The Energon Pub

Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:37 pm

Just wanted some advice on which toy I should get first to start my collection, how I go about doing that (Should I go through eBay, BBTS, cons?), should I keep it in the box or not, etc.

I know that some of you would say "Just do whatever!", but I really need at least a tip to get off on the right foot.

Thanks!

News Credits: 12 · Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:43 pm

I wouldn't start with a site like BBTS, as you're paying a premium for rare/imported toys. I'd start with your local Toys R Us, Walmart, and Target stores, and just buy whatever appeals to you. As time goes on, you'll develop a taste for what you like and don't like.

eBay is a great way to go "back in time" and get figures you missed out on. When I first started collecting, about half my purchases came from eBay. But again, don't pay a lot for rare figures when you're starting out. Get stuff that's cheap or reasonably prices (as close to retail as possible) until you know what you really like and dislike.

Don't bother keeping anything in the package. Vintage toys may be valuable, but current toys are a terrible investment. And a toy in the package is no fun to play with. If you find something you love so much you want to keep it in the package, buy two; one to save and one to play with.

News Credits: 241 · Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:49 pm

Ask yourself what you really want first. Don't feel pressured into buying toys just because most of us do.

If you do decide to, start small. And cheap. It's easy to get overwhelmed with what's out there, not to mention the prices. Go look at the local stores, see what's out there, see what tickles your fancy. Once you see a toy you really like, get it. Make sure it's special and stands out as it should represent your tastes in general :lol:

For illustration, my first toys were RiD Super Optimus Prime, and Armada Sideways. I've always liked Optimus Prime (Ok, he was cheap), but I adore toys that switch allegiance. Even when a repaint does that, like Prime Wheeljack vs. Prime Dead End.

Ultimately, it's your call.

Fri Oct 26, 2012 12:54 pm

Well, first thing to do is just sit down and figure out what you like. A specific vehicle or animal you think is cool. Maybe even a specific colour.

Like, I don't go for the big name characters like Optimus Prime or Megatron. It's not that their figures are all bad or anything but they don't really grab me the way that Icepick or Claw Jaw do. I also prefer the smaller size classes because they are cheaper and they cost a lot less in shipping because I live in Sweden and our availability is kind of mediocre at times so I buy from online stores and eBay.

If you want something fairly current and not too out there I'd recommend DOTM Powerglide. It has a clever transformation scheme, good looking modes and is generally very transformer-y. Not a perfect figure but nearly as good as you can possibly get at such a small size.

News Credits: 3 · Fri Oct 26, 2012 1:50 pm

TDK Akita wrote:Just wanted some advice on which toy I should get first to start my collection, how I go about doing that (Should I go through eBay, BBTS, cons?), should I keep it in the box or not, etc.

I know that some of you would say "Just do whatever!", but I really need at least a tip to get off on the right foot.

Thanks!

Well, you have Jazz/Meister in your tag, so you must like that character.

I'd recommend starting with him.

This is actually a great time to pick up the HasbroToyShop/TRU gift pack with the G2 colors deluxe Jazz, Optimus Prime, and cyberverse Thundercracker and Motorbreath. It was $29.99 the last time I checked, which is pretty reasonable considering deluxe figures are going for $15 a pop.

Unless you plan on selling the toys later, I'd also say you should open them up. Over time, boxed toys end up taking up a lot more space than unboxed toys. (For years, I was storing modern toy packaging in a closet...but I gave it all away when I moved. Now I throw out most packaging. Most box art is archived online somewhere, anyway.)

Don't go crazy trying to buy everything if you get bit with the collecting bug, though. Slow and steady wins the race.

Just a rule of thumb: Whenever you are about to drop a lot of money, ask yourself what else you could have bought if you saved your money, and whether you would have gotten more pleasure or use out of that other thing. One of the worst parts of collecting is buyer's remorse. When you are in the store, spending five, ten, or twenty bucks might not seem like much. At the end of the year, though, when you add up all of those toys you bought...you realize you could have bought yourself something bigger or nicer.

Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:14 pm

My kleptomania will definitely come in handy when it comes to collecting. I think one of these days between work and class when I have free time, i'll go hit up a Toys R Us or something. Super psyched about this, not so much since I got my first commission for the fuzzy stuff. Thanks guys.

Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:17 pm

IMO, buying toys makes me happy, and whereas its possible to look back over a year and see a huge dollar amount that could have bought something big ticket, you would have had to wait a year

Instant gratification FTW!

As far as a good toy to start off with, personally I started off with Generations Wheeljack. I only started collecting after a 25+ year hiatus last weds. I picked him randomly from the stock they had. It's a killer mold and sturdy. Actally, all of the main Generations line bots are really great. Warpath and Kup along with Jack are on my desk at work

If you have been watching TF Prime, I recommend starting off with Soundwave if you can find one or PRID Bulkhead, both rock!

Welcome back to the fun!

Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:17 pm

Tresob wrote:This is actually a great time to pick up the HasbroToyShop/TRU gift pack with the G2 colors deluxe Jazz, Optimus Prime, and cyberverse Thundercracker and Motorbreath. It was $29.99 the last time I checked, which is pretty reasonable considering deluxe figures are going for $15 a pop.

I actually just found it on TRU's site. I'm gonna wait until I ace a test and reward myself.

Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:22 pm

jindrak wrote:IMO, buying toys makes me happy, and whereas its possible to look back over a year and see a huge dollar amount that could have bought something big ticket, you would have had to wait a year Instant gratification FTW!

As far as a good toy to start off with, personally I started off with Generations Wheeljack. I only started collecting after a 25+ year hiatus last weds. I picked him randomly from the stock they had. It's a killer mold and sturdy. Actally, all of the main Generations line bots are really great. Warpath and Kup along with Jack are on my desk at work

If you have been watching TF Prime, I recommend starting off with Soundwave if you can find one or PRID Bulkhead, both rock!

Welcome back to the fun!

I actually need to get into Prime. I honestly thought it was gonna suck since the trailer was awful to me, but I watched a couple of episodes on Netflix and I actually dig it. I'll pick up a Prime bot down the road, but first I have to get this Generations pack.

Fri Oct 26, 2012 4:09 pm

Ya, the generations gift pack has a MUCH better mold of Jazz with the only other one available in stores being Fall of Cybertron..which is really not a great figure. I don't want to say I hate it because its Jazz and a TF, but....it's really not great.

I thought I would hate prime too because I dont dig CG toons (child of the 70s-80s so cell animation is king) but is is actually really fun to watch.

News Credits: 10 · Sat Oct 27, 2012 10:31 am

My 1st Transformer was back in 2007, after the movies. (Yes, take that haters.)

TFs were pretty much the most popular thing ever, and the whole movie cast was sold out after I left the theater to go to TRU. Picked up a Dreadwing...

I guess now you would best choose a character or a design you really like, with the FEs comming out, the FEs are a good choice. As for RID, Voyagers like dreadwing, or deluxe vehicons are great too.

News Credits: 1 · Sat Oct 27, 2012 12:18 pm

Don't let anyone fool you- GET GOD GINRAI.

News Credits: 241 · Sat Oct 27, 2012 12:21 pm

RhA wrote:Don't let anyone fool you- GET GOD GINRAI.

But he's not Optimus Prime!

News Credits: 3 · Sat Oct 27, 2012 3:04 pm

TDK Akita wrote:My KLEPTOMANIA will definitely come in handy when it comes to collecting.

Dude...stealing isn't cool or condoned here. If you can't pay for your hobbies then maybe you should find a way to earn money.

Sat Oct 27, 2012 4:08 pm

Stealing can totally be cool. You just got to do it with style.

News Credits: 1452 · Sat Oct 27, 2012 4:21 pm

Let's not digress from the topic at hand here.

News Credits: 402 · Updated Oct 21, 2022

The first TF I remember was G2 Motormouth I think his name was. I was 7 or 8 I think. I lost his tiny gun in the first day.

My current collection started off with the 2008 Botcon Box set. I said to myself: "Mkall, you awesome person, this Optimus Prime mold is almost as awesome as you. You should find all the modern figures because they are probably just as awesome."

