So, few things about the foils...

could they be from Hoofington (that is, living in Hoofington)? That seems like a small town similar to Ponyville?

Ah yes, Check Up.

He needs work.

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:34:54 AM by ApplelightLimited

Ginger: Why have Royal Guards, then? They serve no purpose, if Celestia and Luna can take care of things. I think it's fair to say that Celestia and Luna are not all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful or ever-present, thus, not goddesses by those criteria.

I'll tell you why I think they have a modest standing army:

It's delegating out the minor chores out to capable ponies so they (Celestia and Luna) can focus their atention on more important concerns, like making celestial bodies move across the sky. Given that we've seen a military history for at least the Pegasi, the presence of the Royal Guards all over the place, and the ceremonial duties those guards seem to attend to.

No, I'm not arguing for a large standing army of thousands of ponies who wage war on a monthly basis. I'm arguing for a small force that patrols the outer lands to keep them clear of all the Bad Critters we've seen time and again, and to provide for all those ceremonial duties we keep seeing them doing. I'm merely inferring how that happens, is all.

Those are only the qualities of the Judeo Christian God. They seem to be gods in the polythestic sense, aspects of the physical world that cannot die, supsceptable to human flaws.

Oh he is well aware of Check Up's abilities and would recommend him to anypony. That being said he can find him very annoying, and sometimes he fells he's got to kick him in the ass to get him going.

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:37:03 AM by Mio

because they need somepony to keep minor threats and annoyances away from the princesses. They act as a living wall more than anything. I'm not saying conflict doen't happen, but I don't think it's EVER happenend on a scale that warrants having an army.

I don't have a problem with what you're suggesting. I just hesitate to call them an army

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:40:06 AM by gingerninja666

Well, I was thinking of making Foil! Twi an Equestrian Ranger...

...a Federal Marshal, FBI agent, and Navy Seal rolled up into one.

Not against another nation, no.

But against a dangerous critter? Definitely.

I can adjust the plain jame Army and Air Corps to be militia-like - trained by Guards, and then given back to the communities that sent them so they can patrol thir old stomping grounds, but then called up for training and ceremonies and whatever else by Royal Decree. It almost states that already, but I can make it more obvious.

Ginger: Army? Well, this IS a monarchy of some sort. Royal Militia doesn't have the same ring to it, even it it is more accurate. I wanted something with flair.

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:42:20 AM by pvtnum11

I always thought Check Up acted a bit like House?

But where does one draw the line between militia and standard law enforcement? Couldn't the cops in any given city have a division delegated to protecting the city borders?

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:44:13 AM by gingerninja666

Wait, I'm thinking about Check Up...

...what if, he was nice and softly spoken like FS, but more outgoing...and terrified of most animals?

Awww I liked the Dr Jerk thing we had going on

I think the difference is in their orginization, armament and training.

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:46:27 AM by CDRW

I was honestly arguing for something more decentralized. Like say there is no official Equestria Army but instead there are a lot of local militias, paramilitary groups, knightly orders and that sort of thing. They usually have a limited local scope but they do work together on bigger problems. If there was a hypothetical call to arms or a war they would all respond.

Me too. I still prefer him as a House expy.

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:49:24 AM by Mio

That's...that's pretty good.

Royal Guard, individual town guards, Wonderbolts, various Knightly Orders, Militia groups...

Foil! Twi is a Knight.

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:50:33 AM by ApplelightLimited

I was thinking something like: Law enforcement keeps ponies in line and makes sure everyone plays nice, and the Militia defends against external threats, and keep them seperated. The way I wrote the blurb, Ponyville would be alloted at most a single platoon of citizen-soldiers to help patrol their hinterlands. That's still a lot of ground to cover for only 33 ponies.

We have a handful of constables and a few detective/inspectors, too. No problem with them. They do civil stuff, while the Militia gets called upon to do all the pomp and circumstance things that arise due to a royal visit and all that.

The two may intermingle - or one of the contables may have weekend drill with his squad once in awhile, even.

I'll adjust some verbiage so that it comes off more as a militia.

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:51:26 AM by pvtnum11

Yes, but If every city in Equestria lives under this much threat from monster attacks, plus the fact that regular crime just doesn't seem all that common in Equestria, I'd assume the local law enforcement would've adapted to perform numerous duties and be more versatile. Rather than jumping straight to armies

Monster hunters would just be another service under 911 basically.

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:53:54 AM by gingerninja666

Well, this isn't like our military. At all. Like I've said repeatedly, the military is mostly used for ceremonial stuff and critter control, not for actually going to war.

OK, Check Up is still Dr Jerk...but should he still be withdrawn like FS?

Differance is, whereas she's shy and nervous...he's grouchy, grumpy and snarky?

Derp, I had totally forgotten about Knights and Orders and stuff. That'll be fun to include...

Yeah knights are cool.

As I said, Foil! Twi could be like a Federal Marshal and a Navy Seal rolled up into one.

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:57:26 AM by ApplelightLimited

The difference is in where the pest control spawns from. I personally think city defence would be controlled by each individual cities law enforcement, as a natrual extension of being under that much threat from them.

The royal guard I swear is just a relic of the old Pegasonian ways. (adapted to be race inclusive of course)

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:58:20 AM by gingerninja666

Yeah, he is the kind of pony who would be willing to kick a puppy if it annoyed him enough and generally doesn't like animals.

edited 22nd Dec '11 11:59:19 AM by Mio

I was thinking of going the long haul and actually suggesting that he have an injured leg (like House)

except it was caused by an animal attack. it lead to him being deeply afraid and resentful of all animals

edited 22nd Dec '11 12:02:53 PM by gingerninja666

Too right.

I was thinking too...maybe he's sometimes so much of a jerk...his friends just find him hilarious sometimes. Like when he's berating a fat pony for not losing weight even though he's ordered him too as the doctor...Pig Iron will end up in stiches listening in on it.

An animal fucked up his wings...so he's a weak slow flier like FS!

edited 22nd Dec '11 12:04:12 PM by ApplelightLimited

Or he doesn't fly at all!

He keeps his wings under wraps (or his coat) so much that most people think he's an earth pony. (including Smoke Screen?)

When Smoke confronts him and demands to know why he's such a jerk, Check Up shows him his wings.

edited 22nd Dec '11 12:07:48 PM by gingerninja666

Naw Smoke Screen knows because he was there (and possibly saved him?).

Then again your idea can work to.

edited 22nd Dec '11 12:08:37 PM by Mio