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Character Niches that could stand to be filled in World of Equestria RP.


flutterscotch

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So, Canterlot has a lot of bakers, guards, farmers, DJs, weatherponies, delivery ponies, aerobats, writers and artists.

But you know what they don't have a lot of? Many types of characters that could further make the land vibrant and full. Just remember, memorable characters are how you play them, not by the rule of cool. Just because it's listed on this list, doesn't mean NOBODY is doing these things, but they definitely don't come up very often.

I thought I'd bring this thread into existence to bring up various types of professions and character tropes to help users, new and old, get some inspiration for unique characters who could fit in a slice-of-life setting.

In case you can't tell, I came to this realization after going to a county fair, so there's going to be a lot of things you might see at a fair. :D

  • CARNIES. (We could handle more carnies. I would LOVE to see a travelling circus/fair group!)
  • Serial trashy romance Novelists
  • Stay-at-home sires or dams with several children whose spouse or partner works (comedic gold to be had here)
  • small-town loosely organized marching bands
  • Ballroom dancing instructors
  • a good old-fashioned junk-pony
  • Kind of obvious equine-related things that seem right down the alley or Earth ponies. There is a whole world to explore here if you want your character to be part of a team, business or organization, but don't want to be on a Wonderbolts-esque aerobatics troupe, or be in the military.
    • Polo players
    • Carriage and cart makers or salesponies
    • ponies who specialize in tack
    • Racetrack owners
    • Gymkhana organizers
    • Teams of ponies who specialize in competitive weight pulling

What other kinds of suggestions do you guys have?

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I RP the guidance counselor for Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, and unfortunately I know of only one RP character that is actually a student at the school. I'm dead serious; Canterlot has an embarrassing lack of magic students even though magic is supposedly all cool and junk. The school could also use some teachers too, while I'm at it. If anyone here is interested in doing any School-based RPs, let me know here and feel free to make character apps for magic students and/or teachers. :)

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I see lots of bakers too, but what about cooks? I haven't seen too many cooks. (Unless there's a whole army of them lurking in the shadows, I don't assume there are a lot of them.) Having a restaurant RP would be pretty fun, as ponies could have birthdays, dates, and other kinds of events there. Maybe all at once, and some would intertwine. That's all I have at the moment, but I also would like to see what kinds of new ideas people could come up with for creating ponies.

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I RP the guidance counselor for Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, and unfortunately I know of only one RP character that is actually a student at the school. I'm dead serious; Canterlot has an embarrassing lack of magic students even though magic is supposedly all cool and junk.

Hm. I've seen plenty of students to that particular school go by in apps. Maybe they were just all graduated already?

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I actually know at least two RP characters that are said to have graduated from Celestia's School. I suppose I can dig through the accepted apps section later tonight and see for myself what other current student characters are out there. The thing is, I don't want to spam RPers PM boxes with notices about School-based RP and such. :P

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I will definitely be putting a romance novelist as my second app. Dramatic but more controlled than Rarity and into that special feeling.

Ideas?

Lazy teenagers who do nothing with their lives (like Arcade) and have their parents trying to get them to take the family business or join the guard

Hat makers

Odd job ponies (cart pulling, simple mechanics, standing out in a silly costume advertising, etc)

Teachers/scholars/researchers

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Odd job ponies (cart pulling, simple mechanics, standing out in a silly costume advertising, etc)

Teachers/scholars/researchers

odd job wanderers are the best! They have an excuse to be ANYWHERE

teachers. not so much. There are only so many towns :P and education has not been properly cemented in board canon

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Well as soon as Skydancer gets her app through you will have a dance instructor as well as a slow speed aerobat (think gymnastics but with wings).

Hopefully she will be entertaining crowds soon at a theater near you.

As for suggestions , how about

a day care center worker

a sewage specialist

a landscape gardener

a handy pony (handyman)

a blacksmith (horse shoes)

a garbage collector

a road maintenance pony

a builder

a pharmacist

all of these could be used to work in a good story but as RP not so much, since most RP is action based not slice of life style.

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all of these could be used to work in a good story but as RP not so much, since most RP is action based not slice of life style.

