Nexo Knights 2016

[Alfadas]

but Elves is designed for girls & outside the world of the minifig

Thank you. Someone I agree with. Elves is nice, but is not a replacement for a proper Castle theme, even in combination with the Nexo Knights. Pink and purple pieces everywhere and I mean everywhere. Yes, the dragons could be nice, if they didn't have bow-ties in their ?hair? Dragons don't have hair...

But anyway... if you like it, so be it, have fun, but don't think it is a proper Castle theme replacement. It isn't.

Edited July 21, 2016 by Alfadas

[Whiteagle]

That said, I do hope that NK produces more structure-based sets next waves, I'd really like to see an underwater fortress, forest watchtowers and secret hideouts, that kind of stuff. Even better: heraldry on the bad guys' armour.

Even if it's just the village buildings!

[x105Black]

It's entirely possible that rather than discontinuing Castle to make room for Nexo Knights, they instead consciously held Nexo Knights off until they DIDN'T have another Castle theme running, so they wouldn't have to worry about Nexo Knights cannibalizing Castle's sales or vice-versa.

The two are so different, I don't see how that would be an issue.

[PicnicBasketSam]

I only have 2 Nexo Knights sets, but this is quite clearly not Castle. Just Castle-themed Sci-Fi/Fantasy sets. However, I would like to note that a lot of 6-year-olds would go "That looks so much cooler!" in regards to a $20 Nexo Knights set, like Lance's Mecha Horse, over whatever $20 Castle set might be on the shelf. With big castles that's probably different... however, when I was younger, I went over to another kid's house for something and he had, like, 12 Fantasy Era sets all set up on a table, and that was really, really cool. I don't think Nexo works as well as a collection, but works with individual sets (or 2 sets that can combine/switch parts around) and that's probably better for the target audience.

[Aanchir]

Thank you. Someone I agree with. Elves is nice, but is not a replacement for a proper Castle theme, even in combination with the Nexo Knights. Pink and purple pieces everywhere and I mean everywhere. Yes, the dragons could be nice, if they didn't have bow-ties in their ?hair? Dragons don't have hair...

But anyway... if you like it, so be it, have fun, but don't think it is a proper Castle theme replacement. It isn't.

Only one of the dragons has a bow, and it's easily removable. And while the sets use a lot of pink and purple compared to boy-oriented themes, that has more to do with boy-oriented themes avoiding those colors like the plague than with the Elves sets being overwhelmed by them. Just going by the Brickset database (which groups all shades of pink and purple together in the "Purple" color family):

• Skyra's Mysterious Sky Castle is 11% green, 16% purple, 19% yellow, 20% grey, and 34% other colors.
  
• The Secret Market Place is 12% black, 13% yellow, 14% purple, 16% green, 25% orange-brown, and 20% other colors.
  
• Ragana's Magic Shadow Castle is 10% green, 19% purple, 21% grey, 25% black, and 25% other colors.
  

Of course, more conventional Castle themes generally have much higher percentages of orange-brown, black, and grey (sometimes with just one of these three color families comprising up to 50% of the inventory), and lower proportions of blue, green, and yellow. So while pink and purple tend to make up less than 20% of a typical Elves set's inventory, the Elves theme does tend towards brighter colors in general than a typical Castle theme's grittier color palette.

This makes me wonder something: would Nexo Knights sets appeal more to Castle builders if they had a more neutral color palette, instead of so much blue and orange? Certainly it might at least make Castle builders more inclined to buy them as parts packs. The Fortrex is already 12% black and 47% grey by piece count, but a lot of that is smaller parts like its treads rather than larger parts like its wall panels. If it instead had, say, gray walls and brown treads, maybe Castle fans would have an easier time seeing it as a rolling castle rather than some sort of cyber-tank. Even a set as outrageous as Lance's Mecha Horse might be more popular with Castle fans with a brown or sand yellow "trojan horse" color palette rather than its futuristic white, blue, and orange colors.

Color can elicit some very visceral reactions. Let's not forget how much antipathy many Rock Raiders fans had for the brightly-colored Power Miners sets, even though Power Miners was without a doubt the more advanced theme in terms of functions, builds, monster designs, and the general versatility of its new pieces. For that matter, a lot of the harshest reactions I remember to the Atlantis theme came from its green and red color palette, which people were not used to associating with submarines. Of course, part of the reason for these reactions is also that kids tend to love bright colors, and thus many adults automatically associate bright colors with childishness. So the same bright colors that often invite AFOL hate probably work towards the success of the action/adventure themes that wear them.

