Bionicle 2016 Sets Discussion

[wghost]

Do we have to think within the framework of femininity and masculinity when we address these masks? I don't think any of them are proper subjects to these categories and such use of terms feels forced and unnecessary imo.

Edited November 21, 2015 by wghost

[DraikNova]

Yeah, it always weird me out that people seem to not understand that there's more than one healthy female body type. Come on posters, people can be heavily built or lightly built regardless of most other factors.

[Shakar]

Speaking of masks and eyes, I hope the eye sockets on the new masks are large enough to grant sufficient back lighting (that's how it's called, right?) for the eyes to glow. Most of the 2015 masks made that nearly impossible.

[TheDesuComplex]

Speaking of masks and eyes, I hope the eye sockets on the new masks are large enough to grant sufficient back lighting (that's how it's called, right?) for the eyes to glow. Most of the 2015 masks made that nearly impossible.

The light piping on the new heads does not really come from the eyeholes, but from light shining in on the top of the mask. Onua and Kopaka's eyes shine really well because their masks let a ton of light into the top; the Protector masks and Skull masks are also great at this.

[Fulcrumfan91]

And here we go again with the talk of what looks masculine or feminine..........

[Logan McOwen]

Do we have to think within the framework of femininity and masculinity when we address these masks? I don't think any of them are proper subjects to these categories and such use of terms feels forced and unnecessary imo.

People generally use the terms masculine and feminine in regards to masks in reference to the typical differences in the appearances of men and women, such stereotypical features like bulky jawlines on men or softer cheekbone curves on women. That's it. Don't read too much into it.

Yeah, it always weird me out that people seem to not understand that there's more than one healthy female body type. Come on posters, people can be heavily built or lightly built regardless of most other factors.

What does that have to do with anything in this thread... like, at all?

Anyway, can we not have a gender politics discussion? Let's just talk about the sets.

Edited November 21, 2015 by Logan McOwen

[DuckBricks]

I wonder why Onua's Nuva symbol is off to the left of his mask whereas all the others have it in the center... Unfortunately for the symmetry and to me it looks a bit off, but the rest of the set is so good I'm willing to forgive it...

[One Very Agile Cat]

Kopaka's is not centered, either.

I think it's just for variety. Each mask does something different with the runes that lead up to the Nuva symbol.

I don't mind the blue eyes aesthetically speaking, but what bugs me is the inconsistency with the 2015 wave - the 2015 Toa that had yellow eyes now suddenly have blue eyes.

That, too. Not the worst thing ever, just something of note that I my try and change.

I'd actually not mind a unified eye colour if it was a completely different colour than before, like real yellow or... pink? But yeah I think the oddity comes from how some of the Toa have unchanged eyes while others do not.

What does that have to do with anything in this thread... like, at all?

Anyway, can we not have a gender politics discussion? Let's just talk about the sets.

It has everything to do with what was being discussed. Poeple were discussing visual gender stereotypes, he was saying that there's no need to adhere to those stereotypes.

Though I agree, it's been talked to death and doesn't need to be repeated here of all places, but his comment wasn't out of place at all.

But god, all that ugly technic taking away from proper CCBS designs. Blech.

How quaint.

I love how frighteningly inconsistent the Bionicle fanbase is. First, CCBS was ruining what used to be a technic-based line, now technic is ruining CCBS by makign the sets look more like OG Bionicle sets.

You really can't make up your minds at all. Seems like people hate/like whatever's convenient so that they can complain about something, I guess.

Edited November 21, 2015 by One Very Agile Cat

[DraikNova]

Yeah, Gali has that little platform on her mask, for example. But the problem with Onua's symbol's placement is that it ends up on the edge of the gold/translucent blend, which looks rather strange. Also, Pohatu's fang-like motif on his chestplate looks kind of silly.

What does that have to do with anything in this thread... like, at all?

I just find it strange that people seem to think that every female character has to have a certain body type or they're not feminine enough. I was responding to wghost.

[Lyichir]

How quaint.

I love how frighteningly inconsistent the Bionicle fanbase is. First, CCBS was ruining what used to be a technic-based line, now technic is ruining CCBS by makign the sets look more like OG Bionicle sets.

You really can't make up your minds at all. Seems like people hate/like whatever's convenient so that they can complain about something, I guess.

You're talking about the fanbase like it's a monolithic bloc, which is kind of the opposite of what it actually is. There are people who adore the new Technic builds and hated the shift to CCBS, and there are people who loved the introduction of CCBS and hate that the theme is returning to the inorganic and complicated textures that come with more Technic-based builds, and there are people like myself who fall somewhere in the middle.

