Nicker

Looks like the shields may also sport stickers but it's hard to tell. In one photo I can make out a highlight on a ridge close to the end of the shield. I guess these things could change and turn out to be prints once they go into full production.

Anyone else notice that the flag colors on the Kings Castle set are pretty much the same colors used on the Kings Castle back in 1984? The Dragons masters also used those colors in 1993. It's been a while since those colors were used. I welcome it.

I think that we will see a 3rd human faction in this line eventually even if it isn't forest men. Maybe they will come up with some kind of barbaric human faction inspired by the Wolfpack.

I have a feeling that the appearance of the robin hood style collectible minifig could mean that we might see a 3rd faction appear in 2011 as the return of the forest people. Just a thought.

I totally agree with you. If the newer dragons from the fantasy line were sold separately in a box without the Lego logo on it I bet no one would know that it was made by Lego. If you take one of the old dragons it is still relatively easy to see that it is a Lego toy.

It looks to me like set 7946 is definitely inspired by 6080 and 7094. It looks like it basically takes the good design aspects of both and blends them together for the most part. The layout of 7946 seems to be much like set 6080 from 1984 with a large gatehouse in front and a tower in each of the back corners. The booms for lowering the drawbridge are present from 7094 as well as curved battlements jutting out on each of the front corners much like set 7094 although they are not towers. The only aspect of the design that I am not sure if I like is the booms that raise and lower the drawbridge are actually located on the outside sides of the gatehouse which is very unusual and would normally be protected when raised into a recess in the front of the gatehouse.

Can someone that has seen images tell me if the large castle set has a proper gate house so the portcullis doesn't stick out of the battlements? Edit: I found the images and it does look like they have finally put on a proper gatehouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will definitely be getting these sets!

I looked through the thread from beginning to end and I can't help but notice that about 75-80% of the armies posted are made up of mini figures from the current castle line. This leads me to believe that there are very few forum goers who own or are familiar with the old school classic Lego Castle. Just an interesting observation I had that surprised me. When I have some time I will post my armies that consist of mostly classic castle figures. Some very impressive mini figure collections here!

Yes but they have only really been done once. They could return with a redesign although I don't think the old falcons crest design could be outdone. I also think that factions could use very simple symbols much like the first castle sets from the late 70s and early 80s. They don't always have to have an animals as the basis for a crest design.

I thought one of the most glaring problems with this set was the fact that it has only one horse pulling the chariot. Another thing that bothers me from a design point of view is that the chariot is huge compared to the horse. The proportions of this set are definitely out. Chariots were designed to be driven into battle at high speeds usually with 2 horses. I really can't see this chariot racing into battle. It's a nice idea for a set but it really benefit from a better more balanced design. A second horse could have been included into this set for about the same price by taking out both of the trolls or by taking out 1 troll and the knight. I rate this set at 5/10. I plan on making a MOC of the way I thought this set should have been designed.

KCS doesn't even have a gatehouse to make fun of if we wanted to, that's the problem. If KCS had a gatehouse on it then it would actually be a proper castle. No medieval architect in their right mind would make a castle with out a gate house to protect and defend the gate especially if it has a portcullis. I don't own the set myself but I don't even think there is a simple battlement above the gate that soldiers can stand on since the portcullis passes up vertically through the battlements which was simply unheard of until TLG invented it about 10 years ago starting with set 6091(King Leo's Castle). The same lacking gate design has carried through into the design of every large Lego castle since then including 8781(The Castle of Morcia), 10176(King's Castle) and most recently the one we speak of 7094(King's Castle Siege). There was only one exception over the past 10 years being set 8877(Vladek's Dark Fortress) in 2005 which did not need a gatehouse since it did not have a portcullis, instead having double doors and a drawbridge. The sets in the past that had gatehouses were 6080(King's Castle), 6085(Black Monarch's Castle), 6086(Black Knight's Castle) and 6090(Royal Knights Castle). Any other large castle sets before the year 2000 that did not have gatehouses simply did not need them because thy did not have a portcullis and just had a drawbridge or a drawbridge and double doors.

