Ponythread LV:55 Ponythread learns Agility!

[Kd7sov]

Which type of pony is recessive, and how does that work with three instead of two?

This, for the record, is something that really annoys me.

"Inherited trait" does not always mean "genetic trait". For instance, it would be valid to say that I've inherited my love of reading from my parents, but there's nothing about it in any DNA in the world.

"Genetic trait" does not always mean "trait controlled by a single dominant-recessive gene pair". For instance, physical height. Or, hey, even hair and eye color - yes, brown will prevail over blond/blue, but there's also red hair and black hair and green eyes and so on. And various shades of each.

Now, I admit that the first gripe almost certainly doesn't apply to pony type, at least not in the same way as my example. Though it could be that it's determined entirely by, for instance, the ratio of vitamin B12 to calcium in the mother's bloodstream at the seven-week mark. But either way, I doubt quite thoroughly that there'd be "a pony-type gene".

[Aotrs Commander]

This, for the record, is something that really annoys me.

"Inherited trait" does not always mean "genetic trait". For instance, it would be valid to say that I've inherited my love of reading from my parents, but there's nothing about it in any DNA in the world.

"Genetic trait" does not always mean "trait controlled by a single dominant-recessive gene pair". For instance, physical height. Or, hey, even hair and eye color - yes, brown will prevail over blond/blue, but there's also red hair and black hair and green eyes and so on. And various shades of each.

Now, I admit that the first gripe almost certainly doesn't apply to pony type, at least not in the same way as my example. Though it could be that it's determined entirely by, for instance, the ratio of vitamin B12 to calcium in the mother's bloodstream at the seven-week mark. But either way, I doubt quite thoroughly that there'd be "a pony-type gene".

Yeah, genetics is a very complicated subject. The examples of recessive genes that commonly come up when the subject is mentioned tend to do so because they're the simple examples that are best for illustrating the subject; not everything works that simply.

[Strife Warzeal]

Indeed he was not, though I think he was the first one to do it.
(I did an unofficial X-COM:EU playthrough with IRC ponythreaders. Safe to say, it was hilarious.)

So the list of cannon fodderrecruits so far: (for the Apoc game)
TheAmishPirate

You may specify if you want to pilot an airship/ground vehicle or be a trooper. You may also specify exactly what weapon you wish to carry, though I shall not be held responsible if your loadout backfires spectacularly.

Feel free to throw me in as well. Piloting an airship would be most preferable. It is my intended career path irl after all.

[Maxtronaut]

Indeed he was not, though I think he was the first one to do it.
(I did an unofficial X-COM:EU playthrough with IRC ponythreaders. Safe to say, it was hilarious.)

So the list of cannon fodderrecruits so far: (for the Apoc game)
TheAmishPirate

You may specify if you want to pilot an airship/ground vehicle or be a trooper. You may also specify exactly what weapon you wish to carry, though I shall not be held responsible if your loadout backfires spectacularly.

Airship Pilot, please.

[Thanqol]

Oh wow. I didn't get a ponythread post in till page 9.

That's strange. I'm not sure how my thought process panned out there.

This reminds me. I've already finished a pony names play through of the new X-com, and my first couple of tries at classic ironman I didn't get attached enough to my squad to start naming them (this...may have been correlated with their life expectancy). But I was thinking of doing a ponythread play through next. Good idea? Bad idea when you all die horribly at my inept command? Would you be interested in reading about it?

Speaking of X-Com, I've been hankering for a playthrough of Apocalypse myself. Would ponythread members be interested? I promise not to let any of you get brainsucked... probably. (It'll be real-time, no reloads, no Toxiguns)

I volunteer to be the Rookie. Every Rookie. All of them. Anyone who isn't promoted to at least a Squaddie is named Thanqol. Dozens of Thanqols will die every mission. The memorial hall will be full of dead Thanqols. Upon promotion they get renamed something else.

[One Tin Soldier]

Indeed he was not, though I think he was the first one to do it.
(I did an unofficial X-COM:EU playthrough with IRC ponythreaders. Safe to say, it was hilarious.)

So the list of cannon fodderrecruits so far: (for the Apoc game)
TheAmishPirate

You may specify if you want to pilot an airship/ground vehicle or be a trooper. You may also specify exactly what weapon you wish to carry, though I shall not be held responsible if your loadout backfires spectacularly.

You can throw me in there (if it's not full already). Same with your game, Anarion. I'd say put me in as a sniper, but Forum Explorer has that covered already, so you can put me in as whatever.