I mean, I love the CCBS. But that's not to say that I view inorganic shaping or extra complexity as a bad thing. I don't love all the sets equally by any stretch, but neither CCBS nor Technic is responsible for the flaws I see—Tahu's clashing textures are 75% due to CCBS add-ons and Kopaka's upper arms are a mess of Technic that doesn't flow at all, but Lewa blends the two systems almost perfectly. I see a lot of potential in the CCBS/Technic integration these sets display, and even if these sets don't all deliver equally on that promise, even the worst of them look ripe for customization and I can't wait to have them in hand.

[MakutaDreadscythe]

Like I said I feel these sets leave a great foundation for customisation and I like that they're trying to mix CCBS and technic, however like Fire Lord from 2011 the execution leaves something to be desired, especially Pohatu and Kopaka's upper arms, though Lewa seems to have some more going for it. Wait and see.

[This_Dark_Guy13]

Do we have to think within the framework of femininity and masculinity when we address these masks? I don't think any of them are proper subjects to these categories and such use of terms feels forced and unnecessary imo.

According to me every mask look very good and the body forms do not need to specify the appriopriate sex. I mean that many new Bionicle fans may ''suprise'' the fact that gali is female. However,i agree with that theme was repeated many times and it's not so important. More curious to me the issue of new bodies of our heroes. The look at more complex than those of previous wave.

Edited November 21, 2015 by This_Dark_Guy13

[Fulcrumfan91]

I wonder why Onua's Nuva symbol is off to the left of his mask whereas all the others have it in the center... Unfortunately for the symmetry and to me it looks a bit off, but the rest of the set is so good I'm willing to forgive it...

I consider them sort of like tribal tattoos. Onua's is above his eye. Looks kinda cool to me.

but Lewa blends the two systems almost perfectly..

I really disagree that Lewa is the only one that integrates both systems equally. I think Gali and Pohatu do an equally good job of using both Technic and CCBS. Problem is, you can't quite see it, because all the intricacies of Technic are hidden beneath the Torsos. I'll agree though that Tahu is a mess, Onua is lacking, and Kopaka does look a little messy...but of all of them, his I don't mind as much.

[bidiminished]

Speaking of masks and eyes, I hope the eye sockets on the new masks are large enough to grant sufficient back lighting (that's how it's called, right?) for the eyes to glow. Most of the 2015 masks made that nearly impossible.

I think the plastic itself has something to do with the lighting effectiveness, along with the questionable eyestalk. I was surprised by the poor performance of the 2015 eyestalk + mask combination, as the poor glow should have been noticed and fixed before the designs were finalised, but I don't think 2016 will really fix this issue. In fact, it might be worse because the blue eyes are dimmer than the yellow ones.

The light piping on the new heads does not really come from the eyeholes, but from light shining in on the top of the mask. Onua and Kopaka's eyes shine really well because their masks let a ton of light into the top; the Protector masks and Skull masks are also great at this.

So I hope we don't get any more fake vents on the masks (Tahu, Lewa, Pohatu 2015), for me it's enough to drag a mask from 9/10 to 6/10. I still don't understand why LEGO could only get real vents for half of the 2015 masks.

[Lyichir]

I really disagree that Lewa is the only one that integrates both systems equally. I think Gali and Pohatu do an equally good job of using both Technic and CCBS. Problem is, you can't quite see it, because all the intricacies of Technic are hidden beneath the Torsos. I'll agree though that Tahu is a mess, Onua is lacking, and Kopaka does look a little messy...but of all of them, his I don't mind as much.

I wasn't talking about the quantities of each, but rather how effectively they were integrated. Lewa's design uses Technic heavily, but it uses it without compromising his silhouette or overall aesthetic (in fact, he benefits from it with a unique physique and proportions that standard CCBS couldn't achieve).

I suppose Gali's design is equally effective, though since her limbs are more standard for CCBS it's less groundbreaking. I like Pohatu, but part of that is appreciating the slightly scrappy, wonky build he has—apart from his 2015 design, Pohatu was always sort of the odd man out as far as Toa designs went, so I think a more experimental design suits him. I actually don't think Onua is that bad, either (at least when considered on his own merits rather than compared to the 2015 version), but like Gali, everything but his weapon and torso build relies more on tried-and-true CCBS techniques and less on combining the system with Technic in new ways.

In general, a lot of these are minor complaints, and I much prefer the amount of diversity we see in these builds (with several different torso constructions) to getting a group of Toa that doesn't try anything new. As a MOCist, actual set designs serve as a starting point in many ways, and even the less effective designs in the group have gotten me to consider techniques I otherwise wouldn't have thought of. I'm quite happy that the new sets are mixing things up instead of just rehashing the generally solid designs from this year.

