084 The Great Tag Overhaul 2: Overhaul Harder · 11:20pm Jan 15th, 2017
084 The Great Tag Overhaul 2: Overhaul Harder
Back in November 2015, when we got some sweet new tags to slap on our stories, I took that opportunity to take a look back and make sure the correct ones were in their right places. Now I'm doing it again, but it's tougher, so if you have read any of my stories, I would be grateful if you could take a look and throw your opinion at me. This is totally not a clever plot to get you to read those again.
My main concerns are about racial tags and [OC] tag. Feel free to tell me how you're doing it, I welcome the suggestions! 
For starters, here's a picture-bribe to get you in a good mood.
And now for the stories:
Edge of Reason [Twilight Sparkle][Trixie] (thinking about adding [Diamond Dogs]
Okay, here's a spoiler to a five-year old story. The reason behind the mysterious fire mentioned in the description is actually a Diamond Dog and some Not Safe For Ponies magic. I need a ruling here: on one hand, the Diamond Dog is revealed only towards the end (if we're not counting that obvious dark silhouette on the cover, duh), so there may be no need for an extra tag. On the other, if someone wants to read all there has ever been about Diamond Dogs, they would never find this story without a proper tag. Thoughts?
Shadows of Canterlot [Trixie][OC] (no changes)
I don't know what I wrote inside this one, and at this point I'm afraid to ask.
Arcane Equilibrium [Twilight Sparkle][Rarity][Trixie][OC] (thinking about adding [Griffons] and/or [Gilda])
Here's a tricky one: there are several griffons in this story, even the one we know from the silver screen, but they don't appear until Chapter 6 (yes, I did check it - now I need a therapist). From then on, they are somewhat relevant to the story as they help the main protagonists - should one include them in such case?
Mirrorless [Rarity][OC] (no changes)
Just Rarity against the world in a spooky setting.
Rumbling Rhymes [Scootaloo][Zecora] (thinking about adding [Diamond Dogs], but is [Zebra] relevant?)
It seems I was a big fun of "surprising" reveals back in the day. In here, we're following Zecora and Scoots as they encounter Diamond Dogs. Right, that's technically a spoiler, but it shouldn't be, for the same reason as before: there may be people interested in those noble miners, so neither tags nor the story's short description should be obscuring them. Now, another conundrum is the [Zebra] tag. Technically, there is a zebra in this story. Then again, Zecora is the only zebra around. Ugh, does one character warrants the race tag?
Batman: Marekham City [Twilight Sparkle][Other][Main 6] (no changes)
This looks okay, but when we're getting a [BATMAN] tag?
Twilight and the Art of Fingering [Twilight Sparkle][Rarity] (thinking about swapping [Rarity] to [Rarity (EqG)])
A no-brainer. Just like Twilight after Rarity was done screwing her friend's brains out.
Duty to the Last [OC] (thinking about adding [Royal Guards])
For some reason the [Royal Guards] tag has the night-loving versions. Someone knows if that's intentional? Also, what is the real use of an [OC] tag? Won't [Royal Guards] imply that the characters are all original?
Reformed 101: Triscord [Princess Celestia][Princess Luna][Trixie][OC][Discord] (no changes)
All in the right place.
Fading Away [Twilight Sparkle][Rarity][Spike] (no changes)
All in the right place.
Dreamlocked [Twilight Sparkle][Trixie][Nightmare Moon] (no changes)
All in the right place.
Of Lilies and Chestnuts [OC][Fancypants][Fleur de Lis] (thinking about adding [Bat Pony])
Let's think about this one. Chestnut is the only battypone in the story. Is she covered by the [OC] tag, or should I add the other as well? It has been suggested to me to include both (I'm looking at you, Shadow Star!), but I have trouble discerning when a racial tag becomes truly relevant. Help!
Cheersalis [Queen Chrysalis][Changelings] (thinking about adding [OC] and [Twilight Sparkle])
Help me out with this one. I should probably add Twilight as she's the mysterious ambassador who arrives to the Changeling Hive Chrysalis (again with dramatic reveals...). What about an [OC] tag for Iqqel or other changelings? Are they covered by the [Changeling] tag, or should I add more?
Dreamlocked Chronicles [Twilight Sparkle][Nightmare Moon][Sunset Shimmer] (no changes)
All in the right place. But if I had gone forth with this story, it would have so many other characters!
Dune Goddess [Princess Celestia][Sunset Shimmer] (no changes)
All in the right place. Sunset remains best pony.
Expulsion [Princess Celestia][Sunset Shimmer][Sonata Dusk] (thinking about swapping [Princess Celestia] for [Principal Celestia])
That's rather obvious.
Icebreaker [Princess Celestia][Sunset Shimmer][Sonata Dusk] (as above, plus thinking about adding [Zecora])
The Number One Zebra appears in this one, but so does Flash Sentry and the CMC. How relevant to a story a character has to be to get included? Zecora feels more relevant, Flash much less, and the CMC are just having a cameo to be honest. Someone read this one and knows what I'm talking about?
