Did you settle into a theme?

[def]

As I posted a week ago in the "what do you do with your sets?" thread, I'm running out of space at home. On top of that, money's tight, and my current contract runs out 2011 (maybe I can extend it, maybe not), so I should not be splurging right now. The economy, you know? (Plus I'm the breadwinner)

When I came out of my dark ages, I only bought Star Wars, for at least a year. When I bought my first non-Star Wars, I knew I was opening Pandora's Box, but I did it anyway. My wishlist quadrupled within a few months.

On my wishlist right now is one big Pirates set, two town sets, one Star Wars set, and a Toy Story set. I was planning to space them a month apart until the amazing Star Wars summer series debuts, but even then, I think I need to economize, and buy a mid to large size every two months... Just for the time being.

So today, as I was walking the streets, I was thinking I don't need to buy Blackbeard's Bounty. I love it, but I feel that years from now, I won't be stressed about it. From there, I started consolidating my wishlist, and thinking I should go in one direction, and I've been thinking in the long-term, I'd prefer Town, though it's currently only about 20% of my collection.

I don't know, I don't think you can decide on one 100% of the time, but did you decide to focus?

[Captain Blackmoor]

Although I also really like Town, especially the modular buildings, I prefer and focus on Pirates. I want to expand my Castle collection as well, focussing on the orcs. I have only a star war set or 2 and they are on the list to sell since I never use it.

In the beginning I liked LEGO on a wide basis, but I've focussed on historic themes. I think my obsession for the age of sail has something to do with it...

Nice topic!

[Ricecracker]

It depends. Are we talking about just sets, just MOCs, or both?

If we're talking just about sets, then I can give a definite no. Being a MOCer, I look at sets as parts packs, not necessarily as the sets themselves. That said, different themes have different specialty parts, all of which can be useful for my MOCs.

If we're talking just about MOCs, then I'd say yes. Since I started getting serious about MOCing (about a year to a year and a half ago), I've settled into town/city building. I've dabbled in other themes, but I've never been satisfied with the results. Town/city is my comfort zone, if you will.

[Rufus]

Like you, def, I started back out with Star Wars, and I too have little space for anything else. I've got a burgeoning Town collection, particularly the 6 wide vehicels, which I love. I'd like to collect the modular buildings, but with nowhere to put them, they'd probably just sit MISB in the loft.

I started to buy a few IJ sets last year, but I figured lack of space, money and licence would put the kibosh on my expanding that theme.

With some fantastic new sets due out in the summer, I'll probably stick to SW as my main theme, at least until the licence is no more; then it'll be Town all the way (at least you know the town theme'll always be around).

[brickzone]

I generally have quite broad "likes" as regards themes, but in the last year, yes I've had to economise. I think there's nothing for it but to do up a list and whittle it down bit by bit - (and you can still keep the sets you're unlikely to stretch to on it, just in case).

My last Lego purchase - I bought Winter Toy Shop and Pirate Advent Calendar instead of other wants such as the Temple of Doom set, Trolls Mountain Fortress or the Agents 2.0 sets (I've ended up with only one of those, the speedboat chase, despite wanting all of them). The others will be probably not so hard to get in the future, but the Exclusives are special. I have decided to skip the Fire Station though, even when I have cash again I'll prioritise other stuff (Grand Emporium).

I'm on a *complete* purchasing embargo at present however, and boy is it tough. The only thing is that some particularly cool stuff like Prince of Persia, etc. isn't out yet and I so still hope I'll have money by then!

[UsernameMDM]

I focus mainly on castle and ships for pirates. I did like the Power Miners, but I limited my sets to sets 20$ and under. My Atlantis collection will be the 10$ and under sets. Star Wars is battle packs only (and usually just one copy). I may get a different theme set here and there, but I mainly stick to castle.

[Zorbas]

Great topic def.

During my childhood (mid 80s to early 90s) I was focused in Town (90%) and Pirates (10%) and when I came back from my dark ages I was still showing interest in these two themes - keeping the interest percentage the same.

Since I wasn't too excited with the new Pirates and since the amount of sets that had been released was rather small (I bought them all except the Shipwreck's Hideout) my focus is City-Town and the other City-oriented sets (Modulars, Creator buildings, etc).

So, the answer is yes, I've settled into one theme (to rule them all! ) from the beginning I guess and I think I'll stick to that.

P.S

There are some sets from other themes that are worth buying though (mainly for the minifigs or other unique accessories) and I did.

P.S#2

Unless TLG has any sort of plans of a Greek theme.

[Darth Legolas]

Well Star Wars clearly come's first, as my name points out, but now Technic is growing on me so much, I might want to somehow change me name to Darth Technicus!

In fact, I just built the new Buggy 10 minutes ago! I even modded it already so the axles in the back are connected by an offset axle with a few other parts. I may just post what I did in the Technic forum soon! Works well with Belville people.

Edited February 13, 2010 by Darth Legolas

[def]

I redid the poll since it seems I buggered it when I posted it first, but since it's only been a few hours, it shouldn't be too much harm done.

I get paid on the 25th of the month, so a convincing argument might make the difference between Blackbeard's Bounty and City Corner...

[prateek]

I'm not really "loyal" to themes, I just get which ever sets look appealing and are lower in price. I have equal parts of Star Wars, Creator, Town, Licenced, and Action Theme sets in my collection.

[Darth Legolas]

I redid the poll since it seems I buggered it when I posted it first, but since it's only been a few hours, it shouldn't be too much harm done.

I get paid on the 25th of the month, so a convincing argument might make the difference between Blackbeard's Bounty and City Corner...

I believe you men Brickbeard's Bounty... unless there's an old Pirate's set I've forgotten about. When I posted before I didn't even see the poll!