[SlyGuyMcFly]

This reminds me. I've already finished a pony names play through of the new X-com, and my first couple of tries at classic ironman I didn't get attached enough to my squad to start naming them (this...may have been correlated with their life expectancy). But I was thinking of doing a ponythread play through next. Good idea? Bad idea when you all die horribly at my inept command? Would you be interested in reading about it?

Yes, no and yes.

"Silvester "Sly Guy" McFly reporting for duty, sir! Willing to kill and die in whichever manner I best can to protect our beatiful planet, sir!"

[TheAmishPirate]

Indeed he was not, though I think he was the first one to do it.
(I did an unofficial X-COM:EU playthrough with IRC ponythreaders. Safe to say, it was hilarious.)

So the list of cannon fodderrecruits so far: (for the Apoc game)
TheAmishPirate

You may specify if you want to pilot an airship/ground vehicle or be a trooper. You may also specify exactly what weapon you wish to carry, though I shall not be held responsible if your loadout backfires spectacularly.

My only request is that it be something loud. Pirates don't bother with fancy weapons or complex maneuvers, they make things go boom, take booty, rum it up, repeat. Seeing how XCOM might only support two out of three of those, I'd say I'd be content with lots of things going boom.

[Kairaven]

Am I the only one who thinks that RD might be ashamed of Scootaloo?

(The 'flightless' aspect.)

RD = Leonidas

Scootaloo = Ephialtes

Harsh Spartan Pegasi rules....



-----------------------------

There was already a mapped out pony gene charts by many different brony biologist.

[Forum Explorer]

Am I the only one who thinks that RD might be ashamed of Scootaloo?

(The 'flightless' aspect.)

No I don't think so. I imagine Scootaloo's parents are ashamed but Rainbow Dash isn't which is part of the reason why she looks up to her so much.

After all Rainbow Dash doesn't have a problem with Fluttershy.

[t209]

And I would love for the show to confirm RariDad as an Earth pony, but we still have to loosely assume he's a unicorn.

If they confirm Rarity's dad as earth pony, I think it would make a good episode of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" plot (and how Earth Pony have to deal with their unicorn girlfriend's parents).
P.S- How many of you have watched My Little Pony since G1 in 80s? Why Brony became more popular when friendship is magic was released? I initially mocked the franchise and watched the parody until september.

[Grif]

Yes, no and yes.

"Silvester "Sly Guy" McFly reporting for duty, sir! Willing to kill and die in whichever manner I best can to protect our beatiful planet, sir!"

You can throw me in there (if it's not full already). Same with your game, Anarion. I'd say put me in as a sniper, but Forum Explorer has that covered already, so you can put me in as whatever.

Oh wow. I didn't get a ponythread post in till page 9.

That's strange. I'm not sure how my thought process panned out there.





I volunteer to be the Rookie. Every Rookie. All of them. Anyone who isn't promoted to at least a Squaddie is named Thanqol. Dozens of Thanqols will die every mission. The memorial hall will be full of dead Thanqols. Upon promotion they get renamed something else.

Airship Pilot, please.

Feel free to throw me in as well. Piloting an airship would be most preferable. It is my intended career path irl after all.

I'm game. Would it be possible to get me a Megapol Auto Cannon with High Explosive and/or Incendiary ammunition, or would that be too much of a risk to the rest of the team?



I haven't read LFG in a looooooong time, and I never bothered trying out any of his other comics, but I'm pretty sure it's just for fun, given Richard's whole "FOR PONY!" thingie.

Congratulations! I can't remember how far I got, but I stopped playing when I was rich enough to buy out all my competitors and then hit the station limit.



Rk. Havoc reporting for duty, sirs!

I'm not too fussed over my chosen role/equips, but would probably prioritise a heavy and/or support role.

Probably not the only one, but I'd be very surprised if this wasn't a very minority view. I certainly couldn't disagree more, at any rate.

Marsec Armour (Yay jetpacks!) and Lawpistol perhaps?

My head is swimming with so many different weapons and options, but my instincts are saying to go with the Medikit, Megapol armor, and either the Marsec heavy launcher or two minilaunchers.

You can count me in as well.

I do believe we have enough for a complete base plus extras. (Apoc starts with 8 agents I believe, with 2 Hovercars and one Interceptor) Which is good, because I had planned to prune down any recruits that do not meet our numbers.

[pendell]

Regrettably, I do not have the new x-com and so cannot participate. Still, it would be nice if we could get arts and crafts to make some my little pony x-com art. I'm not sure how powered armor fits on ponies, but the image of a chryssalid making pony zombies in my mind is ... creepy.

Respectfully,


Brian P.

