Really, it's not like those words don't exist. Twilight even avoids using "everypony" in Over a Barrel when referring to both the buffalo and the ponies. They're not "wrong". It's just a culturally specific synonym.

Intimidation is a double-edged sword in my experience. On one hoof, it can get the other guy to stop and consider things, or at least buy into it and leave. But just often I've had guys get even more enraged and only make things worse. If it really comes down to it, I can fight quick and dirty enough to knock him or her out, but it's a terrible experience either way. I'm more of the scared and desperate type rather than rage.

@Apple: Still, intent is sort of irrelevant. If it came to blows it came to blows, but the fact is it didn't, and that's good for everyone involved.

Well done, Applelight! Muggers are so annoying! One threw a rock into my face!

I've never had any personal encounters with muggers, fortunately enough. There was one time I ended up lost in the middle of NYC alone at 3AM but luckily nothing happened.

Looking big and scary seems to have worked well for keeping muggers away from me.

That and having lived in a small town and in nice-ish neighborhoods in two of the safest cities in Canada

Nice work, Apple Good on ya.

Thanks again guys. But enough about my day, have some more Coconut◊.

I redesigned his main and tail, trying to get them to sit better. Personally, I think I prefer the first mane style◊, and the second tail style, so I'll use them in my third attempt. Give him coconuts for a CM too. Might be a little too big though.

I still don't know what I'm even doing with this guy though! I just sort of...made him...

And there's got to be an easier way to develop characters. This feels very inefficient.

Protip: There really isn't. you just kind of flounder until you find something you sorta like and hone in. At least that's my method. My method also involves books and websites and hours of research trying to find neat little details about this or that that you can use to help with the character, so maybe I'm not the best to talk to about efficiency.

Also, I agree with you on the mane thing. The second one isn't nearly so reminiscent of a tree; having bigger 'leafs' definitely helps that along.

What he said, basically. My preferred method is to just pick a quick and easy scenario, like "Coconut and Batty argue over pizza toppings" and just write it, making up the voices as you go.

@ keg

If time, effort and research is the penalty I must pay, then so be it!

And you're right, he's lost his 'tree' look, which was kinda the whole point of him. That's what's wrong with it. I'll try again, but I must decide if this guy will actually have a purpose.

Rights itself!

I'm going to do more practice comics soon btw.

edited 13th Mar '13 1:34:45 PM by ApplelightLimited

I think the leaves should be bigger, not smaller, as well. Also, do you want green or brown coconuts as the CM?

There's green coconuts?

Also, it's all nice giving him a mane and tail like, but is it really a good idea? Some might wonder how it's like that.

All coconuts are green(ish) when they're fresh from the tree. The brown parts are basically just the cores.

Also, I doubt you need to worry about explaining the mane.

edited 13th Mar '13 1:45:11 PM by JapaneseTeeth

Is coconut a new type of pony... like a Plant Pony... or is he just an earth pony that has become so one with the earth that he's growing leaves?

Or am I interpreting him wrong?

See now I just asked the question JT said nobody would ask

edited 13th Mar '13 1:49:21 PM by Turtlebutter

That's not quite what I was talking about. I meant more in the sense of "the ponies in the show have bizarre manes sometimes, and you don't need to have an in-story reason for him to resemble a palm tree".

Well he's free to dequestionize either of my questions and say "Yes this is why his mane and tail are that way"

He's just a regular EP. I just thought that this mane and tail style with the colouring would really suit him. It's true that ponies can have weird styles at times, but at least they still sort of resemble hair styles. This might be a little too much, and there's really no reason why it should be like this.

So I took another quick crack at him here◊, and further developed him here◊.

I'm learnt two things here. One, giving him a binder on his tail works pretty well, as it explains why it's shaped like that. Two...the length of the tail might become the standard size for the tails of the whole crew. Maybe even Batty's. I like the short tail length.

edited 13th Mar '13 2:06:09 PM by ApplelightLimited

I like the second mane style and the first tale style, Apple.

Another thought. I'm going to see how Batty looks really tall. Like, twice the size of the typical M6 sized pony. See, one thing that must be absolutely certain about Batty is, by normal equine standards, he's terrifying looking. Hugely tall, massive wings, scary eyes, mouth full of fangs...scary. It's one reason why he's pretty much friendless at the beginning of the story.

So the opposite of what I had?

edited 13th Mar '13 2:30:54 PM by ApplelightLimited

The name Coconuts to me suggests a out there hippie pony. Perhaps he could speak in plant puns rather than pony ones, or start mixing the two when he's excited or angry. Of course I can't see what your drawing so I have no idea, but that's my own two bits.

When you said that, I instantly thought of Neil from the young ones. Which would be hilarious.

Vegetable rights and peace!

When I hear the name, I think more Monty Python.

@darkabomination: That would be funny.

edited 13th Mar '13 2:57:45 PM by Sereg

Wowza!

@apple: don't worry too much about why Coconut's mane looks the way it does.

hell, you could even have a strip where a pony asks him about and he says that he actually uses hair gel to get it like that.

edited 13th Mar '13 3:33:51 PM by Blissey1