So, modern military lego is out of the picture...

[Bonaparte]

it's going to be very interesting to see how much the ambassador program influenced the company's policy. I think 2007 would be the first time we can see the effects of that. It would be great if the company and the ambassadors were to sit down with the community somewhere in 2007 and show us exactly where they changed things on themes/lines/sets/policy...

still, i'm split on a pirate theme. I fear that we'll never get an even better version of the old pirates. instead, we may get a viking style theme: pirate ships with catapults, pirates fightings seamonsters... still, I'd buy it if the general quality is as high as the viking line ...

any other theme that smells like real conflict/war is just not an option, but i do think that the company is moving in that direction. We'll see. If they release a police set next year with real guns, then i guess one day Lego might be interested in creating military sets one day...

How does one become a lego ambassador ?

B.

[xwingyoda]

How does one become a lego ambassador ?

You can check out that page on Lego Fan ;-)

*yoda*

[highlandcattle]

When the new cycle starts up, I will make sure to start a discussion on how fans want pirate sets again.

Ben

Nice ! I am amazed they didn't jump on the occasion with pirateof the carribeans. Pirates had been the most successfull line for TLC. How sad !

MegaBloks has the licence for Pirates of the Carribian !

[snefroe]

When the new cycle starts up, I will make sure to start a discussion on how fans want pirate sets again.

Ben

Nice ! I am amazed they didn't jump on the occasion with pirateof the carribeans. Pirates had been the most successfull line for TLC. How sad !

MegaBloks has the licence for Pirates of the Carribian !

true, but they didn't actually need the license. they could have easily used the hype to sell regular pirate sets

[ellerb]

true, but they didn't actually need the license. they could have easily used the hype to sell regular pirate sets

I agree. The LEGO Pirates theme is much better than the MB sets. Those sets look great on the boxes but do not have the play value of LEGO sets. Plus, with all of the new elements and color released since the original Pirates line, a great new line could be made.

Ben

[Brick Miner]

wow 8-

[snefroe]

wow 8-

[ellerb]

this surprises me, though. Does this mean that the ambassadors have never discussed a return of the Pirate theme? To my knowledge, the return of this particular theme has been a hot item in the community for quite some time now, and the sets are very very very popular. I always assumed that Lego was simply not interested in a revival because of high production costs that come with the theme...

Many ambassadors grew up building Pirates and like them very much. We discuss many issues and I think Pirates came at one time. Recently there have been threads on multiple fan sites and of course the pirate section here at EB. It is a good time to bring up Pirates again.

One of the best ways to get the attention of the LEGO Company is to be enthusiastic. Starting fan sites also helps. Hopefully Pirate fans can build on what has been done here and start their own exclusive Pirate site. Space, Castle, Star Wars, Bionicle, etc have well established popular sites. Pirates should as well. I have been interested in this but with my activity as a CC Admin, LEGO Ambassador, member of my lug, building, etc time is limited. Hard working and dedicated fans should start sites for Pirates, Town, Fabuland, Galidor, etc :-P

Ben

[Jipay]

Well don't worry, we are on it. We are now working on integrating a whole structure around our pirate forum since it seems we have the biggest one avilable right now

[Landlubber]

Just thought I'd chuck in 2 cents worth.

If they brought out a civil war theme it would just be more Wild West sets too me. It would be the same as bringing out a theme based on the Eureka Stockade or Ned Kellys last stand.

Im guessing there are a lot of puzzled looks at this point, its significant Australian History but probably means nothing to most of you. Same as the Civil War means to most of us. The good thing about the Lego themes is that they are not character specific and all characters are made up from the beginning.

[Brick Miner]

Just thought I'd chuck in 2 cents worth.

If they brought out a civil war theme it would just be more Wild West sets too me. It would be the same as bringing out a theme based on the Eureka Stockade or Ned Kellys last stand.

Im guessing there are a lot of puzzled looks at this point, its significant Australian History but probably means nothing to most of you. Same as the Civil War means to most of us. The good thing about the Lego themes is that they are not character specific and all characters are made up from the beginning.

yes, and that is what makes the WW theme more appealing than a civil war theme ;-) WW is romanticised, and is a literary setting, not just a policital war !!!

that is what makes it SOOOOOOOooo fun !!!

- BrickMiner

[El Bucanero]

-Royal Navy ship (50-80 USD)

I'd love to see what LEGO made out if this!(if they did).

[Minifig Lecturer]

I think LEGO is ever increasingly giving people the ability to make whatever armies they want by increasing the number and types of lego weapons and bricks available.

For example, there are some great detailed headgear these days, I am not sure where some come from but I think from the Adventurers and SWs themes, that look exactly like Islamic headgear Mr OB Laden and friends wear. I am not sure it is coincidence but I am sure many kids are glad they can make these armies for their playing around.

I think it is now possible to make good WWI/II, Iraq war mocs (especially minifigs) , something that was alot more difficult with the pieces in 1980s.

[Aaron Morse]

Yup more modern looking soldiers are possible with all the new elements. I especially like the skater helmert in light bluish grey.

