Bionicle-2010?

[Bfahome]

The mask looks awesome. Does anyone know if you can order one?

I think he made it. At least the inscription says he did.

[Zarkan]

After a long wait, Part 5 of Sahmad's Tale is now up!

Man, this serial keeps getting better and better. I honestly never expected to see a creature older than the Great Beings, and the revalation that it feeds on dreams is both creative and creepy. It's too bad that the Sisters of the Skrall are just mindless drones now, but it is good to know where they got their powers from. And Sahmad continues to be one of the most interesting Bionicle characters ever created.

[Refia]

I've listened, and I must admit, I enjoyed it. Quality of Sahmad's Tale is high indeed.

[Aanchir]

I just wanted to share something I just discovered which relates to 2010 BIONICLE. At Brickfair this year I met with the BZPower crowd, and my brother and I each secured a prototype piece (or rather, I secured one for each of us, since he had wandered off). He got a Dark Grey Metallic (dark silver/gunmetal) Kraahkan prototype, and I got a Reddish Gold (Krana-Kal copper) Avohkii prototype. I was warned that the Avohkii prototype would not fit snugly into an axle hole, which proved true (this may have been deliberate, to test if it could still be made as easily removable as prior masks even with an axle rather than a stud connection). The Avohkii fits very loosely in any head piece or other piece with an axle hole, and tends to wobble about.

However, today I tested it with my Takanuva set from the BIONICLE Stars series, and was pleasantly surprised to find that not only does it fit snugly in the Av-Matoran head piece (i.e. doesn't wobble or fall out), it fits more snugly than the finalized Avohkii! That is to say, it fits closer to the face than any Avohkii that was released in any sets. Reddish Gold is a color that I consider ''more'' appealing for Toa of Light than the color that was actually used in 2003 (Sand Yellow Metallic), so this was a very happy discovery.

Unfortunately, the 2010 Takanuva's other armor pieces don't exist in Reddish Gold-- the only parts I know of that exist in Reddish Gold are the Krana-Kal and various Knights' Kingdom swords and armor. Some builders think that Reddish Gold is OK to use with standard Warm Gold (Brutaka gold) armor, but I personally find it hideous. But if you consider the color of Nuhvok-Kal's Krana-Kal close enough to Warm Gold to act as a substitute, and if you're a BZPower member who attends American LEGO conventions like Brickfair, then I encourage you to see about acquiring one of these masks for use with the 2010 Takanuva!

[jala12]

Hmm, any chance you could post any pics of that prototype piece? Sounds interesting.

[Bfahome]

But if you consider the color of Nuhvok-Kal's Krana-Kal close enough to Warm Gold to act as a substitute, and if you're a BZPower member who attends American LEGO conventions like Brickfair, then I encourage you to see about acquiring one of these masks for use with the 2010 Takanuva!

How many of them are there, though?

[Aanchir]

How many of them are there, though?

No idea. There were at least three of them left after I chose mine, so there's bound to be a few lucky individuals who get their hands on some. I personally am hoping it's someone who can do some camera magic with it and get Takanuva to look his most brilliant.

The piece is mostly identical to the actual 2003 Avohkii that appears in sets, only with a few differences on the inside. There are fewer molding marks on the inside-- the real one has four, one in each corner of the mouth, while the prototype has two at the bottom corners of the mouth and one centered at the top. There's also no part ID# on the prototype. On the underside, there's a little notch on the bottom backward-facing spike, which would be hard to see if the mask were actually built on a model.

The only difference that matters for building is that the axle is slightly thinner (almost imperceptibly so, but enough to make it sit loose in an axle hole), and the cross-shaped portion of the axle extends almost all the way to the inner "wall" of the mask (with a much smaller buffer zone). The thinness of the axle combined with the smaller buffer zone is what allows it to fit deeper into the axle hole of an Av-Matoran head.

I'll upload pics if I get around to taking them. I'm not at college right now, and my nice desk lamp is, so I don't really have an ideal light source for photography on hand. But I'll probably be taking this mask to college with me-- it will be hard for me to do without any BIONICLE sets or parts in the coming semester!

