BDP9: Wizard's Tower
Posted by Huw,
This article in our series highlighting BrickLink Designer Program series 9 projects has been written by zegel0802.
I discovered the Bricklink Designer Program (BDP) about a year and a half ago when my local group of LEGO friends told me that crowdfunding was under way for Series 1. These were fan-designed models and people could purchase them? I was intrigued.
I had just come out of my Dark Age the previous summer with the purchase of Ninjago City Gardens. It was late August (2024) when I began work on my first BDP project. My intent for this article is to show the evolution of my design over the course of 3 submissions and discuss the feedback I have received (both from Bricklink and the fan community) and how I have incorporated it.
Growing up in the 90s, classic castle and pirates will always be my first love. I surveyed the upcoming finalists for BDP Series 2 through 5, as well as submissions that were not selected, and realised there have been very few Wizard dwellings. I decided a Tower might be a welcome addition to the program. I had only just started working in Studio for a couple of months. As a trained Architect who works in a digital 3D medium, the learning curve was probably not as steep as it could have been. Since LEGO re-released Majisto’s Workshop recently as a GWP, I figured a “Tower” would be a better approach than a house.
Merlin’s crumbling tower from the classic Disney film, The Sword in the Stone was the start of my inspiration
My process began with blocking out the massing and shape of the tower. Since this tower is meant to be crooked, I figured I would get the angles first and deal with the structure later, a decision that proved to be almost fatal (more on that later).
In this sketch you will see some of the massing and shape blocked out and rendered in Studio. I then overlaid the rocky base, entrance, wood supports, and foliage, with other digital means to get a better sense of where the design needed to go. This is similar to how I work professionally. It helps to get an initial idea massed out digitally to the correct scale and then overlay by hand more detail to flesh out design direction and concept.
I decided that I did not want the base to be square but rather angled with wedge plates. And as you can see from the sketch, I also wanted the entire thing to fold open like a dollhouse (like the Lion Knights Castle). This was rather difficult to do digitally and required looking at many articles and reference sets to figure it out.
Series 6 submission
After Series 6 I went back to the drawing board. I reached out to the Bricklink team as well as the LEGO community for feedback. The two main takeaways were to connect the minifigures to castle lore (factions, named people etc.) and to do something about the wooden supports under the observatory.
I came up with this sketch of a tree going through the tower and supporting the observatory. Rather than redesigning all the angles, I added black tiled slopes and other pieces onto the Technic beams. The structural support remained the same, but the curves of the tree trunk itself make a big difference.
Series 7 Submission
The most substantial update was the tree support underneath the observatory. This gives the effect that a tree has started to grow through the tower. The other change was the introduction of the wizard Majisto as the central character and adding Dragon Master and Wolfpack minifigures. This model was apparently well received during the voting. I was told by the Bricklink team that they built a test model, but there were significant stability issues. They said a physical test build on my part would be worth it to determine how to improve stability.
I decided to skip series 8 and spend the summer working on a physical model. With the help my friends, I was able to gather enough pieces to do a test build of previous Series model and determine where the stability issues were. I moved the entire to the front portion of the base. This allows for a 4x4 structural core composed of Technic beams and columns reinforced together with pin connections.
Series 9 Design
Below is my submission for Series 9. Besides the structural redesign, many of the updates were due to changes in the parts available in the material palette. But I especially like the improvements to the roof (shout-out to BrickPerfection (designer of Privateer Frigate Fortuna) who suggested I make the roof look like a wizard’s hat) and the stone guardian statue. But the most significant updates are the minifigures. The wolfpack torsos are no longer available because the Medieval Town Square is retiring at the end of this year and neither were the dragon wings. I decided to incorporate this into the storytelling with the introduction of new factions into the castle kingdom. The narrative below describes the tower in more detail and how these newcomers enter the realm and the role they hope that Majisto can play.
Nestled in a quiet corner of a mossy forest stands the Wizard’s Tower, home to the old wizard Majisto. The structure lies atop a small knoll, surrounded by trees and tangled vines.
Time has taken its toll on the tower—its stones are weathered, and a large tree has grown through part of it, splitting the walls and roof as nature slowly reclaims the storied setting.
At the base of the tree, a small knob releases an enchantment that brings the tree to life, a protective spell Majisto placed long ago. Travellers who unknowingly stumble into its presence - or maliciously trespass – often find themselves caught in its branches.
The tower itself is cleverly built, with a foldable design and a removable roof that reveals its interior rooms. On the first level is Majisto’s study, filled with scrolls, books, and maps. It’s a quiet space where he spends most of his time reading and writing. A ladder leads up to the bedroom, a simple room with a small bed, a nightstand, and a window that looks out over the forest canopy.
At the top of the tower are the living quarters. A fireplace provides warmth during colder months with a nearby chair and bookshelf for reading and reflection.
A door leads to a staircase that winds up to the observatory, where Majisto often spends evenings watching the stars and tracking celestial events.
Beneath the tower, a trapdoor in the study opens to a cellar. Down there is a kitchen, potion storage, and a worktable for mixing ingredients. A wall conceals a cave that once served as a hideout for the Wolfpack. The lair still contains old supplies and weapons, and a sliding wall connects it back to the cellar. Though the Wolfpack are no longer active in the region, their presence lingers in the shadows of the tower.
But alas, the ruling parties of the land have changed. The Lion Knights, Black Falcons, and Wolfpack have faded from power. New factions have emerged - the Griffin, Serpent and Horse Knights.
The Griffin Knights are proud and orderly, hoping to bring structure and fairness to the realm. The Serpent Knights are secretive, drawn to the tower’s magical history and eager to learn its deeper mysteries. The Horse Knights are practical and swift, focused on building alliances and keeping peace across the land. Each group has come to Majisto not with demands, but with questions. They seek his advice as they try to understand the land they’ve inherited and the stories that came before them.
The tower stands as a silent witness to this changing age. Its stones remember the footsteps of old warriors, and its walls echo with the voices of those who once ruled. Now, it opens its doors to a new generation, and the wizard within must decide who among them is worthy of the truth he guards.
Thank you for taking the time to read. If you are interested in voting I would greatly appreciate it! Any comments and feedback are welcome, I’ll try to respond to any questions you might have.
Vote for the Wizard’s Tower here.
80 likes
48 comments on this article
Really nice design! Love that tree passing through. …Great sketches too. Very cool to see the process.
Superb build! Best of luck!
"You cannot change the laws of physics!"
Majisto: "Hold my ale."
While I'm sure it's designed well enough that one wouldn't have to worry about gravity too much, the building looks like it would be structurally unsound in-universe. There's probably some kind of magic keeping this building from falling apart, but it's beyond cartoony in this design. Like it was built by Wile E. Coyote.
