Friendship is Dragons
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Page 93 - Spoils of War
Author Notes:
Newbiespud
10th Mar 2012, 5:00 AM
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241 Comments:
I'm not sure this counts as defeating the final boss through intense roleplaying.
It seemed more like defeating the final boss through bullshitting the DM.
It seemed more like defeating the final boss through bullshitting the DM.
It takes a special group to cheat?
Caus I remember the only reason Twilight was able to activate the elements was taking a BUNCH of actions to roll arcana checks out of imitative.
I get the feeling throughout the entire game that the DM has no idea how the rules for 4e work.
Caus I remember the only reason Twilight was able to activate the elements was taking a BUNCH of actions to roll arcana checks out of imitative.
I get the feeling throughout the entire game that the DM has no idea how the rules for 4e work.
That had nothing to do with why they won. Twilight completely failed to activate the Elements using that method, and then Nightmare Moon broke them. Like Newbiespud said the real activation happened purely through roleplaying.
How about that group that beat "Tomb of Horrors" by putting the Crown on the boss Litch, and touching the scepter to it? They had Gygax himself come over and say it was a legit win, and the module was immediatley rewritten to say you couldn't take the crown out of the room it was in.
So, for lack of Newbiespud asking: how much have you guys ever gotten away with in terms of throwing crap into the dm's face and him approving it.
All hail the New Lunar Republic
I'm game for either here or another chat room (although I haven't had much experience with it). But we should try to make sure Fleet Commander Bronymous is available. The human faction must be heard.
Well, if we're going to another chat room, please post a link, so I can join in.
Wait, Kaleopolitus, you could join us, being the head of the Pissed-Off Walrus faction- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlC6Z0iRoOA (caution: some language)
I fear I'd just hold you back ^_^ (Though I can be veeeery nefarious and plotting >:D)
The Free Virtual Room option at Chatzy.com looks interesting. Just letting you know I may be occupied from 11:45 to 1:00 today, so I'd prefer to start sometime after that if possible.
I'm free from 6-23 Central time (5-22 Comic time), all this week, except possibly Saturday.
Dont have a life...
Free whenever...
Well, except for in the mornings. In between driving lessons and morning jogs I have scant little time to spend on random chatting.
I have sporadic schedules when it comes to posting, I just check online whenever I happen to be free, especially this week since Im on Spring Break. Find a place, I'll join in as often as possible.
And OH SHIT THE NEW EPISODES ON BYE!
And OH SHIT THE NEW EPISODES ON BYE!
To be fair, I haven't watched a single episode since the Granny Bacon backstory episode.
But hey! All the better to suddenly have a dozen episodes to watch through in sheer awesomeness :D
Just watched the new episode! I must have be playing too much Mass Effect, because when Cerberus jumped out, I was like "No, not this universe too! Cerberus, you greedy conquering bigots!"
Also "Cream Dream". That is actual dialogue from the show. Spike was having a "Cream Dream".
He said Ice Cream Dream.
Since the house was made of Ice Cream.
How hard is that for people to get?
Since the house was made of Ice Cream.
How hard is that for people to get?
Oh don't ruin that for me.
Ok, but admit it, it was close. Like really close.
Ok, but admit it, it was close. Like really close.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crWIaJidMfw
First off, I love that.
Second, as Insanity, I said I might side with Celestia just to make things more interesting, but I will spare the faction with the best reason for me to let them live.
Second, as Insanity, I said I might side with Celestia just to make things more interesting, but I will spare the faction with the best reason for me to let them live.
SO two questions about the factions: 1- How many are we up to now, and 2- How many of the other (not mine and not Discord, Luna, or Celestia) are made up or headcanon?
Just preparing my thoughts for plausible responses.
Just preparing my thoughts for plausible responses.
[EDIT x 6]
[NOTE: I HAVE REMOVED UNREPRESENTED FACTIONS]
Let's see... In order of appearance-
1. The New Lunar Republic (Canon, darkwulf23)
2. The Discordians (Canon, Lyntermas)
3. The Human Armada (Non-Canon[Made up], Bronymous)
4. Insanity (Non-Canon[Made up], Brony Is Magic)
5. The Solar Empire (Canon, Kaleopolitus)
So 5 factions, 3 Canon, 2 Non-Canon.
You're welcome.
[NOTE: I HAVE REMOVED UNREPRESENTED FACTIONS]
Let's see... In order of appearance-
1. The New Lunar Republic (Canon, darkwulf23)
2. The Discordians (Canon, Lyntermas)
3. The Human Armada (Non-Canon[Made up], Bronymous)
4. Insanity (Non-Canon[Made up], Brony Is Magic)
5. The Solar Empire (Canon, Kaleopolitus)
So 5 factions, 3 Canon, 2 Non-Canon.
You're welcome.
Ok, should have been more clear. I have a good idea what is and is not canon (I think the Smooze counts), but I want to know if they are real things already (I.E. Reapers and Cthulu) or if their respective representatives thought them up themselves (Like my Armada).
I should also point out that technically only about 40% of ARC forces are human, while the bulk 58% are Jesatzt, a race of your typical Lizardmen, and the last 3% are a conglomeration of Mercenary types of varying races and species.
I should also point out that technically only about 40% of ARC forces are human, while the bulk 58% are Jesatzt, a race of your typical Lizardmen, and the last 3% are a conglomeration of Mercenary types of varying races and species.
I see what you did there, with that sneaky edit. just tried to edit mine, apparently there is an account system here.
Tell me Im not the only one who didn't realize I could register an account.
Tell me Im not the only one who didn't realize I could register an account.
I didn't realize at first, but I wanted to edit my very first post, and realized I needed an account. So you're not alone.
Well, C'thulhu has no REAL representation, so I doubt we'll have to deal with him.
...
NO YOU MAY ONLY REPRESENT ONE FACTION!
