Line #62 WMG/FriendshipIsDragons


1	[[foldercontrol]]
2
3	[[folder:General / The Players]]
4	[[WMG: The DM is male.]]
5	He thought it would be a good campaign for a bunch of girls. And since everyone else is female, we have to incorporate a Brony analogue in there somewhere.
6
7	[[WMG: EVERYBODY is male.]]
8	* {{Jossed}}. Everypony but the GM has been referred to with female pronouns OOC.
9	[[WMG: Spike's story about the origin of dragons in Equestria is TheLegendOfChekhov.]]
10	…Or rather, the GM ''intends'' for it to be. However, given how the players hadn't paid enough attention to the opening monologue to realize the importance of the Elements of Harmony, the chances of that going as planned will be... rather slim.
11	* Alternatively, when we finally get to the upcoming episode "Dragon Quest" in-comic, this is gonna be the longest setup in a webcomic ever since 8-Bit Theater's 4 white mage combo, at which point only Fluttershy will be able to tell it is time for the migration because she was paying attention to Spike's speech.
12	** Partly confirmed in ''Dragonshy'' when it's revealed that [[spoiler:all dragons come from another universe, meaning Fluttershy's druid powers won't work on them]]…something only Fluttershy knew because she actually listened to the story, while Twilight and the rest had ignored it.
13
14	[[WMG: Twilight will assign some of the others the ''wrong'' Elements.]]
15	As in, the GM intended for some of the characters to have different Elements from {{Canon}}, and is surprised when Twilight names and assigns Elements he didn't expect to some of her teammates. For instance, he might have intended for Dash to have [[BrutalHonesty Honesty]] and Applejack Loyalty, or for Applejack to have Generosity due to her being so helpful and [[TeamMom guiding the others]].
16
17	"Magic" may not have been his original idea for the sixth Element's name, either. Everyone just ends up going with it because she's so obviously on a roll/into it that they don't have the heart to interrupt.
18	* Jossed. The DM didn't even intend for the players to receive the Elements in the first session. Twilight's player just put the pieces together and guessed the sixth Element's secret name.
19
20	[[WMG: While G4 doesn't exist, the first three generations do. The GM is basing this world on what she thinks Franchise/MyLittlePony should be.]]
21	And her name is Lauren Faust.
22
23	[[WMG: The GM is Discord.]]
24	Or rather, Discord will be an NPC [[AuthorAvatar fashioned in the GM's image.]]
25	* {Jossed.} At least somewhat. Discord is a friend of the DM, who co-[=DMs=] the 'Return of Harmony' arc.
26
27	[[WMG: The GM {{Nerf}}s the Apple Clan.]]
28	AJ's player originally intended for the ''whole clan'' to stay and work in Sweet Apple Acres, earning lots of money for her adventuring career. The GM decides this is too overpowered and cuts it down to just Big Mac, Granny Smith and Apple Bloom in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E4ApplebuckSeason Applebuck Season]]".
29	* Justification will be either:
30	** Applejack's parents were killed by monsters, giving her a tragic backstory and reason for becoming an adventurer.
31	** Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom will be AJ's husband and daughter ''rather than'' brother and sister, to parody all the incest clopfics.
32
33	[[WMG: Rainbow Dash's and Rarity's alignments will slowly but surely change to ChaoticGood and [[NeutralGood Good]], respectively.]]
34	A special point in the Mane Six is that despite their flaws, all of then are good ponies who would never intentionally harm somepony, but we have two characters here who are openly evil(admittedly, Rarity did try to hide, but didn't work). However, through experience with their new-found friends, they will learn that there is more on it that just themselves. Rarity is already starting to change, by doing a truly selfless act without thinking twice([[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic as in canon]], giving her tail to Steven Magnet), and Rainbow Dash is the element of Loyalty, while it COULD lead to a EvenEvilHasLovedOnes situation, she will start to care too much for the ponies around her to actually stay evil.
35
36	This will also give small life lessons to their respective players, who will start giving deeper thought to their regular actions.
37	* Impossible. The game is based off of 4E. There is no ChaoticGood and NeutralGood. Merely Good.
38	** What I meant is ACT as if ChaoticGood[=/=]NeutralGood. I am aware the alignments work differently, but the actions stay the same regardless of what it says on the character sheet. jerk-ish and tough-acting Good strikes me as ChaoticGood actions, and Rarity's actions so far gives off the idea of NeutralEvil style of Evil, becoming Good would lead to anything but LawfulGood(she is a thief, after all).
