Friendship is Card Games: Top Bolt · 11:24am Oct 16th, 2016
Well, that’s six time counters removed. Time for the first TinyPop review, ironically of the last new episode they aired.
Hmm. How long is Wonderbolt spring training? Apparently long enough for another Daring Do novel to come out. Also, if it’s spring training, then that cider’s definitely going to pack a punch. This is the episode Tiny Pop should’ve banned. (And according to Loganberry, they did cut a later cider reference.)
“Yeah. I do.” That may the funniest Spitfire moment in the series.
Hmm. Seems that the detached marks go at the same speed as the ponies following them, given how Fluttershy’s did the same thing in “The Hooffields and the McColts.” Makes sense.
Quite a bit of body type diversity in that lineup. I do love seeing the animators branch out from the base puppets. Of course, six years have given them plenty of alternates to play with. Still, good to see.
“That has only happened once.” New funniest Spitfire moment. She is, appropriately enough, on a hot streak this episode.
Hmm. Dash has picked up a reputation rather quickly. Not that surprising, especially if they’ve worked Sonic Rainbooms into the choreography. Also, always nice to see the Bearers get some recognition.
Ah, Equestria. A land where “official friendship business” is a completely legitimate explanation.
Hmm. Well, this is Trials Week. I suppose it’s the tryouts for the Academy, so the ponies on display aren’t exactly the creme de la creme. Just creme, or milk with a high opinion of itself.
No, Dash. T-Sparks’s hit single doesn’t drop into shelves until next week. Also, do you think Rainbow’s programming allows her to self-dashinate?
A distance in a time doesn’t tell me anything about an acceleration rate, just an average velocity.
(After the fact addendum: That said, Oliver did some calculations when the episode first aired, assuming that there’s an unspoken “per second” after the five hundred feet. 250 ft/s^2 comes out to roughly 7.77g, about the maximum upward acceleration a trained human can tolerate without gear that keeps blood where it’s supposed to be. Seems legit, especially with outside aid.)
Well, I can see where this is going. Though I’m not sure about Vapor Trail’s motivation for propping up Sky Stinger…
Okay, credit where it’s due. While he expressed it in the jerkiest way possible, I do like how Sky Stinger was worried about his friend. Good to know he can see past his own ego, if barely.
Ah. I thought they’d found the problem a bit too easily. This is a nice, in-character way of preserving the conflict for another act.
Huh. Angels are canon beyond Fluttershy’s ironically named pet/dominator/second-in-command. Now that’s interesting…
(After the fact: Turns out Angel Wings is a girl’s OC, brought onto the show via the Make a Wish Foundation. Good to know.)
Hmm. Stratusburg. That’s one for the atlas.
Good for Twilight for forcing out the truth when there’s no confidence issue Dash can use as an excuse. After all, Vapor’s ego isn’t the one that’s a house of cards the size of the Palace of Versailles.
Wait, “sugarcubes” is a curse word? I assume it’s a regional thing, otherwise Applejack is lot more foulmouthed than we all thought.
Huh. More data points for pegasus families. Looks like it’s more a matter of socioeconomics and family dynamics than tribe during the actual rearing phase.
Ooh, more contrails. From both of them, no less.
Ah. Yes. “Best friend.” In the Lyrabon sense. Seriously, the shipfics practically write themselves with these two.
Yeah, the patient, methodical method definitely seems in Twilight’s wheelhouse. Probably how she got airborne. Well, that and lessons from Coach Dash.
Sculpts his head instead of her own. Again, “best friend.”
How exactly does water produce wind? Pegasus magic is weird. And I’d say Heterodyne’s Corollary to Clarke’s Third Law applies here. (Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science.)
Twilight, I know you’re happy that they’re communicating honestly, but that is not an appropriate face. For anything. Ever.
Wow. That’s gratitude for you. I can understand that Sky’s emotional and irrational right now, but that would be one heck of an elaborate conspiracy just to humiliate him.
Ah, the Dizzitron. One of the most awesome yet insane training devices in fiction. Good to know there’s a safety net, though that may just be for Trials Week.
At some point, someone is going to splice “Do a barrel roll!” over Sky giving Vapor spin tips. That point may actually be in the past. I know at least one blind reactor’s made the reference.
Huh. Looks like Dash’s buckball course was based on the Wonderbolts’ equipment. Makes sense.
