Friendship is Card Games: Crusaders of the Lost Mark · 12:07pm Oct 11th, 2015
Kind of a shame they couldn’t fit in a reference to the Temple of Doom in that title. Then they’d have every Indiana Jones movie. (Yes, every Indiana Jones movie.)
That said, a moment of silence in recognition of the Great Headcanon Massacre of 2015.
The other Great Headcanon Massacre of 2015.
Moving on.
The show seems to love making the really pivotal moments musicals. If there’s a song before the theme, then something big is going to happen… though by that logic, Pinkie meeting Cheese Sandwich was one of the most momentous occasions in Equestrian history. And I’m okay with that. (Discord origin theory, perhaps?)
Dang. Sweetie can lift Pipsqueak. She’s improving by leaps and bounds.
Ooh, lasting damage from the Tirek fight. I’m a little surprised that they’re still cleaning up after that.
There’s a school board in Ponyville? There’s barely a school.
School pony president? That just feels superfluous.
I love how the election song gives some insight into Diamond Tiara’s mind. A blend of confidence, entitlement, and social Darwinism. She explicitly used the term “natural selection.” I also love how the entire theme of the election is “We’re sick and tired of this, and we’re not going to take it anymore.” Even Silver Spoon got sick of Diamond Tiara’s bullcrap.
Also, Cheerilee’s okay with Diamond Tiara blackmailing and bribing the other student right in front of her? I suppose it’s like the “This Day Aria.” If it happens in a musical number, it can’t be held against you.
Also also, the hedgehog filly and tooth colt confirm earth pony super-strength. (And I’m calling the former Dilemma, because with that kind of lifting power, she’s got to be careful when letting anypony et close.)
Huh. I guess Diamond Tiara’s mother wasn’t Screwball. Probably. Also, Babs Seed threatening to tell Tiara’s mother about her bad attitude takes on a new layer now… though I have to wonder if Spoiled Rich would’ve approved.
Spoiled’s own attitude does explain a lot, but Tiara’s Freudian excuse still feels like the retroactive justification that it is. She’s always been presented as the spoiled little rich girl until now, with no hint of this sort of overwhelming pressure. Still, again, this explains so much of Tiara’s personality and views, in terms of both nature and nurture.
Heh. If Spoiled knew why Fancy Pants was probably here…
Actually, that raises a good point: The Cutie Mark Crusaders may be blank flanks (or, at least, they were at that time,) but they have connections. Rarity is a rising star in Canterlot, Applejack is the head of the family responsible for making the Riches rich, and Rainbow Dash is a record-setting athlete on track to join the most elite flying team in the country. And that’s not taking the whole “having thrones in the local castle” thing into account. Spoiled Rich’s nose is so firmly in the air, she can’t see what’s right in front of her.
Diamonds may be hard, but they’re brittle. To scratch one, you need another diamond. To crush one, all you need is a hammer.
Diamond Tiara’s heel-face turn seemed too easy at first. She’s been the Crusaders’ designated antagonist since her introduction. However, this is pretty much the first time they’ve ever been nice to her. Even in “Twilight Time,” it was more cautious tolerance. Furthermore, when you take the Crusaders’ own talents into account, Tiara was basically being bathed in redemption radiation the whole time.
Of course Pip has no money. He hasn’t rescued the fugitive yet.
Apparently, Filthy is just as judgmental as his wife. His love came at the cost of constant success. That, or I’m reading way too much into a raised eyebrow.
So… was this part of today’s weather schedule? Clear skies over the park, ominous clouds over the schoolhouse?
As much as I love the show’s music, it can be frustrating to think of effects for Song cards that are appropriate to the song, work with the scaling mechanic, and that haven’t been done before.
Again, taking special talents into account makes Diamond Tiara’s redemption work. Not just the Crusaders’ talents, but her own. Her talent is… actually what I thought it was: authority. She compels obedience, knowing exactly what buttons to push to get anypony to do her bidding. Even, nay, especially her parents. She just pushed too hard during the election. Indeed, there are some parallels here with Sunset Shimmer: a cruel, socially gifted individual being brought low in a school popularity contest and learning to use her abilities for good.
