The problem with a horn-sword (even a magic one) is that they take an ineffective lance and make it into an equally as ineffective weapon. Try slicing your head sideways, it's darn near impossible and SLOW. You take out most of the use right there. A horn-club would only be slightly better because of the speed. Unless you can make that magic lethal to the touch.
Swords in the mouth are WORSE. Forget ineffective, it become darn near useless unless you plan on shattering teeth or cutting yourself. Trust me, it's hard to hold onto those things with HANDS, let alone a part of you not built for gripping (on most any creature)
Mana (or energy) blades would be the ideal short-range weapon for unicorns because of familiarity with the magic creating smoother movements, but a steel sword really is almost as good. For earth ponies and Pegasi: pegasi have their wings for hidden-blade like lances that they can easily control, while earth ponies can't have much in the way of weapons. But they are strong.
As for bows, unless you are a HIGH level magician who knows how to wield telekinesis to perfection, I doubt you could do much with just an arrow. A bow and arrow would be ideal, unless you can conjure magic bows and arrows. The energy blast seems more... like a club hitting your opponent instead of a blade.
Based on an FiM.org contest prompt. Happy halloween.
The problem with a horn-sword (even a magic one) is that they take an ineffective lance and make it into an equally as ineffective weapon. Try slicing your head sideways, it's darn near impossible and SLOW. You take out most of the use right there. A horn-club would only be slightly better because of the speed. Unless you can make that magic lethal to the touch.
Gonna argue with you big time on this. The ponies are, well, ponies. Horses. Their bodies are set up far differently from a human's. Sure, I could try to swing my head around, but since my neck is structured so differently from a horse's, that won't prove anything.
I think I have seen them take up aggressive charging poses before, their heads lowered, horns ready to thrust. Just add in an energy extension. In this case, it would be a bit more like a lightsaber, but the idea is the same as simply fighting with the horn itself.
Swords in the mouth are WORSE. Forget ineffective, it become darn near useless unless you plan on shattering teeth or cutting yourself. Trust me, it's hard to hold onto those things with HANDS, let alone a part of you not built for gripping (on most any creature)
I said "looks cool", not that it was effective. Your point stands.
Mana (or energy) blades would be the ideal short-range weapon for unicorns because of familiarity with the magic creating smoother movements, but a steel sword really is almost as good. For earth ponies and Pegasi: pegasi have their wings for hidden-blade like lances that they can easily control, while earth ponies can't have much in the way of weapons. But they are strong.
There would be an issue with a constant energy blade: maintaining focus to keep the blade, while also fighting with it. Assuming a skilled, properly-trained fighter, it could work but seems quite impractical. They would be much easier simply firing an energy bolt in this case it seems.
I also don't see any way that a pegasus can really grasp a weapon effectively with the wings. Tucked under the wing, there would be little in the way of grip (good luck penetrating anything tougher than paper). Wing-mounted blades could work, and would in turn present some interesting fighting tactics with their own advantages and limitations.
As for bows, unless you are a HIGH level magician who knows how to wield telekinesis to perfection, I doubt you could do much with just an arrow. A bow and arrow would be ideal, unless you can conjure magic bows and arrows. The energy blast seems more... like a club hitting your opponent instead of a blade.
I think I went through this too and said about the same thing. The difficulties of using the bow with magic still don't seem to make it less practical than magically firing the arrow.
...This is the most active and engaging this thread has been in MONTHS. Where is MBM, Sarol or Nerevar when we need them?
What in the holy mother of Celestia is going on here?
Talkin' bout horn swords and magic throwing knives and bows...
When exactly did this thread become about tabletop rpg's?
On Topic:
THIS GAME IS GONNA BE SO AWESOME /)^3^(\
Gonna argue with you big time on this. The ponies are, well, ponies. Horses. Their bodies are set up far differently from a human's. Sure, I could try to swing my head around, but since my neck is structured so differently from a horse's, that won't prove anything.
This was to illustrate. I've seen horses, and their head motions are just as slow.
I think I have seen them take up aggressive charging poses before, their heads lowered, horns ready to thrust. Just add in an energy extension. In this case, it would be a bit more like a lightsaber, but the idea is the same as simply fighting with the horn itself.
Can't argue, but it really still is a bit slow. It would be a GREAT lance or spear though.
There would be an issue with a constant energy blade: maintaining focus to keep the blade, while also fighting with it. Assuming a skilled, properly-trained fighter, it could work but seems quite impractical. They would be much easier simply firing an energy bolt in this case it seems.
The pony who couldn't make a mana blade uses steel.
I also don't see any way that a pegasus can really grasp a weapon effectively with the wings. Tucked under the wing, there would be little in the way of grip (good luck penetrating anything tougher than paper). Wing-mounted blades could work, and would in turn present some interesting fighting tactics with their own advantages and limitations.
I see it it as a tight strap that holds the blades in a stationary part. It goes around the wing, mounting it to it, then connects to the other side. There is also a strap that goes around front to prevent it from slipping. The mechanism for the open/close is beyond me, though (but it would have an override to KEEP the blades open while flying. Probably at the mouth). but it would make a different style. Because pegasi can fly, they can adjust their position to block attacks. And because they open/close, they can be used in different strategies (Oh star wars movies. Why did no one ever figure out how to strategically turn off their lightsaber and back on? Fight scenes would have been quicker...)
