Mandalorianknight

Agreed. On a slightly separate note, there is an hour+ video out by the youtuber/lego masters winner Duckbricks about the fall of lego's unlicensed story themes, and he touches on the topic I've mentioned here about lego expending much of their effort on obtaining adult sales from people not already fans of lego. I reccomend watching it, it's a pretty comprehensive view on what drives lego's choices and some of their successes and failures over the years, but as it relates to here the main point is the idea that lego has put a significant amount of their resources into capturing that "adults who can be convinced to buy lego" market. I do wonder if part of the hesitation to, for instance, put a minifigure into the midi-scale sets is a concern that it would cause adults to view them as kiddie, as the majority of their 18+ gimmick lines for star wars don't include figures.

I can't see the common posts/images status block anymore, our last remnant of turtle is gone. The Dummy's visage is gone.

The last spider-droid was $30 (with a little Dwarf spider droid) in 2016, or about $40 today, with 2 minifigures and 2 B1s, and a number more pieces. Unfortunately there's no way it could be a full sized spider droid. The full sized AT-RTs tend to run around 180 pcs, so honestly at the piece count here, I think it has to be the oversized AT-RT and DSD, and they might even make the AT-RT a little more size accurate. Man this is really a terrible deal the more I think about it, even compared to the 501st legion clone troopers set it's a smaller build (BARC assumably being larger than the DSD) and fewer pieces for one more droid. Not to mention how it fares compared to the 2024 battle pack, which had MORE characters. Unfortunate on that trooper ratio- I'll probably just get one copy than as they aren't the largest army in-universe and we only saw 2 DTs. Hopefully they get around to a full-sized patrol gunship with Enoch at some point, I'm interested to see how they could pull off a gunship for $20, is it just going to seat a pilot? The 327th set is hilarious- It's the $30 set from last year without the B1s, and 40ish more parts for $10 more. Genius. Truly, a masterstroke, I'm sure the children will drastically prefer the new one. (It's especially funny because I imagine the 2024 BP will still be on shelves at many retailers, and it's only $24 at most walmarts now, so the choice on-shelves is fewer characters and a handful more pieces for almost double the price). I like the 327th, I've talked about this before, so a part of me is cynically happy- it should be easy to get a copy of this at steep discount in a year or so.

Unless something changed I thought the rumor was a batcave. What's unfortunate is that $100 for a batmobile isn't INSANE considering we've gone from $30-$60 for more or less the same vehicle in the span of 5 years. (Inflation only brings that up to $37, too)

For sure. Not to get too specific on my age, but my shift from high school to college was in the same general timeframe as the lego's focus on the 18+ sets, and it went from barely anyone owning lego to a ton of dorm rooms having some sets, male and female, regardless of major. A BIG chunk of that is 18+/icons, too, though at least from the engineers there's plenty of people with TIE bombers or clone battle packs on their desks. A number of my coworkers at an engineering firm also own lego, though again it's generally sticking to 18+/icons. I'm not necessarily surprised they've done this well (well, maybe to the extent of the coverage this year I am, but from 2020-2024 not really), as it's not like they're squeezing more out of a market that was already buying legos- they've broken into an entirely new one. But I think increasing the proportion of sets in a theme that are 18+ is a bad move (and not just because I like the system sets and would like to have some playset options besides clones)- you can only put so many things on your desk, and as you go more obscure, there'll start to be a dropoff. Most people who buy Chopper probably watched the rebels cartoon, meaning they're probably buying lego star wars already. The Acclamator can get by off being essentially a star destroyer, but the Invisible Hand saw some pretty massive sales half a year after release (It was 40% off at pretty much all targets for quite some time, though it appears to have returned to $50 at least online) I think we can piece together an overall strategy for lego from stuff like this and the clone dominance- if something works for them, they go all-in, to the exclusion of anything else. As I've said before there's certainly some logic to that idea, but to the extreme that they're taking it I don't think it's a good move financially, and of course it's not great for fans who aren't exclusively into the 18+ sublines or clone troopers. Now it'd be a mistake to do the inverse as well, of course- there's no scenario where it makes sense for lego to try to give all parts of the franchise equal coverage, no matter the unpopularity or obscurity- but I do think making it so it's more along the lines of 1/3 OT, 1/3 PT/TCW, 1/3 Other isn't a bad idea for years without a new movie. And then maybe scaling back the ratio of playsets to 18+ sets to something like 3 playsets for every 18+ set.

