The Energon Pub

[Lore Keeper]

While it would be a whole lot more fun for Skytread to have individual robot modes, I'm perfectly happy with how he turned out because he has more articulation than Battletrap, and weapons too.

Yeah, that was the biggest thing that bothered me about Battletrap, no weapons.

[1984forever]

My garbage pail is ready for those extra Shockwave pieces!

[Wolfman Jake]

While it would be a whole lot more fun for Skytread to have individual robot modes, I'm perfectly happy with how he turned out because he has more articulation than Battletrap, and weapons too.

Yeah, that was the biggest thing that bothered me about Battletrap, no weapons.

Get yourself an extra Weaponizer Brunt and outfit your weaponless Decepticons with his spare parts.

[Skritz]

Am I the only one wondering how Weaponizers would function 'in-universe'? And we have to assume they do, if only because of the really dorky nature of Transformers continuity and the multiverse, where we can presume the toyline and associated bio form their own universe somewhere in the multiversal streams. Weaponizers are somewhat different from combiners (where usually there is a gestalt mind) but also differ from Targetmasters/Battlemasters in that the Weaponizer break apart and attach its body parts to someone else.

Are they mentally linked? Presumably targetting systems, any shielding and all that is shared and combined between the Weaponizer and the one using them but does the Weaponizer have any will of it's own when it's being spare parts for someone else? Can they willingly reform their bodies and if so how, do the parts just fly off and recombine?

Will we ever know? Will this ever be adressed? ...Does anyone even care because it looks cool in toy form?

[Evil Eye]

Am I the only one wondering how Weaponizers would function 'in-universe'? And we have to assume they do, if only because of the really dorky nature of Transformers continuity and the multiverse, where we can presume the toyline and associated bio form their own universe somewhere in the multiversal streams. Weaponizers are somewhat different from combiners (where usually there is a gestalt mind) but also differ from Targetmasters/Battlemasters in that the Weaponizer break apart and attach its body parts to someone else.

Are they mentally linked? Presumably targetting systems, any shielding and all that is shared and combined between the Weaponizer and the one using them but does the Weaponizer have any will of it's own when it's being spare parts for someone else? Can they willingly reform their bodies and if so how, do the parts just fly off and recombine?

Will we ever know? Will this ever be adressed? ...Does anyone even care because it looks cool in toy form?

I like to think Cog and Brunt are mass production drones with only rudimentary sentience (ala the BM Vehicons). In the case of when they combine with other TFs, they only function as control/management computers for the weapons and armour they form, slaved to the will of the TF in question. Either that, or they work a similar way to Optimus Prime's many "power mushroom" partners (Magnus, Jetfire etc) and either mentally synchronize with their "master" or simply control the weapons systems, with their consicousness centred in their torso/head unit. If the Weaponizer is spread across two TFs they can only assist with the one that has this central component, whilst the other TF has to control the weapons entirely himself.

[Cyberpath]

Am I the only one wondering how Weaponizers would function 'in-universe'? And we have to assume they do, if only because of the really dorky nature of Transformers continuity and the multiverse, where we can presume the toyline and associated bio form their own universe somewhere in the multiversal streams. Weaponizers are somewhat different from combiners (where usually there is a gestalt mind) but also differ from Targetmasters/Battlemasters in that the Weaponizer break apart and attach its body parts to someone else.

Are they mentally linked? Presumably targetting systems, any shielding and all that is shared and combined between the Weaponizer and the one using them but does the Weaponizer have any will of it's own when it's being spare parts for someone else? Can they willingly reform their bodies and if so how, do the parts just fly off and recombine?

Will we ever know? Will this ever be adressed? ...Does anyone even care because it looks cool in toy form?

I'd imagine like Megatron from the original cartoon. In gun form, he was wielded by other characters, but still had the ability to break free from their grip and transform back to robot-mode whenever he was "misused" (Autobot Spike, and Skywarp under Teletraan's control.)

So I imagine the armour pieces detaching, flying in the air and reforming as a robot. Omega Superme style.

[starrhero]

Am I the only one wondering how Weaponizers would function 'in-universe'? And we have to assume they do, if only because of the really dorky nature of Transformers continuity and the multiverse, where we can presume the toyline and associated bio form their own universe somewhere in the multiversal streams. Weaponizers are somewhat different from combiners (where usually there is a gestalt mind) but also differ from Targetmasters/Battlemasters in that the Weaponizer break apart and attach its body parts to someone else.

Are they mentally linked? Presumably targetting systems, any shielding and all that is shared and combined between the Weaponizer and the one using them but does the Weaponizer have any will of it's own when it's being spare parts for someone else? Can they willingly reform their bodies and if so how, do the parts just fly off and recombine?

Will we ever know? Will this ever be adressed? ...Does anyone even care because it looks cool in toy form?

I remember also wondering how Weaponizers worked a while ago whilst speculating about how much a real version of the Cybertronian Great War would cost entirely based off of what we've seen from Siege and the G1 cartoon. I was told that they're basically mindless drones who only work for their respective Titan Class partner, such as Cog for Fort Max.

If these Weaponizers do have actually minds & are living beings all their own, I'd assume that they work like how combiners in certain continuities work, in that they have one central mind controlling the combined robot mode, and all become their own separate beings, when separated. The only difference being that the separated parts don't have their own minds.

But that's just some spitballing. I honestly have no Idea.

[Skritz]

I mean, I get that in this version, if the likes of Cog and Brunt are full-fledge Cybertronians and not merely mindless drones then, sure, a cybertronian able to split its body into parts is hardly new or lore-breaking, in fact there are many precedent going back to Generation 1 like Duocon or Skylynx. The question is, however, when a Weaponizer combine with somebody else whose in charge? Presumably the guy 'wearing' the Weaponizer as an add-on pack but what level of autonomy does the Weaponizer retain? Does it shoot from it's gun on it's own like a second player controlling a turret on a vehicle of a videogame? Are their minds merged?

Honestly it seems like Weaponizers probably make more sense as drones in the end, especially since they are based off what were essentially drones for City Bots. But if their toy bio describe them as individuals then this is where it gets weird.

[Burn]

Logically, the wearer's mind would take control of the weaponizer parts. But does the weaponzier go willingly? Can they break away on their own?

An example is Prime mini-cons, they chose to bond with the bigger robots and they also chose to break away, so perhaps it works that way?

[o.supreme]

I kind of wondered the same thing about Tidal Wave & Megatron back in Armada. It's been a long time since I watched it. Since Jetrfie/Prime was more of a superlink pairing whereas Tidal Wave was worn pretty much as Armor, I cant remember if TW retained sentience or not, when being used by Megatron. I do remember however Overload just pretty much coming out of nowhere, and never having any dialogue, thus people assuming he was a drone of some kind.

[frogbat]

Still haven’t acquired battleslash etc and really wanna get him as well as flywheels...

He may be A hold over from previous lines, however I think that the reason hasbro didn’t go with the worn battle look is to make him more in line with the previous release

[Wireless_Phantom]

But you see, you cant have it both ways. Claiming *smart* enough to give us a Skytread compatible with Battletrap from a completely different line because fans would obviously ask *why not* if it weren't, then completely mutilate Deluxe Chromia and remove the combiner functionality, because, of course, no fan is going to care about that? No, that makes zero sense to me. Also, about total brand unification, When we start seeing Legends EX released in North America, then I'll believe it.

You absolutely can have it both ways. This line is supposed to only have gimmicks that were original to the toys (Shockwave being an obvious work-around where the leader portion was added on top of a pretty faithful voyager bot). Battletrap was orignally a duocon without individual robot modes. Using the same connection system that they used for Battletrap is a no brainer. What should they have done, come up with something new just to join a shirt and pants? The fact that it is compatible is a bonus that is easy to implement.

I'm all for more combiner limbs and complete teams, but I'm not going to let my want list color the way I view the upcoming line, or even PotP for that matter. PotP seems like it was always going to be a transition line finishing things up for the CW and TR designs that were meant to be, and making room for something different in the next line.

