Skye

Life sure moves fast when you are trying to complete restructure your life.

Hello friends. Long time no see. I know it's been awhile with no communication from me and for that I'm pretty sorry.

See, in January, my life began to fall apart because I finally confronted my husband about his latest emotional affair with a co-worker. Around mid-February it turned into a full blown affair and I eventually filed for divorce. It just wasn't fixable at that point, despite years of me trying, encouraging counselling and trying to emotionally reconnect to him. He just responded by being a passive-aggressive manbaby. All of my other mysterious unexplained absences from this board were directly caused by depression associated with my marriage and my husband's tendency to get emotionally involved with other women. As a matter of fact, part of the very reason I JOINED this forum was so that I could have something to do while I was at home because he would passive-aggressively intentionally hit on women because I was not at his disposal. Partially the immersal in a less-painful fantasy world helped tremendously. But eventually I got to the point where things just kept falling apart and the fantasy was just not fulfilling anymore and was worsening my depression. On top of this all of my projects were due in the Feb-May time slot, and when you are going through something as traumatic as a divorce, no matter how amicable and mutually agreeable, focus just doesn't happen. You get stuck in a rut of being bummed out and every day just blending to the next.

I live in Massachusetts, and work in Boston. I moved to the area 10 years ago for the man I just divorced. My divorce was finalized 2 weeks ago, the trial was the day that Boston was on lockdown from the manhunt for the Marathon Bombing suspects. He only just moved out May 1 after originally trying to leave April 1, and unfortunately moved 2 blocks away from me (literally, I can see his back door from my yard. Who does that?)

I've begun the long and tedious process of picking up the pieces of my life, reconnecting with people he really frowned upon me communicating with, and trying to get projects that my ex has constantly emotionally sabotaged me on completed. All in all, though, my life is very full but I am exponentially happier and fuller. I am starting a business, a small press dedicated to producing childrens' books, and an etsy store to sell off the years of vintage items I collected when I assumed we were going to buy a house together. I do not have any regrets, and all my friends have told me that I am my old self again now that this is over. A little older and wiser perhaps, but still me, after so many years of being "Carl's Wife".

I kept the apartment we shared and most of the stuff, but have to cull a lot of the things I had collected in my unhappiness. Unfortunately, Canterlot.com is one of them. I just don't have the time or energy to commit to it anymore at all. I will miss you all, and am glad that Canterlot was a part of my life for awhile, and will be eternally grateful to Mane and Artax and the rest of the staff for their support and understanding, and to the rest of the friends I made while I was here (but especially Jen and Dio, who had front row seats to my entire collapse and were tremendously helpful through it all even today, I love you both!). It was good while it lasted and I wish everyone the best of luck! Goodbye Canterlot, I'll never forget you. <3 If this can serve any lesson to anyone, just be kind and honest to each other, always.

Aww man, you take care of yourself, Scootchie. We'll miss you!

Good luck to those of you with life troubles, I know exactly where all of you are coming from, I'm there myself. I can't wait until I can set up my computer again and maybe garner some more inspiration for the RP, but it's tough!

I have recently moved to my folks' place in Canada, and I don't currently have my own internet. I have access to it here, but my presence will be spotty until I'm formally employed again and have my own place.

Skye will most certainly be there. With whatever he happens to have on, be it bells, streamers, or random pieces of brush!

The one thing I would interject is the 'poaching' aspect...there's no evidence that 'poaching' takes place. There's nothing really on the Timber Wolves I would see as 'poachable' except perhaps for the fact that they may be made of wood. In this regard, for a creature such as a pony it would be highly unlikely that they'd 'poach' timber wolves for their wood when it is much more effective and efficient to harvest wood from trees in the forest (After all, trees don't chase you). While seeing the wolves as a misunderstood species I can agree with, I don't really see the 'poaching' as necessary... perhaps maybe make him sort of a game warden or something of that nature? Maybe he makes it his task to try to educate ponies on how to conduct themselves around Timber Wolves so that they lessen their risk of danger?

Twilight was able to learn Rarity's gem searching spell, too.

