Zob's Tech Specs Analysis: Decepticons

[Zobovor]

There's a strong bias against the Decepticons having Tech Specs
ratings higher than 9. It's a trend that continues throughout the
entire G1 toy line, with comparatively rare exceptions, so I almost
wonder if it was some kind of Hasbro mandate. Give the Autobots
Courage and Skill ratings of 10's, but only give the Decepticons 9's,
because they're the bad guys. When compared to the Autobot ratings,
the differences become immediately obvious.

HIGH RANKINGS

STRENGTH:

Megatron (10), Astrotrain (9), Bonecrusher (9), Long Haul (9),
Shockwave (10), Shrapnel (9), Galvatron (10), Menasor (10),
Motormaster (9), Predaking (10), Trypticon (10), Apeface (10), Blot
(9), Cyclonus as Targetmaster (9), Hun-Grrr (9), Sixshot (10),
Skullcruncher (10), Slugfest (9), Snapdragon (10), Piranacon (9),
Skullgrin (9), Snaptrap (9), Monstructor (9), Stranglehold (9),
Constructor Squad (9), Military Patrol (10), Krok (9), Starscream as
Action Master (10).

Notes: As with the Autobots, I think these numbers are relative in
some cases. Apeface and Snapdragon are the strongest robots of their
size—not necessarily as strong as Trypticon or Predaking. Then again,
I could be wrong. Cyclonus actually gained Strength when he became a
Targetmaster, oddly enough.

INTELLIGENCE:

Megatron (10), Ravage (8), Skywarp (9), Soundwave (9), Hook (9),
Shockwave (10), Venom (9), Galvatron (9), Ratbat (9), Razorclaw (9),
Swindle (9), Vortex (9), Apeface (9), Scourge as Targetmaster (9),
Sixshot (9), Snapdragon (9),
Weirdwolf (10), Wingspan (9), Bugly (9), Skullgrin (9), Sparkstalker
(9), Submarauder (9), Skystalker (9),
Starscream as Pretender/Action Master (9), Cannon Transport (10).

Notes: Very few Decepticons rose to the top of the Intelligence
category. I wonder if the unspoken implication is that they can't be
THAT smart, since, after all, they're the bad guys? And, yes,
Skywarp's numbers are probably "really" Starscream's. Somebody got
Starscream right when they crunched the numbers for his Pretender and
Action Master stats, so they were probably referring to the original
character notes, not the misprinted Tech Specs. And, yes, Scourge
actually got smarter when he became a Targetmaster. He must have been
studying nights on Nebulos.

SPEED:

Skywarp (10), Starscream (9), Astrotrain (10), Blitzwing (9), Ramjet
(9), Thrust (9), Blast Off (10), Cyclonus
(9; 11 as Targetmaster), Galvatron (9), Scourge (9), Apeface (9),
Snapdragon (9), Sports Car Patrol (9),
Anti-Aircraft Base (9), Military Patrol (9), Race Track Patrol (10).

Notes: I don't know if Targetmaster Cyclonus' stats were misaligned
or something, but his numbers for Speed literally went off the scale.
There is no 11 rating, of course, but that's where the line on the
graph was sitting. Also, I don't get how Galvatron is so damn fast,
when he transforms into a thing with tank treads. Other Decepticon
tanks are much, much slower.

ENDURANCE:

Megatron (8), Rumble (9), Bonecrusher (9), Devastator (9), Long Haul
(9), Ramjet (9), Brawl (9), Galvatron (10),
Menasor (9), Motormaster (10), Razorclaw (9), Trypticon (10),
Cutthroat (9), Hun-Grrr (10), Misfire (9), Rippersnapper (9),
Sinnertwin (9), Sixshot (9), Skullcruncher (10), Weirdwolf (10),
Carnivac (9), Crankcase (9), Doubledealer (9), Iguanus (9), Quake (9),
Skullgrin (9), Snaptrap (9), Snarler (10), Squeezeplay (9), Bludgeon
(9), Octopunch (9), Roadblock (9), Scowl (9), Skystalker (9),
Stranglehold (9), Race Track Patrol (9).

Notes: Again, very few Decepticon actually got a Rating of 10. It's
a conspiracy, I tells ya! I wasn't completely sure about Hun-Grrr,
since his graph line sort of straddled the line between nine and ten,
but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

RANK:

Megatron (10), Skywarp (9), Shockwave (9), Cyclonus (9), Galvatron
(9), Trypticon (9), Hun-Grrr (9), Roadblock (9),
Skystalker (9), Starscream as Pretender (9), Gutcruncher (10).

Notes: In the Hasbro toy universe, Galvatron (apparently) exists
alongside as Megatron, serving as the City Commander (so, basically,
he gets to boss Trypticon around) but still not acting as the overall
Decepticon leader. I guess. Note the complete absence here of many
characters who actually led the Decepticons in the comics! Ratbat's
Rank is only 6. Bludgeon and Thunderwing both only had a Rank of 6 as
well; Roadblock and Skystalker, the largest of
the Decepticon Pretender and Micromaster playsets, respectively, were
clearly intended as the leader characters for 1989.

