BotCon 2016 Registration Now Open

Some reminders/information before you register:

Hello Members!

BotCon Registration is now LIVE for both attending, non-attending and exhibitor packages!

Please go slowly and choose the correct items. If we have to make corrections to your registration, you may incur a $25 admin fee. You have 10 minutes to finish your registration once you begin.

The text is the same as in the Information Tab at BotCon.com. Please review it before you start, if you are uncertain about what package you need.

If you have a credit card problem, please contact your card issuer as we cannot do anything about cards that are declined.

You should get a registration confirmation email when you are finished. You will also receive, within 2 business days, a registration approval email once your registration has been reviewed and accepted.

If you are registering for another member at the same time, you will need to have their login and password before you begin.

In addition, if you want more than one boxed set for yourself, just put in the quantity for the registrations you want to process, and put them both in your name. You will only receive ONE name badge at the convention.

See you in Louisville!

Brian

It's open!!! gogogo!

So how long will registration be open approximately for the non attendee set? I can't make it to botcon but I really want the box set and I can't afford it just yet.

See you all there!

Very nice registration process. Extremely smooth and easy. You've outdone yourselves on this one.

It's done! Got me and my Dad the Predacus box set, an assembled custom class figure, and a neat Botcon hat!
And yes, that was very easy.

Bit the bullet and did Golden Ticket. It stung a little, but I'll manage. Actual process was smooth as butter.

steals_your_goats wrote:So how long will registration be open approximately for the non attendee set? I can't make it to botcon but I really want the box set and I can't afford it just yet.

You have from now until either 1) they cut registration off or 2) the non-attendee sets sell out. For 1, I'd wager they'll cut registration off mid-March or so, but that's just a guess. For 2, nobody knows when/if that happens but they're good about giving a heads up on social media when sell through starts to hit high percentages.

Guys, the GT figure is definitely not Diaclone Bombshell, a deco that is not present on the other use(s) of the CW Bombshell mold for the BotCon set.

Let's just agree on that.

Registered. 8348

1 Primus Package and 1 assembled class figure.


Also, some interesting Tweets from the BotCon Twitter:

To clarify on the Golden Ticket figure. It's more than just a minor paint change. The GT Legends figure is cast in different color plastic.

Also, the figure does not tie in to the Convention set theme directly, but it does tie in to the continuity the set takes place in.

Note, the set doesn't take place in the Beast Wars Uprising Universe. Where it DOES take place is quite exciting! Announcement on that soon!

No, the GT toy is NOT a Beast Wars character. It uses the troop builder mold & is tied to a familiar G1 character.

The class kit figure is ALSO not a Beast Wars character. It is a Generation 1 character.

No. But it IS a 1984/1985 Generation 1 character. You definitely should add the class/class kit to ur registration.

I could see Beast Hunters Shockwave or Warrior Class Prime as a pre-Beast Cryotek.

Current club stuff takes place just after the end of G2. Most of this stuff is semi-chronological. So this could be Cryotek hundreds of years before the Beast Wars.

Or maybe they make Cryotek out of Legends Shockwave so Predacus can use him as a gun.

RodimusRex wrote:Current club stuff takes place just after the end of G2.

What "current club stuff"? Last year's magazine story was in the Shatteredverse, last year's BotCon comic was in Axiom Nexus, the pack-in comic that came with the Legacy set was post-Beast Machines, and the latest prose story was also in the Shatteredverse.

maybe we'll get an Onyx Primal with a gold stamp

These Tweets confirm that the troop builder set uses a Legends mold, so now we have:

5 CW molds in the boxed set

1 CW mold as the attendee freebie with a brand new headsculpt

1 CW mold as the custom class figure with an "an alternative head sculpt that is not available at retail", and which is not a BW character but a 1984/1985 G1 character

1 CW Legends class mold as the troop builder souvenir set, which will have an alternate version of itself included with the Golden Ticket package, and the GT version is also not a BW character but is related to a familiar G1 character

1 non-CW "centerpiece" souvenir figure

1 CW mold souvenir figure

1 non-CW mold souvenir figure

Plus, one of the souvenir figures will feature a headsculpt that has not been released in the U.S. before.

Also, the GT figure does not tie in to the Convention set theme directly, but it does tie in to the continuity the set takes place in.

No, the GT toy is NOT a Beast Wars character. It uses the troop builder mold & is tied to a familiar G1 character.

