What would you like for the next Castle line?

[makoy]

Not sure if someone already mentioned but I wish that TLG can come up with a storyline driven release like Nexo Knights and Ninjago by borrowing from familiar historical events. A lot of these stories can also be integrated with LEGO's interconnectivity concepts they have developed.

I can think of sets like medieval market, wind mills and blacksmith shop on top my head. These are just a few that I wish they will revisit because I think both AFOLs and kids will like them a lot.

[The lego fan]

6 hours ago, x105Black said:

I'm glad you like the ideas!  I'd love to one day build a collection of sets to pitch (possibly through Ideas) that go along with these plans.

 

That would be awesome! 

The lego fan.

[MAB]

17 hours ago, Aanchir said:

It's really tough to gauge how well Forestmen might do in the modern day. Even in the 80s and 90s, Forestmen seemed sorta "niche" — from 1987 to 1990 they only appeared in two or three sets per year, with far more sets dedicated to the knight factions. The "Dark Forest" revival in 1996 was likewise just three sets, plus was only released in North America. If LEGO did create new Forestmen sets, though, I know they'd probably be very impressive. LEGO has gotten a lot better at building trees since the 90s.

I imagine the only route to getting Forestmen type sets these days is if there is a popular kids' movie that comes out based on Robin Hood or similar, and LEGO picks up the license for it.

Forest-space-robots action theme on the other hand, maybe their next in-house line.

[Robert8]

I would like to see brick built giants like this one. I think this one looks better and more organic than the first one (the black marvel dude).

It would be cool to get a Fantasy Era theme with giants. Of course they wouldn't get their own sets, because they would need humongous builds but there could be like 3 or 4 giants in the bigger sets

[SirBlake]

That's a fun idea. 

[x105Black]

I actually like that idea a lot.

[Robert8]

With NK ending soon, I wonder what LEGO has in the works for the next castle line

Maybe the S17 Battle Dwarf and Elf Maiden are testing the waters for a new version of Fantasy Era?

[BrickJagger]

@Robert8 I hope so. It's pretty clear that Fantasy Era is wildly popular among Castle fans, and it's been gone for over eight years now. Another theme like Castle 2013 would be a major missed opportunity. 

Also, notice that Fantasy Era came after KK2, which is similar in concept to NK. Maybe Lego is trying to reel in new fans with NK and then have them transition to FE2, a more "mature" theme.

[Aanchir]

56 minutes ago, Robert8 said:

With NK ending soon, I wonder what LEGO has in the works for the next castle line

Maybe the S17 Battle Dwarf and Elf Maiden are testing the waters for a new version of Fantasy Era?

I don't think collectible minifigures are really meant to "test the waters" for anything. They seem to be selected and designed on their own individual merits. I wouldn't read much more into them than that LEGO thought they were cool figs kids would like, that would add variety to their respective series.

It is definitely possible that CMF parts (like the Frightening Knight's mace) could find a place in a future Castle theme, but I don't think the CMF designers would be introducing those parts with specific plans to use them in the next Castle theme. CMF designers create most molds with hypothetical future uses, but where and when they show up in other themes would ultimately be up to those themes' designers.

11 minutes ago, BrickJagger said:

@Robert8 I hope so. It's pretty clear that Fantasy Era is wildly popular among Castle fans, and it's been gone for over eight years now. Another theme like Castle 2013 would be a major missed opportunity. 

Also, notice that Fantasy Era came after KK2, which is similar in concept to NK. Maybe Lego is trying to reel in new fans with NK and then have them transition to FE2, a more "mature" theme.

Generally Nexo Knights is aimed at older kids than Fantasy Era or other Castle themes have been, so if the next Castle theme were aimed at an even older audience it'd be surprising to say the least. Plus, half the point of renewing or replacing themes is to get new fans invested, rather than rely on the same aging audience. If they wanted to continue targeting kids who grew up with Nexo Knights they could just keep that theme around with an evolving look and story. But unless it was drawing in newer, younger fans to replace the kids who inevitably lose interest, catering to the same generation of kids would yield diminishing returns.

[x105Black]

I'm hoping that the concept of marketing Castle to young children will not cross over to the new Castle theme.  It should target at least the same range as themes like Nexo Knights, Ninjago, and even Star Wars.  There's no reason Castle can't support a nice, large set like the Temple of Airjitzu, Kingdom's Joust, Ewok Tree Village, or even a Modular.

As a matter of fact, I'd love a Forestmen themed Ewok Tree Village.

[Aanchir]

15 minutes ago, x105Black said:

I'm hoping that the concept of marketing Castle to young children will not cross over to the new Castle theme.  It should target at least the same range as themes like Nexo Knights, Ninjago, and even Star Wars.  There's no reason Castle can't support a nice, large set like the Temple of Airjitzu, Kingdom's Joust, Ewok Tree Village, or even a Modular.

