Page 1198 — Necessary Banality
So yeah, this was a somewhat inevitable outcome by process of elimination… but I'm okay with this reasoning at least. And in my original more-true-to-the-show mapping, Twilight was going to be playing Sandbar. Which might have worked in its own way, and certainly Fluttershy would make an easy Ocellus, and Pinkie Pie Yona… But again, though it took me a few tries to find it, I feel like this mapping fits my interpretation of these characters better with fewer compromises.
I used to be the guy who was all "give me the standard Human / Earth Pony just to spite all you Donut Steels," but lately evidence has shown that my new pattern is "windmill-slam Bugbear PC."
Transcript:Applejack: Ah guess that just leaves me, huh…?
Pinkie Pie: No pressure!
DM: If none of those choices are jumping out at you, there are some other races I've been wanting to playtest, like the umbrum…
Applejack: I choose… Earth Pony.
DM: Again?
Rainbow Dash: Again?!
Rarity: Really? Twice in a row?
Applejack: Heh heh heh. Well yeah! If this is supposed to be a cultural exchange thing, how can we explore that if we don't have a pony in the party, hmmm?
Rainbow Dash: Isn't that lazy?
Applejack: First of all, mighty fine glass house you got there.
Rainbow Dash: I deny nothing.
Applejack: And second, not lazy – brave enough to be borin'. There's a difference.