What's happening with Technic?

[Jundis]

Like the Dune Ornithopter from this year, the next years new DaVinci Flying Machine (10363) will be technically more interesting than all the shown Technic models shown so far...

That is the thing I don't understand: So many Lego Themes are shining again, while Technic, being one of the biggest themes, seem to decline and losing its core strength. I get that cars sell well, but then reintroduce the Racers Theme please and give the technic nerds some functional stuff instead that deserve the Technic brand name.

[Aurorasaurus]

2 hours ago, Jundis said:

I get that cars sell well, but then reintroduce the Racers Theme please and give the technic nerds some functional stuff instead that deserve the Technic brand name. 

Why not make a new theme for "actual technic" and keep the old technic theme for what would probably fit better into racers? That keeps things simple for all the normal consumers who will be used to buying "technic" sets.

Of course, the issue of a market for "actual technic" being too small persists, but I dont think that will stop any of us wanting it.

[allanp]

3 hours ago, Jundis said:

Like the Dune Ornithopter from this year, the next years new DaVinci Flying Machine (10363) will be technically more interesting than all the shown Technic models shown so far...

That is the thing I don't understand: So many Lego Themes are shining again, while Technic, being one of the biggest themes, seem to decline and losing its core strength. I get that cars sell well, but then reintroduce the Racers Theme please and give the technic nerds some functional stuff instead that deserve the Technic brand name.

I don't think the issue is that there exists some sets in the Technic theme that are lacking from our point of view. It's that there seems to be little else, with many sets not reaching the potential of their parts.  If the cars sell well and help the Technic theme that's great. No issue with having them stay with the Technic theme. The theme used to have only a few sets per year but now has 2 or 3 times the amount, so there's room for a few cars. So long as there's still flying machines, digging machines, swimming/floating machines, lifting machines, random machines and the odd creature here and there that hold the core values of Technic and Lego as a whole. Technic can be a board church that caters to the masses, the casuals as well as us nerds. 

Edited December 6, 2024 by allanp

[icm]

I've been reading this theme for a few days and trying to come up with something useful to say as a casual Technic fan. Yesterday and today I spent some time looking at the available Technic, Technic-based Racers, and Model Team sets in the periods 1983-5, 1990-2, 1997-9, 2005-7, and 2012-4 to compare the products available in the recent past (2022-4) to those available in the good old days. I think that the 2022-4 lineup compares very favorably in functionality and diversity to 1983-5, 1990-2, 1997-9, and 2005-7, but 2012-4 had a more diverse lineup with more interesting mechanisms and more Power Functions available at lower prices. Since 2012-14 was followed by 2015-7 which had the Arocs, the Claas, the Volvo excavator, and the BWE, I conclude that the Technic theme today is just as, if not more, interesting and healthy than it was in the 80s, the 90s, and the 00s, but that the quality and diversity of Technic offerings has fallen off in the last five years, just as you all say. However, I will note that the repetitiveness of all the pullback racers and smallish cars with nearly identical feature sets is nothing new to the 2020s; Technic has had lots of repetitive small cars with nearly identical feature sets since the 80s, and it's had repetitive pullback racers since the 90s.

[Berthil]

I've been reading this topic too, I'm just using beams to lock Technic bricks into place and have ditched all Technic panels. For me there hasn't been a nice Technic set with good functions and looks the last decade or more. And I build GBC machines with a lot of Technic. The sets do not seem to be about Technic anymore, it just carries the same name. All those panels with gaps covering up other gaps with whatever gearbox under it doesn't get my Technic heart going.

I'm a big fan of the model team approach as that combines the best of both System and Technic. Although not many gears in it, I find the Da Vinci machine more technic than most Technic sets. As that set has history and explains a mechanism. And without IP, as that seems to be the driving force behind many current Technic sets.