That being said, seeing more of those four peacefully interacting would’ve been nice. This episode had to cram in a lot. Still, I’m not sure if it would’ve been better as a two-parter. As with “Magical Mystery Cure,” the question is where to separate the two episodes.
That cutiesynthesis. My word. We haven’t seen anything this dramatic with earning a cutie mark since Twilight got hers. Which makes me wonder what else fate might have in store for the Crusaders…
And a metatalent, no less. No wonder they’d never been able to find it through trial and error. That said, I do find Apple Bloom’s mark the teensiest bit generic. I was hoping for some indication of her engineering skill, whether physical or chemical. Still, to borrow a bit of insight from Dr. Wolf, Apple Bloom’s greatest strengths have always been her drive and willpower. Her strength of heart is what founded the Crusaders in the first place.
Also, I really like how the focus of the episode wasn’t on the Crusaders per se. Their talents aren’t about personal glory, but helping others. It’s appropriate that the one in need of aid gets the spotlight.
Dead Apple parents confirmed. Because the episode wasn’t throwing enough at us as it was. No visible Scootaparents, but on the other hand, Sweetie Belle’s didn’t show up either. Probably on yet another vacation.
And a callback to the theme to cap it off. Though I’m wondering what favor Rarity called with Photo Finish to get her there. Or what she now owes her. This is a momentous occasion, yes, but I don’t see her, Photo Finish, seeing it as worthy of… DE MAJJYKS!
And now it’s time to exercise what seems to be my special talent:
“Light of Your Cutie Mark” 1W
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on “Light of Your Cutie Mark”.
W, Sacrifice “Light of Your Cutie Mark”: Exile target creature unless its controller pays X, where X is the number of verse counters on “Light of Your Cutie Mark”.
Diamond Exemplar 2WW
Creature — Pony
Other creatures you control get +1/+1.
Hoofcraft — 2W: Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn. Activate this ability only if you control three or more Ponies, Pegasi, and/or Unicorns.
A friendship is forever.
2/2
Destined Crusade 3WW
Enchantment
Hoofcraft — At the beginning of your end step, if you control three or more Ponies, Pegasi, and/or Unicorns, put a fate counter on Destined Crusade. Then, if there are five or more fate counters on Destined Crusade, you win the game.
Victory is only the beginning of the next quest.
Campaign Managers 4W
Creature — Pony Advisor
While voting, you get two additional votes. (The votes can be for different choices or for the same choice.)
If they can’t get you elected, you’re probably dead.
2/5
Strapped Budget 4W
Enchantment
Spells with converted mana cost greater than the number of credit counters on Strapped Budget can’t be cast.
3: Put a credit counter on Strapped Budget. Any player may activate this ability.
Ponyville’s constant rebuilding leaves little money for anything else.
“The Vote” U
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on “The Vote”.
Will of the council — Sacrifice “The Vote”: Reveal the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of verse counters on “The Vote”. Starting with you, each player votes for one of those cards. Put each card with the most votes or tied for most votes into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Scorned Advice 1U
Instant
Kicker 1U (You may pay an additional 1U as you cast this spell.)
Counter target instant or sorcery spell that targets a player. If Scorned Advice was kicked, copy the spell countered this way. You may choose new targets for the copy.
”Well, if you won’t listen to me…”
Apprentice Levitator 1U
Creature — Unicorn Wizard
1U: Target creature gains flying until end of turn.
Telekinesis is one of the most basic uses of unicorn magic, but mustering enough power to lift a pony takes considerable skill.
1/1
School Election 2U
Sorcery
Will of the council — Starting with you, each player votes for a card type. Each player searches his or her library for a card of a type with the most votes or tied for most votes, reveals it, and puts it into his or her hand. Then each player shuffles his or her library.
