I have decided that I needed to organize my GIJOE Universe. I need to do this for several reasons, primarily to verify my growing collection, what items I'm missing, etc.

In doing this, I am also hoping to find a use for the figures that have more than one version, given some characters now have 50+ incarnations. This is a sort of 'how do I use the version' thinking. For example, I use this version of Ace, http://www.yojoe.com/action/98/ace5.shtml , as the Night Boomer pilot, a completely new character. The new pilot, Freestyle, might end up piloting the Ghoststriker X-16 or the (Sonic) Apache. Also the Desert Patrol Snake-Eyes http://www.yojoe.com/action/04/snakeeyes21.shtml I'm thinking of using as the ARAH version of Night Fox.

Now, with all the talk we've had about what is part of the GIJOE Universe, I'm looking at any action figure that is based on Hasbro molds. This means any Funskool, Bronze Bombers, Red Shadows, Streetfighter, Mortal Kombat, the Hulkbuster troops, Canadian Con, etc.

I've tried to rationalize the Tiger Force and Night Force characters, but I can come up with a viable reason why they would have alternate uniforms. I have taken some Tiger Force parts and mixed and matched them to create a new character (Dusty arms/Torso with Bazooka waist/legs and Flint uppers with Roadblock lowers).

I might find a use for the Corps! too. Gunner O'Grady would work as a tank crewman.

I've looked at yojoe for some answers, but can anyone suggest any faction I'm missing?

You thoughts, please.

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Mayby don't think about it from the established teams standpoint and think more about what it would take to make that team effective. What is the right mix of equipment, skills and numbers of troops to be effective at the things that you are trying to accomplish with them.

EG, Are your MPs spread out throughout your teams, or are they a cohesive unit? If Unit, what does the unit do, and what vehicles and support would it need to do it? Do they need an APC for prisoner transport and if so, who would drive it?

Trying to make sense from that standpoint might lead you in different directions. A different Roadblock mold, might be a different character for heavy machine gun support for many different teams, and you simply choose the most reasonable looking figure for that team, and give them a codename to match.

So in setting up a team ask yourself, Where to they operate, how big a team is needed to do what they do, what support do they need in the field and behind the lines?

Go to it. I've always found this to be a fun little exercise.

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It's more along the lines of the finding one true version that best represents the character. Take Roadblock. He's had around 20+/- versions. His ideal look to me is the first version, and then possibly the second (vest). Now, it doesn't matter whether it is the ARAH version or the 25th style, it's the iconic uniform. The Star Brigade is just a suit to me.



That's part of what I plan to address. I've looked at my own created characters as ones that fill in places where there isn't an established character for that. Clutch will always be the VAMP driver. Tan Clutch is as of yet another unnamed character.



Exactly.



Part of this exercise is to find a use for every release. With Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow, many of their uniforms I don't think I will use. Some of the VvV/JvC/new sculpt figures remind me of basketball players. That gives me ideas on bios and how they made it to the team.

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Much of what I'm doing with my customs right now is with a dio story in mind (for each of my respective worlds). Granted, I'm not trying to reconcile the entire existence of Joe-Dom, etc... but it has struck me how much I enjoy making multiple customs of the same character, to address different scenes/needs/etc... I might have a default "uniform" for every main character I make, but I love the idea of shooting a dio and having the character be identifiable as something other than the outfit he or she is wearing.

I say this because it seems more fun to me to have Tan Clutch simply be Clutch wearing different gear, and stop at that. Now, I do agree with you that many of the redundancies can be effectively re-purposed. But that example, for one, really stood out to me.

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I love having/making different versions of the same characters.
I do it with Playmobil, 1/18 and 1/6 Joes.
I usually have a main version or default outfit along more mission/adventure specific outfit and gear.

Maybe it's because we grew up with toy lines that had multiple versions of key characters?

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I created a Snake Eyes corps, similar to the Green lantern corps in my universe. There are 30+ members. Every Snake eyes mold is included in the corps - just different characters that can use the name Snake Eyes...

- R

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They must hold the quietest meetings ever!

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I really like this idea. Heck, it could be a fun faux group project; repurposing all those figures is great.

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I love to use unique figures as sepparate characters (30th Desert duke as dodger for example)

I have a restructured joe team too: one already done DarkJedi if you'd like me to email it to you...

I have The GI Joe team split between "9 bases" I call Pitts each pitt houses a couple of GI Joe's sub teams with each member of GI Joe being on a primary team (which is where they are most of the time). Each Sub team (if your open minded like me there are about 30 (25 active for me))has an expressed mission and XO. To fill the voids I define what is a reservist, Steel Brigade, and greenshirt.

I also spell out a few mutal aid agreements with Special Action Force (EU Strike Force), The Commandoes Herrocias (who have since joined GI Joe but cover south america), The Oktober Guard, The Bronze Bombers (AU Strike force), The Street Fighters (UN Organized Crime Taskforce), The Eagle Force (NATO security team), The COPS Team (FBI Strike Team), N.E.S.T. (US Army special mechanized warfare Div), SHEILD(CIA Special Operations) and Alpha FlighT (Canadian Special Forces)

I also discuss the use of PMC's like the CORPS! who provide secuirty when the joes are short handed, M.A.S.K. who upgrades joe vehicles, Danger Girl LLC who supplies joes with intelligence, The Adventure Team LLC which acts as the humanitatian assistance civilian arm of the members of GI Joe

There is more, most of it is dry and not what most people like but I am cool with it!

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Could someone be kind enough to point me in the direction of all the Canadian Convention figures?

All my pics/bookmarks are still on the Mac...

Thanx.

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