COURAGE:

Frenzy (10), Megatron (9), Skywarp (9), Barrage (10), Devastator (9;
10 as Action Master), Ransack (9), Scavenger (9), Shockwave (9) Venom
(9), Brawl (9), Cyclonus (9), Dead End (9), Galvatron (9), Menasor
(9), Motormaster (9), Predaking (9), Razorclaw (10), Tantrum (9),
Trypticon (10), Blot (10), Cyclonus (11), Hun-Grrr (10), Skullcruncher
(9), Triggerhappy (9), Weirdwolf (9), Bomb-Burst (9), Doubledealer
(9), Iguanus (9), Needlenose (9), Piranacon (9), Quake (9), Ruckus
(10), Skullgrin (10), Spinister (9), Squeezeplay (10), Submarauder
(9), Windsweeper (9), Airwave (9), Birdbrain (9), Bludgeon (9),
Bristleback (9), Roadblock (10), Starscream as Pretender (9; 8 as
Action Master), Battle Squad (9), Constructor Squad (9), Military
Patrol (9), Banzai-Tron (10).

Notes: Yeah, Cyclonus got another 11. I'm sure it's a mistake, but
I'm noting it for the sake of completeness. Starscream actually
became *more* of a coward when he got his Pretender shell.

FIREPOWER:

Frenzy (9), Megatron (10), Rumble (9), Shockwave (9), Blast Off (9),
Galvatron (9), Menasor (9), Predaking (9),
Trypticon (10), Hun-Grrr (9), Sixshot (9), Piranacon (10), Quake (9),
Spinister (9), Monstructor (9), Roughstuff (9),
Skystalker (10), Cannon Transport (9).

Notes: It surprised me that so few Decepticons are packing the big
guns. Almost nobody in the Transformers universe actually has a
Firepower of 10. Omega Supreme, Hot Rod (but not Rodimus Prime!),
Metroplex, Fortress Maximus, Landmine, the Micromaster Battlefield
Headquarters, Megatron, Trypticon, Piranacon, Skystalker, and the
Micromaster Cannon Transport. That's it for the entire 1984-1990
run.

SKILL:

Buzzsaw (9), Laserbeak (9), Megatron (9), Ravage (10), Soundwave (10;
9 as Action Master), Bombshell (9), Chop Shop (10), Dirge (9), Hook
(10), Mixmaster (9), Shockwave (9), Shrapnel (9), Blast Off (10),
Galvatron (10), Onslaught (9), Ratbat (9), Reflector (9), Swindle
(10), Mindwipe (9), Pounce (10), Slugslinger (9), Wingspan (9), Bugly
(9), Doubledealer (9), Finback (9), Seawing (9), Sparkstalker (9),
Bludgeon (10), Greasepit (9), Skyhopper (9), Skystalker (9), Slog
(10), Thunderwing (9), Anti-Aircraft Base (9), Military Patrol (9),
Race Track Patrol (9), Axer (10), Banzai-Tron (10), Gutcruncher (9),
Treadshot (10).

Notes: Again, very few Decepticons are the master of their craft.
Soundwave actually got worse when he upgraded to an Action Master...
maybe because he was really good at being a cassette player, and
couldn't do that anymore after the Nucelon. It sure makes you wonder,
though. If a brilliant military planner like Onslaught is only a 9—or
a master of observation like Reflector, or a master of deceit like
Thunderwing—what does it take to actually be a 10? Besides being Bo
Derek, I mean?

LOW RANKINGS

STRENGTH:

Frenzy (3), Rumble (2), Barrage (3), Kickback (3), Venom (3), Blast
Off (3), Ratbat (3), Rippersnapper (3), Scorponok (3, maybe),
Squawktalk (3), Skystalker (4).

Notes: Scorponok had horribly-misprinted Tech Spec numbers that
didn't even match the Tech Specs meter on the actual Headmaster toy.
(Apparently there was a corrected version printed later.)

INTELLIGENCE:

Thundercracker (4), Bonecrusher (2), Devastator (2), Scavenger (2),
Brawl (2), Gnaw (3), Rampage (3), Battletrap (3),
Blot (2), Slugfest (2), Cindersaur (3), Windsweeper (3), Skyhopper
(4), Stranglehold (3).

Notes: That's probably Skywarp's true Intelligence rating, not
Thundercracker's. I do think it's funny that the Sharkticons are
smarter than Bonecrusher or Scavenger.

SPEED:

Frenzy (3), Rumble (2), Soundwave (2), Barrage (3), Devastator (1),
Hook (3), Long Haul (2), Mixmaster (3), Barrage (3), Scavenger (3),
Menasor (2), Onslaught (3), Predaking (2), Reflector (2), Tantrum (3),
Blot (2), Hun-Grrr (3), Overkill (2), Scorponok (2, maybe),
Skullcruncher (3), Slugfest (1), Beastbox (3), Cindersaur (2),
Crankcase (3), Nautilator (3),
Quake (3), Skalor (3), Snaptrap (2), Snarler (3), Sparkstalker (2),
Bristleback (2), Greasepit (3), Icepick (3), Octopunch (1), Scowl (2),
Slog (2), Stranglehold (2), Banzai-Tron (2), Krok (2).

Notes: There are a lot of really slow Decepticons, owing chiefly to
the fact that so many of them turn into creatures rather than
vehicles. It seems like some of the trucks like Hook or Onslaught
should be able to go a *little* bit faster, but hey, what do I know?
Devastator and Slugfest and Octopunch remain the slowest Transformers
of all time.

