Should Lego Make Sets Purely To Have Good Parts?

[Aedai Rivin]

You know that one HF piece, the one that is a y joint/hand but has a ball instead of the plus hole? And other useful pieces like that?Do you think Lego should make a set a year or so with the sole purpose of having good parts? Why or why not? Rivin

[LaputanMachine]

I think they could certainly produce parts in more colours than black.

[Aedai Rivin]

I think they could certainly produce parts in more colours than black.

Yes that is partially what I meant, but imagine an affordable set with 15-20 of those t-bone pieces that first showed up in that Vikings Fenrir Wolf 4-6 years back. It clearly wouldn't be the best set ever, but it's parts would be so useful we'd by lots of them. Rivin

[Sumiki]

Not sets, per se - the accessory tubs were crude versions of that product which would undoubtedly fail. I'd definitely go and purchase new, useful parts over Pick-a-Brick, but you've got to remember that whatever LEGO does, it has to be profitable by a large margin. Honestly, I don't believe there are enough MOCists to make exclusive parts work.

[LaputanMachine]

I bought an accessory tub and was quite impressed by the variety of parts in it, and it had lots of Technic parts too. Maybe they should do something like that again.

[Meiko]

No, I don't think that it would be a good intent for them. Say there was a set like that where it came with parts that were intended to be a stimulus to your collection, but another person doesn't need those parts for any reason you can think of. It would narrow down the group of consumers who would buy that set, which wouldn't be productive to LEGO. That's a main reason that LEGO has Pick-A-Brick—so that people can get the parts they want or need. Also, Design byME is a similar case—so that people can make models to their personal desire, getting the pieces and result they want from it.

[Protodite Karzahni]

Didn't they already? I mean everyone said Von Nebula was an awful set, but great for parts, so I imagine that's pretty much the same thing.

[Phauxx Lightning]

Eh, I'd hope they get more sets out there with recolored pieces. That'd be nice.

[Daiker]

To be honest no. I would certainly hate it for lego to make a set solely for the purpose of having parts. It would be a complete mess to me. What I would very much prefer is the large bucket filled with HF parts, much like what BIONICLE did in '04. But even so, there are sites (of which I can't list) that sell pretty much every part. There are also HF PaB's that exist in both lego stores and online. I just don't see the need to make a set using such a large amount of parts.

[Based Goomy]

I'd appreciate a massive tub filled with assorted parts. I wouldn't like an actual "purposefully bad" set just because I enjoy putting the sets together so much.

[re:Twilite]

With the new building system introduced earlier this year, I half-expected them to release a tub full of parts as they did in '05 and '04.

[penguin_poet]

I'd love for them to sell a HF Tub-o-Parts. It could work as a store exclusive like the '04 and '05 tubs. They could call it "Hero Factory Run Off" . . . or not.

[Kojol]

Sets which have excellent parts: Yes.Sets which suck so that there are more excellent parts: No. Bin-o-bricks? Heck yeah.

[Meiko]

With the new building system introduced earlier this year, I half-expected them to release a tub full of parts as they did in '05 and '04.

Yeah, I'd like to see that. It would be a more effective ways to stimulate builders collection of Hero Factory parts than a set for the sole purpose of parts. I guess a parts tub counts as a set, but I'm fairly certain that's not what this topic was originally implying. A tub of parts would be nice, yes.

[Aedai Rivin]

With the new building system introduced earlier this year, I half-expected them to release a tub full of parts as they did in '05 and '04.

Yeah, I'd like to see that. It would be a more effective ways to stimulate builders collection of Hero Factory parts than a set for the sole purpose of parts. I guess a parts tub counts as a set, but I'm fairly certain that's not what this topic was originally implying. A tub of parts would be nice, yes.

A tub of useful HF bones, shells, and misc pieces with instructions to build a hero and a villain, while leaving plenty of extra parts, would be SICK! Rivin

[Obsessionist]

I, personally, would love to have parts packs. Not parts tubs, with random bits and pieces, but rather sets that are just a pile of one or two useful or rare parts. Alternatively, and probably more plausibly, I think Lego should produce five or six heroes besides the main line that are basic 2.0 hero builds, but with all of the armor and skeleton pieces in a rarer color. Purple, teal, brown, dark orange, tan, perhaps pink, the list goes on and on. The cores, heads and weapons could be colored to make the set look good, and thus marketable to the non-parts-collecting audience. Give them a cameo in the main story. I, for one, would probably buy two or three purple, teal and dark brown guys. I think Lego could make a tidy profit.

