Just a general query, really. Does anyone else generally not collect combiner teams but plump for individual members just because they like the characters? My strong impression from reading the posts here is that most collectors either go for an entire set, mostly for the sake of owning the gestalt character, or don't get any of the team at all.

I've got Maketoys' Katana, Blindfire and Celeritas, and Toyworld's Aurora, and my 'maybe' list amounts to versions of Dead End, Blot, Scavenger and Nautilator.

 

My OCD won't even let me get single headmasters without their mates let alone combiners lol.

 

To be fair, most members of combiner teams are not particularly interesting/developed outside of that team. I suspect that plays into the source of your "strong impression".

For me, the one exception would be Swindle. He's a great character that I routinely forget is part of Bruticus. I bought the BT version back in the day, and I've considered getting the Warbo version, but I've held off just because I assume someone will be doing him better in the not so distant future. If not, there are tons of Warbos out there (plus KOs) if I get a strong need. Swindle is a fantastic character that doesn't get used enough.

First Aid might be another, if for no other reason than the autobots need somebody to help ratchet do repairs, despite little interest in Defensor.

 

GT Scrapper. Not quite like other Constructicons nor like Devastator but Scrapper is different. I like him.

Warbotron Air Burst. I love his loneliness in space. So why bother give him other company if he is fine by himself?

 

I've only done it with Unique Toys Sinnertwin.

 

Trying not to get into combiners because of money and space reasons, however because of IDW's MTMTE, I want a standalone First Aid that doesn't combine.

Also because I had all the combiners as a child back in 86, I know it'll just too crazy wanting them all again.

 

Well, combiners are sorta my jam, so not really. Closest I've come was I thought about just getting ToyWorld's Shinebug, but I found the whole Throttlebot combiner new for $130.

I usually have a favorite team member, though.

 

well, i have warbotron (machine boy, actually) Brawl, since i always liked the character, but i don't see myself buying the rest...except for Swindle, so...yeah, i guess i can choose just an individual out of a team

 

I have a few individual combiner team members - I tend to like motorcycle altmodes, so I tried both Warning Line from TFC and the other Groove-bot from Maketoys. Both decent toys on their own, but kind of disproportionate to the rest of their teams, and I haven't completed either team just yet. Sometimes I dip into one member of the team and it becomes the 'gateway' to the rest of the team. I did that on both Aurora (almost always on sale) and Troll. I like combiners a lot as well, but third party combiners are expensive, so if I'm not thrilled with all three modes once I try one limb-bot, I'm not laying out the rest of the money to complete the combiner. I think that's a good way to do it, especially if you're not convinced of the overall quality and combinability of the one you tried.

Tim
"toy geek"

 

I think about this quite often, but just can't bring myself to do this. When I think of combiners, the combined form comes to mind first and foremost. I think Bruticus, Devastator, Predaking, etc, and in order to have those characters for my collection, I must get the entire team.

I'll go through this mental dance with myself again this year with TransformMission's version of Menasor. The figures are nice for sure, but so far they haven't hit the "must have" mark in my head. Buttttttt their not-Motor Master looks super awesome. Soooo what to do?

 

Another downside to buying a single member of a team (and one of the reasons that has held me back from buying singles) is that once you do, you're effectively locked out of any deals for a full set. 3P combiners are so expensive, that if I'm on the fence about a full team, I often wait until they're all out, then decide whether or not to buy a set. If you have a singleton, there is nothing to be saved from a good five-figure holiday sale, unless you plan to sell the single at a loss down the road... and I'm far too lazy and stubborn for that.

 

there are plenty of people that have a love of the individual bots as well as the gestalt bot, but there are not many that love the individual bots passionately but feel there is little value in the aspect of their character that is being part of a larger whole.

plus, not having the whole team really cuts out a whole chunk of the play/display feature that you ostensibly paid for. it's like buying a four door car but never putting anything or letting anyone sit in the back seat, just leaving potential sitting on the table.

 

Took the words right out of my mouth.

 

I usually buy the whole set. Kind of sucks especially if a set finishes weakly with some crappy figures thrown into the mix.

I like my official warbotron bruticus and the technobots but both brawl and the red sports car guy from the technobots have really crappy shoulder and arm articulation.

If they were solo figures, no way I hell I'd buy them for $100. Ah well. Win some lose some..

 

I had Katana for many weeks before eventually going in on the rest of Guardia when they went on a big sale. But other than that and some extra Blindfires, I don't generally get a combiner team member without actually getting the whole set.

 

I bought MMC Felisaber during the Christmas TFSource sale. It's a nice figure! Not really needed since I have Nero Rex, but for $39.99...

 

sure. particularly when one character turns out better than the rest, i may not buy the whole team. couple of my standalones that have been customized to some degree below.

 

i was going to - mostly with the leaders of the group or the odd member (like Swindle). But the wallet and collection can't cope, so sticking to 86 Movie and all time favourates.

Half way through Headmasters japan series for my first time, so my potential character list might increase soon enough!

 

Oh! I forgot I got Heavy Noisy because cool tank. And three of the Fansproject stunticons. Hmm, maybe I do this more than I realize.