Pro tip, Angel Wings: Do not jump onto a new bandwagon right in front of the Bearer of Loyalty.
I like to think that immediately after the end, Misty Fly was like, “No, seriously, there’s a monster in Whinnypeg. We need to buzz it ineffectually contain it.”
In all, this was a lot of fun. I love how map episodes let the main characters’ base virtues and hard-earned growth shine. They’re a great way to create conflicts that feel reasonable this late in the series. Sky Stinger and Vapor Trail had some great chemistry and a better-established romance than Cadence and Shining Armor. And again, Spitfire was funnier than any other time she’s been on screen.
Berate W
Instant
Kicker 4 (You may pay an additional 4 as you cast this spell.)
Tap target creature. If Berate was kicked, destroy target creature if it’s tapped.
”I love my job.”
—Spitfire, Wonderbolt captain
Brash Boaster 1WW
Creature — Pegasus Warrior
Flying, double strike
Brash Boaster can’t attack or block unless it’s paired with a creature with soulbond.
His mouth writes checks somepony else’s wings have to cash.
2/1
Potential Elite 2W
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying
Potential Elite has first strike and vigilance as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.
”There’s a big gap between ‘good’ and ’could be good.’”
—Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty
1/1
Coordinated Maneuver 3W
Instant
Support 2. (Put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to two target creatures.)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to each creature you control with a +1/+1 counter on it this turn.
It is the essence of the Wonderbolts condensed into a single flight pattern.
Supportive Wingpony 3W
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Soulbond (You may pair this creature with another unpaired creature when either enters the battlefield. They remain paired for as long as you control both of them.)
Flying, vigilance
As long as Supportive Wingpony is paired with another creature, that creature gets +2/+2 and has flying and vigilance.
2/2
Wonderbolt Disciplinarian 4W
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying, vigilance
W, T: Tap target creature.
”You turkeys think you’re Wonderbolt material? I’ve seen dolled-up unicorns fly better than you!”
2/2
Lofty Purehart 5W
Creature — Elk Angel
Flying
When Lofty Purehart enters the battlefield, target creature gets +3/+3 and gains flying until end of turn.
Ungula’s angels rarely descend from the upper reaches of the atmosphere, but each visitation is one to remember.
3/3
Active Parents 5WW
Creature — Pegasus Citizen
Flying
Other Pegasi you control get +1/+1.
When Active Parents enters the battlefield, create three 1/1 white Pegasus creature tokens with flying.
2/2
Falling Out 1U
Instant
Return target creature to its owner’s hand. If it was paired with a creature, return that creature to its owner’s hand.
A broken friendship hurts to watch and is devastating to experience.
Feigned Interest 2U
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature you control
Enchanted creature has hexproof.
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell that targets only enchanted creature, you may sacrifice Feigned Interest. If you do, copy that spell.
Intellectual Sedation 2U
Enchantment
Whenever you cast a blue spell, you may tap target creature.
”My eyelids used to droop whenever Twilight opened her mouth. Now it takes a whole sentence. I call that progress.”
—Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty
Teaching Expertise 2U
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Whenever enchanted creature becomes tapped, you may draw a card.
”At least we didn’t give her tenure.”
—Spitfire, Wonderbolt captain
Broken Confidence 2B
Instant
Target creature gets -3/-3 until end of turn.
Delirium — If there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard, put three -1/-1 counters on that creature instead.
Fair-Weather Fan 2R
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying
Whenever a commander enters the battlefield, that commander’s controller gains control of Fair-Weather Fan.
She’ll happily link herself to any nearby chain of command.
3/2
Problem Student 2R
Creature — Pegasus Warrior
Flying
Problem Student can’t be the target of spells and abilities you control.
”All the authority in the world won’t get through to some ponies.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
3/1
Methodical Regimen 3G
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may pay X green mana. If you do, support X.
”Never underestimate the power of reps.”
—Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty
Training Weights 1
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets -2/-0.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on equipped creature.
Equip 1
Anatomy Diagram 3
Artifact
3, T, Tap an untapped creature you control, Sacrifice Anatomy Diagram: Draw X cards, where X is the tapped creature’s power.
”Everything in the world can teach you something.”
