The Energon Pub

As Rodimus Prime has pointed out, your statement says NOTHING about other lines. Your statement talks about the Masterpiece line only. That's why I don't understand why you say so many characters have been revisited in the Masterpiece line, because they haven't.

If you're referring to other lines, then that makes sense, but that's clearly not what your statement says, hence the problem of understanding.

There is another problem with your line of thinking.

If you're arguing that the MP line is full of fail because most of the characters have been done before in other lines. Well then f**k it all, Has/Tak should just stop doing MP and any other TF line because guess what, every character has been done before, and all of them have had at least one really good toy version.

Who needs Masterpiece, the first line to finally do fantastic show-accurate representations of characters, that are even in-scale with each other. Who needs MP Soundwave, if you can own the inferior and overpriced Music-Label Soundwave. Who needs Wheeljack, the bastard just recently had a movie and a Generations figure. And Screw MP MP Reflector, that recent Generations Legends class accessory exists. Hell all of these have had G1 toys made, those should be good enough.

Hell, we're done with Transformers, time to kill the franchise.

Peace! Fellow fans, let us not start to become angry, incensed, and begin to curse, we are not enemies, arguments can get frustrating too say the least. It's beginning to become personal, please, let us all step back, take a breath, and detach ourselves from the need to be "right".

Here is my peace offering.

In terms of my total statement, as more than one of you have correctly pointed out, an important qualifier was "Masterpiece". Masterpiece classic may have revisited MP-01, 4 varients in Japan alone, Mp-02 (Magnus), MP-04 (Ultimate) & 1 Japanese variant, and the special order MP-08 (Black Convoy). The seekers have only had a few Starscream variants. Masterpiece, from 2003 to 2013, in total - not counting any other premium line, still has many unique molds, by the Masterpiece brand alone.

When you look at my Title Statement, which includes Masterpiece, you are all correct in saying that just MP is actually doing some new characters that it has not used before. I repeat: the criticism of my statement, when you just look at the qualifier "Masterpiece," is valid, and I do concede it.

My other valid points, that Hasbro, authored by TomyTakara, have not offered any alternative, premium collector series Triple-Changers (Generations has documented quality issues), no Combiners, nor anything like Target/Head-Masters or Pretenders. For the standard brands, a HUGE multitude of characters have been revisited many times. Also to Tomy's credit, Masterpiece is now preparing to offer some characters that have been, arguable, forgotten by any line going back to the 80's.

We have other Combiners in non-high end TF toy lines. Target has an exclusive "Terrorcon" set, that some've dismissed but I appreciate. A better example; the AWESOME "Combaticons" from FoC. Any TF fan, young or old, can appreciate this set. It can be argued that the Takara & Hasbro name has enough market appeal that, for example, a Devastator MP series collection, could potentially outsell any 3rd party variants offerd thus far.

Takara also has not given us a complete Ultra-Magnusm, this too is a valid point. Out of the first masterpiece series, MP-01 to MP-09, 4/9 are simply recolors & minor retools of MP-01, that's 44.45% of the original line.

To Takara's credit, thus far, the Masterpiece relaunch has, only done, MP-10, or the new Optimus Prime/Convoy mold, once. Also, I love the newest incarnation of G1 Optimus. It just feels that a little soon for another G1 Prime homage given the original run, at least by itself. Takara, to it's credit, is already up to the MP-20's in development, which's great. So why didn't Tomy do the tested and proven approach of launching an antagonist for the hero, such as Megatron or another 'Con leader? Hasbro and Tomy' know that a hero toy needs a villain toy to pair with. Collectors, are still at heart, kids.

Please, don't get upset about these points as I'm not alone in pointing this out. I am also not part of some "inconsequential" minority, which some have attempted to dismiss.

