Help me plan a roleplaying event!

[Skyblaze]

Ok, I had an idea for a 100% roleplaying event, and I have a few details yet to work out. So, I thought I'd turn those questions over to the community at large to see what you all thought.

Here goes...

There isn't a big monster to go fight, there won't be a scene where we have to get a bunch of players to charge into the Other Room and post what they're doing to combat the foe, and so on. Simply put, there is no foe to fight, and no way to prevent what's going to happen. The only things the ponies can do is deal with it until it passes.

Basically, the idea is that, every few thousand years, Equestria goes through a flux where magic just stops working. Pegasi can't walk on clouds or affect the weather, unicorns can't cast magic, and so on. For a period of time, the world is completely magically inert. Weather becomes completely random (as in, any player with the permission to alter the weather can do so as they please, but not in character). Any well-educated pony, or one who studies the stars, ancient history, or mythology, would probably know this is going to happen and when, so it's not a big mystery to solve either.

This event is strictly a roleplaying exercise to see how the characters handle this unusual turn of events. Which Earth Ponies will rub it in the faces of the Unicorns and Pegasi who now have to get by without magic like them? Which unicorns will handle the loss of magic stoically, and which ones will freak out? How will the Pegasi feel about the weather going off on wild tangents without them being able to do anything about it? It's all about character development.

We could have Celestia and Luna come to Ponyville to explain what's about to happen, and that they days and nights will progress normally because, being alicorns, their magic is strong enough to not be affected by this strange flux.

I see this as a two-week event.

In the first week, Celestia and Luna (and whichever other educated ponies know about it) make the announcement of what to expect. The citizens of Ponyville must then figure out how they will prepare for the coming magical flux. One event that would take place in this time would be the evacuation of Cloudsdale. It must also be moved closer to the ground and tethered down so it won't be lost in the chaotic weather to come.

In the second week, all magic stops. No spells, no magic items, no technology that requires unicorn magic to function... it all stops dead all across Equestria.

Then just as promised, the world passes out of the magically inert zone and everything returns to normal.


So here are the questions I need to answer before I can move forward with the mods to get this scheduled.

1. Would Pegasi still be able to fly? Their cloud walking and weather working would definitely be gone, but what about their flight? If not, what about other mythical flying creatures, like the griffons?

2. How long should this event run? I originally thought a week, to give everypony a chance to get on and roleplay their characters' reactions. A single day would be too short, because some players who might want to participate might not be able to get on that day. So... a week? A weekend? What do you guys think is a good time frame?

3. What other side effects would there be if a magical land like Equestria suddenly lost magic for a time? I don't want to nitpick every single tiny possibility here, as this is just a character building, roleplaying event and not a major catastrophe what will have long-lasting consequences. Any preparations individual characters need to make would have to be taken care of in the week leading up to the flux. I'm just looking for the big stuff, like my example of what to do with Cloudsdale. I don't want dark stuff either, like "OMG! Pegasi will fall out of the sky and DIE!" No, they won't... the characters will know this event is coming and will be able to prepare for it by not being in the air at the time. I'm just looking for other things that would be affected by a magical flux like this that I haven't already accounted for.

4. And here's the big one... are you guys even interested in an event like this at all?

[Apple Jack]

I really like this idea! I'm up for it, I hope it gets mod approval too!

1) I think Pegasi losing their ability to fly would make things more interesting.
2) I think a week is pretty good.
3) Don't know about this one.
4) YES!

[Macabre Haze]

First thing that happens..

There will be little to no baking for one. lights wouldn't work, construction wouldn't happen.. many ponies may be even afraid to leave their homes as weather is unpredictable now.

Poison Joke would become inert.. Timberwolves, sweetslimes and a a few other creatures may cease to exist for a while.. Cockatrice may be preyed upon by other creatures

Harmony would probably become a statue.. Cutiemarks might cease to exist. (might actually be a way to change them..) Discord may be freed again..

[Ayame_ExGoddess]

I dunno, if it's something that happens every year then ponies would likely be prepared for it. Fires and torches for light, most lanterns seen in the show seem to be powered by fireflies.

[Macabre Haze]

every few thousand years.. likely not prepared.

[Tek Croon]

Yeah, very few knew about Nightmare Moon. However, Celestia didn't mind that so much, she very much may spread the word about this.

[Skyblaze]

every few thousand years.. likely not prepared.

The ponies will know this is coming, and have a week to make any needed preparations.

lights wouldn't work, construction wouldn't happen..

Ponies have fire and oil lamps, and since the flux only lasts a short time, an interruption in construction won't be a big issue.

many ponies may be even afraid to leave their homes as weather is unpredictable now.

That's one possible roleplaying response a player could have.

