2025 Castle [wishlist/speculation]

[karrit]

2 hours ago, zoth33 said:

The price was said to be $170 not $150

It's currently listed on the LEGO website for $179.99.  Initially it was rumored to be $149.99 which then changed to $169.99.  At this rate it will be $200 by the time they release it.

[DonQuixote]

1 hour ago, Triceron said:

 

Snake Knights - I thought this could work to represent a Persian/Arabian/Desert dweller themed faction, like the people of Dorne, or the Shield breaker from Darkest Dungeon.

However the shield is using the Master shield mold, and they're represented by a nobleman so it doesn't really fit how I'd like it to work. I'd prolly prefer a round shield with the snake emblem.

Also, anyone think this dude was inspired by BlackAdder?

 

Ah, Lord Edmund Blackadder.

One of my favourite Brittish comedy shows. I allready mentioned him for the snake knight a couple of days ago or so. 

Now we need Minifigs for Percy and Balldrick who always has a cunning plan to aid Blackadder from danger.

I'm going to use the CMF shepherd for Balldrick. He looks a bit like him. 

Edited May 21 by DonQuixote

[hikouki]

7 hours ago, TeriXeri said:

..,.

It's probably too early to see Kraken or Gryphon knights in a big 2026 set, but 2027 seems plausible (if made) , and 2026 could have some set with some nostalgia faction (Black Knights and more Wolfpack seems very possible as they just brought back the Ghost featured in both those themes) . and 2026 / early 2027 might still add a Snake Castle set under Creator ( 3-in-1 horse Castle basicly replaces the 3-in-1 Falcon castle , so with Lion Knights and Town Square gone, there's still -2 Castle sets on the market)

...

 

Lego will probably try and gauge response to these sets and perhaps even at PAB.

1 hour ago, Triceron said:

I was thinking about how to use the 4 new factions in my Castle/Fantasy universe.

Horse Knights - The white on blue emblem is very striking and fits the style and theme of the DnD Dragonborn shield.  I'm thinking of having this represent a faction of Warhammer style High Elves (who also use blue ans white motif), and I might use these shields to represent infantry while the Dragon shields to represent Elites, like Dragon Princes.  The emblem wouldn't be a full faction, but more a sign of rank and file 

To make them stand out as Elves I'm thinking of having them use fleshtones instead of yellow.  I'll have to find some LOTR elf ears.

Snake Knights - I thought this could work to represent a Persian/Arabian/Desert dweller themed faction, like the people of Dorne, or the Shield breaker from Darkest Dungeon.

However the shield is using the Master shield mold, and they're represented by a nobleman so it doesn't really fit how I'd like it to work. I'd prolly prefer a round shield with the snake emblem.

Also, anyone think this dude was inspired by BlackAdder?

Kraken Knights - I'm going to use the Atlantean helmets from DC line to make some fantasy themed sea raiders.  They'll command dark watery magic, and have the supernatural aid of various sea monsters.  I plan to have them rival the Black Knights if they ever release a Sea Serpent remake.  My inspiration is the Dark Elf Corsairs from Warhammer, like Lokhir Fellheart

I've got some dark green velvet ribbon I used to make cloaks for the Rogue CMF, I may make more. For this faction.

Gryphon Knights - I'm stuck on what subculture or hook to give them.  I have buckbeack ready to be used as a mount for them, but I'm stuck on how else to up their look.  I might make some custom silver cloaks for them, or maybe make them styled off the Brettonians from Warhammer.  I'm still thinking on this.

I'm thinking using the Dragonborn Paladin torso as a member of the Horse Knight clan!

The Torso and legs from the Evil Knight CMF could probably be a minion of Horse Knight.

11 minutes ago, karrit said:

It's currently listed on the LEGO website for $179.99.  Initially it was rumored to be $149.99 which then changed to $169.99.  At this rate it will be $200 by the time they release it.

Tariff?

[karrit]

12 minutes ago, hikouki said:

Tariff?

It looks that way.  Why else would the price go up twice over the past month?  I'm fearing what the Creator Castle & Haunted House will end up costing when we finally get them in August.

Edited May 21 by karrit

[Roebuck]

17 hours ago, karrit said:

orange tax

16 hours ago, TeriXeri said:

I'm looking toward 2026/2027, since big sets of 4 major AFOL Castle (Lion Knight+Town Square)/Viking Village /Space (Blacktron), and 3-in-1 Pirate Ship (Eldorado also left last year) are all retiring at end of this year, there's bound to be something planned ahead.

Hopefully the sets are selling well enough for Lego to keep releasing the "vintage Icons sets", but MTS, Eldorado fortress and the Space sets have a shorter that planned shelf-life. Maybe that is because most of the buyers get them early or they simply do not sell enough to defend the place on shelf’s

If they keep on making them, since it was Space this year, it should be Pirates in 2026 and Castle in 2027.

