Botcon 2013 Machine Wars Obsidian Alt Mode Image

#Sideways# wrote:Wow. Why am I liking this so much?!

PrymeStriker wrote:Still no faction symbol.

Henry921 wrote:

PrymeStriker wrote:Still no faction symbol.

Obsidian and Strika are loyal only to Cybertron itself. They ally with whoever's in power, whoever that is.


I like his vehicle mode, but I still have no idea why a propeller driven aircraft fits in with the Machine Wars aesthetic.

Doubledealer93 wrote:wasp what are you doing showing up at botcon?

Mindmaster wrote:It looks decent. But honestly, I think that they should have worked with the first Movie Incinerator. Highbrow just doesn't shout "Obsidian" to me.

Sabrblade wrote:All 2007 Movie toyline molds are off limits to Fun Pub.

Plus, this was his body before he became a helicopter.

(And what I love about the Osprey aircraft is that only United States Marines and a tee-wee bit of the Air Force uses them. As an aspiring Marine, this amuses me )

Mindmaster wrote:It looks decent. But honestly, I think that they should have worked with the first Movie Incinerator. Highbrow just doesn't shout "Obsidian" to me.

Mindmaster wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:All 2007 Movie toyline molds are off limits to Fun Pub.

Really? Never knew that.

Plus, this was his body before he became a helicopter.

Technically speaking, the V-22 Osprey isn't a helicopter. It is, however, designed with the functionality of both a helicopter and a plane. So it's kinda a neener-neener.

(And what I love about the Osprey aircraft is that only United States Marines and a tee-wee bit of the Air Force uses them. As an aspiring Marine, this amuses me )

Manterax Prime wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:All 2007 Movie toyline molds are off limits to Fun Pub.

Really? Never knew that.

Plus, this was his body before he became a helicopter.

Technically speaking, the V-22 Osprey isn't a helicopter. It is, however, designed with the functionality of both a helicopter and a plane. So it's kinda a neener-neener.

(And what I love about the Osprey aircraft is that only United States Marines and a tee-wee bit of the Air Force uses them. As an aspiring Marine, this amuses me )

Ah, but he wasn't an Osprey in Beast Machines. He was a Cybertronian helicopter. Now, Megaplex better be good, or it's no BotCon for me.

Mindmaster wrote:

Manterax Prime wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:All 2007 Movie toyline molds are off limits to Fun Pub.

Really? Never knew that.

Plus, this was his body before he became a helicopter.

Technically speaking, the V-22 Osprey isn't a helicopter. It is, however, designed with the functionality of both a helicopter and a plane. So it's kinda a neener-neener.

(And what I love about the Osprey aircraft is that only United States Marines and a tee-wee bit of the Air Force uses them. As an aspiring Marine, this amuses me )

Ah, but he wasn't an Osprey in Beast Machines. He was a Cybertronian helicopter. Now, Megaplex better be good, or it's no BotCon for me.

God dammit, MP....

El Duque wrote:Finding it really hard to get excited for this set. Hopefully the attendee only figures can save it for me.

El Duque wrote:Finding it really hard to get excited for this set. Hopefully the attendee only figures can save it for me.

Manterax Prime wrote:If only 3H hadn't tanked, we would still be getting AWESOME botcon figures, but no.....FunPub wants screw us over for crap.

But overall, it's Hasbro's fault for revoking 3H's rights to the TF line in the first place.

xyl360 wrote:

Manterax Prime wrote:If only 3H hadn't tanked, we would still be getting AWESOME botcon figures, but no.....FunPub wants screw us over for crap.

But overall, it's Hasbro's fault for revoking 3H's rights to the TF line in the first place.

Agreed. I loved the 3H figures. Most of them were completely new/original characters and were great repaints. I guess all of the Botcon homages that Funpub does might sell better to most of the fandom, but I for one would prefer original characters instead of constantly trying to shoehorn existing characters into molds that hardly ever fit them (at least IMO).

Sabrblade wrote:Fun Pub has created new character toys too:

2005 Buzzclaw
2005 Dirge
2005 Ricochet
2005 Flamewar
2005 Flareup
2005 Virulent Clones
2005 Skyfall
2006 Landquake
2006 Cybertron Astrotrain
2007 Breakaway
Every Shattered Glass character
2008 Topspin
2009 Landshark
2009 Heatwave
Every Fun Pub-released Animated character

GuyIncognito wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Fun Pub has created new character toys too:

2005 Buzzclaw
2005 Dirge
2005 Ricochet
2005 Flamewar
2005 Flareup
2005 Virulent Clones
2005 Skyfall
2006 Landquake
2006 Cybertron Astrotrain
2007 Breakaway
Every Shattered Glass character
2008 Topspin
2009 Landshark
2009 Heatwave
Every Fun Pub-released Animated character

I would argue that it doesn't count as a new character if they just take an existing character, change some of the details in its bio, and give it a new look. Many of those "new characters" you listed were really just new takes on existing characters.

