The Energon Pub

While I would like to see the pretenders line redone as an actual full on faithful update to their G1 selves (I'm a pretty big fan of them, and the shells are where they truly shine), I am happy with the 2 interpretations we have gotten so far:

the likes of Sky Shadow, Bludgeon and Metalhawk, where they have the inner robot and shell sort of fused together into a hybrid, works really well, giving the characters a fun transforming robot that has the main attraction's looks.

The prime masters are great too, even if the inner robot is a member of the 13 that turns into an artifact with titan master compatibility with a robot mode inspired by the inner robot of the actual pretender. They have the shell, and the shell can do more too, forming a weapon, and they are cheap little guys too, good for mass collecting.

If we got a generations version of what we got with Botcon Oilmaster (legends figure inside shell), but with some limb movement for the shell, that could turn out pretty good too. You could have a $10 or maybe cheaper legends/legion figure inside a shell that can move, and sell it at a deluxe-ish pricepoint or a bit higher, like some of the larger kiddier toys like the shampoo formers.

I'd like to see the Classics Pretenders revisited at some point in this line, even if only as redecos.

There's the Clobber mold obviously and the Takara exclusive Starscream Titanmaster. That leaves Jazz and Bumblebee.

Maybe they could turn up with store exclusive redeco of TR figures ala Arcee/Leinad and Grotesque/Scorponok. I do feel like if you're going to release more heads (and I'd like this) you need to release more TR redecos as joint releases for them to have play value.

There are a few strong contenders like Crosshairs from Kup, Laser Magnus from Laser Prime/Octane, maybe WFC seekers from Misfire and Slugslinger, Xaaron from Megatron/Blitzwing.

Said it before and I'll say it again.

They only need the shell to split from the waist up. That leaves the legs for articulation. Have the shell split 2/3 of the way and you also leave the shoulders intact for articulation. Essentially, the inner robot has to fold up to fit into a chest/stomach cavity.

That seems like it'd result in a very small inner robot...

Kurona wrote:That seems like it'd result in a very small inner robot...

If you're talking PotP Pretenders than yeah, but if you go deluxe size then you can fit a legends size in.

Burn wrote:If you're talking PotP Pretenders than yeah, but if you go deluxe size then you can fit a legends size in.

No, with the solution you describe you need at least a voyager to fit a legends. And it will be with a big belly and/or big backpack.

ExciKaiser wrote:

Burn wrote:If you're talking PotP Pretenders than yeah, but if you go deluxe size then you can fit a legends size in.

No, with the solution you describe you need at least a voyager to fit a legends.

Either works.

Burn wrote:

ExciKaiser wrote:

Burn wrote:If you're talking PotP Pretenders than yeah, but if you go deluxe size then you can fit a legends size in.

No, with the solution you describe you need at least a voyager to fit a legends.

Either works.

Yeah, I'm cool with that!

Would it be a problem if not the entire inner bot was covered by the shell? I mean, why does it need to be? Instead of sticking the bot's legs into the shell's legs why not make *most* of the bot fold up into the torso with part of it hanging out the back? Maybe the arms or legs configured to look like a back pack or let wings stick out? Do that and you could fit a larger bot inside of a smaller shell, say a fully articulated Voyager shell with an inner bot somewhere between a Legend and a Deluxe.

Though, what I like about the Prime Masters is it gives us something that looks a little like this:


Emerje

That's exactly why I'm lookin forward to the Autobot Prime Masters, Emerje!

I didn't really dig the humanoid G1 shells due to scaling...but think it's perfect for the Decepticon kaiju.

Emerje wrote:Would it be a problem if not the entire inner bot was covered by the shell? I mean, why does it need to be? Instead of sticking the bot's legs into the shell's legs why not make *most* of the bot fold up into the torso with part of it hanging out the back? Maybe the arms or legs configured to look like a back pack or let wings stick out? Do that and you could fit a larger bot inside of a smaller shell, say a fully articulated Voyager shell with an inner bot somewhere between a Legend and a Deluxe.

Emerje

My personal preference would be for the shell to be whole. What you propose I imagine would leave a whole in the back of the shell and in my mind, the shell should be able to work independently of the bot once its removed.

