Alicorns are often seen as very powerful beings in MLP. Let’s level the playing field and consider making a “Lesser Alicorn.” Which of the following detriments would you like to see alicorns have?

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4873884/)

1. (Specialized Magic) Alicorns have phenomenal magic power…in one area of expertise. Whether it be healing, offensive magic, defensive magic, love magic or so on, alicorns can only specialize in one type.

2. (Weak Defense) Alicorns may be stronger in some ways, but they can be incapacitated a lot easier than regular pony types. The RPG game term is “Glass Canon,” meaning they hit hard, but have almost no defense.

3. (Perfect Memory) It may seem good to have perfect memory…at first, but Alicorns who cannot forgot must remember all the bad with the good. They carry the burden of everyone’s past, all in one mind.

4. (Never an Equal) Alicorns can care a lot about others…but there are virtually no others who can understand them or connect with them. They are often loners because of this, failing to find friends of equal understanding.

5. (Danger Beacon) Alicorns are beings of immense power, and as such, draw others who would wish to claim such power. They must contend with a near-constant stream of challengers for their abilities.

6. (Vain Above All) Alicorns believe they are the best, but perhaps a bit more than they should. They’re vain and arrogant, often making stupid mistakes due to their pride. They must constantly keep their vanity in check.

7. (Immortal Enemies) A group of enemies have targeted Alicorns as their eternal rivals. Equally powerful, these Eternals challenge the Alicorns at every turn, looking to overthrow their dominion.

8. (Champions) For an Alicorn to keep its power, it must chose several ponies to serve as its champions whose good (or evil) acts strengthen the Alicorn based on the positive or negative aspects of their acts.

9. (Anchor City) Alicorns must nurture a chosen city and help it and its citizens flourish. The stronger and more vibrant the city, the more vitality the Alicorn is granted. If the city is attacked, the Alicorn suffers.

0. (Other) What kind of flaw (or flaws) do you think Alicorns should have?

-Written by Boardgamebrony-

Hey everypony! We have an artist spotlight here for our Patreon supporter CorpulentBrony who has made some really cool analysis videos!

Here's two of his videos:




CorpulentBrony talks about instances which detail the units of time used in Equestria, such as hours, minutes and such. The show makes some details rather clear, but you'll be surprised to find out a little more about the passing of moons...



CorpulentBrony details his findings of time in Equestria through the episodes of My Little Pony. Using indicators in the episodes, like time passing, mentions of "days," "weeks," and so on, CorpulentBrony determines what is the most likely amount of time which has passed between seasons 1 thru 3 of MLP:FiM. It turns out that characters mention such information quite regularly and the findings are rather surprising if you originally thought that an Equestrian year was the same as our own.

---

CorpulentBrony puts a lot of effort into meticulously examining the episodes to find evidence which would back up his findings. His videos really help solidify some of the temporal concepts present in the show, which we already know is famous for its attention to details other children's shows would be quick to overlook. He does an excellent job of keeping things based on canon and keeping fanon out of the evidence examinations. I recommend you take a look and tell us what you learn about his analyses of all our favorite colorful cartoon ponies and their world. : )

I like these analysis videos about My Little Pony because they not only give the fans a chance to delve into the details of the world, but also let us look at the framework of concepts the writers and artists have put into a show we've come to hold so dear. Little discoveries like information about the passing of time help show that the creators of MLP:FiM really do care about world-building, which we subsconsciously recognize as genuine. They create a latticework of foundations for not only their own canon, but provide opportunities for fans to add on to the universe on their own.

Take a look at CorpulentBrony's great videos and tell him what you think! Leave a comment for him and subscribe.

-Written by Boardgamebrony-

Today I was struck with an idea: What if the houses people built are actually physical examples of how their mind is organized?

I’m sure many of us here have ponies on the brain 24/7. I’d imagine if this was represented by a house, these ponies would wonder into pretty much every room.

There’s the Living Room, where we share with others and invite people into our lives. Living Rooms often have places to show off as well, with trophy cases and photos. What is in your Living Room is what you want people to see.

There’s the Kitchen, where we make things for others and for ourselves. It’s a public place too and the source of many gatherings of comfort for ourselves, family and friends. The kitchen is a place of the house where you bring someone you trust a little more than when they’re in the Living Room.

The Bathroom is usually private and a place for us to refresh ourselves, prepare ourselves to present to the world and for solace sometimes when every other room is crowded.

The Bedroom is a special place and usually only the most trusted of people get to enter here. It can be a place of rest, study, or intimacy. It’s a versatile room, and often the deepest into the house.

The Closet is where you keep things you aren’t ready for yet. Your storage of things you don’t have time for, but consider valuable nonetheless. Only you are allowed to pull from your closet when you’re ready.

And then there’s the Attic, Basement or Storage Room. You put stuff in here you don’t want others to see. Maybe things you’re afraid of showing others. Maybe things you’re afraid to show yourself.





So here’s the question for those of you wonderful enough to have read through the description of the entire house: Where do you place your love of ponies in this house? What's the symbolic meaning of where you place the ponies in your mental house?





I’ll give you an example using me. Also Vinyl Scratch. She represents how I feel about ponies in different parts of my life, or house:

Vinyl- “This is your house, huh?”

Boardgamebrony- “Yeah. It’s got quite a few rooms. A little messy, but it has everything I need.”

