Quiver

Oh yeah, I can absolutely see where they are coming from. After all, real girl's don't play video games. So obviously, "fake" girls- like lesbians and transwomen- would have an advantage, because, you know, they're more like men, and totally play video games a lot. It's not discriminatory, it's a handicap! In case it's not obvious, this... annoys me. Greatly. As background, I have never played League of Legends, but that's really, really not the point. The point is that discriminating like that? Is wrong. Strangely enough, I don't think this is an LBGT thing. The justification they gave for it- trans and lesbian women having an "unfair advantage"- makes it sound as if this is another of those "women don't play video games" arguments that spread across the internet, popular variations of which include "women don't read comic books", and "women only watch Doctor Who because the Doctor is hot". Of course, even if it is based on that... it falls back on my sarcastic explanation for it. That trans/lesbian women (by default) play games and aren't "real" women. So, while I suspect that ban may have been put into place because of sexism rather than queer-bashing... storms, that restriction is insulting. On the plus side, the restriction seems to have been lifted. On the downside, the fact that it existed to begin with kind-of re-enforces some of the issues kind of prevalent in the gaming community.

So, I saw the Wierd Al episode. Confession; I didn't go into it expecting much. I don't know much about Wierd Al, besides the song he provided for the Transformers film, and voicing Wrek-Gar in Animated. The episode didn't sound that great to me; not bad, just okay. ...wow was I wrong. This might be my favourite single episode of season 4. Every time I watch it, I find another meaning to it, but my favourite is that it's a commentary on fans, fan fiction, canon and canon. Cheese has all the attributes of being an OC from a bad fan fiction; his appearance, voice and mannerisms wpuld fit with someone who just wrote "he's Wierd Al as a pony". He not only has the same talent as Pinkie Pie, he does it better than her; he has a bigger canon, his banner is more profesional looking than Pinkies, and where she was doing everything on her own, he convinced the whole town to help him, and create an amazing area in no time at all. His backstory is suspiciously similar, with Pinkie chiming in "Me too!" to remind us of it. She has a Pinkie Sense; he has a Cheesy Sense. His "western" poncho look taps in to that familiar pop culture thing of making characters who are "dark" and "brooding". He's a funny guy, incredibly animated and well voiced, but one could definitely argue he comes across like a male Pinkie 2.0. He even goes as far as interacting with all her friends, effectively replacing her in the Mane Six. ...but as the goof off shows, he didn't intend any of it. He seemed as surprised as anyone at Pinkie's forfeit (and implicit member ship into the Mane Six); I doubt he intended to win at all. And when he confesses his real past to Pinkie, it feels like the writers pointing out that, as cool as fandom is, the show is the story of the Mane Six. Cheese was inspired by Pinkie Pie (in-universe and out), but he can never replace her. He only exists because of her presence, the same way awesome fan fiction, music, etc onlyg exists because of FiM itself. And none of the above considers the other elements of the episode; the message about Pride, both as a harmful force, and a good one; about doing things you enjoy without needing to be the best at them; at the whole concept of identity, and whether someone can be defined by a singular trait. EDIT While I'm on the topic... I think the Power Ponies episode has a very similar message. From what I've seen (and my own opinions), Spike doesn't get much love in the fandom, with most people preferring to focus on the Mane Six. It's actually lampshaded during the Mirror Arc of the comics; at one point, Luna is addressing the group as "you six", and Spike has to continually butt in with "Seven!" Twilight keeps mentioning Spike's usefullness, as compared to Hum Drum, but I think it can be read as targetting the audience as well, the people who, like the Mane-iac, dismiss Spike as being useless. In "our world", Twilight's world, the world of the show and the writing staff... Spike isn't useless, or superfluous, or pointless. He's valued and important. Of course, the show could give reasons for those by giving him some good episodes, but Power Ponies was a great step up for him. Again, one of my favourites of this season. (Also, the Mane-iac is awesome, and probably one of my favourite villains from the show)

No. In fact, now it's working more or less normal. I'm guessing that means it was a computer glitch, rather than a site problem, so..

