Friendship is Card Games: The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone · 11:43am May 24th, 2015
Griffons. We've known they were a thing since Season 1. We saw hints of them last year. Now we finally have the worldbuilding we've been speculating about, and…
Well, it certainly wasn't what I was expecting.
Don't get me wrong, it's certainly an interesting take on the topic. Getting griffons to cooperate is very much like herding cats. Sapient cats who can fly away the moment you stop being interesting. I doubt even the Idol of Boreas would've done the job if it had been a matte black. The trick is apparently to appeal to their other half, get them to flock together through enticing breadcrumbs. It makes enough sense for Pinkie Pie.
I have to wonder what the story is given the divide between Grannie Pie and Pinkie's parents. How did the transition from ghosty-giggling turbobaker to pseudo-Amish rock farmers take place?
How long can the Mane Six resist the Map's summons? What does it feel like? Does the sensation grow? A tingle that becomes pain? A mental pressure that becomes unbearable? Or does it remain a constant, eternal presence that simply cannot be ignored? There are a lot of directions to take this.
I wasn't expecting Dash to be quite so dismissive of Gilda at the start of the episode. It makes sense—Rainbow has a very black-and-white way of thinking, and once she picked a side, she stuck with it—yet I still wasn't expecting it. Loyalty cuts both ways; Dash's conviction has a great deal of inertia.
Apparently, Griffonstone is considered part of Equestria, yet is also a kingdom in its own right. Is Equestria the name of the planet, is Griffonstone a protectorate or vassal state, did the griffons just not care, or is Twilight talking out her rear end? (My money's on the second one.)
Also, it's accessible by train. I certainly don't recall anything like it on the map; it must be to the far south. Or Dash and Pinkie just took the Plot Line.
I'm split on the griffons themselves. On the one hand, I was hoping the "only 'G' names" thing wouldn't be a trend. I wasn't expecting something like Georg's model of grandiose, evocative phrase names with more commonly used abbreviations, but I was hoping for a little alphabetical diversity. On the other hand, different cat/bird combinations than the classic lion-eagle hybrid are canon, which I really like.
The Arimaspi is in fact a thing, a cyclopean creature who warred with gold-hoarding griffons. Neat. Though the show gave this one a goatish aspect in its continuing efforts to avoid portraying human faces outside of movies.
Rope, a grappling hook, and a hireling. Dash is a good adventurer, though she really should've negotiated a flat rate and a written contract for her guide.
I certainly wasn't expecting Gilda and Pinkie to bond over baking of all things, but it does make sense. It allows Pinkie to be in her element without becoming the obnoxious spaz that took away Gilda's only friendship, and Gilda's pride in her work is one of the few chinks in her armor of apathy.
On that note, the purpose of the Cutie Map is becoming clear. It's directing the skills of the Bearers where they are most needed. (Kind of obvious, yes, but it's best to get multiple data points before coming to a conclusion.) Last season, the Mane Six earned the keys by both reaffirming their Elements and teaching friendship lessons to others. Now an extension of Harmony is directing them to where they can best use the latter skills.
Furthermore, that extension has an incredible degree of understanding, possibly even prescience. Consider who it sent to Griffonstone: Only the ponies who both had the most history with Gilda. Dash had a point; Rarity could've been sent, especially since Generosity is the griffons' biggest failing. But she wasn't, because she didn't have the connections or knowledge needed to make sure the griffons got the message.
Heck, nopony with a horn was sent at all, likely to ensure that the Idol of Boreas was lost (and that Twilight didn't burn the place to the ground when she saw the library.) A sense of community and solidarity that is tied to a physical object only lasts as long as that object. If a people can come together without material trinkets, their bonds will be all the more enduring. After all, that unity was the true lost treasure of Griffonstone. At least, it should work in theory. We'll see how Gilda will do now that she's an apostle of friendship.
And yeah, out of all the ways they might have done a Gilda redemption episode, I never would've expected this one. Baking powder may have just stayed the collapse of an entire civilization.
(Also, definitely wasn't expecting Gilda to be awkward in flight camp, but that too makes sense. How would you react during your first day in not just a new culture, but surrounded by a completely different species? Once she settled in, she was pretty much how I expected, other than sincerely reciting the Junior Speedsters motto. So cute...)