Don't get me wrong, it's funny and creative, but I don't think this would match previously released castle-themed buildings very well, since they've been more steeped in reality. It also doesn't help that Majisto/Merlin has a type of clock that wouldn't be invented until at least a few centuries after knights regularly rode on horseback. That might be a pet peeve, but such historically inaccuracies kind of bother me, sorry. :'-)
Lots of great builds this time around (even if a plethora of the bigger ones are castle-themed - again). I really hope this and the Darkspire wins as I've wanted the Fright Knights faction to be modernized since '97!
Beautiful and definitely getting a vote from me! Love the improvements to the supporting tree and probably a good idea to just focus on the tower to cut down on cost as well. W/ the great story and as an avid castle fan this would be a def purchase for me!
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
" It also doesn't help that Majisto/Merlin has a type of clock that wouldn't be invented until at least a few centuries after knights regularly rode on horseback"
Except that needn't be the case in an alternate universe that has magic.
Nice to see a design with a healthy dose of whimsy. Good luck!
The wonky tower and the tree support are definitely a bit more interesting than the fairly standard straight up designs. The tree support looks so much better than the wood support. It is nice to see a designer reacting to advice from potential buyers.
That doesn’t look like the bridge of the Invisible Hand!
Thank you, zegel0802, for your insights into the design process and highlighting the collaboration and different iterations on the journey to this Series 9 submission. I am always captivated and fascinated to learn about the process that each designers uses. It is a good reminder to new creators that everyone has to start somewhere, and we only improve over time, through practice, patience, resilience, and a willingness to accept constructive criticism and help from other people in the community.
I like the quirkyness of the design.
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
""You cannot change the laws of physics!"
Majisto: "Hold my ale."
While I'm sure it's designed well enough that one wouldn't have to worry about gravity too much, the building looks like it would be structurally unsound in-universe. There's probably some kind of magic keeping this building from falling apart, but it's beyond cartoony in this design. Like it was built by Wile E. Coyote.
Don't get me wrong, it's funny and creative, but I don't think this would match previously released castle-themed buildings very well, since they've been more steeped in reality. It also doesn't help that Majisto/Merlin has a type of clock that wouldn't be invented until at least a few centuries after knights regularly rode on horseback. That might be a pet peeve, but such historically inaccuracies kind of bother me, sorry. :'-)"
I think it matches perfectly fine. This looks quite reasonable relative to some of the Fright Knight sets, and most of the Forestmen and Dark Forest sets are designed in or around trees.
To be honest, I'm not sure if the Castle theme was ever all that grounded in reality. The armor, factions, weapons and everything else propose a general time-frame consisting of the entire Middle Ages, and the theme features wizards, ghosts, dragons, witches and vampiric bat lords--all from the original run.
If it were at all attempting to be realistic, sure--the pendulum clock would be out of place. Even so, I think it still works in the context of it just being a curiosity in Majisto's home.
Oh wow, this looks so amazing! I love the organic shape of the tower, the little details and the tree growing through the tower. This should have been an official ideas set, although it would detract from the designers fantastic work, but it definitely needs to be selected. Only thing I worry about is the price it will have. Chapeau!
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
""You cannot change the laws of physics!"
Majisto: "Hold my ale."
While I'm sure it's designed well enough that one wouldn't have to worry about gravity too much, the building looks like it would be structurally unsound in-universe. There's probably some kind of magic keeping this building from falling apart, but it's beyond cartoony in this design. Like it was built by Wile E. Coyote.
Don't get me wrong, it's funny and creative, but I don't think this would match previously released castle-themed buildings very well, since they've been more steeped in reality. It also doesn't help that Majisto/Merlin has a type of clock that wouldn't be invented until at least a few centuries after knights regularly rode on horseback. That might be a pet peeve, but such historically inaccuracies kind of bother me, sorry. :'-)"
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment! Yes I agree it is a bit more whimsical than other medieval offerings. Then again, the Alchemist Shop has a giant potion bottle on the roof. And for the clock, as I'm pretty sure Gandalf said, "A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when his coo coo clock tells him to!"
@SkyCaptain_USA said:
"Thank you, zegel0802, for your insights into the design process and highlighting the collaboration and different iterations on the journey to this Series 9 submission. I am always captivated and fascinated to learn about the process that each designers uses. It is a good reminder to new creators that everyone has to start somewhere, and we only improve over time, through practice, patience, resilience, and a willingness to accept constructive criticism and help from other people in the community."
Thank you for taking the time to read all of it. I often see so many wonder MOCs (BDP, Ideas, Flickr), and I think, "how did they get there." So the article is just as much about the design process and inspiration as it is about showcasing the latest version. Feel free to leave a comment on the submission page. Maybe share with friend or two!
@CCC said:
"The wonky tower and the tree support are definitely a bit more interesting than the fairly standard straight up designs. The tree support looks so much better than the wood support. It is nice to see a designer reacting to advice from potential buyers."
Thank you for the nice words. I agree it has come a long was from Series 6. Much of that has to do with the response from the community and trying to make it the best I can. I think some of the best BDP finalists are the ones that get selected on the 2nd, 3rd (or even 4th!) try. Dustmark Keep, Privateer Frigate Fortune, and the Sushi Restaurant come to mind.
@zegel0802 said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
""You cannot change the laws of physics!"
Majisto: "Hold my ale."
While I'm sure it's designed well enough that one wouldn't have to worry about gravity too much, the building looks like it would be structurally unsound in-universe. There's probably some kind of magic keeping this building from falling apart, but it's beyond cartoony in this design. Like it was built by Wile E. Coyote.
Don't get me wrong, it's funny and creative, but I don't think this would match previously released castle-themed buildings very well, since they've been more steeped in reality. It also doesn't help that Majisto/Merlin has a type of clock that wouldn't be invented until at least a few centuries after knights regularly rode on horseback. That might be a pet peeve, but such historically inaccuracies kind of bother me, sorry. :'-)"
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment! Yes I agree it is a bit more whimsical than other medieval offerings. Then again, the Alchemist Shop has a giant potion bottle on the roof. And for the clock, as I'm pretty sure Gandalf said, "A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when his coo coo clock tells him to!""
Thanks for commenting! Like your design, I have mixed feelings about the Alchemist Shop too. Yes, both look fun and creative, but they're a bit too 'fantastical' for my liking. For me, Merlin or Majisto are not so much wizards, in the modern pop culture sense (like Gandalf), but mystics or druids. I'm not ruling out I might still get these sets, though, because they do look like fun, and they have Castle-themed minifigs.
