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* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/claiming-the-throne-part-2-5-grimdark Wicked Uncle's torture options]] include a variety of horrific fates, but also "non-elven wine".
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* ImpossiblePickleJar: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/i-cast-maslows-hammer In a spectacular case of overdoing it,]] the Sorcerer manages to open the Oracle's pickle jar... with a ''fireball''.
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* ImpossiblePickleJar: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/i-cast-maslows-hammer In a spectacular case of overdoing it,]] the Sorcerer manages to open the Oracle's pickle jar... with a ''fireball''.
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** Likewise, Sorcerer if a bit too fond of his {{Fireballs}}. [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/i-cast-maslows-hammer Even if it's just to open]] an ImpossiblePickleJar. Naturally, he's a bit at a loss on [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/damage-type how to deal with a forest fire.]]
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** Likewise, Sorcerer if is a bit too fond of his {{Fireballs}}. [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/i-cast-maslows-hammer Even if it's just to open]] an ImpossiblePickleJar. Naturally, he's a bit at a loss on [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/damage-type how to deal with a forest fire.]]
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** Likewise, Sorcerer if a bit too fond of his {{Fireballs}}. [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/i-cast-maslows-hammer Even if it's just to open]] an ImpossiblePickleJar.
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** Likewise, Sorcerer if a bit too fond of his {{Fireballs}}. [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/i-cast-maslows-hammer Even if it's just to open]] an ImpossiblePickleJar. Naturally, he's a bit at a loss on [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/damage-type how to deal with a forest fire.]]
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* FlyingBroomstick: Bizarrely, not used by Witch but by Druid instead. [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/travel-planning Unfortunately, it doesn't accommodate]] her ''Allosaurus'' animal companion.
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* SarcasmBlind: Necromancer seems to have trouble with dry wit, to her teammates' misfortune.
-->'''Necromancer:''' Do you need healing?\\
'''Succubus:''' No. I ''prefer'' my blood to be ''outside my body''.\\
'''Necromancer:''' Oh ''good''. I was getting worried.
-->'''Necromancer:''' Do you need healing?\\
'''Succubus:''' No. I ''prefer'' my blood to be ''outside my body''.\\
'''Necromancer:''' Oh ''good''. I was getting worried.
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* TheBerserker: Barbarian, of course, can enter a berserk rage in combat. [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/a-tempered-temper And sometimes out of combat, too.]]
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* CaptainErsatz: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/original-character Kineticist]] is an obvious serial-number-filed-off, DistaffCounterpart of Aang from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', despite TheRant's pointed disclaimer.
-->Similarities to any popular animated franchise you might be thinking about are purely coincidental.
-->Similarities to any popular animated franchise you might be thinking about are purely coincidental.
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* ArtShift: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/style "Style"]] is a one-shot panel done in an {{Animesque}} style.
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* ArtShift: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/style "Style"]] is a one-shot panel done in an {{Animesque}} style. Complete with BishieSparkle for Wizard, which Thief would like to stay.
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* ArtShift: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/style "Style"]] is a one-shot panel done in an {{Animesque}} style.
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* ImpossiblePickleJar: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/i-cast-maslows-hammer In a spectacular case of overdoing it,]] the Sorcerer manages to open the Oracle's pickle jar... with a ''fireball''.
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* WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer: Arcane Archer solves all his problems with magical arrows, [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/utility-shot even when it doesn't make sense]].
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* WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer: WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer:
** Arcane Archer solves all his problems with magical arrows, [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/utility-shot even when it doesn't makesense]].sense]].
** Likewise, Sorcerer if a bit too fond of his {{Fireballs}}. [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/i-cast-maslows-hammer Even if it's just to open]] an ImpossiblePickleJar.
** Arcane Archer solves all his problems with magical arrows, [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/utility-shot even when it doesn't make
** Likewise, Sorcerer if a bit too fond of his {{Fireballs}}. [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/i-cast-maslows-hammer Even if it's just to open]] an ImpossiblePickleJar.
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* MorphicResonance: The Druid can wild-shape, but she keeps her braided hair and color scheme whenever taking an animal form, as well as a tell-tale green leaf on her head.
