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Overly Detailed Instructions

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 7:55 pm
by Sir Osis of Liver
Dear LEGO,

I am an old school fan and appreciate the days when the entire build for a set could fit on one carefully folded page, or for the larger sets a 20 page booklet.

I find that the newer style of building instructions where it seems like every step of the build is shown literally piece by piece are overly detailed and as such it is a poor use of resources. This must add unnecessary costs to the printing of these instructions both in paper and ink costs. However, a bigger concern is the environmental impact of these instructions. More pages = more weight = a greater carbon footprint to ship and distribute the products. Not to mention the resource costs of the paper and printing materials (even recycled paper has an environmental impact).

For example, I just built the 60166 Heavy Rescue Helicopter. It came with 3 instruction booklets for a 415 piece set! These construction steps could easily be doubled up and cut the number of pages (and books) in half.

Re: Overly Detailed Instructions

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 9:53 pm
by josdu
Frankly, I don't know I could say it applies to all sets, mind, but I find that on larger sets like exclusives I actually miss important instructions, FOL though I am, and detailed though the instructions are, and even find myself with extra pieces of a large size (meaning that really I just missed the place they go, and so sometimes I have to go back and put them in). Imagine a kid, because in fact that's who many many of the sets are aimed for, being able to build such things correctly often with no expertise, if the instructions were only a couple pages! Anyways, just my two cents :wink: . The good olde days were certainly good for all of that :eyebrows: .

Re: Overly Detailed Instructions

Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2017 11:50 pm
by Bluesecrets
I just built the Old Fishing Store...which was a combo of old instructions and new. I like new better. Because when I got to the end...I had a 2x4 plate left over that was from bag 1...and I didn't realize where it went until I was completely finished...due to the old style instructions.

But as usual...I would like to be able to tell black from dark bley, black from dark brown, and other colors that are hard to tell.

Re: Overly Detailed Instructions

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 12:30 am
by Elephant Knight
Certain themes seem to be especially bad at this. City sets, I have found, tend to have the most simply, page wasting instructions. I understand why LEGO does it the way they do, but kids are smart. Instructions these days are too simple, but the ones in the old days were perhaps a bit too complicated. I know I can have troubles with them at times. They clearly need to have them somewhere in between.

EKnight

Re: Overly Detailed Instructions

Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2017 12:27 am
by Athos
If you do not like it, skip the odd numbered pages.

Steve