Do you read instructions first or not?

[STL]

Inspired by Gok's post in the acquisition's thread, do you read your instructions first? Do you watch video reviews where the reviewer transforms? How important is the discovery experience to you?

[jaydisc]

I like to start with a gentle discovery process. After I get it, I go back to the other mode and THEN I hit the instructions to see if there is any extra info, benefits to a preferred order, etc.

I have been know to watch the occasional pre-release review (I'm a sucker for peaugh) showing a transformation when I'm excited about the figure. I did this for much of Animated. However, i don't think I retain enough of a memory between this and release for it to help me figure the figure out.

[Pulse]

Must be force of habit but I always look at the instructicons before I transform a new fig (tfing a Alt/Binaltech without instructicons would get me nowhere ). After I've fiddled with it, I check the instructicons to see where I've transformed it wrong (which seems to happen 9/10 times ).

I don't make an effort to search for youtube reviews of new figures (there's only one reviewer on my subscription list) but if he's reviewed it, I'll watch it (force of habit again... ).

The very first time I transform & fiddle with a new figure, it's just_plain_fun! (I feel like it's Christmas Morning once again - Ooooh! I wonder what new TF I got for myself today... )

[heroic_decepticon]

will only look at the instructions after I think (or am confident) that i've more or less figured the TF out. I'll check the instructions to see if there is anything I've missed.

[jacksplatt11]

I usually look at the instructions first cause they usually fall out of the packaging first, so I have a quick look then get into transforming... But for things like legends etc there is no real need for instructions...

I don't make a habit of watching review/transformation videos, but on the odd ocasion I will..

[gamblor916]

I always check the instructions first, less chance of breakage.

[Paulbot]

The $@$&ing Automorph feature in the movie toys made me cautious, broken 74 Bumblebee anyone?

Animated toys are much better but theres still things like Lugnut where you can break the weapon if you transform it the way you'd expect to.

Often a starting point is good though. My Animated Bumblebee for instance was so tightly put together in car mode that nothing seemed to want to move first and I needed to check.

Legends, Realgear, Scouts and, funnily enough most Ultras are easily transformed without instructions.

I find it more fun pre-buying a toy working out in my head how the transformation works based on the pictures, which I've been doing since I was a kid studying the catalogues.

[Thanatos]

I always check the instructions first, less chance of breakage.

Yep. That's my reasoning too.