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Dewicking Bi The Way.
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* BiTheWay: Thief is bisexual, which she casually reveals after Wizard is permanently gender-swapped.
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* IfItsYouItsOkay: Thief is bisexual, which she casually reveals after Wizard is permanently gender-swapped.
-->'''Thief:''' Sorry, hon, I'm ''neutral''. My alignment goes ''both'' ways.
-->'''Thief:''' Sorry, hon, I'm ''neutral''. My alignment goes ''both'' ways.
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* TheRoleplayer: Wizard loves having a complex character backstory (and flaws). Leaning into the DramaQueen, as he's overjoyed when learning his evil uncle overthrows his parents and stole their kingdom. And after a GenderBending incident, ''she'' insists this should [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/core-values lead to a tragic breakup with her girlfriend]], Thief, despite the [[IfItsYouItsOkay latter not giving a hoot]].
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* TotemPoleTrench: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/boosties A bunch of small-sized characters]] (Oracle, Gunslinger, Monk and Summoner) resort to piling up and hiding under a cloak in an attempt to be allowed riding a griffon ride with a " "[[YouMustBeThisTallToRide You must be this tall" sign.
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* TotemPoleTrench: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/boosties A bunch of small-sized characters]] (Oracle, Gunslinger, Monk and Summoner) resort to piling up and hiding under a cloak in an attempt to be allowed riding a griffon ride with a " "[[YouMustBeThisTallToRide You must be this tall" tall]]" sign.
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Though each strip is mostly self contained, the comic does maintain a loose overall continuity in the form of recurring characters. There are also occasionally story arcs that play out over multiple strips.
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Though each strip is mostly self contained, self-contained, the comic does maintain a loose overall continuity in the form of recurring characters. There are also occasionally story arcs that play out over multiple strips.
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* {{Crossover}}: The comic has one with ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'' ''Rusty and Co.'' has the ''Handbook of Heroes'' cast as background characters in one arc, and ''Handbook of Heroes'' has a five-strip series featuring their characters interacting with members of ''Rusty and Co.''
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* {{Crossover}}: The comic has one with ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'' ''Rusty and Co.'' has the ''Handbook ''The Handbook of Heroes'' cast as background characters in one arc, and ''Handbook ''The Handbook of Heroes'' has a five-strip series featuring their characters interacting with members of ''Rusty and Co.''
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-->'''Lich:''' It says here that you are a "''vampire werewolf''".\\
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'''Lich:''' Don't be so ''hard'' on yourself. Sure, your backstory is a little ''extra'', but--\\
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'''Lich:''' A really ''shitty backstory''. I ''get'' it.
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* TotemPoleTrench: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/boosties A bunch of small-sized characters]] (Seer, Gunslinger, Monk and Summoner) resort to piling up and hiding under a cloak in an attempt to be allowed riding a griffon ride with a YouMustBeThisTallToRide condition.
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* TotemPoleTrench: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/boosties A bunch of small-sized characters]] (Seer, (Oracle, Gunslinger, Monk and Summoner) resort to piling up and hiding under a cloak in an attempt to be allowed riding a griffon ride with a YouMustBeThisTallToRide condition." "[[YouMustBeThisTallToRide You must be this tall" sign.
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* TotemPoleTrench: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/boosties A bunch of small-sized characters]] (Seer, Gunslinger, Monk and Summoner) resort to piling up and hiding under a cloak in an attempt to be allowed riding a griffon ride with a YouMustBeThisTallToRide condition.
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* YouMustBeThisTallToRide: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/boosties A griffon ride handled by a female orc]] is under such a condition. This forces a bunch of small-sized characters to resort to a TotemPoleTrench to be allowed.
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* GenreRefugee: Most of the characters fit the Medieval Fantasy setting, but Street Samurai is clearly from a much more CyberPunk universe.
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* GenreRefugee: Most of the characters fit the Medieval Fantasy setting, setting (whether western or eastern-inspired), but Street Samurai is clearly from a much more CyberPunk universe.
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* SquareRaceRoundClass: Pugilist, introduced in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/small-packages "Small Packages"]], is a kobold brawler.
