Legends of Chima 2013 (Action Figures)

[Big Cam]

which is why I spend most of my time here. There's no rules against pics, otherwise the mods would be on us already.

Well, here there are still rules against embedding pics that are clearly watermarked as preliminary (doesn't really apply here), and mods can take pics down or prohibit linking of pics if they get a specific request from The LEGO Group (doesn't seem to apply here, though that can change).

Also, it's not like BZPower has no reasons for their rules... as I understand it, being a US site, oversight is handled by the North American community team, which might for some reason be stricter than the European community team. According to the BZPower staff, they've been threatened with having the site shut down if they post leaked content. Eurobricks seems to just get requests to take down offending content.

Eurobricks has a firm rule on leaked images. Anything marked as preliminary or confidential is not allowed. I'm not sure of the relationship that BZPower has with LEGO but we have a very good working relationship with LEGO so we try to abide by their wishes whenever we can. If they ask us to take something down, we respect that and do so.

Seriously vexorian, this is not the topic to whine about HF. Do that elsewhere like, oh, an HF topic.

If it's comparing HF to the new Chimw sets then it's part of the discussion. Just because you don't agree does'nt mean it's wrong. I'm sensing some hostility. We may not all agree on what we like but we can respect each others opinions, even if we think they are wrong.

[PenPlays]

It appears that in each Speedor set, there is a card for each figure showing the constraction figure of the character the group of cards corresponds to. What's interesting to note is that each minifigure has a constraction figure design.

[Dorek]

I think Hero Factory has proven that they're not adverse to creating new character designs without necessarily needing a corresponding set; this was always a peeve of BIONICLE's, but not so much with HF, so I imagine that they'll have representations that are "buildable" but not buyable.

[Aethersprite]

It appears that in each Speedor set, there is a card for each figure showing the constraction figure of the character the group of cards corresponds to. What's interesting to note is that each minifigure has a constraction figure design.

I think that each tribe uses the same generic build for their constraction figure. Can't really tell from pictures though, since they're all so small, but from what I can tell both the wolf and eagle (and hence I'm assuming raven) tribes use the BP chest piece. The wolves look like they share a similar hand design as Laval.

[Shakar]

If Laval and Cragger are indicative, I think that all 6 figures will use the Super Heroes/BP chest armour. It's a nice, smooth surface, the ideal candidate piece to print the Chi crystal pattern on.

I wish one of the sets used the Breakout body plate. It's my favourite HF torso armour, but it's tragically ignored in this year's HF sets.

[Aanchir]

If Laval and Cragger are indicative, I think that all 6 figures will use the Super Heroes/BP chest armour. It's a nice, smooth surface, the ideal candidate piece to print the Chi crystal pattern on.

I wish one of the sets used the Breakout body plate. It's my favourite HF torso armour, but it's tragically ignored in this year's HF sets.

While I agree the Breakout body plate is awesome, I don't know how well it'd work for the more organic-looking Chima constraction sets. It's got some very robotic-looking textures. And while it could perhaps act as armor for a sci-fi series, I think it'd be a poor fit for Chima's science-fantasy aesthetic.

[Cahillrebel]

If Laval and Cragger are indicative, I think that all 6 figures will use the Super Heroes/BP chest armour. It's a nice, smooth surface, the ideal candidate piece to print the Chi crystal pattern on.

I wish one of the sets used the Breakout body plate. It's my favourite HF torso armour, but it's tragically ignored in this year's HF sets.

I actually find that I like this year's HF torso. Makes them look like they have plates of armor overlapping the other. Maybe if they combined the two together it would make a better torso.

[Aanchir]

I actually find that I like this year's HF torso. Makes them look like they have plates of armor overlapping the other. Maybe if they combined the two together it would make a better torso.

I quite like the aesthetic of the Breakout and 2.0 torso plates myself. The new torso plate is nice, but there aren't many other armor pieces that have much stylistic consistency with it, whereas the 2.0 torso plate is consistent with pretty much any other basic shell, and the Breakout torso plate has similar mechanical texture to many shell detail elements like Splitface/Breez's spherical shell detail pieces. This isn't to say the new torso element is bad, but it's not quite as consistent with the rest of the character designs as some past torso shells have been.

Edited January 3, 2013 by Aanchir

[Aethersprite]

just2good from the Action Themes forum has kindly taken photos of some of the Chima cards:

You can make out the corresponding constraction figure behind each character. Unfortunately the Raven's and the Eagle's are blocked, but one can see that the Wolves share a similar construction to the Lions. Thought these cards could give us an idea of what to expect of the sets we haven't seen, though it's not much.

