Re: [GRIMDARK] Fallout Equestria: Project Horizons Discussion

[O. Hinds]

While I wait for the PDF version to include chapter 55, I just discovered that 54 was revised as soon as I finished it! So, I'm a bit confused, hope you don't if I ask for some clarification? The fight with the Legate is likely the biggest change, and while the hoof-to-hoof duel was realistically epic, does that mean he doesn't have a godly staff with freaky element-controlling zebra power? :(
Also, since the part where Lancer lost an eye and was kicked out is no longer there, does that mean he's still in the Remnants? Lastly, were there any other plot changes to 54, or any other chapter for that matter?

Vitiosus no longer has the staff, yes. As for Lancer, though... Well, anything that may or may not have happened to him now happened offscreen, didn't it?

I don't recall any other plot-significant changes to 54. As for other chapters, changes since when?
I do announce changes in the forum when they're made, though (assuming that such an announcement is cleared by Somber).

Somber,
Somber pls

...Sorry, but what are you trying to say?

[O. Hinds]

Finally got to the chapter, still catching up in the comments, but I did find a couple of typos so I'll put them here before they become outdated.

Spoiler:

Now I'm still catching up, so maybe this is a gun jumper... but people really seem eager to dismiss King Arsehole. Maybe murder maybe plotting, but whether or not the guy is dead manipulators like that don't step off the stage without a little more screentime.

Ah, thank you.

[U_Flame]

I don't recall any other plot-significant changes to 54. As for other chapters, changes since when?
I do announce changes in the forum when they're made, though (assuming that such an announcement is cleared by Somber).

I was thinking since the chapter 54 revision, but also since the chapter 55 update. Nothing happened to earlier chapters? Is the Legate battle really the only plot change? Just want to make sure.

[Vergil]

Somber,
Somber pls

...Sorry, but what are you trying to say?

I'm not sure what it was intended for, but at the least it made me burst out laughing.

Also Kipper I went to Duna finally!

[Ketchup]

Somber,
Somber pls

...Sorry, but what are you trying to say?

I'm not sure what it was intended for, but at the least it made me burst out laughing.

Also Kipper I went to Duna finally!

I think Kipper is referring to when he asked for information about Somber's computer troubles.

And I haven't even reached Mun successfully yet.

[StoneSlinger88]

Is there a map of the Hoof anywhere? Preferably Somber-approved? I want to write something on the Great War battles around the Hoof, but I'm having trouble pulling up locations and would prefer not to write something that confuses people.

[Admiral Stoic Rum]

we'd have to use context clues based on ... i don't want to start buuuut, its weird for sure.

[StoneSlinger88]

I'll have to comb the story for the clues. I believe it's near the western edge of Equestria, with a mountain range beyond that, if memory serves.

[FeatherDust]

Is there a map of the Hoof anywhere? Preferably Somber-approved? I want to write something on the Great War battles around the Hoof, but I'm having trouble pulling up locations and would prefer not to write something that confuses people.

Yeah, SilentCarto's got one (not sure if "approved" per se, but I believe Somber gave him some help positioning a few things some time back).
http://fav.me/d4m8aku

He hasn't updated it with some of the most recent event locations, but it's reasonably accurate.

[StoneSlinger88]

Ah, perfect! Thanks Feather.

[FeatherDust]

Somber,
Somber pls

...Sorry, but what are you trying to say?

I know it's a reference to the "gooby plz" meme, but I have no idea what Kipper actually meant.

people really seem eager to dismiss King Arsehole. Maybe murder maybe plotting, but whether or not the guy is dead manipulators like that don't step off the stage without a little more screentime.

What do you mean here? You think King Awesome had more plotted than just handing the society over to somebody who shares his ideals? Or you think he's still alive?


On another topic:

It's weird how brains work, innit? I mean, I had all the relevant facts in my head, but for whatever reason I never pulled together the coherent thought that Balefire and Pink Cloud are basically the same thing; one is necromantic dragon-fire, and the other is necromantic dragon-smoke. They might even use the same talisman magic.