—Princess Twilight Sparkle
Aquavent Turbine 4
Artifact
2: All creatures get -1/-0 until end of turn.
1U: Creatures target player controls get -1/-0 until end of turn.
With industrialized weather magic, it’s hard to tell where the spell ends and the device begins.
Fall to Pieces UB
Instant
Target creature gets -2/-2 and loses all abilities until end of turn.
”The Wonderbolts Stunt Squadron denies all knowledge of potential cadets losing limbs as a result of Trials Week.”
—Spitfire, Wonderbolt captain
Cloudsculpt 1U(rg)
Instant
Until end of turn, target land you control becomes a copy of target permanent and gains haste.
Some art is beautiful because it lasts so briefly.
Solo Trial 1GW
Instant
Cast Solo Trial only before attackers are declared.
No more than one creature can attack this turn.
No more than one creature can block this turn.
Draw a card.
Style 1R//Substance 2G
Instant//Instant
Style: Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn.
Substance: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature.
Fuse (You may cast one or both halves of this card from your hand.)
I think she is totally in love with him. I'm not sure if he notices, at least not initially, because he takes her for granted.
And strange, given that Applejack uses it as a term of endearment.
I thought of Sketcha-holic's Cirrus and Nimbus, their parents Blazing Silver and Raincloud and decided that Sting and Vapor are probably at risk of repeating the story of how Cirrus and Nimbus came to be. Last we saw of them, Vapor had enthusiastically glommed onto Sting, brought him down, and looked as if she was about to mate him right in front of the rest of the Wonderbolts. Seriously, I think that they're fairly
likely to wind up wed.
Vapor Trail learned from her parents to coddle what you love. Sky Stinger learned from his parents to toot your own horn because nopony else will. Those two are adorable together, but they're also kinda messed up
It was a good episode, if a piece of a fluff. It was entertaining from start to finish. Though it did completely deviate from everything I thought we knew about the map.
4257971 So, Applejack's been calling us stuff like 'endearing little shitstain' for six seasons?
4257971
I read through the linked page, and not getting much of that story that you mentioned, other than their conception being an 'accident'... More info please?
I didn't get a chance to watch this one since I couldn't find it on Youtube, and Dailymotion sucks. So that's two episodes I missed this season. This sounds like it might be fun, though, and I'll be glad to see Dash get another good episode this season. She needs more good episodes.
And I just now realized that this is Twilight's only episode that she got to share with just one other main character. She did have important parts in episodes like "No Second Prances" and "The Times They Are a Changeling," but her role was more supportive or supplementary. Even in the two-parters, Starlight had more of the focus. I guess the writers really are pushing Starlight as the new Purple Smart Unicorn. Which is why I would prefer if she stayed in Our Town next season, even though she's grown on me somewhat. She's still kind of one-note compared to Twilight, and although I no longer think she's a sociopath, she still seems to have narcissistic tendencies.
That was one of the things that I appreciated about "Viva Las Pegasus," too. The Bearers are finally getting the recognition they've earned. Even in the season finale, it amused me that Chrysalis thought the Bearers and Spike were important enough to abduct, but not Starlight.
Dang, I wrote a lot considering I haven't watched the episode.
4257994
Their parents were both Wonderbolts -- they fell in love and became lovers while still on the team. Blazing Silver got Raincloud pregnant, and that forced them off the team because Raincloud couldn't maintain her athleticism through a pregnancy and childbirth; Blaze did the right thing and married her, but then had to leave the team to devote his attention to his children. I'm saying that Sting and Vapor's story might well turn out similarly.
PErsonally, I just like the fact that it seems that they respect the fastest thing on fourlegs more than the princess
4257971
Agreed. I suspect their child may have some future Harmonious significance, hence the map mission. And hey, from Harmony's perspective, the sooner they get to work on that chosen one, the better!
4257974
Hopefully they've broken out of their codependent rut. Time will tell, but the Map seems to be satisfied.
Speaking of which, how did the episode deviate from your understanding of the Map?
4257991
Possibly. Hopefully not, but possibly.
4257995
There's always blind reactions if you don't mind someone talking over bits. I do recommend finding some version of it; this one was a delight.
As for Twilight's relative non-involvement in this season, it's kind of a symptom of being an alicorn. It feels weird to have an incarnate demigod present in everyday affairs; consider how bizarre her inability to get a cab was in "Rarity Takes Manehattan." Hopefully the writers will be able to recalibrate that in Season 7 now that they've gone through Starlight's character arc.
