PlaymoFriends
Getting Started => Welcome! => Topic started by: Macruran on January 29, 2014, 03:34:30
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So. I signed up to this site over a year ago, in the grip of intense Playmo fever, but due to my advanced procrastination skills am only now getting around to introducing myself.
Short version:
Had Playmos as a young pup, then forgot about them until a chance sighting in 2011 ignited a new fire. Went ape on the Romans (:heart: :heart: :heart:) and picked up some other choice sets as well. As of this writing the fire has dimmed somewhat (whew) but I still keep a finger in the ebay game and am definitely going to get that Alpine Chalet, as I worked in an Alpine hotel once....anyway that's the very short version. My spreadsheet of sets owned is here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ai-JmSuI6NuTdGc0LXFzTWdKQkhmeXQtSjdwVThja2c&usp=sharing), but be warned it is VERY incomplete. I may or may not ever fix that. I will probably post some pics of my legion soon. I also like any ethnic or historically accurate figures: Egyptians, accurate Asians (Samurai!), British redcoats, ACW, Crusaders, the rare African Tribe pack 7460 , the "pope" 4887, etc. Very disappointed in the new "fantasy Asian" theme but hey, they're selling to children, let them give the kids what they want. After all, no childhood playmo experience means no adult collectors!
Long version:
My first klicky was probably the McDonald's sheriff, bought probably in Michigan where I lived at the time. I must have liked it because I remember some firefighters and a covered wagon as well. One of those fire helmets must have kicked around in my possessions for years....
Fast forward to 2011. I am in Portland, and pretty unhappy for reasons not important now. A local grocery store chain, New Seasons, sometimes carries a few specials, and while shopping one day (in the Concordia store, PDXers) the purple King 4663 stood out to me. I was feeling down and I thought, That's what I need. A damn KING. So I bought him and set him up next to my computer so he could instill some confidence.
Next time shopping, I noticed the "Zulu" Warrior 4685. Damn, I thought, it's not every day you see an African toy. So I snapped him up and placed him next to my king as an image of strength. (I later learned how un-Zulu this figure actually is; in Germany he is a "Masai-Krieger", which is a little bit more accurate.)
I also noticed one of the Roman figures. I think it was 4632, but I can't remember. Whatever it was, it wormed around in my subconscious for a week or so until I felt moved to go back and get it. And of course! It wasn't there. I asked the girl responsible for the toy display about it and she went into the back room and brought out a different Roman figure: the beautiful Praetorian 4659! I bought it without a moment's hesitation. Up he went next to his European and African brothers.
These three formed the entirety of my collection for many weeks, but my mind began to chew over Playmos again, remembering the old times, and imagining what else there might be. Eventually it dawned on me to see what PM was producing these days, and if there were any other Roman sets. To the google machine I went, and WOW! :heart: :roman: :heart: Did eyes ever pop out of my head. I was unemployed so I told myself I had to be prudent but a pack of the gorgeous Legionaries 7878 was irresistible. After a few weeks of having them, I reasoned that they needed a leader, and soon enough I had a Centurion 7877.
After that the obsession grew and grew. Before long I was scouring the net for independent toy stores that sold online. Got some pretty good deals that way, but I also didn't build my collection rationally, so I wound up double buying and overpaying a few times too. I eventually secured every single Roman set that I wanted, including a few duplicates, and began to spread out to other ethnic and historical sets, in a waxing fever of acquisition. I got into the Egyptians almost backwards, just looking for extras for my Colosseum crowd; likewise I got my nativity set in a quest for Roman civilians but now put it out every Christmas! Animals became a rage, and I got many individual pieces off ebay plus scored the giant forest set 5004, which I still haven't opened. In fact my collecting went through phases, beginning with ripping open and discarding the packages, to saving the packages, to, lately, not opening the packages at all! I have the full Safari "joined up river" sets in mint unopened condition! Will I ever open them, who knows?
Eventually the mania began to taper down. I'd got my hands on pretty much everything I really burned for, and the new themes coming online just don't excite me like the Romans did. I don't spend much more than $10 or $20 a month on Playmos now, and I no longer have everything spread out in my room. They are safely packed away...I fantasize about doing picture stories with my Romans, telling the story of the Legio vigesima tertia Ludensis in the province of Dysprosia Ulterior, but knowing my procrastinatory predilections I doubt that will ever come to pass.
Anyway that's my introduction.
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Ahoy, and welcome! That was quite an introduction. And cool avatar picture! :lol:
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Welcome to the boards friend. I like your story and dig your sense of humor. Hope you enjoy your time here. :wave:
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Welcome welcome my friend :wave:
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Hi Macruran, welcome from Antwerp, Belgium :wave:
Great introduction :) Sounds like you can get pretty wrapped up in something once you get started, so I suggest you just start on that Roman picture story ;D
The hunt for Roman civilians is very recognisable. We got two different nativity sets for that reason.
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Welcome!! I bought my first set in 2005. I too have all my Playmobil on spreadsheets by theme. I currently have:
1,690 sets
42,974 pieces
3,393 Klickies, and
796 critters
-- Donmobil
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Welcome from Holland! I enjoyed reading your story. :wave:
I recognise the Playmo-fever that goes up and down. Curious to see your collection. Mine started with the animals and zoo.
I was wondering where the Hawaii part would come in. Or is Mahalo a more common American greet?
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Welcome from Portugal!
