Norro

Alas the internet does not convey intention. I will reply to your long post when I have time. In the mean while, I just found it humorous that the value you put on Lego's stances varies by topic. Mine does as well, as I pointed out earlier... I'm sorry you seem to treat this exchange as a personal attack on yourself and your opinions. I was taught that debate was essentially the art of either logically decimating your opponent or citing any point where he contradicts himself. Hence I do not often engage these skills in the Lego world. I still feel (perhaps equally as falsely as your belief that I was "demeaning" your intelligence) that whenever I put forward an opinion you ask that it be substantiated and then proceed to attack my reasoning (highly subjectively). When I respond with a more classical or formal style of argument, you feel as if your views are being rode roughshod over. It is *almost* as if it is only valid reasoning when it aligns with the self evident truth that bionicle is Lego... Hence I think I should stop responding before I caused offense, which is not my intention... God Bless, Nathan

Hey and welcome! God Bless, Nathan

6755/6764 Sheriff's Lock-Up One of the top three Lego sets of all time in my opinion. Brilliant set, playable, buildable, completely original (at the time), stocked with figs, and ultimately inspiring (like all great Lego sets). But the Western theme does give a wealth of choice. The sets were so great that it was the first time I ever bought a duplicate set... God Bless, Nathan and Commiserations to the Bandit's Hideout-if it had only been a slightly bigger set with one more run of track, a "great escape" style movie set sticking off the back would have made it unbeatable. A competitive nod to Legoredo as well...

You're in their pay. admit it! God Bless, Nathan

The improved sets quality has definitely helped them snag more of my money. Not that I'm spending more, just they are geting a higher percentage than my Bricklink exile of late... Thanks for posting and God Bless, Nathan

No, the paper saving fast track was all ready beginning to get rid of my precious Lego literature... God Bless, Nathan

I put a lot of work into mine. Plan carefully. You can take a look at my MOCs (link in sig). As a lot of them are landscaped based... My most recent is *just* a mountain... God Bless, Nathan

Exactly, the Lego literature, especially the old brochures were clearly divided. Technique even had its own brochures for a period. As well as a separate Lego Technique Club... God Bless, Nathan Now I'm just being malicious... but playfully Nathan

How's that going? Cheers for the list Sandy. Some time, I'll try to read the ultimate collectors book alongside it... God Bless, Nathan

Looking nice. I particularly like the gas canisters. God Bless, Nathan

I judge Alpha Team far too harshly... When I first saw the pictures of the figs in Lego's trailer magazine I thought that they had finally granted my dream of an urban city sub theme of spies. Then when the sets came out they were predictably unbelievable. I should have expected the sets would lean towards the surreal. But I was disappointed none the less. How's that for subjective? God Bless, Nathan

Harsh, but with a lot of truth... God Bless, Nathan

Thanks all! Also cheers LuxorV for picking up on the imminent motion! Thanks again and God Bless, Nathan

Now that I have time, I'm going to clarify ... Don't worry all those wary of argument, bionicle pieces may pierce my feet but words will never hurt my sense of Lego puritanism... With all due respect, I think you're on to a losing argument here. This is exactly what I love about the lego system, it's ability to merge parts. I own less castle than other themed sets, yet it is virtually all I build, and my useless parts bag is still only confined to large juniourized molds and bionicle... I really just can't agree with this assessment, and it comes down to the stud. more later. Side note. I'm not much of a follower... The comparison was of your wording and the aptness of your defense, not of the themes themselves. But you have put your finger on a vital issue, the technique pins are galidor's sole claim to being Lego as well... Which leads me to the crux of my opposition: Technique is a semi-independent entity, it is the stud that allows it to join the lego 'system' so claiming technique holes as a basis for Lego membership is in your view decisive, and in mine merely proof that it connects to something which itself connects to pure Lego... tenuous at best... This is an opinion. I can't shift you and most likely vice-versa. You describe Bionicle as having potential of it's "own". My point exactly. Even you see it as an independent enough entity to use the word 'own'. You wouldn't say that pirates could be a toy on it's 'own' without any of the Lego based features (i.e. the studs, figs, etc...) Cultural problems again here. We appear (to me) to be saying the same thing. Lack of creativity and imagination manifests itself in simplicity and juniorization... I have to admit it makes it harder to respond to your reasoning when you restate my case as a counter argument... Very subjective. Top 10 brands don't normally "colapse" that easily... I think this is taking us further away from my points so I'm not going to pursue the financial situation that you keep trying to link to the output. I know TLC was in trouble, I know SW/Bionicle saved them. I just wish they had addressed the rot instead of looking for a bailout (contemporary echo, impressive eh? ) Sorry, everything is based on something; "there is nothing new under the sun" according to Ecclesiastes. But that assertion doesn't justify placing 'reenacting' and 'creating' on a level plain. If, as you indicate, creativity is always constrained, you are implicitly accepting that it is the least limited when it is the least constrained. Starwars is a greater constraint than space, etc... I'm going to have to admit I think that one is pretty conclusive... One word: studs. Ultimately, in my opinion, technique integrates with Lego by virtue of the studded brick. Bionicle is a step further removed, than Technique. Which itself is claimed by Lego to be semi-independent... Nathan

