Accellerant

Nice response mate, now the next question.

If your favorite character(s) of FiM were fruits, what kind would they be?

Note: If it's AJ, replace the word 'fruit' with vegetable.

Oh why hello thar. Since it's still swimming around in me brain....

What made you decide to start up yer business, and what will its name be?

Note: You may not want to tell us the name in case you have yet to register the domain name.

Although I don't have any good suggestions for creating websites, I do have some questions for your shop.

What makes your shop unique and advantageous compared to other online retailers? Even if it's to bring everything that has had a fanbase under a single umbrella, is there really still a market for X fanbase?

Example: I LOVE Spaceballs, but is there really anyone out there who wants Spaceballs memorabilia?

Also, when it comes to selling other peoples creations, how would it beat e-bay and how would you handle situations when lawyers challenge you with proprietary rights?

Starting a business is admirable, my grandfather started his own shoppe many years ago and he loved every minute of it. But because he didn't think it through, it fell over on itself sadly. This resulted in years of debt, accompanied with a dose of stress. I'm sure you have things thought through, but I ask these questions because I just don't want the same to happen to you.

"Only put off until tomorrow what

you are willing to die having left

undone."

- Pablo Picasso

^ Everything written above would be false pre-OP post.

You need 3 posts to unlock a lot of forum functions simply. And since this was your third post, I assume, everything should be crystal clear already.

Really? I thought you were only limited to posting in the introduction area, didn't know it also locked your ability to edit your signature as well.

Sorry about that Pickles, Expo.

Hello there Pickles, I'll gladly help ya out. There's no such thing as a dumb question, it's always good to ask than to remain silent. No need to apologize friend

Ah yes, I wanted to point out that I in no ways represent, nor am part of, the Canterlot Staff.

Signatures can be edited in My Settings. The Signature field will be the fourth tab to the left side, right under Email & Password and above 'Ignore' Preferences.

Edit: Forgot to mention that a picture can be added by clicking the Image icon and linking your sig image.

Just be sure to read the limitations of what your signature can have, such as the image's dimension limits being 600x100 pixels. The following is an example image of exactly how large your signature image can be.

If you're not sure where to find your My Settings page, just go to the search bar and click your name. Or, you can click any of the My Settings links I've provided.

If you have any further questions, please, don't be bashful and ask away!

I love it, even though I'm cursing half the time. In all the FPS' I've played I'm always entranced by the reload animations. The way that one reloads can truly give off the feeling of a gun having weight and believability overall. So when I heard about this game, I thought it'd be a charming little title to add to my library. I mean heck, it was only $4 on steam so why not right?

The whole process of reloading is both enjoyable and incredibly annoying. But what I love most of all is that I can actually check my magazine to see how many rounds I have left. In the games I have that contain a 'realism' mode or where you can turn off the hud, I find it heart breaking that I can't simply check my magazine to see how many rounds I have left. It's a nifty little feature and should definitely be included in games that brag about realism. Aiming feels awkward as well, I find myself missing my targets more than hitting.

Overall though, I'm enjoying this game because of how good it feels after it all sinks in. When you successfully reload while backpedaling yourself into a wall and squeezing your last shoot into a flying drone, it's SO satisfying! I have yet to collect more than two tapes though

​

Fio looked onward as Moon talked to, what the Diamond Dog could tell was, her guardian. As the blue Pegasi took a quick look at Fio, she could still tell that he didn't trust her. She couldn't blame the colt, he's looking out for the little one after all. Fio may have won the heart of Moon, but it'll take more than sweet words to befriend the filly's big daddy. After their little talk, Moon turned around and asked a question Fio would never have the strength to go against. The auburn dog has always had a soft spot for younglings, allowing herself to bend to their desires more so than she'd admit. Besides, there's no harm in getting some pie now, is there?

"[colour=#cc9966]Of course it's alright little one. In fact, It'd be a pleasure to have your company Moon,[/colour]" Fio says as she bows down graciously to the little filly. It was only then did the Diamond Dog realize that she had been drooling and quickly wipes her lips. Hopefully, none of the pony folk saw that...

((In a Nutshell, Cloud Flicker comes down to visit Ponyville for the first time, fellow ponies come to greet him and Angel's little sis Moon is dropped off to him. Cherry Berry was planning to give Angel pie 'cause he's never had any when Fio comes out of nowhere and we're about to finally get some of the pies. I believe we have six active characters in play.))

