So is the Planet line going to end after Series 4?

[Faefrost]

I would not be surprised if they didn't continue, and nor would I be if they did. I could care less though, I don't think TLG has taken full opportunity of this line, They should have exclusive figures for this to work successfully (for me anyway).

That seems to be the big issue with them. The first series had some for the time slightly unusual Minifigs. Ones that were not unique, but it was an affordable way to get them. But some of the later series seem to be some very plain, very common figs. Things that were available last year in battle packs and such. If these had some harder to find figs they would sell better. How about a Jawa in one? Things like that? Not "oh joy another tie pilot or imperial guy with hat".

[Graysmith]

They don't seem particularly popular where I live, which isn't too surprising since they're so overpriced and don't really offer anything that great. The concept itself is pretty cool, but I think they'd have to start adding some recognizable and/or unique characters or larger models in these if they want people to buy them.

I actually just bought my first two Planet sets today, at about 1/3rd the original price, and even at that price they kinda feel like poor value.

Edited January 11, 2013 by Graysmith

[Rez]

The problem with these sets as they are now is that they don't take advantage of the possible strengths in making a subline similar to this.

The name of the game here should be army building and world building, but the strangely high price point and lack of what you're getting render the possible benefits obsolete.

Why are mini ships awesome? Because they present the possibility of fleets of ships on a massive scale, something that you can't get with minifig scaled ships. Introducing planets for display along side of these is actually a pretty neat idea. Who wouldn't want to have a set up of a Death Star with a bunch of X wings and Y wings fighting a bunch of TIE Fighters?

Likewise, getting unique minifigures and/or army builders for cheap would be awesome.

But instead of giving us 1 minifig for cheap, or 1 ship for cheap, they give us a smattering of stuff that doesn't go together and renders both sides useless. If they included 2 ships, like the original minis line did, then it would be easier to build fleets.

Another neat idea would have been to have different sized planets with a different number of things in them. Imagine a big Hoth with an AT-AT, ATST, and 2 snowspeeders.. that kind of thing. Or a small asteroid with the parts to build either a TIE fighter or a TIE bomber.. so if you buy 10 of them you have a fleet of TIEs and an asteroid field. The small size is the perfect place to emphasize rough scale, and if they used this line in conjunction with something like midi scale capital ships, it would have been awesome. As it is it's just a waste.

Edited January 13, 2013 by Rez

[BrickG]

My problem with these is they seem massively overpriced. $10 for a single minifigure and a planet usable on basically nothing else, then a very few parts for a ship or something. Really, these seem like they should be $5. $6 on a day I'm feeling rich.

(today is me complaining about prices day)

[Lobot]

I've got mixed thoughts about them.

On the plus side there's been one or two interesting ones (i.e. Lobot :wub: ) and they make a nice little presents. However, they're very expensive, and I think from an Environmental perspective Lego really aren't sending out the right sort of message; bulky to transport, lots of packaging for a small set and a big plastic sphere that has limited (if any!) use. To be honest I've thrown a couple of them away & I haven't ever done that before with Lego

I don't think that running out of 'official' planets will be a problem if they decide to continue with them, as Lego are already using an 'Asteroid field' (or similar)....A Death Star II could be printed on a black, starry, background and would look reasonable.

[MonkeyCrumb]

TLG has really missed the boat with these.

It should be all about the minifigures. These should be used to expand on sets already available. We have awesome Jabba's Palace and Skiff sets, so TLG should have put a figure in with a planet to expand these sets, like Ree Yees.

Instead, it's more like getting the SAME stuff as the Advent Calendar with a hard plastic shell!

The only sets I've bought were Bespin because of Lobot, and the Death Star, because that's the only set I would want for the planet (unless they do a DSII as a painted sphere)

IF they want to do Army Builders, that's fine, but give us something we can't find on the shelves already! Give us Jawas, Tusken Raiders, etc., or else just unique minifigures.

