Heroes 1.0, 2.0 (new build fire rescue), 3.0 (Animals), Breakout (Cops and Robbers), Brain Attack ( Alien Invasion/Monsters)

Next?

See most people who post here are not going to care as much...because so many of us MOC. although, I've gotten a bit tired of the skeleton with plate armor in mostly the same colors. I've been doing a lot more with Bionicls these last few days.

That's the thing. I'm starting to feel the monotony of the new system and perhaps its limitations. Creatively, I'm not sure it can stand on its own (Although it mixes very very solidly with Bionicle). I have enjoyed building Laval and Gorzan from Chima (as intended even).

But, not just HF...BUT the Ultra build system in general? What's it look like to you guys?

Personally, I'm starting to wonder if all the cries to bring back Bionicle are so invalid? Bionicle incredible variety and complexity in story and building. HF AND Ultrabuiolds seem to be lacking, and to me, suffering for the lack of both?

But, what do you guys think?

For HF, I'd like to see underwater, sky, underground, etc., things we've already seen, but done differently for HF.

for next theme, time travel theme would be interesting. this kind of theme would allow for a new twist, like meeting with past characters, or something.

As far as stories and settings are concerned, the sky's the limit. A few years ago I doubt anyone would have predicted an alien invasion arc or a mass breakout of the Hero Factory's prisoners. So I have no doubts about the LEGO Group's ability to continue to surprise us.

As far as builds are concerned, I don't think reverting to a building style like BIONICLE is necessary or desirable. In general, a lot of Hero Factory sets today are just as complex and versatile as BIONICLE sets at a comparable price point, if not more so. Let's not forget that the lower leg beam of a BIONICLE canister set was invariably a specialized, high-detail design, as opposed to Hero Factory where all the limbs are constructed from basic beams with shells added for detail and volume. Additionally, the main way to change the appearance of a medium-sized BIONICLE figure was to use different shells. In Hero Factory, the position of a shell can be changed much more freely, and the designs of the shells are typically less specialized: stylistically, they are more or less interchangeable.

The one advantage that many BIONICLE builds had over Hero Factory models was the use of separate torso elements for the upper and lower body. Eventually I'd like to see that in Hero Factory, preferably with a joint in the middle to allow for waist articulation. Waist articulation was pretty much absent for all BIONICLE sets besides Maxilos and Pridak in 2007, but it would be a great asset to the Hero Factory building system. Additionally, you could conceivably use any size of Hero Factory beam to "extend" a torso built this way, much the same way later BIONICLE titan/warrior sets used basic Technic beams to increase the distance between the upper and lower torso elements.

Even if this change is a long time coming, another change I'd like to see is separate armor pieces for the upper and lower body, which would solve a lot of current design challenges. For instance, if an armor shell were designed to attach via ball snap to the "crotch" of a Hero Factory torso beam, then it would be able to armor both the front and back of the lower torso, it would eliminate problems like with Furno XL and Jet Rocka where the lower torso of a larger figure is left without armor, and it would make it much easier to use custom torso armor constructions for a figure of any size without leaving any areas conspicuously bare. Such an armor piece, if designed right, could also be used as a basic shell on limbs or anywhere else on a build.

Additionally, I'd love to see a new foot piece with the ankle placed one module lower. This would be a great development because it could be used for small models without the feet feeling undersized, or could be used with a friction joint for larger models. Currently, adding a friction joint to any foot design requires raising the ankle up in a way that looks unnatural in several poses. Anyone who owns Furno XL probably knows exactly what I'm talking about.

But overall, I don't want to see any fundamental changes to the Hero Factory building system. The current system of keeping skeleton pieces and armor pieces completely separate is wonderful, and the ball-joint-based connection method continues to prove versatile. I get lots of enjoyment from building Hero Factory models of any size, which as an overall process is much more intuitive than building BIONICLE models ever was for me.

As Aanchir said, there really are many paths Lego can take.

Think of it- not many Lego themes are unique, most of them are just very creative reinterpretations of already used concepts: Castle, City, Space, Underwater themes. Adventurers, etc..

Likewise, HF already took Lego's past concepts and revamped them: the first two arcs are set in a futuristic city a la Metru Nui, Savage Planet is one big tribute to 2001 Bionicle, Breakout is kind of everything, Brain Attack's Heroes have a medieval flavour. Really, who knows they'll do in 2014. I know for sure they have a lot of options they can choose from.

As for the building system, the new building system satisfies me in ways Bionicle never could (get your mind out of the gutter). It just gives it so much freedom. So I'm happy with it as long they develop it each year. with new skeleton, cladding and decoration pieces (and recolours of course).

Well, what's left is:

1. Some more complicated attachment systems. I've made a few suggestions for things for stuff like that.
   
2. Themewise, there's still:
   

• Water
  
• Snow
  
• Fire
  
• Jungle
  
• Air
  
• Urban
  
• Space
  

A time travel theme, maybe a line involving mech suits perhaps.

There are a ton of possibilities for this line since there's no specific story they have to keep to. The story is part of what led to BIONICLE ending in my opinion.

How about at theme that's about competition. Say a new group of villain robots challenge the alpha team to a series of sport events. Each hero could be designed to tackle a different sport event. Stormer could be Hockey. Bulk football. Breez gymnastics. It could also introduce a female villain.

