The Energon Pub

[blackeyedprime]

No! No please, no more combiners Dinobots! I hope Hasbro releases GREAT new Dinobots in this line, on the right scale as a Leader ( Grimlock) 2 voyager ( sludge and slag) and 2 deluxe ( swoope and snarl) - will be perfect!

They would all have to be old leader class size with the exception of swoop but even then he could pull off the same size. I'm using redwing as comics cybertron divebomb/swoop so that the autobots get to have a seeker stood with them.

[Jeddostotle7]

No! No please, no more combiners Dinobots! I hope Hasbro releases GREAT new Dinobots in this line, on the right scale as a Leader ( Grimlock) 2 voyager ( sludge and slag) and 2 deluxe ( swoope and snarl) - will be perfect!

They would all have to be old leader class size with the exception of swoop but even then he could pull off the same size. I'm using redwing as comics cybertron divebomb/swoop so that the autobots get to have a seeker stood with them.

Eh, I don't think they would. Since they seem to be sticking pretty closely to the G1 scale chart for size relations since Siege started, and on the scale chart the Dinobots (minus Swoop who was slightly shorter) were all 7 meters (23 feet) as opposed to Optimus and Megatron's 6 meters (20 feet), they'd only have to be as tall as Siege Ultra Magnus.

Since I don't think they'd be willing to dedicate 5 whole Leader class slots to one team, I could see them potentially doing an Impactor thing but for Voyager class for 4 of them - making them particularly large compared to contemporary others of their size class, at the expense of more open hollow areas - with Grimlock being a Leader so they can throw in some extra stuff befitting his character, like a throne and crown or something.

[ZeroWolf]

No! No please, no more combiners Dinobots! I hope Hasbro releases GREAT new Dinobots in this line, on the right scale as a Leader ( Grimlock) 2 voyager ( sludge and slag) and 2 deluxe ( swoope and snarl) - will be perfect!

They would all have to be old leader class size with the exception of swoop but even then he could pull off the same size. I'm using redwing as comics cybertron divebomb/swoop so that the autobots get to have a seeker stood with them.

Eh, I don't think they would. Since they seem to be sticking pretty closely to the G1 scale chart for size relations since Siege started, and on the scale chart the Dinobots (minus Swoop who was slightly shorter) were all 7 meters (23 feet) as opposed to Optimus and Megatron's 6 meters (20 feet), they'd only have to be as tall as Siege Ultra Magnus.

Since I don't think they'd be willing to dedicate 5 whole Leader class slots to one team, I could see them potentially doing an Impactor thing but for Voyager class for 4 of them - making them particularly large compared to contemporary others of their size class, at the expense of more open hollow areas - with Grimlock being a Leader so they can throw in some extra stuff befitting his character, like a throne and crown or something.

That would require them to shift from the model we've seen in Siege and Power of the Primes, that of a voyager with armour/ extras. Look at Astrotrain for example. Not saying they won't ever do that but the pattern at the moment discourages it. I'd imagine they get many requests for non-combining Dinobots. There's an alternative though, but I'm not sure how many would go for it...a Titan Class boxset of Dinobots, no combiner components could mean more plastic to fill out the bots themselves.

[sol magnus]

Even post-Furman IDWverse saw the merit in using First Aid as a stand alone character. Those that see the five to six character combiner teams only as the Gestalt they unite to form are literally discarding dozens of characters.

Combiner characters hardly ever get proper characterizations in any cartoon or anime, because it's too damn difficult deciding on unique features for every single member, and staying on them for more than 1 episode per character in a 26 to 52 episode run without the overall story flow suffering. First Aid got lucky in that with "The Ultimate Weapon" which demonstrates his pacifism (which was originally Groove's trait).

If they split them up now, that could give them the chance for characterisation. All it takes is one writer to take an interest in Drag Strip or Blast off and away you go.

