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re: point 2. I have suggestions for point 3 too, but my thoughts are kinda jumbled and I have to go to work soon, so it might end up being separate posts.
I think the trouble with the alicorn option is that its shine is a little too alluring: all that power, all that importance, all that spotlight, and it's the clearest and coolest character development path available at the moment. There's just something sparkly about a character growing so much they earn that awesome responsibility.
But it's also exclusive. Only available to ponies (though I suppose non-pony characters could species-switch if they really wanted it), and not every character has the right temperament or talent to ascend. I know mine don't, haha. And, as you say, the numbers are going to remain small or else it's not special anymore.
The information post on the subject says that any character is capable of re-activating the Elements with their growth, whether they're eligible to become an alicorn or not, and maybe some reassurance that those characters are still important would help things?
It's a little difficult to discuss this without giving away too much of the modplot, but what we can say is this:
Calice will not be defeated by raw power or force.
This has already been hinted at, but we thought we'd make that explicit now. Every time the Elements of Harmony are activated, they will weaken her, but becoming an alicorn will have zero impact on your ability to actually defeat Calice and will not have any additional weakening effect.
When we move toward end-game and have our eventual final show-down, a non-powered character will have just as much - if not more - of a chance of being instrumental to Calice's defeat than those with super powered abilities for reasons that are currently spoilers. Not to say that characters with powers won't be important, but reliance on those in the eventual show-down with Calice will not be exceptionally effective.
As for alternative character development pathways that are equally cool, it's a little hard to call out what they might be because it's different in the context of each character, but there are ponies who have significant political or social clout who are not alicorns on the show and if you (collective and general you) would like to get your character into that kind of situation, we would be more than happy to work with you toward that goal.
I'd also like to point out that previously I was under the impression that alicorn-hood ascension required a great big character arc from friendship-clueless (as we saw in Twilight's case and now in Zetta's) to friendship-power-expert. Nothing wrong with that except that it seemed like that meant characters who all ready are mature and embody the Elements, usually from their canon background, would not be in the position to ascend because they never made a huge personal growth spurt within the game. Does this make any sense?
I'm sure now that I was misunderstanding but I'd like to hear what you mods have to say nonetheless.
Okay! We're going to try to clarify this in the Alicorn Ascension post itself, but the general gist of things is that you DO NOT have to go through an arc like Twilight did on the show to ascend to alicordhood in MLJ. That Zetta went that path and he was the first is coincidental. We have several other characters who have alicorn plots that they're preparing and have been preparing for some time. Just to be clear, these are the characters who have specifically discussed plots with us and received the green light to proceed, even if all of the exact details are not worked out at this point:
- Nephenee - Yu - Yukiko - Nozomi
As you can see from that list, none of those characters are particularly friendship-clueless! Their arcs focus on exploring the different aspects of friendship, though, and how they can use their specific talents to share friendship with the world around them.
no subject
I think the trouble with the alicorn option is that its shine is a little too alluring: all that power, all that importance, all that spotlight, and it's the clearest and coolest character development path available at the moment. There's just something sparkly about a character growing so much they earn that awesome responsibility.
But it's also exclusive. Only available to ponies (though I suppose non-pony characters could species-switch if they really wanted it), and not every character has the right temperament or talent to ascend. I know mine don't, haha. And, as you say, the numbers are going to remain small or else it's not special anymore.
The information post on the subject says that any character is capable of re-activating the Elements with their growth, whether they're eligible to become an alicorn or not, and maybe some reassurance that those characters are still important would help things?
no subject
Calice will not be defeated by raw power or force.
This has already been hinted at, but we thought we'd make that explicit now. Every time the Elements of Harmony are activated, they will weaken her, but becoming an alicorn will have zero impact on your ability to actually defeat Calice and will not have any additional weakening effect.
When we move toward end-game and have our eventual final show-down, a non-powered character will have just as much - if not more - of a chance of being instrumental to Calice's defeat than those with super powered abilities for reasons that are currently spoilers. Not to say that characters with powers won't be important, but reliance on those in the eventual show-down with Calice will not be exceptionally effective.
As for alternative character development pathways that are equally cool, it's a little hard to call out what they might be because it's different in the context of each character, but there are ponies who have significant political or social clout who are not alicorns on the show and if you (collective and general you) would like to get your character into that kind of situation, we would be more than happy to work with you toward that goal.
no subject
+1
(Anonymous) 2015-04-16 08:58 am (UTC)(link)I'd also like to point out that previously I was under the impression that alicorn-hood ascension required a great big character arc from friendship-clueless (as we saw in Twilight's case and now in Zetta's) to friendship-power-expert. Nothing wrong with that except that it seemed like that meant characters who all ready are mature and embody the Elements, usually from their canon background, would not be in the position to ascend because they never made a huge personal growth spurt within the game. Does this make any sense?
I'm sure now that I was misunderstanding but I'd like to hear what you mods have to say nonetheless.
no subject
- Nephenee
- Yu
- Yukiko
- Nozomi
As you can see from that list, none of those characters are particularly friendship-clueless! Their arcs focus on exploring the different aspects of friendship, though, and how they can use their specific talents to share friendship with the world around them.
I hope that can help clarify!