I can't say I have definitive toys...although CHUG gets close. What I mean is that there are definitive versions of the CHUG character I display...and when another better representation comes along, the old one comes down off the display or even might get sold.

That said, I break my shelf down into series, so I CAN have multiple versions of some characters in theory...just set to different shelves, representing different eras. Like Bumblebee.

Family Dollar Legion - Shelf 1 (Season 1 & 2)
Generations Goldfire - Shelf 3 (Rebirth)
Classic Series - Shelf 4 (Pretender)
G2 Masterpiece & Classic Legion(the Hot Shot repaint) - Shelf 5 (G2 Chrome & GoBot)

 

I only have one version of each character because that's how I collect.

I wouldn't want to have multiple different versions of a character's toys because it doesn't appeal to me in the slightest.
With very rare exceptions (and currently there aren't any examples in my collection) I stick to one version of each character that is the one I think "yeah, that is my [CHARACTER]". No fillers, and if I don't like any currently available ones then I'm happy to wait for one I like to come along, even it takes a couple years.

That doesn't mean there won't eventually be an Optimus Prime I like even more than Titans Return Powermaster Prime, but for now that is my collection's "definitive" Optimus Prime, for example.

 

I try to find the definitive version, but I don't get necessarily get rid of figures if they no longer fit the bill. Classics Optimus has been my definitive Optimus for years, but now that I've gotten TR PM Optimus, I probably won't get rid of Classics Prime. I may move the Classics version out of my main display, but I'll still keep him.

 

I do have definitive version for each G1 characters as much possible, mixing all kind of generations together, but I do see various versions as different tfs, as new characters. Like, I got 30 different primes, but only Master Piece prime as G1 prime, who had an upgrade. The other primes are other primes from other dimensions, timelines or autobots whom got 'Primed' in need of more commanders needed in the field of war against Megatron. As for multi Megs, I see them as Decepticons whom Megatron choosed them as being fanatics and upgraded them as similar copies of himself, to spread the fear of him on the battlefield....
I am writer and comicbook artist.... So my mind is always racing (L).

 

One exception to the above that I just thought of: Universe Ironhide. As soon as I got CW Ironhide, I chucked the Universe version in the bin.

 

I started out by focusing only on the MP-scale toys and only one per character, but I let the options out there expand my collection.

When the new Takara Tomy MP figures come out, the characters I'll have in different versions will be Optimus Prime (MP-10, MP-10G, MP-44), Hound (MP-47, Maketoys Gundog (Light Green and Dark Green), Bumblebee (MP-21 and MP-45), Blue Streak (two TT MP versions), Mirage (Ocular Max PS-01, PS-01A, and PS-01C), and Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage and, I think, Lazerbeak and Buzzsaw (the official TT MP and the oversized Ocular Max versions).

I'm definitely not looking to collect every version that's out there, though.

 

If I get a new gold medal version of a character, odds are I'll sell the silver medal version within a short while. Why hang onto something I don't want anymore?

 

I can appreciate most iterations of a character, in fact, I make it a point, with a few exceptions, to try and collect most releases of the characters I like. Since that is a relatively short list, it works out. I do usually have my favorites, but I also still enjoy the older versions and sometimes the newer version makes me appreciate some of them more.

 

Used to do that with beast wars. I only wanted the form of each chatpracter I liked. Now it's more just a case of if I like the toy or not. I've gotten several versions of Primal, but didn't think the POTP Optimal looked better than the original. I have thought about getting the third party Optimal, but most of the beast wars mps don't really interest me that much. It's partly price, but it's also that I think a lot of bw toys were great as they were. There are some characters that I'll get almost every version of like Optimus Prime, Megatron, Rodimus, and bumblebee. With the exception of cyberverse I've gotten most versions of all those characters.

 

I’m curious to know if a new Prime ever came out that toppled TR Powermaster Prime for you. I think this year especially we have some great Primes.

 

I try to keep to one toy per character though not always. Sometimes it's hard to choose.

In recent years, the Prime Trilogy and Siege have given me the definitive versions of a lot of G1 characters...

