MLP: FiM Thread 423: Flurry Road

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

[Deleted]

She looks so happy to see Rarity, she looks like she's gonna burst!

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

[Nikki Heyman]

Mar 31, 2016 14:39:47 GMT -5 @desertassassin said:

So, its A-OK to use only one friend as test subject instead of five even though the one might actually be equally screwed if things do not turn out right? Interesting train of thought.

And suddenly I am asking myself...where does the idea that the Breezies are some mythical creatures that Fluttershy just happened to find for the very first time come from? The Equestrian Society for the Preservation of Rare Creatures knows about them, so there must be some research books written on them. And if we can swallow the idea that Twilight knew how to put an Ursa Minor to sleep although having only read up on them a few minutes previous, who's to say that she did not become interested after Fluttershy's visit in "Three's A Crowd" and did some research reading on them before their visit? Would that be that out of character for Twilight?

It wouldn't be out of character for Twilight to do ANY sort of research, but again the Breezies are "Unknowns" (though not as completely as I first surmised) but I think it's a lot more acceptable to subject ONE pony to a new spell and not a group of ponies all at once ("Lesson Zero", though gone horribly right).

If the Breezie spell failed when she cast it on her five friends, who's to say it would have failed on them the same way?

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

[Deleted]

Here's the thing: I think Twilight to be a good enough friend to know what she can and cannot do. Twilight was confident so I can determine from that that the spell was descriptive enough so that she could confidently cast it on her friends.

Also, how did her casting her spell proceed? She sent a beam towards each of her friends, then sent a beam to the breezies, then sent the spell back again to her friends. I imagine that this spell does not even require to research much beforehand, since its not like she just shot a beam at her friends turning them instantly into breezies. The key is that before she transformed them, she had to send a beam to the breezies to get their "construction data" so to speak.

And that's why, come to think about it, the spell, if a good spellcaster is in charge of it, would work with any creature whether or not having done research on them before.

[Nikki Heyman]

Mar 31, 2016 15:03:40 GMT -5 @desertassassin said:

Also, how did her casting her spell proceed? She sent a beam towards each of her friends, then sent a beam to the breezies, then sent the spell back again to her friends. I imagine that this spell does not even require to research much beforehand, since its not like she just shot a beam at her friends turning them instantly into breezies. The key is that before she transformed them, she had to send a beam to the breezies to get their "construction data" so to speak.

If what's bolded is the case, then Fluttershy should have objected more as it potentially endangered some endangered creatures, including their leader. 

I just think a transmutation spell on this level is extremely dangerous for Twilight to be trying out regardless of her reputation or track record. if merchandising/executive meddling wasn't a factor, I think people would have been just fine if 1 or 2 of the Mane Six had been transformed to fly with the Breezies than doing in the entire group. 

Heck because of merchandising and executive meddling, we'll never know "What went wrong".

[Deleted]

And we cannot assume that after all they have been through, the mane cast trust Twilight enough to know what she's doing?

Going away from MLP for a bit, the transmutation spell is probably one of the most common spells in fictional series having to do with magic.
I have seen spells like this in Gummi Bears, The Smurfs, He-Man, Dungeons and Dragons etc..
And this is really the only time I have seen where so many people take issue with a spell that is a common trope in fantasy settings.

[Eunös ✈]

You're missing a golden opportunity if you don't have Coco in this episode.

[Deleted]

I agree that Coco Pommel could make a wonderful cameo in this one.

[Eunös ✈]

Not only that.

But to have Coco Pommel and Maud Pie together,

I'm marking out brah, I'm marking out!

[Deleted]

That would be nice, really cool.

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

[Deleted]

Moondancer...what are you planning on doing?

[Eunös ✈]

That's going to be a very painful landing if they drop Twilight

[Nikki Heyman]

Mar 31, 2016 15:27:17 GMT -5 @desertassassin said:

Going away from MLP for a bit, the transmutation spell is probably one of the most common spells in fictional series having to do with magic.
I have seen spells like this in Gummi Bears, The Smurfs, He-Man, Dungeons and Dragons etc..
And this is really the only time I have seen where so many people take issue with a spell that is a common trope in fantasy settings.

That's because it's a spell where a LOT can (and should!) go wrong with it because If you treat as a more "common" spell, it becomes a game-breaker/Deus ex magica in that any problem can be solved by turning someone(s) into whoever/whatever is needed. 

And isn't Twilight Deus Ex Magica enough?

Seconded.

[Deleted]

OK then, give me a list of episodes where the problem got solved by Twilight pulling a new spell out of nowhere and where she did not have anypony else help her.

And I can expect somepony who is the element of magic (a title she had before getting new appendages, mind) to learn and adapt spells quicker than the average unicorn.

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

[Nikki Heyman]

Mar 31, 2016 16:02:55 GMT -5 @desertassassin said:

OK then, give me a list of episodes where the problem got solved by Twilight pulling a new spell out of nowhere and where she did not have anypony else help her.

And I can expect somepony who is the element of magic (a title she had before getting new appendages, mind) to learn and adapt spells quicker than the average unicorn.

The second part is a given - I have zero problem with her learning spells quickly, I have a problem with some of the more complex ones she has learned and the potential of ANY transformation/polymorph spell being treated as an "easy" or "Safe" spell.

I could give you a list starting with season one (Boast Busters and the inversion, Swarm of the Century) but you would dismiss it back to your statement about learning spells quickly, that she's the main character, etc.

Having a character like Starlight Glimmer, who shows similar talent (and possibly more so, being the first unicorn in pony-show canon that stood up to Twilight in a straight up magic fight) NOT remain a villain continues to keep Twilight on top, over Celestia and Luna. She's the main character, I get that. Looking back just through the first two seasons, her magic wasn't something relied on because (surprise!) we were looking more into the lives of the other Mane Cast characters and the CMC - the BALANCE that inspired the Pony fandom in the first place.

[Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie]

and from advanced genetic mutations, to graphical genius

IT'S ICE CREAM!!!

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}

now the only problem i have is how to get this frikking BARN OF BRIlLLIANCE up to cloudsdale .....