Oh, and I'll be spelling it "griffin" for the cards. Grandfather clause and all:
Griffin Fledgeling W
Creature — Griffin
Level up 1W (1W: Put a level counter on this creature. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.) 1/1
Level 1-3: Flying, first strike 2/2
Level 4+: Flying, double strike, vigilance 3/3
Cloudskid 2W
Instant
Prevent all damage that up to three target creatures would deal this turn.
"Clouds muffle sound. I probably would've beaten a lot more morons if they couldn't."
—Rainbow Dash, bearer of Loyalty
Enforced Silence 2W
Enchantment
Players can't cast Song spells or activate abilities of Songs.
The equine love of uplifting musical numbers is far from universal.
Grover, Unifier King 3WW
Legendary Creature — Griffin Soldier
Flying
Other Griffin creatures you control get +1/+1 and have vigilance.
Some claim he harvested the dust of golden sunsets from the north wind. Others say he was merely the greatest goldsmith in griffin history.
3/3
Griffonstone Skypride 4WW
Creature — Griffin Soldier
Flying, vigilance
When unified by the brilliance of the Idol of Boreas, Griffonstone's armies soared almost as high as their opinions of themselves.
5/5
Librarian's Secret U
Sorcery
Look at the top card and the bottom card of your library. Put one into your hand and the other into your graveyard.
"Befriend a librarian, and you befriend all the world's knowledge."
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Shelf Neglect 1U
Enchantment
Whenever an opponent draws a card, that player puts the top card of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Nothing suffered the griffins' growing apathy as much as their books.
Dismissive Mockery 2U
Instant
Choose one —
• Copy target instant or sorcery spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
• Change the targets of target instant or sorcery spell.
Entwine 1U (Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)
Splurge X1UU
Sorcery
Gain control of any number of target nonland, nontoken permanents with total converted mana cost X or less.
"What? I was hungry! And lonely!"
—Pinkie Pie, Bearer of Laughter
Fablemonger 3B
Creature — Griffin Monger
Flying
2, Pay 2 life: Draw a card. Any player may activate this ability.
He'll tell you anything you want to hear, but he prefers tales of woe and tragedy.
2/2
Scornful Griffin 1R
Creature — Griffin Warrior
Flying
Scornful Griffin can't be the target of spells or abilities you control.
Though uncaring, griffins are still proud creatures, many unwilling to accept any form of aid.
2/1
Urban Decay 1RR
Enchantment
Whenever a player activates an ability of a land that isn't a mana ability, Urban Decay deals 2 damage to that player.
With the Idol of Boreas lost, the griffins buried their despair in gold and blinded themselves to their city's slow collapse.
Chasm Guide 2R
Creature — Griffin Mercenary
Flying
2: Target creature gains mountainwalk until end of turn. Any player may activate this ability.
Be sure you have enough to pay her until the end of the journey.
3/1
Arimaspi Raider 4RR
Creature — Cyclops Warrior
Trample
Whenever Arimaspi Raider deals combat damage to a player, gain control of target artifact that player controls for as long as you control Arimaspi Raider
They don't care about the value of what they steal. If someone else has it, they want it.
4/4
Cutie Map's Call 3G
Instant
Search your library for a Pony, Pegasus, or Unicorn card, reveal it, put it into your hand, and shuffle your library,
"The Map might call the Bearers at any time, with no warning or explanation. It's honestly kind of obnoxious."
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Whisk of the Ages 2
Artifact
1,T: Target player shuffles his or her library.
"Mix thoroughly until the brain forms stiff peaks."
—Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar, The Underworld Cookbook
Golden Idol of Boreas 4
Legendary Artifact
As Golden Idol of Boreas enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Each creature you control of the chosen type gets +1/+1 for each other creature you control of that type.
Hero Complex RW
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2, has first strike, and attacks each turn if able.
Some ponies just want to save the world, even if it isn't especially in need of saving.
Howling Abyss WBR
Enchantment
At end of combat, each player sacrifices an attacking or blocking creature.
When there are no creatures on the battlefield, sacrifice Howling Abyss.
Pegasi see a nightmare of shrieking winds and crumbling crags. Griffins see a convenient garbage dump.
Griffin Nihilist 2(wb)(wb)
Creature — Griffin
Flying
When Griffin Nihilist enters the battlefield, exile all cards from all graveyards.
Some griffins are more aggressive about their indifference than others.