Loved to read your intro - I'm also quite into the romans (ok, and almost everything else :-[ , but the point stands ;) )
Looking forward to seeing pics!
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Welcome from Turnhout, Belgium, my friend-have fun here! :)
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Welcome from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Yes, the Romans did the trick for me as well; the Praetorian is outstanding! Made even some chess sets with Romans vs Gauls, Egyptians etc. Some pics you can find over here: http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/album/index.php?cat=12336. Click on the thumbnail over there for more pics. I love the African warriors too, in fact most of the 'Exotic' ones. Will make a chess set of them in the future. Most of the time I'm working on a Playmobil comic: "The Story of Randolph", also to read on this board. A link for parts 1 to 3 is in my signature down in this message. Parts 4 and 5 are ready yet, you can find them in "Story Telling".
I'm sure you'll have a good time here!
regards, Lynx
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Hi, welcome from the netherlands. :wave:
I'd really recommend to do a picture story sometimes. It doesnt need to be too complicated. Just think of the story you want to tell, what setup you need to make for it and build it. Then take the pictures and write the story to go with the pictures when putting them online.
It can be great fun, it kind of gives the fun of play even to adults who lost the capability of playing like they where able to do as a child.
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Welcome from an hour and a half south, Eugene OR!
Well, ok, actually I live in Springfield but nobody outside Oregon has a clue where that is so I end up having to say Eugene anyway, and I work in Eugene so...
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:wave: A warm welcome from chilly Pennsylvania, glad you are with us!
Joe
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A warm welcome from the UK! :wave:
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Welcome aboard... and greetings from up the coast in Victoria, BC. I'm also interested in historical themes... my first klicky was African 4564. He was so cool (and still is). I have lots of Romans and Egyptians - now I'd like to see some 'real' Japanese or Chinese sets.
I hope you have lots of fun here!
David
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A big :wave: and welcome from Australia!
I also can't wait to see some pics!!
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Hey thanks for the warm welcomes everyone. I have to admit that it's nice to have a place where I can talk about Playmos freely. I mean, it's a bit weird you know, collecting these toys? There have been times when I've hidden them away when someone's been over. It's not exactly the kind of thing that everyone would grok.
ANYWAY! To cases:
- The thing about me making a Roman picture story is that I want to go all out. I mean create an imaginary province, have subplots with the barbarians, maps, histories, everything. And I'm NEVER GONNA DO IT. Okay I might make a map but the full flowering probably won't happen. Still, I'll put some pictures up. I'll try to get some of other parts of my collection up too. Which subforum is the best place for vanity posts?
Mahalo: - I said that partly because Hawaii's where I'm headed for vaca in a week or two, but also there's a Playmo connection! My sister and her husband live there, raising my nephew, who's coming up three in a couple months. He's talking now and is pretty bright, and I am going to bring him his first Playmo set! The love is so great that I will be parting with my mint 7922 Roman Family! HOLY COW. All I'll have left will be the unwrapped set! No greater love hath man. His parents frown on weapons so I'll hide the sword and shield and save the legionaries till later...next gift will probably be a boxed 4277 Caesar in a year or two...
I always read 4564 as a quasi South American tribesman, sort of ham handed but decidedly not African. I have a couple of the Jungle tribesmen that I pose with my 4742 Conquistador!
Those chess sets are off the hook.
Okay I'll close now with a self portrait of me as I post on this very board:
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I mean, it's a bit weird you know, collecting these toys?
Weird?! What do you mean weird!? Who are you calling weird? :P
Okay I'll close now with a self portrait of me as I post on this very board:
:lmao: :lmao:
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Nice picture. :lol:
You can post about your collection in the Collector's Corner part of the forum. A lot of us have threads there about our collections.
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There have been times when I've hidden them away when someone's been over. It's not exactly the kind of thing that everyone would grok.
Been there, done that, and have stopped doing that. Embrace your fun side! ;D
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Welcome from hot Buenos Aires, Argentina!
:welcome:
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Okay I put some photos up in this thread, which I will be adding to from time to time!
http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=13622.0
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Hello and warm welcome :wave: :welcome: what a whirlwind good to know I'm not the only one who goes through phases of excitement and buying probably more than I should when you're caught up in the moment, it's trying to sustain it and keep it going but, also not overspend that I find to be my problem that and I have a fond nostlaiga for the 1990's sets of my youth many of which I would like to buy again and there's always enough new stuff to get my wallet out ;D. Anyway I love the Romans I've only got 2 a Soldier of some sort and a dark skinned guy in white toga but, I defiantely want a few more to build an army maybe some civillians as well one day :roman: hope that we'll get tos ee some fo your Romans ;) ;D
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Yeah I put some pics of my Romans up, the link's right above your post, check em out!
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Hello Macruran and welcome to the forum.
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Macruran, I read some of your posts in other threads today, and a couple of them literally made me laugh out loud, so I came to see if you'd posted an intro, and sure enough, another great post!
Welcome from the west coast of Canada! :wave:
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Glad I could bring some lulz! I am in this hobby and forum for light relief and smiles. I hope to keep the yuks flowing.
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HEY! Check it out! I gave my 2 3/4 year old nephew in Hawaii his first playmo set (6252 Multiplay boy) and look what he invented!
(http://i.imgur.com/RYYMicf.jpg) (http://imgur.com/RYYMicf)
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Cute! A soccer king :love:
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and Mahalo back to you :wave: from the other side of the country.