Hello everyone! I am so glad to have found a place where so many people appreciate PLaymobil!
A bit about myself: I am a 30 something year old father of two boys who never really outgrew his interest for a certain German toy.....I can still remember the first Playmobil character I ever had (Circus Clown 3319). Needless to say, my childhood was full of many happy hours playing with my various sets, and while I don't "play" like I used to, I still enjoy everytime I bring home a new find like I did in those days.
My interests now are as a collector, mainly in the historical fields (Knights, Pirates, Vikings, Romans, Egyptians, Victorians, some Western) as well as collecting figures of different ethnicities/cultures (I joke to myself that I am making a miniature version of the ride at Walt Disney World "It's a Small World"!). While I have a pretty modest collection of sets, I found out that I am more interested in the figures themselves, and I also discovered that it is much easier to store figures in my home than castles/boats/houses etc.! I buy new stuff in stores (I feel very lucky as a fan to be living in Germany) as well as discontinued items from places like ebay. It's a hobby that I am sure only fellow Playmobil lovers understand!
I have customized some of my figures (especially since I learned how to take a klicky apart) and feel that the interchangibilty of Playmobil is one of the reasons why I love this toy so much. Another thing I love about it is the design: there seems to be a play between simplicity and attention to detail that gets me everytime. It truly is a classic toy.
Anyway, I suppose that is it for now. I am happy to be a member here and hope to get to know some of you and share stories/info/pics.
Ciao

PS: itmes that I have purchased this week are: Viking Set 5003, Robin Hood Special 4582, Palace Guard Special 4595, Egyptian Pharaoh 7382 and the English Redcoats 7675.