Ultrasabers Spring Raffle ends 04/11/2017

[Isola815]

So I've been bouncing back and forth over what to do... and I think I'm going to try something a bit strange. Instead of ordering a saber that I've had my eye on for a while, one that I really want and risk another hiccup or mixup. I'm going to order something I'm NOT interested in. Something I've never really looked once at, let alone looked twice at. I thought about ordering the Scorpion, but someone said they were out of the black with the claw, so that s*** on that parade. I'd never really given it much thought because of the neck windows.

So now I'm back to the drawing board and scrolling through the site looking for something that I consider average at best, to let go of all preconceived notions and expectations, and just give US a chance to impress me.

This idea came to me because my Apprentice LE (one I'd never considered because I didn't like how it looked on the site) was a grab bag and it totally blew me away with how good it was when I saw it in person. So I figured why not give them another chance to do that?

Does this make sense to anyone other than me?

[Lord Bladewraith]

I've been debating as well, Isola... Think, think, think, felt like I was going in circles sometimes, and I ended up surprising myself, so to me it makes a LOT of sense to go for the opposite of what you think you want. There's a lot more to these than meets the proverbial eye. I discovered that with the Arbiter and the Standard Issue, the latter being a Second Place prize in the last raffle. I think you'd love the Sentinel, the Apprentice or the Standard Issue. I have all three and they have some strengths in simplicity and agility that the higher end ones don't. Pretty cool, really.

Question about the Scorpion: Did you not like the Crimson Scorpion? That's the one I just ordered WITH the claw, and I'm quite excited about it.

[HoverFloat]

So I've been bouncing back and forth over what to do... and I think I'm going to try something a bit strange. Instead of ordering a saber that I've had my eye on for a while, one that I really want and risk another hiccup or mixup. I'm going to order something I'm NOT interested in. Something I've never really looked once at, let alone looked twice at. I thought about ordering the Scorpion, but someone said they were out of the black with the claw, so that s*** on that parade. I'd never really given it much thought because of the neck windows.

So now I'm back to the drawing board and scrolling through the site looking for something that I consider average at best, to let go of all preconceived notions and expectations, and just give US a chance to impress me.

This idea came to me because my Apprentice LE (one I'd never considered because I didn't like how it looked on the site) was a grab bag and it totally blew me away with how good it was when I saw it in person. So I figured why not give them another chance to do that?

Does this make sense to anyone other than me?

Yes it does make sense. I've been eyeing the Bellicose for quite some time now. Not because I like it. Because I really, really don't. I was able to try it out and I found it too cylindrical for my taste. Then again considering how the Aeon v4, which I wasn't very fond of either, grew on me I thought I'd give it a chance someday.   

I've actually been thinking of starting a "Sell me the _______" thread where someone mentions a saber they don't really care for then the community tries to change their mind. But not sure if that's already been done or if it's even a good idea at the moment.

[James Casey]

I'm sure we all have hilts we've looked at and discounted. Sometimes opinions change, sometimes not - some of my favourite hilts are those I'd not have chosen on first inspection. I was never a fan of the Prophecy, for example, but then handling one sold me on it in seconds.

I would suggest, should you start the thread, that the tone of the opening post be given careful consideration. Done wrong, it could come across as bashing US' products, which I know isn't the intention, but could seem to be the case as you're essentially saying "I don't like X..."

[Rapine]

I don't think it's a bad idea at all.

I get what James is saying, but we all know that the quality of any hilt is top notch - that's not in question.

The only parts up for debate would be visual appeal, aesthetics, and perhaps intended use.

US offers a TON of designs.  They obviously aren't going to appeal to every person.

I know that when I first joined, there were a number of sabers that didn't appeal to me - for various reasons, but now I see some of them in a different way, and a good portion of that is due to other member's opinions...

I truly don't think it would degrade into US bashing - on the contrary, it could increase sales. 

[Isola815]

I've been debating as well, Isola... Think, think, think, felt like I was going in circles sometimes, and I ended up surprising myself, so to me it makes a LOT of sense to go for the opposite of what you think you want. There's a lot more to these than meets the proverbial eye. I discovered that with the Arbiter and the Standard Issue, the latter being a Second Place prize in the last raffle. I think you'd love the Sentinel, the Apprentice or the Standard Issue. I have all three and they have some strengths in simplicity and agility that the higher end ones don't. Pretty cool, really.

Question about the Scorpion: Did you not like the Crimson Scorpion? That's the one I just ordered WITH the claw, and I'm quite excited about it.

I absolutely LOVE my Apprentice and Standard Issue. They are both stunt setup and I'm sure I would be happy with a Sentinel too. But this is kind of the problem in a nutshell. Every cheap hilt I've gotten I have loved instantly. From the Prophecy and up (price wise) I have had issues. EXCEPT for the Monarch, which was one I scoffed at first, and then bought while still not totally convinced, but convinced enough from seeing it with the Mantis pommel on it to give it a go. It was a happy accident, like the Apprentice. The Liberator was bought for a photo prop and I loved it, and the Mantis bought for someone else and I loved it.

