LEGO Collectable Minifigures Series 4 discussion

prateek · February 28, 2011

I'm going out on a limb and saying it's gonna be either the Hamzat suit guy, or the Musketeer. To be honest, I think every fig in this series will be popular. There doesn't seem to be any filler minifigs of series past (I'm looking at you S1 diver and S2 ring master).

Ceroknight · February 28, 2011

I'm going out on a limb and saying it's gonna be either the Hamzat suit guy, or the Musketeer. To be honest, I think every fig in this series will be popular. There doesn't seem to be any filler minifigs of series past (I'm looking at you S1 diver and S2 ring master).

I'm looking at the japenese lady as the filler

SilentMode · February 28, 2011

Unless there's a very rare figure á la Fisherman (before the update), my guess is the Hazmat person.

Edited February 28, 2011 by SilentMode

Ro87n · February 28, 2011

I'm going out on a limb and saying it's gonna be either the Hamzat suit guy, or the Musketeer. To be honest, I think every fig in this series will be popular. There doesn't seem to be any filler minifigs of series past (I'm looking at you S1 diver and S2 ring master).

Off-topic: What's wrong with the Ring Master? I realy wanted to have him, but the Diver I didn't realy need for, but still end up with having one...

I'm looking at the japenese lady as the filler

*oh2* What? You can't be serieus, I bet she's one of the most populair of all female minifigs so far, or atleast 2nd in a top 3.

On-topic: About the most wanted figure -and not just for me- that must be the Ice Hockey Player. For he has the most parts (one more than the Viking if you count the puck as one too). But the Safetysuit guy is something I have never seen in Lego history or any MOC as far as I know and have seen. And not just a fireman acting as a Hazemat guy. So he can be also very populair. For myself I can't realy 'vote' for just one figure, but I must have atleast 3 Musketeers (very obvious why).

I could point-out some who are least favorites IMO; Sailor, Surfer Girl and Skater. For the last named seems to be a filler fig to me as we already could get a Skater back in S1. We also got a Surfer before but was a dude and since I just (nearly) love female minifigs I won't mind getting her and the 2 other females. Especialy the Kimono Girl/Geisha.

Edited February 28, 2011 by Ro87n

Mr. Elijah Timms · February 28, 2011

...I must have atleast 3 Musketeers (very obvious why).

Yep, if there are 10,000 EB members, I'm betting there's about 17 of us who will be happy getting just one Musketeer.

Pretty smart for TLG to create so many figures that beg to be purchased in multiples. Who doesn't want 3 musketeers? I'll tell you right now, I won't be happy until have at least the 6 starters for my City's hockey team. And I have every intention of getting 6 vikings to man the oars on my longboat. Plus, we all know that hazmat workers at least come in pairs, if not more. And especially for those of us who are into shipbuilding, the sailor will easily become the most sought after fig in recent memory. Well played, TLG...

Ro87n · February 28, 2011

Im wondering, what's the (random) average amount of the same identical minifig inside an unopened full box?

Peanuts · February 28, 2011

Im wondering, what's the (random) average amount of the same identical minifig inside an unopened full box?

I think you can read this in Fangy's reviews, but considering there's 60 minifigs in a box, it should be about 3-4.

Ro87n · February 28, 2011

Hmmm would every box be the same or is there more randomness?

Peanuts · February 28, 2011

Hmmm would every box be the same or is there more randomness?

I strongly believe they're intented to be all the same, but I somewhere read there was a change in the ratio at series 3. But I have no idea how they decide the ratio.

prateek · February 28, 2011

Off-topic: What's wrong with the Ring Master? I realy wanted to have him, but the Diver I didn't realy need for, but still end up with having one...

I don't know, but the general consensus of Series 2 of EB members were tired of getting ring masters and mimes over and over.

Ceroknight · February 28, 2011

What? You can't be serieus, I bet she's one of the most populair of all female minifigs so far, or atleast 2nd in a top 3.

Um I am serious actually and just because it will be the most common doesn't necessary mean it is the least popular...

It has the least pieces and most of the pieces have already been seen just with new prints

**WhiteFang** · March 1, 2011

Personally, I think all of the LEGO Series 4 minifigures will be popular. One way or another, everyone of us will be rushing for what they like. But what really caused the fanatic rush? I can safely assures you that once the Series 4 box distribution statistics is out, you will realise that the "2s", "3s" and maybe "4s" will be snapping up fast.

For example, imagine the "Rocker", "Bio-Hazard", "Painter", "Geisha", is under the distribution of "3s", while minifigures such as the "Soccer Player" and "Mad Scientist" comes under the "5s. To me, it's very obvious what could be the minifigures that can be snapped up fast.

Alternatively, minifigures such as the "Viking", "Bio-Hazard", "Sailor", "Musketter" are some of the very selected and probable few for army builders like myself to amass. It really depends on your interest and the rarity factor.

