Favorite Ninja Fortress

[WesternOutlaw]

Share your thoughts on your favorite Ninja Fortress:

[Brick Miner]

i voted for 6093 Flying Ninja Fortress... the wall-barrier bottom and three towers create a nice fortress *y* that is very atheistically pleasing 8-

[WesternOutlaw]

I voted for 6088 Robber's Retreat. I consider this set like the Forestmen of the Ninja Theme. I like the green elements in this set and it's much different than the look of the other sets (sort of unique). The Black/Red/Green fig is very nice too.

Inside this set is a swinging trap with four katanas. It swings down and strikes those entering the door, with a pull of the pin. Maybe I'll do a photo review at a later time.

[Brick Miner]

that a funny choice... i think the brown log walls aren't balanced, colorwise. i don't think there is enough light colors in the set.

*man, as im typing this i realize a majority of my concerns with the ninja theme reflect color choice* i got to start looking at other some other elements :-D

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i will add this... i think the Stone Tower Bridge crossing mechanism is kinda weird. i actually don't own the set, but from the scans i've seen at brickfactory the bridge actualy flys up (not falls down) !!! is this correct ??? if so, i find that strange *wacko*

- BrickMiner

[Athos]

I really like the Emperor's Stronghold. The brown baseplate is a nice touch that add variety to the line and I do like the blue/tan color scheme. Also the white ninja and the Emperor were great figures.

Steve, who has all of the fortresses X-D

[WesternOutlaw]

I've got the Emperor's Stronghold. I like the blue and tan colors. The fortress looks good with the blue samurai. What I like about this theme is that you've really got two main opposing armies; the blues and the reds. The greys, greens, whites, and blacks can be added to either main army.

I actually own the Ninja's Fire Fortress and the Emperor's Stronghold. I use to have battles between these and Robber's Retreat and Samurai Stronghold.

The two sets I'm missing are the Flying Ninja Fortress (that I was never too impressed with) and the Stone Tower Bridge that I do like and never bought.

Athos is a Ninja! Steve: on a side note, what's your all time favorite theme. I know you also like adventurers.

[Hobbes]

Damn, these sets look nice. But again, the backdrops add a lot, as with every product picture. Dunno how these sets would look on a colorful oriental rug from some cheap bazar, with a fish bone patterned hardwood floor and some victorian desk in the background ;-)

I voted for the Emperor's Stronghold. The color scheme appealed at once. The flying fortress is pretty nice, too, but somehow... I dunno... too big. Reminds me of a police station in the middle of the Himalaya...

Nice theme, though. Thanks for "warming it up", Brickster :-)

[Athos]

Athos is a Ninja! Steve: on a side note, what's your all time favorite theme. I know you also like adventurers.

That is a tough call for me. I would definately say Adventurers if it was a more extensive theme like Castle. And my biggest gripe about Adventurers is the incessant repetition of the same characters. I don't need any more Johhnys or Pippins or Kilroys. So if those two issues were somehow corrected, it'd be Adventurers.

I also love Castle, up to and almost including KK1 (the figures were nice, but the set designs were horribly lacking). Coming in a very close second to Castle would be Pirates, because I'm a sucker for any sort of naval vessel. Space, Trains and [old] Town are nice too, but I have to draw the line somewhere. Star Wars, Batman and HP come in somewhere after that...

Where ninjas fit into all this, I'm not quite sure. They work well with Adventurers and Pirates, but were kind of sold during a gap in the castle theme, which is why I have so many of them.

Steve

[Bonaparte]

I don't have any ninja sets, but judging from these pictures I prefer the Samurai Stronghold.

It seems to have nice details and doesn't have those "stone wall" parts that I really don't like.

[Norro]

I voted for the Emperor's Stronghold because I don't think of the bridge as a fortress (great set though) and I have never built/owned the robbers retreat and so am unfamiliar with the charm-beyond-the-picture-factor it seems to posses...

God Bless,

Nathan

[WesternOutlaw]

In looking at the poll results. I'm really surprised not more people own Ninja sets. That explains why I haven't seen too many Ninja MOCs out there.

[dillthepill]

I voted for the Flying Ninja Fortress( we all know why ;-) ) ,and like many others never got in the theme. It's pretty cool, actually. It's just I wasn't into Lego back then.

[WesternOutlaw]

The Flying Ninja Fortress is really over rated. The towers aren't well designed at all.

[Starwars4J]

I voted for Robber's Retreat (there's just something old-school about it), and all six *skull* (we really need a ninja smilie...)

If you'd like, I'll go in with you on the two sets you're missing for reviews. I loved the Ninja line, I just wish it wasn't so short-lived...

Anyway, I have all sets assembled in my room back home. I go home for the week of the 30th, so I can do the reviews then. I also owe sne like 20 reviews...so I'll catch up that weekend :-P Just tell me which you want done.

[Brick Miner]

The Flying Ninja Fortress is really over rated. The towers aren't well designed at all.

i went back and checked BrickFactory instruction scans after i read this... hmmm... the towers are pretty weak. but i think the appeal to the set is the overall shape of it. its a really pleasing composition.

the details might not be the best, but the shape is very pleasing. reminds me of a modern city skyline, which can be a awe-inspiring sight. this set has that same powerful feel.

but what do i know, i dont' own any of these :'-(

- BrickMiner

[Starwars4J]

Er, one additional comment. The one thing I dislike about the ninja line is that it led the way for future lines (KK2) to be "front-facing", meaning most of the ninja line only had a wall in front, even for their largest castle!

