The Decline of Lego Castle?

[richardanthonyc]

I actually really liked the Fight Knights when they came out, though the royals before are my fave all time series

[Purple Wolf]

My Idea of the dectine of Lego castle would be the FrightKnights. I mean they were nice and allbut they were useing big ugly peaces such as a lot of big green bricks instead of plates of base plates. There builds wern't that good ether. They also have to many colors like black, gray, dark gray, red, and yellow.

After that Knights Kingdoms came out (still useing big peaces) they were putting less minifigs in set. Same as the FrightKnights there builds aren't that good.

And when castle got to KK2 well here are some reasons. Big peaces, new colors, NO men for the king but knights, the swords, the shields, still no that good of a build, and to rap it up they had a backround story.

When the Crowns come that when castle went up again.

Purple Wolf

[dyntar]

Personally for me the castle line declined when the factions started to blur together... Black knight shields became green.. Black knight armour was used by the lions/crusaders.. Black falcons starter using black knight boats .. Forestmen went dark.. When Lego started re-using parts across factions thats when it went bad for me and i entered the cliche dark age
I prefer clearly defined factions.. Where they each have their own colour scheme and style.

[tiberium_blue]

I think we're in a decline at the moment.

The step towards more civilian life sets is a start but we're still getting the tired-old 4-walled castle. Siege weapon vs tower/gate. Carriage under attack and so on.

I'd like to see some new blood and new ideas in castle. When I buy a set at the moment it's because I like the minifigures or the new parts are interesting. That shouldn't be the case.

[Shadowviking]

When I buy a set at the moment it's because I like the minifigures or the new parts are interesting. That shouldn't be the case.

...That's debatable.

And I've rather enjoyed all the sets I've gotten within the past year.

[tiberium_blue]

When I buy a set at the moment it's because I like the minifigures or the new parts are interesting. That shouldn't be the case.

...That's debatable.

What I mean is they shouldn't be the only selling point. You're happy to keep buying the same boring rehashed sets providing they throw in a couple of new prints and the odd new piece/colour? You could buy those from bricklink.

Take the new joust set for example. As I understand the exclusive sets they're an opportunity to take a risk and give us AFOLs some of the things we've been asking for. What did we get? A nice new print (green dress). A popular old print (falcon). A big useless gate that looks pretty but adds nothing and a poorly fleshed out joust scene.

I would take away the gate and make a larger pavillion with civilians and entertainers. Add a couple more knights, classic and current. Give them all squires and horses with printed bardings so you could have a proper tournament. Make the tents larger and give them more details. Add a few trees with autumn coloured leaves. The set could be called Autumn Joust.

It's already much more interesting and the play value is still there.

Castle at the moment is safe and boring. I kind of hope the hobbit rumors are true even if it means we have to pay extra for a licensed theme.

[Zilberfrid]

I do not think we see only reruns of older sets. We do see a new castle, and siege equipment and such, simply because every run needs these staple sets. Every kid will want a simple four walled castle, and something to break it down with, that will not change, we, however, also have sets that go beyond these.

It's not the fact that a set has a castle, a siege engine, a tower and such that defines the series, it is the makeup of these sets, and what is provided besides them (civilian ed). As such, Kingdoms is a good run in my opinion.

[Shadowviking]

When I buy a set at the moment it's because I like the minifigures or the new parts are interesting. That shouldn't be the case.

...That's debatable.

What I mean is they shouldn't be the only selling point. You're happy to keep buying the same boring rehashed sets providing they throw in a couple of new prints and the odd new piece/colour? You could buy those from bricklink.

Take the new joust set for example. As I understand the exclusive sets they're an opportunity to take a risk and give us AFOLs some of the things we've been asking for. What did we get? A nice new print (green dress). A popular old print (falcon). A big useless gate that looks pretty but adds nothing and a poorly fleshed out joust scene.

I would take away the gate and make a larger pavillion with civilians and entertainers. Add a couple more knights, classic and current. Give them all squires and horses with printed bardings so you could have a proper tournament. Make the tents larger and give them more details. Add a few trees with autumn coloured leaves. The set could be called Autumn Joust.

It's already much more interesting and the play value is still there.

Castle at the moment is safe and boring. I kind of hope the hobbit rumors are true even if it means we have to pay extra for a licensed theme.

Yeah, I can get them at Bricklink for at least twice the set price because they're only in the one bloody set...
I am a relatively poor, unemployed, self-funded student (AMA!); I can afford to go to Bricklink for bulk parts or for the nice new pieces. Not both.

And honestly, when I see that joust set, I see a bunch of nice parts in that gate. Not only that, but I see a pretty great design. I had the oppourtunity to see it up close and in the flesh at Brickcon, and I really like the architectural style of the gate. It's much more embellished and pretty than standard LEGO castle sets, including other Kingdoms stuff. Very well built.

