'09 Castle sets at the U.S. Toy Fair

[MarioDAlessio]

I like them, including the chariot not featured in these posts, I think these sets are an improvement on last years and are less “fantastic” than for example the spinning wheel.

The designers have done a good job maintaining a coherent aesthetic with these sets over the last three years, e.g. the use of dark green plates for structure bases.

The massing of the troll castle is interesting and the design appears asymmetrical which I like.

I’m still interested/hoping for elves sets similar to earlier forrestmen sets.

Mario

[Chrislad77]

I'm definately saving my money.

I'm saving my money too, but I think I mean it in a different way.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I do not like the direction the castle sets are taking. It's like how KK2 started out awful and slowly got better. These new sets started out all right and seem to be growing more gaudy and outlandish.

I realize they're going for a fantasy theme, and they've put out some of the best castle figures in ages, but the set designs still don't feel as tight as the stuff in the good ol' days. They all have a bulky and cluttered feel to them.

However, it's not all bad. The bridge set looks like it has a lot of good parts and figures, but the Jester seems kinda random. I also like the brick-built doors on the troll fort. I only wish they were non-symmetrical to give it a more chaotic look.

I hope there will be some smaller sets to go with these, but there's probably a limit on how many fantasy siege weapons/contraptions people are willing to buy.

Right now though, the Medieval Market is the only 2009 Castle set that's on my "must-buy" list. These others... we'll see when the time comes.

I agree with alot of what you said. I bought all the first batch of sets. I skipped over the troll warship and battlewheel though. Now these....not really exciting me too much.

The drawbridge looks fairly interesting, all the character figures don't excite me very much. Especially that gold knight. With that many minifigures its going to be 49.99 too.

I like that TLG is including more structures in the line, as you said these don't seem as polished as the older ones. The troll fortress really looks bulky and dull.

I'm looking forward to the smaller sets. Those have almost all been quite good.

[Black_Walnut]

Glad to finally see some decent pictures of the 2009 sets. Wish there was a pick of the third set as well.
After building MMV though, I can't help being a tad dissapointed. I like the looks of the Bridge set more then the Troll fortress. It looks like it fits in well with the previous sets in the line. I will be getting them all anyways, especially for the new minifigs. The piece selection is meh. I like all the arches and slopes, but I don't have much use for any more castle turret tops, wall panels, wall panel corners, 1x Xx 5, bricks and BURPS.
Really looking forward to the new blue plume as well.

[Old_School_Fan]

I believe these are still prototype pictures, aren't they? At least that's the case with the Star Wars sets which were on display.

I personally feel that, even though this is more or less how the sets are going to look, they appeal to me. The troll fortress almost looks like a wrap-around design, with the fun aspects that make it 'trolly'. The drawbridge looks even better than that of the Royal Knights, in my opinion. I did like the picture of the chariot from a while back. It reminded me of a hefty-er version of the Dragon Masters'. I actually feel that this round is a step up from the last.

Have some of us forgotten the MMV already? I'd say after getting that, there shouldn't be many complaints for at least a month, right?

[Sir Kohran]

The drawbridge set looks excellent for figs and parts Having said that, the Troll fortress looks bland and uninspired, and a bit too much like a Bionicle minifig set. The Star Wars sets are generally looking good (look, the Ewok has a bow!). I doubt I will buy much Indy though as I don't want to accumulate half a dozen Indy figs

Will we really have to wait until August for all these sets?

[Heir of Black Falcon]

So what prices will they likely carry? I could not see any prices in the new pictures around but I thought they were usually included in large toy fairs for the sellers to get an idea on them.

King's battle chariot perhaps the same as the skellie carriage or troll assault wagon?

Drawbridge the same as the tower raid?

Trolls Mtn. Fortress same as the troll warship? It looks to be less part intense than the king's castle siege and with smaller armies along with them so I’d assume it less.

Anyone have any thoughts on it?

To be fair I think the mountain fortress does not look bad and I will pick one up unless it is unreasonable in cost. The two troll trolls in one set is rather neat, especially with all the unique minifigs.

I think the bridge is the best though! It looks great. Cannot wait to get the Gold Knight. I hope the shield is not the simple crownie one though.

