How do you interpret the relationship between Titan Master heads and bodies?

Discussion in 'Transformers Toy Discussion' started by slochmoeller, Jul 27, 2016.

  1. slochmoeller

    slochmoeller Well-Known Member

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    I really love the new Titans Return line.

    But I'm wondering how to interpret the combinations. The bios put out seem to indicate Hasbro intends it to be somewhat like Rebirth, where it's two beings coming together, with the main robot transfering his mind into a computer in his chest while the titan master serves as head, and they work together. (Though probably with the caveat that the Titan Masters are just robots this time, not nebulons in suits.)

    But here's what I'm wondering: If I take the separately sold Titan masters, and say, put Nightbeat's head on Blurr's body, (which I think works pretty well) Is that character JUST Nightbeat, or is it Nightbeat AND Blurr?

    Also, brawn seems to work well on Hard head, and Clobber's basic black goes with anyone.
     
  2. Fenrir Zero

    Fenrir Zero Permanently Retired (1984-2020)

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    Based on what I have read...

    - The Titan Masters (Headmasters) are Micro Transformers that have a very specific set of stats that enhance the body (transtector). They often come with a secondary ability that can be used on said body.

    - The body (transtector) offers nothing more than a vehicle mode and and a set of stats that the Titan Master will enhance. It's overall usage is based on who the Titan Master is, and also what stats/abilities he has.

    In other words... Titans Return is kind of like an RPG where you are given select stats and a possible power. And that the only ay to become stronger is to find a more powerful body. This, and I hope what I said helps. :) 
     
  3. slochmoeller

    slochmoeller Well-Known Member

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    Hmm, I'm not sure I agree with this, given the bios, stats and info put out by Hasbro, where the Titan Master and the transtector get different bios. I mean, it says Hyperfire combines with Blur. What your saying is that the character is just hyperfire, not really blur at all.
     
  4. artiepants

    artiepants Transformers '84!!!

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    Nah, the Hasbro Story Book released today makes it pretty clear that the heads and bodies are individual characters that merge, although the extent of the merger and which entity is in charge seemed more open to interpretation: I took it as the main robot still being the over riding personality with the Stats enhanced by the heads (and super powers provided). So Hardhead is still Hardhead weather he's got Clobber, Nightbeat or Duros plugged in.

    It seemed much more in line with the way Minicons were supposed to work in Armada, but more clearly defined (specific powers and whatnot)
     
  5. GR1ML0CK

    GR1ML0CK Dinobot Commander

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    US and Japanese differ when it comes down to the fiction. The original story was the merging of two entities. So it's still Arcee no matter who's head is on the body
     
  6. Autobot X

    Autobot X Check out my sales thread!

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    That's how I see it: A G1 version of the Mini-Con concept.
     
  7. mrcreativename

    mrcreativename Well-Known Member

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    My personal headcannon goes with just the head robot being sentient, and the transtector being a lifeless vehicle. So for example Arcana and Duros are living robots who pilot vehicles called the Brainstorm ship and the Hardhead tank. When they merge, their robotic spinal column attached to the transtector and they merge into one. All of my headmasters are cybertronian robots, except for Zarak and Spike who are organic beings. Hey, it's my story...You do what you like.
     
  8. Starscream 91

    Starscream 91 Mech With A Mouth

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    For me the way I see it in almost a head cannon of sorts (The same goes with the Masters of G1) is that the Titan Masters are smaller Cybertronians that combine with a bigger Transformer to enhance their abilities beyond that of a normal Cybertronian. For me the process for a Transformer to go from a regular Cybertron to a Titan/Head masters is very similar to how it was done in the Rebirth for the Headmasters. I also like to incorporate what it seems Hasbro is doing with the Titan Masters and that certain Titan masters grant certain special abilities like invincibility and healing to the one wielding them.
     
  9. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    It's a very weird concept to stomach since identity normally starts off with the face/head.

    Did the cartoon use the headmaster head exchange gimmick? How far and how well did that go?
     
  10. Pravus Prime

    Pravus Prime Wields Mjolnir!

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    I'd probably just interpret them the same way I do headmasters; the Japanese way of the little robots are the dude and the bodies are just transtectors.
     
