Brickonicle "Sets" Discussion

[Bokarda]

1. Fair enough. Maybe not for all of them, but maybe a few (especially the larger sets).

2. I like to think of it as making the environment 3-dimensional, not just based on land (I could see underwater sets as well).

3. Sounds good.

4. I agree with you somewhat on that, but I was thinking that the Matoran packs could just be to add more customizable Matoran (adding the possibility of more custom characters). Maybe each pack could include a rare piece (like a rare mask or Onua-sized body).

[RAKRONDEWL]

-1. Still a taxing task that would, if real, raise the price of the already expensive set.

-2. I think this aspect would be covered by the wind tribe as they would be flying region to region. Giving any other tribe this ability may cause problems with story as well.

-4. I love this idea even more.

Here are some designs I am working on based off artwork and some of my own ideas.

[Bokarda]

1. I wouldn’t say there would be that many with that specific concept.

2. Exactly what I had in mind.

3. Obligatory so the #4 appears in the post.

4. Is your #3 a response to my #4? If so, awesome!

Edit in response to images: Why can’t I like a post more than once?!

[RAKRONDEWL]

-1. I could possibly see one or two.

-2. This is a quick concept that I may have gone a little overboard on.

-4. Yes it was, not sure why it made it a 3.

[Bokarda]

-2. When it comes to aerial vehicles, I don’t really see the glider as a common vehicle for Kanaens. Since they have flying Rahi, or limited air manipulation to allow basic aerial movement, I don’t see a main distributer making the glider.

It would make more sense if this was a vehicle made by an independent inventor like Nuparu, although that would mean giving it a more Nuparu-like theme. Maybe some orange mixed in there acting like a signature?

[Payinku]

I’ve had the same opinion from day one, an action line is dead on arrival without action sets,
That’s simply the reality of the situation.

From the kaita poll topic:

@Payinku

I did suggest vehicles myself in this very topic,
it works significantly better both for story and set design than combining the toa themselves,
a system action theme needs action sets after all, can’t be just brick built rahi and scenery.

I believe someone tried to argue that because Lego Minecraft(a licensed theme of one of the most popular games on the market which is based on structure building) does well with a structure based set lineup, that g3(an action theme which is on its second resurrection and is an original IP) would be successful with a structure focus as well, despite Lego clearly shifting away from structure sets in action themes over the years for presumably financial reasons, ergo they don’t sell as well, for example: city is mostly vehicles, you get the occasional scenery piece and usually one structure a year.
All this is to make the point that g3 would be dead in the water with a structure focused set lineup, which is why I suggested repurposing the kaita title for vehicles.

I realise this post was a touch wordy, but I wanted to reiterate that point: that people need to look at g3 as a realistically successful action theme, and not a line of set pieces, regardless of how many gimmicks you say you would cram into the b.u.r.p.'s.

@Payinku

I would suggest perhaps being able to separate the (vehicles) into chunks and mixing and combining the parts, ultimately forming either two kaita or a larger singular kaita nui.
I suggested they be powered by elemental energy, both as a way to balance the power boost, but also it could explain why they were lost to the tribes, as they were unnecessary and unwieldy given the matoran’s limited elemental ability.

These ‘ancient machines’ would obviously not appear in the story in the first year, or arguably even the second, matoran machines such as onu/po matoran boxxor and le matoran airships and such could easily be a way to simultaneously give the ‘good guys’ vehicles while still having them be the underdogs.

@Payinku

The boxxer would make for a great $12 hero battle pack, a boxxer and 2 matoran and some enemy minifig, similar to the nexo knights equivalent,
It could even be based on the recent small mech torso Lego made, using mixel joints.

.

@RAKRONDEWL

Here are some designs I am working on based off artwork and some of my own ideas.

Those are some very ornate very expensive plastic statues,
while they are pretty, they don’t seem to actually do anything.
As well, getting more than one large structure a year is highly unlikely.

[RAKRONDEWL]

@Bokarda

When it comes to aerial vehicles, I don’t really see the glider as a common vehicle for Kanaens. Since they have flying Rahi, or limited air manipulation to allow basic aerial movement, I don’t see a main distributer making the glider

Great point.

@Bokarda

It would make more sense if this was a vehicle made by an independent inventor like Nuparu, although that would mean giving it a more Nuparu-like theme. Maybe some orange mixed in there acting like a signature?

That makes more sense and that color scheme would probably work a lot better, i’ll try it out quick.

[Bokarda]

@RAKRONDEWL: I’ve got a post on the Bohrok in Brickonicle that could work as action/sport sets. With this concept, you could implement the multiple-instructional books to build various Bohrok-grades, arenas, and environments (maybe a combat-grade model laying siege on a small fort for the Civil War season?)

[Omega_Tahu]

So yeah, we obviously want to have buildings because world buildings, but that won’t work at all for an action theme. I’d suggest Vehicles/monsters as the main part of the sets, with a small building with a defense action for a side build. We could possibly do one, maybe two big building sets, but those should still have a small vehicle/monster for play value.

[RAKRONDEWL]

@Payinku

These ‘ancient machines’ would obviously not appear in the story in the first year, or arguably even the second, matoran machines such as onu/po matoran boxxor and le matoran airships and such could easily be a way to simultaneously give the ‘good guys’ vehicles while still having them be the underdogs

I could see this.

@Payinku

Those are some very ornate very expensive plastic statues,
while they are pretty, they don’t seem to actually do anything.
As well, getting more than one large structure a year is highly unlikely.

