[OFFICIAL] 10320 Eldorado Fortress - Retiring SOON!

[dilligan]

26 minutes ago, Sir Dano said:

Not quite:

old flag:

New flag:

Pretty close, though!

Thanks for that. I think the new ones look good, but will still get a spare new one for the original set (and maybe put the original one in a safe place)

[MAB]

2 hours ago, Cynath said:

I couldn't express it better myself. To me it comes off as try-hard and bending the perception of history. Changing the heads is of  course no issue to me and many others, but people have the right to criticize that since it's based on a very concrete period of time where, simply, female uniformed soldiers did not exists. People that seek historic accuracy (mind you, not talking about Nobushi or even much debated female Vikings) should not be demonized.

If you want more realism, people of this era did not have yellow skin. Making everyone the same race is also bending the perception of history. LEGO could easily correct that by using the many shades of more accurate skin tones available now. But I imagine they will stick with the standard yellow in line with the other non-licensed sets.

 

[dilligan]

1 hour ago, Pirate_King_1982 said:

As a kid I figured that Blue Coats and Red Coats were of the same nation. However, after returning to Lego after a 25-30 year Dark age, I now see them as being two separate nations, based on the French and the British respectively. The fact there’s  a simplified Fluer Di Lis on the Blue Coat flag has me thinking that have been Lego’s intent. I also see the Musketeer CMF as being part of the Blue Coat nation, albeit that they’d not likely end up in the colonies as I see them as a bodyguard type unit for the Monarch. If I ever decide to explore the Europa sub theme as a concept, then Blue Coats from the Pirate range will appear alongside Musketeers.

I picked up a couple of small pirate sets to pad out my PoBB display and they had a few red coats in them. I think once I get this set, the red coats will be my navy and the blue coats will guard the fort.

[Lion King]

Oh wow that set looks fantastic! But I’m not sure if I will buy it along with Lino Kingiths’ Castle becuase of the price. Also, I have some space issues to figure out for them, Galaxy Exploerer and Modular Buildings… Guess time to clean out my place!

[eldiano]

3 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

 

 

BTW, all of this arguing over female Minifigs has caused us to overlook the biggest flaw with this set - There is no frog!! Seriously, where is the frog? 
 

It’s there. You just haven’t been paying attention haha, check the official pictures of the room with the barrel above a treasure chest 😉, it’s hidden, look at the 30 second video around the 18 second mark. 
 

They changed the date from July 1st to July 4th for VIP early access now 😒

Edited June 15, 2023 by eldiano

[CaptainMoore]

1 hour ago, Jack Sassy said:

I just realised, this fortress is a perfect beginning for a colonial town. @Mister Phes and I had a debate some time ago about tudor buildings in the colonies, but alas, we can use those medieval sets for civilian buildings.  Only thing this set lacks is a pirate pub. 

The one from the 3 in 1 didn't match your architecture?

I haven't tried building it because iI really like this small ship but it looks nice

[F1stzz]

11 hours ago, TeufelHund said:

At least they didn't gender swap the governor I guess, unlike Lion Knights' Castle where you have to accept your castle is ruled by a Queen (unless you have a king available from another source of course).

Yeah, lol, AT LEAST we're lucky to have that 

 

10 hours ago, Classic_Spaceman said:

Because no cis woman has ever had short hair or been bald? 

Nope. It's because there's no cooking of Imperial Fortress in 2023 without adding a secret ingredient 

[Jack Sassy]

6 minutes ago, CaptainMoore said:

The one from the 3 in 1 didn't match your architecture?

One can never have too many pirate pubs. 

[F1stzz]

9 hours ago, jodawill said:

More likely because they already did Redbeard in Pirates of Barracuda Bay and they wanted to use this as an opportunity to do something new.

Yet still while "doing something new" they've used Redbeard's 2015 faceprint smh 

[GeoBrick]

7 hours ago, TeufelHund said:

I think most of us would be happy for more female minifigs, but just lazily making half your soldiers female is a pretty token and unimaginative effort at achieving gender parity don't you think?

It's not sexist to wish Lego could produce a nostalgia-based set that didn't also include a clumsy lesson in gender politics. 

Be glad LEGO doesn't include the proper percentage for children and elders too.

And I don't see how using a dedicated tricorn with hair is a 'pretty token'. LEGO could as well have delivered us two more chako-wearing soldiers with eye lashes on the face beneath it.

While it might not be sexist to wish for, continiously expressing your opinion on this in  quite a fervent and insistent way does constitute sexism.

[dimc]

This thread has turned into the Lego version of "No one hate Star Wars more than Star Wars fans" and it's really frustrating and stupid.

Forgive me for asking, but is there some way to mute people in threads on Eurobricks? Reddit of course had the block function, and downvoting would hide comments and posts, but I don't see anything like that here.

To keep it on topic, I want to see more torsos that can be civilians. Heads are super easy to swap and PAB has tons of options. I was that weird kid who always wanted more civilian stuff because, well, that's what life was like. Not all cops and robbers, outlaws vs cavalry, castle faction vs castle faction. Where are my peasants and townspeople and traders and workers?

