Yeah i believe you are correct, i think Alignment is basically the starting point for shifters and its been being slowly fleshed out ever since.

The "Uterine Shell" idea literally came to me after rewatching TF: Animated. We all know that protoforms are kept in stasis pods, so that was nothing new. But then i got to the reveal episode where Issac reveals that Sari is Cybertronian. well in the flashback scene we see this!

And i was like, aww look a baby protoform, and then it dawned on me, wait what? an INFANT protoform? and it just kinda snowballed from there that protoform stasis pods are not JUST average stasis pods coupled with my intention to make transformers more biological in function. Also those egg sac things from Revenge of the Fallen that also had infant transformers were very womb like. So crossing stasis pods with those things felt natural.

Also I love those names for nanite plasma. I have to decide which one im using, but they are all superior to what i picked! so let this also be my edit note, one of the above names will be the new term.

 

Hey, glad you like the names.  

Isn't Sari the only case we've seen of an infant protoform? I mean, there's the Hatchlings from RotF... but those seem pretty profoundly different.

Really, the live-action films display such a radically different take on TFs than most other media. They really go with a biological angle, what with saliva (though we saw that in G2 also) and hatchlings and such. Plus, in the movies the TFs don't really transform, they morph -- and they never transform in the same pattern twice. Funky.

 

As far as i know, yes, Sari is the only example outside of the ROTF hatchlings. actually its funny you should mention the movies biological angle. Aside from my describing things differently on how things actually work, the movies are a good chunk of where the biological aspect is coming from, that and Prime. its like, a Prime/Movies mashup with attempts of sprinkling everything else in. (if only because the movies and prime are one of the few series to actually dive in deep about how things work. IDW does too but there are alot of paralells across all continuities, so some things stand out more than others, like the biological aspect from the movies and prime)

and the whole never transforming the same way twice thing, my cybertronians don't do that. the only times their transformation would change would be if they get a new alt mode. the only amount of variation in my universe would be do they choose to transform their lower half first or their upper half, the transformation steps are the same regardless of the order they do them in. (kinda like the toys) where as the movies did whatever the hell they wanted. i think there is a bot who actually transforms backwards at one point where he is shown doing it the opposite direction before hand.

 

Are "Physical Modifications" something that can be done by the TF, or do they need a doctor/mechanic to do it? Is it something that can be done on the fly?

 

It depends entirely on the modification and/or what said modification accomplishes. For example Prowls Armor that he gets from Lockdown in Animated does not require surgery. But his shurikens he keeps IN his legs very well might have needed some kind of medical knowledge. In either situation, the T-Cog needs to know that a modification is being used so that it can either work around it or work with it.

One of the most common modifications are quite literally just pockets, storage compartments, and weapon holsters. so that items that don't or can't integrate into the body can still be used as normal. The reason accessorizing of any kind really is so difficult for Cybertronians is BECAUSE of their shapeshifting ability. unlike other shapeshifting species, Cybertronians are mechanical in nature, so while as an ability it is very fluid and versatile, it is much more rigid in practice.

Cybertronian are for the most part 100% naked at all times because of this.

A Transformer needs to make sure they can make full use of their shapeshifting without damaging their own property or Themselves.

(i'm seriously thinking about redoing this whole section, or removing it entirely because its causing ALOT of bullshit issues with literally everything, logic gets in the way sometimes youknow. i came up with this on the fly just because i didnt think there was enough on transforming on it own.)

EDIT: the section HAS been redone and the info here is now outdated.

 

Interesting.

And yet we do sometimes see TFs wearing things: G2 Sideswipe's "firestormer" bandoliers, AoE Hound's bandoliers, Armada Scavenger's cloak, Starscream's crown and cape... Perhaps these are things that can be stored in subspace, or whatever term you like for "the place where Optimus Prime's trailer goes." I mean, wouldn't that fit into the Transformation section? Along with mass shifting/size changing?

 

Ha, ah shit I forgot about mass shifting. I should add my thoughts on that... Also those items you mentioned where the reasons I was having second thoughts about the whole section. As physical modifications are now, It requires EVERYTHING a transformer uses to be advanced tech. Its too much and makes everything more complicated than it needs to be.

