WorstProtoSquadMember

While others have already said much of what I feel in regards to 2001 Bionicle, I wish to add/reiterate that what made it special to me was that it was so different and new compared to anything else. Even to this day, it's incredibly unique. Even though I was only around 8 or 9 years old and didn't fully understand it at the time, the world of Mata Nui as viewed through the MNOG was deep and alluring. Even without the online game, the feeling of buying, building, and thereby being introduced to Bionicle by my very first Toa bought at a Kohl's in 2001, Pohatu, was magical. There wasn't really anything else like it at the time, and I loved the fact that you could disassemble sets and make your own creations out of them. I felt that as time went on the focus from the original, more robust designs of the original Toa and their Nuva evolutions waned as the newer sets became more "floppy" and weren't as rigid, able to stand well on their own, etc. When you compare the mechanical action and design of a Bohrok to that of something like one of the Toa Mahri, the Bohrok could actually hit with enough force to knock off a Kanohi while the one of the Mahri could only shoot a projectile and sometimes sagged under it's own weight. The lore became more convoluted and shifted focus away from the original Toa, and around 2007 I stopped buying new sets. I know that in the following year the focus shifted back to the original Toa, but because of the direction of the designs and the lore (as I saw it at the time) going way off track from the original Toa Mata/Nuva, I lost interest. Though I've watched Bionicle over the years from afar, I never really could bring myself to buy another set until it was announced that Bionicle was ending. I bought one of the Stars set, a Tahu, and was extremely disappointed with it. After that, I stayed away from Bionicle for a long time. Bionicle will always hold a special place in my heart, and that is because of what it was when I was first introduced to it in 2001. If you or anyone else like the later designs and lore of Bionicle, then I'm glad-- life is about enjoying what you enjoy. I'm merely stating why I started to dislike the direction Bionicle was taking circa 2007, and why 2001 was so special to me. Ultimately, it is in fact a subjective thing.

Not sure. You're probably correct, though.

You have no idea. I honestly had no idea the Proto Squad was that big a deal until a couple of days ago. Now I read the Wiki and I was one of only 2500 kids who got to be a part of it, and I probably chucked the stuff I got. Wow. Way to go, younger me. I've been reading old stuff about a member on here who was trying to build a museum and needed just one more GPKK to complete that part of the collection. The sad part is that I might've had that piece he needed. Yeah, I feel like trash. Uhhh, lol? That's a bit rude. Well, the only details I specifically remember that aren't on your Wiki page are that I received an Onua Nuva 1 month before the release of the Toa Nuva, and I also remember getting a Bohrok Kal one month before they released, but I can't remember specifically which one that was. Anything other than that is a bit too hazy for me to recall, though I want to say I might have received a couple of Kanohi from them at some point. It's been a looooong time. >.< D'oh, sorry, I just reread my post and realized it does not sound quite as tongue-in-cheek as I intended. Of course it's not a big deal at all, and I didn't mean to sound like I'm sore that you were in the Proto-Squad but I wasn't, or anything like that. I was legitimately curious about the Proto-Squad experience, though, since we don't hear from former members that often, and there wasn't much information for me to work with when putting that page together. But it was a long time ago for you, so of course that's understandable. It's fine. I don't mind if you want to ask me questions about it at some point. Maybe you can use me as a cross reference or a source for your Wiki page. I'd be happy to help. Also, I was continuing the search for the GPKK and VMKK today and I found something I thought you all might be interested in, since Pereki found the pictures of the shirt interesting: it's an old Kanoka Card detailing out some prizes they were giving out during the Metru Nui days. I couldn't help but notice that it showed a prize that isn't listed on the Official Rare & Promotional Collectibles Topic called a Golden Disk, of which 500 were (I assume) given out. https://imgur.com/CSFJMqY https://imgur.com/J4h4NtJ https://imgur.com/eLy8Eat Not that I have one, but I guess I was just curious if they're actually worth anything? (Younger me would have probably chucked it anyway, lol) If you all already knew about it, then sorry for the redundant info! X3