Twilight's special talent is magic, so maybe that means she can learn the otherwise unique magic of other unicorns? Just a thought. ^^

This is pretty much how I see it. Because Twilight's talent -is- magic, she's got an affinity to learn it. Where as much of the rest of us may be really good at something, it takes a lot of effort to learn how to do something as well as someone else who may come by it naturally, and generally it takes a lot of effort to be able to do something that doesn't come to you naturally. Some, though, may be good enough to have a natural talent for a lot of things often undiscovered, and I think Twilight is one of these. She's the most powerful in that she has this ability to learn, but she may not have her own 'brand' of magic like other unicorns do that do it really well. Rarity's talent is finding gems, she's just also good at being a fashionista as well that allows her to put it to use, but as we've seen she can struggle with some spells too, and Twilight's the only one we've seen teleport with any regularity up to this point.

After some time has passed, I have decided that it's time to come back.

Set in the coastal city of Baltimare, an old mare put to pasture becomes a graceful filly once again under the care of her new master and stalwart crew... who knows what adventures await intrepid ocean explorers?

Horizon stood on the pier overlooking the small collection of ragtag hulls floating almost forlorn in the gentle waves. A sound of wood striking wood or the lap of water against a barnacle-encrusted hull could be heard amongst the shrieks of the seagulls and the rustle of the wind of the leaves of trees on the shoreline. A flap of a tattered sail would crackle nearly as sharp as the creak of old timbers, and before the stallion lay the forgotten shipyard.

Once a place where these old hulls had been built, as time went on many had also come here to die. From tiny dinghys to nearly massive old battleaxes from times long since gone, those that didn't just rot away were often broken down and re-used for other purposes. Horizon's own house had been built from timbers of a once grand passenger ship that used to ply its trade up and down the coast, and the name 'Flyer' had been impressed in his mind every day he had passed beneath her titleboard that now served as the crossmember above the front door.

Memories flooded through Horizon's mind, of the first time he'd run down to the docks, the first time as a colt he'd taken part in offloading the ships, up to becoming a cabin colt and later, one of the crew. Now he had been given the opportunity to have his own ship, and a pouchful of bits would see to it that he'd have her, even if he had to build her from his own four hooves. But he knew it wouldn't come to that, for he'd spied long ago the object of his desire.

Hooves thudded on the wood beneath him as he slowly reviewed the boats that seemed to stretch nearly as the eye could see. He knew where he was going, and he'd only needed a cursory glance over the rest of the fare. Each of these hulls could be bought at the right price, and each had their story, but soon he reached the end of the pier. There, nearly nestled protectively between two half-sunken trawlers, was a slender, but battered shape he'd had his eye on since he was little.

Her masts were splintered, her rigging long since eaten by birds and ravaged by the salt, and she listed a little to starboard, but that old schooner had become nearly the love of his life as long as he could remember. Every bit he had scrounged, every cent he had saved, he knew where they were going. And today, this grand old lady would find herself in the spotlight once more. Horizon's heart swelled in his chest as he neared where she was docked, and he stood there, gazing at the faded and peeling paint of her nameplate, The Sassy Mare.

Now, if only he could find a crew...

Derp. And why didn't I get a notification about this. Fixing.

Expanded Story:

Born on the eve of the summer solstice, when the stars were at their brightest, Horizon's destiny seemed clear. His father, a ship worker, had always wanted a colt who would follow in his footsteps. His mother, a dockside seamstress who helped keep the sails of the schooners that came to port mended and in good repair, certainly had no argument. They both knew that whatever their foal was, they would cherish and love and guide them towards whatever it was the future had in store. While his father would ply his trade at sea, Horizon would remain at home with his mother learning all he could about everything that made a ship, helping her mend the heavy sails. When his father returned, he would skip alongside down to the wharf to watch and later help unload the ships of their wondrous cargos that came from afar. Horizon was fascinated with everything from salt blocks to precious jewelry that the sailors would bring back on their journeys and it was with pride when the little foal announced to his parents that someday he was going to own a ship of his own.

Though he was too young at first to be entrusted with even the role of cabin boy, his enthusiasm and even temper certainly never went unnoticed. When he was large enough to help with unloading the cargo, he resolved himself to grow strong and sure. Though Horizon got in few fights, scraps amongst colts his age was not unknown and even when he returned home with a bloody nose, his eyes were still bright from what he had learned that day. His future of becoming a shipmate was foremost in his mind, and it certainly didn't take him long to learn the sea shanties that the crews would sing to themselves to keep time as they worked their trades. One in particular titled 'My pony lies over the ocean' stirred such images of his mind that somewhere over the vast water lay some pony for him.

