The Energon Pub

I'm currently working on creating a new fan-fiction series based on Power Core Combiners. I thought the idea of the toyline was so neat that it deserved a fleshed-out story, so I've started to brainstorm ideas. I thought of there being multiple factions as an offshoot from the traditional Autobots and Decepticons, with some loose ties between certain factions. Each new wave within the toyline would introduce new characters to the story, and...well, you should be able to work-out what would happen next! The story would start with the Aerialbots - consisting of leader Skyburst, Second-in-Command Searchlight, Mini-Con Assistant Backwind and four semi-sentient drones - battling the Combaticons - consisting of leader Bombshock, Second-in-Command Smolder, Mini-Con Assistant Chopster and four semi-sentient drones - during a time of dire straits or just plain complications. I'm wondering if I should draw inspiration from Beast Wars or Beast Machines, or perhaps go in my own direction with some obvious true-to-Transformers style. Anyway, the factions from the first arc are to be the Aerialbots, Rallybots, Combaticons, Destructicons and Separatrons (basically a slang for any Transformer not aligned with a Combiner squad, or a non-combining Transformer - see? Clever, no?). I'm working on some key storyline points. Perhaps I could make the story in a non-traditional way, like an interactive story using Game Maker? We'll see, I guess.

sounds cool, good luck!

I actually plan on doing one myself, having it follow in a similar universe to that of Beast Wars. I really liked that storyline and it had amazing character development. It will be similar as in it deals with time/dimensional travel, in order to isolate the characters and allow sensible inclusion of new characters... The hardest part right now is figuring out who to make leaders and such. Skyburst would seem like a decent choice, but his bio gives me the feeling he's a bit of a pansy. I hate the cliche refusal of being or not feeling like they deserve to be a leader. However, Huffer seems like the grumpy war veteran, searchlight would be a good recon unit with minor medical capabilities, and Double Clutch in communications and espionage. So it really only leaves Skyburst, a ho-hum average character, almost like Rodimus, but at least Rodimus had flair.

On the decepticon side, I see many fighting for control as leader. Bombshock seems like a perfect replacement for a starscream like character. Smolder looks like he could be a decent leader in robot mode, but his commander mode just doesn't look tough enough, so I'll settle for silent pyro. More dialogue might come from chopster (assuming I have the minicons talk). Mudslinger is pure brute force, definitely qualities I'd like to see in a Decepticon leader, but his color and tires make him look almost clown like. Upcoming Sledge will probably fill the rule as the leader of the pack, as he seems very intimidating... or he could be the brother of Mudslinger.

Still not sure yet, gonna wait til I get all of wave 2 to decide. I'd kinda like my leaders to either both be from 2packs or 5packs, so they seemed destined to be enemies. Crankcase could be a cool leader as well, as huffers mold rocks, but Crankcase really makes it look menacing.

We'll see... How are you going to present your fiction? I'd like to do some sort of comic, but thats very time consuming. I also considered animating it in 3d, but getting the models and environments set up would take at least 6 months to a year if it were just me. I could animated em fairly quickly though once all that was set up. Sigh... if only I were on a team like beast wars for this.

For the initial storyline arc, there will be two factions at odds with each other. Stranded on a far-off world with no memory of how they became stuck there, five Cybertronians take the form of vehicles and other oddities that blink into existence for just a moment, then vanish unexpectedly. It is here that the five robots discover 'Power Core Combination' in the form of blue cubes; any Transformer that equips four of these cubes becomes a Power Core Commander permamently, with no means of removing the cubes without risk of termination. Upon the discovery of a factory (found by Huffer), the robots come across drones and Mini-Cons. Though the Mini-Cons come to life automatically, the drones do not; it is soon discovered that the drones each require a download of the personality of a Commander. There are to be four drones per team, with each Commander requiring to download their programming into two drones, and a Mini-Con to finish the process. There is soon a rivalry sparked between Skyburst, Searchlight, Bombshock, Smolder and Huffer over who gets which drones and Mini-Cons. In the end, though, the decision is made. Bombshock and Smolder form the Combaticons with Chopster, and Skyburst and Searchlight form the Aerialbots with Backwind. Huffer, the odd one out, chooses Caliburst as his companion (or rather Caliburst chooses Huffer), and the two factions begin to search for a way home whilst maintaining a rivalry with each other. It is at this time that a mysterious entity turns the factions against each other, sparking a war between both sides over control of the Power Core technology. Multiple times, the Commanders combine in multiple ways, including with their faction's Mini-Con, with one of their two drones, and with all four of the faction's drones at once in a 'gestalt' mode. The commanders can also use their leg drone as an extension of themselves, effectively being in two places at once. But it may happen that more Cybertronians will become stranded on this world; some who choose not to be upgraded, some who cannot be upgraded at all due to defects or faulty programming, and even some who are upgraded but do not ally with a faction...the battle has begun, but which faction will win?

That's the gist of it anyway...

I typed up my basic story... but then deleted it. I don't want to give away too much before it's even hit the ground. When I get time though, I'll be coming up with something. Still working on characters first, as they are what drives a story. Good luck with yours, the beginning sounds eerie; much different than my take will be.

I worked out some other plot points for the story. Six Separatrons are planned for the first part of the storyline, two of which are capable of an upgrade but refuse to undergo the process for one reason or another (Backfire and Crankstart), two of which cannot be upgraded due to glitches or faulty mechanics (Hubcap and Brimstone), and two of which are too big to be equipped with the cubes (I'd spoil them, but I'll drop one hint - they're not Night Ops Ratchet!). Note that I'm throwing the morality system out the window, with each faction and Separatron having its own ideas, morals, ethics and agenda to worry about. So whilst the Aerialbots are something of good guys and the Combaticons are similar to bad guys, it's all a manipulation of The Entity to...that I can't spoil because I haven't even thought of it entirely...yet!