Action Themes and You

[LegoDad42]

Big Agents fan here. Love all the vehicles and I like the storyline that continues from set to set. Plus the villains have a James Bond-esque feel.

Again with the vehicles...I feel they are some of the most interesting and uniquely designed from LEGO...especially immense playability and so many features most of the Agent sets have like the Mobile Command Center (just incredible amounts of playability), Volcano Base, Aerial Defense Unit (Best Helicopter LEGOs' ever done) and the best mecha from LEGO...Robo Attack (combination James Bond and retro-50's sci-fi feel). Really great, unique playsets, IMHO.

Also am starting to collect Adventurers/Orient Expedition sets. Fun, little storylines that are Indiana Jones-esque (and I'm a HUGE Indiana Jones fan).

[tchuk-norst]

Just like Matrix, guns lots of guns

[Joebot]

By now, the distribution pattern with these Action themes is pretty well defined -- big, splashy first release with lots of marketing muscle behind it ... much smaller second release the following year ... then gone.

For me, that lack of support from TLC undermines most of my interest in these themes. I know they're going to be short-lived, so I don't bother with them. I'm in this hobby for the long haul (30 years and counting), so these flash-in-the-pan themes have no appeal to me. They're the equivalent of fast food -- high calorie junk with no nourishment.

It's a shame too, because some of the themes are very imaginative, despite being locked into TLC's mandate of action-oriented, man vs. monster conflict-driven stories. The Agents theme seemed like something that TLC could have built on for years with new heroes and villains. Instead, two years and it was done and replaced by Atlantis. Bummer.

[greenskull139]

Well I pretty much get them for parts. Most of the time they will have a set that comes with a special piece in a special color I want, for example: The Neptune sub is the only sub that comes with the red cement mixer tubes. I would also have to agree with others on also liking the story line of some of these themes for it reminds us of when we would make our own themes and "fly them around the house".

[Bricknave]

I like action themes because of the stories and of course the sets themselves. Even though action themes aren't constant and accumulative such as the primary City theme, the upside of getting action theme sets is that they wouldn't continue to flourish in the future unless they are 'reincarnated'. An Atlantis Minifig from this year would be a relic several years in the future, so it would either spice up a future MOC because of its rarity or become a new LEGO fan's purchase from an unofficial seller.

Sets from action themes also have a role playing value in them. Sure, you can move a common city pedestrian Minifig around and make him 'talk', but he wouldn't have as much personality as the characters from action themes. With action themes: kids would create worlds made out of bricks in which to place those imaginary characters, and would interact with other kids using those imaginary characters if they are building together; thus social relationships would be formed. With the story setting, the imagination of young builders would have a better grip because they are familiar with the characters.

[Toa_Of_Justice]

I myself love thier stories and the worlds built around them. The figures always look so exciting and the colourschemes much more interseting. The fact that they have one foot in reality is also a plus.

Personally, I have enjoyed only the more sci-fi oriented action themes like Atlantis and Power Miners because they introduce monsters that look great and feature some crazy tricked out vehicles that look outlandish, but also very cool.

I just like the vehicles usually, sometimes the minifigures. It really depends on the theme. For example, I like Atlantis because I've always been attracted to underwater themes and I enjoy the interesting designs. Agents I was less keen on because, despite some excellent sets, I just didn't find the designs appealing. Too James-bondish.

I personally like the action themes because they have creative action features, attractive color schemes (though World Racers is kind of pushing it), and unique designs. Town is always cool, but with Town what's released is usually just a new and better version (or at least, new and different version) of something that's already been released. With themes like Power Miners and Atlantis, the designs are new and imaginative.

With action themes, another bonus is the capacity for "MOCing within the theme". Because it's a semi-fantastic theme, for instance, you're not limited by reality when you make an Atlantis, Agents, or Power Miners MOC. And the consistent color schemes between sets make it so you can easily come up with a new and different design, yet still an attractive one, by just pooling the pieces of two or more sets. With Town MOCs, each "branch" of Town (fire, coast guard, police, farm, and all the non-affiliated sets like sports cars) has its own distinct color scheme, which in the case of farm sets may not even be internally consistent. And making an MOC within the theme requires at least a partial adherence to reality, since the Town theme is so grounded to begin with.

The same freedoms apply for Sci-Fi themes, of course, and the distinction between sci-fi themes and action themes is a blurry one, but for the purposes of this topic these facets of set and theme design are being applied to action themes.

