Castle Sets 2010

[WhiteFang]

I just want to let you guys know that I am very impressed, excited and happy about the new Kingdoms sets. I had opened a few boxes and these sets are superb amazing, especially the new weapons and accessories. :wub:

[fenrir]

Hello,

The last Castle themes had beautiful chess sets:

Is there a Kingdoms chess set on the way?

FENRIR

Edited July 5, 2010 by fenrir

[Sid]

A chess set would make an awesome battle pack. Speaking of which.. have sold out on S@H U.S. (Dragon Knights)? I checked the other day and they were not even available.

[Edmond Dantes]

A chess set would make an awesome battle pack. Speaking of which.. have sold out on S@H U.S. (Dragon Knights)? I checked the other day and they were not even available.

Yes, they are sold out.

http://shop.lego.com/ByTheme/Product.aspx?p=852922&cn=640&d=70

Edit: And now, a day later, they are available again.

Edited July 15, 2010 by Edmond Dantes

[Sid]

I'm making a trip to the local Lego store in the next few days. I hope they have them there. Otherwise who knows how long it'll take to get them again.

[FifthPhysco]

These sets look amazing and at a great price... Loving the impulse sets.

I love the jester which I think is a nice touch.

Hope to see a Dragon Knight castle for 2011 ;) In similar style to set #7947

[Shroffy123]

Has anyone seen the ADVENT CALENDAR in stores yet? I remember reading somewhere that it was expected to hit stores in August/September. Just curious if anyone has gotten an early release of it.

Thanks!

[Sid]

Has anyone seen the ADVENT CALENDAR in stores yet? I remember reading somewhere that it was expected to hit stores in August/September. Just curious if anyone has gotten an early release of it.

Thanks!

I was wondering when this would be released. It looks amazing.

[metalandi]

Well, it's still july now. From the past, i think it always ahs been released around october, at least here.

[Shroffy123]

Well, it's still july now. From the past, i think it always ahs been released around october, at least here.

Very true. However, on Brickipedia, the calender is listed as coming out in August/September. I know some members have gotten other Kingdoms sets before the actual release dates. Just curious if anyone has seen them in stores yet. Nonetheless, here is hoping for August/September instead of October :)

[Artanis I]

Yesterday I bought the castle and the knight's showdown or whatever it's called. This could very easily be a VERY long story, so I'll skip lots of it. The castle had 10 extra pieces (including the brick+plate for the horse), way less than the SP3 sets I've been buying. In comparison the little set had 6! I guess with the castle you get your money's worth. I think some of the cost could be cut on having such needlessly huge boxes, and instead put into preventing this kind of thing happening:

As you can see all 3 instruction booklets were dog-eared, ripped or really badly crumpled. That is not acceptable for straight out of the box, straight off the shelf. The other disappointment was that one gold flag was missing. I've heard you can get Lego to send you missing pieces, how does one go about this?

That all behind, this set was fantastic. Took forever to build as I was taking photos for a review but the camera battery ran out halfway through so the build sped up after that! The little set is okay, but I'd rather have less extra pieces to get a shield for the dragon knight. What kind of knight is he without a shield? Surely that's just a soldier! (Unless it's a two-handed swordsman.)

Looking at the entire line-up, I think the number of shields is lacking (for figs, the castle has plenty), the number of horses is lacking, and the ratio of lions to dragons is too high. That's not to say I'm not extremely impressed. I anticipate a dragon knight castle next year...

[Sid]

Looking at the entire line-up, I think the number of shields is lacking (for figs, the castle has plenty), the number of horses is lacking, and the ratio of lions to dragons is too high. That's not to say I'm not extremely impressed. I anticipate a dragon knight castle next year...

S@H Replacement parts link

I agree with everything you said. I ordered some horses off BL with the new horse armor (both lion knights/dragon knights). I'll post pics once I receive the order, it's only 3-4 horses. I have 2 of the castles that I'll merge into one bigger castle.. same for the dragon prison. I'm off work for the weekend because I'm sick so I may start building one of them. Good to hear a lot of people are liking the new line though.

[Artanis I]

S@H Replacement parts link

I agree with everything you said. I ordered some horses off BL with the new horse armor (both lion knights/dragon knights). I'll post pics once I receive the order, it's only 3-4 horses. I have 2 of the castles that I'll merge into one bigger castle.. same for the dragon prison. I'm off work for the weekend because I'm sick so I may start building one of them. Good to hear a lot of people are liking the new line though.

Thanks for the link, I found it yesterday after doing a big order from S@H. I bought the Tower Rescue and the catapult set yesterday, the remaining sets are in the mail! Had lots of fun playing with the 4 sets and taking photos... went to bed after 4am WHOOPS!

Here's one other thing: the king's crown kept jumping off like it was spring loaded. I used an old one for a little while but it wasn't as shiny so I've used blu-tac to keep the normal one on.

I also intend to get some more horses and shields.

[SWMAN]

While these are all solid sets, I feel like Lego Castle as a whole has fallen on the wayside. They really need something to reinvigorate the theme as a whole. In the past few years the theme has gotten quite dull and repetitive. If Lego can't manage to acquire the Lord of the Rings license then they need to make a theme that is LOTR in everything but name. If they can figure out some way to make a theme that has all of the right elements without violating copyright laws then they need to do so. I feel like that kind of theme would bring people back to Castle.