-->'''Fighter:''' (''getting strangled'') But you... Racial... ''Strength penalty...''\\
-->'''Fighter:''' (''getting strangled'') But you... Racial... ''Strength penalty...''\\
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* SquareRaceRoundClass: Pugilist, introduced in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/small-packages "Small Packages"]], is a kobold brawler.
brawler. Despite her small size, though, she quickly proves to be a PintSizedPowerhouse.
-->'''Fighter:'''(''getting strangled'') ''[getting strangled]'' But you... Racial... ''Strength penalty...''\\
-->'''Fighter:'''
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* WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer: Arcane Archer solves all his problems with magical arrows, [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/utility-shot even when it doesn't make sense]].
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* TheSmurfettePrinciple: For the first three years of the strip's run, Thief is the only woman in the main party. Averted after Wizard is turned female too.
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* SquareRaceRoundClass: Pugilist, introduced in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/small-packages "Small Packages"]], is a kobold brawler.
-->'''Fighter:''' (''getting strangled'') But you... Racial... ''Strength penalty...''\\
'''Pug:''' Say ''"dex is best stat." Say it!''
-->'''Fighter:''' (''getting strangled'') But you... Racial... ''Strength penalty...''\\
'''Pug:''' Say ''"dex is best stat." Say it!''
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'''Vampire Werewolf:''' I'm an ''abomination''.\\
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'''Vampire Werewolf:''' You don't understand. In the ''[[TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness World of Dimness]]'', "abomination" is a ''technical'' term for a--\\
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* {{Crossover}}: The comic has one with ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo''. ''Rusty and Co.'' has the ''Handbook of Heroes'' cast as background characters in one arc, and ''Handbook of Heroes'' has a five-strip series featuring their characters interacting with members of ''Rusty and Co.''
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* {{Crossover}}: The comic has one with ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo''. ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'' ''Rusty and Co.'' has the ''Handbook of Heroes'' cast as background characters in one arc, and ''Handbook of Heroes'' has a five-strip series featuring their characters interacting with members of ''Rusty and Co.''
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* GenreRefugee: Most of the characters fit the Medieval Fantasy setting, but Street Samurai is clearly from a much more CyberPunk universe.
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* JewelersEyeLoupe: Wizard [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/priceless offers his tiefling girlfriend a priceless heirloom cloak...]] and she pulls out an anachronistic eye loupe. (She's a Thief, so it's to be expected.)
-->'''Thief:''' So... if you had to translate "''value beyond measure''" into ''gold pieces''?
-->'''Thief:''' So... if you had to translate "''value beyond measure''" into ''gold pieces''?
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* OfficialCouple: Wizard and Thief are an item. Wizard changing gender mid-comic doesn't change a thing. It's often used to contrast their respective, very different approaches to role-playing a relationship.
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* FurAgainstFang: Parodied for all it is worth in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/vampire-werewolf "Vampire Werewolf"]], which is the result of a Patreon Poll on whether to introduce a vampire or werewolf as new character, and ended up a perfect 50/50 split.
-->'''Lich:''' It says here that you are a "''vampire werewolf''".\\
'''Vampire Werewolf:''' I'm an ''abomination''.\\
'''Lich:''' Don't be so ''hard'' on yourself. Sure, your backstory is a little ''extra'', but--\\
'''Vampire Werewolf:''' You don't understand. In the ''[[TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness World of Dimness]]'', "abomination" is a ''technical'' term for a--\\
'''Lich:''' A really ''shitty backstory''. I ''get'' it.
-->'''Lich:''' It says here that you are a "''vampire werewolf''".\\
'''Vampire Werewolf:''' I'm an ''abomination''.\\
'''Lich:''' Don't be so ''hard'' on yourself. Sure, your backstory is a little ''extra'', but--\\
'''Vampire Werewolf:''' You don't understand. In the ''[[TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness World of Dimness]]'', "abomination" is a ''technical'' term for a--\\
'''Lich:''' A really ''shitty backstory''. I ''get'' it.
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* CatGirl: Magus is a catfolk, with cat-like ears and tail, and some personality traits such as a short attention span. In [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/cat-herding "Cat Herding"]] she tries setting up a meeting of cat-like races, to little avail.