I wasn't too far off. Welcome to the fandom!

News Credits: 15 · Sat Oct 27, 2012 10:52 pm

Erm, my first toy was... technically Energon Insecticon. Didn't even know I had it until I dug through some of my old toy boxes when I was around 11 or 12.

To my knowledge prior, my first Transformer was Cybertron Brushguard. Yeah, didn't start my collection off with some really good ones. Didn't affect me in anyway for my future collection, though.

Welcome to collecting, sport. You're in for a wild ride.

News Credits: 1 · Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:39 am

PrymeStriker wrote:Erm, my first toy was... technically Energon Insecticon. Didn't even know I had it until I dug through some of my old toy boxes when I was around 11 or 12.

To my knowledge prior, my first Transformer was Cybertron Brushguard. Yeah, didn't start my collection off with some really good ones. Didn't affect me in anyway for my future collection, though.

Welcome to collecting, sport. You're in for a wild ride.

HAY. There's nothing wrong with Insecticon.

News Credits: 15 · Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:38 am

RhA wrote:
PrymeStriker wrote:Erm, my first toy was... technically Energon Insecticon. Didn't even know I had it until I dug through some of my old toy boxes when I was around 11 or 12.

To my knowledge prior, my first Transformer was Cybertron Brushguard. Yeah, didn't start my collection off with some really good ones. Didn't affect me in anyway for my future collection, though.

Welcome to collecting, sport. You're in for a wild ride.

HAY. There's nothing wrong with Insecticon.

He's not a bad toy. He's not the best either.

Mon Oct 29, 2012 11:40 pm

Fistful of Energon wrote:
TDK Akita wrote:My KLEPTOMANIA will definitely come in handy when it comes to collecting.

Dude...stealing isn't cool or condoned here. If you can't pay for your hobbies then maybe you should find a way to earn money.

Oops I seriously did not mean kleptomania in terms of stealing,I meant kleptomania in terms of cheapness as in i'd probably end up getting my entire collection from various sales. Don't worry, i'm a productive member of society and such so I don't need to steal.

News Credits: 4 · Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:40 am

My First TF toy after a really really long time was RailRacer (or JRX since I got the Takara one). When I was young, I saw the set in TRU but didn't have the money to get it at that time. Fast forward to 2008, someone recommended me a store that sells TFs and lo and behold, there he is loose for sale. Someone triggered within me and I just had to buy it..

But my craze started 1 year later during ROTF when I ordered the Devesator Set of 7, and before I knew I almost had everyone.. So be careful of that..

Just last week, have no idea why but I just went out to buy the Green Giant Gift set.. It is really a good toy but I honestly didn't have to get it.. another weird random impulse and it costs quite a bit (I could have gotten PS Vita or something).. so be warned!!

Seems I have some weird impulse.. -_-

News Credits: 9 · Tue Oct 30, 2012 5:32 am

If Generations Jazz is your first purchase then I fear most other deluxes will be a let down in comparison. He's one of my favourite figures, he's just such a great design from several points of view. I'm sure most will agree with me on this.

News Credits: 1 · Tue Oct 30, 2012 8:35 pm

Mykltron wrote:If Generations Jazz is your first purchase then I fear most other deluxes will be a let down in comparison. He's one of my favourite figures, he's just such a great design from several points of view. I'm sure most will agree with me on this.

Yup. Sculpt-wise, he's perfect, and the gimmick with his speakers is more than you can ask for in a deluxe toy.

Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:50 am

Know it's been a long time since I last posted (school and work will do that to ya) but I finally fulfilled my promise to myself and got my first toy. I'm now the proud owner of a RTS Jazz! I'll take some pics of him later but here is the general idea of him:

I took a pic of him on Instagram (ewwwww I know), so take a look at him on my desk next to my Autobots snapback. :J http://instagram.com/p/UF5LwTo_hh/

EDIT: Quick question, is the alt mode of his pistol supposed to be a Subsonic Repeater? Or is it just for storage under the hood?