My Little Pony XXXIX: There is no Pegasus Mafia!

[RdMarquis]

I foresee a world where everyone's facebook accounts is connected to the cybernetics internet; just by looking at someone you can see their status, if they're looking for relationship or a conversation, or even if they just want to be left alone.

You could eat at a shopping mall and put up a digital sign saying 'Bored. Talk to me?' and thus silently invite passerby to sit down and have a conversation. Your cybernetics would also import contact lists, music tastes, friends - "Oh, you know Robert? I was in high school with him!". Filters could similarly be put up; members of a brony group for example would see other bronies clearly while keeping it hidden from others.

There are privacy issues, naturally, and having this kind of information freely available about everyone would redefine human social conduct. I also see it as the most logical and inevitable conclusion of the advances made in facial recognition/photography, portable computing, facebook and social media, and biotech advances.

I think it'd be fascinating. Privacy issues, identity theft, all problems as usual, but it seems the logical conclusion of the direction our technology is heading in.

That would be kind of awesome, if only to see how this will be implemented, and the consequences. It's also a major part of the campaign setting in the tabletop game I mentioned earlier, which is just another reason for me to geek out.

Synopsis for Season 2 finale.

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I believe the comments accurately describe my reaction. Wat.

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...Huh. That would explain why his cutie mark is a sparkle with 3 stars. Does this mean that Twilight will become a noblewoman after the wedding?

[darthbobcat]

... RE Season finale.

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Given their track record this season... I am highly highly highly HIGHLY highly skeptical. In my opinion, they didn't pull off their LAST two parter well. Sure, discord is a cool character, but all season, they've been trying to shove too much into too little time, and this is the sort of plot where there's a huge risk of it.

[Siosilvar]

We already have incredible access to information through the internet; I expect us to simply become less and less reliant on external technology to access that information.

EDIT: I'm not even saying this is ideal or desirable; my own thought is just that the impact would be fascinating. I'm just saying that this is probable given a basic extrapolation of existing technological tends.

I'm aware. I'm just exceedingly uncomfortable with the logical conclusion of present-day tech.

<.< Oh look a distraction I ponified myself.

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Wow, that didn't scale down well.

[AlterForm]

I foresee a world where everyone's facebook accounts is connected to the cybernetics internet; just by looking at someone you can see their status, if they're looking for relationship or a conversation, or even if they just want to be left alone.

You could eat at a shopping mall and put up a digital sign saying 'Bored. Talk to me?' and thus silently invite passerby to sit down and have a conversation. Your cybernetics would also import contact lists, music tastes, friends - "Oh, you know Robert? I was in high school with him!". Filters could similarly be put up; members of a brony group for example would see other bronies clearly while keeping it hidden from others.

There are privacy issues, naturally, and having this kind of information freely available about everyone would redefine human social conduct. I also see it as the most logical and inevitable conclusion of the advances made in facial recognition/photography, portable computing, facebook and social media, and biotech advances.

I think it'd be fascinating. Privacy issues, identity theft, all problems as usual, but it seems the logical conclusion of the direction our technology is heading in.

If I might promote a game somewhat related to this line of thinking?

dont take it personally, babe, it just aint your story Yes, that is exactly how it is spelled

It's a visual novel, but there's only one major branch point and the whole game probably takes 2-3 hours to get through, tops. I can't comfortably judge the value of the teenagers/sexuality plots (they seemed well done to me, at least), but the technological angle of the story offered me an incredible moment of pause at the ending.



And the requisite addition of pony:

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[Thanqol]

<.< Oh look a distraction I ponified myself.

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Wow, that didn't scale down well.

I'm not sure about the colour scheme, but there's real attitude there ^^

If I might promote a game somewhat related to this line of thinking?

Ooo, research material. I'll give this a spin once I have time!

And the requisite addition of pony:

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This too. Best cutie mark story.

[Pokonic]

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...Huh. That would explain why his cutie mark is a sparkle with 3 stars. Does this mean that Twilight will become a noblewoman after the wedding?

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Pretty sure that Twilight is some sort of noble, even if it never realy crosses her mind. I mean, both her and her parents share the same astrological motifs as every other unicorn in Canterlot with some importance (besides Blueblood, but that's debatable about the whole "noble" thing) for there Cutie Marks, and the two of them where moderatly loaded to send there little filly to Celestia's private school.


Also, if her brother is so bloody high up that he can marry a Alicorn, than I can only assume that she has at least some sort of title back home. I would assume that the Princess would refrain from calling her "Grand Ducal Sparkle", or somesuch in public, or cares so little about it that she does not even bother with the whole topic. Both of them, I mean.

