Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Logan McOwen]

I think the MoCr would be a neato little bonus, but I can definitely just see it being a recoloured Toa mask. Or maybe a Protector mask?

[Aanchir]

Along with all that, I don't get why people would prefer Onua to have his gold become silver. IMO, Onua would look better with gunmetal (goes with the black and the purple) or just gold (because of the purple and black) due the presence of purple. I feel that purple meshes with gold far better than silver does. Gold and purple is eye-catching, IMO, far more than purple and silver.

Agreed. When I first saw Onua I definitely wanted to see what he'd look like with just silver instead of silver and gold, though more out of curiosity than dissatisfaction with the actual design. I tried it out as soon as my brother got Onua, and I agree it looks kind of boring. I prefer the gold.

Of course, set design DOES involve making sacrifices sometimes, so it's a mistake to think EVERY decision the designers make is on account of their creative vision. But it's usually fairly easy to tell which decisions were made to keep things under budget, make things sturdier, simplify the building process, etc. and which were made for creative reasons.

In relation to colors--well, sort of--I just wanted to mention something: Does anyone else miss the days of elementally-colored villains? A lot of the villains now seem pretty boring: gunmetal, red, and black have become "evil" colors. The summer sets do have some variety with the trans-colors (like Basher's purple), and I'll give this wave a pass since they're rotting skeletons--but for the next wave of villains, I would really like to see some colorful ones.

I do like villains to be colorful in some way (and I think the new skull villains are plenty satisfactory in that regard), but I do not miss sets having the same elemental powers and color schemes for the heroes and villains. Color is a powerful tool for showcasing things about the characters, but how you use it can have a big impact. Some sets use color to delineate powers, others to delineate faction, others to delineate rank, and still others to do some combination of the three.

In LEGO Ninjago, for instance, the first year's enemies (the Skulkins) DID have elemental affiliations, although this was mostly symbolic for the villains as they did not use actual elemental powers in the story. As such, the skeletons' loincloths and the spikes on their shoulder armor were matched to the elemental colors of the Ninja. They also all used white, black, and red to identify them as the Skulkin faction (as well as purple on their buildings and vehicles).

Conversely, the Serpentine in 2012 did not have really strong elemental affiliations, except on the Spinjitzu trading cards (where Fangpyres were Fire, Hypnobrai were Ice, Constrictai were Earth, and Venomari were Lightning). So the color schemes that identified them by tribe were not the same as the color schemes that identified the Ninja and Skulkins by element.

All in all, no matter what colors you're using, it's important to think about what message those colors convey. Unless the new BIONICLE skull villains have elemental powers like the Toa and Protectors, it would probably have been a bad idea to give them the same elemental color schemes. But using the same transparent colors as the Toa helps to diversify them while also providing clear "matchups" between the heroes and villains. The prominent use of silver and gunmetal helps reinforce the "mechanical skeleton" look, and the Tr. Flu. Reddish Orange accents on all of them help reinforce that they are all part of the same evil faction. Whether or not future villains use what we think of as elemental color schemes, I think it's almost a certainty that their color schemes will be different than these current villains, unless they are likewise supposed to be mechanical skeletons within the same faction (which I doubt; LEGO likes to mix things up from year to year).

I'm mostly just happy to see Ameet back.

Yeah, they've done some great books since BIONICLE ended. Ameet Studio is responsible for the illustrations in the Ninjago activity books and the European handbooks, the Legends of Chima activity books and storybooks, and the LEGO Friends activity books and chapter books. They already showed their design acuity back when they were doing BIONICLE guide books, but they've come a long way since the days "Makuta's Guide to the Universe" (which was beautiful despite mostly just using stock art)!

[TheDesuComplex]

Really hope that the books mask is the "Kaukau" in gold and trans (light blue like Gali's bones? Blue to match PoW's mask?) or just in a trans shade.

A red spider would be cool but it'd be just an additional breed for collection. Whereas Gali's mask would actually fill an empty slot that would otherwise be left there as a very annoying shortcoming.

I imagine that it would be trans-dark-blue to match the Protector's blended mask, as Kopaka and PoI are already using trans-light-blue for theirs. Perhaps, if you want a blended Mask of Fire, you can just take one of the already fully trans-neon-orange ones from the Hero Pack and paint the bottom half a dull gold that matches Lego's color. I am planning on getting two Hero Packs anyway, so I may do this.