Fio's ears pricked up, she could hear a voice coming just beyond Moon. She looked up, expecting its projector to be right behind the little filly but instead found it coming from the flying Pegasus. Fio was pleasantly surprised, she wasn't expecting the Pegasi to approach her at all. The Dog thought the mare was going to wait until her friends confirmed that Fio wasn't a threat. What the Pegasus did next though truly baffled Fio, the mare reached out to her as to shake her paw. The Diamond Dog examined the hoof and something crossed her mind, ponies shook... Hooves with one another? But before Fio could continue that though, the Pegasus spoke to her once more.

[colour=#282828]"I am [/colour]Minyara,[colour=#282828]" the Pegasi said to her with a warm smile. Fio rewarded Minyara with a smile of her own and grasps the Pegasi's hoof with both her paws, giving the mare a gentle shake. It felt odd shaking a ponies hoof, but Fio quickly grew past the awkwardness she felt.[/colour]

[colour=#282828]"[/colour][colour=#CC9966]No worries Minyara and thank you.[/colour]"[colour=#282828] Upon finishing the hoof~n~paw shake, a familiar voice spoke up. She looked past Minyara, confirming her suspicions that it was indeed coming from the rose coloured mare whom spoke to her earlier. Her words were exactly what Fio was hoping for plus some. Even if this dressmaker didn't hire her, Fio had a strong feeling that her friends would have something for her to do. She imagined the dressmaker as a pony whom lives a luxuriously pampered life, including her friends. In the unlikely possibility that the tailors friends had nothing to offer, Fio could always take the chances of searching the area for gems. The Diamond Dog knew though that she was going to get some work in today, one way or another. All she had to do was take a dip in a river, put on her charming disposition and the seamstress would hire her in a heartbeat.[/colour]

Then the rose pony mentioned the prospects of food. Fio was famished and blurted out the first words that crossed her mind.

"[colour=#cc9966]Yes, please, I'd love to join you![/colour]" Unbeknownst to Fio, she was drooling while her tail wagged to and fro.

[colour=#d3d3d3]((Why does my text sometimes randomly change size when I publish a post? Yaaargh!))[/colour]

[colour=#282828]"Not for what I know of!" the Pegasus shouted to Fio.[/colour]

The Diamond Dog pondered the flying Pegasi's response and looked downward, losing herself in thought. Surely, someone in town needed something done. A letter delivered, weeds to be uprooted, ditches to be dug, a fence which needs fixing, surely there was a citizen here whom wanted another to do their job. But, what if there wasn't? What if there really was nothing available? Or worse, what if they didn't tell her of these opportunities because they possibly viewed her as an outcast? This troubled Fio, she really needed some funds to not only reacquire her necessities, but also to just simply feed herself. She wasn't about to go begging the citizens around these parts. A pained expression was growing on her face, what was she going to do? Fio was absent to those around here, until a young voice pierced her concentration.

"[colour=#282828]...I'm Moon,[/colour]" said the voice. It was so innocent, young and curious compared to the others that it almost startled Fio. She looked towards the source of the voice and saw that it was just a few meters from where the Diamond Dog stood. Fio was surprised, not only for the fact that this little one had approached her, but that she somehow missed this one when she was approaching earlier. Fio came to a quick conclusion that the pony before here was a filly, she'd never seen one before so this was a new experience for the Diamond Dog. This was also the first time that a pony wasn't scared of her, this warmed Fio's heart.

"[colour=#282828]Are you really a Diamond dog? You don't look that scary..."[/colour]

[colour=#282828]Fio softly smiles to Moon and squatts down, her arms rest on her knees while her paws cup themselves around the Diamond Dog's cheeks. [/colour]

[colour=#282828]"[/colour][colour=#CC9966]I am little one and I wouldn't hope I'd look scary. I'm just...[/colour][colour=#282828]" Fio paused for a second to try and think of the right words to tell Moon.[/colour]

[colour=#282828]"[/colour][colour=#CC9966]Sometimes new things can scare others, especially if that thing resembles something that [/colour][colour=#cc9966]is[/colour][colour=#CC9966] feared. Even if this new thing has met ponies, such as your friends, that doesn't mean that it was a pleasant experience. Your friends have good reason to be apprehensive of my presence because by the sounds of it, my kind are rarely seen around here. But I assure you that I'm as harmless as the grass below us.[/colour][colour=#282828]" [/colour]

[colour=#282828]Fio begins to reach out to Moon so as to pat her head.[/colour]

[colour=#282828]"[/colour][colour=#CC9966]You've got spunk Moon, I like you.[/colour][colour=#282828]"[/colour]

"[colour=#cc9966]We've got to move, fast. Every second your friend is away is a second closer for whatever's in this forest to find her.[/colour]"

Fio jumps onto her fours and points her nose upward. She smelt the air as deeply as her lungs could hold and searched for the right smell. It didn't take long for Fio to find the black mares scent. It was weak due to the elements, but it was present. She smiled wolfishly to her blue companion.

