>>10555414if you're having fun and enjoying yourself, you're doing it right.
there are no rules but your own, and even then try not to autism yourself into a corner about scale, continuity etc.
getting stuff you think looks cool while knowing nothing about the fiction is fine (i have a dozen masterverse, know jack all about MOTU but i treat them like mezco concept figures and not actual characters), but i would suggest maybe yearly going through your collection and if pieces doesn't spark anything anymore, just sell them. i lugged few 80L tubs of transformers around through a move which was a pain, and when i got around to unpacking them i felt nothing, so i passed them onto a local collector group and funded a few buys or what i'm keen on nowadays.
it helps to keep a list or spreadsheet on your pickups or boxes for this reason, and also to give you a better idea of just how much you may come to have. scrolling through 500 cells sinks in when it's quantified like that.
a common trap is completionism, 'if i get this r2d2 it'll go great with my luke skywalker'. if you wouldn't buy it on its own, don't get it as an elaborate accessory or to 'finish the team'. a lot of the time less is more unless it's like a green lantern corps where the more the merrier, but still don't just get stuff for the sake of 'filling gaps'.
for army builders i personally stop at 2 copies but be reasonable, don't get 40 6 inch cobra vipers because their charm will halve for each copy you have
pace yourself (especially for model kits) and don't feel 'pressured' to collect the latest trendy pieces. you don't want to end up with a spare bedroom stacked with 3 square feet of unopened boxes.
if the price on something bothers you, just wishlist and wait for a sale. FOMO and scalping are the enemies of this hobby.
but yeah, remember to have fun with it.
