A map · 7:30am Aug 4th, 2012
There is a map. There is a freaking map.
GOD DAMN IT
I just finished, I had just finished my own map D: Months and months of work and development (seriously, this thing was massive)! I knew I had to get it out before season 3 to give it it's own AU place before it was inevitably destroyed by canon, but now it seems I won't even have that chance.
(And don't get me started on the issues I have with this map. Oh no. Not at all.)
Of course, this actually brings up a very interesting issue. Dealing with canon like this was always going to be a big problem for me. I have to go into these stories of mine knowing full well that their grip on being show-accurate is fragile and fleeting at best. After all, when you deal with as much history and world building as I love to, you're doomed from the beginning. Making matters worse is the huuuge disconnect between my epic fantasy and the show's style, but hey, I like to think of it as an epic fantasy interpretation of Equestria!
But now I am in a dodgy position. I have 70k + words of adventure sitting on my computer, constructed around a very specific layout of Equestria and the surrounding nations, a layout that has been tactically nuked by this map. The question I have to ask myself is whether I go through and completely gut it and change it (which really isn't an option considering how location specific the plot is) to keep it in line with the map, ignore the map completely, or try and find a balance between those two options. Or as an extension to the second option, I could pretend that because the map hasn't been shown in the show, it doesn't count as canon.
Or I could just quit my complaining and accept the fact that I am writing fanfiction and that I need to toughen up, haha.
Onwards and upwards! Onwards and upwards.
I just ignore it completely. I starting writing the story before the map was released, using a different map doesn't make it a weaker story.
Remember, this is fan fiction! The whole basis of this is to be able to say "I reject your reality and substitute my own!"
Give up Mystic.
You're a hack and a failure, and now you're going to be out of canon.
psh, who gives a damn if theirs a map? I'd rather you use yours and write that story anyways. I WANT your works.
269292 Yeah, it's frustrating though, because I don't like being too far out of canon before I post something. I thought I would have had more time considering it was between seasons.
269296 img.waffleimages.com/2b3500c1e0dc570cc494b4d3dec42a57844e495e/carebear-suicide.gif
269306 It's a pretty cool map, too, haha. And don't worry, stuff should be coming soon!
CvBrony beat me to saying it. You came up with your own interpretation before the official map was released; way I see it, no one is to tell you to stick to canon.
Ignore the map.
*Pat*
Oh my! 70K.. words..
I also saw the map.
(Equestria sounds like USA plus CANADA. Wait! Where is Trotingham and Stalliongrad?)
And I finally realized what InsertAuthurHere recently talked in his blog.
I'll still enjoy reading fiction with other settings.
It's still very interesting.
It reminds me there is a great nerf of Luna/Celestia from Limitless Goddess to Very Powerful Immortal Pony in season 2.
But reading fictions about them is still exciting for me.
Good luck and bless u!
269318 269337 Yeah, I think what I may do is mostly ignore the map before this story, and then re-assess afterwards to see what can be done for future projects.
269354 Yeah, I guess that's the important stuff, at least. Still, it's always nice managing to write a cool story and have it stay within canon as well.
It's seems all sorts of authors (specifically the ones who focus on world-building) are having a crisis following this map. As I mentioned here, the released map goes against canon, so really, it doesn't matter if any authors follow the map or not, they're going to be wrong either way. Might as well be wrong in the way you are most comfortable with. If you have 70k words build around a specific map, forget the released one and use that one. I'm not going to hold authors to this map and won't blame them for inaccuracies that take place due to evolving canon.
Personally, I don't like how they released an official map. If anything, it squanders creativity and ruins a lot of the fun of world building. Sure, nothing is actually known about any of these towns, so there is that avenue, but it's just not the same. If you're going to use your map, more power to you. Personally, the only thing I'm going to use the map for is puns (Vanhoover? Brilliant!).
Stick it up there.
Everything here is Fanfiction. None of it is realistically going to become Canon (Derpy excluded).
