Murphy's Law 7: ...Maybe?

[Asta Kask]

I should clarify that I learned everything I know about MLP - Friendship Is Magic by spending five minutes on the MLP-wiki.

[Mystic Muse]

Yeah. Nightmare Moon Versus Serrin doesn't really work.

[SamBurke]

I should clarify that I learned everything I know about MLP - Friendship Is Magic by spending five minutes on the MLP-wiki.

*grins maniacally* Oh..? TIME TO WATCH, IT IS.

If you ever want to, I'd love to live chat it or something...

DE RAIL!

[Alagaesian]

RE RAIL!

I'm guessing the lack of Plaavan art is partly due to the racism against them. Either they're "the bad guys" - hence, you don't want to promote their art and humanize them - or they're to be "assimilated", thereby giving up most of their traditions, culture, and art to pick up the new "civilized" culture.

It also probably has to do with their constant threat of extinction. You don't have time to paint a picture or write a play if you're constantly on the move trying to escape the Kago army. They only have time to express themselves artistically if they can integrate their art into something they already spend a lot of time doing. Crafting armor and weapons to fight the Kago soldiers with, for instance.

Those who already found a way to escape the constant danger have done so by hiding in other species' societies. They can't make a living producing art for a culture that's still racist towards them, however. That, and the assimilation factor that I already mentioned.

Now I'm interested to see exactly what the fancier Plaavan war-tools look like. The only Plaavan we've seen fighting were a bunch of helpless villagers who didn't have that kind of stuff just lying around in their basement.

(New theory for the Salblaze incident - the Plaavan gods were all fighting and Rockwell made the worst fumble in history.)

[CoffeeIncluded]

One thing I was going for with the Plavaan was that...look at the Anglo-Saxon and Germanic tribes. They didn't paint, they didn't carve from marble, but they made extremely intricate and detailed broaches and ceremonial weapons, inlaid with gold and gems. Art demonstrates a society's values.

[SamBurke]

One thing I was going for with the Plavaan was that...look at the Anglo-Saxon and Germanic tribes. They didn't paint, they didn't carve from marble, but they made extremely intricate and detailed broaches and ceremonial weapons, inlaid with gold and gems. Art demonstrates a society's values.

This is very true... [refrains from Pony Reference] Does a civilization value society or victory? Honor or power? War or peace?

Before you said this, my thoughts were the same as Alagesian, but I see your point now.

[Worlok]

Art demonstrates a society's values.

Or occasionally those of the people at odds with it. Which, frankly, has me picturing this squad of burly, bearded men in bearskins, swilling coffee and arguing how bronze weapons are, like, totally mainstream by now. And so unrefined. And how they should totes put some golden runes onto the blades, because then they'll do that before it gets popular. For that mental image, thank you.

[Alagaesian]

Yeah, I also see your point now. But, I still stand that the arts tend to suffer when an entire culture is being subjected to genocide. And, I bet the first thing a Kagoan does when they capture some of the Plaavan's art pieces is melt them down.

EDIT: Ah, but they're still talking about decorating swords. A lot of the "art" done in America nowadays is computerized music and movies or still art composed using graphic or vector programs. It's all a focus on things that can easily be transferred by computers, things you can interact with every time you open up your laptop or turn on your smartphone.

[McDouggal]

Matt and Radic, kissing on a roof,
Disbelieve all you want it's still the truth,
First comes a charisma check, then constitution,
Then comes this world's Plan B solution!

Offtopic, but DANGIT! I hate being wrong. And losing rhyme contests. And losing in general.

[HalfTangible]

I should clarify that I learned everything I know about MLP - Friendship Is Magic by spending five minutes on the MLP-wiki.

Nightmare Moon is one of the worst villians of all time - IF you look at when she actually shows her face. If you look at all she does (the underlined referring to behind-the-scenes stuff)
-Escaped from the moon
-Imprisoned the god-princess* of an entire nation
-Attempted to murder six ponies for being good friends. Twice.
-Upset a metrosexual sea serpent to drive a river wild
Initiated a terror campaign on aforementioned six ponies
-Attempted a con
-Tried to destroy pretty baubles of friendship magic

*speculative godhood, mostly from fans

[Strife Warzeal]

Nightmare Moon is one of the worst villians of all time - IF you look at when she actually shows her face. If you look at all she does (the underlined referring to behind-the-scenes stuff)
-Escaped from the moon
-Imprisoned the god-princess* of an entire nation
-Attempted to murder six ponies for being good friends. Twice.
-Upset a metrosexual sea serpent to drive a river wild
Initiated a terror campaign on aforementioned six ponies
-Attempted a con
-Tried to destroy pretty baubles of friendship magic

*speculative godhood, mostly from fans

My head-canon is that some force was preventing her from her full power.
My favorite explanation involves the cores from Portal 2 (Good fanfic actually. people should look it up. It's worth the read.) and some well placed quotes. If it's just hard fact of what we know she loses (assuming we bypass the whole 6-macguffins part of the fight). Serrin's a wizard even at the mid level she is, I'm pretty sure she's more magically competent than Twilight technically. I mean Twilight doesn't even know 25 different spells at that point, and something she takes the time to study is Grow Mustache. I'm pretty sure there are easily half a dozen strategies that could be made that Serrin and her spell list. Where as the ponies without the macguffins wouldn't be able to do a thing.

