Weekly Set Review: Magic Shop

[Thrall1138]

This is the set that I got my magic wands, hats, and crows from. I think this is a great set and even though it doesn't look like a great shop, it is a set that should be bought fast.

/5

[Cyclonis]

I have now made myself an official member of this set review club.

Now, I started collecting sinse around 1994, (i am only a young chap now, compared to you all) BUT i know a heck alot better than all of yous put together, I must say i am quite spoiled with my knowledge of Lego

Now, I have always admired The Majisto/Merlin sets, Although I have never really purchased any. This set is quite great, because of the side pieces and the foalage an the minifig. Its what you's expect for a 1993 set. I do not own this set, but I would buy this set just for the minifig and the beard. I would instantly brake this set up, to add to my MOC bin.
Overall, right now i'd give this a 7/10, because of the pieces, but it would probably be a 10/10 in that year.

-Cyclonis

[Formendacil]

Not a set I would personally want. There were plenty of Merlin/Majistos floating around, and there's nothing spectacular about this set to make it particularly desirable, like weapons, design, rare pieces, etc. The parts assortment is nice, but other than the foliage not particularly useful.

Edit: On reflection... perhaps it is a set I'd want... but I stand by the lack of spectacularity of the set. A solid set, but not spectacular. As I age, though, the nostalgia factor goes up. One of the best designed Dragon Master sets--and if you didn't like their colours/soldiers/faction generally, this is probably the set for you.
--March 29, 2010

Parts: 8.5/10
Playability: 7/10
Figs/Accessories: 7.5/10
Design (contemporary): 9/10
Design (universal): 7.5/10
Nostalgia: 8/10

Overall score: 7.92/10 (B)

[Sir_Marcellus]

See, I never had a wizard. Not one clad in blue, anyway. I did custom-make a green one with a beard from 3052, a green wizards' hat from a freestyle set, and a torso from 6034, but I still always felt as if he didn't look just right. So I would pick this set up if I saw it.

[Athos]

Nice way to get some tree trunk parts. And the wizard beard and torso were nice. Ladder and bird too, if you don't already have a ton of them.

Not much of a set, but I would love to have some more sets like this rather than the stupid Vladek's Attack.

Steve

[ezehogan]

I didn't pick this set up until a few weeks ago in an eBay lot with about five other small sets.

It was assembled one time, and then quickly torn apart and the pieces went into one of the spare parts boxes. I just don't really see anything to get excited about here. This set claims to be a "magic shop" but there isn't much that can be done in such a small area.

There isn't really much to get excited about as far as the set is concerned, and frankly I don't think it makes too much sense. My feelings are that the tree wouldn't have any foliage at all, as the entire thing has been hollowed out. I could understand it if the tree were bigger, but with half of the trunk gone, this thing should be dead. Personally, I prefer Majisto's Magical Workshop as a "magic shop" over this (and that doesn't even have doors!), but fo course, that was a considerably larger set and a comparison isn't really fair.

The bottom line here is that this set was simply produced for kids who wanted a wizard but who couldn't afford the larger sets. I don't honestly think this was ever intended to stay together as a set for very long, so for what it is, it accomplishes its goal. You get a wizard, some weapons, a barrel, and some useful pieces for a few dollars. If you don't need more wizards, you can easily take the beard off, put on a Wolfpack hood, and you finally have more peasants for your kingdom.

If I were to compare this to other similar sized sets like the Black Monarch's Ghost, it would not get a very good review. However, as stated, I don't think this set was ever really intended to stay together for any length of time. It was a parts pack plain and simple, and as a parts pack it succeeds. For that reason, I would give this set an 8 of 10.

[BuilderQ]

I suppose this could be a good "tree-builder" set (just stack 'em on top of each other to get something more sizeable) - but the tree looks a little odd, with a brown trunk and black branches. Anyways, the wizard is an interesting figure; the long beard piece is suitable for castaways, dwarves, old kings, and, of course, wizards.

[Silent Arrow]

Nice set but I can't call it special.... Perhaps this set would be better if it had some figures-soldiers except from the mage......

[TheOrk]

Nice small set. You get a wizard cheaply, and you have a good set to go with forestmen. 9/10

[forester3291]

It ahs a nice selection of pieces and you can always use those arches and slopes.

The overall selection of pieces and parts is pretty fair soI will give this set an 8/10.

[Bruce N H]

I have to come down on the negative side on this set. I don't see much of interest if you don't want the panel pieces (everything else is common enough in much better sets), and there's absolutely no playability. I agree with ezehogan, this set was basically for kids who wanted a wizard but couldn't get the big sets.

Bruce

[Sir Dillon]

I sortof like this set, it could be a good for a forester, although if you already have a wizard I see no point in buying it.
it has good pieces, but not much playability.

5/10

[TwoTonic Knight]

The main problem I have with the set is the name. It's not much of a shop. Maybe Majisto's Magic Tree wouldn't bother me.

Mainly it is a cheap set for kids to get the wizard and a little greenery. I'd like to see a complete tree and a little more elaborate setting, but for what it was intended it was an okay set. 6/10. I'd give it a 7 if they made the tree all black or all brown.

******

Not only does Opera not like all the formatting auto-inserts, it makes the itty-bitty text even smaller. I have no idea how long I've been a lush again.

It's worth it not to have the porous defense of Explorer....

[Jyp]

This set is typical of the first age of fantastic castle sets, which are unrealistic and made only with a few big parts.

So, I don't like it as I don't like all the Dragon line of sets.

Some parts are good (barrel, scale, glass,...) but some other seem stupid to me (torches under a "tree", strange shape for a tree, gray parrot supposed to be a falcon,...).

2/10 because I don't like fantastic sets.
6/10 if I'd like fantastic sets.

[Azaghal]

this set was basically for kids who wanted a wizard but couldn't get the big sets.

Bruce

I was one of those kids. I have a memory of a cousin who thought I was really lucky to have gotten one of those. Ah, the memories...

Anyway, for what it was meant to be, it was a good set, great for getting arches and beards cheaply (bad for those pointy hats ).