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* {{Crossover}}: The comic had one with ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo''. ''Rusty And Co'' had the ''Handbook of Heroes'' cast as background characters in one arc, and ''Handbook of Heroes'' had a five-strip series featuring their characters interacting with members of ''Rusty and Co''.
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* {{Crossover}}: The comic had has one with ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo''. ''Rusty And Co'' had and Co.'' has the ''Handbook of Heroes'' cast as background characters in one arc, and ''Handbook of Heroes'' had has a five-strip series featuring their characters interacting with members of ''Rusty and Co''.Co.''
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''The Handbook of Heroes'' is a one-panel gag-per-day webcomic based on ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. Each panel begins with a line of advice from the titular "Handbook of Heroes", then shows player characters applying (or mis-applying, or failing to apply) that advice in a humorous manner.
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''The Handbook of Heroes'' is a one-panel gag-per-day webcomic based on ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''.''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' (more specifically, the 3.5[[superscript:th]] edition SpinOff ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}''). Each panel begins with a line of advice from the titular "Handbook of Heroes", then shows player characters applying (or mis-applying, or failing to apply) that advice in a humorous manner.
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!! ''The Handbook of Heroes'' contains examples of:
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* TooManyHalves: A character appearing in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/special-snowflake "Special Snowflake"]] proclaims herself to be half-angel, half-dragon, and half-catfolk, to Thief's amusement.
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* TooManyHalves: A character appearing in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/special-snowflake "Special Snowflake"]] proclaims herself to be half-angel, half-dragon, and half-catfolk, half-catfolk (and maybe some other halves, her diatribe is cut short), to Thief's amusement.
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----
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* TooManyHalves: A character appearing in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/special-snowflake "Special Snowflake"]] proclaims herself to be half-angel, half-dragon, and half-catfolk, to Thief's amusement.
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* TooManyHalves: A character appearing in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/special-snowflake "Special Snowflake"]] proclaims herself to be half-angel, half-dragon, and half-catfolk, to Thief's amusement.amusement.
----
----
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Fixed typo.
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* GenderBender: Wizard, who starts the comic as male, ends up being permanently transformed into a woman as
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* GenderBender: Wizard, who starts the comic as male, ends up being permanently transformed into a woman as by a magic spell.
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Creating works page
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''The Handbook of Heroes'' is a one-panel gag-per-day webcomic based on ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. Each panel begins with a line of advice from the titular "Handbook of Heroes", then shows player characters applying (or mis-applying, or failing to apply) that advice in a humorous manner.
Though each strip is mostly self contained, the comic does maintain a loose overall continuity in the form of recurring characters. There are also occasionally story arcs that play out over multiple strips.
The primary protagonists of the strip are an adventuring party, consisting of Fighter, Cleric, Thief, and Wizard (their names as well as their classes). Also frequently featured are various rival parties, including the Anti-Party (Paladin, Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Oracle), Team Bounty Hunter (Inquisitor, Ranger, and Magus), and the Evil Party (Witch, Necromancer, Succubus, and Anti-Paladin).
The comic updates Mondays and Fridays, and can be found [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/ here]]. The first comic in the archive is [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/the-handbook-of-heroes-01 here]].
!! ''The Handbook of Heroes'' contains examples of:
* AltText: Each strip has mouse-over text, usually containing an additional joke and sometimes providing additional information about the characters or world.
* AnnoyingArrows: Barbarian is introduced in "Barbarian vs. Thief" standing in front of a hail of arrows, unconcerned by them due to her high HP.
* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Fighter's player has a younger brother named Jeremy, who he finds annoying; he particularly dislikes Jeremy's insistence on playing a dragon character. After Fighter kills Jeremy's character, Jeremy switches to playing with his own group of friends in all-dragon group of characters.
* BiTheWay: Thief is bisexual, which she casually reveals after Wizard is permanently gender-swapped.
* BlindingBangs: Thief has bangs which cover the upper part of her face, hiding her eyes -- specifically, the fact that she has six of them, as a result of her tiefling heritage.
