New: Woah. It's over? That's almost like a chapter of the fandom ending! In the end, it was 4 years and 2 months in the making, with whopping 1.7 million words. Hope you all are in the mood for some Fallout!
[Grimdark][Crossover][Adventure]
Author: Somber
Description: Forced into the life of a security mare, Blackjack is far more
interested in eking out what fun she can in the dim halls of Stable
99. All that changes as she becomes enveloped in a plot that not only
endangers her stable but the remaining world as well.
Fallout Equestria: Project Horizons (New Chapter 77-Epilogue!)
Additional Tags: Blackjack, P-21, Rampage, Lacunae, Fallen Incomplete Fo:E spinoff, Post-apocalyptic, Long, OC ponies, adventure
Comment Thread #3
Here!
Original story that started it all
here!
Fan Art below!
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| Source: Wavemasterryx |
4,999 comments:
Hah, I did not work my question to blackjack correctly. She spent a fair amount of chapter 1 complaining about the overmare, but she didn't actually have much interaction with her in the chapter. BJ had a lot more on-screen interaction with Psychoshy, and I found her VERY annoying. I should have said "prior to your leaving the stable". Other than the fact that the overmare was so full of herself she "sold out the stable" and was raped for her trouble, and later went even more crazy following the raider infection, I kinda wondered what she was like.
ReplyDelete@Somber OK, thanks! That clears it up a lot.
ReplyDeleteI guess the modern analogy would be arming nuclear missiles and starting the rocket ignition but then losing power to the silo doors and they blow up inside with varying degrees of 'ouch'.
If I were to ask a question to the group, I guess it would be "Where would you have liked to have visited before the war?"
Directed individually to each of the six in Blackjack's party:
ReplyDeleteYou're offered a single chance to leave this world forever and travel to a version of Equestria where the apocalypse never happened, and everything is as it was before the War. Do you take it? Why or why not? If so, what would you do in your new home?
Somber, I hope you're having fun with this, because I'm having a blast. Especially since you seem to be answering for every OC you have.
ReplyDeleteNote to all: Glory is a self-declared Enclave-slanted history buff. I GOTTA think up questions regarding that :D
Blackjack: Your mom seemed like one of the best in your stable, all things considered. If you could see her again, what would you say/do? And do you have a favorite memory of her?
Glory: Other than that your dad was the forerunner of the volunteer corp. we don't know much about him. How was your relationship with him? I'd kinda like to know if he was the type of pony to still think the world of you and possibly be trying to figure out a legal way you could return, regardless of the trouble your sister told us he was in.
P-21: Sorry for the socializing bit. Wasn't sure how else to describe it. If you'd be so kind to share, how long were you two able to be together before, you know, it ended? Were you ever able to keep anything (likely left behind at the stable) to remind yourself of him, or otherwise have something else to cherish to make sure you never forget what he gave you? Not that love wasn't enough, or anything. I'm not sure we ever got much perspective on how much time passed between his departure and your escape, anyway.
Lacunae: Your capacity at music was a welcome surprise. Do you know how you got so good? None of the four mares that made up the Goddess seemed, at least outwardly, all that into music... especially playing it.
The dealer: What's your favorite game? And could you please draw us an overly cryptic card to mull over? :D
Goldblood: Have you ever been in love? I think it'd help me understand you better if I knew if your efforts to save Equestria and the Zebra lands had some sort of personal connection to you.
Sanguine: How did you come across Psychoshy, anyway?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@Somber (Didn't you forget "And my mother too" in BJ's response?)
ReplyDeleteRampage: Really? You seem to get quite... "enthusiastic" and being quite into it, quite literally. And seeing how you seem to keep track of ways you've died, I just figured.
Also, do Reapers ever "need" to pay for anything? Since it seems like you can just strut around and pretty much demand almost whatever you want. Or do you carry caps under that plating?
(Just totally random and sadly leaning towards a topic I wanted to avoid asking xP But mainly pondering on ex: the time at 89 (69) where she went to "get plowed" by x amount of ponies by various gender, I'd assume. Not that I'd really expect them to dare ask for it, but you know)
Scotch: If I could ask: What had you planned to do before all hell broke loose in your stable? Any plans? Anything you looked forward to doing?
You should totally open a "Ask the crew/party from PH" tumblr. It only took me 2 weeks to figure out how to use it, so for a normal, sentient life form, it should take about an hour xP
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteGlory gets pushed to the front again: "Ugh, why me? I'm not a... oh... um... hello. To answer your question... um... probably not. The thing is that if we did that then there'd be nopony here who can fix things. I mean, it'd be a better life for us personally, but not everypony else. Also, our lives are here. I mean, BJ and 21 have Chapel. I still want to patch things up with the Enclave and see my family again. And how long would Lacunae and Rampage last in that Equestria? That's the last bit. None of us would really belong there. We'd be freaks... outsiders... dealing with traumas they couldn't understand. There'd be no place for us there.
Still... it sounds... really nice."
@swicked:
BJ: When I see her again in the Everafter I plan on apologizing and telling her she was the best mom a filly could ever have. My favorite memory is when she caught me playing poker, joined in, cleaned house, and then locked us all up for a night for breaking the rules. And she locked herself up too."
Glory: "Um... he was... well... like BJ. Really like BJ. Smarter, I think, but he was a buck of action. And he got in a lot of trouble for it. But above all he loved his family. I know he'd try, but I also know he'd rather protect all his family from my disgrace."
P-21: "Sigh... we had about 2 years before Blackjack retired him. And no. The only thing I have of him is memories. Anyway, after he died I fully focused on escape. I wasn't going to let them kill me like they did him."
Lacunae: "...no..."
Blackjack: "Hey! No asking questions of my crazy!"
Goldenblood: "I've only loved one mare, and one mare alone. That was one too many."
Sanguine: "Ooooh... pony like me keeps my eyes open for special little fillies like her. Best part about being a ghoul... you can shape whole generations. And you can break em in... young..."
@Kim
Rampage: "Okay. I've only known one pony that actually likes killing. Apparently she's somewhere in my head, but she's not me. I like fighting. It's a rush. A blast. But killing ends the fight. Hell, Deus didn't like killing... he liked intimidation and forcing respect. Psychoshy is an attention whore. Gorgon just wanted to be left alone."
"To your second question, depends. Villages bend over backwards to stay on good terms with us. Powers like the Rangers hate us. But no, a pony like me doesn't deal in caps. Most ponies give me what I want, or I avoid them, or I take it. Believe me, option one is easiest for everypony."
Scotch: "...no... not really. I had training and classes and... that's it. I... I really didn't have any friends... sorry..."
Somber: I have a hard enough time managing my writing to finish a chapter on time. Besides, Tumblrs are only good with art and nopony shall ever see MY art....
Progress... page 36... and now new bits added in. Yay... long chapter is long...
I'm probably abusing this whole ask-the-characters concept, but it's just so great :D
ReplyDeleteSanguine: Oooooohhhh... so you're THAT way. Nice. I don't think we'd run into that particular depravity yet, good to see it represented!
Anyway, where were you when you died? And was there anything particularly special about it? You seem to have a little more pink cloud than is usually seen in a Canterlot ghoul.
Goldenblood: Did anyone go with you during your years-long trip to the zebra lands, or were you entirely alone? You seem to be the only one of any position of authority that is capable of understanding what goes on in their heads.
Other than leaving you more open minded to new ideas regarding government structure, how did your stay change you?
Blackjack: Then could YOU ask the dealer what his favorite game is? Besides that, does his appearance seem at all familiar to you? Even vaguely?
Operative Lighthooves: How long has your tour of duty been? For that matter, how far up on the totem pole are you? And was Glory the first dashite you've ever "discovered", or have there been more? Because you seemed to have the process fairly down pat.
Here's the beginning of what you wrought, Somber.
ReplyDeleteIf I finish this with dry eyes, it will be a miracle. >.>
I'm not good at asking questions anymore, so it's really nice to see everyone else having so much fun with it *smiles*
ReplyDeleteActually (and I may be completely wrong, because I'm a huge noob) it may be possible to have an "Ask Project Horizons" Tumblr with multiple members who could contribute art based on Somber's answers. If someone wanted to set up something like that, it might be kinda fun.
Look at me, saying that, and wanting to contribute even though I'm already struggling as it is to manage my existing projects... (I still haven't read the revisions to 26...) I'm a terrible pony and I feel terrible...
I'll just leave this here, as my apology...
http://www.tumblr.com/photo/1280/12625201672/1/tumblr_luh66fQzco1r52419
@Mint Julep
That's an extremely ambitious project, Mint; I wish you the best of luck with it! (Lookin good so far.)
@WavemasterRyx
ReplyDeleteI would say, "Your art is bad and you should feel bad"... but that would be a lie. XD That one is fantastic.
I know you can have a group-modded tumblr, but I'm not sure how (some of the bigger ones like CMC are). I mean, other than the obvious of "giving multiple people the password". Perhaps some FAQs are in order.
Would other artists be interested in it? I'd want a few to spread the pain (especially with me doing the comic-version and other works as they come to me).
@Somber
ReplyDeleteHehe, I was talking to Ryx the other day about how it might be fun to have ask blogs for some popular fan characters, and specifically mentioned "Ask Blackjack". :P
I'd so be behind this 1000%.
This was quick. I logged in, checked my AskSilverSpoon...
ReplyDeleteIf the admin goes under "members", this is the screen: "To invite others to contribute to this blog, submit their email address below. They'll receive an email with instructions to join this blog and register if they're not a Tumblr user yet.
New members will be allowed to post. They will not be able to make any changes to this blog's settings, unless you promote them to an admin. "
So, yes. We can have multiple artists under the same blog.
@swicked
ReplyDeleteSanguine: "Or maybe I'm just lying to fuck with you a little? Or lying about lying? Anyway, little old me when the bombs fell? Why I was... ehhh... heh heh heh... just doing somepony a little favor. Busy day... that. Busy busy busy..."
Goldenblood: "I had tutors, nursemaids, bodyguards, and mother. My education was quite extensive. I used to spend hours in the imperial library of Roam just reading. I made a goal when I was a foal to read the entire library. A foolish goal... but there are worst things. I listened to debates in the forums and took in the incredibly fluid tribal politics. I corresponded with whomever I could about whatever I could. They called me Dawnhorn. I even had the honor of meeting the Caesar when he was installed and touched his hoof. A great honor. Sadly, one underappreciated when I returned home.
Blackjack: "Yo... dealer! Deal ler... come out you bony son of a mare! Hrmph... and no. We... maybe. There's something familiar about him but... I dunno what."
Lighthooves: "I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say."
@Wave: I'm having fun with it too. Very interesting way at peeking at the characters. And I love your art. :D
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteYeah that's what I meant, it seems interesting doesn't it?
The biggest problems though would be 1) deciding who handles which pony's questions (assuming we could get a few people) - and 2) getting the official answers from Somber in order to draw the response (which I suppose we could handle through submissions to our individual blogs from him or something, really the biggest problem though is the time added in by needing to relay the information).
@Somber
Well thank you sir, I deeply appreciate such kind words (even if I'm sure I don't deserve them, from you or Mint).
@Somber
ReplyDeleteRe: Sanguine's response
...
Excuse me for a moment, I need to tear something asunder with my bare hands for a while. Remind be again why Blackjack hasn't killed that bastard yet?
@Wavemaster
"This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it."
@WavemasterRyx
ReplyDeleteYou should totally give me art lessons so I can be a part of this <.<
I'm being serious here.
Also, Drunk Blackjack needs to be her own character in terms of responses :P
...
ReplyDeleteOr we could just illustrate these. XD
@Umbra:
ReplyDeleteI can suggest a few tutorials, if you like? My personal favorite is crookedtrees', but that's just because I love his style the most.
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteIt's not a matter of guides. I already have guides and use them extensively. To get better from my stage, I need interaction with someone better than I am.
Hum. The downfall of internet and distance. Save shared desktops, the best any of us can give is the evil redline and/or critiques of your work.
ReplyDeleteMind, an askblog means you get a steady supply of topics to practice with.
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteI was planning to try and refine a style for one, in the hopes that I could draw for one in the future.
I suppose this is as good an excuse as any, but I'll definitely need an experienced eye to help.
Well, if Somber is fine with us doing it -- at least starting with these responses -- I'd be fine setting it up and adding you on board. Since it sounds like Ryx would want to, as well. (The one consolation I can give is that I'm better at critiques than actual art.)
ReplyDeleteNow, everyone cross your fingers that Mech would join up, too. XD
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteWell that's... peculiar. It worked last time, and the last time I checked that link after posting...
