Are You A Completist? (And If So, Don't You Ever Get Disappointed?)

[kaiden]

When we do get an awesome toy that really knocks our socks of it's great, but as we get more similar but equally awesome toys do you ever find that the impact of each new toy is lessened? Or does acquiring each toy excite you more and more as you get nearer to collecting the whole set? For me it is the former and that's probably why I'm such an anti-completest. I buy into a fancy new toy line (or and old one) and then keep going until I'm no longer impressed. Of course if most toys Impress me I can go for quite some time. I guess that's why a lot of my collections are more like sampling’s than complete sets.

So far I have bought -

Transformers Masterpiece (I own 3)
- Optimus prime was so awesome compared to the G1 i had when i was a child. The joints and all the clicking sounds when playing with him is so satisfying.
- Starscream sucked.
-Grimlock is curently the best toy i have in my opinion. The way it was designed made me wet. Though i wished both hands would light up his weapons. The tail wagging making his head shake and snapping jaw were little things but they just made him feel so complete.

Transformers Henkei (I own half)
- So far I hate Octane. But the rest is pretty sweet. They're fun to transform.

Transformers Animated (5)
- I bought the leader class that were on sale at TRU and like bulkhead and megatron but i hate ultra magnus alternate mode.

Revoltech (A lot)
- I have a few of the bad ones but they're fun to take apart and mix so thats the only way the bad ones are redeemed.

Figma (2)
- They're nice.

So i can say that of the toys i collect, i haven't had to endure bad toys much. I tend to buy what i like and if the less desirable ones are on sale, then i'll think about buying them but usually i do anyway.

[Autocon]

bw mw movie are my lines
im fed with the crap q/c issues takes the enjoyment out of collecting tfs

i wont get repaints such as bb jolt fabs but will get diff mainline repaints if new character

it may change depending on the new nest recolours

[GoktimusPrime]

I'm a selective completist; I usually collect toys that interest me, but I am also biased toward toys that have made a "common" canonical appearance (i.e.: cartoon, movie or readily commercially available comic book rather than say a convention exclusive comic).

This has recently annoyed me with Transformers Animated and Revenge of the Fallen. Animated Blitzwing is a classic example of a toy that I would've otherwise easily passed on if not for the fact that he appears in Animated canon. RotF Megatron is just all kinds of fail (no matter which version you get).

I'm annoyed by Animated not giving us toys for Scrapper, Mixmaster, Omega Supreme, Perceptor and Arcee (so far). I don't believe that the cartoon should repeatedly feature characters that you're not going to release as toys. I'm still waiting for my Botanica toy, dammmnnit! Dirt Boss I don't care about so much cos he only appeared for one episode (although if they did make a toy of him I'd get it); but I really want Scraps and Mix!

I'm also annoyed at RotF Transformers whom we don't have toys for and probably never will: e.g.: Alice, Reedman etc. We got toys for every Transformer that appeared in the first movie. Alice and Reedman got more screentime than poor Sideways!

This might surprise some people, but I'm actually not a G1 completist... at least, I don't _mean_ to be. Most of my G1 collection is from my childhood (I've been obsessed with collecting TFs since '84). But having said that, I probably will end up with a complete Hasbro G1 collection some day. Don't really care about completing Japanese G1 as I never grew up with it. I'm totally just opportunistic when it comes to collecting G1, especially Japanese G1. If a G1 toy I don't have gets reissued or if I come across a G1 toy for a bargain, then I'll get it. Otherwise I usually pass it. I'm not one of those people who are like "zOMG! There's a G1 toy I _must_ have!" and throw lots of money at it. I don't even have an eBay account.

[Doubledealer]

RotF Megatron is just all kinds of fail (no matter which version you get).

+1, hence the reason why Megafail is the only Bayverse character I don't have a toy for as yet (not counting Legends). A silver repaint of the voyager is the only real hope I hold out for this guy as I'd be pretty surprised if he doesn't 'galvanize' at the start of TF3.

[jgon2098]

Interesting topic.

As much as I'd like to consider myself a G1 completist, after much discussions with crab, who is one of the most knowledgeable individuals for variants that i know, we've come to the conclusion that it is near impossible for a person that collects sealed samples. Of course there are various levels of completeness, I am of course referring to the absolute pure insane completist.