Optibotimus, Baltmatrix, Freek'n Geek, (just to name a few on just YouTube), have echoed this sentiment. I must apologize though, tracking down said references just from them isn't practical. It'd require, easily, sitting through a couple hundred hours of videos to locate. I know it's still on me to provide said references. I'll ask, for the sake of peace, and our connection as fans, readers acknowledge I'm not deliberately trying to mislead or "BS" anyone. What have I to gain from this? Anyone has the right to be a little skeptical. I'm sure you will all understand that we all have other, far more important things to do.

...Edit: yet, I know I've read a few blogs that've also made this, (or similar), observation. Therefor, I will locate at least few and provide them as a reference. This would be more than reasonable for anyone, especially myself. This should make us all very satisfied, and keep to my own desire to remain credible.

Another point, Hasbro, not Tomy, did not bring over the complete Masterpiece line. I am referring to MP-05 Megatron. Hasbro's reasons are understandable & valid. However, Hasbro has still, yet, to offer an alternative to the collector market.

We are all, and this includes myself, acting like nerds, or, as wrestlers refer to their most passionate fans, "smart-marks" or "smarks". Fan's can have some "dramatic" arguments.

Remember, we are all fellow fan's who share a childhood passion, I'm not trolling, And I know, neither are any of you.

I might convince you of my statement, but in the end, still be proven wrong. The opposite is just as likely, that the opposite argument, could convince me, and might also be proven wrong.

Non of us really have a complete image, or, all the info as it's just not available. We are using our "gut", and supposition, which in the end is opinion. A better way to put it would be a well educated guess.

I hope this reply was better/satisfies. Both points of view are valid. My title and original statement I concede were revealed, through counter-argument, to be flawed, by my only using "masterpiece". My brain is capable of retaining and recalling ideas, events, concepts, meanings, words, definitions, and such. Specific dates, some names, and some numbers, I know I have to always double check, and refresh and reference just myself. Odd, since I could could teach something like Stats or Accounting, (which I can also teach and have enough OC tendencies to a good accountant if I wished, My passions have taken me in other directions.) The fact that I did not refresh myself before I started was because of hubris and laziness. Feel free to poke fun





[ Another interpretation of all the facts discussed, is that TomyTakara, was deliberately slow to meet collector demand to keep said demand high. A slow release to a hungry market is a known strategy - designed to feed said demand just enough but never to fully satisfy. The danger in this approach, is that other companies will offer a similar or alternative product/service because demand is kept so high. This's just as likely how 3rd parties have gotten as much of the market for Transformer collectors. At Takara's rate of development, today, 3rd parties'll have to start reconsidering it's offering, and start becoming more imaginative/creative to retain interest. Eventually, even companies in China, will have to make a deal with Has/Tak, or create an original IP, or find something else to bootleg. Takara seems very serious now to eventually give all collectors, practically, everything they desire. No matter what, premium toys will always exist, even if Tomy and Hasbro only end up choosing broader markets. ]

Look the way I see it is simple if hastak had done all the seekers including the conheads yes we may not have gotten the igear versions. But there are thousands of characters with multiple variations that span 30years. It's impossible for hastak to produce them at sufficient speed and make everyone happy. This coming from someone who has the fansproject headmasterand defender as my masterpieces.
Even though I want an official version of these characters I can't complain because I'm looking at my sideswipe,redalert, prowl,bluestreak,smokescreen,and soundwave and his minions with ratbat on the way.

Point is if hastak is doing one 3rd party will undoubtedly do another.
Touching on what someone said earlier this I feel is reaching a tipping point as I'm not as interested in what they're offering lately especially with $500 and up combiners. For that price ill wait for an official release.

alternator77 wrote:...But there are thousands of characters with multiple variations that span 30years. It's impossible for hastak to produce them at sufficient speed and make everyone happy. This coming from someone who has the fansproject headmasterand defender as my masterpieces....

Well, for you and I our nostalgia is based in G1/G2, roughly. Given enough time G2 will likely get collector offerings at a premium scale.