Snowboardling [Princess Celestia][Queen Chrysalis][Changelings] (thinking about adding [OC] and [Crystal Ponies])
First, we're back with the dilemma from Cheersalis about a changeling OC named Iqqel. Second, the ski resort presented here is owned by the Crystal Empire and there is one conversation between Chrysalis and a crystal pony bartender. Technically too little, I think, but overall I imagine there could be a lot of crystal ponies among the staff of the resort, so if that story was an episode, you'd instantly notice the strong presence of those shiny gem-alikes.
Where Fillies Fear to Tread [Princess Celestia][Trixie] (no changes)
Look at the cover. Look at it! Uh, I mean, no changes here, all in the right place.
Stage Revival [Princess Celestia][Trixie] (thinking about adding [OC])
This takes place in Canterlot and there are multiple OCs that Trixie interacts with. But truth be told, I have sort of mixed feelings about the [OC] tag overall. Somehow, a story tagged with two canon characters will sell better than the one with two canon characters and an OC. Am I wrong? Again, when should we use [OC] tag? When a characters is named and given background? When they speak a few lines? When they speak many lines?
Starlight Glimmer's Shop of Sameness [Flim and Flam][Starlight Glimmer] (no changes)
All in the right place.
Arcane Realms [Twilight Sparkle][Spike][Princess Celestia][Silver Spoon][OC] (no changes)
All in the right place. Also I'm writing another chapter, yay!
Tantabound [Princess Luna] (thinking about adding [Tantabus])
This is a thing, right? We're adding the mist-thingy to stories about the said mist-thingy?
Dichromatic [Queen Chrysalis][Changelings] (no changes)
The Cheersalis dilemma all over again. But hey, at least I'm not hiding the surprise reveal this time!
The Royal Daughter [Other][King Sombra] (thinking about swapping [Other] for [Flurry Heart])
A super tough one. This is about Skyla, Cadence's daughter before said daughter's name was revealed to be... ugh... Flurry Heart. If I add [Flurry Heart], I should probably add the [Alternate Universe] tag as well because it's unlikely for the canon events to unfold as rightfully as in my writing. Then again, by the time of writing it the tags were perfectly adequate. What do I do?
Operation Wonderbit [Spitfire][OC] (thinking about adding [Bat Pony])
See the Of Lilies and Chestnuts dilemma. Although this story features Chestnut the most, it doesn't feel right to give her special treatment while Wind Whisper (a pegasus) and Glavia (a griffon) are not getting any despite also having a lot of their moments. Also another thought, should I add a [Wonderbolts] tag as well? Soarin has a few lines if I recall correctly and there are other Wonderbolts mentioned by name, so...?
The Rose and the Snek [Roseluck] (thinking about adding [OC])
Yes, this is snek. Snek not mentioned in tags. Snek sad. Author thinks snek does not need an [OC] tag. Help snek?
If you can help me with properly tagging any of those stores, please feel free to point me towards right changes!
~Prane
Edge of Reason, I say add it.
Arcane Equilibrium. Will people looking for Griffon stories want to see this story? Is Gilda more than just a bit part?
Rumbling Rhymes. Yes to Diamond Dogs, no to Zebra. You wouldn't add a changeling tag to a story with just Chrysalis, so don't add a zebra tag to a story with just Zecora.
Twilight and the Art of Fingering. There are many stories that will never have their tags adjusted to correctly label EqG characters. If we're going to have the tags anyway, make them as useful as possible even if they can never be perfect.
Duty to the Last. If all of the OCs are royal guards, then you can probably get rid of the OC tag.
Of Lilies and Chestnuts. Same as with Arcane Equilibrium; will people looking for bat pony stories want to see this story?
Cheersalis. I don't know what the right thing to do is here.
Dreamlocked Chronicles. You forgot to green "(no changes)".
Expulsion. Change it; same reasoning as in Art of Fingering.
Icebreaker. Don't know.
Snowboarding. Don't add the crystal pony tag, and only add the OC tag if you also do for Cheersalis.
Stage Revival. Probably not, but I'd have to read the story to get a feel for it.
Tantabound. Easy yes.
Dichromatic. If you're saying no changes for this, then probably don't add the OC tag to the previous two Iqqel stories.
The Royal Daughter. Flurry Heart is not Skyla. You should only add the tag if you also change the story to replace Skyla with Flurry.
Operation Wonderbit. Treat the bat pony tag the same as in Lilies and Chestnuts; probably add the wonderbolts tag because the wonderbolts as a group seem relevant to the story.
The Rose and the Snek. Sorry Snek, you're an OC.
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You beautiful person, you! Did you just make my life super easy? Seems so! I'm a little short on time here 'cause traveling, but when I find a few minutes I will surely make good use of your suggestions.Thanks!
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Just note that I haven't read the majority of your stories, so I'm mostly making suggestions based on what you've said in this blog post.