3/2
Diverse Solidarity 3GW
Sorcery
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn for each creature type among creatures you control without changeling,
Flashback 6GW (You may cast this card for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Griffonstone, Aerie of Apathy
Legendary Land
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
2W, T: Target creature can't attack or block this turn.
Someone has already given their awesome take on this:
derpicdn.net/img/view/2015/5/24/902907.gif
Reducing the Girffons to a shambling third world country, basically destroyed my head canon, and forced me to consider using the Alternate Universe escape goat. But at least I can write on the Xing (Chinese) ponies more.
But In some ways, I liked this episode. Mostly because it did what it set out to do.
King Grover himself is certainly an awe inspiring figure.
And a charmer, even in death.
3093270
No one said this was the only griffon nation...
3093271
Yeah, I actually pictured them as an Empire. Basically, a more stable and less tyrannical version of 19 century Imperial Russia.With Air Ships. Not to mention a centuries worth of friendly political relations, and trading with Equestria would have had their Czar be in good terms with Princess Celestia.
Maybe that wasn't such a good idea?
3093298
Personally, I think it sounds awesome. Have Griffonstone be the back end of nowhere in relation to the Empire and you're in business.
3093344
Thanks for tip.
I assume that there is a whole continent (Neighropa / Taura) dominated primarily by Griffons whose subjects are largely Ponies, with a big Griffon Empire smack-dab in its middle (centered on Germaney and Lippanzer). The Griffons are the aristocracy, the Ponies the commoners. And the system is breaking down.
The Griffon Kingdom of Hyperborea, by comparison, was never more than a small nation on an island off the northetn east coast of Amareica.
Shouldn't Grover, Unifier King be a Legendary?
3093365
I figure the same thing, for the most part. There are some independent equine nations in the southwest, Prance and Cabalia most prominently, but it's mostly minotaurs along what ponies call the Marediterranean and griffons ruling the Alp-analogues. (I assume largely Earthlike geography for sake of ease.)
3093408
Yes, yes he should be. Fixed.
3093271
She didn't explicitly say it was the only one, but she did say it was the heart of the griffin kingdom and that it used to be the most majestic kingdom in all the land, so even if there is another one this is one used to be the big one.
Also, leaving aside the idol thing, what the story amounts too is griffins used to be very divided, a king finally unified them, their kingdom grew to be the most majestic one in all the land, then much much later a different king lost control of the kingdom after a series of event trigger by the goat, the kingdom went dark to the outside and now there is no kingdom anymore, they don't even use their own currency and just use bits instead. They sound like a longer lasting, less invady Mongol empire.
I think what we saw could have been the result of a series of civil conflicts culminating in indifference and anarchy once the commoners grew tired of the figures in power, and the once in charge simply lost all their power once everyone refused to follow. Seems to me like the moment they're nit able to pay their armies anymore, every single last one of their privates and generals except for their most loyal ones are going to just pick up and fly away. I mean, we actually saw a griffin leaving Dash to die as soon as she ran out of bits.
The griffins are half eagle half cat, neither of which are too social an animal. Perhaps the incredible thing is that someone managed to unify them at all on the fist place, and what we see is basically what happens when they go back to their more natural state of being. Each is self sufficient enough that they don't really have much use for society other than to find partners and a small amount of comfort. Herding cats and all that.
As for them being part of Equestria, my guess is Twilight is using Equestria like people from the USA use America, which is actually not even just one, but two continents, and not a country, yet they still describe themselves as american, even though so can everyone from Tierra de Fuego to Canada.
Geographically Griffinstone was clearly on a different continent on the north west of Equestria, separated by a small body of water. Maybe the fall of the Griffinstone was recent enough that they did manage to build railroads. Who knows, maybe Gilda was sent to Cloudsdale to escape the conflict and eventual collapse of the kingdom.
I guess that makes it like the Crystal Empire? :B Which itself never made sense.
Also, I like the G-names, don't hate. D:
It's odd, and I liked Arimapsi's design, but isn't it a little interesting that the writers are writing in these huge powerful threats? The Smooze, Arimapsi, Tirek: all these are guys you'd find in G1. ...As a masculine aspect. Huh.
That old vulture was pretty damn interesting, though I still prefer Gustav.
Cast Diverse Solidarity when you control Mistform Ultimus: Creatures you control get... hold on, let me check the comprehensive rules.