I suspect dating Vin would be fun for everyone around us to watch. Her personality- at least in the begining- is very, very similar to mine, and I imagine it would be a situation where we'd both be freaking out internally over everything we just did, everything we might do, and how this isn't going to work. It would be a train wreck, but as I say, if you like watching them, it might be fun for everyone around us to watch that relationship implode. If I was being serious about it... probably Vivenna. I think she is one of the most interesting characters in the cosmere.

So... I dunno if this is a problem with the forum, or with my computer, so i thought I'd best post it and see if anyone else is having the same experiences. For some reason, the site was very... temperamental when I was trying to log in. Some user pictures (including mine) aren't appearing, and instead of the "normal" messenger screen, I keep getting redirected to what looks like a blank web page, but with the 17th shard logo and different messenger "stuff" displayed as hyperlinks. Is this sort of stuff happening anyone else? Or is it just a problem with the stuff I'm using? EDIT Also getting wierd 504 screens when I try clicking things now.

I'm pentient Twilyght, but the prospect of President Kobold pursuing the ponification of politicians and political pundits is too promising to pass up. Since the Pony Party participants didn't pass the primaries, the pony population has to poll with the public servants perhaps best poised to placate their demands of pony preeminence, prior to the rise of President Pinkie Pie. (Well, except for far-wing voters, obviously) Also, as I've said elsewhere, thesauruses are fun.

Pfft. I ain't lookin' for none of your charity. If'n ya'll want to set up a root beer bar, you can just go ahead and do that, but I think everyone knows where you get real quality ale in these parts. And in case my over the top Applejack impersonation isn't making it obvious, I'm just messing with you, so don't take any "fightin' words" I sue as actual fighting words. Actually... I have never drank root beer in my life. I don't drink alcohol, but even the soft drink version isn't particularly popular in the UK, I think; I've never seen it anywhere at least. (Probably for the same reason the Cider episode of MLP isn't in rotation; don't want youngsters drinking "beer")

And... now all I am ever going to hear when I read Hoid's dialogue is Captain Jack Sparrow. Thanks guys. Samuel L Jackson as Hoid.

I'd resent being singled out, if not for the fact that you go around sellin' root beer. Now how the hay is the Apple Family supposed to get enough bits to replace the barn Rainbow Dash will invariably demolish if they don't have a monopoly on alcohol-based goods? You, sir, have made a powerful influential colorful enemy.

Again, it seems to just come down to free form roleplaying; as long as you don't do something overpowered, ridiculous, or game breaking, the rest seems to be a gentlemans agreement that they "be fair". Of course, I once brought two horse-goddesses to a gun fight. Overpowered is relative.

So, in case you guys haven't heard, the season five trailer of Game of Thrones was released.That's not what this thread is about. No, what this is about is asking other readers of the books: are you going to watch season five? The show has, more or less, caught up to the books at this point. While there are still some plots it needs to get to- mostly finishing the Feast for Crows/Dance of Dragons split- season four started introducing certain elements which weren't revealed in the novels, and would certainly seem to be spoilers for the future. If season five doesn't include more of those, then season six most certainly will. So... are fellow book readers going to give up on the show, and wait for Winds of Winter? Personally... I never watch the show. I started in season one, got half way through it, then decided to read the source material first. I tend to dive in and out of the series when it reaches storylines or events I enjoyed in the novels and want to see on screen, like Blackwater or Theon in general. Now though... I'm conflicted. I feel like I'm going to have to start watching the show, if only to avoid the spoilers that will, invariably, seep in through pop culture osmosis. But... I wanted to read the books. I find the books to be better in many respects to the show (or at l;east, what I've seen and heard about the show), and I don't want my future reading of the world to be "ruined" by knowing what happens. At least part of the appeal of the novels is the unpredictability of what is going to happen, at least the first time through them. What about you guys? Does anyone here plan on boycotting the show, or have you resigned yourselves to just getting the bare bones of the story, and enjoying the meat that Martin will surround it with in his novels when they are released?

