History Webcomic / FriendshipIsDragons

* RealityEnsues: During the ''School Raze/What Lies Beneath'' arc, the GM puts the player characters in tests designed to make them face the biggest fears of their species. But the fears of the characters' species don't necessarily cross over to the ''players''- for instance, Yona's player[[note]]Normally Fluttershy's player[[/note]] isn't arachnophobic, and Ocellus' player[[note]]Normally Twilight Sparkle's player[[/note]] is completely fine with being changed into Chrysalis, as she thinks she'll get new abilities as a result. Also, while Gallus' player[[note]]Normally Rainbow Dash's player[[/note]] is genuinely freaked out by the crystal trap, it's not because of claustrophobia- it's because her fear is getting crushed by a puzzle she's too dumb to solve.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/friendship-is-dragons_2622.jpg]]

* NotHisSled: [[spoiler:Rainbow ''doesn't'' get Discorded during the ''Return of Harmony'' campaign; rather than abandon her friends to go and save "Cloudsdale", she stays and punches Discord in the face.]][[note]]This caused [[spoiler:[[OffWithHisHead his head to explode into whipped cream.]] [[NoSell He promptly grew a new one.]][[/note]]

* NotHisSled: [[spoiler:Rainbow ''doesn't'' get Discorded during the ''Return of Harmony'' campaign; rather than abandon her friends to go and save "Cloudsdale", she stays and punches Discord in the face.[[note]][[OffWithHisHead This caused his head to explode into whipped cream.]] [[NoSell He promptly grew a new one.[[/note]]]]

-->'''Twilight Sparkle''': What in the world are YOU upset about? Hasn't everything, for once, gone according to your "master plan?"

* GoodCopBadCop: Rarity's enhanced negoiation with the Diamond Dogs casts Rainbow Dash as the 'bad cop', though it takes her a minute to realize this.

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Pinkie and "transmogrify".

* KarmaHoudini: Averted with [[spoiler:Zecora in "Bridle Gossip"]], who is arrested for their crimes.

* {{Irony}} (Situational): As the GM eventually points out, the events of their second campaign have a parallel to what they ''wanted'' to happen in the first campaign: mainly, the players be rendered "beaten, helpless, fearing for (their) lives..."

** [[http://friendshipisdragons.thecomicseries.com/comics/317]] [[VideoGame/ColossalCave "You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike."]]

''[[http://www.friendshipisdragons.com Friendship is Dragons]]'' is a CampaignComic that follows that story of six girls as they play through a new ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' campaign setting, one that just happens to closely resemble ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. The girls behind the ponies range from a {{Roleplay}}er to a [[HeroicComedicSociopath Psychopath]] and from experienced gamers to a pair of [[{{Noob}} Newb]]s. The players themselves have not been named, and of particular note is the fact that the comic is explicitly set in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' universe, using 4e rules.

** TheMunchkin: Twilight, a bit. She decided to make magic her special talent to make her character stronger, but she's new to the tabletop and didn't know that power-gaming like that is frowned upon.

** From Twilight's teammates and the GM when she announces [[spoiler:the Elements of Harmony are within her friends]].

** The entirety of issue 1295 is [[spoiler:Twilight's player]] reacting to finding out [[spoiler:her character could become a princess]].

* BroadStrokes: While the basic events of the episodes remain the same, the author has thrown in some extra scenes (such as Twilight writing another letter to Celestia just before [=NightMare=] Moon's arrival or talking to the more experienced players after their first session wraps up) or changed how they play out (like [[spoiler:Fluttershy botching her roll and Rarity going over the cliff]]).

** The [[spoiler:Swarm of the Century]] arc was completely derailed, leading into a combined session based off the events of ''A Bird in the Hoof'' and ''A Dog and Pony Show''.
** The latter of the above has gone askew several times, with a complete reversal of [[spoiler:the "This is whining!" scene]] and the attempted rescue nearly getting derailed by Twilight deciding [[spoiler:it simply wouldn't be in-character for her Lawful Good wizard to spend any time with the Rogue Rarity]].

