DungeonsAndFlagons

The sceret entrance was a journey. I wanted to have butressing around the base but needed the secret entrance to come on that corner. Best solution I could think of. Yes it is big but the household cat is strong. Thanks a lot.

Thanks Gabe. Here are some pictures of the interior: Back Panels Secret Door 1st Floor Left Side 1st Floor right side 2nd Floor Left Side 2nd Floor Right Side Still need some final touches with interior furnishings perhaps and some food for the food storage. Maybe even a bowl for the cat... As for the staircase I will be looking into that when I add the final pieces for the interior.

Cheers Scaevola Thanks, much appreciated.

Thanks. Solid with opening panels and a fully working interior is kind of an obsession for me. No guide that I use. My good friend Scandinavian summer light helps me out usually. However i just try and make sure i don't have the sun behind the model. Choose an angle that shows off the features you want to show and don't forget to go high or low with a camera to have a different view point. Make sure shadow is not your enemy, if possible use shadow to help hide things. ;) i am mostly using my iPhone and iPad to take snaps when I get time. For minifigs I used curved A3 paper as a back drop. That is about it. This photo is had to hack the tower out the photo where I threw an old green sheet on the spare couch as a back drop. :) Thanks Gideon! The tile thing I will look at. It does look a bit bare I agree. Thanks Carson.

Cheers. The battlements were a alternative design on the more traditional 4 wide smaller arch style I have seen around. The balcony allows for better interaction between defender and attacker in photography. The tower is quite high and to get it all in the photo with detail would get a bit tricky. The shot would be 'tighter' and the scene more intense with the closer proximity of the balcony. As for adventures, there is great potential in the dark pine covered fjords of the eastern Rakath mountains. The things that destroyed the castle have not fled the scene as Illarix's mother Viola thinks. The are a lot closer than anyone suspects. :)

Thanks. I have been try to build a tower like this for some time. Fully minifig navigable, opening back panels for playability, furnished with kitchen, dining area, bunks, food stores, secret exit, main bed upstairs, fireplaces, desk and chair and balcony. The particular design has been used to provide the optimal combination of playability (needs to be high enough to get the hands in and out, wide enough to fit all the interior with room for minifigs to move about), sturdy enough so that it doesn't fall apart with play (my 2.5 year old tests that) and designed so that I can use some different techniques (colour, arches, irregular base, jumper based windows etc) that I wanted to try. Also Illarix and Udo will need a secret exit as the things that destroyed the castle and caused the Watchtower guards to disappear are not finished yet.

Posted the Watchtower MOC so now I am officially underway. My next possible MOCs: - Inn in the Rakath mountains that is guarded by a small garrison of the Rakath Mountain Guard. This is located not too far from the Watchtower. - Ruins of the family castle (this might be in a swampy valley that used to be a fjord until it got blocked from the sea. - Small hidden kingdom under attack in another fjord to the north that is linked to the Valoren valley... (future project way off). Got some minifgs done for this already.... Love my minifigs. I suppose there is also the actual challenges as well.......

Valoren Watchtower | dungeonsandflagons | Kalaphlin

https://www.flickr.c...57644420582520/ When Illarix was 10 years old his family castle was destroyed in an attack by a band of unknown marauders. The Watchtower's guards also mysteriously vanished that same night without a trace leaving the Watchtower at the mouth of the pass empty and abandoned. His father Adamere Valoren died defending the walls of the castle along with his men. Illarix and his mother Viola survived the attack as they were visiting her family in Nocturnus. Illarix was then left in the Watchtower under the psychotic care of Udo who is an old and trusted family servant from Nocturnus while went on a quest to find the people that destroyed the castle and killed her husband. Udo has managed to salvage some furniture from the castle and move it down to the Watchtower (also miraculously getting it up the ladder to the second floor) to make it more comfortable for the young lord to live in. Occasionally his mother comes by when she comes through the area to visit him and he also receives visits from this blood thirsty uncle Scalarus who is attempting to get Illarix to get some more men-at-arms and reclaim the family castle. Illarix has been up to the castle with Udo on salvage missions but is not sure whether he wants to get the castle back. There is a darkness there now that he can feel. Udo has mentioned feeling watched when they are there (which is correct). So at this stage they are stuck in the WatchTower until either his mother stops her quest or Valoren feels the reclaiming of the castle is worth it and possible. ----------------------------------------- Note: Apologies for the photo editing. It was a bit rushed and my backdrop selection and initial photography was done with a very small window of opportunity (sunlight and small children permitting).

Well done. Nice build. I am still noobing large. :)

Dry your eyes my friend and feel no shame. Nothing could have saved them. The castle was taken by things that were not men that came in the dark of night. As for neighbours I still have to work out exactly where the ruined castle and watchtower are located. Somehwere in the south near the Nestlands and Gabe's Pereginus location. Got to work out exactly where..... Built the Watchtower just have to work put the rules of posting in this forum. Also need to work out how Historica works..... Anyway I have a Watchtower (excuse the photo with the dodgy background). Just need to locate it and the ruined castle somewhere. https://www.flickr.c...07/14077492847/ Anyway I should take a proper shot and make a thread for it I suppose......

I heard about it and when I asked about joining a LUG, it was one of the first selling points. The magic of the Lugbulk program.

Doesn't that mean more bricks need to be bought?

Wow! There is so much to see here. The water, the hull.... Also I believe I see a crew working the oars below decks. Is every oar manned by a minifig? Glad I join your side of the map Gabe. I will consider our coast well protected.

Well I would be keen to visit Skærbæk.....it is just down the road and over the bridge.

Gideon, that is a fantastic build. I will be revisiting those pictures again for some idea theft.... I mean inspiration.

Wielding the ol' wolf beater.

I second the trees and minifig praise. Nice use of colour for the leaves and good combos on the figs,

I always like a good home brew. Nice build.

Nice build, especially for your first MOC. I don't fancy the chances of the dude with the stick if things get nasty though. I would probably give him a more serious weapon and a whip as well.

There is never any question of Falcon victory. They are just too good.

Victory to the mighty Falcons!

Birds of the feather Gabe, birds of a feather.

Tack Cheers Thanks Mike. I have lots of potential fun lined up for Illarix and his pyscho sidekick. I will go to the South so the trader can come from the Nestlands. His name is Eglarin Vargolas (Otherwise known as 'Egg') he visits Illarix from time to time and maybe even stays over and bunks with Udo! Don't know those details yet. Let me know more about the Nestlands and I can weave that into my stories. Egg is the blonde boy on the left: Thanks. Udo is mostly insane. The only rules he follows is commands from Illarix's mother and if he must a command from the young lord himself (unless it contradicts a command from Illarix's mother). He will kill to protect Illarix, well actually he will just kill just for the fun of it ....... Thanks Thanks

This is very impressive. I love builds that use civilians and docks. Lots of details. Top stuff man.