Book II - Kaliphlin: Guild sign-up and Discussion

[Yzalirk]

In the Bricklink parts list you should look here and here.

Alright, thanks.

I might make it do the tree is black with red leaves to give it a creepy feel to it.

[kabel]

I'm also thinking about making trees like this but I can't find those like "pipe" pieces...

Pal, all it takes is klicking the first two bricks together, the rest will happen. So quit planning, and start building. At least that's how I usually moc.

[Yzalirk]

Pal, all it takes is klicking the first two bricks together, the rest will happen. So quit planning, and start building. At least that's how I usually moc.

I was simply just saying I didn't know where to find those pieces because I don't own any of them anymore...

Anyways, what's the best way to start a MOC? Baseplate, lots of plates, or what?

Edited August 2, 2014 by Behemoth

[Gabe]

Out of curiosity, which parts and pieces should I buy to build Kaliphlin stuff? I'm at a budget of around $400, maybe a bit more, and I want to get the most stuff I possibly can. I'm also going to be getting lots of minifigs, like the Uruk Hai minifigs for my own little tribe. And really good sellers on BrickLink I should look at that has cheap pieces and has an abundant supply of stuff?

If you are new to this stuff, your parts inventory is small and you are looking to expand, i would recommend prioritising the following:

1. Buy more plate than brick. Whenever i break down a moc, i always find i have more plate to sort than anything else!

2. Smaller parts are used more often than larger parts, especially for parts intensive techniques, such as using SNOT bricks and tiles to simulate brickwork on a wall etc. Buy more smaller parts accordingly.

3. Baseplates are optional, especially when you are just starting out, as you will most likely begin building smaller than 32 x 32 studs anyway. I find baseplates most useful for large layouts, which you want to break down into modules for ease of transport.

4. Landscaping plays a large part in castle and fantasy building, and can really make or break a moc. For that reason, i would recommend stocking up on natural colours. Affordable natural colours are the bleys (new greys), tan and dark tan, nougat, blue, brown, lime, white and black. Slightly pricier are colours like green (yeah i know), dark orange, sand green, dark green, sand blue and dark brown. Trans colours can go either way - for instance, trans-clear1x2 plates are cheap and i highly recommend getting a few hundred if you can. Light trans-blue cheese are a bit pricier, and trans-clear 1x1 brick with studs all sides even more so (last time i looked anyways).

5. Don't pass up Duplo, large panels and rainbow bricks if you can get a lot on the cheap - they are super useful for substructures. Ditto long technic beams.

6. Everyone develops thier own "go to"parts for thier own style of building. This is something that you develop naturally, and often happens because you can't find the parts you really want and are forced to improvise. Personally, i favour using combinations of slopes, wedge plates, hinges, ball joints and bar/clips to achieve organic shapes in my mocs, and so i tend to look out for those sorts of parts.

7. When thinking about how much of a part to order, i recommend over-ordering instead of under-ordering. Many techniques are parts intensive, and it's a crummy feeling to order a bunch of parts for a moc only to find yourself a handful short.

With those general points out of the way, these are parts i highly recommend you stock up on:

1x1 plates in bleys, tan, dark tan, light blue, green, brown, blue, black, white, trans-clear.

1x2 plates in same as above, plus sand green, olive and dark orange too if you can get some.

1x3, 1x4 plates in same as 1x1.

2x2 corners, 2x2 and 2x3 plates in same as 1x1

2x4 plates in same as 1x1 plus dark green, sand green, sand blue, olive and dark orange if you can find them.

1x1 round plates in bleys, white, black, tan, brown, pearl gold, trans-clear and light trans-blue.

1x1 tiles in bleys, white, black, tan and brown.

1x2 tiles in bleys, brown, dark brown, tan, dark tan, blue and light and dark trans-blue.

1x1 and 1x2 brick in bleys, tan, dark tan, nougat green, blue, light blue, dark green, sand green and blue. Olive and dark orange only if you can afford it!