Rodimus Prime
Takara Legends Blurr
Takara Legends Hardhead
Takara Legends Brainstorm
Takara Legends Slugslinger
Takara Legends Misfire
Mindwipe
Weirdwolf
Skullcruncher
Krok
Quake
Kup
Doublecross/Twinferno
Repugnus
The Terrorcons
Galvatron
Trypticon
Outback
Wheelie
Chase
Tailgate
Brawn
POTP Windcharger
Beachcomber
Seaspray
TR Bumblebee
Siege Starscream
Siege Thundercracker
Siege Hound
Siege Ultra Magnus
Siege Megatron
Siege Shockwave
Whisper
Stormcloud
Nemesis Prime
First Aid
Legend Groove
Hotspot
Topspin
Windblade
Broadside
Swindler
Perceptor


As have the Third Parties...

Fansproject Stunticons
KFC Steeljaw
KFC Ramhorn
KFC Rewind
KFC Eject
KFC Rosanna
Squawktalk
Beastbox
Papa Toys Hot Rod
MFT Chromedome
Unique Toys Terrorcons

There are more but that's off the top of my head and I only listed toys I have.

It's a great time to be a Transformers fan.

Here's a few of those mentioned above just to add some colour to this long winded post of mine...

 

Good-looking crew.

 

Here are some from my collection:

 

You can check out a video overview of my past couple years of TF Masterpiece collecting here if you'd like:

 

Unite Warriors Constructicons are my Constructicons

 

That is the primary rule to my entire collection: only one, definitive figure per character unless established by the lore to feature more, such as shattered glass, nemesis prime, or multiple Shockwave bodies like in that comic with the FOC Dinobots. Any repetion of characters from the inclusion of figures means one of those figures is not being used to represent that character but a different one.

 

I used to just buy the figures I could afford that I thought looked cool. Didn't matter if it was my 10th Optimus or not. But as my collection is growing and my space is shrinking, I've decided to make that step towards one figure per character. Just last week, I had to make the decision that Siege Megs and Prime were to be my definitive versions, while CW Megs and PotP Prime were removed from the shelves. But for those particular figures, I still enjoy them enough to keep them, just not in my main display, so they are sitting on my computer desk until I find a better option. Other characters/figures will more than likely be sold once I find a definitive version. For instance, my Warpath used to be the CW legends version, until last week when I bought the Generations version. Now Generations Warpath is on the shelf and CW Warpath is back in his packaging preparing to be sold.

I should also note that if I have two version of a character that aren't very similar and I want to keep them both, I will rename one to justify keeping it. Like with CW characters that have gotten new Siege figures. I've made the Siege versions my definitive ones (Ironhide, Prowl and soon-to-be Mirage) and renamed the CW versions (Armorhide, Roadblock and Speedtrap; respectively). I have TR Megs, but don't wanna get rid of him, so I've considered him a separate character, just haven't decided on a name yet.

Siege is basically the aesthetic of my collection now, so if any new versions of characters come out in this trilogy and I already have a previous version, the previous version will most likely get replaced.

 

If we're talking within the same line or style, then yes I try to have one definitive character. Example: I only want one Generations Superion, not 2 or 3.

However, I have multiple Superions: G1, Energon, Generations, and soon to be Masterpiece.

 

I don’t know if this answers your question but right now I’m “all in” with Siege and if future lines don’t fit in with the Siege aesthetic I’ll likely drop out of collecting. So I guess Siege is my definitive version.

But you never know what the future holds. I trust HasTak won’t stop impressing us.

 

I keep buying figures trying to make them the "definitive" version of that character... only to wait a few years and there's a better version. Siege is particularly guilty of this.

Some current definitives:
Universe Wheeljack: I don't foresee them ever doing him better
Thrilling 30 Jetfire: I like Classics much better as a toy so it sees more fiddling and playtime, but T30 is the version that gets put in group shots.
Titans Return Blaster: He's bigger than my SW, but that's fine because G1 Blaster is way bigger.
Power of the Primes Nemesis Prime: Finally, I think I can stop buying Nemesis Primes.
Siege Ultra Magnus
Siege Hound: Replacing my Universe 08 Hound.
Siege Ironhide (handily replacing my Combiner Wars version)
Siege Soundwave (barring MP Soundwave, that is. But being in-scale to other figures, a phenomenal figure, and microcassettes is enough)