What LEGO Collectable Minifigure theory am I quoting about? It's all about the "Fisherman" theory!

Ro87n · March 1, 2011

Um I am serious actually and just because it will be the most common doesn't necessary mean it is the least popular...

It has the least pieces and most of the pieces have already been seen just with new prints

I can't deny it has few pieces, but sure it hasn't the least. That title goes to Frankenstein's Monster for having the least pieces (only a head piece that would count as an accessoires). You're right that most pieces of the Geisha are already used and have just new prints, but that wont stop me from wanting her (maybe even a few times more).

Aanchir · March 1, 2011

I can't deny it has few pieces, but sure it hasn't the least. That title goes to Frankenstein's Monster for having the least pieces (only a head piece that would count as an accessoires). You're right that most pieces of the Geisha are already used and have just new prints, but that wont stop me from wanting her (maybe even a few times more).

Agreed. After all, as I've stated before, the Series 2 Lifeguard's only new piece was her little float, and I'm pretty sure nobody was primarily interested in her for that reason. :wink:

The geisha/kimono girl is a type of minifigure that's never been done before, with many unique prints (face, torso, skirt, hair), a unique and never-before-attempted piece (her fan), and a lot of personality.

I myself tend to oppose the dummy-vs.-spartan mindset because it tends to equate quality with desirability (sometimes even a minifigure there's no point in army-building can be fresh, unique, and well-designed), and I certainly oppose the notion that undesirable figs are "filler" that should never have been included.

I can't really gauge which Series 4 minifigures will be more or less popular, because there are so many variables. Going by pieces alone, I'd say that yes, Frankenstein's monster is the most lacking. But his design is in my opinion vastly superior to the older Studios version, which I imagine not too many had a chance to pick up anyway.

The gnome is the most lacking in terms of unique prints (tied with the Mad Scientist), but those prints-- a face with white eyebrows and sideburns (no doubt with a beard as well) and a red rain-jacket with a bulging tummy-- are both fairly unique and very charming. Plus, he has a new hat mold, plus the fisherman's beard and fishing rod (the fisherman being the rarest Series 3 minifigure overall). The fishing rod is even in a new color, adding to his value further! The mad scientist boasts some crazy gray hair (always a nice thing) and a co-injected Erlenmeyer flask, along with his wonderful face and torso prints.

The best figure in terms of piece count is the hockey player with ten pieces-- since four of those are new molds (two skates, a stick, and his face shield), he is also the best in terms of new molds. And he's a great buy for army builders. However, as far as theme is concerned, he's somewhat lacking. Sports builders aren't nearly as common as medieval builders (who would favor the musketeer or viking), sci-fi builders (who might prefer the haz-mat guy or mad scientist), and town/city builders (who might prefer the painter or punk music guitarist). Even sports builders might prefer the football/soccer player, since football is a much more international sport than ice hockey.

As you can see, this sort of thing is in general hard to predict, especially with the apparent popularity of Series 4. I can tell you I hope to pick up a skateboarder (a figure many people consider a "crash test dummy" just because there's been another skateboarder before), an artist, and a guitarist. The others for me are pretty optional, even though I'm sure I'll try to get a good variety (definitely a couple of the females).

Ogre · March 1, 2011

I'm going out on a limb and saying it's gonna be either the Hamzat suit guy, or the Musketeer. To be honest, I think every fig in this series will be popular. There doesn't seem to be any filler minifigs of series past (I'm looking at you S1 diver and S2 ring master).

I'm thinking that series 4 might be the first one that I buy a complete box. It's totally cherry and there are many figs that I wish to have in multiple copies!

I can't deny it has few pieces, but sure it hasn't the least. That title goes to Frankenstein's Monster for having the least pieces (only a head piece that would count as an accessoires). You're right that most pieces of the Geisha are already used and have just new prints, but that wont stop me from wanting her (maybe even a few times more).

At least she has a fan, unlike (as you say) FM, or the series one "super wrestler", though, like the geisha, I really like him, due to the very cool printing/colours/etc.

Edited March 1, 2011 by Ogre

Ro87n · March 1, 2011

At least she has a fan, unlike (as you say) FM, or the series one "super wrestler", though, like the geisha, I really like him, due to the very cool printing/colours/etc.

I didn't say any thing about the fan. I was saying the most pieces are already used, not ment saying all pieces were already used. Love her printings and thus her looks. But a wagasa (traditional Japanese umbrella) would have be nice (too).

Aanchir · March 1, 2011

The minifigures website has been updated with the Series 4 figs. It's a month early, but I guess LEGO wants to get people excited and be ready for stores that decide not to wait until April to start selling.

When you go to the bio of any Series 4 minifigure, the "LEGO Minifigures" banner in the upper-left corner of the page will have a little flash animation related to the fig whose bio you're visiting. The soccer player's is my favorite.