Even in the 80s show, there were several episodes that weren't just "The Ultimate Weapon" that focused on a lone piece (or two) of a Combiner. Whether they were 'well executed' or not is another matter, but you're definitely whitewashing the idea that single combiner pieces have always had spotlights in the fiction.

"Chaos" had a segment with Blast Off. I forget the Episode title, but the one with Slingshot taking center stage in the middle eastern country. B.O.T. was more about Swindle and to an extent Brawl than the Combaticons as a whole.

We didn't have a whole lot of episodes left to get further 'characterization', and of course, there were always more toys to be sold so that has to come into account.

[emlit]

No! No please, no more combiners Dinobots! I hope Hasbro releases GREAT new Dinobots in this line, on the right scale as a Leader ( Grimlock) 2 voyager ( sludge and slag) and 2 deluxe ( swoope and snarl) - will be perfect!

They would all have to be old leader class size with the exception of swoop but even then he could pull off the same size. I'm using redwing as comics cybertron divebomb/swoop so that the autobots get to have a seeker stood with them.

Eh, I don't think they would. Since they seem to be sticking pretty closely to the G1 scale chart for size relations since Siege started, and on the scale chart the Dinobots (minus Swoop who was slightly shorter) were all 7 meters (23 feet) as opposed to Optimus and Megatron's 6 meters (20 feet), they'd only have to be as tall as Siege Ultra Magnus.

Since I don't think they'd be willing to dedicate 5 whole Leader class slots to one team, I could see them potentially doing an Impactor thing but for Voyager class for 4 of them - making them particularly large compared to contemporary others of their size class, at the expense of more open hollow areas - with Grimlock being a Leader so they can throw in some extra stuff befitting his character, like a throne and crown or something.

That would require them to shift from the model we've seen in Siege and Power of the Primes, that of a voyager with armour/ extras. Look at Astrotrain for example. Not saying they won't ever do that but the pattern at the moment discourages it. I'd imagine they get many requests for non-combining Dinobots. There's an alternative though, but I'm not sure how many would go for it...a Titan Class boxset of Dinobots, no combiner components could mean more plastic to fill out the bots themselves.

I like the idea of a Titan class box set of Dinobots. Sign me up for that.

[TF-fan kev777]

There's an alternative though, but I'm not sure how many would go for it...a Titan Class boxset of Dinobots, no combiner components could mean more plastic to fill out the bots themselves.

I like the idea of a Titan class box set of Dinobots. Sign me up for that.

Titan class doesn't make sense if they are not going to form a single large, or titan sized, bot. That is the whole purpose of the class. What you are really describing is more along the lines of the Titan's Return gift sets, where each piece was its own thing and just packaged together.

[ZeroWolf]

There's an alternative though, but I'm not sure how many would go for it...a Titan Class boxset of Dinobots, no combiner components could mean more plastic to fill out the bots themselves.

I like the idea of a Titan class box set of Dinobots. Sign me up for that.

Titan class doesn't make sense if they are not going to form a single large, or titan sized, bot. That is the whole purpose of the class. What you are really describing is more along the lines of the Titan's Return gift sets, where each piece was its own thing and just packaged together.

I was allowing for a alteration to the rules of the class.. To make up for the fact that repaints aside, we've run out of big characters (that a lot of people would know) especially with the addition of Commander Class. A boxset wouldn't be sufficient as that would keep them in the rules of the current crop of Voyagers (I.e. Amount of plastic thus size and weight) moving the five to the titan class allows for more scope in their sizes. Is it perfect? Nope but c'est la vie.

[AllNewSuperRobot]

Tidal Wave could theoretically be Titan Class. He would more or less be the Decepticon equivalent of Omega Supreme.

Plus, inkeeping with the resurgence of Micromasters, there is always this guy...



Grandus - The Micromaster City Bot. If they can make Iron Works into something decent, they should have no problem making him into a relevant Titan Class figure.

[Wolfman Jake]

With the explanation of why Primes hands are gray I can live with that.

