What particular aspects of a Transformer are the ones that just reach out and grab you (and your wallet)?

 

Personally, I like larger transformers - Unicron, 20th Prime, Tidal Wave, E-Megs, things of that size. There ARE some excellent smaller ones, like Skyblast.

 

I also like neat-o gimmicks, such as the G1 Headmasters, Powermasters, Triplechangers, combiners, etc.

 

Articulation? It's nice, but some of my favorite transformers are bricks..er.....G1 Transformers. I do get a kick out of having Unicron in a "C'mon, bring it, b*tch!" type pose.

 

Colors? It's a byproduct of the old westerns, but I like my bad transformers wearing black, and good ones wearing lighter colors - that's why I repainted my E-Megs into a black/gold theme. (I also did my Armada Galvatron in a Black/Gold/Purple/Silver motif, I must touch him up and post pics.)

 

Show accurate? Nah, not for me. Not a big deal, considering the last episode of a Transformer series I watched as a first run was about season 2 of G1!

 

Completeness (This is for my fellow ebayers and such)? It's nice, but no biggie. My G1 Menasor is 99.9% complete, but it's not a requirement. Hell, if I could find a G1 Scorponok with JUST Lord Zarak (in decent condition), I'd be happy. The ramps, guns.......eh.

:thumb If they are on the Cartoon or in the comic I buy them. I buy molds I like but only one color of each unless they are a diffrent character or the colors are just to cool to pass up. :thumb . Or, as with, the Armada beast they are tied to Unicron

If they have good articulation and a cool design, I will usually get it

good toy=me buy

Things that drive me away from toys are too simple of a transformation, like Cruleock. A head pocking out is never good. However, E-Divebomb is an exception.

Giant Robots have always appealed to me, Transformers, Gundam, Escaflowne, Macross/Robotech.....etc. Albeit the latter are a bit larger than Transformers.

 

I collect mostly G1 and Alternators so far because G1 is what I grew up on and I'd like to get all the toys I had as a kid and those that I didn't have but wanted. I'll probably buy the later lines when I get more G1 and such but for now G1 is where it's at for me because thats what appeals to me even though some people say they are bricks.

 

I also do like some of the gimmics that Transformers helped introduce such as gestalts, headmasters, powermasters etc. Good articulation isn't a key factor for me but it is nice ocasionally like with the Alternators.

 

If I had my druthers all my toys would be show accurate. I guess I'm just a stickler for having a toy that looks like its animated counterpart to some degree.

do hickys and modes are mine but i am mostly a completeist i'm still trying to complete my armada collection beside repaints and hoping to get me all of energons bots

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm because there cool :thumb

I like a transformer simply for how much fun it is.

 

The appearance is a big factor but if a toy is fun enough appearance takes a back seat (Eg Armada Swipe).

 

Articulation comes under fun. A transformer can be fun just by being articulated but if a toy is fun without so much articulation I don't care.

 

I am not much of a completist but it is nice to have all the parts, especially on newer toys. I like size, the bigger the better unless size reduces articulation which makes it less fun.

 

Durability is a big factor. I want to be able to throw it around a bit or at least have it survive accidental falls from tables etc.

 

Fun transformation is a big part, but sometimes transformation is too long to be any fun, no matter how ingenious (Eg G1 Screamer) For smaller tfs I say a short transformation is a blessing. If you want to change modes quickly for a game do you want to spend 5 minutes doing it?

 

Colours are important, they can make an average mold or break a good one. As long as they are used with at least some taste and balance even pink can look good (G1 pretender skullgrin)

 

Gimmicks are good as long as they don't interfere. Electronics restricting articulation is bad, as is a malfunctioining one which can ruin a toy (earlier unicrons) But a good gimmick can save a toy (armada swipe again)

 

Many factors go into a good tf, but as long as you don't expect all of tyhem to be a masterpeice they are all ok.

Three things I look for are(in no order):

 

-Articulation: I love doing poses. Applys only to the newer TF's though. Whining about twenty year old bricks is a waste of time. If the knees/legs, shoulders, and elbows can move, then we're getting somewhere.

 

-Bot mode: Have to like it's design, like how well the alt mode is intergrated into the overall package, proportions, and a nice head sculpt. I'm a fan of the old designs, like chest = front of car or legs, etc. but a lot of the newer TF's have done some cool things(RID Prowl). Alt mode is important, but will be overlooked in favor of a nice looking bot.

 

-Colors: Can be changed, but why bother if the original looks good. Sometimes the paint scheme can make or break it for me(Universe Whirl).

 

None of this is set in stone for myself, and I've bought many TF's that don't apply to all three or even two. G1 collecting aside, generally for the newer bots I like a nice paint scheme and some decent articulation. :)

Basically, I want to get all the main characters and any cool molds, as stated by MegaGalvatron. I typically don't buy repaints unless they are different characters (Starscream, Skywarp, etc.), or if it's just a damn good repaint that I can afford to get. Unicron, I will not buy two of. Too expensive.