[Brick Miner]

i think the ninja line is pretty consistant with previous LEGO lines, as far as how many closed or open sides there are in a set.

there are always three... front, left and right, right ???

all the fortresses above seem to have three closed sides, except possibly the largest fortress. i mean, just as much as WW, adventurers or pirate buildings (ships excluded which are fully 3D). oh, and you have to exclude fort legoredo too ;-) one of the only forts to have four sides (had to add that) X-D

i'd be interested to hear what others think on this topic !!!

- BrickMiner

[WesternOutlaw]

One also has to consider that hands have to be able to get in to the set for play factor. The only other option is to put a removable roof on the set, and if there's more than 2 floors, each floor has to come off (like the Harry Potter bus). Aside from this method, the only other way (that I can think of) is using hinges to open the set. You end up with the same issue though, a back open set.

[WesternOutlaw]

I voted for Robber's Retreat (there's just something old-school about it), and all six *skull* (we really need a ninja smilie...)

If you'd like, I'll go in with you on the two sets you're missing for reviews. I loved the Ninja line, I just wish it wasn't so short-lived...

Anyway, I have all sets assembled in my room back home. I go home for the week of the 30th, so I can do the reviews then. I also owe sne like 20 reviews...so I'll catch up that weekend :-P Just tell me which you want done.

How about the Flying Ninja Fortress since most have voted for it as their favorite Ninja Fortress. I've already destroyed all my Ninja sets and wasn't planning on doing any image reviews (I'm kinda tired of building them).

Oh, but in regard to Robber's Retreat. I couldn't wait to go out and buy this set. I liked it better than Fire Fortress and Stone Tower Bridge (which I kinda regret not buying). I like the colors and I may have said this before, but it reminds me of the Forestmen of the Ninja world. The only thing it was missing was Green Ninjas.

[oo7]

The Flying Ninja Fortress is really over rated. The towers aren't well designed at all.

I agree with you 100%, I'm not sure about my favorite, but out of all the fortesses I hate the Flying Ninja one the most, maybe it's the assymetricalness, maybe it's the wide spaces between the towers. I think the Robber's Retreat is my 2nd least favorite, I don't like the colors and how it is an ornate caslte but yet built into a rock face covered with plants.

And what is with these flying ninjas? I like the Emperor's Stronghold but those trans-red dragon wings straped to the back of the ninja looks so childish, like something Megablocks would make. *n*

[Starwars4J]

I voted for Robber's Retreat (there's just something old-school about it), and all six *skull* (we really need a ninja smilie...)

If you'd like, I'll go in with you on the two sets you're missing for reviews. I loved the Ninja line, I just wish it wasn't so short-lived...

Anyway, I have all sets assembled in my room back home. I go home for the week of the 30th, so I can do the reviews then. I also owe sne like 20 reviews...so I'll catch up that weekend :-P Just tell me which you want done.

How about the Flying Ninja Fortress since most have voted for it as their favorite Ninja Fortress. I've already destroyed all my Ninja sets and wasn't planning on doing any image reviews (I'm kinda tired of building them).

Oh, but in regard to Robber's Retreat. I couldn't wait to go out and buy this set. I liked it better than Fire Fortress and Stone Tower Bridge (which I kinda regret not buying). I like the colors and I may have said this before, but it reminds me of the Forestmen of the Ninja world. The only thing it was missing was Green Ninjas.

Whoa, sorry I didn't see this earlier :-$

I'm going home the weekend of the 29th of this month, so I'll make sure to do a review of it. Now I just need to figure out how to get all the dust off...(from sitting in my bedroom for years while I'm at uni). I've found that to be a huge problem with living so far from home. I don't want to disassemble them...but they get really dusty while I'm away :-/ Ah well

[Brick Miner]

I'm not sure about my favorite, but out of all the fortesses I hate the Flying Ninja one the most, maybe it's the assymetricalness, maybe it's the wide spaces between the towers.

both of those qualities are what make the structure appear so well crafted :-D

i mean, when you can achieve balance in something that is asymetrical, you have acheived "art". anyone can make something that is symetrical a balanced composition *sad* ... the trick is to do something clever, some thing asymetrical ;-)

- BrickMiner

[WesternOutlaw]

You could call this the Yin Yang Lego philosophy, and a good theme to discuss it.

[oo7]

I'm not sure about my favorite, but out of all the fortesses I hate the Flying Ninja one the most, maybe it's the assymetricalness, maybe it's the wide spaces between the towers.

both of those qualities are what make the structure appear so well crafted :-D

i mean, when you can achieve balance in something that is asymetrical, you have acheived "art". anyone can make something that is symetrical a balanced composition *sad* ... the trick is to do something clever, some thing asymetrical ;-)

- BrickMiner

But good Japanese Castles are symetrical,

AND NOW FOR THE GRAND FINALE--

I can't post a pic for this one becuase it is a dynamic page (whatever that means) so click this sentence.

AHH!!! TOO MANY PICTURES!!!

Real Version

LEGO Version

[WesternOutlaw]

Awesome MOCs. These are grea! I see some techniques that I can use.