Notice how all the Energy Arms are missing a pauldron. It's a universal design choice for archers, which tend to use bows, to keep their drawing arm free and mobile.

So I'd say that considering how noticeable the armor is, especially the asymmetry of said, the Arrow makes perfect sense. Zangetsu in this respect makes absolutely perfect sense, seeing as Samurai were expected to maintain proficiency, if not mastery, of both the bow and the sword. European nobles (Duke) frequently did the same. I cannot speak for vikings or Arabian royalty, however. The Sonic Arrow, by way of function following form, allows them to act both as archers and swordsmen.

As for the larger shift from the clearly melee-oriented Armored designs to the more ranged-oriented Genesis, I can't say, though it does give the impression that they expect to be so far above and generally out of reach of the enemy that they needn't worry about melee combat. Fortunately, unlike, say, the US Military doctrine regarding air combat circa Vietnam, Ryoma had the good sense to include some close-range functionality on the thing.

And for the record I think it goes great with Duke, especially in Dragonfruit Energy form.

Also, sword weilders. Specifically ones who weild swords one-handed, where that is the leading side in a duel. And to the show's credit, not only do they slash with the Sonic Arrow one-handed, but almost consistently held it in the proper hand when doing so. (like Marika will use it right-handed because that's where her shoulder armour is, but Sigurd always held it in his left hand) Attention to detail was not forgotten

It does, again because the colours help sell it as "belonging" there. But seriously by that point I didn't even pay attention. The gimmick of the gimmick line was called "Arms Change" yet the energy Riders never changed arms. I always asumed the weapons were the point of having different lock seeds to begin with, since that's what's printed on them.

I think what makes it easy to vary up poses for the Energy Riders, despite all using the Sonic Arrow, is the fact that it can be used and has been shown being used as a blade/melee weapon. So it gives you your usual bow and arrow options on top of sword-swinging stuff.

So... You guys just going to ignore OOO's post on the last page and continue this argument, then?

So..... I'm enjoying my Wizard WS that I got from Tali, and my Alternative Zero from....can't remember which site, its been a while since I got it that I forgot where I got it from. No pics yet, work has kept me from doing that. But I am having fun. Thanks Tali!!

Mandarake's the site name. Such a wonderful store.

So I got a mail from Nippon-Yasan a while ago that Tridoron will be shipped out on the 25th. Cant wait to get mine :D

Thank you Soundwave. Maybe it hasn't been as long as I think, but it feel like it has been.

http://image1.spreadshirtmedia.com/i...ro-t-shirt.jpg

Make some cool pictures for us please!

I will for sure :D

Mandarake is wonderful, (unless you're buying vintage) yet somehow easier and more difficult to use now that it translates item names to English. Because it doesn't translate them all, so if you search 'Kamen Rider Gaim' you may still miss some results you can only find with kanji.

That's why I still use the kanji. I haven't tried searching in English yet, however, so I might be missing stuff too.

On the other hand, some of the translations are pretty funny. Reid Shue Tarr, KR Dewey, KR Guy, Kamen Rider Layer, Dongou Rear Arms...

Genocider was listed as "Geno soda pop" so lol.

It is pretty annoying when stuff gets through the cracks though.

Same. Damn is this an expensive month though.

KR Dewy is my favorite from MD so far :lol

To be fair, in regards to the Energy Lockseeds it would have been impossible; the Ride Wears were coded into the lockseeds, which means that if, say, Shin Zangetsu were to use a Peach Energy lockseed, he'd... well, turn into a male Marika.

But Baron doesn't turn into Duke.

Yea but Kaito Energy Lockseed and Genesis Driver were made specifically for Kaito from Ryoma.

But you know, I still say that, faced with so many Riders using the same weapon, Bandai could have at least thrown in some unique fruity effect parts. I mean. It wouldn't have been too much to ask, probably.

Or the longbow for Duke, but oh well.

That longbow for Duke would've been great, plus they did it before with a Precure, so I see why not.

Weren't they all?

The ELS are artificial, so there's no reason to believe each one can't be coded differently if they need to, the Lemon he gave to Kaito simply had the Baron suit instead of Duke. But based on the fact that both Yoko and Takatora have used one of Ryoma's belts to transform into their own Rider forms (and not Duke) this seems to be how it works with the New Generation Riders. It's pretty counter-intuitive, but eh.

Also fits as to how Micchy turned into Zangetsu Shin, in that the suit was based in the Lockseed rather than the Driver.

Also, I thought I asked for everyone to move on from the discussion as it derailed the thread from talking about S.H. Figuarts. So please, can this conversation continue in another thread?

I actually never saw your post, it was the last post on the then-previous page.

That.

So... guesses on this month's reveals?

Lord Baron and some other kamen rider figuart???

I'm hoping for Super Sailor Mercury above all else.

Type Tridoron has to be revealed soon. Possibly we'll get a release date for SS Decade? In all seriousness, what would you say has a better chance at being the next SS figure after that? Double or Kiva?

Double was and still is crazy popular, while Kiva is... Kiva, so...

Who came out as a figuart after decade the way to tell is take a look at the pic where renewal decade was and the riders in the back ground one of them would be next.

Kiva will be the last kamen rider figuart made everything before Kiva

Well, sure, but then there's Hibiki...

Hibiki did not sell that well you can still find him on amiami and other sites

It's just that... They HAVE to know, right? Bandai has to be aware that Kiva is literally the only main Rider that they haven't made the base form for, right?... *gulp*... RIGHT?

I almost expect the line to be cancelled before they even notice that Kiva is missing.

Cancelled you mean the figuarts line will or the SS line?

The only Heisei main rider, anyway. We don't have J yet, though he'll probably still be made first.

We're also missing J. I'm thinking we'll get J, then three renewals of every other Rider, and then we'll get a prototype of Kiva.

And then the line will be cancelled and replaced.

Double is both more likely to be made and my prefered choice, but Kiva is soooo overdue. It'd be nice if we, like, got both.

I don't think Bandai would cancelled a figuart line and then replace it to good to be true

Considering how far Figuarts has come since its beginnings, there's no logical reaosn to cancel it only to do Figuarts but better. That's basically what Figuarts is doing now, even down to redos of old characters.

Did Kiva Emperor Form and Dark Kiva sell poorly?

Bandai's reluctance to produce him remains a mystery to me. Perhaps they're trying to get the engineering for his fiddly design just right?