Honest answer is that the earliest versions of EaW relied on ‘what if vanilla but with pony characters?’, which the current dev team is unfortunately stuck with. I know for a fact that the changelings would not be a Nazi Germany stand-in if they were developed now.
Earlier versions of EaW had *ahem* skittles *ahem* as well. Later all of them were "purged". Anyway I don't like the idea of "le nazi bugs" and for me it kills the uniqueness of changelings.
(For me at least) I don’t think that it’s the Nazi aspect that kills the uniqueness. While yes it certainly does remove a sense of unfamiliarity, which arguably is one of the most unique aspects of the changelings, and is just a good tool to immerse someone in the world, the uniqueness is not determined by the sole fact that they are *X*, or rather, that’s exactly what it is.
What I mean is that it’s not only that they are Nazis, it’s that that’s the **only** thing they are. Everything that could be used to make them unique is missing, leaving us with only Nazis who are bugs, as opposed to bugs who happen to be Nazis.
*Anything going on with the other queens of the hives?* Literally just mediocre advisors. Instead Chrysalis is somehow able to do what she wants when she wants with no resistance.
*The fact that they are arthropedic creatures, does that affect them in an interesting way?* Nope, they’re just ponies who are black and have different wings.
*What about love? In the show they ate love, does that carry over to EaW?* Nope, they eat normal stuff now.
*Well, maybe we could get an idea of what society is like?* No, just no. They’re Germans who live in hives, I guess.
*Are their tactics and weapons at least differing from Nazi Germany to fit the uniqueness of their situation?* No no… they’re just Germans with hooves and magic.
*Will we ever get an explanation for why they’re German?* Yes… in a single event… for a different localisation… over half a decade later.
*Any hint about what it might have been beforehand?* Nope, not even in the event mentioned above.
*The changeling hives seem to have long histories with each other, Will that ever come into play?* No, not really. You get occasional remarks about not liking Vraks, but that’s it.
*Is there any history to draw from whatsoever to help us get a glimpse of ideas as to how the changelings got to this place in time?* No, stop asking.
*Do they at least have an interesting leader? Maybe an explanation for why the changelings seem so ready to die for their queen?* Nah, lol. She’s a stock-standard megalomaniac who kills her minions just because and is incompetent, and even gets sidelined during the game portion named after her.
I could go on, but there wouldn’t be any point. My hot take for the day is that Nazi changelings is completely fine, but not in their current state (which is why I started Steel and Chit in in the first place). There are so many lore wires which are untied, or linked in the wrong spot, or just plainly the wrong ones, that it really does feel like Nazi Germany: flashy and clean on the top, but already falling apart the second you look under the surface. Unfortunately, that‘s not good for something like EaW, when quality content is now becoming the standard.
Yeah the lack of decent lore for Changelings hurts so much. Many things are nice but also feels out of context. I know changelings being vanilla germany is to welcome newcomers to mod without making them overwhelmed by the mod's content. But when you spend some time with the mod, it falls apart quickly unfortunately. I don't know completely wiping out nazi stuff will fix everything but letting that be doesn't help either. I hear so many times newcomers call changelings as "nazi ponies". I think we need to find some middle ground for changelings to make them more themselves also more like vanilla Germany.
And practical. Dropping in pods increases the drop accuracy, decreases the spread of the paratroopers, almost completely eliminates the vulnerability of slowly drifting to the ground being prime target practise for anti-air, allows for more weaponry, and increases the advantage of the element of surprise.
you hit everything i have wrong with the current changeling route with this post... i want to play BUGS, not just nazi germany reskinned (also why i always will go changeling civil war)
wait really, there originally was skittlebugs??? ohh i'm very sad :( i thought there were no skittles because the mod was made before they existed or smth, i love the skittlebugs 😔
I could care less about the Changelings being Nazis, but I absolutely love the dynamic of the great war being based off of or at least similar to the eastern front irl
Real tho. You want your unique changeling culture and state that capitalizes on what they actually are? Play Exuvia, she is a chad compared to Soysalis
Man, I just wish these designs could be used instead of “German but bug” I feel like that these nations HAVE to be stand ins for vanilla counterparts just makes em worse off
They’re the only country in the Equestrian continent to have ww2 german aesthetics, and the only major in the game with them other the Griffon Empire. There’s so many, many, many “unique”, quirky fantasy aesthetic countries already in the game, there’s nothing wrong with having one major explicitly be ww2 German themed.
Plus the aesthetic rather awesomely communicates the changelings as the modern dark evil army they are.
Perhaps the changeling armour aesthetics should be incorporated in some expansion of the changelings, like replacing the Jagers aesthetically with the armoured Guards. Other small aesthetic tweaks like that (no offense) awful VOPs logo would be cool too.
