Only time will tell... I can't give everything away... Just try to think like Megatron, Tarantulas & G1 Starscream, & you MIGHT be able to work it out... However, right now I don't even know yet!  

Well, I can't use Tarantulas & NOT try to weave his webs!   It is imperative that one makes Tarantulas interesting, or it isn't Tarantulas. That's why I think he deserves a HoF spot, 'cause he made things INTERESTING!

& there's just enough possibility that Prowl & Tarantulas may cross paths, eventually... He & Mirror WILL, but I haven't thought that far ahead yet.  

& no mention of Pol's Sideways popping up? I had been debating on including him from the get go, but hadn't made a decision till right before I started using Prowl.


Btw, how'd the reveal come out? I worked hard on getting the first 3 panels right. (I worked hard on other panels too, but making sure they were right was part of the delay).

 

I've had the idea, if answered in time, to let my readers decide which Faction I focus on next update:
This list is in the probable order I may approach things if I get no requests. Focus does not mean only; I may show a little of one or 2 other sides... The bulk of the Update will be about the one MOST requested.

Who would you like me to focus on in the next Update?

• Op & Wheeljack's team heading to Wheeljack's Lab.
• Vector Prime, Hot Rod, Rhinox, the Dinobots & the others walking to Maccadam's
  • who may or may not meet up with:
• Rattrap, Jazz, Blur, & Bumblebee talking w/ Prowl at Maccadams
  • who may or may not leave.
• Shockwave's response to the Intruders
• More w/ the Predacons, back on Earth, the day everyone left (or day after)
• Mirror ([Armade] Sideways' rider)/ the new arrival, avatar/ agent to Pol's [Universe] Sideways

However,

• The Classics Decepticons still are a few days flight from Cybertron, & I don't plan on doing another one off w/ Crazy Blitzwing driving the Decepticons crazy by asking "Are we there yet?" another thousand times, which you can assume he has.  
• Blast Off is following Voltron to Planet Arus... I may have a few panels show what's going on w/ them... Haven't decided yet if that's needed...

  I didn't realize I had this many plot threads going at once.   Well, I was AWARE of all the plot threads, but wasn't aware of the number I splintered them into until I put it into list form!  

I was busy Friday night. I may or may not take Saturday night off from the Comic... So you have till sometime Sunday (my injury randomized when I'm up) to make suggestions. If I do work on the comic, it will be either the secondary stuff, or stuff likley to either be voted in or link up w/ what may be voted in.

I already have an idea what's going to happen to most groups, but I haven't decided what I should show going on first, next, etc., nor how I should approach what I have psudo-planned... (The order & focus will partly determine the approach.)

Yes, this is an attempt to get more feedback from my readers!  

 

If I was thinking like Megatron, Tarantulas and G1 Starscream it isn't pleasant.  

 

I have ONE recommendation for what to show for the next update so far: Shockwave's response. Any other opinions? (it was posted in the Comic Creator's Social Group, rather than here)

I didn't say it would be pleasant, nor easy. I said to figure out what I may have them do would require you to think like them. & I say that, because that's how I'm going to decide what they do!  

 

Oh I see. Well I do know Megatron, Tarantulas, and G1 Starscream are schemers, so start scheming.  

 

Any other suggestions as to what to show in my next Update? I'll be starting the shoot in about an hour... Showing Shockwave's response now does makes getting back the others easier later...

 

Your talking to me? If so just well when it comes to you than it comes to you if not well write it down. Heck thats what you told me to do with my comic (in which is still f'n wip).

 

I have 6 active plot threads (detailed in an earlier post), & 2 waiting. I'm asking which of the 6 my readers would prefer I show next. From my stand point, it doesn't matter which I do next, as they all happen relatively at the same time. I was wondering which people want to see next the most. Some things may affect how I deal w/ others, but many don't.

Right now, T+C is the only one who has stated what she'd like to see: Shockwave's response.

This is partly a failed attempt to get more readers to make posts.

Ezilla82, if you'd go back & read, I already said I know roughly how each would play out. It's otherwise known as reader involvement.