When he finally reached his dream, it was through unexpected means. After finally achieving his goal of becoming a cabin boy on his father's schooner, a particularily terrible storm brewed up and assailed the tiny ship. Rigging snapped and sails whipped, and ponies were lost overboard. Even though his own father was lost when the mizzen mast broke under the weight of the winds and took him with it as it crashed into the rain, Horizon refused to give up and leapt into action. Through his hard-earned strength and determination, he fought the storm with the crew that was left and managed to help keep the stricken ship afloat. He lashed tattered sails, stowed loose cargo, and even took a turn at the bilges until the storm had finally given in and let them go. Somewhere during one of the bolts of lightning and crashes of thunder, his cutie mark of a broken ship's wheel had appeared.

His hard work had brought him to the attention of the owners of the ship and shortly after he recieved his first promotion. Years of sailing followed, working his way up through the ranks until one day he was rewarded with the ship's bell of his own vessel, the Sassy Mare'. She was a leaky scow, and encrusted with barnacles. Her masts were rotting and her sails were virtually nonexistent. Together with the shipyard, Horizon helped return the Sassy Mare to her former glory, and his proud mother lived only to the day to see him set sail for the first time. He earned his nickname 'Keiyo' from his crewmates as a way to get his attention with syllables that could be loudly heard from over the crash of the surf and the wind.

Roleplay Type: Mane RP

Name: Horizon "Keiyo"

Sex: Male

Age: Stallion

Species: Earth Pony

Eye Color: Green

Coat Color: White

Mane/Tail/Markings Color & Style: Blue, ragged and tattered from years at sea

Physique: Sturdily built, yet nimble on his hooves from years with 'sea legs'.

Cutie Mark: A broken ship's wheel

Origin/Residence: Baltimare

Occupation: Ship Captain

Motivation: Finding his pony over the ocean

Likes: (optional) Salt Air, dried rations, the ocean, red sky at night (Sailor's delight), seashells, swimming

Dislikes: (optional) Stormy Weather, red sky at morning (Sailor's warning), scurvy, sea dogs, leaky ships,

Character Summary:

When Horizon was born, it was under the summer solstice, a good omen. His father a mate on one of the schooners of Baltimare, and his mother a sail-mender, were delighted to have been blessed with this new member to their family. Though often apart due to the nature of his father's work, his mother did her best to bring up Horizon as best she could on the docks of the wharf. From the moment he could walk, even-tempered Horizon knew that one day he was going to be aboard one of those graceful ships that often came to port with their fantastic cargoes and dazzling trinkets from lands afar. When he was old enough to help, he learned everything he could about ship sailing and managing, building his muscles and skills in the inevitable tumbles with the other children of the docks.

When he was old enough to leave aboard as cabin colt, his dream was realized and his parents couldn't have been prouder to see him standing on the rear of the ship waving as the ship sailed out over the horizon. While at sea, a vicious storm brewed up that threatened the life of the ship, and it was during his efforts to help save the stricken vessel from certain doom that he lost his father but gained his cutie mark. He earned his nickname after the habit of his shipmakes picking a series of easy to call syllables for addressing one another over the crash of the surf and and winds, and so 'Keiyo' he was better known. His efforts did not go unnoticed, and he swiftly rose through the ranks until one day when the owners of his shipping company called him into their office and rewarded him with the ship's bell of his very own schooner, the 'Sassy Mare'. Though she was a scow, he was tireless in the shipyard going over every inch of her tattered and barnacled hull until finally she set sail in her former splendour with Horizon as captain.

It is clear that it is time for me to leave Canterlot, at least for a while. Everyone of you who became my friend have been greatly appreciated, but everyone of you who will be celebrating my leaving have finally got your wish. It's clear to me that nothing I have done here seems to really have mattered at all, and the individuals I would have hoped would have understood how all of this has made me feel don't seem to really care at all.

So maybe I'll be back, if anyone cares, or maybe I won't, I don't know. But I clearly don't think I'll be sticking around somewhere where I feel no longer wanted.

