JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => 30th Anniversary Collection => Topic started by: speedermike on October 1, 2007, 09:21 PM
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For years, it seems, we've been buggung Hasbro to release more clones and more Stormtroopers. With Legends, and wave 3 they really came through. However, they all seem to be warming pegs. In fact, I was at Target the other day and they had about 20 E2 and E3 clones, and nothing else. We we wrong?
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We we wrong?
Oui
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Might be the case for you guys! im still waiting for them to hit in those numbers up here!
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I've got no problem with the abundance of clones on the pegs - in my book, it's a good thing. I can see why some people see it as a problem, but at least if we want an army builder here and there they're easier to get. I'm pretty sure that closer to the holidays they'll be selling through them.
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We we wrong?
I think you can only we we right. ;D
As far as an overflow of Clones/Army Builders... 20 of the E2/E3 Clones really doesn't sound like that many to me actually, mike. You figure some are AOTC Clones, some probably Airborne, some Marines... 6 or 8 of each isn't a bad assortment on a shelf when you think about it, especially since I feel sure they're dwindling.
I can't speak for your area though, but in my neck I was just out this evening... Every WM had Marines, Airborne, DST's, Stormtroopers, AOTC Clones, all just a week ago. This week I'd say the AB's were almost all gone, AOTC Clones were dwindled but not gone, Marines were about as abundant with a little dwindling, DST's the same, Stormtroopers pretty much gone save for one here or there... That's a lot of sales going on though, between the two WM's I visited, and the TRU which was also piled with army builders the last time I was there. It's virtually devoid of anything but AOTC Clones now.
I don't think that makes us wrong, and actually I think it makes us more right really. Tons of those figures have sold by my estimation. Both are from wave 1 basic or wave 1 legends, both of those waves were really heavily stocked and restocked, and now they're still selling around me... The DST's even, which seemed less popular, are moving. And you can't find an Honor Guard to save your life here, just ask any of the Pitt collectors... They are not a common figure, yet you'd think they would be. Hell even I thought that was gonna be an easy find, but I have 10 and some I got from friends/online. :( I can't find more!
So to me, I think they're some of the better selling figures... Obi-Wan and R2, now those are pegwarmers. It doesn't help that essentially the same Obi-Wan's in Legends and such. Those are figures Hasbro overestimated on, regardless of your area I believe. I don't know many of us without a bunch of them, and that's at ANY store I visited tonight including Target who hasn't had a new figure shipment in at least a month it seems.
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I'm glad Hasbro is listening. I hope they flood the market with all the HTF (clones or not) figures because that'll give all collectors of all ages the opportunity to get these figures. I wouldn't mind walking into a store in the afternoon and seeing Darktroopers, Hermis, UGHs, SLs all hanging pretty on the pegs.
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I think it was a good thing over well. Although they're sitting on the shelves for a period, they sell eventually to the casual collector/army builder. I think it was a win/win. Ask Hasbro what they think.
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Yeah, its nice that people can actually find the troop builders this year for once. It does seem like they are much more prevalent, but things do seem to be selling through fairly well. Actually, the only "troop" I see on the pegs in bulk around here is the Galactic Marine. Surprisingly, that has to be in the running for pegwarmer of the year here so far - alongside various Vaders and possibly a couple others. I don't think I've seen Wave 1 Obi and R2 for a couple months now either. Many of the other troops have been fairly easy to find, but I don't think I've seen more than 1-2 at the store at any given time. Plus, we definitely haven't seen the big glut of AOTC/ROTS clones from Legends that other people have. I've seen them, but not in great numbers. I've only seen one Legends Shocktrooper this year too. Also, as a side note, Jawas have been a tougher find than the Stormtrooper too - which is kind of funny (but it is a great figure).
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I think I can agree that while they are pegging a little bit, it was stil a good idea to have them out there. I think it would be a good idea to rotate these every year or so. Maybe one year having AOTC clone (white and officers), then the next year, stormtroopers and snowtroopers, the next year MOVIE only ROTS clones and "named" clone commanders (not all of those EU flavor of the month clones), then the next year back to Stormtroopers and biker scouts. Spreads is out a bit, but doesn't keep them off the pegs for too long. Repeat this process every four years and all fans will be able to get the troops they want in reasonable time.
While I'm not army building so much anymore as I have way more than I probably should, heh heh, it's still nice to see them on the pegs. And for once, I'm actually seeing kids getting them, which is good news. And on two occassions I've even heard the kids asking their parents for more than one so they can have a few to fight. Beginnings of future army builders there!
Oh and Jawas have been HTF in my area too. I think it's because it's been awhile since they've been out there, and this one is arguably the best Jawa ever made. Not to mention you get a droid with it too.