** ''Luna Eclipsed'' has Rarity's player playing as Luna [[spoiler: due to Rarity getting blacklisted by the Thieves Guild.]] However, [[spoiler: someone is trying to deliberately sabotage Luna's public image, and the players suspect it to be the work of the Thieves Guild.]]

* ChekhovsSkill: The site includes a [[http://www.friendshipisdragons.com/cast/ Cast List]] with stat sheets for the players, which are updated after every campaign. This includes information on their skills which can come into play in the strip, such as [[spoiler:Fluttershy having a 15 in Intimidate]].
** Before embarking on the ''Dragonshy'' arc, the players outlined how they'd upgraded their characters. Among these, AJ mentions how she took [[spoiler:Alertness and Evade Ambush]], meaning that [[spoiler:she can't ever be surprised and can keep her allies from being surprised]]. Several arcs later, she reminds the GM about this during [[spoiler:the Diamond Dog's attempted ambush]].
** The cast page was updated with Angel Bunny's stat block before the ''Feeling Pinkie Keen'' arc. [[spoiler: It's annoying abilities later caused Pinkie to [[RageQuit blow up the King Timberwolf.]]]]

* ElephantInTheLivingRoom: After the "Bridle Gossip" campaign, the GM decides to directly address this by asking the players if they weren't satisfied with how the session turned out. Though they have several gripes, AJ points out that perhaps the biggest elephant in the room is [[spoiler:how the GM manipulated Pinkie's player]].

* HeroicBSOD: Twilight and her player suffer one in the first arc when [[spoiler:Nightmare Moon shatters the Elements]].

* HopelessBossFight: [[spoiler: Nightmare Moon was intended to be this.]]

* IShallTauntYou: [[spoiler:Dash tries to goad the Shadowbolts into showing aggression so she can attack.]]

* {{Irony}} (Situational): As the GM eventually points out, the events of their second campaign have a parallel to what they ''wanted'' to happen in the first campaign: mainly, the players [[spoiler:be rendered "beaten, helpless, fearing for (their) lives..."]]

* KillerGameMaster: [[ZigZaggingTrope Zigzagged]]. The GM is fond of giving the players enough rope to hang themselves with, and when their plans get completely derailed, they flip out. However, they're also willing to recognize and reward the players' hard work… but nearly [[spoiler:ends the campaign after their first session because Twilight scuttled all their original plans]].
* KillerRabbit: Being based on an imp assassin who nearly wiped the party three times in a past campaign, Angel Bunny is a literal example of this trope. [[spoiler: When it fights the King Timberwolf, Pinkie just decides that it explodes because she doesn't want to deal with its annoying abilities]].

* LargeHam: Rarity's player busts out the ham when she realizes [[spoiler:what Twilight's trying to do with the Elements of Harmony]].

* LethalJokeCharacter: During the ''Webcomic/OnePieceGrandLine3Point5'' {{Crossover}}, Luke tries to play [[spoiler:''Owlowisicious'']] like this.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: PlayedForLaughs when Rarity's player makes her overreact to Twilight's pointing out [[spoiler:how she helped the sea serpent]] in this fashion.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: At the end of the Nightmare Moon arc, the GM invokes this by telling Twilight's player that [[spoiler:they can't play anymore because she utterly demolished all of the original plans]]. Fortunately, the others call them on this.
** [[spoiler: Twilight's player does it again, this time taking out the parasprites before they become a problem.]]

** The CMC's make a darn good attempt at this in objection to Fluttershy's request to find her rabbits; they accuse her of being evil instead and attack her. [[spoiler:This turns out to be a very bad idea; see TotalPartyKill, RocksFallEveryoneDies and OhCrap.]]
** [[spoiler: Twilight does it again, this time taking out the parasprites before they become a problem. Luckily, the GM thinks fast, and creates a new storyline, this one based on "A Dog and Pony Show" and "A Bird in the Hoof" and quite possibly "Fall Weather Friends" as well.]]
** [[spoiler: The climax of the Grand Galloping Gala arc features the ''author himself'' going OffTheRails. His plot ending up diverging so far from the show that he could not illustrate it with actual screencaps, and was forced to get a friend to make many pages of ''fake'' screencaps to allow him to show his final battle.]]
* OhCrap: The CMC's reaction to realizing that [[spoiler: the quest giver they just attacked was a 15th level druid.]]
** Twilight has a major OhCrap [[http://www.friendshipisdragons.com/comics/158 moment.]]
* PassiveAggressiveCombat: After Twilight derails the [[spoiler:Swarm of the Century]] plotline, the GM uses Celestia to engage in this.

