Are you happy with many variants, or rather more "first time" characters to the line?

[Spacedust]

This topic has lightly been touched on in several other threads over MOTUC's life, even a couple started by myself, but to put it simply:

How do you feel about variants? Not necessarily from the "do they risk swamping the line" angle, which is currently being discussed on various threads, but more to the point, when you've "got an example of a standard character" (and for sake of argument, we can maybe rule out He-Man and Skeletor, who have traditionally had several different versions ever since the vintage line), do you really want obscure variants of them?
Or would you much rather see "first time to the line" characters (the ones I often site are Ram Man, and Fisto, both heavily fan requested, particularly Rammy).

Personally, I'm mostly in the "once I've got a decent example of a character, I want another different character, not numerous variants" camp. Not to say I never want to see these nice variants (there's plenty of room for that in a few years time in the line's life), but I'd personally like to see "one example" of the main characters at least out of the way, for now.

Of course, ever since the dawn of MOTUC, there have been certain fan requested "variants", such as 200x Evil Lyn, but on the whole... do you want lots of variants, or a quicker rate of "first time" characters? Yay or nay? Discuss

[Met-Hild]

I just realized I have almost as many variants as first releases in my small but growing collection. I guess that places me squarely in the "current rate of variants is good" camp.

[Uki]

I love 'em! Mo' variants means mo' MOTUC! I want it all!

[hhhelmsley]

No variants. This is the big reason (not the only one) there is no more toys r us two pack.

[mightybuck]

i voted no, but i'm not opposed to variants. i just like to stick to one version of a character.

in this line i skipped the normal he-man, thinking that a battle armor version would show up sometime. and when it did, i made sure to buy one. i still like normal he-man, but i always had it in the previous lines, and this time i wanted something different.

the only other variant i've bought was battleground teela. i already had the normal one, but like many others i decided this one worked best as a new character to go with vikor.

i know i would buy more variants if they varied enough from the original toys. for instance, i loved snake teela from 200X and i buy up snake versions of her and the other masters from the episode they appeared in. i'm also okay with man-at-arms appearing in modified armors. a scuba man-at-amrs would rule. the only other he-man i would consider getting is ice armor he-man. that was one of my favorite toys from the 200X line. the only requirement is that he come with more than just a new "vest".

[MegaGearMax]

Or would you much rather see "first time to the line" characters (the ones I often site are Ram Man, and Fisto, both heavily fan requested, particularly Rammy).

But we have "first time to the line" characters every month. The quarterly variants don't effect that.

No variants. This is the big reason (not the only one) there is no more toys r us two pack.

The big reason the TRU variants failed (besides the Waves having the same order number) was that the retail and online DCUC collectors didn't have any reason to purchase those packs. The only people supporting them were the MOTUC fans, and only the fans who wanted the variants in the first place.

Variants in themselves aren't bad. We have Battleground Teela selling faster than vintage toyline characters like Catra, Battle Armor Skeletor and Sy-Klone. Who knows how long Battle Armor Faker will last on Thursday.

[Spacedust]

But we have "first time to the line" characters every month. The quarterly variants don't effect that.

Hmmm.... yes and no. The variant element is noticeably upping (Battle Armor He-Man, Battle Armor Skeletor, Hurricane Hordak, increasing extras such as Blonde Teela and Battle Armor Faker), and while I kinda get your point, at the same time, part of me feels that at the end of the day it is tooling and craft time that I'd rather see go to "first time" characters. I do feel it does effect the "main releases" a little in terms of sheer time put in to new characters, if nothing else.

[Alexx]

I love variants, but I want exactly what we have right now. We've got a great mix of variants and new stuff, and I'd like it to keep on track. Variants are never out of the question, but neither are they taking over.

[MegaGearMax]

Hmmm.... yes and no. The variant element is noticeably upping (Battle Armor He-Man, Battle Armor Skeletor, Hurricane Hordak, increasing extras such as Blonde Teela and Battle Armor Faker), and while I kinda get your point, at the same time, part of me feels that at the end of the day it is tooling and craft time that I'd rather see go to "first time" characters. I do feel it does effect the "main releases" a little in terms of sheer time put in to new characters, if nothing else.