[xboxtravis7992]

Better to have some variation with the designs to from year to year. Anybody remember the difference between the Toa Mata and the Toa Nuva? Just a few new silver pieces and mask; everything else was almost spot on the same as the previous design. Better to have these new figures be different, to justify making a second purchase; because if they weren't that different it would be very easy for the consumer to say, "But I already have one!"

[GK733]

Like I said I feel these sets leave a great foundation for customisation and I like that they're trying to mix CCBS and technic, however like Fire Lord from 2011 the execution leaves something to be desired, especially Pohatu and Kopaka's upper arms, though Lewa seems to have some more going for it. Wait and see.

Agreed, while it leaves something to hope for it gives it a pretty good foundation so it can truly shine with the future sets.

On the female topic... again. I say that the set should look feminine/masculine enough that the consumer understands it. Gali's set description is embarrassing, the fact that they have to state that she's female and even highlight it clearly send a message that consumers have had problem figuring out her gender.

Yes, it is partly for the consumer to decide the characters gender but they sell her feminity as an actual feature.

[YellowCorvette]

The Technic build on the 2016 sets didn't bother me as much as before, but however my problem with the Technic build on some of the sets is the integration of both Technic and CCBS parts on some of the sets looks messy and didn't look right with the texture of the CCBS parts.

[TheGreatSpirit]

I for one welcome our new technic overlords​ torso builds.

And here we go again with the talk of what looks masculine or feminine..........

pls no

[Kalhiki]

I like the Technic for the torsos. Has that sort of mechanical-underneath-with-smoother-armor-covering look that I've been wanting to see. Plus, it looks much less gappy than basic CCBS torso builds we've always had.

I just find the Technic constructions on some of the arms to be questionable. But I do appreciate that we're getting something more different than "snap two bones together, add shells" formula for limbs.

Speaking of Technic and limbs, does anyone have any ideas what that little bit of technic is on Onua's lower left leg? I can't for the life of me figure out what it's for.

[Shakar]

I'm not sure, but I think it might be there to store extra stud projectiles, like Umarak's disk/wheel thing that is attached to his blade.

[Fulcrumfan91]

I'm not sure, but I think it might be there to store extra stud projectiles, like Umarak's disk/wheel thing that is attached to his blade.

Yup, that's the theory so far. It's a compartment for Onua to store extra studs...hopefully Kopaka has something like that.

[Lyichir]

Yup, that's the theory so far. It's a compartment for Onua to store extra studs...hopefully Kopaka has something like that.

Pretty sure he does, on his upper left leg.

Akida, on the other hand, doesn't seem to... but that'd be a lot of ammo to store, anyway.

[One Very Agile Cat]

You're talking about the fanbase like it's a monolithic bloc, which is kind of the opposite of what it actually is.

The irony is that you're saying this on a site that enforces it's own opinion over others in a crude way, delibertaign putting down those who share an opposite viewpoint. Built right into the posting system no less.

Speaking of Technic and limbs, does anyone have any ideas what that little bit of technic is on Onua's lower left leg? I can't for the life of me figure out what it's for.

I don't know, but it's been nagging me, too. Though I agree with the above now that I think of it, it's probably just a holder for stud ammo, since none of the other Toa ahve it, but Umarak has some sort of stud holder. Edited November 22, 2015 by One Very Agile Cat

[Aanchir]

The irony is that you're saying this on a site that enforces it's own opinion over others in a crude way, delibertaign putting down those who share an opposite viewpoint. Built right into the posting system no less.

I... am not sure what this means. What makes Eurobricks' "posting system" different from other forums, and how does it enforce certain opinions over others?

It seems to me that you're pretty free to express a wide range of opinions here, at long as they don't get into things like religion or politics that are liable to lead to a flame war (and those aren't things that are likely to come up in a discussion of Bionicle). Just look at how many differing opinions on the new sets there have been in this very thread. Some people like the new sets in general, some don't. Some people think they use too much Technic, some think not enough. Some people think certain Toa are better than their 2015 versions and other people think they're worse.

Just like any other forum, if you express an opinion here that other people disagree with they're probably going to tell you so, but that doesn't mean you aren't free to express that opinion, just that other people are just as free to counter with their own opinions. That's generally how discussion works.

I have heard some more controversial things about this site and how they've handled certain disputes in the past, and if you're talking about something like that we might be better discussing it via PM since it'd be getting kinda off-topic for this thread. But your post didn't give me the impression that you were referring to those specific issues.

Edited November 22, 2015 by Aanchir