I am still working on the functions and haven’t added the antagonist/s yet. Looking at Nexo Knights and Ninjago we could get two a year.

@Bokarda

@RAKRONDEWL: I’ve got a post on the Bohrok in Brickonicle that could work as action/sport sets. With this concept, you could implement the multiple-instructional books to build various Bohrok-grades, arenas, and environments (maybe a combat-grade model laying siege on a small fort for the Civil War season?)

I like the idea but feel it would need to be introduced in a later year as they seem too advanced/futuristic. Never the less I have already built one for the racing.

@Omega_Tahu

So yeah, we obviously want to have buildings because world buildings, but that won’t work at all for an action theme. I’d suggest Vehicles/monsters as the main part of the sets, with a small building with a defense action for a side build. We could possibly do one, maybe two big building sets, but those should still have a small vehicle/monster for play value.

You are probably right and I will keep this as my mindset as I work to finish them and for future builds.

[Omega_Tahu]

@RAKRONDEWL

You are probably right and I will keep this as my mindset as I work to finish them and for future builds.

Speaking of your build, you should really add wheels in. Lego wouldn’t build something like that and not add wheels. I do like the opening feature tho.

[Bokarda]

I really like the shape and design of the Racers!

Maybe the two “wheels” on the outside could revolve from the center, and the cockpit should open from the front. Looking at it from a real-life perspective, it wouldn’t be too good for the driver to be spun with the wheels. He’d probably throw up or get pressure sickness.

Still looks cool, though!

[RAKRONDEWL]

@Omega_Tahu

Speaking of your build, you should really add wheels in. Lego wouldn’t build something like that and not add wheels. I do like the opening feature tho.

It does, which is one of the reasons if it was used, it should be later down the line, IMO.
@Bokarda, was writing this as you replied, lol.

[Payinku]

@RAKRONDEWL

we could get two a year.

I forgot the fortrex technically counts as a structure.

Personally I’d suggest a $30 and the big $120 $150 sets be the limit of structure focused sets.
Perhaps a starter kit(ala city) of a camp or something as well.

I’m not saying the line can’t or shouldn’t have structures, or that I don’t want any, merely that there needs to be restraint shown.

Also I just thought of another vehicle type: po matoran sand skiffs, I think each tribe having a signature vehicle type could flesh out the world while filling spots in the set lineup.

[Omega_Tahu]

Oh, didn’t realize it spun. Some rubber could help though, to make sure it spins.

[Bokarda]

@RAKRONDEWL

It does, which is one of the reasons if it was used, it should be later down the line, IMO.
@Bokarda, was writing this as you replied, lol.

insert excited squee

[RAKRONDEWL]

@Payinku

Personally I’d suggest a $30 and the big $120 $150 sets be the limit of structure focused sets.
Perhaps a starter kit(ala city) of a camp or something as well.

That sounds quite reasonable.

@Payinku

Also I just thought of another vehicle type: po matoran sand skiffs, I think each tribe having a signature vehicle type could flesh out the world while filling spots in the set lineup.

I really like this idea.

@Omega_Tahu

Oh, didn’t realize it spun. Some rubber could help though, to make sure it spins.

That is undoubtedly my fault, “I will not use wheels”, uses wheels… Hmm rubber, I didn’t think about the traction, an excellent point.

[UltimateMustacheX]

@Payinku

I think each tribe having a signature vehicle type could flesh out the world while filling spots in the set lineup.

Mangai - Volcanic Speeder (Like the Return of the Jedi speeder bikes, but using the heat of the lava to hover.)

Ihu - Tundra Walker (Stilt-like machine to walk through deep snow. Could also pierce ice to have traction.)

Motara - Desert Skiff (Small raft/boat that can glide across sand dunes)

Tiro - Forrest Tunneler (Standard machine with the big drill as its front. Or maybe one with claws and a badger-like digging motion.)

Naho - Ocean Bobber (A pod or sub that can collect things underwater. Maybe has robo arms on the front.)

Kanae - Sky Glider (Simpler than the one in the above image. More like a hang glider that uses their wind powers to glide.)

[Bokarda]

@UltimateMustacheX

Mangai - Volcanic Speeder (Like the Return of the Jedi speeder bikes, but using the heat of the lava to hover.)

Ihu - Tundra Walker (Stilt-like machine to walk through deep snow. Could also pierce ice to have traction.)

Motara - Desert Skiff (Small raft/boat that can glide across sand dunes)

Tiro - Forrest Tunneler (Standard machine with the big drill as its front. Or maybe one with claws and a badger-like digging motion.)

Naho - Ocean Bobber (A pod or sub that can collect things underwater. Maybe has robo arms on the front.)

Kanae - Sky Glider (Simpler than the one in the above image. More like a hang glider that uses their wind powers to glide.)

And maybe the different utility Bohrok could be the evolutions of those (for the single/double seaters).

[Stuubh]

I’m struggling to accept vehicles as sets. One thing that has me a little confused with Brickonicle that I don’t believe was brought up before is the tech in this universe. For the “Golden Years” of Bionicle G1, it made perfect sense for the characters to be mostly mechanical, even in such an unadvanced location (not at first, but whatever). Here, well, not really. How are the people so advanced tech-wise, but not their environment? If they did have vehicles, where would they get all the resources to make them? (Unless they vehicles are very primitive) If they have such enhanced mechanical bodies, and vehicles, why would their homes be so primitive and unadvanced? All that being said, I do enjoy the ideas of rahi. Particularly the insects. I like idea of the settings and contraptions as well. Sorry if this went a little off topic with the matoran, but I thought it would add to my thoughts a little.