The future of Man of War and Happy Birthday Miles! · 1:20am February 29th
Today is Miles's birthday! Or, tomorrow is, if you're reading at the time of release. Crazy to think one of my favorite jokes with Miles was literally decided by one of the readers. As a Brony Point reward I let someone pick his birthday, and they chose Feb. 29. So now the joke goes whenever he's acting immature he replies that he is only six.
As Man of War nears the next arc and as I've grown as a writer I've come to several conclusions about the story. I do love writing the story and have no intentions of stopping, regardless of whatever happens. But there is a part of me that would like to hold the story. And not just print it out and have it in a binder. But there are clearly legal reasons for not doing that. So I'm posting here to ask some opinions of certain matters. Please answer as honestly as possible and let me know what you all think.
First off I'd like to go through and change all the names of the characters. I don't have a list quite yet of what they'd be, but I do have an idea of how'd I would come to changing them. The names would become regional and would either be Latin, French, Spanish, or English. It would be regional, just like the rest of the world. As a none committed example Twilight Sparkle would change to Candenti Carmine (Sparkling Spell in Latin). Characters that are entirely mine would probably not change. So Miles Eremita would stay the same.
The second thing that I'm considering changing is moving it from full quadruped pony, to anthro. This mostly stems from me having an easier time writing more human characters now than when I started writing. But it would also be an easier story to 'sell' if I were to publish. There's no saying that would happen, but the idea lives rent free in my head.
If I were to do this endeavor to do this, chapters would slow back down as I worked on getting the story completely edited and altered. I'd still write new chapters because that's my hobby. It's how I pass the time. But they'd slow down tremendously. I'm curious how you all feel about these possible changes. So comment below what you think. I'd also like to see if you were an old time reader or a relatively new reader. So if you could let me know that'd be appreciated. I've also linked a poll below where I'd also ask that you vote for how you feel specifically on the antrho vs. pony aspect.
Thanks again for reading, and like always;
Brony on!
Poll ended 4/1/24
So are you changing it for the printed version only, or for the entire thing including here on the site? A bit confusing the way you worded it.
5770285 sorry about that. It will still be on this site. The idea would be to one day print it. But it will still be published here .
5770295
So you're rewriting the story and changing names here on the site too? That was my main concern really. Don't mind the change from quad to anthro really. But changing the names, it wouldn't be mlp related at all at that point anymore.
5770313 possibly? I think the likeness of characters and setting would be similar enough. But I guess that's subjective too. Not to mention the cutie marks would make a similarity as well
5770341
I get entirely where you're coming from. Issue's just whether or not the site lets you get that much leeway with names. I'm full support, I'm just wondering if this would slide due to cases like Fallout Equestria.
I am not sure I am understanding you. You want to use the Twilight Sparkle character (body, life, personality) but change her name? I am an American and only know English so my concern is primarily with the English version.
If this is not the case, if Twilight Sparkle would remain Twilight Sparkle in the English version. Then everything below here in the spoiler section is most likely irrelevant.
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If however it is the case, I don't believe that to be wise. There is a huge difference between having your own character that acts similarly to a known canon character who has their own life and looks; and using a known canon character's looks, life, personality... basically their entire existence under only a different name for no reason.
One is your own take on a canon character's personality in a different life, body, and name. The other sounds just like plagiarism. Something that even getting too close to would most likely seriously impact the approval/disapproval of your story.
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No opinion on the change to anthro as it wouldn't matter to me personally outside of potentially not seeing you challenge yourself with considering the unique aspects of a humanoid form in a loving relationship with a non-humanoid form.
As an example from a mature rated story elsewhere on the internet:I once read a story set in the Chakat universe where a human husband built a coffee table at the perfect size and height to let his Foxtaur wife lay upon it as he made love to her standing without having to bend at awkward angles in some situations or needing a footstool in others. Now there was a forward thinking character and author. As the Foxtaur said when they were done, "Nevermind. This table IS the perfect height."
5770606
Those are some very good points to bring up. I guess my argument would be that I've taken the characters far from what the canon intent was and would argue that they're something I've made now. But I'm not so sure how that holds up. That's mainly why I'm asking for peoples opinions on the matter.
I guess if I were to go through the rewrite I could change aspects of them as well, but I don't know about that either. Maybe I'd just go through and change it on my own and publish it without changing it here? Similar to a Fifty Shades of Gray type deal, who knows.
Thanks for your input,
Brony on!