Mr. Elijah Timms Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm finding this thread and all it's rampant speculation simply fascinating!! It's all so laden with drama and intrigue.... And it's all over a few dozen grainy pixels! I love it! Quote
Brickington Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm finding this thread and all it's rampant speculation simply fascinating!! It's all so laden with drama and intrigue.... And it's all over a few dozen grainy pixels! I love it! Oh, the drama! Yeah, I also find this topic completely fascinating! Quote
gedren_y Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 I just looked at the image again, and realized something. At the top of the page and on the boxes there is an image of gold and gems that includes the gold bars. Here's hoping. Also it appears the blue may be dark blue. The torso in Gold Getaway looks more like http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=973pb437c01 than http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=973p4dc02. I also agree that TLG is keeping the lion because of the molds for the lion brick exist. There are also several versions of a wolf-man head, so a wolf faction seems appropriate. Also, the dragon molds exist from Fantasy Era and are more geared towards children, ie 'swooshability'. I doubt Smaug will be made that way, considering the potential scale of the movie version. Quote
october Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 ... and as long as the kids enjoy it, then I honestly don't give a damn how bad they are. Playability is the single most important attribute, and that's something that the company sacrifices with LotR/Hobbit. So please, spare a thought for just who these products are aimed for. We are talking about the castle sets not some hybrid product, beetwen system and duplo. If this is something new we didn't konw. btw, the only important thing for lego and sellers is how much money thay can earn from kids. Quote
frumpy Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 While I will miss the Kingdoms line (only 2 kingdoms apparently...) these new sets could be good for me and my 3 year old son to build and play with together. Quote
legobear Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 (edited) The new sets will be good. Castle is not targeted to younger kids while Lotr is targeted to AFOLs - false. If you take out Lotr, Castle will remain exactly the same. There is no correlation. Long time fans will know this. I think these comments come from our newer subscribers. If you all recall, the Crownies in 2007 with skeletons and orcs... it was a literal mirror to lotr minus the movie details. To the newer subscribers here, the shield design is classic and brings us fans back to the past - we like them. The sets are the usual plain standard fare but collectors go for the figures mostly over the sets. Lego left KKI and KKII. Those days were the bad days of Lego Castle and during Castle 2007, Lego vowed to return to their glory days. Again, whoever made references to KKI and KKII and to the age at which Lego Castle is targeting to are newer subscribers to the site and newer fans of Lego Castle. The new sets will be good - rest assured. Edited January 2, 2013 by legobear Quote
Mr. Elijah Timms Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 Agree with all you said except this: To the newer subscribers here, the shield design is classic and brings us fans back to the past. That shield is far from a classic, in my opinion. Quote
SirBlake Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 To the newer subscribers here, the shield design is classic and brings us fans back to the past - we like them. It isn't classic, and we don't like them. Again, whoever made references to KKI and KKII... If it's a recolor of the Royal Knights from the mid 90's, which was rehashed in KKI, then the reference is apt. Quote
gundamz Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 Personally, I prefer the look of the Crown faction. I don't like their opponent's though (skeletons, etc.) because I am more into real life, as opposed to fantasy, battles. Quote
Lyichir Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 Is it wrong for me to jump in and say I was rather fond of the Royal Knights and their heraldry? The Royal Knights and Dragon Masters were the Castle factions of my childhood, and I loved the way the Royal Knight red and white heraldry contrasted with the blue of their castle roofs, carriages, etc. Looking back those sets were far from perfect, but nonetheless I feel a certain nostalgia for them, and when you get right down to it isn't that what defines a classic? Quote
SirBlake Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 Is it wrong for me to jump in and say I was rather fond of the Royal Knights and their heraldry? Nothing wrong with that, but you are in the minority. Looking back those sets were far from perfect, but nonetheless I feel a certain nostalgia for them, and when you get right down to it isn't that what defines a classic? Eh, only partially. To be defined as a classic, surely a certain age is necessary, but also a certain quality. A good analogy might be with cars... A 1971 Lamborghini Miura is a timeless classic. A 1971 AMC Gremlin is a forgettable footnote. I'm sure someone somewhere feels nostalgia toward an old Gemlin, but I wouldn't call it a classic in the sense that we collectively regard classic LEGO castle. Quote