By the way, C'thulhu is the Prophet of the Elder Gods, so really, I'd sort of be *his* god. Insanity FTW!
...
NO YOU MAY ONLY REPRESENT ONE FACTION!
By the way, C'thulhu is the Prophet of the Elder Gods, so really, I'd sort of be *his* god. Insanity FTW!
I completely lost track of what we were doing.
Also: Seriously? NOBODY is representing Celestia? Damn...
Well if nobody is going to claim it then I might just as well :/
And that it has enough momentum to go around whatever celestial body you're on and sweep you up into it?
Yeah, sorry. Used my daily wit up on the chipmunk thing.
So what? Do I make an introduction? Should I? ... Maybe I should do that back at the original comment thread for continuïty's sake?
I DONT KNOW ANYMORE!
Naw, just do it here and I'll add you into the faction list.
It fits you.
That is not to say that our Great Leader does not see the use in certain 'agreements'. If it speeds up the elimination of Her enemies She is willing to temporarily overlook the attrocities of disobedience that have been shown in spades so far.
I am the Princess' representative. She Herself is far too important to spend Her time on foolish critters such as yourself. Therefore, I act in Her name and have been granted the sole power of establishing agreements up to and including military agreements.
But make no mistake. Before the end of it, you will all be taken care of, and our glorious Princess' eternal rule will be set in stone. Princess Celestia's rule shall be eternal, and your time here is limited. I suggest you choose quickly, for those that stand against the Princess will soon find themselves the target of Her undying wrath.
All hail Celestia! All hail the Princess!
Just something to keep in mind.
As for you, Solar Imperial, don't make the mistake that just because you were chosen to speak for Celestia that it means you know whats going on. If her father hadn't been assassinated by a human, then Prince Terrus wouldn't have had reason for his genocidal campaign, which she sanctioned when she assumed the Solar Throne. She then proceeded to turn against her brother, use those Elements of hers to disrupt his power by changing him into that mess you call Discord, and then imprison him in stone. And then when Luna made a stand against her sister, we all know how that ended. One of the benefits of living for a millenia is you can rewrite history as you go. But someone will always know what really happened, and when the light is shed, you'll find such alliances are no longer a viable option. She's made enemies of all of us, and most of us are not so quick to forget.
Kaleopolitus has a point, we can make declarations and alliances and generally replicate the Grand Summit of "Hearth's Warming Eve", but when it comes to action, we might devolve into summoning "60 bazillion soldiers from another dimension who are only loyal to me", and that's no fun. If we can think of another way to proceed, fine, but otherwise I'm thinking we just leave this a Cold war.
Anyway. What Newbie originally refered to was my first comment I think. I brought this back up because I knew that even without us going in character we could still get quite a lot of talking out of it.
The evidence is there, a quarter of the page's length is committed to our talk, which was not boring.
Yes, loyal...
Until I fracture their minds.
Holy crap I need to be nerfed.
Until I fracture their minds.
Holy crap I need to be nerfed.
I personally could keep this up for a good long while, but I see your collective point about letting it drop. For now.
Well, I think that we would have to keep it semi-realistic. For example, even IF the humans hid out in a bunch of caves, you couldn't have a freaking army without leaving signs of activity. The only one here who really has an army is The Solar Empire. But even THEN, all Celestia really has is a bunch of Royal Guards.
And I guess I'm having trouble letting this be, huh? Sorry about that.
I am of the Dark, I am of the void, I can watch you from the shadows, I can hear all your dark thoughts, My foolish younger brother banished me for raping his wife and giving him a second child, I have returend to reclaim the throne with my daughter at my Side, and if I fail then I will return, again, and again. and I am not alone.
The party has reached the final room of a dungeon, inhabited by a dragon who believes we are here to steal his gold. Cue the Dragonborn-race player making several very successful Diplomacy checks to explain what we were *actually* doing, ending in us getting the one piece of treasure we had come for (the dragon had tossed it into his "probably worthless" pile), and the DM ripping up his "repurcussions of killing the dragon" campaign notes.
Okay, you're right Kaleopolitus. I'm sorry dzamie. I've edited my comment from angry letter to apology statement.
Even if it's in the wrong thread, we'd just be bullies by sending people back on their way. It's just one post, not 10 intermingling ones making it hard to follow our own conversations.
I was being a Meanie-pants and telling dzamie that he should gtfo our thread or be caught in the crossfire of our faction war.
I haven't been converted, I just don't want to be a FlutterJerk OOC.
At least you have the good graces to realize when you're going too far, but please. Don't comment just because you have nothing else to do.
Sorry Spud, this was all my bad. I wasn't thinking, and I said some things I shouldn't have said, and I'm sorry. Please don't shut us down because of MY transgressions.
Nope, just me, Mister Crazy-Person-Who-Can't-Have-Nice-Things.
Players aren't picky about their victory. Defeating the boss is defeating their boss! :D
Let's see.
Derailing the campaign. Done (several times).
Not keeping the Elements after all. Done.
Attacking Luna while she's down. Done.
Foreshadowing Discord. Done.
Reusing the campaign material as smaller missions. Done.
Uh, guys, I think I'm running out of material for my trademark "alt-scripts". Any suggestions?
Derailing the campaign. Done (several times).
Not keeping the Elements after all. Done.
Attacking Luna while she's down. Done.
Foreshadowing Discord. Done.
Reusing the campaign material as smaller missions. Done.
Uh, guys, I think I'm running out of material for my trademark "alt-scripts". Any suggestions?
OOH! OOH! *Raises hoof* PICK ME!
What if you make an alt-script about how using the Elements can lead to personality changes, foreshadowing the events in "Party of One", "Lesson Zero", and "Putting Your Hoof Down"? I mean, the Evil has got to go somewhere, right?
And it would totally make sense when Discord alters them, because he would be bringing that Evil up to the surface.
