Result: What are your favourite sets of 2021?
Posted by CapnRex101,
Numerous excellent sets were produced during 2021 and we invited Brickset readers to vote for their favourites in two categories.
Over 10,000 votes were submitted, between the two polls ascertaining your favourite set costing less than $40 and your favourite set overall, released during 2021. View the winners below...
What is your favourite set costing less than $40 of 2021?
Winner: 40516 Everyone is Awesome - 667 votes
- 40516 Everyone is Awesome - 667 votes
- 40499 Santa's Sleigh - 626 votes
- 76239 Batmobile Tumbler: Scarecrow Showdown - 620 votes
- 76200 Bro Thor's New Asgard - 428 votes
- 76188 Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile - 371 votes
- 40478 Mini Disney Castle - 220 votes
- 75311 Imperial Armoured Marauder - 183 votes
- 71746 Jungle Dragon - 179 votes
- 75319 The Armourer's Mandalorian Forge - 173 votes
- 60287 Tractor - 155 votes
- 40469 Tuk Tuk - 146 votes
- 31111 Cyber Drone - 126 votes
- 31117 Space Shuttle Adventure - 121 votes
- 71735 Tournament of Elements - 100 votes
40516 Everyone is Awesome represents more than a simple LEGO set for many people, so its victory does not surprise me. Furthermore, this set appeals to collectors of monochrome minifigures and unusual sets, since LEGO has never produced anything like this before.
40499 Santa's Sleigh and 76239 Batmobile Tumbler: Scarecrow Showdown also pulled away from the competition. Both sets achieve far greater complexity than many sets of comparable size and their value is impressive as well, undoubtedly justifying their excellent performances.
In the grand showdown between James May's 40469 Tuk Tuk and George Gilliatt's 31111 Cyber Drone, the Tuk Tuk took victory! However, I think 31129 Majestic Tiger may have a good chance of appearing in the overall poll for 2022, so perhaps that will be some consolation for George.
What is your favourite set of 2021?
Winner: 21325 Medieval Blacksmith - 1321 votes
- 21325 Medieval Blacksmith - 1321 votes
- 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens - 899 votes
- 76178 Daily Bugle - 729 votes
- 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery - 486 votes
- 75313 AT-AT - 443 votes
- 10294 Titanic - 404 votes
- 80107 Spring Lantern Festival - 355 votes
- 31120 Medieval Castle - 345 votes
- 21330 Home Alone - 334 votes
- 21326 Winnie the Pooh - 313 votes
- 10281 Bonsai Tree - 236 votes
- 10278 Police Station - 192 votes
- 76391 Hogwarts Icon Collectors' Edition - 165 votes
- 21327 Typewriter - 156 votes
- 71738 Zane's Titan Mech Battle - 71 votes
From nominations alone, it was apparent that 21325 Medieval Blacksmith and 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens would be battling for victory overall. Personally, I favour 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens, but 21325 Medieval Blacksmith is the comfortable winner! Sets celebrating classic themes are consistently popular among Brickset users, following the victory of 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay during 2020.
76178 Daily Bugle also performed extremely well, exemplifying how combining an impressive model with outstanding minifigures can prove successful. 75978 Diagon Alley proved similarly popular last year, seemingly for the same reasons. Less traditional LEGO sets, such as 76391 Hogwarts Icon Collectors' Edition, are generally less beloved by Brickset readers.
Perhaps the greatest surprises was the relative underperformance of 10278 Police Station, in my opinion. Modular Buildings certainly remain a highlight of the annual product selection, but the expanding selection of adult-focused products has perhaps overshadowed the established favourites. I wonder whether 10297 Boutique Hotel will be surpassed in the same way this year!
Are you surprised by these results? Let us know in the comments.
156 likes
92 comments on this article
Interesting that Santa's Sleigh came in second in the Under $40 category, despite being a seasonal set that was only available in Q4.
Exactly what I voted for so naturally I consider them worthy winners. Neither being licenced sets either. However both generated some heated comments sections, so I'm guessing they're not universally liked.
@CapnRex101 31129 is over $40 so wouldn't qualify?
I didn't expect the space shuttle to win, but I'm pleased that it beat out the AT-AT and Titanic.
Really happy Everyone is Awesome took the top spot. Monofigs and a pride set all in one is an absolute win.
Well, it is what it is.
Surprised? Nope, not at all. I expected this result, especially for Medieval Blacksmith.
Have you ever thought about doing a poll for best set/minifigures for past months that didn't have this competition? (2017, 2016, etc.), maybe for like an anniversary event?
I don't know about anybody else, but I didn't buy (or vote for) the Police Station because I'm just pretty bored of police-themed products from Lego. It's the only modular I've skipped since I started buying them a few years ago.
If 31129 Majestic Tiger doesn't make the overall poll for 2022, then we'll have had a lot of amazing sets for 2022!
@Paperdaisy said:
"Exactly what I voted for so naturally I consider them worthy winners. Neither being licenced sets either. However both generated some heated comments sections, so I'm guessing they're not universally liked.
@CapnRex101 31129 is over $40 so wouldn't qualify?"
Sorry, I was referring to the overall poll for 2022, so have clarified that in the article.
Im very pleased that NCG placed second at least. I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$. I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really. There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either. Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in. Im not saying it shouldnt have been picked, because everybody is allowed to like whatever they want, Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year! I just dont see the appeal in a set so... boring. (and no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool.)
@gorf43 said:
"Im very pleased that NCG placed second at least. I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$. I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really. There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either. Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in. Im not saying it shouldnt have been picked, because everybody is allowed to like whatever they want, Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year! I just dont see the appeal in a set so... boring. (and no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool.) "
What are you saying?
- I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$.
Should not be a surprise if you read the comments of the poll.
- I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really.
This is true for every Lego set?
- There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either.
It's Lego, a little imagination will get you far.
- Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in.
Worked for me.
- Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year!
Might be an even higher number if you add the people that consider this their second or third favourite?
- no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool
But one of those bright colors could be someone's favourite colour.
Plenty of people have given reasons why it's their favourite. So what's not to understand?