-Sal
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I'm Glad there are so many. My armies are pathetically small. I just reached 9 Stormies, of course I used 5 for customs, so a total of 14 were bought. I only have a few SA ep2 clones, and then several of the different squads from ROTS. Whats nice about the legends being in abundance is that I don't have to Pounce when I see Troops, I can casually pick them up and still get the Basic line figs that I want.
I'm missing the droids though. Very small droid army and they never ever show up. :(
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What is a real let down is 2008 FC winners. They suck royaly! I am sick of recolored EU clones. Gree and The Kashyk trooper are welcome but that purple Mace Windu wannabe SWS covert ops crap is not in my book. The Target Shadow Trooper that started the whole Shadow craze is a lame duck too.
How about the OTC Tie Pilot? 70% of the guys on the trade threads all have that one on the list.
VOTC Stormie? Same deal.
I would have loved to see the white AT-ST driver from the tin pack, at least he looks real
I am disappointed at the top 5 chosen. Too many clones will come back to haunt us. At least the EP2 & EP3 versions sell steadily. They are real on screen guys, not the circus of clones thats coming in the pipeline.
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I agree about the Shadow/Special Ops clones - totally lame. I'd much rather see good TIE Pilots and the sort back on the pegs.
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How about the OTC Tie Pilot? 70% of the guys on the trade threads all have that one on the list.
That's something I was just thinking about the other day. It has been awhile since that TIE pilot has been available (particularly on a basic card), and it would be nice to see it released again. I know I'd like a few more, and with all the TIEs out there these days it would be nice to have them for pilots for the kiddos as well. Heck, in the $20 starfighter assortment, about the only OT ships that make it in are TIEs, so we should have those pilots available.
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As long as I can find the 1 each of the Legends Clone Commanders in their colored rank, then I'll be happy.
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How about the OTC Tie Pilot? 70% of the guys on the trade threads all have that one on the list.
That's something I was just thinking about the other day. It has been awhile since that TIE pilot has been available (particularly on a basic card), and it would be nice to see it released again. I know I'd like a few more, and with all the TIEs out there these days it would be nice to have them for pilots for the kiddos as well. Heck, in the $20 starfighter assortment, about the only OT ships that make it in are TIEs, so we should have those pilots available.
At this point, I can certainly use a few more. I was bummed they didn't make the Legends cut.
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I've got about 8 of that TIE pilot. Could definitely use a few more. I wonder if he's on their list of figures to resculpt, or if they're happy with this one as it is.
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I doubt a resculpt so soon. The sculpt is great the articulation is lacking a tad. For this figure I have to say I am quite happy with him I just want about 12 more. I have about 8 as well and all are assigned to ships. I hope they include him on the basic legend list.
At the current mixed rate of Legends sales I will be surprised if this sub line continues....
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Beyond the MqArmybuilders, is there anyone who's haveing trouble locating any this year?
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There isn't an army builder you can't find anytime you walk into a store these days, except maybe the 501st Trooper and I see him every once in a while. I think there are too many clones this year - I think every single trooper in the films has been available in some fashion this year, except the Utapau one - but at the same time they're available for the people that want them. I think people have the ones they want, though.
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but at the same time they're available for the people that want them.
Exactly. Historically, that's always been one of the top complaints, I can't find any troopers. Now it's more like, I can't find them right away.
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I am happy they are out there honestly. I am glad they are pegwarming a bit. I don't have the resources to buy 5 of each at one time. Or the fact that my wife would have my head if I came home with more than 4 figures of the same character at onece. It's nice to pick them up at my leisure over a few months. Yes, some picks are not that good for a mass release. However, I want all the Sandtrooper variants, at least one of each AOTC color - red, white, blue, green, yellow, the all white ROTS trooper, the Coruscant Commander, SA shocktroopers and SA 501st (if I ever see it), etc.
I think one main reason that they are not off the shelves yet is this. There are so many to pick from this year at one time. We don't have the only a few army builders on the pegs for months at a time. It used to seem like one 4 would be out at once if that. Now we bunches of army builders at once for the most part. Think about it
Sandtroopers
ATOC Clonetroopers - 5 colors
Shocktroopers
501st Troopers
Comic Pack ARC troopers
Jawas
Death Star Troopers
Stormtroopers - Removeable helmet
Even Saga Kashyyyk Troopers (can't remember the name on Saga packaging)
All those SAGA clonetrooper repaints
Airborne Troopers
Galactic Marines
Order 66 packs,
All of that.