 

Well to me it doesn't really matter which plot you go with. Like you said they are happening at the same time. I can't make a decision for you, just go with plot that goes well from the previous chapter. If that made any sense.

 

You're not understanding. I already know how they'll play out, so I'm not asking about that. & since most play out roughtly simaltaneously, what order I show them doesn't matter much either.

But, since there are 6 active plot threads, I'm not sure which order I should go in, as they all could be next & not disrupt anything. I hadn't realized I splintered the story into 8 plot threads, & wanted to see which one people were most interested in, so I could focus on it, & spend a bit less time on the others.

So, I was putting that to my readers, hoping more than just you (Ezilla82), T+C & Ectoneon (who apparently hasn't read this last update yet) would make suggestions.

There are a couple which could speed things up a bit, & some that will delay things a bit. I'm trying to allow reader input, in part to get more individuals to post, & in part to see what they'd like to see me do next.

Since T+C has been the only one to make a suggestion, Shockwave's response to the AEG arriving on Cybertron, bypassing his sensor network, technically has a lead of 1-0-0-0-0-0.

• Shockwave's response to the Intruders
• Op & Wheeljack's team heading to Wheeljack's Lab.
• Vector Prime, Hot Rod, Rhinox, the Dinobots & the others walking to Maccadam's
• Rattrap, Jazz, Blur, & Bumblebee talking w/ Prowl at Maccadams
• More w/ the Predacons, back on Earth, the day everyone left (or day after)
• Mirror ([Armade] Sideways' rider)/ the new arrival, avatar/ agent to Pol's [Universe] Sideways

I intend to shoot whichever got the most votes in 22 minutes or so.

 

WOW!!! Now I'm stump, but I now I get it. Maybe set up a poll of what the next chapter the readers would like to see and that which one has the high vote is where you start. I don't know if that'll work, but hey give it a shot. Still I'm for sure looking forward to the next chapter.

 

The experiment has failed. However, at least T+C answered, so Shockwave's response wins on the technicality of no competiton.

& doing Shockwave's response now makes resolving 1/2 my active threads a lot easier than doing his response later.

Though, I don't think any of you will have seen this coming!

That's essentially what I did (w/o the actual Poll; not sure if I'd be able to create a 2nd poll if I did one for this), & I only got 1 vote. & it was only for this Update, not a whole Chapter. This Chapter got away from me & is running a bit long... I was hoping to learn what plot threads/ characters my readers were most interested in, so I could focus on those, & could shorten the resolution of the others a bit...

 

Wow it seems I missed a lot here. Sorry, been very busy this week again. Primus knows I haven't had time to even think about my own comic this week. So tarantulas is revealed...in the most satisfying way possible. And Sideways! Like I said before-so many layers. Megatron was perfect. Especially the ducky. The first thing i noticed. Of course, I automatically looked for it as soon as I saw him in a tub. lol. I think you nailed megs and tarantulas just like rattrap. I could literally hear their voices As I read this one. The drinks were nifty, and I really like the effect you used for the security camera. Things are starting to come together, and get deeper. I like it.


Sorry I was too late to participate in your voting. Personally I would have voted for rat trap's gang, as I find that part of the plot the most interesting now. Something classic about the meeting someone at a shady dive scenario. Doing shockwave next is good though.

Yeah. Then probably dinobot after that with his honor code and all.

This is true.

Well, I do think the one vector opened was better, but now I kinda like your idea of one for the opening, and one for the other side.

Yeah, I just used a preset pattern because I was lazy.

I like how they turned out.

Sorry once again. I don't know why I keep forgetting that.

Well, it does look like it is a seperate peice. I thought about taking a pair of pliers to it, but I don't want to end up breaking it.

Yeah. It's workable, but not what I had hoped for.

Yeah. And he ALMOST pulled it off too.

Yeah. I planned on doing something like this. Of course nothing is certain yet. Gonna have to play it by ear.

Hopefully, though I would like to see some of the others first. Rhinox REALLY needs a new toy. And a new rattrap and terrorsaur that aren't flip changers would be nice. My ultimate beast wars dream would be a tigatron that actually IS a tiger.

