More building ideas, please :)

[Lobberuno]

I had some lego sets since 1992 (I was 7 year-old) and I always remember those boxes bringing us ideas about how to build and play with the bricks. There are MOCs in the internet, ideas books and videos. Side apart of these resources, would be nice to have such help in the instruction booklets and/or boxes. These are some examples about what I'm trying to explain:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8JF2EWn2pH8eXZZZWcxZDJyZEE/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8JF2EWn2pH8LXBOUU5fTTBZVmc/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8JF2EWn2pH8WlFLSHJ4dnhvM2s/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8JF2EWn2pH8SnBVbmEwSndvY00/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8JF2EWn2pH8aUpLcGVZMnRmOFU/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8JF2EWn2pH8WlV5c3RUR0dGMVU/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8JF2EWn2pH8V21LT2Z6b1BscW8/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8JF2EWn2pH8Ylh1WEcteVJROTg/edit?usp=sharing

I know everyone that has at least one of these sets spent some time building the illustrated ideas after doing the main one, so that's why would be a great addition for the kids in the new sets.

[SSchmidt]

Very good idea.

I know we get these in the creator theme and master academy, but it would be nice if some of the larger sets had alternate builds on the back.

I wonder why they stopped doing this? Was it too cost effective or time consuming? Or maybe from a business standpoint TLG feels it would diminish sales of another set? Not sure, but it's always refreshing to see others ideas and takes on a specific set.

This has my approval!

[AK_Brickster]

I think getting rid of the alternates had something to do with parents complaining that they were confusing to try to build without instructions, or something like that.

[Frank_Lloyd_Knight]

I do miss seeing alternate builds on the sides of the boxes. Lego really isn't playing to the strength of its product by not showing them. There were probably some attorneys involved, though, who thought it would be faulty advertising to suggest that people could deviate from the official building instructions.

[Tower of Iron Will]

I do miss seeing alternate builds on the sides of the boxes. Lego really isn't playing to the strength of its product by not showing them. There were probably some attorneys involved, though, who thought it would be faulty advertising to suggest that people could deviate from the official building instructions.

Yes, heaven forbid someone showing a wide group of people an alternate solution...I always liked the alternate models too, as if to suggest that I could save up my money and buy one set to build that way, another set for another way...

The funny thing is that the kid in the first pic building the "King's Castle" is now in his mid-thirties!
-Tower

[Karalora]

What if every boxed set included a card that you could mail in to receive alternate instructions? (Making every set functionally a Creator set for those who chose to take advantage of it.) I love seeing the alternate builds on the side of the box, but the pics are often so small that I can't even tell where to start in order to produce them.

[Aeridian]

What if every boxed set included a card that you could mail in to receive alternate instructions? (Making every set functionally a Creator set for those who chose to take advantage of it.) I love seeing the alternate builds on the side of the box, but the pics are often so small that I can't even tell where to start in order to produce them.

Kinda like how they use to do the free Lego club magazine trial, eh? That's a pretty neat idea. I'd totally go for it, but I'm not sure Lego would want to take the time and money to work out a system for it...
On the other hand, instead of actually mailing in something, have a code or something similar in the instruction manual and email it to Lego or enter it on their site and receive exclusive building content to that specific set. What do you think?

[Karalora]

On the other hand, instead of actually mailing in something, have a code or something similar in the instruction manual and email it to Leg or enter it on their site and receive exclusive building content to that specific set. What do you think?

I'm dating myself, aren't I? Thinking of a physical mail-in instead of an online code... Of course the latter would be more efficient.

[Lobberuno]

When the first Exoforce line came out, the boxes included an alternative model where the people had to read or download the alternative building instructions from the Exoforce online web page, I found very good that option for countries where TLG can't send mailing. By other side, in those countries where TLG can send mailing, sounds like a great idea. Also those suggestions to mix the pieces from two sets into a big one.

Something like that could be used to improve the Lego Castle appeal.

[Sir Erathor]

I would live to see alternative model ideas return to LEGO sets. I haven't got it yet, but I think the new King's Castle is modular and can be combined with the Gatehouse Raid to make a slightly different model. It's not quite an alternative model, but at least it's something.