Friendship is Card Games: Celestial Advice and All Bottled Up · 11:17am Apr 16th, 2017
So. When last we left Equestria, Thorax went from psychological aberration to glorious faerie moose, lord of the Crayola bughorses. Starlight Glimmer… Well, let’s be frank, she’s still a work in progress. Still, she found the confidence to lead her personal Suicide Squad on a combination coup/rescue mission, saving the main characters, the local pantheon of surprisingly kidnappable demigods, and Shining Armor.
You know, you have to wonder how much more crap he has to go through before he wonders if it’s all worth being married to literal pony Aphrodite. Of course, after growing up with an infant Twilight Sparkle, I’m sure everything else pales in comparison… with the possible exception of Flurry Heart. If her aunt was bad…
But I ramble. Let’s see how this latest loop around Ms. Faust’s Wild Ride begins.
Celestial Advice
Yeah… didn’t think I’d need this particular bit of disambiguation, but it turns out this premiere wasn’t a two-parter. Also the lowest-key one by far; not even the fate of a single city-state was at stake, putting aside that one hypothetical scenario. Still not sure how to feel about that.
I do appreciate Starlight calling out Spike’s obvious recap.
Wow. Those are some flexible headspines.
Yes, for once, Equestria is safer thanks to Starlight Glimmer. As opposed to the frequent alternative.
Aww, there’s a Moondancer photo on Twilight’s mirror. Good to see it.
Starlight seems to be more sure of herself in this season’s intro. Nice, subtle change there.
Heh. Of course Equestria awards a Pink Heart of Courage.
I admit, the difficulties with getting the medal on Thorax amused me. Discord, you want to pop his top for a bit?
As I’ve noted before, the rescuers didn’t storm the hive entirely without magic. They’d never have succeeded without Thorax’s shapeshifting.
Even if Starlight has nothing more to learn, the changelings certainly do. Maybe Twilight could offer the guide them?
Hello, false parallels. Seriously, I’m not buying that Starlight is ready to move on yet.
It’s nice to see some more creative magic design than in “The Crystalling.” There is more to magic than firing lasers at everything.
Okay, so changedlings eat nectar and other physical substances. Good to know.
There’s no wrong way to fantasize, folks. You heard it from Celestia herself.
The dragon scenario is purely fantastic, from the 80’s action movie broclench to Starlight riding Torch like he was Falcor. Also, nice to see that Ember and Twilight have been keeping up their correspondence.
I admit, I’m a sucker for the joke where someone says “Celestia only knows” when she’s actually in the room. And you totally know you’re an idiom, Tia. Don’t even pretend otherwise.
Heh. The Flurry cuckoo’s pretty fantastic.
Okay, that’s clearly a Door to Nothingness. I’m not sure which of the two is the madman and which is the imbecile, but the flavor text is definitely apt.
I legitimately do not know how to feel about Celestia laughing like that.
I do appreciate Spike poking at the medium, between his inability to see the flashback and translating Celestia’s more roundabout statements.
Interesting to see that Celestia did teach some classes at the school. Especially to students of that grade level.
Okay, the bit in Ponyville has to be condensed. Several early episodes were devoted to the Bearers going from friends of friends to friends with each other. They didn’t cavort together in convenient sight of visiting monarchs. Indeed, they probably would’ve been groveling at Celestia’s hooves with the rest of the town. Everypony but Pinkie, anyway.
That being said, Celestia being aware of the rest of the Mane Six ahead of time apparently confirmed?
Nervous Celestia is very interesting to see. The Mare in the Moon finalizing the decision all the more so. Was it just because Nightmare Moon’s return was nigh, or did Celestia coddling Luna somehow contribute to the original problem?
I don’t think Twilight always needing Celestia is necessarily a good thing. It’s one thing to always have a place in your heart for your mentor. It’s another to never outgrow them. It may just be a poor choice of words.
All throughout the episode, I was wondering what Discord’s game was. Making Starlight room with him was not at all what I was expecting, though it would be fascinating to see. Still, that punchline was nowhere near worth the entire feminine hygiene aisle of douchebaggery on display this episode… though it’s still not as bad as “What About Discord?”
I’m still choosing to interpret that as “changeling gorefest.”
Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not choose the path of cheese.
At first, I felt like this episode ended on an anticlimax. And it does. But Borg made an important point that had escaped me: This isn’t Starlight graduating in the literal sense of four years of high school or college. This is Starlight graduating in the euphemistic sense of ending her probation and remedial lessons on the basics of non-tyrannical social interaction. By saving Equestria, she has been granted the title “Largely Decent Equine Being.”