* BornAsAnAdult: Warrior, who appears to be an adult man, actually came into existence that way; he spontaneously appeared out of nothing as a result of Fighter drawing the Knight card from a Deck of Many Things.
* BornUnlucky: Thief frequently suffers from bad luck. This is stated to result from her player rolling poorly, and is amplified by proximity to Warrior (who, having been born from a Deck of Many Things, is a creature of chance and chaos).
* BulletproofHumanShield: In [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/point-man "Point Man"]], the party uses Fighter as a shield to block enemy arrows, as he has the highest HP.
* CanaryInACoalMine: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/the-handbook-of-heroes-06 "Gnomish Hireling"]] has Fighter using a gnome in a cage for this purpose.
* ChainedToARailway: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/railroad "Railroad"]] has Fighter tie his fellow party members to a railroad track in front of a train as a metaphor for an attempt to derail railroading from the GM.
* {{Crossover}}: The comic had one with ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo''. ''Rusty And Co'' had the ''Handbook of Heroes'' cast as background characters in one arc, and ''Handbook of Heroes'' had a five-strip series featuring their characters interacting with members of ''Rusty and Co''.
* {{Dracolich}}: After Jeremy the dragon is killed by Fighter, he returns as an undead dracolich.
* EvilUncle: Wizard's uncle, the appropriately-named Wicked Uncle, who kills Wizard's father and usurps the Ivy Throne of the elves.
* EvilWeapon: Fighter's sword, Mr. Stabby. A black sword with a glowing red aura that constantly chants "blood blood blood" and tries to drive whoever wields it to violence.
* ExtraEyes: Thief, a tiefling, has six eyes due to her Infernal heritage. She usually keeps them concealed behind her bangs.
* FingerInTheMail: When Wicked Uncle is holding Aristocrat prisoner, he cuts off one of her ears and sends it to the heroes along with his villainous ultimatum.
* GenderBender: Wizard, who starts the comic as male, ends up being permanently transformed into a woman as
* GrievousHarmWithABody: In [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/magic-weapon "Magic Weapon"]], Fighter uses Wizard as a club. Wizards are magic, so their bodies should count as magic weapons for overcoming damage resistance, right?
* HisNameReallyIsBarkeep: This is the norm in the comic, as most characters are named after either their class (the fighter is named Fighter, the cleric is named Cleric) or their role in the story (Wizard's evil uncle is named Wicked Uncle, the main villain is named BBEG).
* ICallItVera: Inquisitor owns a giant battle-axe which she calls "Mercy".
* IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: Anti-Paladin's introduction sees him being asked to kick a puppy to prove how evil he is. Anti-Paladin refuses on the grounds that it's not only cruel but also pointless; he's evil, not Snidely Whiplash.
* JackassGenie: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/wish-bound "Wish Bound"]] has Summoner binding an evil efreet and extorting him for a wish. The efreet is looking forwards to screwing him over.
* KilledOffForReal: While most characters who die can be resurrected (it is a ''D&D'' comic, after all), the readers were allowed to vote on one character to kill off for real. The unlucky winner was Thaumaturge, who was killed off in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/cessation-of-hostilities "Cessation of Hostilities"]].
* OnePersonBirthdayParty: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/throw-anything "Throw Anything"]] has Thief celebrating her birthday alone after discovering that her Throw Anything feat does not apply to throwing parties.
* PooledFunds: In [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/all-that-glitters "All That Glitters"]], Thief gathers her loot into a pool and tries diving in like Scrooge [=McDuck=]. It doesn't work for her.
* PrehensileHair: Witch is able to control her hair, and frequently forms it into extra arms.
* RaisedByWolves: Ranger's connection with nature and lack of speech are revealed to come from the fact that she was abandoned as an infant and raised by a pack of wolves.
* TheRant: Each strip has a rant underneath. It is usually discusses an issue raised by the subject of the comic or relates a gaming story, but sometimes introduces plot elements -- most notably, Aristocrat's true identity and reason for disguising herself as a hireling, which eventually became central to an arc of the strip itself.
* RulesLawyer: Cleric will interrupt combat to complain about the exact letter of the rules not being followed, even if it's to his allies' detriment. It's a trait which first appears in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/lawful-pedantic "Lawful Pedantic"]] and is used in a number of subsequent jokes.
