Friendship is Dragons
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Page 49 - Rocks Fall
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Newbiespud
29th Nov 2011, 5:00 AM
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Yep. I'm still calling this a children's show.
I had forgotten the wonders of Wings in RPG's as well, actually. Amazing things, wings are.
Also, saving scene is 50 comic. That means super long edition!
I had forgotten the wonders of Wings in RPG's as well, actually. Amazing things, wings are.
Also, saving scene is 50 comic. That means super long edition!
NM: "Now let's see. I could show up in person and try scaring them back to Ponyville, attack them with some minions, or I could shatter the ground beneath their very feet and send them careening to their horrible deaths. Hmmm, choices, choices."
NMM: "Aww who am I kidding? Death all around! Free death for everypony!"
"Death now remarked to the low, low price of free in honor of Black Friday!"
Because here at the world of Nightmare Moon's Discount Deathporium every pony must DIE!!
Oh! Oh! Anecdote time! I heard this one from my older brother...
My brother's party was running from this Rock Golem out in the middle of wilderness. And, strangely enough, they had decided that scaling a cliffside would be their best bet for getting away.
So they all make some climb checks for a few turns, getting out of reach of the golem fairly quickly.
However, after they all reach about two-thirds of the way up, the party rogue fails his check, and careens off the cliff, down towards the Rock Golem, and into his doom.
The rogue, though, was a bit of a rules monger at this point, and gently reminded the DM of damage taken from free falling objects. After calculating the weight of the rogue and the height of the fall, and looking at the Rock Golems stat sheet for a few moments, the DM scratched his head for a few seconds and said the following: "You fall, Rocks die."
My brother's party was running from this Rock Golem out in the middle of wilderness. And, strangely enough, they had decided that scaling a cliffside would be their best bet for getting away.
So they all make some climb checks for a few turns, getting out of reach of the golem fairly quickly.
However, after they all reach about two-thirds of the way up, the party rogue fails his check, and careens off the cliff, down towards the Rock Golem, and into his doom.
The rogue, though, was a bit of a rules monger at this point, and gently reminded the DM of damage taken from free falling objects. After calculating the weight of the rogue and the height of the fall, and looking at the Rock Golems stat sheet for a few moments, the DM scratched his head for a few seconds and said the following: "You fall, Rocks die."
It gladdens me that you spelled "rogue" correctly all throughout your post. It pains me to say that I've seen rogues in WoW use rouge.
You have seen rogues in WoW use rouge? Is there a problem with rogues who want to put on a little makeup?
As nifty as that is, were I DM, methinks I'd factor hardness into that, though were it a monk that was falling I'd allow them to bypass it since they're used to using their body as a weapon to fight armored foes.
After all, jumping off a cliff onto a boulder will smash you, not the rock. I bend the rules mainly in the interest of realism, though occasionally fun wins out, be it because an idea that's "just crazy enough to work" at least deserves a chance, or because a TPK would be no fun.
(Incidentally, this is probably the dozenth time in the past few months I've come back to this page just to read the sentence "You Fall, Rocks Die." Searching that on Google just takes me to TVTropes' 'Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies' page.
After all, jumping off a cliff onto a boulder will smash you, not the rock. I bend the rules mainly in the interest of realism, though occasionally fun wins out, be it because an idea that's "just crazy enough to work" at least deserves a chance, or because a TPK would be no fun.
(Incidentally, this is probably the dozenth time in the past few months I've come back to this page just to read the sentence "You Fall, Rocks Die." Searching that on Google just takes me to TVTropes' 'Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies' page.
Actually, its clear what Nightmare moon is up to when its animated.
Also, before anyone else can have claim at it:
Cliff crumbles, Ponys fall, everypony dies.
Also, before anyone else can have claim at it:
Cliff crumbles, Ponys fall, everypony dies.
Maybe the idea was that she'd finish off Rainbow and Fluttershy with other obstacles up ahead. In fact, maybe she had no intention of wanting to kill Rainbow in the first place, considering the final challenge she puts to them before they reach the palace is offering Rainbow a job to distract her from helping her friends. In fact, her plan seems a lot BETTER in hindsight than it did watching the show.
It must be said that it's easier to kill off 2 ponies than it would be 6, especially if you can take out the OP Wizard, or even just the ringleader who possesses the master plan, in the first shot. Also, the DM just effectively split the party.
