Ancient Greece

[Athos]

In response to a discussion at Classic-Castle, I came up with this idea for a new line. It would be similar to the Viking line, with the Heroes fighting mythological monsters. For purposes of the poll, imagine them in similar style and quality to the Viking line. Here's my thoughts for two year's worth of sets:

Year One:

1. Icarus and Daedlus: ($10) two figures with some sort of winged contraptions (like the ninja gliders). One column. (I'm not real sure about this one... anyone got a better idea?)

2. Jason vs. the Dragon ($20): inlcudes Jason, old castle style Dragon, Medea, burpy rock scenery, golden fleece (flag). Skeleton.

3. Hercules vs. Cerebus ($20): includes Hercules and fluffy. Small collonade/temple. White statute figure.

4. Theseus vs. Minotaur ($30): includes Theseus, Ariadne and minotaur figure. Several collonades, maybe on hinges to represent the laberynth. Red string to find way out.

5. Odysseus vs. Sirens ($50): includes small greek ship, with Odysseus and some crewmen. Sirens.

6. Trojan War ($100): includes Achilles, Hector and Priam. Also a couple of Trojan and Greek warriors. Medium Wall of Troy and Trojan Horse. Some Greek tents.

Year Two: I haven't fleshed these out as much, but they would be very similar to the style of the first year ideas.

1. Perseus v. Medusa ($10)

2. Hercules v. Hydra and Centaurs ($30)

3. Bellepheron (on Pegasus) v. Chimera ($20)

4. Odysseus v. Cyclops ($20)

5. Jason (and the Argo) v. Harpies ($50)

Any thoughts for year 3?

Steve

[Norrington]

Having read the Golden Fleece and currently reading the Iliad and Odyssey for English class, I think this would be wonderful!

Though, the Trojan War should include Odysseus, Agnamemnon, The guy with "The shield like a tower" (I forget his name), Patroklos, Diomedes(?),Paris and possibly Helen. Hey, with all those figures, it should be worth $100, and if you say there are to many figs, BatP had 11, and they all looked pretty obnoxious.

A Greek line would give Lego to explore some very cool building styles, and new helmets, sheilds, weapons, and torsos/legs to boot!

[BearHeart]

Awesome idea Athos. One question: How would the mythological creatures be constructed (Brick built, single molds with moving parts...)?

PS Please don't say they'd be made out of Bionicle parts like the Viking creatures. *sing* ;-)

[Athos]

First, I'm quite pleased with the results of the poll so far. I hope Lego takes the hint!

Secondly, after posting this poll, I thought I should try my hand at designing one of the sets. Unfortunately my photoediting skills are not up to par with Brickster's and Brickminer's, so this is all you get:

Jason and the Golden Fleece

You'll have to imagine the yellow flags are gold, like in the new Castle line...

Thirdly,

Awesome idea Athos. One question: How would the mythological creatures be constructed (Brick built, single molds with moving parts...)?

PS Please don't say they'd be made out of Bionicle parts like the Viking creatures. *sing* ;-)

I'd prefer they be single molds with moving parts. I think these creatures would be more conducive to such a design too. More so than the vikings monsters were...

Steve

[Jipay]

All of them all the way. When will lego start copying playmobil ?

[snefroe]

nonononono, people! Gods and mythological creates? are you kidding me? all these weird crappy parts? Again? i want ARMIES!! Athenes fighting Persians, spartans, ... and all the others... Who wants Socrates if we can have Pericles?!

so basically, it goes like this:

1) small set 3 soldiers

2) small set 2 soldiers and catapult

3) medium set: boat and soldiers

4) medium set: tower and soldiers

5) large set: fort

6) large set: battle field

Year two:

Enter Alexander the Great

year three:

ROME

*wub* *wub* *wub*

voli

[Bonaparte]

I have nothing to add to the list of Snefroe!

That's what I want!!!

[Mister Phes]

What a marvellous idea for a theme, but I'm not really one for the brick built creatures which made me steer away from the Viking theme.

[Athos]

Who voted no? I'd be curious to know why?

nonononono, people! Gods and mythological creates? are you kidding me? all these weird crappy parts? Again? i want ARMIES!! Athenes fighting Persians, spartans, ... and all the others... Who wants Socrates if we can have Pericles?!

so basically, it goes like this:

1) small set 3 soldiers

2) small set 2 soldiers and catapult

3) medium set: boat and soldiers

4) medium set: tower and soldiers

5) large set: fort

6) large set: battle field

Year two:

Enter Alexander the Great

year three:

ROME

*wub* *wub* *wub*

voli

[Shakar]

I think it's a wonderful idea. If they looked good, I would buy some sets.

Shakar

[snefroe]

Who voted no? I'd be curious to know why?

