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This topic got started in another thread sort of related to that topic but I wanted to see how everyone feels about this idea.

It all started with a complaint that Power of the Primes voyager Grimlock doesn't come with is iconic sword and gun. So I made the following reply that began an interesting conversation:

Bradimus wrote:Back when Matchbox Voltron first came out as separate lion packs (I think Black Lion came alone and they sold the other 4 as 2 packs at the very beginning) the sword and shield were not included. Matchbox realized their mistake and sold the sword and shield in a separate package (which my friends and a family were unaware of so I never got that package but don't be sad because I did get one of the massive boxed sets with all the weapons for my birthday in '88 I think).

I bring this up because if the weapons inclusion or lack there of is tied to how they budget, wouldn't offering a special weapons pack for a character like Grimlock that included his G1 style sword and gun and the Volcanicus sword make the same sense as Matchbox selling Voltron's sword and shield initially as a separate weapons pack back in the day?

I could totally understand not wanting to sell a weapons upgrade in stores but this is where online exclusives with HTS and Amazon and maybe stores like BBTS (I don't know who would be best for both the states and international customers so please bear with me) would help us buy instead of third party releases for basic stuff.

Further more, could could also use this outlet to offer other options like much wanted alternate heads and the new matching hand and foot sets that could be used with CW gestalts. The market is there if they want to pounce on it, they just need to figure out the best outlet(s) to offer these upgrades instead of giving up and forcing us to buy from third parties when we could be supporting .

Jelze helped out by breaking down the different hands and feet we currently know of:

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:More than 3 total, but indeed 3 of each type:

Hand Armor
- Engine (Dreadwind, Darkwing)
- Bestial (Dinobots, Terrorcons)
- Booster (Jazz, Moonracer)

Foot Armor
- Dino (Grimlock)
- Seeker (Starscream, Elita-1)
- Monster (Hun-Gurrr, reused for Inferno)

Selling the hands standalone wouldn't be that much of a problem since they don't seem to be gang-molded with any figure like they were with CW, but the feet I'm not too sure of. It can be done tho.

For me, I would gladly purchase a set of Seeker feet for my Superion and 2 sets of Engine hands (one for heel spurs) and one for hands. I'd also probably purchase another set of Bestial hands to give Volcanicus heel spurs. Not that I think they need them, but if the price is right why not complete the look?

This would also allow the CW toys to join in on the new action with backwards compatibility, which makes for more play options.

As for weapons packs, I'd love for to offer a sword and gun set for the deluxe Dinobots so I can purchase 2 sets and give each of my Dinobots a sword and a gun like they are supposed to have.

Then there is Grimlock, who started this whole conversation. I'd love a weapons accessory pack with his iconic double barreled gun and a sword that can extend for combined mode.

But enough about what I want, what do you think? Should offer accessory packs online to allow us to support them instead of 3rd parties, to complete toys that due to budget could not have certain key accessories (like a gun and sword for deluxe Dinobots and no iconic weapons for Grimlock) and to allow us to make the previous combiners compatible with the current line while also allowing us to add extra hands to mix and match the styles of hands and feet we want and to allow all combiners to have heel spurs?

And I'm sure there are some other doable ideas I haven't listed but this is just obvious to me right now and knows what the future with bring.

I'd buy them, especially for legends class figures that don't come with any guns

**** yes.

Funnily enough, I've been binge listening to the podcast, catching up to current and this topic came up during the road trip to botcon 2016 piece.
I loved that idea then, and I still love that idea. I wouldn't mind the option of those feet and hands, or even additional Computron hands/feet. Weapon packs, yes please. If nothing else, you could sell a large pack, kind of like G.I. Joe used to have, for the legends class figures, remolds in different colors. They could put up the constructicon weapons from the Takara release. To dream the impossible dream.
But overall, yes, I would buy this from Hasbro right quick.

I got a lot of the Legends line just for the Targetmasters. And Kup - I haven't seen any photos come close to doing him justice. I'd be all over them if they were available separately. I don't have and don't want that Hot Rod mold but I'd love the Takara Firebolt.

