Hero Factory 2013

[Aanchir]

I'm fine with Rocka (I personally like him), but it's the jetpack itself. It's massive, and that being supported on Rocka's puny legs just doesn't work with me. If there were leg attachments, then I'd probably be more interested.

Speaking of Jet Rocka, I find it funny how in the episode he just happens to find the jetpack, but when he's wearing it, it has his name on it.

Kalhiki

The reason, as described in Secret Mission #3: Collision Course (in a passage I had apparently overlooked, since I was opening it looking for a DIFFERENT passage related to this issue) is that Rocka designed the jetpacks. Page 40:

Rocka had suggested they use the personal rocket packs he had recently designed. The packs even came with upgraded shields to protect them from the extreme temperatures of space.

Edited April 10, 2013 by Aanchir

[Vinyl Scratch]

Okay, since when is Rocka such a great engineer?

[Kadabra]

Okay, since when is Rocka such a great engineer?

Rocka is a great everything. He's on Hero Recon Team! :P *cough*MarySue*cough*

[HUZKEE]

The jetpack should have gone to Nex. I really don't need another Rocka. It's not like you can even see the pilot inside the suit anyways. I don't know why Furno and Rocka get the best sets. It's the Bumblebee factor all over again.

[Lyichir]

The jetpack should have gone to Nex. I really don't need another Rocka. It's not like you can even see the pilot inside the suit anyways. I don't know why Furno and Rocka get the best sets. It's the Bumblebee factor all over again.

Don't see how complaining about Furno is justified, since this year is the first year he's been at an XL scale or otherwise stood out from the other heroes (unless you count the Furno bike). Until now he's just been one of many ordinary heroes in the sets, even though he's essentially the main character of the series as a whole. And you could consider this year's Furno XL as him "getting his due", since two other important heroes have each appeared in an XL form once, and this year is just his turn.

[DraikNova]

I would have really prefered Stringer getting the jetpack. That would have given us another, not-overused character for this year, plus, it's Stringer! And you can't really go wrong there.

[Aanchir]

I kind of wonder whether the decision to give Rocka the jetpack might have had something to do with not having room in the budget for an additional new helmet... after all, Jet Rocka is the only set this year that doesn't have any unique molds at all as far as we've seen. Other than Jet Rocka, not one of the mask or helmet pieces from this wave has been reused for multiple characters. In 2011 and 2012 the reuse of helmets/masks was much more common (Drilldozer/Fire Lord, Jetbug/Nitroblast, Scorpio/Waspix, Black Phantom/Voltix/Speeda Demon).

I agree Stringer or Nex would have been good to have this year instead of a second Rocka, though not necessarily as the pilot of the jetpack... after all, hypothetically any hero could have been put in the jetpack with Nex or Stringer taking their place as a smaller set.

[Vinyl Scratch]

That's not really a valid reason, Aanchir. They could have simply used Bulk or Breez if that was the case.

[Mesonak]

Bulk wouldn't exactly be a good candidate for piloting a jet, IMO. A tank would be more his style.

(Now I have ideas for Tank Bulk..... hmm...)

Breez, however, I could see working equally as well as Rocka, but then they wouldn't have been able to have the confrontation between Breez and Surge in the special. (Not that I'm insinuating they plan sets around the special, but still. I bet they had a rough idea when the sets were being developed.)

[Aanchir]

That's not really a valid reason, Aanchir. They could have simply used Bulk or Breez if that was the case.

Sure, they could have, but if they're going to be using a character twice it doesn't really matter too much who it is. Sure, Rocka has already gotten a special form, but that was two years ago, and there's no doubt the shiny gold character is going to appeal to a lot of kids. Design-wise, I think Rocka is better suited to the jetpack than Bulk or Breez would have been.

By the way, you know what might have made Jet Rocka (or any character they put in the jetpack) cooler? If they printed some kind of targeting reticle/HUD on the visor. On Rocka in particular, it could echo the eyepiece he had on his previous helmet, but since the eyes of most characters are about even with one another as far as I know it could also be swapped onto any other helmet.

Bulk wouldn't exactly be a good candidate for piloting a jet, IMO. A tank would be more his style.

(Now I have ideas for Tank Bulk..... hmm...)

We'll call it... THE CRUSHER. As featured in the very first episode of Hero Factory FM!

"Yeah, those ants took one look at the Crusher and left.... Never seen tiger ants move so fast."

It'll definitely be interesting once Jet Rocka comes out to see if people can mod it well for other heroes. The color scheme of the jetpack might not contrast as well with certain characters (I worry that the silver helmets of Bulk and Breez might not work so well with a white and gray jetpack), but since most of its color comes from basic Technic panels and beams (which come in a lot of colors) that shouldn't be a huge problem for MOCists.

[Vinyl Scratch]

If LEGO releases the Crusher at one point as a set, man it's going to be massive.

Or I hope it'll be massive.

[DraikNova]

By the way, you know what might have made Jet Rocka (or any character they put in the jetpack) cooler? If they printed some kind of targeting reticle/HUD on the visor. On Rocka in particular, it could echo the eyepiece he had on his previous helmet, but since the eyes of most characters are about even with one another as far as I know it could also be swapped onto any other helmet.