I don't think that's going to happen. If the Dino, Viking and Castle lines are any indication, Lego seems to be shying away from human on human violence. I think if we are ever to see a Greek theme, it will be this way or maybe, less likely, Adventurers.

If it was snefroe who voted no, I'd be curious to know, if you couldn't have the armies, would you rather not have Greece at all?

Steve

i did not vote "no",

however, i'm also not keen on having a "Greece copy" of the viking line. i'm kinda fet up with the dinos, mythical monsters, other creatures... and i'm also not waiting for gods... let's face it: if lego would do a greece or roman theme, they'd better produce army building sets; that's what people want. we've got a huge playmobil display here at the shopping mall and guess what's the star of the show? yep, Roman troops fighting in the arena.

[snefroe]

In response to a discussion at Classic-Castle, I came up with this idea for a new line. It would be similar to the Viking line, with the Heroes fighting mythological monsters. For purposes of the poll, imagine them in similar style and quality to the Viking line. Here's my thoughts for two year's worth of sets:

Year One:

1. Icarus and Daedlus: ($10) two figures with some sort of winged contraptions (like the ninja gliders). One column. (I'm not real sure about this one... anyone got a better idea?)

2. Jason vs. the Dragon ($20): inlcudes Jason, old castle style Dragon, Medea, burpy rock scenery, golden fleece (flag). Skeleton.

3. Hercules vs. Cerebus ($20): includes Hercules and fluffy. Small collonade/temple. White statute figure.

4. Theseus vs. Minotaur ($30): includes Theseus, Ariadne and minotaur figure. Several collonades, maybe on hinges to represent the laberynth. Red string to find way out.

5. Odysseus vs. Sirens ($50): includes small greek ship, with Odysseus and some crewmen. Sirens.

6. Trojan War ($100): includes Achilles, Hector and Priam. Also a couple of Trojan and Greek warriors. Medium Wall of Troy and Trojan Horse. Some Greek tents.

Year Two: I haven't fleshed these out as much, but they would be very similar to the style of the first year ideas.

1. Perseus v. Medusa ($10)

2. Hercules v. Hydra and Centaurs ($30)

3. Bellepheron (on Pegasus) v. Chimera ($20)

4. Odysseus v. Cyclops ($20)

5. Jason (and the Argo) v. Harpies ($50)

Any thoughts for year 3?

Steve

even though i like your options, i don't think they're attractive to young kids and those are the ones buying the lego. because, when you're a kid, you're thinking about conflict based stories, you're thinking big battles, like the LOTR battle fields. all the mythology is, i think, lost on them... I'm afraid it's one of the reasons why nobody like history at school...

[Mister Phes]

Who voted no? I'd be curious to know why?

I don't think that's going to happen. If the Dino, Viking and Castle lines are any indication, Lego seems to be shying away from human on human violence.

Dino and Viking seem to be defunct now... What about themes like Batman and Star Wars ? They still have elements of human violence.

[gylman]

I voted no. I had written a long explanation, and then lost the post in the middle, and did not have time to re-type).

Please don't take offence, I appreciate you put some thought into these, but here's why I didn't like them.

To summarize my initial post:

1) In my opinion Lego creatures are lousy (Yeti, Tigurah, all those horrible Potter animals, the Viking stuff).

2) In my opinion these will not sell. Kids in the Lego age target group know and care little about Greece. It sounds like homework to them. I know, I have two kids exactly that age.

3) How many different armies do we need?

Assuming this is targeted purely at AFOLs, I just don't see the appeal of all those creature themed sets to adults. I think Lego is best suited for structures, and is best when it's minifig centred. A greek/roman theme focusing on buildings rather than creatures would far more interest for me.

That being said, the Troy and Trojan horse thing do have some appeal to me. Also, incorporating this into the Adventurers (say they travel through time or something) might make it more viable. Finally, this theme coudl make for some cool keychains, so that's another redeeming features.

[xwingyoda]

Excellent idea Athos !! I really like the fact that you used greek mythology - I always was a great fan of that !! So its only normal that my answer was a definite YES !!

Greek mythology is great for playability and better for kid's culture (rather than emprisonning some horrendous jellybean martians :-D ).

I would have emphasize a lot more on the Trojan War (that lasted more than 10 years after all) with sets from the beginning (the story of th golden apple or Helen's future demise hehe - a classic set to give us female MFs *wub* in togas lool), several sets on the war itself + several sets to illustrate Ulysses's return (cyclops anyone, fantastic ship as well !!) + a tale of Ithaque revenge *wub*

Greece On !!

*yoda*

[Athos]

Please don't take offence, I appreciate you put some thought into these, but here's why I didn't like them.

No offense at all...

I'd have thought the inclusion of the monsters would have appealed the kids enough to get them over their aversion to history.

