On Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 1:04:45 AM UTC-7, Irrellius Spamticon wrote:

> I've been lurking lately, holidays and a sick cat have been taking my time. The holidays are over and I had to put the cat down a week ago Sunday.

Aw, I'm sorry about your kitty.

> Pipo and Boater differ fro the Siege Micromasters , they don't have weapon modes or blast effect mounts.

But they complete the Micromaster Rescue Patrol, which I freaking love. (No, I didn't buy Deathsaurus just to get the Micromasters, what are you talking about...)

> Kingdom Rhinox was a disappointment, the having to bend plastic too much to transform him was a turn off, he didn't live up to the T30

Yeah, the Kingdom version was not an improvement, sadly. Rhinox gets a "You Tried" star.

> Studio ROTB Mirage was great. His clear plastic hood and feet give me pause bot so far there's been no issues and he looks really good in both modes.. a real licensed Porche when we've had many near-licensed things in the recent past.
I got to fidget with him for a minute when somebody had taken him out of the box and I had to figure out how to get him back in the package. He was neat.

> Legacy Detrius I got just to see how hound would be, and while it's a very good update he still has so much Siege left in the mold

I think that's probably the only reason anybody got Detritus. But, I will still get Hound, because I'm a sucker!

> Legacy Beast Sandstorm - Yes, he's Scorponok repainted a an obscure 3H story character, but he's also the recreation of the toy I couldn't afford at my first Botcon. The first time I ever went to Botcon I was still in high school, had no job, and could save up just enough to get there, but didn't have any money left for food lodgings or toys. I'll pay $4 to finally get a souvenir, even if it's not the original.

That was pretty much my first (and only) BotCon experience as well. Glad you finally got yourself a Sandstorm, though! Better late than never!

> Studio 86 Arcee - I resisted for a long time, until the 2 pack was on clearance for $4 this time. I originally had the Earthrise, then got the T30, and now this one. I see why some people like the Studio over the T30, but the T30 just looks a little bland, and the demonic smirk on her face looks like she's about to tell you she just killed some puppies or something.

I feel like Studio Series Arcee was a necessary response to the huge backlash that the Earthrise toy got. Hasbro was all, "Wait, no! We know how to do an Arcee without half the car popping off and turning into a surfboard, honest!" The fact that she killed some puppies is alarming, but incidental.. It's not their fault they couldn't read the road signs. No barking means no barking!

> Legacy United Tasmania Kid - He came in at work and I played with him all day with one hand while I updated database entries. He's actually well engineered and pretty cute. He has limited articulation but for a core figure it's not too bad. Ultimately he was the only one we'd gotten so far so I left him for someone else.

I bought nothing from United wave one except for Tigerhawk. I should have a box full of United toys right now, but I don't even have a United box, because I stuffed Tigerhawk in with the other Beast Wars guys from Kingdom.

I get that they're diversifying, and I understand the reasons why. But, it still disappoints me. When they were focusing on G1 characters, I was buying all of them. Multiples of the armybuilders. Spending hundreds of dollars. Gobbling up the entire toy range. They're going to lose me as a customer if they don't try to reel me back in. Look, I'll just start spending my discretionary funding on eBay. I have no shame. I'll buy old stuff, if they don't want to produce any new stuff that tickles my fancy.

Zob (when it comes to buying a G1 Scourge head laser for $30 or an entire G1 Scourge with head laser for $25, the choice seems clear)