Comment on Botcon Ariel Card art by WillMangin
I actualy have seen the episode, it is still unclear if they were capable of transforming, in fact i don't think they chould because of the amount of time they spent running through out the episode.
dion transforms.... he does it in that exact clip actually. 
I'm sorry if i came off rude, it was not the intent. and sorry for writing a novel for a reply, transformers is one of the subjects that fascinates me because of the possibilities of non-organic biology.
nah. you're good, man. no offense taken. I don't get around to talking about this stuff on the forums anymore so this is the only place i get into conversations like this. lol
ok, i have issues with communication so i need to be clear sometimes
Dion follows a set function, neither one of them have functions that are enhanced by alt modes, also it is hinted at that not all Cybertronians (Cybertonians?) can transform or have vehicle forms, the decepticons in that episode transform into boxes and trucks. while the some of the civilians have a truck mode, not all of cybertron's populous necessarily can transform, in later continuities we see transformers ferrying around other Cybertronians like taxis. also the remains of the mass transit system are shown during the episode Desertion of the Dinobots. that said to each teir own interpitation of the techno-biological forms of the peoples of Cybertron and their unique shapeshifting abilities. just as long as we agree. Bay-formers do not come from cybertron or any other Transformer world.
I'm following ya there and I agree that there is evidence that there are older much older cybertronians who lack alt modes. I think more so than anything else, the lack of alt modes for Orion and Ariel are just the result of not being able to fit that into a 21 minute episode. lol But that's just me. Orion is later on show in other canon with an alt mode anyway.
Bay-formers are just... something else entirely. That's not an aesthetic I'm a big fan of for the most part.
Bay-formers are just... something else entirely. That's not an aesthetic I'm a big fan of for the most part.
other cannon yes, they have alt modes. and since i was the one to bring up evidence from newer cannon than i must consead that the odds are they have alt modes, still an actual debate was kinda fun.
and ya know.. looking at a character like Ariel (and even Elita One later one) you kinda wonder how in the world they ever did have an alt mode. There's such a lack of alt mode parts on her (or rather... none at all) to indicate that there should be one. heh. oh well.
Transformers in their natural state are use metallic substances to mimic organic functions, that said it is not unreasonable that with enough energy a group of unintelligent nano-machines (See also Metallic Cells) could be reorganized to provide an alternate shape. Thus we must theorize that Energon is a highly potent fuel source, it also seems to have properties of particles, plasma, and plain out raw Energy. the G1 Energon cubes are probably synthetic in origin and are most likely made from the remains of consumed Energon, most likely an inert gas. and other trace materials that the Cybertonians vent off as waste.