Are you guys enjoying this story? · 7:29am May 8th, 2017
Simple question, are you enjoying Catalyst?
I admit this was a passion project of mine, mostly due to me finding a new thing I realy realy liked. I can see how and why this wouldn't necessarily be the most liked thing I've ever done... But the comments are pretty much dead on this one and there's a very steep downwards trend in the number of views over the last few chapters. From 195 to 170 to 106 over the last three.
I dont think I've written a bad story. No one is complaining at least. But it's possible I've written something boring. If I have, that's no good. I like keeping you guys happy and invested enough to get chatty in the comments. That's what's fun for me.
Is there anything keeping you from reading this at the moment? Is it just a boring story?
I need data so I can work out what to do.
To be honest, i haven't found the time to read it yet even though i have the fic in a shelf somewhere
It sounds interesting and i will read it when i get the chance. I hope i'll be able to find a time and place to read it
I'm one of those reading it, and thoroughly enjoying all the new world building. The new characters are quite enjoyable as well.
Perhaps it's because you seem to be moving too fast. Several times you've gone a summery that covered many... many... Many off screen events. I don't mind this but others may. For example most of Twilights escape alongside chip was exposition to Ny along the lines of...."hey, did everything we set out to do while we were separated."
That being said I'm enjoying it so my words are of limited use.
4524372 That's perfectly fine :) This is more addressed to people who are normally active on all of my stories within the first day a new chapter has been posted. That said, I would LOVE for people who normally don't comment to post here.
I need this data. I'm having a hard time staying motovated to write because I'm worried people don't like this.
The issue meep is that you took a mostly original world and inserted it into a Alternative Universe setting that requires outside background to get the full experience (Note this can work in some cases). The other glaring thing is that lack of a proper villain we can relate to be a person or object what set your other stories apart was always tension stakes and this story has none of that. The only real stake and question we have is twilight reverting back to an alicorn thats just not enough umph. In all fairness I still enjoy the story and I understand the high and lows all authors run into. No author no matter how good can hit all grand slams. I eagerly read the current story and hope the next story is more enjoyable to me. Do not get discouraged I know you are a great author this story is unfortunately not your best. I hope this helped. The whole twilight parents sub arc also feels off maybe pacing issues
4524377 Yeah that is one issue with trying to cover large chunks of time... Most of my stories take places in less than 36 hours after all. This one has been 15 days and counting.
Im still reading :p
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Ooh! I didn't know you were partly a motorbike
Shit joke, i know XD So much cringe
4524383 20% on my mother's side. Indian CHief, to be specific.
4524379 This is the sort of stuff I was thinking might be an issue. I should probably finish up unless lots of people are just as disappointed at how this one going.
4524381 Glad to know ^.^ I remember you from way back in the first stuff I wrote :D
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Well see if you can figure out that pacing maybe.
Don't stop, most often I'll stay awake long after I should sleep to get anothet Meep chapter in.
Oh another thought is this story prominently featured humans and anthros not everybody likes these (including me most of the time) hence why their are fimfic tags that can be excluded from search. It just may be many of your readers put it down upon this discovery (I make Meep-exceptions)... But they would have to weigh in for us to truely know.
4524386 Hummmm, that would be a possible issue for what I have planed next too, but to a much leser extent. THough, since it focuses on Lyra it's probably not an issue for most.
4524385 wau. A classic beauty....
*brain.exe has stopped*
derpicdn.net/img/view/2012/6/18/7203__safe_rainbow+dash_image+macro_artist+needed_reaction+image_derp_rainbow+derp.png
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Also you refreshing this page far too much. Give your significant other a cuddle, and think about something else for a while while people trickle is.
Don't let the stress bugs eat you... I know I'm gonna force myself to bed now so I'm freash tomorrow..
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I'm not. My bot is, and pinging me for every comment. This is important. THis is how I eat. I NEED to remain in top form.
She's at work. I would get her fired if I did. She will remain at work for the next 10 hours, most likly.
I litteraly can't... I should be writing now, doing what's sort of kinda my job. But I can't. Because I dont know if people want me to write something else.
Anywho, have a good night.
4524392 Did, did you take a joke seriously?
Stick around, you're awesome!
As always I love it, I've been a little distracted with family issues so my comments have been askew.
4524402 I love jokes!
And i like to think i know how to play along with a joke
All hail The Great and Mighty Meep! Our beloved Queen!
Lyrics:
BOW DOWN! BOW DOWN!