The class kit figure is ALSO not a Beast Wars character. It is a Generation 1 character.

No. But it IS a 1984/1985 Generation 1 character. You definitely should add the class/class kit to ur registration.

Two things - (A) this almost sounds like it is set in G1 verse and (B) why no more love for BW characters for the anniversary?

Sabrblade wrote:These Tweets confirm that the troop builder set uses a Legends mold, so now we have:

5 CW molds in the boxed set

1 CW mold as the attendee freebie with a brand new headsculpt

1 CW mold as the custom class figure with an "an alternative head sculpt that is not available at retail", and which is not a BW character but a 1984/1985 G1 character

1 CW Legends class mold as the troop builder souvenir set, which will have an alternate version of itself included with the Golden Ticket package, and the GT version is also not a BW character but is related to a familiar G1 character

1 non-CW "centerpiece" souvenir figure

1 CW mold souvenir figure

1 non-CW mold souvenir figure

Plus, one of the souvenir figures will feature a headsculpt that has not been released in the U.S. before.

ah but....some G1 characters ALSO appeared in BW(granted deactivated! but still)

Troop Builder? hmmmm...could it be an Insecticon after all as you can troop build those....i s'pose?

so....not a BW character but related to a familiar G1 character? well i guess Onyx Primal's out the window!

Stuartmaximus wrote:Troop Builder? hmmmm...could it be an Insecticon after all as you can troop build those....i s'pose?

Dude, there's always a troop builder set in the BotCon souvenirs. Ever since 2009 they've been a mainstay.

Lucky Logician wrote:

If you register as a Primus package holder, you will receive not just the 5 figure boxed set, but also a FREE additional Deluxe figure.

It doesn't say attendees only. Just Primus package holders. So do non-attendee Primus people get it?

According to the Botcon website:

BONUS FIGURE: Primus Package attendees will receive an extra
surprise convention piece not available with the non-attending package.
This extra piece will not be sold and is our gift to you for making the trip.

So is this convention piece the figure? Or is it some little extra that isn't an actual figure?

You used the term "non-attendee Primus" here, and that's not a thing that exists. Primus packages = attending the show and you get the boxed set, panel/dealer room/club store/Saturday night activity access included. This also includes the noted "Bonus" figure, which is not part of the boxed set.

Iacon package = you can't attend but want the boxed set. They will send you that, along with a certificate of authenticity for the set and the accompaniment comic book. End of story for that one.

ScottyP wrote:You used the term "non-attendee Primus" here, and that's not a thing that exists. Primus packages = attending the show and you get the boxed set, panel/dealer room/club store/Saturday night activity access included. This also includes the noted "Bonus" figure, which is not part of the boxed set.

Iacon package = you can't attend but want the boxed set. They will send you that, along with a certificate of authenticity for the set and the accompaniment comic book. End of story for that one.

Thank you for the reminder. I had forgotten the non-attenddee was named differently.

Sabrblade wrote:

RodimusRex wrote:Current club stuff takes place just after the end of G2.

What "current club stuff"? Last year's magazine story was in the Shatteredverse, last year's BotCon comic was in Axiom Nexus, the pack-in comic that came with the Legacy set was post-Beast Machines, and the latest prose story was also in the Shatteredverse.

Aside from Shattered Glass and far future stuff like Pirates vs. Knights, there has been a core storyline to the Wings Universe since G2 Redux.

G2 Redux, taking place post-Rebirth in a G1 toon-like continuity.
Immediately chronologically followed by Machine Wars, where Jhiaxus invades with the clones.
The last we saw of that universe was that the Sharkticons and Sky-Bite had joined the Predacons, who refused to join the Decepticons when the Pax Cybertonia was signed.
And then in Jhiaxus' lab, stasis pods came online, teasing the rise of Predacus in the year 2016 as the Predacons (who at this point are predominantly not animal transformers) prepare for war with the now allied post-G2, post-MW Autobots and Decepticons.

The story does detour into universes and times but the G2 Redux story has been continuous in that we're seeing all the major events more or less in sequence. It's present day in a world where Optimus Prime died in 2005 and the Autobots awoke in 1984.

G2, Machine Wars, and Rise of the Predacus are three consecutive "present day" stories which are setting up the Beast Wars from the perspective of a very late G1 toon inspired continuity.

