rodiziorobs

If it's not yet released it must be Crimson Peak...

Funny that Fox has the rights to the great cosmic villains like Galactus, the Skrulls, Annihilus, etc. yet they keep coming back to Dr. Doom, who they can't seem to do right. Oh, and that cloud thing. To be honest, I thought the first F4 (with Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, et al) was pretty good. Sure, it was a dumb popcorn flick, but still entertaining, and pretty well cast. Cheesy as heck, but so were the Spider-Man and Bond movies until about that same time, so that's no knock against it. Granted, I haven't seen F4 in years so maybe it hasn't held up well, ymmv. Also, from what I have read this new one is actually decent for about the first half, then it suddenly and completely falls apart, and then keeps getting worse until the credits roll. Phase 4 people, phase 4. It would be a bit poetic, wouldn't it?

I'm in on this one, too. It sounds like it has potential, but one way or the other doesn't bother me. I don't really collect themes or sets, anyway, I collect parts and, more recently, minifigs (to part out). As long as it can deliver that at a good value, I'm happy. Even better would be if it delivers at terribly marked-up prices, doesn't sell, and I pick them up on clearance. That's the problem with the Elves line. I really like those sets but have yet to open my wallet to them, because as much as I like the parts the 'dolls do nothing for me. I would pick them up at a discount, but the theme sells too well to be put out on clearance. Yet.

My favorite bit here is definitely the engines, although the I think the orange background in the photo makes the dark grey look odd against the white and green. Insert a flagpole or lightsaber blade into them to pull them out. If needed, you can also push them out from the back by reaching something inside the engine housing.

My kids--my four year old in particular--always want to borrow some of my pieces to put in with their own stuff. I always ask why they need it, so I can suggest pieces from their own collections instead that would accomplish the same thing. There are a lot of times I let them, but more often I don't. They have learned that it doesn't hurt to ask, that they need to be responsible when I do loan pieces, but that sometimes I get to say 'no' and that they have to be okay with that. The same is true if I ever ask to borrow some of theirs. I have tried to teach them to respect each other's stuff and mine by always respecting theirs, and for the most part it works out okay.

As I have been catching up on this thread, the mentions of steampunk had me thinking exactly this. Maybe rather than medieval, the historical period for this theme is closer to an early Renaissance, or even Gothic period? I am not sure how that would appeal to TLG's target audience, but it would definitely qualify as brand new, and still be considered "Castle".

Barsoom,

Here is a cuckoo clock I made a few months back. There is actually a little chicken up in the top, but sadly he is stationary. The clock mechanism itself is from a craft store. Cuckoo clock by rodiziorobs, on Flickr

Everything from the arcade to the details behind the bar are so good, but I love how you've used the kissing face as a getting-knocked-out face instead! This week ranks right up there with the original experimental larvae week!

Or get captured by another team or something. I have seriously built as much for Kawashita and more for Octan than I have for M.A.N.T.I.S.! Thanks Bob for opening this discussion up. I appreciate the open nature approach to resolving questions about the rules. Even if it doesn't actually change anything, it's good to see how everyone feels about the topic.

Most of the first wave Hobbit sets have a lot of tan, green, and brown shades, along with leaves and such in several of them.

I think 14-day weeks would be easier, but after reading some of the above comments, I see how short weeks can make it more fair for builders with smaller collections, and it keeps the pace up. At the same time, I think having a long 'week' occasionally would be a nice breathing space without seriously slowing the game down or penalizing teams if a builder misses a week. So, I think I'm on board for 2 regular weeks, followed by a long one. That seems to satisfy both arguments pretty well IMO.

Sweet little ship that packs a lot into a small space, and a very fun read. Welcome to M.A.N.T.I.S.

Welcome to M.A.N.T.I.S., Moose!

I don't think we need to base it around another RBG, but I do wonder if the weekly pace is kind of burning a lot of people out--I know that it kind of is for me. As fun as it is participating, I also feel a lot of pressure to put up a build each week. Not pressure from my corp, or anyone in it, but from myself not wanting to let a week go by without contributing to my team, especially since I know MANTIS is smallest. Even as I have been moving to a new house, I have been putting up my Pick-A-Brick builds just to make sure I am helping as best I can. The rest of my bricks--once I get them unpacked--are in various stages of unsorted because there isn't really time to thoroughly re-sort after the previous week's build. I am not trying to complain, but I wonder if others feel kind of the same. If that's the case, and lots of participants feel like they struggle to keep up with the game, maybe we could slow the pace down a bit (perhaps after the Scramble for Andromeda is over)? Maybe have a one-week moratorium each month, or switch to every-other-week builds instead? At the same time, I realize that the pace keeps enthusiasm going, and I wouldn't want slowing the game down to cause people to lose interest. But it might be nice every now and again to have a week where we--everyone--can take a break without our corp being penalized for it. Wouldn't you like that, too, judges? (nudge, nudge :wink:)

