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I had no idea about that jellyfish.
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I learnt about this specific example recently, but it's actually a common tactic amongst distressed prey animals to attempt to summon bigger predators to kill their attackers.

In the pitch black deep sea, if a dinoflagellate is attacked by a predator, it will release bright lights. In the utter darkness, a lovely light display is practically an open invitation for opportunistic hunters, preferably ones big enough to kill the dinoflagellate's attacker. The original predator has a choice; either abandon the prey and make a run for it, or finish it off and risk being slaughtered by anything attracted by the lightshow.

It's very fascinating, the tricks animals will use to ensure victory one way or another :D

I finished Soundwave's crew with his pets and partner. I just need a little more thought before I actually go back and change his background.

If you haven't taken a look yet, Rumble and Frenzy are up with a twist.

I'll still need to work out the minor details, but I think I might have an actual plot for my story universe. :D Thought it'd never happen. The basic hook would be that it is Optimus' battle campaign against the Decepticons across space; a more 'SW: clone wars' type adventure. I'm thinking each "season" would focus on Optimus aiding the war on a different planet. That means that while he has a small static crew, many other characters will be explored as citizens, soldiers, and otherwise allies from these various worlds. Currently debating whether to start on earth, or do the 'humans in space' angle and end it all on earth.

By the way, have you seen my three latest character designs?

If you haven't seen it yet, I'd check out Knightfallbu Ironhide1706 in the fanfic section. He's only at the beginning so far, but the writing's very good and his universe seems to me to have many of the things you say you look for in a series.

Hey, I finally finished that Megatron redesign I kept planning on. He also has a real bio now. Soundwave will be getting one as soon as I decide what his personality/ past should be.

Soundwave and Ironhide had minor revisions as well. Just wasn't happy with some of the little things.

Hope you've had a good Xmas too, Honorbound. And a happy New Year! Thank you for remembering me.

I'm afraid my absence has been due to a difficult experience I had last year with a member of staff here. I have not felt comfortable to return to the boards because of it.

Same to you and yours Honorbound!

Thank you. Merry Christmas to you as well, HB. :)

Hi and merry Christmas!

Your ideas for Soundwave's alt mode are very interesting. I wonder; is Soundwave controlling a flock of Laserbeak drones inspired from my Soundwave idea or is it a Great Minds moment? :D

Soundwave being the Worm who Walks is a slap in the face brilliant 'why didn't I think of that' moment. :lol Seriously, this is one thing I'd love to run with :thumb. Having him use 'the flock' and various spy bug/ literal bug hybrids could really give the idea that he sees and hears everything.

Fracture is now complete.

No promises, but I think I'm going to take a break from the next main characters and begin those edits to Optimus and Megatron. After that, only four more main characters before I just go random.

Either that or Starscream managed to escape, thanks to the timely, if coincidental intervention of the Autobots.

Edit: Just a design note, but I'd articulate the blade cape, make it segmented, to make sure that it doesn't get in the way as much and that it can flow.

Definitely his end as a welcomed Decepticon, but I imagine Megatron's triumphant return would be a season 1 finale of sorts. I might not want Starscream to completely die that early but I know I want Megatron to get him to nail home the point that Megatron's back in his glory and he doesn't tolerate traitors. Maybe when Starscream gets the spotlight again, he's immortal in a painful ressurection way like Waspinator or his Animated version.

Thank you. Megatron being Straxxus' apprentice brings it all together. I was already planning on him being more radical; Jetfire would turncoat to the Autobots because he believes Megatron warped Straxxus' beliefs but you made it believable as a singular coherent universe. I also like your Starscream idea; it brought an idea for a scene. Starscream was in command while Megatron was stuck on earth and now he returns. Starscream foolishly attempts to blackmail Megatron; and the panel focuses on Megatron as his eyes narrow and his fusion cannon begins to open; energy pulsing between the claws.

Here's some background details of the war itself. I think I'm going to have it that sometime after a Qintesson rebellion and the Cybertronians were wiping all Quintesson remainders from their space, two questions popped up. 1) a serious distaste for organics was brewing and 2). Cybertron was under a severe energy shortage. The Powder keg beganwhen Straxxus proposed that if we do not have the energy needed to thrive, we must take it from the lesser beings who do. Therefore, along with the usual types of villian, the Decepticon is made up out of many like pre-Shockwave who simply believed that Cybertron should come before the other organic's planets they don't even know personally while the Autobots were the guard saying 'freedom is the right of all sentient beings'. Now that Cybertron is destroyed post-war, a lot of once respectable decepticons are very angered by what they perceive as the Autobot's fault and Megatron preys on that.

Megatron is the one in for a heavy overhaul. I know I want him to be a venomusly charasmatic leader who prefers to manipulate than threaten (though it is an option when needed), but I have no origin for him. That's also my problem why he has no real bio in my thread. I already know the physical changes I'm giving the drawing (most interesting to you; Blade cape appearance, Death Claw inspired fusion cannon, tail rotor flail), but all I know of his past is that he was a general under Straxxus, manipulated old Optimus to let him into the iacon archives, and later killed Straxxus to lead the decepticons. I'd like to portray him as almost a cult leader of sorts, but again, no backstory.

Glad you like the SWaves. Shockwave is heavily IDW inspired; I got to hear bits and pieces, and just loved the concept.
For Optimus, it is just physical. I already like my take on his personality, but I feel like I put so much effort on making him look like Optimus, that I now look back on it and it isn't as my Optimus as I'd like it to be. So, I'm going to go back and re-redesign him to add more character to his profile picture. I'm also going to use my 'every transformer needs a unique physical schtick' and show off a more interesting weapon than the generic gun he has now. He's going to have basically a swiss army knife like gun/axe/hammer device which makes him as prepared for anything as a utility belt makes batman.

Loved your posts in the revamp characters thread. Could you help me talk out some of my characters? I had a Soundwave more like what you mentioned (and duty wise, he still is), but I felt having him being a main decepticon acting out of fanatic loyalty was retreading what Fracture is going to be.I decided the solution; Soundwave is only loyal to the Decepticon cause; not the leader. Read more about it and where the "drone" idea went in the revamp characters thread.
Also, (just a note) but both my Optimus and Megatron will be undergoing revisions. I just felt they blending into genericness next to my others and that isn't acceptable for the faction leaders.

I finished Red Alert and Starscream in my RE-verse Designs thread if you want to see them.

I also updated the character profiles with small bios for everyone but Megatron. I know what I want him to be, but not how he got there.

Well, if either of us ever get our stuff off the ground, rest assured whatever tall order we go through will be worth the utter pride of seeing the tree bear fruit :D

Besides, I'd love to watch your series. It's essentially the ROTF Forest Fight with extra philosophical meaning and even more Decepticons for Optimus to beat up. Who wouldn't want to watch that?! :D