Weaponry in Neo Somnambula · 2:57am Sep 4th, 2022
In Neo Somnambula due to the various factions/gangs in the city, it isn't uncommon to see a pony or some other creature sporting either a weapon or a cybernetic limb that could potentially have a weapon built into it. So, I decided to try to discuss the weaponry that one might find there.
Now while the show does depict ponies holding things in their hooves like hands and Fallout: Equestria has them holding guns and stuff in the mouths, I have decided to go down a different route when it comes to firearms in Neo Somnambula, which you will see here. Clearly most melee weapons can still be wielded with their hooves/mouths, but as for guns, I have decided to try something different.
So, let's begin...
Melee Weapons
While just about any melee weapon named under the sun, can be found in Neo Somnambula, there are a few that have a unique presence in the city.
Khopesh
An ancient Somnambulian weapon that is a sickle shaped sword, that has had a resurgence after Sunset Shimmer blessed the Horizon Knights with as a weapon that serves both a combat and ceremonial purpose. While it is mostly the Horizon Knights that bear such weapons, there are criminals who have scavenged these weapons from fallen knights as well as citizens who have gone out of their way to have one forged, especially among the nobles in the upper city.
Buck-Sphere
A unique weapon, this mechanical sphere is designed so that a pony can kick or buck it and it will move at high velocity, upon hitting its target, small metal spikes emerge from the sphere dealing additional damage. Using a special anklet on the pony's hoof, the pony can use an energy leash to pull the Buck-sphere back to themselves for further attacks.
Scorpion's Tail
This special weapon is an energy whip, that can be created around the pony's tail. They can flick their tail to whip enemies.
Ranged Weapons
Brace Blaster
This brace is designed to be worn on a pony's forehoof, the pony can then aim with their hoof to fire a round at an enemy in front of them. Some Brace Blasters are designed to be able to fire automatic rounds as well.
Battle Saddles
These special saddles are designed to carry bigger weaponry on either their back or sides. Using special programming, the pony can trigger the weapons and fire them. The bigger weapons include: rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, cannons, flak cannons, etc...
While most weapons are physically attached to the saddle, either by an axis or a robot limb, some are connected and held aloft by magical devices held within.
Battle Harness
These magic body harnesses are designed that they can magically materialize a suit of magical armor over the body of the pony wearing it. While worn mostly by the Horizon Knights, there are some mercenaries as well as gangsters who possess such a powerful armor. In addition to providing the wearer heavy armor, it can also function as Battle Saddle, allowing the wearer to wield powerful weapons as well.
Para-Canisters
Initially this was used as a tool by construction workers, Para-Canisters as small cans storing a swarm of Para-nanobots, which were often used to repair or demolish buildings. However, somepony found another use for this item as it could unleash the Para-nanobots to blind or "bite" enemies. Because of the horrific possibilities that this item can incure as a weapon, possession of a Para-Canister without a permit is illegal.
Cybernetic Limbs
Clearly cybernetic limbs can be weapons as well, potentially containing melee or even ranged weaponry built within. However, there is one that has made it's appearance known in recent years...
Neith-Blades
Believed to be of Changeling design, Neith-blades, are blades that emerge from cybernetic limbs, giving the limb a resemblance to the leg of a spider. These weapons can slice through almost anything with ease and can be very deadly. On the streets, some gangs will refer to them as scissor legs.
Magical Hieroglyphs
Some weapons are imbued with ancient Somnambulian hieroglyphs that give that weapon magical properties. While most of these just add elemental damage, there are some that have more foreboding properties.
So, this is what I have come up with for the various weaponry in the setting, thus far. 
Thank you all for coming and reading my blog, I hope you all have a great weekend and stay safe. 
You could also add a weapon that creates a small sand storm in an area to choke enemies to death.
5683899
That's really just a spell scroll. Or a pegasus.
5683899
5683918 While a spell scroll could certainly work, I did end up coming up with something that might scratch that little itch, along with a few other fun additions... Enjoy.
I came, I read, and I liked it.
5684050 Yay!
Did anything stand out to you?