But it doesn't matter what I write, or we all write, as TLG will set out their own path for profit despite all LUGs and user groups and whatever, those groups have no leverage against the general buying public. That should be clear by now. So y'all can write what you want wherever you want, it will have no influence on TLG strategy. Therefore totally useless topic with no influence anywhere, like most opinion topics on Eurobricks these days. Just too many opinion topics, go design and build something! And show it instead of just opinionate.

Edited December 7, 2024 by Berthil

[thekoRngear]

16 hours ago, Berthil said:

Therefore totally useless topic with no influence anywhere, like most opinion topics on Eurobricks these days. Just too many opinion topics, go design and build something! And show it instead of just opinionate.

Lol, if a year with its first wave is seemingly disappointing people won't raise their voice even if it is just one dedicated thread? That is why a forum is there for. Not to be just super talented, keep mouth shut and make own stuffs. Howevr, it is true that disappointment venting threads have been created at least once every year for past few years because, it is becoming ridiculous/worse, specially with cars. The MOC designers and the casual sheep may not care about it at all, but I believe there are users/members in this forum (and outside) who have reasons to have become concerned to raise their vocals. And, I also think a part of TLG do take notes of the concerns. It is just that they are a bit too free spirited to do what has to be done in the right time 

Edited December 7, 2024 by thekoRngear

[M_longer]

I have made a quick sum-up of January sets for last 5 years.
It's the same scheme - One polybag, at least two pullbacks (with last year's exception), at least three licensed sets.
2021 looks much better, with more versatile sets like 42122/42123 and remote control one. Why C+, which was told by LEGO to be the exceptional, is basicaly non existing lately?

[Auroralampinen]

2 minutes ago, M_longer said:

I have made a quick sum-up of January sets for last 5 years.
It's the same scheme - One polybag, at least two pullbacks (with last year's exception), at least three licensed sets.
2021 looks much better, with more versatile sets like 42122/42123 and remote control one. Why C+, which was told by LEGO to be the exceptional, is basicaly non existing lately?

 

Well its kind of cool to see one of weird features and functions continue to next year this year the buggy had the wacky steering system and next years bush plane has the cool button operated rotating blades so what weird function we will se 2026 after these two so i hope this weird functions and mechanisms category continues for long:) 

[Auroralampinen]

And yes about the control + currently we have just one control + set the liebherr crane since the airbus helicopter is discontinued so where is all the control + sets like in power functions era we had a massive flood of them but c+ era seems to bee quickly drying flood and im no expert at coding stuff and if i try it wont work so c+ era is soo difficult for me so only the airbus helicopter battery box and motor is easy to understand so im sad how this is going i miss the power functions era with plug and play no need for complicate and time consuming coding stuff just pure fun you just build model and start playing with it easy currently you have to go to university or to be rocket scientist to understand the c+ coding and i have many difficultes so i wont never learn to code i have tryed and its not my piece of cake

10 minutes ago, Auroralampinen said:

And yes about the control + currently we have just one control + set the liebherr crane since the airbus helicopter is discontinued so where is all the control + sets like in power functions era we had a massive flood of them but c+ era seems to bee quickly drying flood and im no expert at coding stuff and if i try it wont work so c+ era is soo difficult for me so only the airbus helicopter battery box and motor is easy to understand so im sad how this is going i miss the power functions era with plug and play no need for complicate and time consuming coding stuff just pure fun you just build model and start playing with it easy currently you have to go to university or to be rocket scientist to understand the c+ coding and i have many difficultes so i wont never learn to code i have tryed and its not my piece of cake

And sorry i forgot the this years poor c+ porsche:) 

[M_longer]

17 minutes ago, Auroralampinen said:

poor c+ porsche:) 

And 42160 Audi

[Jockos]

Well, yes, it's kind of frustrating (may I say) that of the 40+ sets (with known next year's) only 3 are motorized.. 

I really hope there's some system-overhauling in the background because this way the motorization options are nearly non-existent.

Edited December 8, 2024 by Jockos

[M_longer]

On 12/3/2024 at 4:11 PM, Erik Leppen said:

Oh, you mean that Racers line that TLC still calls Technic? 

