The Energon Pub

I stopped in TRU last night because I heard they had a huge sale going on. I looked through the aisles and didn't find anything I needed for my collection. Then, I looked down and they had all of the ROTF voyagers on sale for $9.99! I bought Bludgeon.

I have certain rules that I follow to keep my TF spending in check. I only collect stuff that is a direct homage to a character that appeared in the US TV show. They must have similar robot, alt. modes, and paint jobs. Example: Animated Jazz=good. Animated Prowl as motorcycle=not good).

Or, I will buy G1 figures that didn't appear on the show if I owned them as a kid. Example: I owned some of the Seacons growing up, so I bought the BBTS Seacons.

Back to the story. I had been passing on Bludgeon since he came out. I really liked the figure when he was released. Every review I read on him loved him. But he didn't fit into my rules. He didn't appear on the the show. At that price (as well as a couple bucks off for TRU rewards points) I caved.

What I would like to discuss is, what are your rules? What figures did you want so badly that you just had to have them, even though they didn't fit in? Were you happy with you decision later on?

My collection is fairly organised, with spaces for figures I want. However, some figures that catch my eyes simply don't fit within certain standards, like Generations Thunderwing did. I had "Season 1", "Season 2" and a "Season 3" section for my Neo-G1 display, but Thunderwing didn't fit either category. So I simply created a new category: "Comics Decepticon Leaders". Side effect of that is that now I want (or need) Darkmount/Straxus to complete the group...

I have very simple rules when it comes to collecting:

1) No Movie Figures
2) No Animated Figures
3) No Gi Figures or G2 Figures that are bricks (pre-ball/socket joints)

I have made the followingmodifications over time
1) No movie figs that have the horrible movie-esque heads
--I don't own a single Prime or Megatron for example, but I have Lockdown and Bludgeon for example
2) No Animated Figures
--Yes they look like fun figs, but if I get one, I know I'll end up getting all of them, and my wallet doesn't want that
3) G1 figs are permitted if they look fine with my Classics
--I have Sky Lynx on my shelf, as with Trypticon and Predaking, and the TFCC Piranacon.

My main rule at this time is not to buy any movie toys.

I also have given up the 'try to buy everything' moniker. I used to pre-movies. It was feasible, and there was not as much. Now there is a lot of choice so refinements are needed.

My movie rule is broken with these exceptions. They are a cool looking black variant/repaint, or they fit into a CLASSICS/GENERATIONS display.

I don't have rules so much as guidelines.

And I don't always stay within the guidelines.

Mkall wrote:I have very simple rules when it comes to collecting:

1) No Movie Figures
2) No Animated Figures
3) No Gi Figures or G2 Figures that are bricks (pre-ball/socket joints)

I have made the followingmodifications over time
1) No movie figs that have the horrible movie-esque heads
--I don't own a single Prime or Megatron for example, but I have Lockdown and Bludgeon for example
2) No Animated Figures
--Yes they look like fun figs, but if I get one, I know I'll end up getting all of them, and my wallet doesn't want that
3) G1 figs are permitted if they look fine with my Classics
--I have Sky Lynx on my shelf, as with Trypticon and Predaking, and the TFCC Piranacon.

Yeah, I pretty much follow this rule myself.

Movie figs that I have allowed to be in my neo g1 lineup are Deluxe Bludgeon (waiting for headrobots Blood set) and Lockdown (cause he is just so badass). Only Animated figure that I own is Arcee and she has uuser's IDW head on her. The only G1 piece I have on display with everyone is Devastator and it's because I have the Crazy Devy parts on him which put him on par (to me at least) with classics/generations.

Since I haven't had much spare cash lately, I've had to try and stick to two very strict rules.

- No Transformers post 1986\movie.
- Ehobby G1 recolours are safe.

I've broken these a couple of times.

- Generations Darkmount. Bought solely because its Straxus, and he never had a toy, with the added bonus he isn't big enough to dwarf my G1s.

- Powermaster Optimus Prime. I'd be tempted to try and collect all the way up to 1989, but there's too much junk from those periods.

- G1 Clench. I got him as a chrimbo present as a kid. He rocks

- G1 Stalker.

- G2 Megatron. I like this toy. He looks cool versus Powermaster Prime. That and he cost £1.

- Car Robots Black Convoy. Evil Prime. Is. Evil.

- R.I.D Deluxe Scourge. See above reason.

- Armada Unicron. For the same reasons as Darkmount, basically.

The rules I have with my collection is I keep the G1/G2 on there own shelf as for my generations/classics and Armada and movie line.
For example I have G1 grimlock with 3 Gnaws and I have my Unicron with his mini cons on a different shelf. Currently I am getting the new generations line up and also going to get the reissue of the seacons.
As for the new movie line up coming out the only thing that I am looking forward to is the new optimus prime with his trailer. Most of my G1 is from my childhood when I remember when the first TV show aired and I fell in love with transformers. My daughter likes my G1 collection so I promised her I give it to her when she gets older.

