Castle Sets 2010

[The Penguin]

Don't like them too much... well i dunno nothing makes me want them - that is actually good since i can buy POP and SW instead- no castle this year- actually fine with me they aren't bad -but colorscheme is kinda....- i dunno- i liked more of fantasy subtheme- however there seems to be wizard still and lil' dragon- maybe i buy that little wizard set.... or perhaps not -who needs green wizard? not me

It may be considered as trolling in this thread! )

Speaking of color scheme, I suppose that for the sake of "classicness" they had to make the roofs of the Lion Castle standard red. Though in my opinion dark red would have been better.

It appears to be a certain difference in color schemes that bothers me a bit. Realistic-looking dark brown and dark green versus light gray and bright red. The latter looks a bit light-weight, so to say. Though, again, it's just my humble opinion and a matter of taste. )

Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )

[Navy Trooper Fenson]

New set pics.

Black knights castle

Kingdoms Advent Calendar

Looks like Merlin is returning. And Dastan hair for the knight. I am not to amused by the cancelation of Fantasy Castle but this theme seems to finally make sense being red in comparison to Atlantis. I hope there is also a new templar helmet in the calendar. LEGO Assassins Creed comes to my mind.

The impulse sets release in june, the calendar in october, the rest in september.

Edited February 10, 2010 by Navy Trooper Fenson

[The Penguin]

Thanks a lot for the pics, Navy Trooper Fenson! )

The Calendar looks indeed very promissing. )

The figs:

1) The blue wizard is back! But he may be switched with the green one in the final cut. Nevertheless. )

2) The mystery of the lady in Dragon's tower seems to be solved! )

3) Malfoy's face and Dastan's face I hope it'll remain like that. What's that thing he's holding in his left arm? )

4) A skeleton, Dragon knight, green maid and a blacksmith! )

Assesories:

1) Wine barrel like in MMV. )

2) Catapult.

3) Blacksmith's forge. )

4) Cauldron with apples.

5) A ballista.

Pretty nice for an Advent Calendar, if it remains like on the picture! A must for me. )

Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )

Edited February 10, 2010 by The Penguin

[Etzel]

Good listing, The Penguin. But it says 9 minifigs on the box and I think I can spot them all:

1) Blue wizard, Merlin/Majisto returns.

2) Queen (the minifig in the Dragon tower have a different hairpiece, see here)

3) Prince with Dastan hair and a glass cup maybe?

4) Lion knight, under the mistletoe

5) Market maid with green dress, also under the mistletoe

6) Skeleton, with apple on the head

7) Lion knight archer, trying to shoot the apple

8) Dragon knight, fighting a snowman

9) Blacksmith, in the smithy

A must-buy for sure. And don't be afraid my American friends, TLG has said that this years advent calendar will be available across the pond too.

[The Penguin]

Good listing, The Penguin. But it says 9 minifigs on the box and I think I can spot them all:

Yep, they are all present. I just didn't see any need to mention standard figs!

2) Queen (the minifig in the Dragon tower have a different hairpiece, see here)

Yes, but since it's a pic of still preliminary set, I guess that they've just put a standart FE maid there. That could be changed. )

But I guess that at the same time the queen's figure may be a unique one for the Calendar. (Like the witch used to be.)

3) Prince with Dastan hair and a glass cup maybe?

Good idea! )

Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )

Edited February 10, 2010 by The Penguin

[metalandi]

I'm not really sure if the calendar is real. I mean, everything on the box art is a drawing, and there is no way the merlin fig is returning, with the exact same look like 15 years ago. Maybe this is a joke, or a very raw thought of TLG on how it should look. I'm sure this will look a lot different in the final version.

[Etzel]

Yes, but since it's a pic of still preliminary set, I guess that they've just put a standart FE maid there. That could be changed. )

But I guess that at the same time the queen's figure may be a unique one for the Calendar. (Like the witch used to be.)

Ah yeah, that's possible. Maybe it's just the light but I think it looks like the hairpiece isn't brown but dark orange or something like that (= new colour for that hairpiece) which would indicate a new minifig. I guess we have to wait and see to be sure.

