Is Protodermis an indefinite power reserve?

[fishers64]

Or is there simply a lot of power in it? Do you think the power in things like the Mask of Life will eventually run out?

Edited November 24, 2012 by fishers64

[bonesiii]

I think it's something like solar panels; it absorbs energy from surroundings IMO. Could be wrong though.

[Erebus]

I'm going to assume that Mask of Life is an example:

12) Can a Toa, or any other Kanohi-able being activate a mask's power as often as they need to, say a Hau in combat, or does it mentally tax them each time they do so, and so they would only have a certain number of times they could use the power?

12) The mask can be used until its power runs out, which might be many, many years. But you have to maintain concentration to use it, so if you are tired or battered or distracted, you won't be able to make it work.

12) So does that mean that a mask has a certain amount of energy, and the more you use it, the more it drains it's power sort of like a battery?

12) Yes.

In my opinion, I would say Protodermis does run out of power. Doubtful that anything in the Matoran Universe can run forever or contain its power indefinitely.

[Katuko]

Judging by what we've seen, though, a Toa can wear his mask for thousands of years and not need a replacement. I think it is safe to say that even though a mask can run out, it does not do so in a way that would make anyone carry "spare batteries".It raises the question, though, of how a mask that is running low on power will actually behave. Will it see the effect of its power gradually reduced, or will it just shut straight off when it finally runs out?

[Wordmeister]

Maybe kanohi recharge when not in use. Or they recharge when in use, like a car battery.

[Toa of Nerds]

If there is a power limit to protodermis, then it's a very large amount. Keep in mind that this stuff has been sitting around inside of Mata-Nui for thousands of years, and it still works just fine.-don't touch my pockert protector

[Katuko]

It's likely that it does something similar to what bonesiii suggested: pull power from the environment somehow. Since everything in the MU is made of protodermis, and Toa and different special powers can apparently convert things between solid matter and energy, I'd not be surprised if the protodermis is capable of being charged from any kind of latent energy like the sun or electromagnetic fields; in addition to its immense internal storage. It might be that a mask that runs out of power does so simply from wear and tear (the protodermis itself finally being somewhat destabilized by excessive power channeling), not a lack of energy per se. A meltdown and reconstruction (recycling) of the molecules would make the proto ready for use again, but as well all know melting a Kanohi causes a lot of power to leak into the environment instead.

[Taipu1]

Maybe kanohi recharge when not in use. Or they recharge when in use, like a car battery.

If I could be pedantic for a moment ( ), a car battery doesn't necessarily charge when the battery is in use. Its charged by the alternator which uses the engine to charge the battery. I don't think anything could recharge off itself while using energy as well, there has to be an external input.My over enthusiasm for picking holes in a perfectly innocent analogy aside, I think Gregs quotes provided by Erebus seem pretty black and white on this subject, perhaps, like batteries its possible to recharge them, but it would probably require proactivity in doing so, I highly doubt it does it automatically. Edited November 22, 2012 by Taipu1

[Wordmeister]

Maybe kanohi recharge when not in use. Or they recharge when in use, like a car battery.

If I could be pedantic for a moment ( ), a car battery doesn't necessarily charge when the battery is in use. Its charged by the alternator which uses the engine to charge the battery. I don't think anything could recharge off itself while using energy as well, there has to be an external input.My over enthusiasm for picking holes in a perfectly innocent analogy aside, I think Gregs quotes provided by Erebus seem pretty black and white on this subject, perhaps, like batteries its possible to recharge them, but it would probably require proactivity in doing so, I highly doubt it does it automatically

It was just a theory.Maybe the kanohi is fueled by it's wearer's power. That would explain why Matoran can't use them but Toa and Makuta can.

[Dual Cee]

Maybe kanohi recharge when not in use. Or they recharge when in use, like a car battery.

If I could be pedantic for a moment ( ), a car battery doesn't necessarily charge when the battery is in use. Its charged by the alternator which uses the engine to charge the battery. I don't think anything could recharge off itself while using energy as well, there has to be an external input.My over enthusiasm for picking holes in a perfectly innocent analogy aside, I think Gregs quotes provided by Erebus seem pretty black and white on this subject, perhaps, like batteries its possible to recharge them, but it would probably require proactivity in doing so, I highly doubt it does it automatically

It was just a theory.Maybe the kanohi is fueled by it's wearer's power. That would explain why Matoran can't use them but Toa and Makuta can.

I would go with this theory it takes power from the mind of the user. Like vakama and tahu being exhaused after using the vahi

[Constructelf]

But it would have to have some innate power of its own. You know, noble and great masks?

[Wordmeister]

But it would have to have some innate power of its own. You know, noble and great masks?

Maybe each mask has a limit to how much power it can absorb. But since Turaga are weaker than Toa and Makuta, that may not be necessary. Edited November 22, 2012 by DeltaStriker

[Makuta Matata]

I'd say it would run out, but not for a very, very long time. Also, I think you meant *there. XD

[fishers64]

It is confirmed that mental abilities control the use of masks, not the wearers' powers. When the Toa Nuva lost their elemental powers they were still able to use Great Kanohi.

[Dual Cee]

It is confirmed that mental abilities control the use of masks, not the wearers' powers. When the Toa Nuva lost their elemental powers they were still able to use Great Kanohi.

Yes thats why I meant mental energy, a mind needs energy too...

[Katuko]

It is confirmed that mental abilities control the use of masks, not the wearers' powers. When the Toa Nuva lost their elemental powers they were still able to use Great Kanohi.

Well, yes, the mask's function gets triggered by focusing mentally, and the more powerful masks require greater focus to keep in control over the power. However, remember that a mask also keeps its user awake (such as with the Matoran) and it has been confirmed that a mask can potentially run out of energy after several thousand years worth of use. The Ignika and Vahi definitely contain energies within them that can leak; and in the mask-making process of Ta-Metru a few levels worth of Kanoka disk power leaks out. Evidently there is energy in the mask itself that helps shape the power when it is triggered.We are just wondering what this energy would be, exactly, and if it lasts so long because it's being auto-charged by external forces or if it's simply the Protodermis itself that contains a lot or alternately uses extremely little of it at a time.