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Two sets enter the arena, only one can emerge victorious! 1992 set 6075, Wolfpack Tower, versus 1989 set 6077, Forestmen's River Fortress. Which castle set reigns supreme? Vote and share your thoughts on these two sets

I'm am going to have to say the Wolfpack Tower. A lot of it has to do with I like wolf pack a lot more than forest men. Also the tower has a really nice look to it with the bridge and the tallish tower behind it, but this opinion might change as I only own the Wolfpack Tower so if I ever pick up a Forestmen's River Fortress I may find it one the top.

Purple Wolf

I actually don't have Forestmen's River Fortress yet, but I'm still going to give it my vote. Bigger baseplate, bigger structure, more figures, and I prefer the more enclosed look to the design. Forestmen's River Fortress was also more expensive, but I still think you get more bang for your buck.

Hey,

I love both of these sets, but I had to go the other way. The Wolfpack are my favorite faction, but the tower just seems unfinished, like there's a chunk missing out of the center. The River Fortress seems more substantial. It also has more figs, though that may be a bit unfair as a point of comparison since it was at a slightly higher price point, and one of those is an opposing knight, so you can create a storyline around the conflict. The little raft is a fun add-on, as is the inclusion of the archery target tile. Oh, shout out to the slopes with studs in the Wolfpack Tower, though. As a parts monkey that's a nice inclusion - I don't think those were in many sets. -quick Peeron search - Yeah, those were only in 14 sets, in black, white, and yellow, ranging from 1992-1998.

BTW, does anyone understand why LEGO was re-using numbers? 6075 is the Wolfpack Tower in 1992 but also was the alternate version of 375 back in 1981. 6077 was the Forestman's River Fortress in 1989 but also Knight's Procession in 1981. Were they running out of numbers at that point (assuming they could only use 4 digits)? Were they just so committed to forcing all Castle sets to be between 6000 and 6100 that they were forced into reusing numbers (though a skim through Peeron shows gaps - there is no 6068, 6069, or 6070 listed, for example)?

BTW BTW, this 'Battle of the Castle Sets' matchup was suggested by a forum member (to Blue, who then relayed it to me, so I'm not sure who). Please let me know if there's another pairing of two sets you'd like to face off in the arena of doom. Try to make the sets somehow related or comparable - a 'battle' between, say, some polybag set and the MMV would be kind of silly.

Bruce

I'm going to have to go with the Forestmen set. Its a little unfair, as the Forestmen have about 50% more parts and minifigures to work with and a much larger baseplate. This makes the Forestmen's a much stronger fortress. Even if it is one of my lesser choices for forestmen.

For the Wolfpack, there is a core of great potential there that just isn't reached. The red sloping roof is a very nice feature. And I really like this set.

Bruce N H wrote:Please let me know if there's another pairing of two sets you'd like to face off in the arena of doom. Try to make the sets somehow related or comparable - a 'battle' between, say, some polybag set and the MMV would be kind of silly.

How about the MMV and the Joust set?

Steve

I have to say Wolfpack but I'm sort of torn. Both are great. But I love the Wolfpack. I know forestmen are a beloved favorite and I confess, I have my fair share of them and I do enjoy them. But...that Wolfpack pulls at the strings of my heart. I see them as the goofy thieves that try their best, but never make a huge score...kind of like the Apple Dumpling Gang...yes...the Apple Dumpling Gang...old school Disney live action and well worth watching for a good giggle or two. As far as the build...I have to say, old school is good. Both make me happier than any set that has been released in the same relative size for the last few years.

Hmmmm, definitely an interesting match-up. Both sets are what I'd consider to be the flagship sets (the main strongholds) of their respective factions. Both are complete structures 360 degrees around and both are fully self-contained (I mean, neither is necessarily part of a larger structure, compared to say, 6059 Knight's Stronghold or 7187 Escape From Dragon's Prison). Both sets came on blue water baseplates. Both are perfect settings for bandits: old, abandoned outposts built by another faction in the past but now either being overrun by vegetation (Forestmen's River Fortress) or merely crumbling from lack of maintenance (Wolfpack Tower). Both have an air of mystery that invites imagination... Was the River Fortress built with water surrounding it, or was it built on all dry land 'til the river changed course? Why was the Wolfpack Tower abandoned, and who's ghost is that? Did it once belong to the Black Knights (similar colour scheme)?

While the River Fortress is probably the more impressive structure, they both have great playability. The opening rocks on either side of the Wolfpack Tower make me think of a pirate's smuggling cove. And while the Wolfpack Tower does seem a bit open compared to the solid design of the River Fortress, I'd say it was a design choice as it is meant to appear in disrepair, though it would be nice if it had been a tad larger structure overall. However, the River Fortress is TLG's first real attempt at a medieval rounded-like structure, which I would like to see more of.... Hmmmm, am I arguing with myself?

Which set I prefer depends on the day. Most days, Wolfpack Tower wins. Today is one of those days.

River Fortress for me - size, figs, design and faction are winners. Always wanted it as a kid but didn't own any until a few years back. Didn't mind the entrance for the Wolfpack though

Yes, River Fortress for me too. It's always a big deal have green stuffs. It got my vote!

I love all things wolfpack... but the forestmen fortress? Nothing beats that!

Woolfpack tower gets my vote.

Has to be Forestmen's River Fortress for me, never really got along with the wolfpack as an outlaw faction
The set is much bigger too

I went with the Wolfpack Tower. I like the design of it a smidge more, but never having seen the Forestman one in the brick, I can't really say. The pictures don't give me a sense other than a simple tower. Also, the Wolfpack figs are awesome.

EKnight

Had to go with the Forestmen on this. The Wolfpack have cool heraldry and are a great concept for a faction, but they were always lacking in set quantity and design quality in my opinion. Also, the Forestmen have this neat design aesthetic of intermixing gnarly trees and ancient stone ruins that gave their faction a sense of mystery. I think the river fortress is one of the iconic sets that shows off this aesthetic: who's old keep did these forest bandits take over? You know they didn't build it.

Chuck06 wrote:Also, the Forestmen have this neat design aesthetic of intermixing gnarly trees and ancient stone ruins that gave their faction a sense of mystery.

Very well put! I've always felt this about the forestmen, they have a lot of character to work with in their sets!