...This is the most active and engaging this thread has been in MONTHS. Where is MBM, Sarol or Nerevar when we need them?
I could introduce magic shields, bo staves, guns, and chain weapons...
What in the holy mother of Celestia is going on here?
Talkin' bout horn swords and magic throwing knives and bows...
When exactly did this thread become about tabletop rpg's?
On Topic:
THIS GAME IS GONNA BE SO AWESOME /)^3^(\
Since season 2 was months ago is when.
The game looks... kinda okay. I guess. It would be fun at the least. But seriously, Trixie to sell your game? Either Gameloft hasn't seen the show or, as so aptly put by a commenter "even game companies are -...- off Sethisto"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Ohai. I'm THAT guy. You know me.
Something something Fimgaming. Shameless Z. Plug out.
Can't argue, but it really still is a bit slow. It would be a GREAT lance or spear though.
There are swordplay styles beyond broad slashing. This would probably be a bit more like a dueling style, such as fencing. When you say "lance or spear", I was thinking more along the lines of a longsword, which is still an effective thrusting weapon.
The pony who couldn't make a mana blade uses steel.
This is where I need someone like MBM to help, because I don't really know how to word this. When holding a sword, you can just feel the grip, the force as you are cutting, and so on. With the magic, I get the feeling they would lack the advantage that a physical connection to the blade would give. It's something that could be overcome with training, I think, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.
I see it it as a strap. It goes around the wing, mounting it to it, then connects to the other side. There is also a strap that goes around front to prevent it from slipping. The mechanism for the open/close is beyond me, though (but it would have an override to KEEP the blades open while flying. Probably at the mouth). but it would make a different style. Because pegasi can fly, they can adjust their position to block attacks. And because they open/close, they can be used in different strategies (Oh star wars movies. Why did no one ever figure out how to strategically turn off their lightsaber and back on? Fight scenes would have been quicker...)
I was unsure how to word this, but various types of wing-mounted blades, ranging from simple blades on the leading edge (for the less-skilled or more speed-oriented fighters) to complex spring-loaded assemblies and so on. It would definitely be effective, although I am not sure what type of wing strength they have. But, like everything else discussed so far, training comes into play.
Since season 3 sounds a bit disappointing, the spoiler talk was scaring off a few contributing members, and Rumblealex had a sweet drawing of Twilight with a bow that got me thinking and actually proposing a topic.
Interesting that you speak of horn swords. Here is a spoiler on something I am working on.
Note that this is a WIP
Thinking of redesigning the sword though.
I mimicked the basic shape of the helm from NMMs helm. Thought that would be fitting as a sort of standard helm design for the royals.
The ting on the back is for the mane to stick out. Hence the "bleh, ponytail" remark earlier.
I would picture using the sword in the same manner a ram fights, by standing on their hindlegs and using their whole bodyweight in a downward strike. Or like a bull charging and whipping their head backwards for an upward slice. Perhaps by using magic they could flip the blade slightly to parry an incoming attack.
Weapons built for humans are a nono for ponies. They're simply incompatible with the way they're wielded.
In a series of novels called the Owls of Ga'Hoole, there are warrior owls that are equipped with metal claws strapped to their talons, further enhancing a preexisting form of offense.
Equines aren't entirely suited for slashing and stabbing, as an owl's talons would be, but they can still kick, buck and even bite when they need to stand their ground. The addition of spiked shoes on their hooves would increase their effectiveness greatly, possibly even forming a gap between those who have spiked shoe hooves, and those who don't.
This discussion would probably be irrelevant if Equestria was in a darker fantasy setting, like LOTR. I imagine that those in the show would already have weapons specially designed for their physical capabilities. That is, assuming the producers and animators took care in that department.
Here most of my family knows I watch MLP. As if posting my drawings on FB wasn't a big enough clue. A few of them even encourage me to keep drawing, since they think I'm pretty good (how flattering :3).
But eh, I'm still believing it wouldn't be a good idea to let that information loose at school yet.
I can understand wanting to share something with your family, and maybe with those at your school, but the latter isn't really all that necessary, at least if you're going around telling everyone what you're a fan of.
In the more public places, it's usually best to keep it subtle. I occasionally wear my Derpy shirt around, but almost never bring up the topic of ponies intentionally.
First, regarding spoilers... I respect that people are avoiding them, but how badly can a glimpse of a villain or an episode title or teaser hurt?
The way I see it, catching a glimpse of a spoiler of your favorite show or movie is like eating a part of a sandwich that's not yet ready. You can enjoy the little tidbits early (like the cheese or tomato slice) and still have the rest of the sandwich, but the meal as a whole will be reduced accordingly. It will not have that same effect as if you had abstained from eating until it was ready.
Some people prefer to enjoy their meal as much as possible.
A great example is Star Wars Episode 3. I KNEW Anakin was going to become Darth Vader, didn't stop me from enjoying the movie any because there was still the mystery of HOW it happens.
It was inevitable that people knew what was gonna happen in the end, while the process was still a mystery. But this is a new season here, and we have no idea what's gonna happen, nor do we have to know about the characters until we wish to.
There are swordplay styles beyond broad slashing. This would probably be a bit more like a dueling style, such as fencing. When you say "lance or spear", I was thinking more along the lines of a longsword, which is still an effective thrusting weapon.
