"But I want them all!" - aka How do YOU choose?

After being in this hobby for over a year now, I've learned a lot about what I want and need for my collection. The first few purchases I made were only dolls that expressed what I felt dolls were supose to look like. After viewing for hours on the web and in DoA I've learned a great deal as to what my specific look for a doll should be. Since I'm doing historical sewing, the doll had to be able to change from a royal to a peasant with out being out of place in the crew. It took a lot of comparing dolls and doll company's to get to where only experience can give you the knowledge as to what to look for. Do I want a blank head or do I think the factory face-up will be okay? Do I like the male body better for fitting corsets or an I willing to go female? How many wigs will I need to purchase for whom and for what time period? Shoes, who will get the expensive ones or who will get the cheaper ones? So many ways to spend money in this hobby it's best to keep things in some kind of order before you spend thousands to just "things" to make it all work.

Yes, I've made a few costly mistakes and will keep a watchful eye on all purchases to make sure I don't buy on impulse. I find that making a list first and checking it twice to make sure the doll(s) fit into the focus of my crew plus any clothing or item purchases. It's best to print off a picture of the doll to see how it blends into the group. You can make eye and colouring changes on the print if you plan to do a face-up other than what you print out.

I love each and everyone of my ten dollies. My choices could have been better, but I wouldn't sell or change any of them into something else. Only now, after a year to investing lots of money in this hobby, I know how and what I'm looking for in a doll. I wish all the newbies the best in this hobby and hope they learn to keep a tight fist around their wallets before opening it for a impulse purchase.

 

i look at the dolls in EVERY angles. think what kind of caracter he could have. ask my friends what they think about him/her. look at the price XD
if i cant find it a caracter, i dont buy it.
if the face AND body is not ABSOLUTELY beautifula and that its more expensive than the other dolls i want, i dont buy it.
i ask my friends, but i never consider what they say anyway XD

dolls come in and leave my wishlist all the time. i eventually just realize i dont want it that much after all... :/

 

Interesting topic! I've only just become interested in BJD and realize I have soooo much to learn before I can even begin to narrow down the choices!

 

I have a wish list that slowly developed after spending way too much time staring at doll pictures, and for the most part, I stick to the list. They're the dolls that I absolutely adore, I have clothing/character ideas in mind, and I just can't say no to. I decide which doll I want most at the moment (or which doll I'll be able to afford anytime soon), save, buy, repeat. However, there are little things that occur once in a while that change things a bit... For example, I reeeeeeally want a mini girl right now, but there's no way I can afford a Miyu anytime soon. I've also been really wanting a doll whose default face I'm less in love with so I can practice face-ups. I'm ordering a Bobobie Sprite on Monday

 

Okay.. first time making a thread... insert "If it already exists..." disclaimer here. I did check... honest >_>;

Anyway... I have a question for people here. How do you choose your dolls? [FONT=&quot]Whether it's your 1st or your 25th, how to you pick out of the hundreds out there?

Do you just cruise through sites then stop when you find one you just fall head over heels for?
Do you look for something in particular?
Do you have a list and go through it?
Is there a process of elimination you have?
Any other ways/lines of reasoning you have?

My two cents:

I fell head over heels for my first since I saw it on the news thread. But I find I'm having trouble for the ones after it. Sorting out whether I want the doll or the cloths it's in, whether I want it for the sake of having it, or if there is any other reasoning behind it that I can't put my finger on.
[/FONT]

 

I'm very picky when it comes to dolls. Most male sculpts I dislike because they are far too masculine and I don't find the face appealing, except ones like the Soom Chrom Firelord. *drools*
I actually saw another that interested me, and he turned out to be from Soom, too.

I browse any sites I come across, and save them for later if I find interesting sculpts. Usually a doll will strike me and I must have it, but sometimes I have to see customs before I appreciate their beauty. The first doll to strike me was the Zaoll Luv. I absolutely love that sculpt, and everyone's customisation looks perfect!

I tend to look for something specific, but I always end up finding another doll that doesn't fit my requirements but one that I want. Addicted now, I guess. There's no turning back!

 

browsing and falling.. in love that is, there are some dolls I want, and they're on a list but for some reason I buy others everytime 'cause they fit my characters better..

 

This topic keeps getting covered I got all these hits by searching 'choosing doll', I'm not sure what exactly you searched for if you didn't get any results.

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=342143&highlight=choosing+doll
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341537&highlight=choosing+doll
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341712&highlight=choosing+doll
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232045&highlight=choosing+doll
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310364&highlight=choosing+doll

 

It's really whatever appeals to me on an aesthetic level these days. At first it was a little more specific. For my first doll I could only get an MSD, for example. My second was my "dream doll," so that was a pretty easy choice too.

Third I wanted a boy, and there was only one boy I liked at that moment.

Fourth I wanted a tiny, so I browsed all the tinies.

And then after that it was just, "Oh, I like that one." It helps if it's limited and you have to get it now or never, but the last doll I got was just, "I like it and need it and can afford it." Pretty simple. I'm not a story/character collector, so I can buy the dolls I like without worrying whether they fit a character or personality or "family" or whatever. I'm happy to say my dolls are all different sizes and look pretty different from each other.