Yeah. Universe Dinobot was ok...but should have been way better. He had some cool features though. That cheetor was a nightmare though. The gimmik just ruined everything. Not to mention leaving all his beast mode legs on his arms instead of his back for no reason at all. There's just no excuse for that these days. If cheetor ever does show in the comic-i will cheat and use that one's beast mode, and use the original for robot mode. The beast mode was the only good part of that toy.

Yeah. I figured that was what you were referring to. Though rattrap and terrorsaur had some serios skin shrinkin going on too.

 

Yeah, when you don't visit regularly, you run the chance of missing stuff... But Real Life, especially w/ a kid on the way, takes priority... Though, the other day I noticed you aren't part of the Federation of Funnies Creaters Social Group... Granted, you probably don't have time now regardless...

I made a serious effort to get the reveal right. Did you work out that the mystery voice was the obvious Tarantulas? It didn't feel right to just show him talking to Blackarachnia back when he had his first line (his eyes are somewhat visible in that panel, which I actually had to PASTE in to have them somewhat visible  ), nor to reveal him w/o starting his scheming, doublecrossing & multi-alliances. He deserves a complicated reveal like this.

I was also wondering if you recognized him in the 2nd panel (his first to be shown), or if him on Megatron's screen was the first time you realized who it was? Most Beast War's figures have unique silloettes, w/ Cheetor & Tigatron probably being the only on screen characters to share a robot mode.

I told you you hadn't seen Layers yet. I was toying w/ using Sideways from the beginning, but wasn't sure I wanted to. It did make the whole bit about the Review/ Product Demonstration deeper. Were the speech bubbles for Sideways all legibale? It didn't take long to replicate those bubbles of Sideways', but I learned the hard way placing them over solid black can interfere w/ them.

Well, Megatron's verbal tic makes him easy to get the speach pattern right for, yesss. Getting his dialog right is a little trickier, but not when you love Beast Wars as much as I do, noooo. ^_^

I was wondering if anyone would noticed the Rubber Ducky. You can't have a Megatron bath scene w/o the Ducky. Though, I am a tad surprised you'd seach for it right off... You really expecting me to be that detailed now?

Megatron was easy, but not Tarantulas. Just timing when to have him laugh took a bit. Adding Blackarachnia was a last minute "she's in scale!; why not?", but could be argued finished the scene.

The drinks weren't as hard as I expected... & doing the conversation in That '70's Show' style made keeping them in the right locations easy. Really, it made the whole conversation easy, & easy to follow. ^_^

Laserbeak's camera was another last minute addition. At first, I was just going to do the aerial shot (the panel after), but remember I ejected Laserbeak & Maccadam's does have windows at the top, & figured why not. The general HUD I think I saw in WaP & other comics, & decided to experiment w/ GIMP's Noise Filter. I wasn't sure if I used too much static or not...

Well, when you have most of the players revealed, of course things are going to start coming together. This next update should pull things even more together.  

Well, it would've just been you & T+C's votes. Even Ezilla82 didn't vote, despite posting a whole page worth of replies.   But I'm sure you'll like what I've had planned (for a while now, actually) for Shockwave's response.   Should get things moving faster, I think, yessss.

Which is part of why he got in the HoF; though, I still don't get why he beat Rattrap & Tarantulas. Code of Hero probably was the deciding factor there.

I'm not sure if GIMP has preset patterns like that...

I know when I use the Quote funciton, the Smilies & Spoiler blockers are kept; are you NOT using the Quote funciton, or do you delete out all the special codes by habbit?

I DID use tweezers on it (don't think I used Pliers, but might have), but didn't want to use the amount of force I did. & Koan's "mushroom" is a seperate, rubber?, piece.

I was meaning to ask about the battery in your pics?

Starscream at his finest... Still not quite good enough though... But only JUST.

I'm doing my whole comic by ear; seems to be working fine for me. ^_^

I'm sure if Beast Wars does get the 20th Anniversary line it should, that Rhinox & Terrorsaur would get new toys. I've heard unsubstantiated Rumors that some of the people at Hasbro want to return to the Beast Era for a show...

Makes you wonder what the designers at HasTak were thinking.  