@Vesperas said:
"I think it matches perfectly fine. This looks quite reasonable relative to some of the Fright Knight sets, and most of the Forestmen and Dark Forest sets are designed in or around trees.
To be honest, I'm not sure if the Castle theme was ever all that grounded in reality. The armor, factions, weapons and everything else propose a general time-frame consisting of the entire Middle Ages, and the theme features wizards, ghosts, dragons, witches and vampiric bat lords--all from the original run."
Honestly, I never liked the Fright Knights theme. I have a few sets, and some of the minifigs are nice, but their buildings have always looked bricking ugly to me. That's when I stopped caring about the Castle theme altogether.
I've always liked the grounded nature of the 1984 to 1992 Castle sets, though. Sure, you can't expect realism or historically accuracy from a children's toy, as they'll always be an appropriation of a very wide timeframe, but at least it felt genuine enough.
I could tolerate Merlin/Majisto, too, as he felt part of the lore, and granted, that green dragon looked cool, but those Dragon Masters sets just didn't do it for me. For that same reason, I don't really care for most modern fantasy, like LotR of Game Of Thrones. Actual Medieval history is far more interesting than some boring wizards, orcs, and dragons.
@Vesperas said:
"IIf it were at all attempting to be realistic, sure--the pendulum clock would be out of place. Even so, I think it still works in the context of it just being a curiosity in Majisto's home."
@Spike730 said:
"Except that needn't be the case in an alternate universe that has magic."
Unless Majisto has a Tardis hidden in his tower, I still don't think that pendulum clock should be there. ;-)
@zegel0802 - thank you very much. I love the write up, I love the submission.
I love how you kept pushing the design, trying to find the right, best solution just like @arselus and his cathedral. I don't MOC as much these days but I have spent years designing and trashing and then redesigning and then restrashing the layout for my LEGO city. And each time I think I've got it, I realize that it still wasn't where I wanted it to be. It's the journey as much as the destination and I very much appreciate you sharing your journey with us.
If approved by LEGO to move forward, this submission would be a 100% purchase for me.
Yup, looks just like my house. Good job!
@yellowcastle said:
" @zegel0802 - thank you very much. I love the write up, I love the submission.
I love how you kept pushing the design, trying to find the right, best solution just like @arselus and his cathedral. I don't MOC as much these days but I have spent years designing and trashing and then redesigning and then restrashing the layout for my LEGO city. And each time I think I've got it, I realize that it still wasn't where I wanted it to be. It's the journey as much as the destination and I very much appreciate you sharing your journey with us.
If approved by LEGO to move forward, this submission would be a 100% purchase for me."
@yellowcastle thank you for the kind words! If you haven't already please vote and provide a comment at the bottom of the page. I know too well the feeling of starting and then trashing a design. I will say that after Series 7 I was a bit discouraged... But I received feedback from the BDP team that they actually test built the model. From what I understand only 15 or so sets get built! So it spurred me on to solve the structural issues and resubmit for Series 9. I think to be a finalist you have to have a really good design AND a healthy dose of luck thrown in.
@BrickmanNL said:
"Oh wow, this looks so amazing! I love the organic shape of the tower, the little details and the tree growing through the tower. This should have been an official ideas set, although it would detract from the designers fantastic work, but it definitely needs to be selected. Only thing I worry about is the price it will have. Chapeau!"
Thank you for the kinds words! I assume if you took the time to read and comment then you have already voted. Also, write a comment at the bottom of the submission page.
At the base of the tree you can twist a knob that turns some gears for the Forest Guardian to rotate!
In terms of price, BDP sets are usually $0.86 per piece (or so). I was really conscious of the piece count and decided 2,500 parts was my ceiling. I kept working and revising to optimize the design to be under that part total. The current design is 2,490 pieces. Which would make is around $215 (USD). I would say that a reasonably priced BDP set in my opinion. What do you think?
@quincy said:
"Really nice design! Love that tree passing through. …Great sketches too. Very cool to see the process. "
Thank you! I really wanted the first part of the article to showcase that. These designs don't just appear in a magical poof! (Well maybe they do if you're a wizard). It's been in development for over a year now, off and on, and I'm thankful @huw has given me a chance to showcase it here at Brickset.
@zegel0802 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @zegel0802 - thank you very much. I love the write up, I love the submission.
I love how you kept pushing the design, trying to find the right, best solution just like @arselus and his cathedral. I don't MOC as much these days but I have spent years designing and trashing and then redesigning and then restrashing the layout for my LEGO city. And each time I think I've got it, I realize that it still wasn't where I wanted it to be. It's the journey as much as the destination and I very much appreciate you sharing your journey with us.
If approved by LEGO to move forward, this submission would be a 100% purchase for me."
@yellowcastle thank you for the kind words! If you haven't already please vote and provide a comment at the bottom of the page. I know too well the feeling of starting and then trashing a design. I will say that after Series 7 I was a bit discouraged... But I received feedback from the BDP team that they actually test built the model. From what I understand only 15 or so sets get built! So it spurred me on to solve the structural issues and resubmit for Series 9. I think to be a finalist you have to have a really good design AND a healthy dose of luck thrown in."
If LEGO went so far as to prebuild your set, then it would seem to me that you were considered a potential finalist for that Series. Obviously we can't tell the future, there are a lot of sets in consideration for only 5 spots, and I wouldn't want to get your hopes up, but I think the improved design (assuming you resolved the structural concerns) and previous experience are very encouraging for Series 9. I wish you nothing but good luck and hope everyone at Brickset considers voting for your set.
@yellowcastle said:
" @zegel0802 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @zegel0802 - thank you very much. I love the write up, I love the submission.
I love how you kept pushing the design, trying to find the right, best solution just like @arselus and his cathedral. I don't MOC as much these days but I have spent years designing and trashing and then redesigning and then restrashing the layout for my LEGO city. And each time I think I've got it, I realize that it still wasn't where I wanted it to be. It's the journey as much as the destination and I very much appreciate you sharing your journey with us.
If approved by LEGO to move forward, this submission would be a 100% purchase for me."
@yellowcastle thank you for the kind words! If you haven't already please vote and provide a comment at the bottom of the page. I know too well the feeling of starting and then trashing a design. I will say that after Series 7 I was a bit discouraged... But I received feedback from the BDP team that they actually test built the model. From what I understand only 15 or so sets get built! So it spurred me on to solve the structural issues and resubmit for Series 9. I think to be a finalist you have to have a really good design AND a healthy dose of luck thrown in."
If LEGO went so far as to prebuild your set, then it would seem to me that you were considered a potential finalist for that Series. Obviously we can't tell the future, there are a lot of sets in consideration for only 5 spots, and I wouldn't want to get your hopes up, but I think the improved design (assuming you resolved the structural concerns) and previous experience are very encouraging for Series 9. I wish you nothing but good luck and hope everyone at Brickset considers voting for your set."
I'm definitely curbing my expectations. It would be too long winded to get into my "theories" here but the 5 finalists in each round need to have an average piece count of 2,500 pieces. I think for Series 7 I was possibly considered a finalist because Sushi Restaurant and Privateer Frigate Fortuna (2 big non-castle sets) were the highest voted. That left room for a medium size medieval set. Anyways... Thank you for the endorsement and encouragement!
I've always appreciate, for the most part, the Brickset comment section and "community" if you can call it that.
I had to vote for this when I saw it, looks fantastic!
@zegel0802 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @zegel0802 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @zegel0802 - thank you very much. I love the write up, I love the submission.
I love how you kept pushing the design, trying to find the right, best solution just like @arselus and his cathedral. I don't MOC as much these days but I have spent years designing and trashing and then redesigning and then restrashing the layout for my LEGO city. And each time I think I've got it, I realize that it still wasn't where I wanted it to be. It's the journey as much as the destination and I very much appreciate you sharing your journey with us.
If approved by LEGO to move forward, this submission would be a 100% purchase for me."
@yellowcastle thank you for the kind words! If you haven't already please vote and provide a comment at the bottom of the page. I know too well the feeling of starting and then trashing a design. I will say that after Series 7 I was a bit discouraged... But I received feedback from the BDP team that they actually test built the model. From what I understand only 15 or so sets get built! So it spurred me on to solve the structural issues and resubmit for Series 9. I think to be a finalist you have to have a really good design AND a healthy dose of luck thrown in."
If LEGO went so far as to prebuild your set, then it would seem to me that you were considered a potential finalist for that Series. Obviously we can't tell the future, there are a lot of sets in consideration for only 5 spots, and I wouldn't want to get your hopes up, but I think the improved design (assuming you resolved the structural concerns) and previous experience are very encouraging for Series 9. I wish you nothing but good luck and hope everyone at Brickset considers voting for your set."
I'm definitely curbing my expectations. It would be too long winded to get into my "theories" here but the 5 finalists in each round need to have an average piece count of 2,500 pieces. I think for Series 7 I was possibly considered a finalist because Sushi Restaurant and Privateer Frigate Fortuna (2 big non-castle sets) were the highest voted. That left room for a medium size medieval set. Anyways... Thank you for the endorsement and encouragement!
I've always appreciate, for the most part, the Brickset comment section and "community" if you can call it that."
We are indeed a community, with all the awesomeness and warts one would expect. Thank you for sharing your submission with us.
@Jraptor said:
"I had to vote for this when I saw it, looks fantastic!"
Thank you for the vote! Every single one helps. I hope you enjoyed the write-up as well. Share with a friend :)
Thank you for the article and for the insight into your design process; I really like your model - both the concept and the finished design and have voted for it (and hoped) every time it has appeared. I really like seeing something mid-sized, colourful & whimsical in amongst the massive 4,000 piece ‘serious’ castles and hope that it’s unique-ness helps in the selection process. I’d buy this in a heartbeat over all of the bigger castle builds in the current series.
Good luck!
@Flyingfish2023 said:
"Thank you for the article and for the insight into your design process; I really like your model - both the concept and the finished design and have voted for it (and hoped) every time it has appeared. I really like seeing something mid-sized, colourful & whimsical in amongst the massive 4,000 piece ‘serious’ castles and hope that it’s unique-ness helps in the selection process. I’d buy this in a heartbeat over all of the bigger castle builds in the current series.
Good luck!"
You're welcome! Thank you for reading it. My intent all along is to have a mid-sized submission because a Wizard's Tower should be around $200, not $370... I'm sure you have already voted but be sure to write a comment and share the Bricklink page with a friend. I'm not sure how things are all decided but I do know that votes matter the most.
Majisto with the grey hat kinda looks like a color reversed Gandalf, still wish we had a sand blue wizard hat for him. Absolutely fantastic build though, I love it.
@ClutchPowers7306 said:
"Majisto with the grey hat kinda looks like a color reversed Gandalf, still wish we had a sand blue wizard hat for him. Absolutely fantastic build though, I love it. "
Thank you for the comment. We are only allowed to use parts that are included in the design palette. This gets updated each round but the for Series 9 (and 6) they do a massive overhaul. Parts available are for sets currently in production thru 2027 or so. Because if you're selected as a finalist, you're set does not go into production for over a year. The LKC is retiring this year so the blue hat wasn't available. The grey hat is because The Shire set is still in production. Hope that helps!
This is not for me. I do appreciate your creativity and it looks nice enough. I’m glad you didn’t design yet another Kraken sea fortress.
I scrolled through the 400+ submissions for Series 9 the last two days and encountered very little originality, especially in the Castle/Medieval category (and most trains also seem to be built for train enthusiasts, rather than for AFOLs). Honestly, I think BDP has run its course.
@Vesperas said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
""You cannot change the laws of physics!"
Majisto: "Hold my ale."
While I'm sure it's designed well enough that one wouldn't have to worry about gravity too much, the building looks like it would be structurally unsound in-universe. There's probably some kind of magic keeping this building from falling apart, but it's beyond cartoony in this design. Like it was built by Wile E. Coyote.
Don't get me wrong, it's funny and creative, but I don't think this would match previously released castle-themed buildings very well, since they've been more steeped in reality. It also doesn't help that Majisto/Merlin has a type of clock that wouldn't be invented until at least a few centuries after knights regularly rode on horseback. That might be a pet peeve, but such historically inaccuracies kind of bother me, sorry. :'-)"
I think it matches perfectly fine. This looks quite reasonable relative to some of the Fright Knight sets, and most of the Forestmen and Dark Forest sets are designed in or around trees.
To be honest, I'm not sure if the Castle theme was ever all that grounded in reality. The armor, factions, weapons and everything else propose a general time-frame consisting of the entire Middle Ages, and the theme features wizards, ghosts, dragons, witches and vampiric bat lords--all from the original run.
If it were at all attempting to be realistic, sure--the pendulum clock would be out of place. Even so, I think it still works in the context of it just being a curiosity in Majisto's home."
Since castles until the 11th century were mainly wooden structures, which were from then gradually replaced and improved with stone or/and bricks, I’d argue that Lego’s castle mainly takes place in the second half of the medieval period, the high middle ages.
