Some thoughts and a contest · 7:15pm Apr 16th, 2017
Just some things I want to give a heads-up and some questions. The questions first:
After that very lore-heavy chapter, do you guys have any particular thoughts about this. Do you like what I wrote? Do you have complains?
MLC will probably never leave Equestria proper ( as far as I know), but I plan to use it as an introduction for the Mundus-Universe in general. After I am finished with MLC (which is far in the future) I plan on writing more stories in the same universe or even opening it for other writers, if they want to. As such the lore that I write and you guys influence, plays a pivotal role in this and I would like to have feedback on this, if you don´t mind.
Now to the announcement: I will post this in one or two chapters, but you followers get this earlier. I will open up a spot in MLC for a OC of yours. Meaning, you will get to place a Character of yours into the story. Now, there are some limitations to it: First, it is limited to pony-races. Second, it will be a minor role, unless you really really impress me with your OC. Third, your character may not know about Eros or his plans.
If you want to participate, send me a short description of your OC by PM. I will give you an example:
Name: (self-explanatory)
Race: (Earth/Pegasus/Unicorn)
Gender: (Male/female)
Appearance: (short description)
Background: (where he comes from, what is his personality, his goals, his hobby, etc.)
Traits: (like Zexis, but you are limited to either four traits of level 1 or two traits of level 2 and one level 1 or one level 3 and two level 1)
The winner gets to see his OC in My Little Corruption. What will happen to him there will depend on how the story goes. He can be an ally, a foe or a bystander. If you are lucky, he might even get a permament role. Just don´t be dissapointed, if he doesn´t.
Also, if you want to increase your chances: Details are everything. If you can make me invested or interested in your character, add details. And maybe, just maybe, if your OC is particular well-thought out, I may be inclined on negotiating his role in the story further. But thats a huge maybe...
Keep in mind, that there will be only ONE spot open. So, don´t be mad, if you aren´t picked. There will be opportunities later on, maybe.
On a different note, I found a really good picture on deviantart from Celestia and Luna. If any of you are interested how they looked, during their war with Eros, this pic should be a good representation, of what I had in mind.
All credits go to the amazing GirlSay.
I gotta ask a few questions if that is okay.
1st, Races start with their 'obvious' traits right? Unicorns start with a passive magic, Earth their Strength and Tough, and Pegasi Flight and speed? Like if someone made a unicorn they wouldn't need to grab the trait again?
2nd Traits and such are the same from the main story yes? Are there any female variants to these traits? (Not sure how though but in the Fandom there is Milkmare...so there's that.)
I have the same questions as 4498810. I already have ideas for a character, but I want to know if racial bonuses are taken into account.
Let's use unicorns. Do I start with a level 1 affinity for a type of magic? Do I also get a free level of resistance to magic? Can I trade in that level of resistance to upgrade my previous level 1 affinity for magic into a level 2 or get an additional level 1?
And what about jobs? Obviously our OC would have to have a profession before they meet Zexis. Could that job give an additional level 1 trait if it made sense? For example, if my character was a teacher, could they get a free level of intelligence?
4498810
4499184
The racial bonuses are Unicorn (Magic [Fire/Wind/Earth/Water/Astral/Dark]), Pegasus (Flight), Earth-Pony (strong).
The female variants are the same, just with the obvious counterpart (huge dick -> big breast).
Now affinity for magic and resistance are no racial bonuses and instead need to be purchased. You can of course as a unicorn take a level 3 affinity to magic (Water) and have two magic abilities this way.
Jobs are tricky. I would say, they would fall under Skill category and are not so much influenced by traits. You can be a Construction worker, without being really strong. It would just not be easy. I would say that is negotiable, if I pick your character.
4499224 Alright, so for "skill sheets" sake since I do roll20 plenty, (or use to) When you say
do you mean, Magic (which his/her basic knowledge) and one of the selection which is our base, or do you mean to some capacity we can cast any of the selected spells, just unlikely unless we have an "affinity" for it? (just to define and have a proper understanding of our situations and skill allocations?
(sorry I can take making a character a bit over the top, and I enjoy doing it to a rather copious extreme.)
Thank you for clearing stuff like this up.
4499240
Magic (Fire/Wind/Earth/Water/Astral/Dark) means you can cast magic in the element you choose. One element. One assumes unicorns have always basic telekinesis, but beyond that comes your magic talent.
For casting spells in all elements you would have to have the magic skill six times, to cover all the bases. Which would be six level 3 traits.
If you want to indicate what Level you want to have, put it behind your traits: Intelligent (level 2). That way, I know what you want.
4499243 So if my character had a racial bonus in fire magic, is that the equivalent of level 1, 2, or 3 magic skill? What's the difference between the 3 levels? Can level 1 only summon small flames or can they throw fireballs? Is level 3 able to summon giant infernos or is that the level that you get fireballs?
Lastly, what about magical affinity? Is that the same thing as magic skill or is it something different entirely? I'm confused because I've seen these both used to describe magic and I want to know if they're the same.
Sorry about all these questions and thanks for answering.
4499259
A magic skill is merely the ability to cast spell in the chosen category. If you want to have acces to higher level spells, you would have to add magic affinity of the same element to that. The higher the affinity, the higher the potential the character can reach in the magic category.
As an example for the level difference: level 1 would be similar to having a knack for the discipline, a slight talent. Level 2 would be professional skill and level 3 would be a genius. Or in simpler terms, level 1 flame dancer; level 2 fireball-caster, level 3 firestorm-summoner.
