Which Is Better to get Western or Pirates?

[Joey Lock]

Firstly I did not know which forum to put this is so I put it here ( Dont shout at me :'-( )

So Which do you think?

I dont know which because I got a few Western and Pirates.

So Vote please!

Oh...I dont know how to make a poll :-D

[Brick Miner]

oddly, this is kind of a good topic... comparing and contrasting the pirate and western themes, that is.

personally, i find this topic interesting because these are my two favorite themes (though city is creeping in on the number two slot ;-) ) !!!

there are a couple factors in which i weigh when looking at the two themes...

- official sets

- MOCing potential

- minifigs

- also (but not as important) the availability of elements for resale on BL and ebay.

when comparing official sets you have to weigh the number and quality of each theme. pirates obviously wins in quantity, but quality is up to interpretation (in which sentimental value plays an important role, and seems to be rather crutial when comparing two discontinued themes, like pirates and western).

when looking at MOCing potential, you have to look inside yourself, and realize whether pirates or western provides more themes to which you would like to explore. personally, when i did this introspection on myself, i realized that within the western theme existed more MOCing potential based on my interests in LEGO building. for example, i like to "fill out" the possibilities that LEGO missed, and because the western theme was cut so short, many traditional western themes were never explored... thus western MOCing fits into my own personal LEGO collecting personality better than the pirates theme does.

minifigs are another very personal choice... the pirate theme offers quite a few more than western, and has the unique quality of having very unique and very general minifigs, and also offers army building possibilities (which is a very fun aspect to the hobby). while the western theme offers less generic minifigs (most seem very unique to me), and does offer some army building characters (calvary and indians). however, the western theme shines with its unique minifigs - most have very unique personalities which LEGO developed (visually) very well, and are based on hollywood western character archetypes. personally, i find the unique pirate characters to have less developed personalities and character traits. basically, besides captain redbeard (roger) and king kahuka, all could be interpreted as generic.

finally, we come to availability on the secondary market... western is far easier to come by, especially if you are looking for MISB sets. pirate sets (especially the larger ones) reach astronomical price ranges. however, if you aren't interested in sealed sets, i would say that both themes are similarly (and reasonably) priced.

other smaller aspects i consider are

- which form of small or "personal transportation" do i like better... one piece boats or horses ???

- which form of large transportation do i enjoy building more, large ships or trains ???

- what type of architecture do i like better, and do i enjoy land building or sea building better ???

--------------------------------------------------

and as far as which forum you wanted to post this in... i think it's up to you, and depends on the type of responses you would like to get. for example, i think you would get very different responses from this thread in the pirate forum. but somehow the history forum seems more fitting, as it is more neutral ground since it isn

Edited October 6, 2007 by Brick Miner

[Paradosis]

I'd say Pirates, though part of the reason might be that I grew up with the Pirates theme, and was in my dark ages when the Western stuff came out. Still, I've spent lots of time on Lugnet, Peeron (catalogue scans) and Ebay looking at the sets that came out during my dark ages, and I still think I'd choose Pirates. I do feel bad leaving such a skimpy post right after a really good post by Brick Miner, but, eh, well there's my opinion fwiw.

Edited October 6, 2007 by Paradosis

[iamded]

Oooh... this is a tough one. I never got any of either of these sets, but they both look so cool. I think I'd go for Western, as you get civilian buildings and forts, and we can't forget the awesome Indians! *wub*

~Peace

Edited October 7, 2007 by iamded

[Batbrick]

Oooh... this is a tough one. I never got any of either of these sets, but they both look so cool. I think I'd go for Western, as you get civilian buildings and forts, and we can't forget the awesome Indians! *wub*

________

Even though I am stalking iamded *skull* , I agree with him, I like Western better, thats just my personal taste. I like that you could get Cowboys, Confederates, Indians and civilians. Plus Western is one of those few themes where you get more buildings than vehicles, which I like, Pirates is great too but IMO I dislike having too many vehicles, I like making an actual place.

TTFN! >:-)

[SirNadroj]

Interesting! This is like choosing between children! ;-)

It depends for me. If its an early pirate set from 1989, pirates. But if its a nice, big western set, than western! Like the mine, for example! :-D

[Dragonator]

Oooh... this is a tough one. I never got any of either of these sets, but they both look so cool. I think I'd go for Western, as you get civilian buildings and forts, and we can't forget the awesome Indians! *wub*

I have to agree with iamded on this one. Its cool that you get lots of civilian buildings. Personally, I like building buildings more than boats, so yay for western! :-D

[Brick Miner]

I have to agree with iamded on this one. Its cool that you get lots of civilian buildings. Personally, I like building buildings more than boats, so yay for western! :-D

nice. im glad to hear there are some western fans here !!! especial over a good quality theme like pirates. however, i think it can be argued that both themes have buildings, so im not sure that is a valid case for liking western in-and-of-itself... i think more so you have to compare transportation... in this case, boats vs. trains.

though, i can agree with argument that the western theme encourages more "city life" building than the pirate theme does. it's just so tempting to expand on 6765.

