This was a disaster of a marketing plan. It really turned 2006 into a negative collecting experience. The distribution problems, store price hikes, reintroduction of "speculators" (trailer-dwelling truck-driving treasure-hunt trolls)and general poor focus of the line have made 2006 a drag. When the year started I was hoping we were in for another 2004. I loved the OTC line, shopped frequently, found things at retail at good prices, and was generally pleased with the line as a whole.

The best times have to become the past sometime I guess.

I really try to have one of each loose and carded. I have the silver exclusive figures, the target exclusives, the UGH, and many others loose. The Toy Fair vader was an exception. I had two at one point, and really wanted to open one, but they were getting $200.00 each online. I had to choose between a set of gentle giant busts or a loose silver vader figure- I sold vader to get the busts. No regrets so far...

Definately finding many re-releases of these. I wouldn't mind so much if there were more ships or other items to go with them. The gaps between new releases, and the glut of older figures, are making this line whither away.

I just opened my set. I like the Senate Pod as a pack in. It's the closest thing we've had to a playset since the Mustafar volcano, and a lot cheaper. The troopers are pretty nice, and yoda and sidious aren't all bad. Since this is a pretty pivotal duel, I'm glad they made it a battle pack. Too bad the final Grievous (who I refuse to pay more than 8.00 for) couldn't have found his way into a pack like this with battle damage Obi, Utapau clone, and battle droid.

Good point Spectre, sometimes I forget to think about the casual and new collectors when I judge a product release. A shuttle and AT-AT at retail (and Vader's Tie, and Snowspeeder) does make some people happy, and lets Hasbro off the hook for the mold and tooling costs. Seeing these big ships every 5 years or so, if they are done right and end up being successful, may help justify some new ones further down the line.
None the less, choppers, miniatures at 2.50 each (aka unleashed battle packs) and robot/ship/charcter transformers are stinkers and can go away anytime to make some shelf space for Eopies, dewbacks, banthas, and mini-rig type toys.

I love the my little pony cross-over idea. And the R2 that could turn into a robot would rock. Egads, someone probably has a pony-prototype in production.

2 loose 1 carded. I had wanted to get more, but at $10-$12 each I may wait for a sale.

Color me unconvinced at this point.
With Target being the new home of 12-13.00 single figures and a recent $40.00 Tie Fighter, $60.00 for a BIG ship and two figures would be more than a little out of character.
They do keep their battle packs to a decent price...
but this seems too good to be true. I hope I'm wrong, I know my nephew would love one and at that price I would make his Christmas.