Penny Arcade - Comic - GTFOOH

Dog

Penny Arcade - Comic - GTFOOH

Videogaming-related online strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Includes news and commentary.

Read the full story here

KoopahTroopah

I stream Hearthstone every now and again, and it's always in the back of my mind that someone watching will find lethal before I do which keeps me on my toes. Though when it happens, it's awful and it makes me feel worse at the game. Great comic.

Showsni

If twitch had a shorter delay there'd be much less missed lethal in online card games.

Though, most of the Hex streamers I watch are pretty good at spotting it...

Skull2185

What does lethal mean in this context?

Cuz like... I know that word, but they way it's being tossed around here is like Chinese to me.

donavannj

Skull2185 wrote: »

What does lethal mean in this context?

Cuz like... I know that word, but they way it's being tossed around here is like Chinese to me.

Same. I play a couple physical TCGs/CCGs and their online counterparts (if they have one) and this "lethal" terminology is completely foreign to me, like it originated in Hearthstone itself.

GDT1985

Well, using context clues, I surmise "lethal" means you have the resources in hand to win the game.

jwalk

I've played Magic since 1993 or so, and assorted online variants, and never heard it either. I assume it means you have/had a way to win the game this turn. And yes, I've missed a lot of those, but I've watched opponents miss them also.

donavannj

GDT1985 wrote: »

Well, using context clues, I surmise "lethal" means you have the resources in hand to win the game.

It seemed like a specific play when I first saw it in the comic.

Just went to look it up now and it just means you have the resources between your current hand and field of play to win that turn. What I'm now curious about are it's origins, as I've never heard it while playing MTG, Pokemon, or YGO.

Lethal sounds crazy easy to miss in Hearthstone, actually.

KalTorak

"have lethal" (having the ability to win the game/kill the opponent) or "have lethal on board" (having the ability to win/kill the opponent just from the public elements of the game, not including cards in hand) are fairly common where I play Magic and I think I've heard it on Hearthstone videos, but it varies.

Showsni

Right, "lethal" is when there is a play available to you that will let you win. Similar to "having the win on the board" (where you can win just with the cards you already have in play), but including cards in hand. Sometimes it's only potential lethal - you have enough to win, but your opponent might be holding a card that could stop you (or a secret in Hearthstone, I guess). The term was probably popularised by Hearthstone, where (since the opponent is unable to react) it's usually easy to spot is lethal is available, but I imagine it derives from the Magic concept of "lethal damage" - dealing enough damage to a creature to kill it.

Darkewolfe

jwalk wrote: »

I've played Magic since 1993 or so, and assorted online variants, and never heard it either. I assume it means you have/had a way to win the game this turn. And yes, I've missed a lot of those, but I've watched opponents miss them also.

I'm quite certain it originated from magic tournaments. It's been around forever.

Munkus Beaver

It certainly came from MTG. Dealing lethal damage has been a thing forever, and "have lethal on the board" or "next turn I'll have lethal" have likewise been phrases.

SabreMau

"Having lethal" is more or less equivalent to "your move, mate in 1" in chess.

dennis

That's all well and good, but the important questions haven't been addressed yet: what does "lethal" mean and where does it come from?

SabreMau

dictionary.com wrote:

adjective
1.
of, relating to, or causing death; deadly; fatal:
a lethal weapon; a lethal dose.
2.
made or carried out to cause death:
a lethal chamber; a lethal attack.
3.
causing great harm or destruction:
The disclosures were lethal to his candidacy.


Word Origin and History for lethal
adj.

1580s, from Late Latin lethalis, alteration of Latin letalis "deadly, fatal," from letum "death," of uncertain origin. Form altered in Late Latin by association with lethe hydor "water of oblivion" in Hades in Greek mythology, from Greek lethe "forgetfulness."

It's gaming context flows naturally from that. Your character is there, and the other player's character is there, and it's just the two of them, and your character puts the other player's character's body in your van, and you are the winner.

shadowysea07

pfft. this and sabremaus comment were both more funny than they should be.

ziddersroofurry

I haven't heard the term 'lethal' in relation to M:TG in a long time. I got into the game when it first came out and took part in a few tournaments but I've never been that great a player. I think the last time I saw that word in conjunction with Magic was back in '94.

Damn I'm old.

YoungFrey

I can say Loadingreadyrun & Limited Resources say it fairly often. "Lethal on board". "Swing for lethal".

bwanie

SabreMau wrote: »

dictionary.com wrote:

adjective
1.
of, relating to, or causing death; deadly; fatal:
a lethal weapon; a lethal dose.
2.
made or carried out to cause death:
a lethal chamber; a lethal attack.
3.
causing great harm or destruction:
The disclosures were lethal to his candidacy.


Word Origin and History for lethal
adj.

1580s, from Late Latin lethalis, alteration of Latin letalis "deadly, fatal," from letum "death," of uncertain origin. Form altered in Late Latin by association with lethe hydor "water of oblivion" in Hades in Greek mythology, from Greek lethe "forgetfulness."

It's gaming context flows naturally from that. Your character is there, and the other player's character is there, and it's just the two of them, and your character puts the other player's character's body in your van, and you are the winner.

Home:00
Visitor:01