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LEGO Code version 2.0
Well, everyone else has their version of the Geek Code, so here's the LEGO
version. This is always a work in progress, so feel free to let me know if
you have any ideas. The ground rules--I wanted a code that was shorter than
others out there, so in that spirit, feel free to selectively pick and choose
which parts of the code you put in your sigfile. However, keep the order in
which the parts of the code are listed. Also, the prefix for the code will
be "LEGO:". I considered AFOL but decided on something that even the most
inner-child deprived person would understand. Also, don't worry if you don't
know how to use one of these codes; examples can be found throughout this
file. The Ratings for each part of the code consist of "+"s and "-"s, with
each additional "+" or "-" denoting the degree to which you like or dislike
that item. The descriptions of each part of the code should not be taken
literally; rather, the description given is a general statement as to your
feelings on each issue.
When describing yourself, it is sometimes desirable to have something to
identify a range of feelings. For Example:
/ indicates a range: S-/++ Sometimes S-, but usually S++
> indicates a desire: LS>+++ I want to sort pieces better
@ indicates no set opinion: A@ I don't have an opinion on auctions
Enough talk...here we go!
*THEMES*
Out of all the themes, there are some that you love, and some you love to
hate...so here's how to let everyone know which is which! Also, you'll
notice that the negative doesn't go too far down--it's all LEGO, after all.
Finally, many maniacs play with LEGO to build their own designs. This is
reflected in the Themes category with the MOC abbreviation.
Ratings (replace the "x" with relevant themes)--
x-- Why are they still selling this?
x- I wish this didn't take up as much shelf space
x Hmmmmm
x+ I own a few
x++ My NLSO/roommate/pet can pick out this theme in my collection
x+++ I buy this theme whenever I have money
x++++ They make other themes?
Place the themes in order of how much you like them, first to last. Place a
"c" after the theme if you're complete in it. Note that "complete" is a
rather vague term, you must use it at your discretion. That is, if you're
complete in every US set released in a certain line, go ahead and put a "c"
in your code. It's the thought that counts, really.
Everyone has a favorite set. Maybe it was the one you got when you were four
years old, maybe it's one you bought in an auction for $2,000. Simply put,
deep down inside, there's that one set that means the world to you. Don't
deny it. In the interest of space (and keeping our non-english friends in
mind) this section will just use the set number. To indicate your favorite
sets in each theme, place the set number in parentheses after the other
information for each theme. For example:
LEGO: TO+++c(554) (I'd love to see that person's collection)
Here's the themes--
DU DUPLO
FS Freestyle/Basic
FL Fabuland
HM Homemaker
BV Belville
TO Town
BO Boats
TR Train
PA Paradisa
SP Space
CA Castle
PI Pirate/Imperial Guard/Islander
AQ Aquazone
WW Wild West
MT Model Team
TC Technic
DC Dacta
MOC My Own Creations
Note that, in the interest of saving space, one can seperate themes that one
feels the same about by commas and then give them one generic rating. Ex:
LEGO: TR,PA,AQ,TC++
*SUB-THEMES*
Keep in mind that some sub-themes were named retroactively--LEGO didn't have
official sub-themes until 1987.
To utilize the sub-themes requires some rather geekish thinking, indeed. An
example will let you understand it much better than I can explain it:
SP[bt1+++ ex++ ut+(6991) bt2,sy,ip-]+++(6982)
This example would mean the person would, on the whole, give space 3 +s, and
likes 6982 as their favorite set. Within the line, the favorites are listed
in descending order.
Town Sub-Themes
cl Classic; Anything that doesn't fit under another category.
re Rescue; also RSQ 911, Emergency, Police, and Fire, 87-96.
sr Service and Repair; also Repair and Service, 87-90.
fl Flight; also Airport, 87-96.
tr Transportation; 87.
ra Race; 88-96.
ad Adventure; also High Speed Adventure, 88-90.
na Nautica; 91-93.
lc Launch Command; 95-96.
tc Time Cruisers; 96.
Space Sub-Themes
cl Classic Space; 79-88; all red, white, yellow, blue, or black
minifigures; grey/blue/trans yellow, grey/black/trans green,
blue/white/trans blue, grey/white/trans blue, blue/white/trans gold,
or white/black/trans blue color schemes.
bt1 Blacktron; 87-93; all black minifigures, white design on torso;
black/yellow/trans gold color scheme.
fu Futuron; 88-90; white torso with all other body parts and triangle on
torso in red, blue, yellow, or black; white/black/trans blue color
scheme; abbreviation is what most collectors say to the sub-theme.
sp1 Space Police; 89-93; white legs, torso, helmet, hands, black belt,
arms, backpack, and torso print, trans red visor; blue/black/trans
red color scheme.
mt M-Tron; 90-93; white legs, arms, red torso, black belt, hands,
helmet, backpack, torso print, trans yellow visor; red/black/trans
yellow color scheme.
