Not-so-cunning plans

Over the last 25 years the Transformers have appeared in media from the exquisite to the scribbled and been licensed to the responsible and the... Pat Lee. Discussion of all the branches of TF media within!

Moderators:Best First, spiderfrommars, IronHide

Post Reply
spiderfrommars
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:5673
Joined:Sun Aug 25, 2002 11:00 pm
Location:Oxford, UK
Contact:
Not-so-cunning plans

Post by spiderfrommars » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:19 pm

Decepticon leaders have come up with some pretty outlandish schemes in the past haven't they?

So which plans never had a hope in hell of succeeding, or were just plain stupid?

Any 'con leaders more guilty than most? Who has the best track record?

User avatar
Best First
King of the, er, Kingdom.
Posts:9750
Joined:Tue Oct 17, 2000 11:00 pm
Location:Manchester, UK
Contact:

Post by Best First » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:37 pm

See is it me, or is Ratbat's plan in carwash of doom not actually that bad?

We use technology to make humans give us fuel rather than having to nick it and draw attention to ourselves. Bosh. Not too bad is it?

Better than 'lets turn our island fortress into a holiay resort, surely?'

Bringing Starscream back from the dead - very Clever Megs. What a bell.

Big flying drill - also stupid.
Image

User avatar
Ozz
Help! I have a man for a head!
Posts:885
Joined:Mon Sep 22, 2003 11:00 pm
Location:Poland
Contact:

Post by Ozz » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:56 pm

Best First wrote:See is it me, or is Ratbat's plan in carwash of doom not actually that bad?
No, it's not you. ;) Rather simple, efficient and would have worked it weren't for that pesky kids.

Similarly, Skullgrin in Holywood. He was able to obtain big amounts of fuel (at least he was supposed to) and he didn't have to do much to do it.

If we include cartoon Megatron, he surely would be the biggest failure, if only for the amount of episodes i which he tried and failed. He had some really stupid ideas. The fact the he often almost succeeded doesn't say much good about Autobots though.

From comics, stealing energy from Springsteen's lookalike's concert or a thunderstorm wasn't too smart.

Then there's Megatron's brilliant scheme from Prime Directive...

User avatar
Brendocon
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:5299
Joined:Tue Sep 19, 2000 11:00 pm
Location:UK

Post by Brendocon » Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:08 pm

Bludgeon's plan in Gen 2 was the bomb diggy.

Tired of faffing about?
Can't be arsed to come up with some cartoon-lite scheme for getting the upper hand?

Sod it - let's just trash the place until Oppy shows up and then we'll trash him to.

Subtle genius in its obviousnessosity.
Grrr. Argh.

User avatar
Kaylee
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:4071
Joined:Thu Oct 26, 2000 12:00 am
::More venomous than I appear
Location:Ashford, Kent, UK.
Contact:

Post by Kaylee » Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:06 pm

Definitely City of Steel. One by one I shall replace aaall the buildings in New York with metal ones, making it into the new Decepticon city! Bwahaha!

okay...

1. there are about 1 million buildings, so it'll probably take you a few decades
2. The massive underground network you'd have to build to be able to lower the building, rebuild it and then raise it would be even more expensive and time consuming to build than just building a new Decepticon city from scratch
3. Rebuilding a human skyscraper into a Decepticon building would sort of render it into a small loft converted terraced house, considering the size difference. Were the Cons planning on setting up house?
4. What on earth was the point, considering the expenses involved in terms of time, energy and manpower?
5. It is the single most unsubtle scheme in history, so the Autobots should only take a few weeks to figure it out ("duuh... maybe we should stop dem?") and come stop you.
6. Where did they get all this energy and metal from to rebuild all of NYC into a metal city? Why weren't they using it for building weapons, or new vehicles or a space cruiser or something even vaguely useful? It's such a poor use of resources its parellel would be Sauron finally regaining his Master Ring only to melt it down into a huge pink hammer like Timmy Mallet used to sport.

Absolute epitomy of cartoon story telling. Bizaare wacked out idea with absolutely no reason whatsoever or explanation other than the writer's thought it sounded cool. Enter Mad Brick stage right.

User avatar
Laserwave
Decepticon Cannon Fodder
Posts:66
Joined:Sat Sep 03, 2005 5:29 pm
Location:York/Edinburgh

Post by Laserwave » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:14 pm

Could be worse, Skeletor`s first ever "seen" plan was trying to bring down the Jawbridge with a hook and rope.
Logic dictates there is no place for such emotionalism in a Decepticon commander. Nor is there room for incompetence.

