How do I have fun with LDD again? How do I improve as a LEGO Builder?

[Alcom1]

I can't have fun with LDD anymore. For years I've used this program. I've produced over 1,000 .lxf files over the past eight years. I've watched my building style evolve with updates, with the rise and fall of LEGO Universe, and with my use of supplementary programs like LDD2PoV, but the fun kinda stopped. I guess part of the issue LDD's 30 degree Field of View angle, which is abominable, and should never occur in any graphical simulation software. I've had to add special code into preferences.ini and resize the LDD window to something tall and thin just to negate some of the Field of View effects and make LDD usable. There's another issue though, a bigger one.

My building style is a bit of a mess. It's simply selecting a brick and building around it, using quick wit and chance to produce something good. The result is sometimes like this (Bambous), though I have to try several times to get such a result. Resulting models also tend to pose poorly. I also have incredible difficulty recreating items out of LEGO. I managed to recreate something effectively once (Battletech Loki), but again that was luck. The recreation was also only possible due to its ease, and I have been unable to produce the same results again with anything else I'm a fan of. I seem to lack both artistic vision, and the ability to properly translate details into LEGO.

I've tried to remedy that. I did some hard studying of other builders I enjoy such as Torokimasa. I took several creations, recreated them partially or perfectly in LDD, then practiced variations. Near the end of this exercise I produced this (MRs-A1), which recreated and was based on this (Torokimasa's MRs-05). When I then tried to return to my own building style, nothing had changed, and I had no interest in continuing the tedious recreations or collaboration builds.

Perhaps I just need to distance myself from LEGO building and will find it fun again later, but that doesn't solve the issue of my building style. I've hit a wall, I don't know how to improve other than through brute force practice and even that is losing its effect as my building style cements itself. How do I improve myself as a builder?

Edited September 17, 2014 by Alcom1

[Zerobricks]

Try building something else than just mechs, try something different?

[obsidianheart]

Seconding what Zbij said: Try building something not a mech. One of the projects that helped me improve the most as a builder was when I built an extension to an existing set. That way, I had a pre-existing restriction (the original building's size and unique shape) to work around, and had to figure out a lot of techniques for making it functional as well as looking good. I build a lot of action vehicles, too, and I find that just loosely sketching the shape I want to wind up with helps a lot. Sometimes I down load official sets LXFs and see how many recolor combinations are actually feasible with existing bricks with Bricklink's inventory.

But most of the time, if I hit a wall like your describing, I go work on Not-LEGO projects for a while. Maybe take a week or three off without opening LDD.

[Lego Otaku]

Look over official sets made in LDD thread and see if you can cook up a few older sets not done yet. I would say people didn't do most of the older sets (mainly 80's and 90's) because it required a part or 3 that isn't available in LDD. I wanted to do all of Monorail sets but no track, no bogies, no motors, etc. Brick-built solution can be done and if one used grouping they can remove brick built version and swap for a new part when LDD makes it available.

Bigger challenges would be the early Technic sets, it uses a lot of parts not in LDD yet like 1xn plates with holes at both end, older style steering racks, square block often used as piston, etc.

[legolijntje]

This may sound a bit harsh on a Lego forum, but if you don't enjoy it anymore, you shouldn't do it anymore.

You can't force enjoyment, you like something or you don't. It's a hobby and a hobby is not a must.

But, of course if you do still like it but just don't have any inspiration anymore. Well, you could try to master SR3D Builder

[Shroud]

Its not a bad thing to take a break as I've done due to LDD's limitations. I've always used Flickr as a source of inspiration as it gives me ideas of things I would like to make (without copying of course).

Create yourself a vision of what you would like your works to actually be rather than just Mocs posted on a forum.

My vision:

1. One day TLG or someone clever will create a gaming platform where you can import your MoCs and use them in an open world sandbox. You would be able to assign rules to different parts so wheels act as wheels or even rockets for instance. That's why I want to finish my capital ship and fly it around with as many people as possible.

2. Something a little less far fetched (sigh) is you can import your mocs into 3dsmax or light wave and create scenes. use Photoshop to make awesome wallpapers or create a comic strip don't just limit yourself to LDD, treat it as your base tool. Create characters and a story to expand your works.

Your style is how you build and will only get better with inspiration and most of all I believe a purpose. Randomly building for the sake of building will run you into a wall.

[Sisilisko]

Hi!

I am sorry to hear you lost your passion. The artistlic eye can be exercised. Look up "artistlic exersizes" Search the web. Inspiration comes from work. Seriously: go out on instagram and recreate some wacko cake in LDD. How would you do raspberrymousse in lego?

Make a list of 10 things impossible to make/recreate in lego/LDD. Let the list set for a few days. Take it out and have a go at creating. Have a friend make a list of Impossible builds.

Go for it!

I use that exersize in groups that need refocus and a spirit boost (The brain needs food. New thoughts is what feed our).

If you can solve the Impossible action of being able to ride a bike to the moon... Well what can stop you?

One exersize I use over and over again is that I limit my options. When i am for example painting I get to choose two colors that I dislike and create with those. Brown and mint blue are now my signature colors.

Your brain needs challanges! It might take a few sessions but hey, as long as you are alive your brain is right with you!

So when planning a mech, start with chosing a colorscheme you would not use normally.

Then you decide on that you get to use 2 types of joints. You don't get to use your favorite pieces.

Explore the gear you chose you get to use.

Good luck!

[Cosmonaut King]

Since you are into mechs, try watching old japanese stuff: Changeman, Jaspion, Giban, Jiraya, Ultraman, Black Kamen Raider. I was very into building mechs while a child because of those series. I guess as everything in art, there is a whole context regarding mechs, and they are probably easier to get if you are japanese.

[zijiagens]

Brick-built solution can be done and if one used grouping they can remove brick built version and swap for a new part when LDD makes it available.

Edited October 12, 2014 by zijiagens