Combee Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 Nothing wrong with that, but you are in the minority. I'll thrown my vote in for the Royal Knights. I've always liked the logo and the colors. Quote
SirBlake Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 I'll thrown my vote in for the Royal Knights. I've always liked the logo and the colors. It would make an interesting poll: what's your favorite faction or castle generation. Seems like there should have been one like that, but I've never run into it. Quote
Weil Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 They're not my favourite but I'll stick up for the Royal Knights too. They were right towards the end of my childhood lego castle interest (lost interest when fright knights were released) and I also have some nostalgia for them. Looking back the sets weren't very impressive but I think I was just pleased to have a Lego King. That said I'd take Kingdoms continuing over a return to them without even thinking. Quote
Artanis I Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 I also vouch for nostalgia of Royal Knights, but admit that they weren't as good as the factions of the decade prior, but were better than everything that came out over the decade following them. It's one thing to like their emblem, it's another entirely to be happy to see it rehashed again & again when there were better ones. Plus, a completely new lion printing is not that much harder to come up with than a rehashed old cartoon one, if they really must reuse that piece. The Kingdoms one was new, and good. Quote
DaleDVM Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 I have been away for too long. Fun to read all of the pages of speculation and debate. As a long time collector, I find the builds to look pretty interesting. I do not find the sets to look like Knights Kingdom 1 or 2. When we get two knights jousting on wheeled horses propelled by plungers... then I will get upset. What reminded me of KK2 was my first impression of those Chima sets. I am certain the castle will look just fine. In the long run however, the minifig and heraldry designs mean the most to me. I can MOC castles, but as a purist I work with the heraldry LEGO gives me. LIke most, I am not really looking forward to a rehash of the Royal knights. Actually I am not looking forward to a rehash of any Lion faction ever again. This is our 6th or 7th Lion faction to be created. I could think of a hundred forms of heraldry I would rather have. A new wolf faction is interesting to me since this was only done a short time for the wolfpack. I do find the color scheme to be boring. I would love something new. I know the jellybeans are not the way to go but something with a bit of purple, orange, or another new color would be welcome by me. In the end I am happy to be seeing a new castle line. I would have preferred a continuation of Kingdoms but alas, I will take what I get. Quote
Brickington Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 Long time fans will know this. I think these comments come from our newer subscribers. If you all recall, the Crownies in 2007 with skeletons and orcs... it was a literal mirror to lotr minus the movie details. To the newer subscribers here, I agree with you accept, just because you a new member doesn't mean you are new fan. So I think you are a little out a place there. Quote
gedren_y Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 I am nowhere near a purist, so the design of the heraldry isn't that important to me. That being said, I wouldn't mind a blue or dark blue version of the Royal Knights. Oh, btw, my favorite shield design came from the later wave of KKII, Sir Kentis' unicorn. I agree that Danju's purple wolf was a fail (both of them). There are also several ways for even purists to make shields in colors more to their taste. Anyway, we should not pre-judge the heraldry by the current photo. The actual design of the sets, from what I can see, are very play oriented, as were all the great classics. I'm not saying these will be, but some kid of today may in ten years remember these sets fondly for the amount of fun they had with them. Forest Ambush: Footsoldiers for both factions in a skirmish is the intent of this set. Yes, the tree is weak, but this will obviously be an army builder. You can get more trees from plenty of other current sets. Gold Getaway: It is hard to discern from the photo if the structure in the midground is part of the set or one of the other sets from an oblique angle. An enclosed, jail-cell-like cart with a black horse (hopefully with a normal face printing) and a ballista are your play functions. What peaks my interest are the cart's roof design and the hitching that works with the horse in that fully reared position. Gatehouse Raid: Here's your small siege set. From the color, the walls appear to be mostly brick built, with wooden parts. Roof or upper wall, it is hard to say from the photo. Some interesting detail without all those stickers, plus a horse with the new barding and helm. Dragon Mountain: Your slay the dragon set as well as an enemy base. Yes, probably some BURP usage, but it looks like you get a dragon's nest (probably with a treasure hord), a bridge, a cave, and the inevitable wizard/witch's tower. Far better in design than the Fantasy Era version, and more open and active than the Kingdoms Prison Tower Rescue. Is there someone to save or is it just trying