Besides, what do you do with a BA in friendship? What is your life going to be? One season’s lessons and plenty of guessin’ have earned you some useless— Okay, I’ll stop. 
As I said, really not sure how to feel about a single-episode premiere. Still, this was a nice denouement for “To Where and Back Again,” and the closest we’ve come to a Celestia episode. All things considered, it could’ve been a lot worse, though teasing us with promises of Starlight departing was rather cruel.
All Bottled Up
Hmm. Seems like Trixie is talented but ignorant of some of the fundamentals. Probably self-taught, hence her attempts to “TEACUP!”
Also, define “real” magic, because even back in “Boast Busters,” Trixie was summoning thunderclouds, grabbing rainbows, and restyling manes.
At first, I was worried that the writers were all but literally putting the Mane Six on a bus for this episode. It was a great relief to see that they were part of a B plot.
And to be fair, those pretzels are probably better travel food than the teacakes. One bump on the tracks and that frosting could go everywhere.
Hmm. No outright destruction of matter? But what happens when a transmutation has a mass discrepancy?
Surprisingly red source of power for someone as structured and order-oriented as Starlight, but it does help explain how she went toe to toe with Twilight back in “The Cutie Re-Mark.” Everything she had went into that revenge scheme.
Heh. Even Starlight’s best friend acknowledges that she’s a Twilight clone.
Twilight really should’ve cleared this retreat with the others.
Wow. If the castle didn’t resent Starlight before, it definitely does now. Also Trixie.
Interesting case of a literal expression. Haven’t seen one of those for a while. Also, very nice effect on Starlight’s personal rage nimbus.
Just look, Rarity. You’ll be able to tell if it’s plum or boysenberry yourself.
Nice detail with Starlight’s hair getting more limp as she puts more and more of herself into that bottle.
No! Not the nuts! 
Man, now I can’t help but think how I never found a Nuts 4 Nuts cart while I was in New York last week. I love those things…
Starlight Glimmer, everyone. Not only can she mind control ponies when trying to cast other spells, she can mind control them entirely by accident.
I really wasn’t expecting the Mane Six to solve the puzzle so efficiently and effectively. Also, while I appreciate the contrast the episode is going for, mortal peril rather clashes with a feel-good friendship song.
Huh. Starlight’s hair sprang back once she reabsorbed the rage. Also, another Borg-sourced bit of wisdom: This is the first time Starlight has solved a friendship problem on her own without making it worse. Sure, it’s a problem she engendered in the first place, but none of the Mane Six are innocent there. This really does show that Starlight’s making progress.
Hopefully the map will fuse with the rest of the castle again on its own. Otherwise, that could be very awkward indeed.
Also, didn’t the Mane Six go to Manehattan? You know, “Manehattan Escape”? Did they seriously go halfway across the country and back again for that and do nothing else while there?
So… the others know, right? I mean, at the very least, Granny’s probably going to bring up the whole “possessed by anger” thing with Applejack. This was a fun episode, but it leaves some loose threads.
In all, a nice beginning to Season 7. I know the “Starlight Glimmer show” impression I’m getting isn’t accurate based on what I know about upcoming episodes. Still, I can see the writers’ frustration encoded in “All Bottled Up”: There’s not much room left for the Mane Six to grow, not many lessons left for them to learn. Episodes like “The Cart Before the Ponies” that force the characters into a more immature state to tell the story effectively underscore this issue. This is definitely a logical step; I just hope the writers can strike a balance between the next grade of friendship students and the exploits of the real graduates in the long term.
Still, the scripts for this season are written. The animations largely if not entirely done. I have no control over it, so there’s no sense in worrying about it. What I do have control over are today’s cards. I hope you enjoy them.
Cheering Companion 1W
Creature — Pony Ally
Whenever Cheering Companion or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, if that Ally isn’t a token, untap all creatures you control.
”Yay, us!”
2/1
Song of Solidarity 1W
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on Song of Solidarity.
W, Sacrifice Song of Solidarity: Up to X target creatures gain indestructible until end of turn, where X is the number of verse counters on Song of Solidarity.
Tailored Fit 1W
Enchantment
As Tailored Fit enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Equip abilities can’t target creatures that aren’t the chosen type.
"Darling, it just isn't in your size."
—Rarity, Bearer of Generosity
Celestia’s Mirth 2W
Instant
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn. You gain 5 life.
The world pauses to hear the sun laugh.
Unity of the Bearers 2WW
Enchantment
Constellation — Whenever Unity of the Bearers or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
”It is troublesome in a way. Enough stars to commemorate their bonds properly would take up half the sky.”
