Bregir

As others have said, excellent little build. It would have been amazing to see a 32x32 rendition of such a neighborhood - so please improve your time management skills! I would like to see a more uniform background, and a little editing can help with straightening the pictures, as they are a bit off canter. My favourite part (apart from the idea) is the story - the idea of travelling tales for the rich and bored is great!

Good looking gatehouse, Bodi! For your path, a suggestion could be to depress the tiles into the ground rather than on top, but it does take more bricks, of course. Nice minifig selection too, and surprisingly, the background actually works out quite well. And it is no surprise to anyone that (villainous scheming) Oleanders make their way through the world by bribes!

Great looking house, bodi. Roof and windows are well done, and as others have said, the sliding door is a nice detail. I also like the little rice bowls - simple but effective. The rest of the interior and the landscaping outside is a bit sparse, though. The pictures show some nice angles and presents the story well, but they are a bit grainy. (May simply be the camera, but in my experience it is often due to limited light) Also, a nice story hook with the displaced prince!

I really like this build. Hiding a scene in the tower is a nice touch and the market is so very busy (in a good way). The building on the right is my favourite, but the tower isn't too bad either. What steals the show, though, is the activity depicted in the market/water front, and I think you have done an excellent job in posing throughout the scene. Your minifig choice is really nice (something I found hard, with so few Asian looking figs in my collection), and my favourites (including posing) are the running thief and the "gondolier". I also really like how you have linked this to your existing story and the idea of a flashback is great.

I am going to make a controversial statement here: I can't help but think how this would look with levels 2, and 4-6 removed, so that it was consistently narrowing towards the top (and slightly less amazingly tall ). Other than that, I think the pagoda itself is very well executed - the roofs are excellent, and both ground floor (with the bridge, walkway, posing etc.) and top floor (with the spire - NPU on the drill!) looks great. (However, is there something about the proportion between roof overhang that seems a bit off, particularly at the edges? I struggled a lot with getting that right myself.) The story is very sparse, but on the other hand, the suggestion that Calida has something to do with all this is intriguing... and alarming! Overall, very nice build, although I do think the height is a bit... over the top! (BaDUM-tsch )

Nice little build, Kotz - I like the landscaping and the torii at an angle is nicely implemented. As others have said, the ingots work well as slabs for the street. Apart from being a bit shiny in places (mainly minifig heads) the render is very well done, which really helps presentation. I would also have liked to see the story give a bit more information on the Lotus society, but I like how you have plugged in a connection to your crew!

I always enjoy the stories of the Patron (or pope, or bishop or whatever he is now - I forget) and this is another to add to that list. I like the style of telling the story through letters, and the "nuts" style of reply is just excellent. The dark background generally works very well for this build, although the black hat and hair of the people on the bridge suffer a bit from the lack of contract to the background. The lower level ground is a bit too flat, but since the area is so small and broken up by nice vegetation and minifigs, as well as the cliffs, it doesn't show much. Overall, nice and amusing entry!

Overall very cool MOC, professor. I think the idea is novel and uses a lot of interesting techniques. The snotted ground is well done, but does end up being VERY flat where you don't put something on to. Some efforts to break this up could be considered for future builds. On the other hand, your cliffwork and vegetation works out really well, and the gate and altar are highlights, as is minifig (and puffin) posing. Cool with flying birds and great design for them! As to your overall presentation, I like the fact that you have taken the time to give us several shots with various poses to tell the story. Some of the pictures are a bit grainy (taken with a phone?) and others are a bit off canter. There is also some perspective issues, which typically happens when you take pictures up close. I'd suggest two things: 1) try to take the pictures a bit further away (maybe with more indirect light) and 2) use some program to adjust pictures (by rotating them a few degrees, for instance. GIMP can do a lot and is free. For a simpler solution, "Photos" can also do some of this, although not to the same precision. Overall, though, story, build and presentation comes nicely together in a very clever idea. Well done.

Personally, the original design wasn't all that appealing to me as a set. As a pile of useful bricks, perhaps, but the overall design was "just" some relatively simple buildings on a plate for me, spiced up with some pirate minifigs. Not really an interesting build, as far as I could see. (That said, not being particularly enticed by the idea, I haven't looked more into it) The final set, though (and although I rarely leave official sets assembled) really has me excited. I think the hideout built from an actual ship (rather than various ship parts) is a great idea, and looks really cool, and the fact that it assembles into what to me looks like the best lego ship ever is amazing. Those are my personal opinions on the original and final set. I am aware others may feel otherwise, and have no problem with that. What I somewhat feel is missing here, though, is the fact that Lego is a toy. And in terms of play features, the final "outguns" the original quite a bit. It has the hideout functionality, with defensive guns etc. as well as the ship playability. As someone said above, the original probably would not have been selected if it had not been redesigned for greater playability in terms of the ship. Now it serves several purposes: Shipwreck hideout (original concept) Ship 30 year nostalgia throwback (ship, characters, packaging) Play value for kids who like pirates So I think it is a masterstroke. Well played, Lego, well played.

The cannon will poke through the arched windows too.

Welcome aboard, Pdaitabird! I have to say that is an absolutely excellent bermuda sloop - we have many excellent ship builders in here, and an amazing assembly of vessels with all sorts of designs and techniques, but I think this is one of the very best small sailing vessels. I have myself experimented with Kurigan's technique, but not really had any luck, but the same cannot be said for you! The only thing I would suggest changing is the heavy line you have used. I think a thinner (<0.5 mm, which in imperial units must be something like 12 fahren-ounce-feet ) would be more fitting and have better properties in terms of tightening it a bit. Even some thick-ish sewing thread may do the trick. All in all, a superb example of a class 1 vessel. I wish you the best of luck on the Brick Seas, and will be looking forward to following the stories of Mr. Shaw!