What if you make an alt-script about how using the Elements can lead to personality changes, foreshadowing the events in "Party of One", "Lesson Zero", and "Putting Your Hoof Down"? I mean, the Evil has got to go somewhere, right?
And it would totally make sense when Discord alters them, because he would be bringing that Evil up to the surface.
Hmm...maybe not the Elements, but a new gameplay mechanic. Borrowing a bit from Erin Palette I believe, but it could work.
DM: Hey gang. Glad you could make it. Since much of the upcoming content will be a little less...dramatic, I'd thought I'd introduce a new mechanic to spice things up.
TS: Let's see...Cutie Mark Critical Failure?
DM: At certain points, you may find your character having trouble doing what they do best: the study of magic, working the farm, throwing a party, being caring to animals, etc. If you continuously fail at things pertaining to your Cutie Mark, I may ask you to make a save roll, with further failures having higher requirements for passing.
Rarity: And if we fail the save roll?
DM: Then your character will suffer from some sort of mental strain. I'll describe the "change", and your character must behave in a certain matter, along with a penalty to certain actions.
AJ: Hmm. And how can I get out of a "failure state"?
DM: At that point, YOU can't do it yourself. You need your friends to actively counteract the source of the strain in order to return you to normal. Other special circumstances may arise, but those are the general guidelines.
RD: So if I fail repeatedly, I have to rely on these guys to get me out of a funk? Lame.
TS: Come on girls, we messed up the DM's full campaign, let's just go with it. It's probably not going to come up all that much anyway.
DM: Hey gang. Glad you could make it. Since much of the upcoming content will be a little less...dramatic, I'd thought I'd introduce a new mechanic to spice things up.
TS: Let's see...Cutie Mark Critical Failure?
DM: At certain points, you may find your character having trouble doing what they do best: the study of magic, working the farm, throwing a party, being caring to animals, etc. If you continuously fail at things pertaining to your Cutie Mark, I may ask you to make a save roll, with further failures having higher requirements for passing.
Rarity: And if we fail the save roll?
DM: Then your character will suffer from some sort of mental strain. I'll describe the "change", and your character must behave in a certain matter, along with a penalty to certain actions.
AJ: Hmm. And how can I get out of a "failure state"?
DM: At that point, YOU can't do it yourself. You need your friends to actively counteract the source of the strain in order to return you to normal. Other special circumstances may arise, but those are the general guidelines.
RD: So if I fail repeatedly, I have to rely on these guys to get me out of a funk? Lame.
TS: Come on girls, we messed up the DM's full campaign, let's just go with it. It's probably not going to come up all that much anyway.
Thanks, BIM. I think Discord would be a special Elemental Failure. I would play him as actually having a special connection to the Elements to allow him to do that (see 18:50 of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjewxXWUyus).
But...now that I've written it, more alt-scripts run into my mind. I...I can't stop them.
FS: Um, DM, remember that class ability we talked about before the campaign? Well, would using that lead to a CMCF?
DM:...Not necessarily. I'll allow it as a viable disciplinary tool, provided it's used with moderation.
RD: Wait, what ability?
FS: Oh, I wouldn't want us to rely on it too much. I'll tell you if it comes up.
.............
DM: Twilight, the CMCF is in full effect at this point.
FS: If we knew she was suffering a CMCF, shouldn't we have done more to help?
AJ: That'd be out-of-character knowledge. From our viewpoint, she's just a little stressed out.
TS: You know what? It's fine. FINE. A CMCF is fixed when the source of the strain is resolved, right?
DM:...Yes, but you've got a penalty, there's two hours until sundown, and your friends are the best...
TS: Friends? I don't need them, I can do this myself. But I can't just make up a friendship prob...Oh. Oh yes. Yes, that'll work. That'll work perfectly.
Rarity: I must say, Twilight's doing an excellent job roleplaying.
RD:...I'm not sure she *is* roleplaying at this point.
.............
Alright, that's good, I'll save some for later.
But...now that I've written it, more alt-scripts run into my mind. I...I can't stop them.
FS: Um, DM, remember that class ability we talked about before the campaign? Well, would using that lead to a CMCF?
DM:...Not necessarily. I'll allow it as a viable disciplinary tool, provided it's used with moderation.
RD: Wait, what ability?
FS: Oh, I wouldn't want us to rely on it too much. I'll tell you if it comes up.
.............
DM: Twilight, the CMCF is in full effect at this point.
FS: If we knew she was suffering a CMCF, shouldn't we have done more to help?
AJ: That'd be out-of-character knowledge. From our viewpoint, she's just a little stressed out.
TS: You know what? It's fine. FINE. A CMCF is fixed when the source of the strain is resolved, right?
DM:...Yes, but you've got a penalty, there's two hours until sundown, and your friends are the best...
TS: Friends? I don't need them, I can do this myself. But I can't just make up a friendship prob...Oh. Oh yes. Yes, that'll work. That'll work perfectly.
Rarity: I must say, Twilight's doing an excellent job roleplaying.
RD:...I'm not sure she *is* roleplaying at this point.
.............
Alright, that's good, I'll save some for later.
Glad you like it. I modified it to activate after a series of "cutie mark" failures, since that's generally what happens in the show (Twilight looking everywhere for a friendship problem, Pinkie Pie's failed attempts to figure out why her friends won't go to her party, etc.).
You haven't had anyone tried to romance anyone yet. Seriously, that's alt-scripting 101. ;)
No! No shipping or I will kill you! Keep your fantasies restricted to 4-Chan where they belong!
...
Like I said, I'm not a witty person.
Shipping? Please, I have SOME standards. My alt-scripts are merely attempts to portray the plots of the canon episodes in RPG format, like Newbiespud. Adding additional romantic inclinations completely of my own design is simply unprofessional.
