According to Promobricks, a reliable source of information, LEGO will be releasing an Optimus Prime Transformer. It was previously thought impossible that LEGO would ever do Optimus Prime as the Transformers are IP belonging to Hasbro, one of LEGO’s main rivals. But it looks like LEGO and Hasbro have put their competitive differences aside. If so, could we also see LEGO Dungeons & Dragons, the latter being another IP of Hasbro’s? Would LEGO minifigures and sets based on D&D interest you?

Hasbro has tried something similar before in the form of Kre-O and it wasn’t a huge commercial success, but maybe LEGO can do a better job. What do you think?

That would be interesting.  With the recent success of Critical Role and the Legend of Vox Machina and how adult oriented that is I don't know if lego would touch it.  I think they would be better off with WOW or raid shadow legends or even tap into the Elden Ring/Dark souls hype right now.  Personally I think they should do something that has some bigger media presence.  If they still had the Middle Earth license that would be great although I think the show might suck.  I think the biggest thing fantasy wise coming this year will be House of the Dragons on HBO but lego won't touch that.  D&D has some great lore and characters.  Lego did a Ninjago wave that was basically like a D&D game and that seemed pretty well received. The witcher is out of the question too.   WOT was bad and season 2 doesn't sound much better.  The only things left would be something like if they adapt mistborn or stormlight archives that would be interesting.  There is also a Magic the Gathering show coming maybe they would go that way also.  Maybe even pathfinder.  Really if they did anything like D&D I would be all for it I just don't think It will be D&D.  If they did do D&D we might get some Baldur's Gate stuff that would be good.  Fantasy Properties are being adapted all over now they need to see this and they could really make some great sets if they get the right design team and a good property to work with.  

Interesting theoretical. 
 

Timing wise, it would be a good fit. The D&D movie is coming soon, and it’s supposed to be a pretty light hearted adventure film. Not specifically for kids, but likely more kid friendly than the sometimes-grim LotR.

And yes, I would be all over Lego D&D. It’s a very rich area to mine as far as lore and settings. Endless possibilities as far as sets, scenarios and characters that extend far beyond a movie franchise. 

22 minutes ago, SirBlake said:

Interesting theoretical. 
 

Timing wise, it would be a good fit. The D&D movie is coming soon, and it’s supposed to be a pretty light hearted adventure film. Not specifically for kids, but likely more kid friendly than the sometimes-grim LotR.

And yes, I would be all over Lego D&D. It’s a very rich area to mine as far as lore and settings. Endless possibilities as far as sets, scenarios and characters that extend far beyond a movie franchise. 

Yes there are many books to pull material from also.  I would love stuff from the Dragonlance chronicles I loved those stories when I was younger and the parallels to LOTR were so obvious but I still liked the characters.  And the Dragons in Lego form would be great.  I actually think if they used Dragonlance as an inspiration it would be great and kids would love the characters and the dragons.  

4 minutes ago, zoth33 said:

Yes there are many books to pull material from also.  I would love stuff from the Dragonlance chronicles I loved those stories when I was younger and the parallels to LOTR were so obvious but I still liked the characters.  And the Dragons in Lego form would be great.  I actually think if they used Dragonlance as an inspiration it would be great and kids would love the characters and the dragons.  

Absolutely. I was always partial to Forgotten Realms. The Icewind Dale trilogy and introduction of Drizzt Do'Urden is some high quality reading. 

1 minute ago, SirBlake said:

Absolutely. I was always partial to Forgotten Realms. The Icewind Dale trilogy and introduction of Drizzt Do'Urden is some high quality reading. 

Yes I liked Forgotten Realms as well.  Drizzt would be a must if we get D&D.  There are some bad Forgotten Realms books though the moonshae islands books were really badly written.  Another Character I liked was Geran Hulmaster from the blades of moonsea books.  

5 minutes ago, zoth33 said:

Yes I liked Forgotten Realms as well.  Drizzt would be a must if we get D&D.  There are some bad Forgotten Realms books though the moonshae islands books were really badly written.  Another Character I liked was Geran Hulmaster from the blades of moonsea books.  

I never read any Niles FR books, but he was instrumental in Dragonlance.
 