[Siosilvar]

I'm not sure about the colour scheme, but there's real attitude there ^^

Yeah, I think the yellow is a bit off (a bit? more like a lot), especially on the eye. I'll see what I can do. More orange?

Also, the atom is Be²⁺. In case you were wondering.

[Thanqol]

Yeah, I think the yellow is a bit off (a bit? more like a lot), especially on the eye. I'll see what I can do. More orange?

Also, the atom is Be²⁺. In case you were wondering.

I think the worry is more the deep, royal blue. It's a very difficult colour to work with and very few colours compliment it. Orange and yellow definitively do not. If you're using blue as your primary, good secondaries are white, purple, and silver. Trixie and Poky Pierce are two examples of good deep blue colour schemes.

If you use a more pale shade of blue, like Rainbow Dash, you've got more scope in what you can get away with. A lot of ponies have really pale primary colours for this reason. The shade of yellow/dark yellow you've got on the mane and tail would go better with orange or green; the colours adjacent to it on the colour wheel.

[Eakin]

Nothing, I actually support Transhumanism whole heartedly, but from an individual standpoint it is pretty horrible, mostly in the "Trivialization of human identity" point and the possible Eugenics aspect of implementation. Also the inevitable moral and existential conflict that is likely to result from such implementation. Plus as with any end form of evolution I can't help but feel like it promotes stagnation. (Yes I subscribe to the idea that too much order is equally harmful as too much chaos.)

anyway, those thoughts are the end point of my train of thought. The usual beginning point is mostly triggered by the alien feeling of not quite belonging to a group. A feeling that I've actually felt quite strongly last time I went to Bronycon, and something I am strongly trying to fend off before the next Bronycon.

I'm totally pro trans-humanism, and I'm not surprised to find that most people in a geeky forum would be too (no offense intended, fellow geeks ) I think, like every major social change, the older generation would be freaked out by cybernetic body or brain modifications. Then 40 years after it happens everyone who grew up with it will look back and laugh at laugh at the old folks who were so creeped out by something they grew up with and seems so natural to them.

As for the upgrades I'd want, they're pretty modest. I'd settle for perfect implant-assisted memory and some kind of wireless computer-interfacing HUD in my eye. I don't care if I can lift a car with one arm, as long as I can check what that text message I got says without having to walk all the way across the room to my phone.

Synopsis for Season 2 finale.

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I believe the comments accurately describe my reaction. Wat.

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OMGWTFBBQ?

They're certainly swinging for the fences, I'll be curious to see if they can pull it off. I'm going to go with cautious optimism, which is generally my go-to reaction to any future pony episode related news. But I definately think there's very little ground here between "phenomenal episode" and "total flop" in most bronies' reactions.

At least it'll give us lots to talk about over the summer!

[Thanqol]

I think, like every major social change, the older generation would be freaked out by cybernetic body or brain modifications. Then 40 years after it happens everyone who grew up with it will look back and laugh at laugh at the old folks who were so creeped out by something they grew up with and seems so natural to them.

My daughter ain't marrying no robot!

[Sadistic Seraph]

words

That was fascinating. Can you tell me more? Or at least point me somewhere where I can find more?

Things I'd like to know:
What is this setting called?
What game system do you use with it? (assuming it's tied to gaming)
Who came up with it? You?
What other races/nations/faction are there? (In as much detail as possible, like with the Cybertanks)
The political relationships between the above groups
The magic system of the universe and how it relates to and interacts with technology and technological development.
Everything about your own character(s)
Everything else.

If I might promote a game somewhat related to this line of thinking?

dont take it personally, babe, it just aint your story

That actually looks pretty interesting. I'll give it a try.

Synopsis for Season 2 finale.

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Oh no. This is either going to be totally awesome or horrible and show destroying. Probably horrible.

[Siosilvar]

I think the worry is more the deep, royal blue. It's a very difficult colour to work with and very few colours compliment it. Orange and yellow definitively do not. If you're using blue as your primary, good secondaries are white, purple, and silver. Trixie and Poky Pierce are two examples of good deep blue colour schemes.

If you use a more pale shade of blue, like Rainbow Dash, you've got more scope in what you can get away with. A lot of ponies have really pale primary colours for this reason. The shade of yellow/dark yellow you've got on the mane and tail would go better with orange or green; the colours adjacent to it on the colour wheel.

I didn't like the mane color anyway, so I made it less... dismal and more vibrant. Two ponies in the spoiler, one with original coat color and one a little bit brighter (but not more pale):

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Ooookay, green eyes definitely don't work there... I'm going to have to keep messing around with this. I definitely want to keep the blue/yellow contrast, though.

