Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders
Sunday, November 19th, 2017 12:29AM CST
Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top ListsPosted by: william-james88 Views: 59,466
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Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.
Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders
Ah the infamous troop builder. I will be honest, it was a concept I was not familiar with when I got back into collecting in my adult life. As a kid I got toys on my birthday and Chritmas so you bet your ass that I was gonna ask for a different toy and not the same one again just because there was more than one of the same character model on the screen sometimes. But of course, I get it now. With more disposable income, we can now indulge in recreating scenes and armies from the shows we love. And to build those armies in your display, you are gonna need troops. The Transformers brand has had a lot of toys to build troops with over the years and we will look over the best ones right now. Enjoy!
5. Transformers Titans Return Scourge
I really like the Generations Scourge toy but what makes the Titans Return version better for troop building is that you can change his face. So now, your army of Sweeps can have some different characteristics. The Ptero head for instance looks like the type of head given to his sweeps in previous releases. Takara also released a different head (shown below) just to build a sweep army. But you don't have to stop there, you can given them any heads and make them as diverse or similar as you like. It's a decent toy all around as well. Very accurate to the cartoon and both the Takara and Hasbro versions have fun features in their different decos.
4. Transformers Prime Beast Hunters Cyberverse Hardshell
This is one of the very best Commander Class toy from the Cyberverse line, if not the best, and it also happens to be a troop builder. The size works well for a Cyberverse scale army and an affordable one at that since he was at a lower price point than deluxes. Intricate transformation, well detailed and show accurate, what more would you want? Well aside from a voyager scale one for a much pricier army.
3. Titans Return Sharkticon
Yes, Titans Return have given us several troop builders, and good ones too. Sharkticon is an iconic little guy, due to his appearance in the 86 movie and this is his best toy yet. He is a fun little guy on his own, with a smooth and smart transformation, a great look and even the ability to act as a sub for little Titan Masters. But then you add more of them and you get a menacing (while also cute) army. And them being smaller figures, which is true to the scale, makes them a more affordable troop to build.
2. Transformers Prime: Robots In Disguise Vehicon
I have raved on this toy before and it's pretty crazy that an undisputed top 5 (top 3?) toy from that whole Prime line was the troop builder Vehicon toy. If only the jet versions were as readily available and affordable, we could replicate Megatron's army as seen on the show.
1. Transformers G1 1985 Insecticons
I think this is the first time a G1 toy ends up being number 1 on a list not specifically about g1. But yeah, there is no better option to me. This is the original swarm and the original troop builder and still the most impressive. These guys take the cake because of their variety of design from one another while also being uniform. This is where the generations versions of these guys fail since the colours, plastics and builds don't match. they end up being seen more as individual toys than a united swarm. While the articulation may not be optimal, the quality of these toys remains unmatched to this date with a combination of clear plastic, chrome, die cast and even functional wheels to give that extra mecha component. And the swarms are in insect mode anyway, so robot mode articulation is useless. Plus, these guys have been rereleased plenty of times that they end up being the same price point as a set of the 3 generations figures anyways, so I whole heartedly recomend anyone curious about g1 toys to check these out. They are still to this date the most faithful looking versions of the most iconic troop in Transformers history.
Honourable metions: Beast Machines Sonic Attack Jet
While Beast Machines deluxe Jetstorm was a decent toy, it lacked screen accuracy in both the deco and the sculpt. In comes a redeco that has more vibrant colours, closer to the look and feel of the show. And it happens to be an army builder for the Jetstorm drone army. So while not ideal we do get a differentiation between the leader and his goons and it is luckily the masses that have the more screen accurate deco, which I personally feel looks much better.
Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders
Ah the infamous troop builder. I will be honest, it was a concept I was not familiar with when I got back into collecting in my adult life. As a kid I got toys on my birthday and Chritmas so you bet your ass that I was gonna ask for a different toy and not the same one again just because there was more than one of the same character model on the screen sometimes. But of course, I get it now. With more disposable income, we can now indulge in recreating scenes and armies from the shows we love. And to build those armies in your display, you are gonna need troops. The Transformers brand has had a lot of toys to build troops with over the years and we will look over the best ones right now. Enjoy!
5. Transformers Titans Return Scourge
I really like the Generations Scourge toy but what makes the Titans Return version better for troop building is that you can change his face. So now, your army of Sweeps can have some different characteristics. The Ptero head for instance looks like the type of head given to his sweeps in previous releases. Takara also released a different head (shown below) just to build a sweep army. But you don't have to stop there, you can given them any heads and make them as diverse or similar as you like. It's a decent toy all around as well. Very accurate to the cartoon and both the Takara and Hasbro versions have fun features in their different decos.
4. Transformers Prime Beast Hunters Cyberverse Hardshell
This is one of the very best Commander Class toy from the Cyberverse line, if not the best, and it also happens to be a troop builder. The size works well for a Cyberverse scale army and an affordable one at that since he was at a lower price point than deluxes. Intricate transformation, well detailed and show accurate, what more would you want? Well aside from a voyager scale one for a much pricier army.
3. Titans Return Sharkticon
Yes, Titans Return have given us several troop builders, and good ones too. Sharkticon is an iconic little guy, due to his appearance in the 86 movie and this is his best toy yet. He is a fun little guy on his own, with a smooth and smart transformation, a great look and even the ability to act as a sub for little Titan Masters. But then you add more of them and you get a menacing (while also cute) army. And them being smaller figures, which is true to the scale, makes them a more affordable troop to build.