Aww, poor babies can't HANDLE some SHIPPING.
Get it? Like Shipping and Handling?
Thats enough wit for both of us I think, Kaleopolitus
Get it? Like Shipping and Handling?
Thats enough wit for both of us I think, Kaleopolitus
One more, just one more for now!
TS: Please, AJ, your CMCF penalties are affecting ALL your actions. You miss half your rolls for bucking trees, for crying out loud. Let us help you finish the harvest and you'll be back to normal.
AJ: I know Twilight, but I'm trying to prove a point here. I'm not letting the DM get away with such an overpowered penalty to push us around. If I can just finish the harvest, the DM will have no choice but to remove the status.
TS: What's wrong with relying on your friends?
AJ: It's all about escalation, Twi. Today I'd need help with the harvest, tomorrow I'd need at least 2 ponies to help me across the street.This is about asserting what individual PC's can do. And it starts with this harvest. *roll* 19! I've got to have hit the tree that time.
DM:...Due to your shear grinding, you finally manage to get the apples down from the tree.
AJ: How close am I to finished? I'm rolling a Spot check. *roll* 12.
DM: You look ahead at the orchard. All the trees you see carrying nothing but leaves.
AJ: Ha! I did it all by myself! How do you like them apples?
DM: Big Mac wanders over and points behind you. You see that you were looking at only HALF the orchard, while the other half still is full of apples.
Big Mac:How do you like THEM apples?
AJ: Wha...but I...ughh.
TS: Please, AJ, your CMCF penalties are affecting ALL your actions. You miss half your rolls for bucking trees, for crying out loud. Let us help you finish the harvest and you'll be back to normal.
AJ: I know Twilight, but I'm trying to prove a point here. I'm not letting the DM get away with such an overpowered penalty to push us around. If I can just finish the harvest, the DM will have no choice but to remove the status.
TS: What's wrong with relying on your friends?
AJ: It's all about escalation, Twi. Today I'd need help with the harvest, tomorrow I'd need at least 2 ponies to help me across the street.This is about asserting what individual PC's can do. And it starts with this harvest. *roll* 19! I've got to have hit the tree that time.
DM:...Due to your shear grinding, you finally manage to get the apples down from the tree.
AJ: How close am I to finished? I'm rolling a Spot check. *roll* 12.
DM: You look ahead at the orchard. All the trees you see carrying nothing but leaves.
AJ: Ha! I did it all by myself! How do you like them apples?
DM: Big Mac wanders over and points behind you. You see that you were looking at only HALF the orchard, while the other half still is full of apples.
Big Mac:How do you like THEM apples?
AJ: Wha...but I...ughh.
Seriously?
I hope my dm never pulls that on me, because that is rediculous.
It depends on how noticeable it is. Technically a chameleon is in plain sight but should require a spot check. Applejack is near-delirious with exhaustion at that point in the story. She can barely see straight. Rolling a spot check there with a heavy penalty isn't out of the question.
One of us is misunderstanding the other. I don't which is which.
Then I ctrl+f'd the page and understood.
Oh! And it would explain a certain scene earlier in the episode.
RD:Hey, AJ. The DM said that I could get more experience if I come up with new flying techniques. i just need your help launching me off this catapult.
AJ:...You're exploiting my "Happy to Help" penalty, aren't you?
RD: Maybe.
AJ: Alright, fine. Let's get this over with. I climb up the ladder to the top of the platform.
DM:Roll a Spot check.
AJ:...Beg pardon? Is it suddenly night or something?
DM: No, it's still day. Roll a Spot check.
AJ: Alright. *roll* 7. What am I missing?
DM: Your exhaustion is giving you blurry vision, causing you to see 3 targets instead of 1. You'll have a penalty if you try to jump on the target.
AJ: First penalty to Listen, now Spot checks? You know what, fine. I make the jump. *roll* 13.
DM: You fall past your end of the catapult and land flat on your face, taking 2 damage.
RD: Um, AJ, you can stop if I allow you, right? I can just get one of the others to...
AJ: That won't be necessary, RD. I promised to help you, and I will.
RD: But we saw what happened with Pinkie Pie.
AJ: In this case, I'm only hurting myself if I fail. And with my HP, I can do this at least 10 more times. I climb the ladder.
DM:*sigh*
I'd make it a running gag that their penalties seem to affect the player's mindset as much as they do the character's.
RD:Hey, AJ. The DM said that I could get more experience if I come up with new flying techniques. i just need your help launching me off this catapult.
AJ:...You're exploiting my "Happy to Help" penalty, aren't you?
RD: Maybe.
AJ: Alright, fine. Let's get this over with. I climb up the ladder to the top of the platform.
DM:Roll a Spot check.
AJ:...Beg pardon? Is it suddenly night or something?
DM: No, it's still day. Roll a Spot check.
AJ: Alright. *roll* 7. What am I missing?
DM: Your exhaustion is giving you blurry vision, causing you to see 3 targets instead of 1. You'll have a penalty if you try to jump on the target.
AJ: First penalty to Listen, now Spot checks? You know what, fine. I make the jump. *roll* 13.
DM: You fall past your end of the catapult and land flat on your face, taking 2 damage.
RD: Um, AJ, you can stop if I allow you, right? I can just get one of the others to...
AJ: That won't be necessary, RD. I promised to help you, and I will.
RD: But we saw what happened with Pinkie Pie.
AJ: In this case, I'm only hurting myself if I fail. And with my HP, I can do this at least 10 more times. I climb the ladder.
DM:*sigh*
I'd make it a running gag that their penalties seem to affect the player's mindset as much as they do the character's.
Starwars RPG's Critical system makes it soooo easy to kill powerful opponents by sheer luck alone....My End game Jedi Master was killed in his first Apearance!
Defeating the final boss through intense roleplaying...