There is a whole new group of fans who came from the 90's because of Beast Wars and Beast Machines. This also had a healthy following as a cross-over of G1 fans from the 80's. To a few of my younger friends who are still in there 20's, G1 is Okay, but its Beast Anything they love and remember. They are just approaching that age of nostalgia where they regret having sold/given away there toys in their 20's. You really don't think they will want a premium collectors treatment? How about the Anime based series: Armada/Energon/Cybertron? RID did come before, but it didn't catch-on as much. (Not sure as to why. Possibly the voice actors were better by Armada?) After that, I do expect Animated to be a contender, and likely Prime. Animated, for me, is the only line that I was 100% satisfied with and will likely not ask for anything better than, example; large Megatron helicopter gunship. Henkei variant of the Classics Megs is another two highlight from the last decade for me.

...I feel is reaching a tipping point as I'm not as interested in what they're offering lately especially with $500 and up combiners. For that price ill wait for an official release.

When pieces/members are released individually, slowly, so fans only have to spend 50-90 per figure at a time, and given time to recover/recharge bank account, and do it again a couple months later...when bought all together, as you said, likely around $500. And also as you said, with Hasbro & Takara, much less if they did JUMBO gift set ^^

Tronus_Rex wrote:

alternator77 wrote:

...I feel is reaching a tipping point as I'm not as interested in what they're offering lately especially with $500 and up combiners. For that price ill wait for an official release.

When pieces/members are released individually, slowly, so fans only have to spend 50-90 per figure at a time, and given time to recover/recharge bank account, and do it again a couple months later...when bought all together, as you said, likely around $500. And also as you said, with Hasbro & Takara, much less if they did JUMBO gift set ^^

Yes the same *exact* argument could be made as to why Takara doesn't get MP releases out faster (something you criticize them for, even though their rates of release of actual figures, not just teasers, far outdoes any one third party company). Takara knows that each figure in a line called "Masterpiece" must be a premium product. You can look at the packaging and see that. It's not a normal toy, and I'd argue not a toy at all. It's a collectors' item. Since each release is a collectors' item, they expect only collectors to buy them and they sell them at a premium price point. I'm sure they know that many of their enthusiast fans/collectors aren't rich, so releases must be staggered. At the rate we're going we're getting what, about 4 MPs a year from Takara? That's one figure every 3 months (i.e. 1 every quarter in business terms). That timeframe, given the current market/economy and who they (Takara) have to compete with in their market (the likes of Bandai, again, remember, Takara ONLY distributes Transformers in Japan, nowhere else), I think that's a fine rate of releases and makes a lot of sense.

Look, I loves me some third parties, but I gotta be honest. If it's not a combiner or a Classics figure/character that I'm absolutely (nearly, at least cuz you never know) certain that Takara will never do in the MP line, I'm not buying it. So the third parties can keep their "MPs" and any other "G1" figures they do. The only ones I'm buying now are some of their "Classics" and their combiners. Everything else, especially if it's from 1984-1986, I'm confident Takara will do in the next few years, and they'll do it a lot better.

Tronus_Rex wrote:

Peace! Fellow fans, let us not start to become angry, incensed, and begin to curse, we are not enemies, arguments can get frustrating too say the least. It's beginning to become personal, please, let us all step back, take a breath, and detach ourselves from the need to be "right".

Here is my peace offering.

In terms of my total statement, as more than one of you have correctly pointed out, an important qualifier was "Masterpiece". Masterpiece classic may have revisited MP-01, 4 varients in Japan alone, Mp-02 (Magnus), MP-04 (Ultimate) & 1 Japanese variant, and the special order MP-08 (Black Convoy). The seekers have only had a few Starscream variants. Masterpiece, from 2003 to 2013, in total - not counting any other premium line, still has many unique molds, by the Masterpiece brand alone.

When you look at my Title Statement, which includes Masterpiece, you are all correct in saying that just MP is actually doing some new characters that it has not used before. I repeat: the criticism of my statement, when you just look at the qualifier "Masterpiece," is valid, and I do concede it.

