bonesiii

Hang on a second -- you were the one that said "shock and anger", not me. Those are a lot more intense than "dissapointed." I've said so many times I get tired of saying it that everybody has the right to dislike whatever their tastes make them dislike. So not sure why you're asking the question. Nonono, lol. That was an allusion to a past debate which I'll assume you didn't read. The debate was whether wings made sense for a water Toa, instead of fins, and my point was that penguins have wings that they use as fins too, so Hahli's wings do make some sense. Not that they are shaped like penguin wings, lol. (I believe that was in the talkback for a review of Hahli or maybe of the Mahri in general or something.) By, "from Earth", what do you mean? Bird wings are from earth too. You mean Earth tech, I assume? Just curious. Wait wait wait. Why can't Takua be considered? Actually, they aren't all that original. Shoulder pads are a fairly common concept familiar to almost everybody from common past soldier outfits, etc. Keep "degrees" in mind here. They're not that innovative; just happened to be largely new to Bionicle. But even within the context of Bionicle, you're missing the point -- within Bionicle, they were "absurd". What that means is, it's something new, something that breaks a pattern that was established before (that's what originality is). There will always be, as BZPower members have demonstrated over and over, those that dislike even something new to Binicle like that. Those that do like something rarely realize that it can be seen as "absurd". But by "absurd", I mean the really wacky "out there" ideas. Airplane wings on a Toa are a lot wackier than shoulder pads, especially considering that the Nuva introduced shoulder armor. Almost nothing will ever be totally original, as airplane wings, feathery wings, and shoulder pads, etc. all are "from Earth" in some sense or another. But there are degrees of originality, and the more original something is, the easier it is for those who don't happen to like it to call it "absurd." Actually, manuevering your arms in smart ways would make in-air navigation far easier than something mounted on your back, as that would require either a new mental control power, or you'd have to move your arms to grip controls. You would have to train yourself to only move the arms in ways that control where you navigate. In addition, most movement of the arms would happen on the ground, with the sword, unlike the gun which could be aimed mostly with the forearm. Re-read what I said: That refers to mental concentration, meaning in battle scenes. Not to gracefulness of flight. I was speaking purely in terms of efficiency. I know. But look, this is a perfect example of what I was talking about with absurdity. It looks silly to you because it's intense, rather than mediocre, so that also happens to please the competing taste more intensely.

Yep, and I'm glad you figured that out, 'cuz that does seem to be the main idea with a lot of others that I differ from on the newer sets.

Ooooh, that looks cool No promises, but maybe I could do a third entry focusing mostly on shading, 3D effects, and maybe some other tricks. I used two abilities for the revamped blog top banner/approval banner that I didn't mention, for example. Shading can be a fairly complex subject, might be worth it just to focus on mostly that.

I still say "Newva" is better 'cuz shorter. Since the sets really are "Toa Nuva" by label, it's also a little less confusing than "Phantoka", at least for now when that word has only been seen with pics of the 08 villains. Toa Phantoka isn't horrible, and it does have a nice ring to it, though. But "Newva" is more consistent with the same reasoning used originally to coin the phrase "Toa Olda".

As I always say, I think I am insane. In fact, I think I am so insane, that I am incapable of realizing it. (Best line out of 'em IMO.)

Thanks. What did you have in mind? No guarantees on scheduling but I'd definately consider it. BTW, decided that I will award for older entries that are still somewhat recent (and are worthy, obviously). There are many, many blogs that I like that just don't quite have the kinds of entries I am looking for for the award, though, so don't think if you don't have it, I'm not reading -- I've got a fair few tracked now and I'm trying read more on a regular basis. EW's winning entry is a good explanation of why blogs are so great and why I wanted to get around to this. Also, the usual evil clock excuse, and the fact that I can't see at all it's so late, etc. I plan on expanding the list quite a bit.

Since I already awarded this the one that doesn't fit in sidebars, might as well do this. But you should post more entries like this man!

Reasons obvious.

Okay, this should have had more comments. (How did I not see this one?) Of course the situation plays a role in why you had the opportunity to say this, but never have I come that close to saying what I've been trying to get across to a lot of people in so few words. There's just so much more to life than what we do on here, and hopefully we can focus purely on two things: 1) Having fun in free time! 2) When we do complain, making sure it's constructive. Spending too much time on anything else here... well, your entry finished my sentence already so yeah.

