Would Indians have sold if part of Original WW Line?

[Dovchenko]

Do you believe that Indians would have sold better if they were part of 1996's Western Line, and not a seperate theme in 1998's Line?

In case you aren't fully aware, Indians were the next step for the Western genre... an Indian Village, along with several other smaller sets, mostly, very small sets like the Indian Chief. People's opinion of them was mixed... the minifigs were great but the set's quality was a bit lacking. Do you think the fact that the Indian Theme would have done better if it was:

-released in the same year as Western Sets, which were much better recieved?

-had some Wild West relation, rather than just being a few Natives with absolutely no storyline whatsoever?

-included some Wild West Buildings, figures and parts?

-was available earlier than 1998, typically a slower year?

-included more weapons?

-made aggressive and unlike their real-life counterparts, not friendly?

No matter what, remember that if included in the same year some of these ideas may be forgotten, seeing as Cowboys and US Horsemen would have outsold/outclassed them entirely.

Vote well!

Edited August 17, 2008 by Hinckley
Removed multiple choice option-users shouldn't be able to select more than one choice...

[Klaus-Dieter]

Very interesting poll, Dovchenko!

I voted for Yes because I personally think that the Indians sets would have sold better if TLG released them in the same year with some of the soldiers sets. The reason why I think this: Mainly JFOLs would surely have liked to see someone to fight against the soldiers. But since there were already the bandits in the Fort Legoredo set the Indians lost a bit their function. But I think even that TLG didn't want to release Indians and soldiers in the same set or in the same year since - like it was already discussed sveral times - they don't want to aid racism and war (which is in my opinion the right decision - but for selling WW sets perhaps not that good because mainly JFOLs like to fight soldiers against Indians).

I :wub: the Indians sets very much and really do not understand why they didn't sell like expected - but supposably it's the reason above which is responsible for that since the sets themselves were brilliant designed, included many awesome minifigs and great details and accessories and - which is seemingly the most aspect for the popularity at JFOLs - many action elements (do only think about the traps). This theme (like the Western theme itself) included sets of all sizes and price classes - the best way (and in my eyes very right and fair direction) of TLG to make sets of this theme available for people of every "size of their wallet".

But surely there were some other reasons, too, which lead to the not so good sale of these sets: E. g. there were missing some really existential parts - like e. g. buffalos.

If the Westen theme hopefully sees a comeback soon, I hope that we're getting some Indians (sets), too!

Klaus-Dieter

Edited August 16, 2008 by Klaus-Dieter

[Skipper 24]

I always thought they were in the same line. But yes that would make sense because wild west shouts cowboys and cowboys and indians go kind of well together.

[SWMAN]

I think the answer is yes. I don't really think you can release a whole new part of a theme the next year unless you continue to integrate it into the theme by adding new sets for the original part of the theme. In this case, more WW sets releases alongside the Indian sets, like with the trolls for castle. The part also has to be really good, and indians were just ok.

[Tohst]

I voted that it wouldn't have mattered.

I bought every Native American set and some of them ended up not being built. MISB still baby.

They just weren't that great of sets. They didn't have any diversity. The teepee was cool...once or twice.

I think because of this if they would've been sold with the soldiers/town sets they would have been overshadowed by the designs of those sets.

Do I think a Native American line would sell better with the right set design? Yes. One with a teepee, one with a buffalo hunt, one with a sweat lodge, one with a casino, that sort of thing.

-Tohst

[AFOL SF]

I think it wouldn't have mattered... these themes go hand-in-hand. If you have cowboys/cavalry men, naturally you will need some Indians. Basic instinct, I suppose.

[Inertia]

I think it wouldn't have mattered... these themes go hand-in-hand. If you have cowboys/cavalry men, naturally you will need some Indians. Basic instinct, I suppose.

I agree, I also voted that it wouldn't have mattered

The Indians didn't look as though they fitted in, as they had noses, without them, the faces would have been a lot more useful....

[Francis Marion]

I voted yes for two reasons. One, there is sort of that classic "Cowboys vs. Indians" thing. Two, there were actually historical conflicts between the United States and Native Americans, so those discerning toy critics would not necessarily see hatred and racism, but the history of the "Wild West" time period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Wars

[WesternOutlaw]

Interesting topic. I say YES, perhaps just a little better. Catalogues from this era depicted both themes as the cowboy sets were still available when the Indian sets came out one year later. What I would like to have seen is the sets and figs mixed a little more - I think this would have made the Indian sets sell better.

Here's some more info on the Indian theme and why some members of EB feel that it was not unpopular:

American Indian Theme Popularity, Islanders of the Wild West