They're selling well because they aren't selling them to us, they're selling them to adults who aren't necessarily big lego fans. People who might think the playsets with minifigs are too kiddy, but are open to buying the 18+ branded display sets. It started out as a smart short-term move as it digs into a market that previously wasn't there- while the UCS sets were marketed to adults, being multi-hundred dollars and taking up massive amounts of space meant it was generally pretty hardcore fans buying them anyway- but I think this approach, much like the clone domination, is going to hurt them in the long run. With the buildables, the more casual buyers, the ones who want to stick to 18+, probably aren't going to get more than a few- if you own 20 lego sets, at that point I think whatever block you had about the playsets is going away- so putting out this many, especially in such a short timeframe, is going to hurt them. Edit: And that's to the extent that they are selling well. Obviously that's not a guarantee- the droid builder set, for instance, is not doing too hot at the moment (Which may also be because it's got all the accessories that obviously don't fit in-universe, meaning you now have a $100 set on shelves with no minifigs one exclusive but not all that interesting minifig or play features for kids, but that many non-Afol adults would find gimmicky or childish.)

No it's ok he gets 4 more.

The AoU one is a different ship with a different design and color scheme.

He's either annoyed people are still talking about him or happy it's become the defining feature of the character. This whole forum style change is messing with my head, but I like that we can see top posters, and I love that OG Turtle apparently has the most posts on this thread despite the fact that he's been banned for forever and it doesn't even count his riddlerDC posts.

I mean I get why we haven't had a catwoman mech, even if DC was getting the volume of sets marvel was- the vast majority of mechs are hero based- IIRC the only villain/anithero ones we've had have been Thanos, Venom, Goblin, and Ock, the latter two in two-packs with spider man mechs even. Harley Quinn's more likely, as she is very popular, but you gotta consider that we JUST got a superman mech. We haven't even had a Joker or Wonder Woman mech yet. I can exclusively confirm that Red Hood will be included in the asylum, and by that I mean a hood piece in dark red will be included on one of the Joker minifigures.

Have to strongly disagree on that. If there's more sets than I can afford or make space for, I just choose the ones I'd rather have. Lego releasing 10 sets I'd want and I can only get 5 is better to me than Lego releasing 2 sets I'd want. (Or this year, where my current plan is to buy one (1) 2025 star wars set) My guess is it's one of the following three: RTG set with the new OCs rather than something like Jedi Vader. Another clone set, but it's the 501st again. It's a buildable, not a playset.

This would only make sense if the only figures the set came with were the employees in superman costumes. (Everyone using the torso print from the mech) Honestly I don't think we get either of those unless it's like, august 2026 at the earliest and the superman mech was their bestselling DC playset in years. It takes awhile to make a set, and even though they could fast-track a mech, the superman mech would have to have had CRAZY sales numbers, and it still would take a few months for lego to see the demand. I mean I think that's moreso because it's generally the A-lister heroes (Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Cap, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther). We've had a couple for B-tier characters like Rocket and War Machine, but I'm not at all surprised that lego's internal research or whatever found that War Machine and Rocket mechs would sell better/made more sense than black widow or scarlet witch mechs. I don't think there's really much evidence for lego having some sort of bias against female heroes. I can exclusively confirm it was delayed because lego realized we want more than just batman, so the figure selection has been altered to now include: Batman, Joker, Composite Batman (It's just the batman figure with a superman torso), Superman (From the mech), Lex Luthor (prison jumpsuit), and then prison jumpsuit outfits for Ares (human disguise, re-used head), Captain Cold (re-used head), and Black Manta (re-used head).

Another punished by the divine hand of vampiric justice, clearly. Morbius even did a civic duty for the method of delivering said justice, confiscating the car from Miles, who doesn't have a driver's license, and as we all know, spider-man shouldn't have a car. For the Millenium Falcon of the MCU, a 2.5 year gap between two with different color schemes in designs isn't all that bad IMO. I'm actually very excited for my personal future of lego morbius. I've mentioned before I got the morbius set for $12, but IIRC I did not buy the last copy, and since it got that low in the first place, it's not unreasonable to assume no one else in my area could handle the power of the Morb. This means it'll likely show up at my local discount store for LESS than $12, meaning it should be easy to amass a few more Morbii, and with their stock timeline it should pop up sometime in the next few months.

Implying the Joker becoming the UN Ambassador for Iran isn't what makes the story one of the greats, as opposed to something lame like a robin dying.

