I was wondering if you could play 2 batmobiles for example in a game if you play an "a" and a "b". Does the letter designation denote a different enough figure to ignore the unique ring.

No. The figure with the name "Batmobile", the set number V001 and the "Batman" set symbol is unique, and only one figure with that designation can be on your force. Playing one piloted and one unpiloted doesn't change the designation on the base: for that purose it's two copies of the same unique character.

UNIQUE CHARACTERS
If a character is Unique, only one copy of that character can be part of your force. Unique characters have a silver ring on their bases (older Unique characters may have a gold or bronze ring). A force can’t contain two Unique characters with the same name, the same set symbol, and the same collector’s number. If a character is not Unique, you may include as many copies of it on your force as you wish, within the constraints of the force’s build total

To me
V001
V001a
V001b
are not the same collector's #

Are you going by what the # on the card or base?

The base. V001a is not, by the rules, a different character than V001b or simply V001.

Is there some sort of actual ruling on that? or definition of what the collector's # is?

I would think that any character with multiple dials would be separate and distinct.

Take for example the thug who has an A and B.

If the A and B are not a part of its collector number, then couldn't I choose whether to use A or B at the start of every game in a single tournament?

I would imagine on the tournament sheet you'd write down "V001a" as the figure you are using.

Hmmm, it seems to me they are and that V001 is actually not even a playable fig. Was there a ruling on it for rookie vs experienced world breaker? Those have different numbers as well.

I'm starting to see necro's point. We have been told base trumps card. Correct? If there is only one # on the base, then that is what is looked at for the collector's #.

Oh he's got a totally valid point, makes perfect sense. I'd just like to play multiple tanks ya know? And I'd like to hear a ruling before I trade away any vehicles.

As I understand, tanks are not unique. This is unconfirmed though.

That can't be right either. All the primes have the same number, but with a letter. I suppose they have different names, though...

The base has both numbers on it...

At least my GCPD cruiser has both a #V004a and a #V004b on it. Same with the Batwing.

There is a difference between the vehicles and say dark Phoenix though. The vehicles have 2 collector's numbers on the base, both a and b and no simple V001. Dark Phoenix has no e or r connected to her collector number just the different colored point distinctions.

I don't post many rules questions, is there something I do to get a ra's attention?

My guess is the intent is that V001a and V001b are unique and exclusive, but it would need to be clarified, I think.