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Metru Minstrel

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Everything posted by Metru Minstrel

  1. Horrified by this realization, I split open my chestplate, showering your reflection with raw electrical energy until the Ignika tumbles to the ground. Retrieving it is the easy part. Far harder is the comeback, smashing against things to stimulate my brain into wakefulness, arms clutched tightly around my prize. My mask.
  2. @Raph It depends on who you are, what you do with your time, and what's of value to you. Me, I'm nearing thirty and collect toys. I photograph them, customize them, sometimes do short stop motions... they're one of my happy places. So I still have all of my old Bionicles. In fact I'm just now weeding through them, because I don't need those extra Bohrok I picked up in a thrift store lot, or the Toa Hordika I wasn't into, but got in an Ebay parts bag. I found a local Lego shop in a town about two hours away that will undoubtedly underpay me only to overcharge someone else, but I don't mind because: Small business + Getting it into the hands of someone who will love it + No online fees and shipping = Win-win. However if you no longer feel the need to hold onto your Bionicles and don't want to donate them to a thrift store, you could try selling them on a site like Bricklink? Titan Mata Nui and Makuta fetch pretty good prices, I think, and playwear is to be expected.
  3. @Pohaturon Man, look at this chap! He's out there! There's a whole story waiting to be told in his design. I don't even know half of these parts and I'm loving it. The flower petal shape? Perfect. The tiny accessories for the accents? Tie the organic-in-mechanical concepts together nicely. Those talons for the hands and feet mesh with the triangular and living nature of the petals well. And the eye. The eye is a strong focal point, especially with the chains drawing back to it. Going back through the archives, you've made some wonderful creations, but this is going to be one of my new favorites.
  4. This. This right here. The problems with the reboot all spoke for themselves: The toys were cheaper feeling, with thinner plastics and the skeletal 'snap on armor' system Lego adopted for its humanoid figures. They were very much the same, with only superficial differences. And while you could argue that the originals had the same gimmick, Lego specifically broke out of this from time to time, starting with the very first Toa. Pohatu and Onua had a strikingly different feel from Kopaka or Lewa with their top and bottom-heavy builds. Gali's hook hands and clear mask made her stick out. Tahu had his sword of flame, something none of the others could boast. They did it again with Phantonka, making each character strikingly unique, and to a lesser degree with Ignika. Reboot Toa by far looked the most clean-cut and generic with their circuity chestpieces, and the lack of organic details added to the 'cut and paste from the mold' feel in a way that the nice nod to the old gear action feature just couldn't supplement. By the time the pieces had gotten a little more interesting, the line was already failing, and some of the best the series had to offer little more than hit the shelves before it was discontinued. And then you had the story which was just... terrible. It's like they took the bare bones of the idea, tossed all the meat out the window and said, "We don't need this! It's for seven year olds. They'll buy shiny bot heroes." Incredibly disappointing from a company that has built its legacy on creativity, innovation, and lorebuilding, going back to some of the earliest Minifig sets. Making Gali male with no replacement was already a weird choice, but it truly emphasized how generic and stripped down the entire thing was. No distinct characters. No complex development or plot. 'Ooh spooky' generic bad guy with none of the wit of a Teridax or Roodaka. Why was he even bad news? I barely remember. Something about stealing replacement-Mata-Nui's mask to make himself the master of the world. It's sad to say, but stoking the nostalgia would be about the best they could do at this point, and without Greg and the team, the idea that it would be well done is questionable. The best we could hope for would be in the toys themselves: either some re-released or redesigned sets, and maybe some new characters if they felt adventurous. Bionicle died corporately not when the line was cancelled, but when the creative crew was split up. There's no greater lore without them, and of course, the toys and the lore together was was made it great. You're absolutely right. It would cheapen it. Part of me wants it so badly, but unless they could do it with respect and tribute to both toys and lore, is it really something we need? There are great fan products out there doing that right. While I question how successful, it's hard to argue with the results of that poll. A zillion Lego fans of every decade all over the world, many of whom are parts purists, and what wins? Bionicle. That is staying power. But again, without Greg behind it, is this something we would get? And would it be any good if we did? Not that he was the sole force behind the lore,but he was such a driving one, and the principal continuation even when the line petered out. However if such a thing were released, you can bet I'd throw my money at it faster than you can shout 'Takua!' and take my chances. That would be the dream, and one to happily encourage. I am still keeping my eyes open and fingers crossed for our theoretical anniversary set(s). Hopefully Lego honors its word with its best foot forward.