EDIT:

I'm not really sure if the calendar is real. I mean, everything on the box art is a drawing, and there is no way the merlin fig is returning, with the exact same look like 15 years ago. Maybe this is a joke, or a very raw thought of TLG on how it should look. I'm sure this will look a lot different in the final version.

Why would there be no way for the blue wizard to return? All the pieces are still present and the whole theme is flirting with the classic castles of the 80´s and 90´s. The box art might just be a preliminary but I think that there is an equally good chance that this is the final version. I kind of like the rough drawings, and TLG might want to try something new. And I see no reason for TLG to draw the queen, prince and the other new minifigs on the box art if we wouldn't get them

Edited February 10, 2010 by Etzel

[metalandi]

I just don't think they would use that old torso again after 15 years without making ANY change, with the new opportunities in design going on these days. I think that would be a huge step back, and therefor i highly doubt they will use a vintage fig again all of a sudden and make not a single change to it.

[Golbolco]

I would just like everyone to know something: We never the human vs. human thing 'cause the skeletons were undead HUMANS.

Now on to the sets: I like the new armor for the horses but i think that if they're not supposed be actual unicorns the horn should be the same color as the armor. I like the jester Because i never got the crownie one.

[Etzel]

I just don't think they would use that old torso again after 15 years without making ANY change, with the new opportunities in design going on these days. I think that would be a huge step back, and therefor i highly doubt they will use a vintage fig again all of a sudden and make not a single change to it.

Oh I understand what you mean now

Then I totally agree with you. They will probably make an updated version of Merlin/Majisto just like they updated the old pirate torsos to 2009's versions.

[The Penguin]

Ah yeah, that's possible. Maybe it's just the light but I think it looks like the hairpiece isn't brown but dark orange or something like that (= new colour for that hairpiece) which would indicate a new minifig. I guess we have to wait and see to be sure.

Now that you say it, I guess the hair indeed may be dark orange. ) She may well turn out to be a Red Princess, which is definitely very welcome! ) Thanks for showing that! )

I just don't think they would use that old torso again after 15 years without making ANY change, with the new opportunities in design going on these days. I think that would be a huge step back, and therefor i highly doubt they will use a vintage fig again all of a sudden and make not a single change to it.

Well, sorry to cut in, but there's no reason to think that that's an old torso. Since the old mage had a belt bag on one side and that obviously has something else there! )

Not to mention that he has a new face with white eyebrows. )

Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )

[B-Lister]

looks like Lego is responding a bit to certain complaints that "Castle" has become "Epic Fantasy" and they're scaling the fantastic bits back.

I'm not gonna complain much, I DO love the dwarves and the Orcs (and the skeletons to a lesser extent), but I think you can branch the Fantasy theme off, as a sub-theme. So long as they continue to support it, anyway.

really, I just lament that Pirates is going on Hiatus. It feels like we just got it back, only to lose it again.

[Albero - BEL]

Thx for the new pictures.

The advent Calendar appears nice. Apart of the figs I see that in the background there are typical building from a medieval village and I really hope that could possibly mean that in the second wave of this Kingdom theme we could have some civilian building, maybe even modular ones like in the glorious past! ;)

[WhiteFang]

Thanks for all of these fine images! I am excited to see the new Castle theme, but at the same time, I will miss the Fantasy era too. Nevertheless, this is definitely a new milestone for all of us. The new Kingdoms Advent Calendar looks like a "must get" wonderful set filled with loads of useful assortment and minifigs.

[UsernameMDM]

Looks like the dragon knight in the advent calendar is where the barbarian cheek protector helmet. I wouldn't mind getting that in updated colors.

The mounted knight in the dragon knight tower seems to be wearing plate armor. Was seriously hoping for some segmented pauldrons.

Edited February 10, 2010 by UsernameMDM

[bsmith13]

Has anyone else noticed that the various incarnations of Castle have had very few (if any) blonde princesses or other females? Irrelevant, I know, and nothing a trip to bricklink won't fix. But I wonder why...Now would be a good opportunity to change the trend.

