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.

First Kanohi made by LEGO I think he means.

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:

 

While avidly devouring the BIONICLE 2015 animations, I couldn’t help but notice one thing: there’s only one voice actor. Every character (even Gali) is voiced by the same guy, just in slightly different intonations.

This oddity, combined with the consistent use of the imperfect tense (“Lewa, Toa of Jungle, was cutting through thick woodlands”), and the emphasis on “the mythical island of Okoto”, seems to suggest one thing:

BIONICLE 2015 is being presented as a story. Not just a story, but a story being told or read to an audience. This would explain why the narrator and characters have the same voice, why the narrator explains the characters’ thoughts and actions, and even why the dialogue is so fast-paced.

Now, as for who’s telling the story… who knows? That’s up to us to decide.

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.

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?

Interesting note: the Don page on the wiki has been deleted. Or at least the one ShadowWolfHount linked to is.

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. :/

 

 

Hello Greg, an idea I've had which hopefully you can shed some wisdom on. Basically my idea is that much like Ba Matoran are a rarer type of Matoran, would it be okay if Su Matoran (Matoran of Plasma) are also canonised as a rarer type of Matoran.

 

Plasma is a powerful element as a whole, stars are made of plasma. Su Matoran have a similar Matoran ability to Ta Matoran (heat resistance). Its not a huge lore changing idea its just I don't see too many of them roaming around, not to mention we have Fire Toa who are able to use a heat based power. Also I don't think this would change THAT much, considering we've only had two Plasma Toa shown in the story (One in an Alt dimension).

 

I wouldn't be at all surprised if a new Toa of Plasma had underestimated their own power output and done more than what was intended, eg melting an entire door when they only meant to destroy the lock.

 

What do you think, is it minor enough for you to canonise? Please give me your feedback

 

Also unrelated but would you say since the Kraahkan is made of Protosteel its fair to say that the Avohkii is also made of Protosteel?

Thankyou and have a wonderful, day, night, whatever time you read this at.

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 am running a BZPower thread to discuss the Shadow Takanuva's Avohkii. One person brought up a very good point: in the Melding alternate universe, Teridax banished his inner darkness, but his Kanohi Kraahkan did not experience any change in its powers. It follows that the same thing should have happened to the Shadow Takanuva's Avohkii. Since the Toa, not the Kanohi, were drained of light, there would be no effect on the Avohkii.

 

Everyone who has posted since that argument was made agrees with that line of thinking. The only objection raised is that, some weeks ago, you said "Shadow Takanuva would not wear masks that promote peace and light". What do you think, given this information?

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.

 

 

 

1. did the shadow takanuva ever use their masks? i was kind of thinking that perhaps the mask didn't change, but b/c they were now beings of shadow like you said, they just didn't use the mask... they made sure it was turned off all the time.

I don't recall them ever using their masks in story, so that theory works too.

 

 

 

It doesn't say that on the ice page...

Primary: White

Secondary: Light gray, sand blue, dark grey

 

 

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.

 

It doesn't say that on the ice page...

Primary: White

Secondary: Light gray, sand blue, dark grey

 

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.

Kadin is making a serious comeback... Adaption i sbeing left in the dust.

Well, that's only to be expected. The Kadin and the Kaukau have the advantages of being featured in sets and in story. People know about them, whereas most people have never heard of the "Mask of Adaptation" and would have to look it up on BS01. Plus, they are more easily represented in MOCs and fan art, making them more amenable to fans who have an interest in such things.

I'm not voting, because the Toa's Kanohi really don't matter that much to me. If I were going to vote, though, it would definitely be for one of those two. (Probably the Kadin, since it has fewer bearers than the Kaukau, and I'd prefer to see a less prominent mask used.)