derEselausErgste

While the tower itself stays the same (at the moment), the Donkey made some changes to the guards house roof - hope it looks better now. The small tower is to clean, but this can be changed easily. Can somebody give me a hint how to make proper pics? Not to talk about the hardware (I have a SLR), but about lighting, background - and the space needed of course.

LOL that’s the very best idea to make use of those inflationary wizardring wands, for sure! Absolutly stunning!And also the fruit beneath the bell jar is wonderful.

The guards house is nearly finished. The roof is a little bit strange, but at least it is some kind of leak proof. Lots of details are still missing. The roof ridge isn't done, the chimney to the right needs to be bricked up and the balustrade is missing also. Most important: the Avalonian Colours swell in the wind! I just attached the pallas module - the Bergfried is missing.

The Donkey has reworked the thread title - hope it's ok Now back on track. As the base of the tower seemed to be to complicated, I have changed this to a more simple design. Thats the present look: Easy to see the guard house still is a scenery , but I hope I can complete it this weekend. In general I like the tower. I am not sure if the design of the top floor might be to massive - some opinion would be appreciated. Astonishingly I dont posses any black ridge tiles, so the tower roof will have to wait some days for completion. And on we go...

Perhaps we can discuss the "total"?! No, honestly, if I watch all the cool MOCs posted here, it is really a shame what the Donkey presents. Just take that "tudor" front I have posted on Tuesday - ridiculous. I will try to do it much better, but even my best still will be no match for the rest of this forum. Otherwise it should be ok, as long as I'm having fun - or at least i hope so.

Spent some 13 hours today, driving from Dortmund to Munich and back. Time enough to rethink the design of the upper floor, and came out with a few nice ideas. I will try out tomorrow and show the result (if it is not to ugly).

And the Donkey is in love with those bales of straw.

Here we are. So let's have a closer look on the guards house. First we have the site before installing the ceiling to the first floor. The front to the inner courtyard. This will definitely not be the final look, just a test. As allways the dormitory has no interior yet. Oh, wait - at least the lavatory is functional... And the present look from outside... The design of the tower looks strange. I will give it a try, but maybe I will have to rework this. Decision made: the towers design will get a rework - more simple, without the offset. This will look much better I’m quite sure.

Impressing! This really looks as my home town

Thanks mate At present the whole scenery looks very rough. I hope this will change as soon as some landscape, plants a.s.o. have been added. All in all I am also not satisfied with my walls in general - to clean, to grey and to boring.

Just a typical noob question: to found a settlement, buildings in at least 5 different categories are needed. Are we talking about single, standalone buildings, or is it ok if some of these buildings are part of a bigger Building - a castle to be exakt?!

On we go. The mess hall is nearly finished - except for details and guests of course. Next will be the wooden ceiling. As you can see, the wardrobe is still empty. First try sticking the mess hall module to the pallas module. At the moment the whole site is chaos. On the right You can see the base of a new tower - not as big and tall as the already existing Bergfried, but strong enough to defend the peasants gate which will follow with the next module. I changed to oriel, but it's still ugly. I desperately need an idea for a nicer one! I Alfred does what he does best - nothing...

The Donkey is as new as could be within this noble guild, but he would courteously announce his participation in this admirable contest. LONG LIVE THE KING...and if it‘s a Queen, it will be even better!

Thanks to all of You for the warm welcome! Sir Henry and me just arrived at the strongholds site. What should I say? Catastrophic! What should be a nearly completed border fortress at present is not more than a lonely tower, a ridiculous small pallas building and a just begun guards house. It will take months until this joke of a castle will be able to ward off goblins, snarks or other monstrosities. At least there is ONE positive news: the Marcher Lord offered me a free building site, if I pledge allegiance to him and stay to speed up the works. Guess what I did? Of course. Just some months of hard work, and afterworks the donkey will be able to settle down in this brand new border fortification. Can't wait to sit down and outline the plans for my new home...

The donkey is slow, and even slower when building interior. I'm sorry, but today I only managed to lay the floor inside the mess, install a fireside and some tiny wooden panelling. Perhaps I will find some time in the evening, but i will be glad if i manage to build up the ceiling to the 1st floor.

As nice as the set is, in the donkeys opinion it is just to expensive. This will go up to some 250,- €, incl. VAT and duties when landed in Germany - for 2.000 pieces. 12,5 €ct per brick, w/o any license fees, 3 very simple minifigs - no thanks. The donkeys max. price is somewhere around 139,- € It's sad but it's true...

The site looks a little bit messy at the moment...

Sooo lovely!

...this is going to become the mess kitchen...

Just a very short update: the pallas-module gets more and more finished - at least the buildings themselves. Some details are not finalized yet - as allways. To the left the next module will be placed, containing the guards barracks and the mess hall. This will also close the space underneath the stairs, which isn't a nice look currently. I use panels only if I can't see them later....