[O. Hinds]

I don't recall any other plot-significant changes to 54. As for other chapters, changes since when?
I do announce changes in the forum when they're made, though (assuming that such an announcement is cleared by Somber).

I was thinking since the chapter 54 revision, but also since the chapter 55 update. Nothing happened to earlier chapters? Is the Legate battle really the only plot change? Just want to make sure.

I'm still not entirely clear on what you're asking. There have been changes over the course of the story, certainly. If you're just aksing about since we started work on 55, well, there's the one in 39, of course, but no others.

Is there a map of the Hoof anywhere? Preferably Somber-approved? I want to write something on the Great War battles around the Hoof, but I'm having trouble pulling up locations and would prefer not to write something that confuses people.

I know of no complete or Somber-approved maps, but SilentCarto has a WiP map here. I don't think that it's been updated for a while, though.

I'll have to comb the story for the clues. I believe it's near the western edge of Equestria, with a mountain range beyond that, if memory serves.

Oh, well, if you're looking for a map placing Hoofington in Equestria, the best one that I know of is mine (which, in case you haven't noticed, is linked in my signature). WARNING, however: My map is not Somber-approved, and I do know for a fact that there are at least a few points on which it directly contracts Somber's ideas.

edit: Ah, I see that some of this was addressed while I was typing.

[StoneSlinger88]

Thank you for the help. In my headcanon, your map's geography is basically the same, except flipped longitudinally with the central locations largely the same before the flip.

[Meleagridis]

King Arsehole

What do you mean here? You think King Awesome had more plotted than just handing the society over to somebody who shares his ideals? Or you think he's still alive?

I can't say for sure whether I believe he's alive or dead- but if he is dead then you just know it's foul play, even if Awesome was the one playing the pieces. It pays to be suspicious of the instantly likable. Maybe he really was just a decent guy, but I don't think we've seen enough to know for sure. Keeper showed up a couple of times, enough that I doubt he's hiding any cards. So I'm inclined to believe him when he said Awesome was an Arsehole about Dawn and Striker. But if you listen to Arsehole go on about it, he says he was supportive. I believe Keeper, not King, so I already see Awesome as hiding things from Blackjack. In for a penny in for a pound. Not to mention he brushed off keeping two likable characters in a freaking ZOO as 'aristocrats have privilege.' He's as up front and honest as the OIA he's so obsessed with and I don't doubt that his intentions, noble or not, will be just as ruinous.

(In a zoo!)

[Kippershy]

@The KSP talk
Well done guys! And Ketch, it's easy if you time it right. I've still gotta do the whole record my shit because I've been busy/lazy lately, but I can do it now for you if you'd like?

@The Somber pls comment
Somber was being a dolt, a complete and utter dolt. I tried to advise him on when to ignore people over on 4chan and he fucking ignored me.
Somber, pls, next time I tell you to ignore someone, just trust me.
If you don't listen, you'll only get yourself down and you'll feel like shit and it'll all be your own fault for not listening when I tell you that someone is bitching for the sake of bitching.

So yes, Somber, pls. Next time, listen to me.

[Moodyman90]

Well it could have been Keeper was lying about King because of his own jealousy.

Really the only side of that story we haven't heard from directly is Dawn herself, and we're probably not going to get that any time soon if at all.

Kinda funny, we've been hearing about King Awesome for a long while. How he's been sick and close to death, his adventures with the others and the fallout between them, hearing about him from his old friends and you look at all of them and what they're doing and how well off they are, then you come to him.

With the exception of Zodiac since she went into that tank, everybody from the old group are still very much active despite age. If anything King Awesome should have been the best one off since he pretty much went off to live like a king while Big Daddy and Keeper went off into fights and continued to scavenge the wasteland respectively.

So why is he so bad off compared to the others? Did reforming the Society to what it is now take that much of a toll on him? Or did the relatively easy lifestyle cause his body to go weak and fail faster then the others? Or has it all really been an elaborate plan inspired by his fascination with the OIA and Blackjack/ Security just happened to appear at the right time for it to pay off?

