Opinions on Threat/Enemy, This is pony-related, mind you Options

[CelestOrion]

***SPOILER***
If you're not familiar with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, then this probably isn't the thread for you. I'm just saying this ahead of time, haha.

So. Some friends and I want to make a MLP:FiM RPG styled like one of the Tales games. We have most of the scripts necessary for the game to have the same gameplay as other titles in the series. However, we're really lacking in the 'what should be the main issue' aspect.

Basically, I want the game to revolve around the aspect that there is a mana tree (like most Tales games) that supplies mana to all of Equestria. Friendship isn't really all there is to magic, haha. However, for this to be an RPG, there must be something to threaten that balance of mana. Surely, I don't think Equestria can thrive without mana. The problem is coming up with a threat that can do that, since I'm still a bit rusty with mythology and enemies. I do not wish to use Discord, since I'm wanting something original.

Lauren Faust said that there were other 'god-like' classes in Equestria, with Celestia being the highest ranked among them. This means that we have deities that control day and night. What about other aspects of life/environment/etc? Surely, that leaves option for another diety class to be discontent with how the world works, or something along those lines.

Basically, the only concepts I have down at the moment is the beginning with Celestia tutoring Twilight a bit more, since she's her teacher, and more about the fundamentals of magic, which would give rise to the knowledge about the world tree and mana, etc. These are lessons she probably knows already, but it's still necessary for plot development. That's where I draw the blank after that. /inb4blankflankjokes.

If anyone has ideas to further strengthen the ideas behind this, or just to toss ideas in general, it'd be much appreciated.

[prizmik]

I do not think the "mana tree" concept is compatible with canon, maybe you could think of something a bit more unique? Like a master element similar to the elements of harmony?

For a good antagonist I would be reluctant to suggest an original character. Are you familiar with G1?
It had some interesting villains, the powerful goat wizard "Grogar" is especially intriguing, it is not a bad idea to look them up for potential candidates, as FiM draws from previous generations heavily.

[CelestOrion]

To be fair, a 'master element' seems like something I wouldn't want to use, because all it reminds me of is 'Master Emerald' and other things that are too overpowered, or a concept that's already used too much in different things as it is. The mana tree is still going to stay, since that was the whole point of wanting to throw together this game, anyway. I'll find a way to fit it, trust me.

As for villains, I can't seem to recall anything about a 'Grogar'. If you linked me to a specific episode for a reference, I'll pull it up from my hard-drive and re-watch it, since there's nothing about it on the Wikia page.

Although, as much as I love references to canon in the show, I still think some sort of OC would need to be played out, since it leads to more originality, as long as it is written well enough and played out properly.

[prizmik]

I don't know what a "master emerald" is, but fair enough.

Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KSCrN6WPeA he makes an appearance at the end of this clip (episode name in video description), surely he could be modified to suit the ethos of Equestria and a sparkling new personality facelift. That is who I would go for.

This post has been edited by prizmik: Dec 11 2011, 02:38 PM

[CelestOrion]

I see. I can understand how dark it is in its own way, but that's also a different generation, which does not share the same canon. I could potentially see him as a minor villain/boss if redesigned, but from what I saw, it wouldn't fit what I'm looking for for a main enemy.

I do thank you for the find, though.

[prizmik]

You are welcome. I only suggested him as a conseptual template though, powerful goat wizard.

This post has been edited by prizmik: Dec 11 2011, 03:39 PM

[Kaust]

Well I cant profess to know much of my little pony, so sorry if any of these seem suggestions seem outlandish;

From what I do know I think some power with the ability to corrupt the ponies converting them to the 'evil' side
Conversely, simply the ability of this evil deity to mass produce quantities of evil ponies or whatever to imbalance some cosmic neutrality and weaken the power of good.

Ech these are poor explanations but I'm sure you can see the typical RPG elements in these suggestions and how you could combine them with your theme