4258004
It's a nice touch, demonstrating both Twilight's efforts to stay relatable—hard to be Princess of Friendship if everypony's bowing to you all the time—and the logical priorities of potential Wonderbolts. When both are equally responsible for saving the world, side with the one who can break the sound barrier.
I see a pseudo love triangle in this episode. Vapor Trail is in love with Sky Stinger. Sky Stinger is in love with... Sky Stinger.
It's possible, now that his ego has been deflated a touch, that Sky Stinger might pick up on the thoroughly unsubtle signals Vapor Trail has been sending his way. Sadly, I doubt we will ever see these two again to find out.
4257995
She’s the lavender unicorn. Unlike, specifically, Twilight, who is a rather different shade.
Remember how everyone used the word so much that we now call it “Lavender Unicorn Syndrome?” This is our karmic payback: the canon gave way and created a lavender unicorn main character where none previously existed, dividing the fandom again.
Karmic payback, I’m telling you.
Yes, Sky Stinger's parents are active. Wink wink nudge nudge.
Would Angel Wings be the second OC on the show due to MAW, or have there been others? The only other one I know of is Stellar Eclipse.
4258017
Every map episode before this one had a rather strong recurring element. Even though the ponies call them "friendship problems", the missions the map sent them on - from Starlight's village to Griffonstone, Manehattan, Smokey Mountain, to Canterlot's Restaurant Row and Las Pegasus - were not about the problems of individuals. Instead they were about entire communities that had gone astray and needed to be set right.
This made all kinds of thematic sense to me. The Map is powered by Harmony-Destiny Magic that has a big picture view of Equestria and wants to strengthen the whole country. And maps show places, not people. So I was rather gratified with each new map episode that seemed to follow the scheme.
It was especially strong in season 5 but still true in season 6, until this last episode. This was the first map episode that really was only about two individual ponies with a personal relationship problem, rather than reflecting a deeper illness in the community around them, and where solving that problem didn't have any apparent larger significance.
It was an entertaining episode. But for a map episode it just seems very fluffy and inconsequential
Perhaps the map is running out of important missions, but is forced to keep serving up new ones and so has to reach down into the second tier of problems.
(I also talked about this back when "Spice Up Your Life" aired. (Not the parts about Starlight Glimmer.))
What was kinda cool about this episode is it gave us some more insight into Pegasus magic. It had been shown that Pegasi could control the wind during the whole breezie migration, and the could make tornadoes by working together. However this is the first time that a pegasus used the wind to help move a large object.
I agree that Sting and Vapor are kinda cute together, and Sky Stinger is from the first large pegasi family shown on screen. I kinda don't think sugar-cubes is a curse word, I think it was used the same way as when someone says 'nuts' as a oath.
All in all I really enjoyed the episode. Just one last question, is Lofty Pureheart in reference to something? I kinda missed it.
I dunno. Is it a Psychic or Dark Type? Bug Buzz seems like a good move to use on it.
I'm glad soulbond was used in this batch of cards. I would have been surprised if you hadn't used this episode as an opportunity to make a card with it.
I like the angle you went with UB this time. A nice combination of "weakness" and polymorphing effects.
Cloudsculpt looks like a fun spell to use. Again, nice work on multicolor spells.
4257991
I mean, I did that with all my pets ever.
Those cute little bastards.
4258082 Clearly, their child is very important to G5.
4258034
It is the duty and joy of the fan fiction author to make proper use of the characters the show writers create and thoughtlessly discard. I'm happy to add two more to the stable.
4258075
Very carefully chosen name there, yes.
4258080
Pretty sure she and Stellar are the only ones on record.
4258082
This has actually been a gradual trend from "The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone" on. Consider how the missions have progressed:
Mission 2: Second-world city-state.
Mission 3: Metropolitan neighborhood.
Mission 4: Former natural landmark.
Mission 5: Single city street.
Mission 6: Single building.
Mission 7: Single relationship.
The number of people directly impacted by each two-pony mission has dropped each time one was assigned. I'm not sure where it goes from here, but it can't continue the trend without bringing in a pony with disassociative identity disorder who has a friendship problem with themself.