1x2 and 1x4 log bricks in brown, dark brown, tan, dark tan, bleys and nougat.

1x2 "brick bricks" in bleys nougat and dark tan.

1x1 headlight bricks in bleys, tan and brown.

1x1 SNOT bricks in bleys, tan and black. (dark orange if yr feeling rich)

1x2 and 1x4 SNOT bricks in bleys and nougat

1x1 SNOT bricks with studs 2 sides in brown

1x1 SNOT bricks with studs all sides in whatever colours.

Slopes! All kinds, but i like the 1x2 slopes that are one, two and three bricks high, respectively for rockwork. Don't forget inverted slopes too. Stock up on bleys, tans and browns.

Wedge plates! Go nuts. Greens, browns, tans and bleys and white are what you want. Often great for introducing contour in groundwork so the ground level doesn't look so flat or have a "minecraft" look about it. I like the 2x3, 2x4, 3x3, 4x4 and 3x6 shapes the most, but check out all of them. Just remember, some of the older wing peices don't have notches on the sides so you can't use them for layering.

Ball joints! I really like the new mixel ball joints, you can use them to do some sweet shaping. I'm also partial to the large pin style clicky ball joints. (what is their name? I usually just call them mecha hinges, although i've used them most for trees!)

Hinges, both the horizonal and the vertical styles, modified plates with clips and bars, brackets, rails etc, you get the deal.

Arches! I almost forgot. The 1x4 quarter arch (4bricks high) is useful in both the bottom half of the circle and the top. They are cheap in the browns, and useful for tree branches and roots if you are building large studs up trees. Also, look out for the new half gothic arches and the PoP arches - the last one is really good for Kali architecture.

Foliage! Ok, this is going to hurt if you are paying BL prices - foliage is not cheap. If you have Pick-a-brick you could score some i guess, or if you are part of a LUG you might be able to get some through them. Otherwise, yeah. Stalk grass is ok and bamboo leaves aren't too bad either, but the 3x4 and 6x5 leaves can be a pain to amass, as can the palm leaves. Good luck!

Anyway, i've run out of steam now, although i'm sure i've forgotten a bunch of useful parts that ppl consider essential. If anyone wants to add thier fav/go to parts to the list to help the new members out, i'm sure they would appreciate it!

ps. But in the end, all this aside, Kabel is essentially right... it doesn't really matter how much you have, it's what you do with it that counts. So get building already!

[-Horizon-]

Impressive list Gabe. It have taken you a long time and a lot of hard work to put that together.

[Gideon]

Very comprehensive list Gabe! I can only agree with most of it, especially that plates are essential in larger quantities than I expect when buying them...

[Yzalirk]

If you are new to this stuff, your parts inventory is small and you are looking to expand, i would recommend prioritising the following:

ps. But in the end, all this aside, Kabel is essentially right... it doesn't really matter how much you have, it's what you do with it that counts. So get building already!

Beautiful list there, I think it answers all of my questions!

Alright, I'll begin buying these stuff by the end of the month. And when you say "bleys", I assume you're referring to bluish-light gray/grey? I'll also be buying most stuff at quantities of one hundred, it depends on the price of the stuff. If not one hundred, most likely fifty to seventy five but I may be able to buy them in larger quantities. I've seen some foliage go for like two cents to around a dollar, so I may not get too much, most likely in colors of red, orange, and olive drab. Maybe some green if I have extra money.

On a rough estimate, how much would I be paying for one brick or plate? And can I pull this off with a budget of around $400?

Edited August 2, 2014 by kabel
Behemoth, a long quote like this doesn't make much sense. Please try to do better!

[Maxim I]

Beautiful list there, I think it answers all of my questions!