* SecretIdentity: Fighter's unicorn mount, Lumberjack Explosion, secretly fights crime without the party's knowledge in the guise of the masked vigilante Horsepower.
* SelfMadeOrphan: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/the-handbook-of-heroes-13 "Tragic Backstory"]] reveals that Fighter killed his own parents at a young age, in order to become an adventurer (as everyone knows that all the best heroes are orphans).
* ShootTheHostage: When Witch takes Elf Princess hostage in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/hostage-crisis "Hostage Crisis"]], Inquisitor resolves it by simply stabbing through them both. Resurrection magic exists in this world, after all.
* SpotTheImposter: "Doppelganger" has Fighter resolving one of these dilemmas by simply killing both -- after all, they can just resurrect the real one later.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Fighter is by far the jerkiest member of the protagonist party, committing vile deeds like slaying a good gold dragon for its hoard or killing a magical talking deer for food. An [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/chaotic-naughty early strip]] confirms that his in-universe alignment is Evil.
* TooManyHalves: A character appearing in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/special-snowflake "Special Snowflake"]] proclaims herself to be half-angel, half-dragon, and half-catfolk, to Thief's amusement.
Though each strip is mostly self contained, the comic does maintain a loose overall continuity in the form of recurring characters. There are also occasionally story arcs that play out over multiple strips.
The primary protagonists of the strip are an adventuring party, consisting of Fighter, Cleric, Thief, and Wizard (their names as well as their classes). Also frequently featured are various rival parties, including the Anti-Party (Paladin, Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Oracle), Team Bounty Hunter (Inquisitor, Ranger, and Magus), and the Evil Party (Witch, Necromancer, Succubus, and Anti-Paladin).
The comic updates Mondays and Fridays, and can be found [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/ here]]. The first comic in the archive is [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/the-handbook-of-heroes-01 here]].
!! ''The Handbook of Heroes'' contains examples of:
* AltText: Each strip has mouse-over text, usually containing an additional joke and sometimes providing additional information about the characters or world.
* AnnoyingArrows: Barbarian is introduced in "Barbarian vs. Thief" standing in front of a hail of arrows, unconcerned by them due to her high HP.
* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Fighter's player has a younger brother named Jeremy, who he finds annoying; he particularly dislikes Jeremy's insistence on playing a dragon character. After Fighter kills Jeremy's character, Jeremy switches to playing with his own group of friends in all-dragon group of characters.
* BiTheWay: Thief is bisexual, which she casually reveals after Wizard is permanently gender-swapped.
* BlindingBangs: Thief has bangs which cover the upper part of her face, hiding her eyes -- specifically, the fact that she has six of them, as a result of her tiefling heritage.
* BornAsAnAdult: Warrior, who appears to be an adult man, actually came into existence that way; he spontaneously appeared out of nothing as a result of Fighter drawing the Knight card from a Deck of Many Things.
* BornUnlucky: Thief frequently suffers from bad luck. This is stated to result from her player rolling poorly, and is amplified by proximity to Warrior (who, having been born from a Deck of Many Things, is a creature of chance and chaos).
* BulletproofHumanShield: In [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/point-man "Point Man"]], the party uses Fighter as a shield to block enemy arrows, as he has the highest HP.
* CanaryInACoalMine: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/the-handbook-of-heroes-06 "Gnomish Hireling"]] has Fighter using a gnome in a cage for this purpose.
* ChainedToARailway: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/railroad "Railroad"]] has Fighter tie his fellow party members to a railroad track in front of a train as a metaphor for an attempt to derail railroading from the GM.
* {{Crossover}}: The comic had one with ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo''. ''Rusty And Co'' had the ''Handbook of Heroes'' cast as background characters in one arc, and ''Handbook of Heroes'' had a five-strip series featuring their characters interacting with members of ''Rusty and Co''.
* {{Dracolich}}: After Jeremy the dragon is killed by Fighter, he returns as an undead dracolich.
* EvilUncle: Wizard's uncle, the appropriately-named Wicked Uncle, who kills Wizard's father and usurps the Ivy Throne of the elves.