  5. BZP. The one, the only big online hub for Bionicle freaks everywhere. It was 2009, and after a long time stalking, I finally signed up. I'd already acquired a Nidhiki-themed name on DeviantArt and thought 'I'll do Sidorak here'. Say 'sike' right now- all the good ones were taken. Imagine that. 'Sidy' was the most unoffensive compromise I could muster. "At least it has no numbers", I said. In those days I was mostly active in the comedy threads. My posts are so old that they've long disappeared to the nether, but through audience participation, 'Sidy' developed a character of their own- a female Steltian entrepreneur who left the island to sell her work without competition. There was an ongoing gag that she had a rivalry with Vezon over who could pull off the greatest evil schemes, and for a while, it was what I was 'known' for. Looking back on it now, it was all good childish fun, and the name doesn't reflect my interests anymore, but I decided to keep it for now, and lengthen it proper. Sidrohan is an integral part of my history here, and represents a lot of great memories.
  6. @Pohaturon Man, you ever see a MOC and the bell in your head dings 'Perfect!'? This not only captures the spirit of your character, it nails the Bionicle universe vibe as a whole. With so much good detail, where to begin? +The apron design. Perfect top, excellent choice of bottom. More real cloth parts for builds! +The stubby hands. Use of functional figures is usually a great choice. Even moreso on a craftsman. Speaking of which... +The tools. You really knocked them out of the park. Such a simple yet effective use of parts, and the tiny bust being built out of the boulder is both one of the focal points and the cherry on top. Not to mention the wonderful tie-in back to Pohatu's original set. +The feet. Granted we didn't see Matoran with opposable toes, but with the mechanical hands, why not? They balance everything out, and look proportionate with the armor. +Armor. Yes. Let's talk about that too. So you used the snap-on system, which has some beautiful pieces, but one of my pet peeves about it was always how naked figures looked from the back. Is that a Borok paddle on his spine? Whatever it is, it looks great, ties in pallet-wise and thematically, and makes him feel more whole. This is such a solid build and impressive in its simplicity. The table looks great too.
  7. @Toa ZazThese look fantastic! I've often fiddled with Bionicle costume designs, but was opting for a more 'human' compromise than going all-out. Vezon looks like he stepped right out of the box, and if the rest of Brutaka turns out as nicely as the Olmak, he's going to own. There's an incredible faithfulness to detail here, and you've done magnificently.
  8. Another year to sit back thinking, 'Gosh, I'm old!' I love this movie. I don't know which I enjoy more- Mask of Light or Legends. Mask has that wonderful dark atmosphere and sense of hopelessness, but Legends has heart. Not that there aren't memorable characters in Mask- they sealed the popularity of Bionicle for years to come. But Vakama's band always struck me as real people you could bump into. Like Takua and Jaller, they had a natural chemistry that wasn't perfect and ebbed and flowed with the mood. I appreciated that they were written to clash rather than work, and it wasn't all solved with easy fixes and feelgood moments. That isn't how life works, and we don't tell children that through media anymore. They grew together over time, and I wish we would have gotten more opportunities to see that on screen and pages. That and Matau. Flamboyant goofball. Every good guy side needs a likable team jerk- no faction is perfect.
  9. I had the most terrible time picking my three. Since moving back out of the college dorm one and a half weeks ago, this has to have been one of the most difficult decisions presented to me. So many wonderful ideas! Even if none of my personal picks make the final cut, I know that some great ideas shall be set into motion, and have high hopes that those authors who are not chosen may have their chance to shine in the next choosing.
