Lyichir

Yeah, it's sort of a consequence of how exaggerated the minifigure itself is. Larger shoulder armor allows for a little more room for the arms to move (since the arms are rigid and the armor is attached to the neck instead of moving with them), and in my opinion, looks a little better scale-wise with minifigs, in part because covering the shoulders more helps to obscure the added neck height. By contrast, armor that doesn't cover the shoulders as much can look sort of odd to me proportionally, since the distance between the head and the top of the shoulders gets increased.

How do you think a lot of people become AFOLs? Lapsed Lego fans or even people who never got to enjoy Lego as a child can and do get drawn in by subject matter that greatly appeals to them. It's one of the reasons that, despite largely being a fan of "original" Lego themes, I really see the value of the licensed stuff—somebody with no real emotional connection to Lego can still become a fan through an overlapping interest like classic movies, TV series, or video games, making those kinds of sets a better "gateway" to the hobby than themes with original stories in a lot of cases.

Wow, nice to see some actual discussion going on! I sort of disagree with the sentiment that the show is a "glorified ad", at least in the sense that it's moreso one than any other Lego TV show. An 11-minute runtime is actually quite popular for TV series these days, even ones that aren't merchandise-driven (since it's easier for TV networks to schedule, easier for "binge watching" on streaming platforms, has tighter storytelling for kids with short attention spans, and is more cost-effective production-wise to tell twice as many stories per 22-minutes of TV). And while there are definitely episodes meant to obviously showcase the sets (the pilot and Lunar New Year special being particularly gratuitous in that sense due to basically introducing almost a whole wave of sets throughout their runtime), there are plenty of others that hardly focus on the contents of the sets at all beyond the characters (S1's "Coming Home", "Calabash", "Impossible Delivery", and "Macaque" all being good examples). In any case, Season 2 is continuing to air on Australian TV with two episodes every week! The first two episodes last week impressed me greatly with how much more continuity driven they felt compared to Season 1. Wikipedia has the names and summaries for the next two weeks' worth of episodes, from upcoming TV listings.

A very detailed analysis! However, there's definitely even more than that when you go beyond the obvious parts like minifig parts and theme-specific molds. For example, some of the white, dark tan and teal parts from the Catamaran Sea Battle set were new to it and so far haven't even appeared again in other themes. I don't doubt that the summer sets have similar exclusives—for instance, the 4x3 wedge in tan used for the scales on Wohira's (I think? I've been avoiding paying close attention to spoilers) belly is definitely new. Speaking of that serpent, after both that and the Fire Fang I still can't help but hope that we might get a Legacy Great Devourer at some point. Most Legacy sets have been light on antagonists, and a better version of the Great Devourer than the one released back in 2012 definitely feels possible with how far set design has come.

70681 is designed, in many ways, as a mirror of the 1x6 arch 92950 (the same way that 18653 mirrors the 1x6x2 arch 15254). Like 92950, the curve of 70681 matches 1x2x2/3 "baby bows" (11477, or the inverted variant 24201). You can use this matching curve to create interesting curved patterns on a wall, or to create a curved surface that the bow bricks can slide along. 70681 also pairs really well with 13965—two of each creates a sort of triangular window shape with edges that bow outward. I was at first on board with your analysis, but you can't just critique all arches according to one use case (creating a smooth, unbroken curve with no corners) when there are many, many other purposes for arch bricks beyond that one goal. As mentioned above, gothic arches were largely impossible to create effectively before the introduction of 13695, so criticizing its curvature for not creating a full 90° curve feels like criticizing a square for not being round. I do agree, though, that the "step" in 30099 can be frustrating at times. Having studs at the bottom does have value in terms of connectivity, but leaves an unusual break in the curvature that isn't present in its non-inverted sibling. If you wanted to use those curves for windows in a MOC like you show above, I would recommend covering that gap with something ornamental like a gargoyle, planter box, or other sort of fixture to mask the "step".

I think in a lot of cases it might simply be lack of awareness. For casual fans, and especially for digital builders who have easy access to all the parts from whichever program they're using regardless of era, not all builders are going to be aware of what's current and what's long been retired. Frustrating as that kind of unawareness/indifference might be for experts like yourself (not sarcasm, I mean it genuinely), it's probably for the best that Lego doesn't micromanage those kinds of things prior to the review stage. Letting people have more creative leeway for mere concepts makes the program more inviting/accessible, and while in some cases the necessity of a long-retired part might be a deal-breaker when it comes time for review, in many others a solution using current parts (maybe even a better one than the original project used) can be engineered by Lego's designers, who have much better knowledge of what is or isn't going to be available to them.

