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Post by Pinwig on Sept 13, 2019 22:44:57 GMT
Perfidy in purple!
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Sept 14, 2019 6:44:04 GMT
In the Grand Moff Martinverse, the Sparkdashers are not different characters: FACT-FILE INTERFACE HARDSPARK Allegiance: Autobot Function: Ground assault Sub-group: Sparkdasher Battle Beast partner: Strong Humongous Hippo First appearance (as Guzzle): Transformers UK #152 ('Enemy Action') First appearance (as Hardspark): Right here "It's better to have fought and lost than never to have fought at all." After three years acting as ambassadors to the planet Lithone, the Sparkabots returned to Cybertron at the end of 2020 with new names and new colours, eager for a new mission. The task given to the trio took them by surprise: Take charge of three wayward, fire-invoking Battle Beasts and moderate their behaviour, turning them from delinquent trouble-makers into responsible members of Cybertronian society. A battle-hardened survivor of the software wars of Polyhex, Hardspark's hunger for combat is only equalled by his hunger for fuel. He's tough, no-nonsense, and has few enemies and even fewer friends. He can thread a washer from 2.5 miles with a blast from his plasma cannon. His flame exhaust in tank mode incinerates on contact. His fuel consumption is considerable. Soon after arriving on Cybertron, Strong Humongous Hippo found the Cosmic Carnival. He fell in love with it, and, when he showed them his fire-axe act, they reciprocated the love and offered him a contract. Strong Humongous Hippo is one of the strongest and toughest Battle Beasts, albeit also one of the slowest. He can invoke the power of fire to light up his tomahawks, and he's a first-class juggler, but he got too overheated when juggling fire-axes for long periods, and so packed in his circus career after a couple of seasons and wandered the sideshows, getting into fights. The management complained to the Autobots, and now he patrols the boggy border regions between the city-states of Vos and Iacon in the Sparkdasher tank, Hardspark, helping to keep the Vosian Zoids in check. FILE ENDS FACT-FILE INTERFACE HOTSPARK Allegiance: Autobot Function: Interceptor Sub-group: Sparkdasher Battle Beast partner: Dark Dragoon Raccoon First appearance (as Sizzle): Transformers UK #152 ('Enemy Action') First appearance (as Hotspark): Right here "Life in the fast lane is the only life worth living." Hotspark exceeds the speed limit and every other limit. A thrill-seeker, he drives faster, uses more energy and gets into more fights than any other Autobot. He enjoys life only when he's in danger. If he's not burning rubber, he's scorching enemy Robo Machines with his flamethrower exaust. He has a maximum speed 220 miles per hour and a range of 550 miles. Dark Dragoon Raccoon is one of a number of Battle Beasts from Planet Beast who took a wrong turning at the K'Tor wormhole cluster when journeying to Derut Four in 2019 and ended up on Cybertron, home planet of the Transformers. Unlike some of his compatriots, he decided to stick around, as it appeared to him to be a good spot for a fight or three. For a while he haunted the outskirts of Iacon, waylaying unsuspecting travellers heading into or out of Autobot City and challenging them to battle for fun and/or hand over all their worldly possessions. This was clearly not something that the civilised Autobots could tolerate for long, and he was quickly captured. He has now been offered a chance to put his love of a good fight to better use by partnering up with the Sparkdasher Hotspark, formerly known as Sizzle, to make things hot for the aggressive Robo Machine Monsters running rampant over Helex and Polyhex, and contain the threat that they pose. Dark Dragoon Raccoon's ability to cause molten lava to erupt from the ground is a perfect complement to Hotspark's upgraded flamethrower exhaust, boosting his effective firepower from 6 to 10, hot enough to make even the Robo Machines' Monsterous combiner think twice about marauding into Autobot or neutral territory. FILE ENDS FACT-FILE INTERFACE WILDSPARK Allegiance: Autobot Function: Military strategist Sub-group: Sparkdasher Battle Beast partner: Run Amuck Smileduck First appearance (as Fizzle): Transformers UK #152 ('Enemy Action') First appearance (as Wildspark): Right here "Planning a battle is ten times more important than fighting it." Wildspark overloads his circuits with grandiose schemes and cheap fuel. He acts as if his true worth is measured not by what he does, but how much he talks about doing it. If he could run on his own hot air, he'd go forever. In car mode, he leaves trails of flame in his path, and is capable of going from 0 to 200 miles per hour in 8 seconds, although at higher speeds he is prone to stalling on left turns. He possesses superior logistics and geographical data banks, and won't shut up about it. Run Amuck Smileduck is a Battle Beast of irrepressible high spirits, finding almost anything that happens to or around her hilariously funny. She quacks with laughter and also talks to herself in a series of quiet quacks, though she is