Outside of 8bit Theater, and giving paradoxes to robots in sci-fi settings... I don't think I've ever heard of an example of that. Certainly not in my own campaign...
Wait! Yes there is! (Seriously just thought of it as I was typing)
You managed it yourself Newbiespud, you crafty devil you, in the level 30 conclusion to the Waverider campaign (mentioned much earlier in this comic). You used roleplaying to not only get Torrin Silverfern's allies to turn on him, but also to hoodwink the legions of hell into thinking you were Asmodeus - letting you grab the divine power you came for AS WELL AS convincing the entirety of the Far Realm to begin an unending war against the devils.
It was a privilege to DM that adventure.
Outside of 8bit Theater, and giving paradoxes to robots in sci-fi settings... I don't think I've ever heard of an example of that. Certainly not in my own campaign...
Wait! Yes there is! (Seriously just thought of it as I was typing)
You managed it yourself Newbiespud, you crafty devil you, in the level 30 conclusion to the Waverider campaign (mentioned much earlier in this comic). You used roleplaying to not only get Torrin Silverfern's allies to turn on him, but also to hoodwink the legions of hell into thinking you were Asmodeus - letting you grab the divine power you came for AS WELL AS convincing the entirety of the Far Realm to begin an unending war against the devils.
It was a privilege to DM that adventure.
"So let me get this straight: you TALKED the Big Bad to death?"
Defeated? No. Earned special, in-universe, recognition after the battle for? Ehhhh....
Final real battle of an evil game (thematically, chaos v. law, but a lot of us chaotic were evil as well). My character was woefully underpowered (I, an unoptimized warlock, in a party with a Frenzied Berserker who had beaten and saddled a Tarrasque at level 12), so his contribution to the narrative was a vicious, vicious commentary, mocking our foes and insinuating that the Power of Friendship was all a lie.
First, undermining the self-esteem of the heroic party that opposed us in stage one and provoking them into attacking me at the critical moment, instead of our berserker who needed just a few more init counts to get his Heal spell. Second, during the second stage of the final battle, after the enemy had delivered a grand speech about how much we sucked, on the fly responding with an equally grand speech about the very fact that evil like us existed was the fault of the enemy's flaws.
At the end, with the spirit of Law and Order himself showed up, and our patron spirit of Chaos and Disharmony ambushed him, it was stated that it was primarily my speech, not the fighting itself, that had lured the enemy Spirit into showing his face. So special in-universe recognition for RP during the final boss fight. That's as close as I've got in tabletop.
Final real battle of an evil game (thematically, chaos v. law, but a lot of us chaotic were evil as well). My character was woefully underpowered (I, an unoptimized warlock, in a party with a Frenzied Berserker who had beaten and saddled a Tarrasque at level 12), so his contribution to the narrative was a vicious, vicious commentary, mocking our foes and insinuating that the Power of Friendship was all a lie.
First, undermining the self-esteem of the heroic party that opposed us in stage one and provoking them into attacking me at the critical moment, instead of our berserker who needed just a few more init counts to get his Heal spell. Second, during the second stage of the final battle, after the enemy had delivered a grand speech about how much we sucked, on the fly responding with an equally grand speech about the very fact that evil like us existed was the fault of the enemy's flaws.
At the end, with the spirit of Law and Order himself showed up, and our patron spirit of Chaos and Disharmony ambushed him, it was stated that it was primarily my speech, not the fighting itself, that had lured the enemy Spirit into showing his face. So special in-universe recognition for RP during the final boss fight. That's as close as I've got in tabletop.
Aw, Demonu, I can't see your comment! It was awesome! I was even going to read it to my parents!
But if you want to read it again, here it is:
So we were on a quest to eradicate some evil cult that was trying to summon some evil entity but needed a couple of "worthy" sacrifices, aka the players.
So the DM tries to break everyone's character and turn them to evil by summarizing everyone's flaws, how the party looked down on them and promises of whatever they wanted if they betrayed the party. Of course, nobody was falling for it so everyone turned the offer down. Except me. I basically screwed everyone over, betrayed the party and joined the DM as his foremost general. Cue faces of disbelief on the rest of the players.
Some sessions later, we were at the summoning ritual and the DM's plan was to stall until the ritual was complete and let the evil entity (can't remember if it was a god, demon or something but whatever) loose on the party, including me.
Ever since I betrayed the party, I had been sitting at the DM's right hand side and exchanged notes with him so I was in on the plan, except for the part where he planned to sacrifice me as well. I did suspect it so it was time to double cross the DM. The moment the evil entity entered our world, I murdered the cult's high priest, assumed command of the cult and struck a bargain with the evil entity. I would offer it all the members of the cult if he would make me his top agent/enforcer/avatar in this world and retreat back into his dimension because, well, he would get annihilated when the entire world (mostly lawful good) would unite against him. A couple of skill checks later and cue the surprised look on the players' faces who were now under the impressing that I didn't really betrayed them after all and was working from the inside. Of course, the DM couldn't comprehend that I sacrificed his entire evil cult and had struck a bargain with the Big Bad.
But the part where everyone's jaw dropped was when my character did turn against the party and basically proclaimed himself the Big Bad Evil Guy. So in order to keep up with the story, I exchanged places with the DM. In conclusion I overthrew the DM and became the new DM for the remainder of the adventure.
Do note that this was only possible because my group values roleplaying over pure combat and if you can roleplay something well enough, we let it slide. The whole backstabbing the cult leader, bargaining with the Big Bad, get him to retreat and gain ultimate power? Perfectly justifiable for my character to do.
The evil entity would later return as the ultimate Big Bad ('cause, you know, can't let a good plot go to waste) and he was defeated in quite an epic way but that wasn't by roleplaying per se.
It kind of sucks that I have so many stories to tell but many of them aren't relevant to the (current) comic and just telling them without a hook would be akin to spamming.