Even if Creator 3-in-1 have been revolutionary this year and can become a very useful theme in the future when it comes to parts, the sets are not as interesting as Icons may be

[TeriXeri]

1 hour ago, Roebuck said:

If they keep on making them, since it was Space this year, it should be Pirates in 2026 and Castle in 2027.

True, Pirates won't have anything, as far as regular set wise in 2026 after 3-in-1 Pirate Ship retires. (I don't count Bricklink Designer Program or something like The Black Pearl, just like I don't count Star Trek Enterprise-D as "Space" theme)

Edited May 21 by TeriXeri

[hikouki]

8 minutes ago, TeriXeri said:

True, Pirates won't have anything, as far as regular set wise in 2026 after 3-in-1 Pirate Ship retires. (I don't count Bricklink Designer Program or something like The Black Pearl, just like I don't count Star Trek Enterprise-D as "Space" theme)

I do wonder if moving forward they will coordinate the releases on brick Link with mainline Lego?

[TeriXeri]

1 hour ago, hikouki said:

I do wonder if moving forward they will coordinate the releases on brick Link with mainline Lego?

I think it's a seperate thing entirely, but existing prints/moulds will be handy to use, as they get a parts list to choose from, and there is a 1 sticker per 250 part limit with 25 maximum, and stickers are not allowed to be on minifigs (it's not the 1970s)
 

Edited May 21 by TeriXeri

[DonQuixote]

3 hours ago, Roebuck said:

Hopefully the sets are selling well enough for Lego to keep releasing the "vintage Icons sets", but MTS, Eldorado fortress and the Space sets have a shorter that planned shelf-life. Maybe that is because most of the buyers get them early or they simply do not sell enough to defend the place on shelf’s

If they keep on making them, since it was Space this year, it should be Pirates in 2026 and Castle in 2027.

Even if Creator 3-in-1 have been revolutionary this year and can become a very useful theme in the future when it comes to parts, the sets are not as interesting as Icons may be

The Blacktron Renegade is retiring at the end of this year. Eldorado Fortress was retiring early.  I think there are enough people  interested in these classic themes but not enough for Lego to continue. It's licensed themes like Starwars and Harry Potter that make the big money.

I think for us castle/pitate/classic space fans it's just gonna be BDP,  a CMF figure ,a 3 in 1 set and a spaceman,pirate ,knight here and there. Just like the gumball machine.

I don't expect anything for Icons.

Keeping my expectations low is best I think.

[hikouki]

3 hours ago, Roebuck said:

Hopefully the sets are selling well enough for Lego to keep releasing the "vintage Icons sets", but MTS, Eldorado fortress and the Space sets have a shorter that planned shelf-life. Maybe that is because most of the buyers get them early or they simply do not sell enough to defend the place on shelf’s

If they keep on making them, since it was Space this year, it should be Pirates in 2026 and Castle in 2027.

Even if Creator 3-in-1 have been revolutionary this year and can become a very useful theme in the future when it comes to parts, the sets are not as interesting as Icons may be

 

1 hour ago, TeriXeri said:

True, Pirates won't have anything, as far as regular set wise in 2026 after 3-in-1 Pirate Ship retires. (I don't count Bricklink Designer Program or something like The Black Pearl, just like I don't count Star Trek Enterprise-D as "Space" theme)

I just saw a cartoon rendering on Instagram of how a real- life Kraken would have looked like based on the newly released mini figure. It appears 1/3 castle, 1/3 Viking, 1/3 pirate!!!

I do think the idea of this mini figure it’s quite genius in terms of the lore that it inspires, and in the themes that it covers!

[DonQuixote]

What do you think of the price for the gumball machine? 

Was going to  buy it just for supporting the designer.

But now my enthusiasm has been waned....that price.

It feels like I am paying for a Starwars set.

The new creator castle has been pre order for €99. A good deal.

But €170 for the gumball machine...and it looks small .

It's just too much. Lego is testing the die hard castle and space fans 

 

[RichardGoring]

8 hours ago, TeriXeri said:

I think it's a seperate thing entirely, but existing prints/moulds will be handy to use, as they get a parts list to choose from, and there is a 1 sticker per 250 part limit with 25 maximum, and stickers are not allowed to be on minifigs (it's not the 1970s)

I wish they'd shown these rules to the designers of The Simpsons Krusty Burger! 

7 hours ago, DonQuixote said:

The Blacktron Renegade is retiring at the end of this year. Eldorado Fortress was retiring early.  I think there are enough people  interested in these classic themes but not enough for Lego to continue. It's licensed themes like Starwars and Harry Potter that make the big money.