Vinyl- “The Living Room’s really nice!”

Boardgamebrony- “I really do try to impress people who come over.”

Vinyl- “This Kitchen table doesn’t look like it’s used too often.”

Boardgamebrony- “People who visit don’t stay long.”

*Vinyl goes into the Bathroom. Sees a dingy mirror.*

Vinyl- “Can’t see yourself too well in that,”

Boardgamebrony- “I use the mirror in the bedroom more often.”

Vinyl- “Can I see it?”

Boardgamebrony- “No.”

Vinyl- “…Why not?”

Boardgamebrony- “No one goes in the bedroom but me. Here, I’ll make you something from the Kitchen…”

---

Extra: Here are some other rooms you can apply symbolism to when constructing your mental house.

Guest Bedroom
Garden
Library
Stables
Barn
Garage
Mini Theatre
Game Room
Dining Room

You’re a were-pony. Monstrous trackers have followed you from Equestria and actively hunt you when you’re human, but humans harass you when you’re a pony. You can be a pony for a few hours at a time. What do you do?

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4871459/)

1. (Stay Human, Get Authorities) You go to the local human authorities and tell them you’re being tracked by assassins, leaving out the monster part. When the monsters arrive, the humans arm themselves…

2. (Stay Human, Set up Defenses) You find a defensible building/location and set up defenses on your own, knowing the monsters are on their way. You arm yourself in whatever way you can and prepare for their arrival…

3. (Become Pony, Hide) You become a pony, knowing the monsters can’t track you as you try to hide. You transform back to human every few hours, but you try to keep up the pace. You will have to sleep soon, though…

4. (Set up a Trap) You decide not to run and find a way to lure the monsters into a trap. You use your human/pony transformation to time it just right in hopes that your trap will capture or get rid of the monsters for good…

5. (Hunt the Hunters) You won’t hide. You find a way to protect yourself as both a human and a pony. You track the monsters, finding the perfect opportunity to either make them retreat or take them out…

6. (Get back to Equestria) It’s a long shot, but you think you might be able to get back to Equestria and get magical help. You’ll have to find a way to sneak around the monsters who’ve stationed themselves at a portal…

7. (Find a way to stay pony) You know they can’t track you as a pony, so you try to find some scientific or magical way to stay transformed, which is a long shot already. Maybe they’ll never find you and just give up. Maybe…

8. (Hire Protectors) You look for individuals who would be willing to take on the monsters themselves. You find a way to finance these individuals and prepare them for a battle with everything you know about the monsters…

9. (Wait) You become human, sit down and wait. You don’t know what will happen when they find you. You don’t know if you’ll fight back. You don’t know if they’re sentient enough to listen to reason. But you wait…

0. (Other) What would you do in this nightmare situation?

-Written by Boardgamebrony-



Good evening/morning/twilight time everypony. Trailing on the heels of the last two topics from the previous nights, I’d like to talk about the idea I was leading up to when I mentioned the elements of harmony.

Two nights ago I asked: Are there elements of harmony you feel you personally need to work on?

We had some excellent responses and I am very impressed with you guys. It seems as if you were waiting for an opportunity to touch upon some deeper discussions and I’m very happy to see you all engaging the topics so fervently.

I want to say I’m so happy to see how many of you showed such compassionate hearts last night for the passing of brony Adam Smith. May he rest in peace.

Let’s think forward to the future now and consider all those people who could use our help.

You know what? Let’s start with one person who could definitely use your help more than anyone. If you want to know who they are, simply take a look in the mirror.




Tonight’s 2-part question: When it comes to the Elements of Harmony, what lengths would you go through in order to become that better individual, that paragon of Harmony? What would you do to improve your life and the lives of those around you?




As always, allow me to start this off:

Many of you may have seen the following poll: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4869787/


I recently bought a video camera. I’ve been wanting to film brony-related things ever since last year, but didn’t have the money to get one. You guys can thank Neil Drawponies for helping me with opportunities to finally get what I wanted. : ) (Thanks Neil :P )

And now I plan on using that video camera to inspire other people, not just myself.

I think if I were to focus on strengthening my Element of Harmony focus (Kindness in this case), I would try to find a unique way to approach it, through these videos.

Deviantart user Dylgo referenced two excellent Markiplier quotes on last night’s news story:

---

“Always remember that no matter how bad things in your life get, you are not alone, you are all heroes.” –Markiplier

“All your life, you’ll meet people that only want to bring you down, forget them, stand strong with the people that build you up. Be who you want to be, not who people tell you to be.” –Markiplier
---

Markiplier is a Youtuber who’s well-known for creating Let’s Plays. He has almost 5,000,000 subscribers. I find him so cheery and fun to listen to, because he’s always so positive. And sometimes he makes videos where he talks directly to the viewers, inspiring them, calling them beautiful, calling them heroes. I’d say that’s kindness right there, using his platform to inspire people and make them happy. He certainly makes me happy. : )

I think I can do that too. That’s why I want to make audio journeys, where people close their eyes and listen to voice actors guide them through an imagined beautiful adventure as though they were part of the action.

That’s why I want to make comedy skits, so people can laugh on those hard days when things just don’t seem to be going right for them.

That’s why I want to be able to be so in-character and so good at what I do, that having people simply watch the videos makes them happier.