Goodbye.

hi hi

Skye, I know my ideas are not particularly welcome and I'm sorry for being such a pest about it every time it comes up, but you know what they say, "only as high as I reach can I grow..." and all that. Not trying to rock the boat, just testing the waters really. I'm not sure if you quite realize the appeal of a meta-narrative like the Mane RP has. You've got a whole world where people can feel like they're a part of something bigger than themselves and feel like they've made a difference, and that is no small feat.

(...only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be." - Karen Ravn)

It's not that your ideas are unwelcome. Indeed, I left this topic open for comments on purpose precisely because I wanted to encourage discussion on the items at hand. What I didn't expect is the focus on negativity or on the one specific part. I rather feel like my efforts were pretty much completely ignored and wasted in favor of one very specific item at the expense of all else. There was a great deal of content in that post that was pretty relevant. It is precisely that I do understand what appeal as a meta-narrative that the Mane RP has, the issue is that there are a massive number of different ways that people can explore that creatively with the use of their own imaginations. But much of what I have seen tends to focus on solely what has appeared in the show. I would like to see more people, for example, inventing appealing and compelling adversity in the spirit of conflict without delving too deep into the realm of Mary-Sue. Or pushing the rules we've tried to establish to keep things fair, and it's that part that worries me the most.

hi hi

I have a few thoughts on this matter. I've been hesitant to bring them up because I realize the Mane RP is not my place, but I often wonder what it would be like if it were.

- Lauren Faust

• I feel that a lot of excellent potential is being let slip by pigeonholing characters into racial standards. I'd like to think that a unicorn could be a chef or an apple cider provider, even though that is related to food and plants. I'd like to think that an earth pony could be a construction worker even though they do not have telekinesis. I'd like to think that a pegasi might want to live on the ground and care for animals. By saying that a character cannot and should not work around their limitations, it is segregating potential interactions between characters. Imagine what Sonic Rainboom would have been like if none of the ground stuck ponies even tried get into Cloudsdale.

• Players are not their Characters. You can have players working together to create an enjoyable story even when it involves characters that do not get along. You don't need to take it personally. It is ok to have complex plots, emotions and problems.

But its your barbecue, you can do whatever you want.

See, here's the thing, though. We're not pigeonholing characters into racial standards. What I'm talking about here, is people who are trying to find ways to render the racial standards irrelevant by making other species do what any of the other species do. There is absolutely nothing at all that says a Unicorn can't be a farmer, or an Earth Pony can't get into Cloudesdale to walk around (With the help of a unicorn of course). What I am saying here is that a character cannot and should not attempt to spend the significant amount of time being wasted trying to make an Earth Pony fly like a Pegasus, or a Pegasus cast spells like a unicorn. These racial archetypes are there for a -reason-, and if you want a character that can do such tasks, play that species.

Characters should and can work around their limitations, but they should be doing it in such a way that it makes sense and falls within the limits of reasonability. I'd like to be a super hero, but that doesn't magically grant me the ability to fly. We can't even do that in OUR world without some extremely hefty technological capability and even then it's still dodgy at best.

As for the last part, absolutely. Players are not their characters. Therefore, people also need to realize that the characters are not necessarily their players. Just because someone in the real world has lost a limb and therefore has to learn to negotiate the world without the use of that limb, does not mean that any character that they play also subsequently has to face the same limitations. This is supposed to be a fantasy, but even fantasies have rules that make sense. Somewhere along the line, individuals are going to find those boundaries and end up rubbing against them for one reason or another, but the solution is not to just simply expand the boundaries because otherwise, why bother having them in the first place? The answer is simple, if you find yourself up against a boundary, find a way to work with it, or try something else. Pushing against the boundary in hopes that you can make it budge or break is just silly, because we can't just do it for you, we have to do it for everyone and sooner or later, it comes down to the point of why bothering have rules at all.

The key thing here is this: Mane RP has strict rules that are there for a reason. Some of them we're going to rework as soon as we get a chance to find and fix things that have been creeping or are unnecessary (This is a lot of work, believe me). If you don't like the rules, then try what you want to do in the Crossover or FFA areas. That's what they're there for. I find that a great deal of wasted resistance is caused because of some strange prejudice against using Crossover or FFA, and so they want to get their thoughts and ideas into Mane RP. Rather than fight on the Mane RP rules, you can have your cake and eat it too in Crossover. I personally would LOVE to see the Crossover and FFA areas get more action, because that's a great way to get new ideas. Mane RP has both its benefits and drawbacks, and part of why it's so difficult to keep Mane RP sane is because we don't have as much to work with from Hasbro as we'd like.

