[ENTRY] Rockview Outpost

[LucSoleBricks]

Hello there!

I made this small set for the contest. Feedback is really appreciated if you have any. I tried to make a set which has some play features and would look like it could be sold in real stores.

Let me know what you think of it!

 

 

[Aanchir]

Oh, neat creation! The build definitely feels more "kid-friendly" (like the 90s, 2009, or 2015 Pirates sets) than a lot of the other entries which go for more of an adult-targeted level of detail, but that's far from a bad thing! I think my favorite detail is the angular "cracks" in the rocky archway that allow people under the arch to peek inside, or people inside to peek out. I can definitely imagine a pirate rowing in and whispering an escape plan to a captured crewmate (although your boat currently doesn't seem to have oars or seats, which seems like a bit of an oversight).

One potential improvement I'd suggest would be to try and make the coastline at least a little more rounded. Part 18980 can be really good for this purpose. I also think it'd be nice if the "water" had rounded or beveled edges instead of so many sharp right angles, but that's more of a personal preference than something that impacts realism or playability.

Additionally, I feel like it'd be nice if the soldiers' storeroom had a regular wooden door like this one instead of a barred door, especially so that from the outside it's easier to differentiate it from the jail cell. It also looks like there could be room to add a desk and chair so the governor could use this for his office, and perhaps a clip on one of the walls as a place to store the jail cell key (this could also add play value, since if a pirate gets captured, they might need an especially sneaky crewmate to break into the governor's office to get the key)!

Also, have you thought about adding a ladder or two in the back to give the soldiers a way to get upstairs? Right now the cannonballs are stored on the ground floor while the cannon is on the roof two floors higher, which seems particularly impractical.

I apologize if it seems like I'm going on and on about weaknesses/drawbacks of your model. In truth, it's a very aesthetically pleasing model. I love how the Reddish Brown plates/tiles and Medium Nougat masonry bricks add a sense of warmth to the color scheme to balance out all the white and grey parts, and also how the structure includes a balance of natural and man-made stone surfaces.

I especially appreciate this considering how many other entries in this contest are sticking more closely to the color schemes of previous LEGO Pirates sets, while you've gone out of your way to make a model that stands out from previous imperial forts and outposts, and explores a new way they could look in the future. That said, I think that with a few changes, you could boost this model's visual appeal and play value even further.

[durazno33]

What you have is a good start. This build would benefit from you to "accessorizing it" a bit.

I would recommend switching the dark grey out for white and nugget colored bricks. The dark grey to me indicates rock and where you have it would be an awkward place for rock to be.

I think your set would be fine with one flag instead of two as even numbers can be harder to make aesthetically pleasing. 

Add some clutter. If you add some more cannon balls, some more barrels, some extra weapons, it will go a long ways in adding the extra detail to make it feel "lived in" 

Add a ladder to get to the cannon on the top

Add a couple 1x2 and 1x1 tan plates to your sand to add more texture.

[Mister Phes]

8 hours ago, Aanchir said:

Oh, neat creation! The build definitely feels more "kid-friendly" (like the 90s, 2009, or 2015 Pirates sets) than a lot of the other entries which go for more of an adult-targeted level of detail, but that's far from a bad thing!

That's kind of the point of designing a classic-style LEGO Pirate set.

16 hours ago, LucSoleBricks said:

Nice minifig line up!  Especially the inclusion of the torso design on the first minifigure.

Now we just need some renders of the minifigs in the set...

[Mazin]

It's got a classic vibe due to it's simplicity and build, but i think perhaps it needs a bit more work, like deciding what kind of purpose this outpost could have, cause there's definitely plenty of options here, but it's a bit chaotic :) I like that tunnel/gate or whatever it is, those plants inside on the wall are a very nice touch, but both of the overall impression would be better if You'd have a clear idea what would You like to do with it's sides. I mean, so we have two prison cells, or maybe that's just a steel door and cool, it's always nice to have a jail cell or a door with a set as those are nice construtctive elements. But i believe it lacks "oficial" story behind those choices. Sure, kids and adults can add their own version to explain what this structure all about, but in my opinion it would just be much more attractie and could gain You more points it would could see a bit more planning.

So let's pretend for a moment that You tunnel/gate is indeed an entry to a much bigger place. In this case perhaps those cells could host some captured pirates/smugglers or even their sceletons as a clear signal to every guest that these soldiers won't make a fuss. Should You decide to go for it, then perhaps those prisoners,  dead or alive, could be locked behind bars and prison door would be an additional element.

I mean, i don't mind the fact that both prison doors are OUTSIDE of the fortification, after all, this is Lego, and Lego's a different world, bending rules ;) But, i believe that people would prefer if such door weren't that accesible to outsiders ;)  

And if You will decide to have some prisoners, then of course  someone might be trying to free them. So i'd add more determined characters to Your roster, cause right now these trio don't realy look like folks who would even have a jail in their facility. They have such friendly faces :)

Also, we've seen some nice play features in other entries related to ways of escaping, like prison walls that could fall out, or secret escape routes. It is a nice bonus that people sometimes wanna add to their design, tho not necesary of course. 

But anyway, should You consider adding a pirate or two, they could use that boat for both their mission and for escape, or maybe they should have an another cannon installed on it to counter the one on top of that fortification.