Astrotrain's a great example. TFCC Astrotrain wasn't a new character. It's still Astrotrain.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Buzzclaw: New
Insecticon Dirge: New
Ricochet: New
Flamewar: New (at the time)
Flareup: based on Firestar
Virulent Clones: new-ish
The Nexus Prime five: all new
Landshark: New

The rest had analogs in other continuities

GuyIncognito wrote:How is 2005 Buzzclaw new, when Hasbro made Buzzclaw with the same mold in 1998? It's not like Fun Pub came up with the idea for Buzzclaw out of thin air. They might have altered the character to fit a new continuity, but they didn't create the character.

GuyIncognito wrote:I would argue that it doesn't count as a new character if they just take an existing character, change some of the details in its bio, and give it a new look. Many of those "new characters" you listed were really just new takes on existing characters.

Astrotrain's a great example. TFCC Astrotrain wasn't a new character. It's still Astrotrain.

Mkall wrote:Don't forget Flak, although I suppose a character with the same name exists as a Micromaster. Whether that's intended or not I'm not sure.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

GuyIncognito wrote:How is 2005 Buzzclaw new, when Hasbro made Buzzclaw with the same mold in 1998? It's not like Fun Pub came up with the idea for Buzzclaw out of thin air. They might have altered the character to fit a new continuity, but they didn't create the character.

Prove the in-fiction link between BW Buzzclaw, and Timelines Buzzclaw, then I'll yield. Namesakes aren't exactly uncommon in any continuity you know?

Part mantis, part lizard, Buzzclaw has all of the makings of a ferocious but sly warrior. In beast mode Buzzclaw crushes his enemies with spiny pincers and venomous mandibles while a powerful tail lashes out to land his surprised prey on their backside. As a flying robot Buzzclaw generates lethal ion discs from his forearm-mounted stilettos, paralyzing his victims and rendering them helpless. Generally stoic and silent, when it comes to the business of battle, Buzzclaw is arrogant, resourceful, and intent on the job at hand.

Strength - 6
Intelligence - 7
Speed - 5
Endurance - 5
Rank - 3
Courage - 5
Firepower - 5
Skill - 9

"Mercy is a luxury afforded only to the weak."
Profile: Buzzclaw is one of the few remaining members of the ancient Insecticon clan, a group of powerful Transformer warriors dating back to the beginnings of the Great Wars. He is brash, loud and obnoxious. However, he is also dedicated to helping Deathsaurus bring the Decepticon Empire back as a major power in the galaxy. He sees this as an opportunity to practice his own brand of brutality on the population of planets everywhere. His past as a warrior in the gladatorial pits of Polyhex have afforded him skill and preference for hand-to-hand combat. He relishes the feeling of an enemy's body going limp at death in his hands or claws.

Abilities: Buzzclaw is trained in various forms of hand-to-hand combat and has spent eons using those skills in battle. His insectoid beast form allows him to use his skills in both modes, each allowing him to utilize different weapons. As a beast, he can use his claws and mandibles to tear enemies apart. In robot mode he uses his wrist mounted claws and shield in combat. Like all Insecticons, he has an innate ability to create clones out of himself from existing raw materials in his immediate vicinity, however the ability has become diluted over time as he has changed his exo-structures. It is this ability that Deathsaurus hopes to unlock from his genetic code.

Weakness: Buzzclaw's over-reliance on hand-to-hand combat makes him vulnerable in situations requiring more artilery-based solutions.

Strength - 8
Intelligence - 7
Speed - 6
Endurance - 9
Rank - 4
Courage - 9
Firepower - 3
Skill - 8

Sabrblade wrote:

GuyIncognito wrote:I would argue that it doesn't count as a new character if they just take an existing character, change some of the details in its bio, and give it a new look. Many of those "new characters" you listed were really just new takes on existing characters.

Astrotrain's a great example. TFCC Astrotrain wasn't a new character. It's still Astrotrain.

There was no Astrotrain in the Unicron Trilogy beforehand, nor were there any of the Animated characters they released (though, I'll admit I forgot about The Motor Master already existing pre-BotCon 2011, so scratch him off). And the exact nature of all the SG characters is to be the polar opposites of their namesakes.

Are you suggesting that all the Unicron Trilogy, Animated, and SG characters are the same people as those who share their names? A new name isn't a devout requirement for a new character to be made.

Mkall wrote:Sorry, but I disagree with you. In your example, they took pretty much everything that was Astrotrain (minus the -train part, but that's a mold restriction) and placed it in a new mold. That's no more a new character than IDW Springer is compared to G1 Springer.

A previous (usually G1) character in a new set of circumstances does not make a new character.

Manterax Prime wrote:I don't care about a character or name being recycled or not. I was just saying that 3H had a thing for choosing really great molds for figures, whether they be bricks or not. FunPub did some good figures, but now it seems they've run out of molds to use and are going to the crap movie molds. I mean, come on, Strika is good as is, but a repaint of Energon Demolishor would've worked better. And Obsidian? Any helicopter. Hoist vehicle mode is a fail as he's supposed to be a tow-truck, not a pic-kup. Skywarp, while shite, is the only one who looks correct.........to a degree.

