Transformers questions by newbies, and not-so-newbies

[GoktimusPrime]

Hey guys, did the Galaxy Force toys come with little collector cards?

Yup.

[1] Origin of triple changing ability. I read that they were a result of Shockwave's experiments (I think this was from the DW comics).

Any other information anyone can shed on this?

It was never explained in G1.

[2] Origin of Sixshot ?

Ditto.

[3] Origin of combiner technology. According to the IDW Spotlight: Optimus Prime, it stated that Jihaxus introduced this via an experiment that resulted in Monstructor.

I am interested in finding out if there are any other origin stories.

The G1 origin is veeeeeeeeeeeeeery confusing. Megatron built the Constructicons on Earth with the ability to combine into Devastator. Then it was revealed that the Constructicons were former allies of the Autobots on Cybertron until they were reprogrammed by Megatron and rebuilt with the ability to merge into Devastator. Then it was revealed that the Constructicons created Megatron. Yeah.

[4] How Transformers are created / made. Primus? Vector Sigma? Matrix? Some combination of all three?

As kup said, the cartoon was inconsistent... technically the Transformers were meant to be given life by Vector Sigma (which has been retconned as a "physical embodiment of Primus" - in Beast Wars Neo Vector Sigma referred to itself as the God of Transformers) but there are noteable exceptions to it - such as the Constructicons and Dinobots, created on Earth and given life by no apparent means whatsoever.

In the comics, the Transformers were originally created and given life by their God Primus. At first they were able to reproduce on their own via a process similar to mitotic budding, but this ability was lost. Afterward Transformers were given life via the Creation Matrix, which contains a portion of Primus' life essence. Transformers like the Constructicons could also be given life with residual energies from the Matrix (extracted from Optimus Prime's head). In Beast Wars/Beast Machines the Matrix was defined as an alternate reality ("afterlife") where Transformer Sparks originated from and were destined to return to upon death - also known as the AllSpark it's similar to the idea of the cosmic mother node in Vedic religions like Hinduism and Buddhism.

And of course, in the movie and Animated we have the AllSpark Cube/key.

[5] Why does Alpha Trion seem to "age", whereas some other characters do not (well at least they don't seem to grow beards)?

TF beards make no freakin' sense whatsoever... I don't get it either.
Emirate Xaaron is a better example of an aged Transformer - no beard, but being incredibly old he's too frail to transform.

liegeprime: Transformers in G1 and G2 from 1988 onwards didn't have rub signs.