Well, the contest hasn’t started yet so no harm done. This will need to be a guideline when the topic opens.
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Now that both of my useless posts have been removed, I’d better reply with something worth posting
I’ll have to keep that in mind if I ever decide to enter the Lariska contest.
Why is this? What’s the difference between plantigrade and digitigrade legs that prevents a being with digitigrade legs from doing a backflip?
Also, for what it’s worth, most of the Lariska MOCs aren’t really digitigrade, so much as they have two knee joints. I don’t know if that matters, but it seems like an important distinction.
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Another hot take: digitigrade legs would also set her too far apart from being able to be confused for a Toa.
Direction of force exertion. Plantigrade allows force to be exerted down, digitigrade legs would struggle with this.
But really, I don’t see it being an impossible feat. Digitigrade legs may have to change their posture a little bit from what we consider ‘standard backflip posture’ to accommodate the force being exerted, but its still possible.
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kinda off topic but that cat is funny
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The fact that I liked Chima and Nexo Knights is a pretty unpopular opinion.
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I liked Nexo Knights.
chima was trash though
Le Gasp
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I only had one set from each, but from what I can tell, both themes are pretty good.
EDIT:
How do you know it wouldn’t work?
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Digitigrade legs push forward. Cats can backflip by pushing off with their front legs. The problem is Lariska has no front legs, only arms.
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I’m assuming that plantigrade legs push up, then? And that’s why a backflip is possible?
Does it matter that most “digitigrade” Lariskas still have a standard ankle joint?
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I’m assuming that plantigrade legs push up, then? And that’s why a backflip is possible?
Yes, you push up while bending your knees and curl into a ball.
Does it matter that most “digitigrade” Lariskas still have a standard ankle joint?
The standard ankle joint should be fine for digitigrade Lariskas.
Eh, push down is more accurate.
But cats (example, for most quadrapeds) go forward also because of their body shape. Their weight is more forward, as they are quadrupedal. If Lariska is a biped, it won’t launch her forward (as much) because her weight will be directly over all the leg joints.
If we were to sequence a backflip, a human does end up pushing off of the toes before leaving the ground (which is a form of postural digitigrade, yes it counts)
So who is to say that if Lariska were digitigrade that part of her sequencing doesn’t involve first lowering her heels before starting the movement?
A lot of thought on my end for someone who isn’t pro digitigrade Lariska 
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Yeah my bad, I meant to say spring up. You push down.
To do the backflip as a digitigrade humanoid, you’d have to have joints that somehow straighten into plantigrade before doing the jump, that’s the only way I can imagine it working.
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Also, I’m not sure that the mechanical advantage of a human is exactly comparable to a Bionicle. They’re made of substances far different than us.
I’m not sure they rely on tendons and ligaments in the most comparable manner.
Also human produce forces through our muscles tendons, which essentially act as lever systems.
The hip and knee are considered to be class 3 levers, and the ankle is a class 2 lever (this is more favorable in producing force)
Bionicles by their design may be able to have different class levers on their joints and those pistons may add additional forces. They could produce and cancel forces in completely different manners. I think its already been displayed most Bionicles on averahe produce more force pound per pound anyways.
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Good luck posing a moc with stilts like that, ouch. On that last flip the guy nearly fell over. But good points here.
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Added an edit to my above comment in regards to mechanical advantages that may vary.
(Id still prefer she be plantigrade so she looks more akin to Toa size and proportions)
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Lariska should have unguligrade legs, change my mind.
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Lariska should be walking on two tentacles.
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lariska should slither
change my mind