For my illustration final! I honestly only worked on this for a couple days so there's a lot I could have fixed up but it's all good! I'm planning on doing more of these in the future (specifically one scene from episode 46 that'll be a labor of love)
/ milkychai
/ milkychai
/ milknchai
the best part of this is that Taako just wore the sword as a fashion accessory for a while
Through the entire time they almost died many many times in Wonderland, none of them thought once to use the ridiculously powerful sword Taako had strapped to his back. Like, I get in the beginning they didn’t want to because they knew it would be unbalanced, but they all *almost died* at least once in there!!
@@beckgh7270 Well, it was never intended to actually be used in the campaign. It was cool of the Tres Horny Boys to honour this, and then when the sword made a comeback in the climax? Hoo, boy, what a moment.
I’m pretty sure Justin realized it was a game-breaking weapon and didn’t want to use it until the very, very end out of respect for Griffin
He literally said “this is basically just a spoiler like on a car”
@@DrFunkman Plus it killed Travis for Magnus not to get to use it.
The moment when Griffin realizes what Justin is about to do is so good.
Griffin's reaction is absolutely the best moment in the whole series.
I literally watch this just for that moment
Just the meek "OH my God"
It literally never gets old
@Tait Samansky if Jester and Taako met it would be sooooo much chaotic energy and I'm here for it
What's really cool is that Justin doesn't take advantage of Griffin's screwup to overpower the team, it's only a joke. Taako doesn't give the sword to Magnus or use it, he just straps it on his back to make his teammates jealous. Everything is done to maximize humor, not combat power.
Until the finale, that is.
Ya, but it works so well for the finale, and has an amazing scene that makes everybody love it
Doesn’t that define the entire series though? “We’ll sacrifice effectiveness for comedy.”
Yes and no. Sometimes they only use the things they get for comedy, but in the case of the Flaming Raging Poisoning Sword of Doom, it starts as a joke then becomes a main weapon.
And then the live shows happened and Magnus uses it to annoy Griffin.
For anyone who's lost and needs some context, Taako the wizard bought the Slicer of Tapir-Weir Isles, which enables the user to convince anyone to trade it for their most valuable item if they pass a persuasion check. He also bought a guidebook that he can read to give him advantage on any given trait for awhile. Immediately upon purchasing the guidebook, he read the section on persuasion and proceeded to convince Garfield the Deals Warlock to trade the slicer, which Taako literally just bought from him, for the Flaming Raging Poisoning Sword of Doom, which I will add is a ridiculously OP weapon.
Thanks for posting that. I love this animation but OP really should have kept that first part in.
mastelsa what's the source for the audio?
Wrydryn that would be The Adventure Zone, which is a podcast you can download via iTunes or from their Maximum Fun site (or via another podcast app like Pocket Casts). 10/10 would recommend. It frequently has me in tears of laughter on my public transit commute.
One of the most glorious moments in podcasting.
oh I just thought it was a rock they found outside that they covered in garlic powder or something
That is the most gorgeous Taako I have ever seen
A lot of fan interpretations depict him as sort of goofy looking despite his vanity, but I love the idea that he's vain because he actually is stunning.
And then The Suffering Game happens
I appreciate that this portrayal is giving me heavy Lee-Pace-as-Thranduil vibes.
Elves man, it aint a trap if its that pretty.
You should look up "taako is cute"
This whole scene was GOLD. The build up made it even funnier, too, with it just seeming like another normal shopping trip. And you can hear the exact moment Griffin realizes how badly he's fucked up. This was an incredible animatic of an incredible scene.
same! That brief silence just before Griffin realized what was going on just /made/ it for me and I COMPLETELY lost it at that point. Thank you so much, i'm happy you enjoyed it!
I realized what he was up to the second they described the item and I was yelling "GRIFFIN, YOU FOOL! DON'T LET HIM BUY THAT" at my tablet. But it's funnier that Taako managed to pull that off.
*OH MY GOD!*
The absolute horrified realisation in griffin's first "OH MY GOD" just made me /cackle/
Yeah! I really want to find the sound clip of him using the items he bought JUST BEFORE this scene to improve his bartering. 100% calculated
This is absolutely fantastic, and Taako's eyeliner might be the most fantastic part of all.
thank you!! also i'm glad y'all are so down with the eyeliner bc i could not stop myself from adding that
Yeah, I never really thought of Takko as anything other than a standard fantasy wizard, but hot damn I cannot think of him any other way now.
man this is the SEXIEST Taako ever.
imagine how lupe looks
Instant pass on all charisma rolls
@Clippy yes
Let’s just say I want to give him my money
justins a fucking genius
Justin's mindset throughout the entire campaign was as its core, "How could I possibly break the narrative via magic bullshit?"