I'm wondering what kind of expansions to the visor system we'll get next year. Targeting scopes would be an obvious choice, but apart from that?

[Aanchir]

I'm wondering what kind of expansions to the visor system we'll get next year. Targeting scopes would be an obvious choice, but apart from that?

You could probably have a bunch of unique helmet accessories similar to the 2.0 helmet accessories. It probably wouldn't eat up too much of the budget if the 2013 helmets themselves are reused.

Alternatively, trucker caps.

Edited April 12, 2013 by Aanchir

[Aethersprite]

Any Lego.com cache pics for HF?

[Aanchir]

Any Lego.com cache pics for HF?

Nope. I guess we'll have to wait a bit longer for those.

[Shakar]

Some themes are still missing, like HF and Castle it seems.

[Cirkit]

Just got Pyrox today, and despite the size, this bull is an impressive looking beast. At least, from the front.

Head-mask-thing looks so much like the Piraka used to, but with a nose ring, which is pretty cool; and those trans fire-blade parts look really pretty in the sunlight.

It's got a lot of great parts I will definitely be using soon for MOCing, and it's got that brain- odd how it feels, I expected it to be a little.. squishier. Hey, it works though, even if the tail won't stay connected to the red part sticking off the waist (When it does, I really get reminded of the Piraka..), but I digress.

My only issue is the price- nearly 13 bucks for a set that has as many parts as Bulk does in this wave.. maybe the parts included, like the Ben 10 tails and feet, and the huge mask make it cost that much? Hmm.

I still have a desire for Breez, and now I know of a place to find her in her Breakout form still, along with the much desired XT4.. but that's a little off topic there.

Breez.. man.

Also, how cool would it be to have 'The CRUSHER' as a set?? Gives Bulk the spotlight, unless they decide to cram Furno into the cockpit.. and it would probably have loads of silver armor parts.. I can just picture it now... ah, that's refreshing.

[davidr]

If you want to make these pin connection of brain tails stay in place, push them to the... connecting point as much as you can, it then stays in the place most of the time. At least it works for me. But I don't move their heads so often. I would wonder though if you didn't do that.

[Aanchir]

Also, how cool would it be to have 'The CRUSHER' as a set?? Gives Bulk the spotlight, unless they decide to cram Furno into the cockpit.. and it would probably have loads of silver armor parts.. I can just picture it now... ah, that's refreshing.

Ideally, when designing the Crusher, it'd be a color OTHER than silver. I always dislike it when a model builder decides the vehicle and pilot ought to be the same color. Not only does it make very little sense, but it makes it hard to differentiate the pilot from the model, which can lend the impression of a vehicle with arms and a head sprouting out of it rather than a figure seated in a vehicle.

[Cirkit]

Oh wait, that's right.

If it was something like an Exo-suit, maybe having it the same color could work, but you're right, it should be a different color.

If Bulk is silver, gunmetal, and red-orange(trans), then would a green vehicle work for him? I'm thinking colors on the color wheel, red and green contrast. And we haven't had a green vehicle yet in Hero Factory. Could be interesting..

[Aanchir]

Oh wait, that's right.

If it was something like an Exo-suit, maybe having it the same color could work, but you're right, it should be a different color.

If Bulk is silver, gunmetal, and red-orange(trans), then would a green vehicle work for him? I'm thinking colors on the color wheel, red and green contrast. And we haven't had a green vehicle yet in Hero Factory. Could be interesting..

Green might work, yes, and that would probably be one of the more attractive color schemes. There are probably also colors of blue that could work. I certainly wouldn't mind a green vehicle... Rockoh T3 remains one of my favorite BIONICLE sets, and the color is definitely one significant factor among many.

[ToaJaller78]

The Crusher? I could Imagine A MASSIVE Hovertank with Bulk sitting in it. WHY COULD'NT LEGO DO THAT For Brain Attack?

[Aanchir]

The Crusher? I could Imagine A MASSIVE Hovertank with Bulk sitting in it. WHY COULD'NT LEGO DO THAT For Brain Attack?

I dunno. To be honest, I've never really thought about why TLG chooses particular vehicle sets for particular years. In 2008 and 2009 BIONICLE, it was tied to the setting, but Hero Factory doesn't exactly have that excuse, so it'd be neat to get some insight. For all we know it's just a matter of designers pursuing whatever the new parts for a wave inspire them for. But it could be that they find their inspiration elsewhere.

I wish the Hero Factory set designers were a little more public about their work. Even if they don't engage directly with fans, it'd be cool to see more set designer videos and interviews like we see for some other themes.

Edited April 16, 2013 by Aanchir

[Devorath]

Yeah. DC Comics is good like that, getting opinions from different fan sites and possibly changing or adding details. It would be quite nice if Lego did something like that.

Edited April 17, 2013 by Devorath

[CabooseBM]

which can lend the impression of a vehicle with arms and a head sprouting out of it rather than a figure seated in a vehicle.

Not that that's a bad impression or anything...