I also agree some of the monster's Lego has done have been terrible. Particularly your examples (though I did like the yeti). Part of what I think might save this line from that, is the monsters I've indicated (minotaur, medusa, sirens and harpies) could be done mostly as minifigures with special heads, like Star Wars aliens. Centaurs could be modeled on horses and the lion could be done similarly. The hydra, dragon, and chimera could pose problems though.

I'd much prefer various architectural models, such as temples to various deities. I modeled it on the Viking line, however, because it seemed pretty successful. People v. monsters also seems like the way Lego is going, given the dinos vikings and aquaraiders.

Steve

P.S. Who voted "You forgot an option" and what option is it? :-|

[snefroe]

No offense at all...

I'd have thought the inclusion of the monsters would have appealed the kids enough to get them over their aversion to history.

I also agree some of the monster's Lego has done have been terrible. Particularly your examples (though I did like the yeti). Part of what I think might save this line from that, is the monsters I've indicated (minotaur, medusa, sirens and harpies) could be done mostly as minifigures with special heads, like Star Wars aliens. Centaurs could be modeled on horses and the lion could be done similarly. The hydra, dragon, and chimera could pose problems though.

I'd much prefer various architectural models, such as temples to various deities. I modeled it on the Viking line, however, because it seemed pretty successful. People v. monsters also seems like the way Lego is going, given the dinos vikings and aquaraiders.

Steve

P.S. Who voted "You forgot an option" and what option is it? :-|

i wouldn't mind a UCS "seven wonders of the world" or just a UCS line with other great buildings, like the Acropolis, but that would be more to display than to play with. i voted "other option", being army building sets

[Athos]

i wouldn't mind a UCS "seven wonders of the world" or just a UCS line with other great buildings, like the Acropolis, but that would be more to display than to play with. i voted "other option", being army building sets

That's not what I asked though... I asked if you would buy these sets. Not if for a line you thought would be better... That's like me asking if you want Chicken or Beef and you answering Ice Cream... ;-) Unless of course I was asking: "what flavor of ice cream do you want, Chicken of Beef?" and you answered incredulously, "Ice Cream?!?!?"

Personally, I wouldn't like army building sets. I'd much prefer minifig scale architectural sets.

Steve

[snefroe]

That's not what I asked though... I asked if you would buy these sets. Not if for a line you thought would be better... That's like me asking if you want Chicken or Beef and you answering Ice Cream... ;-) Unless of course I was asking: "what flavor of ice cream do you want, Chicken of Beef?" and you answered incredulously, "Ice Cream?!?!?"

Personally, I wouldn't like army building sets. I'd much prefer minifig scale architectural sets.

Steve

ok... in that case, i don't know. depends on the actual sets, but even more on the budget and the quality/sets of the other lines. right now i'd say "no, i would not buy them considering the high number of city/creator/sw sets and old sets i still have to buy. It wouldn't even have anything to do with the Greece sets." ...

and can i have the ice cream anyway? X-D

[Athos]

and can i have the ice cream anyway? X-D

Would you like chicken or beef flavored? X-D

Steve

[MatthewUSA]

You have a very good idea Athos. I definitly think this would make a great theme. Since TLC has done about four themes based on history, this would add to the list. I give you two *y* up for your idea. Have you thought about sending the idea to TLC? What did they say if you have?

[UniqueBuilder]

P.S. Who voted "You forgot an option" and what option is it? :-|

I did. I would buy them if the temples included some nice parts. Or does that count as "Yes, if they struck my fancy"? X-O

[SWMAN]

Interestin ideas, but it doesn't seem like the sets allow for you to use all of them at the same time. They are each too centered around their own story, and don't allow for using other sets. Still, cool idea.

[blueandwhite]

Honestly, I think that having too many themes can be problematic. A Greek (or Roman) theme, while certainly fascinating may not have the broad appeal needed to move sets. Certainly, I know that I have dedicated myself to a few specific lines. I simply don't have the money to spend beyond those themes. I think this may be true of alot of LEGO fans. For example, as cool as the Viking line was, I simply didn't have the money or dedication to follow the line. I ended up purchasing only 3 sets, and two of them were purchased simply to acquire a plain black breastplate (as well as an assortment of other bricks I desired).

I would rather see some of LEGO's better lines return, rather than over-expanding into undesireable territory. I suspect more fans would prefer something like the proper return of Pirates, or Adventures. For me, LEGO was at its best when it focused on a few long-standing lines that featured highly popular themes. It allowed kids to collect a large assortment of bricks to do some really interesting MOCing.

[oo7]

3. Hercules vs. Cerebus ($20): includes Hercules and fluffy. Small collonade/temple. White statute figure.

I posted this in the "New Historical Themes" topic a bit ago. Based on this topic, of course. ;-)

And some Roman:

Ides of March: