Chat with Greg Farshtey

ScribeGT6817

2015-05-21 09:11 UTC–5

slipperysnakeboy wrote:
1: Biosector says that one of the examples of shadow is teleporting. Is that a power any being with shadow could do, or did biosector forget to mention it was a "Shadow-Stealer" exclusive?

It wouldn't make sense to me to have teleportation as an automatic part of a shadow power. That would seem to me to be a separate ability.

ScribeGT6817

2015-05-21 09:13 UTC–5

Permalink

Johnyjo wrote:
Wow, Mr. Farshtey! I didn't know you were still active in this topic.
I've always been a big fan, I was just wondering. The Bionicle Chronicles were originally written by C.A. Hapka, but you took over for the fourth book and ended up writing all the rest of the Bionicle books. Why was the switch made? Thank you!

Couple of reasons:

1) Cathy was a very talented and very busy freelancer, and I think she had other projects on her plate. My first book was a last-minute addition to the schedule that she probably would not have had the time to do.

2) Because I was working for LEGO Company and involved with BIONICLE, I think Scholastic felt it would be easier for me to do this work since I was already immersed in the story, plus there would be less chance of manuscript approval problems since I already knew the do's and don't's.

But it was never a case of my being guaranteed to get to keep doing the books. I was on a book-by-book deal and got a new contract for each one. So if I had done a bad job on one of the books, they would have just gotten someone else.

ScribeGT6817

2015-05-21 09:15 UTC–5

Permalink

Andrew31kbrick193 wrote:
How long did the Mazeka train with the Order of Mata Nui?

I would guess no longer than six months, possibly less.

ScribeGT6817

2015-05-21 09:16 UTC–5

Permalink

Andrew31kbrick193 wrote:
Hey Greg, is it possible for some Steltians to be members of the Order of Mata Nui?

Yes. Organizations like OOMN have been known to recruit from the shadier parts of society.

ScribeGT6817

2015-05-21 09:20 UTC–5

Permalink

TeridaxXD001 wrote:
Think these got buried:

1. I recall you saying something about Miserix potentially starting a new Brotherhood if he had access to Antidermis and making new Rahi if he had access to EP and viruses. Why would he want to do that? They're not inside the robot anymore, so there's really no reason to.

2. A Russian LEGO magazine had a promotional comic back in 2001 called "Legend of Lewa" that you later declared semi-canon. You didn't write it, did you?

3. The March–April 2009 European Club Magazine had a two-page promotional comic called "Secrets of Bara Magna!" that gave a brief overview on Agori/Glatorian society. Did you write this one?

4. Which magazines do you handle? Just the English one? Or several/all?

5. When exactly did the concept of passing names through legal start? Immediately after the lawsuit?

1) It's called "building a power base for yourself"

2-3) Not that I recall

4) I wrote for both the US and EU magazines, but the EU magazines rarely ran the BIONICLE comic.

5) Names were always run through Legal, they have to be. But Legal primarily looks for things like other people's trademarks, usage in related industries, words meaning something offensive in another langauge, that sort of thing. The Maori terms were not legally trademarked and they weren't curse words in another language, etc., so they wouldn't have been flagged.

ScribeGT6817

2015-05-21 09:21 UTC–5

Permalink

TeridaxXD001 wrote:
Think these got buried:

6. Some Maori-based names were never changed, specifically those of the Toa Mata, Mata Nui, geographic locations on the island, and the Kanohi. Why? And how was it decided which names had to go?

7. Was Mata Nui programmed to understand Agori? He could understand it as soon as he crashed on Bara Magna.

8. In The Legend Reborn novelization, Mata Nui encounters symbols made up of circles containing smaller circles and lines. Is this the Matoran language?

9. If so, could Mata Nui not read the Matoran language?

Thank you.

6) As I recall, names that were considered critical to the storyline did not end up being changed. What was changed were things that weren't going to cause major disruption.

7) Yes

8-9) I don't recall what this was supposed to be. Too long ago.

TeridaxXD001	2015-05-21 01:13 UTC–5 Permalink Think these got buried: 1. I recall you saying something about Miserix potentially starting a new Brotherhood if he had access to Antidermis and making new Rahi if he had access to EP and viruses. Why would he want to do that? They're not inside the robot anymore, so there's really no reason to. 2. A Russian LEGO magazine had a promotional comic back in 2001 called "Legend of Lewa" that you later declared semi-canon. You didn't write it, did you? 3. The March–April 2009 European Club Magazine had a two-page promotional comic called "Secrets of Bara Magna!" that gave a brief overview on Agori/Glatorian society. Did you write this one? 4. Which magazines do you handle? Just the English one? Or several/all? 5. When exactly did the concept of passing names through legal start? Immediately after the lawsuit? 6. Some Maori-based names were never changed, specifically those of the Toa Mata, Mata Nui, geographic locations on the island, and the Kanohi. Why? And how was it decided which names had to go? 7. Was Mata Nui programmed to understand Agori? He could understand it as soon as he crashed on Bara Magna. 8. In The Legend Reborn novelization, Mata Nui encounters symbols made up of circles containing smaller circles and lines. Is this the Matoran language? 9. If so, could Mata Nui not read the Matoran language? Thank you.
lordbio123	2015-05-21 02:41 UTC–5 Permalink Andrew31kbrick193 wrote: Andrew31kbrick193 wrote: How long did the Mazeka train with the Order of Mata Nui? My bad: I meant "How long did Mazeka* train with the Order of Mata Nui?" makes a Rahi named Mazeka, dubbing it The Mazeka*
ScribeGT6817	2015-05-21 09:11 UTC–5 Permalink slipperysnakeboy wrote: 1: Biosector says that one of the examples of shadow is teleporting. Is that a power any being with shadow could do, or did biosector forget to mention it was a "Shadow-Stealer" exclusive? It wouldn't make sense to me to have teleportation as an automatic part of a shadow power. That would seem to me to be a separate ability.
ScribeGT6817	2015-05-21 09:13 UTC–5 Permalink Johnyjo wrote: Wow, Mr. Farshtey! I didn't know you were still active in this topic. I've always been a big fan, I was just wondering. The Bionicle Chronicles were originally written by C.A. Hapka, but you took over for the fourth book and ended up writing all the rest of the Bionicle books. Why was the switch made? Thank you! Couple of reasons: 1) Cathy was a very talented and very busy freelancer, and I think she had other projects on her plate. My first book was a last-minute addition to the schedule that she probably would not have had the time to do. 2) Because I was working for LEGO Company and involved with BIONICLE, I think Scholastic felt it would be easier for me to do this work since I was already immersed in the story, plus there would be less chance of manuscript approval problems since I already knew the do's and don't's. But it was never a case of my being guaranteed to get to keep doing the books. I was on a book-by-book deal and got a new contract for each one. So if I had done a bad job on one of the books, they would have just gotten someone else.
ScribeGT6817	2015-05-21 09:15 UTC–5 Permalink Andrew31kbrick193 wrote: How long did the Mazeka train with the Order of Mata Nui? I would guess no longer than six months, possibly less.
ScribeGT6817	2015-05-21 09:16 UTC–5 Permalink Andrew31kbrick193 wrote: Hey Greg, is it possible for some Steltians to be members of the Order of Mata Nui? Yes. Organizations like OOMN have been known to recruit from the shadier parts of society.
ScribeGT6817	2015-05-21 09:20 UTC–5 Permalink TeridaxXD001 wrote: Think these got buried: 1. I recall you saying something about Miserix potentially starting a new Brotherhood if he had access to Antidermis and making new Rahi if he had access to EP and viruses. Why would he want to do that? They're not inside the robot anymore, so there's really no reason to. 2. A Russian LEGO magazine had a promotional comic back in 2001 called "Legend of Lewa" that you later declared semi-canon. You didn't write it, did you? 3. The March–April 2009 European Club Magazine had a two-page promotional comic called "Secrets of Bara Magna!" that gave a brief overview on Agori/Glatorian society. Did you write this one? 4. Which magazines do you handle? Just the English one? Or several/all? 5. When exactly did the concept of passing names through legal start? Immediately after the lawsuit? 1) It's called "building a power base for yourself" 2-3) Not that I recall 4) I wrote for both the US and EU magazines, but the EU magazines rarely ran the BIONICLE comic. 5) Names were always run through Legal, they have to be. But Legal primarily looks for things like other people's trademarks, usage in related industries, words meaning something offensive in another langauge, that sort of thing. The Maori terms were not legally trademarked and they weren't curse words in another language, etc., so they wouldn't have been flagged.
ScribeGT6817	2015-05-21 09:21 UTC–5 Permalink TeridaxXD001 wrote: Think these got buried: 6. Some Maori-based names were never changed, specifically those of the Toa Mata, Mata Nui, geographic locations on the island, and the Kanohi. Why? And how was it decided which names had to go? 7. Was Mata Nui programmed to understand Agori? He could understand it as soon as he crashed on Bara Magna. 8. In The Legend Reborn novelization, Mata Nui encounters symbols made up of circles containing smaller circles and lines. Is this the Matoran language? 9. If so, could Mata Nui not read the Matoran language? Thank you. 6) As I recall, names that were considered critical to the storyline did not end up being changed. What was changed were things that weren't going to cause major disruption. 7) Yes 8-9) I don't recall what this was supposed to be. Too long ago.