Very well-deserved winners in both categories here - personally Ninjago City Gardens gets the edge for me as (like all the Ninjago City sets) it exemplifies the best of TLG's creativity, but no qualms about the Blacksmith getting more votes as its still a ruddy gorgeous-looking build.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why 40516 was such an important set.
Interesting that the under $40 was so close at the top. Also intereting that the winner is neither noterd for building techniques nor from a popular line. Shows a little novelty can go a long way.
For the best set overall, a less surprising outcome. Not my favourite set of the year because I felt that, while very good, it has a number of short-comings. But a fairly well deserved result.
I wonder if there’s any impact from Medieval Blacksmith and Ninjago City Gardens being released in the first 2 months of the year and Titanic, AT-AT, and Home Alone being released in the last 2 months of the year. Perhaps not as many people have had a chance to buy and build the newer sets yet?
I voted for Ninjago City Gardens and then started building Titanic as a New Years project. And I have to say that Titanic is on a completely different level from every other set I’ve ever built. So I would vote Titanic if I was voting today.
Not to take anything away from Blacksmith and the Gardens though. They’re both fantastic sets and a worthy top 2.
40516 Everyone is Awesome is a great set that celebrates diversity and gives us monochrome minifigures, but it doesn't take much to design the set.
I feel bad for the designers of other sets, who put time and effort to design the product.
@legoapprentice said:
"I wonder if there’s any impact from Medieval Blacksmith and Ninjago City Gardens being released in the first 2 months of the year and Titanic, AT-AT, and Home Alone being released in the last 2 months of the year. Perhaps not as many people have had a chance to buy and build the newer sets yet?
I voted for Ninjago City Gardens and then started building Titanic as a New Years project. And I have to say that Titanic is on a completely different level from every other set I’ve ever built. So I would vote Titanic if I was voting today.
Not to take anything away from Blacksmith and the Gardens though. They’re both fantastic sets and a worthy top 2."
Very good points. For me, I couldn’t vote for the sleigh because I had never once had a chance to buy it online or in store as it simply was too new and popular.
I am encouraged by these results! - LEGO, please take note of these results.
My favourites under 40$ came in second and third, so I'm happy. Over 40$ had no sets to really interest me. This poll really missed Seinfeld.
Agree with the winners.
Now hopefully they produce more 40499 Santa's Sleigh as it's been temporary out of stock for a long time.
Not much love for the space in the final voting… :-)
Winners are great sets, especially the victory of the blacksmith is unsurprising, with how much people are fond of Black Falcons.
Totally deserved! Amazing sets which I bought on day 1 :-)
@Feroz said:
" @gorf43 said:
"Im very pleased that NCG placed second at least. I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$. I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really. There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either. Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in. Im not saying it shouldnt have been picked, because everybody is allowed to like whatever they want, Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year! I just dont see the appeal in a set so... boring. (and no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool.) "
What are you saying?
- I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$.
Should not be a surprise if you read the comments of the poll.
- I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really.
This is true for every Lego set?
- There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either.
It's Lego, a little imagination will get you far.
- Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in.
Worked for me.
- Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year!
Might be an even higher number if you add the people that consider this their second or third favourite?
- no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool
But one of those bright colors could be someone's favourite colour.
Plenty of people have given reasons why it's their favourite. So what's not to understand?"
1. It was a surprise the first time I saw it. Just like any other surprise, it has since ceased being a surprise.
2. I dont think a SET should become a parts pack. IMO, thats a bad set. There are parts packs, and sets. The line CAN be crossed, but if all I see in a set is pieces, then for me, the set has failed. (just my opinion though. Others will see it differently, and thats fine.)
3. Sorry, this set cannot be commended for having cool building techniques or fun parts usage unless youre five.
4. Im glad you liked the set, nothing wrong with that!
5. A valid point.
6. Your favorite color existing in a set does not solve its painfully boring design.
7. Whats not to understand? Still a lot, but good points.
I'm not surprised by the poor performance of 10278 Police Station. I don't think it's because the other AFOL-focused sets overshadowed it, but I think it's because it's not one of the better modulars. It's a police station crammed in between a doughnut shop and news station. They tried too much in a 32x32 space. They did the same with this year's and I really hope this isn't a trend going forward where they try to cram in other businesses into these. What's next? A hospital with a little post office crammed in the corner?
Lego, you can do better.
All this has done is make me realise how cheap 31117 in in the US compared to Europe :-O
So what what year are The Batman sets considered because they used to be marked under 2022 but now are marked under 2021. I am not saying that would have changed anything or that I would have even nominated one but I am just confused why it is different now.
Also none of the sets nominated under the favorite sets of 2021 were of interest for me so it didnt matter what won but they are still good sets in the top spots.
@gorf43 said:
" @Feroz said:
" @gorf43 said:
"Im very pleased that NCG placed second at least. I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$. I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really. There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either. Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in. Im not saying it shouldnt have been picked, because everybody is allowed to like whatever they want, Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year! I just dont see the appeal in a set so... boring. (and no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool.) "
What are you saying?
- I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$.
Should not be a surprise if you read the comments of the poll.
- I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really.
This is true for every Lego set?
- There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either.
It's Lego, a little imagination will get you far.
- Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in.
Worked for me.
- Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year!
Might be an even higher number if you add the people that consider this their second or third favourite?
- no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool
But one of those bright colors could be someone's favourite colour.
Plenty of people have given reasons why it's their favourite. So what's not to understand?"
1. It was a surprise the first time I saw it. Just like any other surprise, it has since ceased being a surprise.
2. I dont think a SET should become a parts pack. IMO, thats a bad set. There are parts packs, and sets. The line CAN be crossed, but if all I see in a set is pieces, then for me, the set has failed. (just my opinion though. Others will see it differently, and thats fine.)
3. Sorry, this set cannot be commended for having cool building techniques or fun parts usage unless youre five.
4. Im glad you liked the set, nothing wrong with that!
5. A valid point.
6. Your favorite color existing in a set does not solve its painfully boring design.
7. Whats not to understand? Still a lot, but good points. "
Good replies.
