Captain Pirate Man

I absolutely adore Lego as a product, toy, hobby, ECT. That is, and always will hold true. As a business though, I think there is always room for improvement. The last handful of years it's been really hard to criticize them (they were #1 toy company in the world), it's hard to argue with those results. Now that they have fallen from their lofty perch, I feel it is helpful to offer constructive criticism on areas where you see improvement. Not because I want to see Lego fail, but because I want them to succeed. It's like rooting for your favorite sports team. Some fans are blindly loyal, even when the team stinks. While I will ALWAYS support my team (Lego), I'm not afraid to say "Hey we need a new a quarterback."

@Aanchir, While I agree many of those sets you pointed out are nice, some of them not so much. No baseplates is the problem I see. Without a baseplate, it makes it harder for kids to get creative imo. Back in the 80s and 90s, all sets came with them. Now very few sets do. That is another turn off for parents imo, they don't feel like they are getting a value. A 600 piece set with a baseplate really feels like something. The same set without one feels lackluster. I'm not just making this stuff up, I actually read parent comments. After the Lego news came out about losing profits, I read an article published by a neutral news source like business insider or something similar (it was NOT Brickset or another Lego fan type article). Anyways, I read through the comment section and was SHOCKED. 95% of the comments were extremely negative towards Lego. Parents were saying things like "I don't even let my kids play with Lego because they are too expensive." The vast majority of comments talked about how ridiculously over priced Lego is. I'm telling you guys... this is a real problem. Today's kids DO want minifigs they like though, but parents are NOT willing to pay $100 for a set so their kid can have that minifig. That's probably why minifigs fly off the shelves of my brick link store. IMO, Lego really needs to rethink their strategy. CMF series was fun at first, but I feel that has gotten stale as well. The blind bag aspect is probably off putting to some parents. I think minifig team packs are the way to go. Give kids access to the minifigs they want, stop hiding them in blind bags and expensive sets. Also, bring back baseplates and make the $75 and under sets really shine. I think a less is more type of mentality. Less sets, but make them BETTER. Compare the smaller sets of the 80s and 90s vs today, and I'm sorry the older ones WERE better imo. Take Lagoon Lock up for example, you got EVERYTHING you could want in the set, for a good price. Today you get bits and pieces of a cool idea that isn't fully realized. Not to mention, I feel the girl centered lines have failed. Why? The minidoll. I went rounds with people on this board and on Brickset about minidolls being a mistake. Well, last time I checked my local Wal-Mart, the girl Lego isle was gone. Friends and Elves were jammed next to Duplo. I think it's clear they didn't perform as well as some thought they would. They should have made them with cool and unique minifigs, not minidolls. I hate saying "I told you" but, I TOLD YOU SO. Girls don't want to be treated different, period. I whole heartily feel Lego NEEDS to reevaluate things.

My 2 cents... Lego overall is GREAT right now. Is it the best for ME right now? No. But that's ok. I think it SHOULD be goal to get into moc/mods eventually for AFOLS. I know it's where I am heading. The actual sets (except for THE really good ones) serve a better purpose as a basis for something bigger and better. I have a rather large layout (city, pirates, castle, lotr) and I tend to think more about "how can I improve this" as opposed to "what new set do I want?" But again this is just me, we all have different wants. Would I prefer a new pirates or castle line? Sure. But I did get the silent Mary this year, and I feel she's pretty impressive. Now they have Destiney's Bounty out. Even though I'm not a Ninjago fan, I'd still love to add that set to my layout, same goes for Ninjago City. Which is why Lego is still great, because I could care less about Ninjago, but I like those sets. Interesting sets will always get interest. They have NEVER been better than they have for the last few years. The place where Lego needs to improve is with the $75 and under range. Parents are sick of buying $75 sets when their kid only wants a certain minifig. I say, make less sets, but make them BETTER, and sell team packs for minifigs. Dimensions was a gold mine for minifigs, keep that going but lose the game.

Looks great ?

That's been my plan all along.

Sounds great. I have a pretty large pirate collection, lol. To many to name. Any plans to build them again?