I think for us castle/pitate/classic space fans it's just gonna be BDP,  a CMF figure ,a 3 in 1 set and a spaceman,pirate ,knight here and there. Just like the gumball machine.

I don't expect anything for Icons.

Keeping my expectations low is best I think.

This could be the case, but we really don't know. We don't get to see the sales patterns for sets. It could well be that the target market for them tends to buy quickly, so the sets don't have much of a sales tail and so can be retired earlier. Whereas Star Wars and Harry Potter have a broader target market, including lots of children, so sales could continue fairly consistently for an extended period. For LEGO, it may be that they maximize their revenue by releasing nostalgia sets more frequently to generate the hype for the next thing in a pretty engaged market, have everyone buy it, and then move on. Or it could be that they are halo products to get more people out of their dark ages and then spend on other sets that they wouldn't have seen otherwise. Or it could be that they don't sell that well as you suggested. Even with hindsight I suspect we won't truly know.

[bdw]

Sorry if this has been mentioned. I just noticed the male Kracken/Viking guy has an eye patch. Is this a new head print?

I like the colours of this minifigure but I'll modify it a bit. Not sure I actually like the logo but it might grow on me

 

[Roebuck]

12 hours ago, DonQuixote said:

it's just gonna be BDP

BDP eats the scraps from Lego sets, if there are no other classic Lego sets with figs and accessories the BDP sets have nothing to include..
 

14 hours ago, hikouki said:

I do wonder if moving forward they will coordinate the releases on brick Link with mainline Lego?

I agree with @TeriXeri. They are basically Mocs and have nothing to do with real Lego sets..

[hikouki]

Griffin looks too generic without any logo on the torso!!!

[GeoBrick]

1 hour ago, hikouki said:

Griffin looks too generic without any logo on the torso!!!

...and that's a good thing too!!!!

I can see them together with those old scale mail black knights minifigs.

[MAB]

No dual molding for the legs is really off-putting if they are seen from the back or side as the colour design doesnt continue. That helps the choice for me, I’ll go torso only and use plain legs or other generic print legs. Using capes is an alternative cover up but becoming expensive. 

[Artanis I]

5 hours ago, hikouki said:

Griffin looks too generic without any logo on the torso!!!

Good

[TeriXeri]

5 hours ago, GeoBrick said:

...and that's a good thing too!!!!

I can see them together with those old scale mail black knights minifigs.

I also think it's good to have some un-factioned castle prints , the Snake Knight from 31168 Medieval Horse Knight Castle has prints on torso and legs that look like a mix of scales and Rivet/Splint type of armour, but can be used for other factions as well if you change the shield and plume.

Even Classic Castle factions had a few variants of scale mail (Black Knights/Royal Knights mainly and some Falcons), and Studded/Padded Leather prints with Dark Forest, and some Rivit/Splint type of prints are found in Fright Knights.

If you look at a big set like 6086 Black Knight's Castle it has 6 figures with Scale Mail , and 4 figures with a Breastplate print , or 6085 Black Monarch's Castle , which had 8 Scale Mail and 4 Breastplate figures.

And the colors of the torsos and arms are generic enough to interchange with Lion , Royal or Falcon Knights or even Dragon Masters / Fright Knights, as they use combinations of black/blue, blue/red , black/red , just red . etc

Wolfpack was more unique with it's brown/brown or brown/black torso, but brown also wasn't a very common color yet for regular parts, mainly seen in special parts like weapons, treasure chest, horses, palm tree etc.

 

Horse Knights and Kraken Knights having faction emblems on their torso isn't a bad thing however, both factions follow the modern design that was used for the modern version of Lion and Falcon Knights, giving more a suggestion they wear a cloth piece over their armours, and Horse Knights follow the similar Ringmail neckline down to knees, that Lions and Falcons use.

Kraken Knights have a more cloth/leathery look to them, which kind of makes sense if you like use them as a faction that might raid from the water (including hiding inside water), where metal armour would just be heavy.

 

Edited May 22 by TeriXeri

[hikouki]

8 hours ago, GeoBrick said:

...and that's a good thing too!!!!

I can see them together with those old scale mail black knights minifigs.

 

4 hours ago, Artanis I said:

Good

Not a bad thing for MOCs, I get it.

But when your building a faction, you also want some figs with bespoke identity.

[DaleDVM]

I like the physical design of the Kraken logo a lot.  I am not sure about its color.  I think that the Kraken in teal and then having the shirt in a less flashy color would have been a better choice.