*feels happy*

Been a while since I've done a Dreaded Real Life entry, and figured I might as well announce a few other things along with that: Blog: -- I've revamped tons of imagery and such for the Bones Blog. The cheesy example skull from this entry: Vector Art in Powerpoint: Quality, Inexpensive, Easy inspired me to make a real one. Not as an av -- I still like my avvie as is -- but for blog stuffishness like the main pic at the top of the sidebars. It's also used for the brand new Skull of Approval for blogs: Omi and ToM have earned it so far. Lotsa past entries could win; haven't decided if I'm gonna do that or just award for new entries. Feel free to make suggestions, just like the bonesiii Gold Key to Nongu award for theories, except with this blog award, I decide purely on my own reasons. New sidebar content block added for that, listing winners. Note that it's blog entries that wins, not the blog in general, so you can win more than once. Revamped my categories, adding "debate" and "coolified artwork", and changing "Other" to "Ectetera." The two guides to Powerpoint are the main things in "Coolified", as well as the Ruthless Elegance: A Visual Guide to Cool entry (one of my top favorite entries). Also cooler banners, standard for the six main categs, and three special banners for my main creative writing serieseses. Lotsa more entries planned for the future. My free time and typing/drawing speed can't keep up with my ideas at the moment. I wanna keep posting them often; we'll see how that goes with evil homework and such. Real Life: In my final semester of college (fiiinally). Done with four semesters of German (I'm actually teaching Ojhilom German now; my homeschooled brother), done with vast majority of everything else. Taking a poetry workshop, which I'm shocked to find that I'm enjoying the most and the class is liking my poems. I might post some of my best poems here later. I think of myself as a prose writer, not a poet, but maybe I should think of myself as both. I'm learning fast; there's a lot to poetry that I never realized. BTW, that prof is hereby exempt from the status of evil professor. The history methods seminar prof is not even close to exempt. Ugh, evil homework galore with that class. All this fancy stuff due with barely any lecturing at all -- how we supposed to learn if not taught? This is the main reason I'm not on here much getting things done. Also taking a senior capstone with the poetry guy, basically a workshop with info about publishing and such. Another good one. Got a weekend paper delivery job now. Before this Friday, it took almost all of my free time on the weekend; literally out there walking from house to house from sunup to sundown on Sat and bagging all afternoon on Fri. Plus side is we're really popular with the bigwigs 'cuz we do a better job than most everybody else. Whole family helps, paychecks go in my name. Had to take it 'cuz my dad lost his job; he's in tool and die and that whole industry is just dying in our area. Thankfully, today he started a new job. I enjoy it, so no complaints. It's not evil like homework -- with college I slave away at it, and I have to pay them rediculous summages so they can torture me. It's extortion, really. I'm lucky enough that I enjoy learning so I haven't yet lost my mind (I think ). Of course the pay isn't that great, but I work here for free. I say before this Friday 'cuz the other paper in the area stole our two biggest advertisers, so technically the company I worked for ceased to exist, as it was a delivery company that included a newspaper and ad packs. But the newspaper is still gonna get delivered and due to being popular with the bigwigs I got hired there last week. Start this Friday, driving and throwing out at driveways this time instead of walking, and taking half a zipcode instead of a neighborhood. No idea what it will be like. After college be over, not sure what I'll do other than just try to get some other job. So no idea how that will affect BZP time. I hope, hope to have more time when I graduate. One thing I am reasonably certain of -- I would prefer a job with no homework. (Had my prof tell me he thinks I'd make a good teacher -- when I talk, people listen. I suppose I would, but I'd have to grade stuff! ) Oh, BTW, I'm on the Dean's list at my college. I don' remember if I ever said that here. It's really annoying; they're always mailing me "Buy this fancy class ring! Sign up for this group that meets every week taking away what little free time you had left!" I wasn't trying to get on the Dean's list. All I did was my homework. The other students are the ones that decided not to get all "A"s. But whatever. It's cool anyways. (In all seriousness, having no job until now helped. Most of my fellow students have jobs, and not just on the weekend, so it's understandable. I'm feelin' that pressure now even with this job and it's quite possible I'll have to struggle to keep a "B" in the methods seminar. Tryin, tryin... Last thing I would do is quit the job; I support the paper and they really do need reliable deliverers.) BZP: There's another BRC topic in the works. Freetime willing, we should be able to get that sometime next month. I was hoping for October... we'll see. Nothing superduper amazing but it should be helpful. Also tons of updates and stuff needed with the BRC existing topics, including many things that are my responsibility. *reminds self* Blame the evil profs. Paracosmos Computer RPG: The RPG isn't dead, it's just that all these other things are priority and progress is going slooooow. We really have the Le-Wahi update almost done and what's left is almost all Ojhilom's department, but he's got a lot going on too. I reeeeeeally wanna put that update online cuz it roxorz, especially the (only for now) Le-Koro minigame. My fav so far; both Ojh and I spend more time playing it than coding. There's also a lot done for the final level, and I loooooove that soooooo much, the rest pales in comparison. But also a looot to do; I'm torn between trying to get a skeletal version of that up, or putting it off so I can get just Le-Koro up. Hrm. ... Did I forget something? Eh, probably.

Hey, Omi, you've already gotten my old stamp of approval, but it was too wide to fit in a sidebar (since was made before the blog section). Here's a better one. This is technically awarded only to actual entries, with high quality content, but consider this one a little more for your whole blog, as there are too many past entries, including this one, that qualify for me to bother to dig them up.