"[colour=#cc9966]Try to keep up,[/colour]" Fio said and then darted off into the darkness of the void.

The Diamond Dog's guess was spot on, the storm further out in the forest was much worse than whence she resided. The howl of the breeze deafened Fio as she sprinted against the downpour. Keeping a steady footing in the forest was a challenge, Fio found herself on the verge of slipping often and felt her paws recieving random pangs of pain. But she had to get to the mare before something else did. In a sense, it was like a game to the Diamond Dog. This only fueled her reckless abandonment for herself so she could get to her destination all the faster. The rhythmic beating of her paws in conjunction to the gem wildly bouncing against Fio's chest only made her more anxious. Even though Fio was pushing herself as hard as she could, she found the Pegasi keeping up with her at perfect pace. Even though he was showing signs of fatigue, he clearly had the endurance and the will to keep up with her. Fio admired that, there was more to these ponies than she thought. They were close, the scent of the black mare was strong, but something was off, she smelt another besides the mare. Was it the beast? Or did she happen to find the lost one? Whatever it was, it was beyond the thick collection of bushes before her.

Fio finally shot out of the brush, past the black pony and another equine which resided on the mare's back. The Diamond Dog was shocked that this little mare braved the forest on her own and even managed to find the other individual. But more so, Fio was both relieved and disappointed. Yes, the mare was safe, but Fio really wanted to show that she was trustworthy by helping. The Diamond Dog slammed on the brakes, only to find herself being propelled across the ground. Hunger was taking its toll on Fio, she wasn't thinking clearly and wouldn't have made such a mistake under normal circumstances. She had no hopes of stopping herself, only her friend the weeping willow would halt her advance.

"[colour=#cc9966]Oh Gods![/colour]" was the last words of the Diamond Dog as she collided with a tree. An audible yelp could be heard as Fio was knocked unconscious.

Even though Fio had yelled to the group, she proceeded to hustle over to them so that shouting wouldn't be required. The Diamond Dog was cautious to not go too fast, she didn't want to appear as though she was about to pounce them after all. The dirt below her paws felt so different in comparison to what the forest had, but she welcomed it. The Diamond Dog began pondering if they even heard her earlier. As she made her way Fio noticed one of the Pegasi promptly ascended before lowering itself above her companions. Fio smirked, the reaction of the Pegasus was evidence enough that they knew of her presence. She was glad though, at least they didn't scatter like some of her previous experiences with pony folk. She was quick to replace her smirk with an open smile, Fio was now several meters from the group. The Diamond Dog was about to ask them if this was Ponyville, but was caught off guard by the pink pony in the group.

"[colour=#ff6699]No, we don't have any gems to spare,[/colour]" the earth pony shot.

Well, that was... unsettling for the Diamond Dog. Was the pony saying that she was a beggar of sorts? Yes, she didn't have a gem on her to spend, but Fio wasn't about to do something as below herself as begging. She would do what every other proud Diamond Dog would, work their way back from the ground up. But then something else piqued Fio's interest. With how the pony reacted to her, does that mean there were other Diamond Dogs here? If so, does that mean that the pink one and the other residents here have had a negative experience with them? Fio hoped not, but considering that she wasn't ousted out of the town meant that this wasn't the case. She thought carefully about her next words and replied with a wry smile. No matter her words though, her sullen expression gave away her true feelings.

Fio laughs, "[colour=#cc9966]Ahah, a joke, I get it! . . . My name's Fio and I was just simply wondering if this place was Ponyville?[/colour]"

A loud rumbling emanates from the Diamond Dog, accompanied by a pained expression which paints itself on Fio's face. If she didn't have fur, Fio would surely be blushing.

"[colour=#cc9966]... And do you happen to know where I can find a job around these parts?[/colour]"

I am interested in participating, the only problem as of now is that school and work would conflict.

My schedule would be quite open towards the end of May, but until then the only time I'd be available would be Mon-Thurs @ 5-8pm Pacific. A problematic time for those who live outside the U.S. or on the East Coast.