39	* RD's player ''did'' make the "EvenEvilHasLovedOnes" argument; however, this isn't completely {{Jossed}}. Rarity's player is established as a devoted Roleplayer who might wish to act out a gradual alignment change as CharacterDevelopment, and Dash's could still make the shift over time despite herself.
40	* Rarity has officially shifted to "Unaligned".
41
42	[[WMG: Rarity's player is (or will become) the DungeonmastersGirlfriend.]]
43	Spike's flirting with her is {{Foreshadowing}}. If the relationship already exists, the other players aren't aware of it yet, or ''mostly'' unaware, with them eventually figuring it out over time. Otherwise, the pair will get a RelationshipUpgrade over the course of the series.
44
45	[[WMG: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic do exist in the comic's universe, and part of the condition to take on the campaign was to never had watch it before.]]
46	Except Twilight's player did watch it before, she just haven't realized it because she just watched the last few minutes of the second episode, and could only remember it because she thought it was incredibly awesome, it only kicked in when Applejack was arriving into the scene, and she finally noticed the similarities.
47
48	She will mention it by the end of the session, but only to the other players, at which point they agree to keep it a secret, as a way to thank Twilight for that awesome end of session.
49
50	[[WMG: [[Webcomic/SomethingPositive Davan]] and his friends are the ones playing the game.]]
51	[[https://somethingpositive.net/comic/pony-struggles/ Based on this strip]]
52
53	[[WMG: Applejack is the DungeonmastersGirlfriend]]
54	When Applejack comes up with a reason for why her character would be in Canterlot, the GM replies: "There we go. That's my girl." That's a surprisingly tender thing to say to someone. [[AuthorAvatar Bear in mind the creator has said]] [[WishFulfillment that A.J is his favourite character...]]
55
56	[[WMG: Some of the player' names]]
57	* Twilight's player: [[Creator/TaraStrong Tara]]
58	* Rarity's player: [[Creator/TabithaStGermain Tabitha]]
59	* The GM: [[Creator/LaurenFaust Lauren]]
60	* The GM playing Discord: [[Creator/JohnDeLancie John]]
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Cutie Mark Crusaders WMG, YAY!]]
64	[[WMG: The Cutie Mark Crusaders will also be {{Player Character}}s.]]
65	This could be for a variety of reasons.
66	* Not all of the regular players will be able to show up to every session, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders are created to try and avoid [[NeverSplitTheParty splitting the party]].
67	* Side-effect of Applejack creating such a big family: the GM expects her to ''do'' something to flesh them out more.
68	* An attempt to draw Fluttershy's player [[TheQuietOne out of her shell]] and make her a more confident player. If she plays one of the Crusaders (most likely Sweetie Belle), the events of "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E17StareMaster Stare Master]]" will be initially focused on teaching her DivergentCharacterEvolution.
69	* Punishing Dash's player for all her complaining by illustrating how it could be worse: she could be a Pegasus who can't even fly and has even ''less'' reason to go adventuring!
70
71	And the reason they keep ComicallyMissingThePoint on how to get their Cutie Marks…? Their players don't want to get 'locked into' a special talent before inspiration hits!
72
73	* In keeping with this, Twist, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon will be {{NPC}}s the GM designed not only to flesh out the game world and give them recurring characters to interact with, but to have premade characters in case the other players show interest in joining the Cutie Mark Crusaders' campaigns.
74
75	[[WMG:Who will play the CMC?]]
76	Based on the above theory, if the Cutie Mark Crusaders are not played by new arrivals to the campaign and are taken up by people we already know:
77
78	* '''Apple Bloom''': Twilight's player, trying to expand her repitoire and prove she's not completely reliant upon magic.
79	* '''Sweetie Belle''': Pinkie's player: given how Rarity reacts to her main, having the SpoonyBard play her little sister as well [[RuleOfFunny would be hilarious]].
80	** Fluttershy's player could also work, though "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E17StareMaster Stare Master]]" would require considerable rebalancing.
81	* '''Scootaloo''': RD's player, hoping for more action. She could also be attempting to groom Scoots as a potential backup character in case anything happens to Dash.
82
83	In all these cases, their 'main' characters showing up could be balanced by the DM temporarily playing them as a NPC, or handwaving their access to information, such as [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E17HeartsAndHoovesDay Twilight's book]].
84	* Potentially {{Jossed}}, as they appeared in a guest comic showing a [[WhatIf potential future campaign where the setting has caught on]]. However, Apple Bloom has also debuted in the strip proper during the "Bridle Gossip" arc as an NPC.