Rule 1. I must like the toy in BOTH modes. An awesome alt mode is cool, but it's a Transformer, not a model (such as why HftD Highbrow was an easy pass).

Rule 2. Buy what I like, not what everyone in the TF fandom thinks I "have to" have. I didn't like Protector, didn't get him.

Rule 3. Don't buy a toy just because it is the only representation of a beloved character (hence why I sold universe Ratchet and Ironhide, they sucked, even though Ratchet is in my top 5 favorite characters).

Rule 4. Only one version of each character in each class size.

Sticking to rules isn't hard for me, but I run into trouble when I don't realize soon enough that my rules need to change. Some rules I've modified or added recently:

1) No more movie collecting - Picking up major onscreen characters is fine, but I've only got two shelves for Bayverse, and not everything will fit.
2) No more AEC toys unless they fit into Classicverse (ie Donkeypunch and Slice)
3) Repaints are fun, but minimize the unnecessary ones (ie Atomic Lugnut and Shadow Blades Megatron) and focus on the new characters (Fracture and Drag Strip).
4) Classicverse is focus #1
5) Stick to G1 reissues for now: they're inexpensive and plentiful.
6) 3rd Party stuff may look appealing, but it's not crucial to my collection.

Older rules include
1) Don't let the cats near the toys
2) Be considerate of my girlfriend, who loves me very much, and is supportive of my eccentric hobby.

I think that about covers it.

I do have a lot of rules for collecting.

It's basically like this: I view the Armada, Energon, Cybertron, and Classics toys as one big universe. That's what I collect. I buy all of it, down to the strangest, ugliest repaint.

-I get the best version of a character/toy, I don't keep the lesser version. This means I often upgrade figures when possible. For example, most of my US Armada toys have been switched to Micron Legend at this point.

-I don't purchase Beast Wars toys.

-I only collect movie toys that appear in the film and only in the most compatible scale. So, no legends, FAB, etc.

-I collect no TF merchandise. Nothing extra, only transforming toys.

-I tend towards cartoon accuracy when possible.

-I purchase G1 figures only when they are near perfect. I collect G1 with a very slow hand.

-I make up story based things that allow me to break my own rules when a toy is cool enough. I have several Animated toys in my collection due to this. After all, I'm not a Nazi.

Counterpunch wrote:After all, I'm not a Nazi.

LIES!!

On the subject of merchandise - I love G1 merchandise, especially weird stuff like Record\Cassette carry cases, vinyl records, 3d puzzles. I've even got some pretty awesome bedsheets\pillow cover with Prime, Megatron, Grimlock and Lazerbeak duking it out.

It Is Him wrote:1) No more movie collecting - Picking up major onscreen characters is fine, but I've only got two shelves for Bayverse, and not everything will fit.
2) No more AEC toys unless they fit into Classicverse (ie Donkeypunch and Slice)
3) Repaints are fun, but minimize the unnecessary ones (ie Atomic Lugnut and Shadow Blades Megatron) and focus on the new characters (Fracture and Drag Strip).
4) Classicverse is focus #1

Personally, i share these rules with you;

1) I'll only get Shockwave from the DOTM line.

2) A lot of my AEC stuff got sold off - if it doesn't fit with classics, got to go.

3) 100% agree.

4) Same as above...

Also, i tend to favour cartoon accuracy above all else (FIRRIB)

Amelie wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:After all, I'm not a Nazi.

LIES!!

On the subject of merchandise - I love G1 merchandise, especially weird stuff like Record\Cassette carry cases, vinyl records, 3d puzzles. I've even got some pretty awesome bedsheets\pillow cover with Prime, Megatron, Grimlock and Lazerbeak duking it out.

Speaking of records, I'm deeply interested in The Touch/ Dare To Be Stupid picture disc single with Superion as the art. I've been wanting that one since the 90s, but just haven't found one at either a good opportunity or the right price.

This laser disc has been on my to buy list for a while, but only because the artwork rules so hard.

On the rules breaking end of this conversation, when they came out I bought the WFC Prime and Bumblebee. I have been kicking myself since. They just sit there in bot mode. They don't really fit in anywhere and they are a pain to transform. I don't think Bee ever made it to alt mode.

I keep themes and I dont have rules persay, but guidelines.

I collect Megatron, Starscream and Soundwave, they're a trio I have. However, they need to look the same, typically G1 colors. So, movie starscream and soundwave are the g1 colored exclusives. I dont see myself getting tattoo starscream.

Other than that, I'm pretty loose, but try to keep it small these days.

1. Dont buy multiples of a character without good reason. Example: WFC Prime I wouldn't have bought. But I found a deal on all four of the original WFC characters so now they just have there own space.
2. I don't buy Armada, Energon, RiD, Beast-anything, G1 or G2(I grew up watching these but just am not interested anymore)
3. Buy Hasbro. Normally I can get 2 Hasbro deluxes for 1 Takara deluxe. I'm cheap.
4. Actual movie characters tend to be lame...though non movie characters in movie lines are awesome I've noticed.
5. I don't really buy above Voyager size. Though I do need to find a proper sized opponent for my one Onslaught Ultra-class figure.