ENDURANCE:

Buzzsaw (4), Blast Off (3), Ratbat (3), Scorponok (3, maybe), Finback
(3), Nautilator (4), Ruckus (3).

Notes: There just aren't too many Decepticons who aren't built for
battle. Ratbat, by the way, is one of the overall lowest-rating
Transformers ever. Except for his Intelligence, most of his stats are
extremely low.

RANK:

Bonecrusher (4), Gnaw (2), Scorponok (3, maybe), Blot (4).

Notes: I find it interesting that Gnaw ranks even lower than Blot,
whose function is "foot soldier." (I once complied all the tech specs
from the G2 line, which were mostly the same but with minor changes.
All of Beachcomber's numbers went down by, like, a half a point.
Also, the Constructicon ranking system was redone, and I believe that
Bonecrusher was reassigned a Rank of 2. I'd have to check my notes to
be sure, but I do find this sort of thing interesting.)

COURAGE:

Laserbeak (2), Bombshell (4), Dirge (4), Octane (3), Scorponok (3,
maybe), Slugslinger (3).

Notes: Laserbeak remains the only character who is as much of a
coward as Bluestreak. One supposes that most of the cowards on
Cybertron were quickly killed and that the characters who remained,
the ones who got toys, were brave enough to actually stand and fight
for their lives.

FIREPOWER:

Buzzsaw (4), Ratbat (2), Horri-Bull (4).

Notes: Hey, look, there's Ratbat again! The Decepticons never really
got an equivalent to the Mini Autobots, since all the Mini Cassettes
came with weapon accessories. (One supposes many of the Decepticon
Micromasters might have had a Firepower of 1, which is probably why
Hasbro did away with the category altogether for the Micromasters.)

SKILL:

Motormaster (4), Misfire (2), Beastbox (3).

Notes: This really surprised me. The Decepticons apparently receive
enough training to become reasonably good at their jobs, but never
enough to truly excel. You'd think there would have been more
unskilled grunts in there somewhere, but apparently that's not the
case. None of the Terrorcons or Predacons scored low enough to even
mention them here.

This concludes our look at the highs and lows of the Tech Specs
ratings. I hope some of you enjoyed it, since it did take a little
while for me to put together. Excelsior!


Zob

[No One in Particular]

"Zobovor" wrote in message
news:1695dd7b-d810-4c48...@rm7g2000pbc.googlegroups.com...

>SKILL:

>Motormaster (4), Misfire (2), Beastbox (3).

>Notes: This really surprised me. The Decepticons apparently receive
>enough training to become reasonably good at their jobs, but never
>enough to truly excel. You'd think there would have been more
>unskilled grunts in there somewhere, but apparently that's not the
>case. None of the Terrorcons or Predacons scored low enough to even
>mention them here.

>Zob

This one actually does not surprise me a 'tall. If you are a dictator who
rules through fear or threat of force, you want a labor force (troops,
workers, whatever) that is competent enough to get the job done, but not so
good as to get ideas above their station.

Ideally, you might have your inner circle (Soundwave, Cyclonus, etc.) who
are a cut above, but you don't want the rank and file getting uppity.

Brian


--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---

[Optim_1]

On Tuesday, January 29, 2013 2:02:05 AM UTC-5, Zobovor wrote:

>
>
> Notes: I don't know if Targetmaster Cyclonus' stats were misaligned
>
> or something, but his numbers for Speed literally went off the scale.
>
> There is no 11 rating, of course, but that's where the line on the
>
> graph was sitting. Also, I don't get how Galvatron is so damn fast,
>
> when he transforms into a thing with tank treads. Other Decepticon
>
> tanks are much, much slower.
>
>

It's possible that the speed rating is referring to the robot mode, like the rest of the stats are, and not to the vehicle mode. Perhaps, as a general rule, TF who go fast in vehicle mode are also able to go fast in robot mode because they have been trained to move fast either way. But there are TF that are battle-hardened warriors or have enough training such that they can go fast in robot mode even if their alt-modes are much slower.

The real-world explanation is probably that every stat starting from 1986 and after needs to be taken with a grain of salt as Hasbro is apparently insisting on applying straight tens to leaders and other expensive toys.

>
>
>
> Notes: Scorponok had horribly-misprinted Tech Spec numbers that
>
> didn't even match the Tech Specs meter on the actual Headmaster toy.
>
> (Apparently there was a corrected version printed later.)
>

The "corrected" version is still incorrect in that it just mirror-reversed the EKG line reading such that instead of 3 for strength, he got 8 and so on.

His true stats are probably: 10-9-4-10-10-10-9-9 which is gained by plugging the Zarak head and reading the stats on the chest which showed an extra two points each to the Strength, Intelligent and Speed stats compared to the later-but-still-incorrect tech specs. Adding two points each to the rest of the stats is reasonable.

>
>
> INTELLIGENCE:
>
>
>
> Thundercracker (4), Bonecrusher (2), Devastator (2), Scavenger (2),
>
> Brawl (2), Gnaw (3), Rampage (3), Battletrap (3),
>
> Blot (2), Slugfest (2), Cindersaur (3), Windsweeper (3), Skyhopper
>
> (4), Stranglehold (3).
>
>
>
> Notes: That's probably Skywarp's true Intelligence rating, not
>
> Thundercracker's. I do think it's funny that the Sharkticons are
>
> smarter than Bonecrusher or Scavenger.
>

Agreed. The entire list should be revised according to the correct tech specs the original three Seekers should have received. It is obvious based on the bios that all three tech specs were accidently switched. Starscream should have a Rank of 9, and Speed of 10, not Skywarp; Skywarp should have an Intelligence rating of 4, not Thundercracker; both Skywarp and Thundercracker should have a Rank of 5 as they are both warriors.

