Actionmaster Updates

[Toph]

How does one do a proper Actionmaster update in a line where half the fandom screams bloody murder if every single toy of a character doesn't transform?

I mean like, you can throw in an occasional update of a new character via repaint (ala Jackpot), or give us an occasional AMTC, and that's great for collection holes.
There's also the common fan concept of them transforming into the vehicle/partner the originals came with (either in the form of TR Optimus being repainted as the armored convoy, or new molds like Prowl transforming into his motorcycle)
But we've had a full update of the entire Scramble Combiner system. We've had a full update of other gimmicks, like Headmasters, Micromasters, Targetmaster Guns, and two different attempts at updating the pretenders gimmick.

But how does one update a subline who's entire gimmick is being non-transforming action figures focusing on a different form of play, when half the fandom rejects the core concept on principle alone?

I have two ideas.

A
You do just that. And you also eschew standard scale.
Non transforming core class sized figures, with greater articulation than normal.
Core class- non transforming core figure, plus small transforming accessory. Think Devastator and Jazz.
Deluxe- core figure plus larger simple interactive vehicle. Think Prowl and Circuit
Voyager- core figure plus larger, more complicated vehicle. Think Wheeljack and Gutcruncher
Leader- Optimus and Megatron

B
Focused on standard scale. Deluxe class robots across the board. Even Devastator.
Focus is on a standardized "cheap" (meaning big name characters like Optimus and Megatron in the $20 bracket instead of at the $30 and $50 classes), clean, and well articulated robot mode, with minimal kibble.
They would have a simple transformation into a fudged vehicle. They're not really trying to be disguised.
Or hell... If they can hide the kibble as well as they did on SS86 Jazz on Prowl, Starscream, and Optimus? They go for full complexity!
Point is to be as faithful an update to the AM robot mode in a standardized deluxe price range.
Reintroduce Battlemasters to bring in their partners, and if vehicles are to be a thing, push them off into a higher pricepoint.
Megatron as a spaceship instead of a tank, to utilize that now standard Shockwave trick, and Devastator as....something.

So, of all of these, what's your preference? Or what are your ideas? What's best for your collections?

[Llama God]

Probably option A for me. The key thing about Action Masters isn't just that they didn't transform, but that they had accessories that could transf- convert. So something that preserved that play pattern is certainly the way I would go. And it's probably a good call to not put them at the 3.5" scale - if Star Wars and Joe figures are anything to go by, even that's a pricy scale these days. So Core class would be a good fit. Or even something in the scale of the Star Wars Mission Fleet toys. In fact, Mission Fleet would be the perfect mdoel for these.

[Benn]

Yeah, Option A. If you're doing Action Masters properly they need the mini-partners and vehicles.

I'm happy to have the characters as converting Generations style updates, but if you're explicity updating Action Masters as a concept, then option A's the way for me.

[Bogatan]

As I considered most of the Accessories to be sentient as they were described as partners I'd like to see them get new transforming toys. Its not like we havent had an actual skateboard since then.

Something like Power Core Combiner 2 packs with the Actionmasters at minicon size with transformations like the microns into targetmaster type weapons. And the Partners as the larger figures with proper robot modes or at least alternative modes. Lil Prowl riding around on his big boy bike friend that transformers into a rough enforcer type.

Thundercrackers exosuit is essntially the original but with his own head and arms.

In the larger size class Primes trailer becomes Powertrain.

Or the AMs all get done in Titanmaster style (but better) and form the heads of the partners robot modes. Or Powermasters or a mix of all three.

[Pinwig]

A would be pretty cool, but I think anything AM related these days would come out a lot like RED.