The pony collectable card game was inspired by the great series we all love. What if there was a way to turn that inspiration back into episodes of MLP? This is CCG story-time!
Hey ponies! The game is simple and based on the MLP collectable card game, which you probably shouldn't play if you have an addictive personality. Anyway, in this game we create a mini episode of MLP from: Mane characters with themes; helpful friends, resources and events; troublemakers, disruptive friends, resources and events; and problem cards which must be solved.
Context The collectable card game (GGC) for MLP, like the pony comics, role play and the stories on fimfic, expands the pony universe. I have played the card game and done the odd role-play and produced stories on and off for many years, but only recently have I explored the idea of connecting these seemingly disparate parts of the pony fandom. My first attempt didn't work - the game is complex and I struggled to make the different cards fit into a coherent narrative (see CCG story shuffle). This is my second attempt - less wedded to the rules and more focused on the themes of the CCG while still being faithful to the idea of a uniquely pony card game that complements this amazing world we all love. The original inspiration for this idea goes to @Loganberry and @Fanofmosteverything who pointed me in the way of connecting cards to stories :3
General Rules (Spoiler for basic gameplay for those unfamiliar with the game - see wiki for more) The game requires each player to form a deck with one "Mane" character, 10 Problem cards that earn the players points when solved, and many other cards representing Friends, Resources, and other concepts; these cards are based on characters and other elements from the series. The goal is to play cards from one's hand to face off against any Problems put forth by either player, scoring points for doing so. The player to score a set number of points first is declared the winner. The game is distributed in pre-made one- or two-deck starter packs, and booster packs to expand a player's library. Since its release, the game has received seven major expansions and several themed decks. A basic familiarity with the card game should be enough to get the gist of the story generation rules that I follow. 1. The basis of a deck is the mane character who sets the theme for the whole deck. Therefore all stories must have a theme and revolve around particular characters. 2. The basis of the game is the mutual resolution of problems between friends. This is my favourite aspect of the card game and MLP. The CCG is competitive but not destructive. Friends compete to be the best pony they can be to help one another. In practical terms that means that all stories must have an overall problem and an overall resolution which reflects the winner of the particular game. The winner is not the pony who succeeds alone (like Cosy Glow) but the pony who succeeds with her friends, acting, like Twilight does now, as the protector that shields and aids the vulnerable and as the guide that unlocks the greatness in those with unrealised talent. At the moment I like to achieve this with a "Dear Princess Celestia" resolution to every story, just as in season 1. 3. The game involves friends and helpful events which help the mane character to confront and resolve problems. The game straightforwardly imitates the show here eg imagine Twilight is helped by spike to steady her hooves on Discord's slippery bubble roads back in Season 2 (Slippery Slopes; Twilight - Gala Greeter; Spike - Festival assistant): https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ed8AAOSwSiVe06ik/s-l1600.jpg https://crystal-cdn2.crystalcommerce.com/photos/1257363/5.jpg https://static.cardmarket.com/img/6c5493aa95ef63be0061e978dd671578/items/1041/SB/318710.jpg 4. The game also involves disruptive trouble-makers and problematic events. These are are harder to characterise and take a bit more explanation. In the CCG these are played to cramp the opponent's play style, rather like defensive play in football, 'snooker' in snooker, or a defensive slice in tennis. The purpose of the defensive play-style is to disable the opponent or prepare the ground in your favour and then force your opponent to engage. A problem I had at first when turning this game into a narrative was how to reconcile this play-style with the overall constructive nature of MLP CCG. What I now realise is that all good stories have flawed characters at their heart. The troublemakers and disruptive friends/events in the CCG can represent flaws that merely delay the eventual resolution of the problem. For example Scootaloo is trying to help Spike out by aiding a distressed Ember, despite being naive at first (Spike - the brave and glorious; Scootaloo - cutie mark crusader; Rarity - Growing up): https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mylittleponyccg/images/9/92/CrystalGames_192.jpg https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mylittleponyccg/images/6/60/MarksinTime_001.jpg https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mylittleponyccg/images/c/cc/MarksinTime_046.jpg To explain: Spike and Scoot are mane characters here, so it makes sense to have the narrative to relate to Spike's friend Ember. Rarity growing up is a disruptive card (due to the 'showy' trait) and therefore represents naivety - a problem that needs to be overcome.