A pure completist in my words, will have all the variants, I'm not simply talking about seeker variants, various forms of production line changes, card borders, bubble sizing variants (e.g. seacons), peg-hole, patches, I believe these are manageable. I do not consider different languages as variations.

The thing that really prevents a MOSC/MISB collector from having everything is when you start talking about decoys and mail-aways.

52 decoys were randomly inserted for 'later' Throttlebots, Aerialbots, Stunticons, Protectobots, Combaticons, Technobots and Terrorcons, The Throttlebots could come with either Autobot or Decepticon pieces, while the combiners only had decoys of the faction they belonged to. While the Autobot pieces were only available in red, the Decepticon pieces came in both red and purple. I cbf doing the maths, but can you just imagine if a person wanted to get every single MOSC variant. Theoretically its possible, realistically not so much.

I have set myself a more realistic goal, and that is to get every single one of those above with a decoy (regardless of who it is) and one without.

Now mailaways, first of all MISB mail-aways are near impossible to find. Secondly, people had the choice of ordering several or rather, varying combinations of some mail-aways, specifically i'm referring to the omnibots and dashers, not too sure about the cars/jets, (OP & Megs came by itself).
What I'm saying is that, you could have a LARGER mail-away box that fitted (lets say, 3 omnibots + 3 dashers), as opposed to a smaller mail-away box that fitted only 1 omnibot. And yes I have seen this discrepancy.

As much as I'd like to consider myself a pure g1 completist, I know that ultimately I am a selective one.

Of course the above can be easily (relatively) achieved for a non-boxed/carded collector.

Aside from the monetary disadvantages, personally I'd consider the inability to attain everything due to the MOSC/Mail-away variants as one of the main drawbacks for been a sealed collector.

[Lord_Zed]

So far I have bought -

Transformers Masterpiece (I own 3)
- Optimus prime was so awesome compared to the G1 i had when i was a child. The joints and all the clicking sounds when playing with him is so satisfying.
- Starscream sucked.
-Grimlock is curently the best toy i have in my opinion. The way it was designed made me wet. Though i wished both hands would light up his weapons. The tail wagging making his head shake and snapping jaw were little things but they just made him feel so complete.

Transformers Henkei (I own half)
- So far I hate Octane. But the rest is pretty sweet. They're fun to transform.

Transformers Animated (5)
- I bought the leader class that were on sale at TRU and like bulkhead and megatron but i hate ultra magnus alternate mode.

Revoltech (A lot)
- I have a few of the bad ones but they're fun to take apart and mix so thats the only way the bad ones are redeemed.

Figma (2)
- They're nice.

So i can say that of the toys i collect, i haven't had to endure bad toys much. I tend to buy what i like and if the less desirable ones are on sale, then i'll think about buying them but usually i do anyway.

I admire your restraint.

My collection is rather excessive for someone who claims to be anti-completeist, I guess I should say I'm a collective/opportunist collector. it is interesting you mention MP Starscream as he is the toy I had in mind when I posed the question. I like Starscream despite his flaws (yeah I'm a a big transforming Jet fan), but then I got Sky Warp who is generaly a better toy. However getting him was not as exciting as getting Starscream even though Skywarp is better. Now I have Thundercacker to, and though he excites me, he still can't reach the same heights at Starscream.

BTW I notice you got Revoltechs and Figma figures to. I've become a bit of A Revoltech fan of late. I found some of the early ones had questionable QC, but the newer ones are better, and they seem to be getting more ambitious all the time. Which Revoltechs and Figma figures do you have?

Hmmm I think I feel a Revoltech/Figma thread comming in the other toys section.

+1, hence the reason why Megafail is the only Bayverse character I don't have a toy for as yet (not counting Legends). A silver repaint of the voyager is the only real hope I hold out for this guy as I'd be pretty surprised if he doesn't 'galvanize' at the start of TF3.

Hey! I like the voyager even with the oddball colouring. I'm quite fond of the toy, the design is just the right level of alien for me. But hey that's the wonder of collecting for you, one mans treasure is another’s junk.

