Useless disciples

Welcome in the second chapter! We start with some magic which sadly doesn’t want to work~ Apparently, there’s more to it than they have assumed. I’m sorry Robert, your tears are not going to help with this one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Thanks for all your votes last week! I already have one more extra comic ready for this week but it might be that I won’t be able to draw anything else this week. I’m in Fukuoka right now and the apartment we’ve rented doesn’t have a desk. Drawing on the coffee table makes my arm hurt like crazy so it’s just not worth it, I’ll go back to drawing when I’m back in Tokyo on Friday. I’m stuck with plotting and writing dialogues in the evenings, for now~ Btw, Fukuoka is pretty nice! Mountains, sea, lots of cute little cafeterias and lots and lots of sun that makes me sneeze all the friggin time, yay! Cheers to all those people who have sun-related allergies like me.

See you next week! (‘∀’●)♡

120 comments on “Useless disciples”

  1. bitflipper Camp dweller Reply

    At a guess, I’m going to say Ada’s pentacle works because she is creating it, but nobody else’s are working because they are copying Ada; all that time in High School working on pentacles that “didn’t do anything” are what taught Ada how to bring about the will-to-power that drives magic and effects a change directed by the magician’s will. The others mistakenly believe that mad is like science or engineering in that it they do what Ada is doing, then they will get the same results. However, what Ada is doing goes much deeper than just starting a pentacle; she is channeling energy through herself, shaping it with her will, and focusing it to a purpose via the action of drawing the pentacle; it is that energy, directed by the musician’s will, that actually wards away harm, not just the figure out the pentacle. A drawing is just a drawing — nothing more than lines. Energy is required to do work, to make a change, in magic just as in physics. The energy may be all around them, but it will take them years of frustration and dedicated efforts in the face of those frustrations to learn how to channel and focus it, years that Ada has already invested.

    Or maybe Ada’s just special; sorry, Rob. ;-p

      • Speedy Reply

        You’re saying he’s not on the Magic School Bus, he’s on the magic short bus? Harsh. 😉

        Of course, Ada isn’t exactly the Ms. Frizzle of magic school. She could probably be a bit more supportive of Robert’s efforts.

  2. bitflipper Camp dweller Reply

    *The others mistakenly believe that magic is like science or engineering in that if they do what Ada is doing…

    I’ve got to stop using a phone to try to post complex comments. :-/

    • Rateus Camp dweller Reply

      No. One of the most important traits a tutor needs is patience!

      • NiWo21k Reply

        Pateince….you might be rigth, but arent we talking about Ada in this case – i dont see this trait as one of her strong points 😉

  6. JW Reply

    and lots of sun that makes me sneeze all the friggin time

    I guess it’s better than sparkling, but it’s still a pretty lame kind of vampire 😛

    • NotImportant Reply

      I never thought I am one but… this suddenly makes so much sense to me ლ(o◡oლ)

      • Speedy Reply

        Vampires, Webcomic creators… They both hiss when exposed to direct sunlight.

        Your sneezes are caused by melted grey matter filling your sinuses, after the sunlight burns through your eyes and into your brain.

        Creatures of the night, such as yourself, should take heed. Your future’s so bright, you’ve gotta wear shades!

    • Dæmon Reply

      Well, if you see a sparkling vampire, make sure to let the Hellsing Organization know immediately.

  7. Rateus Camp dweller Reply

    Loving the expressions on this page. Where’s the toothpaste when you need it?

    • Rateus Camp dweller Reply

      Additionally: The new voting reward made me swoon in it’s loveliness.

  8. gally Reply

    Suggestion – some other comics do sketches when they can’t update in time. Maybe there could be a section where they are posted when pages are delayed in order to appease us readers.

    • JW Reply

      I don’t recall NI ever not updating on time (well, half a day once, maybe; but I don’t see a “by the strike of midnight” promise anywhere). So that would be a quite desolate and unappeasing section on the website. 😛

      • Klorix Camp dweller Reply

        I don’t know. I like the finished pages so much, I wouldn’t want any of that spoiled by seeing the sketches beforehand. It’d be like the movie trailers at the cinema, they reveal way too much.