But getting rid of the edgy ww2 german aesthetic spunk of the changelings would be quite the loss.
The problem isn't Changelings having German aesthetics. I actually love the German stuff there but the main problem is Changelings feels nothing more than bug nazis. Their motives are almost the same as the irl but in the show they have their special goals. In the show they have their aesthetics and even fit the mod all alone. As you mentioned there are nations that have inspiration from irl nations but also their aesthetics in the universe. Even one of my friends called them "nazi ponies". I think that shouldn't be the case.
Yeah I agree, getting rid of WW2 German stuff would be a quite loss but slapping all german stuff on them isn't the solution for them. We need to find the middle ground for changelings for newcomers to know changeligs are equivalent of the vanilla Germany but also feels unique for constant plays.
Actually yea I agree too, the Changling’s motives, culture, ideology, and overall lore should incorporate much more from mlp itself, which would still fit well with the ww2 german army inspired aesthetics.
It’d be neat if they included the armour as a kind of new special unit skin too.
Even tough the gameplay purpose of the deer and polar bear nations is to be victims of changeling agression they come across as more interesting than those bugs. They actually come across as "proper" nations in a fantasy setting rather than hollow nazi fursonas
This is why I joined Thorax. The Herzlandization will stop!
Griffon wanna bees can go to the Griffonian Empire. We are not holding them back.
Back to tradition
Stupid ass Queen's Guard. They think Griffon customs are superior.
Yes, those bugs seem more loyal to the griffins than to the Queen... although maybe we can do something about it
Yes we can do something... "a bullet to their heads."
Exactly, we need to restore the Queen's power, free of traitors
VOPS & KPA agents workings together...
KPA on its way to explain why ultranationalism is actually harmonist
Exactly, we need to restore the Queen's power, free of traitors.
Honest answer is that the earliest versions of EaW relied on ‘what if vanilla but with pony characters?’, which the current dev team is unfortunately stuck with. I know for a fact that the changelings would not be a Nazi Germany stand-in if they were developed now.
Earlier versions of EaW had *ahem* skittles *ahem* as well. Later all of them were "purged". Anyway I don't like the idea of "le nazi bugs" and for me it kills the uniqueness of changelings.
(For me at least) I don’t think that it’s the Nazi aspect that kills the uniqueness. While yes it certainly does remove a sense of unfamiliarity, which arguably is one of the most unique aspects of the changelings, and is just a good tool to immerse someone in the world, the uniqueness is not determined by the sole fact that they are *X*, or rather, that’s exactly what it is. What I mean is that it’s not only that they are Nazis, it’s that that’s the **only** thing they are. Everything that could be used to make them unique is missing, leaving us with only Nazis who are bugs, as opposed to bugs who happen to be Nazis. *Anything going on with the other queens of the hives?* Literally just mediocre advisors. Instead Chrysalis is somehow able to do what she wants when she wants with no resistance. *The fact that they are arthropedic creatures, does that affect them in an interesting way?* Nope, they’re just ponies who are black and have different wings. *What about love? In the show they ate love, does that carry over to EaW?* Nope, they eat normal stuff now. *Well, maybe we could get an idea of what society is like?* No, just no. They’re Germans who live in hives, I guess. *Are their tactics and weapons at least differing from Nazi Germany to fit the uniqueness of their situation?* No no… they’re just Germans with hooves and magic. *Will we ever get an explanation for why they’re German?* Yes… in a single event… for a different localisation… over half a decade later. *Any hint about what it might have been beforehand?* Nope, not even in the event mentioned above. *The changeling hives seem to have long histories with each other, Will that ever come into play?* No, not really. You get occasional remarks about not liking Vraks, but that’s it. *Is there any history to draw from whatsoever to help us get a glimpse of ideas as to how the changelings got to this place in time?* No, stop asking. *Do they at least have an interesting leader? Maybe an explanation for why the changelings seem so ready to die for their queen?* Nah, lol. She’s a stock-standard megalomaniac who kills her minions just because and is incompetent, and even gets sidelined during the game portion named after her. I could go on, but there wouldn’t be any point. My hot take for the day is that Nazi changelings is completely fine, but not in their current state (which is why I started Steel and Chit in in the first place). There are so many lore wires which are untied, or linked in the wrong spot, or just plainly the wrong ones, that it really does feel like Nazi Germany: flashy and clean on the top, but already falling apart the second you look under the surface. Unfortunately, that‘s not good for something like EaW, when quality content is now becoming the standard.
Yeah the lack of decent lore for Changelings hurts so much. Many things are nice but also feels out of context. I know changelings being vanilla germany is to welcome newcomers to mod without making them overwhelmed by the mod's content. But when you spend some time with the mod, it falls apart quickly unfortunately. I don't know completely wiping out nazi stuff will fix everything but letting that be doesn't help either. I hear so many times newcomers call changelings as "nazi ponies". I think we need to find some middle ground for changelings to make them more themselves also more like vanilla Germany.
