In which I give in to the hype.
Okay, I've never done something like this before, so forgive me if the format I chose here is annoying. What I'm going to do here is write my thoughts on a chapter of Fallout Equestria as they come, then give a summary of my opinions at the end of a chapter.
Prologue + Chapter 1
- Okay, the intro makes no attempt at hiding what's in store here, but it doesn't exactly tell much either.
- So, PipBucks appear to be the gadget to end all gadgets here. I know that all of the things it can do are what the Pip Boys do in the Fallout games, but that's a lot of useful abilities that other characters don't have, especially the edge in combat. (Why would that functionality even be built in to them, anyway? At least in Fallout, the people inside the Vaults were never meant to leave. Why build in combat assistance for a device meant to assist in everyday work in the Stable?)
- Unicorn Master Race, eh? Not a fan, but what are you going to do?
- At least they're smart enough to recognize that living in a bunker is plenty depressing. Most post-apocalyptic stories either ignore it just have the characters go completely insane with no attempts to stave it off.
- Obvious crush is obvious, not that there's anything wrong with that.
- You know, ditching the best survival tool you have is probably a bad way to go about going out into a very hostile environment.
- CMC 3 BFF? Real subtle.
- Ahhh... skeletons. I see we're off to a great start
Thoughts on Prologue+Chapter 1:
Well, it's certainly well written, but I really wasn't expecting otherwise. Aside from my musings over the Batman level of gadgetry in the PipBucks, I really couldn't think of anything wrong with it. Of course, the story's hardly started, so we'll see how things go.
Chapter 2
- How does she even know what sounds he's hearing? I doubt insects were a subject taught in Stable School.
- Sweet Apple Acres? Where in the world is that thing getting its map data from? If it had old records on file all this time, why didn't anypony look at them?
- Chekhov's Terminal, I presume?
- Looks like slavers. This is going to end in blood.
- ...or immediate capture, that works too. The blood can come later.
- How does a pony get a talent for cheese in the Wasteland? Come to think of it, how does Pip even know what cheese is? How much useless (for life in the Stable) knowledge did they teach these ponies?
- Ah, human profanity. At least I hear that Pip gets creative with hers later on.
- And there's the blood. Reminds me of that famous scene from Scanners. You know the one.
- Pip is a competent fighter? That was fast. I guess having that gadget helps, but it doesn't exactly teach you how to pull off roundhouse bucks.
- Are you feelin' lucky, punk?
- At least Pip also wonders how his map knows everything, too.
- That's one lazy sniper. It had all the time in the world to kill them on the bridge.
- And the CMC were the first Overmares, as if that wasn't made obvious enough by the passcode last chapter.
Thoughts on Chapter 2:
And so the bloodbath begins. Pip learns fast. Almost too fast. A good bit of Fridge Logic too on how she could know so little about the outside world yet still know about the little things, but lets just assume that they can somehow synthesize cheese in the Stables. Still not a fan of exploding ponies, but it'll only get worse from here on out, so I'd better get used to it. It's certainly entertaining, but I do hope it doesn't rush Pip's development here.
That's all, for now. I'll probably continue later, but I make no promises. Peace out.
Comments
JapaneseTeeth
Since: Dec, 1969
May 11th 2012 at 7:42:21 PM
I have to admit that the Pinkie Pie thing bugged me as well; although we never really see her directly, so it might not be quite as bad as it looks. But still, it's definitely jarring and I can't imagine Pinkie voluntarily pulling a Big Sister act. Yeah, she has personal space issues, but even she can see that something like this is a BAD IDEA. I really liked Pinkie Bell, though. She was a really well-written kind of creepy.
storyyeller
Since: Dec, 1969
May 11th 2012 at 7:58:40 PM
Gawd is female too.
PerpetualLurker
Since: Dec, 1969
May 11th 2012 at 7:54:27 PM
Oh, definitely agree on Pinkie Bell being well written. No arguments there. I just felt that the tragedy there was a bit overkill.
Seraphem
Since: Dec, 1969
May 11th 2012 at 8:23:47 PM
Pinkie belle gets better though, it turns into one of the most heartwarming moments in the fic.
As to pinkie, Slippery Slope, she started out doing good, and it just kinda got worse..although it is rather heavily implied, though not flat out stated a lot of the harsher things the MOM did were due to ponies under her getting overzealous and going farther then she would have gone, and she just dind't really notice it. When first founded the MOM WAS just about throwing parties for soldiers, ponies, everyone.
And yes pinkie is the one that has the biggest change, but most of that is the Mint-al addiction. And she only took them at first becuase they super charged her Pinkie Sense nd made it easier for her find sabetours and traitors befre they hurt ponies. Also YES she does get called out on her behaviors BIG-TIME.
As to the ministries, they got out of hoof. When she formed them, Luna really didn't think about them controlling as much as they did, they were more publicity stunts then anything else, everypony new about the Mane 6, they were celebreties in there wn right, the ministries were a way to give ponies cofidence at help reassure them that Celestia stepping down wouldn't end Equestria. They just ended up running far more then intended.
and really the only ministry that really just had a BAD leader was RD's, she just ignored it and did almost nothing with it, the rest ended up finding a decent way of working there's. Pinkie ma have been excentric, but the MOM was effective.
Lil'pip is unique with being able to pick locks, well nearly, it's really is a very VERY rare ability for ponies.
Gawd is awesome and she does stick around for a bit, and she'll be back later as well.
Yes as a whole the ministries look like a WTF!? thing, but they each started from small, understndable ideas or mistakes, that just built and built, right now your seeing the end result, not the chain of steps that led to it.
PerpetualLurker
Since: Dec, 1969
May 11th 2012 at 8:03:51 PM
Blech, I missed one "s", Story, and I got it right several times earlier. I know the character's genders. :p
PerpetualLurker
Since: Dec, 1969
May 11th 2012 at 9:17:38 PM
@Seraphem I would appreciate it of you didn't post spoilers in your justifications to my gripes. It's rather annoying.
That said, the ministries were a bad idea from day one, and it paints Luna as incredibly incompetent if she was forced to put ponies clearly not cut out for the jobs they were doing in positions of extreme power with no control over them as a publicity stunt. Not to mention the fact that Twilight at the very least should have seen how terrible of an idea it was, too, and Fluttershy would never accept a position of authority like that. Luna ruled with Celestia as an equal, not some underling unfit for the job, so Celestia leaving should not have hacked half of her IQ points off.
Sereg
Since: Dec, 1969
May 12th 2012 at 2:18:49 AM
Yeah, most of the things that led to the apocolypse were due to really stupid if well-meaning decisions. But a lot of what you're seeing gets better justified later.
Seraphem
Since: Dec, 1969
May 12th 2012 at 9:47:21 AM
and keep in mind this happens several years after the series, all the ponies have had time to grow and mature, there still early twenties-ish and yeah, kinda immature, they don't get asked to run the ministries till there closer to middle age, and have spent several years serving as Celestia's personal assistants and representatives. Mane 6 right from the show, yeah un-qualified, Mane 6 after years of growing and experience with Equestria's government, not as bad a stretch.
