My Little Pony XVII: Call Upon the Thread Ponies!

[Trixie]

Trixie's Great and Powerful Guide v1.94d
Shoo be doo Edition

Brief Introduction

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My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic is a reboot of the MLP franchise by Powerpuff Girls artist Lauren Faust, currently viewed by (almost) the entire Internet, not only the intended audience. Here is a place where we discuss the joy of friendship.

> My Little Pony? Seriously?

It's a clever show. It has excellent writing, character dynamics, humor, animation, and generally treats kids seriously rather than condescending to them. It has every right to be a 20 minute corporate committee designed infomercial, but it's not.

> Isn't this a show for little girls?

Pixar technically makes shows for little boys, and produce some of the best animation in the world.

> Okay, fine. I'll give it a try. Where do I start?

No Brony could ask for more. I recommend watching the episodes in order. They're all up on Youtube. Unusually, Hasbro seems fine with having the entire series up in public because they've made no move to bring down any of the episodes. Search for "Friendship is Magic Episode 1" and you should find the series pretty easily... Or search for "Sharing is Magic" Google Doc. That is all.

> Okay, I'm going to watch it but this had better live up to the hype!

Whoa, calm down there. The show is light hearted, optimistic fun but it's not for everyone. It's good fun, the community is good fun, and everyone can do with a reminder that friendship is magic but if it doesn't gel for you we'll love and tolerate you anyway. Plus, you might hit the wrong episode. Ask first?

> Iron Hoof/Fan Theories/Shipping/Binding

All in good fun! If it's not your cup of tea, skim it, but this show has triggered a great creative outpouring from the Internet. Pony themed fan-art is abundant and often excellent. See below for some examples.

> Derpy Hooves/Doctor Whoof

Two minor background characters who were adopted as emblems of 4chan. Derpy Hooves is so named due to an animation error in the first episode that had her eyes facing in different directions; 4chan has assigned her the role of Ponyville's mailpony, and her only line so far has been "Muffins". The show's animators are aware of Derpy's popularity and she's shown up a few times recently with her eyes obviously derped. Currently made canon in Feeling Pinkie Keen and in Faust's picture showcased below, Derpy was deemed important enough to appear in storyboards for Season II.

Dr. Whoof is a pony with an hourglass cutie mark; he and his kin save time and space very quietly off camera.

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Ponytar Artists

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Alarra
Alterform
Crown of Thorns
Dirtytabs
Irbis
Kairaven
Khosan
...and a lot more, too many to keep track of, now.

If you do/don't want to be here, make a note in the thread.

Note that we're looking for more as the above are a bit swamped with requests currently.

New: Official PonyPic Request Thread!

General Resources

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Fan Fiction and News: Equestria Daily
FF... Darkly: Equestria after Dark
Discussion Image Forum: Ponychan
Pony Emotes: FiM Emotes
Pony Images: Ponibooru
Know Your Meme: Ponies!
Allspark MLP Discussion Thread

Art Resources

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OC Pony Creation Guide:

>useful link<

Deviant Art Links:

Lauren Faust

14 Bis
ButterSS
Csimadmax
DonKoRR
Irving Zero
Johnjoseco
Kloudmutt
Palestorm

Tutorials:

How to Draw Luna
MLP Art Guides
MLP Colour Guides

Kloud TV

Concepts:

On the Design of the Mane Cast

Concept art by L. Faust:

AJ/AJ
Pinkie/Surprise
Rarity/Sparkler
Twilight/Twinkle
Derpy/Ditzy

Group Shot

5 Best Pictures [IMHO]:

TG&P Trixie 1 2a 2b 3
Twilight Sparkle 1 2 3
Rainbow Dash 1 2 3 3.6
Fluttershy 1 2 3

Pony Games

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The most recent one.
Pacderpy
Two very similar dash based cloud gathering sidescrollers
Pony generator I
Pony generator II
Pony generator III

New: Pinkie licks cupcakes. And a playthrough for it, too.
Collect Cupcakes, Lick Ponies! 2.0

Nice Fanwork



Art Challenges

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MyLP Challenge:

Do you want to try your hand at something fun? Feeling need to draw fanart? How about trying MyLP Challenge?

What it is? Just click on the linked template.

