Some thoughts after YEARS without a castle theme

[SirBlake]

Interesting thoughts, but I would encourage you not to put too much weight on your anecdotal experience. For example, I didn't see the same steep discounts on Benny's squad here in Texas. That's not to say they didn't go on sale in Texas due to slow sales, nor is this representative of the entire US, and especially not representative on a global scale. 

The foundational issue here is that TLG doesn't report sales performance, and any evidence we can gather is doomed to be anecdotal. If you're a pessimist, you can find data to support your position of slow sales for 90+% of what's available. If you're an optimist, the opposite. 

[MAB]

16 hours ago, Itaria No Shintaku said:

I am sorry but I totally disagree with you.

The nostalgic AFOLs emptied the shelves everywhere, then when the nostalgic AFOLs were gone, the kids did not want that set.

That set was aimed at kids, not at AFOLs. It had a nice nod for nostalgic AFOLs, but that was not the theme the average non nostalgic AFOL would buy. In fact, AFOLs tend to buy more stuff like big sets (Titanic, Tour Eiffel and so on) than these ones for my experience.

TLM2 was a kid-oriented theme. And it had the production rate that any $10 city set has. But kids preferred a $10 city set than that one. Though it had 4 minifigures and 1 robot.

Probably they are not fascinated by old style astronauts if they can have, let me say, a spinjitzu with a nice looking fantasy ninja coming for the same price.

I have no clues that this set was overproduced. I'd rather think that it had the same production numbers of any $10 set and that was disliked by general audience.

And I disagree with you. Although TLM2 (and TLM) was aimed at kids, there were loads of Easter Eggs in it relating back to past LEGO themes and characters and that meant that they were attractive to adults too, if they were interested in parts for those themes. If they were aiming it only at kids, they could have put in much more interesting prints for the characters (like they do in City Space) and left out the boring old fashioned classic figures.

AFOLs wanting Classic Space minifigures did buy it. AFOLs are not a single entity, there is a huge variety of interests. Note all AFOLs are interested in just large sets like Titanic and the Eiffel Tower. Those interested in Classic Space will have bought the TLM1/2 space sets for the minifigures and printed parts.

 

And it could well be the same for Classic Castle too. AFOLs interested in Castle are likely to buy a small 4 pack of minifigures with maybe a couple of shields of similar Castle specific parts, even if it was part of a theme aimed at kids. If they released a set like this now:

Would any AFOLs buy it? I think yes. Not the ones interested in large scale models, but those interested in Castle probably would. And even more likely if it was mainly minifigures plus a few parts in a cheaper set.

 

 

[Killian]

Nexo Knights and Elves were fairly recent castle themes, I think they've only been retired for about 4 years.

And this Lego castle theme is current     https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/ultimate-adventure-castle-43205

[Sir Dano]

Nexo Knights is as much of a Castle theme as Star Wars is.

[Poco Lypso]

6 hours ago, Killian said:

Nexo Knights and Elves were fairly recent castle themes, I think they've only been retired for about 4 years.

And this Lego castle theme is current     https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/ultimate-adventure-castle-43205

oof

[SirBlake]

3 hours ago, Sir Dano said:

Nexo Knights is as much of a Castle theme as Star Wars is.

Right. Same with a pink castle full of minidolls. 

[Killian]

12 hours ago, Sir Dano said:

Nexo Knights is as much of a Castle theme as Star Wars is.

Star Wars is a Castle theme 

https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/darth-vader-s-castle-75251

[Sir Dano]

This is a common mistake, people seem to think anything with a castle is a Castle theme but no, when we talk about Castle themes we specifically mean medieval or medieval fantasy themes.

Edited November 19, 2022 by Sir Dano

[Killian]

4 minutes ago, Sir Dano said:

when we talk about Castle themes we specifically mean medieval or medieval fantasy themes.