It's not tacky when the story contains this much bad-assery.
There's a lot more where that came from but alas, not relevant at the moment.
Ninja'd
I don't think a 9-minute gap counts as ninja-ing, though.
Double Comment! Triple Comment! Over-Comment! Comment-tacular! Comment-trocity! Comment-manjaro! Comment-tastrophe! Comment-apocalypse! Comment-ionaire!
YOU DID IT AGAIN! I EVEN REFRESHED THAT TIME!
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/15215099/images/1307715131946.gif
Problem, Bronymous?
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BronyIsMagic- Throws Troll Face pillow at Bronymous.
Bronymous- Oh, it. Is. ON!
Bronymous- Oh, it. Is. ON!
The occasional rage face response: Okay, as long as it works.
Meme War for its own sake: Sorry, but this is where I draw the line.
For what it's worth, when I said that all I was doing was asking for those two gifs. There aren't any others that I know of that could be used to begin with.
Far as I thought it'd be two gifs and then the end of it.
and then rarity uses the serpents scale on her necklace, rolling a natural 20 on a trained beauty check, for a total of 50.
because why not.
because why not.
because Rarity had been unconcious, and in that time, someone opened a portal from another dimension (namely, me) and stole it from rarity.
so you're saying that YOU, a human stole it from inside a world of PONIES? or did you magically turn into a pony while you entered?
Screw that, I'm interested in where this portal is! TELL ME!
I don't know, but I'm going to find this portal to Equestria and live there.
Cue tears of sadness from everyone who has read that story.
I don't know. I'll probably just go by myself. I'm fairly sure more than one Human going through the portal at a time will be too startling. I'll go through, let them get used to me, and let those that are worthy through as well. So in other words, no Sgt. Sprinkles and definitely nopony from 4-Chan. But I like you. You can come with. And now the tears. *Cries*
No, you seem cool. Except for the Shipping thing. You'll have to redeem yourself for that.
I also came from 4chan, as did most Bronies. My name is meant to show that I am a Brony, but I have my roots in Anonymous.
And as for shipping, I only support FlutterMac, and only because I saw some very convincing artwork.
I will be no taint. I have inner demons, but nothing I can't control. I want to be there to help, as that is the core of my religion and my sole purpose in life.
So my philosophy is if you can control yourself, you're cool to come.
So my philosophy is if you can control yourself, you're cool to come.
(I'm crying in shame at making this horrible horrible... Thing. But it's all I can think of ;_;)
Oh, the land of Equestria is the best place for me, Oh the land of Equestria is the best place for me, hip-hip, hooray, it's the best place for me, for Bronyyyy!
Yippee!
Yippee!
Your average brony on the other hand...
BOOYAH. NOW YOU'RE THINKING OF MY LITTLE DASHIE AGAIN!
Edit: I want to add, btw, that I couldn't sleep for two nights after reading that story. I could not stop thinking about it. I had to specifically guide my thoughts to other topics to get some rest >.<
I cried for approx. 4-5 hours straight. And I never cry. Not because it's not manly or anything (I watch MLP, for goodness' sake), but because I exist on the verge of dehydration. So if it got tears out of me, it'll get tears out of anyone.
But yes, I would definitely squee. And hug the pony.
On an unrelated note, I love how this thread has been de-railed so many times. XD
But yes, I would definitely squee. And hug the pony.
On an unrelated note, I love how this thread has been de-railed so many times. XD
Never cringed when reading Cupcakes.
Never bat an eye at Rainbow Factory or that one excuse for gorn with Big Macintosh and the CMC.
Pure self-control for one and a lack of emotional investment for the others.
That last one was Sweet Apple Massacre, btw.
Oh, Congratulations by the way.
Now everyone here is going to google that story.
So how much does a therapist cost these days to cure one's crippling angst over farm animals?
Inflicting said angst upon unsuspecting public: Priceless
I liked Rainbow Factory. I skipped all the gore scenes. :D
I was physically ill for 36 hours after reading Cupcakes, but now that I think about it, I'm not sure if it was the fanfic or some week old lox that I ate that morning.
It was... Scary.
And I've seen some nasty stuff. You're talking to an ex-4chan poster here. I've seen the worst the internet has to offer.
The reason why Cupcakes and the like doesn't affect me is that when Pinkie Pie (or someone else) does something so OOC like murdering other ponies, that comes so far out of left field, it traverses the globe and re-enters back in right field, it breaks all believability in and attachment to the character.
They become OC's that I've never seen and thus, have no connection too.
BTW, Kaleopolitus, 4-chan isn't the absolute worst the Internet can offer for they can provide quite some awesome stuff as well. I'm not a regular 4-chan browser and I may not have seen the absolute low point of the Internet (see rule #28) but I've been very close to it.
I do agree that you no longer connect the dots between the original character and the murdering character, but for me there is still the connection based on looks. That is enough for me, unfortunately.
Edit: ofc, I saw the flash version. I didn't read it. If I read it it would be Pinkie Pie doing everything just like normal to me.
For me, it's because I see a lot of myself in the characters, and when I can empathize enough with a character, I mentally put myself in their place. And since my empathy is greater with Pinkie than Dash, I pictured MYSELF torturing people and performing vivisections.
Oh, and link please?
Oh, and link please?
Anyway, here is a video of cupcakes. It's not the first one made but the music and interludes might soften the crushing of your happy spirit.
ENJOY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43AuJjuxqAw
/8-|
I'm sorry, but with the faces and happy music I just couldn't take that video seriously. Nice try, though.
I'm sorry, but with the faces and happy music I just couldn't take that video seriously. Nice try, though.
And when it does, the last thing you will experience is the cold touch of steel as it penetrates your skin, allowing you to fade into an emptiness that is nothing more than pain and suffering.
