Building Brilliance with 101 Bricks or Less
/A year ago in the spring of 2020, just when the first lockdown happened and people were stuck at home, a lot of good things happened: Iron Builder made a glorious return, “Style it Up!” was hosted by InnovaLUG over on Discord, and on a German forum called RogueBricks people started counting their bricks for a contest called “RogueOlympics.”
What was created as a simple way to give people a little break from pandemic life turned into RogueBricks’ most popular contest—so popular it has returned for this year, as evident by our contest roundup, with its concept unchanged, and with an even higher number of participants.
The rules are simple, and the bar to enter is low: Build something from 101 bricks or less that fits the current week’s theme. Eight weeks total, points earned in each round stack, highest-scored participants win prizes at the end. The contest is easy and manageable, perfect for home office and homeschooling, and serves as a little break from the day-to-day.
Now that the voting period for the first round has ended, we can take a closer look at some of the entries that were submitted in week one. There was no thematic restriction for the first round to allow people to settle in—and settle in they did! Each and every entry blew the doors wide open in regard to what is possible within such a tight piece count limit, and they will likely inspire you as much as they inspired me.
Jonas Kramm (Flickr/Instagram) created a little ship, bracing the waters with frying pan portholes, carrot top figureheads and a chest turned into the captain’s cabin. A masterclass in efficient piece usage, it uses a rowing boat as its base that offers a foundation for masts and other structures, but the boat also offers plenty of connections to add on details like the railing or the figurehead. An upside-down witch king crown works as the crow’s nest, and he even was able to add a splash of color with a flag rattling atop the mainmast. The entire build comes in at a total of 101 elements.
For lovers of sci-fi and cool mechs, our very own Simon Liu (Flickr/Instagram) created a little vehicle for a little mouse. Also an entry for Marchikoma and Oldgraybricks’ “Color My Bricks” contest, the master of double-dipping is once again offering up a reminder why one should stock up on Overwatch guns, an element that has quickly become a staple in the drone/mech builder arsenal. A hockey helmet from the early 2000s turns into the mech’s abdomen, and Hammond, the beloved hamster, is clearly jealous of that sweet 101 brick ride.
For a quieter spell, Brickhexe (Instagram) has turned to her garden and is painting up a little shed. I love the smart use of the Nexo tiles as fencing, and the fountain on the left, but that sun lounger just takes the cake. Those macaroni tiles just capture that relaxed shape perfectly and it goes to show that a LEGO element can do so much more than its intended function. Frame the build nicely like it was done here, and you’re longing for sun and a nice afternoon in your backyard—all done with a mere 98 elements!
Brickleas (Flickr/Instagram) finally used the occasion for a trip to Rivendell, that beloved Elven city of Tolkien’s masterpiece, and captured it masterfully within the 101 piece limit. You can notice right away how he is relying on big pieces to shape the environment, and then leaning in heavily into the shapes that bricks such as the binoculars or Hero Factory claws bring with them to craft bridge supports or the waterfalls. Breaking down the elements to their essence. They also work as broad brushstrokes, forming doorways and awnings, gushing waters or mountain peaks, resulting in something that is almost painterly.
What makes the RogueOlympics so entertaining is clearly the variety in subject matter. Even in later rounds—when a theme is provided—no two entries are the same, and each and every one delights with smart piece usage and new ideas. Here’s a few more from this year’s first and open round:
I’m so glad there are another six weeks of this! It’s just so inspiring to see what can be done with a mere 101 bricks. If you are interested in joining the fun, each week offers a new prompt—and this round’s theme was just announced!
What do you think you could build with only 101 pieces? Let us know in the comments below.
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