Incidentally, I could see the Japanese shuttle Blast-Off getting redecoed as a non-beast Skybyte and would not be surprised to see Sideways and other characters like that because the heavy implication seems to be that the Predacus counsil and the Beast Wars Predacons were working for Unicron. (Something about how the Predacus Council seemed to be planted there?)

And that's where all the lines seem to be headed. Devastation hints at Unicron coming. The toyline right now is a trilogy that's going from Titans to city mode combiners and lots of late G1 characters to ??? -- But my money there is on a new Unicron. The comics stuff seems like it could go that direction. All the lines seem to me to be pointing towards Unicron being a focus of the brand in 2017 or so and I think they're leaning towards pinning the dawn of the Beast Wars on Unicron in the club fiction.

I just registered and got the Primus Package and figure customizing class for Thursday. This is my first Botcon ever and I cannot describe how excited I am!! I cannot wait for the Hasbro reveals and I especially cannot wait to get toys! So does anyone have a ballpark estimate as to how much money I will need for Souvenir toys? If I want to get all of them?

RodimusRex wrote:Aside from Shattered Glass and far future stuff like Pirates vs. Knights, there has been a core storyline to the Wings Universe since G2 Redux.

Haven't you heard? The BotCon 2014-related fiction was the conclusion of the Wings Universe. The Club moved on since then.

I think this is more likely to be the centerpiece figure than Gigatron mold

Starscream wrote:I think this is more likely to be the centerpiece figure than Gigatron mold

Ew. No.

Sabrblade wrote:Ew. No.

Don't you mean, YESSSSSSS

Starscream wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Ew. No.

Don't you mean, YESSSSSSS

Noooooo.

Besides, that mold already has a pretooled Megatron head, which is clearly designed after the Transmetal version. Do those colors and it'll look good.

A few more Tweets:

Some more quick notes. ALL of this year's toys have the Combiner Wars branding. A couple of the toys are not Combiner Wars molds though.

Molds utilizing Combiner Wars Deluxe class figures - 7, Voyager class -1, Legends Class -1

So, the new rundown is:

5 CW molds in the boxed set, four Deluxes and the 1 Voyager

1 CW Deluxe attendee figure with a new headsculpt

1 CW Deluxe custom class figure with an "alternative" headsculpt, and who is a G1 character rather than a BW character

1 CW Legend as the troop builder set, and as the GT figure who is a non-BW character related to a 1984/1985 G1 character

1 CW Deluxe souvenir figure

1 non-CW mold "centerpiece" souvenir figure

1 non-CW mold other souvenir figure

And one of the souvenirs (not the centerpiece?) has a non-U.S. headsculpt.

Sabrblade wrote:

RodimusRex wrote:Aside from Shattered Glass and far future stuff like Pirates vs. Knights, there has been a core storyline to the Wings Universe since G2 Redux.

Haven't you heard? The BotCon 2014-related fiction was the conclusion of the Wings Universe. The Club moved on since then.

That's really weird since it ended with a teaser for the Predacus Council and here they are.

RodimusRex wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

RodimusRex wrote:Aside from Shattered Glass and far future stuff like Pirates vs. Knights, there has been a core storyline to the Wings Universe since G2 Redux.

Haven't you heard? The BotCon 2014-related fiction was the conclusion of the Wings Universe. The Club moved on since then.

That's really weird since it ended with a teaser for the Predacus Council and here they are.

That came before the Pirates vs. Knights fiction.

Pirates vs. Knights was a detour into the far, post-BW future.

The last wings story we saw was about the Predacons continuing to fight the war. Four stasis pods were found and Tarantulas emerged from one, implying the Tripredacus were in the other three, ready to launch the Beast Wars as a war between the Predacons and the allied Autobots and Decepticons.

I assumed from that we'd be moving towards a tribute to other obscure continuities, post-G1, pre-Beast Wars.

The bad guys would be Cryotek, Ravege, and the Predacons, led by the Tri-Predacus Council.

Arcee as a Blackarachnia redeco as one of the first Maximals. Rodimus was also supposed to be an early Maximal in some continuities. Maybe a Magnaboss tribute in there since we've been told they are the G1 Ironhide, Prowl, and Silverbolt in at least one continuity. Like a pe-Beast Wars vehicle Magnaboss.