capable of normal speech when necessary. Having arrived on Cybertron with Dark Dragoon Raccoon and his crew, she spent a while roaming the great canals, reservoirs and aqueducts of Iacon, challenging Autobot Micromasters to fights at every opportunity. Prowl would rather have her fighting hostile Sharkticons, and so has talked her into accompanying Wildspark to patrol the coast of the Rust Sea near the Quintesson-occupied city-state of Tarn, with the aim of keeping the region safe for travellers. Wildspark has some great ideas about how to do it, and wishes Smileduck would take him and their assignment a little more seriously. Run Amuck Smileduck can invoke the power of fire and conjure up blasts of 1,000-degree flame, which she can shoot up to 35 feet at her opponents, increasing Wildspark's effective firepower rating from a feeble 1 to a much more respectable 8. She can fly at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour, and carries a missile rifle that doubles as a hand-held melee weapon. FILE ENDS
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,073
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Post by The Huff on Sept 14, 2019 7:10:27 GMT
But then what do you do about the Destron sparkdash next week, who's a different character but identical? G2 Inferno would be another tough decision if we ever do G2 subgroups.
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Post by Shockprowl on Sept 14, 2019 7:28:02 GMT
I want to live in the Martinverse.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 14, 2019 7:36:24 GMT
Being in the Martinverse involves trips to Swindon to meet your friends from Curry.
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Post by Shockprowl on Sept 14, 2019 7:39:01 GMT
Swindon is very far away. And I suspect 'Curry' is even farther.
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Post by Jaymz on Sept 14, 2019 12:12:34 GMT
But then what do you do about the Destron sparkdash next week, who's a different character but identical? Put it in the poll, give the people the choice. Realistically, it shouldn't win, because of Guzzle, but I think it'll have a chance now with votes from the people who were denied a Wildspark vote.
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Post by Llama God on Sept 14, 2019 14:07:49 GMT
Anyway, Hotspark for me, because those colours work well with that design.
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Sept 14, 2019 21:01:47 GMT
But then what do you do about the Destron sparkdash next week, who's a different character but identical? Put it in the poll, give the people the choice. Realistically, it shouldn't win, because of Guzzle, but I think it'll have a chance now with votes from the people who were denied a Wildspark vote. Perhaps... but let's not restart another poll.
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Post by Benn on Sept 14, 2019 21:05:20 GMT
If we think there will be bias because of this week, then maybe he should be left off to prevent that?
Personally I'd have put all three on this week, as they're different characters.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 14, 2019 21:53:07 GMT
Would you put all the Pretenders up for the same reason?
And the Decepticon Headmasters?
No, the toy is the issue here and in this case the toy is all but identical to the US version, especially given the criteria for excluding previous toys.
So the only Japanese toys which will be up for voting are those different to their US Versions and then they need to be different enough
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 14, 2019 21:54:20 GMT
Put it in the poll, give the people the choice. Realistically, it shouldn't win, because of Guzzle, but I think it'll have a chance now with votes from the people who were denied a Wildspark vote. Perhaps... but let's not restart another poll. No chance of that this time.
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Post by Jaymz on Sept 14, 2019 23:09:30 GMT
Would you put all the Pretenders up for the same reason? Diver has different colour hair to Waverider. Maybe a couple of extra catalogue polls: - Japanese toys with minor recolours from the Western versions - Japanese toys with no differences from the Western versions
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 15, 2019 5:30:58 GMT
For the record, these are the toys I consider new, or signoficantly different, on this catalogue: Hardspark Hotspark
Guzzle Javil
Metal Hawk Godbomber Browning
Ranger Double Clouder (also affected by US Photo Syndrome)
Buster Hydra
Go Shooter Minerva
Six Knight Super Ginrai Darkwings
God Ginrai Overlord
Grand Maximus Black Zarek
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Post by Jaymz on Sept 15, 2019 9:54:20 GMT
Diver has different colour hair. That was a significant enough difference for me to add it to my collection, I think it deserves to be on the poll. Maybe Diver vs Wildspark.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 15, 2019 10:32:31 GMT
Yeah, we'll do something with those in extras.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 19, 2019 20:02:17 GMT
Finishes tomorrow, currently 8 all!