85
86	[[WMG: The Cutie Mark Crusaders will be played by Applejack's(Apple Bloom), Rarity's(Sweetie Belle) and Rainbow Dash's(Scootaloo) players' younger sisters.]]
87	It will all start in a day they have a session planned and one of then have to babysit her sister, so the other two offer to take their younger sisters with then so the kids would be busy with each other while they play, and they get a bit too interested in the game, so the GM gives off the idea of having then playing too, while AJ, Rarity and RD are against it, everyone else likes it and they play the session by introducing the CMC.
88
89	The reason Scootaloo isn't Rainbow Dash's sister in game is the same meta-reason we have [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic in canon]], the GM thought it would be too dangerous for a young filly be the sister of the ChaoticEvil[[invoked]] barbarian, so they have her as Dash's biggest fangirl instead.
90	* One of them could be a younger ''brother'' instead…
91	** Little boys could be a little disgusted by the idea of playing with ponies, but could surely work for the tomboy-ish Scootaloo.
92	[[/folder]]
93
94	[[folder:Adapting Future Campaign Episodes]]
95	[[WMG: Owlowiscious will be Twilight's player attempting to get a new familiar.]]
96	Since the GM [[{{NPC}} provides Spike's characterization]], she'll get annoyed enough with his snark to try and replace him with a new familiar -- one who ''can't talk''. The GM responds by [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E24OwlsWellThatEndsWell attempting to lay]] [[GuiltBasedGaming one massive guilt trip on her]].
97
98	[[WMG: Gilda and Trixie will be failed attempts at adding a SixthRanger...]]
99	...Both of which are played by another gamer with previous experience playing with Applejack, Dash and Rarity's players.
100
101	First, Dash takes a cue from how Applejack effectively 'bribed' the GM with a detailed character history by offering up the idea of Gilda as an old school friend. Though reluctant to incorporate a PC griffon, the GM agrees to give them a chance, especially since Dash seems to be roleplaying for once...! Unfortunately, Gilda's player is needlessly critical of the setting and characters, and gives Fluttershy's player grief for being a {{Noob}}, scaring her off.
102
103	Trixie, meanwhile, is a pure [[MinMaxing Min-Maxer]] who makes Twilight's player worry that she's falling into the same trap... or isn't optimized well ''enough'' compared to the other's expertise. She targets and humiliates Applejack, Dash and Rarity due to past grievances with their respective players. Her {{God Mode Sue}}ing leads to the GM specifically targeting her.
104	* Trixie will be optimized for PVP, but ends up completely outclassed when dealing with a large monster with massive damage reduction or excess HP from being a solo monster, and her skill set will be crap for the necessary skill challenge to soothe it.
105	* Apparently not, she was Natalie's character in the ''Grand Line'' crossover.
106
107	[[WMG: "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E8LookBeforeYouSleep Look Before You Sleep]]" will see Rarity and Applejack's players arguing about the roleplay element.]]
108	With Rarity thinking that the other mun doesn't use the extensive {{Backstory}} she's created for AJ ''correctly'' and is treating the Apple Clan as mindless, shallowly characterized labor. AJ's player defends her decisions as practical and accuses Rarity's mun of overthinking things.
109	* This could {{Foreshadow}} "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E12CallOfTheCutie Call of the Cutie]]", with the GM deciding to make AJ flesh out her family more by giving Apple Bloom ADayInTheLimelight.
110
111	[[WMG: Discord will be the GM's way of giving Rainbow Dash's player exactly what they wanted.]]
112	Mainly, [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor a serious threat]]. This will cause behind-the-scenes drama, with Dash's player getting so fed up she ditches the RP group entirely, knowing that will leave the setting scuttled without her Element to defeat Discord. This recontextualizes the big chase scene into a confrontation between the players as they force Dash to admit she's more attached to the campaign than she wants to admit.
113
114	[[WMG: Discord is the GM's attempt at 'rerailing' the campaign.]]
115	Though the changes he had to make in response to Twilight's taking the series OffTheRails work at first, the GM isn't completely satisfied. (If the series is kept entirely in order, he could be disappointed by the results of the Grand Galloping Gala…or, alternately, irritated by the players' reactions to it, or generally continuing complaints of the series not having enough 'action'.) [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E1TheReturnOfHarmonyPart1 The Return]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E2TheReturnOfHarmonyPart2 of Harmony]] arc, then, is meant to stick the group back on a [[{{Railroading}} road]] suspiciously similar to his ''original'' plans, starting with {{De Power}}ing the party.
