The cut-off point actually is the release of the Ninja theme. Not because it was bad (in my opinion it wasn’t, but in fact kept me buying Lego albeit me being much older than 12 years already…). But the Ninja theme really ended the continuity in the Castle theme as it had nothing to do with anything before. After that the Knights’ Kingdom (Vol.1) was a complete reboot without any roots to older Castle lines. And so were Knights’ Kingdom (Vol.2), Vikings (not even linked to the coexistent ”Castle“ line), and the current Fantasy Castle line.Sir Kohran wrote:I'm a bit puzzled as to why you put 1999 as the 'cut-off' point - firstly there were no actual sets released that year
Before that, after 1993, there was always some link between the actual theme and its respective predecessor. This link usually was marked by a prisoner or attacking enemy in one or more of the main sets of a new theme. We got a Wolfpack prisoner in the Firebreathing Fortress 6082 (Dragon Masters) as well as in the minifig pack 6105, a Dragon Master knight in the Royal Drawbridge 6078 (Royal Knights), another two Dragon Master knights even in the Dark Forest Fortress 6079, two Royal Knights in the Hemlock Stronghold 6046 (Dark Forest). Finally we got a Dark Forest man in the Witch’s Magic Manor 6087 (Fright Knights) and Royal Knights men in the Traitor Transport 6047/6099 and the Bat Lord’s Castle 6097.
Sir Kohran wrote:Most people would put 1993 as the end of the 'golden age'
And rightly so.
The Dragon Masters theme marked a new era by its sheer manner of release. All the main sets of a theme were launched at once since then, merely followed by some small minifig-in-polybag-sets in later years.
However, the Dragon Masters have not been the first watershed in Castle. Actually the Yellow Castle era was also ended abruptly. The new Castle line in 1984 didn’t have any link to the prior Castle sets.
I have to admit that’s true.Sir Kohran wrote:Personally I think Castle right now is at its strongest since 1995, or even 1992 - the quality is much higher than anything we've had for ages
Bye
Jojo
(An oldtimer who actually knew the Golden Age of Castle.)