"I hated every minute of training,

but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and

live the rest of your life as a champion.'"

- Muhammad Ali

On the edge of the Everfree Forest lies a sleeping beast, awakening in the shade of the weeping willows. It proceeds to thrust its rump into the air and leans forward, stretching her rested muscles. The beast is rewarded with a satisfying collection of crackling noises, its joints popping in conjunction to the ever increasing steep incline. At the peak its muscles can stretch, she reveals her pearly whites and lets out a bellowing yawn. She then stands upon her hind quarters and looks down to her bosom, yearning to verify her valuable after her slumber in the forest. She reaches under her olive drab bandana and searches for her heirloom. Her paws come to contact with a cool, solid object, assuring her that she did indeed still have her possession.

The beast does a once over on itself, making sure that it didn't miss anything else. After assuring itself that everything was fine, the animal surveys its surroundings and witnesses a promising sight. It was difficult to see, but she could see a source of light brighter than the dreary veil the Everfree gave. Excited, it hops on all fours and makes a mad dash towards the stronger source of illumination. Upon reaching the source it was greeted with a rich field of green grass, a wide collection of flowers were strewn about the majestic field. Excited, she proceeded to run with all her strength and jumped joyously into the air. The warmth of the sum accompanied with the fresh air filled the auburn coloured animal with much relief.

After many days in the forest, Fio the Diamond Dog finally found her way out of the Everfree.

Gravity was beginning to influence Fio and she in turn plummeted to the earth. A wave of flower petals rushed upward past the Diamond Dog as she touched down to the cool grass, welcoming her return. Fio felt as though she won a permit to use Equestrium, it'd been a while since the Diamond Dog was so excited! She smiled and allowed the rest of her body to fall. More petals shot fourth past Fio, a bed of flowers had softened her fall. As the small rain of petals drifted towards her, Fio looked to the heavens and allowed herself to get lost in the large collection of clouds before her. Even though it hasn't been long since she left her home, a lot has happened since then. She never would've guessed that she would get lost in a forest only to be saved by some ponies. A chuckle escapes her lips as she thinks past her experience with them. She felt a bit regretful leaving them, but she still wasn't really used to these talking equine's. She felt more like the odd pup in the group and decided it was best if she parted ways after finding out which direction would lead her out of the forest. But she did learn one thing about ponies, their looks can be deceiving.

After having her fill of the lovely sky, Fio finally gets up and surveys the land. Even though she was out of the Everfree, she still had to find this 'Ponyville' Stormwing had mentioned. If the Diamond Dog had her bearings right, although more like hoping, the town should be just past the collection of trees and hills before her. Fio marched her way into the forest once more. After traversing the terrain, she finally finds the end and comes to witness a town before her. An

can be heard as Fio ingested the sight she beheld. Even if this isn't Ponyville, she could now finally work her way towards resupplying herself and resuming her journey! As she entered the town, Fio witnesses an orange Pegasi fly off into the distance. Her eyes trail to the Pegasus' origin and sees a group of ponies not too far. Now Fio can find out where she was and ask about the possibility of some jobs. She walks towards the group and yells in their general direction.

"[colour=#cc9966]Excuse me, little ponies, I have a question![/colour]"

((Hey everyone, mind if I bring Fio in here? Just want to check 'cause you may not want a Diamond Dog in this RP.))

I am still hoping for a "hard-core" mode in which all participants participate every round, just like in the paper version of the game. Perhaps there is a website that could make such a thing easy, and we could all get together one afternoon for it?

Maybe we could use a combination of FlockDraw and Skype, but then again I'm not sure everyone would appreciate being forced to draw digitally.

Doodle or Die is another option but again, it'll force everyone to draw in the digital medium once more.

Both Lux and Rosewind are spot on and I couldn't say it any better than they have. If you don't mind, I'd like to tell you of my own experience. Yes it's a wall of text, but this will help you, I promise! If anything, at least watch the video at the bottom.

When I first started drawing I originally started with a wacom tablet and I was doing it for the wrong reasons. I drew to gain attention and wanted to be the next CSIMadmax or other famous pony artist. Sure, I got some of the attention I craved but I found little to no satisfaction overall. My own views were low and I just felt frustrated because it seemed like I was in an endless rut of zero self improvement. It continually angered me that I would take days just for ONE digital picture. I felt as though I just HAD to get it right or else nobody would like it. Even when I did get an image 'perfect' I still got low views and the cycle renewed itself. In the end, I closed my account and just gave up drawing for a while due to being frustrated. It was only last summer when I started doodling on a notepad for the heck of it did my interest in drawing get revived. I tried the tablet once more but found that it was once again, too frustrating. I did my research and found Ctrl+Paint. I did the Unplugged series for a while and it helped me out, but I still felt I needed someone on the spot to ask questions. After all, Matt is a busy guy and doesn't have the time to answer every question. I decided to go back to college.

