United EX translated stories and bios (COMPLETE), Now through Parts 9/10! (updated 12/24) Rating Options

[ZacWilliam1]

Because when I think "Grimlock", I think "quadrupedal herbivore".

And when I think "Hot Rod", I think "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"


M "Come To Think Of It... That's ALSO What I Think When I Think 'Grimlock'" Sipher

When I think "Rapido", I think crummy FunPub story.
When I think "Kakuryu", I think.... ?

How is being interested in obscure characters any better or more exciting than being interested in legacy characters? It's just my opinion. When I'm considering purchasing a relatively small $70 toy, it has to mean something to me. And Kakuryu and Rapido do not mean anything to me. Straxus does, because the Marvel comics were the first TF fiction I was exposed to. I might buy him. But all in all, these stories are entertaining and nerdily fun, but the characters involved don't really excite me. If they were cheaper, my tone would change.

Well not everything can be aimed at you. These are aimed at hardcore fans and by and large hardcore fans really like obscure characters to get fleshed out and used. I'd like to see Any member of Dinoforce used and get story development than see Grimlock used for the billionth time in a mold not very appropriate.

-ZacWilliam, getting used like this is what MAKES characters into fan favorites and its much more interesting to develop and grow our cast of great characters than just reuse the same handful endlessly in even the most marginal of matches.

[Hydra]

All I can say is that I'm glad the stories are inciting this much discussion.

For me, I think that rather than any specific character, the thrill was really in filling in a few blanks in
a portion of TF lore that had so many interesting possibilities and yet hadn't been expanded upon.

But yeah, I guess you know whether it's for you. I sort of feel like lots of people have written about
Grimlock or Hot Rod, and I wanted to show some love to the little guys with the story.

Looking at reactions in Japan as well, it seems like lots of people said
"This story is so full of references that I'm really enjoying it."
and a handful said
"This story is so full of references that I can't even get into it."

So, it seems to have had the desired effect.

Personally, I may have enjoyed writing Grimmaster's chapter the most. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-silverbolt.gif)

[jamarmiller]

All I can say is that I'm glad the stories are inciting this much discussion.

For me, I think that rather than any specific character, the thrill was really in filling in a few blanks in
a portion of TF lore that had so many interesting possibilities and yet hadn't been expanded upon.

But yeah, I guess you know whether it's for you. I sort of feel like lots of people have written about
Grimlock or Hot Rod, and I wanted to show some love to the little guys with the story.

Looking at reactions in Japan as well, it seems like lots of people said
"This story is so full of references that I'm really enjoying it."
and a handful said
"This story is so full of references that I can't even get into it."

So, it seems to have had the desired effect.

Personally, I may have enjoyed writing Grimmaster's chapter the most. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-silverbolt.gif)

count me in the gang that is LOVING all the references and the use of obscure characters. I like to see them fleshed out so to speak , like you are doing

keep up the great job

your friend from Fukuoka

[Mecheon]

Also, let's be honest

If Grimmaster was any Dinobot, he'd be Slag, not Grimlock (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-waspy.gif)

[Might Gaine]

Please forgive me for reviving this thread instead of posting in the TF Pulp thread. Just seems like you've got this nice thread for United EX already...

So, while I like the fanwanky stories a lot, I'm a bit disappointed in character selection. If these guys were "somebodies" I would totally pick them up. Like, if Racemaster were Hot Rod, as his deco suggests, I would buy that. If Grimmaster is Grimlock, I'll buy. But if he's a Dinoforce member, I'll say, "Neat story," but I won't buy the toy. I feel a bit silly to be that way, but there it is.

I like that Rapido is not Hot Rod. To me, it's cooler that he is Hot Rod's protégé. You re-examine Rapido's tech spec and realize there is a link between his quote and Rodimus' line from The Ultimate weapon. And you can imagine them fighting side by side, and Hot Rod teaching him about leadership. For me, that is a lot more interesting than him being Hot Rod/Rodimus toy number 37, or something. But it's all personal preference, I suppose.

[Powered Convoy]

I like how Racemaster's head looks a bit like Hot Rod with his visor down. Like an Autobot that admires Hot Rod would likely try to mimic.

Randy

[▲ndrusi]

So, while I like the fanwanky stories a lot, I'm a bit disappointed in character selection. If these guys were "somebodies" I would totally pick them up. Like, if Racemaster were Hot Rod, as his deco suggests, I would buy that. If Grimmaster is Grimlock, I'll buy. But if he's a Dinoforce member, I'll say, "Neat story," but I won't buy the toy. I feel a bit silly to be that way, but there it is.