I'd be very interested if Hasbro tried something like this. It would, of course, depend of the quality of what is offered, though. I know Mattel had some success with "Weapons Packs" for the Masters of the Universe Classics line over the past several years. If Hasbro did something similar for Transformers, maybe they could include in each a special accessory or two that isn't a weapon, like a little Kremzeek or B.O.T. or one of Wheeljack's doohickies.

Wolfman Jake wrote:I'd be very interested if Hasbro tried something like this. It would, of course, depend of the quality of what is offered, though. I know Mattel had some success with "Weapons Packs" for the Masters of the Universe Classics line over the past several years. If Hasbro did something similar for Transformers, maybe they could include in each a special accessory or two that isn't a weapon, like a little Kremzeek or B.O.T. or one of Wheeljack's doohickies.

Or a Scraplet!

Great idea as long as the price is right!

Yeah, I'd be very happy to buy some Legends weapon packs, Dinobot weapons, and some combined mode weapons that aren't a bunch of weapons randomly crammed together.

Emerje

I'd be so down for this. Hell, yeah I'd like some weapons for my Legends-class toys, or alternate heads or hand/feet guns or whatever.

So the next question is how do we let know they've got a market to explore right now during Power of the Primes?

Acesmcgee wrote:Funnily enough, I've been binge listening to the podcast, catching up to current and this topic came up during the road trip to botcon 2016 piece.
I loved that idea then, and I still love that idea. I wouldn't mind the option of those feet and hands, or even additional Computron hands/feet. Weapon packs, yes please. If nothing else, you could sell a large pack, kind of like G.I. Joe used to have, for the legends class figures, remolds in different colors. They could put up the constructicon weapons from the Takara release. To dream the impossible dream.
But overall, yes, I would buy this from Hasbro right quick.

Haven't some Joes been like 90% accessories? I guess I'm imagining a scenario where Hasbro insists everything have a figure? They could do something like a Legends class repaint that includes racks of accessories. Call them "weapon masters" or something to hit that marketing department objection point of wanting kids to feel like they're getting a real toy out of every purchase or whatever. Why not release Wipeout with Constructicon guns, Glyph with Dino sword forge, or Swervier Swerve with drinkware?

Bradimus wrote:So the next question is how do we let know they've got a market to explore right now during Power of the Primes?

You're doing fine, this is fine (they read!) Maybe too late for PotP given dev cycles but could help later.

ScottyP wrote:

Bradimus wrote:So the next question is how do we let know they've got a market to explore right now during Power of the Primes?

You're doing fine, this is fine (they read!) Maybe too late for PotP given dev cycles but could help later.

Cool. I hope does think this is as good an idea as many of us do. We are ready and willing to support over third party options if they are willing to make these accessory packs available.

Well, Scotty, How's in the 80s-90s were definitely accessory heavy. But I am pretty sure I recall buying literal accessory sets that had special gimmicky weapons in them as well, so even if you don't throw a legends character in there, what about making it the only way to get targetmasters. I think that would sell heavily.

Yeah, they made 6 of those 3 3/4" figure "Battle Gear" packs over the years and even a vehicle pack containing various missiles. They also made those wind up weapons.

But it wasn't just G.I.Joe, Masters of the Universe had them, too. And not just in the 80s, but we've also had recent ones in MOTU Classics so a more recent precedence does exist. It's at times like these that I think Hasbro Toy Shop isn't being used to its highest potential.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:Yeah, they made 6 of those 3 3/4" figure "Battle Gear" packs over the years and even a vehicle pack containing various missiles. They also made those wind up weapons.

But it wasn't just G.I.Joe, Masters of the Universe had them, too. And not just in the 80s, but we've also had recent ones in MOTU Classics so a more recent precedence does exist. It's at times like these that I think Hasbro Toy Shop isn't being used to its highest potential.