Alright, I'll begin buying these stuff by the end of the month. And when you say "bleys", I assume you're referring to bluish-light gray/grey? I'll also be buying most stuff at quantities of one hundred, it depends on the price of the stuff. If not one hundred, most likely fifty to seventy five but I may be able to buy them in larger quantities. I've seen some foliage go for like two cents to around a dollar, so I may not get too much, most likely in colors of red, orange, and olive drab. Maybe some green if I have extra money.

On a rough estimate, how much would I be paying for one brick or plate? And can I pull this off with a budget of around $400?

I always try to have an average of 4 (dollar) cent a piece. So with 400 dollar, you should have around 10k pieces :)

[Kayne]

While I do use brick link to get large amounts of pieces.....do not forget about sets. If you get them on sale or clearance, you can score a good price per piece ratio of 5 cents or less per piece, and you will find creative uses for pieces you never thought of.

[Infernum]

While I do use brick link to get large amounts of pieces.....do not forget about sets. If you get them on sale or clearance, you can score a good price per piece ratio of 5 cents or less per piece, and you will find creative uses for pieces you never thought of.

Yes! The Castle Cavalry set is an awesome parts pack for castle mocers!

[Yzalirk]

I always try to have an average of 4 (dollar) cent a piece. So with 400 dollar, you should have around 10k pieces :)

That's awesome! But I still do need to buy minifigs, I hardly have any Castle minifigs as of right now along with buying Uruk Hai minifigs for my little tribe, which isn't cheap but I'll be buying those parts individually. I've also noticed a lot of these sellers are in Europe so I may have to pay extra shipping (not too sure, I've only bought stuff within the 50 states).

While I do use brick link to get large amounts of pieces.....do not forget about sets. If you get them on sale or clearance, you can score a good price per piece ratio of 5 cents or less per piece, and you will find creative uses for pieces you never thought of.

If I find some sets for a good price, I'll probably buy them. The Uruk Hai Army sets would be great for me but I can't find them and BrickLink sells them without the minifigs or just too expensive.

Yes! The Castle Cavalry set is an awesome parts pack for castle mocers!

The gate in that set looks awesome, I may get one.

[Maxim I]

That's awesome! But I still do need to buy minifigs, I hardly have any Castle minifigs as of right now along with buying Uruk Hai minifigs for my little tribe, which isn't cheap but I'll be buying those parts individually. I've also noticed a lot of these sellers are in Europe so I may have to pay extra shipping (not too sure, I've only bought stuff within the 50 states).

Lotr is way cheaper in the US then in Europe :) seriously, some sets are half the price in the US :(

Also have a look at garage sales. Today I bought the Adventurers Elephant set for 15 euro (new and never opened) while its value is 40 euro on bricklink!

Woop woop I have finally an elephant :D

[Yzalirk]

Lotr is way cheaper in the US then in Europe :) seriously, some sets are half the price in the US :(

Also have a look at garage sales. Today I bought the Adventurers Elephant set for 15 euro (new and never opened) while its value is 40 euro on bricklink!

Woop woop I have finally an elephant :D

That's a fantastic deal! Those Elephants are quite expensive too.

[SkaForHire]

I wish I would have bought more elephants when I had the chance years ago. I opened one of those sets a few years back and Lego had forgot the legs -- it was way too late to call customer support for a replacement :(

[Yzalirk]

I wish I would have bought more elephants when I had the chance years ago. I opened one of those sets a few years back and Lego had forgot the legs -- it was way too late to call customer support for a replacement :(

The Elephants would make for nice builds. It's too bad they're not so easy to get and kind of pricey. Same with Wargs!

I also noticed the Free Build's deadline is October 1st, that means I should have a few things up. I can't guarantee they'll look professional but I'll try. I'll try to get some pictures up this September considering this month is busy for me and I need to place orders on BrickLink but I did find a camera I could use! Not sure how lots of MOCers have the backgrounds of their pictures white though...

[-Carson Haupt-]

I use a light tent with a sheet, I know some people use whippet poster boards and some others edit the background. Hope that helps.