Will we get a tie?
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 20, 2019 5:29:55 GMT
A Tie!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 20, 2019 5:34:31 GMT
Week 83: What is the best Destron Sparkdash repaint? Once again the catalogue reuses the western versions and not the revised Japanese colours. See brr-icy.blogspot.com/2014/10/destron-sparkdashers-and-firecons.html for pictures of the actual toys and comparisons This week gets more confusing as two of the names are reused from the Western Sparkabots for the Japanese Destron versions of the Firecons! Sizzle is Identical to Flamefeather, so is not up for the vote.
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Post by blueshift on Sept 20, 2019 5:35:15 GMT
A Tie! I refused to vote because Wildspark was robbed!!
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Post by blueshift on Sept 20, 2019 5:42:04 GMT
I do really like both the Japanese Firecon repaints.
Super weird Flamefeather wasn't repainted. The other two got gold highlights whereas Flamefeather keeps his original.
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Sept 20, 2019 5:58:58 GMT
I refused to vote because Wildspark was robbed!! As in the real world, those standing don't give a fig about abstentions / spoiled ballot papers. Martin
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Sept 20, 2019 6:05:38 GMT
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 20, 2019 6:06:16 GMT
I refused to vote because Wildspark was robbed!! As in the real world, those standing don't give a fig about abstentions / spoiled ballot papers. Martin All are wasted votes that could have been used to help topple the tyranny of the tory party
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Sept 20, 2019 6:14:26 GMT
Tech-specs comparison: | Guzzle | Cindersaur | Strength | 8 | 7 | Intelligence | 3 | 3 | Speed | 4 | 2 | Endurance | 6 | 4 | Rank | 3 | 5 | Courage | 7 | 9 | Firepower | 9 | 7 | Skill | 3 | 8 | | Sizzle | Flamefeather | Strength | 7 | 6 | Intelligence | 3 | 4 | Speed | 3 | 5 | Endurance | 6 | 7 | Rank | 2 | 5 | Courage | 7 | 8 | Firepower | 9 | 7 | Skill | 3 | 5 | | Jabile/Javil | Sparkstalker | Strength | 8 | 5 | Intelligence | 2 | 9 | Speed | 3 | 2 | Endurance | 6 | 6 | Rank | 2 | 6 | Courage | 8 | 6 | Firepower | 8 | 4 | Skill | 3 | 9 |
In summary, the Destron Sparkdashers are stronger, less intelligent (or the same), lower ranking, more firepowery and less skilful than the Firecons. Martin
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Sept 20, 2019 6:16:19 GMT
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Sept 20, 2019 6:26:02 GMT
I did something a bit different with these in the Grand Moff Martinverse. I had a lot of Firecon clones mass-produced, based on the design of the original Firecons (though not necessarily in the same colours). Obviously I got that idea from the Masterforce cartoon series - though in the cartoon the clones were all in western Firecon colours, which was crazy - Japanese fans of the cartoon had to go to somewhere like America to buy Firecons in cartoon colours! (Apart from Flamefeather who was the same, obviously.) Anyway, I anglicised Jabile/Javil to Javelin, and I scrapped the Guzzle name for obvious reasons and pinched the G2 Fizzle 'Blaze' name instead, seeing as no G2 toys appear in the Martinverse. FACT-FILE INTERFACE CINDERSAUR BATTLE DROID (a.k.a. 'Blazemonster') Allegiance: Decepticon Function: Firestorm trooper Sub-group: Firecon Battle Beast partner: Dog Hunter the Pixelated Pointer First appearance (as original Cindersaur): Transformers UK #152 ('Enemy Action') First appearance (as battle droid): Right here The original Cindersaur would incinerate everything in his path just so as to make it easier for himself to find his way home. He left a trail of charred ground wherever he went. He probably fried some of his brain circuits from excessive smoke inhalation, and was known to enjoy taking flame baths to soothe his aching joints. Equipped with fusion-powered flame breath that he could either focus in a narrow stream or spray over a wide angle, his hobbies included barbecuing Autobots and drinking volcanic lava. His motto was, "Crash and burn... and burn... and burn." Cindersaur himself was killed by a giant demon in 1989, but shortly afterwards, following Thunderwing's disappearance that same year, Sixshot began mass-producing simple-minded battle droids based on the designs of the three original Firecons, to support him in his tentative bid for overall Decepticon leadership. Most of them were sadly destroyed in the battle with Unicron in 1991, but a few survived. The green Cindersaur-based battle droid known as Blazemonster was one such survivor. He/it produces flames from his mouth that melt the very ground he walks on. His special attack, the 