Latest impact of other themes on historic themes

[Khargeust]

I'm hesitating between the Crows and the Krakens. I would love to see a new Knight of the Crows, the one from series 20 was really successful and the color scheme works well. But I'm tempted to vote for Krakens because it's a new faction that would bring a breath of fresh air in the different Castle factions. 

I will go for warm gold spaceman.

Edited May 27, 2024 by Khargeust

[JohnTPT17]

I went for the Griffin Knights and Reddish Violet Spaceman.

Out of the two "new" factions of knights, I like the color scheme of the Griffins better, and I think they would blend in more easily with the knights I have. The blue of the Kraken reminds me too much of Nexo Knights for comfort. My second pick would have been Crows, though - yes, it's an existing faction, but that minifigure, as great as he looks, is ridiculously expensive.

I was thinking about the warm gold spaceman, but the couple of gold minifigures I've gotten have had odd streaks in the gold, so I don't know how it would look in a real minifigure.

Here are the Castle emblems, if anyone is having trouble viewing them or can't see them now:

 

 

[Black Falcon]

I voted for the Griffon. Not completely sold on the colour sheme but could be a cool minifigure nonetheless. I hope he gets a new helmet mould with wings.

[sporadic]

I voted for Kraken because beyond the minifigure, I think a seafaring faction adds the most interesting possibilities for future sets and expansions to the theme.  They have the most unique character.  A mercantile faction controlling trade, with harbors docks and boats, but also merchant caravans, trade houses, and bazaars.  It also can lead to other future wider world (Asia, Middle East, Africa) as they go off to explore the world.  It's the faction I see with the largest growth potential for the theme.

I think they'll win by a landslide though.  The cross theme with Pirates fans is huge.  In fact, moving pirates earlier timeline-wise (maybe in alliance with Wolfpack?) might revitalize that theme too, as they can then avoid some of the Age of Colonialism baggage that gets the theme into a bit of trouble sometimes.  

[zoth33]

I voted for the Kraken.  I agree with @sporadic that it would be nice to have a seafaring faction with some new sets at some point.  It will be interesting to see if Lego expands on the faction that does win and actually makes a set for them. 

[Ben S]

I had doubts between the Griffin and the Kraken, but I finally chose Griffins.

Regardless of the faction they choose, I'm sure the minifigure will be great. I'm looking forward to seeing the pieces at PAB 

[GeoBrick]

Liked the Griffin best.
The Kraken would"ve been nice too, but it fits more in a D&D setting.

[Roebuck]

I obviously votes for the ravens, since I love the colour scheme of that fraction and it would be great to get a new minifig to get some variation.

All 4 looks good here, but I have least interest in the bulls since they come from a period when Lego made a lot of bad sets.
The griffin looks a little too similar to the lions I think and the kraken seems popular, but It do not necessarily mean that we will get future sets with kraken knights in them if that win..
If Lego are nice they could include the 2 most popular ones instead of a lot of useless costumed characters they will most likely add to the set

[sporadic]

6 hours ago, GeoBrick said:

Liked the Griffin best.
The Kraken would"ve been nice too, but it fits more in a D&D setting.

And the Griffin doesn't?  They're both mythological creatures with Mediterranean origins.   (EDIT) After some research I realized I was conflating the Kraken with other giant sea creature lore from Greek/Roman/etc. sources.  Still, don't see why one mythological critter is better than another.

The Griffin was my second choice, actually, and I waffled a bit.  I prefer their color scheme, honestly.  In the end, though, I am not sure what their theme would be (maybe politics? I could see them being magistrates and tax collectors and such) so I didn't feel as confident with them as the Krakens as to where they could go.

Edited May 28, 2024 by sporadic

[Yoggington]

I became irrationally excited when I saw the (possible) return of the Raven Knights. I feel like Kraken is novel and exciting and is the most likely to garner the public vote, but there's a chance for the Corvids to return at least. Lego haven't forgotten them and even if they miss out this time well.. there's a chance.

It's probably better for my wallet if Ravens don't come to pack-a-brick but stillllll....

[JohnTPT17]

26 minutes ago, Roebuck said:

If Lego are nice they could include the 2 most popular ones instead of a lot of useless costumed characters they will most likely add to the set

If Lego was really nice, they could have given us some of the shield designs in the MTS set instead of the stickers... Alas.

[Westbrick]

I voted for the Kraken as I think they could do a lot with the figure, but I was torn between it and the Crow! Thankfully I managed to snag a lot of the Crow knights via bricklink when they were vaguely affordable, so that’s what pushed me towards the Kraken and a completely new shield. 

Edited May 27, 2024 by Westbrick

[jodawill]

I'm really annoyed that the kraken is even an option because it postdates the medieval period by hundreds of years. It would be completely out of place in the castle theme. It seems to be very popular too. I would be happy with any of the other three, although the bull would definitely be my third choice.

[Rjbricks]

Surely there’s enough Viking mythology that could stretch to some sort of sea beast that would decorate a standard of a faction?

