Question on rarity scheme for Super Boosters

[odietamo]

Would you prefer an even rarity scheme for the Super Boosters (i.e. each booster contents are as common as the others) or a C/U/R type scheme for the Super Boosters (i.e. Sentinel boosters are common, team booster is uncommon, Apoc is a rate)?

I think either scenario has pro's and con's. Even rarity scheme means that if you are lucky, you only need to buy 8 Super Boosters to have them all. C/U/R type scheme means that when you spend $24 on a booster and it is a duplicate, you are more likely to have a use for the figure (I would want more than one Sentinel, but I would not want more than one Apoc).

Thoughts?

[Wilx]

I agree with wanting only apoc and multiple sentinels. Also if there are boosters with specific teams, I would not want multiples of everyone on that team, unless they are tradable.

[MistahJustice]

I would like this, as it makes sense, and I would honestly hate that generic Sentinels are worth as much as Apocalypse or something else.

BTW - I hate the idea of Team Super Boosters, so let's make those CHASE rarity or IMPOSSIBLE rarity.

But yes, Sentinels could be common Super Boosters and I'm 100% happy with that. That way maybe I could trade unwanted team boosters (if they're really even doing that) and trade them for Sentinels.

[Suttkus]

I can't imagine CURish super boosters being a good idea at all. Unless something like sentinels are the *only* commons, that's just going to be a mess. Leave them all at a flat rarity, I say.

[MistahJustice]

The main problem with that is then, what purpose would it serve to make the Sentinels generic? If they're all going to be flat rarity then the Sentinel might as well be a unique, cause hardly anyone will want to trade Apocalypse or another of the colossal figures for them. Ridiculous for the Sentinels to be as rare as the rest. Make them varied rarity, I say.

Or at least make the Sentinels the commons. Or put a varied version of the Sentinels in with certain super boosters. For the figures I don't like, I certainly wouldn't mind pulling a Sentinel out of the same pack and just trading the other.

Actually, that doesn't sound like too bad an idea, and sounds MUCH better than having some boosters be with complete teams. For the complete team super boosters have them each come with either just a regular Sentinel or a repaint, then when I or someone else who thinks the complete team super boosters is an incredibly horrible idea we have something to be happy about as we try and trade away the team. And for those who like the idea of complete team boosters, they can either be doubly as happy or just trade away the Sentinel as you know there'll be a bunch of people wanting them.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing a Sentinel in every super booster. Will it flood the market with them? Sure. Will I be happy with that? Immensely. In fact, I would buy more super boosters because of it.

[beecaveman]

It's a really interesting idea that could be great. Aside from collation issues where it seems that some areas just don't get "that" box I'm guessing the super boosters will be equal in rarity. As bad as pulling multiple Apocs would be through bad luck it would be worse if there were levels of rarity so for $24 you are pull the same common booster repeatedly, which granted could happen anyway, but it would be a probability instead of bad luck if some were common.

Someone else said it's like buying blind action packs which I think makes it sound good. Loose super booster contents will trade and sell well. Many people are gonna be gunshy of the cost so the collectors who pull the trigger are going to have trade fodder loaded for bear. If there are potential generics, Sentinels or Brood for example, I think finding yourself superbooster heavy is going to be just fine. With few exceptions in our area odietamo, klixkiller for example, most players will get 4, maybe 5, at most? Having an extra Apoc will be trade gold or at least trade bronze as long as the stats support it.

For a low budget player like me I don't see myself buying many of them unless there is a team that is must have for me, like a Brood box or the Marauders. If that turns out to be the only way I can get them I'll buy some for sure with confidence that Superbooster will equal superbooster for trade use.

I'm looking forward to the first sealed night at Dragon's Lair when there will be loose superboosters around afterwards. I bet they will give a couple out. Winning them seems much better than buying them.

[Blue Atoll]

I think another factor that is going to increase scarcedness of SuperBoosters is the fact that venues can only order additional quantities equal to the number of pre-ordered bricks they order. This is going to severely limit the number of extra SuperBoosters around as most stores are going to either miss this important requirement (much like they miss ordering prize kits) or not want to shell out the additional cash up front on 'wait and see' type items.

WizKids will need to preview the SuperBooster's content in time for people to make intelligent decisions about the additional number of SuperBoosters they should preorder. Unfortunately, this is something that has been rather hit-or-miss from WizKids here of late. Hopefully they will have their act together by the time GSX approaches.

[MistahJustice]

@Atoll: Yeah, I agree. I really hope for previews or at least confirmations of what might come in the super boosters while we still have time, which I think if they do all this two months before the release that should be plenty of time. With the possibility of what will come in the regular boosters, I think I'm just going to stick with the case I preordered (first time case-buyer guys haha) and lay claim to the two super boosters the owner can order in accordance with my case.