I’d like to think that’s a form of kindness.

What would you do, to strengthen your desired Element of Harmony?

(Brony Fun: Video Version) Drawponies Mod Boardgamebrony recently bought a video camera! Which of the following video/audio ideas do you think would be fun for a potential new Drawponies video channel?

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4869787/)

1. (Audio Journeys) Audio recordings where the listener is treated as though they were a visitor to Ponyville, walking through the area and imagining the visuals while voice actors provide the interaction for the listener.

2. (Drawponies News) Pro-News Broadcasts focusing on the positive aspects of the fandom with uplifting stories about trending art, animations, conventions, charities and fun shout-outs from youtubers and more.

3. (Comedy Skits) Skits with human characters, cosplaying pony characters, simple animation/stop motion, and general silliness in the form of physical humor, MLP in-jokes, general audience humor and sight gags.

4. (Music Videos) Live-action versions of music videos fans have already made and completely original music videos featuring new and upcoming pony musicians.

5. (Let’s Plays) My Little Pony-themed video game Let’s Plays and/or playing through MLP mods of video games.

6. (Convention/Meetup Recordings) recordings of events, panels, dances, and a walkthrough of the convention in first-person. Meetups will have highlights and possible mini panels, music performances.

7. (Brony Interviews) Interviews with members of the community, reactions from visitors outside the MLP fandom, group interviews on important fandom and non-fandom events.

8. (Amateur Films) My Little Pony themed live-action mini films in the following styles: quirky, serious, dramatic, parody, sitcom, dreamlike, surreal, heartwarming, improv and more.

9. (Fandom Crossovers) Video segments with crossovers of other fandoms interacting with brony fandom in fun ways, like Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Welcome to Nightvale, and more.

0. (Other) What kind of video content would you like to see? Do you do any video content yourself? What do you like?

From EquestriaDaily:

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2014/.....to-online.html



-From Boardgamebrony-

Adam Smith was 19 years old when he took his life.

He wrote fan fiction and uploaded Youtube videos where cruel comments led him to create an “apology” video about his fan fiction, which others accused him of plagiarizing. They made fun of his speech and wrote nasty comments on his sites until he finally decided to take his life.

This happened in May and the Daily Mail just covered it.

There are

so many things

I want to say.





Last night I wrote about elements of harmony you guys think you needed to work on.

Tonight, before I read that article, I wanted to ask you what lengths you would go to in order to become a better individual concerning the element of harmony you wanted to work on.

And now…now I think we need to talk.

If any of you have ever been bullied, harassed or in any way hurt, please find someone to talk to. Please don’t think that taking your life is the way to go.




I’ve dealt with bullies before. More in-person than online. In my experience, it’s the psychological ones which are the worst. And sometimes it comes from people who don’t even know they’re doing the bullying. Sometimes they think their words are justified. That they have some self-appointed right to do what they do. I’ve dealt with some really harsh people before…

I’ve been in some very dark places where I didn’t know who to turn to. The most important thing to remember when suffering bullying is to know that you don’t have to take that harassment from ANYONE. Do whatever you can to remove yourself from that horrible situation. If it’s online, ignore them, block them, stay away from those places, whatever it takes to pull yourself away from those dangerous situations.

I talked about kindness last night. Moments like this make me wonder how to respond.

I know what this world needs is kindness and compassion more than anything.

I hope that we can all do our part to make sure the people in our lives know we love them.

And whenever we talk to anyone, online or off, we take the kind path (and sometimes the assertive and firm path is needed, but at your core, always compassion).

Just be a good person.

Just try.

You confess an embarrassing secret to a friend which involves you and a pony you care about (platonic or romantic). That pony appears nearby, shocked at your admission. It would bother you the most if that pony was…

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4868477/)


1. Twilight Sparkle

2. Pinkie Pie

3. Applejack

4. Rainbow Dash

5. Rarity

6. Fluttershy

7. Vinyl Scratch

8. Octavia Melody

9. The Great and Powerful Trixie

0. (Other) What pony would it bother you the most to see they had found out an embarrassing secret, from you, which involved both of you? (That sentence was hard to write. Still not sure it’s grammatically correct. O.o)

-from Drawponies moderator Boardgamebrony-

There are many times I’ve looked at My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic and felt inspired by the actions of the characters on the show. Inspired to be a better person, even though the complications of life make things far more difficult than the 22-minute challenges the show provides.

For the past year I’ve found myself upset at various situations, whether they be personal, professional or global (thanks to the constant stream of internet news and updates). I sometimes question if the actions I’ve taken in the past were the most optimum ones, considering that I used to see myself as a more kind and compassionate individual than I am now. Of course, I was less angry at various, uncontrollable world issues and past problems, which tend to be parts of my daily stress that are unwanted and unneeded.





So to tonight’s question: Are there elements of harmony you feel you personally need to work on?





I’ll start.

I think I need to work on kindness more. I keep imagining out of all the elements that persist, the one which seems the most vital in the world today is kindness. That thought triggered this entire entry in tonight’s Midnight Hour discussion.

I think of Fluttershy a lot. An emotional cheerleader, if you will. Really helps me calm down and focus in on being a better person. I honestly want to be more like her in a variety of important life-changing ways. I would love to be a walking (or trotting) Element of Kindness.