5. Finally, as I said above the game sets problems that the ponies confront and resolve together. This is not some arbitrary confrontation but rather the problems have a character in themselves and games can differ hugely depending on the problems that turn up. Just as with the disruptive elements and trouble-makers the problem cards were difficult to characterise and a similar solution was used: the problem cards contribute to the general narrative problem that is solved. For example, Continuing the story above in relation to disruptive elements: Ember is crying because her fellow dragons have exiled her (Flooding in Sweet apple acres). https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mylittleponyccg/images/2/20/AbsoluteDiscord_177.jpg To explain: the flooding is re-imagined as tears to fit the narrative. This may seem a stretch, but it is needed if a coherent story is to be formed from the cards. Provided you can form a link, this flexibility can be a great deal of fun :3
Technical rules 1. All cards played in the game are included in the story in brackets. Every sentence should reflect a card played, but a sentence may reflect multiple cards eg: A well read Twilight sets herself up to solve her friends' problems (Princess Twilight Sparkle - professor Sparkle; Princess Twilight Sparkle - Cover to cover)! https://static.cardmarket.com/img/ed338f3580c4410094c2d0c90d5e310c/items/1041/DE/318498.jpg https://static.cardmarket.com/img/7871c5c90537eea16fe346947b790285/items/1041/HM/320319.jpg Explanation: The first card here is a mane character with the power to confront problems. The second card generates action tokens which are the main 'currency' of the game when it comes to confronting problems.
2. Cards with a decisive role in the game (i.e scoring multiple points or costing the opponent multiple points) are starred* and should have an important role in the narrative. 3. All games include a winner and loser. The theme of the story centres around the winner's mane character and theme. The mane character loser of the story has an important but minor role in the story which involves being helped by the winner to be a better friend. 4. Cards are divided into: a) mane characters; b) helpful friends, resources/events; c) trouble-makers, disruptive friends, resources/events; d) problems. 5. Sometimes the type of gameplay can be relevant eg a one-sided game would place the loser mane character in a particularly junior role in the narrative, while a close game would be more even.
Smolder delivers a very unusual message to Twilight. A large red dragon called Razor is challenging Ember for leadership of the dragons (the vote!) - she claims that ponies have faked friendship with dragons (Friendship U) in order to weaken them so that ponies can take over the dragon lands. Twilight remembers that this is the same Razor whose smoke blanketed Ponyville years ago and who left in tears after Flutters told her off (Svengallop - heavy-hooved; Pipsqueak - class president*).
Ember is angered by the challenge and threatens to stoke up pony opposition by revealing that Razor once attacked Twilight and her friends (Blackmail). To calm things down Twilight and her friends all try to persuade Razor to drop her challenge (Golden Gavel - fast talker*) but Razor doesn't listen (Garble - kind of a jerk). A large number of dragons, including Garble, disaffected with Ember's pony-friendly approach, follow Razor as Ember's rival (Pipsqueak - class president*) and Ember doubts herself - questioning whether she is really destined to be the dragon lord. Rather than risk a conflict (Falling rock zone) Ember goes into exile.
Spike tries to cheer up a despondent Ember (Spike - the brave and glorious; Everfree rescue mission) but she is inconsolable and he turns to Twilight and her friends for help (Rescue party), but no one can lift her spirits, since she feels a failure in the one thing she felt was most right for her. One day, moping around Ponyville Ember bumps in Scootaloo (Scootaloo - cutie mark crusader), they get talking and she explains her plight and, disarmed by the feisty little filly, the proud dragoness cries (Flooding in sweet apple acres). Scoot is of course upset by the tale of dragons (Spooky scary story*) but she is not the naive foal she once was (Rarity - growing up) and knows that she must help Spike's friend to recapture her destiny (Social obligations*). Scoot asks herself what her competitive idol Rainbow Dash would do, but dismisses the idea of having a race (cannon cavalry*; Garble - let's race), since it could lead to violence. Instead she decides that something more creative is needed (Scootaloo - most creative) and hits on the idea of a horde-off: the dragon with the best horde wins (The smooze - creeping crud).