[One Tin Soldier]

Regrettably, I do not have the new x-com and so cannot participate. Still, it would be nice if we could get arts and crafts to make some my little pony x-com art. I'm not sure how powered armor fits on ponies, but the image of a chryssalid making pony zombies in my mind is ... creepy.

Respectfully,


Brian P.

Well you can always take a look at the video that inspired all of this in the first place.

[Soras Teva Gee]

Yeah, genetics is a very complicated subject. The examples of recessive genes that commonly come up when the subject is mentioned tend to do so because they're the simple examples that are best for illustrating the subject; not everything works that simply.

And as we've noted before we've decent reason to believe y'know magic is involved which doesn't have to follow any genetic rules. Or just plain there isn't DNA or the like at all.

[Beacon of Chaos]

I volunteer to be the Rookie. Every Rookie. All of them. Anyone who isn't promoted to at least a Squaddie is named Thanqol. Dozens of Thanqols will die every mission. The memorial hall will be full of dead Thanqols. Upon promotion they get renamed something else.

My name is Diego Havoc Thanqol and I approve this post.

[Anarion]

I do believe we have enough for a complete base plus extras. (Apoc starts with 8 agents I believe, with 2 Hovercars and one Interceptor) Which is good, because I had planned to prune down any recruits that do not meet our numbers.

Oh, you can use me in your Apoc game too. I'll take any job that's needed.

Regrettably, I do not have the new x-com and so cannot participate. Still, it would be nice if we could get arts and crafts to make some my little pony x-com art. I'm not sure how powered armor fits on ponies, but the image of a chryssalid making pony zombies in my mind is ... creepy.

Respectfully,


Brian P.

If you'd like to participate, you can just give your permission. My plan is to simply use the names of people here in the thread to name my own soldiers and then report on their swift deaths heroic exploits.

[DigoDragon]

P.S- How many of you have watched My Little Pony since G1 in 80s? Why Brony became more popular when friendship is magic was released? I initially mocked the franchise and watched the parody until september.

I watched some of the G1 cartoon in the 80s. When I saw the FiM pilot, the first remark I said about Spike was "Hey, not pink!!" I always believe that FiM took off into popularity because it was smartly written with characters that display a range of personality and emotion.

[Pendulous]

Am I the only one who thinks that RD might be ashamed of Scootaloo?

(The 'flightless' aspect.)

If so, she doesn't show it in the show. Dash seems to look on her as someone who knows she's being admired by a younger crowd. Oddly enough, we saw Dash help Applebloom get her cutie mark, and hasn't really had any alone screen time with Scootaloo. Also notice, she's never called her by name. It's usually "squirt". Not sure what that means, but it means something.

[otakuryoga]

I'm not aware of anypony using a ponythread naming scheme as opposed to just ponies, so I'm hoping I'm being original there. Everypony posting saying they wanted a class or just quoting me, you've been noted, and if you expressed your awareness and didn't explicitly tell me not to use your name, I assume that means you're willing to die horribly fight the alien menace.

no...but i did say it would not be long before someone did a ponythread xcom run 8)
so i guess you can make me a psychic guy...or leader type 8)

I volunteer to be the Rookie. Every Rookie. All of them. Anyone who isn't promoted to at least a Squaddie is named Thanqol. Dozens of Thanqols will die every mission. The memorial hall will be full of dead Thanqols. Upon promotion they get renamed something else.

and it is a well known fact that killing Thanqol solves every problem

[Anarion]

and it is a well known fact that killing Thanqol solves every problem

Indeed. Though if I kill Thanqol too much, I might lose the game.

At any rate, I'm going to get started on my classic ironman ponythread run. My current list is as follows (in no particular order)

Spoiler

Show

Thanqol: all rookies
Otakuryoga
Diego Havoc (prefers heavy or support)
Grif
Amishpirate (prefers heavy)
Sylvestor "slyguy" McFly
Balmas (prefers heavy)
Forumexplorer (prefers assault)
Gamerlord (prefers sniper)

If I missed you and you want a place in the memorial with bagpipes, let me know.

[Aotrs Commander]

P.S- How many of you have watched My Little Pony since G1 in 80s? Why Brony became more popular when friendship is magic was released? I initially mocked the franchise and watched the parody until september.

Dude, I watched My Little Pony in the 1980s. Not only did my sister have the pilot episodes on video (and Escape from Castle Midnight is really kinda dark, darker than some of it's contemporaries like fracking Transformers!) I also went to see the movie at the cinema (as Mum was taking my oldest sister (who's four years younger than me), and I wasn't about to pass up a trip to see cartoons...), though I honestly don't remember anything about it, apart from the Smooze being in it.