In fairness I warned that it was a subjective definition of system. Although I think the idea of Lego system was complete interaction of parts and scale. Something that bionicle fails to do in my opinion (stress on opinion). I don't quite follow your logic. I could apply this quotation to galidor... And we'll just have to diasagree, because my definition of system is based largely around 'stud-full minifig sets', although the minifigs aren't strictly necessary. My point exactly... sorry to take you out of context, but I do think this is subconscious support for my limited system feelings... I'm afraid you've extrapolated a point which I didn't make, rather tenuously, from my statements. (This may be a cultural division in thought, it's hard to read intentions over the internet...) I think sw helped Lego to procrastinate about fixing it's own product. I didn't speculate about bankruptcy, merely about where attention was fixed. You preclude the possible (though not likely) option that the financial danger forced TLC to fix its product without sw. "so called"? What do you think (side topic)? I consider sw less creative, I stand by that. It's like comparing writing a short story based in Tolkien's world with writing your own. And I really don't see the relation between the number of good sw MOCs vs those in other themes and my point.... I was commenting on a ratio of good MOCs to AFOLs, not a particular concentration in a theme. I honestly feel in this last section that you've failed to read my post accurately, or perhaps I'm not expressing myself well. Although it may just me be an opinion divide as Peppermint_M seemed to understand what I was getting at. Seriously I'm not trying to force a view of a line down your throat, or attack all you hold dear. Merely explaining my *preference* and the basis for it... I'd also really appreciate it if you focus on discussing the reasoning behind the choices (as you suggested earlier in this thread) rather than sensationalizing without explanation (as you criticized when applied in an anti-bionicle context), for example: In the first case you provide no reasoning, merely scorn mine. In the second you speak on my behalf (an idea I never put forward), and then ridicule it. I know the feeling... God Bless, Nathan

I really don't know what to say about this one... I built it, I really like it, and it's not like anything I normally envision: Pic=link Thoughts much appreciated! God Bless, Nathan

What follows is a subjective list, I enjoy a good debate as much as the next lad (I would say more, but then I would have to justify that ) but I really don't feel like justifying my opinions on sub-sections of a hobby, the whole terrain is just too subjective. I will share the reasoning behind my opinions though Best: 1. Castle (surprise), I still think it is the most versatile theme (in MOC terms), has covered the most ground (set wise), and allows an amazing amount of pieces and colours, to be integrated into a grounded, semi-historical setting. I also just plain love it. Always have... 2. Pirates, simple charm. Sentiment, and associations of fun. I also think the theme struck an almost ideal balance between play, building, history, and a non-mandatory plot line. 3. Aquazone (the original 3 years), Still the most original Lego line (IMHO). All the more shocking for emerging at a time when Lego didn't do short run themes. Very well designed and priced sets, and also a brilliant 'Legoland' ability to have fun with two sets, or an underwater empire's fleet. I know it expanded my mind in MOCing terms more than anything else (but that may have been merely it's contrast to my rut...) 4. (very close) Western, See Pirates. Worst: 1. Bionicle, not bashing, (I get annoyed by the consistent 'defenders' trying to explain how 'brilliant' it is for what it's worth ) In my mind, and this is entirely subjective, it's just not Lego. It's not part of the 'system'. Even technique integrates in minor quantities, every time I see a bionicle piece, I think to myself how out of place it it. I can't help it, it's as if someone dumped playmobile in my Lego bin, and some of the parts happen to connect dubiously... Sorry! While I'm offending people and now that my terrible secret has been referred to: 2. Starwars, it almost single handedly killed Lego's independently creative toy company status. In my opinion it has taken all these years to get back to proper sets, because sw cushioned the fall. 98 was one of the worst years ever, 99 began the great SW distraction, and Lego never had to admit that its in-house product was in a state of shambles. I don't buy Lego to re-enact a movie. It's all about being more creative than that. Sorry! Not trying to kill your joy, just explaining my thing... The second strike against it was the huge non-MOCing fan group it brought into lego. Nothing wrong with not MOCing at all. I just think sw caused this to be too large a percentage of the AFOL population. It also contributed to what I term 'MOC breakaway'. In the old Lugnet days (and I assume beforehand on RTL) the building talent was spread, diverse, there were some standouts, but not untouchables. Now we seem to have the Brothers Brick standard and the 'here are a few plates and a wall I built earlier' group. I think the decrease in percentage of active builders within the AFOL world help speed this regrettable split. Harsh on the 'greatest/most popular theme ever'? Yep. Risky on EB as well 3. Clickits, Galidor, Znap, and all the other non lego. SW only ranks above these because most of them weren't prolific enough to damage my hobby... Random thoughts: Don't be too hard on scala unless you've built some, the detail is incredible, the amount of configurations of furniture made from a few pieces, the techniques used to connect them, the overall look for the quantity of brick used are all very impressive. If I was a female, I would have loved them, as it is I just buy them for others... God Bless, Don't shoot... Nathan

Nice concept, love the computer... Thanks for sharing! God Bless, Nathan

Hey all, Posted another Norro's set review: Please share your thoughts! God Bless, Nathan

Just to let everyone know that I've put up a better picture/explanation of the tower construction up in my Tips and Tricks section... God Bless, Nathan

=! Personally, like all heroic defenders of political correctness, I'm intolerant of intolerance. So there is no danger of Lego out-witting me... God Bless, Nathan

Great, I wanted to do that with some of my older MOCs but could never find the time. I look forward to getting to look over this series again... God Bless, Nathan

Batman is the only license I've ever really accumulated sets from (beside the untouchable IJ). I'll be sad to see it go, the sets were well done and great sources of pieces... God Bless, Nathan

I've built a lego board for a game I designed before (long ago...) So this could be really neat, especially with some nice parts and fig things. I'm just concerned about the possible cost. God Bless, Nathan

I wonder if they actually got paid for this? If so I'm in the wrong line of work God Bless, Nathan