2024 March Madness Poll

[Rob]

I feel like a dinosaur.  The only OT thing on there is Obi-Wan Kenobi, which we have a dozen different versions of.

Ultimately, I'd like them to make almost all of the 64 figures in the entire bracket... Hasbro is really missing out with their limited selection.

[Mister Skeezler]

I feel like a dinosaur.  The only OT thing on there is Obi-Wan Kenobi, which we have a dozen different versions of.

Ultimately, I'd like them to make almost all of the 64 figures in the entire bracket... Hasbro is really missing out with their limited selection.

Yup, 1000%

[Nicklab]

I think the limited presence with OT items in this year's bracket is indicative of a number of things:

-The OT generation is aging out as a cohort
-Hasbro has had almost 30 years to cover the OT through the years, and they've covered an exhaustive number of characters.  So who's left?
-What OT characters would be truly new in the 3.75" scale?  And can you rally people behind that character to support them?  To me this is a big one.

There's also the matter of some of the rules / guidelines that the @SWTVC guys have put in place.  The big one?  Contestants should be ones that demand all new tooling!  That guideline eliminates A LOT of potential characters.  Imperial Officers?  Gone.  Rebel Pilots?  Gone.  Troopers?  Most are gone from contention because they're either potential kitbashes or repaints.

There have also been some movements going on within the TVC focus segment of collecting.  The whole "Make the Mains" movement is a big one.  And it's because a lot of the OT main characters - particularly from A NEW HOPE - have not been made in a long time, and their older renditions look a little rough in comparison with TVC figures released within the past 3 years.

I was really pleased to see a couple of background characters from Jabba's Palace make it into the bracket this year.  But I wasn't exactly eager to get a Fozec.  And while I've had Shasa Tiel on my wishlist forever, that one got eliminated pretty quickly.

I completely agree with one thing that I've seen circulating.  And that we shouldn't have to put Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati in a fan poll because Hasbro should already have them coming.  But I think the state of the line is such that we can't take anything for granted anymore.

[Nicklab]

Link to the vote - SWTVC MARCH MADNESS 2024 - THE FINAL FOUR!

#1  BAYLAN SKOLL  VS  #12  ASAJJ VENTRESS

#3  SHIN HATI  VS  #15  PONG KRELL

[Rob]

Baylan and Shin it is I suppose.  What incredibly obvious choices.

[Nicklab]

Baylan and Shin it is I suppose.  What incredibly obvious choices.

These days?  I don't think we can take anything for granted.  Which is why I went that route.

That being said?  I think there's certainly the potential where Hasbro is holding these for a reveal at SDCC.  It's one of the big annual, in-person events for Hasbro.  And I can see where Hasbro would want a big applause moment during the panel.

[Rob]

I didn't mean obvious that they'll win from here, I just meant obvious choices out of the 64 we started with.  Like, this is your chance to tell Hasbro you want them to make something that hasn't been made and as a group we picked something that they surely know we want made.

[Jeff]

-The OT generation is aging out as a cohort
-Hasbro has had almost 30 years to cover the OT through the years, and they've covered an exhaustive number of characters.  So who's left?
-What OT characters would be truly new in the 3.75" scale?  And can you rally people behind that character to support them?  To me this is a big one.

I feel like the future of OT deep cut figures is going to be the Pulse exclusive carded multi-packs.  Stuff like the Skiff Guard 3-pack (tied to the Barge) and the Jabba Goons 4-pack (tied to the Jabba playset).  Both those sets delivered all-new OT characters to our collections.

Old man OT collectors can afford a $70-80 hit for a carded 4-pack of stuff that has no chance at basic retail - something like:
- Baniss Keeg/Tzizvvt/Hammerhead/Wuher
- Fozec/Shasa Tiel/Yotts Oren/Gallid

Feels like something like that, where they can charge a little more ($20 each) and control the volume as an open pre-order on Pulse, has a much more realistic chance of getting all-new OT characters made. 

If Hasbro can't find TVC slots for characters that already got BS6" figures like Baze, Bohdi, Luthen, Bix, Dedra, 5th Brother, Tala, etc., then how are they ever going to find a TVC slot for dudes like Fozec or Tzizvvt? 

[Nicklab]

Some historic stats.  Bear in mind that some characters have appeared in multiple MM tournaments.

MM 2021 (First Year)
Made or On The Way:  36
Unmade:  28


MM 2022
Made or On The Way:  27
Unmade:  37


MM 2023
Made or On The Way:  20
Unmade:  44


Those are pretty good numbers historically, despite the repeat appearances by a number of characters.

[Nicklab]

-The OT generation is aging out as a cohort
-Hasbro has had almost 30 years to cover the OT through the years, and they've covered an exhaustive number of characters.  So who's left?
-What OT characters would be truly new in the 3.75" scale?  And can you rally people behind that character to support them?  To me this is a big one.

I feel like the future of OT deep cut figures is going to be the Pulse exclusive carded multi-packs.  Stuff like the Skiff Guard 3-pack (tied to the Barge) and the Jabba Goons 4-pack (tied to the Jabba playset).  Both those sets delivered all-new OT characters to our collections.

Old man OT collectors can afford a $70-80 hit for a carded 4-pack of stuff that has no chance at basic retail - something like:
- Baniss Keeg/Tzizvvt/Hammerhead/Wuher
- Fozec/Shasa Tiel/Yotts Oren/Gallid

Feels like something like that, where they can charge a little more ($20 each) and control the volume as an open pre-order on Pulse, has a much more realistic chance of getting all-new OT characters made. 

If Hasbro can't find TVC slots for characters that already got BS6" figures like Baze, Bohdi, Luthen, Bix, Dedra, 5th Brother, Tala, etc., then how are they ever going to find a TVC slot for dudes like Fozec or Tzizvvt? 

I agree.  The themed multipacks are an excellent way to target certain segments of the fanbase.  And a Cantina themed set seems more like an inevitable offering, and not just a theoretical exercise.  Especially if the rumors about the Haslab campaign are true.

Side note - I can see the potential for Hasbro to tick off some of the "Make the Mains" characters in support of a Cantina.  After all, you need several of them for that specific scene!

[Nicklab]

March Madness 2024 - THE FINALS!

#1  BAYLAN SKOLL  VS  #15  PONG KRELL

[Jeff]

Pong Krell? 

Huh.  More power to the TCW fans, I guess for rallying behind their guy.

[Rob]

Not something I'm in a hurry for, but I'll take it over another Vader, Clone or Mandalorian.

[Nicklab]

I'm surprised that Krell has so much support a dozen years after appearing in the Umbara arc!  But between Facebook at the RS forums?  There seems to be a good deal of support for him.

[Dave]

Not something I'm in a hurry for, but I'll take it over another Vader, Clone or Mandalorian.

Totally agree.  I'd rather have key unmade figures from current/recent media (Andor, Ahsoka, Bad Batch), but I'll take any new figure over more rehashed stuff.

At the very least I do think Pong Krell is an interesting character design.