Also "Original Flavor but with dark themes" is sort of contradictory in the case of MLP: FIM. Like, by the time there's a serial killer it's not Original Flavor anymore. I would still downvote that (although I might not be able to articulate why)
I agree with Lighty
Edited by Libraryseraph on May 31st 2020 at 3:45:27 PM
HAPPY HALLOWEEN FOR MARIAWell, Vile Villain, Saccharine Show is a thing so I'd argue against the presence of a tonally-inappropriate character suddenly changing everything but... yeah, let's figure out what we're doing and be done with it.
Agreed.
That's why I also stress "case-by-case" since works with "plot and meaningful effort" still ran the gamut — from single-chapter creepypasta we'd have Tyk and FriedWarthog reassure us about to grand epics like Tale of a Legend. Discretion should be heavily advised.
On that note, I feel we should probably add a section like that in fanwork EPs under mitigating factors to encourage effortposters to really sell that to the rest of us.
Edited by erazor0707 on May 31st 2020 at 4:29:06 AM
The purpose of this rule was exactly as people have said: to eliminate the "zero effort" dark fics and stuff like that from consideration so we could concentrate on more interesting candidates.
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"I agree with erazor. Adding a section to fan fic EPs to touch upon the quality would be a fair idea.
Edited by Bullman on May 31st 2020 at 4:00:21 AM
Fan-Preferred Couple cleanup threadI will say at least RWBY has a more suitable setting for Complete Monsters compared to MLP.
I am no expert on MLP, but it seems a level below Care Bears in terms of cutesy content, like if someone made a fanfic where a Care Bear villain like No Heart tried to commit genocide over trying to spread bad feelings, I would find it odd. I don't know, maybe MLP has an edge over Care Bears. I do think there are better franchises to get examples from.
I mean to be fair I don't think MLP is that far fetched. I mean the franchise does have three CMs to it's name. One less then RWBY. Just not the most well known version that most of the fanfics are based on.
Edited by Bullman on May 31st 2020 at 4:32:13 AM
Fan-Preferred Couple cleanup threadIt makes sense: I am still against the notion of including a fic of that nature if it is still written in The 'Verse. It's simply not its own thing at that point.

Overall, reimaginings of a work are fine, but there should be evidence provided that it is a complete retooling of the original material. At least we can agree that if a work is written as an Original Flavor but then adds dark themes for no reason is bad?