crp_dude

Well then if that's your perception of him, I can happily announce "Nailed it!"

Oh goodness, that is without a doubt THE CUTEST face I have ever seen! You did great!

Once it's colored too, I'm sure. After all, this is all one color, and barely shaded at that. I can see how things here could blend together.

Eeh, this is where I'm going to break off from the help wagon. Now, the helmet and the breastplate? Those I can change with no issues, that's easy, fine, etc. The armor, however, I have no intention of altering. In my eyes, it looks perfect for his character, and to be perfectly honest, those boot-things the Princesses and guards wear? I hate them. I hate the shape, I hate how they look. On Celestia and the guards, they're fine! But there's no way in hell anypony will ever get me to slap a pair of those on any of my characters. I'm sticking with the shape, but the design of the armor I could definitely redo.

Gave a shot at thickening the legs, like you suggested. I really like how this came out, so far! https://dl.dropbox.com/u/6962625/Alec%27s%20Things/MondoWIP2.jpg If I were to change the chest plate, any ideas as to how I could change the way it's decorated?

That sounds like a cool idea, but I'm actually dropping the yolk altogether. Here's the sketch of the WIP so far: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/6962625/Alec%27s%20Things/MondoWIP.jpg any suggestions?

Hmm. Yes, the terraforming I can drop for sure. I do see what you mean with the sue warning, so dropping the terraforming ought to eliminate that issue right there and then. As for color scheme, give me a bit on that, I'm actually redesigning him as we speak, to more suit that intimidation aspect I was talking about. But yes, plant behavior it is, and I'll see what I can do about the Cutie Mark. A cornucopia, you know, like one of those straw horn-like baskets with all the produce would probably be fantastic for him, and symbolic of both high powers and Earth's bounty. Thanks for the review, I'm liking this already!

No no, the critique is perfectly alright! Honestly, I'm glad to hear that somepony suggested changing up the mane, because personally, I agree: the wavy stuff does not do the good stallion justice at all. However, I suppose there was a bit of confusion with his talent, so allow me to be more specific. When I say that he turns the earth, I mean that in a much more figurative, or at least partially figurative, sense. He is an earth-shaper, and when not keeping total control of his power, he can rearrange landscapes in very extreme ways with every step, hence the heavy presence of mountains and valleys in his land. Does this make him dangerous? Yes, absolutely. Keep in mind, though, his powers only come about when they are either not at all kept in check, or summoned upon specifically. He's been doing this for centuries, even millennia, after all, I'd personally be shocked if he didn't have a good grip on the wheel by now, if you follow. The seasons themselves is rather a theory on my own part. Magic is one thing, of course, but it's also important to note a change in air temperature as well, which more has to do with the weather than unicorn shenanigans. Now, making snowflakes, that's one thing, we already know what the pegasi do that, so that basically covers winter in terms of climate. Summer? Hot. Period. However, what about the trees and plants? They're in full bloom in the spring, bear fruit in the summer and fall, and, well, do what trees do and go into hibernation. Now, here's the slippery slope that I personally proposed. It's already been established that once a plant is planted, ponies can't do much to alter that. Heck, even the earth ponies, who are farming miracle workers are just as at the mercy of the plants they try to grow. I offer up Zap Apples as a bit of an exceptional example. However, what if there is indeed a force behind this? Cadence can repair a broken heart; heck, her power is basically love. Celestia raises the sun, Luna the moon. If these forces have a sovereign of their own (in more than one way in this case,) would the forces of earthly nature not have a master as well? This is why I specified that he holds control over the natural seasons: His magic changes the plants and woods of the world to fit the season, be they bringing into bloom, or dropping everything they have in preparation for a long wintry hibernation. An emphasis I need to stress on Emperor Mondo is that his power is not in some ball in the sky, not in a word spoken to another or a powerful feeling shared. His power instead is right beneath your hooves. It is in the earth. It is the earth. All the land's bounty is sustained by his powers, and from those bounties, life survives. Mind you, he can't make plants die whenever he wants, and he can't instantly plant a seed and have it become, say, a beanstalk that stretches into the sky. His control over plants is a passive control: he cannot force them, but he can change their behavior. Enough with the explanation of his talent and such, though I'd love to hear your feedback on that theory. As for the design, I think I definitely will look into more historical portraiture. Though to be honest, Mondo doesn't strike me as the helmet type, and full crowns on a pony just look off to me. Ah well, if I can make it work I will. Anyways, get back to me if you could, your advice and suggestions are always appreciated!

Actually, this is an interesting and valid point to bring up! In terms of rulership, he is at an equal, if not greater, level of authority compared to his subjects as the princess Celestia of Equestria. However, when put in terms of personality, with Celestia being casual and kind to her subjects, Mondo is intended to be a very intimidating figure on his own, and one obsessed in past rituals and practices. In fact, he has his mind stuck in the past for the most part anyways, and this leads him to often hold grudges. He is a strict and unforgiving ruler to those that trespass his will, but he is no tyrant, and puts his laws as the ponies dictate and within the realm of reason. To this effect, I actually did base his design (as is obvious enough) at least in part off of Celestia's, to communicate the fact that Mondo is not just a parallel, but also an antithesis to our fair leader of Equestria.