Okay well, link to the post then instead of directly to the image, and my apologies, again:
http://wavemasterryx.tumblr.com/post/12625201672
(And if that stops working, I'll give up and add it to ponibooru...)
@Umbra
I've never been a good teacher, heck I'm still learning (it would be like Obi-wan teaching Aniken, and we all know how well that turned out!) so I really don't know how much help I could be to you Umbra.
But yes, yes she does.
@Mint Julep
Oh man, if Mech agreed to join that would be so beyond sweet...
@WavemasterRyx
ReplyDeleteWell, you're probably the only artist I know decently well enough to trust with showing off my stuff for critique...
At the least, I'd like you to be there for me to show and get an opinion on what I do...
Heh, I can't even draw a straight line... I just have no patience for visual art. I’m halfway working on some other things inspired by this story... but who isn’t? :P
ReplyDeleteI'm at a loss as to how I could help besides drawing, but if you all ever think of anything, I think it sounds pretty fun.
Goldenblood: We don't know ANYTHING about your mother. Where did she come from? What did she do? It's clear she died at some point before or at the beginning of the war, otherwise your father would have never been able to offer his hoof to Rarity (well, unless he divorced her, but he doesn't seem like the type to admit to a mistake).
Sanguine: Yes, yes. You lie. I believe this has been established. Still, we must press on. Goldenblood seemed fairly certain you wouldn’t be working anywhere but Yellow River after the success with the pony/cockatrice merging. Clearly this was not the case. Well, unless you DID end up working there for a short while. Did you find your eventual work following your being fired from the merging program more appealing than your previous pre-Yellow River work, or less?
Operative Lighthooves: What does being a patriot really mean to you? This isn’t about Glory or the need to pacify all earth-dwelling ponies, but in part about the loss of so many of your troops, often seemingly unnecessarily, and without any real desire to get revenge or to definitively prevent more? I mean, sure, you stripped Blackjack and left her in a room with two unnamed guards and then left, expecting all to go as planned (delightfully evil villain of you, by the way), but when you saw she escaped all you did was sigh. Basically... you’re really dispassionate for a patriot. So what is being one to you?
Second question: How the heck did you get away from Blackjack after she took buck, hydra and stampede? Must have been some trick, seeing as everypony else was turned into paste.
Rampage: So you’re acutely aware of the fact that one of your ponies likes killing. Are you aware of anything in particular about any of the others? Like… what sets off them becoming dominant, seeing as the killing one gets excited about sad foals and another seems to enjoy sparring with zebra adept in martial arts.
Lacunae: Are you, in fact, aware of anything at all that makes you unique in any significant way from your sisters? Other than your mission here, I mean. Or is the thought of being different unsettling to you, seeing as what little I know of the Goddess points me toward the belief that, no, you’re not really supposed to be different at all. You’re supposed to be the best of everypony in many bodies that feel as if they were just one.
Glory: You know that Blackjack reminding you of your father, considering your relationship, is kinda… well. Anyway, DO you taste/eat your own cooking? Lacunae asked previously but we never got an answer.
@swicked
ReplyDeleteWell, we do need people to think of good questions in the first place. XD
"Glory: You know that Blackjack reminding you of your father, considering your relationship, is kinda… well."
Good ol' Freud and Sophocles at work there. ^.^
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteI must admit, one thing that I excel at is asking lots and lots of questions. I dunno about good ones, but a lot of them.
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteThis does sound like a fun idea. Perhaps I'll cast my lot in for doodling out these responses.
Gorgon and his letter
ReplyDeletehttp://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_luhd2xh4dP1qkdrvbo1_r1_1280.png?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1321075347&Signature=DD18KVuo9ICcFxAZB72SfNG%2BaX0%3D
@Mech
ReplyDeletecuteness overload
I always imagined gorgon red for some reason. I probably missed the part where BJ describes his color
Poor l'il Gorgon.
ReplyDeleteYou know, it's a bit of foreshadowing, when P-21 jokes that Gorgon might have a sad backstory and that that would give Blackjack pause...
She is forever destined to kill poor, tragic monsters. XD
And since enough folks are interested, I'll set up the tumblr tonight and add Ryx and Mech as members. I'll add you too, Umbra, if you'd like and if you have a tumblr account of your own.
Okay. This is either the link for just Ryx to join, or for anyone (please only join if you're going to be a content creator).
ReplyDeleteIf it only works for Ryx, then I'll need emails for mech/Umbra. Sadly tumblr won't let me invite folks by their current tumblr name. I guess it makes some kind of sense, but... *shrug*
@Mech
ReplyDeleteYou are a heartless bastard. I hate you. *sniff* I hate everything you do. I... *sniff* hate it all. It's badly drawn and... *sniff*
AND YOU MAKE ME CRY!
Gah, why do you have to draw the saddest characters so well... Gorgon's letter alone got me going, but this image... it's beautiful... His eyes are so innocent and sad... the shadowing is perfect... How can you manage to draw something like that? I would've broken down half-way through it and never been able to finish.
You know those motivational posters with the captions, "The longer you stare, the more you laugh"? Well this one would need the caption, "The longer you stare, the more you cry".
This is the first piece of any Fallout Equestria fanart I've even considered doing this to... *Right click, save as, /users/pictures/screensaver pics/*
And to the rest of the artists: That's not a slam on your talent, it's just a sign of how Gorgon's life and story has effected me.
ReplyDeleteThere are an astounding number of drawings that I love from all you guys, but nothing has hit me quite as deeply as that Gorgon drawing.
And then, Julep forgot the link.
ReplyDeleteHere are my derps. You can have them.
http://www.tumblr.com/join/29DI7v7Jr3
(Actual tumblr will be: askphponies.tumblr.com)
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteOkay, I joined up, I think, huzzah! One step closer to complete insanity!
@Mech
Gorgon looks so adorable...
@RainbowYoshi
No offense taken - 1) Mech is a fantastic artist, 2) Gorgon does have a really touching story - so it's completely understandable.
@swicked
ReplyDelete"Sanguine: Oooooohhhh... so you're THAT way. Nice. I don't think we'd run into that particular depravity yet, good to see it represented!"
Didn’t we already get pedofolia in chapter 2… OH BUGGER!
I just had a moment of fridge horror. We believe that the raider virus can be sexually transmitted correct? And it is heavily implied that the crusaders form chapter 2 were raped by raiders “aside from looking very sore under her tail”. That would mean that there are up to five infected fillies in Chapel that Blackjack will need to deal with or risk losing all the crusaders.
@Kashin
ReplyDeleteNah. By this time the fillies would've gone full raider. It takes a matter of a couple days for the first symptoms to appear, and by the end of a couple weeks, you're entirely gone. See Stable 99. The fillies would've been infected at the same time the Stable was. Either those fillies didn't get the disease, it isn't spreadable by sex, or they did get the disease and are nowhere near Chapel any longer.
@Ryx: You have and you are also an admin, now. Huzzah!
ReplyDeleteAnd flat colors...
(Hope is so adorable. Just... must pretend they're random ponies. *sniff* Dang Rampage backstory.)
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteOh, I'd be interested in contributing to your askPHponies, I can draw most of the time, I kinda take way too much time to draw though. hopefully this'll push me to draw faster. If you don't mind, that is.
@swicked
ReplyDeleteGoldenblood: "My mother was Sundancer, an aristopony prominent in Canterlot society and one of Blueblood's many conquests. Believe me, my father would never have married if it didn't elevate him. My uncle... well... she was kind, but of ill health."
Sanguine: "Good. Now that I've utterly destroyed any reliability in my narration, I can tell you that Goldenblood started off on the right track. Saw the possibilities. But somewhere along the line he got cold hooves. I promise you, Twilight was FAR more appreciative of my talents with her alicorn projects than Goldenblood."
Lighthooves: "Patriotism is doing what must be done for one's people. Very simply, I am doing all I can to preserve my people. Certain ponies make that difficult, however. And very simply, when she started to slam a metal table through a bullet proof window with her bare hooves, I knew it was time to withdraw. Sadly, my bucks didn't."
Rampage: "That's what BJ and Glory said. But beyond that..."
Lacunae: "I am unique. The others are... together. I'm separate. Parts placed in this shell. I don't know if it's me or somepony else."
Glory: "Wha... no! Ew! I just really admire her confidence and determination... even if I want to buck her upside the head. And... yes... I do. Sometimes. I mean, I've tasted Sparkle Cola and tasted pickles so I can kinda imagine it. That's the same thing as tasting them together."
@Mech: OMG that is such an awesome pic of Gorgon... and so sad!
@mint: Daww... though, no stripes? Hope wouldn't have them. They're magic, not genetic.
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteEep. I didn't think you'd jump on it so... /fast/. *feeling insecure*
Lacunae: So… the Goddess made you this way for a purpose. Can you recall how long you were in existence prior to meeting with Blackjack? And anything you did during that time?
ReplyDeleteGoldenblood: Your father, despite not being your biological father, named you and took so much responsibility for you as to take you with him for the princess’ meeting regarding the zebra situation? Did your mother convince him to do that? Because it definitely seems like you were special to him, despite how much anger your speaking at that meeting caused him.
Lighthooves: Is patriotism your only inspiration, then? I feel the need to state again: when you saw Blackjack had escaped being beaten to death by your two guards you just sighed. It seemed you had gotten to the point where the death of YOUR ponies, any number of them, was a drop in the bucket. Maybe this was, in part, because every death leant credence to Glory’s defection. Would you, or more of are you, still in the habit of sparing little but a roll of your eyes at the death of your ponies? They are your responsibility and I just never felt you really considered them to be as such.
Additionally/alternatively: Do you have an opinion of Enclave that are not from Thunderhead? Because we’ve come to learn they have an opinion regarding you.
Sanguine: …but you weren’t allowed to so much as be on-site during the first test of the process? You were so happy to be there when the pony/cockatrice merging proved a success. Were you fired a second time, or was what you were called away to do so important it overshadowed your desire to be present at your moment of triumph?
Deus: Was there ever a point where what you were turned into seemed like a good idea? Or, at least, at all worthwhile? Gorgon never had a choice, and I don’t imagine you had much of one either, but you seemed to take better ownership of the monster you became than he ever did.
@Somber:
ReplyDeleteWhen I do Rampage, I usually do stripes last, on their own layer, at the same time as the cutie mark. (The old, save the hardest/most work for last approach. XD)
And, yeah, I figured as much on the stripes -- it's mentioned that the zebra's red dye is from a talisman's magic, so I assumed that Rampage's stripes period were from the talisman. And thus not genetic.
And you deserve the 'dawww's. Just the name Hope... their little Hope for the wasteland. *sniff*
@Umbra: Well, I can add people at any time. So practice with Ryx's help, or on your own, and just let me know when you're ready and I'll add you. There's certainly no pressure to join now. And, if you want something more passive, the "submit" feature should still be on, so you can work on something at your own pace, then submit it when it's done.
Above all, though, I don't want you feeling pressured or insecure. I can't definitively speak for everyone else, but I'm fairly sure none of them would be mean or dismissive of your art.
And if someone was, well... tumblr'll let me send 'em to the moon. ^.^
@Somber
ReplyDeleteHum... randomly wondering, what timeline would the "questions" be in... I know they are semi-ooc to please us fans, but still. Makes me ponder.
And hey, I've seen a few tumblrs that are either allot of text compared to art, and some fully text. And they've managed to be rather popular. Also, the replying here is technically the same thing ;P
And one last random: Scotch: So, did you get/grab any memory of your mom before you left 99? Picture, trinket, or perhaps those are her tools you are carrying around? (also, why did I imagine quotation signs around the "tools"... I'm a bad pony ^^')
Oh, and also: I know it's not been long but: Have you figured out how you'll deal with stress out in the wastes? Otherwise you might "pull a BJ" in some weeks.
Oh, and also one last after I read the BJ & the dealer: Hey BJ, did it ever cross your mind that the dealer might be your father? *dramatic, dun-dun-duuun*
@Mint: Looks really sweet, not sure on the size ratio thou. Altho, can't remember what age they said Hope became.
And gah, have to dash of to do some random stuff. Will finish reading comments then. But if things go at least ½ as planned, a flash animation should be due within the end of the month with BJ in it :P
(Hopefully the base art is done this weekend. ^.^)
ReplyDelete@Kim: Yeah... See, I drew her first. Then tried to scale it down, but it got too pixelly, so I made the canvas bigger for bigger Rampage/Priest. I think I made her about CMC age, which is prolly too old. *shrug*
Priest/Rampage was originally way off, but I like how it ended up, now. She is supposed to still be a little bigger than he is, but not dwarf him completely.