But the FLUTTERPONIES were not insects. They were more like fairies in the Tinkerbell sense.

Are you thinking of the windywing/summerwing ponies?

(and no, I am not trying to be a jerk, I am standing up for the defamation of flutterponies EVERYWHERE!)

Well, Flutter Ponies were the only ones I remember with insect wings from G1, and the changelings weren't quite a perfect representation, if anything they would have been an adaptation. Unless someone can actually find the critter they're really based off of from mythology, and I haven't done any research recently on it.

It's mainly throw-away plot devices, like pre-planned mini dues-ex-machinas. I.E. a non-unicorn character is captured and thrown in a cage, he pulls out some device that lets him get the keys from the table on the other side of the room, or as I mentioned before a news bulletin comes across the radio heralding a call to action for whatever reason (anything from a robbery to a disaster to a 1/2-off sale at the wagon shop) Or even things that don't so much put a pony 'out of work' in the plot as allow all the players to participate (such as a plot that involves traveling by airship, have an autopilot that can keep the airship prepped for escape after the adventure so one player doesn't spend the whole game sitting in the airship posting "I'm staring at the wall and wonder what adventure I'm missing out on" every Xth post) All of these are just "background noise" or "flavoring" as you'd say, but by design they fall under the "no you cant" rules even though they essentially are just simple plot coupons to get to the next part of the story. That's what bugs me.

Well, there's nothing wrong with that as long as it's done within reason and it doesn't give people an excuse to go on speciesism rampages, of course. And simple devices, like getting some fishing line out of cartoon space like Pinkie, or random hat pins out of Rarity's mane for no reason has never been a problem. That's the rub, really. You have to think about some of the complexities of things too, for example an autopilot is really nothing more than a stick-jamming device. Ancient pirates used to put a rope around the spoke of a wheel to keep the rudder in place when they weren't actually standing at it, nothing more. If you can think of a simple and convenient way to accomplish the task, for example

'I have just the thing,' said Dimples, as she pulled a hairnet out of her saddle bag. Crusty tried to peek in, curious to what else she seemed to carry in there. She'd somehow managed to bring out a compass, a set of keys, an apple corer, a pencil, several feet of rope, an 8x10 glossy of Princess Celestia, a tennis racket, and any number of objects that surely wouldn't have all fit in at once, could they?

Because cartoon hammerspace can be a great and fun convenient plot device. And they're simple. There's always a simple solution to every problem, you don't always need a magic-powered levitation box, or an electric door corer, when a few feet of string and a good pair of hooves works just fine. If you're spending so much time trying to work said technology into a roleplay, you're focusing on the tech and not the roleplay, is what I'm saying. What you've tended to propose, is 'stuff for the sake of having stuff', at least that's been my general take in our discussions about it.

No, I am saying that given the mythology on the show, it's possible that part of Chrysalis' character design might be based on the Qilin ("Chinese Unicorn").

Initially Chrysalis's horn made me think that, but the rest of her kinda doesn't really follow the look. Matter of factly, it reminded me a lot of how insect armor is supposed to be all spikey and jagged edges, at least the way it tends to be done in that style of art for cartoons, which made it really hard to compare. Though my theory is that they're flutter pony reduxes.

Just as a note, to explain the 'hive' thing. I don't mean to say that Chrysalis's subjects have a hive mind and therefore no individuality whatsoever. The reason I mentioned hive is due to the many insect references that suggests they are more insectlike than ponylike, even if they have a general pony-like shape.

For example:

• They come in a huge swarm and act together and are of a much greater strength in numbers but individually more easily overcome
  
• Swarming Behavior (Many individuals acting virtually identically in concert)
  
• Their wings are very insect-like, as is much of the generally 'chintinous' nature of their bodies.
  
