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One of my workmates sent me this jst before Christmas: I was well impressed! It's fascinting to see what original effects can be created when photographing LEGO, much we see in our own Photography thread here. Inspiring stuff!

Really nice, comprehensive review there Def, thanks! I was never really a huge fan of the technic Star Wars sets so didn't pick any of them up. There's a nice novelty factor about this guy but he wouldn't sit well with the rest of my display. As far as parts go I don't think I'd have great use for most of them, but can appreciate they'd be pretty useful to a Technic builder.

Superb collections lads! I am also the owner of a lonesome blue SBD... the clips on his counterpart's legs broke. I've got a lot of my display at work - I fortunately lots of shelf space there - while I'm working on creating more shelf space at home.

I'm going to launch the first Jedi Duel tournament soon: The Chosen One Tournament. Who will be the one spoken of in prophecy? The one that brings balance to the force? Not only will the winner of the tournament be the 1st Jedi Duel Chosen One, but I'll also be offering a prize for the winner (t.b.a.)! I'll open a thread with details and sign-up soon (Jedi Duel character necessary). That aside, anyone want a duel with my Jedi youngling, Rorigan Kanus?

Great review and nice comparison shots. I own the original and can see there's loads of improvements to the shape and detail in this new set. I've been resisting the temptation to buy it thinking it too similar to the old set while being £20 more expensive - and the parts count is virtually the same too. However these pictures whet my appetite! I think there's enough difference in there to warrant a purchase, just maybe not at full price. Shame you applied the stickers wrong - maybe you could buy another sheet from Bricklink? They're not too expensive at all.

I had to be Mos Eisley, congratulations dude! Inconspicious, JB, very well done lads, great entries also. Well done to everyone who entered too!

Congratulations Inconspicious, a very original entry! And a hearty pat on the back to Pellaeon and Big Brick (again!). The standard was consistently high, making it a really difficuot ategory to vote for, well done to everyone who entered!

Congratulations Oky, a well deserved win! Well done JB and Big Brick for your great creations too, and to everyone who entered.

Actually my first character was female, but I decided to change to male at the last moment - I almost always play a female in online games, my character line-up in World of Warcraft was like a fantasy girl-group! I felt like man-ing it up for once! I want to play a character with a bit of depth and I reckon the mysterious Agent Ichi will be fun. Which leads be to ask Computerbug, can we introduce non-player characters to the storyline? As I mentioned above I created another character (in fact I created a few) it'd be cool to feature 'em in if it helps tell the tale (even if it were just a flashback).

Primitive indeed... the mnd of a STEEL has the subtlety of a spoon.

Cheers for the feedback lads! Actually this is based on the Venator's turbolaser as it appears in Revenge of the Sith. I worked closely to the picture below and other reference to get it to look right - down to the 3 panelled controls! Obviously the proportions have had to be tweaked a bit to get it working within the limitations but I felt it was looking pretty close. In answer to Pellaeon's and your points: The gun is mounted directly to the hull, as seen in the image with only the smallest of vertical movement available. The Venator must position itself to allow the best angle for attack, similar to lining up the broadsides in naval combat of old. The cone end isn't quite right, as you've pointed out. I wasn't sure of it myself, so thanks for helping me on that one! I'll figure out something better for the end. Thanks again for your comments. Will most likely have the finished batteries done soon.

2 words: Can't. Wait! I've just cast my eye over these new pictures... these sets are stunning! Even more so than I though... The minifgs are superb and look inifinitely useful for other themes. I absolutely love the new head-wrap and other headgear and now there'll be a printed bare torso in cheap set. All those new printed faces too, awesome! The new weapons and accessories inlcuding the claws and twin sword sheath are fantastic. Plus great new LEGO animals and to top it all off , lots and lots of tan and dark tan. Joy! My pleasure. I've saved off all those BL files too so I can pour over them repeatedly! (Cheers ILikePi!)

It's been a great contest to watch. Very best of luck everyone!