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I think that yes, we might be wrong on the troops thing. I just came back from a store right around the corner from me. It gets a LOT of collector traffic, and there's also a local collecting shop that supplements their own stock from this store. And you know what? It's packed to the gills with army builders. I can go there and buy at least half a dozen of the following and not make a serious impact:
-AOTC Clone Troopers
-ROTS Clone Troopers
-Galactic Marines
-Death Star Troopers
-Stormtroopers
-Sandtroopers
-501st Clone Troopers
In the past I could understand why people clamored for some army builders. Back in 1999/2000 the CommTech Stormtrooper was THE army builder. Part of the reason why is because the sculpt was so much better than any previous Stormtrooper plus the fact that it did not really ship in great numbers. And the same went for the Clone Wars ARC Troopers and Clone Trooper. They weren't out in substantial numbers and they got gobbled up. And in the case of the Clone Trooper there, it was one of the first really super articulated figures on the market, so naturally collectors and army builders were drawn to that figure.
But now? Hasbro has flooded the market with Clone Troopers. Just take a look at RS's class picture (http://www.rebelscum.com/photo.asp?image=/TSC/TSC024codyGAR.jpg&text=Clone%20Trooper%20|%20Saleucami%20|%20Kashyyyk%20|%20AT-RT%20Driver%20|%20Deviss%20|%20Clone%20Pilot%20|%20AT-TE%20Gunner%20|%20Aerial%20Trooper%20|%20Clone%20Army%20|%20Clone%20|%20Bacara%20|%20Shocktrooper%20|%20Commander%20|%20Shadow%20Pilot%20|%20Star%20Corps%20|%20AT-RT%20Driver%20|%20501st%20Legion%20|%20Coruscant%20|%20ARC%20Commander%20|%20Bly%20|%20Gree%20|%20DVD%20Troopers%20|%20Coruscant%20Commander%20|%20Tactical%20Ops%20|%20Shadow%20|%20Covert%20Ops%20|%20Cody%20|%20Utapau) of the ROTS Clones. It's an obscene number of Clone Troopers. And they're almost all great sculpts.
Based on what I'm seeing at retail on a regular basis, it seems like the right time to dial it down a bit on the Imperial troops and the Clone troops. I know I'd like to see a shift in focus with the troopers. There are definitely people out there that want to build Battle Droid armies, Rebel armies and the like. Pegwarming troops are not good for the overall health of the line. The line needs to have broad appeal so that it will sell better. So if that means a little less for the army builders...so be it.
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i actually like the fact that the Army builders are peg warming just because if you ever want more you can pick the closest location and get it instead of going to half a dozen stores looking for 2 to 3 clone or what not. and they are all still good figures. so hasbro continue producing troopers.heck just because some people are burnt on clone building doesnt mean EVERY one is.
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I understand there's still some demand for the army builders, but if the line pegwarms and it's the army builders at the forefront of that? Hasbro needs to take the bigger picture into account and do what's best for the line. And that might mean dialing back on the characters that are pegwarming.
In this case it means some of the army builders, even though some of them might be great figures. And it also means Vader. Hasbro has been a little Vader obsessed this year, with one in the coin album, one in the 30AC line and one in the SL line. They need to strike a better balance so that the line will have some longevity.
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I do think white armor overload is a problem and mixing in other style army builders would help. I really wonder though why DST's did poorly while Yavin Guards (at least by me) are non-existant. I would personally rank them as comparably "dull" looking, yet the Imperial is the one that is easiest to find. I wouldn't say he did poorly by any means, I'm sure more than enough sold to make it a profitable figure for Hasbro, yet something about the DST hurt the figure's sales...
Could it be the somewhat lacking quality of that figure? Interesting regardless.
I personally like him and have tried picking up extras here and there... But my nearest WM too is a sea of mostly white armored troops, and every time they dwindle at all, more seem to come about. I've been trying to capitalize on price-matching to get some extras and help thin the herd a little, but then more Legends seem to show up in their place.
I will say, Stormtroopers and Sandtroopers tend not to last long, at least by me... Marines, AOTC Clones, and ROTS clone repaints all tend to linger a bit longer. Airborne are almost gone though for some reason.
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I think one main reason that they are not off the shelves yet is this. There are so many to pick from this year at one time.
I whole hartedly agree. Ever since last year, there's been at least one army builder in every wave (except Wv5 '07.) It's tough to keep up with if you don't have the means.
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I stopped by a store this morning, and it's not one of your ordinary stores. It's a Toys R Us that's in the backyard of their corporate headquarters, and the suits visit it on a regular basis to gauge how well certain displays work, what's selling and what isn't, etc. While the Times Square store might be the flagship store of the company, this particular store is kind of a bellweather indicator of how things are selling across the Toys R Us chain.
This store has A LOT of shelf and pegspace devoted to Star Wars. Being the dilligent collector that I am I took a good look through a lot of the figures on the pegs. And it was the same story. Loads of Clone Troopers and Stormtroopers. With this store it's both the SL AOTC and ROTS Clones plus the 30AC Galactic Marine and Stormtrooper that are loitering.