Probably Prowl from Skylinx, Ironhide and Silverbolt as arms, feet from either Arcee and Rodimus or some of the Maximal Council members like Bantor and Torca. Maximals form magnaboss maximus or somehing.

Maybe a Gator Megatron and a Bat-like Prime the following year since we have a gator mold coming up as a souviner set from the microcontinuity where G1 Prime and Megs fought in the Beast Wars, kinda like the G2 General Prime and Sgt. Hound who are from a G2 Micro-spinoff.

RodimusRex wrote:Pirates vs. Knights was a detour into the far, post-BW future.

The last wings story we saw was about the Predacons continuing to fight the war. Four stasis pods were found and Tarantulas emerged from one, implying the Tripredacus were in the other three, ready to launch the Beast Wars as a war between the Predacons and the allied Autobots and Decepticons.

"A Common Foe" was Timelines issue #9, "Hoist the Flag" was Timelines issue #10. Scheduling issues resulted in the former being released after the latter when it was supposed to come before. And the Tornado Facebook continued the Pirates story after "Hoist the Flag" all the way to January 7, 2015. And then the "Legacy" issue with Shokaract made its surprise release back in October of last year.

Regardless, "A Common Foe" sets up Predacus in the Wings Universe following the Machine Wars.

They may be done with the Wings Universe but this set sure seems like it could (and may have originally been planned) to fit in the Wings timeline circa the year 2016.

The Wings Universe was building up to Predacus as a 21st century, pre-BW, post-G1/G2 villain.

Now we have Predacus regardless of whether the new fiction draws that link.

My bet on the army builder is some repaint of the Legends-Class Starscream with the GT version being Red Wing.

BotCon Twitter made some more Tweets. Of the 9 CW molds used, 7 are Deluxes, 1 is a Voyager, and 1 is a Legends.

So the new rundown is as follows:

5 CW molds in the boxed set, four Deluxes and the 1 Voyager

1 CW Deluxe attendee figure with a new headsculpt

1 CW Deluxe custom class figure with an "alternative" headsculpt, and who is a 1984-1985 G1 character rather than a BW character

1 CW Legends as the troop builder set, and as the GT figure who is a non-BW character related to a familiar G1 character

1 CW Deluxe souvenir figure

1 non-CW mold "centerpiece" souvenir figure

1 non-CW mold other souvenir figure

And one of the souvenirs (not the centerpiece?) has a non-U.S. headsculpt.

Sabrblade wrote:And one of the souvenirs (not the centerpiece?) has a non-U.S. headsculpt.

Which, provided this is also a CW mold, would mean it will either be a repaint of Ghost Starscream or Curse Armada Thrust. Unless Groove counts, he does have a non US headsculpt.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:And one of the souvenirs (not the centerpiece?) has a non-U.S. headsculpt.

Which, provided this is also a CW mold, would mean it will either be a repaint of Ghost Starscream or Curse Armada Thrust. Unless Groove counts, he does have a non US headsculpt.

Or it could be the rumored TF:Legends Blackarachnia redecoed as Arcee (which I don't want to be true).

Sabrblade wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:And one of the souvenirs (not the centerpiece?) has a non-U.S. headsculpt.

Which, provided this is also a CW mold, would mean it will either be a repaint of Ghost Starscream or Curse Armada Thrust. Unless Groove counts, he does have a non US headsculpt.

Or it could be the rumored TF:Legends Blackarachnia redecoed as Arcee (which I don't want to be true).

Well too be fair, if we're going with TT's exclusive headsculpts, no matter relevance, there's:

Ghost Starscream
Curse Armada Thrust
Legends Blackarachnia
Legends Slipstream
Legends Nightbird
TAV voyager Grimlock

(i can't think of others)

I think there are 11 legends molds released as part of "Combiner Wars". So who is most likely to be be the Troop Builder?

Powerglide / Viper
Thundercracker / Skywarp
Blackjack / Rodimus
Warpath
Windcharger
Groove
Shockwave

I could see cases for the first seven molds, but not really the last four:
Huffer / Pipes - Kinda doubting a bunch of troops made of 18 wheeler cabs.
Bombshell - Not unless this has to do with Waruders.
Chop Shop - Again, not unless it is more Waruders.
Buzzsaw - I really just don't see this being a troop builder.

Not every Legends class figure released under the Combiner Wars banner has been a Combiner Wars mold.