Sometimes I think I need to isolate myself and just…pull away from the world, find a nice quiet spot somewhere remote and take everything necessary with me to learn about kindness, so I can come back from my quite-literal retreat and share it with others. This urging is so strong, that only a few small decisions stopped me from doing so after I finished the last con of the year I was scheduled to sell at. I told Neil Drawponies about it. He was surprised I was so overwhelmed, but he expressed his understanding.

I wish I could be more kind…and that people would listen to me about my ideas of kindness and implement them in their lives.

I think…I think the reason I’m not “as kind” as I was before is because I’m scared of being vulnerable. Of allowing myself to be vulnerable. Like I feel I have to protect myself a lot more know. And it really has helped. I’ve protected myself from scams and poor friend choices and bad peer decisions. But finding out when it’s time to drop those defenses and just be open and caring…it’s so hard sometimes.

What do you guys have to say about your desired elements of harmony you want to work on? I’d love to hear it. I love hearing your discussions. Reading them makes me happy. Like I’ve really made a positive difference in your lives just by exercising my well-spring of ideas through these discussions and the 332 deviantART polls written in over a year, with Neil creating a few of his own.

(The Symbiotic Pony) Humans and ponies live in the same society. You and a pony were born at the same time from different mothers. You’re lifelinked, meaning both your experiences affect each other. Choose a lifelink effect…

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (From: drawponies.deviantart.com/journal/poll/4866400/)

1. (Health Link) You and your pony sibling share health, meaning you’re twice as healthy when both in good shape, and twice as sick when not. You can remotely make the other feel better by healing yourself.

2. (Pain Link) You and your pony sibling feel when the other is hurting, both physically and emotionally. You both know when something is wrong and as a result feel more empathy for each other.

3. (Tracker Link) You and your pony sibling always know where the other is, even across the planet or off-planet. You can find each other with ease and track each other effortlessly.

4. (Inspiration Link) Anytime either of you becomes greatly inspired, the other feels the idea in some way. You can block this temporarily if a tranquil mind is needed. This happens across ANY distance.

5. (Thought Link) When within a certain short distance, you both can send thoughts to one another. You both can block it if need be. You can even transmit/receive thoughts through walls and barriers.

6. (Switch Link) One of the toughest of the links, when you both mentally agree to it and concentrate, you can switch bodies temporarily and live as the other until you both have to rest. Usually lasts a few hours.

7. (Magic Link) You both share limited magical ability, whether it be added strength (earth pony), temporary weightlessness (pegasi), light telekinesis (unicorn), water-breathing (siren) or echolocation (bat pony).

8. (Resuscitation Link) If either of you collapses from exhaustion or injury, the other can revive the fallen partner by temporarily sharing energy upon physical contact. Physical contact must be maintained until the hurt one heals.

9. (Teleport Link) Regardless of pony type, you both have the ability to switch positions through teleportation through a flash of light. You both feel exhausted after doing soon and need rest soon after.

0. (Other) Your comments regularly inspire new polls and discussions, guys! A similar “Golden Compass” idea was touched upon by Yakshi7 in the “Parallel Worlds” December 12th poll (http://bit.ly/139Ikaz).

-By Drawponies moderator Boardgamebrony-

A few days ago on Friday, December 12, I wrote out a poll which asked about Parallel Worlds. Here are the results.

http://drawponies.deviantart.com/journal/poll/4859345/

Out of 455 votes as of today, 131 people (29%) thought the best version of a parallel world they’d like to see included ponies who volunteered to be pets. Granted, I’ve been in the brony fandom long enough to know that intimacy and comfort are two things many bronies eagerly express when it comes to their favorite ponies. That’s no surprise, considering most humans put comfort as a high priority from what I’ve seen in my own personal experience.

But what was surprising about this was what I saw in some of the comments. I understood that putting ponies in a pet position could be seen as demeaning, so I made sure to include the detail in the poll which said they do so for social and economic gain and also use complex contracts to protect them. Some comments talked about the idea that it was unsettling to have ponies in a subservient role like that. I can see where those comments are coming from.

But so many of you weighed in on this poll and that specific option was voted number 1.

So…why is that?

Tonight’s question: Why accept ponies as pets? Or conversely, Why NOT accept ponies as pets?

I look forward to seeing your discussion!

(Romance!) If you were trying to impress a pony character with a fun night or situation, which option from the following list would be the one you’d want to try the most?

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4865095/)

1. (Dinner and a Show) You take them out to a nice Canterlot restaurant and then it’s off to the local theatre for a performance by any one of the local acting troupes.

2. (Night at da Club) You take your partner to the dance club and dance the night away until you either (A) Hit musical nirvana or (B) can no longer stand and pull yourselves out of the club to go home.

3. (Quiet Night at Home) You decide that a quiet night at you or your partner’s place is in order. You’ll either watch a movie, have dinner, play some games or just sit and talk until you fall asleep together.

4. (Star Gazers) You pack up some food and have a picnic outside until the stars come out and then enjoy the solitude and closeness as you witness the slow movement of the universe.

5. (Competition!) You and your partner have to see who’s best! Time to go out, play some games, do some laser tag, race through a park, whatever it takes to keep that wild energy alive between you two!

6. (Night of the Snuggles) You and your partner are ALL about the snuggles. Time to get in there and test your snuggle endurance! Doesn’t matter if you don’t do anything else all night. Snuggling IS everything!

