Mar
4th
2016
HiE · 4:49am Mar 4th, 2016
Humans in Equestria...
Now, I'll confess that I've done a lot more writing on this site than reading, so I'm going to need some help with this one. What makes a good HiE fic, and a bad one? I'm looking for cliche's. I'm looking for what grinds your gears. I'm looking for...something Generic...
I've dabbled and seen a few repeating themes. "Death in our world leading to another chance in theirs." "Discord looking to cause chaos." And these are just everyday humans. Never mind all the crossovers...
So, what I really need is three basic things.
-How did the human get there?
-What did they do while they were there?
-How did they get back? (If at all)
I know a certain red and black alicorn that will appreciate your feedback.
How they got there, found an old mirror at a garage sale? *wink wink*
The voice in my head is facehoofing.
OH MY GOD YOU'RE BACK
I had no idea. I only know now because you tagged Generic.
*SENDS HUGS ASSUMING YOU DO NOT OBJECT*
Just read your backlog. Man. That's rough as hell, especially about your mate. Hope to see you around more often, and in better spirits.
So for these three things, do you want good clichés or bad clichés?
Because I have lists for each.
—It's always a potty-mouthed, whiny, emo guy in his twenties and his name is always Kyle. Alternatively, it's a 'badass soldier' who is also potty-mouthed, emo, and named Kyle, except he also has guns and likes to name out the ridiculous specs that no one else cares about. He got there via death, or Magical Unexplained Portal.
—While he was there, he arrived in the Everfree Forest, beat the shit out of a manticore, and then wandered into Ponyville where he was immediately liked and accepted by all of the mane six, and became romantically involved with at least one of them. Afterwards he is taken to see Princess Celestia for god knows what reason, where he either lectures her about how much of an evil tyrant she is, or adds her to his harem. He may or may not also punch Blueblood in the face for no discernible reason. He does all of this while being a tremendously obnoxious Gary Stu who is extremely unlikeable, but is still loved by everyone he meets.
—He doesn't go back, because 'the human world is so cruel and doesn't accept his speshulness!'.
3790559 Everything. I need everything.
3790778
Alright, bad cliche's first, then good, then god-awful:
The Bad
1. Human dies, usually by saving someone (if they're going to be a powerful, gary-stu type character) or suicide (if they're the whiny emo-character archetype, or going into a grimdark or supa grittee version)
2. Lands in the Everfree forest, invariably, and fights a Timberwolf or a Manticore, or both, then travels to Ponyville. Immediately befriends one of the mane 6 or the author's favorite background pony, who will now have an amazasome backstory about being a pirate, vampire, super-wizard who isn't recognized because Twilight is a princess, a cyborg, or some combination of up to three of the above. Saves the world a minimum of twice. Once by accident, once on purpose (after 'discovering the true power of friendship/love' and teaching it tot eh Mane6 and upgrading their Elements accordingly)
3. Stays in Equestria 4eva and never wants to leave, because they're supa edgy and didn't ahve friends or family that care about them and that's why they're so tragic and stuff.
The Good
1. Finds an artifact or makes a portal, travels there as a result. Artifact becomes inactive needing charging, or the portal vanishes.
2. Befriends a background character, often a non-pony, and tries to learn what they can. Alternatively, gets captured by the princesses or their guards, and is kept for study as an unknown being. May have to overcome language barriers at first, but that is usually a slog most authors avoid or make ridiculously easy via a shortcut, because actual linguistics is tricky and insanely easy to get completely and utterly wrong, and still takes a long-ass time. Eventually saves the world or settles in, depending on disposition of human involved.
3. Either recharges the artifact and goes dimension hopping with new friends, remakes the portal and returns home, or decides to stay with new friends/family, and enjoy life in a near-utopia setting.
The Terrible
1. Is in Equestria for unexplained reasons, already knows about ponies, and everything about them, ever.
2. Befriends everyone, and/or fucks them all. Except the stallions, unless it's a female character, because that's hot and she'd also be bi for the same lack of reasons. Also gains the ability to become a pony, for no explained reason, and is absolutely breathtaking, because he/she is an alicorn. Maybe several, depending on if they have the supa edgy Disassociative Identity Disorder, because reasons. Is super edgy all the time. Edges everywhere. Edges for days. Also is into every supa edgy musical style, like rap and death metal, because they're edgy. And dark. Also, they save the world because they know everything about the pony world, and can use all the Elements of HArmony because s/he knows they embody evey aspect at once. Is super unique, like every other character being made via this template.
3. Never returns home, because they now rule equestria with their harem of beautiful horse women, as the perfect god-king/queen of all time, made immortal by the elements and by the princesses, because they don't want him to ever die and leave them. Also because going home isn't edgy, but staying out all night and with your girlfriend(s) is.
I like the HIE stories that are both serious and cartoony, I don't like when an already cartoony human goes to Equestria. I like a bit of dark stuff mixed with the innocence of the show but that doesn't mean i like a 100% dark fic. most of the fics I hve read(and liked) have a good mix of evetything (Anthropology, Project Sunflower, Article 2 and more)