BrickLink Designer Program Series 4 prices confirmed

Nice, but very expensive. I wonder if instructions will be available someday.

Pricey, pricey, pricey. And I think the models are dull, dull, dull; just more of the same. Certainly not getting any of these.

I think I'm going to order the Wild West Train, although I'd have to figure out where to display it, as it would be taking up quite a bit of space on a shelf…

@essel said:
"I think I'm going to order the Wild West Train, although I'd have to figure out where to display it, as it would be taking up quite a bit of space on a shelf…"

Go on, stop being shelfish......

(Okay, I'll get my coat)

I wonder how well will the Wild West train go with 6769 Fort Legoredo, how well will the look next to each other?

I'll have to think about this, I like the train plus both medievals... Decisions on price, and where to find space for all Lego

The train is great, although the raised train track looks great for display, together with the windmill they seem unnecessary. However, together with the seaside market, it will sell out in minutes so a shame that they cannot increase the volumes.

The Siege Camp is an ultimate castle battle pack. It could be split up into at least one whole wave of official lego sets. It might be over my budget, but it definitely is too big for my space unfortunately.

Good luck to all the designers (in reaching the number of orders required for production) and for everyone who wants these sets.

Thankfully, my wallet and sense of FOMO will be spared on this occasion as none of these particular sets appeal to my personal tastes (although they're all great designs, especially the Wild West train). Just as well, since I have my eye on a few sets in Series 5 and 6.

Does anyone else get the impression that there's a slight Medieval bias in this Series (which might explain the dominance of brown in the colour scheme, as noted by mediAFOL)?

@Brickchap said:
" @whaleyland said:
"JUST RELEASE A NEW CASTLE THEME! For the love of everything, REALLY! I think there's been a castle set in every BrickLink wave so far, and they're clearly selling. Now we have two of them. Make it an adult audience theme with costlier, more detailed sets. They keep spoon-feeding us one official set a year and one BrickLink set per wave. I'd much prefer that there be some plan and order behind the release schedule. Lion Knights vs. Falcons. Wolf Pack and Forestmen. We're ready!!!

Also each BrickLink series has included a train-related set. I think it's time that series got revamped too."

I agree with everything you said. Cheers from across the Tasman. :)"

I'll second that second.

@kevin8 said:
"Nice, but very expensive. I wonder if instructions will be available someday."

They should be. Instructions for previous Bricklink sets are available on the Lego Builder app.

@Yardsale19X said:
" @kevin8 said:
"Nice, but very expensive. I wonder if instructions will be available someday."

They should be. Instructions for previous Bricklink sets are available on the Lego Builder app."

Never thought to look on there. But I have downloaded them from the Bricklink website just to have a look through those that interest me.

@classicstylecastle said:
" @Yardsale19X said:
" @kevin8 said:
"Nice, but very expensive. I wonder if instructions will be available someday."

They should be. Instructions for previous Bricklink sets are available on the Lego Builder app."

Never thought to look on there. But I have downloaded them from the Bricklink website just to have a look through those that interest me.
"

I didn't know they were available on Bricklink. I always look on brickset. Thank you!

Castle and Dungeons and Dragons fans are eating good with this release.

The two castle sets are probably what I’ll go for but the prices are gonna kill me

@kevin8 said:
"Nice, but very expensive. I wonder if instructions will be available someday."

The instructions will be available shortly before the release of the sets roughly six months after the crowdfunding.

Seaside Market will probably go well with Lion Knight's Castle and others. Pass on the rest.

I think the next few rounds will each have one, assuming prices are pretty much in line with how they have been. It's solid stuff, and if I ever need to sell, I feel like it'll be easy to get the original prices.

No SPACE sets?

Only CASTLE and WESTERN

That's way too expensive, I'm skipping this series. (although I already was because I don't care for western and castle)

I'm saving my money for the Wolfpack Tower

Gimmie.

I think I'm buying more BLDP than regular Lego these days.

I'm going to fling a cow with that trebuchet!!

Only one I'm interested in is the Wild West Train. Price is fine... however the price of a bigger house is not!