7. (Artistic Expression) Whether it means going down to the art museum or attending a local artistic gathering, you and your partner exercise your creativity together and cherish all forms of your personal artistic expression.

8. (Cosplay and Role Play) Whether in costume or not, you and your partner decide to role play through LARPing, attending a costumed event or simply walking around town as though you were two different individuals.

9. (A Game of Cat and Also Cat) You and your partner set up a hide and seek scenario where you each leave clues to find the other around a large area such as a town or park. You tease and playfully challenge one another.

0. (Other) What kind of romantic evening would you want to have? Come on, guys. Of all the questions that could be asked, this HAS to be one where many of you have already thought about this. : P

Oh no! You’ve contracted a magical ailment! The ailment appears to be affecting your body as though you were a pony. Which type of ailment is it?

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4862088/)

1. (Magic Sneezes) Every time you sneeze, your head glows as though it were a unicorn horn and you randomly fire a projectile of ice, fire, lightning or rock out of your mouth.

2. (Hoofitis) Your hands and feet harden into hooves temporarily every now and then. You may be able to run faster barehooved no problem, though. I hear Aloe Vera helps ease the tension caused by it.

3. (Teleport Phobia) You fear randomly teleporting and with good reason. You sometimes randomly teleport anywhere in the world. Luckily, it’s always on solid ground. Unluckily, that ground may be a desert island.

4. (The Bucking Disease) Your legs sometimes feel restless, like you wanna kick outwards. If you do give in to the feeling, your kicks can take down walls, topple trees, and launch people fifty feet behind you.

5. (Morphilia) You gain the ability to change like a changeling…partially. You have a very strong desire to take on some traits of nearby creatures, adding them to your constantly growing mish-mashed form.

6. (Equine Friendship Bug) All ponies must be your friends. ALL OF THEM, even if they’re regular human-earth ponies who don’t talk. They will all be your pals! And for Equestrian ponies, they are ALL GOING TO LOVE YOU.

7. (Detonator Tick) Whenever exposed to magic or in its presence (whether you know or not), you have the sudden compulsion to randomly gesture at things, causing them to detonate. People and ponies better move…

8. (Time Blip) …whenever you’re around ponies, you tend to suddenly phase backward in time a few seconds, only to slightly change events before you end up moving forward. Of course, it only happens…

9. (Reverse Rider’s Sickness) You can’t walk or drive without feeling nauseous. You have to ride on top of a pony for your locomotion or feel sick while moving. The problem is finding a pony willing to do this often.

10. (Other) What kind of fantastical ailment do you think you’d have? They all seem to offer some sort of mini benefit, depending on your perspective and situation.

Hey everypony and furry kin, it's Neil Drawponies birthday today!

Take a look at this birthday post on deviantART:

http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo.....bday-500164857

Let's all wish him a happy birthday! Happy birthday, Neil!

(Post by Boardgamebrony)

Legend has it that ten Equestrian travelers cross the dimensional divide every new moon. Each one offers something magical in exchange for completion of a quest. Which one would you want to meet?

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4861257/)

1. (The North Wind) The Pegasus: “The wind is my sister, the stars, my mother.” This pegasus lives inside a supermassive cloud. Navigate the aerial hazards and she’ll open the sky to reveal the bridge between earth and cosmos.

2. (Tempest) The Unicorn: “All knowledge is tumultuous” Tempest casts magical illusions over an entire land. Dissolve the illusions, confront Tempest and burn his spellbook to learn who he was and the history of magic.

3. (Onix) The Earth Pony: “I am the foundation of the world.” Onix holds up a mountain on her back. Find the mystical mountain, meet Onix below it and she’ll show you how to harness the power of Earth.

4. (Gaia Jade) The Crystal Pony: “A prism projects many colors, all true.” Pursued by the dragon Craw, Gaia Jade crystalizes all she touches. Change back her victims and she’ll give you the Prism, an artifact which reveals truth.

5. (Midnight Sun) The Bat Pony: “I am the light in the dark.” Lures travelers into its underground den to challenge their wits. Solve its puzzles and it will show you the majesty of its subterranean kingdom.

6. (True Heart) The Changeling: “I’m the keeper of the future.” True Heart loyally carries an egg on his back. Its scent lures predators. If you protect the egg until it hatches, True Heart will guide you to any secret realm and back.

7. (Oblivion) The Alicorn: “All acts of creation are destructive.” A red-eyed, black void with ethereal wings, Oblivion creates by destroying. Give her an (empty) town and she’ll make a fantastic kingdom in one fit of fury.

8. (Cacophony) The Draconequus: When Cacophony is nearby, dozens of whispering voices can be heard. Her voices know many things, but can never agree on them. Calm the turmoil in her mind and discover the universe.

9. (Melodia Tranquilis) The Siren: “When the song ends, so do you.” A silver-scaled songstress, Melodia challenges musicians to impress her. Play a neverending song for her and she’ll give you a key and map to the aquatic realm.

10. (Craw) The Dragon: Constantly chews with a colossal maw full of gemstones, dropping them to the ground below as bait. Bring him a worthy gem and you get to take the magical stones located at the back of his throat.

-Article by Boardgamebrony-

A new game is coming out in 2015 called No Man’s Sky. It procedurally generates 18 QUADRILLION planets for all players to explore in a universe where each new planet and creature is named by the player who finds them.

