Friendship is Card Games: Micro-Series and Friends Forever #4 · 1:15pm Nov 13th, 2016
Two more weeks of side comics before we cut back to the main storyline. Right now, we have an art competition and a haunting to look into.
Micro-Series #4: Fluttershy
I do appreciate how the cover for this one make the already apparent Disney princess connection explicit.
I also love how Fluttershy acknowledges the surprisingly well-furnished animal lairs we saw in “Magic Duel” with the mention of tiny tree closets.
Angel is being very supportive in these first few pages. This is some Season 1 Angel Bunny right here, and I’m very happy to see it.
That being said, I find it hard to believe that Twilight never accidentally discovered a book-triggered secret passageway.
The Chamber of Extreme Knitting is a thing of wonder and glory. Though personally, I prefer “Palace of Friendly Pony Grotesqueries” in all its excessive glory. And really, I don’t think anypony would mind it, aside from Rainbow Dash being a little leery of the cloud gremlin.
I think everyone who’s published a story here can empathize with Fluttershy. It’s scary to put your work out there for others to judge.
Angeldor Dali is several kinds of fantastic, but I'm a sucker for any reference to the greatest artist to ever be mind-controlled by his mustache.
Hmm. I wouldn’t call it a chaotic juxtaposition per se. The sculpture does work as an expression for how Fluttershy has used knitting as a way to express and release feelings she would otherwise keep repressed, but the writer’s insistence on cramming her dialogue with artistic buzzwords really shows.
You know, when someone’s cutie mark literally involves taking an axe to a painting, I don’t think he should be trusted as a reliable source of constructive criticism.
Also, I’m amazed to see Fancy Pants and Rarity in his entourage. Fancy’s charisma usually puts him at the front of the herd, and Rarity is an artist herself, one who I’d expect to better empathize with the contest entrants. To be fair, the sculptures do leave something to be desired, though I like the cubist piece.
Also, mentioning Pinto Picasso actually makes Timber Spruce’s claim of being “the Picasso of noodles” in Legend of Everfree make some more sense than before. Unexpected connection there, and almost certainly unintended.
Well, at least Rarity can see past the unspoken appeal to authority. Sheesh, Praiser Pan really was the prototype for Zesty Gourmand, wasn’t he?
I do like how Rarity recognizes Fluttershy, but the faces she makes afterwards…
Does this look like the face of mercy?
To say nothing of how she strips her friend in public. Granted, they’re ponies, but still, a little more respect for Fluttershy’s personal space would be nice.
Excuse me, Praiser? “Inconsequential?” And what credentials do you have that allow such a learned evaluation? By what authority can you declare which ponies are of consequence? To say nothing of how what you previously derided as craft you now call an extreme piece. Consistency, sir! If you must be an insufferable stain on basic equine decency who tears down the works of others rather than create your own, you could at least do them the favor of showing some conviction!
… Huh. Well, this issue must be good to get that kind of emotional response out of me. And before anyone says anything, no, that wasn’t directed towards all critics. Just the ones who consider themselves the kings and queens of art who have the right to dictate how everyone beneath them should enjoy themselves.
In any case, while it’s sad to see some respectable luminaries of society (and Upper Crust) blindly echo one another’s appraisal of Fluttershy and her creation, I do like both Rarity trying to support her based on past experience and the positive comments mixed into the word balloon swarm. I even like how they’re lost on Fluttershy as she focuses on the negative. Between who she is and how almost everyone faces criticism, it feels very true to life.
Disregarding criticism just because you like your own work isn’t always the right move, but it tends to be when the critic offers you nothing on how to improve.
The triumph feels kind of empty. Everyone’s just echoing someone who likes the piece rather than someone who hates it, and Praiser Pan shows all the conviction of wet cardboard. At least Fleur stays honest.
Now, genuine praise from Fluttershy’s friends? That’s a lot more substantial.
I like the ending, though thinking that Rarity doesn’t understand Fluttershy’s artistic impulse is both surprising and pretty harsh. Even making that “most of them” would’ve alleviated that issue. Still, a very nice message, especially around these parts.
Friends Forever #4: Twilight Sparkle & Shining Armor
How sad is it that one of the early entries in a line that usually focuses on under-utilized character interactions involves a pair of siblings?
Huh. Goblins may or may not be a thing in Equestria. Arboreal ones, no less. Interesting.
I see Equestria’s Minister of Silly Walks has come to discuss matters with the Empire.