EDIT: Lighter still. Mane color definitely doesn't fit.

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[Eakin]

My daughter ain't marrying no robot!

I'm OK with a nice boy robot, but if she tries to marry a girl robot, well, that's where I draw the line! No homorobosexual marriage!

EDIT:

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Pretty sure that Twilight is some sort of noble, even if it never realy crosses her mind. I mean, both her and her parents share the same astrological motifs as every other unicorn in Canterlot with some importance (besides Blueblood, but that's debatable about the whole "noble" thing) for there Cutie Marks, and the two of them where moderatly loaded to send there little filly to Celestia's private school.


Also, if her brother is so bloody high up that he can marry a Alicorn, than I can only assume that she has at least some sort of title back home. I would assume that the Princess would refrain from calling her "Grand Ducal Sparkle", or somesuch in public, or cares so little about it that she does not even bother with the whole topic. Both of them, I mean.

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I'm sure even if Twilight's family were dirt poor, she'd have scored some kind of royal scholarship after her performance on the entrance exam.

But I'm not sure I like the idea that Twilight is actually a Duchess or something and she just never mentioned it. She had no fancy dress for the gala before Rarity made one for her. Speaking of Rarity, since she knows how socially obsessed she is you'd think she would have mentioned it to her, or offered to introduce Rarity to some of her fellow upper-class ponies

[Thanqol]

I didn't like the mane color anyway, so I made it less... dismal and more vibrant. Two ponies in the spoiler, one with original coat color and one a little bit brighter (but not more pale):

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Ooookay, green eyes definitely don't work there... I'm going to have to keep messing around with this. I definitely want to keep the blue/yellow contrast, though.

The second one's better, but remember that you've got other colour options than primary/secondary. You can do primary blue, secondary white and the yellow as a tertiary or highlight; i.e. a yellow stripe, piece of clothing, or eye colour. And because deep blue is such a very tricky colour to blend I'd suggest making it not the primary in the first place. Brown/yellow/blue ribbons, for example, would make an excellent colour scheme.

I mean, right now the second one is passable/not hideous, but it's still not a good colour scheme.

I'm OK with a nice boy robot, but if she tries to marry a girl robot, well, that's where I draw the line! No homorobosexual marriage!

My robot daughter ain't marrying no disembodied energy matrix! Marriage is between beings with mass!

[Pokonic]

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I'm sure even if Twilight's family were dirt poor, she'd have scored some kind of royal scholarship after her performance on the entrance exam.

But I'm not sure I like the idea that Twilight is actually a Duchess or something and she just never mentioned it. She had no fancy dress for the gala before Rarity made one for her. Speaking of Rarity, since she knows how socially obsessed she is you'd think she would have mentioned it to her, or offered to introduce Rarity to some of her fellow upper-class ponies

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However, for her even having the chance to take the test means that she has some sort of fund to put her into such a place, or at least some sort of prep-thing. I mean, if she was going to go into what is presumably the best schooling in the country, there must be some plans for her anyhow. And besides, they live in Canterlot. There is no way that within such a bloody idealistic realm that the snobby star-butted unicorns living in the capital city have anything short of fantastic wealth. Even if you take into account the fact that she is the princesses student, you cannot help but notice that the others in her general circle of friends have.... jobs. That tree-house of hers is mostly her living space, because who can realy tell the differance between where that girl reads and studies and where her supposed income comes from?

And besides, its not like she would be the sort who would rub a title up others noses. Considering that she considers herself Celestias student more than anything else, and that she has likely lived in the castle for the majorty of her "teenaged" years, it's entirely possible that she barely thinks about it at all. She probably (falsly) thinks Rarity would care about her connection to the princess than a silly old title and a nice house, but oh, how wrong she is. Than again, it could be that her brother is generaly taking care of the whole "royal title" responsibilities and stuff, but that opens a whole new, freshly opened, can of worms...

[darthbobcat]

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The brother's name makes me think he's in the military. Military service is a GREAT tool for social advancement. No need for Twilight to be nobility.

[Eakin]

My robot daughter ain't marrying no disembodied energy matrix! Marriage is between beings with mass!

You better have mass if you're tapping that... plot.

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However, for her even having the chance to take the test means that she has some sort of fund to put her into such a place, or at least some sort of prep-thing. I mean, if she was going to go into what is presumably the best schooling in the country, there must be some plans for her anyhow. And besides, they live in Canterlot. There is no way that within such a bloody idealistic realm that the snobby star-butted unicorns living in the capital city have anything short of fantastic wealth. Even if you take into account the fact that she is the princesses student, you cannot help but notice that the others in her general circle of friends have.... jobs. That tree-house of hers is mostly her living space, because who can realy tell the differance between where that girl reads and studies and where her supposed income comes from?