Fencing still requires speed. A longsword would either have to be used as a downward slash or thrusting weapon, the latter of which a spear or lance do better with. You take the sword's versatility out of the equation, and it's a hunk of [whatever substance it's made of] that there are tons of other better options for.
This is where I need someone like MBM to help, because I don't really know how to word this. When holding a sword, you can just feel the grip, the force as you are cutting, and so on. With the magic, I get the feeling they would lack the advantage that a physical connection to the blade would give. It's something that could be overcome with training, I think, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.
You keep repeating "training" as if it is a bad thing. Every weapon requires extensive training so that you don't just fail with it. But I see your point.
I was unsure how to word this, but various types of wing-mounted blades, ranging from simple blades on the leading edge (for the less-skilled or more speed-oriented fighters) to complex spring-loaded assemblies and so on. It would definitely be effective, although I am not sure what type of wing strength they have. But, like everything else discussed so far, training comes into play.
Makes sense.
Augh, i would reply to the points Sar brought up, but I GTG be back tonight to set the record straight. But one note:
In a series of novels called the Owls of Ga'Hoole, there are warrior owls that are equipped with metal claws strapped to their talons, further enhancing a preexisting form of offense.
I know, and I adapted this for the birds in my fic. I found out about it through owl city, and I loved the bird talons. The issue with horses is that their weapons would have to be static and self-mounted. Giving low mobility, and make ineffective weapons. Pegasi have to rely on wings, EPs on strength, but Unicorns have telekinesis which is as good as hands.
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Ohai. I'm THAT guy. You know me.
Something something Fimgaming. Shameless Z. Plug out.
Since season 3 sounds a bit disappointing, the spoiler talk was scaring off a few contributing members, and Rumblealex had a sweet drawing of Twilight with a bow that got me thinking and actually proposing a topic.
Are you joking? There's gonna be an episode where-
Oh wait.
Do you want spoilers, or not?
Weapons built for humans are a nono for ponies. They're simply incompatible with the way they're wielded.
This. This is sort of how this got started, discussing the practicality and advantages of using a bow.
Equines aren't entirely suited for slashing and stabbing, as an owl's talons would be, but they can still kick, buck and even bite when they need to stand their ground. The addition of spiked shoes on their hooves would increase their effectiveness greatly, possibly even forming a gap between those who have spiked shoe hooves, and those who don't.
Going to bring actual nature and animal behavior into this like Larsurus did. Horns are designed as weapons, for fighting for territory, mates, or just making a rival go away. I would expect that the animal instincts that would come along with having a horn would be present in these unicorns, but maybe not. The horns are a bit too short and rounded to be of use on their own in most cases, which is where the "energy horn blade" came into play.
I have seen plenty of other art of unicorns (not MLP-related) where the horns are used as one would expect them to be used in nature. I want to say that Celestia briefly locked horns with Queen Bug before the Beam Struggle, but I am probably wrong and I can't be assed to locate or watch that episode to see for myself.
This discussion would probably be irrelevant if Equestria was in a darker fantasy setting, like LOTR. I imagine that those in the show would already have weapons specially designed for their physical capabilities. That is, assuming the producers and animators took care in that department.
Agreed. But... we are having this discussion because we are bored.
The way I see it, catching a glimpse of a spoiler of your favorite show or movie is like eating a part of a sandwich that's not yet ready. You can enjoy the little tidbits early (like the cheese or tomato slice) and still have the rest of the sandwich, but the meal as a whole will be reduced accordingly. It will not have that same effect as if you had abstained from eating until it was ready.
Some people prefer to enjoy their meal as much as possible.
To me, it seems like the vast majority of our contributing members disappear when spoilers come up. Not simply avoid them, disappear. This would be like me not wanting to enter Subway for fear of seeing a slice of ham not in a sandwich.
It was inevitable that people knew what was gonna happen in the end, while the process was still a mystery. But this is a new season here, and we have no idea what's gonna happen, nor do we have to know about the characters until we wish to.
It must just be my way of thinking. I prefer to have a bit of knowledge going in. If an episode sounds rather disappointing or like it would get on my nerves, knowing so ahead of time will help soften the blow of it, as well as knowing to place a lower priority on it. Same as if something sounds amazing, I will know to make it a very high priority.
Fencing still requires speed. A longsword would either have to be used as a downward slash or thrusting weapon, the latter of which a spear or lance do better with. You take the sword's versatility out of the equation, and it's a hunk of [whatever substance it's made of] that there are tons of other better options for.
If it was pony vs. human, then yes, the pony would get owned.
Pony vs. pony, they have the same physical attributes and would therefore be fairly evenly matched.
You keep repeating "training" as if it is a bad thing. Every weapon requires extensive training so that you don't just fail with it. But I see your point.
Makes sense.
I repeat training because it is a great thing.
It is what is going to make some of these things even possible to begin with. An untrained unicorn will probably not be successful at using a bow due to those complexities I mentioned earlier. A pegasus using wing blades for the first time may be unaccustomed to the weight they add, and might not have the wing muscle strength to use them effectively.