"Ok, the 2 Pegasi catch two different ponies, but the remaining 2 fall and encounter a Manticore at the bottom of the cliff."
"Ok, the 2 Pegasi catch two different ponies, but the remaining 2 fall and encounter a Manticore at the bottom of the cliff."
Actually, she really would have only had to bump off one pony to render the elements worthless. This seems like a solid plan; Send four of them careening down the cliff face. the pegasi would only be able to save two, and even if the remaining two stuck together to break one anothers fall, one of them would probably wind up at least too injured to continue.
BUT she doesn't know that considering she was legitimately surprised when the mane six pulled the "we ARE the Elements" move. It seems that as far as she knows, the elements can easily used as a solo or duo act. (Her and her sister did it as a duo act to defeat Discord, after all.) So she might've been really just playing at being confident by the time the whole group showed up at her doorstep ready to beat her down. Even if she knew that they couldn't beat her without all six of them there, basic villain theory says "if you can get EVERY enemy you're facing out of the way with minimal effort, why settle for one or two?"
Also, I love playing flying characters. Now in 4e, with the release of Heroes of the Feywild, we can play pixies. They can fly, but can't end their move more than one square above the ground square. As such they can effectively be in the square above another party member.
And I barely ever play Wisdom-based characters, so I can feel Applejack's pain on not having a good passive perception.
Hm. After Heroes of Shadow, I'm not too keen on the 'Heroes of' supplements. But the 'can't end their turn more than one square above the ground' thing is an interesting idea.
In my pony campaign, Pegasi can fly freely outside of 'high stress' situations (i.e. Pretty much every situation an adventurer is in...) but have an Encounter power that lets them fly Speed +2... And negates falling damage, once, regardless of the height of the fall. The racial power actually goes up to Speed+4, then Speed+6 with each character 'tier'. They also have Cloudwalking as an at-will and gain Fly 6 at level 11. (Though I'm thinking of making it Clumsy flight, so they get an accuracy debuff while in the air.)
http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/pastures-ponies/wikis/pegasus
I am a nerd with too much time on my hands.
In my pony campaign, Pegasi can fly freely outside of 'high stress' situations (i.e. Pretty much every situation an adventurer is in...) but have an Encounter power that lets them fly Speed +2... And negates falling damage, once, regardless of the height of the fall. The racial power actually goes up to Speed+4, then Speed+6 with each character 'tier'. They also have Cloudwalking as an at-will and gain Fly 6 at level 11. (Though I'm thinking of making it Clumsy flight, so they get an accuracy debuff while in the air.)
http://www.obsidianportal.com/campaign/pastures-ponies/wikis/pegasus
I am a nerd with too much time on my hands.
Kiana: Heroes of Feywild is a much better supplement than most of the other essentials supplements. Satyrs are really fun (if really, really limited in their use if you're paying Feywild-only since they can only be a couple classes well), Hamadryad's are blatantly the best race in the game ever, Pixies are fun, and the classes available are all interesting. (Witch is among the best Wizard options I've seen in terms of both fun and usefulness.)
Also, since unless they're young almost all pegasi are very good flyers, it seems a little unfair to not let them fly freely. If I might make a suggestion: why not make it so they have fly 6 (or 5 if you feel like it's that important that it not be too strong level 1) Clumsy, a low normal move (like a 4 before armor penalties) to represent the fact that most fly unless they're inside or have some reason to be on the ground? At Paragon tier, give them Smooth flight, and have the encounter racial power just be for one turn their fly speed gets +2/+4/+6 squares of movement. That way players get what you'd expect from being a pegasus (able to fly whenever they want) without being broken or anything. Also, the occasional encounter that actively grounds them for a round or two would make the low ground speed relevant.
Also, since unless they're young almost all pegasi are very good flyers, it seems a little unfair to not let them fly freely. If I might make a suggestion: why not make it so they have fly 6 (or 5 if you feel like it's that important that it not be too strong level 1) Clumsy, a low normal move (like a 4 before armor penalties) to represent the fact that most fly unless they're inside or have some reason to be on the ground? At Paragon tier, give them Smooth flight, and have the encounter racial power just be for one turn their fly speed gets +2/+4/+6 squares of movement. That way players get what you'd expect from being a pegasus (able to fly whenever they want) without being broken or anything. Also, the occasional encounter that actively grounds them for a round or two would make the low ground speed relevant.