[HordikaMode]

Here's an idea: LEGO should make Special Edition Hero Factory Staff sets. Now THAT would be awesome. Like a $14.99 set of Zib and Quadal, a $9.99 set of Mr. Makuro, a "Big Joe" set of 3, with 3 Factory Employees in different colors for $15.99, and new versions of 1.0 villains: Xplode(with 2 of his weapons) and his vehicle thing for $19.99, Thunder and his Nebula Gas Launcher Cannon(and some other modifications) for $14.99, and a $5.99 "Hero Head Pack", with 5 random Hero and Villain heads AND helmets (up to 15 parts, with heads, 2.0 headgear and 2.0 helmets) in different colors. Then they should make a "Retro Mask Pack" which would be a renewed version of the Kanohi, Krana, Kanohi Nuva, and Krana-Kal packs (and maybe Kanoka) all in one, with 3 of each for $5.99. And how about packs with various Tohunga and Mata Matoran body pieces (feet, torso, arms, heads) for $9.99? Also, new STARS versions of the 12 second-most-popular sets (I assume): Kopaka Nuva, New Bohrok (like the Rahkshi), New Visorak, Ehlek, Ackar, Kiina, Lesovikk, Vezon, A baby Nivawk, Keetongu, a new version of Pewku, Teal Tarakava, and Purple Nui Jaga. Then try a merger Special Edition set or two, having a Kanohi and Hero core, or a set with both Hero Factory ball>socket parts and traditional Bionicle elements. AND we can't forget: BATERRA. a $12.99 set would be nice. Then they should just go ahead and give us some more Glatorian. 10 is not enough.

[Studs Not On Top]

I think LEGO should produce a set with plenty of new molds and recolors, but still look decent as a set. If they really wanted to they could sell a "tub" of HF parts and recolors.

[Ehlekdude]

As cool as it would be, I say no. Much more people would buy a set that looks good than one that merely has great parts. Now, if they manage to combine those two, that would be great.

[Argentum]

But surely "good" parts are an opinion of the consumer? Looking at lots of sets, I see parts that master MoCists' use every single time they make an MoC, whereas I can't find a single place to put it. Like those elastic band holders from the Bohrok, or the Hero 1.0 Leg armour. I can't find anywhere good to place them, but some people just get a feel for it and use what many people would call a "bad" part in an amazingly creative way. It's all based on opinions, really. So, from this, we can also say that every set LEGO has ever released has had "good" parts, as it's what you do with them that counts, rather than the actual part design. ~Argentum~

[-Blank-]

No. I want a good set I don't care about the parts.

[Meiko]

Maybe they could make "parts packs" as I'm beginning to see in Ninjago for next year's spinner sets. They could include different armor/cladding and hero cores in it, I guess.

[Dralcax]

Yes, because we need more nonstandard parts for use in MOCs. Like Kanohi masks in non-elemental colors.

[Aedai Rivin]

I mean, for example Waspix. Good set, but has lots of delicious limb pieces and shells. That's the kind of set i want to buy. Rivin

[Meiko]

I guess a Hero Recon Team order could count, because it doesn't matter on one's opinion on what pieces are "good pieces". This is kind of what Pick-A-Brick is for though.

[Akuna Toa of Sonics]

The skeleton pieces should be made in more colors other than red, grey, and black.

[Meiko]

The skeleton pieces should be made in more colors other than red, grey, and black.

What colors would be better? I think that red, grey, and black go best with skeletons, because I certainly can't picture a skeleton in pink.

[GeluNumber1]

There are three aspects of a good Lego set: 1.) It's gotta look good to capture the buyer's attention. 2.) It must have good pieces so it can challenge the builder, and 3.) It must be able to be produced at a factory. A set that only has good pieces wouldn't sell well, if at all. & it'd be a beast for the designers think up. So, no.

Edited October 17, 2011 by GeluNumber1

[Ballom Nom Nom]

More parts tubs now and then would make me so happy, I admit. Hope TLC does that one of these years.~B~

[Dorek]

I can see a HF parts tub being pretty profitable; the point of the new system is the crazy cool customization things you can do with all the new limb pieces and whatnot, so I'd like to see a tub. BIONICLE ones kinda flopped because there are just so many specialized pieces, but it would definitely work better with Hero Factory.