Hey everybody, I thought it might be fun to have a general thread where we can chat about whatever general Lego pirate related things we might be up to, ideas, fun, or whatever. I'll go a head and start Over the course of the last few months I have had a change of heart. I used to be under the idea "I want to leave my sets together, as sets, and find unique ways of connecting them. While, I DO tend to do a lot of that with my more land based pirate sets (especially the big 3; RIR, ITP, EF). I have had a change of heart when it comes to the ships. While I DO love each and every Lego pirate ship released (and own most of them), I gotta say... most of them can be improved upon. That's what Lego is for, right??? Anyways, I have at least 3 major MOCS under way that I'm pretty excited about. Many of the builders on THIS very board have inspired me. First off, I have 2 Silent Mary's just sitting around unbuilt. I bought them, with the plan of building a pre ghost Silent Mary. I also have a 3rd that I AM leaving built as is. (I gotta have 1 SM for my layout ?)Well... After thinking about it, I decided against the "good" Silent Mary, because it doesn't really "fit" with my layout. I'm OCD, lol things have to make sense in my head. So essentially, I'm planning a GREEN COAT MOC that I'm going to use these sets as a base. I really like what @Captain Braunsfeld did in the MOC thread. I'm not the worlds best MOCCER, so I need seeing what you all can do to, for inspiration. 2nd... The Flying Dutchman!!! I've been holding out hope for an official Lego one someday, but I'm running out of patience, lol. As I said earlier, I'm not the worlds best MOCCER. I don't have the talent to do s FD like Sebeus did. So I bought the instructions for THIS Flying Dutchman MOC, and I'm pretty pumped about it. Can't wait to start buying bricks. http://www.brickstruct.com/Brickstruct.com/Flying Dutchman page .html 3rd. The Black Pearl. We already have a topic discussing THE very BP I plan on turning my Lego one into right here 4th. The Queen Anne's Revenge. I would LOVE to see some good MOC'S on this one, but from my eyes, it appears to be HARDER to MOC. Yes, some DO exist, but they seem a lot fewer in quantity and quality then the other ships. Besides, this one is STILL pretty far away right now for me. I'd LOVE to talk about potential ideas on it though. Based off the official set, because that's my starting point. After all of that, The Brick Bounty, Brick Beards Bounty, and eventually the original Imperial Flagship and Caribbean Clipper. Lots of ideas!!! What are yours?

@2maxwell, Which ship do you like better?

I really like the 2nd one, you have inspired me sir!!! I have 2 SM's waiting for me...

I've started this designer's Flying Dutchman. I plan on doing this one next. How much extra is the cost, if you already have the official black pearl as a base? Ball park.

I wasnt condemning another builder to failer. I'm not sure where you got that sentiment. I was talking about Lepins model. I DO hope they have a hard time replicating the Flying Dutchman. I don't think I'm wrong for feeling that way.

I am beginning a FD MOC based on this design http://www.brickstruct.com/Brickstruct.com/Flying Dutchman page .html He based it on the FD from the game, as you all said, it's the closest to an official FD design we have.

Amazing MOC!!! One question, how do you feel about Lepin trying to rip off your design? This has clearly been a labor of love for you, for multiple years. I honestly feel that they won't be able to do it justice, I hope it sinks, literally.

Does anyone know what happened to the FD pic from the Lego offices that is hidden somewhere in this thread? I have been searching and searching for it, and can't seem to find it. I just bought instructions for a great FD MOC, and I'm curious how it stacks up with the "official"one. On a side note, I'm curious how Sebeus feels about Lepin stealing his FD MOC? How many pieces was his MOC? I looked up the Lepin version, and it's like 3500 pieces, I don't know how they can do that MOC justice with that piece count? The FD MOC I am building is 5100 pieces, and I'm sure Sebeus MOC is larger. I'm sorry that Lepin is profiting off of your hard work. This is the design for the MOC that I am using. ? http://www.brickstruct.com/Brickstruct.com/Flying Dutchman page .html

I'm guessing a pirate ship, maybe Imperial Flagship like. I doubt it will be a base or island.

Nice ?

It's gonna look nice, good luck!!!

Title speaks for itself, watch the comparison and tell me which you like better. ?

Never used them, but they look good to me.

Hello everybody, As some of you know, I have a YouTube channel and I specialize in all things Lego Pirates. I just recently did a video comparing all 3 ships Lego has released. I thought some of you might enjoy!!!

Episode 6!!!

Besides I am not convinced that the Endeavour really could take out the FD on its own, let alone with the BP. Why? The ability to dive, the forward guns, etc. The Dutchman has some nifty bells and whistles to it. Even though it would be out gunned, the FD has more than just cannons to work with. As impressive as the Endeavour was, at the end of the day it was just a ship, a ship with a poor Captain at that. My money would be on the FD with either Will or Davey as Captain over the Endeavour.

I gotta be honest, I really like what the OP did to create green coats. I think I might "borrow" that idea for my Silent Mary/Imperial Flagship hybrid ship I am making. It will be a green coat ship, and I like these minifigs better than the "Spanish" ones Lego themselves made.

Thanks ?

No, they made one for the 2011 wave.