—Princess Luna
Celestia’s Trusted 4W
Creature — Unicorn Soldier
Celestia’s Trusted can’t be destroyed by spells or abilities you control.
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to Celestia’s Trusted by sources you control.
Those who guard the throne room know to overlook the solar princess’s eccentricities.
2/5
Retroactive Repair 4WW
Sorcery
Return all artifact and enchantment cards from your graveyard to your hand.
That which was never built can never be broken.
Catch Unprepared 1U
Instant
Counter target spell if its controller has one or fewer cards in his or her hand.
Cycling 2 (2, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
“The time you most need a backup plan is the time you don’t have any.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Cooperative Solution 1U
Sorcery
As an additional cost to cast Cooperative Solution, tap three untapped creatures you control.
Draw three cards.
Forecast — 1U, Reveal Cooperative Solution from your hand: Create a 1/1 blue Unicorn creature token. (Activate this ability only during your upkeep and only once each turn.)
Disconcert 1U
Sorcery
Target creature gets -3/-0 until your next turn. Goad that creature. (Until your next turn, that creature attacks each combat if able and attacks a player other than you if able.)
The right words have a motivational force that spurs can never match.
Discord’s Roommate 2U
Instant
Exile target creature. That creature’s controller creates a 3/2 colorless Eldrazi Horror creature token.
Chaotic U (You may cast this spell for its chaotic cost. If you do, choose its targets at random.)
“Oh, what fun we’ll have together.”
Misaimed Teleport 2U
Sorcery
Exile target nonland permanent, then put three time counters on it. If it doesn't have suspend, it gains suspend. (At the beginning of its owner’s upkeep, that player removes a time counter from it. When the last is removed, that player casts it without paying its mana cost. If it’s a creature, it has haste.)
Pinkie’s Cleanup 2UU
Instant
Return any number of target permanents you control to their owners’ hands.
”Let’s see here: ‘How to turn off your Suck-O-Matic…’”
Projected Scenario 4UU
Instant
Each player may put any number of permanent cards from his or her hand onto the battlefield. At the beginning of the next end step, return those permanents to their owners’ hands.
Tired of hearing “It’s all in your head,” Twilight devised a spell to get it out.
Fleeting Decapitation B
Instant
Sacrifice a creature. At the beginning of the next end step, return that card to the battlefield under its owner’s control.
”I got better.”
—Discord
Splat 3B
Instant
Destroy up to three target creatures with total power 3 or less.
”Wait,” said Spike, “isn’t that just a changeling disguised as Starlight?”
A frazzled Twilight tilted her head. “What’s your point?”
Pull into Tartarus 3BB
Sorcery
As an additional cost to cast Pull into Tartarus, sacrifice a creature.
Each opponent sacrifices two creatures.
The gates of the prison realm are hard to open and even harder to close.
Flippant Unicorn RR
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
When Flippant Unicorn enters the battlefield, it deals 1 damage to each other creature you control.
”Oh, please. It’s a just a few friendly jabs. They know I don’t mean it.”
3/2
Vessel of Fury 1R
Enchantment
1R, Sacrifice Vessel of Fury: Untap target creature. Gain control of that creature until end of turn. It gains haste until end of turn. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Weaponizing emotions inevitably leads to collateral damage.
Cluster Shot 1RR
Instant
As an additional cost to cast Cluster Shot, sacrifice an artifact or creature.
Cluster Shot deals damage equal to the sacrificed permanent’s converted mana cost divided as you choose among any number of target creatures and/or planeswalkers.
Lava Dive 4R
Instant
Choose one or both —
• Lava Dive deals 4 damage to target non-Dragon creature.
• Target Dragon gets +4/+0 and gains trample until end of turn.
Obliteration Beam 4RR
Instant
Obliteration Beam deals 4 damage to target creature and 4 damage to target player.
The dragons had little patience for talk of friendship, but plenty of respect for destruction spells.
Redsight Miasma 5RR
Creature — Elemental
Flying, haste
When Redsight Miasma enters the battlefield, if you cast it from your hand, untap all creatures you control and after this main phase, there is an additional combat phase followed by an additional main phase.
Evoke 3RR
5/4
Concise Debate 2G
Sorcery
Target creature you control fights target creature you don’t control.
Draw a card.
Changeling conflict resolution methods are brutal but undeniably effective.
Medal of Honor 2
Artifact — Equipment
Whenever one or more counters are placed on equipped creature, you may put another of those counters on another target creature.
Equip 1
Decorated heroes inspire others to follow their example.
Teacup Poodle 2
Artifact Creature — Hound
When Teacup Poodle enters the battlefield or dies, you gain 2 life.