As for the Bricklink designer program.  I am not a fan at all.  Don't get me wrong, many of the designs are first rate.  However, I can make MOCs and these sets offer literally no unique parts at all.  I am also not a fan of competing with scalpers who buy these sets the first second they release and then I can't buy one.  I wanted to support the designers.  I was online for the first releases, and I ordered immediately.  I didn't get squat.  The next day, people were trying to sell their copies for 50% more on Bricklink!  The same exact place that ran that shitshow in the first place.  And the prices for the sold out items just kept climbing.  That left a really bad taste in my mouth.  I will not be buying these sets.  They are not official LEGO sets and as a castle collector, I am truly offended by how this program is run.  LEGO won't give castle fans what we want, and instead are trying to toss us scraps through the BDP.  

I also feel like LEGO is taking advantage of the fan base that are wannabe designers.  I know current and past LEGO designers.  Years ago, LEGO laid off many of their best (and highest salaried) designers, to hire young AFOLs cheap.  The current designers do not make what they deserve, especially considering the profitability of the company.  It is unfortunate IMHO that some people want to be part of LEGO so bad that they undervalue themselves and TLG is taking advantage of that.  They are not the company they once were.

However, I still like the product for the most part.  

 

[Yperio_Bricks]

So today I went to town and bought the Viking Village in anticipation of the Kraken Knights. (And because I didn't build an official set in a long time. Will make some modifications though.)

Man, the Kraken Knights really got me. I wanted to build medieval mocs for a long time but there was never really a hook that got me started. All eyes on PAB

 

Edited May 22 by Yperio_Bricks

[Triceron]

I made some dark green cloaks in anticipation of the Krakens.  This one is based on the Falconer cape.  I might try a few different styles, like the battle torn Orc cape.

[DonQuixote]

1 hour ago, DaleDVM said:

I like the physical design of the Kraken logo a lot.  I am not sure about its color.  I think that the Kraken in teal and then having the shirt in a less flashy color would have been a better choice.

As for the Bricklink designer program.  I am not a fan at all.  Don't get me wrong, many of the designs are first rate.  However, I can make MOCs and these sets offer literally no unique parts at all.  I am also not a fan of competing with scalpers who buy these sets the first second they release and then I can't buy one.  I wanted to support the designers.  I was online for the first releases, and I ordered immediately.  I didn't get squat.  The next day, people were trying to sell their copies for 50% more on Bricklink!  The same exact place that ran that shitshow in the first place.  And the prices for the sold out items just kept climbing.  That left a really bad taste in my mouth.  I will not be buying these sets.  They are not official LEGO sets and as a castle collector, I am truly offended by how this program is run.  LEGO won't give castle fans what we want, and instead are trying to toss us scraps through the BDP.  

I also feel like LEGO is taking advantage of the fan base that are wannabe designers.  I know current and past LEGO designers.  Years ago, LEGO laid off many of their best (and highest salaried) designers, to hire young AFOLs cheap.  The current designers do not make what they deserve, especially considering the profitability of the company.  It is unfortunate IMHO that some people want to be part of LEGO so bad that they undervalue themselves and TLG is taking advantage of that.  They are not the company they once were.

However, I still like the product for the most part.  

 

Yes you're right. BDP sucks. Too bad you didn't get what you want. I could not get on the Bricklink site for an hour and a half. And when I could log in, most of the Mountain Fortress was sold. I managed to get one. I could get 2 but I am not a dirty scalper. Those scalpers don't love Lego. They are not contribituing. They are parasites. 

And yes they are mocs. But very good mocs some of them. I myself can't make such nice things. I am not good at that. So as a big castle fan, I really wanted to get a castle for my Black Falcons that looks superb. But yes it sucks for those who could not het one. I was almost one of them. 

12 minutes ago, Triceron said:

I made some dark green cloaks in anticipation of the Krakens.  This one is based on the Falconer cape.  I might try a few different styles, like the battle torn Orc cape.

Looks good. Were is that helmet from? 

56 minutes ago, Yperio_Bricks said:

So today I went to town and bought the Viking Village in anticipation of the Kraken Knights. (And because I didn't build an official set in a long time. Will make some modifications though.)

Man, the Kraken Knights really got me. I wanted to build medieval mocs for a long time but there was never really a hook that got me started. All eyes on PAB

 

Palpatine :' Now at the end, do you understand...' 

Vader : 'Resistance is futile my son.' 

'If you only knew the power of the castle side!' 

Yoda : 'Always 2 of them, they are : A knight and his squire. No more, no less.' 

[Triceron]

3 hours ago, DonQuixote said:

Looks good. Were is that helmet from? 

https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/batman-batsub-and-the-underwater-clash-76116

Only comes in one set in this color as far as I know.  There are 2 pearl gold ones in a different Aquaman set.

I lucked out and got all 3 in a thrift store bundle.  The sub is surprisingly solid build, I might modify it to fit the Fright Knights somehow.