“We’ll Make Our Mark” 3U
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on “We’ll Make Our Mark”
2U, Sacrifice “We’ll Make Our Mark”: Each player may draw up to X cards, then may cast up to X noncreature, nonland cards from his or her hand without paying their mana costs, where X is the number of verse counters on “We’ll Make Our Mark.”
Exploit the Past BB
Sorcery
As an additional cost to cast Exploit the Past, pay X life.
You may cast target instant or sorcery card with converted mana cost X from a graveyard without paying its mana cost. If that card would be put into a graveyard this turn, exile it instead.
Sinking Hope 2BB
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature.
”The path of evil is a slow decline, each step just a little lower than the last, until one day you look up and realize you have been buried.”
—Princess Luna
Tempt with Treasure 5B
Sorcery
Tempting offer — Search your library for a card and put it into your hand. Each opponent may search his or her library for a card and put it into his or her hand. For each player who does, search your library for a card and put it into your hand. Then each player who searched a library this way shuffles it.
Social Climber 1R
Creature — Pony Rogue
At the beginning of each upkeep, if a player controls each permanent with the highest converted mana cost, that player gains control of Social Climber.
The glint of gold has blinded her to more meaningful value.
3/3
Brawn Bairn 3G
Creature — Pony Child
Earth ponies possess the magic of fundaments, which manifests in a number of ways. Many empower the biological fundament of their bodies, sometimes to incredible effect.
4/3
Family Connections 3G
Enchantment
1G, Tap two untapped creatures you control: You may put a creature card from your hand that shares a creature type with each creature tapped this way onto the battlefield.
It’s not what you summon, it’s who you summon.
“The Pony I Want to Be” (bg)(bg)
Enchantment — Song
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a verse counter on “The Pony I Want to Be”.
1(bg)(bg), Sacrifice “The Pony I Want to Be” and a creature: If the sacrificed creature’s converted mana cost was equal to or less than the number of verse counters on “The Pony I Want to Be”, search your library for a creature card with that creature's converted mana cost and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Chance for Redemption 1RW
Sorcery
Choose target creature card in a graveyard, then flip a coin. If the coin comes up heads, return that card to the battlefield under its owner’s control. If the coin comes up tails, exile that card and draw a card.
”Only the reformed get the final say in whether or not reformation happens.”
—Discord
Schoolyard Stampede 1GW
Sorcery
Creatures you control gain trample until end of turn. Creatures you control with power 2 or less get +2/+2 until end of turn.
It is no coincidence that the end of school and runaway cattle are both announced with bells.
Wrecking Force 2RG
Enchantment
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, that player sacrifices an artifact or enchantment.
Ponies are very good at getting out of the way of rampaging monsters. Buildings aren’t.
I hadn't even noticed that this was an anniversary episode, so I was really not expecting such a momentous event to occur here. That was a nice thing to be surprised by.
They could have used Crystal Skull in the title and had all four movies, but really... Steven Spielberg kinda raped Indiana Jones with that one. Also, the CMC went to the Crystal Empire in Just For Sidekicks.
I think I'm still not down from my emotional high of watching it the first time
What is the reference?
Clouds are confirmed semi-sapient(they show signs of high thought), but lack underlying sentience(if a cloud had eyes, it would not react to the image of a cloud). They react to stimuli in a selfless fulfillment of a unseen hive-quota until an arbitrary quorum is reached.
The Equestrian noosphere ties directly into the physical atmosphere, inspiring spontaneous self-conglomerated cloud relocations by any cloud not tired from being recently wrangled by a Pegasus.
Old clouds that clutter the sky are busted rather than reused as it's more efficient overall to bring in new clouds from the factory for larger systems; to compare this to the creation, limited life, and destructive restyling of blood cells would be accurate.
Yes, this means Ponyville underfunds its weather team, and Rainbow Dash is lazy about her job.
The Crusaders' destiny is... a spinoff series!
We'll Make Our Mark feels like green's slice of the color pie (Eureka, Weird Harvest), though admittedly those are both old cards.