I have in fact built the Taj Mahal. It's a very different build all in all than the Colosseum, with the base constructed more like a typical building rather than needing to have a raised "street level" encircling the below-ground section of the Colosseum. it's also VERY hard to pick up and move (the easiest way to do so is to separate it into its component "sections", something that would be obviously impractical for the hinged elliptical shape of the Colosseum which can't just be split into rectangular sections nearly as easily). It's plainly obvious that what worked for the Taj Mahal probably wouldn't have been the best solution for the Colosseum. That's my point—not that baseplates are bad, but that they aren't a "one size fits all" solution that is ideal for any sort of set or build. Again, this discussion started with worries about the 4+ Mickey Mouse bases, which like the Art bases used for those sets or for the Colosseum, are designed for a particular purpose that has its own set of distinct considerations. Treating vacuum-formed baseplates as some unparalleled ideal just because that was used back in the day is a little silly.

I think it has more to do with wanting to have a variety of different "types" of figures. A pack with three ninja of the same era would be more lore-consistent, but could be repetitive build-wise (especially if all three were fully masked). Samurai X with a different sort of helmet and a non-human dragon adds some variety to the builds within one set, even while sticking with the "BrickHeadz" build style. If you're hoping for all of the normal ninja in single packs, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. The BrickHeadz theme has scaled down quite a bit since the earliest days, so getting Ninjago BrickHeadz at all honestly feels like a bit of a miracle. A full assortment of six or more main characters feels like a bit too much to hope for (not that I'd be sad if I were wrong about that!). EDIT: Actually, looking at the leaks, it is marked "SAMPLE FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY". It's EXCEPTIONALLY uncommon to see leaks of that sort, and means that somebody under strict NDA is probably in big trouble if they get found out (more than usual for merely breaking an embargo, as is the case with many retailer leaks). Being a sample product might explain the odd variety a bit more—the point of a set like this is probably to gain feedback into what "works" and what doesn't with audiences, so offering a wider variety so that they can gauge people's reactions to each different option makes sense. WIth that in mind, it's probably unlikely that this exact set will see a wider release—more likely, the results of whatever testing this was involved in may result (or not result) in different BrickHeadz sets going forward.

Even if those didn't have hinged opening, those still tended to have "open-backed" walls, no? At least for most the '90s castles I grew up with, with the exception of ones like the Fire Breathing Fortress that were so frustratingly enclosed that it could be easy to lose parts or minifigs in the "pit" in the center.. It would be a while before Lego would introduce "modular-style" builds with removable floors for accessing fully-enclosed interiors from above.

Layering bricks and plates on a baseplate for support is a solution that can work for fans but is less than ideal for sets. Sets have to be designed not just for easy assembly, but also pain-free disassembly—and there's little that's more frustrating than having to peel up layers upon layers of plates. There's a reason why even sets like the Disney Castle have opted for a solid Technic framework under the floor to provide a stable foundation—the Colosseum merely opted to base its foundation on the new Lego Art bases, which has the stability of a Technic frame and a plain building surface built in even without having to layer additional plates on top. Add in the fact that the Colosseum's construction allowed it to have a base that mimicked the overall round shape of the structure itself, instead of having the "corners" have to extend far beyond the main subject's boundaries—classic baseplates would have made that more difficult, since their odd 1/2-plate thickness complicates builds where you want angled parts to overhang the edge for a more contoured base. For a 4+ set as discussed above, the two-plate thick bases make it easy to attach additional bases to them for larger builds, and provide a sturdy surface that can't easily be bent or broken. Their partially-studded surface also helps for easier assembly and disassembly. That's a plus for builders just graduating out of Duplo, who need to be able to practice building at a finer scale without the new system becoming frustrating or a turn-off for them. Baseplates are still good for a lot of things, and despite the constant anxiety of AFOLs I don't really see them going away given that the highly popular modular building series and all its offshoots rely on them. But there are a lot of scenarios where a different type of base, either prefabricated or brick-built, is preferable.

Correct. So for instance, Lego has to negotiate for separate licenses to each individual Marvel movie even though they all fall under the "Marvel Super Heroes" umbrella. It's not just one overarching "Marvel Cinematic Universe" license, so it involves multiple licenses (even if the licenses to several upcoming movies can be negotiated at one time). In the case of Nintendo, the fact that it's taken this long for them to license any of their franchises to Lego at all should be evidence enough of how close they hold those franchises to their chest. Now that the results of the Mario deal have been positive it bodes well for future endeavors, but those too might take multiple years to reach fruition.