Yeah, but ask yourself what would they've done w/ the extra skin? Or how they'd look if the loose skin wasn't retracted? Dinobot suffered the most in his transformation... To me, it looked like Dinobot was pushing the limits of how much they could rearrange w/ the CGI in the beginning.

 

It was more work interfering than anything. I worked a lot of hours last week. And with all the other stuff going on right now, I basically only had time to get online check the frontpage for news and then sign off. As for the funnies creators gruop, I was under the impression that the social groups on here were by invite.

Yeah, I figured that was who the mystery voice was.

I was thinking it was him when I saw the first panel, but I wasn't sure until he was shown. I never had the transmetal toy, and I haven't watch BW in a while so I wasn't totally sure.

Yeah, the speech bubbles looked fine to me. And I did like the line about the demonstration.

Yeah. His speech patterns do help out a lot.

Well, I just figured that if you were taking the time to have him in the bath. ... It wasn't so much that I expected it, more of " I wonder if he put the duck in there" Glad you put it in.

Yeah, it worked out good. Remineded me of when those two were after inferno's stasis pod in the show.

Yeah. it's a simple, but workable format. Especially when the converstion involves multiple characters.

I think you nailed the right amount of noise in that shot. I would have never thought to use noise filter like that. nice idea.

Sounds awesome.

Yeah for sure. Code of the hero was one of the best episodes of any series ever. Plus he was a raptor..

I don't know...it might. Photshop lets you add in custom patterns too, so it can come in handy. That's what i used in the spaceship shots for earth. Earth was made totally from scratch...but i used a pattern that was basically a "realistic world map" Some inner and outer glows...erase a bit and boom-instant planet.

No, I have just been copy-pasting. I don't know what the quote function is.

Oh that lol. I got my primus secondhand at a goodwill store. Great deal-5 bucks. But he didn't have the omega lock. After some forum searching, i discovered that a double A battery is the next best thing for transforming him.

Yeah. Allows for more on the spot improv that way too.

I'd be all for it. And there were rumors a few years back of them wanting to do a new rhinox.

Yeah, the worst part is-it was mentioned on one of the podcasts a while back that the same designer that worked on classics prime is the guy who made that cheetor. So WTF happened?

Oh yeah. They would have looked stupid if they had as much skin kibble as the toys. But new toys that could have the skin parts fold away better would be nice.

 

Some, but not all, Social Groups are by invite, but you have to let them know you WANT an invite by trying to join the group. Creators, not so much. You just need to have a comic.There're actually 2 for Funnies groups, one is no longer active. You want the Federation of Funnies Creators.

What's up w/ the contradicting statements again? Did you work that it was Tarantulas out on your own, BEFORE this update, or did it take this reveal to get you to think it was him?

Well, why else would Pol's Sideways want a review of something?

It does, yeeesssssss.

Well, as I said, his bath scenes would be incomplete w/o the Rubber Ducky, just like MP Prime is incomplete w/o his trailer & Roller.

That was probably one of the scenes I was remembering. I was quite surprised they were in scale, & more surprised when I saw that Blackarachnia could wrap her arms around Tarantulas, despite their beast legs.

I did it more to keep track of the drinks, than the conversation.

I'm still debating on if the noise was from Maccadam's, or if Laserbeak always sees/ records static...

I've got about 1/5 of the update done. Doing Shockwave now does make things easier, but his is a complicated response to do.

Can't argue that Code of Hero was good, but I still think the Stainless Steel Rat & the Predacon's inventive, Ninja Double-Agent were more developed, as they could stand alone w/o another character flushing out their personalities.

I mean a large scale pattern usable to stand in for a room. GIMP has a few small brush patterns, but none really usable for much. & I'm only aware of ONE pattern that doesn't just repeat: the Sparks Brush I overuse for fire & weapons effects.

If you look down at the bottom of any post, there are a few buttons: Quote, Multiquote, Quick Reply, & Edit (if it was your post). Quote automatically wraps the Quote code around that poster's text (quotes in that post are ignored), keeping all the codes. Multiquote lets you select multiple posts, across the whole site, to quote & Quick Edit is little different than the box at the bottom of the page.

