Page 1627 - Dungeons & Ponies, Part 2
18th Dec 2021, 6:00 AM in Intermission 15
Author: GreatDinn

Guest Author’s Note: "So, funny story, I did actual research on this comic. Like a lot of people who play D&D, this show made me chuckle at the strangeness of it, in comparison to the game as I knew it. But as I was looking into the characters for this, it turns out that these are all legitimate classes in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - First Edition.

Wizard (or Magic-User to avoid the eeeeevil connotations of sorcery) was around from the beginning; Ranger and Thief were classes introduced to D&D in the original AD&D rulebook; Barbarian was a Fighter subclass introduced in Dragon Magazine #63; the Acrobat (a subclass of Thief) was introduced in Dragon Magazine #69; and the Cavalier (another Fighter subclass) was introduced in Dragon Magazine #72, which came out in April of 1983. This show first premiered in September of that same year, so given animation lead time, the show’s writers were on the cutting edge of D&D!

It still feels wildly off from a D&D game, especially D&D at the time, but honestly? It’s probably for the better. Shows work better as narrative, than math after all."

(Edit) "As some helpful commenters pointed out, I completely beefed on Hank's name, and called him Mark in the first draft of this page. Guess I got archery on the brain, and missed the target by a mile."
Transcript:
Rainbow Dash: Ugh! Sorry Spike.
Spike: It’s okay, Dash! I have another copy…somewhere…While I look, why don’t the rest of you introduce your characters?
Twilight Sparkle: My character is Mark. He’s a Ranger, equipped with a thaumatic bow.
Rainbow Dash: Thaumatic?
Twilight Sparkle: It shoots magic.
Applejack: An’ ah’m playin’ Eric, the Cavalier.
Rainbow Dash: What the hay’s a cavalier?
Applejack: Mac said it’s some kinda knight.
Rainbow Dash: What kind of knight?
Applejack: No idea!
Fluttershy: I’m playing Bobby the Barbarian!
Rainbow Dash: You’re playing a bear!?
Fluttershy: That’s what I thought at first! But no. Spike did say I could have an animal friend though.
Pinkie Pie: I’m Diana the Acrobat!
Rainbow Dash: …yeah, that makes sense.
Pinkie Pie: What can I say? I know what I like!
Rarity: I’m performing as Sheila, the Thief!
Rainbow Dash: You? A thief?
Rarity: Better to steal in a game than, say, a hospital, eh Dash?
Rainbow Dash: …touché.