Future Castle sets - put your hopes and ideas here

[InvincibleEagle]

Since we have tons of Tolkien themed (the ultimate fantasy saga) sets, I have doubts we'll see any original fantasy themes anytime soon. However, I'd love to see some lego centaurs in order to build my own Shining Force. Also, I think we can all agree that yellow elf ears would be nice to match all our existing yellow heads.

Besides that, I can't say much that hasn't already been said here. I agree that more civilians, more factions, and more realistic heraldry would all be choice.

[Admiral Khan]

I think Lego should come up with a whole new theme instead of having a return of another. Something fresh and totally different than the current theme, which is horrible. I liked Kingdoms and the Fantasy Era themes, but I am getting tired of the same old lion or crown heraldry and the blue or red colors of the kingdoms and the opposing force being "evil". They should make it like the classic sets and have to neutral kingdoms. My idea was maybe a bear or wolf as the heraldic symbol. The return of the falcon knights would be cool also, but in new way of course.

I agree with most of you above that they should make more civilian type sets, such as a church, village, farm, etc.

[Hive]

Since we have tons of Tolkien themed (the ultimate fantasy saga) sets, I have doubts we'll see any original fantasy themes anytime soon.

Well with the last Hobbit movie being out by the end of this year and thus that line presumably ending, I don't see why LEGO wouldn't try their hands on another home-grown fantasy line next summer.

[Hrafnblod]

Well with the last Hobbit movie being out by the end of this year and thus that line presumably ending, I don't see why LEGO wouldn't try their hands on another home-grown fantasy line next summer.

We can hope.

[gedren_y]

Given that Lego produced several new molds just for the LOTR/Hobbit sets, I expect we'll see them creep into the standard lines slowly after the license runs its course.

[Silver.Smith]

I'd love some more sets like the Medieval Market, or some yellow elf sets.

[Mr. President]

How do we know that Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit are really ending? I mean, Star Wars has been going for more than a decade now. How do we know that classic space fans didn't once expect to get more of their sets "after Star Wars ended"?

[Hive]

How do we know that Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit are really ending? I mean, Star Wars has been going for more than a decade now. How do we know that classic space fans didn't once expect to get more of their sets "after Star Wars ended"?

Star Wars was a very special case though, as it has animated shows, comics, toys, games and such to prolong it's run. The Hobbit/LOTR doesn't really have any such thing going to prolong the run. I mean, LOTR seems to have ended already...

[lord raphael]

The Medieval Market is number one in my list.And lego has made in the 2008/2009 castle a big troll giant.It would be cool if they Lego made somthing like a giant the same size. Who looked like a human.

[Ardelon]

I can agree with a lot of the stuff said in this thread, like having the factions be neutral, more civilian sets, or more continuity, without rebooting the theme every (other) year.

However, I don't think that every faction needs to have a castle. If every faction had one, it would only cannibalize sales. I think TLG does a smart job by offering us only one large castle every other year.

Apart from that, having other types of base for the other factions makes for a more interesting and varied wave. Even in the Fantary era, with up to four factions, each one had a different base. Only the humans had a castle, while the wizard/skellies had a tower, the dwarfs had a mine, and the trolls had a mountaimn fortress/lair. And I think the whole theme was stronger and more interesting because of this variation.

In the case of Kingdoms, I felt the tower of the Dragon faction made a good job of showing how they were a more rugged, less civilized faction than the Lions.

The current Dragon tower is rather feeble as a base, but again, it evokes the feel of the tower being build on top of some older ruins, thanks to the varied color scheme - a new and interesting concept, while a castle would be rather boring. If any of us feels a castle for these factions are needed, I guess this is where our MOCing skills should come into play.

[Hive]

However, I don't think that every faction needs to have a castle. If every faction had one, it would only cannibalize sales. I think TLG does a smart job by offering us only one large castle every other year.

Apart from that, having other types of base for the other factions makes for a more interesting and varied wave. Even in the Fantary era, with up to four factions, each one had a different base. Only the humans had a castle, while the wizard/skellies had a tower, the dwarfs had a mine, and the trolls had a mountaimn fortress/lair. And I think the whole theme was stronger and more interesting because of this variation.

In the case of Kingdoms, I felt the tower of the Dragon faction made a good job of showing how they were a more rugged, less civilized faction than the Lions.

The current Dragon tower is rather feeble as a base, but again, it evokes the feel of the tower being build on top of some older ruins, thanks to the varied color scheme - a new and interesting concept, while a castle would be rather boring. If any of us feels a castle for these factions are needed, I guess this is where our MOCing skills should come into play.

