It had some great sets and figs, but it seems to have reached a point where the sets are no longer that good, just the figs and nice pieces.

The sets are a bit lame this year (I don't count MMV as it is not a mass-market set but a S@H exclusive). We've seen some great sets but frankly the novelty of Trolls and the same old Crownies has worn off. This year the only reason to buy the sets has been the exclusive minifigs, but I don't really want a third-generation of painted giant Trolls or more small Trolls with minor facial variations, or more army building Crownie sets.

So - an exciting new faction with new colour scheme and new location/ setting/ style to reinvigorate the line in 2010, or let it rest.

So - an exciting new faction with new colour scheme and new location/ setting/ style to reinvigorate the line in 2010, or let it rest.

To quote John Lennon:

Let it be! Let it be... oh let it beee! Speeking words of wisdom... Let it be!

LEGO needs to let castle rest for one or two years. Maybe temporarilly replace it with... oh I don't know: ROMANS!!!

As some posts in this thread and the PoP thread suggest, we even have people who hope that the Castle line goes on hiatus for a few years. LEGO Castle is a theme that seems to die as soon as it gets any momentum.

It's for the best - this way, when Castle inevitably comes back, it'll be fresh and interesting, and the designers'll have had a year or so for new ideas. Maybe we'll have a straight medieval line in three years. Maybe we'll have ghouls, elves, and pseudo-Saracens. Who knows. But if this current line continues, I think it'll stagnate-it already has, to a degree. I think Svelte hit the nail on the head -

We've seen some great sets but frankly the novelty of Trolls and the same old Crownies has worn off. This year the only reason to buy the sets has been the exclusive minifigs, but I don't really want a third-generation of painted giant Trolls or more small Trolls with minor facial variations, or more army building Crownie sets.

Edited July 24, 200915 yr by hewkii9

It's for the best - this way, when Castle inevitably comes back, it'll be fresh and interesting, and the designers'll have had a year or so for new ideas. Maybe we'll have a straight medieval line in three years. Maybe we'll have ghouls, elves, and pseudo-Saracens. Who knows. But if this current line continues, I think it'll stagnate-it already has, to a degree. I think Svelte hit the nail on the head -

It's for the best for you .

The thing is, for a lot of us who are castle fans first-and-foremost, a year without castle is almost like a year without LEGO. Other lines may prove to be adequate parts-packs or a nice diversion but they don't really carry the same weight us. I get the feeling that alot of people who are asking for Castle to go off and die are secretly hoping for another theme more in tune with their personal interests like a Roman or Greek theme. For me these themes are fine, but they serve as little more than a distraction.

For many AFOLs there comes a time when you decide which theme you're going to dedicate yourself to. You focus your efforts in a single direction. If LEGO kills your theme (again), you don't suddenly jump ship for the next best thing.

Guys, Castle is going to survive. It's going to have fantasy in it. Will it be the same? Not necessarily. Will there be new factions? Probably. Elves? Not immediately.

I'm certain, myself, that new factions are coming and the old ones will continue. Lego reissued 10176 Royal Knight's Castle with the ghost and the old skeletons. Now skeletons are a faction. Castle is going to continue to evolve.

Many of the sets of the current line, like King's Castle Seige and Medieval Market, are wonderful. There will be more.

All right, battle wagons haven't been really clever lately. And there will be more drawbridge and tower sets in isolation. Hopefully, some of them will be very creative.

I'd personally love modular castle sets.

tc

I dunno if anyone else posted this, but I hope the fantasy aspect continues on for at least a short while longer, so that LEGO can properly give dwarves their due. I think they are some of the coolest castle figs (lightyears ahead of the trolls and skellies), yet they are ridiculously under-utilized. The dwarf battle back this year gives me hope, and I'm praying LEGO doesn't cut themselves short on a great opportunity.

What are you on about? This is the Castle theme we're talking about, so of course a new (mostly human-based) castle would appeal to us fans!

They could release the same exact castle, just switch the figures around, and people will still buy it.

In fact I believe that did happen. :P

-Omi

It's for the best for you .

The thing is, for a lot of us who are castle fans first-and-foremost, a year without castle is almost like a year without LEGO. Other lines may prove to be adequate parts-packs or a nice diversion but they don't really carry the same weight us. I get the feeling that alot of people who are asking for Castle to go off and die are secretly hoping for another theme more in tune with their personal interests like a Roman or Greek theme. For me these themes are fine, but they serve as little more than a distraction.

For many AFOLs there comes a time when you decide which theme you're going to dedicate yourself to. You focus your efforts in a single direction. If LEGO kills your theme (again), you don't suddenly jump ship for the next best thing.

I'm thinking of this sort of like the gap year going on in Doctor Who - Doctor Who itself is over for a while [Castle ending this year], but there's still specials to try and tide you over [PoP and other parts pack lines], so that when Castle returns, you're excited for it ['increasing the legend', even] and appreciate it a bit more.

But yes, I am hoping for PoP to be a bit more in line with my interests, although I doubt Lego'll truly drop Castle for a licensed line again - it didn't really work out with Harry Potter as the replacement, did it?

I don't think anyone has mentioned in this thread that two Hobbit films are on their way over the next few years. TLC wouldn't miss the opportunity to capitalise on the renewed interest in fantasy that those movies will generate. I therefore think it extremely unlikely that TLC will do away with the fantasy theme before those films hit cinema screens.