The three that had me most excited - Dark Catalyst, Prophecy and Arbiter... well you've seen what happened to them. Mostly. There is still one more "rebuild" coming out of that. So the ones I've REALLY wanted have let me down, and the others have been amazing. So I feel like ordering a Guardian, Emperor's Hand, Menace, Malice or Raven (my main list of the dearer ones) now would be asking for a world of hurt if this trend continues. So maybe I should look at stuff I find bland, or even stuff I don't like the look of at all.

The crimson scorpion might be alright, it's probably less appealing to me than the black one. But red is such a "clash" color that it's hard for me to spec it out in a way that doesn't feel like Stevie Wonder ordered it.

Maybe I just need to write them down and pull a name out of a hat.

[HoverFloat]

Done wrong, it could come across as bashing US' products

Exactly why I didn't do it, and why I'm not going to. I have the knack of doing things wrong, saying things that come out wrong, and, well you get the idea. I'll just continue to study reviews of hilt designs that aren't my cup of tea for the meantime. 

[MaskofMany]

I never have had a desire to get any of the crimson or azure hilts - with my scorpion I went black, BUT...what would be neat to me (at least as far as the scorpion goes) is if US offered the Scorpion models with your choice of shroud.  I mean...a crimson Scorpion with a black shroud or vice-versa would be pretty awesome.

[Lord Bladewraith]

I never have had a desire to get any of the crimson or azure hilts - with my scorpion I went black, BUT...what would be neat to me (at least as far as the scorpion goes) is if US offered the Scorpion models with your choice of shroud.  I mean...a crimson Scorpion with a black shroud or vice-versa would be pretty awesome.

Like this?

http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=24304.0

[MaskofMany]

Like this?

http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=24304.0

Exactly lol.  How awesome...

[hazard502]

Maybe I just need to write them down and pull a name out of a hat.

Now that would be adventurous! Wise I'm not so sure, lol.  But writing down 10 hilts you'd never consider and the first one you draw ... you buy  Don't think I'd be brave enough to do it but what a fun idea.

[Lord Bladewraith]

Maybe I just need to write them down and pull a name out of a hat.

Now that would be adventurous! Wise I'm not so sure, lol.  But writing down 10 hilts you'd never consider and the first one you draw ... you buy  Don't think I'd be brave enough to do it but what a fun idea.

It's like your own personal grab bag. I think it sounds freakin cool! I'm going to do that one day, probably limiting it to one of the lower to mid range sabers, but yeah, I think it's an awesome idea to treat yourself to, as then whichever one you pick, you get to configure it any way you like including fully loaded, so that's your reward for being brave enough to let chance make the choice for you.

Side note, though, I personally don't think you'd find yourself disappointed with the Emperor's Hand. It's pretty flawless IMO, but it's also my favorite now. I think US they really nailed it.

[Jediseth]

Now that would be adventurous! Wise I'm not so sure, lol.  But writing down 10 hilts you'd never consider and the first one you draw ... you buy  Don't think I'd be brave enough to do it but what a fun idea.

You wouldn't really be losing I'm my opinion. Would you have the strength to not re- pick.

[MaskofMany]

I think setting yourself up with something random out of a hat is a cool idea, really.  I mean...bottom line is that you're either pleasantly surprised and have something new to play with, or something you don't feel bad about modding the hell out of, or gifting, or just being as brutal as possible with.  Personally if it turned out to be a bummer, I would go nuts customizing it - turn it into something that IS awesome.

[Isola815]

Now that would be adventurous! Wise I'm not so sure, lol.  But writing down 10 hilts you'd never consider and the first one you draw ... you buy  Don't think I'd be brave enough to do it but what a fun idea.

Good idea to limit it to ten. I'm going to make a list of (in my opinion) the ten most undesirable hilts in the price bracket from the Bellicose up.

It's like your own personal grab bag. I think it sounds freakin cool! I'm going to do that one day, probably limiting it to one of the lower to mid range sabers, but yeah, I think it's an awesome idea to treat yourself to, as then whichever one you pick, you get to configure it any way you like including fully loaded, so that's your reward for being brave enough to let chance make the choice for you.

Side note, though, I personally don't think you'd find yourself disappointed with the Emperor's Hand. It's pretty flawless IMO, but it's also my favorite now. I think US they really nailed it.

I want to try and keep it at or under $350 for this one. I like the idea of doing this as a diamond or emerald experiment as a test bed though... so I will give it some more thought while i've got time.

The low-mid range have been the winners though. So this needs to happen on a high-end. Go big or go home

You wouldn't really be losing I'm my opinion. Would you have the strength to not re- pick.

I'll do a video or something for the draw so I'm locked in to what I wind up drawing. Then I can't redraw :p

I think setting yourself up with something random out of a hat is a cool idea, really.  I mean...bottom line is that you're either pleasantly surprised and have something new to play with, or something you don't feel bad about modding the hell out of, or gifting, or just being as brutal as possible with.  Personally if it turned out to be a bummer, I would go nuts customizing it - turn it into something that IS awesome.

And I am certainly hoping for the pleasant surprise

But when it comes down to it, I'd rather mod something I didn't want than another one that I really wanted.