@bee: True, their trade value will be pretty good at least to start, but what you're forgetting is all of the normal bricks that venues everywhere are going to be breaking up into single boosters, meaning there will still be more super boosters floating around. Obviously not as many as regular boosters, but there won't be a super booster famine, at least not for a while. Regardless, I'll more than likely limit myself to four, depending on what all the possibilities are. If I don't like all the possibilities, I'll probably just stick to what comes with the case.

[MegaLotusMan]

I am torn on this point.
I find it completely agreeable that multiple sentinels should be obtainable, if they are generic sentinels. Personally I don't care about that, but I understand why many people do.

On the other hand, when I think about the idea of spending 25$ trying to get something other than a Sentinel, but pulling them over and over to be awefull.

This will definitely be one of those things where half the community will want it one way and half will want it the other. So I guess Wizkid's get to pick who wins this one.

I am reminded of Warskrull though, I know lots of people wanted several, but I never managed even 1. The solution that problem being though that they never should have been that rare to begin with.

[MistahJustice]

This is why I think maybe a sentinel in every super booster is a good plan, or at least have a few (like 3) always have one in there in addition to the other colossal piece. This way multiple sentinels aren't difficult to get and you don't have to worry about getting a sentinel and nothing else, especially if it means you didn't get the colossal you wanted. Also, it'd nullify the worry of pulling a full team as opposed to a colossal piece you can use/want or even just trade away.

And maybe this is where the CUR can be involved. You get one of three types of sentinel figures (Marks III, IV, V or Mastermold or Tri-Sentinel repaints) in addition to Apocalypse or (God willing he's in this set!) Onslaught.

In this way I think everyone has the potential to be immensely happy.

[beecaveman]

@MistahJustice - I'm thinking of my usual venue's sealed events and it's regulars and I'll say we have 22 players. A good number for sure. From those sealed events and loose boosters they have on the shelf you'd get a dozen superboosters lying about. Our venue does a good job, prize support and what not, so they order the full amount of superboosters possible. Now I don't know how many bricks they order but for arguement sake let's say 15 cases - 30 bricks, which I think is high but not impossible. So let's say the venue has 45 super boosters - ordering 30ish and a dozen or so from opened bricks. That's not that many when you go back to the fact that we get 20ish players on a good night, which is often. Yeah people will have a superbooster or 2 or 3 from personnal bricks but few players will have a set.

Even if half the players are not interested it's not even close to enough. If the dials are strictly exclusive to the superboosters and they're good, not even great just good, I think you can buy with confidence.

[MistahJustice]

Good point. I think I might just do that haha.

[odietamo]

It's a really interesting idea that could be great. Aside from collation issues where it seems that some areas just don't get "that" box I'm guessing the super boosters will be equal in rarity. As bad as pulling multiple Apocs would be through bad luck it would be worse if there were levels of rarity so for $24 you are pull the same common booster repeatedly, which granted could happen anyway, but it would be a probability instead of bad luck if some were common.

I totally understand this side of the equation, but I keep coming back to the following problem. At a flat rarity scheme, I have a 1:8 change of pulling each different Super Booster. But after the 1st Apoc booster, I don't want a second. I might want more than 1 Sentinel. But this could be the same problem that everyone faces, making it hard to trade my extra Apoc for someone elses Super Booster figure, especially a Sentinel. It is like trying to trade a non-generic common figure for a generic common figure - most likely not going to happen. Only issue is that you are now out $24, not $2.20 (1/5th the cost of a normal booster).

Solutions that I see:

1) Make all figures in a Super Booster Uniques. This will mean that trading should be easy, as no one wants multiples of any Super Booster. Problem with this from a Wizkids / Neca perspective is that it does not encourage multiple purchases. Someone who wants a complete set buys 8 super boosters and then trades to complete the set.

2) Have something other than a flat rarity scheme. Put non-uniques at lower rarities, making multiple figures retain some value. Place uniques at higher rarity schemes. They would not have to have a full C/U/R/SR scheme. It could be a simple as a C/U rarity, with C figures appearing 2 times as frequently as U figures. Examples could be: C super boosters of Sentinel (maybe even two different Sentienal), Brood generic figures (team box), some other generic figures team box; U super boosters with Apoc, Onslaught, Mauraders team, Master Mold, insert other big Marvel / X-Men figure you might only want one of. This could still encourage repeat super booster buying. Biggest issue I see with this is how many people would want to "try their luck" at $24 a booster.