”Not bad for a first-timer.”
—Discord
2/1
Discord’s Banner 3
Artifact
T: Add B, R, or G to your mana pool.
BRG, T, Sacrifice Discord’s Banner: Draw a card.
Disharmony to pester, chaos to distract.
Ordeal of Twilight (gu)W
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Whenever enchanted creature attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it. Then if it has three or more +1/+1 counters on it, sacrifice Ordeal of Twilight.
When you sacrifice Ordeal of Twilight, create a 1/1 blue Unicorn creature token, a 1/1 white Pegasus creature token with flying, and a 2/2 green Pony creature token.
False Parallels 1(gu)(gu)
Enchantment
Whenever another player casts a spell during your turn, you may cast spells as thought they had flash until your next turn.
”I am not Starlight. Trying to treat her exactly as Celestia treated me could only end disastrously.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Friendship Prodigy 2GW
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Friendship Prodigy, create a 2/2 green Pony creature token.
”This is actually easier without mind control. Who would’ve thought?”
3/3
Changeling Gorefest 3UB
Sorcery
Destroy target creature. Create a token that’s a copy of that creature.
”It’s more fun than it sounds. For the changelings, anyway.”
—King Thorax
Lost to Time 4WU
Instant
Put target creature on the bottom of its owner’s library.
Conspire (As you cast this spell, you may tap two untapped creatures you control that share a color with it. When you do, copy it and you may choose a new target for the copy.)
Mixing spells can be terribly dangerous.
Transmutation Spree XXUR
Sorcery
Destroy X target artifacts. For each artifact destroyed this way, create a token that’s a copy of another target artifact.
”I think that’s enough teacups, Trixie.”
—Starlight Glimmer
Road U
Sorcery
Target creature can’t be blocked this turn.
Ruin 4BB
Sorcery
Aftermath (Cast this spell only from your graveyard. Then exile it.)
Target player loses life equal to the damage already dealt to him or her this turn.
*cough*
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Whoops, accidentally a word. Fixed.
did anyone expect Trixie to turn a teacup into a teacup?
Well, and if you want to be totally precise, they did also use Discord's magic to get most of the way there.
Yes, in part it was Twilight being Twilight and exaggerating things a bit. But at the same time, Glimmer kind of is. People keep acting like this is supposed to mean Starlight has learned everything she could, now knows everything, is done growing, some kind of culmination/end-point deal. It was never that, and the show has been damned good of always keeping things that way. It's not about have perfected anything, not needing to learn more etc... You cannot tell me either Twilight or Celestia are not the types the fully understand you never stop learning. That there is always more the find out, to understand. Always ways to become better.
This was merely transition. Twilight believing Starlight was ready to progress her studies and learning at her own pace. The Starlight no longer needed Twilight looking over her shoulders. Twilight was worried that keeping Starlight cooped up in the castle was going to be wrong because she believed Starlight was ready to need some room to explore on her own. Baby bird leaving the nest and all that. It wasn't saying Starlight was ready to 'move on' as in no longer needed to learn anything about friendship. But rather that Twilight felt she was ready to move on to a more self guided course of study. To start finding her own way without Twilight controlling it all and giving her lessons, but still being there to help if needed.
Further, no it is nothing even close to the same as with Twilight and no, Starlight is not at the level Twi was when she 'graduated' so people really need to stop comparing the two. Twilight was a grad student who created a master's thesis on Friendship so amazing, she was elevated to a living paragon of Friendship itself. Starlight... is at the "Fully understands the basics and is able to be a regular, functional member of society without needing a Princess looking over her shoulder". Basically, Twilight 'graduated' from the highest level courses possible on Friendship. Starlight is graduating from Friendship primary school.
Or, another way to look at it, her being Twilight's direct pupil was also kind of a form of probation/parole, keeping her where Twilight could keep an eye on her to make sure she'd changed, and to help her do so. And this is Twilight letting her off said probation.
Oh that line was amazing. Though I'm picturing Luna replying "Sister, you have not seen some of the dreams I have! Thou dost not know horseapples about how wrong some of it can be!"
Agreed. She was just messing with Twilight.
Very, and yet. It fits her so perfectly to do so. To want to have a direct hoof in some way with all her students education. Even if they did forget to give Twilight a cutie mark.
Also agreed, it was likely Celestia just taking a bit of poetic license and trying to keep things succinct. As to her knowing about the Mane 5.... this almost certainly means she was the one who made sure each of them had a job working on the SSC where Twilight would be sure to meet them. (bar Pinkie, who she just trusted to be Pinkie) Adds even more depth to things and shows how much of this she had planned out. She really was taking as few chances as possible and knew Twilight could find ponies that would be able to wield the Elements. I freaking LOVE this. Also the reveal that it was only at the lat minute because Celestia was so worried about Twilight she kept putting it off. Another good little bit from her.