bt2 Blacktron, Future Generation; 91-93; white legs, torso, black belt,
arms, helmet, backpack, trans yellow visor, black/trans yellow torso
print; black/white/trans yellow color scheme.
sp2 Space Police [2]; 92-95; green legs, arms, torso printing, white belt,
torso, black hands, helmet, backpack torso print, trans green visor;
black/grey/red/trans green color scheme.
ip Ice Planet 2002; 93-95; black legs, torso, blue belt, hands, white
arms, backpack, helmet, trans orange visor, circuit torso print;
blue/white/trans orange color scheme.
sy Spyrius; 94-96; black legs, arms, backpack, torso printing, red belt,
hands, helmet, blue torso, trans-yellow visor; red/black/trans blue
color scheme.
ut Unitron; 94-96; grey legs, arms, yellow belt, helmet, dark grey
torso, blue hands, backpack, trans blue visor, circuitry torso
printing; grey/black/blue/trans blue color scheme.
ex Exploriens; 96; grey legs, black belt, hands, backpack, white torso,
dark grey arms, helmet, trans yellow visor, grey/yellow/black/dark
grey torso print; white/black/trans blue/trans yellow color scheme.
Castle Sub-Themes
cl Classic; 81-83; 6075 [Yellow] Castle, 6083, and 6077.
bf Black Falcon; 84-94; black/grey legs, black/grey/red belt, blue
torso, black arms, black bullet/flared helmet, black/silver falcon
on torso.
cr Crusaders; also King's Knights, 84-92; red/blue/grey legs,
black/blue/grey/red belt, red torso, blue arms, grey flared or
grey/black bullet helmet, gold/black/blue crossed axes or blue/gold
lion on torso.
fm Forestmen; 87-93; green legs, belt, torso, green/black/red/blue arms,
green/brown robin hood hat, yellow/red/black/blue printing on torso.
bk Black Knights; 91-94; red/grey/blue/black legs, black/red belt,
blue/black/red torso, blue/black/red arms, black/grey helmets,
grey/black print on torso; yellow/blue/red wyvern emblem.
wp Wolfpack; 92-96; black/grey legs, red/black belt, brown torso, arms,
black/brown peasant hat, black/red cape, black/silver/red wolf on
torso.
dm Dragon Masters; 93-96; black/grey legs, red/black belt, red torso,
blue arms, yellow/black torso printing, black helmets.
rk Royal Knights; 95-96; black/white/blue/red legs, black/red belt,
red/white torso, white/blue arms, black/grey helmets.
df Dark Forest; 96; green/brown/grey legs, belt, brown/green torso,
yellow/green/red/brown arms, brown/black peasant hat or brown/green
robin hood hat, black/silver/red torso print.
Pirate Sub-Themes
pi Pirates; 89-96.
so Soldiers; 89-93; white legs, belt, torso, blue arms, printing,
red/yellow epaulets, black tricorner/shaker hat.
ig Imperial Guards; 92-96; white legs, torso, red arms, printing,
blue/yellow epaulets, black tricorner/shaker hat.
is Islanders; 94-96; yellow everything, green belt, leg printing,
white/red/green/black torso printing.
ia Imperial Armada; 96; white/grey legs, belt, green/red torso, arms,
black helmets, black torso print.
Aquazone Sub-Themes
an Aquanauts; 95-96; blue legs, white belt, torso, hands, scuba gear,
black arms, trans blue/black visor, blue/black/yellow torso print,
yellow/black/trans orange/trans blue color scheme.
as Aquasharks; 95-96; black legs, torso, arms, scuba gear, yellow belt,
red visor, yellow, red, blue torso print; black/blue/trans orange
color scheme.
*NUMBER OF SETS*
If you care enough to count your instruction booklets (I do), you'll know
approximately how many sets you have (not all sets have instructions, you
know!). The "#" is followed by a variable number of "+" symbols, denoting
how many sets you own.
# 0-9
#+ 10-49
#++ 50-99
#+++ 100-149
#++++ 150-199
#+++++ 200-?
Our example so far:
LEGO: TO+++c(554) PA+(6403) TC+ FS+(1715) SP- #++++
*THE SPECIALIZED PIECE DEBATE*
A topic that occasionally rises on rtl is that of the specialized piece--for
example, BURPs, CRAPPs, single pieces that could be made from many pieces,
and ad nauseum. You know the drill by now.
S---- Why do they make minifigs? Talk about a specialized piece!
S--- All I buy are Freestyle sets and Buckets
S-- I _would_ have bought that set, but...
S- Is the CRAPP really necessary?
S Who gives a $%!#, it's all LEGO
S+ I use them without a second thought
S++ I've found all kinds of uses for those "specialized pieces!"
S+++ I scrounge up all of them I can find. I've built K2 out of BURPs.
S++++ I buy sets just for the specialized pieces, and throw the rest away.