Fantasy elements only appeared in 1993, with Majisto and the green dragons. (Personally, I disregard he ghost from 1990, which was more of a gadget than a character, to me.) That is why I always felt — even as a 10-year-old anno 1993 — that this was a new chapter in the Castle theme, the start of the First Fantasy Era. Classic Castle lasted from 1984 to 1993, so there’s an overlap of a year, since some Classic factions still received sets that year. As with real world history, eras do not end one day, with a new one starting the next. :-)
Honestly, I'd love more magic and monsters in the Castle theme, and this fits right in with that! Fingers crossed for the best!
@zegel0802 said:
" @BrickmanNL said:
"Oh wow, this looks so amazing! I love the organic shape of the tower, the little details and the tree growing through the tower. This should have been an official ideas set, although it would detract from the designers fantastic work, but it definitely needs to be selected. Only thing I worry about is the price it will have. Chapeau!"
Thank you for the kinds words! I assume if you took the time to read and comment then you have already voted. Also, write a comment at the bottom of the submission page.
At the base of the tree you can twist a knob that turns some gears for the Forest Guardian to rotate!
In terms of price, BDP sets are usually $0.86 per piece (or so). I was really conscious of the piece count and decided 2,500 parts was my ceiling. I kept working and revising to optimize the design to be under that part total. The current design is 2,490 pieces. Which would make is around $215 (USD). I would say that a reasonably priced BDP set in my opinion. What do you think?"
You definitely have my vote! I really appreciate that you also also took future pricing into account in the designing. I think 215 euros/dollars would be a fair price. I was a little worried lego might decide to bump it because of the theming, although now that I've checked the new BDP batch, the pricing doesn't seem so bad on the forest den.
@BrickmanNL said:
" @zegel0802 said:
" @BrickmanNL said:
"Oh wow, this looks so amazing! I love the organic shape of the tower, the little details and the tree growing through the tower. This should have been an official ideas set, although it would detract from the designers fantastic work, but it definitely needs to be selected. Only thing I worry about is the price it will have. Chapeau!"
Thank you for the kinds words! I assume if you took the time to read and comment then you have already voted. Also, write a comment at the bottom of the submission page.
At the base of the tree you can twist a knob that turns some gears for the Forest Guardian to rotate!
In terms of price, BDP sets are usually $0.86 per piece (or so). I was really conscious of the piece count and decided 2,500 parts was my ceiling. I kept working and revising to optimize the design to be under that part total. The current design is 2,490 pieces. Which would make is around $215 (USD). I would say that a reasonably priced BDP set in my opinion. What do you think?"
You definitely have my vote! I really appreciate that you also also took future pricing into account in the designing. I think 215 euros/dollars would be a fair price. I was a little worried lego might decide to bump it because of the theming, although now that I've checked the new BDP batch, the pricing doesn't seem so bad on the forest den. "
Thanks! The BDP Team in Webinars emphasizes that we take piece count into consideration. If you haven't already, please comment on the submission page and maybe share the link with a friend or two!
@Jack_Rizzo said:
"Honestly, I'd love more magic and monsters in the Castle theme, and this fits right in with that! Fingers crossed for the best!"
Thank you! Be sure to write a comment at the bottom of the submission page and maybe share the link with a few friends.
@dudeski said:
"This is not for me. I do appreciate your creativity and it looks nice enough. I’m glad you didn’t design yet another Kraken sea fortress.
I scrolled through the 400+ submissions for Series 9 the last two days and encountered very little originality, especially in the Castle/Medieval category (and most trains also seem to be built for train enthusiasts, rather than for AFOLs). Honestly, I think BDP has run its course. "
I do appreciate your honest feedback. I am curious if the sales number for Series 6 reflect your sentiment that it has run its course. I too was surprised by the overwhelming amount of Kraken submissions this round. In my opinion, they are the least interesting of the four new factions. As you can see I was limited to 8 minifigures based on my part count and did not include them in this submission. That being said, what by way of "originality" would you be looking for in a castle-themed submission?
@dudeski said:
" @Vesperas said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
""You cannot change the laws of physics!"
Majisto: "Hold my ale."
While I'm sure it's designed well enough that one wouldn't have to worry about gravity too much, the building looks like it would be structurally unsound in-universe. There's probably some kind of magic keeping this building from falling apart, but it's beyond cartoony in this design. Like it was built by Wile E. Coyote.
Don't get me wrong, it's funny and creative, but I don't think this would match previously released castle-themed buildings very well, since they've been more steeped in reality. It also doesn't help that Majisto/Merlin has a type of clock that wouldn't be invented until at least a few centuries after knights regularly rode on horseback. That might be a pet peeve, but such historically inaccuracies kind of bother me, sorry. :'-)"
I think it matches perfectly fine. This looks quite reasonable relative to some of the Fright Knight sets, and most of the Forestmen and Dark Forest sets are designed in or around trees.
To be honest, I'm not sure if the Castle theme was ever all that grounded in reality. The armor, factions, weapons and everything else propose a general time-frame consisting of the entire Middle Ages, and the theme features wizards, ghosts, dragons, witches and vampiric bat lords--all from the original run.
If it were at all attempting to be realistic, sure--the pendulum clock would be out of place. Even so, I think it still works in the context of it just being a curiosity in Majisto's home."
Since castles until the 11th century were mainly wooden structures, which were from then gradually replaced and improved with stone or/and bricks, I’d argue that Lego’s castle mainly takes place in the second half of the medieval period, the high middle ages.
Fantasy elements only appeared in 1993, with Majisto and the green dragons. (Personally, I disregard he ghost from 1990, which was more of a gadget than a character, to me.) That is why I always felt — even as a 10-year-old anno 1993 — that this was a new chapter in the Castle theme, the start of the First Fantasy Era. Classic Castle lasted from 1984 to 1993, so there’s an overlap of a year, since some Classic factions still received sets that year. As with real world history, eras do not end one day, with a new one starting the next. :-)"
The ghost never bothered me! It was initially only in two sets, and despite appearing very prominently in catalogs and commercials at the time of its introduction in 1990, none of the sets focussed on the ghost that much, as the gimmick was that it would stay hidden. It was just a fantasy figure in an otherwise fairly grounded setting.
However, when the dragons were introduced in 1993, most of those sets tried to accommodate for it, by having cages and whatnot, as well as dragon-styled decorations or features -- and it didn't even look good. If LEGO had just made some great castle sets with the addition of the green dragon, I wouldn't have minded, but it seemed like every set had to drive home that these Dragon Masters really loved dragons, and it felt so out of place with everything that had come before in the Castle theme.
At least the Black Knights had a bit more subtlety and class about their wyvern fandom.