Razor agrees to the horde off. The red dragon starts strong, using her size to bully dragons into giving her their hordes and her bold approach appears to work at first (Gizelle - thrillseeker). However, it soon begins to alienate her from her supporters (Mega mare - watch your step*). Ultimately she steals from the horde of something even bigger than her - a Roc - and is captured by the angry behemoth (Roc - bird of prey). Ember, meanwhile, negotiates for her horde - drawing on artefacts from all creatures, even breezies (Flitter - flutterer). The horde she amasses gradually begins to outmatch Razor's, including things strange, arcane and... silly (Cheese shoes). In the end there can only be one winner and Ember is accepted as not only the dragon lord but the founder of a new dragon era (Granny smith - family founder).
"Dear Princess Celestia... um..." Ember begins, but stops - uncomfortable with the ponyish tradition of writing about friendship to Celestia. Spike helps her out, explaining to the pony Princess that it is natural for a creature to doubt their destiny, and that friendship is about being there in those moments. "Um... also we need Roc repellent... to help Razor because Spike says," Scootaloo interrupts her, shaking her head - Ember rolls her eyes and continues, "I mean because-new-dragon-era and stuff." she garbles, but gives a lil smile all the same :3
In a tale of darkness, redemption, and - of course - friendship, Starlight and Trixie just about manage to overcome their demons and complete their first DnD (Ogres and Oubliettes) campaign... (TBC)
Discord suggests that he and his fellow defenders of Equestria, Trixie and Starlight, get to know each other better over a friendly game of Ogres & Obliettes (Discord - captain wuzz). Starlight is reluctant at first, given all the trouble she has had from Discord, but relents when Trixie expresses enthusiasm for the game (Twilight Sparkle & Silverstream - eager to learn) and stands up for DIscord as a fellow reformed villain (Join the herd*).
With a snap of Discord's talon the campaign begins, but - given that it is Discord's game, all is not what it seems - both Trixie and Starlight start out separately with a companion NPC: changelings that impersonate Starlight and Trixie respectively (Infiltrating the hive*; Similo duplexis*). Starlight begins as an apprentice sorcerer of Discordia (Starlight glimmer - apprentice sorcerer) and is among a number of adventurers tasked by the captain of the guard to capture the devious Moxile Outlain - a renowned trickster and thief who has stolen a priceless relic (Trixie - smoke and mirrors*; Make-over*). Trixie begins as an apprentice rogue from Celestinople - part of a team tasked to return an relic sacred to the great Eastern city. With the rest of her team dead, she must evade capture and return with the relic alone but for her 'friend' Starlight - actually a changeling.
Both Trixie and Starlight start by seeking guidance from what they assume to be their friend (Starlight Glimmer - guidance counsellor*). When Trixie suggests to changeling-Starlight that they return the artefact to explore Discordia, Starlight acts shocked and angry and Trixie immediately becomes suspicious of this new humourless companion (Quibble pants - non-believer*). Their 'planning' is mostly prickly bickering (Pugwudgie). In contrast, Starlight happily accepts her quest and plans with changeling-Trixie without suspecting (Snips and snails - problem solvers).
Starlight and changeling-Trixie easily dispatch a necromancer suspected of aiding Moxile Outlain (Skeleton soldiers - necromancy is magic). Following leads, they traverse sewers filled with sentient slimes (The smooze - creeping crud) and explore caves haunted by savage critters (Quarray eels) encouraged by prophetic dreams of destiny (Dream network). Their exploits become the talk of the land (Truffle - newsworthy), they loot mercilessly (Rarity - hoarder*) and level up even the most obscure skills (Party favor - balloon master). Starlight generally enjoys herself (Starlight glimmer - time of her life).
Meanwhile Trixie and changeling-Starlight start out badly by almost dying to a manticore who overhears them arguing (A hasty retreat) only for Trixie to fail a nature check and fall into a swamp as they rush away (Belly flop). From that start Trixie's campaign goes from bad to worse. Changeling-Starlight tries to help (Starlight Glimmer - magic instructor; Starlight glimmer - taking charge*) but Trixie ignores 'her'. When Trixie's character falls into a patch of poison joke (Cutie pox scare*) she finally snaps and declares she is done with the game (Twilight sparkle - zoned out*).