Yeah, having to use the Omega Lock 4 times to transform Primus is a REALLY lame, pain in the butt gimick.   I still have mine, w/ 3 of the 4 Planet Keys in it (the 4th in it is Primus'; I never got any TFs from Giant Planet), 2 of which are the Gold, "real" Planet Keys. I only store Planet Keys in it, as some bots can't store their key w/o deploying their Gimick.

Yeah, but there's also the problem of chapters getting away from you, Like Chapter ZERO did, & Chapter 2 is. But doing Shockwave's part now should get me back on track.

A better Rhinox would be nice, but for a show, they probably need to bring back the original Cast & Crew, or they run the risk of losing what made Beast Wars great, their effort on the show & ignoring that it was to sell toys.

Well, Classics Prime did have the cab kibble on his arms... Maybe he thought the same thing would work w/ Cheetor? I didn't get Classics Prime 'cause he didn't have his Trailer & had that cab arm kibble. @.@ Though, w/ FP, I kinda regret not getting Classics Op, nor Magnus (not that I ever saw Ultra Magnus here).

Yeah, the Movies have done a lot w/ technology for folding up kibble... Not too much else though (MAYBE posability, but even then, some Beast Wars figures win out)... & not that the movie toys actually use the technology they helped develop. @.@ Backpacks on later generations than the original Bumblebee are uncalled for, especially when they can collapse WHOLE cars ala Sideswipe!

 

Oh I see. The only other group I'm a part of is the one for my state. That one was by invite only. So I just assumed all were.

No I didn't work it out before this update. I was referring to the first panel with tarantulas' silhouette.

True.

Yeah. Why not throw it in there if he is already in the bath.

Yeah. Something perfect about that scene that hits all the nostalgia buttons just right.

Thats a tough one. I would say just have laserbeak always have the static. That way there is no confusion and everybody will understand he is recording.

Yeah. That is true. But Dinobot will always be more popular...especially since winning last year.

Yeah. I don't have any suitable patterns for that either. Just those planet ones I have, the rest are just random effects.

Wow. I feel stupid now. I was searching for the button in the message editing dialog box! Talk about being right in front of my face. lol

Funny enough-I never got any of the giant planet guys either, despite having on of nearly every mold from cybertron. Just the gigantion guys, supreme starscream, and wing saber that I never got.

Yeah, I'm very familiar with that problem. Especially when I was doing the end of the Salvation arc. It just got to a point where I had to end it, or the battle was just going to go on forever.

Yeah exactly. I think they could pull it off with the right people behind the scenes. Of course now with the hub, They pretty much have control over the shows that get made...so fingers crossed.

Yeah, I don't know what he was thinking. I don't like classice prime that much either. I got him mostly for the altmode. He's an ok stand in for a modern prime, but I would have far preferred something closer to the toons. Then we got bots like jazz and smokescreen and the lambo twins. Perfect updates. Whereas classics prime is just radically different. Plus the whole both windows are a solid peice bugs me.

This is really true. I will admit battle blades is funner to play with due to his weapons...but the original just looks better in my opinion. And I refuse to even count the travesty of cannon bee.

 

I have 1/2 the update 'shopped. I still have to shoot the 2nd 1/2. Saturday I may be busy, so it may still be a while before I get Shockwave's Response done, unless I manage to finish it today, which I hope to do.

Some invites are triggeredy by trying to join, some request you E-mail a particularly person (likely the one who started the Group). But The Federation for Funnies Creators you just join, as long as you're making a comic. There are plenty of Groups that are Public, & therefore open to all, w/o an invite. You can get to it from my profile, if you have trouble finding it or don't want to look for it.

Ok. I was wondering if anyone had worked it out before that point, as I was doing my best to hide him, but also left clues, like not covering every leg or actually pasting his eyes in some panels, so I could say he's been there the entire time, & not somebot I randomly chose to use. He was even fully in the panel right before Cliffjumper goes chasing after him, in "bike" mode, but due to the resolution of my camera & how dark the background of that shot was, it worked out to hide him like I wanted, w/o any 'shopping. ^_^ In fact the only time I 'shopped him out of a pic was when Waspinator was talking to Blackarachnia; all the other times, if I 'shopped Tarantulas at all, it was to put part of him IN the shot.