        Also, I wouldn’t want to put pressure on NI. I’m fine with it if she need’s some time for other things. I want her to enjoy drawing and don’t want it to become a chore. I love this comic too much.

        • NiWo21k Reply

          I follow some other creators who do that, sometimes its interessting to see, but like you said its more intersting to see the finished page. Thats why i love seeing videos how pages come to life and why i subscribed to NIs youtube channel.

          • Klorix Camp dweller

            Yes, those videos are very interesting. All the work NI puts into each page is amazing.
            BTW, NotImportant, I’ve seen that you add your backgrounds after you’re done with the characters and stuff. Did you ever make a video of creating the backgrounds? Just asking because they look so elaborate, too.

          • NotImportant

            Yeah, sure. I have a video with the one from this page, I think. And only the background lol, because I ran out of space while recording and only the ‘drawing the background’ part saved properly xD

        • gally Reply

          i didn’t mean sketch of the page, i just meant a little doodle of something relevant like the characters doing something

      • gally Reply

        if NI can’t ever update for w/e reason then it’d be cool to have a section, i got the idea from tom over at twokinds and how he does daily stuff

        • NotImportant Reply

          I like his sketches a lot! If I ever get more ppl on Patreon and squeeze more time to spend on Replay I’d do those as well <3 Right now I just focus on never missing an update and work on the extra comic whenever I get a chance to draw more (that comic is posted as vote incentives and on Patreon and will be added to the site when it's finished, since it's a short kind of thing).

    • NotImportant Reply

      Almost 3 years and I’m yet to miss an update. Sick or in travel, page is always there! I do sketches on the side though but those stay on Twitter/Facebook/Patreon. Somehow I don’t like the idea of placing low-quality drawings here on the site heh… But I’ll keep thinking, maybe I’ll find a way to put them all here too (without being upset about it, that is).

      • gally Reply

        I think everybody would enjoy extra content. Or another idea – a lot of comic artists do an “ask X cast” kind of thing on tumblr. Raizap over at Slightly Damned does it for her patereon people. Again, just tossing ideas out and not making demands

        • NotImportant Reply

          Yeah, I thought about this too but I was afraid that it would be too spoiler’ish at this point… But maybe I’m wrong? Not sure…

          • NiWo21k

            I think it depends on what you are willing to let get through. I also know some artists who do that but they only take things that dont have to do with the story, some of them put the characters even outside of the comic so that they can even do things that the characters normally wouldnt do or say in the context of the story.

          • NotImportant

            But that feels kind of off as well, what’s the point of such questions if answers are out of character? But maybe I should just try grabbing some questions and see how it goes instead of speculating haha, I think I’ll try doing that after I’m done with First Steps, we could have some fun with Q&A/requests sketches while I write a script for the next story.

  9. Klorix Camp dweller Reply

    Aww, Sofia is even more self-conscious than Ada, but I can understand why she feels embarrassed by Rob’s behaviour.
    Get a grip, Robert!
    Love Ada’s fed-up face 😀 Glad her headache’s better, obviously, if she can do magic again, although on a much smaller scale.

    Are they even doing it right? Saying the verse out loud?

    Huh, are they making camp outside the bunker? I did not expect that, but as they already needed to leave the other building, they probably have similar if not worse problems with the ventilation system.

    Is that Filip in the background?
    Il always love the detail you put even into the background. They built themselves some nice table there.
    And I hope they did earn their rest, otherwise the guys should help if that’s more laundry by the washing through.

    • JW Reply

      I think they’re still on their way to the bunker (hence camping out in the woods), but I might be wrong.

      • Klorix Camp dweller Reply

        Yeah, it’s hard to tell. On one hand, the old camp and the bunker look quite big on the map, but also disproportionate compared to the town… This might be farther than I thought.

    • Rateus Camp dweller Reply

      “Love Ada’s fed-up face” Good job, because you see it a lot!