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
" @dudeski said:
" @Vesperas said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
""You cannot change the laws of physics!"
Majisto: "Hold my ale."
While I'm sure it's designed well enough that one wouldn't have to worry about gravity too much, the building looks like it would be structurally unsound in-universe. There's probably some kind of magic keeping this building from falling apart, but it's beyond cartoony in this design. Like it was built by Wile E. Coyote.
Don't get me wrong, it's funny and creative, but I don't think this would match previously released castle-themed buildings very well, since they've been more steeped in reality. It also doesn't help that Majisto/Merlin has a type of clock that wouldn't be invented until at least a few centuries after knights regularly rode on horseback. That might be a pet peeve, but such historically inaccuracies kind of bother me, sorry. :'-)"
I think it matches perfectly fine. This looks quite reasonable relative to some of the Fright Knight sets, and most of the Forestmen and Dark Forest sets are designed in or around trees.
To be honest, I'm not sure if the Castle theme was ever all that grounded in reality. The armor, factions, weapons and everything else propose a general time-frame consisting of the entire Middle Ages, and the theme features wizards, ghosts, dragons, witches and vampiric bat lords--all from the original run.
If it were at all attempting to be realistic, sure--the pendulum clock would be out of place. Even so, I think it still works in the context of it just being a curiosity in Majisto's home."
Since castles until the 11th century were mainly wooden structures, which were from then gradually replaced and improved with stone or/and bricks, I’d argue that Lego’s castle mainly takes place in the second half of the medieval period, the high middle ages.
Fantasy elements only appeared in 1993, with Majisto and the green dragons. (Personally, I disregard he ghost from 1990, which was more of a gadget than a character, to me.) That is why I always felt — even as a 10-year-old anno 1993 — that this was a new chapter in the Castle theme, the start of the First Fantasy Era. Classic Castle lasted from 1984 to 1993, so there’s an overlap of a year, since some Classic factions still received sets that year. As with real world history, eras do not end one day, with a new one starting the next. :-)"
The ghost never bothered me! It was initially only in two sets, and despite appearing very prominently in catalogs and commercials at the time of its introduction in 1990, none of the sets focussed on the ghost that much, as the gimmick was that it would stay hidden. It was just a fantasy figure in an otherwise fairly grounded setting.
However, when the dragons were introduced in 1993, most of those sets tried to accommodate for it, by having cages and whatnot, as well as dragon-styled decorations or features -- and it didn't even look good. If LEGO had just made some great castle sets with the addition of the green dragon, I wouldn't have minded, but it seemed like every set had to drive home that these Dragon Masters really loved dragons, and it felt so out of place with everything that had come before in the Castle theme.
At least the Black Knights had a bit more subtlety and class about their wyvern fandom."
Only today I realised that the Royal Knights technically had no fantasy elements, though they are fantasy-by-proxy as they appear together with both Dragon Masters and Fright Knights.
I consider the universes to be different, with Majisto magicking a Black Knight shield into his Dragon Masters’ Armoury. :-)
Lovely tower but I think the Wizard hat for a spire looks silly,
@dudeski said:
" @Vesperas said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
""You cannot change the laws of physics!"
Majisto: "Hold my ale."
While I'm sure it's designed well enough that one wouldn't have to worry about gravity too much, the building looks like it would be structurally unsound in-universe. There's probably some kind of magic keeping this building from falling apart, but it's beyond cartoony in this design. Like it was built by Wile E. Coyote.
Don't get me wrong, it's funny and creative, but I don't think this would match previously released castle-themed buildings very well, since they've been more steeped in reality. It also doesn't help that Majisto/Merlin has a type of clock that wouldn't be invented until at least a few centuries after knights regularly rode on horseback. That might be a pet peeve, but such historically inaccuracies kind of bother me, sorry. :'-)"
I think it matches perfectly fine. This looks quite reasonable relative to some of the Fright Knight sets, and most of the Forestmen and Dark Forest sets are designed in or around trees.
To be honest, I'm not sure if the Castle theme was ever all that grounded in reality. The armor, factions, weapons and everything else propose a general time-frame consisting of the entire Middle Ages, and the theme features wizards, ghosts, dragons, witches and vampiric bat lords--all from the original run.
If it were at all attempting to be realistic, sure--the pendulum clock would be out of place. Even so, I think it still works in the context of it just being a curiosity in Majisto's home."
Since castles until the 11th century were mainly wooden structures, which were from then gradually replaced and improved with stone or/and bricks, I’d argue that Lego’s castle mainly takes place in the second half of the medieval period, the high middle ages.
Fantasy elements only appeared in 1993, with Majisto and the green dragons. (Personally, I disregard he ghost from 1990, which was more of a gadget than a character, to me.) That is why I always felt — even as a 10-year-old anno 1993 — that this was a new chapter in the Castle theme, the start of the First Fantasy Era. Classic Castle lasted from 1984 to 1993, so there’s an overlap of a year, since some Classic factions still received sets that year. As with real world history, eras do not end one day, with a new one starting the next. :-)"
You can disregard the ghost if you want but it existed in 1990 nonetheless.
The Castle theme is undeniably influenced by the High Middle Ages the most, but even if we look at your cherry-picked time frame within the original Castle run, sets like 6017 - King's Oarsmen, 6049 - Viking Voyager and 1547 - Black Knights Boat are blatantly more influenced by boats from the later Early Middle Ages (~700-1000 CE), while the existence of the dark gray halberd and Forestmen faction suggest Late Middle Ages (post 1300 CE).
AFAIK, the earliest known historical accounts of halberds even somewhat resembling the LEGO design were dated to around 1315, while the earliest records of Robin Hood date from the late 1300's (1377).
As such, it's obviously nowhere near as well defined as you suggest, hence why I continue to believe it isn't rooted in any specific period or time-frame but rather the entire Middle Ages generally.
(The website was being weird and wouldn't let me post my whole comment, so I had to come back to it. I'm sorry for double-posting.)
Generally speaking, when someone attempts to redefine what something is (like what years the original Castle run lasted), or ignores the existence of things to force a narrative, it's safe to assume that they don't really know what they're talking about. ;-)
Simply put, I'd rather not perform mental gymnastics or succumb to the magical thinking required to confuse my own headcanon with objective fact. It's much easier to just be honest and acknowledge it for what it is, as it is.
That said, it's far more appropriate to say that the original Castle run encompassed everything from Classic Castle (1978) through Fright Knights (1998), and these years obviously contained numerous fantasy elements. I think that it's also reasonable to say that Knights Kingdom, Fantasy Era and Kingdoms all collectively belong in the overall Castle theme but as their own thing, since none of them feature direct crossover or references to earlier themes. This is further reinforced by LEGO's rebranding for each sub-theme, which was clearly deliberate.