Thanks for the conversation. :-)
@PDelahanty said:
"I'm not surprised by the poor performance of 10278 Police Station. I don't think it's because the other AFOL-focused sets overshadowed it, but I think it's because it's not one of the better modulars. It's a police station crammed in between a doughnut shop and news station. They tried too much in a 32x32 space. They did the same with this year's and I really hope this isn't a trend going forward where they try to cram in other businesses into these. What's next? A hospital with a little post office crammed in the corner?
Lego, you can do better."
I actually had a thought about this 'cramming' when looking at the Boutique Hotel which has an Art Gallery.
I don't know what the situation is in the US, but in the Netherlands renting space, be it for housing or work is quite an issue. So you have all these creative solutions of combined space and I was wondering if they decided to reflect this in the modular sets.
I’m enjoying the fact that the best voted set of the year is: 1.) under $200, and 2.) non-licensed. I enjoy when LEGO does some BIG exciting sets based on popular culture (again, I admit to my interest in Star Wars), and this was a big year for what seemed like a non-stop run of really big sets, but I hope this is a good reminder to LEGO that, well, they don’t always HAVE to go big...!
We don’t seem to have a favourite designer. In both the overall category and best set under $40, who the designer was does not predict the outcome well. Of course, the designer isn’t always known and the poll results are for favourites not every set each designer has worked on, but the poll results do suggest a generally high standard reached by all of LEGO’s designers. Well done to them!
@Zander said:
"We don’t seem to have a favourite designer. In both the overall category and best set under $40, who the designer was does not predict the outcome well. Of course, the designer isn’t always known and the poll results are for favourites not every set each designer has worked on, but the poll results do suggest a generally high standard reached by all of LEGO’s designers. Well done to them!"
Good point. Perhaps this year we should add vote for your favourite designer?
I think 40516 is a below average looking set. I am disappointed that LEGO did not give us something more artistic with this opportunity.
Well for once I'm with the majority, I own both the top 2 sets.
@jblego said:
"All this has done is make me realise how cheap 31117 in in the US compared to Europe :-O"
US prices are without taxes, EU prices include the VAT.
In the US, the sale tax is added depending on the state, so it could be from 0 to 10% or more.
For under $40, in addition to popularity I felt play-value-for-the-price was a point of consideration when nominating and voting - LEGO is a toy, after all - so for my $40 I nominated 76174: Spider-Man's Monster Truck vs. Mysterio. That set is packed with four minifigs; two weaponized drones; a very cool version of Doc Ock’s cybernetic arms; and a big, web-firing monster truck. That’s a lot play value for $40!
However, because that didn’t make the cut, I looked at what did and voted for 71746 Jungle Dragon. For $40 you get four minifigs (one with two heads!); that big, beautiful, and very cool dragon; and a flying sailboard. Again, that’s a lot of play value for $40!
I had considering voting for 76200 Bro Thor's New Asgard for the combination of cool with a little play value (Thor… Noobmaster69 is making fun of me again!) but the Jungle Dragon is just too awesome.
For the no-holds-barred popularity vote, again because LEGO is a toy I considered play-value. For my money, nothing could top the over-the-top awesomeness that is 76178 Daily Bugle, although 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens does come close, featuring so many references and locations from the shows and so many characters; never mind that it expands upon the City and the City Docks to create a massive Ninjago set.
10278 Police Station is relatively bland compared to most modular buildings. I expect the boutique hotel to fare better.
@Feroz:
It holds value for some people based on what it represents, for some as a parts pack with a literal rainbow of different colors, and others because it accounts for 3-4x as many official monofigs as all other LEGO sets ever produced combined. But given that I could probably open a copy, shred the instructions, and build it from the box art alone, I doubt there are many people who think the construction is very exciting independent of those three reasons. Consider it this way: How exciting would it be to build this set if the entire thing was one single randomly assigned color?
I’m not actually surprised it came in first. Yeah, there’s been some backlash over the idea that companies will just about slap a rainbow sticker on a rock to capitalize on Pride Month, but given that it’s basically the only Pride set they’ve ever produced, they could have slapped a rainbow sticker on a rock and it probably still would have received a lot of votes. It probably wouldn’t have won the poll, but it might have still received enough nominations to make the cut.
@MisterBrickster:
It’s an important set because it won? Don’t you think you have it backwards?
@superJjJman:
It gets better. 40516 was designed by someone who doesn’t normally work on the design side of things. But they have another metric that we don’t have access to. They can compare total sales against each other. I mean, it certainly gets messier, since some sets stay in production for several years, while others are retired before the year ends. But regardless of how the vote went here, I suspect there are several sets that outsold it by miles.
@yellowcastle:
Do you want the sleigh? Don’t sit back and wait for it to be easy to buy. Work for it! I got three copies in time to set up a sleight with nine reindeer on our biggest display of the year nine days before Christmas, and it didn’t take a lot of effort. I put in a restock notification request, so all I had to do was sit back and wait for an e-mail. When it arrived, about five minutes on the phone had two copies on the way. I also found out the delivery schedule of my local LEGO Store (it varies from 1-3x per week throughout the year). A quick call on those days let me know when they got a batch of copies in, and they were able to hold one for me to pick up on the way home from work.
There was probably more time spent driving to bring the third copy home than there was actually acquiring all three sets, building one, and using parts from the other two to expand the traces to accommodate five more reindeer. It was clearly going to be a popular set, and I knew I’d need multiple copies going in. I also completely forgot about it because I was so focused on getting the Home Alone set prepped to display at a show that we didn’t even do last year, so I didn’t even look into buying any until sometime in early December. If I could wait that late and still get three copies that easily, it would require zero effort be put forth to miss out completely.
@TeriXeri:
For a set like that, I hope they treat it like the Winter Village sets and bring it back at least one or two more times. The wreath that I missed out on in 2020 came back last year, and was super easy to buy. They had several copies on display at the local LEGO Store for months, so anyone who is still miffed about not being able to buy a copy of that set was clearly not paying attention.