As for manipulating a steel sword via magic, figuring out what "grip" to use would take practice and trial and error. Would you focus your magic on the hilt, like a human holding it? Or would you focus on the blade and control it directly? Would a unicorn sword even HAVE a hilt, or just be a standalone blade? Or would it be configured along the lines of those Klingon swords, a long curved blade with a handle behind it?
Are you joking? There's gonna be an episode where-
Oh wait.
Do you want spoilers, or not?
Spoil away. I am not afraid of ham outside my sandwich.
Besides, my statement that this looks very disappointing is based on several episode titles, released images, episode summaries, and a leaked preview of the premiere. I'm actually making an informed statement here (for once).
This. This is sort of how this got started, discussing the practicality and advantages of using a bow.
Speaking of; though the bow is designed for human hands, I can see it as a viable and useful weapon for unicorns to use.
I imagine that firing a magical projectile requires a sudden burst of kinetic energy to be given to said projectile. With the aid of a bow, a unicorn can apply precise amounts of KE in a way that does not involve abrupt surges of energy, which could disrupt concentration in some way.
If you've ever fired a gun with a tough trigger, you may have noticed how applying pressure with your finger can shift the sight of the barrel, disturbing your aim for a brief but significant moment.
Wielding the bow alone sounds relatively simple for a unicorn, especially when it's made of tangible material. Without the need for a purely magical bow, more energy and concentration can be used for aiming and such. Take Rarity, for example. She does not seem to possess a large amount of raw power, but she does utilize precision and control to make up for it, as seen when she's busy working and items all around her are moving to accomplish many tasks at once.
A device capable of storing tension such as a bow would be especially useful for unicorns with that form of magic, allowing easier management of the energy they wish to apply to their projectile, and may even aid in accuracy as well.
To me, it seems like the vast majority of our contributing members disappear when spoilers come up. Not simply avoid them, disappear. This would be like me not wanting to enter Subway for fear of seeing a slice of ham not in a sandwich.
When discussing spoilers, people tend to slip up and make it easily seen by everyone else, whether inadvertently or not.
"Hey guys, did you hear about that -spoiler- in season three?" -Cue now-irrelevant spoiler tag-
Even the slightest tidbit of information can be accidentally leaked, and there are people who would rather not know a shred of what the season will be like until it goes on air. I'm kind of one of them, although personally I don't see it as reason enough to go on hiatus until the season starts. It can still be quite annoying, though.
Did you have anything to say to save the rep of your favorite mane 6 pony?
Besides the cracking under pressure, she still has one other noticeable flaw, which shined in Sweet and Elite: she's incredibly awkward and often not aware of it. However, since that's more of just her version of the Idiot Ball, I guess it doesn't really count.
I want her to be more dry and sarcastic, like she was in the beginning of S1...
Hey guys, I brought a sketch with me.
Yeah... a bow, I don't know why, but I just felt like it.
Supar ossom.
Damn! I missed a good discussion again! Dom and Jair, being unemployed/homeschooled doesn't give you the right to talk about the cool stuff while I'm gone!
I'll still contribute, just because this is a cool topic (and it's not quite done yet).
You've equipped Twilight with a cool bow, and it's quite obvious that a unicorn could wield a bow (or possibly several) with magic. But, is there any advantage in doing so? Could the bow impart more energy on the arrow than, say, training with magic to fire the arrow without the aid of the bow? (Wording is probably rather poor here, sorry.)
I see them as more privy to darts, firing them through a tube with a short burst of psychokinetic force.
Myself, I like the idea of having the sword around the horn for a few reasons. It being directly off the horn would mean it is where the magic focus is strongest, meaning the blade could be very (for lack of a better word) hard because of the sheer amount of focused energy. It would be more "natural" in that horned animals use their horns to fight, and it would present the element of danger that makes sword fights exciting. The idea that two unicorns locked in energy-blade combat, where one wrong move could result in serious injury or even death, would make the battles that much more intense.
In The Immortal Game, unicorns with enough magical prowess can wield a blade with special properties connected to them. Only alicorns have blades made of pure energy, while mortal unicorns use physical blades that, once bonded to them, are much simpler to use with their own telekinesis, and impossible to move with anyone else's. Each of the blades is named, and is made of a certain amount of "motes" or "shards," depending on how powerful they are. I think Rarity's (Vorpal) was 14, the Princesses' (Zenith and Nadir) were around twenty each, Twilight's (Equinox) was 26 (yes, Twilight has more magic than the Princesses), and I don't think Titan's or Terra's were specified to have a certain number of motes.
Also, unicorns who aren't bladecasters used shards of metal or sharpened discs, and just flung them around.
For earth ponies and Pegasi: pegasi have their wings for hidden-blade like lances that they can easily control, while earth ponies can't have much in the way of weapons. But they are strong.
Blades attached to the front of the wing would also be useful, either flying down or dancing about and swinging them around in circles. That would actually be an interesting aesthetic.
As for earth ponies, didn't the last chapter of With Wings mention shoulder-mounted blades? Or did I just imagine that? Because I could see the earth ponies charging up throwing themselves at their enemy shoulder-first. A horned helmet would work as well, imitating a unicorn horn, and spiked boots could be helpful.
(Note: I typed this reply immediately after reading that post, so I hadn't seen that most of those ideas were already suggested)
This is where I need someone like MBM to help, because I don't really know how to word this. When holding a sword, you can just feel the grip, the force as you are cutting, and so on. With the magic, I get the feeling they would lack the advantage that a physical connection to the blade would give. It's something that could be overcome with training, I think, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.