I think this general overview is a fair representation of objective fact given the existence of 31120 - Creator Medieval Castle, which ties the Black Falcon faction to fantasy elements, and 10305 - Lion Knights' Castle, which includes references for everything from the earliest Classic Castle sets up to (and including) Fright Knights.
In fact, Lion Knights' Castle also includes a harpsichord, which only further cements my point of the Castle theme being inspired by the entire Middle Ages, as the harpsichord wasn't invented until the very end of the whole Middle Ages (~1450 CE).
It's also worthwhile acknowledging the existence of LEGO's sea serpent Brickley, another fantasy creature intended to be part of the Castle theme, that LEGO had developed prototypes for already in the late 80's, before eventually reworking it into the classic green dragon we saw with Dragon Masters in 1993.
Point is, as I said before, I think this submission works well in the Castle theme and quite like it. The use of Merlin's tower for inspiration seems especially appropriate given that Majisto was actually called Merlin in the UK.
@dudeski said:
"Only today I realised that the Royal Knights technically had no fantasy elements, though they are fantasy-by-proxy as they appear together with both Dragon Masters and Fright Knights.
I consider the universes to be different, with Majisto magicking a Black Knight shield into his Dragon Masters’ Armoury. :-)"
I loved that the Royal Knights faction FINALLY introduced an actual monarch, but they should've sticked with the original Crusaders/Lion Knights crest. Even as a kid, I felt the lion's head was too cartoony to be medieval. It looked more like some of the NBA logos on that era. Their sets were a heck of a lot nicer than the Dragon Masters sets, IMO.
@Vesperas said:
"You can disregard the ghost if you want but it existed in 1990 nonetheless.
The Castle theme is undeniably influenced by the High Middle Ages the most, but even if we look at your cherry-picked time frame within the original Castle run, sets like 6017 - King's Oarsmen, 6049 - Viking Voyager and 1547 - Black Knights Boat are blatantly more influenced by boats from the later Early Middle Ages (~700-1000 CE), while the existence of the dark gray halberd and Forestmen faction suggest Late Middle Ages (post 1300 CE).
AFAIK, the earliest known historical accounts of halberds even somewhat resembling the LEGO design were dated to around 1315, while the earliest records of Robin Hood date from the late 1300's (1377).
As such, it's obviously nowhere near as well defined as you suggest, hence why I continue to believe it isn't rooted in any specific period or time-frame but rather the entire Middle Ages generally."
Oh yes, the entire theme is definitely a huge oversimplification of the Middle Ages in general, but it's also just a toy. Then again, us here, living in the 21st century, are still using things that have been invented and introduced decades or even centuries ago, so there can be an overlap.
The boats did always stand out to me too, even as a kid, although I didn't know what boats and ships actually looked like during the High Middle Ages. Coincidentally, 6017 was my first ever LEGO set, and it's still roaming the moat outside 6081. Perhaps that little boat is a remnant of the Lion Knights' origins and they like to cherish that by keeping it afloat.
@Vesperas said:
"That said, it's far more appropriate to say that the original Castle run encompassed everything from Classic Castle (1978) through Fright Knights (1998), and these years obviously contained numerous fantasy elements. I think that it's also reasonable to say that Knights Kingdom, Fantasy Era and Kingdoms all collectively belong in the overall Castle theme but as their own thing, since none of them feature direct crossover or references to earlier themes. This is further reinforced by LEGO's rebranding for each sub-theme, which was clearly deliberate."
Very true, and I don't think anyone is arguing with that! Although, since the later Knights Kingdom, Fantasy Era, and Kingdoms aren't connected to each other, nor to later or earlier castle-themed sets, I tend to pick and choose what I feel works as 'canon' for my personal layout. Majisto aka Merlin is there, for sure, but he's just a weirdo in the woods, hanging out among the Forestmen.
@zegel0802 said:
" @dudeski said:
"This is not for me. I do appreciate your creativity and it looks nice enough. I’m glad you didn’t design yet another Kraken sea fortress.
I scrolled through the 400+ submissions for Series 9 the last two days and encountered very little originality, especially in the Castle/Medieval category (and most trains also seem to be built for train enthusiasts, rather than for AFOLs). Honestly, I think BDP has run its course. "
I do appreciate your honest feedback. I am curious if the sales number for Series 6 reflect your sentiment that it has run its course. I too was surprised by the overwhelming amount of Kraken submissions this round. In my opinion, they are the least interesting of the four new factions. As you can see I was limited to 8 minifigures based on my part count and did not include them in this submission. That being said, what by way of "originality" would you be looking for in a castle-themed submission? "
"Originality" may not be the right word I chose there. A castle may come in many forms, but a castle it be. Same goes for inns, taverns, tradesmen's workshops, houses, hovels, shacks, stables… So since I am not into fantasy castle, there is little originality possible in the choice of what to design, I suppose. It is more the way most of Series 9's castle builds are designed that puts me off. And that is what I like very much about your design. The thought that has been put into it. It seems as if you turned around every single part and decided if it could be left out. You could just as easily have gone for 3999 parts and added a bunch of landscaping and greebling. But you seem to have stopped when you were satisfied with the result, and rightly so. You came up with something that tells your story. It may not be a story for me, but that does not mean it is a bad one. Not at all. You should be proud of what you realised!
@Vesperas , no need to take this all personal. I am not telling you what to do or how to create your canon. That is fully up to you. You do you.
I have NEVER said that Lego Castle is COMPLETELY set in the high medieval period. I used the word mainly (stone castles, halberds, crossbows, plate armour, …). There are indeed elements that have a 'viking age feel' to them. I never contested that. Lego is a toy and I do not expect historical accuracy.
There is only the weakest of connections connecting the Lion Knights, Black Falcons, Forestfolk and Black Knights to all things after. That connection is the Wolfpack, which appears together with the Black Knights and with the Dragon Masters, the latter of whom appear together with the Royal Knights and Dark Forest, who in turn appear together with the Fright Knights.
I admit that I completely missed the reference to the Fright Knights in 10305 . Feel free to elaborate. (The guy with the pointy hat and the beard in there, to me, is a wiseman, not a magician, btw.)
Apart from that, I don't see today's Castle sets as a continuation of the classic faction's line, just as a hom(m)age. A great one, in the case of 10305 and 10332 . Sadly 31120 missed the mark, then again, that's a Creator 3-in-1 set… Just like 31168 it has to be MOCed thoroughly to be truly good for an AFOL, though my soon to be 5 year old son loves it as is.