Also. Drawing that is setting in motion plans to do a whole set of slice of life comics of Rampage backstory. *cries* I wish I had the time and skill to draw all the things.
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteI'm still a newbie at tumblr and think I'm having some trouble joining up. xD
@Mech
ReplyDeleteWell, that's 'cause I need the email you use on tumblr to send you an invite for the group -- tumblr oddly enough won't let me just... invite you using your screen name.
If you don't want to share it on here, just use my tumblr's ask (mls-classics.tumblr.com) to send it to me.
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteHere you go: [email protected]
Okeedoke. It should have sent you an email. If not: http://www.tumblr.com/join/Q6sJFbXgvb
ReplyDelete@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteGot it and joined!
Chapter 22 playlist:
ReplyDeleteBodies - Drowning Pool
Living Dead Girl - Rob Zombie
Hell - Disturbed
Ladies and Gentlemen - Saliva
Bad Company - Five Finger Death Punch
Cemetery Gates - Pantera
Stricken - Disturbed
Infected - Disturbed
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteImprovising to salvage is good when it works out. ... I still remember the failed attempt on a flash once... it was awful xD But you seem to have made it.
Also, guys: Just wondering: On a scale of 1-10, how awful/bad is it to include the trait "Domesticated" from FoT and make it "Male only" as a really terrible inside joke? I laughed hard at first over how mean and wrong it was, but I dunno now. Would it be to "un-serious"? I know Fo thrives on a few silly jokes, but there's a line.
On a unrelated note: Have anyone else ever randomly got a mental image thinking of BJ entering a room with Glory on a bed splayed up for her (seen from behind ofc, keeping it suggestive only ;P), and BJ going wide eyed, then saying something like "Oh goddesses... I've longed for this, I love you so much..." stumble closer to Glory going "I can't wait to get a taste of you." then rush past her and take a swig of the whiskey on the bedside table. Then turning around going "Oh, hi Glory, didn't see you there. What's up?"
... I'll just go back to my corner now... (I shouldn't be allowed to comment while under the effect of tired, sick or woozy ^^')
Can't say I have, Kim. Can't say that I have.
ReplyDeleteI've got my own weird issues, though.
Like... anyone else sometimes try to say/think Lacunae (Lah-koon-āy I assume) and end up saying/thinking "Lieu Kang"? This has happened nearly every time I've read her name. I don't think I've ever even played Mortal Combat, though I did see the first movie...
Anyway, I have another page's worth of questions, but I'm gonna wait for Somber to answer as many of the ones currently asked as he feels like before I add to the queue.
I think this is becoming an obsession for me x_X
@Kim
ReplyDelete...
Nope! Although I have made comments while tired, sick, and/or woozy. And I do find myself making music videos in my head starring the cast of this story sometimes (Lacunae plays two guitars at once with her magic, because she's awesome like that).
[And don't worry, my mind does way weirder stuff. Like, I'll be trying to sleep or do work, but my mind's like - HEY LET'S THINK ABOUT LAPLACE'S DEMON YEAH. Or - HEY LET'S FIGURE OUT ALL THE WAYS YOU ARE OBJECTIVELY WORTHLESS WOOHOO. Or - OMIGOSH HEY WAKE UP HEY LISTEN TO THIS STORY IDEA WOAH SO COOL. The latter's actually not so bad, but still.]
Objectively worthless o_o
ReplyDeleteHow do you define worth? Or is that the point of finding "all the ways"?
I'd ask Glory what her Cutie mark meant and how she got it. It seems fairly ambiguous.
ReplyDelete@ Kim- I've been wondering whether the dealer might me Blackjack's father for the last couple of chapters as well.
Like... he represents her father? Because not even her mom would have been able to say who the father is. Blackjack likely never would have even laid her eyes on him.
ReplyDeleteBesides, he's smarter than her father ever could have been.
"Because not even her mom would have been able to say who the father is."
ReplyDeletePretty sure Somber dropped a big clue, there. First male she lead off to die looked at her wistfully and had a candy-striped mane. ^.-
My brain's like: "Hey. Here's 12 different ideas for one-off comics of varying length for Rampage's old life based off of Vienna Teng's music." (The "Lullaby for a Stormy Night" comic with Rampage soothing a scared Hope? Yeah. That's gonna be a rough one to draw. Or to "Anna Rose" with Priest giving her drawing lessons and her bringing a stick pony to Rampage to show off. Or Rampage and Priest's first night together (to "Harbor"). Or Priest waking up to find Rampage behind their house, with strips off her flank all over the ground, because each time her cutie mark tries to shift, she's used a straight razor to slice it off in desperation, and when he silently starts cleaning up she just breaks down, afraid she's going to turn evil on them. Yeah. Stupid, evil brain. And poor Rampage.)
Personally? I can't see it being anyone else. It's a very, very strong trope.
ReplyDeleteI just don't think I get it. We've no reason to believe he's particularly special. I'm not sure how much of an impact learning the dealer is supposed to be her father would be to Blackjack. She has no reason to feel a particular affection for him, to be especially sad at his passing... at least, any more than every other male in stable 99 barring P-21. He could never be thought of as an actual guiding force in her life. P-21 might as well be getting visions about whoever he thought his mom might have been. It doesn't matter, especially in retrospect.
...but yeah, the dealer's probably going to be her memory of who might have been her dad based solely on appearance, to which her response should probably be "Huh, how about that."
Chapter 23 playlist:
ReplyDeletePoison - Alice Cooper
Thnks fr th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy
Evil - Interpol
Karma Police - Radiohead
Another way to die - Disturbed
Indestructible - Disturbed
Hit the Floor - Linkin Park
The Unforgiven II - Metallica
Fuel - Metallica
Ace of Spades - Motorgead
@swicked: Oh, I meant that we got a good clue about who her father is. I don't believe that the dealer is her father. (Patricide's a big trope, too, but I don't see patricide /and/ her spirit guide being intertwined.)
ReplyDeleteMy personal guess is that the dealer is somehow projected by Goldenblood. I have no rational reason to believe this, it just makes sense to me.
(And the Final Fantasy Tactics soundtrack is /great/ music to read this fic to.)
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteMy HOPE is that it's Goldenblood. I just... don't know what do think about it. It makes as much sense to me as it does not.
I originally just hoped he existed as a personification of the wasteland itself. That he could be any number of people... but it looks like he's someone in particular. And we still aren't sure of the nature of his existence, or where what he knows comes from, if it does indeed come from somewhere other than Blackjack.
I have a few theories as to the Dealer's identity. He could be a manifestation of EC-1101 via her EFS. He could be a projection of the star(s) watching over her. He could be a ghost. He could be simply a product of her fractured mind, using her latent psychic powers to provide the information she doesn't consciously have. He could be a manifestation of the genius loci that is the Hoof.
ReplyDeleteI think that her father is less likely than any of these, but it's a possibility.
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteI don't think that he's Goldenblood, partly because Goldy's almost certainly still around as a Canterlot ghoul, and mostly because the Dealer looks vaguely familiar but can't be placed while Goldenblood is quite recognizable. Also I seem to remember the Dealer being an earth pony.
If the Dealer is in fact somepony Blackjack's seen in the past (or modeled after them at least) I'm leaning toward Mr. Horse; the descriptions match and since BJ only saw him once shortly in an orb a long time ago it makes sense for her to not quite recognize the aged-up version of him.
The buck strongly implied to be her father was, IIRC, a unicorn with a candy-striped mane, which doesn't match the Dealer at all.
@Sindri
ReplyDelete"He could be simply a product of her fractured mind, using her latent psychic powers to provide the information she doesn't consciously have."
This. He is the physical manifestation of her innate Pinkie sense, just like Madame LeFluer, Rocky, and the rest of Pinkie's hallucinations when she was depressed/high. The only reference the Dealer could have to her father is through simple appearance. IIRC, her father was retired before Blackjack hit the sex rotation. She only ever saw him once, I think.
If you want proof, just go to the scene where Caprice drugs Blackjack.
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteYou have far more theories than I ever thought of... though I don't think ghosts exist in FoE, and I don't think Somber would introduce them without their turning up in the original fic at least once.
BEST. QUOTE. EVER.
ReplyDeleteThen I took the liberty of checking the toilet facilities and found myself a porcelain basin of heaven. My insides melted. My knees were weak. I might have been marginally aroused. Ah… hot water. Was there any surer sign of civilization then the ability to pour unending amounts of steamy fluid over one’s body?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThere have been a few indications, to me, that he's external.
ReplyDeleteThen again, he seems to show up where there's enervation, but not a lot at Chapel/Megamart/Arena... so maybe it is in her head and only gets released when enervation/health is bad.
@Mech
ReplyDeleteBravo. Not heart-breaking in the slightest.
Is that his cape blowing in the non-existent wind like the Princesses' manes?
@swicked
ReplyDeleteYes, ghosts or some variation thereof are one of my less likely theories, but with the Eater of Souls in residence, the screams of a dead city pervading the area, the apparent fact that Enervation will destroy a pony's body but leave their mind, and whatever those motes were in the necropolis, I can't discount it as a possibility.
I strongly suspect that they only exist around Hoofington due to the specific varieties of necromancy in use there, explaining why they're never referenced in the rest of the Wasteland.
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteHe was at Thorn's funeral in Chapel. There's more grounds for it to be her mental condition that triggers him and not so much her physical health. For example, after she got struck by lightening, he didn't show up for a decently long time. She was in crappy physical condition, but her mind was relatively calm and stable.
There were theories at that time that it had something to do with her PipBuck, but she's gotten a new one and he's still there. I don't think a file like EC-1101 is capable of manifesting itself like that, though.
Tweaked a little mistake in the image. here's the corected version
ReplyDeletehttp://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_luj5hiZK7L1qkdrvbo1_r1_1280.png?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1321158664&Signature=wAkghX3ZpGU26O0kYQSH0jHSRcY%3D
@Mech
ReplyDeleteAnd with a few edits... an excellent desktop background :D
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDeleteThe Dealer only appears when she's wearing a Pipbuck; yes he's still there when she's wearing the one that doesn't hold EC-1101, but the one that the program was riding in had the systems to remotely connect to outside terminals. And Blackjack, unlike Littlepip, tends to keep her EFS on as a danger warning system; a smart enough program with access to the device on her hoof could easily insert images and sounds into her view. And EC-1101 is a) designed to provide access to and/or take control of the most secure systems of pre-war Equestria (meaning that remotely influencing the display of a nearby civilian machine would be easy) and b) not just a computer program, but a highly specialized megaspell, meaning that it's capabilities and intelligence might be beyond what's technically possible for a normal computer (and robots in Fallout already have fairly complex intelligence and personalities).
I feel like the little kid in the old Shake 'N Bake commercials. "I helped". ^.-
ReplyDeleteLike usual, it's amazing, Mech. Time to get my nose back to the grindstone, now!
You know... I never thought to ask who's idea it was to create EC-1101. I can't really think of any individual good-aligned character we've come across that would like the idea of a program that gives full control of so much to a single pony. I mean, it eventually resorts to anyone who is a decedent to one of the ministry mares... at some point it seems like it would have been a better idea for the program to terminate itself just to make sure so much power doesn't end up in the wrong hands.
ReplyDelete@swicked
ReplyDeleteWell, if that theory of the Dealer is right, EC-1101 itself would gauge the ability of the target to lead and give them the access it felt appropriate. That explains why there's an error message on the descendant protocol of the program itself; while it might not be able to directly disobey its programming it could easily delay access to somepony that met the requirements, at least until it had checked all other possible locations, and along the way it could attempt to mold them into a capable ruler (like the Dealer seems to have been doing with Blackjack). By downloading the personality, or some part thereof, of somepony that was involved in the previous government and the creation/management of the things EC-1101 gives access to, and then giving the program/megaspell/AI discretion as to who it does or does not give power to, and possibly how much power it's willing to give, they could avoid most of the problems of trusting ultimate cosmic power to a randomly selected pony based on nothing but lineage.
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteVery convincing. I am game for this theory.
It has the appropriate level of epicness.
Maybe this could be Goldenblood's final Xanitos Gambit. His failure at establishing a government of the people giving way to making sure that the pony at the top would at least be worthy of it, shaping and guiding them toward taking power and then, eventually, accomplishing what he failed to.
More than anything it makes it a perfect compliment to the Gardens of Equestria. A megaspell for the land, a megaspell for the ponies.
Have some cute: http://shytalon.deviantart.com/art/My-Lucky-Girl-268560959
ReplyDeleteThe Chapel family portrait was being stubborn. So I drew one of my favorite "daww" moments.
(Also, that's a good theory as well. Definitely eager to find out more -- looks like this next chapter, too!)