BOW DOWN! BOW DOWN!
She roams the skies on a starless night
Ghosts among drones seeking the final solution
Parasite sees and parasite knows
She'll find you and she'll save us all
It's war
BOW DOWN! BOW DOWN!
WAR!
BOW DOWN! BOW DOWN!
Stand up
Raise your hands
All hail the queen
Get down
On your knees
All hail the queen(x2)
She flies with the lords on winds of the moon
Her visions reaches furthest of all
Whatever the cargo, the carriers will fail
Whatever the cost, the hive must prevail
BOW DOWN! BOW DOWN!
WAR!
BOW DOWN! BOW DOWN!
Stand up
Raise your hands
All hail the queen
Get down
On your knees
All hail the queen (x2)
BOW DOWN! BOW DOWN!
ALL HAIL THE QUEEN (x2)
I like it a lot. More than previous one (though I think Lyra 7 was the best). The Ark world was a total surprise, but it is self explaining enough.
4524434 I'm glad at least one person likes how things are going :) This means a lot to me.
This is my personal opinion somehow influenced by playing way too much Fallout 4
I was really excited for the end of cataclysm I was immersed in this world wanted to know more about the characters introduced in this part of your storyline. It ends abruptly with Twilight getting banned to another reality turned into a computer program and stuck in a survival simulation as some human/anthro creature.
What I would want to read about is how she eradicates all people responsible for this horrible simulation in the most gruesome way.
They seemed like gods worse than the institute from Fallout 4 turning sentient beeings into computer programs that can't die. When reading things like that I am starting to understand the Brotherhood of Steel in wanting to destroy the institute and all synths to protect humanity from reaching technology like this. The arguments brought forth in Fallout 4 didn't convince me of their cause but now I could imagine that the Institue would do something like this in the future to progress humanity.
And reading this makes me want to cry even if she gets out at the end.
( yeah I totally forgot Dr.Braun did it already in Vault 112)
The story isn't boring but I simply don't enjoy the theme.
So before my mind runs more amok I rather wait for the next story and hunt some super mutants.
Ad Victoriam
Can't explain why but this feels really different from your previous work. Might be the lack of a central antagonist although I doubt that's the only thing.
I do like it, but then again I'm one of the usual commenters, so YMMV
I would like for you to finish it, no doubt. No rushing either, complete it as you would, rushed endings tend to be messy. Specially since the parents plot seem rather relevant (not to mention connected to her past), so rushing it now that she's finally meeting them would be bad.
If anything, I believe the problem might've been the AKR'ness of it all. It is an interesting premise you created, but I don't know how much it meshes with your established pony 'verse. Not in the cosmology of it all, but in tone. It is rather different and only pony as in the misplaced humanized characters.
Although Twily being princess of friendship was cute. And Sir Hoppyfox. Specially Sir Hoppyfox
I haven't commented on it yet, but I have read the latest chapter and have been looking forward to each new chapter fairly eagerly before it comes out. There are a few individual plot elements I'm slightly sad about, like the apparent final loss of Flash and the LyraBon breakup, but on the whole I've been enjoying the story.
4524462 4524441 4524473 Seems like a lot of people just don't like the themes here/don't think things mesh with my normal stuff. I may cut it shorter than I intended to move on to something diffrent. I dont mean 'rush it'. I mean "Cut a story ark and redo the outline to compensate." As it stands, I can trim out a middle act (about 40k words) and end it sooner simply by Twilight being a bit fortunate.
4524474 I'm glad you're liking it so far DJ. That's a major relief :)
I love it, but really? I'm just reading for the fluffy bits and the eventual meeting with Starswirl and Clover.
4524489 Well what else do you call not getting hit by a flack cannon mid flight?
I am certainly enjoying it, maybe the time dilation pushing things a little but understandable as a plot device.
What about the views and are the comments negative or positive. I know there are stories here are lucky to get one or two comments
4524496 A forceful course correction
4524496 Destiny if a pony has an avoidance cutie mark
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I actually keep spreadsheets tracking my story's data. I'm using these as practice for original fiction, you see? SO I want to see what people like, what this dislike, and why. So I have pretty good data on my overall rate of comments, length of comments on adverage, likes, dislikes, and views.
This story is not only performing under my average, loosing readers slowly but steadily over time at a greater rate than normal. It's comments also have peatered off... Which are signs it's not something my established audience enjoys.
