MAB

For me, there is no point when the claim that LEGO only produces two unlicensed themes keeps getting repeated. Part reuse also doesn't matter to me, as a specialised part is still a specialised part. The Roman shield is a specialised part. That was introduced in 2012, repeated a few years later in a licensed set, then reused in an unlicensed set as late as 2025. It has longevity in use and breadth as it has been used in four themes (in four sets in total). But is no less a specialised design than a snitch or Vader's helmet.

They will probably aim to adjust the design a little and submit as a new project. Publishing instructions kills a submission in future.

It depends what they are but when it comes to new parts designed for licensed themes, I sometimes prefer them to be detailed to really represent the thing they are meant to be and have them license-locked ather than for LEGO to generalise the part so it doesn't necessarily represent exactly what it is meant to be as well as it could just so it can be used in other themes. There are so many new parts made these days, especially for minifigure hair, headgear and accessories that having some of them licensed-locked when detail is important doesn't matter. I'm not a big Doctor Who fan, for example, but I'm glad they did the sonic screwdriver to look like it should and only used it in Doctor Who sets rather than make a new unidentifiable long thing just so it could be used as some other long thing in another theme. Whereas something like Hobbit hair or Luke's hair and of course the lightsaber hilt, they look good enough in a form that can be used for other themes. But if they had done C-3PO as a standard printed head or Chewbacca as a printed standard head with long hair, they'd look terrible. Fake stats. And yes, I do now enjoy that you cannot enjoy LEGO.

I don't mind about minifig numbers for these. In fact, I think I prefer the sets having fewer figures and cheaper prices. The figures are all PAB parts so can be added a few at a time to hit GWP thresholds when placing other orders in the meantime.

No! If a licensed part cannot be used in another theme because it is locked to the license, it cannot be used in another theme because it is locked to the license. That does not mean that it is not used in another theme because of its design, it is the license stopping it being used and not because the part is not versatile to use elsewhere. There are parts that were introduced in a licensed theme but not locked to that license and have been used in other themes. The lightsaber hilt is one such piece, and has now been used in 67 themes. Then there are parts like this, now appeared in 95 sets, despite being designed for Star Wars but not licensed locked. Yes, it is very clear that you do not like licenses that use a very small number of parts that are licensed locked. Although I cannot understand why, because the licensed parts that are locked are locked because they are from that license, and you don't like the license. That old universe still exists. LEGO can make any mixed up theme and put in characters and use parts from another of their unlicensed properties. The vast majority of parts from licensed and unlicensed sets are versatile in that they can be used to build whatever EGO can image, but some are licensed locked and cannot be used outside that theme. However, all parts from licensed and unlicensed sets are versatile in that they can be used to build whatever a person can imagine as a license block does not apply to individual builders that own the parts. There are parts such as windshields from Space themes that cannot be used in Castle, and there are parts such as castle doors and dragons from Castle themes that cannot be used in Space. That doesn't mean they are not versatile, they just don't fit every possible theme. It is the same with licensed parts. It is fairly clear that you just don't like licensed themes and also that you don't like that other people enjoy licensed themes. That is your problem, not their problem and definitely not LEGO's problem. You have to accept that LEGO make products for other people to enjoy and that, in doing so, they might make products that you don't enjoy. If you cannot find something that you enjoy out of their now vast product range then that is your problem, not theirs. Because there are plenty of people that are buying their modern sets. Some because they enjoy one or more of the licensed themes, some because they enjoy one or more of the unlicensed themes, and some because they enjoy both unlicensed and licensed. LEGO can easily afford to lose stubborn past consumers that don't like their current sets and insist on them being the same as they were decades ago and refuse to buy if they are not.

So what you are really saying is that unlicensed parts can be used in other themes, whereas licensed parts locked to a particular theme cannot be used by LEGO in other themes. But of course the good thing is that if you don't like the license and never buy the sets as then you won't have any of those licensed parts that you feel cannot be used in other contexts and it won't affect you. The fact that they are licensed locked means they won't appear in any unlicensed sets. Where it is 1 part in 1000, I'd prefer they get the detail right (especially for a minifigure or accessory) rather than compromise the detail of a design so it is generic enough it can be used elsewhere. It would be different if every piece in a Star Wars (or other licensed) set was a specialised part and could not be used with other LEGO parts. But that is far from the case. I've got quite a few LOTR Rohan helmets, and I think they are great for both LOTR and also other MOC armies outside of Middle Earth. Similarly for wargs, they are license locked but great for other MOCs. They could have used a generic castle helmet instead or done a generic wolf but that have been too much of a compromise and ruined the official sets.

HS is Hidden Side. MF is Monster Fighters. This is a specialist site and so specialist language is used. There is a balance between using jargon and spelling out everything every time it is used so someone without any knowledge of the subject can understand. Hidden Side was a new theme in 2019 when the post was written and HS was a common abbreviation used for it. Knowledge of LEGO themes of the previous few years at the time means MF is Monster Fighters. Anyone reading other posts on this site at the time should have been able to understand it fine. But jumping in without context years later could be a problem. But that is the problem with a forum with conservational type posts and when people can read and reply to things written five or ten years before.

