No, they absolutely do not. In fact, they completely undermine the mandate. Yes, they are phenomenal MOCs, but with the amount of detail/greebling (not just on the torso, but overall), it again begs the question, what is a Metru build in the context of the Hagah (which is a horse beyond beaten dead, and yet here we are). Entries like this are exactly why @Kini_Hawkeye and I brought up WholesomeGadunka’s Nenon in the first topic. When it was discussed on the Nak & Jay episode, it was pointed out that Nenon doesn’t use the same limb construction or the Metru hip piece, and so would be disqualified for that at least under the current ruleset. But Arceane’s MOCs are a good representation of the same point under the context of the Hagah. I’m not at all suggesting they should be banned. I’m saying that there’s practically no difference between a build like those and an actual custom build like mine, just that they’re varying degrees of the same thing and should both be considered a “Metru build”. I would even say my Kualus offers more cohesion with Norik and Iruini over Arceane’s MOCs in certain areas, namely the actual heart lights, fingers, lower leg armor (though not metallic), or multi-piece spears, while my build’s torso is entirely custom. All I want is consistency, and allowing this while banning my custom build is anything but. I understand that such details are difficult to regulate with a ruleset, so the line as to be drawn somewhere, but I don’t see why it has to be drawn where it currently is, and I’ve already offered the adequate idea of mandating torso dimensions as to account for completely egregious custom builds (i.e. something more like an Inika build for example).
And before anyone makes this point, no, it is not inconsistent or hypocritical of me to want consistency from TTV, while also arguing for custom builds which aren’t strictly consistent with Norik and Iruini’s use of the actual torso pieces. As I pointed out already (which seems to have gone largely unnoticed), inconsistencies already exist in canon designs that I have no control over. Unfortunate, yes, but its existence opens the possibility of builds that are not the Metru construction to be under the umbrella of “Metru build”. So even then, I want consistency in those inconsistencies.
One of the points you made against me in the first topic was showing several examples of creative MOCs using the Metru build. I then pointed out that they have major differences that would conflict with Norik and Iruini’s aesthetic, one of which was metallic armor on the lower legs. You replied that that wouldn’t be regulated in the rules. Well, now that the rules have been posted:
All I want is three things: consistency, consistency, consistency.
Did I mention consistency yet?