OHHHHHHHHHH Very good question! Likely more so the first one but.... that could be part of it too.
Yes. Not needing as in, unable to do without' type deal. But the same way Twilight 'needs' all her friends and family.
Ehhhh, I found this more annoying then in that ep. Him fucking with Twilight, perfectly fine it's what he does. But yeah, they pushed it a bit to hard here and just drew out the being an ass way to much... without making it entertaining enough to be worth it. Not horrible, good idea, just poorly executed.
I'm still sure I'm hearing 'Gorpfest"
The things that happen when you comment while reading rather then at the end...... wasted so much typing on that...
Nope, it was so awesome watching the people that just seem to hate her for the sake of hating her squirm knowing they wouldn't get rid of her. I don't see what the issue is with it being a single parter. So it's not the same as the rest? So what? What does it really matter given after this, it'll just be the next ep queued up on a Netflix playlist? Why treat it differently then any other self contained story? I'm glad the show isn't forcing itself to do something, just because it's been done before. Is willing to do what it feels it needs to for each situation rather then force things in just for the sake of 'it should be this way.'
Very much agree.
This also further serves to kind of push aside that bit from Boast Busters about unicorn magic. That has never really been true that we've seen since. It's not some pre approved, you get X spells and that is it" type list. OH good way to look at it! Unicorns are not Sorcerers, who only get a set, limited spell list and nothing else. They are Wizards, each could theoretically learn anything, With chosen and bared schools. Some types of spells will come extremely naturally to them and be very easy to learn. Other's will take a lot more effort or evn be impossible based on their own personality and talent, and some spells will be to powerful for them to learn entirely.
Pulling added mass from the environment? Maybe some kind of, pulling mass from some Aether like plane? Good question...
Exactly.
The clash was fully intentional I'm sure. Providing a counter point to each other. The Mane 6 that in sync with each other, while Starlight and Trixie are having issues. And doubt it was ever 'mortal' peril. They could have stomped her flat immediately if that was the case.
Was it ever? It did grow out of the castle but, in the S5 finale it was just sitting on it's own in all the timelines. Maybe it is separate in the first place and doesn't need to be in the castle to work?
Ummmm, yes? Time and Distance are so damn weird in Equestria.....
Well said.
Yeah these were two, low key, but very well done eps. And was great seeing them, let's hope S7 keeps up the good times!
I, for one, approve of this strangeness. Anyone else notice the season premieres have been visibly winding down?
Season 5, we had a mortal threat instead of something that could beat Tirek in raw power, Season 6 a force of nature, and for Season 7 we literally just have Twilight Sparkle's insecurities.
Now imagine how disconnected the season premieres would feel from the rest of the show if everything just kept escalating.
Aaand we're back to the show. Awesome. The cards are well-designed as usual. I laughed out loud at Discord's Roommate in particular.
4498282 Yes, I am still disappointed that this did not happen. XD
I love Transmutation Spree. ^^
MLP is back, just in time for Easter!
That's a brilliant description. I think he looks more like an elk than a moose, but moose sounds funnier.
It was kind of weird seeing two low-key episodes to start the season, even though I knew about their decision ahead of time. I'm not sure how to feel about them either. They weren't bad, but I'm wondering if the writers are simply running out of ideas for adventure stories. Which is a shame, because I love those types of episodes when they're written well.
It was my headcanon that Celestia had her eye on the other Mane Five as Element Bearers before she sent Twilight to Ponyville. I figured it was more than a coincidence that Celestia told Twilight to meet those specific ponies. Although, how Celestia found out about them is unexplained. Possibly it started as early as the Rainboom. Or maybe she kept watch on that specific town because of its proximity to the original Tree of Harmony and looked for ponies there that fit each Element. It would be a fascinating topic for fanfiction to explore.
I was actually hoping that Cheese Sandwich would randomly show up when he said that.
In "All Bottled Up," I was a little annoyed that Starlight didn't go on the friendship retreat. It was yet another example of the writers telling but not showing how good her friendship is with the Mane 6. I know the writers wanted a specific plot with her and Trixie, but an explanation of why Starlight stayed behind would've been nice. And Spike, for that matter, who was stuck doing dishes at home. My theory is that there was a limit on the number of individuals per room.
The “anger magic” was interesting, and seems limited to just Starlight. If Twilight ever had this problem, there were plenty of opportunities for it to manifest in the first couple of seasons. Still, this episode had some interesting tidbits of world-building with how unicorn magic works. The basis on visualization and emotion doesn't exactly fit my headcanon, but that's okay, I can still work with it.
