2025 Castle [wishlist/speculation]

[TeriXeri]

3 hours ago, SpacePolice89 said:

I don't see why the Black Knights and Dragon Knights couldn't appear in the same set. They have been shown together on several occasions and even fighting each other. That means that they must both exist at the same time period

I did not check catalogs, and yes, that definately changes my mind about those factions being able to appear together. 

Architecture wise , Wolfpack and Black Knights still share a bit more ( but all 3 do use black walls with red roofs), oval dragon shields, even blue ones, can be used by both Dragon Masters and Black Knights, as seen with the 1995 Royal Drawbridge set, there is a blue dragon shield.

Edited May 30 by TeriXeri

[Black Falcon]

4 hours ago, SpacePolice89 said:

I don't see why the Black Knights and Dragon Knights couldn't appear in the same set. They have been shown together on several occasions and even fighting each other. That means that they must both exist at the same time period.

For me they just look to much alike, especially their shields. If you would want to have both factions in the same build you would have to give the black knights only their small shield, so there is still some difference. But even then I don´t think they would choose two factions that use the same heraldry creature. As mentioned before, I don´t really see that that set would need another knight faction to work, wolfpack and the ghost are enough - and if they would however want an other knight faction, I would guess it would be the black falcons again.

3 hours ago, Yperio_Bricks said:

I don't want to take away from the vending machine build in any way, but I think the ugly truth is, most people are only interested in the minifigs and Lego basically turned this set into a minifig pack with a sidebuild. And of course with a large sidebuild they will make more money compared to a $40 people pack like the 60234 Fun Fair. If the minifigs would be in sets that match their respective themes or in a people pack or would be available at PAB right away, would there be any incentive to buy the vending machine set? Mostly only people who want the minifigs NOW are going to buy the set, the rest is waiting until they appear at PAB

I don´t know, but reading the comments here and on other sides, sure the majority wanted the figures, but there were several people that said they would only want the machine, so I don´t think the machine itself is that unpopular.

54 minutes ago, TeriXeri said:

I did not check catalogs, and yes, that definately changes my mind about those factions being able to appear together. 

Architecture wise , Wolfpack and Black Knights still share a bit more ( but all 3 do use black walls with red roofs), oval dragon shields, even blue ones, can be used by both Dragon Masters and Black Knights, as seen with the 1995 Royal Drawbridge set, there is a blue dragon shield.

The main reason why I think that the Wolfpack will be included is that there was one in the Black Knights Castle, and that is also the one I would think they would base their Set on if they would be going to make a Castle for that Faction. That and the fact that the wolfpack barely showed up as an faction yet but just as single bandits - which didn´t even had their shield included in an actual set.

[Khargeust]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af7fx0vlKKQ

Yes ! First review is here and it looks very good ! I will not get it day one, but definitely one day with a 30% discount or a good gwp. 

[zoth33]

16 hours ago, Black Feather said:

Does seem convenient that LKC retires this year and LEGO has a nostalgia contest where they pick an awesome black night set as one of the choices in to vote for a GWP that comes out next year.  They replaced the castle 3 in 1 pretty quick after retiring it.  Hoping they have similar plans to replace LKC as well.  

That second 3in1 was in development before the first one retired.  If we are getting a Black Knights set next year then they would have already been working on it for awhile now.  

[Black Feather]

If they make a black castle to rival the LKC I hope they repeat the things that made that set so awesome and throw in a lot of cool new printed shields and torsos.  There are still classic castle shields left that weren’t used in LKC in addition to the BK shield itself.  And my red FM are really lonely ( even though there are probably 100 or more of them).  If they are not going to do a FM set at least give another version of them blue, black, or plain with accompanying feather and brown hat.  And I still want the double axe torso.  One of many things that disappointed me so much about MTS was not including that.

Edited May 31 by Black Feather

[Artanis I]

19 hours ago, TeriXeri said:

1995 Royal Drawbridge set, there is a blue dragon shield.

I always consider that to be an accidental mistake, like a movie continuity error. I swapped that shield out for a green one straight away.

[Black Falcon]

12 hours ago, Black Feather said:

If they make a black castle to rival the LKC I hope they repeat the things that made that set so awesome and throw in a lot of cool new printed shields and torsos.  There are still classic castle shields left that weren’t used in LKC in addition to the BK shield itself.  And my red FM are really lonely ( even though there are probably 100 or more of them).  If they are not going to do a FM set at least give another version of them blue, black, or plain with accompanying feather and brown hat.  And I still want the double axe torso.  One of many things that disappointed me so much about MTS was not including that.