Interesting the Action Cards has different ratings. Skywarp has the "not too smart" line removed for some reason and, so, he is given an Intelligence of 9. He is also given a rank of 7. Thundercracker is downgraded to a coward with a Courage of 5. Only Starscream's stats are correct.

[banzait...@gmail.com]

This is a topic I was mildly obsessed with a long time ago. After roughly the third series of toys (metroplex/trypticon), the tech specs become relatively meaningless. Back when I had lots of free time on my hand (graduate student), I took my entire database of techspecs that I had created by hand in MS Access, and fed them through a decision tree learning algorithm. The hypothesis I was testing was to see if I could train the algorithm to learn and predict what a decepticon looked like versus an autobot. It was never able to predict significantly better than random (50%). I even tried different combinations (rank, intelligence, etc). The fact is, 90% of all tech specs are random gibberish. If there were real patterns, the algorithm would easily have sniffed it out. (I probably posted about my results on ATT, circa 2000 - 2001).
Sorry, but I have proven this mathematically. End of discussion. ;-) There are certainly anecdotal examples, but only if you cherry pick from the data set.

-Banzaitron

[Zobovor]

On Feb 7, 7:58 pm, banzaitron....@gmail.com wrote:

> The fact is, 90% of all tech specs are random gibberish.  If there were real patterns,

> the algorithm would easily have sniffed it out. There are certainly anecdotal examples, but

> only if you cherry pick from the data set.

Yeah, I agree for the most part. I still think my findings
demonstrate that if a robot has a 10 in Courage or Intelligence he's
more likely an Autobot than Decepticon.

I think Budiansky did a really good job with the first batch of 1984
stats; you can tell there was a real effort to get them to make sense
on some level. He even did a serviceable job of incorporating the
1985 characters into the mix, though Optimus Prime's line about being
the largest and strongest Autobot quickly became a bald-faced lie. My
suspicion is that either Budiansky got tired of doing such careful and
detailed research, or somebody else eventually got the job of writing
the tech specs. (There's a huge shift in writing style between 1988
and 1989. Suddenly the write-ups focused exclusively on a robot's
abilities and weapons, with nary a hint of his personality.)

(Also, I don't care what anyone says. It's very clear that Simon
Furman wrote at least some of the late TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE entries
that appeared in the pages of the regular comic book. It's not just
the characters he chose to write about, but the casual, almost
conversational tone in which they're written. Like Skullcruncher
calling his demolecularization gun a "softening-up gun" because he
can't pronounce the correct term. That's vintage Furman.)


Zob

[Irrellius Spamticon of the Potato People.]

On Jan 29, 1:02 am, Zobovor <zm...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> STRENGTH:
>
> Megatron (10), Astrotrain (9), Bonecrusher (9), Long Haul (9),
> Shockwave (10), Shrapnel (9), Galvatron (10), Menasor (10),
> Motormaster (9), Predaking (10), Trypticon (10), Apeface (10), Blot
> (9), Cyclonus as Targetmaster (9), Hun-Grrr (9), Sixshot (10),
> Skullcruncher (10), Slugfest (9), Snapdragon (10), Piranacon (9),
> Skullgrin (9), Snaptrap (9), Monstructor (9), Stranglehold (9),
> Constructor Squad (9), Military Patrol (10), Krok (9), Starscream as
> Action Master (10).
>
> Notes:  As with the Autobots, I think these numbers are relative in
> some cases.  Apeface and Snapdragon are the strongest robots of their
> size—not necessarily as strong as Trypticon or Predaking.  Then again,
> I could be wrong.  Cyclonus actually gained Strength when he became a
> Targetmaster, oddly enough.

Is the "Military Patrol" collectively as strong as Megatron? Maybe
it's strength of conviction!

>
> INTELLIGENCE:
>
> Megatron (10), Ravage (8), Skywarp (9), Soundwave (9), Hook (9),
> Shockwave (10), Venom (9), Galvatron (9), Ratbat (9), Razorclaw (9),
> Swindle (9), Vortex (9), Apeface (9), Scourge as Targetmaster (9),
> Sixshot (9), Snapdragon (9),
> Weirdwolf (10), Wingspan (9), Bugly (9), Skullgrin (9), Sparkstalker
> (9), Submarauder (9), Skystalker (9),
> Starscream as Pretender/Action Master (9), Cannon Transport (10).
>

How is Cannon Transport as smart as Megatron?? is it collectively from
the 2 Micromasters? If we're doing collectively, the constructicons
when not Devastator should rate pretty high.

>
> SPEED:
>
> Skywarp (10), Starscream (9), Astrotrain (10), Blitzwing (9), Ramjet
> (9), Thrust (9), Blast Off (10), Cyclonus
> (9; 11 as Targetmaster), Galvatron (9), Scourge (9), Apeface (9),
> Snapdragon (9), Sports Car Patrol (9),
> Anti-Aircraft Base (9), Military Patrol (9), Race Track Patrol (10).
>
> Notes:  I don't know if Targetmaster Cyclonus' stats were misaligned
> or something, but his numbers for Speed literally went off the scale.
> There is no 11 rating, of course, but that's where the line on the
> graph was sitting.  Also, I don't get how Galvatron is so damn fast,
> when he transforms into a thing with tank treads.  Other Decepticon
> tanks are much, much slower.

