The Energon Pub

When I say "playset" I am not only talking about stuff like the old Micromasters bases and the modern DOTM sets but also baseformers such as Metroplex, Scorponok and Fortress Maximus.

My wife and I have a ton of smaller figures (legends and below) and I was wondering what the best fits were display-wise. Pics would be appreciated if you have any.

Actually, the only playsets that were created was in G1... from around the 1990's onwards... the DOTM ark is about the closent thing we've gotten to an official TF playset.

So as you said, you're probably stuck with getting Micromaster or City figs for their base modes.

I used to have Metroplex in city mode all the time for my Micromasters and Minibots to play on. I never thought Scorponok was much use as in "city" mode, I felt like he was better being used as a command post for the larger bots to hang out beside and hide behind. Fort Max would probably be pretty awesome for all the mini-cons and legends that are out nowadays. Micromaster playsets were ok, but I think you'd need a few to join together to make it decent looking. Could probably get a nice diorama set up with Matroplex or Fort Max and the Countdown shuttle base with various MM bases set up around them.

gavinfuzzy wrote:Actually, the only playsets that were created was in G1... from around the 1990's onwards... the DOTM ark is about the closent thing we've gotten to an official TF playset.

So as you said, you're probably stuck with getting Micromaster or City figs for their base modes.

They've made a bunch of DOTM playsets. Some are just bigger than others, but as the pics in another thread show, sometimes people put a few of them together.

I can tell you are looking for something out of the ordinary to use as a battle station of sorts. Lets take a look at Starriors snake base: Yes he is missing all his accessories but it's still an awesome toy. He was often used as a Cobra base back in the day. A mouth that opens to reveal twin lasers, yeah!

He looks robotic because, well, Starriors are robot toys dating from the same great 80's era as Transformers. There are accessories from the Starriors line like lasers and such that can be used on the various pegs to beef up security The base opens up to reveal an impenetrable face to offer protection to those it hides within.
The front actually is spring loaded and will fly off the bases body to ram offending forces (though it usually will fall over when momentum slows )

Not officially Transformer brand but this guy has stood the test of ages. It is a TOMY product and is great quality. Not sure how easy one would be to pick up as the last time I looked on ebay I don't think I saw one, that was a while ago though.

Ha, I never heard of that before. Now I think I want one! When it comes to other lines, I used to have a GoBots Thruster but have no idea how it would look with modern TF's in it.

Had to google him, been a while since I've seen that. I think that would work, he kind of has a resemblance to Grandus.

I also think Armada Prime's trailer would be a great playset for smaller TF.

DISCHARGE wrote:I can tell you are looking for something out of the ordinary to use as a battle station of sorts. Lets take a look at Starriors snake base: Yes he is missing all his accessories but it's still an awesome toy. He was often used as a Cobra base back in the day. A mouth that opens to reveal twin lasers, yeah!

That's pretty bad-ass. I might have to see about picking one of those up, yep, as a Cobra base.

Powermaster Optimus Prime's trailer, it's basemode is pretty cool.


You should be able to get one for cheap off of ebay or something similar.

That's all I can think off right now.

Delicon wrote:

gavinfuzzy wrote:Actually, the only playsets that were created was in G1... from around the 1990's onwards... the DOTM ark is about the closent thing we've gotten to an official TF playset.

So as you said, you're probably stuck with getting Micromaster or City figs for their base modes.

They've made a bunch of DOTM playsets. Some are just bigger than others, but as the pics in another thread show, sometimes people put a few of them together.

Really? you mean the ones for cyberverse commanders? Kinda too small to be a playset... And most of them were rather fail IMO... like Prime and megs's "bases".

gavinfuzzy wrote:

Delicon wrote:

gavinfuzzy wrote:Actually, the only playsets that were created was in G1... from around the 1990's onwards... the DOTM ark is about the closent thing we've gotten to an official TF playset.

So as you said, you're probably stuck with getting Micromaster or City figs for their base modes.

They've made a bunch of DOTM playsets. Some are just bigger than others, but as the pics in another thread show, sometimes people put a few of them together.

Really? you mean the ones for cyberverse commanders? Kinda too small to be a playset... And most of them were rather fail IMO... like Prime and megs's "bases".

Linking them with the Ark adds an extra dimension to it. And I like them, they may not be a bulky building like Hot House, but they are just as playable serving as trailers that convert to battle stations or mobile mech suits.
Starscream's Orbital Assaukt turns into a take off and landing strip as well as big guns. i just wish the Decepticons had a large playset comparable to the Ark.


I need more of these nonplaysets