TV’s Frank and Pearl Forrester? Huh. And now I’m getting flashbacks to my childhood, back when my sister and I would watch MST3K on the Sci-Fi Channel, long before it decided to misspell itself. Ah, good times.
Ah! And there’s Dr. Forrester himself. Along with the Mario Brothers, of all people. Someone was having fun with this issue.
Poor Shining Armor. He was trained for handling an army, not a city-state.
“Twylie”? Huh. That feels like a really weird way to spell it.
The flashback is adorable, but if wood sprites are on page 63 and crystal ghosts are on page 89, I have to wonder how the book is organized.
I really like the lantern yoke design for the stallion who’s frozen in fear by what I’m assuming actually is a crystal ghost. Elegant, yet functional.
Yeah, stealing a book from Twilight was a bad idea even before she ascended.
Also, I have to appreciate Mario promising to rescue a captured princess. Also also, major kudos to Lexicon for a surprisingly badass moment. Librarians unite!
I have to ask, would a net have even helped against a ghost?
… Oh. The comic answered my question for me. It doesn’t appear to actually be incorporeal.
Wait. Sombra built the castle? As in the streamlined, non-corrupted, dark magic-free castle? This raises many, many questions. Sombra certainly could’ve built countless secret passages into the castle, but I’m familiar enough with his comic origin story to know that he didn’t build the place itself.
Nice nod to how the siblings have very little time to interact with one another peacefully.
I really like the clockwork soldiers. They say a lot about Sombra’s ego.
I can’t help but think that these two are just playing along with the mystery monster at this point. There’s plenty of clearance above the maze for Twilight to fly over it, to say nothing of just blasting through it. At least it makes for some nice moments between them.
Sombra has apparently been off the throne for “hundreds of moons.” If moons equal months, that number easily surpasses ten thousand. This raises a number of questions that Oliver’s been pondering for quite some time. The best conclusion is probably one I’ve come to before: Moons are to time in Friendship is Magic as quads are to information storage in Star Trek. The exact quantity they represent is neither knowable nor especially important.
Given the Empire's spa facilities, I’m surprised that Sombra was unpleasantly odoriferous. That may just be the crystal bard taking a shot at its oppressor.
I like the design for Sombra’s soldiers. Very sleek. The Spikes of Villainy look in “The Cutie Re-Mark” has its own appeal, but this works well when the focus is on efficiency rather than intimidation.
Wait. Wait, wait, wait. “The thousand moons”? They’re seriously trying to set moons equal to years? No. Absolutely not. I’m disregarding this.
The bard has been in captivity for so long that it isn’t even sure what to do now that it’s free. That’s genuinely tragic.
Work/life balance is certainly important, though there does come a time where goofing around with your siblings has to take a backseat to running your country. Still, a fun story.
I’d say both of these were above-average. The Fluttershy issue had a generally nice message, though it could be construed in some unfortunate ways, while the Friends Forever issue was a harmless romp with some genuine character moments and fun incidental worldbuilding. Now, let’s see what I can do with all of that.
Imperial Librarian 1W
Creature — Pony Advisor
Each player can’t draw more than one card each turn.
Overdue books are no longer a killing offense in the Crystal Empire, but they still have a strict checkout limit.
2/2
Minister of Silly Walks 3W
Creature — Pony Advisor
Whenever Minister of Silly Walks attacks, untap all creatures you control.
Equestria’s government is a vast, multifaceted affair. Even Celestia isn’t sure why some departments exist, but the country still hums along.
2/2
In Another Castle 6W
Instant
All damage that would be dealt to you this turn is dealt to target creature or player instead.
”Not again.”
—Mushroom Risotto, imperial plumber
Imprisonment 1UU
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
You control enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature can’t attack.
”You are mine.”
—King Sombra
Muse’s Guidance 2UU
Enchantment
At the beginning of each player’s upkeep, look at the top card of that player’s library. You may put that card on the bottom of that library.
At the beginning of each player’s draw step, that player draws an additional card.
Sometimes, art takes control.
Size Up 3UU
Sorcery
Choose one —
• Draw cards equal to the power of target creature you control.
• Draw cards equal to the toughness of target creature you control.
Night Sprite 1B
Creature — Faerie
Flying
When Night Sprite enters the battlefield, each player who doesn’t control an artifact loses 2 life.
Unlike most fae, they’re fascinated by modern technology and those who embrace it. Others receive the full brunt of their whimsy.
