martinsuper

Well no joke, but to list everything I think is cool would take some time.

I totally understand where you are coming from. But then why more of the same? I think the "calm after the storm" indicates that just this once we need to do things differently. Otherwise, you know our MOCs end up all looking like scenes from SAW.

LOL!

Great updates! I know I have already written you a book about your MOC, so I will only speak to the updates! 1. Minifigs. Awesome job of moving them around and eliminating the violence. As for the map, you showed me a reason why it needs to be there and so now I can live with it. 2. Cannon. See how a simple move makes the whole thing look so much better? Now it looks perfect in its location and I really like it. Another problem with a lot of MOCs is too many cannons (Im the biggest culprit of this). This one cannon on the second floor looks just right. 3. The water. I like how the wave is clearly visible and goes across well. I also like how I can see the walkway much better! This was a very good job of using suggestions to vastly improve your MOC! People are really impressing me with their mods. Good Job! -martinsuper

GREAT WORK! This is a awesome example as to how small modification can add up to a big change in the look of the MOC. I really like the changes and it brings out the areas that you want to "show". GREAT JOB! -martinsuper

Interesting MOC you have. I like the concept but there is just too much color. The use of real apples would also have been more appealing. If there was no explanation I would have thought he was picking up candy or something. If you replaced some of the other "bright" colors with more dark greens and other vegetation colors it would make your "apples" stand out more. This would bring more attention to the center of your MOC where the action is. I think the build is right and it looks good but the color choice needs to be changed. Good job. -martinsuper

Well, I know this has already been said, but it seems we cannot follow the rules about violence. There needs to be much less of it and though nothing has yet to be done in this MOC as far as a hand or head getting seperated, the insinuation is there. Now that the formality is done, I will speak to the MOC. I am always amazed about the skill and talent that goes into small MOCs and this is no exception. I really enjoy the look of the floor. Its multi colored and yet still random. I always enjoy a barrel up on the bar top and I think your choice of barrel ends is a good one as the regular barrel top would "spill" with its hole in the middle. You did a good job of showing the spilled drink and I rather enjoy your minifig use. Its still pirate but a little different that what we are used to. The strategic placement of your cups and goblets is good. The bar top and the bar "back" look exactly like an old time bar so I think you have accomplished that nicely. Question? What type of peg legged pirate would charge at someone taking his first step on a fake leg? He would fall almost instantly, right? Why did you use the rat in the MOC? With three people right there I don't think a rat would just be "hanging out". If it was a cellar or a basement corner I could understand, but right at the bar? The bar back top needs to be more like a pyramid and less wavy. I like your brown tile use but it could be more eye appealing with the torso as the top. All in all a very good job! -martinsuper

That's just pure poetry right there.

This is so cool. How do you guys get so much build and so much storyline into such a small space?! I love just about everything about this. You have really done an amazing job of showing me the story rather than telling me the story. The use of small and detailed building techniques shows throughout the entire MOC and I cannot find a place that look too small or too boring. The whole picture is just amazing and I further enjoy the minifig and head use. The upstairs looks like and upstairs and the basement looks like a basement. As silly as this sounds, not everyone has the ability to show this accurately. VERY GOOD JOB! -martinsuper

Is this in the contest? Because I really need to know before I lose an hour or TWO of my life critic-ing this.

It looks leaps and bounds better than my first and only ship I made. Very cool! Good job! -martinsuper