 

I'm actually interested in an answer to this question as well- I've just ordered my fourth full doll, but I'm already planning number 5 (an SD Girl probably) I just can't choose though! I think the way I chose the rest was that I just kept browsing and browsing my favourite doll companies' websites and finally I saw one that just sort of 'stuck', that is, I kept thinking about him and there were so many exciting character possibilities!

 

ah, sorry, I searched "choosing" and "picking" but I must have been to blurry to see the results properly... need to go sleep.

Everyone's replies are very interesting though...

monkeycancer I agree with the choosing what you like and not going with "fitting in"... but that just leaves the field even wider XD.

 

I am first and foremost drawn to the elf-eared dolls, then the eyes are my second concern (which can be hard when they don't have any in or they have the wrong color in).

On that note, can anyone point me towards a listing of elf-eared dolls out there? Or suggest certain ones that they like? I apologize I am very new to bjd's, and only just found the Fairyland ones a couple weeks ago. It seems like there are so many different types out there!

 

AuryonYue, no problem, it's just that a lot of newcomers say they've searched for a topic and can't find what they're looking for, but I'm always curious what they've searched for when I search and I can find 5 threads all about what they want to know

There are quite a few elf eared dolls out now, try searching in this part of the forum for owner photographs of them. (This link might be helpful)

Most dolls come with a free pair of eyes, if you don't like the eyes they come with finding eyes you like for your doll isn't a problem since eyes can easily be changed.

 

Actually, I got my both my BJDs from Dollzone, and will get my 3rd one from them. Simply because I like magnetic snap caps (I like being able to change the eyes and T-shirts easily), the dolls' versatile faces and the fact that both my dolls got here in perfect condition.

 

Jescissa I think what happened was I was thinking more generally and just saw a lot of threads specifically about choosing first dolls and it just didn't register... thankyou for being polite though and linking those threads.

zaidalin79 I myself like fantasy things.. so I'll be more drawn to things with elf ears two... though other "oddities" help.

Femi I have an opposite problem with female sculpts... though that's because I'm more picky with them...

niniatiale I have a foreboding feeling that's me in the future...

Free Epiphany So... a kind of company loyalty?

 

Well...I started by finding sculpts that had the right look, in the right size, and in the right 'skin-tone' to become my original characters, and the original characters of my hubby. From there...I totally impulse bought my first tiny. Now I've at least another 8 tinties planned. And an anthro...a ton of MSD sized dolls planned...and a few SDs who I felt would make good World of Warcraft dolls. from there...it's really whatever catches my eye. Then I ask myself 'What could I do with it, who could I turn it into?' and if I have an answer to that, on my list it goes...I REALLY need to update my list.

Though...I've also found a total love for BBB and RS dolls...I just...I am in LOVE with the RS bodies for MSD size and up...and I love their facial sculpts...so I keep finding 'reasons' to own more and more of their dolls...and as money is tight right now, they tend to jump up the list as they're easier to save for. I like working on and photographing my dolls, but I'm also a doll collector. I own several types of dolls and like adding to the dolls I have in the house. Though...my BJDs are my only 'play' dolls now...even the barbies have been resigned to 'shelf only' until I have a daughter to play with them with. Reason? I can't DO anything with them! I can't change their eyes or hair without FAR too much fuss, they don't pose for photos...I can sew for them...but why should I when I can sew for my BJDs instead? See the theme here? I need to be able to tell myself 'I can DO something with this doll, they won't just sit on the shelf.' to add them to the want list.

 

I am awsome picky~ For now only Ducan, Ivan and Kirill attract me. Other than those 3 i guess SOOM Sphaler did manage to attract my attention too. Sadly its a limited doll....
I prefer doll with more girly look, yet look strong and hot, a little innocent and naughty look will be a ++point~
**important***no awsome big eyes*****

 

I go through sites. Look at prices. Then once I find a company/site.. I start looking at faces. When it comes down to it, I buy for the faces. I'm very picky.

 

Browsing and falling xD and then looking at owner pics- definitely look at owner pics.

I'm also obsessed with joints in the body- knees, waists, chests, elbows. If I see a body that has double jointed knees, and separate waist and chest joints, I'll probably fall for them immediately

Although I do make exceptions when finding a face sculpt that I really like... but even then, if I find the body doesn't have a joint on at least the chest, it's huge turn off :C

.... I sound extremely picky XD;

 

I try (and sometimes fail) to pick dolls with certain personal criterion:

• Is the doll $500 or less? (before face-up)
• Will the doll fit in with the 'look' of my other dolls?
• Is the doll a common size so that it will be easy enough to find clothing for?
• Does the doll have appropriate sized hands for its' body (or can be replacements be easily obtained)?
• Are there enough owner pictures for me to see most of the angles?
• Are the eyes symmetrical?
• (If the doll has elf ears) Are the ears easily modded to a more human shape?
• Is the doll in scale with the rest of my resin troupe?
  
• And, most importantly, do I like it?