Uhhh, lol? That's a bit rude. Well, the only details I specifically remember that aren't on your Wiki page are that I received an Onua Nuva 1 month before the release of the Toa Nuva, and I also remember getting a Bohrok Kal one month before they released, but I can't remember specifically which one that was. Anything other than that is a bit too hazy for me to recall, though I want to say I might have received a couple of Kanohi from them at some point. It's been a looooong time. >.<

Thank you all for the kind words. I am still attempting to find it, but I'm not expecting anything. *Sigh* Apparently I also had some really expensive or rare/uncommon sets that are currently in pieces on my bedroom floor. Like Axonn, Iruini, Makuta, Exo-Toa, etc. I also found the shattered remnants of the Bohrok-Kal Promo Discs. I was a destructive child. I remember that because I was in the Proto Squad they sent me an Onua Nuva before they were even available for sale. I guess I really *deserved* that, considering his pieces are scattered to the wind at the moment. I think I have his mask somewhere, lol. I might try to reassemble some of this stuff, but apparently I was the destroyer of Bionicle. This might be tricky. >.< The only two survivors of the great Bionicle purge are a Nuhvok-Kal and a Oohnorak. X3 Ugh.

So, I'm sure you're wondering what the heck a brand new member to this forum has to be sorry about? Well, allow me to introduce myself. I am the Worst Proto Squad Member. Yes, that Proto Squad indeed. I was one of the few kids who managed to get into it and received the packages through the mail. I drew some fanart that apparently they liked, so I was inducted into the club. Greg Farshtey, I am so sorry. You see, as a child, I was inclined to random acts of stupidity. Despite being a child who was in advanced classes and intelligent as far as academics were concerned, I very often would indulge in bad ideas; confessing my "love" for a girl I liked to a bully who was leaning out of his bedroom window Romeo and Juliet style was one such action. Yes, this level of stupid. It is a rare breed. So, as you can imagine, I also treated my valuables poorly from time to time. Today, I found a rare PS1 disc that I had broken into tiny pieces. I found many shredded shards of Yugioh cards, and even some Pokemon cards. So where am I going with this self-depreciating spiel? Well, today I remembered I was in the Proto Squad. Today I found out that a certain couple of Krana were worth quite a bit of money. I found out I had gotten that entire tube's worth of items. And, well... Apparently I threw them away in a spastic fit of stupidity when I was about 13-15. I've been tearing the house apart today desperately trying to find them or the tube they were in, but the more I searched, the more I realized I had probably thrown them away thinking they were junk in a tube that was worth nothing. So yes, unless I find them by some miracle, there is one less GPKK and VMKK in the world because "lol dis iz stoopid" and into the trash it went. I am in awe of the sheer magnitude of how privileged and yet depraved I could be. By some miracle, the Rahkshi T-Shirt survived. I didn't throw that away for some reason. So there's that. Why am I telling you this? Well, I suppose I'm just beating myself up so much that I figured everyone else could join in. I deserve it. Heck, YOU deserve the right to beat me up for it. And if you don't want to beat me up for it, well... at least I shared. I have confessed my sin. Links to pictures of the shirt are attached to verify what an idiot I was. If I manage to find the GPKK and VMKK at some point, I'll make sure to update you all. In the meantime: roast me. Please. https://imgur.com/5fRMTrQ https://imgur.com/7PCmSbM https://imgur.com/PWM5eIY https://imgur.com/7hNLGGU Also, in case you might say something like, "Well maybe you didn't have them and you're just getting worked up over nothing", unfortunately I remember holding the GPKK in my clammy 12 year old hand and thinking "What a piece of junk. It's just gray and it isn't even rubber." Pictured: Me https://imgur.com/a/1AtcV If you need me, I'll be dying internally somewhere.