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteNo... no... That... It makes too much sense, but it is also complete nonsense. No. Goldenblood DID NOT put himself into EC-1101 in order to find or mold a good ruler for future Equestria. No. There's only two Crusader Maneframes. One was in Stable 29, the other was with Apple Bloombot. There is no way he could've feasibly done it. There is no way he could've been that thorough... that manipulative... that insightful... There is no way he could've convinced Twilight Sparkle to let him do this. Gardens of Equestria... I suppose, but not this.
Right? Please... I gotta be right...
Crap... I'm not, am I?
And by convince Twilight Sparkle, I mean convince her to let the unicorns put him into the megaspell when they made it. Luna... maybe. But Luna shut down all the projects. Luna was pushing him out.
ReplyDelete@Mech
ReplyDeleteMech.
MECH.
These drawings. My gawd. Never, ever stop.
I like to put on some Queens of the Stone Age and Iron Maiden and the like when happier things are happening or when Blackjack's got her shooty look going, and lengthier black/doom metal stuff for other times. Sometimes I intersperse it with drone (like Sunn O))) and Nortt), Philip Glass, and Insomnium. 'Tis good times!
ReplyDeleteAs to the identity of The Dealer... Well, as of yet my favorite guess is that he's a much-changed Goldenblood - they seem different, but manipulate in sometimes similar ways. But I wouldn't be surprised if I'm wrong - I used to be firmly in the Sanguine-is-Goldenblood camp. And I haven't the faintest idea how the Dealer could be Goldenblood, or how he's linked to EC-1101. I look forward to finding out, though! (the Pinkie-sense explanation is very interesting indeed, by the way: it would relegate certain aspects of how he manifests into the "red herring" bin, but would also be satisfyingly personal)
@swicked Oh, well, without going in depth I basically use value-assignation assumptions that align with my instincts, and then assess myself according to said. And, well, yeah. Like I said. Don't worry about it, c'est rien d'important and I don't wanna derail - irresponsible of me to have mentioned it. Apologies for that.
@Mech Dude! Dude. That's amazing, I mean... Wow. You're a damn fine artist, y'know that?
@Mint Julep Awww! So cute! I love her face, and the little Joker card on her horn.
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDeleteI don't think that it's Goldy in EC-1101. Appearance-wise the Dealer's vaguely familiar, indicating that it's somepony that Blackjack's seen, but doesn't match Goldenblood at all, so if it were him then it means that he used somepony else as the avatar/icon/whatever. Conversation-wise, the Dealer doesn't sound anything like Goldenblood; he doesn't give instructions or make demands of her, or even present courses of action for her to follow or reject (except those times when she's about to die without it, like Caprice's room or the necropolis). All the Dealer does is alternatingly pose questions that force her to think and taunt her whenever she gets overconfident. Goldenblood tried to find the right ponies for a job and make them follow his course of action, the dealer is trying to make Blackjack personally a better and more capable pony and doesn't seem to care about her actions along the way so much as the lessons she learns from them.
Actually when I say it like that it seems kinda like Celestia's teaching method... but he's nowhere near as saintly and benevolent in conversations and such. I can't find any specific figure from the past that quite fits the Dealer; my best guess so far is that he's analogous to the supercomputer president of the Enclave, a compilation of historical precedents and personality traits of the best of Equestria's leaders into a single artificial personality designed to be both ultra-competent at their task and some sort of super-patriot. Only this one isn't insane or stupid. It would include aspects of Celestia, Luna, probably at least some of the ministry mares, possibly parts of Goldenblood but nowhere near a majority, and some other figures we haven't seen or thought of yet.
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteTo clarify, that's the supercomputer president of the Enclave in the video games, not in Fo:E.
@Overlong Analysis Cobalt
ReplyDelete"I love her face, and the little Joker card on her horn. "
Well, thank Somber for that image. I pulled the description straight from Gin Rummy's drawings in chapter 22.
This is another thing of mine: I always get an irrational desire to recreate drawings that characters make/come across in stories. Like when we found out Priest drew, the back of my head was yelling: "Make them!"
(And, oh man! These dealer theories!)
@swicked
ReplyDeleteDon't we all? Haha... althou some have way more odd then others ^^'
And actually, a few times at first I somehow saw it as "Lunas-sauce" no idea how thou.
And haha, some can't handle the power of questions ;P
@Overlong: Good to know I'm the only one that trails off into perversion when any of above mentioned haha. Your trailing off seems more entertaining in general thou. But I tend to have similar pondering when trying to sleep or attempt to work.
@Hawke: It'd seem like something just crazy enough to be true. That, or she got a chip in her brain that causes him to appear along with the crystal/talisman/gem in her womb when they "readied" her for stable life as a bonus... althou that one is way more random and unlikely xD
As what goes for a pondering of her Dad: The dealer is not exactly "visible" much. So the image of his is really hazy anyhow. And who says he didn't pull a "P21"? Also, I know it was prolly mentioned somewhere but: Did males even get names? Like, when they were foals at least up until their first "P/U"? And totally random, if it was Goldenblood, I could actually see Golden as "the taint". Like how Trixie became the goddess, Golden like, "whops" and slipped into some strange shit and became the taint. Hum, my theories are just getting weirder and weirder... I should go back to thinking of inappropriate things instead ;P (Regarding him being in her pipbuck or just in her head. Both could work. One way to be sure about one of them would be if this was answered: Did she ever see the dealer as her pipbuck was broken or not wearing one? Hum, just noticed that seemed to have been answered hah)
And, maybe Luna would have asked for the file to be made? As a last resort?
Anyhow, regarding the latest addition of art, my responses are "Daw.." and *Flabbergasted* (rank 7) And guys, if anyone wants to toss me a something to animate, feel free to ask. I could do with some distraction right about now. Would need a break from the RPG tinkering. Not to mention, my mind.
Pony hazmat suits. And every FoE artist gets screenshots for references.
ReplyDeleteHealing potions are now cannon.
ReplyDelete@Takon
ReplyDeleteAnd chems to enhance a variety of characteristics. And possibly zebra invisibility magic.
Wasn't there supposed to be a new chapter this week or was I imagining things?
ReplyDelete@Takon
ReplyDeleteIIRC Somber was planning on finishing and polishing today, so it should be out tonight or early tomorrow unless something interferes.
@Takon
ReplyDelete::is watching new episode::
Good grief, even the color matches!
We're brushing it now. Sorry I haven't been too chatty. Mid meltdown...
ReplyDeleteI kinda just skipped past all that ask stuff here. I like reading some of the pony ask blogs, but here I just didn't like it. It just doesn't feel right, and I'd rather learn about the characters through reading the story anyways. :(
ReplyDelete@Somber
ReplyDeleteNot to be pushy, just verifying that I wasn't imagining things.
@Derpmind
ReplyDeleteI imagine that Somber only answered things that weren't going to be covered on-screen (hence his evasion half the time), which I honestly have no problem with (even though I prefer in-story explanations, too).
I'm of the same opinion. I don't want spoilers into the plot, or even the sub-plots. But I like getting a better grasp on the personalities and motivations of the characters that are not particularly covered. Maybe what their priorities are, or a bit more into their thought processes.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think Somber would have Glory talk much more about who her dad is, or P-21 talk more about the love he once had. None of the villains we have so far are the monologuing type (at least prior to their deaths), yet any long overview of the reasons they do what we see as being evil would hurt the flow of the story... a lot of them aren't meant to be redeemed, Sanguine and Lighthooves most notably.
The rest of the questions are just amusing fodder. I want to ask what was the most epic battle Rampage has been in, or what was the best non-sexual chit Blackjack ever won. Any question about Thrush is safe. If P-21, having decided to specialize in explosives just after leaving the stable, ever had a close call (though, if he had, with his leg you'd wonder how he got away in time).
I don't think these fodder questions really help you learn much about the characters... they're more a chance at creating slices of life for them, like the fact that Rampage once ate a balefire egg. I guess every little bit of information is telling in its own way, but I kinda like this format as it gets Somber to provide us with a little content between chapter releases if he finds the time to :P
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWell guys. Because of Fallout Equestria and Project Horizons, I went and got Fallout New Vegas.
ReplyDeleteI named the courier Blackjack and she is not a clever pony. I've tried taking only the perks Blackjack has taken and set her skill points in places I imagine Blackjack would have them.
It's been rather interesting so far and I'm loving it.
Now, I've not been entirely faithful to Blackjack - seeing as I stormed the NCR visitor's center with an Incinerator, Machete and a swig of Whiskey.
@notmyday
ReplyDeleteShe automatically regenerates because of a healing talisman that's been turned into a soul jar is implanted inside her body. Soul jar. Indestructible. Theory is that a megaspell -might- destroy a soul jar. A balefire egg is a lot less than an actual balefire bomb. Passing Godzilla threshold or not, it is still physically possible for her to do.
@DotRook
ReplyDeleteAnd how, pray tell, is that -not- faithful to Blackjack? :P
@Somber
ReplyDeleteNever mind the brushing, I hope you're okay sir.
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDeleteYou know... Yea, she would do something crazy like that. It's just not a weapon I've seen her use.
Hay, I'm amazed I didn't accidentally kill Meyers in the insanity that ensued.
After the Powdered Gangers in the room were dead, I spotted one Powdered Ganger who was trying to run up the stairs - I assumed to get help. I kicked into S.A.T.S and took aim at his head with my 9mm pistol.
Damn... only enough charge for one shot. The pistol went BAM... In the seconds that followed, I noticed that his bar was blue... and his name was Meyers. I muttered a curse under my breath as the bullet traveled in slow mo towards him - and missed. IT MISSED!
That was an AMAZING time for my high luck stat to fail me.
@DotRook
ReplyDeleteOr did your luck stat come through at just the right time? ;)
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDeleteI swear, I could hear the Dealer groan and face hoof after that little event.
Funny, I'm playing Glory, now, in a FOOK'd out Fallout 3.
ReplyDeleteAnd accidentally succeeded in killing a scavver. But Greedo shot first! I swear, officer!
(But, seriously, why did I ever play this without FOOK? 'Cause the better sniper rifles with simpler scopes are worth it, alone.)
Okay! So I'm now caught up! Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteI understand you're going to go back and do some rewriting soon, so I made notes as I read with an emphasis on corrections and changes.
Ch. 1
The oddities of Stable 99 could have been more directly addressed, especially that everyone's job is what their mother's job was. I'm not saying I necessarily wanted a preface that laid it out directly, but the first bit was a little TOO oblique in my opinion. The talk about Duct Tape's daughter lacked context, especially since it was also unclear at first that DT had died. I assumed she'd merely been injured until BJ referred to their "dead co-worker". I was also wondering for a while what was up with all the mares, but that got cleared up when they started talking about the new stud.
P-21's race really needs to be mentioned right away. The P makes him sound like a pegasus, but I guess it's supposed to stand for "Pony". Which seems strange in and of itself, as they're all ponies. I'd have expected "E-21" instead, but I suppose it's a little late to change a major character's name. :)
I have to agree with some of the comments I've seen about Blackjack -- she seems just a little too blasé about having blood-soaked raiders suddenly invade her home and kill a ton of ponies she knew. Sure, she's not the friendliest sort and she's experienced with weapons, but this is like suddenly dumping a mall cop on Iwo Jima. She tends to resort to violence under stress, okay, but once the raider was dead, it seems like she should have had a reaction. I don't know if she's had to kill anyone before in the line of duty, but she seems to take it all in stride a little too easily. Not to mention finding the bodies of Airduct and Vent, walking away from the gang rape of mares she's grown up with, and rolling around in blood as a disguise! She should be having some emotional reaction, whether that's to retreat and become cold and calculating, or to freak out for a few minutes, or take charge and force herself to remain calm for Midnight's sake while organizing the evacuation of the hab level, or whatever.
That said, I'm not saying she should have completely fallen apart. It just seems like there was a missed opportunity for some strong characterization during the scene in Midnight's room, to show what drives her and how she handles having her world turned upside-down.
"Oh look, Billy has a new favorite word." What kind of weird-ass name is 'Billy'? :)
Ch. 2
I don't quite understand who this "Hoss" is supposed to be. He's apparently living with Granny Smith, but he refers to AJ's family as "her grandkids" rather than "our grandkids". I don't even understand what Granny Smith is doing way out here rather than back home at Sweet Apple Acres. (I assume this was written well before we got the memory orb in FOE where Apple Bloom buys Sweet Apple Acres and promises not to kick Granny Smith out. By the way, there's a mistake in Entry 3 where it says "saving Luna" instead of "saving Celestia".) I was really glad to see Blackjack finally shed some tears here.
