What do you think the Changeling's kingdom is like?

[Magic Man 222]

I'm not really fond of the current idea of the Changelings as a nomadic swarm who, for the most part, serve as mindless drones to Queen Chrysalis. I'm refering to the popular hive-like system which I concede does kind of make sense considering their insect design. I know that's not what every fan thinks in regards to Changeling society, me included, and it is possibly not the case canon-wise, but still, that basic concept is one of the most popular, no denying it.

 

I personally like to think that the Changelings have a developed civilized society, due to having a monarchy and all, much like how the ponies do. My take on it is that Equestria is akin to Western Europe and the Americas, whilst the Changelings and their kingdom are more akin to the Far East like the Feudal or Empire of Japan. I have this view on it mainly as a way to flesh out the Changelings, give them more culture and depth, etc. I also like to think of them having their own families and friends, instead of them being drone children of Chrysalis, which I find limits what we can do with them.

 

Yet still, this is just my take on it. Do you agree with it, do you favour the hive-mind take, or do you have your own?

Edited February 17, 2014 by Magic Man

[NavelColt 22,882]

Some gigantic half castle half hive looking structure, probably secluded in a dodgy region most other major species stay away from like a poisonous marsh or really tightly fitted mountains with a central valley.

[Nah 3,182]

I think the changelings don't really have a kingdom, they just hide in the shadows and the Everfree.

[Krystal 1,468]

Nopony knows. It keeps changing.

[Akemi Homura 7,681]

I've always thought of them as nomads (brohoof for that) not unlike the many Mongol tribes from the Genghis Khan era, united. That being said, it would be highly probable that they have a "hive" system not unlike a bee colony. Without the leadership of their Queen, they would fall into chaos and fight amongst one another because there's no real purpose for them in living.

[Pony021 37]

The plains of oblivion from elder scrolls IV except with less lava and more of a Gothic mid-evil theme to the landscape and structures

[dftrent12 32]

I bet it looks just like Canterlot because everypony loves Canterlot.

[Half-Note 273]

The fact that they feed off love is the reason they have to Be nomadic. They have to keep moving to find food.

[Dreadmallon 353]

If anypony has seen Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, for some reason I can picture it being similar to Geonosis.

[Black Star 62]

I don't see them as living in one place but I also don't think they are nomadic. I think their queen has important changelings that work as spies and such that she sends out to take the place of high standing figures. I think they do what the queen did to princess cadince but with less important ponies. Like the mayor of ponyville and other influential ponies. For where the queen and all the changelings not out on missions I agree with the post above me. I envisioned it sort of looking like geonosis from attack of the clones. Probably because the geonosians are bug like just like the changelings.

[Jammo 986]

Like big Termite mounds in a desert.

Maybe with a twisted changeling archive mound full of millions of hanging ponies / zebras / monsters in cocoons which the changelings use for reference.

Like they need a body to mimic, they'll have a poor soul ready for them.

[PonyEcho 1,610]

I think they dont have there own kingdom.

they find a new kingdom, infultrate, feed of all the love till there is nothing left then GTFO and on to the next kingdom

[TheHouseholdWarrior 12]

I think it's some kind of hive. Like a beehive.

Or something insectoid like that. It just seems fitting...

[MVC NVMXD JVRXD 2,406]

I always thought it resembled that big cave thing from the first Alien movie. Or as the guys said above me, a hive.

[Radiance64 7,053]

  On 2012-07-10 at 12:01 PM, 'PonyEcho' said:

I think they dont have there own kingdom. they find a new kingdom, infultrate, feed of all the love till there is nothing left then GTFO and on to the next kingdom

This. Also, maybe they work in tandem with the Windigos, feeding off a kingdom's love until there is only hate for the Windigos to feed on?

[HungryTroll 137]

I dont know why but I cant imagine Changeling's kingdom, for me they nomads like Mongol horde, or may be way like Vikings, I just cant see them farming.

[XrosOver 613]

I imagine it as a system relatively close to the locust from gears of war...massive underground tunnels with hive like structures making up a kingdom and castle.

[Mersander 55]

I think of them as some kind of nomadic swarm type thing. Since there is only one queen, she's probably responsibe for giving birth to all her children. But they must move around a lot because they feed off love.

[ponyvangelist 732]

What All The Buzz Is About

 

When I first saw them in their true form, the Changelings gave me the impression of a half-pony, half-Geonosian hybrid. Rebecca Dart, who designed them, said she was inspired by Hideshi Hino, but after googling his work, I'm sticking with Geonosians. Thus...

 

Fig. 1: Hive, sweet hive. Why would anypony ever want to leave?

 

Behold! The capital city of Geonosia, er... I mean Changelingia! No, that won't do. How about Transitia? Dynamia? Bugville? Oh, fie. Let me get back to you on that.

 

In any case, given the terrain, it's probably not too far from Appleloosa. Hmm, I'll bet Braeburn isn't going to like that.

 

At least, not the real Braeburn...

Edited August 4, 2012 by ponyvangelist

[Twiliscael 3,960]

I agree with the belief that they have an insect "hive mind" type mentality, with Chyrsallis being their divine overlord.

 

Evil little bugs, we need the bug repellent.

[Silverhoof 2,844]

I see them as nomads too. Specifically extra dimensional nomads. Their unique way of feeding would end up draining their host's will to live. The Changeling world is a blasted lonely place, all other sentient species are dead. Any creature capable of caring for its own kind would be drained into extinction as well.

 

Changelings are similar to ponies in that they share innate magical abilities. This became their races salvation. They now send scouts to alternate dimensions looking for suitable worlds. Once found, that world is leached of love and life, and then they move on to the next. Like a force of nature, changelings are destroyers of worlds.

 

The changeling home world is probably long forgotten and lost.

[Sepraxian 36]

Take a look at Zerg hives from Starcraft. Put them underground. Add some technicolor to the creep. That's how I imagine it.

[ScarfaceOne 263]

It's a Triumvirate not unlike that of Natla in tomb raider. I find em similar to atlanteans.

[Bird Mom 900]

Interesting question. They probably live in a dark green/black castle and have a village where all of Chrysalis' changelings live.

[Scootalove 10,689]

Probably a dark chasm where there is a hive of the Changelings inside, in a cave of some sorts.