MorroLaval13	2015-05-21 15:59 UTC–5 Permalink DEAR GREG, I'M WRITING TO TELL YOU THAT I'M WRITING A STORY IN THE BIONICLE FORUM.IT'S CALLED GAPORANK,TOA OF TIME;AN OLD BIONICLE STORY.I WANT YOU TO ASK YOU SOME THINGS THAT I PLAN TO WRITE;1.WHAT POWERS HAVE CHIARA,ZARIA AND ORDE(IS ORDE STILL ALIVE)? 2.CAN A TOA GIVE ONLY THE HALF OF HIS/HER TOA POWER TO A MATORAN? 3.CAN A MAKUTA USE A SHADOW HAND ΤΟ IMPLANT THE POWER OF SHADOW IN A MATORAN? 4.CAN I WRITE THAT ARTHAKA IS SECRETLY A TOA(ALONG WITH KARZAHNI)? 5.THE ''TOA FORM'' OF MATA NUI IN 2009 IS CANON?(BECAUSE I PLAN TO USE IT) 6.I PLAN TO REVEAL THE SHADOWED ONE'S ''REAL'' NAME.CAN I USE A FAKE NAME FOR HIS ''REAL'' NAME? 7.SOMETHING NOW OUTSIDE THE STORY;HOW MANY YEARS IS THE LIFESPAN IN SOLIS MAGNA?AND WHAT IS A LIGHTSTONE? I WOULD BE PLEASANT TO SEE MY STORY AND,IF YOU CAN,HELP ME EXPAND IT @MORROLAVAL13
voporak1	2015-05-21 17:00 UTC–5 Permalink Hi Mr Greg 1. Mata Nui explored the all of the system of solis magna? Because for one hundred thousand years of spatial travel I think he would have had time to explore it in full. 2.The Red Star is used to push out Mata Nui of gravitational field of a planet. But when Mata Nui is in space it can continue to travel in space independent of the RS? or Mata Nui needs the RS for its space travel? 3. If the Red Star would be damaged for some reason to a point where the RS is no longer operational while he is in orbit around a planet. Is the GSR had some kind of plan-b to leave the planet? Or he would be trapped on the planet? 4.In the comic the exile's tale Malum had at one point an identical weapon to the Cordak shooter. This mean that Cordak guns were based on these weapons?
Johnyjo	2015-05-21 19:25 UTC–5 Permalink ScribeGT6817 wrote: Johnyjo wrote: Wow, Mr. Farshtey! I didn't know you were still active in this topic. I've always been a big fan, I was just wondering. The Bionicle Chronicles were originally written by C.A. Hapka, but you took over for the fourth book and ended up writing all the rest of the Bionicle books. Why was the switch made? Thank you! Couple of reasons: 1) Cathy was a very talented and very busy freelancer, and I think she had other projects on her plate. My first book was a last-minute addition to the schedule that she probably would not have had the time to do. 2) Because I was working for LEGO Company and involved with BIONICLE, I think Scholastic felt it would be easier for me to do this work since I was already immersed in the story, plus there would be less chance of manuscript approval problems since I already knew the do's and don't's. But it was never a case of my being guaranteed to get to keep doing the books. I was on a book-by-book deal and got a new contract for each one. So if I had done a bad job on one of the books, they would have just gotten someone else. Thank you! You did a great job on all the books, so I'm glad you were able to write them to the very end!
TonksM	2015-05-21 20:01 UTC–5 Permalink If Takanuva expended all his elemental power, could he continue to use elemental light powers due to him wearing the Avohkii, or does the temporary depletion of elemental powers in a Toa leave them too mentally exhausted to use a Kanohi? Do Kanohi have a limited supply of power like Toa elemental power? Does it recharge over time or can you completely deplete a Kanohi of its power if it's used for too long?
Andrew31kbrick…	2015-05-22 02:20 UTC–5 Permalink lordbio123 wrote: Andrew31kbrick193 wrote: Andrew31kbrick193 wrote: How long did the Mazeka train with the Order of Mata Nui? My bad: I meant "How long did Mazeka* train with the Order of Mata Nui?" makes a Rahi named Mazeka, dubbing it The Mazeka* No doubt that it would be a beast at fighting.
Andrew31kbrick…	2015-05-22 02:21 UTC–5 Permalink Hey Greg, what connection do/did the Dark Hunters have with the Brotherhood of Makuta?
Kazarue	2015-05-22 04:27 UTC–5 Permalink Hi Greg! I've no idea how many times this has been asked or answered, but it seems like all information on this is nothing but speculation. Above ALL else, the one thing that has annoyed me to no end in the original Bionicle series is the Nuva Cube and the Nuva Symbols. Now for the most part, I understand the reason the symbols exist and why Artahka might have created them. But what was the original purpose of the cube itself? The design of the symbols and the cube seem so reliant on eachother, so they had to have been created at the same time, right? The symbols had to have been created before the Nuva transformation and transported to the island after they had transformed... But the Toa sealed the Bahrag moments before that transformation, so how could its original purpose be to free the queens if it was created before the creator knew Gahdok and Cahdok would be sealed in the first place? What was the cube meant to be used for when it was first made? On top of that, if the cube's original purpose wasn't to free the queens, and was simply sent along with the Nuva symbols to the island, how did it find itself in the Bahrag chamber and how did the Bohrok Kal know what exactly it might do? It just seems like the Bohrok Kal arc has so many holes and so many unexplained pivotal plot elements. Would it be possible for you to provide us with some answers to make sense of it all? Thanks!