Pharaoh's Quest 2011

[Sirens-of-Titan]

Well what is sure is that I won't be buying any new or used lego sets or parts until this theme comes on my TRU shelves.

This is just awesome.

I finally have the feeling that voting "bring back the adventurers line!" on a poll wasn't totally useless!

I'm also glad to to see that I'm not the only one to be completely excited by Pharaoh's quest

I second that Looks like the Lego group always comes back to it's surefire formulas. Yes, some themes are calculated risks, but with themes like Adventures you cannot go wrong!

[Mrlegoninja]

One is based on a movie, that doesn't count.

Also World Racers is a summer theme. With Power Miners and Atlantis they had two waves the first year, January and the summer. I think PQ is the new Power Miners and Atlantis theme for the year, so that we will get two waves in the year. Just a guess.

World Racers doesn't seem popular, but if it were there wouldn't be enough time to make a second wave of sets this year, so we would get another year of sets, not another wave.

Did you not read my previous post?

[The Green Brick Giant]

Did you not read my previous post?

Yes, but it's clear you didn't actually take the time to read mine.

Movie themes and summer themes do not get a second wave, they might get a second year of sets, but not a second wave. Wave to me is different than year. 2011 will see several waves of City sets, Police in January, NASA in April, XXXXXXX in July.

So it's possible that both PQ and Ninja will get more sets than these shown next year, aka a second wave. Maybe not. Hell World Racers might even get another year, but I doubt that, and I doubt it was part of LEGO's plan.

[Aanchir]

Yes, but it's clear you didn't actually take the time to read mine.

Movie themes and summer themes do not get a second wave, they might get a second year of sets, but not a second wave. Wave to me is different than year. 2011 will see several waves of City sets, Police in January, NASA in April, XXXXXXX in July.

So it's possible that both PQ and Ninja will get more sets than these shown next year, aka a second wave. Maybe not. Hell World Racers might even get another year, but I doubt that, and I doubt it was part of LEGO's plan.

Actually, there have been summer themes that have gotten just a second wave of sets. An example is Agents, which only had new sets in summer 2008 and winter 2009.

[The Green Brick Giant]

Actually, there have been summer themes that have gotten just a second wave of sets. An example is Agents, which only had new sets in summer 2008 and winter 2009.

We are becoming like England and the USA with season / series.

Once again for the final time, wave to me is when LEGO releases sets in a theme at two different times IN THE SAME YEAR. City has wave one wave two and wave three in 2010. There is City 2010 and City 2011. Agents 2008 had one wave and so did 2009. Agents was released the first week of June of 2008 and Agents 2.0 was released the last week of May 2009. None were released in January.

Also Agents actually didn't continue, it became Agents 2.0 because LEGO made a few more sets because the first wave sold so well. That's why I think World Racers was never supposed to continue next year because the sets have mission numbers like Agents. Mission numbers limit sets.

If a theme sets come out in the only summer of one year they can't come out with more in January of the next because that doesn't give LEGO enough time to design sets. PQ is a January set so it's more than likely that we will see even more sets come the summer time, unless they have a ton of license sets coming out then.

[legowill1]

Quote from the 2011 themes and sets? topic:

But since those minifigs are really cheap on Bricklink, it's easy to change the characters in the theme to those you want instead

I agree with you on that

[Legoist]

This theme is really a surprise for me... I know that quite many people were talking about an "Egyptian-flavored" theme but I could have bet it was only wishful thinking.

I am not particularly interested in the theme per se, but it seems it will provide cheap options to get a lot of mummies (in our case, useful for RPGing): there's two in the 10e set (the motorbike) and two more in the 20e set (the airplane).

Edit: they seem to be quite steeply priced however... are we sure they aren't a licensed theme based on some upcoming movie?