Huh. Whenever I bottle up my anger, the pressure builds up until it explodes out of me. But I'm not a unicorn.
Yeah, random song was random. But worth it for the joke at the end of it.
And yeah, there's no way the other girls aren't going to find out about the anger spell, at the very least. Unless Starlight and Trixie run around erasing the memories of everypony involved, but as I pointed out in my review of “Unfriendly Competition,” removing the consequences of your mistakes keeps you from learning from them.
I knew ahead of time that we would get a 22-minute premiere, and I think it's because of that that both episodes exceeded my expectations. They weren't perfect, but at least they were entertaining. The second episode made me like Trixie a little less, though. And just when S6 finally made me like her.
I really liked Celly bursting out laughing like that. We've seen her serious, we've seen her angry, we've seen her sad, we've seen her proud and disappointed and maternal and teasing, but I think this is the first time we've seen her drop the self-control and just laugh. It was a wonderfully humanizing touch, along with her relating the story about how much she fretted about Twilight. Plus it emphasizes how Twilight and Spike are among the very few people who get to see Celestia the pony, instead of Celestia the Princess, or Celestia the Goddess of the Sun.
And yeah, Starlight's graduation is more like Twilight formally ending her parole and announcing that she's no longer a villain, and that she can come or go as she feels. That she wants to stay, and Twilight is more than happy with that, is nice.
I also liked the not-so-ideal friendship between Trixie and Starlight. Trixie's mix of adorable and inconvenient was just right to me. (As for the "real magic" stuff, the tricks she did in Boast Busters were pretty small-scale things; clever, sure, and deftly used, but overall not real "wizardy things" like actually transmuting things into other things, or teleporting around. Clearly, she's leveled up with the quest XP she got from the S6 finale!
)
As for the Manehattan Escape thing... I'm willing to headcanon that as the name of the escape room franchise, and that the actual location was somewhere closer, probably in Canterlot.
That seems very specific. How often are permanents in play with time counters on them?
At long last, the wait is over.
I enjoyed both episodes greatly, although the first slightly more than the second.
I wonder if the reason they chose to break from tradition was basically to pace themselves - to avoid falling into the trap of feeling that every new season has to be bigger, flashier, more spectacular. In various ways, these episodes felt like we were back in season 1 or 2, with young friendships being strained for the first time. There were shades of "Look Before You Sleep", and "Green Isn't Your Color", and of course "Lesson Zero". I think it might be part of the show's play for longevity, to avoid becoming set in its ways with an unchanging central cast.
Celestia definitely made the first episode. It's hard to believe that it took them six full seasons to give her a single chance to be an actual character, but she knocked it out of the park.
I did not pay attention to the promo materials beforehand, but I did see the one tv spot that showed Starlight and Sunburst drawing the rune and opening the hole. And it reminded me of something: after "Bloom and Gloom", someone (Big Jim, I think) noted that the shot of Scootaloo flying should totally have been in the ads just to mess with the fans. They learned the lesson that hypothetical scenarios make for great publicity.
As someone prone to overthinking, I am 100% behind Twilight obsessively imagining every possible and impossible way things can go horribly, horribly wrong.
I suppose now Trixie is officially a main character. Which makes the absence of Starlight from the Equestria Girls universe even more striking.
All in all, this was a great start, and I hope it's a sign of things to come
Eh, I liked what I heard Thorax say better. "Gorbfest" sounds like something Starfire would say.
Do you think all unicorn spellcasting is so R/U, just Starlight, or just some schools of it? We've seen other emotions affect magic, like dark magic, and of course there's the literal component of "Friendship is Magic"...
Tailored Fit seems slightly busted at 1W. That much to lock all creatures but changelings (and whatever obscure creature type you choose – say, sand) out of being equipped seems a mite strong.
Celestia’s Trusted is an interesting card. It reads to me "won't be affected by your own boardwipes".
Loved the flavor text on Fleeting Decapitation. Not to mention how useful that spell would be in my Liliana deck.
Vessel of Fury is an incredibly apt card.
And one more thing before I go: TEACUP! *Zaps*
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There definitely needs to be some ebb with the flow. It's just a bit disorienting for me to see the trend bucked after six climactic premieres.
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"Look, if you don't want to clean out the jabberwock's litter box, you can just say so. You don't have to assault me with your facial tendrils."
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"Monuments to the gods, eh? Your only monuments should be to Trixie! TEACUP!"
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I wouldn't count out adventure episodes just yet. Especially given the teaser for next week.