Good topic idea!

Edited February 13, 2010 by Darth Legolas

[Peppermint_M]

Nope.

I have the attention span of a butterfly in a flowerbed. I jump from theme to theme, rarely settling on one for a long time. Oh, some themes I try my hardest to get all the sets from, or I end up buying plenty from. Other times it is purely "ooo shiny" at the time. I'm afraid my income is pretty much disposable at the moment (while I do save a certain amount of each paycheck) so while I am in this situation, I take advantage of it.

If you go to my Brickset, you can see what I get and extrapolate what you will. Most of the time I buy the £10 and under sets from all themes that turn up in supermarkets and if the theme captures my imagination I buy a few more or a lot more.

As a MOCer I will buy for parts sometimes and I love minifigs so I have to get some from each theme. I guess right now I am in the lucky position of a decent paycheck and no responsibility, however I predict dropping some currency into Kingdoms and World Races later in the year and, as always, buying any Town set that takes my fancy.

[The Cobra]

I buy small sets from most themes. And in two years I almost ran out of space too.

[JimBee]

I voted "about half". I mostly have Star Wars, but I also have an Indy collection almost the same size (but now that it's gone, SW will soon be the primary theme on my shelves). I also get an odd Atlantis, Power Miners, or SPIII set here and there (usually the small, gimmicky ones), so a few of those litter my floor. Any Pirate sets I get/ have gotten complement my Castle Siege and Medieval Market Village, and any City sets get scrapped for the figs.

I'll probably be sucked in to buying all of the PoP sets, too...

So basically, about 40% SW, 30% Indy, and 30% odds and ends of other themes.

[JCC1004]

My main focus has been on Star Wars and Indy. I do get other sets from other themes that interest me. Since Indy is probably gone I'll either just stay with Star Wars and getting some other sets on the side like the new City Tanker Truck or find something to replace Indy.

[just2good]

I focus only on none-licensed themes, but I mainly focus on Toy Story.

[Inconspicuous]

I mainly collect Star Wars and Modular Buildings. I am a big fan of both Pirates and Indy too, but since have both disappeared, I have some potential extra leeway for other themes. I used to love Harry Potter themes when they were around, and most of the contents for my Lord of the Rings MOCs come from that theme. I may have to buy some Kingdoms and new HP sets for MOCs.

To sum it up, mostly Star Wars, but occasionally a passion for short-lived themes or parts packs.

[CP5670]

I don't know, I don't think you can decide on one 100% of the time, but did you decide to focus?

I did this more for reasons of interest than space or money. I always liked City, Space and Technic as a kid, and was never much into the other themes. Today, I have expanded that to include Creator, Model Team and Aquazone, but still rarely venture into other themes. I occasionally buy individual sets from other themes that I like a lot, but only have a few of them from over the years. The most recent one was the Army Men set.

Edited February 13, 2010 by CP5670

[Big Cam]

I started with just star wars for at least 3 to 4 years but now I've found myself buying toy story, pirate, castle, and Indie. But my main focus is still star wars.

[Sir Fred]

I'm fairly settled into the Castle/Kingdom's theme. Pirates and Star Wars have been known to tempt me out on occasion though. I may pick up a couple Prince of Persia sets as well since they look like they have useful Castle stuff.

[RileyC]

My main focus is Star Wars and will always be my main focus. Lately though I have been looking into other themes lately though. I picked up two toy story sets and I bought the Indy Ambush in Cairo just yesterday. I have bought a few city sets in the past weeks and I feel myself getting hooked and I really want to get into the modular buildings especially.

[AllanSmith]

I started collecting all sets in the Town and Train themes from 1985. Since then I diverted into Pirates, Western, Paradisa, Model Team, Technics, Ferrari and town related themes like Adventurers, Batman, Orient, Spiderman, Studio. I now concentrate on City, Creator houses, Modular buildings and Train. Will eventually sell off all my Pirates, Western, Model Team, Technics and Ferrari sets.

[Johan J]

As a kid it was mostly Town, later Technic. Starting again as a grownup I have a few SW-sets just for the awesomeness (Death Star, Imperial Destroyer and motorized AT-AT).

Now it's Town (Ebay and S@H Classic retro sets), Train (9V), City (but not much, new sets contain to few BRICKS), and the big modular sets. My goal is a Town. Sometimes other sets can be useful as they are, Castles still exist today in real world, and the military themes in Indiana Jones look great, for the 40's-50's.

Hopefully LEGO will exist for a long time. I might change my mind. MANY sets to get ahead!

So, I voted "Two sets". Town/City and Train.

[no_skill]

Because of cost and space issues, I have to limit myself. I have decided only to be “active” with two themes at any given time. So right now it’s Town (comprised mostly of Modulars and Trains) and Pirates. It is going to be very, very difficult for me to stay out of the new Kingdom’s line, however. Maybe, with the “retiring” of Pirates for now, I’ll be able to justify getting into more Castle…but as I said, there are cost and space issues at hand. With a new modular and two new trains due soon (not to mention the awesome IFS), I think expanding into Castle will be cost prohibitive this year. There is so much good LEGO across so many themes right now…It is like the complete opposite of a few years ago. We’ve gone from a curse in one direction to a curse in the other!

I voted two themes.

Edited February 14, 2010 by no_skill

[Rick]

Town was and still is my #1 theme. Next to that I almost have the entire 2009 Pirates line and some childhood Castle and Pirates sets. But the fact that the Town/City theme will always be there (although Town Jr. had me worried there), is an important factor to stick with this. So I guess it's about 90%-80% Town and 10%-20% Pirates for me. So, I guess it's 'I settled for two themes' for me, since I hardly ever buy anything outside Town and Pirates.