Well, I did use VIP points, but there was a black friday deal to get $15 of VIP points for practically nothing. Probably used $3-4 of points in total, so more like $6 or $7. You just have to wait and watch- there's a lot of store specific stuff you can't see online. I use a reddit (ew, I know), r/legodeal to see receipts and price stickers of what's going on sale at other locations to know what to look for. For instance, right now a lot of Walmarts in the US have the Onyx Cinder, Coruscant Gunship, and Dark Falcon for $75 each. (No luck near me, of course, only one I've got is the $50 YJA set down to like $16.5, which is a third of the price but somehow still doesn't feel worth it?) I've also seen X-jets for as low as $15 reported. And I've personally picked up a $25 marvel set for $12. The HVCw A9.2 from Mando still has 10 pretty big wheels and just looking at the geometry, I really can't see how a $50 in 2025 version would work. Those middle segments would have to be like two studs thick. It's also unarmed, so I think regardless of the RTG rumors we can rule it out completely. Not to get into the quality of projects approach again but the quantity is definitely something interesting for lego, because there's now so much out there that some projects realistically probably just won't be revisited in any real capacity.

Honestly, while I'm not a huge fan of lego-original designs and sets, I wouldn't mind the RTG tank. I don't think a turbo tank can be effectively done at $50, and one that recognizes that and is deliberately chibi would probably be a better set than one pretending not to be midi-scale. It's a weird area where I don't think I've met anyone who thinks Skeleton Crew was bad (I thought it was fine, I think it stumbled a bit in the finale. It's the only one of the live action shows where I think it was done well but just wasn't for me.) Honestly the Snub Fighter works better as a Skeleton Crew set than a Mando one. (And was a pretty solid pickup at $3)

The only lives ruined by a Legorbius set are the wicked punished by Morbius's divine justice. I look over at the comic Lego Morbius on my shelf. He jumps majestically, bats swarming behind him. The Spider-Man diorama he is on is placed such that he currently appears to be lunging at the neck of Invincible, my only non-purist lego figure. This was unintentional, but as such, he is attempting to purge my collection of impure figures, guarding my hobby in a way no other figures do. And yet his power is limited. He is Morbius, yes, but his comic version is as of yet unable to Morb, or to activate Morbin Time. The name of Matt Smith's evil morbus in the film. Venom Gambling Addiction Diorama from The Last Dance. But actually. I don't hate the venom movies, but there's not a ton of sets that I think would be all that great or do well. slipping the Venom figure design into a set somewhere is the most I'd want. (And a civilian in the next modular of Ms. Chen. And maybe a Christmas figure from TLD, but that's never happening.)

Oh man I didn't even think about that. Our Soup minifigure must be Injustice Soup. I'm sure there were people being too aggressive, I was pretty much just peripherally aware that something was happening up until it actually got announced, but when the cast and director are part of the campaign and the studio's claiming it doesn't even exist, I think the campaign's at least slightly more justified than yelling at a kid's toy brand because they haven't released a very specific kid's toy that the yellers want. It's the internet though so I'm sure people went too far.

Sure, he can be in a set, but I was talking more about Fisk Tower. It's not hard to slot Kingpin or Daredevil into a massive D2C, but to make one focused on them might be a bit more into the grey area for lego. IIRC they were only able to get Daredevil and Punisher into the bugle BECAUSE it was 18+, so one where they're a focal point might be tricky. I legitimately think they'd use regular bricks for his body to convey how absolutely rectangular he is. Bigfig arms and legs, normal head. Diorama of Moon Knight in an alleyway going "Why do I suddenly hear Eminen?"

That whole reason was weird to me "it'll confuse people to have multiple versions" but it doesn't for any other character? It's MJ specifically? I smell a Paul on lego's team. I agree and- and this is a complete tangent- to be honest, as much as I love the goblin, I don't think they've ever modernized his design well. The Raimi design is iconic but suffers from the inability to emote. The classic design is great and can still work in the comics sometimes, but I think the best modernization was NWH, and that's not very repeatable because it really relies on Willem Dafoe and how Goblin-like he can make his face look. You might just be continuing the joke so sorry if you already got it, but it's a reference to quicksilver's death- acting as Hawkeye's shield, as it were.