Do you think among Team Gale they would be able to use the elements, by that I mean do you think among them is each element present: Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, Honesty, Laughter(Mirth, joy, happiness, take whichever synonym you prefer) and Magic?

Asta, what made you make this Vs.? And reading the wiki for that matter?

[SamBurke]

My head-canon is that some force was preventing her from her full power.
My favorite explanation involves the cores from Portal 2 (Good fanfic actually. people should look it up. It's worth the read.) and some well placed quotes. If it's just hard fact of what we know she loses (assuming we bypass the whole 6-macguffins part of the fight). Serrin's a wizard even at the mid level she is, I'm pretty sure she's more magically competent than Twilight technically. I mean Twilight doesn't even know 25 different spells at that point, and something she takes the time to study is Grow Mustache. I'm pretty sure there are easily half a dozen strategies that could be made that Serrin and her spell list. Where as the ponies without the macguffins wouldn't be able to do a thing.

You're assuming ponies use the absolutely stupidest method of spellcasting of all time: Vancian Spellcasting. They might, (there are a few instances of spells having names, but no intimation that someone is restricted in spells castable)

Spike clearly says, "GROWING Magic." Not "Grow Mustache", growing magic. All we see it do is mustaches, sure, but it's implied that there's more.

I'd say the fact she can waste magic on growing mustaches and creating doors implies MORE power, not less.

[Strife Warzeal]

You're assuming ponies use the absolutely stupidest method of spellcasting of all time: Vancian Spellcasting. They might, (there are a few instances of spells having names, but no intimation that someone is restricted in spells castable)

Spike clearly says, "GROWING Magic." Not "Grow Mustache", growing magic. All we see it do is mustaches, sure, but it's implied that there's more.

I'd say the fact she can waste magic on growing mustaches and creating doors implies MORE power, not less.

I'll concede to you on that point, especially the stupid system of Vancian casting. I would argue that even if Twilight might be stronger on a strictly "I have more raw magical power than you" level, Serrin has much more combat power. I'm pretty sure Twilight hasn't shown any actual combat based things beyond her Abrupt Jaunt/Dimension Door etc. against Nightmare Moon.

While typing this I imagined Serrin and Twilight having an intellectual discussion on the finer points of their world's system of magic.

[Marnath]

Focus, people. This isn't the pony thread.

Matt and Radic, kissing on a roof,
Disbelieve all you want it's still the truth,
First comes a charisma check, then constitution,
Then comes this world's Plan B solution!

Hehe.

[Strife Warzeal]

Focus, people. This isn't the pony thread.

That's where you say we're off topic when that was strictly on topic, comparing Twilight Sparkle to a major member of Team Gale, Serrin, whom is a major part of the comic that is the discussion of this thread.

[SamBurke]

I'll concede to you on that point, especially the stupid system of Vancian casting. I would argue that even if Twilight might be stronger on a strictly "I have more raw magical power than you" level, Serrin has much more combat power. I'm pretty sure Twilight hasn't shown any actual combat based things beyond her Abrupt Jaunt/Dimension Door etc. against Nightmare Moon.

While typing this I imagined Serrin and Twilight having an intellectual discussion on the finer points of their world's system of magic.

Someone, get the fancomics up and going! I need this done, stat! *whistles*

DID I SAY STAT? I MEANT TWO MINUTES AGO! GET.. on it... you know, if you can. /Fluttershy

[Asta Kask]

Do you think among Team Gale they would be able to use the elements, by that I mean do you think among them is each element present: Loyalty, Kindness, Generosity, Honesty, Laughter(Mirth, joy, happiness, take whichever synonym you prefer) and Magic?

Loyalty - Lloyd
Kindness - Radic
Generosity - Janine
Honesty - Tinder
Laughter - Matt
Magic - Serrin

Asta, what made you make this Vs.? And reading the wiki for that matter?

I know Coffee is a MLP-fan and I was bored. And once I had the idea, I must find a MLP villain so off to the wiki.

-Attempted to murder six ponies for being good friends. Twice.

To be honest, haven't we all wanted to do that at some point in our lives?

[super dark33]

Pony stuff from above...

....


I dont want to live on this planet anymore.


....

[CoffeeIncluded]

Lloyd, the element of loyalty? Seriously? He's a traitor!

Matching the elements to Team Gale won't work. Some elements can be used for more than one character and others don't apply at all.

Oh, and I'm headed back to college tomorrow, so updates are going to slow down again. Sorry.