2. Transformers Prime: Robots In Disguise Vehicon
I have raved on this toy before and it's pretty crazy that an undisputed top 5 (top 3?) toy from that whole Prime line was the troop builder Vehicon toy. If only the jet versions were as readily available and affordable, we could replicate Megatron's army as seen on the show.
1. Transformers G1 1985 Insecticons
I think this is the first time a G1 toy ends up being number 1 on a list not specifically about g1. But yeah, there is no better option to me. This is the original swarm and the original troop builder and still the most impressive. These guys take the cake because of their variety of design from one another while also being uniform. This is where the generations versions of these guys fail since the colours, plastics and builds don't match. they end up being seen more as individual toys than a united swarm. While the articulation may not be optimal, the quality of these toys remains unmatched to this date with a combination of clear plastic, chrome, die cast and even functional wheels to give that extra mecha component. And the swarms are in insect mode anyway, so robot mode articulation is useless. Plus, these guys have been rereleased plenty of times that they end up being the same price point as a set of the 3 generations figures anyways, so I whole heartedly recomend anyone curious about g1 toys to check these out. They are still to this date the most faithful looking versions of the most iconic troop in Transformers history.
Honourable metions: Beast Machines Sonic Attack Jet
While Beast Machines deluxe Jetstorm was a decent toy, it lacked screen accuracy in both the deco and the sculpt. In comes a redeco that has more vibrant colours, closer to the look and feel of the show. And it happens to be an army builder for the Jetstorm drone army. So while not ideal we do get a differentiation between the leader and his goons and it is luckily the masses that have the more screen accurate deco, which I personally feel looks much better.
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Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922595)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on November 19th, 2017 @ 12:46am CST
Posted by Rodimus Prime on November 19th, 2017 @ 12:46am CST
Not bad. For some reason, I never gave a thought to troop building until Prime and Vehicon. I knew about Jetstorm (even though I try to erase the disaster that is Beast Machines out of my mind) and of course the Insecticons and the Sweeps, but troop building didn't become a "thing" for me until the Vehicons in Prime. Maybe because they were more prominent in their series than the others were in theirs? I don't know. Anyway, my list:
5. G1 Insecticons
4. TR Scourge
3. TR Sharkticon
2. 2011 BotCon Animated Autotrooper
1. Prime Vehicons
Honorable mention: Beast Machines Jetstorm
5. G1 Insecticons
4. TR Scourge
3. TR Sharkticon
2. 2011 BotCon Animated Autotrooper
1. Prime Vehicons
Honorable mention: Beast Machines Jetstorm
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922598)
Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on November 19th, 2017 @ 1:04am CST
Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on November 19th, 2017 @ 1:04am CST
Just because I have a bunch of them, I really like these guys.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922601)
Posted by Deadput on November 19th, 2017 @ 1:27am CST
Posted by Deadput on November 19th, 2017 @ 1:27am CST
Although not part of official fiction or anything I use Titans Return Hardhead as my military Autotroopers with the Takara guy being the group leader or at least a former member who forged a name for himself.
I also use the mold for Repungus right now and he actually fits the body quite well he also kinda color matches with the yellow and red from the same colors on the Hasbro Hardhead (Those colors are mostly on the "belt") and in my collection Quake was a former member who joined the Decepticons.
I also use the mold for Repungus right now and he actually fits the body quite well he also kinda color matches with the yellow and red from the same colors on the Hasbro Hardhead (Those colors are mostly on the "belt") and in my collection Quake was a former member who joined the Decepticons.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922610)
Posted by SG Roadbuster on November 19th, 2017 @ 6:54am CST
Posted by SG Roadbuster on November 19th, 2017 @ 6:54am CST
I am legit shocked that none of the botcon toys made it to the list.
no Virulent Clones? Autotroopers? SG Junkions? Rainmakers? Dread Pirate Crew, or Reflector?
no Virulent Clones? Autotroopers? SG Junkions? Rainmakers? Dread Pirate Crew, or Reflector?
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922611)
Posted by Deadput on November 19th, 2017 @ 7:10am CST
Their good characters for troop builders but their expensive bot con exclusives and unless your rich as hell no one is troop building them.
Posted by Deadput on November 19th, 2017 @ 7:10am CST
SG Roadbuster wrote:I am legit shocked that none of the botcon toys made it to the list.
no Virulent Clones? Autotroopers? SG Junkions? Rainmakers? Dread Pirate Crew, or Reflector?
Their good characters for troop builders but their expensive bot con exclusives and unless your rich as hell no one is troop building them.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922621)
Posted by Randomhero on November 19th, 2017 @ 9:20am CST
Posted by Randomhero on November 19th, 2017 @ 9:20am CST
I army built this guy. He was so cool and unique looking and back w8hen they come out he was like $6 I think
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922628)
Posted by Sabrblade on November 19th, 2017 @ 10:44am CST
As of this typing, I own six sets of the BotCon 2015 Dread Pirate Crew (12 pirate clones total), and six sets of the BotCon 2015 Waruders (24 Waruders total, though one set is for the four repurposed characters whose bios came out online last December, making it be 20 Waruders and four unique characters).
And soon I plan to purchase eight of the BotCon 2013 preassembled Blastcharge Strika Drones to go with the one I currently have, making nine drones in all.
I would have gone for some others too but they either weren't as high a priority for me at the time or they sold out from the Club Store before I could get them. Right now, I have only one set of each of the following BotCon troop-builder 3-packs:
Aside from all that, I've also troop-built about ten of the Hasbro TF: Prime RID Deluxe Vehicons, six of the Prime FE Deluxe Starscream figure, and have aborted troop-building Titanium 6" Scourge (stopped after getting two of him), Generations Deluxe Scourge (stopped after getting two of him, not the TR version), and Generations Deluxe Junkheap (stopped after getting two of him).