* EvilWeapon: Fighter's sword, Mr. Stabby. A black sword with a glowing red aura that constantly chants "blood blood blood" and tries to drive whoever wields it to violence.
* ExtraEyes: Thief, a tiefling, has six eyes due to her Infernal heritage. She usually keeps them concealed behind her bangs.
* FingerInTheMail: When Wicked Uncle is holding Aristocrat prisoner, he cuts off one of her ears and sends it to the heroes along with his villainous ultimatum.
* GenderBender: Wizard, who starts the comic as male, ends up being permanently transformed into a woman as
* GrievousHarmWithABody: In [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/magic-weapon "Magic Weapon"]], Fighter uses Wizard as a club. Wizards are magic, so their bodies should count as magic weapons for overcoming damage resistance, right?
* HisNameReallyIsBarkeep: This is the norm in the comic, as most characters are named after either their class (the fighter is named Fighter, the cleric is named Cleric) or their role in the story (Wizard's evil uncle is named Wicked Uncle, the main villain is named BBEG).
* ICallItVera: Inquisitor owns a giant battle-axe which she calls "Mercy".
* IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: Anti-Paladin's introduction sees him being asked to kick a puppy to prove how evil he is. Anti-Paladin refuses on the grounds that it's not only cruel but also pointless; he's evil, not Snidely Whiplash.
* JackassGenie: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/wish-bound "Wish Bound"]] has Summoner binding an evil efreet and extorting him for a wish. The efreet is looking forwards to screwing him over.
* KilledOffForReal: While most characters who die can be resurrected (it is a ''D&D'' comic, after all), the readers were allowed to vote on one character to kill off for real. The unlucky winner was Thaumaturge, who was killed off in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/cessation-of-hostilities "Cessation of Hostilities"]].
* OnePersonBirthdayParty: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/throw-anything "Throw Anything"]] has Thief celebrating her birthday alone after discovering that her Throw Anything feat does not apply to throwing parties.
* PooledFunds: In [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/all-that-glitters "All That Glitters"]], Thief gathers her loot into a pool and tries diving in like Scrooge [=McDuck=]. It doesn't work for her.
* PrehensileHair: Witch is able to control her hair, and frequently forms it into extra arms.
* RaisedByWolves: Ranger's connection with nature and lack of speech are revealed to come from the fact that she was abandoned as an infant and raised by a pack of wolves.
* TheRant: Each strip has a rant underneath. It is usually discusses an issue raised by the subject of the comic or relates a gaming story, but sometimes introduces plot elements -- most notably, Aristocrat's true identity and reason for disguising herself as a hireling, which eventually became central to an arc of the strip itself.
* RulesLawyer: Cleric will interrupt combat to complain about the exact letter of the rules not being followed, even if it's to his allies' detriment. It's a trait which first appears in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/lawful-pedantic "Lawful Pedantic"]] and is used in a number of subsequent jokes.
* SecretIdentity: Fighter's unicorn mount, Lumberjack Explosion, secretly fights crime without the party's knowledge in the guise of the masked vigilante Horsepower.
* SelfMadeOrphan: [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/the-handbook-of-heroes-13 "Tragic Backstory"]] reveals that Fighter killed his own parents at a young age, in order to become an adventurer (as everyone knows that all the best heroes are orphans).
* ShootTheHostage: When Witch takes Elf Princess hostage in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/hostage-crisis "Hostage Crisis"]], Inquisitor resolves it by simply stabbing through them both. Resurrection magic exists in this world, after all.
* SpotTheImposter: "Doppelganger" has Fighter resolving one of these dilemmas by simply killing both -- after all, they can just resurrect the real one later.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Fighter is by far the jerkiest member of the protagonist party, committing vile deeds like slaying a good gold dragon for its hoard or killing a magical talking deer for food. An [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/chaotic-naughty early strip]] confirms that his in-universe alignment is Evil.
* TooManyHalves: A character appearing in [[https://www.handbookofheroes.com/archives/comic/special-snowflake "Special Snowflake"]] proclaims herself to be half-angel, half-dragon, and half-catfolk, to Thief's amusement.