Location: C04, Aeristus Tags: N/A Kawa 1: "Sir, there is a small unidentified craft approaching the planet's surface. Coming in hot." Kawa 2: "Curse these Mantites! I assume this is another of their light attack cruisers?" Kawa 1: "Not this one, sir. Initial energy and design specifications do not correspond with any known or typical M.A.N.T.I.S. technology. Full specs should be coming in shortly." Kawa 2: "Where is it headed?" Kawa 1: "Toward our military reserve base on the Western Peninsula, but it's not coming in directly..." Kawa 2: "What could it be, then? Alien? Maybe M.A.N.T.I.S. has something new. Get me Lt. Malvado on air, this is urgent..." Kawa 1: "Wait, commander. Details online now...looks like an Octan transport, a small one. There doesn't seem to be anyone on board, or at least no one is controlling it. Impact in planet surface in T minus..28 seconds." Kawa 2: "Figures. Octan trusts their robots to do everything for them, and then they fail. Besides, robots have no honor. How long until..." Kawa 1: "21 seconds, sir. Looks like it will land about a half mile wide of our base." Kawa 2: "Well, that's good. I'm still relieved we sent all our forces away from there to attack M.A.N.T.I.S. on the northern front, just in case there had been a catastrophe. Octan will hear of this, mark me--sending all their junk everywhere..." Kawa 1: "Eight seconds..." Both: ... Kawa 2: "What does that blue and purple mean on that screen there?" Kawa 1: That's the thermal scanner, sir. Blue indicates cool to normal temps, probably from the nighttime air. Cool temps means that the ship did not explode on impact, otherwise it would be red." Kawa 2: "Ah rats. I would rather it were red. I do love a good explosion, and red reminds me of the Honorable emblem of Kawashita. Oh well. Looks like there are tiny patches of red, so perhaps some parts caught fire, at least." Kawa 1: "Would you like me to send a recovery unit out, sir?" Kawa 2: "That won't be necessary. Let Octan's garbage stand as a testament to the incompetence that has emerged from their once fine glory. They have faded. And after we wipe those bugs from this planet, Kawashita will stand supreme in Andromeda! Honorably supreme, of course." Kawa 1: "Of course, sir." Kawa 2: "Keep me posted of any further incident..." ******** Scorpio gasped for air--he was alive! He struggled free from the twisted wreckage, vaguely thinking that the woman was probably still trapped. She could fend for herself, if she was still alive. He wondered where he was. Had they arrived on the planet Octan had destined him for, or had his actions at the Gate diverted their course? On the horizon he saw a cluster of red and grey buildings; he was definitely in Kawashita territory. With the red and white Octan space travel suit he had been given, he would probably stick out and get captured instantly, but he had to chance it. Besides, there didn't seem to be anyone around. The building was deserted, evidently in a hurry as tools were scattered everywhere. He had to find a clue to where he was, and find out if there were any M.A.N.T.I.S. operatives nearby. He reached for the radio controls, and sent out an SOS. He could not access a M.A.N.T.I.S. secure line from the Kawashita base, so he would have to use a public channel. If there were any Kawas around, they would lock on to his signal and find him in a heartbeat. But there was no other way. :::Open channel::Freq.786DF::<unencrypted>::Message[begin]Request for immediate extraction from unknown location, please confirm coordinates with positive ID__Agent: Starstriker, S.__Enemy units nearby, discovery imminent,extraction urgent[end]Close channel::: ******** Kawa 1: "Sir, we just picked up a strange transmission requesting an extraction." Kawa 2: "One of our operatives in the field? Get them out!" Kawa 1: "No sir, this was sent from our training facility on the Western Peninsula, nearby that crash from a few hours ago. An agent named "Starstriker"--nothing pulls up on our records; might be an Octan from that crashed transport." Kawa 2: "Drat! Send a unit back there to investigate, and if needs be, terminate. Those dishonorable Octans! Let me know immediately of any progress!" ********* Scorpio waited for a response. No doubt the Kawas would be closing in soon, and he might never get a response. He had to keep moving. Suddenly a response came in: :::Open channel::Freq.786DF::<unencrypted>::Message[begin]Scorpio! Long time no see. Got your location, I'm headed there once I teach these Kawas a little lesson. Don't get yourself caught again, okay? -SpacerSteve[end]Close channel::: Ha ha! Scorpio was saved! As long as SpacerSteve could reach him in time... **************** Another PAB build this week, if you couldn't tell. Hopefully next week I'll have access to all my bricks. Microscale of the crash site, near the Kawa facility: Andromeda's Gates week 9 by rodiziorobs, on Flickr C&C welcome!