Military Patrol has tanks, and they seem pretty fast here.Maybe we're
talking processor speed?

>
> RANK:
>
> Megatron (10), Skywarp (9), Shockwave (9), Cyclonus (9), Galvatron
> (9), Trypticon (9), Hun-Grrr (9), Roadblock (9),
> Skystalker (9), Starscream as Pretender (9), Gutcruncher (10).
>
> Notes:  In the Hasbro toy universe, Galvatron (apparently) exists
> alongside as Megatron, serving as the City Commander (so, basically,
> he gets to boss Trypticon around) but still not acting as the overall
> Decepticon leader.  I guess.  Note the complete absence here of many
> characters who actually led the Decepticons in the comics!  Ratbat's
> Rank is only 6.  Bludgeon and Thunderwing both only had a Rank of 6 as
> well; Roadblock and Skystalker, the largest of
> the Decepticon Pretender and Micromaster playsets, respectively, were
> clearly intended as the leader characters for 1989.

Maybe they didn't want to put spoilers on Galvatron's box for the
movie?

>
> COURAGE:
>
> Frenzy (10), Megatron (9), Skywarp (9), Barrage (10), Devastator (9;
> 10 as Action Master), Ransack (9), Scavenger (9), Shockwave (9) Venom
> (9), Brawl (9), Cyclonus (9), Dead End (9), Galvatron (9), Menasor
> (9), Motormaster (9), Predaking (9), Razorclaw (10), Tantrum (9),
> Trypticon (10), Blot (10), Cyclonus (11), Hun-Grrr (10), Skullcruncher
> (9), Triggerhappy (9), Weirdwolf (9), Bomb-Burst (9), Doubledealer
> (9), Iguanus (9), Needlenose (9), Piranacon (9), Quake (9), Ruckus
> (10), Skullgrin (10), Spinister (9), Squeezeplay (10), Submarauder
> (9), Windsweeper (9), Airwave (9), Birdbrain (9), Bludgeon (9),
> Bristleback (9), Roadblock (10), Starscream as Pretender (9; 8 as
> Action Master), Battle Squad (9), Constructor Squad (9), Military
> Patrol (9), Banzai-Tron (10).
>
> Notes:  Yeah, Cyclonus got another 11.  I'm sure it's a mistake, but
> I'm noting it for the sake of completeness.  Starscream actually
> became *more* of a coward when he got his Pretender shell.
>

Sounds accurate, Starscream always was running.

> SKILL:
>
> Buzzsaw (9), Laserbeak (9), Megatron (9), Ravage (10), Soundwave (10;
> 9 as Action Master), Bombshell (9), Chop Shop (10), Dirge (9), Hook
> (10), Mixmaster (9), Shockwave (9), Shrapnel (9), Blast Off (10),
> Galvatron (10), Onslaught (9), Ratbat (9), Reflector (9), Swindle
> (10), Mindwipe (9), Pounce (10), Slugslinger (9), Wingspan (9), Bugly
> (9), Doubledealer (9), Finback (9), Seawing (9), Sparkstalker (9),
> Bludgeon (10), Greasepit (9), Skyhopper (9), Skystalker (9), Slog
> (10), Thunderwing (9), Anti-Aircraft Base (9), Military Patrol (9),
> Race Track Patrol (9), Axer (10), Banzai-Tron (10), Gutcruncher (9),
> Treadshot (10).
>
> Notes:  Again, very few Decepticons are the master of their craft.
> Soundwave actually got worse when he upgraded to an Action Master...
> maybe because he was really good at being a cassette player, and
> couldn't do that anymore after the Nucelon.  It sure makes you wonder,
> though.  If a brilliant military planner like Onslaught is only a 9—or
> a master of observation like Reflector, or a master of deceit like
> Thunderwing—what does it take to actually be a 10?  Besides being Bo
> Derek, I mean?

I see Shockwave isn't on the 9-10 level here, I guess he loses some
skill points for having only 1 hand and no depth perception.

>
> LOW RANKINGS
>
> STRENGTH:
>
> Frenzy (3), Rumble (2), Barrage (3), Kickback (3), Venom (3), Blast
> Off (3), Ratbat (3), Rippersnapper (3), Scorponok (3, maybe),
> Squawktalk (3), Skystalker (4).
>
> Notes:  Scorponok had horribly-misprinted Tech Spec numbers that
> didn't even match the Tech Specs meter on the actual Headmaster toy.
> (Apparently there was a corrected version printed later.)

Maybe that was the rating of the robot without his head, or the rating
of Zarak alone?

>
> INTELLIGENCE:
>
> Thundercracker (4), Bonecrusher (2), Devastator (2), Scavenger (2),
> Brawl (2), Gnaw (3), Rampage (3), Battletrap (3),
> Blot (2), Slugfest (2), Cindersaur (3), Windsweeper (3), Skyhopper
> (4), Stranglehold (3).
>
> Notes:  That's probably Skywarp's true Intelligence rating, not
> Thundercracker's.  I do think it's funny that the Sharkticons are
> smarter than Bonecrusher or Scavenger.
>

I thought the Constructicons were pretty smart, they can all read
designs and build off of schematics.

