Hello everyone. I've just barely started working on designing the first set (corresponding with 2001 Bionicle) for a Bionicle TCG (I'll post more about it on BZP once I have more details), and have a couple specific questions for determining the way I should make some mechanics work such that they'll be in keeping with the lore, as much as I can without it getting in the way of the gameplay.
What is the fundamental difference between Noble Kanohi and Great Kanohi? I know the Great Kanohi are generally more powerful, but what is the real difference between them? And why can Turaga use the abilities of Noble Kanohi, but not Matoran? Could a Matoran theoretically wear a Great Kanohi, and if so, would they still be unable to use its abilities? Is it possible for a Noble Kanohi to become a Great Kanohi or vice versa (aside from a Toa just becoming a Turaga)? Does their difference have anything to do with energized vs. non-energized protodermis?
Does activating the ability of a Kanohi deplete any form of energy? Like, a Toa can't just use their Kanohi's ability endlessly, right? How taxing is it for a Toa/etc. to use the ability of their Kanohi, if so? It is similar to how their elemental powers work (they can use it, for a limited time, then just have to wait and recover for a little while)?
*I think I know the answer to this one, but did the Toa Mata's Kanohi have their abilities when they first arrived on Mata Nui? I seem to remember them not having their abilities until they met with the Turaga or something but I could be mistaken. In this case, did the Kanohi actually not have any abilities, or did the Toa just not know how to access them?
(*I just looked at the first comic and it seems like they had access to their Kanohi and elemental abilities from the get-go, so I guess I remembered incorrectly. Does someone know what I'm thinking of with them needing to meet with the Turaga first about something? In any case, I think game-wise it the Kanohi will need to start out powerless, but we'll see.)
How do elemental abilities work for non-Toa? I get that Matoran of a given element are more proficient with that element (e.g., Onu-Matoran are good at mining), but do they have any actual powers? Or is that just restricted to the Toa? Do the Turaga retain any elemental powers?
Energized protodermis prompted the growth of nature that became the island of Mata Nui, but are all of the plants and everything made out of protodermis? Both Mata Nui and Voya Nui have jungle-like terrains unlike what most of what we see in the GSR, so I'm guessing that the energized protodermis just prompted the growth of life already existing in the otherwise natural world of Aqua Magna, in combination with the large supply of water surrounding them to help the plants grow.
edit: One more thing, I'm guessing not, but do we know of any characters with connections to multiple elements? The closest thing I can think of is Takua being a "Ta-Matoran" while actually being an Av-Matoran, but have we seen anyone with actual access to multiple elements?
Thank you very much for any help you can give! I'm very excited to be working on this project. I love TCGs and just card games in general, and realized Bionicle is basically the absolute perfect setting for a TCG. The way the world/story/characters/etc. was created was already made in a way such that it's easy to make representations of things in the world (toys), and entails a certain amount of collectability, but in a very natural way. It really just fits perfectly. I'll be sure to share more here once I have the first set done (or at least a lot of work put into it)! Also if any of you have any sort of skill and interest in graphic design stuff, I could really use someone to help me with coming up with the visual design of the cards once I've gotten further into design. I'm extremely non-graphical.