David Thomsen

I notice that unlike the equivalent Lion Knights torso, this torso doesn't have any Dragon Knight colours or emblems on it, making it the only 'neutral' knight torso... I imagine they did this on purpose when they designed the torso so they could specifically use it for this minifigure. This wouldn't be the first time they'd planned long in advance. Hmmm... I don't think I have much else to say about this set for the time being. I guess there's nothing left for me to do but wait for someone to get the set and review it. Unless Lego want to put out a video of a designer talking about the set. Now, where are the pictures of the next Modular building?

I don't understand why everyone is so fixated on whether or not the Black Falcon is 'officially' a Dragon Knight in disguise. Probably they just had a lot of green plumes that needed using up.

Not necessarily... they had a City space exploration subtheme that wasn't a 'Space' theme, they could have a Military Base subtheme that isn't an 'Action' theme. As long as it doesn't actually have two armies at war with each other, it can fit into the City theme, just like the space exporation theme can fit into City because it doesn't have Aliens. That isn't to say it will ever happen... just that it might work in City if was just an army outpost, rather than a 'war' theme. Can Lego have 'violence' in a City theme, if there is no conflict, and therefore no actual 'violence'?

I think Dwarves is too fantasy-esque for the current Kingdoms theme, they seem to be trying to play it straight with little or no fantasy elements. Especially if LOTR becomes the theme they'll want to avoid any cross-over aspects. Vikings, though... I guess that could happen, like in the game Settlers where different cultures from the same time compete against each other. But considering how AFOLs have been slathering for forestmen, that's where I'm placing my bets...

I have one main reason for doubting that the Black Falcons will return - they are too similar to the Dragon Knights. If they go to the effort of introducing a new faction, why would it just be another group of 'evil dark knights with green plumes'? They have so many other options, like Forestmen and Wolfpack, with very different aesthetics.

I agree that the tents are quite small, but if you buy two set it looks like it would be very easy to make them twice as big. An archery range would have been great though, as an alternative kind of duel. I think the blue shack doesn't look so good because unlike the MMV and the bridge tower, it has a deliberately ramshackle look, so a less clean design. I think it can be easily fixed, though. Not sure why the windows are poking out like that though, is this a common enough architectural feature? They would have probably taken up the entire two floors, and been doubled up when two sets are placed together. I don't mind so much because when you put two sets together, it'll be hard to notice the lack of stairs anyway.

From the mouth of Bonaparte in the topic The end of LEGO Pirates by mid 2010 : So any speculation that Pirates was replaced by POTC, and that therefore Castle will be replaced by LOTR, is unfounded.

Oh... then why is everyone acting like the Joust signifies the end of the theme? Come to think of it, there's no reason a LOTR theme can't co-exist with the Kingdoms theme either. Space didn't end because of Star Wars, and unlike Fantasy Knights, which is very similar to LOTR, the Kingdoms theme is quite different, focussing on real Medieval life rather than trolls and dragons. Maybe this is actually why they switched from Fantasy to Kingdoms, so they had a castle theme that could co-exist with LOTR. Maybe everyone is reading the situation entirely wrongly. Also, Pirates 2009 was only ever intended as a one-year theme, so it's wrong to think that POTC caused the end of the theme. Giving it more thought, I fully expect the Kingdoms theme to continue later next year.

Huh... I never realised before but this is why I haven't purchased any Space sets since I came out of my 'dark ages'. Yes, I miss sets where they are in space just for the sake of being in space... exploring or scouting or setting up bases or scanning for minerals. Or just roving in general. It's like instead of having a straight Castle theme with knights and castles, like Kingdoms, they decided that the castles flew around and were powered by wizard knuckles that had to be mined with special laser-dragon axes.

I've tried to find anything solid there but it mostly looks like wish lists and the occasional person I have never heard of who has a 'reliable source'. If Lego have once again dropped a classic theme in favour of a licensed theme, I will be miffed. Admittedly the POTC theme introduced a lot of new Pirate-themed accessories that probably would not have existed otherwise, but I'm not sure if it's worth the inflated prices and the loss of what makes classic themes so charming. No more castles, towers and villages... only Movie Scene #1, Movie Scene #2 and Movie Scene #3.

Sometimes I think Eurobricks should have a FAQ page. One of those questions could be, 'what are the rumours of the Tolkien theme based on?' which is a question I'm sure has been asked before but I don't think I've seen real answers. Not that I have been following closely, since I have less than zero interest in a Hobbit theme. But I would rather see more Kingdoms sets than a new Hobbit theme. I'm not convinced that the Joust set is the 'swansong' of the Kingdoms theme, though... it's only a very recent tradition to have exclusive sets in themes at all, and the Imperial Flagship and the MMV don't set much of a precedent. Lego might be trying to see what effect it has on sales when they release an exclusive during the theme rather than after.

Yes this is on S@H New Zealand as well, for $249.99... that would make it $499.98 for two sets... have to figure out how much I really need two copies of this set. I think we have it the most expensive. I will definitely be looking into alternative overseas purchasing options for this. If only Amazon.co.uk offered free delivery on Exclusive sets.