More and More I am putting money into the theory that the elite run on a "What have you done lately" MO. Celestia and Luna raise the sun and moon, while Cadence is an empress, but Twilight is a princess of the people (title copyright me) so, that makes her unworthy of the title because she does not flaunt it. Neither do the elements, so thus *haughty laugh*
Although, Spoiled's design makes me wonder if she is actually DT's birht mom. Bcause I don't think she would actually let anything in her.
*Sighs* now, if you'll excuse me. I have to go and read the last few fics I have in my favorites that has DT being evil. Stupid bloody character development, why must the show...
This episode was just.... well it was something alright.
The cmc's cutie mark, first thing I thought was the, "Hey there talent is problem solving"
Oh, yes. Fancy and Fleur were probably dropping by to visit Rarity.
Plus, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are all personal friends and STUDENTS of of Princess Twilight Sparkle, and the Mane Six are personal friends (to varying degrees) of all the other Princesses. My take on this is that the Riches are members of a rising capitalistic elite who are still rather self-conscious about their lack of aristocratic qualifications, and hence look for reasons to look down on those who may be personally less rich than them.
I'm guessing that the Mane Six are still all in terms of liquid assets less rich than the Riches. Princess Twilight probably has a comfortable bank account, and definitely has a magical castle and some sort of stipend from the Realm. If she wanted to be really rich, she could be, but she's focused on knowledge and service to the Realm rather than wealth. Her younger brother is Spike, who is also a personal friend of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
Applejack isn't the actual owner of Sweet Apple Acres; that would be Granny Smith. But Sweet Apple Acres isn't liquid assets; it's real estate. And by now the Riches are probably far richer than are the Apples, because a wholesale-retail business compounds profit in a way that agribusiness does not as readily (due to the agricultural bottleneck of arable land).
Rarity's business is growing and is by its nature one which could expand indefinitely with the rest of the economy. But Rarity's Boutique isn't yet ten years old, while Barnyard Bargains is around three quarters of a century old. One day, Rarity will probably be richer than the Riches, but that day has not yet come.
My Fluttershy is of far better birth than any of the Mane Six save possibly Twiilght Sparkle (and Twilight doesn't yet know from whom she's descended). But she lives off a remittance from her family and doesn't generally let it be known she's one of those Winds. Her manner of living is also eccentric.
Pinkie Pie's family is richer than they appear, but again: it's a form of agribusiness and is limited by the same factors as other agribusinesses. The truth is that Pinkie doesn't actually need money, given her immense Talent (and my Pinkie is the Best Beloved Pink Daughter of a Deus Est Machina AI), but her world view is very alien to the Riches; as alien as Fluttershy's but in a different direction.
Rainbow Dash makes enough money to live well, which is all she wants: her dreams are of glory rather than wealth. She doesn't go out of her way to act "respectable," even though she doesn't actually do anything particularly bad, so the Riches probably scorn her as a hooligan.
Indeed. But then, her own status probably derives from Filthy's.
3461212
The reference is to Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens.
As for the theory about clouds, that is both fascinating and highly disturbing. I'm not sure I'll be able to look at skyclearing the same way again.
3461236
The "noncreature, nonland" rider on "We'll Make Our Marks" was intended to make it bluer.
3461283
Oh, there are still plenty of opportunities for bitchy Diamond Tiara. The story just has to either be set before this episode or justify the backslide. Same as with any reformed villain.
Also, I like the idea of the upper classes having a short memory, at least for positive actions. No doubt they can remember a slight for generations.
3461430
Yeah, Spoiled Rich's ring mark does seem to suggest she has a talent for making herself an accessory to greater wealth. At least it isn't a trophy...
As for the Mane Six's socioeconomic status, I agree on several counts, though not necessarily for the same reasons. With Fluttershy and Pinkie, I diverge a lot more. Of course, my views on both them in general are quite different from yours, so that comes as little surprise.