I just wish they'd give us some different colours in castles at least, like black or white or sand. This light bley castle has been done to death by now.

[Only Sinner]

Let them do a Creator type line of civillian village sets. not necessarily Expert size, but maybe just the system size for some houses, shops, market stalls, stables, maybe a well. All of the sets could have a couple peasant minifigs. Some sets could have animals, and some sets could have wealthier people. I would also like the village to have a tower, as a lot of the medieval towns had one.

[Alfadas]

That is an excellent idea! Hope TLG does that!

[SirBlake]

Let them do a Creator type line of civillian village sets. not necessarily Expert size, but maybe just the system size for some houses, shops, market stalls, stables, maybe a well. All of the sets could have a couple peasant minifigs. Some sets could have animals, and some sets could have wealthier people. I would also like the village to have a tower, as a lot of the medieval towns had one.

That would be so rad. My daughter (8 years old) and I play with MMV and MVR (The Orchard family, lol) more than her friends stuff. We would love to add to the village with sets like that.

[Only Sinner]

That would be so rad. My daughter (8 years old) and I play with MMV and MVR (The Orchard family, lol) more than her friends stuff. We would love to add to the village with sets like that.

Funny you say that, as my daughters have hijacked MY copies of MMV and MVR. Obviously there is an intrest in civi sets. Kids don't always want to play conflict, do they?

[SirBlake]

Funny you say that, as my daughters have hijacked MY copies of MMV and MVR. Obviously there is an intrest in civi sets. Kids don't always want to play conflict, do they?

Well, in my case, any conflict that is played out is inter-personal. Lizzie ( Elizabeth Swan from POTC) gives her mom (blue dress/apron woman from MVR) attitude and they have to work it out. Lol, little girls, man.

[Ardelon]

Civilian creator-style sets sound like a neat idea, preferably in system scale. If not, at least they would make great parts packs.

On the subject of repetition and castles / home bases, of course there are ways to make the castles more unique, so they wouldnt all be four walls bashed together. I think raised baseplates did a good job of this, and Id like to see them return. But apart from that, in the spirit of suggesting things we would like to see in a future Castle line, I have some ideas for factions (and castles) which could be something different from what we keep seeing:

- A seaside theme, with one faction having a castle with a built-in dock, would come with an enemy ship; these guys could fight a pirate-type faction of outlaws. This theme could include warships for both sides, Island towers/bases of various sizes, a civilian trade cog or fishing boat, even a fishing village for the pirates to raid, like MVR. Sea monsters optional.

- A theme set in some snowy/wintery terrain, with a Winter Village or Lake Town aesthetic, on white (base)plates, etc. Basically the same types of sets as any other line, but we could expect some sweet minifig prints, with fur clothes and what not. (Nope, I didnt get this idea from the upcoming arctic sets, I was actually more inspired by the Nights Watch of ASOIAF / Game of Thrones)

- A kind of Castle-Police crossover faction (*ducks to avoid rotten fruit*) with prison carriages, prison towers and the main castle would be like a prison, filled with cells, trap doors, revolving walls, cages, falling nets and what not – gimmicky as all hell, but the more I think about it, the more I think this is something that TLG would do. Lets face it, TLG is not going to give us a load of drab civilian sets - business decisions, toys for kids and all that.

- A Dark Age / barbarian / „Viking“ faction, with a wooden pallisade instead of a classic castle, but with a less robotic or technic-ish vibe than the previous Viking line – especially if they would be fighting monster animals again

- A middle or far eastern theme. I hope PoP didnt serve as a warning to TLG that these kinds of themes arent in demand. In any case, they could be one-wave themes like the current one, to fill out a year between more traditional themes, so they dont get stale. Any arguements about bad publicity like evoking the crusades can be dealt wth by making the theme self-contained and independent of the other Castle themes (otherwise im a fan of continuity, but if this was the only way to do it, then so be it).

- Not too keen on elves, which is another idea that has often been mentioned, but im sure they would have plenty of accessories I could appreciate. They would most probably not come with a traditional castle, for example.

As for reimagining previous faction, factions, I would want the heraldry to be kept the same. One thing I didnt like about the falcon knight in the Kingdoms Joust set was that his heraldr was, frankly not the same as the classic falcon knights, and thus not of the same faction.

Forestmen are not my thing either, but Id like to see an „evil“ king or robber baron, to balance out all the goodie-good kings weve gotten already. I wonder whether Denmark being a monarchy would influence TLG in not wanting to make an „evil“ monarch in their in-house Castle themes.

In any case, Forestmen could be fine adversaries to such a faction.

So, these are my two cents (or dollars, considering the length) on what I would like to see in future Castle themes.

