The Intergalactic Highway

Aside from aquatic Beast Warriors of course, what would happen if one fell into water? Can they swim? Would their parts, circuits, etc. get fried? Or are they water resistant and just sink to the bottom until they finally walk their way out?

In Dark Voyage, they were able to... well, sort of swim in beast mode, although I don't think any of them were too happy about it. But in Deep Metal, Cheetor had problems with his jets and comm unit fritzing out after crashing in to ocean. I guess it depends on the 'bot and how "sealed" their systems are; regular beast mode, O.K. - transmetals (and probably most robot modes), not so O.K.

I do recall and RiD episode where they all sunk like rocks... I think they played cards on the bottom of the river while waiting for rescue 0.o

IMO, the non aquatic bots can swim for a certain amount of time, in beast or robot mode. however, depending on how long they were in there, their defenses would weaken and allow water to seep in through their joints and into their systems. then they're in trouble. i've written a fic regarding this point, albeit briefly

as for beathing (which i know isn't part of your question, but im gonna throw it in anyway).....i havnt a clue. they can "breathe", and its a point thts been brought up here before, and many of us deduced that it was because of the mergence withtheir organic forms or somethin. that part, i havnt figured out. coz in G1, they seem to do fine, but Rhinox came to the surface gasping for air in Dark Voyage, didn't he?

....eheh...

well for breathing... i'd say normal cybertronians don't have to breathe. for the beast warriors, i'd say whether the mode they're in or whether they're transmetal or not, they still have to breathe. as for swimming bots, i agree with jagna.

The breathing topic starts from the voice talent and animation of the series. The voice cast and the directors must have added to the Transformers (G1, BW, BM, etc.) the ability to breath in order to make them more human. I mean, the audience will get more involved with the robotic characters if there are similar to humans. Also, the cast need to emphazise some of the characters reactions and expresions. E.g. when they are tired, or if they are hit on the thorax, to express sadness by giving a deep breath, etc. Al these are resources employed by the cast and crew to make the characters more real.

Now, technically speaking, breathing might me a vital function for the Transformers since they are living creatures, with a heart and a soul... I mean, with a spark. Their robotic bodies must administrate the use of air much better than our organic ones, so it's not as important as it is for us to breath constantly but it's necesary to do it. The human body and the Transformer body work similar, but has significant differences.

About swimming, I think that more advanced bodies have been created from generation to generation. Their super advanced positronic brains must be aware of this problem, don't you think so? Anyway, Jagna's theory is interesting. The "water" Transformers must move better in water than the "land" ones, although the last ones can be a short time in it without any trouble.