Focus might not be a problem, because I like to think that moving something directly with magic is even more intuitive than moving it using your muscles as a proxy. Look at any scene where Twilight simultaneously moves a large quantity of books. Granted, Twilight is the apex of magical prowess, but wielding a single blade is a hell of a lot easier than that after all.
I want to say that Celestia briefly locked horns with Queen Bug before the Beam Struggle, but I am probably wrong and I can't be assed to locate or watch that episode to see for myself.
As for manipulating a steel sword via magic, figuring out what "grip" to use would take practice and trial and error. Would you focus your magic on the hilt, like a human holding it? Or would you focus on the blade and control it directly? Would a unicorn sword even HAVE a hilt, or just be a standalone blade? Or would it be configured along the lines of those Klingon swords, a long curved blade with a handle behind it?
They probably wouldn't need a hilt or handle. I imagine they would be two-ended, like Darth Maul's lightsaber, just because there's no reason for them not to be. They probably wouldn't be double-sided, though, and would be more like a katana, maybe even crescent-shaped, so that they can't be used against the wielder. And they might have a drastically different shaped designed to allow better leverage and maneuverability when held with telekinesis.
To use the bow, they would have to first levitate the bow (easy enough, that's a basic unicorn ability). Then, while levitating the bow, they would have to exert another force to pull the string, while also focusing on holding the arrow in position and aiming the bow. Sounds pretty complex, and like they would need to practice.
Basically, they need to maintain a VERY firm magical levitation grip on the bow, a loose magical grip on the arrow, AND exert a powerful pulling force on the string. All this while aiming.
It sounds rather challenging, but they could figure it out with practice.
I imagine that firing a magical projectile requires a sudden burst of kinetic energy to be given to said projectile. With the aid of a bow, a unicorn can apply precise amounts of KE in a way that does not involve abrupt surges of energy, which could disrupt concentration in some way.
A magical energy projectile would just require the initial focus of the energy, and then the effort to fire it. Like any other gathered energy, it would dissipate as it flew across any great distance. As for simply using magic to impart energy on a physical projectile, it would either be like throwing an object by hand, or they would somehow guide it by magic. In either case, they would probably have better results with a weapon designed to be a thrown projectile, such as a javelin, dart, etc.
If you've ever fired a gun with a tough trigger, you may have noticed how applying pressure with your finger can shift the sight of the barrel, disturbing your aim for a brief but significant moment.
Wielding the bow alone sounds relatively simple for a unicorn, especially when it's made of tangible material. Without the need for a purely magical bow, more energy and concentration can be used for aiming and such. Take Rarity, for example. She does not seem to possess a large amount of raw power, but she does utilize precision and control to make up for it, as seen when she's busy working and items all around her are moving to accomplish many tasks at once.
For the bow portion, I should have put that down here. It's not JUST the energy being applied, but how it is being applied in several different ways at once. Guns would be an entirely different scenario, I think, due to their structure. Depending on the type of firearm, they would have to figure out how to magically hold it without holding any part that is supposed to move. If the magic hold blocks the movement of any of the internal workings, that would be a problem.
When discussing spoilers, people tend to slip up and make it easily seen by everyone else, whether inadvertently or not.
"Hey guys, did you hear about that -spoiler- in season three?" -Cue now-irrelevant spoiler tag-
Even the slightest tidbit of information can be accidentally leaked, and there are people who would rather not know a shred of what the season will be like until it goes on air. I'm kind of one of them, although personally I don't see it as reason enough to go on hiatus until the season starts. It can still be quite annoying, though.
Oh no! I saw ham that was not yet part of the sandwich!
True enough, some people on here have a habit of not thinking before they post things, though.
Sad thing is, it's the people that are that anal-retentive dedicated to the show that often provide the best discussion, and it's a shame to have them vanish entirely.
What in the holy mother of Celestia is going on here?
Talkin' bout horn swords and magic throwing knives and bows...
When exactly did this thread become about tabletop rpg's?
On Topic:
As if our current discussion wasn't on topic. It's pony-related as far as I'm concerned, and I'm glad my drawing started this topic.
To me, it seems like the vast majority of our contributing members disappear when spoilers come up. Not simply avoid them, disappear. This would be like me not wanting to enter Subway for fear of seeing a slice of ham not in a sandwich.
Yes, I do post less than before but the main topic of the past few days (weeks?) has been the S03 spoilers. When you don't want to be involved in them, then there's nothing much you can say on the thread that stays on the same topic. We have to do like I did, and bring something entirely different from nowhere, ignoring the previous topic.
When discussing spoilers, people tend to slip up and make it easily seen by everyone else, whether inadvertently or not.
"Hey guys, did you hear about that -spoiler- in season three?" -Cue now-irrelevant spoiler tag-
Even the slightest tidbit of information can be accidentally leaked, and there are people who would rather not know a shred of what the season will be like until it goes on air. I'm kind of one of them, although personally I don't see it as reason enough to go on hiatus until the season starts. It can still be quite annoying, though.
I agree. It happens just too many times. I already know too much of S03 because of slip-ups and non-spoiler'ed stuff.