R.A. Salvatore was a pretty reliable author though. 

14 minutes ago, SirBlake said:

I never read any Niles FR books, but he was instrumental in Dragonlance.
 

R.A. Salvatore was a pretty reliable author though. 

Yeah Darkwalker on Moonshae by Niles was just so bad I never finished the trilogy.  I did like Niles dragonlance the emperor of Ansalon book.    I'm reading the way of kings by Sanderson now from the stormlight archives.  

Edited May 10, 20222 yr by zoth33

Issue 49 of Blocks Magazine a few years ago had an article on D&D as the inspiration for LEGO MOCs. So the idea of a crossover has been touched on by the AFOL press before.

In my own creations, I have made use of LEGO, Kre-O and third party pieces to generate D&D characters and monsters. I have also been purist in my LEGO/D&D builds such as this beholder:

All this is to say that I reckon there is a large untapped market for official D&D LEGO… if LEGO and Hasbro can work out a deal.

I really hope they don't do Dungeons and Dragons. I don't see the need for it. I would much prefer them to do an in-house fantasy theme with elves, warriors, rogues, wizards, trolls, goblins, and the odd dragon.

 

46 minutes ago, MAB said:

I really hope they don't do Dungeons and Dragons. I don't see the need for it. I would much prefer them to do an in-house fantasy theme with elves, warriors, rogues, wizards, trolls, goblins, and the odd dragon.

 

During the last few years, LEGO has sought to attract those interested in other hobbies, so D&D could fit in that strategy. And among role-playing games, there’s no bigger or better-known brand than D&D. So while LEGO could create their own in-house fantasy theme, they wouldn’t reach nearly as far into D&D’s fandom. For a similar reason, LEGO is doing Optimus Prime, not a generic transforming robot.

I am not too familiar with the D&D franchise, is it very popular these days?

It also seems a bit too mature imo.

Transformers in general started out as a toy and the show and movies are aimed at kids.

Personally I would like to see lego do the witcher but I guess thats doubtful considering its content.

Edited May 10, 20222 yr by Poco Lypso

@Poco Lypso, D&D is more popular now than it has ever been since its release in 1974. It’s estimated that 50 million people have played the game of which approximately 15 million are active currently.

Forty per cent of players these days are 25 and under. The game is recommended for ages 12 and up, though back in the ‘80s, there was a D&D cartoon and action figures aimed at kids. So the age range is very wide.

The game and its settings are not particularly adult-orientated the way that, say, Game of Thrones was. In that sense, D&D is similar to Star Wars.

1 hour ago, Poco Lypso said:

I am not too familiar with the D&D franchise, is it very popular these days?

It also seems a bit too mature imo.

Transformers in general started out as a toy and the show and movies are aimed at kids.

Personally I would like to see lego do the witcher but I guess thats doubtful considering its content.

I don't know how popular it is, but it was recently in Stranger Things which brought it to many people's attention. My wife who has nothing to do with anything fantasy or Lego actually listens to a comedy D&D podcast so there are audiences getting exposed to it through other means at the moment.

I would likely buy multiple boxes of Dragonlance or RA Salvatore's Forgotten Realms CMF figures. The Heroes of the Lance and Drizzt and his mob would make great generic fantasy figures that would suit castle or fantasy builds.

1 hour ago, AmperZand said:

During the last few years, LEGO has sought to attract those interested in other hobbies, so D&D could fit in that strategy. And among role-playing games, there’s no bigger or better-known brand than D&D. So while LEGO could create their own in-house fantasy theme, they wouldn’t reach nearly as far into D&D’s fandom. For a similar reason, LEGO is doing Optimus Prime, not a generic transforming robot.

Yes, I know. A big issue here though is that they (WOTC/Hasbro) currently sell both the game/rules/books and (very expensive) miniatures to collect, paint and play with alongside the games if you wish. Would they be willing to undermine the miniatures side of the model by officially suggesting people purchase and use LEGO figures instead. This feels a bit different to LEGO selling a large, one-off and probably more nostalgia driven model of Optimus Prime, rather than releasing many Transformer sets that could replace regular Transformers toys.