Lucky I already knew the TFWiki already had a pic; though, I couldn't find a usable pic of the TransMetal version of the Ducky... It wasn't that big, so cutting it out wasn't too much of a pain, either...

I actually made those panels AFTER starting the next scene (can't remember if I shot the whole scene & went back, or if I started setting up the scene, & then took it down to shoot Blackarachnia's). I had litterally stood Megatron, Tarantulas & Blackarachnia off behind me to get them out fo the way, & noticed the scale then, & debated if I wanted to include the new panels.

Her plotting against Tarantulas, but stringing him along, just like he had been doing w/ Megatron the entire Beast Wars, was hard to pass up once I saw they were in scale. & it gives Blackarachnia more lines, & someone for Tarantulas to play off of.

I could explain it away as image compression static, that is calculated out during playback, since I'd probably use a clean image (if I have one).

Plus he's a dinosaur, which has it's own fan base... & a samurai... &... But it's not fair Rattrap didn't make the vote this year, partly due to Erector.   Eh, I'll just have to help put Waspinator in, he was at least a fan favorite... partly for blowing up all the time...

Then you did an amazing job w/ Vector, as it looked like something was actually on the other side.

I worked out the Quote button immediately, but wasn't sure how Multiquote worked till I tried it one day over in Warring at Play. I had wondered how they comic makers had been quoting everyone... Doing it manually would've been a LOT of work...

There aren't too many I got from Cybertron. I think most have appeared already. Everyone who will for a while at least.

Well, things aren't that out of control for me. Chapter ZERO wound up w/ an unscheduled, impromptu battle w/ Drift & Bludgeon, & Chapter 2 I split the characters up to make it easier to work w/ (fewer characters are always easier to work with), & didn't realize I wound up w/ 8 plot threads until I went to see which I should cover this update.

I think you'll enjoy how I used Shockwave's Response, as well as what it is.   Now, whether I catch everyone off guard again is another question... probably...

It was the fact that Hasbro didn't have total control over Beast Wars that made it great. They told the writers to kill Waspinator... They just blew him up again, & took out Scorponok & Terrorsaur instead. It's funny they started out w/o any knowledge of G1, & almost seamlessly integrated it as G1 Canon, due to fan involvement! Look what Hasbro did to Beast Machines w/ their Executive Meddling...  

I'd've gotten Classics Prime if he had a trailer... But it's nice that most in the CHUGRU lines are great representations of the modernized characters.

I get a TF for the transformation as much as playability. If the transformation is   or   (never thought I'd ever use this one), & it isn't a character that I MUST have a representation of (which there are very few of those, which are all technically technicalities), then I don't bother... & as I keep saying, I rarely get duplicate characters or molds from any given line.

 

I guess AEG is the Elite Guard? For my extra dimensional Transformers I use the old Autobot Dimensional Patrol

 

Yes, the AEG is the Animated Elite Guard, & this is their home universe. The only Extradimentional entities so far have been Vector Prime, Pol's Sideways, & Mirror's team (my Armada Sideways & the Minicons w/ him, who work for Pol's Sideways)... & technically Primus, since he's supposed to be a Multiversal Singularity too, except he has a physical form in each dimention.

My Alternity is unique in that the residents of my collection are scattered across multiple planets in their shadow dimention, or whatever the plane of existance where they are alive, but the Owner can't see, is considered by others. This extends to Planet-Formers being the size of a Planet for their population of toys. Planet Arus is another Planet as well... the plot just keeps delaying anyone finally arriving there.

Also of note is that Vector Prime is NOT a toy, he is supposed to be the real Vector Prime, who was first seen in one of Crystal Convoy's comics. His mass-shifting ability, along w/ his powers over Space, allow him to manipulate his size to fit in w/ the local population. He also doesn't reveal that he isn't a toy when among toys. I don't know if Pol's Sideways is considered a toy or not.

Nice to know I have a new reader. ^_^