And besides, its not like she would be the sort who would rub a title up others noses. Considering that she considers herself Celestias student more than anything else, and that she has likely lived in the castle for the majorty of her "teenaged" years, it's entirely possible that she barely thinks about it at all. She probably (falsly) thinks Rarity would care about her connection to the princess than a silly old title and a nice house, but oh, how wrong she is. Than again, it could be that her brother is generaly taking care of the whole "royal title" responsibilities and stuff, but that opens a whole new, freshly opened, can of worms...

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Maybe. I've just never liked the "oh, we never mentioned it but our protagonist is secretly from a royal bloodline!" trope. I'd prefer to see Twilight's brother is some kind of knight/hero who won a princess' hoof in marriage through some quest or courageous deed. It's just a total ass pull if it's never been mentioned in the show itself.

[maximus25]

And I fell behind in the thread.

[Pokonic]

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The brother's name makes me think he's in the military. Military service is a GREAT tool for social advancement. No need for Twilight to be nobility.

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Sounds as royal-guardish as Iron Will was, actualy. But I doubt they would actualy throw in a military pony as the brother of a main caste member, let alown into the show as a whole. The mane thing you have to think about is the fact her/there parents share the same sort of patterns seen only on rich Unicorns. Nearly every one at the Galla had one, for example. That little butt-mark is a sign of greatness!

And money, lots and lots of money.

EDIT:

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To be fair, it would be more like "Wait, I never told you guys that I was a noblemare? Realy, it's not a big deal." cue hyperventilating marshmellow, possibly accompanied by frothing of the mouth "Wait, Rarity, are you....okay?"

[thubby]

And I fell behind in the thread.

you and me both.
so much pony fic @,@

[Zevox]

Been a little busy with something else today...

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...yeah, that. So the thread has produced numerous pages that I don't have time to catch up on, sorry. But I've spent some time on Ponibooru today too, and wanted to share a couple of pictures, so here, have some cute:

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Zevox

[Mewtarthio]

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Even if you take into account the fact that she is the princesses student, you cannot help but notice that the others in her general circle of friends have.... jobs. That tree-house of hers is mostly her living space, because who can realy tell the differance between where that girl reads and studies and where her supposed income comes from?

And besides, its not like she would be the sort who would rub a title up others noses. Considering that she considers herself Celestias student more than anything else, and that she has likely lived in the castle for the majorty of her "teenaged" years, it's entirely possible that she barely thinks about it at all. She probably (falsly) thinks Rarity would care about her connection to the princess than a silly old title and a nice house, but oh, how wrong she is. Than again, it could be that her brother is generaly taking care of the whole "royal title" responsibilities and stuff, but that opens a whole new, freshly opened, can of worms...

Finale synopsis:

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I'd say that "personal student of Undying Sun Goddess Celestia" trumps whatever noble title she used to have. Particularly since Twilight spent all her formative years cloistered in her ivory tower rather than hobnobbing with the other nobles. Basically, she has no reason to flaunt her title because her title really is meaningless to her. Her only upper-class social connection is with the Princess, and she doesn't get any favors from her pedigree that she couldn't already get from the Princess.

That's assuming she even is from a noble family. It's entirely possible that Twilight's apprenticeship gave her family the social clout to get her brother married to a freaking alicorn. Celestia does strike me as the sort of Princess who'd enjoy upsetting the usual hierarchy by taking on a commoner as an apprentice. I'll have to re-watch that part of "Chronicles."

[AlterForm]

My robot daughter ain't marrying no disembodied energy matrix! Marriage is between beings with mass!

My disembodied energy matrix daughter ain't marrying no platonic ideal! Marriage is between beings with ontological provability!

[Anarion]

My robot daughter ain't marrying no disembodied energy matrix! Marriage is between beings with mass!

I don't see your position gaining much... momentum.

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The brother's name makes me think he's in the military. Military service is a GREAT tool for social advancement. No need for Twilight to be nobility.

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Yeah I agree with this. Twilight may be from Canterlot, but she's never acted in a way indicative of having nobility or connections. Moreover, her brother has been shown in armor and clearly is taking on the role of a the noble knight.

Also, since Twilight has already been knighted herself, perhaps the whole family should found a new knightly order? How about, harmonia contego?

