• Member Since 26th Sep, 2011
  • offline last seen 6 hours ago

FanOfMostEverything


Forget not that I am a derp.

More Blog Posts1330

  • Sunday
    Friendship is Card Games: Mane Event

    So, as I have come to understand, the main G5 IDW line has been replaced by/subsumed into a series of mini-series and one-shots that feels like the equivalent of a network trying to kill a show by bouncing it around the schedule. Hopefully I’m being paranoid there.

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    5 comments · 150 views
  • 1 week
    Rumor Gathering

    While diminished from its peak, the Writeoff is still very much an ongoing concern. Regrettably, while I actually had an idea for the most recent prompt, my Saturdays are packed to the gills and thus I didn't have time to compose it before the submission deadline. As such, I have employed Dueling

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    2 comments · 140 views
  • 1 week
    Friendship is Card Games: Wondercolts Forever: The Diary of Celestia and Luna

    The next entry on the schedule was issues #21 and 22 of the G5 mainline, but those have failed to manifest, making me wonder if that line’s actually been ended in favor of the various mini-series currently in progress. And among them, I only have one released issue unaccounted for. As such, it’s time to turn to the next pony novel… which does not contain ponies.

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    6 comments · 168 views
  • 2 weeks
    Incident of Examination

    There's a Crystal Prep-themed Sunset shipping contest on at the moment, and one castoff idea I had got me wondering about Sunset attending CPA... and running against a logical issue. At least I got

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    0 comments · 194 views
  • 2 weeks
    Friendship is Card Games: Tell Your Tale, Season 2, Part 2

    Looks like that Leap Day hypothesis carried some weight. The long-form episodes should be interesting in their own right, but we’re not looking at one this week. Let’s see what there is to see.

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    5 comments · 184 views
Dec
29th
2019

Friendship is Card Games: 2019 Holiday Special · 1:18pm Dec 29th, 2019

Sorry I’ve been relatively quiet. I got Pokémon Shield for Christmas, and I’ve been preoccupied in Galar. Given that, rather fitting that we’re looking at the latest holiday comic.

(And before anyone asks, yes, it’s more of the same, but it’s still fun. The cracks show in parts, but others shine, and being able to actually see most of the wild Pokémon before battling them is a lot more fun and helpful than I thought it would be. And Dexit never bothered me that much. I play Magic: the Gathering; I’m used to my gaming overlords swapping out mechanics and a large portion of the playable components on a regular basis.)

Holiday Hassle

Heh. In Equestria, you can never tell if a phrase like “let the medicine work its magic” is meant to be literal or not.

I do have to wonder how long it took Pinkie to wear Celestia down to allowing a piñata at a gala…
Actually, on second thought, Celestia was probably keeping this in reserve for when she couldn’t find other ways to liven up a dull soiree.

Oh dear. Focusing on the plot for a moment—if I must :raritywink:—there’s no way this is going to end well. Three parties in one night across half of the continent… Probably better that Rarity go with Dash rather than Spike. At least that way she’ll have a backup option if the train breaks down.

Also, apparently Sweet Apple Acres is wired for electricity, at least for the sake of the background gag. Who knew?

Smooth, Spike. You’d think he’d know which doors in the castle are push or pull.

Hang on, is that… Yes, it is Windy the Windigo, from the 2017 holiday special. The Flimflam brothers made a lasting impact on Equestrian popular culture, and I’m not sure how to feel about that.
Also, bat pony guards. Always good to see them.

Poor Rarity. She’s likely set up a few parties in her time, but nothing on this scale. At least, not the practical end of things.

So… the fondue fountain was pouring out molten milkfat as that poor mare was carrying it out, but it has to liquefy the stuff now? That seems equal parts unsafe and ill-planned.

Lovely holiday attire on the elder princesses. Their pets having matching hats really brings the ensembles together.

:facehoof: And there went your chance, Rarity. You could’ve cut your losses and just spent the night in Canterlot. (Though I can only imagine the pressure Sheer Perfection’s endured throughout her life.)

“We thought you were the help?”
I mean, the guard isn’t strictly wrong. Goodness knows the Bearers have cleaned up national security messes in the past.

Nice Polar Express vibe in that first train panel.

Yeah, it really would have been best to start in Manehattan. That way they’d only need to make one long train ride to get to the greater Canterlot area.