When winter came I decided to take a beginning drawing class to hone my skills and learn the basics. While it did help me improve, there was several issues early on. For one thing I never practiced and only drew while in class. The next issue was that I was overly critical on my drawings and always felt frustrated because I didn't get it perfect. It wasn't until I talked with my teacher did he recommend me some books and just told me to not be so hard on myself. I'll admit, it wasn't an overnight change but my mood did change as the semester continued. I got better, I practiced and I learned a very important thing while drawing. Sure, practicing is important, getting advice and critique is important as well. But it wasn't until I started doing Life Drawing did I discover a very important aspect to drawing.

I had to let go.

Let go of trying to attain perfection and accept that I'm human. I will make mistakes and those mistakes actually HELPED my drawings more than harm. It was only when I went through such a difficult time did I realize these things and learned this very important skill. As soon as I began letting go, I found myself able to draw at a much faster pace and enjoy it even more so than I ever did before. If I had just learned to have accepted myself and threw away the notion of perfection much sooner, I would've truly began drawing way before I started up school and got these books.

But you don't need school to get a head start on your drawing career! If I had to suggest some books, I'd recommend Drawing On The Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. This book will help you in symbol recognition and is an excellent beginners drawing book. When you begin to start getting a handle on the basics, the next one I'd suggest is Figure Drawing for All It's Worth by Andrew Loome. This is the next step if you wish to focus more on composing figures and anatomy. It even has suggestions for different techniques and overall composition. If you don't have money, or the library doesn't have these books then you can visit Ctrl+Paint and go to their Unplugged section in the library.

Remember: Drawing is a practice, there is no formula or magic shortcut to mastering this field. It'll take years and years of work, but it'll pay off in the long run. Be diligent, take some classes, and don't lose hope when you fall! Draw for yourself, draw for your enjoyment and don't be afraid to experiment!

I hope you got something out of this wall, I leave you with Matt Kohr's words which influenced me to take beginning drawing.

Best $40 I've spent in a while. If you need me, I'll be making friends with my friendly neighborhood postal worker

So I heard you like Marks, so I put a mark with your mark so you can mark while you mark.

. . .

Here's your goodie Kitirina

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Here's your goodie Aza - Made two slightly different variants due to the dark on dark emphasis.

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Now, both of you may find it hard to see your moon/baton but it should pop out once you apply your mark to your OC.

Hope it's to your liking, enjoy

P.S. If you'd like, I can edit the moon/baton to a different shade so that the smaller icons will show up easier when they're put under your avatar. As of right now it's a bit... well it's hard to see unless you look at the bigger version. I'll let ya decide from here.

Fantastic job everyone, I love everyone's interpretations! I haven't had a good laugh in a long time, let alone where I laughed so often!

My thanks to everyone who participated, excellent job everyone!

If you look closely, you will see that Spike entered game 'A' with Accellerant's pic. At this point, Accellerant had already participated in game 'B. I wonder if consciously, or subconsciously, that inspired the super manly spike.

It was consciously inspired. I was having one heck of a difficult time coming up with a good image that would work well with Browneh's line. There were several ideas that only had both AJ and RD, but those kinds of images are overdone so horrendously I just threw the thought out a window. They were originally going to be in dresses at a competition, but again that felt overdone. So I thought about having Spike in it again 'cause lets face it, Spike's awesome and it just felt it'd make sense to have him in the second pic. He was originally going to be playing with some pony toys, much like his scene in A Canterlot Wedding but it just felt a bit overused again. After a bit of adjusting with the original rough and comparison, the manly Spike image was born.

I'm glad that there's been such a warm reception for my images, thank you for the kind words everyone

[colour=#282828]What was that experience like for you guys?[/colour]

I enjoyed this game and am really looking forward towards the next event!

I loved my precious Firefox until a certain update made it chug at the rate of SLUDGE. I've been using Chrome ever since and I haven't had any troubles.

Although, I have been thinking about Waterfox...

P.S. Did you try deleting cookies and wipe your history/cache when you were trying to get off the guest account?