Captain Pirate Man

I very much like you design!! I plan on "borrowing" your idea for my tower and black gates.

I have this set as well, and I gave it an above average rating. But that rating has more to do with smaug and the minfigs, than the actual set. The set its self is nice, but to be honest, I would give it an average rating without smaug. It just doesn't have a lot of wow factor. I own most of the other hobbit sets, and this one as well as moria I can only give average type ratings to. Bag end, both lake town sets, and city of dale are superior sets imo. After saying that, let me expand upon why I feel that way. I have created my own lego world. I have castles, pirate ships, hobbit, and Lord of the rings sets which can all coexist in my world. While they might not be all completely historically accurate, they do all look pleasing to the eye in a singular world. They are all "outside" sets, meaning the viewer isn't going to ask "why is a ship near a castle?" because it would make sense for a ship near a castle. Moria and lonely mountain in the other hand are "inside" sets. Meaning they portray scenes inside of mountains. So in order for these sets to appear correct in my, (and im sure others as well) world's you would literally have to build lego mountains for these sets to be placed in. It is not astetically pleasing to have a giant throne sitting next to a castle, it just doesn't make sense. Which essentially leaves these sets out. I'm not saying they don't serve a purpose, or are not very nice sets themselves. They just lack the ability to be combined with other sets, which imo goes against what lego is all about. Imo, a much better representation for the lonely mountain would have been the front with the doors and the dwarf statues. Obviously that would have been a massive build, but I'm sure their are ways to simplify it, while still making obvious to what it is. Doing it this way, would have allowed the builder to have the set actually be a part of an actual middle earth world. As is, unless someone takes the time to build a mountain around it, I don't know how this set could honestly be connected to any other sets from this theme, let alone other themes. But having said that, smaug is glorious. He is the best dragon lego has, and probably ever will, produce. Given his price on brick link, buying this set just to get smaug isn't a bad idea. Hence my above average rating.

Large D la fortaleza del lobo 2 points H repel boarders 1 point Small F prisoner at sea 2 points L revenge of the hanged 1 point.

The classic stuff is better anyways.

Say what again...

Very true, and very sad...

I love what you have been doing, keep it up.

Has their been any news reguarding a possible blue coat ship as the grand finale for this line, like their was in 2010? I finally bought the 2 blue coat sets yesterday, and I like them both. I already had the 2 pirate land sets. I haven't bought the pirate ship yet, and may or may not. I already have 6 big ships, so that wasn't my priority, I was more interested in the forts. As far as the discussion going on here about golden age of piracy, let me add my 2 cents. I grew up in the late 80s and early 90s, and I indeed had pretty much all of the best sets from that era. I no longer have them, they didn't survive my teenage years sadly. So when I got interested in lego again, I knew what was good and what was not. As a whole, these current sets don't compare to the ones of the 80s and early 90s, they just don't. One of my favs was the imperial trading post, and that set was miles a head of the current line. But having said that, the fact that those old sets can still be purchased, if you want them bad enough, does play a factor here. I took the 2 blue coat forts, put them on a base plate, and redesigned them slightly, and it turned into a pretty nice set. Pretty comparable to anything the old days had to offer. Honestly the only blue coat fort that was ever made that is better than the one I just modded, was Eldorado fortress. So even though I did make some changes, added a blue base plate, and squared it up, I am very pleased with the final result. Which that's the beauty of lego, making changes. So would I classify this era as the "golden age of piracy?" no, the late 80s and early 90s were better. But all things considered, it's probably the 2nd best time to be a pirate or castle fan for that matter.

Very well done, good job.

Yes.

On a side note, I order something from China, the same day as the package from Turkey. Well the Chinese New Year is in early March, and they literally shut down everything for a week or so. Well I received that package in the mail today, but still nothing from Turkey. But that goes to show that particular sellers inadiqucies, not generalizing the entire continent. Also to be fair, I had an order from an American bricklinker and the seller told me that I had to pay 2 extra dollars because she had to buy New envelopes, and therefore I had to pay for the charges, and I would receive a receipt for the envelopes in my order. Well I never received the recept for the envelopes and it also looked like an older envelope, so IMO, the sellers whole story was just bs. So my point is, that sellers from all over the world will often hide extra charges in your order, I'm not against just Europeans.

Which I understand and agree with pretty much everything you said. That's why, in my original post, I have found (from my experiences) that you tend to be better off paying more for a product from the US (if you live in the US) as opposed from an over seas company. Which that is not always the case, sometimes you can get great prices and shipping rates from over seas companies. But other times, you pay around 5 dollars for flesh hands but then get a final Bill saying you owe 36 dollars due to shipping costs. And as I sit here, 6 weeks later, the package has still not arrived. Which the seller I bought them from, was selling them very cheaply, that was why I chose him. But after the extreme shipping costs (Which perhaps he profited off the shipping, or perhaps he did not, I can't say either way)and long delays on receiving my products, I would of been better off paying 15 dollars for the products with 3 dollar shipping. As opposed to 5 dollars for the products But 31 dollars for shipping...

Please, just shut up. I never said "European bricklinkers are nasty cheats." quit putting words in my mouth. I said that selling products for a cheaper price than having higher shipping rates is a tactic used by many sellers, on many sites, all over the world. Do some European sellers employ that tactic as well? Yes I'm sure they do, but I'm not saying they all do. I would never generalize an entire continent as dirty rotten cheats, that is something that you are spinning my words to try and fit your little agenda. Frankly I'm sick of this conversation and I'm sick of your little hissy fits. At no point in all of my posts did I say anything close to what you are accusing me of, bottom line...