What was the explanation? I missed that.

someone did ask Warden about the color changes on Prime. His response was that they were having issues with the molding where parts that were not supposed to be blue were ending up getting molded in blue, and to fix it they had to trade off the blue hands and repair drone.

Wait, does Warden mean that's the "fix" they did to get a sample ready for the show? Or is that THE fix for putting this figure into production? One means we'll get the blue hands at least...the other scares the crap out of me.

Seeing as how those were all finished products shown at NYCC and they'll be in stores in only a few months I'd say they gray had to be done for production purposes. That doesn't bother me, but it does bother me that they did just paint his hands instead. I guess that's because of the finger joints making it tricky. I wouldn't find it so annoying if they hadn't done the same with PotP Prime's gray fists, too. I'm sure they thought the yellow eyes were a clever way to call it a tribute, but then they went and explained the truth, plus Star Convoy beat them to it.

Emerje

Wow! That's is just heartbreaking. Why didn't they fix the mold in preproduction instead of ruin the coloring of the figure? I could see them trying to skirt by if the hands were the ONLY thing affected, but the repair drone is supposed to be blue too to stand out from the rest of the inner trailer, which is now COPMLETELY gray plastic. Even if it was far easier to switch the plastic colors than just fix the mold, they could have at least opted to PAINT the affected parts blue. This is just infuriating. They screwed up what was to be the ultimate G1 Classics updated Optimus Prime, but they absolutely nail everyone else!? Why!?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

With the explanation of why Primes hands are gray I can live with that.

What was the explanation? I missed that.

someone did ask Warden about the color changes on Prime. His response was that they were having issues with the molding where parts that were not supposed to be blue were ending up getting molded in blue, and to fix it they had to trade off the blue hands and repair drone.

Wait, does Warden mean that's the "fix" they did to get a sample ready for the show? Or is that THE fix for putting this figure into production? One means we'll get the blue hands at least...the other scares the crap out of me.

Seeing as how those were all finished products shown at NYCC and they'll be in stores in only a few months I'd say they gray had to be done for production purposes. That doesn't bother me, but it does bother me that they did just paint his hands instead. I guess that's because of the finger joints making it tricky. I wouldn't find it so annoying if they hadn't done the same with PotP Prime's gray fists, too. I'm sure they thought the yellow eyes were a clever way to call it a tribute, but then they went and explained the truth, plus Star Convoy beat them to it.

Emerje

Wow! That's is just heartbreaking. Why didn't they fix the mold in preproduction instead of ruin the coloring of the figure? I could see them trying to skirt by if the hands were the ONLY thing affected, but the repair drone is supposed to be blue too to stand out from the rest of the inner trailer, which is now COPMLETELY gray plastic. Even if it was far easier to switch the plastic colors than just fix the mold, they could have at least opted to PAINT the affected parts blue. This is just infuriating. They screwed up what was to be the ultimate G1 Classics updated Optimus Prime, but they absolutely nail everyone else!? Why!?

Paint isn't an ideal solution because the added thickness of the layer can make joints harder to manipulate to the point of risking breakage, or worse make them jam. See T30 Blitzwing's head.

Shuffling parts between molds and plastic colors is tricky business, apparently molds can only be a certain size and/or weight before something has to give. Which parts ended up blue vs. grey? If they're equal in size, weight or volume...

[Munkky]

Earthrise seems like a decent toyline, depending on what it has to offer I'll probably get more from it than I did from Seige. So far the only thing from wave 1 I'll definitely buy is Wheeljack, but I do like the Starscream, Grapple and Optimus too. It's a toss-up between Earthrise Optimus and Takara's Star Convoy for me. There are no characters I particularly hope to see get new toys, but I'm excited to see what's next.

[Emerje]

Tidal Wave could theoretically be Titan Class. He would more or less be the Decepticon equivalent of Omega Supreme.

Plus, inkeeping with the resurgence of Micromasters, there is always this guy...