How does that work? Don't be scared, just complete the template to the best of your ability. Have one two three four examples made by other ponies

Starting thread and more examples can be found here.

***

Phoe In Ropes is now a thing. Wanna draw something? Tie me up. Have a story to write? Work it in as an easter egg. Want it to be the main focus? Wonderful! I want to see enough material by Thread XI for white pegasus ponies bound in ropes or shackles or what have you to make it the official theme of the thread. Got it? Good!

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ATTENTION EVERYPONY!!!

Great & Powerful Trixie made a bet. A bet I'll procure 12 pictures of Trixie - like the one in my sig, of similar quality - before next weekend. Trixie cosplaying, doing weird stuff, finding herself in unusual situations. So! I need ideas! Sketches of Unicorn ponies (I'm willing to vectorize them for free if they're good enough)! Moments from the show showing ponies with unusual poses and/or designs I could use to inspire myself! Finally, if someone would also like to draw something, I'd be glad to repay in some manner :P

Any takers?

Important GitP Links

Thread I - Because Friendship Is Magic
Thread II - Now About 20% Cooler
Thread III - The Great & Powerful Thread
Thread IV - Friendship is Sufficiently Advanced Technology
Thread V - Art of the Thread
Thread VI - MUFFINS!
Thread VII - The Grand Galloping Thread
Thread VIII - Friendship is Music
Thread IX - The Best Thread Ever
Thread X - We Trot 'til We Drop
Thread XI - "Mmph!"
Thread XII - No One Can Groove Like the Girls with the Hooves
Thread XIII - Fast/Fine/Fierce Thread
Thread XIV - Boots on Hooves / Bikinis on Top

Operation: Indiscriminate Friendship
My Little Pony: FiM RP Recruitment
Pony Week Discussion Thread
Pony Crime Pulp Fic/Game Thread

[Thanqol]

I am so cut you didn't name this "It's Safer Here".

So cut.

[Trixie]

*sniff* 15th thread I've made

So many proposals, I had to roll die. DBC wins this one ;P

Since I don't have energy to rotate OPic anymore, I'll make complimentary imagedump and OP edit late today. See you!

[Orzel]

Sea Ponies! Hide me!

*gallops behind another poster*

[RdMarquis]

Aw, but they're cute. Also, it's a little alarming how many times I've stayed up into the wee hours of the night to watch the new thread come up. On that note, good night, everypony.

[Aotrs Commander]

*sees thread title & OP*

*skulldesk*

*skulldesk*

*skulldesk*

Damn you Trixie, DBC and Sea Ponies! Will I never escape your acursed earworm!?!?!

When will the singing stoooop!!!!!

*catatonic*

[Level8Mudcrab]

/unlurks

Hurrah! New thread.

Also, this looks amazing.

[Grif]

I am so cut you didn't name this "It's Safer Here".

So cut.

I liked that name too.

[Etcetera]

I am so cut you didn't name this "It's Safer Here".

So cut.

How could you?

[Kurgan]

Trixie's plan is to obviously lull everyone into a false sense of security, and then use that title for Thread XVIII. Nobody will see it coming!

Also, the seaponies are adorable.

[ScionoftheVoid]

New thread, yay. Have we had the opening mindscrew yet? I don't think we have, but we need one before the second page. Hmm...

[Welf]

My last post in the old thread was an mini image dump, so my first one in the new one shall be one, too.

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[Titanium Fox]

Hi, everyone. I'm about to head to bed, but I before I did, I just wanted to apologize on how I've been acting the past week or so. I know I really haven't been at my best, been kinda anti-social and unreliable, and that at worse I've been, well, pretty complain-y and had a bad attitude, honestly. I'm still feeling pretty out of it, but I'm gonna try to be in a better mood again, recover and be more like my normal self.

I just wanted to apologize before I went to bed here, because you guys are my friends, and I'm sorry if I hurt anyone or got on anyone's nerves.

Warning: this isn't a comfort picture or anything. This is a confession and an apology.

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Well I'll admit, I was in a real funk on Thursday (or was it Tuesday? I forget) when your comments on Nyx set off a bit of rage and feelings of inadequacy of my own. After all, Midnight is beloved to an extreme that brings out the worst of the green eyed monster in me, and seeing you unhappy about Nyx getting positive comparisons to Midnight irked me a bit.

