From the little I've seen there are "schools" of counting, depending on who you ask. Some may count each item in a set of cards as 1, others may count Cyclonus and its target master as two items. In the system I use for keeping track of my collection, I came up with my own scheme since I found no "official" way of doing it, but it also runs into problems, for example: * Combiners count as their individual limbs (5) the gestalt does not count * Headmasters/Titan masters count as 1 * Targetmasters as 2 * Duplicates/army add up for each individual * Box sets count as the individuals inside (TR Fortress Maximus, 2 or 3?) Accessories are separate, and it's up to me really, but I do split between official and not official for counts. How do you count or is there any widely accepted way of doing it?
Why do you need to pick one number? There is not just one number that describes the collection. If there is more than one number, then track/report those numbers.
I actually also keep track of all those different intersecting numbers! (none dupes, KOs, KOs+3P, Non official). It just makes for a more complicated answer. Of course, none of that stops me from buying more
I realize what I said wasn't actually helpful, I just have a problem with people oversimplifying rich complexity (yes, I'm a scientist, why do you ask?). The people who would understand the complexity should be ok with getting a complicated answer. The people who don't understand the complexity are probably ok with an order-of-magnitude answer, so you can say something like "about 400" without agonizing over whether "392" or "424" would be more appropriate.
Hm.....This thread made me realise that out of all the miriad collections I pursued at times (TFs included) I never sat down and did a counting....
Here's my answer whenever the question comes up: Targetmasters/ Headmasters/ Powermasters count as one. Combiners I count individual components and the gestalt. You don't have the Gestalt if you don't have all the components.
My way of counting is pretty similar, actually. I can't speak for the Targetmasters, though, since I don't really have any. The only thing I have from Titans Return is Triggerhappy and Perceptor, and I count them both as one. But I totally agree on the combiners and box sets, though.
So I have 5 Constructicons, and my collection total is N. I acquire the 6th Constructicon, a single figure, and my collection total is N+2. I dislike math, but not enough to abuse it like that
In cases of made up gestalts, like Betatron, or just the fact that you can mix and match things would allow to grow a combinatorial number of figures. Choose(4, N of limbs) * N of torsos
And when six pretends he's nine He acts older and older And when six pretends he's nine He wears wiser disguises
* Combiners count as their individual limbs (5) the gestalt does not count AGREED * Headmasters/Titan masters count as 1 AGREED (UNLESS THEY ARE SINGLE PACKED) * Targetmasters as 2 DISAGREE, THE TARGETMASTER/POWERMASTER IS JUST AN ACCESSORY UNLESS IT'S SOMEHOW SINGLE PACKED * Duplicates/army add up for each individual DUPLICATES/ARMIES ARE 1 EACH * Box sets count as the individuals inside (TR Fortress Maximus, 2 or 3?) BOX SETS SHOULD COUNT AS SINGLES UNLESS A BOT IS AN ACCESSORY TO ANOTHER. EXAMPLE, THE TITANS RETURN SPEED BOX SET = 5 (G2 OP, Nautica, Quickswitch, Fastlane and Rodimus Prime[considered a single pack titanmaster]). TITANS RETURN FORTRESS MAXIMUS = 1 (Cerebros & Emissary are accessories). When it comes to Micromasters and Minicons, I count each as one unless they came as an accessory to a larger figure as the intent is for you to affordably purchase 3-4 individual characters in one pack as opposed to the concept of x-Masters.
I agree with most of this but always see Headmasters and Targetmasters as individual characters. It's certainly been done in the fiction over the years. Rodimus Prime is shown to lament the death of Firebolt back in Marvel UK issue 133. Similarly I view the likes of Catgut and the Breastforce animals as individuals. Therefore Actionmaster Treadshot and Catgut count as 2. As do Highbrow and Gort and similarly Misfire and Aimless. I would count Powermaster Optimus Prime and G2 Laser Prime separately in the collection count despite both being the same character. I've no problem including third party and ko's in my collection but if I was asked the number of official Transformers toys in the collection, I wouldn't include them. Truth be told I don't think everyone will agree on this topic anyway.
I just realized I think I count RotF Legends Devastator as a single figure which kind of gives the finger to what I said earlier.
