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We have our first clue as to the theme of this year's BotCon thanks to D-Drive, a member of fellow Transformers fansite TFW2005. D-Drive has managed to get a hold of a copy of the Diamond Edition Transformers Timelines #8 Machine Wars comic. Within the comic an add for this year's event can be found, which features Cybertron Canonball's pirate emblem on a black flag with the following text:

They sailed across the inky-black where the heavens can't be found
No light could show, no wind could blow, no soul could make a sound
Yet each mech aboard, garbed for war, holding a cutlass or a gun
and from the spotter above came the sign - We're bound for Cybertron!

It appears this year's theme will be Pirates! BotCon 2014 will be held in Pasadena, CA June 19th through 22nd.

uh-oh. Despite offering up some okay looking toys, the themes of the last few years have been ones I could quite easily ignore in my collection. But I really like the idea of Robot Space Pirates, be they Star Seekers or no. My wallet really hopes they're made out of terrible molds.

This has potential...

Behold, the age of the Star Seekers!



I was kinda hoping BotCon 2014 would be Beast Hunters themed, though. Thought we'd get some cool FE Bee and BH Smokey repaints to correspond with the show. Maybe it's still a possibility.

In any case, I'm excited to see what happens.

Ridiculous, yet awesome. Just like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.

If this is truly the theme, Cannonball's a given. Maybe from Arms Micron Breakdown, if FunPub's nuts enough.

Mindmaster wrote:Ridiculous, yet awesome. Just like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.

If this is truly the theme, Cannonball's a given. Maybe from Arms Micron Breakdown, if FunPub's nuts enough.

Looking up the Star Seekers lineup, they all use names well within Hasbro's reach:

- Cannonball
- Axer/Axor
- Sandstorm
- Brimstone

And in Cybertron, Buzzsaw, Skywarp, Brushguard and Runamuck were under Cannonball's command. I see potential.

Awesome theme, an interesting other faction for them to battle could be like some kind of Autobot navy

I think the power rangers are pirates now, too



Let's maybe try to do a little better than pirates, eh botcon.

Reminds me, I need to go looking for a Cannonball.

If done right, this could have a lot of fun potential. It could also do what I always say the BotCon and Club exclusives should do which is to expand upon existing stories. The "story behind the story" approach. Fill in the blanks. Concepts like Shattered Glass aren't for me because all it does is further complicate an already overly complicated storyline. Stories like the BotCon 2006 Beast Wars storyline are what I prefer because it fills in an important part of Transformers history that we wouldn't get otherwise.

Oh de-yarr. This may not be good for me, like craggy.

Looking at you, Thundertron. Looking at you.

This could work, though it depends on how fun pub plays it. It could sound stupid as all get out but still be awesome like Assassin's Creed 4, or if they play it wrong it could be a piss-poor concept, like Cutthroat island. Hopefully it's more like seibertron's predicting more of a unseen part of whatever mythos this is connected to.

If I could get a Cannonball to free up the CYB mold as a generic Dcon medic, I'd be happy.

Intriguing. Definitely not what I was expecting. I really thought it would be a totally 30th anniversary themed set, perhaps a figure/character from a different continuity for each slot. But this could work. I like pirates. As long as they pick the right characters and right molds, as well as creative color schemes. We'll see.

dedcat wrote:I think the power rangers are pirates now, too

Gokaiger aired 3 years ago, those of us who pay attention to these things knew when it'd show up here. It's more coincidence than anything that a Pirate Botcon set happens this year, too.

Pirates are an interesting idea if done well, though still a bit underwhelming for a big anniversary year. If this theme turns out to be based on the Star Seekers, would it be better to align the club fiction to the modern/aligned continuity, or to G1 (or something else entirely)? It would be nice to justify Thundertron's existence in the TF Prime line, but I also love expanding upon the G1 universe with new concepts and stories (like adapting the Autobot Elite Guard from Animated into G1 via the Wings of Honor universe).

Watch - this is where they'll make that Bludgeon costume from TF Animated a reality.

If they don't I'll be somewhat disappointed.

Have to chime in... if Hasbro and Takara are doing this classic 30 as their year's theme... then that's going to be hands-off for Botcon. Guessing ANY G1 or anything that would "steal the thunder" or compete with the main line is a no-no.... thus the original (and solid, I think) theme of pirates this year.

They always have to steer clear of the main line — characters/molds/lines currently on the shelf... and Botcon is generally shooting for a self-contained story and set of figures. That's not a surprise.

You can't fault them for having to follow rules set down by Hasbro.

eh, it just screams "boring" to me. Like they're jumping on the "what's cool on the internetz?" band wagon.

It will not surprise me if next years theme is Zombies.

Burn wrote:eh, it just screams "boring" to me. Like they're jumping on the "what's cool on the internetz?" band wagon.

It will not surprise me if next years theme is Zombies.

Didn't BBTS already have the Terrorcon figures?

Arrrghhh shiver me timbers...

Soooooo, I'm strongly considering making this my first Botcon after nearly 40 years. If I go, I will be taking my wife, who absolutely has no interest in my appreciation for my childhood addictions. So, couple questions:

1) is it worth it to register her?
2) is it worth it to buy her the convention set(s) in hopes of selling them after market?
3) if I am only able to swing one or two days, is it better to hit the earlier day(s) or later day(s)? Can you buy all the exclusives if you only show up early or late?
4) any other first-timer thoughts would be appreciated. I listened way back to the twin cast that covered the topic. I probably need to hit it again.
Thanks!

This could be the most insanely-awesome Botcon theme of them all.

I usually don't buy botcon figures, nor have I ever attended botcon (one year soon I'm sure), but this sounds cool. Burn is probably right about the bandwagon theme, but as far as I know, black flag is the only major trend for pirates atm, and Thundertron was released before any of that. Either way, who cares, as long as it makes for some sweet characters and toys being developed, even if its repaints. I hope they manage to keep it cybertronian without going too crazy with being too human in how its doing pirates.

Doh! One year I'll get my Gobots theme!