I would guess that, like Marvel or DC movie licenses (which all have to be negotiated separately despite the existing of the overarching "Super Heroes" theme), the rights for each Nintendo game or franchise would have to be negotiated separately even if there were an existing brand partnership. That's not to see we couldn't see other franchises—the success of the Mario theme is good precedent that would likely make future negotiations much easier—but Lego is unlikely to be paying for overarching brand rights if they're not doing anything with those other brands yet, and similarly Nintendo isn't likely to be licensing their franchises out as a bulk package without the assurance that all of those franchises are being utilized and represented properly.

Really wondering how the Hydro Bounty "doesn't do much to stand out from the crowd" when it's the first large submarine Ninjago has had (and for that matter, a largely tube-shaped submarine, common in real life but comparatively rare in Lego, even for underwater themes). I'd argue that the opening vehicle bay (which can store the two mini-subs from the set or, presumably, any two of the similar mini-subs from the others) is also a really distinctive feature. For that matter, the aesthetic it has is pretty distinctive compared to pretty much any other Ninjago set—almost a little more art-deco, with sharp angles, ornate gold trim, and a really classy white, black, and tan color scheme. I love the use of the new Space Shuttle bay doors for the vehicle bay, which I'd been hoping would appear in a transparent color like this since I saw them in reviews. I'm kind of tempted to try extending the ship further to fit more of the mini-subs, though if I stretched it enough to fit all six it would probably start to look a little ridiculous.

Well, the Spring Lantern Festival is as much a modular as the recent Ninjago City Gardens, as far as adhering to the same connection standards is concerned. I am a little skeptical of whether baseplates are going away entirely. I doubt they'll stop appearing in modular buildings for compatibility's sake, and I seem to remember similar worries the last time a set of baseplates was being retired (only to be replaced with a similar range of baseplate packs immediately afterward). Baseplates aren't without their issues (I really favor the versatility of full-thickness plates in a lot of cases), but as a casual building surface for youngsters, they're hard to beat. Heck, I've made a lot of use of the white baseplates introduced last year myself, not for MOCing but for photographing Dots parts for reviews. It's possible that Lego could introduce another larger size of full-thickness plates to replace the classic 32x32 baseplate, but I can't help but be skeptical—the 16x16 plates alone already require a more complex surface underneath to brace them and reduce warping. A larger size might be even more of a challenge to effectively engineer.

For what it's worth I rarely frequent the licensed theme forum, so I only just remembered that this topic was here while I was checking out a new comment in the Super Mario thread. I can't help but wonder whether this topic would get more attention if it were in a forum like Special Themes instead—after all, while the music in the app is licensed it's not like the characters and settings are. Anyway, I'm only casually into this theme but I do like the look of those stages, which seem to tap into the same design strengths of some of the Hidden Side sets when it comes to adding app interaction to to strong playset designs. I especially like that they're more than just facades—every one of the sets has at least something "backstage", in addition to the main performance area in the front. Picked up a second bandmate today too (Discowboy, not my favorite, but at least it wasn't a repeat of the DJ Cheetah I got in my first pack). I still ought to stop putting off trying the app now that I have a beatbox and two bandmates.

3th? But yeah, Lego announcements aren't always the same. The main thing you can rely on, more or less, is that when things are revealed via press release, they don't usually overlap those on the same day. But of course a lot of the time in the past, official pics have also come from retailers before any sort of "official" announcement.

At risk of feeling like the only person who posts here... we finally have an airdate for the first episode of season 2 (not counting the 4-episode CNY special)! It'll be airing on Australian TV this Saturday at 10 AM Sydney time (so Friday evening for Americans or late at night for those in Europe). After it airs it'll probably be uploaded here, where you can still watch the other episodes. Although Lego has been cracking down on uploads more and more as of late... which'd be less annoying if there were any news on an American or European release whatsoever. Sadly, it's still complete radio silence on that front.