My other valid points, that Hasbro, authored by TomyTakara, have not offered any alternative, premium collector series Triple-Changers (Generations has documented quality issues), no Combiners, nor anything like Target/Head-Masters or Pretenders. For the standard brands, a HUGE multitude of characters have been revisited many times. Also to Tomy's credit, Masterpiece is now preparing to offer some characters that have been, arguable, forgotten by any line going back to the 80's.

We have other Combiners in non-high end TF toy lines. Target has an exclusive "Terrorcon" set, that some've dismissed but I appreciate. A better example; the AWESOME "Combaticons" from FoC. Any TF fan, young or old, can appreciate this set. It can be argued that the Takara & Hasbro name has enough market appeal that, for example, a Devastator MP series collection, could potentially outsell any 3rd party variants offerd thus far.

Takara also has not given us a complete Ultra-Magnusm, this too is a valid point. Out of the first masterpiece series, MP-01 to MP-09, 4/9 are simply recolors & minor retools of MP-01, that's 44.45% of the original line.

To Takara's credit, thus far, the Masterpiece relaunch has, only done, MP-10, or the new Optimus Prime/Convoy mold, once. Also, I love the newest incarnation of G1 Optimus. It just feels that a little soon for another G1 Prime homage given the original run, at least by itself. Takara, to it's credit, is already up to the MP-20's in development, which's great. So why didn't Tomy do the tested and proven approach of launching an antagonist for the hero, such as Megatron or another 'Con leader? Hasbro and Tomy' know that a hero toy needs a villain toy to pair with. Collectors, are still at heart, kids.

Please, don't get upset about these points as I'm not alone in pointing this out. I am also not part of some "inconsequential" minority, which some have attempted to dismiss.

Optibotimus, Baltmatrix, Freek'n Geek, (just to name a few on just YouTube), have echoed this sentiment. I must apologize though, tracking down said references just from them isn't practical. It'd require, easily, sitting through a couple hundred hours of videos to locate. I know it's still on me to provide said references. I'll ask, for the sake of peace, and our connection as fans, readers acknowledge I'm not deliberately trying to mislead or "BS" anyone. What have I to gain from this? Anyone has the right to be a little skeptical. I'm sure you will all understand that we all have other, far more important things to do.

...Edit: yet, I know I've read a few blogs that've also made this, (or similar), observation. Therefor, I will locate at least few and provide them as a reference. This would be more than reasonable for anyone, especially myself. This should make us all very satisfied, and keep to my own desire to remain credible.

Another point, Hasbro, not Tomy, did not bring over the complete Masterpiece line. I am referring to MP-05 Megatron. Hasbro's reasons are understandable & valid. However, Hasbro has still, yet, to offer an alternative to the collector market.

We are all, and this includes myself, acting like nerds, or, as wrestlers refer to their most passionate fans, "smart-marks" or "smarks". Fan's can have some "dramatic" arguments.

Remember, we are all fellow fan's who share a childhood passion, I'm not trolling, And I know, neither are any of you.

I might convince you of my statement, but in the end, still be proven wrong. The opposite is just as likely, that the opposite argument, could convince me, and might also be proven wrong.

Non of us really have a complete image, or, all the info as it's just not available. We are using our "gut", and supposition, which in the end is opinion. A better way to put it would be a well educated guess.

I hope this reply was better/satisfies. Both points of view are valid. My title and original statement I concede were revealed, through counter-argument, to be flawed, by my only using "masterpiece". My brain is capable of retaining and recalling ideas, events, concepts, meanings, words, definitions, and such. Specific dates, some names, and some numbers, I know I have to always double check, and refresh and reference just myself. Odd, since I could could teach something like Stats or Accounting, (which I can also teach and have enough OC tendencies to a good accountant if I wished, My passions have taken me in other directions.) The fact that I did not refresh myself before I started was because of hubris and laziness. Feel free to poke fun