> SPEED:
>
> Frenzy (3), Rumble (2), Soundwave (2), Barrage (3), Devastator (1),
> Hook (3), Long Haul (2), Mixmaster (3), Barrage (3), Scavenger (3),
> Menasor (2), Onslaught (3), Predaking (2), Reflector (2), Tantrum (3),
> Blot (2), Hun-Grrr (3), Overkill (2), Scorponok (2, maybe),
> Skullcruncher (3), Slugfest (1), Beastbox (3), Cindersaur (2),
> Crankcase (3), Nautilator (3),
> Quake (3), Skalor (3), Snaptrap (2), Snarler (3), Sparkstalker (2),
> Bristleback (2), Greasepit (3), Icepick (3), Octopunch (1), Scowl (2),
> Slog (2), Stranglehold (2), Banzai-Tron (2), Krok (2).
>
> Notes:  There are a lot of really slow Decepticons, owing chiefly to
> the fact that so many of them turn into creatures rather than
> vehicles.  It seems like some of the trucks like Hook or Onslaught
> should be able to go a *little* bit faster, but hey, what do I know?
> Devastator and Slugfest and Octopunch remain the slowest Transformers
> of all time.

So, Motormaster steals Optimus's line of "transform and roll out" and
Rumble and Frenzy transformnsform to cassettes and suddenly have a
speed of 0

>
> ENDURANCE:
>
> Buzzsaw (4), Blast Off (3), Ratbat (3), Scorponok (3, maybe), Finback
> (3), Nautilator (4), Ruckus (3).
>
> Notes:  There just aren't too many Decepticons who aren't built for
> battle.  Ratbat, by the way, is one of the overall lowest-rating
> Transformers ever.  Except for his Intelligence, most of his stats are
> extremely low.

Scorpinok has a lot of mass to move, it probably takes massive amounts
of energy and wears him out pretty fast.

> SKILL:
>
> Motormaster (4), Misfire (2), Beastbox (3).
>
> Notes:  This really surprised me.  The Decepticons apparently receive
> enough training to become reasonably good at their jobs, but never
> enough to truly excel.  You'd think there would have been more
> unskilled grunts in there somewhere, but apparently that's not the
> case.  None of the Terrorcons or Predacons scored low enough to even
> mention them here.

They all have their skills, maybe the Terrorcons all know how to gut
and clean their Autobot catches?

>
> This concludes our look at the highs and lows of the Tech Specs
> ratings.  I hope some of you enjoyed it, since it did take a little
> while for me to put together.  Excelsior!
>
> Zob

Sometimes it takes me a few days to get ready to read the longer
posts, but I get to them.

[banzait...@gmail.com]

On Thursday, February 7, 2013 11:37:16 PM UTC-6, Zobovor wrote:
> On Feb 7, 7:58 pm, banzaitron....@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
>
> > The fact is, 90% of all tech specs are random gibberish.  If there were real patterns,
>
> > the algorithm would easily have sniffed it out. There are certainly anecdotal examples, but
>
> > only if you cherry pick from the data set.
>
>
>
> Yeah, I agree for the most part. I still think my findings
>
> demonstrate that if a robot has a 10 in Courage or Intelligence he's
>
> more likely an Autobot than Decepticon.

That would be interesting to test. I think you are probably right. I remember I made different "indexes" that would rank all transformers by score. For instance, I had a "spy index" that was calculated as follows (Intelligence + Courage + skill). Also, a "brute index" that was (strength + endurance + firepower). I don't remember the others. I really should have pushed for making them international standards. Maybe I would have won a nobel prize for economics or something.

> Like Skullcruncher calling his demolecularization gun a "softening-up gun" because he
>
> can't pronounce the correct term. That's vintage Furman.)

It's funny you mention him. I distinctly remember reading his techs for the first time at a kaybee (now way in HELL I could afford to buy him) and being shocked and truly pissed at how many 10's they gave to a seemingly run of the mill bot. (He later became one of my top ten favorite toys) He had techs that would make the great Omega Supreme blush.

I wish I still spent time pouring over the details of transformers instead of the corporate whore I have become...

-Banzaitron

[Steve L.K. Macrocranios]

On Friday, February 8, 2013 11:22:39 PM UTC-5, banzait...@gmail.com wrote:
> I really should have pushed for making them international standards.
> Maybe I would have won a nobel prize for economics or something.

Maybe we can give it to you for TechSpeconomics. Did you ever come across two different robots with the exact same rankings? I imagine some of them may have gotten close.

[banzait...@gmail.com]

[banzait...@gmail.com]

> Maybe we can give it to you for TechSpeconomics.

Ha! I'd accept it with pride.

>Did you ever come across two different robots with the exact same rankings? I imagine some of them may have gotten close.

Oh, definitely. There were well over a thousand characters in the database. I think it would just sort them by alphabetical order. As an example, I had each team of micromasters entered individually.