All the best for all of you guys - I hope we all come out of this crisis relatively unscarred. Luckily, it takes only a few bricks, and one will never be bored! I work in IT, and we can (luckily? ) all work from home. (As long as the sales side can keep us afloat, that is...) So apart from a little saved transport time, I have gotten no extra build time... Still can't wait for the first of april, though... That wont deter me from participating in the challenge, though, and I promise I won't let those pesky bluecoats get their way with Terraversa unopposed!

I was actually thinking it could almost look as one of @Capt Wolf 's ships - the way they have done tumblehome and the overall style reminds me of them. (Which I hope comes across as praise for both!) Indeed! Although having seen a few reviews, including comparisons to the original, I've got to say the original is also an all-star. Mainly because the overall shape doesn't have that boxy cabin in the back, but a more dynamic curve.

I will definitely get it - it looks very nice. Probably the best ship I have seen from Lego - and I am quite certain it is the first with proper tumblehome. I never got the Imperial Flagship, but this looks like it has even more interesting techniques. As you say, the angles are looking real nice, particularly around the stern.

COR | Cat A - Great trading houses of the Lotus | Bregir

The Lotus Empire is characterized by complex social structures in a feudal society, where allegiances and precedence can change frequently. Political intrigue, violent rivalry, and economic ventures can change the landscape of power in an instant. However, one form of power broker is constant: The great trading houses. These powerful houses control trade, typically jealously guarding their monopolies - with arms if neccesary - and command vast silver fortunes to rival or surpass any prince or feudal lord. It would be folly for anyone to challenge the position of a great trading house, but on the other hand, they can be powerful allies to anyone with ambitions of power. Everything has a price, though... The trading houses are commanded by an almost impenetrable inner circle, the doings of which are guarded secrets. In most cases, only family or the closest trustees are invited into the sanctum of power. Around mercantile hubs, one will often see elaborate pagoda houses to rival or surpass the nobility, in which the dealings of the trading house is conducted. Rumour has it that the recent expedition to El Oleonda was instigated by direct command of the great trading houses, the exact purpose still unknown... ________________________________________________________ My entry for cat A - I am quite happy with it. The roofs where fun to build and are inspired by the Chinese new year sets. They are a bit structurally weak, and the ornaments in the corners are... rather unstable - they were the biggest challenge of the design.

Cooke has found himself caught in Nola Mar and decided to yield himself up to the authorities.

@Kolonialbeamter @Bodi @Captain Genaro @KotZ A little earlier... Cooke had been trying to evade his pursuers for some hours. And while he had so far avoided capture, he had been unable to find a way out of the settlement. There was a complete lock-down of the port, and all in-land exist had been blocked by roadblocks, gatehouses, or manned checkpoints. It was clear that whoever was in control of Nola Mar was hell-bent on keeping events in the dark. So he had to take a different approach. Hence: "I am Captain Cooke of HMS Greyhound frigate of her Majesty's Royal Navy. I am here on a survey mission for Corrington under papers from Grand Admiral L'Olius." He said in a clear voice, holding up his hands palms out in a passive gesture. "Please take me to your leader..."

@Faladrin For glory and golden apples! Felipe de Manzana's Brickwall frigate had proven a sturdy companion in the quest for the Golden Apple so far... Serial: #26 Bonus: +1 to range Non-transferable, assigned to the Brickwall

@Faladrin The map was complete, and the Brickwall frigate had proven a sturdy companion in the quest. (BoBs card with +1 in range awarded, locked to the Brickwall) However, the old and musky map was still hard to decipher, and the exact location of the golden apple would probably still need some investigation before revealing itself... Only time would show what Felipe would make of this... ____________________________________________ Sorry for the delay, Faladrin. I will do the paperwork for the BoBS card shortly. You are free to continue the journey at your own pace, and can always ask for GM input if you feel it necessary at some point in the future. The Brickwall is free to rejoin normal tmrca schedule as you please. Any questions? :)

Cooke is trying to escape his hunters... One wonders if he will be caught!

Things were heating up in Nola Mar - the streets rang out with cries of spies and the stamp of patrols, so Cooke had found himself hunted prey. Concluding that he would be unable to gain further information, and wishing to get his intel out, he was now trying to dodge the patrols and to make it safely to a boat, to get back to Westface... ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Just a quick reaction build to OL's search for spies in Nola Mar - I think it is now time for the court to decide, if Cooke is captured or not... DumdumDUUUUUM!

And unfortunately, too many torsos have that fleshie smudge on them, making them in some case unusable for "proper" mocing... *hides from the crowds* (I prefer proper in-house themes)

This is an awesome build and the most amazing sister shipping build to date! The whole salvage process is great, but unfortunately, it is very hard to make out, because the pictures are so small, which is such a shame! The story is very cool too, but again, it would be easier to follow, if the pictures were bigger. Good luck with the resurrected Narwal (II)!

As if you weren't already balancing on a diplomatic knife's edge... Very interesting builds and story - still a few unknowns like: how you will react to the situation in Kings Port, what is in that despatch, and whether Cooke will be captured (I have a small reaction build coming). One thing I am certain though, is that whether he is captured or not, we have an interesting story ahead of us!