[Ketchup]

@The KSP talk
Well done guys! And Ketch, it's easy if you time it right. I've still gotta do the whole record my shit because I've been busy/lazy lately, but I can do it now for you if you'd like?

Haven't actually been playing it. I've only ever really tried twice.

I also read your latest chapter.

[Kippershy]

Saw that, meant to comment, which I'll do now.

Also, just recorded a rather... exciting video of me going to Mun with crazy hijinks.
Once I've got it ready for viewing, I'll upload it to youtube.

[Train Dodger]

Next up, it's Chapter 3. Been a little busy this week. From now on, I'll be calling out the type of suggested adjustment. "Typo" for clear typographical errors, "Grammar" for word choice and arrangement, and "Prose" for comments on storytelling and overall conceptual clarity.

Without further ado:

Chapter 3:

[FeatherDust]

Keeper showed up a couple of times, enough that I doubt he's hiding any cards. So I'm inclined to believe him when he said Awesome was an Arsehole about Dawn and Striker. But if you listen to Arsehole go on about it, he says he was supportive. I believe Keeper, not King, so I already see Awesome as hiding things from Blackjack. In for a penny in for a pound.

Well, now, I'd argue that everyone has their point of view and they're all shaded by their personal biases. I don't think anyone in that group is going to give you the full absolute truth, but it's not due to lying; it's just the old Rashamon thing. Everyone sees what they expect to see and what fits with their way of thinking. I don't think Awesome was intentionally trying to deceive Blackjack.

Not to mention he brushed off keeping two likable characters in a freaking ZOO as 'aristocrats have privilege.'

Is there really a meaningful distinction between that and slavery? None that I can see. And it fits in the greater context of what he was saying about allowing a few problems to avoid the worse ones.

Is he a schemer? Yeah, probably. But honestly I don't think he was on screen long enough to support a Sudden But Inevitable Betrayal sort of thing later.

So why is he so bad off compared to the others? Did reforming the Society to what it is now take that much of a toll on him? Or did the relatively easy lifestyle cause his body to go weak and fail faster then the others?

He might have just been older than the others when they began their adventures. Zodiac is excluded on account of being a two hundred year old cyborg.

[O. Hinds]

Next up, it's Chapter 3. Been a little busy this week. From now on, I'll be calling out the type of suggested adjustment. "Typo" for clear typographical errors, "Grammar" for word choice and arrangement, and "Prose" for comments on storytelling and overall conceptual clarity.

Without further ado:

Chapter 3:

Ah, thank you.

"I notice that in a lot of the later chapters, the references to which foreleg Blackjack wears/mounts her PipBuck on aren't consistent. Sometimes, it's her left foreleg. Sometimes, it's her right. I'll point these out when I get to them."
Ugh. Yes, please. I thought that I'd gotten all of those…
For the record (since a lot of people seem to forget), Blackjack wears her PipBuck on her left foreleg, as do most ponies. LittlePip and Red Eye are exceptions.

[O. Hinds]

Keeper showed up a couple of times, enough that I doubt he's hiding any cards. So I'm inclined to believe him when he said Awesome was an Arsehole about Dawn and Striker. But if you listen to Arsehole go on about it, he says he was supportive. I believe Keeper, not King, so I already see Awesome as hiding things from Blackjack. In for a penny in for a pound.

Well, now, I'd argue that everyone has their point of view and they're all shaded by their personal biases. I don't think anyone in that group is going to give you the full absolute truth, but it's not due to lying; it's just the old Rashamon thing. Everyone sees what they expect to see and what fits with their way of thinking. I don't think Awesome was intentionally trying to deceive Blackjack.

Not to mention he brushed off keeping two likable characters in a freaking ZOO as 'aristocrats have privilege.'

Is there really a meaningful distinction between that and slavery? None that I can see. And it fits in the greater context of what he was saying about allowing a few problems to avoid the worse ones.