Possibly being the only French-speaking guy here, I find this very, very, very horrible. I wanted to tear my headphones apart while listening to this. Ponies just don't mix well with French in my case. I just.. It doesn't feel right to hear them in French.
Swords in the mouth are WORSE. Forget ineffective, it become darn near useless unless you plan on shattering teeth or cutting yourself. Trust me, it's hard to hold onto those things with HANDS, let alone a part of you not built for gripping (on most any creature)
Mana (or energy) blades would be the ideal short-range weapon for unicorns because of familiarity with the magic creating smoother movements, but a steel sword really is almost as good. For earth ponies and Pegasi: pegasi have their wings for hidden-blade like lances that they can easily control, while earth ponies can't have much in the way of weapons. But they are strong.
As for bows, unless you are a HIGH level magician who knows how to wield telekinesis to perfection, I doubt you could do much with just an arrow. A bow and arrow would be ideal, unless you can conjure magic bows and arrows. The energy blast seems more... like a club hitting your opponent instead of a blade.
Based on an FiM.org contest prompt. Happy halloween.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19xee07gmV7uRGlHM9819LddkYi45GBBZrkhN_mb2p9s/edit
No, you didn't. But welcome anyway.
Gonna argue with you big time on this. The ponies are, well, ponies. Horses. Their bodies are set up far differently from a human's. Sure, I could try to swing my head around, but since my neck is structured so differently from a horse's, that won't prove anything.
I think I have seen them take up aggressive charging poses before, their heads lowered, horns ready to thrust. Just add in an energy extension. In this case, it would be a bit more like a lightsaber, but the idea is the same as simply fighting with the horn itself.
I said "looks cool", not that it was effective. Your point stands.
There would be an issue with a constant energy blade: maintaining focus to keep the blade, while also fighting with it. Assuming a skilled, properly-trained fighter, it could work but seems quite impractical. They would be much easier simply firing an energy bolt in this case it seems.
I also don't see any way that a pegasus can really grasp a weapon effectively with the wings. Tucked under the wing, there would be little in the way of grip (good luck penetrating anything tougher than paper). Wing-mounted blades could work, and would in turn present some interesting fighting tactics with their own advantages and limitations.
I think I went through this too and said about the same thing. The difficulties of using the bow with magic still don't seem to make it less practical than magically firing the arrow.
...This is the most active and engaging this thread has been in MONTHS. Where is MBM, Sarol or Nerevar when we need them?
Talkin' bout horn swords and magic throwing knives and bows...
When exactly did this thread become about tabletop rpg's?
On Topic:
THIS GAME IS GONNA BE SO AWESOME
/)^3^(\
RIP 9Kbits2011-2012
This was to illustrate. I've seen horses, and their head motions are just as slow.
Can't argue, but it really still is a bit slow. It would be a GREAT lance or spear though.
The pony who couldn't make a mana blade uses steel.
I see it it as a tight strap that holds the blades in a stationary part. It goes around the wing, mounting it to it, then connects to the other side. There is also a strap that goes around front to prevent it from slipping. The mechanism for the open/close is beyond me, though (but it would have an override to KEEP the blades open while flying. Probably at the mouth). but it would make a different style. Because pegasi can fly, they can adjust their position to block attacks. And because they open/close, they can be used in different strategies (Oh star wars movies. Why did no one ever figure out how to strategically turn off their lightsaber and back on? Fight scenes would have been quicker...)
I could introduce magic shields, bo staves, guns, and chain weapons...
Since season 2 was months ago is when.
The game looks... kinda okay. I guess. It would be fun at the least. But seriously, Trixie to sell your game? Either Gameloft hasn't seen the show or, as so aptly put by a commenter "even game companies are -...- off Sethisto"
While you're here, why not watch an episode?
RIP 9Kbits2011-2012
There are swordplay styles beyond broad slashing. This would probably be a bit more like a dueling style, such as fencing. When you say "lance or spear", I was thinking more along the lines of a longsword, which is still an effective thrusting weapon.
This is where I need someone like MBM to help, because I don't really know how to word this. When holding a sword, you can just feel the grip, the force as you are cutting, and so on. With the magic, I get the feeling they would lack the advantage that a physical connection to the blade would give. It's something that could be overcome with training, I think, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.
I was unsure how to word this, but various types of wing-mounted blades, ranging from simple blades on the leading edge (for the less-skilled or more speed-oriented fighters) to complex spring-loaded assemblies and so on. It would definitely be effective, although I am not sure what type of wing strength they have. But, like everything else discussed so far, training comes into play.
Shurikens, nunchaku, halberds, javelins, slings...
Let's not forget energy-based ki attacks, cojuration spells, and so on.
Since season 3 sounds a bit disappointing, the spoiler talk was scaring off a few contributing members, and Rumblealex had a sweet drawing of Twilight with a bow that got me thinking and actually proposing a topic.
Note that this is a WIP
I mimicked the basic shape of the helm from NMMs helm. Thought that would be fitting as a sort of standard helm design for the royals.
The ting on the back is for the mane to stick out. Hence the "bleh, ponytail" remark earlier.
I would picture using the sword in the same manner a ram fights, by standing on their hindlegs and using their whole bodyweight in a downward strike. Or like a bull charging and whipping their head backwards for an upward slice. Perhaps by using magic they could flip the blade slightly to parry an incoming attack.