Sorry for the slow reply. It took a while (given the existence of homework) to make this: Some of what you said wouldn't please me, but that's beside the point -- you posted a reasonable, thoughtful version of how you would make the Newva if you were in LEGO's shoes. With plenty of details to get the idea across. Folks, this is how you do constructive criticism. Thanks for doing that, ToM. And for what it's worth, a lot of it would actually please me. I wouldn't change Pohatu's colors; but that's me and orange. Dunno if you're interested in a point-by-point list of what I'd like in there and what I wouldn't, but if you request I'll post one. No time right now and you probably aren't. A couple things I would/wouldn't do: -- No brown, Avak or otherwise. Unless it was something like Carapar with orange or yellow melding into it. I'd want Pohatu to be as strong a seller as possible and brown in any form seems to be a weakness. (Though I love brown.) Not going to specify whether I'd make him yellow or orange, 'cuz I think we need to get results of this instance before we can judge orange's popularity. -- I'd probably keep the "bley". My sense is, based mostly on my own tastes I'll admit so take with salt, that most fans like that color. I doubt changing it to another cool color would hurt too bad though. I wouldn't see something that superficial as a secondary color change as very important either way, especially since with silver kept it's really more of a tertiary color. -- Kopaka feathers -- I still think a coolified airplane style wing fits him much better, personality-wise. (As in, probably cooler than what they made.) The kind of wing you suggested sounds more fitting for someone like Matoro than Kopaka. -- Lewa's green -- I don't see using Mata green as necessarily a bad idea this long after its last appearance. Either way it would be a "new" color, as lime green hasn't been used in mainline Toa either (Lesovikk isn't a core six canister set). The argument could go two ways -- on one hand, a mainline lime Toa to go with Lesovikk is both innovative, a "new" color for most fans, and for the ones that did get Lesovikk who may be more likely to be MOCers, more pieces in a color they already have which can be used for MOCing. It's also a little more eye-catching than Mata green. On the other hand, I've never heard anything about Mata green selling poorly, and it would also be a "new" color for most fans, even newer than lime, plus a boon for older fans who still remember Lewa Mata/Nuva. So on that one I'd probably flip a coin, unless set designers or somebody showed evidence like focus data that one color or the other is more popular. --

You've got name recog now man.

I really like what you've got so far, ToM. I agree about his name, BTW -- I can't read it without it sounding like "Aunt Rose." Maybe it's "Ahntrahz"... but still, awkward. Still sounds like a british-accent "Aunt". About the wings, I'm torn because the first pic wings don't look flexible but the held in arms thing isn't as good as a seperate wing on the back. I don't mind handheld wings but "Makuta" to me means seperate wings on the back, ever since Ultimate Dume, heh. With the build you've got so far in the first pic, I really wouldn't change anything except maybe some more red around the feet. Very inventive, and very "cool" as I define it. Much better than your redesigned Nuva IMT.

Okay, then my guess is the blue shapes are joined in the center but the yellow shapes are not? And the line is the blue showing up between. Looking closer that does seem to be the case. So the solution would be to ungroup everything and move the yellow parts towards each other with the arrow keys once or twice. Lemme know if that does it.. That's because the halves weren't stitched up yet at the point I took those screenshots (and in one I was showing how I was changing on half during revision -- and would later delete the copied half and recopy the new design) -- that's on purpose. Those errors are gone in the final mask, as far as I can see. And thanks. Wasn't planning on it, as I think I've said the vast majority of what I have to say. Maybe if there are enough questions you guys raise that I didn't already answer there'd be enough for a third entry. It takes a good amount of time to make these kinds of entries, so I don't want to keep it up, as I have many other entry ideas sitting on the shelf. Glad you enjoyed 'em though.

I like the first one better. See my reply to your PM about the line -- it was explained in the Symmetry and Layers sections of the other entry, but you might not have caught it, as it's a little confusing.

Smeag, man -- you don't need to be so defensive. I think you're forgetting that I'm not talking just to you -- blog comments are just as public as forum posts, so I design them to be understandable to an audience as well as the person I'm talking to. I've seen the term used the "new" way several times in the last two months, so I know you're not the only person using it, and by clearing up how I mean it, I can prevent the need for clarification later. Once it's cleared up, we can then better understand what we are both saying with the topic at hand. And in this case, my pointing out the difference between the two has a point -- though in all fairness, it's directed at a recent entry in Ikki's blog more than at anyone here. Remember the saying that 90% (or whatever) of disagreement is caused by confusion over terms, so it's wise to take a step back now and then and define how the terms are being used to avoid any possible equivocation fallacies/confusion by readers. No need to be defensive about it. You'll notice I was not defensive when ToM stepped back and did the same thing earlier; I commended that as a wise choice, and I stand by that statement. All you had to do was answer the question "yes." And I don't think it's out of line for me to point out that I don't appreciate my responses constantly being replied to with some sort of "now now" comment. I don't mind honest reactions -- I use 'em too -- but that particular one is getting mighty old. The way I'm posting these comments is the way that has been honed over years of debate now, but of course no single strategy of speech is going to resonate the same way with everybody; people are like snowflakes, as I say. (Again, this is not directed only at you either, Smeag. I am demonstrating that I am fully familiar with this particular topic by posting a complete and coherent explication of that topic, as it were.) When you see making these kinds of posts, it's carefully designed with several factors in mind; I'm not just posting random thoughts. But I understand, of course, that that fact isn't inherently obvious. I guess it'll be time for another blog entry I can link to, sigh... (Not that I don't make mistakes!)