I wouldn´t expect to much though. First of all the new Set will very likely have less budget, both because I don´t think the price will be as high as for the Lion Knights castle and the fact that the LKC seemed to have gotten a good budget because it was an anniversary set. And in the end it is probably better to expect less and be positively surprised than the other way round.

[Blazej_Holen]

3 hours ago, Black Falcon said:

I wouldn´t expect to much though. First of all the new Set will very likely have less budget, both because I don´t think the price will be as high as for the Lion Knights castle and the fact that the LKC seemed to have gotten a good budget because it was an anniversary set. And in the end it is probably better to expect less and be positively surprised than the other way round.

It will be still around 200-250$ at min. In this price range I expect excelent quality design, since its a premium price… 300-350$ seems more likely but all depends on what Lego decides to include. If the goal is to recreate that OG Black knights castle, then it would be pricey to include 12 figs, 4 horses, two new bardings etc… 

[Black Falcon]

6 minutes ago, Blazej_Holen said:

It will be still around 200-250$ at min. In this price range I expect excelent quality design, since its a premium price… 300-350$ seems more likely but all depends on what Lego decides to include. If the goal is to recreate that OG Black knights castle, then it would be pricey to include 12 figs, 4 horses, two new bardings etc… 

There are basically three options: 1st would be they remake the Black Monarchs Castle - but that seems like the most unlikely option to me, especially now that the ghost is around already (which they could still include ofc anyways), second option would be that they remake the Black Knights castle, which seems to be far more popular than the Black Monarch one. So way more likely. Third option would be they go more the LKC route and make some completely new castle, that takes some ideas and references to one of both of the castles. I would guess we get either of the two later options - but even if they would remake the black knights castle, that doesn´t mean we will get the same number of figures or horses.

But as mentioned before I would expect the set to be around 200-300€, so the number of figs shouldn´t be the problem here - whether we will get four horses is another story though.

[Blazej_Holen]

1 hour ago, Black Falcon said:

There are basically three options: 1st would be they remake the Black Monarchs Castle - but that seems like the most unlikely option to me, especially now that the ghost is around already (which they could still include ofc anyways), second option would be that they remake the Black Knights castle, which seems to be far more popular than the Black Monarch one. So way more likely. Third option would be they go more the LKC route and make some completely new castle, that takes some ideas and references to one of both of the castles. I would guess we get either of the two later options - but even if they would remake the black knights castle, that doesn´t mean we will get the same number of figures or horses.

But as mentioned before I would expect the set to be around 200-300€, so the number of figs shouldn´t be the problem here - whether we will get four horses is another story though.

I would like to see remake of the Black knights castle or even better, completely new one with predominant black and grey colour scheme which will be evolved BKC as LKC was for Lion knights. 
 

But… 

 

anyhing is possible and we can end up with nothing or with completely different approach… until some rumors and leaks pops up, we are lost on the sea of speculation, wishes and dreams :)

[Black Feather]

9 hours ago, Black Falcon said:

I wouldn´t expect to much though. First of all the new Set will very likely have less budget, both because I don´t think the price will be as high as for the Lion Knights castle and the fact that the LKC seemed to have gotten a good budget because it was an anniversary set. And in the end it is probably better to expect less and be positively surprised than the other way round.

I don’t necessarily disagree.  Don’t know how they base their decisions on these things.  If they do it at all they might make a cheaper version.  But I think there is pretty good evidence that it is better to err on the side of just unloading the bank and jacking up the price than becoming overly obsessed with keep the price down.  Because I never thought I would spend so much on a LEGO set before LKC came out, but now I own two and will probably get another before it goes out.  Whereas I was so disappointed with MTS that it was the first new castle set in recent years that I didn’t buy immediately.  Just finally got it a couple months ago.  And even though I usually get at least two of the castle sets now since they are so rare, I will probably get another before third LKC instead of another MTS.

[Roebuck]

9 hours ago, Black Falcon said:

but even if they would remake the black knights castle, that doesn´t mean we will get the same number of figures or horses.

But as mentioned before I would expect the set to be around 200-300€, so the number of figs shouldn´t be the problem here - whether we will get four horses is another story though.

Yes, 4 horses should be no problem for Lego to include and it was the golden standard for big Castle sets back in the they, but with only 2 in LKC I think any more is highly unlikely unfortunately 

5 hours ago, Black Feather said:

Whereas I was so disappointed with MTS that it was the first new castle set in recent years that I didn’t buy immediately.  Just finally got it a couple months ago.