 

Edited May 10, 20222 yr by MAB

2 hours ago, MAB said:

Yes, I know. A big issue here though is that they (WOTC/Hasbro) currently sell both the game/rules/books and (very expensive) miniatures to collect, paint and play with alongside the games if you wish. Would they be willing to undermine the miniatures side of the model by officially suggesting people purchase and use LEGO figures instead. This feels a bit different to LEGO selling a large, one-off and probably more nostalgia driven model of Optimus Prime, rather than releasing many Transformer sets that could replace regular Transformers toys.

 

And 3D printing and other third party vendors are taking a big bite out of the miniatures market. Considering how different Lego minifigs are in format that traditional miniatures and D&D could be exposed to a broader audience through TLG, it sounds like smart business to me. 

5 hours ago, MAB said:

I really hope they don't do Dungeons and Dragons. I don't see the need for it. I would much prefer them to do an in-house fantasy theme with elves, warriors, rogues, wizards, trolls, goblins, and the odd dragon.

 

Well, sure, I bet most of us would prefer an in-house analog, but that doesn’t seem to be happening, so I would say there is a need for it. 

Edited May 10, 20222 yr by SirBlake

21 hours ago, SirBlake said:

And 3D printing and other third party vendors are taking a big bite out of the miniatures market. Considering how different Lego minifigs are in format that traditional miniatures and D&D could be exposed to a broader audience through TLG, it sounds like smart business to me.

I wouldn't imagine that many people into LEGO but not into D&D wold suddenly start playing D&D and buying other non-LEGO D&D items if LEGO did D&D figures/sets. Whereas I can imagine some players of D&D would start using more LEGO figures (both D&D and other existing and future fantasy themes) if D&D specific LEGO figures/sets existed. In that sense there is an unbalance in what the two companies bring to the table and would also get out of it. LEGO fans would buy D&D LEGO and D&D fans would buy LEGO D&D. When they have some official LEGO D&D characters, the D&D fans might buy more non-D&D LEGO characters to supplement their use and not use other styles of D&D miniatures. But would LEGO fans buy more non-LEGO D&D items to facilitate their use of D&D LEGO? I can see D&D fans buying elves or wizards or trolls or Ninjago or Nexo villains to create their play characters, especially if they match the style of their official LEGO D&D characters, but I cannot really see LEGO fans buying rule books or paintable miniatures and so on to supplement their use of D&D LEGO characters/sets.

That is where it is different to one off Optimus Prime. Neither company has anything to lose there. Transformers fans are not likely to stop buying Transformers as there are no other similar LEGO products that would take the place of their Transformer purchases.

On 5/9/2022 at 11:42 PM, zoth33 said:

WOT was bad and season 2 doesn't sound much better. 

I mean, you might not have enjoyed it and that's fair enough, but The Wheel of Time was fantastic and imo would make a far better Lego theme than anything else in the fantasy genre (Lord of the Rings included). Plus the books at least are surface-level child friendly, which differs from stuff like ASOIAF.

On the other hand, Dungeons & Dragons would be very difficult because by its very nature there's very little concrete about it. Either you're releasing fantasy-themed brick-boxes (which Lego would be better off doing without paying for a licence, if that's what they wanted to do) or you're doing stuff which doesn't even speak to everybody who's a fan of the licence. No two people on this forum will have had the same experience with D&D - I've never played any prewritten modules, nor do I ever play as non-human races, so any set based on either of those would be meaningless to me; on the other hand, there are some people for whom human minifigures would feel out of place as the focal point of the theme.

1 hour ago, MAB said:

I wouldn't imagine that many people into LEGO but not into D&D wold suddenly start playing D&D and buying other non-LEGO D&D items if LEGO did D&D figures/sets. Whereas I can imagine some players of D&D would start using more LEGO figures (both D&D and other existing and future fantasy themes) if D&D specific LEGO figures/sets existed. In that sense there is an unbalance in what the two companies bring to the table and would also get out of it. LEGO fans would buy D&D LEGO and D&D fans would buy LEGO D&D. When they have some official LEGO D&D characters, the D&D fans might buy more non-D&D LEGO characters to supplement their use and not use other styles of D&D miniatures. But would LEGO fans buy more non-LEGO D&D items to facilitate their use of D&D LEGO? I can see D&D fans buying elves or wizards or trolls or Ninjago or Nexo villains to create their play characters, especially if they match the style of their official LEGO D&D characters, but I cannot really see LEGO fans buying rule books or paintable miniatures and so on to supplement their use of D&D LEGO characters/sets.