1/1
Destructive Critic 2B
Creature — Pony Advisor
Whenever a player casts a spell, that player loses 1 life.
”Pathetic. I’ve seen one-eyed mules do better work.”
3/2
Fit of Destruction R
Instant
Each player sacrifices an artifact.
Some destroy out of frustration, some out of sorrow, and some out of wanting to hear the fun crunching sounds.
Chamber of Extreme Knitting 3R
Enchantment
Whenever a nontoken creature enters the battlefield, that creature’s controller creates a token that’s a copy of that creature, except it’s an artifact in addition to its other types and has haste and “At the beginning of the end step, exile this creature.”
Outrageous Creativity 4RRR
Sorcery
Take an extra turn after this one. At the beginning of that turn’s upkeep, exile all cards from your library. You may play cards exiled this way that turn. Skip that turn's draw step.
”If I have to go out, I want to go out strong.”
—Vinyl Scratch
Nest Cleaning 1G
Sorcery
Kicker G (You may pay an additional G as you cast this spell.)
Each player may put any number of cards from his or her graveyard on the bottom of his or her library in any order. If Nest Cleaning was kicked, shuffle your library.
Tree Goblin 1G
Creature — Goblin Scout
Tree Goblin can’t be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.
Goblins lurk at the edges of civilization, forced out by ponies’ greater strength and cooperation.
2/1
Knitted Gremlin 2
Artifact Creature — Gremlin
Knitted Gremlin has menace as long as you control a black creature.
A bully looking for a victim.
2/1
Sculpted Lightning 2
Artifact
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a charge counter on Sculpted Lightning.
2, Sacrifice Sculpted Lightning: Sculpted Lightning deals damage equal to the number of charge counters on it to target creature or player.
Knitted Branches 3
Artifact Creature — Plant
Knitted Branches has reach as long as you control a green creature.
A harvest looking for a farmhoof.
1/4
Knitted Swarm 3
Artifact Creature — Pest
Knitted Swarm has flying as long as you control a blue creature.
A cloud looking for an aggregator.
2/2
Chimeric Collage 3
Artifact
3: Until end of turn, Chimeric Collage becomes a Construct artifact creature with “This creature’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of artifacts you control.”
It ties your doom together.
Knitted Wyrm 4
Artifact Creature — Dragon
Flying
Knitted Wyrm has haste as long as you control a red creature.
A hunger looking for a morsel.
2/2
Clockwork Legion 5
Artifact Creature — Soldier
Clockwork Legion enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each creature you control.
Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on Clockwork Legion.
Whenever Clockwork Legion attacks or blocks, remove a +1/+1 counter from it at end of combat.
0/0
Knitted Seraph 5
Artifact Creature — Pony Angel
Flying
Knitted Seraph has lifelink and vigilance as long as you control a white creature.
An answer looking for a prayer.
3/3
Monsterpedia 5
Artifact
3, T: Scry 1, then reveal the top card of your library. If it’s a creature card, put it into your hand.
Fact and fiction blend imperceptibly in its pages.
Wood Sprite GU
Creature — Faerie
Flying, hexproof
Skulk (This creature can’t be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
Sprites are so elusive that most ponies don’t think they exist.
1/1
Celestia’s Approval 3GW
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has hexproof.
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to enchanted creature.
Who would dare tamper with what the sun holds dear?
Crystal Bard 3(gu)W
Snow Creature — Elemental
Whenever you draw a card, you gain 1 life.
Though normally shy, crystal bards can be coaxed out of hiding by an appreciative audience.
2/5
Actually, maybe, just maybe, ponies order their pages right to left in at least some cases, because that’s not the first time when page order appears weird by far.
I see this sort of thing in anime often, which is why I keep an eye out for it every time a book turns up. Japanese write left to right, but page order is right to left, as opposed to the ubiquitous left to right in the Western world. As a result it is common to see completely alien cultures in anime that do the same, or even books in English with the title on the wrong side. Sometimes, this slips into animation that Japanese studios did for someone else.
Remember which way Twilight flips the pages in Friendship is Magic when she is looking for “elements of harmony?” Yep, right to left. But suppose that she’s just been scrolling backwards because that’s where the “E” was. After she finds the “E” and starts looking for “Mare in the Moon,” she continues flipping further in the same direction.
I want to die.
4300508
The problem there is that, as both siblings say on the last page of the comic, night sprites are listed on page 113. This could be explained if the Equestrian alphabet were arranged differently than ours, but ponies sing the familiar alphabet song in "Family Appreciation Day." It is possible that the entries are first arranged by habitat or some other unknown metric.
