ALVIS

Sorry, Dual Matrix, but there are only so many stories I want canonized from this contest. My belief is that only the stories that really explore a character's fundamental nature and outlook should be canonized, and while yours isn't bad, other candidates do it better.

I much prefer Entry 2. Ihu's characterization is just as I imagined him, and I like the dynamic between him and Nuju. Entry 1 just doesn't agree with my interpretation of the character.

I bear no ill will towards the writers of either entry, but I don't personally feel that Lhikan needs any more appearances in the official canon. Let the focus go to characters who didn't get quite so much time in the spotlight.

The crucial flaw with Entry 2 is that it disobeys an unwritten rule of storytelling: "show, don't tell". Entry 2's account of events is dry and dwells on actions and facts, rather than the thoughts and feelings of the characters, as Entry 1 does. Although Jovan turned out not to be dead after all, I wouldn't object to canonizing Entry 1. It gives him both an actual in-person appearance and some interesting characterization. And who could say no to a bit more action on Voya Nui?

I'm torn. I prefer the story of "The Unknown Turaga", but I especially like Eliminator's note at the end of "The Last Chronicle". I'll come back to this one.

I don't have anything against Toa Makao's story, but I'm voting against it. The story doesn't contribute anything major to Zaktan's biography or give a really deep insight into his character. More importantly, Zaktan turned out not to be dead, and I think the winning stories should go to characters who actually did pass away.

I said three. It's the maximum number of short stories that have been canonized through similar contests, and hopefully it's few enough that only the really good ones will get through. (Personally, I don't have a lot of stock in this contest, since I didn't write "An Even Exchange" until after the submission deadline had passed. In another history, maybe...)

Why, yes, the word Matoran would be more appropriate. The term "tohunga" was pulled from the saga's lexicon because it offended the Maori people, to whom it rightfully belongs. Continuing to use the term to refer to a LEGO product instead of its actual meaning(s) is disrespectful to their culture and language. The more you know ~

All I need do is link you to my Tumblr posts tagged "headcanon". A few of them aren't related to BIONICLE, but most are.

It was certainly one of the earlier ones (it was going to be packaged with The Legend of Mata Nui, IIRC), but I don't know if it was the first one. Probably the first Kanohi was the Hau, or another Toa Mata mask. I suppose we can't know for sure. Regardless, I realize that I'm not contributing anything to this topic by being pedantic about what was and wasn't the first Kanohi, so I'm going to stop this train of thought right here.

Um... I hate to burst your bubble, but the Vahi was not the first Kanohi by any stretch of the imagination. It was forged by Vakama after the Great Cataclysm -- 99,000 years after Karzahni and Artakha battled over the Mask of Creation. We don't know which Kanohi was technically forged first (it could have just been an innocuous Hau), but it certainly wasn't the Vahi.

I posted this theory on Tumblr a few days ago, but I think I ought to share it here, too, since it makes a great difference in judging the new online animations. Here's the original text, modified from Tumblr: Those of us who are obsessed with clarifying every last detail of G1 should prepare for a very different experience in G2. It's going to be much looser and less clear about what's canon and what isn't. Maybe everything is canon; maybe nothing is canon. Essentially, if we S&T folks want to enjoy G2, we need to loosen up and just go with the flow. Thoughts?

You can do that if you like, but he will probably say the same thing he has said in many such forgetcon situations: that he cannot be expected to remember everything he has ever said about the BIONICLE saga, and that we should check his current answers against his older ones. Make sure to explain that he first said Velika was a GB in the AU. Greg never answers hypothetical fight scenes, because of all the variables that go into a conflict.

Well, then, we have a contradiction on our hands. BS01 was edited (by me) to reflect the more recent answer, but if a previous answer exists which contradicts that answer, it takes precedence. I will edit BS01 accordingly. Sorry about the confusion! Anyway, that should answer the OP. I don't see any reason Velika couldn't become a Toa; it's a purely physical change, and it presumably wouldn't mess with his consciousness.

I like it. Now try to explain Nuhvok-Kal.

Ooh, I like it. That connects two adversaries that otherwise weren't related, streamlines the story without sacrificing depth or complexity, and heightens the dangerous likelihood of Velika taking control of Spherus Magna. Don't anyone ask Greg, because he'll say no and ruin it all!

So, should I bring the matter to Greg? The reason I ask is because he's given confusing answers on the subject, and I want to try and get them cleared up. Should I make a poll to determine what suggestion to make?

Noooo! Not Don! D:

I'll ask Greg for clarification, but I want to get my facts straight first. Are we thinking that the Shadow Takanuva wore Kanohi Avohkii, but didn't use them, or that they exchanged their Kanohi Avohkii for different masks?

Greg has responded to your query. Unfortunately, I think the whole mess about the Toa Mangai has made him wary of further canonization, and he says it's more likely that they were simply not active in locations we saw in the story. :/ Second question first - since the Kraahkan was made under different circumstances than the Avohkii, I can't see why there would need to be a similarity in materials here. As for the first question - rather than doing another canonization, wouldn't it make just as much sense to say that since Plasma Matoran lived somewhere other than Metru Nui, Toa of Plasma were much more active in that region. We simply did not see much of them because our story was largely focused on Metru Nui and its environs.

I brought that theory before Greg, and he has responded. I think it is a valid argument. I have only two qualms about it: 1) Light is so toxic to a being of shadow that it is hard for me to picture them using it as a weapon. It would be like Dracula throwing garlic at people. 2) I am not entirely sure the Melding can be used for evidence, simply because the rules of reality can be different in different universes. I would not say that RULES OUT your theory, by any means -- it is not a strong enough objection to do that, just a minor point. I don't find #2 very persuasive at all, but #1 is a valid objection. Somebody else then pointed out that the Shadow Takanuva had never been seen to use the Avohkii, and Greg finds that to be a reasonable explanation. I don't recall them ever using their masks in story, so that theory works too.

Boidoh, BS01 does not always have entirely accurate information. As an editor yourself, you should know that. We have seen Ko-Matoran with colors of white and black. A logical conclusion is that black is an acceptable secondary color for Ice-affiliated beings. In fact, I will go and add black to that list of secondary colors right now. Are you sure that wasn't dark gray? This is really not worth debating. If a MOC artist wants to build a Toa of Ice using white and black pieces, is anybody going to bother stopping them?

You know what, I'm just going to leave this here.

Boidoh, BS01 does not always have entirely accurate information. As an editor yourself, you should know that. We have seen Ko-Matoran with colors of white and black. A logical conclusion is that black is an acceptable secondary color for Ice-affiliated beings. In fact, I will go and add black to that list of secondary colors right now.