Kingdoms 2012?

[Ogre]

Ok will do.

I need to say just one more thing R.I.P. Kingdoms .

-The_Creator

Pssst!

Don't say "good-bye" just yet.

[thornie]

Pssst!

Don't say "good-bye" just yet.

Unless you know something we don't, Kingdoms is dead and buried for at least the life of the LoTR license, just like Pirates was killed off in favor of PoTC.

I've been purchasing as many old sets I can afford on Bricklink to get my fill.

[Bilbo Baggins]

I hope LEGO reconsiders and decides to produce both lines simultaneously.

[Ogre]

Unless you know something we don't, Kingdoms is dead and buried for at least the life of the LoTR license, just like Pirates was killed off in favor of PoTC.

I've been purchasing as many old sets I can afford on Bricklink to get my fill.

Maybe 'dying', but not yet 'dead'.

[Haltiamieli]

Maybe 'dying', but not yet 'dead'.

What is dead may never die, but rises again, harder and stronger.

But whoa, seriously, I don't think I dare to take in what you are implying just yet. Any continuation of Kingdoms would be simply too awesome at this point.

[purpleparadox]

Pssst!

Don't say "good-bye" just yet.

Maybe 'dying', but not yet 'dead'.

It almost seems like you're saying Kingdoms will be continued...please, just tell us! The suspense is killing me.

[Itaria No Shintaku]

It almost seems like you're saying Kingdoms will be continued...please, just tell us! The suspense is killing me.

To ones saying that LotR is necessarily replacing kingdoms as castle theme, I should point that TLC considered Star Wars an indipendent theme, developing space themes during its run.

Thus, IF LotR, as it really can, sells a lot, its license will be renewed every time just like SW did, and thus we can expect castle themes during LotR waves as well.

Only my 2p...

[Lyichir]

To ones saying that LotR is necessarily replacing kingdoms as castle theme, I should point that TLC considered Star Wars an indipendent theme, developing space themes during its run.

Thus, IF LotR, as it really can, sells a lot, its license will be renewed every time just like SW did, and thus we can expect castle themes during LotR waves as well.

Only my 2p...

Emphasis on "sells a lot". I'm sure the main reason LotR seems to be the only Castle-ish theme this year is because LEGO wanted to be sure of LotR's sales potential, and didn't want self competition to spoil its big launch. Space themes all but ended when Star Wars rolled around, but after half a decade of just Star Wars, space themes were back in force. Now that Star Wars has proven that licensed themes can coexist with similar non-licensed themes, I'm sure it won't take LEGO nearly as long to bring back non-licensed Castle themes.

Also Ogre, if you have evidence for what you seem to be hinting I'll be very excited!

[General Magma]

To ones saying that LotR is necessarily replacing kingdoms as castle theme, I should point that TLC considered Star Wars an indipendent theme, developing space themes during its run.

Thus, IF LotR, as it really can, sells a lot, its license will be renewed every time just like SW did, and thus we can expect castle themes during LotR waves as well.

Toys'R'Us listed the LOTR sets (overpriced they were, too) a few days ago, and they were ready for shipment.

Soon thereafter they were sold out already... that proves how much this theme will sell in the near future,

so I doubt it'd have any problems co-existing with another non-licensed castle theme, but they shouldn't take the risk for the first few waves yet, imo.

~ General Magma

[Edmond Dantes]

It almost seems like you're saying Kingdoms will be continued...please, just tell us! The suspense is killing me.

There is a chess set that has just been released. It's up at S@H.

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/LEGO-Kingdoms-Chess-Set-853373

Edited May 11, 2012 by Edmond Dantes

[ZCerberus]

Oh yeah! I hope the minis are of the good quality and I will be snapping some of these up!

[Lyichir]

There is a chess set that has just been released. It's up at S@H.

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/LEGO-Kingdoms-Chess-Set-853373

Meh... this doesn't impress me that much after the epic Castle Giant Chess Set released back in 2008.

[Nagyzee]

That huge plastic piece it's built on is rather disappointing. It looks cheap. Also I can't help but think when I look at this chess set that whoa, Kingdoms had a rather lacklustre variety in minifigs. The Jester as Knight? And that done-to-death barmaid figure variety as black Queen?