-Banzaitron

[Thaddeus Cultt]

I know this isn't exactly a reply, but for over 25 years I've created and
maintained a Tech Spec database (now containing over 85%) of the US
Transformers, and whichever foreign ones I could get. I started doing this
as a program in BASIC on my old Commodore 64, and have moved it along as I
upgraded computers, then to databases when I became obsessed with them
(database programming). I finally ported them to Smartlist for the Palm OS
PDA and started distributing them online, it has (and still is) available
on the web in old versions. With my switch to iOS mobile devices, I have
ported the whole thing over to HanDBase and am in the Process of a major
update, adding the new characters. I'm in the process of adding DotM to the
present lines, and you can run reports with graphs on the Tech Spec fields.
All the databases are free (I do them because since DBase III in the days
of DOS I play with Databases like most kids play video games). The only
drawback is that the HanDBase app is like $10 for iOS and Android devices,
and another $15 if you want the desktop app (not required for using the
mobile app, but comes in nice to create and convert other formats). I also
release the .CSV files with the databases when I'm finished, so you can
import them into Excel or your favorite database/spreadsheet program, but
YMMV on what you get, and the work required to rebuild a database. I may do
an Access version in the future as well. I hope to have it finished soon,
but sometimes college gets in the way of important things, like
Transformers. :) I will post a link to them when I'm finished, building the
website as a class project, so I've officially got credit each semester for
Transformers!

τħᎯɖɖεƲȘ ƈƲιττ
--
People are like penguins, stab them in the head and they die.

[Zobovor]

On Tuesday, January 29, 2013 12:02:05 AM UTC-7, Zobovor wrote:

<snip>

Now, it's time for the Decepticons. They are my favorite bunch, and I enjoy creating Decepticon fan characters much more than Autobots. The bad guys are just so much more fascinating to explore. So, how does that translate when it comes time to assign their strengths and weaknesses? Like Reflector says, let's find out!


HIGH RANKINGS

STRENGTH: Commando Raid (9), *Diamondbeak (9), Freakshow (10), Goldwing (9), Gnaw-Jaw (10), Groundquake (9), *Grudgematch (10), Hailstorm (9), *Irontooth (9), *Junkpile (10), Mad Dog (9), Salvage (9), Slaughterhouse (9), Steamer (9), Strikezone (9), Toughstuff (10), Tow Zone (9), Treadlock (10), *Tussle (9), *Yellowbelly (9).

Notes: While I try to keep the super-characters to a minimum, there are going to be Decepticons who are exceptionally strong. That's just how it goes. A lot of them are construction vehicles (Groundquake, Irontooth, Salvage, Steamer, Tow Zone) so they kind of have to be able to move large loads.

INTELLIGENCE: Anthrax (10), Blue Moon (10), Darkstrike (9), Faultline (9), Feedback (10), *Fright Bite (9), Goldwing (9), Groundquake (9), Gunpoint (10), Hailstorm (9), Nosedive (9), Rundown (10), Spindive (10), Starcraft (10), *Stonebreaker (10), Twilight (10), Yellowbelly (10).

Notes: Hasbro very rarely assigned the 10 rating to a Decepticon for his Intelligence. I think the unspoken implication is that he must not be THAT smart to be in that line of work; i.e., that of a bad guy. I wanted to rectify that, so clearly Decepticon geniuses were not off-limits in my book. I think perhaps I might have overdone it a little. (If it's any consolation, I expect a lot of these characters were destroyed shortly after their first appearances.)

SPEED: Anthrax (9), Bobcat (9), Chomp Stomp (9), Commando Raid (9), Deadbolt (9), Midnight (9), Orbit (10), Seafoam (9), Slaughterhouse (9), Strikezone (9), Twilight (9).

Anthrax is probably the closest thing I have to a super-character, though in my defense she was, like, the first or second fan character I ever wrote. I have no idea what I was thinking when I made Chomp Stomp so fast. The guy is a freaking fish.

ENDURANCE: Breakneck (9), Craven (9), Deadbolt (9), *Diamondbeak (9), Drop Zone (9), Earsplitter (9), Freakshow (10), *Grudgematch (9), *Irontooth (9), Jetlag (9), *Junkpile (10), Mad Dog (10), Nosedive (10), Payback (9), Rubblemaker (10), Rundown (9), Rush Hour (9), Salvage (9), *Thunderbolt (9), Toughstuff (10), Treadlock (9), Wasteland (9), Wavelength (9).

Notes: Knowing what I know about these characters, to see them all lumped together like this in the Endurance category does not look out of place to me.

RANK: Anthrax (9).

Notes: Anthrax is the leader of a Decepticon group on another Cybertron-like planet, so while she defers to Megatron, he's the only one she answers to.

COURAGE: Bandwidth (10), Barrel Roll (9), Commando Raid (10), *Diamondbeak (9), Earsplitter (9), Feedback (9), Freefall (9), Gunpoint (9), *Irontooth (10), Limelight (9), Mad Dog (10), Nosedive (9), Pictureshow (9), Plague (9), Powerhouse (9), Rubblemaker (9), Shockmaster (9), Spindive (9), Steelcuff (9), Stickshift (9), *Stonebreaker (9), Strikezone (10), Topflight (10), Toughstuff (10), Tussle (10), Wasteland (10).

Notes: Again, Hasbro tended to shy away from the 10 rating for the official Decepticons. Even Megatron had a Courage of only 9 (which, actually, kind of supports his whole "Decepticons, retreat!" tendency).

