Action Themes and You

[Peppermint_M]

Let's face it. Action Themes have never really been aimed at an AFOL audience. None of the themes have the lifespan of the evergreen Castle and Town, nor the dedicated fanbase of Pirates. These days they barely muster two waves and are over in a flash.

However, we still like them, we buy the sets and MOC along with it. We invest in themes that have a short lifespan.

My question is thus: Why? What attracts you to these themes and why do you buy them?

I myself love thier stories and the worlds built around them. The figures always look so exciting and the colourschemes much more interseting. The fact that they have one foot in reality is also a plus.

So, how about you?

[prateek]

It reminds me of the cartoons and TV shows I used to watch when I was smaller.

[Fires-storm]

It reminds me of the cartoons and TV shows I used to watch when I was smaller.

For me its some of that, but also more. When I was little I used to day dream for hours about the adventures I could have, the worlds I could see, and what I could do inside of their never ending borders. I used to imagine myself in place of great heroes, ultimate combatants, feared aces and the like, and Lego helped me to realize this dream with action themes, such as adventurers and rock raiders, and even the arctic. I was able to expand my own limited borders, and was even able to create entire worlds to set in front of my own private characters thanks to Lego. Thats why I will never stop loving action themes

[user]

I always liked them because of the unique pieces and most of them have monsters or Cyborgs which normally have awesome parts. They're also the most fun to create for because there are no real limitations like there are in castle or city heck there are still limitatons in Starwars. So it's nice to be able to exercise your imagination. Man this topic made me realize how much I miss agents.

[---Vertea---]

I like them for being adventurous in a sort of campy way. They also feel like movies in that they feature huge action sequences, battles and the like.

Personally, I have enjoyed only the more sci-fi oriented action themes like Atlantis and Power Miners because they introduce monsters that look great and feature some crazy tricked out vehicles that look outlandish, but also very cool.

[bort138]

I like them for being adventurous in a sort of campy way. They also feel like movies in that they feature huge action sequences, battles and the like.

Personally, I have enjoyed only the more sci-fi oriented action themes like Atlantis and Power Miners because they introduce monsters that look great and feature some crazy tricked out vehicles that look outlandish, but also very cool.

same here love the sci-fi themes especially anything underwater like aquazone and atlantis.

[JimBee]

I never religiously collect action theme sets, but I usually buy most of the small sets of the themes for interest parts in rare colors (Atlantis, Power Miners), and sometimes for unique figs that use new prints and parts.

Usually, the larger sets can't offer me what the small ones can't. I can get a good sample of each theme by spending no more than 30 USD on each theme, and getting great parts and figs.

That's why I like the short-lived action themes.

[Algernon]

I just like the vehicles usually, sometimes the minifigures. It really depends on the theme. For example, I like Atlantis because I've always been attracted to underwater themes and I enjoy the interesting designs. Agents I was less keen on because, despite some excellent sets, I just didn't find the designs appealing. Too James-bondish.

[Artanis I]

They're exciting, gimmicky, the minifigs and many pieces are usually very standout, but you know what? I don't touch them. When I was a kid, yes, because that sort of thing could suck me in. Now? No, because I've got self-control! (To some degree...)

It looks cool, but I don't need it. NEXT!

[Raphy]

......because we will keep liking girls, fast cars, helicopters, missiles, spaceships and stuff blowing up until we die and beyond!

WOOOOOO YEAH

:D

[Aanchir]

I personally like the action themes because they have creative action features, attractive color schemes (though World Racers is kind of pushing it), and unique designs. Town is always cool, but with Town what's released is usually just a new and better version (or at least, new and different version) of something that's already been released. With themes like Power Miners and Atlantis, the designs are new and imaginative.

With action themes, another bonus is the capacity for "MOCing within the theme". Because it's a semi-fantastic theme, for instance, you're not limited by reality when you make an Atlantis, Agents, or Power Miners MOC. And the consistent color schemes between sets make it so you can easily come up with a new and different design, yet still an attractive one, by just pooling the pieces of two or more sets. With Town MOCs, each "branch" of Town (fire, coast guard, police, farm, and all the non-affiliated sets like sports cars) has its own distinct color scheme, which in the case of farm sets may not even be internally consistent. And making an MOC within the theme requires at least a partial adherence to reality, since the Town theme is so grounded to begin with.

The same freedoms apply for Sci-Fi themes, of course, and the distinction between sci-fi themes and action themes is a blurry one, but for the purposes of this topic these facets of set and theme design are being applied to action themes.

[ZO6]

Playability is still a major selling point for me. I like to get good hands-on time with my sets and play around with their features and re-enact various sequences.

Adventurers is still one of my favorite themes, and this because of the elaborate traps, functions, and overwhelming play potential. I of course still like to collect the occasional modular house or Taj Mahal, or bulk up my town with some new buildings or vehicles, but I can never resist the urge to grab a set that is simply fun to mess around with. Certainly some action themes appeal to me less than others, but they all manage to allow ones imagination to run wild and provide a good time.

