The Energon Pub

Some of the statments on the ever got bored of your precious collection? thread, of those that started collecting everything till they had tons of transformers they had no attachment to, got me thinking. What is especially important to you when you decide to get a figure.

For me, I like to stick to characters from the media associated with it (I typaclly only get characters that actually appeared in the show/movie/etc). Though sometimes a really nice sculpt will get me too, like the Alternators or Arcee and Dropkick.

So what's the overriding factors for you?[/url]

Ragnorok64 wrote:Some of the statments on the ever got bored of your precious collection? thread, of those that started collecting everything till they had tons of transformers they had no attachment to, got me thinking. What is especially important to you when you decide to get a figure.

For me, I like to stick to characters from the media associated with it (I typaclly only get characters that actually appeared in the show/movie/etc). Though sometimes a really nice sculpt will get me too, like the Alternators or Arcee and Dropkick.

So what's the overriding factors for you?[/url]

Do I own figure in question?

IF = 'yes'
THEN end

IF = 'no'
THEN purchase

The code is quite buggy, but it works as well as I need it to.

Originally I wanted 'em all, but that was never gonna be practical. For one thing, the UK's never been a hotbed of TF distribution, and plenty of figs never made over here; obviously money's also a big issue nowadays.

For the most part, it's purely aesthetic. I'm mostly not bothered about the cartoons anyway (especially AEC), so I don't care whether a character appeared or not.
Primarily it's 'do I like the fig?', and secondarily it's 'does it remind me of anyone I could kitbash it into?'. Quite a few figs have been bought two or more times based on the secondary factor...

For figs I don't have I look at it like this, do I like the figure, The way it looks in bot alt and robot modes. If yes then I buy it, if no I skip it.

Counterpunch wrote:

Ragnorok64 wrote:Some of the statments on the ever got bored of your precious collection? thread, of those that started collecting everything till they had tons of transformers they had no attachment to, got me thinking. What is especially important to you when you decide to get a figure.

For me, I like to stick to characters from the media associated with it (I typaclly only get characters that actually appeared in the show/movie/etc). Though sometimes a really nice sculpt will get me too, like the Alternators or Arcee and Dropkick.

So what's the overriding factors for you?[/url]

Do I own figure in question?

IF = 'yes'
THEN end

IF = 'no'
THEN purchase

The code is quite buggy, but it works as well as I need it to.

I wish I had the money.
Mine's a little longer than that though:

1.) Do I like the figure?

If "YES", then move to step 2.

If "NO", then move to next figure.

2.) Do I have enough money, or are my parents within range for an attack on their wallet?

If "YES", then carry out procedure 3 before purchasing.

If "NO", then cry, and hide figure for next time.

3.) Do I already own the figure enough times?

If "YES", then move on to next figure.

If "NO", then buybuyBUY!

I forgot the money issue..
Of course if I don't have the scratch I don't buy the fig.

I really have to like a figure to buy it. I'll look at written reviews and video reviews trying to see the good/bad sides of the figure. And then, I'll see if the bad sides stated in the reviews are that much of a deal for me. The look of the figure is of course one of the main points. I never buy repaints, unless the repaint is better than the original and that I don't own the original. And I won't buy multiple versions of a figure unless its really worth it.

i really like this thread, it's very important to a collector
to know why he will buy a figure or the standards of buying a figure, im new to transformers collecting and i've been collecting movie themed action figures for 3 years and i take my haul by certain categories most importantly are the paint and sculpt 2nd is the articulation then comes accesories then the features and i do admit i was a little over expecting on the toys as well i must say in general, the sculpts of the toys are highly detailed and accesories wise and features are unique but hasbro only failed me in just one category and i might say everyone will agree on me and that is paint i keep comparing a bad ass mcfarlane t-800 endoskeleton to a single transformer and i might say they are equal in all categories but except on the paint but there's nothing that we can really do but just paint them again or customize it so i just need to be extra careful on picking my piece...