4524385 sempai noticed me! ^3^
I've been enjoying the story so far. It got me to pick up ARK
The premise itself was a bit out of left field, but I feel like it's similar to the DCU showing up it Cataclysm. We're just seeing more of the other side this time. I see some comments about the lack of a central antagonist, and I can see what they're saying, but I feel like the story is fine with the whole "learning to survive" bit. It's fun to see Twilight learn about the world, makes progress, and slowly accrues her circle of animal companions. I feel there's plenty that could be done here to make the setting mesh more with your established AUs, though the time limit kinda puts a damper on a lot of those.
Perhaps it's a bit "slice of life"-y, but I like those kinds of stories as well, so /me shrugs
I have been enjoying the story very much.
I would point out that your low view count could be related to a lack of exposure for the story its self.
4524533 Ah crud... I'm your Senpai? I'm afraid I'm not very good looking and I tend to want to not go out and do things. But if looks are not a priority, you're okay with pre-op trans people, and you're into staying home and sitting togeather quietly doing geek stuff, this could work.
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This is true. If you want to play more, Popmannn and I are on this server: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/vspvp
It's a shame that this isn't a paied promotion XD
I agree... But unfortuantly my brain slaped me untill I foloed through on the idea.
This is true... I hope that's not the total reason. I plan a slice of life/mystery with Lyra, Derpy, and NaN next. I'd hate for people to be mad I chose to step outcide ot traditional adventures (Though there is an antagonist in the plan)
Well the story is good, and the themes are fine, but the tone and timing of this one is all over the place. Some of your conflicts have come completely out of left field and returned to a positive tone within a paragraph. The worst thing you can do in a story that mixes sci-fi and high fantasy is have no build up to a conflict. It's the difference between the Lyra Bon Bon break up where we got no more warning than "went to the dream world" and the Twilight's realization that she was probably part changeling and literally needed certain emotions to remain stable and healthy. That conflict was hinted at through several stories and we were given a complete understanding of all factors involved (though your point on cosmic horror not working if fully understandable still stands), all without giving away what the actual conflict would be. The tone was also much better handled in this incident. Where the Lyra thing was depressing then over the course of literally 4 paragraphs back to this story's overall more positive tone, the twilight conflict went the entire spectrum of emotions you would expect of losing a loved one coupled with the knowledge that most if not all of your decisions were not entirely under your control. It had a several chapter build up, brought new things to the table using familiar concepts, and ended with a feeling of still being delt with despite not being shown. Conversely the Lyra thing ended feeling like the problem no longer existed until the next time it was needed as a plot device.
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Maybe one day, but I'm not quite ready to deal with rando jerks and raiders just yet
It's a slower story, and in the case of Catalyst, the world is almost completely removed from everything else you've done.
Also: NaN? Who would be so mean as to not only give their child a number as a name, but not even give them a valid one? Tsk tsk tsk
I haven't read this story or the original it is a sequel to, so I cannot comment.
What prevents me from reading the story right now is that I haven't read all the background stories to gain a full perspective. Every sequel you make requires more background material to digest in order to approach the current story, and unless I can easily catch up (difficult when my job has me working 10 hour days and there are other stories I'm already committed to following as they update), it has a higher and higher terms of time commitment reading.
I do intend to read them all one day though. I'm working through my backlog.
4524531 All I can say is I hope you finish it.
Of course some of the drop off might be people with other obligations such as school and the like. Know if the latest chapter had been posted Saturday I wouldn't of been able to read it till at least today
I definitely love it, but I get the sort of feeling that it's ending. I honestly and completely don't want it to end because I love ark and I love the idea of twilight in ark, but with people coming in three days to pick her up... I really hope that you drag out those three days a lot and make them as entertaining as possible. Thanks!
That being said I do like it and want to see the story through to the end. The lack of central antagonist isn't a loss due to conflicts being there simply generated by emotional fallout rather than some shadow entity.
it is nearing finals for college students. I know I haven't been reading as much the past few weeks because of school and work.
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I like leaving you big comments and feel bad if I can't. So there is that too.) 
I am most looking forward to Twilight meeting up with Star and Clover, as well both are characters from previous stories of yours I have really liked. 
This exactly is what kept me from catching up until recently. That and moving, packing, adjusting to a new schedule, and not having time to sit down and make a big long comment like I usually do. (I kind of procrastinated in reading because of that too.
I agree with the others in that even though I am enjoying it, it has been a little weird since I haven't played ARK, but meeting all these new creatures is fun. I especially love Chip and Sir Hoppyfox.