[Yperio_Bricks]

3 minutes ago, dimc said:

To keep it on topic, I want to see more torsos that can be civilians. Heads are super easy to swap and PAB has tons of options. I was that weird kid who always wanted more civilian stuff because, well, that's what life was like. Not all cops and robbers, outlaws vs cavalry, castle faction vs castle faction. Where are my peasants and townspeople and traders and workers?

Yeah, that's exactly what i am always thinking! We need more civilians to put into towns and taverns.

[F1stzz]

8 hours ago, azog said:

It's so stupid and nobody else cares. Either change the heads or simply don't buy it.

Sir, I don't have spare male heads to mix things up. I'm sure it's gonna be the same problem for every other customer, who doesn't have 20+ sets in their disposal or a local LEGO shop to PaB/BaM. And I'm not gonna skip my chance to have a modern Imperial Fortress just because of minifigs not meeting my expectations.

The fact of the matter is, LOTS of people would rather prefer having Anne Anchor, Camilla (or any other fancy figure to represent a pirate girl & governor's daughter) and a female merchant in this set than replacing a whole officer corps including Lt. de Martinet for the sake of "equality". One thing is creating a fantasy — the other is pushing an agenda at the expense of main characters.

8 hours ago, TeufelHund said:

I think most of us would be happy for more female minifigs, but just lazily making half your soldiers female is a pretty token and unimaginative effort at achieving gender parity don't you think?

It's not sexist to wish Lego could produce a nostalgia-based set that didn't also include a clumsy lesson in gender politics. 

Hats off, mate — my point exactly 

 

6 hours ago, LordsofMedieval said:

I also don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but it's worth pointing out that the palm trees are much less detailed even than the original. Setting aside that Lego has made a conscious decision not to use the newer frond pieces (which, IMO, make for a WAY more convincing palm when done right), these trees lack the iconic multi-piece, shapeable stem. They're instead formed from a dino tail-like single cast trunk. That's just... lame. 

Yup, completely agree with you, I've said it earlier & I'll say it again: using modern technique & parts for the tree and then just slapping an old school palm fronds/leafs onto it for a "nostalgia" effect is totally a half4ssing on TLG's part that was completely unnecessary.

 

6 hours ago, LordsofMedieval said:

I mean, I think you're either going to view it as genius or wasteful. And, for the record, I'm not saying we should see baseplates return - I think they're a garbage part myself. I'm more arguing that, in attempting to capture the original, they (from my perspective) devoted too much to the rock that the fortress sits on, and not the fortress itself.

Having the baseplate for the fortress built with separate bricks actually adds A LOT to the expansion ability. For example, one could just take few more Medium Azure 16x16, build the same terrain structure on it, merge it with the existing baseplate and actually widen the fortress upon it. Stuff is actually cool, no questions there for me. The use of parts for the Fortress itself tho is def questionable. For example, I'm not sure why TLG went with a combo of white regular 1x2 plate & a couple of dark red rounded ones with open studs (3023 & 35480 respectively) in various parts of the build instead of just using a single dark red modified 1x2 brick with masonry profile (98283 on BL for that one). They've basically used 3 separate bricks every time they could've used a single one to achieve the same effect, lol. And who didn't already mention that abnormally huge crane, the part count of which might be enough to build another tower, idk 

[zinnn]

I can't believe some of you have nothing better to do than complain about inclusion of female characters in a kids toy lol. Get a grip. Out of ALL the things that one can moan about this set, this is like the most trivial thing.

Edited June 15, 2023 by zinnn

[dimc]

2 minutes ago, Yperio_Bricks said:

Yeah, that's exactly what i am always thinking! We need more civilians to put into towns and taverns.

The captain with the vest from IPT and Schooner(?) is one of my favorite torsos of the olden days. I do use the regular striped shirt pirate torsos on my custom Clipper (I'll take and post some pics one of these days), especially the blue and white since that's the imperial colors. Having a good mix of soldiers and shipmates is key! Plus the blue shirt with gold ties makes for an intermediate officer, even if not militarily ranked. I always made them into the "steerer" or maybe chatting with the admiral or governor. Swapping out the bandannas for tricornes really makes them a step up from pirates and therefore perfectly good imperial crew.

I've apparently only come across the female pirate torso once, and I have to assume it came from Sea Mates since I don't have any of the other sets it came in. That is oddly not as expensive as I would have thought, so I might try to find a few of those since they'll be cheaper than the ascot/vest one from the IPT cargo ship.

[Mister Phes]

2 hours ago, Jack Sassy said:

I just realised, this fortress is a perfect beginning for a colonial town. @Mister Phes and I had a debate some time ago about tudor buildings in the colonies, but alas, we can use those medieval sets for civilian buildings.  Only thing this set lacks is a pirate pub. 

It has a cellar - can you make do with that?

[F1stzz]

5 hours ago, thewatchman said:

Times moved on, people complaining that the admirals facial hair has changed is ridiculous, he’s older he cant have a beard?