      • Klorix Camp dweller Reply

        Didn’t notice that a lot… though she gets angry often enough, as is the way of tsundere 😉
        And it doesn’t bother me much, as long as she’s not mad at me, that is. There’s only the fourth wall between her and us after all, and I’m afraid she could get through…

  10. Crestlinger Reply

    Step 1 Like the demons you must have no soul *points at the ginger fox.

  11. Doom Reply

    Sofia’s outfit today is very cute! Don’t think I’d enjoy wearing those shorts; I prefer my clothes’ waistband lower on the hips instead of around the actual waist. Still, if she’s comfortable that’s a very nice outfit on her.

    I love that panel 1 closeup of Ada’s beautiful face. Makes me feel like she wants to kiss me! Though I do have the odd feeling she somehow temporarily misplaced her nose somewhere.

    • NotImportant Reply

      Haha thank you! I’m always told I’m very lazy with characters’ outfits so that compliment makes me very happy haha! Not sure about Ada’s nose, it seems fine too me, but those freckles might create a bit of confusion lol

      • NiWo21k Reply

        You can try and let some of your readers create outfits for your characters – The only problem at the end: You still would have to draw them into the comic 😉

        And about Adas nose (i know i should talk about that): i didnt see it, until you two had to made it obvious -.- no i saw and said nothing – i dont want NI raising my level of difficulty 😉

      • Klorix Camp dweller Reply

        Good thing you chose to write an apocalyptic story then: there’s only so much space in a travelling bag. Robert and Ada even fit their stuff in the same bag. Ok, they did get some more clothes from the military, but still…

        I’m really not good at drawing, but I had the impression that noses are one of the most difficult body parts to draw, especially front face.

  12. Rose dub comics Reply

    Ada looks so exasperated lol and poor Robert, he just wants to be special like Ada XD

  13. Rateus Camp dweller Reply

    Everyone’s special Rob

    (Which is another way of saying no-one is…)

    • JW Reply

      Well, it just says that being special isn’t special. However, everyone might still be special in different ways.

  14. NiWo21k Reply

    Something i was wondering:
    Ni you wrote some weeks ago that you felt a little bit sad that there arent so many comments under your pages. In the last few weeks it increased a lot – how do you feel about it now 😉

    • NotImportant Reply

      Still not 100 (which we hit once, I think) but it’s much more lively so I love it 😀 <3

      • JW Reply

        We hit it at least three times (around the same time there’s tsun-tsun and unpleasant memories 2 and 3).

        I’m not really sure what’s different now, other than we already covered the topics that sparked discussions then. And I haven’t seen Refugnic around as much posting essay-length comments that invariably give me a hook or two to reply to 😉

        • NotImportant Reply

          My bad then! I suppose I just like reading those comments and get lonely when the whole discussion dies on Tuesday haha~
          And I’m sure this chapter will give you a lot to talk about. Just you wait!

          • JW

            I suppose I just like reading those comments and get lonely when the whole discussion dies on Tuesday haha~

            Yeah, I’ve noticed as well that it gets quieter as the week progresses. It makes sense of course, the comic updates Monday, everyone rushes in and comments, and then most people wait for the next update. If the Monday comments didn’t spark a discussion that brings people back to continue it the next day, then activity is mostly left to new readers, people late to notice the update, and people that take a while to decide (what) they want to comment.

            And I’m sure this chapter will give you a lot to talk about. Just you wait!

            I can’t wait!
            But I’ll have to.. So I will!

          • Rateus Camp dweller

            The new pages are so good we rush in to read them straight away. No lollygagging cos we’re eager to see where the story goes next! I do scan the comments on other visits, but not always diligently depending on how busy I am…

          • NotImportant

            Haha I need to keep your comment in mind for when you guys get quiet again 😀

          • NiWo21k

            You know how you can get more people keep talking under the pages, just say you have hidden a secret message somwhere in the pages and you want to know how clever your readers are 😀 – I at least know from one artist who did this, dont know if its still a thing 😉

          • NotImportant

            There’s a ton of little things on those pages 😀 For example – none of you realized there was a can of ‘cat food’ in the supplies Sofia and Laura were rummaging through ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

          • Klorix Camp dweller

            NI! That’s torture, you can’t just say things like that and have us wait! Where are human rights organisations when you need them?!
            On the other hand, don’t spoil the fun by giving anything away. 😉

            I guess Julia will be triggering a lot of discussion, depending on how you play it.

