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Since I presume Prime Masters weren't exactly anyone's favorite, what would you say would be the best way of handling modern iterations of the Pretenders?
Based on the assumption that doing a full-sized robot with its shell isn't affordable (notinthebudgetbro.jpeg), I'd say go with the ROTF Bludgeon/Generations Skullgrin route and merge the shell and inner robot into one, with the robot mode styled after the shell itself and the vehicle mode after the inner robot's original alt-mode.
I'd kill for a Submarauder made this way.