"In 99, all the PipBuck showed me was red." Aaand P-21 just went from "oddly cold" to "scary broken". While I expected P-21's views on relationships would be closer to Xenith's than Pip's, the chances of intra-party romance just went into negative numbers.
The perk for this chapter seems odd. It doesn't resemble any perk I've ever seen, and it doesn't note a mechanical benefit.
Ch. 4
ReplyDeleteVault Overmare log 11-#244: Today I kicked the dog. Whatever happens to me now is completely justified in the reader's eyes.
"Then I noticed the bodies at the door… fresh, pungent, and swollen… wings coming off their sides." Ugh. Poor phrasing. >_< I'd have preferred "extending from" or "sprouting from".
Even though we haven't hit capital-p Plot yet, the addition of Morning Glory really kicked things into gear.
Ch. 5
Yes, the story has now officially "grown the beard".
One thing I'd like to suggest is to describe loot less like a list. Pretend you were telling a buddy what you found -- using conversational phrases like "a couple" or "a pile" would make it sound more natural, as would giving some irrelevant detail. "A grenade that was covered in rust, though it looked like it should still work."
Trottenhiemer's Folly: It shoots through schools.
Ch. 6
Glory's dialogue about fixing the elevator bugs me for much the same reason as the treasure lists. Instead of "a spark battery and some scrap metal", it would be more natural to say, "'a spark battery and a few odds and ends. Do you have any spare wire?' I rummaged through the bits of scrap metal I had collected…"
"I really wanted to introduce somepony to Ms. Shotgun." Nope, that's wrong. Shotguns are all definitely "Mister". Just sayin'.
You need to correct the motto and appearance of the Fluttershy figurine, now that its canon appearance has been stated in FOE.
Ch. 7
Whew, that was heavy. Awesome, awesome character development here. I think, in retrospect, this is a great payoff for her being so cavalier earlier, but her shift into that mode should be visible back in Ch. 1. I'd like to see her deliberately making the choice to rely on the crutch of the PipBuck targeting software as her coping mechanism, or something. Incorrect Fluttershy figurine motto again, by the way.
"Wrath of Gun ... Mine's bigger." I'm laughing like an idiot right now. That was the biggest goddamn literal Chekov's Gun I ever did see. So awesome!
Ch. 8
What, Blackjack's magically stunted too? Color me disappointed. Seems a little like copying to me, except that in Pip's case it's played up as a major aspect of her psyche. Unless this is going to be a serious plot point, I'd be happier if she's just weak at magic, like any unicorn who doesn't focus on being a mage. Like if she could cast a handcuffs spell that even an average pony could break by main force.
And yes, I'm aware of the irony that I'm pretty much accepting that she has low-grade Pinkie Sense at face value.
"…sucked down a pack of Rad-away, enjoying the tangy orange flavor…" --wha? Oh, right. Raised on recycled protein chips. That'll wreak havoc on your sense of taste. Lawl!
The bit in Stockyard seemed rushed. I'd have liked to see a little bit of conversation before they moved on, or at least get an idea of what the town looks like.
Ch. 9
"Yes, it was originally the Hoofington Dam, but it turned out that there were two of them. Sorry about not catching it before the chapter was posted, but I didn’t learn the exact arrangement of the dams until we were working on Chapter 11." So what's stopping you from editing that sentence?…
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDeleteBlackjack puts most of her points into small arms with melee as a close second. I just looked up in the Fallout wiki (never played new vegas) and incinerator counts as an energy weapon. She would not know how to use it from a statistical perspective... just in an RPG one.
Besides, they are heavy. Blackjack has always used fairly light weapons.
Ch. 10
ReplyDeletePlease excuse me for saying so, but… that's a lousy chapter quote. You really shouldn't use exchanges for those. Just the question would be sufficient, I think.
"Telekinetic Bullet" -- Ah, so that's her personal spell. Okay then! (It's my headcanon that while a unicorn can learn an array of spells related to their talent, each one intuitively develops one spell related to their talent, generally at roughly the same time as their cutie mark manifests. Rarity's gem-finder is a good example -- that was what drew her to the Dumb Rock. Twilight is unusual in that her teleportation is far more powerful than you would ususally find in a "personal spell", but she's a special case due to her talent, her element, and the fact that she'd studied magic extensively even before she grew into her power.)
I love Sekashi's story about the silly zebra who didn't see all the good he did. It has the ring of a real-world fable, even though I don't know of an analogous story.
Ch. 11
"Equinpologists"? O_o; It should just be "equinologists" -- "anthropos" is the root of "anthropologist".
"I see Hoofington, I see Prance--" Uh, BJ? Where exactly are we going with this? There seems to be a distinct lack of underpants in Equestria…
Ch. 12
The note from Big Mac in Stone's locker seems really weird to me. It was years between Mac's death and Judgement Day, so these lockers really should have been cleaned out at some point.
Ch. 13
Wait, Glory was freaking out over shooting raiders to save her own life, and now she's okay with BJ killing two Enclave pegasi in a misguided attempt to rescue her? My mane is itching like crazy…
You used the phrase "power blocks" -- the second word should be "blocs" when you're talking about political entities.
"Vertibuck"? Uhhh… as much as I dislike it, "buck" is the FOE replacement for "boy" if it's not being used in the literal sense. This sounds weird, and there's no fixed-wing aircraft to contrast it with. Any pegasus-drawn cart can climb as sharply as the pegasus can. You might just change it to "war wagon" or something.
"Bang." Epic bluff. :D
Okay, so Glory was totally on the level the entire time... I'm not understanding why she's not losing her shit over the soldiers BJ killed.
Ch. 14
One, nice musical fight scene. Two, did BJ just invent Turbo?
Not sure what chem Loco is supposed to be. Psycho and Slasher are Rage and Stampede respectively.
Ch. 15
Personally I dislike the name "Ultrajet"/"Ultradash". I prefer "Rocket" in Fallout, and my preferred Equestrian name for it is "Gallop".
I went through and named the drugs that Kkat had skipped a while back, and gave a couple of them effects on a unicorn's magic. See if you like any of them:
Hydra is, of course, still Hydra.
Turbo = Blur
Rebound = Spark (Reduces physical and magical fatigue)
Steady = Focus (Improves aim and magical power)
Just my thoughts.
Ch. 16
Epic intimidate check on U-21. That was hilarious! XD
Surfing a bathtub down the stairs of a collapsing hotel is DEFINITELY a new one on me.
Daft Pony! WOOOO! Excuse me, I have to put on the TRON Legacy soundtrack for this fight.
I want to note that while I'm entirely aware of how to pronounce "Pecos", I keep thinking of it as the plural of "Peco" when used in the context of "a group of Pecos" (that is, "pay-coze" instead of "pay-cose" or "pay-cus"). Maybe it just seems like a more Fallout-y name.
You killed Octy, you bastard! ;_; It's funny, I'd have pegged Vinyl as the one to buck the MoM and Octy as the play-by-the-rules type.
OK, Flash is a good name for Turbo also.
Yay, Blackjack finally gets hugs tiem!
Ch. 17
ReplyDeleteLet me see here… The Fool, Justice?, Nine of Swords, Eight of Cups, and The Hanged Mare. Uh… I really don't know any tarot symbology… but at least in name they seem to apply to BJ! ^_^
And for the Dealer's hand, The Moon, The Heirophant?, The Tower, Six of Swords, and The World. I think.
"I’d given up on finding her name; she seemed too amused by the question to give me a straight answer." BJ really, really isn't a clever pony.
"[Glory's] angry eyes started to tear up, but she scrubbed them away before I sighed and put a hoof on her shoulder." Really, really, REALLY…
Black hairs in the bow… bows are usually horsehair… Octy had black hair… I can't tell if this is awesome or really creepy!
You can tell FOE (main story) is getting to you when you see a heavy robot with a minigun and think, "Oh, good, it's ONLY a conventional minigun." Energy weapons terrify me in these fics!
Rampage: What. The. Fuck.
Okay, I find myself somewhat comforted that she doesn't know either… O_o; That's Wolverine-grade regeneration!
Huh. Arloste… Are Lost… "Not all who wander are lost"?
“Any design can be programmed into the Mechasprites, and they will proceed to seek out raw material, ingest, process, and produce the design." I SEE NO WAY IN WHICH THIS COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG.
I like how the +1 PE from Pinkie's statuette allows her to finally see past the surface glitz of Flank.
I guess the Dealer is kind of like BJ's answer to Pip's "little pony" internal monologue. Probably combined with a manifestation of her Pinkie Sense, given that it can apparently tell the future -- e.g. Goldblood appearing as a Major Arcana (Arcanum?) before she ever saw him in the memory orb. Actually, I seem to remember seeing this discussed in comments some time ago, but it wasn't relevant to me until just now. :D
Ch. 18
“She can gulp down hangover shots like they’re nothing, but balks at tea.” Like I said before, being raised in 99 does *weird* things to your palate. Though 21 seems to have reasonably normal tastes, so maybe it's just BJ. :)
"Get my toaster fixed." Snrk. I'll have to remember that particular euphemism.
Wow, when BJ decides to change armor, she does it EPIC STYLE. Also: Next time, try yelling, "Shazam!" If that doesn't work, try, "By the power of Greyskull, I HAVE THE POWER!"
(Blackjack's No Fear Song) Dear god. Blackjack REALLY does not need a little piece of Pinkie Pie living in her head.
Ch. 19
ReplyDelete"She said she’d never gotten to be a Crusader, but she couldn’t tell me what she meant by that." Ffffffffuuuuuuuuck! Coat color-- hair color-- eye color-- Missed the creation of the CMCs by one day-- Marauders were broken up-- Doof got experimented on-- Don't tell me Rampage is TWIST?! …acthually, that's kinda bad-ath.
"Munching on two-hundred-year-old peppermint sticks I’d found in a desk drawer…" Shouldn't they be only a few years old? Assuming they were indeed made by Arloste. Granted, BJ doesn't know the Detect Age of Candy spell.
"I wondered what had happened to [Marigold]. I wondered if she’d died in the bombing. I wondered if there was anything past that sad photograph." My story sense is tingling… Tarot is a card-related name. Did Marigold and Tarot make it to 99?
Also, there's that BJ Sense again -- she gets dealt a hand of tarot cards by the Dealer, and not a day later finds out about a foal named Tarot that she might be related to.
"Pinkie Pie cheered as she immediately danced right up against bucks and mares half her size." You meant half her age, right?..
I love BJ's completely nonplussed reaction to Lacunae. Basically, "After the past week, you're not even registering on my weirdshitometer."
In light of Pip's visit to Canterlot, I'm forming some interesting theories about Hoofington. If we suppose that E-fields are similar to the necromancy present in Pink Cloud, and that the necromancy is what interferes with telepathy in Canterlot, that explains Lacunae's difficulty in contacting the Goddess and, thus, her emergent personality. Her attraction to the chapel and the unspoiled potion from the Blueblood estate both suggest this is one of the least-enervated locations in Hoofington. Whether that's just by chance, or the location is specifically protected, or it's the epicenter of the enervation effect, I couldn't guess yet. I do know it would be a good idea to keep the Society from finding out.
s/Be kind./Be pleasant./g
Not sure what to think about Fluttershy being on board for Chimera. Doesn't seem like the kind of thing she would approve of, much less be in on…
Blackjack loses her equipment entirely too often.
And there you go. You finally made me cry. I handle funerals better in person than I do reading about them.
Ch. 20
I. Love. Sekashi's talk about the stars. I love how it takes the evil out of the stars and puts it back on people -- that the stars simply enable what is already there. Power corrupts, etc.
Oh, Gorgon was Stonewing? That wasn't clear from the Gorgon orb. I don't think you were TRYING to be coy, there, so it wouldn't hurt to refer to him by name once, like "We’ve got Captain Stonewing's consent in writing and recording."
Now I just need to find out the horrible fates of Jetstream, Echo, and Psalm to collect the whole set…
Okay, BJ's sense of taste has gone way beyond "screwed up palate" and into "brain damage" territory. Not that I'm shocked.
"Reds"? I'm pretty sure they use rads. As in Rad-X, Radaway… or was that just a typo?
Filly Rampage is freaking adorable. We need to disintegrate her every week or so.
Twist's skeleton. Yeah, not buying it. Rampage has left behind enough limbs (and heads…) for me to distrust that as proof. Not to mention that was exactly where she was found in her earliest remaining memory…
(On meeting Capt. Thrush) “There’s two of them. There’s two… Celestia save us all…” Must not laugh… reading at work… must… not… laugh… Also, this scene NEEDS to be drawn. Please! Someone!