It's the same number as it's always been since they've been quarterly, not counting special figures like Preternia He-Man and Wun-Darr. Four.

Battle Armor Faker doesn't count since he's not even a Matty exclusive. He's completely optional.

[HordeFan]

I'm happy with the current set-up of 4 variants a year. That's plenty and fills the need.

[Whiplash7]

Hmmm.... yes and no. The variant element is noticeably upping (Battle Armor He-Man, Battle Armor Skeletor, Hurricane Hordak, increasing extras such as Blonde Teela and Battle Armor Faker), and while I kinda get your point, at the same time, part of me feels that at the end of the day it is tooling and craft time that I'd rather see go to "first time" characters. I do feel it does effect the "main releases" a little in terms of sheer time put in to new characters, if nothing else.

No, it doesn't affect "main releases" at all except for the fact that they make a lot of money, and on more than one occasion have introduced new parts that can be used on a slew of characters (Keldor, BG Teela). All the variants make money, and the ones that have little tooling make even more, which likely pays for uniquely tooled 'main releases'. Since they don't take up monthly slots, it's a win-win. Scrapping variants would probably negatively affect the "first time characters", not the other way around.

[hhhelmsley]

Variants in themselves aren't bad. We have Battleground Teela selling faster than vintage toyline characters like Catra, Battle Armor Skeletor and Sy-Klone. Who knows how long Battle Armor Faker will last on Thursday.

I should have said repainted figures; I agree that the variants are fine.

[Thrawn29]

Of course, ever since the dawn of MOTUC, there have been certain fan requested "variants", such as 200x Evil Lyn, but on the whole... do you want lots of variants, or a quicker rate of "first time" characters? Yay or nay? Discuss

I like sensible variants. However in certain cases what some of us want aren't actual variants, but true representations of the character for us. Take 200x Evil Lyn for example. That is Evil Lyn. The yellow piece of crap we got in her place is not. I don't even consider yellow Teela to be an Evil Lyn figure period.

So for me 200x Evil Lyn isn't a variant, it is the character. If Mattel came to me tomorrow and said "we're ending the line next month and you only get one more character, who do you want--Ram Man, Sorceress or 200x Evil Lyn?", I would happily say give me 200x Evil Lyn and end the line.

I like first time characters overall, but there are several key characters I'd rather have variants of over new characters. Such as 200x Evil Lyn and 200x King Hsss. I'd take them over Ram Man or Fisto any day of the week because those are my preferred versions.

That's where I come from. I do like the other variants we've gotten so far though. TRU He-Man is pretty darn cool and so is PD He-Man. Blue Merman rocks too.

[Sharella]

I've voted for more first time characters because in the 200X line we saw what happens if too many variants are released and "flood" the market. It seemed the entire toyline was only consisting of mainly He-Man and Skeletor variants. In this case a fan quickly loses interest and stops collecting the figures as it's just boring to continue buying a series that merely contains nothing else than variants of the main characters. To keep a toyline alive, it's needed to regularly breathe new life into it. In my opinion, this can only be done by releasing more first time characters and less variants.

[Rodster6]

I'm not really interested in any varients and it's annoyng when I get stuck with a custom charge of $20 extra because of varients in my sub.
I will keep the Hordak varient so I can paint him in filmation colours with his cannon arm.

[baronterror]

so far I cant complain. The way the question is phrased, I dont feel I can answer. I like the varients so far, (though I dont have any real intention for Hurricain Hordak) and I like the all new characters as well.

Quesion seems to imply one is better than the other. I like the mix as it stands, and wouldnt want either one to be all there is.

[MrRoboto]

I'd personally like to see variants be kept to a minimum and first time figures too.

[Faceless One]

First time figures!! this second Evil Lyn is nice, but the usual variant of He-Man or She-Ra with some improvement or different armour it bores me.

[kylun flac]

i dont like many variants, but i did love the ba he-man & ba skeletor, bg teela, bg evil lyn, preternia he-man, vikor, goddess.
i really like getting all new characters.
i would still like some more variants like a snake armor he-man

[Chroniklor]

I voted "no" but I must nuance that: for those who want variants, please enjoy, knock yourselves out! For me, personally, I mostly stick to "first timers". But hey, that's my personal preference.