Watch this trailer and get pumped. I LOVE THAT MUSIC: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZO40W…


Today’s Talk:
Let’s each create our own pony planet.



What would you want your pony-themed planet to be like?


Here’s mine:


The Planet Aquamareine


Description:

Aquamareine is primarily a water-based planet with only 10% landmass. As such, sea ponies have a monopoly on the resources under the waves, while only a few die-hard factions control the island resources on the surface. Highly advanced Hydrotech uses water to power almost every device and almost guarantees that the users of the equipment will need to be in or around water in order to power their technology.

The pegasi have the second strongest economy on the planet, with hundreds of cities and townships floating silently in the sky above most major island chains and underwater trading hubs. Their control over the weather ensures that they have at least a decent-sized bargaining chip when it comes to trading for goods.

The Two-hooved race are unique to Aquamareine, in that they are ponies who’ve evolved to walk on two legs and thus have learned to use their forehooves for welding heavier objects while most ponies are forced to use their mouths, magic or Hydrotech assistance in order to operate equipment. As such, Two-Hooves have created some of the most unique inventions on the face of the planet, including bipedal machines mimicking their stride.


Races:

Unicorns

Earth Ponies

Pegasi

Sea Ponies

Two Hooves (upright walking ponies)


Unique Details:

Aquamareine is home to the largest and most dangerous sea creatures in the sector. The Leviathans are terrors of the deep and have been known to crush every ship they come across, including obliterating many stranded sea pony outposts.

Many earth ponies on Aquamareine have evolved to use the water to their advantage. By running in a certain manner, many earth ponies can skim the surface of the water without falling in as long as they maintain momentum. Water Striders are earth ponies who have mastered this skill.


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But you don’t have to follow that four-step example. Write your planet however you like. Draw a picture. Paint a circle and put arrows on it detailing the cities. Whatever it takes! :D

(Parallel Universes) From the following list of scenarios, pick the one version of your world you’d like to see which includes ponies in some unique way.

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4859345/)

1. (Pony Pets) Ponies are sentient and have their own society. Many volunteer to be pets for humans for social and economic gain. They are the size of large dogs and complex contracts exist to protect those involved.

2. (Horses of Peace) The HOPE project was created when ponies and humans decided to work together to aid victims of war and violence. Ponies assist human counterparts in areas of conflict around the world.

3. (Sub-Terra) Ponies have a (mostly) separate society from humans in colossal underground ecosystems of caverns and tunnels hundreds of feet below Earth’s surface. Only the adventurous stand a chance at finding them.

4. (Dominion) All ponies live on perpetually moving clouds and floating cities. Humans who threaten their existence find torrential downpour and heavy storms. They rarely assist humans, but are a constant presence.

5. (Lunar Veils) On nights when the moon is visible, humans and ponies can see each other’s world as though they flicker in and out of existence. There is rough communication but they can never touch.

6. (The Maelstrom) Earth is ravaged by violent weather patterns. Ponies and humans help each other. Pegasi push back rainstorms, earth ponies prevent earthquakes, and unicorns regulate extreme temperatures.

7. (Muses and Portents) Ponies appear to humans who need assistance for very important tasks of worldwide significance. This can be good or bad, depending on the moral alignment of the pony and the human.

8. (Of Farthest Shores) Ponies watch humans from the stars and communicate with only a few, as they have for ages. Chosen humans cross the galactic divide between human and pony civilizations to bring knowledge to others.

9. (Future Past) Sentient ponies were rumored to once exist and current human technology is based off their own. Evidence indicates ponies will resurface soon to begin the new cycle of their existence on Earth.

10. (Other) What type of pony-based parallel world would you like to be a part of?

(Just like EQD has their own nightly discussions, perhaps we should have our own to cater to those still awake at this late, or early, hour depending on your region)


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-Boardgamebrony-

The following account below if part of the Lucid Dream this morning that inspired this poll: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4857859/ )



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I’m sitting there, at the desk in the hotel room, staring at the paper in front of me. The words dance and shift like figures fading backwards into a foggy night. Symbols replace letters as I try to make sense of anything on the paper. There are words here and I should understand them, but they change and hide their meaning as if they were alive.

At that moment, I’m struck with a thought: this isn’t real. I’m asleep, in my bed, and what I’m seeing is actually a dream playing out in front of me.

My brain heightens my senses, trying to make sense of the world. The environment becomes brighter around me as I latch on to the growing realization of my sudden power in the slumberellian landscape. I hold tight to my consciousness and focus on myself. If I’ve become aware of the dream, I’m going to make the most of it.

I focus on my left hand. It shifts form and becomes fingerless, now hard. I’ve made it a pony hoof. But it’s off. It is a deep sea blue with a glittery smooth metallic color. The end of it has a small balloon tail. I reset its form and try again. Same results. My right hand is now a dull-earth colored hoof. They change back to hands.

Later, I confront two old men at a skate park. They sit at food tables and look kindly.

“What’s my name?” I ask them. They do not know.

“It’s just because no one has told me what I look like,” I tell them.

…




This is a telling of an actual lucid dream I had this morning which inspired the poll many of you voted on. It inspired me in many profound ways. And now I’d like to ask you all a question for the first-ever Midnight Discussion.* *(Note, it doesn’t actually happen at midnight.)