Probably gona shrink the section down to only include mods that require medical instalation. Like integrated weapons and tools. Everything else is just everything else like usual. Said items would just have to be desired not to interfere with a specific bots transformation. Like custom fit clothing or something. I'll get back to this this weekend.

That being said. Things like subspace, mass shifting as we know it, or Prime's disapearing trailer might not be a thing. Period. I dislike those concepts under most circumstances. Yet they exist within canon so I can't ignore them. Hmmmmmm.... mass shifting is an easy fix all things considered. As is primes trailer. Subspace being the issue. Mostly because it would be incredibly impractical for the average bot.

 

SHAPESHIFTING AND TRANSFORMATION PART 2

Mass Shifting
There are many cases Transformers who seem to grow or shrink vastly when they Transform. Thus there is a misconception that Cybertronians have the ability to literally change their mass, hence the term “Mass Shifting” this is not true. (Except for Shifters who do possess the ability to change their mass up to a certain degree. It is unknown how they do it, as scientifically speaking, creating or destroying matter is impossible with such ease. Even with Cybertronian technology)

What is happening in these cases is that when shapeshifting into an alternate mode a Cybertronian can redistribute their existing mass to better mimic their intended alternate mode. Meaning that if an alternate mode is significantly smaller than they are, the Cybertronian will become much denser and its body will compact itself as much as best it can, whereas if the alternate mode is much bigger than the Cybertronian the alternate mode will end up very hollow.

There is however a limit to this compression and expansion shapeshifting the cybertronian body is capable of. if an alt mode is too large or too small the Cybertronian will get an internal error that the mode they wish to transform into is not compatible with their own mass. They can override this and change into said mode anyway, but you would get things like motorcycles that are much too large or planes and boats that are much too small and the body can only expand and compress so much.

the average limit for this shapeshifting CAN vary between individuals, but it usually breaks down to a Cybertronian being able to expand into their alternate mode so long as it does not exceed 100% larger than their original size, and a Cybertronian can compress into their alternate mode to long as it is not smaller than half of their original size.

Physical Modification
Physical modifications, also known simply as Mods, are defined as weapons, tools, or other objects that interact and work alongside a Cybertronian’s natural shapeshifting ability. (Items that are NOT capable of shapeshifting are NOT mods.

What this means is that the object in question takes commands from the T-Cog and is included its shapeshifting calculations as if it were a normal part of the body.

Because of this however, if a mod is installed while a Cybertronian is taking on a new alternate mode, said mod may end up as a vital part of the alternate mode being scanned. If this happends and the mod is then lost, the alternate mode may end up incomplete. A gun disguised as a wheel is a good example. If that gun is lost, the bot in question loses one of its wheels in alternate mode.

It is recommended to scan alternate modes while not in possession of any mods and add them later as then they will be integrated into the alternate mode as additions rather than taking over the job of what could be important parts.

If an object is not a mod but still within the Cybertronian’s possession, the T-cog will just work around said object and be dealt with in an appropriate manner. However many bots choose to store these “normal” items within storage compartments or holsters, which are usually themselves mods.

Cybertronians DO NOT have any kind of naturally built in weapons, tools, or other such components. As such ANY weapon or tool surgically installed or otherwise are separate from the Transformer’s natural anatomy.

 

Well, I can understand your disdain for size-changing and subspace storage -- I too balked at it for a long time. Eventually though I just came to accept it as one of the many wacky parts of TF lore.

I have to say that I'm not real keen on your idea of mass being consistent for size-changing TFs. If G1 Soundwave or Megatron didn't shed mass, their altmodes would be far too heavy to be picked up by humans; 5-ton tape players and handguns are not great disguises. Similarly, Broadside's aircraft carrier mode would be so light it would blow away in the wind.

As for subspace storage, that's a little easier to do away with. And yet... it's weird. Although I never liked the way combiner components came out of nowhere (I still don't), I don't mind it with handheld weapons. I don't know why I'm so picky about this particular issue. But I do know I certainly prefer it when TFs don't have toy parts sitting on the side in altmode.

