mocers making sets?

[john cleese]

well as you may know there have been alot of topics about a POTC licence theme, which later turned into discussions of a general new pirate theme and the crazy things the designers might do to ruin it, what with all their 4J boat hulls and technic cannons. Well this prospect inspired a communist idea in me. Would it be plausible for MOCers (the prol's) to design a new pirate theme without reward or acknowledgement or perhaps only with aknoledgement to a very small degree? I think many afols, with paying jobs wouldnt care if they recieved payment for their efforts because the honor of seeing their "set/s" on shelves and the satisfaction of playing with there lego alone would be enough. What are your opinions on this idea? what problems could arise?

[natelite]

once you see your sets selling on shelftop you will want to get paid. it's only human...and the urge is stronger for those who hate their day jobs and wanted to retire earlier. if lego wanted to use afol designed sets, they can hold contests and the contestants sign waiver forms. that way, lego can sell the sets any how they want.

[xenologer]

I've been saying the same thing about rebirthing Classic Space via LDD Factory.

[JINZONINGEN73]

Letting the builders design new sets is an untapped resource.

Lego stands to make much money by popping out such works of art by REAL builders (not the ill-named "master" builders).

But, I guess 100% control over your property is more desired than profit.

[Starwars4J]

The problem with that is that each AFOL has their own universe in mind. It's just an inpractical idea, if you want that so badly, just use LDD to "make" your own sets, and have people share their instructions. That's the closest you're gonna get. Even if Lego uses a waiver, there are still plenty of legal issues, not to mention that Lego carefully designs their sets to keep the number of parts, and colors strictly to what they have excess of, and what they need to get rid of the fastest. That's why in sets we see random parts in green that don't go, when a black one exists and would look much better.

Besides, it's best to leave it to them. If people want to share their instructions that's fine, but TLG will really have no part in it, other than to say "that's nice'.

Sorry if it sounds harsh or something, it's just that I really disagree with the plausability of it :-/

[gylman]

Clearly Starwars4J you are right. That is the potential of LDD. It is hopeless to think that AFOLs would design official Lego sets, because:

a) these things are not done well by committee. Yet, who would you select. Have a competition?

b) talent is not enough. THe part selection and markets have to be economically viable. AFOL MOCers will not do this well enough

c) It's not like the guys at Lego are idiots. The reason we and AFOLs are usually not happy with their sets is that for the most part the people here are the elite of Lego fans, and we are NOT the target market.

Look at the Lego Factory sets. I believe they did not sell well at all, mostly I believe due to pricing issues, and also because that is not the kind of set a 6-12 year salivates at the sight of.

But, for true believers, use LDD.

Perhaps the right thing to do is to create product lines (pirate, space, train) using LDD, and post the instructions in a common site, or have Lego host it, and then people can peruse them. But only the best of the best should be posted, not bazillions of parts packs or simple little sets like we have now.

I don't believe that AFOLs and MOCers would care much about money. The glory of having your set sell well for Lego would be more than enough. Look at the Blacksmith Shop by Dan Siskind. Bragging rights for a generation.