Image

User avatar
Predabot
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:3119
Joined:Sun Apr 06, 2003 11:00 pm
::Scraplet
Location:Northern sweden

Post by Predabot » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:44 pm

Ozz wrote:From comics, stealing energy from Springsteen's lookalike's concert or a thunderstorm wasn't too smart.
That one was the one-eyed gimp tho. :o

Also, there's always the classic, Scorponoks plan in Headmasters: Make all the fleshlings go away by encasing them in soap-bubbles...

"Weee wooo! Look at them go up into the outer layers of the atmosphere, Skull-cruncher! Oh, look! One poped! Oooh.. he's trying to catch his breath! He's coughing now!"


Yo Scorps, wanna know a little secret, even tho you've made it clear to everybody for several issues? You're like 5000 times as strong as the fleshlings! Your troops even have the right idea! Fleshlings are for stepping on. They do make pretty pink slime.

User avatar
Legion
Over Pompous Autobot Commander
Posts:2739
Joined:Mon Jan 15, 2001 12:00 am
Location:The road to nowhere

Post by Legion » Tue Sep 27, 2005 3:14 pm

so is soundwave the only con leader who hasn't had a pants plan?
(although what, exactly was his plan in timewars? to stand around and watch and then bugger off home again - if so, not a terribly bad plan either)

spiderfrommars
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:5673
Joined:Sun Aug 25, 2002 11:00 pm
Location:Oxford, UK
Contact:

Post by spiderfrommars » Tue Sep 27, 2005 3:48 pm

Legion wrote: (although what, exactly was his plan in timewars? to stand around and watch and then bugger off home again - if so, not a terribly bad plan either)

Well he did suggest to Scorpy that they wait for the Autobots to get killed off before they get involved. Shrewd bastard... though Scorpy didn't play along so Sounds decided to sod it.

User avatar
Best First
King of the, er, Kingdom.
Posts:9750
Joined:Tue Oct 17, 2000 11:00 pm
Location:Manchester, UK
Contact:

Post by Best First » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:13 pm

surely waitng around is a dog poo plan - if they all attack at once - strength in numbers may previal, if they hang around utnil the Autobots are all dead that just means its the cons turn.
Last edited by Best First on Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image

spiderfrommars
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:5673
Joined:Sun Aug 25, 2002 11:00 pm
Location:Oxford, UK
Contact:

Post by spiderfrommars » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:15 pm

Best First wrote:if they hang around utnil the Autobots are all dead that just means its the cons turn.
With their opponents (hopefully) worn down somewhat. :)

User avatar
Best First
King of the, er, Kingdom.
Posts:9750
Joined:Tue Oct 17, 2000 11:00 pm
Location:Manchester, UK
Contact:

Post by Best First » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:25 pm

no! its like a martial arts film. gah.

"Autobots, let us engage Megatron and Galvaron individually and in small groups across a series of pages".

pfft.

5.
Image

User avatar
BB Shockwave
Insane Decepticon Commander
Posts:1877
Joined:Wed Jun 09, 2004 11:00 pm
Location:Hungary, Budapest
Contact:

Post by BB Shockwave » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:32 pm

Well, Soundwave also went back to his time, I think, because he realised that logically, his presence as a time-traveller only accelerated the time rift. Maybe Rodimus should have done the same, instead of getting knocked out by Galvy on one panel...
Image

"I've come to believe you are working for the enemy, Vervain. There is no other explanation... for your idiocy." (General Woundwort)

User avatar
Impactor returns 2.0
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:6885
Joined:Sat Sep 22, 2001 11:00 pm
::Starlord
Location:Your Mums

Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Tue Sep 27, 2005 6:34 pm

Decepticons help the Autobots??? - or Let the Autobots take the brunt!!!...

Con-tastic!

6
Image

User avatar
Best First
King of the, er, Kingdom.
Posts:9750
Joined:Tue Oct 17, 2000 11:00 pm
Location:Manchester, UK
Contact:

Post by Best First » Tue Sep 27, 2005 8:14 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:Decepticons help the Autobots???
G2.

aka how to tell a story of 5+ quality.
Image

User avatar
Impactor returns 2.0
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:6885
Joined:Sat Sep 22, 2001 11:00 pm
::Starlord
Location:Your Mums

Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Tue Sep 27, 2005 9:36 pm

thats OP asking for megs help - different situation.

Here we have soundwave deciding if he should let the wreckers get scrapped.

Id go for that and leave.
Image

Guest

Post by Guest » Tue Sep 27, 2005 11:16 pm

You've got to put it into perspective.

Soundwave had just led his troops into the past to get revenge on Rodimus and co.

Once in the past, he discovered that Roddy was planning a suicide attack on Galvatron.

Knowing that trying to get Roddy there and then would be pointless, he decided to wait for the outcome and make the best of it.

When everything eventually went pear-shaped, he decided to cut and run, and make do with his original pre-revenge plan of stripping Autobot City.

So back to the future he went.