Agent Ichi [pronounced: ee-chee] Faction: The Chings Occupation: Oni Agent: Assassin, Mercenary, Bodyguard Gender: Male Age: Unknown Bio Much of Agent Ichi’s former life remains shrouded in mystery. He was the first of the Oni Agents; tech-ninja created by the secret super-soldier Oni Project, a doomed endeavour began by the union of the Solar-com and Ching corporations. Handpicked as a candidate from a list of those who fitted a specific genetic disposition, Ichi was indoctrinated into the program and put through a process of hyper-advanced technological upgrading and combat training and bestowed with the cutting edge of weaponary and wargear. Upon the destruction of the Oni Project, Ichi was the last surviving Oni Agent rescued by the Chings amidst an ensuing corporation war and has been a part of their ranks since. Ichi is no slave though; purposefully willed, self sufficient to the point of detachment, he is an efficiently engineered killing machine and has become one of the most lethal and renown assassins operating on the island of Terrel. During the process of his creation, Agent Ichi was implanted with an upgraded NERV chip. Because of the punishing training regime and sheer volume of combat information and tactics taught to the Oni Agents, the memory destabilising powers of the chip were removed. Initially there has been no side effects, but as time passes Ichi inwardly questions his life before Oni and what he has become... little realising the journey of self discovery he is about to embark on which will reveal the shocking truth behind the Oni Project. Agent Ichi’s cybernetic endo-implants are primarily comprosed of Zerbitanium, an experimental, light-weight but diamond strong alloy made from a fusion of Zerbite and Titanium. As well as a powered partial endo-skeleton, he has been upgraded with a suite of sensory upgrades including advanced optics, hearing systems, geo-sensors and radar. Within his body is contained a dispensing unit capable of introducing a range of combat enhancing drugs into his system with a thought. The ETA suit, to which Agent Ichi is neurally and physically linked is lined with a lightweight but high density experimental armour weave, sound dampeners and can generate a Prism-field at will, bending light into cells around the wearer making him incredibly difficult to target at range. His standard armaments are a Sonic Blade, HK MP5K and a host other concealed wargear - as besuits a tech-ninja.

Haha! Well played JB, that was an intense - and long - duel. We were at it for days! Thanks for coming in to adjudicate that last round Roncanator. "Unitil next time...!"

Agent Ichi [pronounced: ee-chee] Faction: The Chings Occupation: Oni Agent: Assassin, Mercenary, Bodyguard Gender: Male Age: Unknown Bio Much of Agent Ichi’s former life remains shrouded in mystery. He was the first of the Oni Agents; tech-ninja created by the secret super-soldier Oni Project, a doomed endeavour began by the union of the Solar-com and Ching corporations. Handpicked as a candidate from a list of those who fitted a specific genetic disposition, Ichi was indoctrinated into the program and put through a process of hyper-advanced technological upgrading and combat training and bestowed with the cutting edge of weaponary and wargear. Upon the destruction of the Oni Project, Ichi was the last surviving Oni Agent rescued by the Chings amidst an ensuing corporation war and has been a part of their ranks since. Ichi is no slave though; purposefully willed, self sufficient to the point of detachment, he is an efficiently engineered killing machine and has become one of the most lethal and renown assassins operating on the island of Terrel. During the process of his creation, Agent Ichi was implanted with an upgraded NERV chip. Because of the punishing training regime and sheer volume of combat information and tactics taught to the Oni Agents, the memory destabilising powers of the chip were removed. Initially there has been no side effects, but as time passes Ichi inwardly questions his life before Oni and what he has become... little realising the journey of self discovery he is about to embark on which will reveal the shocking truth behind the Oni Project. Agent Ichi’s cybernetic endo-implants are primarily comprosed of Zerbitanium, an experimental, light-weight but diamond strong alloy made from a fusion of Zerbite and Titanium. As well as a powered partial endo-skeleton, he has been upgraded with a suite of sensory upgrades including advanced optics, hearing systems, geo-sensors and radar. Within his body is contained a dispensing unit capable of introducing a range of combat enhancing drugs into his system with a thought. The ETA suit, to which Agent Ichi is neurally and physically linked is lined with a lightweight but high density experimental armour weave, sound dampeners and can generate a Prism-field at will, bending light into cells around the wearer making him incredibly difficult to target at range. His standard armaments are a Sonic Blade, HK MP5K and a host other concealed wargear - as besuits a tech-ninja. (I've got a fair bit of history written up about the Oni Project, which'll be revealed as Agent Ichi discovers it.)

My character will be allied with the Ching faction... too many RATS around here. I'm just typing out my bio now, but it's turned into a full-on origins story so I think I'll need to shorten it initially!

