Personally, I hope that next year, more of the budget goes into CCBS parts, rather than Technic-heavy functions. They can be cool and all, but if I wanted Technic stuff I would buy Technic. If we just get simple features (like Bionicle G1's ever-present launchers), that'd free up more of the budget to make the creatures as a whole more imposing. And, well, for 2017, part of me wishes we would get a Grievous-sized creature. Without the SW license eating up a significant part of the budget, a fully-armored, fully-articulated, fully-legged Manas or Nui Jaga-esque creature could easily be done. As for how it could be integrated into the story, let's say the Toa are in their (based on this year's story and the way 2016's creatures will almost inevitably be used) presumably typical "we're powerless against our enemies. We need help" situation, when they find a creature stuck in the devastation of 2017's climactic battle's enviroment, which they help free. The idea of the big bad of the story being beaten by perfectly ordinary (well, for Okoto) wildlife is just too good to pass up.

I really hope they don't make launchers as much of a thing as they were in G1. The weapons always felt tacked on to the characters instead of an actual part of the set.

There were a few were they were well-integrated, though, like the Vahki. In the case of a crab, I'd suggest using two, and possibly combining them with a feature to open the claws. Scorpions and wasps can obviously just use the launchers in place of stinger tips. But really, I just want fewer if not no functions in exchange for better core builds. Using launchers is just a reasonable middle ground, I find.

So maybe this isn't a 2016 wish, but a constraction in general wish. If they ever did playsets again maybe the minifig Toa or whatever could have a special torso design that includes a gear function? Also maybe a bit taller like those Competition minifigs. Just thought I'd throw this out there.

I wish to see great and awesome looking new masks for the BIONICLE 2016 sets.

  On 9/11/2015 at 5:06 AM, MakutaOfWar said:

So maybe this isn't a 2016 wish, but a constraction in general wish. If they ever did playsets again maybe the minifig Toa or whatever could have a special torso design that includes a gear function? Also maybe a bit taller like those Competition minifigs. Just thought I'd throw this out there.

I don't think so, no. First of all, making playset figures large enough to accommodate a gear function would partially negate the main advantage of having minifigure versions of the characters in the first place, which is making it easier to build larger vehicles and settings at a reasonable price. Sets of iconic settings like the Forge of the Mask Makers would easily double in price compared to a version designed for smaller minifigures. Also, even figures the size of the old Technic figures would require gears much smaller than any LEGO has ever produced outside of pre-assembled components like electric motors.

If LEGO did playset-style figures again, I'd honestly prefer them to have a similar build to the Hero Factory mini-robots from last year, perhaps with a new torso armor piece that better resembles the full-size sets' armor.

I hope that next year, We can get:

1.Both Makuta, The Mask Maker or Takanuva in set form. Both Takanuva and Makuta is some of my favorite character from Bionicle, so I hope that both of them released in set form.

2. A CCBS OT Stormtrooper, Boba Fett and Darth Maul. It's kinda weird that TLC choose to make Jango more than Boba, since Boba Fett is far more famous than Jango Fett.

3. More transparent CCBS parts and weapons parts.

Edited September 21, 20159 yr by ArmstrongYong

What I don't want is a third Ekimu for 2017.

I think it'd be interesting to see the Bionicle head piece with different faces. Same dimensions and connections, but different faces. Say, a characteristic face for Toa, and then different faces for other races.

I hope that we don't get an abundance of printed shells as I find them too specialised to be useful. LEGO also has a penchant for printing parts or making stickers to imitate 3D details such as chains or vents, which always looks tacky.

It would be useful to get a CCBS shell with a technic pin connection, because a lot of the time the sets need shells connected to technic beams. The current method for doing this is by using this piece, which makes the shell stick out a module and screams "CCBS is a fundamentally flawed system, lets admit defeat".

I must be the only person on the forum who doesn't like trans parts.

  On 9/21/2015 at 12:16 PM, LewiMOC said:

I think it'd be interesting to see the Bionicle head piece with different faces. Same dimensions and connections, but different faces. Say, a characteristic face for Toa, and then different faces for other races.

As cool as that would be, the mask would cover the face making the idea nearly pointless. Character expression has always been with the mask or helmet anyway. We all know how stingy LEGO is, although their cost cutting is completely reasonable of course..