Regardless, your suggestion would still be an improvement over what we're getting
(And I actually am looking forward to what we're getting, I just hoped for more)

Burn wrote:

Emerje wrote:Would it be a problem if not the entire inner bot was covered by the shell? I mean, why does it need to be? Instead of sticking the bot's legs into the shell's legs why not make *most* of the bot fold up into the torso with part of it hanging out the back? Maybe the arms or legs configured to look like a back pack or let wings stick out? Do that and you could fit a larger bot inside of a smaller shell, say a fully articulated Voyager shell with an inner bot somewhere between a Legend and a Deluxe.

Emerje

My personal preference would be for the shell to be whole. What you propose I imagine would leave a whole in the back of the shell and in my mind, the shell should be able to work independently of the bot once its removed.

Howabout a shield that doubles as a back cover?

Emerje

Emerje wrote:

Burn wrote:

Emerje wrote:Would it be a problem if not the entire inner bot was covered by the shell? I mean, why does it need to be? Instead of sticking the bot's legs into the shell's legs why not make *most* of the bot fold up into the torso with part of it hanging out the back? Maybe the arms or legs configured to look like a back pack or let wings stick out? Do that and you could fit a larger bot inside of a smaller shell, say a fully articulated Voyager shell with an inner bot somewhere between a Legend and a Deluxe.

Emerje

My personal preference would be for the shell to be whole. What you propose I imagine would leave a whole in the back of the shell and in my mind, the shell should be able to work independently of the bot once its removed.

Howabout a shield that doubles as a back cover?

Emerje

Could work, or even flaps that double as "wings" or something when the bot is in.

or how about Ultra Pretenders? you could fit a bigger figure in still

Speaking of larger Pretenders...seeing as a Grand Max TR Fort Max repaint seems to be happening...hopefully they'll somehow do a Pretender Shell for Cerebros...a bit like the original did

Two Pretnders in particular were my favorites from the ol' G1 day. I love Bomb-Burst and Vvroom was just the ultimate.

~ Grim

Stuartmaximus wrote:or how about Ultra Pretenders? you could fit a bigger figure in still

Speaking of larger Pretenders...seeing as a Grand Max TR Fort Max repaint seems to be happening...hopefully they'll somehow do a Pretender Shell for Cerebros...a bit like the original did

They've said if they get over 3000 preorders, they'll make an exclusive transparent pretender shell for the Cerebros head titan master dude.

Got these from daimchoc reports facebook page. Not much new info can be found on these, but i'll just put it here.

Insurgent wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:or how about Ultra Pretenders? you could fit a bigger figure in still

Speaking of larger Pretenders...seeing as a Grand Max TR Fort Max repaint seems to be happening...hopefully they'll somehow do a Pretender Shell for Cerebros...a bit like the original did

They've said if they get over 3000 preorders, they'll make an exclusive transparent pretender shell for the Cerebros head titan master dude.

I think Mega Pretenders are more likely than Ultra to ever see a return. Ultras are really just Megas with a big vehicle they can be crammed inside anyway and I don't think kids would really go for those these days.

Emerje

Rodimus Unicronus

Emerje wrote:

Insurgent wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:or how about Ultra Pretenders? you could fit a bigger figure in still

Speaking of larger Pretenders...seeing as a Grand Max TR Fort Max repaint seems to be happening...hopefully they'll somehow do a Pretender Shell for Cerebros...a bit like the original did

They've said if they get over 3000 preorders, they'll make an exclusive transparent pretender shell for the Cerebros head titan master dude.

I think Mega Pretenders are more likely than Ultra to ever see a return. Ultras are really just Megas with a big vehicle they can be crammed inside anyway and I don't think kids would really go for those these days.

Emerje

But Roadblock was so cool, Emerje!

You have a point, though -- besides the fanbase, why would HasBro bother to add another shell?At least with the Megas, you'd get a transforming shell and innerbot.

We now have two new leaked pieces of artwork for Power of The Primes, thanks to the folks over at the TFCN Facebook page! The first is what looks to be a scan of the cover of Alcemist Prime, with his Pretender shell Submaurader.
We also have our first image of the back of Rodimus Unicronus' packaging, although this image seems to be too low of a resolution to make any specific text out, such as his bio.
Check out both scans below!

Really digging the looks of that Submarauder.

Noice! I love how this looks! I was just thinking that it's getting close to the time where someone is going to get surprised by a sighting of PotP stuff.

Got this from planet iacon facebook page, it seems we will get a repaint of hot spot.