ENJOY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oaYkYcYadU&feature=related
Eh, I've already seen that one multiple times, when I was trying to fight the Cupcake blues. It worked, I'm no longer fazed by the majority of GrimDark. And nothing can ever ruin Pinkie Pie for me! NOTHING!
Oh, btw, I don't have a number, silly! Only residents of Equestria have numbers!
P.S. I was asking Kaleopolitus for his link.
Oh, btw, I don't have a number, silly! Only residents of Equestria have numbers!
P.S. I was asking Kaleopolitus for his link.
Oh, okay. That's the first one. That I couldn't take seriously because it was just so... how do I put this lightly... F*&#ED UP INSANE AND HAPPY!
Actually, I'm completely clueless so nvm.
Edit: Btw, The Cynical Brit (totalbiscuit) recently wonder, out loud, on a podcast exactly why cupcakes had become a fad as of late, and the other people on the podcast chimed in on that.
He got spammed to DEATH with explanation about it and thousands of links. So much fun.
And I do take it seriously. Its a serious thing. It isn't a Trollfic, and that is what scares people the most about it, I think. The thought that someone can take something so fundamentally Rated-PG and twist it so well, some people just can't handle that.
Like I said, Cupcakes scares me because I have a dark enough side to know that I would totally be capable of doing those things to people.
And so I read GrimDark to remind myself what I could become, so as to bolster my resolve against my inner demon.
And so I read GrimDark to remind myself what I could become, so as to bolster my resolve against my inner demon.
My favorite sequel is "The Dark Side" by lordxaos. Specifically the Otaku Files chapters, where it details Pinkie trying to resurrect Dash's stuffed corpse by slaying giant monsters.
The stuffing of Rainbow Dash. Also your whole "I see a lot of myself in this psychotic murderer version of Pinkie Pie" thing.
So what if I have demons like that? Haven't you ever had the burning desire to slit someone's belly, hang them with their own intestines, and parade their corpse through the streets? I used to, but I've gotten better control over myself. Now the worst I think about is tying someone to a table and injecting stonefish venom into each of their fingers and toes.
And I see a lot of myself in regular Pinkie Pie, too. So what if I'm clinically insane?
P.S. Pinkie stuffs Rainbow Dash at the end Cupcakes!
And I see a lot of myself in regular Pinkie Pie, too. So what if I'm clinically insane?
P.S. Pinkie stuffs Rainbow Dash at the end Cupcakes!
o.o
It's okay. I only think about it, I'm not psychotic enough to actually try it. I'm Chaotic Insane, not Stupid.
Oh, yeah, I remember Skyrocket. I actually had to decide between that and Precious Rainbow on which I liked more.
I've read Rocket to Insanity and a fanfic about Dash recovering at AJ's farm, but AJ didn't kill Pinkie in it. There was one where Twilight found out what Pinkie was doing when she took Spike, but Pinkie made a Crit-Fail and got killed by the table.
Oh, yeah, in the Otaku thing, Pinkie wears a hoodie made from Berry Punch's hide, and Scootaloo and Applebloom are her assistants.
Oh, yeah, in the Otaku thing, Pinkie wears a hoodie made from Berry Punch's hide, and Scootaloo and Applebloom are her assistants.
What...
You know how she has that table that goes from vertical to horizontal? Well, she was about to harvest Spike, but then she had a customer upstairs. So when she went up, Spike got free and sent something to Twi.
Twi came to investigate, Pinkie charged out of the darkness, tripped on the organ bucket, and got her mane and tail caught in the gears, which not very quickly ripped her in half.
Oh, and in response to your earlier comment, I only have homicidal thoughts, not suicidal ones.
Twi came to investigate, Pinkie charged out of the darkness, tripped on the organ bucket, and got her mane and tail caught in the gears, which not very quickly ripped her in half.
Oh, and in response to your earlier comment, I only have homicidal thoughts, not suicidal ones.
Still though, great ending and sequel.
Not that you're gonna see this before the new page is up anyway.
Just want to say of all the 'other medias converted to D&D' this has to be the best.
Mostly cause of the direction it takes.
GM of the Ring's focus was on the whole 'a great RPG would not make a great novel' and 'a great novel would not make a great RPG.'
And Darth and Droids becomes the motif of 'you can rewrite the story into anything you want as long as you're clever enough with the speech bubbles.'
THIS HERE! THIS HERE! It keeps the characters, TRUE TO CHARACTER! And translates them perfectly into RPG motifs.
Having Fluttershy's player be the unsure but polite and friendly newbie, is IMHO much more satisfying (and entertaining) than having her player be a raging sociopath in real life like other RPG adaption comics would do.
Thank you.
Mostly cause of the direction it takes.
GM of the Ring's focus was on the whole 'a great RPG would not make a great novel' and 'a great novel would not make a great RPG.'
And Darth and Droids becomes the motif of 'you can rewrite the story into anything you want as long as you're clever enough with the speech bubbles.'
THIS HERE! THIS HERE! It keeps the characters, TRUE TO CHARACTER! And translates them perfectly into RPG motifs.
Having Fluttershy's player be the unsure but polite and friendly newbie, is IMHO much more satisfying (and entertaining) than having her player be a raging sociopath in real life like other RPG adaption comics would do.
Thank you.
Has anyone noticed that, with some exceptions, the general number of comments per comic is on a positive trend?
Just wanted to say that I've read the entire archive so far at least a dozen times. I'm a huge fan of D&D and MLP, so this is basically the best thing ever :D. I thank you, Newbiespud, for making this, and I look forward to every page ^_^
GO GO GO
Do mind, it's novel length.
I had a Pathfinder campaign in which our party had to fight the enemy champion in a one-on-one match. The cleric was dead, the bard (me) was useless in a straight fight, so the fighter took him on. The fighter, already hurt, went down. I was next in line, and not sure what to do. So I look at the DM, and challenge the champion to a game of poker. Everyone at the table stared at me for a few moments, and then the DM agreed. Won the game by the skin of my teeth (I caught him cheating!) but I got us past. Then I asked him to help haul around the fighter's body...and he agreed!