  On 9/11/2015 at 1:57 PM, Aanchir said:

I don't think so, no. First of all, making playset figures large enough to accommodate a gear function would partially negate the main advantage of having minifigure versions of the characters in the first place, which is making it easier to build larger vehicles and settings at a reasonable price. Sets of iconic settings like the Forge of the Mask Makers would easily double in price compared to a version designed for smaller minifigures. Also, even figures the size of the old Technic figures would require gears much smaller than any LEGO has ever produced outside of pre-assembled components like electric motors.

If LEGO did playset-style figures again, I'd honestly prefer them to have a similar build to the Hero Factory mini-robots from last year, perhaps with a new torso armor piece that better resembles the full-size sets' armor.

I just hope that if we get minifigs again, that they're a little more versatile than the Hero Factory minifigs.

  On 9/21/2015 at 3:54 PM, CabooseBM said:

I just hope that if we get minifigs again, that they're a little more versatile than the Hero Factory minifigs.

What issues did you have with the Hero Factory minifigs? I thought they were plenty versatile, especially since their torso armor and helmets could be used on traditional minifigures. If I could put my sigfig in Bionicle armor and a Bionicle mask I'd be a happy camper. :)

The only real limit on the Hero Factory minifigs compared to traditional minifigures was that their wrists couldn't rotate, and I thought the ability to clip things to the arms and legs helped make up for that.

  On 9/21/2015 at 3:54 PM, CabooseBM said:

I just hope that if we get minifigs again, that they're a little more versatile than the Hero Factory minifigs.

I think that the Hero Factory minifigures are very well-designed. Althrough that the wrist can't rotate, but thier torso armor and helmet can be used on regular minifigures. the arms and legs are also compatible with battle Droid from Star Wars and the Exo-Force mini robots.

  On 9/21/2015 at 4:46 PM, Aanchir said:

What issues did you have with the Hero Factory minifigs? I thought they were plenty versatile, especially since their torso armor and helmets could be used on traditional minifigures. If I could put my sigfig in Bionicle armor and a Bionicle mask I'd be a happy camper. :)

The only real limit on the Hero Factory minifigs compared to traditional minifigures was that their wrists couldn't rotate, and I thought the ability to clip things to the arms and legs helped make up for that.

You couldn't give different armors to Herofigs without it looking gappy or weird, and the lack of any sort of face print severely limited what helmets you could use with the figure. So you were stuck with the one kind of armor with a very limited selection of helmets to choose from to build your own miniature heroes. At least you could swap an Exo-Force arm in if you wanted a weapon arm or something.

Edited September 22, 20159 yr by CabooseBM

I hope to get a protector sized Makuta, just like we have with Ekimu now. I don't want them to go immediatly for a titan sized Makuta or something. I think a gold/trans purple protector with Ekimu's build along with a Mask of Control and maybe a gold/trans purple protector mask.

Protector Makuta seems hard to fit in the list we got, since none of them sems to be a 2 in 1 set. Only way I can think we can get him is if they follow Ninjago's plot by having Makuta (Garmadon) redeem himself and have the Mask of Ultimate Power (the Overlord) emerge as the final antagonist.

Terak and Onua seem to have new trans purple parts (4M shells, 3M and 4M open balljoint bones), so building Makuta might not be impossible anymore. He just wouldn't be an exact copy of Ekimu.

  On 9/22/2015 at 11:05 AM, Bbrink1996 said:

I hope to get a protector sized Makuta, just like we have with Ekimu now. I don't want them to go immediatly for a titan sized Makuta or something. I think a gold/trans purple protector with Ekimu's build along with a Mask of Control and maybe a gold/trans purple protector mask.

It for sure wouldn't be just a clone of Ekimu.

  On 9/22/2015 at 11:05 AM, Bbrink1996 said:

I hope to get a protector sized Makuta, just like we have with Ekimu now. I don't want them to go immediatly for a titan sized Makuta or something. I think a gold/trans purple protector with Ekimu's build along with a Mask of Control and maybe a gold/trans purple protector mask.

  On 9/22/2015 at 11:52 AM, Shakar said:

Protector Makuta seems hard to fit in the list we got, since none of them sems to be a 2 in 1 set. Only way I can think we can get him is if they follow Ninjago's plot by having Makuta (Garmadon) redeem himself and have the Mask of Ultimate Power (the Overlord) emerge as the final antagonist.

