Arjo

Both would be crazy good… but for me cheaper might be better as I am ever more tempted to go back to my dark ages. I have caught up with the thread but that rumour surfaced when I was trying to stay away from all things Lego so I’m not sure how legit it is.

Guess it comes down to where one lives. I am in a big city and the only shot at finding sought after cmfs right off the bat. It only gets worse after that. I bumped into D&Ds yesterday, scanned them on the off chance I’d finally find a dragonborn… the whole series was there bar for that one fig. No doubt it will be the same for the beast master. It’s not the end of the world but no one should have to fight to get their hands on something as trivial as a cmf without feeding scalpers.

I agree… and have witnessed it myself. You see two types: AFOLs who are respectful of the product and of other customers but are still looking for their favs, and the scalpers which are behaving ruthlessly now courtesy of the scanning apps. Bottom line, it seems impossible to find a wolfpack at random (just like it was for the dragonborn). I have reluctantly installed the app myself, went and queued three days in a row before the store opened, only to find the cmfs ransacked within seconds of the doors opening. I did get a few “vikings” torso from BAM as consolation prize but I think this “market” is as unhealthy as it gets and it took a turn for the worst with the scanning apps drawing in hords of wannabe flippers.

I had written off the botanical garden on expected price alone. After seeing the finished product though, I am quite tempted. It is a double edge sword in that in my mind’s eye I see it and the museum integrated into an “exhibition road” with a nice park to go with it… would be stunning… for whomever has enough space to pull it out. Not my case so I will probably skip it. TLG will keep cranking sets vying for attention and real estate so the FOMO I experienced a few years back coming out of my dark ages is now gone. It is impossible to keep up and there will always be a next best set to help you forget those you left in the rearview mirror. Oh well.

Going to hit the store this pm to try and score a set of 12!

Good to see I am not the only one who didn’t pull the trigger… it’s a useful piece for sure but for the same price you can put together a fully decked out minifig of other designs I like. On a related note, I believe 10320 is retiring by year-end/while stocks last but I have never seen it discounted anywhere.

Not the best to say the least… and prices have increased (at least in my region). I wanted to get a handful of governor’s hats but at 2.50+ each I am yet to pull the trigger.

The same builder?!? Crazy! I didn’t realise when I brought the comparison up. Suffices to say I like his style and choice of theme. He’s basically doing what I wish I could (with more time and talent).

I think repeat participants finding success shows there are talented builders out there who are willing and able to design sets TLG choose to ignore, all things castle being a good example. I am not in the secrets of the gods but my guess is that having “mostly-AFOL-only” large sets on the shelves is not worth the trouble for them when they can lock in 30,000 buyers within a few hours and be done. Even 10305 and its large box struggled to find pride of place in very large lego stores I visited. TLG are producing too many sets these days, even for their own good, as they can’t seem to have enough shelf space for all. Ironic as most of us face the same predicament at home! which brings me back to Tortuga, the width of the set will require a whole shelf for it alone which is an inconvenience. Would have been good to be able to break it down in sections and rearrange. Also, whilst it contributes greatly to the overall visual impact the set has, a substantial amount of bricks will be eaten by the base structure/foundations. Money in the ground literally!

Yes that one! You’re right it might be the backdrop of the render holding Tortuga back, something feels off though I can’t put my finger on it. anyway this program is going to be a challenge to budgets if they have cool (but pricey) sets twice a year!

Nope, the next bricklink designer program which goes for sale in the Fall. I think it’s called “forestmen stronghold”.

Speaking of which, anyone knows what is the platform 9&3/4 small set that appeared on brickset today? Is it an adfitional gwp?

Who knows! I think I like the forestmen set better on this occasion, hence why I was curious as to others’ views. I can’t quite say what it is but in my eye there is something missing from tortuga.

Guessing there is an overlap between castle and pirates fans, which of Tortuga and Forestmen stronghold has you most interested? Given expected price points, hard to back wave after wave, so if you could only have one of the two which would you go for?

Can’t say I am sold based on the trailer… where it brought some clarity, in my opinion, is on the possible tie in with new lego sets. I don’t see that happening unfortunately. fingers crossed I am proven wrong.