Theme Review: Forestmen

Perseus55 · Post by **Perseus55** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:17 am

Forestmen are one of my favorite themes along with black falcons. I didn't have any of the large "bases" they had until the dark forest came out. The tree house theme for the bases is fitting but I think it could have been done better. I always loved the "robin hood" hats.

Rayhawk · Post by **Rayhawk** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:39 pm

Forestmen are my single favorite Castle theme, I remember flipping out when I first saw them on the shelves. Robin Hood men? Secret wilderness hideouts? Those sets blew my mind.

6066 probably did more to influence my Lego building than any other single set. Even today my favorite stuff to build is still staggered natural landscaping with secret features.

It's sad, but I don't think Lego could ever get away with releasing sets like those again - camoflauge hideouts that blend into the background? Those won't stand out on the shelf against the latest Mega Bloks shiny gimmickbox 2000. But man, those were great sets.

Lord Felix · Post by **Lord Felix** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:58 pm

Weird. My post (which was on topic) was somehow connected to the off topic posts that were split and locked. Here is what I wrote:

I only have one forestman set, and I don't even know if it is complete. I love it. I love the people. I have about 7, and they are so cool. I use them for outlaws, peasants, and many other things (like a fisherman).

All in all, the figs are great, the sets themselves are lacking, but the "tree" sets (what I call the sets where there is a small fortress or hideout in the tree) are my favorite. Some other ones lack appeal to me, other then the awsome tree pieces figs, and weapons.

To add to my original post, I also think that the dark forest theme that followed later is good, but just not the same. The original forestmen are the best, even though some of the Dark Forest sets are good too. I find it intresting that the Forestmen and Dark Forest sets are almost identical with slightly different sets and different figures.

Username · Post by **Username** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 2:48 pm

I owned these two forestmen sets:

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?S=6071-1

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?S=6054-1

I particularly liked the second set, Forestmen's Hideout, because it was basically a neat looking tree house. I like the forestmen theme overall because it gave the castle theme a few more peasant like torsos.

Horak the Great · Post by **Horak the Great** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:25 pm

This theme is one of my all-time favorites, but it was produced, much to my chagrin during my First Dark Age. Fortunately, I got back into Lego in time to purchase the sets from the Dark Forest theme when they came out, even though the earlier Forestmen theme was much better executed. The Dark Forest theme had nice minifigs though.

Rubberchickenknight · Post by **Rubberchickenknight** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:52 pm

I love Forestmen, they are one of my favourite themes. I inherited a bunch of Forestmen stuff, plus Dark Forest came out when I was in Kindergarten if I remember correctly. The peaked caps are some of my favourite pieces, and the hideouts looked great. I kinda wish they had a symbol though, but you can always use Dark Forest shields for Forestmen.

PunkRockCowboy · Post by **PunkRockCowboy** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:04 pm

Honestly, I don't see what's so great about Forestmen. I like the idea, and I love the units, but their sets are kind of drab compared with Dark Forest. They just don't look as cool and their hideouts don't look very realistic either.

Post by **SavaTheAggie** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 7:34 pm

I know I am in the minority, but I never really liked the forestmen, at least not as much as the Crusaders or the Black Monarch's men. I hold the forestmen pretty high, though, above Ninja, Dragon Masters, Fright Knights, etc. Growing up I held them pretty low on my totem pole, but they got a leg up when Wolfpack came along (I hated wolfpack). I own all but one of their sets, both from their original release and the Dark Forest.

--Tony

Spongey · Post by **Spongey** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:48 pm

I hated wolfpack

That's surprising! How come?

Blueandwhite · Post by **Blueandwhite** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 10:42 pm

SavaTheAggie wrote:I know I am in the minority, but I never really liked the forestmen, at least not as much as the Crusaders or the Black Monarch's men. I hold the forestmen pretty high, though, above Ninja, Dragon Masters, Fright Knights, etc. Growing up I held them pretty low on my totem pole, but they got a leg up when Wolfpack came along (I hated wolfpack). I own all but one of their sets, both from their original release and the Dark Forest.

--Tony

Your not the only one who feels that way.

The Forestmen figs were quite nice, but I never found myself wanting any of the sets. They just seemed bland. I always found the structures to be too hap-hazard, and in many cases, quite ugly. In retrospect, they were a goldmine of useful bricks, but as a child these sets seemed like the thing to get if you already had most of the other castle sets.

And strangely enough, I also found no love for the Wolfpack when they were first released. For me, they were a poor substitute for the Forestmen. Of course, with only a few sets, this line never got a real chance to develop.

Sir-Boris · Post by **Sir-Boris** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:55 pm

I really like the forestmen. I have a few of the sets, but mostly care about the minifigs. I use the forestmen as my Elven army.

-- Nate

Prince Imdol · Post by **Prince Imdol** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:15 am

I love forrest men. They give you the Lothlorian Archer feel, and Robin Hood for that matter.

PowderMonkey · Post by **PowderMonkey** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 3:33 am

I have always liked the forestmen. I used to play with my dad's collection when I had no lego.

PowderMonkey

Patron of the lego · Post by **Patron of the lego** » Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:04 pm

Hmm forestmen, fun theme but some of thier structures don't make sense. Also forestmen don't really interest me compared to Royal knights which I have three of! This is mainly due to thier lack of castlely life! Note I only have border ambush! Plus I don't have much plants, if I did, I may change my mind

8/10

PunkRockCowboy · Post by **PunkRockCowboy** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:53 pm

Blueandwhite wrote: The Forestmen figs were quite nice, but I never found myself wanting any of the sets. They just seemed bland. I always found the structures to be too hap-hazard, and in many cases, quite ugly. In retrospect, they were a goldmine of useful bricks, but as a child these sets seemed like the thing to get if you already had most of the other castle sets.

I couldn't have said it any better! I do like the figures, and I think they look good in other sets, but their own sets are just...well, as you said, bland. Speaking of figures though, I think that they look even better mixed in with Dark Forest. It adds more spice to the faction without getting too weird and far out.
As I see it:
Dark Forest = Wolfpack > Forestmen