Addendum: Psy-Ops



*Changeling Infantry have proven very susceptible to psychological warfare, due to aforementioned young age and tactical ineptitude. Magical Methods : Rudimentary hypnosis spells have a high success rate, though overly complex or specific commands tend to be recognized as foreign by the individual drones (and are thus ignored) or detected by the leader's empathic link, which runs the risk of the caster being traced. Simple, generalized suggestions are recommended if utilizing these spells offensively. Illusion spells typically fool Infantry, but only "projected" illusions (e.g., casting an illusory Ursa Minor to scare off a raiding party*). Any disguising spells will be recognized almost immediately, due to some instinct Changelings possess for recognizing "foreign" shapeshifting spells.

On Non-Magical Methods: Printed Propaganda (i.e., leaflets or posters) largely ineffective, as most Changeling infantry are illiterate. However, vocal or pre-recorded messages offering surrender and/or meant to instill fear have proven effective on several occasions**, particularly if (for surrender-invitations) they assert that captives will not be executed or tortured, or (for installing fear) any reference to the Elements of Harmony or Their Solar/Lunar Majesties Princeses Celestia and Luna. (e.g., "Luna will tear your dreams and burn your mind"; "Celestia will burn you alive"; etc.)



*Such an incident was reported in Hoofington, the spell reportedly cast by a blue unicorn in a magian's costume.



**Vocal propaganda has proven most effective when broadcast both loudly AND clearly. Most standard military or civilian loudspeaker/PA/disk-jockey systems will suffice. Certain types of music have been rumored to have a calming effect, but this has only reportedly happened once: a grey Earth Pony cellest having placated a small band of Changelings with a virtuoso, calming them to the point where they surrendered to a local garrison without any problems once turned in. Any attempts to duplicate this have net with limited success, due to a friend of the cellest--a white unicorn DJ--chasing off all who ask for details on the incident, and the cellest's own refusal to be interviewed.