Chromia was never a combiner to begin with, which fits the new line. Just because you want a complete Elita-1 fembot combiner does not mean that Chromia was supposed to be a limb from the get go. Using the Moonracer mold as a template and omitting the combiner peg was a cost saving move that likely gave them some allowances to put towards the completely new molds. Simply put, Chromia is to Siege what CW's leader seekers were to that line, easy/lazy retools to help spread resources elsewhere.

That isn't quite the case. Chromia doesn't seem to carry over any parts from the Moonracer mold, instead only sharing the engineering. At one point, when we still didn't know if Chromia had a combiner port and somebody asked Warden about it and he said something along the lines of "No, she looks similar to the others to keep the aesthetics consistent among the deluxe fembots." which is a stupid reason if you ask me but I believe it

[Wireless_Phantom]

Am I the only one wondering how Weaponizers would function 'in-universe'? And we have to assume they do, if only because of the really dorky nature of Transformers continuity and the multiverse, where we can presume the toyline and associated bio form their own universe somewhere in the multiversal streams. Weaponizers are somewhat different from combiners (where usually there is a gestalt mind) but also differ from Targetmasters/Battlemasters in that the Weaponizer break apart and attach its body parts to someone else.

Are they mentally linked? Presumably targetting systems, any shielding and all that is shared and combined between the Weaponizer and the one using them but does the Weaponizer have any will of it's own when it's being spare parts for someone else? Can they willingly reform their bodies and if so how, do the parts just fly off and recombine?

Will we ever know? Will this ever be adressed? ...Does anyone even care because it looks cool in toy form?

I remember also wondering how Weaponizers worked a while ago whilst speculating about how much a real version of the Cybertronian Great War would cost entirely based off of what we've seen from Siege and the G1 cartoon. I was told that they're basically mindless drones who only work for their respective Titan Class partner, such as Cog for Fort Max.

If these Weaponizers do have actually minds & are living beings all their own, I'd assume that they work like how combiners in certain continuities work, in that they have one central mind controlling the combined robot mode, and all become their own separate beings, when separated. The only difference being that the separated parts don't have their own minds.

But that's just some spitballing. I honestly have no Idea.

If I remember correctly, I was the one who told you about that!

[Jelze Bunnycat]

But you see, you cant have it both ways. Claiming *smart* enough to give us a Skytread compatible with Battletrap from a completely different line because fans would obviously ask *why not* if it weren't, then completely mutilate Deluxe Chromia and remove the combiner functionality, because, of course, no fan is going to care about that? No, that makes zero sense to me. Also, about total brand unification, When we start seeing Legends EX released in North America, then I'll believe it.

You absolutely can have it both ways. This line is supposed to only have gimmicks that were original to the toys (Shockwave being an obvious work-around where the leader portion was added on top of a pretty faithful voyager bot). Battletrap was orignally a duocon without individual robot modes. Using the same connection system that they used for Battletrap is a no brainer. What should they have done, come up with something new just to join a shirt and pants? The fact that it is compatible is a bonus that is easy to implement.

I'm all for more combiner limbs and complete teams, but I'm not going to let my want list color the way I view the upcoming line, or even PotP for that matter. PotP seems like it was always going to be a transition line finishing things up for the CW and TR designs that were meant to be, and making room for something different in the next line.

Chromia was never a combiner to begin with, which fits the new line. Just because you want a complete Elita-1 fembot combiner does not mean that Chromia was supposed to be a limb from the get go. Using the Moonracer mold as a template and omitting the combiner peg was a cost saving move that likely gave them some allowances to put towards the completely new molds. Simply put, Chromia is to Siege what CW's leader seekers were to that line, easy/lazy retools to help spread resources elsewhere.

That isn't quite the case. Chromia doesn't seem to carry over any parts from the Moonracer mold, instead only sharing the engineering. At one point, when we still didn't know if Chromia had a combiner port and somebody asked Warden about it and he said something along the lines of "No, she looks similar to the others to keep the aesthetics consistent among the deluxe fembots." which is a stupid reason if you ask me but I believe it

She does carry over minor parts after double-checking, like the upper legs and the hands. Same color, so a single mold was used for those parts. Easy to transfer and/or copy for new figures.