In a series of novels called the Owls of Ga'Hoole, there are warrior owls that are equipped with metal claws strapped to their talons, further enhancing a preexisting form of offense.
Equines aren't entirely suited for slashing and stabbing, as an owl's talons would be, but they can still kick, buck and even bite when they need to stand their ground. The addition of spiked shoes on their hooves would increase their effectiveness greatly, possibly even forming a gap between those who have spiked shoe hooves, and those who don't.
This discussion would probably be irrelevant if Equestria was in a darker fantasy setting, like LOTR. I imagine that those in the show would already have weapons specially designed for their physical capabilities. That is, assuming the producers and animators took care in that department.
I can understand wanting to share something with your family, and maybe with those at your school, but the latter isn't really all that necessary, at least if you're going around telling everyone what you're a fan of.
In the more public places, it's usually best to keep it subtle. I occasionally wear my Derpy shirt around, but almost never bring up the topic of ponies intentionally.
The way I see it, catching a glimpse of a spoiler of your favorite show or movie is like eating a part of a sandwich that's not yet ready. You can enjoy the little tidbits early (like the cheese or tomato slice) and still have the rest of the sandwich, but the meal as a whole will be reduced accordingly. It will not have that same effect as if you had abstained from eating until it was ready.
Some people prefer to enjoy their meal as much as possible.
It was inevitable that people knew what was gonna happen in the end, while the process was still a mystery. But this is a new season here, and we have no idea what's gonna happen, nor do we have to know about the characters until we wish to.
That looks pretty cool, although I do not see why you'd need the back of the blade to be jagged or designed for slashing with the horn in the way.
You keep repeating "training" as if it is a bad thing. Every weapon requires extensive training so that you don't just fail with it. But I see your point.
Makes sense.
Augh, i would reply to the points Sar brought up, but I GTG be back tonight to set the record straight. But one note:
I know, and I adapted this for the birds in my fic. I found out about it through owl city, and I loved the bird talons. The issue with horses is that their weapons would have to be static and self-mounted. Giving low mobility, and make ineffective weapons. Pegasi have to rely on wings, EPs on strength, but Unicorns have telekinesis which is as good as hands.
'Tis merely design. A straight edge looked so dull.
Are you joking? There's gonna be an episode where-
Oh wait.
Do you want spoilers, or not?
RIP 9Kbits2011-2012
This. This is sort of how this got started, discussing the practicality and advantages of using a bow.
Going to bring actual nature and animal behavior into this like Larsurus did. Horns are designed as weapons, for fighting for territory, mates, or just making a rival go away. I would expect that the animal instincts that would come along with having a horn would be present in these unicorns, but maybe not. The horns are a bit too short and rounded to be of use on their own in most cases, which is where the "energy horn blade" came into play.
I have seen plenty of other art of unicorns (not MLP-related) where the horns are used as one would expect them to be used in nature. I want to say that Celestia briefly locked horns with Queen Bug before the Beam Struggle, but I am probably wrong and I can't be assed to locate or watch that episode to see for myself.
Agreed. But... we are having this discussion because we are bored.
To me, it seems like the vast majority of our contributing members disappear when spoilers come up. Not simply avoid them, disappear. This would be like me not wanting to enter Subway for fear of seeing a slice of ham not in a sandwich.
It must just be my way of thinking. I prefer to have a bit of knowledge going in. If an episode sounds rather disappointing or like it would get on my nerves, knowing so ahead of time will help soften the blow of it, as well as knowing to place a lower priority on it. Same as if something sounds amazing, I will know to make it a very high priority.
If it was pony vs. human, then yes, the pony would get owned.
Pony vs. pony, they have the same physical attributes and would therefore be fairly evenly matched.
I repeat training because it is a great thing.
It is what is going to make some of these things even possible to begin with. An untrained unicorn will probably not be successful at using a bow due to those complexities I mentioned earlier. A pegasus using wing blades for the first time may be unaccustomed to the weight they add, and might not have the wing muscle strength to use them effectively.
As for manipulating a steel sword via magic, figuring out what "grip" to use would take practice and trial and error. Would you focus your magic on the hilt, like a human holding it? Or would you focus on the blade and control it directly? Would a unicorn sword even HAVE a hilt, or just be a standalone blade? Or would it be configured along the lines of those Klingon swords, a long curved blade with a handle behind it?
Spoil away. I am not afraid of ham outside my sandwich.
Besides, my statement that this looks very disappointing is based on several episode titles, released images, episode summaries, and a leaked preview of the premiere. I'm actually making an informed statement here (for once).
Speaking of; though the bow is designed for human hands, I can see it as a viable and useful weapon for unicorns to use.
I imagine that firing a magical projectile requires a sudden burst of kinetic energy to be given to said projectile. With the aid of a bow, a unicorn can apply precise amounts of KE in a way that does not involve abrupt surges of energy, which could disrupt concentration in some way.
If you've ever fired a gun with a tough trigger, you may have noticed how applying pressure with your finger can shift the sight of the barrel, disturbing your aim for a brief but significant moment.
Wielding the bow alone sounds relatively simple for a unicorn, especially when it's made of tangible material. Without the need for a purely magical bow, more energy and concentration can be used for aiming and such. Take Rarity, for example. She does not seem to possess a large amount of raw power, but she does utilize precision and control to make up for it, as seen when she's busy working and items all around her are moving to accomplish many tasks at once.