I forgive you for the tiny, unintentional role you had in that. 'Cause I know you didn't have any responsibility for it.

Honestly, no need to apologize guys. Lot's of love for everyone in ponythread.

Ladies(?) in the lamps.

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While you do make for an....interesting lamp lady SiuiS... I think i should try and... WAIT! Does this thing has a tractor beam!? Oh man! It does. Targeting the lamps. and DRAW EM IN! *ponyard laughs happily* Haha! no I have the harem girl-men! Its kinda weird! but its adventurous!

Ok so i had a brain wave. hear me out. ok so elements of harmony= parts of friendship right? now what if, each of the elements had a partner, Twlight and Trixie, applejack and soren, Rainbow and DJ Pon-3 and so on. Would the power of love make the elements even stronger? Like super charge them? cause i totally want to write that into the end of ponyard's story.

That would certainly be interesting to write out. But the elements are powerful enough to defeat Nightmare Moon as it stands, what would they need to be more powerful for? :P

Roseluck: How's my special little angel?

Twist: Mom, you're embarrassing me in front of Apple Bloom.

Roseluck: (hugs) Oh, you. I made you both some cucumber sandwiches and tea! I'll get out of your manes.

Apple Bloom: ... cucumber sandwiches?

Twist: Mom says being fancy's the most important thing. I tend to take after Dad more.

Weird Al Pony: Hey Twist, wanna hear my new accordion song? I call it "Rush Now, Riot Now!"

Twist: If it's okay with you, Apple Bloom?

Apple Bloom: Sure! These things're always a hoot!

Weird... Al... Pony? You sir have made my day.

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/07/7-days.html#more The end is neigh. The pink one is upon us.

YAY!

No... NO... NOOOOOO! I will not be assimilated into the cult of the Pink One!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFKrn...el_video_title

She wrote some lines for Derpy and Dinky and voiced them, along with the mane six. It's adorable.

I am very much a fan of that VA for Derpy. It just fits so well. Also that singing is absolutely adorable.

No... NO! THE MEMORIES! THE UNHOLY FUSION OF MONKEY D. LUFFY, THE DOCTOR AND HARRY DRESDEN! WITH THE SONIC SCREWDRIVER AND THE RIDICULOUS BONUSES AND SKILLS IN EVERYTHING AND HE BOUGHT IT ALL WITH DEFECTS THAT WOULD NEVER COME UP AND HE HELPED RUIN MY CAMPAIGN WHY WHY WOULD YOU REMIND ME OF THAT AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

...And I've seen levels of cheese out of my players that would make this look tame. Is that bad?

You used to be about the ponies, man. You used to be cool.
Seriously, were it not for the title I'd have no idea what this thread was about.

Dude, we are all about the ponies. Have you read more than the past 10 posts? 95% of this thread is about ponies.

Starting Post

Poor Applejack. WHY ARE THERE SEA PONIES IN MY G4? @_@

[Orzel]

1) I have figure out where I can have playing cards printed up for my FiM RPG board game for bronycon.

2) I had to listen to CMC singing to counter the sea ponies song seeping in my brain.

Sea ponies vs Cutie Mark Crusaders

6 ponies enter.
3 ponies attend the after-battle luau.

[Titanium Fox]

1) I have figure out where I can have playing cards printed up for my FiM RPG board game for bronycon.

2) I had to listen to CMC singing to counter the sea ponies song seeping in my brain.

Sea ponies vs Cutie Mark Crusaders

6 ponies enter.
3 ponies attend the after-battle luau.

Now I'm picturing Scootaloo in a hula skirt. What has my brain done.

[EsperDerek]

Warning: this isn't a comfort picture or anything. This is a confession and an apology.

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Well I'll admit, I was in a real funk on Thursday (or was it Tuesday? I forget) when your comments on Nyx set off a bit of rage and feelings of inadequacy of my own. After all, Midnight is beloved to an extreme that brings out the worst of the green eyed monster in me, and seeing you unhappy about Nyx getting positive comparisons to Midnight irked me a bit.

I forgive you for the tiny, unintentional role you had in that. 'Cause I know you didn't have any responsibility for it.