Looking at the books, I am going to mention my predictions on them:

Chapter Book- Up in the air. I am expecting it to be halfway between this and this.

Activity Book- Okay, this is the one with the included mask. I am betting it is a trans-dark-blue/pearl-gold Mask of Water; maybe a head to put it on or a similar stand. The activity book itself will be things like mazes and coloring pages, along the lines of this.

[MakutaOfWar]

All of this talk about Gali's mask, what if there's actually a store exclusive? Everybody is turning the idea down because HF only had one but it seems odd that two gold-trans masks are missing. Maybe we get a two pack villain set. Or two special edition villians like 2005's two Toa, Norik and Iruni. And yes I know people are going to turn this idea down, just thought I'd throw it out there is all.

Edited February 26, 2015 by MakutaOfWar

[Lyichir]

All of this talk about Gali's mask, what if there's actually a store exclusive? Everybody is turning the idea down because HF only had one but it seems odd that two gold-trans masks are missing. Maybe we get a two pack villain set. Or two special edition villians like 2005's two Toa, Norik and Iruni. And yes I know people are going to turn this idea down, just thought I'd throw it out there is all.

It's not implausible that there might be a store-exclusive set—in fact, I'd consider the likelihood higher than it was in HF's later years due to the potential for stores to want to capitalize on hype for the new theme. There's no clear evidence for one, but not a lot of evidence against one either.

That said, there are PLENTY of opportunities left for additional masks to be released, whether or not additional sets are yet to be revealed. Gifts-with-purchase could very easily be released later in the year (a second one from Lego might not be all that likely, but I wouldn't be surprised if Toys R Us releases one during their annual "Bricktober" event, and other retailers might surprise us with one as well). I wouldn't be surprised if Dorling Kindersley released a Bionicle visual dictionary or guidebook within the next two years, which would most likely include an exclusive mask recolor. And beyond that, there's the potential for Lego to do something they haven't done before—like the Target-exclusive minifigure cube from last year, which caught everyone by surprise.

[Aethersprite]

Fingers crossed for a store exclusive! It'd be quite neat, considering we haven't gotten a CCBS store exclusive yet. Maybe have the trans Gali mask with the exclusive set, and the trans Tahu one with the book.

[Kalhiki]

If we do get an exclusive with Gali's Mask, the set better be a skeleton fish. Shark would be best. What with all these Skull Army dudes, it'd be nice to have an aquatic figure.

That, and I like fish skeletons.

[MakutaOfWar]

^A Skeleton Manatee!

[Shakar]

Ever since the Nuremberg TF pictures surfaced I've been thinking about a store exclusive that can give us the two missing gold/trans masks. I've sceptically left it at that though, since we've never had a constraction store exclusive after 2010 and two exclusive recoloured masks in a single set seemed odd. But since we're getting the unexpected "book mask", a sixth Skull villain with Gali's mask doesn't seem THAT unlikely. I like the idea of a sea monster, the last sea based villain we got was Aquagon and he was terrible. As for the colours, tr dark blue?

EDIT: grah, I accidentally hit "Post"..

Edited February 27, 2015 by Shakar

[Mandate]

Ever since the Nuremberg TF pictures surfaced I've been thinking about a store exclusive that can give us the two missing gold/trans masks. I've sceptically left it at that though, since we've never had a constraction store exclusive after 2010 and two exclusive recoloured masks in a single set seemed odd

For a Tahu story-based line such as BIONICLE I wouldn't expect LEGO to make a deal out of a corrupted Hau.

After all, poster-boy needs some way to prove to the kids that a certain element is the best and and only element that LEGO would ever care about in any generation of BIONICLE. *COUGH*

Edited February 27, 2015 by Mandate

[WARHEAD]

it's not really Lego's fault he gets all the spotlight. Red just sells the best, it's a fact, of course they're gonna promote their most attractive product in the lineup.

Edited February 27, 2015 by WARHEAD

[Logan McOwen]

Y'know what irks me? People using Gen1 terminology to refer to Gen2 artefacts and characters.

The PoF is not Vakama, the Mask of Fire is not a Kanohi nor the Hau, and the "baby" villager is not Takua.