[DraikNova]

The Wolves seem to be the sleekest, most finished-looking of the bunch.

[Zachattacx]

I swear the wolves's helmets make me want to throw Bulk's away.

[Aethersprite]

I just took a closer look at the Eagle card (not sure of the character's name, the card says Axcalion). You can see both his hands - as well as one wing! It looks like a single piece, probably a new mold.

[Shakar]

@ Aanchir: I agree the Breakout shell isn't very organic, but I feel it's still valid as body armour, similar to Roman breast plates.

From what I can gather, it looks like Worriz and the other wolves share the Lions' use of Savage Planet paws as hands. The birds are likely going to use one piece wings, it's the only way for them to remain in the same price range as the other 4 (13 or 15 Euro, I guess).

I just realized constraction Cragger doesn't have the damaged left eye like minifig Cragger does. Ah well.

Edited January 6, 2013 by Shakar

[xxlrocka]

Has anybody already noticed that Laval has transparent blue armour on his right arm?

[Aethersprite]

Has anybody already noticed that Laval has transparent blue armour on his right arm?

Yup, this has already been mentioned.

@ Aanchir: I agree the Breakout shell isn't very organic, but I feel it's still valid as body armour, similar to Roman breast plates.

From what I can gather, it looks like Worriz and the other wolves share the Lions' use of Savage Planet paws as hands. The birds are likely going to use one piece wings, it's the only way for them to remain in the same price range as the other 4 (13 or 15 Euro, I guess).

I just realized constraction Cragger doesn't have the damaged left eye like minifig Cragger does. Ah well.

A pity about Cragger's eye, but honestly I prefer him to have his normal eye on his constraction figure. Maybe he regains his sight in that eye in powered-up mode.

As for the Wolves - I hope their paws have some variation, like using the Savage Planet claw pieces as fingers, to differentiate them from the Lions.

I do hope the Chima constraction theme does well, I'd love to see more waves in the future.

[DraikNova]

Hopefully, the wolves will look less skeletal, less asymmetrical and overall less awkward.

Edited January 6, 2013 by DraikNova

[Jetrax99]

So I picked up Furno XL and Rocka recently. Made Laval's sword using the blade pieces, and it looks really good! Granted they do have the same molding problem as the Breakout blades, but it's not noticable even when in double blade mode. So it's not obtrusive at all like it is on Stormer XL.

[xxlrocka]

So I picked up Furno XL and Rocka recently. Made Laval's sword using the blade pieces, and it looks really good! Granted they do have the same molding problem as the Breakout blades, but it's not noticable even when in double blade mode. So it's not obtrusive at all like it is on Stormer XL.

Maybe the molding problem is because the molding machine might be broken. Actually, that sounded better in my head. Anyway, good choice in sets, and now I'm excited for these Chima constraction figure sets to be released.

[Jetrax99]

Maybe the molding problem is because the molding machine might be broken. Actually, that sounded better in my head. Anyway, good choice in sets, and now I'm excited for these Chima constraction figure sets to be released.

Well, on the breakout swords it was obvious. On the new ones, it's not even a problem and you have to really, really look at it in order to notice it.

[Dorek]

It's pretty easy to twist them into a non-obtrusive position.

Anyhow, cool looking spirit animals. Hopefully we get some pics of the other guys soon.

[DraikNova]

Could you show a picture of how the double sword looks in real life?

[Jetrax99]

Here you go DraikNova.

Used Stormer's sword for comparison. Sorry for the quality. Webcam pics always suck.

Here are a couple link to show that the new blades aren't displaced like Stormer's are even though the problem carries over.

Laval's blade tip: http://www.brickshel..._20130107_2.jpg

Stormer's piece of crap sword: http://www.brickshel..._20130107_3.jpg (check out my topic regarding his sword for a better pic from bfahome)

Edited January 7, 2013 by Jetrax99

[DraikNova]

Thanks for the pic! The double-sword looks great indeed! Really smooth. I feel it would have worked better on an evil character though, in gunmetal.

[Shakar]

Thanks for the pic! I only have Furno so I can't try it, but it looks great.

I wonder if one of the other 4 are going to use Cragger's new blades, I quite like them.

His weapon looks like a scaled (heh, sorry) up version of his minifigure weapon, and that new blade piece is used by all the bad guys.. so maybe Razar and Worriz are going to use it?

Laval's weapon is an adequate representation of the Lion/Eagle sword, but I hope Eris gets her Eagle axe (I know it has a name like all the other weapons do, but I'm too lazy to check up now).

[DraikNova]

Eeeehm, that picture is of Crominus, not Cragger.