[ Another interpretation of all the facts discussed, is that TomyTakara, was deliberately slow to meet collector demand to keep said demand high. A slow release to a hungry market is a known strategy - designed to feed said demand just enough but never to fully satisfy. The danger in this approach, is that other companies will offer a similar or alternative product/service because demand is kept so high. This's just as likely how 3rd parties have gotten as much of the market for Transformer collectors. At Takara's rate of development, today, 3rd parties'll have to start reconsidering it's offering, and start becoming more imaginative/creative to retain interest. Eventually, even companies in China, will have to make a deal with Has/Tak, or create an original IP, or find something else to bootleg. Takara seems very serious now to eventually give all collectors, practically, everything they desire. No matter what, premium toys will always exist, even if Tomy and Hasbro only end up choosing broader markets. ]

Finally........

Yes the same *exact* argument could be made as to why Takara doesn't get MP releases out faster (something you criticize them for, even though their rates of release of actual figures, not just teasers, far outdoes any one third party company).

...Okay, I gotta call you on this statement. MP-01 to MP-09, only had 6 unique/original molds from 2003 to 2011. That's lots of MP-01 recolors/retools/relabels, and just 5 others. 8 years - 6 molds & you say that 3rd party is slower than this period, really?

From 2012 to today, (Nov. 2013), MP-10 to MP-21 listed, with even more in development = 11+ molds from 2012 to 2013 - 2 years plus said other in development. right now. Takara and Hasbro are, right now, just getting out of a few couple of lean years, (when you get past Hasbro's PR spin).

Until 2012, Takara, was VERY slow when compared to the myriad of 3rd party offerings from 2008 to 2011. A BIG chunk of 3rd party items for a while, was selling stuff the Takara didn't bother to give, like trailers, trailer/armor, and more.


Your comment, of course about Takara being faster is valid but only for the new MP line. Yet, it looks like the speed-up came because 3rd party had gotten as big as it now is now. Also, 2011 to 2013, 3rd party has also been faster. Not on Takara's level, since 2012, of course.

It's okay to be passionate enough, or, to care enough about something, to point out if there are legitimate criticisms. That is also part of how to be a responsible consumer. It's also to complain if a company doesn't give you, the consumer, the products your asking for in a timely manner. Why? Because another company will likely hear you and offer you an equivalent to what the first company didn't give offer.

I hope this reply was better/satisfies. Both points of view are valid. My title and original statement I concede were revealed, through counter-argument, to be flawed, by my only using "masterpiece". My brain is capable of retaining and recalling ideas, events, concepts, meanings, words, definitions, and such. Specific dates, some names, and some numbers, I know I have to always double check, and refresh and reference just myself. Odd, since I could could teach something like Stats or Accounting, (which I can also teach and have enough OC tendencies to a good accountant if I wished, My passions have taken me in other directions.) The fact that I did not refresh myself before I started was because of hubris and laziness. Feel free to poke fun

Finally........

It's a little asinine and spam-like to quote my whole reply, to say the least. I could also say childish, lazy, or smug. I didn't make the post out of "defeat", but to try and be civil and bring tensions down.

Your reply doesn't come across to me as simple "teasing" from a friend, but something more..."hateful".

If you didn't mean your reply to come across this way, please, let me know and all will be well.

...When pieces/members are released individually, slowly, so fans only have to spend 50-90 per figure at a time, and given time to recover/recharge bank account, and do it again a couple months later...when bought all together, as you said, likely around $500. And also as you said, with Hasbro & Takara, much less if they did JUMBO gift set ^^

Yes the same *exact* argument could be made as to why Takara doesn't get MP releases out faster (something you criticize them for, even though their rates of release of actual figures, not just teasers, far outdoes any one third party company).

...

I'm sure they know that many of their enthusiast fans/collectors aren't rich, so releases must be staggered. At the rate we're going we're getting what, about 4 MPs a year from Takara? That's one figure every 3 months (i.e. 1 every quarter in business terms). That timeframe, given the current market/economy and who they (Takara) have to compete with in their market (the likes of Bandai, again, remember, Takara ONLY distributes Transformers in Japan, nowhere else), I think that's a fine rate of releases and makes a lot of sense....