In 1993 with the Dragon Knights both the theme and the style of building in Castle changed a lot compared to the 9 years before. That goes for the Royal Knights' Castle as well, which is far less fortified than any earlier castle. Though not a dollhouse-style building, I always had the sense that was what it really was. Personally, I never cared for anything Castle oriented after 1992 until long after my dark age. (The 1993 Wolfpack and Black Knights sets were not known to me at the time, as they were only released in North America.) I focussed my purchasing (and asking birthday and holiday gifts) on Pirates and Town sets until my dark age set in, around 1996. I did flip through catalogues and noticed that everything kept getting worse. The Fright Knights set appear to be designed by small children without any reviews by actual designers. But that was also the time of juniorification in other themes, which almost led tot the end of Lego, were it not for the Star Wars license.
For me there are clear breaks in 1984 and 1993. Therefore I divide what you see as the 'original run' from 1978 to 1998' in three separate parts. In 1990 there is a smaller change, but since no new factions or story elements were introduced*, it is an evolution rather than a break with what previously existed. If my breakdown in three distinct eras seems stupid to you, that is fine by me. It is how I see it, not what I think everyone should see. So I think we can disagree on these things respectfully.
* There is indeed the ghost, which ToysFromTheAttic and I see as an unimportant sidenote, not a storyline, which makes it very different from Majisto/Merlin and the dragons.
@ToysFromTheAttic , I never found it important that no king figure existed. The leader of each knights' faction has always been clear (maybe not in 6080 , though I feel it's the one who on the box is exiting the castle) so I considered those to be counts or dukes in battledress.
@dudeski said:
" @zegel0802 said:
" @dudeski said:
"This is not for me. I do appreciate your creativity and it looks nice enough. I’m glad you didn’t design yet another Kraken sea fortress.
I scrolled through the 400+ submissions for Series 9 the last two days and encountered very little originality, especially in the Castle/Medieval category (and most trains also seem to be built for train enthusiasts, rather than for AFOLs). Honestly, I think BDP has run its course. "
I do appreciate your honest feedback. I am curious if the sales number for Series 6 reflect your sentiment that it has run its course. I too was surprised by the overwhelming amount of Kraken submissions this round. In my opinion, they are the least interesting of the four new factions. As you can see I was limited to 8 minifigures based on my part count and did not include them in this submission. That being said, what by way of "originality" would you be looking for in a castle-themed submission? "
"Originality" may not be the right word I chose there. A castle may come in many forms, but a castle it be. Same goes for inns, taverns, tradesmen's workshops, houses, hovels, shacks, stables… So since I am not into fantasy castle, there is little originality possible in the choice of what to design, I suppose. It is more the way most of Series 9's castle builds are designed that puts me off. And that is what I like very much about your design. The thought that has been put into it. It seems as if you turned around every single part and decided if it could be left out. You could just as easily have gone for 3999 parts and added a bunch of landscaping and greebling. But you seem to have stopped when you were satisfied with the result, and rightly so. You came up with something that tells your story. It may not be a story for me, but that does not mean it is a bad one. Not at all. You should be proud of what you realised!"
"you have turned around every single part and decided if it could be left out"... Yes! That's exactly what iterating over the past year has done for the set. Something maybe more similar to the true LEGO designer experience, but I'm not sure. The project has had the benefit of "going back to the drawing board." Like I said in a previous response, I used 2,500 piece as my threshold. That required me to constantly go back to areas and optimize the piece usage. There are many areas, especially in the base, where I realized I was more pieces than I needed. Studio actually has a "merge" tools that can help with this. For example, I found I had (2) grey 2x4 bricks next to each other and made into a 2x8. I really wanted to strike that balance between "official LEGO set" and a detailed MOC you would see at convention.
@dudeski said:
" @Vesperas , no need to take this all personal. I am not telling you what to do or how to create your canon. That is fully up to you. You do you.
I have NEVER said that Lego Castle is COMPLETELY set in the high medieval period. I used the word mainly (stone castles, halberds, crossbows, plate armour, …). There are indeed elements that have a 'viking age feel' to them. I never contested that. Lego is a toy and I do not expect historical accuracy.
There is only the weakest of connections connecting the Lion Knights, Black Falcons, Forestfolk and Black Knights to all things after. That connection is the Wolfpack, which appears together with the Black Knights and with the Dragon Masters, the latter of whom appear together with the Royal Knights and Dark Forest, who in turn appear together with the Fright Knights.
I admit that I completely missed the reference to the Fright Knights in 10305 . Feel free to elaborate. (The guy with the pointy hat and the beard in there, to me, is a wiseman, not a magician, btw.)
Apart from that, I don't see today's Castle sets as a continuation of the classic faction's line, just as a hom(m)age. A great one, in the case of 10305 and 10332 . Sadly 31120 missed the mark, then again, that's a Creator 3-in-1 set… Just like 31168 it has to be MOCed thoroughly to be truly good for an AFOL, though my soon to be 5 year old son loves it as is.
In 1993 with the Dragon Knights both the theme and the style of building in Castle changed a lot compared to the 9 years before. That goes for the Royal Knights' Castle as well, which is far less fortified than any earlier castle. Though not a dollhouse-style building, I always had the sense that was what it really was. Personally, I never cared for anything Castle oriented after 1992 until long after my dark age. (The 1993 Wolfpack and Black Knights sets were not known to me at the time, as they were only released in North America.) I focussed my purchasing (and asking birthday and holiday gifts) on Pirates and Town sets until my dark age set in, around 1996. I did flip through catalogues and noticed that everything kept getting worse. The Fright Knights set appear to be designed by small children without any reviews by actual designers. But that was also the time of juniorification in other themes, which almost led tot the end of Lego, were it not for the Star Wars license.
For me there are clear breaks in 1984 and 1993. Therefore I divide what you see as the 'original run' from 1978 to 1998' in three separate parts. In 1990 there is a smaller change, but since no new factions or story elements were introduced*, it is an evolution rather than a break with what previously existed. If my breakdown in three distinct eras seems stupid to you, that is fine by me. It is how I see it, not what I think everyone should see. So I think we can disagree on these things respectfully.
* There is indeed the ghost, which ToysFromTheAttic and I see as an unimportant sidenote, not a storyline, which makes it very different from Majisto/Merlin and the dragons.
@ToysFromTheAttic , I never found it important that no king figure existed. The leader of each knights' faction has always been clear (maybe not in 6080 , though I feel it's the one who on the box is exiting the castle) so I considered those to be counts or dukes in battledress."
I genuinely love the castle lore conversation (debate maybe!) this article has generated.