@chom said:
" @Auctorius said:
"These sets are pricey for sure, but the PPP is not that very different from other big non licensed Lego sets. These sets are huge, that's why the prices are pricey. My concern is that there are many desirable sets within the same wave for once, my wallet will bleed. And I agree, LG should launch the Castle theme again."

BUT, no new pieces, no recolours, no new prints, generaly very little of prints, all new stuff is stickers only, just basic figs, no paper instructions...."

100% this, with instructions you could probably build 60% of these sets from your "mixed bits collection", don't see the appeal at all especially considering the price points

The train and the boat looks amazing. I wish I could, but too many obsticles.

Siege Encampment could have been just the tents, trebuchet, siege tower, and 10 minifigures (1,500 pieces) for $150. That would be an absolute killer set. I don't think the other vignettes are necessary but understand why the designer included them.

I actually don't mind LEGO's new rule of "No specific Castle factions." I'm getting a bit tired of Black Falcons in the BDP line.

Siege Encampment is going to encircle my wallet

I like the train a lot. Being western themed is different enough for me. But I don’t love the price (mostly because of timing). But I’ll have to consider that one.

It does make me wonder how much of the set I could build with my supply and filling in where needed without actually buying the set. Considering the figures are not great, but understandable since they don’t have western themed figures in most sets. I mean pirate torsos??

Hm, none of these are really jumping out at me like the Mushroom House did. But maybe my dad will be interested in the train.

I am a train afficionado (have Studgate Train Station 910002-1 , Brick Cross Train Station 910034-1, and Old Train Engine Shed 910033-1 ), but the train is
a) no 6-studs wide, so it bulkier than the rest of official LEGO trains,
b) effectively a copy Constitution Train Chase 79111-1 , and
c) does not come with paper instructions.

So no for me...

First time that I'll buy a BDP set. Medieval Seaside Market, here I come!!

Definitely an easy skip on all of these at those prices. However, no matter what price they slap on that Transylvania Castle...God speed my wallet.

@Ridgeheart said:
"I think my answers are going to be a bit predictable here - I think the prices are atrocious, and even though I really like the designs, I don't think I'll be buying any of them. Because the prices are atrocious.

It's a shame. I REALLY love that ship."

A bargain compared to 76232 even on sale, though.

@fakespacesquid said:
"The market as a whole isn't interested in castle themes"

any marketeer will tell you that you have to create the market yourself...

@BelgianBricker said:
" @fakespacesquid said:
"The market as a whole isn't interested in castle themes"

any marketeer will tell you that you have to create the market yourself...

"

Lol, if TLG had that ability, then we wouldn't have dealt with Vidiyo or Hidden Side or the Ninjago movie or Nexo Knights or Elves or Dimensions or Chima and the list goes on. If they could spin up demand out of nowhere, then sure, do some castle waves. But they clearly don't have that ability, otherwise they wouldn't have any themes that flop or die out.

I do like the western style train but I already own the very similar Constitution Train from Lone Ranger 79111 and I'm finding it hard to justify paying a whopping £249.99 tag for it.

Another excellent round!

I'll be picking up Medieval Seaside Market and a Siege Encampment or two, but they all look like great sets. Prices seem as expected as well, but complainers love to complain!

@lemish34 said:
"I can’t believe no1 has commented yet that the Wild West Train - whilst beautiful (& I’m tempted to buy it!) - is almost a total copy of the Constitution Train from the short-lived (& largely forgotten) The Lone Ranger theme from a decade or so ago!……
I used to own that one, and other than the colour of the locomotive (the Constitution was green), it’s almost an exact replica!…."

Dunno, it looks more similar to the Orient Express rather than the Constitution train, which model wise is a similar train due them being popular in the 1870s. This build looks rather similar to the aforementioned set.

Interesting 'round':
-Three of the five are heavily in the medieval/Castle/Kingdom era ('Scholars' could be either, be I 'lean' based based on what they're wearing), and
-The other two are Steampunkish. Yes, yes, yes, the train is 'Western', but that's within the 'realm' of it too (as the film version of "Wild, Wild West" showed)
In any case, TLG should be looking this and reaching some ideas like bringing back/'formalizing' Castle, and maybe doing more with steampunk...just saying:)

Unfortunately, TLG will probably not go that route...or worse, do as they've done with SPACE...Hmmm...a CASTLE-Friends line...:|

@Ridgeheart said:
"I think my answers are going to be a bit predictable here - I think the prices are atrocious, and even though I really like the designs, I don't think I'll be buying any of them. Because the prices are atrocious.

