Sarophas

The same could be said about crossbows, the reason they became so popular was the same. They are very effective and required little to no training to use. Firearms/cannons were a part of medieval europe for longer than most people think, of course in a quite primitive form, but still. That being said, I think it goes against the "fatansy" aspect of the middle ages, where most people are drawn by the classic tropes, such as King Arthur, Robin Hood, etc. So despite having quite an important role in the shaping of both defensive structures, armor and the likes, I don't believe that a "Real Classic Castle Theme" could pull off firearms/cannons without sacrificing other iconic elements. Which would probably do more harm than good, as far as sales are considered. Looking at it from another perspective, I believe that Warhammer Fantasy illustrates this perfectly. Here we have two factions: Bretonnia (left) and The Empire (right) who are clear examples of earlier (classic) and later (firearm wielding) periods of history. (Note that magic is a VERY big factor in the Warhammer universe!) Bretonnia being inspired by early medieval France and The Empire being inspired by The Holy Roman Empire. It is clear that the majority would point toward Bretonnia as the classic castle trope, because it draws so heavily on the Arthurian legacy, the holy grail, maiden of the lake, etc. Whereas The Empire (IMO) requires a more mature audience, because it by default seems much more gritty and dark, compared to the splendor and heroism of the classic castle tropes. I do think that LEGO should look at later periods in the "middle ages", at the very least for 16-18+ sets, as there are great possibilities to make very interesting sets based on architecture from those periods. In conclusion, LEGO is a brand for children (primarily) and therefore will (generally) adhere to softer and more classic/easy to grasp ideas. The classic castle tropes are just so ingrained, that it mostly just seems wrong to the majority, when it's not about the Knight in shining armor, rescuing the damsel in distress, or the struggle of "good vs evil". Honestly I don't mind, because this is what I imagine a LEGO castle set to be

I feel that a Castle theme should be a mix of both reality and fantasy. The reason being that everyday life in the middle ages was heavily influenced by religion and superstition, which could also be called "fantasy". Therefore trolls, dwarves, goblins, faeries, wizards, dragons, etc. played a significant part in the way a person from that time viewed the world. I would like to add, that it is a balancing act to make it work properly. Kingdoms (which released during my dark ages) was an amazing take on the ordinary things, that unfortunately are too often overlooked! That being said, I have a weakness for armor, weapons, castles and all the classic castle tropes, so I for one do not mind to see the "obligatory" big castle, joust, damsel in distress, etc. I wish for LEGO to create a series that is based in real history (such as arms/armor, clothing, buildings) and to really make some interesting new pieces, like new helmet visors (KK did a good job on that, except the colors ), instruments (a lute for example), and so on.

@John Cromwell The removable wall section

Yeah the teeth could be enough, just something to cover the studs mostly.

@John Cromwell You beat me to it I really love this technique, it reminds me of the castle sets from my childhood. Last year I tried to include this technique in a build and it worked surprisingly well! (Of course I didn't take pictures). Especially if you are going for a damaged/rustic looking wall, the "removable section" can just look like a patch in the wall. I wish I had pictures to explain better, but I hope it still makes a little sense

Dude! This build is hilarious Great job, so much character and detail, really nice

Excellent progress!! Regarding the windows on the 2nd floor, I think your original plan with the cross-shape fits better (considering the 1st floor). I also like that the windows on the 2nd floor are bigger and have round arches, which gives them a grander appearance. Also the use of studs on the columns, works really well imo. Lastly, I think the hinges on the door/gate could benefit from some sort of decorative element, to bring some attention to it

So I guess the bar was indeed raised! The only downside to this project is the wait between updates, seriously though, this looks like the beginning of something absolutely amazing! Also, do you have more info on this build? E.g. what it's inspired by, what period, etc.?

Sad to hear you are abandoning your project, though I respect your reasoning. That being said, I can't wait to see what you come up with Good luck on your next project and I hope it turns out the wait you want it to

Nice build! I really like the roofs

Very nice build I have supported

Very nice build and a great atmosphere!

Very nice build and SO many romans I have to ask though, are those Romans on their way to Oxenfurt?

I'm excited to see what you will come up with

Damn it's getting even bigger This is such an interesting build to follow, can't wait to see more

Man! You nailed it again, such a great build May I suggest something Empire related? Anyway as long as you keep doing Warhammer stuff I'm happy

Looks really good! Hope we get more vikings in the future

Love it!

Reminds me of For Honor

Once again, very simple yet great wall techniques and very nostalgic! Keep 'em coming

I actually like the exposed studs, somehow they work for me. Great build although I don't know the reference

I agree with the previous comments. But try a google search for things like medieval cranes or siege weapons. Or maybe Leonardo da Vincis sketches. Man, beast or wind/water powered makes the most sense to me. I've always had a weakness for the giant hamster wheels in cranes and trebuchets.

Such a lovely build, reminds me of childhood vacations. This build has so much character in the colors and techniques used. Great job!

Really nice! I really like the door frames/arches

YES! Please do more Warhammer builds, I love it!