One of the things eternal pessimists and cynics such as myself are always accused of is not looking at the silver lining as opposed to prolonged concentration on the grayness of the cloud itself. So, due to my seemingly endless prognostication that the SW action figure line will die/be murdered by the end of 2006, and reading the "ideas for future waves/themes" thread and seeing everyone's varying wishes for future waves/themes, got me thinking.
What if we somehow knew that 2007 would be the last year of SW toys, and it were a magical world where retail would support the line until the end and everyone would be able to get exactly what they wanted in sufficient amounts? What would YOU want to see in that final year, or more accurately, if you knew the line would die completely by 2008, what items would you be seriously disappointed if you did not see?
So, with that in mind, I put forth a challenge to everyone here on the boards to see what you (relatively speaking) could not do without before the line was brought to an end. To make it easier, we (well, I) will put forth some ground rules: You can pick four figures per film (plus 4 from the Expanded Universe), one vehicle/beast per film, one deluxe figure per film, and one Unleashed figure OR 1 Galactic Heroes 2 pack per film (whichever you'd prefer). What you pick is up to you, but try to keep it within those limits (as limitations often make you (well, me) realize what you would really want to see as opposed to what you think you would want to see).
I look forward to seeing what everyone's last requests would be, and I'll get the ball rolling:
EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE-Basic Figures:
01. Qui-Gon Jinn (Super Articulated, with soft goods cloak, soft goods Tatooine poncho, lightsaber, lightsaber hilt, split-apart Sith Probe Droid, and mini-Royal Starship hologram projector)
02. Queen Amidala in Pre-Senate/Palpatine's Office Gown (Super Articulated, and a soft goods dress would be nice)
03. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Super Articulated, with soft goods cloak, lightsaber, lightsaber hilt, Qui-Gon's lightsaber, switchable "wet" head, and comlink)
04. Daultay Dofine (Super Articulated, with removable miter/hat, Trade Federation cleanup droid, mini-holographic Nute Gunray/Rune Haako)
-Deluxe Figure: Super Articulated/Transforming Destroyer Droid with blue "shield generator" effect that fits over the droid.
-Vehicle: Sith Infiltrator with SA Darth Maul
-Unleashed: Qui-Gon Jinn (slicing a Battle Droid in half on a Theed Palace base)
EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES-Basic Figures:
01. Jango Fett (Super Articulated, removable helmet, Kamino jet pack with launching missle and static missle, blaster pistols, Arena jet pack, switchable lower arm/gauntlets with rope, claws, and regular gauntlets)
02. Mace Windu (Super Articulated, soft goods cloak, lightsaber, lightsaber hilt, Jedi Council chair)
03. Taun We (properly scaled, Super Articulated, soft goods waist cloak)
04. Cliegg Lars (Super Articulated, removable leg/cast, hover chair, moisture farm droid)
-Deluxe Figure: Super Articulated Spider Droid (not a wind-up with film accurate detailing and sculpt)
-Vehicle: Republic AT-TE Walker with AT-TE Driver figure
-Unleashed: Kit Fisto (Geonosis base, slashing Battle Droids and/or Geonosians)
EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH-Basic Figures:
01. Emperor Palpatine-Senate Duel (Super Articulated, soft goods cloak, hilt, lightsaber, cane, switchable lightning hands, mini-hologram Darth Vader)
02. Kashyyyk Clone Scout Trooper (Super Articulated, removable helmet, sniper rifle, blaster pistol)
03. Nute Gunray (Super Articulated, soft goods cloak?, removable miter/hat, mouse droid)
04. Grievous' Bodyguard (Super Articulated, properly scaled, soft goods cape, switchable heads-one damaged, one normal, staff with removable "energy" effects done in proper scale)
-Deluxe Figure: General Grievous (Super Articulated, blaster pistol, four lightsabers, soft goods cloak, bonus set of four arms with super articulation so design is not compromised)
-Vehicle: V-Wing Starfighter with V-Wing Pilot and Astromech
-Unleashed: R2-D2 (firing booster rockets, surrounded by flames, and grasping/burning/set to explode Super Battle Droids)
EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE-Basic Figures:
01. Owen Lars (Super Articulated, blaster rifle, pack-in corpse, moisture farm Treadwell droid)
02. Death Star Trooper (Super Articulated, blaster pistol, blaster rifle, removable helmet, switchable heads)
03. Biggs Darklighter (Super Articulated, blaster pistol, removable helmet)
04. Han Solo in Stormtrooper Disguise (Super Articulated, blaster rifle, blaster pistol, removable helmet)
-Deluxe Figure: Imperial Gunner (Super Articulated, blaster rifle, blaster pistol) with Death Star Turbolaser Station
-Vehicle: Y-Wing Fighter (properly scaled) with Y-Wing Pilot
-Unleashed: Obi-Wan Kenobi (with Death Star duel base)
EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK-Basic Figures
01. Luke Skywalker in Bespin Fatigues (Super Articulated, weather vane, switchable heads, removable hand, lightsaber, pistol, hilt, arm-cast thing)
02. Boba Fett (Super Articulated, removable helmet, blaster rifle, blaster pistol, backpack with static/launching missle, soft goods cape and braids)
03. Snowtrooper (Super Articulated, blaster pistol, blaster rifle, E-Web Tri-Pod Cannon)
04. Hoth Rebel Soldier (Super Articulated, removable helmet/hat, switchable heads, blaster rifle, blaster pistol)
-Deluxe Figure: Han Solo in Carbonite (Super Articulated Han with bicep cuffs, opening Carbonite block with semi-transparent face of block)
-Vehicle: Bespin Twin-Pod Cloud Car with CCP
-Unleashed: C-3P0/Stormtrooper (Threepio in mid-explosion with Stormtrooper firing into cloud of parts and fire)
EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI-Basic Figures:
01. Luke Skywalker in Endor Gear (Super Articulated, soft goods poncho, removable belt, removable helmet, hilt, lightsaber, switchable hands, cuffs)
02. C-3P0 (Super Articulated, with Ewok Throne)
03. Chief Chirpa (Super Articulated, with staff and various rocks and sticks)
04. Anakin Skywalker (Spirit of in Hayden's likeness with Yoda spirit pack-in)
-Deluxe Figure: Super Articulated Biker Scout with Speeder Bike (based on the Saga Deluxe Clone bike design)
-Vehicle: Jabba's Skiff (new mold) with Weequay Skiff Guard
-Unleashed: Biker Scout (Endor base with wrecked Speeder Bike)
THE CLONE WARS-Basic Figures:
01. ARC Trooper (Super Articulated, removable helmet, 2 pistols, blaster rifle, bazooka, possible red/blue variants)
02. Quinlan Vos (Super Articulated, soft goods cloak, hilt, and lightsaber)
03. Obi-Wan Kenobi in Clone Armor (Super Articulated, soft goods cloak, lightsaber, hilt, removable helmet, jousting stick)
04. Coruscant Clone Commander (Super Articulated, blaster pistol, blaster rifle, removable helmet, binoculars)
-Deluxe Figure: Clone Commando (from videogame) with extra weaponry and armor accessories.
-Vehicle: Clone Starfighter (from Clone Wars Seasons 1 and 2) with Clone Pilot
-Unleashed: ARC-Trooper (with Muunilist base and that little lizard thing amongst destroyed Battle Droid parts)
And that's my Sunday time-killin' list. Time for everyone else's thoughts.