It's a shame. I REALLY love that ship."

Prices per piece are reasonable. Besides, you can buy something more and invest. I invested in 910029 in Crowdfunding. So far, I managed to sell one of the castles for 130% of the price. Of course, these are not such amounts as in the first edition, but still something. Potentially quick money. You definitely won't lose on it.

My son is obsessed with trains, so the Wild West Train will likely be a purchase for our household. ...but I may order the pieces to re-create that 2-6-0 locomotive in black and then detail it to look like the Central Pacific 131 from Back to the Future Part III and have it push a DeLorean on the rails.

@Username28 said:
"I actually don't mind LEGO's new rule of "No specific Castle factions." I'm getting a bit tired of Black Falcons in the BDP line."

Is that a formal rule in Ideas? or BDP? The siege encampment has mostly Black Falcon minifigs, even if the tent and siege tower can be changed to Lion Knight. The Series 6 Outlaw Forest Den has Wolfpack minifigs and will likely be released with those.

I think it's good to have some flexibility with the faction that is ultimately used so TLG can make sure we have a variety of factions actually available for purchase (outside of PAB, of course). But I also like having designs that are done with a specific faction in mind. Forestmen wouldn't belong in a mountain fortress, for example. Lion Knights shouldn't be in black castle, but Wolfpack or Black Falcons could be.Fo

@Ridgeheart said:
"I think my answers are going to be a bit predictable here - I think the prices are atrocious, and even though I really like the designs, I don't think I'll be buying any of them. Because the prices are atrocious.

It's a shame. I REALLY love that ship."

Never underestimate LEGO's desire and ability to gouge its core audience.

My only interest in this series is the train. I figured it would be close to $300 given the size of the set. However, when I look closely at the set, I can't help but feel that this set has been loaded with unnecessary and unneeded "extras" that inflate the price. Do we really need 12 minifigures for this short train with one small passenger car? The track looks like standard Lego track sections on a plate roadbed and brown plate enhancements on top. Are these all really necessary? The designer has stated that the train is designed to be motorized. That being the case, and the reality that Lego train AFOLs want to RUN their trains not just have a static display, I don't see the need for track at all. Third, while the water tower and windmill are nice display pieces, I can't help but think they just add to the cost while not being necessary for a wild west train.

Initially, I was sure I was going to buy this set as there are no more trains or train-related sets coming in later BDP series as of now (and it is a TRAIN, rather than a train-related building). However, a closer look at the set makes me unsure it's worth the price just to get the train in this set. So many "extras" in here that I don't need and likely won't build.

Initially, I was 100% for the train and 70% for the Siege. The castle market is probably a pass....probably. The boat and the house, much like most of those designers' BL submissions just don't do it for me.

That being said, I will need to scrutinize that train a bit more as it would really need to be able to run through my display. I ended up passing on the lovely Orient Express both due to its carriage length as well as its cost (even at the reduced $240!).

With regards to the pricing, these all seem high but not unreasonable or unexpected. As others have said, I'm finding BLDP sets occupying a much larger portion of my annual LEGO budget than expected these days.

@xurotaryrocket said:
" @Ridgeheart said:
"I think my answers are going to be a bit predictable here - I think the prices are atrocious, and even though I really like the designs, I don't think I'll be buying any of them. Because the prices are atrocious.

It's a shame. I REALLY love that ship."

Never underestimate LEGO's desire and ability to gouge its core audience."

Their core audience is kids and people buying for kids. BDP sets are targeted towards the opposite of their core audience

@tgewin said:
" @Username28 said:
"I actually don't mind LEGO's new rule of "No specific Castle factions." I'm getting a bit tired of Black Falcons in the BDP line."

Is that a formal rule in Ideas? or BDP? The siege encampment has mostly Black Falcon minifigs, even if the tent and siege tower can be changed to Lion Knight. The Series 6 Outlaw Forest Den has Wolfpack minifigs and will likely be released with those.