I think this is the first exclusive set, though... although I guess you've always been able to buy additional Modular Buildings to add extra floors. This isn't shown in the marketting material though, so they probably realise the gimmick isn't going to sell that many extra sets. With 10223 however it is a different story. @BeefBeard I think there is only one loaf of bread, although it's a fairly easy item to get extra ones from BrickLink. @Brickviller, I can't think of any city buildings with open backs that are designed to be placed back to back. With them I think it is just a case of easy access for play, and also keeping the sets affordable.

Actually, the horses aren't wearing their helmets and there is no loaf of bread... so not quite complete. (Also, the image goes above the Eurobricks size limit, which is why I didn't post it earlier...) The more I think about it, the only way I'm buying two of this set if they include additional instructions to make the tents bigger with the spare pieces and also to elongate the Royal stand. Otherwise I'm not really getting value for money. Lego, are you listening? Is anyone else who is thinking of getting two sets likely to mod it so that both of the balconies are one one side of the tower, facing the joust, and both of the stained glass windows are on the other side? This just makes more sense to me...

Oh... I see. I don't actually have a problem with this because I'm only collecting the Exclusive castle sets, so no one else in my collection will have this torso. I've decided to explain the two Crown soldiers in MMV as the Crown Tax Collectors, whereas the Lion knights in the Joust set will be the Royal Guard. That way I can merge the two Exclusive sets without too many conflicting factions.

Which image shows the torso underneath Falcon knights armour? I can't seem to find this anywhere. Personally, I think the Falcon knight would have looked good with a purple plume and tent. But that's just me - I think blue would be too reminiscent of the Crown knights, and purple would make the mysterious dark knight stand out more. Sadly the plume does not come in purple so I can't substitute it.

No wait, I tell a lie. There are black peg holes at the base of the tower. I just couldn't see them in the larger image. Also there are peg holes on the inside of the tower... for some reason. I hope there are additional instructions to make better usage of the 'extra' buildings, like the tents and the royal platform. As much as I like the double tower, I'm not going to also get a whole bunch of other redundant pieces. And I am not creative enough to try to work them into something better by myself...

Yes... it's a bit disappointing because the set is good enough already, they don't have to 'cheat' to make it look even more impressive. It would have been nicer to show us the standalone set first... and THEN show us what happens when you combine two. It's a shame the two sets don't lock together, except that the bases of the flags have been moved over slightly. What they don't show you is what happens when you combine two of the royal stage to make it twice as long. Also you'd be able to make the knights' tents much bigger. And you could fiddle around with the two smaller buildings to make them look less identical. Buy even more sets and you can give the towers another floor and make the bridge much longer. I can't wait to see what happens when MOCers combine two, or four, or six of this set...

See, this is why I knew I was going to buy this set before I even saw it. Originally I was picturing a large set of bleachers with an awning above them. While that would also have been cool, this idea is so much better. Two towers with a bridge design. Awesome. New Falcon figure. Awesome. Design and colour of blue building sections obviously designed to match MMV. Awesome. New female dress. Awesome. Two soldiers who can replace the 'Crown' soldiers in MMV and let the two exclusive sets match each other better. Awesome. I don't know where to end. Awesome. I knew when I got the MMV that there would eventually be another exclusive set to make it even more awesome. Lego have surpassed my every expectation.

It's either the Joust or the Town Hall... since I'm getting both sets I'll be pleased either way. Very excited for the weekend now! They don't often have a timeline for revealing new sets.

Very cute, kind of Super Deformed... certainly not something I was expecting. I'll have to pass, though.

I don't think that is the final design, it looks very basic for a modern printed torso. There were pictures of the store exclusive sets? Actually a 'portacabin' or whatever doesn't sound too bad, most fire stations are far too big for my small town.

I actually think the standalone ambulance set makes it less likely that we'll get a full hospital. It seems to me that if they were going to pursue the Hospital theme, they'd put the sets all together in the same wave. The more I look at it, the more absurd the recycling truck looks with it's bus-sized window. It just makes me all the more grateful that I picked up the recycling truck of a couple of years ago.

I was referring to the end of the brick, not the reverse side... but this whole discussion can get confusing as I still don't entirely understand what lightningtiger meant by 'to end flush the brick work would be at right angles....cornered' in post #93. It occured to me that even if one side of the brick doesn't have vertical lines, you can still create an interlocking pattern but the bricks are going to be irregular, like this: Which I actually think looks quite nice.

At the very bottom left of the police station there seems to be a 1x1 brick, or the end of a longer brick, with the 'brick' pattern on it. Which is strange because at the bottom right of the police station, we can see that the end of the 1x2 brick is perfectly blank. I don't quite know what to make of that. Also the shrine in 9442 seems to confirm that one side side of the brick has no vertical lines. In a way it's a shame, but I can also see how something like that might be very useful.