The racial ability only covers the basic magical ability.
I hope that helps.
Could you maybe also say how many points we have to spend?
that way we would all build caracters of a certain strength and it would allow a unicorn caracter for example to for example be verry smart and good with multiple schools of magic but be verry lacking in other fields.
4499336
There are no point. Instead, as I already pointed out in the blog you can have either four traits of level 1 or two traits of level 2 and one level 1 or one level 3 and two level 1.
All traits are basic level 1. If you want them to be higher level, just write for example: intelligent (level 2).
The CP are only for Zexis. And don´t forget the racial abilities.
4499340
as i understand it now, a unicorn always has level 1 in all schools of magic and to make that level 3 you would need to add 2 levels to that.
as an example for clerification, my unicorn could take two level two traits and one level 1 trait. then the unicorn could take int lvl 2 one magic school lvl 3 and another magic school lvl 2 or another trait lvl .
4499343
No, as I already pointed out in RozenKnights question, the racial ability of Unicorns only covers basic magical ability and only for one element. Certain spells are common knowledge, like telekinesis, but beyond that you will have to add traits.
As an example: You got as racial ability Magic (astral). Thta means you have basic knowledge and ability about astral spells. If you want to be more proficient at it, you would need to purchase affinity to magic (astral). The more skillful you want to be, the higher the level of the affinity, as explained in the other comments.
If you wnat to gain proficiency in a second element of magic, you would have to purchase the trait Magic (other element), which would be an instand level 3 trait. That would be:
Unicorn Max Mustermann
Traits: Magic (astral) racial ability, Magic (earth) lv. 3, and two other lv.1 traits.
Basically you can have max. two elements of magic, but would have only basic proficiency in both of them. Or you could have only one element, but be more skilled at it:
Unicorn John Doe
Traits: Magic (astral) racial ability, Affinity to magic (astral) lv.2, one other lv.2 and one lv. 1
Or
Unicorn John Doe
Traits: Magic (astral) racial ability, Affinity to magic (astral) lv.3, two lv. 1 traits
Or
Unicorn John Doe
Traits: Magic (astral) racial ability, Affinity to magic (astral) lv.1, three other lv. 1 traits
The affinity would represent your characters skill at your element. You can of course have a affinity to magic with an other element, but that would only be theoretical knowledge. The decision is yours.
4499346
ok, so the racial ability for a unicorn simply gives you a little bit more afinity to the specific school of choice.
thank you for the clarification.
Two questions from my end too, if you don't mind.
Does it have to be a pony? Could it be, for example, a Griffon instead?
And do you want to limit the entries you're sent to one OC per person? I totally understand if you'd rather not be swamped by messages and such!
4499682
No, it is going to be ponies. I want to see, how this works out. See this as a beta-test and because of that I want to keep it simple. Also, at this stage of the story, it would be more difficult to integrate non-pony characters than otherwise.
If this goes well, I will conduct more contest in the future, which will have other parameters and more options. But for now, let´s keep it simple.
And yes, one OC per person.
4499689
Thank you for the reply!
So far, the worldbuilding's been great fun. If anything, I would've liked more of it! But I understand it's best to keep some things for later, and to have some room for readers to interpret them in their ways.
You know, I wonder why so many reader want to get rid of Birdhoof. Sure, he's a creep, but Zexis is arguably worse. Never mind how short-sighted it would be to do so now.
4500450
Good, that the worldbuilding finds good reception. Most of the stuff I write there is mostly for preparation after MLC. I will probably, maybe involve some of guys in the process, but I am still thinking on how I do that.
Concerning Birdhoof, I will actually write a blog-post to this very phenomeon. It will mostly revolve around Zexis and Birdhoof and how you actually create a successful "Villain-Protagonist". I will adress this there.
However, good catch on the discrepancies. There is a good reason for that and it involves reader mentality, which is very important for authors to be aware of.
4500782
I'm curious what you'll write. If you ask me, a major part of it is that he's just not physically attractive.
I forgot to mention: The idea of their Cutie Marks changing upon being broken is fascinating. I've seen something similar in artworks before. Here are some examples from Derpibooru:
derpicdn.net/img/view/2016/9/3/1240506__dead+source_questionable_artist-colon-curse-dash-of-dash-the-dash-dryad_pinkie+pie_bondage_collar_cuffs_encasement_gag_latex_latex+suit_living.png
derpicdn.net/img/view/2016/9/3/1240496__dead+source_questionable_artist-colon-curse-dash-of-dash-the-dash-dryad_rainbow+dash_abs_blushing_bondage_bound+wings_collar_cuffs_encasement_.png
Note how the Cutie Marks take on bondage-related qualities. Sadly, the artist seems to have vanished from the face of the earth so there probably won't be any more forthcoming.
Just a question, will the maker of the chosen character also be able to influence how they act or will he or she be completely in your hands?
4532359
Sorry, but beyond the personality and the background, no. I will write the character and control him in the story. Like I said, don´t expect a major role.
Hope that doesn´t discourage you.
4532366
I already send mine a while back, the day after this was posted I believe but oh well. Writing backstories for characters is fun but I might have made her a bit to powerful in the backstory now that I have read it again. Things may need to be tuned down a bit but no matter. It is also good practice for D&D.
This entire thing is even much like a D&D session now that I think about it, just with more people and everyone playing the exact same character.