After seeing the episode, I knew you'd create the enchantment that stops you from casting song spells or activating the abilities of songs. Did you consider also having it exile song permanents?
3093531
I always thought the Crystal Empire was not actually part of Equestria, but they happen to have a monarch that holds titles on both places, which is not too really that strange. The closeness between the reigning monarch and Equestria probably means they have all sorts of treaties that make them not too different from something like the EU.
So, was anyone else half-expecting Gummy tovbe standing next to a completed cake at the end of the episode?
And now Twilight has her first gryphon apostle. Do you think she'll grow more powerful as her influence spreads and she attracts more believers in friendship? Also, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to Gilda later. Friendship pope-empress has a nice ring to it...
This season has shown us that the writers of FiM are insanely more original than the entire fandom.
I find it rather spooky awesome, like one of those insane procedural forum letters that actually turns out cohesive and sensible.
My assumption with the map thing was that it was just a notification/reminder, and they could ignore it as long as they want. It's just that, you know, they actually want to travel to new places and help ponies, so if the map tells them to do something they'll gladly do it. They don't HAVE to go where it says any more than you HAVE to look at your phone when it makes the text message noise.
I find it strange that someone would try to make a living baking disgusting treats that break ponies' teeth and can be improved by just adding baking powder (where none was before). Like, clearly she does not actually know how to cook, and in a community that small you're going to run out of people to fool just once. But then again, that was the point; if all you do is short-sightedly look after yourself, you'll drive yourself into a ditch.
Also, can't Gilda leave at literally any time? I mean, she went to Ponyville for a visit, and she went to flight school. If she hates this place, what's keeping her here? (I guess "having nowhere to go", but money won't solve that--then again, there's the moral of the story sneaking up on me agian).
Anyways, it seems weird to me that Twilight doesn't think she can go to interesting places on her own initiative. Girl, you're a Princess now. The farther away someplace is, the more easily you can just up and go there and call it a diplomatic visit.
----
Shelf Neglect: Jace's Erasure, except reversed. Not as obviously useful since you don't usually want the opponent drawing extra cards, but there's certainly cards where it works better.
Griffin Fledgeling: Both level 0 and 1 are good for their price, so the option of making it even bigger late-game makes this a winner.
Splurge: Ha, your kobold-and-ornithopter tribal deck isn't looking so hot now, is it? (Except actually it is since some kobolds are tokens)
Fablemonger: Ah yes, letting anybody pay life to draw cards. Now I just need four copies of Corrupt, and to wait until they whittle themselves down thinking they're safe... (The body's not awful either, and you can use it yourself)
Scornful Griffin: Oh, that's a really interesting ability. At least she's strong enough to show up in limited.
Urban Decay: Play it in multiplayer to annoy everyone with fetchlands. Though really it's for the more exotic lands that want to recur their ability every turn.
Chasm Guide: Yikes, giving your opponent mountainwalk when you're red? You'd better have a plan in mind if you play this creature.
Arimaspi Raider: Cool. Also, love for the cyclops tribal.
Golden Idol of Boreas: It's like Coat of Arms, except it only affects your creatures and it costs less. Which is to say, it's totally bonkers in any tribal deck.
Hero Complex: Now that is a great card. Exactly what RW should look like, and I want four.
Howling Abyss: Oh, I love the mind games of this in a token deck. "Yeah, you could try to block me... if you're willing to give up one of your guys. Me? I can live without one of these goblins. Oh, and same goes when it's your turn to attack me." (Or worse, a zombie deck where you can just get them right back).
Diverse Solidarity: Oh, cool. An anti-tribal card.
---
Overall, I feel like you could have gotten a lot more out of the "Any player may play this ability" cards in this set. It exemplifies their stubbornly mercurial ways perfectly. Still pretty good though.
Two words Griffin Mafia
There's a typo in Librarian's Secret "Put one into your hand and the other into your graveyard."
Unsure just how broken Splurge is. It seems balanced but at the same time I've got this feeling that it's broken.
I think Cutie Map's Call would be fine at 2G, since it's restricted by creature type and green is really good at fishing creatures out of the deck. Normally it limits by CMC, but by type seems restrictive enough, not so much so for a tribal deck but for limited it might be useful and actually see play at the lower cost.