It's alright, I think we *both* were in bad moods in Thursday (it was Thursday, because it was a day before the funeral), and yeah, it's sort of kind of dawned on me how I was feeling was maybe how a lot of people felt about me, and how kinda lucky I've gotten, and how it was unfair that I was feeling that way. Gave me a sort of a slap upside the head, 'You dolt' sort of thing. So, yeah, I apologize and forgive you, too.

Also, if it helps, your fics are plenty awesome, and they do need more attention. And fanart.

On the Past Sins/Nyx grumbling, it's quite ironic to see complaints against the fic being done both here and on /fic/ in ponychan.

As one poster put it succintly there:

I wholly agree with that statement. The last few chapters had me 'meh' what the hay is this thing going.

I noticed that thread, actually, in my perusal of ponychan last night, and when I went back today, sitting here watching the rain go down, it was gone, replaced by a 'discussion thread' that basically states you're not allowed to have dissenting opinions in that thread. So, yeah, I guess it got a little too heated.

And I actually agree with that statement, and as a man of mass media, despite my personal problems with the story, I absolutely have to respect, on a professional level, the authors for the top-notch advertising. I agree with that one dude who said something like "It's probably the strongest ad campaign for a fic this fandom has seen yet."

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I think you've been fine. After all, you've been concerned enough to apologize (several times), which clearly shows you care. I'd say you just need more internet hugs until you start feeling better.

I do care, a lot. I don't like hurting people in the first place, and especially not people that I give a damn about, like you guys.

...If this is what you guys are like when you're grouchy, I think I need to harvest some happiness from each of you.

If love is in the appendix, where does happiness get stored?

Honestly, that's why I like this thread. We're willing to actually sit down (errr, metaphorically) and actually talk to one another when stuff like this happens. We're actual, mature human beings, and I love this thread for that. Not just the wackiness and the ponies and that, but the fact that we treat each other with respect.

I know well what a downbeat mood can do to a mind and how hard it is to break out of. Hope both of you find a healthier balance, some better luck, and some solid priorities.

Oh, I know I'll bounce back, and I'm working on it right now. Believe me, I've been through enough in my life that I know a situation like this, I can beat, there's no doubt about that.

But a little encouragement and well-wishing never hurts, and thanks for that.

For what it's worth, I wasn't annoyed, nor do I think any less of you guys for feeling like that. It's honestly very big if you to admit it.

I'll always try to admit when I'm wrong. Sometimes I fail or I'm stupid or not recognize that I am wrong or whatnot, but I'll always try. And, as I said before, especially when it comes to my friends.

Good lord, already filled to the brim on this one too? I'll wait until the next thread to post this picture then. Seeya tomorrow, all!

Damn it, Inkwell! And not just because of that, your timestamp says you posted that closing in on 4 AM! You know better than to keep awake that late! Geez, the ponies in this thread, I'll tell you.

New thread, yay. Have we had the opening mindscrew yet? I don't think we have, but we need one before the second page. Hmm...

Uhm....I got nothing! Oh, except for maybe this picture that came up on my devantART while I was writing through this thread:

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AHHH, time and space are collapsing in on themselves! We're doomed, doomed I say! No? Well, that's the best *I* can do.

I'm caught up on the Djinni stuff, but I've been sitting here for twenty minutes writing this out, and I really need to go get my day started, so it'll have to wait.

[Trixie]

*sees thread title & OP*

*skulldesk*

*skulldesk*

*skulldesk*

Damn you Trixie, DBC and Sea Ponies! Will I never escape your acursed earworm!?!?!

When will the singing stoooop!!!!!

*catatonic*

Shoo be Doo, Helpfoal as can be ponies!

...

Well, I blame you :P I absorb magic energy and knowledge of everything around, so guess whose fault it is I have urge to commit evil deeds occasionally now :E

I am so cut you didn't name this "It's Safer Here".

So cut.

Points hoof to this post

Also, see above :P

Trixie's plan is to obviously lull everyone into a false sense of security, and then use that title for Thread XVIII. Nobody will see it coming!

Also, the seaponies are adorable.

...

You do realize it means I can't use it for XVIII now, either? ;P

[Titanium Fox]

@EsperDerek & darthbobcat:

Looks like somepony needs some cheering up!