I love that you can pinpoint the moment that Griffin realises he fucked up super big time.
your taako is an amazing, beautiful eyeliner boy
eyeliner boi
He looks like alucard from hellsing lol
You can almost hear Griffin going through the stages of grief after he realizes what Justin is doing. This is GOLD
My coworker (who turned me onto the McElroy network of podcasts) described this Taako moment as "breaking the DM"😲. Agreed! 😂
I mean, the DM fucked up by giving the shopkeep an item that has infinite barter potential for 900 GPs.
idk about "breaking" the DM. If my players did this to me I would actually feel really good for a couple of reasons: 1) it means my players are invested enough to come up with plans like this in a somewhat creative manner and 2) if they have more power, I can be meaner and more creative with my enemy choices.
I think this moment really illustrates the trust and respect that the McElroys have for each other. Justin trusts Griffin to let this be an amazing moment and not railroad it Griffin trusts Justin to not take advantage of the moment and break the game Just really exceptional relationships that make them all better storytellers.
sometimes, things that are more expensive.... are worse.
Mook DeCappuccino yeeeessssss
The greatest part is how that sword was instantly forgotten and will never be swung ;)
It's not meant to be swung, ITS FASHION
He put it under the bed with dirty laundry and half eaten candy! XD
Forrest Prather I'm from the future and I'm here to tell you you're wrong
ConSolo29 In the end, I think we can say it was worth it.
ConSolo Magnus is currently using that sword to wreck Chris Perkins' show Dice, Camera, Action! Magnus hit a beholder with it 6 times in a round on an action surge, killing it at full health!! It was glorious... Look for episode 96, or so.
While listening to this I was nearly as panicked as Griffin, but for the complete opposite reason. I really, *really* wanted Justin to get it and I was like "oh god this isn't going to work is it it's not going to work it's not going to work" BUT LO AND BEHOLD. Holy shit Justin did it.
Yeah, imagine the disappointment in Griffin's voice if Justin had rolled horribly on his persuasion check even with advantage, then what? He doesn't get the sword? Even if the joke is killer does Griffin have to take the punchline away from his big brother? So glad it happened!
The perfect storm of events that happened to make this moment possible, though. The nature of the two submitted items, probably from people who had never met, the fact that they showed up in the same trip to FC, that Griffin chose to include both of them, and then Justin freaking DROPPING on that opportunity. I listened to the descriptions of both those items (the slicer and the adventurer's guide) and this use absolutely never crossed my mind. This was not only hilarious, but absofuckinglutely brilliant. All hail Justin McElroy.
I'm confident the person who wrote the slicer intended for this to happen
Justin is the goddamn master of improv and thinking on his feet. (Granted, "Who?" is probably the pinnacle of that, but this moment was up there!)
Agreed on all points.
Justin EARNED that sword, what fantastic roleplaying... and also poor Griffin continuing to roleplay so brilliantly even after dying, knowing he has fucked up XD
This scene nearly made me bust a gut when I first heard it. Even better animated.
Sure you don't mean bust a nut?
Joshua Fraser I busted multiple.
Joshua Fraser "Sounds fair to me!" "Nice." (In my head meme plays...) **clicks tounge** "Noice."
Just the "YEAH OKAY" Immidietly made me cry
This was such an amazing moment in TAZ. I couldn't stop laughing when I realized what was about to happen. This sword that was only included in the store because Griffin was so happy an 8 year-old had listened to their podcast and sent in a suggestion for a Costco item. This sword that was purposefully priced so that Taako, Merle, and Magnus could never buy it, even if they pooled their money together. And not only did they get it, but Taako, the wizard who does not used weapons, got it and chose to just wear it as a statement piece. Iconic.
Picture Griffin, in real life, at the moment of dawning comprehension Spinning away from the mic, his hands clasping his face in disbelief, blurting out a tortured "Oh My Gooood" It is pure perfection
i love your taako but like, more importantly. your garfield the deals warlock is the best deals warlock there has been, holy shit.
I adore this incredibly beautiful Takko.
just wanted to thank you all so much for all of the kind words! seeing this many people enjoy this was really inspiring for me and makes me want to do even more of these i'm currently working on an animatic for the other fantastic fantasy costco bit! the first 40 seconds are sketched out right now and i'll get it out as soon as i can
milkychai I love your design for taako
I would pay money for a fully animated version of this scene in your style.