[Sappholopod]

Isn't that what the Superhero line is for? =P But in all seriousness, LEGO should release a HF2.0 accessory tub. I'd buy twenty.

[Meiko]

LEGO should release a HF2.0 accessory tub.

I wouldn't expect them to make it limited to just the new build style. I'd expect them and even want them to throw in a few of the 1.0 Hero and Villain pieces, because some of those were pretty sweet, and I want more of them.

[Aedai Rivin]

I just discovered how magical this new building system is. I took Scorpio ($25 is good), dismantled him, and built a dragon with out wasting a single piece. Now obviously he is a bit silly, but the ease in which one can build with the bones in phenomenal. A parts tub would be AWESOME. Rivin

[Chols]

I think they could certainly produce parts in more colours than black.

But black is the best LEGO color Unfortunately, LEGO cannot focus solely on good parts. There's a couple issues with that. 1) Shelf-appeal is a top priority. No matter how novel a set might be for building, if it doesn't look appealing to customers, it won't sell. 2) Who would be the judge of what is a "good part"? This is subject to opinions. Some people might find a new piece novel, while others might think it's worthless. For example, I think the new Hero Factory pieces are much better than Bionicle's old system, but there are many people who say the opposite is true. Of course, making useful parts is important to LEGO. They don't like to make too many specialty pieces with few uses; versatile pieces are much more cost-efficient. But trying to make sets just for "good parts" would likely end up pleasing no one. I really like the with idea of a Hero Factory parts tub, though. I made a blog entry about this recently. LEGO made great BIONICLE parts tubs a few years back, and I think Hero Factory would benefit from something like that. Edited October 23, 2011 by Wolven

[DeLaSouth]

I agree, there should be a pieces-tub like the 2005 Ultimate Accessory thing. It should contain: Translucent-BonesTranslucent-PanelsTeel galoreTan galoreSome brownColour-blendsRecolours of 3.0 helmetsQuaza Spikes in whacky colour-blendsPurple pieces

[Meiko]

I agree, there should be a pieces-tub like the 2005 Ultimate Accessory thing. It should contain: Translucent-BonesTranslucent-PanelsTeel galoreTan galoreSome brownColour-blendsRecolours of 3.0 helmetsQuaza Spikes in whacky colour-blendsPurple pieces

Problem being that if they do make a parts tub, then they'd put pieces that had already been released. They wouldn't issue unreleased parts, because that would be unpractical. The purpose for the parts tub was to sell the parts that they had over-produced in bulk, to clean up inventory. It was a win-win situation for both parties; they clean up their unused parts that they can't use anymore, and we get a lot of pieces in bulk for a good price.

[PooZy]

I'd rather have lots of useful pieces than the over-specialised large pieces that you can only ever use for maybe one thing.

[Meiko]

I'd rather have lots of useful pieces than the over-specialised large pieces that you can only ever use for maybe one thing.

I don't think that I know of any over-specialized pieces in Hero Factory. What ones are you talking about?

[Aanchir]

I agree, there should be a pieces-tub like the 2005 Ultimate Accessory thing. It should contain: Translucent-BonesTranslucent-PanelsTeel galoreTan galoreSome brownColour-blendsRecolours of 3.0 helmetsQuaza Spikes in whacky colour-blendsPurple pieces

This is a bit demanding, don't you think? For one thing, I don't know if it would be a good idea to have both transparent bones and transparent shells in any set. Transparent parts are made from a material called polycarbonate, which has slightly different properties than the ABS used for opaque pieces. Specifically, polycarbonate parts have high friction against other polycarbonate parts, and so two polycarbonate pieces can be damaged when putting them together, taking them apart, or hinging them. Incidentally, this is also the reason there have never been transparent LEGO minifigures in sets-- some of the parts would snap if you tried to hinge them. The same would probably apply to any ball joint and ball snap/ball cup connection. For another thing, even the BIONICLE tubs never contained exclusive pieces. The pieces were usually just overstock from the previous year's sets. And seeing as those didn't even continue for more than a couple years, I can't say that a tub in general could be profitable enough to justify such a huge variety of exclusive parts. At best I could picture maybe one exclusive part in a Hero Factory tub, like for instance a uniquely-blended chest armor piece. With that said, I think a Hero Factory tub would be extremely useful, and I would encourage TLG to look into how profitable it might be, if they haven't already. Naturally, though, a tub might not sell nearly as well as a figure since it might not be as appealing on store shelves to people who aren't already familiar with Hero Factory's building system.