So many fantastic buildings - an sooo many inspirations!

The „vegetables“ will be hops I think. Albeit I agree totally - a wonderful scene!

Thats good news Mylord, indeed. My deeply felt thanks will allways be Yours! Honestly said, the Donkey is no builder at all, but just a simple merchantman. The only building so far I can offer is the just started Stronghold myself is pleased to deliver materials to. The ongoing of that stronghold can be seen here - but be warned: it will take months to complete this fortification. In the meantime I would like to offer my services, beginning with task No.1: Travelling in Avalonia is dangerous – the more if you carry valuable goods with you. I am no noble man nor a fighter, and no army will follow my call when the time has come. But thats no reason to travel alone. First of all: my nephew Alfred. May I speak openly? Alfred is a menace and no help at all, and he is not worth the food he tooks from me. But he is the only child of my oldest sister, and when she and her husband died, falling prey to the black death that was devastating Avalonia some years ago, I swore to her beside her deathbed to take care of her son. I am not married, and I have no children on my own, so thats what i did, thats what i do and thats what i will do for the years to come. Alfred is not a bad guy in general, but he can not keep his hands off alcohol, women and dice, and thats a non promising combination. At least I have someone to talk to – if he is not drunk… For Gods sake Alfred is not my only companionship. There are people i can call friends, who are willing to help my aid whenever needed: Gwendolyn Roundeyes – lovely as a rose and harsh as a brothels Madam, she can do things impossible for a man…and sometimes a little bit more… Allistor – a former city guard and a man of all purposes. He found me one night at a tavern beside the street to Albion, mumbling something about the wife of the guards captain, and I understood he was in trouble and in need of a job… Justin the Blackhearded – the archetype of a hired sword, expensive but efficient. He does not talk much, but when he grabs for his weapon you better run… Norn the Dwarf – my best friend for decades, you won’t find a better one between the isles and the grasslands. He is a great warrior…ok, he would be a great warrior, if his legs would be a little bit longer… Thats just a tiny party You say? You are right. But if needed, I can also bank on the help of Sir Henry Ironclad (he still owns his both hands, but what he holds he will never yield back). He is a knight, and notwithstanding his age (similar to mine), he still is not the worst of all knights you may encounter in Avalonia. We know each others for decades, helping when help is needed. He’s a friend, if ever a common and a nobleman can be united in friendship. And of course it‘s good advise to know a nobleman that is indebted to you (Sir Henry is always in need of coines, and I am a wealthy man). Sir Henry holds his fief from the Marcher Lord oft he north-eastern territories, and although his assets are small, he can field a lance of trained soldiers whenever I ask for his assistance – at least as long as his Lord does not claim for his services. In times of war, he can call for his manor guards and his fyrd also. Just at the moment, Sir Henry - easy to identify by the green crest - and me met on our way to the site of his Lords new Stronghold, where he will take control on the works, and I will help him managing the various crafts – and delivering material of course. Thats a win-win-situation for both of us, as Sir Henry is not the born organiser. So, thats the Donkey of Argestes warband. Impressive – as long as the foe is not impressive by himself.

Hail to You, Lords and Ladies of Avalonia - and also to all brave Knights and Sergeants, Servants and Yeomen, Farmers and Craftsmen, Monks and Rogues, and to all of You I have left out! May I introduce myself: my name is Ulfric, Ulfric of Argeste, surnamed „the donkey from Argeste“ (because of my stoical temper“). I’m a merchantman, and while foods and supplies are always needed in these dark times, I buy and sell whatever can be bought or sold. So no matter what you need, be it beer or whine, old manuscripts or new building materials, clothing, weapons or armour – just ask for it, and we will find a way to fit your needs. I am aged 52 years right now, so I left my youth quite behind, and my eyes have seen more tragedies and more happy festivities than most people of Avalonia have just heared of. Just offer my a fine goblet and perhaps I am willing to share some remembrances with You?! I was born in the small village of Argeste, somerwhere west of Osgard, and while my parents where farmers and free men, aged 13 I was sent to Albion to a friend of my father, to learn all about trading fabrics and clothes. Those have been hard years, but I was eager to learn, and as a companion I left Albion to make a fortune – and I did well. Today I am a well known merchantman, honoured and – mostly – straightforward. You can meet me somewhere on the roads of Avalonia, traveling together with Mopsy, my beloved draught horse, and with Alfred, my not so much beloved servant (and nephew, to be exact). Or You can visit me at home, back in Argeste, where I managed to build a fine house I can call my own. So, Lords and Ladies and all of You people from Avalonia, if a simple merchant can aid Your causes, then take me please – I’m Yours!

New castle sets would be cool indeed, but i fear not cool enough for todays kids, so I have my doubts if we will se a new castle series in the near future. Many thanks for the "classic" feeling - sounds much better than "oldfashioned"