A device capable of storing tension such as a bow would be especially useful for unicorns with that form of magic, allowing easier management of the energy they wish to apply to their projectile, and may even aid in accuracy as well.
When discussing spoilers, people tend to slip up and make it easily seen by everyone else, whether inadvertently or not.
"Hey guys, did you hear about that -spoiler- in season three?" -Cue now-irrelevant spoiler tag-
Even the slightest tidbit of information can be accidentally leaked, and there are people who would rather not know a shred of what the season will be like until it goes on air. I'm kind of one of them, although personally I don't see it as reason enough to go on hiatus until the season starts. It can still be quite annoying, though.
Everypony is awesome!
Besides the cracking under pressure, she still has one other noticeable flaw, which shined in Sweet and Elite: she's incredibly awkward and often not aware of it. However, since that's more of just her version of the Idiot Ball, I guess it doesn't really count.
I want her to be more dry and sarcastic, like she was in the beginning of S1...
Supar ossom.
Damn! I missed a good discussion again! Dom and Jair, being unemployed/homeschooled doesn't give you the right to talk about the cool stuff while I'm gone!
I'll still contribute, just because this is a cool topic (and it's not quite done yet).
I see them as more privy to darts, firing them through a tube with a short burst of psychokinetic force.
In The Immortal Game, unicorns with enough magical prowess can wield a blade with special properties connected to them. Only alicorns have blades made of pure energy, while mortal unicorns use physical blades that, once bonded to them, are much simpler to use with their own telekinesis, and impossible to move with anyone else's. Each of the blades is named, and is made of a certain amount of "motes" or "shards," depending on how powerful they are. I think Rarity's (Vorpal) was 14, the Princesses' (Zenith and Nadir) were around twenty each, Twilight's (Equinox) was 26 (yes, Twilight has more magic than the Princesses), and I don't think Titan's or Terra's were specified to have a certain number of motes.
Also, unicorns who aren't bladecasters used shards of metal or sharpened discs, and just flung them around.
Blades attached to the front of the wing would also be useful, either flying down or dancing about and swinging them around in circles. That would actually be an interesting aesthetic.
As for earth ponies, didn't the last chapter of With Wings mention shoulder-mounted blades? Or did I just imagine that? Because I could see the earth ponies charging up throwing themselves at their enemy shoulder-first. A horned helmet would work as well, imitating a unicorn horn, and spiked boots could be helpful.
(Note: I typed this reply immediately after reading that post, so I hadn't seen that most of those ideas were already suggested)
Focus might not be a problem, because I like to think that moving something directly with magic is even more intuitive than moving it using your muscles as a proxy. Look at any scene where Twilight simultaneously moves a large quantity of books. Granted, Twilight is the apex of magical prowess, but wielding a single blade is a hell of a lot easier than that after all.
Not sure if clever pun...
I'll confirm this.
They probably wouldn't need a hilt or handle. I imagine they would be two-ended, like Darth Maul's lightsaber, just because there's no reason for them not to be. They probably wouldn't be double-sided, though, and would be more like a katana, maybe even crescent-shaped, so that they can't be used against the wielder. And they might have a drastically different shaped designed to allow better leverage and maneuverability when held with telekinesis.
My DeviantArt
It is. I listed the difficulties on the previous page, in case you missed it. There are a few things they would need to account for to use a bow:
Basically, they need to maintain a VERY firm magical levitation grip on the bow, a loose magical grip on the arrow, AND exert a powerful pulling force on the string. All this while aiming.
It sounds rather challenging, but they could figure it out with practice.
A magical energy projectile would just require the initial focus of the energy, and then the effort to fire it. Like any other gathered energy, it would dissipate as it flew across any great distance. As for simply using magic to impart energy on a physical projectile, it would either be like throwing an object by hand, or they would somehow guide it by magic. In either case, they would probably have better results with a weapon designed to be a thrown projectile, such as a javelin, dart, etc.
For the bow portion, I should have put that down here. It's not JUST the energy being applied, but how it is being applied in several different ways at once. Guns would be an entirely different scenario, I think, due to their structure. Depending on the type of firearm, they would have to figure out how to magically hold it without holding any part that is supposed to move. If the magic hold blocks the movement of any of the internal workings, that would be a problem.
Oh no! I saw ham that was not yet part of the sandwich!
True enough, some people on here have a habit of not thinking before they post things, though.
Sad thing is, it's the people that are
that anal-retentivededicated to the show that often provide the best discussion, and it's a shame to have them vanish entirely.As if our current discussion wasn't on topic. It's pony-related as far as I'm concerned, and I'm glad my drawing started this topic.
Yes, I do post less than before but the main topic of the past few days (weeks?) has been the S03 spoilers. When you don't want to be involved in them, then there's nothing much you can say on the thread that stays on the same topic. We have to do like I did, and bring something entirely different from nowhere, ignoring the previous topic.
I agree. It happens just too many times. I already know too much of S03 because of slip-ups and non-spoiler'ed stuff.
Possibly being the only French-speaking guy here, I find this very, very, very horrible. I wanted to tear my headphones apart while listening to this. Ponies just don't mix well with French in my case. I just.. It doesn't feel right to hear them in French.