Grandus - The Micromaster City Bot. If they can make Iron Works into something decent, they should have no problem making him into a relevant Titan Class figure.

Grandus is about as much a City bot as Star Convoy is, he doesn't belong anywhere near Titan Class. If Grandus got a Titan figure then I would demand Star Convoy got one, too, since he's taller than Grandus!





Being an unconvincing base for Micromasters is far from being the same as being a proper city for normal sized bots.

Emerje

[Epsilon Delta]

It's unfortunate that Prime doesn't come with a Roller, but one of these should work for me.

The Roller is even a weaponizer so it goes with the others of the line. And I just hope Cog fits in the trailer so we can have a blue or silver Roller depending on the mood. Too bad the colors are off on Prime's parts, but since he'll be going to my son, he won't mind it at all. I'll still have my MP.

Can't wait to see Meg's. Since a "real" gun mode is highly doubtful I hope they make Megatron a heavy artillery cannon such as a howitzer. It is still G1-ish to go with the line, but gives us something new. Then in alt mode another bot can fire him without the need for "mass shifting."

[Nemesis Primal]

Shuffling parts between molds and plastic colors is tricky business, apparently molds can only be a certain size and/or weight before something has to give. Which parts ended up blue vs. grey? If they're equal in size, weight or volume...

IIRC, I believe Warden offhandedly said in the livestream when he was explaining that it was either grey hands and drone or an at least partially blue trailer, and given the trailer is part of the whole point of the figure, that tradeoff absolutely makes sense.

[Sabrblade]

Shuffling parts between molds and plastic colors is tricky business, apparently molds can only be a certain size and/or weight before something has to give. Which parts ended up blue vs. grey? If they're equal in size, weight or volume...

IIRC, I believe Warden offhandedly said in the livestream when he was explaining that it was either grey hands and drone or an at least partially blue trailer, and given the trailer is part of the whole point of the figure, that tradeoff absolutely makes sense.

I still find it hard to believe that more people would have complained about part of the trailer being partially blue vs. the amount of people who right now actually are lamenting the hands, inner legs, and repair drone being gray.

[ScottyP]

Grandus is about as much a City bot as Star Convoy is, he doesn't belong anywhere near Titan Class. If Grandus got a Titan figure then I would demand Star Convoy got one, too, since he's taller than Grandus!

I'm all for respecting the source material and Grandus is one of my favorite late-as-it-gets-G1 toys (the elevator gimmick is amazing!) but a big ol Metroplex sized version just for fun? Sounds amazing to me. Wasn't he a city-bot in Animated?

Anyway for Earthrise I predict Headmaster Juniors, or at least a few of them. This is based on Scorponok and the Earth theme being an appropriate time to have some humans in the mix.

[Sabrblade]

Wasn't he a city-bot in Animated?

Nope. Just really tall and really REALLY fat.

More seriously, his altmode was about the size of a large Cybertronian parade float (okay, maybe not so seriously, but still).

[Sentinel_Primal]

Anyway for Earthrise I predict Headmaster Juniors, or at least a few of them. This is based on Scorponok and the Earth theme being an appropriate time to have some humans in the mix.

That makes a lot of sense. We could get Minerva, Goshooter, and Nightbeat from the same mold, and I'd love a new Horri-Bull figure

[Skritz]

Anyway for Earthrise I predict Headmaster Juniors, or at least a few of them. This is based on Scorponok and the Earth theme being an appropriate time to have some humans in the mix.

That makes a lot of sense. We could get Minerva, Goshooter, and Nightbeat from the same mold, and I'd love a new Horri-Bull figure

Well, this being Hasbro there will be no Minerva because she's just recolored Nightbeat in Japan. If there is a Minerva she'll be from Takara or in SELECTS.

[Sentinel_Primal]

Anyway for Earthrise I predict Headmaster Juniors, or at least a few of them. This is based on Scorponok and the Earth theme being an appropriate time to have some humans in the mix.