• Their eyes are insect-like, instead of containing the general appearance of regular pony eyes
  
• When they fly, they tend to adopt the general animated 'bee' stance when hovering
  
• Constant buzzing like insects, moreso when they're in greater numbres
  
• Crawling down the columns in the Elements chamber like insects
  
• The word Chrysalis refers to the transforming caterpillar within its cocoon, another insect reference
  
• Celestia was imprisoned within a Cocoon, appearing much as a chrysalis
  

These are the references for which I feel that 'hive' is more the correct term for Chrysalis and her subjects, but it does necessarily mean a 'hive mind' like bees or ants. Whether or not Chrysalis's subjects are enough of individuals remains to be seen, but based on what we've seen here it's not quite as likely to be a repeat occurrence. My main concern about their playability is the use of them to 'steal' other characters from other players which I know will cause an uproar on its own merit.

I hope this clarifies the 'hive' thing better.

My only point is it provides jump-off points for RP, Technology *can* play an important role without being the focus. Things like a news bulletin on the radio announces something instantly instead of having to wait up to 24 hours for the next newspaper to cover the story. (which also means any plot has to start in the morning when everyone half-asleep instead of a more convenient (or inconvenient) time that would work better with the story.

I'm sorry, I apologize, I shouldn't be questioning the rules, I just keep running into this wall of "you can only use this idea if you are a unicorn. absolutely positively no other alternative whatsoever" I by a huge margin prefer pegasai, but I'm getting to the point I feel I shouldn't even bother with them because all the good plots go to unicorns.

I dont want to cause trouble, I dont want to make you repeat your answer over and over because it's a logic loop I have trouble breaking out of.

I'm just giving up and making a unicorn or two... I'm sorry for the trouble.

Well, think of it this way. Is what you're trying to do going to involve a unicorn one way or another? Is it something you're inventing that is supposed to bypass or otherwise cut out a functional member of society in order to enable its function? Is bringing it about something that is possible and within the character's present capabilities as it is? Keep in mind that Earth Ponies pick things up with their mouths, and so do Unicorns even though Unicorns can ALSO do things with Telekinesis, which effectively gives unicorns 'two hands' to an Earth Pony's one. But if in its fabrication, will require a unicorn anyway, you can generally assume it is something that a unicorn will either have a direct involvement in or will have invented themselves. There's no point in making an Earth Pony do it, because it's outside the scope of what an Earth Pony is. At that same token, an Earth Pony is, by nature, not going to have a hand in inventing any technology that's going to render themselves obsolete. That's just plainly against Earth Pony mentality.

At that same token, the same goes for Pegasi. If you're keeping it simple, you're keeping it on track. Things that have to do with the air? Pegasi. Things to do with growing food and other 'earthy' efforts? Earth Ponies. Have to do with research and magic? Unicorns all the way. Those species possess unique traits and abilities that are geared specifical;y towards those aspects of civilization, which is why those characters always appear doing them in the show. That's why we keep coming back to the loop, because I get the impression that kinda gets ignored or missed and I have to reiterate it to reinforce the concept, that's all.

O_o what does that have to do with Unicorns getting telegraphs and radios that give them breaking news updated dynamically while Pegasai and Earth Ponies have to wait for the morning/evening paper to find out what happened that day?

Because it would be something that the unicorns would most generally be the ones to invent it. Unicorns are generally the ones who focus more on the research and technology aspect of things. It's one of the things that they're better suited to and naturall]y would be expected to develop. HOWEVER, considering that it seems that either the mail is delivered in the old fashioned method because that's the way it's done, if not magically sent through dragons for more 'instant' communication, it is rather out of place and jumping the gun to assume that ponies would make or even need a telegraph and radio. It's just one of those technologies we have developed as a matter of course, but is something that ponies may not even need much less bother to develop. After all, why would a pony invent a fork if they don't actually have a need for utensils? Or, as a result, anything else that would be needed to develop that fork? You assume that the possibility of a technology in our world automatically means that it'd be something that ponies would have or even be attempting to bother researching, when this is where the problem actually is.

Let me stress this in hopes it heads off any further confusion. Don't focus on the technology of the world. If a roleplay calls for the use or invention of a technology to be in place, try to find other methods currently presently used in the show to accomplish the task. If you're spending a lot of time trying to work said technology into the RP simply for the purposes of having it, you're overthinking it. Scale it back.

This just kinda bugs me... Why are we restricting everything to unicorns when we *know* there is electricity? I mean, sure it might be more expensive, but I'd think it would still be avalible in some form to everypony. I know in the RP ponies arent capable of jelousy (otherwise I'd say the Earth/Pegasai would be quite upset with the unicorns getting all the fun/useful toys like radios and such) But it really makes some of us feel like the game is slanted towards unicorns and there is little or no reason to make any other species because we'd be restricting ourselves severely...