            Also, what the others said. But I to check in on the comments every day.
            @NiWo21k: Psssht! Don’t give her ideas! Have you been reading Sandra & Woo?

          • NotImportant

            Oh I can tell you one thing – there’ll be trouble before we get to Julia hahaha~

          • antrik

            Let’s use my newly gained magic powers! 😉

            @Klorix that’s funny: Sandra & Woo was actually the one that got me started on web comics too, pretty much…

            Well, strictly speaking, the very first was xkcd, since someone kept posting links to particularly fitting strips on an IRC channel I followed; so I finally gave in, and started reading it regularly — and for a while, it was the only one I read. But then, in a forum discussion of a particular xkcd strip, someone linked to an S&W strip for a related situation… And then I checked out Gaia too; and at first I didn’t like the graphic novel format, since it was moving so slow; but then I got hooked and went to TWC looking for more… And from there, it all went downhill 😉

            (I also read through UserFriendly at some point along the way — don’t remember when exactly — since I had heard it referenced repeatedly by various people… But at that point it had long passed jumping the shark; and it was mostly just doing “reruns”, which quite frankly is an idiotic idea for a web comic — so I never even bothered to check back after that initial archive binge.)

          • NiWo21k

            I am still curious if Julia is someone from the past (meaning we will see her in flashbacks) or if she is also a survivor (then just going from the cover we will see more of a pouting and jealous Ada – going from the cover) – but lets wait and see, but if NI sais it this way it will be something interessting 😀

            @Klorix
            Why not? She said she wanted to do more 😛 – Joke aside, to be honest, I know Sandra & Woo just from the name, but never really read it. I can’t rember exactly wich comic it was, but the artist has hidden names from (i think) readers/fans on every or some pages.

          • Klorix Camp dweller

            Ah, that sounds both interesting and tedious at the same time. I’m usually not good at solving puzzles, so I’d not bother, at least not on a regular basis. But maybe I’m just not patient enough for that kind of stuff 😉

            S&W only has very few dedicated strips with riddles. But it’s the comic that got me started on web comics a few years back and was my only one until recently (apart from the other comic of the same author). So, I might not even be here without those.

            Of course, if NotImportant feels like it, I won’t mind riddles and I’m sure some clever people will solve them and share their findings 🙂

          • NiWo21k

            To be honest i never really realised it until the author wrote under every page what name was hidden – If you want ir really extreme check out an old Atari game series SwordQuest – that was cryptic what they did with the comics…

            Its always great hearing wich comics got people started reading webcomics. Some weeks ago i found and old link list with the first comics i bookmarked and remember my first one: “Death and the Maiden” – one i just reread and still have laughed even if that just celebrated its 20 year birthday 🙂

          • NotImportant

            I know Death and the Maiden and I loved it! \(-ㅂ-)/ ♥ ♥ ♥

          • Klorix Camp dweller

            Oh, NI, how did your comment slip in between those other comments? Guess you have additional commenting/replying options…

            Cat food? … Huh, maybe – it’s kinda hard to read.
            I think I ought to search for details even more…

          • NotImportant

            Guys on Patreon have it easier since they see the pages in full resolution haha but they haven’t noticed either ლ(╹◡╹ლ)
            And I reply from admin panel, yeah, so magic happens sometimes~

          • anonymous

            Let’s try to do the same magic without the admin panel…

          • JW

            Yay, it works!

            Huh. I’m pretty sure I tried it once in the past, but maybe I just messed it up that time..

          • antrik

            I see.

            Now I wonder whether I should actually start using this, or it would be too confusing?… (And cumbersome, I guess.)

          • JW

            Its always great hearing wich comics got people started reading webcomics.