Edited July 21, 2016 by Aanchir

[x105Black]

This makes me wonder something: would Nexo Knights sets appeal more to Castle builders if they had a more neutral color palette, instead of so much blue and orange? Certainly it might at least make Castle builders more inclined to buy them as parts packs. The Fortrex is already 12% black and 47% grey by piece count, but a lot of that is smaller parts like its treads rather than larger parts like its wall panels. If it instead had, say, gray walls and brown treads, maybe Castle fans would have an easier time seeing it as a rolling castle rather than some sort of cyber-tank. Even a set as outrageous as Lance's Mecha Horse might be more popular with Castle fans with a brown or sand yellow "trojan horse" color palette rather than its futuristic white, blue, and orange colors.

I would say yes. The bright colors of Nexo Knights are definitely a drawback for me.

As for the 20% pink and purple, that's a lot. That's 1/5 of the set! I don't mind the purple as much as the pink. In fact, I wish dark purple (using BrickLink terminology) was used more in Castle and Pirates sets. It is a very underused color in those themes.

[Aanchir]

As for the 20% pink and purple, that's a lot. That's 1/5 of the set! I don't mind the purple as much as the pink. In fact, I wish dark purple (using BrickLink terminology) was used more in Castle and Pirates sets. It is a very underused color in those themes.

1/5 of the set is a lot, but hardly overwhelming, IMO. And that's on the high end for Elves color palettes — for comparison's sake, Naida's ship is 28% shades of blue, 16% black, 12% brick yellow (tan), and a mere 12% shades of purple/pink. And the Magical Bakery, one of the sets from the initial wave most highly criticized for being pink, was 13% shades of yellow, 16% shades of purple/pink, 21% shades of grey, and a whopping 35% shades of orange/brown.

Beyond that, what other color family would you call "too much" just for making up 20% of a set's inventory? Would you call Knights' Challenge "too red" because 28% of its parts are the same shade of red? Or Wolfpack Renegades "too blue" because 36% of its parts are the same shade of blue? If not, why would a set be "too pink/purple" for having 20% or less of its inventory in several different shades of pink and purple? It only makes sense if you believe pink or purple are less appropriate colors, somehow, than red or blue, and in a fantasy setting I can't quite figure how you'd justify that sort of claim (in a historical setting you could make an argument that purple pigment was rare and expensive in medieval times, but then again, the same could be said for blue).

Edited July 22, 2016 by Aanchir

[x105Black]

1/5 of the set is a lot, but hardly overwhelming, IMO. And that's on the high end for Elves color palettes — for comparison's sake, Naida's ship is 28% shades of blue, 16% black, 12% brick yellow (tan), and a mere 12% shades of purple/pink. And the Magical Bakery, one of the sets from the initial wave most highly criticized for being pink, was 13% shades of yellow, 16% shades of purple/pink, 21% shades of grey, and a whopping 35% shades of orange/brown.

Beyond that, what other color family would you call "too much" just for making up 20% of a set's inventory? Would you call Knights' Challenge "too red" because 28% of its parts are the same shade of red? Or Wolfpack Renegades "too blue" because 36% of its parts are the same shade of blue? If not, why would a set be "too pink/purple" for having 20% or less of its inventory in several different shades of pink and purple? It only makes sense if you believe pink or purple are less appropriate colors, somehow, than red or blue, and in a fantasy setting I can't quite figure how you'd justify that sort of claim (in a historical setting you could make an argument that purple pigment was rare and expensive in medieval times, but then again, the same could be said for blue).

1st off, we've veered off topic quite a bit by this point, and I would welcome these posts being moved to a new topic for discussion. Either way, I'll continue.

Naida's ship is one of the better Elves sets, and has one of the better color schemes. I'd call that one the anomaly. There is also the concept of prominence. In the Magical Bakery, the pink rooftop is very prominent While it may not be made of many bricks, it takes up a good chunk of your view when looking at the set. There's also the factor of overall color. The yellows in that set are very bright, and they make the whole thing look so colorful. Colorfulness in itself isn't a bad thing, but all of these bright pinks and yellows, together with light blues and lavenders in other sets, makes for a very bright and colorful scheme that to many is not pleasing to the eye. I personally find it to be garish.