Ch. 21
ReplyDeleteFallen Towers: How the hell did they get UPSTREAM against that in the first place?
YEEEHAW! Just like Reverse Mountain back home!
I want to note that "Go Fish" is one of the most adorable names for a filly I've ever heard. And yes, I'm aware BJ would shove her baton up my plot sideways for saying so.
Ffffffuck I remember this tunnel from FO3. I hated it then, too.
"The raider army was Stable 99." Excuse me, I'm going to go scream "WHAT?!" for a while.
I'm really glad Gin Rummy is dead rather than participating in this. By the way, I don't think you ever described Gin Rummy's coloration before, so describing it in detail here without identifying her completely loses its impact.
Ch. 22
Again, the chapter quote would be better without the dialogue. Cut off "Not anymore", and it still works fine.
*facepalm* I knew it. Rampage is Troll-In-A-Can.
I really, REALLY hope that Rampage is too tough to transmit the Raider prion...
Tarot. There we go. You know, I don't think a gun has ever choked me up before.
I like that BJ is being pushed out of the stable by social pressure rather than executive order like in FO1.
...or early-stage Raiderism. Oh fuck.
You know, Pip is kind of a drama queen. She'll gladly kill herself in a grand gesture of self-sacrifice, but she won't just put a bullet in her head and be done with it.
Ch. 23
Emotional damage or no, BJ seems incredibly calm for someone trapped in the memory of a rape. Gah!
That was a really cool way to get Blackjack to meet Homage.
I take back what I said about BJ being a drama queen.
It feels a little bit weird for Spike to spontaneously offer to show BJ the Gardens, given how cautious he was even with Littlepip. But I guess the influence of the stars is very subtle...
Ch. 24
I guess this was probably written before the Wonderbolts came up in FOE, but it would have been kinda cool for BJ to be present and hidden back in the Gardens room when the Enclave arrived to interrogate Spike.
Well, crap... need a new unique melee weapon now.
OK, and back to Hoss. This brings up something that's got me badly confused. Are Marigold and Maripony supposed to be different people, or was "Maripony" a fake name Marigold gave after almost forgetting herself and letting "Mari-" slip? Is Hoss related to Marigold?
I also didn't quite understand who Marigold carried Tarot for. Or are we not supposed to know that yet?
Ch. 25
"Gorgon the Stonegaze"? When do we get to meet Midvalley the Hornfreak?
...pretty soon, if Glory's "Baka! Baka! Baka!" routine is any indication.
And her Akane-grade cooking. Can't breathe, laughing too hard...!
Ch. 26
Oh yeah, the awesome sword in the museum! I forgot about that. Hee.
"An entire freight train loaded with heaps of rusting crates and boxes was still connected to the apparatus, kept from plunging down the steep grade into the earth by what looked like solid rust." That couldn't possibly come up later in an incredibly awesome action scene.
Wow, that was a hell of a chapter. So there's still an armed megaspell under the city, whose function is unknown? Fun.
Whew, there we go. Sorry for the spam (Cram?), everypony.
ReplyDeleteI was doing a text search for something else and I ran across this gem way back in chapter 16:
“But what about Deus?”
“Pfffft. Who’s afraid of that doofus?”
Well played, sir. Well played!
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteOther nitpicks aside, I feel I should address one. Or, rather, Jayne Cobb should.
"Shotguns are all definitely "Mister"."
"I call her Vera."
Ain't nothin' wrong with a lady-named gun.
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteWell, sure, but Vera is a Callahan Fullbore Auto-Lock. Not a shotgun.
lol... The shotgun thing was the first thing I picked up on as well reading that commentary.
ReplyDelete@silentcarto
She just got out of a place where every single (even slightly) meaningful job is held by females. Why in the world would she give something as powerful as her shotgun a masculine name?
Re: Ch. 24: It wasn't so much written before the Wonderbolts came up in FOE as it is that the Enclave won't invade for another few weeks.
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteAhh the megaspell sleeping under the city. Yes, the function is not stated yet, due to computer corruption. So all we know about it is that it's capable of creating armies of very powerful, spellcasting, levitating, undead unicorns and using them to defend and repair itself. Before being activated.
And it's at full capacity, just waiting for somepony to give the fire command.
@silentcarto
ReplyDelete(I just watched that episode, I know!)
I still disagree. Besides, if BJ had hers out, I wouldn't argue the point much. Nice pony with a boomstick can call it whatever she likes.
(And great catch with the "doofus". XD)
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteAn interesting theory. I'm not entirely prepared to attribute the Dealer to anything but BJ's "Pinkie Sense" and stress, but I'll allow that your theory has merit. I have also started to suspect that the Dealer is some sort of projection from the Core -- perhaps Mr. Horse or someone else involved in whatever necromantic badness they did.
I had assumed that the unfired megaspell under Hoofington hadn't fired because of the catastrophic failure of #6, but what if they're working as intended? They ran into an animate table, which suggests that #7, "Come to Life", fired. Suppose that #7 created undead, eternal guardians to keep #8 charged. Then #8, perhaps, is the vessel that stores EC itself...
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDeleteShotgun: Because biology?
Wonderbolts: Right, time exists! Herp derp.
@ silentcarto
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has followed this story entry by entry since the beginning and never reread, it's fun to see it from the eyes of a new reader. Thank you.
Have some more cute.
ReplyDeleteToo late to do real arts, so doodled more Hope. 'Cause she's my adorable little headcanon favorite.
Okay, 49 more pages in the queue!
ReplyDeleteIn related news, the three of us are rather tired.
Oh, and we're planning to make the revisions to chapters 1 and 2 next weekend.
ReplyDelete@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteMales are nothing more than weak idiots who live for the animal instinct of sex. Females are smarter, stronger, quicker, and have more power in society.
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteI think I just went into sugar coma.
@O. Hinds
For the love of Celestia I hope it isn't published tonight... it's already 1 AM...
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDelete*facepalm*
I was making a joke about it being a phallic symbol, okay?
No! Not okay! :)
ReplyDeleteBtw, answered your question on the DA page for that picture.
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Hoof.
Thanks for some great insights on where I've skipped and missed the mark. Ch. 1 and 2 in particular need some real shoring up. Other errors will be nipped. A few we'll just have to live with. I'd glad to have someone review the entire spread rather than month to month. Someday Kkat is going to read this (I hope) and I really want her to like it. Everything that helps make this a tighter story is treasured.
I'm curious, any impressions on Horizons' mane 6?
@Somber
ReplyDeleteSorry not to be answering your question, but there's one that's been bugging me:
For as long as I've been reading Horizons it's had that "kkat approved" tag. How did that come about? What did you tell her about the story that caused her to specifically approve this one?
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDeleteIt was gonna be worse. XD
My original plan was to have that be Priest's desk, and she was asking him to help her draw a picture of "mommy".
But my male ponies still look like some terrible furry's nightmare. Stupid blocky muzzles. >.>
Somber: I know you directed this to Carto, but I've wanted to review for a little while.
As for the Mane 6... I love four of them? I don't know enough about Scotch and Lacunae to make a good judgement there. Mind you, what I've seen so far is good. Lacunae's been full of surprises and Scotch is pleasant enough.
Blackjack: it took me until chapter 7 to warm up to her. See, I love Pip's naivety to death. How she sees largely black and white and just thinks she can fix it all. I felt BJ was a little brash and, well... "Bro"-y for my tastes. And then the scene where she starts questioning the Pipbuck... Since then, she really has only gotten better. See, Pip is the wasteland's savior, that's obvious enough. BJ doesn't have so lofty of goals -- I mean, she wants to help, but doesn't think saving all of the wasteland is in her grasp. Instead, her story seems to be much more about personal redemption. She's sinned, and badly. They were morally grey decisions, yes, but even she recognizes that the lesser of two evils is still evil. I certainly can't commiserate exactly with that, but... it appeals to me. Like I've said before, PH needs FoE to exist. There needs to be some group that has to save everything, otherwise BJ's struggle seems useless. Even if she atones and saves The Hoof, the wastes would be back eventually. But, since they both exist, the personal journey of Blackjack appeals to me more.
Glory: Glory took less time to grow on me. She started out pitiful, and it's been a fairly typical coming of age for her. I think that her hurdles have all been largely emotional to date -- we haven't run across a challenge that puts her specialty to the test (I mean, we did with Lancer's shot, but it was almost all off-screen... losing a wing just might be that thing). I was surprised at the Glory/BJ relationship, although I admit that I gave a little whoop when she dove in for the kiss -- a sweet little sign of bravery on her part. Rereading, however, I noticed that she is far more nervous and flushed and unsure when she is dealing directly with BJ -- and acts in an uncharacteristically catty manner when BJ was getting Caprice-loving. I cannot wait for the Enclave's invasion. For a second. Because I can't help but wonder what Glory's reaction will be. (Also, your post-BJ-suicide-attempt scene was fantastic. The easy way out would be for Glory to be a little mad, but soothe and comfort her friend. Instead, she acts in a completely realistic manner. "I love you, but I am so pissed off. And I need some speace for however long I need it." Major, major kudos for it.
P-21: Ah, P-21. As I've said before, I have a thing against stoic males (And, to sidetrack, I realized that I was a giant hypocrite since I enjoyed the stoic females in the last couple of books I've read.). So, I must have unconsciously written off many of his scenes. Again, going back, there was a lot that was good and subtle about him, like the mine-boss scene where he uses "she" and "her". I really, really want to know if any of the chapter 15 fever-dream by BJ was real. If she was projecting current relationships onto the past or if there was another uprising when they were kids, but it was memory-wiped from everyone. Because she lets slip "my best friend, Blue". That having been said, I like their friendship now. A lot. I wonder if he's really forgiven her, or if he simply needs her directness, her purpose, her guns, and when the call of Chapel becomes strong enough, will leave her. I suppose that's major props to you, as well. He plays his emotions so close to the vest (or our narrator is to thick-headed to see them) that I'm never sure what he's thinking. He wins the "Shrek-onion" character award.
ReplyDeleteRampage: I don't really need to fanboy any more on her, so let me just admit this. I'm a parent of two kids. Chapter 20 literally was like watching a kitten pinned down and beaten, it was so powerful to me. My visceral, base reaction is to hate what Rampage does, but then to pity her. Most "immortal" or long-lived characters have the "I see everything decay around me" complaint. Spike's is projected on him by Pip. Rampage is worse -- she ends up destroying everything. But she's inherently good enough to not just turn into a monster like Deus. She can't help but be attracted to helping ponies (even in an odd way, like with the Reapers), but she knows in the back of her head that she will lose it and probably kill them. It is, simply, the most tragic story of any FoE character, for my money. And I know a lot of people were upset at Steelhooves' death, but Rampage's is going to be so much more emotional. It will be "she deserved it", "she deserved some peace", "I can't believe she's gone", and "I can't believe something killed her". But, most of all, it will be, "... could we have done something?". This is assuming she does die, of course. (Oh, god, stop me now or I will dissolve into incoherent babbles of praise -- you just have done pretty much everything right with her in my book. Any little technical details on how she is come a fat secondary to how well she is executed.)
Overall, there is a different feel to this Mane 6. Like the story overall, it is darker. Pip is friend and companion to all of her Mane 6, and the closest, honestly, to inter-group fights were Velvet trying to play her emotions and her/Velvet's fight over her addiction. A little bit of friction between her and Calamity about Arbu/Bucklyn, but nothing much. Here? BJ had raped her best friend and killed his lover. Her own love interest she screwed, then left to go kill herself. The newest member of the group? Killed all of her friends. Rampage and Lacunae are obviously damaged goods as well. And a part of me likes this more. That despite all of the easy ways out, they've all decided to work together, to work through those problems, because of the tiny sliver of hope that BJ can fix things. Something.
And as nice as Velvet leaving, then coming back was in FoE. If that poor gel were in the this party, she wouldn't last a second. And not just because the only male is completely uninterested. ^.-
(Which, PS: P-21 is probably the best queer male character I've read. Mind you, I haven't read many, since they're awfully scarce, but he has successfully avoided every pitfall for a queer character.)
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteRegarding "biology", I could totally see BJ as a female weapon. You put something in it, and it gives something bigger in return. (Ie: You put some "ammo" in the "womb", but instead of life, it creates death. Which a real one technically can do to. But theoretically and literally haha. And if going "the other" way, girls can also ejaculate. And if going on shape only, then yes, externally it's more "shaped" like one. But so is a leg, and internally, it's about the same length, unless you count all of it. Then a female one is bigger.