Cyber Bishop wrote:For figs I don't have I look at it like this, do I like the figure, The way it looks in bot alt and robot modes. If yes then I buy it, if no I skip it.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

few things:

first of all, how important is this figure to the cartoon/comic storyline it is attached to? obviously i'm more of an autobot collector, so most times it's autobots that i buy, i usually buy 'cons only if there is a chance that they might get rarer in the future (i.e. classix SS, ramjet) or if their role in the story/comics impress me so.

second, playability. i usually look up figures from this site and others and look for reviews for them. i especially consider poseability, the ability of joints to stay tight for a long time, and of course, KIBBLE. there's nothing that can ruin a good TF's playability like unnecessary kibble.

third, durability. is the plastic quality from this line good? how about the paint jobs? how will the figure translate in the long run? the one thing that turned me off from collecting the entire classic line was that some of the plastics used were meh, as well as the inconsistency of the paint jobs.

fourth, am i a fan of this character? if not, then usually i don't buy. unless i know he's gonna be rare in the future.

i know it's a lot of things to consider for buying a toy, but for me, i'm not a "buy all" collector. i'm not a MISB guy. i play with my TFs, though with great care. i have to make my money count because i AIN'T rich.

I feel it is important for me to only get the characters in the show too. I also find it of my age to get the Unleashed, because they are sculptures. They also display a fine accuracy in detail and color. They are also very Movie accurate. That is what is important to me when buying a Transformers toy/model.

Basically I only have collected the Movie Line. I fine them very interesting and nice.

I have bought for several reasons.

If I like the character and/or the design of the toy, I'll get it.

If it will fit in with a current display I am setting up, I will get it. Sometime I even get multiples, like my 3 G1 Sharkiticons surrounding Kup and Hot Rod or my 3 Titanium Sweeps tearing apart G1 Ultra Magnus. I bought Orion Pax just so Alpha Trion can hold him in his arms in my "I'll see what I can do" display.

Sometimes I will buy figures I don't care for too much if I am only a few away from completing a series.

If it is G1 and I don't have it, I buy it.


Primarily, though, it is the media assocuated the toy that sparks my interest. Case in point, I recently reas some older G1 comics with Dreadwind and Darkwing. Now I'm in the market for those...

Lapse Of Reason wrote:Primarily, though, it is the media assocuated the toy that sparks my interest. Case in point, I recently reas some older G1 comics with Dreadwind and Darkwing. Now I'm in the market for those...

i wholeheartedly agree on this. i've read BW: The Gathering a few weeks ago, and now i'm a big fan of Beast Wars.

because of that, i had to cut short my movie line purchases and go hunt some BW/transmetals/fuzors...

Heh, my criteria is pretty simple. It's generally "Do I want this and can I afford it?" WItht he occasional "Should I get a redco now or save my money in case I find a new mold"

pre store routine:
1. read reviews, hear of any commen problems, rarity, things that may need fixing out of the box, ect.
2. get a printed out image of the figure in each of its modes, then have a good long look at it to see if the figure appeals to me
3. get a printed out list of figures i want -updated weekly of course-and kee it with my money.

instore routine
1. is it on my list?
2. do i have the money is my spends section, or will i have to dip into the reserve money, along with will i be able to refill the reserve money pot with that weeks wages?
3. do i like the figure in person, wheras i did not like it in pictures? do i not like it anymore?

A) "Do i really like atleast one of the modes"

B) "Do i have some sort of emotional attachment to the figure"

point B is more often used for deciding on a G1 figure, however A doesn't hurt in that circumstance either.

When it comes to TFs, I usually just buy what I think looks cool. The movie toys are a different beast for me. I'm only buying the ones that were in the movie, and I'm skipping things like Final Battle Jazz. I haven't decided on repaints like the G1-ish Thundercracker, SS, and Jazz. With those, I'll ask myself if the money would be better spent on the Leader class figures, which I have none of.