I think it's good to have some flexibility with the faction that is ultimately used so TLG can make sure we have a variety of factions actually available for purchase (outside of PAB, of course). But I also like having designs that are done with a specific faction in mind. Forestmen wouldn't belong in a mountain fortress, for example. Lion Knights shouldn't be in black castle, but Wolfpack or Black Falcons could be.Fo"

The "rule" is simply that you cannot use a faction name in the Title of your project. So you cannot call it "Wolfpack Tower". That's why the designer named it "Outlaw Forest Den". In your description/narrative you can mention faction names.

Designers are limited to what torsos LEGO has in production. We no longer have Black Falcons or Forestmen available because LKC retires end of this year.

Glad these BDP sets got some cool new upgrades. That Siege Tower is now bigger and will fit both the Lion Knight's Castle and the Mountain Fortress. The WW Train also got an extra waggon and a bunch of minifigures, but the discontinuation of the useful horse saddle is really dumb on LEGO's part.

All stellar looking sets.
Love the Merchant Boat and Siege Encampment the most.

12 hours later, my FOMO about the train is ramping up.

I think many of the sets are beautiful, large, and pricey. I want the train and the market and the siege encampment but, like many of you, the price is making me think twice and three times.

The Wild West Train is probably the closest we'll ever get to an actual Red Dead Redemption Lego set, so I'll try and get an order in on that one.

Plus - even though it's Bricklink, it's got a better part-price ratio than the Orient Express....

The Seaside Market and Wild West Train are W O W :o Shame they're definitely out of the budget for me, cause otherwise I'd pick them up in a heartbeat.

The train is nice, but the whole track and base is a waste of parts. It can travel about one minifigure height.

Love the Seaside Market & have since it first appeared on Ideas, then migrated to BLDP, so I’ll probably set an alarm for it. The price isn’t the worst I’ve paid for Lego, and the designer has been producing a number of good MOCs with similar pieces, including an alt build, all available on Rebrickable, so I think the value is decent for what you get.

Will probably pick up the Riverside Scholars as well; my second favourite of this particular series. Unfortunately my favourite has been knocked back twice - possibly too colorful for the general BLDP voter??

Apart from the Mushroom Village nothing in the next couple of series is jumping out, so money saved there.

Really Excellent MOCs!

@yellowcastle said:
"As @Ridgeheart and others have said, the prices are concerning. But unlike @Ridgeheart , I find them reasonable for the sets being offered. I am just starting to find that I’m more often excited for the BLDP offerings than many of the standard LEGO sets. As a proud member of the peanut gallery here, I welcome feedback, especially from @Ridgeheart ."

I would just like to add that @Ridgeheart is clearly wrong, his attitude is wrong, his word choice is wrong, his shirt is wrong, and his choice of mixer is wrong!!

Yet, when I add up the amount I'd like to spend on these sets, my body involuntarily produces a mournful wolf whistle, and a dangerous thought creeps into the back of my skull (which I affectionately call my ridgeheart).

Maybe @Ridgeheart is right?!!! (faints)

@fakespacesquid said:
" @BelgianBricker said:
" @fakespacesquid said:
"The market as a whole isn't interested in castle themes"

any marketeer will tell you that you have to create the market yourself...

"

Lol, if TLG had that ability, then we wouldn't have dealt with Vidiyo or Hidden Side or the Ninjago movie or Nexo Knights or Elves or Dimensions or Chima and the list goes on. If they could spin up demand out of nowhere, then sure, do some castle waves. But they clearly don't have that ability, otherwise they wouldn't have any themes that flop or die out."

So because a theme ends, it suddenly is a "flop",...ok then....

@BrickArchitect said:
" @CapnRex101 here are my thoughts on prices:

Series 1:
Total parts across 5 sets: 12,303.
Total price: $1,140
Price per piece: $0.092

Series 2:
Total parts across 5 sets: 11,761.
Total price: $1,020
Price per piece: $0.086

Series 3:
Total parts across 5 sets: 12,603.
Total price: $1,085
Price per piece: $0.083

Series 4:
Total parts across 5 sets: 13,299.
Total price: $1,110
Price per piece: $0.083

As you can see the total price or ppp has not varied much. I think the difference in this wave compared to the other three is we were offered 1 set under $100. Here we have mostly medium sized sets that bring the cost of each one up more."

when will people ever learn that PPP is meaningless and thus, in no way a good nor reasonable measure to determine value.