[Yzalirk]

I use a light tent with a sheet, I know some people use whippet poster boards and some others edit the background. Hope that helps.

Like these poster boards? If so, I'm assuming it would be placed so one of the folding parts is on the ground so the center is back up against a wall?

[Kayne]

I use a white sheet in the background just so it's all the same color and then I use Adobe Photoshop cs2 to edit the background. It takes a little practice, but then it's really easy once you're used to it.

[-Carson Haupt-]

Like these poster boards? If so, I'm assuming it would be placed so one of the folding parts is on the ground so the center is back up against a wall?

Same material, but just two separate sections. One on the floor and the other leaned against a wall.

[Yzalirk]

Same material, but just two separate sections. One on the floor and the other leaned against a wall.

Okay, I'll have to pick up two of them sometime in the near future.

[Maxim I]

Okay, I'll have to pick up two of them sometime in the near future.

Or a white wall in your house :) I am lucky I got a white table and "broken white" walls in the kitchen. :)

[Lord Vladivus]

I (and others I believe) use a cheap white roller blind.

[Gabe]

I also noticed the Free Build's deadline is October 1st, that means I should have a few things up. I can't guarantee they'll look professional but I'll try. I'll try to get some pictures up this September considering this month is busy for me and I need to place orders on BrickLink but I did find a camera I could use! Not sure how lots of MOCers have the backgrounds of their pictures white though...

Hey Behemoth, while i think it's cool that you are asking all these questions and are really interested in making your mocs the best they can be, there is a lot to be said for just jumping right in and having a good old fashioned bash, ready or not! Or maybe it's just me that's impatient to see your character introduction post. Anyway, don't worry if your first mocs here aren't perfect, we all start off small and build on what we've done before. Being a beginner is a great place to be, there is no expectation and you can just play around. Everyone here wants to help and be encouraging, so don't worry too much about being "professional looking" or whatever, it's all good!

Just as an example, here is one of my first adult mocs that i made nearly 4 years ago to the day, when my collection was a mere 800 parts or so. Far from being embarrassed by it, i remember it fondly and marvel at the difference between it and the stuff i build now. Please don't pass up the chance to build something as amazingly rainbow blok-tastic as this by over planning your first builds, it's an experience i highly recommend!

[kabel]

Haha Gabe, quite a contrast to your recent ships! And, it basically underlines what I've said before. Stop planning and start building for GoH's sake!

[Yzalirk]

Hey Behemoth, while i think it's cool that you are asking all these questions and are really interested in making your mocs the best they can be, there is a lot to be said for just jumping right in and having a good old fashioned bash, ready or not! Or maybe it's just me that's impatient to see your character introduction post. Anyway, don't worry if your first mocs here aren't perfect, we all start off small and build on what we've done before. Being a beginner is a great place to be, there is no expectation and you can just play around. Everyone here wants to help and be encouraging, so don't worry too much about being "professional looking" or whatever, it's all good!

Just as an example, here is one of my first adult mocs that i made nearly 4 years ago to the day, when my collection was a mere 800 parts or so. Far from being embarrassed by it, i remember it fondly and marvel at the difference between it and the stuff i build now. Please don't pass up the chance to build something as amazingly rainbow blok-tastic as this by over planning your first builds, it's an experience i highly recommend!

I just don't want to wait to seem like a waste for everyone. But, if you guys want something of mine soon, I'll try to get something up in the next few days. I can't guarantee it'll be spectacular or relevant to my concept, but I can't make it seem like something in Kaliphlin because I got some Prince of Persia sets a few years back with some nice pieces. I may have to dig them out but I can try to make something. As for my character, that'll have to wait since I have no Uruka Hai minifigs yet

But trust me that my character and biography will be cool and menacing. I may have a few characters up seeing how there will be a few important characters in this "Council" of mine. I'm 1/3 done with the stories so there are quite a bit of people on the council.

Edited August 3, 2014 by kabel