There's also a nice bit about sets where I get pieces I'd never order on my own, and sometimes those turn out to be great pieces. Ordering what you know you want is safe and boring. Getting a totally random piece you'd never expect to see in a castle set, let alone a castle MOC is a fun test for your creativity. Any part is a castle part!

On the whole, I'm more interested in parts than minifigs, too. Though I do prefer to get minifigs I want from sets instead of the previously mentioned inflated Bricklink price.


I can appreciate that you might not like some of the sets in the line. But saying we're in decline is stupid. The step towards more civilian life sets is only a start, yes. But tired old 4 walls castles, siege weapons vs towers, carriage under attack, and civilian sets is way better than those same things without civilian sets. How is that a decline?

[tiberium_blue]

I do not think we see only reruns of older sets. We do see a new castle, and siege equipment and such, simply because every run needs these staple sets. Every kid will want a simple four walled castle, and something to break it down with, that will not change, we, however, also have sets that go beyond these.

I don't believe so. Kids aren't so simple minded. Pretty much every shop in my country carries every lego line except kingdoms. I think kids are bored with it too.

What would be wrong with a large dungeon instead of a castle?

And honestly, when I see that joust set, I see a bunch of nice parts in that gate. Not only that, but I see a pretty great design. I had the oppourtunity to see it up close and in the flesh at Brickcon, and I really like the architectural style of the gate. It's much more embellished and pretty than standard LEGO castle sets, including other Kingdoms stuff. Very well built.

I see the same things we've been getting in every other set for the last few years. Just more of it. It's another tower with some extra details.

I can appreciate that you might not like some of the sets in the line. But saying we're in decline is stupid. The step towards more civilian life sets is only a start, yes. But tired old 4 walls castles, siege weapons vs towers, carriage under attack, and civilian sets is way better than those same things without civilian sets. How is that a decline?

Yes, it's better but I don't think it goes far enough. When the new sets first started to appear, the one everyone was excited for was Mill Village Raid because it was something new and different. I doubt anyone got excited when they saw Outpost Attack.

Maybe decline is the wrong word for it. I just think we could see something better.

[davee123]

I think kids are bored with it too.

I think to suggest that kids are bored with standard castles is pretty silly. AFOLs have been fans of castle for 30+ years, getting the same sets over and over. But most kids have only been LEGO fans for 1-5 years. To them, it's brand new.

That's why when you ask AFOLs what their favorite castle sets are, they'll often tell you their favorite was the "standard" castle that they had when they were kids. I'm constantly amazed at the AFOLs that say things like 6091 are their favorite castles, which I remember being not only boring, but also one of the most juniorized castles out there. But to the kids that grew up with it as the "flagship" castle of 2000-2002, it was inspiring and amazing.

DaveE

[Shadowviking]

And honestly, when I see that joust set, I see a bunch of nice parts in that gate. Not only that, but I see a pretty great design. I had the oppourtunity to see it up close and in the flesh at Brickcon, and I really like the architectural style of the gate. It's much more embellished and pretty than standard LEGO castle sets, including other Kingdoms stuff. Very well built.

I see the same things we've been getting in every other set for the last few years. Just more of it. It's another tower with some extra details.

Hmm. I'd say you're either a set collector, a pessimist, or not looking very closely.

We're clearly just of two different mindsets. Personally, I like the set, and I think LEGO Castle is climbing, not declining. But that's just me.

[tiberium_blue]

That's why when you ask AFOLs what their favorite castle sets are, they'll often tell you their favorite was the "standard" castle that they had when they were kids.

That's nostalgia talking. It's a sign of mid-life crisis.

Hmm. I'd say you're either a set collector, a pessimist, or not looking very closely.

I expect perfection. If anything I'm a Borg.

[davee123]

That's nostalgia talking. It's a sign of mid-life crisis.

Yep! And adults are nostalgic for what they LOVED as kids, not what they thought was boring.

DaveE

[tiberium_blue]

Yep! And adults are nostalgic for what they LOVED as kids, not what they thought was boring.

People who are nostalgic tend to idealize.

[BTappel]

I would say LEGO castle is not in decline. Not even a little bit. Since kingdoms started we have seen new helms, barding, figures, animals, etc. Overall, the sets have been great. Kingdoms alone is what brought me back into the LEGO world.

If the LOTR rumors are true I will be sad to see kingdoms go, but I also look forward to a fantasy take on the castle theme. Honestly, I do not care if they make castle a licensed theme or if they just continue kingdoms. Both would be awesome. Castle is not declining either way.