4258117
Makes sense.
As for the Purehart, that was just me using a small detail as an excuse to go off on a tangent.
4258129
I don't know. It deals neutral damage to Dragon-types, but the Wonderbolts still didn't do much against Spike.
4258136
It's always nice when the show presents me with a concept that I can easily capture through top-down design.
4258216
That's because he buffed up his stats, when he was already tanky. The Wonderbolts came in way too late, and Rarity had to debuff him in order to win.
4258082
What do we know. Maybe, a few years down the line, Vapor Trail gives birth to the Chosen One. :)
Other than in the name of an OC/new character, was there an Angel that I missed? And an Elk one at that?
Also, Coordinated Maneuver's last ability should probably read "Prevent all damage that would be dealt this turn to creatures you control with a +1/+1 counter on them."
Otherwise, good job! Can't wait to see the land that you may or may not be inspired to make from the finale.
4258216
If we give that the fixing of Mission 1 was a friendship problem reaching a higher level (an entire race, based on Starlight Glimmer's importance in the finale), this either means the map prioritizes friendship problems, or (inclusive or, mind you) it has enough non-temporality to solve problems at the right time (and be used as a time-travel device).
Or, third option: Pinkie and the mirror-pool clone from the diner in Manehatten.
Edit: also, dat angel.
I finally watched a blind reaction video of this episode, and I'm glad I did because it was one of the better episodes this season. The guy laughing made it hard to hear some of the parts, though.
When I saw Angel Wings and heard her speak, I instantly knew she was the OC I'd heard about. Very sweet of the MLP team to do that for her.
Soooooo, I've had this sitting open on my desktop all week long, waiting for me to respond to it but I've been lost at slash under zee so I never did get around to it until now.
On Supportive Wingpony: All Soulbound creatures give both them-self and those they are bound to the bonus (in this case it would be with "each of those creatures gets"). I guess it could be another way of using the mechanic but it doesn't feel so much "Neat way of reusing using Mechanic X with a twist" than it does "Weaker version of Mechanic X, why didn't they just use what they had before? So lame, do not play".
Now, a neat spin on Soulbound might be to have TWO different effects, one for what is bonding and one for what is bound to. Maybe something like the following.
I was thinking of maybe having it so Supportive Wingpony could only attack and block with the bonded creature, maybe not as part of the soul bond but just as normal but that seems a bit excessive.
I'm not sure on Falling Out, I think it would work just fine since it's all happening as one action and the game state can tell that information but I'm always a little fuzzy on just what the game can 'remember' about something no longer on the battlefield, since as soon as it leaves the battle field for any reason it is a new instance and so on and so forth, I think the current effect has to end first before it 'forgets', but, again, not sure.
This spell could be worded as "Return target creature and any creature it is paired with to their owner’s hands." and it'd work as you wanted it to without any fuzzyness on what the game remembers or not.
Nice touch, leaving the normal "You may chose new targets for the copy" rider off of Feigned Interest.
I like the way Fair-Weather Fan interacts with a commander Norin.
The inverted hexproof on Problem Student is interesting, it'd be nice if they did that as a "downside" on some things to justify higher stats and or abilities like they do with "cannot block" and the like.
I read the flavor text for Methodical Regimen and my first though was "wing reps", like, flexing with a weight. And then a half second after that it clicked she meant reputations.
I kinda want to say the second ability on Aquavent Turbine would be fine at only a single U. But it only targets a single person instead of yourself, but if your running Blue AND this card then you probably don't really care about damage anyways... . Bit of a tough call on that one.
We need more "Make lands do things other than being lands" cards like Cloudsculpt.
Hum, "Style and Substance" doesn't sound right to me, "Substance and Style" sounds better.
The order of the sides are based on color, if you were willing to flip them I'd say maybe make "Substance" cost GW, keeping it the same effect, and have "Style" cost RW and give doublestrike instead of first strike. I think that would put them in the right order, we don't have a GW/RW split card for example but I think that's how it's be laid out based on the others.
Though, if you didn't want to do multicolor making "Style" White instead of Red would put it them in the proper order (as seen on Alive and Well).
A fine set, sorry it took me so long to get around to them. Just in time for the NEXT batch, hopefully it won't take me a week to get to those.
I'm going back out to zee now, so much to see in my new zubmarine.