Edited February 27, 2015 by LewiMOC

[MakutaOfWar]

Y'know what irks me? People using Gen1 terminology to refer to Gen2 artefacts and characters.

The PoF is not Vakama, the Mask of Fire is not a Kanohi nor the Hau, and the "baby" villager is not Takua.

Mr. Party Pooper over here. :(

I'm just kidding, I actually just refer to the PoF as PoF, and I haven't even thought about baby protector that much. People really calling him Takua? ._. He doesn't even have a blue protector's mask. But you got me at Hau, I refuse to refer to it as something as generic as Mask of Fire when it was(and is) to me the Kanohi Mask of Shielding!(shielding right?)

[The Outsider]

So... how about them BIONICLE books?

http://www.amazon.co...6&keywords=lego

http://www.amazon.co..._rhf_dp_p_img_1

:wub_drool: :wub_drool: Yes!!

Though unless the exclusive mask is the part-trans Mask of Fire/Water, I don't think I'll buy the Activity Book...which I think is the only one who will be sold in my country (thank God for online shopping then).

All of this talk about Gali's mask, what if there's actually a store exclusive? Everybody is turning the idea down because HF only had one but it seems odd that two gold-trans masks are missing. Maybe we get a two pack villain set. Or two special edition villians like 2005's two Toa, Norik and Iruni. And yes I know people are going to turn this idea down, just thought I'd throw it out there is all.

Indeed unlikely, but it would be very nice to see that.

On a sidenote, refresh my memory: what was the HF exclusive?

If we do get an exclusive with Gali's Mask, the set better be a skeleton fish. Shark would be best. What with all these Skull Army dudes, it'd be nice to have an aquatic figure.

That, and I like fish skeletons.

So... something with the new rib-torso shell sideways?

Seriously, though, I like that idea. Though I would prefer a more eel/lamprey like sea monster (don't exactly know why; it just feels more menacing in my head). Or maye Skeleton Cyborg Cthulhu. Forget that, silly thought.

Y'know what irks me? People using Gen1 terminology to refer to Gen2 artefacts and characters.

The PoF is not Vakama, the Mask of Fire is not a Kanohi nor the Hau, and the "baby" villager is not Takua.

Mr. Party Pooper over here. :(

I'm just kidding, I actually just refer to the PoF as PoF, and I haven't even thought about baby protector that much. People really calling him Takua? ._. He doesn't even have a blue protector's mask. But you got me at Hau, I refuse to refer to it as something as generic as Mask of Fire when it was(and is) to me the Kanohi Mask of Shielding!(shielding right?)

Frankly, I don't really mind; given how little information we have on the Gen2 Villager characters (not even the Protectors have names), they might as well be rebooted Gen1 characters like the Toa. The mask of Fire, however, feels odd, since it has an official name and power (which is not shielding).

That being said, something original might be better and less confusing.

My personal headcanon is that the Protectors let go of their old names and identities once they take the mantle, to mark them as serving their tribe above all else.

[Mandate]

it's not really Lego's fault he gets all the spotlight. Red just sells the best, it's a fact, of course they're gonna promote their most attractive product in the lineup.

My point still stands, all the same

The PoF is not Vakama, the Mask of Fire is not a Kanohi nor the Hau, and the "baby" villager is not Takua.

And guess what? You're absolutely right. But I'm not going to refer to Tahu's mask as its actual new name. Why? Because it's bland, boring and generic, it's a mouthful to say in comparison to "Hau", and pretty much well everyone on the forums/websites I frequent will know exactly what I'm referring to. Is what I just said an adequate excuse for being lazy and incorrect? No, but it's not going to change my mind, unfortunately.

edit: Yay, 1,300th post.

Edited February 27, 2015 by Mandate

[Logan McOwen]

And guess what? You're absolutely right. But I'm not going to refer to Tahu's mask as its actual new name. Why? Because it's bland, boring and generic, it's a mouthful to say in comparison to "Hau", and pretty much well everyone on the forums/websites I frequent will know exactly what I'm referring to. Is what I just said an adequate excuse for being lazy and incorrect? No, but it's not going to change my mind, unfortunately.

edit: Yay, 1,300th post.

I like you, you're firey.

But seriously, no need for passive aggression dude. We're talking about action figures on the internet, not politics.