Ok... where do I start? Well first, I'm going to have to stretch my poor fingers ...... Done.... Now. Since this is an MOC with LOTS to talk about, I'm going to go with the "things I like", "things I don't" number system. Things I like: 1. The vegetation looks natural yet not overgrown. To me it looks like it actually grew into the spot it is in. One thing that the pirate system of LEGO failed at was not adding enough vegetation to really make the sets look like they were in a tropical or island environment. I think you have added just enough to accomplish this without going too far. That is really neat. 2. I like the rock coming out of sand. It looks like a real beach were sand washed up and gathered around a natural piece of rock in that area. Again, it looks very natural and correct. 3. The rock coming out of the water. This is a very simple yet creative choice you have made and I enjoy it immensly. When you look at rocky islands, there are often rocks coming out of the water off of the shore. We often forget this in our MOCs and in my opinion this is the most realistic aspect of your MOC. 4. Blue, red, and others. I know we have had our squabbles about red coats, blue coats, etc..., but this MOC reminds me of a simplier time when I was a kid and honestly I had them all mixed up as much as anyone. Though I have noticed, as Im sure others have, that the blue coats are more land based and the red coats are more seafaring. I think you showed this natural bias in your MOC as well (good thing). 5. The brick choice. I love the use of some yellowed white brick to show age and wear. I also really enjoy the use of the gold "toppers" to make the feel of some of the older sets that used a lot of white and yellow. 6. Second story windows. I love the look and style of those windows and the way you incorporated the mini flags without making them look gaudy. 7. Third story tower. This looks like an appropriate sized "lookout" tower without it being too small and too large. It looks exactly like it should and has the size and substance to not look "dinky". 8. Old blues, Old reds. Don't know why this matters, but I still like seeing MOCs with the old guys. What I don't like: 1. Violence. The rules say no violence, no how. And yet I see a guard getting killed or taken out on the second floor. I know you have a storyline to uphold here and all, but there is a way this MOC can compete and win without the violence you have shown. I think you could modify this to show your third faction perhaps robbing the fort or something else. But as hard as it has been for me and everyone else to avoid violence; it should be as hard for you too. 2. Second story cannon. This cannon does not look like it has enough room, and does not look practical. How does anyone load this cannon? How did it get up there? How do you fire it? How do you get around it? When I ask these questions it makes that cannon and its location all wrong. Also, why does your fort have half its cannons pointing away from the water? its pointing in a wierd direction and unless you SHOW me a reason it needs to point that way, it just isn't right. 3. The path from the beach. I can see you have spent a good deal of time making a nice path and all. But I can't see it. There are too many minifigs doing way too much stuff for me to actually see the MOC! Please clean that up a little so I can actually see the whole path and decide if I like it or not. 4. First floor windows. Either use the exposed brick for both windows or neither. I don't know why, but only have one window with the exposed brick keeps making me look there, and I don't think you want me to just look at that window. Maybe work some exposed brick into the rest of the MOC as well or get rid of that one? 5. Map on the railing. Why is it there? What's the point? A railing isn't an office or anything like that. It just doesn't make sense to be there. 6. I know I mentioned the violence earlier, but if you are going to have that many minifigs doing something in the MOC make them more visible. All in all a very good job and very nicely done! I think with a few mods this is a top notch creation! Good Job! -martinsuper

This is a very cool idea. I am working on something of a memorial MOC myself. Its nice to see people coming up with the same ideas. Unless they are your ideas than you are peeved you are not done yet! Nice work. -martinsuper

Holy wow! You could really make something big out of this in NO time! Everything in that set is useful. VERY COOL!

I think I saw a blackcoat in there. If there are blackcoats than this is a totally awesome MOC despite what it turns out looking like! But one a serious not. I love the cabin and the aft, but I think the rest of the ship will have to be rather large and hefty to support that. Just a thought. -martinsuper

I am so impressed! They look REAL nice! Good job!

I love the updates, it really fleshes out the story and makes it more enjoyable!

Neat MOC! You should imbed these pics in the topic. Maybe try to use some lighting to make the ship easier to see? I know that Chimera is a nightmare, but I don't know what Tiranno is? I like how you have shown the slave scene quite nicely. Well done.

Really neat MOC! I had just got done watching "As far as my feet will take me", which is about a German POW escaping Siberia and trying to get home. This really reminds me of the bittersweet homecoming and how you really managed to capture the feeling! I like how the path is lower than the rest of the "lawn". It looks more believable. Is the fence supposed to be in disrepair and overgrown because the husband has been gone? If so, VERY nice job of showing that simply. I really like the roof and how it looks weahered. The inside of the house is simple and to the point. You have done enough in there without doing too much and I especially like the fireplace. The random barrel by the house is very well done! You might think that just placing a barrel is a simple process, but those who know me, know that I love barrels and barrels get extra points in my book! I really like your mini-fig selection in this scene. The soldier, wife, hair, and heads all look perfectly applied. I know some have said that a child would be a good idea, but then I think that you would be doing too much and that might clutter up the scene. GOOD JOB! -martinsuper

I don't know why you are so down on yourself! This is a great idea! I really like how you made it look like a hot rod shop for canoes! This really made me laugh and a good MOC should be able to do that! I especially liked how you made your own version of a lift. I really like the background and the tiled floor looks really nice as well. I think this is good one, and you have some really neat and new ideas! Good Job! -martinsuper

Yeah I saw the city advent calender in Target and I am signing this petition! If the pirate one was there I would have bought more than one!

I look forward to the updates!

I really like the scene! But why did you have to put a skeleton on a cannon! My MOC called "never relieved" is not awash! Other that stealing my idea without knowing it! I love the overall look and it feels jovial and captures the story. I guess you know how I feel because someone already had a golf one up and I think I saw you being a salty dog about it? -martinsuper

This MOC is well done for many reasons. 1. The soldiers are obviously having a good time and you do not need to explain that to me. 2. They are still trying to appear to do work, with the rifle mounted in the window and the mini-fig that I assume is a scarecrow of some kind? 3. I like the inlaid golfhole. 4. The top railing and fence top look really neat and I enjoy them. 5. I like the use of multiple shaed of gray and the appearance of randomness in the color. 6. I don't know why this should matter, but the imperial flag looks to be an old one? For some reason that makes me like this more! Good job and very nice MOC! Good detail! -martinsuper

VAST improvement! I have been very impressed with the MOC imrovements that have been coming up in this contest and this is no exception! Very well done and put together! I believe the scene a lot more now than I did before. The soldiers look like soldiers, the miners like miners, and I love the interior scene of the mine! GOOD JOB! -martinsuper