Not on Canterlot RP.

I think we have a good selection of different types. Perhaps we don't have as many mundane ponies as we should, but we can't expect people to want to play those too often.

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A few things to throw out there:

Actors/actresses - there's a whole lot of range one could use for this, and I'm not just talking about a ponified Broadway show either - perhaps some of 'em could even be carnies. Speaking of such, here's a character in mind I've had for a while - a thespian mute unicorn named Pierrot. Maybe I should plan on apping him sooner than later?

Techies - You know, the people behind the fancy curtains! Those who set up lighting, sound effects, create costumes, apply makeup, making sure that things run smoothy as others enjoy the show. This 'un is also open for many possibilities, from plays, musicals, fashion shows, concerts, ext.

TOY MAKERS/TOYSHOP KEEPERS - Eeyup. Aside from my Swift Kite and Patches (and perhaps an NCP of mine), I've only heard of a few other character that happen to fill either of these role. It's rather sad - are my peggy and young dragon who work at a toy stop in the middle of nowhere that's right at an intersect of a path between Ponyville and Filly (and a few notable others) the only souls who make and sell playthingsfor the young at heart? Jeeze, Equestria's really lacking in the toy department...

Creators of fabfric, dyes, strings, yada-yada - We have plenty of designer/fashion ponies, but what about the colts and fillies who are talented enough to make their materials in the first place, huh? Or better tey, why can't there be a few smiths out there who specialize in molding pieces and parts for brass instruments? Why can't people go beyond the obvious professions and ctrate characters who make it so these professions can be fulfilled in the first place?

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Question - what race would you think a blacksmith should be? Earth ponies are more inclined into the production of goods for other ponies (food, obviously, and others), but they would certainly burn their hooves off somehow. Unicorns are more posh and likely wouldn't like to get their hooves dirty, but they could definitely do the job a lot easier.

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Question - what race would you think a blacksmith should be? Earth ponies are more inclined into the production of goods for other ponies (food, obviously, and others), but they would certainly burn their hooves off somehow. Unicorns are more posh and likely wouldn't like to get their hooves dirty, but they could definitely do the job a lot easier.

Oh we have several Blacksmiths. They tend to be unicorns, griffins and Earth ponies.

Pony Mimes! Quietest RP ever!

Howzabout mathematicians, family counselors (more gold to be had here, too), and shopkeepers of questionable merchandise?

Considering how many broken homes there are out there? BWHAHAHAHA.

I wish Pony_sage was still here. He had a Zebra named Monty who sold hilariously questionable merchandise that nopony was allowed to ask how he came by it. Someone should take up those reigns. I bet he'd let me.

Also, you totally RP a mime. Named PUMPKINCAKE.

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Unicorns are more posh and likely wouldn't like to get their hooves dirty, but they could definitely do the job a lot easier.

Pffff, I'd say that a good number of unicorns would not mind occupations where they get their hooves dirty. Not all unicorns can be sorcerers or rich-as-heck Canterloters, right? :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Your average work-a-day Joe (ny)?

http://averagewoona.tumblr.com/page/3

(Have to start at the bottom as it's reverse order)

Potter/glazer? Glazier? (Everfree) forester/ranger? Ski instructor?

Disaster watch/crew/QRF? Somepony has to set off those sirens and hand out NBC suits...

Tinker,Tailor, Soldier, Sailor?

Butcher, Baker, candlestick maker?

Ooh, miller. Seen a few windmills around.

Yeah I'v never cared much for the pony stereotyping I'v seen done..

"All Unicorns are dainty and don't want to get dirty"

Also might have to make a unicorn coal miner or something...

*Goes off to think of some filthy jobs*

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  • 2 weeks later...

I don't think we have any characters in the legal profession; I'd been knocking about an idea or two for a lawyer OC...

hopefully he'll be more Ace Attorney then those slimy lawyers you see in TV dramas

Also might have to make a unicorn coal miner or something...

*Goes off to think of some filthy jobs*

a unicorn with strong telekinesis and a coal finding spell would hit the spot ;)

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  • 2 weeks later...

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