Heck, I read her pony annuals, and listening to her stories on tape was a good compromise when we on holiday. I remember one of them was about some bee-like creatures trying to do something mean, and I quite liked it because it was nearly like combat scene, in which the ponies had to set up some traps and such and repel the bee-people and stuff.

Damn, now I want to find a transcript so we can update it to FiM...

Granted, I did skip everything between generations 2 and 3.5 exclusive (but I do recall my sister made the comment on the pony toys in one or other of those generations - which I agreed with - that the ponies looked positively anorexic, given how thin they were compared to the originals.)

Why name a unicorn Skyflier?

Ask Hasbro in 1984, by the way.

Short answer, she flew kites.

Got to give the CAD guy credit, he did do some basic research there, even I had to look that one up...

[Pokonic]

Indeed he was not, though I think he was the first one to do it.
(I did an unofficial X-COM:EU playthrough with IRC ponythreaders. Safe to say, it was hilarious.)

So the list of cannon fodderrecruits so far: (for the Apoc game)
TheAmishPirate

You may specify if you want to pilot an airship/ground vehicle or be a trooper. You may also specify exactly what weapon you wish to carry, though I shall not be held responsible if your loadout backfires spectacularly.

Put me as a heavy trooper.


Alternitivly, for giggles, every time one called Silent Night dies, a rookie gets renamed. Body snatching for fun and profit.

[Sean Mirrsen]

and it is a well known fact that killing Thanqol solves every problem

I don't think it helps that, in the new XCom at least, for some reason rookies dying sometimes does help. In a recent mission, my team of four (sniper squaddie, support squaddie, two rookies) spent four turns missing every shot against the last three sectoids on the map (on Classic). One rookie gets killed. The support squaddie and the other rookie panic, and each decides to take a shot at a Sectoid in view. Both hit, critical, across long range, darkness, and partial cover, killing the critters on the spot. Turn passes, last sectoid takes a potshot at the rookie, the sniper misses. Next turn, the Sectoid shoots and kills the rookie. The sniper panics and shoots the Sectoid. Critical hit, across long range, darkness, and partial cover. Me-> O__O

To keep the post at least slightly pony, have a sketch.

[Maxtronaut]

Indeed. Though if I kill Thanqol too much, I might lose the game.

At any rate, I'm going to get started on my classic ironman ponythread run. My current list is as follows (in no particular order)

Spoiler

Show

Thanqol: all rookies
Otakuryoga
Diego Havoc (prefers heavy or support)
Grif
Amishpirate (prefers heavy)
Sylvestor "slyguy" McFly
Balmas (prefers heavy)
Forumexplorer (prefers assault)
Gamerlord (prefers sniper)

If I missed you and you want a place in the memorial with bagpipes, let me know.

Throw me in that list. I prefer assault, and as long as I have an assault rifle in my hooves I'm happy.

[Anarion]

X-com: Ponythread
Intro mission and Abduction #1

Spoiler

Show

Dear Princess Celestia,

I would like to write and thank you for placing me in charge of this so-called X-com project. However, I cannot help but think that you may have made a minor error in your letter describing the operation. Not that I would ever accuse you of making an error, Princess, I just thought that perhaps somewhere along the line there was a bit of misinformation. Please don't send me to the moon

What I mean here, is that you seem to have confused the terms "crack soldiers" and "rag-tag bunch of misfits." An understandable mistake, I admit. First off, somehow all of my rookies are named "Thanqol." This is both their first and their last names. Due to the difficulty, I have taken to differentiating them by national origin. I suppose I should commend you on this ruse, as they seem to only reveal their true names after a promotion.

That gets me into the first mission. We flew into Egypt with several Thanqols. We weren't sure what to expect, but these small, bug-eyed aliens definitely weren't it. The troops have taken to calling them "sectoids" though I mostly call them cannon fodder. There were only six of the creatures, spread out widely and we made short work of them. French Thanqol was shot in the leg. She will be laid up for 8 days while she recovers. She also had no kills and missed all her shots. I am deeply disappointed in French Thanqol.

All my other troops received a promotion, however. Assault Squaddie Forumexplorer, Support Squaddie Diego Havoc, and Heavy Balmas all seem exceptionally competent at their duties compared to the mass of Thanqols. This is not saying much.



Within a few days, we heard news of alien abductions around the world. The French redeemed themselves by offering me several engineers, so I went to save them, leaving South America and Africa, who I am certain can fend for themselves. I took forumexplorer and Balmas, but left behind squaddie Havoc in order to bring two new Thanqols for training, Russian Thanqol and German Thanqol.

