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Fanfic protagonist species


Steel Accord

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So I'm going to write a fanfic that's sort of a martial arts globe trotting adventure. Think of it like that old show Human Weapon where the protagonists go around the world and learn different systems. Only with a narrative focus, or, if one prefers, the typical set up of Street Fighter.

 

I'm sort of torn on the protagonist's actual race though. I was originally going to make him a zebra as sort of an extension to my headcanon ported from Fallout Equestria that zebra have a native martial art style. On the other hand, I had to wonder if earth pony would be a better choice. Both because it would mean he starts out with practically no training and learns on his journey and because it would sort of draw on the earth pony natural physicality.

 

What do you all think?

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I was originally going to make him a zebra as sort of an extension to my headcanon ported from Fallout Equestria that zebra have a native martial art style.

 

 

That does seem to be the case a lot of the time. Tropes are fine, don't get me wrong, but if you throw too many similar ones (or ones often used together) then the story is going to seem rather generic. 

 

Earth pony is probably the safest bet if you want them to start out as 'normal^.' For all that pegasus pony or unicorn unarmed combat would be rather impressive, it would probably be correspondingly difficult to write (unarmed combat for traditional ponies is going to be difficult enough, never mind with flight or magic*.)

 

 

*although that did give me an interesting character concept for an unarmed-combat force-user for the D6 Star Wars RPG.

 

^disclaimer: being normal is also a trope. As is not being normal. Writers really don't get a break...

Edited by Once In A Blue Moon
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Earth pony is probably the safest bet if you want them to start out as 'normal^.' For all that pegasus pony or unicorn unarmed combat would be rather impressive, it would probably be correspondingly difficult to write (unarmed combat for traditional ponies is going to be difficult enough, never mind with flight or magic*.)

 

Actually I've already written and read scenes of close combat with ponies. It's challenging but not obnoxiously so. One only need look at Fighting is Magic and Them's Fightin' Herds to show one can make relatively complex fighting moves out of quadrupedal fighters.

 

 

 

That does seem to be the case a lot of the time. Tropes are fine, don't get me wrong, but if you throw too many similar ones (or ones often used together) then the story is going to seem rather generic. 

 

But yeah, if the idea is the journey to mastery, following in the tradition of the Karate Kid and Kickboxer. It would logically mean more if the protagonist starts with having very little skill and overcoming a final challenge at the end as a kind of sign his journey is complete.

 

So I think I will go with an earth pony hero. Thanks.

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