But overall, my random, almost point being: BJ wouldn't really have any reason (as stated) for naming anything of hers after a male... well, possibly now as she's been around for a while. In short: I can easily see her relate more to a "female" weapon as they are (or were in her view) superior, and come on. You open it up, stick something in it or apply to it, and then it goes off. I can easily see how she almost (and did a few times) gets off seeing appealing weapons.
And just something random to Somber: Don't rush to much, see it as every extra minute you spend, you're making it better. Making sure there's no spelling errors or the like.
And just to toss it in there: It just struck me at the rape scene in the first chapter: How did BJ know what rape was? (Ok, I can fully understand due to it being 99, but it was done by males. And that's not how it works. Mares are the one in charge of it)
Regarding the mane 6, I think you do them rather well tbh. Not really any drastic ooc, so far they've stayed ic within their marginals. But as said, they seem just a tad bit to influenced by Golden.
Also, I'll be damned if I don't do at least 10 pages on the RPG today.
"How did BJ know what rape was?"
ReplyDeleteIt might have taken leaving the stable to understand that what they did to the males was rape, but the concept wouldn't be foreign. After all, I could see Daisy or Petunia being unconcerned about the willingness of a partner.
Ok, just a short follow up comment: I feel stupid now not realizing you were talking about the "mane 6" as the "party" or w/e to call it, of PH. I thought you meant THE mane 6 IN PH ^^'
ReplyDeleteSo, to try and not do anything else odd today, I'll just go away and try to figure out how that one tool in flash works. Then prod the module for some hours. But rest assured that I like the group. Was actually worried with the addition of the "above mortals" characters. But so far they've behaved nicely within my frames. And just to say it once again: P21 has been the first (assumed) gay character I've genuinely liked. Oh, and this is more overall then to just the characters: I like the addition of natural responses. Way to few things even consider those due to "being icky".
I just have a bit to much random thoughts going on. And the majority of those are things I could see happening, but don't want to. Heck, I even thought of a possible result of ennervation (can never spell that right xD) that would be just freaking horrible. And to Scotch of all ponies. All I can say is it has to do with "messing up your innards" effect of it. And it left me feeling sick.
@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteI know the concept wasn't foreign to her, but that a male could do it surely must have been. Since I'm quite sure if a male ever even got the idea of it, they'd be tortured and likely "put down" to be "made an example of faster then BJ can drink a bottle of wild pegasus.
Then again, I guess not even BJ is that jaded so she wouldn't be able to turn something "upside down". I'd have to start triple checking what I write sometimes tbh...
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDelete...
I try very hard to not be the thing you have described, sir or m'am.
Good day.
Dangit, it's not working.
ReplyDeleteIt's announced that the new chapter is in the queue, I wait for many hours, I decide to go to sleep, and either the chapter came up moments ago and prevents me from sleeping that night or it comes up minutes after I pass out. That's the way it's worked for the last dozen chapters. That's the way it's supposed to work, right?
So why is it morning and still no update?
Consciously I know that the queue is vital to the functionality of the site, and that Seth needs to sleep for at least an hour or two, but... I want it now! [/applebloom]
@Takon
ReplyDeleteI'm rather sure it was just an "inside view" (or w/e to call it) on males in 99. At least I think it was. Since that is pretty much what they were in there. It was likely not meant as an overall statement.
And there, there Sindri. Go to Ponibooru and watch some FoE fanart and look at Gummy for a while xP
Wait wait wait...
ReplyDeleteHorizon's mane 6 = Blackjack's crew?
Or how somber is depicting twilight, pinkie, etc.?
@Kim
ReplyDeleteI actually have both significant quantities of work that I should be doing and literally hundreds of things on my list of "to watch/read/play eventually" for if/when I run out of things I'm required to do. But my brain keeps being stuck on the cliffhanger from two weeks ago.
I'm just too impatient to be patient.
I was reading this side-by-side with Fallout: Equestria. It works well that way. Brings new perspectives on things. (But I gotta say, I like Blackjack over Lil'pip. Blackjack is a bit more assertive.
ReplyDeleteAnd in relation to the latest chapter (26):
GLORY! Oh my, this cliffhanger is too much! I need to know what happened to the gang! Is this it for Blackjack? Is this where the wasteland breaks her?! AH! Update soon please! It's killing me!
@swicked
ReplyDeleteThat's actually what I thought I misunderstood at first, but maybe I didn't?
@Sindri: Fair enough, I know I'm just waaaay to sidetracked on nothing when I got a deadline in 17 days to be done with the beta. And with... 1 page a day, if lucky, it'd be hard to reach the required 200 pages.
@Takon
ReplyDeleteI was describing 99's view of the two sexes...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete*shrugs* He might have meant the Mane 6, instead of BJ's crew, but it's still worth saying.
ReplyDelete@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteThat's why I always refer to them as the Ministry Mares when I'm talking about Fo:E. Less confusion that way.
So...I'd really like to start reading comments, and I'm sure that all of you would like to find out what happened after Chapter 26's ending. Would anyone mind if I just, as a temporary measure, posted the doc link in the comments?
ReplyDelete@O. Hinds
ReplyDeleteNot I.
@O. Hinds
ReplyDeleteThough Somber has refused to do likewise in the past, so you might want to double check with him if practical. I hate waiting, but I'd hate upsetting the author more.
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm a bit worried about that too, but I'm not sure how to reach him today. I'm half hoping that the comments tell me not to do it so that I don't have to decide...but on the other hoof, I really want to know what people think of the chapter!
Amd believe me, we want to read it. >.>
ReplyDeleteI've been putting off pretty much everything else for it. XD
And we really want to know what's happening with BJ and Glory and P-21 and Rampage and Lacunae and Scotch! D:
ReplyDeletehorizons cliffhangers are scariest cliffhangers :C
We want to know what happens in Chapter 27 as much as you want to read the comments, Hinds, but I don't think posting the doc link down here is the right answer. We all just gotta wait until Seth publishes it...
ReplyDeleteTo BJ's Crew:Hey everypony, I was just wond- *BOOM* What the?.... WHOA S*%T ALIEN INVASION!? WHAT DO YOU DO?
ReplyDelete@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, you're right...
I really hope that Seth posts the update soon, though!
Argh, I had like twice this much written and Blogger derped and lost it all. Oh well, this may make me more concise.
ReplyDelete@Somber
Thanks!
Impressions... first, I see the group as being split into the "power trio" of BJ, P-21 and Glory, with the rest as hangers-on of one sort or another.
Blackjack: It's pretty much inevitable that Blackjack gets compared to Littlepip -- both mares, both unicorns -- so it's good that they have almost diametrically opposed stats, skills, and personalities. Maybe that's what makes their similarly poor magical skills stand out. BJ is definitely the funnier of the two; while Pip tends to provoke a "Dawwww!" reaction from me, my quintessential image of Blackjack is her drunk and singing in the tub in the middle of Flank. She's at her best when she's charging into some insane situation while screaming, "LEEEROY JENKINS!"
P-21: 21 is possibly my least favorite character, but that's mostly because he's the straight man, the downer, the wet blanket. He has the same effect on a humorous, upbeat scene that Security has on an illicit party. But that's okay, because that's his function. He's the blue oni to BJ's red oni, the lancer to her hero.
While he's Spock to BJ's Kirk and Glory's McCoy, my main issue is that he and BJ have been circling each other since chapter one, and they still don't quite seem to trust each other. He's got problems on top of his problems, but he just won't quite reach out to the others for help. Even moreso than BJ. I guess I'd like to see him grow to really need the others to a greater degree than he expresses right now.
Glory: Glory, on the other hoof, is a lot of fun. While the "lack of sense of humor" thing is getting a little old, she's sort of this fic's Littlepip. Naive, idealistic, and adorkable. I think that, despite the Dashite thing, she still hasn't gone through her Arbu, and as a result she still holds herself a little bit aloof from the others. I'm really waiting for her and BJ to finally sit down and talk things out.
One issue I have with her character is that, in battle, she tends to hang around the periphery and generically "help" without getting much screen time. If I took one of her earliest battles and one of the most recent, I don't know that I could tell you her skills have improved. I sometimes have a hard time remembering exactly what she has mounted on her battle saddle (outside of "energy weapons") because she never seems to get any scenes that focus on her doing cool stuff.
@Somber
ReplyDeleteNow for the outsiders.
Rampage: There's not really that much holding Rampage to the rest of the group. She can't be trusted, and she tends to keep all her problems bottled up except for the occasional incredibly creepy comment. I think, at the moment, most of my interest in the character comes from the mystery of her nature. She doesn't really interact with the party beyond a surface level very much. Even when she gave... ahem... "romantic advice" to Glory, it was all offscreen. I'd like to see her gain a reason to hang around with the group other than boredom.
Lacunae: I don't really know what to make of Lac. Weirdest Heavy Weapons Guy ever, and I love that her preferred combat garb is a mourning dress, but she's so secretive and mysterious that it's hard to invest any trust in her. She strikes me as a sort of second-class character who hangs in the background unless she's blasting badguys or making cryptic statements. I really want to see her drawn into group interactions more frequently.
I find "Lacunae" kind of awkward to pronounce, partly because it's plural. I mostly think of her as "Lacuna".
Scotch: Scotch hasn't really made much of an impression on me yet. I get the feeling she'll act to bind the other hangers-on more firmly to the core group, but for now, it seems like she's just sticking around out of momentum. (Yes, those were tape puns.)
I have a bit of confusion about her appearance -- she's supposed to be roughly the same age and size as the CMCs, right?
... Um, remember that one time that the update accidentally got buried and stuff? Could that be happening again?
ReplyDelete@silentcarto
ReplyDelete"Lacuna"
Matata!
As for P-21, I'm confused about his growth as well. He's my favorite character, though.
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDeleteOH, uh. cold medicine makes me have the dumb
@O. Hinds
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm kinda glad they didn't upload it last night, since it gives me today to work on art that needs to be done (and an obligation I had to attend last night as well).
Impressions of Blackjack's team huh? I believe I'll have to jump in on this party myself, once I have time later.
@swicked
ReplyDelete"She's our Goddess-boooorn purple alicoooorn... Lacuna matata!"
Yeah, I have little patience for broody, stoic types.
Sorry. Life sucks right now. Anyway, no posting the links. Seth updates. I suspect when they do a story update brick tonight it'll be in there. If not then I'll start whining.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad for the frank character analysis. I need to know what I'm missing so I know what to address and what to pick up on. I'm juggling so many threads at the moment that sometimes its tough to know which to follow and which to leave off till later. And while I love praise some times 'this is what you're doing wrong' is more useful!
@Overlong Analysis Cobalt
ReplyDeleteMaybe; if it doesn't appear in the next story update post I'll email Seth about it like last time. But it's been less than 24 hours and I don't think there's been a story update set since it was submitted; this is the trying to be patient phase, then if it's not in the next set we'll move on to the frustration/panic phase.
@Somber
ReplyDelete"Sorry. Life sucks right now."
Sorry to hear that. Anything specific or is the world just going grey again?
@carto: "I'd like to see her gain a reason to hang around with the group other than boredom."
ReplyDeleteNevermind my own analysis*, until chapter 25, Rampage was with them because Big Daddy told her to go fetch Blackjack. After that? As Rampage herself says:
“Big Daddy’s call for a stomp down trumps me being a Reaper. Hell, they’ll try their best to kill me too.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “And I’ll be expected to join them.”
I felt a cool tingle run through me. “And would you?” Rampage looked at me, then sighed and shrugged.
“Don’t know. Ask me when they do. I like you Blackjack… you got me out of that nightmare in 99. I really… really… thought I was screwed.” She gave a little shudder. “But I don’t know if I’m willing or able to throw this away. Being a Reaper is all I have. They’re the closest thing to a family I know.”
And while she doesn't need to actually worry about disobeying Big Daddy -- what, will he put her in a wood chipper -- as she says: "Well, fortunately, there’s always a job opening slaughtering wannabe Reapers while picking fights with the Steel Rangers across the river. It’s a living". And supposing she buys Big Daddy's analysis of the Reapers, that's one of the few ways she can do well.
I agree that there hasn't been a lot of interaction between Rampage/Lacunae/Scotch and the main three, but we have been given plenty about Rampage.
*My own analysis is that it's pretty evident she wants to do good; she says as much a few times. "Because as fucked up was the Wasteland is, nothing makes it worse than what we do to each other." is a direct quote. But she is stuck in a world where the opportunities to do so are few and far between. And so Blackjack -- as powerful and unpredictable as she's become -- is the best chance to either do the most good or die.
... Or you could go for the old "BJ saved her from a living hell in 99, and so she'll hang with her to repay the favor". However, at this point, there appears to be a real attachment among them.
(Disclaimer for the above post: I like critical reviews -- even if mine were largely complimentary -- I just happened to disagree with that one, particular analysis.)