@BelgianBricker said:
" @BrickArchitect said:
" @CapnRex101 here are my thoughts on prices:

Series 1:
Total parts across 5 sets: 12,303.
Total price: $1,140
Price per piece: $0.092

Series 2:
Total parts across 5 sets: 11,761.
Total price: $1,020
Price per piece: $0.086

Series 3:
Total parts across 5 sets: 12,603.
Total price: $1,085
Price per piece: $0.083

Series 4:
Total parts across 5 sets: 13,299.
Total price: $1,110
Price per piece: $0.083

As you can see the total price or ppp has not varied much. I think the difference in this wave compared to the other three is we were offered 1 set under $100. Here we have mostly medium sized sets that bring the cost of each one up more."

when will people ever learn that PPP is meaningless and thus, in no way a good nor reasonable measure to determine value."

I prefer to judge Lego sets by suspending them six feet above me and then dropping them onto my head. I try to clear the cobwebs, and peer at the somewhat blurry box art.

I call that my "eye test."

That Wild West train set looks amazing. Pretty tempted by this, even though I've been trying to not spend so much on Lego sets.

@BrickArchitect said:
" @CapnRex101 here are my thoughts on prices:

(deleted for space)

As you can see the total price or ppp has not varied much. I think the difference in this wave compared to the other three is we were offered 1 set under $100. Here we have mostly medium sized sets that bring the cost of each one up more."

Yes, but this only covers the four sets of the current program. My memory is that the very first attempts at crowdfunding fan-designed sets had a higher ppp, which may be responsible for why those of us who have followed the sequence from that time are convinced these sets are more expensive. (And while I agree that price per weight is probably a better metric than price per piece, the two are roughly the same for most kinds of Lego set, including those that appear in the BLDP.)

Those who are interested will find links to details of the earlier sets at https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/past/main.page and can track down prices here on brickset, which fortunately has included BLDP sets in its database.

Moral of the story:
Never post before doing your due diligence. On taking my own advice I see that I was misled by the fact that the only sets I seriously considered in the AFOL Designer program were the smaller ones, like the Vintage Roadster and the Antique Fire Engine, both with ppp above 11. The others came in at close to or under the magic 10 cents per piece, but I ruled them out mostly because of their size. The 2021 Designer Program all had less than 10 (US) cents per piece except for Pursuit of Flight--again, a smaller set, and one with an interior mechanism to boot. So it was not so much the fact that these sets had a high ppp that made them more expensive than I liked, as that they were all so big that they were bound to be expensive as well.

I might add that it has only been in the past two years that I have realized I can afford to spend a little more for my own pleasure than I have in the past, which has considerably increased my Lego budget. This in turn has affected what I consider to be "expensive."

One thing about ppp is that as long as sets are designed with the same general mix of pieces, its change over time is a good estimate of inflation in the world of Lego. I think it's safe to say that the general style of Bricklink fan-designed sets has been steady over the last five years, and the ppp ratio has dropped rather than risen.

@sklamb said:
" @BrickArchitect said:
" @CapnRex101 here are my thoughts on prices:

(deleted for space)

As you can see the total price or ppp has not varied much. I think the difference in this wave compared to the other three is we were offered 1 set under $100. Here we have mostly medium sized sets that bring the cost of each one up more."

Yes, but this only covers the four sets of the current program. My memory is that the very first attempts at crowdfunding fan-designed sets had a higher ppp, which may be responsible for why those of us who have followed the sequence from that time are convinced these sets are more expensive. (And while I agree that price per weight is probably a better metric than price per piece, the two are roughly the same for most kinds of Lego set, including those that appear in the BLDP.)

Those who are interested will find links to details of the earlier sets at https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/past/main.page and can track down prices here on brickset, which fortunately has included BLDP sets in its database."

I agree that price per weight or "price per amount of stuff you get" is a better metric. I was simply pointing out that since the "new format" launched the pricing hasn't gotten "more expensive". I agree they are all expensive. This round is no different.

These are all out of my budget range, but if they weren't I'd go for a copy of the Medieval Seaside Market. It really speaks to me.