Edited October 10, 2010 by Legoist

[Inconspicuous]

I was a huge fan of the Egypt Adventurers lineup, but most of the sets don't have anywhere near that classic feel. I strongly dislike the Sphinx and the giant Snake, and the Scorpion isn't that impressive either. However, I really like the plane and the motorcycle sets. Since they're two of the smallest, my wallet isn't complaining too much, but I still can get lots of mummies and a few explorers.

[Aanchir]

This theme is really a surprise for me... I know that quite many people were talking about an "Egyptian-flavored" theme but I could have bet it was only wishful thinking.

I am not particularly interested in the theme per se, but it seems it will provide cheap options to get a lot of mummies (in our case, useful for RPGing): there's two in the 10e set (the motorbike) and two more in the 20e set (the airplane).

Edit: they seem to be quite steeply priced however... are we sure they aren't a licensed theme based on some upcoming movie?

It would be odd for LEGO to acquire a license for a movie that nobody's ever heard of. Wikipedia doesn't list anything along the lines of "Pharaoh's Quest" in upcoming films, and the minifigs in this theme use yellow heads (although some are obviously prelim, others seem like they could be finalized). Remember also that prices vary by country, so it could be that the Netherlands is just getting a cruddy deal in this case.

[Masked Builder]

I was a huge fan of the Egypt Adventurers lineup, but most of the sets don't have anywhere near that classic feel. I strongly dislike the Sphinx and the giant Snake, and the Scorpion isn't that impressive either. However, I really like the plane and the motorcycle sets. Since they're two of the smallest, my wallet isn't complaining too much, but I still can get lots of mummies and a few explorers.

I agree but I like the Pyramid set the most though.

[Dannylonglegs]

Hi!

For the most part I love this new theme and most of the sets. Here are my thoughts on them in no particular order. My least favorite set, also the only one that I can say I don't like, is the sphinx, or Jackal Sculpture, or whatever it is. The head is well designed. That's it. The torso and limbs disgust me like no other brick-built creature has before. I know that Lego can design fantastic creatures with very few bricks, yet this monster looks as if, from the head down, it was built by an eight-year old. Now I don't mean to be offensive in my criticism, but that is how I feel. The concept is great and If I buy the set, which is unlikely, I may mod it, but I was really disappointed. I adore the cute giant dung-beetle in the smallest set. It's amusingly akin to Atlantis's giant crab set, and I must confess, I have a weakness for that sorta' thing (I bought 2.) My favorite set, considering all variables such as likely price, pieces, and overall presentation, has to be the one with the motorcycle; two black-dressed, khopesh and scarab-shield wielding mummies and a unique staff mounted on tan and dark tan bricks sounds very appealing. The snake set is meh, it's not that great in design and the snake's sail looks unusable for much of anything else. At first the plane set seemed incredibly stupid to me, but it's grown on me. I love the new wing and hat designs. They look fantastic! (But really, fying mummies?!) The Great pyramid is amazing, It contains a medley of the finest figures of the theme: the pharaoh, the up in the air junior bird-men, and the Anubis-like statues! Those statue-men are unbelievably awesome, and there are 2 of them! Great for symmetry!The pyramid itself is well built and very nice looking and the random giant scorpion isn't bad either. You'll notice I haven't mentioned the adventurers; what's to mention?! For an Adventurers-style theme, the adventurers are too generic. I'd prefer another named group with distinctive features. Anyway, I hope that there will be more god heads. I could really go for Sobek!

~Insectoid Aristocrat

[Aanchir]

Hi!