- BM

[Scouty]

I would have to say Pirates. This is not because I'm a raging pirates fan (I am though), Western has been around more recently than pirates, and in some case cheaper on selling sites. We need pirates!

[Brick Miner]

the last new set for either theme was 1997... so both are equally as recent...

needless to say, that was a year of bad decisions for LEGO ;-)

but your right IS, western sets are cheaper comparatively in those last years... for example, the pirate figs from those last 2 years (1996-1997) are really valuable (especially the armada figs), where as the western figs (1996-1997) are not so much.

- BM

Edited October 7, 2007 by Brick Miner

[Scouty]

Okay then, bad year :-D .

Why not both?

[Joey Lock]

Wow I didnt think this topic would be a big turn out!

Well there was the Figurehead contest, I guess Im full of bright Ideas! :-D

But Im torn between both since I have liked pirates for ages and ages but when I was a child I dressed up as Pirates and Cowboys I meen in my old stuff box ive got a Revolver toy and a flintlock.

Well I guess I will have to choose one

But which one?

I think Western has really more playability

Because sometimes people just build armys or Pirate ships for show then smash them up

But with western you can just keep it and change certain bits.

A bit like my old lego city.

It was a few years ago

And I had just brought the Harry Potter Knight bus.

I had no colour co-ordination then but I have begun to realise you dont need it to have fun *y*

Heres my Photobucket:

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l38/narutokan/city008.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l38/narutokan/city011.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l38/narutokan/city005.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l38/narutokan/city001.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l38/narutokan/city003.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l38/narutokan/city.jpg

[TheFrisian]

Actually, I had a lot of fun playing with Pirates when the theme was first launched. My bedroom witnessed some major sea battles, in which the ships often ended up half demolished (I used to shoot rubber bands at them to simulate battle damage :-$). Oh the good memories!

So, I may be a little biased, but I'd definately have to say Pirates!

[Brick Miner]

Actually, I had a lot of fun playing with Pirates when the theme was first launched. My bedroom witnessed some major sea battles, in which the ships often ended up half demolished (I used to shoot rubber bands at them to simulate battle damage :-$). Oh the good memories!

So, I may be a little biased, but I'd definately have to say Pirates!

yes, the pirate theme has the advantage of being released for a much longer time, so the childhood sentiments are going to be greater for that theme. i'd suspect.

- BM

[Bonaparte]

For making this difficult choice, I'll start by looking at the minifigs because those are very important for me. When pirates came out and had this wonderful imperial soldier figs which consisted of several parts (shako-hat, backpack, epaulets, great torso design), I immediately fell in love. This fig was much more complex and beautiful than anything from the past. For army building those are very well suited. By modifying the epaulets (with other colors) and the pants you can use them to make a very realistic Napoleonic army. However, the western figs are also well suited for army building. I have several of them and I like them a lot. Too bad there was never released any confederate soldiers (the grey ones). The pirates did come with a red variant of the imperial soldier (imperial guard) and having that extra "nation" faction is a big advantage of pirates over western.

Comparing the sets is difficult. The pirate theme has more sets, but they are not all of high quality. The western theme has less sets but the quality is high in general. I'm a big fan of the Legoredo fortress. I have one in my collection and I plan to buy a second one because they go so cheap sometimes on eBay. Comparing the Legoredo fortress and Eldorado fortress is difficult. I don't think I can make a choice between those.

The MOCability level of both themes is equal for me. I'm seeing great western MOCs in the history forum and I just love watching those. But also the pirate forum is producing some excellent MOCs. This is a draw for me. Both themes are well suited for making MOCs. I can't make a choice based on this.

Conclusion: My choice goes to pirates because I like the minifigs better (I'm not talking about the characters Lego developed, just the looks). But Western is my number 2 !

[Brick Miner]

Comparing the sets is difficult. The pirate theme has more sets, but they are not all of high quality. The western theme has less sets but the quality is high in general.

it's great to read a full-hearted comparison of the two themes, Bonaparte. and i agree with the fact that not all the pirate sets where great, however, in contrast, the western sets (especially the larger cowboy sets) are of a very high caliber.

- BM

[Captain Roger]

Pirates is better.

Pirates have lots of cool sets and western not. The indians sets are not really cool. The indians look strange with their smiles...indians are always serious. The cowboys and soldiers sets are better than the indians sets but all hats have the same form, and the fort Legoredo shouldn't have a prison to put arrested bandits. The fort is for fighting against indians, not to have arrested bandits.

Pirate theme is really cool...we have a variety of pirate minifigs...some of them very similar, but we have different stereotypes of pirates...with hat, with bandana, with T-shirt, whit blue jacket, and we have different colours of bandanas, hats and T-shirts. We have too different pirate faces... and we have cool characters like Captain Roger/Redbeard or Admiral Woodhouse.

Imperial guards/soldiers are a great army with so cool sets like Imperial trading Post or Eldorado Fortress.

