This month needs a bunny

[khgiggle.livejournal.com]

A quick little bunny. You know the transmetal bots that showed up in Beast Wars. I'd like to see transmetal bots pop up in other series. How would it happen? How would the altered bots react? Would it change the course of the war?

Comments

[gatekat.livejournal.com]

What's the major/noticeable differences?

Transmetal differences

[khgiggle.livejournal.com]

The coloration was different. Rattrap went from mostly different shades of brown to silver with some blue. On the other hand, Cheetor went from blue and yellow to blue and yellow with some silver. It depended on the bot. The main difference were their beast modes. Before, they looked identical to the animal they transformed into except for their size. After going transmetal, it was obvious they were robots, and they had a couple of additions like wheels or rockets that let them fly. Optimus Primal had a flying surfboard. They could only use these in their beast modes.
The Fuzors (Quickstrike and Silverbolt) were also transmetal, although it wasn't as obvious with Silverbolt. They didn't have additional transformations. Their beast mode just was a combination of two animals, which was unique to them.
The main difference was that it made them stronger. They were also able to better withstand unstable energon deposits and Vok technology.
There was also Transmetal 2, which was even more powerful. The only ones who reached that level were Cheetor, Dinobot II, and Blackarachnia. Along with making them tougher, it appeared to give them a couple of useful powers.
They were also very shiny.
Not to say that transmetal bots are invincible. Dinobot was able to take on and beat transmetal Tarantulas, Megatron, and every other Decepticon as well. Strategy and skill trump power.
To summarize that and translate to a non-BW continuity, a transmetal bot would be shinier with a difference in coloration that can be either minor or extreme, maybe a few structural differences, stronger, able to endure more than most bots, maybe suddenly getting an ability that could have them considered an outlier. But still beatable if a skilled warrior decides to take them on.
This comment was pretty long for such a short bunny. Hoped it helped.

Re: Transmetal differences

[gatekat.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It was helpful.

Re: Transmetal differences

[khgiggle.livejournal.com]

Something that just occurred to me: Could the palette swaps near the end of Armada be considered transmetal transformations? Hm...