Soundwave always put himself first, however, for the most part, what was best for the Decepticon cause was best for him too.

Soundwave have a not-so-cunning plan? Not a chance.
Soundwave overlook the most minor details, which would come back as major details to haunt him? Almost always.

User avatar
Best First
King of the, er, Kingdom.
Posts:9750
Joined:Tue Oct 17, 2000 11:00 pm
Location:Manchester, UK
Contact:

Post by Best First » Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:20 am

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:thats OP asking for megs help - different situation.
oh yes, wildly different.

except in this case instaed of just the TF race being at threat the whole of the UNiverse is.

"oh, ill just duck out and go home then"

Big picture, not seeing it.
Image

divebomb
Back stabbing Seeker
Posts:276
Joined:Sun Jun 03, 2001 11:00 pm
Location:South wales

Post by divebomb » Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:06 pm

Anyone said the Ultimate Weapon yet? An episode with Galvy just pretending to have something, then running off crying at the end.

User avatar
Kaylee
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:4071
Joined:Thu Oct 26, 2000 12:00 am
::More venomous than I appear
Location:Ashford, Kent, UK.
Contact:

Post by Kaylee » Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:12 pm

divebomb wrote:Anyone said the Ultimate Weapon yet? An episode with Galvy just pretending to have something, then running off crying at the end.
Or even worse Roddy falling for it for 95% of the episode. FFS!

User avatar
Brendocon
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:5299
Joined:Tue Sep 19, 2000 11:00 pm
Location:UK

Post by Brendocon » Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:22 pm

I liked that episode. Galvy actually developed half a brain for once.

Bluffing is far less hassle than half the other crap he concocted as Megatron.
Grrr. Argh.

User avatar
Best First
King of the, er, Kingdom.
Posts:9750
Joined:Tue Oct 17, 2000 11:00 pm
Location:Manchester, UK
Contact:

Post by Best First » Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:24 pm

the words 'invsibility spray' spring to mind.

i hate the cartoon so damn much. It isn't fit to be viewed by insects.
Image

User avatar
Impactor returns 2.0
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:6885
Joined:Sat Sep 22, 2001 11:00 pm
::Starlord
Location:Your Mums

Post by Impactor returns 2.0 » Wed Sep 28, 2005 5:05 pm

Best First wrote:
Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:thats OP asking for megs help - different situation.
oh yes, wildly different.

except in this case instaed of just the TF race being at threat the whole of the UNiverse is.

"oh, ill just duck out and go home then"

Big picture, not seeing it.
But soundwave thinks his presence is only making the situation worse so he gos home.
I dont have a problem with what he does, Rebis explained it well anyhows.
Image

Stormwolf
Back stabbing Seeker
Posts:448
Joined:Wed Aug 25, 2004 3:48 pm
Location:The land of windmills and drugs.

Post by Stormwolf » Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:07 pm

Divide and Conquer has some retarded action:

First Starscream gets the chance to annihilate a couple of Autobots. Then Megatron orders Starscream to stop and to let the Autobots go to Cybertron. After that Megatron's genius plan starts where he wants to use acid to kill the Autobots.

Or how about the episode with the lightning bug? I mean, why not just kill the Autobots in one single blast? Or does that make too much sense?
Image

User avatar
Laserwave
Decepticon Cannon Fodder
Posts:66
Joined:Sat Sep 03, 2005 5:29 pm
Location:York/Edinburgh

Post by Laserwave » Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:41 pm

Especially during season 1, Megatron had a fetish for attacking at sunrise.

If he`d just done night attacks, they`d have probably won.
Logic dictates there is no place for such emotionalism in a Decepticon commander. Nor is there room for incompetence.

Image

User avatar
Best First
King of the, er, Kingdom.
Posts:9750
Joined:Tue Oct 17, 2000 11:00 pm
Location:Manchester, UK
Contact:

Post by Best First » Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:50 am

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:
Best First wrote:
Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:thats OP asking for megs help - different situation.
oh yes, wildly different.

except in this case instaed of just the TF race being at threat the whole of the UNiverse is.

"oh, ill just duck out and go home then"

Big picture, not seeing it.
But soundwave thinks his presence is only making the situation worse
yeah, thats readily apparent in the narrative.

5

Christ's sake.
Image

User avatar
Metal Vendetta
Big Honking Planet Eater
Posts:4950
Joined:Mon Feb 12, 2001 12:00 am
Location:Lahndan, innit

Post by Metal Vendetta » Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:30 pm

Stormwolf wrote:Or how about the episode with the lightning bug? I mean, why not just kill the Autobots in one single blast? Or does that make too much sense?
I love that episode. I want a little vid-capture of the bit where Starscream starts humping it...
I would have waited a ******* eternity for this!!!!
Impactor returns 2.0, 28th January 2010

Post Reply