My favorite bio is the Werewolf's, even though the Hockey Player's is pretty amusing, too. No brilliant LEGO references like the Elf's and the Space Villain's had, but there's a rather funny minor reference at the end of the Haz-Mat guy's bio-- read it yourself to see what I mean!

AmperZand · March 1, 2011

I didn't say any thing about the fan. I was saying the most pieces are already used, not ment saying all pieces were already used. Love her printings and thus her looks. But a wagasa (traditional Japanese umbrella) would have be nice (too).

Sorry for the slightly OT post, but I'd like to point out that these guys do a LEGO quality wagasa: Minifigcat wagasa (don't forget the pole that's sold separately.)

I've already got some wagasa in anticipation of the S4 geisha. :sweet:

Hope that helps,

Amps

Edited March 1, 2011 by AmperZand

Ro87n · March 1, 2011

Whoo! Thanks alot, now S4 is getting some awesome minifig if I just purchase those 2 parts to make a wagasa.

Can't wait to finly have some S4 minifigs!

**DaleDVM** · March 2, 2011

I know which figs are going to be most popular... just like I knew it in all of the past series. It is not rocket science. It has little to do with the quality of the fig or the number of parts or even the new molds. In this series it is the Viking, Musketeer, and perhaps the sailor. To a lesser extent the Football and Hockey players. I can't believe people are still confused about this?

You put a hundred collectors in a room and ask which figs they want. In general you will get a good mix with a variety of demand. Then you ask how many of those figs they want. Almost all of the 100 people will want the Kimono girl. (it is a great fig!) but noone will want more than a couple. Several Kimono girls all looking exactly the same is about all you want. Most of the 100 people will also want a viking. However, there will be 10 collectors that want a hundred vikings or more each. The demand for that fig just went 10 times all of the other cool figs. Why? Army builders can use hundreds or thousands of minifigs in the exact same uniform.

I predict that just like in the previous series when the distribution of figs is released the army building figs will have minimal representation in the case. Just as in the past the LEGO group will try to drive up the price of a few figs to increase sales of all of the rest. This greedy practice has many bad consequences. Collectors and secondary market sellers will pick through boxes so that those figs will be harder to get for the average fan. There will be hard feelings about this and disappointed fans and children.

I feel that a box of 60 figs should contain two complete sets of the series. One for keeping and one for trading. I think the remaining 28 figs should have come from the army building figs. I define an army building fig one that someone would want in multiples larger than 10.

Miss Kyle · March 2, 2011

Guys, I am really getting excited.

Did I decide not to spend any more money on Lego for now? Meh, that was last month... :D

Edited March 2, 2011 by Miss Kyle

Aanchir · March 2, 2011

I know which figs are going to be most popular... just like I knew it in all of the past series. It is not rocket science. It has little to do with the quality of the fig or the number of parts or even the new molds. In this series it is the Viking, Musketeer, and perhaps the sailor. To a lesser extent the Football and Hockey players. I can't believe people are still confused about this?

You put a hundred collectors in a room and ask which figs they want. In general you will get a good mix with a variety of demand. Then you ask how many of those figs they want. Almost all of the 100 people will want the Kimono girl. (it is a great fig!) but noone will want more than a couple. Several Kimono girls all looking exactly the same is about all you want. Most of the 100 people will also want a viking. However, there will be 10 collectors that want a hundred vikings or more each. The demand for that fig just went 10 times all of the other cool figs. Why? Army builders can use hundreds or thousands of minifigs in the exact same uniform.

I predict that just like in the previous series when the distribution of figs is released the army building figs will have minimal representation in the case. Just as in the past the LEGO group will try to drive up the price of a few figs to increase sales of all of the rest. This greedy practice has many bad consequences. Collectors and secondary market sellers will pick through boxes so that those figs will be harder to get for the average fan. There will be hard feelings about this and disappointed fans and children.

I feel that a box of 60 figs should contain two complete sets of the series. One for keeping and one for trading. I think the remaining 28 figs should have come from the army building figs. I define an army building fig one that someone would want in multiples larger than 10.

Already expressed how silly this concept is in the Series 3 topic. You can't complain about LEGO creating artificial rarity in these figs (ranging from 3 percent of a box to 8 percent of a box-- not a huge range at all) only to claim the solution is creating a vast imbalance in ratios that favors people who buy multiples over casual collectors who just want a variety.

Anyway, the demand for a blind-packaged fig should have no effect whatsoever on its market availability. If LEGO could truly get the figs to the point that they can't be identified before opening them, this problem wouldn't exist at all.

Also, the idea that popularity and demand are synonymous isn't very sound. If a lot of people like a certain fig, then it's popular. If some of those people want ridiculous numbers of that fig, that doesn't make it any more popular-- it just means that they're not happy with just one.