Ah yes, the cutthroat world of fashion. Nowhere near as friendly as… the social heights of Canterlot. Yikes. Granted, Canterlot’s hosting Rarity’s best friends at the moment, but still.

I know it’s a background gag (well, footer,) but I have to wonder why Octavia, Lyra, and the Doctor are at Rockafilly Center now.

Wow, Fleur. Wow. You encounter someone who has the ears of princesses and dragonlords, and you dismiss him because he himself isn’t looking to purchase at the moment. Network, filly! Heck, if it weren’t for Spike’s in with Hoity Toity, Rarity wouldn’t be the name she is today.

“Is this water gluten-free?” :facehoof: Don’t get me wrong, Chiffon Ruffle’s a delight in the brief time we get to see her, but oy.

Ouch. This definitely isn’t going as either hoped. Both are demanding more than they’re freely giving. Though the idea of a magic shop having some means of long-distance transport available is an intriguing prospect. A long shot, but intriguing. Try for one of the ones that wasn't there yesterday, but make sure it's properly licensed first.

I’m afraid I don’t know enough about Hercule Poirot to understand why the avalanche takes place in a pass named after him.

Heh. Even the Observer sometimes get caught in traffic accidents. Unless, of course, this is where he intended to be at the moment.

The lesson’s a cross-country repeat of “Apple Family Reunion,” but it’s not like we saw much of Rarity in that episode, and it’s a good one to remember. And given how Applejack was distracted by pain and Pinkie in the first scene, it makes sense that she didn't speak up in the first scene. The subsidiary lesson of how being friends doesn’t mean having to everything together is also a valuable one. (Mind you, Dash was helping to disentangle lights at the Canterlot gala, but I suppose she made for Wonderbolts HQ after they finished setting up.)

:twilightoops: That Starlight nutcracker is horrifying. Also the only sign of Starlight in this half of the comic.
… Oh dear.

Huh. Wouldn’t have expected Rarity to be the only one who didn’t end up with a cold after being out in the winter weather. Maybe she already caught something earlier in the season.

In all, a delightful tale of trying to have your fruitcake and eat it too. (Assume it's really good fruitcake. Yes, such a thing exists.)

Krumple Horn

Wait, is Sandbar modeling a new blanket for Yona? Is she making him a traditional yak blanket? That’s adorable.

Nice touch with Pinkie emerging with π Throwing and Art of the Joke on her head. She’s correctly shelved.

Harvest break, eh? First sign we’ve had of a pony Thanksgiving… though given the sheer quantity of celebrations in Equestria, one for the harvest was practically guaranteed, especially in a farming town like Ponyville.

“T”? Since when has Pinkie ever called Twilight T? I feel like they did that solely for the sake of word balloon real estate.

Ooh, a good old-fashioned cautionary tale with punishment monster. And the Equestrian equivalent of the Krampus, no less! Though with that name, I have to wonder if he's just a snorkack that wandered out of the Potterverse.

“Dragon money”? That implies far more sophisticated economics than I’ve come to expect from the Dragonlands.

“Friendship finals” just sounds wrong. Especially if the correct choice is to review textbooks rather than, you know, relax with friends.

Nicely ambiguous ending. Is Discord lying, or did the Bearers inadvertently create a spirit of festive retribution through the power of belief? Or is this another tale from Pinkies’ grandmothers that’s more true than she knows? Many possibilities here…

Some fun stuff all around… even if Krumple Horn does manage to highlight a few issues with the School of Friendship in just four pages. Still a nice way to bid farewell to the holidays and the Decade of Pony. (Not to say there won’t be any pony in the future, but that’s how I’ll always remember the 2010s.)

Now, on Combat! On Upkeep! On End Step and Trotter!
On Twilight! On Pinkie! On Stack and Rosewater!

Peppermint Celebrant 1W
Snow Creature — Unicorn Artificer
Whenever you cast a snow or artifact spell, you gain 1 life.
“It’s a time of good cheer, good looks, and good snacks. I plan on providing all three.”
1/2

Whitetalon Griffin 3W
Snow Creature — Griffin Warrior
Flying
1S, T: Whitetalon Griffin deals 2 damage to target attacking or blocking creature. (S can be paid with one mana from a snow source.)
Traditional Griffonstone snowballs are more rock than ice.
2/2

Shelf Skulker 2U
Creature — Pony Rogue
Shelf Skulker’s power is equal to the number of cards in the hand of the player with the most cards in hand.
Twilight Sparkle only thinks she’s the best read mare in Equestria.
*/2

Curse of Discipline 3B
Enchantment — Aura Curse
Enchant player
As Curse of Discipline enters the battlefield, choose a color.
Whenever enchanted player casts a spell of the chosen color, they lose 1 life.
Discord grinned at the irony. The students just screamed.

