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Aug
8th
2017

Bronycon: And That's How Equestria was Made! · 4:20pm Aug 8th, 2017

At Bronycon, on Friday, Aug. 11, 2PM, on the Harmony Plaza Neighborhood Stage (which I think is in the hallway on the second floor), I'll be running a game, along with Applejinx, Blagdaross, bookplayer, GaPJaxie, horizon, and Themaskedferret.

Our plan was to demonstrate the game for 20 minutes or so, then break the audience up into groups of six and help them play it themselves. The schedule says we're on 2-4 PM. Some of our crew think we should give the demonstration twice, once at two and once at three.

You can find a Google doc with the (current) rules here. That's my rewrite of Applejinx's rewrite of my original rules, which proved in playtesting to be too interrupty. I know you're too lazy to click on the link, though, so I have pasted the rules below (in fimfiction's patented and mandatory WonkyList (TM) format):


And That’s How Equestria Was Made! is a cooperative storytelling game.  Something odd has happened, and Princess Celestia would like an explanation from her little ponies. The ponies would like not to be sent to the moon.

  • Celestia makes up a question to ask the ponies, possibly about a disaster or silly event.  She begins the game by asking one pony her question.
  • That pony then begins making up an explanation.  The game has just started, so she shouldn't give a simple answer to the question.

    • She might say something unrelated, implying it will lead to the answer: "Why do we have ducks on our heads? Well, it all started when Rarity needed an idea for her fall fashion line."
    • She might answer the question with something that demands a further question: "Because bandersnatches are afraid of ducks."
  • When a pony speaks:

    • The player speaking usually talks for 5 to 30 seconds.
    • If the speaker ends by naming another pony, she should turn to look at that pony's player, call that pony's name, and invite her to continue.
    • Otherwise, Celestia will speak next, and ask some pony to continue the explanation. She may also add to her question, e.g., "So is that why Prince Rutherford keeps sending me boulders?"
    • Pretend there is one microphone and each speaker must hand it off to the next speaker.
  • Interjections are okay! Interruptions are not.

    • We know ponies are excitable! It's okay to shout out a few words now and then in response to what the speaking pony says, especially if it's funny.
    • It's not okay to do that every time somepony speaks.  Don't be that pony.
    • It's not okay to shout out a few words immediately after somepony else has shouted out a few words. (Unless they're really funny.)
    • It's not okay to shout over the pony who's speaking and not let them speak anymore.
    • It's not okay to shout over Celestia. That is a moonable offense.
  • You're all in it together!

    • If there are 6 ponies, try not to speak more than 1/5 of the time.
    • It's better to call on the pony who's spoken least than the one who's spoken the most.
  • Each pony should act in-character.

    • Twilight wants not to be sent back to Magic Kindergarten or banished from Equestria and then thrown into a dungeon in the place she was banished to.
    • Applejack wants to show that she has more common sense than everypony else.
    • Fluttershy wants to pretend that what she did wasn't impressive, even if it was.
    • Pinkie wants to make everything that happened sound like it was fun, even if it was horrifying.
    • Rarity wants to dramatize everything.
    • Rainbow wants to convince people she was awesome.
    • Exception: The pony you play might want to take all the credit, do all the explaining, or not say anything at all; but as a player you want to all build the story equally.
  • Ponies are trying to make each other look good (mostly), not bad, so explanations should lean towards excuse-making rather than blaming. They might be talking nonsense or telling the truth, but they’re trying to make the situation look not so bad. Escalating the problem by revealing additional related disasters is always acceptable. Imagine Celestia’s eyebrows raising more and more with each new reveal. The game is to see the explanation grow into an outlandish pony tale.
  • Ending the game:

    • Ideally, one pony sums up the whole wacky tale in a way that answers Celestia's question, closing with a loud ending line such as "and that’s why the moon is purple!"  Do it boldly.
    • Any player may end the game.  (Celestia should not, unless it drags on too long.)
    • The game may not end until every player has had at least one turn speaking.
    • Please do not interrupt someone else to end the game unless they pause.  Besides being annoying, a closing line without a leading pause will sound weak.

Improv veterans: Rather than being strictly "yes, and", where you accept everything said as truth, some ponies might be lying their little hooves off to protect themselves, or to protect some other pony's innocence.  Whatever’s cute and funny.


Prompt Suggestions

"Where is my castle?"
“Why is there now a temple in my city devoted to an alligator god?"
"What about this book you've written about me?”

Add your prompt suggestions in the comments, & maybe I'll use it at Bronycon.

Report Bad Horse · 771 views · #bronycon #games
Comments ( 18 )

Oh, I'll have to be there! Now, for prompts...

"What is making that smell in my throne room?"
"Why are Luna and the minotaur ambassador preparing to duel one another?"
"Where is the moon?"
"Why has Applejack sprouted bat wings?"
"What precisely did you do in and to Baltimare?"

"Why do I have diamond dogs at my gate addressing me as their Imperial Despot by right of conquest, and demanding I move my court to someplace called Ultima Mule?"

"I am pretty sure I didn't have half of a train engine standing in my throne room yesterday."
"I received an interesting letter from Dragon Lord Ember about some problems with molasses. Care to explain?"
"Now, I'm not accusing anypony, but Canterlot used to be on the side of a mountain."

(Estee): Exactly why is there a goose sitting on my throne?
(GaPJaxie): How did all six of you get replaced by your alternate dimension actors?
(Shortskirts): Why is there an Applejack-shaped robot surrounded by acorns in the middle of town?
(Skywriter): What triggered Twilight into hiding in the library and casting advanced Come-To-Life spells on all of her furniture?
(xjuggernaughtx): Why do you think I should date Cheerilee when so many others have tried and failed?

"So, let's start with why Canterlot is on fire."

"Why is Pinkie Pie under my bed?" :pinkiesmile:
"Why is Pinkie Pie inside my bed?" :pinkiehappy:
"Why is Pinkie Pie inside me?" :pinkiecrazy:

"...no more questions, your Honor." :facehoof:

I'm so excited to participate in this!

"Why did you seal Discord in petrified jello?"
"Who turned me into a cake while I was napping?"
"Why is the moon ten times bigger with "Celestia's rear" written on it?"
"What is a shipping chart, why was it mailed to me, and why am I not the most popular pony on it?"
"Why is the gravity in the castle reversed?"

"Mommy, how was Equestria made?"

"Well dear, when a marketing department loves a reboot very, very much..."

“Why do all my sandwiches now have hoof-sized holes in them?”

"What do you mean you've discovered why we have sandwiches?"

"Why am I in a Sonic crossover?"

"So, what exactly caused everypony in Canterlot including myself to get petrified for exactly 24 minutes and 43 seconds?"

That actually sound like a great game, and one you don't need to have a the self confidence of rainbow dash as an RPer to play.

"What is a 'brony' and why is there one in the dungeon?"

Good to have what will hopefully be the final version of the rules. I printed out a bunch of Applejinx's version earlier today (that I guess I ought to just toss now). I'm running out of toner, so I can't bring a ton of this version, but I did at least print seven so each of us can have a copy as we prep/play.

I wish I had been there. I would have worn plaid. LOTS OF IT.

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