Is he a schemer? Yeah, probably. But honestly I don't think he was on screen long enough to support a Sudden But Inevitable Betrayal sort of thing later.

So why is he so bad off compared to the others? Did reforming the Society to what it is now take that much of a toll on him? Or did the relatively easy lifestyle cause his body to go weak and fail faster then the others?

He might have just been older than the others when they began their adventures. Zodiac is excluded on account of being a two hundred year old cyborg.

There's been so much interesting speculation on this matter. And it's an issue that I don't actually know the truth of. :)

[Exodus Hero]

Next up, it's Chapter 3. Been a little busy this week. From now on, I'll be calling out the type of suggested adjustment. "Typo" for clear typographical errors, "Grammar" for word choice and arrangement, and "Prose" for comments on storytelling and overall conceptual clarity.

Without further ado:

Chapter 3:

You my friend are a beast, good job :)

[Train Dodger]

After double-checking the current version of the chapter to see how those edits worked out:

Chapter 3:

[O. Hinds]

After double-checking the current version of the chapter to see how those edits worked out:

Chapter 3:

Ah, thank you and sorry!

[SilentCarto]

You know, if BJ ever needs to intimidate someone, I'd love to see her grab a pistol she doesn't care about, shoot Rampage in the head, then eat the pistol. "Now... do you really want to fuck with us?"

Ooh! Can I quote this on my sig? This is quote worthy!

Pretty sure I can't stop ya.

I know of no complete or Somber-approved maps, but SilentCarto has a WiP map here. I don't think that it's been updated for a while, though.

I really ought to get back to that sometime...

I can't say for sure whether I believe he's alive or dead- but if he is dead then you just know it's foul play, even if Awesome was the one playing the pieces.

I don't think that's necessarily true. He's been in fragile health since the first time we heard of him, when Splendid was trying to get a stasis pod for him. I could see him just 'letting go' after he decided BJ would be a worthy successor (or a valuable patsy).

Well, okay, the whole thing could be a ruse, and he's safely in his stasis pod while Splendid and Grace play their parts as the shunned heirs. From a weird, chaotic-good point of view, I could see faking his own death to allow BJ to enact the sort of swift change he can't, let her take the heat for it all, then cheerfully reappear to sweep up the pieces and placate the aristos with a few minor concessions. If there's one thing BJ's good at, it's being a blunt instrument.

Not to mention he brushed off keeping two likable characters in a freaking ZOO as 'aristocrats have privilege.'

(In a zoo!)

This does bear keeping in mind.

So why is he so bad off compared to the others? Did reforming the Society to what it is now take that much of a toll on him? Or did the relatively easy lifestyle cause his body to go weak and fail faster then the others?

He might have just been older than the others when they began their adventures. Zodiac is excluded on account of being a two hundred year old cyborg.

Maybe Big Daddy literally beat him half to death, and his body never fully recovered...

[SilentCarto]

You know, now that they have easy access to greenhouses, I'd think Glory would start trying to wean Boo off the snack cakes. She's been malnourished for a while, and she could probably use some decent food. And so could Blackjack, for that matter.

I tried to write a dialogue about it, but it just wasn't working. Suffice to say, hilarity ensues.

[thatguyvex]

You know, now that they have easy access to greenhouses, I'd think Glory
would start trying to wean Boo off the snack cakes. She's been
malnourished for a while, and she could probably use some decent food.
And so could Blackjack, for that matter.

Boo might actually like proper greens, if offered to her. Glory might have a bit of trouble getting her to try them out, but once Boo gets a taste, just having the variety alone might be good to her. As for Blackjack, I don't know if anyone even knows what her nutrition requirements are exactly anymore. Glory's anti-personnel discus/chakrams (ie, those partially metal "snack cakes") seem to do the trick for Blackjack.

[Admiral Stoic Rum]

you forgot armor plating

[StoneSlinger88]

Coffee. Blackjack needs to drink more coffee.

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