Rorigan Kanus | Youngling Health: 5 Force Abilities Sabre Throw - Mastery Abilities - - Bio Born on the Shistavanen homeworld Uvena Prime, Rorigan’s parents were explorers, their journeys taking them far beyond the realms of Shistavanen space - an unusual trait for their species. From a young age he displayed phenomenal ability in finding others. At first it was a knowing of where his parents were at any time. Curiosity might cause him to leave the Kanus’s side while at a busy street bazaar, but he’d reunite as soon as he was aware, to their relief. He’d immediately know where his young friends may be - friends though they were, only for a short time while travelling the stars. This ability to find or track others, coupled with his natural curiosity, was what would bring him on day under the scrutiny of the Jedi Order... and a Sith. So it was that during a brief time travelling through Nar Shaddaa, Rorigan saw a dark robed, suspicious figure while disembarking at one of the planets busy spaceports. His curiosity piqued, he went in search of the figure while his parents were trading goods, his trip taking him down into the dangerous lower levels of the planet. What he found was a awesome but terrifying sight: the dark robed figure, blazing red lightsaber in his hands, fighting a blue saber wielding young Jedi in a disused warehouse. His awe at the scene was shortlived; it was clear the intentions of this black-clad being. A sharp kick to the midriff disarmed the Jedi, the next strike would end her life. “No!” the little Shistavanen yelled, arm stretched towards the melee. The Sith stopped, glaring fiercely at Rorigan. There was a shudder through the warehouse. The sound of twisting metal. A huge piece of supporting beam tore off the wall of the warehouse collapsing where the dark warrior stood. The Jedi, seeing her chance, leapt towards Rorigan and pulled him up into her arms, darting with unnatural speed out of the now collapsing warehouse. “Thank you little one...” she said, words that would change Rorigan’s life forever. Afterwards, the Jedi Order were alerted to Kanus’s brave actions that day, his affinity with the force - sensing others’ presence no matter where - and his ability to manipulate his surroundings. Soon, an envoy was sent to Kanus’s parents and talks ensued about Rorigan’s future and his potential indoctrination into the Order. His parents, proud of their young one, let him choose his own path... And so it was, the little Shistavanen would journey to Coruscant and be apprentice to Master Cayo Braid, and learn under him how to focus the Force and skill with the lightsaber. The young female Jedi, Naleia, he never saw since, nor can he feel her presence. But he knows that out there is one he thought doomed, one he believed he saw die. But Rorigan knows... the mysterious Sith is still alive. Duel History Won: - Lost: -

Hey, I got my LEGO Club magazine through the other day and also got the 2010 supplement with it. I know we've seen a small version of this already but thought I'd take the liberty of providing everyone with hi-res scans! Picture is a link to a large 5+mb image. Enjoy!

Done! 1st post Jedi Duel rules have been updated. The Mastery abilities add that extra layer of complexitiy to a duel so anyone adjudicating needs to have a good understanding of how they work. It's always good to have the Character Databank open while adjudicating so you can quickly reference what abilities the opponents have. It's worth noting here too that the Endurance Mastery ability only increases a character's health by 1, it doesn't give the character the ability to regenerate/gain +1 health per round.

Thanks for the game lads! "Poor 'Dar'vole'e. Your skills are impressive, but like a blunt tool you lack focus." I've got to head off for a bit, I think there's a few online who'd be able to adjudicate for you two though.

Congratulations! I'll duel you with Kurss if someone else wants to Adj...

'Dar'vole'e versus Darth Magma. Round 2 'Dar'vole'e Darth Magma Force Push - 0 Force Lightning - 0 Force Lightning - 0 Parry - 0 High - 1 High - 0 Low - 1 Mid - 0 High - 0 Parry - 0 Health: 5 Health: 0 Merciless, the evil 'Dar'vole'e strikes down Darth Magma, winning the duel! Well done Filip! Update your character. General Magma, maybe you should pick your duels better!

We'll just postpone this duel for the time being and kick it off again as soon as he's back on. Something tells me it's going to be over quickly... Want to see if we can get an Adj for a duel between us? I'm sure you'll find Kurss not so easy!

'Dar'vole'e versus Darth Magma. Round 1 'Dar'vole'e Darth Magma Force Lightning - 0 Parry - 0 High - 1 High - 0 Force Push - 1 Parry - 0 Low - 1 Low - 0 Mid - 1 High - 0 Health: 5 Health: 1 'Dar'vole'e's onslaught is furious! Does Magma stand a chance?! DS for round 2!