As a matter of fact, I'd love a Forestmen themed Ewok Tree Village.

Castle can definitely support big exclusive sets, and in fact it has more precedent for that than many themes. But those are mostly independent of the main theme's target audience. Kingdoms was mostly aimed at ages 5–12 and still got the 12+ Kingdoms Joust, after all. So even if a new Castle theme has the same target audience as usual, that shouldn't lessen its chances of an exclusive set aimed outside the upper margins of that audience.

[Klaus-Dieter]

1. With Nexo Knights, Ninjago, Elves and Minecraft I don't see big chances for a new Castle theme.

2. With Lego playing kids getting younger and younger and multimedia having more and more influence, I fear that a nice and more classic looking, more or less realistical Castle theme won't take place.

3. The good thing is: 2009 we got MVV, 2012 there was KJ, 2015 TLG released the ToA - so there supposably will be another Castle or at least medieval Exclusive in 2018.

[Giantorange]

What I want.

Elves, Dwarves, Non-human bad guys, Dragons, other fantasy monsters (can be brick built, or moulded), more pigs goats, cows.  Modular fortress components in the style of proper '80s castle but with modern parts and original design.  A decent battering ram, preferably with great beasts to draw it, and mountain trolls to wield it.  The occasional civilian building - there is good reason guarded inn is so high on many people's favourite lists.

 

What I don't want.

More catapults or drawbridge defence type scenes.  Rebuilds of original sets I already have - make things look different at least.  Minifigs with overscale weapons/accessories.  Waves where the only army builder sets have too many 'good guys'.

 

 

[Blakstone]

I would like the next Castle line to work as a continuation of Kingdoms. The style and detail on the minifig prints and shield designs still works very well with the current LMF (aka CMF) offerings. Ideally I would want a different heraldic animal on the shields, it could be stag, raven, or wolf. You could do knights versus vikings even.

I do not think LEGO should go away from siege vehicles. Instead they could do more realist ones such as seige towers and a working brick built trebuchet.

[Venunder]

TLG probably don't want to get involved with actual history, for fear of getting it wrong or fear of offending some history buff.

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Brick built Giants reminds me of Jack the Giant Slayer film.

But rather than another IP, maybe TLG should do a castle theme based on Jack and the Beanstalk which is known to most people, but with no copyright issues, there is no need for a premium price on sets. 

If TLG want to get away from the Fairy Story, there is plenty of scope for making TLG Giants in a kingdom fighting against the Minifig kingdom. They could easily make up their own stories, cartoons, video games etc. But if they are going to aim it at children they should stick with 10-12 year olds and make the theme a two year event. With an option to extend it for a third year if it sells well.

Unfortunately after Nexo Knights TLG will need to give castles a break for at least a year, so maybe they need to do another Classic space type theme first?

 

[Aanchir]

On 4/17/2017 at 4:19 AM, Klaus-Dieter said:

1. With Nexo Knights, Ninjago, Elves and Minecraft I don't see big chances for a new Castle theme.

2. With Lego playing kids getting younger and younger and multimedia having more and more influence, I fear that a nice and more classic looking, more or less realistical Castle theme won't take place.

3. The good thing is: 2009 we got MVV, 2012 there was KJ, 2015 TLG released the ToA - so there supposably will be another Castle or at least medieval Exclusive in 2018.

Are LEGO buying kids really getting younger? I feel like there are a lot more sets aimed at higher ages than there used to be. Like, many of the biggest sets from themes like Ninjago and Nexo Knights are aimed at 9–14. The biggest LEGO Batman Movie sets are aimed at 10–16 or 12–16. Elves and Super Hero Girls have a few 9–12 sets. Conversely, back in the 80s and 90s it was hard to find a higher recommended age than 8–12 outside of the Technic theme. That's not even getting into the 10+, 12+, and 14+ sets we see a lot of in D2C or Ideas. We tend to think of those as "AFOL sets", but TFOLs are also a part of their intended audience. 

That said, the 5+ Friends and City themes are still some of the biggest and most successful. And with all the sets and themes aimed at older kids, that market may be more saturated than the younger market. Hard to say.

Edited April 22, 2017 by Aanchir

[Roebuck]

On 20.4.2017 at 10:16 AM, Giantorange said:

What I want.

.... more pigs goats, cows.

HEAR, HEAR!!

[josykay]

Anything castle related. No matter if historic/ realistic or fantasy. Although, since we had dwarfs last time, some elves would be nice now. :P

New pieces of armor, helmets, torso prints, shields, weapons... More available  civil life, no matter if men, elves, dwarfs. Some elvish harpist or flute player for example, dwarfen miners, farmers.. and all what can come to mind. And although not castle only, more animals. :P

[paulsp2012]

On 4/20/2017 at 3:16 AM, Giantorange said:

What I want.