[Rick]

'Action themes' as such is actually becoming a pretty long-lived theme. I don't think we've been without an action theme over the past years. What I like about it is that it adds a little creativity to LEGO's non-licensed lines. I only ever buy sets from action themes (and racers) if the set as such or the parts are useful and are attractively priced, i.e. on discount.

[lisqr]

Because we are all "big kids" after all. Why else do we buy lego?

[LuxorV]

Very interesting topic, Peppermint!

Well, for me it's partly the appeal of the good old days full of cartoons with fancy cars and vehicles packed with incredible gadgets (unlike the more recent demon/strange beings/power cards in current series ), and partly because I'm a tech-nut and I really go crazy for all those near-to-real high-tech hidden options and odd vehicles. What I'd do for a M.A.S.K. (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) like LEGO series! (Well, another one, since Alpha Team - Arctic Mission was quite close already )

[Delta 38]

'Action themes' as such is actually becoming a pretty long-lived theme. I don't think we've been without an action theme over the past years. What I like about it is that it adds a little creativity to LEGO's non-licensed lines. I only ever buy sets from action themes (and racers) if the set as such or the parts are useful and are attractively priced, i.e. on discount.

I wouldn't exactly call it a theme as a whole, since the themes themselves usually are varied. More like a category, I'd say.

I mainly collect action themes if there are interesting pieces or minifigs in the line. I also like collectable pieces.

[CP5670]

I don't generally buy sets from the action themes today, as I've cut back on sets in general lately, but I like their concepts and campy humor. We have also gotten a lot of good new pieces from these themes, which have shown up on Bricklink. I do have most of the sets from the 90s Aquazone themes and the original Alpha Team line though, as I like Space and these themes were pretty similar to Space models.

However, the term "action themes" doesn't mean much in itself, and is basically just a way to categorize the forums here on EB. The old Aquazone themes are much closer to Space than modern action themes like Agents.

[peterab]

I'm a train and town fan so I rarely buy action themes, but certain parts do have a great appeal to me. As examples are the lime green motorbike that appeared in power miners, and the civilian figs that turned up in the robot set from agents. On the whole it's generally not enough to buy the sets rather than use bricklink though. The adventurers theme was a bit more useful to me though with its cool vehicles and buildings.

[kelano28]

I generally only picked up star wars sets when I first came out of my dark ages, however I've been broadening my horizons lately. I picked up the Agents Mobile Command Center and I must say it reminds of the good old days when Lego stuffed in as many play features as they could into the action sets I used to own. Now an action set with nice parts and functions will catch my attention quickly, though World Racers doesn't appeal to me yet.

[Cutty]

Most of these action themes do not have a great appeal on me. If I ever buy any sets of these themes it's only for parts/figs aso. And even so I do have a significant price threshold for these themes' sets, so they're either the cheapest ones or on discount.

Looking back on my past purchases I find that I only got a handful of sets of Atlantis, the most expensive one being a gift mind you, and two copies of PowerMiners' Crystal-King.

And considering this self-limitation I still do not have the feeling of missing out on something.

Frankly? Would TLC cut back on the major overuse of lime-green and orange in its action themes and add roughly 2 to 3 years of support for these themes, they could have a greater impression on me. As it is now it's just picking raisins for me.

Edited July 15, 2010 by Cutty

[squidman85]

MAny of them have unigue pieces and minifigures and nice colorsheme.Power Miners are my favourite.

[Cammy]

I usually only get one or two sets from an action theme if I feel it fits in with my LEGO City. I don't like how a lot of the vehicles are a larger scale and won't fit in one lane on the roads, so I don't get any of those. I loved the big robot/mech from Agents, it fits in well in the City and has plenty of cool Minifigs, including Trace, so I got that set, and out of World Racers the only set I got is the motorbike one, since they fit in fine with my City. I might get an extra one or two sets and mix the bikes and riders around a bit.

[Mister Phes]

None of the themes have the lifespan of the evergreen Castle and Town, nor the dedicated fanbase of Pirates.

I've only ever bought one Action theme set - the Time Cruisers Flying Time Vessel, which I got it because of the grey hull.

But built it anyway and decided I liked it. It's been on display with the LEGO Pirates ship ever since.

Flying Time Vessel

[Skalldyr]

Actually, I only have a few Action theme sets but most are adventurers .... It was just a perfect Indiana Jones replacement.

[WesternOutlaw]

Great topic Pep! (and front-paged)

I'm a huge fan of action themes. I think they represent an element of mystery and adventure. Action themes are diverse from Adventurers to World Racers, so they certainly span a wide range. Commonalities include the high degree of playability and opportunity to stretch ones' imagination. I think of my favorite action theme, I like Adventurers and Orient Expedition. I especially like the exploration for hidden treasures, and even an occational beastie to do battle with. Other sets containing submarines and underwater adventures spark my interest, so I like the fact that LEGO has continued to delve into the deep blue in search of sunken treasures and lost cities.

This is most interesting question, and I look forward to reading more thoughts on Action themes.