Chey-Chey its ur big bro. I'm so damn proud of u with all ur art work. I had no idea it was this good. Your doing big things like I always knew you where special with your art work thanks to our big bro growing up. I love u sis keep it going. When u make it big and buy a house let me know and ill do a metal roof for u lol.
it says ep 50 but are there really 49 more episodes in this style? i really love it!
i like the extremely beautiful taako
"mm, those spices tho" i don't taz (yet) but that part had me crying
WHY WAS THIS RECCOMENDED FOR ME I ASSUME THIS IS DND BUT I DONT KNOW ANY OF THESE PEOPLE
i'd recommend checking out the podcast then. it's the funniest shit
John Todd listen to the podcast "The Adventure Zone"
It was recommended for you because KZhead knows you're missing out on something incredible.
John Todd Hopefully you've given it a listen by now: The Adventure Zone is a d&d based podcast and it's the perfect blend of weighty and ridiculous
Taako's eyeliner is always on point
I love how gorgeous Taako is :D
This was the most incredible fantasy costco so far! I was in tears when Justin pulled this on Griffin.
Kin M Costco? i don't think this has to do with warehouse stores, hahaha
It's called fantasy costco in their podcast. It's where their group spends their loot on new gear. You can even see the costco sign at the start of the video.
Kin M oh... thanks ^w^
I love your version of Taako! I always imagined him as very fine and feminine!
Heather Gray Justin himself described Taako as feminine.
What I love about this is that, even when Griffin realized how bad he just screwed up, he didn't try and walk it back or make up some reason why it wouldn't work. He accepted it, played the situation out, and trusted Justin - and Justin rewarded that trust by turning the sword into a gag and not using it until well past the point where it mattered. Plenty of DMs would just say "uhhh, crap, you can't do that" or "well actually I have this in the back that's valued slightly higher than the sword I don't want you to have." That or the player who received the sword would immediately use it to its full ability and ruin the game for the other players. Instead, both of them rolled with it, and they were rewarded with a hilarious scene and a running gag that lasted the rest of the show.
Taako is drawn so beautifully. This is the image of Taako that comes to mind every time I listen to show.
This was an absolutely BRILLIANT idea on Justin's part, I was dying laughing the whole time. Fantastic animation!
omg your taako is so pretty
I'm so uncomfortable with how attractive this cartoon is to me, lmao
1. This is some of the best Taz art and the timing's phenomenal. 2. Just some context for anyone who might have stumbled on this clip a bit too early in the story like I did: The Slicer isn't worth anything, it's just a magic item that IF you succeed in a persuasion check, it can be traded to anyone for the most valuable item they own. Taako literally JUST bought it in that FC trip, along with a Players Guide that gave him advantage on a roll of one type for 24 Hours. Justin immediately used the book to get Persuasion Advantage with Griffin thinking nothing of it, then he launched into this, and that's why Griffin's response is so big.
this part caught me so off guard and I was crying laughing for twenty minutes, because I expected taako to wait until some quest where he used it for one of the relics
You bring Taako to life fully and completely, a very good animation
Honestly this is by far my favorite TAZ animatic as well as just the biggest, most shocking, in-game con ever. This and the final Lunar Interlude are the best fiction-scams ever.
I CAN'T FCUKING BELIEVE YOU DREW GARFIELD THE DEALS WARLOC AS A CAT. LIKE I CAN' TELL WHETHER ITS UNORIGINAL A SHIT OR THE MOST AVANT GARD FCKUING MASTERPIECE IN TH WORLD BUT YOUR FINGUCK DID IT GOLD STAR.
genobrosX it's a mbmbam thing
I was aware, the comment was directed at the animator.
+genobrosX Ah, so you do know how to turn off caps lock.
You know about the comic Garfield, right? It's from that. He's a famous cartoon cat
perfunctory "What a beautiful handsome boy!" yes. thank you for your hard work and feline warlock deals. boy howdy. worked up a sweat just thinking about those lashes. very good wizard boy
I just want you to know that this video convinced me to listen to The Adventure Zone. I also just got up to this episode yesterday and all I could picture was this video!
"ah okay that sounds fair to me" *not to distant laughter* "nice!"
I'm really glad I caught up to this point in the podcast because for a long time I found this animatic perplexing, but with the full context of the scene it's great. I wonder why Justin and Travis didn't put more points into charisma when they rolled their characters, given how often they try to talk their way out of things (and engage in other sundry fast-talk).
Truly one of the most memorable moments of the show.
I really like the art style
George Taako is my favourite actor in Star Trek.
Literally my favourite scene in Balance. No contest. Emotional moments ? Sure but.... Give me Taako tricking the fuck out of Griffin and I'm golden.