Edited February 27, 2015 by LewiMOC

[MakutaOfWar]

@The Outsider: The HF store exclusive was Bulk vs Vapor in 2010. :P It was a TRU exclusive containg a blue Rotor helmet and blue Corroder claws, those two being really all that was special about the set.

And on the subject again, I had this idea for a store exclusive. A medium sized villain body combined with a small sized one creating something like Splitter Beast but more properly built and to fit the 20-25 euro(sorry I'm bad at determining euros) range, the same as Bulk vs Vapor is what I'm talking about. And if it contained both masks of Fire and Water blended then maybe the small villain could be fire themed and the large be water themed. Anyways that's just my idea. :S Mine alone, just ignore I ever wrote this...

[Mandate]

I like you, you're firey.

But seriously, no need for passive aggression dude. We're talking about action figures on the internet, not politics.

Everything negative I said was directed at either LEGO making poor decisions (seriously, even NINJAGO got better names for the Golden Weapons) or myself.

[The Outsider]

@The Outsider: The HF store exclusive was Bulk vs Vapor in 2010. :P It was a TRU exclusive containg a blue Rotor helmet and blue Corroder claws, those two being really all that was special about the set.

And on the subject again, I had this idea for a store exclusive. A medium sized villain body combined with a small sized one creating something like Splitter Beast but more properly built and to fit the 20-25 euro(sorry I'm bad at determining euros) range, the same as Bulk vs Vapor is what I'm talking about. And if it contained both masks of Fire and Water blended then maybe the small villain could be fire themed and the large be water themed. Anyways that's just my idea. :S Mine alone, just ignore I ever wrote this...

Thanks. That was really a long time ago!

That's a really great idea, though I would probably swap the elements: a small water creature that needs to combine with a larger, land-dwelling fire creature to walk around.

Everything negative I said was directed at either LEGO making poor decisions (seriously, even NINJAGO got better names for the Golden Weapons) or myself.

How exactly is "Sword of Fire" any better than "Mask of Fire"? The only one remotely different is the Scythe of Quakes.

[Scarilian]

Ever since the Nuremberg TF pictures surfaced I've been thinking about a store exclusive that can give us the two missing gold/trans masks. I've sceptically left it at that though, since we've never had a constraction store exclusive after 2010 and two exclusive recoloured masks in a single set seemed odd. But since we're getting the unexpected "book mask", a sixth Skull villain with Gali's mask doesn't seem THAT unlikely. I like the idea of a sea monster, the last sea based villain we got was Aquagon and he was terrible. As for the colours, tr dark blue?

EDIT: grah, I accidentally hit "Post"..

I think at the moment they are sticking to the skull theme for 2015, so not sure if they'd do a sea monster set this year if we did get a store exclusive, though that would have been listed if we were getting it. The Lego employee thing did only list a total of 18 figures this year (13 Winter, 5 Summer)

[Kalhiki]

I think at the moment they are sticking to the skull theme for 2015, so not sure if they'd do a sea monster set this year if we did get a store exclusive, though that would have been listed if we were getting it. The Lego employee thing did only list a total of 18 figures this year (13 Winter, 5 Summer)

Unless said sea monster was a skeleton.

I mean, we have Skull Scorpio, so another non-humanoid skeleton character isn't out of the question.

[Ikaatril]

Skull Shark? Skull Eel? Skull Fish? Skull Squid? Skull Manta? Skull Barraki? Skull Urchin? Skull Lobster? Skull Crab? Probably not going to be the latter two - too similar to Skull Scorpio in possible shape, especially the lobster.

If there is an exclusive set, I'd guess Skull Shark. They've done a constraction shark before, so it's definitely possible to pull it off. Except this time with a skull theme, and probably bigger too.

[Toa of Gallifrey]

Skull Kraken 2015 w/ funmetal Kaukau plz.

Edited February 27, 2015 by Toa of Gallifrey

[Dorek]

While I don't know why it would have to be a sea creature of any kind, I would support it wholeheartedly. Love me some CCBS water monsters.

[Scarilian]

I just doubt they would do a single solitary sea creature amongst a bunch of land creatures... i mean Gali has had the shortest amount of animation screentime and not got a transparent mask yet, so not sure their is another focus on water. Atleast not for this year, and next year looks like flying sets judging from the insane amount of flying creatures in the summer box art...