Though note that Pinkie Pie never showed up on the Summer Sun Celebration checklist. Though knowing Celestia and Pinkie Pie, the former probably knew that the latter would make time for a new arrival.
Agreed on Starlight needing more screentime with Bearers other than Twilight. Hopefully they'll work that into this season, especially now that Starlight's not on probation anymore.
The closest Twilight came to the anger cloud was probably going Rapidash in "Feeling Pinkie Keen." It's possible that this is the air-elemental equivalent of that impassioned evocation. And yeah, the magic details were nice, though it's likely that there are other casting methods out there. After all, not every unicorn seems to operate purely on emotional intensity.
It also helps to have an external bottle.
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It's always nice to peek behind Celestia's usual mask. Getting to see her rip it off for a large chunk of an episode? Even better.
I suppose when Trixie is constantly comparing herself to Starlight "Soul Mutilator" Glimmer and actual freaking alicorns, some degree of inadequacy is inevitable.
And with the Manehattan Escape thing, I suppose that works. It would certainly explain how they got back without Rarity spending "just a few minutes" taking in Manehattan culture. I suppose she might be growing a tolerance for it as she checks in on Rarity For You, but still, the idea of her zipping through the Big Orange just feels off.
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Most permanents with vanishing, Time Bomb, the new card As Foretold...
Yeah, I see your point on the ambiguity.
I based the wording on Delay, but the context is much different. I've rephrased the effect for greater clarity.
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Yeah, this could definitely be settling in for the long run. Endless serial escalation doesn't lead anywhere good.
Likewise on all counts.
At the very least, she's been promoted from tertiary to secondary. And Starlight does at least have a canon EG character design, seen here in a full-size model extrapolated from her mini-figure. I'm not sure how to feel about the torn pants.
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It's hard to say. Emotion definitely seems to have some connection to spellcasting, but aspects like the quasi-Jedi training in "Magic Duel" show that there's more than just feeling really hard at things to unicorn magic. My current gut feeling is that the best method varies from unicorn to unicorn.
As for Tailored Fit, remember that Stony Silence is a thing.
And yeah, as soon as I saw Starlight stuff some magic in a jar, I knew I had to make a Vessel of some kind.
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I did not know Stony Silence was a thing. Still, I am of the opinion that "Wizards did it first!" Is a rather poor excuse, what with at least once creating a card that was banned even before it was released.
It may not be generally broken, but I figure playing Stony Silence or Rest in Peace is generally considered to be a jerk move in Commander.
Bottling up your anger never works, be it metaphorically or metaphysically. I hope kids learn that.
Normal comment about song names for Song of Solidarity. You started a naming scheme with the first couple of ones and when you do that you need to be willing to stick it out, even when it gets hard.
Well,Tailored Fitis really overpowered for it's cost. If you're not running any equipment you can name a creature type likeWombat(the only one!) and thenno oneget's equipment! Or you can do the same thing while running creatures with Changeling (or good oldMistform Ultimus) and just ignore it while restricting everyone else.I guess it just proves that you should always run Enchantment removal.
I'd rather, that instead of just out right shutting down Equipment wholesale it just made it cost more:(The above was made before you brought up Stony Silence (I spend a good bit of time working up my responces to these blogs...). This is why I refresh before hitting submit but I wanted to leave it in because some times things are just a matter of perspective. Still, with how common equipment is these days and are a key focus of some deck anything that messes with them is going to seem powerful.)
I really like the flavor test on Retroactive Repair, but it sounds more Blue than it does White. The card itself is pure White, but I think that whoever said the flavor text is maybe a White-Blue mage.
Catch Unprepared is another great conditional counterspell.
Did you intend for Misaimed Teleport to be a delayed "steal" effect? I mean, Blue does a lot of permanent theft effects but I'm unsure if that was what this card was meant to do. Since you are the one exiling and casting the permanent you'll be the one controlling it when it resolves.
I guess Trixe did kinda maybe sort of stole the table in a way... .
And Projected Scenario lends itself well to all sorts of "When [this/something else] enters the battlefield" shenanigans. Though since they all enter at the same time I think you'd have to have the "when something else enters" cards already out or they'd only trigger once but I'm not sure on that and I'm not finding it in the comprehensive rules, but I'm not looking that hard.
The wording for Fleeting Decapitation needs to be able to handle what happens if that card is no longer in the graveyard, say it was shuffled back into a library or was exiled. Easier way is to make sure it's still in a graveyard before returning it to the battlefield:
I'd also say the creature should be tapped on reentry because this is a really powerful way to attack with something, fake-behead it, get an ETB effect a second time AND have a blocker for next turn.