FIREPOWER: Ballistic (10), Commando Raid (9), Faultline (10), Freakshow (10), Gravedigger (10), Groundquake (10), Hailstorm (9), Harbinger (9), Jetlag (9), *Junkpile (10), Nosedive (9), Plague (10), Potshot (9), Rubblemaker (9), Shockmaster (10), Undermine (9), Wasteland (9), Whirlybird (9), *Yellowbelly (9).

Notes: A lot of these guys turn into guns or weapons (Potshot, Shockmaster, Undermine) so their inclusion here was not unexpected.

SKILL: Aftershock (10), Anthrax (10), Backbreaker (9), Brain Drain (9), Brain Freeze (9), Commando Raid (9), Darkstrike (10), Drop Zone (9), Elegy (9), Freakshow (9), *Fright Bite (9), Gunpoint (10), Hailstorm (10), Heatwave (9), Herald (9), Orbit (9), Phantom (9), Photo Finish (10), Pictureshow (9), Plague (9), Potshot (10), Rundown (9), Scrounge (9), Seafoam (9), Starcraft (9), Starlight (9), Stonebreaker (9), Treadlock (10), Turbine (9), Twilight (10).

Here's another category, like Intelligence, where I may have gone a little overboard. This is the other category I value the most highly. A Decepticon who can't do his job well is basically worthless. I treat the 10 rating with care. I don't assign it arbitrarily, and I don't think I've ever assigned more than a single 10 rating to a character (unless he's a gigantic combiner like Freakshow or Dragon Beast). With that said, even I have to admit that this seems like a lot.


LOW RANKINGS

STRENGTH: Craven (3), Gunpoint (2), Junker (3), Powerhouse (3), Rustbucket (3).

Notes: All these guys are either cassettes or Decepticons with serious physical problems.

INTELLIGENCE: *Diamondbeak (3), Goldwing (2), *Grudgematch (2), Mad Dog (3), Steamer (3), Toughstuff (2), Tow Zone (3), Tussle (2).

I just don't create that many dumb characters. It's very difficult for me.

SPEED: Backbreaker (2), Bandwidth (2), Craven (2), Feedback (2), Freakshow (3), Jetlag (3), Photo Finish (2), Pictureshow (2), Powerhouse (2), Razorfang (3), Red Eye (2), Shockmaster (3), Topflight (2), Treadlock (3), Tussle (2), White Noise (2).

Notes: Transformers without a vehicle mode are forced to walk. Pretty much all these guys are cassette players, tapes, or cameras.

ENDURANCE: Gunpoint (3), Junker (2), Phantom (2), Potshot (3), Punchline (2), Rustbucket (3), Seafoam (2), Starlight (2), Stickshift (2), Turbine (2).

Notes: What? Not all Decepticons are indestructible.

RANK: Bobcat (2), Brain Freeze (3), Craven (2), Deadbolt (3), Earsplitter (3), Fearmonger (3), Feedback (2), Freakshow (3), Goldwing (3), Harbinger (3), Herald (3), Jetlag (2), *Junkpile (3), Mad Dog (3), Orbit (3), Plague (3), Seafoam (3), Starlight (3), Symphony (3), Undermine (3), Warlock (3), Wavelength (3), White Noise (2).

Notes: As other people have pointed out to me, if you have the classification of Warrior, you basically get a Rank of 5 as a default. I think a lot of these guys are considered cannon fodder by the other Decepticons, and that Warriors like Thundercracker or Ramjet can still boss them around.

COURAGE: Chomp Stomp (3), Craven (1), Bobcat (3), Fearmonger (2), Goldwing (3), *Gun Shy (2), Harbinger (2), *Junkpile (3), Rush Hour (1), Stampede (1), Starlight (2), Yellowbelly (1).

Notes: Again, this kind of makes Laserbeak a lot less special. Apparently I've created a few too many cowardly Decepticons. Of course, I picked the rating for different characters for different reasons (Chomp Stomp just doesn't like to get dirty; Gun Shy is a Targetmaster who hates to miss his targets so he just never shoots; the only thing Rush Hour is really afraid of is traffic jams).

FIREPOWER: Brain Drain (2), Photo Finish (3), Scrounge (3), Stickshift (3), *Stonebreaker (3), Symphony (3), Warlock (3).

Notes: Some Decepticons don't fight with guns.

SKILL: Whirlybird (3).

This kind of surprised me. This category remained completely empty until I got down to the very end of my alphabetical list. Poor Whirlybird.

I don't expect anybody else to take nearly as much of an interest in my own fan characters as I do, but like I said, I already complied the data so I figured I'd post it here. Feel free to discuss!


Zob

[banzait...@gmail.com]

For some odd reason, I remember Airwave (the micromaster airport) having a 1 in strength. This would make him not only the weakest Decepticn, but the weakest transformer, ever. I didn't see him in your analysis.

-Banzaitron

[Zobovor]

Hmm, I wonder how I managed to miss him? Dang.


Zob

[banzait...@gmail.com]

> Hmm, I wonder how I managed to miss him? Dang.

Well, maybe because he is an inch tall (no, literally), super obscure, and a complete weakling. Unfortunately, this slip up does render your entire analysis null and void. I'm afraid I am going to have to ask you to redo your study and report back when you have some results that are worth a sh*t.
Just kidding. There is always some a-hole out on the internets with a random factoid that will wait his whole life to use it to try to make it look like they know more than the other guy.

-Banzaitron