Um, xyl', I did say as much already in my post from last night, 11/20/2013:

[ Another interpretation of all the facts discussed, is that TomyTakara, was deliberately slow to meet collector demand to keep said demand high. A slow release to a hungry market is a known strategy - designed to feed said demand just enough but never to fully satisfy. The danger in this approach, is that other companies will offer a similar or alternative product/service because demand is kept so high. This's just as likely how 3rd parties have gotten as much of the market for Transformer collectors. At Takara's rate of development, today, 3rd parties'll have to start reconsidering it's offering, and start becoming more imaginative/creative to retain interest. Eventually, even companies in China, will have to make a deal with Has/Tak, or create an original IP, or find something else to bootleg. Takara seems very serious now to eventually give all collectors, practically, everything they desire. No matter what, premium toys will always exist, even if Tomy and Hasbro only end up choosing broader markets. ]

Come on, give me more credit than that, LOL!

Tronus_Rex wrote:

Yes the same *exact* argument could be made as to why Takara doesn't get MP releases out faster (something you criticize them for, even though their rates of release of actual figures, not just teasers, far outdoes any one third party company).

...Okay, I gotta call you on this statement. MP-01 to MP-09, only had 6 unique/original molds from 2003 to 2011. That's lots of MP-01 recolors/retools/relabels, and just 5 others. 8 years - 6 molds & you say that 3rd party is slower than this period, really?

From 2012 to today, (Nov. 2013), MP-10 to MP-21 listed, with even more in development = 11+ molds from 2012 to 2013 - 2 years plus said other in development. right now. Takara and Hasbro are, right now, just getting out of a few couple of lean years, (when you get past Hasbro's PR spin).

Until 2012, Takara, was VERY slow when compared to the myriad of 3rd party offerings from 2008 to 2011. A BIG chunk of 3rd party items for a while, was selling stuff the Takara didn't bother to give, like trailers, trailer/armor, and more.


Your comment, of course about Takara being faster is valid but only for the new MP line. Yet, it looks like the speed-up came because 3rd party had gotten as big as it now is now. Also, 2011 to 2013, 3rd party has also been faster. Not on Takara's level, since 2012, of course.

It's okay to be passionate enough, or, to care enough about something, to point out if there are legitimate criticisms. That is also part of how to be a responsible consumer. It's also to complain if a company doesn't give you, the consumer, the products your asking for in a timely manner. Why? Because another company will likely hear you and offer you an equivalent to what the first company didn't give offer.

Up until very recently (this year, in fact), the third parties were just as slow at getting releases out as Takara was with MPs. Only recently did these new 3rd parties emerge (starting with Maketoys and TFC), resulting in more frequent releases, and most of these newest ones (Fanstoys, Daca Toys etc.) emerged only this year and have very few or 0 releases under their belts.

Since Takara rebooted the MP line (starting with MP-10) the release schedule has been quite acceptable in my opinion. If you want to compare apples to apples here, then lets talk Generations, because that line is the closest to what most of the third parties are doing (as said before, I know of exactly 1 real "MP" style release from a third party, and that was Fanstoys' Quakewave, other than the arguably "KO" Seekers done by iGear ages ago). Has/Tak have kept up with Generations releases quite handily these days and in the past few years, be it with the Classics/Henkei Henkei/Reveal the Shield/Generations etc. or with certain figures in lines like Hunt for the Decepticons (the between movie lines).

In my opinion, if you're looking at most of the 3rd party offerings as stand-ins for the MP line then you're just not making a fair comparison. They don't fit in scale, detail or accuracy IMO. They're "Classics" stand-ins for the most part, including the combiners.

Tronus_Rex wrote:

I hope this reply was better/satisfies. Both points of view are valid. My title and original statement I concede were revealed, through counter-argument, to be flawed, by my only using "masterpiece". My brain is capable of retaining and recalling ideas, events, concepts, meanings, words, definitions, and such. Specific dates, some names, and some numbers, I know I have to always double check, and refresh and reference just myself. Odd, since I could could teach something like Stats or Accounting, (which I can also teach and have enough OC tendencies to a good accountant if I wished, My passions have taken me in other directions.) The fact that I did not refresh myself before I started was because of hubris and laziness. Feel free to poke fun

Finally........