ReplyDelete@Somber
ReplyDeleteYours to eh? And you'd not be whining, you'd be complaining ;P
And I know just what you mean. Constructive critique can really be a blessing to get when you need it.
I'm just gonna say a thing thou. Depending on Scotch's age, you could REALLY have a interesting character development going on later with her. Teenage angst, she could become sexually active, bipolarity and whatnot. Or she could simply to to young for any of that, and have quite a bit of naivety and etc. Dunno where I was going with this, but eh.
@kim
ReplyDeleteI'm sure somber has all sorts of plans for her. All the characters took a good 5 or so chapters before they really started to open up. Her personal wasteland hell is just begining.
In other news -
This wait is killing me... ()__()
@Curebores
ReplyDeleteI know. It could be anything from being this to that, or being killed in some horrible way... or dragged away and mercilessly abused by raiders, (opposite gender of her preferences ofc, assuming she has any) possibly even becoming infected. Which would lead to a likely damn interesting "Fuck no, not another one. Glory, find her a cure or I'll...-" scenario... hum come to think of it, (oh Celesia, why did I do that? It was bad enough with the ennervation horror mental image xD)
But anyhow, what I meant was that it was a really interesting age to pick a character at due to the really diverse and unpredictable way they can. It takes allot of skill to dare and include such a character. At least imo.
@kim
ReplyDeleteAh, I see. Yes she is quite an interesting character type that you dont see often. Usually when children of that age appear as a main character in a story they tend to be the know it all prodigy type who think they can take on the adults. Instead she has been forcefully shoved into adulthood long before she was ready. It looks set to be an interesting ride for her. I also like how blackjack seems to be almost filling in as her surrogate mother on one hand but was the cause of her losing her home on the other.
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteAbout the Fluttershy figurine: There was a discussion about how the words here are more appropriate to Blackjack than Littlepip. Some suggested that maybe the statutes might change to say stuff appropriate to whoever is holding them, which is a nice piece of headcannon that lets authors have whatever sayings they want for them.
And I just like "Be Kind" better than "Be Pleasant."
*Derp: Accidentally sat on this comment forever and I haven't checked the other comments, so this could be outdated or something.
@Somber
ReplyDeleteI've struggled with a few little details here and there, though mainly the Enclave and Homage, since both have strict timelines that link to Kkat's 'canon.' As of the current chapter, has Tenpony started to go under lockdown by Red-eye yet?
Homage: What were you doing so far away from Tenpony?
@axlemn
ReplyDeleteHomage hasn't lest Tenpoy. She doesn't until the Enclave invades, at least two weeks in the future.
Her only appearance in this story was via commlink between the towers.
As for Red Eye's blockade, I'm not sure. We don't have an accurate timeline of the main Fo:E yet.
:D It's up it's up it's up! It's not up on the front page but it's totally up!
ReplyDelete@Mint Julep
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should have been a little more precise -- a reason for Rampage to hang around, and a reason for Blackjack to let her. At this point, her connection to the group is very tenuous. I could easily see Blackjack deciding her instability was too great a threat and asking her to leave. They couldn't force her to comply, of course, but I don't think Rampage would force herself on the group.
I don't think BJ would do that. Not unprovoked, at least. But suppose that Scotch had a bad nightmare and PsychoRampage decided she wasn't too old after all. She's currently a useful ally, but she brings her own liabiliites. If the threat became too great, Rampage's desire to do good and have friends wouldn't count for much.
Yay!
ReplyDeleteWhile I waited I made ya'll some Scotch Tape.
Enjoy!
Off to download it to my ereader for reads, yay!
@Overlong Analysis Cobalt
ReplyDeleteGoodbye, the rest of my evening! :D
@silentcarto
ReplyDeleteBJ spends quite a lot of screen time on this very dilemma: is she too dangerous, should we trust her, can we ever trust her. If you follow the timeline, BJ just accepts having her around, at first, because it makes life for the group easier. And they were in no condition to stop her. Then Rampage saves her life in Flank. And helps them fight off Deus. And then come a string of Rampage having her back no matter the situation.
The only time it might have fit for BJ to get rid of Rampage was after she killed Thorn, but BJ's narration makes it clear that she wants to help Rampage. That she thinks the Hoofington Angel of Death is a distinct part of her, and not just a crazy facet of "their" Rampage. (She says to the group -- P21, I think, "Rampage didn't do it." Quite clearly.)
I just respectfully disagree. Her link to the party is anything but tenuous at this point. She's sacrificed herself for them multiple times, and shared more with them than probably anyone else save Priest -- because of her lapse in Chapel. And for her, BJ hasn't just tossed her aside even though she's obviously a rogue element. They're taking that risk because they care. Both she and BJ refer to each other as friends. There is mutual trust and mutual respect.
If your question is "why are they linked", then I refer back to my last post. BJ wants to do good. Rampage wants to do good. Both are willing to risk so much to do good. There's no logical reason for them not to.
Bout a third of the way in to ch 27, all I can think is this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIVdWlpya1k&feature=related
WTF IS THIS?! SOMBER, Y U RELEASE THE NEW CHAPTER WHEN I NEED TO SLEEP?!?!?! How could you do this to me? You're so evil.
ReplyDeleteI cannot, for the life in me, remember why Goldblood is so messed up. The first time I remember him being messed up was when he was first suggesting the new government to Luna, but what exactly happened to him? Or do we not know why he cannot be healed?
ReplyDelete@Choogis
ReplyDeleteHe released it earlier. Equestria Daily updated the page when you needed to sleep :P
@Sindri
ReplyDeleteStill reading. Damn, Somber, you made Blackjack more Blackjack. I mean, just, wow. I can't even describe it, jeez. Aaaand now I'm dragged back to reading...
... Dammit, I've got to wait until everyone else is asleep to read this. I don't wanna be interrupted.
ReplyDeleteTime to make some coffee, 'twill be a late night!
FUCKING YES, PROJECT HORIZONS HAS UPDATED!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited :D I've got some rum saved just for this!
So I like to think of myself as the greatest of lurkers, (y'know I've read all the comments, looked at all the art, considered everyponies thoughts and opinions on things, etc.) and yet it has taken til this chapter to actually comment.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read chapter 6, I thought I had seen FoE reach a ten. Nothing could top it for impact. Then there was return to Stable 99, and the dial reached 11. Chapter 26 was similarly brutal (haven't read the re-edited version yet, though, only the original)
This chapter (27), however... I keep thinking it can't get any worse, or brutal, or forlorn, or desperate... and yet, somehow Somber you push that envelope. Going back to chapter 1, it's hard to envisage how everyone/thing got so f'd up.
This is the first time that I personally thought that that Blackjack isn't going to be alive by the conclusion of PH. Others have called it before now, but I like to think I'm generally on the optimistic side of the fence.
Her body is a mess. Short of one of those epic level healing talismans from chapter 6 (Can't remember its name) Blackjack has a really finite window left. With all the tumours and failing body parts.
I also find myself wondering what she saw in the mirror...
But I'm not going to post it yet, cause as I started writing things down I found some holes with my theory. If people are still interested in my probably incorrect speculation, I have the theory saved to notepad, and am happy to post it on request. So then they can point out all the holes. :)
On an unrelated note: Does it make a bad person that I'm waiting for Blackjacks luck to help her avoid some horrifying attack and respond with, 'I am rubber, you are glue?!' - Y'know, cause her bones are all rubbery. Right?... Geddit?!... This is why I should just stick to lurking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeLrqLP1DJk also flashed into my head near the beginning
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/lNwzawXu4v8
@silentcarto
ReplyDelete"I guess I'd like to see him grow to really need the others to a greater degree than he expresses right now."
"I love that her preferred combat garb is a mourning dress, but she's so secretive and mysterious that it's hard to invest any trust in her."
Ask and ye shall receive, huh? :D
“If so, does that make me the devil?”
Ponies believe in the judeo-christian afterlife?
It's kind of funny to see BJ and P-21's mobility situations suddenly reversed.
"New perk added: Made of Stubbornium"
WIN. XD
@swicked
Goldblood was at Littlehorn. He survived the Pink Cloud.
Last time we left our intrepid sextet, 5 of them were half-dead and one was going insane. One had just lost a wing, another was probably very close to never using one of his legs again, and another had to be dragged to the elevator.
ReplyDeleteAnd the one pony whose name she calls out just happens to be Glory? Yeah, that ain't over yet, no matter how bad the suicide attempt hurt.
A Marauder8 memory. Why do I get the feeling this is going to hurt?
Hahahahahahaha. Big Mac setting Steel Hooves up with Applejack. That's great.
I really like how Psalm is the pony equivalent to the sniper from Saving Private Ryan.
"We trotted past a unicorn buck with a unicorn mare on either side of him. I wished I could plunge a sword into his heart and save two lives and one soul." Huh? Is this Trueblood? Or what? I'm confused... It isn't like Blackjack to just want to randomly kill someone.
Stonewing got his date with Rainbow Dash... That's just... that's just awesome... I wonder if this is before or after he lost his voice.
Goldenblood with Fluttershy? I wonder... Are they together because neither one of them had anyone else to go with, or are they together because... because they were -together-?
Nopony parties like Pinkie Pie parties.
The 131st Gala... HAHAHAHAHAHA! But really, you're making us read a memory orb while Blackjack is in some sort of surgery and everypony else may be dead or dying or worse! Gah! You've taken the cliffhanger and extended it into the next chapter!
Canterlot voice? Check. Double the fun? Check. More alliterations than you can shake a stick at? Check.
So Gardens of Equestria needs to be fired within 6-12 months or else Blackjack is dead. That's just great... And so what if the Dealer is actually taint?
Ah, a mention of Glory's mane.
One-eyed Blackjack. I can't wait to see the fanart of this.
(So in here I was too engrossed in the story to type)
And the fact that Scotch is P-21's daughter comes out!!!
Lacunae is Psalm?!?!
So no, she's just a landfill.
WOAH! Gesalt and Mosaic incest? Now there isn't something I expected.
Professor Zodiac? Seriously? GAH
Ok... That's it for that comment as you read part. Sorry I missed a lot in there. Parts of it were just too engrossing to stop and type away here.
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDelete"Huh? Is this Trueblood? Or what? I'm confused... It isn't like Blackjack to just want to randomly kill someone."
It's Blueblood. If he had died at the time of this memory, Roses wouldn't have been stabbed and the Angel of Death wouldn't have "saved" Thorn.
@RainbowYoshi
ReplyDelete"WOAH! Gesalt and Mosaic incest? Now there isn't something I expected."
I was surprised too, but on reflection, it's practically inevitable.
Forget anything as complex as trying to manage other relationships. Suppose Mosaic just wants to blow off some steam -- no matter what, Gestalt is right there, looking over her metaphorical shoulder.
RE: GxM
ReplyDeleteThey're also telepathic.
Lots to comment on, but I'll probably forget it all in doing art. Just... the Scotch/P21 went exactly as I planned and kudos to BJ for stepping in to be big sister to scotch. There's a reason she's grown on me so much...
ReplyDeleteFilly Rampage is at typical levels of adorable. I just see her as one of those giant-pawed pups bounding around, acting too big for her britches. Especially in that first scene.
Glory is still in cliffhanger-land. Again. Poor Glory fans are gnashing their teeth at you (although that's a nice little twist on her backstory! Explains her "I'm not a Dashite. I'm not like her" line from ages ago".)
Psalm/Chapel connection hinted at? I would be okay with this. What is odd is the hint that Psalm might have been the Hoofington Angel of Death... when I thought part of Rampage was. But Psalm would have to be in the goddess... so confusing to my poor brain.
Overall, the Lacunae scene was done well... and reminded me a ton of Yume Nikki. Wandering through dreamscapes for shreds of personalities.
And as was said above, you made BJ more BJ. (Although screaming your girlfriend's name in battle, even if you're trying to be a diversion, is always kind of lame. Poor BJ, we need to get you a better battle cry. I hear "cunt" is quite effective. XD)
Parts that got to me: First time P21 said he was leaving. Glory turning away from BJ. Trixie's memory. And Scotch/P21. The last prolly hit home the hardest.
Instant picture ideas:
P-21/BJ hugging in the puddles (with a panel immediately after of P21's :I I have a leech on me face.).
Scotch tickles.
Scotch ka-blamming bad ponies.
Filly Rampage's "I feel wrong" sad-face.
Tragic Trixie.
Psalm at prayer with the gun laid out in front of her.
Lightning. 'Cause she was pretty damn boss, even if she was just BJ-before-the-wasteland. But as a pegasus.
BJ/Glory at the beginning.