The most likely molds to be used for the troop builder set/Golden Ticket figure are either the Powerglide/Viper mold, the Blackjack/Rodimus mold, the Groove mold, or the Shockwave mold.

Or the Bombshell mold if one wants to consider his seemingly-planned-but-aborted gun configuration.

Sabrblade wrote:Not every Legends class figure released under the Combiner Wars banner has been a Combiner Wars mold.

I know, but didn't want to assume. Some times they can be tricky with wording on things like this.

Lucky Logician wrote:I think there are 11 legends molds released as part of "Combiner Wars". So who is most likely to be be the Troop Builder?

Powerglide / Viper
Thundercracker / Skywarp
Blackjack / Rodimus
Warpath
Windcharger
Groove
Shockwave

I could see cases for the first seven molds, but not really the last four:
Huffer / Pipes - Kinda doubting a bunch of troops made of 18 wheeler cabs.
Bombshell - Not unless this has to do with Waruders.
Chop Shop - Again, not unless it is more Waruders.
Buzzsaw - I really just don't see this being a troop builder.

They could make Vehicons out of the car molds or an armada of Vipers.
They can also make the rest of the Seekers or bike drones out of Groove/Rust Dust/Wreck-Gar.
I could also think about the Shockwave mold being a troop bot with his gunhand.

Lunatic Prime wrote:

Lucky Logician wrote:I think there are 11 legends molds released as part of "Combiner Wars". So who is most likely to be be the Troop Builder?

Powerglide / Viper
Thundercracker / Skywarp
Blackjack / Rodimus
Warpath
Windcharger
Groove
Shockwave

I could see cases for the first seven molds, but not really the last four:
Huffer / Pipes - Kinda doubting a bunch of troops made of 18 wheeler cabs.
Bombshell - Not unless this has to do with Waruders.
Chop Shop - Again, not unless it is more Waruders.
Buzzsaw - I really just don't see this being a troop builder.

They could make Vehivons out of the car molds or an armada of Vipers.
They can also make the rest of the Seekers or bike drones out of Groove/Rust Dust/Wreck-Gar.
I could also think about the Shockwave mold being a troop bot with his gunhand.

blackjack's near enough of a Vehicon already! so maybe?

Erimus Prime wrote:I just registered and got the Primus Package and figure customizing class for Thursday. This is my first Botcon ever and I cannot describe how excited I am!! I cannot wait for the Hasbro reveals and I especially cannot wait to get toys! So does anyone have a ballpark estimate as to how much money I will need for Souvenir toys? If I want to get all of them?

Woohoo! It's a great time, hope you enjoy it. For the souvenirs, bring $450. If you don't want Kreons, $400. If that ends up being too much, then hey, just spend it in the dealer room (or be responsible and re-deposit it but, eh, that's no fun!)

Starscream wrote:I think this is more likely to be the centerpiece figure than Gigatron mold

That'd be pretty stellar. Maybe a few color tweaks from that to make it closer to the Transmetal version if they went with the FoC tooling of that, or some hybrid with the TAV torso and FoC dino legs?

Some of the new TAV Battle Grimlock parts are not compatible with the FoC parts from what I hear. Sounds odd to say at first, I know. But for instance, I have heard that the TAV chest has a different neck from the FoC edition, meaning the heads are not swappable.

Updates on how things have sold. Thursday Class is sold out!!

Hello Members,

REMINDER! To receive the exclusive 1st day pin, please submit your Golden Ticket Primus or Primus package registration by 10:15 AM CST today!

Also, when completing your order, be sure to add the exclusive Unpainted Assembled Class Figure to your order. This Combiner Wars figure is based on a 1984/1985 Generation 1 character and features a head sculpt not sold at retail. We also have shirts and ball caps available, so be sure to add these commemorative BotCon items to your order as well.

The Non-Attending allotment and loose figures are half way sold out!

Finally, the Thursday Customization Class is SOLD OUT. We still have a few spots left in the Wednesday class. Anyone who signs up for a Golden Ticket Package, Wednesday or Thursday Tour, or Customization Class, can pick up their set(s) early on Wednesday night. To register go to BotCon.com.

See you in Louisville!

Brian

TF_JW wrote:Some of the new TAV Battle Grimlock parts are not compatible with the FoC parts from what I hear. Sounds odd to say at first, I know. But for instance, I have heard that the TAV chest has a different neck from the FoC edition, meaning the heads are not swappable.

Sounds correct. I've got both and haven't tried to go swapping parts but the TAV one is much more precise, especially when getting the shoulders to lock in, so it wouldn't surprise me if things can't just be moved around from one thing to another!

Anyone else find it odd the "centerpiece" figure isn't included in the box set? I mean, I get that you have to entice people with attendee-only figures, but what purpose does the box set serve when the convention organizers say there's a better figure not included in it? Last year we had Oilmaster in the box set, and the year before that we had Scorponok; both unique, arguably the figures that sold their respective sets.

While I'm actually liking Predacus a lot more than I thought I would, I'm feeling tentative about getting any of these guys. If the best figure in this year's convention is an attendee only figure (and apparently sold individually, along with other non-troop builder figures), maybe it's wiser to skip getting the box set.

Henry921 wrote:Anyone else find it odd the "centerpiece" figure isn't included in the box set? I mean, I get that you have to entice people with attendee-only figures, but what purpose does the box set serve when the convention organizers say there's a better figure not included in it? Last year we had Oilmaster in the box set, and the year before that we had Scorponok; both unique, arguably the figures that sold their respective sets.

While I'm actually liking Predacus a lot more than I thought I would, I'm feeling tentative about getting any of these guys. If the best figure in this year's convention is an attendee only figure (and apparently sold individually, along with other non-troop builder figures), maybe it's wiser to skip getting the box set.

It's not really attendee only, sure the people that go get first crack at it but for the rest of us that can't go should still be able to get that figure on the club store once the convention is over

steals_your_goats wrote:

Henry921 wrote:Anyone else find it odd the "centerpiece" figure isn't included in the box set? I mean, I get that you have to entice people with attendee-only figures, but what purpose does the box set serve when the convention organizers say there's a better figure not included in it? Last year we had Oilmaster in the box set, and the year before that we had Scorponok; both unique, arguably the figures that sold their respective sets.

While I'm actually liking Predacus a lot more than I thought I would, I'm feeling tentative about getting any of these guys. If the best figure in this year's convention is an attendee only figure (and apparently sold individually, along with other non-troop builder figures), maybe it's wiser to skip getting the box set.

It's not really attendee only, sure the people that go get first crack at it but for the rest of us that can't go should still be able to get that figure on the club store once the convention is over

I wouldn't count on that this year since previous reports have stated the centerpiece figure to be very limited this year to increase its value.

Sabrblade wrote:

steals_your_goats wrote:

Henry921 wrote:Anyone else find it odd the "centerpiece" figure isn't included in the box set? I mean, I get that you have to entice people with attendee-only figures, but what purpose does the box set serve when the convention organizers say there's a better figure not included in it? Last year we had Oilmaster in the box set, and the year before that we had Scorponok; both unique, arguably the figures that sold their respective sets.

While I'm actually liking Predacus a lot more than I thought I would, I'm feeling tentative about getting any of these guys. If the best figure in this year's convention is an attendee only figure (and apparently sold individually, along with other non-troop builder figures), maybe it's wiser to skip getting the box set.

It's not really attendee only, sure the people that go get first crack at it but for the rest of us that can't go should still be able to get that figure on the club store once the convention is over

I wouldn't count on that this year since previous reports have stated the centerpiece figure to be very limited this year to increase its value.

Ah okay I didn't know that, thanks. Any idea on the other figures? I know they haven't been revealed yet but the only ones that have peaked my interest are the troop builder and the cw deluxe souvenir figure.

Henry921 wrote:Anyone else find it odd the "centerpiece" figure isn't included in the box set? I mean, I get that you have to entice people with attendee-only figures, but what purpose does the box set serve when the convention organizers say there's a better figure not included in it? Last year we had Oilmaster in the box set, and the year before that we had Scorponok; both unique, arguably the figures that sold their respective sets.

While I'm actually liking Predacus a lot more than I thought I would, I'm feeling tentative about getting any of these guys. If the best figure in this year's convention is an attendee only figure (and apparently sold individually, along with other non-troop builder figures), maybe it's wiser to skip getting the box set.

Other things being equal, they very well might have made the centerpiece part of the box set, but I imagine that providing a complete combiner was considered even more important.

Seriously, can't you imagine the outrage if only some of a combiner's components were included in the box set?