[the_druid_droid]

Mad Theory of the Day

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This is exactly what Celestia planned when she sent her to ponyville. She is grooming Twilight to take over the running of Equestria.This is partly why she expanded the friendship letters to the other ponies. They are clearly Twilights closest allies, so if she's going to hand over the reins to the Kingdom, she's got to be sure of Twilights administration as well as her protoge herself.

Freed from her duty of ruling and protecting Equestria, she will take to the road as an enigmatic wanderer.

Celestia: Basically I'm just gonna wander the earth.
Luna: Whatcha mean walk the earth?
Celestia: You know, like Kane from Kung Fu.
Luna: So you decided to be a bum?

man, I am in a funk today....

As always when I am down, I inevitably start to contemplate the direction of humanity and fate of the universe and drawing to the conclusion of horrible and logical solution of Transhumanism and the equally horrible thought of cyclical universal existence as partially alluded to by this story.

Such heavy thoughts saps my will and happiness.

happy ponies serves as an escape. I don't ask for it much, if at all, but I think I need some more ponies and the magic of friendship in my life right now.

*hugs lots*

My daughter ain't marrying no robot!

[Pokonic]

Celestia: Basically I'm just gonna wander the earth.
Luna: Whatcha mean walk the earth?
Celestia: You know, like Kane from Kung Fu.
Luna: So you decided to be a bum?

Celestia: Hmm, perhapes more like the guy from Pulp Fiction. You know, the one with the briefcase.

[Thanqol]

My disembodied energy matrix daughter ain't marrying no platonic ideal! Marriage is between beings with ontological provability!

My platonic ideal daughter ain't marrying no mortal man! Marriages are metaphors for the merging, conflict and propagation of ideas, not vectors for biological reproduction!

I don't see your position gaining much... momentum.

*Rimshot*

Son, the real reason my daughters ain't marrying no robots is 'cause my daughters are crazy and more often than not have freaky lightning powers.

[RdMarquis]

Son, the real reason my daughters ain't marrying no robots is 'cause my daughters are crazy and more often than not have freaky lightning powers.

And suddenly this debate took an awesome new direction.

Celestia: Basically I'm just gonna wander the earth.
Luna: Whatcha mean walk the earth?
Celestia: You know, like Kane from Kung Fu.
Luna: So you decided to be a bum?

This is going to be a spinoff, right? Like, after season 3? Celestia finds some part of the world full of bad guys for her to beat up. Maybe she picks up a sidekick or two along the way (new apprentices?). The whole thing ends with her pacifying this lawless land, and then it turns out she was a one mare invasion force. Celestia claims this land full of guys not as tough as her in the name of Equestria. Roll credits.

Finale synopsis

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Something just occurred to me. Maybe this is just the psychology student in me, but I'm finding it hard to believe that a kid who grew up with at least an older sibling with would be so darned, if adorably, awkward. Eh, maybe he's Twilight's long lost brother or something. By the way, I'm finding it really tough not to make a Metal Gear Solid reference (BROOOOTHEEERRRR!!!).

[Anarion]

Finale synopsis

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Something just occurred to me. Maybe this is just the psychology student in me, but I'm finding it hard to believe that a kid who grew up with at least an older sibling with would be so darned, if adorably, awkward. Eh, maybe he's Twilight's long lost brother or something. By the way, I'm finding it really tough not to make a Metal Gear Solid reference (BROOOOTHEEERRRR!!!).

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Well, we've never actually seen him in the show before, and he wasn't visible in any scenes with filly Twilight. She even had to go to the summer sun celebration all on her own that time when she first saw Celestia raise the sun.

My bet is that her brother is significantly older than her. The equivalent of a 10+ year age gap in human years, and therefore by the time she was old enough to really remember anything, he was already out of the house and off serving in the army or doing whatever it is that he does.

[Rebelhero]

Virtual self?

Hello! I am Technus, Manipulator of machines, Lord of all gadgetry, Wizard of integrated circuitry!

i read this in his voice...damn it.

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*stumbles into thread*
So once again i am several days without out sleep. Luckily this time im in a good mood.

Bleakbane, hows the study of the Jalkerions(?)....that pony like race. havent heard anything about them in a long time.

Heres a question for the masses. What would warfare look like in equestria? Would it be old fashioned medieval style of honor on the battle field? 2 armies meeting to engage, sending their commanders to negotiate before battle?

Or would it follow the WW1, WW2 urban fighting, trench warfare, artillery

Or prehaps the route of the league of legends, each faction selects champions to fight in an arena.

Possibly some elaborate game of magical horse?


Another topic: If we were to pit our OCs against each other in various comeptions, what would they be and how do you think it will all pan out?