Obviously it's up to you, it's your Universal Stream. But if you're trying to be all-inclusive with everything TFs have done in the past, mass-shifting and subspace storage are pretty damn classic elements.

 

you're absolutely right, when applying my mass shifting rules to other continuities. it wouldn't work because of those reasons. here though Cybertronians can change their size up to a certain limited amount. Meaning that things like rusty Optimus in age of extinction shrinking into that tiny truck are completely possible. But if optimus where to try and turn into a motorcycle, his T-cog would reject those schematics and it would cause a compatibility error. He could override it, but that would result in a very large motorcycle as his body would only be able to shrink so much. The same goes for the opposite direction.

and subspace is not something i'm removing either I'm just limiting it to make more sense practically as to me, everyone and their mother having access to their own pocket dimension not only seems impractical but a gross misuse of limited resources. i just need to figure out what that is first. ill get to subspace when i eventually cover some aspects of technology.

 

Updated Physical modifications.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing what your rationale is for Transformers transforming into vehicles and machines. And, in fact, for them being mechanical at all. It's a question that's not well answered in most cases.

 

When you say "Being mechanical at all" What exactly do you mean?

 

Outside of the "manufactured by the Quintessons" origin, no origin for the Transformers has ever explained why they're mechanical. The Primus origin is full of myth and magic, yet never explains why the TFs are made of wires microchips and other mechanical components.

This is why I've never fully been able to accept the Primus origin on its own. In my mind, the Quints made the TFs and Primus is a hyper-advanced AI that gave the Quintesson products consciousness.

Anyway, I realize that your agenda is to make the TFs as biological as possible, but I'm curious if you feel the need to explain why they're not organic life as we understand it.

 

That's what i thought you meant. I DO have an explanation for that, and it actually does rely heavily on the magical Primus and Unicron myth if you can believe it. But its more of a story lore thing than it is specifically anatomy. So i don't really want to do it here in this thread which is specifically about the anatomy itself rather than the why.

I think i might actually go ahead and make a thread on the creation myth, however i am hesitant because i DO plan on writing an actual story for this and revealing to much there might cheapen the eventual fic, but at the same time im much better as simply explaining things rather than creating an actual narrative, so im not sure how to continue. (which is why i thought an anatomy thread as a nice starting point just to get the ball rolling without major spoilers)

the answer to the first part of your question however for preference of why mechanical alt modes are chosen over other things is quite simple, familiarity and usefulness. cybertronians themselves are technology, as well as surround themselves with it for nearly their entire lives. so mechanical things are just second nature. Also for example, why would you want to become an eight legged thing when 4 wheels are easier to use and well as more efficient for their overall primary purpose.

 

I love your take on Cybertronian Anatomy and Physiology. This needs to be a book. But all of what you've gone over, you've basically put into words what I've had in my mind all along.

I'm not sure what you think of energon, but to me energon is the primary food source of Cybertronians akin to carbohydrates (basically sugar) from carbon-based species.

Bottom line, Cybertronians are energon-based life forms. In my head canon, energon is some kind of exotic metal oxide molecules that make the existence of energon-based life like Cybertronians possible.

All in all, great read.

 

thank you! i do have my thoughts on energon, but that's going to be another post entirely.

that actually not a bad idea for energon. though that isn't the case for mine, the only thing that truly runs off of energon and is made of energon itself for my transformers is the spark and some specific circuits and organs that need it to run properly.

Surprisingly energon is MORE useful and versatile when applied to things outside of the Cybertronian body.

i do plan on getting back to this at some point. hopefully my next few actual posts here will shake things up more than just generalizing things from different continuities together into one thing.

 

Your conception of Transformers is interesting. But what about Cybertronians' sensors? And how, in your opinion, do their Central Processing Units work?

 

updated shapeshifting and transformation part 2: mass shifting with two new paragraphs on the size limits of compression and expansion.

 

when you say sensors, do you mean their general senses like sight, touch, taste, smell? ect...

also when you ask HOW the Central Processing Units work are you referring to their brain? (Brain Module) in which case, i mean, it's their brain. works the same way any brain would, its just made of different stuff. because, y'know, robot aliens.