The first wave of Elves was guiltiest of these charges, and they have indeed improved. I appreciate the sets much more now than I did initially. The minidolls are the primary obstacle for me, but that's another discussion altogether.

On to the other point. The color schemes of that era of Castle have to be taken for what they were. There wasn't the myriad colors there are today, and they were much more primitive in design. With full hindsight, I would say that Knight's Challenge has too basic a color scheme. I find it to be very indicative of the limited color palette of its time. Red, yellow, and blue everywhere. While these events were often colorful affairs, it is not how most of us picture the medieval era, or even medieval fantasy. Wolfpack Renegades is indeed too blue. If that set were being made today, I would hope that it would be largely composed of brown or dark brown pieces, maybe dark red or black (then again, the CMF Rogue who wears the Wolfpack insignia is mostly dark green, so what do I know).

Also, I do think that blue and red are more appropriate for a medieval or medieval fantasy setting than pink or magenta. In fact, I think that dark blue and dark red are even more appropriate.

I forgive LEGO for Castle's early color schemes, because the sets themselves were basic examples of the more complex and intricate sets I hoped for further down that road. What I hoped for didn't include bright blue and trans-neon-orange tank fortresses or pink Polly Pocket bakeries sitting at that road's dead end.

[jonwil]

I suspect ultimately that kids would rather have a http://brickset.com/sets/70312-1/Lance-s-Mecha-Horse than a http://brickset.com/sets/70401-1/Gold-Getaway for the same price. And they would rather have a http://brickset.com/sets/70317-1/The-Fortrex than a http://brickset.com/sets/70404-1/King-s-Castle for the same price.

[x105Black]

I suspect ultimately that kids would rather have a http://brickset.com/...e-s-Mecha-Horse than a http://brickset.com/...-1/Gold-Getaway for the same price. And they would rather have a http://brickset.com/...7-1/The-Fortrex than a http://brickset.com/...1/King-s-Castle for the same price.

If true, I am disappointed in both LEGO's ability to make actual Castle sets appealing, and in the children's desires for the flashy overdone content.

But I suspect you may be right, and I'll chalk it up to LEGO's uninspiring Castle designs rather than Nexo Knights being any better as a theme.

[Lordofdragonss]

I suspect ultimately that kids would rather have a http://brickset.com/...e-s-Mecha-Horse than a http://brickset.com/...-1/Gold-Getaway for the same price. And they would rather have a http://brickset.com/...7-1/The-Fortrex than a http://brickset.com/...1/King-s-Castle for the same price.

I believe it's all depends on how good a ordinary Knighs and Magic LEGO TV series would be. :)

[Jacked Lego Maniac]

If true, I am disappointed in both LEGO's ability to make actual Castle sets appealing, and in the children's desires for the flashy overdone content.

But I suspect you may be right, and I'll chalk it up to LEGO's uninspiring Castle designs rather than Nexo Knights being any better as a theme.

Isn't there already a thread for anti-Nexo Knights whinging in the Historical themes sub-forum?

[Borex]

When can we expect some news on new sets? Or better, pictures :-)

[LegoRomania]

When can we expect some news on new sets? Or better, pictures :-)

2017 lists maybe will be available in august.Hmm

[NotMegalodon]

At the very earliest. You'd better hope for november, then it will only get better

[PenPlays]

When can we expect some news on new sets? Or better, pictures :-)

For more clarity:

Set names, and potentially numbers for most sets releasing in the Winter of 2017 somewhere in the world will start popping up within the month.

Once September/October rolls around, we'll see some leaked images for nearly everything, but store exclusives.

Lego may also start teasing things as early as September (outside of licensed themes, which get teases at SDCC, which we've already seen )

Official images will hit around mid-November for everything but the store exclusives (which will hit early December at the latest).

This entirely depends on whether or not Nexo Knights will see a Winter or Spring release.

[Amazing Bricks]

I'm starting to think we could maybe see something at NYCC.

Edited July 22, 2016 by amazingbricks

[Aanchir]

I'm starting to think we could maybe see something at NYCC.

Maybe? But the past couple years LEGO has focused their NYCC booth on a single new theme (the Bionicle reboot in 2014, Nexo Knights in 2015), not on a returning theme or a mix of themes.

Since there's a Nexo Knights panel at SDCC this Sunday and there will be designers present, we might get some hints at what to expect very soon, but I get a feeling the panel will focus more on the next season of the TV show and the existing range of sets rather than on future sets.