Let me just say, I am in awe of German Thanqol. She eliminated the aliens with ruthless German efficiency, gunning down three all on her own. Russian Thanqol was laughably incompetent by comparison, although he did catch one alien in a grenade blast. Balmas caught two with his rocket launcher, although our science team had some words for him regarding "collateral damage" and something to the effect that "big rigs are not toys for you to blow up." Forumexplorer also conducted himself well, putting a face full of shot-gun rounds into a sectoid at point blank range. I thought I saw him whispering "dodge this!" under his breath.

Both Thanqols were wounded in the line of duty, however, and will be out for a week to recover. They have promoted to snipers, and once they recover, I expect good things from squaddie Gamerlord and Squaddie Sylvestor McFly.


Now, if you'll excuse me, Princess, the situation room is paging me. It seems our satellites have picked up a saucer over Nigeria, and Dr. Valen keeps paging me about some kind of alien containment facility that she wants to build.

Your faithful commander,
Anarion

Edit:

Throw me in that list. I prefer assault, and as long as I have an assault rifle in my hooves I'm happy.

So noted. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer a shotgun though? I really like assaults with shotguns.

[Balmas]

X-com: Ponythread
Intro mission and Abduction #1

Spoiler

Show

Dear Princess Celestia,

I would like to write and thank you for placing me in charge of this so-called X-com project. However, I cannot help but think that you may have made a minor error in your letter describing the operation. Not that I would ever accuse you of making an error, Princess, I just thought that perhaps somewhere along the line there was a bit of misinformation. Please don't send me to the moon

What I mean here, is that you seem to have confused the terms "crack soldiers" and "rag-tag bunch of misfits." An understandable mistake, I admit. First off, somehow all of my rookies are named "Thanqol." This is both their first and their last names. Due to the difficulty, I have taken to differentiating them by national origin. I suppose I should commend you on this ruse, as they seem to only reveal their true names after a promotion.

That gets me into the first mission. We flew into Egypt with several Thanqols. We weren't sure what to expect, but these small, bug-eyed aliens definitely weren't it. The troops have taken to calling them "sectoids" though I mostly call them cannon fodder. There were only six of the creatures, spread out widely and we made short work of them. French Thanqol was shot in the leg. She will be laid up for 8 days while she recovers. She also had no kills and missed all her shots. I am deeply disappointed in French Thanqol.

All my other troops received a promotion, however. Assault Squaddie Forumexplorer, Support Squaddie Diego Havoc, and Heavy Balmas all seem exceptionally competent at their duties compared to the mass of Thanqols. This is not saying much.



Within a few days, we heard news of alien abductions around the world. The French redeemed themselves by offering me several engineers, so I went to save them, leaving South America and Africa, who I am certain can fend for themselves. I took forumexplorer and Balmas, but left behind squaddie Havoc in order to bring two new Thanqols for training, Russian Thanqol and German Thanqol.

Let me just say, I am in awe of German Thanqol. She eliminated the aliens with ruthless German efficiency, gunning down three all on her own. Russian Thanqol was laughably incompetent by comparison, although he did catch one alien in a grenade blast. Balmas caught two with his rocket launcher, although our science team had some words for him regarding "collateral damage" and something to the effect that "big rigs are not toys for you to blow up." Forumexplorer also conducted himself well, putting a face full of shot-gun rounds into a sectoid at point blank range. I thought I saw him whispering "dodge this!" under his breath.

Both Thanqols were wounded in the line of duty, however, and will be out for a week to recover. They have promoted to snipers, and once they recover, I expect good things from squaddie Gamerlord and Squaddie Sylvestor McFly.


Now, if you'll excuse me, Princess, the situation room is paging me. It seems our satellites have picked up a saucer over Nigeria, and Dr. Valen keeps paging me about some kind of alien containment facility that she wants to build.

Your faithful commander,
Anarion

Edit:


So noted. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer a shotgun though? I really like assaults with shotguns.

This is too much fun. Let's go find a construction site and blow up cranes!

[Tiki Snakes]

Repeating my x-com signup request (For either and any games), either and any and jetpacks all the way. Jetpacks and pistols. Shotguns are also acceptable, but mostly jetpacks.

[Pokonic]

Mine as well, if not too late. Something shooty.

[Anarion]

Repeating my x-com signup request (For either and any games), either and any and jetpacks all the way. Jetpacks and pistols. Shotguns are also acceptable, but mostly jetpacks.

Sniper that eventually gets archangel armor, if I make it that far.

Mine as well, if not too late. Something shooty.

They're all shooty.