5614 The Good Wizard review

[AmperZand]

I recently received 5614 The Good Wizard from S@H. Here's my take on it...

The set consists of one sand blue wizard minifig with a matching hat, white beard, reddish brown wand, crystal ball (with transparent yellow gem inside) and white owl.

On the plus side is the colour of the wizard. While technically a shade of blue, he is grey enough to pass as Gandalf for Lord of the Rings/Hobbit fans. Sand blue is also a new colour for the wizard's hat which offers opportunities for minifig customisers. The printing on the hat is a constellation of stars and a buckle, while his legs and waist have a pouch, potion bottle, coin (?) and belt fittings. Overall, the printing looks pretty good, especially on the legs. The addition of the white owl should also make this set popular with HP fans.

On the downside, the torso is plain, i.e. unprinted. This is a shame as the printed beard isn't bad so if you chose not to use the beard piece, you'd be left with a decorated hat and legs but an unadorned torso. The minifig would also have benefited greatly from a cloth cape with stars matching his hat's. I would also like to have seen a stellar wand rather than a rod but that's possibly an idiosyncratic preference.

Overall, I like this set. While it could have been better, the improvements needed aren't insurmountable (a shopping trip to BrickLink will get you a plain cloak and stellar wand). And at only

Edited January 13, 2008 by AmperZand

[Wout]

Thank you for the pics on your brickshelf.

It

[Lord Of Pies]

Thanks for the good review! *y*

I like this set, however the un-printed torso is disappointing as is the

[iamded]

Thank you, AmperZand! Great review, I eagerly await to see this set in stores! :-D Welcome to Eurobricks!

~Peace

[Batbrick]

Thanks for that excellent, detailed review AmperZand!

I can't wait for this set to come out, I think I will get two.

Batbrick is Back! >:-)

[WesternOutlaw]

I love it! What a great little set and an outstanding addition to the Castle theme. It does not appear to be available on LSAH in the US yet, but looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing.

[hollisbrick]

i was going to get heaps of these but then i saw the prise >:-( :-X $6

[TheFrisian]

I saw the new Impulse sets at a local Intertoys in the Netherlands today! It kinda speaks for itself that I immediately picked up both Castle Impulse sets. Of the two, the soldier is definitely my favorite. I like the new torso and with the spare parts I can build a second knight.

The wizard is not a total loss, but I'm not fond of it either. In my opinion, he would've looked much better in dark blue, and he could seriously do with a cloth cape. Also, I think I would liked to see him come with a staff instead of a wand.

[WesternOutlaw]

i was going to get heaps of these but then i saw the prise >:-( :-X $6

Anything under $10 isn't that bad.

[TheFrisian]

i was going to get heaps of these but then i saw the prise >:-( :-X $6

Are you kidding? 8-

[hollisbrick]

Are you kidding? 8-

[Shadows]

Quick and direct review, thanks and welcome to EB!

It is a nice little set and one I'll certainly pick up a few of, but because of the hat printing, I don't see it being useful in large quantities. Had they left off the stars and maybe considered something on the torso, it's be a much better selection.

The ability to plan sets in such a way as to make them appeal to fans of other themes, thus increasing potential sales, and even possibly luring someone over to a new theme, is something LEGO desperately needs to work on.

Imagine this torso with a very simple robe looking print and suddenly it appeals to Castle fans who want peasant/civilian/robed characters and Star Wars fans in search of new generic Jedi. Double your market all in one shot.

I'll keep preaching this until someone sees it and listens (hey, someone reads this forum or they wouldn't have quoted my Imperial Crapship crack, so maybe they'll be smart and take some good advice here). Seriously LEGO, write me, I can tell you some things that won't cost much and will lead to a fairly strong sales result. All without having to create anything new, pure intelligent recycling.

[tedbeard]

... because of the hat printing, I don't see it being useful in large quantities. Had they left off the stars and maybe considered something on the torso, it's be a much better selection.

Hat: a little brasso and the stars are gone.

Torso: Why does every torso need to be printed? Blank is more versatile than ANY printing.

I don't intend to build an army of the soldiers so I am more likely to pick up a few wizards. Hmmm, if no one likes them I can pick some up cheap when they go on clearance... ignore the above, the wizard is no good. ;-)

[Shadows]

Hmmm, if no one likes them I can pick some up cheap when they go on clearance... ignore the above, the wizard is no good. ;-)

Blast it all, you're on to me ... X-D

As for printed torsos, I just like them. I do wish they would sell unprinted torsos through Pick-a-Brick the same way they sell legs. I'd love to have every colour ever made, but that isn't likely to happen. I know I could brasso a lot of worn ones back to solid, but I've never been able to bring myself to modify a part, even though I did buy the brasso for just that purpose. One day... maybe. ;-)

[Matn]

Nice review. I will be buy two of these (I like Wizards). Or even more. And then make a comic with some Knight Impulses.

[Marius]

I also got the castle impuls sets in the Netherlands (Euro 2.60 at Intertoys.)

I love 'm. I'm really amazed by the amount of detail on the Wizard minifig. The hat has a nice buckle print, and the pouches and things on his legs look really cool.

I think a star-wand and cape may have been too gaudy, to be honest. It's a very pragmatic sorcerer and I like that. :D

The knight is cool too. For it's price you get enough armour and weapons to customize it and use it for army building.

Can't wait for the Troll warrior impulse set :D