Man chill out, I never said you were cheating anyone, I don't think I've ever bought something from you anyways... You can find my accusations "wildly offensive" all you want, but I AM entitled to my opinion. I don't doubt that the shipping costs are higher in Europe, I never said they weren't. But if you don't think that SOME bricklinkers (from all over the world, not just Europe) don't sell their items cheaper than add additional shipping costs to them, then you sir are dillusional. Its the oldest trick in the book, started as soon as internet shopping was invented, not just on bricklinks. People do sell items intentionally cheaper, than add extra costs in the shipping to make up for those earlier losses. That way they still make money, But the lower retail price allows them more business. That is why, my original point (which seems to be lost here thanks to your little tirade) is that most often you are better off paying more for a product from your own country than buying it cheaper from over seas, because the shipping costs will negate any original savings, plus you have to wait so much longer for the item. I know European bricklinkers out there don't like people saying these things, especially in a site where other shoppers could read it, but I'm sorry but it is true. Why should I not share my experiences with other potential shoppers, because some people don't like these truths? I'm not trying to effect anyone's business, But if you live in a country that has high shipping costs, than perhaps being a bricklink seller is not the best idea... Also I want to add, I never said "All European brickliners are cheats." that was Hive putting words in my mouth. Is also said in my original post that I have had many pleasant exchanges with UK stores. If you are a US shopper and looking overseas, UK is good, but mainland Europe (from my experiences) is about 50\50. But yes I have had good experiences with many of them as well, but not always. On a side note, I've bought things from Australia and had no problems as well, decent shipping rates. So why is Europe getting the shaft?

I realize that shipping costs more overseas, but their are plenty of bricklinkers that do in fact make money off of the shipping (not just in Europe, But all over the world). Its an old eBay scam, make a profit on shipping. But when I go on bricklinks and see prices for the same item significantly cheaper in Europe, you know they are profiting on shipping. Besides the order I spoke about in my original post I am still waiting to receive, been over a month to get an order from Turkey...

If they plan on a second wave, when will that be announced? Typically that is. I'm just hoping for a blue coats ship and a larger pirate fort. I have the two pirate sets in this wave, and would like something a little more impressive in size.

I have this set, and combined with the other even smaller set (I forget the name) it becomes pretty decent. But still nothing to write home about, not like the pirate sets of old. I can only give this an average rating, and that is including combining it with the shipwreck set. On it's own, I think it's slightly below average. I plan on modding the crap out of it, to really make it something. It does have some nice features, but it just feels So small. So unlike the pirate forts of old. You can't pull a ship up next to it, no way, it will just dwarf it. Only row boats can approach this set. That's why I prefer the older sets, they had some size to them.

I would love to see your "budget" imperial flagship. I would also like to know an estimate of how much it cost you.

Cool troll town man!!!

I'm a huge brink linker, and here is another valuable piece of advice, paying more for a piece or parts from a store in your home country is generally cheaper than buying from an over seas store, plus it will arrive much sooner. As an American, I have found many European stores will sell their products significantly cheaper, just to charge you a fortune in shipping. Plus you don't get a final Bill until after you have checked out, and by that time you are on the hook. The biggest exception I have found is UK stores, I have had pretty decent experience with them. But I recently bought 16 flesh colored hands from Turkey. Each hand cost like 19 cents or something reasonably cheap. Well the shipping costs we're over 20 bucks, so it far exceded my actual order, which is really aggravating. Moral of the story, buy from your own company and as few of stores as possible.

It wouldn't be the first time Aliens were made into a children's toy, Hell I had a queen alien a couple of drones when I was younger. But I agree that it "may" be outside of Lego's prefered themes. But people forget, but Ghostbusters was not originally meant for children. It was an adult film, hence the language and some of the scary imagery. It became popular amoung kids, so then they made the cartoon, and GB2 is far more kid friendly than the original. But the original film was meant for adults. But to be fair it did get a pg rating while Aliens is an R. But honestly I don't know how Ghostbusters wasn't at least a pg13? I have not seen another film with that rating with as much cursing in it, obviously times were different then. But beyond all that, I stand by what I said originally, these would be fantastic official sets.

Besides comparing her to Carrie Fisher from 1983 is not a far comparison. I'm not going to say anything negative here, but their was a reason why Carrie made that iconic in the first place, so of course she didn't scar anyone, but she was object of many a horny teenagers fantasy after. So again like or dislike the outfit, it does take away from what the point is supposed to be about.

@ cloveapple, I guess the only time I have really heard her gripe is when putting together premade sets where all the pieces were in her tub. When she is doing her own creations, it doesn't seem to bother her much.

@ breakdown, No she loves legos, but everybody seems to like them for different reasons. She knows just about every piece in her collection, so she knows exactly what piece she wants, so substituting it for something else is not really an option, hence her frustration while looking. As FAR as sets go, she hates following directions, she would rather just build her own things. Which her ability at MOCing is far superior to mine, I'm a pretty much by the book lego guy. Everybody is different.

It is both of ours complaint. She needs help putting together larger sets, let alone looking for random pieces, she will just give up. The lonely mountain set for example (which is 800 pieces or so from my memory). She didn't open 1 bag at a time, she instead opened all the bags then tried putting it together. Which she wanted to give up half way through it because looking for pieces killed her momentum. My wife had to step in and help her complete it. Which this seems to be her biggest problem consistently, looking for pieces kills her momentum, which I can relate to that because that was a problem I had/have. But the more organized my wife and I try to make her with her legos, the more she gets an upset look on her face. She wants to do things her way, but at the same time she admits she hates searching for pieces.