For the most part I love this new theme and most of the sets. Here are my thoughts on them in no particular order. My least favorite set, also the only one that I can say I don't like, is the sphinx, or Jackal Sculpture, or whatever it is. The head is well designed. That's it. The torso and limbs disgust me like no other brick-built creature has before. I know that Lego can design fantastic creatures with very few bricks, yet this monster looks as if, from the head down, it was built by an eight-year old. Now I don't mean to be offensive in my criticism, but that is how I feel. The concept is great and If I buy the set, which is unlikely, I may mod it, but I was really disappointed. I adore the cute giant dung-beetle in the smallest set. It's amusingly akin to Atlantis's giant crab set, and I must confess, I have a weakness for that sorta' thing (I bought 2.) My favorite set, considering all variables such as likely price, pieces, and overall presentation, has to be the one with the motorcycle; two black-dressed, khopesh and scarab-shield wielding mummies and a unique staff mounted on tan and dark tan bricks sounds very appealing. The snake set is meh, it's not that great in design and the snake's sail looks unusable for much of anything else. At first the plane set seemed incredibly stupid to me, but it's grown on me. I love the new wing and hat designs. They look fantastic! (But really, fying mummies?!) The Great pyramid is amazing, It contains a medley of the finest figures of the theme: the pharaoh, the up in the air junior bird-men, and the Anubis-like statues! Those statue-men are unbelievably awesome, and there are 2 of them! Great for symmetry!The pyramid itself is well built and very nice looking and the random giant scorpion isn't bad either. You'll notice I haven't mentioned the adventurers; what's to mention?! For an Adventurers-style theme, the adventurers are too generic. I'd prefer another named group with distinctive features. Anyway, I hope that there will be more god heads. I could really go for Sobek!

~Insectoid Aristocrat

I like the sphinx. It's body is way too plain IMO, but its feet look really good with the individual toes made from slope bricks, and the chamber he rests on top of is very impressive. I'm curious, of course, whether he can be easily converted from a dynamic action pose into a rigid-looking statue and vice-versa. A single picture where he's kind of halfway between the two types of poses doesn't really demonstrate this effectively, but hopefully official pics will make this clearer when it's time for them to emerge.

The snake is cool IMO, but I agree that I never find much use for those large fabric or plastic film sail pieces. The little car that comes with it is pretty awesome, though, and I like how the snake appears rather cohesive (it's hard to use blockier, statue-like LEGO parts and still create a snake that looks like it could be one solid structure but is still poseable). The little shrine is also cool.

And of course, the only minifig we've seen who's almost certainly finalized is the guy with the sideburns (he pilots the plane and the car in the Sphinx set). The others may or may not be finalized, but some are certainly not like the smiley-dude in the half-track in the pyramid set. In fact, many of the pyramid figs look preliminary. Given that we've seen the sideburn-dude in two sets, I imagine this will, like Adventurers, be a close-knit group of distinctive characters. In other fig-related news, the apparently dark orange ponytail in the Snake set should make that girl a popular fig.

[Nikola Bathory]

Historical sets don't sell! That's why LEGO makes things with "action" in them, LEGO admits that themselves. They are a company that needs to make money.

How sad! I mean, really - Castle has always been my favourite theme! And Pirates too.

As for the new Pharaoh's Quest, I noticed that you here discuss whether there will be a second wave, or we'll only get these 6 sets and that's it, which will be stupid! I hate LEGO's policy these days - to have tons of different themes with a small ammount of sets in them. It was the other way around in the 80's and 90's... Anyway, probably if the first 6 sets sell well, we'll see more.

I really like the Scorpio Pyramid, the biggest set, how much will it cost? It's big, but it has a baseplate, so the actual number of pieces will be low. I really like the Lego Anubis minifigs! They look great!

Also, many parts from the Pharaoh's Quest will be great for creating a World War Two army - tha trucks, the halftrack is great! You could easily turn the halftrack into a small tank! The plane is usefull too.

So, probably I'll buy some of these sets, especially the biggest one. I expect it to be a bit cheaper because of the baseplate which will reduce the actual number of bricks you get.

With my girlfriend (who also liked the new sets) we also had a look at the older Lego Desert sets with mummies and Egyptian stuff - the 2011 are much better, they are also going in a different direction I prefer - to have 2 factions fighting each other - the modern day explorers and the Ancien Egypt soldiers and gods. While the older sets had no real conflict in them, just some archeologists and mummies here and there.

