I agree with what SnakeEater said. It combines some of my interests. I was collecting for years, but the last time I actually set my stuff up and had a war was about 1985, and we strung stuff all over the upstairs of my Parents house. We played for 5 hours with the stuff and I didn't have 1/100th the stuff I have now. It would take weeks to set up an all out war.

I was kind depressed I had nothing to do with my figures but collect them and put them on shelves, and I saw some of General Hawks Dios and some guy named "Tim" had a cool site. I showed it to my wife and mentioned how cool I thought it was and she said "why don't you do that? I mean, its not like they're (the figures) are doing anything but collecting dust". At first I thought, No! I wouldn't be any good at that. Then I found JoeDios and I read forums, asked advice and I started....the rest is history.

For me, it's Very time consuming. filming one scene can take 2 weeks. I build the set, photograph it with figures, post a few of the best and ask advice on how it looks or what I can do to improve it. Sometimes, it's just a matter of a few minor changes (like in my museum) other times, I throw the whole thing out and start again (like with my throne room). Then I decide what the dialog in the scene will be, place the figures and take pictures. this usually takes 2-3 days. I take probably 5 pictures for every 1 I publish. I check them on the PC, see how they look in CBC (comic book creator) and then if I like them and I'm satisfied, I tear down the set and build the set for the next scene. (nothing is worse than realizing one of your KEY shots is blurry AFTER you tore down your set!!!) .

I have the Story line and the scenes plotted out in my head BEFORE I begin. And I don't make a complete Story wth one Dio.I just tell part of a bigger story. I try to use at least 3-5 different scenes (sets) in each chapter so you don't get bored with the scenery. How many complete stories can you tell with 10 pages and one to three different locations?

My dio keeps telling the same epic tale (I've done 6 dios and they are in a sequence). I want you guessing what's gonna happen....where am I going. It's hard sometimes. you get lost halfway through and want to quit. Right now I have my 7th installment 95% done and because I'm in Iraq, I can't finish the last scene (which is about 2-3 frames/pictures) It's frustrating!

Realize I'm obsessive and a perfectionist. I put WAY too much nitpicky work into my dios(even though I still need MORE...there I go again!!), but I hope it shows! If you look at it and get into it and forget for a moment you're looking at small action figures placed on a set I built on a desktop in my garage and lose yourself in the story I've told for a moment, it was worth it to me.....but at least let me know!

I know what lehsreh is talking about. I have about 30 people I sent my last dio to and I think I got what? 10 responses? I don't care if you don't like it, just tell me....you know? It's kind of a thankless job. I'm hoping when I return to make a Dios Vault site where we can download dios from authors here and elsewhere!

My advice, try it! If you don't wanna get too involved, start the first scene of a story as a teaser and see what kind of feedback you get. You can learn a lot if you don't take critism personal! Have fun and enjoy it. I do!