Very nice looking ship! It looks like one of the best designs I have seen from TLG in a long time. I was not at all impressed with set 6243 Brick Beards Bounty but this one looks amazing. I own the Black Seas Barracuda so that's what I tend to use as a quality gauge. If I have any extra money laying around I will likely be ordering this one when it gets released.

I am 29 years old now but I was a kid in the age range you describe during the 80s. I understood medieval basics even at age 5. I knew what a siege tower was and what a portcullis and drawbridge were. I loved castle Lego as a kid with factions of human vs human and I understood that if I wanted to have a evil faction I would make one of them evil as I saw fit. A time existed in Lego history when Lego didn't have to define how the good guys or bad guys were. I have nothing against fantasy themes in general as I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan but I think fantasy themes are all to common these days especially with kids toys. I know kids are different now and it takes more to get and keep their interest compared to children of the 80s but I would bet that Lego castle sold better in the 80s and early 90s compared to sales now, just a guess. When the Dragon Masters faction came out in 1993 that was the beginning of the end for the glory years of Castle Lego in my opinion.

Ya, I can't see that happening again either. In fact I am a bit surprised that Lego named a faction Crusaders back in the early 90s. But that's when there was more historic influence on the Lego castle theme. It's seems that was traded in for more fantasy influence.

I agree. I never did like good vs evil that much especially if it was blatant. I welcome the idea of human factions returning especially because that's what medieval times were about. There were always waring clans and kingdoms made up of all human factions. Here is page I scanned out of the 1992 Lego catalogue that shows all the different human factions at the time and gives a brief description but doesn't make any one group sound more evil than the others. It really leaves it up to your imagination to draw conclusions.

Thanks for the explanation, that makes sense.

That's what I'm hoping for. As far as I'm concerned I can't see any reason why they couldn't have put a proper gatehouse on it. I found the lack of a gatehouse was the most disappointing flaw in the Kings Castle Siege design as it has been with the few large castles that have come before it. It is very simple common sense that if they didn't want to put the gatehouse on the castle for some reason then they should have left out the portcullis completely and used a pair of double doors instead like the ones at the back of the castle. Set 6081 Kings Mountain Fortress is a perfect example of this logical design concept. You could have the doors open to the inside or the outside whatever functions best with the design. I really think Lego designers need to keep in mind that their designs need to make sense and be practical as well as looking good all at the same time. I have to say that I wouldn't want my children thinking that the portcullis stuck out over the battlements when it was raised on medieval castles. One recent set, the Medieval Market Village was well thought out and designed! Lets hope the 2010 sets are at least a step in the right direction. I'm new to some of this lingo here. I keep reading people talk about impulses and impulse sets. Can someone please enlighten me and give me a few examples of impulse sets?

I like also like the idea that there will be new apposing factions as there once was when the Lego Castle began. I never really liked the Castle fantasy theme that much. I could do without huge Dragons, Trolls etc. I think the plastic is better put to use for more figures and pieces. I don't mind having one or 2 Wizards around though but I wouldn't really miss them either. I am hoping for things to return to a more classic design with these new sets. I am hoping for a Castle along the lines of the MMV idea sometime in the future that has plenty of detail and a well thought out design.

Ya I agree. I think they are trying to inject some of the classic castle elements back into the theme but I guess we won't know for sure until we see some pictures.

Were you able to see if the new large castle had a proper gatehouse for the portcullis? I am assuming it would have a portcullis since most Lego castles have had them in the past. It has been over a decade though since a Lego castle had a proper gatehouse on it. What medieval castle had it's portcullis sticking out of the battlements above like so many of the more recent design efforts suggest. I also really hope they have more than one knight on horseback included with the large castle this time. I'm really not sure why they have got stuck in a rut of only including one knight on horseback with the large castle sets over the past 10 years or so.