I'm more upset that this seems to disprove the world of It's a dangerous business, going out your door. I freakin' loved that fic, but ah well. Can't win them all.
ignor the other map, just link to your own in the first chapter, so everyone know's what you are writing about ... and than give us this AWESOME story !!!!
Here's my suggestion. More than likely I'll end up reading the fic, map-specific or not. The way I see the official map, it's just a *suggestion* of how the world should be. But also, since we have not seen it in the show and there's no guarentee that the map was, in fact, created by Hasbro and not a 3rd party of made a fancy poster, or that it really even *is* show-specific, post yer fic and run with it. It ain't the first time people -bend- the canon a bit to fit. Besides, we're talking a magikal world inhabited by talking pastel ponies. With Pinkie Pie. There is no guarentee that stuff is always as it appears. If all else fails, you can just claim alternate dimension.
Damn I feel stupid for saying so but...
What map?
269406 Yeah, I think that's what I am going to have to do with this one. Still, hopefully I will be able to rearrange a few locations (change them from being in the north to the south or whatever) to make it all work a little better in line with this map. You're right about this map breaking some of the show's own canon. But then again, this is MLP we're talking about here. They can't stick to their own canon to save themselves, haha.
269478 You're not wrong about Dangerous Business, haha. Such an awesome story.
269531 Haha, well now I hope that it lives up to your expectations!
269548 Yeah, I guess so. Ultimately, I'll just have to work my world in as close as I possibly can, I guess, and hope it doesn't rub people the wrong way too much!
269587 4.bp.blogspot.com/-6OE3RdQFSJM/UBw8SRIVboI/AAAAAAAAE6o/QAVDWpmBvbo/s1600/1yawf.jpg
That map, haha.
I just look in that lower left corner, and then shrug. To me that map is like the maps at amusement parks. Gives a general layout, but that's about it. And if that map doesn't help your story, don't use it. There are a -ton- of fics that have the griffons to the north, not the east across a sea.
I say, shrug your shoulders and keep on keeping on.
269622 My griffins were to the north as well, haha. North east, to be specific, just outside the border.
269599
Firstly, awesome! In my opinion... Prob gonna do a blog entry bout it
Second, yeah... I understand about the predicament now but like 269406 said, it's up to you to follow it in the end. I don't get the un-canon they talk about but yeahhh
For me though, this map is a godsend in its own right!
I love working with things that have a basis so I can create what I want from it while still feeling true about it! And even still, Equestria is only ONE continent it looks like, since there are markers indicating there are griffons and dragons further east but gives no indication as to there domains... (and yes, I know that the dragon one usually means its unexplored, but I think they did it literally for sake of easiness. Either way, it expands the world as a whole.) also, it never showed past Macintosh mountains, San palomino desert, the badlands, and hayseed swamp areas... So who knows what else is there?
So I am thinking there is probably going to be one to two more continents on the earth... Just that equestria is probably the largest/most successful.
Theory, also, is that they already had a bunch of these locations set up for future episodes. So basically, just for the sake of convenience for people, they made a map to show where everything is plus a few other places to make us ponder about them and such...
I personally love the map and think its great, but I do agree it does squander some world building... Not enough where EVERYTHING is ruined, but enough to feel the butthurt...
Sorry, had to get this outta my system
I'm surprised at how small Everfree is, to be honest. I think we all believed it was this huge, evil wilderness. guess not lol
269406
I loved the pun of Vanhoover.
Personally, I always head-cannoned Equestria as being similar to the Lower Mainland of British Columbia and northern Washington State given that the show is made in Vancouver, and Mount Baker seems like it was made to have Canterlot perched on it's side.
269651
It says right on the map: Not to scale. So, we don't know if the Everfree is huge, or not.
269624
I always put the griffons to the south, for the sole reason that eveyone else puts them in the north.
Not that I have used griffons at all in any of my stories. But if I did, they'd be to the south and live on a range of short mountains that overlooked a flat plain. Live on the mountains, hunt on the plains.