Long post, hope that someone will read it.

Edited October 15, 2010 by Nikola Bathory

[Lordofdragonss]

While the older sets had no real conflict in them, just some archeologists and mummies here and there.

You are wrong. The Adventurers was all about good archeologist(Johny and prof. Kilroy) vs bad archeologist (Baron von Baron)

[Nikola Bathory]

You are wrong. The Adventurers was all about good archeologist(Johny and prof. Kilroy) vs bad archeologist (Baron von Baron)

OK, so be it, I don't own these sets. In any case, the Egyptian stuff in them was simply a part of the scenery, that's my point. And here it's taken to another level - a fighting faction with its weapons and a hierarchy, which is cool!

[Aanchir]

How sad! I mean, really - Castle has always been my favourite theme! And Pirates too.

As for the new Pharaoh's Quest, I noticed that you here discuss whether there will be a second wave, or we'll only get these 6 sets and that's it, which will be stupid! I hate LEGO's policy these days - to have tons of different themes with a small ammount of sets in them. It was the other way around in the 80's and 90's... Anyway, probably if the first 6 sets sell well, we'll see more.

I really like the Scorpio Pyramid, the biggest set, how much will it cost? It's big, but it has a baseplate, so the actual number of pieces will be low. I really like the Lego Anubis minifigs! They look great!

Also, many parts from the Pharaoh's Quest will be great for creating a World War Two army - tha trucks, the halftrack is great! You could easily turn the halftrack into a small tank! The plane is usefull too.

So, probably I'll buy some of these sets, especially the biggest one. I expect it to be a bit cheaper because of the baseplate which will reduce the actual number of bricks you get.

With my girlfriend (who also liked the new sets) we also had a look at the older Lego Desert sets with mummies and Egyptian stuff - the 2011 are much better, they are also going in a different direction I prefer - to have 2 factions fighting each other - the modern day explorers and the Ancien Egypt soldiers and gods. While the older sets had no real conflict in them, just some archeologists and mummies here and there.

Long post, hope that someone will read it.

Bear in mind that historic stuff doesn't sell for historic value alone. But that doesn't mean LEGO's never planning to do any more castle or pirates sets (Pirates sets in particular have always had a strong emphasis on action, and how could they not?). It's just that the action has to come first-- that's what convinces kids to buy the toy, not the architecture and so-forth. The actual "building" aspect, though, is what convinces them to buy more sets after they've already got one in their posession. The action is basically just the initial draw.

And I don't see how LEGO has that many more themes today (or less sets in those themes) than they did in the 90s. But perhaps that's because I'm from North America, where we got exclusive themes like Roboforce (four sets), original Aquaraiders (three sets), and Unitron (four sets, though to be fair one of them was available in Europe as well).

Note also that Brickset only lists eight different Adventurers sets for its first year, not counting promotional sets or "duplicate" sets (sets identical to one of those eight I mentioned). And as far as other themes go, Ice Planet 2002 had exactly six sets, as did original Blacktron (including one that was for North America only). Given also that we're only seeing a half a year of sets for this theme, while Atlantis had fourteen sets over a full year (not counting promos), I don't think LEGO has any considerably different policy with today's themes than they had with themes in the past.

[Nikola Bathory]

Interesting point, Aachir. I was talking of the times when there were only City, Castle, Space... and that was about it. But they continued through the years and you could end up with a big collection of sets from, let's say, 5 or 6 consecutive years - you don't have this today. But times change. You are right about the Blacktron subtheme, it was very good, yet it had very few sets. The same is even more true for the Wolfpack guys.

I agree that there is plenty of action and combat in Castle and Pirates. You know, sometimes the difference between a "historic" and an "action" theme eludes me... Should we make such a distinction at all?

For now, I'm really looking forward to the Pharaoh's Quest sets. For me, the Egyptian guys will be the good guys, and the human adventurers - the bad guys who want to rob them.