            I think my first webcomic was userfriendly; purely an environmental thing, other students in university were reading it. My breakout into the wonderful world of webcomics was probably/maybe RealLife (by Greg Dean), which led to keenspot and the realization there was a lot more (and better) to be found. My favorite from the early days was Acid Reflux (about a young Goddess getting stuck in her big sister’s hand-me-down RPG-like universe). Sluggy Freelance is probably the one I’ve been following the longest (that’s still active).
            I’m not actually sure how many (active) comics I’m still following at the moment — I tend to neglect cleaning out my webcomic bookmark folders — but there seem to be over 150 bookmarks I’m checking on at least weekly.

            Some weeks ago i found and old link list with the first comics i bookmarked and remember my first one: “Death and the Maiden”

            I didn’t know that one, looks fun so far.

          • Klorix Camp dweller

            Wow, I totally feel like a n00b. I have like 5 I’m following now, plus some more backlogged…

            @NotImportant: Even higher resolution? Interesting… Regardless of that, I’d very much like to support you on Patreon. But I need to sort things out first, because I wouldn’t want to neglect the other artists whose stories I’ve been enjoying. In the meantime, I’ll just keep clicking on that vote button on TWC and spend some time in the comments. 🙂

          • NotImportant

            NiWo21k is absolutely right and comments and votes make me very very happy so please don’t worry about the monetary support. It all goes to advertising and server bills anyway, sharing Replay does the exact same job haha~ ;D
            And I’m a webcomic noob as well, I follow maybe 5 series and read only a handful of others. I mostly read manga and watched anime and that got in me into the comic-drawing mood.

          • NiWo21k

            @Klorix
            No need to feel like a noob – these list always beginn small – mostly you start reading, caught up with the updates and then you start another one just to bridge the time until the next updates, and when one goes on hiatus then it gets complicated and your list will start getting bigger 😀

            And about supporting you favorite artist – take it from someone who does this for some time – you will never find a good way to balance it out. But you already support someone from just liking their comic, commenting, sharing, voting, buying merch etc. (thats why i always saing this at the end of my videos, because even if you cant help through money, just writing comments will lift the spirits of the artist. And you see how it makes NI happy seeing the comments under her pages are getting more and more, and how she is still +1 on the topp 100 list 🙂

            @JW
            Yeah i know that problem – i just looked through my list, and there are so many corpses i should take out. I think at the moment i am reading nearly 50 regulary and some others i look up once a month.

          • JW

            @Klorix if you want to develop a long comic-list, the tip I would give is start with lots of comics that have just started. Catching up with comics that have huge archives takes a long time, so it’s hard to get a long list going. Weekly or monthly webcomics are also easier to catch up with than daily ones.
            On the other hand, there’s little reason why you should build up a large reading list, and staying power is usually a decent indication of quality, which is more important than quantity.

            Mostly, the size of my reading list is the consequence of a well/mis-spent summer holiday. After that it was a matter of keeping up to date and occasionally stumbling and catching up on new webcomics. I seem to have started/caught up to about ten new webcomics in the last half year (almost all fairly new).

          • Klorix Camp dweller

            Well, I’m certainly not going to build up a huge comic list on purpose, but now that I’ve started, it might just happen. I’ll need to be careful and not overdo it, which I have a tendency to 😉 (It’s so much more fun than all that dumb paperwork piling up on my desk…)

          • NiWo21k

            I can give you a tipp (that helped me at least to give me some overview over my lists – and i overdo many things):
            Sooner or later it will be a bigger list (you see one that sounds interesting or you see a picture of something and check it out). I started sorting my bookmarklists. Means i have folders for every day a week, one folder called month, one folder hiatus, one irregular and one called to check out. I sort the comics after their Update days and everytime i find one i put it in the checkout folder. I know for some it sounds stupid and other see it as something obvious – but sometimes the simplest things are still the best help 😉

          • JW

            I have a similar division of lists. Though in my case it comes down more to frequently (more than once a week), infrequently (less then once a week), never (maybe I should check on those sometime) and archived (finished or given up).
            For comics I (may) want to check out I’ve got a tabgroup open, but not a separate bookmark folder. But I also still a lot of tabs with comics in my regular tabgroup, because organizing is hard.