* PoorCommunicationKills: Seen in "Bridle Gossip", and [[spoiler:averting this is how Twilight derails the GM's plans]].

* RageAgainstTheMentor: After the party, Twilight surprisingly contacts Celestia again to call her out over acting like she didn't know the legend of the Mare in the Moon. Celestia's response is basically [[spoiler:telling her flat-out that the fate of the world does, in fact, rely on her ability to make good friends]].

** In ''Bridle Gossip'', the GM uses the NPC Apple Bloom to drive the plot, until Twilight [[OffTheRails derails everything]] by deciding to [[spoiler:simply go and explain everything to the citizens of Ponyville to enlist their help]].

** Actually happens in one of the bonus strips [[spoiler:when the [=CMCs=] try to derail the plot by accusing Fluttershy of being evil when she sets them a fetch quest, promptly attacking her familiar, Angel. Fluttershy promptly reveals herself to be a 15th level druid and wipes them out.]]
** Then is announced when [[spoiler:the GM is 'subtly' informed that the dragon's snores would probably cause avalanches on their own, regardless of how loud the players are.]]

* SequenceBreaking: [[spoiler:Nightmare Moon was supposed to take up the entire campaign, and they got through it in a night.]]
** [[spoiler: Done again when Twilight just takes out the parasprites.]]

* TotalPartyKill: Happens to the CMC's [[spoiler: due to them derailing the {{Game Master}}'s plot and attacking Fluttershy as evil, when she was just trying to set them a fetch quest. She turns out to be a 15th level druid.]]

** "From the Invisible Desk of [[spoiler:Elusive, to the thief known as Rarity]], yadda yadda...[[spoiler:"Blacklisted"?]]"

* WhamShot: At the end of the "Sweet and Elite" arc (right after the above Wham Line), [[spoiler:Rarity's player has an idea for how she can continue playing. Cue screenshots from [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E4LunaEclipsed Luna Eclipsed]], suggesting that she will take over the role of Princess Luna]].
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: [[WordOfGod Newbiespud]] detailed how the [[spoiler:Swarm of the Century]] arc would have played out if Twilight hadn't completely derailed it: [[spoiler:the Parasprites wouldn't deal much damage to the [=PCs=], but drain their ability to heal while gobbling up all the food and keeping them from resting. Pinkie Pie's search for instruments would be her 'taking 20' on her Streetwise task, with the others trying a shorter, more direct approach.]]

** In the first arc, [[spoiler: this is averted, to the GM's misfortune and ire.]]
** [[spoiler: TWICE. The second time is Twilight taking out the parasprites.]]

** ''The Ticket Master'' arc is actually comprised of several different arcs. Known arcs included as of now include ''Suited for Success'', ''Sonic Rainboom'', and ''Hurricane Fluttershy'', with potentially more.

''[[http://www.friendshipisdragons.com Friendship is Dragons]]'' is a CampaignComic that follows that story of six girls as they play through a new ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' campaign setting, one that just happens to closely resemble ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. The girls behind the ponies range from a {{Roleplay}}er to a [[HeroicComedicSociopath Psychopath]] and from experienced gamers to a pair of [[{{Noob}} Newb]]s. The players themselves have not been named (except for Applejack's player, who was revealed in a crossover event to be named Rika), and of particular note is the fact that the comic is explicitly set in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' universe, using 4e rules.

''[[http://www.friendshipisdragons.com Friendship is Dragons]]'' is a CampaignComic that follows that story of six girls as they play through a new ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' campaign setting, one that just happens to closely resemble ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. The girls behind the ponies range from a {{Roleplay}}er to a [[HeroicComedicSociopath Psychopath]] and from experienced gamers to a pair of [[{{Noob}} Newb]]s. The players themselves have not been named, and of particular note is the fact that the comic is explicitly set in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' universe, using 4e rules.