Not sure how I feel about Cluster Shot being able to use a (non-Artifact) Creature as fodder. Also, why can't it target players?
Just curious on that second bit.
I feel that with a name like Obliteration Beam, and the cost, it should prevent that creature from regenerating.
The wording on Medal of Honor makes me think you'd either move one of the original counters to the other creature or the counter doesn't wind up on the first creature in the first place. I'm rather sure you mean to get an additional counter of the same type.
Just going by the stats on the tokens the Unicorn from Ordeal of Twilight is kinda shafted. A 1/1 with no ability compared to a 1/1 flyer and a 2/2 with no ability. It's only when compared to the other two tokens that you see it though.
I'm all for a card like False Parallels but I kinda feel that it shouldn't give all of your cards pseudo-Flash, but then again they are False Parallels.
On the "Ruin" part of Road /(to)/ Ruin: Final Punishment was only 3BB and wasn't restricted to being cast from the graveyard, and Ruin is just a straight up copy of that effect. And I think that if they ever did print a card like Final Punishment it'd care about "life lost" instead of "damage taken":
If that is the case then the cost and restrictions should be fine.
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Song of Solidarity: It's not a matter of persevering when the going gets hard. It's a matter of acknowledging when something is physically impossible, like naming a Magic card "Best Friends Until the End of Time." That's even longer than Arlinn, Embraced by the Moon or Bearer of Overwhelming Truths, and they don't have to worry about fitting in mana costs!
Misaimed Teleport: Whoops. That was a case of me writing the reminder text on autopilot. The card's owner removes the counters and casts the resulting spell.
Fleeting Decapitation: The rules already cover that scenario. If the card isn't in the graveyard, it's a different object and nothing comes back. Same situation as Rescue from the Underworld.
Cluster Shot: Because being able to take out the opponent's board and have the remainder land on their face for three mana seemed a touch too good.
Medal of Honor: I went with a slightly different approach, but I have disambiguated the issue.
Road///Ruin: Split cards and flashback costs both have a tendency to overcharge.
The New York Film Academy has a campus located next to Universal Studios in Los Angeles... so maybe not?
Fleeting decapitation feels super weird in using effects that are entirely black to achieve a non black effect (effectively flicker)
Ruin probably could have used the wording of "life equal to the life already lost this turn"
Retroactive repair would probably say auras and equipment instead of enchantments and artifacts under the more modern version of white.
Transmutation spree sounds like a nightmare to cast for larger values of X.
Since Projected Scenario doesn't give creatures haste, it's pretty useless in terms of an attack. Or was that the intent?
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The key phrase is "at the beginning of the next end step." Emphasis on "beginning." If you cast Scenario during the end step before your turn, all of the permanents put onto the battlefield will stay there until your turn ends. And because you'll have controlled any creatures you played since the start of that turn, they'll be allowed to attack.
I thought he was a stag [beetle] because pun.
contra Tara's AMA, interestingly.
OR, as an irritated letter notes, perhaps he should've shifted those horns down a few sizes.
Are you still going to post one to Derpibooru?
Either way, a few reactions, in case you want to know. I want to share them, at least:
-Song of Solidarity is the perfect mix of your song enchantments with basic white indestructiblity, bravo.
-Tailored Fit is devious, but it least it isn't "gains protection from equipment"
-I don't have a problem with Celestia’s Mirth, but it just wasn't what I expected. I guess I was thinking it would be detrimental. Maybe I should...
-The flavor text on Retroactive Repair sounds like you lifted it from an actual Magic card. Can't be a FOME card without damn good flavor text.
-I think if Projected Scenario were real it would be exiled to prevent it from being Snapcastered. But I also think they overdo that, so what do I care? You did it right.
-Fleeting Decapitation Congratulations on giving black blink.
-Vessel of Fury: like Celey's Mirth I was hoping for direct damage. Dang, maybe I just want to build a direct damage deck.
-Lava Dive makes me smile.
-Where was Redsight Miasma when I was building Elemental decks in Lorwyn!? Absolutely perfect.
-Teacup Poodle: Distinctly better than Bottle Gnomes, but I'd probably still play Bottle Gnomes because I'm a sucker for that card.
-Between False Parallels and Fleeting Decap, my wife would love today's cards.
-Road//Ruin: Dollars to doughnuts this name gets used next set.
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Yeah, but "glorious faerie moose" is just so much more fun to say.
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Still, I'm quite glad that you like this week's batch.
Sadly, my usual go-to website for card mockups, MTGCardsmith.com, got an "update" that's rendered it incapable of accepting any image files I try to give it.