[Amazing Bricks]

Maybe? But the past couple years LEGO has focused their NYCC booth on a single new theme (the Bionicle reboot in 2014, Nexo Knights in 2015), not on a returning theme or a mix of themes.

Since there's a Nexo Knights panel at SDCC this Sunday and there will be designers present, we might get some hints at what to expect very soon, but I get a feeling the panel will focus more on the next season of the TV show and the existing range of sets rather than on future sets.

Good point, hopefully we see something from SDCC.

[Darkfox190]

If true, I am disappointed in both LEGO's ability to make actual Castle sets appealing, and in the children's desires for the flashy overdone content.

But I suspect you may be right, and I'll chalk it up to LEGO's uninspiring Castle designs rather than Nexo Knights being any better as a theme.

An important thing to remember there: To kids, "flashy overdone content" is just exciting content. They don't have the experience with these things for it to have gotten overdone. It's flashy, impressive, and appeals to the childish (Not using the term negatively) mentality of "Oh, this is cool! Lets add this too!" and a general acceptance of 'crossover' - If you have Lego police and Lego fire monsters, they can coexist! Ultra Agents can battle with Jedi, etc, etc. Taking a castle and throwing lasers onto it is just -cool- for a kid, not overdone yet.

[Roebuck]

Hope next years line up will have some village/civilian based sets with farm animals, hopefully some sheep..

Then I could have some use of nexo knights as well

The little I have seen of the show seems to revolve around the bad guys doing village raids and the god guys save the day, so odd if they do not make some sets of that as well

[Peppermint_M]

A structure or two would be very nice, Ninjago has managed to incorporate a lot more buildings when the first waves were mostly vehicles.

[x105Black]

An important thing to remember there: To kids, "flashy overdone content" is just exciting content. They don't have the experience with these things for it to have gotten overdone. It's flashy, impressive, and appeals to the childish (Not using the term negatively) mentality of "Oh, this is cool! Lets add this too!" and a general acceptance of 'crossover' - If you have Lego police and Lego fire monsters, they can coexist! Ultra Agents can battle with Jedi, etc, etc. Taking a castle and throwing lasers onto it is just -cool- for a kid, not overdone yet.

You mistook my use of the word overdone. I didn't mean it in the sense that it has been done over and over. I meant it in the sense that the designs are over the top and taken to the extreme.

[josykay]

I think, Wave 2 was a step in the right diraction. Jestro's lair is pretty awesome and has several exclusive minifigures (Librarian, Lavaria and black scurrier)... Considering the fact, that the "evil" castle guys had rather lackluster keeps it is really great. The towers of Castle and Castle II were simply disappointing. If it wouldn't be so damn expensive, I would have bought it.

General Magmar's vehicle might be a bit silly, but you can isealy modify it to a rock solid siegetower, and has again, two awesome, exclusive minifigures. If there wouldn't be Nexo Knights in the sets, they could easily be some fantasy era bad guy sets.

I would be happy to see some smaller buildings for both factions. Some small outpost for Jestro's forces, and maybe some Nexo-Knight-"Civilian life" sets. Like a farm with peasant (bots). A proper workshop for Robin maybe? Or a castle, which is very gold/ blue heavy, a true castle, not a vehicle, featuring the Halberd family, with Hammerin in her armor.

Edited July 23, 2016 by josykay

[Whiteagle]

If you have Lego police and Lego fire monsters, they can coexist! Ultra Agents can battle with Jedi, etc, etc. Taking a castle and throwing lasers onto it is just -cool- for a kid, not overdone yet.

In other words, BRIKWARS!!!

Hope next years line up will have some village/civilian based sets with farm animals, hopefully some sheep..

Then I could have some use of nexo knights as well

The little I have seen of the show seems to revolve around the bad guys doing village raids and the god guys save the day, so odd if they do not make some sets of that as well

A structure or two would be very nice, Ninjago has managed to incorporate a lot more buildings when the first waves were mostly vehicles.

Yeah, they practically made a fruit cart a reoccurring background character in the show!

Also, Lance now has a Pig buddy.

I would be happy to see some smaller buildings for both factions. Some small outpost for Jestro's forces, and maybe some Nexo-Knight-"Civilian life" sets. Like a farm with peasant (bots). A proper workshop for Robin maybe? Or a castle, which is very gold/ blue heavy, a true castle, not a vehicle, featuring the Hallberd family, with Hammerin in her armor.

Knighton Capital perhaps?