@Feroz:
I once read about an unusual building in a country where property tax is charged by frontage. This building was built in such a way as to minimize the tax burden for one unit by reducing the frontage to just the width needed to accommodate a door. One or both of the businesses on either side picked up the additional tax burden to increase their window displays, allowing them to advertise more of their wares, so that was deemed a win-win situation all around.
Glad to see the Blacksmith on top, but am a little surprised by Everyone is Awesome. Then again, it’s a set that isn’t really for me.
@PurpleDave said:
" @MisterBrickster:
It’s an important set because it won? Don’t you think you have it backwards?
"
Ah, I think @Huw has been pruning the comments section. There was a fairly egregious homophobe.
@PurpleDave said:
" @Feroz:
It holds value for some people based on what it represents, for some as a parts pack with a literal rainbow of different colors, and others because it accounts for 3-4x as many official monofigs as all other LEGO sets ever produced combined. But given that I could probably open a copy, shred the instructions, and build it from the box art alone, I doubt there are many people who think the construction is very exciting independent of those three reasons. Consider it this way: How exciting would it be to build this set if the entire thing was one single randomly assigned color?
I’m not actually surprised it came in first. Yeah, there’s been some backlash over the idea that companies will just about slap a rainbow sticker on a rock to capitalize on Pride Month, but given that it’s basically the only Pride set they’ve ever produced, they could have slapped a rainbow sticker on a rock and it probably still would have received a lot of votes. It probably wouldn’t have won the poll, but it might have still received enough nominations to make the cut.
@Feroz:
I once read about an unusual building in a country where property tax is charged by frontage. This building was built in such a way as to minimize the tax burden for one unit by reducing the frontage to just the width needed to accommodate a door. One or both of the businesses on either side picked up the additional tax burden to increase their window displays, allowing them to advertise more of their wares, so that was deemed a win-win situation all around."
I understand most of your points about 40516. I can't agree on 'if's, because that's not what happened. Slapping a rainbow sticker on a rock would have let to outrage, this had to look nice as a display piece.
Speaking of one colour sets, 21050 still has some attraction to me, but not for the current prices.
Thanks for that building story, very interesting.
Everyone has their own criteria for why they will or will not vote for a particular set. It would be an interesting exercise to vote based on the various criteria most people use. You could then have an award for:
-best building techniques
-best minifigs (CMF's would probably have to be excluded)
-best display
-best play functions/features
-best nostalgia/cultural impact
-best surprise
-some others I can't remember right now
Very happy with the results!! Just the two presents I made to myself in Christmas!!
Certainly interesting results that doesn't really reflect my taste at all, particularly in the over $40 category. I do love my Medieval Blacksmith, but as nice as it is, it doesn't compare to the AT-AT for me (and the Titanic)!
Although I would have liked to been able to buy Everything is Awesome, like the 501st it has been out of stock in the Australian Lego store pretty much since its release, so that will hopefully be a 2022 set for me, but who knows with the current Lego stock for the Australian store ! I just hope they don't retire it and the 501st before allowing us at least the chance to buy those two sets.
Also I would be surprised if 10297 did better, the architecture style that modular is based upon is hideous.
It's kinda cool that Lego produces different enough sets for different people to enjoy (if they can actually get them !)
@Feroz said:
" @gorf43 said:
" @Feroz said:
" @gorf43 said:
"Im very pleased that NCG placed second at least. I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$. I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really. There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either. Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in. Im not saying it shouldnt have been picked, because everybody is allowed to like whatever they want, Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year! I just dont see the appeal in a set so... boring. (and no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool.) "
What are you saying?
- I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$.
Should not be a surprise if you read the comments of the poll.
- I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really.
This is true for every Lego set?
- There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either.
It's Lego, a little imagination will get you far.
- Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in.
Worked for me.
- Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year!
Might be an even higher number if you add the people that consider this their second or third favourite?
- no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool
But one of those bright colors could be someone's favourite colour.
Plenty of people have given reasons why it's their favourite. So what's not to understand?"
1. It was a surprise the first time I saw it. Just like any other surprise, it has since ceased being a surprise.
2. I dont think a SET should become a parts pack. IMO, thats a bad set. There are parts packs, and sets. The line CAN be crossed, but if all I see in a set is pieces, then for me, the set has failed. (just my opinion though. Others will see it differently, and thats fine.)
3. Sorry, this set cannot be commended for having cool building techniques or fun parts usage unless youre five.
4. Im glad you liked the set, nothing wrong with that!
5. A valid point.
6. Your favorite color existing in a set does not solve its painfully boring design.
7. Whats not to understand? Still a lot, but good points. "
Good replies.
Thanks for the conversation. :-) "
Thanks, it was a very enjoyable civilized argument! (Edit: It is without a doubt the best way to get lots of different colored minifigs. It wins there for sure!)
@Zander:
The nature of the design process is such that no one designer is likely to net the top spots on a regular basis. To do that, you’d have to consistently design flagship sets. But they don’t let just one person design the Modular theme year after year. One person doesn’t design every UCS set. For that to happen, there would also have to be someone who gets stuck designing online the sub-$10 4+ sets for various themes. So, there are some notable set designers, but they get to design high-end sets some years, and other years they might not get out of the $50 range at all. They might also get promoted to head up a design team and not have as much opportunity to design sets anymore.
@pgremeau:
Sales tax of 10% or higher is pretty rare in the US. No state charges more than 7.25% (California, naturally), but once you factor in city and county taxes, there are 13 states with at least one jurisdiction where sales tax on some class of goods or services is 10% or higher. The highest seems to be in part of a town of less than 9000 permanent residents called Arab, Alabama. Alabama charges 4%, the town of Arab charges another 4%, but where things get messy is that Arab straddles the county line between Monroe (1%), and Cullman (4.5%). Monroe doesn’t collect sales tax in Arab, but Cullman does, so in the tiny sliver of town that lies in Cullman County, it’s a whopping 12.5% for general sales tax! Wikipedia claims it’s even worse, with 13.5%, but that was based on Arab hiking their local rate to 5% on September 1, 2013. Either that rate never went into effect, or it has since been repealed, because it’s currently still “only” 4% for local sales tax.