  10. These are some intriguing ideas indeed! Teridax toothpaste sounds like a unique way to build up a technical firm, and Heroes' personal lives sound like a fun path to explore. Also, Von Ness' acceptance of bribes, as well as Aldus' involvement make a lot of sense. Poor, poor Nex and his sudden non-existence. I've had this sneaking hunch for the longest time that Von Ness/Von Nebula is not the only member of the Wave I villains to have once been associated with Hero Factory. Most of the criminals of that era whom the Heroes arrest seem to hold some kind of personal record with Stormer, and seem well acquainted with his presence. I know that someone on DA did a strip a quite a while ago about Corroder's past with them(Which I've sadly never been able to refind), but to me Xplode was always the more likely candidate as he seems to have a particularly strong disliking for Stormer, and a deeper desire than the other secondary villains to see him downed. Granted, this is mainly for the purpose of establishing that Stormer is quite talented and has been at his post for a long time in the lives of young heroes and citizens alike, but it still struck me as an interesting turn of events that could have been exploited. Secondly, the cool-headed portion of Splitface's two personalities was also a Hero. Here's where things get really murky in my own personal territory, more like fan fiction and less just straight theory. I have this pet thought that once upon a dream, the 'Hero' side of who would become Splitface was a condescending and unpleasant, but outwardly popular team leader at Hero Factory. He had a tight-knit and talented team, but only about four of them, himself included, were ever recognized for their efforts. Amongst the forgotten was a lowly demolitions expert who, despite his knack for strategy and seeing the big picture, was constantly the butt of everyone's jokes due to his position. But with the rise of new up-and-comings such as Preston Stormer, the team was forced to share the spotlight and even work together with others. Actually run missions with rookies?! How humiliating! Or at least so thought the team leader. And what was worse yet- this 'Stormer' fellow actually took the time for the losers in the group. Meanwhile, the demolitions expert felt hopeful; here at last was someone who would listen and understand, someone who might be able to stand up for those crushed beneath the limelight. Things seemed to be looking up... But a mission gone awry changed everything. The demolitions expert gave advice- the ground was too unstable, he said, and no one member of the party should go after the criminal without backup. The team leader, in his typical fashion, ignored this and ordered the demolitionist to plant explosives throughout an exposed quaza mining site that ran straight beneath the villain's lair. Furthermore, he split up the team, which included the rookies Stormer and Von Ness, in order to comb the territory more effectively. He found the crook, a battle ensued in the lair's lab, where the combatants were surrounded by illegal chemicals and caged mutations of the local wildlife, and in the heat of things the leader ordered the explosives fired, thinking they were safely out of range and hoping that the sound would throw his quarry off. The demolitions expert, who had laid the charges with hopes of preventing another argument between them, but not anticipating their actual use, protested, climbing down into the mine to deactivate them. But a member of the team freshly returned followed the insistent cries of his leader, and activated the explosives, igniting the mine with the demolitionist still inside. The aftershock tremors shook through the unstable ground, and the lab was torn asunder, all of its chemicals and equipment enveloping Hero and villain alike. The two beings were merged, becoming Splitface. The demolitionist, meanwhile, unbeknownst to the crew, survived the subsequent fiery cavein and remained conscious long enough to see the team leave without him, without even bothering to search for him. I imagine one of the last conscious memories he retained was of a young Stormer simply walking away, without a glance in his direction. In the mine he lay, exposed for an uncalculated amount of time to the raw quaza and other elements lodged there, some of which bore naturally explosive properties. Gradually they warped his physical form, as well as his mind, and he too began to change. Crystals charged with unstable energy grew from his body, and, left alone in the dark with nothing but his anger and frustration to keep him company, he chose to blame Hero Factory and his former bastion of hope, Stormer, for all that had happened. Why did they do nothing to protect the lesser Heroes from the abuse they suffered beneath their peers? Why did no one even bother to search for his remains? How could Hero Factory, a beacon that shone outwardly for hope and good, be so deceptive and hypocritical of its own teachings within? When he at last did manage to gather his strength and crawl his way to the surface, he vowed to wipe out the cancerous plague that was Hero Factory, or at least be as big of a thorn in its side as he could manage. Taking the name Xplode as a mockery of all the cruel jokes at his expense, he outfitted himself with new armor and began a lasting reign of sabotage and thievery across the galaxy, earning a reputation as one of the most wanted criminals still roaming. As he viewed Stormer as a sort of physical manifestation of the Factory's hidden evils, a broken promise tempting others with its lies, his acts became more of a personal vendetta against the Hero, and he sought to destroy him at every turn, partly as a demonstration, a cutting of one of the snake's many heads, and partly for personal revenge. Stormer, simply doing his duty, continued to suffer through it, simply bringing the