Looks interesting, ill read it later.

remind me again what this story is about, and yes, I read it

>>855296855296

Well I did say it was only in the build-up chapters.

WHY is no one commenting this is awesome

Sad

BUT AWESOME

>>855361855361

I'm glad to see someone approves so far.  Thanks!

(Seriously. My confidence issue on this was worst than Twilight's. Or Fluttershy.)

This is amazing and so sad

how did you come up with this

Don't let the small number of views discourage you this is a work of art that any brony would love to read

Keep up the good work. I take my hat off to you sir

bravo

bravo

I demand more!

Pretty good. Post more chapters.

Tell me, is this story going to have an equivalent of the My Lai massacre in it? That would be interesting.

>>856295856295

I'll try to put in anything requested from history or film. So sure. I can work it in.

It's not so much that if the event will fit the story (basically anything can go), but rather if I can fit the story around the event (which I have ways of circumventing, should I not be able to work it in completely right).

Oh. And songs. Any songs that anyone requests will most definitely used as ambience music where applicable.

Great work here. It keeps making me have flashbacks to "We Were Soldiers" and its peaceful introduction before the conflict. A SNAFU situation going to FUBAR in no time flat.

I really do suggest looking up the sound track from the movie "We Were Soldiers" it would do quite well in this, as for others there of course be the old 'Nam classics.

All in all this is really well thought out and an enjoyable read as it not only encompasses the horrors and hell of the conflict but the trauma of being torn from home by a letter and told: "Welp, sorry shitface but you're going to war!"

>>858079858079

For some reason, I like that random line so much, I'll put it in later.

"We Were Soldiers" was the movie where the guy lost most his men at the end, right? I'm not sure, and I'm not looking it up right now.

>>858203858203

In a nutshell I guess you could say that. Also, thanks for including my quote...Suppose my strange mind is good for SOMETHING after all!

I'm a little iffy on how this came out, but for the most part, I think it's okay. This chapter was strange to write. I knew exactly what I wanted, but no clue where to put them. From that point, my writing process started breaking down, and then I got stuck. Eventually I said 'Screw it. I'm doing it a different way.' and changed the style to 'write down some ideas, write down sections, cut out and paste into the right places later, add in the remaining parts to bridge them'. Personally, I'm still unsure as to how well I executed the chapter.

Despite all that, the chapter was also a whole lot of fun to put in references to. It was hard to restrain myself. If you think I went overboard, well, I don't care. It was fun. Besides, Pinkie Pie's personality was just asking for references to be tacked on to her. Private Pie-le anyone? Still, for the most part, I kept stuff within boundaries.

Also, I had to mix the normal boot camp with one that also does heavy specialized instructions for each type of pony. I needed to inform the ponies/audience the quirks of the region. Yes, I leveled the playing field. Unicorns were my first concern. I couldn't have them running around with force fields or blasting magic, so this is my way of a handicap. Of course, magical abilities will still have a role later on, but to dampened or pratical extents. Next up was pegasi, but this was easier to circumvent. I couldn't have them flying around the battlefield getting kills from above. But that's easy to fix. Bullets. Why would you fly around if bullets faster than you are aimed towards you? Pegasi flight abilities will still have use though, such as dashing to cover. Earth ponies, well, I just have to train them to optimize their strength.

Overall, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. And wooowwww, this chapter turned out longer than I expected.

Man, I have the inkling feeling I left something out of this.

I loved this chapter. It really took a realistic approach to the day to day life of the soldiers of the War Ministry. Very accurate. The way the drill sargents carried themselves was spot on. Fantastic work.

"A dressmaker! Well, by your firing results, I assure you that you will no longer be making perfect clothes and weaving string through fabric, but instead be a tailor of death weaving bullets through enemies" Honestly, I laughed a bit after reading that. I wish I could give you another thumbs up, so here's a Pinkie Pie.

>>896521896521

You should see my author's commentary on this. Emphasis on accuracy was one or my main points. In a fictional land of ponies no less. And the day-to-day part was actually the main reason (along with the tons of information/training I had to include) was one of the reasons an originally 5k max chapter turned out to 9k. Strange what TV Tropes inspires me to do...

As for the Pinkie Pie, hey, my first award!

Yeah, that speech is my favorite original line in this chapter.

Reminds me of Curahee from band of brothers. I always enjoy reading/watching detailed accounts of life in bootcamp, with this being no exception. Though rarity a marksman? Not sure how that would work out. And who mans the M60?

>>919734919734

Well, there's a couple nice reasons for Rarity to be able to be a sniper. And you'll just have to wait until Chapter 5 (Chapter 4 is in the works) to find out who the support gunner is. And it's obviously not Fluttershy (even though that's set up for an amazingly hilarious reference).

