what are your collecting idiosyncrasies?

[dragonfly]

We already know that most of us have a preferred generation, and even favorite sets within that generation, and preferred conditions.

But what are your other collecting idiosyncrasies? such as:

- only collect ponies of a certain color
- only collect ponies with a certain type of symbol (food, for example)
- only collect ponies with freckles
- only collect a specific pose

stuff like that

Me, I'm not so specific. I collect mostly G1s, some G3s, and adopt any stray ponies I find at flea markets or thrift shops.

[pickwick_pirate]

I always used to be 100% about the boys. And i still love boys, and im gutted that the g4 line has not embraced their great range of male characters the way they could have done.

Also, pink and yellow. I love pink and yellow ponies in any combo or shade. Which is odd seeing as they are two colours I am not a fan of.

[Rainbowrific Renia]

I'm not too specific. I knew for G1s I wanted all of the Rainbow Ponies and any space/star themed ponies. I sorta stuck to that, but ended up getting into the TAFs because of Nightglider.

For G3s, I was only going to collect ponies with "rainbow" in their names, as well as space/star themed ones, but I quickly abandoned that and just ended up buying ones that I really liked, regardless of their names or symbols. I fell in love with G3 all too quickly.

For G4 I'm not specific at all. I collect almost every and anything from this generation, because it's what got me into MLP in the first place. I love them all!

I'm thinking of getting into G2 eventually, and I'll probably have a much more specific criteria for collecting those.

[shelvesofwhimsy]

Hmm I guess my tastes change pretty frequently. For awhile I was collecting any pony that kind of caught my eye...but I live in a city in a small apt so I only have so much room. Then I decided to focus on Bowtie for my army, Flutters or all kinds, and ponies that I just really love the color/design of.
But every few weeks I will look over my ponies and prune my collection. If I don't feel strongly that I really like one I will sell it. I just don't have the room, although I would love to keep them all!

[Baby Crumpet]

Without noticing it, my G1 trend seems to be soft colours. There are some more vibrant ponies, sure - bowtie and sorbet surprise spring to mind - but for the most part, ponies I've set out to buy myself are always softer colours.

In G3, I prefer pegasi, but I seem to have a slightly alarming amount of pink ponies.

G4, I buy anything that isn't mane six!

[Jorgito93]

Well except for my loving for white ponies, i don't have specific rules about what i buy.I mostly buy anything i can grab for a good price.

[Miniature Sheep]

I have a major weakness for wingers (they're too cute!) and ponies with moon, star and/or ocean-themed symbols. I also love purple ponies, especially if they're a darker shade.

[Taffeta]

G1 ponies

But I guess my idiosyncrasy is probably more related to other ponyish stuff. I have a G1 backcard obsession I think I counted over 250 in my collection so far last time I checked.

[nessa16]

I have started a few armies which I swore I wouldn't have. Other than that  I love yellow ponies with pink (the easily fading type). They are so pretty!

[northstar3184]

I collect G1s and G3s and I have a set of criteria that I look for that a pony must meet before I add them to my herd:

• For G1s, no white ponies
• No ponies with tinsel. (I have ~70 ponies and there are only 2 exceptions to this)
• No 3D Symbols
• I don't collect Wingers, Sea Ponies, Baby Ponies, So Softs, or Pony Friends
• No duplicates, even if the ponies are in different poses.

Ponies I'm partial to: Twinkle Eyes, Big Brothers, Sweetberry ponies, European exclusive sets, Magic Message ponies, G3 seasonal/holiday ponies, and G3 Jewel ponies

[scarletjul]

I'm partial to:

blue ponies
ponies with unfaded pink hair
Posey/walking pose
Boys
Scented ponies
Newborn twins

I do own other ponies besides these but these are the ones I'm drawn towards. 

[Leave a Whisper]

I have to have more unicorns then any other species

I hafta have a number of species I can divide by easily, I don't know why.

I hafta have at least ten of almost every color, orange is the exception because I can't find that many orange ponies to like.

When a species has 3-6 poses, I hafta have at least one in each pose, Wingers, adult sea ponies and boys are exceptions because they're expensive.

[zombienixon]

I don't know if it counts, but I almost never buy new ponies at full retail price, only when they're on sale. This is also why I rarely get blind bags anymore.

I will also buy pretty much anything Pinkie Pie, or Celestia, or Cadance.

[Artemesia's Garden]

In G1 I  like to have:
- All UK releases, but I have German or Dutch versions of a couple if prettier
- USA releases of prominent characters mentioned in comics 1 to 30 if no UK version exists
- Ideally the same number of each species. I make up the numbers of Unicorns and Pegasus with USA releases including de-flocked ponies
- I avoid many of the gimmicks but i have two from each of the following sets: Glow n Show, Sparkle, Merry-Go-Round, Perfume Puff
- I'm not a fan of the Mimic pose so I don't have any ponies in that pose
- I'm generally not into complete sets beyond Y3 but I don't like having just one from a particular set either
- My ponies need to fit into my head canon. I need to do drastic things like de flocking to finish my head canon!
- If a particular pony character has consistent problems with plastic condition I often just give up completely or customise the one i have got for keeps. I recently gave up on US Confetti and several of my TEs and sold them because I didn't enjoy them anymore. I just kept checking for cancer and I won't go out of my way to replace them. However I recently rescued very poorly Sweet Stuff and Sprinkles by painting designs over the spots and I'm really pleased with the results so I'll keep them.
- I like to avoid really pricey ponies although they have all crept up. I like to play with them so if I get one that's too rare or in rare condition I'll sell to a different kind of collector to appreciate.

Ooh another one! I don't generally prefer babies that are identical to parents! I love when they have variations, like fading pink hair or I might have mismatching releases to get the variation.


For G3s again I avoid gimmicks including Super Long Hair.  I just picked a large selection of ponies I happen to think are pretty.  I don't attach them to a ponyverse or even their accessories or playsets although I am building a up a selection. I just think  of them as pretty figures to enjoy each in their own right.  I like that the colour combinations are more adventurous so tend to be attracted to those.

For G4 I tried to collect the mane 6 and every non-mane 6 brushable, plus some MIP doubles from the different TAF type lines and the water cuties.  For some reason I do like gimmicks in G4 and have collected many versions of Pinkie Pie with different gimmicks.  So I've ended up with almost everyone I want plus a Pinkie Pie army and some extras that I've kept in packets for display.  I do regret not buying some of the pink ones I passed on because I thought the colours were boring i.e. Cupcake, Flitterheart and Plumsweet.  I got the smaller castle but I'm not huge on G4 playsets so I think I'll leave it at that.

So many idiosyncrasies! The great thing about having so many idiosyncrasies is that I have a smaller collectionthat is more manageable for me.  Maybe all these idiosyncrasies are just me talking myself out of having more ponies 

[Shy Violet]

I think my big things would be Euro ponies and matching moms and babies. For example I love all the TAF babies and need to collect them all to go with their mommy counterparts. So even though they aren't officially mom and baby sets I still see them as moms and babies and need to get them all. Same with ponies like Gusty, Buttons and Tic Tac Toe etc. I can't wait to get my basement developed so I can set up my pony room and display them all together.