Golden Idol of Boreas joins the ranks of Coat of Arms, Door of Destinies, Adaptive Automation and Obelisk of Urd making a single creature type deck (or Changeling!) rock so hard. Pinging 3094533 here so he's aware of the cards other than Coat of Arms.
Sadly the Idol doesn't really help with a Hoofcraft deck, unless you go solo one of the tribes, since the Unicorns and Pegasi are not "Pony"s. I really think they should all be "Unicorn/Pegasus Pony" but that's Wizard's templateing for you, only one race unless it really, really, really needs more.
I want to say Howling Abyss would be "At end of combat in which a creature attacked or blocked" but that's more wordy and doesn't feel right. As it is now it checks every combat, even if there are no attacks.
Hum, I know you can skip the combat step all together but if you say you're moving into your declare attackers step do you have to actually declare an attacker? I think not, because if you move into that step and then no longer have a valid attacker you skip combat. And what happens if you attack with only one creature and it is removed as an attacker before combat ends? Food for thought.
3095321
If an effect wants you to sacrifice a permanent, and you control no valid permanents that meet the condition, you do not sacrifice anything. So at the end of combat, if you did not attack or block (or none of the creatures you used survived) you are unable to sacrifice anything and thus don't have to sacrifice anything.
Anyways, I already knew about Adaptive Automaton. It and the other two aren't really direct comparisons (just very strong additions to a tribal deck). But you have to admit that if Coat of Arms is considered balanced-but-strong, one-sided Coat of Arms for less mana is bonkers.
3093516
Well, there was clearly some griffon civilization organized enough to train and send a team of athletes to the Equestria Games, and by extension, foster the teamwork and cooperation necessary for that team to qualify for events like the aerial relay. Griffonstone may have once been the seat of griffon culture, but capitals can move.
3093531
At least Griffonstone was part of a kingdom, instead of a one city-state empire that was ruled by kings and queens.
And it feels like a silly gimmick to me.
3093567
The Arimaspi may have a Grogarian aspect to it with the oat head and all, but I'm pretty sure Megan never fought a cyclops. And the Smooze never struck me as especially masculine. Eldritch, yes—it's basically a shoggoth—but not especially masculine. And it's not like there aren't positive hypermasculine forces on the show.
derpicdn.net/img/2015/4/11/871484/medium.png
3093595
Diverse Solidarity also works wonders with the "of Velis Vel" spells, Amoeboid Changeling, Runed Stalactite...
A fermata is a prolonged silence. It doesn't end the song, it's just a period where there is to be no singing. (In a beautiful bit of accidental parallelism, it's also known as a bird's eye or a cyclops eye.)
3094533
Twilight feels comfortable suborning herself to another's authority. Following the map's commands could be the next step towards her becoming a strong, independent princess who don't need no mentor.
3095321
Actually, the only time you skip the combat phase is when a card tells you to, as with Moment of Silence. Otherwise, combat happens every turn, even if no attackers are declared. And if that's the case, then when Howling Abyss triggers, there will be no attacking or blocking creatures to sacrifice. And yes, removing a creature from combat renders it ineligible, since it's neither attacking nor blocking anymore.
3095982
And it's not like Nightmare Moon wasn't the biggest threat Equestria ever faced.
And it's not like Chrysalis isn't the most adorable villain ever.There didn't seem to be griffon dignitaries of any kind, though, perhaps those were Equestrian nationals. I mean, clearly there are griffon immigrants in Equestria, the ones at the Games could have simply been born in pony lands.
3095982 A fermata may be a prolonged silence, but you still add verse counters to Songs. I'm afraid the flavor police will be issuing you a citation.
3096163
You've never hummed under your breath or sung in your mind?
3095982 A fermata is NOT a prolonged silence. A fermata is a musical sign shaped like an eye, or a horizontal parenthesis over a period. It means to hold the note written under it, i. e. the beat stops and everyone keeps doing what they're doing until the conductor signals for the music to continue. It's only a prolonged silence if a rest is indicated under the fermata.
3095982 I know, but it does seem like they're increasing the amount of masculine aspects available to look at. (Yes, the Arimapsi is quite Grogarian.) Not just with the villains but with actual side characters.
Remember the conversation we had ages ago about what in equestria is black, griffins are a canon black nation with all the selfishness and moral relativity included.
3096257
Took me way too long to correct that, but correct it I have. Thanks for pointing out the error.