Otherwise, most of the mini-models can be built with our extra parts in our collections and the instructions off of Lego.com. Give us a better reason to part with our cash.

Edited January 14, 2013 by MonkeyCrumb

[Golem25]

Good lord, I'm all for more Planets set (managed to get a hold of Bespin for a fair price of 5 pop), but please, please, please, leave TOR out of it. Seriously. It was absolutely awful, flopped (I mean, development and marketing cost 500 million Dollars; they'd never make that back), and should be buried as soon as possible.

I was already surprised (disappointed) that it got a battle pack this year.

[Esvald Forceswoop]

My problem is, in my countrey the Planet sets are costs the same as Battle Packs! Why would I buy a big planet with a mini ship and one minifig instead of four minifigs and a ship/outpost? It's just does not worth it to buy those sets. They should sell them like the half prince of a battle pack.

[Zaterdag]

I own the AT-ST one and I like it. The only other one I'm interested in though is the Bespin one so I can get a new flesh-coloured Lobot to pilot my old twin-pod cloud car.

I'd REAAAAAAALLY love to see them re-do Tattoine but with a Sandcrawler and a Jawa minifig.

I think the series as a whole though would be better if it was the same price but included 3 minifigs instead of 1, or 2 vehicles.

[AndyC]

I bought the Bespin one, mostly for Lobot, but I can't say I was overly impressed. I actually think they'd be a lot better if they just ditched the "planet" part entirely and just had a line of small ship models each with a figure.

[TheLegoDr]

I guess they are intended to build a galaxy for yourself as some people have hung them from their ceilings. That idea is neat, but I have no interest in doing that. I'm only a mild SW fan, so this theme idea is neat, but I agree about the price being a bit high for what you get. I have 6 orbs just sitting in my LEGO area taking up space. I don't want to throw them away, but I guess my daughter can bowl with them or something.

The figures are neat, especially when they are new, but not all of them have been that good. The mini builds have been pretty decent, but it does feel like a slightly larger scaled Advent calendar.

One good thing will be the new pilot with the printed legs so I don't have to buy the Hoth set to get Luke in that attire.

[wesker]

The one thing I'm not a big fan of is having generic troops as the minifigure. Army building for a cheap price is great, but why do we need the planet sets for this when we have multiples of the same figure already available battlepacks for roughly the same price? I would rather see the planets come with more unique minifigures. For example:

- Characters that we wouldn't normally get in regular sets (Bail Organa, Boss Nass, Mas Amedda)

- Figures that need to be updated to pupil eyes, from yellow to flesh or from CW style to realistic style

- Generic aliens that don't have the option of army building like the troops do (Jawas, Tusken Raiders, Ugnaughts)

The same could be applied to the Advent Calenders.

[Chills]

I guess I'm in the minority as I quite enjoy the Planet Sets. I do agree that full retail price is a bit steep, but I've been able to buy all 6 on sale so I can't complain.

I like the mini-models, they are clever and fun little builds.

I really dig the planets, themselves. I'm planning on using them in a MOC; but I can see how many people don't like them as there is no playability.

I will agree with the majority here: I wish all the planet sets had unique minifigures. TLG could definitely sell more if they didn't include figures that one could get elsewhere with more desireable sets.

I hope TLG continues the line and includes planets from the EU. There's a lot of potential out there.

[BrickG]

I can think of one use for those planets. I need to get one and repaint it to look like the Technodrome Eye... if I ever get to actually building that monster (don't have enough white pieces...).

[Brickmamba]

It wouldn't be the end of the world if they did stop the planet series, figures that have been released so have been mediocre to say the least

[Drock]

I like the planets sets. I just see them for what they are though - small, standalone display pieces. The figures from them stay in their intended places, and the planets sets are displayed in a row. It's also nice that these are out there so I can have a cheap pick-me-up if I need a little cheering up or a LEGO fix. I'd like to see the planets continue, but I'd like it if they just stick to the films for source material, like they have so far. I probably wouldn't buy ones based on EU or CW.