And I really hope for a second wave of sets! I'm getting sick of themes (or subthemes) with only 6 sets - that was my main point. Like Prince of Persia for example (I do understand the reasons for that particular case, though. The movie was a disaster, from a financial point of view, I haven't seen it).

[Aanchir]

Interesting point, Aachir. I was talking of the times when there were only City, Castle, Space... and that was about it. But they continued through the years and you could end up with a big collection of sets from, let's say, 5 or 6 consecutive years - you don't have this today. But times change. You are right about the Blacktron subtheme, it was very good, yet it had very few sets. The same is even more true for the Wolfpack guys.

I agree that there is plenty of action and combat in Castle and Pirates. You know, sometimes the difference between a "historic" and an "action" theme eludes me... Should we make such a distinction at all?

For now, I'm really looking forward to the Pharaoh's Quest sets. For me, the Egyptian guys will be the good guys, and the human adventurers - the bad guys who want to rob them.

And I really hope for a second wave of sets! I'm getting sick of themes (or subthemes) with only 6 sets - that was my main point. Like Prince of Persia for example (I do understand the reasons for that particular case, though. The movie was a disaster, from a financial point of view, I haven't seen it).

I suppose that yes, the fact that LEGO Space themes through about 1997 were single-faction themes meant to interact makes them a bit different than today's themes.

"Action Themes", "Historic Themes", "Sci-Fi Themes", and so-forth are all pretty arbitrary designations Eurobricks uses. It's hard to define what is a historic theme, but most of the time it's a lot easier to define what isn't, hence why these designations are still OK for the purpose of dividing up the Eurobricks forum.

Anyway, the thing about themes and subthemes is that they really only can last as long as their budget allows, just as with Prince of Persia. A theme will get a second year or wave if it proves successful. It's true that, again, the difference between 80s-90s Space themes and modern themes becomes very evident at this stage-- while in the past, LEGO would cycle through a new theme pretty much every year, but keep the themes a part of the same "universe", this is rarely encountered with today's themes.

This is in part because dual-faction themes have supplanted single-faction themes, allowing kids to role-play conflict straight from the box without needing more than one set (or in a worst case scenario, more than one year of sets). So a theme can be extended a bit further with the same factions, but unfortunately once the profitability of the dual-faction theme is gone the safest bet is to do away with the theme, not to replace one of the factions hoping that'll be enough to revitalize sales.

Whether you're dealing with single-faction or double-faction themes, you tend to get stuck in a rut. With single-faction themes, the budget is always focused on a new faction each year, with at best one or two new sets from the previous year's faction making an appearance in the new lineup. With dual-faction themes, the safe move is to stick with the same two factions for several years or waves, but abandon both as soon as profitability sinks a certain amount. Either way, sales figures set the absolute limit to any one theme's sustainability.

[legomilk]

The web site is now online

http://pharaohsquest.lego.com/en-us/Default.aspx

[Fugazi]

The web site is now online

http://pharaohsquest...us/Default.aspx

Prof Archibald Hale huh? The minifig looks good! I wonder if this is the principal hero character of the theme?

[Zeya]

Does this mean that an official announcement (with photos and official set information) will be coming soon?

[The Yellow Brick]

Does this mean that an official announcement (with photos and official set information) will be coming soon?

Probably around November/December we will see some better pictures

[Decale]

THAT is exciting

I've been waiting 10 years for the return of the adventurers, and although we will never see johnny again, a first look at this small (for now) website makes me confident in this theme.

There will be a cool story, elaborated characters and finally action!

For me, the Adventurers are back

(I hope there will be more sets, although using "Pharaoh's Quest" as a theme name prevent our heroes to travel to, let's say, Dino island )

[Lordofdragonss]

Are we getting new amazing eaglehats?!

[Decale]

Are we getting new amazing eaglehats?!

Sure we are! And anubis heads to!

Didn't you see the preliminary pictures?

(I can send them to you if you want)