What is the most surreal thing you’ve ever experienced relating to My Little Pony?

Was it something you saw online?

How about a story you read?

Maybe a strange coincidence out in your daily life?

Perhaps it was a dream…or a nightmare?

Let’s see what kind of strange surreal activity actually happens that people rarely talk about.

You guys have engaging so much with the art and discussions. Time for something new for all of you.

-Boardgamebrony

You find yourself in a lucid dream about ponies. What do you want to do first? (A lucid dream is when you are consciously aware that you are dreaming, often leading to you influencing the dream directly)

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (From: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4857859/ )

1. (Transform into a Pony) You take charge of your own physical form and change yourself into a pony, whether fully on all fours, an anthropomorphic version, Equestria Girls, or even your own custom style.

2. (Create your own Equestria) Use your mind to influence the creation of the world around you and start forming your own version of Equestria, whether it be a happy version or even Fallout.

3. (Talk to a Pony) Find any pony in the dream and start talking to them to see what they tell you. Even if they reply nonsensically, keep talking to them and remember whatever it was they said to you.

4. (Mix Ponies into Your Life) You walk through the parts of the dream that seem like your waking life, but you add ponies into the mix so they appear in your house, your school, your home, your world.

5. (Use Magic and Abilities) You start performing magic, using spells and abilities that humans cannot do in the waking world, like levitation and teleportation.

6. (Start Flying) You jump into the air until you start flying, soaring above the cities and clouds with exhilaration. And maybe you challenge a pegasus or two to a race.

7. (Gather Creative Inspiration) Just let whatever happens, happen, and gather creative ideas from it upon awakening. You stay in the dream as long as possible to gather this information.

8. (Problem Solve) Use the opportunity to get help from the ponies to solve a tough situation in waking life. You and the ponies simulate that situation and figure out how best to solve it.

9. (Wake Up) Have you asked yourself yet “Am I dreaming?” You should. In Lucid dreams, objects usually do not stay the same when you look away and look back, nonsensical things go unnoticed and text is usually unreadable.

10. ?gnimaerd erew uoy wenk uoy fi od uoy dluow tahW (rethO)

(Word Association) Let’s do a test. What is the first word from the following list that comes to mind when you see or hear the word “Pony?”

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4856032/ )

1. Fun

2. Snuggle

3. Magic

4. Home

5. Friends

6. Comfort

7. Harmony

8. Love

9. Hasbro

10. Other

(MLP:FiM Spin-off Time!) Although we do already have Equestria Girls, there are many other shows which can be made from My Little Pony. What type of premise would you like the most as an MLP spin-off series?

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (From: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4853753/ )

1. (Little Stallions) Similar to the slice-of-life beginnings of MLP:FiM, “Little Stallions” follows six male mane characters as they discover friendship and fun from a male point-of-view.

2. (Between Two Hearts) Lyra Heartstrings gains the ability to jump between the human world and pony world. She uses her knowledge in one world to help her in another as threats challenge both.

3. (Tall Tales) 13 episodes are created from submitted fan ideas which are altered to suit an ongoing storyline between several canon characters as they battle a pervasive foe.

4. (School Days) Focuses on younger characters like the Cutie Mark Crusaders as they deal with challenges in a Manehatten school environment. Episodes are chronological and deal with each season of school.

5. (Machines and Magic) Alternate universe where magic and technology have been combined. Ponies live in highly developed cities with little nature left. They are tasked with restoring the last of the planet’s nature.

6. (Diamond Memories) Several friends lament what has happened to their suffering civilization. One is sent back in time to meet his friends in the past and work towards saving the world, one day at a time.

7. (Stardust Dreams) Descendants of Luna and Celestia explore the universe with a living ship full of ponies who think they’re still on a planet. They meet wild creatures and explore new planets.

8. (Beyond Equestria) Girls, boys, men and women are selected by ponies as companions to help them repair a breach between the human and Equestrian worlds. Threats challenge both dimensions as the cultures collide.

9. (Creature Features) Creatures normally seen as antagonists give their own take on the ponies and friendship. They band together in an attempt to understand pony culture while unwittingly becoming friends themselves.

10. (Other) Write our your own spin-off pitch in the comments!

Due to strange circumstances, you arrive in Equestria to find yourself the only leader of a group of ponies struggling to defend themselves against an invading army. Choose the location you think would be best defensible.

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4849963/ )

1. (Cloudsdale: Pegasi city in the clouds) ADVANTAGES: Non-air units at a loss, pegasi would assist in air combat. DISADVANTAGES: Earth ponies and unicorns will have trouble evading and fighting without cloudwalking.

2. (Manehatten: high-rise city of high-class) ADVANTAGES: Lots of hiding places, rooms and buildings can be manipulated for engagements. DISADVANTAGES: Too heavy a population. Too much potential destruction.

3. (Everfree Forest: the wilds of nature) ADVANTAGES: The thick overgrowth would hinder invader movement. Wild animals can attack invaders. DISADVANTAGES: Allies can get lost very easily, threatened by animals.

4. (Ponyville: quiet hamlet of friendship) ADVANTAGES: Some buildings for cover, mostly flat and high visibility terrain. Protected by powerful friendship magic. DISADVANTAGES: Easily destroyed, virtually no defenses.