I've been assuming the set's clone wars 03 based (it'll be really funny if our two most recent ventresses are both from the microseries instead of the full one) just because of the quote, but if it's not it definitely would be strange. I don't care a ton, but Dooku is due for a refresh. I kind of wish they'd bring back the duels, maybe reducing the build and making it a $10 price point like some of the marvel sets have been. I Honest-to-God think they sniffed out some of the show's troubles and wanted to avoid it, or at the very least, knew it wasn't aimed at kids and wasn't set during the OT, and as such didn't want to risk it until seeing the reception... so of course now our next chance is when they make season 2. I guess I don't know when I expect them, but I do hope we get something soon. Especially because if we go off your estimate I don't have faith we'll get them at all. (Actually, I don't have faith in any of the currently-in-development movies not titled "The Mandalorian and Grogu" actually releasing. Maybe the other Filoni movie.) There's only ever been one blade, there's only ever gonna be one blade. Hold on it's not the spiderman 2099 meme, it's just "Black One". Like Red Five or Gold Three or Rogue One. I've always liked the name because it tells you immediately that it's an X-wing, but the uncommon (for x wings) color and number imply the real ace piloting it. I think this was the thing that stopped me from joining the clone bro fever back when it happened. The helmet holes, that is, not the other thing.

"You didn't see that coming?" -Lego, putting quicksilver in the Raimi train set It would be really nice to finally get Quicksilver again. I hope eventually we can get a comic one. (I've completely hyped myself up about this Avengers Mansion idea, I might want it more than Oscorp now. If we start getting classic comic -looking variants of avengers in the comic/evergreen sets, I am going to become an unbearable presence on this forum. Every post in this thread will be about the mansion. It'll probably be in my signature.) Captain Human Shield Not the best PPP, but not the worst. If it has large track pieces or panels for the train car sides it could actually be worth it at RRP. I have to assume Doc will be updated, though I'm not sure how different Spider-Man would even look. I'm also very interested to see the other figures, because realistically the two costumed ones are the only ones who are going to draw in kids. It does appear to be a standard playset if it's the set listed, so I could see them throwing in supporting cast instead of random new yorkers. After all, if they're just going to be made or re-used parts anyway, why not make re-uses of named characters? Yup. I think Fisk's biggest issues are going to be the connection to a TV-MA property and that he won't be a great tie in for Doomsday/secret wars. (As others have said, Castle Doom, the Baxter Building, Avengers Mansion, and Avengers Compound would all probably synergize better). But I could see him being the third spider-man modular in, like, 2029 if we get Oscorp soon. I agree and think at the end of the day they pretty much just need to be Bugles with different figure selections. Similar overall set archtype (because the bugle did incredibly well for lego) but different figure lineup and building depiction to ensure everyone who got the Bugle is up for seconds and thirds a few years later. And holy cow yeah how has it been this long since the last comic MJ? Is she with Lego Paul?

At this point the 2026 DC D2C is legitimately just going to be the tower of fate (it's microscale and only comes with Batman and Magic Jonkler) Ok but which one's funnier? I think you're on to something, we should start harassing lego's social media accounts demanding Arkham be released with an exclusive "Joker, Iranian Ambassador" GWP. Scratch that, every figure in the set should be replaced by Joker, Ambassador to Iran. (This strategy worked for the 501st guys) I still can't get over that that was joker's actual plan to get away with killing robin. Diplomatic Immunity. It's like Dr. Doom in the 2012 era spider-man cartoon.

I think you're mistaking my points as well. This isn't a defense of what you're saying. I think you're totally off-base about the idea that lego shouldn't make sets for the sequels, or what constitutes "true canon", and regardless of my thoughts on social/progressive issues surrounding stuff like Acolyte, I don't think this is the place to discuss it. (Acolyte fails as a show regardless of out-of-universe statements or factors)

I really do need to just replace my account with a bot that reposts your comments, you mirror my views pretty well but explain them much more clearly. Love your idea for set distribution. I think at this point the PT/CW has earned a spot at at least keeping Anakin/Obi-Wan/some form of clones on shelves near-perennially (SOME FORM. Like one battle pack every year or two. Not every single legion, dominating shelves), but other than that I agree pretty much entirely. (And as a reminder to people, since there seems to be a belief that "this is more popular/sells better/it makes sense we get more of it" automatically means "the other stuff sucks", I like TFA more than all three prequel films, and even ROTS more than TPM and AOTC.) I have to agree on that too. Again, not that Lucas was primed and ready to do so himself in other ways. But I really just can't accept what TLJ did to Luke. It requires a show contextualizing/stretching contextualization to near-retcon at the level the prequels needed TCW. Also consider that material costs have gone up, and that lego just slapped price increases on existing sets a few years back. I wouldn't be shocked if it was more or less the same thing. I bought the 2015 Slave One a few years ago, I love it, and honestly if it's mainly a recolor, I think the new model would be more or less fine. The only part of it that doesn't really hold up is the dark red bricks, lol.