Seeing Trixie upset, Discord reluctantly ends the game and explains his ruse (Jest clowning around). Starlight is angry with Trixie for being a spoilsport (Starlight glimmer - snowfall frost*) while Trixie is angry that Starlight had so much fun playing with Discord and suggests that maybe Discord and Starlight should be friends instead if they are so close (Traitor!). Starlight becomes truly enraged by this and in a surge of anger screams that maybe Trixie is right (Starlight glimmer - apocalypse now; Dark magic surge). Discord begins to think that they might actually end their friendship and is upset (Luna's future). Starlight, calming a little after the outburst and upon seeing Discord is upset, apologises to Trixie. She has an idea as to how to rescue the game - she senses that Trixie might prefer to be centre-stage as dungeon master (Scope things out) and therefore suggests that Trixie set an adventure for both her and Discord. Trixie is sullen at first but eventually accepts the apology. They agree to suspend the game (Napcakes) but set a date for next week.
Trixie spends the week cackling evilly with plans for her session (Nightmare scenario**). Discord's archer and Starlight's apprentice wade through a plot full of changelings and trickery (Changeling Barricade*) verbal fencing with imperious mages (Professor flintheart - potions master) and sneery nobles (Jet set and upper crust) and imprisonment by guards (Detention). They travel Trixietopia for hundreds of miles on a lead (Halfway across equestria*) only for it to prove false. Eventually they storm the throne room (Thrash the throne*) of the evil king who has been torturing the population (Tirek's reign of terror) only to find that the real villain was not the evil king but the queen of Trixietopia (Sneak attack**) who had been playing everypony for foals. In a close battle the evil queen wins due to her Great and Powerful Magic (Frozen in magicite) and her devout wizard minions (Snips and snails - stage magicians*). Trixie gloats insufferably at the time, but the three continue to play Ogres and Oubliettes together for many years after and it forms another strand to their unusual friendship :3
Starlight Glimmer: "Dear Princess Celestia" when making friends with others sometimes we end up being our own worst enemy. When they do us wrong we can become so wrapped up in the moment that we forget to forgive. Today I learned that friendship requires trust - in them, and in our judgement about them as our friend. Ultimately, despite their flaws you have to create the space for a true friend to show you why they were your friend in the first place... just as when I show them my flaws I must let them help me to believe that I can still be the pony they befriended.
Discord (Discord – mostly harmless) complains that Equestria has not sent a friendship ambassador to the chaos dimension and accuses Celestia of negligently failing to appease a dangerous neighbour (Defenders of equestria) as well as bias against chaotic creatures (Starlight – exposed inequality; Equal or else). Against the advice of her royal guard (Royal peacekeeper) Celestia decides to send a delegation (Rarity -generous pony), but – not knowing much about the chaos realm - she consults Discord on the sorts of creatures that live there and what they would like to see (Trading Traditions).
Discord tells her, truthfully, that chaotic creatures love music and so Celestia decides to send a musical delegation (Octavia – Standing Ovation; Emergency dress order). Discord invites the delegation to the premeire event of the chaos realm’s calendar – the “Great Gallumping Gaga” (Dance fever – dancing machine). What Discord fails to mention (Discord - Sneaky snake) is that the patrons of the Gaga are extremely snooty about harmony – which they see as the height of bad taste (Fancy pants – respected aristocrat). At first all is well as the patrons applaud the soloists (Solo performance) but as the band begin to join in the song (Hearts as strong as horses, Its gonna work, Music in treetops) the crowd begin to praise their talent (Blankest flanks) and some desultory clapping breaks out (Mob Mentality) – a sign of deep disdain in chaos-land.
The ponies stubbornly play on (Hughbert jellius – sticking around) until the crowd become so incensed that they rise to a standing ovation and throw roses onto the stage - equivalent to throwing rotten vegetables in chaos-land (Foodfight; Tom – rolling rock). Some of the more nervous members of the delegation try to bolt (Daisy, lily and roseluck – wilt under pressure). Discord is angry: at the Gaga-goers for not giving harmony a chance and at the ponies who gave up on harmony. He sticks the scared ponies in place (Joe – sticky glaze) and scares the patrons into backing down (Big mac – bark worse than bite). He requests that the ponies try a new piece, which he invents on the spot (Unreasonable demands) and sends them away to learn it.