[dviddy]

There's a whole bag of those MoLs last I checked. I don't know, and I don't know how many Andrew's given out.

Since we're on prototypes, these are the ones I brought home from Brickfair. I really wish that Miru had come in more colours, because it was so much closer to the original Miru Nuva than the Phantoka mask was.

[Bfahome]

There's a whole bag of those MoLs last I checked. I don't know, and I don't know how many Andrew's given out.

Since we're on prototypes, these are the ones I brought home from Brickfair. I really wish that Miru had come in more colours, because it was so much closer to the original Miru Nuva than the Phantoka mask was.

Wow. Are there that many multiples of others, too?

And I didn't get any. :[

[dviddy]

There are lots of some, and only one of others. I got the only silver Miru Nuva T9, and the only silver Ackar helm that Andrew had, and he only had one of a few others that are now out there too. But others he had entire ziploc bags full of, like the Strakk helmets, or the Tarix helmets.

[Ecto]

So, I take it there was just the one clear visor? Deevs, you lucky dog.

[dviddy]

Weirdly enough, there was only one Miru, but two visors.

[Bfahome]

Weirdly enough, there was only one Miru, but two visors.

Dibs?

[Primus]

Since it's pretty relevant, this is the prototype I got from B6.

EDIT: I also got a blue and silver Skrall sword from him last year.

Edited August 19, 2010 by Primus

[Aanchir]

There's a whole bag of those MoLs last I checked. I don't know, and I don't know how many Andrew's given out.

Since we're on prototypes, these are the ones I brought home from Brickfair. I really wish that Miru had come in more colours, because it was so much closer to the original Miru Nuva than the Phantoka mask was.

Yeah, the Axalara version of the Miru is a lot more loyal to the original mask. Still, I wish it still had the fin on top that the Phantoka version had. All they would have needed to do is lengthen that a bit and the mask would have been practically perfect.

[Ecto]

There ain't no such thing as dibs, bfa. THIS MEANS WAR.

But yeah seriously that visor is incredible.

[Zarkan]

Honestly, Lewa's original Phantoka mask has grown on me a lot, to the point where I'd probably still use it even if I had his Axalara mask. Sure, the latter is closer to the Toa Nuva design than the former, but I honestly never liked Lewa's original Nuva mask either. Something about the Phantoka mask just gives off a real Lewa air - something that I can't really say about Gali or Onua's Mistika masks.

Then again, Tahu's Mistka mask has also grown on me, and it barely resembles the original Hau at all. I think my still-yet-to-be-posted 2008 Toa mods might have something to do with it - when placed on the original set version, I disliked Tahu Mistka's mask with a passion, but the changes I made to his body and weapon actually compliment it quite well. I guess it's just more proof that the Toa Mistika were atrocious sets, period, and a little modding can go a long way to improving them.

Edited August 19, 2010 by Grevious

[Aanchir]

Honestly, Lewa's original Phantoka mask has grown on me a lot, to the point where I'd probably still use it even if I had his Axalara mask. Sure, the latter is closer to the Toa Nuva design than the former, but I honestly never liked Lewa's original Nuva mask either. Something about the Phantoka mask just gives off a real Lewa air - something that I can't really say about Gali or Onua's Mistika masks.

Then again, Tahu's Mistka mask has also grown on me, and it barely resembles the original Hau at all. I think my still-yet-to-be-posted 2008 Toa mods might have something to do with it - when placed on the original set version, I disliked Tahu Mistka's mask with a passion, but the changes I made to his body and weapon actually compliment it quite well. I guess it's just more proof that the Toa Mistika were atrocious sets, period, and a little modding can go a long way to improving them.

I agree that in terms of personality, I like the Phantoka version of the Miru Nuva better. The way the mouth area extends upward probably helps with that-- I don't like how "squashed" it looks on the Axalara version.