Frankly this kind of thing gets me worried. My memory about the state of things in stores circa 1983/84 isn't super-clear, but I really hope that this isn't a case of history repeating itself.
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I don't think it's a case of things repeating themself Nicklab, at least I hope not.
Back in the end of the ROTJ era, the people interested in this stuff were moving onto other things - GI JOE, Transformers, He-Man, etc. Star Wars pretty much died out because there wasn't the type of media there is today.
Now we've got not only the internet to keep things interesting, but a lot of the market is adult collectors who are devoted to Star Wars. I don't think we're going to drop the line for some other brand of toys; at least not as long as Hasbro continues to put out quality in their line, and we have things like Force Unleashed, the Clone Wars and the live TV series coming around. I'd say the Force is a lot stronger now than it was after ROTJ and has a lot of momentum going towards these exciting Expanded Universe adventures; and that EU might be the future of Star Wars.
There might be some buildup of army builders right now at retail, but after Christmas I'm thinking we'll see most of those gone. I remember people thinking the line would end by 2007, but it seems to be getting even bigger; especially with a new generation into this stuff as well. I've never seen kids more excited about Star Wars as they are now... I think this is only the beginning of another great 5-10 years of this hobby.
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It's simply convienent to have the option of picking up troops.
A year ago, you could never find any - now your chances are pretty high if you're on a mission to pick some up, more than likely you'll find some by just hitting a few stores.
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Very true... although I am pretty much up to my share of troops, every now and then it's nice to just grab a couple extra when I'm not finding the new waves.
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I don't think it's a case of things repeating themself Nicklab, at least I hope not.
Back in the end of the ROTJ era, the people interested in this stuff were moving onto other things - GI JOE, Transformers, He-Man, etc. Star Wars pretty much died out because there wasn't the type of media there is today.
Now we've got not only the internet to keep things interesting, but a lot of the market is adult collectors who are devoted to Star Wars. I don't think we're going to drop the line for some other brand of toys; at least not as long as Hasbro continues to put out quality in their line, and we have things like Force Unleashed, the Clone Wars and the live TV series coming around. I'd say the Force is a lot stronger now than it was after ROTJ and has a lot of momentum going towards these exciting Expanded Universe adventures; and that EU might be the future of Star Wars.
There might be some buildup of army builders right now at retail, but after Christmas I'm thinking we'll see most of those gone. I remember people thinking the line would end by 2007, but it seems to be getting even bigger; especially with a new generation into this stuff as well. I've never seen kids more excited about Star Wars as they are now... I think this is only the beginning of another great 5-10 years of this hobby.
Well said. Amazing what 25 years can do to a line.
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There were EU options back in the day. Anyone remember Droids and Ewoks? Or the Ewoks tv projects? Lucasfilm was trying to keep the franchise alive back then, too. They migh be more successful this time around since their aim isn't at a kids market this time around.
As for competition at retail? There's still a good deal of that going on. Transformers, various Super Hero properties, military figures and the like are providing a good deal of competition for pegspace at retail.
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Yeah there's competition - in a way Hasbro's own competition is itself I suppose with all the lines they carry now.
But Ewoks/Droids were so much directed at toddlers it seems... especially Ewoks. I felt like it was almost a version of Care Bears... I never bought any of those as a kid. Droids was more my thing, but I only had a couple figures.
Star Wars just seemed to lose a lot of momentum with me after Vader died... I was still into it for almost a year, but I remember He-Man really caught my attention and more exciting to me as a 6-7 year old... but now with the timeline that is starting to really be explored more in Star Wars, it's getting into the era of complete Imperial domination; and we all seem to love Imperials.
And back in the day, I'm sure there were some adults into this stuff but now a huge percentage of the market is people age 25-35, and we have a disposable income to put towards Star Wars stuff. We're reliving our childhood through this and for a lot of people their favorite toys as a kid were Star Wars... and I think that ROTS did so much for Star Wars in appealing to a more mature audience, and unless the next themes are poorly executed, I don't see Star Wars dying down anytime soon.
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I know this is somewhat off topic but i really wish hasbro would revisit the Droids and Ewoks characters now. Update the characters look and include them in the regular line. EU is very popular now, seems to be going better than their first 2 attempts at doing EU figures (again i wish hasbro would revisit Shadows of the Empire).
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I wouldn't mind seeing those remade either actually. I'm not sure how popular some of them would be; I'd think that DROIDS ones would have a better following though. Since you bring it up here's a cool update to Fett that Phruby put together -
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/phruby/BobaFettAnicarded.jpg)