MOC: CREATOR Hobbit Hole

[Elander]

Hi folks,

Middle-earth is a landscape/building theme. And unfortunately are these landscapes too huge for LEGO sets. Therefore is my task to figure out how it is possible to develop these landscapes. How can LEGO for example develop the Shire? What do you think?

-I think at first there is a thermal cutting between "main sets" and "scenery sets".

Bag end for example is a "main set". That building we can see 1x time in the shire. That would be a place for "main characters".

Scenery sets are additional sets for bigger landscapes. You would (if you want) buy these scenery sets multiple times. Therefore were these sets to create alike CREATOR sets.

That is my first example: Let us conceive LEGO would develop just “one” 3 in 1 CREATOR hobbit hole.

In single-form has every hobbit-hole a hole in the side. That hole can with a second hole be closed. In total shape were multiple single hobbit-holes one hill. Ok, we would get in total a complete modular building. –A hill.

The perfect minifigures for scenery sets are "variable" minifigures (for hobbits) with 2x faces and 2x hats/hairs per head. Who needs double hobbits? In that case are to develop "variable" hobbits. And no "main characters like Bilbo Baggins"! Nobody want 5x Bilbos.

With modular CREATOR sets you could add your shire with more hills. If LEGO put different doors and windows in different colors in this set could it happen.

Multiple CREATOR holes shape a hill and you can build this hill in different scales.

I hope you like the idea. I think scenery sets are a wonderful addition for our LEGO Middle-earth.

Greetings

Elander

Edited January 22, 2012 by Elander

[Evil Stu]

Love the idea. I was hoping for something similar for Town/City where multiple small town houses on a 16x16 plate could be purchased and stacked alongside one another. But this would be much more fun Very nice little builds, if these were available I would probably not be alone in wanting to clear the shelves

[The_Cook]

How can LEGO for example develop the Shire? What do you think?

-I think at first there is a thermal cutting between "main sets" and "scenery sets".

Bag end for example is a "main set". That building we can see 1x time in the shire. That would be a place for "main characters".

Scenery sets are additional sets for bigger landscapes. You would (if you want) buy these scenery sets multiple times. Therefore were these sets to create alike CREATOR sets.

That is my first example: Let us conceive LEGO would develop just “one” 3 in 1 CREATOR hobbit hole.

An interesting topic and a couple of very nice little builds. "What would Lego do" is a topic that I've been considering in my own 80's style MOC's The Maidens Tower and The Merchants House". If you're trying to make a set like Lego would do, then you have to start thinking and building like their design office rather than a MOC'r on the forums. For a set that is targetted at parents buying for their kids (which the LOTR sets are unlike say Modular Buildings and UCS Star Wars which is aimed at adult collectors for display) then you have to think about playability, buildability and price.

Playability: In general sets need something of a storyline. In the case of licensed set this usually means an interesting or pivotal scene in the licensed film that can be acted out.

Buildability: It's got to be buildable by a child of 10 years old. Lego's building style has definitely changed over the thirty years that I've been playing with it, contrast the 80's panel castles with something like the latest Kingdoms releases, but even Medieval Market Village with all it's detail isn't anywhere near as detailed as the creations of the MOCer's here on the forums. With no disrespect intended to Derfel, but Lego could never release one of his creations because the instructions for the walls of 1x1 studs would send even the most dedicated AFOL insane.

Cost: Lego aim for a set of price points and that dictates how many pieces and minifigs are in a set. Use Brickset or Peeron to go over the last few waves of Castle sets and you'll be able to see piece counts and prices. Try to aim for a selection of price points and their associated piece counts, Lego never releases a theme with everything at the same price, there's "the big thing" for $70 (Mill Village Raid), a couple of mid-range items either side of $40 (Escape From Dragon's Prison), impulse sets at $15-$20 (Blacksmith Attack) and some minifig and prop sets at $5 (Jester).

So if you want to be like Lego then you have to be answering: What's the playability behind each Hobbit Hole? Can it be sensibly built? How many pieces and in it and which price point are you aiming for?

In my opinion (and don't let my opinion stop you from carrying on with your work on these modulars) I can't see Lego releasing much in the way of scenery for LOTR, it's very much a collectors / an army building theme hence the emphasis on minifigs. Maybe they'll do something like 10193 MMV but with Hobbit holes instead of the half timbered buildings and a set of tables and other loose props to recreate the party that they have at the of the first book/movie. Again think of it from a parents view, should I buy little Johnny some buildings or should I buy him an elf/orc army? Small boys being what they are the latter will probably win out.

[MattTheLegoman]

I really love your work Elander.

[TheLegoDr]

Interesting builds.

I don't picture Lego releasing these 3-in-1 Creator style sets, but if they did, the probably wouldn't put multiple versions of certain pieces to add variety. From what I can tell, one build uses all the pieces and the other two have a lot of spares left over. So with that said, whatever color they chose to portray some pieces will be the color for the other builds as well. And they would maybe include one minifigure, so you would get multiples of the same person that you would have to modify yourself with your own pieces.

I like the idea, I don't see it happening though.

Can't wait to see some more builds.

[JackJonespaw]

Very nice and detailed. Love the Hobbits!