They can fly as much as they like outside of combat. I'm trying to keep them from being over powered while also balancing utility and user-friendliness.
Seeing as how some players are REALLY new to 4e, I wanted to ensure the races were mostly balanced... And seeing as how the one guy with speed 5 is already hugely limited, I'd rather not gimp them anymore in that regard.
I'm not claiming the way I'm doing things is great or the only way to do it, but in the campaign thus far it's worked out pretty well. And seeing as how over half the party are fliers, pegasi must be working out fine... If anything.
Seeing as how some players are REALLY new to 4e, I wanted to ensure the races were mostly balanced... And seeing as how the one guy with speed 5 is already hugely limited, I'd rather not gimp them anymore in that regard.
I'm not claiming the way I'm doing things is great or the only way to do it, but in the campaign thus far it's worked out pretty well. And seeing as how over half the party are fliers, pegasi must be working out fine... If anything.
"But the 'can't end their turn more than one square above the ground' thing is an interesting idea."
Limitations on Flight along those lines have long been used in Hero to represent characters who can fly, (but are not able to sustain altitude), or who have physically impossible jumping abilities.
Limitations on Flight along those lines have long been used in Hero to represent characters who can fly, (but are not able to sustain altitude), or who have physically impossible jumping abilities.
I'm wondering how Rarity didn't see that coming, since she had a Passive Perception of 18, that already beats a 15 DC, so she should have been able to see that ^ ^
You've forgotten modifiers for low-light conditions and for spotting incorporeal creatures, that might've affected the DC.
I hope we eventually get to see Nightmare Moon's origins in the show...fanon aside, I've always wanted to know the details of her turning evil, and why Celestia was forced to lock her in the moon instead of, ya know, doing what Twilight and the others do and change her back to good.
Well, Both Luna and Celestia used the elements on Discord, so that's half of the users of them out of the equation. And honestly, Celestia herself doesn't really embody any of the elements that well, so they'd be much weaker in her hooves compared to the mane 6.
I always figured she just embodied magic while Luna embodied the other five? Since she is a magic teacher.
Maybe the split them evenly.
Magic - Could be either. I can see why you'd give it to Celestia.
Laughter - Celestia loves small pranks. Luna didn't know what fun was.
Loyalty - Celestia didn't go crazy.
Honesty - Luna seems more open about her thoughts.
Kindness & Generosity - Could be either. We haven't seen enough of Luna to really push either element.
Mind, this is entirely subjective.
Magic - Could be either. I can see why you'd give it to Celestia.
Laughter - Celestia loves small pranks. Luna didn't know what fun was.
Loyalty - Celestia didn't go crazy.
Honesty - Luna seems more open about her thoughts.
Kindness & Generosity - Could be either. We haven't seen enough of Luna to really push either element.
Mind, this is entirely subjective.
This one is a bit subjective I think. Twilight needed friends to unlock the elements of harmony. Could she have made them if Celestia came right out and said, "Yeah. The magic artifacts require friends. Go make some."
Admittedly, that probably still qualifies as dishonest, though I'd say it's a bit of a gray area.
... Yeah. Celestia strikes me more as the type to withhold information so people can be left to figure things out on their own.
Admittedly, that probably still qualifies as dishonest, though I'd say it's a bit of a gray area.
... Yeah. Celestia strikes me more as the type to withhold information so people can be left to figure things out on their own.
I'd give Celestia Kindness, Laughter and...
Luna needs either Loyalty or Generosity to cover for her need for attention, if the dark sides of the main cast are related too. Maybe both?
That would give Celestia Honesty. She doesn't seem as down to earth as Applejack but Luna is practically the mistress of deception, especially in nightmare moon form.
Luna needs either Loyalty or Generosity to cover for her need for attention, if the dark sides of the main cast are related too. Maybe both?
That would give Celestia Honesty. She doesn't seem as down to earth as Applejack but Luna is practically the mistress of deception, especially in nightmare moon form.
Oh! And remember that the only reason the 6th element is named 'magic' is because Twilight called it that. It could actually be something entirely different. Like, you know, 'friendship' or something.
No, I'm pretty sure it's both. By which I mean, watch the episode again. Watch how as Twilight develops a friendship with the other Elements, she is eventually able to call upon the sixth Element. Since they are the Elements of Harmony, they naturally have to work in Harmony, and they're magical. By having a strong friendship, they can summon the magic of the Elements of Harmony. Thus, Friendship is Magic.