  11. Sponge

    Sponge Herald of Unicron

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    I don't, I just like the toys, much like CW, trying to force the gimmick with some loose fiction that explains why "everyone is doing it" doesn't sit right with me, it's the whole square peg round hole thing, it just feels forced, so I just appreciate the toys for the toys, damned be the fiction
     
  12. Starscream 91

    Starscream 91 Mech With A Mouth

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    So how do you feel about characters like Alpha Trion & Galvatron who were never headmasters into being headmasters?
     
  13. seali_me

    seali_me RIP January 2018

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    The triple changer aspect, especially vehicle mode-headmaster interaction looks fun.

    The fiction is secondary to that. Not as important.
     
  14. Sponge

    Sponge Herald of Unicron

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    That was my whole point, I like the toys, for the toys, I don't try to rationalize it with fiction, e.g. TR Blurr is a freaking fantastic toy, and despite never having been a head master, I love the toy, and he'd make an excellent chug blurr for a lineup, the gimmick besides the point

    So far the only toys (imo) that have suffered being turned into headmasters are scourge (on an aesthetic level(box head)) and galvatron (on a functional level (that flip up crown is garbage))

    So basically, if they were never seen as headmasters I don't really see them as such character wise, but either way it (usually) doesn't impact my enjoyment of the toy
     
  15. Starscream 91

    Starscream 91 Mech With A Mouth

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    Yeah Blurr is an amazing figure, sucks some people refuse to give him a try since he never was a Headmaster before now. I think thats what I love most about Titans Return is that while yes some of these are now headmasters if it means that we finally get a Classics Alpha Trion, Sentinel Prime, Blaster, or Soundwave. Even the rumored Doublecross & Triggerhappy. Then I'll gladly take them as headmasters.

    Heck I know Galvatron is ruined by the headmaster gimmick but right now he is the only chance I have at a Classics Galvatron. Don't want Mania King since I don't collect 3rd Party and I heard the deluxe is garbage.

    Anymore I think the toys dictate Transformers for me more than the fiction, hell my personal fiction comes first over the actual fiction.

    Anyway back to your regularly scheduled thread.
     
  16. Autobot X

    Autobot X Check out my sales thread!

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    I still don't understand the whole "He was never a Headmaster before!" nonsense. It's like refusing to buy Powermaster Optimus Prime in 1988 because "Optimus was never a Powermaster!" Things change. The mythos evolves. Characters are born and die off. Blaster was never a base. Rewind was never a cell phone. Galvatron was never a tank. Seriously, if you want G1, buy G1 toys. This is GenerationS, and it's not meant to replicate G1, but to expand on it.

    EDIT: I grew up on G1 and adore the original toys for what they are. However, if you try to tell me that G1 Blurr is a better toy than Titans Return Blurr, I'll laugh in your face.
     
  17. Dinobot Snarl

    Dinobot Snarl Well-Known Member

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    I see them as miniaturized transformers that can interact easily with humans, and assume their normal mass by reattaching themselves.
     
  18. Noideaforaname

    Noideaforaname Pico, let's go up to Zuma

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    Yeah, definitely. Transformers add a bit of a twist since their mental being is in their chests, so logically a body and a head-robot could be two separate individuals.... but we are hard-wired to associate faces with persons (no matter how ridiculous the case may be), and conveniently/coincidentally our mental being is located right behind our faces, so the whole Headmaster thing throws our natural instincts for a loop.

    Plus on top of that, the little guy pilots the big guy, further taking away the latter's agency. He may have a soul in there, but he's literally and figuratively not in the driver's seat.
     
  19. Bountyan

    Bountyan Well-Known Member

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    The way the Japanese continuity does it. The small robot is still the same character and the body is just a pseudo power suit. For some reason I don't like the idea of them being two separate characters.

    Because it introduces partsforming and it creates detrimental bullshit like Galvatron's helmet gimmick. If it were completely optional and didn't actively make the heads uglier I would have no problem with it on non-headmaster characters.
     
  20. Fenrir Zero

    Fenrir Zero Permanently Retired (1984-2020)

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    Not really, and I should have been a little more clear on this. It is like the Headmasters in regards to a body needing a head to function. But the basis of said function is based more on the Powermasters. However, regardless of who takes possession of the body/identity does not entire confirm who has dominant control over said form.

    I will not dispute the Mini-Con belief, as there are multiple variations to work with. However, the fiction you have mentioned sounds more like Powermasters. Which was more commonly used in Marvel Comics, which not everybody here has followed. But it is still the same where Optimus Prime needed Hi-Q to function, Optimus Prime became stronger and had new abilities, and it was not clear who was truly in control.