However, the attitude to the Defenders seems to be that they will just be faceless drones with no identity. As in, less lifelike than the Bohrok and Vahki. No uniqueness aside from basic body design. Less personality than a Battle Droid. And that does feel out of place.

I don't know what is giving you that impression. They certainly seem more individual than the bohrok or the vahki, who were just recoloured clone sets. All the protectors at least have their own stature. And, as people love to keep reminding me, their heads have masks over their faces. Back in the day, tonnes of Matoran used the same mask. Not to mention all the agori clones in TLR (likely cost saving, but still).

I like how everybody thinks Protectors will be blank drones, even if we don't know anything about them :P

Edited October 3, 201410 yr by Voxovan

It's killing me.

I think the assumptions that the Protectors will be "faceless drones with no identity" is wildly off-base. There is literally nothing to support that except the assumption that if they had identities, the sets would refer to them by name. But that's not set in stone. Remember Piraka? Also, not giving the set a specific name could people to buy multiples to serve as generic villagers, rather than each one representing one particular character.

The designs, for what it's worth, have more personality than the Bohrok or Vahki ever did. Beyond that, we haven't even seen the final designs yet. For all we know, they might have different masks in the final sets. Or perhaps even masks that are randomized in some way. But even if they don't, sharing the same mask hardly means they lack actual identities.

Edited October 3, 201410 yr by Aanchir

Well, hopefully we do.

And possibly some different Toa. Maybe even a female fire user to give Tahu a run for his money?

I'd love that.

I think the assumptions that the Protectors will be "faceless drones with no identity" is wildly off-base. There is literally nothing to support that except the assumption that if they had identities, the sets would refer to them by name. But that's not set in stone. Remember Piraka?

I do, and I also remember each one had its own name, even a nickname (first time ever for BIONICLE), and a unique spine.

EDIT: the name was printed on the boxes, the nickname heavily used in the media.

Edited October 3, 201410 yr by TwistLaw

I suppose, if the argument is that the chest cannon means they're robots... might all the characters be robots this time around?

I don't know how much can be inferred from that. Was keetongu a robot in the old story? I remember him having a rhotuka launcher in his torso so I'm just wondering. If not, then this could easily not mean anything.

I do, and I also remember each one had its own name, even a nickname (first time ever for BIONICLE), and a unique spine.

EDIT: the name was printed on the boxes, the nickname heavily used in the media.

I think the reference was to the set called Piraka, who was actually Nektann.

I do, and I also remember each one had its own name, even a nickname (first time ever for BIONICLE), and a unique spine.

Nope, I think he is referring to the Stars Piraka from 2010, who was known as Nektann in-story.

Anyway, I can remember several Matoran of different elements having the same Kanohi in different colors. Perhaps that is the same situation here?

Edited October 3, 201410 yr by Puffle Pal26

I suppose, if the argument is that the chest cannon means they're robots... might all the characters be robots this time around?

Are you sure you ain't a robot?

I think the reference was to the set called Piraka, who was actually Nektann.

Oh snap. Don't mind what I said then

I don't know how much can be inferred from that. Was keetongu a robot in the old story? I remember him having a rhotuka launcher in his torso so I'm just wondering. If not, then this could easily not mean anything.

Keetongu was a giant Rahi, and the last of his kind.

Are you sure you ain't a robot?

I... uh... umm... ERROR

Edited October 3, 201410 yr by Lord-Vorahk

Just2Good, any change of getting rest of the final pics this weekend?

I like that Onua keeps getting the short end of the stick leaks-wise: he was nearly impossible to make out in the display pic, in the second batch of leaks his mask was sadistically covered by the PRELIMINARY stamp, and now his finalized pics are getting delayed.

I'm still going to massively mod him (for...uh, mind canon reasons), but I'd like to know how his chest print looks (hope there's not much gold..) and if the tr. purple has been dropped or not (because I still can't tell).

And speaking of purple, tfw you can use the Earth Defender mask to build the real Seventh Toa.

EDIT: forgot to finish the post...

Edited October 3, 201410 yr by Shakar

Just2Good, any change of getting rest of the final pics this weekend?

Yeah, I've been wondering when they're coming...

but I'd like to know how his chest print looks (hope there's not much gold..)

Semantics, but Onua is probably going to have chest stickers rather than chest print. Which is unfortunate IMO, because I hate stickers.

<p>Why are people modding these sets so much? Why not just keep them as is? Might as well create a MOC.