[Blakstone]

Ardelon, I like all of those ideas. Of course, TLG really needs to have about two factions in any given year. The key for me is that those factions feel compatable even if they are combatable.

LEGO could have moved on from the Red Lions and Green Dragons if they want to the Black Falcons or Forestmen as an example. But the Blue Lions feel out of place with the red ones and the Red Dragons feel out of place with the Green Dragons. The last Kingdom's Joust looked to be a good bridge set reintroducing the Black Falcons again.

[Doom2099]

In terms of sets, I'd like to see more stuff like the Medieval Market Village, Mill Village Raid, Blacksmith Shop, Guarded Inn, etc.

My dream Castle theme would be a "Classic Castle" line with the return of Black Falcons, Forestmen and Crusaders with re-imagined versions of classic sets, with modern techniques, parts and colours. A pipe dream, I know... but man, that would be awesome.

I'd go for all of these. I have a lot of classic caste, but nothing in the line really made me buy anything after 1995 or so. But the Medieval Market and sets like it have brought back my interest in castle. Whatever line TLG does, I hope they don't forget the civilians!

[Ronda]

I see people pretty much dislike 2013 castle. Good to know I'm not alone))

What sets I'd like to see:

1) a farm with a windmill, sorta like the 7189

2) Medieval Market was great, the Kingdoms Joust added a bit to the town, so I'd like to see more sets to continue building the town - a tavern, a city hall, a church (why not?) etc.

3) small huts for common folks.

[Hive]

a church (why not?) etc.

Because religion is a sensible subject that LEGO (wisely) choses to avoid, that's why. You won't see them do a guillotine or a brothel, either.

[Ronda]

Because religion is a sensible subject that LEGO (wisely) choses to avoid, that's why. You won't see them do a guillotine or a brothel, either.

Really? So the Tower of Pisa has nothing to do with the religion?))

What about Taj Mahal?

And this little set from1957.

Egyptian ruins and other stuff in sets with Indiana Jones and then Johnny Thunder...

If no way - it's just a bummer, 'cause medieval churches are beautiful.

Edited February 14, 2014 by Ronda

[Ardelon]

Really? So the Tower of Pisa has nothing to do with the religion?))

What about Taj Mahal?

And this little set from1957.

Egyptian ruins and other stuff in sets with Indiana Jones and then Johnny Thunder...

If no way - it's just a bummer, 'cause medieval churches are beautiful.

- The Tower of Pisa is more of a cultural landmark than a religious building - AFAIK, it's not used for religious services, and it's much more a symbol of Italy than of the Roman Catholic church.

- The Taj is a mausoleum, not a religious building (though there is some overlap). Again, much more a symbol of India than of Islam.

- The Adventurers and PQ sets represent long-dead religions (and in the case of Amazon Expedition, probably a fictional one). The Himalayan temples might be an exception, but again they're meant to be taken as recognizably Tibetan/Himalayan ruins rather than representatives of Tibetan/Nepalese religions or wherever the sets are set - furthemore, they might be fictional too, like Tygurah's temple in the same line. Same goes for the Indiana Jones sets.

- the Church set is from a time when TLG was basically a "internal" Danish (or at most, a Scandinavian) company instead of a global one, when it didn't have to worry so much about brand image and the opinons of various groups around the world (say, a small group of Muslims in Austria...). When catering to a small Lutheran (even if only culturally Lutheran) market, a church isnt controversial - when catering to a global market, suddenly it can become so.

Based on the above, I wouldn't be surprised for TLG to give us sets, probably again in the Architecture line, based upon buildings that have an iconic status as cultural/national symbols, even if they were originally (or still are) religious sites - say, the Notre Dame, Sagrada Familia, Hagia Sophia, St Basils Cathedral, Angkor Wat, Borobudur, etc. BUT I would not expect TLG to give us generic religious buildings that have no other context or point than to represent their religion.

[Hive]

Apart from what Ardelon said above, I'd also like to point out that there's a difference between featuring something in a System playtheme for kids and and featuring it in an Architecture theme directed at teenagers and adults.

[Dorayaki]

Now I know why brides hold ceremony in local town hall.

Well, in that case let's hope to see some landmark churches/temples in future catalogue, which are not enormous sets or Architecture sets. Or maybe waiting for a movie license.

I personally want to see some princess-related sets, but not sure if in conflict with Disney line (hope that they'll do better). And there have been some medieval civilian sets, but maybe some sets that focus on aristocratic lifestyles (no war-related) would be interesting. A revived Forest theme is nice too.

Edited February 14, 2014 by Dorayaki