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If you don't like the licensed sets, or even sets with instruction books, then you're still covered. Lego, Mega Bloks, and others have buckets or bags of just p

If you don't like the licensed sets, or even sets with instruction books, then you're still covered. Lego, Mega Bloks, and others have buckets or bags of just parts. To stick to Lego without a themed set, look for The Lego Classic line. If you want them as a themed set but maybe without a media license, there's the Lego Creator line (which does include some licensed material like the Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5). Kit 10698 is a decent value for building toys and comes with its own storage container. Hasbro has multiple brands of brick building sets, but under their Kreo line there's A4585 or A4584 value buckets. I have a 759-piece Zuru Max bucket that's like $20 - the pieces fit but the quality/durability feels a little less than Lego or MEGA.

thesuitonym 5y ago
This is it. People often complain that Lego is all about licensed sets, and yeah, that type of set has taken over your local toy aisle, but the regular sets are still there, and there are even more of them that there used to be. The only real change is that Lego gives kids more choice.
- mortenjorck 5y ago
  It's not all that different from an independent record store promoting the latest collectible vinyl drop to pay the bills so they can continue selling niche recordings, or an independent theater playing Marvel titles so they can afford to run arthouse fare. Lego has adopted the "keep a corporate job to fund your side projects" outlook, and given the consistent results in the Creator series and the continuing legacy of classic product lines, more power to them.
  - nimajneb 5y ago
    I really enjoy the Creator series. I don't really have money to spend more than $30 on a set at a time. It's also cool all(?) of them are 3 in 1, so you can choose between 3 instructions. It's fun to mix them and build new as well.
dawnerd 5y ago
Lego City is also a good line for more modern basics. What I love is heir move to creating adult oriented sets which are much more complicated and intricate. I seems the article was complaining instructions are getting more complex but that is only true in their larger sets. They still have like you mention all the classic sets too.
- criddell 5y ago
  I wish I could rent a set. I’d love to put a huge set together, but after that I don’t really want it anymore and don’t want to deal with the hassle of selling it.
  - mikkergp 5y ago
    This seems like a great business idea, so great I checked to see if anyone was already doing it: https://netbricks.biz/ https://netbricks.biz/
    - dawnerd 5y ago
      Wow thats actually a really cool idea. At first I was worried about what would happen if you lose a little piece and they thought of that and seem to have a very generous policy. I'd give it a go but I have a huge backlog of sets to build.
somethoughts 5y ago
One key mindshift is to realize that many of the newer sets are more in line with a 3D puzzle than a creative 1000's of blocks to invent your own thing. Its a lot less frustrating when you realize the replay value is in taking down the set and doing it again next year or passing it on to a friend - in a manner more analogous to how puzzles are engaged with.
- jacobolus 5y ago
  > the replay value is in taking down the set and doing it again next year There is no end to the “replay value” in taking whatever miscellaneous collection of legos you have and making whatever you want out of them. This is what most kids do. Each new set gets added to the mixed-up pile. (This works because all of the pieces consistently follow a common geometric design, and connect together using a small handful of common interfaces. Note: sorting the collection can be helpful for finding pieces.) Making the set following the instructions and then displaying the finished model on a shelf, packing the pieces back in its box, or reselling the kit is something more common among adults. The “follow 3d-puzzle instructions” way of playing is pretty shallow. Even the hardest lego sets aren’t really that hard, and with a couple years experience even very young children can do them. (A 5 or 6 year-old can easily make the sets that claim on the box to be for age 11+ or whatever, with a couple years’ occasional experience.) But if you like 3d puzzles, legos are pretty good for inventing new ones, and there are a wide variety of ways to make puzzles that are harder than the instructions shipped with the pieces.
  - somethoughts 5y ago
    The “follow 3d-puzzle instructions” way of playing is pretty shallow. >> I don't disagree that its shallow but its similar to a jigsaw puzzle, sometimes you want to just do something to keep your mind active and have a sense of accomplishment. >> As mentioned in the other posts, there are just a lot of custom parts in the new "licensed" sets to have a proper return on investment - particularly once Harry Potter, Marvel, Architecture, Star Wars all get jumbled together. The suggestion for creative play is to buy the City Legos or 1000 random piece sets which seems to scratch this itch really well.
squarefoot 5y ago
> If you don't like the licensed sets, or even sets with instruction books, then you're still covered. Lego, Mega Bloks, and others have buckets or bags of just parts. Unfortunately it seems this is not true also for Meccano (my favorite). By looking at their products I see only branded/licensed sets and none of generic parts.
m463 5y ago
It is a real pleasure to see old-school lego sets at costco - 1500 piece set with no theme.
- cestith 5y ago
  Ooh. Thanks for that tip.