Wait... So Lego Disney Princess has been an evergreen medieval fantasy theme for almost 11 years or so. Is that the longest running castle theme without a break in production we've had? I feel like Nexo Knights, Knights Kingdom etc only lasted around 4 years or so in each subtheme incarnation? What was the longest period Classic castle ran without a break/reinvention?

[MAB]

13 hours ago, Sir Dano said:

Nexo Knights is as much of a Castle theme as Star Wars is.

Aside from the minifigs, Star Wars has actually been a pretty decent theme for Castle builders over the years. There is typically a lot of greys, tans, white, black, and sometimes browns and greens. Mainly lots of neutral and natural colours.

Plus if you keep the figures for a couple of years and then sell them for the price you paid for the set, the parts can often be free.

[Sir Dano]

1 hour ago, Killian said:

Wait... So Lego Disney Princess has been an evergreen medieval fantasy theme for almost 11 years or so.

That's a licensed theme though, most people here want an unlicensed castle theme.

[MAB]

1 hour ago, Killian said:

What was the longest period Classic castle ran without a break/reinvention?

It depends how you want to define it. Strictly, it was three years, covering 1981, 82 and 83. It started in 1978, continued in 79 but had a break with no new sets in 80 even though existing sets would have been on the shelf in that year.

 

Of course things change if you allow other later Castle themes into Classic Castle too, such as Lion Knights, Black Falcons, etc.

[Killian]

9 minutes ago, Sir Dano said:

That's a licensed theme though, most people here want an unlicensed castle theme.

I mean, we do have that. Unfortunately it's only about 4 sets currently (not including CMFs), and one of those was a GWP this year

[MAB]

5 minutes ago, Killian said:

I mean, we do have that. Unfortunately it's only about 4 sets currently (not including CMFs), and one of those was a GWP this year

What are the four? 

10305 and 40567 are in the Icons theme (or Anniversary theme) with this new badge of "Castle System" which seems to be the successor of Castle.

31120, I would not call Castle.  It is a Creator set that is a castle with a couple of figures that could appear with Castle sets. Some/many parts are useful for Castle builds although the style is (to me) quite different. But I can understand if included.

What is the fourth?

6426244, I wouldn't call Castle.

The BL set?

The Creator Viking set?

 

If we did get a new Castle theme (or a continuation of this new Castle  System) I'd hope it was aimed at kids, with multiple sub $100 sets, an army building pack, and the odd $100-200 type set. All of interest for AFOLs, but a range of smaller sets so adults and kids can mix and match content rather than go down the route of $400 AFOL only sets.

[Killian]

On 11/19/2022 at 10:46 AM, MAB said:

What are the four? 

10305 and 40567 are in the Icons theme (or Anniversary theme) with this new badge of "Castle System" which seems to be the successor of Castle.

31120, I would not call Castle.  It is a Creator set that is a castle with a couple of figures that could appear with Castle sets. Some/many parts are useful for Castle builds although the style is (to me) quite different. But I can understand if included.

What is the fourth?

6426244, I wouldn't call Castle.

 

I was thinking of  21325, 40567, 31120 and 10305

[Follows Closely]

For those of us that have not memorized the set numbers:

• Medieval Blacksmith 21325
• Forest Hideout 40567
• LEGO Creator 3in1 Medieval Castle 31120
• Lion Knights' Castle 10305

[Aanchir]

On 11/19/2022 at 5:46 AM, MAB said:

What are the four? 

10305 and 40567 are in the Icons theme (or Anniversary theme) with this new badge of "Castle System" which seems to be the successor of Castle.

For what it's worth, the "Castle System" label is merely a recreation of how old-school "LEGOLAND" boxes were labeled in North America! Over here the corner banner would read "LEGOLAND Town System"/"Space System"/"Castle System" instead of just "LEGOLAND". The new sets replace the larger "LEGOLAND" text with the set name, but are otherwise a clear reference to the North American box layout from those classic sets.

Edited November 23, 2022 by Aanchir