I own this one. I don't think I've had it assembled since 2016 though.

Fancy

I got couple of launch sets for my daughter but seeing that she didn't show much interest to Lego, I didn't follow the line. They still look nice to me.

@stefwaffles said:
"That egg is epic. But so are the aftermarket prices for them!

Brickset says this set was only available for 6 months, so maybe short shelf lives aren’t such a recent thing?"

The one that stands out to me is 40511. Brickset claims 18 months, but this didn’t actually show up until the middle of the month, and was listed as sold out on LEGO.com by the time I actually found out it existed. I eventually had to make a trip to the local LL Discovery Center to get my hands on two of them (wish I’d bought three).

Then there are the Cuusoo sets. 21104 claims one full year, but again I missed the launch day, and those early sets rarely got a second production run. I’ve never once seen this set at retail because it sold out so fast. 21109 (8 months) and 21110 (5 months) released on the same day, and both sold out almost instantly, but only the former had a second run announced. I did happen to be in the local LEGO Store a few months later on the only day they restocked the latter, but I had previously heard that there were no plans to do a second run, and never heard that they’d changed their mind, so I don’t know where that second shipment came from.

Assuming this is the first Elves RSOD? First time I've seen a sleigh for the slide, does it work as looks like it would become stuck on exit? Friends never seemed to use this idea, good timing for the Winter Olympics bobsleigh.

Hamster!

Everything's better with hamsters.

Ooh Elves! I'm currently obsessed with the theme. So many great sets!

I don't own this one but recently read through the instructions and saw multiple reviews of it. It's a really fun one. If the mine sled/cart slides down it will hit a rock at the end which will swivel to the side to reveal a map tile. There's a gem shop in the back which on the other side has a spacious living quarters for the mouse, complete with tiny bed and a portrait on the wall. The set also has a 1x1 tile with gem inside a rock print.

For the set's budget this was an amazing design that makes excellent use of each part.

Oh, and fun fact: the green crystal on the left is the same one as on 41180 Ragana' Shadow Castle. That's because in the specials from that year that show the year's story, the mine is actually underneath the castle as a secret entrance. In the set there's even a sign to the castle, which points the other way for some reason.
I love how each year the sets are all connected as part of one larger world. The terrain is varied, but there are often elements that link the sets together. For example, lavender bricks are often seen as part of the rockwork in this year. Magenta leaves are also common in this year, which makes the sets look cohesive when displayed together.

The aftermarket prices are a shame. But fortunately, good deals are still possible every once in a while if you know where to look.

@PurpleDave said:"Then there are the Cuusoo sets. 21104 claims one full year, but again I missed the launch day, and those early sets rarely got a second production run. I’ve never once seen this set at retail because it sold out so fast. 21109 (8 months) and 21110 (5 months) released on the same day, and both sold out almost instantly, but only the former had a second run announced."

I bought two of 21109 on launch day, and considered buying a third. And I wish I'd been able to get my hands on 21110. At least I got 21312.

@ambr said:"Assuming this is the first Elves RSOD?"

No, that would be 41072: https://brickset.com/article/122264

Peak Friends sets!

@TheOtherMike said:
" @PurpleDave said:"Then there are the Cuusoo sets. 21104 claims one full year, but again I missed the launch day, and those early sets rarely got a second production run. I’ve never once seen this set at retail because it sold out so fast. 21109 (8 months) and 21110 (5 months) released on the same day, and both sold out almost instantly, but only the former had a second run announced."

I bought two of 21109 on launch day, and considered buying a third. And I wish I'd been able to get my hands on 21110. At least I got 21312.

@ambr said:"Assuming this is the first Elves RSOD?"

No, that would be 41072: https://brickset.com/article/122264"

They had Limit 2 on the Exo-Suit, but no limit on how many different orders you could place, so I bought four. Two got delivered in rainstorms, so the boxes were slightly damaged, but I only cared about the boxes on the one I kept sealed and the one I built stock. Got one Research Institute on day of release, and grabbed two more when it restocked when I was at the store on the way to a setup the weekend before Thanksgiving. Kept one sealed for myself, and the other was for a woman in my LUG who taught chemistry at college and never managed to secure a copy for herself the first time they showed up.

God, I miss Elves. One look at those lavender rocks and multicolored crystals and it all comes rushing back. Still one of the best-looking themes of all time to this day.

@PurpleDave said:
" @stefwaffles said:
"That egg is epic. But so are the aftermarket prices for them!

Brickset says this set was only available for 6 months, so maybe short shelf lives aren’t such a recent thing?"

The one that stands out to me is 40511. Brickset claims 18 months, but this didn’t actually show up until the middle of the month, and was listed as sold out on LEGO.com by the time I actually found out it existed. I eventually had to make a trip to the local LL Discovery Center to get my hands on two of them (wish I’d bought three).

Then there are the Cuusoo sets. 21104 claims one full year, but again I missed the launch day, and those early sets rarely got a second production run. I’ve never once seen this set at retail because it sold out so fast. 21109 (8 months) and 21110 (5 months) released on the same day, and both sold out almost instantly, but only the former had a second run announced. I did happen to be in the local LEGO Store a few months later on the only day they restocked the latter, but I had previously heard that there were no plans to do a second run, and never heard that they’d changed their mind, so I don’t know where that second shipment came from."

I would actually like to see either additional data on entries, or the release date being used, rather than when the set was listed on the Lego site. Sometimes coming soon and pre order status can last months, making sets look far longer lived and available earlier than they actually were.

The new Delorean for example 77256 was a 1st of January set, but is in the database as the 15th of October, though is correctly tagged as 2026.