Terak and Onua seem to have new trans purple parts (4M shells, 3M and 4M open balljoint bones), so building Makuta might not be impossible anymore. He just wouldn't be an exact copy of Ekimu.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to getting the trans-purple parts for this exact purpose. There also seems to be a 5M A-Bone on Onua's forearms, btw.

  On 9/22/2015 at 6:42 AM, CabooseBM said:

You couldn't give different armors to Herofigs without it looking gappy or weird, and the lack of any sort of face print severely limited what helmets you could use with the figure. So you were stuck with the one kind of armor with a very limited selection of helmets to choose from to build your own miniature heroes. At least you could swap an Exo-Force arm in if you wanted a weapon arm or something.

...So? Those criticisms apply equally if not moreso to the older Bionicle figures. I can't imagine how to fix the first issue without requiring an entirely new torso design that's functionally identical, while I fail to see how the second issue is even an issue at all (if you want a helmet that shows the face... maybe swap in a more suitable face for the helmet in question). I feel printed faces would have been a mistake and only would have served to make it harder to line up the heads with the helmets so that the eyes showed through.

The only problems you really have only have to do with customization, and to be honest future Bionicle figures use the same system would make it easier to customize that fig design, not harder. You're basically saying you hope future figs use a brand-new design, while criticizing the older figs solely for their design having been brand-new and not having been expanded enough. That seems awfully counterintuitive to me.

  On 9/22/2015 at 2:16 PM, Lyichir said:

...So? Those criticisms apply equally if not moreso to the older Bionicle figures.

Right, and that's a problem for them too, on top of the immobile legs and wonky sculpts. "Foo also did wrong thing" does not an argument make.

  On 9/22/2015 at 2:16 PM, Lyichir said:

I can't imagine how to fix the first issue without requiring an entirely new torso design that's functionally identical,

Me neither, but reason or no, the lack of it is to some not insignificant detriment to the minifigs.

  On 9/22/2015 at 2:16 PM, Lyichir said:

while I fail to see how the second issue is even an issue at all (if you want a helmet that shows the face... maybe swap in a more suitable face for the helmet in question). I feel printed faces would have been a mistake and only would have served to make it harder to line up the heads with the helmets so that the eyes showed through.

There don't really exist any sort of compatible "Hero Factory" faceprint out there, though? Most normal minifig heads would just create the illusion that it's a suit of armor or a cyborg, not a hero. And the idea that it'd be "hard to line up the eyes" is kind of ridiculous in how much of a non-issue it is. See the entire Legend of Chima toyline for more information.

  On 9/22/2015 at 2:16 PM, Lyichir said:

The only problems you really have only have to do with customization,

That's uh, that's kinda the thing you do with LEGO parts, yeah? I don't buy LEGO for the micro action figures, broseph. That's Mega Blocks's niche. (And to be honest, they're much better at it than LEGO is.)

  Quote

You're basically saying you hope future figs use a brand-new design, while criticizing the older figs solely for their design having been brand-new and not having been expanded enough. That seems awfully counterintuitive to me.

Well, no, using a bunch of parts from the Hero Figs isn't a problem, and I would expect them to reuse the arms and legs, but a solid torso and an actual face would open up a lot more options for making your own characters.

  On 9/22/2015 at 6:25 PM, CabooseBM said:

~snip~

If face printing is necessary to convey the idea of "heroes", then why didn't they even need faces in 2013 (the last year of Hero Factory before Invasion from Below)? Hero Factory characters aren't like Bionicle characters who wear masks—their masks essentially ARE their faces for all intents and purposes. Your comparison to Chima, meanwhile, is off-base—the only reasons for the Chima figures to be like that is to allow for greater print detail and alternate expressions. Bionicle and Hero Factory characters have no such need, hence most heroes having masks that cover everything but their glowing eyes. The lack of compatible helmets is also a non-issue—the solution, when something doesn't work, is to find something else that works or make do with something that works slightly less well, like System builders have been doing from the get-go. There are plenty of minifigure helmets that do fit and do cover more of the faces, and regarding Hero Factory specifically, you seem to be missing the point that the only reason there were fewer helmets designed for that theme in particular was that that was the first series of sets to have minifigures in the first place. If the theme had continued and continued to use minifigures, then there would be more selection. It didn't, and there wasn't—though you seem to have missed my entire point, which was that Bionicle could change that by continuing to expand upon the solid base the mini-hero presented.

