A combiners question...

[Kaylee]

How do you reckon that the more... effective combiners ever dis-assemble? I was playing the level in Fall of Cybertron where you get to stomp around as Bruticus, and it occurred to me... why would Bruticus ever want to stop existing?

Some of the earlier attempts at the combiner tech, like Menasor and Superior and obviously Devs, could only do what all the components could agree on. Fine, all the components agree to dis-assemble and the combiner disengages back into individuals.

But what about someone like Predaking? He has his complete, own personality (based almost totally on instinct) and isn't, it would seem, just a committee meeting of individuals. So how would the Decepticons ever get Predaking to stand down? Presumably he'd just want to keep going! Bruticus I suppose would be a similar kettle of fish and maybe Defensor, too. Once engaged, it might be a mission in-itself to get a combiner to stop.

Or would there just be a remote control? Or maybe they would be sent for counselling?

[Computron]

I imagine energy consumption plays a role. It's been assumed that the Great War TF's are fairly energon inefficient (at least according to Beast Wars), so I can only think that the gestalts were the Canyoneros of Cybertron. Amazing for 20 minutes until you need to pull over and fill up the tank.

But from a psychological perspective? Not sure. Maybe there is just a built in limit on how much the spark can take before its own individuality breaks the gestalt connection?

[Kaylee]

Hmm outrun them for long enough and they stall/separate? I can see that.

[Computron]

Would make for some uminpressive battle though.

"Oh it is Devastator. Let's leg it for a few minutes and come back when he is tired."

[Kaylee]

Especially if Devs had a lunchbox full of fuel...

[bumblemusprime]

That gives a whole new robot meaning to "This never happened before!"