That is where it is different to one off Optimus Prime. Neither company has anything to lose there. Transformers fans are not likely to stop buying Transformers as there are no other similar LEGO products that would take the place of their Transformer purchases.

I understand your position here, but it’s based on a lot of assumptions that I don’t think either of us can truly know for sure. I think you make some logical points, some of which I could refute, but I would be making just as many assumptions without data if I were to try. 
 

Your point in the difference between a single Transformers set vs a full theme for D&D is well taken. 

21 minutes ago, Alexandrina said:

On the other hand, Dungeons & Dragons would be very difficult because by its very nature there's very little concrete about it. Either you're releasing fantasy-themed brick-boxes (which Lego would be better off doing without paying for a licence, if that's what they wanted to do) or you're doing stuff which doesn't even speak to everybody who's a fan of the licence. No two people on this forum will have had the same experience with D&D - I've never played any prewritten modules, nor do I ever play as non-human races, so any set based on either of those would be meaningless to me; on the other hand, there are some people for whom human minifigures would feel out of place as the focal point of the theme.

I think your second paragraph here raises a very valid point as to why D&D would be difficult for LEGO to "translate" into bricks. Personally I absolutely love the idea, but I'm also starved for any proper fantasy genre at this point - licensed or not.

6 minutes ago, Frike said:

I think your second paragraph here raises a very valid point as to why D&D would be difficult for LEGO to "translate" into bricks. Personally I absolutely love the idea, but I'm also starved for any proper fantasy genre at this point - licensed or not.

I do too, but let's not forget the movie coming out next year, which does nullify that a bit, providing a new narrative to reference that would help to unify things.

4 minutes ago, SirBlake said:

I do too, but let's not forget the movie coming out next year, which does nullify that a bit, providing a new narrative to reference that would help to unify things.

Oh, how exciting! I had no idea a movie was in the works, that changes things.

2 hours ago, Frike said:

Oh, how exciting! I had no idea a movie was in the works, that changes things.

Indeed. It's got some pretty big names in it too, and has been described as being more on the "fun adventure" side of the spectrum, as opposed to "grim and gritty", so there should good opportunity for a child audience.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2906216/

8 hours ago, Alexandrina said:

I mean, you might not have enjoyed it and that's fair enough, but The Wheel of Time was fantastic and imo would make a far better Lego theme than anything else in the fantasy genre (Lord of the Rings included). Plus the books at least are surface-level child friendly, which differs from stuff like ASOIAF.

On the other hand, Dungeons & Dragons would be very difficult because by its very nature there's very little concrete about it. Either you're releasing fantasy-themed brick-boxes (which Lego would be better off doing without paying for a licence, if that's what they wanted to do) or you're doing stuff which doesn't even speak to everybody who's a fan of the licence. No two people on this forum will have had the same experience with D&D - I've never played any prewritten modules, nor do I ever play as non-human races, so any set based on either of those would be meaningless to me; on the other hand, there are some people for whom human minifigures would feel out of place as the focal point of the theme.

Are you saying the WOT show was fantastic or the books?  I like the books and the story is good.  I would take WOT sets absolutely even if based off of the show but I doubt we will get them.  As for your point with D&D that goes for any form of game or art,  If we both read the WOT we will both get something different from the stories or if we both look at a piece of art we will both have different views of what it is.  everyone will not have the same experience with lego sets either so I'm not getting what you are trying to say.  We each see things differently and that's the great thing with Lego you can make it whatever you want.  

Tbh, I think it doesn't really matter what kind of a license they choose, wot or d&d as long as the sets come with useful figs (and maybe pieces). Of course an in-house theme would be best but we live in lincensed times, xD. Licenses can be hit or miss, as they suffer from the curse of the protagonist, lol. The lone ranger (imo the worst figure of the whole theme) was in every set and unless you wanted to make an army if sheriffs...