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Pinkie Pie Loves You!

[tonberrian]

tonberrian apologizes for not posting more. tonberrian got distracted by other hobbies and now a cold-thing. tonberrian is currently not feeling so great.

tonberrian does not know why he is speaking in third-pony.

[MCerberus]

Ponythread has been classified a Level 5 cuteness hazard. Read at own warning.

Many Moods of Ponythead: Repost

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More ponymotes:

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[TheAmishPirate]

And then there was a new pony thread. And the ponies rejoiced.

Still never actually seen the original sea pony thing, and I intend to keep it that way.

[Orzel]

Now I'm picturing Scootaloo in a hula skirt. What has my brain done.

Somepony draw this now!

[Trixie]

Still never actually seen the original sea pony thing, and I intend to keep it that way.

Reform and repent, heretic

What kind of un-sea pirate are you, anyway? :P

[MCerberus]

Reform and repent, heretic

What kind of un-sea pirate are you, anyway? :P

*clam shell opens*
*sea-ponies start singing*
*the girl and AJ look at each other going 'Am I high'*

really, that's the best explanation for that look.

[TheAmishPirate]

Reform and repent, heretic

What kind of un-sea pirate are you, anyway? :P

One who values his few remaining scraps shreds bits teeny tiny threads of sanity highly, and also knows that whatever horrors that lie beyond that link will remain in his head forever should they be allowed in. That being said, the sea ponies in the OP are ludicrously adorable.

Besides, I think my horse-drawn pirate ship spooks the little buggers.

[Bayonet Priest]

I love the OP picture, the look on Applejack's face is priceless.

[dromer]

Reform and repent, heretic

What kind of un-sea pirate are you, anyway? :P

Almost beats out, 'Under the Sea'. Almost.

[Trixie]

New thread, yay. Have we had the opening mindscrew yet? I don't think we have, but we need one before the second page. Hmm...

How about this: seahorses are carnivores

And since sea ponies are members of pony family... <coughs> Why are you looking at me like this? ;P

Anyway! Promised imagedump!

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Hmm, Aqua Drop looks kind of nice.

[Khosan]

And I'm back. I kinda want to go back and quote some of the responses to my question about ponyships in MLP:BF, but I'm a bit lazy 'cause I just woke up and I can't quite remember where they all are in the thread.

Anyway, I think everyone pretty much agreed that a friend system was a good idea, even if choosing a single 'best friend' wasn't (and, to be honest, that wasn't one of my choices either). It has also given me a couple ideas as follows:

A 2-variable system seems like it'd be pretty popular, with one variable being how somepony feels about you in the long term and the other being the short term, which varies a bit more widely. I don't really have names for them other than short/long term and I don't think there's anything else that sums it up as well. It'd be difficult, if not outright impossible, to lose long-term progress, but the short term can vary a little more wildly with varying results on your long term relationship (i.e. if Rarity gets mad at you, it stalls your long-term progress, apologize outright and short term just returns to normal, if you get Rarity to apologize and don't rub it in her face, you get a boost to your long term and short term relationships). In this case I'd probably simplify the number of long term relationship levels down to about 3 or so.

Another idea I had, since there's technically no 'end-game' for pony relationships, is to create one. Getting to be best friends with a pony only gets you about half of their full story. When you get to the 'best friend' level, they start coming to you for help or to invite you to events. Like Applejack will ask you to help her with apple-bucking, Pinkie Pie will invite you to various parties, and they'd occasionally ask you to help you find something specific for them. I have no idea what sort of benefits to provide at that point for doing what they ask, but I'm inclined towards temporary bonuses.

I might've had a third thing, but it's slipped my mind by now.

Oh wait, I remember. There was some guy who posted that he thought a game about farming would be pretty dull. To be honest, yeah it would be if all you ever focused on was the farming. If that's all I ever did in Harvest Moon, my days would be wake up, water plants, feed livestock, sleep. The social aspect is what makes it more enjoyable, as you make friends with all the townspeople and get to know them.

[Titanium Fox]

Also, worth of note. I wore my 20% cooler T-Shirt to Mayhem Fest this weekend. I got a few looks, a few parents recognized it. But, at the end of the night, on the way to the car, I got a brohoof. Made it totally worth it.