Elves, Dwarves, Non-human bad guys, Dragons, other fantasy monsters (can be brick built, or moulded), more pigs goats, cows.  Modular fortress components in the style of proper '80s castle but with modern parts and original design.  A decent battering ram, preferably with great beasts to draw it, and mountain trolls to wield it.  The occasional civilian building - there is good reason guarded inn is so high on many people's favourite lists.

 

What I don't want.

More catapults or drawbridge defence type scenes.  Rebuilds of original sets I already have - make things look different at least.  Minifigs with overscale weapons/accessories.  Waves where the only army builder sets have too many 'good guys'.

 

 

Well said. I'm sure many AFOLs would agree with this sentiment. I'd like to see a castle/historical meets monster hunters theme. Make a farmhouse set with a creepy pumpkin patch and scarecrows. Or a necromancers tower with small graveyard etc

[SirBlake]

6 hours ago, paulsp2012 said:

Well said. I'm sure many AFOLs would agree with this sentiment. I'd like to see a castle/historical meets monster hunters theme. Make a farmhouse set with a creepy pumpkin patch and scarecrows. Or a necromancers tower with small graveyard etc

That sounds fantastic. Never thought about it, but now I want it. 

[Japanbuilder]

This is hard since I grew up with classic castle but I would like a series based around the time castles were fading out. 

I would love a star shaped fortress and troopers that bear a resemblance to say something like a Spanish Tercio with pikemen and musketeers  working together =) 

With the new pieces from Nexo Knights that sort of thing would be fun to see, at least for me. 

 

[thetang22]

What I DON'T want to see:  good guy human knights vs bad guy human knights, in which the alignment is very implied.

Rather:

1) if it is humans vs humans, let's have a situation like classic castle in which alignment was a bit more ambiguous.  Were the Crusaders or the Forestmen the "good guys"?  It wasn't so clear, and depended on the story the kid wanted to tell that day.  The good guys were more of a user choice, rather than the narrative being heavily implied like more modern sets.  Also, have at least 1 human faction that is not based on typical knights.

2) something inspired by Fantasy Era, with multiple factions.  This was one of the more inspiring parts of Nexo Knights...lots of monsters that could have easily fit into Fantasy Era if they removed all the futuristic vehicles.  For a new set, have a knight faction, as usual, but also have other fantasy factions, such as elves, dwarves, gnomes, etc...

3) I've talked about this idea in the past - a theme inspired around defending a village from monsters/invaders.  This would be a character-centric theme...and not really have your traditional knights.  Instead, it takes place around a small medieval village that is being attacked by the bad guys (either Fantasy monsters, or brute invaders).  The townsfolk have to take up arms to defend themselves, and some unsuspecting heroes could emerge.  For instance, the blacksmith dons the armor and weapons he forges and represents your warrior-type character.  The potion shop is tended by a wizardly character.  The Inn could be tended by a character that turns into some other medieval fantasy trope, and so forth.  The idea is these characters would be normal village-folk, but when represented with a threat to their village, they turn into more heroic characters inspired by classic medieval fantasy books and games.  This would give an opportunity to create more sets like Medieval Market Village...with the whole theme designed around all the sets completing a larger village.  If Lego is dead set on lots of vehicles (like they seem to always be), reserve those to the invaders.  The village buildings could have plenty of interesting play features on their own, as the narrative could be that these villagers have built creative defensive measures to deal with the Invaders.  The viability of a set doesn't always need to be measured by its ability to "vroom vroom" around on wheels or wings.

[Nerd-with-a-Pencil]

14 hours ago, paulsp2012 said:

Well said. I'm sure many AFOLs would agree with this sentiment. I'd like to see a castle/historical meets monster hunters theme. Make a farmhouse set with a creepy pumpkin patch and scarecrows. Or a necromancers tower with small graveyard etc

I definitely agree. Gothic, countryside, Van Helsing-type things are some of my favorite things to MOC, so this would be much appreciated.

[MAB]

On 22/04/2017 at 3:35 PM, Aanchir said:

Are LEGO buying kids really getting younger?

1

I think they are (if you include the ones that are getting the lego bought for them). But that is not at the expense of older kids / adults. I think lego has realised they can also sell lots to (parents of) younger kids and have filled that gap, but without having an effect on the older end of the market.

[Zilcho]

On 17/04/2017 at 9:19 AM, Klaus-Dieter said:

3. The good thing is: 2009 we got MVV, 2012 there was KJ, 2015 TLG released the ToA - so there supposably will be another Castle or at least medieval Exclusive in 2018.

 

What was the ToA?

 

 

Like others I really want a fantasy theme. Some more yellow elves would be great to add to the CMF ones we already have.