Emerje

You know, I honestly don't recall the MOTU packs from back then. Funnily enough, the only real MOTU memory that I have is when He-man visited the trailer park I lived in when I lived in New York. Anyway, back on topic, with that much precedence, should give it a shot.

I remember seeing the MOTU weapon packs at a store called Zayre (started by the company that would become T.J.Maxx) back then, but that was the only place. Only place I'd seen the G.I.Joe weapon packs was KB Toys so they probably weren't an easy sell to stores back then as they probably wouldn't be today, but that's why I think HTS would be the perfect place to sell such a thing.

I do like the idea of Weapon Masters. I'd be willing to pay Deluxe prices for a Legend that comes with a bunch of extra weapons.

Emerje

Maybe that's why I remember the G.I. Joe packs so well. I used to have a KB toys 2 miles from my house when I moved to Michigan and my friends and I would walk up there all the time to check it out. That KB was where I first purchased, with money I earned, my own transformer for the first time....ok first 6. My yellow Devastator. He died one day due to one of those same friends drunkenly stumbling about my house with him in hands chasing my son and yelling arrrrrrr I'm a yellow bellied pirate thing! He tripped, Devs died, and so did I a little bit. That man is now my daughter's god father, and has no memory of that night, what-so-ever.
YOu know, as for the weapon master's thing, they could very easily use legends molds from the generations line that haven't been released recently, or even do recolors as throttle bots or the like.

Yes I would.

As I am proposing only using online outlets to sell the accessory packs I don't see the need to ask to make them more expensive by including an actual figure. I just want to be able to purchase sets of hands and feet from Power of the Primes for both the current combiners and to upgrade the Combiner Wars combiners to allow for compatibility with the Prime Masters is selling in stores. I also want weapons packs that make sense, like a pack containing one Dinobot sword and gun so if I buy two each of my deluxe Dinobots have their weapons. And then there are figures like Grimlock that just fall short of completion due to budget so offering the accessory pack to add his sword and gun means more money for and a happier consumer.

I feel like asking for extra toys in the line like Targetmasters (which are covered by the PotP decoy armor) to package with accessories only brings up the cost and that will kill the accessory line because people don't want to pay extra for something they don't want or need.

On the other hand could use the accessory line to offer target masters on their own without worrying about B&M shelf space. They could also offer alternate heads and weapons if they so chose to do, so if decides to sell OP with a mouth they could sell an alternate head for that toy with a face plate. They could also sell alternate Titan Masters, like a Hot Rod TM with a face plate as seen in the Machinima Prime Wars Trilogy. But by themselves, not as part of a larger set. I certainly cannot afford the larger sets some of you have suggested and I'm sure the line would die a quick death if went through with those proposals.

The KISS principle is key to something like this selling. Kids lose hands and feet and weapons all the time. can have this accessory line to help parents replace those (or purchase replacements in advance) as well as people like me who simply want more than what they can include with the figure at their standard pricing.

Absolutely. I always have enjoyed different weapons and tools to give my figures. Especially since I get a lot of my figures thru ebay or second hand the missiles and guns aren't included. This gives me a chance to give them something, especially for the Seekers that need missiles under their wings.

There's always the chance people lose stuff, especially projectiles which would be so nice to be able to replace. Hasbro could profit a lot from kids losing stuff too haha.

Also think about how they could incorporate lore into this. One of my favorite weapons in TF history is the Star Saber from TFP.



It may push the creativity in the series to make other legendary weapons and artifacts to be made and sold as toys.

I'll admit I am slowly getting more and more interested in shapeways, but I will say that a lot of stuff there is quite frankly overpriced. While I admire the work that goes into people's creations I am often unwilling to purchase them for so much. If hasbro were to mass produce these items the cost would go down greatly.

WreckerJack wrote:Absolutely. I always have enjoyed different weapons and tools to give my figures. Especially since I get a lot of my figures thru ebay or second hand the missiles and guns aren't included. This gives me a chance to give them something, especially for the Seekers that need missiles under their wings.

