across all RPGs, farming for that particular item drop that's necessary to do things :'D And that *does* sound tough. Trying to get items is definitely always easier with a thief!
mjkj 9th Jun 2016, 7:58 PM edit delete reply
mjkj
@author comment: *hugs Rufi* take your time, Rufi, and take care of yourself, and see to that you get enough rest... *hugs*
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:09 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Thank you, Mjkj~~ ;3;*
Damatris 10th Jun 2016, 9:16 PM edit delete reply
Damatris
Fast way to level up tho.
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:10 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
It definitely is, Dama-nee XD that's why Kylie's forcing Cain through this! ;D

Oh!! And I noticed you dropped a lot of comments all over the pages, you crazy person you <33 *hugs* thank you so much for catching up on SF, I know how busy you've been! ;3;* <33
TheD-Wrek 11th Jun 2016, 8:13 AM edit delete reply
TheD-Wrek
Omg, lol. Love that little monster chase scene. So cute. X)
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:10 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
Ahahaha, thank you, D! XD; I had fun drawing it, too; originally it was just going to be explained in dialogue but then I thought portraying it via 'diagram' would be more fun, I'm glad the extra work paid off! <3
Outlaw 20th Jun 2016, 9:57 PM edit delete reply
Outlaw
I love this comic.
I can't wait to see their strategies in play! So exciting!
rufiangel 27th Jun 2016, 12:11 AM edit delete reply
rufiangel
<333 ;3;* Thank you so much, Outlaw, I'm always so sincerely bolstered by your kind words!

I do hope I showed the strategy off properly in the next page, it's hard drawing so many darn mobs at once! XD;;