Poison Joke would become inert.. Timberwolves, sweetslimes and a a few other creatures may cease to exist for a while.. Cockatrice may be preyed upon by other creatures

This wouldn't threaten the actual existence of mythical creatures. Other mythical creatures, like talking ponies, won't cease to exist. As for the cockatrice? You're right there, it would be a good time to hide...

Harmony would probably become a statue..

Harmony is a robot from another dimension, and doesn't use magic to function as far as I know. Ultimately, though, what happens to Harmony would be up to Obsidian.

Cutiemarks might cease to exist. (might actually be a way to change them..)

I don't see this happening. A Cutie Mark that provides a magical ability would stop working, but I don't see them going away.

Discord may be freed again..

I figure anything that's been permanently turned to stone would remain stone.

[Tek Croon]

I would like to rename this event: Earth Pony Appreciation Week

[Skyblaze]

That, too, is a possible response to the event. Some Earth ponies might get a little sense of schadenfreude regarding unicorns and pegasi.

[Barbarella]

Octavia would be quite excited.....but then she would realize not being able to do magic is manestream.

[Skyblaze]

I feel pretty confident about this event so far. I have a few players enthusiastic for it, and so far none have spoken up actively opposed to it.

[Kari Lightsworn]

I have to disagree. Equestria is a world of magic. Removing magic from it is cause for a major disaster. It's impossible for everypony to be warned, especially in a world with the tech level of Equestria. People will be missed, due to traveling, living off alone, or for whatever reason. Cutie Marks would likely not fade, but it would be a week where no pony can get their cutie mark, even if they find their talent or passion. Cloudsdale couldn't be tethered down, because the magic allowing the rope or whatever to touch the clouds would not exist. Earth ponies can't rub it in about Pegasi and Unicorns losing their magic, because they will lose their magic as well. They would likely be weaker, and possibly even feel like something is missing or cut off from them. Pegasi and Unicorns might also feel cut-off from something as well. And I'm not even getting into some of the darker parts that I can think of happening during this.

Note that I do NOT think this is a bad idea. I think that it is a bad idea for Fillydelphia. I believe the PG rating and the rules of the site are not suited toward something that, in my mind, would be very dark, and very character exploratory. I cannot think of a way of having something as [presumably] deeply ingrained as magic being taken from somepony, and have it done in a non-dark way.

[Obsidian]

1) I think so. mostly just because it'd be easier on the logic.
2) I vote for a long weekend. Friday - Monday or something
3) Honestly, it's probably more of an inconvenience than anything. Aside from Twilight and weather patrol, in the show there really is very little magic in everyday activities from what I can see. I think this would be the equivalent to a runner getting a sprained ankle. They can't do their thing for a while, but they are going to get better soon enough. Yes, some are going to freak out about it more than others, but that's a pony by pony reaction and why this is a roleplay and character-development exercise. Again, there's going to be a week of forewarning, including speeches from the princesses, so nopony should be caught unprepared.
4) You got my vote for it.

regarding Harmony: The robot runs on applied phlebotinum and sciency-sounding jibberish I've picked up from various sci-fi settings. So it'll work just fine, though for a gag I might have the laser mane be gone. "Harmony, you're BALD!"

[LennonFan]

I really like this idea! I'm up for it, I hope it gets mod approval too!

1) I think Pegasi losing their ability to fly would make things more interesting.
2) I think a week is pretty good.
3) Don't know about this one.
4) YES!

Pretty much this, only for number 3 I think magic-tied cutie marks (Twilight's and Orion's, for example) losing their effectiveness sounds sensible. There's also a lot of room then for character development, especially in the case of unicorns, like they'll come to realize that just because they can use magic doesn't mean they need to use it all the time.

[Marceline]

I personally think it's a great idea. It leaves a lot of room for character's to be themselves and the Earth Ponies to have there 'day in the sun' so to speak. I think a week sounds good and flying should be inert. I HOPE THIS WORKS! ~ <3

[Kari Lightsworn]

I personally think it's a great idea. It leaves a lot of room for character's to be themselves and the Earth Ponies to have there 'day in the sun' so to speak. I think a week sounds good and flying should be inert. I HOPE THIS WORKS! ~ <3

...But earth ponies have magic too.

[Apple Jack]

I personally think it's a great idea. It leaves a lot of room for character's to be themselves and the Earth Ponies to have there 'day in the sun' so to speak. I think a week sounds good and flying should be inert. I HOPE THIS WORKS! ~ <3

...But earth ponies have magic too.

What magic is shown in the show? I don't remember them having any sort of magic.

Spoiler: show

Then again, I rp'd while watching the Season 2 episodes on a stream.

[VinnyHavoc]

I personally think it's a great idea. It leaves a lot of room for character's to be themselves and the Earth Ponies to have there 'day in the sun' so to speak. I think a week sounds good and flying should be inert. I HOPE THIS WORKS! ~ <3

...But earth ponies have magic too.