5. (Crystal Empire: city of the north) ADVANTAGES: Hard to reach, heavy snowfall protects outer perimeter, extreme conditions. DISADVANTAGES: Could be easily surrounded, no viable evacuation if train destroyed.

6. (Appleloosa: the wild west town) ADVANTAGES: Buffalo and local ponies hardened by battle, flat terrain. DISADVANTAGES: Pressure of heat and hard-to-get resources, Buffalo/ponies have had bad past engagements.

7. (Tartarus: the brutal underworld) ADVANTAGES: Vicious beasts trained to guard area, hard to navigate terrain for attackers. DISADVANTAGES: Utter isolation, no extra resources, no way out but victory.

8. (Canterlot: the castle city) ADVANTAGES: Contingent of trained guards, high ground in defense. DISADVANTAGES: Enemies, like Changelings, know weaknesses and could incite heavier fighting with a dual attack.

9. (Portal: where you arrived in Equestria) ADVANTAGES: You and perhaps a few of the ponies can retreat to Earth if necessary. Can get supplies from Earth to defend. DISADVANTAGES: if ANY invaders break through…

10. (Other) What location would you set up defenses at and what advantages/disadvantages would it have?

You can attend a four-year Equestrian college where all the professors are non-humans. They will prepare you for employment in…unusual Equestrian professions. Which professor/course curriculum would you like to take?

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4847921/ )

1. Trixie – M1001 (Veil Magicks: Truth and Illusion) Learn to perform feats of illusion and grandeur from the Great and Powerful Trixie! See through the veil and learn secrets others only whisper…

2. Lyra – H2001 (Anthropology: Humans and Ponies) You are all SO SPECIAL and AMAZING! Learn how pony and human cultures connect and become an ambassador of your WONDERFUL race!

3. Fluttershy – P1001 (Druidic Arts: Connecting with Creatures) Animals are lovely! Learn to speak to them and make friends. Only kindness towards nature can unlock a whole new world.

4. Vinyl Scratch – M1002 (Drop it: Magic through Music) We play music. We make magic. We infuse our music WITH magic! Watch how the language of sound changes the world!

5. Zecora – M2001 (Potion Mastery: Science and Alchemy) It’s simple to see how knowledge of chemistry perfects your alchemy. Even a human can be like a unicorn pony!

6. Doctor Whooves – T1000 (Timey Wimey: Wibbly Wobbly) If a future You appears and says “take this class,” I would do as they say. We teach paradoxes and advanced time management.

7. Cheese Sandwich – P1002 (Super Duper Party Pony and Super Duper Fun Parties: Bring Smiles to Others, Channel the Element of Laughter and Be the Best Party Pony You Can Be!) See title for info.

8. Little Pip – T2002 (Advanced Ethics: Friendship and Fallout) Study the aftermath of societal and ethical collapse through sociological examples of studies performed in bunkers known as Stables.

9. A.K. Yearling – P3003 (Applied Archaeology: Surviving History) It’s easy to dig up the past. Now make sure it doesn’t bury you with it. Do daring fieldwork in ancient cities. Learn from history or become it.

10. (Other) Eat your heart out, Hogwarts. Which professor and course would you like to enroll in?

What are some things you hope to see in Season 5 of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic?

-Poll by Boardgamebrony (from: http://drawponies.deviantart.com/jo...../poll/4846934/ )

1. A crossover with a storyline from the official comics

2. Spike meets a long-lost relative

3. Humans are revealed in some way

4. Sea ponies finally appear

5. A pony becomes part of the Mane Six (now Mane Seven)

6. A new type of animation used for an extended period of time in one episode

7. Lauren Faust, MLP:FiM series creator, makes a cameo as a character in an episode

8. An official voice for Vinyl Scratch and/or more voicing for Octavia Melody

9. Hints and foreshadowing for the 2017 MLP:FiM theatrical movie

10. (Other) What would you like to see in Season 5?

You have the option of time traveling with a pony to help you with a hard time in your life. Each pony is guaranteed to positively change something based on their element. Who would you pick? (Inspired by PehoTiger from deviantART)

-poll by Boardgamebrony

1. (Twilight Sparkle – Magic) IN THE PAST: Will help restore the wonder and magic of friendship at a key moment. FUTURE: Will support you in such a way which significantly defies laws of time and space.

2. (Pinkie Pie – Laughter) IN THE PAST: Will cheer you up at a moment when it uplifts everyone around you. FUTURE: Will be there to provide a wondrous place of joy you and others can learn from.

3. (Applejack – Honesty) IN THE PAST: Will help you figure out the truth about something very important to you. FUTURE: Will unearth dishonesty and inspire truth and honesty all around you.

4. (Rainbow Dash – Loyalty) IN THE PAST: Will be the one friend who backs you up at a key moment. FUTURE: Will show an ultimate act of loyalty at the most unexpected time.

5. (Rarity – Generosity) IN THE PAST: Will provide for you and those you care about when you’re down on your luck. FUTURE: Will help you succeed at something so vital that it changes the world for the better.

6. (Fluttershy – Kindness) IN THE PAST: Will be there to comfort you at one of the most painful moments in your life. FUTURE: Will successfully teach you how to bring kindness to others and the world.

7. (Other) Pick a non-mane six pony and talk about how they would help you in the future and/or past.