I will admit, the anthro has me thrown a bit off too. I will read anthro, but I prefer the ponies as their quadruped selves. Doesn't mean I will stop reading though. I thoroughly enjoy your work, have and will continue to do so.
i just got around to reading it, i tend to let your stories stew a while cause i know you update. that way i can read a lot at once.
4524600 The server is pretty laid back, raiding is done more for fun that people trying to hunt you down and take all your gear. It's not like an official server.
Plus you already have a set of powerful allies. Meep and I are doing well for ourselves and are already the second most advanced tribe on that server. So yeah, get on that whitelist!
4524624 Oh no, don't worry about it ending. There is still the away team shenanigans, and you have already met them. Plus Twilight needs to find her parents. Meep is just a little depressed cause of... Other things... So she is feeling down on the story due to lack of comments. She isn't narcissistic or anything, but her mind does see it as a form of validation to her existence. So she kinda thrives on them.
Is it any wonder she sees herself as a changeling?
I haven't got a chance to check this story out yet myself. I've read a few of your stories and I really enjoyed what I've read. So when I saw this and the story that comes before it I put them on my to read later list thinking they looked like something I'd enjoy. But with my massive backlog of stories to read they kind of just sat there unread.
It looks pretty neat to me at a glance. Seems like something unique which I always love to see. After seeing this post I felt like just starting reading it in the next couple days.
However There are a few stories that I need to read from you before I felt comfy even starting! I'll need to read Cataclysm of course. And it seems that Lyra-7% is canon to this as well? That's one of yours I haven't got to yet. Honestly I think the little thing about...9? stories being canon to this story is a bit of a hurdle for people to get through. I have no problem with reading them all. It actually seems like quite a lot of fun! It's just I tend to switch up what I'm reading and it'd be quite a lot to get through. I think even some people who were really big fans of yours might not have read ALL of those stories. Which might be a big part of why it's not getting quite so many views. It's not that people don't like it. or even that they aren't planning on reading it. Just that a lot of people wouldn't feel comfortable starting to read it without having read that earlier stories.
As for myself I think I'll start reading some things I haven't read with the plan to get to reading Catalyst. And I'll plan to comment on Catalyst when I get there! however I honestly have no idea how long that'd take...I hope you don't get discouraged with your story It's has a very high ratio of up-votes to down-votes so I'd say the people who read it enjoyed it quite a lot actually..I know you're used to that as you're a very good writer! But I hope you do see that people had a positive experience with it.
I think you should keep writing it as long as it's something you're interested in. I'd say the best thing for a creative person to do is to keep making the things they enjoy. It's always nice to see someone be able to keep on making the things they love, and it tends to show through in their work when they do. Likewise when people start to move away from what they really wanted to do to please people their work tends to suffer as a result. I've also seen many MANY artists work hard at trying to please people other then themselves for a while only to burn out completely because of it. So pretty much what I'm getting at is you should do what you love. That I think is the most important thing of all
Poor Meep. None of your stories are boring, I don't have to see to say, I know. ^^
Come Summer I should be able to read much more... and catch up.
4524811 All the stories are canon, technically. As they all share the same universe. (Technically two universes in the same multiverse that interact at the very end, as the old one was both figuratively and literally rebooted.) But they are not all required for reading.
I like to think of it like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. All the stories are tied together and new ones play off the older ones. But they all are mostly capable of being stand alone stories. Sure the sequel ones build a lot more off previous movies, but they can all be done on their own. You just miss a lot of little things cause you don't have the prior info. Technically, Cataclysm was the end of a massive arc. All the beta stories lead up to it. Think of it like the first Avengers; a tying together of all the previous stories to take on one massive threat. And now we pick up on the other side, and the beginning of a new arc.
You don't have to have the prior stories, but it is recommended. If i were to hammer out the core ones that you will most likely want to read, its The Queen is Dead, Lyra 7%, and Cataclysm. There is a story timeline list on Meep's profile, and if you like her work, I recommend reading all of the Beta timeline, but those stories are the core ones which will give you the most info on the world and the important characters in it. Reading those will have you be a lot less lost in current and future stories.
I'd love to read it, but currently I am being kept from it by the fact that I am really behind on your stories (in early chapters of Cataclysm) and not have much time to read. Still, I do enjoy your content regardless and anticipate the time when I get to this one.
4524576 the meep says to the odd cross between gollum and a xenomorph :p