>>919734919734

Oh, and also, you accidentally quad-posted. Fixed.

>>919957919957

sorry about that, my computer derped

Not my kind of story, but the way it's formatted and written certainly deserves the attention that it's not getting. With some more time and a little more work, this could be great. For the moment though, it's still pretty darn good.

Have a like and continue on your way

Okay! Here's the next chapter. I really didn't outline this chapter at all, and so the middle parts were kind of done spontaneously. Not perfect, but I'm satisfied. Next chapter is a little more fun.

Pretty good. I loved it. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.

Equstria total war

>>975118975118

... What? I know it's a story, but what?

>>975872975872

Nah it's just a stupid thing my friend say s when he's playing medieval total war if it's a fic I've never heard of it

>>981418981418

Ah. Well it is indeed a fic, and one of the most highly rated on this site. Hasn't updated in a while though.

Yay! And also I somehow knew that Rarity would be the sniper, she seems like that kind of exacting pony that doesn't want to miss at all.

O.K.... I'm in the comments now. When does you expect the next chapter out? Please!

>>10061031006103

Much better. Anyways, I plan on this Friday, and should things turn for the undesirable, two days later than that at max. But I'm sure Friday is good.

You know, if you click that star next to the thumbs and keep hovering over it, there's an option for 'Email Updates'. I know it says 'Favorites', but it's also a tracker.

I know I'm already tracking it.

>>10061251006125

Great! Because it's a little more misleading than the 'Track' option that used to be there waaaayy back months ago.

So yeah, Friday. And if you think you got good ambiance songs from that era that you'd like to request, feel free.

In the meantime, if you like war stories, check my favorites gallery on my page. Top one has some of the best.

>>10061501006150 I'm confused by the whole ambiance songs thing you mentioned. Did you mean like songs to play while reading it or what?

>>10081611008161

Yeah. I don't know if you've seen it yet, but a good number of stories have links to music/songs in the middle of paragraphs. It helps create atmosphere.

Especially for this story, where radios would be playing many of the time.

>>10085651008565 The only problem is that you have artist like Vinyl around during that time so the radio's wouldn't be playing Vietnam era music it would probably be more like modern music or, if your in Vinyl's troop, house. Nonetheless good idea though.

>>10085881008588

Averted. In Rarity's farewell sequence, you'll notice Sweetie Belle saying that 'troops love the stuff they dug up over there'. And WHOA, what you just said made me think that I accidentally published Chapter 5!

Also, rule of cool (that's a TV Tropes thing, okay to ignore). Besides. It's a lot more interesting than just normal background music.

>>10086311008631 Wow! I don't have a very good memory I guess. I completely forgot that you said that in an earlier chapter, odd enough though I remembered the part about Sweetie Bell collaborating with Vinyl to make a Jazz album. Also could you fill me in on the TV Tropes thing. I don't quite get the reference.

>>10086601008660

TV Tropes is a website you will lose a couple hours of your life on. All you need to know.

Next, where were you going with the Vinyl troop thing?

>>10086791008679 Well I was thinking maybe a side story telling the tales of other characters (Vinyl, Octavia, Lyra, Bon Bon, Gilda, ect.). You know a break from the main cast to tell a short side story of their event in the jungle. But it's not my story so I'll leave any writings to you and your awesome talent.

>>10088431008843

Ah. Well background character overload something to avoid. Gotta keep ponies at home too, right?

Interestingly, you got details mixed up with what you remembered from the farewell scene. Sweetie did do a collab, but she did a separate one with the jazz, and another one refurbishing a Vietnam-era vinyl with... Vinyl. Seriously, though. I thought I accidentally posted Chapter 5 already.

>>10089031008903 Don't worry, you didn't. But it was a  bit of a spoiler to know their is something going on with Vinyl. I don't mind though. It keeps me waiting.

>>10089181008918

Well there is, considering the end of Chapter 2.

I hope I can get Chapter 5 out by Friday (I'm excited for it myself), but I'm doing a group write, which has amazingly taken time out of writing my other stuff.

>>10089591008959 No worries. Your story and about three other authors stories have me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for anyone of them to be published. The only problem with that is they are all being released around the same time according to the other authors. Which means when they do come out they will probably consume all my free time and make it impossible to get any writing done. But nonetheless a good story's worth delaying my own work.

I feel like this chapter should be longer for some reason, but I really wanted to get it out now. I got the important stuff down anyways. Anything else, I could say in a later chapter.

So yeah, experimenting with putting in songs. I hope I did it decently. Yeah, I know there's no songs for the later half, but that part is very dialogue oriented anyway.