** ShutUpHannibal: Rarity shuts down another rant with ''[[http://friendshipisdragons.thecomicseries.com/comics/325/ one sentence]]'':
-->'''Rarity:''' You tried to ''enslave'' me.\\
''[BeatPanel]''\\
'''Diamond Dog:''' Uh... It was supposed to be ironic?

--->'''Pinkie Pie:''' Have fun StormingTheCastle!
--->'''Rainbow Dash:''' Think it'll work?
--->'''Applejack:''' [[Film/ThePrincessBride It would take a miracle.]]

--> '''Fluttershy''': You do Not! Hurt! My! Friends! You got that?

-->'''Rarity:''' "You tried to ''enslave'' me."\\
* BeatPanel*\\
'''Diamond Dog:''' "Uh... It was supposed to be ironic?"

--->'''GM''': After a couple hours of study, you figure out that the flower has some kind of natural enchantment built into it. But the effect of the enchantment eludes you.\\
'''Twilight''': Really? That's it for a 29?\\
'''GM''': A bit lower and you wouldn't have learned anything at all. The dormant enchantment was extremely tough to spot.\\
'''Twilight''': Well then. I guess nothing else is going to happen tonight. I go to sleep.\\
'''GM''': While you're asleep, something happens...\\
'''Twilight''': Dammit!

-->'''Rainbow Dash''': Since I'm a pegasus, I can use a cloud to make thunder and lightning and zap people! Mwahahahahaaaa! Fear the vengeful thunder god!
-->'''GM''': Excuse me?! Are you seriously going to zap little kids with lightning?!
-->'''Rainbow Dash''': Of course not. Geez. I'm gonna zap the ADULTS so that the KIDS run screaming! And it's only like a few volts. The thunder boom's doing most of the work.
-->'''GM''': ...Still morally objectionable, but... slightly less so. (''sigh'') You may proceed, for now.

* [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes Even Evil Has]] TrueCompanions: How Dash's player justifies having the Element of Loyalty. Just because she's Chaotic Evil doesn't mean she won't stick by her friends no matter ''what'' others (or the GM) say.

* [[ForgotICouldFly Forgot You Could Fly]]: Dash keeps reminding everyone that she and 'the Druid' can fly. Including the Druid.

* [[MetaGame Meta Gaming]]: Twilight gets caught in a conundrum when the player knows something about Rarity, but the character does not.

* [[{{Noob}} Newb]]: Both Twilight and Fluttershy's players are new to roleplaying. Twilight is well versed in the rules of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', while Fluttershy is less interested in the rules than she is in the setting itself.

* [[PrecisionFStrike Precision D-Strike]]: When the GM tries to get AJ's player to provide justfication for using one of her skills:

* [[ScrewYouElves Screw You Po-Nies]]: The head Diamond Dog's rant in "[[http://www.friendshipisdragons.com/comics/310 Subversion]]."

* [[VideoGameCaringPotential Tabletop Game Caring Potential]]: the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HGRfvc-8Lc&list=WL906AB2ACA31F26A1 300th Strip Celebratory Motion Comic]] recounts a group of players destroying [[MontyHaul a mountain's worth of Phat Lewt]] so they could keep the girl [[WouldNotHurtAChild taking said lewt would have killed]] as [[ImTakingHerHomeWithMe a surrogate daughter,]] and they now pick up toys for her in addition to adventuring sundries with their rewards.

* [[YouAllMeetInAnInn You All Meet In A Tavern]]: Referenced and avoided, much to the consternation of Dash's player.

--> '''AJ''': "Then what the heck is Nightmare Moon up to anyhow? Is she waitin' outside or somethin'?"
--> '''AJ''': ".. Aw, shoot, I just answered my own question."
* YouCantThwartStageOne: [[spoiler: Averted, to the GM's misfortune and ire.]]

The author of the comic also hosts a semi-weekly livestream role-play podcast known as [[WebOriginal/FalloutIsDragons Fallout Is Dragons,]] which also involves ponies and tabletop roleplaying.