THEY'RE PUTTING THIS IN THE SUFFERING GAME GRAPHIC NOVELLL
This is what first piqued my interest in TAZ. With the finale just past I have to say: thank you so much for introducing me to this grand adventure.
omg your taako is AMAZING i love this !!!!
Oh my gosh yes, the way you drew Taako is absolutely beautiful
Griffin's moment of horrified realization is the most delightful thing that ever happened in a podcast CHOCK FULL of AMAZING moments.
taako is so damn fab
This is the very first adventure zone animatic I ever saw and it convinced me to binge animatics, and then I started listening to the show. This very animatic pulled me out of a rut I had been in for months from being unemployed. I still love this animatic and I never miss an episode of TAZ. This animatic means so much to me. Thank you.
I absolutely love that Taako is like HYPER EXTRA DETAIL and Garfield is like, cat... but a dude. I feel like it really reflects how Taako sees the world: He. Is. Stunning.
Griffin’s agony makes this so, so sweet
I am so so glad to finally see an animatic/storyboard for this fantastic scene, and such a GREAT animatic at that!
I have made the "Oh my god" into my notification ringtone and I will not change it until I get tired of it. Which will be never.
I think the best part about Taako is how he always had a way to cheese any situation.
This is like my favorite moment and it makes me so happy to see it animated!
God, I will never get over just how hard Griffin played himself here. Jesus.
One of the best things is how Griffin totally didn't see this coming, and we hear the moment he gets what's about to happen. This is such a nightmare scenario for a GM. But he rolled with it and made it work.
this Taako is. so beautiful
I really love how everyone I've seen draw Taako draws him as the most beautiful guy ever :D This was so good!
I freakin fell out of my chair when I listened to this part, one of the funniest things ever.
this is so beautiful, one of my favorite scenes in the show and you did such a good job animating it!!!!!
Clint/Merle's gleefully sadistic "holy shit I can't believe that just worked" laugh at 2:24 just makes this entire bit for me.
This was peak Taako. I like the stuff they've done since then, but nothing will ever top this era of TAZ.
This was the first TAZ animatic I ever watched and I'd like to say, thank you for changing my life
This is my favorite moment of the entire arc because you can pinpoint the exact moment when Justin breaks Griffin
I love this moment so much and your Taako is too beautiful for words
This was by far one of my favorite moments in TAZ
I don't want to say that this was fully the reason I started watching TAZ but man you convinced me
I love how Griffin gets what he's going for right before everyone else
I love magnus in the background thinking, " wait, what's going on?"
When I was catching up to TAZ I was listening to this in the living room where my mother could hear. I got to this part and she caught onto what was happening right about the same time Griffin did. This single bit got her into TAZ
ok but this art is GLORIOUS
Such a sexy depiction of Taako
There are other moments I like more through this show, but as comedy bits go, I genuinely think this one is my favorite. The fact that Griffin didn't see the threat as soon as it was even presented in an email is hilarious to me.
Taako looks amazing!
oh my Pan, i LOVE your depiction of Taako. That's about what i had pictured in my head, incredible to see him drawn so lovingly. Also what a perfect scene. Thank you for making this 💜
This audio clip, and this animatic, is my happy place. Never forget.
God I would love an essay or a video or something from an economist discussing the economic implications of the Slicer of T'pier Weir Isles
I love that you didn't draw anyone saying Griffin's "oh my gods" because I'm just imagining someone in line behind the boys freaking out over this spectacular scam they're witnessing.
The way you draw Taako is freaking beautiful and amazing. I love it so much
A wonderfully ingenuous moment! Although it's a bit surprising that Griffin didn't see this coming, given that I don't think they ever came across a shop besides Garfield's during their travels.
this animatic got me into TAZ years ago, so glad to see it on my recommended list again
you know garfield shouldn't even be upset. The slicer is literally the ultimate merchants tool. Like it's magical effect is having effectively infinite value when traded for other items.
I completely lost my shit over this exchange.
I still think my favorite part is Clint losing his shit in the background
This very animatic that i literally stumbled across completely blind made me start listening to TAZ, MBMBAM, and stanning the mcleroy brothers as a whole. You have RUINED my life with your fantastic art, thank you so much.
I think this is the video that got me into TAZ, and I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, Thank you so much.
WHAT an amazingly beautiful taako!!
This was the video that made me listen to the adventure zone, so thank you for both that introduction and this beautiful illustration
This is so magnificent, the designs, the body language, expressions, so brilliant!
Listening to this was AMAZING! I almost cried in my car, I was laughing so hard
This easily makes one of my top 10 fav moments in all of Balance and you've captured it just perfectly! Except work!
Such a great illustration of one of my favorite TAZ scenes! Thank you for making it!