[Preliminary] Friendship Report

[Quiver he/him]

Who would be interested in a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic RPG?

 

Wait, come back! At least let me try to sell it to you before you leave the topic!

 

Okay, for starters, this isn't a sign-up sheet or a deadline; it's just a call to see if anyone would be interested. Since watching MLP, I've gotten kind of curious about the Brony fandom. I've also had a growing interest in table top RPG's for a while now... so the fact that some fans overlap those areas and have made rules for running MLP-based games kind of interests me.

 

I'm still learning the ropes and the rules of the systems (there are a number of them, and I'm kind of jumping between them; more info below), so even if there is a strong cry from you guys for this, I wouldn't be doing it for a while. I just thought I should check if there is any interest or players here, since this is the forum I spend most of my time.

 

So, on to (what I assume will be) FAQ's

 

My Little Pony? Really?

Yes!

 

Why?

Why not?

 

What is it?

The show tends to be a slice-of-life series, with an emphasis on character pieces and development. Every episode ends with the characters (the mane 6) writing a letter to their mentor explaining the lessons they've learned about friendship that week.

 

*gag*

Don't knock it until you try it! The characters are surprisingly relatable  for a children's show.

 

So the game is more story-driven, like MAG?

I think so. The systems I've seen try to replicate the feeling of the show, so there is an emphasis on character creation and development.

 

But what kind of story is it?

Like I said, a lot of the systems seem to try and replicate the feeling of the show. So, some suggested missions include your characters being left foalsitting, taking fillies out trick-or-treating on Nightmare Night...

 

*gag*

battling the goddess of the moon...

 

Wait, WHAT?

Yeah! While the majority of episodes are slice-of-life episodes around an ordinary problem, the setting of Equestria actually has plot hooks (and the games enough leniency) to allow you to do an actual fantasy epic, if that's what you want.

 

Off-hand, there's been references to a war between the sisters who control the Sun and the Moon, a dragon-god of Chaos, an empire of mentally dominated slaveponies, and more. In fact, I've seen variants suggested which would allow you to adapt Equestria for a Steampunk setting, a Cyberpunk setting and a Fallout-inspired nuclear wasteland.

 

Given the attitudes of players, it doesn't seem too hard to make a campaign setting of grimdark political intrigue, or high adventure, or just mundane tasks. Unlike a traditional fantasy RPG, which is pretty solidly defined as "fantasy" and "quest", most of the MLP systems I've seen appear broad enough to accomodate any players creativity, while still remaining true to the good morals proposed in the show.

 

So... that's my pitch. Is anyone here interested in giving a PonyCampaign a try, and if so, what sort of campaign would you be interested in playing? Epic fantasy? Pulpy adventure? Ponies vs Cthullu? 

[Nepene he/him]

I would be happy to try it out. 

 

Since most readers here are likely 17-30 I would imagine that most would prefer a slightly more mature tone. As you said, adopted to some sort of setting.

 

How about... call of cthulhu vs MLP? We could try and bring the values of friendship, magic, and trustworthiness to a post apocolyptic landscape? Or if we wanted it Sanderson themed, Steelheart vs MLP?

[Peng the Just he/him]

Steelheart vs MLP?

Steelheart is nothing against the power of friendship!

[Edgedancer he/him]

You sold me on friendship... ah I mean dragon-god of Chaos. (Note: I do not actually require a dragon-god of Chaos but totally dig friendship.) I never played a proper post by post game, which I guess I would be, but I´m willing to try.

On the matter of setting, I´m not choosy. However I would advise... actually, storm it! We are doing MLP go as insane as you want, my green-hooded friend. Although, I agree with Nepene that a more mature tone would be advisable.

[Nepene he/him]

Perhaps Nightmare Moon could be Calamity? Granting humans and ponies all through the land dark magical powers to corrupt and twist them. 

 

We would have to, through expenditure of extreme friendship and violence, pacify the various evil things and eventually start a romance between our hooves and Nightmare Moon's face.

[Kobold King he/him]

I know this is necroing in the worst possible way, but I just wanted to observe something.

 

I think it's hilarious that this proposal leapt straight into a discussion of turning the RP into a grimdark eldritch nightmare featuring Cthulhu of all things, while the gritty Steelheart RP up the board from here has been steadily converting each of its main characters into ponies and discussing the power of friendship.

 

Apparently the line between My Little Pony and apocalyptic fiction is thinner than anyone could have believed.

Edited October 25, 2014 by Kobold King

[Edgedancer he/him]

I know, I almost got my Nighthound/King Sombra crossover. To be fair, in this RP friendship would probably have won in the long run.

[Kobold King he/him]

I know, I almost got my Nighthound/King Sombra crossover. To be fair, in this RP friendship would probably have won in the long run.

 

You don't know the future. Friendship could prevail in Oregon just as easily.

 

 

...More on topic, if this thing ever gets off the ground, I'd actually be interested in joining. I have a loose character concept for a Griffon biologist that could be interesting.