Posted by Sabrblade on November 19th, 2017 @ 10:44am CST
Speak for yourself. I'm a middle-class guy with only a part-time job (though, sometimes it feels like full-time, but I digress) and yet I've been troop-building several of the BotCon troop builders.Deadput wrote:SG Roadbuster wrote:I am legit shocked that none of the botcon toys made it to the list.
no Virulent Clones? Autotroopers? SG Junkions? Rainmakers? Dread Pirate Crew, or Reflector?
Their good characters for troop builders but their expensive bot con exclusives and unless your rich as hell no one is troop building them.
As of this typing, I own six sets of the BotCon 2015 Dread Pirate Crew (12 pirate clones total), and six sets of the BotCon 2015 Waruders (24 Waruders total, though one set is for the four repurposed characters whose bios came out online last December, making it be 20 Waruders and four unique characters).
And soon I plan to purchase eight of the BotCon 2013 preassembled Blastcharge Strika Drones to go with the one I currently have, making nine drones in all.
I would have gone for some others too but they either weren't as high a priority for me at the time or they sold out from the Club Store before I could get them. Right now, I have only one set of each of the following BotCon troop-builder 3-packs:
- BotCon 2011 Animated Autotroopers
- BotCon 2012 SG Junkions
- BotCon 2013 "Welcoming Committee" Rainmakers
- BotCon 2016 Reflector
Aside from all that, I've also troop-built about ten of the Hasbro TF: Prime RID Deluxe Vehicons, six of the Prime FE Deluxe Starscream figure, and have aborted troop-building Titanium 6" Scourge (stopped after getting two of him), Generations Deluxe Scourge (stopped after getting two of him, not the TR version), and Generations Deluxe Junkheap (stopped after getting two of him).
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922631)
Posted by Ig89ninja on November 19th, 2017 @ 11:02am CST
Posted by Ig89ninja on November 19th, 2017 @ 11:02am CST
While we are on the subject of personal army building,
I fell like an army of TLK reveal the shield optimus primes led by a fireburst optimus would make for a cool, human built, vehicon army
I fell like an army of TLK reveal the shield optimus primes led by a fireburst optimus would make for a cool, human built, vehicon army
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922632)
Posted by blackeyedprime on November 19th, 2017 @ 11:09am CST
Posted by blackeyedprime on November 19th, 2017 @ 11:09am CST
With the troop builders I think the prime vehicon wins for me, its just such a nice figure which is weird as I consider troop builders that can be be displayed multiple ways like the beatmachines jetstorm (robot mode legged or hover), TR scourge (legs turned around, different heads, takara paint variation) pretty highly.
TR sharkticon is too small for my liking (Hasbro even deceptively -on purpose or not, maybe it's just to fit him in the packaging, has him looking like a taller figure with a mistransformation of his legs) and sadly he's usually stood behind other figures to hide the legs/make him taller.
Wreckgar riding himself makes the rts figure look amazing but sadly botcon exclusives or the platinum packs (hotrod, 2 junkions) are too expensive for troop building for the most part.
I'd have honorably mentioned the Baynus deluxe swindle, as he was the cannon fodder decepticon in the video game.
TR sharkticon is too small for my liking (Hasbro even deceptively -on purpose or not, maybe it's just to fit him in the packaging, has him looking like a taller figure with a mistransformation of his legs) and sadly he's usually stood behind other figures to hide the legs/make him taller.
Wreckgar riding himself makes the rts figure look amazing but sadly botcon exclusives or the platinum packs (hotrod, 2 junkions) are too expensive for troop building for the most part.
I'd have honorably mentioned the Baynus deluxe swindle, as he was the cannon fodder decepticon in the video game.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922634)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on November 19th, 2017 @ 11:40am CST
Posted by Rodimus Prime on November 19th, 2017 @ 11:40am CST
Somewhat related: if you get all the redecos of one mold, are you troop building, even though technically each "troop" is a separate character? For example, all the different color versions of the Classics Seeker mold.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922638)
Posted by YoungPrime on November 19th, 2017 @ 12:30pm CST
Yeah, I love these guys. I have 3 of these, the one they renamed Generations Laserbeak and 2 of the yellow and white ones that share this mold (Sunspot).
As far as the list.
My Fav Troop Builders are..
1) Insecticons (both G1 and Generations)
2) Sweeps (TR and T30 version)
3) Junkions (T30 versions)
4) Sharkticon (TR version)
My personal Honorable mentions:
1) G1 Minicons (I have over 30)
2) Titan Masters (I have about 13 of those)
3) Shockwaves! (Started of as placeholders going back to Animated Shockwave. Then the Target exclusive one showed up, then DOTM, then FOC's Deluxe version and I also have 3 CW Legends class Shockwaves. FOC is my Main Shockwave until Hasbro makes a better Voyager class one. The rest are the equivalent of "Doombots"/minions).
4) Skystalker ROTF Molds: 3 Skystalker, 2 Sunspots and 1 Laserbeak.
5) Sonar x3
Posted by YoungPrime on November 19th, 2017 @ 12:30pm CST
Randomhero wrote:I army built this guy. He was so cool and unique looking and back w8hen they come out he was like $6 I think
Yeah, I love these guys. I have 3 of these, the one they renamed Generations Laserbeak and 2 of the yellow and white ones that share this mold (Sunspot).
As far as the list.
My Fav Troop Builders are..