My reasons for interest in LEGO action themes include all of the above, except I go for the vehicles in sci-fi themes more so than the monsters. Otherwise, I couldn't have stated these reasons better myself.

-Toa Of Justice

Edited July 15, 2010 by Toa_Of_Justice

[minifgure_fan]

For me, I like them because 1, they have a lot of good parts for MOCs and such, and some of them, like Atlantis or Orient Expedition, I just like the sets. I mean, Take a look and stuff like 2003's 7419 Dragon Fortress, or some of the recent Atlantis sets, like 8078 Portal of Atlantis. I just really like those sets. But some, like Time Twisters, I purely despise. Simply because they're weird and have all these random parts from different themes mixed together. The only Time Twisters set I liked was 6494 Mystic Mountain Time Lab. Sure, it had lot of different parts, I just like the interesting style of it.

Edited July 15, 2010 by minifgure_fan

[gylman]

Great opportunity for imaginative play outside of a pre-programmed licensed set.

My kids' interest in LEGO mostly began with Bionicle, and then evolved to The Adventurers. There was excellent web support for the Adventurers with lots of fun (and funny) games and challenges. There was also a lot of fun gear. Just this week we were canoing and camping overnight for 3 days in Algonquin park, and we all were wearing our Adventurers T-shirts, and my kids carried all their stuff in the Adventurers backpacks.

In my opinion, LEGO has never topped this series. Some sets were not great, but the play value was always there. My kids still play with JT and the Adventurers, and didn't spend a second looking at the Indiana Jones (ugh! fleshies) sets.

[LegolasAzazel]

I always felt that the Aventurers theme should of continued... I used to love those sets but i feel that the decline in sales of it which ultimately ment it demise was because the current theme of it was now to consumer liking. All they had to do was re-invent the franchise again.

See they did Egyptian - Mummy's, They did Aztec, They did Dinosaures which i felt was incorrect for the series, then we had Orient... But there was still lots of life left for the adventurers.

Essentially we could of merged them with two old classics for example.

Adventurers - lost treasure of atlantis - and have elements of pirates from a buy gone time.

Adventurers - Knights templar - and have a kind of search for the grail theme.

I also felt that the Adventurers theme should of entered into the CITY theme. This was my idea...

A city theme called "MILLIONAIRES"

Essentially it played on the idea of the Adventurers whom made lots of money from the adventures and we were seeing there home lives. Why? because i felt it would of been great sets.

Here was my ideas for the individual sets.

> Johnny Thunders - Limo

> Professor Kilroy's - Museum

> Baron Von Baron's - Balloon

> Johnny Thunders - Mansion

> Baron Von Baron's - Bank set

> Harry Canes - Bi-Planes.

> Johnny Thunders - Sports Car

[Rick]

All they had to do was re-invent the franchise again.

Even though I don't own more than a handful of Adventurers' sets, it was indeed a very creative theme. And, as you point out, a theme with virtually endless possibilities. Many, many, many 'worlds' left to explore and adventures to be experienced.

A city theme called "MILLIONAIRES"

That's the one thing I wouldn't really like. It was clearly set at the beginning of the 20th century and I don't think it would fit nicely in a contemporary town. At least not on a large scale: one or two old-timer cars could be easily integrated of course.

[gylman]

The obvious Adventurers theme is Old West.

It fits with the kind of thing the Adventurers did. It's a timeless classic. Just like Pirates (I wonder how that did for LEGO when they brought it back for a year or two).

There is a large pent-up demand, I believe, for the Old West LEGO. There was a Western LEGO series which ran for a few years, but has been nearly totally silent for a over a decade I believe.

Now with the Toy Story western type sets, this might not be as true... but I didn't like the Toy Story sets at all so who knows.

[Capt. Redblade]

I like Action Themes because, when I was a kid, they catered to my fantasy. Kids love to pretend, and most male children like to pretend that they're spies or treasure hunters and the like. Action themes allow us to act out those fantasies in such a way that, when we get bored with one fantasy, we can take it apart and turn it into another.

[Defferwa]

I like the stories, and the mnifigures. especially the cyborg minifigs from Agents. I like how they have more functions, like the old Alpha team's ships could transform. I really like guns and armor for minifigs too.

