With the Open Submission of BrickLink Designer Program Series 6 having commenced September 16, the Classic Pirates had a ponderance regarding the BrickLink Studio software.
Specifically;
Does the Series 6 Palette include more pirate-themed parts than earlier series?
Well, it wasn’t long until Marooned Marin launched a recuse mission with a boatload of helpful information…
So What’s the Deal?
Marooned Marin provided a detailed response in the LEGO Pirates Forum.
Marooned Marin writes:
To quickly touch upon question above, […] the answer is NO!
BDP Series 6 Palette of available parts showed even less pirate parts in contrast to previous series.
For readers completely new with this program in a nutshell this means that BrickLink gives in advance allowed list of parts and colours which can be used by fan designers to create anything they like, as long as they use only those parts.
Fewer pirate parts in Series 6! But it’s not only pirates…
Delusion Brick may need to revise Seagull Bay Lighthouse for future series
Probing further into the matter the Classic Pirates asked:
Do you happen to know if soldier flags and torsos are still available?
Marooned Marin responded:
No more Bluecoats whatsoever, no more flags or torsos. That’s the big difference between Series 6 and Series 5, which is unlucky for Pirate builders.
Well, that’s terrible news for builders who were intending to submit an Imperial Soldier design!
The Admiral onboard BrickPerfection’s “Minerva” will need to find a new post
This exclusion correlates with the rumour surrounding 10320 Eldorado Fortress having its production run truncated by an entire 24 months; now expected to cease production during late 2024, rather than 2026. More on that in a future blog post.
Parts directly related to the pirate theme is only what you see in this image
Marooned Marin continues:
Also no more flintlocks and rowboats, which were also previously available. As for Islanders, they were never available on BDP program. Not considered as Islander, but there is also no crocodile. We do have one parrot and sharks, but for anything else directly related to pirate theme it’s only what you see on this [above] image.
How unfortunate!
Despite Ominous Isle and The Thieves of Tortuga passing the BrickLink Designer Team’s review, the palette of pirate parts has shrunk!
Maybe Soldier flags could be brick-built like on the “Imperial Sloop Neptune” by Arcturus
How all is not lost! Well, for imperial flags at least.
Marooned Marin continues:
The Imperial flag can be made using the stickers, they allow stickers, with exception of minifigures – you cant use stickers for torsos.
How’s your graphic design skills? Stickers could provide a solution… For flags at least.
Delusion Brick used a sticker on the flag of “Anchor Cove Imperials Shipyard“
Marin also clarifies the difference between the BrickLink Designer Program and “A Pirate’s Dream” Activity…
Marooned Marin continues:
This was something like BrickLink Community Activity with goal of using the Studio.io with all available parts, past and present, to promote digital builds and creativity. Award was something like a badge or public recognition.
BrickLink Designer Program is completely different matter, with strict framework for submissions and limited parts. Be assured, there are no islanders available in BDP, indigo classic or POTC.
But this won’t stop dedicated LEGO Pirate fans!
Marooned Marin’s creation, Tapu Island won the Large Building Category of the Infamous Steve Contest; next he intends to adapt it for the sixth series of BrickLink Designer Program.
“Tapu Island” may have won the contest but will it succeed in Series 6?
How will he overcome the lack of Indigo Islander parts?
Marooned Marin concludes:
Oh I got really creative, but I don’t want to spoil as you’ll find out soon enough.
But it’s important to highlight here, for someone who maybe skipped through this blog-post that BrickLink Designer Program is not some “evil branch” of LEGO which has agenda with Pirates, they simply operate and comply with parts which are available and/or planned for production in the next year or two.
BrickLink is doing really amazing work with BPD program.
It will be exciting to gaze up the creative solutions he’s employed to overcome the limitations!
BrickLink Designer Program Series 6
Looking for general information on Series 6?
The Classic Pirates have compiled all the details in this useful article.
What Do Yer Think?
Buyers
Be yer interested in buying pirate-themed BrickLink Designer sets?
Builders
Are yer a builder intending to submit a design in the future?
If so, how will you overcome the reduced availability of pirate-themed parts in BrickLink Studio?
LEGO Pirate fans have work to do!
Submit
Open Submission for Series 6 kicked off on September 16 and ends September 27.
You have until the timer ends to submit your design.
Discuss
Let us know if you have additional information or questions regarding the available pirate parts…
Or whether you’re planning to submit a pirate-themed design in Series 6.
The BrickLink Design Program discussion continues in the LEGO Pirates Forum.