maddened mutant to justice again, and again, and again... Also, is it just me, or is Mister Makuro awfully prejudice about why he tosses someone out of the Factory? I mean, wanting to at least try to fit yourself with a quaza core, or chickening out in a major fight are not reasons to be labeled criminals and banished from the immediate galaxy. Sure, being discharged is one thing, but sent packing from the planet? Accepting bribes and being in on villainous schemes would surely be of much more merit than simply,"Oh. You messed up. Now I give you zee boot!" Because if some of these fan cannons are not true in one way or another, I'd also hazard a guess that Mister Makuro is not the wise, benevolent leader he seems to be. Tossing someone out into the far depths of space with a restraining order is not how to deal with psychological problems in your staff!
  11. "You know, that little reboot of yours is doing pretty great in the box offices these days." "Aaaaugh! Don't remind me! Lucky guy- he's all CGI-animated. He doesn't get endless letters of complaint about 'rubber suit syndrome'.
  12. "My 'Italy' costume is almost complete...but I think I overdid it on the hair gel a little. That curl is out of control!"
  13. I must respectfully and most heartily disagree. Greetings, fellow Bionicle musical enthusiast! I feel you have an excellent start here; classical theatrical music patterns, jumps, and tempos, good lyrics and a strong, lovely voice. I would harp a bit on the microphone quality and the use of human allusions (IE 'damsel in distress'), but I know from personal experience that microphones are difficult to begin with and especially rough on theatrical-level singing, and the stylization of the lyrics is definitely up to the person writing them. What's important is that you have excellent foundations, and have actually written songs. Do you have some way of playing and recording instrumentals for these songs? Also, it's best to ensure that they are sung in keys good for your voice. For the most part they flowed well, but there were a couple points that sounded a tad high. Still, all in all, practice really does make perfect, even on the stickler notes. I am definitely keeping an eye on this project, and can't wait to see more of it! Is there anything you would like contributed aside from feedback?
  14. I find it simply fascinating that you also possess parents who were at one time highly opposed to violent toys as well. I always loved action figures and weapons as a child, no matter the age, but wasn't permitted to bring even sticks from the back yard into the house. If I recall correctly, Bionicle was really the first ever 'action figure' type toy I owned. In spring of 2001, I recall seeing a large cardboard display of various Toa- Kopaka, Pohatu, and Onua, I believe. I thought they were video game characters at the time, and while they looked amazing, I dismissed them as non- toys. Then during the summer, I saw my first actual canisters in a Wal-Mart somewhere out of town and was instantly enthralled. From the moment I lay eyes on him, Onua Mata was absolutely perfect. I loved his large claws and his tribal-esque mask reminiscent of a bowling ball. And even though I never dared ask my parents for anything moderately related to action-oriented toys, I just had to have him. I begged my family incessantly, but of course being sensible, level-headed people, they said 'no'. Yet it was a torment they would learn to endure; every trip to a department store, I would inevitably wander down the toy aisle, and every time the same request would be raised. Looking back now, I don't know how they survived my constant pesterings until December 25th, but when I opened up my packages that fateful Christmas Eve, I was greeted by the sight of both Gali Mata and Onua Mata as well (I opened Gali first and was flabbergasted and confused until Onua's canister saw the light of day a moment later). So I suppose that Gali and Onua are both technically my first Bionicle...but you can be certain that I assembled Onua first.
  15. In (A Most Belated)answer to your question,you intrueged me,so I decided to chekc out your profile. :3

  16. Hi there! Just dropped by to thank you for your very kind comment on my story,Broken. I really apreciate the feedback!

  17. stopmotions* to be made. Take care! -Salutes-

    For the glory of the Colony! All Predacons,Attaaaaaack!!! -Rushes off to work on her projects-

  18. clear* plastic. It's so flimsy!

    Anywhose,congradulations on the Hot Topic! You totally deserve. What a great thing to do...giving everyone a chance to explain the origins of their screen names and a place to arcive all the different aliases people here have taken over time! -High fives-

    But I must now be off. There are MOCs to be built for art projects and sto

  19. Hi there! I appologise for being so late to respond,but thank you so much for your kind response on my story! It's not my best work(Which happens to be a Beast Wars fic still in progress),but I think it turned out half decent for a random drabble that I concocted loosely based around real events.

    And yes,Ignika limb sockets are TERRIBLE! >.

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