What magic is shown in the show? I don't remember them having any sort of magic.

Spoiler: show

Then again, I rp'd while watching the Season 2 episodes on a stream.

It is heavily implied that earth pony magic is far more subtle and passive than the active magic of unicorns, and the passive magic of pegasi. Earth ponies can work the land like no other; During the hearthwarming eve episode, it was stated that only the earth ponies could grow the food. What's stopping a unicorn or a pegasus from sticking a seed in the ground? Technically nothing, but a seed planted and cared for by an earth pony would grow much faster, and more vibrant than normal.

They also have the potential to develop all sorts of abilities. In a way, their magic is adaptability and ingenuity, which can go anywhere. As a price, these abilities developed through that trait appear more subtly or weakly than the magic manifests in a unicorn. For example, Pinkie Sense. To some, it's just that she is hyper intelligent and is subconsciously running probability predictions. Unable to really understand them on the conscious level, her body responds with various tics. Applejack, on the other hand, is ridiculously strong. It goes a bit further than simply being a farm girl, it's implied that she's far stronger than any other earth pony her size. Evidence being that, in the Mare-do-Well episode, it's seen as a great feat that she stopped that out of control trolley, that a single earth pony wouldn't normally be able to have enough strength to anchor themselves and stop it.

It's also been suggested Applejack is an instinctive zen martial artist, making her not any stronger than any other pony, but more able to use her strength to its fullest potential than any other.

They key thing about earth pony magic is it's so subtle and so passive, it isn't really noticed in everyday life and they can't really turn it on or off. Of course, it'll be noticed once it's gone.

Maybe Curly Fry's innate magic is that he can still move despite being so fat! SO without magic, he'd basically become sedentary XP or maybe his food wouldn't taste nearly as good, or warm hearts nearly as well. Applejack would have to buck a tree many times to shake out all the apples, and they wouldn't all fall into the barrels. Pinkie Pie would not only lose her Pinkie Sense, but her ability to pop in and out of the world in unexpected places or ways, and break fourth wall at will. It would just take a bit of imaginative thought to determine what an earth pony might lose if magic were to be rendered inert.

[Skyblaze]

I have to disagree. Equestria is a world of magic. Removing magic from it is cause for a major disaster. It's impossible for everypony to be warned, especially in a world with the tech level of Equestria. People will be missed, due to traveling, living off alone, or for whatever reason.

Some 'handwavium' will need to be assumed for the sake of the event. There would have been some pretty dark, drastic consequences for what Discord did to Equestria, too, but we didn't see that on the show. This is a world of cute technicolor ponies, so realism is already in the back seat.

Cutie Marks would likely not fade, but it would be a week where no pony can get their cutie mark, even if they find their talent or passion.

Magic is suppressed, then, rather than completely eliminated. Once the flux passes an things return to normal, any Cutie Marks that would have been earned appear.

Cloudsdale couldn't be tethered down, because the magic allowing the rope or whatever to touch the clouds would not exist.

Hmm... good point here. Does anypony have a better solution?

Earth ponies can't rub it in about Pegasi and Unicorns losing their magic, because they will lose their magic as well. They would likely be weaker, and possibly even feel like something is missing or cut off from them. Pegasi and Unicorns might also feel cut-off from something as well.

Those would be responses that players would have to roleplay, which is part of the purpose of the event.

Note that I do NOT think this is a bad idea. I think that it is a bad idea for Fillydelphia. I believe the PG rating and the rules of the site are not suited toward something that, in my mind, would be very dark, and very character exploratory. I cannot think of a way of having something as [presumably] deeply ingrained as magic being taken from somepony, and have it done in a non-dark way.

It might make an interesting fanfic, but I'm far from a good enough writer to undertake something like that.

[Tek Croon]

"Note that I do NOT think this is a bad idea. I think that it is a bad idea for Fillydelphia. I believe the PG rating and the rules of the site are not suited toward something that, in my mind, would be very dark, and very character exploratory. I cannot think of a way of having something as [presumably] deeply ingrained as magic being taken from somepony, and have it done in a non-dark way."

I disagree. If you can't find a way to lighten the mood then your imagination needs a kickstart. Turn Angel Bunny in to a long legged hoofed creature. It's totally random but just silly enough that when he comes stampeding by later with a bunch of others just like him it makes you fall on the floor laughing.

[Kari Lightsworn]

I disagree. If you can't find a way to lighten the mood then your imagination needs a kickstart. Turn Angel Bunny in to a long legged hoofed creature. It's totally random but just silly enough that when he comes stampeding by later with a bunch of others just like him it makes you fall on the floor laughing.

Give me an example of silliness involving a loss of magic, then. And no, a pegasi falling to the ground when they try to fly, or a unicorn failing to use magic is not funny. That's just depressing.