'Ground Fire', consists of him shooting flames into the ground that then appear under his enemy's feet. After they helped him recover Fortress Scorponok from the alien cyborg called Trap Jaw, Sixshot gave the Battle Beasts known as Dog Hunter the Pixelated Pointer and Killer Koala Gray a lift to Iacon, where they had heard several other Battle Beasts had found a home. However, Dog Hunter's penchant for arson made him an unwelcome guest, and he was quickly run out of town. He made his way back to Sixshot, who decided to try pairing him up with Blazemonster to create the ultimate enhanced Firecon, capable of seeing off any Zoid or Robo Machine trespassers on Decepticon territory. Dog Hunter has the most powerful fire magic of all the Battle Beasts. He can conjure up blasts of 2,000-degree flame, which he can shoot up to 200 feet at his opponents. He is also the Battle Beasts' most proficient tracker, having the keenest sense of smell on Planet Beast, and he is a skilled fighter with his bayonet. FILE ENDS FACT-FILE INTERFACE FLAMEFEATHER BATTLE DROID Allegiance: Decepticon Function: Warrior Sub-group: Firecon First appearance (as original Flamefeather): Transformers UK #152 ('Enemy Action') First appearance (as battle droid): Right here The original Flamefeather was the only Decepticon ever to be thrown out of the Decepticon Military Academy for being too violent. He would trash entire car lots whenever he had nothing better to do, and usually worked alone because most of his fellow Decepticons refused to work with him. The flamethrower inside his mouth could fry a football field, and he had a maximum flight speed of 90 miles per hour. His greatest achievement was talking to someone for more than a minute before flying into a rage. His highly imaginative motto was, "The only good Autobot is a deactivated Autobot." All the Flamefeather-based battle droids created by Sixshot were destroyed in 1991 by Unicron, and Flamefeather himself died later that year during the Battle of Klo, at the hands of the Autobot double agent, Punch, whilst in the process of burning native villages to the ground. FILE ENDS FACT-FILE INTERFACE SPARKSTALKER BATTLE DROID (a.k.a. 'Javelin') Allegiance: Decepticon Function: Gladiator Sub-group: Firecon First appearance (as original Sparkstalker): Transformers UK #152 ('Enemy Action') First appearance (as battle droid): Right here His greatest talents revealed in the tiniest structures, the original Sparkstalker was a cryptologist who is quoted as saying, "The smallest details reveal the largest secrets." An expert in robbing memory banks, counterfeiting printed circuits and decoding binary messages, he was meticulous, cautious and obsessed with minute details, and yet, to his frustration, the Decepticons appreciated his appearance more than his other talents, on account of how his looks struck terror into their enemies. But he shot flame from his mouth with only limited accuracy, and was better equipped to light campfires than to melt Autobots. He died in 1991 in the Battle of Klo, alongside Flamefeather, at the hands of the Autobot double agent, Punch. The red Sparkstalker-based battle droid called Javelin cannot fly properly like those based on Flamefeather, but after jumping, he/it can start to fly. Because of his lightweight size, he is very fast with his attacks. He surprises foes with his 'Fire Acid' attack, in which, whilst breathing flame, he simultaneously shoots out a javelin-like stream of strong acid in the midst of the flames, which completely engulfs his enemy. Javelin's body was salvaged by the Autobots after the battle with Unicron, and they passed his carcass on to their human allies, for their Circuit-Breaker operatives to use as an opponent in live-action training sessions. He was liberated in 2020 when a boarding party of Surr Laser Beasts attacked a Cameron Space Control outpost, killing the trainee Circuit-Breakers who currently had custody of the Firecon battle droid. Reprogrammed on Planet Beast, he now serves as a 'house robot' alongside Sea Panic 5 in the gladiatorial arena on the Isle of Fight. FILE ENDS Martin
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Sept 20, 2019 6:31:45 GMT
Thank you, Phil.
Martin
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 20, 2019 6:40:01 GMT
No problem! Much easier to compare numbers if the numbers you're comparing are next to each other. Did the same fix last week.
(Edit, Paste Special, Values (, and : as separators) + Transpose and then feed into the Tablemaker)
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,073
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Post by The Huff on Sept 20, 2019 7:18:24 GMT
Going with Guzzle/Cinders air repaint as he is the most different to the version we got.
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