I mean, come on, didn't anyone else realize that's what the title of the show is getting at?
I mean, come on, didn't anyone else realize that's what the title of the show is getting at?
I'm sure we all realized it the first time we saw the episode and simultaneously groaned at that specific point in the episode just before it was announced.
Twi: "The spark ignited within me when I realized that you all are my friend! That spark is..."
Audience: "Ugh... defeating her with Friendship"
Twi: "MAGIC!"
Audience: "Wait, wha-? Oh you son on a-"
Though I must agree with terry, nothing has ever come out and specified what this 6th Element's name actually is called. All we have to work with is what Twilight said, and there's no indication on whether she actually knew it, whether the Element "spoke" to her its name (in the sentient Artifact kind of way), or whether she just pulled it out of her plot.
Twi: "The spark ignited within me when I realized that you all are my friend! That spark is..."
Audience: "Ugh... defeating her with Friendship"
Twi: "MAGIC!"
Audience: "Wait, wha-? Oh you son on a-"
Though I must agree with terry, nothing has ever come out and specified what this 6th Element's name actually is called. All we have to work with is what Twilight said, and there's no indication on whether she actually knew it, whether the Element "spoke" to her its name (in the sentient Artifact kind of way), or whether she just pulled it out of her plot.
Didn't Discord also call it The Element of Magic? I think that pretty much confirms that Magic is its actual name.
I can honestly see Luna being Kindness and Celestia generosity.
My reasoning? Luna is actually genuinely kind in her S2 episode. You can watch her be hurt by everyone's general fear of her, but she doesn't do more than basically ban a holiday dedicated to (seemingly) demonizing her.
Also, who else is Kindness? Fluttershy. Who *royally freaked out* when her Cutie Mark Related Talent backfired? Fluttershy.
Nightmare Moon is just FlutterRage amplified by phenomenal cosmic power.
After all, all Luna wanted was for people to love her as much as they did her sister.
My reasoning? Luna is actually genuinely kind in her S2 episode. You can watch her be hurt by everyone's general fear of her, but she doesn't do more than basically ban a holiday dedicated to (seemingly) demonizing her.
Also, who else is Kindness? Fluttershy. Who *royally freaked out* when her Cutie Mark Related Talent backfired? Fluttershy.
Nightmare Moon is just FlutterRage amplified by phenomenal cosmic power.
After all, all Luna wanted was for people to love her as much as they did her sister.
I love the fact that the rogue is the only one on four hooves still in the final panel. Hooray for having a high acrobatics score!
She looks to be more in a 'sitting on her rump', going down a slide kind of pose to me at least. YMMV, I suppose.
I suppose that's the difference between training in acrobatics and just having a class bonus?
That actually makes sense. I think Dexterity or Acrobatics checks are being rolled here: Rarity makes a Hard DC, stays upright and slides down at a slower speed; Pinkie Pie makes a Moderate DC and also slides at a slower speed. This enables Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash to get to them first.
Twilight Sparkle and Applejack fail to make even an Easy DC on their checks, and go careening out of control down the cliff at twice the speed of Rarity and Pinkie.
Twilight Sparkle and Applejack fail to make even an Easy DC on their checks, and go careening out of control down the cliff at twice the speed of Rarity and Pinkie.
For a while there, I had to think to remember whether or not one out of Rainbow or Fluttershy were Paladins or not.
It suddenly dawned on me that you might have something here with Rainbow Dash as an evil Paladin. The problem is that she doesn't really have a cause. Not even as a nihilist. She does however channel radiant energy.
Seems like the DM and RD player are inexperienced, so maybe cross class feat in the future? Just a thought.
Seems like the DM and RD player are inexperienced, so maybe cross class feat in the future? Just a thought.
The topography in Equestria is pretty dramatic!
I was going to post a comment about how Nightmare Moon isn't acting like a good villain, but the other readers managed to point out how her actions probably do in fact hold strategic value! Why fight all of the ponies at once when you can engage in Guerilla tactics? 6 on 1 isn't very good odds. Perhaps she cast "detect protagonist" or something of a similar nature, and realizes that they're trouble.
Other people. Makes playing the devil's advocate easier.
Other people. Makes playing the devil's advocate easier.
I think someone on TVTropes WMG'd that the reason NMM didn't outright destroy the Mane 6 was because Luna was subconsciously making herself lose. That makes sense.