And here is the complete conversation with Trixie that Redwood was talking about.

YAY! AToR! This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites, mainly due to the war atmosphere. I feel your last musical choice could have been better, but that's JMO. Also their was one grammar error where you meant to put good but you put god. I really wish I could remember where that was but alas to no avail. Sorry. Also great job.

'Edit' It's in the "Brains are no god if nopony's willing to move" sentence.

>>10365991036599

Y'know, I actually fixed that once, but stuff happened and it got un-fixed.

Any music choices are always welcome.

Also- Razorwing Greybeak- if you're still reading this, this chapter was the actual intended use of that line.

>>10366161036616 When it comes to music choices I really only enjoy dark, sad music like How it Ends by Devochka and orchestral music so my opinions wouldn't be of much use for your story. Sorry. You could use Flower by Moby for a latter chapter if you think it would work. I have no idea what your doing later in the story so I don't really know how it would fit, but nonetheless it has a strong military like feel to the song. You know if you wanna...

Here are some songs I suggest:

http://www.youtube.com/#/watch?v=vBecM3CQVD8

http://www.youtube.com/#/watch?v=WJDnJ0vXUgw

http://www.youtube.com/#/watch?v=CABCIseO8Zo

May have some more later.

>>10381521038152

I just found out that your links don't work.

>>10535301053530 just copy and paste them on the address bar. The songs are Sympathy for the Devil by Rolling Stones, Gimme Shelter also by Rolling Stones, and Goodnight Saigon by Billy Joel.

>>10589261058926

I did. They don't work. But since you gave me the names, I'll check 'em out.

finally got to reading it. I love it!

Pinkie gets a flamethrower, oh shit.

this is awesome

it is really well written the plot and the emotions are clearly displayed

it it what we all hope to get in a good story

well the plot isn't displayed too much or it'd ruin the story but it is really well done anyway

really good but also really sad

>>11735861173586

Relax, the sad will fade away in a few... then occasionally return.

>>11743711174371

YAY and awwww,btw from what i did read so far did i get it good when i say that in this story,human race did destroy itself with war and then ponies came and discovered human stuff?

>>11743851174385

Not necessarily. We just kind of went gone. It's not really important how we went bye-bye.

>>11743951174395

ok-i get it as an magical wizard has apeared and went angry because he didnt got free cookies from any human.then he killed himself and teh world.

WOW! After 2 months in development, it's finally here! And this chapter marks the spot where I lower my try-hardness on this fic down to 70%. Basically, part BS it.

BECAUSE!

Rewrite is going to be started soon! I'll probably get Chapter 7 out for this though, so anyways, enjoy!

I feel like I should've done an author's commentary here, but I really wanted to hit that "Publish" button.

>>13623731362373 YAY! NEW AToR! Yippie! I'm so gonna read the hell outta this.

O.K. now I finished. First off, I really wanna avoid spoilers and all, but damn, Coal... That sucks. I really connected with him in the group. To be honest I figured Crystal with her crazy flight attempts would be the first to go. Nevertheless, great chapter and I really am glad to see some of that epic writing style in here. Well don good sir.

>>13629161362916

Yeah. It kinda served as a "This is really war. It sucks, and is definitely not fair. And it does not choose who dies." (But I'm sure I had a better explanation earlier. Can't remember right now.). Especially for Pinkie in this case. Thought he could be changed from just keeping to himself? Sorry, the war kinda interrupted that. In all honesty, if he did live, the story would be just as interesting, considering PInkie's mission.

Glad you enjoyed!

Very cool bud, and sorry for taking so long to get around reading this. With my current work schedule, being sick today was my only chance to get anything done. Sorry. Like I said though, very cool bud and adds alot of backstory to Ditzy. Have a good day bud.

>>19327631932763

Nah, it's fine if you have a busy schedule. Doesn't matter to me.

This isn't a good comparison with our Vietnam War. Vietnam facing a civil war not aggression from a foreign power, other then the United States. The U.S. didn't have any obligations there.

>>19730661973066

"Undergoing rewrite"

There was also this strange explanation that it isn't supposed to be a comparison. It's only supposed to take the atmosphere.

Like I said. Rewrite. This was my second story on here and it had an issue-filled development period. Eventually, there was always something about the backstory that didn't tick with me right. And I always knew that there was barely any parallels between the backstory here and the history of the real one.

It said at the top that there were three songs for this chapter, but I only saw one song, Fortunate Son, mentioned. Great story so far, by the way.

>>19730661973066

I'm pretty sure it isn't supposed to be exactly identical to what the actual Vietnam War was like.