Forestmen Smugglers' Riverboat

These outlaws pose as friendly traders, flying everyone’s colors. But if they need to get by a blockade or pass through enemy waters, at a moment's notice they can disguise their ship as that of a rival faction, or even camouflage it amongst the environment to evade detection. In the event that a boarding and inspection does occur, secret compartments will preserve their most valuable wares. But little do they know that, despite all their precautions, a stowaway has hitched a ride on their valuable cargo!

Features:

-Mounted rotating telescope and flags

-Rotating mast with tether and swinging lantern on chain (I will work on adding a cloth sail to stud.io)

-Anchor and tow hook

-Opening boat shell

-Disguises and hidden quick-draw weapons

-Secret smuggling compartments

-Hidden flags and switchable shields to imitate another faction’s vessel

-Extra plant and tile pieces to change season and style of ship

I haven’t played with Lego since I was a kid but recently got my old sets down from the attic with my two young nephews, three and five. This was inspired by those, including the factions and some of the part choices. I was a big fan of Robin Hood at that age and had the River Fortress, which would be one of this boat's stops, to unload and take on more contraband, and the floating cargo is very similar to the raft from that set. I also wanted to keep it on the small side, with the extra foliage and color pieces it's 510 pieces and without 380. I think it would work as a set either way. The forestmen flag would be a new print I think and also there are two tongue pieces for the elk that would need to be printed in dark red and brown.

The theme of deception and disguise appealed to me in terms of play possibilities and there's a few secret compartments and lots of treasure, including false- and real-gold swords (again to fool the overly nosy) and a strange rusted artifact. I think the forestmen/pirates mashup is interesting and it would be great to get all these faction pieces and foliage in a single set.

I'm also going to give the cat a face.

Thanks for viewing!