At this point, I realize that it is VERY HARD to write stories about giant robots with minds of their own. It's part of the reason my comic sometimes focuses on the human characters.

 

Said it before, say it again; TFP Soundwave is the best Soundwave  

 

People who buy a toy, "test drive" it for awhile, decide they just don't like it and return it even though there's nothing wrong with it are worse than swappers and parts thieves.

When a swapped item, or an item with parts stolen, is returned and put back on the shelf by a store (as they usually are), it's pretty obvious there's something wrong with it. Even a casual purchaser can look and see clearly that there's something missing or the item inside the package doesn't match the images on the box. When a "test driven" item is returned and put back on the shelf, the only way to tell is to carefully inspect the packaging (tape, twist ties, etc) and look for signs that it's been opened. This is something most casual purchasers probably wouldn't think it necessary to do. I realize the attitude of the test drivers is "I'm entitled to try this figure out for free, return it for no reason and if some stupid kid/parent/whatever unwittingly buys my used item, fuck 'em", so they don't care, but it's inconsiderate to casual toy buyers who aren't aware of the trend. It's also inconsiderate to fellow collectors, who are faced with having to inspect the crap out of everything at retail to make sure it's not a secondhand item. Personally, I know there's a test driver in my area, so I'm very reluctant to buy anything at retail now (even with inspecting it), lest I accidentally end up with one of his cast-offs. Thank heaven for BBTS, HTS, Amazon and other online shops, where I can buy an item and not have to worry that it's been pre-owned.

 

Agreed!

 

Armada Optimus Prime was the best Optimus Prime design.

 

Its amazing the sheer audacity some people have. Particularly when it comes to consideration for others.

 

Have to agree there too. Were it not for those damn kids, Armada would have been one of my favorite series.

 

The Unicron Trilogy in general had some excellent designs. If it wasn't for terrible everything else, it would've been my favourite series.

 

i disagree. the toy isn't complete crap.

it is fun to play with. plus it makes a tower of a toy! is it possible? no, well not any less then any other "combined" optimus prime. it is taller then the rest of them though. and MUCH heavier.

i love armada optimus prime's toy, plus jetfire, plus overload, plus various minicons, like the sword bots. i have seven transformers as one optimus prime. that's more then devastator!  !

 

I thought that was the Cybertron version you liked best?

 

still the one i like best. especially toy wise.

 

Cybertron Optimus Prime was the first Optimus Prime toy that wasn't Optimus Primal I had. He was great.

 

cybertron made the whole transition from beast wars to the unicron trilogy, worth it   i love every toy in that line. including the bad ones, like the rhino dude with the butt hand. he has a butt hand!  

 

Backstop.  

 

Backstop's name is kinda unfortunate.

 

no no, backstop's name, works great, since that implies that you can use him to stop a door!  

yes. if there is one toy that deserves the title of best badly designed toy ever. it is backstop, that or armada hotshot.   or maybe that cybertron megatron *the one with the butt PLUG key*  

i have no idea what the designers were thinking!  

but i do give the designers credit for backstop not being just a beast that you just stand up, and his rear legs become his robot legs. like SO many other beasts.

 

My contribution to the thread topic: if when I die, anyone says "till all are one" or something about being with the all-spark, I swear I will rise from the grave and ghost-donkey-punch them.

 

"We commend your spark to the Allspark and the all spark is one spark and the one spark is your spark and in this way we are all connected."
-"And in this way we are all connected."