My overall favorite 2008 Kanohi Nuva is without question the Kakama Nuva from Rockoh T3. Really both versions of Pohatu impressed me a great deal, but the Rockoh version's mask is ideal in my eyes.

And I agree that the Mistika Kanohi were a real stretch. Tahu's is my favorite-- it pays tribute to the Hau and Hau Nuva in a surprising number of ways-- but I still feel it could have been better, and often doodle "alternate forms" it might take where it's more obviously a Hau Nuva.

As sets, though, I liked the Mistika Toa Nuva. Tahu in particular went above and beyond what I had been hoping for (most of my hypothetical concepts before had been Kopaka clones, whereas the final set kept the aspects of Kopaka I liked while adding a great deal more creativity). Even Gali somehow pulled off a feminine appearance, despite her broad shoulders and short neck. Onua is the only one I strongly disliked, and I feel I could easily come up with a satisfactory revamp that adheres more closely to the original Onua's posture and physique.

[Zarkan]

As sets, though, I liked the Mistika Toa Nuva. Tahu in particular went above and beyond what I had been hoping for (most of my hypothetical concepts before had been Kopaka clones, whereas the final set kept the aspects of Kopaka I liked while adding a great deal more creativity). Even Gali somehow pulled off a feminine appearance, despite her broad shoulders and short neck. Onua is the only one I strongly disliked, and I feel I could easily come up with a satisfactory revamp that adheres more closely to the original Onua's posture and physique.

Eh, I can't really agree with that, particularly the part about Gali Mistika actually looking somewhat female. To be honest, I still feel that Gali's Mistika form is probably the most blatantly masculine and evil-looking Toa we have ever gotten, even surpassing frog-face Kongu Inika in sheer ugliness. And that's just not right, since Gali is also the very first female Toa we ever knew. As for Tahu Mistika... eh, way too much silver for me, and I also don't like the Mecha-jets and his lack of a flame sword. I fixed all of those problems in my mod, and the end result was much better.

Oh heck, I might as well post a picture here. I had avoided doing this because my attempted photo-editing was less than sucessful, and I didn't feel like retaking my pictures.

[jala12]

Looks a little much like Vakama Hordika in my opinion.

[Nightmare]

Okay guys. I have an important question for you: Are you still interested in BIONICLE storyline? I'd like to know your answers on this, as this may be helpful for something else :)

[Captain M]

Okay guys. I have an important question for you: Are you still interested in BIONICLE storyline? I'd like to know your answers on this, as this may be helpful for something else :)

After they stopped production on the sets, no. In fact, I don't see why Bionicle still continues through the storyline. And the storyline is whack now, taking characters from other dimensions, etc. It's all so confusing.

[Mesonak]

I value the storyline heavily, and I actually enjoy Greg Farshtey's writing. However, the BIONICLE sets always mattered more to me than the story. When they left, my interest declined by quite a sizable amount.

Yay for Hero Factory.

-Mesonak

[Brickthing]

Okay guys. I have an important question for you: Are you still interested in BIONICLE storyline? I'd like to know your answers on this, as this may be helpful for something else :)

Absolutely, but I'm sure I speak for a lot of people when I say that it's hard to show that interest when updates are so infrequent. Not to seem ungrateful for Greg continuing the story, as I'd much rather some story than no story at all, but if I can take a 3 month hiatus from Bionicle and expect to only read 4 new chapters when I return, it's difficult to always show interest.

But I will always be very interested, so what BSS-stuff are you up to?

[Nightmare]

Absolutely, but I'm sure I speak for a lot of people when I say that it's hard to show that interest when updates are so infrequent. Not to seem ungrateful for Greg continuing the story, as I'd much rather some story than no story at all, but if I can take a 3 month hiatus from Bionicle and expect to only read 4 new chapters when I return, it's difficult to always show interest.

But I will always be very interested, so what BSS-stuff are you up to?

Some stuff :P And yes I agree on this. In fact Bioran and some other people are now concieving a new project you can find on BZP called kanohi.NOVUS, in an attempt to bring a little more story to the saga more frequently.