This might still be worth to pick up for army builders though, especially for those who like uniform armies. And for the printed breastplates and shields (especially the ovoid ones). If I ever buy this it will be for these two.

Are chess sets made in China btw? I've acquired some battle pack minifigs and the colour difference is quite striking compared to the normal counterparts.

[purpleparadox]

There is a chess set that has just been released. It's up at S@H.

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/LEGO-Kingdoms-Chess-Set-853373

Awesome! Thanks. I'll be buying this to help expand my medieval minifig population. I hope this might mean more Kingdoms sets!

[The_Cook]

The plastic baseplate is a bit of a letdown, but at $1.70 a minifig (or £1.10 if they ever releas it in the UK) as an army builder it's much cheaper than buying overpriced battle-packs 2nd hand on eBay which are retailing for £2.6 a minifig, not sure about US rates as I don't track them.

[GRogall]

Here are the HR images of the Chess set! (Makes a great Battlepack!)

853373 Kingdoms Chess Set

Enjoy! :classic:

[Pennas2000]

Here are the HR images of the Chess set! (Makes a great Battlepack!)

Enjoy! :classic:

Cool. I'm buying one... at least.

[Brinstar]

There is a chess set that has just been released. It's up at S@H.

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/LEGO-Kingdoms-Chess-Set-853373

Wow! This is a surprise and a very pleasant one at that! It has certainly come out of the blue and dropped on to the lego shop with little or no fanfare. I'll definitely be buying this when it arrives in the UK's S@H. I have reservations about the plastic baseplate but the price seems very reasonable and I simply can't say no to that many castle figures in one set. Comparisons with the giant castle chess set are a little unfair considering that one was three times the price and despite the fantastic board design still had the same number of figures.

Edited May 12, 2012 by Brinstar

[Stiel]

I wonder how many of the actual buyers will use this to play chess. It looks very good for army building. For $50, it's 22 regular soldiers & knights, plus 6 special figures, and a lot of equipment. The equipment is a huge plus; armored knights and ovoid shields are not so easy to get otherwise.

Great!

The Jester as Knight? And that done-to-death barmaid figure variety as black Queen?

True, but that's still just 3 minifigures, and the rest look fine. At this price, I don't mind.

Comparisons with the giant castle chess set are a little unfair considering that one was three times the price and despite the fantastic board design still had the same number of figures.

Agreed. It compares better to 852001.

[Mencot]

I think this is awesome but I am a Lego castle and Kingdoms entusiast, hopefuly we will see this in Europe also (i already contacted Lego about this set, we´ll see what they will say)

This one has some collector value but the most will buy this for the minifigs.

Meh... this doesn't impress me that much after the epic Castle Giant Chess Set released back in 2008.

Lyichir you can´t compare this to that giant castle chess set, this one has nothing on that.

Comparisons with the giant castle chess set are a little unfair considering that one was three times the price and despite the fantastic board design still had the same number of figures.

Agreed. It compares better to 852001.

Yea that set is more like it.

[Yooha]

I hope that's some preliminary pictures, because the edge of the board looks like crap-quality plastic.

[Ogre]

I hope that's some preliminary pictures, because the edge of the board looks like crap-quality plastic.

Looks like a standard vacuum-molded plastic for the base.

I like it, simply because it's better than the plain old checkered board from previous chess sets.

Though, from my very quick look at the pics, it didn't look like we're getting the old style of carrying case to go with it, which is a bit of a shame.

I'll probably get at least two. *g*

[KristofBD]

I'm actually quite surprised that they released this set: I wasn't expecting any new Kingdoms sets. I'm curious whether there is more to come or not.

[Combee]

This is pretty cool and seems like a great battle pack My only complaint is that it's a little misleading to say it contains 32 minifigs: the 4 rooks on the corners don't count as minifigs in my book.

Edited May 12, 2012 by Combee

[LRDark]

Though, from my very quick look at the pics, it didn't look like we're getting the old style of carrying case to go with it, which is a bit of a shame.

It does say it comes with a storage box, but I don't think it will be as nice as the previous ones. I'm uncertain of the plastic base; I really like the old plastic cave that came in the Fright Knight's Traitor Transport set, but I don't see much use from this one aside from the chess base. Ohh well, a base it will remain for me. I shall also be picking one up in the future