I have never played D&D. Ever. I've kind of been interested in giving it a try, but even if there was a shop locally which sold it (there isn't), I would still need people to play it with, which I don't. The only table top RPG I've ever really played was two sessions of Exalted which, while fun, didn't really amount o very much in the grand scheme of things. Still, if you guys do decide to run a campaign, would it be possible for you to post it here? I'd love to follow you and get some idea of how it's done.

Uh... Seonid? Who exactly do you think gave you your upvote? I thought it was funny, I was just in a bit of a rush at the time I replied lol. I am going to be taking a few days break though, to put some affairs in order in my personal life, though, which is why I opened the thread a little earlier than usual. Sorry if I seemed... offended? I dunno. I wasn't.

Well, I might be taking a break for reasons, so I just went ahead and started the topic.

Submissions for January's writing prompts! If you have any stories or pieces you want to submit, feel free to do so here. If you want to comment, critique, analyse, scrutinise, interpret, evaluate, investigate or evaluate them, please either post your comments in the thread, or send the author a PM. Also, thesauruses are fun. Prompt provided by Kobold King Happy New Year! This time of the year the world celebrates the Earth's successful journey across 584 million miles of space, and all the successful journeys behind and ahead of us. What events or phenomena bind the people of your setting together? How is your setting connected or disconnected to its surroundings?

Forget new pieces, I still need to critique Seonids. Sorry about the delay- maybe take it as a compliment on how good it was? Anyway... I'll start the January thread in a day or so. On the topic of which... I wasn't going to enter this month. But an idea for a setting occurred to me the other day, so... I might just post some notes/ideas I have on that, rather than an actual story, if that's okay with you guys.

I am insanely tempted to sign up with a Rhyshadium named Octavia now.But I doubt I have the time, or skill, to participate in a Sanderson game right now. Still; good luck, to the players and to Joe!

So... here's the thing. There's nothing wrong with me, in terms of something bad happening triggering things, or whatever. This is entirely just a mood-swing situation, and maybe a little self-pitying, so I'm sorry, in advance, for posting thing. But storms, I'm just not feeling it today. There's no reason for it, but I just feel kind of... down today. I'm lethargic, I can't concentrate, I'm finding it hard to get enthusiastic about posting and stuff (which I normally am), I'm just...off, or something. It's annoying, and I'm kind of hoping that taking the time to post this might give me some kind of burst towards cheering up, but... Yeah. I feel kind of... bleh.

It's kind of neat to find someone who got in to the cosmere through the epic; most people seem to have found it via Mistborn or Elantris. Is Way of Kings still your favorite though, or have you got a new "best cosmere"? The correct answer, by-the-by, Is 'Warbreaker

I think you just explained Derpy Hooves. So... Words of Radiance is your favorite book; mind if I ask who your favorite character is?

Wait, am I...actually first to post? Yay! Okay, so here's the deal; only accept Herd-brand Muffins, unless you like the idea of being a hemalurgic Frankenstein. Besides that, and much cheerier topics...hello! I hope you enjoy your stay!

I cite the Wizardmon defence: "How could I betray you when I was never on your side to begin with?"

I have to say, I'm kind of surprised at the lack of love for Susebron. While I prefer Vivenna's character and arc, I found the twists related to the God Kings interesting, and Susebron was a neat character... not to mention that his and Siri's romance is, for me, the best-written romance in the cosmere novels thus far.

Whenever I warn about sex in the book, I tend to be thinking of (checking the coppermind), Chapter 18; the moment when Siri sits on the bed and, to quote the coppermind, "fakes the noises of sex". It might not be the most explicit of things, particularly if you've read other novels... but it's certainly not something Brandon' ever covered in any of his other books. It's pretty tame, but also sort of unexpected, and if sexual stuff makes you uncomfortable... there's that. (There's also the subtext/annotations of Brandon's that note that Jewel sleeps with Clod -necrophilia!- and that Blushweaver flaunts her apperance a bit to get what she wants. It's not major stuff, but... better to warn people just in case, you know?)

Well. Not every food stuff... Muffin?