TLG,
I know that some of my esteemed comrades on CC are not fans (to one degree or another) of the fantasy sets. I for one was exceptionally pleased with them and for the first time in my almost 30 years as a Lego fan purchased all of the sets (though some second hand) in the line. I wasn't too thrilled with the fantasy line with its skeletons until I saw "Skeleton Tower". I was blown away by the dragon! The rider was nicely done as well.
I have always been a fan of dragons and have had all previous dragons TLG has released. My one compaint for years was that it was difficult to make the original green, then black dragons, look as though they were in flight. This was due to their, fixed, "rampant" pose. The best for realistic looks and playability had been, till recently the "Hungarian Horntail". The way the wings were attached and the tail articulation as well as the head were great. Then TLG met the bar and raised it again. Using the same wing design, TLG created a dragon with front limbs (capable of holding a minifig), a poseable neck and tail and a great head. Then TLG released "King's Castle Siege" and I was extatic about the black dragon. Though a little bummed by the same head and painting styling as the red (cost dictates such trends) I was very pleased with the black dragon. Finally in "Toll Warship" the green dragon was released. All of my hopes were met! A different head design, armor, a "good" dragon and of course a great color scheme (as a favorite color and with two of the colleges I am an alum from using green and gold for colors, I was more than a little pleased).
I was a little disappointed with the discontinuation of the Fantasy Era sub-theme however, I know that TLG typically continues a sub-theme in the castle line for two to four years, though "Medeival Marketplace" is an excellent set. I am very pleased with the new Kingdoms sets, especially the "Dragon Knights Battle Pack" and "Prison Tower Rescue" The decals are excellent on all the new minifigs and the design of the tower and the new portcallus are great. I was really excited by the baby dragon with the "Green Wizard". I am hoping, from this and the flying dragon background on the "Kingdoms" home page that you will return the full scale dragons to service. Whether with the same head designs as before or something new I am looking excitedly toward the future when dragons may fly again in the realms of Lego Castle.