        • NotImportant Reply

          You guys are crazy hahaha xD I love you and there’ll be an update in a moment \(-ㅂ-)/ ♥ ♥ ♥

          • NotImportant

            Right, by now I should be plenty aware that you are good at making the impossible happen hahah xD

  15. Daniel Abrecht Reply

    My guess on why only Adas’ worked: Rob is holding a stick, and a few pages ago we saw ada using her bare fingers to write the text in the middle. Given these clues, maybe the pentacles will only work if the middle text was written without using any tools.

    • Klorix Camp dweller Reply

      I just noticed the stick now and was going to comment on it, but you beat me to it.
      The description in spells section says that you should draw it with your fingers, so possible. We cannot see whether Kasper and Sofia used tools, too.

      As to the other pentacle: that seems to be a lot more forgiving in that respect.

  16. Dragon Master Reply

    LOL just had a chance to check this site and the bonus comic.
    “She really is a bit weird, you know.” “I’m pretty sure you were the inspiration.” I get that ALL the time.xD It’s nice to know that your a source of inspiration.

    • JW Reply

      I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean that she (Maya) was the inspiration for her (Ada) being a bit weird, but rather that she was the inspiration for changing her mind.
      Nevertheless, it’s an inspired way to read that bit of dialogue.

  17. xthorgoldx Reply

    Heh, Robert can’t do magic? The irony – my personal motto, when it comes to fantasy settings, is “Screw magic; magic’s for quitters.”

    MUGGLES RULE.

    • NiWo21k Reply

      He should look it at this way: Who in their momentary situation was able to fend of the demons alone with two (!) swords and even kill some of them. He is also the bodyguard of the person with the (working) magic spells so he is special in his own way but is to blind to see it 😉

      • NotImportant Reply

        He just doesn’t want to be separated from Ada in that way hahaha~ ;D

        • JW Reply

          I bet he wouldn’t mind as much if he could do magic. It must be especially aggravating for him as chuunibyou that someone else has the powers fate should rightfully have bestowed upon him.
          But at least he has cool magic katana(s*).

          (* pick whichever plural you prefer)

          • NiWo21k

            I think the Ada should come up to him and just say: What you do with your Wapons is magic! – maybe it distracts him enough 😀

          • NiWo21k

            You had to mention that…. -.-

            But yeah thats also a working distraction – but i think showing up in a magical girl costume would be overload for this fanboy 😉

          • JW

            Especially if she can do it with a magical -girl transformation. There’s still a lot of spell-slots open on the spells page, one can always dream.

          • NotImportant

            I need this animated. I need to learn how to animate or pay someone xD

          • JW

            I wouldn’t discount the possibility you have fans that would do it for free.

    • JW Reply

      “Screw magic; magic’s for quitters.”

      Screw magic is for carpenters and harlots 😉

  18. JW Reply

    You know, it’s just 9 more comments to reach 100, one final push and we can make, troops! 😛

    • NotImportant Reply

      Go ahead hahaha I need to go to sleep but that would be a nice thing to wake up to ;D I posted a new video on Replay’s youtube channel btw~

        • JW Reply

          I suppose we could just count down, but that kind of seems like cheating.

          • Klorix Camp dweller

            He said, counting down would be cheating. So, technically, stating the goal has been achieved should be ok. 😉

          • JW

            Well, purely chronologically it wasn’t just one post before, I think that was #96 or maybe #97; but it was the one before in this thread, yeah.
            But I think it’s fair enough to celebrate reaching our goal by simply shouting out we reached it. 😛

      • Klorix Camp dweller Reply

        Awesome as usual 🙂

        I like watching these more than I thought I would. Often I see details I didn’t pay attention to first or didn’t notice at all.
        How the rather flat and static pictures come to life with the shading is what impresses me most.

  19. SotiCoto Reply

    Sofia, yes. You did something wrong. You’re not wearing your glasses.

    Ginge… stop wasting time and get back to resurrecting Renate.

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