[heroic_decepticon]

52 decoys were randomly inserted for 'later' Throttlebots, Aerialbots, Stunticons, Protectobots, Combaticons, Technobots and Terrorcons, The Throttlebots could come with either Autobot or Decepticon pieces, while the combiners only had decoys of the faction they belonged to. While the Autobot pieces were only available in red, the Decepticon pieces came in both red and purple. I cbf doing the maths, but can you just imagine if a person wanted to get every single MOSC variant. Theoretically its possible, realistically not so much.

Man, that's messing up my head...

Now mailaways, first of all MISB mail-aways are near impossible to find. Secondly, people had the choice of ordering several or rather, varying combinations of some mail-aways, specifically i'm referring to the omnibots and dashers, not too sure about the cars/jets, (OP & Megs came by itself).
What I'm saying is that, you could have a LARGER mail-away box that fitted (lets say, 3 omnibots + 3 dashers), as opposed to a smaller mail-away box that fitted only 1 omnibot. And yes I have seen this discrepancy.

this is messing it up even more... I think I might not get to sleep tonight just thinking of the possibilities and improbabilities...

[optimus1]

I'd like to say that I'm not a completist, in that I have most of the figures I want already (in G1 and Beast Wars). Only a few figs would really round out my collection.

Good thing i'm not as fussed over condition or completeness as others because for me, as long as it looks like the character in 'bot and alt' mode its good enough for me.

I'm not really out seeking out anything in particular, but one line that Im totally hooked on getting most of is the Classics/Universe one
I really love the look of modern reinterpretations of G1, even certain repaints into homages can look good to me.

As for the movie line, a lot of the TF1 line sparked me back into TF collecting properly and as a result I have most of the cast. However the pricing on the TF2 line compared to that at the same time during TF1 has been a major barrier. Supreme Devy would be an instant buy if it were priced a lot closer to that of Animated Rollout Prime, the previous recent Supreme sized figure.

[Jhiaxus]

I think everyone will set rules for themselves on what they're 'allowed' to buy... or rather what they feel they MUST own.

What I've found, over the years, is that the bar just keeps moving and moving as my collection goes along.

My current policy is fairly simple -- I want one of every new mould. The proviso to that policy is that if a toy doesn't come out in Australia I won't feel a desperate need to try and hunt it down. So if I can't find it, I don't worry about it.

It's a fairly good policy -- but it has landed me with some utter turkeys as far as toys go.

It's... understandable. As far as I know the Transformers toy team is not that much larger than it used to be -- but the turnover times on the toys, the number of toys produced, etc. etc. are much quicker than they used to be. The Tomy guys must be starting to burn out by now.

As my collection evolves I find myself engaging with different lines in different ways. With the first movie I *LOVED* the Cyber-Slammers and so I bought craploads of them. But I soon realised that despite loving the gimmick to death there was only so much I could get out of them.

I bought a bunch of Bumper Battlers from Animated -- but I knew that it wasn't going to last -- and finally I bought only *ONE* RPMs Battle Charger for Revenge of the Fallen.

The problem is that the play pattern is the same every time -- and I've gotten a bit too old to get the same pleasure out of them that I once did, say, the Throttlebots.

I find myself setting different goals as things go along. For example -- I have never, ever, ever had a desire to own Fortress MAximus... but these last few months I've been really pondering it. It's out of my reach, I know it... but it's tempting.

There will be little changes -- I'll pass on a toy once, then decide later that I want it simply to look at that mould again in a fresh light. As I approach the 'finish line' with a toyline I might realise how little I'm missing and go back and get toys I wasn't otherwise going to buy.

That's how I ended up with Bumper Battlers Soundwave and Lockdown.

--Boltax.
(Transformers changes SO MUCH I can't imagine anyone staying the course and collecting it in the same way year in year out, unless they only collect vintage toys.)

[kaiden]

Which Revoltechs and Figma figures do you have?

Hmmm I think I feel a Revoltech/Figma thread comming in the other toys section.

I started collecting Transformers (not including the revoltech ones) in August 2009. So its hard to say if i've restrained myself.

As for Revoltech you sure you want me to name them all? and yeah, the early ones werent made very good. they were simple, but the latest releases still suffer from shoddyness. The new Neo Getter i bought had one broken back rocket thingy.

Figma - i have lelouch and kanu unchou.

As for a revoltech thread, if there isnt one i'll make one soon as im waiting on a shipment of Revoltech Assemble Borg that should arrive at my door tomorrow.