Cupcakes is referenced (For instance, Pinkie quotes the infamous hacksaw line)
Derpy makes an obligatory cameo (And referred in the narration as the “wall-eyed mailmare” or something similar)
And it made me think about those “Season 2/3/4 Bingo” boards that we had on the site that predicted plot elements, settings, characters, etc. for those respective seasons. However, as my knowledge of fanworks is a bit limited ( haven’t had much time online lately), I wasn’t sure what fanfic cliches are nearly omnipresent and would make for good spaces on a bingo board. Or points on a drinking game, if that’s your cup of tea.
So what have you seen too much of in fanworks? It could be phrases (“the purple unicorn”), types of OCs, characterization for canon characters, pairing cliches, and anything else out there. It can be both elements you feel are cliched and stuff you enjoy despite its overuse. To quote an infamous wiki “tropes are not bad,” after all.
Note that while there is a satirical/parody element in this, this is not a hate post or hate thread. I don’t intend to belittle hard-working writers/artists/etc. that use these elements well. I mainly want this to serve as a reference to bronies new to fanworks about what stuff has been done to death and would be hard to pull off in an original manner.
Anyway, i’d actually play a drinking game to some old fan favorite fanfics. I think that would be quite fun!
For example, i’m in the middle of reading FO:E for the first time and i could easily see an opportunity to drinking every time calamity speaks in his thick accent.. or every time Pip curses Luna/Celestia… or every time some creature get’s injured.
I’m trying to think of other fics that might be worth trying this with. Cupcakes, My Little Dashie, etc.. i can’t remember what other popular ones there are.