[Renny The Spaceman]

5 hours ago, JohnTPT17 said:

I was thinking about the warm gold spaceman, but the couple of gold minifigures I've gotten have had odd streaks in the gold, so I don't know how it would look in a real minifigure.

Probably the weakest out of all options, doesn't really fit with the themes aesthetic, the most inconsistent plastic colour and even if it doesn't win we'll inevitably get one later for CS's 50th or LEGO's 100th. I think any of the others is a better use of people's votes as they're less likely to be made of they lose. I'm personally on team Teal due to how it's both the most unique and would help Rock raiders fans make a Chief figure without breaking the bank.

As for Castle I'm went with the ravens as I both love the bird and I think they have such a beautiful colour pallet. Though TBF 2 of them being never seen before factions make them hard to judge

[Lion King]

1 hour ago, JohnTPT17 said:

If Lego was really nice, they could have given us some of the shield designs in the MTS set instead of the stickers... Alas.

Yup!! Not stickered ones

[Lion King]

I vote Griffin! It’s not becuase of color scheme or creature, but it’s one of my family names. 

[Agent Kallus]

I voted kraken (teal spaceman) but whatever wins I just hope it ends up on pick a brick?

1 hour ago, jodawill said:

I'm really annoyed that the kraken is even an option because it postdates the medieval period by hundreds of years. It would be completely out of place in the castle theme. It seems to be very popular too. I would be happy with any of the other three, although the bull would definitely be my third choice.

It shouldn't though. The name of Kraken might postdate the period but the general concept does not. The Hafgufa or various Cetus, or perhaps Charybdis all could look just like the Kraken.

Edited May 27, 2024 by Agent Kallus

[Lyichir]

I voted griffon... it feels authentic as a heraldry animal, the graphic they showed for it feels very good and Lego-like, and it reminds me somewhat fondly of the (otherwise fairly mediocre) Mega Bloks castle I had as a kid, which had a griffon in it.

Kraken is a neat concept but isn't really the kind of animal you'd typically see on heraldry in real life. And bull and raven are both things we've seen before.

[zoth33]

2 hours ago, jodawill said:

I'm really annoyed that the kraken is even an option because it postdates the medieval period by hundreds of years. It would be completely out of place in the castle theme. It seems to be very popular too. I would be happy with any of the other three, although the bull would definitely be my third choice.

This isn't real life it's lego.  Dragons aren't real yet we have several different factions of them in lego form.  This really isn't that big of an issue.  There are plenty of fantasy settings like GOT, Baldur's gate, etc that have factions like a Griffin or Kraken.  That being said Griffon would be my second choice and the crow the 3rd.  

[Lyichir]

2 minutes ago, zoth33 said:

This isn't real life it's lego.  Dragons aren't real yet we have several different factions of them in lego form.  This really isn't that big of an issue.  There are plenty of fantasy settings like GOT, Baldur's gate, etc that have factions like a Griffin or Kraken.  That being said Griffon would be my second choice and the crow the 3rd.  

The thing is that griffons and dragons, while not real, were heavily symbolic creatures that did appear on heraldry (which'd be what you'd typically see on a shield or tabard). Whereas I'm not aware of any real-life heraldry featuring krakens, certainly no authentically medieval ones.

That said, a vote like this is obviously less about authenticity than it is personal preference. And while some people might prefer something that feels authentically medieval, other people will prefer something more fantastical—both are totally valid ways to approach a choice like this, so there's really no reason for anyone to be rude or dismissive of other people's choices.

[zoth33]

1 minute ago, Lyichir said:

The thing is that griffons and dragons, while not real, were heavily symbolic creatures that did appear on heraldry (which'd be what you'd typically see on a shield or tabard). Whereas I'm not aware of any real-life heraldry featuring krakens, certainly no authentically medieval ones.

That said, a vote like this is obviously less about authenticity than it is personal preference. And while some people might prefer something that feels authentically medieval, other people will prefer something more fantastical—both are totally valid ways to approach a choice like this, so there's really no reason for anyone to be rude or dismissive of other people's choices.

I understand that but are we seriously going to say that this has to be based on reality?  I mean lego has actual dragons in sets and other fantasy creatures in their castle sets.  Some of the heraldry isn't real life based either.  

[Lyichir]

5 minutes ago, zoth33 said:

I understand that but are we seriously going to say that this has to be based on reality?  I mean lego has actual dragons in sets and other fantasy creatures in their castle sets.  Some of the heraldry isn't real life based either.  

I was trying to be clear that it doesn't have to be based on reality. Just trying to explain where some people are coming from in preferring something that resembles real-life heraldry, versus your preference for something more fantasy-based.

[zoth33]

1 minute ago, Lyichir said:

I was trying to be clear that it doesn't have to be based on reality. Just trying to explain where some people are coming from in preferring something that resembles real-life heraldry, versus your preference for something more fantasy-based.

I just prefer something new.  I like the Kraken design better than the griffin and already having the bull and crow as figs so far for me it came down to the kraken and griffin.  I would have been fine with any reality based heraldry as long as it is something new we haven't seen.  

[Sir Dano]

Gryphon looks like it would fit right in with the classic castle factions, which makes it the superior choice.