Me too, I still have not got it and if it had included anything close to the prelim picture it would have been one of my favourite Lego sets of all time Talk about butchering a set with the budget cuts 
 

[Agent Kallus]

6 hours ago, Roebuck said:

 I still have not got it and if it had included anything close to the prelim picture it would have been one of my favourite Lego sets of all time:wacko: Talk about butchering a set with the budget cuts

That's the double edged sword of leaks isn't it? Sometimes we are better off not knowing what we are missing!!

Edited Sunday at 11:04 AM by Agent Kallus

[Roebuck]

53 minutes ago, Agent Kallus said:

That's the double edged sword of leaks isn't it? Sometimes we are better off not knowing what we are missing!!

Yes, without a doubt. However in this case I would have been disappointed with the lack of animals anyway when the 2 previous sets in the village had so many 

[TeriXeri]

I really hope they don't do a  "baseplate" remake like Eldorado style.

I think a Castle set with black walls + grey accents with red roofs that can split in 2 (1 section around water like Wolfpack Tower was) would be a nicer "icons" set.

Also not 1 predominant faction, but more of a split between 2-3 factions , of course Black Knights and Wolfpack being included, optionally some Dragon Master figures.

Question is how they can really "remake" those. Dragon plumes are pretty iconic, as are dragon horse helmets (Dragon Masters had no bardings) , but focusing on printed bardings, shields and flags could probably be workable alternative option.

Would be nice to see more then 2 horses , another ghost and maybe a grey bird, instead of yet another majisto.

 

 

Edited Sunday at 03:39 PM by TeriXeri

[Yperio_Bricks]

How's the general opinion on black castles? I must admit, even as a kid I disliked them very much and that opinion has not changed ever since. I know it's a toy, but black castles look so unrealistic.

[TeriXeri]

5 hours ago, Yperio_Bricks said:

How's the general opinion on black castles? I must admit, even as a kid I disliked them very much and that opinion has not changed ever since. I know it's a toy, but black castles look so unrealistic.

As LEGO , I think they are iconic to certain factions, just like black trees are Forestmen's thing (and a thing of the times with less brown bricks).

Black is still more interesting then yellow. and with the right setting, and use of colour, they work well in fantasy / fiction.

One of the best recent black castle builds honestly was 70323 Jestro's Volcano Lair , even if you remove the giant sawblade, flying throne or mouth creatures. 

If they make completely new / different factions, I think they can change things up, like they did for 7947 Prison Tower Rescue, a faction with yellow/darkgreen, but for Black Knights/Wolfpack, black walls with red roof are just part of that. 

Contrast of colours is important a small set like 6020 Magic Shop had brown panels but the tree branches were still black, probably to make the orange of the flames stand out more, where the same year dark dragon's den had brown trees, which honestly would've looked weird of those were full black.

31168 Medieval Horse Knight Castle changes thing up with using a lot more dark azur , just like a potential future serpent castle would likely be black/yellow, both new factions.

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 09:15 PM by TeriXeri

[Triceron]

I'm in the same boat for MTS. 

I bought farm animals in preparation of the MTS but realized I don't even really need the set anymore.  The animals were enough for me to build my own cottage and start a small farm village moc.

I'n waiting for a price drop, otherwise I will PAB the minis and skip it entirely.  3-in-1 has a decent enough Village build and its practically half the price.

[DonQuixote]

11 hours ago, Roebuck said:

Yes, 4 

Me too, I still have not got it and if it had included anything close to the prelim picture it would have been one of my favourite Lego sets of all time Talk about butchering a set with the budget cuts 
 

Yes, the MTS was a bit dissapointing compared to the original leaked pics

22 minutes ago, TeriXeri said:

I really hope they don't do a  "baseplate" remake like Eldorado style.

 

 

Best to make the raised baseplate with burps like the motorized lighthouse. That way they save on bricks for the baseplate 

14 minutes ago, Yperio_Bricks said:

How's the general opinion on black castles? I must admit, even as a kid I disliked them very much and that opinion has not changed ever since. I know it's a toy, but black castles look so unrealistic.

That's why they are one of my least favourite factions. I also didn't like the black trees for the forrestmen. Now I find them nostalgic and I like them. 

[Yperio_Bricks]

44 minutes ago, TeriXeri said:

One of the best recent black castle builds honestly was 70323 Jestro's Volcano Lair , even if you remove the giant sawblade, flying throne or mouth creatures. 