[Dusk Eclipse]

I agree with Coffee here, the elements are in my opinion too broad to apply to characters who weren't created with them in mind.

Also I feel for you coffee, college is the bane to all of us your loyal fans...Actually why don't you just drop from college and become a full time web artists.... (I am joking, do your best!!)

[Alagaesian]

You're only JUST going back to college? I've been back for two weeks already. Then again, I get out in mid-April.

I was always a little skeptical about magic being one of the elements of harmony. It suggests that, if all of the other five don't seem to help you get along with people, then you should just enchant them to do whatever you say. (In my internal universe, the last element is friendship. Because, you know, friendship is magic.)

And, I agree, Lloyd doesn't really fit the loyalty element too well. Sure, he's loyal to Lexi, Miles, and Team Gale, but that's more of a mark of friendship than loyalty. (Matt might actually beat Lloyd in the loyalty category due to some of his ECM's. That, and the fact that he's had a bazillion chances to run away by now and hasn't taken advantage of any of them. YMMV.)

[Asta Kask]

Lloyd, the element of loyalty? Seriously? He's a traitor!

Lloyd is loyal to the spirit of the law, rather than the letter. He 'betrays' the Kago to save them from themselves, and only when it's become apparent that they are falling to evil.

Edit: Janine tries to reason with Lloyd.

[Mina Kobold]

One thing I was going for with the Plavaan was that...look at the Anglo-Saxon and Germanic tribes. They didn't paint, they didn't carve from marble, but they made extremely intricate and detailed broaches and ceremonial weapons, inlaid with gold and gems. Art demonstrates a society's values.

I thought that was because the Romans and Greeks had large empires who could easily transport large quantities of marble and create luxury while the Anglo-Saxons and Germanic tribes were small and separated.

Or is that the reason behind their values? Did I misunderstand? ^_^'

You're only JUST going back to college? I've been back for two weeks already. Then again, I get out in mid-April.

I was always a little skeptical about magic being one of the elements of harmony. It suggests that, if all of the other five don't seem to help you get along with people, then you should just enchant them to do whatever you say. (In my internal universe, the last element is friendship. Because, you know, friendship is magic.)

I thought the Magic is Friendship thing was intended... Especially considering Discord's actions. >_>

On topic:

Don't be sorry, Coffee! Your education comes before our comic-reading! We will just be speculating more!

Speaking of which, I wonder if there is a way to explain how Dwarven livers came to be so powerful. I am partial to a hypothesis about necessary nutrition that could only be gotten through sources with high content of poisonous substances in the Dwarven lands, but we must have sillier explanations than that! :3

[Asta Kask]

Dwarves only have sex once, on their wedding night. The female stores up a sufficient store of seed to last for a life-time. This means that any dwarf male too drunk to perform on the wedding night swiftly drops from the gene pool. So dwarven livers have grown as the wedding parties have become more and more extravagant. Note that though the quantity of alcohol consumed has gone up, the drunkenness of the dwarves have remained roughly constant, with the dwarves who have the most capable livers having the most offspring.

[Alagaesian]

...This thread has suddenly given me a really good idea for anyone writing a science-fiction novel. I was about to make a silly, offhand comment about how dwarves can get buzzed without getting completely smashed, and then I realized what this idea might do to mankind when genetic engineering becomes more reliable.

In times of heavy alcohol consumption, some of the dwarf's liver cells slough off into the bloodstream and cease all functions save the metabolism of alcohol. These anti-alcohol cells literally work themselves to death before being reabsorbed into the body. The amount of cells that do this is very small compared to the actual liver, hence it is able to quickly regenerate whatever it loses. However, the only way a dwarf can get really drunk is by drinking an extremely concentrated source of alcohol so enough can be absorbed before their bodies can react to the intake.

[Asta Kask]

We already have a similar mechanism. Everything that's absorbed in the intestine passes through the liver via the portal vein and is metabolized to a large degree. This is called first-pass metabolism (actually, that includes metabolism that takes place in the intestine as well).

[Alagaesian]

Ah, okay. I'm more familiar with biology on a cellular degree than an organ one.

[Asta Kask]

That's why a tampon soaked in liquor and placed in various places makes you 'more drunk'. You bypass the first-pass effect. Don't do this, because it's dangerous.

To clarify: It is dangerous in three ways - 1) it's difficult to determine what dose you get, so you can easily OD; 2) you can easily damage the membranes of those other places you're putting the tampon, making yourself vulnerable to infection; 3) you also kill off the normal bacterial flora of those other places, further increasing the risk for infection

It is a really, really bad idea.

[McDouggal]

That explains how about 20 girls at my school are stone-cold drunk by lunch despite a) not leaving school grounds during school, b) Being sober when they start, and c) never having alcohol in the locker.

[SamBurke]

That explains how about 20 girls at my school are stone-cold drunk by lunch despite a) not leaving school grounds during school, b) Being sober when they start, and c) never having alcohol in the locker.

Woah. That is why people homeschool, I guess...