As for customization, figs are generally designed with a limited amount of customization in mind. You CAN swap the legs, arms, and hands, but you're not SUPPOSED to—the standard minifigure is designed with the torso assembly and legs assembly preconstructed, and exchanging parts can damage them. I don't see how that's that much different from the Mini-heroes, which if anything offer MORE built-in customization potential, with the ability to exchange the legs and arms and even attach standard parts to them. The lack of suitable torso armor, like the lack of helmet variety, is entirely due to the duration of the figure design's use, and as such continuing to use the design with Bionicle would make your complaints even less relevant over time.

Edited September 22, 20159 yr by Lyichir

Whoops, ninja'd by my brother. Well, I hope most of what I have to say is still relevant.

  On 9/22/2015 at 6:25 PM, CabooseBM said:

There don't really exist any sort of compatible "Hero Factory" faceprint out there, though? Most normal minifig heads would just create the illusion that it's a suit of armor or a cyborg, not a hero.

LEGO has lots of robot faces that they've accumulated over the years. These two faces from the Age of Ultron sets and these three faces from the LEGO Movie sets are just a few recent examples. You can search "alien" in the minifig head category on Bricklink for a full list of non-human minifigure faces.

None are an exact match for Hero Factory faces, of course. But most non-HF minifigure headgear does not tend to be a perfect fit for the Hero Factory universe anyway, and the characters' identities are generally defined more by their headgear than by the faces underneath. So once you change the headgear, you're effectively creating an original character and can really use any robot head you choose without worrying about whether it looks "canon" to specific, known Hero Factory characters.

As for the torsos they are already compatible (and fairly complete-looking) with some other body armor like the classic castle armor. I suppose they could have been better if they'd used this skeleton torso that has a more solid lower body and doesn't need as much clearance built into the shoulder armor for the arms to rotate. On that torso, any armor that covers most of the upper body like this or this would feel fairly complete. But these are just small improvements. If you had more substantial improvements in mind you're going to have to articulate them for me, because I am having a hard time picturing them for myself.

  Quote

That's uh, that's kinda the thing you do with LEGO parts, yeah? I don't buy LEGO for the micro action figures, broseph. That's Mega Blocks's niche. (And to be honest, they're much better at it than LEGO is.)

But playsets aren't strictly about the figures the way constraction sets are. They're about the structures. The figures just give you a way to interact with the structures and help provide a sense of scale. The building and customization potential of the figures themselves is secondary.

I suppose I get why you were disappointed with the Hero Factory figs, and I suppose creating a generic face print for mini-Bionicle figures to match the generic head design of the larger figures would be no huge burden. But overall, I think this style of figure offers plenty of room for customization, and much more than any past LEGO robot minifigures that don't use the generic fig design. With only a few small adjustments it could potentially be made even better.

Edited September 22, 20159 yr by Aanchir

The brain attack sets didn't have any facial features, the head was as bland as a cosntraction head can almost be (Inika lol) So having a bland head was also more faithful to the minifigures, as stupid as that sounds.

Edited September 22, 20159 yr by GK733

  On 9/22/2015 at 7:33 PM, Aanchir said:

With only a few small adjustments it could potentially be made even better.

Well, yes! That is basically what I'm asking for. A few small adjustments to accommodate a wider selection of customization. Sure, potential Biofigs would expand the selection but it's still a pretty closed system. I mean, all I'd really want is printed heads to accommodate open-faced helmets, and the Ninjago skeleton torso so that armor parts not made for the figure work with the figure without looking inordinately ugly.

I want to make new characters! I have so many duplicates it's not funny, and the current design issues present roadblocks to this process.

Hm, when they said they had Bionicle planned for three years, did they mean exactly three years? Or are they just going to give us half of a year in 2017? XD

Anyways, maybe this should be a general wishlist topic? We already know what one wave of one of the Constraction(there's two right?) themes is but eventually people are going to want a 2017 wishlist. But then again I guess we can just make a new one then, eh.

But I'll submit this anyways; What do you all want out of a large box set in the final wave? A twin pack? Super large Makuta? Triple pack?? Triple pack with a super large Makuta??!