Out in the Cold 3B
Snow Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a -1/-1 counter on each nonsnow creature.
When there are no creatures on the battlefield, sacrifice Out in the Cold.
Even an alicorn can only withstand so much.

Krumple Horn 3BB
Legendary Creature — Demon Spirit
Menace
Whenever you cast a Spirit or Arcane spell, destroy target tapped creature an opponent controls.
Hearth’s Warming did not eliminate the malice of winter. It only concentrated it.
4/2

Chiropteron Medevac Team 4B
Creature — Bat Pegasus Soldier
Flying
Whenever Chiropteron Medevac Team or a creature with alicorn enters the battlefield under your control, return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
“Coordinate with the princess. No pony left behind.”
2/4

Surprise Windigo 5B
Snow Creature — Elemental Horse
Flash
This spell costs X less to cast, where X is the total life gained by your opponents this turn.
Flying
A few windigoes are drawn to the holiday’s strange blend of cheer and unspoken tension.
3/3

Muddy Abduction 1R
Sorcery — Arcane
Target creature an opponent controls can’t block this turn. Tap up to two target lands that player controls. Those lands don’t untap during their controllers’ next untap step.
Shed chitin and filthy sheets were all that remained.

Roll out the Carpet 2RR
Sorcery
Roll out the Carpet deals 1 damage to each creature target player controls. Those creatures can’t block this turn.
“A dense weave can be good for a lot of things.”
—Rarity, Bearer of Generosity

Cameo Appearance 3R
Instant
Create a token that’s a copy of target creature in a silver-bordered game you can see from your seat. That token gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step.
“Featuring Dampé from the Legend of Zelda series!”
—Pinkie Pie, Bearer of Laughter

Pie Lobber 3R
Creature — Pony Spellshaper
1R, T, Discard a card: Pie Lobber deals π damage to target creature. (π is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. (It’s a smidgen more than 3.))
She goes halfsies on those who would tau the line.
2/1

Royal Fireworks 3RR
Sorcery
Royal Fireworks deals 4 damage to each creature without alicorn.
“I cannot express how cathartic it is to have ponies cheer while I make things explode.”
—Princess Celestia

Derailing Avalanche 4R
Instant
Derailing Avalanche deals 4 damage to target creature. If that creature is a Vehicle, Derailing Avalanche deals 4 damage to each creature that crewed that Vehicle this turn.
The first rumble made Rarity lose her train of thought. The rest built on that theme.

Dragonlands Coinsmith 5R
Creature — Dragon Artificer
Flying
Sacrifice a non-Treasure artifact: Create two Treasures. (They’re artifacts with “T, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.”)
Dragons were slow to give things away until they realized they got better things in exchange.
3/3

Sled of Gifts 2GG
Artifact — Vehicle
Trample
Whenever Sled of Gifts deals combat damage to a player, reveal that many cards from the top of your library. You may put a permanent card from among them onto the battlefield. Then put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Crew 4
6/6

Fondue Fountain 1
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature can’t be blocked.
Whenever equipped creature deals damage, put a -1/-1 counter on it.
Equip 3
“Hot cheese! Make way!”

Gay Apparel 2
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has lifelink.
Whenever a snow creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may attach Gay Apparel to it.
Equip 3
Perfect for gathering boughs of holly.

Yak Blanket 2
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +3/+2.
Equipped creature doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step unless it’s an Ox.
At the beginning of the upkeep of equipped creature’s controller, that player may pay 3. If they do, untap equipped creature.
Equip 2

Livewire Cast (rw)
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
R: Enchanted creature can’t block this turn.
W: Enchanted creature can’t attack this turn.
“Pinkie tried to help, bless her heart.”
—Applejack, Bearer of Honesty

Cheese Burn X(br)
Instant
Wither (This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.)
Cheese Burn deals X damage to target creature.
Afterwards, witnesses could only describe the smell as “horribly delicious.”