I do that kinda thing all the time in my campaigns, I love playing the tricksy talky character. I once rolled enough consecutive Diplomacy checks to unite the criminal underworld against a common foe.
Then my DM told me to go away so he could rewrite the campaign...
Then my DM told me to go away so he could rewrite the campaign...
Ahh, the campaign re-write. The sign that you've officially derailed the campaign like no other, and knocked up the DM's blood pressure a bit. It's a wonderful feeling.
But honestly, I think it's healthy for DMs to suffer a little hypertension once-in-a-while.
Intense roleplaying is the only way to properly defeat a deathlord. Combat merely results in him showing back up again in a year. /Exalted
Clever players now how to keep the big bad from coming back >:D
Nah, you really just need to feed his phylactery to a Purple Worm. Those things don't poop. >8)
Possibly. Ooh! I know! Feed the phylactery to the Tarrasque! They can't be killed!
The reason I'm saying feed it to something that can't poop is because when you kill a lich, it's soul possesses a gem, called a phylactery. Then, over the course of a couple weeks, a new body gets regenerated. So if the phylactery is permanently stuck in a stomach...
The reason I'm saying feed it to something that can't poop is because when you kill a lich, it's soul possesses a gem, called a phylactery. Then, over the course of a couple weeks, a new body gets regenerated. So if the phylactery is permanently stuck in a stomach...
A lich can't be killed as long as its phylactery is still intact, so keeping it on your body would be kind of stupid. So putting it inside a Purple Worm would be clever to do seeing how it would be in there forever and players don't assume a lich would place his phylactery in such a place for safekeeping.
And even should a new body be formed around the phylactery, the lich would be capable of bursting out the Purple Worm's stomach on his own.
Tarrasues can't be killed? I know it's suicidal to engage one but I still think they can be killed, albeit very difficult.
The lich's new body forms in an adjacent square, not around the gem. The lich can't possess the body until it's fully completed, but if it's stuck in a stomach the body is constantly destroyed. So unless the lich has a Magic Jar spell (which would be impossible, since you can't ACTUALLY enchant a phylactery), the spirit would be stuck in the gem.
And in 4e, the Tarrasque (of which there is only one, no matter what edition) can't be killed, it just sinks back into the ground when at 0 hp. Plus, it has, like, hr 50 when in contact with the ground.
And in 4e, the Tarrasque (of which there is only one, no matter what edition) can't be killed, it just sinks back into the ground when at 0 hp. Plus, it has, like, hr 50 when in contact with the ground.
Elementals can be affected by a cleric like undead (in 3.5) if they take an elemental domain. So if you take the fire domain, you can rebuke, command, and bolster fire elementals like an evil cleric does to undead and turn and destroy water elementals like a good cleric does to undead, and vice-versa. It's the same with air-earth.
Hey, you, you're back! Could you explain to me what you were in the faction war?
Well, in a game i DM'd, a high-level player (Chaotic Evil) used summon elemental swarm to bring in some Huge fire elementals. And after the battle...let them run loose. Thus, devouring a city I had HALF A NOTEBOOK of campaign notes for -_-
Also, I killed a Tarrasque. DM set us up, we were supposed to run (heavy railroading), but I was like "FUCK THAT". Vorpal Kukri+ Crit Roll= decapitation.
True Story.
The wizard basically gives up and teleports out. We(the players) were laughing our butts off.
I've won games by committee before.
It's actually fairly common in settings where the other PCs are occasionally antagonists as well as protagonists. Particularly if the stakes are high and there is a REASON to talk. If you get enough of the antagonists on your side, you effectively win by default.
It's actually fairly common in settings where the other PCs are occasionally antagonists as well as protagonists. Particularly if the stakes are high and there is a REASON to talk. If you get enough of the antagonists on your side, you effectively win by default.
Win through intense roleplay. That's really what the game boils down to.
Our party started to talk with major plot tearing once they stopped thinking of it as Player Vs. DM and thought of it as "Co-operative Storytelling"
Our party started to talk with major plot tearing once they stopped thinking of it as Player Vs. DM and thought of it as "Co-operative Storytelling"
So many comments. The new comment counter just... this is the 230th comment. Wow.
D'aaaww Rarity looks so adorable in the last panel... sorry what, oh right DnD... umm, saving throw/skill check/etc. Yeah I got nothing.
Well, Fluttershy's player..Well, congratulations on winning, of course, but you inadvertently caused the main storyteller to rip his hair out and make it seem like he's lost his sense of fun with all the things he's planned. Poor guy.
I will be forever skeptic when a DM says his campaign has been broken...
I dunno about Pen and Paper RPGs, but I know a few RPG video games that let you talk the boss into killing themselves. Saren from Mass Effect 1 comes to mind(granted he wasn't technically the FINAL boss).
I never believed in love spells or magic until I met this spell caster once when i went to see my friend in Indian this year on a business summit. I meant a man who's name is SUPERNATURAL he is really powerful and could help cast spells to bring back one's gone, lost, misbehaving lover and magic money spell or spell for a good job or luck spell .I'm now happy & a living testimony cos the man i had wanted to marry left me 5 weeks before our wedding and my life was upside down cos our relationship has been on for 3years. I really loved him. So when i met this spell caster, i told him what happened and explained the situation of things to him. At first i was undecided,skeptical and doubtful, but i just gave it a try. And in 2 days when i returned to Canada, my boyfriend (now husband) called me by himself and came to me apologizing that everything had been settled. Well we are happily married now and we are expecting our little kid, and my husband also got the new job and our lives became much better. His email is SUPERNATURALSPELLHELP@GMAIL.COM