Hive

Very interesting report, thanks. While still dissapointed with the poor choice of repetitive factions, it does sound like the sets themselves are at least somewhat interesting.

I got 3 such bad boys from Bricklink today: Now to decide which one to use for my project.

I recently got the green dragon from Troll Warship. It goes perfectly with the Dragon Knights from Kingdoms, and I sure wouldn't mind adding a red dragon to my collection as well.

Indeed, I've been wanting him for a while - but have not been willing to pay the by now really inflated Bricklink prices for him.

My oh my did luck strike me today... On my way home from work, I decided to visit a super market I haven't been to for a while. As I was there, I decided to check up on their stock of LEGO - not expecting to find anything of particular interest. But what did my eyes behold? For some weird reason, they were selling CMF Series 3! I haven't seen these anywhere else for ages, and have no idea where they got them. It was the only series they were selling, to boot. So a little touch and feel finally gave me my first ever... Yeah! I should probably have searched for more of them, but I'm happy to finally have at least one.

After having looked at this great creation so many times, I finally decided to go ahead with my own version - and ordered no less than 3 variations of this baseplate on Bricklink. Can't wait for them to arrive. I think I'll be inspired by your choice to put the ramp facing away from the water, as I always found it a bit strange that it faced right into the pier. Your idea to make it modular is something I will look into, great addition! Keep on the good work, it's a source of awe and inspiration!

Whenever I buy a MISB set, it's in order to open it myself. So I wouldn't mind if customs decided to open it for me and pay half of my expenses as a result.

Yeah that's what I did myself. Even though the Forest Maiden is damn expensive.

Wait, they brought back a way to identify the figures on the bags?

Looks fantastic, I could definately see this as an official LEGO release. Blends in superbly with the set displayed next to it (forgot its' name).

Looks like yet another dragon. So dissapointing. Especially since both shields will then be rehashes of not only the very last Castle series, but poor versions of it to boot. Not to mention that they've done both in the past as well. Why couldn't they just keep Kingdoms, but make the new sets appeal to a younger age group? I really don't see the purpose of creating two new factions if they are only to be uglier, inferior versions of those they already have. I'm puzzled.

Awesome!

This is the first time I've looked at that set and actually liked what I saw, thanks to your additions. Good job. I'd love to see a version with the complete Fellowship and some more goblins/orcs/whatever those pesky little things are.

I have the solution: Joan of Brick aka Jeanne d'Brick!

I don't really get why people are so concerned about getting an additional Saruman. I mean, what about the gazillion Frodo, Bilbo, Gandalf, Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli figures you probably already have? If you can find use for those, I'm sure an additional Saruman won't be much of an issue either. Be creative, mix and match minifig parts to create new characters. Isn't that what LEGO is all about?

Not a bad deal, since the set is discontinued and all. Get it while you can, we likely won't see anything like it for quite some time.

Given how long MMV has been on the shelves, I wouldn't assume the Joust set to go away just yet... I wasn't even planning on getting it at first, as I found it underwhelming compared to MMV, but I have since come to the conclusion that it's still good value for money and has a few interesting figs. Yeah the reason I hadn't built it untill now is the same: lack of space to build and store. I have other unopened Castle (2007) and Kingdoms sets that awaits being added to my landscape as well. I did that a lot as well during the past year, it gives quite a kick looking at that beautiful box art and knowing that some special day, you're in for a real treat when opening it! Yeah the MVR has good figs and interesting animals that will supplement MMV really well, I think. I'm not sure I agree with your assesment about the figures though, I think thsoe from Castle (2007) blends perfectly in with Kingdoms (and vice versa). It starts getting edgy if you go further back than that, though.

After having sit on my unopened set of MMV for just over a year, I finally cracked up and built it with a friend after Christmas. And although the build process was a bit tedious at times and could have used the more recent approach with numbered bags, the end result was well worth it. I knew from the first time I ever saw pictures of this set that it would be my favorite set, and I have not changed my mind one bit on that since building it. If I am to say one single negative thing about the set, it would be the lack of truly unique minifigures. But that's a minor complaint, this set is amazing overall. A true beauty to behold. I may have to get Kingdoms Joust and see what I can do with the two of them together, now. But next up will be building the MVR, which I've also had for just over a year now.

I definately agree with this, it has been a huge help to me in the past.

Anyone know how long it usually takes before the prices on a new series of CMF stabilize on Bricklink? Would like to pick up my wanted figs from both series 8 and 9 soon, but not at the inflated prices series 9 currently has...

Your first ever MOC? You're certainly off to a good start!

Heh. Being close to Denmark doesn't matter the least bit, we have some of the most expensive LEGO prices in the world. They know we love LEGO and are willing to pay good money for it, so they exploit it greatly. Frustrating, but that's just the way it is. It's the reason why I very, very rarely buy LEGO not on 40-50 % sale.

A hawk would be new and refreshing.

The problem lies not with the fact that they use a Lion as their emblem. LEGO has done that several times before, and history saw a great deal of it. The problem lies with the design of that particular emblem, it simply looks outright horrible and overly childish. It does not look like a fearsome lion, it looks like a cuddly teddy bear from a toddlers' tv show. If they have to depart from the Kingdoms variant (which was also a lion), I'd much, MUCH rather see them revive this version of a lion shield:

Good point, didn't think about that. I guess only time will tell, though it would be a huge surprise to me if they don't release Orthanc at some point.