Sports heroes and villains? Well that's certainly an interesting idea. Can't say I like it- but hey, that's just my personal opinion. Who knows, maybe it could somehow work fine as a set line.

I do definitely agree that we need a female villain.

You guys make some valid points, as always. I get bored and gloomy sometimes (which is when I most drift towards Bionicle's darker themes). BUT, I have to admit that it is very addicting to build with the HF system.

A time-travel theme would be awesome, and very interesting, but such a plot wouldn't be too complicated for kids ? I think an Ice theme is more likely, or a submarine one. But IMO, in DraikNova's list, the space theme is the best. We could then get new flying vehicles, and a coherent story, something like "Warning, Heroes ! Von Nebula has been seen with a new crew of villains, he's on a close asteroid and he's gonna attack Hero Factory ! You have to wear your new space suits to fight them !" Yeah. I would definitely buy space-based sets.

Heroes and Sports?

You know, that already happened:

Fox Sports and Hero Factory.

But back to the questons:

I have no problem with the building technique.

But the story is not very interesting.

I would like some actual challenge. Core Hunter was one of the most interesting villains, because he hunted the heroes to rip their cores out. That felt like a real threat.

So maybe there should be a real adventure. Maybe for two years. One continuing story where the heroes hunt after a big evil.

Yes, Von Nebula is still out there, maybe they could give him some spotlight back and have the heroes hunt him through the galaxy.

Bionicle had the Mask of Lfe story line, one of my favourites. There was an all around danger by mad, grinning monsters, mutated criminals in the deep sea and a whole group of Makuta to get one key item.

Hero Factory hasn't made enough "progress" yet.

Everything significant of the last years seems to be (correct me if I'm wrong):

- Von Nebula returns as a villains and does mischief with his gang -> gang captured and Von Nebula stuck in his staff

- Neither the Fire nor the Jungle Saga have proven to show any sign of significance to the story, besides the upgrades being introduced, but that could have been done with everything else, too.

- Breakout lets all villains free, including Von Nebula, some are captured, some are still free -> Okay, now we have a mass of criminals in the galaxy that may actually have some evil plans against the Hero Factory, wonder what happens now.

- One individuum launches a mass of brain corrupting aliens to the main city, to enslave Heroes and civilians -> Everything turns out okay, but some few brains are still right under the city. Wonder if they will be significant later, or if they were just used for a jump scare.

I hope for next year things will be going wild.

Edited May 21, 201311 yr by KazeMonsuta

I just want an underwater theme, villains could be very interesting, the different limbs could make a great octopus monster.

I just really loved mahri nui guys :D

For HF, I'd like to see underwater, sky, underground, etc., things we've already seen, but done differently for HF.

Yeah let's go for HF Bioshock :p

Honestly IDK if this is the end,with the conclusion being the mastermind who did Breakout and Brain Attack.

I think we still got one more conspiracy plot before it ends to twist the story a bit leading to the end.

Time travel,sound pretty good actually for that "conspiracy".

I actually think that as of right now, the first wave of 2014 would revolve around rapping up the Brain Attack due to the remainder of the brains under the factory. Maybe the second half will be a space theme.

Hero Factory: The final Battle....

One thing that I've always loved about Bionicle and that would work just as well with HF were the multiple titan builds. And there were some pretty unique ones too, which HF could easily pull off. Maybe some larger henchmen for the next villain?

Hero Factory: The final Battle....

Boy, that's a really specific suggestion... :P

Someone brought up the idea for an 'OId West' theme a while back, I thought that was rather interesting.

I'm thinking something like a Mine-Attack theme with Rock Monsters(like the Minifig sets had before) would be cool. Have the Heroes with drills and jackhammers as weapons, fighting under a city.. or a full-on undersea theme, that would be cool.

I was thinking maybe Von Nebula could resurface in one of these themes, maybe as the villain with some squid-arms coming out of his back-for an undersea theme, of course!-, or just as an enlarged version of his old self.. who knows

Someone brought up the idea for an 'OId West' theme a while back, I thought that was rather interesting.

I'm thinking something like a Mine-Attack theme with Rock Monsters(like the Minifig sets had before) would be cool. Have the Heroes with drills and jackhammers as weapons, fighting under a city...

I've already got a few vehicle concepts thought out for that. And that´s another thing that HF should do: try to use the current building system to make vehicles. The XT4 torso would be a great starting point.

Hero Factory: The final Battle....

Oh look,another HF hater. GET! OUT!

Oh look,another HF hater. GET! OUT!

I. Love. Hero. Factory. I just thought they could do that for the "Live Action" Movie. I want a Sky theme next, or a "Save the factory" Theme.

Oh look,another HF hater. GET! OUT!

Chill out, he wasn't hating. Let everyone suggest their ideas.

Oh look,another HF hater. GET! OUT!

JEEZUUSSS! DECAF!!!!

Defensive Much?

The over-all forum is Lego Action Figures. Not everyone has to like or love HF to give their opinions. For instance, I like HF, but not nearly as much as I loved Bionicle (especially back in 2001), and even though I hate CHIMA as a Mini-fig line, I've actually enjoyed the 2 I've built so far more than I've enjoyed a great many HF builds.

Differing opinions (presented fairly) make for more worthwhile discussion, my friend.

Oh look,another HF hater. GET! OUT!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, if you don't agree that's fine, but it doesn't give you the right to tell someone to leave.