It looks like a cool and fun action/adventure set, but not like a medieval castle. It's something Ninjago could do today.

Different roof colors, different colored flags and heraldry, different architectural features are great and welcome! But a european style castle made of pitch black lava rock is not something I can like.

It's hard for me to express myself well in Englisch. Even as a kid, growing up with all the classic castle stuff, I always tried to be as realistic (within the limitations of a toy of course and within the limitations of the Lego parts at hand) with my mocs and i tried to meet the realism I saw in books, castles we visited, museums and yes, in movies. Maybe 'realistic' is a too strong word - we are talking about a toy, but I hope you get what I mean. It's hard to express sometimes 

 

51 minutes ago, DonQuixote said:

That's why they are one of my least favourite factions. I also didn't like the black trees for the forrestmen. Now I find them nostalgic and I like them. 

I very much liked the forestmen minifigures back in the day, but the black trees - yikes. The good people of the forest aka Robin Hood and company were frequent guests in my children's room in the 90s.

[Blazej_Holen]

1 hour ago, TeriXeri said:

I really hope they don't do a  "baseplate" remake like Eldorado style.

I think a Castle set with black walls + grey accents with red roofs that can split in 2 (1 section around water like Wolfpack Tower was) would be a nicer "icons" set.

Also not 1 predominant faction, but more of a split between 2-3 factions , of course Black Knights and Wolfpack being included, optionally some Dragon Master figures.

Question is how they can really "remake" those. Dragon plumes are pretty iconic, as are dragon horse helmets (Dragon Masters had no bardings) , but focusing on printed bardings, shields and flags could probably be workable alternative option.

Would be nice to see more then 2 horses , another ghost and maybe a grey bird, instead of yet another majisto.

 

 

What is wrong with Eldorado Fortress? 
 

IMHO 2-3 factions are a lot for 1 castle. I would prefere to focus on Black knights and have maybe 1-2 rogues like Wolfpack or another variants of Forestmen… having Dragon Masters in a BK set makes no sense for me. But to be honest I dont like Dragon masters at all. Havent like them back in 95’ and that wasnt changed ;)

[Cyprinus]

8 minutes ago, Blazej_Holen said:

What is wrong with Eldorado Fortress? 

The rock base eats up a ton of pieces (and isn't the most exciting thing to build), and the modularity gimmick caused some... less than sensible design choices.

[Blazej_Holen]

6 minutes ago, Cyprinus said:

The rock base eats up a ton of pieces (and isn't the most exciting thing to build), and the modularity gimmick caused some... less than sensible design choices.

Yes, its piece consuming, but that is not wrong or...? I consider Eldorado Fortress as a great set, which elevates original design and gives us perfect remaster of what it was back in 80'... 

Maybe this time (IF TLG decides to do brick uild raised baseplate thing again) they will have different approach based on reception of EF. Raised baseplate such as this, gives you oportunity to take advantage of the space and make a dungeons and cellars etc. I would be more skeptical about overall scale. A castle with a single baseplate footprint is rather small... 

[RichardGoring]

2 hours ago, DonQuixote said:

That's why they are one of my least favourite factions. I also didn't like the black trees for the forrestmen. Now I find them nostalgic and I like them. 

I was fine with them as a child, but now I wish the modern versions were brown. I will eventually colour swap the LKC and Forest Hideout GWP sets.

[TeriXeri]

1 hour ago, Blazej_Holen said:

What is wrong with Eldorado Fortress? 

Nothing wrong with it, just a copy of Black Knight's Castle would use a very similar format.

Eldorado remake did have modules to make a different layout, but some of the interior cave space was quite small.

I'm not saying a castle should not be raised, even most of those bridge sets seen in castle all had some type of rock it was built on, including Wolfpack Tower, Royal Drawbridge, and the likes, used BURP to good effect at the time.

More modern examples of raised sets that stand on a rock base, would be the €100 City prison island, or the most recent €200+ hogwarts Hall and Tower sets, and of course the larger sets have bigger caverns (and a castle doesn't need a great hall or giant tower on top)

Since Black Knights had sets like Monarch's Castle and Knight's Stronghold as well, I rather see a wider set with more wall section modules instead of a very tall set, as I think a very tall tower castle should be saved for something like Fright Knights. It can still have rocks, that's why I suggested some blend of Black Knight and Wolfpack sets.

 

 

Edited Sunday at 06:53 PM by TeriXeri