That makes a lot of sense. We could get Minerva, Goshooter, and Nightbeat from the same mold, and I'd love a new Horri-Bull figure

Well, this being Hasbro there will be no Minerva because she's just recolored Nightbeat in Japan. If there is a Minerva she'll be from Takara or in SELECTS.

I was just going with the assumption that Hasbro couldn't resist an easy repaint

[Skritz]

Anyway for Earthrise I predict Headmaster Juniors, or at least a few of them. This is based on Scorponok and the Earth theme being an appropriate time to have some humans in the mix.

That makes a lot of sense. We could get Minerva, Goshooter, and Nightbeat from the same mold, and I'd love a new Horri-Bull figure

Well, this being Hasbro there will be no Minerva because she's just recolored Nightbeat in Japan. If there is a Minerva she'll be from Takara or in SELECTS.

I was just going with the assumption that Hasbro couldn't resist an easy repaint

Hasbro is allergic to Japanese-exclusive characters that aren't Overlord.

[Sabrblade]

Anyway for Earthrise I predict Headmaster Juniors, or at least a few of them. This is based on Scorponok and the Earth theme being an appropriate time to have some humans in the mix.

That makes a lot of sense. We could get Minerva, Goshooter, and Nightbeat from the same mold, and I'd love a new Horri-Bull figure

Well, this being Hasbro there will be no Minerva because she's just recolored Nightbeat in Japan. If there is a Minerva she'll be from Takara or in SELECTS.

I was just going with the assumption that Hasbro couldn't resist an easy repaint

Hasbro is allergic to Japanese-exclusive characters that aren't Overlord.

Yet, the Prime Wars Trilogy gave us Hasbro-initiated releases of uber-obscure Japanese-originals like Lione and Shuffler, and even the less-obscure Liokaiser of all people.

[ScottyP]

Yet, the Prime Wars Trilogy gave us Hasbro-initiated releases of uber-obscure Japanese-originals like Lione and Shuffler, and even the less-obscure Liokaiser of all people.

Yeah I don't try to assign rules to what they will or won't do these days and these are good examples of why.

Well, outside of an Optimus Prime in every line at least once a year. That'd be a great, safe and inefficient Vegas bet

[Skritz]

Anyway for Earthrise I predict Headmaster Juniors, or at least a few of them. This is based on Scorponok and the Earth theme being an appropriate time to have some humans in the mix.

That makes a lot of sense. We could get Minerva, Goshooter, and Nightbeat from the same mold, and I'd love a new Horri-Bull figure

Well, this being Hasbro there will be no Minerva because she's just recolored Nightbeat in Japan. If there is a Minerva she'll be from Takara or in SELECTS.

I was just going with the assumption that Hasbro couldn't resist an easy repaint

Hasbro is allergic to Japanese-exclusive characters that aren't Overlord.

Yet, the Prime Wars Trilogy gave us Hasbro-initiated releases of uber-obscure Japanese-originals like Lione and Shuffler, and even the less-obscure Liokaiser of all people.

Yet nobody bought these things and I ended up defending Liokaiser were others whined and complained about the 'creative liberties' taken.

[Wolfman Jake]

Shuffling parts between molds and plastic colors is tricky business, apparently molds can only be a certain size and/or weight before something has to give. Which parts ended up blue vs. grey? If they're equal in size, weight or volume...

IIRC, I believe Warden offhandedly said in the livestream when he was explaining that it was either grey hands and drone or an at least partially blue trailer, and given the trailer is part of the whole point of the figure, that tradeoff absolutely makes sense.

I still find it hard to believe that more people would have complained about part of the trailer being partially blue vs. the amount of people who right now actually are lamenting the hands, inner legs, and repair drone being gray.

Is it really too late for them to change things at this point? Unless Earthrise wave 1 and Siege wave 5 are going to arrive on top of one another, I have a feeling we've got several months to go before Earthrise figures really hit retail, at least into the end of Q1 2020. (While they're at it, they can make Optimus Primes eyes BLUE too!)