M8, just take a look at governor's 2015 faceprint (which was a direct copy of an OG Broadside in fact) and the one that we have in 10320 (for an easier Bricklink search here are the codes: 3626cpb1335 & 3626cpb2144 respectively) — & then compare them both to the original Broadside's faceprint (3626bpb0054). I bet you'll question TLG's choice as well. If they didn't care to make a new faceprint for Broadside specifically (which is ridiculous indeed, as he's supposed to be the main figure here) — at least take the one that's resembling him the most.

[dimc]

9 minutes ago, Mister Phes said:

It has a cellar - can you make do with that?

And a frog!

[RichardGoring]

What are the hopes for a CMF series 25 figure being a match for Eldorado fortress?

Another pirate to add to the raid? A merchant for the ship? An admiral for the military? What would you like to see?

[dimc]

I guess I should count myself lucky that I have a spare OG Broadside head that I got somewhere, makes it an easy fix. Currently he's the captain of the Seagle (Sea Eagle get it har har) but I can swap heads.

[CaptainMoore]

17 minutes ago, dimc said:

The captain with the vest from IPT and Schooner(?) is one of my favorite torsos of the olden days.

Someone named him Steve here some years ago if I remember correctly. This is a great torso.

18 minutes ago, dimc said:

I've apparently only come across the female pirate torso once, and I have to assume it came from Sea Mates since I don't have any of the other sets it came in. That is oddly not as expensive as I would have thought, so I might try to find a few of those since they'll be cheaper than the ascot/vest one from the IPT cargo ship.

She was also in Black Seas Barracuda and Skull's Eye Schooner so it's pretty common.

 

16 minutes ago, F1stzz said:

M8, just take a look at governor's 2015 faceprint (which was a direct copy of an OG Broadside in fact) and the one that we have in 10320 (for an easier Bricklink search here are the codes: 3626cpb1335 & 3626cpb2144 respectively) — & then compare them both to the original Broadside's faceprint (3626bpb0054). I bet you'll question TLG's choice as well. If they didn't care to make a new faceprint for Broadside specifically (which is ridiculous indeed, as he's supposed to be the main figure here) — at least take the one that's resembling him the most.

What about using this head? If think that it would have been perfect

[jan kusters]

Groan! Not now you morons! Not now while I am up to my ears in working on ideas for another theme! I am busy! Sight....

Kidding apart,  I will get this set. I think it is beautiful, I love the fact that in can switch between a compact 25x25 cm fortress and a 70 cm long harbour front. I love that big wooden crane and the different docks (and I think black is good, wood would usually not be brown; it turns silvery gray when left out without painting, or is black when tarred). That mid-sized ship is a great addition, it is why I came up with my Black Ship, but this one looks a lot better! And I love the fact that the rum is not gone! Yoho and Ribbit!

I agree we are a bit short on 'average civilians' but that is a usual Lego problem; all minifigs must be heroes (except perhaps in City theme). I would love to see some old fashioned farmers/workers. Luckily, the very old simple blue and red minifings with their vacant smiles do well as general public . I would like some slightly less bright colours for them, though and some different head gear.

Also a minor negative; I see we are still doing roof top canons... Please don't fire them! Which reminds me to get a few yellow-heads with hearing-aid for my gunners.

3 years ago, while out on the high seas, I took forever to decide whether or not to get an old expensive Eldorado Fortress set. In the end, I decided against it and came up with my own Whale Rock Outpost to get some Imperial foothold in my salty world. Now it looks like there will be an Eldorado Fortress after all. It will be waiting on my 'yet to build' shelves, together with a Pirates of Barracuda Bay ship.

I'm glad I decided to skip Lion Knights Castle this year...

[dimc]

1 minute ago, RichardGoring said:

What are the hopes for a CMF series 25 figure being a match for Eldorado fortress?

Another pirate to add to the raid? A merchant for the ship? An admiral for the military? What would you like to see?

An entire CMF series of vintage pairings?

New peasant for the castle with hood.
The "white falcon" soldier from the BAM.
Merchant sailor to add to PoBB/EF/C3in1.
Farmer with period-agnostic dress for castle/town.
Female figure like the Kingdoms barmaid that can go in castle/pirates.
Older woman figure with "middle class" dress style.

2 minutes ago, CaptainMoore said:

Someone named him Steve here some years ago if I remember correctly. This is a great torso.

She was also in Black Seas Barracuda and Skull's Eye Schooner so it's pretty common.

Yes, good ol Steve!

The number of times I've seen either Barracuda or Schooner for sale around me in the past 5ish years is incredibly low. Somehow in that period I managed to pick up an Eldorado and two Trading Posts, and missed out on at least two others, 1.5 Clippers, and a Red Beard Runner and Renegade Runner. While they may be out there, I think Sea Mates is my best bet. Someday I'm hoping for a Schooner so I can sell the Runner, I really don't like it and the Schooner looks so good. I might even keep the Renegade Runner since the sails match the Schooner, and it's good to have a fleet.

[lomis]

3 hours ago, Sir Dano said:

old flag:

New flag:

Not sure if anyone is interested... but here is the 6x4 flag from 70412: Soldiers Fort:

[Jack Sassy]

35 minutes ago, Mister Phes said:

It has a cellar - can you make do with that?

Well, that better be rum in those barrels rather than wine.