to get to the gold? The box design suggests just gold, but it's hard to tell from the photo. King's Castle: The big set. Lots of panels, but some good design around them. Built design, not stickers!!! Open spaces for hands, but not illogically so. At the side wall the enemy can breach the defenses, or the defenders can get away if the castle is over-run. The king's (or more probably the hero knight's) horse gets the new barding and helmet. I can't tell if the ladder in the back is a single piece or made of fence pieces. Lots of potential action from both sides, whereas Kingdoms just had the footsoldiers attacking. A far better execution of the idea that KKI's King Leo's Castle was supposed to portray. There is a lack of civilians in these sets, but your Kingdoms people are easily transferable. Hopefully there will be a second wave to get some civilians, like in Kingdoms. Quote
Maxim I Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 As I always had 2 or maximum 3 sets from a castle theme as kid, I had always around 5 soldiers from each faction (luckily always with a hero). So after some times, I started just collecting the heroes and made stories like the "Round Table" where every knight has it's own heraldry. When I was at the age I could buy Lego myself with the pocketmoney I received, Lego released the KKI and later the KKII. For me that was perfect as it was an easy way to expand my army of unique knights... So talking about heraldry, that was the best theme ever by TLG (I am sure that Gedren and I are not the only ones who has their favourite heraldry coming from this theme (mine is the silver dragon btw)). And to be honest, me and my lil brother had fun playing with the launchable knights on the rolling horses But I have to admit that the desing of the castle at that time was awfull (I never had the money to buy it myself, so finally, the design wasn't my problem back then) Quote
legobear Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 (edited) Commander, I agree. Correction on that. New subscribers doesn't mean new fan. I'm only talking about those who haven't been in the loop with the discussions, sorry about that The flaming on here is mad but at the same time lego does take it seriously. So, let's continue with the discussion about what we would like to see. The products only get better because you guys on here tell the company what you guys really want. I for one, don't mind the royal knights coming back but the lion face does seem a little funny ( I don't want an exact replica of what I had years back). I was really looking forward to seeing falcons though and I hope they'll still be there in the future. Lego, fans love their army building so please don't forget to include a set that allows for that in there as well. Please bring back more sets like the Final Joust in 2007, where you had a hero and barding an everything we could buy multiples and multiples of. Also, please bring back the tic tac toe sets for the heroes as well. We love our army building and not simply having one hero in a $75.00 to $100.00 set. NO matter where you go...it's a lose lose deal. Even on bricklink it'll cost you $15.00 per hero figure. Can anyone else think of a better marketing strategy? I know Lego is doing it because they want that one hero to draw a fan to buy a castle he/she may not want but that hurts the rest of us we want to hoard hero figures. There has to be another way to let us all win Edited January 3, 2013 by legobear Quote
Brickington Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 Commander, I agree. Correction on that. New subscribers doesn't mean new fan. I'm only talking about those who haven't been in the loop with the discussions, sorry about that I had an idea that was what you meant. Don't be sorry, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Quote
DaleDVM Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 (edited) So talking about heraldry, that was the best theme ever by TLG (I am sure that Gedren and I are not the only ones who has their favourite heraldry coming from this theme (mine is the silver dragon btw)). And to be honest, me and my lil brother had fun playing with the launchable knights on the rolling horses The silver and yellow dragon shield is my favorite as well. Here is a unit I made with that heraldry. The green unicorn and the sand blue snake shields are also impressive. Those were all released in the second wave of KKII. The first wave was such a dismal failure that even those great knights from the second wave couldn't save that theme! I was an adult by the time KKII came out so the rolling horses didn't quite do it for me... If it wasn't for the cartoony lion I wouldn't mind the Royal knights heraldry either. If it comes in a dark blue that would be pretty interesting... Edited January 3, 2013 by DaleDVM Quote
Artanis I Posted January 4, 2013 Posted January 4, 2013 Why don't the soldiers have on pants? they are wearing skin coloured trousers? It never ever occurred to me growing up in the 80s that the classic space & futuron minifigs were pretty much naked (ie yellow all over)... I thought they were just wearing yellow - which was what TLG had intended, but at some point someone decided that yellow on minifigs was for skin colour only. Quote
Brickington Posted January 4, 2013 Posted January 4, 2013 Why don't the soldiers have on pants? Ugh! Their all naked!! Quote
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