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/morsea10...w/extras001.jpg

I think LEGO is ever increasingly giving people the ability to make whatever armies they want by increasing the number and types of lego weapons and bricks available.

For example, there are some great detailed headgear these days, I am not sure where some come from but I think from the Adventurers and SWs themes, that look exactly like Islamic headgear Mr OB Laden and friends wear. I am not sure it is coincidence but I am sure many kids are glad they can make these armies for their playing around.

I think it is now possible to make good WWI/II, Iraq war mocs (especially minifigs) , something that was alot more difficult with the pieces in 1980s.

[Grrr]

As has been said by many before me in this thread, the civil war will just be very similar to the Western theme (not that I have any issue with more western sets mind).

I think lego would be very hesitant to start selling military themed toys - particularly were these can be directly linked to any event or locale. It makes awful business sense to sell a product which actively divides your market.

The other big problem is that when you go for a big story as a theme - you very quickly run out of material. You can't really repeat the same sets easily or the people who bought the first generation set won't buy the second, and you can't not have a set at any time of all the major events (city without a fire station would just be stupid for instance - but how many kids want two fire stations. The only reason it works for town is that at any time there are ~6 very large sets, which should keep a kid going until they grow out of lego; small themes don't have this luxury however).

I also think that lego is best to stick to characature/romantisism of events, as then it will never get pinged for things being wrong. Some of the Star Wars sets have very big discrepancies with those in the movie, leading to them not selling sell - but how many of us have a very defined idea on what a pirate ship or a constega wagon looks like?

To be honest I think the overall lack of history/adventure movies in the recent past has really affected lego's theme building options - while there are movies of these genr

[blueandwhite]

As others have said, the idea of event-based themes makes me a tad uncomfortable.

No previous sets have paid close attention to historical events or actual persons, and I don't see why this should change. I have no problem with modern firearms, or similar pieces, but the idea of making a theme that is directly tied to any single historical happening seems out of place. Simply because LEGO opted to include weapons with recent Star Wars sets and Batman doesn't mean that we need sets that are directly connected to a psecific historical event.

[snefroe]

i think the millitary theme in general is very far away from Lego's drawing boards right now, for one thing only: the current lines are very successful, they don't need a military theme to boost the sales, so why risk it?

[ChrisF2006]

I decided to register just for this topic. Im 19 and I still have all my Legos from when I was a kid, I would spend hours building pirate ships vs Royal Navy or US Army vs bandits/Indians/Mexicans (using customized Imperial troops from the pirate line). I made a huge customized HMS Victoria using parts from the Red Beard Runner (I think thats what it was called.

I do like the idea of an American Revolution theme but I dont think it would be to popular outside the US, especially in Britain. American Civil War would totally not sell at all anywhere in the US due to the fact nobody would buy Confederate sets because of the slavery issue and the conflict is not really touched upon in our school systems anymore. War of 1812 is to to similar to the Imperial Guards sets in the Pirate line.

Personally I think they should expand the Pirate line and the Adventures line as both of those could be customized into other conflicts for those of us that want military themes. Adventures would fit in perfectly in some of the late 1800s colonial conflicts, WW1 in Africa and the Middle East and the whole Pancho Villa/Mexican bandits and Gen. Pershing's raid into Mexico, Spanish American War, etc and could even be used for the very early parts of WW2.

[Asuka]

Personally I think they should expand the Pirate line and the Adventures line as both of those could be customized into other conflicts for those of us that want military themes.

Yep, I also think that this would be the best solution, some neat sets which could be easily transformed

and used for MOCing historical military stuff if someone wants to do so.... and for more modern looking

things there are such lines as Dino Attack I guess. And there are more than enough modern MF weapons

to purchase online....

BTW: Hello and welcome! *y*

[ChrisF2006]

Yep, I also think that this would be the best solution, some neat sets which could be easily transformed

and used for MOCing historical military stuff if someone wants to do so.... and for more modern looking

things there are such lines as Dino Attack I guess. And there are more than enough modern MF weapons

to purchase online....

BTW: Hello and welcome! *y*

Thanks; btw where can I find these modern weapons you speak of? I assume you mean like M-16's, Heckler and Koch's, Colt .45's etc?

[oo7]

Brickarms.com

;-)

[Starwars4J]

Thanks; btw where can I find these modern weapons you speak of? I assume you mean like M-16's, Heckler and Koch's, Colt .45's etc?

There are two places currently.

The first is Brickarms, a site dedicated to modern military Minifig accessories.

The second would be Brickforge, formerly known as Armothe and Red Bean. They concentrate on medieval weapons and accessories, but also carry some World War II era custom parts.

[oo7]

I don't really like the Sturmgewehr though, it's too big. :-/

[Starwars4J]

You own one? Or are you referring to a pic? I never bought any of his non-medieval pieces. Too busy saving up for his chrome ones :-P

[oo7]

No, I'm referring to pictures I've seen. He has chrome ones? Are those the 'silver' ones? I think those are flat silver.......