BlackMage slipping?
 

IDK...seems like Richard (LFGcomic) is kind of taking over as my new favorite.
BM been somewhat lacking, if not losing it, as of late.

I expect nothing short of carnage performed upon me by BM fans, and I would very much like the master to set an example for them to follow in one of the next strips to come.

It's not so much BM slipping as everyone becoming more moderated. Everyone was very madcap at the start, but RM hasn't referenced RP rules in a while, nor has Fighter obsessed as much about swords. Thief has taken more to pummeling RM than robbing towns blind. BM simply settled down in the same way. He's not as lustful of WM, nor has he overexerted himself stabbing anyone, and he seems more keen to do a nonfatal stab to the head than a fatal one to the back these days. Plus, WM has evolved into a serious b****, which completely contrasts the innocent, reluctant to cause pain, and generally healer-ish WM we were first introduced to.

I think Brian's just doing his style. Like in his awesome book that you must buy now even if you have a copy already, Nuklear Age, he starts off more wildish, looser attitude. Just less serious overall. As the book goes on, it gets heavier and heavier as things develop in direct contrast to how...well, lighthearted the beginning was.

Same with 8bit. It's earlier episodes are more "HAHA" laughs. Blatant jokes that deserve the credit they get.

But as a story progresses, you have more character to work with and can make more elaborate, and less "Har har stab you" funny. Intricate humor that doesn't often get the credit it deserves, as I think a lot more work/effort/thought/drugs goes into the later series.

The comic hasn't lost it's early charm -- you still see RM doing rules-lawyer esque things, Fighter's still got some sword gags, BM frequently stabs people, Thief is as much a conniver as ever.

It's evolved, I guess is the word i'm looking for. If you liked the older episodes more, well that's just a preference I guess. I don't think any of the characters are lacking in who they are -- they're probably a quite bit more nowadays.

8Bit: Characters Evolved.

Yeah, to be fair, Richard has been pure undiluted awesome so far, but keep in mind Black Mage was that way at one point too. Chickens and hatching and all that.

Well, character development due respect and all...to me:
BM executing unspoken cruelty for no other than sake of deriving the sadistical pleasure of causing suffering = fun(ny).
BM contemplating things, which do not involve and evolve to evil master plans that are to end in the infinite torment of countless souls = teletubbies.

You can trust me to deliver a swift kick in Richard's heiny as well if he ever drop the ball on that.

Why is it that so many people have been complaining about how the characters have been changing? It may only be a sprite comic, but that doesn't mean it has to remain completly static? Of course characters are going to change in the story, but I think everyone has been exaggerating how much BM has changed.

to be honest, I've always seen WM the most unchanged character in the comic. In fact, the only thing different from past WM and present WM is present has slightly lower patience (of course, when a guy like BM loves you, thats bound to happen)

my dad however, has gone from an almighty Dark God of the Dark to a simple middle class Mortal Affairs worker who really frikking hates his job.

BM is a bit less homicidal and maniacal, but not by much

Fighter is FAR smarter compared to the early days.

and as much as i cant beleive, Theif hasnt been acting, well....theify lately.

o and RM has gone from an RPG addict to a planner whose plans are doomed to fail in the most horendous and agonizing way possible

Looking back at the very first strips, Fighter actually wasn't dumb merely drift-minded and not focused, perhaps albeit slow in the mind, as well as naive, but not dumb.

Too bad he never found the Cave of No Return, this mystical armor would've come in handy in quite a few situations he's been through.

Au contraire mon fraire! They did indeed find the Cave of No Return here.

As to the mystical armor of invincibility you make reference to, well, due to confusion caused by poor old lady hearing, Fighter instead ended up with the Armoir of Invincibility.