@MisterBrickster:
Ah, so your comment got rendered non-sensical as a result?
@Feroz:
The set that was released led to a significant amount of outrage. So has the inclusion of a few printed 1x1 tiles in other sets. Yes, a sticker on a rock would have even led to a lot of outrage from people who bought, and probably voted for, this set due to the symbolism, but I suspect there still would have been some people who would have voted for it nonetheless just because it would be their first opportunity to vote for a Pride set.
And I would tell you where that building was, but I have no idea how to even start searching for it. It was an article I read once and then deleted from my Reading List.
The number of really good <$40 sets is larger than for the higher priced sets. I think Blacksmith ran away with it because the competition was so weak.
Also, I'd love to be able to vote for multiple sets. "Choose up to three".
I'm a bit surprised by 40516 Everyone is Awesome. The idea behind it is cute, but the build itself is meh. Did people vote for this just because of the minifigures, particularly the hair pieces?
I personally voted for the 76239 Scarecrow Tumbler. Even though I'm not a fan of the Tumbler in the movies, I think the Lego build is really amazing.
Blacksmith definitely deserves top spot such an awesome set! More castle themed sets please!
@MisterBrickster said:
"And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why 40516 was such an important set."
Why?
@RedFish87 said:
" @MisterBrickster said:
"And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why 40516 was such an important set."
Why?"
@MisterBrickster was replying to a comment that was then removed. @PurpleDave summed it up well...
"Ah, so your comment got rendered non-sensical as a result?"
@pgremeau said:
" @jblego said:
"All this has done is make me realise how cheap 31117 in in the US compared to Europe :-O"
US prices are without taxes, EU prices include the VAT.
In the US, the sale tax is added depending on the state, so it could be from 0 to 10% or more."
@pgremeau, jblego is still correct. If you stripped out consumption tax (US sales, UK VAT), 31117 would be roughly 27% more in the UK (I used today’s spot FX which may be a bit different than the average for 2021, but not hugely). When you add 20% VAT in the UK and up to 12.5% tax in the US, the difference is even greater. I used the UK as that is where jblego seems to be located.
All right, everyone, what part of "What is your favorite..." is confusing to you? Favorite. Not "best" or "most detailed" or whatever else you're arguing over. Sheesh.
@Paperdaisy said:
"Exactly what I voted for so naturally I consider them worthy winners. Neither being licenced sets either. However both generated some heated comments sections, so I'm guessing they're not universally liked.
@CapnRex101 31129 is over $40 so wouldn't qualify?"
The wonderful tiger is a 2022 set.
@560heliport:
Some of us get it. I voted for Marvin, because he’s a character I’ve wanted to make a minifig of for a few years (and probably would have if I’d found a workable green helmet that didn’t require paint). Whenever they do Muppets minifigs, I can almost guarantee that, regardless of what he looks like, Gonzo is a lock for my vote. I voted for the Tumbler because it’s the only real Batman set to make either of the set polls. And I voted for the AT-AT because it’s a UCS set that I was convinced wasn’t even possible (in my defense, they did have to create a new element to make the legs work), but that I agreed left a gaping hole in the UCS lineup. Other sets that got my attention were Santa’s Sleigh, Bonsai, the Discovery, Mini Disney Castle, Home Alone, and Winnie the Pooh. There are sets on both lists that are better designs than some of those, but I don’t have a personal connection to many of them. And in some cases, I either don’t like the main character at all, or the actor who portrayed the main character, and would have voted for a Duplo baseplate if that was the only other option on the poll.
Best set under 40 dollars is a floor with a wall and some minifigures on it. Yeah...
@StarWarzFan7777 said:
"Best set under 40 dollars is a floor with a wall and some minifigures on it. Yeah..."
Not the best set, rather the most liked and popular set included in the resulting list of under $40 sets for this poll.
@PurpleDave said:
"I voted for the Tumbler because it’s the only real Batman set to make either of the set polls."
76188 Batman Classic TV Series Batmobile is not a ‘real Batman set’ because…?
@PurpleDave - I’m sure I could have worked harder to secure a sleigh beyond my weekly store visits and regular online perusing. But I already had Santa and a handful of BnP reindeer so it wasn’t critical. I’m sure it’s a great set, I just couldn’t vote for it before seeing it in person, let alone buying it. :o)
21325 Medieval Blacksmith is my favorite LEGO set to date
ITT: Bricksetters don't understand the meaning of the word "favourite", think they're the center of the LEGO community, get pressed over a set that was never, ever about the build, and think every LEGO designer is just competing against one another over that metric alone.
@PurpleDave: That's been a common complaint on the site I moderated whenever we pruned comments, which is why I personally tried not to automate the process as much as possible (the volume of noisy, obsolete and abusive comments is enough that we needed to automate it to some degree) and always took care to manage comments in a way that wouldn't leave nonsensical remnants like this. In this case, it would've been helpful to add an administrative note to @MisterBrickster's comment (I'm not sure if his comment originally quoted the homophobic comment, or if it simply appeared right underneath it).
Re everyone is awesome, which I voted for, I can see the argument that the set itself is not a pinnacle of design prowess; that really can’t be denied. But that’s not why it was nominated or won. It is a good parts pack too, but that’s not why either. It’s about the meta message. Like artwork.
Ok, can someone please persuade me as to why I should buy the blacksmith set. I do like castles, my King’s Castle was my favorite set when I was a kid and I of course still have it today. I have Helms Deep, the new Creator Castle, and will be getting the Bricklink castle when it finally ships. But the blacksmith set I’ve ignored because it’s a house that’s as big as a castle, and it isn’t a castle. So what am I missing? Why is it so great? I don’t want to regret not getting it if it’s something I really should have, but I just haven’t seen the appeal. Thanks!