You had me at Ice Planet baseplate Once again, great details everywhere Sal! I love the legs and the overall design of the drilling station. Some clean Sci-Fi while also being very industrial.

Transfer 30 to SpacerSteve, please! And welcome Mathijs!

I think the forced perspective looks great! My only suggestion would be to use light grey instead of dark for the mountains. Atmospheric perspective causes far-away things to get hazy, so even if the mountains are intended to actually be dark, from far away they would look lighter. You could then use dark grey for the foothills. I think changing the color scheme would really help to solidify the illusion of distance, but as far as the mountains' shape and the snow on top, you've done excellently.

I believe it was announced in the very beginning that sigfigs didn't have to be purist. Not sure if that is what you're talking about, though.

Location: F02, Lesser Drigo Tags: Spying *This week is PAB week, see note at the end!* After Scorpio's failed attempt at escape the previous week, he had tried a number of other things, each of them ending in similar failure. The time came for him to be transferred from Lesser Drigo. Where to? He wasn't sure. Over the sound of more kicking and grumbling, he had heard Dr. Long again in the laundry room, but only learned a few details of the reason for his transfer: he was supposed to meet someone very important, somewhere, and after that Octan would decide his fate. Probably, they would send him somewhere to interrogate him, and then barter with M.A.N.T.I.S. for a prisoner exchange or something. Or he would be executed. Guards escorted him onto a small modified transport ship, once again in chains, and secured him on board. From his position, he could see the pilot on board, and was alarmed to see that it was the woman with the scar--the one who had caught him weeks ago. Scorpio had been looking for a new chance to escape; he knew if they went toward their projected destination, he would still be in Octan custody. However, if he could change their course somewhere else, his fate might be different. The gate opening up The ship was sealed, began its ascent from the planet's surface, and headed toward the gate site in the atmosphere. The ship moved into position, and the woman activated the portal system to open the gate. At once the ship began to experience very heavy turbulence, and everything began shaking uncontrollably. "Hold steady, you bucket of bolts!" the pilot said to herself. "Almost there!" The shaking became so violent that the post Scorpio had been chained to started coming loose from its position. Trying to steady himself, he put all his weight behind the post and lunged--it wrenched free! sending him spiraling into the cabin. "What the!? Get down!" the woman shouted, turning her attention from the gate to Scorpio. The gate began to quiver and change color, and the ship shook even more. This was the moment Scorpio had waited for--stumbling forward, he pushed down on the controls. The little craft surged down and forward, headed toward the unstable gate. The ship diving into the gate "What have you done?!" He heard the woman shouting. The ship was coming apart at the seams: alarms were sounding, lights flashing, and then the gravity stabilizers stopped working, sending both Scorpio and the woman into freefall as the ship hurtled into the unknown... More pics The ship on its own View of the Gate Behind the scenes ******** This week's build is...unique, let's say. I still wanted to contribute this week, but I am in the middle of moving, so my entire collection is packed away in boxes, except for what I picked up at my local store this week--two PAB cups, the July GWP, and a clearance-priced Mixel I threw in to qualify for the GWP. So, everything you see here is from that! I discovered that while the PAB's current selection of green parts is really great , it is hard to work with exclusively (although I am proud of how the Gate turned out!), not to mention that I wasn’t able to do any decent editing on the photos (not that my editing could normally be called “decent” ) Can't wait until this move is over... As a result, I wasn’t able to build out as much of the story as I wanted to, like the ship interior or Scorpio's latest attempt at a daring escape. He really isn't that great of a spy, no matter how hard he tries.

Love the wrecking ball on that mech, very clever

Glad you were able to escape from the Kawas in time to deliver yet another fantastic (and hilarious!) build this week! You deserve a Nobel trophy So much to love here, from the lab interior and exterior, but the minifig expressions are so good!

I laughed pretty hard at this, thanks! I bought some Kazi about 5 years ago when I first returned from my dark ages. It seemed like a good and thrifty way to add to my collection...until most of the pieces broke after trying a few alt builds with the sets I got. The week I got them. I realized the texture, color, and clutch of them was terrible, and so I threw them out. I occasionally will still find a few kicking around here and there in my bricks. On the other hand, I still have quite a lot of old Tyco bricks, which I find in many ways superior to Lego of the same age. They still clutch perfectly, and are noticeably less discolored (the blues and whites particularly) than my 25-year old Lego.

Thanks everyone for the comments! I realize I have built almost as much for Octan as I have for MANTIS by now!