This is why Bumblebee ships four to a case.

[crockalley]

Well not everything can be aimed at you. These are aimed at hardcore fans and by and large hardcore fans really like obscure characters to get fleshed out and used. I'd like to see Any member of Dinoforce used and get story development than see Grimlock used for the billionth time in a mold not very appropriate.

-ZacWilliam, getting used like this is what MAKES characters into fan favorites and its much more interesting to develop and grow our cast of great characters than just reuse the same handful endlessly in even the most marginal of matches.

Wow, who's grandmother did I kick to deserve that? Because I don't want to spend $70 on Rapido, I am not a hard core fan? I never said I didn't like the stories. I have repeatedly said that I enjoy the stories. But it's just not enough to get me over the price tag when it comes to these toys. If they were domestic and at Hasbro retail price, with these bios, I'd probably buy a lot of them. I do not mean this as a personal insult to anyone here, I'm just expressing my opinion.

[Might Gaine]

New chapter added!

"The Dragon Pays His Dues"

[Meister79]

Loving the names of the drones!

[ZacWilliam1]

That's awesome. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

And it's also great that the colors are so close that I can use my US Grimstone as this much more interesting now guy.

-ZacWilliam, thinks he'd likely get along well with Sludge and Swoop at least. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif) So does this make him an official G1 Dinobot for the wiki. Does the package use the team name?

This post has been edited by ZacWilliam1: Oct 25 2012, 09:47 PM

[Powered Convoy]

I'm going to be posting galleries of these guys.

The QC is much better on them, especially with Racemaster compared to his US counterpart (who mine basically fell into a pile of bits when I put him together).

Randy

[Terrortron]

These have been the some awesome little gems that I continue to look forward to.

This one is my favorite yet. Grimmaster was a good choice. And, the other characters mentioned or referenced are among my favorite TFs of all time.

Plus, I don't feel the need to import this guy.

Basically Ch. 5 is made out of win on every level.

[Monzo]

Man, it's great to see Kakuryu back - I can still remember sitting around with a bunch of fans at BotCon '96 and watching the last few eps of the (terrible) English dub of Victory featuring the Dinoforce's turnaround, so there's a bit of personal fandom nostalgia there.

On the other hand, "let's heavily arm a carefree idiot" maybe doesn't seem like the best plan on the part of the Autobots.

[Terrortron]

So does this make him an official G1 Dinobot for the wiki. Does the package use the team name?

This.

I wonder if the rest of the Dinoforce joined the Dinobots as well. That would be an terrifying amount of robot Dinosaurs (as if one isn't scary enough).

Also, I hope the specific reference to the Victory manga doesn't exclude it from being in continuity with the Victory cartoon. That would be unfortunate.

This post has been edited by Terrortron: Oct 25 2012, 10:05 PM

[Hydra]

He is an official Dinobot, as suggested by his colors and profile.

As for the other Dinoforce members, I don't think they're Dinobots, or likely even Autobots. As for the manga reference, it is just suggesting that a similar event to that manga episode may have occured in a sidestory. I absolutely intended the overall story to fit in with the cartoon.

-Hydra

This post has been edited by Hydra: Oct 25 2012, 10:21 PM

[Terrortron]

As for the manga reference, it is just suggesting that a similar event to that manga episode may have occured in a sidestory. I absolutely intended the overall story to fit in with the cartoon.

Hooray!

[Spectre]

This is the first United EX set that I really want based on the profile.

[Sabrblade]

Is this story trying to say that the events of Operation Combination take place ten years after Victory (specifically, in 2035)? Cuz that really seems like a stretch since it sure feels like Zone occurs not too long after Victory, Return of Convoy not too long after Zone, and Operation Combination not too long after Return of Convoy. I could buy it being three years, maybe five at the most, after Victory. But a whole entire decade is really pushing it.

This post has been edited by Sabrblade: Oct 25 2012, 10:58 PM

[Hydra]

Correct. I always disliked the pattern of when anime suggest that a new show occurs every year, when there are massive, Earth-shattering events happening every day of that year.

We know from various supplementary materials that Victory is at most a few years after Masterforce. From that, the events of Zone, Battlestars, and Operation Combination occuring over the course of a decade seemed pretty reasonable to me.

Incidentally, for the guest appearance of Chip, I assumed that due to his body being put into stasis during the events of Binaltech,
he would be somewhat physically younger than his actual age (which would otherwise be well into retirement).

-Hydra