In the end, I think the Super Booster experiment will be an interesting thing for Giant Size X-Men, but WizKids has to be careful. Buyers will feel burned if their Super Booster purchase at $24 ends up only being a figure worth $6 after the booster is opened.

[beecaveman]

I see what you are saying K-podietamo, but I think any superbooster content as long as its exclusive to superboosters is going to be tradeable. I still think having multiple Apocali is a worst case scenario but not one that will be that big a deal. Now I don't want your extra Apoc, which you personally are going to get at least 2 of, but I'd want your extra U Sentinel or Dark Phoenix or Master Mold. I don't see them being worth less than a good sr but maybe not much more. I would like to see all SB that come with a colossal also come with a Brood or a Rogue Sentinel or something, ala Qwardians with Anti-Monitor. That would take some sting away from a $24 dupe.

[comical]

WizKids will need to preview the SuperBooster's content in time for people to make intelligent decisions about the additional number of SuperBoosters they should preorder.

Excellent point. We actually see this expressed before every set, and I don't agree with it for regular sets, but because of the two-fold nature of this set, the unknowns related to the changes, and the cost of buying an "extra" set of Super-Boosters, much more information should actually be made available at least two weeks before the NECA order deadline.

I also wonder how they're handling the "regular" set. If a store gets 4 cases and doubles up the Super-boosters, they'll have ONE set of 8 Super-boosters, and 64 regular boosters. Considering that a SR set of 12 usually takes 36 boosters to complete, that's a LOT of regular boosters in relation to the 1 Super-Booster set.

Lots of decisions to make on this one!

[Mokole]

am i the only one that thinks $25 for one unknown fig or a small team sounds ...Eh? now if ya get a big fig and a team...perfect!

[comical]

am i the only one that thinks $25 for one unknown fig or a small team sounds ...Eh? now if ya get a big fig and a team...perfect!

$25 for one unknow fig? Depends on the figures in question.
for a small team? Sure - that's too much, but who ever said anything about small teams?
for a full team? Depends on the teams.

I do think they'll need a few more "spoilers" than they've had for the last couple sets.

[Bat-Dude]

Having lived through the 'Very Rare Rancor' debacle of the WotC Star Wars Minis Universe set, I am 100% positive that collation that causes any SB Figure to be more rare than any other SB Figure will be absolutely infuriating and should be avoided by NECAKids.

[traitorarmor]

I do think they'll need a few more "spoilers" than they've had for the last couple sets.

On that note, Comical, do you know when pre-orders go in for GSX?

[krusticlese]

Excellent point. We actually see this expressed before every set, and I don't agree with it for regular sets, but because of the two-fold nature of this set, the unknowns related to the changes, and the cost of buying an "extra" set of Super-Boosters, much more information should actually be made available at least two weeks before the NECA order deadline.

I also wonder how they're handling the "regular" set. If a store gets 4 cases and doubles up the Super-boosters, they'll have ONE set of 8 Super-boosters, and 64 regular boosters. Considering that a SR set of 12 usually takes 36 boosters to complete, that's a LOT of regular boosters in relation to the 1 Super-Booster set.

Lots of decisions to make on this one!

For 4 cases, wouldn't you be able to order an additional 8 Super Boosters (1 for each brick) bringing the total to 16 Super Boosters and 64 regulars?

*still a huge disparity, but a little better*

[nivlac713]

Really, an equal rarity should be fine. There are at least 2 if not three sentinals. So even if there is a common rarity the odds of getting the sentinals are higher then the other pieces, as they will only have one iteration. Getting ALL the different sentinals will be just as hard as getting any other three pieces, but all told, you will have a greater chance of getting a sentinal then the other stuff. Which sounds good to me. I don't really want 5 sentinals, and if they are more common AND have a higher number of each, then we will be flooded with sentinals. Right?

[comical]

For 4 cases, wouldn't you be able to order an additional 8 Super Boosters (1 for each brick) bringing the total to 16 Super Boosters and 64 regulars?

*still a huge disparity, but a little better*

Oops - you're absolutely right!

2 cases, doubled up on the SBs, should give you 8 Super-Boosters and 32 boosters. If there are 12 SRs, then similar rarity would exist between SRs and SB figures.

Not all stores will double up - I guarantee it. What the print run will be, though, will ultimately determine what CAN come to market and what will end up on the market down the road. For stores, on release day, it'll still be a tough call.

On that note, Comical, do you know when pre-orders go in for GSX?

No solicitations yet. I'll let you know when I get one, of course. :)

[kh2003]

I agree with the above posters who state that previews of the super booster will indeed be needed in order for us "the consumers" to know what the heck is going on :D