@gorf43 said:
"Im very pleased that NCG placed second at least. I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$. I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really. There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either. Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in. Im not saying it shouldnt have been picked, because everybody is allowed to like whatever they want, Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year! I just dont see the appeal in a set so... boring. (and no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool.) "
I'm not all that surprised that 40516 was the most popular set under 40$. It's a striking display piece. I have a decent Lego collection, including several modulars, the Creator Ferris Wheel 10247, 80107 and a couple other Chinese New Year sets, but the set that visitors to my place ask me about first is 40516. The clean lines, simplicity, and bold colours of the design make it stand out to casual observers who aren't ordinarily fans of Lego.
Nostalgia is the winner over everything. Personnaly, i’m a huge modular fan and collector, but i voted for the Medieval Blacksmith, as i did last year for the Pirates of Barracuda Bay set. There are also 2 Castle oriented sets in the top 10 with the Creator Medieval Castle. Now i hope LEGO will release a set based of the Adventurers exploring Egypt like in the late 90’s. ! More Castle and Pirates sets are also welcome in the Adults Welcome range ;)
The poll shows the overall strength of products in the under $40 range this year. Pleased that my nomination won, and with owning over half of the finalists, I hope that LEGO can continue to produce high quality at a reasonable price.
First and second for my choices is fine by me. I never had castle sets as a child, so don’t have the same nostalgia for the theme as I see from many others here, but can’t argue against the Blacksmith as it is a superb set (the bearskin rug is my favourite detail from any set this year). The love of castle got it through the Ideas process and the end result is a worthy winner. Who knows, if there had been similar sets available when I came back out of my dark age I might have gone down that road rather than falling for Ninjago.
As for 40516 , I agree that it doesn’t set the world alight in terms of techniques or parts, but what it represents is something to celebrate and be proud of (no pun intended). Plus it does make a great display piece and conversation starter. Production schedules undoubtedly mean the Queer Eye set was on the way before EIA launched, but I am sure the success of this one helped give LEGO the confidence to release that with such a big fanfare. I may be a straight, white, cis, middle-aged bloke, but 40516 opens up so many possibilities for the future that I think it has the potential to be the most important set released since the introduction of the Minifigure.
Very, very pleased by medieval blacksmith & ninjago city garden! Sorry for police station, it's a nice set but not a "surprise/wonderful" set...just a nice set to add to my street. This is why, in my opinion, it was surclassed.
@MainBricker said:
"I'd be surprised if people voted for both sets."
Happy to surprise you! I voted for both.
We have to vote for the best non 18+ set this year.
@PurpleDave said:
"
@TeriXeri :
For a set like that, I hope they treat it like the Winter Village sets and bring it back at least one or two more times. The wreath that I missed out on in 2020 came back last year, and was super easy to buy. They had several copies on display at the local LEGO Store for months, so anyone who is still miffed about not being able to buy a copy of that set was clearly not paying attention.
"
In Europe The set has been sold out months now pretty much since November, on top of that physical stores also have been closed for a month.
Local lego store isnt a luxury for everyone.
But I do hope the set will be back in stock as its still on the website as "temporarily out of stock"
Castle theme being the most favorite? Huh, I guess there is a demand for that theme! /s
Sincerely I expected better positioning for the sets I voted, the 40469 Tuk Tuk and the 31120 Medieval Castle, anyway the winners are great sets: the 21325 Medieval Blacksmith was in my podium (together with the 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery) and the top three in the "less than forty dollars" category are all great sets (40516 is very attractive in its uniqueness, 40499 is perhaps a bit overpriced but very beautiful and 76239 is a great set for its value).
A bit disappointed from the lowest place of the 71738, a superb set in relation to its price, maybe it suffered from its small size compared to other sets. The second last placement of the Typewriter is a bit a shame too! :p
@darkstonegrey said:
" @StarWarzFan7777 said:
"Best set under 40 dollars is a floor with a wall and some minifigures on it. Yeah..."
Not the best set, rather the most liked and popular set included in the resulting list of under $40 sets for this poll."
The most liked set under 40 dollars is a floor with a wall and some minifigures on it? When the amazingly playable Imperial Armored Marauder and the incredibly detailed Tumbler are available?
I was underwhelmed by 40516 as a set. I do love the idea behind it however. So I bought two copies, one to built and one to keep sealed. I built the set, kept it on display for a while. It was not doing anything for me, so I took it apart, kept the parts and sold the minifigs on BL. I'm keeping my sealed copy of the set, however.
I have 21325 and 71741 . I like the latter much better. The blacksmith has a wonderful exterior (the tree's construction techniques are something else!), but NCG fit with my layout much better (I have it on display with the city, the docks + two 16x32 moc sections that I feel comple the ensemble well). I'm also partial to medieval sets. I bought 31120 used on eBay, built it, and then took it apart and kept the parts (it's a grreat parts pack!). I might sell the figures, but I'm also thinking of keeping them to populate the blacksmith. I'll see.
I think it was a wonderful year for LEGO. I loved many sets.
@Montyh7 said:
"
Although I would have liked to been able to buy Everything is Awesome, like the 501st it has been out of stock in the Australian Lego store pretty much since its release, so that will hopefully be a 2022 set for me, but who knows with the current Lego stock for the Australian store ! I just hope they don't retire it and the 501st before allowing us at least the chance to buy those two sets.
It's kinda cool that Lego produces different enough sets for different people to enjoy (if they can actually get them !)
"
Totally agree regarding availability of the 501st set in Australia. No idea why they didn't provide more stock since it sold out quickly at rrp everywhere it was sold. I eventually bought 2 from zavvi but paid a little over rrp. Demand and supply doesn't seem to work at lego Australia. At least not the way I learnt at uni.
I didn't vote for the blacksmith set as it didn't have the most important part, the goat!!!
@Zander:
Adam West was a consummate jerk who almost killed Burton’s Batman film and clearly despised his own fans, and the show tanked the character’s popularity for two decades. I’d rather vote for a rock with a sticker on it. Or just a rock. Or an empty box. Or Spiderman.
@yellowcastle:
You sounded like you were really upset that you missed out on it. That I could understand. I missed out on 21104 because I didn’t know the release date, and I don’t think it was ever restocked. I might have benefited from some timely advice on how to score a copy.