[Dunjohn]

They appeal to the Homer Simpson in me. They're a little bit of mindless action where it's okay to fluff or even suspend the rules of technology, probability and occasionally even physics in order to produce a great, fun little MOC. Where would Dr. Inferno be if he had to adhere to realistic technology and then serve out a full twenty-year term in jail with no hope of explosive escape? Well, he'd be in jail, obviously, but I mean metaphysically? He'd be nowhere! He'd be nobody! He damned well wouldn't have that hair! If he wants to jam a lazer gun onto the front of a rocket-powered helicopter without any apparent power source or effect on the craft's aerodynamics, I say, let him!

Where do the Power Miners get all that stuff from? What is the point of the Wreck Raider? These are questions for those boring City minifigs with their dull lives. Give me explosions! Give me bright colours! Change it every year so that I NEVER get bored!

[lightningtiger]

For me just for a short time 'Power Miners' I was building sets in fact the first 9 one after the other, why ? They reminded me of 'The Thunderbirds' vehicles etc.,.

Action themes seem to turn around heros and villains as well of course ......action !

I'm a conformist! !

[Aanchir]

They appeal to the Homer Simpson in me. They're a little bit of mindless action where it's okay to fluff or even suspend the rules of technology, probability and occasionally even physics in order to produce a great, fun little MOC. Where would Dr. Inferno be if he had to adhere to realistic technology and then serve out a full twenty-year term in jail with no hope of explosive escape? Well, he'd be in jail, obviously, but I mean metaphysically? He'd be nowhere! He'd be nobody! He damned well wouldn't have that hair! If he wants to jam a lazer gun onto the front of a rocket-powered helicopter without any apparent power source or effect on the craft's aerodynamics, I say, let him!

Where do the Power Miners get all that stuff from? What is the point of the Wreck Raider? These are questions for those boring City minifigs with their dull lives. Give me explosions! Give me bright colours! Change it every year so that I NEVER get bored!

This comment made me LOL. Maybe the rest of us are overthinking this; I think Dunjohn's hit the nail on the head.

[Tycho McKorley]

I buy the action themes largely for the parts. I collected much of the Aquazone theme because, at the time, I believe the transparent canopy pieces would be great for spaceships and space stations. I bought up almost every Time Travelers' set because the eclectic mix of parts appealed to me. I wolfed down more Johnny Thunder stuff than I can count because the pieces looked great for my Castle MOCS. For me, it has been and always will be about the parts.

Edited July 16, 2010 by Tycho McKorley

[Raphy]

I don't agree that Action themes don't last..... Space Police III, for example, is an Action theme and yet I'm sure it will become a classic building style much like Blacktron or Neo Classic Space in 20 years. Besides, people will never stop making MOCs for a certain theme..... so they don't really die. :)

[SiRoa]

I love the design of the minifigs,,

[M'Kyuun]

I'm partial to action themes for many of the reasons already stated. primarily, I like sci-fi, or something gadgety, like the Agents theme, which was brilliantly executed IMHO. I also liked Exo-Force, although i found the mecha to be lacking...the idea , however, and TLG's willingness to take a step in that direction, was great, and hopefully a precursor to more, hopefully improved, mecha themes in the future. I've been a Space fan since its inception--there's just so much to love about classic, and even modern, space sets.

The action themes generally have interesting figs, a neat underlying story, interesting parts, and usually at least one or two stand-out sets that fire the imagination. Plus, action is at the heart of the sets, so they are often gimmicky, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse (not crazy about the many different shooting mechanisms employed, esp Bionicle based). I think SP3 struck a good balance...very colorful figs, at least on the part of the aliens. I haven't invested in Atlantis sets, but I still like the ship designs and the overall theme. Mars Mission, despite the lackluster alien figs, managed some neat sets, esp in the second wave. I could go on, but in short, it's the unique experience inherent with all the action themes of living out some kind of fantasy, or at least just this side of reality, which sparks imagination or memory, in some cases, and appeals to the inner kid. In my case, the demarkation between inner kid and 39 yr old is blurry and in consistent negotiation.

Edited July 19, 2010 by M'Kyuun

[Thrund]

I'm keen on the action themes because they fit what I'm using Lego for - character models and settings for tabletop roleplaying games.

My next campaign is set in 1928 so I've been grabbing everything I can find from the Adventurers line. I now have enough options to let my players build custom minifigs for their character models, but I'm still short of enough tan bricks to complete the Egyptian tomb they'll be exploring.

The campaign after that will be classic Fantasy so I'm also getting a lot of Castle/Viking stuff - but I've tracked down all the hairpieces from the Exo-Force line because all my players are Anime fans and one of them is bound to want to give his character green or purple hair