BTW Artanis. I have had the same problem with multiple sets that I have purchased. I think that they speed at which Lego is boxing sets means that the instruction books get smashed or bent. I personally don't really care because my instructions just go in a drawer. As long as I can read them then I am fine.

Edited July 26, 2010 by SWMAN

[Kumpelkante]

[...] If Lego can't manage to acquire the Lord of the Rings license then they need to make a theme that is LOTR in everything but name. If they can figure out some way to make a theme that has all of the right elements without violating copyright laws then they need to do so. I feel like that kind of theme would bring people back to Castle.

[...]

You mean... something like they did from 2007 to 2009. Think about it, they had orcs, undead, trolls, dwarves and pretty noble knights. Well for over a year or so everyone was talking about and wishing for forestmen with pointy ears. (wich is they only thing that was missing)

[Artanis I]

You mean... something like they did from 2007 to 2009. Think about it, they had orcs, undead, trolls, dwarves and pretty noble knights. Well for over a year or so everyone was talking about and wishing for forestmen with pointy ears. (wich is they only thing that was missing)

but who ever heard of a Lego minifig with ears?!? No, I think the current Kingdoms line is fantastic. Back to the roots: knights and castles, men on horses or foot with basic weapons. But it's done better than the originals, it's more lively in appearance. It's like a good cover version of an old song.

[metalandi]

It seems you have missed the past 10 years, cause in those we had pretty much all elements from LOTR except elves. We had dark, sauron-ish castles in knight's kingdom, we had trolls, dwarves, dragons, and what not. And a castle line is a castle line, i don't see what new or innovative stuff we should get from it, except that i'd wish for more civilian sets. Other than that i don't know what anyone should be bothered about. Castle is castle, that's what it is. Castles and knights. :P

Also, what makes you think that people are less into castle now than before? If it wouldn't be selling anymore, it would have been cancelled already.

Edited August 1, 2010 by metalandi

[Hoboman]

Also, what makes you think that people are less into castle now than before?

Just a local point of view. My local LEGO store sells out of the Kingdom sets as fast as they get them in. No other line is having that problem.

So I do not think that there is a problem with the line selling less.

[KristofBD]

No, I think the current Kingdoms line is fantastic. Back to the roots: knights and castles, men on horses or foot with basic weapons. But it's done better than the originals, it's more lively in appearance. It's like a good cover version of an old song.

Agreed. The Kingdoms line is a perfection of the original castle sets. Just look at the kingdoms king's castle: in a high number of tiny details it is better than every other castle. But all those small improvements make for an amazing castle. I am actually very impressed with the current wave. And let's hope another MMV will appear. That would make it perfect.

Best, K.

[SWMAN]

It seems you have missed the past 10 years, cause in those we had pretty much all elements from LOTR except elves. We had dark, sauron-ish castles in knight's kingdom, we had trolls, dwarves, dragons, and what not. And a castle line is a castle line, i don't see what new or innovative stuff we should get from it, except that i'd wish for more civilian sets. Other than that i don't know what anyone should be bothered about. Castle is castle, that's what it is. Castles and knights. :P

Also, what makes you think that people are less into castle now than before? If it wouldn't be selling anymore, it would have been cancelled already.

I never said anything about them selling less. I just don't think the theme as a whole is as cool as it used to be. All I am saying is my personal opinion. I feel like it has gotten a bit stale and repetitive in the past few years. And while i will concede the point that the previous fantasy line was similar to LOTR, I feel like the theme was poorly executed.

Didn't mean to ruffle any feathers.

[Inertia]

I feel like it has gotten a bit stale and repetitive in the past few years.

I must say that ever since I began collecting castle the sets are always repetitive, apart from the recent fantasy line, it's pretty much been the same things with different factions involved... And the fantasy line gave us a pleasant break from that but I must agree that I'd like castle to take a new direction, I'd definitely be a supporter of a more civilian themed castle line built around sets like the MMV.

Unfortunately I don't see that happening any time soon

[Sirens-of-Titan]

When do you guys think we can realistically start seeing previews for the next wave of these sets and possibly a new faction?

I for one cannot wait!

Edited August 2, 2010 by Sirens-Of-Titan

[Klaus-Dieter]

When do you guys think we can realistically start seeing previews for the next wave of these sets and possibly a new faction?

I for one cannot wait!

Rumours might appear in Oct./Nov. and the first blurry pics then in Dec./Jan. - at least this was the case with the most of the second half of the year sets in the last years.

Klaus-Dieter

[Pate-keetongu]

I was on a vacation in Portugal and visited Lisbon one day. I went to Columbo mall's TRU and there was few Kingdoms Advent Calendars on the self. Interesting to see those things coming out so early.

[Shroffy123]

I was on a vacation in Portugal and visited Lisbon one day. I went to Columbo mall's TRU and there was few Kingdoms Advent Calendars on the self. Interesting to see those things coming out so early.

I remember reading that the Kingdom Advent Calendar was suppose to start appearing in Aug/Sept. You are lucky to have seen it already! Hopefully it will start popping up where I live soon.