[Wireless_Phantom]

But you see, you cant have it both ways. Claiming *smart* enough to give us a Skytread compatible with Battletrap from a completely different line because fans would obviously ask *why not* if it weren't, then completely mutilate Deluxe Chromia and remove the combiner functionality, because, of course, no fan is going to care about that? No, that makes zero sense to me. Also, about total brand unification, When we start seeing Legends EX released in North America, then I'll believe it.

You absolutely can have it both ways. This line is supposed to only have gimmicks that were original to the toys (Shockwave being an obvious work-around where the leader portion was added on top of a pretty faithful voyager bot). Battletrap was orignally a duocon without individual robot modes. Using the same connection system that they used for Battletrap is a no brainer. What should they have done, come up with something new just to join a shirt and pants? The fact that it is compatible is a bonus that is easy to implement.

I'm all for more combiner limbs and complete teams, but I'm not going to let my want list color the way I view the upcoming line, or even PotP for that matter. PotP seems like it was always going to be a transition line finishing things up for the CW and TR designs that were meant to be, and making room for something different in the next line.

Chromia was never a combiner to begin with, which fits the new line. Just because you want a complete Elita-1 fembot combiner does not mean that Chromia was supposed to be a limb from the get go. Using the Moonracer mold as a template and omitting the combiner peg was a cost saving move that likely gave them some allowances to put towards the completely new molds. Simply put, Chromia is to Siege what CW's leader seekers were to that line, easy/lazy retools to help spread resources elsewhere.

That isn't quite the case. Chromia doesn't seem to carry over any parts from the Moonracer mold, instead only sharing the engineering. At one point, when we still didn't know if Chromia had a combiner port and somebody asked Warden about it and he said something along the lines of "No, she looks similar to the others to keep the aesthetics consistent among the deluxe fembots." which is a stupid reason if you ask me but I believe it

She does carry over minor parts after double-checking, like the upper legs and the hands. Same color, so a single mold was used for those parts. Easy to transfer and/or copy for new figures.

On second look, you are right, she does use that runner from the Moonracer mold. I still wouldn't call her a full retool though.

[Jelze Bunnycat]

On second look, you are right, she does use that runner from the Moonracer mold. I still wouldn't call her a full retool though.

She also reuses the wheels. Nevertheless, a retool Chromia is not, more like a hand-me-down

[Wolfman Jake]

Honestly it seems like Weaponizers probably make more sense as drones in the end, especially since they are based off what were essentially drones for City Bots. But if their toy bio describe them as individuals then this is where it gets weird.

If the back of the Flywheels/Skytread box is anything to go by, no one is getting bios in Siege anymore, at least on the back of the packaging. So, how the Weaponizers work is likely going to be entirely up to us, the consumers. Hasbro and Takara aren't going to open that can of worms for us.

On second look, you are right, she does use that runner from the Moonracer mold. I still wouldn't call her a full retool though.

She also reuses the wheels. Nevertheless, a retool Chromia is not, more like a hand-me-down

Maybe after Moonracer went to the plastic (malleable?) surgeon to get some work done, she told her friends Firestar and Chromia about it, and they decided to get similar work done too?

[TF-fan kev777]

I mean, I get that in this version, if the likes of Cog and Brunt are full-fledge Cybertronians and not merely mindless drones then, sure, a cybertronian able to split its body into parts is hardly new or lore-breaking, in fact there are many precedent going back to Generation 1 like Duocon or Skylynx. The question is, however, when a Weaponizer combine with somebody else whose in charge? Presumably the guy 'wearing' the Weaponizer as an add-on pack but what level of autonomy does the Weaponizer retain? Does it shoot from it's gun on it's own like a second player controlling a turret on a vehicle of a videogame? Are their minds merged?

Honestly it seems like Weaponizers probably make more sense as drones in the end, especially since they are based off what were essentially drones for City Bots. But if their toy bio describe them as individuals then this is where it gets weird.

Here's a wild thought. Go the ROTF Jetfire route. They are fully sentient beings who can upgrade someone else, at the cost of their own lives.

Actually, that is morbidly brilliant and I think that's how I'm going to headcanon them.