There's always the chance people lose stuff, especially projectiles which would be so nice to be able to replace. Hasbro could profit a lot from kids losing stuff too haha.

Also think about how they could incorporate lore into this. One of my favorite weapons in TF history is the Star Saber from TFP.



It may push the creativity in the series to make other legendary weapons and artifacts to be made and sold as toys.

I'll admit I am slowly getting more and more interested in shapeways, but I will say that a lot of stuff there is quite frankly overpriced. While I admire the work that goes into people's creations I am often unwilling to purchase them for so much. If hasbro were to mass produce these items the cost would go down greatly.

I accidentally stepped on one my son's water projectiles from the Rescue Bots fire station set. I would absolutely love the option to buy these kinds of spare parts.

I'd like some Arms Micron.

Thinking of this more and how there were Titan Masters sold individually and Titan Masters that were part of sets where they came with no bodies, would you buy Titans Return compatible generic Transectors?

Money being no object, I'd get TLK Nitro for every Decepticon Titan Master. I have one for Thunderwing and will probably get another Nitro for Scorponok.

The Hardhead/Quake mold could also work for this kind of army-building.

Rysquad wrote:Thinking of this more and how there were Titan Masters sold individually and Titan Masters that were part of sets where they came with no bodies, would you buy Titans Return compatible generic Transectors?

Money being no object, I'd get TLK Nitro for every Decepticon Titan Master. I have one for Thunderwing and will probably get another Nitro for Scorponok.

The Hardhead/Quake mold could also work for this kind of army-building.

You're talking about selling figures for you to army build. Interesting idea but that's not an accessory and I don't think it helps putting non-accessory ideas into 's head in this thread.

Furthermore, if you want the transtector then why not just buy the figure? It's not like the Titan Master is adding that much more cost to it, and I don't think it makes any sense for to just sell transtectors without heads. This is a toy line featuring robots. Kids want heads with their toy robots. Being an adult, I'd like a head with my toy robot, too, preferably without having to buy it separately.

Also, I'm fairly certain all of those figures saw major sales during the holiday season, especially Hardhead and Quake. Meijer kept putting them on BOGO 50%. I'm fairly certain other stores had sales too, the internet had major sales, and for what you want the transtecotors for you probably could have loaded up for a lot less than what the transtector alone would cost.

And in the new year we saw massive clearance prices as well for the entire toy line to clear the shelves quickly for Power of the Primes which is how the online accessory idea became the topic of discussion in this thread.

Bradimus wrote:

Rysquad wrote:Thinking of this more and how there were Titan Masters sold individually and Titan Masters that were part of sets where they came with no bodies, would you buy Titans Return compatible generic Transectors?

Money being no object, I'd get TLK Nitro for every Decepticon Titan Master. I have one for Thunderwing and will probably get another Nitro for Scorponok.

The Hardhead/Quake mold could also work for this kind of army-building.

You're talking about selling figures for you to army build. Interesting idea but that's not an accessory and I don't think it helps putting non-accessory ideas into 's head in this thread.

Furthermore, if you want the transtector then why not just buy the figure? It's not like the Titan Master is adding that much more cost to it, and I don't think it makes any sense for to just sell transtectors without heads. This is a toy line featuring robots. Kids want heads with their toy robots. Being an adult, I'd like a head with my toy robot, too, preferably without having to buy it separately.

Also, I'm fairly certain all of those figures saw major sales during the holiday season, especially Hardhead and Quake. Meijer kept putting them on BOGO 50%. I'm fairly certain other stores had sales too, the internet had major sales, and for what you want the transtecotors for you probably could have loaded up for a lot less than what the transtector alone would cost.

And in the new year we saw massive clearance prices as well for the entire toy line to clear the shelves quickly for Power of the Primes which is how the online accessory idea became the topic of discussion in this thread.

Agreed.

I was thinking more along the lines of generic, less-painted versions of those bodies. And they're not exactly current when it comes to stock.

That said, weapons/accessory packs - yes please.

Or Dr. Wu will be getting some of my money.