I don't think Fluttershy is quite in the same dire financial straits as she is in, say, Estee's work, but I don't think she's from an especially affluent family. However, I also think she lives very frugally and as far off the grid as she can, as much as the term can apply to Ponyville. Her biggest expenses is probably medical gear, both supplies and textbooks.
As for Pinkie, a transcendent (see the blog To Rise Above) cares little for her own needs, for those needs are as much a fiction as the transcendent herself. To pursue material wealth is an unfunny absurdity, the worst kind. Better to spend one's time and energy spreading joy and frivolity than worrying overmuch about such minor concerns as money.
I have to wonder why Diamond Tiara thinks it's a good idea to bully somepony who can lift the schoolhouse with one hoof. She seems meek enough, but there's a nonzero risk of being bucked into orbit.
Still, similar risks exist with every other foal in that school; a strong enough unicorn or pegasus could easily strand a bully on top of a flagpole. But that would be resorting to violence, which is a bad idea for a lot of reasons.
The CMC clubhouse is the Temple of Doom, obviously.
On the cutiesynthesis here: It's been clear for a long time now that the thing holding the Crusaders back is themselves. Getting your mark is clearly kind of an enlightenment experience, a moment where your inner self and talent manifest because at some level you just got what and who you are. (It's possible to misinterpret this, as seen with Trouble Shoes, and while the mark defines you, you also define it, which leads to Diamond Tiara changing her path in this episode.)
But anyway, the CMCs have been trying to force their marks for a long time now, and hilariously / frustratingly missing the point repeatedly. It's only here, when they realize what they really care about and say that it doesn't even matter if they never get theirmarks as long as they can help others to find theirs... that's the moment of metacognition and letting go of the hindering effort that their butts have been waiting for many seasons. Cutie Marks for everyone, yay!
I suppose that's why it's all bent like that. In any event, we're dealing with MLP: The Next Generation....and should have had a remix of the end theme that sounded like the one for TNG.
3461486
It is merely a rewording of the standard description of cartoon behavior of unliving cartoon objects.
I see what you did there.
School Election looks like a fun card.
So I think the thing to do with "We'll Make Our Mark" is to get it to 5 and then sac it with one of each Epic spell in hand (except maybe the red one. That could backfire (hah!) if the game goes too long).
Initially read Brawn Bairn as Brawn Brain and was very confused.
I giggled here for a bit longer than was probably necessary.
I feel that Strapped Budget should also have some means of removing counters from it as well, perhaps reward the ability to "3: Put a credit counter on or remove a credit counter from Strapped Budget. Any player may activate this ability."
After all, a budget can go up AND down over the course of a year.
I'm not sure how I feel about “We’ll Make Our Mark”, it doesn't let you ignore mana cost and I'm not totally sure on it but I don't think it lets you ignore timing restrictions either. All the various "you may cat" cards I looked at either implicitly did it (Cipher on a Sorcery for example, since you are dealing combat damage) or followed normal timing rules. As such I'm confused on why it has the "may cast" rider at all.
Maybe make the "may cast" rider something along the lines of "then may cast up to one noncreature, nonland card from his or her hand with a converted mana cost X or less as though it had flash and without paying its mana cost, where X is the number of verse counters on “We’ll Make Our Mark.”"
The wording on Social Climber should be "At the beginning of each upkeep, the player that controls each permanent with the highest converted mana cost gains control of Social Climber." And I'm not sure if "each permanent" should be "all permanents" or not.
It seems they use "greatest" for things like power or toughness and cards but use "highest" for CMC and life totals.
The wording on “The Pony I Want to Be” is a bit ambiguous on if you search based on verse counters or the creature's CMC. I'd say make it "search your library for a creature card that shares the sacrificed creature’s converted mana cost and put it"
3462495
See my comment above about the card; it does not allow you to ignore casting cost as it was written when you made your comment (since I don't know if you'll see this before FOME changes it, if he changes it at all).