116
117	Along the way, he reveals lingering frustration with how each of the players has conducted themselves thus far. In particular, Discord singling out Rainbow Dash for a far more [[SadisticChoice sadistic version]] of a LeaveYourQuestTest comes off as his attempt to ensure she doesn't handle it the same way as her first one. This leads to hurt feelings across the board, and the group seemingly on the verge of breaking up entirely.
118
119	On top of this, when Fluttershy's player doesn't go along with his [[BreakTheCutie plans for her]], the GM actually [[spoiler:'''seizes her character sheet''' and plays out her Fluttercruel]], bringing her player to tears and making the others [[WhatTheHellHero even more outraged]] and screaming that TheGMIsACheatingBastard.
120
121	Their reactions eventually get the GM to realize he's become so focused on 'fixing' the campaign he's forgotten the all-important [[RuleOfFun Element of FUN]]. This also foreshadows his loosening up enough to start giving the players more solo/semi-solo [[ADayInTheLimelight mini-campaigns]], playing with the world they've created more.
122
123	Plus, there's something ironic about the Embodiment of Chaos being used in a heavyhanded attempt to force '[[{{Railroading}} Order]]' upon the player party…
124
125	[[WMG: "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E14TheLastRoundup The Last Roundup]]" sees AJ's player trying to [[PutOnABus put her on a bus]].]]
126	She could have intended this as a ''temporary'' change, in order to try playing a different character concept for a while before [[TheBusCameBack bringing her back]] later, or a more permanent switch-up. Either way, the whole thing gets dragged OffTheRails when the rest of the group, instead of meeting her replacement, decide to go after her instead.
127
128	[[WMG: [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E16ReadItAndWeep Daring Do's quest]] is a solo campaign for Dash's player.]]
129	Giving her an outlet for the sort of dungeon-crawling adventure she's more familiar with.
130	* Instead of the conflict being Dash not wanting the others to know she's gotten into reading, perhaps her player's more concerned with keeping the others from discovering she's become so invested in the 'girly ponies' setting she's started playing ''another'' adventure in it.
131
132	[[WMG: [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E1TheReturnOfHarmonyPart1 The Return of]] [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E2TheReturnOfHarmonyPart2 Harmony arc]] will be ''majorly'' contextualized as a [[PlayerVersusPlayer PvP]]-esque tournament.]]
133	* Discord will, [[BigBad of course,]] be the final boss.
134	* Rather than the Mane Six being [[FanNickname "discorded"]] within the game, the players themselves will simply be frustrated over continually failing in tournament battles and will end up taking it out on each other, both in- and out-of-character.
135
136	[[WMG:The [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E24MysteryOnTheFriendshipExpress Friendship Express Incident]] will be a catch-up quest for Twilight]]
137	After all, [[OutOfFocus she wouldn't have been tested much lately]]. [[spoiler:And Garyx knows she's going to need the experience points very soon.]]\
138	So why a detective mystery? Well, just as Dash's player is [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E16ReadItAndWeep fond of standard D&D]], Twi's player is probably a fan of {{PoliceProcedural}}s, if not the Franchise/AceAttorney series itself. The DM would likely be very familiar with the latter. And Pinkie's player is either also a fan of that, a fan of mysteries, a great actress, or a general otaku. Bonus points for her coming to the session with either the Sherlock Holmes hat or a trenchcoat. The other Players would have had a setup meeting with the DM the night before. [[spoiler:And, depending on how the DM wants to play out the following episodes, she may also need the ''specific'' practice.]]\
139	[[spoiler:This could also be a bookend for [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E8TheMysteriousMareDoWell a previous solo-focus session]]; Twi's player probably confided in the DM that she'd rather be in Rainbow's hooves for that quest and this is the team's way of showing their appreciation.]]
140
141	[[WMG: For the Royal Wedding, Twilight will MetaGame to figure out that something is afoot.]]
142	While the other players complain about the lack of action.
143	* They'll probably try to Metagame by the time Twilight makes her accusation, but be unable to by the DM declaring that one of the innocuous random rolls was actually a Will Save [[spoiler:against Crystallis' mass ''Charm Person'' area enchantment, the five failed their saves,]] leaving them unable to change the plot.[[note]]Twilight's player made her save on that very particular roll, so she's allowed to make her attempts.[[/note]]
144
145	[[WMG: For the Royal Wedding, the ponies will be called out ''not'' for ditching Twilight...]]
146	But for invoking NeverSplitTheParty.

Context WMG / FriendshipIsDragons