What do prefer: sets or MOCs?

[Ralph_S]

Thanks for all the great replies. The MOC builders seem to think much along the same lines as I do, but you've given me some great explanations for why some of you build sets.

-You might not enjoy the building process all that much, but really like the end result.

-Building sets is something you can do together with your children and/or partner (probably more easily than building MOCs)

-It's a way to have something nice on your shelf without it taking too much time or parts

-Sets are a nice starting point for even more awesome MODs.

-You love to build, but you're not all that confident in your abilities to produce MOCs.

In Brickish there are quite a few members who mainly collect and build sets alongside a very enthusiastic group of crazy MOC builders. With me being firmly in the latter group, I've obviously had discussions about this very subject with people face-to-face. When I first joined the group I was pretty amazed that some people are fans of a building toy, but don't actually build with it. When we had a competition that involved building cafe-corner compatible buildings a few years ago, for some members this was the first time they'd ever built a MOC since they were children and they were very apprehensive about putting their MOCs among those of more experienced builders. However, as far as I know quite a few people got really into it and while their first buildings may not have been all that great, as they built more they got more and more confident and also with them being surrounded by other MOC builders started building nicer MOCs. Of course, doing this sort of thing on-line is different from meeting people face-to-face, but I hope that those of you who don't feel confident about building MOCs are encouraged rather than intimidated by MOCs posted here by people who've been building for years.

Cheers,

Ralph

[MetroiD]

However, as far as I know quite a few people got really into it and while their first buildings may not have been all that great, as they built more they got more and more confident and also with them being surrounded by other MOC builders started building nicer MOCs. Of course, doing this sort of thing on-line is different from meeting people face-to-face, but I hope that those of you who don't feel confident about building MOCs are encouraged rather than intimidated by MOCs posted here by people who've been building for years.

I think that's the reason why a lot of us have joined EB in the first place. At least for me, that's one of the primary reasons to be here.

I could always showcase my MOCs over @ MOCpages for example. But I'd never get that kind of feedback or constructive criticism (which is always very nice to get, especially because on most occasions people who are your buddies and know your MOCs and building techniques well are the ones who spot places where you could still improve).

Besides, having been an EB member for a bit less than a year now, I can really feel the positive influence I've had from exposing myself to other people's creative MOCs. Being around other great MOCcers spurs on your own desire to improve and, having been a collector rather than a MOCcer throughout my childhood, I did feel I needed that!

At the end of the day - both MOCcing and collecting sets are great hobbies. And as long as people are happy doing that, it doesn't matter how they do it.

[Front]

For those who struggle to find time for mocs, try and create alternatives from a set. That is effectively building a moc with a limited number of bricks.

I have done this a lot with smaller sets like Exo-force sets, and it give me the possibility to be creative without getting started on something I can't finish because the ideas keep expanding the project, and time is limited.

Edited January 13, 2010 by Front

[CP5670]

I like both sets and MOCs. My focus has been more towards MOCs in recent years, but building official models and modifying them in various ways while keeping true to the "style" of the original is something I like doing as well.

However, I'm kind of falling into the same category as David Thomsen these days. My time for Lego is increasingly limited and MOCs take far more time to build than sets, especially for a slow builder like me. This is particularly true of Technic MOCs, and I have a couple of those in progress that have been unfinished for a few years now. Set building and modding is much less time intensive and is still something I find fun.

[Sandy]

I don't really prefer one over the other. I build every set I buy, but on the other hand I also dismantle them all into pieces to be used in MOCs (I don't buy duplicates, I don't have neither money nor space for that).

Building official sets is actually worthwhile, since they teach you a lot about how the special pieces can be used and how a specific detail (like a drawbridge for a castle, for example) can be built. You can then advance from there on much better.

After all, the sets are designed by professionals who build LEGO for a living, so there's much to learn from them.

[Klaus-Dieter]

That's a great and very interesting topic, Ralph_S!

I voted for

Both MOCs and sets.

Imo without sets Lego would be less attractive: Do only think about all these minifigs, vehicles and additional stuff. Plus there are some great sets TLG has been releasing in the last years (and surely even will be in the future, too) - it makes fun to build them, to store them somewhere and from time to time take them out, look at them and maybe even play a little with them. And some vehicles and houses I personally could never design that perfectly than TLG does.

But without MOCing it doesn't work, too. Lego was originally invented to use your creativity and imagination in order to build either something real existing or something fantasy-related. It males fun to build MOCs since you can (nearly) exactly build them how you want to have them look like. And you can build things TLG hasn't released before.

Conclusion:

For me Lego is really both - MOCs and sets.

Klaus-Dieter

[Badsneaker]

Definitely a great thread. I say I'm split 50/50. I love doing MOC's but I also enjoy building sets LEGO makes. There is something to be said about the excitement of getting a new set, opening the box, building the set, etc....kind of makes you feel like a kid again!

[Milan]

MOCing!

In fact I don't remember very well what sets I built at all, although I have quite number of them.

Since the beginning of my Lego interest I am always building MOCs, while all of my cousins/brothers used to build sets and play with them, I have always been a rebel then.

I don't know why, but I don't like sets, maybe because MOCs are one way to express myself, like reading, gym, motorcycles, but Lego always had priority.

Also I like that magical feeling that I have created something that no one on the world hasn't, that I made (in my eyes) something better that TLG, and that I have spent so much time, effort, frustrations and money on one MOC, MOC that is a image of myself in some way.

While building I am very calm, happy...I would say I am free.

Combination of all that feeling makes MOCing a very unique passion for me, something that sets never did to me.

Also I think that parents can enjoy MOCing with kids, I know I can do, with my little cousin, and I hope I will when I become the parent.

Edited January 13, 2010 by Milan

[Ronan Dragonov]

I'm a MOCer. Any set I buy is first and foremost for the MOCing possibilities its parts offer. That the official set might be a good design - as many are - is a bonus. Nevertheless, the first thing I do is assemble the official set to get to know its parts better and maybe pick up a thing or two from the pros at TLG.