Edited October 3, 201410 yr by MonkeyChud

Semantics, but Onua is probably going to have chest stickers rather than chest print. Which is unfortunate IMO, because I hate stickers.

I like stickers better, because you can choose not to apply them. BTW, I hope Kopaka's thighs armors are stickered and not printed, because even if there is still the possibility to remove the printing, I'd prefer plain armors, they are easier to use in MOCs.

I think stickers for Onua will be just fine if the patterns are as elegant as they are for the other Toa. Stickers on a surface that large and smooth, with clearly-defined edges, are rarely any challenge to apply.

I meant the chest design, yes. And he's using stickers for sure, like all sets with the Hulk chest have done.

It's probably going to be a stain of gold with purple designs. The problem is that I want to rid him of all that gold..

It's not killing me.

Speak for yourself. *Dies out of hype*

I genuinely don't think I can hold out until NYCC... *smash bros is out* oh wait never mind.

I'm still hoping that they changed his mask power to Mask of Air. He can be Jungle but still have his original power.

That could possibly explain how it bears near no resemblance to any form of Miru. Perhaps it's a "Mask of Wind", mask of air doesn't sound right IMO.

I meant the chest design, yes. And he's using stickers for sure, like all sets with the Hulk chest have done.

It's probably going to be a stain of gold with purple designs. The problem is that I want to rid him of all that gold..

I'm not sure how much gold it'd be likely to have. Or for that matter how much I'd WANT him to have.

On one hand, CHI Gorzan used a base color for his stickers that didn't match the chest plate, which was unusual, but it didn't look awful in my opinion. In fact, it wasn't unlike the other Chima constraction sets, who also had chest plate patterns in colors that contrasted with the chest plate itself.

On the other hand, the sticker's base color could be designed to match the color of the chest plate, like Stormer XL. That would be more consistent with the other characters like Kopaka, Pohatu, and Gali.

I don't think either situation would be awful-looking, personally. I guess we'll find out what to expect soon enough.

Will we see this on shelves by next month or is it too early?

Will we see this on shelves by next month or is it too early?

Hard to say. The LEGO Bionicle Facebook page said it was "coming in January", so you won't see it everywhere until then, But sometimes sets do show up in a few places up to two months in advance, so it wouldn't be out of the question for the first sightings to be in mid- to late November.

I really doubt that LEGO would make unique characters important to a plot look too similar to eachother. Appearance is a part of Characterization. The protectors really do look different from eachother, but not drastically enough for me to think that their appearances display different personalities; this is unlike the Piraka, toa teams, and titan sets. They have a very close uniformity, I could see them being like the Kohrok-Kal. Each would be a different being, but not really unique in terms of character development. This could be an initial thing however, with them being developed into characters as they interact more with the world. This is all conjecture of course, which is pretty much all we can make until we learn this new story.

On the sticker vs printed debate, I would be OK with stickers only if they arent essential parts of a set's appearance. Using the same example as Aanchir, my little brother wanted the stickers on his Stormer XL but I personally would leave stickers off of any shell pieces or armor if they are just flair or decorative. In the inevitable time that those start to peel off they become really unattractive and leave that residue. One of the two sets I got to test out CCBS was Cragger. I kind of feel like his chest piece looked really amazing, but I really don't see a use for that ball of chi when MoC'ing an original character because it is so distinctive to the Chima universe. It probably could have used a sticker instead, but that might cost the shininess.

When these images become more necessary is with parts like the LOSS' face. If he had just a blank plate there it wouldn't like a spider's face. The completeness of the set is preserved by the printing that wont peel away over time to render the spider faceless. The part is more unique than something like a Chi-charged armor plate, and isn't just a part of the universe's lore that is hard to ignore. (It definitely could be said that LOSS would be better off, and more BIONICLE-esque with a head made entirely from Technic. Im kinda liking the cartoony style this wave has though. Previous titans looked full-on robot without any living features)

I really just wish LEGO would package as few printed pieces as possible, but include a duplicate, non-printed piece for every one in a set as a spare. At the cost the higher price at least we would have more parts to work with and more options. This could make certain sets more worth their price, especially limited-edition promotional cases such as the Chi action figures.

Edited October 3, 201410 yr by InfurnallDragon

And speaking of purple, tfw you can use the Earth Defender mask to build the real Seventh Toa.

Sooo happy to see someone else remembers it that thing looked like it came from a nightmare or something.