Welcome to the first edition of Characterize That, where we personify active armies based on different topics. In this edition, we will characterize six active armies and see which mascot fits them best!
Designed by Master DS
Mascots are one of the most important aspects of Club Penguin. From 2005 to the game’s closure in 2017, a total of 20 different mascots stepped upon the island, with items the player could collect. Club Penguin Armies randomly selected six armies from last week’s Top Ten; armies close to the Top Ten were accounted for as well. These were the Water Vikings, the Army of Club Penguin, the SnowWalkers of Club Penguin, the Templars, the Romans, and the Fire Warriors. Let us now characterize these armies as mascots!
I. Water Vikings – Gary the Gadget Guy
A picture of Gary’s sprite, the best representation of Water Vikings currently
The Water Vikings are an interesting army, and the most obvious comparison could be Rockhopper. Both are seafarers of some sort, but that’s both an incorrect match and too shallow. Instead, Gary seems like a more interesting fit. To knock the obvious out of the way, both are blue. But a deeper look reveals that the Water Vikings seem to have a repertoire of custom bots. As of late, it seems they have three custom bots: Bert Bot 2.0, Funks Bot, and Thalia’s Assistant.
All three custom Water Vikings bots
What do bots have to do with the mascot comparison, though? Well, Gary the Gadget Guy is definitively known for his “gadgets” and quirky innovations. His inventions are not only technologically interesting, but also help other agents carry out their missions. This combination of technical expertise makes Gary the best fit for WV.
II. Army of Club Penguin – Aunt Arctic
Aunt Arctic sprite; Aunt Arctic’s journalism best represents ACP
What can’t be said about the comparison between Aunt Arctic and the ACP? The Army of Club Penguin, founded on the Miniclip forums and home to the Shamrock Bulletin, has its roots in community journalism. Moreover, Aunt Arctic’s leadership and role as a community founder shine through in ACP. In Club Penguin lore, she leads the PSA and EPF as director. Similarly, the Army of Club Penguin has led our community by being the first organized army. Not to mention, they both share a green association! For this reason, Aunt Arctic and ACP go hand in hand.
III. SnowWalkers – Sam the Sasquatch
The prehistoric Sam the Sasquatch, the epitome of SnowWalker’s fresh entry
The SnowWalkers, originally founded by Alternate and Peterpleco, are still a new-generation army with little experience in the wider Club Penguin army community. Despite being a stable part of the small/medium community, they haven’t risen too high yet. Their average size hovers around 5-6 penguins, with occasional events reaching over 15. However, because they usually stay under ten, they haven’t crossed the mark for major army status yet. This consistency is reminiscent of one Club Penguin mascot who didn’t find their name until they found their home. Similarly, the SnowWalkers still haven’t found a growth pattern that works for them, but once they do, they could rise beyond anything they’ve seen yet. This mascot is Sam the Sasquatch, who started with a question-mark name but eventually found his home village and discovered who he truly is. The prehistoric nature, like SnowWalker’s small start, and their goal to reach their prime are why Sam is a perfect fit.
Another mascot the authors considered for SWCP was Klutzy. Klutzy is a crab, so it’s small, and all penguins across PSA missions describe it as small. However, Sam was a more niche fit and better described SWCP to date.
IV. Templars – Herbert P. Bear
A depiction of Herbert, the villain of the Penguin Secret Agency missions and the best depiction for the “evil” Templars
The Templars have long been the “villain” of the Private Server era. Across several conflicts, the army has schemed to rise to the top, much like Herbert. Herbert’s tenacity in thwarting penguins on the island carries over with the Templars. Both find themselves mired in controversy and rivalry, and for that alone, they go hand in hand. Coincidentally, the ACP/TCP conflict reminds us of the conflict between Herbert and the PSA/EPF…
V. Romans – Sensei
The ancient Sensei, who affected the Club Penguin island before the community even knew who he was… and a perfect representation of the Romans’ legacy.
The Romans are an ancient army, much like Sensei. However, this barely scratches the surface of why Sensei symbolizes them. Throughout history, the Romans had many important leaders and legends who greatly shaped the politics and history of Club Penguin Armies. They may not have the same leader-of-the-community status as ACP, but they still play an important role. For example, Romans heavily influenced early Club Penguin Private Servers (CPPS) armies, adopting private servers early to revive the army. Romans members, such as Nardo, also played a major role in Club Penguin Rewritten Army Central and Club Penguin Army Syndicate. Other Romans, such as Twitchy and Djgtjvgyhxgy, also influenced army affairs, diplomacy, and politics, helping shape what armies are today. This is in addition to the wars they fought during the early CPPS era.
Sensei is also an important mascot in Club Penguin, sponsoring what may be the most popular Club Penguin minigame of all time: Card Jitsu. The effect Sensei had on early Club Penguin is also pertinent, being one of the first few mascots and technically a part of Club Penguin history from the beginning of the island. This is partly due to his relationship with Tusk and partly to his role as Club Penguin’s original master of the three elements. This role in Club Penguin’s history resembles the philosophical additions to armies that the Romans played, which is why this comparison works.
VI. Fire Warriors – Dot
The fashionable Dot, an interesting choice for the Fire Warriors’ various forms over the years.
Dot is Club Penguin’s resident fashionista and disguise artist. Likewise, the Fire Warriors have taken on many names and “disguises” over the years! The army famously merged with the Military of Roman Warriors to create the Roman Fire Warriors. They also had deep ties to later army names, such as the Ninjas. Their ties to Dot run even deeper; their leadership and community changed drastically, yet they remain the Fire Warriors to this day. The army shows that despite significant change, they are still who they are at their core.
What Did the Leaders Think?
While the authors chose the mascots to represent each army, Club Penguin Armies also reached out to the leaders for their opinions on the choices.
Darci, Water Vikings: I feel like Gary describes us to some extent, but we also have that fun, playful aspect of us which aligns us with Rookie too.
Daniel, Army of Club Penguin: Honestly it’s a perfect pick! Honored for ACP to be a leader in the community
Did you know Aunt Arctic was actually pink at first?
Alternate, SnowWalkers: i like this choice bc its honestly true snowwalkers is still slowly growing altho i wouldve chosen klutzy since were still one of the smallest armys bc were slowly growing
Borapenguins, Templars: seems pretty accurate
Slash, Romans: Sounds about right to me
AustinFraud, Fire Warriors: FW is definitely a jpg
Not all leaders agreed with these characterizations, and there are definitely different ways to approach this analysis. However, all the assigned mascots feel relatively accurate, and in the end, it is an opinion. It would also be interesting to hear what the community thinks of these choices. Do you agree that these mascots represent the six armies? How do you think the armies could be better assigned, and what reasoning would you give to support your decision?
Pranav
Senior Reporter
Prisma
Reporter
More Information
Eternal Lord of All Sith Empires. "Life is the enemy. Death is our solace. Darth Marr's creed. It is you who fears death, 'Valkorion'. I do not" - Darth Marr.