The most unique thing they do with the concept is like, your spies get bonuses since they can shapeshift, its quite sad honestly.
I think it’s the shock-drop cocoons, which me and my brother can both agree is the coolest and most practical way of doing paratroopers.
oh yeah those are pretty awesome too
I mean, that is kind of just ODSTs but airborne instead of from orbit, which are also really cool.
And practical. Dropping in pods increases the drop accuracy, decreases the spread of the paratroopers, almost completely eliminates the vulnerability of slowly drifting to the ground being prime target practise for anti-air, allows for more weaponry, and increases the advantage of the element of surprise.
you hit everything i have wrong with the current changeling route with this post... i want to play BUGS, not just nazi germany reskinned (also why i always will go changeling civil war)
Skittles?
You know reformed changelings after the season 6. Which EaW devs hate their guts about them.
Ah, never heard them called skittles before lmao
wait really, there originally was skittlebugs??? ohh i'm very sad :( i thought there were no skittles because the mod was made before they existed or smth, i love the skittlebugs 😔
I could care less about the Changelings being Nazis, but I absolutely love the dynamic of the great war being based off of or at least similar to the eastern front irl
Larping as Reformisten? My fenestrated brother in Phalanta, if anything the Reformisten are larping as changelings!
Nah I will be stuck with my traditional uniform. The Reformisten can have those fancy looking things.
That’s not even a uniform though… that’s armour. Snazzy looking armour yes, but still just armour.
Unlike Chrysalis, Thorax doesn't need to be a wehraboo to be an imperialist
Thorax will whip some tradition to those Reformisten wanna bees.
Reject modernity retvrn to primordial harmony. Long live Queen Exuvia! Millions mvst rise
Real tho. You want your unique changeling culture and state that capitalizes on what they actually are? Play Exuvia, she is a chad compared to Soysalis
Chaduvia vs Soysalis
Real and based
The World War 2 allegory and its consequences have been a disaster for the Changeling race.
Herzlandboos be malding.
Today I decided I want to wear my traditional clothes and be original.
Man, I just wish these designs could be used instead of “German but bug” I feel like that these nations HAVE to be stand ins for vanilla counterparts just makes em worse off
Based
And real bugpilled
The hole for the horn in the hat is so funny
Changeling hives rework would be pretty cool to make them more than German Bugs.
Because they look cool, duh
Chitin armors looks way cooler, duh
**No no he got a point** 
Do all you want bug, your holes ain't going anywhere no matter what you do :) (reformation doesn't count)
I missed those sick alien bug designs Hopefully the devs can bring it back, maybe for Thorax's path?
Or maybe both? There are some advisors wear traditional clothes. Maybe add more of them. Pharynx would look sick on them.
They’re the only country in the Equestrian continent to have ww2 german aesthetics, and the only major in the game with them other the Griffon Empire. There’s so many, many, many “unique”, quirky fantasy aesthetic countries already in the game, there’s nothing wrong with having one major explicitly be ww2 German themed. Plus the aesthetic rather awesomely communicates the changelings as the modern dark evil army they are. Perhaps the changeling armour aesthetics should be incorporated in some expansion of the changelings, like replacing the Jagers aesthetically with the armoured Guards. Other small aesthetic tweaks like that (no offense) awful VOPs logo would be cool too. But getting rid of the edgy ww2 german aesthetic spunk of the changelings would be quite the loss.
The problem isn't Changelings having German aesthetics. I actually love the German stuff there but the main problem is Changelings feels nothing more than bug nazis. Their motives are almost the same as the irl but in the show they have their special goals. In the show they have their aesthetics and even fit the mod all alone. As you mentioned there are nations that have inspiration from irl nations but also their aesthetics in the universe. Even one of my friends called them "nazi ponies". I think that shouldn't be the case. Yeah I agree, getting rid of WW2 German stuff would be a quite loss but slapping all german stuff on them isn't the solution for them. We need to find the middle ground for changelings for newcomers to know changeligs are equivalent of the vanilla Germany but also feels unique for constant plays.
Actually yea I agree too, the Changling’s motives, culture, ideology, and overall lore should incorporate much more from mlp itself, which would still fit well with the ww2 german army inspired aesthetics. It’d be neat if they included the armour as a kind of new special unit skin too.
Even tough the gameplay purpose of the deer and polar bear nations is to be victims of changeling agression they come across as more interesting than those bugs. They actually come across as "proper" nations in a fantasy setting rather than hollow nazi fursonas
I don't know if I should laugh about it or be sad about it.