Anyways, Santa’s Sleigh isn’t a perfect set. The runners in particular need some work, and it needs eight or nine reindeer on the traces (plus extra stickers for their harnesses). The only play feature it has is the drawer in back for the food. The sleigh body itself looks really good, though, and it’s a lot easier to build the set than come up with something original. The design was hardly revolutionary, and if you’ve already got the reindeer, you can look up the instructions and probably adapt the design to suit whatever parts you have on hand.
But this is at least the third time I’ve seen a comment singling just this one set out as not being worth voting for because someone couldn’t simply walk into a store at a random time and find a copy waiting for them to buy. I’m not going to dig through comments to see if the previous instances were all you, but if you really don’t mind not owning a copy, maybe stop beating up on Santa?
@LegoSonicBoy:
When I ran an online forum, I guess I got lucky with only having two people who caused me any degree of grief. One was a minor, and when I pulled his IP address from the site records, used it to figure out what school he was posting from, and asked if he wanted me to contact them regarding his behavior, that pretty much shut him down cold. The other was someone running a rival site who had banned me for quitting his forum, then banned me again for not coming back when he created a new account for me. I suspect he was hoping to have some sort of knock-down, drag-out fight with me where everyone could see, but when I failed to deliver, I think he got bored and moved on. It’s been nearly two decades, but I don’t remember ever having to delete or edit any comments myself. Times have definitely changed, though, and I’ve seen stuff here that I’m glad I never had to deal with.
@TeriXeri:
Even when stores are open, they still aren’t convenient for many people. Michigan is over six times the size of the Netherlands, but we only have a single LEGO Store located in the SE corner, and probably over ten hours drive from the most distant point in the state. But unless you did have a restock notification in, it’s impossible to say that it wasn’t restocked in the EU. To get enough reindeer, I needed three copies. I got a restock notification right before leaving for work, ordered Limit 2 over the phone on my first break a few hours later, and called my dad to ask if he could order a third copy to ship to his house. He was out shopping, and by the time he got home, it had sold out again. Enough people are making use of the restock notes that sets like this won’t just linger when they pop up. If I was checking after work every day, I would have never known they’d restocked.
@Feroz said:
" @gorf43 said:
" @Feroz said:
" @gorf43 said:
"Im very pleased that NCG placed second at least. I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$. I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really. There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either. Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in. Im not saying it shouldnt have been picked, because everybody is allowed to like whatever they want, Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year! I just dont see the appeal in a set so... boring. (and no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool.) "
What are you saying?
- I am somewhat surprised that Everyone is Awesome was the most popular set under 40$.
Should not be a surprise if you read the comments of the poll.
- I think the price is ok, but its just a parts pack really.
This is true for every Lego set?
- There is no cool building techniques, and no fun parts usage either.
It's Lego, a little imagination will get you far.
- Its basically just a set to get lots of different colored minifigs and pieces in.
Worked for me.
- Im just surprised that its 667 peoples absolute favorite set from the whole year!
Might be an even higher number if you add the people that consider this their second or third favourite?
- no, lots of bright colors do not make a floor and wall cool
But one of those bright colors could be someone's favourite colour.
Plenty of people have given reasons why it's their favourite. So what's not to understand?"
1. It was a surprise the first time I saw it. Just like any other surprise, it has since ceased being a surprise.
2. I dont think a SET should become a parts pack. IMO, thats a bad set. There are parts packs, and sets. The line CAN be crossed, but if all I see in a set is pieces, then for me, the set has failed. (just my opinion though. Others will see it differently, and thats fine.)
3. Sorry, this set cannot be commended for having cool building techniques or fun parts usage unless youre five.
4. Im glad you liked the set, nothing wrong with that!
5. A valid point.
6. Your favorite color existing in a set does not solve its painfully boring design.
7. Whats not to understand? Still a lot, but good points. "
Good replies.
Thanks for the conversation. :-) "
So, so very nice to see arguments thrown about in civil, constructive manner! Kudos to both of you guys!
For my part, I voted for Everyone is Awesome much more because it symbolizes inclusion and promotes diversity in such a poignant way that it deserves top spot. As it does here in my home, where my wife and I have it as one of the few sets actually displayed in the main living room!
@WesterBricks said:
"Interesting that Santa's Sleigh came in second in the Under $40 category, despite being a seasonal set that was only available in Q4."
And only available for 5 minutes ;)
I think 21325 Medieval Blacksmith transcend the Castle theme. For myself I became an AFOL only since 2019 and I am not particularly in Medieval things (beside music). I voted for it because I find it beautiful. I like the bright colours (I remember the discussion about the change and I am glad Lego did it). It has a dedicated place in my city. As a modular it is very distinctive. Just my opinion.
@Romaclego60:
Blacksmith isn’t a Modular. The Modular sets are a line of high-end city block sections that started with Cafe Corner in 2007, and has continued one set per year leading up to the Boutique Hotel that just released this month. There was also a related set, Market Street, released under the LRGO Factory theme in 2007, and there’s disagreement over whether it’s part of the theme or not. The Modulars are designed so they can be linked together with Technic pins in their bases, resulting in a continuous downtown-style block with few to no gaps between the buildings. Spring Lantern Festival was designed so it can be incorporated into a Modular block, but Medieval Blacksmith is definitely a stand-alone build. With such an irregular base, it’s not designed to link with anything else. Anyways, you can see a full list of the Modular series here:
https://brickset.com/sets/subtheme-Modular-Buildings-Collection
@PurpleDave said:
" @Romaclego60:
Blacksmith isn’t a Modular. The Modular sets are a line of high-end city block sections that started with Cafe Corner in 2007, and has continued one set per year leading up to the Boutique Hotel that just released this month. There was also a related set, Market Street, released under the LRGO Factory theme in 2007, and there’s disagreement over whether it’s part of the theme or not. The Modulars are designed so they can be linked together with Technic pins in their bases, resulting in a continuous downtown-style block with few to no gaps between the buildings. Spring Lantern Festival was designed so it can be incorporated into a Modular block, but Medieval Blacksmith is definitely a stand-alone build. With such an irregular base, it’s not designed to link with anything else. Anyways, you can see a full list of the Modular series here:
https://brickset.com/sets/subtheme-Modular-Buildings-Collection"
Stand corrected. IT is not a modular. Although in my city every building that is self contained and not open like Friends sets has a place.