Also, after the first card with Epic resolves it prevents you from casting any other spell, be it normally or though a card effect, so you'd not be able to cast the others. However, if you can somehow give them all flash and were somehow able to ignore their casting cost, or just had a large amount of mana (there are plenty of "infinite" mana combos out there), you could indeed have all five of them active at the same time.
3461647
Such is the power of the social bully. The only winning move is to stop playing the game, which the foals did this episode.
3461680
So you're saying this is years of backed-up cutie mark energy finally being released? That does make sense.
3461767
I've seen at least one person think she's actually had a nose job. Imagine what plastic surgery is like in a magical world...
3462418
Some designs I have to struggle to realize. Some come gift-wrapped.
3462601
CAUTION: RHO RADIATION HAZARD
Do not expose to villains, miscreants, antagonists, or ne'er-do-wells.
3462736
Strapped Budget: That may better reflect financial reality, but it seems even less fun than this version, so no.
"We'll Make Our Mark": Thanks for catching the oversight! Changed to actually be worth using. As for the epic trick, since you're casting all of the spells at the same time, and therefore before any of them resolve, it works.
Social Climber: I'm basing the wording off of a very old card, but I'm pretty sure I have it right.
"The Pony I Want To Be": Adjustment made.
3462814 I'd as soon not know. Also, maybe that's how she made her pile: suing the jerk for malpractice for making her look like a circus freak.
3462814
For Strapped Budget; I was mainly looking for a way for the person playing the card to "undo" the damage other players do. Since when you run a card like this you obviously have a plan to play around the limitation you are setting on yourself but don't want other people to be able to play around it themselves.
Maybe make the adding a token cost 2 instead of 3 and add another ability that removes a token that costs 3 or 4 to activate. Also, having an inbuilt way of removing tokens makes it more interactive than only being able to add them.
For "We'll Make Our Mark"; being able to cast one spell without paying the the mana cost is A Big Deal, so being able to cast a theoretically unbound amount is extremely powerful, ten mana powerful really.
Cascade was restricted by the CMC of the spells cast. The latest type of card has an upper bound of five for the CMC of the free spell, and costs five itself, though it has inbuilt search instead of just (semi) random draw.
I still say restrict it a number of spells who's total CMC equals the verse counters (verse counts = 3 one spell that costs U and another spell that costs 1U and so on).
For Social Climber; I did a search on "Rules text = 'greatest' OR 'highest'" and compared the various terminology to see which one they use for CMC on the battlefield, and that would be "highest".
I just did a search on ""Rules text = 'greater' OR 'higher'", Clash's reminder text states "A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost." however the Clash is the only time "higher" shows up at all, they use "mana cost X or greater" for various spell effects.
Really I've just gone and confused myself with the inconsistencies I've found, I guess they are probably trying to change it away from "highest/higher" since those were semi-older cards and the newer ones user "greater".
I also find it funny that the card you based this one one had nothing in common with the card you made other than changing control based on whoever has the largest of some chosen number.
I thought the same thing at first. Now, I think it was schoolpony president. Instead of just student president, they have to slip the pony-words in. They have been overdoing them this season, in my opinion.
3463050 Something that could be used to justify the relatively low cost of "We'll Make Our Mark": it's global. Not only do you get to draw X cards and cast X free noncreature spells, but each of your opponents can do the same. Sure, if you're running the Song you'll build your deck to capitalize on it, but it still has a chance of backfiring spectacularly. Also, if I recall correctly, an effect instructs each player to cast one or more spells means that you cast yours, then each other player in turn order casts theirs (putting theirs on the stack above yours), before any resolve. This means that if you cast your hand full of free awesome spells, they have an opportunity to cast a hand full of free counterspells, rendering the entire thing an exercise of frustration. Even if you aren't facing a Permission-style deck, you're still giving them the opportunity to plop down any number of hideous things, including an Omniscience or Rooftop Storm of their own. (Just be glad the "noncreature" qualifier prevents the Permission player from casting Guile.)