1) Insecticons (both G1 and Generations)
2) Sweeps (TR and T30 version)
3) Junkions (T30 versions)
4) Sharkticon (TR version)
My personal Honorable mentions:
1) G1 Minicons (I have over 30)
2) Titan Masters (I have about 13 of those)
3) Shockwaves! (Started of as placeholders going back to Animated Shockwave. Then the Target exclusive one showed up, then DOTM, then FOC's Deluxe version and I also have 3 CW Legends class Shockwaves. FOC is my Main Shockwave until Hasbro makes a better Voyager class one. The rest are the equivalent of "Doombots"/minions).
4) Skystalker ROTF Molds: 3 Skystalker, 2 Sunspots and 1 Laserbeak.
5) Sonar x3
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922642)
Posted by YoungPrime on November 19th, 2017 @ 12:44pm CST
Not even rich. I'd still pass on troop building Funpub figures unless someone's selling them at a legit price.
Posted by YoungPrime on November 19th, 2017 @ 12:44pm CST
Deadput wrote:SG Roadbuster wrote:I am legit shocked that none of the botcon toys made it to the list.
no Virulent Clones? Autotroopers? SG Junkions? Rainmakers? Dread Pirate Crew, or Reflector?
Their good characters for troop builders but their expensive bot con exclusives and unless your rich as hell no one is troop building them.
Not even rich. I'd still pass on troop building Funpub figures unless someone's selling them at a legit price.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922653)
Posted by Emerje on November 19th, 2017 @ 1:52pm CST
I'm sure I would have liked it too, but none of the versions of this mold ever made it into stores around me (if Laserbeak made it into TRU I never would have known anyway). For both RotF and Transformers 2010 the stores around here didn't carry the last two waves of Scouts. For that matter the one time I saw Mindwipe was at a Kmart and I continue to regret not buying it when I had the chance. Strafe, on the other hand, I never saw once (I got my Grapple from that wave in the movie refresher set sold with the brown Universe Vector Prime).
Emerje
Posted by Emerje on November 19th, 2017 @ 1:52pm CST
YoungPrime wrote:Randomhero wrote:I army built this guy. He was so cool and unique looking and back w8hen they come out he was like $6 I think
Yeah, I love these guys. I have 3 of these, the one they renamed Generations Laserbeak and 2 of the yellow and white ones that share this mold (Sunspot).
I'm sure I would have liked it too, but none of the versions of this mold ever made it into stores around me (if Laserbeak made it into TRU I never would have known anyway). For both RotF and Transformers 2010 the stores around here didn't carry the last two waves of Scouts. For that matter the one time I saw Mindwipe was at a Kmart and I continue to regret not buying it when I had the chance. Strafe, on the other hand, I never saw once (I got my Grapple from that wave in the movie refresher set sold with the brown Universe Vector Prime).
Emerje
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922654)
Posted by thunderjacker on November 19th, 2017 @ 2:00pm CST
Posted by thunderjacker on November 19th, 2017 @ 2:00pm CST
FOC deluxe class Shockwave is a great troop builder in my opinion. while shockwave was charged with protecting cybertron in megatron's absense, it would be logical for shockwave to create a army of drone warriors in his own image. they are like the prime vehicons but exist in the G1 classics universe.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922655)
Posted by thunderjacker on November 19th, 2017 @ 2:03pm CST
Posted by thunderjacker on November 19th, 2017 @ 2:03pm CST
i also like the G1 jumpstarters as generic cybertronian autobot warriors. they have good proportions, nice weapons and are super cheap.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922657)
Posted by cruizerdave on November 19th, 2017 @ 2:05pm CST
Posted by cruizerdave on November 19th, 2017 @ 2:05pm CST
I thought I was the only one who liked TR Scourge!
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922660)
Posted by thunderjacker on November 19th, 2017 @ 2:09pm CST
Posted by thunderjacker on November 19th, 2017 @ 2:09pm CST
finally, i like the idea of building a Unicron army using the big ultimate class unicron from the unicron trilogy (as sentinals)as well as the deluxe class unicron from the cybertron line. it would be like the borg from star trek, the aliens from aliens and the sentinals from X-men. expensive but cool.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922661)
Posted by thunderjacker on November 19th, 2017 @ 2:10pm CST
Posted by thunderjacker on November 19th, 2017 @ 2:10pm CST
oh and i want at least two more titans returns trypticons.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922673)
Posted by Gauntlet101010 on November 19th, 2017 @ 5:01pm CST
Posted by Gauntlet101010 on November 19th, 2017 @ 5:01pm CST
Geez, no Classics Seekers? To me those guys are the best. Even if you don't include KOs you've still got a really decent array of characters between Hasbro, Takara, and FunPub - especially if you pretend different decos can represent entirely different characters (G2 Ramjet I am looking at you). Somewhat pricy, but I dig it.
TBH, Universe Scourge beats out Titans Return Scourge. Sure, TR Scourge is more show accurate, but he's also a lot more boring colour wise and has a bobble head. It's nice that the Sharkticon gives him a different head for the Japanese market but it's just not enough to push out Universe Scourge. As a bonus it comes in a two pack (the one with Cyclonus) if you wanted to differentiate a few for whatever reason.