[Gnewal Gwevus]

OMG Unicorns!

no just kidding but the inclusion of the baby dragons is pretty cool, as long is it doesn't lead to outrageous flexible cheap plastic dragons of every sort in all of the big sets Bleh!

[Lordofdragonss]

Thanks for pictures! The calendars looks amazing!

I am talking not about what is inside, but about beautiful artwork!

That was great idea to include a queen and blacksmith in set like this!

But I don't think fans will be happy to get another MMV woman (Yay I still don't have her!)

Yay for green plumes in tower!

Edited February 10, 2010 by Lordofdragonss

[Sir Fred]

I kind of like the hand drawn look of that box-art, although it seems the Advent calendar has way more Lions then Dragons. Either way, it's looking pretty nice, and even better, it should actually be available in Canada this time around! Still no sign of regular bows though...

[The Cobra]

No more fantasy era but two wizards? (Impulse and Calendar).

After watching toy fairs pics I'm still amongst the few who loved gold&dark blue more than red&white.

But this time I'm NOT gonna miss the AC!

[metalandi]

something other...do you think the artwork of the calendar could be a hint on furure sets? I'm talking about possible civilian sets. Since they're already returning to human vs. human, i think it would be a great oppurtunity to finally introduce some proper civilian sets in the style of MMV (of course in the form of normal sets then, not exclusives)!

[Rick]

I kind of like the hand drawn look of that box-art, ...

The preliminaries of the City advent calendar have also had hand-drawn boxart in the past year(s), but the final version had photos of actual minifigs...

No more fantasy era but two wizards? (Impulse and Calendar).

Wizards are not fantasy, they're CLASSIC castle!

[Sandy]

Has anyone else noticed that the various incarnations of Castle have had very few (if any) blonde princesses or other females? Irrelevant, I know, and nothing a trip to bricklink won't fix. But I wonder why...Now would be a good opportunity to change the trend.

There are actually zero Castle-related female minifigs who are blonde - all of them have either blackor brown hair, with the exception of Princess Storm who's a redhead. Very few of the female minifigs in general are blonde (I know, since I've listed them all).

The new Kingdoms Advent Calendar looks very interesting indeed. It seems to be a nod to all those who did not get the MMV, since it includes two of the many exclusive figs from that set.

I'm pretty sure the blue wizard is meant as an opponent to the green wizard, but I wonder why they didn't follow the faction colors with him and make him red instead? Would've made him look more festive, even.

But the pic is just a preliminary piece of art, so it can change greatly before the release.

[Clone OPatra]

There are actually zero Castle-related female minifigs who are blonde - all of them have either blackor brown hair, with the exception of Princess Storm who's a redhead. Very few of the female minifigs in general are blonde (I know, since I've listed them all).

There were never any blonde figures at all until Luke in 1999 for the Star Wars license. Have their ever been non-licensed blondes? I guess tan hair (or the newer yellowish blonde) just looks kind of weird with yellow skin.

Also, from a historical point of view, I don't think many people in Western Europe (where castle always takes place, I suppose) were blonde. Certain regions had red haired people, but the rest had dark colored hair I believe. So it makes sense not to have blonde castle figs.

[Sandy]

There were never any blonde figures at all until Luke in 1999 for the Star Wars license. Have their ever been non-licensed blondes? I guess tan hair (or the newer yellowish blonde) just looks kind of weird with yellow skin.

Well, the Rock Raider woman (Jet) is technically a blonde, since she has light yellow fringe printed on her head. There were also several white-fringed male heads before 1999, but you are right that the first tan hairpieces were produced then.

Also, from a historical point of view, I don't think many people in Western Europe (where castle always takes place, I suppose) were blonde. Certain regions had red haired people, but the rest had dark colored hair I believe. So it makes sense not to have blonde castle figs.

Ahem, what about the Nordic kingdoms? Have you forgotten the lands where blonde haircolor originates?