[Mister Phes]

Oh...I dont know how to make a poll :-D

I do... X-D

[xwingyoda]

I kind of dislike those "which is better" themes because all themes are valuable and there are no bad theme per se (sure I know there are exceptions so lets not venture there :-P )

Also comparing themes that are different in nature is quite hard and is always biaised :-P Now if we are talking sets, those both themes had fantastic sets !!

I am not a fan of the WWW theme. I think it has potential and great parts but it was just cowboys & cavalry vs indians |-/

It lacked diversity IMO

I would have loved an entire city Lucky Luke style with a Wild Bunch feel to it ;-)

Pirates on the other hand is a fantastic theme that really has an epic feel to it due to all the different factions at play ;-) I love that diversity in MFs, settings and ships !!

At the end of the day, both themes are fantastic and have numerous fans, and objectively I don't think one is better than the other, its just a question of taste ;-)

Therefore I am missing options there because life is either black or white BUT grey ;-) We should have 2 more options:

* both themes are great (I would vote for that one and since its only a strict dual poll I shall refrain from voting ;-) )

* I dislike both themes

*yoda*

[Shadows]

At the end of the day, both themes are fantastic and have numerous fans, and objectively I don't think one is better than the other, its just a question of taste ;-)

Therefore I am missing options there because life is either black or white BUT grey ;-) We should have 2 more options:

* both themes are great (I would vote for that one and since its only a strict dual poll I shall refrain from voting ;-) )

* I dislike both themes

Or, better still, a 2 part question with a scale of 1-5 for each, thus producing a number which could be compared, if that's really necessary.

5 - Great!

4 - Pretty Good

3 - It's Ok

2 - Not really my thing

1 - Hate it!

I'd end up dual 5-ing that question, but as it stands, I can't really come up with a correct answer. I love the heck out of Pirates, but I don't dislike WWW, even though I basically missed it in my dark ages.

[xwingyoda]

Or, better still, a 2 part question with a scale of 1-5 for each, thus producing a number which could be compared, if that's really necessary.

5 - Great!

4 - Pretty Good

3 - It's Ok

2 - Not really my thing

1 - Hate it!

I'd end up dual 5-ing that question, but as it stands, I can't really come up with a correct answer. I love the heck out of Pirates, but I don't dislike WWW, even though I basically missed it in my dark ages.

Well its still going to be biais :-P

Take me for instance, I am not a WWW fan at all but I think its a fantastic theme that does not appeal to me ;-) So according to your option, I would have to tick both 5 & 2 ;-)

Like that its as fair as possible :-P objective is always better than biais IMO ;-) But then you have the I prefer pirates where the biais comes in !!

Preference is good but not if its detremental to an objective analysis ;-)

*yoda*

[Shadows]

Well its still going to be biais :-P

Take me for instance, I am not a WWW fan at all but I think its a fantastic theme that does not appeal to me ;-) So according to your option, I would have to tick both 5 & 2 ;-)

Like that its as fair as possible :-P objective is always better than biais IMO ;-) But then you have the I prefer pirates where the biais comes in !!

Preference is good but not if its detremental to an objective analysis ;-)

*yoda*

Some valid points there.

Taking all of that into consideration, the only true and fair answer is that both are equally good to get ... for free.

Therefore, those people who have Pirates or WWW that they aren't fond of can send them to me.

Address available upon request. >:-) ;-)

[andy_0306uk]

looks like an either/or pole has been added

I've voted for western as I prefer more buildings than vehicles but was a hard decision as I really like pirates too

[Brick Miner]

Therefore I am missing options there because life is either black or white BUT grey ;-)

that's why i suggested this just be mearly discussion type of thread, and not so conclusive with a poll (as it was before you entered the thread yoda.)

now the thread takes on a whole new atmosphere... this is now not a discussion where we are open to going back and forth on points and views of the two themes... we have to decided, right of the bat, as soon as we read the title, which one we like (and will probably not even read what others have written). yes one could wait to vote, but a poll promotes you to vote, now, especially if you don't agree with the current poll percentages.

and a poll thread leaves us no option for us to change our opinions (after voting) regardless of what new points are brought up in the discussion. we will see the poll numbers and that will be it.

it's sooooo black and white now :-|

it's funny, cause this thread now gives me the same "feeling" i get from the climate of the pirate forum. and i guess i don't like that... that's interesting 8-|

- BM

[xwingyoda]

that's why i suggested this just be mearly discussion type of thread, and not so conclusive with a poll (as it was before you entered the thread yoda.)

Oh, sorry I didn't know that, tks for the heads up ;-)

now the thread takes on a whole new atmosphere... this is now not a discussion where we are open to going back and forth on points and views of the two themes... we have to decided, right of the bat, as soon as we read the title, which one we like (and will probably not even read what others have written). yes one could wait to vote, but a poll promotes you to vote, now, especially if you don't agree with the current poll percentages.

I so agree with you there !!

I think bith themes need good comparison discussions and not some polling numbers to tell you which is best !!

So why don'yt we just get rid of the poll and come back to great discussions then ?

it's funny, cause this thread now gives me the same "feeling" i get from the climate of the pirate forum. and i guess i don't like that... that's interesting 8-|

X-D

*yoda*