TBH, Universe Scourge beats out Titans Return Scourge. Sure, TR Scourge is more show accurate, but he's also a lot more boring colour wise and has a bobble head. It's nice that the Sharkticon gives him a different head for the Japanese market but it's just not enough to push out Universe Scourge. As a bonus it comes in a two pack (the one with Cyclonus) if you wanted to differentiate a few for whatever reason.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922677)
Posted by blackeyedprime on November 19th, 2017 @ 5:14pm CST
Posted by blackeyedprime on November 19th, 2017 @ 5:14pm CST
anyone mad enough to have 6 six shots yet? He's one of the few cannon none drone/clones characters worth having in multiples with his holograms
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922679)
Posted by TreyTable on November 19th, 2017 @ 5:27pm CST
Posted by TreyTable on November 19th, 2017 @ 5:27pm CST
Back in the G1 days, when it came to troop building with Autobots it was easily just the 1984 - 1986 Autobot Cars. As for the Decepticons, for me, it was Soundwave's tapes, mainly Rumble and Frenzy. Just get a bunch of them and start swapping the legs and heads, maybe add some paint, and that was good enough. Since most of my peer group only wanted Laserbeak and Ravage, Rumble & Frenzy were easy to come by.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922697)
Posted by Rysquad on November 19th, 2017 @ 7:23pm CST
Posted by Rysquad on November 19th, 2017 @ 7:23pm CST
Nice to see TR get some love.
I have Sharkticon and the Sweep headmaster waiting in my BBTS pile. I need to get a Hasbro Gnaw and a Takara Scourge.
Would have loved to have seen the TR Getaway get a Vehicon repaint.
I have Sharkticon and the Sweep headmaster waiting in my BBTS pile. I need to get a Hasbro Gnaw and a Takara Scourge.
Would have loved to have seen the TR Getaway get a Vehicon repaint.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922790)
Posted by ScottyP on November 20th, 2017 @ 9:44am CST
Posted by ScottyP on November 20th, 2017 @ 9:44am CST
The list and this thread are giving me a hernia.
It's like I'm taking crazy pills.
It's like I'm taking crazy pills.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922838)
Posted by joevill on November 20th, 2017 @ 1:20pm CST
Posted by joevill on November 20th, 2017 @ 1:20pm CST
I personally have 52 Sharks
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922875)
Posted by -Kanrabat- on November 20th, 2017 @ 5:04pm CST
Posted by -Kanrabat- on November 20th, 2017 @ 5:04pm CST
I'm very pleased that the G1 insecticons are #1. Because they ARE the original troops. And if you don't care about the gun, they are dirt cheap to get, even the vintage ones. So building an army of these is piss-easy. Especially because so many of them will have "battle damage".
Also, both TR and RiD Prime gave us excellent troops. I'm impressed.
Prime being the clear #1 because I hate TR Scourge, I find Gnaw rather "meh", while Prime Bombshell and Prime Vehicon are so FANTASTIC on their own.
Also, both TR and RiD Prime gave us excellent troops. I'm impressed.
Prime being the clear #1 because I hate TR Scourge, I find Gnaw rather "meh", while Prime Bombshell and Prime Vehicon are so FANTASTIC on their own.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922899)
Posted by Sabrblade on November 20th, 2017 @ 10:11pm CST
Posted by Sabrblade on November 20th, 2017 @ 10:11pm CST
I've forgotten that I've also troop-built three of the Prime Cyberverse Commander class Hardshell figure, and a small number of the Prime Cyberverse Commander class Predaking figure, with Bombshock and the Predacons Rising purple redeco Predaking serving as the generals of the troop-builders.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922939)
Posted by Deadput on November 21st, 2017 @ 7:33am CST
Posted by Deadput on November 21st, 2017 @ 7:33am CST
I really wished I bought the prid Vehicons it's one of the few non Titans Return figures that i missed out on (maybe hopefully like the tr figures I'll buy them on the net someday)
Speaking of tr and troop builders Getaway makes a good base for Autotroopers and I love Autotroopers just got to find me some cheap Getaways and hopefully a sticker set shows up that I can make the head less getaway and more trooper.
Speaking of tr and troop builders Getaway makes a good base for Autotroopers and I love Autotroopers just got to find me some cheap Getaways and hopefully a sticker set shows up that I can make the head less getaway and more trooper.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922957)
Posted by Rodimus Knight on November 21st, 2017 @ 9:37am CST
Posted by Rodimus Knight on November 21st, 2017 @ 9:37am CST
I would like to see them put out a 3 pack of current insecticons all done with the same or better yet original scheme, including chrome.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922967)
Posted by ScottyP on November 21st, 2017 @ 9:58am CST
Posted by ScottyP on November 21st, 2017 @ 9:58am CST
Among the notable toy snubs in TF: Prime is a Voyager Hardshell. Probably in the same bin of destroyed dreams as a blue/yellow Smokescreen redeco.Sabrblade wrote:I've forgotten that I've also troop-built three of the Prime Cyberverse Commander class Hardshell figure, and a small number of the Prime Cyberverse Commander class Predaking figure, with Bombshock and the Predacons Rising purple redeco Predaking serving as the generals of the troop-builders.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1922991)
Posted by william-james88 on November 21st, 2017 @ 11:10am CST
Yeah, big time! Though I am thankful that we can recreate a good cast at the cyberverse scale which makes for some fun troop building on a budget
With these lists, I try to make them as general as possible leaving technical stuff to the comments (cool to see all the head canon going on here, by the way ). The fun pub stuff which it surely applies to troop building technically doesnt really work with me. Not only are most of these toys all rehashes from molds that werent designed as troop builders, but they came with a troop already. In the general sense of troop building its people buying several of the same toy to build a troop but here the troop is already given to you in threes. Plus there is the fact that fun pub is very niche in both toys and fiction (and while I may be wrong, I consider any fiction coming from a fan club as fan fiction, so anything can basically be a troop builder at this point) and as I wrote, for a list everyone can enjoy I try to make it with stuff that is/was easily attainable for all, so that it can be as welcoming as possible for anyone who wants to join the conversation.