And in order to get to that cannon, maybe, just maybe, their should be some ladder? Like a dual one, to get onto that first floor and then to the very top. But i'm using the word "maybe" cause people say that ladders aren't realy needed and minifigs can climb up just thanx to kids' imigination. Tho, in this case, i'd say that a ladder could add some visual value and play value to Your set, and You could consider installing it behind the gateway, on the side, by one of those prison cells. 

Maybe one of those prisons could just be dropped and You could use that space for a place to secure that chest, cause it's very unsafe to keep it just like that on the 1st floor ;)

Now, another "controversial" issue with Lego builds... do fortifications need battlements? Like, some folks might point out that there's not much of protection for soldiers on that first floor and none for cannon operators on the tower. I'm not saying that it's crucial to add it, but it might let You score more points with viewers if You'd put more bricks here and there. It looks a bit empty. I'd actually risk saying that the top of You tower would make a very nice roof and so Your cannon could be moved to a diffrent location, like that unfinished boat ;)

But should that cannon leave Your otpost, then it could definitely use more defenders on the first floor. And, although that handrail looks very nice, right now it makes it look more like a friendly terrace, rather than a legit defensive position in a military structure. So why not install some muskets here and there just to add more life and fun to it, ha? Or those muskets could be just stored on weapons racks, which could be positioned by one of those columns on the left, and on the the very right corner of the terrace. I just think that the entire floor is a bit empty, that's all :)

Also, I'd suggest turning that central section of the terrace's ballustrade into some sort of entry sign above the gate. Like, a military crest made out of two crossed sabres or somesuch. Folks like this kind of details and it would definitely make it look more attractive than a one long continuous handrail ;) 

And lastly, there's still a lot of space left on those sandy elements on both sides of Your structure! Should it be left just like that? In classic sets it would be normal, but with modern times and viewers i have a feeling that they might look just undeveloped. So why not add some rocky elements in there? Or plants. Or both. A palmtree is always a good idea, trees always seem to add more value and are adored by everyoen :)

 

[Rogue Redcoat]

A great start is what you have, here are my suggestions, first we need a photo of the soldiers in the fort also known as a box image. First, there needs to be some Plate, Round 1 x 2 with Open Studs : Part 35480 | BrickLink in dark red, swap the brown plates in the fort for black to match the railings, or perhaps make these the yellow highlights in the set, whatever color you decide, choose the same for the tiles on top of the railings. Second, I would take one of the flags from the top and put it on the rowboat, you might also want to add some things to add to your playability, like oars, food for the figures, Etc... Since there is only one merchant/pirate I don't think there needs to be two cells, perhaps one could be a bar/cafe? Anyway, I look forward to any updates, so happy building :)

[iragm]

This is a nice little build!  I think it needs a bit more "fleshing out" to become a proper design.  As others noted, it would be great to see the minifigures posed in the set.  And the colors, while great on their own, don't really match the established colors of a classic pirates set.  Taking risks like that is fine, good, even, but it only works if the rest of the build is also pushing the envelope.  I'd like to see some or all of the following:

1. More accessories (there's one sword for 3 minifigures)
2. More detailed masonry work
3. Some interior on the buildings, maybe a kitchen or some beds?
4. A more modern lantern design
5. Some crenelations on the roof around the cannon
6. More animals to bring the set to life, a parrot, gull, monkey are obvious choices
7. A palm tree

You're off to a great start with this, though, and I can't wait to see what you'll design next!

[Mazin]

 This list is getting longer and longer @Mister Phes ;)

[Mister Phes]

15 minutes ago, Mazin said:

 This list is getting longer and longer @Mister Phes ;)

This entry wasn't added because it seemed the builder wasn't finished.

But is it finished enough to add now?

[LucSoleBricks]

On 8/27/2023 at 6:21 PM, Mister Phes said:

This entry wasn't added because it seemed the builder wasn't finished.

But is it finished enough to add now?

Hey there!

First of all thanks for your feedback. I really appreciate everyone who came by to give some suggestions. In my opion you can add the entry although it is not the best, but some other stuff had to come first so there wasn't a lot of time for me to implement everything. 

Thanks again for your suggestions!

[Mister Phes]

2 hours ago, LucSoleBricks said:

In my opion you can add the entry although it is not the best, but some other stuff had to come first so there wasn't a lot of time for me to implement everything. 

It already be added!

[LucSoleBricks]

5 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

It already be added!

Yes I see it now, thnx!

[MstrOfPppts]

An interesting concept yet it looks a bit unfinished. I like the idea of having the same doors, for LEGO usually also optimizes the sets so that same pieces are used multiple times. Besides it is clear that one is a prison and the other a storage for cannon balls. Why use a fancy wooden door here when it can easily be broken in. The idea of having a boat fit under the build is also nice. But as said it lacks some details here and there especially at the shore and. I like the inclusion of MDF masonry bricks they have a nice different touch from the usual dark red and are quite fitting. Also I think that there's a bit too much gray around the tunnel - maybe just the rocky parts should be gray and when the wall starts it should switch to white. The columns of the tower look a bit funny when 2 are build sideway. The brown tile to finish the roof works nicely. I think that the flag poles are far too short being positioned on the ground of the roof since you decided to build no fence. Also a set of this size I think would include the bigger flag piece.