Comments ( 6 )

I know it’s a background gag (well, footer,) but I have to wonder why Octavia, Lyra, and the Doctor are at Rockafilly Center now.

It's The Doctor plus one or more random mares. Realistically speaking, that's all the explanation you need.

Though with that name, I have to wonder if he's just a snorkack that wandered out of the Potterverse.

I mean, Luna Lovegood is clearly off in her own little world, so why not have it be this one? (Remember, when something is only believed in by the sort of people who take The Enquirer at face value and/or actively write for it, it doesn't exist unless they show one on-screen)

Gay Apparel

All the people making fun of this line for its outdated linguistics and nobody except me ever mentions the fact that a literal translation into modern terms still ends up sounding pretty questionable? Seriously, what the **** are "happy clothes" supposed to be if your name isn't Eddie Brock Flash Thompson apparently we've come full circle and it's back with Eddie again? (I left out several intermediate hosts and the zillion other symbiotes and Elseworld stories, because I'd be here all day otherwise)

Octavia, Lyra, and the Doctor are at Rockafilly Center now.

Daleks in Manhattan. Tenth, Martha Jones, and a local showgirl named Tallulah. Maybe?

I’m afraid I don’t know enough about Hercule Poirot to understand why the avalanche takes place in a pass named after him.

Murder on the Orient Express. The eponymous train stops in a mountain pass.
Like a fair few of the references in the comics it's a bit of a reach.

Oh right, my other thing...

Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Yak Blanket's triggered ability still triggers if the equipped creature is untapped, so if you happen to have an Ox with an ability that requires tapping it (not as unlikely as it sounds) you can use it to double up. I don't know off the top of my head what happens if you change what it's equipped to while the trigger is on the stack, but that will almost never come up anyways.

Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Krumple Horn's trigger will resolve before the spell that triggers it, and by extension before any "enters the battlefield" abilities of your cast Spirit would trigger. Even if you're playing with some custom card that rearranges the stack so that this won't be true, the wording makes it irrelevant because you have to choose a target that was tapped when the trigger was put on it in the first place. More hilariously, if your opponent can untap the target somehow, that will save it... and again, the target was already chosen so you don't get to choose a new one.

Inside Baseball Alert: Spellshapers are almost always based on existing spells, and Pie Lobber is no exception.

Inside Baseball Alert: Fondue Fountain is based on Hot Soup, which if I'm reading it correctly was an officially published fan design? Possibly even by FoME, seeing as I at least don't know his real name.

Stupid Complicated Game Alert: And on the subject of Fondue Fountain, it doesn't actually care how the creature is dealing damage or to what. Picking a fight with the guy carrying cheese is a pretty good plan. (Don't ask what happens when you play the card that makes one creature deal damage to everything and everyone else, because I don't know off the top of my head and it might require the card to be reworded)

Dragonlands Coinsmith really, really likes clues and probably goes infinite several different ways.
I'm also sad Cheese Burn has nothing to do with cereal or marshmallows, otherwise "tragically delicious" would make excellent flavor text.
Cameo Appearance is great, though I think actually stealing it for a round would be funnier.
Roll Out The Carpet and Livewire Cast win the elegance award this time around.

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It becomes a bit less of a stretch if one knows that Murder on the Orient Express was made a movie in 2017 where the train had to stop because of an avalanche. (I personally disliked it. The movie was much to action-y for such a cerebral and calm book.)

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Gay Apparel: I suppose the intent is less clothes that are happy and more clothes for happy occasions, much in the same way a suit fit for a funeral might be seen as somber.

Fondue Fountain: I am not in fact James Ernest. For one thing, he can juggle. Core 2015's gimmick was bringing professional non-Magic game designers (and Gabe and Tycho) to make cards. I, on the other hand, am a non-professional Magic game designer. Important distinction. :raritywink:
As for the Chandra's Ignition interaction, much like with Angel of Deliverance, the Fountain only considers the burst to be a single instance of damage. Also, enjoy the mental image of Chandra escaping both her execution and Kaladesh, only with molten cheese instead of fire.

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Cameo Appearance is great, though I think actually stealing it for a round would be funnier.

Already did that with Jump In, which was based on the "A Queen of Clubs" EqG short. Remember, stealing a critical blocker from another game is generally considered a jerk move. Especially since it'll cease to exist when its owner dies.

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