[Skritz]

The thing with Weaponizer is that the closest gimmick/mechanism seen in fiction are things like God Bomber and Tidal Wave: parts-forming to form additional armor and weapons. However Godbomber was more of a drone if I recall correctly and the Weaponizers are also unique in that they are designed to be universal (or at least universal to Deluxe+ size-class Siege figures and anything which retroactively has enough 5mm ports) rather than be a magic mushroom specific to one robot.

[Triggerdick Megatron]

Does anyone know if Siege TFs will come with trading cards? I'm worried that they won't...

[D-Maximal_Primal]

Does anyone know if Siege TFs will come with trading cards? I'm worried that they won't...

Already confirmed they will not

[Sabrblade]

Am I the only one wondering how Weaponizers would function 'in-universe'?

Probably like how Victory Leo, Armada Jetfire, Armada Tidal Wave, Energon Wing Saber, Energon Omega Supreme, Cybertron Leobreaker, and Cybertron Wing Saber all worked for Star Saber, Armada Optimus, Armada Megatron, Energon Optimus, and Cybertron Optimus when each of the former were combined with each of the latter as Victory Saber, Jet Convoy/Jet Optimus/Jet Prime/Jet Whatever, Burning Megatron, Wing Convoy (the English dub of Energon gave no name to the Optimus/Wing Saber combo), Optimus Supreme, Optimus Prime Savage Claw Mode, and Optimus Prime Sonic Wing Mode, respectively.


I omitted Godbomber and Armada Overlord since they were mere drones with limited sentience rather than fully alive with minds and souls of their own.

And I omitted God Magnus/RiD 2001 Ultra Magnus since, when combined with Fire Convoy/Optimus, the resultant God Fire Convoy/Omega Prime was a new entity entirely, unique from the two brothers who formed him, whose minds also remained separated from each other inside the combined form's mind, forcing the two to cooperate for the new combined form's mind to function.

[chuckdawg1999]

Any idea how that guy got Skytread so early?

[ZeldaTheSwordsman]

The confirmed compatibility of Skytread with Battletrap now makes it a definite want. It seems however, that the engineering of the individual bot modes for Skytread were scrapped maybe to cut time, cut cost, who knows, but it seems definitely like something cut from PotP and reworked for the simplicity of the new line. We are seeing more and more evidence of this. Sure it's nice that in going to a 12 month line, stores are more likely to keep ordering new items, but more and more, I;m starting to see what we *lost* and it makes me sad.

I am really not seeing what you are seeing. And I dont see any evidence that points one way or another. The compatibility with battletrap to me instead proves that Battletrap came first and Skythread was made after with compatibility done to give fans a bonus.

I really dont think we lost anything at all.

Same here. I'm dead certain Battletrap's components having their own robot modes was done because of the retail constraints of Power of the Primes. They couldn't be sold together as a Deluxe because of the "All regular retail deluxes are combiner limbs" mandate. So they had to be given robot modes so that they could be sold separately as Legends-class figures instead.

And as for the interchangeability.. that was a feature PRESENT ON THE ORIGINAL TOYS! And replicating it here is an easy enough bonus to throw in since the connector is a feature Skytread would need anyway and thus doesn't rely on the outside-the-line figures to be meaningful. While Chromia having a combiner peg accommodated in her mostly-new mold be a nice bonus for Elita's limb set, that's all it would be in Siege since Siege has showed no sign of any such combiners

The thing with Weaponizer is that the closest gimmick/mechanism seen in fiction are things like God Bomber and Tidal Wave: parts-forming to form additional armor and weapons. However Godbomber was more of a drone if I recall correctly and the Weaponizers are also unique in that they are designed to be universal (or at least universal to Deluxe+ size-class Siege figures and anything which retroactively has enough 5mm ports) rather than be a magic mushroom specific to one robot.

Ah, but the concept originates with Six-Gun back in G1. He was the original Weaponizer in terms of toy design, splitting into multiple guns with 5mm pegs intended to be used by assorted characters (mainly the "Scramble City"-type combiners), plus a couple extra parts. And while fiction never made use of that, he did still show up as his own character.

[Emerje]

I wonder how easy it would be to sacrifice a Moonracer to give Chromia a combiner peg?

Emerje