Heir

[burkey42]

HBF,
If I buy two of the bridge sets, the gold knight is your as a thanks for your PM help!
SPB

[timber_wolf899]

my guess on price for drawbridge and TMF would be 49.99, and 99.99 respectively. I hope for 39.99 and 89.99 but given the number of figs i doubt it. That being said castle sets seem to have a better price part ratio than some of the other stuff so perhaps we will get lucky.

[Dr.Cogg]

Me and some others on EB think the Trolls Fortresses color should change,my thoughts were that if they changed the burps to mocha(color)and the light bley to dark bley and change the red spikes to silver,and added chains,spears,shield,and flags,the fortress would look more trollish,because as I said on EB, the fortress right now looks like an old crowny fortress that they added a few things here and there.

[wallgorn]

Drawbridge Defense and Troll's Mountain Fortress look fairly impressive. I'm sure King's Battle Chariot will look cool. I'm curious about what the elves sets will look like.

[timber_wolf899]

Cogg, i think the last line of your post hit the nail on the head.

It makes sense to me that trolls would not build a fortress from scratch. So this probably is an old crownie fortress that they first trashed, then 'upgraded' to fit their own tastes.

Trolls do not build, no?

[KingDavid]

So what prices will they likely carry? I could not see any prices in the new pictures around but I thought they were usually included in large toy fairs for the sellers to get an idea on them.

King's battle chariot perhaps the same as the skellie carriage or troll assault wagon?

Drawbridge the same as the tower raid?

Trolls Mtn. Fortress same as the troll warship? It looks to be less part intense than the king's castle siege and with smaller armies along with them so I’d assume it less.

Anyone have any thoughts on it?

To be fair I think the mountain fortress does not look bad and I will pick one up unless it is unreasonable in cost. The two troll trolls in one set is rather neat, especially with all the unique minifigs.

I think the bridge is the best though! It looks great. Cannot wait to get the Gold Knight. I hope the shield is not the simple crownie one though.

Heir

Well, Tower Raid has 364 parts and 5 minifigs for $29.99. Unless things change, Drawbridge Defense looks to have 335 parts, 7 minifigs, and a skeleton horse. So I doubt it will be the same price. But it's possible. I'm going to guess $39.99, though. I don't think it would sell very well at a higher price.

As for the Troll's Mountain Fortress, it supposedly has 844 parts, 8 minifigs, 2 giant trolls, and a horse. I think $79.99 would be a steal for all that. But then again, Medieval Market Village had 1,601 parts, 8 minifigs, 2 cows, and a horse for only $99.99, so that's possible, as well. Unfortunately, my guess would be $99.99 for the troll fortress, though.

I believe the King's Battle Chariot is supposed to have 103 parts, 4 minifigs, and a horse. Now, considering the fact that Skeleton Prison Carriage had 193 parts, 5 minifigs, 3 skeleton horses, and a horse all for $19.99, I'd hate to pay the same price for it. I think this one should be priced similarly to a battle pack. $12.99 sounds right. But neither $9.99 nor $19.99 would really surprise me. I'll just be happy to get another red plume, some large reddish brown wagon wheels, and a pearl gold treasure chest.

EDIT: I hope we get some info on some of the 2009 Castle impulse sets soon. I can only imagine how well something like an elf archer impulse set would sell. I'd probably buy a couple dozen of those myself.

[albero78]

EDIT: I hope we get some info on some of the 2009 Castle impulse sets soon. I can only imagine how well something like an elf archer impulse set would sell. I'd probably buy a couple dozen of those myself.

I thought that is was sure that we won't get any elves set in 2009. Am I wrong?

[KingDavid]

EDIT: I hope we get some info on some of the 2009 Castle impulse sets soon. I can only imagine how well something like an elf archer impulse set would sell. I'd probably buy a couple dozen of those myself.

I thought that is was sure that we won't get any elves set in 2009. Am I wrong?

Oh, I haven't heard anything about elves for this year. I'm just saying it would be nice. My bad.

[Heir of Black Falcon]

I do not think we will see elves this year but am not in the loop anyways. In the end 2010 is not all that far off.

King David,

Some good points. I think it would be odd to see the troll fortress as the same price as the king's castle siege or MM but I agree it is possible this will be a 100 set. I hope it will be closer to the warship's 79.99.
I sure hope the bridge is 30 not 40. That ten bucks will make a big difference. I guess the extra minifigs might do it though I hope not.

Heir