It's a little asinine and spam-like to quote my whole reply, to say the least. I could also say childish, lazy, or smug. I didn't make the post out of "defeat", but to try and be civil and bring tensions down.

Your reply doesn't come across to me as simple "teasing" from a friend, but something more..."hateful".

If you didn't mean your reply to come across this way, please, let me know and all will be well.

Tronus.....chill. Finally.............one single word I could find( like 'nuff said......well those are 2 words ) with all the back and forth among the debaters. It is not hateful because there is nothing to hate in the first place.No one lost but at least both sides got to let things out of their chest.

I made it(finally) bold with no spite intended. From what I read, in a scale of 1 to 10 in loving Transformers, I'm at a 9.0 while you're 20. You really poured everything into this post including the kitchen sink. I admire that.

fenrir72 wrote:

...If you didn't mean your reply to come across this way, please, let me know and all will be well.

Tronus.....chill. Finally.............one single word I could find( like 'nuff said......well those are 2 words ) with all the back and forth among the debaters. It is not hateful because there is nothing to hate in the first place.No one lost but at least both sides got to let things out of their chest.

I made it(finally) bold with no spite intended. From what I read, in a scale of 1 to 10 in loving Transformers, I'm at a 9.0 while you're 20. You really poured everything into this post including the kitchen sink. I admire that.

Well, not quite to 20...but it does go to an 11

There's another fact I only, briefly, touched upon. Collecting trains, RC plains, and also toys, (classics and new - high end), is a bigger niche market than the general public comprehends.

Studies show that these hobbies are healthy and rewarding. The interest usually starts in childhood, returns as an adult, and in retirement becomes very important. It's also a good social medium. Collectors, like us, tend to lose interest by early 20's. Then return around our 30's. The "passion" steadily deepens in life. Given statistical data of other collectors & hobbyists, in retirement, we may become even more..."interested",

People look at the hobby and collector niche and say it's a waste of time. Yet, among the most common regrets on the deathbed are, I wish I hadn't worked as hard, I wish I'd had more fun in life, and I wished I'd expressed myself more.

I'm an advocate of the "New Sincerity" movement, among other things. Having fun, and enjoying life rather is part of this.



[ You wanna know a really odd/cool passion of mine ^^ I actually train with real longswords, broadswords, hand and a half swords, & maces, all paired with a round or kite shield. However, I'm 6'2", and I have most fun with the "Dopplehänder" (aka Zweihänder), or more accurately: Schlachterschwerter = Slaughtersword. This is no renaissance-fair or LARP-ing stuff. I mean REAL weapons and martial arts. 5 years ago, I saw a documentary called "Reclaiming the Blade". I was already into archery, and sought out a group in Co. Springs practicing, literal, classic western martial arts. I joined, and since then I've met with other groups from east & west coasts.

TF collecting, & also video games, may each cost me 4-6 hundred a year, but, my martial arts "hobby" has eaten 2-3 thousand a year, before.

My first passion, film,...well, 2k to 3K is nothing when compared to my investment in film production. University & acquiring accredited pieces of paper are just a means to assist in my goal. ]

Sorry but I thought this thread was about the masterpiece line. I keep reading about every other line as evidence of the title of this thread.sorry just how it looks to me.

Back on topic if you do a little digging you will find 3rd parties began long before the masterpiece craze you see now.
First it was simple mods and and add ons for official stuff(think fansproject cliffjumper) then armors and weapons packs. When classics came around that's when 3rd party began to make waves with figures of their own. Now you've got combiners and to be honest I don't recall Hercules being considered an mp more of an addition to classics but anywho. Point is they are now jumping on the "MP"bandwagon with some of the stuff that has been announced.