WHEEL LOADER!



And cars.
https://www.brickfanatics.com/rumoured-details-ego-technic-summer-2025/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2jycWk5P0UzqWm0Ay1XzrGqBCIjVEchaQvaSaE8QTr1mDkp5XPPwEei6w_aem_hsD4rJBSEaJ1lTlB_Z2NLg

Edited December 8, 2024 by M_longer

[Ngoc Nguyen]

Despite the growing number of cars, there's one positive trend in the Technic lineup: Since 2021 there have been pneumatic sets in every annual lineup.

[Nuts4Lego]

Imo lego has always been expensive for what it is, but the recent increases and lacklustre lineup’s are making me want to sell my entire collection. :(

Also, how many formula 1 sets do we need?

Edited December 8, 2024 by Nuts4Lego
Additional comment

[howitzer]

On 12/5/2024 at 9:47 PM, zoo said:

Where there realy tons though? I remember the late 80s and early 90s with great fondness, but I am not so sure there were a greater quantity of complex high end sets released back then compared to today.

Perhaps not compared to today, but compared to past: The sets in the 80's and 90's increased in complexity and flashiness constantly, until came the decline at the turn of the millennium. Then beginning in the late 00's Technic seemed to be on the road to recovery with many new and interesting and increasingly complex sets in the 10's and then stagnating again in the last few years. So I see these golden ages most importantly as ages of progress - the theme constantly moving forward with innovation, instead of stagnating and repeating the same over and over.

[Satisfied]

Oh, it seems that there are many people who think the same as me

There are too many sports cars in the current technology package

They basically only have one appearance left except for the turn of the hand of God

They look like the technological version of the speed champion

Of course, the reason why so many of them appear is because they sell better themes than before

Which Lego is good to sell

And now technology has lost its B mode, making the overall look even more boring

Sometimes the flagship doesn't have it either

I need more trucks, tow trucks，Crane Truck，backhoe loaders by JCB, and mobile cranes by Grove

42050 is more interesting than those sports cars

Now is the dark age of technology

[nerdsforprez]

On 12/6/2024 at 7:55 PM, Berthil said:

That should be clear by now. So y'all can write what you want wherever you want, it will have no influence on TLG strategy. Therefore totally useless topic with no influence anywhere, like most opinion topics on Eurobricks these days. Just too many opinion topics, go design and build something! And show it instead of just opinionate.

[Sokolov Edward]

On 12/7/2024 at 3:55 AM, Berthil said:

But it doesn't matter what I write, or we all write, as TLG will set out their own path for profit despite all LUGs and user groups and whatever, those groups have no leverage against the general buying public. That should be clear by now. So y'all can write what you want wherever you want, it will have no influence on TLG strategy. Therefore totally useless topic with no influence anywhere, like most opinion topics on Eurobricks these days. Just too many opinion topics, go design and build something! And show it instead of just opinionate.

You are right that Lego doesn't care about the Lego Technic community. It only wants to sell more. For this purpose, new parts are constantly being introduced to increase interest and protect against copying. Lego also fights copy-pasters with its licenses for parts and they are forced to cut them into pieces, which complicates assembly. But given the limited size of apartments (or houses), no one can buy Lego sets indefinitely, and the secondary market is also not bottomless. I have already started assembling the most interesting new Lego Technic sets from what I already have - information on my assemblies of the Audi E-Tron and Mercedes G500 is published here in the relevant topics. Maybe it's time to create a topic with this direction - replacing new parts with functional analogs from old parts and assembling new models from them.

[Paul B Technic]

I’ve been an avid LEGO Technic fan for many years, but my journey with the theme has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Over the last few years, I’ve come and gone from the hobby a few times—what I’d call "mini dark ages"—where my interest has waned. During those periods, I’ve focused more on other hobbies like radio DXing and electronics, but I’ve always been drawn back to Technic for the creativity and engineering challenges it offers.