Since the upkeep happens before the draw step, Outrageous Creativity would kill you at the beginning of that extra turn it was supposed to give you.
4300631
Oh. Wow, that's a massive oversight. Obvious patch applied; you now have a full turn cycle to win rather than one step.
4300634
Yay, I'm helping!
That was some impressive turnaround time on that patch.
4300635
Hooray for helping! That's what we're here for!
Anyways, I found Fluttershy's issue to be the leadt interesting of the micro series, not that it wasn't a bad one but when you've read Rarity's, it sort of pales by comparison.
Y'know, ever since the debacle between IDW and contol over the MtG comic, I sometimes wonder about allusions to it in the MLP comic. So many things have been referenced, but I can't for the life of me, recall an MtG reference.
4300644
Hocus-Pocus: the Get-Together
4300656
Gosh, I can't remember that one, which issue was it from?
4300663
"Neigh Anything"
It was the bit with Shining x Cadance in high school.
4300670
Dang, I missed that! I was so hooked by the dnd references.
Outrageous Creativity feels pretty Legendary to me!
This is a card players are guaranteed to get wrong. (They draw first, before abilities that trigger at the beginning of the draw step.) Maybe do the scry/fateseal during the upkeep step instead?
4300984
Considering how I got it wrong when designing it, you have an excellent point. The scryseal has been moved to upkeep. Thanks.
If you played Pathfinder, You would know that nets are the standard way to deal with ghosts. Well, +1 ghost touch nets, at least. Really screws the ghosts over.
Hey, not a full week late on this one! I actually started reading it Sunday, and a bit on Monday but then Life (tm) happened and here we are!
Stuff like Muse’s Guidance would be easier if the reminder text for fateseal was only just slightly different. But I can see why they'd only want you to use it on opponents instead of just any player.
For all the reasons not to play Legendary Creatures Chamber of Extreme Knitting is a good reason. It also shuts down other people from playing their own Legendary Creatures. This sort of card would probably be banned in Commander.
Rather sure you could change "other types and has haste and " to "other types, has haste and". Only a single word, but every little bit right?
I want to run Outrageous Creativity alongside Laboratory Maniac and any other "extra turn" card. It'd be especially fun to do in Commander
On Tree Goblin: They really need to keyword the "can’t be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach" ability, but it doesn't really come up all that often. If it was keyworded though I'd suggest "brachiating", or some derivative thereof.
Sculpted Lightning is one of those cards you should just drop early and let sit there. Or maybe play a bit later and use as needed. But it makes a good "finisher" for various sorts of decks. It has a place in agro, midrange and control, which makes it a very nicely designed card in my opinion.
Both the casting cost and the activation cost are fair, and the build up of one counter for one damage each turn can make other player sweat on when you'll use it and what else you're going to be doing.
All In Red, Counter Control, Artifact Shenanigans, so many different ways you can take the card.
On Knitted Branches: It wasn't until this card that I saw you were going for a five card cycle based on color. Menace on Knitted Gremlin was a nice choice for Black. though, really, even though Black was what gave us Fear I tend to think Red when I think Menace, But Black has it at primary I think? Always hard to keep up what keywords are in what color without going to look at Mister Rosewater's notes on things.
Reach here for Green is good. Green really needs more keywords in it.
On Knitted Swarm: I did not know that "Pest" was a valid creature type. It's only on one card so far but, hey, it might go places. Though I'd have probably used "Insect" here instead.
Flying is good choice for Blue. Though, like Green, Blue doesn't have that many keywords.
On Knitted Wyrm: This one kind of feels out of place of the others, already having a keyword and then gaining another like the rest of the "Knitted X" cycle. But we do have president for some of a cycle not really fitting the rest of the cycle in one way or the other.
Haste was kinda the obvious choice for Red.
On Knitted Seraph: Oh, and this one gains TWO abilities on-top of the one it already has if you've got a White creature. I'd have probably just gone with vigilance here.
Though if the first three were Common, the red on Rare and this one Mythic then I could see the disparity in power-level.
Wood Sprite is one of those cards people will find very hard to be rid of. Unless they run some of the smaller spiders that is, which just feels right.
I want to kill something that has Celestia’s Approval on it with either Solar Blast or maybe Sunlance and make comment about how she's given her disapproval after some action.
Fun set, maybe I'll actually respond to this week's set on Sunday but probably not. -_-