Mostly because we also do not want to cut unicorns out of the loop for one thing, but also that those who don't need to use them aren't generally going to either. As I said, it shouldn't be about the technology... it is rather an exception rather than the rule when a species steps a little outside their stereotypical 'role', but you can only be so flexible in that regard as we've discussed in other posts. But you have to keep in mind that in Equestria, each class of pony does have a rather broad but specific role that they play. As stated during the Heartswarming Eve episode, the Earth Ponies grow the food, the Pegasus ponies control the weather and the Unicorns bring up the Sun and Moon (And presumably other magic-related tasks that make life easier), and these roles are roles that they are all proud to fulfill. Unlike our species, where people tend to be generally disenfranchised pretty easily by their lots in life because of what they feel they deserve based on what everyone else has. But in Equestria, this concept does not exist.

As such, each species is happy to be where they are, and that's by design because it's intended to teach people to be less materialistic and more satisfied with what they can do and to be good at what they can do, and to take pride in it. Unlike ponies, who have that bit of utopia because they naturally do not have to deal with many of the problems we as human beings have created for ourselves, there are still points we can learn from them and we do not need to project our problems on them for no other purpose but to cause strife.

So much of what you seem to want seems more geared towards 'breaking down barriers' or addressing barriers that exist naturally. But I just want to mention that this is a conflict that does not actually exist in Equestria and shouldn't be introduced in the Roleplay because it's not something that the ponies would naturally be having to face, as it's a conflict that we as humans face, not the ponies.

Scotchie with the Non Sequitir.

When you say Chrysalis will only be appearing in events, does that mean that she's still unplayable, or can there be some sort of way to determine a possible RPer for her during that time? Variety is the spice of life, so it'd be great if there were some sort of way for a different person than staff to play a villain every event that would have to deal with them. And to ensure quality control, the RPer should have an idea of how the even would work, what they'd be doing and such. Sharing an outline with staff along with a temporary application or some such, as well as a statement regarding what they will and will not be doing in the RP, so that things don't get too hectic, while still posing as a viable threat.

She'll be playable in the same manner as other villains like Discord. We haven't worked out a system for how that will be done, but we will have an announcement and instructions when those characters become available for that specific purpose.

Oh I'm not dissagreeing with you on banning them - too many trolls would abuse them on this site; it's a risk your rather not take and I can see that in light of what you've said about the members in your past 'state of equestria' posts, I'm just... uncertain... about the whole 'hive mind' bit, personally I think we just havn't seen enough of them to determine that particular trait. I do understand the logic behind it though now.

Also, the goo that ponies kept getting stuck in, something that seems to me to be something very insectlike about it. Also, it is my theory that the Changelings were a sort of rehash of Flutter Ponies from G1. Just throwing that out there.

I do have one question (and if this needs to be asked elsewhere let me know): Where are we getting the idea that all the changelings are a hive-mind? Because they all attacked the city? All the guards are standing around doing the same thing in the beginning, by this logic the guards are a hive-mind too. I see them as just an army, unless I missed something there was no indication they were a hive-mind (I fully understand not allowing them since they're Always Chaotic Evil..., I'm just curious where this idea of a hive-mind came from?)

Well, the thing is that Chrysalis and her brood are insectlike in appearance. They have insect wings, their behavior is in swarms, they're more like insects than say, pegasi. They're just functionally different. It's not so much that they're a 'hive mind' so much that they exhibit hive-like behavior. They behave much in the manner of a swarm of bees, and I think part of the whole point was that they weren't -supposed- to have individuality. Even the reference of 'Queen' could be a similar reference to a 'Queen Bee'. There were just too many specific references that make it much easier to qualify them more as a hive than anything else. The Canterlot guards are known individuals, and they are known to speak, if not specficially to the known species, while the changelings were less distinguishable, although there were some with different kinds of armor. The problem with Changelings, is that they can be anyone, and it actually kind of presents the problem that it allows someone to create a character that can 'steal' a character from someone else simply by playing a changeling. I don't particularily think that's very cool to allow that loophole, so we'd rather not risk it.