Recently, I decided to take another look at what LEGO Technic has been offering, especially with the 2025 sets being leaked/revealed. Honestly? I felt sadness. This is what the theme has come to? The lack of innovation, repetitive designs, and questionable choices for flagship sets have left me feeling completely disheartened. The excitement I used to feel when a new Technic wave was announced just isn’t there anymore.

I had been toying with the idea of picking up the 42177 or revisiting one of the classic Unimogs as a sort of final Technic adventure. The thought of building a Unimog—a proper, functional model—still holds some appeal. But even now, I’m unsure if it’s worth it. Should I put in the time, effort, and money for a theme that no longer inspires me?

It feels like the magic of Technic has been lost, and I can’t help but wonder if this really will be my last hurrah. Maybe it’s time to accept that the LEGO Technic I once loved has changed, and move on to other projects that excite and fulfill me.

I’d love to hear from others—are you feeling the same way? Have the recent and upcoming sets been a letdown for you too? Or is there something I’m missing?

[Auroralampinen]

Well im happy with the bush plane and the submarine the bush plane has really cool propellor mechanism wich is only seen on one set and submarine is also a rare vehicle:) 

[Frequenzberater]

@Paul B Technic

You are exactly describing my thoughts and feelings. 

In addition I have noted that I am completly done with the meanwhile common colour vomit. The submarine for example, would be a cool little set, but it looks like a bag of confetti. 

[Sokolov Edward]

58 minutes ago, Frequenzberater said:

The submarine for example, would be a cool little set, but it looks like a bag of confetti. 

If you remember that this toy is not made for "big boys", then everything is very good.

[Lipko]

I'm asking again. Are you sure it's only Technic changing? And not you too? It's normal that you loose interest in something. I think there's simply not much more to Technic in general. Sure, there could be clocks, GBC, some exotic machinery, etc, but you'd be bored of them soon. After all, Lego is about clicking some plastic together for hours to get a model that looks like it was made from random junk.

If I wasn't MOCing, probably I wouldn't have bought even the first Technic model, the container truck. It was shockingly crap, a total disappointment after my 10 year dark age. But didn't feel sorry, because the parts were actually important.

To sum it up: I think it's perfectly normal to get bored of a hobby, and usually the object of the hobby is the smallest factor in it. Technic may be declining, but not ín such an extreme way this whole topic implies.

Lego is a still toy for kids. And you are just tired of pretending it's not.

Edited December 13, 2024 by Lipko

[GoldVillage]

On 12/8/2024 at 4:08 PM, Satisfied said:

Oh, it seems that there are many people who think the same as me

There are too many sports cars in the current technology package

They basically only have one appearance left except for the turn of the hand of God

They look like the technological version of the speed champion

Of course, the reason why so many of them appear is because they sell better themes than before

Which Lego is good to sell

And now technology has lost its B mode, making the overall look even more boring

Sometimes the flagship doesn't have it either

I need more trucks, tow trucks，Crane Truck，backhoe loaders by JCB, and mobile cranes by Grove

42050 is more interesting than those sports cars

Now is the dark age of technology

No, cars dont sell better they just taking short cuts because they lack imagination and creativity, thats also why we dont get any more b-models. Also its disgusting to see how they prey on the younger & unexperienced buyers to let them actually believe that some sets are electrical (power functions) when they are not. Last year we had the 42175 and now we getting the same false advertising in the Volvo L120 "electric". This seems like a scam/fraud attempt and thats the new road they are taking?

Edited December 13, 2024 by GoldVillage

[nerdsforprez]

3 hours ago, Lipko said:

Lego is a still toy for kids. And you are just tired of pretending it's not.

  Not to mention when you are just building the official sets you really aren't a builder.  Not a creator.  You are just an assembler.  They are different.  Assembling something gets boring over time.  It could be the most complicated machine in the world and it would still get boring over time.  

 

Edited December 13, 2024 by nerdsforprez