• All Movie 1 molds are off limits
• All on-screen character/Paramount-designed character molds from ROTF, 2010, and DOTM are off limits
• Non-film character/non-Paramount-designed character molds from ROTF, 2010, and DOTM are okay (like how Bludgeon and Dirge have been)

Sabrblade wrote:Anyone who owns any version of Cybertron Armorhide can do this with this new Hoist figure:




Photos courtesy of NightViper from Allspark.com

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:No love for RtS Lugnut it seems

Mkall wrote:Sorry, but I disagree with you. In your example, they took pretty much everything that was Astrotrain (minus the -train part, but that's a mold restriction) and placed it in a new mold. That's no more a new character than IDW Springer is compared to G1 Springer.

A previous (usually G1) character in a new set of circumstances does not make a new character.

GuyIncognito wrote:

Mkall wrote:Sorry, but I disagree with you. In your example, they took pretty much everything that was Astrotrain (minus the -train part, but that's a mold restriction) and placed it in a new mold. That's no more a new character than IDW Springer is compared to G1 Springer.

A previous (usually G1) character in a new set of circumstances does not make a new character.

Exactly. Putting the character in a different timeline or a different version of the story and changing some details in the bio are not the same as creating a new character.

"In confusion there is opportunity."

Creating confusion is his specialty. As a Triple Changer, can switch from space shuttle to train to robot almost instantaneously. Thrives on foes' panic and fear. As shuttle, travels at 20,000mph in orbit, up to 50,000mph out of orbit... can launch weapons and satellites. Carries cargo. As a train, top speed is 400mph, range 1700 miles. As robot has great strength, carries powerful ionic displacer rifle.

"The enemy's weakness is his uncertainty."

Astrotrain thrives on panic and fear. Though he is mainly used as a transport vehicle for moving warriors and supplies, he only truly feels at home pounding Autobot warriors into scrap metal. His ionic displacer rifle can scramble Autobot sensors, causing confusion in the enemy ranks, and his huge bulk casts a terrifying shadow across a battlefield. Those Autobots who survive a fight with Astrotrain often need only hear the echoing boom of his engines in the distance to once again quake in fear.

"The greatest opportunities are borne from adversity."

Constructed to serve as a transport for Megatron and his warriors, Astrotrain became discontent ferrying unappreciative Decepticons across the galaxy. In the chaos that followed the Unicron Battles, Astrotrain struck out on his own as a bounty hunter. Astrotrain convinced the Mini-Con Starcatcher to join him by promising him wealth and riches. The same promise was made to a trip of Mini-Cons who joined him later: Astro-Hook, Astro-Line, and Astro-Sinker. Astrotrain is cruel, but he is also extremely loyal to those under his command. He has an innate ability to inspire loyalty in others. His years of successful commissions have afforded him significant wealth, allowing him to upgrade his systems, greatly enhancing his strength. However, he has never given up his primary weapon, an ionic blaster that disrupts an enemy's internal circuitry.

GuyIncognito wrote:Energon Ironhide and G1 Ironhide are also the same character. Every Ironhide has been a different version of the same character: Ironhide.

Sabrblade wrote:Even disregarding the circumstantial differences, look at how different the personality of the third one is compared to the rather similar first two. And if the bios aren't enough, the story he appeared in should say plenty more of what he's like compared to his G1 namesake.

GuyIncognito wrote:MKall said it better than I could.

If FunPub had acquired the rights to the name "Spacewarp" and didn't give it a head that resembles Astrotrain, then I would say that they had created a new character - Spacewarp - based on an existing character (Skywarp). But they didn't do that. They made a new Astrotrain instead.

Sabrblade wrote:By that logic, Armada Hoist would be a different guy from Armada Smokescreen.

GuyIncognito wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:By that logic, Armada Hoist would be a different guy from Armada Smokescreen.

Totally different situation, and you're just confusing the issue by comparing them.

The issue here is this: If you take an existing mold, repaint it in homage to an existing character, give it the same name as that existing character, align it with the same faction, and change some details of the bio/backstory, did you just invent a NEW character?

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
New as in another addition to the story? Then yes.
New as in completely original that's never been done before? Then no.

xyl360 wrote:I loved the 3H figures. Most of them were completely new/original characters and were great repaints. I guess all of the Botcon homages that Funpub does might sell better to most of the fandom, but I for one would prefer original characters instead of constantly trying to shoehorn existing characters into molds that hardly ever fit them (at least IMO).

Sabrblade wrote:Fun Pub has created new character toys too:

2005 Buzzclaw
2005 Dirge
2005 Ricochet
2005 Flamewar
2005 Flareup
2005 Virulent Clones
2005 Skyfall
2006 Landquake
2006 Cybertron Astrotrain
2007 Breakaway
Every Shattered Glass character
2008 Topspin
2009 Landshark
2009 Heatwave
Every Fun Pub-released Animated character
)