A hidden gem from the Best TF in terms of Design thread (now inactive since 2016), brought back to life! Full credits to Cobotron for the original idea- here's the original post...
Cobotron wrote:Alright gang, I have an idea for a new game. Its called...
ARCHETYPE
ar·che·type
ˈärkəˌtīp/
noun: archetype;
-a very typical example of a certain person or thing.
"the book is a perfect archetype of the genre"
Here's how we play.
Think of a character archetype and find a Transformer that exemplifies that archetype.
Examples of character archetype's:
Rogue Hero (Han Solo, Aragorn)
Gentle Giant ( Lennie from Of Mice and Men, Hagrid, Fezzik)
Skilled Swordsman (Legolas, Drizzt Do'Urden, Inigo Montoya)
The Silent Killer (Snake eyes, Darth Maul)
The Wild Card (Whirl, Martin Riggs, Stephen-the mad Irishmen from Braveheart)
The Schemer (Starscream, Grimma Wormtongue)
The Psychotic (The Joker)
The Old Timer (Ratchet, Kup, 80's Wolverine)
The Comedian
The Town Drunk
The Wizard
The Dictator
The Mad Scientist
and so on.
You can start with one of those or come up with your own. If you choose your own, please give an example or two, from any fiction.
Here's the fun, and why it's here in the design thread.
It must be a visual representation only.
Forget every thing you know about the characters of Transformers. We know Starscream is The Schemer. Kup is the Old Timer. Shock wave is The Mad Scientist. But do they look the part?
Find a character, based soley on their character design, that visually evokes the attributes of the archetype.
You can chose from any toy line. It can be robot mode, alt mode, or both.
you can give one or multiple examples.
You can use an archetype that someone has already used, but you have to give a different example.
You can use a character (or toy) that someone already used if you believe it works for a different archetype, but you have to defend your position.
So who are yours?
For me, here's a few:
The Dictator: RID Megatron/CR Gigatron.
With his baroque design, gorgeous deco (complete with bling aplenty) and double-bladed sword-staff, he looks like the classic evil demon overlord from a fantasy anime or JRPG. I can see him sitting on his great steel throne, surrounded by sycophantic underlings and beautiful women as he orders the execution of the heroes who dared to defy his iron will.
The Silent Killer: ROTF Dead End/Detour.
Everything about this guy screams "murderous creature of the night". The beady eyes, the hunched posture, the claw-like hands... He's going to crawl in through your window and snatch you away in your sleep. Brr.
The Psychotic: DotM Crankcase.
He's a veritable monster with clawed limbs, a foursome of baleful eyes, a fanged maw and savage dreadlocks. He looks like a vicious predatory robotic huntsman, ready to tear unsuspecting robots apart with his bare hands.
The Old Timer: ROTF Ransack.
Between his skeletal frame, hunchback, gaunt features and the fact he turns into a goddamn biplane, Ransack screams "old dude". Like, this is a Decepticon that's been fighting for a loooong time.