How many Santa sleighs do you have? Purplerave!
@mavndad:
I assume you mean me? I have three. That’s all I needed. The first one I built, the second doubled the size of the reindeer team, and the third I only needed so I could add a ninth reindeer. I’ve also ordered some loose reindeer, but they haven’t shipped yet. And they don’t come with the stickers for the harness tiles.
@PurpleDave: I can't believe in 10 years of moderation I've not seen anything as petty and unhinged as creating a voodoo account for someone only to ban them again just to relive that high.
@LegoSonicBoy:
I don’t know what his motive was for banning me the second time. The first time, as I said, was because I quit. Sort of. I had one staff member at the time this all went down. We didn’t have our own forum, and one of the admins on our rival site offered to set up a section on their forum for us, which we agreed to mostly because neither of us knew how to set up our own forum (oh, the irony). Eventually, I just got sick of the petty abuse this guy used to throw our way, the fact that I couldn’t respond to it (being critical of the admins was grounds for an instant and permanent ban), or that I couldn’t address certain anonymous acts of plagiarism (likewise), and I finally posted the “So long, farewell” chorus that the kids sing in Sound of Music before logging off for the final time.
Maybe a day or two later, my lone staff member informed me that he’d quit too. We hadn’t discussed this with each other, and each quit for entirely personal reasons, but this left our site without any forum presence. The guy who was hosting our site asked us if we wanted our own forum. Turns out it was built into the software suite we were using to manage the site, and the most involved part of setting up the forum was creating new graphics.
Somewhere in that mess is when we both got banned. If it wasn’t for quitting (which could be taken as criticism of the admins), it was for setting up a rival forum (also grounds for being banned). Of course, by this time, a whole host of kids had run afoul of the authoritarian rules and gotten themselves banned, so there was no shortage of new members ready to sign up, which kind of killed the effectiveness of the “no forums” rule. Funny thing is, _we_ had no problems with all these malfeasant offenders, aside of the one kid who quieted down as soon as he realized I could probably get his computer privileges revoked.
Some time later, I was headed to NY Toy Fair to cover the LEGO showroom, and they were hosting the Galidor premiere party that weekend. I recognized one of my first contacts within the company, and walked up to greet her, and this guy is standing there and out of the blue asks me if we can bury the hatchet. I had a full few days of coverage ahead of me before flying back home, so I said we could discuss it (if I’d been forewarned, I might have compiled a list of grievances). The very next day I got a message with login info for my new account that I had never agreed to. I set it aside and got back into my NYTF coverage. I think before I’d even headed home, someone hit the site’s contact button asking about me being banned a second time, or I got another message informing me that I’m banned again (I honestly can’t remember how I found out, but I know I never once attempted to log in to the second account).
I don’t know if he had something planned the entire time, if he was just making a show for the LEGO staff, or if his heart really had grown three sizes that day. I had my own site with my own forum to manage, and being banned the second time was more of an amusing curiosity.
Funny thing is, that incident appears to have snowballed in the following years. The guy who runs The Brothers Brick once made a comment that suggests he’s under the impression that I’ve been banned from several sites. I’m still only aware of being banned the two times, from the same site.
On the flip side of things, some of the kids who grew up reading my old site have since joined my LUG (I think even the youngest is an adult now), and at least one more joined the LUG that spun off ours to cover the other side of the state (we’ve had a few opportunities to chat at some local shows). It sounds like this guy only got worse since I stepped down, before eventually walking away himself. Having a successful rival forum probably limited how effective his threats of banishment could be, and I got the impression that his reputation within that community ended up in the toilet.
I picked up the blacksmith just yesterday.
@24nolf said:
"I would love a "best" of the year list in addition to "favorite". But I acknowledge that's probably unrealistic given that even reviewers probably have a hard time looking at all of the years releases closely. "
There’s no such thing as an objective “best” ranking apart from everyone’s subjective favorites. Titanic has excellent building techniques but non-existent minifig selection. Everyone is Awesome has excellent minifig selection but non-existent building techniques. How could you even rank which of these two is “better” apart from which one everyone says is their favorite?
Doesn't having "Everyone is Awesome" available as a set devalue most of the work of all the monochrome collectors by making it easy for everyone to get a premade set of them? It's no longer an accomplishment if there is a mass produced item. Just think if a trading card game made a boxed set of every card you could get all in one with no need to collect. I know that there will be additional colors of minifigures made so it won't be complete but still, the point remains.
@CapnRex101 I think we have to vote for the best non 18+ set this year.
@durazno33 said:
"Doesn't having "Everyone is Awesome" available as a set devalue most of the work of all the monochrome collectors by making it easy for everyone to get a premade set of them? It's no longer an accomplishment if there is a mass produced item. Just think if a trading card game made a boxed set of every card you could get all in one with no need to collect. I know that there will be additional colors of minifigures made so it won't be complete but still, the point remains."
Did monofig collectors actually pride themselves on collecting things that prior to this set weren't obtainable by conventional means, and not simply on collecting unprinted minifigs in various solid colors? I'm not really sure how much this would impact collectors, or how many of them see the introduction of this set as a bad thing or creating a bad precedent.
@durazno33:
I’m only trying to collect official monochrome minifigs, so all this meant was I had to buy a copy and I’ve got all the new ones. I do know that some monochromes have been crazy expensive to complete (medium-blue required hands from the original Watto, who sold for upwards of $100), but I also know that you can’t count on that staying the case (medium-blue hands have made at least one new appearance in the past few years). I think it would depend on the individual. Certainly if I’d just gotten started on building up a collection, and this repeated everything I’d managed to accomplish, I’d regret the timing (especially if I’d _bought_ completed monochromes for several times what it would have cost to just buy this set). For someone who hasn’t gotten started, this could be a huge boost, though.