Most of the musical ponies are unable to comprehend the piece and the frightened fillies from before plan to defy their orders and leave (Industrial revolution). Eventually only one virtuoso, a cellist named Octavia, remains (Braeburn – good seed; Matilda full of hope; Appblebloom - re-markable). Once Discord finds that some of the ponies have left he captures and returns them (Ponynapped), transforming them into instruments for good measure (Utterly transformed; Aloe - magic touch; Tough love; Spike - excessive). Discord produces a few musicians of his own as replacements, including a siren singer (Sonata Dusk – siren’s call) and a squid drummer (Squizard). The show resumes with the virtuoso and replacements. Most of the choas denizens remain unimpressed by the music, but a few give harmony a chance - impressed by Discord's effort to spread harmony in the void.
"How does it go again... ah yes. Dear," Discord begins but is immediately cut off by a flash of magic and the appearance in his home of a funny brown creature with antlers with a familiar wavy mane... “Yes it is I, Celestia, Princess of the Deers,” she says to an astonished Discord. "And today I learned from my friend Discord that it is when your friends seem most unlike you and when your are least connected, that friendship is most important and the struggle to understand each other is at its most profound." A gobsmacked Discord can only watch as the deer then gaily prances out of his door to a fanfare of transformed musical instruments.
Rarity wants to publicise a concert headed by her sister (Sweetie-belle just a snag; enchanting duet; Rarity - hoarder). She knows better than to support her sibling directly and reaches out to her friends for help, but unfortunately they are busy (A stitch in time; Rarity - dressmaker) - all, that is, apart from Discord, who seems to be all too ready to help (Discord - bending the rules).
After Discord relates one of Sweetie's particularly chaotic practice performances to Rarity (Berry punch - off balance; Rock, paper, scissors, shoot), Rarity is dubious about Sweetie's success and seeks to help in the way only she can: costume (Saphire shores - costume changer). Rarity asks Discord to suggest a better costume (Magic wings; Fashion show) and he thinks for a while and talks to Sweetie about a radical new direction...
The next day a new exclusive release of the latest band is announced in Ponyville - the Bluesbloods (Prince Blueblood - Loudmouth). Rarity watches in horror as her magically changed (Frozen in magicite; Twilight - element of magic) sister arrives at the venue looking like the lead singer of a Colt Band (think Justin Bieber), with a big diamond hanging by a chain round her now stallionly chest. 'She' appears every bit like a bratty colt band member - down to the luggage 'she' has in toe (Stack of suitcases). Rarity's horror deepens when she sees Sweetie croon like a stallion in front of the mares in ponyville (Saphire shores - star of the show; Photo finish - fashion forward; invasion of the changelings). Rarity storms to Fluttershy's house (Rarity - truly outrageous), where he quips that he was just following Rarity's advice of radically changing Sweetie's costume which incidentally also involved changing her gender and personality. Eventually, with Fluttershy acting appeaser (Enchanting Duet), Discord tells her that to remove the curse she needs to shatter the diamond around Sweetie's neck (Heart of the sea).
Rarity shatters the diamond and the glamour is lifted. Rarity is about to commiserate about Discord's perfidy but Sweetie slaps away her hoof (Cold wave). Sweetie explains that she had not been enchanted by Discord and did not want to appear like a stallion, but was happy with the glamour. Sweetie had hoped that Rarity would see the funny side and not take her singing too seriously (Matilda - full of hope).
"Dear princess celestia... wait what could I, the spirit of Discord, possibly teach a pony about friendship?" Rarity begins to object, but Discord continues. "Well we learned that fantasy is fun (Squizard; Twittermites) but real friendship is better than fun. Rarity's real sister isn't anything like the fun fantasy sister in Rarity's head (Invasion of the changelings; AB - shadow) - even ponies need to be careful not to let their fun fantasy replace the real ponies they have in front of them." He drops an imaginary mic (Winter wrap up).