Just insert a "oh, nvm, it was just a silly dream. Spike, get me some coffee pls," plot at the end and everything will be fine.
Jk. (I will come and get you if this happens)
Seriously, who gives a fuck? As a discordian pope I say that the truth is nothing but a big mindfuck.
You created a new storyverse, now be proud of it and give ALL your love to it (That's what the two sisters are doing, too!). And when there's someone trolling around because of that map while you're doing this, just send him to me...
Edit: After all, this is MLP. Mistakes are a part of the show and so they are part of fictions.
I would say ignore the map. It is the story that is more important. Not some doodles on a paper.
Well you could use your own map for now (maybe change a few things here and there) and then slowly go to the ''canon'' map.
The canon map doesn't have to be 100% absolute, there can be things the canon map doesn't show.
Blah.
First up: None of us would even be here if our brain's weren't happy to run with a bit of suspension of disbelief, or were capable or processing the old "multiverse" theory. Canon isn't set in stone, its set in rubber, or possibly jelly.
Secondly: The effort that you've put into this is only going to (in my loudmouthed opinion) contribute towards the epicness or your... epic.
I'm pretty sure no one here is going to pelt their laptop across the room and tableflip in rage because you put Trottingham in the wrong cardinal direction... because there IS no wrong direction. Its your story.
(Then again, if you introduce Applejack's or Scootaloo's parents, it may break my brain, I may pelt my laptop across the room and I may tableflip in rage.
)
269628 Haha, well I'm glad someone is happy with the map!
For me it means taking a trip back to the drawing board far sooner than I would have liked, haha. Ah well. Such is the risk I have to take when writing fanfiction! I am, after all, taking inspiration from someone's else's world, even if it easy to forget that sometimes.
269651 Oh man, don't get me started on all things I am 'surprised' about, haha.
269689 So very tempted to make the story end like that now...
269799 Well, interestingly I think I am going to try to work with the map. May require some heavy edits of the first few chapters, but after a conversation with my editor, I think I might be able to make it work. Here's hoping!
270229 Yeah, I am going to take good advantage of the fact that there is a lot that the map doesn't show, haha.
270721 Mmm... delicious canon jelly...
Man, if I ever wrote those characters, I would probably flip the table myself. Not a huge fan of either of those characters, thus writing about their parents has never seemed particularly appealing to me, haha.
Ignore it.
That's what you should do, just ignore the thing. If you've put all that work into building your own map, then don't change it, don't touch it. I say, if possible, post a picture of your map somewhere in the beginning of your story or in one of the comments. I don't think many people will care if it's not cannon, and I'm sure people will find greater quality in a story who's author has gone through the pains of mapping the entire world.
In other news, yay I'm back from vacation! (South Dakota is beautiful).
If it makes you feel any better, one of my plot points was screwed over when it said the griffons were across the ocean. I originally had them nestled somewhere above Equestria. How am I going to get characters there and back now? It kind of sucks. That and I have to find a location for Stalliongrad now, granted I had to do that for a few, but it is rather big.
On the upside, I really like the concept of Manehattan surrounded by water as a port town, that's neat.
273840 South Dakota. Now that is a very long way away from me, haha. I shall have to take your word on it (though I have always wanted to go to America)!
I had the griffins above Equestria as well, as I think a lot of people did. Honestly, I am currently reworking my map. I think I can make the changes necessary to keep my map mostly within canon. May take some work, but oh well!
I work the opposite way. Much as I like to pull out specific things are work on them, I've worked with enough RPG system background that keeping that slightly-woolly fits-anywhere feel is pretty much second nature to me. You know, writing character backgrounds so that they're both interesting, yet not blatantly game-world changing.
Also, screw the map. After hearing that Faust envisaged that there actually was a king and queen that birthed/created the sisters, I stopped caring. Some ideas are just bad, no matter who creates them. Ignore it, move on, and when someone complains, make sure you've put enough effort in to reply, "Yeah, but mine is better."