Here are the rules I have:
-No Animated figures (I like many of the designs, and I have some of the figures, but they don't really have a place in my collection for the most part; I have made an exception (Leader Megatron) more recently, since he fits in better with my Classics than some others would. This si one reason that I like Classics/Movie-styled versions of Animated characters like Lockdown and Bulkhead. I hope we get some more soon, like Bulkhead, or maybe Blitzwing, although I would rather get one with a more realistic tank mode.

-I rarely get figures that are horribly out of scale. This rule mainly applies to my Movie collection, and I'm perfectly fine with my Deluxe Classics Seekers and other figures that should be bigger. However, for some reason I am reluctant to get figures like Windcharger with car modes that are too small.

-I don't get Legends Class figures. The only exceptions I would ever make (I have not made any yet since I started collecting) would be for a figure like ROTF Wheelie or Ravage who is much better scaled for the rest of the figures if Legends sized.

-I rarely mix figures from lines with distinctly different styles, although as I mentioned above, I don't mind having some of the less exaggerated Animated figures with my Classics collection. I also use ROTF Lockdown and Bludgeon with my Classics, and may end up using some other Movie figures in my Classics collection.

-I don't get G1/G2 figures, since I don't like most of the designs, and most of them have little to no articulation.

-When I began collecting, I never got multiple versions of moulds. I have since stopped that completely, and often get repaints/remoulds, but only if they are new characters or can be repurposed as new characters.

-I am currently focusing mainly on Classics, and going by the pics of DOTM toys we've seen so far, it will continue to be my main focus. Like Jimmy Drift, I also prefer G1 cartoon accuracy over G1 toy accuracy in many cases, unless being less accurate simply makes it look better in my opinion. For example, I hate the colours on Classics Astrotrain, and got Henkei instead. However, I prefer the colour schemes of other inaccurately coloured figures like Universe Powerglide. I like the white with red accents much better than either red version.

-I tend avoid merch.
-I tend avoid Legends unless it homages a figures original scale like Warpath and the rest of the Universe/Henkei Legends.
-I avoid most movie figures unless it's really nice IMO.
-I am going to be avoiding most of the PCC 5 packs. Dinobots and Constructicons are always an exception for me.
Since catching up on multiple lines and completing my collections of many older lines, I try to stay within my focus. That being Classics and the like. I make exceptions for the random figure here and there who are just too interesting to me to pass up.

It Is Him wrote:Speaking of records, I'm deeply interested in The Touch/ Dare To Be Stupid picture disc single with Superion as the art. I've been wanting that one since the 90s, but just haven't found one at either a good opportunity or the right price.

I didn't know about a picture disc! Sounds good. I only knew about the existance of a single vinyl until a friend found it for me. (of which mine isn't a picture disc, and the cover has that rather odd movie poster with Springer looking like the main hero)

There are a few rare record shops in my local town, so I really should dig around them more often....

Amelie wrote:

It Is Him wrote:Speaking of records, I'm deeply interested in The Touch/ Dare To Be Stupid picture disc single with Superion as the art. I've been wanting that one since the 90s, but just haven't found one at either a good opportunity or the right price.

I didn't know about a picture disc! Sounds good. I only knew about the existance of a single vinyl until a friend found it for me. (of which mine isn't a picture disc, and the cover has that rather odd movie poster with Springer looking like the main hero)

There are a few rare record shops in my local town, so I really should dig around them more often....

Here's the only picture I can find. If you happen to run across two of them (fat chance, I know), I might be willing to help you part with it.

I really don't have any rules to my collection. If I like it, I buy it.

But, with that said, I stick strictly to "real" TFs; no FAB, no Speed Stars, no corny Mighty Muggs, etc.

I will buy TF clothing, but I haven't as of yet.

EDIT: I have bought two Seibertron.com T-shirts though!

I broke my movieverse rule when I picked up Banzaitron. It wasn't on sale but I kind of got him on a whim, he just looke d coll in the store. I then decided to get Seaspray and Breacher since I already broke the rule. I like all three they fit in fine on my classics shelf. They are little big in a crowd of deluxes, but I'm sure there will be some voyager RtS at some point that I'll want.

I probably won't pick up any movie figures but I won't rule it out at this point.
I was trying, slowly, get at least a couple figures from each major series. I mostly concentrate on neo-g1 and g1. I'm pretty much done with animated. I don't usually get repaints in the same mold.
Creating rules to reign in spending are a good idea. I think no more than 1 figure a week needs to be my new mantra.

i had never bought a legend until about 5 minutes ago. but then i realized legends ravage was perfect size. and will actually probably be displayed with my WFC characters

ShardFenix wrote:i had never bought a legend until about 5 minutes ago. but then i realized legends ravage was perfect size. and will actually probably be displayed with my WFC characters

I've said it before, but HFTD legends Ravage looks brilliant with WFC Soundwave.