*LEGO SORTING*
Do you sort your LEGO? If so, to what degree?
LS--- It's all in one big pile on the floor
LS-- I keep it in buckets, containers, shoeboxes--wherever it'll fit
LS- I sorted it once, it sucked
LS One of these days...
LS+ Regular bricks in one place, minifigs and the like segregated
LS++ It somehow...bothers...me when the bricks get out of place
LS+++ I have a seperate place for each different color minifig hand
*THE HOLES IN BAGS*
Why do _you_ think the baggies that our beloved LEGO comes in have holes in
them?
Hri Easier to rip with holes
Hrr More rip-resistant with holes
Hap If they didn't have holes, they would explode in airplanes!
Hsu So kiddies don't suffocate
Hal So the LEGO doesn't suffocate (it's alive!)
Hsa Think of how much money LEGO saves with the holes!
Hsp Think of how much money LEGO spends on the holes!
Hlp The bags weigh a LOT less with the holes (less plastic)
Haw OK, see, the holes let the air out, so it WEIGHS LESS!
Hzl Like ziplocked lettuce, LEGO wilts without holes (becomes Megablocks)
Hmu So the bags don't muffle that magical clinking noise
H!? Who gives a rat's a**
*MEMBERSHIP IN A LEGO CLUB*
If you're a member of your respective country's LEGO club, indicate it with
an "M+" in your code.
*AUCTIONS*
A staple of rtl is the LEGO auction. Auctions are one way of making sure you
don't get the LEGO set you want.
A--- I unsubscribed from the group once 'cause of all the auctions
A-- Money-grubbing sales-mongering scum! I hate auctions!
A- Would you at least put 'Auction' in the title so I can killfile it?
A Enh.
A+ Auctions are fine. I may have even bought a set in one.
A++ I've sold a few items in an auction.
A+++ I spend oodles on auctions each year, and sell oodles to pay for it.
A++++ I financed my wedding via an auction
*LEGO HACKING*
Here's something for the Techies. Do you like to wire up your LEGO with
LEDs, stepper motors, microprocessors, etc? NOT just using the LEGO-supplied
electrical accessories, although I suppose DACTA could count. Use HK as the
theme code, followed by however many of the subcodes you experiment with.
Example: HKbcrm
HKb blinkies--simple cosmetic alterations
HKc command/control--putting processors inside
HKr robotics
HKm motorization
HKs smalling--trying to pack as much hack into a tiny space as possible
*LEGO MODIFICATIONS*
How sacred is LEGO to you? Would you ever consider "modifying" them for a
model/project?
LM---- I'm working on a nuke for heathens that do this.
LM--- I think the Bible/Qu'ran/Torah/etc speaks against modifications.
LM-- It just doesn't seem in the LEGO spirit.
LM- I would never, but you can feel free to.
LM Whatever. I've seen some cool models done this way.
LM+ I've thought of some designs that would require it.
LM++ I've got a model or two with some saw-marks.
LM+++ There's so much you just can't do with off-the-shelf!
LM++++ My LEGO kit includes epoxy, X-Acto, filler putty, etc.
*VIRTUAL LEGO*
Working with LEGO you can't touch (ray-tracing, LEGO drafting/digital plans)
VLr LEGO rendering
VLd drafting/drawing plans
*AGE AND SEX*
For this category, since not everyone is still a young pup, you can just put
the year you were born instead of your age ;)
Actually, the real reason is ease--your age changes, while the year you were
born doesn't. Hence, less editing over time. It's simple--use a "YB" with
the last two numbers of the year, followed by "m" or "f." The final example:
LEGO: TO+++c(554) PA+(6403) TC+ FS+(1715) SP- #++++ S-/++ LS+ Hsu M+ YB63f
It is also possible to give the age of your inner child. Simply put IC in
place of the YB, or give both sequentially.
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The following people are responsible for the Code (even if they don't know it)
Jeff Thompson jeff@teubner.com
J. D. Forinash foxtrot@cc.gatech.edu
David A. Karr karr@cs.cornell.edu
Doug Finney DFINNEY@Jetson.UH.EDU
Jason E. Pierce jpierce@stellar.tamu.edu
Keith Lucas sillywiz@wardrobe.demon.co.uk
Bill Bradley wbradley@sedona.intel.com
Jeff S. Markwell MARKWELL@EVAX0.ENG.FSU.EDU
Colin R. Y. Gallagher cgallagher@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu
Mookie Mookie@execpc.com
Ross Ireland welfen@sentox.net
Paul Gyugyi paul@gyugyi.com
Cynde Callera cynde@mrlinux.durand.com
Todd Lehman lehman@winternet.com
Tripp Lilley Tripp.Lilley@perspex.com
Justin Watkins j.watkins@surrey.ac.uk
That's all for now. If you have any additional comments, suggestions, or
hate mail, post it to rec.toys.lego or email it to me at dschin@utech.net
Play Well!
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