There's an animated Super Mario Bros. movie being produced by Illumination Entertainment, best known as the studio behind the Despicable Me/Minions movies! I'm generally hopeful for it both because Nintendo has nailed down what the Mario franchise should look and feel like a lot more than they had when the older, cyberpunk-flavored live-action movie came out, and because Illumination seems to have a good track record when it comes to fantasy/slapstick humor (which feels essential for a brand as colorful and cartoony as Mario). It's supposed to be due out next year, and I expect we'll be seeing Lego sets based on it as well due to Lego acquiring the Mario license as well as beginning their first licensing deal with illumination for Minions. No guarantees as to what that might look like yet, but a big movie release like that might be a good chance for Lego to expand the theme beyond the digi-fig compatible sets that are out currently, potentially including things like BrickHeadz, a CMF series, and/or minifig-scale sets.

Once we get better pics there'll probably be more reporting. This one still even has a confidential watermark even, meaning that RLFM (Registered Lego Fan Media) can't really report on it or risk losing benefits like review copies of sets. Other June sets that have been reported on have largely either been revealed in press releases or found early in retail stores, making them fair game for reporting. I wouldn't say it's unnecessary. A lot of kids (and adults!) really like dragons. Plus as a 3-in-1 set, it's likely that the dragon's parts are being used for some other purpose in the other two alt builds. If the dragon really bothers you you could just... not build it. It's a pretty small part of the set's contents, all things considered.

I think even without Overwatch both Lego and Nintendo have histories of being very cautious when it comes to licensing. The higher-ups at Lego have been leery about video game licenses for some time, and Nintendo is probably wanting to see results for Mario before they even consider licensing out smaller, riskier franchises. The same strategy seems to have been employed for the “Super Nintendo Land” park at Universal Studios Japan—start with Mario and expand out from there. Another factor may be timing. Mario is a big franchise with a new release pretty much every year (and even a movie on the way), but for a franchise like Zelda that only gets a big game release every few years? It might feel like a less safe bet even if the sets are based on “legacy” games, especially since unlike Mario, most Zelda games look very different from one another (making it comparatively harder to appeal to all Zelda fans with any one release). I do hope Lego is planning to take on Zelda next, but I don’t know if more minor franchises like Metroid or Star Fox are likely to see sets at all in the long run, given that they’re a good deal more niche than those big hitters despite how passionate their fans are. Best case scenario for some franchises might be a Disney-style CMF series that could feature a wide variety of characters, if not their vehicles or settings.

Green is one of the oldest and most common baseplate colors, so I think some of the early modulars that used green baseplates simply did so because Lego was already producing plenty of those. It also creates some natural-looking grassy space in the typically un-tiled "backyards" behind buildings, especially for residential buildings like the apartments in the Bookshop and Pet Shop sets. Conversely, commercial buildings like some of the other modulars tend to use colors like dark grey or tan in a lot of cases, or even more unconventional colors like Bright Red (used as carpeting on the untiled interior of the Palace Cinema). Mostly the color doesn't matter unless you plan to have some of the baseplate uncovered, like in the backyard or the interiors.

Not meaning to be dismissive, I get the desire for variety, and would certainly not mind new Black Falcon-inspired figs that fill different roles like royalty or nobility, but when army building I think it's probably good to have at least a little uniformity. I think an good way to add variety even while using the same torsos would be to vary things up with things like helmets and shoulder armor for the knights according to their role or rank. There's certainly a wide variety of options available for changing those sorts of accessories up.

The torsos of the Series 8 Actor and Series 15 Frightening Knight might also work. Re: the Centaur torso, I imagine its reduced size is due to two factors—firstly to avoid having the fig absolutely tower over other figures, and secondly because a full-size horse body might be pushing it for what would fit comfortably in a CMF packet to begin with.

Back on the topic of the sets we know about... I only just noticed that the Bone Goomba in the Adventures with Luigi set has a new foot piece. It has one foot forward, as if it's walking. Not something I'd been expecting really, but it's interesting, and I suppose that might work better in the future for some "marching" enemies (like Ant Troopers, Blocksteppers, or Biddybuds) than the version with both feet planted to either side. It also makes the Bone Goomba from that set feel like slightly less of a repeat of the one from the character packs.

Mostly I tend to buy new sets. Generally, I tend to find newer sets to be more rewarding and find older sets, even ones I initially regretted not getting, to feel less and less essential as newer additions to my wishlist take their place. And of course, with newer sets getting them at MSRP (or below, when I'm lucky enough to find a sale) helps to avoid regrets down the line once they start to rise in value after retirement. That's not to say I'm totally opposed to getting older sets or parts—I'm always happy to give old Lego a home if I see something desirable for cheap at a yard sale or thrift store, or if a friend or relative is parting with their collection—but I don't really seek them out.