I do love those autotroopers though.
As I wrote above, I didnt want to get too technical with the list, I like to keep things general but also concise, so I stick to what is most commonly accepted and it seems troop building is buying multiples of the same toy to build a troop. There is also the sense in the fiction of troops being void of a particular personality, sometimes drones. So the idea of having completely different characters with different personalities and different looks with the seekers as troops seems off compared to the general idea. Hence why I went with the safer route and left the seekers out of it. I do feel its buying different toys when they are different characters that look different.
Na man, that guy rocks! a gorgeous homage to G1 in looks and build, nomatter the version you get. Really fun to play with too, I think he is the most underrated figure from the line.
Posted by william-james88 on November 21st, 2017 @ 11:10am CST
ScottyP wrote:Among the notable toy snubs in TF: Prime is a Voyager Hardshell. Probably in the same bin of destroyed dreams as a blue/yellow Smokescreen redeco.Sabrblade wrote:I've forgotten that I've also troop-built three of the Prime Cyberverse Commander class Hardshell figure, and a small number of the Prime Cyberverse Commander class Predaking figure, with Bombshock and the Predacons Rising purple redeco Predaking serving as the generals of the troop-builders.
Yeah, big time! Though I am thankful that we can recreate a good cast at the cyberverse scale which makes for some fun troop building on a budget
SG Roadbuster wrote:I am legit shocked that none of the botcon toys made it to the list.
no Virulent Clones? Autotroopers? SG Junkions? Rainmakers? Dread Pirate Crew, or Reflector?
With these lists, I try to make them as general as possible leaving technical stuff to the comments (cool to see all the head canon going on here, by the way
). The fun pub stuff which it surely applies to troop building technically doesnt really work with me. Not only are most of these toys all rehashes from molds that werent designed as troop builders, but they came with a troop already. In the general sense of troop building its people buying several of the same toy to build a troop but here the troop is already given to you in threes. Plus there is the fact that fun pub is very niche in both toys and fiction (and while I may be wrong, I consider any fiction coming from a fan club as fan fiction, so anything can basically be a troop builder at this point) and as I wrote, for a list everyone can enjoy I try to make it with stuff that is/was easily attainable for all, so that it can be as welcoming as possible for anyone who wants to join the conversation. I do love those autotroopers though.
Rodimus Prime wrote:Somewhat related: if you get all the redecos of one mold, are you troop building, even though technically each "troop" is a separate character? For example, all the different color versions of the Classics Seeker mold.
Gauntlet101010 wrote:Geez, no Classics Seekers? To me those guys are the best. Even if you don't include KOs you've still got a really decent array of characters between Hasbro, Takara, and FunPub - especially if you pretend different decos can represent entirely different characters (G2 Ramjet I am looking at you). Somewhat pricy, but I dig it.
As I wrote above, I didnt want to get too technical with the list, I like to keep things general but also concise, so I stick to what is most commonly accepted and it seems troop building is buying multiples of the same toy to build a troop. There is also the sense in the fiction of troops being void of a particular personality, sometimes drones. So the idea of having completely different characters with different personalities and different looks with the seekers as troops seems off compared to the general idea. Hence why I went with the safer route and left the seekers out of it. I do feel its buying different toys when they are different characters that look different.
cruizerdave wrote:I thought I was the only one who liked TR Scourge!
Na man, that guy rocks! a gorgeous homage to G1 in looks and build, nomatter the version you get. Really fun to play with too, I think he is the most underrated figure from the line.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1923025)
Posted by RK_Striker_JK_5 on November 21st, 2017 @ 2:02pm CST
Posted by RK_Striker_JK_5 on November 21st, 2017 @ 2:02pm CST
Troop-building's never been my thing. Just... I got limited money/shelf space. I don't need to spend it/occupy it with the same mold of the same character. Great list, WIlliam. Just... not my thing.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1923064)
Posted by cruizerdave on November 21st, 2017 @ 7:59pm CST
I use multiple Universe Scourges for Sweeps and a Titans one for Scourge himself.
Posted by cruizerdave on November 21st, 2017 @ 7:59pm CST
Gauntlet101010 wrote:Geez, no Classics Seekers? To me those guys are the best. Even if you don't include KOs you've still got a really decent array of characters between Hasbro, Takara, and FunPub - especially if you pretend different decos can represent entirely different characters (G2 Ramjet I am looking at you). Somewhat pricy, but I dig it.
TBH, Universe Scourge beats out Titans Return Scourge. Sure, TR Scourge is more show accurate, but he's also a lot more boring colour wise and has a bobble head. It's nice that the Sharkticon gives him a different head for the Japanese market but it's just not enough to push out Universe Scourge. As a bonus it comes in a two pack (the one with Cyclonus) if you wanted to differentiate a few for whatever reason.
I use multiple Universe Scourges for Sweeps and a Titans one for Scourge himself.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1923072)
Posted by UltraMarginal on November 21st, 2017 @ 8:32pm CST
Posted by UltraMarginal on November 21st, 2017 @ 8:32pm CST
I can't really disagree with this list, though eoples comments about the botcon troop builders are pretty fair, they do come in packs of 3 so it's pretty much a pre-existing set of troops.
My personal favorite troop builders are the Prime Vehicons, but I class all variants of the toy as part of the same troop. The Hasbro and Takara first edition versions have slightly different paint, the PRID versions have stickers or paint and then there are the two flyers and the white car vehicon, before you're really buying doubles, you have 6 variations of the same character/army. I have a few more than 6 in total...
My personal favorite troop builders are the Prime Vehicons, but I class all variants of the toy as part of the same troop. The Hasbro and Takara first edition versions have slightly different paint, the PRID versions have stickers or paint and then there are the two flyers and the white car vehicon, before you're really buying doubles, you have 6 variations of the same character/army. I have a few more than 6 in total...
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1923088)
Posted by Gauntlet101010 on November 21st, 2017 @ 10:42pm CST
Posted by Gauntlet101010 on November 21st, 2017 @ 10:42pm CST
I dunno, it seems like the reason they don't count is somewhat technical as well. I think it would have been better to define what kind of troop army you're building - very strictly the exact same toy with no deviations.
Nice. That's one way to do it!
The only Scourge I can't bring myself to buy multiples of is the Titanium one. It just sucks too much.
I use multiple Universe Scourges for Sweeps and a Titans one for Scourge himself.
Nice. That's one way to do it!
The only Scourge I can't bring myself to buy multiples of is the Titanium one. It just sucks too much.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1923093)
Posted by william-james88 on November 21st, 2017 @ 11:35pm CST
Very kind of you to say. And I totally get it, I too find the troop building prospect quite a luxury in this hobby but that makes it all the more unique and intriguing when you see it brought to life in a collection. I never thought I would have troops myself but by sheer luck or coincidence I ended up with a few. When I was getting back into collecting I would buy G1 lots locally, to build a collection, and there would always be an insecticon in there since they were so abundant back in the 80s (and less expensive than other characters). Those were the toys I wouldnt mind getting a double of.
And for Scourge, I got the universe one and I found the Platinum Cyclonus set for a relatively good price so I ended up with a few of the same mold (with variations) and then I got TR Scourge and found another at a thrift store but with no head (of course), but that last part doesnt matter since I can just give him any head and make that one a little different.
Plus, back when Hasbro and Takara had their factories in China, there would be a lot of surplus inventory that was dumped on e-bay for cheap prices (of course, with no instructions and out of the box since they never got to the packaging process). I wasnt seeing Generations Tankor at my retail stores so I simply placed low bids on a bunch of them on e-bay (low as in 6$ for the Takara version) and while I thought I wouldnt get any, I ended up with 3. Once again, just my luck that the toy I end up with multiples of ends up being a troop builder.
Thanks for understanding Your army sounds fun, do you have any pics of it? I could even add them to the article if they are posed.
And oh man, I wish someone had a shot like this available but actually made up of vehicons instead of random toys:
Posted by william-james88 on November 21st, 2017 @ 11:35pm CST
RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Troop-building's never been my thing. Just... I got limited money/shelf space. I don't need to spend it/occupy it with the same mold of the same character. Great list, WIlliam. Just... not my thing.
Very kind of you to say. And I totally get it, I too find the troop building prospect quite a luxury in this hobby but that makes it all the more unique and intriguing when you see it brought to life in a collection. I never thought I would have troops myself but by sheer luck or coincidence I ended up with a few. When I was getting back into collecting I would buy G1 lots locally, to build a collection, and there would always be an insecticon in there since they were so abundant back in the 80s (and less expensive than other characters). Those were the toys I wouldnt mind getting a double of.
And for Scourge, I got the universe one and I found the Platinum Cyclonus set for a relatively good price so I ended up with a few of the same mold (with variations) and then I got TR Scourge and found another at a thrift store but with no head (of course), but that last part doesnt matter since I can just give him any head and make that one a little different.
Plus, back when Hasbro and Takara had their factories in China, there would be a lot of surplus inventory that was dumped on e-bay for cheap prices (of course, with no instructions and out of the box since they never got to the packaging process). I wasnt seeing Generations Tankor at my retail stores so I simply placed low bids on a bunch of them on e-bay (low as in 6$ for the Takara version) and while I thought I wouldnt get any, I ended up with 3. Once again, just my luck that the toy I end up with multiples of ends up being a troop builder.
UltraMarginal wrote:I can't really disagree with this list, though eoples comments about the botcon troop builders are pretty fair, they do come in packs of 3 so it's pretty much a pre-existing set of troops.
My personal favorite troop builders are the Prime Vehicons, but I class all variants of the toy as part of the same troop. The Hasbro and Takara first edition versions have slightly different paint, the PRID versions have stickers or paint and then there are the two flyers and the white car vehicon, before you're really buying doubles, you have 6 variations of the same character/army. I have a few more than 6 in total...
Thanks for understanding
Your army sounds fun, do you have any pics of it? I could even add them to the article if they are posed.And oh man, I wish someone had a shot like this available but actually made up of vehicons instead of random toys:
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1923108)
Posted by UltraMarginal on November 22nd, 2017 @ 12:28am CST
I'll have a look through my photos if I get a chance, at the moment they are packed away to make room for other toys on display.
One of the guys on the OTCA forum in Australia, Goktimus Prime, made up a similar photo but a mashup of pictures using Microsoft paint and only a couple vehicons. years ago now but it was pretty cool.
Posted by UltraMarginal on November 22nd, 2017 @ 12:28am CST
william-james88 wrote:
Thanks for understanding
And oh man, I wish someone had a shot like this available but actually made up of vehicons instead of random toys:
I'll have a look through my photos if I get a chance, at the moment they are packed away to make room for other toys on display.
One of the guys on the OTCA forum in Australia, Goktimus Prime, made up a similar photo but a mashup of pictures using Microsoft paint and only a couple vehicons. years ago now but it was pretty cool.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1923121)
Posted by Qwan on November 22nd, 2017 @ 1:38am CST
Posted by Qwan on November 22nd, 2017 @ 1:38am CST
Well, thanks in part to this list (and also thanks in part to the fact that I really wanted to buy something else that's out of stock basically everywhere, and wanted something to make my order's shipping costs worthwhile), I finally bit (pun intended?) on 3 Takara Legends Sharkticons, bringing my total number of sharkies to 6. TR Sharkticons are the only toys I've ever troop-built, and while their size means that a group of three isn't actually that intimidating, I'm hoping that six will be a large enough number to put up a fair fight against Hot Rod and Kup on the shelf. 
So thanks for that Will, I hope you're happy. ...I know I am
(And now it turns out that since my other thing doesn't release til next month, I can't combine my AmiAmi orders and the Sharkticons are gonna ship separately anyway, negating the "shipping value" of ordering them in the first place. Ah well, at least they'll arrive sooner I guess.)
So thanks for that Will, I hope you're happy. ...I know I am
(And now it turns out that since my other thing doesn't release til next month, I can't combine my AmiAmi orders and the Sharkticons are gonna ship separately anyway, negating the "shipping value" of ordering them in the first place. Ah well, at least they'll arrive sooner I guess.)
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1929392)
Posted by Scrounge1984 on January 3rd, 2018 @ 9:29am CST
Posted by Scrounge1984 on January 3rd, 2018 @ 9:29am CST
When it comes to the Titans Return seekers, I don't like them all that much. It's mostly the blockey heads that bother me and the rectangular wings, but there fine if you like them.
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1929470)
Posted by william-james88 on January 3rd, 2018 @ 12:55pm CST
If you are happy, then I am super happy.
Also, I have learnt that for countries like yours and mine, anime export might be the best option. They will hold your items for as long as you want so you can ship them all at once. They will also declare whatever amount you ask them to inorder to help them get through customs easier.
The only bit that people dont like with anime export is that you have only a few weeks to preorder an item and then you cant preorder it anymore. Plus, you pay everything upfront (but that bit doesnt matter too much in deciding between that or amiami since neither let you cancel an order).
Posted by william-james88 on January 3rd, 2018 @ 12:55pm CST
Qwan wrote:So thanks for that Will, I hope you're happy. ...I know I am
If you are happy, then I am super happy.
Also, I have learnt that for countries like yours and mine, anime export might be the best option. They will hold your items for as long as you want so you can ship them all at once. They will also declare whatever amount you ask them to inorder to help them get through customs easier.
The only bit that people dont like with anime export is that you have only a few weeks to preorder an item and then you cant preorder it anymore. Plus, you pay everything upfront (but that bit doesnt matter too much in deciding between that or amiami since neither let you cancel an order).
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1929573)
Posted by Mr Skram on January 3rd, 2018 @ 6:48pm CST
Posted by Mr Skram on January 3rd, 2018 @ 6:48pm CST
I would never put it in contention for best troop builder seeing as they're not a troop/army in any fiction, but I adore PotP Slash so much I made up an excuse to buy more.
Much like the raptors in Jurassic Park, my three Slash figures hunt as a pack. I painted their robot heads different colors and added tiny splashes of detail to differentiate them while keeping the aesthetic mostly pure. I left the original Slash alone since she looks good enough as it is.
If you want to take a peak
Much like the raptors in Jurassic Park, my three Slash figures hunt as a pack. I painted their robot heads different colors and added tiny splashes of detail to differentiate them while keeping the aesthetic mostly pure. I left the original Slash alone since she looks good enough as it is.
If you want to take a peak
Re: Top 5 Best Transformers Troop Builders (1930315)
Posted by Evil Eye on January 7th, 2018 @ 9:53am CST
Posted by Evil Eye on January 7th, 2018 @ 9:53am CST
Just read through this list properly, and as always it's great. I need to get myself some G1 Insecticons, they look like a lot of fun.
Some I'd be tempted to add would be:
Energon Divebomb (because he's one of the best Scouts ever made, THE best birdformer ever made and a damn fine toy in general)
Movie Swindle (cool car mode, unique robot mode, weird but neat gimmick, fun transformation and makes for an excellent "heavy weapons grunt")
G1 Seacons (technically they were drones in Masterforce, I think, and they're great little toys for their age)
And some I'd be tempted to use as army builders even though they aren't _actually_ army builders...
G1 Scramble City limbs in general (their small size, very generic stylings, relative cheapness and general cuteness makes me think they'd make good "drone" units- a fleet of Groove police drones, a battalion of Brawl tank drones etc)
The TR clones (as individuals they're highly forgettable, but as generic army fillers? Hell yeah!)
Knockoffs in general (cheap, often unusually coloured, plentiful, expendable...sounds like superb generic fodder to me!)
Energon combiners (literally zero personality, but fun toys and pretty cheap)
Some I'd be tempted to add would be:
Energon Divebomb (because he's one of the best Scouts ever made, THE best birdformer ever made and a damn fine toy in general)
Movie Swindle (cool car mode, unique robot mode, weird but neat gimmick, fun transformation and makes for an excellent "heavy weapons grunt")
G1 Seacons (technically they were drones in Masterforce, I think, and they're great little toys for their age)
And some I'd be tempted to use as army builders even though they aren't _actually_ army builders...
G1 Scramble City limbs in general (their small size, very generic stylings, relative cheapness and general cuteness makes me think they'd make good "drone" units- a fleet of Groove police drones, a battalion of Brawl tank drones etc)
The TR clones (as individuals they're highly forgettable, but as generic army fillers? Hell yeah!)
Knockoffs in general (cheap, often unusually coloured, plentiful, expendable...sounds like superb generic fodder to me!)
Energon combiners (literally zero personality, but fun toys and pretty cheap)