The only circumstance that I can imagine fantasy not being part of the Castle line is if TLC buys the Hobbit licence and runs that as a separate line.

Amps

I think fantasy era will die next year, but castle of course, never died.

As a big fan of castle and fantasy era theme, I think its enough. Especially for the minifigs. Come on, TLC just only mix the torso, the head, the headgear and other attributes to make the new minifig for mostly knights, dwarfs, troll. If you looking in bricklink catalog.. you can see that.

Yeah, I believe fantasy is done like a Chrismas fowl

But, as they say: "When one door closes, another one opens" (I hope the opening door is Romans )

From what I've heard, TLC is working on a Greek Fantasy line for next year. If that's true, it's likely Castle will go back to a non-fantasy theme.

From what I've heard, TLC is working on a Greek Fantasy line for next year. If that's true, it's likely Castle will go back to a non-fantasy theme.

... or the other way round: Castle will stay fantasy-oriented and the rumored new theme will stay "clean". Or both with fantasy. Prince of Persia is also fantasy, right?

What did you hear about the greek? I think it might be rather difficult to make an interesting theme out of this, though. And I would prefer romans for sure.

I don't think anyone has mentioned in this thread that two Hobbit films are on their way over the next few years. TLC wouldn't miss the opportunity to capitalise on the renewed interest in fantasy that those movies will generate. I therefore think it extremely unlikely that TLC will do away with the fantasy theme before those films hit cinema screens.

Hahaha. You are attributing to Lego a level of business savvy that they clearly are incapable of. Refer to the fact that during the Pirates of the Caribbean movie run, Lego decided to CANCEL the entire Pirates line. Only after the movies were done did they bring back Pirates.

Hahaha. You are attributing to Lego a level of business savvy that they clearly are incapable of. Refer to the fact that during the Pirates of the Caribbean movie run, Lego decided to CANCEL the entire Pirates line. Only after the movies were done did they bring back Pirates.

In LEGO's defence, the Pirate line was discontinued in 1997, some six years before Pirates of the Caribbean hit theatres.

In LEGO's defence, the Pirate line was discontinued in 1997, some six years before Pirates of the Caribbean hit theatres.

Except for the run of 4+ Pirate sets in 2004

... or the other way round: Castle will stay fantasy-oriented and the rumored new theme will stay "clean". Or both with fantasy. Prince of Persia is also fantasy, right?

What did you hear about the greek? I think it might be rather difficult to make an interesting theme out of this, though. And I would prefer romans for sure.

I totally agree with you Zzz!

If TLG releases a new historical theme next year - independent whether it'll be a historical theme or a fantasy theme - then there surely won't be any new "Castlle" or Castle sets.

But I highly doubt that we'll see a new historical theme next year since there'll be three new licensed themes (if you do not count Duplo Cars) and supposably some sort of Aqua Riders theme (if the info is right) - so imo no space for another new theme.

Klaus-Dieter

supposably some sort of Aqua Riders theme (if the info is right) - so imo no space for another new theme.

I dont trust that guy. Besides, techincally, disney is one licence, so we might see a new historical theme

If there wont be any new castle sets i'm still hoping for a re-release of any older sets, that would be great.

I don't know, if the fantasy theme survives and I agree, that if they won't give us another faction, then this theme is dead. But I really like crownies and I want them to stay with us in the next year. I think TLC could make something like the Medieval market villige, I mean something more realistic than megablocks dragons and dozen of mythical battlewagons - a real historic view.

Yes, it will survive for sure!

KK2, the least liked medieval theme lasted for 3 years, 2003-2006, and this castle line has to be the most liked medieval line, it started in 2007, so it will survive, I am almost sure, for atleast another 2 years if not one.

I would like to see it stay if it evolved into elves, black knights, or some other kind of fraction but if it doesn't then it's probably gone. I voted 50-50.

I really like this fantasy theme, and I think there is a possibility it will continue. I voted "Fair Chance." I think that if the line is to survive, we need a new faction (elves, though doubtful). We also need better designed buildings so the line isn't seen as "purely for the minifigs." As of now, I think it would be a mistake to end the line now.

I'm just going to echo this assessment anyway, so I may as well quote it

Honestly, the line is predominantly a minifig line for most people. The sets are pretty much throwaway afterthoughts. I figure the line is pretty much dead simply because people only want new fantasy figs; not new sets. A new castle or a new dungeon won't appeal to fans. The difference with this line and earlier castle lines was that with earlier lines, buyers were fans of the castle theme itself. They actually wanted fortresses towers and other medieval structures. With the fantasy theme, the structures are basically a dumping ground for figs. In that sense, people who were waiting for elves are probably done with the theme even if it does continue another year.

I suspect that LEGO may feel this way as well. In all likelihood Castle will go on hiatus for a few years again. On the plus side; I'll save a few $$$.

The drawbridge I just bought for two figs...(I'm still in shock) confirms the opinion...

God Bless,

Nathan

I think that unless they expand into another faction as many other people have said, it is doomed to fail. People get bored with the same factions and same sets. While three out of four of the factions are cool (can you guess which one is not ), I want more variety.