But then a canoe can only be used as a canoe, a forestman's hat can only be used as a hat, a sword can only be used as a sword. Of course a part made according to a licensed design and agreed to be exclusive to that license will only appear in official LEGO sets for that license. But that does not mean other people (or, at least, people with an imagination) can use that part in other ways in MOCs. If the World Cup part is cheap to buy multiples, then I'd use it in a City stadium for people in a crowd holding it up, I'd also use it in a pub window advertising they show live football, and I'd also use it in a man-cave style room. My son has a nice MOC of his bedroom, and he uses the Darth Vader minifig helmet, a Boba Fett helmet and a Luke Sywalker Pilot helmet on shelves, representing the Helmet Series of sets. I've seen other people using those and things like The Simpsons heads in City MOCs as masks or full figures in Modular fancy dress shop windows. Similarly some people use movie characters as advertising mannequins for the Palace Cinema, or replace heads with generic ones to look like cos-players at a convention. The famous SW weapon, the lightsaber hilt, has been used in 1091 sets across 67 different themes according to BL. Not at all bad for versatility. There are other things like the Classic Dragon that LEGO has only used as a dragon in Castle sets, but others have used it in other ways.

It is a slow process that is sped up rather than caused by UV.

What does it matter how many themes they were used in. If they are used for the same reason in those themes, it is still the same reason and it is a specialised part. LEGO made canoes, ship sails, aerials, and huge numbers of parts that were specialised. It doesn't matter how many times they are reused, if they are still used as a canoe, or ship sail or aerial they are a specialist part. Classic Space and Castle minifigures are just as specialised as modern minifigures as they are printed to show what they are. And look at the post I was responding to.. Classic sets that suit those who want this building experiance. The "new" way, where it is more about the looks and having a bunch of parts which serve little purpose outside their intended use. There is the clear implication there that new sets are not about the building process and are dominated by specialist parts that cannot be used outside of what they were designed for. I've built modern sets and MOCs with modern parts, and I enjoyed the building process.

I don't really see what point you are trying to make. The HP Snitch appears in 14 sets and is often combined with 100s or 1000s of other basic parts. If you want to complain about the large Vader helmet, then complain also about all the Bionicle parts that are single use and wipe out the history of Bionicle. The football trophy, again it is one part in a set of almost 3000. One part in a set of thousands of parts does not mean modern sets are just a bunch of specialized parts with no other use. You might not be able to understand it, but LEGO clearly understands that small details help sell sets especially in today's market when consumers want more realism and just a few tiny details can help them sell 1000s of basic parts. This was also the same reason they started decorating torsos and faces for minifigures. Plain ones were OK but printing it to make it clear it is a fireman or a knight heavily restricts its use but makes it more enjoyable for the user. It is the same with things like the Darth Vader minifigure helmet, without that there would probably be no Star Wars. Yet think how many basic parts LEGO have sold in the last 25+ years because of Star Wars sets and how many other things those parts have been used to build. Any modern set can be used to build more than just the intended model. Just like vintage sets. And as to your claim there were no specialised parts in the past, why do you not recognize parts such as monorail track and motors, train tracks and other associated parts like the steam train drive rod holder (in my mind as I bought one last week), various Homemaker parts, and so on.

Alternatively they could do "for adults" and "for children". Which is essentially what they do through the pricing structure. I totally disagree with your analysis of the new way as "having a bunch of parts which serve little purpose outside their intended use". The majority of modern parts can be used in more than one way.

So that shows that the Blacksmith wasn't that popular despite the already reasonable price per part and if it is still available for less than that now then people don't value it very highly. So why would LEGO want to do a similar regular retail theme if people are not buying a Castle(ish) set with a PPP of 7.5c when they can use the BDP way of selling 50000 units of a $200-400 Castle set 3 or 4 times a year to AFOLs, with no new parts necessary, no designer salaries or associated costs (aside from the designer fee), and produce just enough copies. Clearly it is better to get a fixed number of sets ordered by people that want them, then produce the right number without needing to advertise or block shelf space for years while they don't sell particularly well to the general public. And then they can concentrate on producing what does sell to the general public for their retail sets.

OK, but I'm not sure what you think the comparison shows. Blacksmith 2164 parts (4 figs) £160. Released 2021. Price adjusted after inflation - now, £200. Alchemist 2319 parts (9 figs) £180. Pre-order closed but not yet released. But yes, if LEGO did retail Castle sets then they would probably kill off their big ticket sets sold though BDP. Why would they want that? It is working fine for sales to adults. And their current in-house themes sell well to kids. Why change something that is working well? They can be a replacement for regular sets because that is exactly what they are. LEGO has grown the market by having the adult market separate to the kid market.

For modern sets, yes. For vintage sets, rebrickable. And I think there were cases in the in-between years sets where LEGO published incomplete inventories and so they were supplemented by existing data that was from other sites (including rebrickable).