5684052
I like the scorpion tail.
Wow, all of these sound like fun.
Imagine a First Pony shooter (FPS) using these elements.
After reading this, I wonder if elements from POE(Path of Exile) and or The Ascent might be useful.
POE has gems that give folks powers and gems that enhance other gems.
And a few that just watch.
All of your powers are based off of the gems.
Wanna hurl fireballs?
Need a magic gem.
Wanna punch real hard?
Get a melee enhancement gem.
The Ascent doesn't push cybernetics like Cyberpunk, but they have interesting ideas on augmentations and addons.
Some enemies have cyber limbs, but your char doesn't have that.
Some augs could be really useful.
Like being able to summon a robot to punch enemies or Will Smith if you have the energy.
Can also summon a bot that shoots or a bunch of explosive spiders that jump on enemies.
Having both of those keeps the crowds at bay.
One really cool weapon is the Joy dragon (I forgot the real name).
It puts enemies into stasis, but if you keep shooting them, they'll explode.
If there are a bunch of people in stasis, you could cause a chain reaction.
The sanitation dept hates that augmentation.
Also in the game, some enemies have melee attacks, but also stealth suits so sometimes you can't see them coming.
So a Neith-blade and a stealth spell combo could be very deadly.
There's another enemy that will hack your equipment and send drones to attack you.
Might be a useful addition to your collection.
5684059 Well, it's mostly for a story/setting, though it certainly would be pretty cool for a FPS game.
I don't know much about POE, but I have played a tiny bit of the Ascent (and a lot more Cyberpunk 2077). I guess in a way, the magical hieroglyphs could function kind of like magic gems/augments.
Hacking is something I would like to explore as one of the characters in the story is a hacker, though I'm wondering how one might make hacking feel interesting.
5684090
POE-Path of Exile
It's a grim action rpg.
The soundtrack is wonderful.
https://www.pathofexile.com/game
Just check out how the gems work for ideas.
I used to play the game a lot, but the socket system took the piss from me and my neighbors.
Then it would pour it in our cereal.
Imagine a legendary item dropping in front of you.
But the thing has less sockets than what you are using before.
And the sockets aren't linked the same way or in the right sequence.
Oh yeah, the colors aren't the right ones either.
You can't slot gems in the wrong colored slot.
Let's say you had a two handed sword with three sockets.
Red for extra physical damage, green gem for speed and the blue gem adds fire damage.
Each color is tied to elemental and major class types.
Red-Warrior.
Green-Thief type person.
Blue- Magic user.
All of the sockets need to be connected or the weapon won't get all the benefits for the attack.
Also the socket sequence might be important too.
White would take any gem, but items using that are very rare.
There are orbs you can use to change the number of sockets, and their links but their effects are random.
So to make the legendary weapon usable, you have to fuss with three different orbs with random results.
POE has no gold so you have to barter stuff to get the orbs or swap orb types.
They kinda fixed it by having some sort of workbench in your hideout, but by then I lost interest.
Things might have improved, but I haven't gone back.
I had this guy who dual wields daggers, and some other characters.
There's an ability that causes a ranged attack when using daggers.
Tie that in with cold damage, and you can freeze a group of low level monsters.
That depends on how you write your magic.
Do you write magic as though it's something that casters can feel?
Not all magic needs to be like that.
5684176 Well, it's more computer hacking, so less magic involved.
Generally when writing magic I might work in some sensations, but typically I try to put more emphasis on the description of the spell being cast.
The problem with hacking is usually it's just numbers or somepony typing on a terminal, very entertaining stuff.
5684182
I'm thinking that hacking could be something like the hacker can feel the ICE and does the proper countermeasures.
Something like being in a spell based battle except the wards are trying to protect themselves or at least maintain their integrity.
I'll come up with a better example a bit later.
This is working off of magic being something that can be felt by a magic user.
Or the pony can use something like a cyberdeck and it gives them feedback on a target it scans.
Maybe the cyberdeck could beam the info right into the user's brain?
Then they don't need a keyboard.