thesuitonym 5y ago

This is it. People often complain that Lego is all about licensed sets, and yeah, that type of set has taken over your local toy aisle, but the regular sets are still there, and there are even more of them that there used to be. The only real change is that Lego gives kids more choice.

mortenjorck 5y ago
It's not all that different from an independent record store promoting the latest collectible vinyl drop to pay the bills so they can continue selling niche recordings, or an independent theater playing Marvel titles so they can afford to run arthouse fare. Lego has adopted the "keep a corporate job to fund your side projects" outlook, and given the consistent results in the Creator series and the continuing legacy of classic product lines, more power to them.
- nimajneb 5y ago
  I really enjoy the Creator series. I don't really have money to spend more than $30 on a set at a time. It's also cool all(?) of them are 3 in 1, so you can choose between 3 instructions. It's fun to mix them and build new as well.

dawnerd 5y ago

Lego City is also a good line for more modern basics. What I love is heir move to creating adult oriented sets which are much more complicated and intricate. I seems the article was complaining instructions are getting more complex but that is only true in their larger sets. They still have like you mention all the classic sets too.

criddell 5y ago
I wish I could rent a set. I’d love to put a huge set together, but after that I don’t really want it anymore and don’t want to deal with the hassle of selling it.
- mikkergp 5y ago
  This seems like a great business idea, so great I checked to see if anyone was already doing it: https://netbricks.biz/ https://netbricks.biz/
  - dawnerd 5y ago
    Wow thats actually a really cool idea. At first I was worried about what would happen if you lose a little piece and they thought of that and seem to have a very generous policy. I'd give it a go but I have a huge backlog of sets to build.

somethoughts 5y ago

One key mindshift is to realize that many of the newer sets are more in line with a 3D puzzle than a creative 1000's of blocks to invent your own thing. Its a lot less frustrating when you realize the replay value is in taking down the set and doing it again next year or passing it on to a friend - in a manner more analogous to how puzzles are engaged with.

jacobolus 5y ago
> the replay value is in taking down the set and doing it again next year There is no end to the “replay value” in taking whatever miscellaneous collection of legos you have and making whatever you want out of them. This is what most kids do. Each new set gets added to the mixed-up pile. (This works because all of the pieces consistently follow a common geometric design, and connect together using a small handful of common interfaces. Note: sorting the collection can be helpful for finding pieces.) Making the set following the instructions and then displaying the finished model on a shelf, packing the pieces back in its box, or reselling the kit is something more common among adults. The “follow 3d-puzzle instructions” way of playing is pretty shallow. Even the hardest lego sets aren’t really that hard, and with a couple years experience even very young children can do them. (A 5 or 6 year-old can easily make the sets that claim on the box to be for age 11+ or whatever, with a couple years’ occasional experience.) But if you like 3d puzzles, legos are pretty good for inventing new ones, and there are a wide variety of ways to make puzzles that are harder than the instructions shipped with the pieces.
- somethoughts 5y ago
  The “follow 3d-puzzle instructions” way of playing is pretty shallow. >> I don't disagree that its shallow but its similar to a jigsaw puzzle, sometimes you want to just do something to keep your mind active and have a sense of accomplishment. >> As mentioned in the other posts, there are just a lot of custom parts in the new "licensed" sets to have a proper return on investment - particularly once Harry Potter, Marvel, Architecture, Star Wars all get jumbled together. The suggestion for creative play is to buy the City Legos or 1000 random piece sets which seems to scratch this itch really well.

squarefoot 5y ago

> If you don't like the licensed sets, or even sets with instruction books, then you're still covered. Lego, Mega Bloks, and others have buckets or bags of just parts. Unfortunately it seems this is not true also for Meccano (my favorite). By looking at their products I see only branded/licensed sets and none of generic parts.

m463 5y ago

It is a real pleasure to see old-school lego sets at costco - 1500 piece set with no theme.

cestith 5y ago
Ooh. Thanks for that tip.