don't forget that build fighters exists.

Yeah but BF is more a spin off then a real gundam series.

It's a spinoff.

What he said.

...

Hopefully I'm not opening Pandora's Box by asking this *probably again*:

But why exactly is Build Fighters a spin-off and not a main series?

Because the other Gundam anime exist inside the Build Fighters universe.

I don't know why RD always releases the craziest SEED variants out there, but I hope they never stop.

I know.

Those two are among my favrioute of the variants too, and it's a shame that model kits of them aren't easy to come by...

Which reminds me, I really should track down that MG Destiny Impulse R sometime.

...And how does that have any bearing on Build Fighters being a main series in the franchise or not?

Two words: Digimon Tamers

It doesn't have the same tone/focus as the mainline gundam series of being dark, being set in a war, the repurcussions that come of it, very cereberal and intense discussions about himanity, the nature of war, possibility, e.t.c.

I think you can just tell the difference by watching something like Unicorn compared to BF. Do they both have mech fights? Yeah. But the stories, emotional centers and dialouge content are completley different.

And yes, G Gundam is different, but I haven't seen it so I don't know how to classify it.

The lack of Sword Calamity merch is criminal.

Good luck! It looks great.

With such a large portion of Gundam shows being AU with vastly different takes on the original idea, the line between main and spin-off gets blurred too easily.
I think classifying stuff like BF or Sangokuden as main or spin-off is just a matter of personal preference.

Awesome.
G Gundam can only be classified as awesome.