Page 1648 - Dungeons & Ponies, Part 23  
5th Feb 2022, 6:00 AM in Intermission 15  
Author: GreatDinn  
 
Guest Author’s Note: “It’s important as a DM to serve as positive reinforcement to your players. You don’t have to be a cheerleader, but when things go wrong or weird, it’s important to be able to roll with the punches, and make sure your players still see some good out of it. Failure is fine! Off-kilter results are fine! But it’s still important to find something positive even in those moments. A go-to of mine is ‘make the failure comedic,’ because a laugh can turn a bad situation into a memorable moment. (Though it’s equally important to make sure that laugh isn’t at the expense of a player, because that way has a chance of leading to grudges at the table.) Another way, as Spike is trying to do here, is to have an NPC openly appreciate someone’s actions. NPCs are a valuable tool for DMs, not only for conflict, or quests, but for encouragement! If you populate your world with varying levels of adventurer, or people familiar with adventurers, it’s nice to make the players feel like real heroes of the land, with all the awe and admiration that implies.  
 
On a completely unrelated note, it’s funny what random things happen when you’re sifting through frames. One of the transitions in this scene is a jump cut between Merlin and Presto that honestly just made ‘Story From North America’ pop into my head.”  

DM: You’ve captured Tiamat! Again. For real this time. Let me just strike her off all my tables…just in case.  
Rarity: Not to be ungrateful, but Tiamat was more than a “little problem.” Surely we’ve earned more than a quick trip to Helix?  
Merlin: Yes, yes, of course. You’ve rid me of a powerful foe…for the time being. I will still need to find a way to erase that foul beast from existence.  
Merlin: But fair is foul, and foul is fair. You shall receive a boon. I shall grant you access to my library, and all the spells within. And I will, using my visions, seek your path home…  
Merlin: In exchange for your wizard.  
Rainbow Dash: What!?  
Merlin: Temporarily! I am in need of an assistant.  
Merlin: You, Presto, are a perfect fit! Young, unfocused, and capable of wondrous power! It was your summoning that allowed us to trap Tiamat, after all. With a guiding hand, perhaps we can create a more permanent solution.  
Rainbow Dash: Thanks…I think.  
Pinkie Pie: I dunno why putting Tiamat under a rug isn’t enough. It solves all my problems!  
Twilight Sparkle: So it was YOU!